It was a week defined by upsets of the two frontrunners in the league. Divisional foes Denver and Atlanta took it to the Outlaws and the Bandits, snagging wins that kept the underdogs’ hopes for a division title alive. In the case of the Fire it was a heroic performance by backup QB Brad Gradkowski that got Atlanta the win, while in San Antonio, the Denver Gold survived 534 yards of Texas offense, including 490 yards passing from Joe Flacco, and still came away with a 27-24 victory. We will recap these two games, as well as all the action from the field this past weekend, but we will also focus on the revelation that it will be the Nashville Knights taking up the offer to relocate to Las Vegas, a decision that has many in the Mid-South fuming and which may explain Peyton Manning’s retirement announcement last week. All this and more right here on This Week in the USFL.
ATLANTA FIRE 30 TAMPA BAY BANDITS 24 OVERTIME
One of the great things about pro football is that every once in a while you are honestly surprised by something that happens. A team, or even a single player, comes out of nowhere and shocks us. It is the kind of unpredictability that makes the game fun to watch. That is exactly what we got from the Atlanta Fire, and particularly from backup QB Brad Gradkowski, as the Fire took Tampa Bay to overtime and snagged a much-needed victory from the Southeast Division leaders. With their starter forced out of the game by injury late in the first quarter, Atlanta rallied around Brad Gradkowski, the backup, and Gradkowski responded with a game for the ages, 22 of 30 for 228 yards and 4, count them, 4 touchdown tosses as the Fire upended the 9-1 Bandits in Tampa Bay.
The game started well for Atlanta, with starter Kyle Orton going 3 of 4 on the first possession, producing a field goal for the Fire to open the game. But Tampa Bay also looked strong. They marched down the field in their opening drive and one-upped the Fire by putting 7 on the board with a Culpepper to Vincent Jackson TD. The familiar combo would be big all day, with Jackson bringing in 6 Culpepper throws and scoring twice.
With the ball once again, Atlanta started to move their way down the field, anticipating the coverages that the Bandit defense would give them, but, on a 2nd and 3, Devon Kennard was left unblocked on a blitz and collided with Orton just as the ball was leaving his hand. The ball fluttered to the ground but so did Orton. Woozy and disoriented, the Fire QB would be helped to the sideline and immediately taken into the locker room for evaluation for a concussion. Onto the field came Brad Gradkowski, the 9-year veteran who had spent a stint in Tampa Bay before coming to Atlanta in 2011. Gradkowski had last started a game in 2008 and had attempted only 13 passes in 2013 with the Fire.
With that history of non-participation on his record, Gradkowski took the field in a game that Atlanta had pumped up all week as a must-win against the division leaders. Starting with the ball on the Tampa Bay 13, he faced a third down right away, and connected on a short pass to Ben Hartsook for the first. Two plays later he would find Matt Jones from the 7 for a go-ahead score, the start of an amazing day for Gradkowski and the Fire.
A scoreless 2nd quarter followed, with Atlanta trying to use the run to wear down the Bandit defense, and with the Fire defense holding Tampa Bay outside of scoring range for the quarter. To his credit, Coach Ramsey did not baby the veteran backup, sticking to the same game plan that he had prepared for Kyle Orton and asking his backup to make the throws to open up the Bandit zone scheme.
In the third quarter, this strategy began to pay off as Gradkowski eased into the rhythm of the game, and on their second drive of the 3rd, he found Demaryius Thomas on a beautiful out & up for a 22-yard touchdown. Atlanta now had a 10-point lead on the 9-1 Bandits. That lead would be cut considerably by a late Tampa Bay TD run from James Wilder Jr. to cap the 3rd quarter with the Fire up 3.
In the fourth, Tampa Bay tied the game on their opening drive, leading many to assume that the momentum had swung, and that Atlanta would now fold as so many teams without their starting QB do. But that would not be the case. With 2 minutes left, Atlanta once again took the lead and it was once again Gradkowski connecting on a precise pass, this time to Ted Ginn for the go-ahead score. The drive had been largely orchestrated on the ground, where both Steven Jackson and Marcus Lattimore were finding huge gaps in the Bandit run coverage. Both backs, supporting Gradkowski, would finish with over 100 yards on the day as Atlanta focused on the run as a way to free up Gradkowski from Tampa’s pass rush.
Atlanta had scored to go up 7 with 2 minutes to play, but the Bandits did not get to 9-1 without showing some resiliency and Daunte Culpepper responded quickly, and in only 1:19 had the Bandits in the endzone again as well, connecting with Vincent Jackson for a second time. The game was knotted up at 24 and would be heading to overtime. In the extra period, Atlanta won the toss and would get the ball first. On their first drive, the Fire made it just over the 50 when a holding call on 2nd and 5 led them to back up and forced Gradkowski to go for longer completions to stay alive. He was unable to connect on 3rd and 15 and Atlanta was forced to punt.
Tampa Bay could now win the game with a score of any kind. They moved quickly, using Rex Burkhead as their main back, but also sprinkling in passes to Jackson, Keller, and TE Luke Stocker. When Culpepper went for the endzone on 3rd and 3 from the Atlanta 22, Nate Kaeding came out and the fans prepared to celebrate a 39-yard field goal. But Kaeding’s kick doinked off the left goalpost and stayed out, leading to a dejected Bandit fanbase and a very upset Mike Shula on the sideline. Atlanta would get the ball back.
The Fire wasted no time getting the ball into Tampa Bay territory. Marcus Lattimore, who had been getting good looks all day, had the play of the game, a 50-yard run on a basic toss play. That play put Atlanta on the Tampa Bay 27. They could have gone for the kick from there, but having just witnessed the Kaeding miss, the decision was made to play on until a kick was required. That kick never came. Runs by Jackson, and a short screen pass to Ginn, got the ball to the 3 yard line. On 1st and goal, Coach Ramsey decided to give his backup a shot at making a play and Gradkowski hit Ben Hartsook for the game winner, his 4th touchdown of the game.
The loss was a tough one for the Bandits, watching as their defense proved less than adequate against a backup quarterback, while the offense could not put the underdog Fire away. For Atlanta this was a must-win situation, and even with their starting QB out they found a way, proving they could be a contender in the SE Division. For Gradkowski it was far and away his best performance of his 9-season career. He would have a shot to repeat the performance the next week as Orton would be ruled out due to the blow to the head he had received, but for now it was all about celebrating a big win against a tough division rival.
NEW ORLEANS 27 WASHINGTON 22
A bad home loss for the Feds, as they drop below .500, while for New Orleans, the road win is a vindication of their belief that they are now among the elites in the Eastern Conference. Sitting at 8-3, it is a case that can be made. A great game from Brees and an 8-catch, 138 yard outing from Early Doucet helped New Orleans pull out to a 27-16 lead and hold on for the big win.
POTG: Breaker QB Brees: 26/33, 295 Yds, 3 TDs, 0 Int
MEMPHIS 14 BIRMINGHAM 17
The Stallions needed this one to get back in the mix, but it was not easy as Memphis scored the tying TD with 2:47 left to go, but a late drive by the Stallions led to a game winner from Garrett Hartley.
POTG: Stallion QB Cam Newton: 19/27, 233 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int
OHIO 10 ORLANDO 21
The ‘Gades are peaking and the Glory seem to be fading as Orlando gets all 21 points in the first half and cruises through a scoreless second half to get their 7th win. Russell Wilson threw for only 99 yards and threw two picks, but Orlando still had enough to get the W.
POTG: Renegade HB Knowshon Moreno: 24 Att, 97 Yds, 2 TD
SEATTLE 31 LAS VEGAS 28
Seattle seems to have found a formula to win while Las Vegas may again be fading down the stretch. Leftwich had a good game and got a lot of help from Cadillac Williams, who rushed for 118 and a score in his best game of the year. The Dragon D gave up 3 TDs to Jake Plummer, but also picked off the Thunder QB 2 times to help hold on for the win, moving them to 5-6 and into playoff contention.
POTG: Dragon QB Byron Leftwich: 29/39, 311 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int.
DENVER 27 TEXAS 23
Denver is an underappreciated team, now at 7-4, and they showed their mettle against the Outlaws, knocking Texas down for only the 2nd time all season. DeMarco Murray went off for 139 yards agains the Outlaw D, while 7 different Gold players got sacks on Joe Flacco in a wild game for the MVP candidate, one that saw him finish only 10 yards short of 500 for a personal record in passing yards, but to no avail.
POTG: Gold HB DeMarco Murray: 14 Att, 135 Yds, 1 TD.
NEW JERSEY 17 PHILADELPHIA 25
The Generals played their rivals tough, going into the half with a 14-13 lead, but the Stars’ quality won out at the end. Steve Slaton led the way and the Philly D knocked Sam Bradford out of the game in the 3rd, all but ending any hopes the Generals had of taking the road win.
POTG: Stars HB Steve Slaton: 17 Att, 166 Yds, 1 TD
ARIZONA 27 OAKLAND 17
Oakland drops their 2nd in a row as Arizona shows they still have a lot of fight in them. Frank Gore goes over 100 yards and the Arizona D harasses Joey Harrington all game long, forcing 2 turnovers and nabbing 4 sacks as the Wranglers hold the Oakland offense under 300 total yards and take the low scoring win.
POTG: Wrangler LB Lance Briggs: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR
PITTSBURGH 20 PORTLAND 13
The Maulers head out west and grind out a win in the PNW. Both teams were held under 65 yards rushing in a game dominated by the defenses. The difference for the Maulers was the combo of Victor Cruz and Adam Thielen, who combined for 162 yards on 12 receptions to help Pittsburgh win the battle of 3-win clubs.
POTG: Mauler SS Sean Taylor: 4 Tck, 2 Pass Def, 2 Int.
JACKSONVILLE 14 NASHVILLE 17
This may have been the Bulls’ best chance at a win all year but they just could not pull it off. Cody Pickett threw TDs to the Moores (Lance and Denarius) to hold off Jacksonville and keep the Bulls winless. Tim Tebow got the start despite rumors he might be out as QB, but he was again ineffective in moving the Bull offense.
POTG: Knights’ DT Dee Ford: 3 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF
CHARLOTTE 21 BALTIMORE 16
A big win for the Monarchs and a tough loss for the Blitz as backup QB Jeff Tuel interviews well for a starting gig, going 18 of 31 for 223 and 2 TDs. HB Fred Jackson added 106 on the ground and D. J. Hackett had a POTG performance as Charlotte escapes Baltimore with a win.
POTG: Monarch WR D. J. Hackett: 6 Rec, 142 Yds, 1 TD
LOS ANGELES 28 ST. LOUIS 14
Andy Reid makes the call to bench Mark Sanchez and rookie Aaron Murray thanks him with LA’s best offensive performance of the season. The Express also knocked Josh Freeman out of the game with a scary helmet to helmet blow that was later revealed to have caused a skull fracture in the St. Louis QB. Ricky Stanzi finished the game, but could not generate enough offense against a revitalized Express team.
POTG: Express HB Reggie Bush: 13 Att, 135 Yds, 1 TD
HOUSTON 20 DALLAS 25
The Roughnecks win their 2nd in a row and this one is a major upset as they knock off the Gamblers. Manziel throws for 2 scores and the defense holds off Houston late to secure the win. The Roughneck D stymied Houston rookie Mike Evans, holding the big receiver to only 2 receptions on the day and forcing Matt Hasselbeck to look elsewhere in a formula others may try to repeat.
POTG: Roughneck DE Elvis Dumervil: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty.
MICHIGAN 34 CHICAGO 0
New Chicago Ernest Byner cannot be happy about his debut as the Machine are manhandled by their division rival. Doug Martin and Matt Forte combined for a miserable 40 yards total on the ground and Brady Quinn tossed two more picks as Michigan’s D just went off on the Machine. Kirk Cousins threw for 3 scores before being relieved by Tyler Thigpen as Michigan moves over .500 and deep into the playoff mix.
POTG: Michigan QB Kirk Cousins: 19/20, 306 Yds, 3 TDs in 3 quarters of play.
Texas & Tampa Bay Both Fall
It was a good week for upsets across the USFL, especially at the top, where the Texas Outlaws and Tampa Bay Bandits both fell from their 9-1 perches. Denver came into Texas and proved to a lot of people that they need to be taken more seriously, knocking off the Outlaws 27-23 with a very solid day all around and a strong run game from DeMarco Murray. Meanwhile in Tampa Bay, another divisional rival, the Atlanta Fire, took the Bandits to overtime and stole the win thanks to an eye-opening 4-TD day from backup QB Brad Gradkowski. Atlanta also racked up 220 yards rushing against a Bandit defense that had been among the league’s best the past month. Both Steven Jackson (23 carries for 104 yards) and Marcus Lattimore (9 carries for 112) broke off big run after big run against that supposedly tough Bandit defense.
So what do these wins mean for the league and for the two conference frontrunners? It means that we have no sure things in the USFL, that the season, and the playoffs, could be wide open, and that every team in contention has to put out their best effort each week to ensure a win. The fact that both defeats were to divisional foes makes that message even more salient, as both the Bandits and Outlaws could see real challenges to their positions in their own divisions before the season is out. In other words, folks, hold onto your hats, the final 5 weeks of the year could be one heck of a battle.
Reid Benches Sanchez, Murray Gets Win
In a surprise move this week, Coach Andy Reid sent Mark Sanchez to the bench and gave UGA rookie Aaron Murray a shot at starting. The result? How about a 28-point offensive production, the highest for LA since Week 2, and a win over the Skyhawks in St. Louis. Could this be the sign of a tectonic shift in LA? Sanchez has been the starter for the Express since his rookie season in 2009, but growing criticism, and declining numbers, have led many to call for the Express to look a different way for their QB position. When we look at this year’s numbers, they are among the worst for Sanchez in his career, sitting under 2000 yards passing after 10 weeks, a 7:8 TD:INT ratio, completing barely 53% of his throws and sitting with a QB Rating of 65.1, among the worst in the league for a regular starter.
In comes Murray, the University of Georgia product who brings a lot of winning but whose physical gifts were questioned at the draft, and, he produces a very solid win for the Express, even if his numbers are not MVP level (13 of 26 for 124 and a TD). The key is that he managed the game, avoided turnovers, and helped LA put 4 scores on the board, including a key 49-yard TD in the 4th to boost the Express lead and all but guarantee them the win.
So, what happens now? Murray is again slated to start this week, his first home game as a pro, when the Express face the Chicago Machine at Farmers Insurance Field. We expect he will get a good reception from the LA crowd. If he can produce a win against the 3-8 Machine, he could well be named the starter for the remainder of the year. What does that mean for Sanchez, who still has another year on his contract? Well, it could mean that Sanchez is dangled out there as trade bait for teams looking for a new option at QB. Would a benched QB with a rating under 70 be a top prospect? Normally we would say no, but Sanchez has had better years, and has taken LA to the playoffs, so there would be some interest. The question would be if the price meets what LA might want for him.
Of course, this assumes that Murray continues to look good over the next month. If he struggles, then LA has a bigger issue on their hand, a QB competition between two players that have questions, and that is not ideally what you want, especially if you are Andy Reid and you are entering a 3rd year on your own contract with a lot of pressure to do with the Express what you were able to do in the NFL with the Eagles.
Dallas Impresses in Upset
Don’t look now, but the Dallas Roughnecks may have started learning how to win games. The Roughnecks hosted Houston and won their second in a row, both games against teams with a winning record. Johnny Manziel is finally looking comfortable under center, the run game with Mendenhall and Spiller is coming together (95 combined yards this week) and Manziel has started to build rapport with another young player, 2nd year receiver Tim Wright. The defense still has some issues, as evidenced by Carlos Hyde’s 103 yards and 5.2 YPC average, but they are doing enough to keep the offense in the running.
Against Houston, the Roughneck defense held Houston to 3 of 10 on third down and only 4.9 yards per pass attempt. They struggled a bit against the run (giving up 4.7 yards per carry) but, defending a 22-17 lead in the 4th quarter, they held the Gamblers to a lone field goal and were able to walk away with their 3rd win of the season. They may not be ready to compete this year, but in 2014, Dallas could be a factor in a very competitive SW Division.
Freeman Lost for Season with Cracked Skull
Bad news and a scary injury in St. Louis, where QB Josh Freeman was helped off the field with what was initially believed to be a concussion, but which got more serious as the team took Freeman to the hospital as a precautionary measure. The QB underwent an x-ray and CAT scan, the results of which proved that this was no standard concussion, but a fracture to the skull which was leading to swelling on the brain. The Doctors were able to relieve the pressure, and they believe that the fracture will heal properly, but there is potential for future issues should Freeman return to football and suffer a similar head-to-head collision.
The play that produced the injury was about as common as any in the game. Freeman was scrambling to escape pressure, gained a few yards and then started a slide, but at the same time LB Nate Triplett was honing in for a hit. Just as Freeman dropped, Triplett put his head down to hit the QB in the chest, the resulting collision was not shoulder to chest but helmet to helmet. Triplett was assessed a 15-yard penalty, but Freeman was not only out of the game but lost for the season.
St. Louis finished the game with Ricky Stanzi at QB, andwill likely stick with the 3-year veteran as the starter moving forward. The only other QB on the roster is rookie Tajh Boyd, who may see some action, particularly if St. Louis, now 4-7, is eliminated from playoff consideration before Week 16. We expect the Skyhawks to bring in a third QB from the free agent pool as an emergency option, but for now, they will move ahead with Stanzi and Boyd as the primary options, hoping that Freeman is cleared and willing to return for the 2015 season.
Losses by both of the league’s 9-1 squads (Texas & Tampa Bay) means that no clubs are locked into a playoff berth just yet, but with their drop to 0-11, the Jacksonville Bulls lock up the indignity of being the first club officially out of playoff contention. All eyes now are on the Bulls to see if they can get even a single win this year, and if not, just how widespread the sweeping out of old staff and players will be as the club tries to erase the memory of this truly horrible year.
Tampa Bay and Texas, despite their losses, remain atop the playoff standings. The Bandits have both Philadelphia and New Orleans nipping at their heels, with Baltimore right there too. Texas has a bit more of a lead, with Houston 2 games back in the division (and the two set to square off this week) and both of the other division leaders sitting only at 6-5, 3 games back. Michigan takes over the Central lead on tiebreakers, with Ohio now sitting in the 6th and final playoff spot, barely holding off Arizona and Las Vegas at 6-5. In the East, the cluster is at 7-4, with Charlotte and Atlanta currently both qualified and Orlando the odd man out. But, as we all know, the tiebreakers can change each week. And let’s not forget the other teams just outside of the playoff picture. In the West, Seattle is now in the picture at 5-6, just one game back, while in the East, the gap is a bit larger, with 5-6 Washington and Birmingham now 2 games behind the three 7-4 teams.
The big story this week is the skull injury to Josh Freeman, a blow not only to the team but to the entire league as teams now question whether this was a fluke or whether the helmets designed to avoid just this type of serious head injury are really not as protective as everyone had assumed. Freeman is out for the season, as you would expect, but is expected to recover fully. How he returns next Spring will depend a lot on his own sense of security in his ability to avoid future head injuries. Freeman is not alone on the injury board, of course, so here is the full rundown of new names added to the list this week.
OUT
QB Josh Freeman STL Skull IR
CB Jason David DAL ACL IR
WR Lee Evans MEM ACL IR
DE Cullen Jenkins POR Back 2-4 Weeks
WR DeSean Jackson ORL Neck 2-4 Weeks
LB Cameron Wake WSH Concussion 1-2 Weeks
HB Kory Sheets JAX Concussion 1-2 Weeks
DE Aaron Kampman NJ Groin 1-2 Weeks
LB Barrett Rudd ORL Shoulder 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
G Deuce Lutui ATL Hand
WR Mario Manningham MGN Back
QUESTIONABLE
G John Moffitt ARZ Arm
C Andre Gurode CHI Toe
C Zach Williams TBY Thigh
C Russell Bodine OAK Foot
OT Kenyatta Jones SEA Neck
QB Sam Bradford NJ Hamstring
WR Larry Fitzgerald ARZ Neck
QB Kyle Orton ATL Concussion
Honky Tonk Blues: Nashville Knights To Relocate to Las Vegas
It began as a leak to local radio, but by yesterday the announcement was official. The Nashville Knights were playing their final games in Music City before relocating to Las Vegas and taking on a new identity in 2015. This will mark the third relocation for a franchise that began as the original LA Express in 1983. The club relocated to St. Louis in 1992, where they took on the moniker of the Knights. They would move again a decade later, heading to Nashville for the 2002 season. Thirteen years later the Knights will again be relocating, now with a rebrand either to Posse, Locos, or Vipers as they start again in 2015 in a new city.
Fans in Nashville are understandably shocked and upset. The Knights had drawn well in the Tennessee capital, but stadium issues had led to low profitability for ownership, and ongoing fueds with both the NFL Tennessee Copperheads and the stadium authority responsible for Nissan Stadium, were factors that led the ownership group to consider the generous proposal put forward by the USFL and by Steve Wynn of Wynn Properties of Las Vegas. Brad Kelley, the lead owner in the Knights ownership group, will retain a 51% share of the new Las Vegas franchise, while Wynn and several other minority owners will control the other 49% of the team’s privately-held shares.
As for Nashvillians, fans who have ridden with the Knights since 2002, they are left with a few options, none particularly enticing. Many came from the ranks of the fandoms of either Atlanta, Birmingham, or Memphis, and could return to support those teams, but after 12 seasons rooting against those regional teams, it may be tough for them to go back. They can, of course, focus their energy on the NFL Copperheads, as many held dual affinity to begin with, though Tennessee’s NFL franchise has seen largely hard luck and losing seasons over the past two decades. The third option is to hope that USFL expansion will be on the agenda soon and that, like other cities such as St. Louis, Atlanta, or Los Angeles, Nashville will be considered a viable market and one worthy of replacing with a new franchise. Right now the timeline for expansion is very much uncertain, and the recent relocation of the Boston Cannons to become the Dallas Roughnecks, means that the smaller Nashville market will be up against very likely competition from Boston and the New England region for consideration if the league does opt to expand in the future.
While no mention was made of the team sale in Peyton Manning’s retirement speech, inside knowledge of the team’s relocation may well have played a part in the Tennessee legend’s decision to end his pro career this year with the Knights. Nashville will play their final home game of the season, their final game in Nashville on June 30, when the Knights finish their 2015 schedule hosting the Baltimore Blitz. There is a very good chance that, falling outside of playoff contention, the Knights will dedicate that night to their fans and that there is a very good chance that we will see Peyton Manning in action. For now, however, fans of the Knights are distraught, shocked, and angry that their team is the sacrificial lamb to ensure that a USFL team was playing in the Las Vegas stadium built with league funds.
5 Stories We Should Not be Ignoring
In every season there are stories that grab the headlines or which we follow week in and week out, whether the saga of the Mannings in both Nashville and Memphis, the drama of Tampa Bay’s sudden rise through the standings, or the surprising success of Houston’s rookies, the 2014 season has certainly had its share of attention-grabbing stories. But there are also always stories which seem to slip through the cracks. Topics we should be discussing more in-depth, but never seem to get the attention they deserve. We have selected five of these stories to provide you, our national readers, with a peak into some stories which have been highlighted locally, but which have not yet drawn much national attention. Here are our 5 stories more people should be talking about.
Dalton Learning Fast
Mauler QB Andy Dalton is in his 2nd full season as the starter in Pittsburgh, after getting the mantle midway through the 2012 season, and what 2014 is showing is that the “Red Rifle” is quickly becoming a dangerous weapon in Pittsburgh’s arsenal. Dalton’s numbers in 2013 were solid, 2,800 yards, a 10:7 TD:INT ratio (20 to 14 actually) and a rating of 90 overall. Those were solid numbers, and this year’s appear to be even better. Dalton has 13 touchdowns after 11 weeks and is already at 2,800 yards, likely on his way to well over 3,000 by season’s end. He has the Mauler offense in the Top 10 in the league for passing yards, and while points have still been a tough proposition (Pittsburgh averages only 19.3 per game) he is putting up numbers with a very young receiving corps that bode very well as he and his receivers mature into the game.
Dalton has started all 11 games so far this year, with backup Jeff Smoker seeing action in only 1 game, and throwing only 1 pass attempt. His receviers are a very young group, with 4th year Victor Cruz the oldest of the regular contributors, followed by 2nd year players Adam Thielen and Tavon Austin. Throw in 4th year TE Jimmie Graham and you have the youngest receivers group in the league, and yet Dalton is connecting with his young targets and moving the ball effectively. Thielen is the biggest revelation, a mid-round pick out of Minnesota State (no, no the fictitious school from “Coach”, the regional college formally known as Mankato State). Thielen is currently 9th in the league with 62 receptions and 7th in yardage with 871, well on his way to back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Victor Cruz, sitting at 750 yards after 11 weeks, has a shot at being a 2nd 1,000-yard receiver for the Maulers, who have not seen a passing game like the current year’s since the departure of Andre Rison in 2004.
Sanchez & Tebow Could be Trade Bait
Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow may not seem that similar on the face of things, but the two do share two significant traits. Both were early round draft picks by teams hoping to use a local talent to not only spice up their offenses but expand their local fanbases, and both are now under a lot of scrutiny for their lack of production and, more importantly, the inability to build playoff-winning teams.
Sanchez, who came to the Express directly from USC, has been the starter in the City of Angels since 2009, but has struggled to match the hype that came with his years as a Trojan. Other than a strong 2010 campaign that saw him throw 29 touchdowns to only 8 picks, Sanchez has struggled to maintain a strong balance of TDs over picks. His QB rating has, in most years, fluttered between 65 and 75, well outside the range of what one might expect for a starter in the USFL, much less a “franchise” QB.
Tim Tebow came to the Bulls with all the fanfare and hype that a star University of Florida should expect when he stays just a few short miles from Gainesville. There were questions about his style of play when he arrived, and those have only been exacerbated by five seasons in which interceptions have become commonplace and the Bulls have struggled to stay outside of the 10-loss club, with this year’s 0-11 record being the worst the club has seen since the 2-14 season that preceded Tebow’s arrival.
Both quarterbacks were at one point viewed as franchise “saviors” but now are very much looking like potential trade bait. Sanchez has one more season on his contract, but was benched last week by head coach Andy Reid. Tebow has remained the starter in Jacksonville, but many are now saying that if Coach Nolan is retained for a second year, the odds of Tebow entering the 2015 campaign as the starter are very slim, with the most likely scenario being an attempt by Jacksonville to jettison the inaccurate but athletic quarterback to another team in hopes of snagging a few more draft picks in what could be a full retooling of a very bad team.
Seattle Rising
Two straight wins over division leaders Oakland and Las Vegas, have fans feeling like the Seattle Dragons may be ready to make a run. They sit at 5-6, only a game under .500 and well within the pool of teams within contention for a Wild Card spot in the wide open Western Conference. With 3 of their final 5 games against teams with losing records, including 3-8 Portland next week, the Dragons could very legitimately make a run at 8-8 or even 9-7, which could be good enough to get them a playoff spot.
What have the Dragons done of late that has pushed them into contention and made them a dangerous foe in the later half of the season? We could point in a lot of directions, but the two things that seem to be clicking right now are the passing game and the pass rush on defense. Byron Leftwich over the past 4 weeks has been on a run, with 8 TDs to only 3 picks, and with 4 straight games with 30 or more pass attempts. He has gotten into a groove with both lead receiver Nate Burleson and his tight end, NFL import Dennis Pitta. On defense, the Dragons do not have a 10-sack edge rusher, but have been diversifying their pass rush, with three different defenders now sitting on 6 sacks apiece. That group includes DE’s Travis LaBoy and DeMarcus Lawrence, but also blitzing LB Carl Ihenacho. With the combo of a stronger passing game and a better pass rush, Seattle is mixing things up in the Pacific, and could well exceed expectations if they can keep on this run.
Orlando D More than Campbell
It is easy to look at the Renegades’ 1st ranked defense (for yardage) and focus all of our attention on Calais Campbell. After all, Campbell has won the sack title 5 seaons in a row, an astonishing feat, and is well on his way to a 6th title with 20 sacks in 2014. But he is not doing it alone. Both DT Albert Haynesworth and DE Arthur Moats both sit at 7 sacks this year and could finish the year in double digits. LBs Sean Spence and Anthony Barr are able to focus on runstuffing with the front 3 doing so well on pass rush without much blitzing, and a secondary composed of CBs Syd’Quan Thompson and 2nd year star-in-the-making Dee Milliner, along with safeties Darnell Bing and Chad Scott, are playing solid football, even if the INT totals are not there. This is, despite the initial perception, a team defense, not just one outstanding player doing it all himself. Sitting at 7-4, the new team defense concept is proving to be just what Orlando needed (along with improved QB play from Russell Wilson) to put the Renegades into the playoff discussion.
Denver a Contender
It seems like every year we find ways to not talk about the Denver Gold, and yet year in and year out Coach Jauron has this team ready to join the playoffs. 2014 is no different. While we have been focused on Texas and Houston, Denver has been there all the way. This week’s upset win in San Antonio just goes to show that the Gold are very much a part of the mix when we look at the SW conference. They are not flashy, but they are good in almost every phase of the game. The Passing game is 11th in the league, with the run game currently 10th, one of the best balances of any team in the league. The same is true for their defense, where the run stuffing and pass rushing front 7 seem effective against a wide range of attacks.
Denver is now sitting in a tie for 2nd place with Houston, only 2 games behind the Outlaws, but with a solid 4-2 division record. The next 5 weeks they face three teams with losing records and have a pivotal season finale hosting Houston at Invesco Field. There is a real chance that Denver could not only edge their way into the playoffs as a Wild Card, but that they could beat out the Texas Outlaws for the division, having just defeated Texas head-to-head.
Every Team’s Toughest Free Agency Decision
We are reaching the point in the season where teams are trying desperately to sign key players before their contracts expire, but also putting together a strategy for the offseason, thinking about potential retirements, looking at draft prospects, and determining which players could be allowed to walk in free agency and which should be signed at all costs. As we look across the league, we see a variety of scenarios, and a lot of variation related to cap space, and the number of contracts coming due this year. With that in mind, here is our estimation of the biggest issues and questions for all 28 USFL clubs as we enter the final month of the season.
ARIZONA: Who Can the Wranglers Afford to Lose?
Arizona has 4 major figures on the team up for new contracts this year: Safety Troy Polamalu, Corner Joe Haden, WR Larry Fitzgerald, and TE Rob Gronkowski. At present they have barely $700k in remaining cap space, even with reworkings they are unlikely to be able to sign all 4, so who will stay and who will find a new home?
ATLANTA: Is Orton the Man?
Kyle Orton has been the starter for the Fire since arriving in 2009. He has been a very solid player, but is not considered an elite QB, with a lifetime QBR of 88.5. Will Atlanta spend the big bucks to sign him to another long-term deal or is this a pivot point for the franchise, one where they might look to go younger?
BALTIMORE: How Many receivers to retain?
The Blitz are having a breakout season, and that is in large part due to the evolution of their receiving group, but they are looking at big potential changes this offseason. Not only is TE Antonio Gates in his final year of a deal but so is breakout star Darrius Heyward-Bey, along with role playing receivers Javon Walker and Donte Do. Does Baltimore have enough capital to sign their big two, and then what does that do to the depth in this group?
BIRMINGHAM: Is Addai Worth Resigning?
We all know that Birmingham is going to prioritize getting DeMeco Ryans resigned, so then the attention goes to lead back Joseph Addai. Is the 28-year old doing enough to warrant a multi-year big deal? Since coming over from the NFL, Addai has averaged 4.1 YPC, but has not surpassed 1,000 yards in any season. Being injured much of this year does not help him make his case very well. And with Alabama producing a T-draft protected back like T. J. Yeldon, the temptation may be for Birmingham to cut Addai loose.
CHARLOTTE: Could Tuel Head to Greener Pastures?
With Brandon Wheedon locked into his deal through 2018, Charlotte has committed to him as a member of the team and likely as the starter. But we have seen a lot of good football form Jeff Tuel this season, so the 23-year-old could well look for greener pastures and a chance to compete for the starting job elsewhere. Charlotte may just have to let that happen as they are very tight on cap space and have several other priorities, including LB Rolando McClain and HB Fred Jackson.
CHICAGO: Is Weaver at 35 a worthwhile investment?
Chicago has a big chunk of its D-line up for new deals, including 35-year-old Anthony Weaver, along with DT Ellis Wyms, DE Tamba Hali, and backups Andy Studebaker and Kris Jenkins. And while Weaver has been a force for the Machine for over a decade, at 35 can the Machine really invest the big money in him that it will take to resign the big man? Is this a case where a player finishes his career on a 1-year deal for a chunk of change with a team that is just a few pieces from a title?
DALLAS: How big do they want to spend?
Dallas does not have a lot of key players they need to resign, perhaps LB Manny Lawson and G Harvey Dahl, but with over $8M still in cap room even before the free agent salaries are dropped, there will be money available to the Roughnecks to spend big if they choose to. We could see a spending spree, especially to bolster the 25th rated defense this offseason. They have a QB on a rookie deal, and that always helps.
DENVER: Can Leinart Win a Title?
Do we really think Denver will cut bait with Matt Leinart? No, that just does not seem likely, but it has to be noted that Leinart is 2-5 in playoff games since coming on as the starter as a rookie. That is not exactly confidence-inspiring. But, does that mean you let him walk in free agency and hope you have a better option? And where would that option come from? No, we think the Gold resign him and work on building more weapons.
HOUSTON: Does the D need a Youth Movement?
That is a big question for the Gamblers, especially because they have Shaun Springs (35), James Farrrior (37), Osi Umenyiura (32) and Derrick Burgess (35) all on contract years. Standard wisdom is to go younger, but that is complicated if Houston sees themselves on a short window with Matt Hasselbeck to win a title. Do they hang on to some key pieces for one more run at a title before they bring in a young QB?
JACKSONVILLE: Is it time to blow it all up?
If this club goes 0-16, you can bet the answer is “yes”. That could mean retirement for Mike Vrabel, but also a lot of veterans going to free agency, including SS Mike Brown, FS David Bruton, HB Lamar Miller, DT Broderick Bunkley, SS Atary Bigby or WR Johnny Knox, all of whom are in the final year of their deals this summer.
LOS ANGELES: 3 LBs to sign, can they keep them all?
The Express have an issue at LB. With Lofa Tatupu, Will Overstreet, and Clay Matthews all in contract years and with just over $2M currently in cap room, there may be no way to sign them all. So, who is the odd man out? We like Matthews, as a 26-year-old for the top priority. Tatupu is 33, Overstreet is 35, and if we are just being cutthroat about this, Overstreet is the most expendable. With few other major contracts to work around (Jason Whitten is the only other big one on the table), the LB spot is where the tension will be.
LAS VEGAS: Is Plummer Coming Back?
If he is, that is a lot of cap room that Las Vegas won’t have for other signings, but if the 37-year-old hangs up the helmet, then Las Vegas could be a buyer’s market. Their other big resigning questions are at WR, where T. J. Houshmandzadeh (35) could be another retirement candidate, and at DE where a decision has to be made about Adewale Ogunleye.
MEMPHIS: Is their starting HB on this roster now?
Yes, we could focus on the injury to Lee Evans in a contract year, or whether or not Memphis retains Matt Cassel as a backup QB, but honestly the big question for the Showboats is whether or not they have a HB they like. Anthony Allen is a free agent as of this July but has barely gotten a look in this offense. Darren McFadden has not produced as expected, and while Knile Davis has certainly shown flashes of greatness, he is not a 3-down, 400 carry back. If Memphis wants to hunt for a free agent HB, they should have the funds to find a good one if any are out there.
MICHIGAN: Is Manningham their true number 2?
Michigan has very few high impact contracts in the works right now, but the one that catches our attention is that of wideout Mario Manningham. The number two receiver toyed with 1,000 yards in 2013, but that was with Hines Ward injured for nearly 2 months. This season he has regressed, with only 404 yards on 37 catches after 10 weeks. Is that enough to spend the money to resign him or will Michigan look for a better option across from Ward?
NASHVILLE: What is the answer at QB?
Peyton Manning has announced his retirement, so that makes the 2nd half of the season an audition for Cody Pickett. If he does well, Nashville moves ahead with other priorities, but if he struggles, they may need to allow more players to leave in free agency in order to have the cap space to sign a quality quarterback. A lot on the line for Coach Roman over the next 5 weeks.
NEW JERSEY: Scott or Raji at DT?
The Generals have two quality DTs, both coming up for extensions or new deals, but they are cash poor, with under $500k of current cap room, so it seems very unlikely that they can sign both, especially not with Aaron Kampman also up and almost certainly going to demand some bank-busting numbers. We could see several players let go, players like Donterrious Thomas, Danieal Manning, and Tatum Bell just to free up cap space for Kampman’s deal, so what does that mean for B. J. Raji and Ian Scott?
NEW ORLEANS: Is Ty Warren worth the money he will demand?
He is one of the highest rated edge rushers in the league, but his numbers are down this year. So, do the Breakers break the bank to resign him, or do they let the 31-year-old test the market and invest more in other positions with multiple contracts coming up? They have both centers and three wideouts all on their final years, so there will be competition for the limited funds New Orleans will have.
OAKLAND: Is it time to shop for weapons?
Oakland has a ton of cap room (nearly $8M before their free agent contracts come off the books), and they don’t have a lot of big name players in contract years, with guard Logan Mankins, LB Keith Bullock and DT Jarron Gilbert being the only realtargets, so this looks like an opportune time for the Invaders to upgrade some key positions by spending big.
OHIO: Is Weinke the man?
That is the question of the season for the Glory. Weinke is 34 years old, and his contract is up. Do they go a new direction? Do they think he has more left in the tank, and is what he has good enough? And just where will they get a QB from if they let him walk? It is not an easy situation for the Glory, because it is not like their T-Draft schools guarantee them good QB prospects year in and year out. Ohio State is just not that team.
ORLANDO: Resign Wilson at what cost?
We all think that Russell Wilson is worth resigning, but can Orlando do it without gutting their roster to reach the cap room needed? They have less than $1M in space currently, and they have over 20 players in the final year of deals, so this is going to take some serious math for them to both resign their potential franchise QB and to not have a roster of backups.
PHILADELPHIA: Will Stevie Johnson demand more than they can pay?
Johnson is without a doubt one of Philadelphia’s biggest weapons, but he is not going to be happy to extend his $1.7M contract, he is going to want that doubled or more, so what does that mean if the Stars also want to resign Darren Sharper, Steve Slaton, Mike Nugen, Sean Lee, and Reggie Torbor? Well, the good news is that they still have $10M in cap space and that will expand when the season ends, so they well could resign anyone they want and still have room for some shopping on the free agent market.
PITTSBURGH: Can Maulers Retain the O-Line?
The Maulers have 4 members of their line rotation up for new deals, including LT Oniel Cousins and three of their top guards (Canfield, Adams and Kelemete). They have plenty of cap space, but they also have needs on defense and possibly at halfback. Do they take some risks with their line or do they lock them in and then hope to be able to fund upgrades in other need areas?
PORTLAND: 4 LBs to sign, not enough money.
Mark Simoneau, Channing Crowder, Justin Durant, and Jonathan Casillas represent four of the 6 linebackers in regular rotation for the Stags, including the team captain in Simoneau and the league’s leading tackler in Crowder. With barely $1.7M currently under the cap, can the Stags keep the group together or will they have to make some tough decisions. Simoneau is 34, and that could be a factor, because there is no way they let Crowder go after the year he is putting in. As for Durant and Casillas, we expect one of the two at most to be retained because Portland could well be engaged in a QB hunt this year and that requires some major cap space.
SEATTLE: Leftwich is up, does he have 3-4 years left in him?
The Dragons have a long list of contracts coming to an end this year and are under $1M in current cap space, so that means something of a fire sale is likely. But, with Byron Leftwich among the unsigned, can they afford to invest heavily in the 33-year-old quarterback? It would be a shock to the system for Dragon fans not to have Leftwich under center, but it may save them enough to be able to resign others like Cadillac Williams, safety Shaun Schilinger, DE Travis LaBoy, or LT Kenyatta Jones. If they hold onto Leftwich, expect a lot more of the roster to turn over.
ST. LOUIS: Can the Skyhawks afford to go shopping?
The ‘Hawks have just under $700K in their current cap space, and while their list of upcoming contract expirations is pretty short compared to most, they do have some players that they would hate seeing leave, players like center Shaun O’Hara, LB Aldon Smith, and CB William Gay. So, what does St. Louis do? There is a general feeling that this team is not capable, as it is now constituted, of rebounding to the heights they saw in 2012. So a talent infusion is needed. They will certainly look to restructure some contracts, but they may also have to selectively let some of these contracts end and set players into the free agency pool.
TAMPA BAY: Are Hughes and Pierre-Paul both signable?
Tampa Bay’s defense has been one of the big surprises of the year, and the Bandits are getting great production out of the combo of Jerry Hughes and Jason Pierre-Paul, but can they afford to resign both of their edge rushers? They have limited cap space and they have other needs as well, including emerging back Rex Burkhead and LB Jonathan Goff. Daunte Culpepper is also up for renewal, so a lot could depend on his decision to stay or to retire.
TEXAS: Do they have the funds to land a top tier edge rusher?
The Outlaws have some players to resign, including DT Luis Castillo, OT Roger Saffold, and LB Casey Matthews, but the biggest gap in their roster remains at DE, where Reynaldo Wynn has been a one man show for several years now. If they want to put another bookend opposite Wynn, they will need to free some money up and that means letting some other position slip a bit. Will it be the interior D-line by releasing Castillo or will it be a skill position?
WASHINGTON: Do they deal Webb after a strong year for Garrard?
With players like FS Ed Reed, CB Jimmy Williams, DE Mathias Kiawanuka and SS Gibril Wilson all up for renewal, Washington has some work to do. They do have good cap space ($6.5M right now), but they also have a budding QB controversy. Garrard has played very well this year, but the team is struggling. Do they try to get top talent by trading away their starter and going with Joe Webb, or do they hope to bring in a fair deal for Webb and use their cap space to shore up some other roster areas. Of course, what they need depends a lot on whether this is Deuce McCallister’s swan song season or if the centerpiece of the Feds’ offense comes back for another year.
Chicago Leans Into City Identity with New Look
When the Pritzkers (cousins J. T. and Thomas) joined the USFL as the newest owners of the Chicago Machine franchise, they emphasized that not only would the Machine be staying in the Windy City, but that they were doubling down on the connection between the USFL franchise and its home town. We begin to see that redoubling of local ties this week as Adidas unveiled the new 2015 designs for the Machine’s uniform.
The changes start with the color scheme. While the primary deep maroon, a color inspired by the University of Chicago, remains in place, the dark machinery grey is gone, replaced by a sky blue color inspired by the city’s well-known flag. That flag plays a big role in the new design, with the sky blue and white striping and the ubiquitous six-pointed stars taking on a greater role in the Chicago look. The Machine have used sky blue and the red star in their logo for several seasons, but with the 2015 look, Adidas is pumping up the symbolism in the uniforms.
The Chicago logos are altered, replacing the dark grey with more of the sky blue and red. The helmet has a new stripe, a wide white stripe with a thin offset sky blue stripe inside, designed to evoke the city flag without being a direct representation. Two small red stars sit at the base of the stripe, one just above each bumper at the front and the rear of the helmet. A similar pattern is seen on both pant sets, with the 6-pointed star at each hip. The striping motif is even carried into the jersey numerals, where white and blue stripes are part of the upper horizontals of all 10 numbers.
The jerseys remain white and maroon, but are brighter now without the dark grey secondary color. Instead we have white numbers on the maroon jersey, with no striping on the sleeves, only a patch with the primary logo on each. The collars also have a version of the Chicago flag, with a white base, blue stripe and red star. The white jerseys feature maroon sleeves and collar, with the same treatment at the base of the neckline. The numbers are maroon with no outline, but with the white and blue stripe through the upper horizontals. Both sets of socks, the maroon version and the white with maroon stripes, also feature thin white and sky blue striping as well. It is a coordinated look to be sure, and one that still very much speaks to the tradition of the maroon-clad Machine, but it is also a look that hopes to align the Machine with the iconography of the city, building a greater tie to the community and the pride that Chicagoans feel in their city and its flag.
GREATEST USFL RIVALRIES: BALTIMORE V. WASHINGTON
Safe to say that when we hit the Top 6, the intensity is ratcheting up a notch, and that is certainly the case between these two longstanding NE Division foes. Separated by only 44 miles, the Federals and Blitz are among the closest geographical rivals in the league, and the two cities have long been at each other, vying for recognition as world class cities. And while the NFL never played up the rivalry, and the lack of a MLB team in Washington kept it from blossoming as a rivalry, the USFL dove in head first in 1986 when the Chicago Blitz relocated to the Magic City. Ever since then these two have been a classic big brother, little brother feud for the ages.
You see, Washington is clearly the big brother here, a founding franchise that has never relocated, and a two-time USFL champion and regular playoff favorite. Baltimore, well, they have had some good teams, but their trophy case remains empty. That disparity is a big part of the rivalry, with every Blitz victory over the Feds seen as a small notch in a long belt, but a belt Washington often uses to smack the Blitz. The two have played each other 59 times over the years, and Washington is only 1 win away from doubling Baltimore's win total, currently on top 39-20. They split their series this year, and by all accounts the Blitz are certainly having the better season, but until the Blitz win a title, they will forever be the little brother and Washington fans will absolutely let them know it.
The Home Stretch is in full effect with 7 divisional games this week, and a lot of middle-of-the-pack battles to be had. We kick it all off on Friday where NBC’s Friday Night Lights game is a must-win for the Federals if they want any chance at a playoff spot. Dropping to 5-7 would not be a good look for the Feds, but they head to Philadelphia, where the Stars still have designs on the top seed, sitting at 9-2 on the year.
On Saturday, we have a Cascade Classic with Portland heading to Seattle, but the biggest game of the day could be in Denver, where the Gold face a Birmingham Squad desperate to get back to .500 and have a say in the Wild Card race.
On Sunday, we start off with a good one in Charlotte, where the 7-4 Monarchs face the 6-5 Glory. Later in the day, we have Las Vegas at St. Louis in a must-win for both clubs, and an intriguing game in Dallas, where the Roughnecks, winners of 2 straight, face a fading defending champ in Arizona. We finish the week off with a huge matchup atop the SW Division as Houston takes their shot at knocking Texas off their pedestal and getting back into the division title race.
FRI @ 8pm ET Washington (5-6) @ Philadelphia (9-2) NBC
SAT @ 12pm ET New Orleans (8-3) @ Nashville (3-8) ABC
SAT @ 12pm ET Memphis (3-8) @ Tampa Bay (9-2) FOX
SAT @ 4pm ET Birmingham (5-6) @ Denver (7-4) ABC
SAT @ 4pm ET Chicago (3-8) @ Los Angeles (4-7) FOX
SAT @ 7pm ET New Jersey (4-7) @ Baltimore (8-3) NBC
SAT @ 9pm ET Portland (3-8) @ Seattle (5-6) ESPN/EFN
SUN @ 12pm ET Orlando (7-4) @ Pittsburgh (4-7) ABC Regional
SUN @ 12pm ET Jacksonville (0-11) @ Atlanta (7-4) ABC Regional
SUN @ 12pm ET Ohio (6-5) @ Charlotte (7-4) FOX
SUN @ 4pm ET Las Vegas (6-5) @ St. Louis (4-7) ABC
SUN @ 4pm ET Arizona (6-5) @ Dallas (3-8) FOX Regional
SUN @ 4pm ET Oakland (6-5) @ Michigan (6-5) FOX Regional
SUN @ 8pm ET Houston (7-4) @ Texas (9-2) ESPN/EFN
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