Only 1 week left in the season and we just now have our first division winner as Philadelphia goes from worst to first in Jim Mora Jr’s first season as head coach. The Stars knocked off Atlanta in a close one this week, but losses by both Washington and Baltimore mean they have locked up the title and a shot at the #1 seed in the East. Orlando and Memphis both won, setting up a Week 16 showdown with the division title on the table. Seattle stumbled, giving Denver a nearly insurmountable advantage going into their Week 16 showdown. The loss meant a win for LA, which is now in position to snag that last Wild Card slot, edging out Chicago and Michigan, which also lost their chance this week by falling to St. Louis. The Machine, Bulls, and Panthers are on the outside looking in with only 1 week left and the future out of their hands. Ohio, Arizona, and LA now control their own destiny.
A barnburner between two very possible Eastern Conference title contenders as the Memphis Showboats needed every ounce of home field advantage to defeat the Baltimore Blitz. Memphis QB Heath Shuler had a monster game, throwing for 4 TDs and 435 yards against a Blitz defense that was clearly not ready, but the Blitz would not go away, getting points off a 106-yard kickoff return to help aid the cause. In the end, the Showboats hung on, but we get the feeling this would make a great rematch game in the playoffs as both teams are headed to the postseason.
Baltimore got the first big play of the game as Memphis’s 36-yard field goal to open scoring was followed immediately by an electrifying 107 yard return from Baltimore’s Lamar Thomas. Thomas took the ball deep in the endzone but saw a gap in the Memphis kick coverage and did not hesitate. He burst through the initial wave of tacklers and was untouched until the 41-yard line, where he shrugged off a poor tackle attempt, sidestepped the kicker and was off to the races. Baltimore 7-3.
Memphis responded with Shuler hitting on the first of his 4 touchdowns on the day, this time to Lawyer Tillman from the 16 yard line. Shuler would have a banner day against a pretty solid Blitz defense, completing 24 of 28 passes for 435 yards. Meanwhile Jeff Garcia, who we praised last week for his 2000 season, had a rough day, completing only 19 of 36 passes for 195. Baltimore relied more heavily on rookie Ron Dayne, who came through with 117 carries and a score. He was not the only back helping out the Blitz cause, as backup Mike Cloud averaged 5.2 yards on 8 carries. Cloud would score for Baltimore to again retake the lead; a 1 yard plunge off center at the end of an 11-play drive for the Blitz.
Memphis would respond with two scoring drives to end the first half, the first staling at the 20, leading to a 37-yard Jeff Hall field goal, but the second producing a momentum shifting score as Shuler connected with Joe Horn for a 60-yard TD pass with only 8 seconds left in the half. The Showboats lined up with an I-formation and seemed content to run out the clock, down 14-13, but Shuler pulled the ball out of the belly of Garrison Hearst and found Horn in single coverage. A perfectly tossed bomb found Horn in stride and the veteran receiver avoided the tackle of the corner and found paydirt. Memphis went in to the half up 20-14.
In the Third quarter the two clubs would trade scores, with Baltimore getting a 3-yard Ron Dayne TD run to go up by one only for Memphis to respond again, this time with Shuler hitting his All-USFL tight end, Adrian Cooper from31 yards out. The 2-point PAT failed so Memphis’s lead was limited to 26-21. But, when Shuler found Joe Horn again to open the 4th quarter, the lead ballooned to 12, 33-21.
Baltimore would spend the rest of the 4th quarter trying to speed up the offense and get on the board. They would kick a field goal with 4:22 left after a Garcia pass to Tim Dwight glanced off his fingers in the endzone on 3rd and 9. On their final drive they would get the touchdown they truly needed, with Garcia hitting Bill Schroeder to get the Blitz within 2, but they would need an onside kick to try to get the ball back. Martin Grammatica’s looping kick found the hands of Memphis fullback Larry Centers, ending any hope the Blitz had of stealing the win. Memphis moved to 11-4, and with the loss, Baltimore was out of the running for the Atlantic Division title. They are still in strong position to get a home playoff game in the Wild Card round, but the bye and the home series a round later are now out of the question. Memphis, however, can potentially earn both. A win next week in their huge Week 16 finale at home against Orlando and the Showboats are in prime position to potentially reach the Summer Bowl again. The defending champs are well-positioned for a repeat run to be sure.
WSH 24 JAX 27 OT
The Feds needed a win to keep pace with Philly, but the Bulls were in even more desperate straits, needing to win or risk disqualification from a playoff spot that seemed theirs for the taking at midseason. The game went to overtime thanks to a last second TD from Chandler to Dez White, and in the extra period the Bulls defense shut down Washington and Kris Brown kicked them to the 3-point victory.
OHI 38 TBY 33
A thriller in Tampa where the Glory kept their playoff hopes alive, thanks to a 5-TD performance from Kerry Collins. Collins threw scoring passes to 4 different receivers, including 2 to break out star, tight end Stephen Alexander, to upend the Bandits, despite 102 yards rushing from Errict Rhett.
NJ 21 ORL 27
Orlando got one step closer to a division title, and now control their own destiny, needing a win in Memphis next week to take home the crown. New Jersey put up a good fight for their interim head coach, with Jeff Lewis outperforming Orlando’s Craig Erickson, but 100 yards from Terry Kirby, and a late Charlie Baumann field goal were enough to give Memphis the win.
PHI 25 ATL 24
There is no quit in this Atlanta squad, despite their 3-12 record as they gave Philadelphia a major scare in Bobby Dowd Stadium this week. Aaron Brooks ran for a score and Tiki barber added two more but, in the end, Philadelphia put together two 4th quarter drives to upend the Fire. Stephen Davis added 115 yards rushing and Kevin Dyson led all receivers with 103 yards on 6 receptions as the win clinched Philadelphia a division title.
PIT 0 BIR 38
Two non-playoff clubs were scheduled to attend the game in Legion Field, but it appears only 1 showed up as Birmingham manhandled the Pittsburgh Maulers in the battle of Steel Cities. Brett Favre would throw 3 TDs before being replaced late by Danny Kannell, who would add 2 more as it was total domination by the Stallions.
NOR 18 CHI 6
Chicago’s defense came to play, but the Breakers held the Machine out of the endzone and came away with the win thanks to one huge play, a 93-yard TD strike from Dilfer to Raynard Brown that broke the defensive stalemate wide open. Chicago would convert only 2 third downs and earn a total of 7 all game as the Breaker defense limited them to only 19 yards rushing. At 7-8, the Machine can still make the playoffs with a win this week, but at present sit outside the Top 6 in the West.
STL 26 MGN 13
The Knights doubled up the Panthers and knocked Michigan from the ranks of playoff contenders with a solid defensive performance. Michigan was limited to only 63 yards rushing on the day, whereas league leader Ahman Green added 138 yards on 26 carries to his season total. St. Louis controls their destiny, with a win next week giving them the Central Division Crown for the 3rd straight year.
OAK 9 DEN 10
Denver’s offense struggled against a pretty unsound Invader D, but they still managed to get the home win thanks to their defense. Oakland managed a total of 187 offensive yards, including only 59 on the ground as the Denver defense earned this win for the home team.
SEA 13 LA 28
An untimely loss for the Dragons, but a huge win for the Express, who now can clinch a playoff spot with a win next week at Portland. LA got one of its better defensive performances of the year, despite giving up 103 yards to Corey Dillon. They built up a 28-3 lead early in the 3rd quarter and cruised to a pretty convincing win, thanks to 2 scores each from HB Antowain Smith and WR Tory Holt.
POR 17 ARZ 48
While not mathematically assured, Arizona now has about a 91% chance of making the postseason thanks to a big home win against the Thunder, a revenge game for the only win on Portland’s season, an upset of the Wranglers in Week 11. The Wranglers were out for blood in this one, and the Portland scheme of shadowing Jake Plummer failed miserably as Plummer rushed 11 times for 124 yards and 2 scores, adding to his 221 yards passing and 4 passing TDs. It was a game in which Arizona clearly played angry, and that anger may have just helped them reach their season goal of a playoff return.
TEX 13 HOU 6
In a battle of two teams suffering through lost seasons, both the Gamblers and Outlaws looked uninspired. The Gamblers sacked Kelly Stouffer 6 times, including a 3-sack day from Kavika Pittman, but their offense was miserable, limited to 2 field goals as the game’s lone touchdown, a Reggie Cobb run, was enough for the Outlaws to get the road victory.
Late season injuries are, of course, never welcome, and even less so for clubs hoping to tune up for the postseason. There were several potentially damaging losses this week. Orlando has lost guard Mike Verstegen for the year thanks to a torn quad muscle. Memphis likewise took a hit on the O-line as tackle Anthony Clement will miss any playoff run. Orlando is hoping LB Dante Jones can return in 2 weeks, but his sprained knee could cost him the playoffs as well. Ohio goes into their pivotal Week 16 game without SS Harlon Barnett due to a ruptured disk in his back that will have him out up to a month. New Orleans will be without TE David Lafleur for at least 2 weeks, so a possible return if they appear in the divisional round. Seattle guard Jeno James is listed as Doubtful for their big game against Denver, while Denver could miss CB Deral Boykin as he is doubtful with severe migraines.
JAKE THE SNAKE DOES IT AGAIN
Sure, the Arizona Wranglers are sitting on the fringe of playoff position, but despite the team’s obvious issues, if Jake Plummer does not win league MVP, there is no justice. No player has taken a team completely on his shoulders like Plummer has before. He did it again this week, in stunning fashion. In Arizona’s 48-17 romp, a win that moved them to 8-7 and so very close to a Wild Card berth, Plummer was not only the team’s leading passer with a 14/20, 221 yard, 4 TD day, but he also was the driving force in the run game, rushing the ball 11 times for 124 yards and 2 more TDs, accounting for all 6 Arizona TDs. His TD runs were not dive plays either, they were a 77-yard masteripiece and an equally impressive 33 yard run late in the game.
Plummer currently has a passer rating of 96.6, with 26 TDs and is closing in on 4,000 yards. This is not 1st in any of those categories, but it is among the leaders, and no one else on the QB rankings has had the responsibility of leading their club in rushing. Plummer has. Plummer has carried the ball 137 times for over 700 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. 15 TOUCHDOWNS!!! That is an astounding number for a QB. He has simply been a one-man wrecking crew for the Wranglers, and while some teams have been able to contain him, he has also demonstrated that he can take over a game and almost single-handedly take over a game.
LOOKING AT AWARD LEADERS
So if we give the MVP award to Plummer, which seems more than fair this year, what does that mean for the other awards? Offensive POTY is likely to go to a halfback, as each of the top 3 halfbacks, Ahman Green, Corey Dillon, and Rashaan Salaam have been dynamic parts of their team’s strong playoff seasons. Whichever leads the league in rushing is likely to get the nod this year, in part because the other top QB’s are either on losing teams (Favre in Birmingham), or are unlikely candidates to repeat (Memphis’s Shuler). The one potential wrench in this prediction is if Terrell Davis finds a way to jump up to #1 despite the Maulers’ woes. That seems unlikely as Green leads the league with 1,461 yards and Davis sits nearly 200 yards behind him at 1,276. The back most likely to steal away the title from Green is Dillon, who is only 52 yards back. Any of the three are truly deserving of the recognition, but the easy call seems to be to go with the one who ends the year with the most yards.
Defensive Player of the Year could be a tough call. It seemed easier when Chris Doleman of the division-leading Orlando Renegades was atop the sack leader list, but with Kavika Pittman’s 3 sacks this week, the Gambler DE has taken over the league. But, despite the brilliance of both Pittman and his teammate, Michael Sinclair, we just don’t see the MVP title going to a player on a 4- or 5-win club. Doleman could still snag the title, particularly if he ends the year either tied or 1 up on Pittman. Another potential contender is Arizona’s Broderick Thomas, currently second in the league with 128 tackles, but also with 4 sacks and 27 tackles for loss. CB Fred Weary leads the league with 7 picks, but he is something of an unknown and we all know how much name recognition can impact votes. If the Stallions were in the playoff mix, then Deion Sanders, with his 5 picks and 29 passes defended, would be a strong candidate, but the Stallions failed to put together the kind of season that would garner Defensive POTY votes. So, Doleman is the frontrunner, with Broderick Thomas, and maybe Weary as a dark horse.
Turning to Rookie of the Year, Reuben Droughns of Washington has made a late push and his 799 yards rushing with 8 TDs is impressive for a player who spent most of the year platooning with veteran Barry Word, but it is well below the 1,173 yards that Baltimore’s Ron Dayne has racked up as the undisputed #1 back for the Blitz. Dayne adds 6 TDs as well and could be the most likely offensive player chosen. But, John Abraham, the Seattle DE should also get a look. In addition to his impressive 16 sacks this year, Abraham has also proven invaluable on run defense, a true 3-down lineman. He has 41 tackles to go with his QB sacks and pressures. Our best guess is Dayne, just because offense tends to get more attention with voters, but Abraham would also be a very worthy candidate.
Finally, debating the Coach of the Year will be a post-season hobby for many football pundits. First year coaches like New Orleans’s Mike Nolan or Philadelphia’s Jim Mora Jr. seem the likely choices, and with Mora’s Stars locking up the Atlantic, as well as the sentiment factor among voters who love his father (Head Coach in Memphis) we have to say that Mora is the favorite. That said, the job that Nolan has done in New Orleans is nothing short of spectacular. Similarly, the season that Seattle has had under Joe Tiller has certainly been worthy of consideration as well, but the sheer shock of the rise of both the Stars and Breakers means one of those two coaches, both in their first seasons with the team, have to be the frontrunners.
KUDOS ALL AROUND
With one week left, and several starters likely to be rested or protected among clubs that are out of playoff contention, it seems a good time to give kudos to some outstanding players on some pretty poor teams. No team is without talent in the USFL, so while their overall record may not be great, here is our pick for the player of the year on each of the 9 teams already eliminated from playoff contention:
Birmingham Stallions (7-8): WR Lawrence Dawsey—With Ernest Givens on and off the injury list, Dawsey has been the best receiver for the Stallions for several years now. Yes, we could again congratulate Brett Favre for his season, but Dawsey is more worthy of attention. He has already gained over 1,400 yards on only 59 receptions (an excellent 23.9 YPC average) and that includes 15 touchdowns, the 4th straight season at 14 or more scores. Those are All-league numbers to be sure.
Tampa Bay Bandits (6-9): HB Errict Rhett—Yes, Randy Moss is exciting to watch, and DE Santana Dotson has finally brought some pass rush to the Bandit defense, but the year Errict Rhett had is outstanding and deserves this recognition. Rhett’s 1,276 yards rushing is impressive enough, a Top 5 total with 1 week left to play. He also leads all rushers with 18 touchdowns. And as if that were not enough, Rhett is an outstanding receiver, with 24 receptions for 203 yards and 2 more scores on the year. He is the best dual threat back in the league this year.
Texas Outlaws (5-10): LB Jerrol Williams—We are going with a truly unheralded hero for the Outlaws here. Jerrol Williams, in his 11 seasons, has never garnered much attention, but this year he leads the Outlaws with 106 tackles, and also has 7 sacks on the season. It has been a breakout season for Williams, who only started 7 games last year due to injury, and whose best season was a 96 tackle campaign in 1994. He has had a long career with Texas, coming to the Outlaws after 1 season in Chicago, but he has never been a true standout. That all changed this year, a season which could be his last, but what a way to go out.
Oakland Invaders (4-11): G Brenden Stai—It could be seen as a sign of just how bad the Invaders have been this year that we could not find a single “hands” player or defensive stud to celebrate here, but the truth is that Brendan Stai deserves something few interior linemen ever get, praise. Stai has been a silent force on the Invader line. In 15 starts he has an outstanding 62 pancake blocks and has yet to give up a single sack, which is truly amazing, especially considering Ryan Leaf’s penchant for holding the ball far too long.
Houston Gamblers (4-11): DE Kavika Pittman—We really could and should celebrate both Pittman and Michael Sinclair, since Sinclair only trails Pittman by 1 sack and could finish the year tied with him. But we are going to single out Pittman because he not only has huge sack numbers (21 in 15 games) but he is also stalwart against the run (61 tackles to Sinclair’s 41). He has also forced 6 fumbles this year. If only the rest of the club was as good as the Gambler pass rush is.
New Jersey Generals (3-12): HB Curtis Enis—Sure, we could praise Phil Hansen yet again for yet another 20-sack year, but the Generals’ defense has been nothing to celebrate as a whole, and while the offense has also had issues, Enis has been a steady hand, and a reliable source of yards for the club. He came into the league in 1998 and rushed for 901 yards as a rookie. Last season he boosted that to 1,019 yards, and this year he is already at 1,120 and could reach 1,200 with a good final game. There are a lot of issue in New Jersey, but the HB position is not one of them thanks to Enis’s continued development.
Atlanta Fire (3-12): DE Bruce Smith—The Fire have made a lot of questionable personnel decisions since coming into the league in 1995, but the signing this offseason of former Buffalo Bills great Bruce Smith was not one of them. Smith made an instant impact, and his 19 sacks are among the league leaders. He is a coach on the field as well, motivating the Atlanta defenders, and while their current ranking of 14th in both points allowed and yardage is hardly the 1985 Bears, it is a huge upgrade over past years. Can Smith give Atlanta 2-3 more seasons? That is debatable, but for 2000 he has been an outstanding addition.
Pittsburgh Maulers (3-12): WR Andre Rison—We could have gone with 1,300-yard rusher Terrell Davis, but he was expected to be good after winning the rushing title last season. Rison, despite some off-field issues which continue to plague him, and despite QB play from Charlie Batch that has been “inconsistent” (a kind way to say it), has been a light in a very dark season. Rison has been solid all 3 years with Pittsburgh, but this year he took it up a notch. After 15 weeks he sits at 4,159 yards and has 11 TDs for a club that simply does not score that many points. Get some development from Batch next year and he could become a true superstar for the Maulers.
Portland Thunder (1-14): LB Mark Simoneau—The Thunder do not have much to celebrate, with a 1-win season after 15 weeks, the 23rd ranked offense, and the 23rd ranked defense, there has been an avalanche of bad in their season. But if there is one bright spot it is the development of rookie LB Mark Simoneau. In his first pro campaign, the K-State product has racked up 101 tackles, including 10 for a loss. Yes, he has gotten a lot of opportunities as the Thunder are last in the league in producing 3-and-out series, but he has been a solid tackler and has shown good instincts on the field. Too bad he is about as good as anyone on Portland has been all year long.
Here is where we stand with 1 week left to play. Philadelphia is the only division winner to clinch their title, guaranteeing the Stars a bye week and a home playoff game. A win this week against Baltimore and they will have also locked up the #1 seed in the East, which means the playoffs would run through the very hostile Veterans Stadium crowd only 1 year after the Stars finished in the basement of the Atlantic Division.
Orlando and Memphis are locked up at 11-4 and they face each other this week in what will be an amazing game to be sure. The winner will get the division title, the bye, and a lot of momentum heading into the postseason. The loser could fall as far as to the 5th seed and a road game if other games break against them.
Out West Denver holds a 1-game lead on Seattle, so they control their fate. A win in the huge matchup with the Dragons in Week 16 and the Gold have home field throughout the playoffs and the much-desired bye. A loss and it comes down to tiebreakers. Both teams would have identical 7-1 division records, an identical 10-2 conference record, and would have a 1-1 season record against each other. That would mean it comes down to scoring margin, where Denver is currently + 98 and Seattle sits at +66, so Seattle would not only need a win, but a win by over 30 points to wrest the crown from Denver. But even if their odds are long, the Dragons would love to go into the playoffs with the confidence a win against Denver would give them.
In the Central, St. Louis and New Orleans are also locked up, both clubs at 11-4 and both guaranteed a playoff spot. The thing is, unlike Denver-Seattle or Memphis-Orlando, the two do not play each other. St. Louis is home against Chicago (also needing a win for playoff contention), while the Breakers play host to the 4-11 Houston Gamblers. If both win, the tie goes to St. Louis thanks to their superior division record. New Orleans can only steal back the division title if the Machine upset St. Louis in the dome.
We also have 3 Wild Card slots up for grabs next week. Ohio, Arizona, and Los Angeles all control their own destiny. Win and they are in. Ohio has a good shot of getting that win as they visit a dispirited 3-11 Mauler squad in Pittsburgh. Arizona is also facing a down & out club, the 4-11 Oakland Invaders, while Los Angeles has perhaps the best assignment, a visit to 1-14 Portland. So, what does that mean? It means that Chicago not only needs to beat the Knights in St. Louis, but also needs for either Portland or Oakland to step up and score an upset. Likewise, Jacksonville needs to get the win in Birmingham and hope that Ohio stumbles against the Maulers. The odds do not look good for either the Machine or the Bulls right now.
Earlier in the season we looked at the players who were in the final year of their contracts and we commented that over the final weeks of the season clubs would be scrambling to get some of the biggest names in the game signed. We have seen just that, but that still leaves some big names unsigned. With only 1 week left to sign players before their contracts end and they become free agents, we thought it would be a good idea to review who has signed and who is still potentially hitting the market. Here is each club’s list of top signings and potential free agents with 1 week before the signing deadline:
CLUB | RESIGNED VETS | POTENTIAL FREE AGENTS |
ARZ | DE C. Okeafor HB D. Levins LB W. Tubbs QB J. Plummer | CB A. Williams CB K. Minnifield DT R. Maryland TE M. Breuner WR R. Ismail |
ATL | CB T. Legette FS T. Hauck LB R. Godfrey | HB G. Milburn P B. Moorman SS R. Blackmon |
BAL | C M. Ellliott CB C. McCallister DT J. Randle | DE M. Piel SS L. Malloy TE K. McKeller WR T. Dwight |
BIR | C M. Flanagan DT M. Wells T. M. Hayes | G E. King LB C. Bennett DT B. Whiting |
CHI | DE S. Rice DT S. Gilbert HB D. Staley QB R. Lucas WR J. Morton | CB A. Grant CB C. Abraham HB R. Watters T J. Wright |
DEN | DE M. Wiley G T. Semple LB C. Cowart QB M. Brunell | DT J. Manley FS J. King QB B. Musgrave T. A. Meadows WR T. Vanover |
HOU | DT L. Renfro G T. Kaliss QB M. Hasselbeck | CB A. Ambrose
HB M. Greer
LB P. Swilling
LB Q. Coryatt
WR B. Perriman
|
JAX | G M. O’Dwyer HB S. Irvin LB J. Armstead QB D. Wuerfel | C B. Miller FS M. Carrier TE S. Johnson WR P. Rowe |
LA | SS C. Lake TE F. Wycheck | CB Vince Buck P C. Hanson T B. Williams TE R. Dudley |
MEM | DT N. Hand G M. Hutson LB S. Barber | C C. Wilson DE M. Mamula LB J. Mott WR L. Tillman |
MGN | C D. Ziegler CB C. Canty FS M. Prior QB D. Flutie | DE R. Turnbull K B. Conway LB F. Stams QB E. Grbac |
NJ | LB B. Houston LB B. Howard SS J. Sehorn | G C. Lacina HB L. Warren LB L. Styles SS E. McMillian |
NOR | DE C. Ahanotu LB L. Lathon SS D. Bush WR A. Zahir-Hakeem | C B. Brauninger DE J. Reese FS D. Woodson HB E. Pegram |
OAK | DT T. Johnson WR E. McCaffrey LB K. Wong | DT T. Rocker G J. Patton HB S. Stacy QB C. Conklin |
OHI | CB M. Riley DT L. Glover FS P. Terrell | DT T. Stephens HB D. Thompson LB A. Beavers SS K. Kramer WR C. Tillman |
ORL | DE C. Doleman FB C. Fuamata-Ma’afala WR K. McCardell | DT J. Steed HB M. Williams LB D. Jones TE D. Whittaker SS L. Butler |
PHI | DE R. Upshaw QB B. Hebert HB S. Davis | DT L. Lett SS C. Chavous TE E. Green WR K. Dyson |
PIT | CB B. Taylor CB P. Surtain SS S. Shade | CB Q. Jones DT M. Gardner FS J. Woods HB T. Banks WR L. Hill |
POR | DE H. Douglas | C J. Uhlenake CB J. Hitchcock HB J. Henley SS J. Cherry T H. Webster |
STL | QB T. Collins K R. Longwell HB A. Green | DT J. Ball FS J. Watkins G C. Villareal HB K. Abdul-Jabbar |
SEA | HB C. Dillon LB L. Kirkland | G J. Sapolo CB P. Jetton WR D. Hayes |
TBY | CB S. Rolle DE S. Dotson LB K. Mitchell | QB T. Aikman CB D. Gordon G C. Thatcher WR R. Brooks |
TEX | DE J.Bosa HB R. Cobb | HB A. Detson QB K. Stouffer T J. Mayberry WR D. Scott |
WSH | DT J. Brown | HB L. Smith LB W. Moss T P. Kendall WR M. Williams WR A. Coleman |
Certainly a few surprises on this list. With one week left, not many expected Tampa Bay to ever allow Troy Aikman to test the waters. The same is true for LB Winston Moss in Washington, QB Kelly Stouffer in Texas, DT Jerry Ball in St. Louis, or DT Leon Lett in Philly. Other potential free agents who could cash in large this offseason include SS LeRoy Butler from Memphis, HB Siran Stacy of Oakland, DE Renaldo Turnbull from the Panthers, and WR Brett Perriman of Houston. Don’t be surprised if a few of these guys sign this week, though a couple (including Perriman) seem ready to try somewhere new. There are certainly a lot of talented players on the list, some a bit long in the tooth, but some just coming into their own. And, of course, once the regular season ends it is a free for all between the USFL and NFL for these unsigned players.
We have already run through most of the games as part of our playoff look. The only games unlikely to have any impact on the playoffs are when Tampa Bay visits Orlando and when Michigan heads to Texas. Even the Generals-Federals game could impact playoff positioning for the Feds. And while the Baltimore-Philadelphia game will not change the Atlantic Division title, a Blitz win could cost Philly home field advantage.
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