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<ul class="summary-list"><li>An American fighter scored a 10-second knockout Friday at a <keyword id="6150626" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bellator-mma">Bellator MMA</keyword> event.</li><li><keyword id="11530668" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="corey-samuels">Corey Samuels</keyword> finished Isaiah Hokit with ease thanks to pinpoint striking.</li><li>Watch the finish right here.</li></ul>An American fighter called Corey Samuels scored a 10-second knockout in his debut appearance at a <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/bellator-mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bellator MMA</a> event Friday in Uncasville, Connecticut.Samuels had only ever fought four times as a pro prior to the weekend, losing as many matches as he had won in a 2-2 stretch going back to 2018.But the combatant's career with the Los Angeles-based fight firm couldn't have gotten off to a better start as a quick-fire striking combination dropped his Bellator 261 opponent Isaiah Hokit mere moments after the opening bell.The sequence, which finished with a crisp one-two, dropped Hokit in a heap on the floor.Sensing an opportunity to cause bout-ending damage, Samuels pounced on Hokit and hit him with five hammer fists until the referee pulled him off of his opponent to signal it was all over.Watch it right here:It was the fourth-fastest knockout victory in Bellator's history, <a href="https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/6/25/22551179/video-corey-samuels-obliterates-isaiah-hokit-with-10-second-ko-at-bellator-261" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to MMA Fighting</a>.Victory advanced his pro <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> record to three wins (one submission, one knockout, and one disqualification) against two losses.In the main event, Valentin Moldavsky beat Timothy Johnson to win Bellator's interim heavyweight championship. After, he said he'll start preparations to fight Ryan Bader for the full title.Bellator returns to Showtime in the US and BBC in the UK on July 16, back at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, for Bellator 262.

An American fighter demolished his opponent with a 10-second knockout in his first Bellator MMA appearance

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Getty ImagesCorey Hawkins at the LA premiere of "Straight Outta Compton" in August 2015.</div></div></div>Fox has found its new Kiefer Sutherland."Straight Outta Compton" star Corey Hawkins has been cast as the male lead on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fox-24-spin-off-2016-1" target="_blank">Fox's "24" spin-off</a>, the network announced via a press release on Monday.Hawkins will play Eric Carter, a military hero who returns to the US with trouble following him back. That leads him to contacting the CTU, the counterterrorism group that Sutherland's Jack Bauer is a part of, for help in saving his life and trying to stop what could be one of the largest terrorist attacks on American soil.With TV trying to diversify its casting, the role was originally written for a young, African-American actor.Aside from starring in the NWA biopic "Straight Outta Compton" as Dr. Dre, Hawkins played Heath on AMC's "The Walking Dead." According to the release, he will next be seen in "Kong: Skull Island" with Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, and Brie Larson. A graduate of Juilliard, Hawkins also previously starred on Broadway in "Romeo &amp; Juliet."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">AMCCorey Hawkins on the sixth season of AMC's "The Walking Dead."</div></div></div>Announced during the Television Critics Association press tour in Los Angeles earlier this month, the potential series will feature new characters and cast members but stick with the real-time feel of each episode representing one hour. The network had been <a href="http://tvline.com/2015/06/01/24-spinoff-fox-new-character-2016-kiefer-sutherland/" target="_blank">developing the show</a> since last summer.Howard Gordon, Manny Coto, and Evan Katz of the original show will be executive producers on the new project. The pilot is set to start shooting this winter. Stephen Hopkins, who <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0502165/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_101" target="_blank">directed the original show's first season</a>, will return to direct the spin-off pilot.It's important to remember that many pilots never make it to TV. If the pilot is good and Fox orders it to series, it will probably air in the fall.The original "24" ran for eight seasons, starting in 2001. Sutherland last reprised his role for Fox's 2014 limited series, "24: Live Another Day." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/straight-outta-compton-filter-how-to-2015-8">Here's how to get your own 'Straight Outta Compton' Facebook photo</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="M1Zmt5djoXie8S0-UHzCmIEYlSfQlpic" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

Fox's '24' spin-off has a new star in Corey Hawkins, who played Dr. Dre in 'Straight Outta Compton'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>We're halfway through the <keyword id="103436" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL">NFL</keyword> season, and bye weeks are beginning to become a problem for <keyword id="422511" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="fantasy-football">fantasy football</keyword> players.</li><li>Thankfully, there's plenty of solid players available on the waiver wire to help you fill out your roster.</li><li>Here are 14 waiver-wire targets for players in need of some depth or a new starter as they make the push to the playoffs.</li></ul>We've reached the halfway point of the 2020 NFL season, and for fantasy players, it's time to get serious.Bye weeks abound, and whether you're sitting atop the rankings hoping to hold on to a first-round bye or scratching and clawing for a spot in the playoffs, every game counts.During Week 8, several players emerged as potential additions to help you fill out your roster and make a run at the postseason.Take a look below at 14 players available on the waiver wire that could help you win your fantasy season.<h2>Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo Bills</h2>ESPN fantasy ownership: 36.4%Week 8 stats: 81 rushing yards, two touchdowns — 20.1 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: Zack Moss had an even split of carries with fellow Buffalo running back Devin Singletary on Sunday, and most importantly, made the most of his red zone carries. While Singletary was the guy to have heading into the season, Moss has made a role for himself.<h2>Nyheim Hines, RB, Indianapolis Colts</h2><div type="image" title="Nyheim Hines" height="1811" width="2415" msid="79009434" hostid="261"></div>ESPN fantasy ownership: 34.9%Week 8 stats: Eight rushing yards, three receptions, 54 receiving yards, two touchdowns — 21.2 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: Nyheim Hines is an important part of the Colts passing game and the team does a pretty good job of getting him open in space. While you can't expect two touchdowns out of him every game, for PPR players, he's a fine pick to slot into lineups if you have a brutal bye week coming up.<h2>Jordan Wilkins, RB, Indianapolis Colts</h2>ESPN fantasy ownership: 0.5%Week 8 stats: 89 rushing yards, one reception, 24 receiving yards, one touchdown — 20.3 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: Hines may have finished with the higher score for the day, but Wilkins might have proven himself the breakout star of the Colts backfield on Sunday, taking 20 attempts for 89 yards. If you were waiting for Jonathan Taylor to pan out for Indianapolis, it may be time to hitch yourself to Wilkins' wagon.<h2>DeeJay Dallas, RB, Seattle Seahawks</h2><div type="image" title="DeeJay Dallas" height="1368" width="1824" msid="79009439" hostid="261"></div>ESPN fantasy ownership: 7.2%Week 8 stats: 41 rushing yards, five receptions, 17 receiving yards, two touchdowns — 22.8 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: DeeJay Dallas scored twice for the Seahawks on Sunday after stepping into a main role in the offense on short notice with both Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde sidelined due to injury. While both of the other backs may be healthy again soon, Dallas could retain some fantasy value depending on how quickly they return and what the workload split is like when they do.<h2>Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals</h2>ESPN fantasy ownership: 72.8%Week 8 stats: 62 rushing yards, three receptions, 16 receiving yards, two touchdowns — 22.8 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: Joe Mixon may be back in the Bengals offense soon, but in his absence Giovani Bernard has absolutly done enough to keep himself involved in the team's rushing attack.<h2>Damien Harris, RB, New England Patriots</h2>ESPN fantasy ownership: 30.2%Week 8 stats: 102 rushing yards, one touchdown — 16.2 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: Picking a running back for your fantasy team out of the Patriots backfield is always a bit of a game of roulette, but Damien Harris made a solid case for more action moving forward for the team, taking 16 carries for 102 yards and a score.<h2>Corey Davis, WR, Tennessee Titans</h2>ESPN fantasy ownership: 36%Week 8 stats: Eight receptions, 128 receiving yards, one touchdown — 26.8 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: Corey Davis now has 10 targets and one touchdown in two straight games for a Titans offense that has been one of the most efficient in the league through the first half of the season. In the five games he's played this season, he hasn't scored less than 11 fantasy points.<h2>Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers</h2><div type="image" title="Brandon Aiyuk" height="1710" width="2279" msid="79009446" hostid="261"></div>ESPN fantasy ownership: 60.9%Week 8 stats: Eight receptions, 91 receiving yards, one touchdown — 23.1 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: The 49ers seem determined to use every part of Brandon Aiyuk's talents. This week he was a huge target for the team, bringing in eight receptions on a team-leading 11 targets. In past weeks, he's been a rusher and a big part of some misdirection from the San Francisco offense.<h2>Mecole Hardman, WR, Kansas City Chiefs</h2>ESPN fantasy ownership: 27.6%Week 8 stats: Seven receptions, 96 receiving yards, one touchdown — 22.6 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: With so many potential breakout players in the Chiefs offense, it's tough to single out a receiver outside of Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce. That said, Mecole Hardman had nine targets on Sunday and caught seven of them. If given the opportunity, he's got plenty of fantasy value. <h2>Curtis Samuel, WR, Carolina Panthers</h2>ESPN fantasy ownership: 37.1%Week 8 stats: Four receptions, 31 receiving yards, two touchdowns — 21.4 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: Playing against the Falcons defense surely helps, but Curtis Samuel was unstoppable last week, featuring heavily in both the Panthers passing and rushing attack. With the Panthers playing the Chiefs next week, expect Carolina to be passing quite a bit.<h2>Marvin Hall, WR, Detroit Lions</h2>ESPN fantasy ownership: 0%Week 8 stats: Four receptions, 113 receiving yards — 15.3 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: Marvin Hall made the most of his catches on Sunday, including <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1322999703496134657" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hauling in a 73-yard reception</a> from Matthew Stafford. He'll be a boom-or-bust player, but we've seen deep threat receivers put up big fantasy numbers with Stafford in the past.<h2>Robert Tonyan, TE, Green Bay Packers</h2>ESPN fantasy ownership: 47.4%Week 8 stats: Five receptions, 79 receiving yards — 12.9 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: If you have a tight end on bye this week or just have been juggling players at the position, Robert Tonyan is a regular part of the Packers offense, making five receptions on seven targets on Sunday.<h2>Drew Lock, QB, Denver Broncos</h2><div type="image" title="Drew Lock" height="1837" width="2450" msid="79009454" hostid="261"></div>ESPN fantasy ownership: 5.1%Week 8 stats: 248 passing yards, three touchdowns, one interception — 19.8 fantasy pointsOne thing to know: Drew Lock had one of the best games of his young career on Sunday, leading the Denver Broncos to a comeback win in the final seconds against the Chargers. He has a tasty matchup next weekend against a Falcons defense that is giving up the second-most passing yards to opposing QBs in the NFL.<h2>Washington Football Team defense</h2>ESPN fantasy ownership: 18.3%Week 8 stats: N/AOne thing to know: The Washington Football Team is coming off of a bye week and facing a Giants team that is averaging just 17 points per game.<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/javon-wims-fight-chauncey-gardner-johnson-twitter-helmet-2020-11">Chicago Bears wide receiver Javon Wims threw a punch at a player wearing a helmet and everyone is confused</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-cam-newton-fumble-patriots-2020-11">Cam Newton fumbled away the game in the final seconds to lead the New England Patriots to their longest losing streak in 18 years</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/kyler-murray-interview-smile-larry-fitzgerald-bodyarmor-2020-10">Kyler Murray talks about his viral mid-play smile, his 'big brother' Larry Fitzgerald, and what skill he'd steal from Derrick Henry</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/draftkings-stat-correction-1-million-payday-bears-sack-2020-10">A DraftKings bettor missed out on a $1 million payday due to a brutal stat correction when a sack was taken away from the Bears after the game</a>

The top 14 waiver-wire pickups for Week 9 of fantasy football

Welcome back to <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/10-things-in-politics">10 Things in Politics</a>. <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/10-things-in-politics">Sign up here to receive this newsletter</a>. Plus, download Insider's app for news on the go - click <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id554260576">here for iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freerange360.mpp.businessinsider">here for Android</a>. Send tips to <a href="mailto:bgriffiths@insider.com">bgriffiths@insider.com</a>.Here's what we're talking about:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pelosi-pulls-biden-infrastructure-house-vote-with-progressives-in-revolt-2021-9">Nancy Pelosi bails on a vote for Biden's bipartisan infrastructure bill</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stephen-miller-donald-trump-immigration-federal-government-employee-2021-9">Taxpayers are still cutting government checks to Stephen Miller</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/senate-approves-government-funding-extension-hours-before-shutdown-deadline-2021-9">Congress was able to keep the government open</a></li></ul>With Phil Rosen.1. ALL DAY LONG: Infrastructure week is still going. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pelosi-pulls-biden-infrastructure-house-vote-with-progressives-in-revolt-2021-9">House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed a vote</a> on President Joe Biden's nearly $1 trillion infrastructure plan in the face of a large progressive revolt. Biden and the White House wanted the legislation to show that Washington could still act in a bipartisan way. The story now, however, is Democratic infighting.Here's where things stand this morning:Neither side has blinked: House progressives hijacked the infrastructure debate amid worries that centrists would either abandon or cut Biden's massive $3.5 trillion social-spending plan after the smaller infrastructure deal passed. Politico cited sources saying that party leaders sought to persuade centrist Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema to agree to a $2.1 trillion package, rather than $3.5 trillion. <a href="https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2021/09/30/pelosi-push-infrastructure-vote-514805">So far, the centrists aren't budging</a>.<ul><li>Manchin's earlier suggestion sparked outrage: Manchin had earlier answered repeated calls for him to be more specific by saying he supported a $1.5 trillion spending plan, a massive $2 trillion cut to the White House's original proposal. Progressives were aghast at the offer. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/09/30/house-democrats-infrastructure-vote/">"It would mean decimating vital, important programs for working families," Sen. Bernie Sanders told The Washington Post of what would be cut if Manchin got his way</a>.</li><li>The White House remains closely involved: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/us/politics/infrastructure-democrats-pelosi.html">Biden's economic agenda remains at stake</a>. Susan Rice, the director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, was among top advisors who met with top congressional Democrats into the night, The New York Times reports.</li><li>Infrastructure week isn't over yet: It is Friday, but thanks to Congress' quirky procedures it's still Thursday in the House. Centrist lawmakers had insisted on voting on the infrastructure proposal by Thursday, so technically Pelosi could still check that box. Leaving the Capitol, Pelosi told reporters, per Roll Call, that the two sides were "<a href="https://twitter.com/lindsemcpherson/status/1443789494000537604">not trillions of dollars apart</a>." She then said there would be a vote Friday.</li></ul>Progressives celebrated after the vote was delayed: Pelosi has a reputation for strong-arming legislation across the finish line. Often, this has meant flattening progressives in her path. Reporters and commentators said it was <a href="https://twitter.com/Taniel/status/1443773139058561036?s=20">a rare win for liberal rank-and-file members</a>.Rep. Ilhan Omar spiked the football after one of her colleagues' predictions didn't come true:<a href="https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1443776567528787969?s=20"><div type="image" title="Screenshot of a tweet" height="570" width="1184" msid="86678403" hostid="261"></div></a><ul><li>But it's clear some of their colleagues are miffed: "When Iowans tell me they are sick of Washington games, this is what they mean," Rep. Cindy Axne of Iowa told The Times. "All-at-once or nothing is no way to govern."</li></ul>2. Congress was able to keep the government open: Infrastructure, of course, wasn't Congress' only focus on Thursday. Just hours before a government shutdown would have begun, Biden signed a continuing resolution that keeps the US government funded until December 3. The short-term extension passed the Senate in a 65-35 vote, and the House later approved it in a 254-175 vote. Only 34 House Republicans joined every House Democrat in voting for the measure. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/senate-approves-government-funding-extension-hours-before-shutdown-deadline-2021-9">But Washington isn't out of the woods. A debt default still looms in 18 days</a>.<div type="image" title="Stephen Miller walks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington in 2020." height="1333" width="2000" msid="86678406" hostid="261"></div>3. Taxpayers are still cutting government checks to Stephen Miller: Miller - the chief architect of the Trump administration's immigration policies and one of the most polarizing figures in Donald Trump's circle - is one of 14 staffers still on the government payroll because of his work in Trump's official office. Like all former presidents from recent decades, Trump has a government-funded annual budget to pay staff members who assist with his postpresidential affairs. Unlike his predecessors, Trump appears to be gearing up for another White House run. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stephen-miller-donald-trump-immigration-federal-government-employee-2021-9">Read more about the key staffers in Trump's orbit</a>.4. Justice Samuel Alito slams criticism of Texas decision: Alito said it was "false and inflammatory" for critics to argue the Supreme Court violated Roe v. Wade by allowing Texas' antiabortion law to take effect. He also turned his ire on journalists and politicians for the use of the term "shadow docket" to describe how the court had increasingly made important decisions outside the typical oral-argument process. "This portrayal feeds unprecedented efforts to intimidate the court," Alito said. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/justice-samuel-alito-defends-supreme-courts-texas-abortion-decision-2021-9">More on his comments, which came just a day after senators held a hearing on the expanding use of the shadow docket</a>.<div type="image" title="Black Widow Avengers Assemble" height="752" width="1200" msid="86678407" hostid="261"></div>5. Scarlett Johansson and Disney have reached a settlement: Johansson had sued Disney over its distribution of Marvel's "Black Widow." She argued that the company's decision to release the film simultaneously on its Disney+ streaming platform and in theaters violated her contract and cost her millions in income. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scarlett-johansson-disney-settle-lawsuit-over-black-widow-pay-2021-9">The settlement's terms haven't been disclosed</a>.6. USPS is slowing down mail delivery starting today: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's plan for overhauling the US Postal Service is expected to slow delivery for many Americans, CBS News reports. Critics say the slower standards could cause some Americans to miss bill payments along with other problems. Among the changes, CBS News wrote, "Americans should now expect that letters and other mail could take up to five days to reach their destinations, and vice versa." <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mail-delivery-slower-usps-october-1/">One expert said mail delivery would now be slower than in the 1970s</a>.7. Janet Yellen wants to scrap the debt ceiling: The Treasury secretary told lawmakers "it's very destructive to put the president and myself, the Treasury secretary, in a situation where we might be unable to pay the bills." <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/janet-yellen-support-getting-rid-of-debt-ceiling-2021-9">More on Yellen's support for getting rid of the debt ceiling</a>.8. Gov. Kristi Noem ditches Corey Lewandowski: The South Dakota governor said she would stop working with the former Trump advisor following reports that Lewandowski faced accusations of sexual harassment against a GOP donor, The Washington Post reports. Trump is also said to have cut ties with his first campaign manager. Charles Herbster, a GOP gubernatorial candidate in Nebraska, also said he was asking Lewandowski to step back from his campaign, per The Post. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-noem-lewandowski-south-dakota/2021/09/30/093a1b58-2207-11ec-b3d6-8cdebe60d3e2_story.html">More on the fallout for a once prominent Trump aide</a>.9. Americans who aren't eligible for COVID-19 boosters are still getting them: Pharmacies and doctor's offices around the US are doling out third vaccine doses with no questions asked, even for people who aren't supposed to be getting boosters yet, The Wall Street Journal reports. Many places have not asked for proof of eligibility or confirmation before administering boosters. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-not-eligible-for-covid-19-booster-getting-it-anyways-2021-9">See whether you're one of 60 million Americans eligible for another jab</a>.<div type="image" title="Northern State Mental Hospital" height="1406" width="1875" msid="86678409" hostid="261"></div>10. Want to get spooked for Halloween?: From hotels to homes to churches, Insider compiled a list of the most haunted places to visit in every state. There's an old county jail you can visit in Florida to see spirits of people held there, or maybe you fancy a visit to the Ax Murder House in Iowa. Wherever you are in the country, you have local haunts nearby. <a href="https://www.insider.com/the-most-haunted-spot-in-every-state-2017-10">See Insider's full list of the most haunted places in the US</a>.Looking for a challenge to start your day? Try your luck <a href="https://www.insider.com/play-the-insider-crossword-puzzle-2021-9">at today's Insider Crossword</a>.Today's trivia question: Speaking of Halloween, who was the first first lady to decorate the White House for the scary occasion? Email your answer and a suggested question to me at <a href="mailto:bgriffiths@insider.com">bgriffiths@insider.com</a>.<ul><li>Yesterday's answer: Teddy Roosevelt's children opened <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/roosevelt-family-built-new-york-coffee-chain-50-years-starbucks-180953398/">a small chain of coffee shops in New York</a>.</li></ul>That's all for now! Enjoy your weekend, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/where-to-watch-seinfeld">especially if you have nothing planned</a>.

10 Things in Politics: Pelosi delays infrastructure vote

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="103436" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL">NFL</keyword> offseason is off to a hot start.</li><li>Just days into free agency, several teams have already made big moves to revamp their rosters.</li><li>Meanwhile, wide receivers have struggled to find new teams in the offseason.</li></ul>The NFL offseason began in full this week with the start of free agency.In just a few days, some teams have made moves to either revamp their rosters or lock up and retain players of an already talented group.While quarterbacks have had pretty good luck finding work, several stud-wide receivers are still looking for their next team. And in the interest of manipulating the salary cap, the New Orleans Saints gave Taysom Hill a $140 million contract that doesn't actually exist. It's complicated.Take a look below at the winners and losers of the opening days of free agency.<h2>WINNER: Bill Belichick</h2><div type="image" title="bill belichick" height="1334" width="1778" msid="81579083" hostid="261"></div>The New England Patriots <a href="https://www.insider.com/patriots-free-agency-moves-cost-roster-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made quite a splash through </a>free agency's opening days, adding players across several positions to revamp their roster.Most notably, the Patriots made moves on two top-tier tight ends, bringing in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, proven pass-catchers. We've seen what the Patriots can do with two tight ends on the field, and Henry and Smith should go a long way in helping to jump-start what was a rather dreadful offense in 2020.Additionally, the Patriots added wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne. Both are capable of stretching the field and giving Cam Newton some downfield targets.The Patriots also reloaded on defense, adding defensive back Jalen Mills and linebacker Matt Judon and bringing back linebacker Kyle Van Noy. Between that added depth and the presumptive return of several defensive players that sat out the 2020 season due to COVID-19, and New England could look like a brand new team this September.<h2>LOSER: Chicago Bears</h2>The Mitch Trubisky era is over in Chicago, having been supplanted by the Andy Dalton era. Dalton is good enough to start but is a far cry from the superstar Bears fans likely hoped would be suiting up under center for them this year.Adding insult to injury is the fact that Chicago reportedly made a run at trading for Russell Wilson, only to be rebuffed by the Seahawks. Putting your faith in Dalton is already a tough ask for a fan base, but doing so while knowing that you had been making a play for one of the best quarterbacks of his generation makes it hurt that much more.<h2>WINNER: Tampa Bay Buccaneers</h2><div type="image" title="tom brady 2020" height="1382" width="1842" msid="81579084" hostid="261"></div>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/super-bowl-buccaneers-cheifs-big-plays-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reigning Super Bowl champions</a> did not rest on their laurels to start free agency. After <a href="https://www.insider.com/tom-brady-extension-45-cap-space-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">restructuring Tom Brady's contract</a> to free up some cap room, the Buccaneers wasted no time in reinforcing their roster in preparation for defending their title.Rather than looking for outside help, the Buccaneers focused on keeping the core of their Super Bowl-winning team together for at least another season. Chris Godwin got hit with the franchise tag, and the newly freed up cap space from the Brady deal allowed the team to re-sign standout edge rusher Shaquil Barrett, as well as linebacker Lavonte David.The champions are ready to run it back.<h2>LOSER: Russell Wilson</h2>Poor Russell Wilson has spent much of the past few seasons running for his life behind a shaky offensive line. Heading into free agency this year, Wilson was probably hoping to get some help. Instead, the Seahawks have stayed pat so far, even as some other teams splurged on offensive lineman on the market.<h2>WINNER: Washington Football Team</h2><div type="image" title="Ryan Fitzpatrick" height="1557" width="2076" msid="81579085" hostid="261"></div>The Washington Football Team was another big player in the opening days of free agency, bringing in some new faces to brighten up an offense that averaged just 21 points per game in 2020.Veteran journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick looks set to take the starting job in Washington, the ninth NFL franchise he's suited up for in his career. Joining him is wide receiver Curtis Samuel, who reunites with his old head coach Ron Rivera after several seasons together in Carolina. Paired with up-and-coming wide receiver Terry McLaurin and tight end Logan Thomas, the Washington offense should be fun to watch, if not a dangerous scoring threat in the NFC East.<h2>WINNER: New York Jets</h2>The New York Jets needed improvements across their roster and got to work addressing those needs pretty fast. New head coach Robert Saleh added pass rusher Carl Lawson from Cincinnati, who will join third-year defensive tackle Quinnen Williams in a now-formidable defensive front.On offense, New York added wide receiver Corey Davis from the Tennessee Titans, who, along with Denzil Mims and Jamison Crowder, will serve in an intriguing offensive trio for whoever winds up under center for the Jets this year. With the second overall pick in the coming draft, the Jets have plenty of options left whenever they decide to make their next move.<h2>LOSER: Wide receivers</h2><div type="image" title="JuJu Smith-Schuster" height="1342" width="1789" msid="81579087" hostid="261"></div>Looking at the impressive names of wide receivers still left unsigned through the opening days of free agency, it's clear that the market what the players would like for it to be at the position.Kenny Golladay, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and T.Y. Hilton are still out there for any team to pick up but have yet to get a call. There's little doubt that these players will eventually find a home, but their deals might not be for the years or cash they hoped for heading into free agency.<h2>WINNER: Quarterbacks</h2>While wide receivers have had trouble moving on the market, the movement of quarterbacks has been fast and furious. In addition to Fitzpatrick's move to Washington and Dalton's move to Chicago, several other mid- and lower-tier quarterbacks have already found new teams.Jacoby Brissett is now a Miami Dolphin. Tyrod Taylor is a Houston Texan. Jameis Winston is back with the Saints on another one-year deal. And Dak Prescott got paid by the Cowboys despite coming off of a devastating ankle injury.<h2>LOSER: The concept of money</h2>For all of the talk of how this year's lowered salary cap would hurt teams in need of making a deal, there still has been plenty of action just a few days into free agency. As the New Orleans Saints have shown year after year, in the NFL, the cap is as real as you make it. While the bill always comes due eventually, there are plenty of options for delaying it to a future date over and over again.But even less real than the salary cap is the concept of money in the NFL. Saints quarterback Taysom Hill had his contract restructured in the offseason, with headlines promoting that the New Orleans gadget man was set for a four-year, $140 million extension. I regret to inform Mr. Hill and his family that he is not suddenly going to be making $35 million a year.Instead, the eye-popping numbers in Hill's contract <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2021/3/16/22334000/nfl-free-agency-tom-brady-taysom-hill-voidable-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener">come in "voidable years"</a> - the deal effectively is the same as the one he already had in place. By adding fake years and fake money, the Saints can spread Hill's cap hit over a longer timeline and free up space for the present.This is all, in plain terms, shenanigans. Made up numbers for made up contracts that exist for the sole purpose of redoing the math on real, already established contracts.The only things contracts like this are good for are cap manipulation and infuriating fans on Twitter, who, rightfully, don't want to dive into a 301 Contract Law class whenever a new deal is signed. But this is the world we live in, and so, on a technicality, Taysom Hill has signed a $140 million contract.Whether that makes him a winner or a loser is largely up to him.

9 winners and losers from the opening days of NFL free agency

US Navy/Petty Officer 3rd Class Taylor A. ElbergPetty Officer 3rd Class Nctees Thao mans the helm of guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt, October 27, 2016.<ul class="summary-list"><li>Recruiting has emerged as one of the main challenges for the US military service branches in recent years.</li><li>Each branch is taking steps to attract and retain the personnel it wants. For the Navy, appealing to new sailors now could have a long-lasting impact on its ships.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>More than one <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/army-revamps-personnel-management-amid-turn-to-great-power-competition-2020-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">senior military leader</a> has said the services are facing a "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-war-for-talent-struggle-to-attract-immigrants-2018-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">war for talent</a>," as a stronger economy and two decades of war, among other factors, make military service less appealing to young Americans.The Army, striving to reach 500,000 active-duty soldiers by the end of this decade, has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/army-is-using-esports-to-put-to-recruit-american-teenagers-2020-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rolled out an esports team</a> to attract recruits. The Air Force, facing a protracted pilot shortage, capitalized on the recent blockbuster "Captain Marvel" with <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/01/05/captain-marvel-effect-air-force-academy-sees-most-female-applicants-5-years.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a recruiting drive</a>.For the Navy, which wants more ships to do more operations across a greater area, the effort to attract more people - and the right people - is influencing ship design, the service's top civilian official said this week."What we have to think about - and we're sort of a platform-centric service, both us and the Marine Corps - is how do we reduce the number of people we have and that distributed maritime force that we have? How do we get lethality out there without having to have 300 people on a ship to deliver it?" Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said Friday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in response to a question about personnel costs, which <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2020/01/31/the-pentagon-is-racing-against-inflation-for-military-might/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rise faster</a> than inflation."It also requires, I think, an increase in the level of capability and skill that we have in the force, and that's why we're investing so much in education, because you're going to ask these people to do a lot more and to be a lot more adaptable in the jobs that ... we're asking them to do," Modly said.US Navy/Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel BarkerGuided-missile frigate USS Reuben James at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, June 20, 2011.That thinking was "sort of the philosophy" behind the Navy's future guided-missile frigate, Modly added.Frigates do many of the same missions as destroyers and cruisers but are smaller and less equipped and therefore generally do those missions in lower-threat areas.The Navy <a href="https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=109976" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wants</a> the new frigate to be able to operate in open-ocean and near-shore environments and to conduct air, anti-submarine, surface, and electronic warfare and information operations."That's going to be a fairly lightly-manned ship with a lot of capability on it," Modly said."I had a great example of a ship, and I won't mention which manufacturer it was, but I went into the ship and they showed me a stateroom with four bunks and its own shower and bathroom facility," Modly said.He continued: "I was in the Navy back in the Cold War, and I said, 'Wow, this is a really nice stateroom for officers.' They said, 'No, this where our enlisted people live.' And I said, 'Well, why did you design the ship like that?' And they said, 'We designed the ship like this for the type of people we want to recruit to man it.'""That's really what we have to think about," Modly added. "They're going to be more lightly manned but with probably more highly-skilled people who have lots of opportunities to do things in other places, so we have to be able to attract those people. That is a big, big part of our challenge."<h2>10 frigates in four years</h2>US Navy/MCS 3rd Class Sean FureyGuided-missile frigate USS Reuben James in the Pacific, March 23, 2012.The Navy's most recent frigates were the Oliver Hazard Perry class, or FFG-7 - 51 of which entered service between 1977 and 1989 and were decommissioned between 1994 and 2015.While the design for the future frigate, designated FFG(X), has not yet been selected, the Navy plans to award the design and construction contract in July, according to budget documents released this month.The Navy is only <a href="https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=109976" target="_blank" rel="noopener">considering</a> designs already in use, and the firms in the running are Fincantieri with its FREMM frigate design, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and Navantia with the latter's F-100 variant, Austal USA with a frigate version of its Independence-class littoral combat ship, and Huntington Ingalls with what many believe may be a variation of the National Security Cutter it's building for the Coast Guard, <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/02/11/heres-the-timeline-for-the-us-navys-next-generation-frigate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Defense News</a>.The Navy plans for design and construction of the first ship to take until 2026 but expects construction to increase rapidly thereafter, with the 10th arriving by 2030, eventually producing 20 of the new frigates.Without an exact design, cost is hard to estimate, but the Navy wants to keep the price below a billion dollars per ship for the second through 20th ships and hit a total program cost of <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/02/11/heres-the-timeline-for-the-us-navys-next-generation-frigate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$19.81 billion</a>.US Navy/Cmdr. Corey BarkerGuided-missile frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts returns to Naval Station Mayport, October 23, 2013.The Navy also wants to use dual-crewing to maximize the time its future frigates spend at sea.Switching between a "blue crew" and a "gold crew" extends the amount of time the ship can operate - allowing frigates to take on missions that larger combatants, like destroyers, have been saddled with - without increasing the burden on the crew and their families; it's already in use on ballistic-missile submarines and littoral combat ships.Dual-crewing "should double" the new frigate's operational availability, Vice Adm. Ronald Boxall, then the surface-warfare director for the chief of naval operations, <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2019/01/30/the-us-navy-is-planning-for-its-new-frigate-to-be-a-workhorse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Defense News</a> at the end of 2018.In the blue-gold crew model, the crew of the ship would still be working to improve their skills in what Boxall described as "higher-fidelity training environments.""In an increasingly complex environment, it's just intuitive that you have to have time to train," Boxall <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2019/01/30/the-us-navy-is-planning-for-its-new-frigate-to-be-a-workhorse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Defense News</a>. "We think Blue-Gold makes sense for those reasons on the frigate." <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-annapolis-us-naval-academy-military-day-one-2019-8">We went inside the US Naval Academy at Annapolis to see what it's really like for new Navy plebes on their first day</a></h3>

The military's 'war for talent' is affecting what the Navy's future ships will look like

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Goldman Sachs announced its 2019 class of managing directors, with 465 new promotes getting the nod.</li><li>Of the 465 promoted, 29% are women, and 34% identified as an ethnic minority or LGBTQ.</li><li>The firm announces managing-director promotions every two years.</li><li>It's one of the most coveted positions on Wall Street, a step below partner at the premier investment bank.</li></ul><a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/GS-Quote"> Goldman Sachs</a> just announced a new class of 465 managing directors, and millennials comprised nearly two-thirds of it. The promotions, which are announced once every two years and are among the most coveted on Wall Street, put recipients one step <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-ceo-solomon-offering-buyouts-to-partners-shrink-senior-ranks-2019-9">below partner</a> at the prestigious investment-banking firm.The 2019 class is smaller than the record-setting class of 509 in 2017, but larger than the class of 2015, which had 425 new MDs.It's also one the youngest classes the bank has promoted - 62% are millennials, up from 44% in 2017 and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-managing-director-list-2015-11">30% in 2015</a>.Other headline stats about the class:<ul><li>66% started their careers as analysts or associates at Goldman Sachs, equal with 2017.</li><li>29% of the class is women, up from 24% in 2017.</li><li>34% of the identified as an ethnic minority or LGBTQ: 26% are Asian, 4% are black, 2% are hispanic/Latino, and 2% are LGBTQ. </li></ul><h2>Here's the full list of all 465 new managing directors:</h2>Rashid Abdalla Angela Abramian-Katz Meredith Adams Keren Adan Vikas Agrawal Mike Ahern Edward Ainsworth Danny Akerman Temidayo Akinola Aaron Albert Eyas Aldossari Marsha Alexander Daniel Alger Asad Ali Brendan Ames Dipam Amin Rebecca Anderton-Davies Junnosuke Ando Ash Ang Timothy Arblaster Kenan Arkan Patrick Armstrong Cameron Arrington Cindy Au Anne-Victoire Auriault John Aurre Frederick Baba Andrew Bailey Tanya Baker Victoria Baker-Duly Venkatesh Balasubramanian Nick Baltas Maria Barron Baratech Luke Barrs Robert Bartlett Dennis Beeson Angus Bell Bob Bengtson Kerryann Benjamin Jeff Bernstein Adam Berry Michel Beshara Justin Betzen Praveen Bhagavathula Peter Biggs Ersen Bilgin Nathan Bird Simon Birtwistle Barnali Biswal Brittany Boals Moeller David Bodenstein Vanessa Bogaardt Kevin Boova Andrea Bora Said Boujnah Jeff Boyd Rachel Boyd Glyn Braganza Joyce Brayboy Pierre Brunet Keith Brunini Steven Budig Francisco Cabeza Kimberly Carabetta Sarah Card Marie Cardoen Gloria Carreno Jonathan Carter Osmar Castellani Junior Lucia Catalan Federico Ceresole Jeffrey Chao John Chappell Yogesh Chati Frank Chen Selina Chen Hakim Cherrouk Christopher Yiu Chung Cheung Tak Cheung Siddharth Chhabria Liz Chick James Chilcott Jon Child Naveen Choppara Leonard Chung George Cole Greg Collett James Colletti Kevin Conniff Simon Constant Charles Corke Krystal Cowan Ben Coward-Talbott Nerissa Cumberbatch Ryan Cunn Nadim Daban Brook Dane Abigail Darby Michael Daub Bill Davis Christopher Dawe Jeffrey Dawkins Adam Dawson Philipp de la Chevallerie Camille de Lamotte Frederik De Neree Joaquin de Soto Dan Deighton Manuel Deijk Stefanie D'Elia Lena Demashkieh Michael Dente Philippe Derimay Bradley Diener Michel Dimitri Angelo Diotisalvi Natalia Dobrinskaya John Doherty Matthew Doherty Jerome Dortmans Hamish Douglas Crista Downey Andre D'Souza Alexander Dupont Brett Durick Tsuyoshi Egawa Gaudenz Eichenberger Nnaemeka Eke Bill Elfsten Abel Elizalde Russell Elliott Scott Epperson Robert Fama Meriem Feghoul Xinyi Feng Roger Fenningdorf David Fernandez Morgan Fitzpatrick Ryan Flanagan John Flood Kellan Florio Kerry Flynn Jeremy Follett Anneliese Foster Fabrice Francois Marissa Freund Anders Furuhed Sebastien Gagnon Timothy Galligan Francesca Gardner Raj Garigipati Brian Garrett Douglas Gilman Aaron Goldman Jeremy Goldman Sanyam Goyal Ricky Grant Steven Gray Jules Gruner Shao Ping Guan Anushka Gupta Sonia Gupta Arvind Guruprasad Itir Guvenc Mungan Raymond Haagen Andrew Haave Sylvia Hadjimamas Terry Hagerty Sharon Hall Jeff Haller Scott Hankey Sara Hanlon Tom Haraldsson Alex Harman Lauren Havens Ken Hayahara James Hayward Tom Healy Victoria Hegan Michael Heller Paula Hendrickson Evan Herring Schuyler Heuer Daniel Hibbert Andrew Hine Megan Hogan Yoomin Hong John Hooton George Horton Dan Howard Christine Hu Katie Hyde Nicole Irvin Ahmed Ismail Kumar Iyer Philip Jacob Raphaelle Jacquemin Rajan Jain Rich James Marene Jennings Kyle Jessen Natasha Jhunjhunwala Brandon Johnson Geddes Johnson Milind Joshi Sojin Jung Amy Jupe Michael Kagan William Kallop Jordan Kaufman Charlotte Keenan Maxime Kennel Aron Kershner Ronald Keung Eugene Khafizov Feroz Khosla Kieron King Tom Knott Simon Knowles Sarah Kong Scott Konicki Robert Koslow Kunal Koya Elisabeth Kozack Joanna Kozlowski Kristin Kramer Jason Kreuziger Daniel Krinsky Kristin Kuney Casey Laflamme Beyrouthawit Lakew Mikael Lang Mark Langham Francesca Lau Karmen Lau Victoria Ledda Adrian Lee Sara Lee Niall Leguillon Chip Lemkau Marie Claire Lennon Matthew Leskowitz Ryan Lester Curtis Leung Jacky Leung Giulia Lewandowski Christian Lhert Aihua Liang Chi-Yu Liang Mony Lim Nyan Lin Tobias Lindemann Jon Lindgren Ada Liu Adrian Loh Syida Long Lorenzo Pasquale Longo Alexandre Lucas Michelle Luk Amanda Lynam Chris Lyon Srivats Madhavan Alok Madhukar Devasish Majumdar Salome Makharadze Shun Manabe James Mann Todd Mansfield Corey Maple Ivan Martinez Farzad Mashayekhi Morad Masjedi Michael Mastropaolo Moe Matar Colin Mathews Ritesh Mathur Brooke Mayne Jordan McCallum Mark McCaskill Catherine McCormack Paul McGregor Andrew McLennan Brian McMahon Nehal Mehra Ramiro Menchaca Mark Midle Giuseppe Milicia Kristin Milot Yusuke Minowa Aric Mizrahi Sherry-Ann Mohan Stacy Mohr Mohammed Mohsinali Helen Moloney Matthew Mottram Richard Mulley Ken Murata Sarah Murray Usman Naeem Soumik Nandy Satish Narang Vijay Narayanan Jamil Nathoo Joseph Natoli Sean Navin Aziz Ndiaye Ryan Newman Sara Nielsen Eyal Nirenberg Quinn O'Bryen Joanna Obstoj Jackie O'Connor Nonso Ogbonna Laide Oginni Mari Oishi Scarlett Omar-Broca Enrico Orlandi Jean Otrakji Edouard Panie Francesco Papa Pratik Pareek Gemma Parrott Atul Pawar Arnaud Payement Yuriy Podoshev Mitesh Popat Matthew Popper Arnaud Porchet Nicole Poulson Joseph Pozzi Anant Prasad Frederic Pripp Chaitra Purushotham Benny Quek Conor Quinn Thomas Radberg Stephanie Raimo Kamal Ramnani Michael Rand Olivia Rascoe Jibraan Rasheed Varun Rastogi Seth Reagen Nikhil Reddy Adil Rehman Elaine Rene Salveen Richter Fabian Riedel Helen Rigley Joe Ritchie Ilan Rochman David Rockliff Pearl Rodrigues Mark Romanczuk Mairin Rooney Delia Rosoga Ranjith Roy Mark Ruffles Benjamin Runnacles Ashley Ryan Eric Ryckman Takeshi Saito Sushil Sancheti Neha Santiago Vijay Saraswat James Sarvis Christian Schaefer Heather Schuyler Katelyn Seager Gowri Sekar Chris Semones Vikram Sethi Hui Shan Adi Sharma Praharsh Sharma Nicole Sharp Inna Shaykevich Jenna Shen David Shih Michael Shin Aekloveya Shyam Haris Siddiqi Adam Siegler John Sienkiewicz Craig Singer Peter Smith Brian Snyder Tejas Sodha Doug Spencer Mark Spitzer Anushree Srivastava Christian Stassen Holger Staude Emily Stecher Becky Steinthal Samuel Su Vivek Sukhatme Danny Suwanapruti Andy Tai Stephanie Tan Kei Tanaka Jacky Tang Hekmat Tannous Michael Tarulli Luigi Tavella Archana Tayade Emma Taylor Lori Taylor Asher Teren Gurtaran Thethi Jonathan Thomas Neil Thomas Bryn Thompson-Clarke Todor Todorov Steven Torbeck Sidney Tordjman Stephen Tripi Clemens Tripp Michael Trokoudes Jason Tsang Christian Tschirdewahn Candice Tse Vicki Tung Mateo Ugas Alekhya Uppalapati Rucha Vaidya Steven Valentic Peter VanDeventer Kyle VanFleet Alexandre Virolle Christopher Volmut Neel Vora Danielle Walsh Jordan Walter Bingwen Wang Phyllis Wang Zac Wang Brandon Watkins James Weaver Deborah Wei* Steven Weiss Robert Whelan Andrew White Anna Whitlow Eva Maria Wiecko Liz Wilcockson Lennart Wilhelm Rob Williams Henry Willoughby Jim Wiltshire Maggie Wojcik William Wolcott Jean Xu Xiao-ou Kevin Xu Susan Yan Julien Yoo Wael Younan Laura Young Nick Young Ali Zaidi Kirill Zavodov Thilo Zeidler James Zhang Wanjing Zhang Yun Zhang <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/10-up-and-coming-fintechs-2019?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;itm_content=finance&amp;itm_campaign=10-up-and-coming-fintechs-2019-2"></a>

Goldman Sachs' new managing-director list is out, and millennials dominated the class

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Hollywood has been trying to make a successful modern franchise out of King Kong for decades, and in its latest attempt, Warner Bros. veers from the origin story of the classic 1933 movie to deliver a highly stylized action blockbuster called "Kong: Skull Island." And boy, does it not work.When&#xa0;the trailer for "Skull Island" hit the internet, you may have been grabbed, like me, by its fun vibe that mixed an "Apocalypse Now" lost-in-the-jungle tone with CGI-fueled action of a pissed-off Kong, plus a sword-swinging John C. Reilly as the comic relief. Unfortunately, that's&#xa0;the whole movie right there in a nutshell.And if that's all you want from the $20 or so you'll spend at the multiplex to see this movie, then Warner Bros. has done its job, but frankly, this had the potential to be more than another dull reboot with its moments of entertainment. It's a bummer that's all it is.Directed by up-and-comer <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3611349/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" target="_blank">Jordan Vogt-Roberts</a>, who kicks off the movie with a dramatic entrance to Skull Island circa World War II, the movie then fast-forwards to 1973 at the tail end of the Vietnam War. John Goodman and Corey Hawkins ("Straight Outta Compton," "24: Legacy") play scientists who are granted a military escort to a mysterious island (you guessed it, Skull Island) to investigate what's on it before the Russians do.Samuel L. Jackson plays the Army colonel of the team that flies everyone to Skull Island, Tom Hiddleston is a former British Special Forces member who comes along as a tracker, and Brie Larson is the war photojournalist who has had enough of being in "the s---" of Vietnam and tags along to see what they find on the island.But by the time their helicopters fly into Skull Island, the movie is off the tracks.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Jackson's long-winded story about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icarus" target="_blank">Icarus</a> that he just decides to spout when his team is in a brutal thunderstorm to get to the island is the first sign that things are going to get rough. (Before that, Jackson says one his most famous lines from another movie. I won't spoil it for you.)Though we get a good dose of Kong right when we hit the island, and some really creative shots of the destruction he dishes out on the helicopters, we are then left with the less tempting meat of the movie: The two factions of the team post-Kong attack (Hiddleston, Larson, Hawkins on one side; Jackson, Goodman, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4207146/?ref_=tt_cl_t10" target="_blank">Jason Mitchell</a>, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0924154/?ref_=tt_cl_t11" target="_blank">Shea Whigham</a> on the other) try to meet at a rendezvous point.Yes, there are some great fight scenes with the other creatures on Skull Island, like a gigantic spider with legs that look like bamboo trunks and pterodactyl-like birds (all homages to creatures from&#xa0;B-movies of the 1960s). But as much as I'm sure Vogt-Roberts and screenwriters Dan Gilroy, Max Borenstein, and Derek Connolly tried, there is zero reason to care at all about the human characters.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Hiddleston and Larson don't have any chemistry, and Hiddleston does absolutely nothing to be a hero in this movie, outside of taking Reilly's sword and chopping up some birds with a gas mask on.And perhaps that's the whole point. Kong is supposed to be the one we care about most. We learn through Reilly's character, who has been on the island for decades, that Kong is the protector of all on the island from the vicious "skull crushers." But as we've learned from the failures of past Kong movies, there needs to be more to the story than just a vicious ape.Jackson tries to fill that void with his character, a man broken by the US leaving Vietnam and now taking it out on Kong. And though he has his moments, as with Reilly, it's not enough.From the flat ending to endless needle drops of every popular 1970s song and one extremely lame death scene, what starts out as a potentially&#xa0;fun and cliche-less way to do an action movie turns into another watered-down origin story of a franchise.Maybe it will get better when Kong fights Godzilla in the next movie."Kong: Skull Island" opens in theaters March 10.&#xa0;<div></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/twin-peaks-season-3-david-lynch-2017-2">'Twin Peaks' is coming back after 25 years - here's everything you need to know about it</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="5jNDhkOTE6rdPfXl0KxImoJhVpDKfUbI" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

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