It's a debate that NFL fans across the country frequently have when discussing the finest players in the league: Is (insert player) good enough to make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Determining whether or not a player is worthy of being inducted into the Hall of Fame is not nearly as easy it sounds. You have to take a good hard look at the player's accolades (Pro Bowl/All-Pro appearances, Super Bowl titles, various statistical benchmarks, all-time records, consistency, playoff performance, etc.) and the impact they made on the game throughout their career before you can determine if they're going to be fortunate enough to be immortalized with a gold bust and plaque in Canton, Ohio. Out of sheer boredom and morbid curiosity, I decided to assess the Hall of Fame odds for today's NFL greats. It should be noted that I don't any have concrete evidence as to why I believe these guys will make or miss the Hall of Fame, it's simply an opinion I formed after breaking down these player's resumes and how they stack up against guys that have already been enshrined in Canton. Hope you enjoy and I encourage all of you to share your thoughts on my list or your own list of future Hall-of-Famers in the comment section below.
*indicates a player who isn't on an active roster, but hasn't formerly retired
Locks:
Jared Allen, defensive end (Current team: Carolina Panthers Former teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears)
Tom Brady, quarterback (Current team: New England Patriots)
Drew Brees, quarterback (Current team: New Orleans Saints Former team: San Diego Chargers)
Jahri Evans, guard (Current team: New Orleans Saints)
Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver (Current team: Arizona Cardinals)
Antonio Gates, tight end (Current team: San Diego Chargers)
Rob Gronkowski, tight end (Current team: New England Patriots)
Andre Johnson, wide receiver (Current team: Indianapolis Colts Former team: Houston Texans)
Calvin Johnson, wide receiver (Current team: Detroit Lions)
Shane Lechler, punter (Current team: Houston Texans Former team: Oakland Raiders)
Peyton Manning, quarterback (Current team: Denver Broncos Former team: Indianapolis Colts)
Julius Peppers, defensive end/outside linebacker (Current team: Green
Bay Packers Former teams: Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears)
Adrian Peterson, running back (Current team: Minnesota Vikings)
Jason Peters, tackle (Current team: Philadelphia Eagles Former team: Buffalo Bills)
Darrelle Revis, cornerback (Current team: New York Jets Former teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots)
Aaron Rodgers, quarterback (Current team: Green Bay Packers)
Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback (Current team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Steve Smith, wide receiver (Current team: Baltimore Ravens Former team: Carolina Panthers)
Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle (Current team: Miami Dolphins Former team: Detroit Lions)
Joe Thomas, tackle (Current team: Cleveland Browns)
Adam Vinatieri, kicker (Current team: Indianapolis Colts Former team: New England Patriots)
DeMarcus Ware, outside linebacker/defensive end (Current team: Denver Broncos Former team: Dallas Cowboys)
J.J. Watt, defensive end (Current team: Houston Texans)
Reggie Wayne*, wide receiver (Former team: Indianapolis Colts)
Charles Woodson, safety/cornerback (Current team: Oakland Raiders Former team: Green Bay Packers)
Strong Possibility:
Lance Briggs*, outside linebacker (Former team: Chicago Bears)
Jammal Charles, running back (Current team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Dwight Freeney, defensive end/outside linebacker (Current team: Arizona Cardinals Former teams: Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers)
Matt Forte, running back (Current team: Chicago Bears)
Arian Foster, running back (Current team: Houston Texans)
Stephen Gostkowski, kicker (Current team: New England Patriots)
James Harrison, outside linebacker (Current team: Pittsburgh Steelers Former team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Marshawn Lynch, running back (Current team: Seattle Seahawks Former team: Buffalo Bills)
Logan Mankins, guard (Current team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Former team: New England Patriots)
Brandon Marshall, wide receiver (Current team: New York Jets Former teams: Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears)
Haloti Ngata, defensive tackle (Current team: Detroit Lions Former team: Baltimore Ravens)
Joe Staley, tackle (Current team: San Francisco 49ers)
Terrell Suggs, outside linebacker (Current team: Baltimore Ravens)
Vince Wilfork, defensive tackle (Current team: Houston Texans Former team: New England Patriots)
Mario Williams, defensive end (Current team: Buffalo Bills Former team: Houston Texans)
Jason Witten, tight end (Current team: Dallas Cowboys)
Marshal Yanda, guard (Current team: Baltimore Ravens)
Too Early to Tell, but Appear to Be on the Right Track:
Geno Atkins, defensive tackle (Current team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Dan Bailey, kicker (Current team: Dallas Cowboys)
Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (Current team: New York Giants)
Eric Berry, safety (Current team: Kansas City Chiefs)
NaVorro Bowman, inside linebacker (Current team: San Francisco 49ers)
Antonio Brown, wide receiver (Current team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Dez Bryant, wide receiver (Current team: Dallas Cowboys)
Kam Chancellor, safety (Current team: Seattle Seahawks)
Fletcher Cox, defensive end (Current team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Marcell Dareus, defensive tackle (Current team: Buffalo Bills)
Lavonte David, outside linebacker (Current team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Aaron Donald, defensive tackle (Current team: St. Louis Rams)
Joe Haden, cornerback (Current team: Cleveland Browns)
Justin Houston, outside linebacker (Current team: Kansas City Chiefs)
A.J. Green, wide receiver (Current team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Travis Fredrick, center (Current team: Dallas Cowboys)
Julio Jones, wide receiver (Current team: Atlanta Falcons)
Luke Kuechly, inside linebacker (Current team: Carolina Panthers)
Zach Martin, guard (Current team: Dallas Cowboys)
Pat McAfee, punter (Current team: Indianapolis Colts)
Gerald McCoy, defensive tackle (Current team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
LeSean McCoy, running back (Current team: Buffalo Bills Former team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Von Miller, outside linebacker (Current team: Denver Broncos)
Cam Newton, quarterback (Current team: Carolina Panthers)
Patrick Peterson, cornerback (Current team: Arizona Cardinals)
Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end (Current team: New York Giants)
Maurkice Pouncey, center (Current team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Sheldon Richardson, defensive end (Current team: New York Jets)
Richard Sherman, cornerback (Current team: Seattle Seahawks)
Tyron Smith, tackle (Current team: Dallas Cowboys)
Demaryius Thomas, wide receiver (Current team: Denver Broncos)
Earl Thomas, safety (Current team: Seattle Seahawks)
Justin Tucker, kicker (Current team: Baltimore Ravens)
Bobby Wagner, inside linebacker (Current team: Seattle Seahawks)
Trent Williams, tackle (Current team: Washington Redskins)
Russell Wilson, quarter (Current team: Seattle Seahawks)
Toss-Ups:
Anquan Boldin, wide receiver (Current team: San Francisco 49ers Former teams: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens)
Ryan Clady, tackle (Current team: Denver Broncos)
Elvis Dumervil, outside linebacker (Current team: Baltimore Ravens Former team: Denver Broncos)
Frank Gore, running back (Current team: Indianapolis Colts Former team: San Francisco 49ers)
Tamba Hali, outside linebacker (Current team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Devin Hester, wide receiver (Current team: Atlanta Falcons Former team: Chicago Bears)
Steven Jackson, running back* (Former teams: St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons)
Ryan Kalil, center (Current team: Carolina Panthers)
Nick Mangold, center (Current team: New York Jets)
Eli Manning, quarterback (Current team: New York Giants)
Clay Matthews, outside/inside linebacker (Current team: Green Bay Packers)
Robert Mathis, outside linebacker (Current team: Indianapolis Colts)
Tony Romo, quarterback (Current team: Dallas Cowboys)
Cameron Wake, defensive end (Current team: Miami Dolphins)
Eric Weddle, safety (Current team: San Diego Chargers)
Wes Welker, wide receiver (Current team: St. Louis Rams Former teams: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos)
Longshots:
Jon Beason, inside linebacker (Current team: New York Giants Former team: Carolina Panthers)
Michael Bennett, defensive end (Current team: Seattle Seahawks Former team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Antonie Bethea, safety (Current team: San Francisco 49ers Former team: Indianapolis Colts)
Duane Brown, tackle (Current team: Houston Texans)
Jairus Byrd, safety (Current team: New Orleans Saints Former team: Buffalo Bills)
Antonio Cromartie, cornerback (Current team: New York Jets Former teams: San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals)
Vernon Davis, tight end (Current team: Denver Broncos Former team: San Francisco 49ers)
Vontae Davis, cornerback (Current team: Indianapolis Colts Former team: Miami Dolphins)
Darnell Dockett*, defensive end (Former team: Arizona Cardinals)
Jimmy Graham, tight end (Current team: Seattle Seahawks Former team: New Orleans Saints)
Brent Grimes, cornerback (Current team: Miami Dolphins Former team: Atlanta Falcons)
Matt Hasselbeck, quarterback (Current team: Indianapolis Colts Former teams: Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans)
Mike Iupati, guard (Current team: Arizona Cardinals Former team: San Francisco 49ers)
Vincent Jackson, wide receiver (Current team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Former team: San Diego Chargers)
Chris Johnson, running back (Current team: Arizona Cardinals Former teams: Tennessee Titans, New York Jets)
Derrick Johnson, inside linebacker (Current team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Andy Lee, punter (Current team: Cleveland Browns Former team: San Francisco 49ers)
Jake Long, tackle (Current team: Atlanta Falcons Former teams: Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams)
Alex Mack, center (Current team: Cleveland Browns)
Evan Mathis, guard (Current team: Denver Broncos Former teams: Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers Philadelphia Eagles)
Jerod Mayo, inside linebacker (Current team: New England Patriots)
Devin McCourty, safety (Current team: New England Patriots)
DeMarco Murray, running back (Current team: Philadelphia Eagles Former team: Dallas Cowboys)
Heath Miller, tight end (Current team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Phillip Rivers, quarterback (Current team: San Diego Chargers)
Antrel Rolle, safety (Current team: Chicago Bears Former teams: Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants)
Matt Ryan, quarterback (Current team: Atlanta Falcons)
Josh Sitton, guard (Current team: Green Bay Packers)
Aqib Talib, cornerback (Current team: Denver Broncos Former teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots)
Charles Tillman, cornerback (Current team: Carolina Panthers Former team: Chicago Bears)
Justin Tuck, defensive end (Current team: Oakland Raiders Former team: New York Giants)
Max Unger, center (Current team: New Orleans Saints Former Team: Seattle Seahawks)
Michael Vick, quarterback (Current team: Pittsburgh Steelers Former teams: Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets)
T.J. Ward, safety (Current team: Denver Broncos Former team: Cleveland Browns)
Roddy White, wide receiver (Current team: Atlanta Falcons)
Donte Whitner, safety (Current team: Cleveland Browns Former teams: Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers)
Kyle Williams, defensive tackle (Current team: Buffalo Bills)
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Friday, December 11, 2015
The Best and Worst of Christian Bale
The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an
actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I
take a look at the filmography of "The Big Short" star Christian Bale.
Films starring Christian Bale that I've seen:
Pocahontas
American Psycho
Batman Begins
The Prestige
3:10 to Yuma
The Dark Knight
Terminator Salvation
Public Enemies
The Fighter
The Dark Knight Rises
Out of the Furnace
American Hustle
Exodus: Gods and Kings
Best Performance: American Psycho (2000)
Bale's performance as yuppie businessman/serial killer Patrick Bateman is firmly in my top 10 performances of all-time. Bale is a deranged, hilarious force of nature every time he's on screen and is the primary reason this film's pitch-black comedy is so effective.
Worst Performance: Public Enemies (2009)
There's no other celebrated actor in Hollywood right now that turns in more crappy performances than Bale. Of these duds, his performance as FBI agent Melvin Purvis in the John Dillinger docudrama Public Enemies is by far his most underwhelming. Armed with a god awful Southern accent and not even a hint of conviction, Bale turns in a wildly over-the-top performance in an otherwise slow-burning, subtle film.
Best Film: 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Westerns have made a serious resurgence in the past decade with the release of brilliant films like True Grit, Django Unchained and Meek's Cutoff. I believe that this resurgence of quality westerns can be tied back to James Mangold's near-perfect remake of 3:10 to Yuma. Thanks to a great script from Michael Brandt, Derek Haas and Halston Welles and a pair of award-worthy leading performances from Bale and Russell Crowe, 3:10 to Yuma is able to a create an engrossing, stunning film that forges its own path while also honoring the legacy of the 1957 original
Worst Film: Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
Ridley Scott finally put an end to a nearly decade-long cold streak earlier this year with the release of the widely-acclaimed sci-fi flick The Martian. The high quality of The Martian is particularly surprising because at this time last year when Scott released Exodus: Gods and Kings, it seemed like the 78-year old film icon was never going to make a worthwhile film again. Exodus: Gods and Kings had noble ambitions as a dark Biblical epic, but ended up a boring, poorly-acted and often unintentionally hilarious film that was a nightmare to sit through.
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 "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" star Harrison Ford.
Films starring Christian Bale that I've seen:
Pocahontas
American Psycho
Batman Begins
The Prestige
3:10 to Yuma
The Dark Knight
Terminator Salvation
Public Enemies
The Fighter
The Dark Knight Rises
Out of the Furnace
American Hustle
Exodus: Gods and Kings
Best Performance: American Psycho (2000)
Bale's performance as yuppie businessman/serial killer Patrick Bateman is firmly in my top 10 performances of all-time. Bale is a deranged, hilarious force of nature every time he's on screen and is the primary reason this film's pitch-black comedy is so effective.
Worst Performance: Public Enemies (2009)
There's no other celebrated actor in Hollywood right now that turns in more crappy performances than Bale. Of these duds, his performance as FBI agent Melvin Purvis in the John Dillinger docudrama Public Enemies is by far his most underwhelming. Armed with a god awful Southern accent and not even a hint of conviction, Bale turns in a wildly over-the-top performance in an otherwise slow-burning, subtle film.
Best Film: 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Westerns have made a serious resurgence in the past decade with the release of brilliant films like True Grit, Django Unchained and Meek's Cutoff. I believe that this resurgence of quality westerns can be tied back to James Mangold's near-perfect remake of 3:10 to Yuma. Thanks to a great script from Michael Brandt, Derek Haas and Halston Welles and a pair of award-worthy leading performances from Bale and Russell Crowe, 3:10 to Yuma is able to a create an engrossing, stunning film that forges its own path while also honoring the legacy of the 1957 original
Worst Film: Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
Ridley Scott finally put an end to a nearly decade-long cold streak earlier this year with the release of the widely-acclaimed sci-fi flick The Martian. The high quality of The Martian is particularly surprising because at this time last year when Scott released Exodus: Gods and Kings, it seemed like the 78-year old film icon was never going to make a worthwhile film again. Exodus: Gods and Kings had noble ambitions as a dark Biblical epic, but ended up a boring, poorly-acted and often unintentionally hilarious film that was a nightmare to sit through.
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 "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" star Harrison Ford.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Week 14 NFL Power Rankings
()=Last Week's Ranking
1. (1) Carolina Panthers (12-0) Week 14 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
2. (5) Cincinnati Bengals (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
3. (3) Denver Broncos (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Oakland Raiders
4. (4) Arizona Cardinals (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
5. (2) New England Patriots (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Houston Texans
6. (10) Seattle Seahawks (7-5) Week 14 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
7. (9) Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) Week 14 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
8. (8) Kansas City Chiefs (7-5) Week 14 opponent: San Diego Chargers
9. (7) Green Bay Packers (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
10. (6) Minnesota Vikings (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
11. (15) Buffalo Bills (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
12. (17) New York Jets (7-5) Week 14 opponent: Tennessee Titans
13. (12) Houston Texans (6-6) Week 14 opponent: New England Patriots
14. (18) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6) Week 14 opponent: New Orleans Saints
15. (11) Indianapolis Colts (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
16. (13) New York Giants (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Miami Dolphins
17. (14) Chicago Bears (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Washington Redskins
18. (16) Oakland Raiders (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Denver Broncos
19. (31) Philadelphia Eagles (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Buffalo Bills
20. (19) Atlanta Falcons (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Carolina Panthers
21. (20) Washington Redskins (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Chicago Bears
22. (25) Miami Dolphins (5-7) Week 14 opponent: New York Giants
23. (21) Detroit Lions (4-8) Week 14 opponent: St. Louis Rams
24. (28) San Francisco 49ers (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Cleveland Browns
25. (27) Dallas Cowboys (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Green Bay Packers
26. (26) New Orleans Saints (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
27. (22) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
28. (23) Baltimore Ravens (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
29. (30) Tennessee Titans (3-9) Week 14 opponent: New York Jets
30. (24) San Diego Chargers (3-9) Week 14 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
31. (29) St. Louis Rams (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Detroit Lions
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (2-10) Week 14 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
1. (1) Carolina Panthers (12-0) Week 14 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
2. (5) Cincinnati Bengals (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
3. (3) Denver Broncos (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Oakland Raiders
4. (4) Arizona Cardinals (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
5. (2) New England Patriots (10-2) Week 14 opponent: Houston Texans
6. (10) Seattle Seahawks (7-5) Week 14 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
7. (9) Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) Week 14 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
8. (8) Kansas City Chiefs (7-5) Week 14 opponent: San Diego Chargers
9. (7) Green Bay Packers (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
10. (6) Minnesota Vikings (8-4) Week 14 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
11. (15) Buffalo Bills (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
12. (17) New York Jets (7-5) Week 14 opponent: Tennessee Titans
13. (12) Houston Texans (6-6) Week 14 opponent: New England Patriots
14. (18) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6) Week 14 opponent: New Orleans Saints
15. (11) Indianapolis Colts (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
16. (13) New York Giants (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Miami Dolphins
17. (14) Chicago Bears (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Washington Redskins
18. (16) Oakland Raiders (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Denver Broncos
19. (31) Philadelphia Eagles (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Buffalo Bills
20. (19) Atlanta Falcons (6-6) Week 14 opponent: Carolina Panthers
21. (20) Washington Redskins (5-7) Week 14 opponent: Chicago Bears
22. (25) Miami Dolphins (5-7) Week 14 opponent: New York Giants
23. (21) Detroit Lions (4-8) Week 14 opponent: St. Louis Rams
24. (28) San Francisco 49ers (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Cleveland Browns
25. (27) Dallas Cowboys (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Green Bay Packers
26. (26) New Orleans Saints (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
27. (22) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
28. (23) Baltimore Ravens (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
29. (30) Tennessee Titans (3-9) Week 14 opponent: New York Jets
30. (24) San Diego Chargers (3-9) Week 14 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
31. (29) St. Louis Rams (4-8) Week 14 opponent: Detroit Lions
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (2-10) Week 14 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Update
Dear readers,
I just wanted to let you all know that I'm taking a brief hiatus from posting content to work on the final set of papers, term projects and finals of my college career. I'll be returning to regular posting sometime between the 11th and 14th. Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to getting back into the routine of regular posting within the next week.
Chris Maitland
I just wanted to let you all know that I'm taking a brief hiatus from posting content to work on the final set of papers, term projects and finals of my college career. I'll be returning to regular posting sometime between the 11th and 14th. Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to getting back into the routine of regular posting within the next week.
Chris Maitland
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
The Best and Worst of Samuel L. Jackson
The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an
actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I
take a look at the filmography of "Chi-Raq" star Samuel L. Jackson.
Films starring Samuel L. Jackson that I've seen:
Goodfellas
Juice
True Romance
Menace II Society
Jurassic Park
Pulp Fiction
Die Hard with a Vengeance
Jackie Brown
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Deep Blue Sea
Unbreakable
Formula 51
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
xXx
Basic
S.W.A.T.
Coach Carter
xXx: State of the Union
Stars Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
The Man
Freedomland
Snakes on a Plane
Black Snake Moan
Jumper
Soul Men
The Spirit
Iron Man 2
The Other Guys
The Avengers
Django Unchained
Oldboy
Robocop
Captain America: The Winter Solider
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Big Game
Best Performance: Pulp Fiction (1994)
After starting his career with bit parts in major films and leading roles in widely unseen indie movies, Jackson finally got his chance to shine in the spotlight with Pulp Fiction. Jackson dominates every scene he's in as the stylish, vulgar, Bible-quoting hitman Jules Winfield. Jackson's wit, intensity and undeniably cool presence made Winfield one of the most iconic characters of all-time and forced Hollywood to finally take notice of his immense talent as an actor.
Worst Performance: The Man (2005)
While Jackson is one of the most talented actors currently working in the industry, he has a tendency to take on basically any project that's offered to him. The Man is one of the many films he probably would've been better off staying away from. Jackson unsuccessfully skewers his tough-guy persona as an ATF agent forced to work with a bumbling dental supplies salesman (Eugene Levy) to bring down a major drug ring in this mostly unfunny comedy.
Best Film: Pulp Fiction (1994)
As I said in the Bruce Willis entry of this series(http://maitlandsmadness.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-best-and-worst-of-bruce-willis.html), Pulp Fiction is my favorite film of all-time and I could sit here and hurl accolades at it for hours on end. While Pulp Fiction's brilliance is widely touted by fanboys like myself and movie critics around the globe, one thing that's frequently glossed over in discussions about this film is the impact it had on the career's of those who were involved with it. This film made Quentin Tarantino, Uma Thurman and Jackson household names, brought John Travolta's career back from the brink of extinction and proved to the world that Bruce Willis was far more than just another 80's action star. When film historians 50-100 years from now look back on this film's legacy, I hope they stress just how important this film was in the career trajectory of these Hollywood icons.
Worst Film: Big Game (2015)
Jackson has dedicated a large part of his career to starring in B-movies. From Snakes on a Plane to Deep Blue Sea to Kingsman: The Secret Service, Jackson has been a part of some of the most insane and entertaining B-movies of the past two decades. Jackson's background and track record of success within genre made his latest over-the top project, Big Game, that much more of a disappointment. Big Game has the ridiculous setup (a 13-year old Finnish boy on a solo hunting trip protects the President of the United States after Air Force One is shot down by terrorists) without any of the fun or tongue-in cheek humor that's required to make B-movies work. The tone is way too serious, the action scenes are infrequent and underwhelming and the actors never embrace the silliness of the material they're working with.
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 "The Big Short" star Christian Bale.
Films starring Samuel L. Jackson that I've seen:
Goodfellas
Juice
True Romance
Menace II Society
Jurassic Park
Pulp Fiction
Die Hard with a Vengeance
Jackie Brown
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Deep Blue Sea
Unbreakable
Formula 51
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
xXx
Basic
S.W.A.T.
Coach Carter
xXx: State of the Union
Stars Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
The Man
Freedomland
Snakes on a Plane
Black Snake Moan
Jumper
Soul Men
The Spirit
Iron Man 2
The Other Guys
The Avengers
Django Unchained
Oldboy
Robocop
Captain America: The Winter Solider
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Big Game
Best Performance: Pulp Fiction (1994)
After starting his career with bit parts in major films and leading roles in widely unseen indie movies, Jackson finally got his chance to shine in the spotlight with Pulp Fiction. Jackson dominates every scene he's in as the stylish, vulgar, Bible-quoting hitman Jules Winfield. Jackson's wit, intensity and undeniably cool presence made Winfield one of the most iconic characters of all-time and forced Hollywood to finally take notice of his immense talent as an actor.
Worst Performance: The Man (2005)
While Jackson is one of the most talented actors currently working in the industry, he has a tendency to take on basically any project that's offered to him. The Man is one of the many films he probably would've been better off staying away from. Jackson unsuccessfully skewers his tough-guy persona as an ATF agent forced to work with a bumbling dental supplies salesman (Eugene Levy) to bring down a major drug ring in this mostly unfunny comedy.
Best Film: Pulp Fiction (1994)
As I said in the Bruce Willis entry of this series(http://maitlandsmadness.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-best-and-worst-of-bruce-willis.html), Pulp Fiction is my favorite film of all-time and I could sit here and hurl accolades at it for hours on end. While Pulp Fiction's brilliance is widely touted by fanboys like myself and movie critics around the globe, one thing that's frequently glossed over in discussions about this film is the impact it had on the career's of those who were involved with it. This film made Quentin Tarantino, Uma Thurman and Jackson household names, brought John Travolta's career back from the brink of extinction and proved to the world that Bruce Willis was far more than just another 80's action star. When film historians 50-100 years from now look back on this film's legacy, I hope they stress just how important this film was in the career trajectory of these Hollywood icons.
Worst Film: Big Game (2015)
Jackson has dedicated a large part of his career to starring in B-movies. From Snakes on a Plane to Deep Blue Sea to Kingsman: The Secret Service, Jackson has been a part of some of the most insane and entertaining B-movies of the past two decades. Jackson's background and track record of success within genre made his latest over-the top project, Big Game, that much more of a disappointment. Big Game has the ridiculous setup (a 13-year old Finnish boy on a solo hunting trip protects the President of the United States after Air Force One is shot down by terrorists) without any of the fun or tongue-in cheek humor that's required to make B-movies work. The tone is way too serious, the action scenes are infrequent and underwhelming and the actors never embrace the silliness of the material they're working with.
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 "The Big Short" star Christian Bale.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Week 12 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers
Quarterback
MVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
The typically conservative Russell Wilson had an unusually strong passing day in Week 12, throwing for 345 YDS and a career-high 5 TD against the Steelers horrendous secondary. Wilson has taken advantage of his much improved pass protection of late by throwing for a whopping 605 YDS and 8 TD's and completing 76.1% of his passes over the last two games. Wilson's aerial hot streak paired with his top-notch rushing ability make him a very attractive QB1 option for his Week 13 matchup with the Vikings.
Honorable Mentions: Matthew Stafford (Lions), Philip Rivers (Chargers), Tyrod Taylor (Bills)
LVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
Drew Brees simply couldn't get anything going against the suddenly dominant Texans defense throwing for a pedestrian 228 YDS and finishing a game without a TD pass for the first time since 2012. Brees has fallen off quite a bit since his 7 TD performance against the Giants in Week 9 and I would strongly advise his fantasy owners to bench him for the Saints week 13 matchup with the Panthers.
Dishonorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Jay Cutler (Bears), Brian Hoyer (Texans)
Running Back
MVP: Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
The remarkable 2015 comeback campaign of Adrian Peterson continued in Week 12. The 30-yard old running back carried the Vikings offense on his back yet again, picking up 187 total yards (158 rushing, 29 receiving) and 2 TD's on 31 touches against the Falcons. The Vikings should continue to ride Peterson as they fight for a playoff spot in the ultra-competitive NFC and even with some rough matchups on the docket, he should continue to be best fantasy running backing option for the remainder of the season.
Honorable Mentions: C.J. Anderson (Broncos), Eddie Lacy (Packers), DeAngelo Williams (Steelers)
LVP: DeMarco Murray (Eagles)
DeMarco Murray's turkey of a performance on Thanksgiving against the Lions (30 yards on 14 carries) was easily one of the worst outings in a beyond frustrating first season in Philadelphia for the 2014 NFL rushing leader. The combination of a banged-up offensive line that can't open up holes with any form of consistency and a terrible fit in Chip Kelly's uptempo scheme has made Murray one of the biggest fantasy flops of 2015. No team in the NFL has looked as incompetent as the Eagles over the past 2 weeks and I wouldn't bother starting Murray until they show some signs of life.
Dishonorable Mentions: Lamar Miller (Dolphins), Frank Gore (Colts), Todd Gurley (Rams)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks)
Doug Baldwin was the primary beneficiary of Russell Wilson's career day, hauling in 145 YDS and 3 TD on 6 receptions. Baldwin should be more involved with the offense now that Jimmy Graham is out for season, but Wilson's tendency to have a new favorite receiver every week makes him nothing more than a boom-or-bust WR3.
Honorable Mentions: Sammy Watkins (Bills), Calvin Johnson (Lions), Brandon Marshall (Jets)
LVP: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
DeAndre Hopkins' 5 reception/36-yard performance against the Saints in Week 12 might be the biggest single game disappointment of the 2015 fantasy season. Hopkins seemed primed to go off against the Saints 31st-ranked pass defense, but couldn't get anything going despite the fact that he was facing one of the worst cover corners in the NFL in Brandon Browner. Hopkins should draw the attention of excellent rookie cornerback Ronald Darby in a decent, but not overly great matchup with the Bills in Week 13.
Dishonorable Mentions: Michael Floyd (Cardinals), Demaryius Thomas (Broncos), Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
Tight End
MVP: Julius Thomas (Jaguars)
After a pretty slow start since returning from minor offseason hand surgery in Week 5, Julius Thomas finally showcased why the Jaguars signed him to a massive deal this past offseason. Thomas was the Jaguars primary source of offense in a dogfight with the Chargers, securing 9 of his 10 targets for 116 YDS and a TD. Thomas' largely unimpressive numbers this year make him a pretty risky play, but his distinction as the Jaguars primary redzone threat makes him worth a look at the talent-barren tight end position.
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Gates (Chargers), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
LVP: Jason Witten (Cowboys)
It's kind of unfair to pick on Jason Witten since his unproductive day (36 YDS on 4 receptions) against the Panthers stemmed from Tony Romo's nightmare 3 INT performance, but fantasy owners ultimately only care about the results, not what caused them. With Romo now done for the year after re-breaking his clavicle at the end of the 3rd quarter in this horrendous loss, Witten will be reduced to a low-end TE1/high-end TE2 moving forward.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jordan Cameron (Dolphins), Richard Rogers (Packers), Charles Clay (Bills)
Defense
MVP: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers defense made Tony Romo and the Cowboys big Thanksgiving homecoming a massive nightmare. This widely disrespected defense took advantage of a clearly not 100% Romo by picking up 3 INT and 2 TD in the first half, basically ending the game the halftime. The Cowboys did ultimately put up 14 points (11 of which where scored in garbage time) on the Panthers D, but that was only a small victory for a team whose slim playoff hopes went up in flames after this crushing loss. The Panthers are an elite fantasy defense that could very well end up passing the Broncos as the top fantasy defense by the time the season is over.
Honorable Mentions: Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens
LVP: Philadelphia Eagles
The defensive issues the Eagles displayed in Week 11 somehow got even worse in Week 12. Matthew Stafford and the below-average Lions offense hung 45 points on the Eagles without even breaking a sweat. They couldn't even muster a single takeaway to salvage this terrible performance. A top-flight fantasy defense just a few weeks ago, the Eagles are now on the verge of being droppable in both 10-and 12 team leagues.
Dishonorable Mentions: Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots
MVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
The typically conservative Russell Wilson had an unusually strong passing day in Week 12, throwing for 345 YDS and a career-high 5 TD against the Steelers horrendous secondary. Wilson has taken advantage of his much improved pass protection of late by throwing for a whopping 605 YDS and 8 TD's and completing 76.1% of his passes over the last two games. Wilson's aerial hot streak paired with his top-notch rushing ability make him a very attractive QB1 option for his Week 13 matchup with the Vikings.
Honorable Mentions: Matthew Stafford (Lions), Philip Rivers (Chargers), Tyrod Taylor (Bills)
LVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
Drew Brees simply couldn't get anything going against the suddenly dominant Texans defense throwing for a pedestrian 228 YDS and finishing a game without a TD pass for the first time since 2012. Brees has fallen off quite a bit since his 7 TD performance against the Giants in Week 9 and I would strongly advise his fantasy owners to bench him for the Saints week 13 matchup with the Panthers.
Dishonorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Jay Cutler (Bears), Brian Hoyer (Texans)
Running Back
MVP: Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
The remarkable 2015 comeback campaign of Adrian Peterson continued in Week 12. The 30-yard old running back carried the Vikings offense on his back yet again, picking up 187 total yards (158 rushing, 29 receiving) and 2 TD's on 31 touches against the Falcons. The Vikings should continue to ride Peterson as they fight for a playoff spot in the ultra-competitive NFC and even with some rough matchups on the docket, he should continue to be best fantasy running backing option for the remainder of the season.
Honorable Mentions: C.J. Anderson (Broncos), Eddie Lacy (Packers), DeAngelo Williams (Steelers)
LVP: DeMarco Murray (Eagles)
DeMarco Murray's turkey of a performance on Thanksgiving against the Lions (30 yards on 14 carries) was easily one of the worst outings in a beyond frustrating first season in Philadelphia for the 2014 NFL rushing leader. The combination of a banged-up offensive line that can't open up holes with any form of consistency and a terrible fit in Chip Kelly's uptempo scheme has made Murray one of the biggest fantasy flops of 2015. No team in the NFL has looked as incompetent as the Eagles over the past 2 weeks and I wouldn't bother starting Murray until they show some signs of life.
Dishonorable Mentions: Lamar Miller (Dolphins), Frank Gore (Colts), Todd Gurley (Rams)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks)
Doug Baldwin was the primary beneficiary of Russell Wilson's career day, hauling in 145 YDS and 3 TD on 6 receptions. Baldwin should be more involved with the offense now that Jimmy Graham is out for season, but Wilson's tendency to have a new favorite receiver every week makes him nothing more than a boom-or-bust WR3.
Honorable Mentions: Sammy Watkins (Bills), Calvin Johnson (Lions), Brandon Marshall (Jets)
LVP: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
DeAndre Hopkins' 5 reception/36-yard performance against the Saints in Week 12 might be the biggest single game disappointment of the 2015 fantasy season. Hopkins seemed primed to go off against the Saints 31st-ranked pass defense, but couldn't get anything going despite the fact that he was facing one of the worst cover corners in the NFL in Brandon Browner. Hopkins should draw the attention of excellent rookie cornerback Ronald Darby in a decent, but not overly great matchup with the Bills in Week 13.
Dishonorable Mentions: Michael Floyd (Cardinals), Demaryius Thomas (Broncos), Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
Tight End
MVP: Julius Thomas (Jaguars)
After a pretty slow start since returning from minor offseason hand surgery in Week 5, Julius Thomas finally showcased why the Jaguars signed him to a massive deal this past offseason. Thomas was the Jaguars primary source of offense in a dogfight with the Chargers, securing 9 of his 10 targets for 116 YDS and a TD. Thomas' largely unimpressive numbers this year make him a pretty risky play, but his distinction as the Jaguars primary redzone threat makes him worth a look at the talent-barren tight end position.
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Gates (Chargers), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
LVP: Jason Witten (Cowboys)
It's kind of unfair to pick on Jason Witten since his unproductive day (36 YDS on 4 receptions) against the Panthers stemmed from Tony Romo's nightmare 3 INT performance, but fantasy owners ultimately only care about the results, not what caused them. With Romo now done for the year after re-breaking his clavicle at the end of the 3rd quarter in this horrendous loss, Witten will be reduced to a low-end TE1/high-end TE2 moving forward.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jordan Cameron (Dolphins), Richard Rogers (Packers), Charles Clay (Bills)
Defense
MVP: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers defense made Tony Romo and the Cowboys big Thanksgiving homecoming a massive nightmare. This widely disrespected defense took advantage of a clearly not 100% Romo by picking up 3 INT and 2 TD in the first half, basically ending the game the halftime. The Cowboys did ultimately put up 14 points (11 of which where scored in garbage time) on the Panthers D, but that was only a small victory for a team whose slim playoff hopes went up in flames after this crushing loss. The Panthers are an elite fantasy defense that could very well end up passing the Broncos as the top fantasy defense by the time the season is over.
Honorable Mentions: Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens
LVP: Philadelphia Eagles
The defensive issues the Eagles displayed in Week 11 somehow got even worse in Week 12. Matthew Stafford and the below-average Lions offense hung 45 points on the Eagles without even breaking a sweat. They couldn't even muster a single takeaway to salvage this terrible performance. A top-flight fantasy defense just a few weeks ago, the Eagles are now on the verge of being droppable in both 10-and 12 team leagues.
Dishonorable Mentions: Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots
Week 13 NFL Power Rankings
()=Last Week's Ranking
1. (1) Carolina Panthers (11-0) Week 13 opponent: New Orleans Saints
2. (2) New England Patriots (10-1) Week 13 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
3. (4) Denver Broncos (9-2) Week 13 opponent: San Diego Chargers
4. (3) Arizona Cardinals (9-2) Week 13 opponent: St. Louis Rams
5. (6) Cincinnati Bengals (9-2) Week 13 opponent: Cleveland Browns
6. (8) Minnesota Vikings (8-3) Week 13 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
7. (5) Green Bay Packers (8-3) Week 13 opponent: Detroit Lions
8. (10) Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Oakland Raiders
9. (7) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
10. (12) Seattle Seahawks (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
11. (13) Indianapolis Colts (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
12. (16) Houston Texans (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Buffalo Bills
13. (9) New York Giants (5-6) Week 13 opponent: New York Jets
14. (18) Chicago Bears (5-6) Week 13 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
15. (11) Buffalo Bills (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Houston Texans
16. (17) Oakland Raiders (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
17. (19) New York Jets (6-5) Week 13 opponent: New York Giants
18. (14) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
19. (15) Atlanta Falcons (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20. (23) Washington Redskins (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
21. (26) Detroit Lions (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Green Bay Packers
22. (21) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Tennessee Titans
23. (25) Baltimore Ravens (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Miami Dolphins
24. (31) San Diego Chargers (3-8) Week 13 opponent: Denver Broncos
25. (22) Miami Dolphins (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
26. (24) New Orleans Saints (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Carolina Panthers
27. (20) Dallas Cowboys (3-8) Week 13 opponent: Washington Redskins
28. (29) San Francisco 49ers (3-8) Week 13 opponent: Chicago Bears
29. (28) St. Louis Rams (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
30. (30) Tennessee Titans (2-9) Week 13 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
31. (27) Philadelphia Eagles (4-7) Week 13 opponent: New England Patriots
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (2-9) Week 13 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
1. (1) Carolina Panthers (11-0) Week 13 opponent: New Orleans Saints
2. (2) New England Patriots (10-1) Week 13 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
3. (4) Denver Broncos (9-2) Week 13 opponent: San Diego Chargers
4. (3) Arizona Cardinals (9-2) Week 13 opponent: St. Louis Rams
5. (6) Cincinnati Bengals (9-2) Week 13 opponent: Cleveland Browns
6. (8) Minnesota Vikings (8-3) Week 13 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
7. (5) Green Bay Packers (8-3) Week 13 opponent: Detroit Lions
8. (10) Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Oakland Raiders
9. (7) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
10. (12) Seattle Seahawks (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
11. (13) Indianapolis Colts (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
12. (16) Houston Texans (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Buffalo Bills
13. (9) New York Giants (5-6) Week 13 opponent: New York Jets
14. (18) Chicago Bears (5-6) Week 13 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
15. (11) Buffalo Bills (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Houston Texans
16. (17) Oakland Raiders (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
17. (19) New York Jets (6-5) Week 13 opponent: New York Giants
18. (14) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Atlanta Falcons
19. (15) Atlanta Falcons (6-5) Week 13 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20. (23) Washington Redskins (5-6) Week 13 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
21. (26) Detroit Lions (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Green Bay Packers
22. (21) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Tennessee Titans
23. (25) Baltimore Ravens (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Miami Dolphins
24. (31) San Diego Chargers (3-8) Week 13 opponent: Denver Broncos
25. (22) Miami Dolphins (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
26. (24) New Orleans Saints (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Carolina Panthers
27. (20) Dallas Cowboys (3-8) Week 13 opponent: Washington Redskins
28. (29) San Francisco 49ers (3-8) Week 13 opponent: Chicago Bears
29. (28) St. Louis Rams (4-7) Week 13 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
30. (30) Tennessee Titans (2-9) Week 13 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
31. (27) Philadelphia Eagles (4-7) Week 13 opponent: New England Patriots
32. (32) Cleveland Browns (2-9) Week 13 opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
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