No we can't. Because it's not true compared to the rest of the NFL. As mentioned above, taking the Pats out of the AFC East and comparing the records of the non-leader teams to the other non-leader teams in the league, the AFC East falls into the middle of the pack.
The Pats' dominance makes the division appear weak, but their winning percentage against the rest of the league is the same, so the division itself is entirely typical save that there's one dominant team, not a rotation like the garbage NFC East that never gets the same team good for two years in a row because every team there is completely incapable of maintaining success over the long run.
Alright. I must've been watching three different teams, I had no idea that the Bills, Jets and Dolphins were the 85 Bears, 70s Steelers and 90s Cowboys. And I just looked this up:
Since 2001, the Dolphins have had six seasons over .500, two seasons at .500 and nine under .500, with 11 wins in a year the most that they won in a season, one division and one win the least amount of victories over that time.
Since 2001, the Bills have had three seasons over .500, two seasons at .500 and 12 under .500, with a high of nine wins and a low of four.
Since 2001, the Jets have had nine seasons over .500, one season at .500 and seven under .500, with a high of 11 wins and a low of four (three times) and they won a division.
Since 2001, the Pats have been above .500 all 17 seasons, have won 15 divisions with a high of 16 wins and a low of nine wins.
Funny fact: the two years that the Pats did not win their division, they were tied with the division leader for wins.
What I've learned, the Jets weren't as bad as I thought -- my bad on that. The Bills and the Dolphins have been pretty shitty for most of this run. So maybe they haven't had three tomato cans, but two definite and one that is a mixed bag.
I think that the point still stands.
I can't believe anyone gives Shank the benefit of the doubt as regards to his having an honest opinion at this point. NONE of his opinions are honest. They are all designed to generate maximum outrage and attention. He's a professional troll. Nothing he writes is sincere in the slightest.
Dude. You need to stop reading him. Seriously. Get him out of your life.