Buzzmaster: Gary will be here soon to chat some football!
Gary Horton: I am chatting with you from ym car. I am making my annual trek across country to Bristol CT, where I will spend the Fall. Right now I am in New Mexico with nothing but time on my hands!
Mike (NY): Is Alex Smith on the verge of stardom? I mean this kid has looked excellent in the preseason and he seems poised for a breakout year doesn't he?
Gary Horton: I think he will take his game to the next level, even without Norv Turner. He is a bright guy and the team is improved. I believe he will poist solid numbers. The 49ers are a team to watch.
wayne Binghamton,NY: Gary, Why does everyone discount the Bills? Losman,Evans,Lynch, more beef up front and a young but aggressive defense...can they surprise and have a winning record?
Gary Horton: I do not think so. Losman is an interesting guy and he has been a lot better, but he is still inconsisstent, and I do not know how they will run the ball effectively. They are getting better, but I do not see a lot of big plays from this group. I think they will be competitive, but nothing more.
Mark (NC): Gary, would the Panthers be wise to make a run at Trotter?
Gary Horton: Trotter is really slowed down in the last few years. But I still think he can be effective on first and second downs as a run stopper. And he would certainly provide insurance for Dan Morgan, who seems to be really injury prone.
danny (LA): when will tiki shut up already?
Gary Horton: I heard his comments and I do not think he was out of line. I think he was trying to be really honest about Eli Manning, not being comfortable as a vocal leader. That is just not his personality, and I think Tiki was reflecting that. But Tiki also said some nice things about Eli that nobody talks about. It seems to me that Eli overreacted a little bit.
Brian (Philadelphia): Gary do you think the Eagles made the right move in releasing Trotter and handing the job over to Gaither?
Gary Horton: The Eagles are a very smart team when it comes to releasing aging players. We all know that Trotter has slowed down over the years, but the Eagles seemed to have a real knack of letting a guy go before he totally falls apart. My guess is that if they felt the end was near, they said "let's go ahead and cut him a year early." So as much as I like Trotter, I would not question the Eagles when it comes to knwoing their roster.
Neil, Dallas: What kind of quarterbacking will we see out of Tony Romo this year?
Gary Horton: I think Romo will have a good year. He has now had a full offseason to really become comfortable with his role. I think that he still has excellent overall skills and great motivation to make up for last season. The coaches will take advantage of his athleticism and move him out of the pocket a little more, and that could lead to some big plays. He is headed for a very solid year.
Travis, SLC: Driving and chatting at the same time... you got skills!!!
SprungOnSports (Long Island): How bad will the Browns be this year? They have nobody to throw the ball, and theyre defense is average at best.
Gary Horton: I think they are headed for a very tough year, in a very good division, where they are not even close in talent to the other three teams. Without a running game they maybe forced to lean on one of their QBs, and right now that position is up for grabs. I just do not see them being very competitive in the North, even if Brady Quinn somehow emerges and becomes the starter.
Vinnie (NYC): What kinds of things do you expect out of Philip Rivers this season? Are the Chargers a favorite for the Super Bowl?
Gary Horton: I think the Chargers are absolutely a favorite for the Super Bowl. I think they are the most talented team in the NFL. I know they have a new coaching staff, but all the pieces are in place, on both sides of the ball, to have a great season. I think Rivers will have an outstanding year because he is a student of the game, works hard in the offseason, and he has the best RB in the game behind him to take the pressure off. I do worry a little bit about his targets at WR, but somebody will emerge. And I think Rivers will really flourish under Norv Turner.
Jim (ATL): Haven't heard a whole lot out of Giants camp regarding Brandon Jacobs...How does he look? What role will he play? Will he get the 20-25 carries that the coaching staff says he will? Thanks!
Gary Horton: I think he has had a good camp, and the Giants are really counting on him in the run game. I know they talk a little about rotating Jacobs and droughns, but I think if Jacobs is playing well he will get the majority of the carries. There is no question about his ability to run between the tackles, particularly in goalline situations. But the jury is out on his ability to catch passes and block; those are two areas in which Tiki Barber excelled.
Richard (Atlanta): Jamarcus Russell's hold out is absurd. Why can't the Radiers just say "Now that you have no chance at helping our team this season, we're only going to give you a 25 million dollar signing bonus."? If nothing else, it would deter the next high draft pick from holing their team for ransom.
Gary Horton: Well I disagree with you because I think the Raiders are the ones here that are not bending. Russell and his agent want a fair market deal, and the Raiders are very stubborn about some of the clauses that most first picks usually get from other teams. I do not think that Oakland really planned on playing Russell a lot this year, becuase of the bad offensive line; so I do not think the holdout is as critical to them as one might think, and that is maybe why they are playing hardball, because they consider this almost a redshirt year for Russell. I know it is easy to blame the agent, but there is more to this negotiation than meets the eye, and eventuallly, I think, it will get done. But both sides right now are very stubborn.
Gabe Ashevlle,Nc: Who are the two sleeper teams? What are there chances?
Gary Horton: Minnesota would be a bit of a sleeper team for me, because they have a good defense, and I love the potential of their running game with Peterson. If he is as good as I think he is, they should be a very physical team. That leaves it up to Tavaris Jackson to play well enough to not screw it up. But I think they will surprise some people. Another sleeper team might be Tampa. I think Gruden is too good a coach to let this team fall apart, and I think Garcia is smart enough to use all of Gruden's knowledge and playcalling. They are quietly rebuilding their aging defense. I think the Bucs will be a team that rebounds and makes the playoffs with Garcia leading the way.
Henry (Charleston, SC): The Ravens have the #1 defense in the league. Will this be the year the offense finally has a break out season?
Gary Horton: I think McGahee gives them a chance to be really good. And I think McNair still has some good years left. This offense does not have to be great to win because of the D. I think they will be a ball control team, that will dictate the pace of the game and be very physical. But they are in a very tough division.
Adam (San Diego, CA): How soon before Brian Griese replaces Rex Grossman?
Gary Horton: I don't think we are that close to a change yet. I know Grossman has not looked great in the preseason, but that is not a move the Bears coaches want to make. and it is not like Griese is setting the world on fire in preaseason either. Kyle Orton is actually the guy who has had a pretty good camp. I think Chicago beleives they can win with defense and a good run game. I think they will limit Grossman to a lot of safe, low risk passes, and ask him to manage the game and not win it. They may eventaully have to make a move, but I know they do not want to.
Jason, Charlotte: Hi Gary, love the Chats! It looks like the Commanders D has the 2005 form back! Do you see the Commanders sneaking up on some people this year?
Gary Horton: I think you are right. If the D plays like they did a few years ago, they can be very competitive. They just need to go back and make explosive plays on defense and that will help the offense. I do think they will have a very good running game, and they will be more conservative on offense than in the past. It comes down to Jason Campbell. But they are in a very competitive division, and while they are better than last year, I just don't know if they can win clsoe games. There just seems to be something missing with this team.
SprungOnSports (Long Island): Is your money on Delhomme or Carr? Who would give Carolina the best chance at making the playoffs?
Gary Horton: I am still a little bit of a Delhomme fan. But I like both QBs. They are charcater guys, with good physical skills and I do not think Carr's situation is Houston was his fault. But in my mind, Delhomme would have to really play lousy for a long time to lose this job, because he has been a good leader and a winner. I do not think I would make that move yet. But that may become a very interesting QB situation to watch.
Frank (Miami, FL): What kind of a season should I expect out my MIAMI DOLPHINS?
Gary Horton: Right now, I do not like what I see from them in the preseason. Green has not looked great, the explosive and imaginative offense, under Cameron, has yet to surface, unless they are saving all of it for the regular season. And they have huge issues with the offensive line. I like their D, and I think Taylor and Proter will apply a lot of pressure. But I think the offense is really going to struggle and I do not see them being a very competitive team this season.
Brian Westbrook: With Mcnabb coming back and looking good, will Andy still give 20 carries a game or will we return to the Pass Happy Eagles of old.
Gary Horton: I think Andy will give you the ball as many times as you can handle it Brian! I loved the way they used you last year. They will give you as full a workload as you can handle, and I do not think they will go back to a pass happy offense. I think you are poised for a huge year, because I think they will have you touch the ball in every manner imaginable.
Gary Horton: I look forward to chatting next week, and the entire season from Bristol. I cannot wait to start watching some film and see how ther roster shape up. I think we are looing at a great 2007 season with a lot of really good teams, particularly in the AFC! Goodbye from New Mexico!
