Ask the Expert: Jerry Angelo

Jerry Angelo is a former personnel director for the Bucs and former general manager of the Bears. Each week, Angelo answers your questions regarding the NFL. Send your questions to GarySheltonsports@gmail.com with "ask the expert'' in the subject line. The most interesting question will be selected.

Friday, 6 a.m.

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t exactly struggled, but he hasn’t been the Rodgers we’re used to seeing after two games. Any observations about his play?

I can’t sit here and give you a definitive reason why he hasn’t been lighting it up.

We all know that he is special and hasn’t lost anything obvious from a physical standpoint. Let’s give him a couple more weeks and then start scrutinizing him. I feel he’s going to have another special year given he has all his weapons back in place.

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Minnesota's run of injuries continues. They lost Teddy Bridgewater and now Adrian Peterson. Are the Vikings done?

No, they’re not done, They are built around their defense and special teams. Certainly losing players of that caliber will have an impact, but not to the degree most people may think.

They are a well-schooled and disciplined team who play very hard and know how to win. They  have the swagger you look for in a good football team. The good news is they’ll get Peterson back and they have a good experienced quarterbacks in Bradford and Hill, both who are more than capable to fill in the loss of Bridgewater. The Vikes will be fine and contending again this year.

The emergency quarterback for New England is Julian Edelman. Would the Patriots be better served to bring in a quarterback off the street? Boomer Esiason suggested Peyton Manning.

As you may know, Edelman was quarterback in college at Kent Sate. So it makes sense he can be an emergency quarterback if need be.

The Patriots are rarely caught off-guard. They prepare for everything, particularly when it comes to handling injuries. You’re not going to get Manning out of those pajamas unless he has to pick up his Papa John’s pizza to go!

Bucs’ quarterback Jameis Winston had five turnovers against the Cardinals. Does that say more about Winston or about the abilities of the players playing around him?

Let’s just chalk it up as a bad day at the office.

The Bucs looked like they were still basking off their win in Atlanta. They faced a very talented and angry team in Arizona who were embarrassed last week on a prime time game. I thought they would get beat and they did. I didn’t think they would get blown out, but when you turn the ball over like they did, the score is understandable.

Their game this week against the Rams will tell you more about the team than  their loss last week to the Cardinals.

Who was your player of the week for Week 2?

I think you have to go with Big Ben. Roethlisberger had an incredible outing against a very good Cincinnati team in inclement conditions. Right now he is playing like an MVP.

Jerry's picks:

Los Angeles Rams at Tampa

The Bucs are going to be pumped and will handle the Rams at home. They can’t lose again in their home opener. If their coaches haven’t drummed that into them, that winning at home is a critical component in terms of their credibility, as well as taking the next step then they got the wrong guy running the show.

New England Patriots at Houston Texans

I’m going with the Texans. Belichick is the master of pulling rabbits out of hats, but at some point the audience catches on.

Steelers at Eagles

I’m going with the Steelers, the Eagles have been flying high, but they will face a well balanced seasoned team, who’ll show their young phenom quarterback what a real NFL team looks like.

Jay Gruden says he still has total faith in Kirk Cousins. Is he the only guy in Washington who does?

Probably, unless his mother and father decide to move to D.C.. Cousins is a serviceable quarterback with great intangibles. He is not physically gifted and has to have everything in place to perform at a high level. Most of the time, that’s not the case for quarterbacks, and that’s why they get paid the big bucks to make things happen when things don’t go according to plan.

He’ll play better, but in the end there was a reason the Redskins didn’t sign him to a long-term deal.

I saw a list online this week of the 11 worst teammates of all time. Who was the worst one you were ever around?

It’s not fair to pick on one guy. It wouldn’t be fair to the others who were probably equally as bad, but I was able to witness it first hand.

Whose slow start would worry you the most? Jacksonville’s Alan Robinson, the Rams’ Todd Gurley or the Bucs’ Vincent Jackson?

Jackson, because he hasn’t played well the last several seasons. Is he declining or is he loafing? Hard to say, but right now my eyes would be on him.

This week’s best-of-the-franchise question is about the Minnesota Vikings. Is their best-ever player:

A. Alan Page

B. John Randle

C. Fran Tarkenton

D. Cris Carter

E. Randy Moss

I’m going with John Randle. The guy was a beast. He was unblockable on game day. He was a fierce competitor with a great motor who was equally adept at playing the run as he was rushing the quarterback.