Olivier Vernon plans to bug Cam Wake all offseason

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Miami Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon's 2012 campaign paralleled his team's -- he trended up through the first half of the season and down after the midway point.

But like his team, he was never really out of it until the end. (photo: June Rivera, Flickr)

The third-round rookie gained steam through the first five games of his rookie season and had his best showing Week 6 against the St. Louis Rams, recording two sacks and two quarterback hits to go with a pair of tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Worthy AFC-Easters make USA Today's All-Joe team

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Every NFL fan has a particular player on their favorite team they feel is overlooked, underrated and worthy of more, or at least some, recognition. USA Today has said fan covered.

Since 1992, the paper/website has published its annual "All-Joe" team roster, comprised of at least one player from each team who makes a major impact on his squad but has never been named to a Pro Bowl. (photo: Daniel Speiss, Flickr)

USA Today's Nate Davis presented this year's version Wednesday, and its AFC East selections were spot on. Here they are (Davis's take in quotations):

Revis's trainer eying April for football-related work

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Darrelle Revis's road back from a torn ACL that ended his 2012 season just a few weeks in has been a long one.

And there's still a lot of road left. But there's light ahead.

Revis's trainer, Will Sullivan, told the Newark Star-Ledger this week that he expects "to get the green light in April" to start working out Revis on the field. (photo: Marianne O'Leary, Flickr)

Projected franchise, transition tag tenders for 2013

BY NICK ST. DENIS

From Feb. 18 to March 4, each NFL team will have the opportunity to apply its respective franchise tag or transition tag to a player set to hit unrestricted free agency. (photo: nflfan18, Flickr)

If a team is unable or unwilling to work out a new deal for a player it feels it can't afford (on the field) to lose, it has the option of forcing that player to stay for at least a year via the tag, given the team has ample financial room to work under the salary cap.

In 2011, the New England Patriots and New York Jets used the franchise tag on receiver Wes Welker and linebacker David Harris, respectively. New England also tagged quarterback Matt Cassel in 2009.

AFC East trio lands on NFL.com's All-Under-25 Team

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Tuesday, NFL.com’s Elliot Harrison compiled the website's All-Under-25 (years old) Team, and a few AFC East names made the list.

New England’s Rob Gronkowski and Miami’s Mike Pouncey and Reshad Jones were honored at their respective positions, and for good reason.

Bills’ Brad Smith up for any role coach has for him

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Buffalo Bills utility man Brad Smith is one of the more versatile offensive weapons in the NFL.

But last season, Smith was given just 28 opportunities to do so last season, not counting his special teams work. In those 28 tries, Smith was split evenly between pass and run, tallying 268 yards and three touchdowns. (photo: Doug Kerr, Flickr)

Much of the blame for last season’s offensive woes landed on former coach Chan Gailey, who struggled to find a successful balance with not only Smith, but the running backs, as well.

Bradshaw 'excited to hear about' prospect of Jets

BY NICK ST. DENIS

If Ahmad Bradshaw doesn't return to the New York Giants, he'd still be open to staying in New York.

During an appearance on NFL Network Tuesday, the sixth-year tailback explored the idea of pairing with the cross-town, cross-conference New York Jets.

"Whoever I feel that I can get a better chance of playing and helping," Bradshaw said, via the Newark Star-Ledger. "… The New York Jets are a team that I’m excited to hear about, just to stay home, not make a big move from New York. It’s just right across the street from where I am now.”  (photo: Zruda, Flickr)

Dolphins' 2013 Offseason Primer: Money will talk

BY SEAN DONOVAN

The Miami Dolphins' 2012 season was all about establishing a new culture centered around first-year head coach Joe Philbin and rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Little was expected from the Dolphins on the field going into the year, but the team managed to briefly flirt with Wildcard contention before fading in the second half of the season en route to a 7-9 finish.

As did his team, Tannehill had highs and lows to his season, but he did not definitively answer whether or not Miami has landed it's long-awaited franchise quarterback. (photo: June Rivera, Flickr)

Big front office/coaching moves: Nothing major, with Zac Taylor being promoted to quarterbacks coach and Marwan Maalouf being added to the staff as an assistant special teams coach.

Key Free Agents: LT Jake Long, CB Sean Smith, DT Randy Starks, WR Brian Hartline, RB Reggie Bush, QB Matt Moore, TE Anthony Fasano, FS Chris Clemons, DT Tony McDaniel, WR Marlon Moore.

Bills cut ties with safety Wilson, linebacker Barnett

BY NICK ST. DENIS

While linebacker Nick Barnett and safety George Wilson led the Buffalo Bills in tackles last season, their age, price and visible decline in productivity made them expendable.

Monday, the Bills parted ways with the pair of veteran defenders. (photo: Matt Britt, Flickr)

Barnett broke the news of his release via Twitter, and The Buffalo News reported Wilson's shortly after.

Jets’ scouting director discusses pre-draft process

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Each NFL team is currently hard at work assembling its ‘big board’ of potential draft candidates, sorting through hundreds of names and the loads of information that comes along with each player. (photo: Dan X. O'Neil, Flickr)

What’s sometimes forgotten, however, is where all that information comes from. Jeff Bauer, the New York Jets’ college scouting director, recently shined some light on the exhaustive process his crew goes through and the impact it has on the team’s future.

“What the scouts have done in their areas is vital,” Bauer told Eric Allen of newyorkjets.com. “That's really the nuts and bolts of who the person is.