Watch Theresa May’s resignation speech interpreted through dance

By Heather Dockray2019-05-25 15:58:19 UTC

On Friday, after failing to secure a deal for Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May offered a tearful resignation speech. But not everyone was equally as moved.

Owen Jones, a left-wing columnist for The Guardian, expressed no pity for the Conservative prime minister in a video that has since gone viral. But some folks took an entirely different route — an interpretative dance route, if you will — in response to May’s resignation.

Here are dancers Kelsey Ellison and Mahou Shounen interpreting May’s resignation speech through dance.

You might remember Ellison when she vogued as Hermione in May of 2018.

It’s clear the artist knows how to drum up viral attention, and for good.

By and large, Twitter loved the interpretative Theresa May dance.

IM HOWLING HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THIS, THE ENDING WAS PERFECT

— Leona @mcm saturday (@bubblekittea) May 24, 2019

in the Louvre NOW

— Josh Willacy (@joshywillacy) May 24, 2019

what is even happening right now is this is a dream

— Ryan Brown (@Toadsanime) May 25, 2019

I need ten more hours of this.

— Emmanuel Berthelot (@ManuBerthelot) May 24, 2019

I encourage these dancers to start prepping for their next viral routine, “Robert Mueller testifies in front of Congress.”

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2EyMQ8f
via IFTTT

Trump opens state visit to Japan with jab at trade imbalance

US President Donald Trump urged Japanese business leaders on Saturday to increase their investment in the United States while he chided Japan for having a “substantial edge” on trade that negotiators were trying to even out in a bilateral deal.

Trump arrived in Japan on Saturday for a largely ceremonial state visit meant to showcase strong ties despite simmering trade tensions.

Japan’s trade minister said no trade agreement is expected during the Trump visit.

Shortly after arriving to a red-carpet welcome at the airport, Trump attended a reception at the residence of US Ambassador William Hagerty that the White House said included Japanese business executives from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, SoftBank and Rakuten.

Trump told the company officials “there’s never been a better time” to invest or do business in the US and repeated a complaint that the Federal Reserve’s policies had kept the country’s economic growth from reaching its full potential.

Trump said the US and Japan “are hard at work” negotiating and said he wanted a deal to address the trade imbalance between the two countries.

“Japan has had a substantial edge for many, many years, but that’s OK, maybe that’s why you like us so much,” he said.

“With this deal we hope to address the trade imbalance, removing barriers to United States exports and ensure fairness and reciprocity in our relationship,” Trump said.

Trade is one of Trump’s signature issues, and encouraging foreign investment in the US is a hallmark of his trips abroad.

Trump will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe – who planned the largely ceremonial four-day visit – on Sunday.

Tariffs on car industry

It is part of Abe’s charm strategy that some analysts say has so far spared Japan from the full weight of Trump’s trade wrath.

The two leaders planned to play golf on Sunday before Abe gives Trump the chance to present his “President’s Cup” trophy to the winner of a sumo wrestling championship match.

The president will become the first head of state to be received by new Japanese Emperor Naruhito since he ascended the throne earlier this month; he and Harvard-educated Empress Masako will host an elaborate dinner for the Trumps on Monday night.

Abe and Trump are likely to meet for the third time in three months when Trump returns to Japan in late June for the Group of Twenty Summit of leading rich and developing nations.

Behind the smiles and personal friendship, however, there is deep uneasiness over Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Japanese cars and car parts on national security grounds. Such a move would be more devastating to the Japanese economy than earlier tariffs on steel and aluminium.

The US president recently agreed to a six-month delay, enough time to carry Abe past July’s Japanese parliamentary elections.

Trump had predicted that a US-Japan trade deal could be finalised during his trip, but Japanese Trade Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Saturday a deal is not expected after meeting his counterpart, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, in Tokyo.

“We deepened our understanding of each other’s positions on trade. However, we’re not in complete agreement,” Motegi told reporters following the talks. “There are still some gaps. We need to work to narrow our differences.”

North Korea’s nuclear programme

Also at issue is the lingering threat of North Korea, which has resumed missile testing and recently fired a series of short-range missiles that US officials, including Trump, have tried to play down despite an agreement by the North to hold off on further testing.

Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, told reporters on Saturday before Trump arrived that the short-range missile tests were a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and that sanctions must stay in place.

Bolton said Trump and Abe would “talk about making sure the integrity of the Security Council resolutions are maintained”.

It marked a change in tone from the view expressed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a recent television interview.

He said: “The moratorium was focused, very focused, on intercontinental missile systems, the ones that threaten the United States.” That raised alarm bells in Japan, where short-range missiles pose a serious threat.

Bolton commented a day after North Korea’s official media said nuclear negotiations with Washington would not resume unless the US abandoned what the North described as demands for unilateral disarmament.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2X6J1OK
via IFTTT

MLB Rumors: Rays Interested in Dallas Keuchel, Craig Kimbrel Amid Yankees Buzz

Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel delivers in the second inning during Game 3 of the baseball American League Division Series against the Cleveland Indians, Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

David Dermer/Associated Press

The Tampa Bay Rays are “staying in touch” with free-agent starter Dallas Keuchel and reliever Craig Kimbrel, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Josh Tolentino.

Rosenthal and Tolentino also confirmed a report from MLB Network’s Jon Heyman that said the New York Yankees have interest in Keuchel.

After entering this past offseason as two of the top free agents, both Keuchel and Kimbrel remain unsigned two months into the 2019 season after being tendered qualifying offers from their previous teams. Any team that signs a player that declined a qualifying offer would have to surrender a draft pick (as well as the money associated with the pick’s slot value).

However, those stipulations disappear at midnight ET on June 2.

Keuchel went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.314 WHIP in 34 starts (204.2 innings) for the Houston Astros last season. The 31-year-old is 0-4 with a 5.74 ERA in five career starts at Tropicana Field, and he is 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA in five career starts at Yankee Stadium.

The southpaw has two All-Star selections, an American League Cy Young award, four Gold Gloves and a World Series championship on his resume during his seven seasons with Houston.

Keuchel told Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown earlier this month that he will not settle “out of principle” and is willing to wait until June 2 to sign if necessary.

Kimbrel, meanwhile, helped the Boston Red Sox win a franchise-record 108 games during the 2018 regular season en route to a World Series title. The closer went 5-1 with 42 saves last season, posting a 2.74 ERA and a 0.995 WHIP while striking out 96 batters in 62.1 innings.

Having spent three years in Boston, Kimbrel has experience pitching in the AL East. He has a 1.23 ERA in 15 career outings at Tropicana Field.

According to Rosenthal and Tolentino, Tampa Bay views Kimbrel as a bigger priority than Keuchel even with starter Tyler Glasnow (6-1, 1.86 ERA) expected to miss more than a month with a mild right forearm strain. The Rays currently have the majors’ top pitching staff.

Meanwhile, the Yankees roster has been depleted by injuries, both on the mound and in the field. Luis Severino, James Paxton and CC Sabathia are all currently on the injured list.

Still, New York (32-17) entered Saturday with a 2.5-game lead over Tampa Bay (29-19) in the AL East. The Rays do, however, sit four games up in the wild-card race.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2QkuVGY
via IFTTT

Dumb computer screen gets in the way of cat scratch

By Heather Dockray2019-05-25 14:09:39 UTC

Cats love computers — but their attachment comes at a cost.

This cat, from China, recently attempted to scratch themselves only to find a computer monitor blocking their way.

Watch as they nobly scratch anyway. Bless them.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2YKMFhO
via IFTTT

11 graduation stories that will make you glad you’re done with school

Hold onto your grandma, or she may rush the stage.

Once classes end for seniors, the only thing standing between them and the rest of their lives is a graduation ceremony. These uppity events are full of speeches, applause, and awkwardly tense moments. While they’re meticulously planned, from the seating to the staging, there’s a lot that can happen unexpectedly when hoards of people are stuffed under one roof for several hours.

From blow-up sex dolls to fascist grandmas, here are some whacky graduation ceremony highlights:

1. Wake up call

“I fell asleep while they were calling names and totally missed my name being called. What’s even funnier is that neither of the two troglodytes sitting next to me thought about waking me up. We were NOT all in this together. I woke up somewhere around the Ls (fitting) and realized that everyone around me had their fake diplomas in a little red scroll. So what did I do? I got up and walked to the end of the line and made them re-announce my name because I deserve my moment. We all do.” – Matty, 20

2. Just popping in

“When we all go to throw our caps and give that liberating “CLASS OF 2013” screech, someone tosses a blow up sex doll (female) into the air! Of course it’s hilarious and we’re all chuckling but I couldn’t help but laugh twice because we were sitting in a church sanctuary! A sex doll was crowd surfing the fresh grads in the House of God. It only lasted a few moments before faculty came over and popped the poor naked lady.” – Savannah, 24

3. To speech their own

“Senior class ahead of me had a crazy party two nights before graduation, and the girl (#2 in her class) giving the speech at the ceremony attended. She had already gotten her speech approved by the principal but at the last minute changed the ceremony speech to a speech all about this party. I believe the first line was something resembling ‘Like many of you, I woke up in a barn Thursday morning with no idea where I was.’ She lost her scholarship and disappointed a lot of teachers and parents. She also posted the entire speech on Facebook.” –kcb92 via Reddit

4. Stoner outing

“At my high school graduation, they made a slideshow of all the students. They included a random photo in which I was with the ‘hazy faces,’ aka the stoners. My parents sat there and watched as a picture of me with an obviously super stoned dude was displayed. Thanks a lot, teach!” – Evelyn, 28

5. Eyes Wide Shut: Graduation edition

“We had a graduation mass beforehand and the power went out in this giant ass auditorium. The scariest part was that it happened during one of the hymns. So there I am, listening to a Gregorian chant sung by two dozen 18-year-old boys in a pitch black room. One by one, the tech savvy began using the flashlights on their phones to light up the night. For a good 30 seconds it was terrifying. I couldn’t see, and it sounded like I was about to be sacrificed.” – Dave, 20

6. Losing your marbles

“So one of the ‘popular jocks’ guys was trying to get us to play a prank on the principle when we walked across the stage. He wanted us all to carry a handful of marbles and when the principle reached out to shake our hands we would greet him with a cold, lumpy handshake of glass spheres. Of course I was just thinking logistically about how awkward I would look walking on stage with a clinched fist. Who is providing all these marbles? How loud is it going to be hitting the stage when they drop? Just loads of questions.

Most of us decided that was just too much going on to participate in so we went about the ceremony without it. As that guy who suggested it walks onto stage, you can clearly see his hand is full of something. When he reached out to shake the principles hand, he awkwardly started to unload the marbles into the principle’s hand who immediately pulled his hand back, letting them sprawl across the stage. Trying not to make a scene, the principle still shook his hand with a questioning look on his face and kept moving. Well, just as you would assume, the next girl behind him is beaming as she goes to walk her walk in her seemingly new espadrilles and she takes a tumble after stepping on a marble! That poor girl looked so embarrassed, as would any of us. Luckily she was the only one to catch a marble under her step, but you could see the staff on stage shuffling their feet trying to kick remaining ones off the edge.” – Regina, 24

7. Guns and lawn chairs

“So, because our graduating class was so large, we had to have our ceremony at an actual football stadium nearby. The stands were so packed with people, that families had to bring lawn chairs and set up camp in the surrounding grass to watch.

The ceremony was rowdy. The vibe was like a sporting event. Think confetti canons, airhorns, screaming.Halfway through the valedictorian speech (about unity and togetherness, of course) there was a massive commotion in the stands.

Come to find out, two families from rival gangs had children commencing that year and one of them pulled a gun on the other. The police were called, someone was tackled, and as confetti rained from the sky, 1,500 polyester-capped grads were specter to at least three people being taken away in handcuffs.” – Maddie, 23

8. Bake it until you make it

“Before each introduction, Ms. Bernard provided a cute biography before each student made their walk. I was a huge kiss ass. All year, to manipulate my teacher into liking me, I would bring baked goods my mom bought from a local bakery for us once a week to my teacher and told her my mom baked it from scratch, especially for her. My mom had no idea about any of this. And she certainly can’t make shit from scratch.

My teacher began a lovely story about a student who brought her fresh baked, (from scratch) treats weekly to brighten her week. Our morning chats over my ‘mom’s’ caramel coffee cake were the highlight of her week. After she said a few other things, she called me to the stage.

My mom and my sister were in such disbelief of my fabricated dessert scheme that they were laughing so hard they were escorted out of the Holiday Inn banquet room. We both told my teacher after the fact, she didn’t find it as funny as my mom did.” – Danielle, 24

9. Escorted by mom

“Boy next to me threw up during commencement. The vomit smelled like alcohol, there were a few splatters on my shoes. He walked up and what looked to be his mom walked him out of the arena after he got his diploma.” – Andrew, 22

10. Fascist Grandma to the defense

“At my graduation, I was the elected senior class speaker. I gave my speech on mercy and guilt, and then it was time for the getting of diplomas. Now, there was a guy in my class who was an avowed fascist ‘of the Italian school.’ His thesis was on this topic.

When his name got called, there was a boo from the back of the room. It was very, very tense. Then, there was another speaker. As this speaker was coming to the podium, this utter rando girl runs on stage and snatches the mic. She lays into the entire assembled crowd for booing the fascist, because it was ‘an absolutely disgusting example of bullying.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ Anyway, things continue. It was painfully tense, I was just praying for it to end. As the music started for us to process out, there was one last event. The fascist’s GRANDMA rushed the stage. She started yelling ‘Shame on you! I am disgusted in this school and this ceremony! Shame!’ She wouldn’t leave. As people came to get her off the stage, she flipped everyone the bird. The music kind of resumed. We all jogged anxiously out of there.” – Fiona, 25

11. Snack major with a focus on Cheetos

“I wanted to decorate a cute grad cap like any gal would. I had been trying to get Cheetos’ attention online for a few weeks prior to graduation (ie. one provocative spring break pic), but my attempts had fallen short. My grad cap seemed like the perfect little stage to showcase my appreciation. I brainstormed long and hard to come up with the perfect design or quote. My final vision: a Cheeto mosaic covering the entirety of the grad cap. However, a college careers worth of procrastination kicked in and I found myself hastily hot-gluing Cheetos onto my gap way too close to the deadline. I attended commencement with a graduation cap less than half covered in Cheetos and most of them fell off in the heat.

After my failed mosaic I still had half a bag of Cheetos left which I kept in the billowing sleeves of my graduation robe as a snack. I walked across the stage and shook hands with our university president. As I approached the graduation photographer waiting just off the stage, I reached in and pulled out my Cheeto bag. I gripped it even more proudly than the slip of paper standing in for my diploma that day.

College taught me that hard work really does pay off. No, I’m not taking about the Bachelors degree —Cheetos commented on my Instagram post!!!! They say you peak in college. I believe it.” – Eve, 23

Congratulations to all of the students that have survived their graduations. It takes bravery to walk across the stage, not to mention without tripping. Or falling asleep.

Editor’s Note: These stories have been edited for clarity.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2HBquVs
via IFTTT

Matt Miller’s Top Franchise-Changing NFL Rookies of 2019

With or without Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman can forever impact the Kansas City Chiefs.Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Every fan hopes the NFL draft will bring their favorite team a new load of talent and that one (or more) of those picks will change the franchise. Tom Brady changed the New England Patriots. Baker Mayfield changed the Cleveland Browns. Quenton Nelson and his power at left guard changed the Indianapolis Colts.

These are the picks from the 2019 NFL draft likely to change their franchises the most. Some are because of opportunity, some are because of the positions they play and others are just good enough players in the right situations to have a huge effect on their new franchises.

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

When you hire a head coach who was just fired from his alma mater after posting a losing record as a college coach, you’re ready for change. Drafting Murray No. 1 overall one year after trading up to select quarterback Josh Rosen has already changed the Cardinals, but if Murray can come in like Mayfield did as the No. 1 overall pick from Oklahoma last year, then Kliff Kingsbury and Co. are in good hands.

Murray is a dynamic, electric playmaker who torched defenses in the Big 12 with his arm and his legs. He’s an accurate thrower with a big arm, but he can also extend plays in the pocket before pulling the ball down and running by every defender on the field with his 4.3 speed. Imagine Lamar Jackson with Mayfield’s touch. That’s what Murray brings to the table.

Matt York/Associated Press

Not since Michael Vick has there been an NFL quarterback like Murray who can win with his legs and arm equally. There have been great runners and great throwers but nobody like the combination that is Murray.

If the Cardinals win, Murray will have changed the franchise forever. If they lose, Murray and Kingsbury will be the scapegoats who cause another quarterback to be drafted and another head coach to be fired.

Chase Winovich, New England Patriots

Trey Flowers is out, and in is a hard-charging, productive pass-rusher from Michigan who is perfectly suited to play as a 4-3 defensive end or stand-up 3-4 outside linebacker. If the Patriots wanted another Mike Vrabel-style linebacker, they may have found one in Winovich.

Winovich’s ability to change the Patriots will be based on how versatile they can be defensively. Bill Belichick and Co. have shifted to more of a pass rush by committee in previous years, but a presence like Winovich will allow them at least one anchor who can stay on the field no matter the defensive formation used. Nickel, dime, base 4-3, base 3-4…he fits everything they could want to do up front.

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

The Patriots might not be full-on preparing for life after Brady, but the front office and coaching staff is at least thinking about ways to take pressure off the star quarterback. A perfect example of this is the Patriots’ most recent Super Bowl triumph—they won not on the strength of Brady and a high-octane offense but with a defense that limited and frustrated Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams.

Belichick knows Brady, at 41 years old, can’t be the only answer each week. Building up a strong, versatile defense will set up the franchise for when Brady finally retires.

Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs drafted insurance against a possible suspension of Tyreek Hill by trading up in the second round to select speedy wide receiver Hardman. While not quite cheetah-like when it comes to speed, he’s close.

Hardman’s ability to take the top off a defense is serious, but he’s also a raw player, coming out of a Georgia offense that didn’t really know how to best utilize his skill set. There is some upside to project with Hardman, but much like Hill was coming out of college, he is able to beat teams right now as a returner and ball-in-space offensive weapon.

If the Chiefs are without Hill, Hardman will step into his role. If the Chiefs have both Hill and Hardman, the offense becomes a video game with elite speed at receiver and the best tight end in football, Travis Kelce, softening up the middle of the field.

Giving the best quarterback in football all these weapons is smart and could be the difference between an AFC Championship Game loss and a Super Bowl win.

Josh Jacobs, Oakland Raiders

New general manager Mike Mayock went out this offseason and bought quarterback Derek Carr all the shiny toys he could want in an offense. Wide receivers Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams came on board along with a premier pass protector in offensive tackle Trent Brown. Then Mayock addressed the offense again in the first round of the 2019 draft by adding the top running back in the class.

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Jacobs won’t just change the franchise by being a 20-plus-touch back with the skills to beat teams as a runner and receiver, but he’ll also give Mayock and Jon Gruden a player to take pressure off Carr and help them fully evaluate the veteran quarterback’s abilities.

Jacob’s ability to soften up defenses with his inside running coupled with his soft hands and agility to take runs outside the tackle box is special—in fact, it’s why he was RB1 in this draft class. The Raiders seem poised to take the pressure off Carr by turning around and handing the ball to Jacobs, but by doing that, they will also keep safeties and linebackers from bailing into pass coverage on every down.

Jacobs will be the one responsible for keeping those safeties in the box and allowing one-on-one coverage of Brown down the field. That alone will change the offense, which could change the franchise.

These players aren’t the only potential franchise-changers, however.

There could be those along the offensive line, Day 3 linebackers with NFL skills, an heir apparent at quarterback, or sleepers at wide receiver who possess the potential to join this group.

But right now, these four are best-suited to make the most of their situations and forever change their new teams.

Matt Miller covers the NFL and NFL draft for Bleacher Report.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2YMghLF
via IFTTT

South Africa: ‘Huge’ challenges as Ramaphosa takes oath

Cyril Ramaphosa has been sworn in for a five-year term as South Africa‘s president, with a crucial fight against government corruption ahead of him.

He took the oath of office on Saturday in front of some 30,000 people at a stadium in the capital, Pretoria, with several regional leaders from the Democratic Republic Congo, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and elsewhere in attendance.

“The challenges our country face are huge and real. But they are not insurmountable. They can be solved. And I stand here today saying they are going to be solved,” Ramaphosa said.

The inauguration followed his ruling African National Congress (ANC) party’s 57.5 percent victory in this month’s election. It was the party’s weakest election showing since the ANC took power at the end of apartheid in 1994.

Ramaphosa first took office last year after former President Jacob Zuma was pressured to resign amid corruption scandals that badly damaged public faith in the ANC.

A former protege of South Africa’s first black President Nelson Mandela, Ramaphosa is seen by many as having the potential to clean up both the government and the ruling party’s reputation.

Without him the ANC likely would have received just 40 percent of the vote, one party leader, Fikile Mbalula, has said.

Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller, reporting from Pretoria, said the president called for equality and preservation of the country’s resources.

“He said this will be a different era, an era that he will tackle the challenges of poverty, inequality, unemployment that affects almost half of the young people in the country,” she said.

“He also made reference to the last few years as nine wasted years where government institutions were looted and that corruption caused many lost opportunities.”

South Africa has the most advanced infrastructure in the continent, but its commodities-dependent economy has been in a slump for a decade.

It grew by an anaemic 0.8 percent last year and slipped into a brief recession during the third quarter of 2018. It is projected by the World Bank to expand by 1.3 percent this year.

Unemployment is running at 27.6 percent, but among the 20.3 million South Africans aged between 15-34 reaches 55.2 percent.

Ramaphosa also vowed to continue the fight against mismanagement and corruption that has hurt the country’s economy, the most developed in sub-Saharan Africa.

There was no sign at Saturday’s ceremony of Zuma, who has insisted he did nothing wrong and that allegations are politically motivated.

Alleged corruption under Zuma – known as “state capture” – saw millions of dollars siphoned off through government and state agencies awarding fraudulent contracts to favoured companies in return for bribes.

Zuma himself is facing trial for alleged corruption relating to a multibillion-dollar arms deal in the 1990s.

Ramaphosa in February announced he would set up a special tribunal of seven senior judges for “fast-tracking” the recovery of proceeds from corruption cases.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2HBqtkm
via IFTTT

Before the ‘Deadwood’ movie, here’s what you need to know to catch up

HBO’s Deadwood is perhaps known best for its creative use of profanity, its poetic dialogue, and its showcasing of star Ian McShane’s considerable acting talents. But there’s a common refrain about the HBO series that tends to get shouted louder than any of those other points whenever the subject comes up: It died too young.

The show ended without fanfare in 2006 after HBO opted against a fourth season. Creator David Milch moved on shortly thereafter to the failed “surf noir,” John From Cincinnati. But fans have been chasing closure on Deadwood ever since.

Well, it’s finally happening. On May 31, HBO will release a two-hour Deadwood movie set 10 years after the events of the third season. I’ve seen it and I’ll tell you now: The movie doesn’t tie up every single thread left dangling when the show ended. There’s not enough runtime to pull off such a feat.

This is a much more focused story. Most of the main cast is still kicking around and pretty much everyone gets a moment. But with the movie now so close at hand, I thought it would be helpful to highlight some of the most important story threads informing this final chapter, for both newcomers and for longtime fans alike.

It was always about the community

At a high level, Deadwood the series is about the forward march of progress in a young and developing United States. It centers on a small mining outpost, unaffiliated with any U.S. state, as the community there reckons with the jarring shifts of a rapidly changing world. The various characters and their stories paint the picture of Deadwood as a crossroads between the violence and lawlessness of the Wild West and the civility of a settlement that’s just one cog in a larger, more strictly governed society.

The camp’s legacy is critically important to the movie’s continuing story.

The camp’s legacy is also critically important to the movie’s continuing story. Remember: this is the place where “Wild” Bill Hickok (Keith Carradine) was gunned down in cold blood. Bill’s old friend Charlie Utter (Dayton Callie) stuck around to settle down and honor the memory of the fallen gunslinger. Bill died in large part because he refused to get with the times, and now, so many years later, Charlie’s feeling that same pressure.

We know going in that the movie picks up in 1889, as the town is preparing to formally join the state of South Dakota. You probably remember such a possibility coming up again and again throughout the series. Al Swearengen, McShane’s character and a key figure in the community, fought hard during the series to stay involved in the process of future statehood.

By the time Deadwood ended, a modern world was already starting to creep in. A.W. Merrick’s (Jeffrey Jones) news operation focused more and more on news from outside the town. A telegraph station and a working theater settled in. The grade school class evicted from their classroom in a former brothel finally got their very own schoolhouse.

Deadwood, when we last left it, was well on its way to joining the civilized world. The movie shows us what all of those efforts led to.

Who’s the real villain?

When we first met Deadwood in Season 1, McShane’s Al Swearengen, proprietor of the Gem Saloon bar and brothel, was the camp’s chief protector. He kept the peace (albeit in a brutal sort of way) with his top guys Dan Dority (W. Earl Brown) and Johnny Burns (Sean Bridgers) backing him up.

Still, it was clear from those early episodes that Al’s no saint. He swindles and cheats. His mistreats his whores. He’s not above having people killed, or doing the deed himself — even when the targets are women or children.

That visage softened over time. Al never completely transformed into a better man, but the more time we spent with him the more we came to understand that he — like most people! — is complex. He committed great evils right up until the end of the series, but he also showed his capability for compassion and generosity, especially as his interests started to align with the rest of the camp.

George Hearst’s arrival marks a significant shift in Deadwood‘s power struggles.

Al’s biggest shifts as a character were in many ways prompted by the arrival of George Hearst (Gerald McRaney). The famed IRL mining magnate is Deadwood‘s chief antagonist throughout the third season and a looming threat before that, for much of the second season.

Hearst’s arrival marks a shift in Deadwood‘s power struggles. Al fights to protect his own: himself, his people, his business — and by extension, his community. Hearst, on the other hand, is committed to the pure pursuit of wealth, and through it, power. On the outside he’s civil and cordial, but deep down Hearst is driven by his selfish obsession and a willingness to stop at nothing to get what he wants.

The two men quickly find themselves at odds, with Season 3 delivering escalation after escalation until it all boils over in a tense confrontation in the season/series finale. Trixie (Paula Malcomson), one of Al’s former whores, shoots Hearst in the shoulder after a Hearst crony guns down the beloved character, Whitney Ellsworth (Jim Beaver).

Hearst demands blood and Al, who cares deeply for Trixie somewhere deep down, slits the throat of another of his flaxen-haired brothel workers. He stages the ruse hoping Hearst won’t notice when he arrives to inspect the body — and he doesn’t. The legacy of their strained relationship — and their last moments together in Season 3 especially — lingers on throughout the years and plays a big role in the movie’s story.

Love is in the air

Over the course of its three seasons, Deadwood charted the budding of a relationship between hardware store proprietor-turned-sheriff Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) and Alma Garrett (Molly Parker), but it was a doomed affair from the start. Seth’s wife — his brother’s widow, Martha (Anna Gunn), whom Seth married out of loyalty — arrived in the camp at the start of Season 2.

The love triangle led to strained relations between these three pillars of the Deadwood community throughout Season 2 and on into Season 3. Alma eventually married Ellsworth, whom she had employed to oversee her gold claim, but it was just to keep up appearances; the affair with Seth left her pregnant.

The Bullock-Garrett-Bullock triangle wasn’t Deadwood‘s only love relationship.

She ultimately lost the baby but recovered her willful spirit in the process. Alma, a wealthy high-society type, established Deadwood’s first bank shortly before the series ended, and she continued on as its proprietor in the years that followed. Time smoothed over the tension between her, Seth, and Martha, but those memories linger.

The Bullock-Garrett-Bullock triangle wasn’t Deadwood‘s only love relationship. Late in the series, a connection bloomed between “Calamity” Jane Cannary (Robin Weigert) and Joanie Stubbs (Kim Dickens), the former madam at the Bella Union, a local casino/brothel and Gem Saloon competitor. It didn’t go very far — the series ended as it was just getting started — but there’s a lot of unresolved story to tackle there and both women returned for the movie.

Elsewhere, Bullock’s pal Sol (John Hawkes) eventually took up with Trixie. Their coupling was always a fraught one, due in large part to Trixie’s strong independent side, as well as her hesitance to settle into family life (a reluctance informed by her work history). By the time the series ended, theirs was another relationship left unfulfilled — and again, both are back for the movie.

There are plenty of other major players in the Deadwood community that return for the movie and have their own part to play in the camp-turned-city’s continuing story. But if you’re looking for a general sense of the movie’s focus, the above plotlines will put you on the right path.

Deadwood: The Movie comes to HBO on May 31.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2JGmYeX
via IFTTT

Every NFL Team’s To-Do List for Rest of Offseason

0 of 32

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

The primary building phase of the NFL offseason is over. The excitement of free agency and the draft has faded. This doesn’t mean, however, that teams are even close to being prepared for the 2019 season.

There are goals that need to be accomplished before teams can even begin preparing for the regular season. Rosters must be evaluated, schemes must be installed, and areas of need must be addressed prior to training camps and the preseason.

What does each squad need to do before the preseason arrives? That’s precisely what we’re here to examine.

1 of 32

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Install Kliff Kingsbury’s offense
Prepare Kyler Murray to be a rookie starter
Establish chemistry among the receiving corps
Solidify the offensive line

The Arizona Cardinals are going all in on the offensive creativity of new head coach Kliff Kingsbury. They used the first overall pick in the draft to get him his preferred quarterback, Kyler Murray, and they drafted wideouts Andy Isabella and Hakeem Butler to support him.

Installing and fine-tuning Kingsbury’s offense has to be the top goal of the offseason. Preparing Murray to start as a rookie is part of that, as is developing the new-look receiving corps and establishing chemistry between it and Murray.

Improving the play of the offensive line must also be a primary goal. Josh Rosen was sacked 45 times in just 14 games last season, and Arizona cannot expect Murray to be an upgrade at quarterback if he’s under similar pressure.

2 of 32

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Solidify the offensive line
Sign Julio Jones to a contract extension
Establish defensive depth
Settle the backup plan at RB

The Atlanta Falcons didn’t see star wideout Julio Jones in early OTAs, which isn’t surprising. Jones is entering the second-to-last year of his contract and is seeking a new deal.

“I’m confident that something will get done one way or the other,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “If it doesn’t, we have a year to continue to talk about it.”

Really, the Falcons should get a deal done now and completely avoid any potential contract drama during the season.

Atlanta also needs to solidify the offensive line and find a new running mate for Devonta Freeman after Tevin Coleman signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.

Developing defensive depth is also paramount. Injuries to linebacker Deion Jones and safety Keanu Neal were directly responsible for some of Atlanta’s struggles in 2018.

3 of 32

Gail Burton/Associated Press

Prepare Marquise Brown to be a No. 1 receiver
Establish a backfield rotation
Create a pass-rushing plan
Continue developing Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was dangerous as both a runner and a passer as a rookie. While his running ability isn’t going anywhere, he needs to grow more as a passer to get the most out of him in Year 2.

Part of the equation is developing rookie receiver Marquise Brown into Jackson’s No. 1 target. Brown is a threat to score almost any time he touches the ball, but it will take time to adjust to the physicality and nuances of the pro game.

Baltimore must also determine how to best utilize its new collection of running backs. Mark Ingram was added in free agency, and the team drafted Justice Hill.

Defensively, the Ravens need to find replacements for departed pass-rushers Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith.

4 of 32

Adrian Kraus/Associated Press

Establish the receiving corps
Work on Josh Allen’s negative tendencies
Prepare Tyree Jackson to be the backup QB
Determine LeSean McCoy’s successor

Preparing quarterback Josh Allen for his sophomore season is the main offseason goal for the Buffalo Bills. If Allen is going to take a step forward, however, he’s going to have to improve as a passer and dump his desire to take off and run and to `initiate contact.

If the Bills can get Allen to play a little less backyard football, he’ll be able to take advantage of receiver additions John Brown and Cole Beasley. Getting them up to speed in the offense is another offseason goal.

While readying Allen for the season, Buffalo needs to prepare undrafted quarterback Tyree Jackson to be his backup. The two are similar players, and it’s Jackson—not journeyman Matt Barkley—who is best suited to take over if Allen gets injured.

The Bills also need to start preparing for life without 30-year-old running back LeSean McCoy. Whether it happens this season or further the road, he is going to need replacing at some point.

5 of 32

Chuck Burton/Associated Press

Get Cam Newton into playing shape
Establish a backup plan at RB
Get Greg Little ready for the NFL
Prepare Brian Burns to be a rookie starter

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton underwent shoulder surgery after the 2018 season. Will he be back to 100 percent in time for this season? That’s a question the Panthers need to answer and then plan for if the answer isn’t a definitive yes.

Carolina also has to figure out how to take some of the workload off of running back Christian McCaffrey. Whether it’s Cameron Artis-Payne or a rookie like Elijah Holyfield, someone needs to help ensure that McCaffrey is still fresh late in the season.

Speaking of rookies, the Panthers need to bring both pass-rusher Brian Burns and offensive lineman Greg Little up to speed. Burns is expected to be one of the team’s top pressure-producers from Day 1. Little may not start right away, but if he’s able to improve the line sooner rather than later, that will be a major offensive boon.

6 of 32

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Establish a backfield rotation
Continue developing Mitchell Trubisky
Integrate Ha Ha Clinton-Dix into the defense
Find a reliable kicker

Tarik Cohen is likely to start the season as the Chicago Bears’ lead running back. However, Chicago needs to figure out how guys like Mike Davis and rookie David Montgomery fit into the rotation. Chicago should again lean heavily on its defense and running game in 2019.

That defense now includes former Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Fitting him into the secondary and preparing him for Week 1 is the biggest priority on that side of the ball.

While third-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky showed signs of progress in 2018, there is still room for him to improve as a passer. If he can work on his touch and consistency, the Bears offense will be more balanced this season than it was a year ago.

Oh, and Chicago needs to find a reliable kicker. See how its postseason ended for the reason why.

7 of 32

Gary Landers/Associated Press

Install Zac Taylor’s offense
Establish a backup plan at QB
Solidify the offensive line
Keep Joe Mixon and A.J. Green healthy

Former Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor is the new head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. Getting his offensive system installed has to be the first and biggest goal of the offseason. The Bengals have weapons, like receiver A.J. Green and running back Joe Mixon; they just have to figure out how to best utilize them.

Of course, keeping guys like Green and Mixon healthy heading into the season also has to be an important goal. Injuries were one of the biggest problems for Cincinnati in 2018.

Quarterback Andy Dalton dealt with his own injuries last season, so the Bengals must establish a sound backup plan—plus, there’s no guarantee that Taylor will want to keep Dalton around past this season if he doesn’t perform well.

Improving an offensive line that was inconsistent in 2018 will go a long way toward getting Dalton to play at a high level. Football Outsiders ranked the Cincinnati line 19th in adjusted sack rate and 22nd in adjusted line yards for 2018. Fortunately, the addition of rookie first-rounder Jonah Williams should help.

8 of 32

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

Set realistic expectations
Establish chemistry in the passing game
Identify a starting cornerback and starting guard

Thanks to offseason additions like superstar receiver Odell Beckham Jr., defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and defensive end Olivier Vernon, the Cleveland Browns have high expectations for the first time in a long time. Goal No. 1 for the offseason has to be ensuring those expectations remain realistic, however. Gunning for the Super Bowl when the Browns haven’t even had a winning season since 2007 could be a recipe for disaster.

Now that Freddie Kitchens is the permanent head coach, the Browns need to further develop his passing attack. This means getting more out of quarterback Baker Mayfield and establishing chemistry with new weapon Beckham.

Cleveland must also find a replacement for standout guard Kevin Zeitler, who was traded to the New York Giants, and identify a reliable starting cornerback to play opposite Denzel Ward.

9 of 32

Michael Ainsworth/Associated Press

Keep Ezekiel Elliott healthy
Give Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper contract extensions
Prepare Kellen Moore for the offensive coordinator role

A large part of the Dallas Cowboys’ remaining offseason involves extensions. The team needs to get new deals done with quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver Amari Cooper to ensure that contract drama doesn’t hang over the offseason.

While Ezekiel Elliott is also eligible for a new deal, a bigger priority is keeping him healthy. Even good running backs are replaceable, but Elliott is a huge part of the offense, and he’ll be asked to carry a significant load in 2019.

Getting former quarterback Kellen Moore ready for life as an offensive coordinator is another goal. He has experience with the franchise, but he spent just one season as quarterbacks coach before being promoted to his current position.

10 of 32

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Instill confidence in Joe Flacco
Establish Drew Lock as the backup
Prepare Noah Fant to be a rookie starter
Ensure Phillip Lindsay is ready for the season

If the Denver Broncos are going to get back into the postseason in 2019, it will likely happen with veteran Joe Flacco under center. He was acquired via trade but then watched as the Broncos drafted his eventual replacement in Missouri’s Drew Lock.

It’s fair to say Flacco may already feel threatened.

“As far as a time constraint and all of that stuff, I’m not worried about developing guys or any of that, Flacco said, per Scott Gleeson of USA Today. “That is what it is.”

The Broncos need to make Flacco feel comfortable as the starter so that he can focus fully on the coming season. At the same time, though, they need to develop Lock as injury insurance for the 34-year-old quarterback.

Denver also needs to prepare rookie tight end Noah Fant to be a significant piece of the passing attack. Ensuring Pro Bowl running back Phillip Lindsay, who suffered a wrist injury late last season, is ready to go is another big priority.

11 of 32

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Further implement Matt Patricia’s defense
Prepare T.J. Hockenson to be a rookie starter
Identify a primary pass-rusher
Settle on a backfield rotation

The hiring of Matt Patricia as head coach was supposed to help improve the Detroit Lions defense almost immediately, However, we only saw glimpses of a playoff-caliber unit in 2018. With pieces like defensive end Trey Flowers and cornerback Justin Coleman now on board, the team should be poised to take another step on that side of the ball.

Installing more of Patricia’s concepts in Year 2 is one goal, and identifying who will take over for Ezekiel Ansah as the team’s primary pass-rusher is another.

Offensively, the Lions need to determine how the backfield rotation will work. Kerryon Johnson showed flashes as a rookie but had his season ended prematurely due to a knee injury. C.J. Anderson, Zach Zenner and Theo Riddick are also on the roster.

Getting rookie tight end T.J. Hockenson ready for the pro level will go a long way toward getting more out of quarterback Matthew Stafford. Hockenson has the potential to be one of the league’s top pass-catching tight ends from Day 1.

12 of 32

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

Keep Aaron Rodgers healthy
Integrate new defensive pieces
Install Matt LaFleur’s offense
Grant Mike Daniels a contract extension

As Aaron Rodgers goes, so go the Green Bay Packers—at least, that’s been the trend in recent years. This is why keeping Rodgers healthy while getting him up to speed in new head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense is priority No. 1.

On the other side of the ball, the Packers need to incorporate their new defensive toys. Adrian Amos, Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith were all added in free agency. Green Bay also used first-round picks on edge-rusher Rashan Gary and safety Darnell Savage. The defense is poised to make a significant jump, but only if it operates as a true unit.

On the contract front, Green Bay needs to get a new deal done with defensive end Mike Daniels. He’s one of the top up-and-coming defenders in the league and is entering the final year of his contract. While Gary could be viewed as his eventual replacement, the Packers would be better off having both in their future plans.

13 of 32

Michael Wyke/Associated Press

Solidify the offensive line
Establish a backfield rotation
Improve Deshaun Watson’s habits
Extend Jadeveon Clowney

For the Houston Texans, this season is going to be all about protecting quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson was sacked an alarming 62 times in 2018, and that cannot happen again if Houston expects him to stay on the field.

This means improving the offensive line that allowed so many sacks and getting Watson to stop taking so many unnecessary hits. Supporting Watson with a strong running game will also help.

Houston, therefore, must determine what its backfield rotation will look like. Lamar Miller should open the season as the starter, but guys like D’Onta Foreman and undrafted rookie Karan Higdon will compete for playing time.

On the contract front, the Texans need to get a deal done with defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. He’s expected to play on the franchise tag this season, but he wants an extension and hasn’t been at OTAs, according to NFL Network’s James Palmer.

14 of 32

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Keep Andrew Luck healthy
Integrate new receivers into the offense
Establish secondary depth
Start preparing for life after Adam Vinatieri

Last season proved just how important Andrew Luck is to the Indianapolis Colts offense. The Colts went from being one of the worst teams in the league in 2017 to a playoff team upon the quarterback’s successful return from shoulder surgery.

While keeping Luck upright and on the field is the top priority, Indianapolis must also build his chemistry with its new receivers, offseason acquisition Devin Funchess and rookie Parris Campbell.

Defensively, the Colts need to establish depth behind cornerbacks Pierre Desir and rookie Rock Ya-Sin. With quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Nick Foles in the division, defending the pass will be a challenge in 2019.

While not an immediate need, the Colts also have to start thinking about their next kicker. Adam Vinatieri is back for one more run, but the offseason is a great time to start auditioning an eventual replacement for the 46-year-old kicker.

15 of 32

John Raoux/Associated Press

Instill confidence in Nick Foles
Develop chemistry in the passing game
Prepare Leonard Fournette for a bounce-back season
Identify new starters on defense

Nick Foles is the new starting quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, which means Jacksonville needs to do two things before the start of training camp to support him: They need to make him believe that he’s ready to lead his own team outside of Philadelphia, and they need to encourage chemistry with his receivers.

The addition of offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who previously served as the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach, should help on both fronts.

The Jaguars also have to prepare running back Leonard Fournette for a bounce-back season. He struggled in 2018 and endured friction with the team late in the season.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jacksonville must identify replacements for offseason departures Tashaun Gipson and Malik Jackson, both of whom were starters in 2018.

16 of 32

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Settle the backfield depth chart
Integrate Tyrann Mathieu into the defense
Develop depth at receiver
Keep Patrick Mahomes healthy

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the heart and soul of the Kansas City Chiefs offense. Ensuring he gets to the regular season healthy is the team’s biggest goal, but certainly not the only one of the offseason. The Chiefs also need to figure out what his supporting cast will look like.

The biggest challenge is in the backfield, where Damien Williams, Darrel Williams and Carlos Hyde will all compete for playing time. Kansas City also needs to develop a Plan B in the event that star wideout Tyreek Hill misses time as a result of the ongoing investigation of alleged child abuse and neglect involving his three-year-old son.

Defensively, the Chiefs need to get safety Tyrann Mathieu up to speed in new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system. Mathieu is likely to be the centerpiece of the Chiefs secondary and one of their biggest assets on defense.

17 of 32

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

Identify replacement for Tyrell Williams
Integrate Jerry Tillery into the defense
Ensure Hunter Henry is ready for the season
Give Philip Rivers a contract extension

The Los Angeles Chargers were without star tight end Hunter Henry for all of 2018 due to a torn ACL. Getting him back to 100 percent and prepared for the coming season is one of the biggest offensive goals.

Another is identifying a replacement for deep-threat wideout Tyrell Williams. He racked up 653 yards and five touchdowns in 2018 but departed in free agency.

On the defensive side of the ball, L.A. needs to ensure that defensive tackle Jerry Tillery is ready to make an impact as a rookie. He’s a penetrating interior defender who can make edge-rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram better.

Though not a dire need, it would be wise to get a contract extension done with longtime starter Philip Rivers.

“As long as he wants to be here, we want him here,” owner Dean Spanos said of the quarterback, per Gilbert Manzano of the Orange County Register.

18 of 32

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Identify replacements for Ndamukong Suh and Rodger Saffold
Determine Todd Gurley’s health
Develop a backup plan at RB

Los Angeles Rams star running back Todd Gurley may or may not be dealing with an arthritic knee condition that may or may not affect his future career. The Rams need to determine just how healthy he is before the start of camp so they can plan accordingly.

Part of the plan should involve sorting out the depth chart behind Gurley. Los Angeles brought back Malcolm Brown and drafted Darrell Henderson. One or both could see significant playing time if Gurley isn’t at 100 percent, and the Rams must decide who is the superior option.

Another big piece of the offseason involves replacing free-agent departures Ndamukong Suh and Rodger Saffold. Both played key roles in L.A.’s run to the Super Bowl last season, and if their replacements aren’t up to snuff, the Rams defense could take a major step back in 2019.

19 of 32

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Name the starting quarterback
Determine goals for the regular season
Install Brian Flores’ defense
Identify a No. 1 receiver

The first goal for the Miami Dolphins is to figure out what their goals for the 2019 season actually are. Is this team going to try to be competitive, or is this season going to be a tank job in an effort to grab a quarterback like Tua Tagovailoa in next year’s draft?

Once Miami knows what it wants to accomplish, it needs to determine whether journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick or former first-rounder Josh Rosen is going to hold the starting quarterback job. The Dolphins traded for Rosen during the draft, so they’ll likely give him a shot at some point. But will it be in Week 1?

The Dolphins also need to identify who their No. 1 receiver is going to be. Former first-rounder DeVante Parker hasn’t grabbed hold of that role yet, and there may not be a guy on the roster who is really capable of doing so.

There are fewer questions on the defensive side of the ball, but new head coach Brian Flores will need to implement his defense ahead of camp.

20 of 32

Bruce Kluckhohn/Associated Press

Prepare Kirk Cousins for Year 2 in Minnesota
Develop a backfield rotation
Solidify the offensive line
Extend or trade Kyle Rudolph

Quarterback Kirk Cousins didn’t quite live up to his massive free-agent contract in his first year with the Minnesota Vikings. Much of the offseason should be spent ensuring that he takes a positive step forward in his second year. That means improving last year’s inconsistent offensive line and getting Cousins more comfortable with new offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski’s system.

It also means supporting Cousins with a strong rushing attack. Dalvin Cook is back for his third season, but Minnesota said goodbye to Latavius Murray in free agency. The Vikings need to determine if Cook can be an every-down back or if a player like rookie Alexander Mattison can carry part of the load.

Minnesota also needs to determine the future of tight end Kyle Rudolph.

“The $7.625 million cap hit Rudolph carries in 2019 is an issue,” Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com recently wrote. “Minnesota has less than $1.3 million in cap space and can’t afford to pay him at that price while accounting for other areas of need on the roster.”

Either trading Rudolph or working out a new contract would be ideal.

21 of 32

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Prepare Sony Michel for a heavy workload
Develop the wide receiver depth chart
Identify a replacement for Rob Gronkowski
Give Tom Brady a contract extension

Regardless of what kind of offense the New England Patriots decide to run in 2019, they have some questions to answer.

Is running back Sony Michel prepared to handle a heavy workload this season? What will the receiving corps look like after the addition of first-round rookie N’Keal Harry and the departures of Chris Hogan and Cordarrelle Patterson?

And who the heck is going to replace star tight end Rob Gronkowski?

Answering these questions are of utmost importance for the Patriots heading into training camp. New England would also be wise to lock up quarterback Tom Brady, who is in the final year of his current deal. Doing so would give New England a window during which it could develop his successor.

22 of 32

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

Establish a backfield rotation
Integrate Jared Cook into the passing game
Create wide receiver depth
Further develop Teddy Bridgewater

Third-year back Alvin Kamara is one of the biggest weapons on the New Orleans Saints offense. However, he’s spent the past two years as a complement to Mark Ingram, who is now in Baltimore. The Saints have to determine how to best proceed at running back, where offseason addition Latavius Murray and rookies Devine Ozigbo and A.J. Ouellette will compete for a role.

Depth will also be important at receiver, where Michael Thomas is the only consistent weapon. In addition, the Saints need to get new tight end Jared Cook up to speed in the offense. Cook is coming off a Pro Bowl campaign and has the potential to be a legitimate receiving weapon at the position.

While Drew Brees is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league, he’s also 40 years old. Further developing backup Teddy Bridgewater—both for the future and as injury insurance—will be crucial. Bridgewater got one start late last season, and there was a notable drop-off in quarterback play.

23 of 32

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

Solidify the offensive line
Prepare Daniel Jones to be the backup
Identify a new No. 1 receiver
Keep Saquon Barkley healthy

Eli Manning will be the New York Giants’ starting quarterback in 2019—at least initially. That means the Giants must establish a better offensive line than the one that allowed him to be sacked 47 times last season.

The Giants also must prepare rookie first-round pick Daniel Jones to be Manning’s backup and eventual replacement. Should Manning play poorly or suffer an injury, the rookie will be thrust into the staring lineup sooner than later.

Regardless of who is under center, New York needs to find a new No. 1 receiver now that Odell Beckham Jr. is in Cleveland. Will it be Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate or someone else?

In addition, the Giants need to ensure running back Saquon Barkley makes it to the regular season healthy and ready for a significant workload. He’s the one dominant playmaker on the offense now that Beckham is out.

24 of 32

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Further develop Sam Darnold
Install Adam Gase’s offense
Develop chemistry in the passing game
Integrate Le’Veon Bell into the offense

New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold struggled early as a rookie but looked like a future franchise quarterback later in the season. Getting him acclimated to new head coach Adam Gase’s offense and further developing him as a passer are the top goals for the remaining offseason.

This means getting Darnold comfortable with his new-look receiving corps after New York brought in Jamison Crowder and Josh Bellamy to complement returning receivers Quincy Enunwa and Robby Anderson.

Another big piece of the puzzle is new Jets running back Le’Veon Bell. A weapon in both the running and passing games, Bell should be the centerpiece of New York’s offense. However, he’s spent the last year away from football and will need some seasoning before he’s ready to be a bell-cow back in the Big Apple.

25 of 32

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Instill confidence in Derek Carr
Integrate new receivers into the offense
Ready Josh Jacobs for a heavy workload
Mentally prepare for final season in Oakland

After a season of inconsistency and plenty of buzz about the Oakland Raiders possibly drafting a quarterback, it’s fair to wonder if Derek Carr has had his confidence shaken. If so, it could spell trouble because he is Oakland’s starting signal-caller for 2019, for better or worse. The Raiders have to get him mentally ready for the coming season.

The Raiders also have to get the team as a whole mentally prepared for what is likely its final season in Oakland. It’s going to be an emotional—and potentially taxing—year with the pending move to Las Vegas hanging over it.

Oakland is going to have a new look to its offense with weapons like receivers Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams and rookie running back Josh Jacobs now on board. Getting all of the new pieces integrated and up to speed in the system as quickly as possible will be crucial to the team’s success.

26 of 32

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Keep Carson Wentz healthy
Establish a backup plan at QB
Settle the backfield rotation
Integrate new receivers into the offense

Starting quarterback Carson Wentz has missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons because of injuries. This wasn’t a major problem for the Philadelphia Eagles because Nick Foles was there to carry the offense in his absence.

Foles, however, is now in Jacksonville.

That means there’s added pressure to keep Wentz healthy heading into the season. It also means the Eagles need to determine if a guy like Nate Sudfeld or Cody Kessler is good enough to serve as injury insurance. If not, adding another signal-caller may be on the agenda.

Philadelphia also needs to figure out its backfield rotation. Corey Clement and rookie Miles Sanders are on the roster, and Jordan Howard will be joining the competition after Philadelphia acquired him in an offseason trade. Incorporating wideouts DeSean Jackson and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside into the passing game is another challenge.

27 of 32

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Ready James Conner for another heavy workload
Prepare JuJu Smith-Schuster to be the new No. 1
Develop depth at receiver and in the secondary

James Conner took over for Le’Veon Bell as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ lead back in 2018, and for the most part, he performed well. However, injuries did hamper him late in the season, and Pittsburgh must better prepare him for a heavy, sustained workload this year.

While Conner replaced Bell last year, JuJu Smith-Schuster is expected to replace Antonio Brown as the team’s No. 1 wideout in 2019. Pittsburgh needs to ensure he is prepared to handle the responsibilities and the opposing defensive attention that come with being the top option.

Pittsburgh also needs to develop more options behind Smith-Schuster, as the depth chart shifts with Brown’s departure. Depth in the secondary, where cornerback Artie Burns struggled mightily last season, is another area to focus on moving forward.

28 of 32

Josie Lepe/Associated Press

Ensure Jimmy Garoppolo is ready for the season
Settle on a backfield rotation
Integrate new receivers into the offense
Acclimate Nick Bosa to the defense

The San Francisco 49ers have the potential to make a significant jump in 2019 simply by having quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for a full 16-game season. Ensuring he is back to 100 percent after last year’s torn ACL has to be the top priority heading into camp.

The 49ers also must get rookie receivers Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd—plus free-agent addition Jordan Matthews—prepared to catch passes from Garoppolo.

In the backfield, San Francisco has a logjam to sort out. Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon and Raheem Mostert could all see playing time in 2019.

Defensively, San Francisco must get second overall pick Nick Bosa ready to make a rookie impact as an edge-rusher.

29 of 32

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Identify a new No. 1 receiver
Sort out the backfield rotation
Integrate L.J. Collier into the defense
Get D.K. Metcalf ready to be a rookie starter

The Seattle Seahawks released former No. 1 receiver Doug Baldwin after a failed physical, which means someone else must take over as quarterback Russell Wilson‘s go-to guy. Tyler Lockett, who had 965 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2018, is the most obvious candidate. Rookie D.K. Metcalf, who oozes physical potential, can’t be counted out, though.

At the very least, Metcalf should be a significant piece of the passing game in Year 1, and Seattle needs to properly prepare him.

Sorting out a backfield that features Rashaad Penny, Chris Carson, C.J. Prosise and J.D. McKissic is another offensive priority.

On the other side of the ball, the Seahawks need to get rookie pass-rusher L.J. Collier up to speed. He’ll be expected to replace Frank Clark, who had 13 sacks in 2018 and was traded to Kansas City in April.

30 of 32

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Install Bruce Arians’ offense
Develop chemistry in the passing game
Create depth in the secondary
Identify a replacement for Gerald McCoy

The biggest move of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ early offseason was the hiring of head coach Bruce Arians. He is an offensive-minded coach who may be able to finally get quarterback Jameis Winston to play up to his potential, and with some consistency.

Installing Arians’ system has to be Goal No. 1.

At the same time, the Bucs must develop some chemistry between Winston and the new-look receiving corps. DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries are both out, and Breshad Perriman is in.

Tampa also needs to sort some things out defensively. It needs to identify a starting defensive tackle to replace the recently released Gerald McCoy and improve a secondary that allowed an average of 259.4 passing yards per game in 2018.

31 of 32

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

Develop Corey Davis into a legitimate No. 1 receiver
Prepare A.J. Brown to be a rookie starter
Grant Kevin Byard a contract extension
Keep Marcus Mariota healthy

Tennessee Titans wideout Corey Davis took a big step forward in his sophomore season, finishing with 891 yards and four touchdowns. Now it’s time for him to become a legitimate No. 1 option. If he does, Davis and rookie A.J. Brown have the potential to be a solid one-two punch for the passing game.

This is important because quarterback Marcus Mariota still hasn’t become a consistent passer, but a lack of weapons has often hindered his progress. Continuing to develop Mariota while also ensuring he remains healthy has to be goal No. 1 for the offense, especially after he was hampered by an elbow injury for much of 2018.

On the personnel side, the Titans should get a deal done with starting safety Kevin Byard. He’s one of the best defenders on the team and is entering the final year of his current contract.

32 of 32

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Prepare Dwayne Haskins for the NFL
Formulate a backup plan at QB
Ensure Derrius Guice is ready to play
Establish a starting receiver lineup

The Washington Redskins are holding an offseason quarterback competition between first-round pick Dwayne Haskins and veteran offseason acquisition Case Keenum. So far, there isn’t a clear front-runner.

“It’s a long process and I think they both handled it well today,” Redskins head coach Jay Gruden recently said, per JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington.

The goal, though, should be to have Haskins ready to start as a rookie. While Keenum can be a solid starter, he doesn’t have the upside of Haskins, who is clearly Washington’s future.

As the same time, Washington needs to figure out how to field a functional receiving corps. The current group—headlined by first-round disappointment Josh Doctson—is underwhelming as it currently stands.

Getting former second-round pick Derrius Guice ready to play a role in the backfield is another priority. He missed his entire rookie season with a torn ACL but could be a real asset in Year 2 by taking some pressure off of Haskins’ shoulders.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2K5E6Kf
via IFTTT

Running out of cloud storage? Here’s how to clear out your Gmail inbox

Gmail for iOS got a much-needed feature this week.

By Alex Perry2019-05-25 12:00:00 UTC

Unfortunately, one of your worst nightmares has come to pass: You ran out of cloud storage in Google Drive. The most likely culprit? Several years of email buildup in your Gmail inbox.

If you found yourself in this situation, there’s no reason to worry. There are plenty of ways to quickly clear up space in your inbox and even some ways to prevent future buildup. With some smart planning, those 15 free gigabytes that Google doles out to every user should be enough for the foreseeable future.

As a quick sidenote, make sure to check your Google Drive storage page to get an exact readout of which Google apps are taking up the most cloud storage. If your problem actually lies in Drive or Photos, Google has a handy page full of tips to rectify that situation.

Don’t get too attached

In general your best friend is going to be the drop-down menu on the right side of Gmail’s search bar. Go up to the top of your inbox screen, click that bad boy, and revel in the control it gives you over your own digital life.

In the same vein, attachments might be your worst enemy on Gmail. If enough attachments are sent your way over the years, they’ll add up to take up storage space. Thankfully, you can use the search menu to fix this.

Once you’ve got all your emails with attachments in front of you, it’s up to you to decide what to do with them. Obviously, don’t mass delete things you might want to keep around. Still, this is a very quick and easy thing you can do in seconds to clean up your inbox.

Learn how to filter

If you’ve ever bought anything online, you probably have way too many payment receipt emails sitting around in your inbox to count. Congratulations to those of you who remember to delete those.

Still, an easy way to deal with things like that is to use Gmail filtering. Open the message and click on the three vertical dots on the right side. From there, click “Filter messages like this.” It’ll take you to every message from that sender in your inbox where, again, you can do whatever you want from there.

You can also use the search bar on the home screen to filter everything in your inbox based on how old they are or how much space they take up. It might be smart to search for everything that’s larger than, say, 5MB and just delete all of those emails.

Let go of subscriptions

Unroll.me is one way to clear up subscriptions.

This is more to prevent future problems than fix current ones, but subscriptions can make your inbox supremely annoying. The most disorganized of us will inadvertently subscribe to things and watch the unwanted newsletters pile up.

Obviously, you can just open any of those messages and unsubscribe from those blasts individually. However, Unroll.me is a handy little free service that can give you a list of everything you subscribe to and let you dole out whichever punishment you prefer. Be careful with giving any third-party service access to your acc

Take your trash out

This should go without saying, but please remember to periodically empty your spam and trash folders. Even after doing everything we said earlier in this article, emails you deleted will still languish in the trash folder for a while before automatically disappearing forever.

They might not take up that much space, but there’s no reason to keep them around. Be free of them. Hopefully some of these tips can help you get your digital life together. The last option is to simply pay Google for more storage, but hopefully it never comes to that.

from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2W3ih5p
via IFTTT