A big week for rivalry games as St. Louis sent a crushing blow to the predicted Central Champs, Pittsburgh, thus assuring themselves of the title. Nashville and Birmingham clashed, with the winner the team in the best position to oust New Orleans from the top spot in the South. Baltimore would go to Philly, hoping to stay relevant in a very contentious NE Division, and, in perhaps one of the best inter-conference games on the slate all season, the 9-3 Charlotte Monarchs would head out to the West Coast to face the Pacific Division-leading Oakland Invaders. Oakland would get the W but potentially at great cost as they lose Joey Harrington to a hamstring injury, possibly for the rest o the regular season. We will look at all the stories that came out of this exciting Week 13, and take a look at what Week 14 could bring. Right here, on This Week in the USFL.
NASHVILLE KNIGHTS 19 BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 12
Two teams on the edge of the Wild Card hunt, both a game behind division-leading New Orleans. The winner will keep pace, while the loser finds themselves at 5-8 and very likely out of the running. That was the scene in Birmingham when the Stallions and Knights clashed in a Southern Division tilt. Birmingham had won two in a row, knocking off both Orlando and Chicago to claw their way back into the conversation in the South. Nashville halted a 3-game losing streak with Peyton Manning’s first USFL win last week vs. Memphis, and now they were hoping to get on track to stake a claim for the Southern Division title. They would see New Orleans twice in the final 3 weeks, but first they had another division rival to deal with, the Stallions.
This would not be a high scoring game, nor one where Peyton Manning could show off his arm, throwing for only 163 yards on the day. Cam Newton for Birmingham would fare a bit better with 221 yards, but would also throw two costly picks in this game. It was a game for the defenses, with the two teams combining to go 8 for 28 on third down and fewer than 600 combined yards.
The game started with 3 straight three-and-outs as neither team showed much offensive cohesion early in the game. That would change with Nashville’s 2nd drive, one in which they relied heavily on the combination of Franke Gore and Montario Hardesty to keep the chains moving. The two would combine for 7 rushes in a 10-play drive. With the ball eventually on the 1-yard line after a DPI call in the endzone, the threat of the run was enough to freeze the linebackers, making it possible for Manning to find Robert Meachem in the back of the endzone for the game’s first points.
Birmingham would get on the board 6 minutes later, but not from their offense, which continued to struggle. A solid punt from Stallion Bryan Anger pinned the Knights at their own 2-yard line. On 1st and 10 from there, the Stallions blitzed both middle linebackers, confusing the blocking scheme of the Knights and forcing a safety as LB Nate Webster got to Frank Gore in the endzone.
Birmingham would get the ball at the 50 after the free kick, but on the first play from scrimmage Cam Newton would force a ball towards Terrell Owens, but it would end up with CB Duane Starks instead. Nashville got their first takeaway and they cashed in on it, adding to their lead with a 49-yard Kai Forbath kick.
With the score Nashville 10, Birmingham 2 at the half, both teams tried to rile up their troops at the half. Birmingham had only put together 4 first downs in the first half, while Nashville had fared better, but still was making too many mistakes for Coach Johnson to feel confident at the half. The Knights would get the opening kick of the 2nd half, and they would show a new focus to start the 3rd quarter.
It would take Nashville only 7 plays to cross the 72 yards from the kickoff to the endzone. Peyton Manning connected with Denarius Moore for a 23-yarder to start the drive. Hardesty found room on a pitch left to run for 14, and on 1st and goal from the 7, Manning hit Moore again, this time for 7. Well, it would have been 7, but Forbath’s kick clanked off the left upright, leaving Nashville with a 16-2 lead.
Birmingham had to respond. They were now down 2 scores and had yet to put a single point on the board with their offense. Joseph Addai had been held to only 22 yards in the first half, but he was fed the ball 4 times on this drive, gaining 21 yards on the play. That plus a nice catch from Moss, put the ball on the Nashville 38-yard line, first and 10. On the new set of downs, Cam Newton began the series with a play fake to Addai, but with pressure from the outside closing in, he quickly opted to keep the ball and dash up the middle. Newton put a nice move on Hillenmeyer, and then had a pretty clear run the 38 yards to the endzone. A nice block by Ahmad Merrit got him the final yards needed, and just like that Birmingham was on the board and within 7, 16-9.
Nashville would build on their lead, again bumping it to a 2-score game, thanks to a Forbath field goal, and with 12:34 left to play, they led 19-9. But Birmingham had found some success on offense, and they had the crowd behind them. They would march the ball down to the Nashville 5 yard line, but on 3rd and 2 from the 5, a false start pushed them back to the 10. Newton tried to hit Randy Moss in the endzone, but his pass was too low and Moss could not reach it before it grazed the turf. They would settle for a 27-yard chipshot and bring the game to a 7-point margin again, and with 6:03 left, they had time to kick the ball deep, play defense, and get a shot at a game-tying drive.
That is exactly what the Stallions did. The Knights got stuffed on the run on 1st and 2nd down, and when Manning went back to pass on 3rd and 9, Derrick Harvey broke outer containment and wrapped up Manning before he could get a pass off. Birmingham would get the ball back with just about 4 minutes left on the clock, trailing by 7.
Nashville knew that there was more than enough time, so a prevent defense would not make sense. They had also learned on the last drive, that pressuring Newton from the outside could leave them vulnerable in the middle of the field. They would opt to rush only 4 (3 linemen and 1 backer) on each play, and to mix blanket 2- and 3-deep coverages to keep Newton guessing if he opted to put the ball up.
On the first two plays, he did just that, settling for dump off passes to Addai and Ayanbedejo. On third down he would scramble to make up the ground needed and get a first down at his own 33. With a new set of downs, Coach Shanahan wanted to take a shot. He called a play fake to Addai and had Randy Moss on a hook & go route, hoping to catch the tight zone coverage by surprise and get their home run hitter open on the sideline. The play could have worked, Moss’s double move had been effective, but by the time he got away from Starks, Newton was already feeling pressure from DT Shaun Rogers and DE Mario Addison. He tried to shift to his left and hit TE Julian Thomas across the middle, but his elbow was hit as he threw. Instead of finding Thomas, the ball fluttered up into the air and right into the arms of MLB Hunter Hillenmeyer.
Nashville would roll down the clock, with Manning eventually taking a knee to end it. Nashville would move to 6-7 and only 1 game behind New Orleans with the Breakers up next on the schedule. Birmingham would drop to 5-8, and now could only hope that Nashville and New Orleans would each cost each other a loss. The Stallions were out of Wild Card contention, so their only hope was for them to win out and have both the Knights and Breakers drop 2 games over the next 3 weeks.
LAS VEGAS 24 SEATTLE 13
With Marvin Lewis announcing he will step down in Seattle and with Byron Leftwich now on IR, it is no surprise that the Dragons came out flat against the Thunder, or that only 21,274 showed up in Seattle on a rainy Sunday to watch the game. Jake Plummer connected on 2 TD passes and Marshawn Lynch added another as the Thunder olled and move to their big matchup with Oakland this week.
NEW ORLEANS 24 ORLANDO 9
The Breakers move a game over .500, setting up a huge game against Nashville this week, with a solid win over a lackluster Orlando squad that is just playing out the string. Drew Brees threw for 315 and 3 scores, with Brandon LaFell having a big game with 135 yards, but Early Doucett nabbing 2 TDs as well. For Orlando, Knowshon Moreno looked solid, rushing for 106, and Calais Campbell sat this one out, nursing an injury.
ATLANTA 24 JACKSONVILLE 17
A huge week for Atlanta as they knock the Bulls out of playoff contention and then leapfrog Charlotte into 1st place. Josh Reed came up big against the Bulls with 131 yards and a score, while the defense just shut down the Jacksonville run game, holding rookie Lamar Miller to a disappointing 14 yards on 9 carries.
WASHINGTON 10 TAMPA BAY 24
We think we might have jinxed the Feds with our story about their win streak in last week’s recap. They came up against a motivated Bandit squad in Raymond James Stadium and they fell pretty hard. Philip Buchanon inspired the Bandit troops with an early pick-6 of David Garrard and Willis McGahee shredded the Feds for 156 combined yards (81 rushing and 75 receiving) as the Bandits move to 7-6 and stay alive in the playoff hunt, while Washington now pulls to only 1 game over Philadelphia, despite locking up a playoff spot this week.
DENVER 22 PORTLAND 7
The Gold make it three weeks in a row as they move to 7-6 and right into the heart of the playoff hunt with a big win over an inconsistent Stags club. Hicks & Murray combine for 160 yards on the ground and the Gold defense forces two big Stag turnovers, both in the Denver red zone in a huge win for Denver as they look to turn around the season late.
CHARLOTTE 17 OAKLAND 24
The clash of division leaders ends with mixed results for Oakland. They get the win and hold their spot atop the Pacific, while also sending Charlotte tumbling from 1st place to a Wild Card spot in the Southeast. But, at the same time, they may have lost their starting QB at a vital time of the season, with Joey Harrington going out in the 2nd quarter, downed by a hamstring injury that will cost him at least 1 week, but could require he rest until the postseason. Pat White did well in relief, with 2 TD passes, and will get the nod in Week 14 action.
TEXAS 13 HOUSTON 22
Another upset and a huge win for the Gamblers as they knock off Texas and tighten up the SW division. Houston held Luke McCown to only 12 of 27 passing and kept Arian Foster to only 2.5 YPC on the day as the defense did their job. The offense was huge too, with Shaun Alexander scoring twice as Houston gets the win in front of a crowd of over 61,000 in NRG Stadium.
BALTIMORE 13 PHILADELPHIA 24
The Stars position themselves for a 1st place battle with Washington next week by knocking off the Blitz, thanks in large part to another strong game from Matt Gutierrez, who now moves to the top of the QB Rankings in what seems to be another Kurt Warner style story. The defense also came up big, causing 2 Baltimore turnovers at key points in the game, and limiting the Baltimore run game to only 23 total yards.
BOSTON 20 NEW JERSEY 28
The Cannons had to be happy just to be out of Boston as they headed to New Jersey. The Generals were happy to have a foe with nothing to play for, but still struggled a bit, with Sam Bradford dinged up and Bobby Hoyer in at QB, New Jersey struggled to hold on as Boston and Adrian McPherson made the play for an upset. In the end, the Generals held on and now are only 1 game behind the Feds and in the weird position of rooting for Philly to upend Washington next week. General fans rooting for Philly. That’s a new one.
MEMPHIS 19 OHIO 6
The Showboats get their third win, but one that may actually upset Memphis fans as it puts them in a 4-way tie at 3-10 with draft order on the line. Ryan Mallett was again knocked out of the game and Matt Cassel came in to relieve him, but it was kicker Dan Bailey who was the hero of the game, with 4 FGs to help Memphis get the win.
CHICAGO 6 MICHIGAN 20
The Panthers and Machine have certainly played more meaningful games over the years, as this one likely does not help either team stay in the hunt for a Wild Card. In one of the more shocking stat lines of all time, Michigan rushes for exactly 0 yards in this game. Ciatrick Fason had 9 yards rushing on 16 carries, but Chris Perry had -9 yards total, so they cancel each other out in a humiliating stat for the ages.
LOS ANGELES 13 ARIZONA 19
The Wranglers are not dead yet, as their win over LA in the desert keeps their slim playoff hopes alive. David Carr threw for 2 scores and Larry Fitzgerald had himself a game with 126 yards on only 4 catches as the Wrangles salvage a win after trailing 13-3 early. Mark Sanchez was sacked 4 times and produced 2 picks in a game that cannot make LA fans happy at all.
ST. LOUIS 27 PITTSBURGH 17
The Sunday Night game was supposed to be the Mauler’s chance to get right back in the playoff hunt, but instead it locked up the Central Division crown for the Skyhawks and sent Pittsburgh below .500 and all but out of the playoff hunt. The ageless Antowain Smith had a huge day, rushing for 153 yards on only 17 carries, with a highlight reel 45-yard run sure to be seen on Sportscenter all week. The Skyhawks celebrated their first ever division title in a wild locker room scene after the win.
Antowain Smith Defying Age & History
What can we say about St. Louis HB Antowain Smith. At the age of 35, when most running backs have either retired or are a shadow of their former selves, Smith seems to be getting stronger. He already has crossed the 1,200-yard mark, is averaging 5 yards per carry and has St. Louis looking like a Summer Bowl contender. 2012 is already Smith’s 8th 1,000-yard season and could be his best ever. With 4 games left he needs only 72 yards to set a personal best. So much for all the talk of backs losing both a gear and their ability to make people miss after they hit 30. Smith has one more year on his contract and could well make a case to the Skyhawks to offer what would be a 37-year-old HB a multi-year contract. That is some impressive feat in today’s day and age, almost as impressive as what Smith is doing on the field.
Oakland LB Bobby Wagner Has Huge Game in Invader Win
Hold the presses on the Rookie of the Year award. Bobby Wagner of the Invaders would like a recount. Wagner, who trails only Terrell Suggs, with 83 tackles, had a monster of a game this week, producing 4 fumbles in one game against Charlotte. He now has 10 for the year, the next closest player in the entire league is multiple Defensive MVP Brian Urlacher. Wagner is proving to be a catalyst for the Invaders and a vocal presence on the field. He is talking the talk, and absolutely walking the walk. Oakland will need him as the injury to Joey Harrington will certainly put more onus on the defense to come up big, force takeaways and give backup Pat White short fields to play with. If this week’s game against Charlotte is any measure, Wagner is primed for the challenge.
Joey Harrington Could Miss the Playoff Push
We referenced this above, but the reality is that no one really knows whether Oakland’s star QB will be out just in Week 14 or if he will miss the rest of the regular season. The hamstring injury did not reveal any ligament damage, so it could be possible we will see Harrington in action in Week 15 against the Bulls, but that depends in large part on how the leg progresses over his week off. Expect Harrington to make the trip to Las Vegas this week, to be in the ear of Pat White the whole game, and to be a presence on the sideline, but that is certainly not where Oakland hopes he will be for long.
Memphis May Be Losing By Winning
That is the concern among Showboat fans who have seen Memphis pull out two wins in the second half of the season, including this week’s road win in Ohio. That win put them in a 4-way tie with Seattle, Orlando, and Boston, all at 3-10. They play Orlando this week and a win would all but guarantee that Orlando, and not Memphis could have the top pick in the Open Draft. Now, we are not suggesting that Memphis tank the game, especially not with the USFL only averaging signing 50% of their 1st round picks, and only 42% of picks in the Top 10 selections. But, even with no guarantee that whoever is taken number 1 overall will sign with the USFL, it is often desired by fans to have their pick of every available player. And with Memphis looking very much like a club without a solid option at QB, one would have to imagine that having the top pick would be a serious interest for the club’s GM and 1st year head coach Brad Childress.
Memphis will finish the year at home to Orlando, then on the road to both Charlotte and top rival Birmingham. You know they want to win that game with the Stallions, but will they put it on the line if they are in a position to get the top pick, or will Coach Childress “test out some younger players” in a lost season. Many fans wish he would do that this week against 3-win Orlando, but it seems unlikely.
We have playoff teams!! St. Louis wrapped up their first ever franchise division title with their win over the Maulers. They take a 4-game lead on the division with only 3 to play and that gives them the crown. Washington went down this week, but still clinched at least a Wild Card, though the loss sets up a huge game against Philly for this upcoming weekend. Other division leaders at 13 weeks include Atlanta, who are now tied with Charlotte atop the SE Division, New Orleans, who have a huge matchup with Nashville with 1st place on the line this week, Oakland, who will face their closest rival without their starting QB, and Texas, who still hold a 2-game lead on their rivals but have both Denver and Houston chasing them.
We also had 3 more teams drop from the playoff hunt as Jacksonville, Ohio, and Seattle are now officially eliminated. Birmingham, despite a 5-8 record equal to Jacksonville, remains alive thanks to the possibility of both Nashville and New Orleans dropping games down the stretch. It is a weird situation where they cannot win a Wild Card slot, but the Stallions could still potentially win the Southern Division.
The roll call of injured players just keeps moving along, with several notable players added to IR, including New Orleans receiver Santana Moss, a big hit to the Breaker offense as they prepare for a vital game in Nashville. Others likely to miss action this week include LA Linebacker Lofa Tatupu, Nashville center Jake Grove, and, possibly, New Jersey QB Sam Bradford. Bradford is dealing with a pinched nerve, and while he is hoping to be available for the game against Houston, so far he has been unable to practice this week.
INJURED RESERVE
Dre Moore DT BAL Quad
Lance Schulters SS LA Shoulder
John Abraham DE SEA Quad
Rolando Heredia DE LA Knee
Santana Moss WR NOR Abdomen
OUT
Lofa Tatupu LB LA Ankle 1-2 Weeks
Ellis Wyms DT CHI Neck 1-2 Weeks
Lee Smith TE OHI Groin 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
Jake Grove C NSH Knee
Travis Claridge G DEN Hand
Terrelle Pryor QB OHI Hip
QUESTIONABLE
Rick Razzano FB TEX Knee
Antoine Winfield CB LV Cornea
Jerome Felton FB STL Nose
Terrell Owens WR BIR Shoulder
Sam Bradford QB NJ Pinched Nerve
Hall of Fame Class of 2012 Announced
Four first ballot enshrinees in the Class of 2012’s six man entry class, that is what the USFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced this week. The four included three running backs and a wideout, demonstrating a return to offensive stars being the crux of the enshrine class. Joining the four were 3rd year nominee Aeneas Williams and legacy selection Derek Holloway, the outstanding wideout who played opposite Anthony Carter in Michigan until taking over as the #1 target for the Panthers.
In a pool of semifinalists that included 4 outstanding running backs, we knew that all 4 would not get in, but three did, with Tiki Barber, Terrell Davis, and Ahman Green making the Hall in their first year. Curtis Enis got several votes, but not the required percentage to make the hall this year. When combined, the trio of Davis, Green and Barber accounted for over 38,000 rushing yards and 281 touchdowns.
The fourth member of the Class of 2012 is long-time New Jersey wideout Terry Glenn, whose 14,612 yards receiving and 100 TDs helped the Generals land two USFL titles. Glenn joins center Mike Baab, HB and Herschel Walker as the only lifetime New Jersey Generals to make the Hall without playing for another team. He and Holloway are the only players in the 6-man enshrine class of 2012 who played their entire careers with one USFL team (Holloway did briefly play in the NFL as well).
Holloway was selected by the Legacy Committee, the 3rd player chosen by this select committee who review players from the early years of the USFL. He follows QB Doug Williams (’11), and HB Marcus Dupree (’10) in this honor. Hollowy played 11 seasons in Pontiac, where he racked up 763 receptions, 14,700 yards and 119 career touchdowns. He had 10 or more touchdowns in 7 of his 11 seasons, including his first 7 in a row. A 6-time All-USFL receiver, it is somewhat shocking that he was not recognized earlier, but as was the case on the field, in the league’s first HOF class, he was bypassed by Anthony Carter, who always did seem to have a way to draw the attention of fans more than the reliable Holloway.
The only defensive player chosen, Aeneas Williams, enters in his third year of eligibility after losing out to Philippi Sparks in a close vote last year. Williams played for 3 teams over his 15-year career, racking up 45 interceptions and over 1,200 tackles with Oakland, Arizona, and LA. He also won a title in 1991, his rookie season with the Invaders.
All six players will be inducted in mid-October in the Annual USFL Induction Ceremony. For the first time, the induction ceremony will be held on a Friday, with a special Hall of Fame football game scheduled for Saturday in which Pitt will face Cincinnati in a neutral site game at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium. The six players will be joined in Canton by a cavalcade of USFL stars, with many teammates on hand, some giving the introductions, such as Holloway’s QB Bobby Hebert, Terry Glenn’s Head Coach Bill Parcells, Ahman Green’s QB Trent Edwards, and, in a first for the USFL, Tiki Barber will be introduced by his brother, and a possible future Hall of Famer, Ronde Barber.
Our Run Down of the USFL Award Favorites
Only one month left and with a very up and down season for so many teams, the races for league awards feel like some of the most competitive in ages. We break down the 5 big awards and give you our best odds on who we think is in the running.
MVP: QB Josh Freeman (STL), QB Matt Gutierrez (PHI), and HB Willis McGahee
Freeman is the odds on favorite, currently ranked second in QBR, 5th in yards, and 1st with 31 TD’s, five more than 2nd place. It also helps that his club has been one of the most pleasant surprises in the league, securing the first division title of any of the six divisions and far exceeding the slow growth we have seen in the past few years under Coach Bruce Arians.
The Cinderella story for this year has to be Matt Gutierrez. Expected to hold a clipboard all year, Gutierrez has not only stepped in for Kurt Warner, but been outstanding in doing so. He currently has the league’s best QB Rating at 117.9 and is also 5th in TDs. He is only 14th in yardage though, so that might be a tough argument to make, though certainly he will be named the Stars’ MVP this year.
Finally, if, as is rare, a non-QB wins the title, it will have to be Willis McGahee. Not only does the Bandit halfback lead the league in rushing with 1,212 yards after 12 games, only 1 of two backs to average 100 yards per game (Antowain Smith is the other), McGahee is also leading all halfbacks with 41 receptions and 487 yards, a solid 100 yards more than 2nd place. His amazing dual threat nature has made him the central piece of a Tampa Bay offense that has plenty of weapons.
OPOTY: HB Willis McGahee (TBY), WR Tory Holt (BAL), HB Antowain Smith (STL)
We don’t see a way that McGahee does not win this, unless, of course, he wins MVP. If that happens, then there is a spot for either Holt, who is 2nd in the league in receptions and first in yardage, or Antowain Smith, who is defying time with over 1,200 yards at the age of 35. Of course, it also means that Freeman or Gutierrez could fall here for consideration.
DPOTY: LB James Farrior (HOU), CB Charles Woodson (ATL), DE Reynaldo Wynn
Yes, we are leaving Calais Campbell off this list. Why? Well, Orlando is battling for the top draft pick, not a playoff spot, and while he has 3 fewer sacks, Texas DE Wynn can point to 5 forced fumbles to Campbell’s zero. That and a winning record could be key for Wynn. He will likely be up against two veterans who could be playing in their final seasons, and that could be a motivation to choose either one. Charles Woodson is leading the league with 6 picks at the age of 36, while James Farrior seems to be improving with age, leading the league with 114 tackles through 12 weeks, and adding 5 sacks to boot.
Rookie of the Year: WR Justin Blackmon (BOS), HB Lamar Miller (JAX), LB Bobby Wagner (OAK)
As we have noted in past entries, this may be the closest rookie vote in a long time. Our money is with WR Justin Blackmon, who is well on his way to 1,200 yards receiving or more. But don’t whiff on Oakland LB Bobby Wagner. In 13 games he has 10 forced fumbles, a truly remarkable total. That is on top of 72 tackles, 3 sacks and a pick. Not a bad resume for a first-year defender at all.
Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians (STL), Tom Ramsey (ATL), Sean Payton (WSH)
We think this one is a slam dunk for Arians. Ramsey won a couple of years back and Payton has a team that was expected to win the division, so he does not get kudos for meeting expectations. St. Louis has taken the slow road, winning 5 games in Arian’s first year, then 8 last season and now has jumped up and grabbed the division title, a solid year or more ahead of schedule. St. Louis is looking very much like a potential top seed in the playoffs and Josh Freeman could well be the MVP. Arians is likely to get the credit for his development, as well he should, and for the growth of the culture in St. Louis, a city that has not seen a lot of success with either the Skyhawks or the Knights before them. We see Arians as a clear favorite in this category, and our sure fire winner from these 5 awards.
Signings & Extensions Shrink Free Agent Pool
Over the past month GM's across the USFL have been rolling their sleeves up and trying to lock in some priority players before their contracts expire. While there are a few players each year who are not interested at all in resigning, what this season of the year shows us is that most players are open to foregoing free agency if their current team is willing to show them some love, and "show them the money".
WSH: Extended HB Deuce McCallister for 3 years at a cost of just under $15M. Extended G Aaron Sears for 2 years.
TEX: New Contract for DE Reynaldo Wynn, 3-years at $12M. Restructured Arian Foster’s Deal, adding 2 years and upping his annual salary by about $500k per year.
TBY: As expected, they give Willis McGahee a strong 2-year deal, making him the highest paid HB in the USFL. They also resign FS Antrel Rolle and McGahee’s backup, Shane Vereen, each for 3 seasons. Joey Galloway remains in negotiations at age 38.
STL: The Skyhawks helped solidify their WR group by extending David Nelson and by turning NFL signee Eric Weems’s one year “prove it” deal into a 3-year “you have proved it” deal. They have not yet resigned HB Antowain Smith, which may be an indication that the 35-year old back could be looking to retire at the end of the year, because you know St. Louis wants him to stay a Skyhawk.
SEA: The Dragons lock down their best corner, Leodis McKelvin for another 4 years and also extend WR Anquon Boldin for another 2. They have not made progress with HB Jahvid Best, a possible sign that they may go a new direction at the position.
POR: The Stags have extended QB Ryan Fitzpatrick through 2015 and kept one of his favorite receivers as well, by offering Koren Robinson a new 3-year deal. Still no word on a deal for Jonathan Stewart, the lead back for the Stags, or for DE Elvis Dumervil, who very likely wants to seek a free agent deal as he has not been happy with his role in Portland.
PIT: The Maulers have completed Job 1, resigning SS Sean Taylor to a 4-year deal so he can finish his career in the Mauler secondary. They also extended WRs Kevin Johnson and Victor Cruz, but their number 1 receiver, Vincent Jackson is asking for Moss/Holt money, and that may be more than the Maulers can afford.
PHI: While Kurt Warner’s situation remains up in the air (He is in his last year of a contract, but medical concerns could force him to retire), the Stars have resigned injured DE Robert Mathis to a 3-year extension, also inking CB Sam Shields and FB Francis Sosa to new deals.
ORL: The Renegades know who is keeping them afloat, offering a 3-year extension to both Eli Manning and Calais Campbell. SS Atari Bigby and DT Kenny Smith are the biggest names now on the final year of their deals.
OHI: The Glory have been slow to sign players this season. They did give WR Randall Cobb an extension for the next 2 years, and DT Tommy Harris is expected to sign a 3-year deal, but they still have OT Jacob Rogers, DT Tank Johnson, and FS Haruki Nakamura unsigned.
OAK: The Invaders have locked up DE Justin Smith, who is having a career year. A new 4-year deal will make him the 2nd highest paid DE behind only Campbell. They also locked up LT Matt Light, the 31-year old likely to retire an Invader after agreeing to a 5-year deal. Still unsigned are Smith’s linemates Cliff Avril and Israel Idonije. We do not see Oakland signing both, so one of the two is likely to be available.
NOR: The Breakers prioritized resigning CB Randall Gay, and they have, with a new 3-year deal. They also resigned OT Nat Dorsey, G Rich Ornberger, and C James McVey, all of which should make QB Drew Brees happy. Now, the big question left is LB Hannibal Navies, who, at 35, could well be a cap casualty if he opts to come back for 2013.
NJ: Safety Bob Sanders is apparently not enjoying himself in New Jersey. Despite being a top priority for the Generals, he has turned down 2 different offers to extend his contract. Sean Taylor’s new deal with Pittsburgh is likely to increase Sanders’ demands. The Generals have had more success at WR, extending both Michael Crabtree and Doug Baldwin with new deals.
NSH: Could Frank Gore actually walk? We know he can run, but all indications are that the Nashville HB is considering his option and wants to test the waters. Not good news at all for the Knights. They have succeeded in resigning or extending several key players, including MLB Hunter Hillenmeyer, WR Robert Meachem, and DT Babatunde Oshinowo, one of our favorite USFL names.
MGN: Center Jeff Faine has agreed to a 3-year extension, and the restructuring provided more funds for Michigan to also extend LB DeMarcus Ware. Andy Katzenmoyer remains unsigned, but at 35, he may simply be stepping away, either that or he will land a 1-year deal somewhere if Michigan is not interested.
MEM: The Showboats need to potentially free up some QB money, which may explain why they have not yet signed LB Kirk Morrison or CB Tyrone Bell. They have LB NaVorro Bowman for 5 years, a nice long deal for their defensive captain.
LA: The Express have come to terms with CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, who will remain with the Express on a new 4-year deal. They have also locked up TE L. J. Smith with aa 2-year extension and QB Mark Sanchez has accepted a 2-year deal as well. The big holdout seems to be HB Ray Rice, who wants Top 5 numbers, though he has yet to be a Top 5 back.
LV: With both Will Allen and Antoine Winfield up for new deals, the Thunder had a tough choice to make. Looks like they went for the slightly younger Allen, who just agreed to a 3-year deal. Winfield is now likely to be a free agent at 34. With extensions to both Plummer and Lynch already agreed upon, the Thunder now can turn to depth along the entire roster.
JAX: The Bulls have resigned TE Jason Whitten for another 2 years and are working with 35-year-old LB Mike Vrabel to add 2 more years to his deal. Unlikely to sign is TE Dustin Keller, who will look for a location where he can compete for a starting job.
HOU: The Gamblers had 5 linebackers all coming up for new contracts. They cannot sign them all, but have already extended both Kevin Burnett and Nick Barnett. The big remaining question is if 35-year old James Farrior, the league’s leading tackler, will resign or retire.
DEN: With both Maurice Hicks and Javon Ringer up for renewal, the general theory was that only one would be retained, and, in a bit of a surprise, Denver announced this week a new 3-year deal with Ringer, not Hicks. Guess 25 trumps 31 in this math.
CHI: While both Michael Turner and Brady Quinn have arrived at extensions which shift some cap hits until later years, the Machine still have a big concern in that WR Donald Driver has been adamant about wanting to look at other options. Their main receiving target could well be looking for a way out, because the funds are there to resign him, so if he is looking to enter the market, that may just mean he is not happy with Coach Schiano.
CHA: The big move this season for Charlotte was locking up WR D. J. Hackett for another 3 years. They also opted to extend guard Sean Locklear. Now, with free agency approaching the question is whether they can also lock down LB Andra Davis or if they will let him test the waters.
BOS/DAL: There are sure to be a lot of changes as the Cannons become the Roughnecks, but two players we knew would not be going anywhere are DE Jason Babin and HB Rashard Mendenhall. No surprise then that both have obtained solid multiyear deals from the club.
BIR: While the Stallions are still working on a possible deal to keep Randy Moss in town, they have already reupped both DE Derrick Harvey and fellow WR Tandon Doss, both priorities for the club.
BAL: Reupping TE Antonio Gates has been job 1 in Baltimore and it looks like it may have worked out. Gates is expected to add 2 years to his current contract, with a nice frontloaded guaranteed pay out. Now, what will they do about HB Anthony Dixon, who has been the main man after Ron Dayne’s injury?
ATL: Extending WR Matt Jones, who has been a real breakout player for the Fire, is a priority and appears close to being complete. Now the Fire have to decide what to do with HB Darren McFadden, who has seen his role diminish this year.
ARZ: LB Karlos Danslby has agreed to a 3-year extension, and Arizona locked in David Carr for another 2 years earlier this spring, so that makes the primary focus right now that of CB Brandon Flowers, who, at 28, has several more good seasons ahead of him.
A very good week for the night game presenters at NBC, ESPN, and EFN. They get three of the best games in a very rich slate of games for Week 14. The week opens with a huge battle in the SE Division as Charlotte, having slipped from the number 2 seed all the way to number 5, tries to stay on pace in the division but must face a desperate 7-6 Bandits squad on the cusp of Wild Card contention.
On Saturday, a slate that features the Texas-Boston game being played in Detroit and a battle for the Southern Division between the Breakers and the Knights, ends with a Western Division Classic as Oakland can all but wrap up the division title by knocking off Las Vegas, but the Thunder are at home and could even the standings with a win over the Invaders.
Sunday has more playoff panic as 7-6 Houston travel to New Jersey, Jacksonville and LA try to stave off elimination as both sit at 5-8, and Pittsburgh heads to Chicago with their entire season on the line. Sunday’s nightcap is perhaps our most exciting game of the week as the Stars, sitting at 9-4, head to Washington to face the 10-3 Federals, with first place still very much in question. What a week to be a football fan!!!
FRIDAY @ 8PM ET TAMPA BAY (7-6) @ CHARLOTTE (9-4) NBC
SAT @ 12PM ET TEXAS (9-4) V. BOSTON (3-10)* ABC
SAT @ 12PM ET ORLANDO (3-10) @ MEMPHIS (3-10) ABC
SAT @ 12PM ET BIRMINGHAM (5-8) @ BALTIMORE (7-6) FOX
SAT @ 4PM ET NEW ORLEANS (7-6) @ NASHVILLE (6-7) ABC
SAT @ 4PM ET OHIO (4-9) @ DENVER (7-6) FOX
SAT @ 8PM ET OAKLAND (9-4) @ LAS VEGAS (8-5) ESPN/EFN
*Texas-Boston Game to be played at Ford Field in Detroit
SUN @ 12PM ET MICHIGAN (5-8) @ ST. LOUIS (10-3) ABC
SUN @ 12PM ET SEATTLE (3-10) @ ATLANTA (9-4) FOX
SUN @ 12PM ET HOUSTON (7-6) @ NEW JERSEY (9-4) FOX
SUN @ 4PM ET PORTLAND (6-7) @ ARIZONA (6-7) ABC
SUN @ 4PM ET JACKSONVILLE (5-8) @ LOS ANGELES (5-8) ABC
SUN @ 4PM ET PITTSBURGH (6-7) @ CHICAGO (5-8) FOX
SUN @ 8PM ET PHILADELPHIA (9-4) @ WASHINGTON (10-3) ESPN/EFN
Comments