Films Starring Paul Rudd I've Seen:
Wet Hot American Summer
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
The 40-Year Old Virgin
Reno 911!: Miami
Knocked Up
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Role Models
I Love You, Man
Monsters Vs. Aliens
Dinner for Schmucks
Our Idiot Brother
Wanderlust
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This is 40
Anchorman: The Legend Continues
They Came Together
Best Performance: Knocked Up (2007)
Paul Rudd has established himself as one of the most reliably great comedic actors in Hollywood over the past decade and a half. While his early filmography in particular is loaded with outstanding performances, his turn as Pete, a bitter married guy who frequently isolates himself from his controlling wife (Leslie Mann) is the clear standout. Rudd plays the part of a depressed 30-something who is disappointed that marriage wasn't all its cracked up to be with remarkable authenticity. His perfect bitter line delivery paired with the surprising emotional depth he shows in this part make this the most complex and hilarious character Rudd has ever played.
Worst Performance: They Came Together (2014)
They Came Together is a completely silly movie and Rudd, who typically plays more reserved characters, doesn't adapt well to the absurdist nature of the film. Rudd's awkward performance here is a rare mishap in his rock-solid acting resume.
Best Film: The 40-Year Old Virgin (2005)
There really isn't much to say about this film that I haven't said a million times before. In my humble opinion, The 40-Year Old Virgin is the best comedy ever made. Judd Apatow's script is incredibly sharp and surprisingly poignant, the cast is spectacular from top to bottom, and most importantly, there's a seemingly endless amount of laugh-till-you-cry moments. Great comedies come along relatively often, but I doubt anything will ever top this.
Worst Film: Monsters Vs. Aliens (2009)
Monsters Vs. Aliens isn't a exactly terrible film, it's just a completely forgettable one. Within a day or two seeing it, the events and characters of the film had practically been erased from my memory. It isn't funny, heartwarming or entertaining, it's just another below average Dreamworks animated film that has no real reason to exist.
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 Southpaw star Jake Gyllenhaal.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Concert Review: Warped Tour-- Mansfield, MA-- July 14th, 2015
The annual highlight of the summer concert season for young rock and pop fans otherwise known as Vans Warped tour finally rolled into the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts yesterday. In typical Warped Tour fashion, it was a long day loaded with sweat, sunburn and of course, a ton of great music.
Miss May I,who was playing on one of the festival's two main stages, was the first band I caught on the day. I'm not a really a huge fan of their music, but their live shows are always a good time and this go-round was no exception. The whole band gets really into the performance and Levi Benton is a gifted vocalist who never fails to get the crowd amped. Their setlist was pretty much exactly the same as it was when I saw them open for August Burns Red in January, save for the inclusion of "I.H.E" from their upcoming album Deathless. If "I.H.E." is any indication, Deathless will be a noticeable improvement over their last couple of albums. Miss May I might not be anything groundbreaking, but they're a formidable live act that's worthy of respect.
After a little bit of a break to get some water and look at merch, I headed over to the smaller Monster Stage to check out '68. '68 is a noise rock/hardcore punk duo fronted by Josh Scogin, the vocalist of recently disbanded metalcore act The Chariot. While '68 may have very little in common with The Chariot musically, their live shows offer up similar levels of insanity. Scogin was all over the stage, swinging his guitar around, jumping off amps and having drummer Michael McCellan (ex-Becoming the Archetype) hit the strings of his guitar with his sticks. Musically, 68 is every bit as chaotic as their frontman. Every single song is a non-stop onslaught of meaty riffs and frantic vocals that range from hardcore screams to full-blown whispers. The fact these guys manage to kick this much ass with just two members is just ridiculous. Hopefully appearing on this tour will help them get more opportunities to play on major tours because they deserve to be heard by the masses.
The next artist on the day for me was the one and only Riff Raff. I've been a huge fan of his for a few years now, but after hearing a barrage of bad things about his live shows, I passed on seeing him the last three times he's played in Boston/Cambridge. The festival setting of Warped was the perfect opportunity for me to take a gamble on Riff Raff's live show as there were a number of other acts I was interested in seeing. Aside from the fact that he relied way too heavily on backing tracks and didn't play any song aside from "How to Be the Man" all the way through, Riff put on a pretty solid show. His distinct flow largely stays in tact live and the incorporation of live drums made all of the live versions of his songs hit harder than their studio counterparts. While Riff pleasantly surprised me with how well he performed, by far the best thing to come out of Riff's set was the confirmation that there is a track on his upcoming Peach Panther album featuring 2 Chainz and Waka Flocka Flame. Even with only hearing the beat and Riff's verse, I can already confirm that these three swag icons have teamed up to make the best song of 2015. I'm glad I finally got to see Riff Raff and while I enjoyed myself, I wouldn't recommend seeing him unless you are a diehard fan of his.
I raced back to the Monster Stage after Riff Raff finished up to catch Beartooth, who was easily my most anticipated band of the day. Their debut full-length, Disgusting, was one of my favorite records of last year and I had heard nothing but great things about their live shows from my friends that had seen them before. I'm not sure if they were having an off-day or this is just how they sound all the time, but Beartooth was not particularity impressive live. All of their instruments were really faint in the sound mix and Caleb Shomo's voice was pretty clearly shot. Shomo kept apologizing to the crowd about his voice and while the vocal strain didn't seem like it was a recurring issue, it still put a huge damper on the quality of their performance. The saving grace for Beartooth's set was the energy from the crowd. Just about everyone in the crowd knew all the words to every song and they easily had the largest and most enthusiastic crowd of any band I saw on a side stage all day. I had fully intended to stay for their whole set, but due to their underwhelming performance, I ended up leaving after four songs to check out August Burns Red.
Beartooth's wildly disappointing performance ended up being a huge blessing as August Burns Red ended up putting on the best show I've seen from them in years. By the time I got over to the main stage they were playing on, they were midway through their opening song "Fault Line". Upon arriving, I was already blown away by how great they sounded and how strong the crowd reaction was. My opinion of their set grew firmer as they ripped through longtime fan-favorites such as "Composure" and "Internal Cannon" and a pair of blistering tracks ("The Wake" and "Identity") from their brilliant new record Found in Far Away Places. The vast improvement that has shown in their studio material over the years has absolutely carried over to their live shows. Everyone in the band exudes much more confidence on stage now than they did five or six years ago and play their respective instruments with the utmost precision. Going into this show, I thought August Burns Red was leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else on this bill and this performance reaffirmed that notion. I'm currently praying they announce a headlining tour for Found in Far Away Places within the next couple of months.
After August Burns Red finished up, I bolted back to the Monster stage to catch the rest of While She Sleeps' set. Despite getting saddled with a shit time slot that overlapped bands that were huge draws (ABR and pop punk upstarts Knuckle Puck), While She Sleeps put on a hell of a show for the scarce crowd that came to see them. Within seconds of my arrival, they launched into the title track from their 2012 debut album This is the Six and instantly proved how far they've come as a live act since the first time I saw them two years ago. Vocalist Lawrence Taylor's screams have significantly improved and their notoriously energetic live show has reached new levels of insanity (most of the band spent more time in the crowd than they did on the stage). While I only saw them play three songs, they left a serious impression on me that won't be fading away anytime soon. Between their high-octane live shows and excellent new record Brainwashed, While She Sleeps deserves to be the next big thing in metal.
After spending the next hour trying and failing to meet Riff Raff, August Burns Red and While She Sleeps, I got my first dose of pop punk for the day from England's Neck Deep. Despite the fact that they were playing on the tiny Journey's stage, they brought in a gigantic crowd and got a reception that was nothing short of explosive. Neck Deep's bouncy, melodic take on pop punk promotes impassioned sing-a-long's and awkward dance moshing even more than your average pop punk band. While they certainly put on a fun show, I must admit that I still don't get what all the fuss is about with these guys. Their hooks and riffs aren't overly catchy or memorable, the vocals are above average at best and most of their songs sound exactly the same. Neck Deep is a decent enough live act, but I probably won't go out of my way to see them again.
Yet another cross-venue trek ensued as I ran back to the main stages (and barely made it there in time) for the start of Four Year Strong's set. The Massachusetts-natives were late additions to the bill, announcing their plans to play their hometown show just a few weeks ago. The announcement was a great surprise as they are one of the most consistently enjoyable acts in punk right now and the pop punk lineup at this year's Warped was pretty weak. Four Year Strong's trend of consistency didn't break yesterday as they put on yet another great, stupid fun set at Warped for the third time in the last four years. Even though they only had an abridged 30-minute set and were put in a weird spot by playing a single date of a touring festival, they still put everything they had into their performance and showed the crowd why they are one of the most lethal forces in the genre. The crowd was treated to a set full of classics like "Maniac ("R.O.D.") and "It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now") as well as a few cuts from their recently released self-titled album, which most notably included the live debut of "Who Cares?". If you like pop punk and haven't seen Four Year Strong live before, make sure you go see them on their headlining tour with Defeater this fall.
There wasn't really anyone I was dying to see to in between the end of Four Year Strong's set at 5:15 and the start of Crossfaith's set at 6:50, so I decided to take a chance on Australian metalcore act I Killed the Prom Queen. My gamble proved to work out as I Killed the Prom Queen put on a pretty damn good show. Their style of metalcore isn't exactly the most original as they have an abundance of breakdowns and make use of a similar structure on every song, but they still make it work thanks to some great guitarwork and an irresistibly fun, ignorant metalcore vibe. As someone who was only a casual fan of theirs in my early high school years and hasn't heard a note of their music since they reformed with a mostly new lineup in 2011, the most pleasant surprise of their set was how well ex-Red Shore vocalist Jamie Hope fits into this band. His death growl heavy vocal style is a big departure from the hardcore-influenced style of original vocalist Michael Crafter, but he fits the music just as well, if not better than Crafter ever did. I Killed the Prom Queen far exceeded my expectations for them and I look forward to checking out their latest record, Beloved, in the very near future.
I spent the next 45 minutes sitting down and doing nothing for the first all day before heading back to the Monster Stage to see Crossfaith. I went into Crossfaith's set at Warped two years ago completely blind and ended up being surprised and delighted by the pure insanity of their live show. Even though now I know what to expect, I still wasn't fully prepared for the ferocity these Japanese metalcore juggernauts offer up. These guys are without question one of the most chaotic live bands in the scene. Their energy level is so consistently over-the-top that it's almost unfathomable. There was not a minute of the set where any of the members weren't jumping around, hanging off things, stage diving or crowd surfing. While their crazy energy runs the show, their music can't be slept on. Their drummer Amano Tatsuya is an absolute savage, their vocalist Koie Kenta is excellent and their use of thumping, dubstep-influenced synths is surprisingly effective. If you're heading out to one of the dates on the last few weeks of Warped, I strongly urge you to check these guys out.
Hundredth was the next band up on the Monster stage and the last band I watched on the day. Of the three times I've seen them, this was easily the best. They commanded the stage like a group of men possessed and the crowd fed off their energy beautifully. I'm seriously befuddled how these guys aren't better received in the hardcore scene. The tone of their music is really fun, they have a bunch of killer grooves and their lyrics are heartfelt without being sickeningly corny. Hundredth was a great finish to another hot, occasionally rainy and really fun year at Warped Tour.
Scores:
Miss May I 7/10
'68 8/10
Riff Raff 7.5/10
Beartooth 6.5/10
August Burns Red 9.5/10
While She Sleeps 8.5/10
Neck Deep 7/10
Four Year Strong 8/10
I Killed the Prom Queen 7.5/10
Crossfaith 8/10
Hundredth 8/10
Setlists:
Miss May I:
Hey Mister
Hero with No Name
I.H.E.
Forgive and Forget
A Dance with Aera Cura
Our Kings
Masses of a Dying Breed
Relentless Chaos
Riff Raff:
How to Be the Man
Kokayne
Wetter Than Tsunami
Ball Like Chris Paul (new song)
Cuz My Gear (Chief Keef cover)
Untitled New Song (studio version features 2 Chainz and Waka Flocka Flame)
?
Dolce & Gabanna
Tip Toe Wing in My Jawwdinz
Beartooth (first 4 songs):
The Lines
Dead (w/Davey Muise from Vanna)
In Between
I Have a Problem
August Burns Red:
Fault Line
The Wake
Provision
Identity
Composure
Internal Cannon
Empire
White Washed
While She Sleeps (last 3 songs):
This is the Six
Trophies of Violence
Seven Hills
Neck Deep:
Losing Teeth
Tables Turned
What Did You Expect?
Can't Kick Up the Roots
Crushing Grief (No Remedy)
A Part of Me
Over and Over
Four Year Strong:
What's in the Box?
Find My Way Back
Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die
We All Float Down Here
Go Down in History
Who Cares? (live debut)
It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now
Maniac (R.O.D.)
What the Hell is a Gigawatt?
Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)
I Killed the Prom Queen included:
Sharks in Your Mouth
Crossfaith:
Monolith
Jagerbomb
Quasar
Countdown to Hell
Leviathan
Hundredth:
Break Free
Inside Out
Free Mind/Open Spirit
Unravel
Remain & Sustain
Weathered Town
Soul
Miss May I,who was playing on one of the festival's two main stages, was the first band I caught on the day. I'm not a really a huge fan of their music, but their live shows are always a good time and this go-round was no exception. The whole band gets really into the performance and Levi Benton is a gifted vocalist who never fails to get the crowd amped. Their setlist was pretty much exactly the same as it was when I saw them open for August Burns Red in January, save for the inclusion of "I.H.E" from their upcoming album Deathless. If "I.H.E." is any indication, Deathless will be a noticeable improvement over their last couple of albums. Miss May I might not be anything groundbreaking, but they're a formidable live act that's worthy of respect.
After a little bit of a break to get some water and look at merch, I headed over to the smaller Monster Stage to check out '68. '68 is a noise rock/hardcore punk duo fronted by Josh Scogin, the vocalist of recently disbanded metalcore act The Chariot. While '68 may have very little in common with The Chariot musically, their live shows offer up similar levels of insanity. Scogin was all over the stage, swinging his guitar around, jumping off amps and having drummer Michael McCellan (ex-Becoming the Archetype) hit the strings of his guitar with his sticks. Musically, 68 is every bit as chaotic as their frontman. Every single song is a non-stop onslaught of meaty riffs and frantic vocals that range from hardcore screams to full-blown whispers. The fact these guys manage to kick this much ass with just two members is just ridiculous. Hopefully appearing on this tour will help them get more opportunities to play on major tours because they deserve to be heard by the masses.
The next artist on the day for me was the one and only Riff Raff. I've been a huge fan of his for a few years now, but after hearing a barrage of bad things about his live shows, I passed on seeing him the last three times he's played in Boston/Cambridge. The festival setting of Warped was the perfect opportunity for me to take a gamble on Riff Raff's live show as there were a number of other acts I was interested in seeing. Aside from the fact that he relied way too heavily on backing tracks and didn't play any song aside from "How to Be the Man" all the way through, Riff put on a pretty solid show. His distinct flow largely stays in tact live and the incorporation of live drums made all of the live versions of his songs hit harder than their studio counterparts. While Riff pleasantly surprised me with how well he performed, by far the best thing to come out of Riff's set was the confirmation that there is a track on his upcoming Peach Panther album featuring 2 Chainz and Waka Flocka Flame. Even with only hearing the beat and Riff's verse, I can already confirm that these three swag icons have teamed up to make the best song of 2015. I'm glad I finally got to see Riff Raff and while I enjoyed myself, I wouldn't recommend seeing him unless you are a diehard fan of his.
I raced back to the Monster Stage after Riff Raff finished up to catch Beartooth, who was easily my most anticipated band of the day. Their debut full-length, Disgusting, was one of my favorite records of last year and I had heard nothing but great things about their live shows from my friends that had seen them before. I'm not sure if they were having an off-day or this is just how they sound all the time, but Beartooth was not particularity impressive live. All of their instruments were really faint in the sound mix and Caleb Shomo's voice was pretty clearly shot. Shomo kept apologizing to the crowd about his voice and while the vocal strain didn't seem like it was a recurring issue, it still put a huge damper on the quality of their performance. The saving grace for Beartooth's set was the energy from the crowd. Just about everyone in the crowd knew all the words to every song and they easily had the largest and most enthusiastic crowd of any band I saw on a side stage all day. I had fully intended to stay for their whole set, but due to their underwhelming performance, I ended up leaving after four songs to check out August Burns Red.
Beartooth's wildly disappointing performance ended up being a huge blessing as August Burns Red ended up putting on the best show I've seen from them in years. By the time I got over to the main stage they were playing on, they were midway through their opening song "Fault Line". Upon arriving, I was already blown away by how great they sounded and how strong the crowd reaction was. My opinion of their set grew firmer as they ripped through longtime fan-favorites such as "Composure" and "Internal Cannon" and a pair of blistering tracks ("The Wake" and "Identity") from their brilliant new record Found in Far Away Places. The vast improvement that has shown in their studio material over the years has absolutely carried over to their live shows. Everyone in the band exudes much more confidence on stage now than they did five or six years ago and play their respective instruments with the utmost precision. Going into this show, I thought August Burns Red was leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else on this bill and this performance reaffirmed that notion. I'm currently praying they announce a headlining tour for Found in Far Away Places within the next couple of months.
After August Burns Red finished up, I bolted back to the Monster stage to catch the rest of While She Sleeps' set. Despite getting saddled with a shit time slot that overlapped bands that were huge draws (ABR and pop punk upstarts Knuckle Puck), While She Sleeps put on a hell of a show for the scarce crowd that came to see them. Within seconds of my arrival, they launched into the title track from their 2012 debut album This is the Six and instantly proved how far they've come as a live act since the first time I saw them two years ago. Vocalist Lawrence Taylor's screams have significantly improved and their notoriously energetic live show has reached new levels of insanity (most of the band spent more time in the crowd than they did on the stage). While I only saw them play three songs, they left a serious impression on me that won't be fading away anytime soon. Between their high-octane live shows and excellent new record Brainwashed, While She Sleeps deserves to be the next big thing in metal.
After spending the next hour trying and failing to meet Riff Raff, August Burns Red and While She Sleeps, I got my first dose of pop punk for the day from England's Neck Deep. Despite the fact that they were playing on the tiny Journey's stage, they brought in a gigantic crowd and got a reception that was nothing short of explosive. Neck Deep's bouncy, melodic take on pop punk promotes impassioned sing-a-long's and awkward dance moshing even more than your average pop punk band. While they certainly put on a fun show, I must admit that I still don't get what all the fuss is about with these guys. Their hooks and riffs aren't overly catchy or memorable, the vocals are above average at best and most of their songs sound exactly the same. Neck Deep is a decent enough live act, but I probably won't go out of my way to see them again.
Yet another cross-venue trek ensued as I ran back to the main stages (and barely made it there in time) for the start of Four Year Strong's set. The Massachusetts-natives were late additions to the bill, announcing their plans to play their hometown show just a few weeks ago. The announcement was a great surprise as they are one of the most consistently enjoyable acts in punk right now and the pop punk lineup at this year's Warped was pretty weak. Four Year Strong's trend of consistency didn't break yesterday as they put on yet another great, stupid fun set at Warped for the third time in the last four years. Even though they only had an abridged 30-minute set and were put in a weird spot by playing a single date of a touring festival, they still put everything they had into their performance and showed the crowd why they are one of the most lethal forces in the genre. The crowd was treated to a set full of classics like "Maniac ("R.O.D.") and "It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now") as well as a few cuts from their recently released self-titled album, which most notably included the live debut of "Who Cares?". If you like pop punk and haven't seen Four Year Strong live before, make sure you go see them on their headlining tour with Defeater this fall.
There wasn't really anyone I was dying to see to in between the end of Four Year Strong's set at 5:15 and the start of Crossfaith's set at 6:50, so I decided to take a chance on Australian metalcore act I Killed the Prom Queen. My gamble proved to work out as I Killed the Prom Queen put on a pretty damn good show. Their style of metalcore isn't exactly the most original as they have an abundance of breakdowns and make use of a similar structure on every song, but they still make it work thanks to some great guitarwork and an irresistibly fun, ignorant metalcore vibe. As someone who was only a casual fan of theirs in my early high school years and hasn't heard a note of their music since they reformed with a mostly new lineup in 2011, the most pleasant surprise of their set was how well ex-Red Shore vocalist Jamie Hope fits into this band. His death growl heavy vocal style is a big departure from the hardcore-influenced style of original vocalist Michael Crafter, but he fits the music just as well, if not better than Crafter ever did. I Killed the Prom Queen far exceeded my expectations for them and I look forward to checking out their latest record, Beloved, in the very near future.
I spent the next 45 minutes sitting down and doing nothing for the first all day before heading back to the Monster Stage to see Crossfaith. I went into Crossfaith's set at Warped two years ago completely blind and ended up being surprised and delighted by the pure insanity of their live show. Even though now I know what to expect, I still wasn't fully prepared for the ferocity these Japanese metalcore juggernauts offer up. These guys are without question one of the most chaotic live bands in the scene. Their energy level is so consistently over-the-top that it's almost unfathomable. There was not a minute of the set where any of the members weren't jumping around, hanging off things, stage diving or crowd surfing. While their crazy energy runs the show, their music can't be slept on. Their drummer Amano Tatsuya is an absolute savage, their vocalist Koie Kenta is excellent and their use of thumping, dubstep-influenced synths is surprisingly effective. If you're heading out to one of the dates on the last few weeks of Warped, I strongly urge you to check these guys out.
Hundredth was the next band up on the Monster stage and the last band I watched on the day. Of the three times I've seen them, this was easily the best. They commanded the stage like a group of men possessed and the crowd fed off their energy beautifully. I'm seriously befuddled how these guys aren't better received in the hardcore scene. The tone of their music is really fun, they have a bunch of killer grooves and their lyrics are heartfelt without being sickeningly corny. Hundredth was a great finish to another hot, occasionally rainy and really fun year at Warped Tour.
Scores:
Miss May I 7/10
'68 8/10
Riff Raff 7.5/10
Beartooth 6.5/10
August Burns Red 9.5/10
While She Sleeps 8.5/10
Neck Deep 7/10
Four Year Strong 8/10
I Killed the Prom Queen 7.5/10
Crossfaith 8/10
Hundredth 8/10
Setlists:
Miss May I:
Hey Mister
Hero with No Name
I.H.E.
Forgive and Forget
A Dance with Aera Cura
Our Kings
Masses of a Dying Breed
Relentless Chaos
Riff Raff:
How to Be the Man
Kokayne
Wetter Than Tsunami
Ball Like Chris Paul (new song)
Cuz My Gear (Chief Keef cover)
Untitled New Song (studio version features 2 Chainz and Waka Flocka Flame)
?
Dolce & Gabanna
Tip Toe Wing in My Jawwdinz
Beartooth (first 4 songs):
The Lines
Dead (w/Davey Muise from Vanna)
In Between
I Have a Problem
August Burns Red:
Fault Line
The Wake
Provision
Identity
Composure
Internal Cannon
Empire
White Washed
While She Sleeps (last 3 songs):
This is the Six
Trophies of Violence
Seven Hills
Neck Deep:
Losing Teeth
Tables Turned
What Did You Expect?
Can't Kick Up the Roots
Crushing Grief (No Remedy)
A Part of Me
Over and Over
Four Year Strong:
What's in the Box?
Find My Way Back
Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die
We All Float Down Here
Go Down in History
Who Cares? (live debut)
It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now
Maniac (R.O.D.)
What the Hell is a Gigawatt?
Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)
I Killed the Prom Queen included:
Sharks in Your Mouth
Crossfaith:
Monolith
Jagerbomb
Quasar
Countdown to Hell
Leviathan
Hundredth:
Break Free
Inside Out
Free Mind/Open Spirit
Unravel
Remain & Sustain
Weathered Town
Soul
Monday, July 13, 2015
Album Review: August Burns Red-Found in Far Away Places
While August Burns Red has never been an act to release by-the-numbers metalcore, the sheer complexity of Found in Far Away Places is still pretty surprising. It's clear that the band wanted to push the boundaries of what they are capable of musically and it resulted in an album that is absolutely remarkable from start to finish. Driving the album's epic sound is the pitch-perfect tempo shifts that highlights ABR's knack for varied riffs and conveying genuine emotion through their music. Guitarist J.B. Brubaker continues to show his creativity and ever-improving technicality with the array of intricate melodies and winding solos he throws down on this his record. Brubaker's unique blend of multi-tempo riffing shines particularly bright on "Identity", "Blackwood" and "Broken Promises", which are without question amongst the most exhilarating and beautiful August Burns Red songs has ever made. While Brubaker's guitarwork is crucial to creating the album's massive sound, vocalist Jake Luhrs is still the most vital element to their success as a band. The emotion that goes into his performance is staggering (his work on "Separating the Seas" and the aforementioned "Blackwood" are particularly strong) and the range and power of his vocals continue to get exponentially better as the years go on. Found in Far Away Places is an instant metalcore classic that makes a very strong early case for the title of best album of 2015 and reaffirms August Burns Red's place as one of the genre's most consistent and forward-thinking acts.
4.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Broken Promises
2.Separating the Seas
3.Blackwood
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Hidden Netflix Gem of the Week: Fruitvale Station
Fruitvale Station (2013)
Genre: Drama/Biopic
Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer and Melonie Diaz
When I first saw Fruitvale Station in August 2013, I was blown away by how relevant its poignant commentary on modern-day racism and how flawed the American justice system was in wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting. Two years later with events such as the unjust murders of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Freddie Gray dominating the social landscape in the United States, the impact of the film is even greater . Fruitvale Station tells the true story of Oscar Grant, a 22-year old African-American man who was murdered by a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) cop in the early hours of January 1, 2009 in Oakland, California after being falsely accused of starting a brawl on a train and resisting arrest. Even though the murder was captured on cell phone video by numerous onlookers at the scene, the cop who killed was never convicted. The film examines the last 24 hours of his life and how Grant is trying to get his life back on track after serving two years in prison for selling marijuana. What makes Fruitvale Station so special is the remarkably human portrayal of Grant. Coogler delves headfirst into Grant's shortcomings as a person while still making him out to be a good, empathetic man who is trying to get his life on track and support his young daughter. The film's portrayal of Grant as a flawed-but-worthy man is ultimately sold by Jordan's phenomenal performance. Jordan does such an effortless job embodying Grant and authentically selling the internal conflicts he faced on the last day of his life that you sometimes feel you're like watching a documentary instead of a scripted film. Fruitvale Station is an utterly brilliant, powerful, unsettling and incredibly timely film that paints a disturbingly accurate picture of where race relations in America are today.
Genre: Drama/Biopic
Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer and Melonie Diaz
When I first saw Fruitvale Station in August 2013, I was blown away by how relevant its poignant commentary on modern-day racism and how flawed the American justice system was in wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting. Two years later with events such as the unjust murders of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Freddie Gray dominating the social landscape in the United States, the impact of the film is even greater . Fruitvale Station tells the true story of Oscar Grant, a 22-year old African-American man who was murdered by a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) cop in the early hours of January 1, 2009 in Oakland, California after being falsely accused of starting a brawl on a train and resisting arrest. Even though the murder was captured on cell phone video by numerous onlookers at the scene, the cop who killed was never convicted. The film examines the last 24 hours of his life and how Grant is trying to get his life back on track after serving two years in prison for selling marijuana. What makes Fruitvale Station so special is the remarkably human portrayal of Grant. Coogler delves headfirst into Grant's shortcomings as a person while still making him out to be a good, empathetic man who is trying to get his life on track and support his young daughter. The film's portrayal of Grant as a flawed-but-worthy man is ultimately sold by Jordan's phenomenal performance. Jordan does such an effortless job embodying Grant and authentically selling the internal conflicts he faced on the last day of his life that you sometimes feel you're like watching a documentary instead of a scripted film. Fruitvale Station is an utterly brilliant, powerful, unsettling and incredibly timely film that paints a disturbingly accurate picture of where race relations in America are today.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
The Best and Worst of Ryan Reynolds
Films Starring Ryan Reynolds That I've Seen:
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
Waiting...
Just Friends
Smokin' Aces
Adventureland
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Buried
Green Lantern
The Change-Up
Safe House
The Croods
R.I.P.D.
Best Performance: Buried (2010)
Reynolds regularly gets dumped on by critics and audiences alike for his alleged incompetence as an actor. I strongly believe that anyone who thinks Reynolds can't act hasn't seen his Oscar-worthy performance in the claustrophobic thriller Buried. In Buried- which focuses on a civilian truck driver in Iraq who's been buried alive in a coffin in the middle of the desert by terrorists- Reynolds is the only actor to physically appear on screen and his emotional, tour-de-force performance makes the film a unique and unforgettable viewing experience.
Worst Performance: R.I.P.D (2013)
While the movie itself isn't nearly as bad as its made out to be, Reynolds' performance in R.I.P.D. absolutely is. This is the only time I've ever watched one of Reynolds movies and thought he was the annoying, charisma-less actor he's frequently made out to be. It also doesn't help that his partner in this sci-fi buddy cop flick is played by Jeff Bridges, who carries the movie on his back with his hysterical turn as Civil War-era U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn.
Best Film: Smokin Aces' (2007)
Every once in a while, a film comes along that I adore that is hated by seemingly everyone else on the planet. Joe Carnahan's Tarantino-worshiping action/black comedy flick Smokin' Aces is perhaps the strongest example of this phenomenon. The film's frantic narrative, frequent bloody violence and barrage of insane characters pissed off a lot of audiences, but I found it to be a hilarious and absurdly entertaining piece of beautiful cinematic chaos.
Worst Film: Green Lantern (2011)
For whatever reason, DC Comics has always been firmly behind their rival Marvel in terms of popularity. While Marvel seems to make hit movies out of comics that weren't particularly popular (Ghost Rider, Guardians of the Galaxy), DC can't seem to get a franchise to gain any traction outside of their two heavyweights heroes (Batman and Superman). The quality and lack of financial success of DC's last foray into launching a new franchise, 2011's Green Lantern, may explain why they have been hesitant in trying to get new series adaptations off the ground in recent years (It should be noted that DC is ending that streak of inactivity with the release of Suicide Squad next August). Outside of some impressive effects and a solid turn from Reynolds in the titular role, Green Lantern is an unevenly-scripted and largely poorly-acted affair that serves as a textbook example of what an inoffensive yet wholly forgettable film is.
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 Ant-Man star Paul Rudd.
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
Waiting...
Just Friends
Smokin' Aces
Adventureland
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Buried
Green Lantern
The Change-Up
Safe House
The Croods
R.I.P.D.
Best Performance: Buried (2010)
Reynolds regularly gets dumped on by critics and audiences alike for his alleged incompetence as an actor. I strongly believe that anyone who thinks Reynolds can't act hasn't seen his Oscar-worthy performance in the claustrophobic thriller Buried. In Buried- which focuses on a civilian truck driver in Iraq who's been buried alive in a coffin in the middle of the desert by terrorists- Reynolds is the only actor to physically appear on screen and his emotional, tour-de-force performance makes the film a unique and unforgettable viewing experience.
Worst Performance: R.I.P.D (2013)
While the movie itself isn't nearly as bad as its made out to be, Reynolds' performance in R.I.P.D. absolutely is. This is the only time I've ever watched one of Reynolds movies and thought he was the annoying, charisma-less actor he's frequently made out to be. It also doesn't help that his partner in this sci-fi buddy cop flick is played by Jeff Bridges, who carries the movie on his back with his hysterical turn as Civil War-era U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn.
Best Film: Smokin Aces' (2007)
Every once in a while, a film comes along that I adore that is hated by seemingly everyone else on the planet. Joe Carnahan's Tarantino-worshiping action/black comedy flick Smokin' Aces is perhaps the strongest example of this phenomenon. The film's frantic narrative, frequent bloody violence and barrage of insane characters pissed off a lot of audiences, but I found it to be a hilarious and absurdly entertaining piece of beautiful cinematic chaos.
Worst Film: Green Lantern (2011)
For whatever reason, DC Comics has always been firmly behind their rival Marvel in terms of popularity. While Marvel seems to make hit movies out of comics that weren't particularly popular (Ghost Rider, Guardians of the Galaxy), DC can't seem to get a franchise to gain any traction outside of their two heavyweights heroes (Batman and Superman). The quality and lack of financial success of DC's last foray into launching a new franchise, 2011's Green Lantern, may explain why they have been hesitant in trying to get new series adaptations off the ground in recent years (It should be noted that DC is ending that streak of inactivity with the release of Suicide Squad next August). Outside of some impressive effects and a solid turn from Reynolds in the titular role, Green Lantern is an unevenly-scripted and largely poorly-acted affair that serves as a textbook example of what an inoffensive yet wholly forgettable film is.
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 Ant-Man star Paul Rudd.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
2015 NFL Sophomore Risers and Fallers
By Chris Maitland and Liam Madigan-Fried
While it might not garner the same enthusiasm and attention from fans as a player's rookie year, an NFL player's second season is pivotal in discovering whether or not a player is going to enjoy a long, successful career or they'll be looking for work outside of the National Football League in the next few years. Here are our picks for the quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and defensive players that are poised to breakout and regress in 2015.
Quarterback
Risers:
Chris: Derek Carr (Raiders)
Carr was the only quarterback from the 2014 class to start all 16 games in his rookie year and while he didn't put up eye-popping numbers (21 TD's, 12 INT's, 58.1 CMP%, 76.6 QBR), he generally took care of the football and showed steady improvement in his mechanics and pocket presence as the season went on. Carr's full season of experience along with the presence of a respectable offensive line that only got better with the addition of elite center Rodney Hudson in free agency and a retooled receiving corps led by respectable veteran Michael Crabtree and incredibly promising rookie Amari Cooper leads me to believe that Carr is in line for a star-making campaign in 2015.
Liam: Teddy Bridgewater (Vikings)
Bridgewater was my favorite quarterback from the 2014 class, and now he's my favorite to avoid the dreaded "sophomore slump" in 2015. A lot of people downplayed Bridgewater's skills prior to the draft due to his poor performance at Louisville University's Pro Day, but thankfully, he was able to up his game when the lights were on bright. Despite a continuing problem with interceptions (12 in 12 games started), Bridgewater improved noticeably down the stretch of the last three games of the season, averaging 8.7 yards per attempt to go along with a 72.2% completion rate in those contests. If Bridgewater can keep his mental errors to a minimum, he should be able to ride that late-season success into 2015. It also doesn't hurt that the Vikings added another vertical threat to receiving arsenal this season in Mike Wallace and Bridgewater now has the luxury of handing the ball to the greatest running back of the modern era in Adrian Peterson to take the pressure off his shoulders.
Fallers:
Chris: N/A
This may seem like a lazy decision on my behalf, but hear me out. I truly believe that all three projected second-year starters (Carr, Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles) are going to make significant strides in 2015 and Johnny Manziel literally can not get any worse if he sees the field in 2015. The other notable quarterbacks from this draft class (Tom Savage, Aaron Murray, Logan Thomas, Jimmy Garoppolo*) have little chance of seeing the field this year-save for Garoppolo if Tom Brady's suspension remains in tact- and have either taken zero or very limited meaningful regular season reps, taking them out of the running for this dubious title.
Liam: Blake Bortles (Jaguars)
Okay, so maybe I was a little overzealous when I predicted Bortles would be in the running for rookie of the year when he replaced the utterly bland Chad Henne after the first three games of last season. But to be fair, I wasn’t alone (or totally out of line) in believing the hype. Bortles has the rare combination of arm strength, size (6"5, 232 lbs) and freakish athleticism that NFL scouts drool over. Armed with those rare asseta, you'd think the Florida native would have been a little more pro-ready when he took the field. Unfortunately, his strong preseason performance in which he tore through second and third string secondary squads with his bullet-speed passes didn’t carry over into the regular season. Bortles had the horrible habit of staring down his primary targets, which led to him throwing 17 interceptions (tied with Drew Brees for third most in the league) in 13 games played. Despite the addition of touchdown-happy tight end Julius Thomas and the rise of second-year receiver Allen Hurns, a lot of Bortles' issues stem from his flawed throwing mechanics and footwork, a problem that is a lot harder to solve than just poor decision-making. The lackluster offensive line also won’t be much help in ensuring he has the time to make the good throws. My prediction is that it’s going to take Bortles at least another year before he can use his phenomenal athleticism to become a respectable NFL-caliber starter.
Running Back:
Risers:
Chris: Carlos Hyde (49ers)
If you even sort of pay attention to football, you know that the 49ers lost a majority of their best players to either retirement (Chris Borland, Justin Smith, Patrick Willis) or free agency (Chris Culliver, Mike Iupati, Michael Crabtree) this offseason. While a majority of the 49ers most significant losses came on the defensive side of the ball, the 49ers lost running back Frank Gore- who has been the indisputable rock of their offense for the past decade- to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. With longtime assistant coach Jim Tomsula being promoted to head coach after the firing of Jim Harbaugh and a struggling quarterback in Colin Kaepernick under center, the 49ers seem primed to lean on the run in 2015, and Hyde is going to be the guy to takeover Gore's workhorse role. Hyde possesses the strength, vision and two-way capabilities that are needed to succeed as a running back in the NFL and has the benefit of having a pair of backups in Reggie Bush and Kendall Hunter that are either too rundown physically (Bush) or just simply are not good enough (Hunter) to significantly cut into his carries.
Liam: Jeremy Hill (Bengals)
Honestly, how can you not believe in this kid? When Giovani Bernard went down in week 8, coach Marvin Lewis was forced to turn to Hill, an untested albeit promising rookie. Hill took full advantage of the opportunity given, ultimately ending the season with 1,329 total yards (1,124 rushing, 215 receiving) and 9 TD's. His ability to gain yards between the tackles, to the outside and in the passing game forces defenses to adjust their scheme whenever he’s on the field, making him one of the most versatile weapons not just of the sophomore class, but in the entire league. That versatility and promise isn’t lost on the coaching staff either, as Lewis elected to continue starting Hill over Bernard even after the veteran returned from injury. You can tell the organization’s faith in quarterback Andy Dalton is dwindling, especially with all the in-house hype over Alabama product A.J McCarron. The Bengals need a playmaker who isn’t totally reliant on Dalton’s scattershot accuracy and decision-making to get them wins in the postseason as well as in primetime; and to me, Hill could turn out to be that missing piece.
Fallers:
Chris: Tre Mason (Rams)
You really have to feel for Mason right now. After an impressive rookie season which saw him firmly secure and thrive in a starting role in the second half of the season after Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham struggled out of the gate, The Rams used their first-round pick in 2015 on University of Georgia running back Todd Gurley. Even with Gurley coming off of a torn ACL that could jeopardize his availability at the start of the year, the rookie's similar yet superior skill set and standing as a first-round pick all but guarantees that Mason will be relegated to a situational role and inevitable loss of production in his second NFL season.
Liam: Carlos Hyde (49ers)
Of any prediction on my list, this is the one I believe is the most likely to bite me in the ass because I’m not necessarily basing it on overall skills. Hyde displayed great athleticism in limited action last season behind trusty veteran powerhouse Frank Gore. After Gore was lost in free agency to the Colts, there was a lot of people around the league that thought that Hyde was going to have his number called a lot more often this season, but based on all the losses the 49ers suffered since Gore departed at the beginning of free agency, I don't believe that will be the case. The 49ers now completely lack big name playmakers on offense (save for newly acquired wide receiver Torrey Smith) and are going to have to reach further into their barrel of tricks in order to drive the ball down the field this season. That means Hyde is probably going to be losing a lot of potential touches to the veteran pair of Reggie Bush and Kendall Hunter. Bush gives Colin Kapernick another option in the passing game with his versatility out of the back field, and Hunter on film seemed to display much better decision making than Hyde when hitting the holes, which is typical for a veteran at this point in his career. Hyde probably won’t face a dreadful year, but he’s most likely in for a rough ride with a 49ers offense that’s going to need all the veteran help it can get after a tumultuous offseason full of early retirements and free agency departures.
Wide Receiver/Tight End:
Risers:
Chris: Brandin Cooks (Saints)
Cooks was off to a pretty good start to his rookie year (623 Total YDS, 4 TD'S in 10 games) before suffering a season-ending thumb injury in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals. With a receiver-friendly offense and a division loaded with terrible secondaries, Cooks is in the best position of anyone in this talented-loaded receiving class to make a serious leap in his sophomore season. Even with a suddenly stout run game headed by 2014's surprise breakout star Mark Ingram, the Saints are still the most pass-happy team in the league and with the departure of start tight end Jimmy Graham and primary deep threat Kenny Stills via trades with the Seahawks and Dolphins respectively this offseason, there's sure to be a plethora of opportunities for Cooks to prove himself as a top wideout this season.
Liam: Eric Ebron (Lions)
After being touted as a potential big play maker coming into his first year, Ebron wasn’t quite the impact piece the Lions were hoping for, accumulating just 248 yards on 25 receptions. However, if you read between the lines (stat lines that is), you can actually find plenty of promise in the North Carolina product’s rookie resume. Even though he wasn’t stacking up the receptions game after game, Ebron proved himself to be a very capable deep threat whenever he was able to get the space. He ended the season on a high note with a 22-yard reception in a Week 17 loss to Green Bay to put his offense in position to score. His 6"4, 248-lb frame gives the strong armed, but often inaccurate quarterback Matthew Stafford a big target who can go up high for contested catches. With a year of experience under his belt in an NFL level and glowing reports from coaches and teammates in mini-camp/OTA’s, look for offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi to integrate the young tight end in a way that can take the pressure off of Stafford-who often sees his most critical mistakes made whenever he can’t find Tate or Johnson open down field.
Fallers:
Chris: Jarvis Landry (Dolphins)
This pick was nothing short of agonizing to make. There's a number of guys at this position (Kelvin Benjamin, Sammy Watkins, Odell Beckham Jr.) that could very well hit a wall this season because of injury concerns or ineffective quarterback play, but I ultimately decided to go with Landry because of his limitations as a player. Landry is strictly a possession receiver who lacks the size (5"11, 202 lbs) and post-catch abilities to be a top-tier receiver. With the Dolphins acquiring elite deep threat Kenny Stills and redzone targets Jordan Cameron and rookie DeVante Parker during the offseason, Landry's role in the offense this season seems like it's going to be limited to a handful of short, non-meaningful dump-off passes per game.
Liam: Marqise Lee (Jaguars)
I hate to bring the Jaguars down, but their 2014 draft class isn’t exactly panning out the way they had hoped it would. Lee showed sporadic moments of promise throughout the season, but he was mostly held back by knee problems that hindered his ability to separate from coverage. I’ll give the kid his credit, he ended the season with over 400 receiving yards, but when you go back and look at his game tape, the consistency just isn’t there. Quarterback Blake Bortles' accuracy is already a cause for concern for any receiver on this roster, but this season, Lee will be competing to earn even the number three spot on the depth chart behind Allen Hurns, Allen Robinson, and rookie Neal Sterling. If Lee is going to have any chance of living up to his second-round standing, he’s going to have to take the time to overcome a whole lot of obstacles. But this is the NFL, and if there’s one thing we know that this league is lacking, it’s patience.
Defensive Front
Risers:
Chris: Ryan Shazier (Steelers)
It took a lot for recently-departed Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LaBeau to voluntarily start a rookie right out of the gate. Shazier was one of the rare guys to pick up that distinction, which I believe says a lot about his talent. Shazier played excellent throughout the preseason and the first two regular season games last season before suffering a knee injury and high ankle sprain, that kept him out of nine games and hampered him for the rest of the season. With a full offseason to recover and ample opportunities to shine in a mostly young, unproven defense, Shazier should thrive in 2015. Despite his relative lack of size for the position (6"1, 237 lbs), Shazier has the instincts, field-stretching speed and excellent tackling ability to be a potential menace at inside linebacker.
Liam: Aaron Donald (Rams)
Despite an underwhelming season by number two overall pick Greg Robinson, the largely under-the-radar 13th overall pick of the draft put up phenomenal rookie numbers in his first professional season. Combining for 48 tackles and 9 sacks, Donald proved early on that he was a force to be reckoned with in an already upward trending Rams defense. As many analysts have said since the start of last September, the St. Louis Rams are a franchise quarterback away from being a true contender in the NFC West. Still, many questions remain on the offensive side of the ball in the gateway to the west, particularly at wideout. And, until the newly acquired Nick Foles has the chance to prove that he’s the guy who can lead this franchise out of the division's basement, Coach Fisher will have to rely on his defense to keep games within a manageable margin of points to keep their heads above water. Look for Donald to continue his dominance by playing an even more pivotal role as a premier defensive tackle in a division that lives in fear of the mighty Marshawn Lynch.
Fallers:
Chris: DeMarcus Lawrence (Cowboys)
This was another tough call as just about every high-level front seven player from this draft class either seems like a star in the making (Khalil Mack, Aaron Donald, C.J. Mosley) or underwhelmed a year ago and appear to destined to do the same in 2015 (Jadeveon Clowney, Dee Ford, Marcus Smith). Lawrence admittedly didn't do much in 2015, spending most of the year buried behind journeyman Jeremy Mincey on the Cowboys depth chart. But the buzz on Lawrence picked up after a strong showing in the playoffs (2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble in 2 games) and he's largely viewed as a strong breakout contender for 2015. Personally, I don't buy any of the hype on Lawrence. Everything about his game from his speed to his technique is average at best and not being able to surpass a mediocre player like Mincey speaks volumes about who he is as a player.
Liam: Jadeveon Clowney (Texans)
One of the most hyped first overall picks of the modern football era, and only three measly tackles to show for it thus far. What made Clowney so dangerous during his days at South Carolina was his explosiveness off the snap, which gave both guards and tackles barely any time to block him before he was in the backfield. Unfortunately, after undergoing surgery to repair a microfracture in his right knee, it remains to be seen if he can retain the speed that made him terrorize college o-lines and quarterbacks for three years. The Texans already have a fallback option with Vince Wilfork joining the team in free agency, and the enigmatic J.J Watt continuing to blow through any double, triple or quadruple team opposing offenses throw at him with ease. If Clowney is able to regain even 1/10th of his explosive power off the snap, this defensive line will make the Texans the team to beat in the AFC South. But, more than likely, Coach Bill O’Brien will probably want to protect his first round investment by easing him back into the defensive scheme, most likely lining him up as a pass rusher at outside linebacker or defensive end in certain situations. Until Clowney proves he can still play at a high level after having microfracture surgery, I wouldn't hold your breath for him to put up double-digit sacks.
Secondary
Risers:
Chris: Calvin Pryor (Jets)
Pryor had a well-documented rough start to his career as injuries in the Jets secondary forced him to move from his natural position of strong safety to free safety, which exploited his deficiencies in pass coverage and eventually led him to being benched for a five-game stretch from late October to early December. With a move back to strong safety and the Jets bringing in one of the league's finest defensive back developers in Todd Bowles as their new head coach, 2015 could mark a massive turnaround for Pryor. Pryor is a punishing hitter who was pretty great against the run on the rare occasion he was allowed to venture into the box last season and with the much improved lineup of guys around him in the secondary this year that will largely keep him out of coverage situations and allow him to stick to his strength as a run-stuffer, Pryor should get the opportunity to prove why the Jets spent such a high-draft pick on him a year ago.
Liam: Malcolm Butler (Patriots)
Chris couldn’t disagree with me more on this, but then again he’s a Bears fan, so what does he know. In fact, one of Butler’s best games of the season came during New England’s blowout win vs the Windy City furry animal things, when he deflected two of Jay Cutler’s famous deep balls. Despite not putting up any interceptions until his game sealing one versus the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, Butler showed good prowess vs the best of them , most notably breaking up four passes against Peyton Manning in the Pats blowout Week 9 win over the Broncos. Praise for the young defender also couldn’t be higher coming out of mandatory mini-camp (he was suspended for being late to OTAs, a matter the NFLPA is currently filing a grievance for). Coaches and teammates are lauding him for his intelligence and dedication to preparation. It was his ability to recognize the slant route formation from watching Seahawks game film that thrust the West Alabama product into the spotlight in the first place. Whether you think this kid is a fluke or not, he’s going to get the chance to prove himself this season, especially following the departures of Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, and Kyle Arrington. We’ll have to wait and see if the hero of New England is the real deal or merely lighting captured in a bottle.
Fallers:
Chris: Malcolm Butler (Patriots)
Butler went from the realms to obscurity to god-status after his incredible interception to secure the Patriots victory in Super Bowl XLIX. Butler has spent the last five months after the play that changed his life forever being repeatedly put on a pedestal and is largely considered to be the Patriots de facto number one corner after Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard all left the team this offseason. However, I think the Cinderella story of the undrafted kid from Western Alabama will come to an ugly end as soon as the 2015 season starts. Butler has never lined up against a top-tier wideout in his career (on his fateful interception he was covering Ricardo Lockette, the fourth option in a middling Seahawks receiving corps) and aside from the Super Bowl, has done absolutely nothing to show that he's capable of being a quality starting corner in this league.
Liam: Calvin Pryor (Jets)
Another underwhelming product of the first round, Pryor was able to surmount a respectable number of tackles (60), but was often burned by wide receivers when forced to play coverage, failing to put up even a single interception and only defensing two passes in his 11 starts. Although he has all the physical attributes to do well at the pro level, the free safety out of Louisville is going to have to cut down on the mental errors if he wants to be a real contributor in a suddenly frightening Jets defense. The additions of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie should take some of the pressure off of him, but unless he can step up his coverage game, quarterbacks are going to have a field day throwing on him in deep center field .
While it might not garner the same enthusiasm and attention from fans as a player's rookie year, an NFL player's second season is pivotal in discovering whether or not a player is going to enjoy a long, successful career or they'll be looking for work outside of the National Football League in the next few years. Here are our picks for the quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and defensive players that are poised to breakout and regress in 2015.
Quarterback
Risers:
Chris: Derek Carr (Raiders)
Carr was the only quarterback from the 2014 class to start all 16 games in his rookie year and while he didn't put up eye-popping numbers (21 TD's, 12 INT's, 58.1 CMP%, 76.6 QBR), he generally took care of the football and showed steady improvement in his mechanics and pocket presence as the season went on. Carr's full season of experience along with the presence of a respectable offensive line that only got better with the addition of elite center Rodney Hudson in free agency and a retooled receiving corps led by respectable veteran Michael Crabtree and incredibly promising rookie Amari Cooper leads me to believe that Carr is in line for a star-making campaign in 2015.
Liam: Teddy Bridgewater (Vikings)
Bridgewater was my favorite quarterback from the 2014 class, and now he's my favorite to avoid the dreaded "sophomore slump" in 2015. A lot of people downplayed Bridgewater's skills prior to the draft due to his poor performance at Louisville University's Pro Day, but thankfully, he was able to up his game when the lights were on bright. Despite a continuing problem with interceptions (12 in 12 games started), Bridgewater improved noticeably down the stretch of the last three games of the season, averaging 8.7 yards per attempt to go along with a 72.2% completion rate in those contests. If Bridgewater can keep his mental errors to a minimum, he should be able to ride that late-season success into 2015. It also doesn't hurt that the Vikings added another vertical threat to receiving arsenal this season in Mike Wallace and Bridgewater now has the luxury of handing the ball to the greatest running back of the modern era in Adrian Peterson to take the pressure off his shoulders.
Fallers:
Chris: N/A
This may seem like a lazy decision on my behalf, but hear me out. I truly believe that all three projected second-year starters (Carr, Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles) are going to make significant strides in 2015 and Johnny Manziel literally can not get any worse if he sees the field in 2015. The other notable quarterbacks from this draft class (Tom Savage, Aaron Murray, Logan Thomas, Jimmy Garoppolo*) have little chance of seeing the field this year-save for Garoppolo if Tom Brady's suspension remains in tact- and have either taken zero or very limited meaningful regular season reps, taking them out of the running for this dubious title.
Liam: Blake Bortles (Jaguars)
Okay, so maybe I was a little overzealous when I predicted Bortles would be in the running for rookie of the year when he replaced the utterly bland Chad Henne after the first three games of last season. But to be fair, I wasn’t alone (or totally out of line) in believing the hype. Bortles has the rare combination of arm strength, size (6"5, 232 lbs) and freakish athleticism that NFL scouts drool over. Armed with those rare asseta, you'd think the Florida native would have been a little more pro-ready when he took the field. Unfortunately, his strong preseason performance in which he tore through second and third string secondary squads with his bullet-speed passes didn’t carry over into the regular season. Bortles had the horrible habit of staring down his primary targets, which led to him throwing 17 interceptions (tied with Drew Brees for third most in the league) in 13 games played. Despite the addition of touchdown-happy tight end Julius Thomas and the rise of second-year receiver Allen Hurns, a lot of Bortles' issues stem from his flawed throwing mechanics and footwork, a problem that is a lot harder to solve than just poor decision-making. The lackluster offensive line also won’t be much help in ensuring he has the time to make the good throws. My prediction is that it’s going to take Bortles at least another year before he can use his phenomenal athleticism to become a respectable NFL-caliber starter.
Running Back:
Risers:
Chris: Carlos Hyde (49ers)
If you even sort of pay attention to football, you know that the 49ers lost a majority of their best players to either retirement (Chris Borland, Justin Smith, Patrick Willis) or free agency (Chris Culliver, Mike Iupati, Michael Crabtree) this offseason. While a majority of the 49ers most significant losses came on the defensive side of the ball, the 49ers lost running back Frank Gore- who has been the indisputable rock of their offense for the past decade- to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. With longtime assistant coach Jim Tomsula being promoted to head coach after the firing of Jim Harbaugh and a struggling quarterback in Colin Kaepernick under center, the 49ers seem primed to lean on the run in 2015, and Hyde is going to be the guy to takeover Gore's workhorse role. Hyde possesses the strength, vision and two-way capabilities that are needed to succeed as a running back in the NFL and has the benefit of having a pair of backups in Reggie Bush and Kendall Hunter that are either too rundown physically (Bush) or just simply are not good enough (Hunter) to significantly cut into his carries.
Liam: Jeremy Hill (Bengals)
Honestly, how can you not believe in this kid? When Giovani Bernard went down in week 8, coach Marvin Lewis was forced to turn to Hill, an untested albeit promising rookie. Hill took full advantage of the opportunity given, ultimately ending the season with 1,329 total yards (1,124 rushing, 215 receiving) and 9 TD's. His ability to gain yards between the tackles, to the outside and in the passing game forces defenses to adjust their scheme whenever he’s on the field, making him one of the most versatile weapons not just of the sophomore class, but in the entire league. That versatility and promise isn’t lost on the coaching staff either, as Lewis elected to continue starting Hill over Bernard even after the veteran returned from injury. You can tell the organization’s faith in quarterback Andy Dalton is dwindling, especially with all the in-house hype over Alabama product A.J McCarron. The Bengals need a playmaker who isn’t totally reliant on Dalton’s scattershot accuracy and decision-making to get them wins in the postseason as well as in primetime; and to me, Hill could turn out to be that missing piece.
Fallers:
Chris: Tre Mason (Rams)
You really have to feel for Mason right now. After an impressive rookie season which saw him firmly secure and thrive in a starting role in the second half of the season after Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham struggled out of the gate, The Rams used their first-round pick in 2015 on University of Georgia running back Todd Gurley. Even with Gurley coming off of a torn ACL that could jeopardize his availability at the start of the year, the rookie's similar yet superior skill set and standing as a first-round pick all but guarantees that Mason will be relegated to a situational role and inevitable loss of production in his second NFL season.
Liam: Carlos Hyde (49ers)
Of any prediction on my list, this is the one I believe is the most likely to bite me in the ass because I’m not necessarily basing it on overall skills. Hyde displayed great athleticism in limited action last season behind trusty veteran powerhouse Frank Gore. After Gore was lost in free agency to the Colts, there was a lot of people around the league that thought that Hyde was going to have his number called a lot more often this season, but based on all the losses the 49ers suffered since Gore departed at the beginning of free agency, I don't believe that will be the case. The 49ers now completely lack big name playmakers on offense (save for newly acquired wide receiver Torrey Smith) and are going to have to reach further into their barrel of tricks in order to drive the ball down the field this season. That means Hyde is probably going to be losing a lot of potential touches to the veteran pair of Reggie Bush and Kendall Hunter. Bush gives Colin Kapernick another option in the passing game with his versatility out of the back field, and Hunter on film seemed to display much better decision making than Hyde when hitting the holes, which is typical for a veteran at this point in his career. Hyde probably won’t face a dreadful year, but he’s most likely in for a rough ride with a 49ers offense that’s going to need all the veteran help it can get after a tumultuous offseason full of early retirements and free agency departures.
Wide Receiver/Tight End:
Risers:
Chris: Brandin Cooks (Saints)
Cooks was off to a pretty good start to his rookie year (623 Total YDS, 4 TD'S in 10 games) before suffering a season-ending thumb injury in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals. With a receiver-friendly offense and a division loaded with terrible secondaries, Cooks is in the best position of anyone in this talented-loaded receiving class to make a serious leap in his sophomore season. Even with a suddenly stout run game headed by 2014's surprise breakout star Mark Ingram, the Saints are still the most pass-happy team in the league and with the departure of start tight end Jimmy Graham and primary deep threat Kenny Stills via trades with the Seahawks and Dolphins respectively this offseason, there's sure to be a plethora of opportunities for Cooks to prove himself as a top wideout this season.
Liam: Eric Ebron (Lions)
After being touted as a potential big play maker coming into his first year, Ebron wasn’t quite the impact piece the Lions were hoping for, accumulating just 248 yards on 25 receptions. However, if you read between the lines (stat lines that is), you can actually find plenty of promise in the North Carolina product’s rookie resume. Even though he wasn’t stacking up the receptions game after game, Ebron proved himself to be a very capable deep threat whenever he was able to get the space. He ended the season on a high note with a 22-yard reception in a Week 17 loss to Green Bay to put his offense in position to score. His 6"4, 248-lb frame gives the strong armed, but often inaccurate quarterback Matthew Stafford a big target who can go up high for contested catches. With a year of experience under his belt in an NFL level and glowing reports from coaches and teammates in mini-camp/OTA’s, look for offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi to integrate the young tight end in a way that can take the pressure off of Stafford-who often sees his most critical mistakes made whenever he can’t find Tate or Johnson open down field.
Fallers:
Chris: Jarvis Landry (Dolphins)
This pick was nothing short of agonizing to make. There's a number of guys at this position (Kelvin Benjamin, Sammy Watkins, Odell Beckham Jr.) that could very well hit a wall this season because of injury concerns or ineffective quarterback play, but I ultimately decided to go with Landry because of his limitations as a player. Landry is strictly a possession receiver who lacks the size (5"11, 202 lbs) and post-catch abilities to be a top-tier receiver. With the Dolphins acquiring elite deep threat Kenny Stills and redzone targets Jordan Cameron and rookie DeVante Parker during the offseason, Landry's role in the offense this season seems like it's going to be limited to a handful of short, non-meaningful dump-off passes per game.
Liam: Marqise Lee (Jaguars)
I hate to bring the Jaguars down, but their 2014 draft class isn’t exactly panning out the way they had hoped it would. Lee showed sporadic moments of promise throughout the season, but he was mostly held back by knee problems that hindered his ability to separate from coverage. I’ll give the kid his credit, he ended the season with over 400 receiving yards, but when you go back and look at his game tape, the consistency just isn’t there. Quarterback Blake Bortles' accuracy is already a cause for concern for any receiver on this roster, but this season, Lee will be competing to earn even the number three spot on the depth chart behind Allen Hurns, Allen Robinson, and rookie Neal Sterling. If Lee is going to have any chance of living up to his second-round standing, he’s going to have to take the time to overcome a whole lot of obstacles. But this is the NFL, and if there’s one thing we know that this league is lacking, it’s patience.
Defensive Front
Risers:
Chris: Ryan Shazier (Steelers)
It took a lot for recently-departed Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LaBeau to voluntarily start a rookie right out of the gate. Shazier was one of the rare guys to pick up that distinction, which I believe says a lot about his talent. Shazier played excellent throughout the preseason and the first two regular season games last season before suffering a knee injury and high ankle sprain, that kept him out of nine games and hampered him for the rest of the season. With a full offseason to recover and ample opportunities to shine in a mostly young, unproven defense, Shazier should thrive in 2015. Despite his relative lack of size for the position (6"1, 237 lbs), Shazier has the instincts, field-stretching speed and excellent tackling ability to be a potential menace at inside linebacker.
Liam: Aaron Donald (Rams)
Despite an underwhelming season by number two overall pick Greg Robinson, the largely under-the-radar 13th overall pick of the draft put up phenomenal rookie numbers in his first professional season. Combining for 48 tackles and 9 sacks, Donald proved early on that he was a force to be reckoned with in an already upward trending Rams defense. As many analysts have said since the start of last September, the St. Louis Rams are a franchise quarterback away from being a true contender in the NFC West. Still, many questions remain on the offensive side of the ball in the gateway to the west, particularly at wideout. And, until the newly acquired Nick Foles has the chance to prove that he’s the guy who can lead this franchise out of the division's basement, Coach Fisher will have to rely on his defense to keep games within a manageable margin of points to keep their heads above water. Look for Donald to continue his dominance by playing an even more pivotal role as a premier defensive tackle in a division that lives in fear of the mighty Marshawn Lynch.
Fallers:
Chris: DeMarcus Lawrence (Cowboys)
This was another tough call as just about every high-level front seven player from this draft class either seems like a star in the making (Khalil Mack, Aaron Donald, C.J. Mosley) or underwhelmed a year ago and appear to destined to do the same in 2015 (Jadeveon Clowney, Dee Ford, Marcus Smith). Lawrence admittedly didn't do much in 2015, spending most of the year buried behind journeyman Jeremy Mincey on the Cowboys depth chart. But the buzz on Lawrence picked up after a strong showing in the playoffs (2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble in 2 games) and he's largely viewed as a strong breakout contender for 2015. Personally, I don't buy any of the hype on Lawrence. Everything about his game from his speed to his technique is average at best and not being able to surpass a mediocre player like Mincey speaks volumes about who he is as a player.
Liam: Jadeveon Clowney (Texans)
One of the most hyped first overall picks of the modern football era, and only three measly tackles to show for it thus far. What made Clowney so dangerous during his days at South Carolina was his explosiveness off the snap, which gave both guards and tackles barely any time to block him before he was in the backfield. Unfortunately, after undergoing surgery to repair a microfracture in his right knee, it remains to be seen if he can retain the speed that made him terrorize college o-lines and quarterbacks for three years. The Texans already have a fallback option with Vince Wilfork joining the team in free agency, and the enigmatic J.J Watt continuing to blow through any double, triple or quadruple team opposing offenses throw at him with ease. If Clowney is able to regain even 1/10th of his explosive power off the snap, this defensive line will make the Texans the team to beat in the AFC South. But, more than likely, Coach Bill O’Brien will probably want to protect his first round investment by easing him back into the defensive scheme, most likely lining him up as a pass rusher at outside linebacker or defensive end in certain situations. Until Clowney proves he can still play at a high level after having microfracture surgery, I wouldn't hold your breath for him to put up double-digit sacks.
Secondary
Risers:
Chris: Calvin Pryor (Jets)
Pryor had a well-documented rough start to his career as injuries in the Jets secondary forced him to move from his natural position of strong safety to free safety, which exploited his deficiencies in pass coverage and eventually led him to being benched for a five-game stretch from late October to early December. With a move back to strong safety and the Jets bringing in one of the league's finest defensive back developers in Todd Bowles as their new head coach, 2015 could mark a massive turnaround for Pryor. Pryor is a punishing hitter who was pretty great against the run on the rare occasion he was allowed to venture into the box last season and with the much improved lineup of guys around him in the secondary this year that will largely keep him out of coverage situations and allow him to stick to his strength as a run-stuffer, Pryor should get the opportunity to prove why the Jets spent such a high-draft pick on him a year ago.
Liam: Malcolm Butler (Patriots)
Chris couldn’t disagree with me more on this, but then again he’s a Bears fan, so what does he know. In fact, one of Butler’s best games of the season came during New England’s blowout win vs the Windy City furry animal things, when he deflected two of Jay Cutler’s famous deep balls. Despite not putting up any interceptions until his game sealing one versus the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, Butler showed good prowess vs the best of them , most notably breaking up four passes against Peyton Manning in the Pats blowout Week 9 win over the Broncos. Praise for the young defender also couldn’t be higher coming out of mandatory mini-camp (he was suspended for being late to OTAs, a matter the NFLPA is currently filing a grievance for). Coaches and teammates are lauding him for his intelligence and dedication to preparation. It was his ability to recognize the slant route formation from watching Seahawks game film that thrust the West Alabama product into the spotlight in the first place. Whether you think this kid is a fluke or not, he’s going to get the chance to prove himself this season, especially following the departures of Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, and Kyle Arrington. We’ll have to wait and see if the hero of New England is the real deal or merely lighting captured in a bottle.
Fallers:
Chris: Malcolm Butler (Patriots)
Butler went from the realms to obscurity to god-status after his incredible interception to secure the Patriots victory in Super Bowl XLIX. Butler has spent the last five months after the play that changed his life forever being repeatedly put on a pedestal and is largely considered to be the Patriots de facto number one corner after Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard all left the team this offseason. However, I think the Cinderella story of the undrafted kid from Western Alabama will come to an ugly end as soon as the 2015 season starts. Butler has never lined up against a top-tier wideout in his career (on his fateful interception he was covering Ricardo Lockette, the fourth option in a middling Seahawks receiving corps) and aside from the Super Bowl, has done absolutely nothing to show that he's capable of being a quality starting corner in this league.
Liam: Calvin Pryor (Jets)
Another underwhelming product of the first round, Pryor was able to surmount a respectable number of tackles (60), but was often burned by wide receivers when forced to play coverage, failing to put up even a single interception and only defensing two passes in his 11 starts. Although he has all the physical attributes to do well at the pro level, the free safety out of Louisville is going to have to cut down on the mental errors if he wants to be a real contributor in a suddenly frightening Jets defense. The additions of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie should take some of the pressure off of him, but unless he can step up his coverage game, quarterbacks are going to have a field day throwing on him in deep center field .
Monday, July 6, 2015
2015 NFL Position Rankings: Recap
My annual NFL position ranking series came to a close last Tuesday. For the sake of convenience, here's a recap of the entire series.
Quarterbacks
Quarterbacks
25.Blake Bortles (Jaguars)
24.Derek Carr (Raiders)
23.Teddy Bridgewater (Vikings)
22.Colin Kaepernick (49ers)
21.Sam Bradford (Eagles)
20.Andy Dalton (Bengals)
19.Carson Palmer (Cardinals)
18.Jay Cutler (Bears)
17.Alex Smith (Chiefs)
16.Nick Foles (Rams)
15.Joe Flacco (Ravens)
14.Matthew Stafford (Lions)
13.Eli Manning (Giants)
12.Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins)
11.Cam Newton (Panthers)
10.Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
10.Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
9.Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
8.Matt Ryan (Falcons)
7.Tony Romo (Cowboys)
6.Peyton Manning (Broncos)
5.Andrew Luck (Colts)
4.Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
3.Drew Brees (Saints)
2.Tom Brady (Patriots)
1.Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Running Backs
50.Bishop Sankey (Titans)
49.Chris Johnson (Free Agent)
48.Andre Williams (Giants)
47.DeAngelo Williams (Steelers)
46.Ahmad Bradshaw (Free Agent)
45.Branden Oliver (Chargers)
44.Bilal Powell (Jets)
43.Roy Helu Jr. (Raiders)
42.Bobby Rainey (Buccaneers)
41.Daniel “Boom” Herron (Colts)
40.Isaiah Crowell (Browns)
39.Terrance West (Browns)
38.Matt Asiata (Vikings)
37.Andre Ellington (Cardinals)
36.Darren Sproles (Eagles)
35.Darren McFadden (Cowboys)
34.Latavius Murray (Raiders)
33.Shane Vereen (Giants)
32.Jerick McKinnon (Vikings)
31.Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)
30.Danny Woodhead (Chargers)
29.Denard Robinson (Jaguars)
28.Doug Martin (Buccaneers)
27.Rashad Jennings (Giants)
26.LeGarette Blount (Patriots)
25.Stevan Ridley (Jets)
24.C.J. Spiller (Saints)
23.Reggie Bush (49ers)
22.Tre Mason (Rams)
21.Chris Ivory (Jets)
20.Giovani Bernard (Bengals)
19.Fred Jackson (Bills)
18.C.J. Anderson (Broncos)
17.Justin Forsett (Ravens)
16.Ryan Matthews (Eagles)
15.Mark Ingram (Saints)
14.Joique Bell (Lions)
13.Lamar Miller (Dolphins)
12.Jeremy Hill (Bengals)
11.Alfred Morris (Redskins)
10.Frank Gore (Colts)
9.Eddie Lacy (Packers)
8.Arian Foster (Texans)
7.Le'Veon Bell (Steelers)
6.DeMarco Murray (Eagles)
5.Matt Forte (Bears)
4.LeSean McCoy (Bills)
3.Jammal Charles (Chiefs)
3.Jammal Charles (Chiefs)
2.Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
1.Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks)
Wide Receivers
50.Malcolm Floyd (Chargers)
49.Terrance Williams (Cowboys)
48.Jarvis Landry (Dolphins)
47.Brian Quick (Rams)
46.Rueben Randle (Giants)
45.Mohammed Sanu (Bengals)
44.Kenny Stills (Dolphins)
43.Andrew Hawkins (Browns)
42.Doug Baldwin (Seahawks)
41.Brandon LaFell (Patriots)
40.Stevie Johnson (Chargers)
39.Michael Crabtree (Raiders)
38.Jordan Matthews (Eagles)
37.Roddy White (Falcons)
36.Percy Harvin (Bills)
35.Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
34.Keenan Allen (Chargers)
33.Marques Colston (Saints)
32.Eric Decker (Jets)
31.Mike Wallace (Vikings)
30.Michael Floyd (Cardinals)
29.Kendall Wright (Titans)
28.Andre Johnson (Colts)
27.Kelvin Benjamin (Panthers)
26.Pierre Garcon (Redskins)
25.Victor Cruz (Giants)
24.Torrey Smith (49ers)
24.Torrey Smith (49ers)
23.Julian Edelman (Patriots)
22.Anquan Boldin (49ers)
21.Sammy Watkins (Bills)
20.Steve Smith (Ravens)
19.Brandon Marshall (Jets)
18.Mike Evans (Buccaneers)
17.DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
16.Golden Tate (Lions)
15.Vincent Jackson (Buccaneers)
14.Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos)
13.Jeremy Maclin (Chiefs)
12.DeSean Jackson (Redskins)
11.Alshon Jeffrey (Bears)
10.T.Y. Hilton (Colts)
9.Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants)
8.Randall Cobb (Packers)
7.Jordy Nelson (Packers)
6.Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)
5.Julio Jones (Falcons)
4.A.J. Green (Bengals)
3.Antonio Brown (Steelers)
2.Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
1.Calvin Johnson (Lions)
Tight Ends
20.Kyle Rudolph (Vikings)
19.Owen Daniels (Broncos)
18.Jordan Reed (Redskins)
17.Larry Donnell (Giants)
16.Zach Ertz (Eagles)
15.Heath Miller (Steelers)
14.Coby Fleener (Colts)
14.Coby Fleener (Colts)
13.Charles Clay (Bills)
12.Jordan Cameron (Dolphins)
11.Dwayne Allen (Colts)
10.Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
9.Delanie Walker (Titans)
8.Vernon Davis (49ers)
7.Jason Witten (Cowboys)
6.Martellus Bennett (Bears)
5.Julius Thomas (Jaguars)
4.Antonio Gates (Chargers)
3.Greg Olsen (Panthers)
2.Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
1.Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Tackles
30.D'Brickashaw Ferguson (Jets)
29.Phil Loadholt (Vikings)
28.Cordy Glenn (Bills)
27.Derek Newton (Texans)
26.Marcus Gilbert (Steelers)
25.Donald Penn (Raiders)
24.Russell Okung (Seahawks)
23.Nate Solder (Patriots)
22.Zach Strief (Saints)
21.Riley Rieff (Lions)
20.Lane Johnson (Eagles)
28.Cordy Glenn (Bills)
27.Derek Newton (Texans)
26.Marcus Gilbert (Steelers)
25.Donald Penn (Raiders)
24.Russell Okung (Seahawks)
23.Nate Solder (Patriots)
22.Zach Strief (Saints)
21.Riley Rieff (Lions)
20.Lane Johnson (Eagles)
19.Ryan Clady (Broncos)
18.Doug Free (Cowboys)
17.Ricky Wagner (Ravens)
16.Demar Dotson (Buccaneers)
15.King Dunlap (Chargers)
14.Kelvin Beachum (Steelers)
13.Anthony Castonzo (Colts)
12.Eugene Monroe (Ravens)
11.Bryan Bulaga (Packers)
10.Sebastian Vollmer (Patriots)
9.Branden Albert (Dolphins)
8.Jared Veldheer (Cardinals)
7.Duane Brown (Texans)
6.Trent Williams (Redskins)
5.Joe Staley (49ers)
4.Tyron Smith (Cowboys)
3.Jason Peters (Eagles)
2.Andrew Whitworth (Bengals)
1.Joe Thomas (Browns)
18.Doug Free (Cowboys)
17.Ricky Wagner (Ravens)
16.Demar Dotson (Buccaneers)
15.King Dunlap (Chargers)
14.Kelvin Beachum (Steelers)
13.Anthony Castonzo (Colts)
12.Eugene Monroe (Ravens)
11.Bryan Bulaga (Packers)
10.Sebastian Vollmer (Patriots)
9.Branden Albert (Dolphins)
8.Jared Veldheer (Cardinals)
7.Duane Brown (Texans)
6.Trent Williams (Redskins)
5.Joe Staley (49ers)
4.Tyron Smith (Cowboys)
3.Jason Peters (Eagles)
2.Andrew Whitworth (Bengals)
1.Joe Thomas (Browns)
Guards
30.Oday Aboushi (Jets)
29.Trai Turner (Panthers)
28.Andrew Norwell (Panthers)
27.Logan Mankins (Buccaneers)
26.Todd Herremans (Colts)
25.Geoff Schwartz (Giants)
24.Andy Levitre (Titans)
23.Ben Grubbs (Chiefs)
22.Ronald Leary (Cowboys)
21.Ramon Foster (Steelers)
20.Alex Boone (49ers)
19.Jahri Evans (Saints)
18.David DeCastro (Steelers)
17.Brandon Linder (Jaguars)
16.Joel Bitonio (Browns)
15.Clint Boling (Bengals)
14.Orlando Franklin (Chargers)
13.Matt Slauson (Bears)
29.Trai Turner (Panthers)
28.Andrew Norwell (Panthers)
27.Logan Mankins (Buccaneers)
26.Todd Herremans (Colts)
25.Geoff Schwartz (Giants)
24.Andy Levitre (Titans)
23.Ben Grubbs (Chiefs)
22.Ronald Leary (Cowboys)
21.Ramon Foster (Steelers)
20.Alex Boone (49ers)
19.Jahri Evans (Saints)
18.David DeCastro (Steelers)
17.Brandon Linder (Jaguars)
16.Joel Bitonio (Browns)
15.Clint Boling (Bengals)
14.Orlando Franklin (Chargers)
13.Matt Slauson (Bears)
12.Larry Warford (Lions)
11.T.J. Lang (Packers)
10.Louis Vazquez (Broncos)
11.T.J. Lang (Packers)
10.Louis Vazquez (Broncos)
9.Mike Iupati (Cardinals)
8.Brandon Brooks (Texans)
7.Kevin Zeitler (Bengals)
7.Kevin Zeitler (Bengals)
6.Zack Martin (Cowboys)
5.Kyle Long (Bears)
4.Kelechi Osemele (Ravens)
3.Josh Sitton (Packers)
2.Evan Mathis (Free Agent)
1.Marshal Yanda (Ravens)
Centers
20.Eric Wood (Bills)
19.Chris Myers (Free Agent)
18.Lemuel Jeanpierre (Seahawks)
17.Bryan Stork (Patriots)
16.Evan Dietrich-Smith (Buccaneers)
15.Stefen Wisnewski (Jaguars)
14.Jeremy Zuttah (Ravens)
13.Mike Pouncey (Dolphins)
12.Russell Bodine (Bengals)
11.Manny Ramirez (Lions)
10.Corey Linsley (Packers)
9.Ryan Kalil (Panthers)
8.Jason Kelce (Eagles)
7.Rodney Hudson (Raiders)
6.Travis Fredrick (Cowboys)
5.John Sullivan (Vikings)
4.Max Unger (Saints)
3.Alex Mack (Browns)
2.Nick Mangold (Jets)
1.Maurkice Pouncey (Steelers)
Defensive Ends
30.Vinny Curry (Eagles)
29.Arthur Jones (Colts)
28.Rob Ninkovich (Patriots)
29.Arthur Jones (Colts)
28.Rob Ninkovich (Patriots)
27.Chris Canty (Ravens)
26.Cliff Avril (Seahawks)
25.Jeremiah Ratliff (Bears)
24.Everson Griffen (Vikings)
23.Stephen Paea (Redskins)
23.Stephen Paea (Redskins)
22.Jason Hatcher (Redskins)
21.Carlos Dunlap (Bengals)
20.Olivier Vernon (Dolphins)
19.Chris Long (Rams)
18.Chandler Jones (Patriots)
17.Cameron Jordan (Saints)
17.Cameron Jordan (Saints)
16.Cameron Heyward (Steelers)
15.Ezekiel Ansah (Lions)
14.DeMarcus Ware (Broncos)
14.DeMarcus Ware (Broncos)
13.Jason Pierre-Paul (Giants)
12.Charles Johnson (Panthers)
11.Jerry Hughes (Bills)
10.Fletcher Cox (Eagles)
9.Muhammad Wilkerson (Jets)
8.Greg Hardy (Cowboys)
8.Greg Hardy (Cowboys)
7.Calias Campbell (Cardinals)
6.Sheldon Richardson (Jets)
5.Michael Bennett (Seahawks)
4.Cameron Wake (Dolphins)
3.Robert Quinn (Rams)
2.Mario Williams (Bills)
1.J.J. Watt (Texans)
Defensive Tackles
30.Tony McDaniel (Seahawks)
29.Vince Wilfork (Texans)
28.Sharrif Floyd (Vikings)
27.Michael Brockers (Rams)
26.Paul Soliai (Falcons)
29.Vince Wilfork (Texans)
28.Sharrif Floyd (Vikings)
27.Michael Brockers (Rams)
26.Paul Soliai (Falcons)
25.Henry Melton (Buccaneers)
24.Linval Joesph (Vikings)
23.Steve McLendon (Steelers)
22.Bernie Logan (Eagles)
21.Tyrone Crawford (Cowboys)
20.Jared Odrick (Jaguars)
19.Jonathan Hankins (Giants)
18.Nick Fairley (Rams)
23.Steve McLendon (Steelers)
22.Bernie Logan (Eagles)
21.Tyrone Crawford (Cowboys)
20.Jared Odrick (Jaguars)
19.Jonathan Hankins (Giants)
18.Nick Fairley (Rams)
17.Star Lotulelei (Panthers)
16.Dan Williams (Raiders)
15.Brandon Williams (Ravens)
14.Damon Harrison (Jets)
13.Haloti Ngata (Lions)
12.Kawann Short (Panthers)
16.Dan Williams (Raiders)
15.Brandon Williams (Ravens)
14.Damon Harrison (Jets)
13.Haloti Ngata (Lions)
12.Kawann Short (Panthers)
11.Geno Atkins (Bengals)
10.Terrence Knighton (Redskins)
9.Brandon Mebane (Seahawks)
8.Sen'Derrick Marks (Jaguars)
8.Sen'Derrick Marks (Jaguars)
7.Jurrell Casey (Titans)
6.Aaron Donald (Rams)
5.Kyle Williams (Bills)
6.Aaron Donald (Rams)
5.Kyle Williams (Bills)
4.Dontari Poe (Chiefs)
3.Marcell Dareus (Bills)
2.Gerald McCoy (Buccaneers)
1.Ndamukong Suh (Dolphins)
Outside Linebackers
50.Erik Walden (Colts)
49.Courtney Upshaw (Ravens)
48.Aaron Lynch (49ers)
47.Dan Skuta (Jaguars)
46.Nick Perry (Packers)
45.Brooks Reed (Falcons)
44.Alec Ogletree (Rams)
43.Spencer Paysinger (Dolphins)
42.Akeem Ayers (Rams)
41.Chad Greenway (Vikings)
40.Jelani Jenkins (Dolphins)
39.Manny Lawson (Bills)
38.Ahmad Brooks (49ers)
37.Bruce Carter (Buccaneers)
36.Quentin Coples (Jets)
35.Bruce Irvin (Seahawks)
34.Melvin Ingram (Chargers)
33.Jared Allen (Bears)
32.Brandon Graham (Eagles)
31.Trent Cole (Colts)
30.Brian Orakpo (Titans)
29.Telvin Smith (Jaguars)
28.K.J. Wright (Seahawks)
27.Vincent Rey (Bengals)
26.Calvin Pace (Jets)
25.Pernell McPhee (Bears)
24.Anthony Barr (Vikings)
23.Sio Moore (Raiders)
22.Khalil Mack (Raiders)
21.Julius Peppers (Packers)
20.Nigel Bradham (Bills)
19.Whitney Mercilus (Texans)
18.Derrick Morgan (Titans)
17.Robert Mathis (Colts)
16.Don'ta Hightower (Patriots)
15.Junior Gallete (Saints)
14.Tamba Hali (Chiefs)
13.Vontaze Burfict (Bengals)
12.Jamie Collins (Patriots)
11.Elvis Dumervil (Ravens)
10.Connor Barwin (Eagles)
9.Aldon Smith (49ers)
8.Ryan Kerrigan (Redskins)
7.Thomas Davis (Panthers)
6.Terrell Suggs (Ravens)
5.Clay Matthews (Packers)
4.DeAndre Levy (Lions)
3.Lavonte David (Buccaneers)
2.Justin Houston (Chiefs)
1.Von Miller (Broncos)
Inside Linebackers
25.Jerod Mayo (Patriots)
24.Danny Trevathan (Broncos)
24.Danny Trevathan (Broncos)
23.D'Qwell Jackson (Colts)
22.James Laurinaitis (Rams)
17.Jerrell Freeman (Colts)
16.Stephen Tulloch (Lions)
15.Sean Lee (Cowboys)
14.Donald Butler (Chargers)
13.Kiko Alonso (Eagles)
22.James Laurinaitis (Rams)
21.Daryl Washington (Cardinals)
20.Paul Worrilow (Falcons)
19.Preston Brown (Bills)
18.Rolando McClain (Cowboys) 17.Jerrell Freeman (Colts)
16.Stephen Tulloch (Lions)
15.Sean Lee (Cowboys)
14.Donald Butler (Chargers)
13.Kiko Alonso (Eagles)
12.Derrick Johnson (Chiefs)
11.Mychal Kendricks (Eagles)
10.David Harris (Jets)
11.Mychal Kendricks (Eagles)
10.David Harris (Jets)
9.NaVorro Bowman (49ers)
8.Brian Cushing (Texans)
7.Brandon Marshall (Broncos)
6.Daryl Smith (Ravens)
5.C.J. Mosley (Ravens)
4.Karlos Dansby (Browns)
8.Brian Cushing (Texans)
7.Brandon Marshall (Broncos)
6.Daryl Smith (Ravens)
5.C.J. Mosley (Ravens)
4.Karlos Dansby (Browns)
3.Lawrence Timmons (Steelers)
2.Bobby Wagner (Seahawks)
2.Bobby Wagner (Seahawks)
1.Luke Kuechly (Panthers)
Cornerbacks
50.Kyle Arrington (Ravens)
49.Leon Hall (Bengals)
48.Cortez Allen (Steelers)
47.Perrish Cox (Titans)
46.Tramaine Brock (49ers)
45.Buster Skrine (Jets)
44.Brandon Browner (Saints)
43.Jason McCourty (Titans)
42.Bradley Roby (Broncos)
41.Bashaud Breeland (Redskins)
40.Captain Munnerlyn (Vikings)
39.Davon House (Jaguars)
38.Jeremy Lane (Seahawks)
37.Leodis McKlevin (Bills)
36.Keenan Lewis (Saints)
35.Darius Slay (Lions)
34.Tramon Williams (Browns)
33.Kareem Jackson (Texans)
32.K'Wuan Williams (Browns)
31.Josh Norman (Panthers)
30.Rashean Mathis (Lions)
29.Antonio Cromartie (Jets)
28.Bene Benwikere (Panthers)
27.Brandon Boykin (Eagles)
26.E.J. Gaines (Rams)
25.Tim Jennings (Bears)
24.Casey Hayward (Packers)
23.Jonathan Joesph (Texans)
22.Alterraun Verner (Buccaneers)
21.Sean Smith (Chiefs)
20.Xavier Rhodes (Vikings)
19.Brandon Flowers (Chargers)
18.Sam Shields (Packers)
17.Chris Culliver (Redskins)
16.Stephon Gilmore (Bills)
15.Aqib Talib (Broncos)
14.Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Giants)
13.Byron Maxwell (Eagles)
12.Corey Graham (Bills)
11.Orlando Scandrick (Cowboys)
10.Jimmy Smith (Ravens)
9.Prince Amukamara (Giants)
8.Desmond Trufant (Falcons)
7.Patrick Peterson (Cardinals)
6.Brent Grimes (Dolphins)
5.Chris Harris Jr. (Broncos)
4.Joe Haden (Browns)
3.Darrelle Revis (Jets)
2.Vontae Davis (Colts)
1.Richard Sherman (Seahawks)
49.Leon Hall (Bengals)
48.Cortez Allen (Steelers)
47.Perrish Cox (Titans)
46.Tramaine Brock (49ers)
45.Buster Skrine (Jets)
44.Brandon Browner (Saints)
43.Jason McCourty (Titans)
42.Bradley Roby (Broncos)
41.Bashaud Breeland (Redskins)
40.Captain Munnerlyn (Vikings)
39.Davon House (Jaguars)
38.Jeremy Lane (Seahawks)
37.Leodis McKlevin (Bills)
36.Keenan Lewis (Saints)
35.Darius Slay (Lions)
34.Tramon Williams (Browns)
33.Kareem Jackson (Texans)
32.K'Wuan Williams (Browns)
31.Josh Norman (Panthers)
30.Rashean Mathis (Lions)
29.Antonio Cromartie (Jets)
28.Bene Benwikere (Panthers)
27.Brandon Boykin (Eagles)
26.E.J. Gaines (Rams)
25.Tim Jennings (Bears)
24.Casey Hayward (Packers)
23.Jonathan Joesph (Texans)
22.Alterraun Verner (Buccaneers)
21.Sean Smith (Chiefs)
20.Xavier Rhodes (Vikings)
19.Brandon Flowers (Chargers)
18.Sam Shields (Packers)
17.Chris Culliver (Redskins)
16.Stephon Gilmore (Bills)
15.Aqib Talib (Broncos)
14.Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Giants)
13.Byron Maxwell (Eagles)
12.Corey Graham (Bills)
11.Orlando Scandrick (Cowboys)
10.Jimmy Smith (Ravens)
9.Prince Amukamara (Giants)
8.Desmond Trufant (Falcons)
7.Patrick Peterson (Cardinals)
6.Brent Grimes (Dolphins)
5.Chris Harris Jr. (Broncos)
4.Joe Haden (Browns)
3.Darrelle Revis (Jets)
2.Vontae Davis (Colts)
1.Richard Sherman (Seahawks)
Safeties
30.Robert Blanton (Vikings)
29.Kendrick Lewis (Ravens)
28.Morgan Burnett (Packers)
27.Dwight Lowery (Colts)
26.Ron Parker (Chiefs)
25.Mike Mitchell (Steelers)
24.Tyrann Mathieu (Cardinals)
23.Eric Reid (49ers)
22.Da'Norris Searcy (Titans)
21.Nate Allen (Raiders)
20.George Iloka (Bengals)
19.Aaron Williams (Bills)
18.Charles Woodson (Raiders)
17.Will Hill (Ravens)
16.Antrel Rolle (Bears)
15.Malcolm Jenkins (Eagles)
14.Rahim Moore (Texans)
13.Mike Adams (Colts)
12.Tashaun Gibson (Browns)
11.Antonie Bethea (49ers)
10.T.J. Ward (Broncos)
9.Reshad Jones (Dolphins)
8.Glover Quinn (Lions)
7.Donte Whitner (Browns)
6.Harrison Smith (Vikings)
5.Jairus Byrd (Saints)
4.Devin McCourty (Patriots)
3.Eric Weddle (Chargers)
2.Kam Chancellor (Seahawks)
1.Earl Thomas (Seahawks)
29.Kendrick Lewis (Ravens)
28.Morgan Burnett (Packers)
27.Dwight Lowery (Colts)
26.Ron Parker (Chiefs)
25.Mike Mitchell (Steelers)
24.Tyrann Mathieu (Cardinals)
23.Eric Reid (49ers)
22.Da'Norris Searcy (Titans)
21.Nate Allen (Raiders)
20.George Iloka (Bengals)
19.Aaron Williams (Bills)
18.Charles Woodson (Raiders)
17.Will Hill (Ravens)
16.Antrel Rolle (Bears)
15.Malcolm Jenkins (Eagles)
14.Rahim Moore (Texans)
13.Mike Adams (Colts)
12.Tashaun Gibson (Browns)
11.Antonie Bethea (49ers)
10.T.J. Ward (Broncos)
9.Reshad Jones (Dolphins)
8.Glover Quinn (Lions)
7.Donte Whitner (Browns)
6.Harrison Smith (Vikings)
5.Jairus Byrd (Saints)
4.Devin McCourty (Patriots)
3.Eric Weddle (Chargers)
2.Kam Chancellor (Seahawks)
1.Earl Thomas (Seahawks)
Kickers
20.Matt Prater (Lions)
19.Nick Novak (Chargers)
18.Graham Gano (Panthers)
17.Nick Folk (Jets)
16.Randy Bullock (Texans)
15.Greg Zuerlein (Rams)
14.Josh Brown (Giants)
13.Caleb Sturgis (Dolphins)
12.Shaun Suisham (Steelers)
11.Cody Parkey (Eagles)
10.Blair Walsh (Vikings)
9.Mason Crosby (Packers)
8.Dan Carpenter (Bills)
7.Phil Dawson (49ers)
6.Matt Bryant (Falcons)
5.Adam Vinatieri (Colts)
4.Steven Hauschka (Seahawks)
3.Dan Bailey (Cowboys)
2.Justin Tucker (Ravens)
1.Stephen Gostkowski (Patriots)
19.Nick Novak (Chargers)
18.Graham Gano (Panthers)
17.Nick Folk (Jets)
16.Randy Bullock (Texans)
15.Greg Zuerlein (Rams)
14.Josh Brown (Giants)
13.Caleb Sturgis (Dolphins)
12.Shaun Suisham (Steelers)
11.Cody Parkey (Eagles)
10.Blair Walsh (Vikings)
9.Mason Crosby (Packers)
8.Dan Carpenter (Bills)
7.Phil Dawson (49ers)
6.Matt Bryant (Falcons)
5.Adam Vinatieri (Colts)
4.Steven Hauschka (Seahawks)
3.Dan Bailey (Cowboys)
2.Justin Tucker (Ravens)
1.Stephen Gostkowski (Patriots)
Punters
20.Dustin Colquitt (Chiefs)
19.Mike Scifres (Chargers)
18.Brad Nortman (Panthers)
17.Jon Ryan (Seahawks)
16.Ryan Allen (Patriots)
15.Ryan Quigley (Jets)
14.Tress Way (Redskins)
13.Marquette King (Raiders)
12.Steve Weatherford (Giants)
11.Brett Kern (Titans)
10.Sam Martin (Lions)
9.Shane Lechler (Texans)
8.Thomas Morstead (Saints)
7.Bryan Anger (Jaguars)
19.Mike Scifres (Chargers)
18.Brad Nortman (Panthers)
17.Jon Ryan (Seahawks)
16.Ryan Allen (Patriots)
15.Ryan Quigley (Jets)
14.Tress Way (Redskins)
13.Marquette King (Raiders)
12.Steve Weatherford (Giants)
11.Brett Kern (Titans)
10.Sam Martin (Lions)
9.Shane Lechler (Texans)
8.Thomas Morstead (Saints)
7.Bryan Anger (Jaguars)
6.Kevin Huber (Bengals)
5.Andy Lee (Browns)
4.Sam Koch (Ravens)
3.Brandon Fields (Dolphins)
2.Johnny Hekker (Rams)
1.Pat McAfee (Colts)
5.Andy Lee (Browns)
4.Sam Koch (Ravens)
3.Brandon Fields (Dolphins)
2.Johnny Hekker (Rams)
1.Pat McAfee (Colts)
Top 10 Players by Team:
Seattle Seahawks-10 (Michael Bennett, Kam Chancellor, Jimmy Graham, Steven Hauschka, Marshawn Lynch, Brandon Mebane, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Bobby
Wagner, Russell Wilson)
Baltimore Ravens-8 (Sam Koch, C.J. Mosley, Kelechi Osemele, Daryl Smith, Jimmy Smith, Terrell Suggs, Justin Tucker Marshal Yanda)
Dallas Cowboys-8 (Dan Bailey, Dez Bryant, Travis Fredrick, Greg Hardy, Zack Martin, Tony Romo, Tyron Smith, Jason Witten)
Baltimore Ravens-8 (Sam Koch, C.J. Mosley, Kelechi Osemele, Daryl Smith, Jimmy Smith, Terrell Suggs, Justin Tucker Marshal Yanda)
Dallas Cowboys-8 (Dan Bailey, Dez Bryant, Travis Fredrick, Greg Hardy, Zack Martin, Tony Romo, Tyron Smith, Jason Witten)
Green Bay Packers-8 (Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby, Eddie Lacy, Corey Linsley, Clay Matthews, Jordy Nelson, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Sitton)
Denver Broncos-7 (Chris Harris Jr., Peyton Manning, Brandon Marshall, Von Miller, Demaryius Thomas, Louis Vasquez, T.J. Ward)
Denver Broncos-7 (Chris Harris Jr., Peyton Manning, Brandon Marshall, Von Miller, Demaryius Thomas, Louis Vasquez, T.J. Ward)
Cleveland Browns-6 (Karlos Dansby, Joe Haden, Andy Lee, Alex Mack, Joe Thomas, Donte Whitner)
Houston Texans-6 (Brandon Brooks, Duane Brown, Brian Cushing, Arian Foster, Shane Lechler, J.J. Watt)
Indianapolis Colts-6 (Vontae Davis, T.Y. Hilton, Frank Gore, Andrew Luck, Pat McAfee, Adam Vinatieri)
Miami Dolphins-6 (Branden Albert, Brandon Fields, Brent Grimes, Reshad Jones, Ndamukong Suh, Cameron Wake)
Buffalo Bills-5 (Dan Carpenter, LeSean McCoy, Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams, Mario Williams)
New England Patriots-5 (Tom Brady, Stephen Gostkowski, Rob Gronkowski, Devin McCourty, Sebastian Vollmer)
New York Jets-5 (David Harris, Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis, Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson)
Philadelphia Eagles-5 (Connor Barwin, Fletcher Cox, Jason Kelce, DeMarco Murray, Jason Peters)
Pittsburgh Steelers-5 (Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, Maurkice Pouncey, Ben Roethlisberger, Lawrence Timmons)
San Fransisco 49ers-5 (NaVorro Bowman, Phil Dawson, Vernon Davis, Aldon Smith, Joe Staley)
San Fransisco 49ers-5 (NaVorro Bowman, Phil Dawson, Vernon Davis, Aldon Smith, Joe Staley)
Arizona Cardinals-4 (Calais Campbell, Mike Iupati, Patrick Peterson, Jared Veldheer)
Atlanta Falcons-4 (Matt Bryant, Julio Jones, Matt Ryan, Desmond Trufant)
Carolina Panthers-4 (Thomas Davis, Ryan Kalil, Luke Kuechly, Greg Olsen)
Cincinnati Bengals-4 (A.J. Green, Kevin Huber, Andrew Whitworth, Kevin Zeitler)
Detroit Lions-4 (Calvin Johnson, DeAndre Levy, Sam Martin, Glover Quin)
Kansas City Chiefs-4 (Jammal Charles, Justin Houston, Travis Kelce, Dontari Poe)
Minnesota Vikings-4 (Adrian Peterson, Harrison Smith, John Sullivan, Blair Walsh)
New Orleans Saints-4 (Drew Brees, Jairus Byrd, Thomas Morstead, Max Unger)
Chicago Bears-3 (Martellus Bennett, Matt Forte, Kyle Long)
Jacksonville Jaguars-3 (Bryan Anger, Sen'Derrick Marks, Julius Thomas)
San Diego Chargers-3 (Antonio Gates, Phillip Rivers, Eric Weddle)
St. Louis Rams-3 (Aaron Donald, Johnny Hekker, Robert Quinn)
Washington Redskins-3 (Ryan Kerrigan, Terrence Knighton, Trent Williams)
New York Giants-2 (Prince Amukamara, Odell Beckham Jr.)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers-2 (Lavonte David, Gerald McCoy)
Tennessee Titans-2 (Jurrell Casey, Delanie Walker)
Oakland Raiders-1 (Rodney Hudson)
Free Agents-1 (Evan Mathis)
Free Agents-1 (Evan Mathis)
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