AFC East Notebook: Spiller's jersey in Hall of Fame; Jets a different team without Decker
Every Monday and Friday, theScore's NFL editors will bring you a roundup of everything you need to know from around the division with the AFC West Notebook.
Buffalo Bills
Shocking talent. In a one-on-one interview with Peter King of TheMMQB.com, cornerback Corey Graham, a Buffalo native, says he "was shocked by how much talent we have on the Bills."
Jersey sales skyrocketing. Since the news that Terry and Kim Pegula agreed to purchase the Bills and assure the team's future in Buffalo, jersey sales at Dick's Sporting Goods spiked 800 percent.
Spiller's jersey in Hall of Fame. The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, will display running back C.J. Spiller's game-worn throwback jersey from the Bills' Week 2 win for the next year. Spiller is the first player since 1973 to have a 100-yard kick-return touchdown and a run of 45 yards in the same game.
Miami Dolphins
Charles back in charge? Injured Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, who suffered a sprained ankle in Week 2, was back at team practice Thursday. Could Charles play against the Dolphins, or is this a case of the Chiefs playing mind games and forcing the Dolphins to prepare for one of the NFL's best tailbacks?
Coaches support Tannehill. Ryan Tannehill hasn't taken the next step many hoped he would in Year 3, but his coaches say the blame doesn't lie on Tannehill's shoulders. "It's a unit issue," head coach Joe Philbin said. "It's not one player causing all the problems in the passing game."
Thomas nominated for Hall. Dolphins great Zach Thomas was nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015. Along with Thomas, former Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson and former Dolphins players (briefly) Junior Seau and Troy Vincent were also nominated.
New England Patriots
Brady wants to spread ball around. The Patriots have struggled to find success when not passing the ball to Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, and Tom Brady says he knows he has to get his other receivers more involved. "I’ve got to do a better job finding the other guys because it’s a lot of good routes," Brady said. "They’re big targets, guys are working really hard to get open."
LaFell snap breakdown. Why has free agent acquisition Brandon LaFell been so quiet in his first two games with the Patriots? Some of it has to do with the way he's being used in the passing game and how often he's being deployed as a blocker.
Brady posts resume. How's this for a throwback Thursday? Tom Brady posted a photo of his resume - that he created before the 2000 NFL Draft in case he wasn't selected and was forced to find a conventional job - on Facebook.
New York Jets
Decker-less Jets struggle. The Jets were a very different team in the second half of their Week 2 loss. The catalyst for the change seems to be receiver Eric Decker's hamstring injury. With Decker on the sideline, the Packers were much more aggressive in their defensive play calling.
Milliner still hobbled. Dee Milliner, who infamously boasted he's the NFL's best cornerback in the preseason, asked to be removed from the Jets' Week 2 loss. Milliner wasn't embarrassed about getting badly beaten by a long touchdown by Jordy Nelson (though perhaps he should be), he simply believed his injured ankle was preventing him from being effective. Perhaps a healthy Antonio Allen would have been a better option.
Ryan won't criticize Holmes. The Jets face off against former teammate Santonio Holmes this weekend and no one wants to give him or his new Chicago Bears teammates any bulletin board material. "I really enjoyed him," head coach Ryan said of Holmes' time in New York, tossing aside rampant rumors that the two butted heads.