Four weeks into the season and some teams are already getting a bit desperate. We have two clubs sitting at 0-4, both made moves this week to try to get that first win under their belts. We also have 2 teams sitting at 4-0 and feeling pretty good as both Boston and Seattle have yet to taste defeat. We have some surprising successes in places like Philadelphia, Memphis, and LA, and we have some disappointments in New Jersey, Orlando, Atlanta, and New Orleans. I guess we could call the entire Southwest Division a bit of a disappointment as three teams sit at 1-3 and Denver is only a game up at 2-2. But if that is the case, then we have to celebrate the Pacific where Oakland is in last place at 2-2, while Vegas and LA sit at 3-1 and Seattle rules the roost at 4-0. Four weeks in, and the season’s storylines are just now beginning to take shape. They are still very mutable, so stay tuned. It only gets better from here.
HOUSTON 23 LOS ANGELES 24
For the third consecutive week Houston drops a close one as they simply cannot seem to put teams away. While Los Angeles, after a tough loss in Seattle, rebounds with a big home win to move to 3-1 on the season. Seneca Wallace continues to prove a pleasant surprise this season, throwing for 3 touchdowns, while surviving a brutal pass rush that produced 10 total sacks. In a game where Houston ran the ball surprisingly well, the Gamblers simply could not put the game away when they needed to and LA found a way to pull it out with almost no time on the clock.
The game would be characterized by LA’s big plays and Houston’s aggressive defense. Seneca Wallace would suffer 10 sacks on the day, as time and again he held the ball waiting for deep routes to develop. When they did, he was able to make connections with his two best receivers, linking up with Tory Holt for a 33-yard TD toss on the opening drive, and then finding Keyshawn Johnson for 2 more scores.
Down 7 after the Holt TD, Houston got two big defensive plays to put them back in the game. First a misplayed 4th and 1 call went against LA, turning the ball over on downs and leading to a Houston field goal. Then, only 2 minutes later a muffed punt turned into a Houston TD as Shaun Williams came away with the ball in the endzone for 7 points. Houston would add a Vernon Davis score in the 2nd and go into the half with a seemingly comfortable 17-7 lead over the homestanding Express.
But, as so often does, the half allowed Coach Jackson and the Express to recalibrate. They would open the 2nd half with a field goal to get back to within 7 at 17-10. Then, on their next possession, the deep ball would again pay off for Wallace. He avoided the rush on a 2nd and 3 and found Keyshawn Johnson open deep, a 72-yard strike that evened the score of the game.
Houston would retake the lead with 4:16 left in the half, another Josh Brown field goal making it 23-20 for the visitors. They would double that advantage after a tipped ball from Wallace became a pick and Houston took over on the fringe of field goal range. They moved the ball into range for Brown, and he added 3 more to make Houston’s lead 23-17 with only 1:40 left to play.
While a few Los Angelinos started heading to the exits, most stuck around, and what they saw was their team rallying behind Seneca Wallace. Wallace connected on a short circle route to Jones-Drew, then a crossing pattern by Manumaleuna. A scramble on 1st and 10 garnered another first down, and soon LA was in range and still held 2 time outs.
They would not need to stop the clock again. On 1st and 10 from the 33, Wallace again rolled slightly to avoid the Houston rush that had been his nemesis all game long. This time he had just enough time to again spot Keyshawn Johnson getting open. He delivered a ball high and inside just across the goal, and Keyshawn was there to snatch it out of the air. With only 26 seconds left, LA had taken their first lead since the early stages of the opening quarter. Houston would not have time to rally and once again a close game would slip away. LA moves to 3-1, just one game behind Seattle, while Houston joins the crowd at 1-3 in the Southwest Division.
ARIZONA 17 SEATTLE 29
Friday night saw the Dragons back in action again, and they left little doubt in this one, scoring the first 22 points of the game before Arizona ever got on the boards. Dillon and Sproles combined for 118 yards as Seattle continues to give Darren Sproles more opportunities to touch the ball. David Boston also did his part, catching 5 balls for 128 yards, including a 52-yard strike that broke open the game early in the 2nd.
ORLANDO 17 PHILADELPHIA 18
Orlando came within minutes of securing their first win, but Kurt Warner led the Stars on a final drive that ended with a Dallas Clark TD catch to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. In a game that saw Sedrick Irvin outpace Ahman Green 82-54, the Stars still found a way to pull the game out and Orlando fell to 0-4 in what has been a truly disappointing opening to the season.
ATLANTA 25 TAMPA BAY 33
After falling behind 20-6, the Atlanta Fire made it a game in the 2nd half and had Tampa Bay on the ropes until a Willis McGahee TD run late in the 4th helped them build up a lead that Atlanta could not eliminate. McGahee finished with 77 yards rushing and two scores. Terrell Davis had 114 for the Fire, but it was not enough to produce a road victory for Atlanta.
OHIO 38 ST. LOUIS 10
Ohio’s offense found their groove against the Skyhawks, with Kerry Collins throwing for 3 scores and Eddie George rushing for 77 yards, but the surprise star of the game was backup HB Kenny Watson, who rushed for 104 on only 5 carries, thanks to a 34-yard dash and 3 more 20+ yard runs. Joey Galloway added 141 yards and 2 scores as Ohio rolled the Skyhawks in the dome.
TEXAS 3 LAS VEGAS 23
With T. J. Duckett still dealing with an ankle issue, the Outlaws could do little against Las Vegas’s top flight defense. Meanwhile, Marshawn Lynch had his first 100-yard game, 164 on 16 carries to be exact, as the Thunder got their ground game rumbling against the Outlaws.
BOSTON 21 DENVER 13
Denver got 111 yards from HB Cedric Benson, but they could not contain the Boston pass game, with Bledsoe going for 325 and 2 scores as Boston pulled out the win at Invesco Field. Tiki Barber was a non-factor, with only 37 yards against the Gold defense, but Bledsoe kept chipping away at the D, and in the end that helped Boston get the win on the road to remain unbeaten.
WASHINGTON 9 BALTIMORE 5
A tough game to sit through as neither team proved they had much on offense. Of course, for the defensive coaches it was a thing of beauty as neither team was able to find the endzone. Deuce McCallister’s 112 yards rushing were the offensive highlight of the game, but even with that Washington could only muster 3 field goals. Up 9-3 with time running out, the Feds went for the intentional safety just to get out of danger backed up on their endzone, explaining the baseball-like score.
NASHVILLE 20 BIRMINGHAM 6
The Knights get over 200 yards of total offense from Frank Gore as they grind down the Stallions in Legion Field. Gore finished with 126 yards rushing on 22 carries and added another 75 through the air. Meanwhile, the Knight defense flustered Jason Campbell and contained the run game to hold Birmingham to only 2 field goals on the day.
MEMPHIS 27 JACKSONVILLE 21
The Bulls fall from the ranks of the unbeaten as a late Favre to Lee Evans TD gives Memphis the win. It was Favre’s only TD on the day, but he avoided turning the ball over and that proved enough as Memphis’s defense played very well against Jake Delhomme and the Bulls, holding them under 300 yards of total offense.
PITTSBURGH 21 CHICAGO 26
Cody Pickett would go 23 of 30 and throw for 3 scores, but it was not enough as TDs from Michael Turner and Maurice Clarett were enough to push Chicago over the Maulers. Turner would finish with 85 yards rushing and both Donald Driver and Curtis Conway would get over 75 each as Brady Quinn distributed the ball well, throwing for 201 yards on a 17 of 22 day.
MICHIGAN 7 OAKLAND 24
Brian Griese’s worst game of the year as Oakland sacked the Panther QB six times and picked him off twice. Add in 135 yards rushing between Ricky Williams (95) and Jerious Norwood (40) and you have Oakland evening their record at 2-2. Invader LB Roosevelt Colvin had a huge game, racking up 12 tackles, 3 sacks, and a fumble recovery to help Oakland win comfortably.
NEW JERSEY 26 NEW ORLEANS 20
In this battle of winless teams on Sunday night, someone had to earn their first W of the season, and that was the Generals, thanks to a sturdy run defense and just enough big plays from Terry Glenn and Curtis Enis. Early TD’s from Enis and James Jackson gave New Jersey the edge, and despite a strong day from Eli Manning, the Generals would hang on to win by six.
Breakers Make Bold Move at 0-4
Losing will certainly amp up the need for a team to make a move, and that is certainly the case with the New Orleans Breakers, whose run game has been one of the worst in the league (300 yards in 4 games as a team). The combination of Troy Davis, Julius Jones and rookie Kenny Irons have just not found their stride, and while Davis has been a valuable asset over the years in the passing game, he was seen as a weak link in the run game. So, the Breakers this week opted to trade pass receiving skills for more traditional power run skills, sending Davis to the Michigan Panthers to acquire halfback Fred Jackson.
Michigan, who has also been using a platoon strategy with their backs, acquires a pure 3rd down back, a scat back with excellent hands, to diversify their offense. They will almost certainly now move to Justin Fargas as their primary 1st and 2nd down ball carrier, with Davis used on passing downs, though Leon Washington has certainly been doing well in that role so far.
For New Orleans, we expect Jackson to quickly be given the chance to establish himself as the lead back, with Kenny Irons likely serving as the backup and Julius Jones mostly serving as a short-yardage option. Jackson has decent pass receiving skills in addition to his one-cut style out of the backfield, so we could imagine New Orleans keeping him on the field for 3 downs, but spelling him with Jones or Irons as needed.
Is this a move that dramatically improves the situation for the 0-4 Breakers? Unlikely, but it is a move that shows that management and Coach Nolan are not afraid to make changes and shake things up.
Orlando Also Hits Trade Wire After 0-4 Start
Another team hoping to shake things up after an 0-4 start are the Orlando Renegades. After making a huge splash this offseason by signing Drew Brees to a lucrative free agent contract, the Orlando offense has hardly been a well-oiled machine. Orlando currently ranks 23rd in scoring at 13.2 points per game, and is 21st in passing yards, averaging just barely over 180 yards per game. So, with Brees in place, what do you do? You provide him with a target.
Orlando this week did just that, sending a 3rd round pick and special teamer Eddie Berlin to the Memphis Showboats to acquire wideout Justin McCaerins. McCaerins, who has hauled in 10 passes for 132 yards this season in Memphis, has not had a 1,000 yard season since his rookie year with the Showboats, but is seen as an upgrade for Orlando, whose leading receiver, Michael Jenkins, has only 199 yards and no touchdowns to date this year. Pairing McCaerins with Jenkins is designed to provide Orlando with two outside threats, with the hope that rookie Greg Olsen can serve as a third target inside. Both the #3 and #4 receivers on the Orlando depth chart (Brandon Marshall and Brandon Stokely) are better suited as outside receives, relieving the starters, than as slot receivers, a position typically held by Tai Streets.
Memphis will now promote Lee Evans to a starting role opposite Robert Ferguson. Evans has built some rapport with the Showboats’ new QB, Brett Favre, connecting on the game winning TD this week.
St. Louis Goes for Bush
No trade for the St. Louis Skyhawks this week, but a change in strategy as the club announced that rookie halfback Michael Bush would be replacing Dominic Rhodes as the starter at the position. Neither back has been particularly strong to date, with both averaging fewer than 3 yards per carry, but Bush is seen as a back with more potential and big play ability.
St. Louis also shuffled their receiving corps, moving Bryant Johnson into the starting slot opposite Taylor Jacobs, while making Drew Bennett the top sub for both outside positions. Sinorice Moss and Lance Moore continue to occupy the slot. The Skyhawks also made some adjustments to their 26th rated defense, moving LB Wali Rainier to the MLB spot, and sending T. J. Slaughter to the weak side. Sitting at 1-3, this kind of roster shuffling feels pretty common, and in the case of the Skyhawks, very much necessary if they do not wish to continue being ranked in the bottom 3 in both scoring and points allowed.
A bad day for wideout Roy Williams of the Gamblers, and a very bad bit of news for the Gamblers as a club. Williams had to be carted off the field with an apparent neck injury this week, and x-rays do confirm damage to two cervical vertebrae. It is a treatable injury, and there is no paralysis, but it will be some time before Roy Williams takes the field again, if he opts to do so after what is likely to be a long period of reflection and healing.
The injury occurred in a head to head collision and it was immediately apparent that Williams was seriously injured. Staff from both teams came to his aid, and very quickly his facemask was removed and he was put into a neck brace and then a back board. This makes the second week in a row where the back board was used, and in the case of Williams, the diagnosis is not as positive as it was for DeShaun Townsend. He will be placed on IR, and will be focusing on recovery and rehabilitation for the foreseeable future. Our thoughts go out to him and his family.
Two other significant injuries to note. Birmingham center Chukki Okobi is likely to miss 6-8 weeks after breaking an ankle after being rolled up on by one of his own players, and Pittsburgh fullback John Kuhn is expected to miss at least a month after suffering a knee injury this week. Fortunately no ligament damage was detected.
Others who may be out only 1-2 weeks include Birmingham TE O.J. Santiago, Baltimore strong safety Adam Archuleta, New Jersey DE Tamba Hali, and Philadelphia corner Antonio Cromartie.
USFL Announces 12 Hall of Fame Semifinalists
The league office in New York this week released the names of the 12 men under consideration for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the USFL Class of 2007, and it seems clear that this year is all about the defense. Of the 12 nominees only wide receivers Webster Slaughter (3rd year of eligibility) and Raynard Brown (1st year) are not defensive players. Among the nominees are 6 defensive linemen, a linebacker, and 3 defensive backs. Clearly the Hall and the league feel that some catchup for defenders is needed, though it also helps that at least 2, maybe 3, sure fire first ballot defenders are in the group of new nominees who retired in 2002. The pool this year includes 8 first year nominees and 4 returning candidates. Here is our rundown of all 12, from most likely to get inducted, to the darkhorse.
DE Chris Doleman
(BIR 89-90, ORL 92-02)
Chris Doleman’s path to the Hall of Fame did not start off with immediate results. In two years with Birmingham he recorded only 2 sacks and rarely saw the field. After being let go by the Stallions in the final training camp cuts of 1991, he would not find a team until the 1992 offseason, when he signed with Orlando. Something must have happened during that year away from the game, because Doleman exploded onto the scene with 20 sacks for the Renegades in 1992. For the next 11 seasons he would never record fewer than 10 sacks in any year.
Doleman retired in 2002 with 198 career sacks, one of the most feared men in football. He was a regular top vote-getter for All-USFL, making the team 8 times in the 1990’s, and would set the league sack record at an incredible 29 sacks in 1999. His career total ranks him 3rd all time, behind only Reggie White and Phil Hansen. We believe Doleman is an easy 1st ballot Hall of Famer.
DT Michael Dean Perry
(HOU 86-92, DEN 93-96, JAX 97-99, BAL 00-02)
A ten-time All-USFL player at Defensive Tackle, Perry played for 4 different teams, and while his stats, like most DT’s don’t show huge numbers across the board, fans and fellow players know just how impactful Perry was on the field. The fact that he made the All-USFL squad while a member of 3 of the 4 teams (every year from 1988 through 1997) is enough to testify to how respected he was around the league. He would win two titles, 1988 and 1992 with the Gamblers, and would play in 238 consecutive games, a stunning number for a big man in such a physical position. We see MDP as another slam dunk first ballot candidate.
DE Leslie O’Neill
(DEN 94-02)
O’Neill is where we start to wonder if somehow this deserving player won’t make it. His career is shorter than many (9 seasons), and while his stats are impressive (163 sacks, never a season below 14), O’Neill always felt like a player who got minimal attention, with headlines focusing on Hansen, Doleman, or Kavika Pittman. Denver fans will certainly argue that he deserves a Gold Jacket, as O’Neill was a huge part of the Gold reaching three straight Summer Bowls from 1999-2001, and winning the league title in 2000. We think his odds are good to be a first ballot Hall of Famer, and he certainly will become a Gold Jacket recipient soon enough, but if there is concern about D-linemen occupying 3 of 5 slots, we think that puts O’Neill in an unenviable position.
S Carnell Lake
(MGN (1989-1995, LA 96-02)
Of the three DB’s in this year’s class, we see Lake as the most likely to occupy a space, even as a first year candidate. The 14-year vet is widely regarded as one of the best coverage safeties to play in the league while also being feared as a hitter and tackler, a rare combination. He retired in 2002 having been named All-USFL 4 times, and leaving the game with career totals of 1,039 tackles, 35 sacks and 13 interceptions. Safety is a tough position to gauge, but observers of the game certainly can see the talent that Lake brought each week.
WR Webster Slaughter
(WSH 86-89, POR 90-00)
It is a very tough call between Webster Slaughter and Raynard Brown. Their numbers are similar, their impact similar, their role as an underappreciated #1 receiver also very similar. Why do we put Slaughter ahead? Well, in part because it is his 3rd year of eligibility while Raynard Brown is in his first. But also because of consistency. From 1986 until his retirement in 2000, Slaughter never had a season below 50 receptions. He topped 1,000 yards 5 times and 800 yards 12 times in 15 years. Longevity and consistent production do not guarantee a gold jacket, but we think it is merited for this highly regarded wideout.
WR Raynard Brown
(PIT 87-97, NOR 98-02)
We have made the case for Webster Slaughter, now let’s make the case for Raynard Brown. Brown had more 1,000 yard seasons (9) and more career touchdowns (104), he also was a prolific kick and punt returner, making him more valuable to his team. He won a championship (1995 with Pittsburgh), and while he only has 2 All-USFL seasons, that is still 1 more than Slaughter. Yes, he is a first year nominee, but if a WR is going to make it in this year, he seems a stronger choice, assuming voters don’t get hung up on the whole “who deserves to be a first ballot entrant” trip.
DT William “Refrigerator” Perry
(TBY 85-93, BAL 94-99)
Perry is a sentimental favorite for a lot of defensive football fans, not just for his size, or his jovial personality, but because he was a very good player for a very long time at a very big size. An 8-time All-USFL selection at defensive tackle, Perry never won a title, except perhaps most eaten at a training table. The big man retired with more sacks and more tackles than his younger brother Micheal Dean Perry, but may be seen as less of a pure athlete than MDP. We love the Fridge, and we hope he gets in, but this is his 4th year of eligibility and it has not happened yet, so we worry it is just not in the cards.
LB Pat Swilling
(MEM 90-91, HOU 92-02)
After a slow start in Memphis, where Swilling started only 1 game in 2 years, he moved to Houston and was embraced by Coach Ray Willsey. He would start 12 games in his first year with the Gamblers, and would be a key player in those tough Gambler defenses for a decade. In Houston Swilling developed a reputation as one of the league’s best tacklers, and a guy who would go sideline to sideline. He would make the All-USFL team 4 times in the 90’s and win two titles with the Gamblers, including one in his first season with the team. He retired with 905 tackles, 44 sacks, and 165 tackles for loss. While we are not sure Swilling will make the Hall in his first year of eligibility, we are confident he will soon have himself a bronze bust and a gold jacket.
S Vencie Glenn
(DEN 86-91, BIR 92, POR 93-01)
Now in his 2nd year of eligibility, Vencie Glenn falls into the same trap that many safeties do. They don’t have the tackle numbers of linebackers, or the picks of cornerbacks, so how do you evaluate them? Vencie Glenn’s 624 tackles are outstanding for a free safety, and his 49 picks are among the best at the position. In fact, the 49 career picks by Glenn are second only to Martin Bayless’s 50. We wish we could say that in his 2nd year, Glenn was a shoe-in, but we know how tough voting is each year, so it certainly is not as easy as that.
DE John Bosa
(PIT 87-93, TEX 94-02)
A prodigious edge rusher whose 167 sacks put him 7th all time, Bosa has the misfortune of retiring the same year as Doleman and O’Neill, who are both well ahead of him in that all-important DE category. Lack of recognition will not be new to Bosa, who was never voted All-USFL despite being one of the best edge rushers in the league year in and year out. He was always just outside of the big name DE’s, and we fear that will be the case again with the Hall of Fame.
CB Bruce Pickens
(DEN 91-02)
A lifelong member of the Denver Gold, and the club’s all-time leader in picks with 44 career interceptions, Bruce Pickens is certainly worthy of consideration. Pickens was a 5-time All-USFL selection, spread from 1991 until 2001. He started all 16 games as a rookie with Denver in 1991 and remained their #1 CB for nearly a decade. In addition to his club interception title, he also racked up 990 tackles and 334 pass deflections over his career. Do we think he deserves to be in the Hall? Yes, someday. Do we think he gets in first ballot? No, we don’t.
DT Jerry Ball
(LA/STL 87-00)
A surefire Knights Hall of Famer member, Jerry Ball is now in his third year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and we again think his odds are long. In addition to being one of 3 DT’s nominated this year, and the only one not a Perry brother, the fact is that he is simply not as popular or as highly-regarded as either William or Michael Dean. It is unfortunate, but we just don’t see it happening, meaning he will go into next year, his 4th with even longer odds.
So, reviewing, our picks for the 5 members of the Class of 2007 are Chris Doleman, Michael Dean Perry, Leslie O’Neill, Carnell Lake, and Webster Slaughter. Four of five being defenders. But, we have been known to be wrong, so we will wait and see. It would not surprise us to see Vencie Glenn outperform Lake or Raynard Brown get more votes than Slaughter. Those last two slots will be contentious.
Dueling Dynasties of the 1980’s
This week in our look back at the first 25 seasons of the USFL, we choose a subject that is sure to start bar room debates across the country. Which was the Team of the 80’s in the USFL? There are really only 2 choices, but between those two, it is hard to say, at least outside of Detroit or the Delaware Valley.
On the one hand you have the Michigan Panthers, winners of the 1984 and 1986 USFL Championships, boasting 6 Hall of Fame players and a Hall of Fame Coach in Jim Stanley. But opposing Denver are the Philadelphia Stars of Coach Jim Mora Sr. They won the 1985 and 1987 championships, and can boast 4 Hall of Famers. They also played in more playoff games (13) and won more (8) than any team in the decade.
We can already hear the Michigan fans reminding us that from 1983-1990 Michigan boasts a better overall record, with 90 wins to 40 defeats, while Philadelphia has 80 wins and 50 defeats. We also expect that Panther fans will remind us all that in the 1986 title game, the Panthers routed Philadelphia 36-22. And yet, Philly fans will say, the Stars came back the next year and won the title, while Michigan has not returned to the league championship since 86. There is no doubt that Philadelphia sustained their success longer, winning a 3rd title in 1994, but we are talking about the 1980’s here, so we really cannot count that.
For some it is about style. The Panthers were about big plays. Whether it was the deep ball from Hebert to Anthony Carter or Derek Holloway, or the big turnover from John Corker or David Greenwood. For Philadelphia it was about wearing a team down. Pounding Kelvin Bryant into the line, mixing in some play action from Chuck Fusina, or just crushing the run game with Sam Mills and Lorenzo Lynch playing close to the line. So how do we pick a winner? Two great franchises, two multiple champions? Well, how about we look position by position and see who stacks up? Best of the Best.
QB: We have two hall of famers here, but we have to give it to the younger, more dynamic, more explosive of the two, Bobby Hebert over Chuck Fusina. Sorry “tried and true” fans but QB is a position where flash matters.
HB: This one goes to Philly. We love us some John Williams, but there is no world where we can pick him over Kelvin Bryant. That is a win for Philadelphia. Both are in the Hall of Fame, but Bryant is considered one of the founding fathers of the league, a player who helped put the USFL on the map. That is a lot in his favor.
WR: Anthony Carter and Dereck Holloway have to give a 2nd win to Michigan. Philadelphia has always seemed to do more with less at the wideout position, at least until they signed Cris Carter in 1995, so we give this one pretty easily to the Panthers.
TE: Steve Folsom vs. Butch Rolle. That is a toughie. Eric Green came in 1990, so only 1 year there for the Stars. Folsom made 3 All-USFL teams (83, 85, 86) while Rolle made 4, but only 1 of those was in the 80’s. So, if we are looking only at 1980’s production, we have to go with Folsom and the Stars here.
O-Line: Ok, this is another toughie. You have the Panthers with LT Arnoldo Gardner and RT Ryan Broderick, and guard Philip Novak. Center Hubert Hicks also won All-USFL honors. And you have Philadelphia with Rory Culver and Jamie Diamond at guard and Irv Eatman at the LT position. You also have Bart Oates, an All-USFL center for most of the decade. Overall, just looking at accolades and dominance at the line of scrimmage, I think we have to go with Philadelphia here. Their style plays a part in this, but so too does their sheer brute power as a unit.
D-Line: Michigan has a slight edge in the 80’s here, thanks mostly to Ronnie Paggett on the outside. James Painter was no slouch for Philadelphia, but he was not as productive. We like Jumpy Geathers inside for the Stars, but Michigan added Tim Krumrie from the NFL midway through the decade, so that balances that out. We think Paggett’s production rushing the passer gives Michigan the edge here, but ever so slight edge.
Linebackers: Pick your poison because these were among the most potent and feared linebacking groups in the league for most of the decade. For Michigan you have names like Hall of Famer John Corker, Rick Naylor, and, by the late 80’s Hardy Nickerson. For Philadelphia, how does a group with Sam Mills, John Bunting, and Glenn Howard. Just on sheer number of All-USFL awards, we have to go with Michigan, but that is no disrespect to the Stars.
Secondary: Another rough one. Let’s start with Philadelphia and CBs Chris Snyder and Lorenzo Lynch, add in SS Lowell Edge or Scott Woerner, oh, and Eric McMillian sneaks in right at the end as well. Michigan had SS David Greenwood roaming centerfield, Keith Bostic at one corner, and free safety Roy Gee as well. But, overall, we have to give this one to the Stars.
Kicking: Two classic USFL kickers in Novo Bojovic and David Trout. We love them both, but Trout holds the advantage in every statistical category, including being the first to kick a 60 yarder in the league. Novo is great, but Trout for the W. And when we add in punter Sean Landeta, this category goes to Philly.
Coach: Jim Stanley is in the Hall of Fame. Jim Mora could be there but he won’t retire, so that means he cannot be nominated. For longevity we would go with Mora, for impact, Stanley. Can we call this one a toss up. I feel like if we only look at the Philadelphia years for Mora, he comes off better. He struggled in Oakland and in Memphis to match that success, though he did win a 3rd title in 1999 with the Showboats.
If we call coaching a draw, then Philly takes it on the foot of David Trout, which just about sounds right to us. But, let the debates rage. As long as we just both acknowledge that it is very close and these are both two amazing teams of the 80’s.
Marcus Marek: The Breaker Backer
A five time All-USFL selection in 8 seasons, racking up 7 seasons with 100+ tackles, a defensive captain and a guy you do not want to anger on the field. Marcus Marek was all of this and more in his USFL career with the Boston and New Orleans Breakers. Marek was a 1983 product out of Ohio State who went undrafted by the NFL and found himself answering a call from Dick Coury in the fledgeling USFL. As a rookie he would not only start for the Breakers but lead the team with 105 tackles out of the MLB position. It would not be his last 100 tackle season, as he would repeat the feat for 7 years as the Breaker’s defensive captain. His only non-100 tackle season was his injury shortened 1990 campaign, his last in the USFL.
Marek would play 15 of 16 games that year, missing the final game of the season while sitting with 98 tackles on the year. Marek would retire just as camp opened in 1991, still dealing with significant issues with his knee and hip. He would become eligible for the USFL’s first Hall of Fame class in 1995, having not played in any 1991 games, and he would be a member of the inaugural class of that year, joining the Hall with fellow greats Anthony Carter, Junior Ah-You, John Reaves, and the man whose name is on the USFL championship trophy, John Bassett.
We are still not entirely sure how Marcus Marek made it to the Breakers. Here is a guy who was an All-American at Ohio State, but he was deemed too slow by the NFL and somehow went undrafted. He would sign with Dick Coury’s Breakers for a measly $60,000 a year in 1983, hoping to prove himself. He quickly became a fan of the league, and one of its break out stars. In 1985 he was rewarded with a new contract, and a much more lucrative one, but he never forgot about that chip on his shoulder from the NFL’s rejection. He made the move with the team to New Orleans and helped the Breakers reach the playoffs every year form 1984 until he retired in 1990. He would never lift up the Bassett Trophy, however, as New Orleans just kept falling short, never reaching the big game.
Marek retired in 1990, returning to the Boston area, where he now is tackling not ballplayers but lobsters off the coast. But, he will still make a trip back to New Orleans for alumni week, still meets adoring fans each year in Canton, and his jersey is still seen around both Boston and New Orleans, on the backs of everyday fans who just love the way he played the game.
(IRL: Not much out there about Marek after his USFL Days. According to Wikipedia he played 1 season with the Saints, and I found an article that cited that he now works in the lobster business in New England, which is where I got that idea.)
Here is your Week 5 viewing guide. A few games you won’t want to miss this week, including an interesting NE Clash when Philly visits Washington. Chicago is in Ohio in another key divisional battle, while Denver heads to Texas hoping to build on their early season divisional lead. National Broadcasts in bold.
FRI @ 8pm Michigan (2-2) @ Boston (4-0) NBC
SAT @ 12pm Birmingham (2-2) @ New Jersey (1-3) FOX
SAT @ 12pm Las Vegas (3-1) @ Pittsburgh (1-3) ABC
SAT @ 4pm Seattle (4-0) @ Houston (2-2) FOX
SAT @ 4pm St. Louis (1-3) @ Oakland (2-2) ABC
SAT @ 8pm Jacksonville (3-1) @ Atlanta (1-3) ESPN
SUN @ 12pm Philadelphia (3-1) @ Washington (2-2) ABC
SUN @ 12pm Los Angeles (3-1) @ Orlando (0-4) FOX
SUN @ 12pm New Orleans (0-4) @ Memphis (3-1) FOX
SUN @ 4pm Baltimore (2-2) @ Nashville (3-1) ABC
SUN @ 4pm Denver (2-2) @ Texas (1-3) FOX
SUN @ 8pm Arizona (1-3) @ Tampa Bay (2-2) ESPN
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