My 7 New Years Resolutions for 2017

As I type this, 2017 is just about 4 hours away, so it's time to make my New Years Resolutions.  Yes, plural.  And in fact, there will be SEVEN of them.  To be totally honest, I'll be happy if I accomplish 4 of these.  I'll aim for all 7, but I feel like the more Resolutions I make the more I'll accomplish.

1. Lose Weight
I've lost count on the number of different ways I've tried losing weight.  But this time, there's no excuses.  I'm cutting out sweets, sugary drinks, and eating anything in excess.  I love to eat, but I'd love myself more if I was in better shape.  As the weather warms up during the year, I also plan to work out more, possibly even get a gym membership. 

2. Answer Phone Calls
Yes, I know, what a silly resolution.  But I have a slight phobia of talking to strangers on the phone.  Which is why I have never answered the phone from an unknown number.  Funny thing is when I work customer service at my job, I answer the phone several times a day from people I don't know.  But from now on I plan to answer it (unless I am driving, working, busy, etc.)  I know, 9 times out of 10 it'll probably be a telemarketer or something else like that, but that one time out of 10 could be an opportunity of something I am missing out on.

3. Make progress in/towards a career
I think I've put this as a goal anytime I've made a list of goals to accomplish, but it bears repeating.  I've been stuck where I am for years and it's time to change.  Or at the very least get started or do something in addition (2nd job?).  At some point this year I will figure out a secondary source of income or a career I want to pursue. 

4. Seize an opportunity if it presents itself
This is pretty vague, but I've never been one to "seize" things.  But I plan to change that about myself.  Every time there is an opportunity for something productive, fun, or something that could better my life in any way, I will seize it. 

5. Buy Less Stuff/Give Stuff Away
I've been accused by my friends of being a "hoarder".  Yeah, I own a lot of crap, but one thing most people don't know about me is that I can get sentimental with certain objects.  A souvenir I got at a gift shop one time I traveled.  It's hard for me to give stuff away.  But I'll do my best.  There's the Buy Nothing project where people are more than happy to see cool things for free.  There's also Goodwill/Value Village.  There's a decent chance I might move this year, so I'll need to part with a lot of objects before moving if I do.  Also, I need to watch my spending and only buy things I need, not what I want.

6. Learn an Instrument
This one I won't be too shocked if I don't end up completing it, but one thing I've always had on my bucket list is learning how to play an instrument.  My top three instruments I'd want to learn to play would be piano, guitar, or ukulele.  Probably guitar.  If you didn't know already, I really enjoy singing and if I learned an instrument I could pair that with my voice and entertain people at get-togethers.

7. BE HAPPY! :)
This one is pretty simple and straightforward, but is definitely important.  I plan to wake up each day with a smile on my face and not let little things bother me.  Too often I get upset at things falling/breaking or my team losing, but being upset over those things that won't matter in 5, 10 years is utterly pointless.  I plan to make 2017 the happiest year of my life. :)

I know that's a lot, especially for me, but like I said earlier if I accomplish more than half of these I'll be happy.  Obviously if I accomplish #7 I'll be happy.... oy... well here's to a fantastic 2017!!!

Ranking my Top 10 Favorite NFL Broadcasters

Watching NFL Football is one of my favorite things to do, it's one of the reasons I love the fall and winter seasons.  With that comes the broadcasters who call the games.  Here I will rank my Top 10 NFL Broadcasters, including analysts.  These guys are all currently on air and I will explain why I like them.

10. Joe Buck, play-by-play, FOX
Most people hate Joe Buck and dread getting him for their team's game.  I don't exactly feel that way, because that means Fox's #1 team is covering us.  My only real problem with Buck is how much Fox overuses him, from their NFL and MLB broadcasts.  But he knows when to get excited (usually) and knows the NFL game very well and knows the players just as well as any broadcaster.  Another thing I don't like is how often he concludes a big play with "No flags," especially the DeSean Jackson punt return TD in the Miracle at the Meadowlands.  Totally killed the vibe of that play. 

9. Chris Collinsworth, analyst, NBC
Another one that most fans don't like but I kind of do is Chris Collinsworth.  I love how much he knows the game and I almost always agree with his viewpoint on certain things like rules and calls by the officials.  His call of the Odell Beckham Jr. catch certainly made it better.  The one thing I don't like too much is the sound of his voice.  It's nasally and can get annoying over time. 

8. Greg Gumbel, play-by-play, CBS
He and Dan Dierdorf made just the perfect pairing and were one of my favorites to call a game.  Now that Dierdorf has retired it's just not the same.  But Gumbel's experience and smooth-sounding voice are always a pleasure.  But he seems to be a bit better fit for CBS's college basketball games now.

7. Daryl Johnston, analyst, FOX
Kenny, Moose & Goose were quite the trio on FOX for a few years.  Now that "Goose" (Tony Siragusa) is gone, it's not the same, but Daryl "Moose" Johnston is doing a good job basically doing both roles now.  He has a voice made for TV broadcasts and it really is quite the contrast from Kenny Albert's nasally sounding one. 

6. Kevin Burkhardt, play-by-play, FOX
Kevin hasn't been in the NFL business for that long but he's done a great job, rising to FOX's #2 team with John Lynch.  He has a very good sounding voice and knows when the situation calls for excitement.  The Seahawks get him a lot, which I am totally fine with. 

5. Ian Eagle, play-by-play, CBS
Ian and his partner Dan Fouts work well together on CBS and have for years.  Ian does a good job calling NBA games as well.  He knows the game well and his calls of big plays are some of my favorite.  Whenever I see a game of his on TV I always have to watch at least part of it. 

4. Jim Nantz, play-by-play, CBS
Jim has been a CBS mainstay for years, moving from studio to broadcast booth not too long ago.  He always works with Phil Simms, who he works well with but at times brings down the level of energy generated by Nantz.  But whenever CBS does the Super Bowl, Jim always does a great job.

3. Jon Gruden, analyst, ESPN
I loved Jon Gruden as a coach and I love him even more as an analyst for Monday Night Football.  He knows the game and knows plays, formations, you name it, being a former coach.  He picks his Gruden Grinder and that always tends to be someone overlooked.  Not sure I like the pairing of Gruden and McDonough (He and Tirico  did such a great job together), but perhaps with time it'll make more sense.  After all, I wasn't a huge fan of Tirico/Gruden at first.

2. Kevin Harlan, play-by-play, CBS, Westwood One
Kevin Harlan simply put is one of the best in the business.  Not only does he excel at calling NFL games on TV AND radio (doing the radio broadcast for every Monday Night Football game), but he excels at calling College Basketball for CBS during March Madness time.  Recently Kevin made a radio call for a Rams/49ers MNF game about a maniac running on the field and it was totally epic. 

1. Al Michaels, play-by-play, NBC
He is the best in the business and has been for years.  There's a reason NBC is hanging on tight to him (and even got him to do two games a week for a bit).  It'll be a sad day for me when he decides to retire.  I will go out of my way to watch Sunday Night Football games on NFL GamePass just to hear him call a game.  For someone 70+ years old he sure knows the game and its players well. 

My Summer Movie Season

Watching movies over the summer?  Still hard to do.  With work and play, I found not much time to watch movies, but I did what I could.  The unfortunate thing to me is though that I didn't really watch any films that wowed me (in a good way).  No film scored higher than an 8/10 with me.  And I know I said I would watch 32 movies, but I only got to 22.  Yikes.  I'm sorry.  And there will be no awards, seeing as there weren't too many quality films nor films in general.  But here are my reviews nonetheless.


Labyrinth - 7/10
Pretty much what I expected.  I thought it would have a few more musical numbers, but the one prominent one it did have, "Dance Magic Dance", was catchy and enjoyable.  Hard to believe Jennifer Connolly was only 15 during the making of this film.  Felt a bit too childish for an adult, but too scary for kids.  But it had some good morals and interesting and wise life lessons.

X-Men First Class - 8/10
Never before had I seen an X-Men movie, but this one I really enjoyed.  I think I liked the casting most of all, with Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy perfectly cast.  Not sure if I'll ever watch the original X-Men films because I keep hearing how characters are different, relationships change, etc.  But this one had great CGI and the early flashbacks added some good depth to the characters.

22 Jump Street - 5/10
I shouldn't have watched this movie while I was so tired, because I kept dozing off.  Couldn't tell if I was that tired or if the movie wasn't that interesting.  I just expect more from an action comedy, I guess.  I also realized that I had already seen the final few minutes of the film already when it was on TV.  Just overall not that enjoyable of an experience for me, and I don't recall laughing, either.  Maybe a tiny bit during the "My name is Jeff" line. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows - 6/10
Didn't see the first in this new TMNT series, but they did a fairly decent job making me not feel too lost.  I thought the Turtles were cool and the CGI was a bit better than I expected, but there were too many things with the film that made me shake my head, such as Casey Jones getting kicked into a car, causing a HUGE dent, and getting up with no visible damage.  Also Shredder for me was a disappointment.  But the movie kept me entertained throughout, and the credits sequence with the classic TMNT theme song was awesome, so at least there's that.

Now You See Me 2 - 6/10
Not sure I liked this one quite as much as the first.  But it was decent enough, with most of the tricks impressing me, although I did see the final one coming, sort of.  Lizzy Caplan was a welcome replacement for Isla Fisher.  Daniel Radcliffe, however, was sorely underutilized.  He played one of the most famous magicians in fictional history in Harry Potter yet he technically isn't seen performing any magic in this.  Was a bit disappointed.

Lolita - 6/10
A remake of the 1960s version based on novel... wasn't that entertained by it.  Jeremy Irons is good, and his voice just has a velvety smoothness that makes him very easy to listen to, and smart of any director to include narration when he has a lead role.  The fact that this almost 20 year old movie was set in the 50s really made it feel older than it is... today it looks/feels like it was made in the 80's.  

Finding Dory - 8/10
I thought this was a very good follow up/sequel to Finding Nemo.  Didn't seem to quite have the magic the first one did, but it still was very enjoyable and heartwarming.  I didn't like how much the fish and Hank the "Septopus" were out of the water, and Hank driving a big truck and NOT hitting anything?  Really?  Other than that it was very well made and I definitely want to watch it again. 

Thor: The Dark World - 6/10
Wasn't too impressed with this Thor sequel.  So Loki's not dead (called it), what a surprise.  I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first, but it did have some nice moments.  For me, Kat Dennings stole the show.  She either was the black sheep or the star, either way the performances of Hemsworth, Portman, and others really lacked.  We'll see how "Ragnarok" is.

R.I.P.D. - 7/10
A lot of people say this is bad, and I can kind of see why, but I found it to be pretty enjoyable.  I laughed several times.  And whenever a movie introduces a new universe/concept you have to give it some credit.  Reynolds and Bridges worked well together and I'd love to see them team up again, even if it's not in the R.I.P.D. universe. 

Independence Day: Resurgence - 6/10
Kind of a letdown, I gotta say.  It never really wowed me, but kept me entertained at least.  Not having Will Smith hurt a bit, and Liam Hemsworth is not a suitable replacement, in my opinion.  No A list stars in this one, so it felt kinda like a "B" movie.  Too many predictable moments.  But I like the idea of an intergalactic war, something we'll see in ID3.  That premise seems to be intriguing and makes for a more interesting plot than, "They're back". 

10 Cloverfield Lane - 8/10
I definitely found this movie intriguing.  It had me going back and forth between whether or not Howard (John Goodman) was telling the truth.  Turns out he was sort of right, but he knew he was lying.  I'm usually not a fan of movies that change genres, and this one definitely seemed to, going from thriller to possibly horror to sci-fi.  I definitely would like to see a sequel, see what happens to Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).

The Butterfly Effect - 8/10
Ok, I gotta admit I have seen this before, but two things: One, it had been about 10 years, so I had forgotten most of it.  Two, I hadn't seen the Director's Cut, so having a different ending almost makes it a different movie.  I gotta say though, with the Director's Cut ending, it's very sad.  Evan (Ashton Kutcher) can go back to past moments in his life, and he does to right before his birth, and he is somehow able to choke himself with the umbilical cord, ending his life.  Not a huge fan of this ending, which kept me from giving it a 9, but otherwise this movie was fantastic, some of Ashton's best work.

Maggie - 4/10
Never have I seen a more boring Zombie movie.  I cared very little for the characters, and Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't in it as much as he would appear to be based on his billing.  There were only a few moments I was completely focused on the film, one of them being when Maggie (Abigail Breslin) cuts off her decaying finger.  Yikes.  Other than that, I found little value in this film.

Requiem for a Dream - 3/10
Hate on me all you want, but I couldn't stand this movie.  I believed Jared Leto and Jennifer Connolly as a couple, and I liked the score by Clint Mansell, but that's it.  I just could not enjoy this film other than that.  It's really a film that you have to find the deeper meaning behind, and needless to say I failed to do so.

The Help - 8/10
While I felt my attention ebbing away at times, I thought the acting was good and the costumes/sets were all very well done.  I thought it was a bit too long and the pacing was a bit drawn out, but that's what you get with period films, often ones based on books. 

Suicide Squad - 7/10
Joker was sorely underutilized and the plot was a bit simplistic, but I did really enjoy it.  Will Smith was terrific as Deadshot and Margot Robbie was PERFECT as Harley Quinn.  They did a decent enough job making us root for the bad guys, basically, which is not an easy task. 

The Incredibles - 8/10
Techincally I had already seen this, but I don't think I had in its entirety and it had been awhile.  Sue me.  Anyway, this was a very well done family-friendly film by Brad Bird and I'm glad to hear they're making a sequel. 

The BFG - 7/10
I thought Spielberg did a really good job, bringing to life Roal Dahl's children's book.  The part I didn't like was the Queen and her staff going along with everything, including drinking the BFG's green liquid (she didn't even know what it was!).  But if you can get past the believability factor, it's enjoyable and fun for the whole family.

The War Zone - 7/10
What a disturbed family.  Anyway, I thought the pacing was decent and my emotions kind of went in stride with Tom's, but it was a bit too messed up, even for me.  Colin Farrell had like, one scene?  But the acting was VERY good, from Lara Belmont to Tilda Swinton to Ray Winstone.

Blair Witch - 5/10
Never having seen the original "Blair Witch Project" I went into this with few expectations and I was still disappointed.  The fate of most characters is left up in the air, and this mysterious "witch" is still mysterious.  It did have some heart-pounded moments that kept me on the edge of my seat, but that's about it.

The Aviator - 8/10
I think Leo deserved his first Oscar win here, but other than that there wasn't a ton I was impressed by.  Cate Blanchett's acting was really good as well.  It was fun to see the lives of the real actresses, which I presume were fairly accurate.  But I just couldn't bring myself to care for Howard Hughes that much.  But whenever Scorsese and Leo get together they always make a quality film.  This just happens to be my least favorite of theirs.

Knock Knock - 5/10
Boy those b*****s were CRAZY.  Killing a man's friend and ruining all of his belongings, probably ruining his marriage, only because he gave into their HUMONGOUS advances.  Sure.  Anyway, aside from the believability, it was a bit funny at times, but the kind of funny where it's so bad it's funny, like Keanu's acting at times.  It kept me engaged throughout so at least it was entertaining, but the ending left a bit to be desired, like the wife confronting him.  But the son's line at the end... not much tops, "Dad had a party!" 

Well, thanks for reading!  As you can tell I love doing short reviews of films, and if my heart is in it more (And if I have enough time) I may do another movie spree, maybe Movie May 3 next year?  Still have plenty of films I own I still haven't watched!

What's wrong with the Seahawks Offense? A lot of things

The Seahawks have started the season not quite as well as we would have hoped, starting 1-1 and scoring just a combined 15 points through two games.  The defense has only allowed 21 total points in two games, but that was only good enough for one win.  So clearly, the problems with this team lie on the offensive side of the ball.  Here's what's causing it:

- The offensive line
This might be the biggest reason.  I'd say the Seahawks have perhaps two average quality starters on their line (Britt at center, Gilliam at right tackle).  The rest are way below average, maybe the worst in their league at their positions.  Bradley Sowell may be the worst of the bunch, drawing penalties in both games so far, allowing sacks, and not dominating ANY defensive end on a play.  He was a free agent for a reason: he sucks.  Glowinski, while filling in for Germain Ifedi, hasn't done that well, especially in run-blocking.  Webb has gotten beat by both Dolphins and Rams nose tackles multiple times.  Getting Ifedi back from injury will help, but only slightly.  The Seahawks have believed the last few seasons that they can rely on offensive line coach Tom Cable to "coach them up", but if you have high school level offensive linemen in the NFL, there is only so much a single coach can do.  For too long they have neglected the offensive line, leaving it devoid of talent, and it's costing them.

- The play-calling
Not a huge reason, but some of the runs and designs of the plays so far look insanely amateurish.  The plays they've run look like they were designed by a first year high school coach.  Bevell, the offensive coordinator, for too long has been like an anchor on the cruise ship of the offense, holding them back instead of letting them go.  He was decent when the offense was focused on running the ball and had a decent offensive line that included Okung, Unger, Giacomini, and Carpenter.  But with a bad offensive line, we have to adjust the offense to have more quick passes and outside runs, but Bevell has absolutely FAILED to do that.  He is still running the offense and calling plays as if we still had a decent O-line and Marshawn Lynch.  You give Wilson a coordinator that can utilize him effectively (I personally think Chip Kelly would be perfect), and he would put up MVP numbers.

- The lack of discipline
As my father often points out to me, the offense will almost on a routine basis put themselves in a hole to start or kill a drive by committing penalties.  The biggest bugaboos have been holding and false starts.  Whatever Cable is teaching our line isn't working 100% because they are still committing multiple penalties a game.  In the Rams game, however, it was offensive pass interference that got them.  Regardless, this team in the Pete Carroll era has consistently been undisciplined and always been towards the top of the league in penalties per game.  Quite a difference from the Mike Holmgren years.

- The defense 
Sometimes an offense's best source of offense is its defense.  It was definitely a huge part of their scoring in 2013, the year the Hawks won the Super Bowl.  So far this year the defense hasn't done their offense any favors.  Sure, they're holding opponents to no more than 12 points, but they are not giving their offense good field position, whether it be with 3-and-outs or turnovers.  The offense is routinely forced to drive over 80 yards to score, which would be tough to do for any offense in the NFL.  The most common scenario is the defense will allow the opposition to get a few first downs, usually not enough for a touchdown, but enough to get the Hawks offense backed up in their own end of the field.

- Wilson's ankle injury
Russ's ankle injury definitely hampered him in Week 2, because the Rams obviously knew he wasn't a huge threat to run anymore.  That's basically like losing a starting running back to injury.  However, if you go back to before he got injured in Week 1, the offense was still having trouble, so this issue is not that big of a reason for the offense's struggles.

So the question is, how do we fix these issues?  Like I said, Ifedi returning should help, but this team needs some outside help on the offensive line somehow, at least at left tackle.  Bevell needs to open up the passing game and focus on screens, slants, and heck, even deep passes to get the offense going.  The lack of discipline I feel will always be a problem, but the Hawks usually tone down their penalties a bit towards the second half of the season.  Knowing this defense the turnovers will start coming which will immensely help the Hawks put up more points.  And Russ is bound to be healthy by mid-October at the latest, meaning he should be 100% healthy for games against New England, Green Bay, and Carolina.

One last good thing: There's only one way for this offense to go and that's up.  They can't possibly get any worse so long as Wilson is under center.  I have confidence this offense will turn things around, and it will certainly help to not have to face a front seven as talented as Miami's or St. Louis's.  But keep in mind San Francisco shut out St. Louis and the Jets front seven is definitely top 10.  The offense will come around, but maybe not as fast as we'd like.

2016 NFL and Seahawks Predictions!

Well, the 2016 season is almost upon us, which means my annual NFL and Seahawk predictions.  I will start with the Seahawks this time, going game by game, picking leaders for categories that aren't a given. 

Week 1, vs. Miami Dolphins: Win 27-16 (1-0)
The offense gets off to a slow start but comes alive late.  Hopefully the Hawks won't need a last minute pick 6 like the last time the Dolphins visited Seattle, all the way back in 2004.  I was at that game.  Michael Boulware (remember him?) had the INT.

Week 2, at Los Angeles Rams: Win 24-21 (2-0)
Feels weird saying "Los Angeles Rams".  But with the Rams moving I don't think their road struggles against the Rams continue.  Might be close, but I see the Hawks coming out on top.

Week 3, vs. San Francisco 49ers: Win 34-10 (3-0)
The 49ers are a complete shell of the team they used to be.  All of their stars are gone or have faded (Kaepernick).  This is a must win. 

Week 4, at New York Jets: Win 19-16 (4-0)
Never been impressed with any Jets team in recent memory.  I see too much turmoil and lack of team chemistry with them.  That being said, they'll put up a fight but lose.

Week 6, vs. Atlanta Falcons: Win 30-14 (5-0)
Dan Quinn's return to Seattle will not go as planned.  I have the Falcons having a down season (see more below) so this should be a fairly easy victory.

Week 7, at Arizona Cardinals: Win 35-31 (6-0)
The Hawks have had success in Arizona recently and I think that continues.  Should be a bit of a shootout at worst.  Will be an entertaining game either way.

Week 8, at New Orleans Saints: Loss 34-26 (6-1)
I thought about the Hawks starting 8-0 or so, but I have a feeling they might look past this game a bit.  They will be really focused on the Cardinals and then the next week they'll be looking forward to getting home. 

Week 9, vs. Buffalo Bills: Win 28-17 (7-1)
The Hawks defense practices against Wilson constantly, and playing against Taylor should be fairly easy.  Rex Ryan will complain several times and complain about the noise after the game.

Week 10, at New England Patriots: Loss 24-23 (7-2)
I can see this game actually being a defensive struggle.  But playing in New England in November is no easy task for ANY team.  Also, would continue the tradition of losing to an AFC team every year.

Week 11, vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Win 27-9 (8-2)
The Eagles could be very bad this year.  With this game sandwiched between to east coast trips, a win is mandatory. 

Week 12, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Win 12-10 (9-2)
I'll guess that this game will have very few offensive fireworks.  I think our D can shut Winston down but I worry about the long trip affecting our offense.  But it will be just enough.

Week 13, vs. Carolina Panthers: Win 19-14 (10-2)
The Seahawks want revenge for losing to the Panthers TWICE last year.  The Hawks offense will be in a stretch where people start to wonder what is going on, but the defense steps up.

Week 14, at Green Bay Packers: Win 13-10 (11-2)
The Hawks want revenge here as well, and in a December game at Lambeau points may be at a premium.  The Hawks are also due for a win at Lambeau. 

Week 15, vs. Los Angeles Rams: Win 20-10 (12-2)
Again, revenge for last year.  It will be another dirty, hard-fought game, but this time the ball bounces the Hawks way (literally).

Week 16, vs. Arizona Cardinals: Win 30-20 (13-2)
Did I mention revenge yet as a motivating factor?  Hawks have a stretch of four games in a row where they lost to that opponent last year at the same sight the game is being played at.  I'd be happy with 3 wins in this stretch, but I'll be optimistic and say they get all four. 

Week 17, at San Francisco 49ers: Win 20-7 (14-2)
Meaningless game, possibly?  Either way I think our 2nd stringers beat their best.

More on the Hawks in the playoffs later.  Now, the predictions for team leaders!
Rushing Yards: Thomas Rawls
Rushing TD's: Christine Michael
Receiving Yards: Doug Baldwin
Receiving TD's: Jimmy Graham
Sacks: Michael Bennett
Interceptions: Earl Thomas
Tackles: KJ Wright
Hawks Rookie of the Year: Jarran Reed
Hawks MVP: Russell Wilson
Hawks comeback player: Paul Richardson
Hawks unsung hero: Justin Britt

Now, onto my predictions for EACH TEAM!

AFC East
1. Patriots (12-4)
Losing Brady for the first four games hurts (Oh well, you cheaters), but I think Garoppolo will hold down the fort, go 2-2 or 3-1.  
2. Bills (9-7, WC)
I think their playoff drought (longest in the NFL, only one longer in big 3 sports longer than the Mariners) will end, and they'll get a wild card.  Rex will work his magic.  And the Mariners will have the longest playoff drought in all of sports.  HA HA.
3. Jets (8-8)
So they recently resigned Fitzpatrick to a one year contract, which he'll need to prove to them he's worthy of a long-term deal, so expect him to do well.  But I just don't see the ground attack being enough to complement him.
4. Dolphins (6-10)
They won't be horrible, but they're not going to overpower anyone.  Ryan Tannehill is the most run of the mill QB I think I've ever seen.  He's good enough to hold down the starting job, never good enough to get playoffs or a Pro Bowl nod.

AFC North
1. Cincinnati Bengals (11-5)
Spurred on by the heartbreaking loss in the playoffs the Bengals roar back and have a good season, start to finish.  One of the best all around rosters in the AFC still.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)
Big Ben, the douchebag he is, will get hurt or struggle, I predict.  Their defense is still a work in progress. 
3. Baltimore Ravens (6-10)
Ever since Ray Ray left they've been terrible.  That will continue, for the most part.  Who's their running back?  And their defense is awfully pedestrian now.
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)
Cleveland will be Cleveland.  Every time I pick the Browns to have a surprisingly good year, they suck.  So, I'm picking them to suck.

AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
You heard it here first, folks.  This team is on the rise, and it's not exactly one of the best divisions.  Bortles will take a big step forward, and Robinson/Hurns will emerge as perhaps the best 1-2 WR combo.
2. Indianapolis Colts (8-8)
I don't get all the Andrew Luck Hype.  Well, if he was in Seattle he might have similar success to Russell Wilson, but in Indy I don't see him having much more success.  Too bad for him he signed that contract extension.
3. Tennessee Titans (8-8)
Mariota will make strides as will the rest of his team, but Mariota, IMO, is only the 3rd best QB in his division.  No one is picking the Titans higher than 4th, except maybe Titans fans.
4. Houston Texans (5-11)
Not every year, but every once in a while we see a fairly large contract given to a QB who had BRIEF moments of excellence, and they completely bomb and end up ruining their team's chances.  I'm predicting that for Houston and Brock Osweiler.  Brock had the talent around him in Denver and won't have as much in Houston.

AFC West
1. Denver Broncos (9-7)
Colin Cowherd picked the Broncos to finish 3rd with a 6-10 record.  REALLY?  The only things they really lost were QB's.  Granted, I'm not too assured with Sanchez/Lynch, but this defense was one of the best ever last year.  They're still there.  They will carry the team if they have to.  And Denver should have a running game.
2. Oakland Raiders (9-7, WC)
Possibly a wild card spot, we'll see.  I like their chances and they've been built better than they have for many years. 
3. Kansas City Chiefs (8-8)
Alex Smith is so pedestrian.  He is the very definition of a game manager.  He won't beat you with his arm.  Granted, he won't let too many mistakes happen, but in a fairly tough division you need a gunslinger at QB, and Smith is not it.
4. San Diego Chargers (6-10)
Any chance Rivers will want out?  The Chargers, unless there's some sort of minor miracle, aren't going anywhere.  They're not horrible, but escaping from last may be tough.

NFC East
1. New York Giants (10-6)
What the heck.  This division is the hardest to pick IMO, mostly because injuries to QB's in this division have a bigger effect than in other divisions.  Here's to Eli having a good season,  being the only Manning in the league now.
2. Dallas Cowboys (9-7, WC)
I can't see THAT much of a bounce back season for the 'Boys.  They won't be God awful like they were last year, but Ezekiel Elliot will only be so-so. 
3. Washington Redskins (7-9)
You know what, Kirk Cousins?  I do like that.  I like that you're staying in Washington for a while, never leading them past the first round in the playoffs.  You're the Andy Dalton of the NFC.  And you have nowhere near the talent around him he does.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (5-11)
Doug Pederson sure has his plate full.  The odds of two straight drafts were the Top 2 QB's taken all have good careers is very unlikely.  Mariota/Winston seem to be decent.  Goff I think will be good.  That leaves Wentz as the odd man out.  But we'll see.

NFC North
1. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)
I'm not a huge fan of Teddy Bridgewater, but excluding the QB position, I'll take the Vikings over the Packers any day.  If Teddy can play just well enough he can get them the division title.
2. Green Bay Packers (9-7, WC)
I don't know what will happen.  Maybe their defense will suck.  Maybe their O-Line will.  Something will, and it will hurt them.  Not enough to miss the playoffs, but enough to probably cost them the division.
3. Detroit Lions (8-8)
Sure, they lost Megatron to retirement but that may help them in a way.  Stafford is a very good QB even without him.  We've seen QB's have success without a true #1, they just need protection and a running game.  The running game is the big question. 
4. Chicago Bears (4-12)
What to say about Da Bears?  They seem to be like a car stuck in the mud.  They just need that push to get them unstuck.  That won't happen this year, I don't think.

NFC South
1. Carolina Panthers (13-3)
No one can argue that as long as they stay (relatively) healthy that they're not the best all around team in their division.  They're built to be competitive, but to win a title?  That we'll have to see.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
They'll take a big leap forward.  I used to think Jameis Winston would be a bust but now I'm thinking he'll be like Cam Newton, maybe a hair or two below.  I like his desire to win. 
3. New Orleans Saints (8-8)
Their defense will be improved, and Brandin Cooks will emerge as one of the best weapons in the game. 
4. Atlanta Falcons (5-11)
I don't know what it'll be, but I'm just not liking the way this team is being put together.  Dan Quinn will be on the hot seat.

NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks (14-2)
Yes, I'm biased, but the last time the Seahawks lost in the divisional round, they won their division and the Super Bowl the following year.  It won't be easy with the Cards still competitive, though.
2. Arizona Cardinals (9-7)
Carson Palmer is aging.  I doubt he'll age as gracefully as guys like Brett Favre and Kurt Warner.  Larry Fitzgerald is aging too. 
3. San Francisco 49ers (8-8)
I know, but it's the Chip Kelley effect.  He'll win more games than expected which will instill false hope in the Niner fanbase.  He did it in Philadelphia.  Heck, if the Cardinals really struggle or deal with injuries, they could reach 2nd place! 
4. Los Angeles Rams (6-10)
I don't know what it'll be, but I don't see much leadership on this team.  They cut a lot of defensive leaders.  We'll see.

And now onto playoff predictions!

AFC Playoffs

1. Patriots
2. Bengals
3. Broncos
4. Jaguars
5. Bills
6. Raiders

NFC Playoffs

1. Seahawks
2. Panthers
3. Giants
4. Vikings
5. Packers
6. Cowboys

AFC WC
Raiders at Broncos: Broncos
Bills at Jaguars: Jaguars

NFC WC
Cowboys at Giants: Giants
Packers at Vikings: Packers

AFC Div
Jaguars at Patriots: Patriots
Broncos at Bengals: Broncos

NFC Div
Packers at Seahawks: Seahawks
Giants at Panthers: Panthers

Championship Games
Broncos at Patriots: Patriots
Panthers at Seahawks: Seahawks

Super Bowl LI: Seahawks over Patriots :D

There you have it.  The Hawks get their revenge on the Patriots.  That would be a perfect way for the 2016 season to go.  But we'll see.  Should be an extremely exciting season, even without Beast Mode.  GO HAWKS!

LeBron James - The Greatest Ever?

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers just won the 2015-16 NBA Title, the first major sports championship for the city of Cleveland in 52 YEARS.  He of course won the Finals MVP, and after appearing in six straight NBA Finals with two different teams, finally won one for his hometown team.  People are starting to debate if he is the greatest ever.  Of course, the one to compare him to would be His Airness, Michael Jordan.  Is LeBron catching MJ?  You betcha.  Will he surpass him?  That'll be up to basketball fans for years to come.

LeBron's career has taken many turns.  Drafted straight out of high school, he and the Cavs struggled to have much success, but he did bring them to the NBA Finals in 2007, but they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs.  In 2010, LeBron was heavily criticized for leaving the Cavaliers and joining the Heat to play with his good friends Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but he cannot be criticized for leaving the Cavs.  LeBron was given very little help, with no significant post players or ball handlers around him.  Sure, he basically left the Cavs empty-handed, but is it his fault they couldn't acquire any significant players before or after he left?  They certainly had the cap space after he left, but nope.  LeBron was hated by many, including Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, and many fans were photographed burning his jersey.  But can you really blame him?  The Cavaliers refused to give him much help, so he had to go somewhere where he could get help.  LeBron wanted to win, and the Cavs wouldn't let him.  LeBron knew he would never be seen as great, staying in Cleveland and never having success in the playoffs thanks to ownership and management not providing him with talented players around him.

So LeBron went and won two championships in Miami in 2012 and 2013.  After having experienced success, he felt the only thing better than winning championships was to win them for Cleveland.  So he headed back to the Cavaliers.  Some forgave, some still remembered the hurt they felt.  But this time, LeBron was given help in the form of draft pick Kyrie Irving and trade acquisition Kevin Love.  And just yesterday, those three were instrumental in getting the Cleveland Cavaliers their first championship.

Most people would still agree that MJ is better than LBJ, but LBJ still has plenty of years to go.  I believe LeBron in his prime would win one-on-one against Michael, because of his advantage physically.  He's not any slower, and would more than likely out muscle MJ in the post.  But in terms of best player, we have to wait and see.  And even when LeBron's career is over we'll probably still not know.  That's fine with me.  There are countless debates throughout sports and entertainment about who is better: Ruth or Aaron, Montana or Brady, Woods or Palmer, Batman or Superman, Hepburn or Streep, etc.  Basketball will have it's Jordan and James, and basketball fans should not only be fine with that, but embrace it.  Some might be perturbed that MJ might not be solely known as the greatest ever, but if LeBron keeps winning, he deserves to be in that conversation.

I'll just be happy to have been able to watch them both.  Heck there will be even be the third person who might be saying Kobe was the greatest ever, or an old-timer who will say Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, or Oscar Robertson.  I don't think LBJ will ever surpass MJ, but as long as people speak of him in the same breath and debate him with Michael Jordan, I think that would Mr. James happy enough.

My Insane Theory for the New Star Wars Trilogy

With Star Wars Episode VII still a year and a half away, it's never too early to theorize or speculate about characters, their motives, or possible twists.  I do believe there will be a twist, perhaps revealed at the end of Episode VII much like how the twist of the original trilogy was revealed in the middle movie of the trilogy.  Ready for it?  Here it is:

Kylo Ren is not evil.  He is a spy sent by Luke to infiltrate the dark side and take down Snoke.

I'll give you a minute to put your mind back together after it's been blown. 

Basically, Kylo was in training with Luke when Luke learns of this dark lord that has been in the shadows (Supreme Leader Snoke), and comes up with the idea to use Kylo/Ben as a weapon and spy to try to learn something about Snoke, take out Snoke, or both. 

If you've ever read Harry Potter, this would directly parallel the events of the popular book series.  In this case, Luke would be Dumbledore using Kylo (Snape) to take down a dark leader: Snoke (Voldemort).  Funny thing is Kylo with his long hair and long face looks like Snape.  In the Harry Potter series, Snape reported to Dumbledore about Voldemort.  Is Kylo somehow in secret communication with Luke?  Also in this analogy, Rey would be Harry Potter and Finn would be a combination of Ron/Hermione.  Or maybe Poe is Hermione, haha. 

I know there's a lot against this theory--such as why does it seem like Kylo Ren in TFA is so desperate to find his uncle?  It could be an act.  But to back up my theory, Luke went in hiding--not out of shame--but because contact with anyone would risk him revealing his plan.  Perhaps Luke found out something about Snoke so bad that he gave up his relationships with Han and Leia so that he could secretly get Kylo Ren to spy for him.  Perhaps Luke learned how to expertly flirt between dark and light so well without going too far either way that he felt confident in letting his nephew pretend to be dark.  Luke being disgraced about his nephew turning dark is a cover for his solitude--it's so he can meditate, and also communicate with his nephew secretly.

You're probably thinking: Why did Kylo Ren kill Han, then?  Well perhaps Han is a bit like Dumbledore in that he might have been dead soon, anyway.  Maybe there was someone so hot on Han's trail that they were about to catch up and kill him.  I doubt Luke would want Han dead, but if Luke knew Han didn't have long in the galaxy anyway, and it would convince Snoke of Kylo's evilness, Luke would probably say it would be worth it for the greater good.  Perhaps Han knew he was going to die.  He did say to Rey that he was looking into taking on a second mate, but perhaps that was code for someone to take over the Millennium Falcon... period.

One other thing to back up my theory: Kylo did not appear to be trying to kill Rey.  On Starkiller Base at the end of TFA when Kylo fights Finn and Rey, he did not seem to be trying to kill Rey.  If anything, he was trying to get her to come with him so he could perhaps fill her in on the secret.  I believe if Kylo wanted to kill her he could've, seeing how inexperienced she was.  The fact that (while injured) Kylo had trouble with two untrained young adults leads me to believe he wasn't trying to kill them, because he isn't evil. 

I know my theory is a bit of a long shot, but I'd love to see it come true.  I do believe in some way by the end of the trilogy Kylo Ren will have come back to the light (if he even left it).  I mean, what's more badass than being bad, but not actually being evil?  You get all the coolness of the dark side but none of the hate.  Severus Snape is revered in the Harry Potter series--I think Disney wants the same for Kylo Ren. 

Bonus: Take a look at Kylo Ren's lightsaber.  Looks like a cross, doesn't it?  Like the cross Jesus died on?  Perhaps that is a subtle hint that Kylo will sacrifice himself for the greater good.  I can definitely see that happening, most likely in Episode IX.