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claudia1829things · 4 years ago

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"THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK" (1977) Review

"THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK" (1977) Review I have seen my share of movie and television productions that are based on novels and plays by Alexandre Dumas père and his son Alexandre Dumas fils And for some reason, I never get tired of watching them - over and over again. And one of them is the 1977 television movie, "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK".

Directed by Mike Newell and adapted by William Bast, "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK" is loosely based on Alexandre Dumas père's 1847-50 novel, "The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later". The novel was the third and last of the author's "The d'Artagnan Romances" literary trilogy, following "The Three Musketeers" and "Twenty Years After". The movie begins with Philippe Bourbon being snatched by a group of mysterious men from his small French estate and imprisoned at the Bastille. It turns out that the men behind this kidnapping is King Louis XIV's finance minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert and the head of the Musketeers, D'Artagnan. Aware that Philippe is the twin brother of the king (and the rightful monarch of France), the pair plan to conduct a bloodless coup to eventually switch Philippe with the corrupt and malicious Louis. However, their plans are stymied when the Chevalier Duval, an aide of the also corrupt Superintendent of Finances Nicolas Fouquet, stumbles across Philippe. Fouquet, via instructions from Louis, orders Duval to take Philippe from the Bastille and install him in another prison on the coast. Fortunately for Colbert and D'Artagnan, they learn of Philippe's fate from Louis' reluctant and disenchanted mistress Louise de La Vallière and plot to rescue the royal twin and continue with their plot to replace him with Louis. When I saw "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK" for the first time, I thought it was perfect. Flawless. And it became one of my favorite Alexandre Dumas adaptations and television movies for years. After my recent viewing of the television movie, I now realize that it is not perfect. I feel that screenwriter William Bast had changed one aspect of Dumas' novel, "The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later", that had an impact on the 1977 movie's narrative. The novel had portrayed Louis as the older twin and rightful king of France. For some reason, Bast had made Philippe the oldest twin. Why? I have no idea. To justify Philippe's theft of the French throne? Unfortunately, this narrative change left me wondering why Philippe, as the "older twin" was not allowed to be his father's heir and later, successor. In one scene, Colbert explained that former French minister and lover of the twins' mother Queen Anne, Cardinal Mazarin, had Philippe taken away following the latter's birth, in order to manipulate then King Louis XIII. This explanation struck me as lame and confusing. And Bast should have never changed this aspect of Dumas' plot. Many moviegoers have become increasingly critical of any production that have not closely adhere to its literary source over the years. I have no idea how many of them felt about this 1977 television movie. But I have a pretty good idea how I feel about it. Although I found the major change mentioned in the above paragraph troubling, I had no problems with many of other Bast's changes. I have read Dumas' novel. It was interesting . . . to say the least. I have no problems reading or watching a story with a downbeat ending if it suits the narrative or if I am in the mood to embrace it. I have never been in the mood to embrace Dumas' 1847-50 novel. Which would probably explain why I enjoyed the changes in this adaptation a lot. But wait . . . extreme changes had been made in other adaptations of "The Vicomte de Bragelonne". What was it about this particular adaptation that I enjoyed? I found it better written than the other adaptations. For me, "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK" was a tight and well-written story that did not drag or rush the movie's narrative. Which is more than I can say for Dumas' story. Most Dumas' adaptations tend to be part-dramas/part-swashbucklers. "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK" - at least this version - seemed to be eighty-five percent drama and fifteen percent action. In fact, the only real action sequence in this production turned out to be D'Artagnan's rescue of Philippe from the coastal prison. And if I must be honest, I thought Mike Newell's direction, Freddie Young's cinematography and Bill Blunden's editing made that sequence a tense, yet exciting affair. However, the meat of "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK" centered around its dramatic scenes. Thanks to Newell's direction, Bast's screenplay and a talented cast, the television movie featured some very memorable scenes. Among my favorites are Philippe's discovery that he is the King of France's twin brother, Louis' malicious reaction to his failure to impress Louise de La Vallière, a tense conversation between Philippe and Queen Marie-Therese, and the last verbal duel between Colbert and Fouquet. If I had to select my absolute favorite scene, it had to be the one that featured Louis' "Sun King" ballet, Louise's failure to be impressed and Louis' malicious act of using the Queen as a scapegoat for his embarrassment. As I had earlier stated, the dramatic scenes in "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK" would have never been fully satisfying to me without its top notch cast. Yes, there were solid performances from the likes of Denis Lawson, Hugh Fraser and Brenda Bruce. But I found myself impressed by other members of the cast. They include Vivien Merchant, who did an excellent job in conveying Queen Marie-Therese's mixed emotions toward her emotionally abusive spouse - whether it was desire, resentment or a combination of both. Ian Holm was excellent as Minister Fouchet's aide, the Chevalier Duval, who seemed to be brimming with cunning intelligence and stealth. I would never associate Louis Jordan portraying a swashbuckling figure. But I must admit that he made an excellent man-of-action in his portrayal of the experienced, competent and quick-thinking D'Artagnan. Jenny Agutter gave a sublime and passionate performance as Louise de La Vallière, Louis' reluctant mistress who ended up falling in love with the latter's twin. Ralph Richardson's portrayal of France's finance minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert struck me as one of the more entertaining performances in the production. I found Richardson's Colbert cunning, intelligent, patient and more importantly - at least to me - witty. I have seen Patrick McGoohan in several heroic and villainous roles. But I must admit that his Nicolas Fouquet struck me as one of the most subtlety portrayed villains I have ever seen on screen. McGoohan's Fouquet could put Sheev Palpatine from the STAR WARS saga when it comes to subtle villainy. And I like subtle villains. I find them more dangerous. If I had to give an award for the best performance in "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK", I would give it to its leading man, Richard Chamberlain. Mind you, Chamberlain had to portray two characters - the decent, yet slightly hot-headed Philippe Bourbon; and the vain and egotistic King Louis XIV. Mind you, I thought Chamberlain did an excellent job of conveying Philippe's sense of confusion, anger and passion. But the actor's portrayal of Louis literally knocked my socks off. Chamberlain's performance was not over-the-top. He did a subtle job of conveying Louis' villainy. And yet, he managed to inject a great deal of - how can I put it - joie de vivre quality in his performance that I found truly entertaining. There was no doubt that Chamberlain's Louis was a villain. But his Louis proved to be one of the most entertaining villains I have seen on screen. I realize that I have yet to discuss the television movie's production values. We are talking about the 1970s. Although I can recall a good number of television miniseries with first-rate production values, I cannot say the same about several period television productions from both sides of the Atlantic. And "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK" is a television movie with a 100 minutes running time. However, I thought its production values were first-rate. Despite being a made-for-TV movie, "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK" was shot on several locations in both France and Great Britain. Thankfully, Freddie Young's photography did an excellent job in enhancing those locations. John Stoll took advantage of those locations and skillfully re-created France and Louis XIV's court of the late 1660s or early 1670s. I am not an expert of 17th century fashion - in France or anywhere else. I have no idea whether Olga Lehmann's costume designs or Betty Glasow's hairstyle are historically accurate. But I cannot deny that I found the hairstyles satisfying and Lehman's costumes beautiful, as shown below:

In the end, I am happy to state that "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK" remains one of my all time favorite adaptations of an Alexandre Dumas père novel. Despite my quibble of one of William Bast's changes in Dumas' story, I feel more than satisfied with his other changes and thought he had presented a first-rate story. And my satisfaction also extends to Mike Newell's top-notch direction and the excellent performances from a cast led by the always superb Richard Chamberlain.

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aion-rsa · 3 years ago

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Upcoming DC Movies: Full DCEU Release Date Calendar

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The DC Extended Universe is in full swing! With a healthy schedule of upcoming DC movies in development, the DCEU isn’t going away anytime soon, and there’s still lots to look forward to.

So, it’s time to take a look at all of the DCEU superhero movies that will be released over the next few years. And trust us, there are a ton of them on the way, and we expect more details will be announced as we go forward. We have all the release dates for every one of ’em right here, as well as official details, the most interesting rumors, and suggestions for further reading where appropriate.

Thanks to HBO Max, The Suicide Squad is on schedule for August 2021, with The Batman, Aquaman 2, Black Adam, The Flash, and more due in 2022, . There’s a bright future for the newly revitalized DCEU movies!

Here’s how this works, because the schedule is getting a little weird. We’re starting with the DCEU movies that officially have release dates attached to them. Then we’ll get into the stuff that we know for 100% certain is in development, but that don’t have release dates yet. Then we’ll get into some of the long shots, the projects that are announced but quiet or seemingly dead, at the bottom.

Keep in mind that many of these are the CURRENT release dates as of this update, and all of these are subject to change. We’ll keep updating this with more information as we get it…

The Suicide Squad

Release date: Aug. 6, 2021

James Gunn (of Guardians of the Galaxy fame) has stepped in to write and direct Suicide Squad 2. This is now called The Suicide Squad, and it’s neither a reboot nor a straight sequel, but still firmly in the DCEU.

The cast is positively bonkers.

Returning from the first film we have Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Jai Courtney as Boomerang, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flagg, and of course Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn Scheduling issues forced Will Smith to bow out of the project as Deadshot.

But then that new cast is wild! John Cena is Peacemaker, with Idris Elba as Bloodsport, David Dastmalchian will play Polka Dot Man. Daniela Melchor will play a new version of Batman villain Ratcatcher…and there’s more, including Sylvester Stallone as the voice of King Shark! We have a full breakdown of the cast right here.

Pandemic be damned, this one arrives on HBO Max AND in theaters simultaneously, so that August release date isn’t going anywhere.

The Batman

Release date: March 4, 2022

The Batman solo movie has Matt Reeves as director. Robert Pattinson is the new Batman. Not only that, this movie will likely kick off a brand new trilogy of Batman movies. Expect a more low-key, detective focused approach to the Dark Knight than we’ve seen in previous movies.

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In addition to Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Jeffrey Wright will play Commissioner Gordon. Jayme Lawson has a mystery role. Andy Serkis is Alfred Pennyworth. And then there are the villains to contend with! The Batman will feature an all-star rogues’ gallery of villains, with Paul Dano as the Riddler, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, and Colin Farrell as the Penguin.

DC League of Super Pets

Release date: May 20, 2022

OK, fine, this isn’t a DCEU movie project, and it’s an animated movie. But unless you have no soul, how can you resist Krypto, Streaky, Ace, Comet, and the rest of the amazing super pets?

And what an incredible voice cast this one boasts! Dwayne Johnson is Krypto, Kevin Hart is Ace, the Bat-Hound, with Kate McKinnon, John Krasinski, Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne, Diego Luna, Jameela Jamil, and Keanu Reeves also along for the ride in undisclosed roles!

They had better be fighting the Brain Globes of Rambat in this movie, otherwise, we riot.

You can read more about DC Super Pets here.

Black Adam

Release date: July 29, 2022

Originally slated to be the villain of Shazam, Black Adam will instead be played by Dwayne Johnson in a solo movie. The character is certainly strong enough to sustain his own movie. Adam Sztykiel (Due Date, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul) is writing with Jaume Collet-Serra set to direct.

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This is the kind of thing that could work as a nifty prequel to further flesh out the mystical world of Shazam if they choose to go that route. More importantly, this movie will feature the DCEU introduction of the Justice Society of America, including Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate, Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone, and Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher!

The Flash

Release Date: Nov. 4, 2022

Andy Muschietti (of Warner Bros’ IT movies) is the latest director to try and get The Flash movie to the screen. This project has had a really rough road. Christina Hodson, who clearly made the studio happy with her Birds of Prey script, is writing.

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Ezra Miller will reprise his Justice League role as Barry Allen. Kiersey Clemons is Iris West. Ron Livingston will play Barry’s father, Dr. Henry Allen (replacing Billy Crudup who played the role in Justice League). But here’s where things get crazy…Ben Affleck will return to the role of Batman for this movie. And Michael Keaton will ALSO return to the role of Batman for this movie!

How is this possible? Because it’s based on the DC Comics Flashpoint story, which for the purposes of the movies will be used to create a big screen multiverse. Wow.

Oh, and it that’s not enough, this movie will introduce Supergirl to the DCEU, played by Sasha Calle!

Aquaman 2: Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom

Release Date: Dec. 16, 2022

After it made a billion dollars at the box office, you bet your trident that Aquaman 2 is happening! And it has a cool, suitably adventurous title: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Right now the plan is for James Wan to remain involved and start developing the movie, but he won’t decide whether or not to direct it until there’s a script in place. Fair enough. Patrick Wilson seems set to return, though, and of course, Jason Momoa will be back.

Shazam 2: Fury of the Gods

Release date: June 2, 2023

Shazam 2 is now officially called Shazam: Fury of the Gods and…that’s about all we know about it right now.

One thing is for sure, though, this movie will retain the look, feel, and charm that made the first one so successful, since both director David F. Sandberg and writer Henry Gayden are returning. And this time we’ll have an entire Shazam family to help out, and they’ve got sharp new costumes!

It appears that the Shazam family will be taking on the Daughters of Atlas in this movie. Hespera (Helen Mirren), Kalypso (Lucy Liu), and another currently unnamed character played by Rachel Zegler.

Wait…did we mention the Sinbad cameo? No, really!

Wonder Woman 3

Release date: TBD (likely 2024)

Patty Jenkins will reunite with Gal Gadot for what may be the capstone on the Wonder Woman movie trilogy. No details about Wonder Woman 3 are currently available, and that release date is likely to come in 2024, since Jenkins has her Star Wars: Rogue Squadron movie to release for Christmas 2023.

Blue Beetle

Release Date: TBD

There’s a Blue Beetle movie in the works. And unlike the character potentially appearing in the Booster Gold movie (more on that down below), this one would focus on Jaime Reyes, the magical tech powered teenage hero who wields the scarab of original Blue Beetle, Dan Garrett. Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Miss Bala) is writing the script, with Angel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings) directing.

There’s no release date yet, but this is scheduled to begin production in fall 2021, so maybe we can pencil in a 2023 release date. This one may be destined for HBO Max, according to a recent report.

Batgirl

Release Date: TBD

Joss Whedon was originally supposed to write, direct, and produce the Batgirl movie, one that was reportedly based on Gail Simone’s recent New 52 take on the character. He has exited the project and now Christina Hodson is writing with Bad Boys for Life directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah helming the project.

‘With Batgirl, we hope to take the audience on a fun ride and see a different side of Gotham,” Burr told THR. “Christina’s script is crackling with spirit. Adil and Bilall have an excited and joyous energy, which is infectious, making them the perfect filmmakers for this Batproject. And I’m just psyched I get to be part of the DC universe, which is super cool.”

Rumor has it that this will be a project set to go direct to HBO Max.

Untitled Superman Project

Release Date: TBD

Ta-Nehisi Coates is working on a Superman feature film with J.J. Abrams producing. No other info is currently available, but it appears to be a reboot.

“To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor,” Coates told Shadow and Act when the news was announced. “I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero.”

Will this continue Henry Cavill’s time in the role, or will it take a new approach? Will this be a completely different take on the Man of Steel altogether? Time will tell!

Zatanna

Release Date: TBD

One of the most powerful magicians in the DC Universe is getting her own film, with a powerful writer attached. Emerald Fennell, who wrote and directed the brilliant Promising Young Woman has signed on to write a Zatanna movie for Warner Bros. No other details are available at this time, but you don’t sign an Oscar hopeful for a movie like this unless you’re serious about getting it moving.

Now, let’s get into the projects that are in the works, but haven’t had any movement in a while…

Supergirl

Oren Uziel is working on a script for a Supergirl movie. It’s not clear what kind of ties this will have to the currently dead Man of Steel franchise, especially given the uncertain state of Henry Cavill’s future as Superman.

But one thing is for sure, the DCEU does have their Supergirl! Sasha Calle will be introduced as Kara in The Flash movie, and presumably she’ll lead this one, as well.

Green Lantern Corps

Fairly or unfairly, Green Lantern has the most working against him. The 2011 film failed to kickstart the DC Universe as planned, and received a lukewarm (at best) critical and box-office reception. There are, of course, ways around this.

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One way is to simply not make Hal Jordan the central Green Lantern of the movie. Thisone may focus on as many as three Green Lanterns, with the main focus on a kind of buddy/cop movie with John Stewart and Hal Jordan. Geoff Johns is writing the script, but there’s no director in place yet. There’s also the upcoming HBO Max Green Lantern TV show to consider. It remains to be seen what (if any) connection that will have to this movie.

We have more details on the Green Lantern Corps movie right here.

Plastic Man

This one is a little further off in the future as all they’ve done is hire a writer. But there is definitely a Plastic Man movie in the works, with Amanda Idoko (ABC’s The Mayor) working on a screenplay. We have some more details on it right here.

Blackhawk

Steven Spielberg has long wanted to make a Blackhawk movie, and he’s finally going to get his wish. And if it was your wish to see Steven Spielberg direct a DC movie, you’re also in luck. David Koepp is writing the screenplay. We have more details on this one here.

Deathstroke

Joe Manganiello has long been cast as Slade Wilson, known to DC fans as Deathstroke. He even made a cameo in one of the Justice League theatrical post-credits scenes back when that was supposed to set up a Justice League 2 that never happened. But it turns out that the original version of that cameo in Zack Snyder’s Justice League was meant to set him up as the villain of The Batman solo movie (that is no longer the case),

Deathstroke was also once set to get a solo film, written and directed by The Raid‘s Gareth Evans. Despite Manganiello returning for a brief scene as Deathstroke in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, it doesn’t seem likely that his solo film is happening anymore, which is a real shame as he would have been great in the role.

Nightwing

The Lego Batman Movie director Chris McKay has been tapped to direct a Nightwing movie. Bill Dubuque (The Accountant) is working on a script. No other details are currently available, and this one doesn’t have a release date yet. It appears to be dead, but McKay recently told us he’s still hoping to make this a reality.

Justice League Dark

At one time this was called Dark Universe, until Universal came along and ruined that name with their failed horror movie shared franchise. This one will feature the supernatural characters from the DC Universe. Characters like Swamp Thing, Demon, Deadman, Zatanna, and even John Constantine.

Guillermo del Toro was attached to this one for quite some time, but had to leave the project. Then it was Doug Liman. Now J.J. Abrams is involved as producer for what will likely be an HBO Max series.

And now for the long shots…projects mentioned, rumored, killed, or otherwise unlikely.

The New Gods

Ava DuVernay was set to direct a movie based on Jack Kirby‘s New Gods., but recently the project appears to have been killed by Warner Bros. No other details are currently available.

The New Gods is the story of two worlds, the warlike Apokolips and the peaceful New Genesis, each populated by immensely powerful beings with fantastic technology. Darkseid is the evil dictator of Apokolips, and he swaps sons with Highfather, the leader of New Genesis, and each child is raised on the opposite world. Darkseid’s son, Orion, becomes a troubled champion of New Genesis, while Highfather’s son (raised by Darkseid) revolts and becomes the super escape artist, Mister Miracle. This barely scratches the surface of what this movie is about. We tried to get into more detail about it here.

The Trench

Aquaman director James Wan and producer Peter Safran were working on developing other corners of Arthur Curry’s world, but Warner Bros. ended up killing the project. The Trench was to focus on the terrifying piranha-like beasts seen briefly in the first film, and would have been a smaller-scale, more horror-focused movie, and one that wouldn’t feature any of the main characters from Aquaman. Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald wrote a script, but this appears to have been sunk.

Justice League 2

Justice League 2 isn’t likely to happen at the moment given how the first film underperformed at the box office. It once had a release date, but that long since evaporated. Still, “The Snyder Cut” generated considerable buzz on HBO Max, and featured a teaser scene that was very much meant as a preview for what the director was looking for in his dark vision of Justice League 2.

Man of Steel 2

Never officially announced, with no director or writer ever attached…another solo Superman movie starring Henry Cavill seems pretty unlikely at the moment. Especially considering that Henry Cavill appears to be finished as Superman, there’s an excellent Superman & Lois TV series on the air, and the aforementioned movie in the works from Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Cyborg

OK, to be perfectly honest, the Cyborg movie almost certainly isn’t happening. Ray Fisher made his first (very brief) appearance as Vic Stone/Cyborg in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and played a crucial role in Justice League. At one point he was supposed to feature in The Flash solo movie, too, but it’s not clear if that’s still the case.

Basically, though…let’s be completely real: this movie isn’t happening. There hasn’t been any movement on it in years, despite once having been assigned an April 3, 2020 release date. As far as we can tell there has been no additional movement on this movie in years. It’s probably dead. Too bad, since Ray Fisher was great in the role.

Harley Quinn

At one point there was another Harley Quinn movie in development! Whether this is a solo project or something else remains to be seen. Keep in mind that while very good, Birds of Prey didn’t set the world on fire at the box office, which means that Warner Bros. might be a little more wary than before about additional solo projects for Harley, even with Margot Robbie’s star power.

Ms. Robbie told us that there’s been no movement from the studio about Birds of Prey 2. However she also told us that she’s hoping to finally get Poison Ivy into the DCEU, so the pair can explore their relationship! We know we haven’t seen the last of the fantabulous Harley Quinn.

As for what shape this movie was supposed to take in the first place, your guess is as good as ours!

Gotham City Sirens

David Ayer is looking to direct a Harley Quinn and friends “girl gang” movie. Geneva Robertson-Dworet is writing, with Margot Robbie producing. It’s not clear where this stands on anybody’s priority list these days. Ayer has moved on to other projects, and as mentioned above, Birds of Prey wasn’t quite the financial success that Warner Bros. had hoped for. It’s possible that Gotham City Sirens has been put in a drawer for the time being.

Booster Gold

Flash and Arrow executive producer Greg Berlanti is going to executive produce and possibly direct a Booster Gold movie. Zack Stentz (Thor, X-Men: First Class) will write the script.

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Early reports described this as a “superhero buddy cop movie” that would involve Blue Beetle. We’ll get you more updates on this as they become available, but keep in mind there hasn’t been any movement on this in a long time, and the Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle movie is probably taking priority for the studio.

Deadshot

Warner Bros. knows they have one of the biggest stars in the world already in costume, so they’re reportedly considering a Deadshot solo movie, as well. But with Smith now having left Suicide Squad 2 this project seems like it may not ever materialize. Unless, of course, switching Idris Elba’s role (he was originally intended as Smith’s replacement as Floyd) means they’re keeping the door open for him down the road.

Lobo

The Lobo movie may attempt to be the DCEU movies’ equivalent of Deadpool. Jason Fuchs must have impressed Warner Bros. with his work on Wonder Woman, because he’s on board to write the script for this one. Michael Bay might direct. But with Lobo appearing on Krypton season 2 and a TV series for the character that had once been put into development (but is probably dead), this might be less of a priority for the studio now.

We have some more info on the project here.

Joker & Harley Quinn Movie

At one point there was yet another Joker-centric flick in the works. This one, a Joker and Harley Quinn movie is absolutely part of the DCEU movie continuity would pick up where Suicide Squad left off. There are currently no additional details available on this one, either. This probably won’t happen, however.

Warner Bros. is very happy with how their R-rated, out of continuity Joker movie performed both critically and commercially, and with Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar win, it’s a safe bet that they’re at least quietly hoping to make him their definitive Clown Prince of Crime for the foreseeable future…even though Joker was never intended to be part of the DCEU.

Not to be confused with…

Jared Leto Joker Movie

Honestly, we’re having trouble keeping track of all these, but yes, there was also yet another Joker solo movie in development focusing on Jared Leto’s version of the character in the works at one point. Apparently, this has long been canceled, but we’re keeping it here to be safe for a little longer.

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We’ll keep updating this with more information about upcoming DC superhero movies as they get announced and information becomes available.

The post Upcoming DC Movies: Full DCEU Release Date Calendar appeared first on Den of Geek.

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wazafam · 4 years ago

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Giancarlo Esposito had two special cameo appearances in Community, adding to the connection between the comedy series and AMC's Breaking Bad. The actor, who was best known for playing villain Gus Fring in Breaking Bad at the time, starred in two episodes of the series created by Dan Harmon. Community debuted in 2009 and ran for five seasons on NBC before it was cancelled on the network due to underwhelming ratings. Yahoo! Screen decided to give the series a sixth season, which would serve as the last.

Esposito played the role of Gilbert Lawson in the Community season 3 episode titled "Digital Estate Planning." As Cornelius Hawthorne's personal assistant for 30 years, Gilbert invited Pierce and his friends for the reading of Cornelius' will. Gilbert then explained how Pierce and the study group must play a video game to win Pierce's inheritance. To complicate matters, Gilbert decided to participate in the game, seeing as he was Pierce's secret half-brother. Though the study group beat the game, they convinced Gilbert to accept the reward to make up for the decades of abuse caused by Cornelius. A few episodes later in season 4's "Paranormal Parentage," Esposito reprised his role when it was revealed Gilbert was living in the Hawthorne mansion to look after his half-brother. Initially unaware of Gilbert's presence, Pierce decided to ask Gilbert to officially move in.

Related: Community: The True Story Behind Jack Black’s Cameo

Seeing as Community was never a ratings winner for NBC, the series seemingly bolstered interest with several major guest stars. Season 3 alone saw guest cameos by actors like Jeff Garlin, Luis Guzmán, Taran Killam, and Michael Ironside. There were also recurring characters played by notable figures such as John Goodman and Michael Kenneth Williams. While there was never a direct explanation given to Esposito's casting as Gilbert, but it presumably stemmed from the actor's popularity in Breaking Bad. The award-winning drama developed by Vince Gilligan was clearly on Harmon's radar while working on the NBC comedy.

Esposito joined Breaking Bad as the ruthless drug boss in the show's second season before serving as a primary antagonist through season 4. As one of the most memorable villains in Breaking Bad's history, fans certainly couldn't get enough of Esposito's character. His rivalry with central character Walter White came to an end in 2011, opening the door for new acting opportunities. With Gilbert's initially no-nonsense demeanor, Harmon found the perfect actor to portray an intimidating character. The fact that Esposito shed his well-known hardened personality for a more comedic spin on the role made his cameo even more memorable.

Esposito's casting in Community season 3 was just the start of major Breaking Bad alums making the jump to Harmon's comedy. Jonathan Banks, who played Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad, joined season 5 as Professor Buzz Hickey. The same season featured Gilligan's on-screen Community cameo as the cowboy host of the VCR game, "Piles of Bullets." Harmon and Gilligan never worked together before, but their mutual admiration for one another paved the way for stellar casting choices.

More: MCU: Here's Every Community Actor In The Franchise (So Far)

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asfeedin · 5 years ago

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2020 NFL draft analysis updated live for every pick

The 2020 NFL draft is underway, with the first three rounds in the books. While some teams have found their new franchise quarterback in the draft — including Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert — others used their picks on elite playmakers on both sides of the ball. And how about all of those trades?

If you missed any of it — or just want to catch up on deeper analysis — read on for insights on every team from our crew of reporters.

Jump to: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND JAC | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

There’s no way the Cardinals could’ve passed on Isaiah Simmons, who’s widely considered the best defensive player in this year’s draft. He’s often referred to as a positionless player, and with Arizona’s issues defending tight ends over the years, Simmons can be an instant fix. He can also rush the passer, drop back into coverage, play safety … basically, he can do everything. Analysis of every Cardinals pick from Josh Weinfuss.

The Falcons needed a starting-caliber cornerback after releasing Desmond Trufant, and A.J. Terrell has the size (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) and speed (4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash) to be a longtime starter. Analysis of every Falcons pick from Vaughn McClure.

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The Ravens filled their biggest need, but Patrick Queen doesn’t look or play like Ray Lewis or C.J. Mosley, the two other middle linebackers who’ve been selected by Baltimore in the first round. Queen is a safety-sized, multitalented defender. He can go sideline-to-sideline to stop the run, drop back in coverage to blanket tight ends and blitz from anywhere on the field. Analysis of every Ravens pick from Jamison Hensley.

With at least six players on the board who also fit a team need, the Bills selected a player many analysts believed had first-round value. After losing pass-rusher Shaq Lawson and signing veteran Mario Addison in free agency this offseason, Buffalo needed a foundational piece at defensive end, and A.J. Epenesa fits that mold. Analysis of every Bills pick from Marcel Louis-Jacques.

The Panthers went with Derrick Brown over Isaiah Simmons, in part because they have only two defensive tackles on the roster, and in part because they believed Simmons to be a better fit for an established team than one in a rebuild mode. Put Brown beside Pro Bowl lineman Kawann Short, and the Panthers now have one of the stoutest inside duos in the NFL. Analysis of every Panthers pick from David Newton.

The Bears had the NFL’s least productive tight ends group in 2019, and used their first pick of the draft on Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet. Expect him to have a significant role, alongside free agent signing Jimmy Graham. Analysis of every Bears pick from Jeff Dickerson.

In Joe Burrow, the Bengals selected a quarterback who is expected to be the face of the franchise and the starter immediately. Getting Burrow acclimated to the NFL will be challenging, given the restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. However, the 23-year-old figures to be up for the challenge. Analysis of every Bengals pick from Ben Baby.

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Ben Baby breaks down why the Bengals made the right choice in taking Joe Burrow first overall in the 2020 NFL draft.

Although there was plenty of outside smoke about the Browns potentially trading for Washington veteran All-Pro Trent Williams to address their void at left tackle, they remained committed to drafting their left tackle of the future. In Jedrick Wills Jr., the Browns got exactly what they had hoped to land in this draft — a long-term blindside protector for Baker Mayfield. Analysis of every Browns pick from Jake Trotter.

Drafting CeeDee Lamb can be viewed as a Dak Prescott-friendly move. Lamb gives the Cowboys a big-play threat on the outside with the ability to move around the formation. Alongside the equally mobile Amari Cooper, Lamb will put pressure on defenses in how they want to match up against the Cowboys. Analysis of every Cowboys pick from Todd Archer.

• DraftCast » | Best available prospects » • Round 1 analysis: Kiper » | Experts » • Pros and cons of every draft pick » • Round 1 trade tracker » | Draft order » • Fantasy spin » | Social reactions » • Full class rankings from Scouts Inc. » More NFL draft coverage »

Jerry Jeudy will play immediately — and a lot — for the Broncos. His ability to line up all over the formation made him the perfect intersection between the biggest need on the depth chart and the best player on the board when the Broncos’ turn arrived. Analysis of every Broncos pick from Jeff Legwold.

On a team that traded Darius Slay to Philadelphia last month and then signed Desmond Trufant in free agency, there was still a hole for a starting corner opposite Trufant. Now the Lions have a player who should transition into a No. 1 corner sooner rather than later in Jeff Okudah. Analysis of every Lions pick from Michael Rothstein.

Aaron Rodgers has always played with a chip on his shoulder, and this might be another reason to do so. But by taking Jordan Love in the first round, the Packers get the option of a fifth-year deal on his rookie contract. Analysis of every Packers pick from Rob Demovsky.

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Rob Demovsky details whether the Packers made the right choice to take Jordan Love with the 26th pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

With their first pick of the draft, the Texans filled the need for an interior lineman, getting TCU DT Ross Blacklock. The Texans like Blacklock’s versatility and fit in new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s defense. Analysis of every Texans pick from Sarah Barshop.

The Colts, who didn’t have a first-round pick, are giving Philip Rivers some help at receiver. Michael Pittman Jr. joins a receiving group that lacked depth because of injuries, and didn’t get enough production from the healthy players at the position last season. Analysis of every Colts pick from Mike Wells.

Defensive tackle and corner are the Jaguars’ two biggest needs this offseason, and some analysts saw C.J. Henderson as a better cover guy than Jeff Okudah, the third overall pick. Then, at pick No. 20, the Jags landed an elite pass-rusher, LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson. Analysis of every Jaguars pick from Mike DiRocco.

Relive the NFL’s greatest games, original series and more. Watch on ESPN+

The rich just got richer. The Chiefs had some depth at running back, including Super Bowl LIV star Damien Williams, but neither Williams nor the team’s other backs are in the same playmaking class as Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Analysis of every Chiefs pick from Adam Teicher.

With this pick, the receiver-needy Raiders had all of the consensus top-three wideouts at their disposal, and they had an Al Davis moment — they went with the fastest guy in the draft, Henry Ruggs III. And to help slow down all the elite receivers in the AFC West, they also snagged CB Damon Arnette at No. 19. Analysis of every Raiders pick from Paul Gutierrez.

The Chargers’ decision to select Justin Herbert sets the course of the franchise for the foreseeable future as they attempt to move on from veteran quarterback Philip Rivers, who departed in free agency after 16 seasons. Then, after trading up to No. 23, they landed three-down linebacker Kenneth Murray. Analysis of every Chargers pick from Lindsey Thiry.

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Lindsey Thiry breaks down whether the Chargers made the right decision to move up and select Kenneth Murray with the 23rd pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

After releasing Todd Gurley, it was expected that the Rams would select a running back on Day 2 of the draft, and they did just that with Cam Akers. Akers rounds out a running back room that also includes Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown, and the trio is anticipated to share the load next season. Analysis of every Rams pick from Lindsey Thiry.

The Dolphins were faced with the choice of taking a chance on Tua Tagovailoa and his injury/durability risks or “settling” for a lesser quarterback prospect in Justin Herbert. They chose Tagovailoa, the most efficient QB in college football history, who can rise to become the face of Miami’s rebuild and the franchise QB that this team desperately needs. At No. 18, they got their new QB some protection by drafting offensive tackle Austin Jackson. Analysis of every Dolphins pick from Cameron Wolfe.

Mel Kiper, Todd McShay and Chris Sprow preview the 2020 NFL draft. • First Draft podcast »

The unpredictable nature of the draft played in to the Vikings’ favor in a big way. They were able to check the best-player-available box and draft for need with the same pick, getting WR Justin Jefferson at No. 22. Then, after an offseason exodus at cornerback, they landed Jeff Gladney at No. 31. Analysis of every Vikings pick from Courtney Cronin.

At just shy of 6-foot-1 and 217 pounds, Kyle Dugger is a box safety and linebacker type in the mold of Patrick Chung, who fills a valuable role on the Patriots’ defense. With Chung closer to the end of his career, Dugger is a potential future replacement and should be an immediate contributor on special teams. Analysis of every Patriots pick from Mike Reiss.

Drafting Michigan center Cesar Ruiz wasn’t a sexy pick, but don’t say we didn’t warn you. The interior offensive line was the only position Saints coach Sean Payton identified by name as a draft need. While a WR or front-seven defender might’ve been more exciting, the Saints have a strong record of investing in young offensive linemen. Analysis of every Saints pick from Mike Triplett.

The Giants needed a tackle, and Andrew Thomas was their top choice. He will come in at the start and compete at right and left tackle, and he is a perfect fit for what new coordinator Jason Garrett wants to do with the offense. Analysis of every Giants pick from Jordan Raanan.

The Jets could have opted for a wide receiver — they were tempted by CeeDee Lamb and Henry Ruggs III — but they made the right call by locking down Sam Darnold‘s blind side with 6-foot-7, 364 pound Mekhi Becton. Analysis of every Jets pick from Rich Cimini.

Football Outsiders projects the top draft prospects at key positions:

• QB booms and busts » • Playmaker Score: The top WRs » • BackCAST: Projections on top RBs » • SackSEER: The best pass-rushers » • Team-by-team draft guides » • More NFL draft coverage »

The Eagles made a bold move by selecting Jalen Reagor at No. 21 with Justin Jefferson still on the board. Reagor is a burner, and that’s exactly what Philly was looking for after slogging its way through much of the 2019 season on offense. Analysis of every Eagles pick from Tim McManus.

Though he’s listed as a wide receiver, Chase Claypool has the body of a tight end at 6-4, 238 pounds. His addition gives quarterback Ben Roethlisberger a third receiving target of at least 6-4, joining tight ends Eric Ebron and Vance McDonald. Analysis of every Steelers pick from Brooke Pryor.

It probably should come as no surprise that the 49ers once again invested in the defensive line; this is the fifth time in six seasons they’ve used their first pick on the defensive front. In Javon Kinlaw, the Niners hope to have found their replacement for DeForest Buckner as the three-technique defensive tackle. Later in the first, the Niners moved up six slots to nab wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Analysis of every 49ers pick from Nick Wagoner.

Taking Jordyn Brooks at No. 27 was every bit the first-round Seahawks surprise, just as James Carpenter was in 2011, Bruce Irvin was in 2012 and Rashaad Penny was in 2018. Say what you will about the Seahawks drafting a player you didn’t expect them to, but you can’t fault them for adding a speedy playmaker to a defense that struggled across the board in 2019. Analysis of every Seahawks pick from Brady Henderson.

The Bucs were hoping one of the four top-tier offensive tackles would fall to them at No. 1, but decided to jump one spot to grab Tristan Wirfs; it’s a small price to pay when considering how paramount protection is for 42-year-old Tom Brady. In Wirfs, they have a plug-and-play, Day 1 starter. Analysis of every Buccaneers pick from Jenna Laine.

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Jenna Laine believes the Buccaneers made the right decision in trading up to select Tristan Wirfs with the 13th pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

The Titans added a player who will help their rushing attack. Isaiah Wilson has already proved that he can excel as a run-blocker, having played in a zone-oriented scheme at Georgia, and he helps offset the loss of Jack Conklin in free agency. Analysis of every Titans pick from Turron Davenport.

The Redskins made a no-brainer choice by selecting Chase Young second overall. Coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, between them, have coached Von Miller, Khalil Mack and Julius Peppers. They know what an elite edge rusher can do for a defense, and that’s what they’re expecting from Young. Analysis of every Redskins pick from John Keim.

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Usa today Bye-bye to Bei Bei, reverse bank robbery, squirrel survey: News from around our 50 states

Usa today

Usa today Alabama

Sir Bernard Law: The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is providing to pay the deliver $225 million for the uncommon ethical to feature casino video games in Alabama. The tribe unveiled a compact proposal that involves exclusivity, table video games and two contemporary north casino sites. The deliver would additionally receive a negotiated portion of the earnings. Poarch Tribal Chair Stephanie Bryan acknowledged the deliver has perpetual budget shortfalls, and the earnings would per chance well well also possess needs in education and different areas. The tribe projected it would per chance well well also boost deliver earnings by $1 billion including taxes and license charges. The proposal additionally involves a lottery. Canines tracks secure prolonged fought any proposal to give the tribe a monopoly. A spokeswoman for Gov. Kay Ivey says Ivey is open to ideas, nonetheless it’s within the kill a quiz for legislators.

Usa today Alaska

Juneau: It looks extra and additional less likely that a explicit session of the Legislature will be held this 365 days to address the check paid to residents from the deliver’s oil-wealth fund, Gov. Mike Dunleavy says. In August, Dunleavy current the dividend passed by lawmakers, which amounted to $1,606, nevertheless acknowledged he viewed it as partial price and anticipated a fall particular session to address the difficulty. Under deliver rules, no longer no longer as much as 30 days’ witness is wished to retain a non-emergency particular session right during the period in-between. That would per chance well well push any particular session now up against the holidays. The Republican governor has pushed for a dividend based on a prolonged-standing calculation that hasn’t been followed since 2016. Many lawmakers acknowledged this form of dividend is unaffordable.

Usa today Arizona

Phoenix: Plants and fauna officials assert an endangered squirrel subspecies in southeastern Arizona is combating its formula serve after out of the ordinary of its mountain habitat became once burned by a 2017 wildfire. The deliver Game and Fish Division says the Mount Graham red squirrel’s population is stabilizing, with a 4% lengthen recorded in September right through an annual look that produced an estimate of 78 squirrels, up from 75 in 2018. Essentially based on the department, the population peaked at about 550 within the unhurried 1990s. Sooner than the 2017 wildfire, the population ranged between 200 and 300. Terrestrial wildlife specialist Tim Snow says the effects are encouraging, though out of the ordinary work remains to relieve defend the squirrel population. The squirrel is stumbled on most productive in better-elevation conifer forests of the Pinaleño Mountains.

Usa today Arkansas

Diminutive Rock: The high of the city’s lecturers union says one other strike – or different actions – protesting deliver takeover of the local college district and the loss of collective bargaining rights is that you simply might be in a space to bring to mind. Diminutive Rock Schooling Affiliation President Teresa Knapp Gordon spoke Friday, a day after quite loads of of lecturers within the plan walked out for the first time in decades. Gordon called Thursday’s one-day strike within the 23,000-pupil district a success, asserting it drew attention to the lecturers’ name for a return to full local administration of faculties. Arkansas has bustle the Diminutive Rock district since 2015, when it became once taken over on account of of low check rankings at several colleges. Faculties remained open right during the strike, though the district acknowledged several hundred lecturers and additional than half of the students were absent Thursday.

Usa today California

Sacramento: Creator Maya Angelou and performer RuPaul are among the inductees for the following class of the California Hall of Status. The class involves soccer participant and two-time World Cup champion Brandi Chastain, skateboarder and entrepreneur Tony Hawk, actor and comic George Lopez, chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck, astrophysicist France A. Cordova, author Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, civil rights chief James M. Lawson Jr. and winemaker Helen M. Turley. The class will be inducted right through a ceremony Dec. 10, though Angelou died in 2014. The California Hall of Status started in 2006, and inductees are selected each 365 days by the governor and first companion. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who announced the inductees, says they “embody California’s modern spirit.”

Usa today Colorado

Denver: Vail residents combating to guard habitat for a beleaguered herd of bighorn sheep as developers push to operate housing for resort personnel secure taken their case to deliver courtroom, The Denver Submit reports. A lawsuit filed last week in Eagle County District Courtroom contends Vail city officials violated local principles when they accredited a Triumph Development venture to operate excessive-density employee housing along Interstate 70 where the bighorns forage right through cool weather. The fight pits the mountain resort’s economic demands against the needs of wildlife, on this case Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, the deliver animal. The Colorado bighorn population has dwindled to about 6,800, down from about 7,600 in 2012 and eight,000 in 2001, deliver recordsdata displays. Vail Valley bighorns secure decreased to about 5% of their historical numbers.

Usa today Connecticut

Hartford: Two contemporary plans to enhance the deliver’s transportation plan consist of proposals to quicken commutes to and from New York Metropolis. Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont says it’s important for Connecticut to enhance existence for commuters, noting the Titanic Apple is the “global capital of the arena,” and Connecticut is allotment of that metropolitan center. His 10-365 days, $21.3 billion transportation opinion invests $6.2 billion in rail enhancements, including contemporary cars and locomotives. The deliver Senate Republican opinion proposes a brand contemporary Connecticut/New York Railroad Diagram Board to vet rail initiatives. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says his deliver has been investing in Metro-North Railroad, which has a contract with Connecticut to feature the New Haven Line.

Usa today Delaware

Dover: Twenty-two of Delaware’s 30 very top-paid deliver personnel are men, based on wage figures from the Location of job and Administration and Price range as of August. Of the tip 10 paid men in 2019, 9 operate an everyday wage that tops $200,000 per 365 days. That doesn’t consist of any extra pay equivalent to stipends, advantages or time past regulation. Four of the tip 10 paid ladies folk compose that out of the ordinary, and the finest-paid feminine deliver employee makes no longer as much as the tip three male personnel.

Usa today District of Columbia

Washington: D.C. will have to assert even handed one of its hardest goodbyes Tuesday, to beloved panda Bei Bei, WUSA-TV reports. The 4-365 days-worn panda will leave the Smithsonian Nationwide Zoo for China as allotment of the panda diplomacy program between the U.S.and China. An agreement with the China Plants and fauna Conservation Affiliation requires all cubs born at the zoo to sail to China when they flip 4. Bei Bei will play in his out of doorways habitat for the last time Tuesday, between 7 and eight a.m., outdated to he makes his formula to Dulles Airport for a prolonged flight. To present his many adoring fans time to direct Bei Bei farewell, the Smithsonian Nationwide Zoo has been cyber web web hosting a series of public occasions, including postcard writing and friendship bracelet making. Panda Cam 1 is focused completely on Bei Bei right through his “goodbye week.”

Usa today Florida

Tallahassee: Perfect skirmishes over elections were fought on two fronts Friday, as a pair of federal courtroom circumstances underscored the needed role the deliver would per chance well well also play in subsequent 365 days’s election. Republicans and Democrats are combating over the mumble of names on ballots and who's eligible to vote. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis filed an charm Friday in a direct to capture a federal take hold of’s non permanent mumble permitting some felons to bag balloting rights despite failing to settle unpaid fines and different factual debts. DeSantis additionally acknowledged he would charm a ruling handed down by one other federal take hold of who sided with Democrats on name mumble on ballots. Mediate Trace Walker agreed that a candidate whose name looks first has an undue earnings. Noting Florida’s historical past of shut elections, he acknowledged that “systematically allocating that dinky nevertheless statistically necessary earnings” would per chance well well be constitutionally unfair. Under contemporary rules, high pollbilling goes to the governor’s occasion.

Usa today Georgia

Atlanta: The deliver’s ethics commission has filed a lawsuit seeking communications between Democrat Stacey Abrams’ unsuccessful 2018 marketing and marketing campaign for governor and several third-occasion organizations. Nonetheless Abrams’ aged marketing and marketing campaign supervisor Lauren Groh-Wargo says they’ve already grew to severely change over hundreds of monetary recordsdata and calls the investigation politically motivated. The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission filed the movement in Fulton County Superior Courtroom on Friday. It’s allotment of an investigation accusing the Abrams marketing and marketing campaign of “unlawful coordination” with an outdoors organization. The commission says the selling and marketing campaign isn’t complying with subpoenas issued last spring. Abrams narrowly lost to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp last 365 days. Ethics commission chief David Emadi is a aged county prosecutor who had donated to Kemp’s marketing and marketing campaign.

Usa today Hawaii

Honolulu: After conducting an aerial look of the island forest, officials secure stumbled on an ohia tree-killing fungal illness local to the deliver is spreading on Oahu. The Honolulu Megastar-Advertiser reports deliver Division of Forestry and Plants and fauna officials tagged 41 extra trees that would per chance well well even be sick from mercurial ohia demise after first discovering an infected tree July 31. Plants and fauna officials assert basically the most recent confirmed tree is infected with Ceratocystis huliohia, the less aggressive fungal pathogen of two forms connected to the illness. Officials assert this secure is famous to raise months to years to murder ohia trees. Officials assert the extra aggressive secure has been stumbled on on Kauai and is liable for wiping out 80% of the trees destroyed by mercurial ohia demise on the Titanic Island.

Usa today Idaho

Boise: The Tell Board of Health and Welfare has removed a controversial rule requiring transgender minors to acquire a doctor’s approval outdated to changing the gender listed on their starting up certificates. The Idaho Press reports after a closed-door govt session with attorneys on Thursday, board chairman Darrell Kerby announced the rule became once being vacated on account of it didn’t secure ample votes when it became once accredited last spring. At that time, three board individuals voted “yes,” one voted “no,” and one particular person abstained. Kerby says that fell short of the four affirmative votes required to place the rule into attain. In 2018 a federal take hold of dominated that Idaho violated the constitutional rights of two transgender ladies folk who were denied permission to alternate the gender on their starting up certificates to match their identification. Idaho complied with the courtroom mumble, nevertheless the Board of Health and Welfare created the rule requiring a doctor’s imprint-off for minors a short whereas later.

Usa today Illinois

O’Fallon: A $10 million pedestrian path connecting two southwest Illinois counties has opened after 15 years of planning. The extension of the Madison County Transit Goshen Bound runs 7 miles connecting Troy in Madison County to O’Fallon in St. Clair County. The contemporary path is about 10 ft broad. Organizers secure estimated roughly 115,000 other folks will exercise it yearly, including cyclists and joggers. The initial belief came in 2003. It took time to stable ownership of properties. Funding became once split among several entities, including the deliver, counties, a park district and the city of O’Fallon. Roughly 150 other folks attended the ribbon cutting Saturday. At the outlet, Madison County Transit Managing Director Jerry Kane jokingly referred to it because the “It’s Eventually Originate Bound.”

Usa today Indiana

Indianapolis: Christmas came early at the Indianapolis Zoo last week. The two walruses at the zoo, Pakak and Aurora, were shipped off to contemporary homes: Aurora to SeaWorld Orlando to breed, and Pakak to the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington, to be reunited with the walrus with whom he became once rescued. After asserting goodbye, the Indianapolis Zoo welcomed 2-365 days-worn walruses Aku and Ginger to the Oceans bother. Aku is an 841-pound male who lost his ethical see rapidly after being rescued. Ginger is a 711-pound feminine who's very serious about Aku. Indianapolis Zoo public kinfolk specialist Carla Knapp says the zoo might be very hopeful the two walruses will within the kill breed. Essentially based on a originate, walruses are liable to extinction, and there are most productive 14 in human care across four zoos and aquariums within the US. Native weather alternate and melting ice secure resulted in fewer habitats for walruses.

Usa today Iowa

Des Moines: Organizers of a brand contemporary statewide bicycle bolt are changing the date of their deliberate match so it doesn’t conflict with an annual bolt that dates to the 1970s. Organizers of Iowa’s Shuffle announced Friday on the community’s Facebook web page that the bolt would per chance well well be held July 12-18, per week sooner than previously deliberate. The alternate capability the bolt obtained’t overlap with the Des Moines Register’s Annual Mountainous Bicycle Shuffle At some stage in Iowa, or RAGBRAI, scheduled for July 19-25. Iowa’s Shuffle additionally will sail from east to west, whereas RAGBRAI traditionally travels west to east. The aged director of RAGBRAI and his personnel resigned and launched the rival match amid a backlash over the Register’s going through of a memoir sharp fundraiser Carson King.

Usa today Kansas

Lawrence: Town has joined a neighborhood coalition to memorialize the lynching of three dim men near downtown in 1882. The Lawrence chapter of the NAACP is working with the Equal Justice Initiative to erect a historical marker with data in regards to the lynching, The Lawrence Journal-World reports. Town commission no longer too prolonged ago voted unanimously to severely change a member of the Community Remembrance Coalition. Mayor Lisa Larsen says she thinks joining the coalition signifies that the city supports the NAACP’s efforts. NAACP chapter President Ursula Minor wrote in a letter to Larsen that the cause of the coalition is to operate consciousness and enable truthful conversations in regards to the legacy of racial terrorism and injustice during the historical marker venture. The Lawrence NAACP has been working on the venture for several months.

Usa today Kentucky

Bowling Inexperienced: The Kentucky Folklife Program at Western Kentucky College is buying for proposals for articles and different pieces documenting the deliver’s folklife. The program acknowledged in a news originate that right here's the first name for proposals for the multimedia digital e-newsletter and acknowledged the magazine “explores the vary of expressive cultures within Kentucky.” To boot to to articles, the magazine is buying for tips for photograph essays, documentary movie and audio, interviews, and oral histories and performances. Proposals of about 200 to 400 words would per chance well well even be submitted to [email protected] with the topic heading “Kentucky Folklife Journal Proposal.” Printed aspects receive a contributor’s honorarium.

Usa today Louisiana

Baton Rouge: The governor says the deliver’s fishing industry has been hit with $258 million in losses attributable to historical flooding this 365 days. In a news originate, Gov. John Bel Edwards says the Louisiana Division of Plants and fauna and Fisheries conducted an economic affect prognosis to make your mind up the flooding impacts. The prognosis became once submitted to the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to relieve the deliver qualify for allotment of the fisheries catastrophe support. Edwards additionally asked the deliver’s congressional delegation for relieve in a letter Friday. Essentially based on the prognosis, the deepest rent oyster industry became once the hardest hit with $121 million in losses. Heavy rains within the Midwest kept the Mississippi River at flood stage for prolonged lessons of time and forced the outlet of the Bonnet Carre Spillway twice.

Usa today Maine

Scarborough: A Maine-based supermarket chain says it’s launching a brand contemporary initiative to address starvation and meals insecurity in formative years, starting up with a $1 million donation. Hannaford Supermarkets says it’s calling the venture “Gasoline Children at College.” The corporate says this can even shuffle along with starvation relief groups to save 90 college meals pantries in Maine and different states within the Northeast. Hannaford says it expects the distress to raise two years. Company President Mike Vail says the aim of the distress is for “access to meals to be straightforward for formative years.” The corporate says the pantries will be located within colleges and would per chance well well also allow students to take hold of meals they might be able to utilize right through and after the faculty day.

Usa today Maryland

Bel Air: Police secure arrested a monetary institution teller accused of breaking into the home of a customer who had no longer too prolonged ago withdrawn quantity of cash. The Harford County Sheriff’s Location of job acknowledged in a originate that 19-365 days-worn Nathan Michael Newell assaulted a 78-365 days-worn man and his stepdaughter Monday evening within a Bel Air dwelling. He got away nevertheless became once arrested at the monetary institution Wednesday. Freedom Federal Credit rating Union president and CEO Michael MacPherson instructed The Baltimore Sun that Newell has been fired. Charging documents assert Newell confessed to the crime and acknowledged he did it on account of he became once drained of working two jobs. Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler instructed WJZ-TV it became once “practically enjoy a reverse monetary institution theft,” and he hadn’t viewed one thing enjoy it in 34 years in rules enforcement.

Usa today Massachusetts

Boston: The deliver’s cranberry growers are getting support to relieve overhaul their toilets. Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration says 21 growers secure got a total of simply about $1 million for lavatory renovation initiatives. The contemporary grant program is supposed to relieve growers decrease their environmental affect whereas making their toilets extra atmosphere friendly and productive. Farmers are receiving deliver grants to reconfigure toilets, enhance irrigation systems and plant better-yield cranberry forms. Baker says the distress comes from a 2016 advice from the deliver’s Cranberry Revitalization Task Power. The worth of cranberries has plummeted 57% over the past decade because the industry struggles with overproduction and weakening quiz for cranberry juice. Massachusetts is the nation’s second-greatest cranberry rising space after Wisconsin. It has 363 farms on extra than 13,555 acres.

Usa today Michigan

Leland: A unhurried 19th-century shipwreck has been stumbled on in northern Lake Michigan. MLive reports the discovery of W.C. Kimball became once announced last week with photos and movies documenting the important functions on social media. Shipwreck hunter Ross Richardson, technical diver Steve Wimer and a community of different smash fans documented its space in Might maybe well maybe maybe. Richardson originally stumbled on it extra than a 365 days ago on his boat’s sonar camouflage. He became once passing during the lake when he noticed a dinky blip. In the starting up, there became once speculation the Kimball became once bustle over by the next ship. Nonetheless the location of the boat has dominated out that direct. The ship became once lost in an 1891 storm with four other folks aboard. Richardson’s web bother myth notes that it became once deliver to round the Leelanau Peninsula.

Usa today Minnesota

St. Paul: The president of Macalester College is asking his board of trustees to raise away the faculty founder’s name from a campus constructing over issues about his racist and sexist views within the 1800s. The Megastar Tribune reports that Brian Rosenberg, chief of the deepest liberal arts college, instructed faculty last week that he deliberate to strip Edward Duffield Neill’s name from the humanities constructing, following rigidity from pupil activists and journalists. Neill Hall became once chosen in 2013. Rosenberg acknowledged in a press originate to the newspaper that his advice “is basically based on the racism mirrored in his historical writings, which are grisly even by the criteria of his time.” The resolution came two weeks after the pupil e-newsletter Mac Weekly published a explicit negate citing rather just a few examples of derogatory feedback Neill made about American Indians in his published writings.

Usa today Mississippi

Jackson: The governor has announced extra than $53 million in initiatives to relieve coastal communities acquire effectively from the 2010 BP oil spill. Money for the 15 initiatives is coming from civil and criminal penalties resulting from the spill. They consist of $8 million to search out and counter sources of coastal water pollution and $7 million to restore and compose wetlands with dredged silt. Projects totaling no longer no longer as much as $10 million are aimed at economic recovery. Those consist of $3 million each to enhance the Interstate 10 commercial hall in Moss Point, to relieve operate an data systems job practicing center at a neighborhood college and to enhance a public marina in Biloxi. Nearly $6 million would continue assessing reef fish in coastal and nearshore Gulf of Mexico waters.

Usa today Missouri

Kansas Metropolis: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says he has “completely zero regrets” over the resolution to sail two analysis agencies’ headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Kansas Metropolis. Perdue joined executive leaders from Kansas and Missouri on Friday to tour the contemporary headquarters for the Economic Study Provider and Nationwide Institute of Meals and Agriculture. Critics assert the sail will damage agriculture analysis and compose the findings less accessible to federal policymakers. Perdue contends moving the agencies to the heart of agriculture country will allow researchers to work extra closely with farmers, land grant universities and deepest agriculture-connected firms. Nonetheless Laura Dodson, an agricultural economist and union representative at the Economic Study Provider, acknowledged the agencies’ researchers point of curiosity on national questions, and residing near agricultural land is beside the purpose to the work they enact.

Usa today Montana

Troy: A moose examined particular for power wasting illness, marking the first time the illness has been detected within the species within the deliver. A hunter harvested the bull moose in unhurried October near Pulpit Mountain west of Quartz Creek and north of Troy. The harvest befell no longer as much as half of a mile to the west of the present Libby CWD Administration Zone. CWD is a lethal illness that can secure an affect on the worried plan of mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. Montana Fish, Plants and fauna & Parks smooth the voluntary sample from the moose and submitted it for attempting out to the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at Colorado Tell College in Fort Collins, Colorado. The lab identified it to be suspected of CWD infection and confirmed the particular detection with a second check.

Usa today Nebraska

Valentine: The deliver Transportation Division is reporting development in restoring traffic on floodwater-covered highways within the Sandhills space. The department acknowledged Thursday that standard, two-lane traffic is returning to U.S. Motorway 83 between Thedford and Valentine, and one lane of traffic has been restored on Nebraska Motorway 97 south of Merritt Reservoir. The department additionally says it plans to develop a allotment of the roadbed this week on Nebraska Motorway 61 between Hyannis and Merriman. Surprisingly excessive rainfall since spring flooded Sandhills marshes and ponds, leading to floodwaters covering nearby highways and county roads.

Usa today Nevada

Reno: Nineteen unvaccinated students were forced to temporarily unenroll from a neighborhood excessive college to private up away from publicity right through a virulent disease of whooping cough. Unenrolling right during the illness’s 21-day incubation duration enables the Damonte Ranch Excessive College students to private up away from being labeled as chronically absent. The 19 affected students claimed a non secular exemption from the vaccine for whooping cough. The Washoe County Health Division says they have to smooth private away from going to college except 21 days after the last pupil became once identified. A college district legitimate says the students will be in touch with their lecturers and obtained’t be held serve. She says absences on account of of an absence of vaccination can’t be excused beneath federal rules. Three students at the faculty were identified with whooping cough.

Usa today New Hampshire

Manchester: The Currier Museum of Art on Friday got a second New Hampshire dwelling designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Kalil Home in Manchester became once in-built 1957 and is an example of the “Usonian Automatic” properties Wright designed as a extra affordable option for the postwar center class. The two-mattress room dwelling, which contains the authentic furnishings and fixtures, is created from modular concrete blocks made in Manchester and mahogany imported from the Philippines. It became once built for Dr. Toufic and Mildred Kalil, who were inspired by the home of an very impartial appropriate friend whose Wright dwelling had been built on the identical motorway just a few years earlier. That property, the Zimmerman dwelling, became once left to the Currier in 1988. The Kalil dwelling went on sale this 365 days. The Currier acknowledged an nameless donor equipped the funds.

Usa today New Jersey

Pleasantville: Extra piping plover pairs nested within the deliver this 365 days – 114 in comparison with 98 last 365 days – with an average of 1.24 younger per nest reaching independence, The Press of Atlantic Metropolis reports. That’s a 19% lengthen in pairs, based on the 2019 nesting outcomes document by the Preserve Plants and fauna Foundation of New Jersey and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Plants and fauna Endangered and Nongame Species Program. Nonetheless it absolutely’s smooth no longer serve to the prolonged-term average of 117 pairs and is effectively beneath the height of 144 in 2003, the document states. Depredation, particularly by red foxes, continues to plague the endangered species that have to operate its nest in dinky impressions on beach sand. Nonetheless residents in Brigantine and Stone Harbor secure protested deliver packages to guard the plovers by trapping and killing red foxes there.

Usa today New Mexico

Las Vegas: New Mexico Highlands College says it’s constructing a explicit anthropology grasp’s level program fascinated with cultural helpful resource administration. If accredited by better education officials, this procedure would per chance well well be delivered through distance studying. Highlands professor Orit Tamir developed the proposal with the aim of making ready other folks to work within the deepest sector or with tribal, deliver and federal agencies. In New Mexico, Tamir says, a grasp’s level in anthropology is wished to be a chief or lead investigator on a cultural sources venture or different sorts of professional anthropology prognosis. College Provost Roxanne Gonzales says providing this procedure through distance studying will allow working mavens to bolster their skills and compose themselves extra marketable. The program would per chance well well also initiate as soon as fall 2020 once it will get final approval.

Usa today New York

Albany: Iciness hasn’t formally begun, nevertheless deliver officials are already urging households to initiate brooding about summer camp. Division of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos says online registration for the agency’s 2020 summer camps opens Jan. 26. Of us are inspired to register early on account of some weeks possess up mercurial. The department operates four residential camps: Colby in Saranac Lake, Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor, Camp Rushford in Caneadea and Pack Forest in Warrensburg. The camps offer weeklong packages in conservation education for formative years ages 11 through 17. Activities consist of fishing, bird looking at, cruise-tying, archery, canoeing, hiking, camping, orienteering and hunter security. One week of camp costs $350 per child.

Usa today North Carolina

Pittsboro: Authorities assert three other folks were arrested right through a relate near a Confederate statue slated for removal. The Recordsdata & Observer reports a fight erupted Saturday in Pittsboro when protesters who oppose the statue’s removal complained about counterprotesters standing near a protester’s automotive. The Chatham County Sheriff’s Location of job acknowledged 52-365 days-worn Allan Wayne Hall became once charged with inciting a riot and simple affray; 29-365 days-worn Calvin James Megginson became once charged with straightforward assault; and 63-365 days-worn Robert Butler became once charged with inciting a riot. All three reside in Pittsboro. On Wednesday, a take hold of lifted an injunction that has blocked the county from eradicating the statue from where it has stood out of doorways a courthouse since 1907. Loads of other folks were arrested at outdated protests.

Usa today North Dakota

Fargo: A police sergeant has passed through a four-hour surgical operation after taking pictures himself within the hand. KFGO radio reports Sgt. Matt Ysteboe became once smash Friday whereas hunkering down after a man fired a gun toward officers. Fargo Police Chief David Todd says Ysteboe suffered a excessive damage. No extra data about Ysteboe’s situation became once released. Todd says the 54-365 days-worn suspect shot a revolver with a laser within the route of officers and fired extra shots within the Radisson Hotel foyer, where he became once arrested. No different injuries were reported. Ysteboe, who became once the evening shift supervisor Friday, has been with the department since 2001. He became once promoted to sergeant in 2016.

Usa today Ohio

Columbus: A community of conservative lawmakers within the deliver has launched a bill to outlaw abortion outright. Tell Bag. Candice Keller, a Republican from Middletown, says backers are drained of taking an incremental capability to ending abortion. The rules became once launched Thursday. It broadcasts a fetus a particular person and would self-discipline doctors who stop pregnancies to potential murder bills. The bill looks to compose an exception for the existence of the mum. Ohio is among states which secure passed restrictive abortion rules in contemporary years in hopes of sparking a factual negate that would per chance well well overturn Roe v. Wade. The conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Courtroom has emboldened abortion opponents. The Ohio bill is adversarial by abortion rights groups. The deliver’s greatest anti-abortion community is final neutral.

Usa today Oklahoma

Oklahoma Metropolis: The Oklahoma Courtroom of Civil Appeals has upheld the class action designation of a lawsuit against an oil company over damage precipitated by earthquakes near Prague in November 2011, including even handed one of magnitude 5.7. The courtroom on Friday rejected the charm of New Dominion LLC within the lawsuit filed by Jennifer Lin Cooper. Three different oil firms initially incorporated within the lawsuit agreed to a settlement in December. The lawsuit alleges saltwater disposal wells ended in the earthquakes. The 5.7 magnitude quake became once the largest ever recorded in Oklahoma except a magnitude 5.8 temblor struck near Pawnee in 2016. The lawsuit would include residents in Lincoln, Payne, Logan, Oklahoma, Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Okfuskee and Creek counties who had earthquake-connected property damage.

Usa today Oregon

Coos Bay: The proposed Jordan Cove liquefied pure gasoline terminal and its 230-mile feeder pipeline in southern Oregon would secure some adversarial and annoying impacts, based on personnel at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the agency’s personnel issued their final environmental prognosis of the contentious pure gasoline export venture Friday, concluding it would lead to “non permanent, prolonged-term and permanent impacts on the atmosphere.” The document says the venture would affect Coos Bay and 18 threatened and endangered species. The document says plenty of these impacts would no longer be necessary or would per chance well well even be decreased to no longer as much as necessary ranges with avoidance and mitigation measures.

Usa today Pennsylvania

Harrisburg: Discussions on elevating the deliver’s minimal wage for the first time since 2009 are heating up, in allotment to acquire Gov. Tom Wolf to desert an effort to lengthen time past regulation pay eligibility to tens of hundreds of additional personnel. Negotiators are up against a Thursday closing date, when a deliver rule-making board is scheduled to vote on an time past regulation law proposed by Wolf. If Wolf, a Democrat, is to acquire the GOP-controlled Legislature to conform to develop the minimal wage, he’ll have to compose concessions, including rescinding the time past regulation proposal. The lengthen beneath negotiation is a ways extra modest than what Wolf proposed in January when he pushed for a multiyear lengthen to $15 an hour in 2025. The discussion revolves around increasing the minimal wage to about $9.50 an hour in steps over 18 months or so, whereas Wolf would have to tumble parts of his January proposal, including placing off Pennsylvania’s tipped wage minimal, now $2.83.

Usa today Rhode Island

Windfall: Gov. Gina Raimondo has announced her opinion to compose constructing of as much as the moment homes a priority because the deliver joins its neighbors at a “tipping point” of excessive housing costs. The Windfall Journal reports Raimondo has no longer committed to any explicit protection for going during the deliver’s housing negate in 2020 nevertheless has reiterated that having stable housing is a “appropriate” and “economic” imperative. The Democratic governor says the difficulty is even handed one of provide and quiz in which no longer ample homes are being built to meet the market’s quiz and the affordable housing bonds are no longer ample to relieve possess the gap. The newspaper reports the deliver’s housing market has arrive serve a diminutive after the recession, nevertheless as dwelling costs upward thrust progressively, constructing of as much as the moment devices remains idle.

Usa today South Carolina

Columbia: The College of South Carolina is investigating individuals of a fraternity who a television reporter says made sexist and offensive remarks to her whereas she became once working. WACH-TV says reporter Brittany Breeding became once covering Lambda Chi Alpha’s four-365 days suspension Monday when some fraternity individuals yelled out derogatory remarks at her. College spokesman Jeff Stensland says a personnel member witnessed the harassment and reported it. Fraternity spokesman Tad Lichtenauer says it expects ethical behavior from all students and takes harassment allegations severely. Recordsdata outlets document Lambda Chi Alpha had already been suspended from the faculty’s campus except 2023 on account of of hazing allegations sharp violence and alcohol.

Usa today South Dakota

Sioux Falls: A company within the deliver has got a national award for its work in immigration and justice. South Dakota Voices for Peace became once named a winner of the J.M.K. Innovation Prize, which is given to groups working on social challenges within the US, based on a news originate from the J.M. Kaplan Fund. South Dakota Voices for Peace, along with its sister organization South Dakota Voices for Justice, goals to counter anti-immigrant, anti-refugee and anti-Muslim rules as effectively as operate a rural model to retain immigration products and services. The award is given out each different 365 days to 10 organizations nationwide. Each and each awardee receives as much as $175,000 over three years and the capability to work with different social justice organizations.

Usa today Tennessee

Chattanooga: Volkswagen plans to donate $1.25 million to relieve lengthen Cherokee Nationwide Forest near the corporate’s Chattanooga plant and offer neighborhood grants. The Conservation Fund has announced a collaboration with Volkswagen to open three tracts near the plant for out of doorways public sport and to guard the habitat for the dim undergo and the Indiana bat. Volkswagen is using $200,000 of the $1.25 million on neighborhood grants as much as $50,000 each to relieve nonprofits, colleges and public agencies enhance water quality, lengthen out of doorways sport access and arrive environmental education. Volkswagen broke floor Wednesday on an $800 million expansion to compose electric cars in Chattanooga. The corporate has sought to remodel itself after the 2015 diesel scandal, in which Volkswagen became once caught using tool to cheat on emissions attempting out.

Usa today Texas

Austin: Deliberate Parenthood gave up roughly $60 million when it left a federal family planning program this 365 days in opposition to a brand contemporary Trump administration rule prohibiting clinics from referring ladies folk for abortions. In Texas, a network of eight Christian pregnancy centers is jockeying for that Title X funding as it makes plans to raise the unprecedented step of providing unmarried ladies folk contraceptives subsequent 365 days. The sail by The Source marks a turning point for religion-based pregnancy centers which would per chance well well be against abortions and in most cases enact no longer present starting up administration, whereas they as a change preach abstinence out of doorways of marriage. Andy Schoonover, chief govt for The Source, acknowledged the nonprofit organization will add contraception choices including capsules, injections and intrauterine devices to its products and services. The chain of clinics will no longer present the morning-after tablet or copper-based IUDs.

Usa today Utah

Salt Lake Metropolis: Karen Pence visited the city to file bureaucracy to place President Donald Trump on the deliver’s GOP critical pollin the 2020 presidential speed. The Deseret Recordsdata reports Vice President Mike Pence’s necessary other instructed supporters Friday that the speed will be shut. She additionally highlighted Trump’s make stronger of non secular liberty and different conservative values. Republican Sen. Mike Lee will support as co-chairman of the president’s re-election marketing and marketing campaign within the deliver – a turnaround from 2016, when he led a fight against Trump’s nomination. Lee says he took the “scenic route” to changing right into a Trump supporter and respects him for keeping marketing and marketing campaign guarantees. Reps. Chris Stewart and Capture Bishop as effectively as aged Sen. Orrin Hatch are additionally among the honorary co-chairmen of the Trump Victory marketing and marketing campaign in Utah.

Usa today Vermont

Bellows Falls: A neighborhood community is attempting to set a aged YMCA constructing that the city needs to spoil. Elijah Zimmer instructed village trustees last week that the community has got an emergency grant to think the constructing and has utilized for emergency repair funds. The Brattleboro Reformer reports the constructing became once in-built 1835. It weird and wonderful to be a YMCA and at one time became once a church. Zimmer says the constructing, if restored, would per chance well well also present neighborhood bother that Bellows Falls lacks. Trustees assert the constructing is so deteriorated that it isn’t safe to secure personnel within, and cash is being spent on boundaries. Trustees voted to pursue factual choices for demolition, nevertheless some acknowledged they hope Zimmer can set the constructing.

Usa today Virginia

Richmond: Three African American lawmakers are anticipated to lead extremely efficient legislative committees subsequent 365 days within the Home of Delegates. Sunless legislators haven’t led a Home committee in twenty years. Democratic Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, who's determined to be the following Home speaker, announced the heads of four legislative committees Thursday. Three of the four are African American. Del. Luke Torian will lead the Home Appropriations Committee; Del. Jeion Ward will lead the Home Commerce and Labor Committee; and Del. Roslyn Tyler will lead the Home Schooling Committee. Democrats flipped administration of the Virginia’s Regular Meeting in legislative elections this month.

Usa today Washington

Seattle: Navy households secure raised issues asserting housing at Joint Putrid Lewis-McChord made them sick. KOMO-TV reports extra than one households who were residing on the grisly are now residing in hotels and recreational automobiles on account of of moldy prerequisites. Deepest company officials from Lincoln Navy Housing assert they are working to fix the difficulty. Military necessary other Kelsey White says the mold gave her family excessive health components, including her 7-month-worn son. Company officials assert the White family became once save in a motel after which moved to an RV on account of no different on-grisly housing became once offered. Company officials assert they are making ready a press originate in step with issues. Attorneys for the White family and 22 different defense power households search information from to file a lawsuit within the following couple of months.

Usa today West Virginia

Morgantown: A library says violent threats ended in it to smash an match where lunge queens were going to be taught to formative years. The Morgantown Public Library Machine announced it became once canceling its Bound Queen Memoir Time match in a Facebook post Friday. The assertion cited “extra than one threats of violence against the volunteer readers” because the cause within the serve of the cancellation. A voicemail left at the library wasn’t in an instant returned. The library’s assertion says it “remains committed to fostering a esteem of reading for all ages” and would per chance well well also as a change secure its staffers be taught for the match Saturday morning. Libraries and bookstores across the country secure had identical occasions where men in lunge be taught reports to formative years, with some drawing protests.

Usa today Wisconsin

Florence: Florence County, in rural northeastern Wisconsin, has declared itself a Second Amendment sanctuary, a sail commissioners assert is designed to send a “private your hands off our guns” message to politicians. The nonbinding measure offers the sheriff the capability to “exercise sound discretion to no longer put into effect against any citizen an unconstitutional firearms rules.” Florence County Supervisor Edwin Kelley says a up to date name by Gov. Tony Evers for gun administration action has made his constituents worried. Sheriff Dan Miller says these that reside “up north” are usually extra conservative and enjoy their guns. He says the ordinance “sends a message that every even handed one of Wisconsin is no longer precisely the identical.” The ordinance doesn’t mean firearms is maybe no longer taken away from convicted felons or in criminal circumstances, including home violence or tablets.

Usa today Wyoming

Cheyenne: Lawmakers secure determined against giving college students extra deliver scholarship cash for excessive grades. The Joint Schooling Interim Committee voted 8-5 against the proposal Thursday in Cheyenne. The bill would secure enabled students to capture Hathaway Scholarship funding by affirming a 3.75 GPA for 2 consecutive semesters. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports some lawmakers apprehension GPA-based incentives would per chance well well be unfair for faculty students seeking particular levels. College students can exercise the Hathaway Scholarship at the College of Wyoming or any in-deliver neighborhood college. The bill would secure elevated the amount awarded during the scholarships by $3.6 million yearly. Democratic Sen. Chris Rothfuss, of Laramie, says he would moderately exercise the lengthen for added scholarship funding overall.

From USA TODAY Network and wire reports

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junker-town · 5 years ago

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The case for Denver Nuggets skepticism

The Nuggets had a charmed season last year. Are they about to fall back to reality?

The Nuggets will show how hard the journey from good to great really is.

The Denver Nuggets broke out last season as a lovable collection of complementary misfits. On their way to the second-most wins in franchise history, the Nuggets dazzled with unpredictable, synchronized ball and player movement that made it seem like no group enjoyed each other’s help more than they did.

Denver made a massive leap on defense, handled lengthy injuries to Will Barton, Gary Harris, and Michael Porter Jr. with poise, and watched their franchise player go from cult hero to household name. And yet, I never believed they were anything more than a karaoke contender. After a summer in which they doubled down on the roster that got them there (a sensical trade for Jerami Grant notwithstanding), maxed out Jamal Murray before they had to/should have, and watched the rest of the league sharpen its teeth into a row of steak knives, I remain dubious.

As we approach a season that will either solidify or damage Denver’s status, most Las Vegas sportsbooks have set their win total between 50 and 53. ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus projections believe they’ll finish second in the Western Conference, behind the Houston Rockets. I’m skeptical. Months removed from their first playoff appearance in six years, Denver’s season holds the texture of a rorschach test. Was it a step forward, a squandered opportunity, or even a complete aberration—the feel-good story that came together too fast? This year, the Nuggets will either build on their growth or slink back towards mediocrity.

The former’s case isn’t hard to make. There is something to be said about the importance of continuity, and no team is more invested in sustaining it than Denver. All ten of their minutes leaders from 2018-19 are back. Nikola Jokic is 24 years old. Murray is 22 years old. Harris turned 25 last weekend.

But there are several reasons to think the Nuggets are due for the type of lapse that tends to bite up-and-coming teams in the backside right when they think they’ve turned a corner. Before diving into the specific issues that may keep this team farther from a title than last year’s showing might suggest — including Jokic’s defense, Murray’s volatility, and Paul Millsap’s age — let’s first look at a few statistical regressions they’re about to confront.

The Nuggets had more clutch wins than any other team last season. They came out on top in a league-high 67.4 percent of all games that entered the final five minutes with a scoring margin of five points or fewer. This isn’t a reliable recipe from year to year, and, surprisingly, Denver’s success was bound by an NBA-best 95.5 defensive rating — the same side of the floor where most of my own doubt lingers. Sustaining that edge-of-your-seat success in 2020 won’t be easy, and it’s only reasonable to believe a few more of those close games will end in disappointment.

There are several reasons to think the Nuggets are due for the type of lapse that tends to bite up-and-coming teams in the backside

The Nuggets also had some luck in one area that has traditionally been their Achilles’ heel. Last season their opponents shot a league-low 34.4 percent from three. In the previous three seasons they were lit up, finishing 29th, 27th, and 28th in opposing three-point percentage. (Only the Boston Celtics allowed a lower percentage on “open” attempts in 2018-19.) From there, it’s no surprise to see that Denver’s opponents shot a league-low 20.2 percent from deep in the clutch, too. In other words, the Nuggets finished third in win differential for reasons that don’t signal a long, smooth ascent. None of these numbers are indicative of infrastructural problems, but the margins out West are paper thin. If they dip as teams like the Clippers, Lakers, Rockets, Jazz, Spurs, Pelicans, etc. rise, it could be a problem.

But more important big-picture dilemmas exist, the most notable being Jokic’s defense. In his first playoffs, Jokic’s offense was almost identical to his regular season: he was exceptional. But reasons for worry poked their head up on the other end. Jokic isn’t a hopeless defender — think of his struggle as more of a glass ceiling than impenetrable force field — but right now his physical limitations prevent Denver from adapting on the fly how most champions can. The Nuggets had the postseason’s third-worst defense, and in the regular season it crumpled whenever Jokic was on the floor without Millsap. To be fair, Denver’s defense also struggled when Millsap played without Jokic; Grant’s presence beside each one while the other is resting may be the solution. But regardless of who else is on the floor, the best offenses will hunt Jokic in myriad ways throughout the fourth quarters that really matter.

In the second round, Portland did a great job using Jokic’s man to set off-ball screens, involving him in less predictable ways that attacked his mind as much as his pudgy frame. His head was on a constant swivel, and in their biggest possession of the season — down one with 20 seconds left in a do-or-die Game 7 — the Nuggets took the floor with Jokic on the bench. (He fouled out of Games 5 and 6, too.)

Murray is not ready for the vital role they need him to fill

The Spurs were more concentrated in their gameplan, running simple high pick-and-rolls with DeMar DeRozan and Jokic’s man during important stretches of their first-round series. Jokic struggles here, but not devastatingly so. He knows how to take up space, gamble with cause, and can even slide his feet with enough retractable speed to smother guards at the rim. Now he needs to prove he can do it on a consistent basis against the best players in the league, over and over again.

Criticism of Jokic is fair. He’s not perfect. But without him this organization wouldn’t be worth the time it takes to research and write a column about whether they deserve to be viewed as a contender. His progress will dictate Denver’s future. To an almost equal degree, the same can be said about Murray. His future is blinding, but whenever I watch Murray play I see a teenager trying to handle a zippy Lamborghini Countach on his way home from a road test that he barely passed. Shepherding a team this talented through four playoff rounds takes a level of stoicism and sophistication Murray doesn’t have. That’s not his fault, of course. He’s young, and Denver’s offense was lush with him as an active participant last season.

But if winning it all is the goal in 2020, Murray is not ready for the vital role they need him to fill. Maybe that changes in 2021 or 2022. His steep learning curve suggests it may. But the league-wide window to win it all is now. Who knows what the NBA’s hierarchy will look like in two years?

While Murray creeps towards what he’ll eventually be, the Nuggets are built to feed off someone who’s already there. To have him be the second offensive option is too much of a wild card. (This take might be too hot for public consumption but I don’t think Jamal Murray is even the NBA’s best young guard named Murray.)

It’s fine to debate the topic but to me Murray is more of an asset than the indispensable building block Denver evidently sees, and I wonder how far they would’ve gone last year with a steadier hand. Murray’s game has a higher ceiling than Mike Conley’s ever did, but it’s fun to think about Conley sliding in beside Jokic as Denver’s primary caretaker. Going forward, if the Boston Celtics and Nuggets both struggle to reach their own expectations before the trade deadline, a Kemba Walker for Murray swap makes some sense for both sides, too. More realistically, I wouldn’t hesitate to include Murray in a Godfather offer for Bradley Beal. Do that and Denver is feared instead of captivating — 10 percent less jittery.

Again, I realize how harsh all this sounds. At 21, Murray averaged 18 points, five assists, and four rebounds on a team that won one more game than Damian Lillard’s Blazers and James Harden’s Rockets. But sometimes it’s unclear why we feel the way we do about certain players; my hesitation to buy in might simply boil down to the fact that in three NBA seasons Murray’s three-point percentage is 36.2. On par, that’s not bad, but for someone who doesn’t get to the line, takes more long twos than he should, and made over 40 percent of his threes in college, it’s not great.

Murray wasn’t my cup of tea before the Nuggets offered him a maximum contract extension, and if Denver’s bet on what he can be doesn’t pan out like they anticipate it will, pivoting won’t be easy. This team is getting expensive while bleeding trade assets. They owe a top-10 protected 2020 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Porter Jr. is a total unknown. Millsap turns 35 in February and replacing him (or keeping him) won’t be cheap.

At this point, their path to max cap room doesn’t really exist until the final year of Jokic’s contract, when replenishing around him and Murray after Harris hits free agency may be a possibility. But that much patience can leave them susceptible to Jokic’s departure. Tomorrow is promised to no team, and unless Tim Connelly spurned his hometown Washington Wizards to play wait-and-see, serious moves may be necessary.

The Nuggets aren’t dumb, though, as is evident by the path they took to get where they are. Before the 2014-15 season I wrote a piece about Denver’s incoherent path back to relevance. The Nuggets had just missed the playoffs for the first time in ten years, Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson were their two best players, and Brian Shaw was about to explore a rap career. Despite drafting Jokic in June, the organization was blind. A few years later they might be more watchable than anybody else. They’ve won with flair, youth, and unique talent, sure, but of even more importance: Denver has slowed down over the last few years, ambling into a style of play that’s less gimmicky and more a reflection of what must be done if truly serious about a lengthy playoff run. There’s confidence in that stylistic adjustment. The Nuggets are no longer dependent on the Mile High air’s energy-sapping power. They want every arena to feel like home.

Long-term plans have become a fool’s errand, but if Denver’s is to preserve what it currently is for as long as it possibly can, to believe this core can mimic the same home-grown charm that popped up in the Bay Area half a decade ago, nobody will oppose. There’s nothing wrong with winning 50 games every year and then crossing your fingers when the weather turns warm.

But in NBA lingo, for those who want to win the whole thing, internal improvement is increasingly synonymous with stagnation. Risk is a means for survival as much as growth. Murray isn’t Steph Curry, Harris isn’t Klay Thompson, and Millsap isn’t as young or as cheap as Andre Iguodala was when he first decided to climb aboard something special. In the immediate future, they must learn to live with Jokic’s defensive shortcomings — blemishes that will never eclipse all the mind-numbing positives he brings to the table — hope Murray’s fourth season yields an All-Star appearance and that Millsap stays healthy.

Murray’s max extension limits their flexibility, both on the trade market and in free agency next summer, when Millsap’s contract expires and Malik Beasley (who is good!) needs a second contract. In the meantime, questions abound for a team that enters 2020 having to prove itself in a way other playoff locks do not. Maybe they explode and make everything I just wrote look foolish, but waiting a whole year to find out could be more costly than it currently seems. The journey from good to great is so difficult, especially when more can go wrong than go right.

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gyrlversion · 5 years ago

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RICHARD KAY reveals the story of how Kates granny helped foil Hitler

She ended her days in a cosy four-bedroom detached house on the edge of a picture perfect Hampshire village.

It was a special place of happy memories where her grandchildren loved to play on a pirate ship in the big garden.

Valerie Middleton had the added comfort of knowing the daughter of one of her sons was being courted by the future king.

For Valerie Middleton was no ordinary granny. Bletchley-era photos show a vivacious young woman who, like Kate, smiled with her eyes as well as her mouth and had the same chestnut hair framing her face

In those days, the fact that her granddaughter, Kate, was almost certain to be betrothed to Prince William was a family secret.

The world would know soon enough, but the 82-year-old mother of Kate’s father, Michael, was to take another Middleton secret to her grave.

It was her role at Bletchley Park, home of Britain’s wartime code-breakers. No matter how many times as a young girl the Duchess of Cambridge asked her paternal grandmother: ‘Granny, what did you do in the war?’ Mrs Middleton never breathed a word.

No matter how many times as a young girl the Duchess of Cambridge asked her paternal grandmother: ‘Granny, what did you do in the war?’ Mrs Middleton never breathed a word

This week, on a visit to a new exhibition celebrating Bletchley’s part in the D-Day landings 75 years ago, the Duchess spoke of her sadness that her grandmother could never talk about her wartime role at the secret base.

‘She was so sworn to secrecy that she never felt able to tell us,’ Kate told visiting schoolchildren during her tour of the estate near Milton Keynes.

‘When she was alive, sadly she could never talk about it.’

What a story she must have had. We do know she was recruited with her twin sister Mary — Kate’s great-aunt — and they monitored diplomatic traffic from secret listening stations.

In this role, they witnessed one of the most extraordinary moments in Bletchley’s history.

For the twins were on duty when a message was intercepted that Japan had surrendered.

This meant they were among the first handful of people — with George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill — to learn that World War II was over.

But, of course, they could not share the news with anyone.

Despite Valerie’s reluctance to talk about their role, the sisters’ vital work has been publicly recognised: Valerie and Mary, employed as Foreign Office civilians, have their names engraved on the Codebreakers’ Wall at Bletchley — the Edwardian mansion in Buckinghamshire is now a tourist attraction — which records the thousands who worked in signals intelligence between 1939 and 1945.

They worked in Hut 16, which originally housed boffins decrypting the Nazi Enigma machine. As Kate proudly told those pupils this week: ‘My granny and her sister worked here . . . it’s very cool.’

Bletchley’s war effort was celebrated in the Oscar-nominated 2015 film The Imitation Game about the brilliant but troubled mathematician Alan Turing.

In the war more than 10,000 people worked at Bletchley Park and at its linked locations, and 80 per cent were women. Churchill referred to the staff as: ‘The geese that laid the golden eggs and never cackled.’

Such a description would certainly have applied to Valerie and Mary Glassborow, who were only 20 when they arrived in early 1944.

Just how the sisters, the daughters of a provincial bank manager, came to be part of the elite intelligence gatherers is still something of a family mystery.

Mary died from breast cancer aged 51 in 1975 while Valerie died in 2006 — and neither sister let on what happened during the war.

One relative told me: ‘It wasn’t just Kate, they never said a word to anyone. They had an older brother who they adored and they wouldn’t even tell him.

What a story she must have had. We do know she was recruited with her twin sister Mary — Kate’s great-aunt — and they monitored diplomatic traffic from secret listening stations. Wrens are pictured working on Bletchley Park, above [File photo]

‘All we ever heard was that they did secret work in England and were based in a country house. In those days, no one knew about the existence of Bletchley Park.’

What makes their story more remarkable is that after the war they married brothers.

Six months after Valerie’s wedding to former RAF ace Peter Middleton, Mary married his older brother, Anthony.

Since her engagement to Prince William, much has been made of the line of strong, indomitable women Kate is descended from.

There is her mother Carole, who started her Party Pieces business on the kitchen table; her other grandmother Dorothy who set the family on the road to prosperity and a great-grandmother who was determined to end the clan’s coal-mining tradition.

But all those are on the maternal side. Surely the Glassborow women from her father’s side must also now be included?

For Valerie was no ordinary granny. Bletchley-era photos show a vivacious young woman who, like Kate, smiled with her eyes as well as her mouth and had the same chestnut hair framing her face.

The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured centre, with Bletchley veterans Elizabeth Diacon, Georgina Rose, Audrey Mather and Rena Stewart. Bletchley’s activities are said to have shortened the war by two years

The story begins in 1919 when the twins’ father, Frederick Glassborow, was demobbed after almost six years in the Royal Navy.

Frederick returned to his pre-war job as a bank manager. Working at the London and Westminster bank — today part of the RBS empire — he met Constance Robison and they wed in Marylebone in 1920.

The couple loved travelling and when a job came up to manage the bank’s branch in Valencia, Spain, he took it. There, in 1922, the couple’s son, Maurice, was born.

Two years later, Frederick was working at a branch in Nantes, France, and the couple became parents to twins Valerie and Mary.

Soon, Frederick was transferred to Marseilles. The girls attended local schools and learned French. ‘They spoke like natives,’ recalls a distant cousin. This skill later made them attractive to the code-breakers at Bletchley.

Following convention, the twins went to boarding school in England — their brother Maurice was already at a Hertfordshire prep school. In the holidays, the children travelled back to France.

This idyllic life was shattered as war clouds gathered over Europe. At 17, Maurice joined the Navy. And Frederick remained at the bank until after the German invasion of France in May 1940.

What happened next is the subject of family debate. Kate’s biographer, Claudia Joseph, has written how he escaped on a ship as late as 1942 with the banks’ records stuffed into sacks.

‘As his ship was waiting to leave port, it was heavily bombed by German aircraft,’ Joseph wrote.

But family members recall being told that Frederick had gathered as many possessions as possible, loaded them into the family car and drove across France before boarding a boat to England.

‘It is the reason so few photos of Valerie as a child survive, so much had to be abandoned,’ says a Middleton source. Either way, in 1943, he took up a new post for his bank — in Leeds.

The twins had completed their education and wanted to help the war effort by learning office skills. They enrolled at Mrs Hester’s Secretarial College. With planning for the D-Day invasion in full swing, their linguistic skills made them ideal recruits for Bletchley.

‘They were not maths geniuses so we don’t think they would have been breaking codes, but clearly it was important stuff,’ says the family figure.

Bletchley’s activities are said to have shortened the war by two years. On her first visit there in 2014, Kate met Lady (Marion) Body, wife of former Tory MP Sir Richard Body.

She worked with Kate’s grandmother and great-aunt and told how Valerie, Mary and herself shared a ‘special moment’ on August 15, 1945.

Their superior officer came in and said: ‘Well done girls, a signal has been intercepted from Tokyo to Geneva and it’s the signal that the Japanese are surrendering.’

Lady Body said: ‘We sat there in complete silence before we were told to get on with our work.’

In those days, the fact that her granddaughter, Kate, was almost certain to be betrothed to Prince William was a family secret. The world would know soon enough, but the 82-year-old mother of Kate’s father, Michael, was to take another Middleton secret to her grave. She is pictured meeting young Lawson Bischoff at Bletchley Park

Asked if they heard the news before the King, Lady Body replied: ‘I should think about the same time. It was a great moment.’

She added that the Duchess bore a resemblance to her grandmother. ‘There is a likeness, in her hair colour, and possibly her eyes.’

She knew the twins well. ‘They were fun. We all got on. It was the only thing you could do, cooped up in here. We were all young girls together and we weren’t in uniform. I think we all had our 21st birthday on a night-shift.’

The sisters left Bletchley in October 1945 and joined their parents in Leeds. There they met the Middleton brothers, sons of a solicitor.

Peter and Valerie married in December 1946. Kate’s father, Mike, was born in 1949. Later, Peter became a pilot with BEA, and was selected to act as first officer to Prince Philip on a tour of South America in 1962.

He was later sent a letter of thanks and a pair of gold cufflinks from Buckingham Palace. At his 90th birthday, he met Prince William, who was about to become engaged to Kate.

Valerie concentrated on raising four sons and welcoming their grandchildren to their Hampshire home.

When Peter died four years after his wife, Valerie’s Bletchley secrets went, too. But nothing could take away from her achievements.

As a thrilled Kate said to Bletchley veterans this week: ‘Your families must be very proud.’

The post RICHARD KAY reveals the story of how Kates granny helped foil Hitler appeared first on Gyrlversion.

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hunterbach · 6 years ago

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2018 AFC North Team Analysis and Projections

AFC North Division on tap for review today. Let’s get to it.

Pittsburgh Steelers

2018-19 Projected Finish: 1st

2017-18 Finish: 1st

Key Additions

Offense

Mason Rudolph (QB)(draft, round 3rd pick 76) – The Rudolph pick isn’t necessarily about this year or even about next, but it's about the next five to ten years if Rudolph pans out. Rudolph is an extremely talented signal caller who has really nice deep ball touch and showed improvement every year at Oklahoma State. With Ben Roethlisberger entering the final few years of his career its important for the Steelers to have a succession plan at quarterback and I believe Rudolph can be that for the franchise.

James Washington (WR)(draft, round 2nd pick 60) - Washington, from Oklahoma State, was maybe the best deep ball receiver in the class. For the Steelers, Washington slides into the number 3 receiver role vacant due to the trade of Martavis Bryant and the injury to Eli Rodgers. I believe Washington, much like Juju Smith-Schuester, should see immediate success his rookie year with the amount of single coverage he’ll see thanks to the attention being paid to Antonio Brown and Smith-Schuester.

Defense

Morgan Burnett (S)(free agent - Packers) – Burnett was a versatile safety for the Packers last season. It was surprising the team let him sign away on such an affordable deal, but the Packers loss is the Steelers gain. Burnett will look to complement entrenched starter Sean Davis and rookie Terrell Edmunds. Burnett also looks poised to get some looks at linebacker in dime packages. Overall Burnett is a versatile playmaker who should help a defense seeking to minimize the impact lost by Ryan Shazier’s injury.

Key Losses

Offense

Chris Hubbard (OT)(signed with Cleveland) – Hubbard was a swing tackle who was a nice fill in for Marcus Gilbert due to injuries and suspension last season. His loss is not substantial, but it will be important for the team to figure out who will take over his role in the offense now that he is with Cleveland.

Defense

Ryan Shazier (LB)(Injury) – Shazier was the heart and soul of the Steelers defense. He was an exceptional football player who unfortunately experienced a severe injury. Because of the type of guy Shazier is, everyone is cheering for him to kick ass in rehab. For Shazier, being able to live a normal life is far more important than ever playing football again. If he is able to play football again, that would be amazing. All of us are cheering for him. On the football side, the Steelers are not going to be able to replace Shazier and his ability. The best they could do is try to mask his loss. The defense should still be good, but Shazier’s loss is significant for the unit.

Team Analysis

The Steelers have won the division the last two seasons and therefore should be the favorite to win it again. The only question is how large of an impact will Ryan Shazier

Baltimore Ravens

2018-19 Projected Finish: 2nd

2017-18 Finish: 2nd

Key Additions

Offense

Lamar Jackson (QB)(draft, round 1st pick 32) – Jackson is the Ravens quarterback of the future. The team is unlikely to rush Jackson into the starting lineup this season as it will be more important for him to learn this season. Jackson is an electric playmaker with inconsistent mechanics. If utilized properly, Jackson will be really fun to watch – maybe this season but likely next.

Michael Crabtree (WR)(free agent – Raiders) – Crabtree will become Baltimore’s number one receiver after being cut by the Raiders. Crabtree will lead a newly revamped wide receiver corps including new additions Willie Snead and John Brown. I would expect Crabtree will eclipse the 1,000-yard mark with Baltimore this season.

Hayden Hurst (TE)(draft, 1st round 25th pick) – Hurst has an interesting story. Before he played football at South Carolina, he played two seasons of Minor League Baseball for the Pirates organization. Hurst is old for a rookie turning 25 in August, but his game is well rounded and should easily translate to the pros. Hurst should fill a serious void in an offense that lacked a playmaker at the tight end position last season.

Key Losses

Offense

Mike Wallace (WR)(signed with Eagles) – Wallace was a consistent player for the Ravens the last two seasons and his vertical ability will need to be replaced by John Brown. Wallace is not the player he once was, but he was consistent for the offense and will likely be missed this coming season.

Ryan Jensen (C)(signed with Buccaneers) – Jensen was a revelation for the Ravens last year as he was the anchor for a solid offensive line. Jensen will be missed as none of his possible replacements seem like they will play as well as Jensen did this past season.

Team Analysis

The Ravens came one game away from the playoffs last season. The roster looks even better this year with what seems to be a solid draft class and a revamped receiving core. The division should be a battle between the Ravens and the Steelers.

Cincinnati Bengals

2018-19 Projected Finish: 3rd

2017-18 Finish: 3rd

Key Additions

Offense

Cordy Glenn (OT)(trade with Bills) – The Bills acquired Glenn for a swap of firsts, a fifth, and sixth-round draft pick. Glenn filled an obvious hole for the Bengals who have needed a left tackle after Andrew Whitworth departed for Los Angeles last season. Glenn is a quality tackle who will be an upgrade for the team. The biggest question mark surrounding Glenn will be his health after only playing 17 games the last two seasons.

Billy Price (C)(draft, round 1st pick 21) - Price was arguably the top center in the draft but his stock was uncertain after suffering a partially torn pec at the combine. The Bengals highest priority need along the offensive line was center. Price is a day one starter for the Bengals who I expect to perform and at a high level. With both Price and Glenn, the offensive line for the team should be much improved.

Defense

Preston Brown (LB)(free agent – Bills ) – Brown is another 1-year flier for the Bengals at the linebacker position. Brown is a solid if unspectacular player who should be leaned on with Vontaze Burfict again suspended for the start of the season.

Key Losses

Offense

Russell Bodine (C)(signed with Bills) – Bengals fans have been annoyed by the Bengals’ reluctance to go away from Bodine for the last four years. Well, it finally happened. Bodine struggled consistently at the pivot the last four years. Billy Price should step in and be at least as effective if not better as Bodine was for the team.

Defense

Chris Smith (DE)(signed with Browns) – Smith isn’t a significant loss for the Bengals defense though he was effective in the limited snaps he played last season for the team. His production should be replaced by the improvements from second-year pros Jordan Willis and Carl Lawson along with rookie defensive end Sam Hubbard.

Team Analysis

The Bengals are a team that could just as easily win the division as finish in third. They are a true wildcard. If the defense takes strides and Andy Dalton plays at the MVP level we have seen before, and the offensive line takes the necessary strides, The Bengals could win the division. However, if roster talent holds true, the Ravens and Steelers are likely to finish ahead of them.

Cleveland Browns

2018-19 Projected Finish: 4th

2017-18 Finish: 4th

Key Additions

Offense

Jarvis Landry (WR)(trade with Dolphins ) – The Browns acquired Landry and proceeded to sign him to a massive 5-year $75.5 million contract. Landry has been a machine in the slot over the last 4 years recording 114 receptions last season. For Landry, the question is whether he can be more than a slot receiver who racks up receptions and whether he can turn into a true WR 1.

Tyrod Taylor (QB)(trade with Bills) - Tyrod Taylor may be the best quarterback the Browns have had in a while and is the perfect bridge quarterback for the Browns until Baker Mayfield is ready. Taylor is an underrated signal-caller who might not be a person who goes out and wins the game but he certainly won't lose it for the Browns.

Defense

T.J Carrie (CB)(free agent - Raiders) – Carrie is coming off a really solid season last year for the Raiders. He was highly regarded by PFF coming in with an 84.3. Carrie proceeded to sign a 4-year deal with the Browns. The team hopes that Carrie continues to further build upon his successful campaign last year partnering with Denzel Ward to give the Browns a solid cornerback tandem.

Key Losses

Offense

Joe Thomas(OT)(retirement) – The Browns lost their stalwart left tackle this offseason. He will surely be a hall of famer. There is no way to replace Thomas. He was a 10-time pro bowler and a 9-time all pro. He had not missed a snap until tearing his triceps last seasons. The Browns will seek to fill the void left by Thomas with second-round pick Austin Corbett. Corbett is a good player, but it's unlikely he’ll completely fill the void.

Defense

Danny Shelton (DT)(trade to Browns) – Shelton was not a scheme fit for Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. He was a limited 2-down defender for the Browns leading to the team trading him. Overall, Shelton is not a significant loss for the Browns defense and will have minimal impact on whether the unit will be successful in 2018.

Team Analysis

This Browns team has the talent to win 5-7 games this season, but when you finish 0-16, I'm sorry to say I have to pick you as the fourth best team in the division. I expect turnaround but I Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Stay tuned for more NFL analysis. In the meantime check out

2018 AFC South Team Analysis and Projections

2018 AFC North Team Analysis and Projections

2018 AFC West Team Analysis and Projections

2018 AFC East Team Analysis and Projections

#nfl #NFL DivisionWinners #pittsburg steelers #baltimore ravens #cincinatti bengals #cleveland browns

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cover32-yahoopartner-blog · 7 years ago

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Week 2 Review: Ken Zampese out, Bengals scrambling after 0-2 start

It’s hard to remember a time when a Bengals season started on this poor of a note.

Two games. Two home games, against teams that went a combined 17-15 over the 2016 season. Nine points. The last Bengals team to go two consecutive games without a touchdown was the 2008 squad that started Ryan Fitzpatrick for 12 games. The last team to open a season with two home games and fail to score a touchdown in either was the 1939 Philadelphia Eagles.

It’s crazy to think that the Bengals can remain this bad, but they’re already in historic territory.

AROUND COVER32

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Takeaways from the Eagles’ Week 2 loss to the Chiefs

Breaking down Cowboys CB Nolan Carroll

Check out the hottest news in the NFL this week

Four Quick Notes

• Almost as historic as the anemic start the Bengals’ offense has had this season was the immediate reaction made by the front office after Thursday’s game. In fifty years of owning the team, Mike Brown has never signed off on a mid-season firing of a coordinator, yet Friday came and offensive coordinator Ken Zampese received his walking papers.

Zampese joined the team as a quarterbacks coach in 2003, the same year that Carson Palmer came to Cincinnati as the first overall draft pick. He was elevated to offensive coordinator after 14 years with the team, having served under offensive coordinators Bob Bratkowski, Jay Gruden and Hue Jackson. After having success with Gruden and Jackson as internal hires, it was clear after 18 games with Zampese that the well had run dry.

Zampese isn’t a bad coach, he’s just a quarterbacks coach. He’s had success as one, and he’ll land on his feet as one in another NFL city. The Bengals, for their part, actually have to go outside at some point in order to find their next coordinator.

• Bill Lazor, the quarterbacks coach during Zampese’s stint as offensive coordinator, was promoted to fill the void left by the latter’s firing. A 45-year-old who has bounced around the league as a quarterbacks coach, Lazor himself was also fired midseason as an offensive coordinator, by the Miami Dolphins in 2015.

That’s not to say that Lazor’s tenure in the position for the Bengals is doomed, but he was essentially the Bengals’ only option. Of the six interim offensive coordinators appointed over the last two seasons, four were the quarterbacks coach of their team (Zac Taylor in Miami, Jim Bob Cooter in Detroit, Marty Morhinweg in Baltimore and Nathaniel Hackett in Jacksonville).

Ultimately, it may not matter. The chorus calling for Marvin Lewis’ job has grown louder over the past two weeks, and Lazor will almost certainly be swept out with him if Lewis has to be fired. It would be an unusually bold move for Mike Brown, but he’s already made one this season when he had to.

• It would make sense for quarterback Andy Dalton to be on some kind of hot seat after his nightmarish start to this season. According to several sources close to the Bengals – from Lewis to receiver A.J. Green to backup quarterback A.J. McCarron – that isn’t the case. Zampese has fully fallen on the sword, and the discussion about improving the offense has revolved around getting skill players more involved in the game plan.

That hasn’t stopped conspiracies from forming around changes at the quarterback position, however. Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk published a piece on Sunday suggesting that some in the locker room wanted the Bengals to pursue Kaepernick. George Iloka joined the Flying Pigskin podcast on Monday to shoot the rumor down, which is frankly more recognition than it deserved to be given. Even this five-line paragraph is pushing it.

• While the performance of the Bengals’ defense has been admirable in the face of an offense that refuses to score, their performance against Houston last Thursday was still disheartening. The book on quarterback Deshaun Watson was wide open quickly – he had about five skill position players available to him but only had eyes for DeAndre Hopkins. A stop on Houston’s last drive or not giving up a long scramble would have been enough to win the game, and both were fair requests. Even if the circumstances around them weren’t.

Regardless, this is a defensive unit that currently ranks seventh in the league in scoring defense, fifth in total yardage and first in pass yardage. All this with linebacker Vontaze Burfict having yet to return from suspension.

Stock Up

Geno Atkins: In the interest of only choosing one repeat selection from Week 1, Geno Atkins will get the nod here. Through the first two weeks of the 2017 NFL season, Atkins has looked like the most disruptive interior presence in the NFL. Unfortunately, of course, those performances are still buried under a couple team losses on the national radar. Atkins finished with a 93.4 overall grade per Pro Football Focus. J.J. Watt led Houston with 88.8, while second place for Cincinnati was Shawn Williams’ 81.9.

Jordan Willis: Filling in the for the injured Michael Johnson, Willis had an effective night rushing off of the right edge. He wasn’t remotely near as productive as Atkins, but his 78.8 PFF grade was only marginally below the 80.0 scored by Carl Lawson in week 1. It’s wasn’t a breakout night for the third-round rookie, but it’s a solid building block for a very young career. He’s a promising piece for defensive coordinator Paul Guenther – the question that remains is whether Guenther will remain around to use him.

Stock Down

Tyler Boyd: Boyd was held out of Thursday night’s game without an injury playing a role. It’s hard to believe that, in a game where Alex Erickson was targeted in critical situations, the Boyd that looked like a solid slot weapon in 2016 couldn’t have contributed. It’s fair to question Boyd’s role with the team going forward, especially with John Ross still needing to get on the field.

Andy Dalton: It’s hard to pin the abject failure of the offense through two weeks all on Dalton, but he has to shoulder some of the blame as the starting quarterback. Dalton’s game Thursday night was average, but he had to be more than average in order to win. If nothing else, he had to consistently find his established more-than-average players – A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert combined for only 109 yards on 8 catches. Both players, especially Eifert, haven’t been sufficiently involved in the game script over the past two weeks.

Four Things Looking Ahead

• The most recent parallel for the Bengals’ current situation on offense is what Buffalo went through in 2016. After two weeks of fielding a subpar offense, the Bills fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman and promoted Anthony Lynn, the running backs coach, to fill the void. Coming off an 0-2 start, Lynn refocused the offense to accentuate the strengths of the personnel and run-first mentality desired by then-coach Rex Ryan. Buffalo rebounded from 0-2 to 4-2, stomping Arizona and San Francisco and shutting out New England on the road.

Buffalo was widely seen around the league then as being the first team to hit the ‘panic button’ in that season, firing Roman for the sake of firing somebody. Others saw it as Ryan scapegoating his offensive coordinator for losses caused by his defense, or even ejecting coaches he wasn’t close to from a ship he knew was sinking. While Ryan was ultimately fired, Lynn became the interim coach and now coaches the Los Angeles Chargers. Before any of that, though, he provided the Bills with a rapid turnaround. It can happen.

• Traveling to Lambeau Field is a daunting task for any NFL team. For fans, it’s daunting to watch – especially for fans who don’t have any confidence in their team’s chances of winning. That’s an understandable place for Bengals fans to find themselves in right now, but perhaps the situation is better than they’d think.

The Packers are currently dealing with injuries to starting tackles David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga, as well as reserve tackle Jason Spriggs. Additionally, five Packers left Sunday night’s game against the Falcons with injuries – defensive lineman Mike Daniels, receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, cornerback Davon House and safety Kentrell Brice.

Obviously, the Bengals just came off a week where they lost at home to a team similarly emaciated by injuries. No amount of injuries can guarantee an outcome for a bad team, but they can provide opportunity for a good one. If the Bengals can, in fact, come out Sunday looking like a good team, there’s a chance they’ll show it in the win column.

• Around the AFC: five teams in the Bengals’ conference are currently sitting at 0-2: themselves, Cleveland, Indianapolis, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the New York Jets. Baltimore, at 2-0, has a perfect record as a result of beating Cincinnati and Cleveland. What this means in a nutshell: the AFC hierarchy is far from established. That may seem like an obvious truth of week 3 in the NFL, but it doesn’t always feel that way.

• Past the Packers, the Bengals head to Cleveland in week 4, host Buffalo in week 5, then have a bye during week 6. It’s entirely possible that Cincinnati goes into the bye at 2-3. Cleveland and Buffalo have one win between them over two weeks (against the Jets), and have both averaged under 20 points per game. Again, they’re not hand-outs, but the Bengals don’t have to become world-beaters to win them. They just have to play to the sum of their parts.

– Andrew Hammel is the managing editor for cover32/Bengals and covers the Cincinnati Bengals for cover32

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decaffeinatedlightluminary-blog · 7 years ago

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Flash Gordon Didn't Bother With Fossil Fuels

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Flash Gordon Didn't Bother With Fossil Fuels

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Buster Crabbe played the iconic Flash Gordon like a man obsessed, giving the legendary movie serial its high-octane action and frenetic speed.

He didn’t wait around for help when faced with certain death, and leaped into action. Somehow rescue always came after the cliff-hanger that ended each episode.

Likewise, the creators of the then high-cost production didn’t mess around to make sure all scientific details matched reality or potential possibilities of space-time theory. They created staged sets complemented with electricity arcs, surreal noise and big machines with concentric circles of blinking lights. They fuzzed over details when it came to power sources, transportation and various high-flying technologies. The bird men’s floating city comes to mind.

Doctor Zarkov in his introduction to the dungeon-like palace laboratory immediately figured out the nuclear energy source that enabled Ming the Merciless to rule over all of Mongo and threaten the hapless planet Earth. Things that make you go, “Hmmmm,” to quote Arsenio Hall found no answers in the script.

Society could use such enthusiasm and blind faith about now. The debate over climate change has dropped out of the presidential campaign. And energy independence is coming to mean relying on burning coal and natural gas. But sordid, particulate-filled air will soon be determined to be the most costly disaster in the history of mankind.

We could use a hero.

Mongo and climate change

Eugene Robinson with the Washington Post calls out the president and his challenger on climate change, saying “neither has mentioned the subject in the debates.”

That’s a problem. The nations of the world are racking up a huge debt in the form of carbon spewed by everything from cook fires to aging diesel truck and coal-fueled power plants. Most scientists warn of dire consequences should the increasing rate of its production not be reversed.

Author and climate activist Bill McKibben says we don’t have much time to engage this enemy. In a piece for Rolling Stone, McKibben says the Earth’s average temperature can increase just another 2 degrees Celsius before it succumbs to significant effects of climate change. He says that equates to 563 gigatons of carbon dioxide.

More drilling, really?

Robinson points out that President Obama stoked his fossil-fuel credentials in the second presidential debate, saying, “We have increased oil production to the highest levels in 16 years.” Meanwhile, he quotes GOP hopeful Mitt Romney saying, “I’ll do it by more drilling.”

The “it” to which Romney refers is energy independence. But energy, at least from fossil fuels, is controlled by world markets. To say all domestically produced fuel should be used only in this country would be against the very free market beliefs that Romney espouses. In other words, increasing extraction of domestic fossil fuels won’t matter much.

The presidential campaign “is an opportunity with complicated implications for global prosperity and security,” Robinson surmises. “Unfortunately, Obama and Romney have chosen to see this more as an opportunity to pretend that the light at the end of the tunnel is not an approaching train.”

Or Ming the Merciless.

Danger Will Robinson

As in the inaugural episode of Flash Gordon, (metaphorical) meteors are cascading down upon the planet. Only in this case, we don’t have a Flash to go off seeking solutions. It’s got to be accomplished by slow and methodical investment into alternative energy solutions. Sure, it’ll cost money. What doesn’t?

Director Frederick Stephani created those initial Flash Gordon episodes, using what then was the best technology of the day. Suspension of disbelief and storyline allowed the viewer to disappear into Mongo along with Flash, Princess Aura and Dale Arden. No matter that the entire alien population of a marauding planet speaks perfect, although stilted, English. As for the fact the planet has an atmosphere and perpetual daylight even though it doesn’t orbit a star… big deal. Not everything needs explanation.

Stephani uses sets like current sci-fi directors employ armies of workers to create computerized graphics. Many scenes look as if they’re stage productions. The same caverns appear over and over. The interior of every space ship looks the same, and some of the characters, a bearded James Pierce as Prince Thun comes to mind, look as if he grabbed the first beach bums from Los Angeles to play minor parts. “Who are you? Beard looks good. You’ll do,” is how I imagine Stephani casting some the prince role.

In other words, he made it work. We could do the same with alternative energy.

Scene stealer

Stephani and the producers certainly recycled sets. Imdb.com reports that “despite its large budget (about three times its contemporaries), this serial utilized many sets from other Universal films, such as the laboratory and crypt set from ‘The Bride of Frankenstein,’ the castle interiors from ‘Dracula’s Daughter,’ the idol from ‘The Mummy’ and the opera house interiors from ‘The Phantom of the Opera.'”

Yet, with the exception of Crabbe, most of the people involved in the original Flash faded from the limelight. I had initially thought Priscilla Lawson was in some way related to “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” Perhaps a homage as was “To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar” to its namesake.

No such luck. Despite the splash, especially amongst young theater-goers, made by the cast of Flash Gordon, Lawson, Charles Middleton (who played Ming), Jean Rogers (who played Dale Arden) and others faded quickly from celluloid view.

Princess Aura returns

Here’s a bit of Priscilla Lawson, one of the most mysterious of Hollywood’s mysterious women. Her film career peaked with Flash Gordon.

Roy Kinnard, author of the book “Science Fiction Serials,” says Lawson’s career was too short. “She immortalized and endeared herself to generations of movie fans, who, after seeing her, have wanted to know more about her,” he says in a post on Tony LoBue’s Flash Gordon website.

Maybe that’s what happens to the earliest players in a trend. Perhaps many of those who pioneered clean energy will be forgotten until the mainstream realizes their importance and the significance of their message. Then you can be sure the posts and tweets will start burnishing their image.

Or maybe not. It would be nice to see a Flash Gordon leap into battle with no weapons and stand in front of the enemy. Oh that’s right, Daryl Hannah did that in northeast Texas in October 2012, blocking construction crews working on the Keystone XL pipeline.

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junker-town · 8 years ago

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Kansas basketball has turned into Transfer U

The Jayhawks have landed five elite transfers in the last calendar year. It shows Bill Self is always willing to try something new.

Charlie Moore said he was leaving Cal to be closer to his hometown of Chicago. Sam Cunliffe never hesitated to mention how much he missed his family in Seattle before he left Arizona State. As former four-star recruits, both players would have been welcomed with open arms at schools back home, be it Illinois or DePaul for Moore or Washington or Seattle for Cunliffe.

They both wound up at Kansas instead.

The transfer market used to be seen as a shortcut in the weird world of college basketball recruiting, a place where mid-tier schools found unhappy players because they couldn’t land top talent out of high school. That’s not the case anymore. Just ask Bill Self.

The only way to stay on top in this sport is to evolve and adapt. John Calipari figured that out a decade ago by embracing one-and-dones following an NBA rule changed that barred high school players from entering the draft. Gonzaga went from mid-major to national power by recruiting outside of the U.S, with success stories like Ronny Turiaf, Domantas Sabonis and Przemek Karnowski dotting the program’s transformation. Plenty of schools have taken advantage of grad transfers as a one-year bandaid to cover up a hole on the roster.

College coaches are always looking for the next inefficiency in the recruiting market. Self thinks he’s found it by targeting and securing the best transfers in the country.

It started a year ago when Malik Newman committed to Kansas following one season at Mississippi State. Newman was an elite recruit in every sense: the No. 8 player RSCI for the class of 2015 and 11.3 point per game scorer in the SEC as a freshman. If he was leaving the Bulldogs after one season, chances were he was going to the NBA. Self got him to sit out a year and then play for the Jayhawks instead.

Kansas has only doubled-down on transfers in the last four months. Cunliffe is a 6’6 shooter who will be ideal in the LaGerald Vick/Svi Mykhailiuk role in Self’s new small ball offense. Moore was quietly brilliant as a freshman for Cal, averaging 12.3 points and 3.5 assists per game while showcasing the ability to score from all three levels. It’s easy to envision him in a two point guard backcourt like the Frank Mason-DeVonte Graham pairing KU had so much success with this past season.

Then there’s the Lawson brothers. Dedric and K.J. had one of the most publicized recruitments out of the class of 2015, with former Memphis coach Josh Pastner putting their father on staff to secure their commitment. The Tigers didn’t win much during the Lawsons’ two seasons on campus, but there’s no doubting their talent.

Dedric is the big catch. He’s a 6’9, 235-pound forward with an inside-out game perfect the four. He averaged 19.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game as a sophomore and could turn into one of the most productive players in the country under Self. K.J. also brings value as a 6’7 wing who does a little bit of everything. He put up 12.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game this past season.

Getting transfers isn’t a replacement for going after one-and-dones; if anything, it’s a way to supplement them. Self has been as good as anyone this side of Calipari and Mike Krzyzewski at bringing in top freshman talent, with Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins and now Josh Jackson showing KU can develop top NBA picks.

For Self, banking on transfers is a way of putting those one-and-dones in a better position to succeed. When Cunliffe, Moore and the Lawsons finally debut for the Jayhawks, they will all have a year of practice under their belt. In a sport with so much annual turnover, there’s no discounting how big that extra practice time will be.

Bringing in transfers won’t guarantee Kansas more success in March. In a single-elimination tournament, nothing will. What it does show is Self is constantly challenging himself to keep the Jayhawks at the top. He’s not satisfied with Big 12 titles every year and an annual parade of McDonald’s All-Americans.

It would be easy for anyone to get complacent in Self’s position, but instead he continues to look for new ways to push the program forward. He’s seen Kansas come up short in the postseason too many times to keep running it back. College basketball has always been about finding and maximizing every little advantage you can. If this doesn’t work, you know Self will find something else in a few years.

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junker-town · 8 years ago

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2017 NFL mock draft: Trades could shake up the 1st round

Which trades make sense? This week’s mock explores several options.

Two first-round picks in the 2017 NFL draft have already been traded, but don’t expect that to be it by the time the first round concludes in April.

This week’s mock draft takes a look at what could happen when teams start to maneuver around the draft to target the player they want.

1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

Although the current front office regime of the Browns may place value on trades and acquiring additional draft picks, it’s hard to fathom them trading the first overall selection.

2. San Francisco 49ers: Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

If the 49ers aren’t convinced on one of the top quarterbacks, they should try and move off this pick while staying inside the top 10 to get Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster, a safety, or a wide receiver.

3. Chicago Bears: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Chicago is in a similar situation with San Francisco where a trade may be dependent on how they rate the quarterbacks. For now, the feeling is that the Bears will use the third pick on a quarterback. Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer is frequently mocked to Chicago, but you can argue that the more experienced Watson is just as ready to contribute in the NFL straight away.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jonathan Allen, DE/DT, Alabama

Re-signing Abry Jones to a four-year deal shouldn’t stop the Jaguars from targeting Allen, who is a consensus top-two player in this year’s draft.

TRADE - 5. Carolina Panthers (via Tennessee Titans): Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

The Panthers aren’t normally active making deals in the first round, but to ensure they get Fournette they may have to leapfrog the Jets. Moving from No. 8 to No. 5 may mean giving up the No. 72 pick, but a player like Fournette can change an offense.

6. New York Jets: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

The Jets may miss out on Fournette in this scenario, but Cook isn’t a bad consolation prize. He’s a good all-around back that the Jets can use in a variety of ways.

7. Los Angeles Chargers: Jamal Adams, S, LSU

If Tennessee moves off the fifth pick, it could leave the Chargers to take the first safety in the draft. Adams may not be the coverage safety that Ohio State’s Malik Hooker is, but he’s a player with few flaws in his game.

TRADE - 8. Tennessee Titans (via Carolina Panthers): Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

With two first-round picks this year, the Titans can be big movers to acquire more assets. Moving down a few picks in the top 10 could allow the Titans to get either the first wide receiver or cornerback, or go after an elite coverage safety like Hooker.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Reuben Foster, MLB, Alabama

Foster’s fit in Cincinnati is perfect. Where Vontaze Burfict can be the thumping linebacker between the tackles, Foster can be the one who roams and relies on his smarts and athleticism.

10. Buffalo Bills: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

Obviously in this scenario the Bills are keeping quarterback Tyrod Taylor (which you can read more about the merits of here). If that happens, the Bills can take Lattimore, the draft’s top cornerback. With Stephon Gilmore entering free agency, Buffalo may need at least one starting cornerback this offseason.

TRADE - 11. Arizona Cardinals (via New Orleans Saints): DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

If the Cardinals want to get their quarterback of the future, they may need to trade up in the first round to do so. With Watson and Trubisky gone, Arizona could get aggressive and go after Kizer. He can sit behind Carson Palmer for a year, and Arizona may not have to give up much to make this move.

TRADE - 12. New England Patriots (via Cleveland Browns): Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford

When will Jimmy Garoppolo’s trade value peak? It could be on draft night if we see this flurry of trades take place. That could make the Browns desperate enough to give up the 12th pick for him to ensure they get him.

For New England, getting this pick for Garoppolo would be a coup. They can target the very talented Thomas, the pass rusher their defense needs.

TRADE - 13. New Orleans Saints (via Arizona Cardinals): Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama

The Saints take some risk by moving back, but the depth of the draft this year is on defense. Williams can work in New Orleans as either a rush linebacker or with his hand in the dirt. Williams could have an impact similar to Bruce Irvin early in his career with Seattle.

14. Philadelphia Eagles (via Minnesota Vikings): Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

The Eagles have managed to stockpile a bunch of average wide receivers who have suspect hands. They can finally get a No. 1 receiver in this draft by taking Williams.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Teez Tabor, CB, Florida

The Colts often get a pass rusher or offensive lineman in mock drafts, but a cornerback should also be considered. Indianapolis finished near the bottom of the league in pass defense last season, and someone like Tabor could help make the defense better.

16. Baltimore Ravens: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

Baltimore needs bodies in the secondary, and Wilson is the type of player who could work as a safety or cornerback. The Ravens are another team that could be prime for a trade down, especially if they decide to seek a defensive tackle with their first pick.

TRADE - 17. Seattle Seahawks (via Washington): Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin

Trading up this far for Seattle at least means giving up their first- and second-round picks this year, but it should illustrate how badly the team needs an offensive tackle. Jumping up from No. 26 should allow them to take the best tackle on the board in Ramczyk.

18. Tennessee Titans: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

It was tempting to have Tennessee move down again, but Davis’ value is too great. He’s the exact type of immediate impact starter the Titans need in the draft this year.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jabrill Peppers, S/LB, Michigan

Keith Tandy had a breakout season for the Buccaneers, and he can be the team’s coverage safety while Peppers gets used in a hybrid safety/linebacker role. This pick, of course, assumes that Bradley McDougald leaves in free agency.

20. Denver Broncos: Forrest Lamp, OT/G, Western Kentucky

With Ramczyk gone, the Broncos fall back on Lamp, a player they could line up on the interior or at tackle.

21. Detroit Lions: Malik McDowell, DE/DT, Michigan State

The Lions should have plenty of options at No. 21, including tight ends and several players on the defensive line. If they trade down, they should still safely find a capable starter. In this mock they stick at 21 and go for McDowell, a player they can line up at end and tackle to create pressure.

22. Miami Dolphins: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

On the linebacker-hungry Dolphins, Reddick could be an attractive pick because of his ability to line up outside and inside. He’s a complete player who should be able to start immediately.

23. New York Giants: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

At this stage of the draft Howard is too talented to pass up. He’s one of the 15 best players in the draft this year, and would finally give the Giants a dependable option at the position.

24. Oakland Raiders: Zach Cunningham, MLB, Vanderbilt

The Raiders will likely look to the draft this year to fill holes on the defense, and that starts at middle linebacker. If Cunningham is available, he should be a no-brainer pick.

25. Houston Texans: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

With A.J. Bouye poised to cash in big time in free agency, the Texans may need to go after another cornerback high in the draft or risk having a big drop off in coverage. That becomes a much easier proposition if teams are moving up for offensive linemen and a player like Humphrey happens to be available.

TRADE - 26. Washington (via Seattle Seahawks): Budda Baker, S, Washington

Obviously it’s risky for Washington to drop down eight spots, but general manager Scot McCloughan is never afraid to make a deal. In this case, gets an extra second-round pick, which should equal a starting-caliber player. It also allows Washington to pick up Baker at No. 26 and get a roaming coverage safety who has a penchant for making big plays.

27. Kansas City Chiefs: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

Most mock drafts have assumed the Chiefs will lose either safety Eric Berry or defensive lineman Dontari Poe. This week is an example of what could happen if both are brought back. If the draft shakes out in this fashion with Cunningham and Reddick gone, the Chiefs could go after a quality No. 2 cornerback. Both Jones and Ohio State’s Gareon Conley should be under strong consideration.

28. Dallas Cowboys: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

This is a pick I’ve locked in on if Barnett is available at No. 28. If a team doesn’t jump Dallas to get him, his fit on the Cowboys is natural.

29. Green Bay Packers: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State

Green Bay’s pass coverage took a step backward last season, and a player like Conley could be a good addition to help improve the unit.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Takkarist McKinley, DE/OLB, UCLA

McKinley is too good of a player to drop further than the 30th pick. He’s a high motor defender who can stop the run at the edge, while still having the athleticism to work standing up for the Steelers.

31. Atlanta Falcons: Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan

This is another instance of a player’s grade being too high to pass on. Charlton has the size and athleticism to be a riser in the coming weeks at the NFL Scouting Combine. If he’s there for Atlanta at No. 31, the Falcons should pounce.

32. New England Patriots: David Njoku, TE, Miami

The Patriots should several good players to pick from at No. 32, which could lead to them trading out of the first round — especially if a team really wants to jump up and get Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In this scenario, the choice was down to Njoku, Washington wide receiver John Ross and pass rushers Carl Lawson and Charles Harris. Because the Patriots got Thomas at No. 12, a player like Njoku makes more sense here.

How the NFL Draft became such a big deal

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junker-town · 8 years ago

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2017 NFL mock draft: Trades could shake up the first round

Which trades make sense? This week’s mock explores several options.

Two first-round picks in the 2017 NFL Draft have already been traded, but don’t expect that to be it by the time the first round concludes in April.

This week’s mock draft takes a look at what could happen when teams start to maneuver around the draft to target the player they want.

1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

Although the current front office regime of the Browns may place value on trades and acquiring additional draft picks, it’s hard to fathom them trading the first overall selection.

2. San Francisco 49ers: Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

3. Chicago Bears: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jonathan Allen, DE/DT, Alabama

Re-signing Abry Jones to a four-year deal shouldn’t stop the Jaguars from targeting Allen, who is a consensus top two player in this year’s draft.

TRADE - 5. Carolina Panthers (via Tennessee Titans): Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

6. New York Jets: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

The Jets may miss out on Fournette in this scenario, but Cook isn’t a bad consolation prize. He’s a very good all-around back that the Jets can use in a variety of ways.

7. Los Angeles Chargers: Jamal Adams, S, LSU

TRADE - 8. Tennessee Titans (via Carolina Panthers): Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Reuben Foster, MLB, Alabama

Foster’s fit in Cincinnati is perfect. Where Vontaze Burfict can be the thumping linebacker between the tackles, Foster can be the one who roams and relies on his smarts and athleticism.

10. Buffalo Bills: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

TRADE - 11. Arizona Cardinals (via New Orleans Saints): DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

TRADE - 12. New England Patriots (via Cleveland Browns): Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford

For New England, getting this pick for Garoppolo would be a coup. They can target the very talented Thomas, the pass rusher their defense needs.

TRADE - 13. New Orleans Saints (via Arizona Cardinals): Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama

14. Philadelphia Eagles (via Minnesota Vikings): Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

The Eagles have managed to stockpile a bunch of average wide receivers who have suspect hands. They can finally get a No. 1 receiver in this draft by taking Williams.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Teez Tabor, CB, Florida

16. Baltimore Ravens: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

TRADE - 17. Seattle Seahawks (via Washington): Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin

18. Tennessee Titans: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

It was tempting to have Tennessee move down again, but Davis’ value is too great. He’s the exact type immediate impact starter the Titans need in the draft this year.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jabrill Peppers, S/LB, Michigan

20. Denver Broncos: Forrest Lamp, OT/G, Western Kentucky

With Ramczyk gone, the Broncos fall back on Lamp, a player they could line up on the interior or at tackle.

21. Detroit Lions: Malik McDowell, DE/DT, Michigan State

22. Miami Dolphins: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

On the linebacker-hungry Dolphins, Reddick could be an attractive pick because of his ability to line up outside and inside. He’s a complete player who should be able to start immediately.

23. New York Giants: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

At this stage of the draft Howard is too talented to pass up. He’s one of the 15 best players in the draft this year, and would finally give the Giants a dependable option at the position.

24. Oakland Raiders: Zach Cunningham, MLB, Vanderbilt

The Raiders will likely look to the draft this year to fill holes on the defense, and that starts at middle linebacker. If Cunningham is available, he should be a no brainer pick.

25. Houston Texans: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

TRADE - 26. Washington (via Seattle Seahawks): Budda Baker, S, Washington

27. Kansas City Chiefs: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

28. Dallas Cowboys: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

This is a pick I’ve locked in on if Barnett is available at No. 28. If a team doesn’t jump Dallas to get him, his fit on the Cowboys is natural.

29. Green Bay Packers: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State

Green Bay’s pass coverage took a step backward last season, and a player like Conley could be a good addition to help improve the unit.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Takkarist McKinley, DE/OLB, UCLA

31. Atlanta Falcons: Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan

32. New England Patriots: David Njoku, TE, Miami

The Patriots should several good players to pick from at No. 32, which could lead to them trading out of the first round – especially if a team really wants to jump up and get Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In this scenario, the choice was down to Njoku, Washington wide receiver John Ross and pass rushers Carl Lawson and Charles Harris. Because the Patriots got Thomas at No. 12, a player like Njoku makes more sense here.

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