We are coming down to the wire in the 2007 USFL season. After Week 13 action we have 4 playoff spots still undecided and a lot of seeding left to determine. Wins this week by Boston and Memphis locked up the #1 and #2 seeds in the East. Chicago and Orlando officially scored their spots in the postseason, but we are still unsure who wins the Southwest and who wraps up the final 3 Wild Card spots this year. A lot to watch as we prepare for the season’s final week, but first, we should take a look at the action from Week 13 that kept fans on the edges of their seats all across the league.
BIRMINGHAM 19 MEMPHIS 22
Memphis had already clinched a playoff spot. Their archrival needed a win to stay alive in the Wild Card hunt. Brett Favre against his old team. And, yes, just one of the biggest rivalries in spring football. All this was on tap for 53,101 fans at the Liberty Bowl when the Stallions came calling.
Birmingham was looking for revenge in this one. Brett Favre had humiliated his old club back at Legion Field in Week 7, throwing for 3 scores and nearly 400 yards as the Showboats won in Birmingham. This game would be different, and in the end, perhaps even worse for the Stallion faithful. With Cadillac Williams banged up, the Stallions would all but ignore the threat of the run and would focus on pass rush. Brett Favre would be sacked 8 times in an all out assault on the Memphis line. Blitzes and disguised coverages would make it tough for Memphis to do anything, and Birmingham would take advantage to the tune of a 19-0 advantage after three quarters. But then it all fell apart.
Offensively, the Stallions seemed almost more intent on shortening the game than building up the score, and perhaps that was their downfall. They managed an early touchdown after a bad shank of a punt by Memphis gave them good field position inside Memphis territory. Shaun Alexander and Marion Barber got them down to the goal line and FB Paul Perez dove in from there to give the visitors the early lead.
In the second they would add 10 more points, all the while harassing Favre and shutting down what little run game the Showboats could muster with Maurice Smith and Lionel Gates splitting carries. When Jason Campbell completed a TD throw to Joe Horn, Birmingham was up 17-0 and the game seemed all but won for the Stallions. Campbell would only throw for 105 yards on the day, but the short out route to Horn put them up by 3 scores as the first half ended and the Stallion fans who had driven up for the game were in full voice in the SW corner of the bowl stadium.
The third quarter was equally frustrating for the Showboats. They had a couple of mid-length drives, but both were shut down before they could even get in range for Jeff Hall to put them on the board with a symbolic kick. Midway through the period, they were backed up and DE Grant Wistrom managed to draw a holding penalty in the endzone, giving Birmingham a safety and the Stallions a 19-0 lead. But, just as some were considering beating the rush home by leaving early, the Showboats came alive.
In the final moments of the third quarter, Memphis got its first and perhaps most important big play of the game. Birmingham blitzed on a 3rd and 9 play, and this time TE David Martin had stayed in to block. He helped chip Mike Rucker, giving Favre time to spot Lee Evans in single coverage. Evans would catch the ball in stride and 32 yards later, Memphis was in scoring position for the first time all game. They would not miss the chance to get back in the game. Short passes to HB Maurice Smith and Martin got them close, and then Smith would take the ball on a pitch left and plunge for the pylon. Memphis was on the board, now down 19-7.
That short drive, sparked by the Evans reception, turned the energy in the stadium. When Birmingham went 3-and-out, the Memphis fans were fully back into the game, hoping to see more energy from their offense. They got it. Favre connected on 4 of 5 passing in the Showboats’ next drive, including an improvised shovel pass to Gates that went for 30 yards, another big play. Two plays later it was Favre to Robert Ferguson for 6 and suddenly what had been a 3 score game was now down to only 5 points as Memphis pulled to 19-14 with 6:11 left to play.
Birmingham could feel the shift in energy, but they could not stop it. They tried running with Alexander, who would finish the game with 79 yards, but when it came to third down Jason Campbell could not connect with James Thrash and the Stallions were again forced to punt. Memphis got the ball with nearly 5 minutes left to play, down only one score.
Coach Haslett had come up with something. By keeping Martin in to block, and rotating players in and out of the interior of the O-line, Haslett had found a way to offset at least some of the pressure that had made life so hard for Favre all game. Birmingham had not recorded a sack since midway through the third quarter, and that had meant that Favre had time to find receivers locked up in one-on-one coverage. He would find his top receiver, Robert Ferguson, for 23 on a 2nd and 3, then HB Maurice Smith for 7, Evans again, this time for 8, then Ferguson for 7. He mixed in a draw to Smith that went for 9, and soon the Showboats were in the red zone, well, at the edge of the red zone on the 20, and the Showboat fans were about as loud as it can get in the Liberty Bowl. Momentum had clearly shifted, the Stallion faithful were visibly shaken, and the Memphis crowd was giving energy to their team.
First and 10 from the 20 and Favre called for a screen pass. Birmingham had started blitzing from the outside in an effort to overwhelm the blocking on their edge rushers, and a screen would take advantage of that aggressiveness. The call was perfect for the situation. The weakside linebacker was indeed blitzing, and the screen to Maurice Smith caught him out of position. Smith caught the ball in stride, had two blockers in front of him and a relatively easy path to the end zone. Safety Marcus Wimberley got a shot at him, but not enough to keep him out of the end zone. Just 1:27 left to play and Memphis had come all the way back, up 20-19. They went for 2 and Favre connected with TE Wayne Gandy to convert. Memphis had come back from a 19-0 hole and was up 3 against a Birmingham offense that is not known for quick strike ability.
Birmingham tried to move the ball with the time remaining, but Campbell struggled to find receivers. He took a sack on 2nd and 5 when Julius Peppers shook off the LT and, using a classic swim move, came back underneath to find Campbell. On third and 11 Campbell tried to find Joe Horn, but Horn was double covered and the ball never reached him. Fourth and the game on the line. Out of the shotgun, 4 receiver set, and Campbell was pressured almost immediately in what had to feel like a full reversal of fortune in this game. He was flushed to the right, where James Thrash and Stephen Alexander were trying to shake off their coverage. As he approached the sideline he threw a desperation ball towards Alexander, but it was too low. Alexander got low to try to catch it but it hit the turf before bouncing up into his arms. The refs called it incomplete. The challenge proved it to be off the turf, and Memphis took over to end the game.
A devastating loss for the Stallions, a huge win for the Showboats. They had survived a serious test, taken out their rivals, and locked up the Southern Division at 10-3. In so doing they had also knocked their archrivals out of playoff contention, a sweet bonus to be sure. Memphis was guaranteed the #2 position in the East and could now go into the final week’s matchup with Seattle fully planning to rest some key players, and after the rough outing for Favre, that certainly would be appreciated.
HOUSTON 37 ARIZONA 31
A surprising shootout in a game Houston had to have. Arizona came to play after being embarrassed by Denver. Jake Plummer threw for 3 TDs and ran for another, but in the end it was Matt Hasselbeck’s 30 of 46, 399 yard, 5 TD day that gave the needed win to the Gamblers. They still need help to make the postseason, but without this game it would have been over.
NEW JERSEY 17 ST. LOUIS 13
Two rookies got a chance to shine in this one as New Jersey gave Kevin Kolb his second start and the Skyhawks gave Ohio State’s Troy Smith his first. Both threw for a score apiece, and both threw for fewer than 200 yards, but in the end, New Jersey got a lot of help from Curtis Enis’s 141 yards against the hapless rush defense of the Skyhawks, and got the W.
ORLANDO 27 ATLANTA 19
Atlanta had slim playoff hopes, but Orlando was looking for the division, and played like it. Drew Brees threw for 298 and 3 scores despite being sacked 6 times by the Fire defense. Michael Jenkins had a strong game with 5 receptions for 127 yards and a score as Orlando moves closer to locking up the SE Division.
LAS VEGAS 21 OHIO 33
A tough road draw for the Thunder as Ohio is still fighting to hold onto 1st place and a bye in the Central. Kerry Collins went 17 of 29 for 262 yards and 4 scores against the usually stalwart Thunder D. Marshawn Lynch did well against a depleted Ohio D-line, rushing for 127 but it was not enough as Ohio is victorious at home.
SEATTLE 33 MICHIGAN 21
The Panthers’ playoff hopes are on life support after falling to the 1-loss Dragons. Brian Griese threw for 3 scores, despite completing only 6 passes on the day, but TDs from Dillon, Sproles, Boston, and Troy Walters helped Seattle get the W and lock up the best record in the league. Michigan was 0 for 6 on third down while Seattle went 6 of 12.
BOSTON 45 WASHINGTON 20
The Cannons locked up the #1 seed in the East with a road win in DC. Deuce McCallister did what he could for the Feds, rushing for 148 yards and 2 scores, but Boston’s offense was just too much for Washington and a pick-six just helped the cause even more.
PITTSBURGH 8 JACKSONVILLE 13
A tough defensive game in Duval as the Maulers played the Bulls very tough. The lone TD of the day was Delhomme to Donald Hayes as both teams struggled to find the endzone. With the win Jacksonville now controls their ability to reach the playoffs as a Wild Card even if they cannot catch Orlando next week.
BALTIMORE 41 TAMPA BAY 21
The Blitz keep their playoff hopes alive by crushing the Bandits in Tampa Bay. Ron Dayne scores twice and rushes for 118 as Ben Roethlisberger has one of his best days, throwing for 293 and 4 scores on the day. Daunte Culpepper returned, and threw for all 3 Bandit scores, but in the end it was all Blitz. They need help, but a loss by the Bulls and a win next week and the Blitz are in the postseason.
TEXAS 7 DENVER 24
Denver moved closer to a playoff spot by knocking off another division foe. They are in with a win next week after taking care of business at home. Matt Leinart returned to action and threw for 2 scores and 243 yards, but the surprise of the day was the 107-yard day for Cedric Benson. He outgained T.J. Duckett, the league leader by more than 40 yards.
LOS ANGELES 10 OAKLAND 6
Joey Harrington returned to action for Oakland, but was very rusty, throwing 2 picks in a tough defensive game by the Bay. LA got the game’s lone TD, a fluke play that saw the ball tipped by the TE right into Tory Holt’s hands and it was off to the races. A bad break for Oakland who now need help to make the postseason, while LA, sitting a game up on both the Invaders and Thunder, control their own Wild Card destiny in Week 14.
Playoff Scenarios
We know what you want to hear, how do teams make the playoffs. We will focus here on the teams that are fighting for a spot, and below, in the Playoff Picture section, we will talk about those teams already in the postseason but fighting for position. So, as we look at teams that have not clinched yet, here is what we know:
EAST
Only 1 spot up for grabs in the East. Jacksonville and Baltimore are in the hunt for a Wild Card. If the Bulls win, the final playoff spot is theirs. If they lose to the Knights (who may rest some starters), then Baltimore could get in with a win at home against the Stars (who also may rest some starters).
WEST
The Southwest Division is where we should start. Denver has the tie-breaker with Houston, so if Denver beats Oakland next week, it will be the Gold claiming the division title. If Denver falls to an Oakland squad that needs to win to have any playoff hope, then Houston, with a win over arch rival Texas, would claim the crown. Both could theoretically be in the postseason depending on how the Wild Card contenders fare.
Speaking of the Western Wild Card, there are essentially 2 spots up for grabs and 6 teams still alive for them. LA and Las Vegas control their own destiny. If they both win, they are are in and Oakland, Michigan and the loser of the SW division are out. But, if one or both of the Pacific clubs lose, then the others are still alive. All of the contenders need to win and need either LA or LV to lose, and perhaps both to lose. In some cases, like that of Michigan, they need pretty much everyone else to lose to be the only 8-6 team in the bunch (other than LA).
The games that matter for these Western contenders are:
Denver v. Oakland: Most folks (other than Oakland) would want Denver to win, taking the SW division and eliminating the Invaders.
LA v. Chicago: The Machine would lose their home field playoff game to LA if they lose to the Express, so expect them to fight hard for this one. That makes most other teams happy, as an LA loss means several teams could be 8-6 and that just muddles the tiebreakers.
Las Vegas @ Tampa Bay: So many teams are counting on the Bandits, which is not a great bet this year. If Las Vegas, who are likely to be favored, get the road win, then they punch their ticket to the postseason. If not, then they can easily be leapfrogged by other 7-6 clubs.
Texas @ Houston: Texas is out of contention but could get a satisfying win by knocking Houston out of playoff contention with a win. That would make Denver and several Wild Card contenders very happy.
St. Louis @ Michigan: The Panthers should get this win against the 1-win Skyhawks, but that won’t be enough. They lose a lot of tiebreakers, so they will need a perfect mix of results to get them into that final Wild Card slot.
Coach Nolan Gets Vote of Confidence
Is it security or the kiss of death. This week New Orleans Breakers’ leadership gave Coach Mike Nolan the dreaded “Vote of Confidence”. Often seen as an insincere statement of support for a coach, the vote can often precede a departure when a coach has a truly poor season, as is certainly the case for Nolan and the Breakers. After winning USFL Coach of the Year last year for the near miraculous 8-6 season the club had while playing all 7 home games away from New Orleans, the club has had a dismal 1-13 season to date, with only a meaningless game against Atlanta left on the schedule.
Could Nolan actually be back after what could be a last place finish? Well, consider this. Since taking over the Breakers in 2000, Nolan has taken them to the postseason in 5 of 8 seasons, including the club’s first ever trip to the Summer Bowl, a 2003 appearance where they lost to the juggernaut Ohio Glory. He has had 5 playoff appearances and advanced at least 1 game in each, boasting a 7-5 overall playoff record in those 5 appearances. As bad as a 1-13 season might be, Nolan’s track record seems to indicate that he could bring the team back.
So, what has to happen for Nolan to retain control and actually bring New Orleans back from the brink of a winless season?
Ownership has to believe in him, and we actually think they do.
One or both coordinators have to take the fall. That is how you recalibrate without firing the head coach.
A serious discussion has to be had about Eli Manning as the future of the franchise.
The run game must be addressed. It averaged a miserable 73 yards a game this year.
The defense also needs a major overhaul. Not enough stops, not enough takeaways, not enough pressure, you name it, they failed to deliver this year.
Potential Black Monday Departures
So, if Mike Nolan is safe, who might just be on the block in one week’s time? Here is our list of the 5 most likely victims of Black Monday outside of Nolan and the St. Louis position, which is already in transition.
Jim Fassel, Arizona: Another “Vote of Confidence” candidate. We could see the Wrangler stick with Fassel despite a 2-win season if they feel that sacking the coordinators is enough. Or, they could decide that a full clean out is once again needed.
Tom Coughlin, Baltimore: It seems harsh to say with the Blitz still alive for a playoff spot and a winning record, but if they lose next week, there will be a discussion about wasted talent, mediocrity, and underwhelming results, and that could lead to a change at the top.
Dennis Franchione, Birmingham: The Stallions were eliminated from contention, and a 9th loss could be exactly the nail in the coffin of Franchione’s rocky stint in Birmingham. If he goes, expect the team to also recalibrate at QB, where the Jason Campbell experiment has been a major misstep.
Ron Rivera, Pittsburgh: The Maulers had some signs of life this year, but have faded down the stretch. It is only Rivera’s 2nd season at the helm, so we could see a 3rd year as a make or break year for him. But, if ownership is impatient, the justification is there to critique Rivera as well.
Dennis Green: Oakland looked like they were ready to rebound and make the playoffs again before Joey Harrington went down. If the Invaders fall to 7-7 we could imagine ownership hoping for more, but of all the potential candidates, we think Green may be the most secure in his role. When you can blame a QB injury on a losing streak, it makes for a good justification when things go south.
We talked about the contenders in the section above, so now let’s talk about positioning for the clubs already guaranteed a spot. Seattle and Boston have both locked up the #1 seeds and home field advantage in the Western and Eastern Conferences. Memphis has also locked up the #2 seed in the east, and will get a bye in the first round. Ohio has not, and could actually lose the division to Chicago if they fall in Arizona this week, which does not seem likely, but you never know. If Chicago can beat LA at home, and they get help from Arizona, they could take that #2 spot and force Ohio to play as the #4 seed in the Wild Card round.
We know that the SW and SE Division winners will be the #3 seed and will play a home game in the Wild Card round. We just are not sure if that will be Denver or Houston, Orlando or Jacksonville. Philadelphia is locked into the #4 seed, so expect them to rest some starters before they host a Wild Card game. If LA beats Chicago, they could jump up to #4 and force Chicago to play on the road. If they lose, they could drop all the way out, but that would require a fatal series of other results.
Nashville is in and will play on the road in the Wild Card round, but where they play and who they play will be determined by this week’s games. They could be the #5 or the #6 team.
And just to verify, the following teams are officially eliminated: Birmingham, New Jersey, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Texas, Washington, Tampa Bay, Arizona, St. Louis and New Orleans.
One week left and every player is needed, so losing a key piece of the puzzle now is devastating. As we enter the final week of the season, here are the 3 injuries of this week most likely to have an impact both for the season finale and into the first round of playoffs.
Tiki Barber could miss not only the season finale, but the divisional round of the playoffs after a significant hip pointer took him out last week. With two weeks rest Boston is hoping he can be ready to go in the Divisional round, but if not, Boston’s offense could be significantly hampered. Could they be a #1 seed that cannot live up to the title?
Jacksonville’s playoff chances take a huge hit as TE Jason Whitten is done for the year with a broken arm. Suffered in a pileup on a fumble recovery, Whitten could require several months to fully recover, meaning that even if the Bulls reach the postseason they will have to go into the playoffs without one of their emerging stars.
LA will miss one of their best defenders this week, and the second linebacker to go out in the past 2 weeks. After losing Akin Ayodele for the rest of the season last week, tis week it was Lofa Tatupu who went down. Expected to miss up to two weeks, that could be the entire playoff run for LA, because a loss this week, even if they make it to the Wild Card round, means no Tatupu on defense in the Wild Card round.
Finally, Nashville has opted not to play Jay Cutler in this week’s season finale. He is listed as questionable, and with the Knights locked into a Wild Card spot they just don’ t want to risk him, but expect the Vandy product to be under center in the Wild Card round, when the season is on the line.
2007 HOF CLASS
The USFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame this week announced its 2007 Hall of Fame class from the spring league, a class dominated by the defense and the defensive line. Four of five inductees are former D-linemen, including two pass-rushing defensive ends and two massive defensive tackles. It is also the first time in either pro league that two brothers would be inducted in the same class, as both Michael Dean Perry and his older brother William Perry would both receive the news that they would be among the newest USFL Hall of Famers. The Perry brothers are joined by long time Denver Gold lineman Leslie O’Neill and sack guru Chris Doleman, the first member of the Renegades to make the Hall. Feeling a little out of place, but certainly grateful for the nomination, is former Federal and Thunder wideout Webster Slaughter, the lone inductee not formerly a D-lineman. Slaughter gets the votes in his 3rd year of eligibility. For William Perry it was his fourth and final year of regular eligibility. Doleman, O’Neill and Michael Dean were all first time nominees.
The selection of these five outstanding USFL players is certainly deserved. Each had an outstanding career, and each was a leader on his club. For Michael Dean Perry, it was a long and winding journey, having played for 4 different teams in his 15 year career. For others, like O’Neill, success began in his rookie year and continued through a long stint with the same team. For all five, this is the culmination of their football lives. Induction into the Hall of Fame recognizes their accomplishments, talents, and contributions to the league and the game of football.
Of course, with any selection of nominees there are others who are turned away. Many expected LB Pat Swilling of the Gamblers or DT Chester McGlockton, or cornerback Eric Allen to be among the named inductees this year, but they, and many others, will still be eligible for several years to come. For others, like QB Jack Trudeau or center Frank Winters, the 2007 HOF class will be a bitter one, as neither made the round of semifinalists and now see their eligibility for selection come to a close. But for those nominated, and now recognized as the best of the best in the USFL, the honor is one they will cherish forever. We will see these five players in Canton this October when they are officially recognized and honored.
4th Time's The Charm: The 2000 Denver Gold
In 1999 if you asked USFL fans to name a team that was snakebit, many would say the Denver Gold. Denver had appeared in the first USFL title game in 1983, and again in 1989, and returned a third time in 1999, and in all three trips to the title they had come up empty. The Bandits had edged them by 4 points in the league’s inaugural title game, a game played in their home stadium of Mile High. In 1989, New Jersey and Herschel Walker had run over them 23-18 in another game where they came up against an unstoppable force. And just the past year in 1999 they had made it back to the title game again, this time facing the juggernaut Memphis Showboats, and Brett Favre had eaten them alive, an 18-point loss, the largest margin in any Summer Bowl to date. Denver was a very good team, despite their reputation as a tight-pocketed team that did not spend big to bring in name players. They developed talent over time, drafted well, and often made solid playoff runs, but could not finish the season with a W. Bridesmaids was the word you heard around the league when it came to the Gold. By the 2000 season, Denver had made an impressive 7 consecutive playoff appearances. In 1998 they had gone 12-4 but fell in their first playoff game. In 1999 they had made it all the way to the Summer Bowl only to be demolished by Favre and the Showboats. To say that few people wanted them back in 2000 was an understatement.
But the 2000 Denver Gold were a determined bunch. In training camp they donned “Us against the World” t-shirts. The pundits, perhaps tired of their consistent also-ran status, had picked them to finish third in their division behind Los Angeles and a popular Summer Bowl pick, the Arizona Wranglers. The Gold were offended, and they played like it all season long. Led on offense by QB Mark Brunell and HB Rashaan Salaam, and on defense by DE Leslie O’Neill and LB Kurt Gouveia, the Gold blistered through the league on their way to a 12-4 record and the Pacific Division title, a title they did not lock up until the final week of the year, challenged all season long by the sudden rise of the Seattle Dragons, who also finished 12-4.
Denver still got no respect. The favorites going into the playoffs were not the Pacific Champs, but the Central Division’s St. Louis Knights, another 12-4 team. In fact, Denver, despite playing at home in the divisional round, would be a 3-point underdog to the New Orleans Breakers. When Denver upset the Breakers, winning 26-20, the headlines across the country read “Not again!”. Folks tired of Denver falling short were hoping for a St. Louis win in the Conference Title Game, hoping for anything that would provide a more balanced Summer Bowl against the East’s powerhouse, the Philadelphia Stars.
Denver again felt slighted, and came out angry in the Dome in St. Louis. They manhandled the Knights, winning 42-13 in an absolute route. Coach Jauron had riled up the troops with clippings from pundit after pundit saying that Denver’s 12-win season had been a fluke, that outside of Salaam they were an untalented group of muddlers who did not deserve to represent the West for a second straight year. The Gold took that fire and turned it into one of the most one-sided title games in league history, demolishing the favored Knights in every phase of the game. Denver was headed back to the Summer Bowl.
In the Summer Bowl they would face yet another heavily favored foe, the 13-3 Philadelphia Stars. Philly had run roughshod over the East in their playoff run, knocking off Baltimore by 29 points (42-13) before crushing Brett Favre and the defending champion Showboats 38-24 in the Conference Title Game. Against Denver they would open as 9-point favorites, though the line would close to 6.5 by pregame on Sunday.
Once again Coach Jauron had plenty of news clippings and quotes to use to show Denver just how disrespected they were. They did not need the proof. They had all heard the questions on Media Day, all seen the TV analysts making the case for a lopsided Philly win. They had heard it from their families, friends, and from fans across the nation who were not interested in the Gold’s chances, just in the ability to write them off as yet another Minnesota Vikings, a close-but-not-good-enough franchise.
But, while the Vikings still struggle with that moniker, another team, the Denver Broncos, had found a way to break through after several Super Bowl losses. Denver would use them as motivation, another Denver team that had found a way to break through. The Gold would show the Stars and the world that they were good enough to be called champions.
Denver came into Summer Bowl 2000 not only believing they could win, but that they would. Yes, the Bobby Hebert-led Stars were favored, and they certainly had talent on that 2000 squad, but Denver was on a mission. They came out of the gates aggressive, putting Philly on their heels. After 1 quarter it was 10-0 Gold, thanks in large part to the running of Rashaan Salaam and the play action that came off of the run. But Philadelphia was a solid club, and after Hebert hit Engram late in the first half the two teams went into the break with Denver clinging to a narrow 13-10 lead.
Coach Jauron preached commitment at the half, commitment to the team, to each other, and to playing for a full 60 minutes. After Philadelphia scored on their opening drive of the half to take their first lead of the day, and then added to it with a Jeff Jaeger field goal that commitment would be needed. Down 20-13, this is where past Gold teams had faded, losing momentum and failing to rally. Not this squad. The Gold, trailing now by 7, built up the intensity on both sides of the ball. Philly would not score again in the game, while the Gold rattled off two solid drives, the first ending with Rashaan Salaam’s 2nd TD run of the day to tie the game at 20. The second, midway through the final period, when once again the Gold moved the ball methodically against Philadelphia’s defense, driving the ball all the way in for a score when backup HB Ricky Whittle ran off tackle for the final four yards. Denver was back on top by 7 and they would not back down.
The Gold went on to win that game, and change the reputation from a team that could not win the big one to a team that never gave up. They would appear in the Summer Bowl in 2001 as well, losing there to the Orlando Renegades, forming a 3-year run that only the Philadelphia Stars of the early 2000’s could match, but this team, the one that won it all, would be the team that Gold fans would embrace as their best. Denver continues to put out solid teams year after year, only missing the playoffs one time between 1993 and 2005. They barely missed them last year at 7-7, and next week we will see if they can lock up a division title or once again fall to 7-7 and miss the postseason, but of all the Gold teams in all these years of quality play, no team will compare to the grit and determination of the 2000 Gold.
Stepping Stone: Ricky Sanders
So many stories in the USFL, of players rising from obscurity, of others extending their careers, of NFL stars finishing out their playing days, or of players making a name for themselves in the spring and then parlaying that into NFL stardom as well. The story of Ricky Sanders is a prime example of that last case. A smallish (5’11”) receiver out of a smallish college (Texas State), Sanders was simply not going to get a lot of attention in the NFL Draft. In fact, he went undrafted by the NFL in 1984. He was scouted by Jack Pardee and the Houston Gamblers, however, and signed a league minimum $70,000 salary in 1984 to join the expansion club in the USFL’s 2nd season. He would be one of the first of Mouse Davis’s “Mouseketeers”, smaller receivers who fit well into the wide open Run & Shoot offense. He would rejoice in the signing of Jim Kelly, a big name with a big arm out of Big Time U. of Miami. With Kelly leading the Mouse Davis offense, Sanders would get his shot to make a name for himself, and boy did he.
His rookie season with the Gamblers, Sanders started 14 games, caught 75 balls, and raced for 999 yards, just missing that magic 1,000 mark by the slimmest of margins. In his sophomore season he would not miss it, catching 79 Kelly passes for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was becoming a star in a league where small school players and undervalued prospects could become household names. He would go on to gain over 1,000 yards in each season from 85 through 89, and along the way would win a league title with the Gamblers in 1988. Nominated All-USFL four times as the lead receiver in Houston’ multiple receiver setup, Sanders had taken the most of his opportunity, and the league that had all but ignored him in 1984 was now begging for his services.
Sanders’s USFL contract with Houston expired in 1989, and a bidding war began in earnest. The Gamblers, were, of course, eager to retain the All-USFL receiver in his prime, but the NFL was also coming in strong. The Washington Redskins, led by Coach Joe Gibbs, was eager to build its own version of the “Mouseketeers”, and wanted to place Sanders alongside Art Monk and another former USFL star, Gary Clark. Clark had signed just a week earlier, and his presence in Washington helped convince Sanders to head to the Fall as well. Well, Clark’s presence as well as a hefty $2M a year, quite a price for a wideout in 1989.
Sanders would play the rest of his career in the NFL, first with Washington, and then with Atlanta. He would win a Super Bowl with the Redskins, becoming one of a rare breed of players with both a USFL and NFL title to his name. And yet, despite his success in the more established fall league, Sanders would always cherish what the USFL provided him, a stage to show his skills, a spotlight where none had been before, and a chance to show that he could make it as a pro. He got more than that, of course, and is still a welcome sight at Gambler games, one of the revered members of the early Run & Shoot days as well as the 1988 title team, Houston’s first of 3 league titles in a 9-year span. Ricky Sanders is just one of hundreds of players who found themselves in the USFL. Some moved on, some played their entire careers with the spring league. All of them helped build what is now a 25-year legacy of success.
(IRL: Yes, Sanders played for Houston in the USFL, only 2 years of course, then went on to the NFL, where he actually won 2 Super Bowls (87, 91), before short stints in Atlanta and Miami. He and former Bull Gary Clark did play together with the Skins, moving Sanders from the "Mouseketeers" to "The Posse". )
One week left, and flex scheduling to try to match up playoff games makes for a complex schedule, despite all games being played in only 2 timeslots. If you are a fan of a team on the cusp, we highly recommend you tune in to the ESPN Football Network’s “Around the League” broadcast to catch action from all the simultaneous games at once.
Sunday @ 12pm ET
Philadelphia (9-4) @ Baltimore (6-6-1) NBC National
Expect Philly to rest several starters ahead of next week’s Wild Card game. That gives Baltimore a chance to steal a win and possibly earn a wild card to face Philly again a week later.
Nashville (7-5-1) @ Jacksonville (7-6) ABC National
The Knights are in, the Bulls need to win to get in also. For Nashville, it is a question of who they play. If they win, they likely head to Orlando to face the Renegades. Lose and it could be off to Philly. They may want to try to win this one.
Boston (11-2) @ New Jersey (5-8) ABC NY/NE Only
Nothing but pride on the line here. Expect the starters to get some action for Boston because John Fox does not want them to have 2 weeks without any game action ahead of the divisional round. New Jersey continues to test Kevin Kolb out to see if they feel good about him as the starter next year.
New Orleans (1-12) @ Atlanta (5-8) ABC LA/AL/MS/GA only
The Breakers cannot wait for this year to be over. In what is Nolan’s last game, will the club fight to show him some respect or dial it in against a Fire squad that also has no skin in this game?
Washington (4-9) @ Pittsburgh (5-8) FOX MD/VA/West PA Only
Two clubs that hoped to be playing meaningful football this week. Both coaches need to show that they have their clubs on the right path, but little on the line this week.
Las Vegas (7-6) @ Tampa Bay (4-9) FOX National
The Thunder need this one to have any shot at a playoff berth. Expect them to come out firing. Tampa Bay, worried about Daunte Culpepper’s health, may well start Koy Detmer just to be safe.
Birmingham (5-8) @ Orlando (8-5) ESPN National
Orlando could still lose the division to Jacksonville, so they need to take this one seriously. Expect them to rest players only if the game is well in hand.
Sunday @ 4pm ET
Oakland ( 7-6) @ Denver (7-6) ABC National
Both teams need a win to get into the postseason. That makes this one of the more exciting matchups. Denver knows that a win equals a divisio title. Oakland could win and still be on the outside.
Texas (4-9) @ Houston (7-6) ABC TX only
Houston’s best shot at a playoff appearance is a win here and a Denver loss, giving them the SW Division. They have a shot at a Wild Card too, but again, only with a win.
Ohio (10-3) @ Arizona (2-11) ABC OH/AZ only
If you bought a ticket to this game hoping to see Kerry Collins and Eddie George take on a winning Wrangler squad, expect to be disappointed. No reason for Coach Luginbill to risk his starters in this one.
St. Louis (1-12) @ Michigan (7-6) FOX MO/IL/MI only
MIchigan needs the perfect combination of scores to get into the playoffs, but it all starts with them sending St. Louis down to 1-13.
Memphis (10-3) @ Seattle (12-1) FOX National
We really hoped this would be a matchup of two teams that had a lot to play for, but both have already locked in their playoff positions and their bye weeks, so expect them to go somewhat easy on each other and to play a vanilla gameplan just in case they meet again in the Summer Bowl.
Los Angeles (8-5) @ Chicago (9-4) ESPN National
Along with Oakland-Denver, this one could be big. LA knows that a win locks them into a playoff game, while Chicago still has hopes for a division title, if, and this is a big if, Arizona shocks the Glory. Expect a lot of scoreboard watching on the sidelines as both clubs could know their fates before this game ends.