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Some final thoughts about the Buffalo Bills and the division they play in – the AFC East. If you listen to all the preseason predictions from the experts about this division, you get a mixed reaction of picks to win the division between New England and the New York Jets, and a few picking Miami to return to the top of the heap after faltering somewhat last season. Buffalo is either considered an afterthought, or not mentioned at all. Regardless of the choices for numbers one through three, Chan Gailey’s team is basically a unanimous pick to finish last. Meanwhile, the Bills quietly go about their business of getting ready for the season.

The Patriots are the choice of some experts to return to glory mainly based on 2 factors – the coach, Bill Belichick, and the quarterback, Tom Brady. The Pats have serious issues on defense – they were exposed in the playoffs by Baltimore last year, and clearly aren’t the powerhouse they were in 2007. But the expectation is that Belichick will plug in some unknown rookies on defense and that unit will play well enough to win, while Brady and company light up the scoreboard. While Belichick has done some amazing coaching jobs over the years, it may actually be reaching the point where the Pats are beginning to age and their annual purge of veteran players is starting to catch up to them. Now there is word out of Foxborough that Randy Moss is unhappy with his contract also.

The Jets’ Super Bowl bandwagon is overflowing with experts who have them winning the big game this year after reaching the AFC title game last year. It was a terrific accomplishment to go that far in the playoffs after barely sneaking into the playoffs, but every season is different and the Jets, especially their coach, Rex Ryan, don’t seem to realize that they have to earn their way back this season. The Jets’ roster is solid, but they also have fallen into the Dan Snyder-like trap of putting together a “fantasy” team of retread players, like LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor and Santonio Holmes. I have a feeling that recently signed Darrelle Revis isn’t going to just step onto the field, after holding out all through training camp, and dominate like he did last year. They haven’t been terribly impressive in preseason, and there’s a chance that the Jets could follow their usual pattern of not living up to expectations. The expectations on this franchise have never been as high as they are this year, and I just don’t see a lot of tangible team chemistry with this group.

Down in Miami, how are the Dolphins preparing for this week’s opener against the Bills? Well, the other day the players were scouring the practice field, with rakes and on their hands and knees, looking for a teammate’s $50,000 lost diamond earring. Terrific. For some reason, Bill Parcells suddenly stepped down as team president the other day also. Other than adding stud receiver Brandon Marshall, the Fins haven’t improved that much. Marshall’s presence also means that coach Tony Sporano has to find a balance between Miami’s bruising running game, which has been the strength of their offense, and keeping Marshall happy, which was always a chore for his coaches in Denver.