Week 13 opened with a huge showdown game in LA as the Express edged the Invaders for our game of the week. We also saw Baltimore pull past Washington to put themselves into 2nd place in the NE and give them a bit more playoff impetus. Arizona then crushed Texas, despite the return of Joe Flacco, to take full command of the SW Division. On Sunday we saw New Jersey just crush Charlotte, leading to a lot of tough questions in the Monarchs’ organization. The Weekend wrapped up with Memphis making a statement about their place in the Southern Division. In other words, it was a week with a lot of playoff implications and power moves across the league. We will run through it all, but we start with a story 3 years in the making and one that could, in a roundabout way, impact the future of the USFL, particularly as it relates to upcoming expansion options. We will start there, then run through all the big games this week and take a look at what is on the horizon as we enter the league’s final month of regular season action. All right here, right now.
Boston USFL Fan Group Suing USFL to Bring Back the Cannons
News out of Boston, where the Cannoneers, one of the larger fan groups for the Boston Cannons USFL club has worked with a local law firm to file a suit against the USFL with the hope of bringing the Cannons franchise back to Boston. The Cannons, citing ongoing stadium issues, relocated to Dallas in 2013, and it seems that fans in the region are desperate to try to force the USFL to bring a team back to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the third time (Breakers in 1983, Cannons in 2002).
The suit claims that the league and the ownership of the Cannons engaged in collusion to relocate the franchise, violating state labor and corporate law designed to minimize corporate outsourcing. While our legal department at This Week in the USFL looked over the case and feels that there is little possibility of success in a court, there is always the court of public appeal. It may very well be that, like the case brought against the Orlando Renegades, public pressure is the true intent. The USFL has committed to expansion by 2021, having already agreed to add an expansion franchise to San Antonio as part of the deal that allowed for the sale of the Outlaws to an Oklahoma City group, and that, paired with the success of the Orlando suit to encourage the Renegades to alter their branding, may well be the real motivation behind the Cannoneers’ suit.
The goal, in the opinion of our legal team, is to push for Boston to be given the same consideration that other cities have received when their USFL franchise opted to relocate. It is a pattern we have seen several times over the years. For example, when the Chicago Blitz relocated to Baltimore in 1986, pressure from the network television partners at the time allowed for a Chicago franchise to return to the city only 1 year later with the Chicago Machine joining Orlando, Tulsa, and San Antonio in the 1987 expansion. A similar pattern took place in the 1995 expansion, where the LA Express were returned to the country’s 2nd largest city after the original franchise had left for St. Louis in 1992. This pattern repeated a third time when the relocations of that same franchise from St. Louis to Nashville, paired with the relocation of the first Atlanta Fire franchise to Boston led to a two-tier expansion in 2006 and 2008, with Atlanta and St. Louis receiving teams in 2006.
It seems that Boston’s USFL fan base is eager to see the same happen with their city. Even if the strategy of legal action against the league may be a bit of a stretch, the timing, 3 years after the team has relocated and found success in Dallas, may be ideal. Why is that? It is all about stadium access. Ever since the USFL first attempted to place a team in Boston in 1983, availability of a viable stadium has been a huge impediment to success in the city. The 1983 Breakers played their inaugural season in Boston University’s tiny Nickerson Field. In their second season they relocated to Cambridge and Harvard Stadium, but neither facility was able to meet the standards for a league that quickly outperformed expectations for both revenue generation and attendance. Following the USFL’s windfall victory in the NFL Anti-trust suit, the club left for New Orleans in large part because an agreement with Foxboro Stadium, the NFL Patriots’ home field, went nowhere. The Boston franchise simply could not meet the newly-heightened revenue expectations of the USFL in the smaller college stadia available to it.
More than a decade later, the obstinate anti-USFL stance of Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft meant that the relocated Atlanta Fire would have to sign a problematic agreement with Boston College for the use of Alumni Stadium. That deal was never a good fit for the new Boston Cannons franchise, limiting both attendance and stadium-generating revenue. The Cannons attempted at various times to work out an agreement with Robert Kraft, who owned not only the Patriots but Gilette Stadium in Foxborough as well. Kraft remained a staunch contrarian within the NFL, never wanting to work alongside the USFL as many other owners had. That opposition eventually forced the Cannons to give up on the market and allowed for the sale to Mark Cuban and his Dallas Roughneck investment group, thus producing the situation that forced the franchise to move for a 2nd time and find their home in Texas. So, what has changed that makes this a good time to push for a Boston expansion franchise?
With the Patriots suffering through one of the worst multi-year stints of any NFL team in history, having failed to make the playoffs since their 1997 Super Bowl loss to the 49ers, times have not been good for the Kraft-owned franchise. An even worse 3-year period in recent years, going 1-15 in 2013, 2-14 in 2014, and then 1-15 again in 2015*, with attendance dipping below even the NFL minimal requirements for full revenue sharing has produced major financial concerns for the club. The finances of the franchise and the stadium have become problematic for Kraft. Even the addition of the MLS New England Revolution to the stadium’s schedule has not produced sufficient revenue to offset costs, and a planned renovation for 2014 had to be postponed. Pressure from fellow NFL owners to either sell off the facility or the franchise has grown, and many are pointing to Mr. Kraft’s oppositional stance on the USFL and its placement of a franchise in New England as a missed opportunity.
*A quick reminder that when Tom Brady left the USFL Generals for the NFL, he went to the Cowboys. The Patriots simply never had the type of ascension in this reality that we saw in ours. They have, in fact, taken on the persona of the Jets or Browns as a highly dysfunctional organization. Sorry Patriot fans. Go Bills!!!
There may well be pressure placed on Kraft to allow the use of Gillette Stadium for a USFL expansion franchise as a means of providing a significant revenue boost, one which, quite ironically, could help boost the struggling NFL franchise. With the LA Raiders having made the decision to relocate to Las Vegas and with the Chargers taking over the LA market, the option to sell and relocate the Patriots seems very much off the table. The NFL certainly did not want to lose the Boston market or a charter franchise of the AFL so there is something of a sigh of relief on that front, but the options are getting fewer and fewer for Kraft and the Patriots. Bringing in a USFL franchise as a secondary tenant would be a huge boost to the stadium and could well assist with a revival of the Patriots franchise.
For the USFL, Boston is certainly an attractive option for a 30th franchise, but only if a stadium solution is found, and Gillette Stadium appears to be the lone option that has the capacity and amenities to make it a viable facility for the league. While there is a fledgling group in Hartford hoping it can step in and become an option for a New England franchise, Boston would certainly be a welcome option for the league. If Robert Kraft’s financial concerns and league pressure are able to crack his longstanding animosity towards the USFL, a Boston franchise could well be in the future for the USFL. The lawsuit filed this month in Massachusetts may well be a strategy by Boston Cannon backers to push that agenda and heighten Boston’s position within any expansion discussion above those of new markets such as Minneapolis-St. Paul, Miami, Salt Lake City, or Indianapolis. We will monitor the lawsuit, and, more importantly, the league’s ongoing expansion discussion as news evolves.
OAKLAND INVADERS 26 LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 31
We had a feeling that this Pacific Division battle for 2nd place would be a thriller, and we were not disappointed. The Express hoped to build on their growing momentum and home field advantage against an Invaders team that had been slipping over the past month. It was a California Derby with high stakes and even higher energy, bringing one of the biggest crowds to Farmers Insurance Field that we have seen over the past decade, an announced crowd of nearly 48,000.
Los Angeles has finally seen some improvement on offense, and despite the absence of recently acquired WR Demaryius Thomas (minor injury in practice during the week forced him to be inactive) the Express were looking to build on recent success. Oakland, for their part, had found success the past two weeks with victories over weaker teams from Portland and Birmingham, but those games were at home, while the Invaders had lost their last 4 road games, a trend they needed to reverse if they would have a shot at a playoff spot in a very tight Western Conference hunt.
The game would feature more than ample offensive fireworks as both Express HB Reggie Bush and Oakland WR Keenan Allen would put up big numbers for their teams. the action started on the opening drive, when LA went 66 yards in only 8 plays to put the first points on the board. The key play was a 20-yard catch, juke, and dive by WR Earl Bennett for first down on a 3rd and 18. 3 plays later, the Express found paydirt on Reggie Bush’s 3rd carry of the day, a 5-yard dash off the right tackle.
Oakland would respond, with one of their stars making the big play for the equalizer. After 11 plays, including Donald Brown’s longest run of the day, put the Invaders on the LA 11-yard line, Joey Harrington connected on his first of 3 tochdowns on the day, a sideline toe-tapping catch from Keenan Allen. It would be Allen’s only score of the day, but he was huge throughout the game, bringing in 9 balls for 121 as LA shifted their coverage between the two Oakland outside threats, with Davante Adams also having a good day.
LA took back the lead at the end of the quarter on a long 48-yard Dan Bailey kick. It was the start of a 17-0 run that helped boost LA to a 3-score lead. Following a quick turnaround on a 3-and-out, the Express once again found success on offense, putting together another scoring drive as Reggie Bush added a 2nd touchdown on a very similar play from the 4 yard line. Oakland moved the ball well after falling behind 17-7, but a penalty for illegal formation called back a successful third down conversion and the Invaders had to punt when they could not convert on the second attempt.
The Express, feeling they could knock out the Invaders with one more drive, moved quickly, with Sam Bradford using muddle huddles to minimize Oakland defensive substitutions. A series of three straight completions to Roddy White, Nelson Agholor, and Marqise Lee, took the ball into Oakland territory. A roughing the passer call put LA inside the red zone, and 3 plays later Bradford returned to Marqise Lee for a short TD pass on a crossing route. LA had built up a 24-7 lead and looked to have the game well in hand, but Oakland did not crumble as the Express had hoped.
With 1:32 left in the half, Oakland mounted a two-minute drill that produced a field goal just as the half ended, providing momentum that would carry over into the 2nd half. Oakland would dominate the third quarter, outgaining LA 145-41 and putting 10 points on the board. They began with another field goal on the first possession of the half. Only 3 plays later a fumble by Earl Bennett punched out by LB Donterrious Thomas of Oakland, produced a chance for a short drive. Oakland took advantage, with Joey Harrington hitting Taylor Gabriel from 22 yards out to pull the Invaders within 5. They would attempt a 2-point conversion to make it a 3-point deficit, but failed on the attempt, leaving them down by 5 as the 4th quarter began.
The first half of the final period saw both teams stifled before reaching midfield, but on their 2nd possession of the final period, LA caught a break, with Nelson Agholor breaking a tackle and turning a 7-yard toss into a 27-yard catch and run. Reggie Bush followed that play with a 22-yard run to get the Express into the red zone again, and 4 plays later Bradford again hit Lee with a scoring toss. Lee, who had only 3 catches on the day had scored on two of them. Bradford’s 2nd TD toss on the day gave LA a 31-19 lead with 4:23 left to play, building confidence in the Express that the game was in hand.
Oakland needed 2 scores and got to work on getting the first with their next possession. Harrington connected with Keenan Allen on his longest catch of the day thanks to a blown coverage. CB Jamar Taylor misread the coverage, thinking he had support over the top, when safety Darian Morgan thought his task was to come up to cover the tight end. The result was a wide open Allen, leading to a 43-yard play that put Oakland in field goal range only 2 plays into the drive. From there it would be a bit of a slog for Oakland to put the ball in the endzone, killing over 2 minutes in the effort. Eventually they would get the score they desired, with Harrington finding TE Richard Rodgers on a play action pass from the 1. The score came with 1:31 left, but Oakland had only 1 timeout left, so an onside kick was required.
Oakland executed a perfect onside kick, much to the dismay of the LA crowd, now nervous that their 12-point lead was down to only 5 points and the Invaders had nearly 90 seconds to get a game winner. Oakland had 62 yards to travel in just 88 seconds, and only 1 timeout, but they had a chance. On first down, Harrington connected with Adams for 7 yards. They would get the first on the next play as Harrington found Pierre Garçon over the middle. After spiking the ball, Oakland again lined up in a spread formation. Harrington missed on a pass to Zach Ertz, but came back on 2nd down with another connection with Adams, this time for 17 yards on a deep out.
Helped by a defensive holding call and a nice swing pass to Knile Davis, Oakland was in LA territory, with 47 seconds still on the clock. It was then that the play that most will be talking about for weeks to come blew up the Oakland comeback. Harrington looked off the coverage, and went deep to Adams. The receiver was grappling with FS David Young, went up, highpointing the ball, and came down with what appeared to be a first down inside the 15-yard line. But there was a flag on the ground. After a pretty lengthy referee consultation, the head referee announced offensive pass interference on Adams, cancelling out the big play and putting Oakland in a 2nd and 17 that they would not recover from. The replay showed both players tangling arms and a debatable push off from Adams that Oakland fans will call inconsequential while LA fans declare to be clear OPI. The referee decision was not overturned upon further review and the penalty stood.
Joey Harrington would not complete another pass on the drive, failing on three straight throws to connect with his receivers. Sam Bradford returned to the field for a final kneel down and the game went to Los Angeles. The win puts the Express in 2nd place in the Pacific, 2 games behind San Diego, but sitting pretty as the 4th seed, a position which would give them a home playoff game in the Wild Card round. Oakland drops to 7-6, currently in the 7th seed, but a very precarious position with Chicago also at 7-6 and two teams sitting at 6-7. Oakland will need to win out to assure themselves of a playoff spot, while LA can lock up that home playoff spot if they can get wins in their final three games. The win was the 4th in a row for the surging Express, and a much celebrated chapter in the California Derby between the two Golden State clubs.
BALTIMORE 16 WASHINGTON 14
Another classic Beltway Brawl as the two 7-5 contenders in the NE Division went toe to toe. This one was a war of attrition. Baltimore outgained Washington 445-251, largely due to the Blitz’s ability to contain Deuce McCallister, who finished with only 42 yards on 16 carries (2.6 YPC). Meanwhile Big Ben did what Big Ben does, throwing for 329 yards and connecting with Darrius Heyward-Bey for a score. It was Roethlisberger to Harry Douglas with 1:02 left that gave the Blitz the winning score and the inside track to a playoff spot.
POTG: Blitz LB Jason Taylor: 10 Tck, 2 Sck
OHIO 30 ST. LOUIS 20
Ohio kept their playoff hopes alive, winning the first of 2 consecutive games with St. Louis despite being outgained by the Skyhawks. Ricky Stanzi had 2 TDs and threw for 266, but a 2nd half TD run from Rashad Jennings gave Ohio a 24-20 lead and they would close the game out by holding St. Louis scoreless in the 4th.
POTG: Ohio LB James Laurinaitis: 5 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 PDef
BIRMINGHAM 17 SAN DIEGO 19
We will say this for the Stallions, they are still playing hard, but once again fall short as San Diego hangs on to win, largely on the foot of Jeff Reed, whose 4 field goals proved to be just enough to hold off the Stallions. Two Birmingham turnovers and some costly penalties kept them from pulling off a major upset as they played San Diego very tough.
POTG: Thunder kicker Jeff Reed: 4/5 on field goals
CHICAGO 24 LAS VEGAS 10
A huge win for the Machine, a big blow to Las Vegas’s slim playoff hopes as Chicago gets the W and pulls even with Michigan in the Central. Matt Forte had another big game with 114 yards rushing and Ryan Fitzpatrick connected with his receivers for 2 scores as the Machine get a key road win on their way to a possible playoff berth.
POTG: Chicago HB Matt Forte: 17 Att, 114 Yds
PORTLAND 24 DALLAS 27 OVERTIME
A fun game between two clubs not headed to the postseason as Dallas needs extra time to fend off the Stags. Brandin Cooks led Portland with 100 yards receiving and a touchdown, while Dallas got 107 and a score from Tiquan Underwood. C. J. Spiller made an impact as well, rushing for 1074 yards on only 15 carries and putting the ball in the endzone as well. Portland got the game tying kick with 21 seconds left but it was Dallas’s Chandler Catanzaro who kicked the game winner in overtime.
POTG: Dallas HB C. J. Spiller: 15 Att, 104 Yds, 1 TD
ARIZONA 33 TEXAS 7
Arizona was ready for the rematch and the return of Joe Flacco as they dominate the Outlaws and push their division lead to 3 games with 3 to play. David Carr looked every bit the MVP with 338 yards and 3 touchdowns on the day. Both Fitzgerald and Bryant went over 100 yards as they combined for 231 and a score. Joe Flacco did not look 100%, completing only 8 of 24 passes for 172 yards and sacked 7 times by the aggressive Wrangler D.
POTG: Wrangler QB David Carr: 13/26, 338 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
CHARLOTTE 0 NEW JERSEY 38
Utter humiliation for the Monarchs as they get trounced by New Jersey. Brandon Wheedon added 2 more picks to his league high, while Brett Hundley got to leave the game early with a huge lead. Hundley threw for only 155 yards but had 3 touchdowns. MJD and Delone Carter combined for 152 yards, with Carter capping off the blowout with a 42-yard scamper in the 4th.
POTG: New Jersey MLB Chase Blackburn: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
PITTSBURGH 13 ATLANTA 10
The Maulers edge Atlanta in a game that quite frankly bored us all to tears. With Andy Dalton a bit gimpy it was Kevin Hogan vs. Brad Gradkowski, and that is all you need to know about why this game did not excite anyone. Atlanta fans stayed home in droves, with only 19,202 in attendance, the Fire’s worst draw in over 5 years.
POTG: Mauler HB Ronnie Hillman: 16 Att, 109 Yds
JACKSONVILLE 6 ORLANDO 17
The Bull defense helped limit Orlando to only 17 points, but the offense, led by Adrian McPherson could not get anything going and were limited to two field goals all game. McPherson was sacked 5 times as Calais Campbell continues to put up impressive numbers. Knowshon Moreno and Latavious Murray combined for 117 yards to power Orlando to the win and a playoff spot.
POTG: Orlando DE Calais Campbell: 8 Tck, 2 Sck, 2 FF, 2 FR
PHILADELPHIA 34 MICHIGAN 23
Michigan stumbles at home, opening the door for Chicago to potentially win the division. For Philly, the win keeps them alive at 7-6 for a playoff spot. Derrick Henry rushed for 106 and a score and newly acquired WR Randall Cobb made a huge impression with 121 yards and a score as Philadelphia stunned the nearly 55,000 on hand at Ford Field.
POTG: Stars SS Darren Sharper: 4 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
HOUSTON 27 SEATTLE 9
The Gamblers built up a 21-6 lead and then coasted their way to victory against a lackluster Seattle squad. Outgained 438-214 the Dragons never felt like they were fully engaged in this one. Carlos Hyde finished with 99 yards rushing, another 34 in the air, and 2 touchdowns. Roy Williams also topped 100 yards as Houston rolled.
POTG: Houston CB Leodis McKelvin: 6 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 FF, 1 FR
TAMPA BAY 6 DENVER 7
An ugly win for Denver, but a win that keeps them alive at 6-7. This one was not a lot of fun to watch as both teams threw away chances to score with sloppy play and bad penalties. Michael Crabtree played well for Denver, racking up 108 yards on 6 receptions but dropped a wide open touchdown in just one of several blown opportunities by both teams.
POTG: Tampa Bay rookie CB Jalen Ramsey: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 FF
NEW ORLEANS 10 MEMPHIS 23
The Showboats sweep the series with the Breakers and qualify for the playoffs, still with a shot at the Southern title. New Orleans may well have to settle for a Wild Card after this tough loss on the road. Jeremy Hill got hurt early and that killed any balance for the Breaker offense. Meanwhile, Todd Gurley and Anthony Allen combined for 105 yards and a score. Memphis also got a huge play from their defense, a 60-yard pick-six in the final 2 minutes of the first half that put them up by 13. They never trailed after that.
POTG: Memphis CB E. J. Biggers: 4 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
Hyde & Bush Making Late Push for OPOTY
While the MVP debate rages between Arizona QB David Carr and Michigan HB LeVeon Bell, there are potentially two new candidates in the race for Offensive Player of the Year. It seems clear that with Michigan struggling to stay over .500 LeVeon Bell is likely to cede the MVP race to Carr, which makes him the frontrunner for the OPOTY. WR Larry Fitzgerald could also be a top candidate if voters will give both him and Carr awards for the same statistics, but both Reggie Bush and Carlos Hyde are making late surges to get into the race as well.
Bush and the Express have won their last 4 games and 5 of the last 6, with significant offensive improvement over the span being evident. A huge piece of that improvement has been the play of Reggie Bush. Over the past 4 games Bush has accounted for over 450 yards from scrimmage and 5 touchdowns, along the way moving into the top 6 rushers for the first time all year, helped by a 145-yard game this week against Oakland. Carlos Hyde now sits in the 5th position, having gained 435 yards rushing over the past 5 weeks, including his monster 129-yard, 4-touchdown game against Memphis in Week 9. His 2 TDs this week were key to Houston’s victory over a very game Seattle squad.
Both Hyde and Bush have had some big plays, spectacular runs, and game-impacting plays, and that will certainly help them, particularly if Michigan swoons their way out of the playoff picture. The two backs remain 200 yards behind Bell in pure numbers, but winning games can also be a factor in the voters’ decisions and Bell is impacted by the issues that have been plaguing the Panthers over the past month, a 1-3 slump in Michigan. It may also mean that Larry Fitzgerald, who leads all receivers with 1,447 yards and all players with 16 touchdowns, could double up the awards for the Wranglers.
Dobson & Jenkins Going for Double Honor
We mentioned Larry Fitzgerald’s big numbers in our last story, but we also want to recognize two receivers who may not end up in the receiving yardage Top 5 at season’s end, but who are also putting up very good years. Both Chicago’s Aaron Dobson and Orlando’s Michael Jenkins are one step towards the impressive double-honor of 100 receptions and 1,000 yards. Dobson currently leads all receivers with 87 receptions (on 140 targets), while Jenkins trails by 5 receptions at 82. With 3 games left, it seems very plausible that both receivers will top 100 receptions.
This week, both crossed the 1,000 yard plateau, with Dobson again slightly ahead with 1,092 and Jenkins close behind at 1,019. In a league where the yardage leaders are often players with elevated YPC averages in the mid-20’s, we should remember that there is another style of receiver who does not live by deep balls, but who is counted on each game to make the tough underneath yards, often taking big hits and often playing a key role in obtaining first downs. Both Dobson and Jenkins fall into this category, each averaging around 12.5 YPC instead of the gaudy numbers we see from Fitzgerald, Williams, Cruz, or Hartline. They won’t end up on the yardage leaderboard, but their quarterbacks will tell you that they are invaluable to their clubs’ offensive strategy and success.
The Battle for the 1 Seeds Continues
As more playoff berths begin to be claimed and as we start to see division titles handed out, there is still one key battle that may well last until the season’s final week, the battle to earn home field advantage throughout the playoffs by becoming each conference’s 1 seed. We currently have battles in both conferences, with Arizona and upstart San Diego only 1 game apart in the West and four teams in the mix in the East.
New Jersey’s 3 game win streak has added them to the mix in the East at 9-4, along with Orlando at the same mark, both 1 game behind Houston and their division rival Memphis. Any of the four could claim the top spot with some assistance over the next three weeks. Houston currently holds the position but has tough matchups with Orlando and Washington in the next two weeks. Orlando could not only boost their chances with a win at home against the Gamblers this week, but would throw the assist to both New Jersey and Memphis by knocking off the Gamblers.
Memphis may have the easiest path to the title, facing 3-10 Atlanta before games against Philly and Charlotte, two teams who have not been at their best recently. If they can go 3-0 and if Houston drops a game, it would be the showboats sitting atop the conference.
New Jersey has a tough road ahead, with Baltimore this week and then a final game against New Orleans. They need to win out and have both Houston and Memphis drop at least 1 game each to even have a shot, and that would still depend on end-of-year tiebreakers. Orlando is in a similar situation, but also currently drops the tiebreaker with New Jersey, so they also need the Generals to lose at least one game.
In the West, it is far clearer. Arizona sits at 11-2, with San Diego behind them at 10-3. The two have not met, so San Diego’s best shot is to go 3-0 over their final games (@ Oakland, vs. LA, @ Portland) and to have Arizona drop two of their final 3 (@ Tampa Bay, @ Baltimore, vs. Dallas). A 2-game slide by the Wranglers would put San Diego up by a game and avoid the tiebreakers which appear to be leaning Arizona’s way.
So, while many teams are battling to simply make the postseason, and some are looking for a division title, we are still looking at 6 teams all fighting for a 1-seed and the chance to dictate the conditions of play in the postseason by having home field throughout.
Dalton’s Season Could be Over
To say that 2016 has been a disappointing year for Andy Dalton and the Maulers is a bit of an restatementent, a year after going 13-3 and making a run all the way to the Eastern Finals, Pittsburgh is now 5-8 and on the verge of playoff elimination. Andy Dalton claimed the OPOTY for 2015 with a 5,000 yard, 47-touchdown explosion, but this year he has not seen the same success, sitting at 20 touchdowns and 2,893 yards after 13 games, and now it is looking like those totals will be locked in for the year.
Dalton suffered a torn meniscus in this week’s 13-10 win over Atlanta, a knee injury that may require season-ending surgery. Dalton could theoretically play the final 3 games with a brace on the knee, delaying surgery until the offseason, but with the playoffs seeming like a distant possibility it seems the team is leaning towards shuttering Dalton’s year, getting the surgery scheduled sooner to allow Dalton to be back and ready to go for voluntary minicamps in November, and finish the year with rookie Kevin Hogan under center.
The reason for Dalton’s backslide, paired with the teams’ drop this year, remain somewhat unknown, though injuries to both Adam Thielen and Victor Cruz have certainly been a factor. The 27th ranked scoring defense is another big red flag for the team, and one they certainly will want to address in the offseason. Pittsburgh is also only 19th in the league in rushing and may well look to improve on Marcus Lattimore’s 444 yards after 13 games by bringing in a back this offseason. For Dalton, the year began with a rough game against Calais Campbell and the Renegade defense and while he has had some good games over the season, the consistent excellence we saw in 2015 just has not been there. Perhaps an early end to the season and a strong offseason are the best medicine as both Dalton and the Maulers hope to rebound with a strong 2017 campaign.
Carr Doubtful for Week 14 with Ankle Tweak
Arizona will likely rest David Carr this week against 3-10 Tampa Bay, helping their QB recover from an ankle injury suffered against Texas in the big game this week. Imaging revealed no serious damage, but the ankle remains inflamed and sore, and with a big game against Baltimore in Week 15, it may well be strategic to have Jim Sorgi lead the Arizona offense against the Bandits, avoiding putting a hobbled Carr in danger of further injury and allowing the ankle to rest in preparation for what Arizona hopes is a deep playoff run. So, expect to see Sorgi in action this week. So far this year, the backup has appeared in 5 games, mostly in garbage time. He has completed 30 of 48 passes for 477 yards, 4 TDs and 2 picks. Regarded as a game manager, Sorgi is likely to spend a good part of the Bandit game handing off to Frank Gore and KaDeem Carey, which is not a bad strategy at all against Tampa Bay’s 25th ranked run defense.
A big week for playoff picture clarification as two clubs (Arizona and Orlando) lock up their divisions with big wins and three more (Houston, Memphis, and San Diego) lock up playoff berths. So, that is 5 of 12 playoff spots claimed and 2 of 6 division titles. We still have some crazy races, like the Central where Chicago and Michigan both sit at 7-6, or the Northeast, where New Jersey has a one game lead on Baltimore, with both Philadelphia and Washington still in the hunt. LA has moved into 2nd in the Pacific, and is still in range of San Diego with a huge matchup against the Thunder in Week 15. Finally, Houston and Memphis are both locked up at 10-3, with Houston ahead on tiebreakers, having swept the series with the Showboats. But a loss in their final 3 games and we could see the Showboats jump up and snatch away the division. So much still to decide.
On the other end of the spectrum we have 6 eliminated teams (STL, ATL, TBY, POR, SEA) with several more now on life support. Week 14 could eliminate as many as 5 more, depending on how the games work out. Right now, on the outside but still very much alive we have 7-6 Chicago, 7-6 Philadelphia, and 7-6 Washington, all hoping for a late run to move into the Top 7 in their conference. Even 6-7 Ohio and Denver have a real shot, only 1 game back of the 7th position in the West.
Three more added to IR, which is typical in the final quarter as even a 4-6 week diagnosis means a player's season is likely shuttered. Pittsburgh will likely also shut down Andy Dalton as we reported, while we should see Jean-Gilles, Nunes-Roches, and Clayton in the season finale, or in the playoffs at the latest.
OUT
G Ben Grubbs BIR Quad IR
G Mitch Morse LA Foot IR
SS Cedric Thompson JAX PCL IR
QB Andy Dalton PIT Miniscus 2-4 Weeks
G Max Jean-Gilles ORL Concussion 1-2 Weeks
DT Rakeem Nunes-Roches OAK Hand 1-2 Weeks
WR Mark Clayton MEM Hand 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
CB Joe Haden ARZ Concussion
LB Brian Orakpo TBY Concussion
CB Jaylen Watkins TEX Thigh
CB Sam Shields PHI Neck
QB David Carr ARZ Ankle
QUESTIONABLE
WR Dontrelle Inman BIR Knee
CB Brandon Carr DAL Ribs
CB Josh Norman CHI Concussion
USFL & PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2016
This week the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio joined with the USFL to announce the USFL Enshrinee Class of 2016. The class includes 4 first- candidates entering into the Hall in their first year of eligibility, a player in his 3rd year getting the call, and our annual legacy player. Here is your Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
Head Coach Al Luginbill
OHIO 1999-2011
Little surprise that Coach Luginbill enters the Hall in his first year of eligibility. Not only did he take a fledgling expansion club and turn them into a dominant league power, but his clubs achieved two feats never seen before in the USFL and not seen since. His 2002 team finished the regular season 14-0 and then raced through the playoffs to become the only USFL team to ever finish a season without a single loss. The following year the 2003 Ohio Glory became the first (and still only) team to repeat as champions in they hyper-competetive USFL. Add to these two amazing seasons a 12-season record of 118-75-1, a winning percentage of 60.8%, and a playoff record of 9-6 and you have the resume of a true legend in the league, one of the most successful and most revered coaches in league history.
Tackle/Center Jeff Saturday
OAKLAND 1998-2011
A thirteen-season veteran, all with the Oakland Invaders, Jeff Saturday began his career at right tackle, moved to the left, and then settled in as a center for the Invaders. Over his long career he was named to the All-USFL team 3 times. Perhaps the most astonishing number is that over 13 seasons and 202 starts, he allowed a grand total of 48 sacks. That is a per game average of 0.24 sacks per game, or 1 sack every 4 games. That is a truly astonishing total over a career that long. Jeff never received a championship ring in his 13 seasons, but he will be receiving a gold jacket in 2016.
WR David Boston
SEA 1999-2011
Boston was the first round choice of the Seattle Dragons in the 1999 USFL Draft, and would go on to spend his entire career, 12 seasons, with the Dragons. Over his illustrious career he would be named to 6 All-USFL teams and would share in Seattle’s 2005 league title. Known for his breakaway speed and the ability to make over the shoulder catches at full speed, Boston retired in 2011 with 679 career receptions, 14,222 yards, and 112 touchdowns, all Seattle team records which he still holds today.
DE Julius Peppers
MEM 2002-2008, CHA 2009-2011
Drafted out of North Carolina by the Memphis Showboats, Julius Peppers would play 6 seasons in Memphis, accumulating 50 sacks, first reaching the 10 sack plateau with 14 in 2006. Peppers was a pivotal piece of the 2007 league champion Showboat squad. He became a free agent in 2008 and was immediately snapped up by his hometown team, the 2008 expansion Charlotte Monarchs. In Charlotte, Peppers would record 4 more 10+ sack seasons, helping the club build from expansion to contender. He retired a year before the Monarchs would make their first Summer Bowl appearance, but was on the sideline as an honored guest for that game. He retired in 2011 with 117 sacks, 479 tackles, 19 forced fumbles and 6 All-USFL awards.
DE Hugh Douglas
POR/LV 1995-2006, BOS 2007-2009
Elected in his third year of eligibility, Hugh Douglas was one of the best dual-use ends of his era, able to play the run and rush the passer. While only named All-USFL one time, he was a key defensive leader and team captain both for the Thunder and Cannons over his career. He retired with 593 career tackles, of which 121 were for a loss, an impressive 1 in 5 tackles being behind the line of scrimmage. He also racked up 163 career sacks and 23 forced fumbles. Douglas joins 6 other members of the retiree class of 2014 in the Hall, a group that included Brett Favre, Kerry Collins, Jonathon Ogden, Corey Dillon and Drew Bledsoe, one of the most impressive classes in league history.
WR Wamon Buggs
CHI 1983, ARZ 1984-1986, ORL 1987-1995
One of the early stars of the USFL, Buggs left Vanderbilt in 1981, never truly got a shot in the NFL and found his place in the first season of the USFL. In his first year of pro football Buggs caught 65 balls and gained 1,093 yards on a dynamic Chicago Blitz offense. He, like most of the Blitz team, was swapped out to Arizona when the owners of the Blitz and Wranglers essentially traded franchises. In Arizona Buggs would break out in 1985 with 1,218 yards and 15 touchdowns as the primary receiver for Arizona. He would move on to Orlando in the 1987 expansion process, a huge loss for the Wranglers, but a boon to the expansion Renegades. He would have 4 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons with Orlando. He retired from the Renegades and the USFL in 1995 after 12 seasons of pro football. He retired with 952 catches, 12,769 yards, and 87 receiving touchdowns. That is not bad for a receiver the NFL thought was too slow. Buggs enters the hall as the 7th Legacy Selection, and the third wide receiver with that honor (following Dereck Holloway and Louis Lipps).
Congratulations to all the enshrinees and many thanks from all USFL fans for the years of memories you produced on the field.
Seven USFL Coaches Who Are in Limbo for 2017
We have reached the final quarter of the season and that is often when struggling teams, and their owners, tend to give ultimatums or the dreaded “vote of confidence” to their coaches. While there are some teams near the bottom of the standings who have new coaches and are clearly at the early stages of rebuilding, there are plenty of others where longstanding coaches, or even relatively new hires, are being asked to prove that they deserve another year. Here is our rundown of 7 coaches who may well spend the next 3 weeks trying to make the best case possible for another year.
Mike Shula (TBY)
Shula won a title with the Bandits in his first year, but as we always see, the USFL is a “what have you done for me lately” league, especially when a coach wins early and some of the credit can go to his predecessor, who often built the roster. Shula is in that situation. Many are saying that his title in 2011 may well have been the product of Steve Spurrier, who was let go after the 2010 season, and not Shula, who inherited a Spurrier-designed team. Since that 2011 title, the Bandits have struggled to find similar success. After a solid 2014, the club dropped to 4-12 last year (largely due to the loss of QB Daunte Culpepper to retirement, and now sits at 3 wins in 2016. Shula will almost certainly point to the QB position as the reason for the lack of improvement from last year, but that may not be enough to spare the criticism and scrutiny for a 2nd poor season in a row, particularly for a very proud and historically strong franchise.
Stump Mitchell (SEA)
Mitchell is finishing his fourth season in Seattle after taking over for Marvin Lewis after the 2012 season. After improving from 6-10 his first year, two straight 7-9 seasons had Seattle fans pushing for another leap and a playoff berth in 2016. Well, Seattle headed the wrong way, now sitting at 3-10 and eliminated from playoff contention. Mitchell is likely going to take the blame for a disappointing 2016 campaign, though certainly the rapid decline in Byron Leftwich’s game certainly made the year a challenging one as well. We are not sure what Mitchell can do in the final 3 weeks to improve his odds of surviving Black Monday, though continued improvement from rookie QB Jacoby Brissett would certainly help.
Bruce Arians (STL)
This one is a toughie. Arians is beloved by his players, respected as a coach, and did bring a title to St. Louis as recently as 2012. The problem is that all indicators seem to be showing that the Skyhawks are a team on the decline, with an aging roster, unhappy stars, and the worst record in the league at 2-11. Will ownership want to give Arians a chance to rebuild the roster with a very likely 1st position in the draft, or will they use this season as a chance to engage in a full reboot, overhauling everything from player personnel staff to the coaches and the roster? A four year shift from 13-3 (League champions) to 8-8, 4-12, and now 2-11 is not a good look, and one that may push ownership to start from scratch.
Greg Roman (LV)
Roman came to the Vipers in their last year in Nashville, survived the transition to new ownership in a new city with the Knights becoming the Vipers and moving to Las Vegas, but he may well be wearing out his welcome with what appears to be a third straight losing season. While most would admit that the team Roman inherited in Nashville had major issues, a 3-13 first year was understandable. Improving to 6-10 in his second year, now in Vegas, was seen as a plus. That plus built expectations this year, despite playing in a very tough SW Division led by Arizona and Texas. Las Vegas now sits at 5-8, and Roman may well need to reach at least 7 wins to show at least modest improvement over 2015. If the Vipers finish with 5 or 6 wins, well that may just be enough for Steve Wynn and the Vipers ownership group, who may try to make a splash by bringing in a bigger name coach.
Mike Sherman (DAL)
Heightened expectations could be the biggest issue for Coach Sherman as well. After improving the Roughnecks from 5-11 in 2014 to 8-7-1 in 2015, there was a lot of hope that Dallas would be challenging the Outlaws, Wranglers, and Gold for a playoff spot out of the SW Division this year. What they got instead was a 1-7 first half of the year, all but ending any chance at a successful year. The Roughnecks have improved in the 2nd half, pulling off upsets over Denver, Las Vegas and Portland, but is it too little too late? Dallas finishes with 3 divisional games, including winnable games against Denver and Las Vegas before a season finale vs. Arizona that could see the Wranglers benching many of their starters. If the Roughnecks can go 3-0 down the stretch, creating a 5-game win streak, that could well help Sherman hold on for a 4th season at the helm. Even a 2-1 finish would put Dallas at 7-9, which could be strong enough to warrant a 4th year on Sherman’s 5-year deal.
Jim Mora Jr (CHA)
Jim Mora Jr’s position is one of the more intriguing questions around coaching decisions this year. After all, Mora has had the Monarchs in the post season in each of the past 5 seasons, including a conference title and Summer Bowl appearance in 2012. That should give him some Teflon against the shots being fired by fans around the team’s 2016 crash. But, there is something visceral about watching a team go from 6-1 to 6-7 with a nasty 6-game losing streak. This week’s loss, a horrid 38-0 thumping by the New Jersey Generals adds fuel to the “let him go” fire. With 2 division games and a matchup with Memphis looming, the real risk is that Charlotte finishes the year with a 10-game slide. That almost certainly means the end of Mora’s tenure, just from the optics. But if Mora can somehow turn around the team and get wins in at least 2 of the next 3 games to finish at 8-8, then perhaps he gets a chance to show that this year’s collapse was a fluke.
Tom Ramsey (ATL)
Of all the coaches on the hot seat, Tom Ramsey in Atlanta is perhaps the one who is already fully on fire. Sorry for the pun, but after a 6-10 record last year, having 3 wins with 3 weeks left does not give Ramsey much ground to stand on in defending his record. Yes, Ramsey did have the Fire at 10-6 in 2014, but an overall record of 60-64 and a second 10-loss season, especially one where they have been uncompetitive in several matches, does not look promising. The Fire have the dubious distinction of being the first USFL team to be shut out twice in the same season in nearly 2 decades. Dropping a game 34-0 to division foe Charlotte is bad, but then losing 30-0 to equally troubled Tampa Bay makes it much worse. Add in 4 more games where the team did not score more than 10 points and you have a team begging for an overhaul. With the Fire looking at a potential QB change for 2017, a full reboot may well be the order of the day and we fully expect a Black Monday announcement about Ramsey as the Fire have simply looked about as bad as any team in the league more often than not.
A Quick Look at 10 NCAA Prospects Who Could be USFL Bound in 2017
We are still almost 2 months away from the opening games of the 2016 College Football Season, but USFL fans are already excited about the 2017 Draft and the prospect that their teams can pick up a true difference maker. The Draft and Signing Process is a compled and tense one, heightened by decisions USFL clubs make with their Territorial Draft Picks and, of course, by the head-to-head competition with the NFL for every single pick. But, before we get to the nuts and bolts of the process this offseason, there is time to be excited by the prospects who are set to take the field in September and join the draft pool in January. Here is our look at 10 players getting a lot of hype ahead of the 2017 Fall College Football Season, along with the USFL teams that could potentially have exclusive league rights to their talents.
Texas A&M DE Miles Garrett (Houston)
Garrett is a beast coming off the edge, a power rusher who has speed as well. Houston has a solid 1-2-3 rotation with Tim Crowder, Dante Fowler, and Antwan Applewhite, who have combined for 24 sacks this year, so they may not be prioritizing the position. Applewhite is the oldest of the 3 at 30, but that is hardly geriatric. So, does Houston make a deal with a more desperate team, trading the T-Draft rights for Garrett to strengthen another position? That would be in line with past Wade Phillips moves.
LSU HB Leonard Fournette (New Orleans)
Fournette followed up a 1,034 yard sophomore year with over 1,900 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns in 2015, so all eyes will be on him as a possible Heisman candidate in 2016. And there, waiting for him after his season is over will be the New Orleans Breakers. The Breakers cannot be happy with Jeremy Hill’s production this year, currently at only 581 yards after 13 weeks. They should absolutely pounce on Fournette in the T-Draft, and do what they can to outbid whichever NFL club also drafts him.
Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes (Houston)
The Red Raider QB exploded last year for over 4,500 yards and 36 touchdowns. Now, it is in the Big 12, where defense is optional, so you have to take that into account, but the scouting on Mahomes is very positive. A likely 1st round choice if he makes it to the Open Draft, Mahomes could well do just that because Houston has both Matt Hasselbeck and Colt McCoy and could be very happy to let the QB go, or, could Houston once again trade away the pick and capture even more in areas of need? What a bonus for the Gamblers this offseason!
UNC QB Mitchell Trubisky (Charlotte)
Our second QB of three potential impact players, Trubisky could be protected by Charlotte, who cannot be happy that their current QB is the league leader in interceptions. Trubisky is athletic but not a true dual threat. He has had limited action in his first two years at UNC, but has looked good when he has played. 2016 will be the test. If he succeeds as the Week 1 starter, he will likely be a top choice in both the USFL and NFL drafts, but if he struggles, Charlotte may be forced to stick with Wheedon despite the interceptions.
Stanford HB Christian McCaffrey (Oakland)
After rushing for over 2,000 yards and catching 45 balls for 645 more as a member of the 2015 Cardinal, Stanford’s McCaffrey is being touted as one of the best dual threat backs to come out in the draft in the past decade. His elusiveness, speed, and big play ability are elite. He also returns kicks, which makes him immediately valuable to any team. So, what does Oakland do? Well, after losing Ryan Williams in free agency last fall, and after seeing the combo of Donald Brown and Knile Davis split carries in 2016, we would encourage them to seriously consider drafting McCaffrey in the T-Draft and then, once signed, dealing Brown to a HB-hungry club. The combo of McCaffrey and Knile Davis could be just deadly in the short passing game.
Washington WR John Ross (Seattle)
Every single Seattle receiver is 30-years-old or older, with Nate Burleson the elder statesman at 33. That is not too old, but when your best receivers have less than 600 yards receiving at this stage of the season, the prospect of snagging a potential first round wideout in the T-Draft is very tempting. Only Rashied Davis is a free agent this year, but 4 other receivers have their contracts up In 2017, so now is a good time to add some youth and a rookie contract. We think Ross stays in the Pacific Northwest.
Clemson QB DeShaun Watson (Jacksonville)
Watson’s 4,100 yard, 35-TD junior year at Clemson opened a lot of eyes. When you consider that he also rushed for 1,000 yards, you know there are some clubs who are salivating over the opportunity to land a true dual threat QB. In an open draft we think Watson goes first among the 3 quarterbacks we have listed here. But before that, Jacksonville has a decision to make. Do they like what they are getting from Robert Griffin III, a QB with a similar profile, or do they go with the rookie? If they draft and sign Watson, they will have a lot of money locked up in 2 quarterbacks. If not, well, they could just trade that pick to another team (likely a team in the West) and hope that they don’t get burnt by Watson becoming a star.
Temple LB Haasan Riddick (Philadelphia)
Was there ever a QB that the Stars did not covet? They have made a living off of Penn State linebackers, so now a Temple candidate comes forward, and the timing could be perfect. Terrell Suggs is both 34 and a free agent. If Philadelphia lets him test the waters, that may well be a sign that they feel good about picking and signing Riddick in the Territorial Draft. If they resign him, well, then the Temple Owl may well make it to the Open Draft.
Michigan DE Taco Charlton (Michigan)
Not quite as explosive as Garrett, but a solid option and a good run stuffer as well, Charlton could be a solid starter if not a 20-sack guy for quite a while. Michigan’s starting Des are 29 (Tuck) and 28 (Bennett), so age is not a concern, but while Tuck has been a good signing, bringing in 13 sacks in 13 games this year, Bennett’s production has slipped, with only 4 sacks all season. Would Michigan go after the Wolverine edge rusher, or do they like who they have already?
Wisconsin LB T. J. Watt (New Jersey)
All you have to do is watch tape of J. J. Watt, T. J.’s brother, in the NFL to understand why teams would be interested in the Wisconsin LB/DE hybrid. Many believe he will translate as either an OLB in a 3-4 system or as a DE in a 4-3. Either way, the pedigree is there, the production at Wisconsin is there, and the character evaluation is al positive. So, we look at New Jersey, who has Aaron Kampman and 2016 break out star Vic Beasley at DE, and we wonder if they don’t either trade the pick away for a position of need or, perhaps trade away Kampmann, who will turn 32 this offseason, and bring together one of the best and youngest 1-2 attacks on the edge that any team could want
Other players getting a long hard look (with their T-Draft USFL club) include: Stanford DE Solomon Thomas (OAK), LSU safety Jamal Adams (NOR), Clemson WR Mike Williams (JAX), Ohio State CB Marshon Lattimore (OHI), Alabama TE O. J. Howard (BIR), Utah OT Garett Bolles (LV), Washington safety Budda Baker (SEA), and Florida State HB Dalvin Cook (TBY).
Huge games all across the weekend as playoff spots and seeding is all on the table right now. We kick it off on Friday night with New Jersey a game up on Baltimore for the NE Division and hosting the resurgent Blitz. On Saturday we have several teams hoping to earn an easy win, including Memphis hosting Atlanta, Chicago hosting Portland, and New Orleans headed to Birmingham. The Saturday West Coast game will be huge as well, with San Diego heading to Oakland, where the Invaders cannot absorb another division loss.
On Sunday we open with another huge game in the Northeast as the Stars and Federals, both 7-6 and on the outside of the playoff list, face off at Lincoln Financial Field. The loser of this one could well be out of any realistic chance for a playoff spot. We then have Texas facing the rising LA Express in LA at 4pm in a game both teams need to keep their playoff position alive. We also have a nice nightcap with Houston visiting Orlando in a possible Eastern Final Preview. Houston cannot afford a misstep, not with Memphis right there with them at 10-3.
Friday @ 8pm ET Baltimore (8-5) @ New Jersey (9-4) NBC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Atlanta (3-10) @ Memphis (10-3) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Jacksonville (5-8) @ Charlotte (6-7) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm ET Seattle (3-10) @ Las Vegas (5-8) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm ET Portland (3-10) @ Chicago (7-6) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm ET New Orleans (8-5) @ Birmingham (4-9) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm ET San Diego (10-3) @ Oakland (7-6) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm ET Washington (7-6) @ Philadelphia (7-6) ABC
Sunday @ 12pm ET Arizona (11-2) @ Tampa Bay (3-10) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET St. Louis (2-11) @ Ohio (6-7) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET Denver (6-7) @ Dallas (5-8) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET Texas (8-5) @ Los Angeles (8-5) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET Pittsburgh (5-8) @ Michigan (7-6) FOX
Sunday @ 8pm ET Houston (10-3) @ Orlando (9-4) ESPN/EFN
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