Gresh & Zo: Boomer Esiason On Aaron Rodgers, Steelers Defense & More
BOSTON (CBS) - NFL Today analyst and WFAN's Boomer Esiason joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Gresh and Zolak Thursday afternoon from Dallas to chat some football.
Esiason, the NFL MVP in 1988, is picking the Green Bay Packers to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday's Super Bowl.
"I just think (they have) more explosive players, they're healthier coming into the game, and I just think this is going to be Aaron Rodgers year," Boomer told Gresh and Zo. "I'm very happy for the young man because he's had to come out from the shadow of Bret Favre. You could imagine what this victory would mean to him if he can get it for Green Bay."
He also said the Patriots could provide the Packers with a blueprint on how to beat Pittsburgh.
"Everybody is assuming that the Packers are going to try to do what the Patriots did to this defense, and that's spread them out and throw the around the field," Esiason said. "So that means it's all on the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers."
The Steelers are coming in banged up, with injuries to Safety Troy Polamalu and rookie Center Maurkice Pouncey. Pouncey has said during the week a broken ankle will not keep him from the game, but Esiason disagrees.
"I don't care what Maurkice Pouncey says, he is not going to be playing," he said. "If he does play he is not going to be very effective with a broken ankle. That's where B.J. Raji, Boston College's B.J. Raji I might add, could have a mamouth game for the Green Bay Packers on defense."
Two of Esiason's children are currently enrolled at Boston College. As long as they are not playing his Maryland Terrapins, he roots for the Eagles.
The New York Jets also came up, the team that ended the Patriots season two wins short of a trip to Dallas. The Jets have some tough decisions this off-season with 20 free agents set to hit the market. This includes Wide Receivers Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes. Boomer thinks it's a no brainer if New York can only keep one of them.
"I think I have to take Santonio Holmes, even as kooky he is. Well they're both kooky, they're all kooky that play that position now-a-days," Boomer joked. "I think they're going to have to keep Santonio Holmes, I think he's more explosive of those two."
Boomer still thinks the Jets will be good next year, but questions how good the Patriots biggest rival can be.
"They're going to be a good team next year, I just don't know if they're ready to compete for the Super Bowl. They're missing a little something, and maybe that comes with the maturation of (Quarterback) Mark Sanchez."
Listen Gresh and Zo's Whole Interview With Boomer
