TAMPA BAY 28 BALTIMORE 19
Bandits race past a hobbling Blitz Squad. Baltimore came into the game with many picking them as the odds-on favorite to win the title this year, but when All-USFL QB Vince Evans went down with an ugly looking ankle injury early in the 1st quarter the complexion of the game shifted dramatically. In a battle of backups, the more experienced and more dynamic Jimmie Jordan outdueled the somewhat ill-prepared Blair Kiel, leading Tampa Bay on 4 touchdown drives to overcome the early 13-0 Baltimore lead. Without Evans the Blitz offense was just not firing on all cylinders, and Tampa Bay ate away at the lead and pulled ahead over the course of the game. For fans in the Charm City it was a disappointing end to a brilliant first season for Baltimore’s Blitz, but for Tampa fans, a rough 9-7 season might just be looking up as they advance.
PHILADELPHIA 34 JACKSONVILLE 24
Philly’s experience pays off as they outlast the Bulls. For the second year in a row the Bulls earned the right to a home playoff game by winning their division, and for a second year in a row they could not take advantage. Facing the 1985 defending champions, who struggled to a 9-7 record this year, was a tough draw, but Bulls fans expected more out of their team. The more experienced Stars were solid in all phases as Kelvin Bryant led the team with 149 yards on the ground, while Chuck Fusina had a workmanlike 209 yards passing with 2 TDs. Jacksonville’s star, QB Doug Williams, may have played his last game for the Bulls, as he has been pushing for a new deal and threatening to head back to the NFL if one cannot be reached. He threw for 254 and 2 scoress, but also tossed 2 costly interceptions which gave Philly short fields to work with. The Stars took advantage and the subsequent 14 points were more than enough to give them the edge and the win.
ARIZONA 6 MICHIGAN 31
Panthers rediscover their mojo as they trounce the Wranglers. The big question after 3 straight season-ending losses, was what Michigan could do to right the ship and get back to the form that had won them 13 straight to start the year. The answer was “face the 8-8 Arizona Wranglers”. The Panthers dominated this game from start to finish. Bobby Hebert was sharp, John Williams looked rested, and the defense, which had been so dominant all year, was up to the task. Arizona’s offense was stymied at every turn. Leading rusher Owen Gill ran for only 13 yards on 15 carries as the Panthers asserted their dominance at home. They will be home again next week, and they hope to see the same kind of performance.
NEW ORLEANS 31 OAKLAND 24
Dupree & Franz star as the Breakers break hearts in Oakland. The joke around the league was that the Breakers were always ‘just happy to be there” when entering the playoffs. The expectation was that Oakland would once again send the Breakers home early. But, these Breakers, perhaps catching some of New Orleans’ fun-loving atmosphere, were a different team this year. They came out hot, scoring on 3 of their first four possessions and building a 17-7 halftime lead. An Eason to Lockett score to start the 3rd made it 24-7 and while Oakland would make the score closer, the outcome was never in doubt. The Breakers had 404 yards of total offense, led by Marcus Dupree’s 126 on the ground and a very solid 247 and 3 scores from the often erratic Tony Eason. While Brian Sipe had 333 passing, most of it was desperation catchup in the 2nd half, after being largely shut down in the first. So, New Orleans gets their first playoff win in 3 years, and now head to Michigan to face the Panthers.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
Tampa Bay (9-7) @ Philadelphia (9-7)
It’s the two Wild Cards that move on to the Eastern Conference Finals, held at Veteran’s Stadium, and a contrast in styles as the big-play Banditball game of Tampa Bay faces the slow and steady run-first, play action game of the Stars. Philly is the defending champion, and Tampa may very well be playing without John Reaves (considered a game time decision) so we have to pick the Stars in this one. The Philly crowd should be in full voice as they hope for a return trip to the USFL Championship, but Tampa will give them a game. Our prediction: Stars 28 Bandits 24
New Orleans (9-7) @ Michigan (13-3)
If Michigan is truly back to form, they will be tough to beat. That New Orleans beat them only 2 weeks ago may be meaningless. It was a largely meaningless game for Michigan, while the Breakers were playing for their playoff lives. New Orleans has a chance, however, particularly if they can get a repeat performance from Dupree and if Eason can avoid any costly mistakes. For Michigan, they have to find ways to get the ball into the hands of Carter and Holloway. We expect their defense to be solid, but they cannot have the offensive duldrums which hurt them in the season’s final weeks. We look at their game against Arizona as a priming-the-pump experience and expect to see the old, dominant, Panthers again. Our prediction: Michigan 35 New Orleans 20
OTHER USFL NEWS & NOTES
While the playoffs are in full swing for half of the USFL, the future is now, as unofficially moves can be made within the league and the non-playoff teams can also get a head start at looking over NFL rosters for players in contract negotiations. Add to this the 4 new expansion clubs, all looking to hit the ground running, and the free agency and NFL-USFL signing period has unofficially opened. And, of course, as USFL contracts expire, NFL teams are also hoping to grab some talent from the Spring league. It is always intense, and this year looks like it will be a real barnburner, with several big name players coming to the end of their first USFL contracts. Here are the moves we have seen in just the past 2 weeks as USFL squads try to add some talent before the official Free Agency period begins.
Arizona: Despite a solid year from HB Owen Gill (866 yards, but only 2 TD), the Wranglers have announced that they have signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneer James Wilder to the position. This may likely mean that either Gill, rookie Darryl Clack, or both could be left unprotected in the upcoming expansion draft pool.
New Jersey had a quick turnover on defense as they saw veteran Jim LeClair sign with Denver Broncos immediately after the season concluded. No sooner had that happened then the Generals designated one of their exemption slots for the signing of former NY Giant and LA Ram defensive End Gary Jeter. Jeter will come to New Jersey on a 3 year deal.
Los Angeles also took a hit as rotating starter HB Kevin Mack quickly signed on with the Cleveland Browns. This almost assuredly returns Tony Boddie to the position of workhorse for the Express.
Pittsburgh will need to seek out a new strong safety as one of their best defensive players, Dave Duerson, has signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. Pittsburgh has also opted to upgrade their kicking game, releasing Sandro Vitello after 3 years and signing NFL kicker Rafael Septien from the Dallas Cowboys.
Memphis had not expected to resign WR Willie Gault, who, while capable of the big catch, seems to drop too many easy ones. Well, the decision is not needed as Gault has signed with the Chicago Bears, who originally drafted him out of college.
Washington has already lost 2 players as backup QB Babe Laufenberg signed with the NFL’s Washington Redskins and DT Bennie Smith will be headed to San Diego. Expect a lot of shifting in DC, as new coach Sam Rutigliano has already expressed an interest in making some deals to get more draft picks, even floating the possibility that QB Reggie Collier might be on the market for the right price.
And, lest you think that the expansion teams are not yet in the player market, we have our first “poachings” from the new clubs.
The Chicago Machine have made two signings, including one which harkens back to the first USFL offseason, the only year when players from the recently concluded NFL draft were significantly poached by USFL teams in the middle of NFL contract talks. It seems Chicago is eager to settle their QB position and have signed Iowa Hawkeye and recent Detroit Lion draft pick, QB Chuck Long. Long, who did not sign with the Memphis Showboats when selected in the 1986 USFL Draft, became a free agent as soon as the USFL season began in March. The Machine, led by coach Joe Bugel, have swooped in during Detroit’s contract talks with Long and have convinced the Hawkeye star to sign with the new franchise.
And, as if that were not enough, the Machine have also signed a defensive captain for their new club, snatching away Clay Matthews from the Cleveland Browns. Matthews, in a contract year with the Browns, was not expected to test the market, so the undisclosed terms of the deal must have been lucrative to lure the All-Pro to Chicago and the USFL.
And the San Antonio Gunslingers have made their first “poaching”, signing longtime KC Chief, Carlos Carson (WR) as their first roster member. Carson, who had over 1,000 yards receiving in the 1984 season had been seeking a better situation as his contract expired with the Chiefs, and now joins a total mystery as he has no idea who will be throwing him the ball, although San Antonio has been making noise about trying to sign either a USFL or NFL veteran. Rumors have the team speaking with both former Invader Fred Besana and with NFL free agent Turk Schonert.
So, the first volleys have been fired. Expect a lot more as the offseason builds up, especially after the USFL playoffs conclude and some of the league’s unsigned stars, names like Bobby Hebert, Herschel Walker, Mike Rozier and Junior Ah You are available to be poached. We expect a crazy offseason, and it appears that it has already started.
Is there any rhyme or reason to your transactions between clubs or leagues? Just wondering as I’m still working on my league and was looking for ideas for good balance.