From Minneapolis, An Extra Ticket: NFL Players Past And Present Give Their Picks

Season Ticket is into OT with two special extra episodes leading up to Super Bowl Sunday! Today, we're joined by current and former NFL players who give their opinions about which team has the better chance in the Patriots-Eagles matchup. Chris Gasper (@CGasper) hosts from Radio Row at the Mall of America outside Minneapolis.

Guests

On which is the better team:
Chris Gasper: When you look at the Patriots and the Eagles, who's a more talented team?

Melvin Gordon: Philly.

Gasper: Why do you say Philly?

Gordon: Compared to our team, I wasn't overly impressed with New England. But that's probably because my expectations were so, so high, you know? But they have (strong players). I don't want to sit here and say they don't have guys. They definitely do. But I feel like Philly's defense is official. Their D-line were moshers.

"I wasn't overly impressed with New England, but that's probably because my expectations were so, so high, you know? But they have (strong players). I don't want to sit here and say they don't have guys. They definitely do. But I feel like Philly's defense is official."

Melvin Gordon, LA Chargers

On potential Patriots weaknesses:
Chris Gasper: What did you see when you played the Patriots? (Sunday, Oct. 29th, Patriots 21 - Chargers 13.) Were able to run the ball that day?

Melvin Gordon: They missed some tackles, and linebackers weren't in position. They made a couple of mistakes, and that's why I was able to gash them on that big run. But, like I said, they sewed up some of those holes a little bit in that second half. They made some adjustments

On "Brady Hatred":
Trae Waynes: You've got a lot of people out there that are just going to hate, and all the hate comes (for) someone you know who's great. He's probably going to go down as one of the best in history, and you've got to give him respect.

"You've got a lot of people out there that are just going to hate, and all the hate comes (for) someone you know who's great."

Trae Waynes, Minnesota Vikings, on Tom Brady

On what the Eagles need to do to win:
Merril Hodge: Disrupt Tom Brady ... If you can hit him, obviously that's on  everybody's wish list. But there's more ways to disrupt the passing game than just hitting your quarterback. I mean, you can disrupt your wide receivers, you can make that difficult for them. The timing just has to get knocked off somewhere. (That's) one of the most important aspects of the NFL. You have to do (that) to win on a consistent basis.

NOTE: Join Season Ticket on Super Bowl Sunday for another "Extra Ticket." Our special guest is Maria Menounos, a Medford native and Patriots diehard.