Murphy's Multiverse

Author: dalbinosorio

  • REVIEW: ‘Prunella & The Cursed Skull Ring’ is a Solid Matthew Loux Story

    REVIEW: ‘Prunella & The Cursed Skull Ring’ is a Solid Matthew Loux Story

    Matthew Loux has developed a solid fanbase with his Time Museum and Salt Water Taffy series, and if you happen to enjoy those two series, then you will absolutely enjoy his newest story. Prunella and the Cursed Skull Ring tells the story of a young girl who has heard the rumors about her town being a breeding ground for monsters but just doesn’t really care to believe them. That is, of course, until she discovers a ring that turns her into a skeleton that proves to be similar to everything she’s heard. 

    While Prunella isn’t really ostracized from her community, there is a sense of general disdain that she both receives and reciprocates to those around her. This is probably more likely due to the village’s desire to keep monsters out (a play on communal trauma, perhaps), and they are willing to do whatever it takes to do so even if it means they’re effectively isolated from the outside world. This plays out painfully for Prunella when she puts the ring on and the village subsequently banishes her. While reading Prunella’s story, it’s hard not to compare it to our own world and politics, and it can be uncomfortable to read at times because it does feel like a terrifying depiction of our own reality.

    However, it is on her journey to break this curse that she discovers that the ones her village has tried to keep out are actually better than the people doing the banishing. This is where an already strong story really shines, as Prunella not only learns about friendship, but she learns about love and acceptance of herself, too. We see the effect that prejudice and not only has on individuals, but on entire communities, and the artwork supports even these really deep themes well. Loux has mastered the art of letting his, well, art, speak for him: indeed, there are parts of this short read where there are no words, and it is up to the reader to decipher what is going on. It is this kind of storytelling that really forces the reader to engage with this world and all the baggage it brings. It is a lot of “show, don’t tell,” and it works really well especially as Prunella has to answer the most important question: Does she even want to break the curse?

    This is an emotional story with incredible art, and an ending that is both earned and a little too hopeful. It is a beautiful story of a young girl who realizes that her community is not as great as it has pretended to be, and that it is in our drive to be inclusionary that we really build the village we want. Stories like these make us believe in change, and growth, and in that respect, it accomplishes what it set out to do. It also pushes us to look inward, but not just at ourselves: no, it asks us to look at who we keep around us and question whether that is how we want to spend the time we have.

  • Book Review: ‘Frizzy’ by Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra

    Book Review: ‘Frizzy’ by Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra

    Sometimes, a piece of writing comes along at just the right time. Whether it lines up with a personal reckoning you’re having or speaks to a more significant societal issue, very few things beat that almost serendipitous alignment between whatever is going on and a good read. The upcoming release of Frizzy is one of those moments because the reckoning it is being released in has been a long time coming.

    Frizzy tells the story of a young Afro-Latina named Marlene who absolutely despises going to the salon. She wants to embrace her big curls, but her mother, Paola, has been conditioned to believe that her curls are bad, and that consistently straightening them will make her appear more professional. Paola drags her daughter to the salon every Sunday, until one day, Marlene is fed up and decides she isn’t going anymore. This decision to rebel isn’t one she reaches haphazardly either, as Claribel Ortega writes the angst that we can all relate to as it comes to a pivotal moment in our development. Marlene begins by just doing what she’s told, but she’s always questioning why people have an issue with her curly hair. This line of questioning comes to a crescendo when she begins to be bullied at school.

    The bullying is the usual kids-being-mean-to-other-kids stuff, but there is a tinge of racism mixed in that is deftly touched on by Ortega. It is as subtle as it is nefarious, and it very clearly starts to upset Marlene enough for her to wonder if her mother is right about her curls. It isn’t until she speaks to her Tia that she both realizes the pressure her mother has been under to be perfect and why she needs to break free from that. It is in Marlene’s support system, made up of her aforementioned Tia and her best friend Camellia, that she finds the strength to both stand up to her bullies and embrace who she is meant to be.

    Ortega has written an amazing story that, as we enter a racial awakening for a lot of Afro-Latinx folks who are on their own racial journeys, will resonate with middle schoolers who see themselves in both Marlene and Camellia. Ortega captures both the rebellious streak we all possess when we are growing up, the desire to not disappoint our parents, and the need for acceptance and love at such a young age. She also does an incredible job of writing these characters with depth, and she especially deserves credit for writing Marlene’s mother Paola’s journey with the appreciation for her struggles. Paola’s growth in this story is one of my favorite things to see, as it mirrors what so many of my own friends have gone through with their natural hair and their parents.

    Lastly, we can’t end this review without talking about the artwork. The decision to utilize vibrant colors mirrored that of the movie Encanto, which also dealt with similar themes about generational trauma. The graphics are vivid, and Rose Bousamra‘s color choices really made the story pop in a culturally-relevant fashion.

    Frizzy is an excellent read about self-acceptance and growing pains. Give it a chance when it releases, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

  • NFL Week 2: Tuesday Tea

    NFL Week 2: Tuesday Tea

    Happy Tuesday, friends! As we turn the page on week two and prepare for a not-so-great on-the-paper matchup between two teams coming off frustrating losses, we have to take one last look at the week that was. Comebacks and collapses, individual greatness, and some seats becoming hotter quicker than expected (or not expected, in some respects), let’s look back like Thanos at the end of the Avengers and see what 8 things we liked from this last weekend, one from each division.

    AFC East


    I really liked what I saw from the Miami Dolphins. We aren’t the biggest fans of Tua, but Mike
    McDaniels is doing what he can to get his best players in space to do what they do
    best: run and run fast. Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gisecki had big people catches to extend
    drives or, in Waddle’s case, win the game, but all Tua really had to do was get the ball to
    Waddle and Tyreek Hill and let them go. The run game looked better this week as well, but
    speed kills in the NFL, and the Dolphins have it in spades.

    NFC East


    The Eagles defense was able to lock up an explosive Vikings offense. Darius Slay held
    all-world WR Justin Jefferson to 1 catch on 6 targets: in fact, Slay had more caught balls on
    Jefferson targets than Jefferson did when they were matched up. They pestered Kirk Cousins all game and could have the division clinched by Halloween.

    AFC North


    The Ravens are, very clearly, the best team in this division, but a monumental collapse has
    them tied with Cleveland and Pittsburgh this morning. Those two teams play on Thursday and, barring a tie, we will get one game of separation. The Ravens get the Patriots on Sunday, which should be a win for Lamar and Co. before they get a heavyweight fight versus the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen. This loss to Miami is going to sting, because they could’ve been 3-0, with a little bit of a cushion in case they lose to Buffalo. Instead, they now need a bounce-back win to keep pace.

    NFC North


    The Lions are going to be a tough out. They run the ball, protect their QB, and have an emerging talent at WR. They, also, got 3 sacks and a world of pressure from their first-rounder Aidan Hutchinson, which should make Kirk Cousins very nervous come Sunday. The biggest thing you’re seeing from this team is that they show up, even when there is a talent gap, and if they can get the QB position right and have Jameson Williams returning? Look out.

    AFC South


    I picked the Jaguars to win this division before the season started, and after Sunday’s drubbing of the Colts, I feel really good about that. Trevor Lawrence is a stud, Doug Pederson taking a year off was genius, and they may have the premier young edge duo in the league in Josh Allen and number one pick Travon Walker. The Colts aren’t as good as people think (sorry, Meg), but to be shut out like this is concerning. The Jags are going to continue getting better, and Trevor Lawrence has the potential to really elevate them come playoff time. A date with the Chargers on Sunday will tell us a lot about where this team is right now.

    NFC South


    The Bucs are in trouble, in large part because Tom Brady looks like a man who is only on the
    field because he doesn’t want to go home and work on his marriage. It’s Tom Brady, what do
    you expect me to do? The Bucs’ offense averages 19 points a game, with none of the
    vaunted big plays we are used to seeing from Brady and this crew. Mike Evans is
    suspended because he doesn’t like Marshon Lattimore putting him in a car seat, and they’re
    relying on Scotty Miller and Breshad Perriman to lead this passing attack. Throw in the OL
    issues, and the Bucs have the making of a one-and-done team if the Saints don’t keep them out entirely.

    AFC West


    Russell Wilson had one more completion than the Broncos had penalties, for those keeping
    score at home. Through two games, the Nathaniel Hackett offense looks like it did when he was calling plays in Jacksonville: uneven and like it doesn’t know what it wants to be. They paid Wilson A LOT of money to make this offense move, and so far the results are not good. They’re already two games behind Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs with a Sunday night tilt against a very good 49ers team. This could get uglier than a Master P sneaker real quick.

    NFC West


    The Niners were my pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl but that was before Trey Lance got hurt. I thought Lance’s mobility and big play potential would open up this offense in a way that Jimmy Garrapolo just doesn’t. With Lance out for the year, I just don’t think the Niners have enough at QB to compete with Stafford, Rodgers, and Brady. With that said, they can rush the passer, and that’s usually been their recipe for success under Kyle Shanahan since he’s only had limited QBs to work with. The run game is currently 4th in the league in yards, so I think they’ll lean on that even more with Jimmy, but you’re going to have to score points in bunches come playoff time. How they look going forward is going to be fascinating.

  • Book Review: ‘Space Trash’, Volume 1

    Book Review: ‘Space Trash’, Volume 1

    Space Trash: Vol. 1 hails from Jenn Woodall and tells the story of three kids – Stab, Yuki and Una – as they visit abstract locations while attending high school on the moon. It’s a fascinating premise that is full of promise with the three students discovering something that could change the course of their future forever.

    As a Mass Effect fan, I’ve often wondered how cool it would be to play as Commander Shepherd before they become the legend. Given that players can pick from three distinct backstories, a prequel taking us through each background would’ve been most welcome. So the highest compliment I can pay Space Trash is that it feels like that idea came to life. Introducing Stab, Yuki, and Una amidst some colorful supporting characters isn’t a novel choice, as they might as well be this novel’s Harry, Hermione, and Ron, but making all three of them come from underprivileged communities is a really good choice by Woodall because it allows for the eventual friendship forged to actually mean something. There’s trauma that these three have experienced, and it has made them who they are. It also will have an impact on who they become, and I’m really excited to see what surprising ways that unfolds. 

    Another cool thing the author does is to set the school the children attend in the backdrop of an Earth that has been abandoned. While this all-too-quick read doesn’t give us a lot of insight into this abandoned Earth, it does give us just enough in terms of what the planet meant to these characters for the loss to be felt. There’s also this feeling that they will try to return at some point, and that feeling does cloud the proceedings a bit as it feels like more set-up is needed for that to truly mean something. What the novel does set up better is the complex system that these children are living under: a mix of Hunger Games and Game of Thrones, this dynamic makes sense considering what happened that led to the creation of it.

    All of this set-up comes to life with creative color usage and writing that is top-notch. However, having 2091 look like 1980 didn’t really help set the story apart. You can’t sell a futuristic story and then not really set it in the future, and choosing to not do so really takes you out of a well-written story. The story has queer and non-binary characters, which is great for representation, and that’s always a plus. However, the lack of care given to this world made it hard for the characters to feel truly developed — much like the world they inhabited.

  • How the New Characters from ‘The Rings of Power’ Connect to Old Favorites from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy

    How the New Characters from ‘The Rings of Power’ Connect to Old Favorites from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy

    One of the best things about the new TV trend of returning to places we’ve visited is finding connections to the older projects. It worked really well in Bel-Air and Saved By The Bell, and now, two episodes into The Rings of Power, we can safely say that it feels like it will work even if we do not know for sure yet.

    The first two episodes have taken us back to places that feel familiar, but what is even cooler to see are characters who we meet here who will play a pivotal role thousands of years down the road in the fight against Sauron. In some cases, we are seeing what led to them being who they were when we first met them in either The Hobbit or the Lord of The Rings trilogies. And then there are brand new characters who, unless you have read Tolkien’s other Middle-earth pieces, are surprisingly connected to the more famous heroes of Middle-earth in different ways, including a LOTR veteran who we later see refuse a ring of power. 

    Galadriel and Elrond

    Given the role both of these characters play down the road, it makes sense to lump them together. It’s even cooler that the older version of these characters, two of the greatest heroes in Middle-earth, are played by Hela and Red Skull respectively, two of the greatest villains in Marveldom. Galadriel was very much resigned to her fate when we saw her in The Lord of the Rings, but The Rings of Power finds her seeking vengeance for the death of her brother at the hands of Sauron, who she believes is not gone. In the source material, she actually is not allowed to return home because she rebels with her own army of elves with plans to rule over Middle-earth, and there doesn’t seem to be any mention of that here. Elrond, meanwhile, is a friend to the Dwarves and their King in a way that he does not appear to be in the films. In fact, utter indifference is probably the best way to describe his attitude towards Gimli and the dwarves who come to Rivendell. He’s definitely learning how to scheme here, whereas the Elrond we meet later on is very much content with letting the world end: at least until his daughter shares that she’s given up her immortality. Elrond is afforded a sort of reverence in The Rings of Power that can be directly attributed to the source material in which his parents played a key role in defeating Morgoth.

    Gil-galad

    The High King of the Elves is actually only seen briefly in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, fighting next to Elrond and Isildur in the war against Sauron, but we are getting a lot of him here. In the source material, it should be noted that Sauron kills Gil-galad with his bare hands, so folks should not get too attached to a character that is highly respected and who has the most authority of any of the elves we meet.

    Prince Durin IV

    Prince Durin didn’t physically appear in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, so we are seeing him for the first time in The Rings of Power. However, it is his father, King Durin, who rules over what would later become the Mines of Moria. Yes, we know what you’re thinking: who rules over the mines? Well, dwarves did when the mines were actually the Kingdom of Khazad-dûm and that’s where the Balrog resides. Prince Durin is also present when the secret box is shown, and while we don’t see what is actually in it our bet is that it is mithril: mithril is what Frodo’s chainmail was made from, and what ultimately saves his life.

    Celebrimbor

    A name only whispered as a cautionary tale in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but one who plays a pivotal role in how we even get to the end of Peter Jackson’s labor of love. Celebrimbor, who can also be seen in the critically-acclaimed video game Shadow of War, ends up being tricked by Sauron into creating the titular rings of power, a plot point for which the wheels have already started turning. He is, also, the one who created the three elven rings in secret, so his role (while small right now) will expand as the show progresses.

    Elendil

    The sword of Elendil was reforged by Elrond and bestowed upon Aragorn so he could go into the mountains and return with a ghost army that had sworn an oath to the King of Men. Here, we meet the owner of THAT sword and the second to last King of Men. Elendil plays a pivotal role in Sauron’s defeat as well, as it is he who forges the last alliance between Elves and Men. He is not that person in The Rings of Power yet, but his ties to Aragorn and Numenor will most likely be explored further.

    Isildur

    The last King of Men, who both defeated Sauron AND allowed him to return by not destroying the ring. We last saw Isildur in The Fellowship of the Ring face down in a river with arrows in his back. He succumbed to the temptation of the One Ring and didn’t destroy it when he had the chance, but he is also who helps discover Gondor (a place that plays a pivotal role in the original trilogy).

  • Around The League: NFC North

    Around The League: NFC North

    Unlike the two best QBs in this division, we are going to take a shot… at making you care about, probably, the worst division in football. Anything other than a Packers’ division title would be a major surprise. You like that? I bet you do, cheeseheads! Let’s dive right in. 

    1. Who replaces Devante Adams in Green Bay? Now, this off-season saw A LOT of movement across the league, but no two moves symbolized the player movement that is starting to resemble the NBA than Pat Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers both seeing their favorite targets jettisoned to really warm places. No, they didn’t get sent to Hel, but Vegas and Miami respectively. The Chiefs opted to take one of Rodgers’s weapons and sign JuJu Smith Schuster to attempt to replace Hill’s production. The Packers? Armed with two first-round picks, they elected to not draft a WR for Mr. State Farm. I wonder how he took that news! No, instead they added stud WR Romeo Doubs, who I think is going to be in the running for offensive rookie of the year. They also bring back Allen Lazard, who folks have been waiting to blow up for lord knows how long now. My money is on the rookie to be the next in the long line of non-first-round WRs who we ask ourselves “how’d they fall out of the first.”

    2. When does Justin Jefferson get paid? The former LSU standout has engineered the best start to a career for any WR ever. Yes, you read that right. However, with so many WRs finding their way to their preferred locations, the longer his contract situation drags out (he’s eligible for a new deal after this season), the louder the noise gets that he will force his way out of Minnesota and away from a QB who is one virus away from missing a month or, you know, dying. His contract should make him the highest-paid WR in the NFL before the Bengals make their young stud WR the highest-paid WR in the NFL in three seasons. The Vikings have a new GM and HC, and could they prioritize trading him to recoup assets that let them land their franchise signal caller? We will see! 

    3. Jared Goff didn’t see the Lions draft his replacement (Malik Willis would’ve been an excellent choice), and instead, he saw them get him arguably the best WR and pass rusher in college football to a scrappy team that would not give up in games last year despite very clear talent deficits on both sides of the ball. Now Goff enters his second year in Detroit, but let’s be clear: he’s probably not long for the Motor City, where the Lions have excess draft capital to address the Joey Harrington-size hole they’ve had at QB. Do they swing for the fences and go up and get their guy, or will they be bad enough to where they don’t have to do that? Probably the latter, but at least Goff has some talent at WR. 

    4. Whereas Kirk Cousins has two talented WRs to throw to, and Aaron Rodgers saw his team add two talented (if one really raw) prospects in the draft, and Jared Goff now has Jameson Williams to go with Amon-Ra St. Brown and TJ Hockensen, the Chicago Bears have not a soul for Justin Fields to throw to. It’s like the new Bears General Manager found the manual on what not to do for your young QB where Bill Belicheck left it, and said “this feels like a great idea to replicate.” Justin Fields saw the Jets get Zach Wilson Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, CJ Uzomah, Tyler Conklin, and Laken Tomlinson. He saw the Jaguars get Evan Engram, Christian Kirk, and Brandon Scherff for Trevor Lawrence. He saw the Texans, enablers of a nasty man, give Davis Mills Dameon Pierce and John Metchie III. Ok, that’s not that great, but it’s better than what Fields has. With Denzel Mims, Sterling Shepherd, and Odell Beckham Jr available via different routes, the Bears would be smart to acquire one of them so they can assess what they have in Fields. 

  • Around The League: AFC East

    Around The League: AFC East

    We are back with another installment of Around The League, and this time we are looking at the AFC East. Home to Hunter’s favorite team (the reigning defending division champion Buffalo Bills) and me and Nate’s favorite team (the reigning defending division dwellers New York Jets), one thing is for sure and two things for certain: we are both rooting against the New England Patriots. With the charcuterie board set, let’s take a look at this division, which really means looking at the signal callers. 

    1. Who is Mac Jones throwing to? Fresh off a Pro Bowl season (replacement nods count), the Patriots decided to help their young QB by *looks around* doing nothing. Ok, they went and got Devante Parker, who fans have been waiting to see a breakout season from. Maybe this is the year? In any event, the Patriots had another uneven draft, and now enter this season with the worst pass-catching group in the division. To top it off, they also lost their offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and have decided to let two gentlemen with no play-calling experience on the offensive side of the ball do just that. Lastly, they traded one of their better offensive lineman (Shaq Mason) to the Bucs once they lost their starting guard. Good to see Bill Belicheck still wants to help Tom Brady succeed. The true sign of love is how we love our people from a distance, and Bill nailed it. He should have really focused on helping his second-year QB though. 

    2. Can Zach Wilson take the leap? Speaking of helping a second-year QB, the New York Jets did exactly that and then some this off-season. Last year, they gave Zach Wilson WRs Corey Davis and Elijah Moore, the former a solid veteran and the latter a dynamic rookie WR that should’ve been drafted earlier than he was. This year, the Jets drafted Ohio State WR Garret Wilson and RB Breece Hall, re-signed Pro Bowler Braxton Berrios, and signed TEs Tyler Conklin and CJ Uzomah and OL Duane Brown and Laken Tomlinson. Most importantly, and unlike New England, they kept OC Mike LaFleur, which means Zach enters year two in the same offense as last year but with much more talent around him. He seems to have avoided a major injury in the first preseason game and looks to be back in time for the week one tilt versus the Ravens, and the offense will go as far as he has developed. 

    3. Is this the beginning of the end of the Tua era in Miami? Whereas the Jets will have the same offensive scheme this year, the Dolphins similarly went to the 49ers tree for their new scheme and hired former 49ers OC Mike McDaniel to be their head coach. They then went out and added a franchise LT, talented RB, traded a former first-round WR within the division, and then made a blockbuster trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to acquire All-Pro WR Tyreek Hill. Like the Jets, this now all falls on the young QB for Miami. This season becomes doubly important when you consider that the Dolphins were just docked draft picks for telling Brian Flores to do on purpose what the team was well-equipped to do by accident: lose games. Armed with less capital, but no less averse to making a big trade if needed, and with a much-hyped QB draft class for next year, this could be Tua’s last shot to impress the coach that did not draft him. 

    4. Can Josh Allen finally beat Patrick Mahomes when it counts? Whereas the three other teams in the division have questions about their QBs, the Buffalo Bills have answered theirs. Josh Allen took the leap last year and became a legitimate MVP candidate, and he looks set to build on that with the emergence of Gabriel Davis and the continued development of Dawson Knox. The MVP award might be in his near future, but there’s one thing Josh Allen has not been able to do: beat Patrick Mahomes when it matters. I know the Bengals are the media darling given their surprise run to the Super Bowl last year, but the Chiefs are still the top dog in this conference and all signs point to Allen having to go through Mahomes if he wants to reach the Super Bowl that’s eluded these Bills fans for 20+ years. The AFC is a juggernaut of QB talent right now, and they also have the best young QBs in the league, and the Bills have one of the better ones across the entire league. In order to be solidified as the guy in the AFC though? He’s gotta go through Pat, and we will see if this is the year he does just that. 

  • Around The League: NFC East

    Around The League: NFC East

    As we barrel towards week one and teams try to make it out of training camp and preseason in one piece, our eyes turn to what the regular season can bring each team. Each week, we’ll look around the league to ask one question about each team, division by division. We begin in the NFC East, where there is a lot of transition and questions for every team. However, the heavy emphasis is on the pass catchers.

    1. Is CeeDee Lamb ready to be the best WR on a playoff team? The Dallas Cowboys traded veteran WR Amari Cooper and opted to go younger at the position while elevating Michael Gallup to the undisputed number two WR. The reason they felt comfortable doing that is that CeeDee Lamb took the production leap in year two with 79 catches for 1102 yards and 6 TDs. Now entering year 3, he will be asked to lead this Cowboys passing attack that will be in the next year of Mike McCarthy’s offense. An All-Pro season for Lamb would not be shocking, as Dak Prescott will also now be two years removed from his devastating knee injury. If Prescott and Lamb are on, the Cowboys are the favorites in this division.

    2. How dynamic of a duo will AJ Brown and Devonta Smith be? The Philadelphia Eagles opted for the more proven commodity this off-season when they dealt one of their first-round picks to the Titans for stud WR AJ Brown. Instead of adding another WR from a deep WR class, they felt having the big body Brown to pair with former Heisman winner Devonta Smith was the better route, and I can’t say I blame them. AJ dealt with injuries last year but did post back-to-back 1000-yard seasons his first two years. He will help QB Jalen Hurts badly, and will open things up for Devonta in Nick Sirriani’s offense. Brown is, arguably, the best WR in the division.

    3. How much does Terry McClaurin help new QB Carson Wentz? One of the more underrated WRs in football, McClaurin is coming off his second straight 75+ REC, 1000+ yard season. He chipped in 5 TDs playing with literally nobody at QB, so now he gets former first-round pick QB Carson Wentz. Wentz is coming off a season where he threw for 3563 yards, 27 TDs, and 7 INTs: to put that in perspective, that would have been the highest TD total for any Washington Commander QB since 2017. Wentz struggled down the stretch, but he didn’t have a WR like McClaurin, and how good they connect early will open things up for rookie WR Jahan Dotson and this passing attack.

    4. What Giants WR steps up for QB Daniel Jones? The worst WR group in this division belongs to the New York Giants, as I think Kenny Golladay would be squarely 7th overall if you ranked the top two of each team. Kadarius Toney had little impact last year, and Commanders’ rookie WR Jahan Dotson is better than Toney was coming out. Sterling Shepherd is a solid C WR, and is reportedly on the chopping block. Make no mistake, a lot of Giant fans expecting Daniel Jones to take a Josh Allen-leap need to point out where the Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley of this offense are. The Giants need Toney to flash more than what he’s shown (I still believe he was overdrafted), and they need Golladay to return to his Pro Bowl form or they’ll be drafting in the top 5 next year. At this point, it won’t matter who the WRs that remain on this team are because they’ll be taking a QB and starting from scratch.

  • Morning After Huddle: First Day of NFL Training Camp

    Morning After Huddle: First Day of NFL Training Camp

    You smell that, friends? That is the smell of the NFL Preseason just a week away. What essentially symbolizes the beginning of the NFL season, the new-look Jaguars and new-look Raiders will kick this thing off a week from today. Once that happens, there won’t be a week without football until after the Pro Bowl. So, stick with the Multiversers as we get you ready with this morning’s Morning After Huddle. We begin in the city of Brotherly Love, where all eyes are on QB Jalen Hurts and his second year in Head Coach Nick Sirriani’s offense.

    • According to Ian Rapaport, the QB with the shiny new number one WR has looked very comfortable. Building off a strong spring, Hurts had a strong day at training camp as he continues to build rapport with newly-acquired WR AJ Brown, first-round pick from a year ago Devonta Smith, and a motivated Jalen Reagor. Mix in Dallas Goedert and RB Miles Sanders, and a stout offensive line, and this Eagles team has the chance to be very explosive on offense. If the defense holds up, the Eagles are a team to watch in the NFC East.
    • Speaking of defenses, the San Francisco 49ers made a move by releasing EDGE Dee Ford. Injuries over the last two seasons have really prevented the pass rusher from replicating his production in Kansas City, and it will be interesting to see if a team takes a flyer on him as they enter training camp. One team to look out for? The New York Jets, whose head coach Robert Saleh was Ford’s defensive coordinator in San Francisco. And everyone knows Saleh loves him some defensive linemen.
    • Continuing with the Jets, they officially announced that Mehki Becton will play RT this upcoming season. After the birth of his first son, the Big Ticket has been at the Jets facility for the last month getting in shape: this was made difficult after a freak injury last season cut his season short, but he appears to be in great spirits. Becton said that he doesn’t care where he plays so long as he’s out there with the starting five, and he seems committed to shutting up the naysayers who forgot just how dominant he was his rookie year. Defensive linemen, be warned.
    • Sticking with defensive linemen, the Patriots resigned one of their better ones in DT Davon Godchaux. The interior defensive lineman received a two-year extension with $17.85 million guaranteed. For his career, Godchaux only has four sacks, but is a stout run defender and is able to occupy blockers to free EDGE Matthew Judon, who feasts on one on ones. This also created some cap space for the Patriots, who are in dire need of WR help: could this be where Odell Beckham, Jr. lands? Something to watch.
    • Concluding with the pass catchers, we bring you a quick update on Deebo Samuel, Michael Thomas, and Julio Jones. Julio has joined the Tampa Bay Bucs on the same day that Chris Godwin came off the PUP list and, with the addition of Russell Gage this off-season, the Bucs now have some serious depth behind the aforementioned Godwin and WR Mike Evans. It was depth they had before Antonio Brown went off the rails, again. Deebo Samuel had a great conversation with Kyle Shanahan, according only to Kyle Shanahan, and is “holding in” for a new contract that would reward him for being one of the better WRs last year. He, also, has no interest in playing RB, which makes sense especially when you consider that any time Deebo isn’t spending at WR isn’t helping Trey Lance become a better QB. And Michael Thomas, who used to be in the discussion as one of the better WRs, is healthy and will join newly-drafted Chris Olave and newly-signed Jarvis Landry to create one of the better trios in the NFL for Saints QB Jameis Winston.
  • SDCC: Marvel Studios Shares First ‘Secret Invasion Details, Releases Spring 2023

    SDCC: Marvel Studios Shares First ‘Secret Invasion Details, Releases Spring 2023

    The release dates are coming in hot, as Kevin Feige just announced that Secret Invasion will hit Disney+ in the Spring of 2023. Secret Invasion will be the second project of the now-announced Phase 5, which will kick off with Ant-Man and Wasp: Quantummania. It will star Samuel L. Jackson, Emilia Clarke, and the legend known only as Talos, Ben Mendelson, as they fend off an invasion from the villainous Skrulls. It is said that Secret Invasion will feed right into The Marvels, the sequel of the billion-dollar hit Captain Marvel. Cobie Smulders returned to tease that the series is going to be an exciting thriller.