Q: Geno Smith appears to be the guy for the Jets, but is there a chance Michael Vick can unseat him?
A: I don’t see it happening in training camp. It’s Geno’s job to lose and he can’t lose it in camp. Vick is coming in to be the backup. [He may start] if Geno disintegrates, but that’s hard to happen…I’m not sure you have a good answer if you have to go to Vick. You ride this thing with Geno and see how he develops.
Q: What do you make of the Giants, with all of their new players and a new offense to learn under offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo?
A: They’re a better team on paper in many ways, but you have too many moving parts in too many new areas.
At wide receiver, you’re bringing in a first-round pick in [Odell] Beckham Jr. who has talent, so you need to get him in there.
On the offensive line, left tackle didn’t change and that was their biggest problem. Running back, there’s a whole new crew there. [Rashad] Jennings is the bell cow, but will [David] Wilson stay healthy?…It’s a whole new system. That’s a lot of moving parts. It’s going to take time for the players to get it and the coaches to understand it.
Q: On the heels of his tumultuous offseason, how would you handle Johnny Manziel, and do you think he will be the Week 1 starter for the Browns?
A: [I would say to him], no endorsements Year One. No radio or TV shows. What did Peyton [Manning] do when he came into the league? [Andrew] Luck? No distractions. We want [him] totally focused on football…It’s unfair to expect a lot out of him this year. [With Josh] Gordon facing a drug suspension, he doesn’t really have…the Andre Johnson-[type] player to catch 100 balls…It’s [Brian] Hoyer’s job for the time being. [He’s] more experienced — so many unknowns about Manziel.
Q: Which team intrigues you the most this season?
A: The Bears. It’s their second year with [head coach Marc] Trestman, second year with some of those players together and maturing, and I think it’s a dynamic group…This is a playoff offense. The question is [Jay] Cutler. Will he be consistent enough and stay healthy?…[They’re] better on defense and I think the offense takes another step up.
Q: What team do you think could take a step back this year?
A: The Panthers. [Coach] Ron Rivera did a hell of a job and so did [general manager] Dave Gettleman, but they’re still recovering from the [salary] cap.
They did a good job signing one-year type free agents for not a lot of money. They tried to do that with receiver, like [Jerricho] Cotchery.
They’re veteran guys, but they’re not hard to defend…New Orleans made the playoffs last year, Atlanta will be better, and Tampa Bay is on the rise. It will be a tougher division.