Gronk, Goodwin, Hogan among SI's Top 50 Most Fit

Sports Illustrated put together a list of the most impressive male athletes in the world, and some familiar faces from the division made the cut.

Based on six criteria — strength (or "strengh," as their infographic depicts), speed, endurance, agility, flexibility and skill in his or her respective sport — they, with the help of a large panel of trainers, coaches, experts and coaches, put together the 50 most fit male athletes.

Here are your AFC East shout-outs:

18. Marquise Goodwin - Buffalo Bills

"Some know Goodwin as an NFL wide receiver while others remember him for his track-and-field accomplishments in the long jump, including an appearance at the 2012 London Olympics. From leaping into the sand pit to squatting more than 400 pounds, Goodwin's feats in two elite professional sports speak to his impressive athletic abilities."

38. Chris Hogan - New England Patriots

"Hogan may not be one of the most notable players in the NFL, but the former college lacrosse standout and New Jersey native is training to be one of the league's top (and fittest) wide receivers. His high-intensity workouts hone balance, agility and explosiveness through exercises such as sprints and sled pushes. It's only right that he trains at a facility called 'Freak Strength.'"

46. Rob Gronkowski - New England Patriots

"Gronkowski's 6'6'', 265-pound frame is near impossible to stop on the football field thanks to his intense workouts and commitment to fitness. Now Gronk is taking his passion one step further with his new family business, Gronk Fitness Products, a line of performance fitness products built for sports facilities and home gyms."

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Goodwin fourth at nationals; football now 'main thing'

Well, it was worth a shot.

After being away from track for nearly three years, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin took his shot at the national long jump team this weekend, landing just short of a trip to Beijing.

The third-year wideout and former All-American finished fourth in the USA Track and Field national championships, jumping 27 feet, 5½ inches, or two inches shy of a spot in the world championships in August.

"We know what's (coming up) next year. I expect big things," Goodwin said of the upcoming Olympic games in Rio. "But football is my main deal right now."

The winning jump, courtesy of Marquis Dendy, came in at 28 feet, 5¾ inches.

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Goodwin headed back to track for long-jump qualifiers

Despite previous declarations, Marquise Goodwin's two-sport ambitions are alive and well.

The 24-year-old wide receiver hasn't seen a sand pit competitively since the London Olympics, but according to SI.com, that's about to change.

As Christopher Chavez reported Monday, Goodwin successfully appealed USA Track and Field for a shot to compete in the World Championships in Beijing, China, at the end of August. To jump in that competition, the former Longhorn will have to place in the top three at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which starts June 26.

He'll also have to meet the International Association of Athletics Federations qualification mark of 8.10 meters.

Goodwin placed 10th in the long jump in London back in 2012, after which he claimed he had retired from track and field for good.

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Marrone: No concerns potentially having only four WRs

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Marquise Goodwin became the fourth wide receiver added to the Buffalo Bills injury report this week, though the dwindling depth chart doesn't seem to be have coach Doug Marrone all too concerned.

Goodwin reportedly sustained a head injury in practice Wednesday, according to Marrone, an injury that's deemed the league's concussion protocol testing to be necessary. This comes on the heels of news this week that the team will be without fellow receiver and special teams star Marcus Easley, who sprained his knee in last Sunday's loss to the San Diego Chargers, for four to six weeks.

The bleak outlook for Goodwin could potentially leave Buffalo down two wideouts going into their Week 4 matchup in Houston against the Texans, a circumstance Marrone doesn't think will be a huge issue.

Stevie Johnson thought he'd be a Buffalo Bill for life

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Stevie Johnson may have been the only name worth mentioning among the Buffalo Bills' wide receiving corps a couple years ago, but things have changed.

A few high-level drafts picks, coupled with a move to San Francisco for the seven-year vet, has things looking much different in Buffalo than they did when Johnson was tallying 1,000-yard seasons.

The former fan favorite isn't holding any grudges about the way things went down, though. Back in his hometown on the West Coast, he now working to help round out a depth chart that includes the likes of Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree on a team that's now a perennial Super Bowl prediction.

Goodwin out to prove he's more than 'just a track guy'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

It just so happens that Marquise Goodwin is good at a couple things: He's an Olympian and an active NFL player.

No big deal.

The 23-year-old Texas product, who competed in the 2012 Olympics after winning a pair of collegiate national championships in the long jump, is entering his second season with the Buffalo Bills. As a rookie, Goodwin snagged 17 receptions for 283 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games.

Bills' Hilliard firing 'a difference in philosophy'

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Despite a 6-10 finish, Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone survived Black Monday and, at this point, seems safe to take another shot at the team's playoff drought in 2014. His wide receivers coach, however, wasn't so lucky.

Basing the decision on "a difference in philosophy," Marrone dismissed former New York Giants wideout Ike Hilliard Monday, the first such move the team has made to alter its coaching staff after another disappointing season.

"We appreciate what Ike has done in helping us try to reach our goal this year and we fell short," Marrone told reporters Monday, via buffalobills.com.

Bills vow to make better use of speed at receiver

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The Buffalo Bills have nice mix of youth and talent at receiver, but they've yet to find a good, consistent balance within the group.

One asset the Bills undoubtedly need to make better use of moving forward is their speed on the perimeter, and that starts with rookie Marquise Goodwin, who has been on the field for less than 25 percent of the Bills' offensive plays through 14 weeks.

The former track star did miss some time early in the season to a broken hand and has had a few minor ailments since. But while he's been mostly a rotational player when healthy, he's taken advantage of his opportunities.

Bills finally back to having options at receiver

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Contrary to previous weeks, the Buffalo Bills receiving corps is healthy, and the depth chart is stocked. For coach Doug Marrone, that leaves some interesting and unfamiliar decisions to be made.

"I think this is the first time where we really have to sit down and see who is going to be the inactives for the game," Marone said Wednesday, via buffalobills.com. "Before it’s been easy, the guys that were injured were all inactive; we didn’t have to make a lot of decisions.

"Going in to this game, we did have to make a couple decisions on who is going to be up and who is going to be down. I’m excited about that, those are good decisions."

Marrone: Return game just waiting for opportunity

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

At this time last year, the Buffalo Bills' special teams squad was a force to be reckoned with. A year later, it's just a force waiting for a chance to prove it's still got it.

Led by some head-strong runs from cornerback Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo's return game was no joke last season, averaging nearly 19 yards on punts and 28 yards on kickoffs. The team as a whole had three total return touchdowns, including one in prime time during a divisional bout with the Miami Dolphins.

What a difference a year can make.

Goodwin looks good, Woods not out of woods

BY NICK ST. DENIS

For the second straight day, things are trending up for one Buffalo Bills rookie receiver and not trending anywhere for another.

Marquise Goodwin, who sustained a hamstring ailment in the second half of the Bills' loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last week, reportedly practiced in limited fashion Thursday. He participated in individual drills, as Bills coach Doug Marrone predicted Wednesday.

Marrone is optimistic Goodwin will be on the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday.

Special teams to decide Bills' wideout battle

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The Buffalo Bills injected a lot of youth and ambition into their wide receiver corps this offseason. In training camp, they're letting it sort itself out.

After veteran Stevie Johnson, the remaining spots on the receiver depth chart are mostly wide open.

Young speeders T.J. Graham and Marquise Goodwin are jockeying for position alongside Robert Woods and Da'Rick Rogers. Add in returners Marcus Easley, Chris Hogan and Brad Smith, and the Bills' Week 1 lineup could take on many different looks.

Goodwin vows to return kickoffs 'every time'

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

While Marquise Goodwin has been impressive throughout offseason workouts and in camp, the rookie is still on the bubble regarding a starting role as a receiver.

At the moment, his main shot to contribute will likely be on special teams, for which he proved a valuable commodity Sunday. The former Longhorn tallied 180 yards on two returns, one of which was a 107-yard touchdown run from the very back of the end zone.

Talking with reporters Monday, Goodwin kept it simple when he was asked about the score. He also said that, if given the chance, he won't think twice about coming out of the end zone again from that distance.

Goodwin 'retired' from track, 'all football now'

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

This time last year, Buffalo Bills receiver Marquise Goodwin was in training, but for a much different goal than his current one. (photo: Tab59, Flickr)

The former collegiate and national track and field star was preparing for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, where he hoped to improve on his finish from the year before and regain the long jump title. He did just that, jumping 27 feet for his second outdoor title in three years.

Goodwin's track resume is impressive; he even jumped for the United States in London during the Summer Olympics (he finished 10th). But despite his success in the sand, Goodwin says he's hung up his track spikes for football cleats.

Bills snag pair of wide receivers in Day 2 of draft

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

With Stevie Johnson as the lone wideout with any sort of game experience on the Buffalo Bills depth chart, it was only a matter of time until general manager Buddy Nix took a receiver in the 2013 NFL Draft.

He found two in fact, grabbing one in each round Friday as the team worked to build around its newest quarterback additions and revamp its passing attack. (photo: Neon Tommy, Flickr)

The first receiver selected was Robert Woods, who came out of the team's first pick in the second round (41st overall).