Finally a week without a season-altering injury to report on. Week 3 was highlighted by a big home win for the Stars with their backup now set to play out the rest of the season, blowout wins by the Chicago Machine and Charlotte Monarchs, a barnburner between Michigan and Texas, and quite a bit or rain across the league. Stunningly we have the Monarchs and Stags sitting at 3-0 along with Texas, while Michigan, LA, and Seattle sit uncomfortably at 0-3 (along with Boston, Jacksonville, and Ohio who many expected to have rough starts). In a week where the focus was the scoreboard and not the injury list, a lot of good games to report on, so let’s get started.
ATLANTA FIRE 25 PHILADELPHIA STARS 30
For the second week in a row the Stars make our game of the week. This time it is purely their on-field performance, and not a season-altering injury, that gets our attention. In a game that may build some fan confidence in their stand-in quarterback, a confidence he quite frankly deserved after last year’s playoff performance, Matt Gutierrez survived two picks and 6 sacks and led a game-winning drive in the final minutes to secure the win for the Stars. It was not easy, not always pretty, and he got a huge assist from the defense, but Matt Gutierrez again found a way to win in a tough matchup.
The gameplan for the Stars was simple, push the run game, use play action, and don’t ask too much of their quarterback. That plan seemed to be working just fine in the first quarter, when Philadelphia took the opening kickoff 77 yards in only 8 plays, thanks in large part to a couple of 20+ yard strikes, and got on the board with a brilliant 26-yard run from Steve Slaton. The Stars would double their advantage 10 minutes later when Gutierrez found Stevie Johnson from 10 yards out to go up 14-0. Johnson would be Gutierrez’s favorite target all game, targeted 7 times and bringing in3 balls. Slaton would be even more important, rushing for 114 yards on the day.
After falling behind early, Atlanta started pulling their way back in the 2nd quarter. They got their first points on a Josh Scobee field goal, and would then add 7 more on their next drive as Kyle Orton found Ted Ginn Jr on a short crossing route from the 3 yard line. Down 14-10 with a chance for a third drive in the quarter, Atlanta looked like they had found the formula. They used tough inside running from LaDell Betts and Darren McFadden to force Philadelphia into bringing the safeties down, and then connected with Reed, Ginn, and Matt Jones behind the coverage, the very same strategy that Philadelphia was trying to use.
But, on their 2-minute drive, one key moment would alter the ending of the first half. Having had success moving the ball into the red zone, and with time counting down, Jay Cutler forced a ball into the endzone, trying to connect with Josh Reed. What he did was through a perfect ball to CB Quentin Jammer, who not only stepped right into the pass, but was all but clear to run the full 100-yards downfield to turn in a 100-yard pick six play. Orton tried to get the angle on Jammer, but fell a yard short, clearing a straight line run for the cornerback to take the ball to the house. It was a play that left the Philadelphia crowd in an ecstatic state at the half, their team up 21-10.
The second half would prove more difficult for the Stars. Their offense stagnated, producing only a sole field goal in the 3rd quarter. At the same time the Fire continued to claw their way closer and closer. The opening drive of the quarter led to another Scobee field goal, pulling Atlanta within 8, a one score game. They would get that one score on their next drive, a 14-play march down the field that ended with Will Heller on the receiving end of another short Kyle Orton TD pass. Orton would finish the day with 59 pass attempts, connecting on 35 of them for 369 yards, far outpacing Matt Gutierrez’s 9 of 19 for 120, but in the end Gutierrez would get the last laugh.
Atlanta missed the 2-point conversion after the Heller TD, which meant that they trailed the Stars 21-19. They would get a field goal just as the third quarter ended, which put them up 24-19 when the final period began. In that period, both teams struggled with pass protection. Gutierrez was sacked by Chris Kelsay to end the Stars’ first drive, then Orton suffered a 14-yard loss on a poor attempt to escape an initial defender only to be sacked by Anthony Hargrove even further back. Both drives failed, and with 7 minutes left, the game remained 24-19. But Atlanta would find their groove again on their second drive of the quarter. Orton would connect with Josh Reed for a huge 32-yard play on a 3rd and 9, and McFadden would add a 22-yard rumble that took the ball to the 4. From there Orton would again connect on a short TD pass, his third of the game, this time finding Demetrius Williams along the back line of the endzone. The Fire again failed on their 2-point attempt, leaving them up 25-24 with 3:26 left to play.
Needing only a field goal, Philadelphia embarked on a drive that had two missions, get Mike Nugent in range for the winning kick, and kill as much of the clock as possible in that drive. The Stars would rely on Steve Slaton to get that done, and the lead back would come through. Philadelphia found themselves breaking off big chunks on the ground, perhaps too big for the time-killing goal of the drive. Within only 4 plays they were inside the Fire side of the field. Perhaps that is why Coach Harbaugh decided to abandon the slow march and go for the jugular. On a 2nd and 8 from the 39-yard line, the Stars faked the handoff to Slaton, and after a legal rub route freed up WR Reche Caldwell on a slant & go route, Gutierrez found the receiver in single coverage with the safety, who was trailing by a good 2 yards. He heaved up his longest pass of the game, and found Caldwell, who had not caught a ball add day. Caldwell reeled in the pass, tumbling to the ground, but rolling over the goalline and into the endzone for 6. Yes, there was time on the clock, 1:44 to be exact, but instead of a 2-point lead, Philadelphia had the chance to go up 7.
Those 2-point conversions are so tempting, but can be so tough to pull off. After watching Atlanta fail on two attempts, it was Philadelphia’s turn, and they too failed to get the ball into the endzone from 2 yards out. Atlanta would have nearly 2 minutes, with 2 timeouts left, to try to get a TD, down by 5. Philadelphia got the hero ball play from Gutierrez and now they would need the defense to step up and preserve the win. The D did just that. Safety Jairus Byrd broke up a pass play to Williams on a 1st and 10 from the 33, then Orton was forced out of the pocket on 2nd and 10, throwing the ball away instead of taking the sack as Robert Mathis caught up to him. That left a 3rd and 10, and while Orton was able to connect with TE Will Heller, the play went for only 4 yards, leaving Philadelphia to defend a 4th and 6 attempt still in Atlanta territory.
Orton would again look to Williams, but this time it was Quentin Jammer once again who was the man on the spot. With his 4th pass defense of the game, going along with his 100-yard pick six, Jammer broke up the 4th down toss with a perfectly timed jab between the arms of Williams, knocking the ball away while avoiding a DPI call. Philadelphia would pull this one out and move to 2-1. Gutierrez would have his game winning drive and a defense that had given up 489 total yards on the day would make the stand they had to make. A big win for what had been a rattled Stars team a week earlier.
TAMPA BAY 16 ORLANDO 23
The Renegades fell behind early at home but rebounded in large part thanks to relentless pressure from their front four. Orlando recorded 7 sacks of Daunte Culpepper, including 3 from DT Albert Haynesworth and another 2 from Calais Campbell as they rattled the veteran, forcing 2 picks, including a Cortland Finnegan 47-yard pick six, and a fumble from the Bandit QB. Both teams now sit at 2-1 in the division.
PITTSBURGH 23 NASHVILLE 10
The Maulers racked up 151 yards on the ground and got another TD from rookie Brandon Boldin as they outpaced the Knights. Ronnie Brown led all rushers with 90 yards on 18 carries, and Vincent Jackson added 93 through the air. The Knights at one point recorded 4 straight 3-and-outs and finished the game with only 4 converted 3rd down tries all game.
NEW ORLEANS 13 MEMPHIS 3
Rain the night before had created a bit of a mud pit at Legion Field, making offensive football tough for both teams. Matt Forte led all rushers with only 40 yards on 12 carries, while Drew Brees found Early Doucet for the game’s only TD, but not until the 6:35 mark of the 4th quarter. Both clubs now sit at 1-2 on the year.
LOS ANGELES 0 CHARLOTTE 37
An ugly game for the Express in a rainy Charlotte. LA gained only 171 total yards and was 1 of 10 on third down. Charlotte did not seem bothered by the rain a jake Delhomme went 20 of 25 for 177 yards and 2 TDs. With the score 31-0 in the 4th, we got to see rookie Brandon Wheedon on the field. The rookie went 3 for 3 and found TE Justin Green for a TD to put the game away.
TEXAS 30 MICHIGAN 27
A shootout at Ford Field that saw Joe Flacco explode for 428 yards passing. Flacco also connected with 3 different receivers for scores. Both Brandon Marshall and TE Chris Cooley went over 100 yards. NFL signee Arian Foster carried the ball 22 times but struggled as Michigan loaded the box. He finished with only 35 yards but Flacco’s huge day won the game for the visitors.
DENVER 21 ST. LOUIS 20
The Skyhawks drop their first game of the year as Denver gets two 4th quarter TD’s from their run game to pull back from a 20-7 deficit and take the win. Maurice Hicks was the star for Denver, rushing for 71 yards on only 8 carries to help lead the Gold back and on to victory. St. Louis went through 3 QBs in the game with Josh Freeman knocked out after only 2 passes. Troy Smith played most of the game, but was hurt in the 4th, which led to Ricky Stanzi coming in to finish the game.
BALTIMORE 13 WASHINGTON 16
Another wet game as rain persisted throughout the Blitz-Federals game. That did not bother Deuce McCallister, who rushed for 139 and caught a 5-yard TD pass from David Garrard. Tory Holt led al receivers with 126 yards as Baltimore abandoned the run in the muck. It was 13-9 Baltimore after 3, but McCallister’s late TD gave the win to the homestanding Federals, who move to 2-1, equal with the Blitz.
OHIO 16 BIRMINGHAM 25
Birmingham was spared the rain that soaked most of the Mid-South, and that helped Cam Newton and the Stallions as they got TDs from Terrell Owens and a pick six from LB Ernie Sims to take the W at home and move to 2-1. Ohio kept it close, but the Stallons added 2 late field goals to pull the lead out to 9 points and Ohio never recovered.
JACKSONVILLE 21 NEW JERSEY 27
The Generals win their second in a row as Michael Crabtree put on a show with 139 yards receiving and 2 scores against the Bulls. Sam Bradford added another to Doug Baldwin and the Generals were off to the races. Jacksonville clawed back, but it was too little too late as New Jersey secured the win with a 7 minute drive to kill most of the 4th quarter.
ARIZONA 13 CHICAGO 41
Arizona looked lost against the Chicago defense, getting called for 11 penalties and managing only 78 yards rushing. Meanwhile, Brady Quinn went for 257 on 14 of 21 passing. Rookie HB Doug Martin made a splash in this one, scoring 3 times, all on short runs in the red zone. Donald Driver added 2 scores and 126 yards receiving as the Machine looked particularly well-oiled on this day.
BOSTON 13 HOUSTON 38
Houston got back on a winning track at home, thanks in large part to a 4-TD day from Matt Hasselbeck. The veteran connected 3 times with Roy Williams and once with the ageless Ike Hilliard as Boston’s secondary floundered all day long. It was 10-0 Boston at one point, but then Houston scored touchdowns on 4 consecutive drives in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and the game quickly got out of hand for the Cannons.
SEATTLE 7 PORTLAND 12
Portland moves to 3-0 with a Cascade Clash win against the Dragons. Ironically, this clash of Pacific Northwest clubs did not see any rain, and very little offense as well. Jonathan Stewart had a good day, rushing for 91 yards, but the Stags won the game without scoring a touchdown all game. The only 7-pointer was a Nate Burleson catch early in the 4th that made the score 9-7, but the Dragons could not get another on the board.
LAS VEGAS 7 OAKLAND 17
Oakland’s defense proved effective against the Thunder, limiting Chad Johnson to only 34 yards receiving and holding Marshawn Lynch under 100 yards. And while they were hardly explosive, the Oakland offense did enough to get the home win, scoring on a Hank Baskett TD catch and a Ryan Williams TD run, both in the second half, as Oakland moves to 2-1 and gives Las Vegas their first loss of the year.
Flacco Shreds the Panthers for 400 Yards
Texas is looking very much the part of a Summer Bowl favorite, sitting at 3-0 and putting up points at a blistering pace. Their leader, QB Joe Flacco is also looking very much like a contender, once again for the MVP award, as he puts up 428 yards and 3 TDs against the Panthers on the road. Flacco completed 22 of 29 passes despite constant Michigan pressure that produced 4 sacks. He used 9 different receivers in the game, going for over 100 yards to both Brandon Marshall and Chris Cooley while Michigan shifted their coverage to consistently double up Marques Colston, the league leader in receiving yards. Flacco still managed to connect with Colston 5 times, but with 75 yards receiving, the wideout finished third on the team for the game.
In a game in which Arian Foster, the NFL import that Texas hoped would replace T. J. Duckett, struggled to find holes to run through (22 carries for only 35 yards), it was Flacco’s arm that proved to be the undoing of the Panther defense. Texas is 3-0 and now heads into a huge game in Philadelphia against the Stars before back to back division games (@ Arizona and home to Houston). IF they can emerge from this three game stretch still unbeaten, they could be in a very good position to snatch the brass ring of the #1 seed in the playoffs. We know it is early, but this team is looking just that good.
Michael Crabtree Steps up for the Generals
With both Mark Clayton and Santonio Holmes leaving the Generals in free agency, there was some concern that QB Sam Bradford would not have the weapons he needed to be successful this season. But Coach Herm Edwards felt confident in the players he still had in his receiving room, and so far this season, that confidence has proven appropriate. Bradford is off to a good start with 8-8 yards and 5 TDs in his first 3 games, and that is due in large part to the emergence of both Doug Baldwin and Michael Crabtree as the starting duo. Baldwin leads the club with 196 receptions (2 Tds) while Crabtree, with a strong 5 catch, 139 yard, 2 TD performance this week, is leading the club in receptions. This week, the Generals also added TE John Carlson to the mix, and while the NFL import did not have a catch, his presence in the middle drew away safety coverage just as the Generals had hoped, making it easier for Bradford to find both Baldwin and Crabtree outside.
Now, we are not saying that the General passing game is an unstoppable force, but they currently rank 5th in the league, averaging 269 yards through the air after 3 games. What we are saying is that they are a good step ahead of where many expected and the future looks bright. If they can get Carlson into the groove of the passing game, and if they can get more out of their slot position (Miles Austin), this could be a very tough offense to defend, something we have not said about the Generals in a while.
Jammer Returns Pick for 6 and for 13.
It was the most dramatic play in our game of the week, a 100-yard pick six that helped Philadelphia stave off the Atlanta Fire, and what made it even more memorable was the tribute made by Quentin Jammer as he scored the longest defensive touchdown in the past 5 years. Jammer, crossing the endline and celebrating with the endzone fans, raised his jersey over his head, revealing a t-shirt with a hand-painted #13 on both the front and the back. The tribute to Kurt Warner and the feeling of solidarity among all the Star players go the crowd to its feet.
Warner has been a crowd favorite ever since he came over from the NFL in 2005. He has helped Philadelphia make the playoffs each of the past 5 seasons, reaching the Summer Bowl in 2010, and while he has not brought a title to the City of Brotherly Love, both his teammates and the city itself are showing him their brotherly love in this tough time. Warner was not able to attend the game this week, still hospitalized, with his neck and back locked into temporary traction. It is expected he will be able to return home over the next week, but will likely be wearing a hard neck brace at least for 2 months as doctors hope to avoid surgery on his fractured vertebrae. But, while Warner was not able to be on the sidelines this week, the volume of 13 jerseys in the stands, and the gesture by Jammer to celebrate Warner in his moment of glory certainly showed that 13 is very much on the minds of the Stars players and fans.
Haynesworth & Campbell Make Statement Against Bandits
Orlando needed this win. They needed a statement game, and they needed to not fall 2 games behind the defending league champions with only 3 games played. They came through on all of those needs, and the credit has to go where it so often does with this Renegade squad, to their front 4 on defense. The Renegade front 4 tormented Daunte Culpepper all day, forcing rushed passes, pushing the somewhat immobile QB out of the pocket, and sacking Culpepper 7 times, all without the need to overcommit to blitzes.
For once it was not Calais Campbell leading the charge. Yes, he did have 2 sacks to increase his league lead to 7 on the year, but with Tampa Bay doing all they could to double team Campbell, DT Albert Haynesworth stepped up big with consistent pressure up the middle and a team leading 3 sacks on the day. The Stars would also get pressure with minimal blitzing, with both Paul Posluzsny and SS Atari Bigby both recording sacks on the day, but it was the front four of Campbell, Haynesworth, Kenny Smith and RE Arthur Moats that made the Bandits cringe all game long. With the front four so successful it meant that on many plays we saw 7 defenders drop into coverage, crowding the passing lanes and offering Culpepper few options.
The ability to rush only 4 and drop 7 will be essential for the Renegades this season. Their offense has yet to truly hit its stride, 25th in the league with only 250 total yards per game, and while the pass defense has allowed 250 yards per game, it’s the pressure that has produced results in the team’s two wins, both division wins, and the pressure is likely to be their advantage all season long. The Renegades face a tough task this week, heading to Charlotte to take on the 3-0 Monarchs, but you already know that Jake Delhomme is watching the footage of this week’s win against Tampa Bay and he is dreading what Campbell, Haynesworth and the Renegade front 4 are going to be unleashing this week.
Randy Moss Not Shy About Criticism after 37-0 Blowout Loss
Are we shocked that Randy Moss spouted off after the Express were just crushed by Charlotte this week? Not at all. Are we surprised that Moss went after both his QB and his head coach? Yeah, that is not what you ever want to see. Do we think he was wrong? Honestly, no. His critiques were accurate, it is just not something you ever want to see in a locker room, much less a press room, and only 3 weeks into the year, that is not a good sign.
When asked about the offensive struggles of the team, Moss was visibly upset and did not hold back, critiquing not only the execution of the offense as a whole, but calling out the playcalling, and naming names, both among the coaches (Gregg Williams to be exact) and the players (Mark Sanchez). We get why Moss is upset. The Express currently rank 26th of 28 teams with ony 178 yards passing per game. Moss himself has only 19 targets and 9 catches (3 per game average) over 3 weeks. He has yet to score a TD and is averaging only 12.1 yards per catch. That is simply not the kind of production he expects or we expect for him. Generally considered one of the best deep ball receivers in the league, Moss does seem to be wasted on an offense that is just not giving him opportunities to stretch the field. He is not wrong about that.
Where he is wrong, as has often been the case for this particular receiver (and others, let’s be honest, WR has become a prima donna position in the pro game), is how he expresses that frustration and who he expresses it to. Maybe this is a strategy to publicly call out his QB and his coaches, to force them to focus more on him or on the play calls he wants to see. Maybe it is a ploy to force LA to consider a trade, to quiet him down, or maybe he is just simply at a point of frustration on an 0-3 team that he cannot contain himself. But no matter how you come at it, laying into your own team at a press meeting, and not behind closed doors, is never a good look or a good move.
Mario Williams Looks Good in USFL Debut
Several NFL transfers saw their first action this week, but while many were somewhat quiet in their debuts, DE Mario Williams of Memphis had himself a pretty nice day and a pretty good introduction to the fans in Memphis. The offense floundered all day, leading to the 13-3 loss in the rain, but Williams was one of the few highlights for the Showboats. The newly activated DE finished the game with 6 tackles, including 2 for a loss, and added a sack of Drew Brees for his first QB takedown in the new league.
Williams came to the USFL and the Showboats with a strong NFL track record behind him. But, when you play defensive end for the Showboats, you know exactly the giant shoes you are going to have to fit. Memphis was the home of Reggie White for 16 seasons, and White’s shadow still looms large over the franchise. Mario Williams has come to Memphis to become part of the tradition of the Showboats, and that includes embracing the legacy of the Minister of Defense. While it is way too early to know if Williams can live up to the hype that came with him, or if he can help Memphis attain the level of success they saw when White was playing, what we can say is that he introduced himself to his new team with the kind of effort, motor, and results that all Showboat fans were hoping for.
A better week on the injury front across the league, but not without impact. A particularly bad week for rookies as WR Michael Floyd, HB Robert Turbin, and LBs Luke Kuechley and Bobby Wagner are expected to miss the next week. St. Louis loses QB Troy Smith for the year, prompting a move to bring in a backup via trade, and at the same time lose their RT, Bryan Bulaga for 1, possibly 2 weeks. Las Vegas is hoping that Jake Plummer can play in Week 4, but right now it is not looking very promising.
INJURED RESERVE
Keiwan Ratliff CB MEM Torn ACL
Troy Smith QB STL Torn MCL
OUT
David Bowens DE JAX Arm 4-6 Weeks
Deltha O’Neal CB MGN Foot 4-6 Weeks
Michael Floyd WR CHI Abdomen 2-4 Weeks
Bryan Bulaga OT STL Thigh 1-2 Weeks
Robbie Tobeck C ATL Concussion 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
Bobby Wagner LB OAK Turf Toe
Knowshon Moreno HB ORL Shoulder
Tebucky Jones FS MEM Neck
Michael Jenkins WR ORL Turf Toe
Jake Plummer QB LV Concussion
QUESTIONABLE
Kevin Burnett LB HOU Hip
Ben Sobieski G NOR Hamstring
Robert Turbin HB SEA Hand
Demaryius Thomas WR ATL Concussion
Luke Kuechley LB BOS Foot
Busy Week For Roster Moves, But No NFL Signings
Despite the closing of the NFL-USFL transfer window and a lot of talk about Alex Smith of the 49ers, no NFL players were signed this past week as the window once again shut. That does not mean that there were no moves at all, as we saw some action within the USFL free agent pool as well as some trades as teams try to find injury replacements. Here is our rundown of the most impactful moves.
Moore Moves from Orlando to Philadelphia
There was a question what the Renegades would do when NFL import Chad Henne was activated from the practice squad. We got our answer this week. Henne moved into the active roster and Charlotte cut QB Matt Moore to make room. Philadelphia immediately pounced on the waiver wire and put a claim in for Moore. That claim held and by Thursday, Moore was practicing with the Stars. Expect him to be listed as the #2 QB within a week as Philadelphia moved Austin Davis to their practice squad.
John David Booty Finds a New Home
Charlotte also had an NFL import QB shifting from the practice squad to the active roster as Charlie Whitehurst was added to the 53 this week. That meant that Charlotte also had 4 QBs on the roster. Rather than cut one, they opted to make a deal, sending Booty to the St. Louis Skyhawks, who had recently placed Troy Smith on IR after his MCL injury Booty will start as the #3 QB behind Josh Freeman and Ricky Stanzi, but we expect that the veteran will move past Stanzi once he has had a chance to absorb the Skyhawk playbook.
Nashville Swaps Kickers
With Knights kicker Connor Barth missing on 3 of his 6 field goal attempts already this season, including a potential game-winning kick in regulation of their 20-17 overtime loss to Memphis, the Nashville Knights have made a deal to bring in a new kicker. Chicago had both Tim Seder and Kai Forbath on the roster because Seder had suffered some hamstring issues in camp, but with Seder now back at 100%, they were happy to send Forbath to Nashville for a 7th round pick.
Stallions Upgrade at FB.
The Stallions had not been happy with the production from FB Rhett Ellison. The rookie was struggling to pick up blocking schemes and was not reliable in passing downs. So, still hopeful for the future for Ellison, they moved the rookie to the practice squad and worked out a deal with Charlotte to acquire veteran Obafemi Ayanbadejo. Ayanbadejo
BIR trades 5th to CHA for FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo, the 36-year old former Blitz and Bandit fullback was expected to retire this year but came back with Charlotte. He now joins Birmingham, where the expectation is that he will be a coach on the field, helping to develop Ellison as he also helps Joseph Addai and Cam Newton with the Stallions right now.
Destination Dallas Files For Purchase, But Details Undisclosed.
Reports out of NYC this week that the investment group Destination Dallas has reached on preliminary agreements with a USFL franchise for a sale to the Texas-based investment group. In sealed documents presented to the USFL league office, DD was expected to present the terms of the agreement. With the Owners set to meet in 3 weeks, the expectation is that this proposed sale will be the primary order of business. League officials as well as team officials with the primary potential targets (Chicago, Boston, Nashville, and Oakland) have all been mum on the topic. And while that makes good legal sense, it is not going to do anything to calm the nerves of their various fanbases, each of whom are now very concerned that their team is the one for sale and the one that could relocate to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
The fear within league circles, of course, is that news will get out of the team to be sold, and that when that happens we will see a combination of protests, fueled by anger about the relocation of the franchise, and ticket sale declines, perhaps a collapse of the entire fanbase for the remainder of the 2012 seaosn in whichever city is about to lose there team. The problem, of course, is that relocation takes time, and it would benefit the Dallas group to start working on everything from team identity to ticket sales as soon as possible, assuming the sale is approved. But, from the league perspective, a delay in releasing the information about which team has agreed to terms with Destination Dallas could allow the team to have a meaningful 2012 season and still have fan support.
Just how long the league and its various teams can keep a lid on the identity of the proposed seller is very much in question. We find it hard to believe that no announcement would be made during the regular season, but it is theoretically possible that the sale of a USFL franchise could be approved without public revelation of which team is being purchased. If that happens, then the Dallas group could begin to set up their franchise this season without an open declaration of just who is moving to the city. With most insiders expecting Dallas to develop a new identity for their club, regardless of the current identity of the franchise in question. So, we could be losing the Invaders, Machine, Knights or Cannons and gaining a brand new team, but even in that process we may not know which city or which fanbase is being dropped until later. Of course that all assumes that leaks do not occur and that the deal is approved as designed.
Is OKC Really Next Up?
That is the hope of the investors and city officials who have approved construction of a new football/soccer/lacrosse facility in the capital city of Oklahoma. The city is cashing in on recent growth and hoping to expand their sports profile by investing in a new 57,000 seat stadium to be built just on the southeastern suburbs of OK City. The new facility will be completed by the early spring of 2016, and the hope, of course, is that the facility will attract both a USFL franchise and a Major League Soccer franchise. Both feel a bit farfetched, but stranger things have happened. With Dallas, Miami, San Diego and the Twin Cities already planning on a push for USFL recognition, Oklahoma City has a lot of citeis ahead of them, with stadiums either already available or under development, not to mention the demographic data which certainly supports the larger markets.
While Oklahoma has actually been home to a USFL franchise, the ill-fated and short-lived Oklahoma Outlaws, who played at the University of Tulsa’s Skelly Stadium, the growing Oklahoma City market had not been host to any major league sports franchise until the relocation of the NBA’s Seattle Supersonics in 2008. The success of the newly-dubbed Thunder seems to be one of the motivating factors leading to the stadium project, with the city and the local investors hoping to attract a USFL franchise to fulfill the passion for the game that has always been present in the Sooner State. We still rank OKC as a clear darkhorse in any expansion or relocation discussion, but the stadium is underway and the money may just be there to make the dream happen for the city and the state.
Week Four, the one quarter mark of the season, and we kick it off with a rare interconference clash between two teams that were in the Conference Finals last year, Texas and Philadelphia. The Outlaws are a 7-point favorite on the road, largely due to the absence of Kurt Warner for the Stars, but coming into Philly and getting a W is never an easy task.
On Saturday we have an interesting matchup between New Jersey and Birmingham, two teams on the rise, both sitting at 2-1, and hoping that they can reach 3-1 with a solid game. Los Angeles, stuck at 0-3 and dealing with at least one disgruntled player, head to Atlanta hoping to earn their first win. Saturday ends with a battle of two divisional foes, one 3-0 and the other 0-3, as St. Louis takes their unblemished record to Michigan to face the hard luck Panthers.
Sunday brings us some good divisional games as Orlando, fresh off their win over Tampa Bay, must now visit unbeaten Charlotte. We also have a rivalry game in the Southwest as Houston will travel to Arizona for a divisional clash. Seattle is also in division as the 0-3 Dragons travel to Oakland to face a 2-1 Invader club. The Sunday Night clash is another somewhat rare inter-conference showdown, with the Federals making their first trip to the Mile High City in several years.
BOLD = National Broadcast BLUE = Divisional Game
FRIDAY @ 8PM ET TEXAS (3-0) @ PHILADELPHIA (2-1) NBC
SAT @ 12PM ET NASHVILLE (1-2) @ OHIO (0-3) ABC
SAT @ 12PM ET PITTSBURGH (2-1) @ MEMPHIS 1-2) FOX
SAT @ 12PM ET NEW JERSEY (2-1) @ BIRMINGHAM (2-1) FOX
SAT @ 4PM ET LOS ANGELES (0-3) @ ATLANTA (1-2) ABC
SAT @ 4PM ET PORTLAND (3-0) @ LAS VEGAS (2-1) FOX
SAT @ 8PM ET ST. LOUIS (2-1) @ MICHIGAN (0-3) ESPN/EFN
SUN @ 12PM ET ORLANDO (2-1) @ CHARLOTTE (3-0) ABC
SUN @ 12PM ET JACKSONVILLE (0-3) @ TAMPA BAY (2-1) ABC
SUN @ 12PM ET BOSTON (0-3) @ BALTIMORE (2-1) FOX
SUN @ 4PM ET CHICAGO (2-1) @ NEW ORLEANS (1-2) ABC
SUN @ 4PM ET HOUSTON (2-1) @ ARIZONA (1-2) FOX
SUN @ 4PM ET SEATTLE (0-3) @ OAKLAND (2-1) FOX
SUN @ 8PM ET WASHINGTON (2-1) @ DENVER (2-1) ESPN/EFN