Matt's Musings

  The Broncos' 2020 Season begins two weeks from tonight, and the team is working hard to get ready for that time. As such, it was a fairly active week. Below I'll look at a couple moves and what it means as we get ready for some real, meaningful football. Broncos Sign Mark Barron Rookie Justin Strnad seemed poised for a big role this season before an injury, and wrist surgery, ended his year. That left the Broncos looking for more depth a middle linebacker, especially while lacking the kind of depth at safety that benefitted the team last season. Enter veteran Mark Barron, who signed a one-year contract with Denver on Sunday. Barron has played for the Buccaneers, who drafted him No. 7 overall in 2012, the Rams and most recently the Steelers. On a good Steelers' defense he played in 15 games last year, starting nine, and racking up 82 tackles, three sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and three passes defensed . He gives the Broncos a quality veteran in the middle, an...

  On Friday news broke that Chadwick Boseman had passed away. It was heart-breaking to see a man in his prime lost to cancer. While many instantly though of the iconic role he played in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the King of Wakanda, Black Panther. And while he's great in that role, appearing in four films including the stunning "Black Panther" in 2018, Boseman's body of work is much more diverse. Tonight ABC will play "Black Panther" followed by a special on the actor for those who are interested. But if you're looking to explore some of his other work, here's a few of the other notable roles and films in which he's appeared. Da 5 Bloods (2020) About: One of the biggest releases of the year so far, this Spike Lee film could be an award contender. Boseman plays a supporting part and does a pretty great job. It's worth checking out. 21 Bridges (2019) About: I feel like this one got lost in the shuffle a bit last year, as Boseman plays a ...

  The NFL Season is fast approaching and I'm taking a look at the upcoming season going division-by-division. Today I continue with the NFC South. New Orleans Saints: The Saints finished 13-3, but thanks to a logjam atop the NFC, they were the three seed. And then they lost to the Vikings in the Wild Card round... But the team is still loaded with talent and Drew Brees is back to make another run. Hope springs eternal. Atlanta Falcons: The team started 1-7, then rebounded to 6-2. A 7-9 season isn't impressive, but it was enough to save their coach's job. The Falcons parted ways with Austin Hooper and Devonta Freeman, but they added Todd Gurley and Hayden Hurst. Can they do enough to make it back to the playoffs? Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs had an uneven 2019 at best, with Jameis Winston tossing more than 30 touchdowns and recording 30 interceptions. The Bucs moved on from Winston in the off-season and brought in none other than Tom Brady. Now the team seems poised for a ...

  I miss football, and sports in general. I'm guessing you do, too. And in the place of actual games, we've been seeing a lot of countdowns of classic games, players, etc. And that got me thinking about my own favorite team, the Denver Broncos. I have loved the Denver Broncos since I was a little kid, more than 30 years of fandom. I started watching them in the late 1980s, and have been faithful ever since. So I thought it might be fun to take a little walk down memory lane and consider my favorite players from those teams. So this is just a personal list, that will be presented in reverse order starting at number 30. Agree, disagree, have your own stories? Share them in the comments. 10. DeMarcus Ware (2014-2016) About: Ware wasn't with the Broncos long, and by the time he got to the team he wasn't at the peak of his skills. But he was a player I always loved when he was with Dallas, and when he came to Denver I knew good things were going to happen. He was the veteran...

  The NFL Season is quickly upon us, actually beginning two weeks from today. In anticipation of the new season I'm looking at each division and making predictions on how the new season will go. Today I move on to the AFC South. Houston Texans: The Texans won the AFC South last season, and one a playoff game against the Bills before falling to the Chiefs. In the off-season, the team made waves as they traded DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals for David Johnson. Then they acquired Randall Cobb in free agency and traded for Brandin Cooks. Will the gambit pay off? Hard to say, but it will be interesting. Tennessee Titans: The Titans were the biggest surprise in the league last year, rebounding from a 2-4 start to squeak into the playoffs. From there, they knocked out the Patriots and Ravens before falling to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. They re-signed Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry in the off-season, and the team has a chance to compete for the playoffs again. Indianapolis...

  Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Arkansas (Amazon Prime) Starring: Liam Hemsworth, Vince Vaughn, John Malkovich, Eden Brolin, and Clark Duke Synopsis : Duke wrote and directed this crime tale, and he also co-stars. This film has a loaded cast and follows the kind of template you see in a Coen Brothers film as a pair of friends (Hemsworth and Duke) join the drug trade, things go awry and they get pulled deeper and deeper until it's too late. Vaughn does a great job in a different kind of role, and I quite enjoyed the supporting performance from Michael K. Williams. Malkovich is the ultimate professional who elevates whatever he's in, and that's true of this role, too. But a lot of the heavy lifting ends up falling on the shoulders of Hemsworth, who does OK. This story has some fun quirks and odd twists, too. It's not incredible, but it was a fun watch that worked in its format. Rating:  R for violence, language throughout, drug material and brief n...

  We're in the Dog Days of Summer now, with it quickly moving toward Labor Day and the unofficial start of the Fall. This summer has looked different than most, and I wager the Fall will look at feel different, too. Until then, let's consider the new content we continue to get to end summer. Last week there were a trio of new premiers I liked a lot. This week, well, there were new premiers... In these weekly posts I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this summer. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: Dead Pixels, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW (Premiered August 18) About: The CW gave us one of the best shows of summer in "Stargirl," which wrapped up its Tuesday run on August 11. Last week, they debuted a new "comedy" from across the pond called "Dead Pixels" about a group of gamers. It was painfully dull, and when paired with the recycled series "Tell Me a Story" from CBS All Ac...

  We're two and half weeks from the NFL Season and padded practices have begun, so it seems like a great time to take a run at a roster prediction. Right after I did this last time, guys opted out and got released. Let's hope I have better luck today. This is my best guess, as of today, about who makes the final 53-man roster. Quarterback: (2) * Drew Lock * Jeff Driskel About: As much as I like Brett Rypien, I don't see them using a third spot for a quarterback at this point. Barring an injury concern, I think the Broncos ride with two on the active roster. Running Back: (3) * Melvin Gordon * Phillip Lindsay * Royce Freeman About: Everyone in this group has starting experience. I thought about adding a fourth RB, but I think the Broncos have needs for depth elsewhere. Even with Gordon slightly banged up right now, I think the Broncos will go conservative here. Wide Receiver: (6) * Courtland Sutton * Jerry Jeudy * K.J. Hamler * Tim Patrick * DaeSean Hamilton * Diontae Spenc...

  The NFL Season is less than three weeks away! As we prepare, I'm going division-by-division to preview this coming season. Today I continue with the NFC North. Green Bay Packers The Packers were a stunning 13-3 last season, second best in the NFC. And they did it all in the first season with new Head Coach Matt LaFleur. The Packers didn't do anything to bolster their receivers heading in 2020, and it's fair to wonder if they'll have some struggles. They may have done better in terms of record than their play suggested in 2019. Minnesota Vikings The second year with Kirk Cousins saw the Vikings back in the playoffs, where they upset the Saints in the Wild Card round. Now the team enters year three with rookie receiver Justin Jefferson in place of Stefon Diggs, who was traded to Buffalo. Will the offense take a step back? Can Dalvin Cook stay on the field? This will be a question that defines the season for Minnesota. Chicago Bears After a great 2018, Mitch Trubisky and...

  We're nearly to the NFL Season, and as we prepare I'm going division-by-division with predictions for the finish. Today I continue with the AFC North. Baltimore Ravens The Ravens were the best team in the AFC and the league last season, but their magical run fell short in the playoffs as the Titans knocked them out in the Divisional Round. The Ravens re-loaded with J.K. Dobbins in the draft and seem poised to compete again with Lamar Jackson at the helm. Pittsburgh Steelers The Steelers lost Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell in the off-season, then saw Ben Roethlisberger, Juju Smith-Schuster and James Conner injured during the year. Despite that, they hung in the playoff battle to the end. With a healthy offense, the team is looking to contend. Cleveland Browns The Browns entered 2019 with a lot of promise. They ended 6-10 and saw coach Freddie Kitchens fired. Now Kevin Stefanski is in and the team still has a lot of talent and promise. The question is if they can get it tog...

  I miss football, and sports in general. I'm guessing you do, too. And in the place of actual games, we've been seeing a lot of countdowns of classic games, players, etc. And that got me thinking about my own favorite team, the Denver Broncos. I have loved the Denver Broncos since I was a little kid, more than 30 years of fandom. I started watching them in the late 1980s, and have been faithful ever since. So I thought it might be fun to take a little walk down memory lane and consider my favorite players from those teams. So this is just a personal list, that will be presented in reverse order starting at number 30. Agree, disagree, have your own stories? Share them in the comments. No. 11 Demaryius Thomas (2010-2018) About: This is the final entry before I hit the Top 10, and I get to one of my favorite Broncos' receivers, Demaryius Thomas. DT was a force for the Broncos for nine seasons, and a big part of two Super Bowl runs. But it was his first big contribution that i...

  The NFL Season is nearly here. As we get closer to the season, which kicks off on Thursday, September 10, I'll be previewing each division and making fearless predictions for the finish. Today I continue with the NFC East. Philadelphia Eagles The Eagles were the winners of the saddest division race of 2019 in the NFC East. They were 5-7 at one point but won four straight to make the playoffs, where they lost to the Seattle Seahawks. This year the team comes back with a strong core and sit in a winable division. But I think there's some holes in the Philly lineup and their run atop the NFC East may be at an end. Dallas Cowboys The Cowboys have a ton of talent and should be a contender on paper. But last year they couldn't sustain it on the field, so they finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. That led to a change of coaches as Mike McCarthy comes in. The team remains wildly talented, even adding a new weapon in CeeDee Lamb in the draft, but can they put it together on the f...

  Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. Boys State (Apple TV+) Synopsis : It's been a great year for documentaries, and a strong summer for Apple TV+. The new streamer has developed some fascinating original series, and has offered some solid original films. That includes the interesting drama "The Banker," the World War II film "Greyhound" and now the documentary "Boys State." This film heads to Texas, looking at the nearly 1,200 high school boys that gather in Austin for a week to simulate the govermental process. For many of us, politics is the last thing we want to do in our leisure time. However, these young men are inspired and impassioned to share their beliefs and become the next generation of leaders. The documentary focuses on a handful of them, each in different political parties established at the event. Interviews provide some insight and help you get to know these young men and their passion. I was taken with the process an...

  We're nearing September and we're starting to get some more interesting options. This week alone, there were three incredible show premiers. That gives me hope that even in this strange time for new content we'll find some diamonds in the rough. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this summer. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Tuesday Nights: Hard Knocks: LA, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on HBO (Premiered August 11) About: This is an anthology series for HBO Sports, each year following a different team during NFL training camp. This year they're following two different times, the Rams and Chargers, as they prepare to move into their new stadium and home in Los Angeles. Of course, this is also an NFL season like no other, and this show does a nice job of capturing that. The first episode served as an introduction to the teams, the coaches and the set up for the season. It felt good to have football back ...

  It was a relatively quiet week for the Broncos at Training Camp. There are just a couple big headlines to look at. Padded practices begin this week, so I'll be making a revised prediction on the final roster in next week's round up. But this week, here's a couple things we've learned. 1. The Broncos Signed Demar Dotson This was seemingly in the works when I did my weekly check in last Monday, but it became official over the week. Dotson brings plenty of experience as a starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While Garrett Bolles and Elijah Wilkinson figure to be penciled in at starting tackles right now, Dotson gives a strong veteran option, and I wouldn't be surprised if he moved in at right tackle and Wilkinson went back to the swing tackle position. Either way, the Broncos quickly moved to strengthen a position that took a bit of a hit when Ja'Wuan James opted out. The Broncos boosted their skill position groups and have invested in the success of Drew Lock i...

  It's fair to say 2020 hasn't gone as expected in a lot of ways. That includes our life at the movies. Around about March 15, everything shut, including movie theaters. Some have slowly begun to open, albeit without new films. But there is hope! The first new releases are set to begin rolling out the next two weeks, and there are other major releases on the schedule for the Fall. So below are a few movies coming in the remainder of the year (hopefully) that we can look forward to seeing! Tenet (September 4) This film from Christopher Nolan has been oft delayed but is set to release to international audiences on August 26. It's supposed to finally release in this country for Labor Day weekend. Fingers crossed, as this would be the first big film to bow since COVID hit. I think it could also end up being one of the best. Wonder Woman (October 2) This was supposed to be the film of summer, but I'll settle for it being the film of fall. Gal Gadot is great in this role, and...

  As we approach the new season, I'm going to look at each division and offer a prediction before we get to the season. Today we're starting with the AFC East. New England Patriots The team had a lot of losses this off-season. Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, defensive stalwarts like Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins left via free agency and the team also had a ton of opt outs, including players like Dont'a Hightower and Patrick Chung. The team has Cam Newton and about 25 running backs after snagging free agent Lamar Miller. But I think they're due a fall off from the past few decades. Buffalo Bills The Bills came on strong last season, making a run at the Patriots and ending up in the Wild Card slot. This year they added Stefon Diggs, rookie running back Zack Moss and have a big opening in the division. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC East this season. New York Jets The Jets didn't have a successful 2019 season, with i...

  I miss football, and sports in general. I'm guessing you do, too. And in the place of actual games, we've been seeing a lot of countdowns of classic games, players, etc. And that got me thinking about my own favorite team, the Denver Broncos. I have loved the Denver Broncos since I was a little kid, more than 30 years of fandom. I started watching them in the late 1980s, and have been faithful ever since. So I thought it might be fun to take a little walk down memory lane and consider my favorite players from those teams. So this is just a personal list, that will be presented in reverse order starting at number 30. Agree, disagree, have your own stories? Share them in the comments. No. 12 C.J. Anderson (2013-2017) About: We're getting near the top, and I know some would question seeing Anderson here. But let me be clear, it was an incredible asset on the field during his five years with Denver and we would not have won Super Bowl 50 without him. Period. He's on this...

  Round One of the NBA Playoffs is upon us, well, almost. It begins August 17, which is Monday. But the seeding is pretty much set, so below I'm going to offer my predictions for the East and West. Eastern Conference, Round One: 1. Milwaukee Bucks vs. 8. Orlando Magic About: The Bucks are the top seed in the East for a reason, while the Magic aren't even a .500 team. This shouldn't be close. Prediction: Bucks in four games. 2. Toronto Raptors vs. 7. Brooklyn Nets About: The Raptors have done quite well despite the loss of their best player from a year ago. They won't go quietly. But the Nets have some talent and are a feisty team as well. Still, Raptors should advance. Prediction: Raptors in five games. 3. Boston Celtics vs. 6. Philadelphia 76ers About: The Celtics are a solid squad, but the 76ers have talent. Unfortunately injuries seem to have taken their toll. At full strength, the 76ers would be a tough out. At this point, I think it will be easier for Boston. ...

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week. An American Pickle (HBO Max) Starring: Seth Rogen and Sarah Snook Synopsis : This latest comedy for HBO Max was at one time going to theaters, but instead ended up on stream given the new climate. It comes from writer Simon Rich, based on his short story, and centers on an immigrant (Rogen) who falls into a vat of pickles, is sealed in there, ends up in hibernation for 100 years. During that time his wife and unborn child live and die, and the world changes a lot. When he's released, he finds his one living relative, a great-grandson (Rogen as well), and they end up living together and clashing. Rogen does a decent job in the double role, pretty much carrying the entire narrative. And there are moments that are funny here, and even a couple poignant moments. But ultimately this is strange, and there's parts of the adversarial nature of the story that didn't work for me. It was OK, but nothing great. Rating:  PG-13 for so...

  We've reached the dregs of summer, where it's hot, school is in various states of getting ready to begin and football is on the horizon. But the streaming services are still coming hot-and-heavy with some new shows, and even some of the networks are trotting out options to carry through the Fall. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted (and some unscripted) series this Summer. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks. Wednesday Nights: Coroner, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on The CW (Premiered August 5) About: This new series is new to America but aired in 2019 in Canada. It centers on Jenny (Serinda Swan), a recently widowed mother to a teen, who is appointed Coroner in Toronto and dives headlong into a set of cases and her new career. She makes a fast ally in detective Donovan McAvoy (Roger Cross), but her brash hunt for the truth rubs some the wrong way. Or at least it did in the pilot. Still, Swan brings a strength to the ro...