#trey revis

[loupickney]

Football fans were treated to an exciting day of NFL football yesterday. The two conference championship games were both thrilling...

[bdub86]

*DO NOT reblog if you condone whitewashing, racial slurs, BLACKFACE or otherwise have posted white people and celebrities who have done these things. This post is meant to celebrate black men, not be a token splash of color in an otherwise white archive. Thank you in advance!*

One more time: if you don’t REGULARLY reblog black men, if you can overlook racism towards black people, especially by your white faves, if you only objectify (condone the objectification of) black men then move the fuck on. I will not be polite if I have to check you for ignoring this caption. This post is about celebrating black people and connecting with others who actually respect black men and not just if you fetishize us.

FYI this isn’t comprehensive just dudes I think are cute/sexy

Kevin Hampton, Trey Revis

Tyrus Jones, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Designer

Brandon Mychal Smith, Tre Jones, Jordan Calloway

Lil Romeo, Kenny Jones, Tyrel Jackson Williams

Toro y Moi aka Chaz Bear, De-Reece Grant, Sinqua Walls

Don Benjamin, Shae Pulver, Rob.B

Sarunas J. Jackson, Devin Booker

Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Memphis Depay

Jordan Love, Bandhunta Izzy,

Jidenna, Denzell Theodore, Delino Deshields Jr.

[dark69skin]

Trey Revis

[alexdrogers]

trey r. photographed by @alexdrogers

wardrobe: troi anthoni hair: q. shamone grooming: jasmine stamper

[massmurdera]

2019 & 2010s Best/Worst

Because I like lists and cataloguing the dumb shit I cared about. As my brother once said after seeing and reviewing NOW YOU SEE ME on a lazy Sunday, ‘Some would say it was a waste of time, others might say it was a colossal waste of time.’     

I’ll admit, it’s a bit over-the-top. Particularly including the Pats, but yeah, in the Tom Brady era that started when I was 14 as a Freshman in high school to 33 years old now and wrapping up soon-ish (?), there’s not a chance in hell I’ll care as intimately about this shit. I grew up with it at just the right time.

2019 MOVIES  TOP TIER 1) Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 2) Uncut Gems 2nd TIER 3) Knives Out 4) Parasite 5) Little Women 6) Midsommer 3rd TIER 7) John Wick III 8) Ready or Not 9) Marriage Story 10) Joker 11) Irishman 12) Shazam! 13) Us UNDERRATED Ready or Not TOO LONG John Wick III; Irishman SOLID El Camino GOOD BAD 6 Underground OK 21 Bridges; Avengers: Endgame; Dolemite is my Name; Dragged Across Concrete; Fighting With My Family; Hustlers; Knock Down the House; Longshot; the Report; Two Popes MEH Always Be My Maybe; Death of Dick Long; High Flying Bird; Spiderman: Far From Home; Standoff at Sparrow Creek DISAPPOINTING Hobbs & Shaw; Toy Story 4; Triple Frontier SUCK Laundromat; Under the Silver Lake OVERRATED Ad Astra; Booksmart; the Farewell FUNNIEST SCENE Dicaprio flipping out in movie trailer BEST CLIMAX/ENDING Once Upon a Time; Uncut Gems HAVEN’T SEEN 1917; Apollo 11; Beach Bum; Dark Waters; Ford vs Ferrari; Honey Boy; Jojo Rabbit; the Lighthouse; Star Wars 2019 TV  TOP TIER 1) Succession 2) Fleabag 3) Watchmen 2nd TIER 4) When They See Us 5) Barry 6) Unbelievable 7) Chernobyl 8) Sex Education DAMN GOOD Big Mouth; the Boys; Brockmire; Derry Girls; Euphoria; Loudest Voice; Mindhunter; Pen15; Righteous Gemstones; Veep WATCHABLE Atypical; Bosch; Dark; Goliath; Karate Kid; Kominsky Method; Mandalorian; Mr Robot; Mrs Fletcher; Russian Doll; Warrior HIGH/LOW I Think You Should Leave SHIT END FOR ALL-TIME GREAT Game of Thrones HALF-WATCH Living With Yourself; Raising Dion; the Society NOT UP TO STANDARD Stranger Things; GLOW; Killing Eve; True Detective BAD Luther; Shameless; Silicon Valley; SNL SUCK 13 Reasons Why; Big Little Lies; the Witcher FUNNIEST Desus & Mero DOCS 1) Fyre: both  2) Ted Bundy Tapes 3) American Factory 4) Leaving Neverland STAND-UP SPECIALS 1) Burr 2) Chappelle 3) Jeselnik 4) Birbiglia 5) Gulman BEHIND ON SHOWS I DIG Brooklyn 99; Catastrophe; Corporate; Expanse; Good Place; It’s Always Sunny; Letterkenny 2010s TV  DRAMA 1) Breaking Bad 2) Game of Thrones 3) Justified 4) Mad Men 5) Hannibal 6) Banshee ANTHOLOGY/LIMITED SERIES 1) Fargo SII 2) True Detective SI 3) When They See Us 4) People Vs OJ Simpson 5) Chernobyl 6) Show Me a Hero 7) the Night Of 8) Honorable Woman COMEDY 1) Atlanta 2) Fleabag 3) Veep 4) Big Mouth 5) Parks & Rec 6) Rick & Morty 7) Nathan for You 8) Review 9) American Vandal HIT/MISS Black Mirror OVERRATED Boardwalk Empire; House of Cards; Peaky Blinders; Westworld UNDERRATED Banshee; Brockmire; Hannibal FUN HATE-WATCH Newsroom DOWNHILL Homeland; How I Met Your Mother; Legion; Sons of Anarchy HATED Girls; Leftovers; Rectify UNWATCHABLE Twin Peaks BEST ENDINGS Breaking Bad; Justified; Fleabag; Parks & Rec DUMBEST ENDING Dexter; Sons of Anarchy LATE NIGHT Desus & Mero POLITICAL John Oliver 2010s MOVIES 2010 Social Network Animal Kingdom; the Fighter; Four Lions; Inside Job; Jackass 3; MacGruber; Shutter Island; Toy Story 3; True Grit; Winter’s Bone 2011 the Raid Descendents; Drive; Fast Five; the Guard; Mission Impossible 4; Take This Waltz; Warrior 2012 Magic Mike 21 Jump Street; Argo; Cabin in the Woods; Chronicle; Django Unchained; Goon; Looper; Queen of Versailles; Silver Linings Playbook; Skyfall 2013 Wolf of Wall Street Before Midnight; the Conjuring; Gravity; Her; Inside Llewyn Davis; Prisoners; Short-Term 12 2014 John Wick the Drop; Edge of Tomorrow; Gone Girl; the Guest; Lego Movie; Nightcrawler; the Raid 2; Whiplash 2015 Mad Max 7 Days in Hell; Big Short; Brooklyn; Creed; Ex Machina; Fast 7; It Follows; Logan; Magic Mike XXL; the Martian; Me and Earl and the Dying Girl; Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation; Sicario 2016 the Nice Guys Deadpool; Edge of Seventeen; Everybody Wants Some!; Green Room; La La Land; Manchester By the Sea; Moonlight; OJ: Made in America; Popstar; Sing Street; Weiner 2017 Get Out Blade Runner 2049; Coco; Dunkirk; Lady Bird; Logan; Thor Ragnorak; Tour de Pharmacy 2018 Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse BlacKKKlansman; Den of Thieves; Hereditary; If Beale Street Could Talk; Minding the Gap; Sorry to Bother You

THE BEST Mad Max BEST DOC OJ: Made in America FUNNIEST DOC Tickled UNDERRATED DOC Weiner HORROR Hereditary FAVORITE/FUNNIEST PERFORMANCE Ryan Gosling (Nice Guys) DESERVED 5 SEQUELS the Nice Guys SUPERHERO Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse WAR Dunkirk BEST FIGHT SCENES the Raid UNDERRATED any Lonely Island project NICE TRY Dark Knight Rises; Inception; Interstellar; Widows STAND-UP 2010s FAVORITE Bill Burr NEXT BEST Ali Wong; Anthony Jeselnik; Kyle Kinane; Bert Kreischer; Marc Maron; John Mulaney; Patton Oswalt; Rory Scovel; Tom Segura COMEBACK Chappelle DOWNFALL Louis CK DIED BEFORE PRIME Patrice O’Neal, Greg Giraldo UNDERRATED Joe Derosa MUST-SEE LIVE Robert Kelly  PODCASTS 2010s  BEST/FUNNIEST/UNDERRATED Walking the Room RUNNER-UP 600 Dollar Podcast ONE-MAN RANT Bill Burr Monday Morning Podcast SPORTS Pardon My Take RIFFING Bodega Boys HISTORY/COMEDY Dollop HISTORY DEEP DIVE Hardcore History MOVIES Rewatchables HATE-WATCH CRITICISM West Wing Thing POP CULTURE/FILM Frotcast MIXED Revisionist History GOOD/BAD Joe Rogan: GOOD: propping up comic friends; BAD: useful idiot for propping up bad faith fascists who should be put out to pasture INTERNET CURIOSITY Reply All LEFTIST POLITICS Chapo Trap House TRUE CRIME In the Dark ADVICE Don’t Take Bullshit From Fuckers LAME Pod Save America OVERRATED Missing Richard Simmons DIDN’T LIKE S-Town SERIAL Season 3>Season 1 TRUMP Trump, Inc SPORTS SCHAUDENFREUDE Fuck the Chargers OKAY Bill Simmons WTF WITH MARON good when he talks to comics MURDER My Favorite Murder OTHER GOOD ONES Hound Tall; Press Box

2010s MUSIC  FAVORITE anything Brian Fallon ROCK BAND Menzingers SONG Robyn-‘Dancing On My Own’ POP-PUNK BAND Wonder Years LIVE ALBUM Horrible Crowes-‘Elsie’ HEAVY BAND Every Time I Die ELECTRONIC Chvrches SOLO Rihanna COVER ALBUM Dustin Kensrue-‘Thoughts on a Different Blood’ GO-TO AT GYM Story So Far OFF THE INEVITABLE & IRRECOVERABLE DEEP END Kanye KIND OF LIKE THE MUSIC/HATE THE PERSON: LIKE KANYE Taylor Swift, Bieber THOUGHT I’D HATE BUT DOES NOT SUCK Lana Del Rey; Post Malone OTHER FAVES 1975; Arctic Monkeys; Beach Slang; Black Keys; Bon Iver; Carly Rae Jepsen; the National; Thrice MIXED Chance the Rapper; Kendrick Lamar I’ll be honest I spent far more time listening to podcasts nearly all the time and just listened to mostly the same couple of things I liked. 2010s PATRIOTS  2010s BEST GAMES 1) Seahawks Super Bowl 2) Falcons Super Bowl 3) Ravens 2015 Divisional 4) Chiefs 2019 AFCCG UNDERRATED CLASSIC Ravens 2015 Divisional BRADY/GRONK GO DOWN LIKE CHAMPS 1) 2018 Eagles Super Bowl 2) Broncos 2015 AFCCG: Brady’ offensive line was a sieve EITHER WAY Giants Super Bowl: game changed when Brady’s shoulder got fucked up by Tuck FAVORITE PLAYER TB12 MOST FUN/DOMINANT Gronk HEART OF TEAM Edelman BELOVED Wilfork ROCK SOLID 1) Hightower 2) McCourty 3) James White 1st BALLOT HALL OF FAMERS 1) Brady 2) Gronk 3) Revis LATER BALLOT 1) Edelman 2) Scarnecchia 3) Welker 4) Wilfork 5) Slater MAKING AN ARGUMENT Gilmore PATS HALL ONLY 1) McCourty 2) Hightower 3) Mankins 4) White 5) Gostkowski 6) Mayo 7) Chung UNDERRATED/GOOD VALUE 1) Amendola 2) Vollmer 3) Ninkovich 4) Chung 5) Woodhead DESERVED BETTER Welker UNSUNG Slater OVERRATED 1) Solder 2) Brandin Cooks NO-SHOWS Dolphins (Dec ’19); Jets Divisional (Jan ‘11) BEST REGULAR SEASON WINS 1) 2013 Broncos 2) 2017 Steelers 3) 2013 Saints BEST REGULAR SEASON LOSSES 1) 2012 49ers 2) 2016 Seahawks 3) 2014 Packers 4) 2015 Broncos LOL Miami Miracle: saved by winning Super Bowl LEAST TALENTED TEAM 1) 2013 by a mile 2) 2010 3) 2011 4) 2018 BEST TEAM 1) 2014  2) 2016 BEST PLAYS (NON-GRONK) 1) Butler INT Seahawks 2) Edelman TD pass vs Ravens 3) Buttfumble Jets 4) Edelman catch vs Falcons 5) Walk-off TD vs Falcons 6) Dan Connolly kick return 7) Brady TD pass to LaFell 2015 Divisional POUNDED TABLE TO DRAFT 1) Lamar Jackson 2) Kittle 3) AJ Brown 4) Honey Badger 5) Stefon Diggs WANTED BUT OUT OF REACH 1) Aaron Donald 2) Quenton Nelson 3) Derwin James 4) Hopkins 5) TJ Watt 6) Saquon 7) Keenan Allen 8) McCaffrey 9) Gurley WOULD’VE WON IT ALL IF NOT FOR INJURIES 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017. That’s football HEALTHIEST SEASON 2018 ROPE-A-DOPED/GOT BY ON VETERAN GUILE 2018: Belichick’s best coaching FAVORITE PICKS AT THE TIME OF GUYS I WANTED 1) Gronk 2) Hightower/Chandler Jones 3) Shaq Mason MOVES I HATED THAT I WAS WRONG ABOUT 1) Stephon Gilmore 2) trading Jamie Collins MOST IMPROVED Marcus Cannon BEST FIND Kyle Van Noy MOVE I LOVED getting Blount back the 2nd time IF BUTLER WASN’T BENCHED, DO THEY BEAT THE EAGLES? Yes 100%. If only because, if nothing else, he can tackle BUTLER’s INT KILLED THE ‘LEGION OF BOOM’ SEAHAWKS WOULD-BE DYNASTY Yes DRAFT REACH THAT MADE NO SENSE Jordan Richards: Tavon Wilson 2.0 BAD DRAFT MOVES 1) Dominique Easley 2) Cyrus Jones 3) Dobson 4) Mallett DIRTY SECRET Belichick sucks at drafting in 2nd round WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD IF HE STAYED HEALTHY Malcolm Mitchell HATE TO SEE WALK BUT COULDN’T AFFORD 1) Trey Flowers 2) Chandler Jones 3) Jimmy G 4) Talib 5) Akiem Hicks DEFLATEGATE fraud/power trip job by Goodell/owners BRADY OR BELICHICK MORE VALUABLE Brady 100% DISAPPOINTING/GAMBLES 1) Ochocinco 2) Michael Bennett: got him 2 years too late 3) Fanene signing 4) Haynesworth BEST SHORT-TERM 1) Martellus Bennett 2) Chris Long 3) Revis 4) Brian Waters SUSPECT CHARACTERS/EDGY PERSONALITY MACHINES Brandon Spikes; Brandon Browner…SERIAL KILLER Aaron Hernandez PERSONALITY DISORDER DISASTER Antonio Brown: bad signing/unexpected HOW THE FUCK DID WE LOSE TO THAT GUY? Eli Manning/Nick Foles LIFESAVER Scarnecchia MCDANIELS Frustrating—but continuity matters REFS FUCKED OVER Gronk  MISCELANNEOUS 2010s GOOD/ENJOY Bernie Sanders/AOC: people who actually want to get good done that’s long overdue…Lebron James; Stephen Curry; Kawhi; Zion Williamson; Luka Doncic...Lamar Jackson; Pat Mahomes; JJ Watt; Marshawn Lynch…Coach Ed Orgeron...David Ortiz…2011 Bruins…memes…Don Winslow crime novels…David Roth writing on Trump…David Grann non-fiction…’Book of Mormon’ DID NOT ENJOY Kyrie Irving…Deflategate…LeBron on the Heat…Bobby Valentine DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE LIKE ‘Between the World and Me’…Elon Musk…Lin Manuel-Miranda/’Hamilton’ INDEFENSIBLY AND INFURIATINGLY BAD THE MORE YOU LOOK AT IT Facebook…Obama Presidency/Democratic Party Leadership EVERYDAY DISASTER Media: CNN; Fox; MSNBC; NY Times Op-Ed…Trump/Republicans: Trump presidency was basically 2010s 9/11 for inevitable disastrous fallout & consequences my generation will never recover from…Grifters Trojan horsing way in shamelessly (Trump administration; Ben Shapiro; Alex Jones; Milo; Jordan Peterson, Tomi Lahren, etc.) and no repercussions...Republican Party basically one goal: to troll libs even with shitty ideas that suck FAVORITES WHO DIED Bourdain; Elmore Leonard; Garry Shandling; Muhammad Ali; Robin Williams; Tom Petty BEST TALENT CUT SHORT Philip Seymour Hoffman SHITTIEST PEOPLE WHO DIED Antonin Scalia; George HW Bush; John McCain; Osama; Steve Jobs; Whitey Bulger I FORGOT THAT SHIT HAPPENED Charlie Sheen loses it JEFFREY EPSTEIN did not kill himself WHAT DEFINES 2010s Amazon/Bezos…Climate Change/Gun Violence inaction…Journalism being taken over by Bane Capital-esque vultures/local places dying...one-sided Class War by the uber-rich…#MeToo…Netflix…Opioids…Outrage/Cancel culture…Police Injustice…Silicon Valley…Social Media…Superhero shit…Your mom

[godsfavoriteasian]

Political Satire Effect on Culture

Date: April 5 2017

Journal Entry: 1

The Effects of Political Satire on Society

   We live in a mass transit society, and information is available at our fingertips.  We live where our culture is saturated in humor and most entertianers are unafraid to poke fun at established norms, religion, politics, and controversial topics.  Most of this is done through a vechicle known as political satire.  One may ask: what is political satire?  The dictionary definition of political satire is a form of entertainment gained from politics that is designed to ridicule or poke fun of politics and political figures.  The history of political satire runs deep, as it has been used in subverse regimes whereas poking fun of authority in government is forbidden.  Satire dates way back to the ancient Greeks in Athens, with plays are aimed at ridiculing Athenian authority.  In reality, political satire has existed since the ideas of government and order have been conceived, and the main mechanism behind the laughter was exaggerating the social problems so much and making them so ridiculous that it would shame the government and society into changing its ways.

Date: April 5 2017

Journal Entry: 2

The History of Political Satire

As it was said; political satire has existed since government and order have existed.  The oldest example today is Astriphanes, a playwright who would often poke fun at political figures in his plays.  He even poked fun at religion in Greece, with garnered anger amongst the priests and the government at that time.  Due to the fact that political dissent was mostly forbidden in many ancient societies, people made political satire as a form to get around the authority figures and under the noses of the people in power.  This ultimately leads to many political satirists in the early days gain fame and noteratity by making fun of the current issues and political figures.  Mostly, the people in power turned a blind eye to this, but once in a while, a political figure took notice of this, and promptly put a stop to it.

Date: April 8 2017

Journal Entry: 3

Modern Political Satire

In these days and age political satire has worked its way into everything.  From late night shows, to adult oriented animated cartoons, political satire is everywhere.  Shows like “The Simpsons,” “South Park,” “Family Guy,” and more all have varying degrees of political satire and all have their share of offensive material and media backlash.  These shows have made it to where everything is funny, no matter what person or celebrity or political orientation they are.  For an example, South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker all voice the characters themselves, and impersonate celebrities.  In fact, one celebrity wanted to guest star on South Park, and Parker and Stone gave him the voice of one of the protagonists’ dog.  In fact South Park comes with a tongue-in-check disclaimer that “all events are fiction, and that “celebrities are impersonated-poorly.  This show contains course language and due to it’s content, should not be viewed by everyone.”  These shows have had a groundbreaking effect on pop culture today.  Not to mention the fact that millennials get most of their information about current events just by watching late night shows, political satire has evolved into a force capable of changing society.

Date: April 8 2017

Journal Entry: 4

It’s the Late Night Show!

Since the invention of the television, the world has been able to primarily view content in their own homes.  During the 1950s late night shows became popular and people like Johnny Carlson and Joan Rivers have become household names.  This has ultimately lead to other late night shows, which are chop full of political satire.  Shows like Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Stephan Colbert, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Daily Show, and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee are all popular forms of political satire.  We can all probably remember John Stewert’s biting wit in the 2012 election, or Tina Fey’s impersonation of Sarah Palin during the 2008 Presidential election, these are all methods of political satire.  Samantha Bee’s show Full Frontal gained high popularity when it permired on the network TBS a little over a year ago.  Samantha Bee is an alumni of the Daily Show, and her biting political humor has mostly been aimed at Republicans.  Though no party or politician is considered off-limits, late night shows seem to lampoon more of the Republicans than they do Democrats.  One example of this was when Samantha Bee once said that “when you give Trump a copy of the constitution, make sure it has big words and lots of pictures in it.”  Since the 2016 Presidential election resulted in Donald Trump getting into the Oval Office, the late nigh comedians were buzzing with material, since Donald Trump has a whole lot of soundbites on him.  They’ve turned political satire into a business, and a very lucrative on to be exact.  In fact, Saturday Night Live is among the top five shows with the highest ratings according to Nielson Inc.

Date: April 8 2017

Journal Entry: 5

That’s NOT Kosher! (Yes We’re discussing religion) Pt. 1

Political satire has had a reputation for changing the ways that we view our culture.  Things such as religion or touchy subjects are no match for political satire.  For ages, political satire has had a reputation for wildly blowing controversial issues out of proportion.  Some political satire has found its way to make fun of many things that are sacred in America, particularly religion.  For an example, in America’s longest running animation cartoon “The Simpsons,” most of the religious authority in the town of Springfield is portrayed as overzealous or apathetic towards the town as a whole.  “The Simspon’s character Ned Flanders has been ridiculed and made fun of and is a source of long running gags during the show’s three-decade history.  Flanders is often put down by the Simpson’s family patriarch Homer, and in one episode, succeeded in getting teaching on evolution banned from the district’s public school.  At first, the town goes along with Flander’s line, but later the ban on evolution was overturned by the supreme court.  Other than that, other shows have been able to mock religion too.  In the show “South Park,” religion is a primary thing that the creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone lampoon.  According to Matt Stone, “no topic in South Park is off-limits.  Religion is not out of the act.” The portrayal of religious figures in South Park is wildly innane, and most of the religious figures, even religious deities are viewed as hypocritical or stuck-up.  In fact, in the episode “Super Best Friends,” Park and Stone were going to show an image of Mohamed the prophet, but due to the threats by prominent Muslim organizations, Parker and Stone settled on censoring the image of Mohamed.  This lead to a public outcry and the start of the holiday Draw Mohmand that happens every May 20th.  Not only that, South Park also managed to offend Buhhdists by showing an image of the Buhdda snorting cocaine, which led to the government of Sri Lanka banning the show from its broadcasts entirely.

Date: April 8 2017

Journal Entry: 6

That’s Not Kosher! Pt. 2

As we all know, when somebody gets poked fun of, a group of people with always take offense.  That is the common understanding that all Politcal satirists and comedians understand.  Sometimes, political satire can offend people and it doesn’t have to do with religion.  For an example, in one of the episodes of “The Simpsons,” Homer befriends a fellow coworker.  When he finds out later that his coworker is gay, Homer immediately cuts off all ties with him, and shuns him.  This episode of “The Simpsons” drew harsh criticism for stereotyping gay men, but also received praise from LGBT organizations by “bringing to light the homophobia and prejudice that people of the LGBT community endure in the workplace.”  Other times, shows have drawn harsher critism.  For an example, in South Park, creators Matt Stone and Trey Parkey impersonate celebrates.  Well, some of their impersonations have gotten the show in legal trouble, with not only religion, but with celebrities as well.  A prime example of this is the episode “Trapped In the Closet.”  Stone and Parker wanted to make fun of the Church of Scientology, and actor Tom Cruise (who is a member of the Church of Scientology).  They wanted to poke fun of Cruise by saying that he was gay, but since that could get them into legal trouble, they just made Tom Cruise lock himself in the closet.  The basis of the episode goes that one of the protagonists of the show, Stan Marsh goes to the church of Scientology, thinking that he is depressed.  After the workers of the church in the town of South Park run tests on him, they reach the conclusion that Stan Marsh is the reincarnation of the creator of the church of Scientology.  Naturally, the President of the Church comes to Stan Marsh’s house, along with the media, the prominent workers of the church, and even a few celeberites in tow.  Tom Cruise manages to sneak into Stan Marsh’s room and asks him how he likes his acting.  When Stan Marsh states that Cruise was not a good actor, Cruise gets distraught and locks himself in Stan’s closet.  This drew anger from Tom Cruise and the Church of Scietology, who threated to sue the creators of South Park.  Eventually, Matt Stone and Trey Parker got revenge on Cruise in a later episode, which showed the actor packing fudge in a fudge factory.

Date: April 8 2017

Journal Entry: 7

That’s Not Kosher! Pt. 3

South park isn’t the only show that satire has been criticized.  Other shows have drawn critics in the way that they crossed the line too.  The show Family Guy has received numerous amounts of backlash over the years from parents, Pro-Censorship groups, religious groups, anyone you could think of.  An example of this is the Parents Television Council (PTC), a conservative affiliated group that has published many negative reviews of the show.  The PTC has filed several complaints to the FFC against Family Guy in it’s sixteen year long run.  Most of the complaints were about indecency in the show, and Seth McFarlane even got sued one time.  One example of the criticism of the show came when the creators premiered the episode “Screams of Silence: The Story of Brenda Q.”  In the episode, Peter Griffin’s friend Quagmire injures himself prompting his sister to come down and take care of him.  But his sister is involved in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend.  The episode drew criticism for the way it portrayed abusive relationships.  The PTC and other organizations called the episode “obscene,” as well as various women’s groups decried the episode for “desensitizing viewers to the pains of domestic violence.”  This episode is one of the many examples where political satire, especially cultural, has offended great amounts of people.  Never the less, Family Guy generates millions of dollars in syndication for a multitude of networks.  Family Guy has also caught flack for an episode they showed a cutaway gag of Peter Griffin committing mass murder at a marathon.  Since the episode happened just months of the infamous Boston Marathon bombing, the show caught flack from censorship advocates, and even the families of the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing tried to sue the creator of Family Guy.  Family Guy is seen as an in-between version of South park and The Simpsons, not entirely viewed as witty as The Simpsons nor as offensive as South Park.  Yet Family Guy has succeeded in angering parents, and right wing organizations it’s whole entire run.

Family Guy screams of Silence Episode

Date: April 8 2017

Journal Entry: 8

Political Satire: Culture

One cannot deny the effects of political satire on today’s culture.  If you look around, you see constant references, jokes, and even gags in shows all because of it.  The Simpsons, well known for witty plots and a sly critique on social aspects of life, has become a pop culture icon as well as Family Guy, Saturday Night Live, and even the Daily Show.  You look on HBO and you see Real Time with Bill Maher and my personal favorite, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.  There is no doubt about it that political satire has impacted our culture in lots of ways.  For an example, in South Park, they ridicule political correctness so it seems ridiculous, and in the episode “Safe Space,” they satiricalize college and contemporary social justice.  Indeed the traces of political satire run deep in our culture.  Late night comedy is one of the highest viewed types of shows in our country.  Most of these shows appeal to the younger generation, but they are fun for all people.  Political satire has the unique ability to engage people who would not normally engage in political matters.  According to the Harvard Crimson, students who watched political satire were more likely to have a view on gun control, climate change, or even controversial topics such as abortion than people who don’t (Both groups are taken out of politically disenfranchised groups).  Have you ever heard references such as: “I can see Russia from here!” or do you remember when Hillary Clinton appeared on SNL with her impersonator?  These are all memorable moments of satire that gave us all something to laugh at.

Date: April 2017

Journal Entry: 9

The 2016 Election: The Most Batsh*t Insane Election EVER

Many of us fondly remember 2016, and some just long to forget.  Despite all the campaign ads, a loud obnoxious new-comer to politics, we just can’t get enough.  This was also hunting season for the late night pundits.  For an example, you remember how Donald Trump would send out tweets and get into fights on Twitter?  Or you remember when he got into a war with Senator Elizabeth Warren?  Well, the comedians and political satirists were taking note, as they portrayed Trump as a social media whore and an incompetent baffoon.  Not only that, the alleged hacks by Russia have comedians like Stephen Colbert and John Oliver think that there is a certain “bromance” blooming with President Trump and Valdimir Putin.  (In fact, Stephen Colbert had Cartoon Donald Trump guest star with Cartoon Vladimir Putin (Long story short, Trump and Putin ended up making out).  There is seemly no end to the laughter.  In fact, John Oliver once said that the politics of Donald Trump is that he is wrong.”  Not only that, The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah poked fun at President Trump’s infamous Immigration speech.  Hillary Clinton got some of the comedic treatment as well, when SNL impersonated Hillary Clinton as a power-hungry politician, which many political analysists said it could hurt her campaign since her and the impersonation were closely tied.

Date: April 9 2017

Journal Entry: 10

Hilarious Politcs: Pundits and Jokes

Political Satirists have always had good material, as politics is an ongoing thing.  If one is old enough, they can probably remember all the jokes about former U.S President George Walker Bush, or they remember the golden years of David Letterman on the late night show.  But political satire has offered a window where people can freely discuss current events, while laughing at the same time.  One example of a type of comedic form is the show “Real Time with Bill Maher.”  The show’s host, Bill Maher often lampoons conservative policies and religion, yet he also has guests on his show to hash out real issues.  An example of this is when Bill Maher had current Israeli Prime Minister (but back then he was a former Prime Minister) Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu on his show in 2004.  The two bantered easily, (They have been friends for a long time), but Maher asked him questions particularly on radical Islam and the dangerous neighborhood that is the Middle East.  Since then, Bill Maher and Benjamin Netanyahu have cultivated a friendship that has lasted for decades (One thing that I respect about Bill Maher is that he is one of the only Liberals who see that radical Islam is a threat).  In other ways, Maher can be borderline obnoxious, as he lampoons the right, Christianity, and Republicans on his show (He’s not President Trump’s biggest fan).  For years, political satirists have had pundits and important state figures on the show.  An example of this was Stephan Colbert, as he used to host the comedy show “The Colbert Report.”  He had former Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki Moon on his show.  Yet in modern days, political satire and late night comedy has taken on a more realistic yet some comedians still maintain their biting humor.  New shows such as Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and Last Week Tonight have all taken subtler approaches, yet the hosts still have bombastic humor and wit, especially when concerning controversial issues and our current President.  A prime example of this is when Samantha Bee hosted conservative talk radio star Glenn Beck, where the two hashed out that then-presidential candidate Donald Trump was unqualified, and both quote en quote “buried the hatchet between them”  This was concealed by them both eating a cake with models of them on it (Samantha Bee and Glenn Beck do not like Trump).  Not only that, political satirists have had numerous pundits on their shows.  The main idead behind it is to give their show a dose of credibility.

Date: April 10 2017

Journal Entry: 11

Not In MY Safe Space!

Since the election of Donald Trump, there has been sweeping reforms inside government.  Not to mention, riots due to the fact that Trump won the Presidency.  Nowdays, in our extremely politically-correct culture, being offensive is now forbidden.

Yet there is an exception for political satirists.

The goal of political satire, as it has been stated before, is to be as offensive as possible, while making people laugh about it at the same time.  South is infamous for it’s foul content, offensive material, and not only that, pushing the limits on what is allowed on television.  Not only that, political satire has left room to poke fun at the contemporary culture.  An example of this is South Park’s episode “Safe Space.”  The basis of it is to ridicule the ridiculous idea of safe spaces, which are popping up all over college campuses due to the demands of entitled college students.  There is an allegorical character introduced to the show by this episode, who goes by the name “reality.”  Reality tries to destroy the safe spaces of the characters, fails in doing so.  This brings to light the fallacies of political correctness, and the challenges modern conceptions of freedom of speech.

Date: April 10 2017

Journal Entry: 12

It’s the Freaking FCC!

Political satire has not only enlightened views, but it has also managed to attract the critism of pro-censorship advocates.  Much of the adult animated cartoons have become lightning rods for critism, mostly from the religious right.  Much of this is due to the negative depiction of religion in many of these cartoons and late night shows.  Due to the fact that most of the material in these shows are aimed towards adults, most of the pro-censorship organizations have pushed for the networks to either cancel the shows or broadcast them at times where children would not be watching television.  Despite all the advocacy for shows like Family Guy, South Park, and other shows to be canceled, they bring in high revenue for the broadcasting companies.  Overall, the FCC is responsible for enforcing obscenity rules for public broadcasting.  Yet one cannot deny the effect of these shows’ wit that has brought many issues to the table.  For an example, The Simpsons brought issues concerning the environment to the pubic eye and brought up the issue of gender roles and sexism in their episode “Lisa Vs. Malibu Stacey.”  Not only that, South Park, despite it’s foul language and obscenity, has brought to light the sensitive side of children and put many morals, such as the right to die (In the episode “Best Friends Forever), stem cell research, abortion, and other hot button issues to the public in a humorous and sometimes empathetic way.

[uc-photos]

Saturday Special - RX-78 Showcase!

The first truly NEW photo set of 2017 is here! Showcasing off my collecting of RX-78 Gundams, of which I’ve got quite the variety. The kits featured here (from right to left in the top and bottom pics) are:

RX-78-2 Gundam [Revive] - “Revi”

RX-78-2 Gundam [Ver. G30th]  - “Ani”

RX-78-2 Gundam [21st Century Real Type Colors] - “Shade”

RX-78-3 G-3 Gundam - “Grey”

RX-78-3 G-3 Gundam [Revive] - “Trey”

Of all these kits, I have to say that my three “revive” kits (and I’m including the Real Type Color one in this group) are easily my most favorite. Their articulation, detail, and posability are amazing and a lot of fun to work with. I absolutely had to make them a feature of this set which ended up with the three fighting for control! Looks like Shade one that one... for now.

A lot of this photo set was done to test out my phone’s camera capabilities while I try to save a get a dedicated DSLR Camera for future shoots. I still have some tweaking to do, but for now the 13mp digital camera on my Galaxy J7 will have to do. Do let me know what you think of the quality of the images and I’ll try to make adjustments where needed!

I have a bonus set after this one, so do stay tuned!

Till next time everyone!

[goonsquadme-blog]

Authentic Eddie Robinson Jersey

Running back Adrian Peterson was inactive for the Arizona Cardinals against the Los Angeles Rams because of a neck injury.Peterson injured his neck a week ago and had been listed as questionable.Also missing among the late games in Week 13 on Sunday was New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore http://www.neworleanssaintsteamonline.co…ard-jersey , out for the second consecutive game because of an injured left ankle.Article continues below …The Saints were also facing the Carolina Panthers in a key NFC South matchup without another key rookie defensive back, safety Marcus Williams, already ruled out with a groin injury.The Panthers were without tight end Greg Olsen, who has been dealing with a broken foot.Earlier, Darrelle Revis made his season debut for the Kansas City Chiefs against his former team, the New York Jets – and as a captain, no less.Signed by Kansas City last week as a free agent, Revis was active at the Jets and started.Revis played two stints with the Jets, from 2007-12 and 2015-16, but wasn’t nearly as dominant last year as he was in his ”Revis Island” days, and the Jets allowed him to leave after last season.Revis was out of work until signing a two-year deal with the Chiefs, who have lost five of their past six games.Second-year linebacker Darron Lee was a surprise inactive for the Jets. There was no immediate reason given for Lee not playing. Lee, second on New York with 86 total tackles, wasn’t previously listed on the team’s injury report.—LOS ANGELES RAMS-ARIZONARams: WR Robert Woods (shoulder), QB Brandon Allen, RB Justin Davis, RB Malcolm Brown, CB Kevin Peterson, T Cornelius Lucas, OLB Connor Barwin.Cardinals: RB Adrian Peterson (neck), WR John Brown (toe) QB Matt Barkley, IlB Denoe Bucannon (ankle), DL Corey Peters (neck), S/CB Rudy Ford, WR Carlton Agudosi.—CAROLINA-NEW ORLEANSPanthers: TE Greg Olsen (foot), C Ryan Kalil, OT Amini Silantulu, QB Garrett Gilbert, DE Zach Moore, CB LaDarius Gunter and LB Andrew GachkarSaints: CB Marshon Lattimore (ankle), S Marcus Williams (groin), RB Jonathan Williams Authentic Danny Salazar Jersey , OL Cameron Tom, T Bryce Harris, WR Austin Carr and DE Al-Quadin Muhammad.—NEW YORK GIANTS-OAKLANDGiants: LB Jonathan Casillas (neck, wrist), G Justin Pugh (back), CB Eli Apple (hip), QB Davis Webb, WR Travis Rudolph, LB Jeremy Cash, DT Khyri Thornton.Raiders: WR Amari Cooper (concussion, ankle), CB David Amerson (foot), LB Cory James (knee), QB Connor Cook, DL Jihad Ward, T Jylan Ware, DT Darius Latham.—CLEVELAND-LOS ANGELES CHARGERSBrowns: QB Kevin Hogan, WR Sammie Coates, WR Bryce Treggs, RB Darius Hillary, OL Marcus Martin, TE Matt Lengel, DL T.Y. McGillChargers: QB Cardale Jones, RB Branden Oliver, LB James Onwualu, OT Michael Ola, TE Sean Culkin, WR Mike Williams, DT Corey Liuget—KANSAS CITY-NEW YORK JETS:Chiefs: RB Charcandrick West, LB Tamba Hali, LB Dee Ford, QB Tyler Bray Authentic Satchel Paige Jersey , S Eric Murray, OL Jordan Devey, OL Parker Ehinger.Jets: LB Darron Lee, CB Juston Burris, OL Ben Ijalana, OL Jonotthan Harrison, QB Christian Hackenberg, CB Robert Nelson, LB Freddie Bishop.—DETROIT-BALTIMORELions: WR Bradley Marquez, RB Ameer Abdullah (neck), RB Dwayne Washington, CB Jamal Agnew (knee), S Rolan Milligan, C Travis Swanson (knee), T Emmett Cleary.Ravens: WR Breshad Perriman, RB Terrance West, CB Jaylen Hill, G Maurice Shakir, DE Bronson Kaufusi, DE Chris Wormley, G Jermaine Eluemunor.—DENVER-MIAMIBroncos: RB De’Angelo Henderson, T Cyrus Kouandjio, G Ron Leary, QB Paxton Lynch, NT Domata Peko, WR Jordan Taylor, DE Derek Wolfe.Dolphins: QB Matt Moore, RB Damien Williams, CB Torry McTyre, DT Davon Godchaux, G Isaac Asiata, G Jermon Bushrod Authentic Eddie Robinson Jersey , TE A.J. Derby—HOUSTON-TENNESSEETexans: WR Will Fuller V, WR Cobi Hamilton, OLB LaTroy Lewis, OLB Brennan Scarlett, G Kyle Fuller, OT Julien Davenport, NT Chunky Clements.Titans: QB Brandon Weeden, WR Rishard Matthews, CB Kalan Reed, FB Jalston Fowler, G/C Corey Levin, DE David King.—NEW ENGLAND-BUFFALOPatriots: DL Trey Flowers (rib), OTs Marcus Cannon (ankle) and LaAdrian Waddle (ankle), WRs Chris Hogan (shoulder) and Matthew Slater, LB Trevor Reilly (concussion) and RB Mike Gillislee.Bills: WR Kelvin Benjamin (right knee), TE Nick O’Leary (back), FB Mike Tolbert (hamstring), CB Shareece Wright, OLs Cordy Glenn (foot/ankle), John Miller and Conor McDermott.—MINNESOTA-ATLANTAVikings: T Mike Remmers (back), QB Kyle Sloter, WR Stacy Coley, RB Mack Brown, T Aviante Collins, DE Tashawn Bower, DT Jaleel JohnsonFalcons: CB Desmond Trufant (concussion), CB Brian Poole (back), LB Sean Weatherspoon, T Austin Pasztor, WR Nick Williams, RB Terrence Magee, G Sean Harlow—TAMPA BAY-GREEN BAYBuccaneers: RB Doug Martin Authentic Corey Knebel Jersey , S Josh Robinson, CB Vernon Hargreaves III, S T.J. Ward, C Joe Hawley, DE Robert Ayers Jr., DT Clinton McDonaldPackers: CB Kevin King, CB Donatello Brown, OL Lucas Patrick, OL Adam Pankey, WR Michael Clark, DT Montravius Adams, LB Chris Odom—INDIANAPOLIS-JACKSONVILLEColts: CB Rashaan Melvin, C Ryan Kelly, CB D.J. White, TE Darrell Daniels, TE Ross Travis, OT Tyreek Burwell, DT Hassan Ridgeway.Jaguars: LB Telvin Smith, G Patrick Omameh, WR Allen Hurns, CB Jalen Myrick, DL Eli Ankou, OT Josh Wells, OT William Poehls.—SAN FRANCISCO-CHICAGO49ers: DB Antone Exum Jr., LB Pita Taumoepenu, DL Aaron Lynch, DL D.J. Jones, DL Tank Carradine, C Tim Barnes an. Womens Brandon Parker Jersey , Cheap Aaron Gordon Jersey , Authentic Womens J’Mon Moore Jersey , Adidas Justin Faulk Jersey , Download from Source link

Authentic Eddie Robinson Jersey was originally published on GOONSQUAD COPYBOT FORUM

[mesagerulneamt]

– Cum te cheamă pe tine?

– Șubredu Andrei.

– Și de unde ești?

– Brașov.

– Câtă școală ai?

– 8 clase.

– Și de când ești arestat?

– Din aprilie anul ăsta.

– Pentru ce?

– Viol, dar n-a fost viol, e poveste lungă.

– Rezumă povestea asta lungă.

– Treaba a fost că partea vătămată a consumat alcool și mama fetei, când a auzit că a consumat alcool, a spus că nu putea să-și exprime acordul sau dezacordul, din cauza alcoolului.

– Ești singur pe faptă sau e un grup? – Suntem doi. Eu și prietenul meu, amândoi am primit câte 3 ani și 4 luni.

– Dar de ce ai doar 8 clase la vârsta de 19 ani?

– Am mai fost plecat prin București

– Și te-ai ocupat cu ceva, ai muncit undeva?

– Nu, îmi plăcea să călătoresc, să vizitez.

– Păi, și de unde aveai bani să călătorești?

– De la părinți. Eram fotograf de profesie și umblam peste tot să fac fotografii. Portrete, în special.

– Și-acum cum privești ceea ce ți se întâmplă?

– Foarte urât. Nu mă gândeam niciodată că o să ajung într-un loc de genul…

– Ce știi despre fata aia? Ea ce face?

– Pot să spun că nu era o fată cuminte, s-a descoperit încă de la început că a avut primul act sexual la vârsta de 14 ani.

– Da, dar știi că asta nu contează. Violul este viol, indiferent dacă partea vătămată este cuminte sau nu-i cuminte. Important este să fie de acord sau nu.

– Treaba e că a fost de acord, dar, după ce-a aflat mama ei, de frica mamei, a mers pe varianta că nu mai știe nimic.

– Tu cât mai ai de stat aici?

– 11 luni.

– După care ce vrei să faci?

– Să-mi continui studiile în primul rând, să mă reapuc de fotografie…

– Ce te-a învățat penitenciarul?

– Că nu trebuie să ai încredere în toți oamenii.

– Ai cunoscut și aici oameni în care nu trebuia să ai încredere? Te-au dezamăgit în vreun fel?

– Da. Tu i-ajuți, îi sprijini când au nevoie, iar când tu ai cea mai mică problemă se întorc cu spatele. E vorba de un interes la mijloc.

– A mai făcut cineva pușcărie din familia ta?

– Doi unchi. Pentru trafic de persoane și omor.

Andrei Șubredu este doar unul dintre sutele de tineri încarcerați la Penitenciarul Bacău. O închisoare care a fost de maximă siguranță până acum 10 ani. Odată cu trecerea în rândul penitenciarelor ”normale”, cel de la Bacău și-a schimbat doar regulile interne. Clădirile, porțile mari care separă curtea interioară, gratiile și spațiile de plimbare au rămas aceleași. Este aceeași până și sârma ghimpată de pe clădirile cu un singur nivel, inclusiv de pe capelă, având scopul clar de a zădărnici orice tentativă de escaladare.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Doar oamenii sunt alții. În fiecare săptămână, unii pleacă ”afară” și alții le iau locul. În ziua documentării noastre, la început de săptămână, erau după gratii 351 de bărbați și 188 de femei. O parte sunt arestați preventiv, trimiși deja în judecată, din județele Neamț și Bacău. Femeile sunt din toată Moldova, de la Suceava la Galați.

În corpul nou, singurul amenajat conform normelor UE și directivelor CEDO, care respectă numărul de metri pătrați de spațiu și numărul de metri cubi de aer pe cap de deținut, sunt 200 de locuri. La parter, într-un capăt de culoar, era o cameră liberă. Singura pe care am putut s-o fotografiem, pentru că, în cele ocupate, unii erau de acord ”să apară în poză”, iar alții țineau foarte mult la imaginea lor. La Bacău, ca, de altfel, în orice penitenciar din țară, poți vorbi cu un deținut numai dacă el dorește acest lucru. Partea cu fotografiatul și cu publicarea numelui implică alte acorduri. Toți au dreptul la imagine, iar oricine vine din afară trebuie să le respecte demnitatea. O noțiune al cărei sens unii îl descoperă abia după ce ajung ”înăuntru”.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Corpul nou are camere mari, mese rabatabile, taburete, televizoare, baia separat. Iar în baie – austeră la prima vedere, pentru că totul este din metal, inclusiv chiuveta -, spațiul de toaletă este, la rându-i, separat printr-un panou metalic de spațiul de spălat. Deținuții au regim deschis, adică toate ușile camerelor sunt deschise, se pot vizita unii pe alții, pot merge pe holuri și, mai ales, pot bate în ușa, metalică integral, dincolo de care nu se vede nimic. Gardienii sunt cei care trebuie să vadă, de fiecare dată, uneori la câteva secunde, ce nevoi au cei care bat în ușă.

* ”Mama este psiholog, iar tata este inginer. Eu am fost consumator de etnobotanice”

”Am 20 de ani și sunt din Cluj-Napoca. Provin dintr-o familie bună și nu vreau să apar în ziar cu nume și cu poză. Mama este psiholog, iar tata este inginer. Eu am fost consumator de etnobotanice o lungă perioadă de timp. Am încercat la vârsta de 13-14 ani. Aveam un frate mai mare, pe care-l credeam un exemplu. El avea o viață socială foarte activă, îl știa lumea, cheltuia mulți bani, mergea prin cluburi și am încercat să iau exemplul lui. Consuma și el. Îmi plăcea viața pe care o avea el și mă gândeam că așa mă apropii de ideal. Fumam, la pliculețe, dar și prizam. De la 13 ani până la 17 ani, mă drogam foarte rar, aveam luni în care mă drogam de două sau de trei ori, dar și pauze de 5-6 luni. Nu eram dependent. Am început să consum mai mult chiar înainte de a împlini 18 ani. După o ceartă mai lungă cu părinții mei, adică mama și soțul ei – tatăl meu vitreg – care mă iubește foarte mult, pentru că el nu are copii biologici, am decis să mă mut la tatăl meu, care are o boală psihică. Nu se arată, însă gândește ca un adolescent întârziat, să spunem așa. El nu realiza că este prea permisiv cu mine și mă și ajuta financiar ca să-mi îndeplinesc orice dorință. În 2015, ca să pot face bani pentru a-mi întreține viciul, am început să vând. Vindeam, cum s-ar zice, la stradă, adică eu răspundeam la telefon și veneau oamenii la mine. Spre sfârșitul anului, am fost prins și am primit o pedeapsă cu suspendare: 1 an și 4 luni. Ulterior, am decis să mă mut înapoi la părinții mei acasă, unde am primit din nou o educație adecvată, adică, la sfârșitul anului 2015, eram în regulă cu profesorii, cu părinții, cu absolut toată lumea. Gândul de a mai comite alte infracțini nu mai exista, însă, ulterior, nu neapărat că am intrat într-un anturaj, dar am vorbit cu o persoană care mi-a spus că ar avea unde să vândă o cantitate mare de substanță. A fost genul de afacere pe care nu l-am putut refuza, am fost prins din nou și beneficiul suspendării a dispărut. De data asta, am avut  și o săgeată. Așa-zis un cărăuș, eu doar trebuia să iau banii. Vindeam un kil jumate pe lună. Etnobotanice de prizat.

Atunci nu m-am gândit niciun moment, însă acum realizez câți oameni au ajuns aici din cauza acestor dependențe.

Dar vreau să spun că eu, chiar dacă făceam acești bani, aveam o viață destul de echilibrată și nu cheltuiam mult. Voiam să dau la drept, dar aveam și un plan de afaceri. Voiam să investesc în imobiliare, dar, înainte, voiam să-mi cumpăr două-trei licențe de taxi, ca să pot justifica proveniența banilor. Viața mi s-a schimbat brusc. Am de executat 1 an și 4 luni, pedeapsa pentru care s-a revocat suspendarea, plus încă 1 an pentru droguri, și încă 1 an și 4 luni dare de mită – am încercat să-l mituiesc pe reprezentantul poștei vamale, ca să pot primi coletul. În total, 3 ani și 2 luni. Și mai am 1 an și 12 zile până la prima comisie. Eu am ajuns aici, iar fratele meu lucrează și este la facultatea de chimioterapie”.

Ziua la penitenciar începe la 6 dimineața. Cu ceaiul cu biscuiți, margarină, ouă sau brânză. Angajații se feresc să dea detalii despre masă, ca să nu apară comentarii. Sunt diferențe în funcție de religie, de regim, de starea de sănătate a fiecăruia. Oricum, meniul este stabilit de medicul închisorii. Același medic care are grijă și de sănătatea deținuților, ajutat de 7 asistenți.

În închisoare, există și infirmerie. Am fost doar în cea de la secția de femei, situată la ultimul nivel al clădirii. E un pavilion vechi, în care normele UE n-au ajuns încă. Însă femeile care sunt la infirmerie, sub tratament, uitându-se din pat la televizor, nu se plâng de condiții.

Mai curând de ”companie”, având în vedere că, printre cele 5 femei care se aflau acolo – 3 dintre ele din județul Neamț – era și Ana Zaharia, profesoara din Roman, care și-a ucis soțul. Și acum, după ce-a fost condamnată definitiv la 15 ani de închisoare, ea încearcă să-și convingă colegele de celulă că nu este vinovată și, de fapt, e arestată într-o ”cauză civilă”.

Pe hol, sunt traverse și ghivece cu flori – secție de femei. La capătul culoarului, stau gardienii, tot femei, dar ușa principală e din gratii simple, așa că se poate vedea în orice moment, orice mișcare.

”Condițiile nu sunt ca acasă, nici pe departe, dar măcar consider că s-ar putea face ceva să nu mai stăm toate împreună, indiferent dacă suntem condamnate pentru infracțiuni economice sau pentru crimă, de exemplu”, ne-a spus una dintre deținute. ”Cât stăm la infirmerie, noi oricum nu beneficiem de reducere de pedeapsă, dar o diferențiere, măcar prin prisma genului de infracțiune, mi s-ar părea de bun-simț. În rest, eu, cel puțin, nu-mi doresc decât sănătate, în așteptarea liberării”.

În timp ce coboram de la infirmerie, singurul loc pe care am primit permisiunea să-l vizităm, în afară de secția de tineri, ne-am întâlnit cu câteva femei care urcau. Una dintre ele, abia ținându-se de balustradă, evident trecută de 60 de ani, ofta la fiecare treaptă. Are cea mai mare condamnare din tot penitenciarul: 30 de ani. Pentru furturi repetate, de pe vremea când pedepsele se cumulau, nu se contopeau ca acum. Alte legi!

* ”Nu cred că penitenciarul ar trebui să iasă în fața societății, ca grad de bunăstare”

Despre legea eliberărilor pe bază de condiții necorespunzătoare, calculate milimetric, ca volum de aer pe plămân de deținut, directorul Penitenciarului Bacău are o opinie foarte clară: ”Nu cred că penitenciarul ar trebui să iasă în fața societății, ca grad de bunăstare, dar nici să rămână în spate. În fond, noi pregătim niște oameni pentru întoarcerea în societate și ei se vor comporta așa cum i-am învățat noi.

Există, însă, o categorie a recidiviștilor, care revin. Ei sunt cei care se învârt într-un cerc vicios. Ajung afară, societatea îi respinge, nu-i înțelege nimeni, au un stigmat de purtat, iar singurii care-i acceptă sunt cei care comit infracțiuni. Cu timpul, înțeleg că singura lor viață e aici.

Am avut un deținut eliberat la 60 și ceva de ani, din care petrecuse foarte puțini afară, pur și simplu, nu se putea adapta. A ieșit din penitenciar, a ajuns la Onești și acolo a făcut o tâlhărie doar ca să se întoarcă înapoi”.

În închisoare, nu ajung nicidecum niște ”nevinovați”. Indiferent cum își proiectează ei faptele și ce scuze își găsesc, dând vina pe anturaj sau pe modele, toți au făcut ceva reprobabil. Unii nu conștientizează, nici măcar când ușa celulei se închide în urma lor. Și continuă să se creadă ”descurcăreți”, deși sentința abia le-a dovedit contrariul. Uneori, au reușit. Au fost cazuri în care au ajuns în penitenciar sticle cu apă sau cu suc pline cu palincă. Sigilate. La fel cum au ajuns conserve de pește, cu gramajul indicat pe ambalaj, care, de fapt, conțineau telefoane mobile. Și țigări cu droguri, tot în ambalaje sigilate și, aparent, originale. După câteva astfel de experiențe, explicabile doar prin complicitatea unor prieteni de la firmele de profil, s-a luat decizia ca pachetele de acasă să conțină exclusiv alimente negătite, iar apa, sucul și țigările să fie cumpărate din magazinul penitenciarului. Condiții dure și ”inumane” pentru unii. Pentru alții, însă, foarte bune. Chestiune de percepție…

”Eu zic că e bine aici, cel puțin în privința condițiilor, e bine” spune Gabriel Bujor, de 21 de ani, din București, arestat pentru tâlhărie calificată, loviri și alte violențe. ”M-am bătut afară, cu unii, la un restaurant. Suntem 6 inși în faptă, toți din București . Pedeapsa a fost de doi ani jum’ate, dar miercuri, acum, plec acasă. Am făcut 21 de luni, am fost la Rahova, am stat și pe secție aici, la copii. Mi-a fost greu, pentru că, în primul rând, am stat închis. La Rahova, era murdar, ploșnițe și gândaci peste tot. Aici nu s-a întâmplat! Am avut totul nou, din dotare. Cu condițiile da, aici e bine, până la urmă cât stai, trebuie să-ți fie bine. Legea asta nouă e ok, odată ce câștigi 6 zile la lună. Când ești închis, o zi contează. Cu legea asta, am beneficiat și eu acuma. Făceam sport afară, vreau să mă apuc iar de box. Cu școala am terminat, am 12 clase”.

În momentul când un om ”nou” intră la închisoare, este preluat de o echipă întreagă de oameni ”vechi”. Sunt cei din personalul penitenciarului, care se ocupă cu sănătatea lui, psihică și fizică, cu nevoile lui imediate, cu școlarizarea lui – vin profesori din oraș, care predau lecții -, cu dorința lui de sport – există un angajat al închisorii care are drept misiune acest lucru -, cu nevoia lui de a conștientiza cu ce-a greșit – și aici intră în scenă psihologul. Omul, care, cu o oră în urmă, era liber, este pregătit – pe cât se poate și pe cât înțelege – pentru viața ”instituționalizată”.

Înainte de a fi eliberat, intră în scenă aceiași actori, dar cu altă regie: pregătirea pentru a intra, din nou, în societate. Când îți petreci viața între deșteptarea de la ora 6 și stingerea de la ora 22, când se taie cablul tv, o plimbare în curtea interioară, ceva lectură – că sunt cărți la bibliotecă, dar nu citește chiar toată lumea și sport -, îți rămâne mult timp. Să te gândești. La ce-ai fost, la ce-ai ajuns și la ce-ai vrea să devii după ce scapi…

* ”Eu zic că am ajuns aici dintr-o greșeală”

Emanuel Bona din Arad: ”Am 19 ani și am absolvit 11 clase. Eu zic că am ajuns aici dintr-o greșeală sau poate dintr-o greșeală juridică. Am fost judecat pentru tâlhărie calificată. Trei oameni am intrat peste o persoană în casă. Cel mai mare dintre noi, care era recidivist, ne-a amenințat  cu cuțitul, că, dacă nu mergem cu el la faptă, ne taie, ne omoară și ne bagă în saci. Era bunica celuilalt băiat. Eu nu am făcut nimic, doar am asistat. Cel mai mare a ținut-o pe bătrână și nepotul ei, celălalt băiat căuta prin noptiere, peste tot, și-a găsit 50 de lei. Am plecat și, când am avut prima ocazie, ne-am și autodenunțat: am sunat la poliție să vină peste noi. În primă instanță, am primit 2 ani cu suspendare și la apel ne-a dat 3 ani cu executare. Sincer nu mă așteptam, mă credeam nevinovat, dar am și eu o mică vină, că m-am dus să mă întâlnesc cu ei. Nu știam ce au de gând să facem. Familia mă susține. Mama este cântăreață de muzică populară și tata consilier superior în consiliul județean. N-a mai făcut nimeni pușcărie din familia mea. Îmi doresc să-mi termin studiile. Mai aveam o lună și terminam clasa a XII-a. Vreau să merg la o facultate de arhitectură în Anglia, dacă am posibilitatea, dacă nu, în Germania, că mai am rude acolo. Sunt singur la părinți”.

Se întâmplă ca, după gratii, pe lângă trusa personală, cu produse de igienă, pe care o primește fiecare deținut – săpun, pastă de dinți, periuță, hârtie igienică, aparat de ras pentru bărbați și absorbante pentru femei -, și lenjeria de pat, să mai apară și cadouri. Din partea celor dragi. E cam nepotrivit să stai în fața închisorii cu o cutie în brațe, pe care scrie ”La mulți ani!”, dar se întâmplă. Tortul nu trece dincolo de poarta pe care, oricum, nu intră nimeni fără un control corporal riguros (fără telefon și fără geantă personală), decât dacă este însoțit de un certificat de la cofetărie, care să ateste compoziția și termenul de valabilitate. O toxiinfecție la pușcărie ar mobiliza mult mai multe organizații care pledează pentru drepturile omului, în general, și ar implica luări de poziții oficiale, la un cu tot alt nivel față de o ”banală” enterocolită de grădiniță, generată de o firmă de catering.

Există circuite, există reguli, personalul este verificat periodic, iar la blocul alimentar nu intră nimeni fără să aibă analizele la zi. Mai ales cele care atestă că nu este purtător de streptococi și bacterii. Deținuții sănătoși ajută la curățenie și la servirea mesei, în sensul că duc ei lăzile cu pâine, ambalată în folie, spre pavilion.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Cei care execută pedeapsa în regim semideschis nu au voie să iasă din celule în timpul mesei. În rest, au acces la curțile de plimbare, pot merge la telefon, la slujbele de la capelă sau la activități sportive. Nu există sală de lectură – se citește în celulă -, însă există un club, unde se face consiliere de specialitate, în funcție de nevoile fiecăruia. Hainele murdare se predau la spălătorie și sunt aduse înapoi, curate și împăturite.

Penitenciarul are și o gospodărie, clasica GAZ, la câțiva kilometri distanță. Acolo sunt bărbații adulți, peste 21 de ani, care au dreptul să muncească. Toți se află sub îndrumarea unui gospodar – așa se numește angajatul care le dă de lucru, în funcție de îndemânarea și calificarea fiecăruia. În rest, este aproximativ același regim, cu agenți de supraveghere, cu program strict și cu stingerea la ora 22. Profilul deținutului este legat, în primul rând, de studii: media este de 5 clase. Puțini acceptă că-și merită pedeapsa și foarte mulți de pe secția de tineret au comis infracțiuni când se aflau sub influența drogurilor. Indiferent de studii, de faptă și de pedeapsă, toți au un punct comun: planurile de viitor.

Adrian Câlă, 19 ani, Călărași, condamnat la 1 an și 5 luni: ”Am fost complice la fapta de tâlhărie, unde s-a luat un portofel. Pe stradă. În portofel, era o sumă de bani: 15 lei. Eram în sevraj după etnobotanice. De la 15 ani, mă droghez. Am făcut 9 clase, continui aici. Mai am trei luni până la prima comisie. Mă duc să-mi găsesc un loc de muncă, să-mi pot ajuta familia. Nu vreau să mă mai droghez. Anturajul a fost de vină. Cât timp nu voi mai face parte din anturajul ăla, sunt sigur că voi fi bine”.

Cristina MIRCEA

FOTO: Ștefan DAN

EXCLUSIV Dialoguri despre viața după gratii - Cum te cheamă pe tine? - Șubredu Andrei. - Și de unde ești? - Brașov.

[bdub86]

Isha Baaker, Chandler Hutchison, Emmanuel Sanders

Kevin Hampton, Tequan Richmond, Trey Revis

Designer, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Tyus Jones

Jordan Calloway, Brandon Mychal Smith, Tre Jones

Lil Romeo, Kenny Jones, Tyrel Jackson Williams

Toro y Moi aka Chaz Bear, De-Reece Grant, Sinqua Walls

Don Benjamin, Shae Pulver, Mandela Van Peebles

Sarunas J. Jackson, Devin Booker

Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Memphis Depay

Trey Kostra, Jordan Love, Bandhunta Izzy

*Please DO NOT reblog if you are willing to ignore whitewashing, racial slurs, BLACKFACE or post white people and celebrities who have done these things. No, I won’t care how long ago it happened. This post is for, by, and about black people! This post is not meant to be a token splash of color on pages filled with mostly white faces*

Just to be clear: If regularly including ALL KINDS of black people isn’t important to you, this post is not for you. If you can overlook racism towards black people, period, but especially by your nonblack celebrity faves then this post is not for you. If you only objectify (ignore the objectification of) black men then move the fuck on. If your default porn preference is fetishizing interracial race play, mandingo, sex slave or some other dehumanizing fantasies MOVE THE FUCK ON.

FYI, if this caption bothers you then I’m DEFINITELY talking about you.

This post is about celebrating black men and connecting with others who respect black men and not those who fetishize us and our bodies.

[dark69skin]

Trey Revis

[cover32-yahoopartner-blog]

Patriots Week Ahead: Pats Head Home to Host Houston

What a difference a week makes.

With the New England Patriots sitting at 0-1, so-called ‘prognosticators’ were gleefully predicting the demise of the defending champions, and their star quarterback, Tom Brady. However, the Pats 36-20 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, proved that they still have a place among the elite teams in the NFL; much to the chagrin of those that salivate with every New England struggle.

Oh…and, as for that Brady guy, he’s still pretty good, as well.

While the Patriots earned their first win of the 2017 season in dominant fashion, it would be an exaggeration to state that their offensive and defensive problems have been completely solved. They have certainly taken a step in the right direction. However, a week’s worth of hard work lies ahead in Foxboro. Luckily, the Pats have a head coach, quarterback and a supporting cast of veterans that will not allow the team to rest on its laurels. Despite looking impressive on Sunday, the reality is that the Patriots are a work in progress.

Here is a look at some of the items on the Patriots docket for the week ahead:

“Get Well…Get Well Soon…We Wish You to Get Well.”

While that line might elicit a chuckle from Seinfeld fans, it is an adequate representation of the feelings of the Patriots organization, and its fans. With injuries to wide receiver Danny Amendola (concussion), linebacker Dont’e Hightower (knee) and special teams captain Matthew Slater (hamstring) already a concern heading into their tilt against the Saints, the Patriots now have a few more to add to the list. During Sunday’s game, the following Patriots suffered the following injuries:

Rob Gronkowski (tight end): groin Eric Rowe (cornerback): groin Rex Burkhead (running back): ribs Phillip Dorsett (wide receiver): knee

At one point, it seemed like the blue medical tent was the hot spot for Patriots players to enter on Sunday. In fact, if they had not been coming back out, one might have speculated that Pennywise was luring them in with red balloons.

The injury to Gronkowski is certainly the most high-profile of those incurred during Sunday’s win. Patriots Nation collectively breathed a big sigh of relief upon hearing that the injury was not serious and (most importantly) was not another injury to his back. Gronkowski, Dorsett and Hightower are cautiously optimistic about returning to action on Sunday versus the Houston Texans. Wednesday’s injury report may help to shed some light on the injured Pats’ playing status for Week Three. However, history has shown that their true status may not be fully known until just prior to game time. In any case, the Patriots training staff is in for a busy week.

On-Field Improvements

Injuries are not the only item that will garner attention from the Patriots coaches and players, this week. There are some improvements that must be made. Shortly after their home opener, the Patriots replaced their field turf, after deeming its previous quality to be sub-par. In addition to turf replacements, the Pats will need to make some adjustments to the action on the field.

On the offensive side of the ball, the injury-decimated wide receiver corps must put in some overtime to to get on the same page with Brady. As they approach week three, the wideouts have been somewhat underwhelming. Much of that is undoubtedly due to injury, but not all. For Sunday’s game against the Texans, Patriots pass-catchers have to work on winning one-on-one battles. Brandin Cooks and Phillip Dorsett (if healthy) absolutely have the speed to do so. In fact, we did see the Pats put the pair of speedy wide receivers Cooks and Dorsett in motion through the backfield for jet sweeps, fake sweeps, and swing passes. This did slightly increase the productivity for both Cooks and Dorsett. However, as Christopher Gasper of the Boston Globe eloquently put it, they need to be effective “without the clever window dressing of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels doing it for them.” In other words, the execution needs to exceed the expectations of the play-calling.

On defense, coordinator Matt Patricia has two main objectives: the need to address ‘big plays’ and the need to motivate what was supposed to be one of the best cornerback tandems in the league. While Malcolm Butler and Stephon Gilmore have shown flashes of being a prolific pair, they have most often been on opposite sides of the page. As of late, Butler has looked ‘distracted’, to put it delicately. On the flip side, Gilmore has yet to show consistent dedication to finishing plays. Butler and Gilmore have both the individual talent and on-field savvy, to right the ship. Many forget that the 2014 Patriots’ dynamic duo of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner started slowly as well. Despite that fact, Patricia knows that teams are eager to test the Patriots defense in every way, and stellar play from his secondary will be essential in building long term success.

Dec 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Against the Kansas Chiefs in week one, the Patriots defense was torched by quarterback Alex Smith, who passed his way to an 80-percent completion rate. That aerial attack included a couple of eye-opening, big yardage plays to Chiefs targets Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt. There was marked improvement against Saints quarterback Drew Brees, on Sunday. The defense offered a classic bend-but-don’t-break effort, but still surrendered 429 yards and some big plays. Of those ‘big plays’, six were pass plays of 20 yards or more which resulted in two touchdowns.

Improved play from the secondary will help to remedy this, as will strengthening the pass rush. Trey Flowers and rookie Deatrich Wise, Jr., who opened many an eye on Sunday, will continue to grow. As the weeks progress, they could form quite the formidable tandem. In addition, The Patriots may also receive a boost from the possible return of Hightower to the lineup. He is their unquestioned defensive field general, and will be looking to erase the bad taste in his mouth from the last time he took the Gillette Stadium field in Week One. One things is certain, head coach Bill Belichick and the coaching staff will ensure that sour taste continues to haunt the Patriots until this Sunday’s kickoff.

Let Brady Drive

In what can only be unpleasant news for the other 31 teams in the NFL, Tom Brady still looks like a likely candidate for MVP. Brady overcame a tough performance in Week One by going 30 of 39 passing for 447 yards and three touchdowns. He joins Warren Moon as the only over-40 NFL quarterbacks to throw for 400 yards and three touchdowns in a game. Ever the perfectionist, however, Brady acknowledges a need for improvement. In his weekly interview with “Kirk & Callahan” on WEEI, he offered the following insight on his gameplay:

“Offensively, I thought I left some points out there. But it was a pretty solid effort, and it’s something to build on,”

Although he and the Patriots had a record-setting day on offense last Sunday, Brady knows that their work is far from over. It is evident that he is still adjusting to driving an offense without reliable wide receiver Julian Edelman. Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski are present, but each has had his issues with injury. And, while new additions such as Brandin Cooks, Rex Burkhead, Mike Gillislee, Phillip Dorsett, and Dwayne Allen have undisputed talent, there is always a learning curve when operating in a Brady-led offense.

Despite this, the Patriots and their fans take solace in the fact that Brady still has the keys to the car. As long as he is in the drivers seat, his passengers will get to where they need to go, and learn to become good ‘drivers’ themselves. Look for Brady to be holding his own version of ‘driver’s-ed’ in practice this week.

Don’t Mess With the Texans

Their next opponent, the Houston Texans, will make things tougher than did the Saints. For starters, the Texans have a bit of a leg up on the competition in preparing for their tilt against the Pats. They employ former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, now Houston’s defensive coordinator, and former Patriots DC Romeo Crennel, to direct their defense. One would be hard pressed to find anyone in the league with more insight on Belichick, Brady and the Pats than this coaching combo. The Texans also had a preview of the Patriots offense this past preseason, in joint practices in West Virginia and a preseason game. You can bet that this will not be a point that will escape Belichick and the Patriots as they prep for the Texans this week.

Last season in the divisional round, the Texans held Brady to the lowest completion percentage of his playoff career (47.4) and picked him off twice…and that was without defensive end J.J. Watt. With a full arsenal of weapons on the pass rush, the Texans could put formidable pressure on Brady and significantly limit the Patriots offensive attack. The Pats QB is well aware of this fact, which he also articulated on his WEEi appearance on Monday:

“It’s a challenging defense, really fundamentally sound. They’ve got great coaches. They’ll be prepared,” Brady said. “I think ultimately, it’s just going to come down to our communication and our execution, which was a lot better [Sunday] which resulted in much better production, much more efficiency, and more points than the previous week. So, we’ve got to be able to play well. We’ve got to be able to execute against a really tough, solid defense and move the ball and score some points.”

Offensively, the Texans will be starting rookie DeShaun Watson. Despite his lack of experience under center, the Patriots know that Watson can be explosive and they will need to be ready. The Texans rookie will look to be a threat with his feet, and thus the Pats will look for a defensive scheme to limit that. That’s not an easy task, but we are talking about a team that takes ‘no days off.’

Lessons Learned

Just as the learned that the sky was not falling after the loss to the Chiefs, we need to remember that all has not been cured for the Patriots. This week’s game will be a great test against a more-than-worthy opponent. After all is said and done, we will have a much clearer vision of the type of team the 2017 Patriots will become. Hopefully, this week’s homecoming will be just what the Pats needed.

  -Mike D’Abate is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Chargers and covers the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots. He is also a National Content Writer for cover32.com. Follow @MG973024 Follow @cover32_LAC

[madpicks]

New Post has been published on https://www.madpicks.com/sports/nfl/patriots-will-lose-key-players-free-agency-2017-wont-matter/

Patriots will lose some key players to free agency in 2017, and it won’t matter

New England is built to survive personnel losses, as 2017 proved.

The Patriots are at risk of losing several key contributors from the team that made the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. Players like Dont’a Hightower, Malcolm Butler, LeGarrette Blount, and Martellus Bennett could all wind up on new rosters as free agents this spring.

And it probably won’t make a difference.

Bill Belichick has built a drought-resistant franchise in New England, finding ways to win despite the departure of important pieces. This past season, the Patriots posted a 17-2 record and hauled in their fifth NFL title despite discarding 2015’s leading tackler (Jamie Collins) and top pass rusher (Chandler Jones). In their stead, a platoon of veterans and young, homegrown talent — spinning players like Kyle Van Noy, Trey Flowers, Shea McClellin, Hightower, and Elandon Roberts — developed into valued stoppers.

That’s not the first time Belichick and company have waved goodbye to top players rather than risk overpaying them and crippling the franchise’s salary cap flexibility. It’s been a common trait during the team’s 16-year run as one of the league’s elite.

2005: Deion Branch traded, David Givens departs for more money, Willie McGinest released.

Playing with Tom Brady is a lucrative prospect for wide receivers. Branch and Givens proved that in 2006 when they left New England and signed $63 million in contracts with new teams. Branch was traded to Seattle for a first-round pick, then was promptly rewarded with a six-year, $39 million deal. Givens inked a four-year, $24 million pact with the Titans. Neither would reach the peaks they’d climbed in New England in their new homes.

McGinest’s loss sapped a veteran leader and accomplished pass rusher from the lineup.

The solution?

Tom Brady had to throw passes to free agent signees Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney all season and posted a below-average passer rating, but still managed to lead his team to a 12-4 record and a spot in the AFC title game. McGinest’s leadership was replaced, in part, by Hall of Famer Junior Seau, who joined the team that season as a free agent. New England also elevated reserve linebacker Tully Banta-Cain into a greater role, where he contributed 5.5 sacks in just five starts.

2006: Corey Dillon retires, Adam Vinatieri leaves in free agency.

The 32-year-old Dillon was on his last legs in ‘06, but still effective as the team’s lead back. He ran for more than 800 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final season, creating a void in the 2007 Patriots offense. Vinateri was less than halfway through a Hall of Fame career at the time, but was already a legend in Foxborough for his history of clutch kicks.

The solution?

Laurence Maroney had been groomed to take over the top tailback spot, but New England brought in an even better contingency plan for 2007: wide receiver Randy Moss. With Moss in the lineup, the Patriots ran the ball nearly 50 times less despite winning 12 games by double digits, instead employing the mercurial wideout and Wes Welker as the team’s offensive workhorses.

The shift paid off for Maroney, too. With opposing defenses focused on stopping the Pats’ aerial attack, he ran for the most yards and highest yards/carry mark of his career.

The Patriots drafted Stephen Gostkowski in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft to replace Vinatieri. He’s twice been a first-team All-Pro and is currently the team’s all-time leading scorer.

2008: Asante Samuel, Eugene Wilson, and Randall Gay all leave as free agents.

The Patriots lost three starters from their secondary, leaving a gaping crater where their cornerbacks used to be.

The solution?

Despite giving multiple starts to players like Jonathan Wilhite, Lewis Sanders, Ellis Hobbs, and 31-year-old Deltha O’Neal, a New England secondary led by noted terrible decision-maker Brandon Meriweather still managed to rank 11th in the league in terms of passing defense. While Matt Cassel led the team to an 11-5 record, it was not enough to make the playoffs in Tom Brady’s absence.

2009: Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, and Matt Cassel get traded.

Seymour was a five-time Pro Bowler, but also 30 years old and in line for a big raise when New England shipped him to Oakland in exchange for a first-round draft pick. The compensation was lower for Vrabel and Cassel, a veteran linebacker and the young quarterback who guided the Patriots to 11 wins the year prior. The pair only fetched a second-round pick in return after being traded to the Chiefs.

The solution?

New England’s dark age continued, and while the team qualified for the playoffs, it lost soundly in the Wild Card round to the Ravens. Despite losing Seymour and Vrabel, the team jumped from eighth to fifth in the league in scoring defense thanks to the development of second-year linebacker Jerod Mayo and the return of Banta-Cain, who had 10 sacks after rejoining the team as a free agent.

2014: Logan Mankins refuses to take a pay cut, gets traded; Aqib Talib, Brandon Spikes, and LeGarrette Blount leave in free agency.

All-Pro tackle Mankins was a huge part of Tom Brady’s protection from 2005 to 2013, but refused to take a pay cut in his age-32 season. The Patriots shipped him to Tampa Bay in exchange for tight end Tim Wright and a draft pick. Talib was a buy-low cornerback thanks to his off-field issues, but two seasons in Foxborough turned him into an All-Pro — and priced him out of New England’s budget.

Blount, having revived his value as a runner by gaining five yards per carry after being acquired by the Pats, left for greener pastures as well. He signed a two-year contract with the Steelers that offseason, though he’d only last 11 games in black and yellow.

The solution?

Talib was replaced by free agent Darrelle Revis, who was even better than the man he replaced en route to first-team All-Pro honors. Blount returned to the roster later that season after being released by Pittsburgh, bolstering a tailback platoon that included Jonas Gray, Shane Vereen, and Stevan Ridley.

Replacing Mankins was tougher — players like Jordan Devey, Marcus Cannon, and Dan Connolly cycled through the starting guard spot he vacated during a fretful 2-2 start — but ultimately manageable. Even without two All-Pro players on the roster, the Patriots managed to win Super Bowl 49.

2016: Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins are traded away before they get too expensive.

New England jettisoned two Pro Bowl defenders — one in the offseason, and one leading up to the trade deadline — in exchange for draft capital. With Jones and Collins both set to earn huge contract extensions, the franchise decided to get something in return for their stars rather than risk losing them with no compensation.

The solution?

While New England’s pass rush declined, the Patriots still managed to cobble together the league’s No. 1 scoring defense thanks to a mix of heady veterans (Van Noy, Alan Branch, Chris Long) and homegrown talent (Hightower, Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, Devin McCourty). New England turned the pick received in exchange for Jones into Joe Thuney and Malcolm Mitchell — two rookies who started Super Bowl LI for the Patriots.

[junker-town]

Patriots will lose some key players to free agency in 2017, and it won’t matter

New England is built to survive personnel losses, as 2017 proved.

The Patriots are at risk of losing several key contributors from the team that made the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. Players like Dont’a Hightower, Malcolm Butler, LeGarrette Blount, and Martellus Bennett could all wind up on new rosters as free agents this spring.

And it probably won’t make a difference.

Bill Belichick has built a drought-resistant franchise in New England, finding ways to win despite the departure of important pieces. This past season, the Patriots posted a 17-2 record and hauled in their fifth NFL title despite discarding 2015’s leading tackler (Jamie Collins) and top pass rusher (Chandler Jones). In their stead, a platoon of veterans and young, homegrown talent — spinning players like Kyle Van Noy, Trey Flowers, Shea McClellin, Hightower, and Elandon Roberts — developed into valued stoppers.

That’s not the first time Belichick and company have waved goodbye to top players rather than risk overpaying them and crippling the franchise’s salary cap flexibility. It’s been a common trait during the team’s 16-year run as one of the league’s elite.

2005: Deion Branch traded, David Givens departs for more money, Willie McGinest released.

Playing with Tom Brady is a lucrative prospect for wide receivers. Branch and Givens proved that in 2006 when they left New England and signed $63 million in contracts with new teams. Branch was traded to Seattle for a first-round pick, then was promptly rewarded with a six-year, $39 million deal. Givens inked a four-year, $24 million pact with the Titans. Neither would reach the peaks they’d climbed in New England in their new homes.

McGinest’s loss sapped a veteran leader and accomplished pass rusher from the lineup.

The solution?

Tom Brady had to throw passes to free agent signees Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney all season and posted a below-average passer rating, but still managed to lead his team to a 12-4 record and a spot in the AFC title game. McGinest’s leadership was replaced, in part, by Hall of Famer Junior Seau, who joined the team that season as a free agent. New England also elevated reserve linebacker Tully Banta-Cain into a greater role, where he contributed 5.5 sacks in just five starts.

2006: Corey Dillon retires, Adam Vinatieri leaves in free agency.

The 32-year-old Dillon was on his last legs in ‘06, but still effective as the team’s lead back. He ran for more than 800 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final season, creating a void in the 2007 Patriots offense. Vinateri was less than halfway through a Hall of Fame career at the time, but was already a legend in Foxborough for his history of clutch kicks.

The solution?

Laurence Maroney had been groomed to take over the top tailback spot, but New England brought in an even better contingency plan for 2007: wide receiver Randy Moss. With Moss in the lineup, the Patriots ran the ball nearly 50 times less despite winning 12 games by double digits, instead employing the mercurial wideout and Wes Welker as the team’s offensive workhorses.

The shift paid off for Maroney, too. With opposing defenses focused on stopping the Pats’ aerial attack, he ran for the most yards and highest yards/carry mark of his career.

The Patriots drafted Stephen Gostkowski in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft to replace Vinatieri. He’s twice been a first-team All-Pro and is currently the team’s all-time leading scorer.

2008: Asante Samuel, Eugene Wilson, and Randall Gay all leave as free agents.

The Patriots lost three starters from their secondary, leaving a gaping crater where their cornerbacks used to be.

The solution?

Despite giving multiple starts to players like Jonathan Wilhite, Lewis Sanders, Ellis Hobbs, and 31-year-old Deltha O’Neal, a New England secondary led by noted terrible decision-maker Brandon Meriweather still managed to rank 11th in the league in terms of passing defense. While Matt Cassel led the team to an 11-5 record, it was not enough to make the playoffs in Tom Brady’s absence.

2009: Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, and Matt Cassel get traded.

Seymour was a five-time Pro Bowler, but also 30 years old and in line for a big raise when New England shipped him to Oakland in exchange for a first-round draft pick. The compensation was lower for Vrabel and Cassel, a veteran linebacker and the young quarterback who guided the Patriots to 11 wins the year prior. The pair only fetched a second-round pick in return after being traded to the Chiefs.

The solution?

New England’s dark age continued, and while the team qualified for the playoffs, it lost soundly in the Wild Card round to the Ravens. Despite losing Seymour and Vrabel, the team jumped from eighth to fifth in the league in scoring defense thanks to the development of second-year linebacker Jerod Mayo and the return of Banta-Cain, who had 10 sacks after rejoining the team as a free agent.

2014: Logan Mankins refuses to take a pay cut, gets traded; Aqib Talib, Brandon Spikes, and LeGarrette Blount leave in free agency.

All-Pro tackle Mankins was a huge part of Tom Brady’s protection from 2005 to 2013, but refused to take a pay cut in his age-32 season. The Patriots shipped him to Tampa Bay in exchange for tight end Tim Wright and a draft pick. Talib was a buy-low cornerback thanks to his off-field issues, but two seasons in Foxborough turned him into an All-Pro — and priced him out of New England’s budget.

Blount, having revived his value as a runner by gaining five yards per carry after being acquired by the Pats, left for greener pastures as well. He signed a two-year contract with the Steelers that offseason, though he’d only last 11 games in black and yellow.

The solution?

Talib was replaced by free agent Darrelle Revis, who was even better than the man he replaced en route to first-team All-Pro honors. Blount returned to the roster later that season after being released by Pittsburgh, bolstering a tailback platoon that included Jonas Gray, Shane Vereen, and Stevan Ridley.

Replacing Mankins was tougher — players like Jordan Devey, Marcus Cannon, and Dan Connolly cycled through the starting guard spot he vacated during a fretful 2-2 start — but ultimately manageable. Even without two All-Pro players on the roster, the Patriots managed to win Super Bowl 49.

2016: Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins are traded away before they get too expensive.

New England jettisoned two Pro Bowl defenders — one in the offseason, and one leading up to the trade deadline — in exchange for draft capital. With Jones and Collins both set to earn huge contract extensions, the franchise decided to get something in return for their stars rather than risk losing them with no compensation.

The solution?

While New England’s pass rush declined, the Patriots still managed to cobble together the league’s No. 1 scoring defense thanks to a mix of heady veterans (Van Noy, Alan Branch, Chris Long) and homegrown talent (Hightower, Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, Devin McCourty). New England turned the pick received in exchange for Jones into Joe Thuney and Malcolm Mitchell -- two rookies who started Super Bowl LI for the Patriots.

[dark69skin]

Trey Revis

[cover32-yahoopartner-blog]

Saints: An (Updated) Offseason in Review

Ruben Logan is a writer for Cover 32 New Orleans, you can find more of his work and follow him on Twitter at @SportsPillowTlk , and check back to cover 32 for more soon!

After three 7-9 seasons, I was left being very apprehensive of the Saints management and in particular Mickey Loomis and Sean Payton. What I found strange was that the team was trying to rebuild in certain areas, but remained the same and became stale in others. Massive free agent signings that didn’t pan out finally started to shine the light on Saints’ management. This offseason, I felt as if we saw a new approach.

What I liked:

Coaching changes: First, the Saints unloaded some coaching deadweight. In what I believed was the biggest subtraction by addition, the Saints breathed new life in to Sean Payton’s coaching staff. Gone were Greg McMahon, Joe Vitt, Bill Johnson and a couple of other assistants. For years the Saints special teams, linebacking and defensive line cores have been among the worst in the NFL. When has Joe Vitt been able to develop a rookie linebacker in his stint in New Orleans? In were Bradford Banta, Mike Nolan, and Ryan Neilsen. Just not being complacent shows that the Saints want to make a change. I think it also shows that this is a do or die year for Sean Payton. His friends are gone…. If he can’t win with better or new coaches, maybe he’s the problem.

Defensive additions: Marshon Lattimore and AJ Klein head up a slew of defensive additions that hopefully can complete the rebuilding project. Lattimore not only has the size and speed, but all the characteristics of a shut down cornerback. The only knock on him are his soft hamstrings and one year as a starter in college football. Its crazy to think that Lattimore will become the Darrell Revis in his first season. But according to many Saints beat writers, he’s already turning heads in minicamp, so if he can contribute at a high level this year, I feel like the secondary can be a strength for this team. AJ Klein, in my opinion, could be a sneaky good addition to this team. Behind Luke Kuechly, Klein was an understudy to the best linebacker in football for the past three years and athletically can hang with most running back and linebackers in coverage. He’s an upgrade over James Laurinaitis who lets be honest, was completely over the hill and was only brought in for leadership. Unfortunately the Saints found out the hard way that it wasn’t worth it.

Offensive Line: In return for Brandin Cooks, the Saints received the 32nd pick which eventually became Ryan Ramczyk, who some people believe was the offensive linemen in the draft. Many people groaned at the move, but with Zach Steif getting closer to retirement, this not only is insurance for this year, but the future could be really bright. Pro Football Focus rated the Saints as the 8th best offensive line in Football, with the addition of Larry Warford and Ramczyk, the Saints got younger and better this offseason. This is why I have no qualms with signing Adrian Peterson. When your offensive line can create holes on a consistent basis, anyone can run through them. Just ask Latavius Murry. Now all we need is our gifted left tackle Terron Armstead, to produce one healthy season.

AROUND COVER32

Around the NFL: Patriots’ QB, Jimmy Garoppolo, reportedly dealing with a leg injury

What’s Trending: Why Tom Brady should be considered the Michael Jordan of the NFL

NFL Rankings: The top 10 QB to WR connections heading into the 2017 season

2017 NFL Odds: Who is the favorite to be named the NFL’s MVP in 2017

2017 Season: Taking a look at 5 QB’s who are on the hot seat in 2017

  What I hated:

Injuries: The Saints were plagued with injuries last season and 2017 didn’t get off to a great start. After the draft, center Max Unger, had surgery to surgically repair his foot. There has been talk that its Lisfranc. I really don’t want to hear that our best center now has a massive foot problem. If he misses time, both the pass protection and run attack will suffer. Sean Payton believes Unger will be ready by the end of training camp, but I won’t hold my breath. After the new of Unger quieted down the firestorm from Saints Twitter, news came out that Nick Fairley may have a career ending heart issue. Even though this diagnosis was known before his playing days in the NFl, supposedly a new doctor recently told him that he can no longer play in the NFL…. Right after he received a decent pay day from the Saints. I joke. I joke. In all seriousness, I hope the best for Fairley and hope he can comeback with a clean bill of health. The heart is a complicated organ and he should take whatever precautions.

Pass Rush: Our new additions to the Saints this year will be Alex Okafor, Trey Hendrickson, and Hau’oli Kikaha (IR last year). Honestly its an upgrade over last year, were the Saints were so desperate that they signed Paul Kruger. But while I think the pass rush will be improved, I don’t really see a guy who can move the needle. I really like Trey Hendrickson. He has an unbelievable motor, but I don’t know how much he can contribute in his first year.

My thoughts: If the offensive line and defensive backfield are healthy, they can be two units on this team that will be huge strengths. The last time those two core units were a strength was around the 2009-2012 time frame. Golden Years. The rebuilding of these two units has taken a while, but I think the fruits will come. I really believe that if the Saints have a top 5 offensive line and we start evening up our dependency on the pass, we can make the playoffs. As the 76ers fans and Joel Embied say, “Trust the Process”.

UPDATE (6/18/2017):

UPDATE (6/18/2017): Terron Armstead underwent torn labrum surgery and will be out 4-6 months. My dreams of a top 5 offensive line is dwindling. Consistency and cohesiveness are huge marks of a good offensive line. Ramczyk, I presume will have the first crack at starting left tackle since Peat is bigger than him and would be more suited at guard rather than tackle. But at worst, Peat can move to the left tackle position and the Saints may have to rotate players at left guard until Armstead is fully healthy.

Losing Armstead isn’t a backbreaker like losing Brees, Micheal Thomas or Cameron Jordan, but its on the next tier. The Saints can overcome the injury (How do you like that 32nd pick now), but it will take time. Luckily the Saints have all of training camp to overcome the loss of Armstead. To all the Saints fans who have been panicking with the Armstead injury, he was pretty banged up for the majority of the 2016 and the Saints overcame the injury to have a great offense. With Sean Payton, I’m not worried about that side of the ball yet.

The post Saints: An (Updated) Offseason in Review appeared first on Cover32.