A week to remind us that football players are people too, and that the only dangers in their lives are not found on the field. Memphis quarterback Heath Shuler is lost to the season thanks to the senseless actions of a drunk driver as he is seriously injured in a DUI accident only hours after helping the Showboats to defeat the Chicago Machine in the Memphis home opener. While we all hope for a speedy recovery, Memphis now scrambles to deal with the loss for the season. On the field, big days for two often-maligned rushing attacks, and big rivalry games across the country, between New Jersey and Boston, Oakland and LA, Denver and Houston, Michigan and Ohio, and Washington and Philadelphia highlight a great week of action. We begin with the best game of the week, the showdown between the Panthers and Glory at Ohio Stadium.
MICHIGAN 22 OHIO 20
A well-played week two game with a heartbreaking ending for more than 48,500 in The Horseshoe this weekend as Ohio’s last minute attempt to send their game with Michigan to overtime failed, sending the Glory to 1-1. Michigan raised their record to the same split with a strong effort on the road as the Panthers used a rotating back system to gain 198 yards on a weekend when the rushing game was the story for so many clubs.
Michigan split carries between Ladell Betts (13 for 73), Fred Jackson (13 for 81), and rookie Leon Washington (6 for 41) as all three backs found success against Ohio’s defense. The Glory also ran the ball well, with Eddie George gaining 95 yards on only 16 carries, but with only 2 converted third downs from the Glory, drives were hard to sustain. Three turnovers did not help the Ohio cause any either, especially with Michigan avoiding the turnover bug entirely.
The game started slowly, with a Matt Prater field goal for the Panthers the only score of the opening period. It got a lot more exciting in the 2nd quarter, all on one play, as Kerry Collins found Joey Galloway on a stop and go route. Galloway pulled away from the corner and the Michigan safety was slow to get over, resulting in a perfect 68-yard bomb for a TD. It would be the longest play of the game for Ohio, but only the first of three consecutive TD drives in the 2nd period.
Michigan responded to Ohio’s score with one of their own as Drew Brees connected with the oft-disappoiniting Charles Rogers. Rogers, a top prospect in 2003, has never lived up to his potential, catching only 14 balls in 2004 and 9 in 2005, but he seems to have gotten out of the doghouse with Drew Brees on this Saturday afternoon, catching 5 balls for 109 and this go-ahead TD to put the Panthers up by 3.
The lead would not be long-lasting, however, as Ohio again found a deep ball, and again it was Galloway, as Collins connected with his favorite target from 39-yards out to take a 14-10 lead, the third lead change of the first half. Galloway would finish the game without another catch, but those early scores had Ohio looking good. Michigan would take a final shot at the endzone, but in the end settle for a field goal as time ran out in the first half, with the score Ohio 14, Michigan 13.
Michigan dominated most of the second half, but they could only add 9 points on three more Prater field goals. Despite their scoring woes, the flow of the game was definitely theres, with 2 second half picks of Collins and a failed 3rd and 2 run forcing a punt. By the 3-minute mark of the game, Michigan had an 8-point lead, 22-14, and Ohio needed a late drive and a 2-point PAT to send the game to overtime. They got the former, a 1:51 drive that saw rookie Santonio Holmes and TE Jermaine Wiggins come up with big catches and get out of bounds. Collins ended the drive with just under 1:30 left to play by connecting with HB Musa Smith on an 11-yard TD catch and run. The Glory would have to go for two to tie the game and send it into overtime.
Ohio lined up at the 2-yard line, Collins took the snap from under center, backpedaled and quickly sent a laser towards a streaking slot receiver, Karsten Bailey, but the ball came in hot and low, and Bailey was unable to bring it in, leaving the Glory 2 points short. They would attempt the onside kick, but Michigan covered the ball and was able to wind down the clock to take a huge win in their opening division game of the season.
WASHINGTON 33 PHILADELPHIA 20
Deuce McCallister went wild against the Stars’ defense as he helps Washington pull away, thanks to 214 yards rushing. McCallister had a 59 yard dash on the very first possession and continued to run strong all day as Washington held off the Stars. Safety Bob Sanders did his part as well, returning a pick for a score in the 2nd quarter as the Federals get a huge road win against Philadelphia.
PITTSBURGH 6 BIRMINGHAM 14
Shaun Alexander was the focal point in this low-scoring affair as he turned 18 carries into 205 yards rushing and a score, finishing the day with an amazing 11.4 Yards Per Carry as the Stallions finally give Alexander the center piece in the offense. Terrell Davis had an amazing day as well as he rushed for 170 on 24 carries, both teams very content to grind out yards on the ground with their run games. The difference in the game was actually a Jason Campbell TD pass to James Thrash, but, of course, set up by play action.
HOUSTON 26 DENVER 16
No 200-yard rusher in this one, just a really good rivalry game in the Southwest Division. Matt Leinart again played well, going 24 of 36 for 275, but was outdueled by veteran Matt Hasselbeck’s 22 of 29 day. Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell combined for 99 yards and 2 scores and Roy Williams caught the pull-away TD late in the game to give Houston the road win at Invesco Field.
OAKLAND 30 LOS ANGELES 27
A great back and forth battle in LA as the California Derby came down to the final minutes. Trent Green threw for 282 and 2 scores while Cade McNown completed only 6 passes all day, though two of them were an 87-yard TD to Tory Holt and a 60-yarder to TE L. J. Smith. Oakland pulled out 30-20 in the 4th thanks to a TD from rookie WR Greg Jennings, and then held on as LA tried to rally in a very entertaining game.
NEW JERSEY 21 BOSTON 19
This one came down to a 2-point PAT, just like the Panther-Glory game, and again the failed PAT meant defeat for the home team. New Jersey had a 21-13 lead when Chad Ochocinco scored with 9 minutes left to play. Boston could not convert and New Jersey held on for the final minutes to preserve the 2-point win. Tom Brady connected with Terry Glenn for 159 yards and two New Jersey TDs as the Generals open up their new rivalry with Boston with a road win.
CHICAGO 21 MEMPHIS 31
In a game overshadowed by the horrible car accident later that night, Memphis got 228 yards rushing between Musa Smith (126) and Cadillac Williams (102) as Chicago’s defense seemed a pale shadow of 2005’s league best. Robert Ferguson added 8 receptions for 104 yards and a score as the Showboats opened at home with a big win, only to have unsettling news later that day.
BALTIMORE 20 ARIZONA 17
The Blitz get a big road win thanks to a 4th quarter Roethlisberger to Kennison TD pass and a strong defensive stand in the final minutes. Ron Dayne rushes for 119 on this week of big HB performances, and Chuckie Nwokorie scores a safety as Baltimore just edges the Wranglers in their home opener at Valley of the Sun Stadium.
ST LOUIS 13 TEXAS 26
The Outlaws double up the Skyhawks thanks to 102 yards from T. J. Duckett and 2 TDs from backup Marcel Shipp. St. Louis gets a strong run game going as well this week with Larry Johnson just missing the century mark at 99 yards and R.J. Redmond adding 51 yards on the ground.
ATLANTA 10 LAS VEGAS 17
The Atlanta defense keeps them in this game, limiting Las Vegas to only 67 yards rushing, while Rod Smart rushes for an even 100, but the Thunder find a way to win, thanks to a Burris to Jason Dunn TD in the fourth quarter. Atlanta could not rally, in part due to a bit of sloppy play with 3 penalties called against them in their final drive, and the Thunder get a home win.
JACKSONVILLE 16 ORLANDO 0
That Bulls’ defense is looking very tough as they blank the homestanding Renegades at the Citrus Bowl. Orlando could not get anything going, rushing for only 30 total yards, while Jacksonville accumulated 204 on the ground, thanks in large part to 104 from Antowain Smith. LB Lavar Arrington led the Bull D with 10 tackles (3 for a loss) and a sack.
NEW ORLEANS 17 SEATTLE 31
The Dragons move to 2-0 in defense of their title as Byron Leftwich connects for 3 TD tosses and the combo of Dillon and Sproles runs for 169 yards on the day. Cedric Tillman had a good day for his new team, catching 6 for 103 for the Breakers, but it was not enough to overcome the Seattle Dragons on a misty day in the Pacific Northwest.
TAMPA BAY 26 NASHVILLE 21
The Bandits roll to 2-0 while the Knights drop to a surprising 0-2 in Nashville. Willis McGahee kept the theme of big rushing days going with 151 on 24 attempts, while Frank Gore’s 115 yards were not enough to get Nashville the win. The Knights led 21-17 after three, but a Culpepper to Moss TD toss early in the 4th and a late safety of Todd Collins gave Tampa a 5-point victory.
Heath Shuler Injured in DUI Accident
Memphis Showboat QB and former league MVP Heath Shuler was severely injured in a multiple car accident just hours after helping the Showboats defeat the Chicago Machine. Shuler was driving to his home in suburban Memphis when his car was hit by a Ford F-150 at excessive speed. The driver of the truck was also injured, and, according to police reports, had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit. Shuler was taken to Methodist North Hospital in an ambulance, was seat belted, but the damage to the driver’s side of the car left the USFL quarterback with significant injuries. Initial reports are that Shuler suffered a broken hip, four broken ribs, a broken wrist, and had internal bleeding when he was taken in.
Physicians have released a statement which seemed to indicate that while the injuries are not life-threatening, they are significant, and quite possibly career-ending. Shuler, a member of the Showboats since being drafted out of Tennessee in 1994, has played 12 seasons with the club. He led Memphis to the 2002 Summer Bowl where the club ran into the buzzsaw that was the undefeated Ohio Glory. He has been named to the All-USFL team on several occasions and currently holds pretty much every passing record of the organization. Earlier the day of the crash, Shuler had led the Showboats to a home upset over the favored Chicago Machine. He had remained behind at Liberty Bowl Stadium for his regular post-game physical therapy and cool-down, had apparently eaten in a downtown restaurant, and was heading home when the impaired driver ran a stop sign and hit the driver’s side of Shuler’s vehicle.
While conveying their support for the injured QB, Memphis Showboat officials were hesitant to speak to the press about plans to move forward for the rest of the season, saying only that they will be assessing all options as they also work to provide Shuler with any help and support he may need during his long healing process. On Memphis’s roster there are two relatively young quarterbacks, former Tampa Bay backup Ken Dorsey, and last year’s signing from the NFL Detroit Lions, Mike McMahon. It is believed that McMahon will get the start this week, but neither Head Coach Jim Mora Sr. nor any front office personnel have been willing to speak to the QB position moving forward. At this point in the season, a trade is not out of the question, as there are few options available in free agency unless the Showboats can encourage either a retired player or a CFL free agent to join the roster. NFL rosters are currently frozen to the USFL until August, so there is no help available there. For now, the Showboats will look at their options and continue, as do we all, to hope for a full recovery for their quarterback of the past decade and a half.
Just to prove that I am not being cruel to Shuler, I wanted to show you the actual screenshot that shows that the Draft Day Football game itself chose "car accident" as the cause of his injury, not me. I simply built a story around the circumstance the game gave me.
Look Who’s Running Now
It is rare that the USFL provides us a week when rushing and not the aerial attack is the main story. It is even rarer when we see a running back go over 200 yards in a USFL game. It is unheard of to have 2 halfbacks break the double-century in the same season, much less the same week, but that is what we had this week, with Washington’s Deuce McCallister topping out at 214 yards, and Birmingham’s Shaun Alexander only 9 yards back at 205. When you realize that in addition to these two amazing days, we also saw Willis McGahee add 151, Ricky Williams run for 150, Baltimore’s Ron Dayne with 119, Tiki Barber for 109, Antowain Smith hit 104, TJ Duckett 102, Rod Smart of Atlanta for an even 100, and both Cadillac Williams and Maurice Smith of Memphis top 100, you know something is up.
Blame it on the expansion of the league, or on colder March weather making the run game more attractive, or just on bad tackling early in the season, but we witnessed a day like few others, with 11 different rushers topping the 100-yard mark, and 2 topping 200 yards. Expect a lot of teams to be practicing run blitzes, gap integrity, and containment over the next week. No way we don’t see a greater emphasis on the run defense after this week’s stampede.
Fast Start, Slow Start
We are going to play a little game we call Fast Start, Slow Start, in which we highlight a player who has gotten off to a much better first two games than anticipated, and then align that with another player who has had a rough go of the season’s opening duo of dates. We start with a clear and obvious choice for a fast start at QB.
FAST START: Jake Plummer has been on fire these first two weeks, currently 3rd with a QB Rating of 127.4, ahead of players like Collins, Hasselbeck, Brady and Culpepper. He has already thrown for 544 yards and 4 TDs and his 67.4 completion rate is well above any season since 2002.
SLOW START: Sorry to say, Birmingham, but Jason Campbell has not made a sophomore leap yet. He currently ranks last in the league with a 40.5 QBR, having completed only 23 of 60 passes with 1 TD and 3 picks. Now, that said, the Stallions were able to win this week, in large part due to their revived run game, but Campbell is going to have to do more if the Stallions are going to commit to him long term and win some games as well.
FAST START: While this week had a plethora of backs breach 100 yards, so far this season Texas HB T.J. Duckett is the only one to rush for over 100 yards in each of his first two starts. With fans excited about the announcement that former Outlaw HB Reggie Cobb is a finalist for the Hall of Fame (See below), they have a new back to get excited about. Duckett is not a speed merchant, but his punishing style is working to keep the ball moving down the field.
SLOW START: Denver’s Cedric Benson is clearly missing Rod Smart as a change of pace. The big guy has 45 carries this year, but has only turned that into 95 yards, a paltry 2.1 yards per carry as teams stuff the line and minimize his ability to bounce plays outside. Denver needs Benson to have a big year to help protect rookie QB Matt Leinart, but so far Benson is looking a step too slow to avoid hits, and is not plowing over defenders either.
FAST START: Should we focus on Boston’s Joe Jurevicious or just say that the fact that the Cannons have the #1 and #2 receivers in yardage is amazing in itself? For us the fact that Jurevicious is leading the league with 200 yards on only 8 catches is astounding. Chad Ochocinco is only 2 yards back a 198, but the story so far has been Jurevicious, resigning with the team despite several free agent offers, now fully embracing the #2 role, and Bledsoe finding him so deep so often.
SLOW START: New Jersey brought T. J. Houshmanzadeh to the squad with the hopes of creating a 1-2 punch similar to what we are seeing in Boston. While lead receiver Terry Glenn is doing fine, among the lead leaders in yardage, the same is not true for Housh, who has only 4 receptions for 40 yards in his first two games as a General. It does take time for a new player to adjust to his new QB and teammates, and we know that beginning USFL play in March after a full NFL season in the fall can be very disorienting and tough on the body, but more is expected of T.J..
FAST START: Linebackers who blitz are starting fast this year. We have Godfrey Miles in Seattle who is tied with KGB atop the sack list with 4, Ohio’s Glen Cadrez just 1 sack behind at 3, and then a bevvy of backers with 2 sacks, including Tommey Polly in Chicago, Al Wilson in Orlando, Lavar Arrington in Jacksonville, and Antonio Pierce, the NFL import to the Federals.
SLOW START: Houston’s Osi Umenyiura has not only failed to secure a sack in the first two outings, he has barely had his name called, with only 4 tackles this season. Kavika Pittman is only 1 sack ahead, as the two have not gotten off to the kind of start the Gamblers were hoping for as a dominant defensive force. Of course, at 2-0, Houston is not panicking, but as the season moves along we will want to see if the pass rush can start to dominate the line as so many thought it would.
FAST START: Washington’s Doug Pelfrey is having himself an opening month so far. He helped Washington win their opener, scoring all 15 of the Federals’ points with 5 opening day field goals. He followed that up with another 4 field goals this weekend. Nine big kicks out of nine attempts so far for the veteran in DC.
SLOW START: Orlando’s Neil Rackers appears to have a case of the yips, having missed on 3 of his 4 kicks so far. Rackers, who left the Generals after the 2003 season to play in the NFL, returned to the USFL this March with the Renegades, but seems to have left his accuracy in the Fall. In this week’s bad 16-0 loss at home to the Bulls, Rackers missed on both of his kicks, after going 1-for-2 in Week 1. Not a great start, and exactly the kind of thing that might cause the ‘Gades to bring in another kicker for competition.
Even excluding the shock of Heath Shuler’s injury off the field, this was a pretty rough week across the USFL for season-impacting injuries. More than 20 players were added to the injury report this week, with at least two potentially out for the season. Pittsburgh CB Kareem Larrimore has been placed on IR after suffering a hip injury, one that came with a hard to see dislocation. Michigan is hoping that they can keep Jeff Faine off IR, but his torn quad could take as much as 12 weeks to fully heal, so the center will miss most if not all of the season. In Philadelphia, HB Cedric Cobb is expected to miss up to two months with a back injury that involved a slipped disc. Texas OT Ryan Tucker will miss at least 6 weeks with a fracture in his right arm.
In Houston they have determined that OT Mike Peterson’s neck injury is not season-ending, and does not involve any damage to the spine. He could be back in as little as 3 weeks. Atlanta LB Corey Miller will also miss 2-4 weeks with a wrist injury suffered this week. Promising Tampa Bay rookie DE Elvis Dumervill will miss at least 1-2 weeks with a partial abdominal tear, while in Boston, OT Jon Stinchcomb’s elbow will require at least that long to heal, though he may play with a brace in as little as 1-2 weeks.
Among those with lesser injuries who are listed as doubtful we find LV wideout Troy Williamson, Michigan DE Leonard Little, Atlanta DE Chris Kelsay and Oakland guard Logan Mankins as the season has already started taking a toll on rosters across the league.
HOF Nominees for 2006 Announced
The USFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame released their semi-finalists for induction this week and once again it looks like a rough year for those in their 2nd or 3rd round of eligibility. Of the 11 nominees, only 2 are returning candidates and the new class of 2006 looks like one that could once more occupy all 5 final slots. In part the issue this year is that back in 2001 we saw 4 outstanding starting QBs hang up their cleats. Only two of the four made the cut for nominations this year, with Troy Aikman, Bobby Hebert in, while Scott Mitchell and Chris Chandler were left off the list, but the list of 2001 retirees does not stop there. In addition to the two quarterbacks, we have linebackers Kurt Gouveia and Johnny Holland, Corners Vencie Glenn and Eric Allen, HB Reggie Cobb, wideout Eric Metcalf, and DT Rollin Putzier. That pool left only room for two returning candidates, and those two slots were occupied by CB Chris Dishman and DT Jerry Ball.
This lineup likely creates a series of 1v1 decisions at a lot of positions. Voters will naturally want to compare Putzier to Ball, Holland to Gouveia, Hebert to Aikman, and all three cornerbacks. It also tends to mean that skill position players see an edge simply because they have more statistics to review and more opportunities to have made highlight reel impressions on the voters.
If we rank the candidates, based on their production, the game results they helped create, and their impact on the game, we see five names that jump off the page, making this perhaps a pretty quick voting process.
QB Bobby Hebert (MGN 83-86, OAK 93-97, PHI 98-01): Almost a story of two careers, Hebert was one of the early stars created within the USFL. Leading the Michigan Panthers to league titles in the league’s second and fourth seasons, Hebert was the consummate gunslinger, able to escape pressure and fire off deep balls to HOF receiver Anthony Carter and Dereck Holloway. He left Michigan after only 4 seasons, lured to the NFL by a hefty contract, but returned with Oakland in 1993. He would have a second career in the USFL with the Invaders and Stars, and while his teams were not as good as the early Michigan squads, he built up an impressive record and set of stats over his 11 USFL seasons. He retired in 2001 with over 54,000 yards passing, 389 touchdowns to only 157 picks, and a lifetime QB Rating of 99.7. We believe Hebert is the most likely shoe-in in the group.
QB Troy Aikman (TBY 89-00, NJ 01): If Hebert is the top choice of voters, Aikman cannot be far behind. The prolific passer who still holds the league record with 54 touchdowns in a legendary 1998 season, Aikman was forced out of the game due to concussions. Now a broadcaster, Aikman remains very much involved with the league. He came out of UCLA in the 1989 draft, chosen by the Bandits after a trade with the LA Express. He would go on to throw for 49,507 yards over 14 seasons, including 372 touchdowns to only 141 picks. He retired after only 2 games in New Jersey after suffering a devastating concussion. A 6-time All-USFL selection, Aikman was the USFL MVP in 1998, the same year he brought a title to Tampa Bay.
LB Kurt Gouveia (DEN 1986-2001): A legend in the Mile High City, Gouveia played an astonishing 18 seasons at linebacker for the Gold. That is incredible longevity for that hard-nosed position on the field, but he also played at an incredibly high level. Gouveia was the 1988 Defensive Player of the Year in his third season, a 4 time All-USFL selection, and helped Denver capture the league title in his 17th season. He retired with over 1,300 tackles, 42 sacks, 13 picks, 60 forced fumbles and 21 recoveries. Gouveia remains linked to the Gold franchise, appearing often in the city of Denver and working with several local charities.
WR Eric Metcalf (TEX 89-95, SEA 97-01): Thought of as a hybrid back/receiver coming out of college, the Texas Outlaws signed the young speedster and groomed him into a top flight wideout. He would play 6 seasons with the Outlaws before a brief 1-year stint in the NFL, returning to the USFL in 1996 with the expansion Dragons. A 6-time All-USFL player at wideout, Metcalf never got a shot at a title. Over his 12 USFL seasons he caught over 1,100 passes for more than 14,500 yards and 9 times reached the 1,000 yard mark in a year.
HB Reggie Cobb (TEX 90-01): Never a big self-promoter, Reggie Cobb simply produced results for the Outlaws year in and year out. Playing on Outlaw teams that struggled to find playoff success, Cobb was consistent, rushing for 12,385 yards in 12 seasons, an average over 1,000 yards per year. His career YPC average was a strong 4.3 yards, and his 99 touchdowns are tantalizingly close to the century mark. If he fails to qualify in the first year, it is likely due more to the failures of the Outlaw teams than to his own performance.
LB Johnny Holland (HOU 87-93, JAX 94-98, BOS 99-01): A hard-hitting linebacker, Johnny Holland could blitz the QB (49 sacks in his career), stuff the run (1,087 tackles) and drop into coverage (15 picks). He helped bring league titles to Houston in 1988 and 1992 as part of a dynamic defense led by Kiki DeAyala, a HOF linebacker from the same mold. Holland might suffer in comparison to DeAyala, though his later years in both Jacksonville and Boston will help to diversify his voting base. Never the flashiest of players, Holland is a player who shines in film analysis without producing a lot of highlight reel moments. He currently serves as the Secondary Coach for the Gamblers, the team that gave him his shot in pro football.
CB/S Vencie Glenn (DEN 86-91, BIR 92, POR 93-01): A corner who converted to safety later in his career, Glenn has the strongest case among the three DB’s in this year’s group. His 49 picks is the highest number of the three, and his 624 tackles and 7 pick-sixes will help his case as well. Glenn is the only one of the three corners never to win a title, and there is something of a bias towards past champions in the Hall, so it is not a slam dunk by any measure.
CB Chris Dishman (PHI 88-90, BIR 92-99): In his second year of eligibility, Dishman has more tackles than Glenn (which some see as a negative as it often means more completed passes against his coverage) and also has 7 defensive touchdowns. Dishman was known as a hard hitter at the position, forcing 12 fumbles in his 11 seasons. He was a 2-time All-USFL selection and heled the Stallions win the title in 1993.
CB Eric Allen (TBY 88-98, CHI 99-01): Eric Allen may have the toughest case to make of the three corners. Having never played for a title winner and having been part of a Tampa Bay team known more for offense than defensive fortitude. His 1,254 tackles is impressive, but again, that can be interpreted as a problem as well. He is above Doleman, with 42 picks, and his 24 forced fumbles are the best of the group, but Allen was neer named to an All-USFL team, and that is a reality that will hurt his chances.
DT Rollin Putzier (POR 88-93, TBY 94-01): Putzier is the first of the two DTs on our list, but we place these two interior defenders at the bottom of the rankings because they simply do not get the recognition or the statistical measurements that other positions garner. When we look at the total tackles of a player like Putzier (645), they do not compare well with linebackers or even some DBs. Retiring with 54 sacks is a very good number for a DT, but compared to defensive ends, it is barely noteworthy. But that is the nature of the position, to toil in relative obscurity, occupying blockers and making space for others to sack the QB or take on the ball carrier. If the HOF voters can look past the stats and look at impact, Putzier has a shot.
DT Jerry Ball (LA-STL 87-00): In his second year as a nominee, Jerry Ball suffers from having been a very good player on some pretty mediocre Express and Knight teams. A five time All-USFL selection, Ball was known more for occupying blocks than making plays on the ball. His numbers are lower than Putzier’s in pretty much every measurable, but ask coaches and players who had to strategize for how to get around or past him and you will hear the respect folks around the USFL had for the big man.
In our final analysis, we think Hebert, Aikman, and Gouveia are sure-fire first ballot entrants. Beyond that it could get messy for the remaining 2 spots. The odds are in favor of both Metcalf and Cobb, but neither has the type of stellar resume that yells “first ballot”, so there is room for Holland, Putzier, Ball and the three corners to have their cases heard. We should know the answers later this summer, as the HOF typically announces the next class of inductees somewhere in the later stages of the regular season.
Rumors are that we will see our first look at Steve McNair as the Las Vegas QB when the Thunder take the field in Oakland to face the Invaders. Mike McMahon gets the unenviable task of stepping in for Heath Shuler with the Showboats visiting division rival Nashville. Another division game pits the LA Express against the 2-0 Dragons in Seattle. Pittsburgh visits Michigan in the Central Division, Arizona is in Houston in the Southwest and Atlanta faces off against Boston (the team formerly known as the Atlanta Fire before relocating.) But, despite all these intriguing matchups, the big game this week is undoubtedly Sunday Night’s headliner between the Bandits and Bulls. The game will be live on ESPN from Alltell Stadium and the league is hoping for big numbers as these two Florida rivals clash.
Other games this week include Texas @ Ohio, New Orleans @ Birmingham, Pittsburgh @ Michigan, Baltimore @ New Jersey in a divisional tilt, Orlando @ St. Louis, Chicago travleling to Washington to face the 2-0 Federals, and Denver plays host to the Philadelphia Stars.