Matt's Musings

The NFL Draft is over, and free agency has slowed to a trickle. As we look toward Training Camp and a new season, I'll be looking at the position groups as they stand. Today, it's time to consider the offensive line. Offensive Line On the Roster: Garrett Bolles, Ja'Wuan James, Ronald Leary, Connor McGovern, Dalton Risner, Elijah Wilkinson, Sam Jones, Austin Schlottman, Jake Rogers, John Leglue, Andreas Knappe, Don Barclay, Chaz Green, Ryan Crozier, Jake Brendel, Quinn Bailey, and Nathan Jacobsen Roster Group: This is a unit that faced a lot of turnover, and also has a lot of pressure. On the good side, the Broncos brought in Mike Munchak to help shape this unit. That is huge. He's one of the best coaching the position, and the Broncos can use the help to maximize the talent in Bolles and Leary, two of the best returning pieces. The Broncos also have versatile McGovern returning, likely at center, where he did well filling in for Matt Paradis last season. And th...

Now that the NFL Draft is over, we're moving closer to the start of the new NFL Season. It seems a good time to take a look at these teams, post draft, to see where they're at. Over the next eight weeks, I'll be looking at one division at a time. Today, it's the NFC West. Los Angeles Rams Key Draft Picks : Darrell Henderson, RB, Taylor Rapp, S, David Long, CB, Bobby Evans, OT About : The Rams made it all the way to the Super Bowl last season, and came just short. With many of the key pieces back in tact, it's clear they'll be a Super Bowl contender again this season. But there are certainly big questions. It's a big season for Jared Goff to prove his worth, and for Todd Gurley to see if he's going to be at that MVP level. Of course, that's why the Rams drafted Henderson, as insurance in the backfield. Still, it will be interesting to see how the Rams bounce back from last season. Seattle Seahawks Key Draft Picks: DK Metcalf, WR, Gary Jennings,...

It was January 12, 2013, a date that Broncos fans remember all too well. It was the first playoff game with Peyton Manning at the helm. After an uneven beginning that saw the Broncos sitting at 2–3, the team rattled off 11 straight wins to finish 13–3, the top seed in the AFC. And they opened the playoffs at home on a Saturday night. It was late in the fourth quarter, and the Broncos led 35–28. Then, the unthinkable happened. Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco connected with Jacoby Jones on a 70-yard TD strike with 31 seconds left in the game to tie it at 35–35. In overtime, Flacco led the Ravens to a field goal, winning the game 38–35 and ending the Broncos’ season. It was a heart-breaking moment that few fans will soon forget. On September 15, Flacco will suit up again in Denver, this time as a member of the team. The question is, can he have that same magic? That day in Denver, Flacco threw for 41 more yards (331 to 290) and two fewer INTs than Manning in leading the Ravens t...

Last week Toy Story 4 opened, and it figured to be one of the biggest of the summer. While it took the top spot at the Box Office, it fell short of many of the lofty heights that had been predicted, which left our Box Office projections upside down. I had gone for max dollars, I thought, grabbing the Saturday and Sunday screening of Toy Story 4 , even knowing I’d have to leave one screen open and absorb a penalty. But Saturday and Sunday weren’t great performers, and it was a swing and a miss in terms of finding rock solid value. While my Cineplex performed better than the most popular, it wasn’t perfect. That honor went to the people who correctly identified John Wick 3 as best value and loaded up. I only had Mr. Wick on one screen. This week a pair of new films join the fray, while Toy Story 4 returns to single scoring. The question is what provides the best bang for your buck. Let’s dive in. As always, if you think you’re better at the game than me, I encourage you to j...

Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week. Godzilla: King of the Monsters Starring: Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler, Bradley Whitford, Ken Watanabe, and Charles Dance Synopsis: Summer movies are about a lot of things, but chief among them is spectacle. People are looking for an escape. An escape from the heat. An escape from life. An escape from having to think too hard. We want to be pulled away for a couple hours and entertained. Sadly, many of the blockbusters released in the summer of 2019 haven't been good enough to provide that escape. That's probably why "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" stands out for me. It's not that it is a great film. It isn't. And it's not that it's a deep film. It isn't. But it's eye-popping, has a good enough story and presents plenty of fun action and escape. After all, at some level, who doesn't love a good monster story. And this one is buoyed by some fine actors, led by Chandle...

We're nearing July, the temperatures are hot and the flood of content hasn't slowed. If anything, it's remained steady and even ticked up. So get out there and give some of the (good) ones a try. In these weekly posts I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series (and the occasional unscripted series) this summer. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Monday Nights: Years and Years, Mondays at 9 p.m. on HBO (Premiered June 24) About : This six-episode series first aired in England and now comes to HBO in the United States. HBO has been working on increasing its original programming to Monday nights, and did so very successfully with "Chernobyl" and others beginning in May. Now they hope "Years and Years," from Russell T. Davies, will provide the same kind of boon. And it has an interesting concept, tracing one family's journey through a possible future, and at least one big name in Emma Thompson, who app...

It's been 20 years since 1999, a year with a number of extraordinary and engaging films. During this summer, I'll be looking back at 10 of my favorites from 1999 for those looking to catch up with a few good films. Check back Mondays this summer for more from 1999. The Mummy (May 7, 1999) Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, Oded Fehr, Kevin J. O'Connor, and Patricia Velasquez About: As someone who has a birthday in early May, I've always looked forward to the first Friday in May, which until the last couple years with "Avengers," was the kick-off of the summer blockbuster season. That was certainly true in 1999, when "The Mummy" launched that weekend. I know what you're thinking, Fraser is on a roll as he appears on this countdown both the first two weeks. Clearly 1999 was a good year for him, as he's the lead in this film and it's a much different kind of role that with "Blast From the Past...

The NFL Draft is over, and free agency has slowed to a trickle. As we look toward Training Camp and a new season, I'll be looking at the position groups as they stand. Today, it's time to consider the Special Teams. Special Teams: On the Roster : Brandon McManus, K, Taylor Bertolet, K, Colby Wadman, P, Casey Kreiter, LS Roster Group: In years past this has always felt like one of the most stable units, but with a question about who would step up as a returner. While the position of returner is still somewhat of a mystery, the new wrinkle this year is the battle for kicker. McManus is the veteran, and on a significant contract, while Bertolet is the rookie. Some figured he was just brought in as an extra leg in camp, but now it seems there is serious competition for the slot, and it will be intriguing to see how it plays out. The Broncos may be looking at ways to not spend too much money on Special Teams. Heading into last season they had McManus and had invested in punt...

Now that the NFL Draft is over, we're moving closer to the start of the new NFL Season. It seems a good time to take a look at these teams, post draft, to see where they're at. Over the next eight weeks, I'll be looking at one division at a time. Today, it's the AFC West. Kansas City Chiefs Key Draft Picks: Mecole Hardman, WR, Darwin Thompson, RB, Juan Thornhill, S About: The Chiefs were the talk of the NFL in 2018, putting up a near historic offense on the way to the AFC Championship. They lost that game, as the team's lack of defense was a problem that couldn't be overcome. Still, Patrick Mahomes looks like the real deal, but can the team weather the storm. The Chiefs saw a number of solid veterans leave this off-season, mainly on defense. But they also lost center Mitch Morse, and it's hard to account for how that loss could impact them. In addition, the Chiefs will have to see what life is like without Kareem Hunt. While he was released close to t...

Last season, with Frank Reich at head coach and a finally healthy Andrew Luck, the Indianapolis Colts offense started to hum once again. The team finished 10–6, earned a playoff slot and actually advanced to the Divisional Round. And they did it all without a reliably consistent WR 2. This off-season, it made sense the Colts would try to pick up a piece or two to bolster their offense. Enter Devin Funchess, the former Carolina Panther receiver, who signed a one year deal worth $10 million . It’s a chance for the Colts to see what he can be, and for Funchess to prove his worth in a high-profile offense. The question for fantasy owners is what they can expect. So let’s take a look. Funchess Career So Far Funchess entered the league as a second round pick by the Panthers in the 2015 draft. He played his college ball for the Michigan Wolverines, and really flashed during his junior year before entering the draft. In three years he tallied 126 receptions for 1,715 yards a...

We’re in the middle of June and it’s finally time for Pixar’s near annual summer release. This one — the fourth installment of Toy Story  — figures to bring plenty of Box Office punch, but more on that in a minute. First, let’s look back at a tepid week at the Box Office. In this space last week I suggested that while Men in Black: International was the big new release, it was unlikely to be a good anchor. I was right. The combination of The Secret Life of Pets 2 x2 and Rocketman was the best way to start your Cineplex. But the Best Value was The Dead Don’t Die , and those that played it over five screens got a Perfect Cineplex. I played it over one, so I fell off the mark. Even worse, the Perfect Cineplex was also the most popular, so it was a double blow. Hopefully I’ll get back on track this week. Toy Story 4 is the big opener this week, and is treated as such in the game as we’ll see. But it’s one of three new movies at the Cineplex, which is becoming a theme this sum...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Late Night Starring: Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, John Lithgow, Hugh Dancy, and Reid Scott Synopsis: This comedy got a limited run beginning June 7 and expanded nationwide last week. It's a comedy starring Thompson and Kaling, and written by Kaling set in the world of late night TV. This seems like a winning combination, and summer is usually a time when comedies soar. But this one didn't in terms of Box Office. Likely that's because it's not what you're expecting. Kaling was a writer and producer on "The Office," and then went on to create and star in "The Mindy Project." Based on those, you'd be forgiven for going into this film expecting a certain kind of style. This movie doesn't feel like those shows, and that might throw some folks off. In addition, it's a bit more of an understated kind of comedy, and not the sort of style you usually expect to see from the more over-th...

We're in the middle of June, and the flood of summer content is heating up. Last weekend the Streaming Sites offered plenty, as did a number of cable networks launching new series. And it's just going to get more crowded. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted (and the occasional unscripted) series this summer. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Monday Nights: Grand Hotel, Mondays at 10 p.m. on ABC (Premiered June 17) About: This new series, which airs following "The Bachelor," is a prime time soap opera set at a family-owned hotel in Miami. It's based on the Spanish series "Gran Hotel," and features a strong cast and a light, fun location. The pilot introduced the characters and a lot of plot threads that will play out over the course of the season. It's anchored by the hotel owners, played by Demian Bichir and Roselyn  Sanchez. There is intrigue, drama, romance, and some comedy. ...

It's been 20 years since 1999, a year with a number of extraordinary and engaging films. During this summer, I'll be looking back at 10 of my favorites from 1999 for those looking to catch up with a few good films. Check back Mondays this summer for more from 1999. Blast from the Past (February 12, 1999) Starring: Brendan Fraser, Alicia Silverstone, Christopher Walker, and Sissy Spacek About: I'm a sucker for comedies, especially ones that have some enduring or iconic aspects. And while some might not agree that fits "Blast from the Past," it always has for me. This is a film with a pretty fun concept. A couple (Walken and Spacek) who fear a nuclear attack build an elaborate fall out shelter meant to help them survive. When they mistake an ordinary incident for the big one, they head down into the shelter for 35 years. There, they have and raise their son (Fraser), and when their shelter doors open, they find the world deeply changed. And their son, Adam, f...

The NFL Draft is over, and free agency has slowed to a trickle. As we look toward Training Camp and a new season, I'll be looking at the position groups as they stand. Today, it's time to consider the Secondary. Secondary: Cornerbacks: Chris Harris, Jr., Bryce Callahan, Isaac Yiadom, De'Vante Busby, Brendan Langley, Trey Johnson, Linden Stephens, Alijah Holder, Horace Richardson Safeties: Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Will Parks, Su'a Cravens, Dymonte Thomas, Shamarko Thomas, Trey Marshall, Jamaal Carter Roster Group: Things could be much worse here today. In fact, it looked worse a month ago, and even a few months before that. This is a unit where the Broncos have done a lot of work this off-season, including reaching a new contract deal with Harris to keep him in Denver at least one more season. With that and the additions of Callahan and Jackson, as well as fliers like Busby, this could be one of the sneaky great units for the Broncos. The team still has ...

On Friday, it was announced that Pat Bowlen, the Broncos' majority owner, passed away at the age of 75. It was a sad announcement, but not altogether unexpected as he's been struggling with Alzheimer's Disease the past few years, stepping away from the day-to-day operations of the team in 2014 as a result. Bowlen was finally elected to the NFL Hall of Fame this year, and is set to be enshrined in August. It's sad that he didn't live to see that day, but I think his enshrinement, which is long overdue, will be all the more emotional as a result. It's also likely this season, which will almost certainly be played in Pat's memory, will also be more emotional. Owners don't always get a lot of notice in sports, and often when they do it's for the wrong reasons. Not so with Bowlen, who was beloved by his players, fans and respected by other owners and players around the league. Watching the news and tributes yesterday, that was what came through mos...

With "Dark Phoenix" out, the X-Men franchise as we've known it with FOX is likely over. The inevitable re-boot is coming, but for now it's worth considering the nearly 20 years of the franchise, which has produced 10 films since 2000. (I'm not looking at "Deadpool" in this ranking, as it's more of a stand alone. So here's how I would order the 10 films (three original cast, four first class cast, three Wolverine spin-offs). 10. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) About: Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) was my favorite character in the X-Men, and yet his stand alone films mostly failed to work. Some would argue about whether this is the worst of them, it is for me, but few would argue it's down near the bottom. 9. Dark Phoenix (2019) About: Sadly the final installment in the franchise wasn't very good. Some put it at the bottom (and surely the Rotten Tomato rankings and Box Office haul suggest that), but I liked it a touch better than Wolve...

As we make our way through June, schools are out and the market is flooded by blockbuster releases every weekend. This week is no exception, with four new releases entering the game, headlined by the latest iteration of Men in Black. More on that in a minute. First a moment to reflect on last week. Given the field, I suggested that the real hope was in finding the one that held up best and riding it. I pinned some of my hopes to Dark Phoenix (which bombed) and Aladdin (which was just all right). I did get the Best Value film, A Dog’s Journey , on a couple screens, but it wasn’t nearly enough. If I’d gone with three Aladdin to anchor, I’d have done better. Instead, I finished about $21 million off the pace. With another crowded cineplex, it’s time to try and lock on to what might offer the best value and ride that confidently into the weekend. As always, if you think you’re better at the game than me, I encourage you to join me in a Fantasy Life App Blog league! You can jo...