An amazing week as teams battled for playoff berths. Five of six berths in the West are settled, with Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Oakland joining Denver and Houston as post-season participants. In the East, no berths were locked in as things tightened even more, with 5 teams tied at 9-6, while New Jersey and Orlando are still in striking range at 8-7. New Jersey got a last second win over #1 seed Philadelphia to keep their hopes alive. Orlando got help as the Fire fell to a very game Charlotte club. New Orleans and Nashville find themselves tied at 9-6 and will face each other in the season’s final game for a second year in a row with the division on the line. Chicago can overtake Pittsburgh on the final week, as a Mauler squad without DeShaun Foster was shut out by Wranglers, and that 6th and final spot in the West can now be claimed by Las Vegas, with a win, or by any one of three 8-7 teams (Stags, Panthers, Outlaws) with the right combo of Week 16 results. So much to talk about, let’s get right to it with one of the best games of the year as New Jersey and Philadelphia renew their rivalry in Met Life Stadium.
PHILADELPHIA STARS 25 NEW JERSEY GENERALS 27
In a storied rivalry, this may be one of the best back-and-forth battles ever held between the Stars and the Generals. Philadelphia, with the best record in the East, but having dropped two of their last three, wanted a win to lock up the top spot and home field for the playoffs. New Jersey, sitting at 7-7, needed a win to stay alive in the Wild Card race, playing exceptionally well over the second half of the season with rookie QB Sam Bradford at the helm. The two would battle it out over the entire length of the game, producing no fewer than 10 lead changes over the course of 60 minutes. It was one to remember for both clubs, but for New Jersey it may be the game that propels the recent basement dwellers back into playoff discussions.
The game saw Bradford throw for 338 yards, and despite no touchdown passes, his leadership on offense helped New Jersey mount drive after drive when needed. Kurt Warner outdid Bradford in numbers, throwing for 01 yards and 2 scores, but in the end, time simply ran out on the possible MVP candidate as New Jersey got the final score with barely any time left to play.
The action began with Philadelphia’s opening drive, a 12-play, 77-yard march that saw Warner bail out the Stars on two separate third down chances. After a touchdown was called back on a holding call, the very next play, Warner found Dwight Clark with a pass that brought the ball to the 1-yard line, and from there it was Darren Sproles finding room outside and squirting into the endzone to give Philadelphia the first points of the game.
PHI 7-0
New Jersey would respond with their first drive, an equally impressive 81-yard campaign that saw key catches from Santonio Holmes and Anthony Becht, as neither team could get much going on the ground. The drive produced New Jersey’s first points on an R. J. Redmond run from the 3, but overall, both teams would struggle to run the ball with New Jersey gaining only 33 yards on 21 carries while Philadelphia was held to 40 yards on 20 carries in a game dominated by the aerial attacks.
Game Tied at 7 apiece.
Philadelphia’s next drive would stall, but a good punt put New Jersey back at the 2 yard line, and on 2nd and 9 from the 3,the Stars would get the defensive score when DE Anthony Hargrove wrapped up Sam Bradford on a play action gone bad. Safety to the Stars.
PHI 9-7
The Stars’ 2-point lead would last into the 2nd quarter as both teams failed to score on their next drives. New Jersey would get the ball back after a Kurt Warner pass was tipped by the linebacker and CB Devin McCourty came up with the tip drill ricochet. New Jersey would score 6 plays later when Leigh Tiffin connected on a chip-shot field goal.
NJ 10-9
Philadelphia would get the final score of the half when, at the conclusion of a 13-play drive, Warner connected with Reche Caldwell from 16 yards out on a deep fade route. New Jersey wanted a challenge, and replay did seem to indicate that Caldwell had stepped out earlier in the route and was an ineligible receiver, but the replay officials did not stop the game and the score stood as the two teams headed to the locker rooms.
PHI 16-10
The second half saw New Jersey get the ball first, and once again they flipped the score at the end of a drive. Connecting with Mark Clayton on a 26-yard post route, and following that with a couple of short passes to move into the red zone, Bradford led the Generals to the 6-yard line. From there, Maurice Jones-Drew did the rest, busting through an initial tackle and carrying the safety with him into the end zone.
NJ 17-16
The General lead lasted only 1 drive, as Philadelphia was again able to move the ball effectively through the air. Warner connected with Brent Celek on a key 3rd down, but took a sack on 3rd and goal, forcing the Stars to send out Mike Nugent for a chip shot field goal, but one which once again but Philadelphia up.
PHI 19-17
New Jersey took over with 3:07 left in the 3rd and quickly moved the ball down the field. The big play was a 46-yard catch and run from T. J. Houshmandzadeh, taking the ball down to the 8-yard line. Housh was the 7th different receiver to catch a ball from Bradford. By game’s end it would be 10 different ball catchers for the OU product. Jones-Drew punched the ball in and New Jersey once again took a lead over the Stars.
NJ 24-19
The early stages of the 4th quarter saw both clubs falter on offense, Philadelphia with a 3-and-out and New Jersey with a drive that lasted 5 plays but gained only 11 yards. When the Stars got the ball back, they were backed up to their own 5-yard line. Rather than pound the ball into the line on 1st down, they went for a bit of trickery, and it worked exactly as they would hope. The ball fake to Reno Mahe sucked in the safeties, and allowed Steve Smith to get one-on-one coverage with CB Devin McCourty. The rookie was faked by a shoulder shift from Smith and he got a step on his defender. Warner hit him in stride and Smith was off to the races. McCourty did not give up on the play, and at the 3 yard-line got just enough of Smith’s ankle to force him to misstep and land his left foot out of bounds. Philadelphia would score 2 plays later when Warner hit Brent Celek with a 1-yard TD toss to again retake the lead, now with only 1:49 left to play. Philadelphia would go for 2 to create a 3-point lead, but the attempt was no good.
PHI 25-24
Bradford and the Generals offense took the field with just under 2 minutes and 2 time outs left. All they needed was a field goal and they could move to 8-7 and stay alive in the playoff hunt. Bradford crisply brought the Generals down the field, connecting with Mark Clayton, Miles Austin, and Matt Spaeth on three consecutive throws. After a failed draw play to Jones-Drew, they used their final time out, and with the ball sitting on the Philadelphia 23 yard line, they sent out their young kicker, Leigh Tiffin. This would be the biggest kick of the short career for Tiffin. A miss and New Jersey would almost certainly be eliminated from playoff contention. A successful kick and the Generals would have knocked off the top-rated Stars and would give themselves a chance in Week 16 to play their way into the postseason.
Tiffin lined up on the left hash, took his steps back and to the left, and then had to stop as the Stars called time out. He chatted with his holder, punter Nick Harris. Got a pat on the back, and lined up again. The snap was good, the hold good, and the kick went right down the middle. Jubilation in the Meadowlands as the General faithful got out of their seats to cheer their Generals. New Jersey would stay alive, and in Week 16, would return home for a matchup against Washington, with a playoff berth on the line.
Final Score: New Jersey 27 Philadelphia 25
NEW ORLEANS 40 MEMPHIS 13
An ugly one as the Breakers just lay into the Showboats. Eli Manning completed 22 of 24 passes as the Memphis defense simply did not show up. In addition to his three TDs, New Orleans also got a 21-yard pick-six and 4 David Green field goals. They now await a Week 16 finale that will determine their playoff future.
ST. LOUIS 6 OHIO 14
Rookie Tony Pike is given the start for the Glory, and has a successful outing. His numbers were not great, 12 of 28 for 110 yards, but he avoided mistakes and helped Ohio get their third win of the season. Josh Freeman was sacked 4 times by the Ohio defense and the Skyhawks finished with under 200 yards of offense.
LAS VEGAS 17 BOSTON 26
This was a bad loss for the Thunder as a win would have evened their record with the slumping Invaders. Despite 115 yards and 2 scores from Marshawn Lynch, Las Vegas gave up 2 Chad Johnson scores and a late pick that Manny Lawson returned for the deciding score in a game that was closer than the 9-point margin seems to indicate. Las Vegas faces Oakland in the finale, but could be eliminated entirely from the playoffs with a loss.
HOUSTON 38 OAKLAND 13
The Invaders drop a third game in a row as Kevin Kolb is ineffectual at QB. Matt Hasselbeck also had a lot of success against the Oakland defense, throwing for 4 TDs on the day, two to Ike Hilliard as Houston keeps pace, 1 game behind Denver and already guaranteed a playoff spot.
TAMPA BAY 18 MICHIGAN 21
In a desperation move, Coach LeBeau starts Tyler Thigpen and the former Fire QB gets the W for the Panthers, keeping their thin playoff hopes alive. Thigpen would go 22 of 35 for 230 with a TD, but it was a 93-yard day from Tony Jones as well as a solid outing from the defense that eliminated Tampa Bay and kept hope alive for Michigan.
JACKSONVILLE 17 ORLANDO 20
It was not an easy win, but Orlando got the much-needed W despite Drew Brees spending much of the day scrambling from Jacksonville pressure. He was officially sacked only 4 times, but his 12 rush attempts were basically him being flushed out of the pocket repeatedly. Brees did hit Michael Jenkins late for a 6-yard TD to take the lead and win the game for the Renegades, who need some help in Week 16 if they want to qualify for the postseason.
CHARLOTTE 16 ATLANTA 14
A bad loss for Atlanta, who could have clinched the SE Division with a win. Kyle Orton was picked off twice and Darren McFadden could only gain 25 yards on 14 carries as a resurgent Charlotte team sneaks out of the Georgia Dome with a win. The key play in this one was a sack on 4th and 7 from Julius Peppers to shut down Atlanta’s late game drive and preserve the win for Charlotte.
ARIZONA 12 PITTSBURGH 0
With DeShaun Foster sidelined, the Maulers were not able to do anything against the Wranglers. Four field goals were all the scoring Arizona needed as they limited Kenny Watson to only 59 yards and sacked Cody Pickett 5 times. LaDainian Tomlinson did the rest, rushing for 125 and keeping the ball out of the hands of the Mauler offense.
NASHVILLE 28 BIRMINGHAM 16
Nashville is one game away from back to back division titles after putting away the Stallions. With Ohio’s win, this loss guarantees the Stallions of the #1 pick in the draft, which will almost certainly be a QB. With Frank Gore bottled up all game (16 carries for only 38 yards) it was change-of-pace back Montario Hardesty who gave Nashville a spark. He carried the ball only 6 times, but gained 79 yards (13.2 YPC) and also had 5 receptions on the day.
SEATTLE 30 CHICAGO 23
Chicago could have leapt over Pittsburgh for 1st place in the Central with a win, but came up against a Dragons squad that is still playing hard. Two picks of Brady Quinn undid all the good work of Michael Turner (126 yards on 22 carries) while Seattle got TDs form Jahvid Best (2) and David Boston to upend the Machine in Soldier Field. Boston went off for 180 yards on only 5 receptions, including his 66-yard TD.
LOS ANGELES 14 PORTLAND 30
The Stags are still alive at 8-7 after knocking off the Express in Columbia Sportswear Stadium. It was backup Chris Perry outgaining Jonathan Stewart 75-46 that helped boost the Stags to the win. Add in a 62-yard pick-6 from former General Mike Rumph and the Stags stay alive one more week. They need help, in the form of a Las Vegas loss next week, to qualify, but they are still in the hunt.
DENVER 14 TEXAS 13
An ugly win with a very pretty result. The 1-point victory in San Antonio locks Denver in as the SW Division champion and, at 12-3, as the top seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. They needed a late TD toss from Matt Leinart to Richard Quinn to get the W, but they got it and that is key. Texas can still get into the postseason, but require a lot of help to do so.
BALTIMORE 17 WASHINGTON 36
Last week David Garrard was the hero for Washington, but this week it was Deuce McCallister’s 215 yards from scrimmage and 2 TDs that fueled the Federals on offense. McCallister broke an 88-yard TD on a swing pass, and added a TD run. On defense, Antonio Pierce did it all, creating a sack-fumble, scooping it up andracing in for the TD as Washington dominated the Blitz to jump ahead of them in the Wild Card standings. They have not clinched just yet and have a huge game with New Jersey next week, but this was another impressive win for the Feds.
Steve Spurrier to Step Down after 2nd Stint with Bandits.
In a press conference on Tuesday, sad news for fans of the “Ole Ball Coach” as Steve Spurrier announced that he had made the difficult decision to step down as head coach of the Tampa Bay Bandits following next week’s season finale against Charlotte. The announcement ends Spurrier’s second stint as head coach of the Bandits, after having won the title with the club in the league’s first season and having returned in 2004 to again lead the team his work had helped to build.
Spurrier’s second stint with the Bandits proved to be almost as successful as his first, winning the Southeast Division 3 times, including a 12-2 first year with the club in 2004 and a 14-2 season in 2008. The past two seasons have been tougher, with the club following up their 14-2 season with a huge drop to 5-9 in 2009. This year they have been on the fringes of playoff contention most of the year, but now stand at 7-8, with next week’s finale now set up not only as an attempt to finish the year at .500 but as a farewell game to a beloved coach.
Already a Hall of Famer with Tampa Bay after a run that went from 1983 through 1993. Spurrier retires after nearly 30 years in the game with a USFL record of 161-116. His playoff record is 11-11, including a league title in 1983 and 8 division titles.
Ohio Expected to Announce Al Luginbill’s Retirement
While no official announcement has been made, verifiable rumors are emerging out of Columbus that longstanding Ohio Glory Head Coach Al Luginbill will also retire from the USFL and the coaching ranks after this season. A two-time league champion, and head coach of the league’s only undefeated team, the 2002 Glory, Luginbill will almost certainly be a shoe in for first ballot Hall of Fame recognition.
Luginbill took over a floundering 1995 expansion Glory squad in its 4th season, 1999. Within 1 season he had the Glory in the playoffs as a Wild Card. The next year, they went 11-5 and returned to the playoffs. One year later, in 2002, his Glory squad put together the greatest season in USFL history, racing through the regular season at 14-0 before making short work of their playoff opponents and hoisting the Bassett Trophy as the first USFL team to go unbeaten for a full season.
The next year, he would achieve another first in the USFL, with his Glory squad becoming the first, and still only, franchise to ever defend a title and win back to back Bassett Trophies. The 2003 Glory lost 3 games in 2003, but went 3-0 in the postseason to win their second consecutive title. Luginbill, despite the result of next week’s season finale, and despite a very rough season in 2010, will retire with the best winning percentage of any coach in USFL history, sitting currently at 112-64, a 63% winning percentage.
Luginbill leaves a team which is clearly in a rebuilding phase. Following the departure of Hall of Fame QB Kerry Collins, and with the expectation that both WR Joey Galloway and HB Eddie George could also be departing after a rough 3-11-1 season (so far), Luginbill is expected to turn the team over to new leadership as they build for the future. No date has been set for an announcement, but all evidence points to a post-game statement following Ohio’s season finale at home in Columbus against the Boston Cannons. Expect a monster crowd in Columbus for that game as fans pay their honors to the Glory’s unquestioned leader.
MVP Could Come Down to Warner & Hasselbeck
As much as folks in Denver may protest, it appears that the MVP for 2010 is going to come down to a runoff between Philadelphia QB Kurt Warner and Houston signal caller Matt Hasselbeck. Why would Denver fans be upset? Well, mostly because their QB, Matt Leinart is currently the top rated QB in the league, over both of the contenders. So, why is Leinart not in the running? Well, in part due to the very nature of Denver’s offense.
While Leinart’s rating of 102.2 leads all qualifying starters, his total of 2,939 yards is only 13th, behind players like Josh Freeman, David Carr, Matt Sanchez and Adrian McPherson. His TD total of 22, ties him with Eli Manning and Brady Quinn, but is only 6th, a solid 9 TDs behind Hasselbeck and 7 fewer than Warner. Hasselbeck leads the league with 31 scoring tosses, matched up against 18 picks. Those picks may concern voters, who may lean towards Warner, whose 29 TDs come with only 10 picks. Warner is also ahead on QB Rating, with a 101.8 score placing him second only to Leinart. But, and this is a big factor, the fact that Hasselbeck has led Houston now to 9 consecutive wins, the best streak in a long time in the USFL, has to be a factor.
With MVP voting winding down before the playoffs, voters will have to make a decision before seeing how these two clubs, and their star QB’s fare in the postseason. A month ago we would have handed the trophy to Warner, but with 3 losses in their last 4 games, and with Houston surging, Hasselbeck is right back in the conversation, as he should be.
Big Win Against Stars Could Win Bradford ROTY
In addition to exciting fans in New Jersey and keeping the Generals alive in the playoff hunt. The success of the Generals in the 2nd half, and their rise up the offensive leader board, has all but guaranteed that Sam Bradford, the OU draftee, will be the 2010 Rookie of the Year. Bradford got his first action in Week 5, when then starter Ryan Fitzpatrick was injured. The next week he was given his first pro start against Boston. Since then the Generals have gone 6-4 and now are one win away from qualifying as a Wild Card in the Eastern Conference.
Bradford has been solid, and at times, outstanding as a new starter in the league. He has a total of 2,601 yards and 13 TDs this season, with a solid 13:6 TD:INT ratio and a rating of 82.9, both of which are very solid for a QB playing in his first action. Moreover, he has won over his teammates, with WR Mark Clayton regularly praising his play and Head Coach Herm Edwards regularly citing Bradfords play as a big reason why New Jersey has turned things around after a pretty rough 4-10 campaign in 2009. After seasons with 2 and 4 wins in ’08 and ’09, General fans are more than happy to praise Bradford, with his #8 jersey becoming one of the Top 5 best sellers in the league this season. Expect very little argument, even from die hard Tim Tebow fans, when Bradford is named Rookie of the Year in the pre-Summer Bowl Awards Gala. He has earned it.
Week 15 sees the West all but locked up, while the East remains a last minute frenzy of possibilities. Pittsburgh, Oakland, and Chicago have joined the Gamblers and Gold as playoff teams out West, leaving only one spot in the 6 playoff positions still up for some Week 16 drama. Las Vegas currently holds the 6th and final spot, and controls their own destiny. They will face the Oakland Invaders in Week 16, and with Oakland already clinching the division on tie breakers, Las Vegas only needs to knock off their rival to lock up the final postseason berth in the West.
If Oakland fails, then one of the other 8-7 teams can step up and claim the final spot. First among the three are the Stags, who hold tiebreakers against Michigan and Texas. If Las Vegas goes down, a Portland win will secure them the final Wild Card at 9-7. If Portland also fails, then the next up is Michigan, which seems hard to believe considering how much they have floundered without Brian Griese. And, should Michigan fall to defeat, that leaves the slimmest of pathways open, this time for the Texas Outlaws. Texas loses tie breakers with all 3 of the others, but if the Thunder, Stags, and Panthers all fall to defeat this week, while Texas secures a win, then it is the Outlaws claiming the final spot in the West.
In the East, only Philadelphia has locked up their spot, though 5 other teams control their own destiny. The winner of next week’s Nashville-New Orleans clash will win the Southern Division, and could very possibly also earn a bye as the #2 seed. Atlanta also locks in its division with a win in the final week of the season, but could drop down all the way out of the playoffs with a loss and an Orlando win. Washington and Baltimore could both make the postseason from the NE Division, but both need to seek a win in Week 16 to lock that in. If Washington falters at New Jersey, the Generals could find themselves leapfrogging the Feds and snagging a spot, while Baltimore faces a tough Denver team, but one which has less to play for (having already locked up the division and home field advantage) and may play some reserves.
Those 5 teams, Nashville, Atlanta, Washington, Baltimore, and New Orleans all, at least to a degree, control their own destiny, with a win being all they need to lock up a postseason berth. On the outside, the Renegades and the Generals also need some help, though for New Jersey, a win over Washington almost certainly grants them an unexpected playoff appearance.
With Week 16 meaning so much to so many teams, there are a few injuries which could have a real impact on the season finales across the league.
Portland will be without TE Visanthe Shiancoe as the veteran suffered a broken hip this week and will need at least 4 months to recover and rehab.
New Orleans’s veteran CB Billy Austin will also miss all remaining 2010 games (regular or post season) after a severe groin pull & tear will sideline him for at least 2 months.
Atlanta will have to go into their season finale without WR David Tyree, as the 27-year-old, will be sidelined for the rest of the summer with a broken tibia.
Philadelphia will be without RT Jaimie Thomas, after his knee injury on Sunday was diagnosed as a torn meniscus.
Nashville will be without two starters as both DE Gary Stills and LB Keith Burns are out for this week, but could be back for a playoff run.
Doubtful this week are Washington HB Rod Smart (toe), Texas OT Ryan Tucker (concussion), Denver TE Daniel Graham (ankle), Portland WR Roddy White (hand), and Baltimore CB Corey Graham (knee).
USFL & Hall of Fame Announce Class of 2010
One of the reasons we love this time of year is not just the drama of the USFL regular season’s final weeks, but the knowledge that somewhere in late June the USFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame will announce the enshrinement class for the year. That time is this week as the five new members of the Hall were revealed this week in a dual announcement in Canton, Ohio. And, for the first time, the Hall and USFL added what they are calling their “Legacy” candidate, a player whose 5-year window for nomination has ended, but who was deemed worthy by a select committee of former USFL coaches, players, and executives for recognition.
That Legacy spot this year was filled, and that candidate made the final cut, becoming the first Legacy Enshrinee, and that player is none other than High School and OU legend, running back Marcus Dupree. Dupree was signed to a USFL contract after only 1 tumultuous year at Oklahoma. After a scandalous departure from the Sooners, DuPree initially stated he would play for Southern Mississippi close to his home in nearby Philadelphia, MS. But, citing financial hardship Dupree petitioned for eligibility to play in both the NFL and USFL. While the fall league balked at allowing a player with 3 years of college eligibility to join the pro ranks, the USFL, which had made history by signing Herschel Walker to a contract despite remaining college eligibility agreed to allow DuPree to enter the league.
Dupree played two seasons with the Memphis Showboats, appearing in 10 games as a rookie and rushing for 792 yards. An injury would impact his production in his sophomore season, limiting him to only 662 yards and 2 scores. When he was traded to the newly-relocated New Orleans Breakers, a splash deal that gave the Breakers much needed cache in the Crescent City after moving from Boston, DuPree found a true home.
Marcus would rush for 1,347 yards and 10 TDs in his first season at the Super Dome. He would follow that up with 3 more 1,000 yard seasons in New Orleans, helping the Breakers become a perennial playoff team during his time with them. Injuries began to take an effect in 1990, as he saw his carries and production drop due to first a knee injury and then a hip injury that allowed him to appear in only 7 games in 1991. He bounced back in 1992, with another 1,000 yard/10 TD season, and played through the 1994 season before the wear on his surgically repaired hip required he step away from the game. DuPree makes the Hall of Fame both as a player with dynamic, breakaway speed, and a flair for the big play, but also as an early superstar, helping to raise the profile not only of the Breakers, but of the league as a whole. He retired with 10,703 yards rushing, 74 TDs, and an outstanding per-carry average of 4.5 yards per attempt.
DuPree is joined by five players from the standard pool of nominees. Each of these players is also a true great in the league and a worthy recipient of the gold jacket.
Tight End Adrian Cooper joins Shannon Sharpe and Keith Jackson in the Hall in his first year of eligibility. An 8-time All-USFL player and member of the 1999 champion Showboat squad, Cooper amassed 925 receptios and 99 touchdowns in his long career with Portland and Memphis.
Linebacker DeMetrius DuBose was the backbone of a Pittsburgh Mauler defense that was one of the league’s most feared. He too joins the Hall in his first year of eligibility after amassing nearly 1400 tackles, 38 sacks, 29 forced fumbles and 15 interceptions in his 13-year career, all of it as a Mauler.
The third of the first ballot entrants into the Hall of Fame in 2010 is no surprise, wide receiver Lawrence Dawsey. Dawsey, who played his entire 15 years in Birmingham, retired with over 1,000 receptions (1008 to be exact), nearly 18,000 yards (17,912) and 148 touchdowns. He was a go to target for Brett Favre during his stellar run as QB of the Stallions and helped Birmingham to the 1993 USFL title, while also amassing 9 All-USFL honors.
Entering the Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility is 15-season Breaker legend, linebacker Lamar Lathon. Lathon came to the Breakers in the 1994 draft and played through 2004, amassing 1,378 tackles in his time as a Breaker. While never lifting the John Bassett trophy, Lathon was recognized by the league as one of its best, first with 4 All-USFL awards, and now with entrance into the Hall.
Finally, and after 3 years of near misses, another highly effective and generally feared linebacker makes the hall in his fourth year of eligibility. Beginning his career in Memphis, it is when he moved to the Houston Gamblers that Pat Swilling really blossomed into a force on the defensive side of the ball. The leader of some of Houston’s best defensive squads in the 1990’s, Swilling retired in 2002 with 2 USFL titles (1992 and 1996), four All-USFL awards, 1185 tackles,, and 44 sacks. Known for his sideline-to-sideline pursuit as well as his bone-jarring hits, Swilling enters the hall as yet another member of the Gambler dynasty years.
Congratulations to all six of this year’s nominees. We also want to wish several nominees who were not selected this year, including CB Aeneas Williams, LB Mo Lewis, QB Mark Brunell, and FS George Teague the best of luck in next year’s pool and hope that they can see in the examples of Swilling, Lathon, and Marcus DuPree more possibility in the future.
After Success of Dual Broadcast, ESPN to Give EFN 8 Games in 2011
With ESPN’s experimental dual broadcast this year, the network, and the league, tested out the ability of secondary cable networks to be effective broadcast options for prime time USFL football. With solid ratings throughout the year for both ESPN and their offshoot ESPN Football Network (EFN), both showcasing the Sunday Night Games all season long, the network is apparently happy with the results and has made the decision to alter its lineup for 2011, with the Saturday Night game remaining on the “flagship” network, while the Sunday Night clash will now be exclusively broadcast on the ESPN Football Network, marking the first time the fledgling network will have exclusive rights to a USFL game.
EFN, which until now has largely been home for USFL-related programming, such as coach’s shows, weekly recap shows, preview shows, and second tier college football broadcasts, is certainly growing. Now available in approximately 40 million homes across the country, EFN may not have the wider reach of the flagship ESPN network, a network the USFL helped to build, but it is the only single-sport network with a distribution over 30 million homes, with the Big 10 Network coming in currently at 25 million. With a new deal in place to broadcast both Pac 10 and ACC football games (though not the top marquee games each week as designated by each league), EFN is expanding its live broadcast capacity, and the addition of exclusive broadcast of Sunday Night USFL games is certainly a big step in that direction.
The deal is a purely internal one for ESPN/ABC which has within its contract with the USFL the option to move games between its three networks. Until now, ABC has been home to Saturday and Sunday afternoon games, while ESPN has been the home to the Saturday and Sunday night “prime time” featured games. Now, with the new internal division of broadcasts, EFN will join the broadcast and primary cable networks in serving as home to USFL games. This may, at some point even expand into the ABC coverage, with EFN allowing the network group to have nationwide broadcasts of all afternoon games, using EFN for the secondary game while ABC broadcasts the more attractive game of the slate, rather than splitting coverage between two regional games. That is not set in stone yet, as it appears ESPN/EFN is looking exclusively at the Sunday Night broadcast right now.
A huge week as no fewer than 6 of the league’s 12 playoff spots remain open for competition. As usual the league has “flexed” their schedule to ensure maximum balance between games and among teams that are competing for the same potential playoff spots. All games will be held on Saturday and Sunday in Week 16, with the broadcast partners divvying up the 12pm and 4pm starts. We present the schedule with each game’s playoff ramifications, starting with the less impactful Saturday early slate.
Saturday, July 3 @ 12:00 ET
ABC Boston (7-8) @ Ohio (3-11-1)
A game between two former champions now fully in rebuild mode. This game has no playoff ramifications, though, certainly, Boston would like to end the season with a win to reach .500. For Ohio, this game is viewed as a “send off” game for legendary coach Al Luginbill, who is expected to step away from coaching after the season finale.
FOX Charlotte (6-9) @ Tampa Bay (7-8)
This Southeast matchup also has no playoff ramifications, with both clubs eliminated from contention, but again is a “farewell” game for a legendary coach as Steve Spurrier has already announced his intention to resign from his second stint as Bandits head coach following this final game.
ESPN Memphis (5-10) @ Birmingham (2-13)
No coaches resigning in this game, and also no playoff impact as the two 10-loss teams in the South clash in what may be one of the least hyped rivalry games ever between these two Southern Division foes. They say “throw out the records” when these two meet, but this year, with both clubs looking to reimagine themselves in the offseason, this one is one where the records could well mean that enthusiasm in Birmingham will be well below norms for the rivalry.
NBC Nashville (9-6) @ New Orleans (9-6)
The only early Saturday game with playoff impact, this is a true “winner takes all” situation. In this case, the winner of this game is the Southern Division Champion, exactly as we saw last season when Nashville held off the Breakers in Nashville to take the South. This year the game is in N’awlins, and that is giving Breaker fans hope for a reversal of last year’s result. The loser of this game may still have a good shot at a Wild Card, but will have to wait and see what happens with New Jersey and Washington. A Generals’ win in that game could oust the loser of this one.
Saturday, July 3 @ 4:00 ET
ABC Texas (8-7) @ Arizona (6-9)
Saturday afternoon builds the tension in the Western Conference as all three teams who are outside looking in will play, then have to wait to see if Las Vegas can win and hold onto the final playoff spot. In this game, Texas can earn a Wild Card with a Win, but need the most help as they also require losses by Las Vegas, Portland, and Michigan.
EFN/ESPN Seattle (6-9) @ Portland (8-7)
Portland can earn a Wild Card with a win and a loss by Las Vegas. They win the tiebreakers with the Panthers and Outlaws, so all they need is to beat Seattle at home and hope that the Oakland Invaders can break their late season slump and defeat the Thunder in Las Vegas.
FOX Michigan (8-7) @ Los Angeles (4-11)
Another team that needs help, Michigan can earn a Wild Card with a win and losses by Las Vegas and Portland. The Panthers must first get the W in Los Angeles against the 4-11 Express. To do that they will need to produce more on offense than they have shown the past few weeks.
Sunday, July 4 @ 12:00 ET
ABC Chicago (9-6) @ St. Louis (4-11)
Sunday begins with the battle for the Central Division. Chicago sits ½ game behind the Maulers. A win in St. Louis and a loss by the Maulers and Chicago leaps into the Division Title and possibly a bye as well.
NBC Pittsburgh (9-5-1) @ Houston (11-4)
The Maulers can win the Central with either a win in Houston (no easy task) or a loss by the Machine in St. Louis. Houston has won 9 in a row, and will not go lightly in this game, so Pittsburgh will have to put in maximum effort to get the W and secure a surprising division title.
FOX Atlanta (9-6) @ Jacksonville (6-9)
We continue in the 12:00pm slot with the Southeastern Division on the line. Atlanta controls their own destiny. A win over the Bulls and they lock up the SE Division title. A loss, and they have to hope that Philadelphia puts it to the Renegades.
ESPN Philadelphia (10-4) @ Orlando (8-7)
The Renegades have everything to play for, with a possible division title as well as simply a playoff berth on the line. Philadelphia has nothing on the line, as they have already locked up the #1 seed in the East, and yet, according to Coach Harbaugh, he will play all his starters and use this game as a test of how playoff-ready the Stars are. If Philadelphia brings their A-game, then Orland could be in trouble.
Sunday, July 4 @ 4:00 ET
ABC Baltimore (9-6) @ Denver (12-3)
We finish the weekend with some unusual NE Division games at 4pm as the drama of the division plays out in two matchups. Baltimore clinches a Wild Card with a Win. They could be eliminated with a loss and a New Jersey Win over Washington. That will motivate them against a Denver club that has the Western #1 seed locked up and is planning on starting several backups.
FOX Washington (9-6) @ New Jersey (8-7)
The winner of this game clinches a Wild Card. The loser could still qualify or could be eliminated depending on other games. New Jersey cannot get in with a loss, Washington possibly (depending on the earlier Orlando result). But, despite their potential option to lose and still qualify, we don’t expect the Feds to let up in this one. A win guarantees them a home playoff game, and that alone is reason enough to do their best to remove New Jersey from the equation.
ESPN Las Vegas (8-7) @ Oakland (9-6)
Finally, the last playoff spot will be decided. Las Vegas earns a Wild Card with a win. After Saturday’s results, one team from the Portland, Michigan, Texas cluster will know that they are in if Las Vegas loses. The Thunder cannot afford to lose this game (unless, of course, all 3 of the others have already lost), while Oakland may rest some starters. The Invaders still have a shot at a bye week, depending on the result of the Maulers game in Houston. If Pittsburgh loses in Houston, then we may see more of the Oakland starters as they battle for the #2 seed and a bye.
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