The USFL entered the second half of the season with a couple of divisional matchups that proved to be among the year’s best as Michigan battled with Chicago on Saturday night, a game ending with an overtime victory by the Panthers, and with Memphis and Houston going down to the wire on Sunday night. Along the way we also saw New Jersey knock off Charlotte to improve its playoff bona fides. We saw Arizona take care of business once again, Baltimore make a statement in Pittsburgh, and San Diego get a huge win on the road in Denver. It was a week that helped to solidify the playoff scenarios moving forward, and one which provided some hope for the downtrodden Seattle Dragons, as their rookie QB helped the Dragons earn their second win against arch-rival Portland. We will run through all the games, discuss the seeming disparity between the East and West, and look ahead to Week 10 and the first playoff standings of the season. All right here, right now, this week in the USFL.
Birmingham Cleans House After Bad Loss
It was a bad look for a team that had higher hopes this season. Birmingham had just gone on the road to face 4-4 Philadelphia and put up a performance that did not build any confidence in the direction of the team at all. Not only had the Stallion defense given up 24 points before the offense even crossed the 50, but a pick-six had allowed Philadelphia’s defense to score more points than the Stallion O would muster all game.
The big stars for the Stallions looked anything but stellar, with Cam Newton throwing two picks and looking far less mobile as he rushed 4 times for negative-5 yards. T. J. Yeldon averaged only 1.7 yards per carry against a Philadelphia defense that had given up some big games over the past month, and 2nd year receiver Amari Cooper, while leading all Birmingham receivers, had only 47 yards and was responsible for 3 drops on the day. Nothing was looking polished or even functional for a Stallions’ offense that was held scoreless until the waning moments of the game.
On the other side of the ball, the defense seemed helpless against the Stars’ run game, with Derrick Henry making gashing runs on key plays as Philadelphia scored almost at will, 4 straight drives in the 2nd quarter to produce a 23-0 halftime lead. Matt Gutierrez suffered no sacks, and only 1 pressure the entire game, giving way to backup Chad Henne in the 4th quarter as the game was well beyond Birmingham’s ability to mount a comeback. It was a humiliating game, and just one of several over the past month, with the Stallions losing their 4th game in their last 5 outings, once again failing to score 20 points or more. A change was needed.
That change came on Tuesday, when management announced that both OC Sylvester Croom and DC Ray Horton were let go. Head Coach Henry Ellard retained his position, but clearly is on shaky ground, saved perhaps only by his standing as an All-USFL star for the Stallions in his playing days. Birmingham promoted receivers coach Shawn Jefferson to OC and D-Line coach Nick Eason to the DC positions, but with a clear understanding that an internal solution may not be enough, they also brought in an outside “Consulting Assistant Head Coach” to help Ellard with everything from game management to player development. Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Wisenhunt, who lost his job as Tennessee Copperheads head coach during the past NFL season, has signed on as a 2nd in command to Ellard, with the hope that he can help maximize the production of the trio of stars on the Birmingham offense. Wisenhunt, who helped the NFL Cardinals win the NFC West in both 2008 and 2009, lasted only 2 years in Tennessee, fired after a 1-6 start in 2015, was previously thought of as an offensive guru. His task in 2016 will be to help turn around a Birmingham offense that has underachieved and seems to be wasting the obvious talents of Cam Newton, Amari Cooper, and T. J. Yeldon.
The hiring could prove to be a double-edged sword for Head Coach Henry Ellard. If Wisenhunt fails, we could see a full cleaning house move by ownership. If he succeeds, it could produce a shift, with Ellard let go and Wisenhunt ready to step in. It seems like a lose-lose situation for the former Stallion wideout turned head coach. Just how this plays out over the next 7 weeks will determine just what we see this offseason from the Stallions, a shift in leadership or a full reboot.
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 31 HOUSTON GAMBLERS 38
Yes. we had an overtime thriller between Chicago and Michigan in the Central, but for sheer entertainment value and playoff impact, no game was bigger this week than the shootout between the Houston Gamblers and the Memphis Showboats. The two teams combined for more than 800 yards of offense and 69 points in a game that shifted back and forth several times and was not decided until the final minutes.
It was a game that saw Eli Manning go 32 of 39 passing, that saw Carlos Hyde rack up 4 touchdowns, including the game winner, and in which both teams showed that they were among the league’s best by throwing haymaker after haymaker in one of the best divisional showdowns of the year. The scoring began early with 21 points put up in the first quarter, and never let up.
It began with Memphis putting together a 6-minute drive from the opening kickoff until the first touchdown of the game, a 2-yard crossing route toss from Manning to Cordarelle Patterson. On the drive, Memphis converted 3 third downs, they would finish the day 8 of 12. They got big runs from both Todd Gurley and Anthony Allen as well, a combo that would total 124 yards on the day, but still fall short of Carlos Hyde’s production for Houston.
Houston could not produce a drive in their first possession and watched as Eli Manning again led Memphis to the endzone on the second Showboat possession, with Manning again connecting on a short scoring throw, this time to Mark Clayton, to give Memphis an early 14-0 advantage. That deficit awakened the Houston offense, who needed only 5 plays to score on their second possession. It was a 44-yard catch and run by Mike Evans that put Houston in position for their first score, but it would be Carlos Hyde inside the 10 who punched it in, first with an 8-yard run to the goalline and then a 1-yard plunge to halve the Memphis advantage.
Memphis would add a field goal to make it 3 for 3 on scoring possessions, but Houston had found their footing and again moved the ball quickly on their way to another score. Once again it was Hyde punching the ball in that brought the Gamblers within 3. Hyde, who would finish the day with 129 yards on 21 carries, a 6.1 YPC average, proved to be the engine that moved the Houston offense, both moving the ball effectively on the ground and producing options for Colt McCoy in play action. McCoy would finish the game 12 of 19 for 276 yards thanks in large part to the Memphis defense being forced to bring up the safeties to help against Hyde.
With Houston now within 3 points, Memphis went to work on their 4th drive, hoping to make it 4 for 4 and expand their lead. They would use nearly 7 minutes on the drive, with Manning playing the short game with passes to Robert Woods, TE Jermichael Finley, and HB Todd Gurley on the drive. Memphis would find success again, this time with HB Anthony Allen breaking 2 tackles on his way to a 6-yard TD run with 1:56 left in the half. With the score Memphis increased their advantage to 10 points at 24-14 and made it 4 scoring drives to start the game.
Houston would need only 54 seconds to respond. Colt McCoy ran a brilliant 2-minute offense that saw him complete first-down earning passes to Dante Rosario, Johnny Knox, and Mike Evans before finding Roy Williams on a 28-yard touchdown strike to once again drop Memphis’s advantage to 3 points. Houston would go into the half having scored on 3 straight drives but needing to find a way to slow down the Memphis offense.
Both teams would see their scoring streaks end in the 3rd quarter, where the defensive adjustments at halftime seemed to shift the game away from its breakneck pace. Memphis failed on a 3rd and 11 for their first failed drive of the game (technically they ended the 1st half with a non-scoring drive, but that was by choice as they killed the clock to end the half). Houston produced only 1 first down before they were forced to punt on their 1st possession of the second half. Memphis’s second drive ended with a failed 4th and 2 attempt at the Houston 44, a swing pass to Gurley that lost 2 yards. It was a risky call on a short yardage attempt, and the failed attempt inspired the Gamblers, producing a double negative play for Memphis.
Houston took the ball from that turnover on downs and went to work with a quick strike to Roy Williams, a 33-yard completion that would help Williams finish the day with 106 yards receiving. From there it was the ground game that would help them gain their first lead of the day. When Carlos Hyde plunged in from the 1 for his 3rd TD of the day, it gave Houston the 28-24 lead they had been fighting to obtain for 3 quarters.
Memphis’s offensive production seemed stunted by the change in momentum and the halftime adjustments made by the Gamblers. Gurley was finding room harder to find against the Gambler front 7 and Eli Manning was finding fewer receivers open on key downs. Memphis would again fail to reach the 50 on their next drive, and when Houston produced a field goal to open up the 4th quarter, the Showboats were down 7 and not feeling confident.
It would be TE Luke Stocker who would help get Memphis’s head back in the game. On a 3rd and 4, Stocker took a short pass over the middle and turned it into a 25-yard gain, sloughing off a tackler and lowering his shoulder to take on the safety in a play that seemed to give Memphis back a little bit of the swagger that they had started off the game exhibiting. Five plays later, the run game would again produce points as Anthony Allen again broke through the defense on his way for six points. Memphis had tied the score with 4:41 left in the game, but now needed a stop to get the ball back and put more points up to avoid overtime.
Tied at 31, Houston knew that their next possession would set the tone for the remaining minutes. They could not have a quick exit or Memphis could end the game with a late score. Coach Phillips needed his offense to retain possession, move the ball, and hopefully put up a game winning kick with little time left. The plan started off well, with three consecutive Hyde runs producing a first down and forcing Memphis to draw in closer. The defensive shift allowed McCoy to hit Mike Evans on an out route for 14 yards, and then Roy Williams with another outside catch for another first down. Now across the 50, Houston returned to the run game, with Ben Tate getting his only carry of the day, and then Hyde returning for another run to move the chains. The drive was working, but it was also moving very quickly, which had its own risks.
With just under 2:30 left on the clock, Hyde put Houston ahead with his 4th and longest TD run of the game, a 13-yard slashing run that left Memphis defenders looking foolish as they failed to get the right angle on the Houston back. The score put Houston up 7 but left more than enough time for a Memphis response. The Gambler defense would need to find an answer for Memphis’s attack or risk an overtime-producing score.
Memphis responded with a no-huddle offense, led by Manning, but relying heavily on draws and screens to outmaneuver the Houston zone defense. With good gains from both Gurley and Allen, and with a nice 3rd down play to Jermichael Finley, Memphis avoided trouble early and soon found themselves at the Houston 30. Needing a touchdown and with only 1 time out left, Memphis needed a big play. The pressure to get one, paired with a Houston defense which was giving up underneath throws but forcing Memphis to the middle of the field, produced the mistake that would give the Gamblers the win.
Rather than continue to dink and dunk their way towards the goalline, Memphis, concerned about the fleeting clock, opted to try to catch Houston with a quick strike. The Showboats wanted to break through the shell coverage, so they called up a hook & ladder play, hoping to use trickery to draw in the defensive backs and then catch them moving the wrong direction. The play started off well, with Manning finding Mark Clayton over the middle. The plan was for Clayton to make the catch, draw in the safeties, and then lateral the ball to Cordarelle Patterson, crossing behind him. The throw was good, the catch fine, the safeties did move in, but Clayton’s pitch to Patterson was behind the crossing receiver. It glanced off his hands and fell to the ground. The lateral was a live ball and a scramble resulted from the missed connection. It would be Houston LB Ramik Wilson who would emerge with the ball after several failed attempts to wrangle it. The failed trick play doomed Memphis, as Houston simply kneeled down with the ball 3 times to end the game and ice the win. A tough loss for Memphis, but a huge come-from-behind win for the Gamblers, who now sit alone atop the South.
PORTLAND 16 SEATTLE 24
Richard Sherman got it all started for Seattle, thanks to a 40-yard pick six. Sherman would finish the day with 11 tackles and the POTG award as Seattle’s defense picked off Marcus Mariota 3 times to make life a bit easier for their struggling offense. Jacoby Brissett went 13 of 30 but did throw a TD to Dennis Pitta to help Seattle earn their 2nd win of the season.
POTG: Dragon CB Richard Sherman: 11 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
ORLANDO 6 NEW ORLEANS 16
The defense that won New Orleans a title last year was on full display as they limited Orlando to only 218 total yards, with Russell Wilson completing only 15 of 30 passes and mostly dump-downs as he passed for only 100 yards. Ty Warren had 2 sacks, one for a safety, and Orlando could only muster 2 field goals as New Orleans held them in check all game. Kenny Britt was the offensive star for the Breakers, catching both of Drew Brees’s TD tosses.
POTG: Breaker DE Ty Warren: 8 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Sfty, 1 FF
BIRMINGHAM 3 PHILADELPHIA 30
In a bad showing all around, Birmingham was scoreless into the final minutes of the game as Philadelphia built up a 30-0 lead over 3 quarters. Sam Shields returned a Newton pick 37 yards for a score. Derrick Henry had 84 yards on the ground and added a 1-yard TD reception as well. Birmingham looked utterly helpless, leading to a purge in the coaching room on Monday.
POTG: Philadelphia HB Derrick Henry: 26 Att, 84 Yds, 1 Rec, 6 Yds, 1 TD
LOS ANGELES 17 OAKLAND 27
Oakland got the win they needed in what many considered a must-win game. Joey Harrington connected for scores with Pierre Garçon and Knile Davis. Davis also had 73 yards rushing, paired with 63 and a score from Donald Brown as a balanced offense helped Oakland solve the puzzle of the LA defense. Oakland’s defense held LA to only 59 yards rushing and that limited the effectiveness of Sam Bradford as well as Oakland takes sole possession of 2nd place in the division with the win.
POTG: Invader QB Joey Harrington: 18/23, 209 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int
SAN DIEGO 13 DENVER 3
A defensive slugfest at Invesco Field as neither offense could get much done. Christian Ponder was injured, forcing San Diego to go with Case Keenum at QB, but Keenum and the defense did enough to preserve the win for the Thunder. Matt Leinart was picked off twice and the Denver run game produced only 53 yards as Denver could not take advantage of the shorthanded Thunder.
POTG: Thunder HB Ryan Williams: 18 Att, 83 Yds, 1 TD
BALTIMORE 51 PITTSBURGH 21
Don’t look now, but the Blitz are making a statement that their early season woes are well behind them. They simply demolished the Maulers for 472 yards of offense and 6 touchdowns as everyone got in on the action. Big Ben threw for 350 and had 2 touchdowns despite constant pressure producing 7 sacks. Anthony Dixon and Kerwynn Williams each scored twice, with the combo rushing for 109 yards on 26 carries. Brian Hartline had a huge game, going for 178 yards on the day.
POTG: Blitz QB Ben Roethlisberger: 11/16, 350 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int
CHICAGO 27 MICHIGAN 33 OVERTIME
A very tight game between the Panthers and a Chicago team hoping to make a statement. The Panthers needed overtime to escape with a win as Chicago gave them a battle all the way. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 277 with 3 TDs and the Chicago D held LeVeon Bell to only 57 yards, but in overtime Michigan found their way into range and a 4-yard Mike Hart run put an end to the upset bid from the Machine.
POTG: Panther LB Odell Thurman: 13 Tck, 1 FF
DALLAS 28 TAMPA BAY 24
In a battle of teams that have disappointed this year, Johnny Manziel had one of his best games of the year, throwing for 4 scores and 328 yards as Tampa Bay blows a 24-21 lead in the final minute. Manziel connected with Tiquan Underwood and somehow the Tampa defense blew the coverage, allowing a 93-yard touchdown with only seconds left. Tampa had fought back from being down 21-3 to take the lead with 30 seconds left in the game, only to let it get away in the final seconds.
POTG: Dallas QB Johnny Manziel: 15/30, 328 Yds, 4 TD, 2 Int
WASHINGTON 20 OHIO 17
Ohio put up a fight but falls to 3-6 as Washington gets the win in a tough matchup played with thunderstorms interrupting play in the third quarter. The Feds had held a 17-9 lead, but Ohio came back with a 4th quarter TD and 2-point conversion to tie the game, only to watch as Adam Vinatieri hit the game winner later in the quarter.
POTG: Federals’ HB Deuce McCallister: 21 Att, 123 Yds, 2 TD
NEW JERSEY 17 CHARLOTTE 14
The Generals move to 6-3 thanks to a Quinton Carter pick-six and a solid defensive gameplan. Adrian Peterson got his first start in the USFL and rushed for 45 yards on 16 carries. Delone Carter got the start for New Jersey with MJD still out. He helped keep the Generals 2-dimensional, with Brett Hundley connecting with FB William Swan for New Jersey’s only offensive TD on the day.
POTG: New Jersey FS Quinton Carter: 4 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
JACKSONVILLE 10 ARIZONA 25
The Bulls knocked MVP candidate David Carr out of the game, but not before Arizona had built up a 19-3 lead, with Carr hitting Fitzgerald for 2 scores in the first half. Jim Sorgi kept the Wranglers on top and the Arizona defense did the rest as they held Jacksonville out of the endzone until the waning moments of the game. Sorgi even added a TD, finding Daniel Graham for a late score.
POTG: Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald: 4 Rec, 100 Yds, 2 TD
ATLANTA 7 LAS VEGAS 30
Vegas looked solid against a Fire team that appeared unmotivated and disengaged. Cody Pickett went 28 of 39 for 252 and 2 scores while the combo of Montario Hardesty and Brandon Oliver combined for 137 yards and a score. TE Tyler Eifert had 5 catches on the day for the Vipers, 2 of them going for scores as the Vipers dominate.
POTG: Viper DE Matthew Judon: 3 Tck, 2 Sck
ST. LOUIS 7 TEXAS 10
No rain in San Marcos, but high winds made passing a task, producing a low scoring game that made no one happy to be there. Both QBs struggled, with Joe Flacco uncharacteristically completing only 41.7% of his throws (only 10 of 24). Marshawn Lynch was the key for the Outlaws, pounding out 118 yards despite often facing 8-man fronts. Texas CB Pacman Jones had 8 pass defenses on the day, but the vast majority of those were wind-aided misses from Freeman.
POTG: Outlaw HB Marshawn Lynch: 22 Att, 118 Yds
Carlos Hyde Goes Off in Huge Win for Houston
With all eyes on the developing QB story in Houston, Carlos Hyde has had himself a very good year with very little notice. With injuries to Matt Hasselbeck allowing Colt McCoy to get in games and to impress everyone from the media to Houston’s fanbase, the limelight has clearly been on the QB position. But as that drama has unfolded, Carlos Hyde has just continued to make plays and rack up yardage. After his 4-touchdown, 129-yard day, we expect more folks will be recognizing just how good his year has been. Hyde currently sits in 4th place on the rushing leaderboard with a very solid 664 yards. His 4-TD day now puts him at the top of the board with 9 TDs, 2 more than either Marshawn Lynch or Anthony Dixon. His 252 yards receiving also leads all backs. Hyde is a complete weapon for the Gamblers, unafraid to either block or be a safety valve receiver on passing downs, able to run to the edge or right up the gut. The press may want to talk about a budding QB competition between Hasselbeck and McCoy, but the secret to Houston’s offensive success may be something much more essential, a dual threat, three-down, all-purpose back in Carlos Hyde.
Tampa Fans Irate at Defense After Last Second Turnaround
We really cannot blame Tampa Bay fans for being irate with the club. For two years they have made bids for top QB talent only to have the NFL steal away the star rookie talents. The run game is among the worst in the league, averaging barely 50 yards per game, and the defense, well, the less we say about the Bandit defense perhaps the better. So, we can understand why the boo birds were out early and often as the Bandits hosted the Dallas Roughnecks, another team struggling to play consistent and quality football.
But, for a change, the Bandits were winning this week, having put up the go-ahead touchdown with only 30 seconds left to take a 24-21 lead in the game’s final minute. Certainly, this would be the Bandits’ third win of the season and a good start to the second half. Everything seemed to be in their favor, after all, Dallas had botched the kickoff and with only 27 seconds left they were sitting at their own 7-yard line. So, when, after 2 incompletions, Johnny Manziel not only found Tiquan Underwood on a deep ball, but the Bandit secondary was so unfocused and out of position that Underwood was able to turn the 20-yard toss into a 93-yard touchdown, you can understand the palm-to-face reaction among the few Bandit faithful still engaged in the game.
Bandit fans gave up in that moment. It was clear from the calls made in to local sports radio. The fanbase is disillusioned, distraught, and simply done with this season’s team. You name a member of the Bandit organization and fans want that person fired, from ownership all the way to the water boy. Even minority owner and film star Burt Reynolds was criticized by fans in the days that followed. And while we generally agree that Cannonball Run 3 was not a good movie, we are not sure how that impacts the play of the Bandits this year.
So, what is Tampa Bay to do? They have just suffered a humiliating loss, giving up the unthinkable last second touchdown in a new low for the franchise, a franchise that has 3 league titles and was once one of the most feared offenses in football. Clearly Head Coach Mike Shula is preparing to receive a Black Monday call into the owners’ suite. But how much more is needed. The defense needs an injection of both talent and discipline, the run game is a shambles, and it seems very clear that the Bandits are not ready for prime time. A full autopsy of the season is needed, and we still have 7 weeks left to play. A lot of change is needed, and a lot of turnover should come with it. This is not the look the Bandits wanted as they prepare for their 35th anniversary season in 2017, but it is the reality for this once proud and now down-and-out franchise.
NFL Import Ponder Lost for Season
San Diego may have gotten the win this week in Denver, putting an end to a modest 2-game losing streak, but the win came at a cost as NFL import QB Christian Ponder went down with a non-contact injury that will place him on IR for the rest of the season. With Joe Webb already held out due to lingering issues with a neck injury suffered in Week 6, it was up to Case Keenum to finish out the game, and very possibly to get the start in Week 10. The Thunder have brought in former general Bryan Hoyer to back up Keenum if Webb is again inactive this week, but the Ponder injury has more long-term ramifications.
The expectation was that Ponder would quiet possibly get the starting nod at some point this season, after reasonable time to recover from the past NFL season. He was called to duty in Week 6, when Webb first suffered his neck injury (compacted disc). Since then he has played in 4 games, and has had midling results, with 6 picks to only 3 touchdowns. Now, with Ponder out, and Webb still uncertain, it may be up to Keenum in the short term, and San Diego may not yet know what the long-term plan is. Webb is only 29 and could stay on as the starter, Ponder could do as many NFL imports do and come on in his second USFL season, or the Thunder, who are looking like a pretty well-rounded team, could go a different direction for 2017 and beyond, but for now, it looks like San Diego will make due as they can, hoping Webb is healthy if not this week, then by Week 11. They have a slim 1-game lead over the rest of the Pacific Division, but have a huge game against Oakland, the closest pursuer, this week.
Carr Questionable for Week 10
Arizona QB David Carr limped off the field in last week’s win over Jacksonville. The diagnosis was a deep thigh bruise, which is good news when one considers the other options with a leg injury, but the bruise could be substantial enough to keep Carr out of this week’s game against St. Louis. The MVP candidate is listed as questionable, which means a 50/50 chance to play this week. If he cannot go, then it will be Jim Sorgi once again under center. Sorgi, a 12-year backup, last started a game back in 2011 and has appeared in only 4 games since then. He is trusted enough that Arizona allowed Nick Foles, last year’s backup, to depart in free agency, but he is certainly not as dangerous an option as Carr has proven this season. If Carr can go, he may be limited, with mobility and escapability an issue, something St. Louis would certainly try to use to their advantage. If Sorgi gets the start, expect a lot of Frank Gore, and far fewer deep shots than we have gotten accustomed to with the Wranglers.
In addition to the Christian Ponder injury outlined above, there were several other season-impacting injuries, including Las Vegas center Wesley Johnson and, at least for the short term, Atlanta QB Kyle Orton, who is likely out at least 2 weeks. Here is the full rundown of this week’s new additions to the injury list.
OUT
QB Christian Ponder SD ACL IR
C Wesley Johnson LV Quad 6-8 Weeks
SS Patrick Chung JAX Miniscus 2-4 Weeks
CB Brandon Flowers ARZ Groin 2-4 Weeks
WR Keenan Allen OAK Ankle 1-2 Weeks
QB Kyle Orton ATL Shoulder 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
WR D.J. Hackett CHA Pinched Nerve
G Brett Williams STL Concussion
CB Mark Donohue NOR Ankle
CB Brandon Carr DAL Migraines
WR Brandon LaFell WSH Knee
QUESTIONABLE
QB David Carr ARZ Thigh
OT Eric Fisher SEA Eye
HB Javon Ringer MGN Neck
WR Danny Amendola SD Concussion
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey BAL Hamstring
Texas Oil Man Trevor Rees-Jones Joins Alamodome Rebuild Project
It would appear that Red McCombs, former owner of the Texas Outlaws, has already found a partner for his proposed privately-funded rebuild of the Alamodome and anticipated re-entry into the USFL. Trevor Rees-Jones, the 65-year old founder of Chief Oil & Gas, has signed on with McComb for the major project. Rees-Jones, who began his career as a bankruptcy lawyer, founded Chief in 1994, and has spent most of his life in and around Big Oil in the Dallas area, getting his JD degree at Southern Methodist.
Rees-Jones is expected to help McComb bankroll a significant portion of the Alamodome project, with the expectation being that the city of San Antonio will be responsible only for about 1/5th of the project cost, far less tha one normally sees in a stadium project, but aligned with their expected investment were Chubb insurance to cover the cost as had been anticipated. With Chubb having denied the claim on the Alamodome after it was partially destroyed in 2015 Memorial Day tornadoes which ripped through the city, the far higher cost of the project for the city had the potential to completely derail any efforts to build a new facility. However, McComb, having sold off his portion of the Texas Outlaws, is now working with the city on a proposal that would limit the municipal contribution to the project while granting McComb and his investors, which now includes Rees-Jones, control of the facility.
Whether or not Rees-Jones will also take on minority ownership of the proposed USFL expansion franchise which McCombs hopes to bring to the new Alamodome, is as yet unknown. What is known is that Rees-Jones represents a significant addition to McCombs own financial standing, one that may also attract other investors to the project, and potentially to an ownership group for the city of San Antonio as it hopes to rejoin the USFL in the near future.
Nine Teams in East over .500, only Five in the West
As we prepare for the first official USFL playoff picture in Week 10, the standings already show us that we are looking at something of a disparity between the two conferences. In the East we have 9 teams sitting at 5-4 or better, including a whopping 6 teams all at 6-3 as there is a clear logjam at the top. Houston leads the conference at 7-2, but beyond that we have 8 teams and only 5 potential playoff spots available.
Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, we don’t even have enough clubs with winning records to fill the 6 possible playoff spots. There are only 5 teams currently with winning records, though Chicago, Las Vegas and LA are both only 1 game back at 4-5 and could come into the mix down the final 7 weeks. Right now Arizona is sitting pretty at 8-1, with Texas a game back at 7-2, and no other team better than 6-3, but if the playoffs were to start today, 4-5 Chicago would be the final Wild Card team, despite having a losing record.
So, what should we expect down the stretch? A lot of battling, particularly around the .500 mark between Chicago, LA, Las Vegas, and 5-4 Oakland in the West. In the East, the battles will be between those 6-3 clubs, including division battles between New Jersey and Washington, Memphis and New Orleans, and Charlotte and Orlando. Houston hopes to stay out of the fray, and 5-4 Baltimore and Philadelphia are certainly expecting to make some noise as well. Problem is that there are only 6 spots, so while the West may scramble to fill the last couple of playoff berths with .500 teams, the picture seems to be that 9-7 won’t do it in the East. Ten wins may not even do it if all shakes out as it could. That’s a tough race to be sure.
Top Trade Deadline Candidates
With the trade deadline fast approaching this Friday, there is a lot of talk around the league that we could see a wave of movement in the final days before trading is locked for the season. With a wide open playoff hunt in full effect in both conferences, and with a few key injuries impacting teams across the league, we could see some movement as playoff contenders try to add a key piece that will put them over the top, while, at the same time, teams that are already planning for 2017 might well be open to selling off some talent in hopes of adding more draft collateral, as well as cap space, before August’s free agency window opens.
While it is nearly impossible to accurately assess which teams will pull the trigger on a big deal, we do think there are some players who are in a position where a trade now could be in the works. In some cases it is a matter of teams trying to get some value from a player before their contract expires and they become free agents. For others, cap space is the primary concern as they look ahead to the 2016-2017 offseason. We have identified 5 players on teams that are in the “seller’s market” right now, teams that could be looking to reboot their rosters, free up some cap room, acquire some picks, or just move a disgruntled player now, before they have to do so with no compensation in free agency. We have selected 2 receivers, 2 backs, and an edge rusher who could be in high demand as the trade deadline looms. How many will move will depend very much on how each team envisions their future and the needs they see to find success.
WR Jordy Nelson (STL)
Nelson wants out of St. Louis, that seems clear, and since he will be a free agent as of August, the Skyhawks’ best chance to get some value for him is to trade him this week, ahead of Week 10’s trade deadline.
WR Randall Cobb (OHI)
Ohio is going to be undergoing both a cap and a roster purge this offseason, so why not get started early and get some draft picks to rebuild what is looking like a struggling roster right now. Cobb has more upside than most of the offensive underachievers on the Glory roster, so we would start there.
HB Rashad Jennings (OHI)
With Isaiah Pead the clear lead back in Ohio, perhaps third down specialist Rashad Jennings makes sense as trade bait as well. There are certainly teams that are in need of Jennings’s skills down the stretch.
HB Matt Forte (CHI)
Chicago is in an interesting position. They seem uncertain who their starting back is, alternating between Doug Martin (136 carries for 573 yards) and Matt Forte (118 carries for 477 yards). The 2-back system has worked for them, but if they want to upgrade they may need to trade one to address another position of need. Both have 1 year left on their contract, so at 32-years-old, Forte seems the easier of the two to send off with a year to pay off on his deal.
DE C. J. Mosely (SEA)
Seattle is not going anywhere fast, and with Mosely a free agent as of August, it might make sense for the Dragons to make a deal and send him somewhere just to get some draft capital. Problem is, the team that is most in need of a short-term solution at DE is a division rival, San Diego.
Week 10 officially kicks off the playoff race, with the first playoff picture released by the league. It is also a week that sees several key divisional matchups, all kicking off with a longstanding NE Division grudge match between Washington and Baltimore. With a win, the Blitz could even their record with the Federals and put themselves right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. But, a win by Washington and they send Baltimore back to .500 and put 2 games between the two Potomac rivals.
On Saturday we move from the Northeast to the Central Division with the 2nd of our back-to-back showdowns between Chicago and Michigan. After barely eking out a win at home, in overtime, Michigan now travels down to Chicago, where the Machine is hoping that home field will help them get the best of their rivals. Later in the day we head out west for one of the biggest games in the short history of the Thunder in San Diego. They host the Oakland Invaders, and a win by the home team means a 2-game lead over Oakland in the division, something no one could have foreseen before the season kicked off. Oakland knows this full well, and also knows that a win in San Diego puts them right there, tied with the Thunder atop the Pacific.
On Sunday, we stay in the Pacific, where the 4-5 LA Express are hoping to throw their hat into the division race by knocking off the Portland Stags. A win here puts LA at .500 and potentially within 1 game of the lead in the division with 6 weeks left to go. The evening matchup has Dallas visiting Denver in a SW Division game that could determine if the Gold are contenders or pretenders. They need a good showing against Dallas to return them to .500 and keep them within sight of the top of the division standings as well as the Wild Card race.
Friday @ 8pm ET WASHINGTON (6-3) @ BALTIMORE (5-4) NBC
Saturday @ 12pm ET MEMPHIS (6-3) @ NEW JERSEY (6-3) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm ET TEXAS (7-2) @ CHARLOTTE (6-3) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm ET MICHIGAN (6-3) @ CHICAGO (4-5) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm ET BIRMINGHAM (3-6) @ SEATTLE (2-7) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm ET NEW ORLEANS (6-3) @ PITTSBURGH (3-6) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm ET OAKLAND (5-4) @ SAN DIEGO (6-3) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm ET LAS VEGAS (4-5) @ OHIO (3-6) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET ATLANTA (2-7) @ JACKSONVILLE (3-6) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET PHILADELPHIA (5-4) @ ORLANDO (6-3) FOX
Sunday @ 4pm ET PORTLAND (3-6) @ LOS ANGELES (4-5) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm ET ST. LOUIS (2-7) @ ARIZONA (8-1) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET TAMPA BAY (2-7) @ HOUSTON (7-2) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 8pm ET DALLAS (2-7) @ DENVER (4-5) ESPN/EFN
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