How do you assess the Philadelphia Eagles season? After looking like favorites to return to the Super Bowl, the season quickly unraveled for them. Why do you think that is?

It is a disappointment when you look at their season overall with the talent that they have and the team they had coming back, with the additions it is a disappointment. But if you look at injuries, they weren't able to overcome those. The good teams are able to overcome most injuries but there are injuries you can't overcome. And I would say the assessment as far as losing to a team like Tampa Bay, overall on the road. Not having that game at home. All those things, a very disappointing season for the Eagles.

Can you remember a collapse like the one we have just seen from the Eagles? How does a team pick themselves up after going through a period such as that?

Well every year 20 to 25% of players are new on every team. So every experience is totally different. Every year there are teams that get off to a fast start. Typically they just don't have the veteran nucleus that Philadelphia has when they can't get turned around. So we've seen teams do it before, typically not a team that has gone to the Super Bowl. But if you look at the teams that have gone to the Super Bowl and lost, they have not been very successful that following season. So the mental anguish of losing the biggest game in the world. A shorter offseason. Those things have not led people to success. If you look at the recent Super Bowl losers, they just don't bounce back. Philadelphia now is in that category.

Do you think the Eagles should be thinking about changing head coach going into the offseason, or has Nick Sirianni shown enough to stay in the job?

No, I think Nick's done a good job. Of course, he's a young coach, you gotta make some adjustments. But when you lose your offensive coordinator, which they did before the season, you know there's gonna be some type of adjustments. They fired the defensive coordinator. So that's him saying that yes, I think we underperformed. I'm gonna make changes in how I'm going to run the defense and I’m going to bring a new voice into that side of the ball. So I think those types of adjustments are what you want to see from a coaching staff.

Eagle fans are quite famous for their passion. As someone who has played in front of a Philly crowd a few times, do you think that helps or hinders the players?

I think the fans have less to do with what the players are thinking about than anything else. Every team has their own fans. So Philadelphia fans, a lot of fans on the east coast in the United States. They're all Eagles fans, Giants fans, Patriots fans, all people in that part of the United States, they have a passion for their sports and they don't mind sometimes not supporting their home team. By saying some things, they think they know football better than a pro athlete. So for me, I never worried about it. I know they don't know how to play football better than me. If they did, they'd be out here playing so they have less influence in these things.

Jason Kelce is set to retire after 13 seasons in the NFL. How hard is it to adapt from the life of a professional sports star to a retired one?

Well, it depends on what you prepared. Have you done anything else that makes the transition a little smoother? There is no other job like playing in the NFL, especially for a long time, and playing at a high level, you have to understand that and realize there is going to be some type of career after the NFL. And you know, I did a lot of broadcasting in NFL Europe, hosting my own shows, volunteering at the Super Bowl for the major networks to get some reps, and doing TV shows before I retired. So I already have a resume, and I think he'll do well. He and his brother got a nice brand. They got a great podcast. He's doing some commercial things. I'm sure he's gonna do well for himself.

He's been a superb center for so long. How important do you think that role is in an NFL team and just how hard Philly will find it to replace him?

It is always hard to replace a great player but the communication between the center and quarterback, I believe the center is probably the second most important offensive line besides the blindside tackle with whoever's gonna protect the backside. It allows the line to have more flexibility, more things they can do. And then ultimately the mental toughness. It's hard to be a great football team without being mentally tough, and having a mentally tough center that you could run behind. That's allowed the Eagles to be able to be very, very productive offensively throughout his career.

Do you expect AJ Brown to still be here in Philadelphia for the 2024 season?

I mean, I don't know why they wouldn't sign him. He hasn't done anything that doesn't warrant a long-term contract when they traded for him.

Do you have any advice for the fellow wide receiver on whether he should stay or go?

Well, if they compensate him as one of the best receivers, then he should stay. I think that for Philadelphia he's the only number one receiver they have on the team so they don't really have another option.

Is Jalen Hurts the kind of elite-level quarterback that Philly can rely on for years to come, or do you think there’s potential to trade him for someone else better suited to them?

Yes, absolutely. That's why they signed him to a long-term contract, he's definitely gonna be one of the best quarterbacks, he's still growing. You could see this year when he got hurt, his knee got hurt, his ability to run the ball lessened. It made the offense less effective than we've seen him. But yes, he's definitely one of the elite quarterbacks in the league.

So you wouldn't consider trading him?

When you do shows like this it's just so easy to ask questions like, ‘Hey, just trade this guy. Hey, do this.’ What are you gonna get back for him? I don't like answering hypothetical questions, because it's really not fair to who you're saying it against. No, I wouldn't trade him. He didn't do anything that would warrant him being traded. He went to the Super Bowl last year. They signed him for a long term contract, you know his ability to lead a team at an elite level is there so, no.

On the Minnesota Vikings, do you think Justin Jefferson can fulfill his potential in Minneapolis?

He's done amazing, with yardage per game, an NFL record in his first four seasons, the Vikings love him. He's doing all the things right on and off the field. So they're gonna sign up to a record-breaking contract within the next five or six months, before the season starts and so he can continue that great career he started there in Minneapolis.

The Vikings’ NFC North rivals all improved their records in 2023, while Minnesota took a big backward step from being 13-4 to finishing 7-10. Could there be a long road ahead for Vikings fans before the team can get back to winning?

Well, the top two quarterbacks got hurt, then the third quarterback got hurt. So looking at it long term, they're gonna have to get a quarterback, probably going to be Kirk Cousins. The teams in the division are going to be better. I don't look for a long road for them to be back, but it's going to be a very tough division. If you look at the young quarterbacks they have in the division with Campbell in Detroit with Goff, Chicago is definitely going to get their situation to improve with the high draft picks they have and the talent they already have. And Green Bay - impressive. Impressive this November, December into the postseason, youngest team in the NFL, so it's gonna be a battle in the north.

The Vikings have been associated with top-level wide receivers since your playing days. Is it part of the franchises’ DNA to have speedy wide players and why do they thrive in Minneapolis?

Well they've done a good job as far as drafting at the position. We have a great tradition as far as wide receivers there. And, you know, Justin Jefferson was able to continue that great tradition. So their scouting department has done a great job as far as looking for guys and then being able to develop guys that they can have long careers there. So it's what they do and what they're looking for.

Kirk Cousins is heading into an offseason where he is due to become a free agent, do you think he should stay or leave the team? Could the Vikings bring a suitable replacement this summer if he did leave?

Well, I mean, it's hard to replace the productivity that Kirk has had. It's obvious they need to get younger at that position, so as far as having a suitable backup, even if they signed Kirk, I'm sure they're gonna look at some other players as backup but I think their option is to sign him.

The last few days have seen the Vikings linked with quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. Do you think either player would be a good addition to the team?

I think that those players will become available. I think they do have talent. I think that from a coaching standpoint, the Vikings head coach has done a great job with the quarterbacks that he had as replacements even when Kirk was hurt, and I think those guys you mentioned got a lot of upside to them. I believe that Russell has a lot of good football left in him, and I believe Justin Fields has a long, long career and he can be a star in the NFL.

The Vikings have the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft. Where do you think their main priority position should lie?

Well, I think those things change if they decide to sign Kirk Cousins because they might have to get a quarterback at the top of the draft if they're not going to sign Kirk Cousins. If not, I'll look for them to potentially get a rush end. Another offensive lineman to beef up the offensive line, they could also use another linebacker. So those three positions besides quarterback - tackle, offense and defense, interior lineman, and linebacker.

In the NFC Central division in your time playing, who was the toughest team to play against during your career?

I would say, well, Green Bay, once they got the quarterback situation you know, we battled, it's always Green Bay and Chicago. I would say usually Green Bay and Chicago through those years.

Was there a player in particular that gave you a lot of grief?

No not for those two teams, no.

The Baltimore Ravens look good in their win over the Houston Texans over the weekend. Can Lamar Jackson take his team to a Super Bowl this year?

Offensively, the talent they have around him they have more this season. So they have the ability to diversify their offense and not just rely on his running ability. I believe this is their best opportunity, playing at home. Baltimore, man, a tremendous home-field advantage, a tremendous crowd there. So yes, this is definitely the best chance. I believe he's gonna get a second MVP announced soon. So it's gonna be a great game, he's going up against the modern day GOAT of quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes. But this is Lamar and Baltimore's best chance since he's been here.

Patrick Mahomes continued his playoff dominance over the Buffalo Bills. It looks like the Chiefs are finally finding form at the right time. Do you think this sets the Chiefs up to beat the Ravens?

Well, it's a tough matchup for them. You know, Baltimore, they still had the bye. They’re still gonna be fresher against Kansas City who's played two weeks in a row. They are battle-tested. They do have the best player on the field, that is Patrick Mahomes going into the game. You know, can Lamar not turn the football over? This sets up for him greatly, Kansas City's had so much success in the playoffs. Outside of Travis Kelce, can other players step up and make plays? So it's going to be a great game, it's gonna be a great, great football, I believe it's as evenly matched of a game as we've seen in the championship game of all time.

The San Francisco 49ers have looked like the team to beat for most of 2023 and advanced past the Green Bay Packers this weekend. Do you see them as a legitimate threat to the Super Bowl?

Of course, they probably got the best roster top to bottom. They'd like to take back to the NFC Championship from last year when their top two quarterbacks got hurt, they didn't get a chance to go to the Super Bowl, so it's no surprise San Francisco is right there. They've had a great season. They've been relatively healthy with some bumps and bruises. Deebo Samuel, will he participate in the game? I believe that that helps Detroit if he's not part of that offense. It takes away a lot of the variable things that they like to do with him as a multi-threat as a wide receiver and a running back. So San Francisco yes, they were one of the favorites from the beginning with Philadelphia to be able to return to the championship game and they were able to get there with Brock Purdy having the best season of his career.

How do you rate Brock Purdy’s first two seasons in the NFL? How rare is it to see a player so undervalued excel as well as he has done?

Well, it is very, very rare, history points to that. I think that the type of roster he joined in San Francisco really helped his growth and I believe he's an underrated passer of the football. His journey, when you don't have high expectations becomes a little bit easier, but he did play better than all quarterbacks that they've had playing there the last several years and their ability to throw the ball now is real compared to that being the most suspect part of the offense previously.

The Detroit Lions definitely exceeded everyone's expectations this season, it's fair to say. What would you put their success down to?

I wouldn't say they've exceeded everyone's expectations. If you go back to last season, the regular season ending, then being out of the playoffs, they went to Green Bay and beat Green Bay. And Green Bay if they win that game, Green Bay's in the playoffs. That also happened to be Aaron Rodgers's last game with the Green Bay Packers. They start the season in Kansas City opening night, they beat Kansas City in Kansas City. So if you look at the way Dan Campbell has built this team, they traded for Jared Goff.

Their offensive defensive lines are dominant. They're a physical team. They love to run the ball but their passing attack is underrated. So that's how they built it over the years but I wouldn't say that everyone is surprised by Detroit. I mean, Detroit is a talented football team, and the people that have been watching have seen those results. And they understand that wow. You know, this is a Detroit team. It's very, very different from the one I've seen. Absolutely.

Dallas Cowboys crashed out of the playoffs yet again, with their NFC Championship drought now stretching back to 1995. What needs to change in Dallas to be successful?

They have to be able to stop the run, and they have to be able to run the ball more effectively. Does it sound that simple? Yes. That's the problem the Dallas Cowboys have. They cannot run the ball on a regular basis. Their passing game, is very, very effective. Defensively, good linebackers. Great secondary play, but they can't stop the run. So when people carry the ball at them, they're going to have problems. That's the reason why they struggle - there are very, very talented teams in the NFC now too. If you're not formidable on both sides of the ball, then you're not going to be making it to the championship games and that's what the Cowboys are suffering from.

Louis Rees Zammit has announced his decision to join the NFL International Player Pathway, quitting Rugby Union. How big a jump do you think it will be for him?

Any type of jump in pro football is a huge jump. So, for our best players who play college football, we see it every year, we see players struggle. So, for anyone who has not come through the normal system, the jump is going to be even more drastic than that. It's hard to be an NFL player. Only 24,000 people have played in the NFL in 103 years. Only 14,000 of us have played more than four years. So it is not cut out for everyone to do. Those are the types of odds that he has to overcome.

What are your thoughts about people who switch sports?

Well, I think that there's an opportunity, but there are only a few sports that can mimic the skill, you know I think that Australian Rules Football there's some crossover. In professional soccer, there is some crossover in the kicking game,and then the last one is basketball. If a guy is typically between 6ft 4in - 6in, and he wants to play tight end, that is probably the best transition into being a tight end in the NFL. Those are the only sports that I've seen to transfer.

Where will Bill Belichick end up after leaving the New England Patriots?

I'm not certain that he will get a job. If he doesn't go to Atlanta, I don't see a soft landing for him. You know, there's no guarantee he will be coaching. I know he wants to coach but I think for what he wants to do and his style, it is not a style that you can just get anywhere.

What do you think of new Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo? Can he lead New England back to success?

Well, I think he's a good choice for a leader. I think that if you look at Robert Kraft, I think you have Pete Carrol, Bill Parcels, Belichick, and now Jerod Mayo. So I'll take his judgment on who he wants to lead his football team, he and his son Jonathan do a great job there. It's nice to see that they're going to continue that tradition of Bill Belichick, just with a different face and a different spin on it. So I think they will be successful long term.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce hit the headlines this year with their well-publicized romance. What do you make of all the media attention around the couple and do you think it's opened the NFL to a wider audience or brought unwanted attention?

Well, I mean, she's a megastar. It's hard to grow the game of American Football, and it's hard to grow it, especially within North America. Her being at the games, you know, to me it doesn't grow the game, because I think that when she's in or out of the game then her fans are going to be in or out of it. I think the game is sustainable in itself. With the characters, the teams, the uniforms, the rivalries, the way the game is staged, the quarterbacks we have playing the game, the drama that's involved, it's unpredictable. You know, it's a great thing. So I think that all those things are so superior to who Miss Swift is, and her relationship with Travis Kelce.

Travis Kelce hasn’t quite hit the hits of last season. Do you think that’s linked to the increase in media attention or just a coincidence?

No, I don't think he's distracted. He got injured before the season started and he struggled in the first part of the season. So he's been a star since he came into the league. He's a great guy. He's handled the media excellently. When you're playing, he plays this game at a high level, and you're one of the marquee players, if you get injured, your numbers could be affected by it, regardless of who you're dating and who you're not dating, all those things. You know, this is the natural flow of a career.