2009 USFL Week 6 Recap: Thunder Strikes, Stars Shine, and a Stalemate in Charlotte.

Week Six gave us some surprises, including a tie-game in Charlotte, Philadelphia’s first win, an upset of the Wranglers by Denver, and an absolute dismantling of the Chicago Machine by San Diego. It also gave us news about an unsatisfied expansion bidding group, an update on leaguewide player popularity, and a possible new frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. We kick it all off with our Big Story, as one expansion group is now exploring other options.

Twin Cities Football Group Not Satisfied, Speaking with Skyhawks Ownership

We had a feeling that when the Boston area won out in the expansion derby, that not all bidding groups would be satisfied, we just did not know which one would be the most aggressive in pursuing other options. It appears that we now have our answer. The Twin Cities Football Group, headed up by NBA Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is the first of the expansion groups to make a move towards a possible purchase and relocation of an existing team. Taylor flew out to Las Vegas this week, where he reportedly met twice with the owners of the St. Louis Skyhawks, out in Sin City to watch their victory over the Vipers.

Neither Taylor nor majority owner of the Skyhawks, David Steward, would provide statements to reporters, but the meetings between the two are believed to be the first steps towards a discussion of the future of the Skyhawks franchise and potential sale to the Twin Cities group. St. Louis has been making noise about the state of the Dome at America’s Center and the need for the city to consider a new facility, even speaking with Major League Soccer about a possible expansion club that would share a facility with the Skyhawks. The NFL Rams have already been making noise about the facility and there is significant evidence that the Kroenke family, who own the NFL club are considering a return to Los Angeles, something now on the table after the departure of the Raiders to Las Vegas.

While the NFL drama around the LA market (with the Raiders leaving, the Chargers moving in, and now the Rams considering a relocation) has largely not addressed the presence of the Skyhawks in St. Louis, the stadium facility has been an issue, and now the Skyhawks are echoing the Rams’ concerns about the domed facility. Franchises (in both leagues) pushing for a new stadium is hardly a rarity in the world of pro sports, and St. Louis’s dome is one of the older facilities in use in both the NFL and USFL (old without major renovation). The stadium first opened for events in 1995, and while it is structurally sound, it does very much feel like a vestige of an older model for fixed-roof domed facilities, lacking in many of the amenities of stadia built over the past decade.

So, the question now becomes whether or not Glen Taylor and the Twin Cities group can convince the native Missourian, Steward, to sell the team and make way for Minnesota to replace St. Louis as home to the Skyhawks, or if Steward is using Taylor’s interest as leverage to push the city and the state to acquiesce to the idea of a new multi-use stadium for the club. While we might cynically wonder how the combination of the Skyhawks, Rams, and MLS could not make a case without the threat of relocation, it seems both pro football teams may now be in discussions about an exit strategy if either St. Louis or Missouri cannot come through with funding for a new facility. What we do know is that Taylor is sincere in his efforts to get a USFL club for the Twin Cities, but whether or not St. Louis is that franchise, that just cannot be known at this point.

ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 24  LAS VEGAS VIPERS 21  OVERTIME

We started this edition of This Week in the USFL by talking about the ownership of the Skyhawks, but the club also made news on the field as part of our Game of the Week selection. Meanwhile, Las Vegas makes it back-to-back weeks as our GOTW thanks to an overtime affair with the St. Louis Skyhawks that made for an exciting game and gave the victor the ability to move to .500 six weeks into the season. This was a matchup of two teams trying to redefine their identity, with St. Louis building on the late season success of 2018 rookie QB Lamar Jackson and Las Vegas retooling their offense around two free agents, QB Matt McGloin and WR Aaron Dobson. All three would play key roles in this matchup.

The game began with a pair of short “exploratory” drives between the two teams that simply don’t know each other very well. Both teams tried to establish the run, with middling success, and both failed on a 3^rd and long and were forced to punt. St. Louis learned from their early drive and on their second possession found some effective plays, first a toss sweep to rookie David Montgomery for 10 yards, and then a nice inside route to Deionte Johnson that put them on the Vipers’ 8-yardline. Two plays later QB Lamar Jackson sprinted left, forcing the safety up and freeing WR Allen Robinson for the looping pass. The Skyhawks had the first strike of the game.

Las Vegas also learned from their 1^st quarter drive, and as the second quarter began they too found some success by mixing play action passing with the run game. Kareem Hunt had his longest run of the game, a 27-yard pitch to the right, with TE Robert Quinn and WR Arrelious Benn also making key catches on a pair of third downs. It would be a long, grinding drive of 14 plays, but when Montario Hardesty plunged over the right guard for the score, the drive had produced what Coach Neuheisel wanted, a tie score.

Las Vegas would score a second time in the half after a tipped Lamar Jackson pass ended up in the hands of Viper CB Antrel Rolle, giving the Vipers the ball at midfield. This time they moved quickly, with McGloin connecting with Aaron Dobson for 11 yards, then TE Dustin Keller, and back to Dobson for a 9-yard scoring throw. The score gave the Vipers a 14-7 lead at the half, but it seemed clear that both teams had found some answers on offense.

The third quarter would be one defined by St. Louis mistakes, and yet, despite 2 turnovers in the quarter (a second Jackson pick and a Lacy fumble) it was the Skyhawks who got the only points of the quarter. Las Vegas was able to move the ball, but bogged down after crossing midfield on two occasions and failed on a 4^th and 1 on the third, with the often-criticized Skyhawk defense stepping up as DE Adrian Clayborn snagged Hardesty’s leg and dragged him down short of the line to gain. St. Louis managed one drive in the quarter, a 7-play, 56-yard drive following the turnover on downs, producing a 1-yard David Montgomery TD run to even the score once again.

Both teams would score in the final period, and both within the final 3 minutes. Las Vegas had its best drive of the half late in the quarter, avoiding long third downs by using the run game on 2^nd down, with both Hardesty and Hunt helping them set up makeable 3^rd downs. The 11-play drive concluded with Hardesty taking the ball off the left end and slipping past the tackle to score. For the 2^nd time, the Vipers took the lead, and this time with 2:46 left in the game. St. Louis would need a touchdown to tie the game.

The Skyhawks went into hurry-up mode immediately, not waiting for the 2-minute warning. Lamar Jackson called plays from the line, and a series of short passes saw St. Louis drive the field as the clock ticked down. St. Louis got a bit of help on a missed call from the refs, as a 15-yard toss to Deionte Johnson should have been called an incompletion, with Johnson’s right foot landing across the sideline and out of bounds, but the referee missed it and with their challenges already expended, Las Vegas could not demand a video replay examination. The play stood and 4 plays later Lamar Jackson found Allen Robinson for a 2^nd time in the endzone, this time on a nice fade route, with the 2^nd year QB looping the ball over CB E. J. Gaines and into the arms of Robinson for the score St. Louis needed. Zane Gonzalez’s PAT evened the score at 21 with 50 seconds left.

Las Vegas would half-heartedly push to get a late field goal, but, in trying to avoid a late turnover they simply did not push the ball down the field fast enough and by the final play of regulation they were still outside of a reasonable range for kicker Matt Gay. They sent Gay out for a 63-yard attempt, but the kick fell well short of the mark and the game headed to overtime.

Las Vegas won the toss and chose to get the ball first. Their opening drive started well, with McGloin hitting Benn for a nice gain, but quickly fizzled as St. Louis found success pressuring McGloin. A sack on 2^nd and 10 left them with a 3^rd and 15. McGloin tried to hit TE Robert Quinn, but the pass was too low and the big TE could not scoop it off the turf, forcing the Vipers to punt. St. Louis took over on their own 29 after a solid return from HB Bobby Rainey. Jackson took over and in 7 plays had moved the Skyhawks to the Las Vegas 35. After pressure from Matthew Judon forced Lamar Jackson to throw the ball away on 3^rd and 9, the Skyhawks sent Gonzalez out for a 52-yard attempt. The kick was a dead center shot with plenty of leg, giving St. Louis the win, sending them to 3-3 after 6 weeks and leaving the Vipers at 2-4 and looking for more over the next 10 weeks.

ATLANTA 20  CHARLOTTE 20  OVERTIME

No joy for either SE Division club as overtime could not settle this rivalry game, giving both the Fire and the Monarchs a very unsatisfying tie. DeShone Kizer had himself a nice bounce-back game, throwing for 309 and 2 touchdowns, but Charlotte countered with their run game, with Murray and Hines combining for 131 yards and a TD. In extra time Atlanta had a chance to win, but John Bounds shanked a 38-yarder that would have helped the Fire crawl back into the division hunt.

POTG: Atlanta DE William Gholston: 3 Tck, 2 Sck

ARIZONA 6  DENVER 16

The first of several notable upsets this week as the Denver Gold pressured David Carr effectively, sacking the Wrangler QB 5 times and throwing off the entire Arizona offense. Josh Allen did not do much, throwing for only 183 yards, but DeMarco Murray put together a solid game against the Wrangler D, rushing for 97 yards and a 6.5 yard average. Golden Tate also looked solid, catching 8 balls for 111 of Allen’s 183 yards passing.

POTG: Denver DT Sharrif Floyd: 3 Tck, 2 Sck

PHILADELPHIA 17  BALTIMORE 16

The Stars get their first win of the season thanks to a Gutierrez to Cameron Brate TD pass with 1:38 left to play. The defense benefitted from Big Ben Roethlisberger’s nagging hamstring injury, with the Blitz QB having to leave the game early in the 3^rd. Jake Locker completed 6 of 8 but could not get a game-winning drive going in the game’s final minute, helping the Stars finally get that first W.

POTG: Stars CB Amani Oruwarije: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 FF, 2 FR

NEW ORLEANS 20  JACKSONVILLE 17

The Breakers move to 3-3, avoiding the upset with a 4^th quarter Smith to Kenny Britt TD toss the game winner. For Jacksonville, HB Matt Jones rushed for 117 and QB Teddy Bridgewater rushed for 94 and 2 scores, but it was not enough as the Breakers got scores from Britt and Jordy Nelson to eke out a road win and reach .500.

POTG: Bulls’ QB Teddy Bridgewater: 21/30, 178 Yds, 10 Att, 94 Yds, 2 TD

CHICAGO 17  SAN DIEGO 40

Sometimes a team just has everything go right, and that certainly was the case for San Diego this week as they poured it on visiting Chicago. Ryan Williams and Taiwan Jones combined to run for 3 touchdowns, Christian Ponder hit TE Isaac Nauta for a 4^th, and the Thunder defense was all over Sam Bradford, picking off the Machine QB twice and limiting Chicago to 3 of 12 on third down in a dominant San Diego performance.

POTG: Thunder LB Kyle Van Noy: 11 Tck, 2 FF

OHIO 7  OKLAHOMA 10

Both offenses struggled in this matchup. Unable to run the ball at all, Ohio went to the air, with Christian Hackenberg putting up the ball 53 times, but with no scoring throws. Marshawn Lynch did not fare very well either, averaging only 2.1 YPC on his way to only 44 total rushing yards. But, despite 2 picks, Outlaw QB Joe Flacco managed to get Oklahoma in range for a game-winning field goal from Kai Forbath to move to 3-3 on the season.

POTG: Oklahoma FS Deshon Elliott: 5 Tck, 3 PDef

MICHIGAN 15  NEW JERSEY 14

The Generals fell to 1-5 after a botched snap late in the 4^th prevented a game-winning field goal from 42 yards from ever happening. The Panthers barely escaped to 6-0 thanks to the special teams gaff. Both teams struggled to turn drives into points all day, despite some solid individual performances like OBJ’s 125-yard day, or LeVeon Bell’s 102 yards rushing.

POTG: Michigan LB Odell Thurman: 7 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 Sck, 1 PDef

SEATTLE 20  OAKLAND 23

The Dragons made it look close thanks to two late TDs, but for most of this game Oakland was in control, building up a 23-6 lead midway through the final period. Seattle got late scores from Moreno and Newhouse, but it was not enough as Oakland hung on for the win to move to .500 on the season. Christian Mcaffrey was the star on offense for the Invaders with 106 yards rushing.

POTG: Oakland LB Tavares Gooden: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR

PITTSBURGH 27  WASHINGTON 10

The Maulers send Washington to 1-5 thanks to a 17-0 scoring run in the 4^th quarter. The run broke up a 10-10 tie, as Andy Dalton connected with Allen Lazard twice in a span of 6 minutes. The unheralded WR finished with 6 receptions and 2 scores, but only 27 yards receiving as he proved to be a master of the short crossing route against the Federal LBs.

POTG: Mauler DE Shaquile Riddick: 3 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF

PORTLAND 21  MEMPHIS 18

The Stags get the upset win in Memphis as 3^rd string QB Tony Pike connects with Brandin Cooks for 2 scores in the first half, building up a 21-3 lead that the Showboats could not equalize. Memphis got second half TDs from Dallas Goedert and Robert Woods, and with a 2-point PAT, they were within 3 with 1:16 to play, but the onside kick did not bounce their way and Portland held on for their 2^nd win of the season.

POTG: Portland WR Brandin Cooks: 4 Rec, 67 Yds, 2 TD

TAMPA BAY 16  ORLANDO 21

The Renegades found the formula to slow down Dak Prescott and the Bandit passing game, constant, unrelenting pressure. Orlando got 6 sacks on Prescott, another 9 hurries, and kept the Bandits from finding a rhythm, thanks in large part to rookie Montez Sweat, looking very much like a worthy successor to Calais Campbell with a 9-tackle, 3-sack game in this rivalry. Dwayne Bowe caught 2 touchdown tosses from Wilson and the Renegades held Tampa Bay to only 2 third down conversions all game as they moved to 4-2.

POTG: Orlando DE Montez Sweat: 9 Tck, 3 Sck

DALLAS 3  LOS ANGELES 16

Josh Freeman struggled against the LA defense, sacked 5 times and throwing a pick-six which would prove to be the only TD of the game as once again it was Coach Lewis’s defense that won the day for the now 5-1 Express. Both Freeman and Murray spent the day running from defenders, with both sacked 5 times, but LA got more out of their possessions, with 3 field goals to Dalla’s lone score. Add in the pick-six and it is a 13-point home win for the Express.

POTG: Express LB Keith Rivers: 4 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD

HOUSTON 28  BIRMINGHAM 17

The Sunday night game was all Houston for 3 quarters, as the Gamblers got early scores from Hyde, Smith-Schuster and Evans, putting the Stallions in a 21-3 hole they could not recover from, despite two late Newton TD passes. Colt McCoy threw for 279 and 3 scores, with JuJu Smith Schuster having a nice game with 129 yards. Mike Evans also nabbed 2 scores on the day and Houston moves to 5-1, all alone atop the Southern Division.

POTG: Houston QB Colt McCoy: 18/30, 279 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int

Five Unheralded Players You Should be Watching

As the 2019 season progresses, it is not only the expected superstars who are deserving of attention. Sure, Carlos Hyde, Ben Roethlisberger, and Calais Campbell are certainly having their moments and finding success, but there are also several largely unknown or uncelebrated players who are getting the job done and who could become bigger stories as the season progresses. We are not saying that these are all breakout players, as some have been in the league for a while, but what they are is players who we should be watching because they are making a difference for their clubs.

HB Matt Jones (JAX)

Despite putting up consecutive seasons of 989 and 817 yards, Matt Jones has never really gotten much spotlight or much recognition as a solid performer for the Bulls. Even in Jacksonville there are many who could not name the starting back for the Bulls, despite Jones holding down that position for the past 2 seasons. However, this year, with six games in the books and Jones sitting at an impressive 5.2 yards per carry, perhaps we should be focusing in a bit more on the former Florida Gator. Jones is sharing carries with rookie Devon Singletary, and that has limited him to only 49 carries so far this year, but with that YPC average, more than 2 points above Singletary’s, we expect Jones will start to see the lion’s share of the touches moving forward.

WR Allen Robinson (STL)

Stevie Johnson may still be considered the number one receiver in St. Louis, but when we look at the numbers Allen Robinson is more than getting the job done. Robinson is on pace for 80+ catches and his first 1,000-yard season, and, thanks to this week’s 2-TD performance in Las Vegas, is now the club’s leader in receiving touchdowns. St. Louis is building an offense around 2^nd year QB Lamar Jackson and it seems like Robinson is becoming more of a consideration each week.

TE Richard Quinn (LV)

If you ask almost anyone who the league leader for receptions is among Tight Ends, we expect most would point to New Orleans’s Coby Fleener or maybe Philadelphia’s Travis Kelce, but few would get the right answer, Richard Quinn. With 29 receptions, Quinn has 3 more than Fleener and 2 more than Kelce. He has proven to be a favorite target for Matt McGloin, a safety valve and play-action target for the new Viper QB and one who could be among the lead leaders as a receiving tight end by season’s end.

LB Trey Hendrickson (STL)

We are back to St. Louis for a second unheralded player, this time a linebacker with a nose for the ball. Sure, in recent years it has been easy to dismiss pretty much anyone on the Skyhawk defense, but this year, with St. Louis now ranked a respectable 10^th in yards allowed and with their run defense no longer one of the worst in the league, we can recognize the efforts of their most dynamic linebacker. Hendrickson, a hybrid DE-OLB out of Florida Atlantic, has been playing the weak-side position in St. Louis’s 3-4 alignment. He currently leads the club with 36 tackles and has been a factor in the pass rush as well, with his 5 sacks leading all Skyhawks.

CB Tye Smith (SD)

Playing in his 4^th season out of FCS Towson State, Tye Smith is not a name we hear often in discussions of the better corners in the game today, but the Thunder corner is proving that he worthy of some mentions, having already plucked 4 passes away from receivers and put a defensive score on the board. Smith’s 4 picks this year already surpasses his previous year-long best, a sign that the young receiver may be developing into a true threat on the outside and a player to watch over the course of this season.

Five Players Whose Teams Need Them to Up their Game

For all the players who are emerging this year, or those living up to our expectations and beyond, there are others who just have not produced what we expected of them. Perhaps our expectations were too high, or perhaps they just have not hit their groove yet, but these five players have us scratching our heads and wondering if they just are not who we thought they would be this year.

QB Josh Freeman (STL)

This one may be on us. There was a reason St. Louis opted to start rookie Lamar Jackson last season, and a reason they made the deal that sent the former MVP to Dallas, but certainly, even with those warning signs, Dallas had to expect more from Freeman than they have received this season. Dallas’s offense is ranked dead last in scoring, averaging only 10.2 points per game, and Freeman is putting up fewer than 230 yards per game in an offense designed to throw the ball as the primary option. Freeman’s numbers are not the worst in the league (Matt Gutierrez is also struggling), but with 6 picks to 2 touchdowns and a QB rating of only 63.3, Dallas is not getting from Freeman what they expected when they traded for him.

HB Anthony Allen (WSH)

We hate to do this because we really like Allen, but we are going to list him as an early season disappointment for the 2^nd consecutive season. Last year was his first in D.C., and he did start very slow, but picked up over the season’s second half to finish with pretty solid numbers (957 yards, 9 TDs), which we thought a good indicator that he would start 2019 strong. But, after 6 games, Allen is sitting at only 176 yards, an average of 44 per game, and at 2.6 yards per carry, he is just not fitting the bill as a lead back. The Feds are still looking at him as the primary back, but after trading for Jahvid Best, we may well see Allen’s touches drop, especially if results don’t start to impress when he does get the ball.

WR Kenny Golloday (CHI)

When the Machine let 100-reception possession specialist Aaron Dobson go in free agency (largely against their will, we suspect), the goal was to replace Dobson’s targets with a combination of Kenny Stills and Kenny Golloday. And while Stills is playing well (23 receptions for 242 yards), Golloday has been practically invisible, with only 8 catches in 6 games. His targets have not changed from 2018, but his catch percentage has dipped, and with Stills looking like the more reliable option, we may see Golloday lose snaps in the rotation.

DE Mathias Kiawanuka (DAL)

When your teams leading sack producers are your strong safety (Southward) and middle linebacker (Matthews), you have an issue. We could have listed either Connor Barwin or Kiawanuka here, but at least Barwin has 2 sacks on the season, not good, but something, Kiawanuka has yet to acquire his first sack of the season, and for an edge rusher, that is just not what you want. Look, we know Kiawanuka has never been a 10+ sack guy, but it now seems like the 13-year veteran simply does not have the burst necessary to get around his assigned blocker, or the strength to plow over him. Is it time for Dallas to see what rookie Charles Omenihu can provide?

CB Aqib Talib (NJ)

Of all the names on this list, no one is more surprising to find here than Talib. An All-USFL performer last season, Talib was expected to be a true shut-down corner for New Jersey again this year, but teams have found ways to exploit Talib’s instincts, and he has allowed far too many big plays at big moments this season. His Catch to Attempt rate is currently the worst we have seen from him in his 6 seasons in the league. Teams are simply not throwing away from him, they are actually throwing at him and doing so when drives or games are on the line. Talib is far too talented to be on this list, but he needs to break some of his tendencies or teams will continue to exploit them.

Is Rookie of the Year Already Down to 2 Candidates?

We admit that the season is still young, and there is certainly time for a rookie to come on strong over the next 10 weeks, but so far in 2019 the rookie class is looking very much like a flat one, with only 2 names rising out of the group to impress us. So, is ROTY now down to these 2 names?

Josh Jacobs, HB-BAL

We knew that Jacobs would have every chance to make a name for himself in the USFL, with Baltimore very much counting on the Alabama back to rework their offense into a more-balanced and more dangerous one. So far that plan has worked very well, with Jacobs drawing in safeties and linebackers and allowing Ben Roethlisberger to find those deep vertical routes he loves so much. Jacobs had his first 100-yard game in Week 5, and has 427 yards, an average of 71.2 per game that should only increase as he continues to get fed the ball. On pace for 1,100 yards, with a shot at a 1,200-yard rookie year, we have to put Jacobs at the top of the ROTY voting at this stage.

Montez Sweat, DE-ORL

With a 9-tackle, 3-sack game this week as an exclamation point, Orlando’s Montez Sweat is the other clear frontrunner for ROTY consideration. This has to be music to the ears of Orlando management and their fanbase. After making a deal to allow 10-time sack champion Calais Campbell leave for Arizona, a lot was riding on Sweat as the heir apparent to perhaps the hardest-to-follow act in USFL history. Sweat has said from the beginning that he is not the “next Campbell” or even the “next Chris Doleman”, Campbell’s outstanding predecessor, but so far, with 7 sacks in his first 6 games, on pace for a 15+ sack rookie year, it certainly seems like Orlando has once again hit gold at the LE position, providing the Renegades with yet another defensive star on the line.

So, who is our dark horse for the award? How about a 6^th round pick from Ole Miss who is proving to be a diamond in the rough for the Tampa Bay Bandit defense? Cornerback Ken Webster was certainly not the highest rated corner to come out in the draft, in fact he was not on most teams’ radar at all. He was bypassed by the Breakers in the Territorial Draft, taken by the Bandits in the Open Draft’s 6^th round, and expected to add depth to a pretty shaky secondary. Well, by the end of camp Webster had landed a starting gig opposite Jalen Ramsey, and after 6 weeks he is 2^nd on the team with 33 tackles. Now, that is largely due to teams avoiding Ramsey and picking on the rookie, but, with 3 picks already, Webster is showing that targeting him is a risky proposition. If the 3-3 Bandits prove to be one of the surprise success stories this year, Webster could well have a shot to sneak into the conversation. And yes, we realize that the LA Express, with rookies Kyler Murray, Hollywood Brown, and Nick Bosa are sitting at 5-1, but while all 3 are starting in LA, none of them are putting up monster stats and the credit for LA’s quick start seems to be going to Coach Lewis and the defense as a whole rather than to any of the 3 big-name rookies.

OUT

DT          Daniel Ekuale                      POR      Broken Leg         IR

WR         Equanimeous St. Brown         JAX         Neck                     6-8 Weeks

OT          Nat Dorsey                             LV           Ribs                       1-2 Weeks

TE           Kaden Smith                         CHA      Eye                        1-2 Weeks

DE          Dante Fowler                          HOU     Hamstring         1-2 Weeks

CB          Kevon Seymour                       LA          Shoulder             1-2 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

CB          Eric Murray                      BAL        Concussion

OT          LaAdrian Waddle            OAK      Concussion

HB         Kerryon Johnson              BIR         Back

LB           Luke Kuechley                 ATL         Hand

C             A. Q. Shipley                   SEA        Wrist

WR         Trey Quinn                       ATL         Neck

 

QUESTIONABLE

WR         Hakeem Nicks                 CHA      Shoulder

CB          Devin McCourty              NJ           Concussion

LB           Ryan D’Imperio               MEM     Hip

DE          Chris Long                  WSH     Finger

OT          Gabe Carimi                     MGN     Neck

San Diego Holding Fan Vote on Thunder Name

In what may be an unprecedented move, the San Diego Thunder are taking a major franchise decision to the fans, sending out ballots to all 2019 season ticket holders and holding an online poll for residents of the 4 counties in and around the city to make a major franchise decision. With a serious offer from the Portland Stags organization to purchase the Thunder name and identity, fans in San Diego will now be able to vote on retaining the name or selling the rights back to the franchise’s original home and creating a new identity for San Diego’s USFL franchise. 

The Stags, facing a significant grassroots effort among its fanbase, have made an offer to the Thunder for the use of the Thunder brand, and while the actual figure is currently unpublished, rumors have it ranging from $10M to $20M in direct compensation. The goal for the Stags would be to make the switch in time for the 2021 season. The offer is on the table and the question now turns to San Diego as to whether they wish to retain the identity transferred from Las Vegas (and Portland before that) or create something new, and, it seems the ownership are more than happy to have that decision supported by fan feedback.

Votes from both the club’s season ticket holders and the broader SoCal fanbase will be taken over the next two weeks and will be given considerable weight in the club’s final decision. So, If you live in Southern California, particularly San Diego, Orange, Imperial, or Riverside counties, you can vote online for your preference at the dedicated poll website for the club.

We did a quick poll in our bullpen and opinions were very much split, between those who would hate to see the Stags identity disappear and those who have nostalgia for the original Portland Thunder and love the idea that the Rose City could regain its original identity. So, we will soon see what fans have to say, and perhaps in 2 years we will see the Thunder back in the PNW and a brand new San Diego squad take the field.

A new poll link is live for all USFL Lives followers. No need to belong to the 4 counties listed in the article. We will keep voting open for the next 4 days, and then the results will be posted in the recap of Week 8, posted 6 days from now.

Top Selling Jerseys No Surprise

The USFL this week released its list of top merchandise sales and there were few surprises, with Houston and Arizona topping all franchises in team-related sales, and five pretty obvious names atop the list for jersey sales. Team success, player accolades, and press coverage had a lot to say about who was hot. Among the top 10 player jerseys, the league champion Houston Gamblers had three players cited, including the top overall jersey, that of Gambler QB Colt McCoy. Wideout Mike Evans was 5^th and HB Carlos Hyde 7^th among all jersey sales. The 2^nd place spot was taken by a player changing teams as Calais Campbell Wrangler jerseys rocketed up the list from the moment they became available. Of all the players changing teams, Campbell’s jersey was the only one to break the Top 10, with Ryan Nassib Federals jerseys the only other “relocated” player to make the top 20. Others in the Top 5 include league MVP LeVeon Bell of Michigan and QB Lamar Jackson of St. Louis.

A very hot item in stores around Boston and New England.

It is very early to see rookies make the list, though the league did identify LA quarterback Kyler Murray, Baltimore HB Josh Jacobs and LA defensive end Nick Bosa as hot sellers in the first 2 months of post-draft sales. Among team sales, the Top 5, after Houston and Arizona, belonged to Memphis, San Diego, and New Jersey, all benefitting from strong 2018 seasons that boosted their bandwagons. San Antonio Gunslingers gear has only been available for a few months, but is already looking like a possible Top 5 contender for the next 6-month study, and we imagine that New England Steamroller gear will also be a hot commodity between now and kickoff for the 2020 season. The “Go You Rollahs!” t-shirts are already in their 3^rd printing and remain nearly impossible to find in local stores throughout New England.

Week Seven is here, and it is beginning to be time to put up or shut up. We have teams that could hit the very dangerous six-loss mark before midseason rolls around, and we have others who could set themselves up nicely with a 2-3 game margin above .500. It all kicks off on Friday with two divisional matchups, including a Keystone Clash between Pittsburgh and Philly on NBC and a Southwest Showdown between the Vipers and the Gold.

On Saturday we have two early games where 1 team desperately needs a win and the other simply wants one to get a leg up. Then at 4pm it is that time of year when the napping Seattle Dragons tend to wake up but can they do it against an LA team that has been one of the season’s biggest revelations, having won 5 in a row. Atlanta needs to start getting some W’s or their season could be done very early, but it won’t be easy against an Orlando squad that is looking very competitive.

On Sunday it is all inter-division and inter-conference play, but that does not mean there won’t be some drama. Oklahoma and Tampa are both sitting at 3-3 and feel the need to prove that they are contenders. Both the Bulls and Federals are under a lot of pressure to avoid another loss and get to midseason with some hope for the second half. We have a nice showdown of 4-2 clubs at 4pm on ABC as the Stallions head out to San Diego, but, without a doubt, the big game of the weekend is the Sunday Nighter, when unbeaten Michigan travels to Arizona, who are reeling a bit after back-to-back losses, but who certainly can still prove to be one of the league’s elite teams.

Friday @ 7pm ET             Pittsburgh (4-2) @ Philadelphia (1-5)     NBC

Friday @ 9:30pm ET        Las Vegas (2-4) @ Denver (3-3)                FOX

Saturday @ 12pm ET      Ohio (2-4) @ Baltimore (4-2)                 ABC

Saturday @ 12pm ET       New Jersey (1-5) @ St. Louis (3-3)          FOX

Saturday @ 4pm ET         Memphis (3-3) @ Oakland (3-3)               ABC

Saturday @ 4pm ET        Seattle (1-5) @ Los Angeles (5-1)          FOX

Saturday @ 7pm ET        Atlanta (1-4-1) @ Orlando (4-2)                NBC

Saturday @ 9pm ET      Charlotte (3-2-1) @ Houston (5-1)          ESPN/EFN

Sunday @ 12pm ET      Oklahoma (3-3) @ Tampa Bay (3-3)          ABC

Sunday @ 12pm ET       Jacksonville (2-4) @ Washington (1-5)    FOX Regional

Sunday @ 12pm ET     Chicago (4-2) @ Dallas (2-4)           FOX Regional

Sunday @ 4pm ET          Birmingham (4-2) @ San Diego (4-2)     ABC

Sunday @ 4pm ET         New Orleans (3-3) @ Portland (2-4)      FOX

Sunday @ 8pm ET         Michigan (6-0) @ Arizona (4-2)                 ESPN/EFN