Arizona and Philadelphia just keep chugging along. St. Louis is back to .500 and putting that 0-3 start behind them. Charlotte and Oakland are slipping. And Dallas’s surprise 2-0 start has come crashing back to reality as they lose their 4th in a row. All the Week 6 news, including another starting QB sent to the IR and some issue in Tennessee arise. All this, plus the 2013 Hall of Fame semi-finalists are announced. Don’t go anywhere. All the USFL news is happening right here.
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 27 MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 24 OVERTIME
Sure, it’s a cliché when rivals meet to say that you can throw out the records, but it is a cliché because it is so often true. That was certainly the case when the Stallions headed up to Memphis to face the Showboats. Birmingham was 4-1, coming off their first loss of the season but looking to set themselves back on course with a win against their rivals. Memphis was sitting at 1-4, having struggled to put together a complete game on either offense or defense, but on this day the records were out the window and we got a game that would not be decided until extra time.
It was Memphis’s best crowd of the year, a solid 48,402, though by our count a solid 15,000-16,000 of the folks at the liberty bowl were wearing Birmingham colors, not atypical for a Stallion-Showboat game. The game would feature Cam Newton going up against Eli Manning, and both QB’s would have good outings. Newton would finish with 391 yards on 24 of 43, and he would contribute 3 touchdowns on the day. Mannign would also look solid, going 30 of46 for 289 yards and 3 scores of his own.
The game started with a quick 3-and-out by the Showboats, causing a groan among the Showboat faithful. Birmingham would seek to silence the Memphis crowd with a strong first drive. They would get just that, with Newton connecting on 3 of his first 4 passes, including a 24-yard out and up to Randy Moss for the game’s first score. Memphis would respond with a couple of first downs and a 45 yard field goal from Dan Bailey to get on the board. But, when Randy Moss responded with a second TD reception only 2 minutes later, there was definitely a sense among the Showboat fans that this game could get out of hand unless the Showboats found a way to get in the endzone on their next possession.
It seems the Showboat coaches and players felt this too, as they were significantly more daring in their 3rd drive, using McFadden as a decoy as Manning found Robert Ferguson open on a play action play that got them in scoring range. They then surprised Birmingham by shifting to a 5-receiver set after shifting Knile Davis out wide. The ploy worked and Nate Washington found himself in single coverage not with a DB but with a linebacker. Manning caught that mismatch and found Washington on a corner route that the backer had no chance of defending. Memphis had pulled within 4 at 14-10, and the crowd was back in the game.
Birmingham would score a field goal to close out the half, but down only 7, Memphis fans at least felt that there team was doing all it could to hang with the Stallions. That sense was pushed even further when the Showboats scored the first points of the second half, a long drive, lasting 14 plays, that looked for a while like it might come up empty. With a first and goal from the 2, Memphis lost yardage on a 1st down run, then missed on a slant route to Lee Evans. On third down, they got called for illegal motion, pushing them back to the 9-yard line, and fans started to worry if a field goal was eminent. But, on 3rd and goal from the 9, Eli Manning avoided a sack, moved in the pocket, and found Robert Ferguson late, giving Memphis the TD and tying the game at 17.
Birmingham was in a dog fight, and despite their best efforts, they had not been able to put Memphis away. Now tied with the Showboats in the final minutes of the third, they too felt urgency to get points on the board, to remain in control of the game. That sense caused Coach Shanahan to go for it on 4th and 2 from the Memphis 47. Newton scrambled, one of only 3 rushes on the day for the QB, and just barely reached the marker. That play helped spur the Stallions, and 5 plays later they were in the endzone on a Newton to Owens TD pass. The 3rd ended with Birmingham back on top by 7, sitting at 24-17.
Most of the 4th quarter was a battle of field position, with neither offense able to coordinate well enough to string together more than 1 first down conversion. When Memphis took the ball over at 3:31 left, they knew that it was down to this drive, and once again the urgency kicked up the intensity a notch. Memphis got a 12-yard run from McFadden, his 2nd longest of the day, to kick things off, and that set the tone as the Showboats marched the ball down the field with a focus on getting inside the red zone with enough time to get several shots at the endzone.
With 67 seconds left to play, they made their mark, sitting at the 19. 4 plays later they were at the 3-yard line and looking to even the score and send the game to overtime. Again they tried the run on first down, and again Birmingham stuffed them for no gain. On 2nd down, Eli Manning took a sack back to the 9, but one play later, Birmingham DE Quentin Groves, was called for a late hit on Manning, which brought the ball back to the 4 and gave the Showboats a new set of downs. They would not try the run again, instead Manning would hook up with his top receiver, Robert Ferguson, using a rub play to free the wide out, Manning zipped the ball inside and Ferguson scored the equalizer with 30 seconds left to play.
Birmingham would opt to sit on the ball after the kickoff, content to go to the extra period to settle the game. In overtime, both teams would have their chances. Birmingham’s first opportunity to end the game came after Memphis’s opening drive, which ended with a punt from their own 33. Birmingham would have a bit more success, but would have to settle for giving Dan Bailey an attempt from the 39. The 56-yard attempt fell well short and off to the left, so Memphis took over from the 46. They too would venture only marginally in range for their kicker as Garret Hartley was sent in to attempt a 49-yard attempt from the 32. He too was unable to make the kick, drifting the ball to the right as the wind affected his trajectory just as it had Bailey’s.
Birmingham got the ball back at their own 39, and with only 2:07 left in the extra period, they would do what they could to get Bailey much closer to make his next attempt. That effort proved easier than anticipated thanks to a perfect pass and a well-executed spin move. On a 2nd and 8 from their own 41, Newton hit slot receiver Julian Edelman over the middle for what looked to be a 7-yard gain, but when safety Tebucky Jones closed in on the receiver, Edelman perfectly timed a turn that caused Jones to barely get one arm on his target. Edelman rolled right out of the tackle and raced for 48 yards on the play, putting the ball on the 9 yard line. From there it was a simple chip shot for Bailey, and Birmingham escaped with their 5th win of the year, but one they had to work hard to earn, proving once again that when two rivals meet, the on paper difference is wiped away by the on field passions of two teams that don’ t like each other and certainly don’t want to lose to their rival.
NASHVILLE 20 TAMPA BAY 31
Daunte Culpepper and company finally had a complete game as the Bandits scored 24 unanswered points to blow open the game against the Knights. Three third quarter TDs, all Culpepper TD passes helped Tampa turn a 13-10 deficit into a 31-13 advantage. Culpepper finished the game with 4 TD passes on 29 of 40 throwing. Ray Rice was the one bright spot for Nashville as he gained 81 yards in the first half on his way to 123 and 2 TDs.
DENVER 28 ORLANDO 24
The Gold reach .500 with a nice come-from-behind win in Orlando. Matt Leinart hit Golden Tate with the game winner mid-way through the 4th quarter as the Gold hung on to defeat the Renegades thanks to a strong game from DeMarco Murray (105 yards on 15 carries). The Denver run game totaled 203 yards rushing as Orlando simply could not shut them down on key 3rd downs all game.
PHILADELPHIA 24 CHARLOTTE 16
The Stars remain unbeaten as they drop Charlotte to their 2nd loss of the season. Matt Gutierrez went 23 of 28 and threw TDs to Johnson, Newhouse, and TE Daniel Fells to lead the Stars’ offense. The defense contained Charlotte, though D. J. Hackett still had 113 yards on 9 receptions. LB Kirk Morrison had a good day in the middle for Philly, racking up 10 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.
HOUSTON 13 ATLANTA 27
The Fire score the final 17 points of the game to knock off visiting Houston and gain their 2nd win on the year. Kyle Orton went 24 of 35 and avoided turnovers on his way to the victory. The Charlotte D held Matt Hasselbeck to only 47.1% completions and nabbed a key pick in the 4th quarter to quell a Gambler comeback attempt.
CHICAGO 20 LOS ANGELES 10
Despite 78 yards on only 15 carries from Reggie Bush, LA’s newfound offense fizzled against a relentless pressure scheme from the Chicago Machine. The Express were held to only 189 yards passing against Chicago. And while the Machine offense was hardly a thing of beauty, they did get TDs from HB Doug Martin and WR Michael Floyd, which was enough to propel them to the road victory and a 4-2 mark.
BALTIMORE 12 NEW JERSEY 10
Bryan Hoyer struggled once again and an anemic Baltimore offense found just enough, thanks to the leg of Nick Folk, to upend the Generals and claim victory despite never reaching the endzone. Neither team looked particularly capable on offense, but Big Ben’s 217 yards trumped Hoyer’s 160 and the Blitz earned victory number 2 on the season.
DALLAS 7 TEXAS 41
The Roughnecks have now lost 4 in a row after their surprising 2-0 start, and this one got ugly pretty fast. Texas racked up 470 yards of offense, with Joe Flacco throwing for 344 and Arian Foster adding 76 yards rushing with 2 TDs to boot. Both Brandon Marshall (115) and Marques Colston (154) went over the century mark and we even saw Luke McCown come in late in mop up duty as Texas rolled to victory in this in-state rivalry game.
JACKSONVILLE 10 PITTSBURGH 29
Andy Dalton threw for 233, but it was the Mauler defense that stole the show with 2 picks of Tim Tebow, including a Dunta Robinson pick-six that saw the DB execute a perfect stiff arm on his way to the endzone. The Maulers held Jacksonville to only 223 total yards of offense and only 1 third down conversion all game as both teams left the game with 2-4 records.
MICHIGAN 10 WASHINGTON 23
Joe Webb calms Federals fan fears about a post-Garrard collapse with a 20 of 29 passing day. Webb was solid, but it was Deuce McCallister, as expected, who was the focal point of the Federal offense, carrying the ball a grinding 31 times for 120 yards. Jahvid Best added 52 on 9 carries, including a 13-yard TD run as the Federals controlled the clock for over 39 minutes and just wore down the Panther defense.
LAS VEGAS 10 SEATTLE 27
With Plummer and Houshmandzadeh sidelined, Las Vegas struggled to mount an offense. Case Keenum completed only 13 of 30 passing for the Thunder, while Byron Leftwich went 13 of 21 and threw for 3 scores for Seattle. Add in a combined 101 yards rushing between Cadillac Williams and Robert Turbin and you had enough for the Seattle faithful who came out to the stadium to go home happy.
NEW ORLEANS 29 OAKLAND 13
The Invaders dropped their 2nd in a row as the visiting Breakers started off the scoring with an Early Doucet TD in the 1st and never looked back. Drew Brees threw for 2 scores and Matt Forte averaged 4.9 yards per carry as the Breakers had a strong offensive outing.
PORTLAND 9 ARIZONA 20
Larry Fitzgerald joined the league leaders in receiving yards thanks to a 124 yards performance and thew Wrangler D made short work of the Stags on their way to a 6-0 start. Portland could only muster 50 yards rushing against the Arizona D and only added 3 field goals to the scoreboard. Not enough as a late Stevan Ridley TD run made it a 2-score game and the D held off the Stags from there.
OHIO 27 ST. LOUIS 32
A really fun game in front of a really rambunctious Skyhawk crowd of over 57,000 as the homestanding ‘Hawks evened their record with a third straight win and pulled within 1 game of division-leading Ohio at the same time. Both QB’s had good games with both Weinke and Josh Freeman throwing for 2 scores. Eddie Lacy was the difference maker, with his 100 yards (4.5 per carry) and a key TD late in the 2nd quarter.
Jake Delhomme Now 3rd QB on IR
For the third time this season we open our weekly top stories with a starting QB being added to the IR with a season ending injury. After Sam Bradford and David Garrard, it was Charlotte’s Jake Delhomme who went down this week. The 16-year vet and 37-year-old QB suffered the injury to his left knee on a partial scramble, but one that led him to be rolled up on by his own guard. Helped off the field, Delhomme would not return to the game. The injury occurred late in the 4th, with Charlotte driving to try to get a go-ahead TD, trailing 21-16 at the time. Brandon Wheedon came in for the next play, an 3rd and 8. He would complete this pass, but it would go only for 7 yards and Charlotte would have to give the ball up to Philadelphia. The Stars would add a field goal and run down the clock, giving Charlotte no chance to come back with Wheedon at the helm.
After the game, Coach Mora announced that Jake Delhomme had been diagnosed with an ACL tear and that he would be placed on IR. Wheedon would be the starter in Week 7 and for the foreseeable future. Having traded Charlie Whitehurst to the Generals only a couple of weeks earlier, it would mean that untested Jeff Tuel went from the practice squad to the number 2 position perhaps more quickly than anyone hoped. Charlotte is expected to sign a 3rd QB from the free agent pool, but all eyes will now turn to Brandon Wheedon, the 2nd year QB out of Mizzou who surprised everyone last year with a playoff run that saw him lead Charlotte past both Atlanta and Philadelphia and into the Summer Bowl. Can Wheedon repeat that success with the Monarchs this year now that the team is all but handed to him and all eyes are on him to rise to the occasion?
Olsen, Caldwell, Williams Also Out
While we highlighted Delhomme’s injury as one of three big losses this season for three clubs, his was not the only IR placement in what was a pretty rough week around the league. Orlando will be without one of its most consistent weapons as TE Greg Olsen is done for the year after x-rays revealed not just a strain, but a significant fracture in his tibia. In Philadelphia, deep threat Reche-Caldwell was placed on IR after suffering a neck and shoulder injury that caused fractures both to his collarbone and one of his vertebrae. Finally, in Houston, wideout Roy Williams opted to have surgery to remedy a dislocated rib, and the recovery, while possible in 8 weeks, was iffy enough that the Gamblers opted not to leave the Williams on the 53-man roster, but to rule him out for the year by placing him on the full IR list.
Olsen will be replaced in Orlando by a combination of Dereck Schouman and Gary Barnidge. Philadelphia moved WR Garrett Akins up from the practice squad, but Caldwell’s starting spot is expected to go to James Hardy, the Indiana product. Finally, in Houston, Williams’s placement on IR brought quick action as the Gambler signed a 1-year contract with 29-year old Maurice Stovall, bringing the former Machine and Showboat receiver and return man to the Gamblers. Expect the starting three wideouts to be Hilliard, Sims-Walker, and Jeremy Kerley (in the slot), with Bethel Johnson, Sam Hurd, and Stovall to fill in as needed.
Panther D Should Have LeBeau Worried
Last week we listed Dick LeBeau as one of the longstanding USFL coaches who could be in trouble this year. We thought we would dive a bit deeper into Coach LeBeau’s case this week, and look at the primary issue Michigan is facing, its defense.
Prior to the start of the season, most of the question marks for the Panthers were on offense. How would Kirk Cousins develop in his first year as a starter? Would MSU rookie LeVeon Bell be the answer for Michigan’s recent anemia in their run game? But six weeks in we have turned our attention from the offense to the defense. The offense has actually fared pretty well, ranked 8th in passing, with Cousins closing in on 1,500 yards already, but the defense has been a disaster.
The Panthers rank dead last in points allowed, giving up an unhealthy 27.7 points per game, on average more than 10 points more than they score each week. They are also 2nd to last in run defense, giving up over 128 yards per game. Their last few games have been a good indication of the issue. Three weeks ago against Chicago they gave up 115 to Doug Martin, and this week, knowing that Washington would emphasize the run with David Garrard sidelined, the Panthers gave up 120 yards to Deuce McCallister and a total of 195 total rush yards to the Feds.
So, what is the issue with the Panther defense? A lot of people are pointing fingers at the LB group, which has lost some key members over the past two seasons. Michigan now has an inexperienced MLB in Sean Porter, after Andy Katzenmoyer’s departure. Odell Thurman has seen his numbers slip each of the past two years, which leaves DeMarcus Ware as the one man that offensive coordinators have to plan for. But, perhaps more troubling is the ineffectiveness of the D-line to take on blockers and keep backs from getting to the second level. The Michigan D-line of D’Aundre Reed, Kevin Vickerson, Jerel Worthy, and Michael Bennett is just not winning at the line of scrimmage, and far too often backs are getting 3-4 yards before contact, which is definitely not how you stop the run.
Add to this the fact that only Michael Bennett, with 2 sacks this season, has more than 1 to his name. the line is just not winning up front, and that means that running backs are getting yardage before contact and that quarterbacks have the time they need to pick apart the Panther secondary. The Panthers have talent back there, particularly with CBs Dre Kirkpatrick and Deltha O’Neal, but when you give QB’s time and a comfortable pocket, no DBs are going to be able to find success.
Is there a quick fix to this situation? Not really. The Panthers could try to shift their strategy, bring the safeties forward, but then they could be vulnerable to the deep ball. They could try to trade to boost the D-line, but few teams are going to be in a situation to give up an impact player along the D-line to the Panthers, so it would likely be a costly move. The news just does not look good for LeBeau, who likely will not survive a 10-loss season in Michigan and is already half-way there with 10 games left to play.
What is Wrong in Baltimore?
This is another tough situation as Baltimore currently sits dead last in scoring with only 13.7 points per game. Yes, we all picked the Blitz to fall off and finish behind the Feds, Generals, and Stars, but their 2-4 start has been marred by 3 games where they have scored 10 or fewer points, and they have only scored more than 20 points one time, a 26-23 loss to the Skyhawks.
We knew going into the season that Tory Holt’s retirement was not adequately dealt with. A receiving group of Darrius Heyward-Bey, Donte Do, and Brian Hartline is just not a group that will instill fear in defensive coordinators. The results have born this out. DHB has 31 receptions for 367 yards, but the next highest wideout is Donte Do with only 13 catches in 6 games. Ben Roethlisberger has been dumping the ball down to Antonio Gates and Jacob Tamme. Those dump downs have not been producing first downs and drives have been stalling.
Big Ben’s numbers are way down, with the former All-USFL QB connecting on only 54.6% of his throws, which is fine if the team is going vertical, but that is with Ben dropping the ball off short far too often. His 1,033 yards is the lowest number after 6 games in his entire career, and his 3 TDs in 6 games is just not what we expect from a player of his caliber.
The run game is a bit of a brighter picture, though Ron Dayne is averaging only 3.8 yards per carry, it is enough for him to have over 400 yards in 6 games. The fact that he has yet to score a TD this season is a sign of how rare a red zone appearance is for the Blitz. So, what is the solution? Unlike in Michigan, this issue seems to have a possible solution. Baltimore has both cap room and collateral on its roster. They should be actively seeking to trade for a true number one receiver. That won’t be a cheap trade, but there are teams with older receivers who might be open to the idea if they see promise in some of their younger players. Here, just as a hint to Coach Caldwell, are 4 players we think they might want to target.
Greg Jennings (OAK): The Invaders are infatuated with rookie Keenan Allen, who leads the team in receptions and yards after 6 weeks, so they may be open to trading the veteran starter and having Allen take over, with Pierre Garçon move to the number 2 position.
Taylor Jacobs (STL): This may be a tougher sell because Jacobs is something of an institution in St. Louis, having been the lone bright spot during several lean years, but with Jordi and Dave Nelson both coming on and with Sinorice Moss solidly holding the slot role, Jacobs could be a possible option if St. Louis is looking to make changes. The problem may be that they are not looking to change anything after winning 3 in a row.
Michael Crabtree (NJ): This may be a bit of a stretch. Crabtree has a lot of talent but has never been a true number one. The fact that he plays for a division rival also makes this less of a likely move for either club. That said, with Doug Baldwin, Miles Austin and Muhammad Sanu all looking solid right now, we could see New Jersey letting Crabtree go for the right price, but would they let him go to a division foe? That seems unlikely.
D. J. Hackett or Derrick Mason (CHA): We could see the Monarchs being open to trading either of their two starters. Why? Well, they are now looking at Brandon Wheedon at QB for the remainder of the season and BW has more rapport with backups Hakeem Nicks and Mark Clayton than with either starter. Not that the Monarchs want to give up talent, but if trading one of the two starters means that they can acquire something they need, and in the mix they promote one of Wheedon’s favorite targets to the starting role. Well, that could work for them.
You saw the stories above about new IR listings, so you know this was not a good week around the league. The leaguewide injury list will just confirm this fact:
OUT
TE Greg Olsen ORL Leg IR
CB Marquand Manuel POR Biceps IR
QB Jake Delhomme CAR ACL IR
FS Dennis Linkous TEX Neck IR
WR Reche Caldwell PHI Shoulder IR
OG Dan Santucci MEM PCL IR
WR Roy Williams HOU Ribs IR
CB Darius Slay ATL Biceps 4-6 Weeks
OT Lamar Holmes BAL Back 4-6 Weeks
QB Ingle Martin LV Back 2-4 Weeks
DE Aaron Kampman NJ Neck 2-4 Weeks
OT Luke Petigout JAX Ankle 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
FS Antuan Edwards STL Jaw
FS Darnell Bing POR Hip
WR Jerricho Cotchery JAX Thigh
WR Vincent Jackson TBY Finger
QUESTIONABLE
TE Luke Stocker TBY Toe
FS Quinton Carter NJ Knee
WR Antwan Randle-El POR Hand
LB Chris Claiborne DAL Foot
USFL Announces Semi-Finalists for Hall of Fame Class of 2013
While it is hard to say that any Hall of Fame class lacks star power, there is a bit of an “inside feel” to the list that the USFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame released this year. Yes, there are two QB’s on the list, one in his first year of eligibility, but this is a semifinalist class that is heavy on linemen and defenders, without a single wideout or halfback in the mix. That is not to say that this is not a very accomplished and talented group, just that the star power may be a bit more for the diehards than for the casual fan.
As always, the Hall released 10 names, including 6 who are first-time nominees in 2013 and 4 who are returning candidates. From this group the voters will select up to 5 enshrinees, with those 5 joined by a sixth candidate who retired at least 10 years ago and who was overlooked in earlier votes. This Legacy enshrine will join the new nominees for enshrinement in October’s ceremony in Canton, Ohio. And so, without further delay, here are the 10 players selected as semi-finalists for 2013, listed in alphabetical order:
Willie Anderson, OT (SEA 96-05, ATL 06-08)
A first-time nominee, Anderson is one of two tackles from the same Seattle squad to make the semifinalist list. If selected for the Hall, Anderson would be the first OT to primarily play on the right side of the line to join the hall. All prior enshrinees (H. Ballard, B. Armstrong, E. Yates, and R. Webb) were all primarily left tackles. Of course it also means that Anderson is in direct competition with his own LT teammate, a tough call for the HOF voters.
Aaron Beasley, CB (OAK 96-05, ATL 06-07)
Beasley returns to the semifinalist list for a 2nd season. The former Oakland DB retired in 2008 with 2 All-USFL placements, 20 career picks, including 5 career pick-six touchdowns, and 51 career tackles. Is this the year for the former Invader, or will he suffer in comparison to the two first-timer CB’s also in the pool?
Lomas Brown, OT (SEA 96-08)
The big left tackle who made 4 All-USFL teams and started 168 of 172 games in the league may well be a lock for a first-ballot nomination, which does not bode well for his teammate, Willie Anderson. Brown was widely considered among the best in the league during his playing days, just ask Byron Leftwich how vital Brown’s protection was, or ask Corey Dillon about Brown’s blocking. By the way, how is Dillon not in the Hall?
Mark Brunell, QB (DEN 95-05)
Returning for a 4th try at the Hall, Brunell has the advantage this year of being in a high profile position with few others to compete against. There may also be a groundswell to recognize a QB who may have only played 10 years in the league but whose teama were consistently in contention, including the 2000 squad that won the league title and the 3-year run of Summer Bowl appearances by the Brunell-led Denver Gold from 1999-2001.
Terrell Buckley, CB (JAX 92-07, NSH 08)
The first-time nominee retired in 2009 with 1,038 tackles, 32 picks, 22 forced fumbles, and 6 defensive touchdowns. All numbers which would put him ahead of Beasley in most categories, though certainly playing on some pretty rough Bulls teams may not help his case. As an individual talent, it is hard to knock Buckley’s output, but his teams were not particularly strong, so he does not get the playoff bump of some other players.
John Copeland, DE (BIR 93-97, SEA 98, OHI 99-01, TBY 02-06)
In his third year of eligibility, Copeland suffers the stigma we often see with players who moved around a lot. The premise is that a true Hall of Famer would have been too highly valued to have been shopped around or allowed to join free agency. And yet, when you look at the numbers, they are there, 102 sacks, including 5 seasons over 10, but that movement from team to team still seems to be an issue for Copeland.
Jeff George, QB (ATL 98, CHI 99-06, TEX 07, LV 08)
While he certainly has his fans, the issue with George is that the reality never seemed to match the hype from when he came out of Illinois as a rookie. The arm was certainly there, but the success was tough to find. He made All-USFL only once, never won a title, and was not even a starter for several years towards the end. Yes, he has over 27,000 yards passing, but the general sense was that he was all arm and no head. Honestly, the comparison between Brunell and George may actually help Mark Brunell make the Hall this year.
Randall Godfrey, LB (ATL/BOS 96-03, HOU 04-07)
The second year nominee has the stats: 928 tackles, 159 for a loss, 42 sacks, 6 picks, and 15 forced fumbles. He was All-USFL 3 times, despite playing on few winning teams. And that, right there is the issue. The HOF tends to be filled with players who helped their teams win titles, but what about the players who excelled on teams that did not? That is the question being asked about Godfrey and many others.
Tyrone Poole, CB (ATL/BOS 95-08)
Our favorite to make the hall from the 3 nominees this year. Poole also played on some pretty bad teams in Atlanta, but stuck around long enough with the team in Boston to see success. His numbers also jump off the page. 190 starts, 957 tackles, 37 picks, and 9, yes, 9 defensive touchdowns. Poole holds team records for the franchise (now in Dallas) in Tackles, Interceptions, Int. Return Yards, and Defensive TDs. Basically, he is the defensive MVP of the franchise, so how do you pass him up?
Regan Upshaw, DE (PHI 96-08)
A 2x All-USFL end, the 1996 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and the all-time sack leader for the Stars with 182 in his career. Upshaw was a big reason the Stars have always been known as a defense you don’t mess with. He started 191 of his 193 career games, and helped the Stars qualify for the playoffs 8 times during his tenure, including a Summer Bowl in 2000. We expect Upshaw to be the most likely of all the candidates to enter as a first-time nominee.
Nashville Ownership Considering Move
With the announcement that the Las Vegas Thunder were under league ownership and that a search for new owners would commence immediately, we anticipated that several current USFL owners might jump at the chance to shift their assets to the Las Vegas option. After all, with a new stadium already under construction and subsidized by the league, the possibility exists to have a franchise in a fast-growing and high-income market and with a stadium deal likely to be one of the best in pro sports. That is a rare and valued opportunity, and we should expect that several owners whose current situations are less than ideal might show interest.
Leaks out of Nashville, reported in Wednesday’s “The Tennessean” newspaper, indicate that the ownership of the Nashville Knights have already put together a team to build a proposal that they should be allowed to transfer ownership to Las Vegas and sell off the Nashville franchise. Cal Turner Jr., principal investor in the Nashville Knights and CEO of the Knight franchise is specifically named as someone very much interested in making the move. We reported last season on the issues surrounding the Knights and Adelphia Stadium, issues which have not found resolution despite over a year of negotiations between the club, the stadium and the NFL Copperheads. In addition to the issue of stadium revenue, the Knights have been struggling to fill Adelphia Stadium. After a string of strong seasons in the city, the club had suffered some weak years from 2006-2008 and in the past 2 years have barely hit .500 with 8-8 records in both 2011 and 2012. During this period attendance has dipped, and many within the organization are concerned that even the arrival of Peyton Manning, with its initial boost, will not provide long term solutions for the attendance issues. Sitting at 1-5 this season has certainly not helped the situation either.
Nashville was initially viewed as a potential suitor for the Las Vegas franchise, and one the league might not balk at since it is essentially a swap of mid-sized to mid-sized market. That may suit the league well, but certainly the fans of the Knights will not be happy to hear that their ownership is interested in jumping ship and taking a shot at the potentially lucrative Las Vegas option. And while Nashville’s apparent interest is clear, they are very unlikely to be the only bidder on the Las Vegas franchise. They may not even be the only bid from within the USFL as other owners may also be eying the potential for the market and the stadium and hoping to throw their hat in the ring as well.
Memphis Cutting Ticket Prices in Desperation Move
Despite a very good crowd at the Liberty Bowl for their rivalry game against Birmingham, there are concerns in Memphis that yet another slow start and the prospect of yet another 4th place finish are beginning to chip away at the team’s usually stout fan support. Rumors are that sales for the next two home matchups, against Pittsgburgh in Week 7 and then Oakland in Week 10 are so anemic that the Showboats are considering offering a series of deals to entice Memphians to show up.
This is not a strategy we have seen from the Showboats in a long time, as they often are within the top 8 USFL clubs in attendance regardless of their playoff position, but this year, while season tickets have sold at their usual rate, the team did dip considerably into their wait list to fill that quota. And now, single game sales are clearly the issue. It was reported this week that the Oakland game, for example, had over 35,000 unsold seats still available. The story went on to say that the club is considering adding discounts for first responders, teachers, and HS football teams to their usual veteran discounted seats, hoping to drum up greater fan support for a club that is currently sitting at 1-5 and not feeling like a team that will compete for the division this year.
Week Seven looks like a good one for clashes in the middle of the standings. It starts on Friday Night with a Pacific Division clash as 3-3 LA takes on 4-2 Las Vegas in a game that could determine how close a race the division is. Expect Jake Plummer back in action for this one as the Thunder host LA.
On Saturday we have a battle of two first place clubs as Charlotte visits Birmingham. We also have Ohio, coming off a tough divisional loss, headed to 3-3 New Jersey, where the QB situation is anything but settled. Philadelphia is in New Orleans hoping to move to 7-0, while the evening games have Washington in their rivalry game at Baltimore and the Wranglers hoping to stay unbeaten as they head to Denver to face the 3-3 Gold.
On Sunday, we kick it off with Texas visiting Jacksonville or a SE Division clash between 2-4 clubs trying to get in the hunt as Tampa Bay visits Atlanta. At 4pm Seattle visits Oakland with both clubs now sitting at 3-3 and hoping to take a step towards division-leading Las Vegas. The nightcap is an intriguing Central Division clash as St. Louis seeks a 4th straight victory but have to deal with the 4-2 Chicago Machine and their pressure defense.
Friday @ 8pm Los Angeles (3-3) @ Las Vegas (4-2) NBC
Saturday @ 12pm Charlotte (4-2) @ Birmingham (5-1) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm Ohio (4-2) @ New Jersey (3-3) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm Philadelphia (6-0) @ New Orleans (3-3) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm Orlando (2-4) @ Houston (3-3) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm Washington (5-1) @ Baltimore (2-4) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm Arizona (6-0) @ Denver (3-3) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm Texas (4-2) @ Jacksonville (2-4) ABC
Sunday @ 12pm Pittsburgh (2-4) @ Memphis (1-5) ABC
Sunday @ 12pm Tampa Bay (2-4) @ Atlanta (2-4) FOX
Sunday @ 4pm Seattle (3-3) @ Oakland (3-3) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm Portland (1-5) @ Nashville (1-5) FOX
Sunday @ 4pm Dallas (2-4) @ Michigan (1-5) FOX
Sunday @ 8pm Chicago (4-2) @ St. Louis (3-3) ESPN/EFN
Or you going to do a piece on greatest USFL rivalries this year?
Also updating the "history" tab