Earlier today, I took a look at the top of the Patriots pay scale for 2013 and pointed out that Tom Brady, Vince Wilfork and Logan Mankins will chew up about 35 percent of the team's cap in 2013.
Also noted was the number of Patriots with cap hits of 3 million or more and the percentage of the cap those players swallowed up.
The Patriots have nine players who'll carry cap hits of more than 3 million into 2013 unless there's some renegotiation done. The nine will take up 65.95 million of the Pats cap of 126.6 million (they are rolling in 5.6 from last year's unused cap space).
Now, a look at the rest of the AFC East and some key teams in the AFC. Obviously, some moves are going to be made. But here's where the teams stood according to NFL figures at the end of the regular season.
Buffalo Bills
2013 cap (with rollover from 2012): 130.9 million
Top 3 hits: Mario Williams (12.4 million), Ryan Fitzpatrick (10.45 million), Chris Kelsay (6.0 million)
Players over 3 million: Williams, Fitzpatrick, Kelsay, Kyle Williams (5.8 million), Stevie Johnson (5.65 million), Marcel Dareus (5.65 million), Mark Anderson (4 million), Nick Barnett (4 million), Brad Smith (4 million), Fred Jackson (3.7 million), C.J. Spiller (3.7 million)
New England Patriots
Total hits of players over 3 million: 65.35 million
Moving Parts: Jairus Byrd is a free agent and a candidate to be franchised or re-signed to a generous deal. Fitzpatrick is going to get a shave or a release, though his cap hit will still be more than 7 million, it appears, if he is let go.
New York Jets
2013 cap (with rollover from 2012): 124.5 million
Top 3 hits: David Harris (13 million), Mark Sanchez (12.85 million), Santonio Holmes (12.5 million), Antonio Cromartie (10.75 million)
Players over 3 million: Mark Sanchez (12.85 million), Darrelle Revis (9 million), D'Brickashaw Ferguson (10.7 million), David Harris (13 million), Santonio Holmes (12.5 million), Antonio Cromartie (10.75 million), Nick Mangold (9.1 million), Bart Scott (8.65 million), Calvin Pace (11.6 million), Sione Pouha (6.2 million), Jason Smith (12 million),
Total hits of players over 3 million: 116.35 million
Moving Parts: Insane. One caveat: Jason Smith, acquired by trade with the Rams, is the only guy who isn't the Jets stupidity. Meanwhile, the team has valued free agents in Dustin Keller, Shonn Greene and -- to a lesser degree -- LaRon Landry.
Miami Dolphins
2013 cap (with rollover from 2012):126.4 million
Top 3 hits: Karlos Dansby (8.58 million), Paul Soliai (7.38 million), Richard Marshall (5.7 million)
Players over 3 million: Karlos Dansby (8.58 million), Cameron Wake (5 million), Paul Soliai (7.38 million), Dimitri Patterson (4.6 million), Richard Marshall (5.77 million), Kevin Burnett (5.7 million), Richie Incognito (5.383 million), Davone Bess (3.43 million), Dan Carpenter (3 million)
Total hits of players over 3 million: 48.77 million
Moving Parts: The Dolphins have some pricey re-signs and decisions looming -- left tackle Jake Long, wide receiver Brian Hartline, corner Sean Smith and maybe Reggie Bush. But overall, they are in excellent shape
Baltimore Ravens
2013 cap (with rollover from 2012): 122.2 million
Top 3 hits: Terrell Suggs (13 million), Haloti Ngata (11.5 million), Anquan Boldin (7.53 million)
Players over 3 million: Haloti Ngata (11.5 million), Terrell Suggs (13 million), Anquan Boldin (7.53 million), Marshal Yanda (7.5 million), Ray Rice (5.75 million), Lardarius Webb (5.38 million), Jacoby Jones (4.9 million), Vonta Leach (4.3 million), Michael Oher (4.255 million), Jameel McLain (4.2 million), Matt Birk (3.4 million), Bernard Pollard (3.25 million).
Total hits of players over 3 million: 74.965 million
Moving Parts: Joe Flacco's going to be re-signed and that's a fat contractcap hit. Birk is unsure if he'll return. Ed Reed is a free agent who wants to come back to the Ravens, he says. They have some hard decisions and requests to make.