The AFC East is like a laboratory for new ideas. Foremost, it's a division of great coaching, which allows for a few different experiments to be tried.

Against all odds last year, Patriots coach Bill Belichick taught the big spenders in free agency that you can go bargain-shopping for quality role players and win a Super Bowl. His philosophy is that good quantity additions can beat teams that limit themselves to one or two high-priced players.

The other interesting division-wise trend is at quarterback. The AFC East was once a division of Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Peyton Manning and Drew Bledsoe. Manning left by virtue of realignment. Bledsoe left by Belichick's choice after Tom Brady emerged as the Patriots Super Bowl quarterback after an offseason in which Bledsoe received a $103 million contract.

	Drew Bledsoe has been all smiles so far in Buffalo.

Belichick's theory isn't that much different than the Miami Dolphins, who circled the offensive wagons around Jay Fiedler. Fiedler and Brady may not have the rifle arms but they efficiently run offenses. Surround them with productive talent and a good defense, the theory goes, and you can win a Super Bowl.

The Patriots have so much confidence in their theory that they traded Bledsoe to the division rival Buffalo Bills for a first-round choice next year. How's that for being bold?

"Our division is extremely competitive again,'' said Scott Pioli, the Patriots brilliant assistant vice president of player personnel. "It's back to where it was from 1996 through 1999 when everybody thought it was the toughest division in football.''

The AFC East is unique. For one, it's the only division in football directed by four defensive head coaches. Last year, the Patriots, Dolphins and Jets all made the playoffs. And, thanks to the success of the Patriots, everyone in the division believes in taking a chance of going for gold in how they handle personnel.

Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt has three reasons to believe he can go to the Super Bowl -- halfback Ricky Williams, offensive coordinator Norv Turner and a great defense. With Fiedler, the Dolphins proved over the past two seasons that they are a solid playoff team good enough to be a regular in the postseason but not good enough to advance to a championship game.

Lamar Smith's running two years ago helped to advance the Dolphins into the second round of the playoffs. Teaming the younger Williams with Turner's system should be good for 1,300 yards, making Fielder's job easier.

"I think we are better,'' Wannstedt said. "How much better I don't know.''

Complicating matters are the Jets and Bills. The Jets, under first-year coach Herman Edwards, came out of nowhere to win a wild-card spot with a 10-6 season. During the offseason, Edwards revamped the offseason with additions of linebacker Sam Cowart, cornerbacks Aaron Beasley and Donnie Abraham, safety Sam Garnes and first-round choice Bryan Thomas, a defensive end.

His mission was to better suit the Jets' talents to the two-deep he brought in from Tampa Bay.

"We have great chemistry and great character,'' Jets general manager Terry Bradway said. "But this division is very competitive. We've beaten the Dolphins eight games in a row and those games are always competitive. We have six new starters on defense and three on the offensive line.''

And don't count out the Bills. Bledsoe brings their offense instant credibility. Throw in the offensive mind of Kevin Gilbride along with the receiving skills of Eric Moulds, Peerless Price and Josh Reed, and who knows what might happen.

"It's going to take some time to evaluate this trade,'' Pioli said. "First, we will have to see how Drew does this season. We don't know yet what we will do with the draft pick. I know everyone loves instant answers and instant gratification, but I don't think we will know right away.''

	"	Our division is extremely competitive again,'' said Scott Pioli, the Patriots brilliant assistant vice president of player personnel. "It's back to where it was from 1996 through 1999 when everybody thought it was the toughest division in football. "
		— Scott Pioli, Patriots assistant vice president of player personnel on the AFC East

One of the other subtle changes in the AFC East will be an escalation of the use of the tight end. The Patriots went tight end crazy, drafting Daniel Graham in the first round and adding Christian Fauria and Cam Cleeland in free agency. The Bills added blocker Dave Moore to go along with pass-catch Jay Riemersma. The Dolphins like the future of fourth-round choice Randy McMichael to go with veterans Alonzo Mayes and Jed Weaver. The Jets brought in third-rounder Chris Baker to challenge former first-rounder Anthony Becht.

Quietly, the Patriots did the most this offseason to improve their inside passing game. They've gotten bigger with the additions of the tight ends and tall receiver Donald Hayes. It's forced division teams to be more conscious of their third and fourth cornerbacks so they aren't overmatched.

Perhaps the two most watched moves will involve Bledsoe and Cowart. For years, Belichick always felt he had the defensive schemes to contain Bledsoe, so trading him to Buffalo doesn't scare him in their home-and-home series. But if Bledsoe gets hot, he will easily elevate the Bills to a respectable record and make them a threat.

The other move involves Cowart going to the Jets. Despite missing 15 games last season with an Achilles' tendon injury, Cowart was arguably the Bills' best player. When negotiations stalled in early march, the Bills broke off talks and signed London Fletcher, freeing Cowart to sign with the Jets.

"He's our weakside linebacker, and he will be helped if Jason Ferguson comes back from his injury,'' Bradway said. "On paper, our defense is a lot faster. We brought in fast players in the draft.''

Cowart has the skills to be a dominating player and the star of the Jets defense.

Anything can happen in the AFC East. Belichick won't have any problem motivating his team because oddsmakers say the Patriots are no more than an eight or nine-win team coming off a Super Bowl. They feel they have improved.

"By virtue of some of the competition alone at some positions, we will be better,'' Pioli said. "We should be stronger in our three-receiver sets with the addition of Donald Hayes. We'll have great competition at tight end. And we added quality veterans like Rick Lyle, Rich Tylski and Tom Knight.''

Last year, the AFC East proved dreams can come true for dreamers such as Belichick. It's got everyone in the division dreaming.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.