Ask Gil Brandt
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ETGil Brandt
24 comments
NFL.com personnel guru Gil Brandt chatted live on Tuesday, November 3, taking your questions and discussing his views on the latest from around the league.
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Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Hi everyone, welcome to the Tuesday chat. Let's talk football. -
Frank, Buffalo, NY
12:01 PM ET
With the Browns' firing of their GM, what possible step do they take next and what hope do fans have to see some positive steps made this season?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Hi Frank. I would hope Mr. Lerner gives Ernie Accorsi a call, and have Ernie, the former Giants GM who was a Browns GM under Art modell, guide him on finding someone who could be a good general manager on a long-term, permanent basis. The Browns are a great franchise, and they need some good stable leadership. -
Chris, VA
12:04 PM ET
Do you see Chris Chambers getting picked up by another team this week? If so, by who?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
No, Chris, I don't think Chris Chambers will get picked up. At one time he had great speed, but he seems to have lost that speed and can't get open to make plays. He helped the chargers the year they traded a second-rounder for him, but that was it.
Fantasy alert: Now that Malcolm Floyd is entrenched in the starting lineup to replace Chambers, he's a big, fast target you might want to pick up. -
Nate, Cincinnati
12:06 PM ET
Hey Gil do u think cedric benson can have a repeat performance like he did in the first meeting?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Hi Nate. Benson was the first player to run for 100 yards against Baltimore in some time. With the way he's been running -- and the way his offensive line has been blocking -- there's no reason to believe he can't run for 100 yards again. He's one of the true feel-good stories of the season, and he should continue that success. -
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
As for the Bengals-Ravens game overall, I will stick with my preseason prediction that the Bengals can be a playoff team this season. This game will be tough, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Cincinnati sweep the series.
The key will be stopping Ray Rice. -
NIRV, EDISON, NJ
12:09 PM ET
WITH THE GIANTS FALLING APART, WHAT DO THEY NEED TO GET CORRECTED AND CAN THEY MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Well, the thing that hurts them more than anything now is the loss of safety Kenny Phillips. He was a very underrated player. I still think they have a very good chance of making the playoffs, because they have a good QB, a good offensive line and a good defense.
With so many bad teams in the league, there is quite a logjam for the playoff spots. The Giants are right there. They still have the Eagles and Cowboys at home. I think they bounce back and make the playoffs. -
Luka, Slovenia
12:12 PM ET
Hey. What do you think about the Colts? What are our chances against the Texans? Thanks Gil
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Hi Luka. I think the Colts, who have won 11 of 12 games overall against the Texans, are very good. I initially thought the Texans had a chance for the upset here -- but the injury to TE Owen Daniels, who is out for the season, really hurts. I think that loss will prevent them from the upset here. -
Rhodri Jones, Tredegar, Wales.
12:14 PM ET
Hi Gil. Great call on Miles Austin during the off season chats. What do you think he has added to this offense and do you think he will help Roy Williams be more productive eventually ? Thanks.
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Thanks, Rhodri. Austin has added the big-play element to the offense, which is very, very important in today's NFL. Will it help Roy Williams? Right now, I'm kind of disappointed in his productivity. Austin's success should help Wililams, but we haven't seen it yet. -
Richard, Ft Hood, TX
12:15 PM ET
Gil, Why isn't Dallas ranked higher in power rankings? They have only lost to the Giants and Broncos, by a combined 9 points. Is it Anti-Americas' Team Bias?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Hi Richard. I don't think there's any bias in the NFL.com rankings. I've curently got them ranked 10th overall, and fourth in the NFC behind the Saints, Vikings, and Eagles. Vic Carucci has them eighth.
Here's where you can view the expert rankings -- and from there you can go ahead and make your own rankings. -
max, plymouth, MN
12:20 PM ET
is this one of the best vikings team ever.
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Hi Max, Minnesota has a very good chance to make thie Super Bowl this year. This is one of their best and most balanced teams ever.
For all the star power on this year's team, I'd like to call out one player: linebacker Chad Greenway is really playing at a high level and I hope he gets some Pro Bowl consideration. He deserves it. -
Jamie, NC
12:23 PM ET
Gil, now as the starting qb for the titans, how do you think vince young will do the rest of they year?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Jamie, I think Vince Young will do a good job. I don't think they will rely on him to do a lot of passing -- maybe 20 attempts per game. But it will open things up even more for Chris Johnson to run the ball.
Despite the terrible start for Tennessee, this team still won 13 games last year. So there are still good players there to support Young. -
Vance, Greensboro, NC
12:25 PM ET
I know its a long shot, but no one thought the Panthers would beat the Cardinals, and after we won no one cares. This Defense has stepped it up, and the Run game is stout. I think we at least have a chance vs. Saints.
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Vance, I agree that the Panthers have a chance to beat the Saints. Don't forget that the Saints are coming off a pretty tough stretch -- beating the Giants, coming back to beat the Dolphins the way they did, and then holding off the Falcons on Monday night. And the loss of DT Sedrick Ellis for a few weeks will make it even tougher to slow down the Carolina running game.
I don't expect the Panthers to pick off another five passes, but this could be a dangerous game for New Orleans. -
the thing, parts unkown
12:29 PM ET
does miami have a chance at making the playoffs
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
I do think Miami has a chance to make the playoffs -- but they might have to win seven of the last nine games to do so. It starts with a win this Sunday at New England. They won't surprise the Patriots like they did last year, so I'm not sure they can win this week. Of course, that means they'd have to win seven of their last eight. They can do it, but it's a tough haul. I guess that makes this week a must-win game. -
phil, philadelphia
12:33 PM ET
Hey Gil how are you doing? What is your super bowl prediction and do you think that the eagles will make it finally
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Hi Phil, As of now, my Super Bowl pick is Colts-Saints. I think the Eagles have a very sound football team with some players that can make explosive plays when healthy. Any time you have that situation, you have a chance to get to the Super Bowl. The key might be that the offensive line is getting healthy. And the defense is making turnovers. -
tony, cincinnati
12:35 PM ET
after the hard loss sunday, do you think the packers have further more put salt in their wounds by letting brett walk. or by sticking with aaron through the whole thing will it pay off for them in the future
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Tony, they made the right move. They realized they had to break in the younger QB. They suffered for it last year. But this year, had they had a healthy left tackle to block Jared Allen, they could have won both of those games against Favre and the Vikings.
Aaron Rodgers is already a star in this league, and he will only get better. -
Karyn, NJ
12:38 PM ET
Will the 49ers defense continue to be a top 10 defense in the league? What has happened to them recently?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Karyn, they played very good against the Colts last week, and I think even though the injury to CB Nate Clements hurts, I think they'll be okay. The 49ers are not out of the NFC West race just yet.
Whenever you have Patrick Willis in the middle of your defense, you're okay. He's a terrific player. And guess what - Willis is chatting live here on NFL.com as soon as my chat is over. So stick around and ask him this question. -
Phil, Calgary, AB
12:41 PM ET
There was speculation that Bill Cowher might come out of retirement to coach again....any chance with the browns??
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Phil, I don't think Bill Cowher is going to come out of retirement to coach again. I think he's enjoying his time doing TV and spending his time with his daughters, who are college basketball players, and the rest of his family. Every time I talk to him, he does a good job of convincing me that he's not coming out of retirement. -
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
The Browns have a lot of "dead money" -- they're still paying Romeo Crennel, Phil Savage, and now George Kokinis. If they were to replace Eric Magini at the end of the season, it would be hard for them to pay the big dollars for some of the big-name coaches who are currently out of the league. -
Loe, Mass.
12:45 PM ET
why arent the pats a top 5 team?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
I have the Patriots at No. 5 in my rankins this week. So they ARE a top 5 team. I've got them just below Minnesota and just above Denver. -
mark, san jose, ca
12:46 PM ET
Eagles vs Cowboys. Who wins and why?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Mark, I think the Eagles will win. The Eagles offense will be a little too much for the Dallas defense. -
Andrea, Westerville, Ohio
12:48 PM ET
Who looks like a wild card contender right now in the AFC?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Well, Andrea, if you're assuming the division winners are Denver, Indy, Cincinati and New England, then I'd say Pittsburgh and San Diego get the wild cards. -
Dan, New England
12:50 PM ET
If you were starting a franchise, and you could have any head coach currently coaching, who would you choose?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Bill Belichick. He's outstanding in the x's and o's and also understandng the salary cap, th draft, trades -- everything you need to do to be successful. ... And he's continued to win even as his assistants have left for jobs of their own. -
Rhodri Jones, Tredegar, Wales
12:52 PM ET
Hi Gil. Whats your thoughts on this rookie class so far and Who has surprised you from your evaluations during the offseason ? Thanks. Great job.
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Rhodri, this is a very productive rookie class -- two starting QBs and a third this week. Good linebackers and offensive linemen. Right now, my offensive rookie of the year would be Percy Harvin, and on defense it might be Packers LB Clay Matthews -- and his former USC teammate Brian Cushing in Houston is in the mix as well.
As for surprise, it might be Ravens OT Michael Oher. I knew he'd be good, but he's played very good. -
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Okay, that's it fo now -- don't forget to jump in and ask Patrick Willis a question. His chat starts in five minutes!
