Movie Review: Get Out

Move over up-and-coming horror directors, there's a new sheriff in town and his name is JORDAN PEELE?!?!?!?!?! The comedian of Key & Peele fame strays into completely uncharted territory with his directorial debut Get Out, an absolutely bonkers piece of satire that is easily one of the most satisfying films to come out of the genre in the last 15 years.

Making a film that combines pointed social commentary with tense thriller and dark comedy elements could've very well ended in disaster, but Peele's wit and palatable passion for the horror genre make this challenging juxtaposition look effortless. The script does an excellent job of addressing the problems with cultural appropriation and the awkwardness/ignorance that can emerge during social interactions between people from different racial backgrounds without ever coming across as preachy or losing any of its entertainment value. I can't disclose anymore about the film without getting into the specifics of the plot, but I urge you to avoid spoilers at all costs before seeing it. Knowing the direction the story heads into over the final 40 minutes or so ahead of time would ruin a lot of the fun and inspired lunacy Get Out offers up.

The effectiveness of Get Out is further enhanced by its game cast that fully understood and embraced Peele's vision. Daniel Kaluuya (Sicario) gives a breakout performance as Chris, a young black photographer that gets all sorts of freaked out when he visits his white girlfriend's (Girls star Allison Williams, also great) upper middle-class family (Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener and Caleb Landry Jones) for the first time while comedian Lil Rel Howrey runs away with the movie as Chris' paranoid best friend. This ensemble of veteran character actors and up-and-coming talent is impeccably-assembled, and deserves every bit as much credit as Peele for the success of this film.

While it's clearly too early to know for sure, I have a strong feeling that Get Out will end up being one of my favorite movies of 2017. It's a truly unique, insane and smart movie that deserves go down to as an instant classic in the horror comedy genre. I urge anybody that's interested in seeing this to do so as soon as possible because the experience of seeing this in a crowded theater with a deeply engaged audience was one of the most fun moviegoing experiences I've had in my life.       

4/5 Stars

Concert Review: Run the Jewels-- Boston, MA-- February 24th, 2017

Lineup: Run the Jewels/The Gaslamp Killer/Gangsta Boo/Cuz Lightyear ("Run the World Tour")
Venue: House of Blues, Boston, MA
Date: February 24th, 2017

Cuz Lightyear: Despite having an A++ stage name, Cuz Lightyear was pretty underwhelming. Trap rap is one of my favorite parts of being alive in 2017, but Cuz Lightyear didn't have the energy, over-the-top personality or self-awareness that's needed for it to work. This kid basically just rapped over random Metro Boomin beats and made the audience yell "What Up Cuz" whenever he wasn't rapping for the entire 20 minutes he was on stage. Cuz Lightyear was a weak-ass opener that didn't fit in at all with the rest of the acts on the bill. 

Gangsta Boo: Here is the moment where the show really kicked off. The first lady of Three 6 Mafia sent the entire venue into a fucking frenzy within the first 30 seconds she stepped on stage. Gangsta Boo embodied the edge, swag and unrelenting confidence that defines southern hip-hop, and that made her set a ton of fun to watch. I haven't really heard too much of her stuff outside of the five Three 6 Mafia albums she appeared on and her notoriously vulgar verse on RTJ's "Love Again", but after this glorious set, I plan on fixing that injustice within the next few days. 

The Gaslamp Killer: I've always had a strong disdain for electronic music. The combination of the long, repetitive songs,the amount of douchebags I know personally that are super into the scene has prevented me and the live shows essentially being some dude pressing play on a MacBook while 2,000 kids hopped up on MDMA dance around like the flailing noodle-armed inflatable creatures that are outside of most car dealerships have all played a role in developing my deep-seeded hatred of the genre. This well-established series of reservations I have with electronic music made my enjoyment of The Gaslamp Killer that much more surprising. Unlike the other handful of DJ's I've been exposed to in the past few years, The Gaslamp Killer was actually super active during his set. He did live record-scratching, played keyboards and rapped a little bit while his studio material played in the background. He also gets bonus points for throwing in multiple remixes of Death Grips songs into his set and running around the stage like a man possessed whenever he wasn't playing an instrument or talking to the crowd. If there were more lively DJ's that actually deviated from their studio recordings out there like The Gaslamp Killer, my opinion on electronic music would change dramatically.

Run the Jewels: Life on Earth is defined by constants and the quality of Run the Jewels' live shows is certainly among them. Buying a ticket to see an artist you know is going to deliver every single time they hit the stage is a beautiful luxury that shouldn't be taken for granted, especially in the hip-hop world where the quality of the live performances are especially erratic. This was my third time seeing them and I'm somehow still blown away by how monstrous their live shows are. The camaraderie and sense of friendly competition that exists between Killer Mike and El-P gives their sets a playful yet intense vibe that is unlike anything else in hip-hop right now. Jason DeMarco of Cartoon Network deserves a medal for introducing these two and playing a role in the birth of the most destructive hip-hop force currently walking the Earth.    

The most surreal thing about this was show was seeing how much Run the Jewels' popularity has grown in the last few years. I remember seeing them shortly after their first record came out in 2013 at a 900-capacity club that was barely even half-full. Just a mere three and a half year later, they're playing out to a sold-out crowd of 2,500 people and based on how fast a majority of the shows on this tour sold out, they could be graduating to small arenas in the very near future. What makes this surge in popularity even more crazy is that the intense dedication that defined their earlier, more intimate shows hasn't wavered in the slightest. Normally when an artist's popularity rapidly grows, you'll find a large number of fans that only know the new shit. This was not even close to being the case with RTJ. A vast majority of the crowd rapped along and went completely nuts to every single song they played over the course of their 75-minute set. There are definitely hip-hop acts who have much bigger followings , but I've never seen an artist that has a more passionate or dedicated fanbase than RTJ.

In a similarly unsurprising twist, the setlist was pretty excellent. The new stuff sounded killer  ("Legend Has It", "Panther Like a Panther" and "Stay Gold" were the standouts) and they played a vast majority of the best stuff from Run the Jewels 2 ("Early", "Oh My Darling Don't Cry", "Lie, Cheat, Steal"). My only real complaint for the entire show was the lack of material played from Run the Jewels. I get that this tour is promoting Run the Jewels 3, but hearing only a single song from their debut in an 18-song set was really strange. I would've loved to hear some of their early classics ("36" Chain", "Get It", "Sea Legs") instead of the weaker stuff from RTJ3 ("A Report to the Shareholders", "Everybody Stay Calm", "Down").

This tour is basically over, but I can not recommend catching Run the Jewels at a festival this summer (they're playing Boston Calling, Rolling Loud, Summer Camp and Fortress Fest) or on their next headlining run enough. There is not a more consistent, energetic or efficient live act in the genre right now and their shows are something that every hip-hop in the world should experience at least once. 

Scores:
Cuz Lightyear 4/10
Gangsta Boo 8/10
Gaslamp Killer 8/10
Run the Jewels 9.5/10

Setlist:
Run the Jewels:
Talk to Me
Legend Has It
Call Ticketron
Blockbuster Night Part 1
Oh My Darling Don't Cry
Nobody Speak (DJ Shadow cover)
Hey Kids (Bumaye)
Stay Gold
Don't Get Captured
Panther Like a Panther
Everybody Stay Calm
Love Again (Akinelye Back) (w/Gangsta Boo)
Lie, Cheat, Steal
Early
A Report to the Shareholders
Run the Jewels

Encore:
Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)
Down 

89th Annual Academy Awards Predictions

The grand finale of Hollywood's award season is only 3 days away.  Here are the films and people that I expect to be walking away with Oscar gold on Sunday night as well as a look at what my ballot would look like if I had a vote.

Best Picture
Nominees:
Arrival
Fences 
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight 

And the Winner is....: La La Land
Call me crazy, but I don't think this is the lock of the century that many people are making it out to be. Given the backlash that stemmed from the "#OscarsSoWhite" controversy over the past two years, I wouldn't be the least surprised if the Academy voted for Moonlight as a way of apologizing for their recent misdeeds. That being said, I still think that the Hollywood setting and its status as a feel-good movie in a turbulent political climate makes La La Land the favorite to be this year's Best Picture winner.  

Best Actor
Nominees:
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington, Fences

And the Winner is...: Casey Affleck 
Denzel Washington's upset win at the SAG Awards last month has suddenly turned this into a 2-horse race heading into the Oscars. However, I think the storyline of an unheralded veteran actor in Affleck finally getting the recognition he's long deserved is too compelling for Academy voters to pass up.
  
Best Actress
Nominees:
Isabelle Huppert, Elle
Ruth Negga, Loving
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Emma Stone, La La Land
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

And the Winner is....: Emma Stone 
Stone's breezy, spellbinding performance has been one of the catalysts for the La La Land mania that's currently sweeping the nation and she's also won every major award leading up to the Oscars. Plus the Academy owes her after failing to recognize her incredible performance in Birdman a couple of years ago.

Best Supporting Actor
Nominees:
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel, Lion     
Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

And the Winner is....: Mahershala Ali
Out of all the awards being handed out at this ceremony, this is the least suspenseful IMO. This has been Ali's award to lose since Moonlight debuted to rave reviews at Telluride last September and there is just no way in hell that anyone else in this category will be able to overcome the tidal wave of momentum he's built up over the past five months. 

Best Supporting Actress
Nominees:
Viola Davis, Fences
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea 

And the Winner is...: Viola Davis
Come Sunday Night, Davis will finally get to add an Oscar to her already overflowing trophy case. Paramount lobbied for Davis in the supporting actress category because they knew there was no way she would lose and that smart decision by the studio's brass will result in a long-overdue Academy Award for one of Hollywood's brightest talents. 

Best Director
Nominees: 
Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Denis Villeneuve, Arrival

And the Winner is...: Damien Chazelle
Yet another winner that's basically carved in stone. The work Chazelle did with staging all of the moving parts that are involved with La La Land's treasure trove of elaborate song-and-dance numbers is exactly the type of technically-proficient direction that this award was designed to reward.   

Other Predictions:
Best Original Screenplay: Manchester by the Sea
Best Adapted Screenplay: Moonlight
Best Animated Feature Film: Zootopia
Best Documentary Feature: 13th
Best Foreign Language Film: The Salesman
Best Cinematography: La La Land
Best Score: La La Land
Best Original Song: "City of Stars", La La Land
Best Costume Design: Jackie
Best Production Design: La La Land
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Star Trek Beyond
Best Visual Effects: The Jungle Book
Best Film Editing: La La Land
Best Sound Editing: La La Land
Best Sound Mixing: La La Land
Best Animated Short: Piper
Best Live Action Short: Timecode
Best Documentary Short: Joe's Violin

My Personal Ballot: 
(Note: I haven't seen the following nominated films: 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, 20th Century Women, Allied, Doctor Strange, Elle, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Hidden Figures, I Am Not Your Negro, Jackie, Jim: The James Foley Story, Land of Mine, Life, Animated, Lion, The Lobster, Loving, A Man Called Ove, Moana, My Life as a Zucchini, The Red Turtle, The Salesman, Silence, Tanna, Toni Erdmann, Trolls)

Best Picture: Manchester by the Sea
Best Actor: Casey Affleck
Best Actress: Emma Stone
Best Supporting Actor: Jeff Bridges
Best Supporting Actress: Naomie Harris
Best Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Best Original Screenplay: Manchester by the Sea
Best Adapted Screenplay: Arrival
Best Animated Feature Film: N/A 
Best Documentary Feature: 13th
Best Foreign Language Film: N/A
Best Cinematography: La La Land
Best Score: Moonlight
Best Original Song: "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)", La La Land
Best Costume Design: Florence Foster Jenkins  
Best Production Design: Arrival
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Star Trek Beyond
Best Visual Effects: Deepwater Horizon
Best Film Editing: Arrival
Best Sound Editing: Hacksaw Ridge
Best Sound Mixing: Hacksaw Ridge
Best Animated Short: N/A
Best Live Action Short: N/A
Best Documentary Short: N/A      

The Best and Worst of Catherine Keener

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "Get Out" star Catherine Keener.

Films starring Catherine Keener that I've seen:
Being John Malkovich
Death to Smoochy 
The 40-Year Old Virgin
Capote
Hamlet 2
Cyrus
The Croods
Captain Phillips
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa 
Begin Again 

Best Performance: The 40-Year Old Virgin (2005)
To be completely honest, The 40-Year Old Virgin is the only time where Keener has every really stood out to me. She is a likable, funny ray of sunshine as Steve Carrell's love interest and manages to completely hold her own alongside this film's talent-loaded ensemble cast.

Worst Performance: Being John Malkovich (1999)
It's not that often that an Academy Award-nominated performance goes down as an actor's weakest moment, but alas here we are. Keener's overly quirky performance as the object of John Cusack, Cameron Diaz and John Malkovich's affection made her the most obnoxious element of Spike Jonze's admirably strange directorial debut.

Best Film: The 40-Year Old Virgin (2005)
The 40-Year Old Virgin is a special movie. Not only was it responsible for elevating the likes of Steve Carrell, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks and Judd Apatow to superstar status, it also happens to be a hysterical, over-the-top R-rated comedy with a huge heart. I'd be surprised if I ever enjoyed another comedy more as long as I live.

Worst Film: Capote (2005)
I actually just watched this earlier this week in preparation for this piece and was shocked by how underwhelming it was. Director Bennett Miller (Moneyball, Foxcatcher) somehow manages to squander an interesting premise (a look at the unorthodox relationship between author Truman Capote and the convicted murderers that inspired his acclaimed non-fiction book In Cold Blood ) and an outstanding performance from the late Philip Seymour Hoffman on a meandering film that doesn't examine the relationship between its protagonists nearly as deep as it should have.   

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Table 19" star Craig Robinson. 

Album Review: Future-Future

The absurd musical output machine that is Future slowed down a bit in 2016. The 33-year old rapper only released an album, a mixtape and an EP (despite his numerous guest spots on it, Project ET is credited as a DJ Esco release) last year, which is a pretty notable decrease from the pair of mixtapes and studio albums he dropped in 2015. After somehow going a full calendar year without releasing a full-length solo project, the reigning codeine king of Atlanta's workhorse-driven hip-hop scene has returned with a vengeance on Future.

The year gap between solo projects seems to have conjured up a different set of emotions within Future. Everything he's released since his career took off with 2014's Monster has been defined by self-loathing and emotional pain stemming from his substance abuse and inability to remain faithful in a relationship. On Future, he decides to put his conscience on the backburner and just relish in the opulent lifestyle that his fame has allowed him to live. The shift in tone grants Future the freedom to cut loose for the first time since he ascended to stardom and it results in the creation of some of the most memorable music he's ever produced.

The pressure of not having to bear his soul on one of his records has done wonders for Future's delivery. The biggest pet peeve I've had with Future's music over the year is how phoned-in his rapping can sound at times (particularly on Purple Reign and Beast Mode). The abrasive, unrestrained nature of this record just about completely eliminates those issues. On tracks like "Rent Money", "Draco", "POA", "Outta Time" and "Poppin' Tags", Future showcases an energetic delivery that's far more fluid and technically-impressive than a vast majority of the stuff he's done than in the past. Given how comfortable he sounds crafting ignorant hip-hop tracks, it's hard to believe that he went the sedated, emotionally-removed route for as long as he did. The lack of substance compared to what was found on DS2 and EVOL will undoubtedly alienate some of his fans, but I found listening to a record that was more focused on boasting about his success to be a refreshing change of pace for an artist that is usually defined by suffocating gloominess.

As confident and playful as Future sounds on this record, the production is the primary reason Future never hits any notable slumps over its 63-minute runtime. Would-be filler tracks like "Super Trapper", "Scrape" and "Flip" are salvaged by their frantic, electric production from Future's most trusted collaborators (Metro Boomin, Southside, DJ Spinz) that you can't help but groove to despite the middling nature of the bars. The quality of the production is essential for trap to work and Future's ear for sharp, inventive beats is as good as you'll find in the genre.

Future seems like its only the start of a new chapter for Mr. Hendrix. The broken man that has dominated his releases over the past couple of years has been replaced by an arrogant one that gratuitously flaunts his success in everyone's faces, and that revamped attitude helps makes this record one of the most consistently enjoyable releases he's put forth to-date. It might not have the sneaky depth and minimalist sound that helped thrust Future into the forefront of the modern hip-hop scene, but it's a change in direction that I can fully get behind and hope to hear more of on his upcoming projects.
        
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Rent Money
2.POA
3.Draco

Concert Review: Tove Lo-- Boston, MA-- February 19th, 2017

Lineup: Tove Lo/Phoebe Ryan ("The Lady Wood Tour")
Venue: House of Blues, Boston, MA
Date: February 19th, 2017

Phoebe Ryan: This is a perfect example of how one song can change the trajectory of an entire set. I was completely indifferent on Phoebe Ryan after the first couple songs she played, but then she broke out a high-energy cover of R. Kelly's "Remix to Ignition" that used Miguel's "Do You" as a hook and instantly hooked me. Her heavy electronic influence, low-key catchy hooks and adorable awkwardness reminded me a lot of Kiiara, who went from unknown to one of the buzzed-about up-and-comers in pop after the breakout success of "Gold" last summer. Ryan has a lot of potential and given how popular synth/electropop is right now, she could very well be on the precipice of breaking out in 2017.  

Tove Lo: This was the first pure pop show I've ever attended (I saw Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd in 2015, but they don't really count IMO) and holy hell did Tove Lo set the bar high for anybody else I see in the future. The 80 minutes she was on stage were driven by a towering stage presence, spot-on technicality and beaming positive energy that radiated throughout the entire sold-out crowd at the House of Blues.

The biggest takeaway I had from Tove Lo's set was how good her vocals sounded live. I've always thought her voice was very good and distinct for the genre on the record, but I didn't really appreciate her range or command until this show. She outright crushed everything from ballads to uptempo dance-pop with almost no help from backing tracks and showed the full scope of her vocal capabilities by experimenting with different arrangements and deliveries live on a handful of tracks ("Cool Girl", "Imaginary Friend", "Keep it Simple", "Not on Drugs", "Vibes"). As great of a state as pop is in right now, it's not super common to see an artist that has the confidence to play around with the existing studio arrangements live, so she deserves a ton of credit for having the talent and guts to effortlessly pull it off. 

I've been all aboard the "Tove Lo is underrated" train for a little while now and this knockout performance only further solidified my place on that hypothetical locomotive. Tove Lo deserves to a be a superstar and I hope to hell she can become a Lady Gaga/Rihanna/Ariana Grande-type mainstay in the pop world sooner than later.

Scores:
Phoebe Ryan 7/10
Tove Lo 8.5/10

Setlists:
Phoebe Ryan included:
Remix to Ignition/Do You (R. Kelly/Miguel cover)
Mine
All We Know (The Chainsmokers cover)
Dark Side

Tove Lo:
True Disaster
Lady Wood
Influence
Moments
The Way That I Am
Not on Drugs
Thousand Miles
Vibes
Got Love
Talking Body
Imaginary Friend
Keep It Simple
WTF Love Is
Flashes
Cool Girl

Encore:
What I Want for the Night (Bitches)
Habits (Stay High)

Quick Album Reviews: Dropkick Murphys-11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory, Big Sean-I Decided., Overkill-The Grinding Wheel

Dropkick Murphys-11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory: After the somber ballad-driven snoozefest that was 2013's Signed and Sealed in Blood, Dropkick Murphys wisely brought back the catchy, upbeat formula that better suits their Celtic punk skill set on their ninth LP 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory. It was a good feeling to have some fun listening to a Dropkick Murphys record after being subjected to what was essentially the musical equivalent of being trapped at a funeral in South Boston for 50 minutes on their last record. There's still some serious issues with consistency ("First Class Loser", "I Had a Hat" and "Until the Next Time" are every bit as dull as the stuff on Signed and Sealed in Blood) and the near-complete absence of the aggression that made their earlier records modern punk classics is kind of disheartening, but 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory is still a decent enough addition to the Murphys hefty catalog.
3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Blood 2.Paying My Way 3.Rebels with a Cause


Big Sean-I Decided.: Since he transformed into a serious rapper on 2013's Hall of Fame, I've felt that Big Sean has been the most mediocre rapper on the planet. His latest I Decided. spends nearly an hour solidifying the case for that argument. This is yet another semi-conscious pop rap record where Sean blandly raps about his relationship issues and his status as an "underdog" in the hip-hop community over a bunch of forgettable beats that sound like outtakes from 40's back catalog. I'll admit that there are little flashes of potential sprinkled throughout the record ("Sunday Morning Jetpack" is a legitimately great and moving song), but I know god damn well that Sean is too comfortable with where his career is at right now to actually try and take his game to the next level. I would honestly be stoked if he went back to making the type of unintentionally hilarious party songs that drove his breakout debut Finally Famous. At least then his music would have some of the personality that his recent output sorely lacks 
2.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Sunday Morning Jetpack (feat. The-Dream) 2.Moves 3.Same Time Pt. 1

Overkill-The Grinding Wheel: History isn't likely going to remember Overkill as one of the finest '80's thrash metal acts, but they should go down as one of the most consistent. The New Jersey-based quintet back up their reputation as the genre's reliable workhorses with another fiery hour of vintage thrash cuts on their 18th (!) LP The Grinding Wheel. The songwriting features a nice blend of aggression and melody, the solos are exactly the type of speedy excess you want to hear on a thrash record and the hard-rock swagger of vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth is still fully in tact despite the fact that's he rapidly approaching 60.  About the only complaint I have is that there's nothing on here that's as attention-grabbing as Ironbound's "The Green and Black" or The Electric Age's "Drop the Hammer Down". Regardless of its inability to match the volume of "holy shit" moments that were on their other recent releases, The Grinding Wheel still manages to be another triumph for thrash's unsung AARP wonders.

4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Goddamn Trouble 2.Red, White and Blue 3.Mean Green Killing Machine

The Best and Worst of Tracy Morgan

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "Fist Fight" star Tracy Morgan.

Films starring Tracy Morgan that I've seen:
Half Baked
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
How High 
Head of State 
The Longest Yard
Little Man
First Sunday
Cop Out
Death at a Funeral
Top Five
The Night Before

Best Performance: Death at a Funeral (2010)
I'll concede that Morgan's forays into the world of film have been nowhere near as strong as his career-defining small screen turns on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock. That being said, he's still been pretty good in a number of the movies he's starred in and his relatively major part in the Death at a Funeral remake tops the list. Morgan gets a lot of laughs as the obnoxious cousin of the Barnes brothers (Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence) that serves as one of the primary catalysts for the dysfunction that occurs at their father's funeral in this highly underrated remake of the 2007 British cult classic.

Worst Performance: First Sunday (2008)
Watching First Sunday helped me understand why people don't like Morgan as a performer. He's an annoying, unfunny and deeply unlikable presence for the duration of this really awful movie.

Best Film: Half Baked (1998)
Stoner comedies is a subgenre that I have well-noted affinity for and in my eyes, the genre has never spawned a finer film than Half Baked. Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan delivered an early showcase of the biting comedic genius that made Chappelle's Show an all-time great TV series with this wild, surreal and highly quotable piece of dumb comedy gold.

Worst Film: First Sunday (2008)
Here we are again.... First Sunday has been in my crosshairs multiple times during this series and for good reason, it's an insufferable piece of garbage. It's preachy, unfunny and worst of all, it made me briefly turn against a trio of performers (Ice Cube, Morgan, Katt Williams) that I really admire.

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Get Out" star Catherine Keener.

 

Movie Review: John Wick: Chapter 2

The fall of 2014 spawned one of the most unlikely cinematic success stories in recent history in the form of John Wick. An action film about a retired hitman forced back into action after his former employer's son kills his dog that was directed by a former stuntman and starred the notoriously stoic Keanu Reeves in the title role didn't exactly ooze potential on paper, but it ended up being one of the most inventive, bloody and straight-up badass shoot-em-up movies ever made. Nearly two and a half years later, the sequel manages to deliver another round of poetic mass carnage that further solidifies John Wick's place in the gritty action movie hall-of-fame.

John Wick: Chapter 2 is what every sequel should strive to be. Director Chad Stahelski and screenwriter Derek Kolstad retained everything that was great about the original (crazy fight scenes with high body counts, effective straightforward storytelling, Keanu's emotionless yet eternally cool presence) while simultaneously building upon the previously-teased "secret society of assassins" mythology and adding a dash of humor to its deadly arsenal. These might not seem like earth-shattering additions, but the deeper look into the inner-workings of the hitman underworld that Wick operates in and the occasional bursts of comic relief (Laurence Fishburne's cameo as a homeless, bird-loving New York City crime lord is particularly great) amidst all of the bloodshed is enough to help this film distinguish itself from its predecessor.

The further development of the hitman community that serves as the backdrop of the story and a handful of good one-liners may add some depth to the proceedings, but it sure as hell isn't why you go see a movie like John Wick: Chapter 2 for. People come for the insane action sequences and in that regard, John Wick: Chapter 2 gives the audience its money's worth and then some. Stahelski once again delivers a wide-variety of fight scenes that are practically guaranteed to fill action junkies with an abundance of glee. Just about every action sequence (with the notable exception of a pretty significant setpiece in the middle of the film that takes place in a pitch-black underground tunnel system in Italy) is so well-shot and choreographed that you feel like you're a watching a ballet that happens to feature point-blank pistol headshots, frantic knifeplay and basically every style of hand-to-hand combat you could think of. It might sound ridiculous to the purist cinephiles of the world, but I believe that the John Wick franchise is the closest the film world has ever come to seeing an artful action movie. The dark beauty of its cinematography and the grace of its fight scenes gives this film a vivid, intoxicating atmosphere and that level of visceral artistry is the primary reason why this series is so great. 

John Wick: Chapter 2 is another cathartic blast of pure adrenaline that should satisfy the hell out of most action movie enthusiasts. Any skepticism I had about the filmmakers ability to pull off a sequel was erased within the first five minutes and everyone involved with this project deserves a ton of credit for offering up a film that manages to match the quality of the original without ever feeling like a cheap retread. If the creative powers behind this can continue to deliver a product that's as enthralling and well-executed as this,  I'll gladly sign up for an infinite amount of future John Wick sequels.
     
4/5 Stars

2017 NFL Mock Draft (Pre-Combine #2)

1.Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, edge rusher (Texas A&M)
2.San Francisco 49ers: DeShaun Watson, quarterback (Clemson)
3.Chicago Bears: Marshon Lattimore, cornerback (Ohio State)
4.Jacksonville Jaguars: Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle (Alabama)
5.Tennessee Titans: Malik Hooker, safety (Ohio State)
6.New York Jets: Leonard Forunette, running back (LSU)
7.Los Angeles Chargers: Ryan Ramczyk, tackle (Wisconsin)
8.Carolina Panthers: Mike Williams, wide receiver (Clemson)
9.Cincinnati Bengals: Jamal Adams, safety (LSU)
10.Buffalo Bills: Mitch Trubisky, quarterback (North Carolina)
11.New Orleans Saints: Solomon Thomas, defensive end (Stanford)
12.Cleveland Browns: Marlon Humphery, cornerback (Alabama)
13.Arizona Cardinals: Corey Davis, wide receiver (Western Michigan)
14.Indianapolis Colts: Dalvin Cook, running back (Florida State)
15.Philadelphia Eagles: John Ross, wide receiver (Washington)
16.Baltimore Ravens: Sidney Jones, cornerback (Washington)
17.Washington Redskins: Malik McDowell, defensive tackle (Michigan State)
18.Tennessee Titans: Taco Charlton, edge rusher (Michigan)
19.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derek Barnett, edge rusher (Tennessee)
20.Denver Broncos: O.J. Howard, tight end (Alabama)
21.Detroit Lions: Takkarist McKinley, edge rusher (UCLA)
22.Miami Dolphins: Ryan Anderson, edge rusher (Alabama)
23.New York Giants: David Nokju, tight end (Miami)
24.Oakland Raiders: Quincy Wilson, cornerback (Florida)
25.Houston Texans: Forrest Lamp, guard (Western Kentucky)
26.Seattle Seahawks: Garett Bolles, tackle (Utah)
27.Kansas City Chiefs: Charles Harris, defensive end (Missouri)
28.Dallas Cowboys: Jabril Peppers, safety (Michigan)
29.Green Bay Packers: Christian McCaffery, running back (Stanford)
30.Pittsburgh Steelers: Budda Baker, safety (Washington)
31.Atlanta Falcons: Jarrad Davis, inside linebacker (Florida)
32.New England Patriots: Reuben Foster, inside linebacker (Alabama)

Movie Review: xXx: Return of Xander Cage

I don't want to go around starting any big Hollywood rumors, but I think Dwayne Johnson has been sharing some of his patented Franchise Viagra with his pal Vin Diesel. Six years after revamping the Fast and Furious franchise, Diesel has worked his macho voodoo magic again by successfully reviving the long-dormant xXx franchise with the absurdly fun Return of Xander Cage.

Anyone that follows the Fast and Furious franchise will be quick to notice that Diesel and co. have applied the same formula (globe-trotting setting, racially-diverse ensemble cast, self-aware tone, a complete detachment from reality) that has made that series the gold standard for over-the-top blockbuster entertainment to Return of Xander Cage. While it may sound like a lazy gimmick to try and emulate the massive success the Fast and Furious films have enjoyed of late, employing that approach prevents Return of Xander Cage from repeating the sins of the prior films in the xXx series. Both the 2002 original and the Ice Cube-led sequel State of the Union took themselves way too seriously and lacked the type of camaraderie between its central cast that's needed to make these type of ridiculous action movies work. Without dealing with the constraints of a straight-faced delivery and making the wise decision to surround the titular hero with a colorful, well-matched band of sparing partners (led by Bollywood star Deepika Padukone, Chinese pop sensation Kris Wu and martial arts legend Donnie Yen, whose flare for scenery-chewing is much better utilized here than it was in Rogue One), Return of Xander Cage is able to become the dopey grin-inducing exercise in action movie excess that this franchise should've been from the jump.

Return of Xander Cage also benefits from having a much-more skilled director in D.J. Caruso (Disturbia, Eagle Eye) running the show. Unlike previous directors Rob Cohen and Lee Tamahori, Caruso boasts the precision to make the frantic action setpieces and cartoonish stunts work. He handles everything from standard fist fights to gun battles in a rapidly descending airplane with confidence and is talented enough to ensure that these scenes are fast-paced without ever becoming incomprehensible. Return of Xander Cage is pure escapism and given the sheer amount of dread that is engulfing the world at this moment in time, we need purely entertaining cinematic distractions like this more than ever.

4/5 Stars   

2017 NFL Mock Draft (Pre-Combine #1)

1.Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, edge rusher (Texas A&M)
2.San Francisco 49ers: DeShaun Watson, quarterback (Clemson)
3.Chicago Bears: Malik Hooker, safety (Ohio State)
4.Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Forunette, running back (LSU)
5.Tennessee Titans: Marshon Lattimore, cornerback (Ohio State)
6.New York Jets: Jamal Adams, safety (LSU)
7.Los Angeles Chargers: Ryan Ramczyk, tackle (Wisconsin)
8.Carolina Panthers: Mike Williams, wide receiver (Clemson)
9.Cincinnati Bengals: Reuben Foster, inside linebacker (Alabama)
10.Buffalo Bills: Mitch Trubisky, quarterback (North Carolina)
11.New Orleans Saints: Solomon Thomas, defensive end (Stanford)
12.Cleveland Browns: DeShone Kizer, quarterback (Notre Dame)
13.Arizona Cardinals: Corey Davis, wide receiver (Western Michigan)
14.Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle (Alabama)
15.Philadelphia Eagles: Dalvin Cook, running back (Florida State)
16.Baltimore Ravens: Marlon Humphery, cornerback (Alabama)
17.Washington Redskins: Malik McDowell, defensive tackle (Michigan State)
18.Tennessee Titans: John Ross, wide receiver (Washington)
19.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derek Barnett, edge rusher (Tennessee)
20.Denver Broncos: O.J. Howard, tight end (Alabama)
21.Detroit Lions: Taco Charlton, edge rusher (Michigan)
22.Miami Dolphins: Takkarist McKinley, edge rusher (UCLA)
23.New York Giants: David Nokju, tight end (Miami)
24.Oakland Raiders: Quincy Wilson, cornerback (Florida)
25.Houston Texans: Cam Robinson, tackle (Alabama)
26.Seattle Seahawks: Garett Bolles, tackle (Utah)
27.Kansas City Chiefs: Charles Harris, defensive end (Missouri)
28.Dallas Cowboys: Jabril Peppers, safety (Michigan)
29.Green Bay Packers: Sidney Jones, cornerback (Washington)
30.Pittsburgh Steelers: Ryan Anderson, edge rusher (Alabama)
31.Atlanta Falcons: Jarrad Davis, inside linebacker (Florida)
32.New England Patriots: Christian McCaffery, running back (Stanford) 

The Best and Worst of Keanu Reeves

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "John Wick: Chapter 2" star Keanu Reeves.

Films starring Keanu Reeves that I've seen:
Point Break
Little Buddha
The Matrix
The Replacements
The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Revolutions
Street Kings
The Day the Earth Stood Still
47 Ronin
John Wick
Knock Knock
Keanu

Best Performance: John Wick (2014)
Reeves has a very particular set of skills as an actor and no film has highlighted them more than John Wick. The role of a cold, revenge-driven hitman that comes of retirement to get back at the thugs that killed his beloved dog was the part that the notoriously stoic and cool Reeves was born to play.   

Worst Performance: 47 Ronin (2013)
Keanu's notable lack of emotional range has led to a number of really awful performances (The Day The Earth Stood Still, Little Buddha, Knock Knock) over the course of his lengthy acting career, but none of them were more painful to watch than his lifeless work in the martial arts/fantasy/action crossover bomb 47 Ronin. I found myself questioning whether or not Reeves had a pulse as he slogged through a seemingly endless series of meandering monologues in this shockingly dull sack of shit movie.  

Best Film: The Matrix (1999)
The Wachowskis have pissed me off to no end with the stream of garbage they've released in the last 15 years, but since they gave the world The Matrix, I'll never not give their work a shot. This visionary masterpiece redefined the way action scenes are choreographed in Hollywood and featured one of the most vivid, fascinating universes in the history of cinema. It's a shame that the Wachowskis majorly dropped the ball with the sequels because The Matrix had the potential to evolve into an all-time great sci-fi franchise.

Worst Film: Little Buddha (1993)
I was fully prepared to name 47 Ronin Reeves' weakest film until I was reminded of this grade-A cinematic abortion while reviewing his filmography ahead of writing this piece. I don't remember a whole lot about what transpired during Little Buddha, but I recall watching this in a history class during my freshman year of high school and wanting to gouge my eyes out due to how unrelentingly boring it was.

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Fist Fight" star Tracy Morgan.

Super Bowl 51 (Super Bowl LI) Prediction

Conference Championship Record: 1-1 (Correct: Patriots Incorrect: Packers)
Overall Record: 6-4

New England Patriots over Atlanta Falcons: Here we are again. The league's top scoring offense and the league's top scoring defense duking it out for the Lombardi Trophy. WHO WILL COME OUT ON TOP IN THIS MATCHUP OF THE CENTURY!?!?!?!??!

I'm one of the few assholes on the planet that is not buying into the super-competitive shootout narrative a majority of footballs fans have attached to this game. Not only do I think that Super Bowl 51 isn't going to be a shootout, I believe that it's going to be a Buccaneers/Raiders or Seahawks/Broncos-esque beatdown.

It's a widely-known fact that the only way you can beat the Patriots is if you get Tom Brady out of his rhythm early by repeatedly hitting him and the Falcons don't have a good-enough pass-rush to accomplish that rarely-achieved feat. The Patriots are going to hone in on league sack-leader Vic Beasley and there's no one else on this defense that comes anywhere close to matching Beasley's impact as a pass-rusher.

In addition to having a below-average pass-rush, the Falcons defense is wildly inexperienced (6 of their 11 starters are in either their 1st or 2nd second year in the league) and pretty poor on the whole, which makes them a prime candidate to get steamrolled by the Patriots offense. They have looked much better over the last month and their performance against the Packers high-powered offense was outstanding, but they don't have the coverage skills or volume of consistent playmakers to handle the Patriots trademark short-to-intermediate passing attack or the platoon of running backs (LeGarrette Blount, Dion Lewis, James White) they like to deploy at various points of the game. Considering that the Patriots scored 34 points against a very good Texans defense in the Divisional Round, they could easily hang 50 on this highly flawed unit.

Of course the reason this game is being prematurely billed as a Super Bowl classic is because of the Falcons electric offense led by MVP Matt Ryan., but like the Broncos in 2013, I expect this historically-excellent offense to get buried on the NFL's biggest stage. While the Patriots defense definitely isn't as dominant as their number 1 ranking indicates, they're talented enough on all 3 levels to prevent this lauded offense from having one of their patented 30-40 point scoring outbursts. Malcolm Butler is more than capable of ensuring that Julio Jones doesn't have a monumental impact on the game and the Patriots 3rd-ranked run defense should be able to shut down the overrated combo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, which should kill the versatility that drove their improbable NFC Championship run.

Barring the 2011 Patriots Swiss cheese secondary making a surprise cameo in Houston, the Falcons are going to get the ever-loving shit kicked out of them on Sunday and Patriots fans wet dream of Rahga Goodell handing the GOAT TB12 the Lombahdi Trophy will come true. My only hope is that Sunday night will be the last time I ever hear the terms "Deflategate", "Revenge Tour" and "New England Patriots Super Bowl Champions" for the rest of my wretched existence. 

2016 NFL Year-End Awards

Primary Awards:
MVP: Matt Ryan, quarterback (Falcons) 
Prior to the start of this season, I thought Matty Ice's days as a top-flight NFL quarterback were over. He promptly proved me wrong by going on to have the best season of his 11-year career. Ryan was the model of efficiency and dominance in one of the most pass-happy offenses in the league, throwing for 4,944 YDS and 38 TD's while completing a ridiculous 69.9% of his passes and only throwing 7 INT's.
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Aaron Rodgers (Packers), David Johnson (Cardinals)

Offensive Player of the Year: David Johnson, running back (Cardinals)
David Johnson's 1st full-year as an NFL starter was nothing short of remarkable. The 2nd-year back proved why he's one of the NFL's most lethal young players by leading the league with 2,118 all-purpose yards (1,239 rushing, 879 receiving) behind one of the worst offensive lines in football and keeping the Cardinals offense afloat while Carson Palmer struggled for a majority of the year.
Honorable Mentions: Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), Antonio Brown (Steelers), Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants)
 
Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Mack, defensive end (Raiders)
2016 will go down as the year Khalil Mack evolved from promising young player to full-blown superstar. Mack served as the Christ-like savior that kept this undisciplined and largely talent-deprived Raiders defense from completely falling apart every Sunday. His two-way playmaking abilities (73 tackles, 11 sacks) and knack for forcing fumbles at key moments single-handedly clinched multiple victories for this young squad.
Honorable Mentions: Von Miller (Broncos), Aaron Donald (Rams), Bobby Wagner (Seahawks)
 
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ezekiel Elliott, running back (Cowboys)
For the 3rd time in 4 years, a borderline unstoppable workhorse running back is taking home offensive rookie of the year. Elliott reaffirmed why he was a top-5 overall pick in the draft by serving as the catalyst for the Cowboys offensive resurgence with a league-leading 1,631 rushing yards and 16 total TD's.
Honorable Mentions: Dak Prescott, quaterback (Cowboys), Jordan Howard, running back (Bears), Michael Thomas, wide receiver (Saints)
 
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Joey Bosa, defensive end (Chargers)
Joey Bosa's 2016 season pretty much mirrored what Odell Beckham Jr. did in 2014. After missing the first 4 games of the season with injury, Bosa came in and immediately took the NFL by storm with his dominant play. The Ohio State-bred edge rusher looked like a perennial Pro Bowler as soon as he took the field, picking up 41 tackles, 10.5 sacks (tied for 13th in the league) and 23 QB hurries (tied for 16th in the league) in just 12 games on a Chargers defense that is average at best. If his rookie campaign is any indicator, Bosa is going to be a Von Miller/Khalil Mack/Justin Houston-esque matchup nightmare for opposing offenses in no time at all.  
Honorable Mentions: Jalen Ramsey, cornerback (Jaguars), James Bradberry, cornerback (Panthers), Leonard Floyd, outside linebacker (Bears)
 
Comeback Player of the Year: Jordy Nelson, wide receiver (Packers)
This was the only award that I had a really difficult time picking a winner for. There was an usually high volume of players that bounced back from either a major injury (Jimmy Graham, Cameron Wake) or a god awful season in 2016 (DeMarco Murray, Byron Maxwell). After extensive internal debate, I have to give the nod to Jordy Nelson. A 31-year old receiver picking up over 1,200 yards and leading the league in receiving touchdowns a year after suffering a brutal ACL tear is just unbelievable.
Honorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (Titans), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks), Cameron Wake (Dolphins)

Coach of the Year: Dan Quinn (Falcons)
Jack Del Rio and Adam Gase were definitely strong contenders for this award after leading their teams to their first playoff berths of the 2010's, but I was ultimately more impressed with what Dan Quinn was able to do in Atlanta this season. Quinn showed a ton of resilience by leading Falcons to an NFC South title (and eventually an NFC championship) with minimal personnel or roster changes from the 2015 team that famously imploded down the stretch-losing 7 of their final 9 games-after starting 5-0. 
Honorable Mentions: Jack Del Rio (Raiders), Adam Gase (Dolphins), Ben McAdoo (Giants)

All-Pro Teams:
Quarterback:
1st team: Matt Ryan (Falcons)
2nd team: Tom Brady (Patriots)

Running Back:
1st team: David Johnson (Cardinals), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys)
2nd team: DeMarco Murray (Titans), Le'Veon Bell (Steelers)

Wide Receiver:
1st team: Antonio Brown (Steelers), Julio Jones (Falcons)
2nd team: T.Y. Hilton (Colts), Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants)

Tight End:
1st team: Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
2nd team: Greg Olsen (Panthers)

Tackle:
1st team: Donald Penn (Raiders), David Bakhtiari (Packers)
2nd team: Andrew Whitworth (Bengals), Tyron Smith (Cowboys)

Center:
1st team: Matt Paradis (Broncos)
2nd team: Alex Mack (Falcons)

Guard:
1st team: Kelechi Osemele (Raiders), Marshal Yanda (Ravens)
2nd team: Zach Martin (Cowboys), Brandon Brooks (Eagles)

Defensive End:
1st team: Khalil Mack (Raiders), Cameron Jordan (Saints)
2nd team: Cameron Wake (Dolphins), Oliver Vernon (Giants)

Defensive Tackle:
1st team: Aaron Donald (Rams), Damon Harrison (Giants)  
2nd team: Calias Campbell (Cardinals), Ndumakong Suh (Dolphins) 

Outside Linebacker:
1st team: Von Miller (Broncos), K.J. Wright (Seahawks)
2nd team: Vic Beasley (Falcons), Lorenzo Alexander (Bills)
 
Inside Linebacker:
1st team: Bobby Wagner (Seahawks), Sean Lee (Cowboys)
2nd team: Dont'a Hightower (Patriots), Zach Brown (Bills)

Cornerback: 
1st team: Aqib Talib (Broncos), Chris Harris Jr. (Broncos)
2nd team: Malcolm Butler (Patriots), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Giants)

Safety:
1st team: Eric Weddle (Ravens), Landon Collins (Giants)
2nd team: Kam Chancellor (Seahawks), Eric Berry (Chiefs)

Kicker:
1st team: Justin Tucker (Ravens)
2nd team: Matt Bryant (Falcons)

Punter:
1st team: Johnny Hekker (Rams)
2nd team: Pat McAfee (Colts) 

Return Specialist:
1st team: Tyreek Hill (Chiefs)
2nd team: Cordarrelle Patterson (Vikings)

Special Teamer:
1st team: Matthew Slater (Patriots)
2nd team: Dwayne Harris (Giants) 

Miscellaneous Awards:
Top Surprise Teams:
5.Buccaneers
4.Cowboys
3.Lions
2.Dolphins
1.Falcons

Biggest Underachievers:
5.Cardinals
4.Vikings
3.Bengals
2.Broncos
1.Panthers

Breakout Players:
10.Jamison Crowder (Redskins)
9.Trey Flowers (Patriots)
8.Melvin Gordon (Chargers)
7.DeShawn Shead (Seahawks)
6.Zach Brown (Bills)
5.Jay Ajayi (Dolphins)
4.Lorenzo Alexander (Bills)
3.Vic Beasley (Falcons)
2.Matt Paradis (Broncos)
1.Landon Collins (Giants)

Underachieving Veterans:
10.Richard Sherman (Seahawks)
9.Allen Robinson (Jaguars)
8.John Brown (Cardinals)
7.Stephon Gilmore (Bills)
6.Sheldon Richardson (Jets)
5.Cam Newton (Panthers)
4.Doug Martin (Buccaneers)
3.Brock Osweiler (Texans)
2.Todd Gurley (Rams)
1.Muhammad Wilkerson (Jets)

Top Rookies:
10.Carson Wentz (Eagles)
9.Tyreek Hill (Chiefs)
8.Cody Whitehair (Bears)
7.Jalen Ramsey (Jaguars)
6.Jack Conklin (Titans)
5.Michael Thomas (Saints)
4.Jordan Howard (Bears)
3.Dak Prescott (Cowboys)
2.Joey Bosa (Chargers)
1.Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys) 

Biggest Rookie Letdowns:
10.Jonathan Bullard (Bears)
9.Pharaoh Cooper (Rams)
8.Roberto Aguayo (Buccaneers)
7.Cyrus Jones (Patriots)
6.Shaq Lawson (Bills)
5.Darron Lee (Jets)
4.Germain Ifedi (Seahawks)
3.Laquon Treadwell (Vikings)
2.Jared Goff (Rams) 
1.Myles Jack (Jaguars) 

Predictions for the 2017 NFL Hall of Fame Class

The 2017 NFL Hall of Fame class will be announced on Saturday night during the "NFL Honors" ceremony in Houston. Here are the eight people I expect the Pro Football Writers of America to unjustly enshrine over Terrell Owens this year:

(*indicates senior inductee)
Issac Bruce, wide receiver (Teams: Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers)
Kenny Easley*, safety (Teams: Seattle Seahawks)
Joe Jacoby, tackle (Team: Washington Redskins)
John Lynch, safety (Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos) 
Kevin Mawae, center (Teams: Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans)
Jason Taylor, defensive end (Teams: Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins, New York Jets)
LaDainian Tomlinson, running back (Teams: San Diego Chargers, New York Jets)
Kurt Warner, quarterback (Teams: St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals)