Arizona gets back to their winning ways as their defense shuts down Denver. Jacksonville takes Tampa Bay to overtime in a Florida Derby to remember, St. Louis shocks the Thunder in Vegas, and the Generals keep New Orleans winless, making the Breakers the first club officially eliminated from playoff action. All this, plus division battles in the Northeast (Baltimore v. Philadelphia), Central (Chicago v. Michigan, Ohio v. Pittsburgh), Southeast (Atlanta v. Orlando), Southwest (Texas v. Houston) and Pacific (Seattle v. Oakland, LA v. Portland) as a week of key matchups produces results that will shape the coming playoff push. We also report on all the trade deadline deals, including a former #1 receiver going from coast to coast and QB A. J. Feeley gets a new home. It’s Week 10 in the USFL and there are no shortage of stories to report on, all This Week in the USFL.
LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 21 PORTLAND STAGS 20
Hard to believe that a 6-3 Los Angeles team would go into 4-5 Portland as a 3-point underdog, but the public is still not buying the Express as a legitimate division leader, and that translates to Las Vegas having to bend the odds towards their opponents, in this case the Stags. Perhaps the problem lies with the Express putting up pretty marginal offensive numbers (25th in total yards, 23rd in passing). But, we should also acknowledge that the Express defense has been vastly improved over last year, even with the departure of Troy Polamalu. LA is currently 6th in the league, allowing only 16.1 points per game, and is also holding opponents under 235 per game passing and under 80 yards per game rushing. But, respect has to be earned and it seems the Express will need to keep winning to earn more of it.
As for Portland, their offense is only 21st in yards gained, and their 18.8 points per game is a big reason why they had a 3-game skid before rebounding with a win over Houston in Week 9. The defense is also struggling, particularly agains the pass, where they are ranked 22nd in the league. So, would this matchup at the sight of the 2010 Summer Bowl prove the critics of LA right or would this be another W on the Express’s path to an unforeseen division crown?
For a long while in this game it looked very much like the former. Despite taking an early lead on an L. J. Smith TD catch from Mark Sanchez, LA trailed for a good portion of the game. Portland followed LA’s score with one of their own as Ryan Fitzpatrick found one of his favorite new targets, rookie TE Jordan Cameron, for the equalizer, and then, early in the 2nd he found Koren Robinson for the go ahead score. By the half, Portland would build up a 17-7 lead over the Express, largely due to the defense’s ability to hold HB ray Rice in check and force Mark Sanchez into several 3rd and long situations. LA would only convert 2 of 7 third downs in the half as Portland clamped down on Express receivers.
On offense, the Stags also struggled to run the ball, with Jonathan Stewart gaining only 2.8 yards per carry on the day, but QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was able to connect with his primary targets, with all 3 ending the game with 6 catches apiece: Robinson, Cameron, and Roddy White. After another Mason Crosby field goal in the 3rd quarter, Portland held a solid 20-7 lead and LA would have to find some magic to pull the game out.
They got a break towards the end of the 3rd when Portland CB Mike Rumph was called for pass interference in the endzone on a deep ball to Randy Moss. The penalty put the ball on the 1 yard line, a 33-yard gain and on the very next play, Moss scored anyway, nabbing a jump ball from Sanchez and pulling LA within 6.
The Express, however, would struggle for most of the 4th quarter to get back in scoring position. Sanchez, who had thrown 2 picks earlier in the game, would throw another to end one promising drive. A second drive ended with a failed 4th down attempt, and with 3:07 left LA was down to their last possession, one more chance to upend the scoreboard and steal a win away from the Stags.
The Express got the ball on their own 27 after the Portland punt went out of bounds. Down 6, a TD would win it, anything less would not be enough. Sanchez relied on his top 4 targets most of the way down the field, completing short passes to Ray Rice and L. J. Smith, then finding Keyshawn for his 7th catch of the day, a 19-yarder that got the Express into Portland territory. Another to rice, then an out route to Moss, and suddenly the Express were in the red zone. For a second time, Sanchez looked to Randy Moss in the end zone, and for a second time Moss drew a defensive PI call against Rumph, who clearly had not only a handful of jersey, but whose other arm was blocking Moss’s from going up for the ball.
Once again the ball was on the 1 yard line. Now, with no time outs and the clock stopped at 29 seconds, LA could potentially have 4 downs to go only 1 yard. They would need only 1 attempt. For the first time since the 2nd quarter, Sanchez tossed a ball in the direction of rookie Ronald Johnson, and Johnson came down with it, rolling to the ground to secure the catch. Portland players insisted he was down, but the replay confirmed that the ref had made the right call. The touchdown stood and the LA Express moved to 7-3 with a last second win on the road. Now we wait and see what the book in Vegas does with the Express as they return home to face another 4-win team in the Charlotte Monarchs this week.
TEXAS 30 HOUSTON 20
The season-long nightmare for the Gamblers continues as Texas upends the Gamblers in NRG Stadium, sending Houston to their 8th straight defeat. Tim Rattay, in for the injured Matt Hasselbeck, throws 4 picks as the Texas defense dominates. Joe Flacco did not put up great numbers, but they were more than enough to upend the collapsing Gamblers as Texas moves to 7-3 on the year.
BOSTON 17 MEMPHIS 17 OVERTIME
Well, at least neither club lost. The Cannons took this one to overtime on a McPherson TD pass to Cedric Wilson late in the 4th, but neither team could do much in overtime and the game ended as a tie when Steven Haushka pushed a last second field goal to the left. An unsatisfying tie for two clubs who need wins.
NASHVILLE 31 CHARLOTTE 19
The Monarchs drop 5 in a row as they struggle against the Nashville defense. Frank Gore helped push Nashville to an early lead and finished the game with 127 yards to lead all ballcarriers. Montario Hardesty added another 98 as Nashville just owned the line of scrimmage.
NEW JERSEY 34 NEW ORLEANS 13
Drew Brees was sacked a nasty nine times by the Generals, including two sacks each for Des Aaron Kampman and Sean Ellis. Rookie HB Delone Carter also had a big game, busting free for 69 yards on only 5 carries, including a 34-yard TD scamper. Rookie WR David Baldwin, promoted after the trade of T. J. Houshmandzadeh, led all Generals with 4 catches for 70 yards, while Miles Austin hauled in two Sam Bradford TD passes.
CHICAGO 19 MICHIGAN 20
The Machine built up a 19-7 halftime lead, but then collapsed late as Mcihigan scored the final 13 points to take the victory. Greise had as strong second half, finishing 30 of 43 for 340 yards for the day. His 4th quarter TD toss to Manningham pulled Michigan within 2 and then a late Matt Prater field goal completed the comeback and moved the Panthers to 5-5 on the year.
DENVER 6 ARIZONA 17
Both defenses played well in this one, with Arizona only converting 2 of 10 third downs and Denver limited to 2 field goals on the day. Matt Leinart was sacked 4 times and the Ringer/Hicks combo held to only 64 yards rushing. Arizona was hampered by an early injury to David Carr, but Jim Sorgi hit Mike Williams with the go ahead TD, and then backup HB Jonathan Dwyer busted open a short yardage play for a 35-yard TD scamper as Arizona scored 14 points in the final 13 minutes of action to get the W and improve to 9-1 on the year.
JACKSONVILLE 23 TAMPA BAY 26 OVERTIME
The Bulls fought hard to come back from a 20-12 deficit in the 4th, tying the game at 23 as time expired, but in overtime Tampa Bay was able to stuff the Bulls and then kick the game winner on their first drive to secure the win. Kicker David Akers of the Bulls connected on 5 field goals for the Bulls, while Tampa Bay got TDs from Joey Galloway (159 yards on the day) and Willis McGahee (129 rushing yards) as the Bandits barely escape with a 7-3 record atop the SE Division.
BALTIMORE 27 PHILADELPHIA 23
Baltimore knocks Philly out of first place and into a 3-way tie thanks to 131 yards from ron Dayne and a late Tory Holt 53-yard TD. Philadelphia got 317 yards from Kurt Warner, including a 37-yard TD to Reche Caldwell, but could not put together a game winning drive in the final seconds as Baltimore held on to claim victory and tighten up the division even more.
PITTSBURGH 20 OHIO 6
Pittsburgh, now 9-1, solidified their dominance of the division with a 14 point 4th quarter to put away the Glory. Ohio had held the Maulers to a 6-6 tie through three periods, frustrating the Mauler offense, but Cody Pickett connected on two 4th quarter TDs to break the game open and take the W for the Maulers.
WASHINGTON 38 BIRMINGHAM 3
With Cam Newton sidelined, Birmingham proved no competition for the Federals, who rolled to a 21-3 halftime lead and never looked back. Joe Webb went 20 of 29 with 3 TDs and the combo of McCallister and Rod Smart combined for 175 yards rushing as Colt Brennan simply could not sustain drives for the Stallions.
ST. LOUIS 29 LAS VEGAS 14
The Skyhawks shut down the Lynchless Thunder run game (35 total yards) and found their own run game with Antowain Smith exploiting a tired Thunder D for 114 yards in a road upset win for St. Louis. Backup Troy Smith looked solid, completing 16 of 26 passes for 314 yards and 2 TDs. Jordy Nelson caught 4 for 113 and Antowain Smith added a 2nd Td on a rare screen pass for the big back.
SEATTLE 17 OAKLAND 40
In a battle of two Pacific clubs hoping to work their way back into the playoff hunt, Oakland showed an offensive spark we have not seen all season. Joey Harrington threw 2 TD passes and got another from HB Jerious Norwood as Oakland dominated the Dragons. Seattle held a 14-0 lead early, but Oakland turned on the power and scored 40 of the next 43 points in the game to run past the Dragons. A Mike Maslowski pick-six helped spark Oakland to victory as both teams now sit at 5-5 with 6 weeks left to play.
ATLANTA 10 ORLANDO 17
In this battle of 5-4 SE Division contenders, Orlando got the edge thanks to a strong day for Knowshon Moreno (20 for 99 yards) and Calais Campbell (2 sack, 3 hurries and more hits than Kyle Orton wanted to experience). Atlanta hung in, but in the end it was too much and a last second drive fell short on the Orlando 13-yard line when a 4th and goal throw was deflected out of bounds, ending the comeback attempt by the Fire. Orlando moves to 6-4 and Atlanta falls to 5-5.
Trade Deadline Produces a Flurry of Last Second Swaps
As we often see around this time of year, the trade deadline was accompanied by significant player movement. In several cases we saw teams that had cap issues open up some space by jeetisoning some high-priced but under-performing talent, while in other cases it was about filing a need in time for a playoff push. As we saw with Charlotte trading for Shonn Greene last week, teams are still looking for the key player to help them make a push.
We start in Portland, where we knew the Stags were hoping to trade former starter A. J. Feeley. The first starter in Stags’ history had lost his job to Ryan Fitzpatrick and was a very overpriced backup. We thought he might get sent to Boston to help Jake Locker mature, but instead a deal was cut with Houston, where Feeley will back up Matt Hasselbeck. Or will he? Rumors are swirling that the rib injury to Hasselbeck is more serious than has been let on and that Feeley may actually finish out the season as the starter once he has had a week or two to learn the system. There are many who are saying that Hasselbeck may have actually played his last game and could be on the fast track to retirement after a rough 2011 and a rib injury that may have impacted his lungs as well. Rumors of a punctured lung have not been confirmed, but would explain why a 1-2 week injury seems to be lingering.
In return for Feeley, Portand received help for their LB group in the form of Houston backup David Hawthorne, and a draft pick to boot, a 4th rounder from the Gamblers. Expect Hawthorne to serve as a swing backer, filling in as players swap out for breathers. For Feeley, we think he could see action as soon as Week 12, though not likely this upcoming week due to his unfamiliarity with the Houston callsheet.
The second big move of the week is also an offensive player for a linebacker as New Jersey, winners of 3 in a row, are hoping to get more help for a beleaguered linebacker group. Meanwhile, Las Vegas is still shuffling receivers, trying to find a combo of healthy options who can make the Run & Shoot more shoot and less run, especially with Marshawn Lynch still weeks away from a return. The deal? Well, New Jersey sends starting WR T. J. Houshmandzadeh out to the desert in return for a 4th rounder and LB Brady Poppinga. Poppinga had been serving as a fill-in linebacker behind the 3 starters in Las Vegas, but is expected to serve as the strongside linebacker for the Generals, likely getting an immediate start this week. We also expect to see “Housh” starting for Las Vegas, though likely with very specific routes and responsibilities in his first week.
Both Tampa Bay and Ohio were facing potential penalties for salary cap overage, and the trade deadline gave them an option to address the issue before fines would be levied. Both opted to do that by dumping some salary in return for draft picks. Tampa Bay opted to part with underperforming wideout Devery Henderson, sending the wideout to Boston in return for 2 sixth round picks (2012 and 2013). Henderson is familiar with Coach Fox, having played for him in his Senior Bowl appearance several years back.
Tampa also traded HB Felix Jones, sending him to Philadelphia, where he will provide Steve Slaton with some breathers as well as some short yardage muscle. Philly, in return, sends a 4th rounder this year and a 6th rounder in 2013 to the Bandits. The moves helped Tampa Bay move from being roughly $300,000 over the cap to just about $2M under the cap before the Week 10 deadline.
For Ohio, the issue was also cap space. They too were over the cap, in this case by about $150,000. Their decision was also to jettison a high cost contract for a receiver who has just not panned out. Ohio accepted a 4th round pick from the Denver Gold to sell off WR Anthony Gonzalez. The Ohio State product, signed by the Glory form the Territorial Draft has just not produced for the Glory. Denver is hoping that the tall, lanky receiver, can serve as a red zone target as well as a possible spot player when Peerless Price needs a breather.
One trade that did not happen, but was rumored by several sources, was a supposed deal to send Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson from Boston to Orlando. Johnson, who has become somewhat vocal about his declining targets and the general chaos we see in the post-Bledsoe Boston offense, was very much on the market, but it appears that receiver was not drawing the value that Boston wanted. Ocho Cinco will be a free agent at the end of this year, and, at this point seems unlikely to return to Boston, but it seems no team wanted to sign the player in a contract year and deal with negotiations. As a free agent, Johnson will almost certainly have some leverage, and more potential suitors than a trade would have offered.
FIVE TEAMS IN DIRE STRAIGHTS
We are six games from the end of the season and there are several teams whose realities are not in any way matching their expectations. Well, more than five, but these five are the most desperate at this point Several others, including New Jersey and Michigan, have recovered well from early disasters and are slowly restoring belief in their futures (if not their immediate presents). However, these five clubs are filling the season with disappointment, frustration, and a lot of calls for change at the top.
Jacksonville: Losers of 7 in a row, the Bulls were not expected to be among the leaders in the Southeast, but they were expecting to be better than this. Tim Tebow seems to be regressing as teams figure out his tendencies, and the defense is dead last, allowing 26 points per game and nearly 120 yards per game rushing. Yes, Mike Vrabel has been out with injury, but no defense can be a one man show. A win this week at home to New Jersey would be a welcome respite for Coach Frazier, as the fans in North Florida are getting more and more vocal about the direction of the club and its coaching staff.
Boston: Sitting at 1-8-1 after 10 weeks and with a rookie “superstar” QB who is struggling and just lost his starting job, the Cannons look like a team that is not retooling but forced to completely rebuild. Having a very vocal, very critical superstar in #85 on the roster certainly is not helping either. Coach Fox, who brought a title to Bean Town for the first time in the city’s pro football history, is not in any danger, but we could see some changes at the coordinator positions as Boston currently sits near the bottom in both offensive and defensive production. The Cannons are averaging only 13 points per game, but giving up 22. They had lost 6 in a row and the tie with Memphis this week is hardly going to calm the cries for heads to role.
Houston: What more can we say about a defending league champion that suffered very few personnel losses in the offseason and yet has lost 8 in a row and sits with the 3rd worst record in the league at 2-8? Houston is currently 25th in points allowed at nearly 25 per game, and their once dangerous offense is barely getting 17 points a game and has lost the balance that made them a contender and the 2010 champion. The defense got really old really fast, and now there are questions about whether or not Matt Hasselbeck will ever return under center as his rib injury is coming under more and more scrutiny as he keeps extending his injury designation. The fans still love Wade Phillips, but there are more and more calls out there for the GM position to be reevaluated.
Charlotte: The Monarchs at one point were sitting at 4-1, but now have lost 5 in a row, and the gambit to bring in Jake Delhomme as their new QB is not the coup it initially seemed. The Monarchs are not entirely out of the playoff scene, but they are falling fast behind a surging Tampa Bay and solid Orlando and Atlanta clubs. Many picked the Monarchs to overtake the Fire for first place this year, but right now they are just trying to figure out how to put together an offense with a QB who is not showing his pedigree and their star tailback on IR. Bringing in Shonn Greene seems like a positive step, but is it too little to make a difference for the Monarchs.
New Orleans: No doubt this is the biggest collapse we have seen in a long time. This was a club that was competing for the Southern Division the past two years, thought they had made an upgrade at QB with the Manning-Brees swap, but instead may have tanked the team chemistry and locker room. They have already fired their head coach and both coordinators, and it seems clear that they are headed for a major overhaul in 2012. Just who will survive to continue with the team is unknown, but it seems that a new leadership team will quickly have to assess if they want to essentially build a whole new club around Brees.
Week 10 brings us our first analysis of the playoff picture, and while it is too early for any teams to have locked up berths, we can say that New Orleans has become the first club eliminated, not surprising for an 0-10 team. As of Week 10 we see serious battles for the top seeds, with all three division leaders (and 2 more NE division teams) all sitting at 7-3. Philadelphia currently holds the tiebreakers for the #1 seed, but with a lot of NE Division infighting still to come, their position may be the most precarious of the 3 current division leaders. Tampa Bay holds a 1-game lead on Orlando, 2 over Atlanta, while Nashville has 2 games on Birmingham with no other real competition in the 4-team Southern Division.
In the West, Pittsburgh has the tiebreaker edge on Arizona with both sitting at 9-1 on the year. That is due to conference record, which could equalize as Arizona is only 1 game back in their total played. LA is 2 games behind both and may have to settle for the #3 seed if they can lock up the Pacific. The Maulers could be the first team to clinch a playoff spot since they now hold a 4-game lead over Michigan in the Central with only 6 to play. Arizona has 2 games on Texas, while LA is only 1 game ahead of Las Vegas in the Pacific.
Sitting just outside the playoff bubble right now are Atlanta and Birmingham in the East (both 1 game behind Orlando for the final spot) and Oakland, Michigan, and Seattle (all 1 game behind Denver and Las Vegas). Michigan has won 4 in a row to put themselves in the mix, and are the hottest of the border clubs, while Birmingham has lost 2 straight to drop back to the bubble.
Right now only New Orleans is eliminated, but 1 win Boston and 2-win Houston, Jacksonville, and Memphis need to make a move now or they will soon be added to that list.
A better week across the league, with no new IR designations and fewer mid-range injuries as well. Not a perfect, injury free week, but a good week. Among those not considering it a good we we find Oakland safety Pearson Prioleau, who dislocated his knee and could miss 2-4 weeks. New Jersey WR Michael Crabtree moved into the starting lineup after the trade of T. J. Houshmandzadeh and immediately paid the price, going down with a shoulder injury that could cost him 1 or 2 games.
Perhaps the biggest question mark is at QB in Arizona, where the Wranglers rebounded from their Week 9 loss, but may be without David Carr for at least 2 weeks after he fractured his collarbone during a violent sack in this week’s game. Expect to see Jim Sorgi under center for at least the next game.
Listed as doubtful for this week, but expected back for Week 12, we have TE Jimmie Graham (PIT), DT Sedrick Ellis (OAK), DE Julius Peppers (CHA), FS Shaunard Harts (BAL), and CB Rashad Bauman (CHI). Game time decisions will be the plan for several others including STL OT Brian Bulaga and QB Josh Freeman, Houston DT John McCargo, Jacksonville TE Jason Whitten, and Chicago TE Anthony Fasano.
Expected back in action are Bulls LB Mike Vrabel, Houston LB James Farrior, WSH FS Ed Reed, Nashville FB Peyton Hillis, LA CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, Birmingham QB Cam Newton, and Arizona FS Nate Allen.
USFL, the Thunder, and the City of Las Vegas Cut a Deal for Domed Stadium in Sin City
Some very intriguing news, and outstanding news for fans of the Las Vegas Thunder. This Wednesday, at a press conference held at city hall in Las Vegas, the city, the USFL, and the Las Vegas Thunder presented an agreement for a public/private partnership to build a new domed stadium just blocks from the famed Las Vegas strip. The venture will be headed by the city of Las Vegas, with significant financial backing from the Thunder and from the USFL itself. While all the details have not yet been released, it appears that the USFL will use some communal funding to sponsor up to 40% of the construction costs for the new facility, with the city designated to cover another 20% and the Thunder club the final 20%. In return, the USFL will be granted primary ownership of the facility, with plans to use the site for multiple Summer Bowls in addition to serving as the regular home to the Thunder.
The Thunder who have struggled with both capacity issues and frequent temperature extremes during their summer schedule at UNLV’s Sam Boyd Stadium, would acquire a new home that could seat as many as 66,000 people, fully enclosed in a comfortably climate-controlled environment. The USFL would have a quality venue in a tourism mecca to hold West Coast Summer Bowls on a regular basis, assuming some rotation with other venues such as U. of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale or the newer facilities in LA and Seattle.
When asked about shared use, the Mayor of Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman, stated that there are currently no plans for UNLV to use the larger facility, citing that the University prefers its current home for the time being. When pressed about usage of the facility, both Goodman and USFL representative Kelly Lomax (EVP and COO of the Memphis Showboats) stated that they will work closely with the NFL if there is interest in placing an NFL franchise in the city, but that at the present time, and with the agreement in place, the USFL and the Thunder would retain primary tenant status should either the NFL or UNLV decide to explore an option for facility use.
This news ends several years of uncertainty about the future of the Thunder in Las Vegas. Troubled by the limitations of Sam Boyd Stadium as well as the frequent delay of games due to excessive temperatures, the USFL and the Thunder have been looking for options for the franchise since their somewhat hasty relocation in 2004. The new facility, expected to be completed in time for the 2016 USFL season, provides an all-season, state-of-the-art facility for a franchise that has struggled financially since its sale and relocation. That the USFL was able to use league-wide reserve funds on the project points to the importance of the Las Vegas stadium not only to the Thunder, but to the league as well. There have been rumors for the past few years that the league would prefer to settle on a standard rotation of 3-4 Summer Bowl sites than to continue the practice of rotating among the 28 franchise locations. A domed stadium in Las Vegas would be one of the more attractive options for the league if they did desire to set up a limited rotation of facilities, with Met Life Stadium in New Jersey, Houston’s NRG Stadium, LA’s Farmers’ Insurance Field, Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, Detroit’s Ford Field, and Qwest Stadium in Seattle also considered front line facilities which might make the rotation as well.
So, while shovels will not hit earth for at least another year, the plans are shored up, the architects will now bid on the project and, with any luck, by Spring 2016 fans of the Thunder, and of their visiting opponents, will be able to enjoy midday football in Las Vegas without in a brand new facility kept at a very acceptable 72 degrees.
Is Orlando Considering a Miami Move?
That is the question many are asking after David Dizney was seen in Miami this weekend, dining with the lead investor of the Miami USFL LLC group, Ken Griffin, and former USFL and U. of Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger. Dizney was not available for comment, which has further fueled speculation that the Renegades could be contemplating a relocation to Miami-Dade County. That would be quite a shock to both the fans of the Renegades and to the Citrus Bowl, which has been working with the Renegades for the past 6 months on a lease extension.
So, what do we think of this meeting between Dizney and the Miami USFL contingent? Well, there are a few possible interpretations here. The one most have lept to is that Dizney is seriously thinking about cashing out after nearly 25 seasons as the owner of the Renegades and as a leader in the Orlando sports scene. This is, of course, what most Orlando sports fans fear, that the city that was to be the original home to the franchise would swoop in and reclaim the club. For those who may not remember the 1987 expansion, the Renegades were originally awarded to an investment group with the idea that the club would play at the Orange Bowl as a new Miami franchise, but when the stadium deal fell through, several of the members of the ownership group bailed on the project, allowing Dizney to step in and pick up the pieces, moving the club to Orlando, where a deal with the Citrus Bowl Stadium was more feasible.
So, is this the only possible interpretation? Not really. As much as it is viable that Dizney is interested in either selling the team to Miami USFL LLC, or perhaps bringing them in as part of a larger ownership group, based in Miami, the other possibility that has been floated is that Dizney is working, perhaps with the approval of the league’s main office, to entice the Miami group towards part ownership of the Orlando-based franchise, thus removing one potential relocation threat. That would certainly make Orlando fans happy, but would seem to defeat the purpose of the group forming to bring football to Miami in the first place.
One last possibility needs to be considered, because it is one we have seen before. Back in the early 2000’s (not that long ago, really), when St. Louis had a vacancy after the Knights jumped to Nashville, the Memphis Showboats used the threat of a relocation to the Gateway City to obtain something that cajoling and lobbying had failed to achieve, significant stadium improvements in Memphis. The club never relocated, but instead got a significant public buy-in to renovating the stadium for the Showboats. Could the Renegade leadership be using the potential of a Miami relocation to hold leverage over the Citrus Bowl and provide the club with a more favorable lease, perhaps even agreements for stadium enhancements. That is also a possible tactic that must be considered, though certainly that would not be one which would make Dizney any friends among the Miami USFL group.
It is too early to get a good sense of the direction this is heading, but it is certainly a sign that the instability and gamesmanship related to expansion and potential relocation of franchises is just now beginning to take effect. We expect any range of negotiations, feints, misdirections, and leverage moves to be implemented as long as there are cities and investors hoping to join the USFL club and current owners trying to get the best returns on their investments. Welcome to the business of football. It can be a nasty, fickle business like any other.
Breakers & Adidas Reveal 2012 Look
Just 2 weeks after the completion of the fan poll to decide New Orleans’s color scheme, Adidas this week revealed the new look for the Crescent City’s 2012 uniforms. The fan vote meant that the present Breaker Blue (teal) and Deep Ocean (Navy teal) combo would be retained. That meant that the helmets themselves would not feature any changes, but the uniforms are certainly a new look for the founding franchise.
The first things most fans are likely to notice is the new number font. The font uses two basic color elements, divided by an “empty space” in the form of a wave. On the Breaker Blue home jersey this means the bottom half of the player numbers are in Deep Ocean while the upper half is in white. On the whites, the division is between the two shades of teal.
This “split color” motif continues on all three pant sets, where a single thick stripe is divided by a surging wave pattern in the same color as the pants themselves. This creates a dual stripe, split horizontally. On the white set, the split is between the two teals, while on both the Breaker Blue and Deep Ocean options the other teal options is split with white. New Orleans will not wear a silver or grey set as the entire look downplays the use of the team’s third color in favor of the double teal emphasis. And yes, we are not going to leave the pants without mentioning the other very obvious addition. On the lower thigh of each leg the team’s secondary designation “NOLA” appears in bold white letters.
Back to the jerseys, there are two more features to highlight. Harkening back to their 1994 uniforms, which featured offset colors for the sleeves, the split color motif continues on the jersey sleeves. The Breaker Blue set features a white divider separating the white upper section of the sleeve from the lower Deep Ocean sleeve and cuff. On the white jersey the upper and lower are predictably the two teal variations, again with the darker “navy teal” at the base and on the cuff. Finally, the jerseys feature an oversided team name above the chest numbers. Not quite the width of the numbers themselves, the two tone “Breakers” in the team’s new font (again split color) highlights once again the emphasis on the twin tones, with silver all but absent from all elements of the look except limited use in the team logo on the helmet.
For fans of the original dual blue concept, throwback jersey and helmet options are available through both the USFL’s and the club’s online stores.
Most weeks we emphasize the divisional matchups, and often for good reason, but this week we think we should highlight some of the amazing interdivisional games on the slate, starting with Friday’s battle of division leaders. We have 7-3 Nashville in Pittsburgh to play the 9-1 Maulers. The game will feature two of the best defenses in the league as well as two of the better run games playing today.
On Saturday our favorite interdivisional game has the red hot Michigan Panthers, winners of 4 in a row, heading to Texas to take on the Outlaws, who just knocked off Arizona and are very much looking like a team on a mission. We finish up on Sunday with two teams on the playoff bubble fighting for their lives when the 5-5 Birmingham Stallions travel to Columbus to take on the 4-6 Ohio Glory.
And yes, there are also some important divisional rivalry games as well, such as Saturday night’s Orlando-Tampa Bay clash or the Sunday nightcap between the Federals and their everpresent rivals, the Baltimore Blitz. Throw in Oakland at Las Vegas and Portland v. Seattle and the Pacific is also going to see some fireworks this week. Do try to get some chores done between games, because the family will get angry if you just spend the whole weekend glued to the USFL. Not that we mind, but they might.
FRIDAY @ 8pm ET Nashville (7-3) @ Pittsburgh (9-1) NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET Philadelphia (7-3) @ Atlanta (5-5) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET Houston (2-8) @ Boston (1-8-1) FOX
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET Michigan (5-5) @ Texas (7-3) FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET Chicago (3-7) @ Arizona (9-1) ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET Portland (4-6) @ Seattle (5-5) FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm ET Orlando (6-4) @ Tampa Bay (7-3) ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET Memphis (2-7-1) @ New Orleans (0-10) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET New Jersey (3-7) @ Jacksonville (2-8) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET Birmingham (5-5) @ Ohio (4-6) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET Oakland (5-5) @ Las Vegas (6-4) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET St. Louis (4-6) @ Denver (6-4) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET Charlotte (4-6) @ Los Angeles (7-3) FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm ET Washington (7-3) @ Baltimore (7-3) EFN