A big week for playoff clinches as 10 of 12 spots are now locked in. Denver, Houston, Memphis, and Baltimore joined the party, locking up all but the final Wild Card in each division. Houston won their 4th in a row to become the new “hot” team, while Las Vegas continues to slide with their 3rd consecutive loss. Nashville slipped out of the #6 position in the East, replaced by a Breakers squad that has won three in a row to even their record at 7-7. In other words, a week that went a long way towards shaping the 2008 playoff picture. Let’s kick off our coverage with Tampa Bay seeking to win their 12th in a row, and Nashville hoping to reach .500 at home.
TAMPA BAY 28 NASHVILLE 21
A tough matchup for the Nashville Knights, hoping to hang onto the 6th playoff spot in the East, but with Daunte Culpepper out of action for this game, there was hope that the Knights could send Tampa Bay to only their 2nd loss all season and return the Knights to 7-7. But the Bandits are not a one-man team, and with backup Brad Gradkowski playing solid football, they proved tough to overcome once again.
The Knights’ strategy was obvious, feed the ball to Frank Gore, set up the play action pass, and try to pressure Gradkowski into mistakes with defensive pressure. They accomplished two of the three, but that third one did not work out at all, with Gradkowski only sacked 1 time and able to move the Bandit offense against man coverage.
Nashville started off well, containing Tampa Bay in the first half to only a field goal as they took a 6-3 lead into the break. The use of the run game had proven effective both in moving the chains and the clock, limiting Tampa Bay to only 3 first downs in the opening half. But Coach Spurrier is well known for his halftime adjustments and when the Bandits came out in the third, they had a plan.
Tampa Bay made two big changes to their offensive strategy to throw Nashville off their game. The first was to switch to a fast paced no-huddle strategy, and the second was to give Gradkowski easy 1-2 read patterns, getting the ball out of his hands quickly. The strategy worked from the onset of the third quarter and in just 3 minutes the Bandits had taken the lead on a goalline plunge from Michael Hicks. After Nashville stalled outside of the Tampa Bay 45, the Bandits got the ball back and Gradkowski led them down the field, helped by two Nashville penalties, but also a nice 19-yard run by Willis McGahee, who would finish with 97 yards on the night. From the 5-yard line Gradkowski found Chris Doering and just like that Tampa Bay was up 17-6.
Nashville would stick to their plan, and this time it paid off. Gore rushed the ball 5 times for 43 of the Knight’s 71 yards on the drive, with Robert Meachem able to get the final 8 yards and the score on a quick seam route. The Knights went for two and succeeded, pulling them to within 3 at 17-14. But, they still did not have an answer for Tampa Bay’s no hurry, and only 1:22 later the Bandits were back to scoring, with a 31-yard field goal boosting their lead to 6.
As the 4th quarter opened, Nashville again drove the ball methodically, using another 33 of Frank Gore’s 134 yards for the day to get the ball close enough for Leon Johnson to take a delayed handoff and find space on the right side, plunging in from the 4 yard line to once again bring Nashville back, this time able to lead by a point at 21-20. But, with over 6 minutes left to play, it would fall on the Knights’ defense to do what they had struggled to do the entire half, shut down the Tampa Bay offense.
The Bandits got the ball back on their own 20 after the touchback, and once again went immediately to the no huddle. Short passes to Karl Williams and Roscoe Parrish, a draw to McGahee, a slant to Davone Bess and the Bandits were moving. It would take them 9 plays, but only 1:27 to get the ball into the redzone. From there, 1 play was all they needed as Gradkowski spotted Jeremy Shockey lined up with a linebacker who was too slow to handle another seam route. Shockey went straight up the field and Gradkowski hit him in stride with a high pass above the shoulders. Shockey brought it in and the Bandits were back on top. They went for 2 to pull to a 7-point lead, and a quick toss to McGahee got the job done.
Nashville had 2:17 to get the game equalized, trailing by 7. Jay Cutler would have to lead them on a quick drive to even up the game at 28 and send it to overtime. He would start off well, once again hitting Meachem for an immediate first down. Two plays later he connected with Derrick Mason for another, but then things went south. A false start put the Knights at 1st and 15. After an incompletion Cutler was wrapped up by Derrick Burgiss on 2nd and 15, creating a 3rd and 21. That was a bit too much to ask of a Knights’ offense that is not known for its deep passing game. Cutler tried to hit Ahmad Merritt on 3rd down, but the ball sailed on him. 4th and 21 and essentially a hail mary attempt. Cutler could not find a receiver uncovered so he took his chances, throwing towards Meachem, but with Philip Buchanon hanging all over him Meachem could not make the grab.
Tampa Bay had survived and secured their 13th win in 14 attempts. Nashville would slip to 6-8 and by the end of the weekend would find themselves a game back of division rival New Orleans for the final playoff spot.
MICHIGAN 24 PORTLAND 17
The Panthers learn that Portland’s 7-6 record was no fluke as they struggle to get past the Pacific club. Portland had a 17-13 lead as the 4th quarter opened, but the Panthers rallied late with a Matt Prater field goal and then a TD pass from Drew Stanton (who came in for the injured Griese at the half) to Antwan Randle-El to get out of Portland with a narrow win and a close call.
BOSTON 20 PHILADELPHIA 27
The Cannons were game in a matchup they needed to win, but Philadelphia proved to be the better team, building up a 27-13 lead and holding on against Boston’s late efforts. Steve Slaton had his 2nd 100-yard game of the season as he rushed for 113 and 2 scores. Steve Smith added 123 yards through the air and a TD of his own as Philadelphia retained their lead on Washington for the NE Division title. In defeat, Adrian McPherson still looked solid, completing 15 of 24 for 226 yards and all 3 Boston TDs.
LAS VEGAS 17 TEXAS 19
A bad loss for the Thunder, who needed this one to try to keep pace with Seattle for that last Wild Card spot. T. J. Duckett rushed for 111 and Troy Davis scored twice for the Outlaws as Coach Turner found a way through the Thunder defense. Texas was also effective against Las Vegas’s offense, holding the Outlaws to 283 total yards by deploying a 5-man front on most first and second down plays.
BALTIMORE 25 HOUSTON 28
We thought this would be a good game, and we were not disappointed. Baltimore outgained the Gamblers 430-372, but were unable to fully come back after falling behind 28-10. Matt Hasselbeck hit TE Vernon Davis twice for scores and both Alexander and Faulk also racked up scores as Houston built up their lead and then held on to go to 10-4 on the year and clinch a playoff spot. Baltimore, despite the loss, also clinched a Wild Card due to other game results.
MEMPHIS 34 ORLANDO 10
Memphis tortured Orlando backup Matt Cassel for 4 quarters, leading to an ugly differential in yards, with Memphis dominating 453-195. The Showboats got 358 yards passing from Brett Favre, including g128 to Robert Ferguson, who also caught both of Favre’s TD passes. The run game, split between Williams, Smith and Gates, produced 95 yards as well.
PITTSBURGH 9 CHICAGO 23
Two good defenses clashed in Chicago, but once again Kyle Orton kept his head about him, going 12 of 19 and avoiding any turnovers as Chicago won this war of attrition. An early Rocky Boiman pick-6 put Chicago on the board first, and despite not getting an offensive TD until the midpoint of the 4th quarter, they held on, limiting Pittsburgh to only one Walter Rasby TD catch and a late safety with the game well in hand.
OAKLAND 21 LOS ANGELES 11
We thought we might see Seneca Wallace in this game, but Coach Jackson opted to start Jeff Garcia instead. Garcia threw for 272 and a TD, but a costly pick helped springboard Oakland to a 14-3 lead after 3 quarters. The LA defense was solid against the run, but the offense just did not do enough to help them pull off the upset.
SEATTLE 10 OHIO 21
Ohio puts a dent in Seattle’s playoff run by holding court at home with touchdowns from Randy Moss, Stephen Alexander and Kevin Smith on their way to a win that put them back at .500 and drew Seattle within one game with 2 to play. Cornerback Deshea Townsend returned from injury with 4 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery to be named Defensive POTG.
NEW ORLEANS 28 BIRMINGHAM 10
The Breakers take care of business at Legion Field, dominating the Stallions to move to 7-7 and take over the #6 slot in the playoff pool. Six different players got a carry in the Breaker run game, with Matt Forte and Fred Jackson splitting the majority of the carries for a combined 101 yards and 1 score. Dwayne Bowe added 97 yards and a score through the air as New Orleans outpaced the Stallions.
NEW JERSEY 9 WASHINGTON 36
Actual fans in paper bag masks at the Meadowlands as Washington simply manhandled the Generals. Kordell Stewart ran for 44 yards and a score, threw for 175 and 2 more and got a lot of help from Deuce McCallister, with 197 yards on 23 carries as the Generals put up little resistance.
ATLANTA 7 JACKSONVILLE 13
Jacksonville could still reach .500 this season after winning their 3rd in the last 4 games. Atlanta struggled with Tyler Thigpen at the helm once more, while Jake Delhomme led the Bulls on their lone TD drive early in the game before giving way to Josh McCown later on. Delhomme is fine, and should be able to start next week.
ARIZONA 13 DENVER 26
The Gold stopped their losing streak at 2 games by doubling up the Wranglers at home at Invesco Field. The Gold score the first 20 points of the game and cruised to victory on the strength of 105 yards from Peerless Price and a defense that picked off Jake Plummer 3 times. The win helped Denver lock up at least a Wild Card, though they still have some hope of catching Houston for the division title as well.
ST. LOUIS 7 CHARLOTTE 27
Charlotte wins 2 in a row for the first time in team history as they shut down an erratic St. Louis offense and win going away. Robert Edwards found plenty of holes against the Skyhawk run defense, rushing for 112 and 2 scores on the day. Add in a TD catch from rookie Stevie Johnson (his 4th on the year) and the Monarchs get win #5 on the season.
Is Plummer Damaged Goods?
With teams around the league essentially foaming at the mouth over the prospect of landing Jake Plummer in a trade, no one has apparently been asking the key question: Is Plummer damaged goods? What do we mean by this? We are asking if the 7-time All-USFL QB may be fading or simply burning out. Why do we ask this? Well, for one thing he has proven unable to get Arizona’s offense moving at all this year, and this despite having significant talent around him with Larry Fitzgerald and Santonio Holmes wide and Kevin Everett inside. He has a halfway decent back in Sedrick Irvin, whose 764 yards may not light the league on fire, but is certainly better than many recent years in Arizona. More disturbing is Plummer’s 13:12 TD:INT ratio, far worse than in any year since he was a rookie. Last year he was 12:2 in the same category over 12 games. He certainly does not run like he used to, which is to be expected, but this year he has -20 yards total, compared to 132 last year and a 5-year stretch of over 500 yards per season when he was winning those MVP awards.
The truth may seem harsh, but we are worried that folks are hoping to trade for 2002 Jake Plummer, but what they will trade away a fortune for is 2009 Jake Plummer, and that is not the same player. So, buyer beware, do your diligence, see if you can figure out why Plummer’s 2008 stats are so troubling before you throw everything, including the kitchen sink, into a trade deal.
Will McNair return in time? And What About 2009?
We actually have 3 questions related to Steve McNair in Las Vegas. First, will he be returning to action this week, with 2 games left and Las Vegas slipping out of playoff contention. Second, should Las Vegas stick with Tony Banks anyway? And finally, what are the prospects that McNair is not back in 2009?
OK, let’s start with the first question. If McNair is healthy (he is listed as probable), then is his return to Las Vegas this week what the Thunder need to pull out their season in the final weeks? The Thunder have lost their last 3 games, but still sit only 1 game behind Seattle, and have a better division record. With games against Arizona and Portland to wrap up the year, Las Vegas could win the final two to finish at 9-7 and possibly edge Seattle. Seems a no brainer that if McNair is really healthy he should start.
Or should he? Here is the thing, in 7 games Steve McNair passed for 1,340 yards, 4 TDs and 4 picks. In his 7 games Tony Banks has 1,436 yards, 10 TDs and only 2 picks. The numbers seem to indicate that Banks has been the better performer at QB. And yet, the current 3-game losing streak, and a 3-4 record since starting in Week 8 do not inspire confidence, even though it is barely distinguishable from McNair’s 4-3 record earlier this season. There is a good argument to make that it has been Banks and not McNair who has done more with the offense this season.
Finally, what can Las Vegas look forward to for 2009? Both Banks and McNair are currently unsigned for next year. Las Vegas is unlikely to make a deal with both of them, so which one do you bring back? McNair has the pedigree, though his NFL success has not yet produced major offensive results in Las Vegas. Banks is younger and more mobile, but he lacks polish. Of course we also expect Las Vegas to make a case to acquire Jake Plummer, but that may well depend on what they do with their current QB situation and whether or not they feel good going forward with either one of their 2008 QBs.
How Much Rest is Too Much?
That is the question the Tampa Bay Bandits are facing this week. They have accomplished what they set out to do, clinching not only the Southern Division but the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference as well. They have done this despite holding out Daunte Culpepper this week. So, do they now bring him back in for their final two games (home to Jacksonville and away to Orlando), and what about resting other starters? It is a dicey business. They certainly want to get Culpepper back into the flow of games, but there are plenty of players who could use a bit of rest after a long season. But, as we have seen many times, with a bye week during the Wild Card round, it is possible to over-rest players, making them rusty or out of synch, and what you want is for your best players to be at their best come the divisional round.
So, what do we recommend? Seems to us the best option is to play Culpepper this week, get him back in game action, and then rest him in Week 14, maybe a drive or two at the most. Then, look across the roster and decide which players get a light load in Week 13 and which in Week 14. You have a perfect scenario to rest players over both weeks, ensuring that everyone gets some down time but also some game time before the bye. Will Tampa Bay take our advice? Well, we don’t have a hotline to Coach Spurrier, but we expect he is hearing this from others much closer to him than we are, and it certainly seems logical enough.
Sports Books release updated Summer Bowl Odds.
The oddsmakers in Las Vegas have spoken once again and they are saying we should expect a Tampa Bay vs. Oakland matchup. Apparently they feel a bit more comfortable with Joey Harrington than Kyle Orton out west, while Tampa Bay is the clear favorite in the East, trailed by Philadelphia, Washington, and then Memphis. Out West Oakland is the favorite, but only marginally over Chicago, followed by Michigan, then, interestingly Seattle gets better odds than either Denver or Michigan despite both clubs having a better record than the Dragons.
Among the Wild Card contenders, the oddsmakers still like Nashville to overcome a 1-game deficit and edge New Orleans for the final playoff spot. That may have more to do with New Orleans having to face both Memphis and the Knights back to back than in a great deal of confidence in Nashville. Seattle is significantly favored to wrap up the 6th playoff spot in the West, with Las Vegas and Ohio both seen as pretty significant longshots to catch them, and Portland, despite a 7-7 record just like the Glory and Thunder, seen as a 40:1 shot to get in. The Stags have several tiebreaker disadvantages, but also finish the year facing the Stars in Philly and then traveling to Las Vegas, so we get why they are not seen as a good bet.
If you are looking to bet on who wins MVP, right now Brett Favre and Kordell Stewart are both getting good odds, and if you want an outside run, how about Ricky Williams, who is again poised for another late season run for the rushing title. Among rookies, the clear favorite for ROTY is Rashard Mendenhall, despite Bostons’s troubles. In second is Keith Rivers of LA, but Calais Campbell still comes in third despite missing much of the second half of the season with an injury.
Finally, if you want an early line on the #1 USFL Draft pick, the money is on DE Larry English of Northern Illinois. Why English? Because he is the only one of the top 20 prospects not playing for a college protected in the T-Draft by one of the USFL clubs. Matt Stafford? Clearly Atlanta will protect him. DE Tyson Jackson of LSU? The Breakers could use him for sure. Even Mark Sanchez of USC is likely to be the target of the Express, despite them having 4 QBs on the roster right now.
This was a big week for locking up playoff spots. Baltimore, Denver, Houston, and Memphis all locked in their postseason tickets, and now we are looking at positioning and the 6th slot. The only two divisions fully locked in are the Southeast, where Tampa Bay has it all wrapped up at 13-1, and the Pacific, where Oakland’s strong 12-2 year has them 4 games up on Seattle.
Among those still battling for a division crown, Memphis is in solid shape and can claim the South with a win this week as their 2-game lead over New Orleans would grow to 3 with a win at the Breakers. Philadelphia and Washington are 1 game apart, so if the Feds can sweep Boston and Baltimore, they would only need one Philadelphia loss to jump back into the fray. Philadelphia is done with division play but has two potentially tough games to close out the year, hosting Portland this week and then finishing up at Michigan, with a Panther team that may well be fighting for a title and a bye as well.
In the Central, Chicago can basically wrap this up with a win over Houston this week. Michigan has to hope the Gamblers step up because they cannot expect much out of Arizona when the Wranglers host the Machine in Week 16. Finally, in the Southwest, Houston’s game with Chicago could be huge. A Machine win and Houston could easily drop back into a tie with Denver, who face a much easier foe in the Texas Outlaws. Then, of course, we have the Gold at the Gamblers in Week 16, a game that likely will decide the title.
As for teams out of the picture, LA, Pittsburgh and Charlotte officially join the ranks of the eliminated, while an almost infinitesimal chance keeps Orlando out of that group. The Renegades need two wins, plus two losses from New Orleans, a Week 14 loss by Nashville, and at least one loss from Jacksonville to have a shot, and then it is all about strength of schedule, which gets too complex to focus on. With Orlando facing Tampa Bay in Week 16, their best hope is that the Bandits opt to rest pretty much everyone in their final game, and that does not feel realistic.
Michigan finds itself short on cornerbacks after Donovan Greer was added to the IR with a hip injury. Deltha O’Neal is still expected to miss at least 1 more game, so the secondary for the Panthers will be thin as they finish up the regular season, something you generally do not want in a pass-happy league. Texas loses rookie WR Danny Amendola to the IR as well, and Atlanta finds themselves in a similar position with Josh Reed suffering a leg injury that will cost him the final two games. LA Comes down the stretch with DT Daryl Gardner sidelined by a PCL injury, while Memphis could miss OT Anthony Clement for the final two games.
Tampa Bay is happy that DT LaRoi Glover will be out for the final 2 games but is expected to be back in action for the 2nd round of the playoffs, when the Bandits will begin their postseason. Nashville, however, cannot be feeling good about their playoff chances as they chase New Orleans for the final spot and now must do it without Frank Gore, whose hamstring will need at least 2 weeks to recover from a severe strain.
Potentially returning to action this week is Orlando’s stellar rookie Calais Campbell, though there is a chance that with their playoff hopes almost evaporated, and Drew Brees still out, Orlando will not bring him back into action. Also expected back this week are LA OT Kenyatta Jones, Seattle CB Leodis McKelvin, NJ WR T. J. Houshmandzadeh, Las Vegas QB Steve McNair, Oakland DE Justin Smith, and Memphis WR Sidney Rice.
The Contenders for Plummer Start to Line Up
We knew it would not take long for the announcement out of Glendale, AZ to start making waves. All across the USFL there are fanbases clamoring for their club to get in early and decisively into the Jake Plummer sweepstakes. It is not every day, after all, when a two-time MVP who is only 33 comes on the market, offering the potential for a quick 5-year fix at the most important position on the field. So, who are the contenders and what do we think their odds are? Glad you asked. Here is our breakdown of the top 8 teams we think could be in the Plummer Derby this offseason, ranked from least likely to most likely.
#8—Arizona Wranglers
Yes, we realize that Arizona is where Plummer now resides, and that he has been pretty vehement that he wants out. We also know that sometimes the threat of trade is enough to shake loose a better deal and keep a player in town. Do we think that will happen? No. But, this at least gives us a chance to talk about what the plan may be for Arizona next year. Honestly, we don’t think the USFL free agent market is going to miraculously provide a clear starting QB option. Yes, Jason Campbell will almost certainly be an option, but is that really where Arizona wants to go. The Wranglers don’t have an inside (protected t-draft) path to a quality rookie, so free agency or a trade is the most likely option. We are not sure if the NFL will finish their fall season with any obvious choices either, so expect to see Arizona parlay one or more of the picks they get for trading Plummer and use it/them to acquire a quality option, if not an obvious one.
ODDS: 1000:1 that Plummer Stays
#7—New Orleans Breakers
The Breakers are an interesting option here. They have a quarterback in Eli Manning who has played very well at times but who is also dogged by claims that he is a poor leader, too erratic, too indecisive, and not particularly adept at motivating his team. And yet, he currently ranks as a Top 6 QB in the league. Considering the insecurity about Manning, would the Breakers be open to a trade that sends the younger Manning to Arizona for a proven commodity in Plummer? Would Arizona be interested in such a deal instead of getting a greater haul of draft picks? It feels like the kind of trade that sounds great in a barroom discussion, but just does not work in the real world. We don’t see this as very likely. The more obvious path is for the Breakers to extend Manning and continue to build around him.
ODDS: 350:1
#6—Atlanta Fire
In almost any other year we would likely have Atlanta a lot higher on this list. Jay Gruden is known as a QB-Centric coach, and it seems clear that the Fire are looking to move past the makeshift coverage of the position they have had since (re)joining the league in 2006. In the Fire, Plummer would have a team distant from his Arizona past, meaning that the Wranglers would love to get him into the Eastern Conference, but also Plummer would have a team with a lot of potential draft capital to use in a deal. But this year we are seeing one of the best prospects in a decade come out of the University of Georgia. The presence of Matt Stafford as a very real option for the Fire, who can lock out all 27 other USFL clubs by protecting the Bulldog QB in the T-Draft, and who could begin negotiating with Stafford as soon as his bowl game concludes (likely in early January). The Stafford factor makes us think that Atlanta will not be a major player in the pursuit of Plummer.
ODDS: 100:1
#5—St. Louis Skyhawks
We are now getting to the 5 teams who very clearly could be in the hunt for Jake Plummer. St. Louis makes sense in a lot of ways. They have a top tier receiver in Taylor Jacobs to entice Plummer. They have a lot of draft capital and a good amount of cap space to provide Plummer with guaranteed money and incentives. They play in a dome so weather is not an issue for the former ASU star, and while they are not in the Eastern Conference, Arizona is not exactly regularly clashing with the Skyhawks on the field, so the odds of Plummer hurting his former club are not great. We see the Skyhawks as a real potential bidder in this contest.
ODDS: 25:1
#4—Las Vegas Thunder
Two things could be a real issue for the Las Vegas Thunder and a potential run at Plummer. The first is QB Steve McNair. There have been consistent rumors that he is prepared to give up the last year of his contract and retire at the end of 2008, but if he does not, if he opts to return for 1 more year, then Las Vegas could quickly be out of the hunt. They could not afford to have both on the roster, and both would be very unhappy taking a backup role. The second factor is the visual of Plummer playing just a few hundred miles from Phoenix. Yes, it is true that Las Vegas is in the Pacific, not the Southwest Division, so it is not a division rival, but the two cities are close enough that a move by Plummer to Las Vegas could actually boost the Thunder fanbase at the expense of the Wranglers, something the owners will be very vigilant of.
ODDS: 18:1
#3—Birmingham Stallions
We all know the Stallions are planning on making a move at QB. Jason Campbell has just not panned out and will not be resigned when his contract expires this July. The Stallions are very much willing to walk away from Campbell rather than try to pull off a sign & deal maneuver. So, Plummer will be very attractive to a club in need of some star power, a return to the type of QB icon they had with Favre for so many years. But Birmingham’s bid will not be an easy to pull off, not with the ownership in flux and a cap that is not as friendly as their 1-13 record would seem to imply. The Stallions are not in a great spot to trade away multiple picks to land a QB, even if that QB is a regular All-USFL talent. They have so many needs in so many areas that trying to use Plummer as a silver bullet seems a luxury they don’t have the capacity to obtain.
ODDS: 12:1
#2—Pittsburgh Maulers
The conditions in Pittsburgh are very favorable for a Plummer relocation. A young team with a good defense and a solid run game, some intriguing receivers, and a young QB who has struggled but who could be a protégé to a sage veteran. The finances in Pittsburgh are tight but manageable, and the draft capital, while likely not Top 10 picks right now, are solid enough that we could see a deal being made that would offer Arizona what they want to see. The only potential hiccups we see with the Maulers are the image of Pittsburgh itself, perhaps not a destination that Plummer would find interesting, and the flexibility of the roster to accommodate a large, and we expect it will be very large, QB expenditure. If Pittsburgh can roll out the red carpet and impress Plummer with its vision for the team, we could see him lobbying the Wranglers to make a deal with the Maulers.
ODDS: 5:1
#1—New Jersey Generals
The Generals are our favorite to win this race. First off, they have shown over the years a very open attitude towards spending significant cash to get a star player, from Herschel to Doug Flutie, to Deion Sanders, the Generals have never been the most tight-pursed club in the league, to say the least. Secondly, the NY market is going to be very attractive to Plummer. He can finish his career in the Big Apply and cash in on far more ancillary revenue than he ever has in Arizona. Between local sponsorships and spokesperson options to the connection between the club and Madison Avenue, increasing Plummer’s potential national exposure simply by being available in the market where the commercials are made. Finally, the fact that New Jersey looks to have a top 3 or 4 pick this season could make their trade fodder all the more attractive to Arizoan. Imagine the Wranglers with the 1st overall pick and then potentially the 3rd pick, now picture that in both of the first two rounds. You don’t think that is a deal that the Arizona front office would not jump for in a heartbeat. That capacity, to clean up in the 2009 draft, may just be too tempting to pass up, and a big reason why we put New Jersey as the most likely landing spot for Jake Plummer.
ODDS: 3:2
Hall of Fame Class of ’08 Named
It is that time of year again, when nominees for one of football’s greatest honors get that knock on the door and five amazing football players receive the news that they are the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That knock at the door came this week for five USFL greats, all now getting sized for gold jackets. This year’s class features three first-year nominees and two players who entered in their 2nd year of eligibility.
Strong Safety Bennie Blades (MEM 88-95, BAL 96-00, ARZ 01-03) enters the hall a 10-time All USFL player with three different teams. Blades, who amassed more than 1,200 tackles and 54 sacks over his 16-year career becomes the 4th safety into the Hall from the USFL, joining William Cesare, Donald Dykes, and Frederick Wilder in that honor.
Wide Receiver Raynard Brown (PIT 87-97, NOR 99-02). The former Mauler and Breaker #1 wideout enters the hall in his 2nd year of eligibility after a career that included 1,183 receptions for nearly 16,000 yards and 104 touchdowns. Brown also holds a championship ring from the 1995 Maulers. He is only the second Mauler to make the Hall, following the legendary Mike Rozier.
Cornerback Bruce Pickens (DEN 91-02) enters the hall in his 2nd year of eligibility. A 5-time All-USFL selection, 2000 league champion, and holder of Denver’s career and season records for interceptions. Pickens was also known as a ball-stripping artist, producing 26 fumbles during his 12 year career.
Defensive Tackle John Randle (BAL 90-03) is no surprise as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Generally held in the same conversation as legendary DT Jerome Brown, Randle was a disruptive, penetrating DT, who could ruin a run game single-handedly and also harass the quarterback on pass plays. He retired in 2003 with 102 sacks, second only to Brown among defensive tackles. Randall was an All-USFL player 13 times in 14 seasons, a truly stunning number.
Linebacker Broderick Thomas (ARZ 89-03) is another slam dunk first-ballot entrant to the Hall. The centerpiece of the Wrangler defense for over a decade, Thomas was an 8-time All-USFL player who retired with over 1,400 tackles, 248 tackles for loss, 73 sacks and 18 picks. One of the all time great intimidators, Thomas played with ferocity and flair, and will now adorn a gold jacket as a result.
These five USFL greats will be recognized in a ceremony in October, and while we applaud for these stars of yesteryear, we recognize that there are others who have come close but for whom this year was not their year, including first-time nominees Will Shields and Marvcus Patton, and returning semi-finalists Pat Swilling, John Bosa, and Chester McGlockton.
USFL Bridesmaids: The Best Teams to Not Win the Title
For every champion there is a runner up, for every Cinderella story there is a favorite who missed their shot. This week, as we wrap up our review of USFL History, we finish with the five teams our writers see as the best of the not-quite-best. The five teams that should have, could have, maybe ought to have, won it all, but didn’t. For this we did not consider multiple-year spans, and we did not consider clubs that won the title the year before or after, essentially saying that a failed dynasty is not the same as a failed single shot at glory. So, without further ado, in order of the years so that you can decide how you would rank them, our Five Biggest Bridesmaids.
1985 Chicago Blitz
(13-3, 1st in Central Division, Lost to Philadelphia in the League Championship)
The Blitz of the early 1980’s had gone on a wild ride in their first seasons in the league. An early favorite for the 1983 title thanks to the presence of Head Coach George Allen, Chicago fell short in a big way, finishing the year at 5-11. They then saw a wholesale franchise swap, with the entire staff and most of the players relocating to Arizona and a new, former Wrangler squad taking over as the Blitz. In 1984 the “New Blitz” fared better, winning 7 games, but in 1985 everything started to click. With former Chicago Bear QB Vince Evans brought in to revive the offense, and a defense that ranked 2nd in the league thanks in large part to the talents of DE Junior Ah-You, the Blitz won the Central Division at 13-3, and entered the playoffs as the Western Conference’s top seed. They did this despite having almost no support at home, with one of the league’s worst attendance records, a reality that was forcing ownership to reevaluate their commitment to the city and start to explore options for relocation.
Chicago edged the “old Blitz”, the current Wranglers, in the first round of the playoffs in front of a relatively sparse crowd, and then handily beat the Pacific Division Champion Express, 29-10, in the Conference Finals to appear in their first Summer Bowl. In the title game they would face the only team with a higher ranked defense in the league, the Philadelphia Stars. Chicago would fall to Philadelphia 22-18, and the very next year would relocate to Baltimore. It would be the Blitz’s only league title game appearance in 25 seasons in the league. And, there are some who believe the city of Chicago cursed by the relocation as the Chicago Machine, who replaced the departed Blitz in 1987, have yet to obtain a title, despite three Summer Bowl appearances.
1990 New Orleans Breakers
(13-3, 1st in Central Division, Lost to Arizona in the Western Finals)
When we now discuss the Breakers of the late 80’s and early 90’s we often talk about missed opportunities. And of all the Breaker squads that entered the playoffs as a league favorite only to depart without a trophy, it is perhaps the 1990 squad that is most discussed as a missed opportunity. Led by former LSU Head Coach Bill Arnsbarger, and on the field by QB Matt Robinson and HB Marcus Dupree, the Breakers in 1990 had a talented and explosive offense, but they also boasted the league’s top scoring defense, a combination which should have lead to a deep playoff run. And yet, this Breaker team, which held a first-round bye as the Central Division champions at 13-3, struggled to defeat the Houston Gamblers at home in the Super Dome 20-17. That game was an omen of what was to come as their defense seemed to lose the vigor which had sustained it over the regular season. In the Conference Finals against an underdog Arizona Wranglers squad that had finished the season at 10-6, the Breakers’ defense failed them, giving up several big plays, while the offense made too many mistakes to keep pace, falling to the Wranglers 31-24.
The Breakers in 1990 were in the middle of a playoff run that stretched from 1984 through 1992, with 9 consecutive post-season appearances, and while the club would record winning seasons over a decade, no team was more hyped and more talented than the 1990 squad, and yet, it was not enough and to this day the Breakers still do not have a league title to their name.
1998 St. Louis Knights
(14-2, 1st in Central Division, Lost to Tampa Bay in Summer Bowl 1998)
We jump from 1990 to 1998 for our third team, the ’98 Knights. And if you think there is a theme to these almost-champions across USFL history, the fact that St. Louis had the 2nd best scoring defense in 1998 might drive the point home. For the third time on our list a dominant defense somehow did not get the job done in the postseason. St. Louis was, like our other entrants in this dubious list, a club that lived off its defense, and used short-field scoring drives to also build up solid offensive stats. Coach Jim Johnson had built the club up after its relocation from LA to St. Louis around the defense and a conservative offensive style led by QB Todd Collins. That formula helped the Knights to an outstanding 14-2 record in the regular season, easily topping the Central Division by a 6-game margin over the Texas Outlaws.
In the Western Conference playoffs, the defense also dominated, helping St. Louis crush the Outlaws 45-14 in the Divisional round and then holding Arizona to only 1 TD in a 29-10 victory in the Conference Finals. In the Summer Bowl they would face the top offense in the league, a club that had set the league ablaze with an aerial assault the likes of which the pass-happy USFL had rarely seen, the 1998 Tampa Bay Bandits, led by Troy Aikman. In that title game it would be the Aikman-led air attack that would win the day. Tampa Bay managed to do what no team had done to the Knights all year, convert big plays on a regular basis. Tampa Bay would dominate, and despite one of the better offensive performances from the Knights all year, it was not enough as the Bandit Ball offense proved far too much for St. Louis to manage, helping Tampa Bay to their second league title with a 45-30 barrage of scoring. The Knights have not appeared in a title game since, and in 2003 left St. Louis for Nashville.
2001 LA Express
(13-3, 1st in Pacific Division, Lost to Arizona in Divisional Round)
Here we go again as the #2 ranked scoring defense once again came up short. The 2001 LA Express were another club that combined a very solid defense with a more conservative offensive approach and found it lacking in the postseason. Coach Galen Hall’s team, led by Tavares Tillman’s league best 7 interceptions in the regular season, had won the Western Conference’s #1 seed as well as the Division title in the Pacific with their 13-3 record. They went into the playoffs with a healthy squad, led on offense by QB Cade McNown and WR Michael Pritchard, and with a defense that was known for forcing their opponents to make mistakes under pressure.
After a bye in the Wild Card round, the Express had what was viewed as a potential cakewalk in the Divisional round, facing off against an 8-8 Arizona Wrangler squad that had just barely qualified for the playoffs and had already lost twice to the same Express team. Many say that LA came into that game cocky and overconfident in their ability to dominate the Wranglers. They quickly found themselves in a nasty, ugly, and sloppy game. The Wranglers, whose defense had been nothing to crow about all season, played inspired football, and the Jake Plummer offense did just enough against LA’s highly ranked defenders, to help the Wranglers to a huge upset, a 17-16 win that shook the league and rattled the Express psyche. LA would return the next year with a 5-9 season as they simply could not escape the hangover from a humiliating defeat to a team most viewed as vastly inferior.
2003 Washington Federals
(13-1, 1st in Northeast Division, Lost to Ohio in Eastern Finals)
We conclude our list, with, you guessed it, another defensive powerhouse that lost power in the postseason. The Washington Federals had always been known for stout defense, and in 2003, they lived up to that reputation, with the top scoring defense in the league. That defense helped push them to a 13-1 record, the best in team history, and a four-game cushion in the Northeast Division. After a Wild Card bye they easily dispatched the Chicago Machine 21-6 in the Divisional Round, before running into a buzzsaw in the Eastern Finals.
Washington would face the 11-3 Ohio Glory, the team that one year earlier had completed the only unbeaten season in USFL history. It was billed as Offense vs. Defense, and that it was, and once again the game quickly showed that offense is the dominant force in the USFL. The Federals, led by Deuce McCallister and Kordell Stewart, would do their best to keep pace, but in the end, Ohio was simply more capable of winning a shootout, which they did 41-38. Like so many bridesmaids before them, the Federals would suffer a hangover the next year, finishing a disappointing 7-7 in 2004.
So, what lesson can we learn from these five outstanding teams that all came up short. While the old saying is that defense wins titles, the clear message in the USFL is that it is offense that is king, and that the long haul of a USFL season and the pressure of the playoffs often leads to strong defensive teams falling short when faced with the pressure of win-or-go-home. So, as we look at this season’s contenders, the wise wagerer might look at which clubs have the offensive firepower to do what so many past teams have done, overpower the defensive squads in the end.
Only two weeks left in the regular season and only two Wild Card spots up for grabs. The teams that have already punched their ticket to the postseason are now battling to get home games and byes, those on the bubble are battling for a shot to be the final team in their conference to get that extra week of action, and for the rest it is about staying healthy and cashing in on personal success this year.
FRI @ 8pm Memphis (9-5) @ New Orleans (7-7) NBC
The Breakers have a 1 game lead on the field for the final Wild Card, but Memphis is still hoping for a bye week, so don’t expect to see them rest any starters this week.
SAT @ 12pm Jacksonville (6-8) @ Tampa Bay (13-1) ABC
The Bandits have locked up the #1 seed in the East. Do they rest players over 2 weeks?
SAT @ 12pm Birmingham (1-13) @ Nashville (6-8) FOX
The Knights need this one and help from Memphis to get back in the Wild Card spot.
SAT @ 12pm Orlando (5-9) @ Atlanta (4-10) FOX
Two teams who expected more this season and finish the year without their starting QB.
SAT @ 4pm Charlotte (5-9) @ Ohio (7-7) ABC
Ohio was expected to run away with this season, but now they need 2 wins and help just to make the postseason.
SAT @ 4pm Washington (10-4) @ Boston (6-8) FOX
Boston still has a shot at a playoff spot, but to get it they need to upend the very hot Federals.
SAT @ 8pm Texas (4-10) @ Denver (9-5) ESPN
If Denver still has hopes for the division title, they cannot let this game cause a stumble.
SUN @ 12pm Pittsburgh (6-8) @ Michigan (11-3) ABC
Pittsburgh has been playing well of late, and Michigan may have a hangover from their loss to Chicago last week.
SUN @ 12pm Portland (7-7) @ Philadelphia (11-3) FOX
The Stars had better not sleep on these Stags, they have proven dangerous all season long.
SUN @ 12pm Baltimore (9-5) @ New Jersey (2-12) FOX
We are not sure who will get the start for the Generals, and we are not sure it matters.
SUN @ 4pm Los Angeles (5-9) @ St. Louis (3-11) ABC
Seneca Wallace returns to action, but it is too little too late for a disappointing Express club.
SUN @ 4pm Arizona (1-13) @ Las Vegas (7-7) ABC
The Wranglers could actually pose a threat to Las Vegas, since the Thunder has been pretty rough on offense without Steve McNair available.
SUN @ 4pm Oakland (12-2) @ Seattle (8-6) FOX
A very tough game for Seattle, as Oakland is well aware that they could help push the Dragons right out of the playoffs if they beat them here.
SUN @ 8:0pm Houston (10-4) @ Chicago (12-2) ESPN
A great end to the weekend with two very good teams playing to keep their leads in their two divisions.