AFC East Notes: Bills, Ryan, Patriots, Dobson

Recently, Bills coach Rex Ryan denied that he has been given an ultimatum by ownership to make the playoffs in 2016. Count Bills legend Jim Kelly among those who don’t buy it.

“I think we need to do it. I think we have to do it,” Kelly said (link via Joe Buscaglia of WKBW). “If we don’t, I think Rex is probably looking for another job, too. I think everybody knows that, including Rex…We’ve got a heck of a football team, but you can’t win if you’re not on the football field competing and playing,” Kelly said. “I just hope we stay healthy, because if we do, and we don’t make it, there’s no excuses whatsoever.”

Here’s more out of the AFC East:

• Wide receiver Aaron Dobson is on the Patriots‘ roster bubble, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes. The 2013 second-round draft choice out of Marshall came into the league as a highly-touted prospect but injuries have altered his path in the NFL. When asked to assess his play in practice so far this year, the 6’3″, 205 pound receiver gave a positive review of himself. Julian Edelman (foot) and Danny Amendola (knee, ankle) have been sidelined so far, which has given Dobson a chance to work with the team’s top group of receivers.
• If track paid as well as the NFL, Bills wide receiver and Olympic hopeful Marquise Goodwin told The MMQB’s Emily Kaplan (Facebook link) that it would be an easy choice. “I would definitely do track and field, man,” Goodwin said (transcript from Buscaglia). “Football was my opportunity to advance my life… kind of get a head start on life and put my family in a position to where they wouldn’t want for as much. I felt like track and field wouldn’t grant me that opportunity, being that I had a greater chance at making the amount of money that I do playing football, as opposed to going to track and field, and I would make it a lot sooner. Not saying I wouldn’t make it in track and field, but, I would make it pretty much at a guaranteed rate in football.” Goodwin is hoping to be a part of the 2016 games in Rio and the Bills have been supportive of his pursuit. If Goodwin gets to the Olympics and qualifies for the finals, the earliest he could get back to the team would be on August 15, which may not be enough time to show the team he is worthy of a roster spot. Goodwin is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is slated to hit the open market after the ’16 season.
• Recently, former agent Joel Corry suggested a compromise for the Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
• Earlier this week, it was reported that the Dolphins are not prioritizing free agent Arian Foster.