All the pilot parallels in the ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8 premiere

The grandest and most beloved stories come full circle in the end, and Game of Thrones‘ Season 8 premiere proved that it intends to do just that. In an episode full of parallels to the show’s pilot from eight years ago, we got ready to send Thrones off with full nostalgia for the episode that started it all.

The North remembers.

On the most basic level, this episode was titled “Winterfell”; it took us back to the place where our story began to prepare us for the beginning of the end. “Winterfell” could easily have been the show’s pilot title, but that episode was “Winter is Coming” – and as we well know, winter is now here.

1. The procession

Season 1, episode 1 brings us the pomp and circumstance of King Robert Baratheon’s arrival at Winterfell, complete with banners and horses and strangers from the South whom Winterfell regards warily (and with just cause). Even the music is a variation on “The King’s Arrival,” a theme we hear only a handful of times throughout Thrones‘ history.

2. A climbing spectator

Bran Stark may be the one known for climbing, but it was Arya who pushed through a crowd of onlookers to find higher ground and watch the king’s procession in “Winter is Coming.” This time, it’s a young Northern boy, whom we’d advise against climbing, given the history.

3. The Stark lineup

Once in Winterfell, Robert’s coterie is greeted by the full Stark family – the first and last time we see the entire nuclear Stark unit on-screen together. Jon and Daenerys arrive to a glaringly abridged lineup, but a strong one nonetheless: Sansa, Lady of Winterfell, her dramatic stoner teen brother, Brienne of Tarth, Podrick Payne, Lyanna Mormont, and the rest of the Stark banners.

4. Arya lurking

The first time we meet Arya Stark in Season 1, she shoots an arrow at Bran’s target after hiding and watching unbeknownst to any of the Stark men. When Jon returns in Season 8, she’s hidden in the crowds that had greeted him – a girl who became no one.

5. Arya and Jon

The long-awaited reunion between these two cousin-siblings did not disappoint, with a heartfelt hug and the kind of emotional and open conversation that all the other Starks deserve but don’t get (Arya and Sansa deserved better in Season 7, don’t @ us).

Arya’s older brothers always had a soft spot for her, but it was Jon who gave her Needle to support her unconventional interests as a highborn lady, and Needle became Arya’s only constant for years.

6. A hopeful engagement

Davos, Varys, and Tyrion plot Dany and Jon’s marital alliance from a distance, just as Robert and Ned planned to betroth Joffrey and Sansa. It might not matter, but uh, those two didn’t really work out. And neither did the other political marriage laid out in “Winter is Coming”: Daenerys and Khal Drogo.

Also a fun note: In the pilot, Sansa all but begs to be engaged to Joffrey (“It’s all I’ve ever wanted!”) and in the Season 8 premiere, she looks back on his murder almost fondly.

7. The crypts

Ned and Robert – brothers by choice if not by blood – speak in the crypts in “Winter is Coming,” about joining their families and, notably, about Lyanna Stark.

Years later, Night’s Watch brothers Sam and Jon speak about Lyanna again – this time with full disclosure about Jon’s parentage.

8. Bran lurking

“Winter is Coming” told us a lot about the middle Stark siblings’ M.O.s before we knew them well; Arya could sneak around, even as a known face, and Bran’s penchant for climbing had him seeing and hearing things he wasn’t supposed to know about (now he does it professionally and works remote).

In “Winterfell,” Bran spent hours – nay, days? – “waiting for an old friend” in the courtyard, popping up now and then to stare uncomfortably at someone because why not play to your strengths?

9. The Night King’s message

Game of Thrones began with people finding White Walker carnage in the North – dozens of dead bodies, with the dismembered limbs arranged in a crude and curious circular formation. More advanced versions of this symbol appear throughout the series when the White Walkers have a big kill (horses, humans, etc). We see it in the cave at Dragonstone and learn that it dates back to the Children of the Forest and the creation of the Night King himself.

10. A child who becomes a wight

'Surprise bitch. Bet you thought you'd seen the last of me.' — ‘Surprise bitch. Bet you thought you’d seen the last of me.’

Speaking of Lord Umber, let’s not forget that within the first few minutes of the Game of Thrones pilot, before we had even heard that iconic theme song, a little girl was turned into a wight, and the threat was immediate and real. Cersei may have needed convincing, but Thrones viewers have been aware and terrified of the Northern threat for years.

11. That final pairing

Both “Winter is Coming” and “Winterfell” end on a pivotal Thrones duo, and not one you’d expect to hold such significance: Jaime and Bran. The two haven’t met since the shocking final seconds of “Winterfell” in which Bran caught Jaime and Cersei together and was unceremoniously defenestrated with a casual “The things I do for love.”

Catelyn and Ned figured out who tried to kill their son, but Bran barely fixated over the years on the man who changed his life forever. In the meantime, Jaime’s been charming everyone from Brienne to literally all of us in the audience with a redemption arc for the ages. Bran is the final piece of that, but will the Three-Eyed Raven forgive? (Cause he sure can’t forget.)

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Ariana Grande brings out *NSYNC, Diddy, and more at Coachella

Mashable, MashBash and Mashable House are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission.

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Seahawks Rumors: Russell Wilson Said He Won’t Sign New Contract After Deadline

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks walks off the field after falling short on third down against the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

It’s now or never for the Seattle Seahawks.

According to Peter King of Pro Football Talk, star quarterback Russell Wilson has not only given the team until the end of Monday to work out a contract extension, but he also won’t so much as consider a long-term extension with the team after today and would reportedly be content to play under the franchise tag in 2020-21:

“Today’s a big day in the Pacific Northwest if you take Wilson and [his agent Mark Rodgers] at their word, that—according to a source close to the talks—they say they won’t do a long-term deal with the Seahawks if it’s not done by tonight. Read that last sentence again. I didn’t mean they’d put off further talks on a new contract till 2020 if it’s not done by tonight. I meant Wilson and Rodgers don’t plan to negotiate further with the Seahawks, period. My source says they’ve told GM John Schneider it has to be done now, or not at all.”

King continued:

“If it does get done, my source says the contract would likely include devices to adjust future years of the deal based on how high the cap goes up year to year, or based on new revenue streams (gambling revenue, for example, or a TV contract that explodes). If it is not done, it means the Seahawks have determined Wilson isn’t worth setting such a precedent. (No NFL player’s contract fluctuates based on cap increases or increases in the league’s bottom line unknown at the time of signing.)”

The questions for the Seahawks include whether they want to sign Wilson to such a lucrative, precedent-setting deal, and whether they believe he is bluffing about Monday’s deadline. There’s also the possibility that Wilson simply doesn’t want to be in Seattle any longer.

Joe Banner @JoeBanner13

Russell Wilson situation makes no sense, which means that more is going on then we know.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk: “The Seahawks think that Wilson would like to play elsewhere, even if he hasn’t and wouldn’t ever say it. They also believe that this unspoken dynamic will cause Wilson to drive a harder bargain with them than he would with another team.”

And Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu‏ suggested that Wilson wants to play in New York, ostensibly for the Giants—a rumor that has been floated in the past:

Tyrann Mathieu @Mathieu_Era

Russ wants New York. But you ain’t heard that from T.. https://t.co/AWGBUAjaWj

So the Seahawks have a few options. They can cave to Wilson’s contract demands on Monday and keep their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future, albeit at what would likely be an enormous cost. They could also end negotiations, hoping Wilson is bluffing while maintaining the ability to use the franchise tag to keep him after the 2019 season.

In the latter scenario, they could also put him on the trade market and wait for a deal that blows them away. They’d assuredly receive multiple first-round picks for the 30-year-old superstar, who is already a Super Bowl champion and five-time Pro Bowler.

Robert Mays @robertmays

I think I speak for most people who’ve spent their football fan lives trudging through the quarterback wilderness when I say:

If your team doesn’t value Russell Wilson, your team doesn’t deserve Russell Wilson.

Wilson would be a game-changer for a franchise like the Giants, representing a massive upgrade over Eli Manning and ending any talk about drafting a young quarterback. He’d also vault the Giants from pretender to contender status immediately, even if the roster still has holes to fill. That’s the impact Wilson can have and why he’d fetch a bounty of draft picks.

So it’s a fascinating moment for the Seahawks, for Wilson and for the rest of the NFL. What happens Monday will send shockwaves throughout the league, regardless of the outcome.

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Red Cross calls for release of three staff missing in Syria

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has appealed for information about three of its staff members abducted in Syria more than five years ago.

The ICRC said on Sunday that Louisa Akavi, Alaa Rajab and Nabil Bakdounes were kidnapped in the northwestern state of Idlib in late 2013, revealing their identities for the first time in the hope of securing their release.

The status of Akavi, a 62-year-old New Zealand nurse, is unknown, but her employer said it has received recent witness reports suggesting she might be alive.

“Our latest credible information indicates that Louisa was alive in late 2018,” the ICRC said.

Dominik Stillhart, ICRC director of operations, said it decided to permit publication of her name in the hope that it would lead to more information about Akavi’s whereabouts.

“We have not spoken publicly before today because from the moment Louisa and the others were kidnapped, every decision we made was to maximise the chances of winning their freedom,” Stillhart said in a statement.

“With Islamic State group having lost the last of its territory, we felt it was now time to speak out,” it said referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS).

US-backed Syrian forces announced the capture of ISIL’s last pocket of territory in northeastern Syria last month, eliminating its rule over a self-declared caliphate it had proclaimed in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

ICRC officials said Akavi might have been swept up among some 70,000 women and children who fled to al-Hol camp after the fall of ISIL.

The outpouring has sparked a humanitarian crisis in the Kurdish-run camps, which are struggling to accommodate the influx of women and children.

At a news conference on Monday, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern refused to answer questions about Akavi but indicated she was disappointed the ICRC had gone public before her fate had been learned.

“You’ll forgive me, I hope, for not commenting on that case,” Ardern said. “It remains the government’s view that it would be preferable if the case was not in the public domain.”

‘Unconditional release’

New Zealand’s foreign minister confirmed on Monday Akavi has been held captive by the ISIL armed group in Syria and said his country is continuing to work with ICRC to “locate and recover” Akavi.

“This has been a uniquely complex and difficult case … Louisa went to Syria with the ICRC to deliver humanitarian relief to people suffering as a result of a brutal civil war and ISIS occupation,” Winston Peters said.

“Where a New Zealander is held by a terrorist organisation, the government takes all appropriate action to recover them. That is exactly what we have done here,” he added.

ICRC President Peter Maurer raised the case during a visit to the camp last month, the group said.

“The past five and a half years have been an extremely difficult time for the families of our three abducted colleagues. Louisa is a true and compassionate humanitarian. Alaa and Nabil were committed colleagues and an integral part of our aid deliveries,” said Stillhart, the group’s director of operations.

“We call on anyone with information to please come forward. If our colleagues are still being held, we call for their immediate and unconditional release,” he said.

ICRC had not been able to learn more details about the fate of the two drivers, both of whom were “dedicated husbands and caring fathers”.

The three staff members were travelling in a Red Cross convoy that was delivering supplies to medical facilities in the northwestern province of Idlib in Syria, when armed men stopped their vehicles on October 13, 2013.

The gunmen abducted seven people; four were released the following day, according to the ICRC’s statement.

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut, Lebanon, said the ICRC is gathering information from those who used to live under ISIL’s rule.

“ISIL was territorially defeated a few weeks ago, thousands of wives and children of ISIL fighters are now in a camp in northeast Syria, so it is trying to gather information,” she said.

“The ICRC staff members are not the only ones who were [held] by ISIL and remain missing: there is the Italian priest Father Paolo, the British journalist John Cantlie who appeared in ISIL propaganda videos and Lebanese cameraman Samir Kassab,” she added.

Meanwhile, Akavi’s family said they miss her and are proud of the work to which she has dedicated her life.

“We think about her every day and hope she feels that and finds strength in that,” said a video statement issued by family spokesman Tuaine Robati.

“We know she is thinking of us and that she will be worried about us too.”

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Trump attorneys warn accounting firm not to hand over financial records

President Donald Trump’s attorneys said they were formally putting Mazars ”on notice” — an implicit threat of legal action. | Alex Wong/Getty Images

legal

The president’s attorneys urged Mazars USA to not comply with an imminent Democratic subpoena.

President Donald Trump’s attorneys are warning of potential legal action if an accounting firm turns over a decade of the president’s financial records to the House Oversight and Reform Committee.

Trump attorneys William S. Consovoy and Stefan Passantino are urging Mazars USA not to comply with a subpoena that Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) plans to issue on Monday for Trump’s financial documents, calling it a politically motivated scheme to take down the president.

Story Continued Below

“It is no secret that the Democrat Party has decided to use its new House majority to launch a flood of investigations into the president’s personal affairs in hopes of using anything they can find to damage him politically,” Consovoy and Passantino wrote to Jerry D. Bernstein, Mazars’ outside counsel.

The attorneys said they were formally putting Mazars ”on notice” — an implicit threat of legal action. They also urged Bernstein to hold off on providing the documents to Cummings until the subpoena can be litigated in court, suggesting that a protracted legal battle is likely to ensue.

“The Democrats’ fervor has only intensified after the special counsel squelched their ‘Russia collusion’ narrative,” the attorneys continued, outlining a series of legal precedents that they argue prevents Mazars from complying with Cummings’ subpoena.

Last month, the committee formally requested that Mazars turn over 10 years of Trump’s financial records, related specifically to the Trump Organization, the president’s revocable trust and other subsidiaries.

In response, Mazars asked for a so-called friendly subpoena so that it could comply. Cummings told the firm that it was seeking the documents to corroborate the testimony of Michael Cohen, the president’s former attorney and fixer, who alleged that Trump artificially inflated and deflated the value of his assets for his personal benefit.

Consovoy and Passantino questioned the committee’s legal authority to conduct such an investigation.

“[T]he House Oversight Committee is not a miniature Department of Justice, charged with investigating and prosecuting potential federal crimes. It is a legislative body, not ‘a law enforcement or trial agency,’ and the chairman’s attempt to assume for Congress the role of police, prosecutor, and judge is unconstitutional,” they wrote.

In a separate letter to Cummings, Consovoy and Passantino echoed Republicans’ criticism of the Mazars subpoena.

On Monday, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the top Republican on the Oversight Committee, also wrote a memo to the panel’s members outlining his own concerns with the subpoena.

Jordan said it was a “grave abuse” of power and a violation of Cummings’ pledge to allow committee members to vote on subpoenas before they are authorized. Cummings said on Friday that he planned to issue it unilaterally due to the two-week congressional recess which began on Monday.

“I strongly object to Chairman Cummings’ unprecedented subpoena to Mazars and his irresponsible and gravely dangerous course of conduct in a singular obsession of attacking President Trump and his family for political gain,” Jordan wrote.

A spokeswoman for Cummings didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter from Trump’s attorneys. Bernstein, Mazars’ outside counsel, also did not respond.

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Bran Stark is a creep, and here are the memes to back it up

By Charlotte Roos2019-04-15 14:22:43 UTC

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Game of Thrones: Season 8, Episode 1

I think we can all admit that Bran Stark’s storyline has always been a little more than lackluster on Game of Thrones. Sure he has weird bird powers that allow him to know everyone’s secrets, but you know what else that makes him? An absolute creep.

In the pilot of the series, way back in 2011, you may remember Jaime Lannister pushing Bran out of a tower window and causing him to be in the wheelchair he is today. Well, Sunday’s episode brought the reunion of Bran and Jaime which created the most interesting plot point in Bran’s story line in several years.

Twitter was sure to point out this is the only interesting moment Bran has had in 8 seasons. They touched on his severe degree of pettiness in waiting outside all night in the cold for Jaime to show up, as well as his shudder-inducing stares throughout the entire episode.

So enjoy this ode to Bran’s general creep factor expressed exclusively through memes:

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Kid flossing to ‘Mamma Mia’ on the bagpipes is a perfect 30-second video

By Heather Dockray2019-04-15 14:04:25 UTC

Flossing is a dance genre created by Russell Horning, aka the Backpack Kid, and is usually associated with Fornite, or pop music.

One brave child, however, recently flossed to a bagpipe choir playing “Mamma Mia” by Abba.

It was a beautiful confluence of genres. Congratulations to this tiny soul for breaking down musical barriers.

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2019 NFL Mock Draft: Bold Trade by Broncos Shakes Up First Round

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Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

The big day(s) are getting closer.

Starting on April 25 in Nashville, a new crop of over 250 rookies will enter the pros when the 2019 NFL draft takes place. As is the case in so many years, as we get closer to draft day there are many more questions than answers regarding who is headed where.

Will the Arizona Cardinals take a quarterback inside the top 10 for a second straight year by selecting Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray No. 1 overall?

In a draft class filled with talent on the defensive side of the ball, how many pass-rushers will we get taken in the top 10?

Who will be the first players chosen at cornerback and offensive tackle, a pair of premium positions with no clear top prospect in 2019?

And will one of the NFL’s QB-needy clubs swing a deal to move up the draft board and grab the signal-caller they want?

This mock draft endeavors to answer all of those questions—including the last one.

The answer is “yes”—and it won’t take long at all.

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Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

There have been more than a few tea leaves connecting Murray and the Cardinals for some time. And as Sam Hellman wrote for 247Sports, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Get Up! that the buzz is only going to build after Murray visited with the team last week.

“There was no way that the Arizona Cardinals were not going to come away impressed with their meeting with Kyler Murray in Arizona on Wednesday,” Schefter said. “They had dinner with him the night before; obviously there’s a history there. You have Kliff Kingsbury, who has a man-crush on Kyler Murray. We’ve known about that for quite some time. Kliff Kingsbury’s agent Erik Burkhardt also happens to represent Kyler Murray, so they have the same agent. There’s a lot in common here, but this is a huge decision.”

It’s a bold move to select a quarterback in the top 10 of the NFL draft two years in a row. And selecting the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner would mean the Josh Rosen era’s end before it ever really began.

But Murray’s athletic upside is undeniable, and given his seemingly tailor-made fit in Kingsbury’s offense, he could drastically accelerate the rebuild in the desert.

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L.G. Patterson/Associated Press

Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

This hypothetical trade would be a pricey one—a move up from No. 10 to No. 2 would all but certainly cost John Elway and the Broncos their first-round selection in 2020. Maybe more.

But it’s also a possibility.

We know that because after watching big-armed Missouri quarterback Drew Lock at both a regular-season game and January’s Senior Bowl, Elway is “smitten” with the 6’4″, 228-pounder, per Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post.

We know that while the Broncos acquired Joe Flacco earlier this offseason, the 34-year-old is a short-term fix at best. Given how Flacco has played the past couple of seasons, he may not be any better of a short-term fix than Case Keenum was.

We know that there are no shortage of teams looking for quarterback help this year and that the New York Jets are open to moving back from No. 3.

We know that while passing on Nick Bosa wouldn’t be easy for San Francisco, the team already has a ton of draft capital and salary tied up on the defensive line.

And we know that these two franchises have coaching and front-office connections and have a history, whether it’s 49ers general manager John Lynch playing in Denver or previous draft-day wheelings and dealings.

In two of the last four drafts, the first two selections have been quarterbacks. Don’t rule it out this year.

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Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State

If the first two picks of the 2019 NFL draft play out like this, then New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan would probably pull a hamstring racing to the podium to make the selection.

This is, without question, the dream scenario for Gang Green.

The Jets have one glaring need on defense—help off the edge. And to say that Ohio State’s Nick Bosa would help the team in that regard is one lulu of an understatement.

The only thing stopping the 6’4″, 266-pound Bosa from going No. 1 to the Arizona Cardinals is the positional importance of quarterbacks. Bosa might not have quite the quickness or athleticism of older brother Joey, but he’s stronger and more technically sound.

As someone who watched every snap of both players’ collegiate careers, I believe the younger Bosa is a slightly better NFL prospect than the older Bosa was in 2016.

Nick would be the best pass-rusher on the Jets roster from the moment he entered the league.

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Bryan Woolston/Associated Press

Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky

After finishing the 2018 season last in the NFL in sacks with just 13 (fewer than seven players had individually) and failing to address the pass rush in free agency, the Raiders need to prioritize help on the edge.

Missing out on Bosa by a single pick would sting a bit.

But Kentucky’s Josh Allen is a decent consolation prize.

After choosing to stay at Kentucky for his senior season, the 6’5″, 262-pound Allen responded by exploding for 17 sacks en route to being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He also piled up 88 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles.

Yes, that’s right. Allen had more sacks by himself in 13 games than Oakland had as a team in 16.

Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams would be tempting here, but getting help off the edge is a must for the Raiders early in this draft.

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Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama

As draft-day slides go, Williams’ would be a short one.

Alabama’s Quinnen Williams is widely regarded as one of the top overall prospects in this class. As Joe Marino wrote for the Draft Network, about the only thing missing from the 6’3″, 303-pounder’s game is the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

“Quinnen Williams features the same toolbox of traits that we’ve seen in other recent Alabama defensive lineman but taken to another level across the board,” he wrote. “He dominates with a rare blend of quickness, power, flexibility, processing skills and technique that make him primed for a sensational career as a standout playmaker.”

Some mock drafts have Williams going No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals. With the Buccaneers moving to a one-gap, attacking 3-4 base defense under new coordinator Todd Bowles, Williams could slot at end in base sets and then kick inside in subpackages…

Wreaking havoc all the while.

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Rusty Costanza/Associated Press

Devin White, ILB, LSU

Not long ago, just about everyone in the draft community thought that the New York Giants were going to take a quarterback at No. 6 overall. Most thought it would be Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins.

But Haskins’ stock has reportedly dropped of late, and Giants GM Dave Gettleman recently gave Eli Manning a vote of confidence—leading to a new school of thought that the Giants won’t take a quarterback at No. 6.

Most of the draftniks that have flipped from quarterback for the Giants are now focused on the defensive front. It’s a move that makes sense given New York’s needs there.

However, if things shake out like this, there’s another play that makes even more.

A year ago, the Giants traded for inside linebacker Alec Ogletree, who was mediocre at best in his first season with the team. After a standout career at LSU and a jaw-dropping performance at the combine, Devin White is easily the top prospect at the position this year.

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Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida

The Jacksonville Jaguars already addressed the biggest perceived need on the roster by signing free-agent quarterback Nick Foles to a four-year, $88 million pact.

Now the priority is making sure that Foles remains in one piece.

After dropping a second-round pick on Alabama’s Cam Robinson in 2017, the Jaguars surely hope he’ll be recovered enough from the torn ACL that cost him 14 games last season to hold down Foles’ blind side. The right tackle spot, on the other hand, is a question mark.

Florida’s Jawaan Taylor could answer that question—emphatically. The long-armed, 6’5″, 312-pounder is a classic right tackle prospect—big and powerful. He might not possess the quickness needed to become a star at left tackle, but he has the physical tools to start immediately on the strong side of Jacksonville’s offense.

Taylor might not be the best player available overall in this spot, but he would fill a big need.

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Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Rashan Gary, EDGE, Michigan

The Detroit Lions have already invested heavily in the defensive line this offseason, bringing in Trey Flowers on a five-year, $90 million deal as a replacement of sorts for Ezekiel Ansah.

However, Flowers coming to town isn’t a fix-all for the Detroit D-line. So it’s time for some home-grown help here.

Rashan Gary’s production never quite matched his potential at the University of Michigan. But as Michigan DC Don Brown told the NFL Network, Gary has the physical tools and work ethic to become a star.

“Well, this is an exceptional guy as a person,” he said. “Really a fun guy to coach. You like guys when they’re upper-level talent, elite talents, but work extremely hard. You never had to ask Rashan to go. In fact, in some cases, you’d be asking him to slow down. But he’s a unique talent, that’s for sure, and a great young man, so [he’s] a lot of fun to be around.”

That it’s a pick the fanbase would love is just icing on the cake.

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Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

This is one of the first “crossroads” picks of this draft. The Bills could go in a number of directions. They have needs that could be filled on both the defensive and offensive lines, and quality players are available that could fill them.

Decisions, decisions.

It’s the player among those options that has the highest ceiling who could get the call.

Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver isn’t a finished product by any stretch. But as Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News reported, ESPN’s Todd McShay believes that if things break the right way a few years from now, we could look on the 6’2″, 287-pounder as one of the steals of the 2019 draft.

“If he’s developed properly, he’s got a chance to be one of the two or three best players in this draft class,” McShay said. “Anywhere past pick three or four I don’t think it’s a reach at all for Ed Oliver.”

Goodbye, Kyle Williams. Hello, Ed Oliver.

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Jim Lytle/Associated Press

Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State

Yes, in this scenario the San Francisco 49ers would have passed on the 2019 draft’s best edge-rusher in Nick Bosa.

But the trade back would net the 49ers an additional first-rounder in 2020.

And taking Montez Sweat here would be like John Lynch having his cake and eating it too.

This isn’t to say that Sweat is the prospect Bosa is. But after racking up 53 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks for the Bulldogs in 2018, Sweat has spent draft season opening the eyes of draftniks and scouts. He was one of the best defensive players in practices at the Senior Bowl and shined at the combine—including a jaw-dropping 4.41-second 40-yard dash at 6’6″ and 260 pounds.

Getting both an athletic edge-rusher and an extra first-round pick would set Lynch and the 49ers up as one of Day 1’s biggest winners.

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Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

This is a pick that will make some fans in the Queen City happy and others angry.

Never mind the teams picking just behind the Bengals who may have their eyes on the 6’3″, 231-pounder after Haskins lit up the Big Ten to the tune of 50 touchdown passes in 2018.

As Geoff Hobson wrote for the Bengals’ website, new head coach Zac Taylor gave incumbent quarterback Andy Dalton a vote of confidence at the end of March.

“I have full belief in our quarterback,” Taylor said. “Andy has won a lot of games in this league, and so I’m excited. If he had been healthy all season, I would’ve been excited to see what he did last year, healthy for all the games. I’m excited to work with Andy, full belief in Andy, that he’s the right guy for what we want to do.”

However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Get Up! (via 247Sports) that there’s “increasing chatter” that the Bengals are eyeing a successor to the 31-year-old.

An in-state star who could sit behind Dalton in 2019 could be too good to pass up.

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Doug McSchooler/Associated Press

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa

The Green Bay Packers are coming off their worst season in a decade. The silver lining of their dreadful season is having a pick inside the top 12.

Given the Pack’s other needs (including wide receiver and the offensive line), it might seem odd to imagine Green Bay using the high pick on a tight end—especially with Jimmy Graham still on the roster.

But make no mistake—with a healthy Aaron Rodgers back, the Packers are in “win now” mode. Green Bay wants players that can contribute from the moment they arrive in Titletown.

And Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson fits that bill to a tee.

It’s been a good long while since we saw a tight end prospect as well-rounded as Hockenson entering the NFL. The 6’5″, 251-pounder is just as comfortable pulling in passes down the seam as he is running over defenders as a run-blocker.

Hockenson would be a welcome addition—and an immediate contributor.

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Michael Woods/Associated Press

Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama

The Houston Texans have one glaring, overriding need that towers above all others—improving an offensive line that allowed an NFL-high 62 sacks in 2018.

As such, giving up the 23rd pick, one of their consecutive picks in the second round and a Day 3 selection to a Dolphins team looking to stockpile picks as they begin a ground-up rebuild would be an easy sell if it meant adding the player many consider the best left tackle prospect in the class of 2019.

Many draftniks have the 6’4″, 302-pounder tabbed as a guard. But per Justin Melo of Draft Wire, Williams is confident he can man the blind side in the pros just as he did at Alabama.

“Not only do I feel like I’m a tackle, but I’m the best tackle in this draft,” Williams said. “I believe I’ve proven that. I’m not a guy that wants to talk about this and beat my chest about what I’m capable of. I feel like my tape has proven this over my career here at Alabama.”

I’m not about to argue with a guy that size.

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Brett Deering/Getty Images

Cody Ford, OT/OG, Oklahoma

The Atlanta Falcons struggled last year both in run blocking and pass protection—struggles that contributed to the team going 7-9 and missing the playoffs.

Upgrading the interior of the offensive line is a priority for the Falcons in 2019, and while edge-rusher might be an even bigger one, an early run at that position could send Atlanta right up the gut.

And right into mammoth offensive lineman Cody Ford of Oklahoma.

A tackle in Norman, Ford is as athletic as he is massive—a 6’4″, 329-pound mountain of a man who should be able to kick inside and contribute at guard right away.

It’s not all that often that a lineman Ford’s size comes along who also has the wheels to be a fit in Atlanta’s zone-blocking scheme.

The Falcons should seize the opportunity to add him in an effort to improve a rushing attack that managed just 98.3 yards per game in 2018—27th in the league.

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D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

Nope, not a quarterback.

Maybe it’s because the Redskins will be the team that swings a deal for Arizona’s Josh Rosen. Maybe it’s because Washington will hold out hope that Alex Smith will be able to resume his career at some point.

In any event, whether it’s Smith, Rosen, Case Keenum or someone else under center in the nation’s capital, unless the Redskins improve the weapons at their disposal, that quarterback is set up to fail. Washington’s wideout corps is currently Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson and a whole lot of “who?”

D.K. Metcalf of Ole Miss has been surging up draft boards since putting on a clinic at the combine—he has a combination of size (6’3″, a chiseled 228 pounds) and speed (4.33-second 40) that doesn’t come along every day.

Metcalf is not a finished product, but if he comes close to realizing his immense potential, he could be a star.

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Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson

The Carolina Panthers have long been known for possessing a deep and talented defensive line. But attrition has taken its toll on that line—especially on the edge. With all due respect to veterans Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin, in 15 combined NFL seasons the pair has combined for just a single 10-sack season.

That need (and a loaded class of edge-rushers) makes Carolina one of the more likely teams to trade up in Round 1 this year. But even if the Panthers stand pat, there should be a couple of options available at 16.

Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell doesn’t have the athletic upside of some of the pass-rushers who have already come off the board, but the 6’4″, 264-pounder is technically sound and was highly productive at the collegiate level, racking up 21 sacks and 37.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons.

He’d provide Carolina with much-needed depth off the edge from the get-go and challenge for a starting job in fairly short order.

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Lance King/Getty Images

Daniel Jones, QB, Duke

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman has insisted for some time now that he isn’t pigeonholing the G-Men into taking a quarterback at No. 6—but he did allow that it’s likely that at some point in this draft the team will look at the future of the position.

With just one of the “Big Four” from this year’s draft class left on the board here, that time is pick No. 17—and the player is Duke’s Daniel Jones.

Per Mike Kaye of NJ.com, Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy believes Jones’ similar skill set and familiarity with Eli Manning from their time together at David Cutcliffe’s QB camp makes the 6’5″, 221-pounder a natural successor to Eli.

“I think it would be a really good quarterback room that first year,” he said. “Eli can play and Daniel can sit behind him and it would be really good in the room. I think that would be great. Then with the transition, if they draft Daniel to be the successor, you’re talking about a very similar skill set from the pocket. Daniel gives you more as an athlete with the ability to take off when he needs to. I think it would be a great fit for both sides.”

Nagy has a point.

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Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State

There isn’t a team in the NFL under more pressure to produce a quick turnaround in 2019 than the Minnesota Vikings, who missed the 2018 playoffs altogether.

Shoddy offensive line play was one of the main causes of that massively disappointing season. The Vikings have already considered kicking Riley Reiff inside, which would open up a hole on the $28 million (per season) blind side of quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Washington State’s Andre Dillard is an agile, 6’5″, 315-pound three-year starter who showed plus agility and athleticism at both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine. After playing at pass-wacky WSU, his run blocking needs refinement, but he may be the most NFL-ready pass protector in his class.

That just so happens to be exactly what Cousins and the Vikings need.

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Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State

The Titans could go a few directions at No. 19 overall. The team could add a tight end to succeed Delanie Walker. Upgrade an iffy cadre of wideouts. Trade down and stockpile picks.

But even in a draft class loaded with first-round edge-rushers, the pool of talent is eventually going to dry up. And with veterans Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan both gone, the Titans need to add another talented pass-rusher to pair with second-year pro Harold Landry.

Florida State’s Brian Burns is a lanky, lean, 6’5″, 249-pounder tailor-made to come off the edge as a rush linebacker in a three-man front like the Titans run. R.J. White of CBS Sports sees it as a near-perfect fit.

“The Titans smartly started building for the future of their edge rush in the last draft by taking Harold Landry, and now they give him a running mate with Brian Orakpo retiring and Derrick Morgan a free agent,” he wrote. “There’s no question what you bring Burns in to do: get after the quarterback. He’s an ideal fit for a 3-4 team at his size, but his explosiveness will make him difficult to handle for all but the most athletic of offensive tackles.”

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Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan

It’s been a rough year for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They missed the playoffs, tailback Le’Veon Bell sat out due to a contract dispute, and wide receiver Antonio Brown had a contentious falling out with the organization.

This level of dysfunction is very un-Pittsburgh-like.

There’s nothing for the Steelers to do now but move forward and start filling needs on the roster. The inside linebacker position has been one since Ryan Shazier got hurt, and while the Steelers added Mark Barron in free agency, the former safety is coming off one of the worst seasons of his NFL career.

At 5’11” and 234 pounds, Devin Bush of Michigan is a tad on the small size for a traditional inside linebacker in the NFL. But we’re seeing more and more undersized linebackers thrive as pros—provided they have the range to be sideline-to-sideline forces.

With 4.43-second speed, Bush most assuredly does.

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Greedy Williams, CB, LSU

Once you reach the latter half of the first round, trying to forecast a draft becomes next to impossible. For every pick with an obvious fit (like Brian Burns to Tennessee or Devin Bush to Pittsburgh), there’s another where several players make sense.

That’s the case with Seattle. But were the draft to play out like this, the Seahawks would be hard-pressed not to address the secondary given that the team would have its choice of this year’s top prospects at cornerback.

During the Pete Carroll era, the Seahawks have shown an affinity for bigger corners—lanky boundary guys capable of muscling up receivers and high-pointing the ball. At 6’2″, Greedy Williams of LSU certainly meets their criteria.

It’s admittedly a bit odd Williams hasn’t had a single pre-draft visit. But with oodles of film to watch him play in the SEC and a 4.37-second 40 under his belt at the combine, teams such as the Seahawks may just feel Williams is a known commodity—in a good way.

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A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss

Get ready to be blown away by the biggest secret of the 2019 NFL draft: The Baltimore Ravens need wide receiver help.

I know. You’re floored. Take a moment to collect yourself.

Some fans will wonder why it’s A.J. Brown of Ole Miss listed here and not Oklahoma burner Marquise Brown. Time to let Lance Zierlein’s scouting report at NFL.com state my case for the former Rebel:

“Slot bully with rare combination of brawn and quickness that allows him to separate with both power and foot quickness. Brown has the size and demeanor to take on a relatively heavy workload as a safety blanket for a young quarterback in a ball-control passing attack. He’ll see an upgrade in athlete across from him, but he has the feet and body control to uncover and create windows as a premium route-runner.”

That ball-control part is the key, as is the size of this Brown (6’0″, 226 lbs) relative to the other (5’9″, 166 lbs).

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Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson

If the 2019 draft plays out like this, Miami general manager Chris Grier will be doing televised cartwheels. Not only would the Dolphins add an extra second-round pick in their projected trade with Houston, but a mini-slide would drop a potential cornerstone D-lineman into their lap at No. 23.

Christian Wilkins isn’t especially explosive upfield, but the 6’3″, 315-pounder is a disruptive force with impressive short-area quickness for a man his size. He also has experience playing both defensive end in base sets and tackle in subpackages—experience that will warm the cockles of new head coach Brian Flores, who ran multiple fronts in New England.

The Miami rebuild will begin in the trenches—or at least, it should. The Dolphins need all the help they can get along the defensive front now that Cameron Wake, Andre Branch and Robert Quinn are no longer on the roster.

Getting Wilkins here would mean Christmas in April for Miami.

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Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Byron Murphy, CB, Washington

More than any other team, the Raiders are positioned to drastically remake their roster in the draft thanks to a trio of first-round picks.

Of course, they have to hit on those selections—especially on defense.

Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus believes Murphy would be a slam dunk here, touting the 5’11”, 190-pounder as a top-10 overall prospect while singling out the Raiders as a good schematic fit:

“Zone coverage has far more to do with quickness, instincts and reaction time than it does size, length or speed. That’s why Murphy’s 4.55 40-yard dash at the combine isn’t terribly worrisome to me. Two of the game’s best zone corners in recent years, Josh Norman (4.66) and Casey Hayward (4.57), ran slower 40s than Murphy at the combine. The elite ones steal back those 1/10ths of a second with how quickly they process route combinations.”

That’s two defensive starters (and potential difference-makers) so far.

Could general manager Mike Mayock make it three in a few picks?

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Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss

If this pick is any indication, the value in the first round lies in the back end. Playoff teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles will have opportunities to add players who can not only help but do so right away.

The Eagles (in theory) have bigger needs than left tackle. But look a little deeper, and the blind side is a potential problem area. Jason Peters made it through all 16 games last season, but asking the 37-year-old to do so for a second consecutive year may be tempting fate. Even if he does, the Eagles need to find his heir apparent soon.

Greg Little of Ole Miss is a 6’5″, 310-pound classic left tackle prospect with everything NFL teams covet at the position—length, strength and athleticism. All he needs is some seasoning at the professional level.

As tutors go, you could do a lot worse than a nine-time Pro Bowler in Peters.

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Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images

N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State

Fresh off a season that saw one of the bigger turnarounds in recent memory, the Indianapolis Colts head into the draft as a team without many glaring holes. However, they do need a wide receiver to complement T.Y. Hilton.

This is another potential landing spot for Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown. But in this particular draft, Hollywood slides due to concerns about a slight frame that sees him check in below 170 pounds and a foot injury that hounded him this offseason.

The Colts already have a speedy vertical threat in Hilton. What Andrew Luck needs now is a big-bodied pass-catcher who can out-muscle defensive backs and offer a back-shoulder target in the red zone.

At 6’2″ and 228 pounds, coming off a 2018 season that saw him haul in 73 passes for 1,088 yards and nine scores (his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign), Arizona’s State’s N’Keal Harry would be a solid fit.

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Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE, Louisiana Tech

And then there were three. Defenders, that is.

A few offensive players would make sense for Oakland here, whether a lineman such as Kaleb McGary or even Alabama tailback Josh Jacobs. But with Isaiah Crowell in the fold, the Raiders can wait until Day 2 to address the backfield.

The team’s nonexistent pass rush remains a massive need even after it added Josh Allen early in the round. So a new battery-mate for Allen it is.

To say that Jaylon Ferguson spent a lot of time in opposing backfields while at Louisiana Tech is an understatement; over a third of his career tackles were for losses. The 6’5″, 271-pounder also had an eye-popping 45 sacks during his collegiate career.

No player in NCAA history has more.

Off-field concerns and a so-so showing at his pro day are legitimate reasons for pause, but plenty indicates Ferguson can be a difference-maker in the NFL if you subscribe to the “tape don’t lie” school of thought.

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Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame

With Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram III, the Los Angeles Chargers have one of the best one-two punches at defensive end in all the NFL. But the interior of that line is another story, especially after the likely departure of long-time starting three-technique Corey Liuget, who remains a free agent.

Enter Notre Dame’s Jerry Tillery.

Tillery is a long, explosive 6’6″, 295-pounder who told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg he has his sights set high at the NFL level:

“I don’t want to just make it to the NFL, I want to be the best at it. This is obviously a good defensive line class. I don’t want to be just among them. I want to be the best one out there, the best one in this league. I want to make a Pro Bowl, I want to win a Super Bowl, I want to wear the gold jacket some day. I want to be great.”

I have a feeling the Chargers would be good with that.

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Ric Tapia/Associated Press

DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia

This would be something of a nightmare scenario for the Chiefs, who traded Dee Ford and released Justin Houston in the offseason—a first round filled with edge-rushers who all get snatched up before the team picks at No. 29.

Them’s the breaks, though.

Rather than reach for a pass-rusher here, the Chiefs should instead add a piece to a defensive backfield that needs help every bit as much as the pass rush.

As D. Orlando Ledbetter reported for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker has an opinion about who serves as the best player at his position in this draft class: Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker.

“I know I’m the best cornerback in the draft,” he said.

The 5’11”, 193-pounder isn’t alone in that assessment. Baker was the Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2018 as the best defensive back in college football. In conjunction with Kendall Fuller and newcomer Bashaud Breeland, he would give the Chiefs a trio of starters at corner that’s more than serviceable.

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Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State

As mentioned earlier, the Packers are a rarity—an NFL team coming off a rotten season that rightly believes the time to win is now. They could make picks here with an eye toward the future (say an offensive tackle who could serve in a “swing” role during 2019). But more likely than not, they’ll be looking to add players who can help the team contend in the NFC North right away.

And just like Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson (the pick at No. 12), Mississippi State’s Johnathan Abram can do that. He’s a clear upgrade over Josh Jones at strong safety.

Not only is Abram a punishing hitter who can play some nickel linebacker, which would be welcome in Titletown given the team’s shaky linebacker corps, but his 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the combine displayed the sort of wheels modern strong safeties need to thrive in today’s NFL.

Two picks. Two starters.

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Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson

Ndamukong Who?

After Ndamukong Suh spent one season in L.A. and played relatively well in an ill-fitting role as a one-technique tackle in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme, the Rams are in the market for a new space-clogger to man the nose.

And man oh man, can Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence clog a running lane.

The 6’4″, 342-pounder is more than just a big body, though. He moves well for a player his size, piling up 36 total tackles and seven tackles for loss in Clemson’s march to the national title last year. That a nose tackle earned universal consideration as a Day 1 prospect at all is a testament to just how promising a player Lawrence is.

It’s also possible the Rams would consider a guard here to replace the departed Rodger Saffold, but some promising interior linemen such as Texas A&M’s Erik McCoy and Ohio State’s Michael Jordan (the other one) may be available when L.A.’s next pick rolls around.

That makes stopping Lawrence’s draft-day slide an immensely easy call.

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Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State

It’s possible—likely, even—that the Patriots will swing a draft-day trade here. It may be to move up or to slide out of Round 1 altogether. The Pats play more Let’s Make a Deal than Monty Hall and Wayne Brady put together.

But if New England does stand pat and make a pick, one available player both fills a need and is tailor-made for head coach Bill Belichick and “The Patriot Way.”

After Trent Brown bolted for Oakland in free agency, a hole opened at left tackle in New England. The hope is that second-year pro Isaiah Wynn can step into that void. But Wynn missed his entire rookie season, and depth on the offensive front is an issue even if he is up to the task.

Kansas State’s Dalton Risner isn’t the most athletic tackle prospect in this year’s class. But the 6’5″, 312-pounder is technically sound, tough as nails and shined at the Senior Bowl in January. He also has experience playing both tackle and center.

At the very least, he could essentially be a “super sub” capable of filling in just about anywhere on the Patriots’ offensive line.

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Uber will offer free chocolate Easter eggs in rides this week in 11 major U.S. cities

Spring is a time for rebirth, renewal — and lots and lots of chocolate.

Now, Uber is getting in on the action. The company announced it will offer free samples of chocolate Easter egg candies starting Monday during rides in select cities. Cargo, the exclusive in-car vendor for Uber, will be offering riders free Reese’s Peanut Butter eggs and Cadbury Creme eggs, specifically.

Here’s the full list of cities that will offer free chocolate eggs in Uber rides:

New York City
Chicago
Boston
Washington, D.C.
Baltimore
Minneapolis
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Atlanta
Miami
Dallas

Cargo, the company that partnered with Uber to supply chocolates for this promotional event, is part of a burgeoning business model where vendors sell snacks, drinks, and other essentials such as headphones and phone chargers in ride-hailing cars. You purchase items through an app, then the driver hands you the goods.

The free chocolate is only available until supplies run out, so the treats may be gobbled up early in the week — fair warning. You’ll know when they’re available because they’ll be sitting in the center car console.

The other catch if your’e on the hunt for this free candy: you can’t order an Uber car and know that Cargo is available inside, so you just have to hope you get lucky.

Can you resist the Reese's. — Can you resist the Reese’s.

In vehicles participating in the program, you’ll also be able to buy candy Reese’s Egg ($1.79), Cadbury Creme Egg ($1.49) or a pack of Cadbury Mini Eggs ($1.99). Maybe Cargo will offer chocolate-covered matzah next year?

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Climate change erosion feeding deep ocean trash dump

There are growing concerns that increasing coastal and river-bank erosion is carrying millions of tonnes of long-buried rubbish into deep ocean canyons, where toxic waste and plastics will remain for decades.

The warning comes after heavy flooding on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island washed part of a disused landfill into the ocean on March 26, scattering thousands of tonnes of plastic along 50km of normally pristine coastline.

The once in a hundred years flood – which saw 1,000mm of rain fall in less than 48 hours – is believed to have swept thousands more tonnes of trash out to sea, depositing some of it into a 4km-deep underwater canyon off the coast.

“We know rubbish has ended up along a wide stretch of the coastline,” Joshu Mountjoy, a marine geoscientist at New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, told Al Jazeera.

“It is likely that a component of the Fox River landfill waste will end up out of sight in the deep ocean by the same processes.”

Flooding washed part of the disused Fox River landfill into the ocean [South Westland Coastal Cleanup/Facebook]

The floods prompted a large-scale beach clean-up [South Westland Coastal Cleanup/Facebook]

Marine litter is known to have a major impact on marine life. Plastics can be especially insidious as they break down to microplastics that can be ingested.

“Submarine canyons are exceptional environments for focusing marine life and can be badly impacted,” said Mountjoy.

Along with plastics, toxic materials from the waste can also be incorporated into the food chain.

“Fish can absorb toxic substances in waste [and] store it in their bodies,” Jeff Seadon, a Built Environment engineer at Auckland University of Technology, told Al Jazeera.

“These substances proceed up the food chain till humans eat the fish and we can absorb those chemicals, which can affect our health.”

Global issue

As climate change results in more extreme weather events and sea level rise, there are fears similar flooding could see many more landfills around the world exposed in the same way.

Last month, the United Nations Environment Programme published a report looking into waste management practices in Small Island Developing States.

It identified coastal dumpsites and those close to rivers as a major issue.

“This is also applicable to many of the 11,000 other inhabited islands around the world and many mainland dumpsites,” said Seadon.

“Given the opportunity, waste – including hazardous waste – that can poison marine life and affect humans, will wash into the sea,” he said.

Of concern is hazardous waste coming from small-scale industrial processes such as leather tanning, electroplating of metals or photofinishing.

“Although they are often disposed of in small quantities, they can spread through landfills and contaminate large quantities of other waste,” said Seadon.

Litter from a dredge performed within the axis of the Messina Canyon at 1,100m depth [Courtesy of Nature.com]

Larger industries are also responsible, producing toxic waste including paint, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, detergents, batteries, print cartridges and electronics.

While modern facilities separate hazardous waste and can treat them to render them harmless, legacy landfills pose a much more significant environmental threat.

“They often have no way of keeping toxic leachate confined to the landfills. As a result, this can seep into surrounding soils, streams, lakes, underground aquifers and into the marine environment,” said Seadon.

“This seepage can affect soil productivity, make the water unusable for humans, or kill marine life.”

Deepsea trash dumps

Many deep ocean canyons around the globe are believed to be affected, including some of the planet’s deepest.

A recent study of canyons in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily found huge amounts of rubbish in water depths up to 1,000 metres, transported there by flash floods.

This included bottles, cups, toys, gutter pipes, garden hoses, car tyres, bricks, cement piles and foam padding.

“It shows what a huge problem erosion of municipal waste in big flood events can be,” said Mountjoy.

“If anyone had any doubt that the rubbish we discard can end up way down in the deep ocean here is the proof,” he added.

Once the rubbish is on the ocean floor it is believed to gradually sink to the deepest regions.

“The long-term fate of sediment entering large submarine canyons is the deep ocean floor hundreds of kilometres offshore and several kilometres deep,” said Mountjoy.

It is here that the rubbish, including plastics, becomes a layer of sediment.

“The endgame for all plastic pollution in the world’s oceans is sedimentation, either on a coastline or in the deep sea,” Marcus Eriksen, director of research for the 5 Gyres Institute, told Al Jazeera.

“There will forever be a geological layer filled with microplastic that represents this time in human civilisation, circa 1950 to 2050,” he said.

Action needed

While New Zealand’s government is looking at what can be done to secure around 100 other old landfills it has identified as vulnerable, Mountjoy says “more needs to be done to understand how rubbish moves through the natural environment and where it is concentrated so we can gauge the impact it is having on marine life.”

Stopping the rubbish at source is also suggested as a way of reducing the problem.

“If we do not make waste in the first place, then we do not need to deal with the consequences,” said Seadon.

With the volume of new plastic expected to increase five-fold over the next 30 years, there are concerns that landfills will not be able to keep pace with the rubbish.

“Whether they are modern or not, [landfills] cannot absorb the volumes of trash expected to be created in the decades ahead. There is simply no place to put all that trash,” said Eriksen.

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