What is up out west? While the entire Eastern Conference is at or above .500 the West can only manage 3 teams above .500 and has 5 clubs with 1 win or less. That is a huge disparity. Want to understand how weird it is? After starting the year 0-4, a second win for Seattle actually now has them in position for a Wild Card spot. In fact both Seattle at 2-4 and Memphis at 2-3-1 would be in the playoffs for the West if they started today. We also see in the west some of the more unexpected failings as LA is only 2-4, New Orleans is 1-4-1 and the defending conference champions, Arizona, are flailing at 1-5. Meanwhile in the East, New Jersey, the league champions, are 3-3 and are currently the 12th ranked team in the conference. This week’s games show us the oddity that is the division between the two conferences this year.
BANDITS 38 CANNONS 34 OVERTIME
We start this week with one of the best games of the year so far, a Southeastern Division clash between the Bandits and the Cannons in Alumni Stadium. Once again we see a game head to overtime only to have both teams score in the extra period, a unique feature of the USFL that the NFL has not yet adapted. Thanks to the USFL rule that states that both teams must have an opportunity to score unless the first team with possession scores a touchdown has appeared again, and once again the 2nd team, in this case Tampa Bay, dealt with the pressure to score and pulled out the win.
We knew this would be a good one before the game began as both Tampa Bay (3-2) and Boston (3-2) were preseason Summer Bowl favorites, growing rivals, and two of the best offenses in the game. What we did not expect was the role the defenses would play in this one, or the mind-numbing numbers Drew Bledsoe would put up despite seeming like he was on the ground almost every other play.
The game did not start well for the Boston QB, as Tampa Bay scored a field goal on their opening drive, and on Bledsoe’s first pass attempt, he was violently thrown to the ground by Bandit LB Jonathan Vilma. Bledsoe got up, brushed himself off, and proceeded to throw a pick-six to FS Bryan Scott on the very next play. Pressure would be a theme all game long, but after this mistake, Bledsoe would find a way to stand tough in the face of Tampa Bay’s blitzes. He would complete 29 of 40 pass attempts for a whopping 518 yards in the game, throwing 3 picks which helped Tampa Bay stay in the game, but also 3 scores to put the pressure on the Bandits.
Following the pick-six, Bledsoe calmed down, and on Boston’s next drive, he helped move the team down to the Tampa Bay 1 yard line, where Tiki Barber did the rest. Boston would get a pick of Daunte Culpepper four plays later, as the Cannon D stepped up, and Boston would equalize the score at 10-10 with a Jason Elam field goal. That score would hold into halftime, but in the second half the offenses for both teams would make adjustments and find more results.
Each team would score in the 3rd as Daunte Culpepper put Tampa Bay on top with a 37-yard TD to his favorite deep ball receiver, Randy Moss. Boston would respond as well, with Bledsoe taking advantage of Tampa Bay’s aggressive blitz, hitting Tiki Barber on a screen that would go 46 yards for the equalizer.
The 4th quarter would be the most explosive yet, as Tampa Bay opened things up with a Travis Prentice TD run at the 8-minute mark. Boston would respond 3 minutes later, with Bledsoe hitting Chad Ochocinco for another equalizing score. Tampa Bay responded again, this time slowing things down and scoring with 1:42 left to play on Travis Prentices’s 2nd score of the day. Prentice, who stepped in when Willis McGahee limped off the field with an apparent ankle injury, would finish with 74 yards and 2 scores for the Bandits.
Boston went into their 2-minute mode, and it paid off as once again Drew Bledsoe connected with Chad Ochocinco for the equalizer. The game would be headed to overtime. Boston won the toss, and hoped to end the game on the first drive, but on a key 3rd and goal from the 9, Tampa’s Samari Rolle was sent on a risky corner blitz, but got to Bledsoe just as he was starting his throwing motion. Initially ruled a fumble, Boston challenged and won the overturn. Incomplete pass, Boston’s ball, 4th and goal. They went for the sure points and Elam’s kick put them up 3, 34-31.
But, the field goal meant that Tampa Bay would have one more shot to win the game. The Bandits were up to the challenge, moving the ball well with two Prentice runs and a Culpepper completion to Chris Doering, to place the ball at their own 44. On 1st and 10 from the 44, Culpepper faked the ball to Prentice, Boston’s SS bit on the fake, and that slight hesitation allowed slot receiver Karl Williams to get a step on him. Culpepper hit him in stride with the seam route, and Williams was off to the races. A last gasp dive by cornerback Fred Smoot was just short and Williams stumbled his way into the endzone for the game winner in a thrilling Tampa Bay victory. With the win, and a surprising loss by the Bulls, Tampa Bay now stands all alone in first place at 4-2 in the Southeast. Boston falls back to 3-3 with a tough home loss, but what we may have seen here was the first big salvo in what could be a great rivalry this season.
RENEGADES 29 BULLS 26
We mentioned Jacksonville’s unexpected loss, as Orlando pulled off the 3-point win on the road to move to 3-2-1, but the result was worse than the score indicates, because Jacksonville had a 26-14 lead with only 3 minutes to go before a furious Orlando rally cost them the game. Jeff Blake, who had run for 2 scores earlier in the game, found Ricky Dudley for a score with 2:17 left to play. After a successful onside kick, the former NFL castoff did it again, this time connecting with Keenan McCardell for the winning score in the waning seconds of the game. Blake would end the week as the league’s Offensive POTW, throwing for 265 and totaling 4 TDs in the game.
FEDERALS 23 BLITZ 20
In the East, Washington edged their rivals in Baltimore to bring the Blitz back down to the crowd, and creating a 3-way tie for first at 4-4. Despite 147 yards from HB Ron Dayne, the Blitz found themselves down 23-13 late, and even a late score could not pull them back. The key to the game was the ability of backup Jon Kitna to step in for an injured Kordell Stewart and drive Washington to what would prove to be the game winner, a 2-yard slant to Deion Branch.
STARS 31 GENERALS 24
Philadelphia staked their claim to a portion of the 4-2 jumble atop the Northeast by knocking off the defending league champs in East Rutherford. Philly, like Orlando, also trailed in the 4th, but scored the final 14 points against a tired Generals defense to take the W. Kurt Warner looked every bit the quarterback who had once led the “Greatest Show on Turf”, throwing for 4 scores, and Ahman Green did what he does, averaging 4.9 yards per carry on his way to 107 for the day.
GLORY 23 PANTHERS 30
Call it a trap game. Call it parity. But what it was is a huge win for the Panthers as they not only move to .500 at 3-3, but also knock Ohio from the ranks of the unbeaten. A Drew Brees TD to Laverneus Coles, followed by a 2-point conversion, gave Michigan the 7-point lead with only 1:01 left to play. It was Coles’s 2nd TD of the day, and Ohio did not have time to recover, despite Kerry Collins throwing for 395 and both Galloway and Troy Brown gaining over 130 yards each.
KNIGHTS 20 GOLD 26
Denver moved to 5-1, tied for the best record in the league, with a home victory against a tough Nashville squad. Frank Gore rushed for 110 and a score for the Knights, but Mark Brunell’s 2 TD passes to Peerless Price proved to be too much. Denver finished the game off with three straight Jeff Wilkens field goals in the 4th quarter as Nashville’s D bent but did not break. Their offense, however, could do nothing in the altitude as Denver dominated play in the final period.
GAMBLERS 26 EXPRESS 17
Houston moved their record to 4-2 thanks to another strong game from Matt Hasselbeck. The comeback QB completed 24 of 28 throws and connected on 3 touchdowns, including 2 to his favorite target, Antonio Freeman. LA struggled to sustain drives, going 2 of 9 on third down for the game despite DeShaun Foster averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He would finish with 14 carries for 88 yards, but it was not enough to keep LA from falling to 2-4.
INVADERS 24 SHOWBOATS 28
Oakland’s fast start was one of the stories of the early season, but they were stunned by the Showboats at the Liberty Bowl on Saturday. Maurice Smith split carries with rookie Cadillac Williams as the duo combined for 96 yards rushing and 2 scores to help upend the Invaders. Adrian Cooper and WR Lee Evans also scored for the ‘Boats as they garnered their second win and now sit only 1 game under .500 at 2-3-1.
WRANGLERS 20 DRAGONS 27
The troubles for Arizona keep mounting as they fall short in Seattle, giving the Dragons their second consecutive win after an 0-4 start to the season. Duce Staley and Stanley Pritchett combined for only 41 yards rushing as Arizona’s offense sputtered all game long. For Seattle, Cody Pickett got the start for an injured Byron Leftwich and produced 3 TDs. He got help from his run game as Corey Dillon and tiny Darren Sproles combined for 113 yards on the ground.
STALLIONS 20 OUTLAWS 23 OVERTIME
The battle of winless teams went to the home squad as Texas had just enough to get past the Stallions, sending Birmingham to its worst start in franchise history at 0-6. Birmingham had built a 14-0 lead on TDs from Shaun Alexander and Marcus Robinson, but Texas fought their way back, and scored the winning points in overtime on Rian Lindell’s 3rd field goal of the day.
THUNDER 10 BREAKERS 17
New Orleans also broke into the win column for the first time this season, knocking off the Las Vegas Thunder in the Super Dome. Neither team looked particularly adept at moving the ball as Las Vegas and the Breakers combined had fewer offensive yards than Boston QB Drew Bledsoe. Despite the W, Breaker QB Eli Manning hear a fair share of boo birds on the field as he completed only 12 of 25 passes.
MAULERS 3 MACHINE 30
Alex Van Pelt did not fare well against the Machine defense, getting sacked 5 times, hit about 10 more, and throwing two picks as Chicago dominated this game from beginning to end. Jeff George threw for 2 scores, and HB Michael Turner rushed for another as the Machine looked very machine-like in their efficiency. At 5-1, Chicago now has the best record in the East, tied with Ohio atop the Central Division.
Big Offseason Moves Paying Dividends
We had a very active offseason, and six weeks into the 2005 season it seems that some of the moves have paid off big, while others may have doomed teams to a less-than-spectacular year. Here are the moves that shook things up and those that just stunk things up.
Stars Landing Kurt Warner and Ahman Green
The Stars came into the offseason ready to make huge changes to their team, and those moves have proven essential to changing expectations and changing the culture in Philadelphia. From signing on a young coach with pro experience as an All-Pro QB to bringing in both the best HB in free agency and a former NFL MVP at quarterback, the Stars have a whole new feel to them compared to the squad that won, 3, 4, and 5 games the past 3 seasons.
Philly now has a Top 10 offense, ranked 2nd in rushing, as well as a top 10 defense, rated #1 against the rush. We should pause and speak to that, because it was not just Green and Warner that have added to this team, but Philadelphia also added talent on defense, signing SS Reggie Tongue, LB Zach Thomas, and drafting DT Jonathan Babineaux, all of whom have had an impact. Tongue is 4th on the team with 24 tackles, Thomas is 2nd with 27, and Babineaux has been in the rotation with Seth Payne and Kendrick Clancy since week one.
Denver Spending Spree
The Gold were another squad that changed gears, breaking their frugal tendencies to spend big this offseason. They landed LB Kendrell Bell and DT Tommy Harris in a trade with the Generals, then added CB Ray Crockett, WR J.J. Stokes, TE Lonnie Johnson, and C Mike Flanagan in free agency. Finally, they drafted at key positions, landing longhorn HB Cedrick Benson, Uva guard Elton Brown, LB Barrett Rudd of Nebraska, and CB Reynaldo Hill from Florida. Bell has had an immediate impact, with 33 tackles and 5 sacks in his first five games in a black and gold uniform. Ray Crockett has 2 picks and 29 tackles for the Gold, and Tommy Harris has helped shore up the run defense in the middle.
The offensive acquisitions have also been key, with Benson splitting carries with Rod Smart as he learns the pro game and J.J. Stokes serving as the perfect deep threat to free up Peerless Price underneath. Stokes has 26 receptions in 6 games, for 405 yards and 3 scores. The other addition on offense, TE Lonnie Johnson, has also started strong, with 17 receptions and a score. Denver is 5-1 and looking like a clear playoff favorite thank to the new members of the squad and the steady hand of Head Coach Dick Jauron.
Memphis Getting Shuler Some Weapons
The Showboats may not have the best record, sitting at 2-3-1 after 6 weeks, but they have shown some signs of growing quality in their play. Rookie Cadillac Williams is second among the rookies, with 352 yards on the ground, while former Express HB Maurice Smith has proven a very capable spot player, averaging 4.2 yards on his 45 carries this year. The Showboats brought in Robert Ferguson to be the new primary target, but Ferguson has been hampered by injuries. So far he has only 17 targets, producing 10 caches for 144 yards. But, the presence of Ferguson has helped free up others, like TE Adrian Cooper, and Memphis’s break out player this season, WR Lee Evans, who already has 28 receptions for 408 yards.
The big defensive signing has been rookie MLB Kirk Morrison, who has had an immediate impact, with 26 tackles so far this season. The other defensive revelation has been SS Coy Wire, with 32 tackles, 2 picks, and a sack in 6 games. Memphis got Wire in trade from Chicago, and that deal so far has definitely leaned Memphis’s way.
Oakland Taking a Shot on Williams
The Invaders took another shot at a player with some disciplinary issues by signing Ricky Williams even before he was removed from league suspension. Williams has 3 TDs and is averaging 4 yards per carry, but what is interesting is that his arrival seems to have sparked Justin Fargas to pick up his game, rushing for 336 yards in 6 games. But before we give all the credit to Williams, we should remember that Oakland also brought in former General LT Matt Light. The tackle has been pivotal in helping Oakland move from the lower third of the league in scoring (2004) to currently ranking as the #3 club in the entire league. Protecting less-than-agile Trent Green has helped the passing game, and his run blocking has helped both Williams and Fargas make a difference this season.
Seattle Fire Sale Stunted Early Season
On the other end of the spectrum from teams like Philly, Denver, Memphis or Oakland we have the Seattle Dragons, a quality playoff club in 2004 that got struck by the cap and had to sell off a ton of talent. Out the door, via trade or free agency, went CB Willie Middlebrooks, G Edwin Mulitalo, T Jeff Backus, QB Jeff Garcia, DE Lorenzo Bromell, HB Brian Mitchell, LB Barry Minter, and kicker Jay Feely. And with little to no cap room left, there was not a lot of talent brought in. The result? A team that struggled to either put up points or prevent their opponents from doing so and a 4-game losing streak to open the season. Seattle has made some adjustments and are now winners of 2 straight, but clearly the depth and the talent level took a hit this offseason.
New Jersey Suffers Post Title Raiding
It is not uncommon for a league champion to be picked apart in the following offseason. Fresh off a title run, many players seek bigger deals and take the money where they can find it. And, since the team is seen as successful with their championship run, everyone wants a piece to try to replicate that team’s success. New Jersey also had major cap issues, forcing them to make somewhat lopsided deals, such as sending Bell and Harris to Denver for a pair of picks. New Jersey also lost 2 stalwarts on the O-Line, with LT Matt Light headed to Oakland and G Matt O’Dwyer signing with the NFL. Add to this the retirement of Phil Hansen and Jason Sehorn, and the free agent losses they took (Todd Boumann, Donald Hayes, Light) and you can see why the club is sitting at 3-3 and struggling to find consistency.
The One Move Each USFL Team Needs To Make
We see this season the impact a good or bad offseason can have on a team. It can spring a bottom dweller into the playoff mix, or take a division champion and humble them. We are still 3 months from the 2005-2006 offseason, but with this fall providing the extra challenge of an expansion draft, teams have to be planning now to determine their priorities, the players they will retain, and who they might opt to let go. As we look at each club, we highlight one move each team needs to make in the next few months to position themselves for the future.
ARIZONA: The no-brainer for Arizona is that they have to sign Jake Plummer before the offseason. Plummer is the heart and soul of the club. Sure, they struggle to run the ball (again!!) and the defense seems to have fallen apart, but without Plummer safely signed for what should be his prime years (29-34 years old), the Wranglers will lose their core.
ATLANTA: As much as fans are going to obsess about the QB position for the expansion club, the key to the Fire getting off to a good start is how they draft for linemen. If the Fire can build both the offensive and defensive line, they will have a better start than the 1995 version that swooned over UGA QB Eric Zeier and then could not protect him.
BALTIMORE: The Baltimore resurgence is largely one of defensive fortitude. They have jumped up from the bottom of the league to the top 5 in both points and yards allowed. The key this offseason is to build on that success. The one move they can make to do this would be to sign, either in free agency or a good draft, an elite pass rusher. This may mean trading some talent or picks to move up in the draft, because there are some potential stars in the making in NC State’s Mario Williams, FSU’s Kamerion Wimbley, and Penn State’s Tamba Hali.
BIRMINGHAM: The Stallions believe they have a QB to build around in Jason Campbell. So now they need to build. With Lawrence Dawsey expected to retire after this season, that leaves Joe Horn, Marcus Robinson, and James Thrash, which is a pretty good trio. So, what the Stallions most need to do is to acquire help on the O-line, where Jeff Backus and Nat Dorsey have struggled this season at tackle.
BOSTON: As obvious as it is that the Cannons need to resign Tiki Barber, the truth is that they have 2 irreplaceable starters, because Drew Bledsoe’s contract also expires at the end of the season. They need both of them under contract, which means more talent may have to be jettisoned in order to make the cap.
CHICAGO: The Machine are in a good place when it comes to contracts this year, but there is one concern they should take seriously. Jeff George is not getting any younger, and we are not sure the Machine is prepared to groom someone behind him. They have Ray Lucas and Tony Banks as backups, but neither is a likely heir to the starter’s position. Does Chicago go for a QB in the draft with the hope that he can learn from George for a year or two? This is a decent QB draft in 2006, with Texas’s Vince Young, USC’s Matt Leinert, Vandy’s Jay Cutler, and Oregon’s Kellen Clemens all projected as potential NFL or USFL first rounders.
DENVER: The Gold are in a similar position with a QB who will turn 36 before the end of the season. For the Gold, the question is whether 2005 draft pick Dereck Anderson looks like a potential heir, or will the Gold need to invest in the future with a QB move?
HOUSTON: The big question for Houston is the run game (not a new concern). The rotation of Bell, Anderson and Anthony Thomas is not scaring anyone, a big reason why Matt Hasselbeck is throwing the ball as much as he is. Will there be a big back in free agency? There always seems to be at least one. If not, will Houston take a shot at a rookie like USC’s Reggie Bush or Minnesota’s Laurence Maroney to add more of a run threat to their offense?
JACKSONVILLE: The question in Jacksonville is what to do at QB. They are likely to be able to protect only 1 QB from the expansion draft. Will they stick with starter Jake Delhomme, or intriguing young prospect Josh McNown. It feels like we have seen all from Delhomme that we can expect, while McCown seems to have a lot of untapped potential. They can keep only 1.
LAS VEGAS: We would not be shocked to see Las Vegas move on from Aaron Brooks, allowing him to go free in the expansion draft. The signing of CFL starter Henry Burris could be a transitional move, or Las Vegas could look to the draft and try for one of the top QB prospects. All accounts have the Thunder likely to land a Top 5 pick, and with the T-Draft being reworked with the expansion, there will be fewer big-name QB’s off the board when the Thunder have their open draft pick in the 1st round.
LOS ANGELES: LA does not have a lot of contracts coming due this year, but they have one they absolutely have to renew, that of left tackle Jonathan Ogden. Ogden is the consensus #1 LT in the league today, and the Express, despite all their shortcomings, cannot let Ogden go elsewhere. Resigning the big man is key, so much so, that we would not be surprised to see Cade McNown take a pay cut just to free up funds to resign his bodyguard.
MEMPHIS: We fully expect Memphis and QB Heath Shuler to come to an agreement on an extension that will take him into the final years of his contract. No way does Memphis turn the reins over to Bill Musgrave or Mike McMahon. So, what can they do to help Shuler get back to form? Seems O-line improvements would help both Shuler and young HB Cadillac Williams. Guard is the weak spot, with youth but very imbalanced play in both run blocking and pass protection. Signing a top veteran to lead these young guards could be a huge move for the Showboats.
MICHIGAN: It has to be about the run game, or lack thereof. Chris Perry is just not panning out as a full time back, and even when he shares carries with Ladell Betts, the big runs are just not coming. Michigan needs to move on and try again to find a true bell cow back. We would love to see them trade for an elite back, even if it costs them some picks. If Tiki Barber, for instance, holds out for more than Boston can afford, a move by Michigan to trade picks for the elite back would be wise for both teams.
NASHVILLE: For years now the Knights have had an elite run game (Gore is doing his best impression of Ahman Green this year) and an elite defense. The weak spot has been QB Todd Collins. He is not awful, but he is also not the guy who can take Nashville from the Wild Card Round hell they have been in almost every year to a championship ring. With Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt likely to be protected by Nashville in the “shrunken” T-Draft this year, the time might be now to move on.
NEW JERSEY: The Generals had their fire sale this offseason, and it deeply impacted their O-line. They need to upgrade at both LT and LG, so we see that as their offseason priority. Get the line right so that Brady has time to do his precision passing, and so that Curtis Enis can average more than 4 yards a carry and the Generals will be right back in the mix.
NEW ORLEANS: As much as the fans are getting down on Eli Manning, we look at New Orleans and ask what exactly Manning has to work with. The Troy Davis/Olandis Gary backfield is one of the worst rushing attacks in the game, and a receiving corps of Az-Zahir Hakeem, Josh Reed, and Bobby Engram is just not explosive enough to allow Manning to utilize his talents. The Breakers need to use the expansion draft protected pool to retain their best defenders, their QB, and their best O-linemen and then rebuild the HB/TE/WR groups with a lot of offseason moves.
OAKLAND: The Invaders seem to be moving in the right direction, but they have to find a way to resign Plaxico Burress. There just is not a lot behind him in the WR corps. Taylor Jacobs has been a nice surprise, but they need more. They should sign and then protect Burress in the expansion draft, and then look for some speed in free agency. A rookie like Ohio State’s Santonio Holmes or Florida’s Chad Jackson could be a big piece of the puzzle, if Oakland can get to either in the first round.
OHIO: Look at whose contracts expire this year and you can understand if Ohio’s GM is popping a lot of Tums this year. Eddie George, Kerry Collins, Stephen Alexander, and T Roman Oben are all up for new deals. We know the emphasis will be Collins and George, but what does that mean for the rest of the roster. Those two will be so (rightfully) expensive that once again Ohio may have to jettison talent across the roster just to retain them.
ORLANDO: We will not be shocked if Orlando allows Sedrick Irvin to enter the expansion pool. He is solid, but not explosive, will average just under 4 yards, but rarely causes defenses to overload the box. Orlando can do better and they should try to because they seem to be on to something with Jeff Blake as their QB.
PHILADELPHIA: The Stars made massive improvements across the roster this year. Their priority should be to maintain the core. That means resigning FS Anthony Dorsett and DT Seth Payne and prioritizing their defensive talent in the expansion draft protected pool. We know that Warner and Green will be protected, but how many of the allowed slots will the Stars save for other offensive weapons?
PITTSBURGH: Terrell Davis is a free agent as of July, so that seems an obvious move, but DeMetrius DuBose is 35 years old, and could be looking at retirement. Pittsburgh may be smart to let him go in the expansion draft (no guarantee Atlanta or St. Louis would sign him) and then focus on bringing in a young player who hits big, like rookie prospects A.J. Hawk of Ohio State or Ernie Sims of FSU.
SAINT LOUIS: We could give St. Louis the same advice as Atlanta, build from the lines, but we will offer a different bit of wisdom. The Skyhawks should try to land at least 4-5 quality veterans and then build the rest of the roster around players under 26. Landing a veteran QB, MLB, SS, and LT can be essential, and then let others grow into their roles. No one will expect a winning season until year 3 or 4, so there is time to develop players, but you need a veteran presence to teach good habits.
SEATTLE: For a long time Seattle hemmed and hawed at the TE position, favoring Ken Dilger at times, Jeramy Stevens at others. The time is now to fish or cut bait. You cannot protect both TE’s in the expansion draft, and whomever you release to it will almost certainly be selected, so make our choice. Dilfer is 34, Stevens 25, so you know what we are going to say here.
TAMPA BAY: The good news for the Bandits is that most of their upcoming free agents are rotational players or role players. The bad news is that they depend on their depth and overall quality to win games. With the expansion draft, they are sure to lose some key players. Our advice, make some pre-draft trades to move players and pick up more draft picks. At least that way you get something for talented players you might lose to expansion anyway.
TEXAS: They tried to bring in Aaron Rodgers through the draft, that failed. Now they clearly have a rough QB situation with Jeff Lewis struggling and Todd Boumann clearly a backup. So, what should they do? It has to be the draft. And look, right there for them is Vince Young, the dynamic Longhorn QB. The Outlaws should do everything they can to woo Young to their roster. Stand outside his window with a boom box playing some Peter Gabriel if you have to.
WASHINGTON: Charles Woodson, Michael Barrow, Deuce McCallister, Michael Booker, Kordell Stewart, Cam Cleeland, Dwayne Rudd, Greg Spires. That is just a partial list of players whose contracts are coming due this offseason. So the mission is clear, sign as many as you can before they get the chance to leave. Woodson and Barrow are must haves. McCallister and Stewart seem to be in that camp too. That is a lot of money to lock down. Could the Fed’s be this year’s Generals or Dragons, purging large portions of their roster in order to be able to pay the top flight stars before they become free agents?
Chicago lost a key defensive playmaker for the year this week when cornerback R.W. McQuarters went down with a leg injury. X-rays revealed a fracture to the tibia, which means McQuarters is done for the year. With the two next corners on the roster being rookies, Chicago is facing a very uncertain secondary for the rest of the year. Chicago did sign 7-year vet Eric Warfield from the free agent pool, but it will take Warfield time to see the field (we expect), so for now it is 2 rookies in a pass-happy league.
Michigan also lost a key piece of their defense as MLB Andy Katzenmoyer suffered a separated hamstring, meaning he is out at least 8 weeks, which essentially means the season. His spot will be taken by another rookie, Shawne Merriman, while Merriman’s spot now goes to a 3rd rookie, Odell Thurman. That gives Michigan 3 rookies and a free agent signee, Scott Fujita, in their top 4 LB slots.
Pittsburgh got only slightly better news about CB Dre Bly, who suffered a hamstring injury as well. Bly could be back in time for the final 2-3 games of the season. The Maulers also learned that WR Nate Burleson would be out for 2-4 weeks, meaning that they will be starting two rookies at the wideout position with Vincent Jackson on one side and Mike Williams on the other. Expect to see a lot of Trvis Taylor and Antwan Randle-El on the field as well.
Other injuries this week include Birmingham center Tom Nalen, expected out for at least 4 weeks, LA cornerback Aeneas Williams (1-2 weeks), Tampa Bay center Trey Teague (1-2 weeks), Bandits HB Willis McGahee (1-2 weeks). Jacksonville tackle Luke Petigout (1-2 weeks), and Birmingham SS Lawyer Milloy (1-2 Weeks).
Several QB’s could be out this week, listed as Doubtful or Questionable: Jake Delhomme in Jacksonville (hamstring), Kordell Stewart in Washington (concussion), Alex Van Pelt in Pittsburgh (finger), though Charlie Batch is not listed so the starter looks to be returning to action, and Byron Leftwich again in Seattle, where Cody Pickett will get a 2nd straight start.
USFL & ESPN To Create Football Network
Two years ago Fox Entertainment and the NFL announced the development of a cable network dedicated entirely to the fall league. The USFL has taken notice, and this week they, in partnership with ESPN, have announced the formation of a football-exclusive network to begin programming with the 2006 season. The announcement, combining feeds from 4 different USFL Cities (New York, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, and Houston) along with a feed in Bristol, CT, where much of the programming will originate, introduced the new network, which will not carry the USFL name, but will be a home to USFL programming. The ESPN Football Network (EFN) will begin broadcasting in February of 2006 and will be a 24-hour network devoted to the sport, with the USFL in prime position within its programming.
There is currently no plan to show live games on the network, with broadcasts currently split between ABC/ESPN, FOX, and NBC, but replays of all ABC/ESPN games will be shown on weeknights following each week’s action. In addition to these replay games, the network will host a nightly USFL discussion show, and game summary videos from the long history of “This is the USFL” and the USFL Films library. Another programming plan has the network re-airing the various Coaches shows from across the spectrum of local broadcasters. Deals are already in place in 12 of the 24 markets to re-air shows such as “The Wade Phillips Show”, “Bulls Football Roundup”, “The Invader Report with Dennis Green”, and “The Bill Parcells General Report”.
In addition to USFL coverage, ESPN will incorporate some of its collegiate programming, including live coverage of several spring scrimmage games into the spring sports lineup of the league. The 24-hour sports network also announced that in the fall, the focus will shift more to the college game, though we should expect a weekly Around the NFL show, regular USFL This Week offseason news shows, and the nightly football-exclusive news show. ESPN announced that it will be moving some of its college football broadcasts to the new EFN channel, including coverage of what we might consider 2nd tier games from the Pac-10 and Big 12. Rumors have ESPN in negotiations with both the SEC and ACC to see if a broadcast deal could make the new EFN a regular provider of southern football in the fall. This dual push, for USFL coverage and potentially major NCAA conference coverage, may well be the reason why the new network will not carry the USFL name.
What does this mean for USFL fans? Well, first off it means that there will be more coverage of all 26 clubs in 2006, with out-of-market fans able to view the regional week-in-review and coach’s shows. That fans who were unable to catch a regional broadcast, Houston fans unable to catch the Gamblers-Wranglers game in New York, Boston, or Chicago, will now be able to watch the replay later in the week, and that diehard fans can follow all the offseason news each night on the nightly "Football Today" flagship news show. It’s a huge move for the league, and for ESPN as a dedicated partner of the league, one that could eventually lead to EFN coverage of live games, or even a simultaneous broadcast of out-of-market games. That could be several years away as the network tries to build its base and as contracts with both FOX and NBC are renegotiated (scheduled for 2008), but for now, it means that there will be more USFL for all of us very soon.
St. Louis Skyhawks Reveal Logo Winner
It is official, the St. Louis Skyhawks have their new logo and it is one angry bird. The Skyhawks announced on Monday the winning logo from their 6-week campaign and fan poll and it is the “Angry Bird” logo. The logo depicts a hawk’s head combined with the image of jet fighters flying past the Gateway Arch. The fan poll, conducted by the St. Louis Dispatch, the USFL, and the Skyhawk website, drew more than 250,000 votes, and the Angry Bird won out by a pretty good margin of nearly 34,000 votes over 2nd place, the Battle Hawk, and 3rd place, the Skyhawk Triangle.
The club also announced that the triangle, which features the same arch and jets motif, will be used as a secondary logo for the club. With a logo in place, the team has already made t-shirts and sweatshirts available in local stores (beginning next week) and will open its Skyhawk Shop online within the next month. Reebok is planning to reveal the new team uniforms within the regular season, so sometime in the next 2 months, but model helmets featuring the new logo were on hand at the St. Louis press conference as new Head Coach Art Shell introduced the winning logo.
The Skyhawks will take the field at The Dome at America’s Center in March of 2023, where they will try to capture new fans as well as those still angry about the departure of the Knights to Nashville only 3 years ago. The first Skyhawk players should be signing in August, when free agency in the league opens, and the club will supplement their roster through a 30-round expansion draft now slated for mid-November. The club has recently announced that it will hold its January mini-camps and its February training camp down the road just a bit at Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau.
Week 7, the halfway point of the season, and we have Western Conference divisional action highlighting a busy schedule. The week starts with a good one on Friday Night as Houston visits Denver in a battle for first place in the Southwestern Division. The other two SW teams, Texas and Arizona, both 1-5, are in Tempe on Saturday. Oakland has a big game against in-state rival LA on Saturday in Farmers Insurance Field. Seattle will try for their 3rd win in a row as they head to Las Vegas to face the Thunder on Sunday. In the Southern Division, Nashville leads the division at 3-3, but has a trip to rival Memphis (2-3-1) on Sunday. A Memphis win and the Showboats take over 1st place. New Orleans (1-4-1) heads to Birmingham (0-6) to wrap up the Western Conference games.
In the East, the most intriguing game is Chicago headed to Washington. With Kordell Stewart out, can Jon Kitna take advantage of the Machine’s all-rookie cornerback pairing? Boston is in Pittsburgh on Saturday Night, with both teams desperate for a W to get back into their divisional races. Baltimore and Tampa Bay clash at Raymond James on Sunday, with both sitting at 4-2. New Jersey is at home, and at 3-3 are a game behind the rest of the division, but they face the Ohio Glory (5-1) a week after their first loss of the season, a tough draw. Orlando is a surprise at 3-2-1, as they head to Michigan to face the 3-3 Panthers. Finally, Philadelphia (4-2) are hoping to steal a win in Jacksonville against the Bulls, who have lost 2 in a row after a 3-1 start.
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