A Wild Card weekend with few surprises as all four favorites won out. Charlotte, the only road favorite, paid a price for victory however as they those their quarterback and now face a brutal challenge in the Divisional round. New Jersey continues to look like one of the hottest teams in the league with a dismantling of the Federals. Texas gets challenged by a plucky Portland squad but holds on to win at home. And, finally, on Sunday night, Oakland uses a big fourth quarter to knock out the Denver Gold and move on to the divisional round. We will recap all four Wild Card games, take a look at the Divisionals, and update you on the coaching and player news of the week. Starting with the big cost the Monarchs paid for a win in New Orleans.
CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 17 NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 10
A bittersweet victory for the Charlotte Monarchs as they race out to a 17-0 lead but then lose QB Jake Delhomme in the process. Charlotte looked very much like an 11-win team in the opening three quarters of their Wild Card matchup with the New Orleans Breakers, holding the homestanding Breakers to only 122 yards and no points over 3 quarters and building a 17-0 lead thanks in part to a 12 of 15 performance from QB Jake Delhomme, but just as things were looking bright for Charlotte, Delhomme took a vicious hit from DE Ty Warren and was slow to get up. He needed assistance getting to the sideline with what was determined to be an ankle injury. It would keep him from the rest of the game as rookie QB Brandon Wheedon stepped in.
Wheedon’s inexperience and lack of practice snaps were evident as Charlotte gained only 1 more first down in the game, while New Orleans fought to get back into contention. With 1:22 left to play they got their first TD, pulling within 7. The onside kick failed, and Charlotte needed a first down to lock down the win. Wheedon handed off to Fred Jackson on first and second down, but on third and 3 he made his biggest play of the game, a 5-yard throw to TE Garrett Celek to ice the game. The Monarchs will move on to face division rivals Atlanta next week, and by all accounts they will do so with the rookie at QB, a tough task to be sure.
PORTLAND STAGS 17 TEXAS OUTLAWS 24
As with the earlier game on Saturday, the favorite raced out to an early lead with Texas getting first half TDs form Marques Colston (2) and Arian Foster. But Portland proved to be up to the task, coming back on the Outlaws in the second half but simply not able to get one more drive in before time ran out.
Luke McCown had a good game as the Portland defense focused on Foster. He would complete 15 of 23 throws for 289 yards and 2 scores. On the other side of the ball Ryan Fitzpatrick was almost single handedly keeping Portland in the game by throwing the ball 41 times, completing 34 for 242 and 2 scores as well. Roddy White finished the game with 8 catches, 2 for scores, while Marques Colston, the league’s receiving yards champion proved the point by catching 6 balls for 171 yards, including 2 scores, one a 57-yard strike.
Texas will now go to Las Vegas to play the Thunder. DT Terrell Troupe may not make the trip after injuring his knee, but otherwise the Outlaws are in good health as they prepare for a road playoff game.
WASHINGTON FEDERALS 14 NEW JERSEY GENERALS 37
New Jersey continues to be on fire, despite Washington clamping down on Sam Bradford, holding the QB, who had thrown for 4 scores in each of the past 3 games, to only 152 yards and 2 scores on the day. But that focus on the pass meant that there were lanes for Maurice Jones-Drew, and the diminutive back took full advantage, rushing for 109 yards on only 15 carries, a 7.3 YPC average.
New Jersey scored the first 30 points of the match as they just dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage through three quarters. The game started with a 75-yard pick six from safety Sam Shields, and New Jersey added TDs from Doug Baldwin and John Carlson in the 2nd quarter. Forced to play catch up in the second half, the Washington run game was neutralized and the Feds became somewhat one-dimensional, exactly as New Jersey would want it.
The Generals will next head to Philadelphia to face their archrival in a game that could produce a lot of fireworks (on the field and in the stands). New Jersey has become a squad that no one wants to face over the past month, and certainly the Stars will need to have a plan for this offense, which has been one of the league’s best over the home stretch. With both offenses playing very well right now, we could be in for a real shootout in this NE Division grudge match.
DENVER GOLD 17 OAKLAND INVADERS 31
Oakland was humiliated by Houston in their season finale, and that clearly motivated them as they faced another SW Division club in the Wild Card playoffs. Oakland was much more efficient and less mistake prone than in their regular season finale. They went toe to toe with the Gold for three quarters but were still down 17-10 as the 4th quarter began. Denver had indeed stressed the run game with Maurice Hicks getting the majority of the carries and averaging 4.0 YPC. Matt Leinart had connected with TE Daniel Graham for a score, while Oakland had gotten an early score from Greg Jennings.
But, trailing by 7 at home when the quarter began, Oakland rallied and went on a run of three straight scoring drives that not only allowed them to even the score but build up what would be an unanswered 21-point swing. Ryan Williams scored twice, and Jerious Norwood added a third TD in a dynamic 4th quarter that saw Norwood bust a 41-yard run to finish the day with 120 yards. Joey Harrington, who had struggled most of the day, completing only 9 of 20 passes in the first 3 quarters, would go 9 of 12 in the 4th and Oakland would take the game and move on.
The Invaders now face St. Louis in the second round, a tough task, but this is an experienced Invader squad that is unlikely to be phased by facing the top seed in the West, especially when as a team St. Louis has very little playoff experience compared to Harrington and the Invaders.
Delhomme Injury the Story of Wild Card Weekend
You hate to have an injury be the biggest story of any playoff game, but that was certainly the case for the Charlotte Monarchs, who now face a tough matchup at Philadelphia with a rookie under center. Jake Delhomme, who was contemplating retirement a year ago, after a frustrating first season in Charlotte and a truly horrible 2010 season in Memphis, had stuck it out and in 2012 had a renaissance, throwing for nearly 3,600 yards and 26 TDs on his way to his highest QB Rating in 6 years. He had led the Monarchs to their first playoff appearance as a franchise, as well as their first winning record after 3 consecutive years with 7 wins. But all that would now be secondary as the story of the day was the veteran QB’s ankle.
The injury is a severe strain, but there appears to be no ligament damage. That is the report from the Monarchs’ medical team. Delhomme will be unable to go in the Divisional playoffs, and even if Charlotte can overcome the top seeded Stars, he might also be forced to miss the Conference Championship. A very tough pill to swallow for Delhomme and the Monarchs.
So now all eyes turn to Brandon Wheedon, the 23-year-old rookie who threw a grand total of 12 pass attempts in the regular season. Wheedon, who set school records at Oklahoma State with 4,727 passing yards in 2011 and who completed nearly 73% of his throws as a senior now takes over the Charlotte offense. No doubt that veterans like Fred Jackson, D. J. Hackett and Derrick Mason will do all they can to make life easy on Wheedon, the truth is also that Philadelphia is going to bring heat. The Stars’s pass defense is not considered a strength of the team (they live on offensive firepower), but Philly finished the regular season 4th in the league with 60 QB sacks on the season. Led by DE Anthony Hargrove’s 18 sacks, the Stars have been known to use a wide range of stunts and line shifts to free up their ends and get pressure quickly. That is something Wheedon is going to have to expect. It is a role he certainly did not expect after watching Delhomme play all 16 regular season games, but it is one he now must take on.
More Retirements Impact Offseason Plans across the USFL
One week after the initial announcements from players like Brian Griese, Shaun Alexander, Kavika Pittman, Tory Holt and LaDainian Tomlinson, the announcements of retirements may not have the same name impact, but that still does not make live any easier for the impacted teams who now have added gaps to fill in their rosters. This week we saw several additional players announce that their playing days were over, including a couple who have stepped away following Wild Card Weekend losses. Here are the most impactful of the announced retirements this week:
LA Defensive Tackle Anthony McFarland has been a mainstay on the D-Line for the Express, leaving an immediate need for the club that is also searching for a new head coach.
When Birmingham signed Obafemi Ayanbadejo to a one-year deal, there was an understanding that the 36-year-old fullback would likely be a one-year fill in, and that has come to pass as the veteran blocking back announced his retirement this week.
Just a few days after Kavika Pittman announced his retirement, Houston loses another D-lineman as DT Kenard Lang also declared his intention to retire at 36. Houston had hoped they could convince the veteran nose tackle to stick around for 1 more year, but Lang opted out this week.
Nashville TE Justin Peele announced he would retire after 10 seasons in the league, all with the Knights.
Seattle OT Chad Clifton will not renew for another year, citing concerns with his long-term health as his motivation to retire at 33.
New Orleans will miss DT Jason Peter next year after the space-eating tackle announced he would not return for another season. Peter is one of several linemen who have stepped away in the past week, including Boston OT Ed Ellis, Ohio DT Wendell Bryant, and Ohio OT Kwame Harris.
Finally, Chicago kicker Tim Seder, who turns 38 in just 2 weeks, has also hung up the boot. One of the oldest players in the league, Seder has been in the league since 1998, when he started as a rookie for the Outlaws. He has been Chicago’s placekicker since 2002 and finished third in the league this year in points, behind only Brandon Coutu and Rian Lindell.
Babin Demands to be Released.
Defensive End Jason Babin is apparently not interested in relocating to Texas. The longstanding sack leader of the Boston Cannons has made his feelings clear this week that he wishes to be released from the final year of his contract so that he can seek employment somewhere other than Dallas. Babin, who has been a leader both on the field for the Cannons and in the community in and around Boston, expressed his disappointment that the team was leaving New England. Having lived in Boston now since signing as a rookie in 2004 and has become a fixture in local community outreach.
The former Western Michigan product has a foundation that works with children in and around the Boston area, a home in Newton, and two children attending local schools. While he says he understands that players often change teams, and that he understood that relocation was a part of the game, he added that this should be by choice, not by forced relocation not only of a player but an entire team. Dallas ownership has not made public comment about Babin’s status, and while losing such a significant talent would be a blow to the team, it would also free up nearly $7M in cap space and if it avoids Babin holding out, that may also be a plus for the Roughnecks.
Las Vegas to Host First Playoff Game with Start Time Delay Possible.
League officials are concerned about Las Vegas’s scheduled 8pm ET kickoff time for this week’s Divisional Playoff. Predictions from the National Weather Service put the ground temperature in Las Vegas at game time (5pm local) at nearly 100 degrees, and we all know that in the bowl of a stadium temperatures can easily be 10 degrees warmer than ambient temperatures in surrounding areas. This will be the first home playoff game for the city and the team since it relocated from Portland, and the league wants to avoid some of the issues that have been seen in venues like Phoenix and Florida during high temperature games in past playoff years.
While Thunder officials have said all the right things about providing ample equipment for cooling, misting, and hydrating players, the reality is that when temperatures reach that level, there is little that can be done to make playing conditions safer. One of the things that the USFL could do, and is considering, is changing the kickoff time from 8pm ET to 8pm local time. That three-hour shift would make a world of difference in the desert climate of Las Vegas, particularly as the sun is expected to pass below the mountain peak line somewhere around 7:25pm. As is typical for the desert, the drop of the sun will have an almost immediate impact on temperatures at Sam Boyd Stadium, an open-air bowl stadium. By 8:30pm temperatures could dip to a much more manageable range of 78-83 degrees, well within the range that we see in many stadiums each weekend.
Of course, an 8pm start in Las Vegas means an 11pm kickoff for fans on the East Coast, but that may simply be a necessity for safety. The game is scheduled for Saturday Night, so a late kickoff is not as bad as it would be on a Sunday for viewership, but even with Saturday night being a late night for many folks, it almost certainly will drop the ratings for ESPN, who are scheduled to cover the game. A decision is due on Thursday as both teams are preparing for the heat and hoping the league will do what it can to protect player safety.
Going into the Divisional Round, the injury to Jake Delhomme is obviously the headline, but all 4 games could be impacted by the players who are not available. Here is our breakdown of all 4 games.
CHA: QB J. Delhomme (OUT), FB Justin Green (IR), SS John Keith (IR),
LB A. J. Nicholson (OUT)
ATL: CB Andre Woolfork (OUT), DE Chris Kelsay (D), SS DaJuan Morgan (P)
The story of the game will be Jake Delhomme’s absence and the decision Charlotte has to make between rookie Brandon Wheedon, who has not started any games this year, and NFL import Charlie Whitehurst, who has been 3rd on the depth chart all season. Wheedon has a grand total of 12 pass attempts this year, while Whitehurst has yet to appear in a game. This will absolutely impact Charlotte’s game plan.
TEX: DT Terrell Troupe (OUT), QB Joe Flacco (IR), DE Chris Canty (P)
LV: C Roberto Garza (Q), LB Joey Porter (P), FS Mark Barron (P)
The Thunder expect all three of their injured players to be able to go this week. Not the case for Texas, who get Chri Canty back but will be without DT Terrell Troupe. Expect Paul Grasmanis to line up next to starter Luis Castillo in the 4-3 alignment Texas likes.
NJ: FS Scott Shields (OUT), DE Shaun Ellis (IR), CB Devin McCourty (Q),
FB William Swan (Q)
PHI: DE Robert Mathis (IR), QB Kurt Warner (IR) SS Darren Sharper (IR),
OT Ken Shackleford (OUT)
Both teams will be without a starting safety in this game, which may mean that both offenses will test the secondaries deep. New Jersey has McCourty as questionable, but early indications are that he will play. If Swan cannot go at FB then expect to see the Generals rotate in HB Gordon Guerin and TE Ryan Krause depending on the situation.
OAK: TE Jeb Putzier (IR), DT Tyson Alualu (Q), G Logan Mankins (Q)
STL: WR Eric Weems (IR), G Paul Zakauskas (OUT), HB William Bethea (P)
The return of Logan Mankins could be a nice assist for the Oakland run game, while for St. Louis, losing Eric Weems and Paul Zakauskas in Week 16 was not at all what the Skyhawks wanted in a meaningless season finale. Expect Sinorice Moss to step back in as the slot option, which is not really a downgrade.
NFL’s Tennessee Copperheads File Legal Action Against USFL Knights
The Tennessee Copperheads of the NFL have, to say the least, not been pleased with the results of the USFL Knights’ negotiations with LP Field, the home to both franchises. They have filed a lawsuit in the state’s district court, claiming that unfair practices were used by the Knights to renegotiate a contract with the stadium that grants them significantly higher revenue per game than their NFL counterparts and identifies the USFL Knights as the “primary tenant” moving forward. This is a significant change of standing for the Knights, one which essentially flipped the status of the two pro football teams that call LP Field home.
The Copperheads, who were formed in Nashville in 1998 and participated in the initial drive to construct the facility, had been seen as the primary occupant since the facility opened in 1999. The Knights arrived from St. Louis in 2002, added as a second pro football franchise and secondary occupant of the stadium. The redesignation of the Knights essentially gives them a degree of veto power over any other events held at the stadium, particularly relevant during the months of February through August, when the USFL preseason through post-season is in effect. That schedule does not overlap often with the NFL schedule but has the capacity to impact the stadium’s use as a site for the Super Bowl in February as well as the scheduling of NFL preseason games in August. This, combined with a shift in game-day revenue splitting between the stadium authority and the two football franchises is the focus of the suit.
The claim is that by using the threat of relocation to Dallas as a leverage tool, the Knights unfairly pressured the stadium authority to redefine the terms of their lease with LP Field, creating a conflict of interest with the NFL, the USFL, and the Copperheads in particular. Both teams now have contracts which grant their franchise primacy in the stadium, a clear violation of the earlier deal set up by the NFL and the Copperheads with the stadium authority. The NFL is claiming that the tactics used by the USFL and the Knights violated not only the lease already held by the Copperheads but both federal and state tort law related to contractual obligation made under duress. The suit seeks a reversal of the new terms for the Knights and a return of the NFL franchise to primacy in its dealings with the stadium. For their part the Nashville Knights are claiming no inappropriate pressure or duress was present and seek to retain the more favorable terms of their new stadium deal, one which provides them with a significantly higher percentage of revenue from parking and concessions as well as more direct revenue from ticket sales, shifting the stadium/franchise split from a 50/50 proposition to a 30/70 advantage for the Knights. The case is preliminarily scheduled for initial arbitration in October and we will continue to cover the story as it develops.
League Reveals 2013 Summer Bowl Logo
The USFL this week revealed the logo for Summer Bowl 2013, to be held in Denver, Colorado, the third time the league’s title game will be held in the Mile High City, and the first time at Invesco Field. The logo depicts a stadium set in front of mountains with a setting sun in the background. The USFL name and “U” logo are prominently featured on the field, while the location and the starburst logo of the Gold are found at the bottom. In keeping with the tradition of the Summer Bowl, a palette of oranges, pinks, purples, and golds are used in the logo along with the black and gold of the USFL Denver Gold franchise. Compared with the Summer Bowl 2012 logo which heavily leaned into the colors and identity of the St. Louis Skyhawks, the 2013 logo will bring back more of the summer-themed palette and imagery.
Denver becomes the first city to host three Summer Bowls, having served as the site of the league’s first championship game in 1983 as well as the 1995 Summer Bowl, both at Mile High Stadium. Both Los Angeles and New Jersey are scheduled to host their third title game in the next few years, with Farmers Insurance Field set as the site of the 2015 championship game, and MetLife Stadium on the docket for 2016 (2014 will be held in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome).
Top 2013 Draft Prospect Makes His Preference for USFL Known
The Orlando Renegades may have suffered an embarrassing season-long letdown that saw them finish the year 3-13, but they have at least one big fan. LSU edge rusher Barkevious Mingo, considered a clear Top 5 prospect in the upcoming USFL and NFL drafts made a statement to reporters in Baton Rouge this week as he prepares for his senior season with the Bayou Bengals.
“I will go where I am picked, but if it were up to me, I would be in Orlando with my guys, the Renegades.” That was the statement from the hybrid DE/LB, who hails from nearby Belle Glade, Florida. “The ‘Gades have always been my team, ever since I was a little kid and I saw my first game with Chris Doleman blowing linemen up” added the jovial Mingo.
While Renegade fans certainly love the praise for their club, and the interest of a top prospect, Mingo would be a player within the protected territorial picks of the New Orleans Breakers, not the Renegades. However, if Mingo were not protected by New Orleans, he could be available as Orlando has the 2nd pick in the Open Draft. Mingo’s problem, of course, is that with Calais Campbell locked in with the Renegades, the need for a speedy edge rusher is not exactly a top priority for the Renegades, who have glaring needs on offense and in the LB group. Now, if Mingo translated as a multi-use linebacker, he could well be a prospect for the Renegades, but right now he is viewed mostly as an edge rusher, not someone who will play in coverage, so while there is certainly interest, it may not be enough to get Mingo into Renegade black and blue next spring.
Divisional Weekend and we have two divisional rivalries among the four clashes, both in the East as Charlotte heads to Atlanta to face the Fire while New Jersey travels to Philadelphia to take on the Stars. This is again part of the USFL’s fixed bracket format in which teams are not allocated in each round based up on their seeds, but matchups are designated by the initial rankings. In other words, the games are pre-set with the assumption that the 3 and # seeds will advance, so the winner of the 6 vs. 3 seed will always face the 2nd seed, while the 4 v. 5 winner is automatically aligned with the top seed.
This system has been critiqued as one that often benefits the top seed, but it is as the USFL has designed it, so that fans of the top two seeds know in advance which game is the one that will produce their opponent, theoretically increasing interest in the Wild Card Round. More akin to the March Madness structure than the NFL playoffs, the system has produced good matchups most years, so while it may feel odd to have a 6 seed not face off against the 1 seed, the product on the field has still been very well-received. So, that in place, impacting Charlotte’s path to the conference title, we will take a look at their game in Atlanta as well as the three other matchups on tap for us this weekend.
6-Charlotte Monarchs (11-5) @ 2-Atlanta Fire (11-5)
Saturday, July 16 @ 4pm ET
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Fire -8
The Delhomme injury has clear impact in how this game is perceived, but we should remember that when these two division rivals last met in Week 9, Atlanta thoroughly trounced the Monarchs 35-7 even with the Monarchs’ QB fully-healthy. Now, with Delhomme out and the rookie Brandon Wheedon expected to get the start, the oddsmakers have been seeing a lot of action leaning heavily towards Atlanta, as surprises no one. The line jumped from 3 points up to 11, but has since calmed a bit and sits at 8 points for the Fire. Atlanta, which boasts the league’s 2nd best scoring defense, giving up only 15.9 points per game, will certainly have a confidence advantage if nothing else. They will rely on that defense and on Kyle Orton to play mistake-free football. Charlotte will almost certainly seek to keep the score low, to run the ball with Fred Jackson and Shonn Greene, and to keep as much pressure off of Wheedon as they can. It will be a tough gameplan to enact against a good, disciplined defensive squad, particularly in a hostile environment. Our pick is Atlanta, but we think this will likely be a game in the teens, not one that produces an 8, 10, or 14 point margin. We say Atlanta 17-13.
3-Texas Outlaws (10-6) @ 2-Las Vegas Thunder (11-5)
Saturday, July 16 @ 8pm ET (Time May be Adjusted)
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Even
An interesting line on this game as it seems that even in Las Vegas the Thunder cannot get any respect. The Thunder defeated the Outlaws back in Week 7, and have won 5 of their last 6 games, and yet the betting on this game has been leaning towards Texas, producing the unusual “even” betting line. Here is what we know ahead of this game. First, Las Vegas has the best scoring defense in the league, giving up barely 14 points a game. They have a veteran QB in Jake Plummer and one of the most dynamic running backs in the game with Marshawn Lynch. And yet, they are only 21st in rushing offense in the league, and again 21st in passing. Texas, for their part, has the 2nd best scoring offense, putting up 26.9 points per game, but lost 3 of 4 regular season games heading into the playoffs. Now, their win over Portland was a good sign, but they did struggle a bit to keep up pressure throughout the game. Our thought is that folks are sleeping on the Thunder and that Texas without Joe Flacco at the helm is a far more vulnerable team than their record may indicate. We are going to trust in the Las Vegas defense (and the heat) to wilt the Outlaws and get a win at home. Outlaws 20-16 is our pick.
4-Oakland Invaders (10-6) @ 1-St. Louis Skyhawks (13-3)
Sunday, July 17 @ 4pm ET
The Dome @ America’s Center, St. Louis, MO
Skyhawks -5
These two did not meet in the regular season, so there is no direct track record to look at. What we know from the 16 games both did play is that St. Louis can put up points and Oakland relies heavily on defense. The Skyhawks can beat you on the ground with the ageless Antowain Smith or through the air with likely league MVP Josh Freeman. They are also playing some of their best ball right now, having entered the playoffs with an impressive 9-game winning streak, including 4 straight games in which they have won by double digits over the opposition. Oakland also played well down the stretch, going 6-2 in the second half of the season, but that 41-9 loss in the season finale to Houston still bugs us. For a team that thrives on defensive stops and short fields that game looks like a very troubling blueprint on how to beat them. The Invaders only average 18.8 points per game, so if this turns into a track meet in the Dome that clearly favors the Skyhawks. Oakland’s best option is to try to control the tempo and limit Skyhawk possessions. We view that as a tough task indeed, so we pick St. Louis to take this one. Skyhawks 27-20.
4-New Jersey Generals (12-4) @ 1-Philadelphia Stars (12-4)
Sunday, July 17 @ 8pm ET
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Stars -3
We cannot imagine a more intense potential matchup than a Generals-Stars playoff game. The teams don’t like each other. The fans absolutely don’t like each other. Both teams are playing extremely well. This one should be good, which explains why the league scheduled it for the Sunday night slot, the highlight of the weekend and a surefire ratings spike. The two last met in Week 12, with New Jersey edging the Stars in Philadelphia 23-20. Since then Sam Bradford has been on fire while the Stars, who also won their final 4 games, have been showing more defensive clout while still maintaining a blistering offensive pace. Matt Gutierrez has been the Cinderella story of the 2012 season, giving us his own version of the Kurt Warner story with Kurt Warner right there cheering him on. But now he faces playoff football and a very good Generals team. We think Sam Bradford’s added experience gives the Generals a slight edge. Our pick is a road upset, New Jersey 27-Philadelphia 24.