At this point in the season we are just happy to see a week without any major stars going down to injury. The fact that we got several great games this weekend is just all that much sweeter because we did not get any season-shattering news. We saw Tampa Bay outlast Charlotte in a classic Bandit Ball shoutout. We had Las Vegas edge Jacksonville in a tight one. New Jersey put up an impressive performance at home. Arizona got past Houston in Houston with a late score. Philadelphia had a 4-TD day from Matt Gutierrez to in in the Super Dome, and the Express got back to winning ways with a tight one in Seattle. A lot of action, a lot of good games and important scores as teams jockey for position. We will recap it all, and then present some thoughts on the rookie class of 2012 and the coaches who may not be in charge by 2013.
CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 30 TAMPA BAY BANDITS 33
The current SE Division leader heads to Tampa Bay to face the 2012 SE Division and league champion as the Monarchs and Bandits clash. Tampa Bay came into this one at a surprising 5-5, while Charlotte, for other reasons, surprised many by coming into the game at 8-1. If the Bandits harbored any hopes of challenging for the division, they would need this win.
Tampa Bay would contend with Charlotte’s tenacious defense, trying to maximize the effectiveness of HB Willis McGahee and blend in the deep ball to receivers Joey Galloway, Santonio Holmes, and David Tyree. For Charlotte’s part, the game plan was to use the run to limit Tampa Bay possessions, passing through play action as Tampa Bay brought the safeties down to help defend against Fred Jackson and Shonn Greene. Both offenses on this day had success with their strategies, leading to a high scoring game as the defenses seemed to be a step behind the entire game.
The Bandits struck first, getting the opening kick after Charlotte deferred, and taking the ball down for a Santonio Holmes TD in a 12-play drive. Charlotte answered with a scoring drive of their own, theirs needing 14 plays and ending with Jake Delhomme finding Derrick Mason in the corner of the endzone. After one quarter it was 7-7 and we knew we were in for a dogfight.
The second quarter would see 34 points scored as both teams moved up and down the field with relative ease. Charlotte got a 2nd TD from Mason, then Tampa Bay scored on an interception return as Jake Delhomme had a ball tipped by his receiver and into the hands of Bryan Scott. But, Charlotte bounced right back with yet another TD drive as Delhomme found TE Garett Celek. A pair of field goals a brilliant 46-yard catch and run from McGahee meant that at the half we already had a shootout on our hands, the score tied up at intermission, 24-24.
The second half would not see nearly as many fireworks, but the intensity was definitely there as the two defenses finally started to win some matchups. Charlotte would get a pick and a turnover on downs, but could only add 3 points as the game went into the final period 27-24 for the visitors. Tampa would drive to end the 3rd and early in the 4th would again equalize the score at 27. Both teams now were fighting for every inch, trying all the could to try to stack first downs after each other. The result of the back and forth struggle was that the quarter became a battle of field position an kickers. After Tampa Bay equalized the score at 14:49, Charlotte again took a lead at 7:06, 30-27. Tampa Bay would use up a lot of clock getting into position to tie the game again at 30, but left themselves only 1:18.
The thought for most watching was the the Bandits would settle to have the game go to overtime. But, Charlotte did not settle for a few inside runs and a shot at overtime. Coach Mora clearly felt that the best shot for the visiting Monarchs was to win the game in regulation. And so, as the clock ticked down, Charlotte kept risking the ball in the air. On a 2nd and 7 Delhomme connected with Hakeem Nicks, but as he was tackled by Idris Basheer, the corner was able to swipe at the ball and it popped loose. Patrick Robinson of the Bandits was there to fall on it, and now it was Tampa Bay’s chance to try to end the game in their favor in overtime.
The Bandits, with 2 time outs left, were able to make use of the whole field. Culpepper connected over the middle with Jared Cook, then a quick out to Galloway before a swing pass to McGahee, his 5th catch of the day, put the ball in range for Nate Kaeding. As time ticked down, Tampa Bay position the ball for Kaeding, eventually bringing him in with the ball on the 22-yardline. The kick was good as soon as it was struck and the fans in Tampa Bay celebrated as the Bandits improved to 6-5, stayed alive in the playoff hunt, and pulled within 2 games of the division-leading Monarchs.
BALTIMORE 23 NEW JERSEY 40
Sam Bradford has one of his best games as a pro, going 18 of 30 for 322 yards and 3 touchdowns as New Jersey gets a huge home win to move into 3rd place and stay in solid Wild Card territory. Michael Crabtree was a huge factor for the Generals as he caught 7 passes for 147 yards and a score. Jevon Kearse also recorded his first sack as a General after coming over in trade.
ST. LOUIS 28 NASHVILLE 19
Peyton Manning had another solid game but another loss for the Knights as his 2-TD, 22 of 33 game was just not enough to overcome Josh Freeman’s 279 yard, 3 TD day. St. Louis also got 159 yards and a TD form the combo of Antowain Smith and James Ridley, but the big star of the day was slot receiver Eric Weems, who caught 4 balls, with 3 being Freeman TD passes.
LAS VEGAS 19 JACKSONVILLE 16
The Thunder put aside the rumors about their ownership and focus on a tough road game in Jacksonville. The Bulls sacked Jake Plummer 5 times and held Cedric Benson to only 29 yards rushing with Marshawn Lynch unavailable. But, even with that it was not enough as Las Vegas got a late Jeff Reed 52-yard field goal to earn the W and retain their share of first place in the Pacific Division.
ARIZONA 27 HOUSTON 20
Arizona needed this one, and they got it thanks to a late Carr to Gronkowski TD toss. Carr survived a tough day, shaking off 6 sacks to get the game winner in the final minute of play. Houston drops to 6-5 and Arizona climbs to 5-6 with this result, tightening up the SW Division even more.
ATLANTA 13 OAKLAND 23
A nice game from much maligned HB Ryan Williams as the back rushed for 111 yards on only 11 carries, a 10.1 YPC average. Oakland also got a lot of help from their defense which forced 4 interceptions on the day, including a rare Terrell Suggs pick-six, as the linebacker, who usually is blitzing on the edge, dropped into coverage and snagged an errant Kyle Orton pass, taking it to the house.
CHICAGO 21 PITTSBURGH 35
The Maulers are hoping that this division win is a sign that their momentum is back. 2nd year QB Andy Dalton looked really strong, completing 16 of 24 passes for 228 yards and 3 TDs as the Maulers turned a 14-14 tie into a 35-14 lead over the course of 2 quarters. Ronnie Brown had 2 TD runs and Vincent Jackson also scored twice as the Maulers move to 6-5 and send Chicago down to 5-6.
PHILADELPHIA 28 NEW ORLEANS 21
A huge 4-TD day from Matt Gutierrez helped propel Philadelphia to a hard-fought win over the Breakers in the Super Dome. The Game was knotted up in the 4th on a Brandon LaFell TD catch, but Gutierrez found Daniel Fells for the game winner with less than a minute left to get the Stars their 8th win and keep them right on pace with Washington in the NE Division.
DENVER 21 BOSTON 16
The Gold get a win they really needed as they visit Boston. Both Murray and Hicks rushed for scores as they combined for 94 yards on a whopping 37 carries. Boston saw Jake Locker knocked out of action and Adrian McPherson suffered 4 sacks and threw a pick in his first action in several weeks. All this happened in front of only 16,202 fans as Boston has switched from angry protest to walking away from the club that is in its last season at Alumni Stadium.
ORLANDO 6 BIRMINGHAM 21
Orlando just cannot get anything going as Eli Manning is sacked 5 times and gives up a costly pick 6 to DeMeco Ryans. Birmingham scored 21 points with that defensive TD, 4 field goals and a safety as Manning was sacked in the endzone early in the game. That makes 8 consecutive losses for the Renegades and growing calls for Emmitt Thomas to be let go.
WASHINGTON 23 MEMPHIS 3
Memphis was simply a speedbump to Washington’s 9th win of the year. Ryan Mallett was able to go, but completed only 10 of 25 passes for a total of 74 yards as Washington just shut down all Memphis offense. The crowd openly booed the squad throughout the game. Deion Branch was the standout for the Feds, catching 6 balls for 129 yards and a score.
TEXAS 23 OHIO 16
Ohio drops their 2nd in a row to fall to 4-7 on the year as Texas gets 3 TDs and 283 yards from Luke McCown, adding a huge 146 yards on the ground from Arian Foster as they outlast the Glory and claim an 8th win, keeping them now 2 games up in the SW Division with Houston’s loss to Denver.
MICHIGAN 7 PORTLAND 24
Portland improves to 6-5 and stays alive in the Wild Card hunt as they get 17 unanswered points to open the game,. Jonathan Stewart went over 100 yards for the first time since Week 2, and Ryan Fitzpatrick goes 20 for 30 on a good day for the Stags. Michigan again could do nothing on the ground, with Ciatrick Fason leading all Panther rushers with only 18 yards on the day.
LOS ANGELES 21 SEATTLE 19
LA wins their 4th game in 5 tries as they get the upper hand on the 3-8 Dragons. A 4th quarter TD form Sanchez to L. J. Smith gave them a 21-16 lead in the 4th and Coach Lewis oddly went for 3 with 5 minutes left, rather than go for a 4th and 3 play from the LA 22 yard line. Fans were not happy with that call to be sure.
The Hot Seat is Heating Up
Eleven weeks in and it is clear that not everyone is living up to their expected potential. That is often the killer statement that can mean the end of a coaching tenure. It is one thing to be on a team with low expectations and to meet those standards, but when there are real expectations for a playoff run and the team spirals downward instead, that can end up pretty poorly for even a veteran head coach. As we look around the USFL after this 11th of 16 weeks, we see five coaches who may very well be coaching for their jobs over the final 5 weeks of the regular season. Here is our look at 5 men who are likely looking over their shoulder and wincing every time they see the GM’s number on their phones.
Emmitt Thomas—ORL
When Emmitt Thomas took over the Renegades in 2005, many viewed him as a short term replacement, likely to last 2-3 years before the team went after a bigger name. He has now been with the team for 8 seasons, and he has had a modicum of success, making the playoffs in both 2007 and 2009, but after two consecutive 8-win seasons and two years without a playoff appearance, despite the presence of a bonafide superstar in Calais Campbell, and a trade that brought Eli Manning to the club, this year’s 2-9 record has to almost guarantee that a change would be made. This was a club that was picked by most to be either 1st or 2nd in the SE Division and by nearly all assessments now is expected to finish last. We place the heat under Coach Thomas about about 210 degrees. Two more and we hit the boiling point and the steam turns to a pink slip.
Marvin Lewis-SEA
At 10 seasons, Marvin Lewis is one of the longest tenured coaches in the USFL. The fact that he took a 6-8 Dragon squad through three straight road games to win a league title in 2005 is certainly not forgotten. Nor is the fact that he made a run of 6 playoff seaosns in a row with Seattle. But, and it is a big but, the Dragons have not made the postseason since 2008, a 4 year run that would almost certainly end the tenures of most coaches. With 3 straight 7-win seasons, Seattle has been on the cusp, and many hoped they would get back to playoff football this year, but they now sit squarely in the basement of the Pacific Division at 3-8, and a playoff berth would be a near miracle at this point. Whether through resignation or firing, we think the time has come for Lewis to ply his trade elsewhere. We put his temperature at about 200, 12 degrees from boiling, but only because he can show off that John Bassett Trophy in Seattle’s offices.
Gregg Williams—LA
Williams was brought in to LA to do two things, build a defense, and win playoff games. He has done both, with the Express boasting a Top 10 defense in both yards and points allowed, and with a Wild Card victory last season propelling them to the Divisional round, LA’s first playoff appearance since 2007. But the problem is that the team is both hard to watch, mostly due to a lackluster offense, and started the year 0-6, which put a sour taste in everyone’s mouth. We think Williams has a chance to stick around, especially having won 4 of the past 5. If they can reach 8-8 or even 7-9, we don’t think Williams will be let go, but having already seen the chaos that Randy Moss’s critiques produced, a 10-loss season could well spell the end for Williams’s short tenure in LA. The fans want to enjoy their team, and even winning games 13-10 is not really what they had in mind. We are going to say that the situation in LA is an uncomfortable but potentially salvageable 140 degrees in the shade.
Bart Andrus-OHIO
Andrus came to Columbus with the unenviable task of replacing a legend, 2-time Summer Bowl champion Al Luginbill. He was charged with reimagining what Ohio football meant, bringing a defensive mindset to the club that had become a dominant offensive force with Collins, George, and Galloway leading the way. He has yet to be able to find a QB to help move Ohio ahead, and now, after 5 straight losing seasons, the clock appears to be ticking. Unless Ohio can show signs of having potential for a viable offense, the patience Ohio fans and management have shown, could soon be gone. We are going to say that the heat around Andrus is somewhere in the range of 160-180 degrees. Not enough to cook his goose immediately, but eventually unless he can find ways to cool things off.
John Fox-Boston/Dallas
In his 11th season with the franchise (beginning in Atlanta, then a very good run in Boston), Fox saw the Cannons rise from a non-factor into a regular playoff contender, and eventually to a league champion only 3 years ago. But since then, and with some pretty noteworthy retirements, the club has clearly declined. From 7-9 in 2010, to a horrid 1-14-1 season last year and now they sit mired in last place in the NE Division at 3-8 and still no sense that they have an answer.
Fox does not deserve all the blame. The GM is the one who invested heavily in Jake Locker, an investment which has just not paid off, but as the glory of winning a title often goes too much to the head coach, the stench of failure also tends to hang around him. We think Fox, despite the 2009 league title, is very likely going to be out, in no small part because the team has been sold, will be moved once again, now to Dallas, and the new ownership is going to want to put their stamp on this team, a stamp that is easier to define if they bring in a new head coach for a new start. We think the temperature here is already boiling over, just because the pot is getting moved and there is a new chef in the kitchen.
Rookie Of the Year Race is a Tight One
Nearly three months into the 2012 season and we are seeing a pretty close race for Rookie of the Year, with several players making good cases to be be recognized. As with all rookies we are seeing many players step up and show potential, then fade back the next week. Consistency, and the long wear and tear of backing a full NCAA season with a USFL season do tend to limit the effectiveness of rookies, but each year we see some stand out, and that is no different this year. Here is our list of the top performing rookies in the 2012 USFL season.
Justin Blackmon-WR-BOS
The likely frontrunner, Blackmon has been a bright spot in a pretty dark season for Boston. The OK State rookie leads all Cannon receviers with 74 catches and 918 yards. Almost assured of reaching the 1,000 yard threshold, Blackmon has been a reliable option for Coach Fox and will almost certainly be used to attract fans when the club relocates to Dallas.
Luke Kuechley-LB-BOS
The Cannons certainly hit on the draft this year. LB Luke Kuechley from BC has been lined up between Chris Claiborne and Dat Nguyen all season, and is doing well overall. He still struggles with pass coverage, but his speed has helped him cover for assignment errors. He is currently 2nd on the team with 60 tackles and has2 forced fumbles as well.
Lamar Miller-HB-JAX
The Bulls were hoping Miller could step in and take on the bulk of the early down carries, freeing up C. J. Spiller to be more of a pass-catching threat and 3rd down back. That is exactly what they have gotten form the bigger back. Miller currently has 161 carries to Spiller’s 75, and while his 3.6 YPC average is not ideal, his 578 yards and 5 TDs lead all rookie backs.
Bobby Wagner-LB-OAK
Wagner has teamed up with Terrell Suggs to form a potent 1-2 combo in the LB group. While Suggs tends to lurk around the line of scrimmage and blitz the QB, Wagner is the LB spy, watching out for cutback runs or providing middle zone coverage against TEs and back out of the backfield. He is second to Suggs with 54 tackles and has an impressive 6 forced fumbles this season.
Vontez Burfict-LB-TEX
A late-round gem, Burfict has moved from a spot player to a regular in the LB group alongside Jonathan Moulton and Chad Greenway. His 44 tackles are solid, but it is his 6 sacks that have impressed Outlaw coaches. He has proven to be a very effective blitzer in both run blitzes and on passing downs.
Isaiah Pead-HB-OHI
Pead came on strong enough early on that Ohio felt comfortable trading away DeMarco Murray at midseason. With that move, his 479 yards are currently tops for the Glory, and with a solid 4.1 YPC average, Pead is looking very much like he could be the clear starter going into 2013.
Olivier Vernon-DE-STL
Paired with Adrian Clayborn, Vernon has become one of the stars of a much-improved Skyhawks defense. He is second to Clayborn with 7 sacks on the year, and has also contributed against the run. A 10+ sack season is not out of the question.
Dre Kirkpatrick-CB-MGN
Kirkpatrick has been very solid for the Panthers, third on the team with 56 tackles and has 3 picks for Michigan as well. He still struggles with some zone responsibilities but has been very strong in man coverage.
Talk of Retirement for Several USFL Starting QBs
With five weeks left in the season, one of the interesting debates around the league surrounds an aging cohort of quarterbacks and whether or not this offseason will see a major generational shift. That could be bad timing as the 2013 draft class is not one that appears to offer much help at the QB position, but it is rare that a player looks at the draft as a factor in their decision to play another year or call it a career. Looking across the USFL, we have 6 teams with starting QBs at or over 35 years of age. How this season is faring and the prospects for each team in the near future may well determine which decide to stick around and who opts to retire as 2012 wraps up.
Looking around these 6 teams, we have players who are having strong seasons and whose teams are very much looking like potential playoff contenders. That includes Jake Delhomme in Charlotte, who has his team atop the Eastern Conference and looking very much like a postseason favorite. We also have a resurgence for Houston and their veteran, Matt Hasselbeck. Daunte Culpepper and Tampa Bay are competitive, but there has been some commentary that the veteran QB is just not the same player as in past years. The same type of commentary is being said about Michigan QB Brian Griese, who just does not seem to have the same athleticism as before his 2010 injury.
Jake Plummer in Las Vegas has certainly slowed down from his youthful disregard for personal safety and wild scrambling, but he does have Las Vegas performing well, and with new weapons like Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh, the Thunder offense is looking stronger than in recent years. Finally, we have Kurt Warner, who was playing at MVP level the past few seasons, but whose spinal column injury and subsequent surgery puts a lot of doubt on his future. Even if he is able to recover this offseason and could viably return to the game, better judgement may be to step away and avoid a more serious, possibly debilitating injury.
If we had to lay odds on who may step away this year, we would place Warner at the top of the list, followed by Griese, Culpepper, and possibly Jake Plummer. Of course if any of these QB’s were to win a Summer Bowl, there is also a temptation to go out on top, certainly not unheard of in pro circles. So, will it be 1-2 vacancies or will we see a wave of retirement announcements? Only time and press conferences post Week 16 will tell us.
While no playoff spots have been locked up, we do have our first eliminations of the season, with 2-9 Orlando and 2-9 Memphis both officially eliminated from playoff contention. Both now sit 5 games behind 6th place New Jersey, but even if either were to go 5-0 down the stretch, the combination of other matchups means that at least 6 teams would rank ahead of them and thus they are eliminated.
Things are tighter in the West, where even 3-8 Seattle still remains within striking distance of 6th place (currently 6-5 Houston). Among the divisions, Washington, Charlotte, and New Orleans all sit 1 game ahead of the 2nd place team, while in the West Texas has a 2-game lead over Houston, St. Louis has a 2game lead over Pittsburgh, and the Invaders and Thunder are tied up a 7-4, with Oakland holding the tiebreaker thanks to a 5-2 division record. Portland, Houston and Pittsburgh are all 6-5 and battling over 2 Wild Card spots. In the East Atlanta and New Jersey have spots 5 and 6, and are a game up on the two 6-5 clubs, Tampa Bay and Baltimore, but clearly there is a lot left to be decided.
A couple of noteworthy shorter-term injuries as both Chad Johnson and Fred Jackson are expected to miss at least 1-2 weeks due to Week 11 injuries. Fortunately, the roster of the USFL’s IR has not been expanded this week, which is always a positive. Here are the newly reported injuries for Week 12’s games.
OUT
Victor Cruz WR PIT Back 4-6 Weeks
Josh Liberious G PHI Shoulder 4-6 Weeks
Antoine Caldwell C BOS Back 2-4 Weeks
Chris Kelsay DE ATL Knee 2-4 Weeks
Fred Jackson HB CHA Shoulder 1-2 Weeks
Jason Babin DE BOS Thigh 1-2 Weeks
Chad Johnson WR LV Elbow 1-2 Weeks
Jake Locker QB BOS Groin 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
Garrett Celek TE CHA Ribs
Terell Owens WR BIR Shoulder
Grant Irons LB LA Hamstring
LaRon Landry SS NSH Toe
Monsanto Pope DT ARZ Foot
QUESTIONABLE
Dre Kirkpatrick CB MGN Illness
Chad Rinehart OT HOU Illness
Peyton Hillis FB NSH Concussion
USFL Celebrates Best DB Seasons With Top 5 All-Time Revealed
The USFL has released another Top 5 Seasons list, this time focusing on the DB’s, and this one is likely to be significantly more controversial because there are so many ways to define whether a DB is successful. It seems clear that interceptions were a huge factor, but so were tackles, and even scoring, so this one could be wide open. Here are the 5 names that the USFL panel has given us to discuss.
1997 FS Elbert Shelley (TEX)
There was no doubt that Shelley would be on this list. His 1997 came out of nowhere and was for all intents and purposes the sports equivalent of a 1-hit wonder. Shelley played 12 seasons in the USFL, all with Texas, but never topped 5 picks in any season, but something happened in 1997 and it just seemed like the ball kept bouncing into his hands. He would score on two pick-sixes among his 10 interception but also recorded one of his lowest tackle numbers of his career, in part because teams just stopped throwing his way.
1990 CB Raphel Cherry (LA)
The 1996 Hall of Famer is a name you might also expect to see on this list. His 9 picks in 1990 remains the 2nd highest total in league history, and it was paired with 100 tackles in that season with the Express. Cherry, unlike Shelley, strung together several top tier seasons, topping 5 picks in 3 other seasons. He also regularly was among the league leaders in tackles for a cornerback, but it was his 1990 season that stands at the top of a HOF career.
1998 FS Darren Woodson (NOR)
This is the first one where we all looked at each other with a bit of surprise. Yes, Woodson had 9 picks in 1998, but if we were going to put a Woodson on this list, it would have been current Fire CB Charles and not FS Darren. Nine picks is certainly a strong number, tied with Cherry for 2nd all time, but looking across the rest of his numbers, there just is not a lot of there there, and for a team that finished the year 6-10, we are just not sure what the focus is here.
1999 CB Patrick Surtain (PIT)
We love Patrick Surtain, even though he has never been a huge INT guy. He is unafraid to hit, unafraid to take on anyone from a speedy slot receiver to a bulky TE, and he is an outstanding tackler. That is why he is on this list, because his 4 picks in 1999 certainly would not do it. However, when you set a league record with 124 tackles from the cornerback position in a season, you deserve to be recognized. Yes, his hands have on occasion failed, him, but his ability to take on backs, ends, receivers, and even the occasional lineman, well that is worthy of recognition.
1996 CB Chris Snyder (MGN)
It took us a minute to understand why Snyder’s 8-Interception season in 1996 made the list, but once we saw it, we could not unsee it. Snyder in this season had 8 picks and returned 4 of them for scores. That is both a league record and an impressive feat for any defender. Snyder had an up and down career, with several questionable seasons, landing over 5 picks on only 1 other occasion, but his 1996 season was absolutely a highlight reel of a year.
So there is the list. And yes, we absolutely recognize that there are some big names that we are surprised to see missing. Where is Troy Polamalu, for example? Or Ed Reed? And what about Hall of Famers like William Cesare, Donald Dykes, Frederick Wilder, Bennie Blades, LeRoy Butler, Philippi Sparks, Aeneas Williams, or Bruce Pickens? That is 8 players who were deemed among the best to ever play the game, and yet they do not get highlighted for an outstanding season? Seems odd to us.
League to investigate Las Vegas Finances
With the USFL having to pony up nearly 20% of Las Vegas’s initial stadium funding, a total of nearly $30M, some major questions are now being asked of the Thunder and their ownership. We learned this week that both the State of Nevada and the USFL league office is now asking to review the financials behind the Thunder ownership group. Concerns that the investment group led by Casino developer Phil Ruffin, have inflated their portfolios and overreported their accessible resources could lead to both legal action and significant league action.
Ruffin and his group signed on to a deal for the new strip-adjacent domed stadium in Las Vegas, with a pledge to cover 30% of the estimated $900M construction cost, but now are pleading that they are unable to access the funds needed for just the initial $140M. The USFL was obligated to cover that pledged funding, causing the league to divert nearly $30M from its reserve to the project, this after putting in an initial $200M just a year ago. This does not sit well with anyone in the league, and there is growing discord among owners as they explore options with Ruffin’s group. An audit will be the first step, and if they do discover instability and inaccuracy in the reporting of the Thunder group’s portfolio, there could be significant fallout. Of course, the biggest question could well be whether or not the league is forced to either abandon the project, which would itself come with a major penalties, or potentially abandon the Thunder, meaning that the USFL might well build a brand new stadium in Las Vegas only to have no team to place there.
Memphis Introduces Revamped Look for 2013
The Memphis Showboats, who appear to be on the fast track to the #1 draft pick in 2013 may be in disarray on the field, but they are looking to their future as they partner with Adidas to reveal their new uniform design for 2013. Like Michigan before them, the Showboats are more ‘tweaking” or “updating” a familiar look than making sweeping overhauls. The basic elements remain very much the same, a combination of scarlet red and silver sky blue, though the amount of black in use is dramatically reduced, appearing only in some logos and not in the uniform at all.
There is definitely a bit of a retro feel with this look as Memphis brings back several elements of earlier uniform designs, including the thin red single stripe on the pants and the use of silver sky sleeves on both the scarlet and white jerseys. The secondary logo “Showboat M” and the wordmark that depicts a paddlewheeler within the team’s name are also both in use on the uniforms. The number font remains a thin non-serif font with drop shadows. The team is introducing a white pant set to go alongside the silver sky pants they have worn since the late 1980’s. The white look will largely be worn with the white jerseys later in the season when the heat and humidity of Memphis can become significant challenges. The new look will be first worn in preseason of 2013 as Memphis has been eliminated from the playoffs and any potential reveal during the postseason.
Looking at the Week 13 slate, we are just excited by the possibilities. We kick it all off on Friday Night with the greatest of all USFL rivalries as New Jersey visits Philadelphia, down 1 game to the Stars and 2 behind the Feds in the NE Division.
On Saturday we get some “do or die” games, including 5-6 Chicago at 4-7 Birmingham, 6-5 Houston headed to Washington, 6-5 Portland in Texas, and 6-5 Tampa Bay with another tough divisional game in Atlanta.
Sunday brings us an intriguing game between New Orleans and Pittsburgh, and a Sunday night matchup with St. Louis having to head to the desert for a game against the Wranglers. Arizona, like Denver (who host Michigan) need a win to reach .500 and stay relevant in the Western Wild Card hunt.
FRIDAY @ 8PM ET New Jersey (7-4) @ Philadelphia (8-3) NBC
SAT @ 12PM ET Chicago (5-6) @ Birmingham (4-7) ABC
SAT @ 12PM ET Oakland (7-4) @ Ohio (4-7) ABC
SAT @ 12PM ET Houston (6-5) @ Washington (9-2) FOX
SAT @ 4PM ET Portland (6-5) @ Texas (8-3) ABC
SAT @ 4PM ET Los Angeles (4-7) @ Las Vegas (7-4) FOX
SAT @ 8PM ET Tampa Bay (6-5) @ Atlanta (7-4) ESPN/EFN
SUN @ 12PM ET Jacksonville (5-6) @ Orlando (2-9) ABC
SUN @ 12PM ET Seattle (3-8) @ Charlotte (8-3) FOX
SUN @ 12PM ET Memphis (2-9) @ Nashville (4-7) FOX
SUN @ 4PM ET New Orleans (5-6) @ Pittsburgh (6-5) ABC
SUN @ 4PM ET Baltimore (6-5) @ Boston (3-8) ABC
SUN @ 4PM ET Michigan (4-7) @ Denver (5-6) FOX
SUN @ 8PM ET St. Louis (8-3) @ Arizona (5-6) ESPN/EFN