The twin stories of playoff football and interleague raiding have marched on over the past week. We have our USFL Championship matchup and we have a very tense situation between the spring league and their fall counterparts as ongoing NFL signings of some top level USFL stars has continued after the conclusion of last week’s Divisional Playoffs, and while USFL franchises have been able to retain several big-name players, at considerable cost, they have lost several others, changing the landscape of the league and its coexistence with the NFL. We will start with this story and then cover the two Conference Championships and preview the 1989 USFL Championship Game.
The week following the USFL’s divisional matchups began with good news for the league, and for the defending champions, as Houston announced that star QB Jim Kelly, still uninterested in the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, who retain his rights, has signed on for another 3 years with the Gamblers. There had been rumors that the Bills, settled at QB after drafting and signing Purdue’s Jim Everett in the 1986 NFL Draft, would release Kelly’s rights to another NFL team, as Tampa Bay did with Steve Young and the 49ers, but Buffalo did not opt to do so, and so Kelly remains a Gambler for the next three years.
But, only a day after the Kelly announcement, Houston was hit with two NFL departures. DE Simon Fletcher was announced as the newest signing of the New York Giants, where he will be paired with NFL All-Pro Lawrence Taylor. Even more shocking was the signing of Jim Kelly’s favorite target and perennial All-USFL receiver Ricky Sanders by the Washington Redskins. It appears that Sanders will now catch balls from another USFL signee, QB Doug Williams. Houston now finds themselves without one of their best defenders and their clear #1 receiver.
Birmingham also found themselves in potential deep trouble on the D-Line. Former Chief Art Still was announced as a new signing by the Seattle Seahawks, and with a season ending injury to Bob Barber, one that may trigger a retirement by the veteran, Birmingham could be looking at a complete overhaul at DE.
Memphis avoided a similar fate this week when All-USFL DE Reggie White turned down an offer from the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles to sign a multi-year deal to stay in Memphis. White was already a cap-exempt player for Memphis, so his increased compensation will not force Memphis to alter their roster. The same may not be the case as Memphis still has to try to sign both TE Keith Jackson and QB Walter Lewis. Lewis and starter Mike Kelley are both already exempt players, but Memphis may not be able to retain both if they must pay to keep Jackson in the fold.
The fourth Divisional Playoff loser was perhaps in the toughest position. With C Dermotti Dawson, and both starting wideouts, Carter and Holloway now free agents, and with limited cap-exempt space, it was clear they could not sign all three. Dawson was the first to depart, signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday. Michigan had hoped to retain Dawson and at least one of the two standout receivers, but soon after Dawson’s departure was announced, the Minnesota Vikings announced that they had come to terms with Anthony Carter, ending his USFL career after 7 glorious years and 2 titles. Derrick Holloway would resign with the Panthers the next day, and will occupy the cap exempt space once held by Carter.
The mass exodus of top flight USFL talent to the NFL seems an inevitability this year, as the senior league, fresh off their new player-friendly 1987 CBA has the cash to entice away established players, while the USFL continues to focus their attention on signing top name college players. The one exception to this one-way flow of talent came from an unexpected source this week as the Portland Thunder, the league’s worst club at 1-15 this year, announced that they had signed NFL signal caller and one-time Atlanta Falcon starter David Archer to a 3-year deal. With fewer star players to be pillaged, the Thunder have an advantage over other USFL squads, who are now so focused on resigning their own talent that they have been slow to enter the fray by trying to sign away NFL talent.
With two more teams completing their season this week, and the final two in just a week, we can expect to see some of the top talent from the as-yet unscathed teams to start following the money trail to the fall league. Looking at the talent currently unsigned we find players such as Orlando’s Bill Bates and John Jefferson; New Orleans SS Joe Restic and CB Terry Daniels, New Jersey FB Keith Byars, TE Brent Jones; and Denver DE Laval Short and HB Harry Sydney. With what we have seen this offseason, we have to expect that some, if not all, of these players will be looking at potential windfalls should they join the NFL.
As the USFL grapples with the reality of major NFL talent raids, the league is still trying to maintain attention on the ongoing post-season. And while the mid-week focus tends to flow towards big name signings and player movement, once the weekend hits, it is all about the football. This week we saw both conference champions crowned and we are set up for a brand new champion in the USFL’s 7th season.
ORLANDO RENEGADES 10 NEW JERSEY GENERALS 28
Can you lose by winning? New Jersey is going to find out. When QB Doug Flutie went out of the game with a concussion in the 1st quarter, backup Timm Rosenbach came in, and under his leadership the Generals went on to dominate the Orlando Renegades, outscoring the #5 seed 28-3 in the game’s final three quarters. But did the Generals create a QB controversy in the process of winning entry to the Championship Game. Will Coach Perkins stick with the hot hand in Rosenbach, the taller, more traditional pocket passer, or will he go back to Flutie, the unconventional scrambler?
The game began with both teams playing it close to the vest offensively, testing and probing the defensive scheme of their opponent. It took 3 drives, but Orlando finally moved into Generals territory late in the first half. ‘Gades HB Todd Fowler ended a 10-play drive with a 3 yard off-tackle run for the score. The small clumping of Orlando fans in the East endzone cheered, not knowing that this would be the last time the guys in blue and white would find themselves in the endzone.
On the very next drive a Flutie first down bootleg ended with a solid arm to the crown of his helmet from linebacker Tim Green. Flutie came off the field a bit shaken, and Rosenbach went in to lead the Generals. It took him only 5 plays, including an acrobatic 20 yard catch by Lam Jones, to move the ball inside the Orlando 20. After a slant to Scott Schwedes got the ball to the 1, Keith Byars pushed it in for the equalizing score.
Eight minutes later New Jersey would get another as Rosenbach found Lam Jones on a fade pattern for the score and New Jersey was up 14-7. Orlando gained only 37 total yards in the 2nd quarter as neither Curtis Bledsoe or Todd Fowler could find room to run. The combination would finish the day with only 42 total rush yards combined. Herschel Walker would gain that in the 2nd quarter alone, well on his way to a powerful 149 yard rushing day, and while Keith Byars would score the two rushing TD’s for New Jersey, all eyes were on Walker as he ran through, around, and over Orlando’s defense.
Rosenbach threw his second TD in the 3rd quarter, finding Schwedes on a 10 yard out pattern to the right pylon. The young QB would finish the day with 184 yards on 18 of 30 passing and would avoid getting sacked all game long as Orlando was simply unable to scheme a 4-man rush to break through the NJ line.
The same was not true for Orlando’s O-line as Generals’ defenders got in Reggie Collier’s face all game long. They would only record 2 sacks, but also caused Collier to scramble on multiple occasions and also forced a tipped ball which was picked off by CB Cliff Hicks as it fluttered well short of its intended receiver, Wamon Buggs.
Orlando simply could not slow down Walker and the Generals, and their offense seemed equally unable to figure out New Jersey’s defensive playcall pattern. In the end the game was about as one-sided as any playoff game this season. The Generals came in determined and focused, Orlando seemingly spent after two tough road games to get here. The result was a solid win for the Generals, a ticket to their first USFL Championship game, and a potential QB controversy between the plucky but unorthodox Doug Flutie and the prototypical pocket passer in Timm Rosenbach. What will Ray Perkins do next week in Michigan?
DENVER GOLD 24 NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 22
This game played out as a Tortoise and Hare tale, just as expected, except it seemed the roles were reversed. Denver bolted out to 14-0 and 21-3 leads and then held on, coming back in the 4th after it seemed the tortoise had caught them. It was an out of character game for both teams as the two teams traded big plays and long drives throughout the day. In the end, it was some surprising performances from some unheralded places that won the game for the Gold.
Denver got off to a brilliant start, holding New Orleans on 3rd and 2 on the Breakers’ first drive, and then taking the ball 67 yards in 4 minutes to go on top in the 1st quarter. Bob Gagliano hit Mark Carrier for the first score and Denver was looking ready for a fight. They would double up that score 10 minutes later, this time with Gagliano hitting Odessa Turner on a 16 yard corner pattern. Denver was up 14-0 without New Orleans even hinting at getting into scoring range.
The Breakers would cash in on a long Tim Mazzetti field goal to get on the board, but the following drive by Denver, capped by a 2 yard TD plunge by 3rd string HB Darryl Daniels, would give the Gold a seemingly untouchable 21-3 lead. But, if we have learned anything this year it is that leads are not safe in the USFL. Matt Robinson, after a quarter and a half of uninspired play, caught fire after Denver’s TD. He would lead New Orleans on three straight scoring drives, one to end the 2nd quarter and two in the 3rd to take a 1 point lead.
The first of the three Robinson TD tosses was a beautiful arcing ball to Nolan Franz, deep down the sideline. Franz caught the ball in stride and was in the endzone before the cornerback could get a hand on him. 21-10 at the half. The second strike from Robinson was a very different toss, as the Breakers had used several big plays to get the ball to the 2 yard line, only to watch as both Marcus DuPree and Dalton Hilliard failed to punch the ball in on two consecutive plays. On 3rd down the Breakers went for a 3 TE set, looking again to run, but Robinson kept the ball and found backup TE Mark Boyer alone in the endzone. 21-16 Denver as the Breakers went for 2 and failed to convert.
The final New Orleans touchdown was back to Franz as the Breakers closed out the third with what looked like an epic comeback. Franz bobbled the ball at the 1 before falling on his back, ball tucked into his belly in the endzone. 21-22 after another failed 2-pointer. Those two missed PAT attempts proved deadly for the Breakers as their 1 point lead would have to hold for an entire quarter.
For most of the 4th quarter it looked like it would hold. Denver seemed unwilling to go away from the run game, or to try deep balls, so New Orleans was able to wait out drives and watch them stall outside of field goal range. For their part, the Denver defense also stiffened and kept the Breakers from building on their lead. Finally, with about 5 minutes left, Denver got their first big play of the half. Jeff Herrod missed a tackle on Denver’s Timmy Smith, and the small back scampered for 16 yards, tripped up at the Breakers’ 47. They got their second big play on the very next snap as wideout Mark Carrier caught his 7th ball of the day, a short 5 yard hook, but turned just as the defender was closing, moving into the field instead of spinning to the sideline, he eluded the tackle and gained 24. Three plays later the Gold called on kicker Brian Speelman and the veteran came through, knocking in a 39 yarder to put Denver back on top, 24-22.
It would be the final score of the day as Matt Robinson could not move the ball into Denver territory for a final second kick. The game ended at the Breakers’ 44 yard line and a packed SuperDome went home downhearted again. For the Gold players, it was a glorious moment of victory and celebration, but when you are the road team there are not many in the stands to share it with.
LOOKING AHEAD
So, there you have it. The USFL’s seventh Championship Game will feature the Denver Gold, champions of the Pacific Division and the Western Conference, against the New Jersey Generals, champions of the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference. Looking at the matchup, this could honestly go either way.
OFFENSE: Denver 22.7 PPG New Jersey 21.4 PPG
288 YPG 360 YPG
DEFENSE: Denver 20.5 PPGA New Jersey 18.4 PPGA
312 YPGA 289 YPGA
+11 Turnovers -2 Turnovers
New Jersey has the slightly stronger defense in both yardage and points scored, but Denver is clearly better at minimizing turnovers and creating takeaways. New Jersey puts up more yardage but does not score as much as Denver. Basically it would appear that New Jersey is not quite as efficient as Denver, but is capable of big plays on offense, while Denver relies on short fields and turnovers to help drive their offense.
Clearly the star power is with New Jersey. Flutie, Walker, Spielman and Lam Jones get a lot more press than Gagliano, Sydney, Bill Brooks or Larry White, but that may also be because the NY market inflates their exposure while Denver’s market is somewhat sedate. If either QB gets hot, they could pose a lot of problems for the opposition. If Herschel Walker is able to find running lanes, it could be game over for Denver, but if the Generals become sloppy with the ball, the Gold defense will take advantage.
So, what to think? I think we can expect a close game, possibly a low-scoring game, but who is to say? I guess that is why they play the games. So, let’s get ready. It’s Championship Weekend. Let’s prepare for Denver v. New Jersey for the 1989 USFL Championship.
I have the Generals by 5!
I got the Denver Gold winning.
Generals by 10