Survivor Week 3 Recap: What the Heck Did I Just Watch?

As zany and gripping as Wednesday night's tribal council was, it was one of my least favorite episodes in the show's history.

So much felt wrong about the twist and the way it unfolded.

1) Two tribes should NEVER go to tribal council together.

Twists can make the game exciting. And clearly the show wants big moves and crazy things to happen. I'm all for tribe swaps. But I don't like when Survivor messes with its perfect formula to create shameless drama (ie: the Tyler Perry idol).

Obviously life isn't fair and neither is the game of Survivor, but what happened Wednesday night was downright egregious. In no way is it fair for one tribe to get to try to vote someone out from the other. This premise strays so far away from the core of Survivor.

A tribe shouldn't have that kind of power over another. These are decisions that should be left in-house. How can someone outwit and outplay the other castaways that they have zero connection too who can vote them out? This was ridiculous.

2) Jeff should have been more clear with the rules for tribal.

While saying "oh by the way you guys are going to tribal together" makes for good theater, it isn't the right way to present a twist. Jeff should have laid out all the information regarding the challenge and tribal council, before the tribes picked who was sitting out. The castaways should know what they're in for before they receive their punishment. This wasn't right.

3) Where the heck did that idol come from and what happened to the challenge idols?

Last week I shared why challenge idols are great. They come at a price. So why didn't we see any talk of idols before the challenge? How come one easily showed up when Tai needed one, when his tribe was down in numbers? Meanwhile we saw no talk of idols on the other side?

Not to mention, I've never seen a more helpful clue for an idol. The clue literally had an "X marks the spot" drawn on to show exactly where Tai could find the idol. It couldn't have taken him more than 15 minutes to retrieve it.

This whole thing is fishy to me and it makes me question the integrity of the game. From an entertainment standpoint, this tribal council would really only be interesting if the tribe that was at a disadvantage had an idol. Otherwise they get voted out 6-5. Seems a little too unbelievable for me.

4) JT's legacy takes a blow and it's not entirely his fault

JT was one of the most likable players ever. In Survivor: Tocantins, there were confessionals of other players saying they wanted him to win more than they wanted themselves to win. Everybody loved this guy.

He made an ill-advised, risky decision in Heroes vs. Villains and made a similar mistake this time, giving too much power to the enemy. But we shouldn't be too hard on him.

JT was in the worst spot among the players. If just his tribe goes to tribal council, it could potentially be him. Now the other tribe's coming with, and if he votes with his new tribe then everyone is going to be mad at him for "flipping" even though he's on a new tribe and needs to protect himself. But he also wants to integrate himself in to the new group. Either way he comes off as disloyal. But that's not fair because this isn't a merge, and the tribes will go back to being themselves in the morning.

Now he's in a terrible spot and will likely be the next boot. Unless the producers save him with an idol.

One of the biggest problems with all-star seasons is that great players and characters can take a big hit to their legacy. Despite everything great they do their first time playing, people will remember the bad. This shouldn't define JT, not by a long shot.

5) Survivor isn't just about big moves.

In fact, Survivor is more about the small, subtle moves. And for myself as a viewer, I don't keep watching Survivor hoping for the craziest moments and biggest gameplay moves to happen. I like all that Survivor has to offer, and the game is just part of it. I'm drawn to seeing people from different walks of life come together and form friendships, coexisting and creating a new society. I like seeing heart (for instance, Adam and Jay crying together over their sick family members).

But sometimes I feel Survivor turns into something more like WWE than reality. It wagers on the big strategic moments and often loses key characters as a result. Wednesday night was a prime example. So was it interesting? I wasn't bored watching tribal in the least bit. But it felt a little too artificial for me to consider one of the best tribal councils ever.

6) We lose one of the best Survivor fan favorites ever far too early.

Whether it was Sandra or Malcolm, one was due to get idoled out of the game once JT revealed the plan to the opposite side. Instead we keep Sierra and Brad? Both fringe players? Poll the fans and ask who they want to see stay and the answer is easily Malcolm and Sandra. We'd rather see JT and Sandra go toe-to-toe, than have an idol mess it all up. We lost one of the few true "game changers" on the season and we will likely lose another next episode.

From what I observed, I didn't find any flaws in Malcolm's game. He got screwed by a twisted twist and he should be furious. Hopefully it isn't the last time we see him on our TVs. And hopefully this is the last twist that happens in Game Changers.

Survivor Week 2 Recap: Idols, Goats and GOATs

Another week, another episode chock-full of exciting Survivor: Game Changers story lines to examine. BUT FIRST, drop your buffs.

1) Switching from two tribes to three can be a game-ender

I understand the thought process behind splitting the tribes in to three, as it can make for a more exciting post-merge game and it can be an easy way to ensure that each character is visible in the episodes. But being on a tribe of just six people this early in the game can be a death-sentence.

It's really easy to find yourself on the wrong side of the numbers in a tribe so small. And it's even easier when there's a tribe swap and the other five people are from the other tribe.

Life isn't fair and neither is the game of Survivor, but this twist screws quite a few players, and hopefully it doesn't come at the expense of some of the show's headliners (more on this later). Troyzan, Caleb and Hali are by no means the stars of the season, but others, such as JT and wait for it... Sandra, could be in trouble (more on this later).

I also won't be surprised if this isn't the last tribe swap of the season. We could see a 2-3-2 tribe format, because at the end of the day Survivor is just one 39-day playoff series, right?

2) Trozyan was the star of the night

When a castaway cries, it's normally a good or terrible sign for their life in the game. Troyzan finding a clue to the idol was a semi-touching moment, and assured that the next time the green tribe (we'll just call them that for now) goes to tribal council will be at least interesting.

The actual action of Troyzan stealthily snagging the idol was hilarious. By far the funniest thing to happen yet this season, and a good job on his part. No one caught him. His tribe wins immunity, he buys time and finds himself an idol. Great night for Troyzan.

And good on the green tribe for not losing the challenge. You wanna talk about getting screwed? Look no further than the tribe that barely got any food and tools and had to start a new camp from scratch.

3) Challenge idols are back

I like the concept of challenge idols and having to make some form of sacrifice in order to obtain an idol. It makes idols a lot more interesting.

It appears you have to find a clue before an idol is planted in a challenge. I like that.

I personally think that they only planted one idol clue in the episode. The show probably wants to capitalize on on the drama of having a player after a challenge idol, and my guess is that the show doesn't want to burn the premise out after just one episode. Besides, if there were three people looking for idols in the same challenge, it might be a little too chaotic and difficult to follow. So the green tribe, being the new, underprivileged tribe got the first clue. Otherwise, I would think JT would have come across a clue in his not-so-subtle search.

4) JT, a 'hero' again

JT's valiant attempt at looking for the idol left him empty-handed while those conspiring against him started planning his burial. But he bounced back tremendously, leading his tribe in catching two goats and passive-aggressively convincing his tribe to let them go. JT and Malcolm really got a nice hero edit here, appearing as two southern gentlemen that don't want to harm innocent animals, and I think this is the start of something.

Malcolm has been clear about wanting to keep physical threats around for his own protection, and what better threat is there than former winner and challenge beast JT? Malcolm can get all that he wanted from Tony, without the craziness, in JT. And I don't see why JT and Malcolm wouldn't get along, they seem to be two very like-minded guys. If it happens, can we call this the "GOAT alliance"?

5) Sandra might be in danger

While Malcolm and Aubry voted in the majority in Tony's elimination, the show depicted them being more in the Tony camp than the Sandra camp. Couple in the fact that Michaela wants it to be known that she is a competitor and she hates losing, and the three former Mana tribe members could vote with JT and turn the tables on Sandra.

I know that Sandra is Sandra, but her willingness to eat a baby goat and a mother goat without any conscience could serve as a symbol for her cut-throat-ness to her tribe mates. None of them want to be the innocent goats led to the slaughter. She was outnumbered 5-1 in the goat decision. Could this foreshadow the slaying of the GOAT?

6) Another strong showing from fringe players

Once again, some of the castaways that fans deemed unworthy of returning showed some potential. Maybe the producers knew something about bringing back Troyzan, Brad and Hali?

Culpepper played a notoriously aggressive game his first time out, but now he's looking like a seasoned vet. Though the tribe is much weaker losing "Beastmode Cowboy" Caleb, Culpepper prevented a Kaoh Rong power alliance. I don't believe Sierra when she says that her and Hali have "no relationship at all" from being on the same season, but I do think their ties don't run as deep as three players from the same season in a tribe of six. Culpepper did a good job of subtly turning Tai against Caleb, while not being demanding. I like where his game is going thus far.

Though Hali finds herself at the bottom of a weak tribe, she displayed some of her abilities as a prospective attorney, providing a sound, logical argument while keeping her cool. She might be able to slither her way in to an alliance with Brad and Sierra, if they can win a challenge or two and buy her some time. Or maybe she'll stumble upon an idol clue on the shore.


Despite a boring vote, episode 2 brought a lot of excitement, thrills and high quality camp scenes.

Does "Logan" Live Up to Its Lofty Expectations? (Contains Spoilers)

*This blog contains spoilers.*

At this point, we all are familiar with the hype surrounding Logan.

The supposed-last Hugh Jackman X-Men film is receiving high praise from critics and fans alike, many saying that it is the best superhero flick since The Dark Knight. Others are clamoring for Logan to receive Oscar nominations for best picture and best male actor. Unfortunately, I left the theater Friday night feeling disappointed that the 10th installment to the X-Men film franchise didn't live up to the buzz surrounding it.

The first half of the movie I was all in. I was loving the ride that Wolverine and Professor Xavier were taking me on, excited to see where it would lead me.

X-23 (AKA "Laura") is introduced and immediately she garners my respect. When a main character in a film is a kid with superpowers, it's risky. It hinges on the child actor's ability to deliver and the director's ability to make it believable and something the audience wants to invest in. I can think of a number of films where too much has been invested in to a child with crazy powers and it doesn't work well (most notably Looper- but that's another story). X-23 is fantastic however, and the whole premise involving her and her complicated relation to Logan, as well as their chemistry together worked very well.

This is the first X-Men film to receive an "R" rating, another facet that added excitement to the film. It provided some newer layers and depths to be explored, but I think the writers ultimately got lost in their new freedoms, which led to a big turning point in the film, which is where I stopped loving the direction the film was going.

This comes as a result of the introduction to X-24; my biggest gripe with Logan. We get a very nice, touching family scene. Heart goes a long way in creating quality superhero films. Moments later however, the film forcefully shifts from a sweet, road-trip story to a jarring horror film. I don't think it was a very smooth transition, and I didn't like what it did with the story.

Forget the fact that a kind, innocent family gets slaughtered for no apparent reason, other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Charles Xavier dies for the second time in the film's franchise, this death being even worse than the first. How many times do you have to kill Professor X?

I didn't like the way that Professor X went out. I don't know why the film franchise felt the need to bring him back, just to kill him again. And if he had to die, I think they could have utilized his death better in the film's story-telling. I didn't feel that the death helped the story and instead, we lost an interesting element to the story's fabric.

So we lose Professor X and enter in one of the most generic, plain villains we can find: X-24. The hero-fights-a-clone-of-himself thing happens a lot in movies, and in many cases comes off as lazy. Wolverine has already fought a number of villains that possess similar qualities to his. In X2, he fights "Lady Deathstrike", a mutant controlled by Stryker that has the same healing powers as Wolverine as well as claws. She's basically a female version of Wolverine. As if that weren't enough, X-Men Origins: Wolverine features Wolverine fighting other members of 'Weapon X' such as Sabretooth and an unofficial Deadpool, who each have the same regeneration powers.

Now we have an actual clone of Wolverine that's being controlled by a similar group that is trying to control mutants. Ho-hum.

I would have liked to see a new villain, a new challenge! A new enemy. Donald Pierce made for a much more interesting villain, but he wasn't developed well. Instead, we get the same old thing. Having a good villain is key to a superhero movie's success.

In some ways, the plot felt similar to that of Iron Man 2, in which Tony Stark has something inside of him that is slowly killing him and he fights a bunch of rogue suits similar to his Iron Man suit. This time around, we're aware that something on the inside is killing Wolverine, but I think this could have been better explained. It's never addressed why, 20 years in the future, he's aged more than he ever has in his centuries of existence.

Also, what happened to all the other mutants? There are hints thrown that they all were killed off, but why couldn't this be more clear? Jean Gray and Scott Summers were resurrected at the end of Days of Future Past, potentially setting the series up for a new trilogy featuring the mutants at Xavier's school. These films can still be made, considering this story takes place in the future, but if a future film culminates in the mutants all being killed, I don't have much interest in seeing that movie.

Another question: what's with the adamantium bullet? X-24 is presumably dead after getting shot with the alloy, but when Wolverine gets shot in the head with it in Origins, he just loses his memory. There are some significant continuity issues here (which isn't unfamiliar to X-Men).

There are some big plot-holes that shouldn't be excused.

In the end, we see Wolverine finally die. After two decades of discussing with your friends how you could kill Wolverine, I find his death to be anticlimactic. Nevertheless, it truly is heartbreaking to not only see Wolverine die, but to know his story arc; to know that he never finds peace or joy in anything in his life. It finally appears that he's found something he genuinely cares about and wants to invest in- Laura. But then he dies.

This didn't have to be the story for one of my favorite superheroes. It could have ended differently. But it appears the writers wanted to create something ultra-dark. Not every movie has to have a happy ending, but I wasn't 100% satisfied with the way this film ended. I think there was more potential with this one.

Whether it's actually the end for Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, time will tell. Technically the studio can always make films that take place prior to the year 2029, so there are some possibilities there. The film set itself up for a future with X-23 and her mutant friends. X-23 has a bright future in a the X-Men universe, but that future would be even brighter if it included Wolverine.

Masterpiece? No way. Logan is an alright superhero movie, but not one of the best, and not even the best X-Men film up to date. I'd give this film a 6.5/10. It wasn't bad by any means, but it did have its flaws. Logan was in my eyes, overrated and I don't think it will receive any Oscar buzz. I think this chatter comes as a result of it only being March, notably a time when there isn't a lot of great stuff out there in theaters.



What did you think of Logan? Did it live up to the hype? Comment and let me hear your thoughts!

Survivor Game-Changers Week One Recap

Survivor added another milestone to its long list of unbelievable television achievements Wednesday night.

Wednesday night aired the show's 500th episode, the premiere of Survivor: Game Changers, and naturally, there is plenty to dissect.

1) Why is it Survivor: Game Changers?

The episode opens with a sweet intro that shows some of the game's biggest personalities making some of the most memorable moves in the show's history, followed by Jeff emphasizing how each member of the cast has changed the game in someway. Okay. So did Hali change the game by being the first female to chop a coconut at approximately 2:02 p.m. on day 2? Did Caleb change the game by being the second contestant to ever almost die in the middle of a challenge? And Brad Culpepper changed the game by being the first man whose wife lasted longer on the show than he did?

"Game Changers" is just a cheesy, generic title, as very few of the game's competitors have anything in common with each other as players. Only a select few can be characterized as "game-changers", while another handful can be pegged as "all-stars." Though some contestants may not appear as worthy as others for a return on an all-star season, I will say however that I was pleasantly surprised with the showing from the cast this week (more on this later).

Jeff proceeds to go in to his typical "this game is all about big moves" spiel that he has grown accustomed to over the past 15 seasons or so. This isn't necessarily true, and it showed last night...

(Also I have no idea why Jeff feels the need to narrate the scramble that happens on the boat every season now... When did that become a thing?)

2) Ciera's sin was playing the game too hard, too fast

When you find yourself in a tribe of 10, the best thing that you can do is stay out of drama, pull your weight at camp, do well enough in the challenges and keep your head down. It's easier to hide in a group of 10 than it is in a group of six (we've have seen a good number of six-person tribes in recent seasons). By throwing Tony's name out immediately, Ciera exposed herself as a schemer. Obviously everybody that's playing on an all-star season is going to be scheming (whoops, maybe not everyone on this cast), but at that first vote, people are looking for a reason to vote someone out; it doesn't matter who, just someone. You don't want to be the person controling the vote at this point. It's only day 3 and there is plenty of Survivor left to be played. Instead, you want to be in someone like Malcolm's position, who gave a good quote about how all you want to be doing is being friendly and having people approach you and want to work with you. Conversations and relationships, especially at this stage of the game, are key.

Ciera should have taken a more hands-off approach, especially considering that she isn't one of the tribe's strongest physical competitors. Unfortunately for her, this may have been her last chance to play. However, I also thought Second Chances would be Jeff Varner's last chance to play.

3) Tony's sin was also playing the game too hard, too fast

Coming in, we knew Tony could find himself in danger early, mainly because everybody had seen the way he played Cagayan and now had a Tony Vlachos scouting report in their back pocket. Initially, I liked the way he started the second half of the episode by pulling Sandra in. Winners sticking together and covering each other's backs makes a lot of sense. But Tony fell victim to his own paranoia. It seemed that he was more concerned with putting on a show for the fans and building a "Spyshack 2.0" than laying low and playing differently. The best players are able to adapt. Tony actually had a lot of people willing to play with him, but it was too hard for him to not play the game aggressively. As a result, the first to players attempting "big moves" had to take the fall.

4) Sandra is the queen

Sandra flexed her muscles once again as the game's best. The biggest key to Sandra's game is escaping the first couple votes. Everybody knows how good she is at playing Survivor, clearly. She also is an all-time challenge liability. Somehow she was able to convince her tribe to vote off the physically imposing Tony and keep her instead. Her elite social game was on full-display.

For Sandra, I don't blame her at all for turning on Tony. She was in on sticking with him until he accused her of plotting against her. She wasn't. After playing the game with two of the zaniest schemers in Jonny Fairplay and Russell Hantz, she finally had had enough and cut ties with Tony. It was the right move for her at the right time, and it appears that she has gained a loyal following in her tribe.

5) The buffs are about to be dropped

After just two votes, it appears that a tribe swap is among us. After watching the Mana tribe lose for the second straight time, I caught myself thinking, "It's time for a mix-up already." Mana looks significantly weaker and without Tony, it definitely appears to be at a heavy underdog. In a double-episode premiere, it's most exciting when you get to see all 20 castaways go to tribal council. I want to see the other group have to make a move and I'm glad the tribe swap is happening now.

It wasn't great for Cirie to be put on the same tribe as Ozzy. Naturally the tribe members are going to side with the all-time challenge stud over the all-time schemer in a one v. one shootout. Hopefully the tribe swap plays itself out in that Cirie and Ozzy land on different tribes.

Everything is about to change and it'll be an entirely new season if there is a tribe swap. The last six days will in many ways, be erased.

6) Strong night from the castaways

Initially looking at the names of the cast, I was in many ways disappointed. 20 castaways are returning for Game Changers, and spots are being filled by Brad Culpepper and Sarah? Can't we bring back real game changers like Lex, Fairplay, Kathy and Brian Heidik?

While I will always hope for more old-school players to come back, I must confess that I was pleased with what I saw from the cast last night. I saw a lot of smart confessionals made by some of the fringe players, particularly Sierra and Culpepper. If Culpepper can sit back and not play the bold game that he did in Blood vs. Water, he could do pretty well. Caleb was good too.

I like Sierra and Hali to go deep in Game Changers, as non-threatening females tend to do very well on all-star seasons. Sierra was a good challenge competitor her first time out and I don't see anyone having any reason to target her. Now she's got the legacy advantage and if she finds herself a good alliance, she'll be in a great spot.

Michaela's performance was not the best in week one. Though she managed to keep her mouth shut for the most part, she did show a bit of her fieriness that she possesses. I don't think she's going to be able to keep it all in the rest of the way if she nearly blew up on day 3, but it's a marathon, not a sprint, and several players have turned it around after a rough showing week one.

We didn't see a lot of interactions involving both JT and Zeke. I think Zeke could be targeted by JT as the last time JT played with an unknown returning player, he got screwed badly by Russell. JT knows Zeke was brought back as a "game changer" for some reason. JT's going to remember what happened and he may plan accordingly with Zeke. I expect him to be cautious if they find themselves on the same tribe after the swap.

Tai was hilarious and fun as always, and it was fun seeing him interact with JT. Once again, I'm reminded of how fun returning players are at the start, and how great it is to see our favorite Survivors interacting with each other.


Overall, I thought it was a very strong first episode for Survivor: Game Changers and I can't wait to see what lies in store next week.

DeShaun Watson Could Be the Answer For the Bears

As I watched DeShaun Watson lead Clemson to not one, but two go-ahead scores late in the fourth quarter of Monday's National Championship game, I couldn't help but dream of a brighter day in the city of Chicago.

Watson was put to the greatest test that any prospective NFL quarterback can ever try: put together a two-minute drill resulting in a touchdown (against Alabama's defense) to win a championship! He succeeded. He also led his team to a go-ahead score earlier in the fourth.

I know a lot of Bears fans that were watching Monday and thinking, could this be our future? Should the Bears pick DeShaun at pick no. 3 overall?

After all these years, the science of selecting a successful franchise quarterback is still a work in progress. For whatever reason, we still haven't been able to figure out what the correct makeup of a Super Bowl-winning quarterback is.

Here's a little update on SOME of the quarterbacks that were selected in the first round, as recently as 2011-2014:

Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder, RGIII, Brandon Weeden and EJ Manuel have all struggled to secure starting jobs; all save for Manuel are on different teams than the one that drafted them, and almost all have made the switch to back-up quarterback. Meanwhile, Jake Locker and Johnny Manziel are out of football, and Blake Bortles will have another chance in 2017 to prove himself as the long-term option for the Jaguars.

We get it, picking a quarterback in the first round is risky business. But sometimes the upside is just too good to pass up.

In the world of baseball, the Chicago Cubs found a winning formula by betting on highly touted prospects to carry the workload and compete at a high level at the major league level. The strategy paid dividends, as the Cubs won the World Series and now have a flurry of All-Stars (including National League MVP Kris Bryant) locked up for the next four years on the MINIMUM CONTRACT. Though baseball does not have a hard cap, the Cubs were able to shave off millions to instead spend on important vets like Dexter Fowler, Jon Lester and John Lackey, the final pieces to a championship puzzle.

Regardless of the sport, every team needs to decide where it wants to spend its money, and where it can potentially save money. Over the last three seasons, the Bears wasted an average of $17 million/year on Jay Cutler, which yielded lackluster results. Regardless of how well you think Cutler performed and what excuses you want to make for him, the Bears were an embarrassment. That's $17 million that can be used to shore up other areas of weakness.

If the Bears could draft a quarterback that is at least decent, they could save a significant amount of money at a premium position for the next four years, and then use that money to place talent around said quarterback.

Now back to Watson. Watson is comparable to two recent no. 1 overall picks who have thrived in the National Football League. Both won National Championships. Both were the reason their teams won National Championships. The biggest knock on each has been the nagging question, "Can they do it at the NFL level?", the same that is being asked about Watson.

And now, a brief history of championship-winning quarterbacks from this decade, with our stars in bold:
2010: Cam Newton, Auburn
2011: AJ McCarron, Alabama
2012: AJ McCarron, Alabama
2013: Jameis Winston, Florida State
2014: Cardale Jones, Ohio State
2015: *INSERT ALABAMA QB HERE*
2016: DeShaun Watson, Clemson

I don't want to take anything away from what the Bama and Ohio State quarterbacks have done, but both schools have cemented themselves as juggernauts, with great coaches. Cardale Jones was Ohio State's third quarterback. I won't say that those schools could have won with anyone, but I don't think that their quarterbacks were the driving reason that they won national titles.

In comparison, I don't think Clemson, Florida State or Auburn could have gotten as far as they had without their star quarterbacks; these were the best quarterbacks in all of college football for their respective years. And while earning attention at the individual level, each showed that they could win. Each has proven himself as a winner, a duel-threat quarterback, yet a precision passer.

Jameis is the best comparison to Watson. Through Jameis' sophomore and junior seasons in the ACC, the Seminoles went 26-1 with him as the team's starter. Through Watson's sophomore and junior years in the ACC? The Tigers went 28-2. The last four ACC championships have been claimed by the two quarterbacks.

Jameis also led the Seminoles to a game-winning score in the fourth quarter of the 2013 National Championship game. Their resumes are similar. The only distinct difference is that Jameis had some character question marks surrounding him entering the draft. Since however, Jameis has silenced the critics, appearing in the Pro Bowl and turning the Bucs into a playoff contender just two years removed from a league-worst 2-14 prior to his arrival.

DeShaun could be similar, only without the extra baggage. No character questions have come to our attention, and instead, pieces like this one have been written about his positive outlook on life. He appears to be a great leader.

Jameis is currently owed $4 million/year for the next two years. The Bears could release Cutler, move on and ignore the Tony Romo rumors. Whoever is behind center next year, the Bears won't be winning the Super Bowl. They're not there yet. But they could select an electrifying, young quarterback who could help them make good strides as they use the cap relief to rebuild the defense and place talent around Watson on the offensive side. The Bears have some legitimate pieces to work with now; Watson and rooking standout Jordan Howard could be a fun dynamic duo for many years to come. If they make the right pick here, in two years the Bears could be a serious threat in the NFC North.

Or the Bears could select the best available player at pick no. 3, such as versatile play-maker Jabrill Peppers. Either way, the Bears cannot afford to let the highest pick the franchise has held since 1972 go to waste. The fans are tired of being trapped in mediocrity, and the good people of Chicago deserve better.

It might be time for the Bears to swing for the fences and pick a quarterback that would re-energize and bring new life to a tired fan base.

2016 NFL Playoff Preview

Will the playoffs this year be interesting? Or are we going to see Tom Brady walk through the postseason yet again and collect his fifth ring?

This seems to be the dominating storyline throughout sports talk shows as we head in to what I think will be a very thrilling postseason.

Though Derek Carr and Ryan Tannehill's devastating late-season injuries have softened the competition in the AFC, there is still plenty to watch for and plenty of gripping storylines. And thus, I present you with my 2016 playoff preview and predictions.

Q: Could Matt Stafford steal a playoff victory, the Lions' first since '91?
A: Stafford was well on his way to delivering the Lions their first division title since '93, as well as putting together a serious MVP resume before injuring the middle finger of his throwing hand in a week 14 game. The Lions squeaked out a victory over the lowly Bears, but came up short in the team's final three games. Though Stafford has said that his finger isn't to blame for the decline, it's clear that since, the results haven't been the same. Stafford's completion percentage has dropped significantly (he was completing 67% of his passes and completed 60% over the last four weeks) while playing tougher overall defenses. Unfortunately for the Lions, it won't get any easier. Even without Kam Chancellor, Seattle's defense will be a handful and will create some major headaches. Better luck next year, Detroit. Seattle 24, Detroit 13

Q: Will Brock Osweiler win a playoff game?
A: The best way to describe how I feel about the crapshow that will be the Carr-less Raiders and the Texans? This game could go either way and I will not be surprised with either outcome. Connor Cook could confidently step in and make good use of the weapons the Raiders have on the offensive side. A couple of short passes, a big gain off a screen play to Amari Cooper, and a couple of dump-offs to the running backs could potentially open up more throwing lanes downfield, and help the Raiders move the ball and score. Or JaDeveon Clowney and the Houston D could feast on the rookie quarterback, gifting Osweiler a playoff W. Consider that Oakland has more tape on Osweiler than Houston has on Cook. This could go either way and honestly it won't really matter. Whoever it is, the Patriots will crush in the Divisional Round. Raiders squeak one out, 19-16. 

Q: Does Miami. the week's heaviest underdog, have any chance against Pittsburgh?
A: Not if the Steelers play mistake-free football. Pittsburgh could benefit from some Miami offensive miscues, that could turn in to points. Meanwhile, Bell, Roethlisberger and Brown will carve out the Miami defense. Pittsburgh 31, Miami 10.

Q: Eli vs. A-Rodg. Who wins?
A: Green Bay is red-hot. Is there a QB-WR duo that is more in-sync than Rodgers and Jordy right now? It's like they are sharing the same brain. We haven't seen something like this since...

Meanwhile, this is the first time that we are seeing playoff Eli since 2011. His last two trips to the playoffs have proved to be very efficient. Will he work his magic at Lambeau again?

This is going to be the game of the week. This is going to be a very close game, where the margin for error will be very small. A mis-ran route by a Green Bay receiver and a Mason Crosby missed field goal could be costly. This could be a prime "Mike McCarthy screws it up" playoff game. As great as Rodgers is (my regular season co-MVP), I like the Giants' team a lot more than the Packers', and I'm not sure if Rodgers' efforts will be enough. New York wins a wild one, 38-34.

Divisional Round

Q: What's the point-spread on Houston/Oakland at Foxborough?
A: Patriots by 20? Does it matter? The Pats have two bye weeks to the AFC championship!

Q: Has Matt Ryan finally arrived as an elite quarterback?
A: No. Though Ryan's 2016 campaign was the best of his career and definitely worthy of a Pro Bowl selection, context is important.

Matty Ice: 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns, 7 interceptions.
Rodgers: 4,428 yards, 40 touchdowns, 7 interceptions.
Brady: 3,554 yards, 28 touchdowns, 2 interceptions (12 games).

Rodgers and Brady played better defenses and had overall more difficult schedules than the Falcons did. One could also argue that Rodgers and Brady have less to work with offensively. The NFC North and the AFC East will each have two teams playing in the playoffs. The Falcons rightfully took advantage of the Panthers' Super Bowl hangover. There are many more parts of this debate to be had, but I expect the Falcons to crumble in the playoffs yet again. Until Matt Ryan shows me more in the playoffs, he will be a very good quarterback and not a transformational one (Brady, Rodgers, Roethlisberger). Seattle will handle Atlanta, 31-16.

#3 Steelers at #2 Chiefs- who wins?
In order for the Steelers to get to the Super Bowl, they will have to win in two of the most difficult road environments- Gillette and Arrowhead. But the Steelers, my preseason pick, have a good shot at doing so. While people all around the sport are clamoring about how hot Green Bay (won its last six games) and Kansas City (won 10 of last 12) are, Pittsburgh is being a little overlooked in this regard. Remember, after a 4-5 start, the Steelers won seven straight (eight if we assume they beat the 'Phins). The Steelers have also gotten hot at the right time, as the defense has matured and continued to find itself week by week. This will be a great game, but I'm taking Big Ben. Pittsburgh 31, Kansas City 27.

Q: Will Dak and Zeke's incredible Cinderella run continue all the way through January?
A: Teams like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have shown Dallas to be very beatable. The Giants actually beat them twice. However, I like Dallas in a "third-times-a-charm" game. Again and again we see in sports just how difficult it is to beat a time three times. When two very good teams, division rivals in this case, play each other three times, the law of averages naturally finds a way to play itself out. Chances are, you aren't going to get all the bad breaks all three times. You give the Cowboys a third crack at the Giants and I say they get it done in thrilling fashion. The Cowboys come out on top over the G-Men, 20-17....
...
But I do think the Cinderella story will come to an end in January...

Conference Championships

NFC: #3 Seattle at #1 Dallas
This could potentially be the game of the year, but I think the Legion of Boom comes out on top. Seattle 34, Dallas 31.

AFC: #3 Pittsburgh at #1 New England
This will actually be the game of the year, as the winner of this game will win the Super Bowl. Book it. I think Pittsburgh will be the toughest match-up New England can draw. If it can somehow get to play KC instead, I like the Pats chances at a Super Bowl, but I believe the Steelers will show up at the right time en route to Roethlisberger's third ring. The defense won't stop Brady, but it will slow down Brady, while Gronk's presence will be greatly missed. But if Brady somehow finds a way to win another one, this time without Gronk, at the age of 39, he will reach his greatest accomplishment ever and the argument for GOAT quarterback should be over. Steelers 33, Patriots 31.

Super Bowl
Seattle and Pittsburgh face-off in a rematch of Super Bowl XL. This time the results are a little different. While the Steelers come out on top, the Seahawks put up a good fight. Roethlisberger's magical and improbable season closes at the very top of the sports world. Big Ben leads the Steelers down the field in the final minutes, securing ring no. 3. Steelers 23, Seahawks 20.

An important note: many will read this and laugh it off as a "homer pick." Yes, I am a Steelers fan. Yes, I'm feeling optimistic. But I haven't felt this optimistic about the Steelers in a long time, not since the last time they appeared in the Super Bowl (only to fall short to a scorching hot Green Bay team). Last year I had friends telling me they'd win; I said no. But there's something different about them this year. It seems like they have it. Recent years have plagued the Steelers with crucial injuries down the stretch. This year injuries have been present, but they've been overcoming them and the injuries haven't come at such an important time. If the offensive big 3 stays healthy (*knock on wood*), the Steelers will win the Super Bowl this year.

Whatever happens, I think we're in for a very exciting postseason.

What 2016 Taught Me

I came in to the year 2016 with one distinct goal (or "resolution" if you will): spend a year in God's truth and see what growth follows.

More specifically, I wanted to be in God's word all 366 days of 2016. I wanted to read at least one chapter of my Bible every day. Throughout college, I've had up and down seasons with reading my Bible. I've had months where I'm in it consistently and months where I'm out of it consistently.

In college, it's really easy to get distracted by what's around you. There's always people to be around and always work that needs to get done. It's easy to get overwhelmed, and it's easy to make excuses.

Being intentional and creating a habit of spending time with Jesus every day prepared me for an emotionally tolling year, that yielded immense growth as a result. Through the following challenges, I learned that there are silver linings to everything life throws at you:

1) Death.
Death seems to be very present this year, as many have experienced heartbreak hearing of their favorite celebrities dying far too soon.

Just a few days in to the new year, four guys I went to high school with drowned in a tragic canoeing accident. One happened to be a guy I knew most of my life, growing up playing baseball together. Another was a good friend that I spent a lot of time with during my junior high and high school years at our church youth group. Through church, I became friends with his mom. Not only did I feel the devastation that the accident brought me and my friends, but I saw just how tragic it was for his family. Over the next couple of weeks, more deaths occurred. And it felt like I was just trapped in this darkness that would never pass.
2) Suicide.
A number of suicides occurred near me. As someone that has dealt with depression and anxiety, I think the sadness hits people like me in a way that may be different from others. We know what the battle is like and we want to see other people overcome it. And when they don't, it breaks our hearts.
3) Loneliness.
Transferring into Valparaiso was a much greater social challenge than I ever expected. Gone were the days of being around friends all the time. Instead, I've spent much time feeling isolated, alone and on my own. I didn't have anyone to live with and I had to move in to a studio apartment on my own. I spent a lot of weekends feeling cooped-up and bummed.
4) Physical Illness.
I was diagnosed with Graves' disease at the end of September and was unable to exercise for months. I had an allergic reaction to my medication that lasted two weeks and brought immense pain to my body. Some days, some of my bones felt broken. The illness itself brought on a great deal of fatigue that made classes harder than they ever needed to be. In addition, my sister tore her ACL and had to miss most of her junior softball season and my grandma has had some health concerns of her own.
5) Overall Anxiety.
Having anxiety, it can be difficult to find the positives when things aren't going your way. Throughout the year I felt the weight of all these things crashing down, and in turn it brought uncertainty to me at times. Graves' is known to increase anxiety, and in the back-half of the summer, I started to really panic about going back to school and returning to the isolation.


I listed off these challenges because I think everyone reading this can relate to at least one of them. At least one of these problems probably nagged you in 2016.

But here I am, standing tall at the end of it. And I can honestly say that each of these things, allowed me to grow and it taught me one big overarching message.

If I do everything that God wants me to do, what in the world do I have to worry about?

In the midst of the storms that rapidly flooded in, God was there to show me that he loved me every single day. I was reminded of his truth every single day. I was reminded that he was there in my battles, every single day. Meanwhile, God healed me physically and mentally from all these wounds.

I knew that God wanted me to be in his word, growing every day. Each Bible story taught me something different and unique, and I read a lot of encouraging verses and passages along the way. Throughout the year, God improved me in little ways, and I know that I started thinking differently as a result, looking for the positives and trying to find God in the little things. God is there in every single situation. I had the most positive-thinking year of my life.

So if God can do this all in my life, I know that he can certainly do the same in your life. He can bring healing and comfort where it is needed.

My suggestion? Try to spend 2017 hanging on the words of our Father in heaven. Try to get in to that Bible every day; you won't regret it. I guarantee that.

Whatever you decide, I hope that 2017 is a wonderful year for you. I hope that the personal changes that you want to make are able to be made and result in you being happier.

If you decide that you want to spend 2017 in God's word, go ahead and let me know. I would love help and encourage any way that I can. You are loved!