Former NFL executive pegs Arizona Cardinals for eight wins

Aug 16, 2013, 11:15 PM | Updated: Aug 17, 2013, 1:03 am
LISTEN: Gil Brandt, Cowboys' former VP of Player Personnel

Ask a handful of NFL experts how the Arizona Cardinals will do in 2013, and you’re likely to get a handful of different answers.

However, most seem to believe that, at the very least, they’ll be improved from a 5-11 2012.

NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt, who was once an executive with the Dallas Cowboys, is one of those experts.

“I just think that they have a chance to be an 8-8 football team,” Brandt told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf Friday.

Brandt, who has been touring various NFL training camps, said he noticed how upbeat Cards camp was, which may go to show how the players are buying into new coach Bruce Arians’ system. He wrote about his reasons for thinking that for NFL.com earlier in the week, said his belief in Arizona is based in the team’s entire offseason.

“I think everything that they’ve done: the hiring of a new coach, the drafting of the players they drafted — especially the Honey Badger — have been a real plus for this team,” he said.

Brandt says he understands there are question marks facing the Cardinals, including along the offensive line and in the running game, but believes those will not be issues this season.

“I think they’ve made some good offseason moves, which should help their football team,” he added.

Included among those moves is the addition of quarterback Carson Palmer, who Brandt believes will be very successful in the desert.

“I do think that Carson is really good,” Brandt said, before turning his attention to the receivers Palmer will be throwing to. “I think [Michael Floyd] seems to have lost some weight and he looks a lot better.

“And I tell you what, a lot of teams would like to have (Andre) Roberts as their second receiver, not their third receiver.”

Receiver Robby Toma makes a catch in the corner of the end zone during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Andre Roberts turns and runs during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Quarterbacks Drew Stanton, Ryan Lindley and Carson Palmer wait during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Quarterback Carson Palmer throws a pass during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Running back Alfonso Smith is wrapped up by linebacker Kevin Minter during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Defensive back Patrick Peterson watches quarterback Carson Palmer drop back to pass during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) The offense starts a play during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Defensive back Tyrann Mathieu during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Running back Stepfan Taylor during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Defensive back Patrick Peterson chats with receiver Larry Fitzgerald during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Robby Toma makes a catch during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Kerry Taylor waits for the ball to arrive during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Quarterback Carson Palmer talks with receiver Michael Floyd during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Running back Rashard Mendenhall runs with the ball during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Defensive back Tyrann Mathieu watches during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) The offense huddles up during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Offensive linemen Bobby Massie and Paul Fanaika get set during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Quarterback Ryan Lindley drops back to pass during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Defensive back Tyrann Mathieu picks off a pass during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Larry Fitzgerald receives instruction from head coach Bruce Arians during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Robert Gill runs by defensive back Tyrann Mathieu during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Michael Floyd tries to keep his balance during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Larry Fitzgerald runs by Patrick Peterson after making a catch during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Running back Andre Ellington begins to run a route during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Defensive backs in between drills during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Michael Floyd tries to get open against defensive back Patrick Peterson during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Defensive back Antoine Cason falls on receiver Kerry Taylor during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Michael Floyd makes a catch in the corner of the end zone during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Jaron Brown tries to make a catch during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Head coach Bruce Arians chats with defensive back Tyrann Mathieu during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Linebacker Sam Acho tries to pressure QB Carson Palmer as tackle Eric Winston blocks during Arizona Cardinals training camp Tuesday, Aug. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports)

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