Both Houston and Philadelphia survive divisional tests to remain unbeaten at 10-0. Michigan gets a scare at home, but pulls out a win when they need it. San Diego goes into LA and sets themselves up with a 3-game lead in the Pacific, and the Seattle Dragons get their 5th win in a row, making all of us preseason pundits look a bit foolish for naming them the worst club in the league. It was a week of action that did not move the needle much on who looks good and who is struggling, but it was a week that certainly had some great performances, great plays, and maybe the start of a new rivalry. We will get to the budding animosity between two SW Division clubs, as well as all the news of the week, but we start with our Big Story, the absolute lack of trade deadline action and the best theories as to why teams were just not willing to pull the trigger on a deal. It’s all right here in This Week in the USFL.
Teams Afraid to Pull Trigger as Trade Deadline Closes
In one of the more unusually build ups to the trade deadline, rumors were in no short supply, sportswriters making their picks for the best possible moves to be made were also easy to find, but actual deals, well, that was something else entirely. The rumors went from the mundane (San Diego acquiring a RT from Birmingham) to the patently absurd (Tampa Bay trading half their draft for Andy Dalton). But, at the end of the day on Friday, the cutoff for trades, there were absolutely no trades involving starting USFL players or even draft picks in the first 6 rounds.
Why? What kept teams from pulling the trigger? Speculation abounds, especially around the rumored attempts by teams to get potential QB help. One theory has teams looking at the 2018 draft, where we could see as many as 6 potential “first round” talents on the board. Perhaps teams in need of a QB don’t want to commit now and then spend themselves out of a position to get a potential franchise player in the draft. The other theory tends to be about teams simply not giving up on the season yet. With the 6th playoff spot in both conferences currently held by teams at 5-5, there is very much still hope for the odd 3-7 team like St. Louis, Jacksonville, or Pittsburgh. Outside of 1-9 Portland, the reality of a “play out the string” season likely has not hit anyone yet, even the 2-8 clubs who remain very much mathematically alive.
We had thought we could also see some trades on defense, as teams try to add some pass rush for the home stretch, but again, nothing materialized. Our favorite rumor over the past 2 weeks was that Jacksonville, currently 27th in rushing with barely 60 yards per game, were engaged in frequent outreach to New Jersey, trying to wrangle HB Maurice Jones-Drew. Why the Generals, hot in the playoff hunt at 6-4, would want to give up their lead back in the middle of one of his best seasons, potentially looking at his first 1,200 yard effot, would ever move MJD is beyond us, but that rumor just would not die. Well, when the trade deadline hit on Friday night, it finally was put to rest, and so was one of the least eventful and newsworthy trading periods in recent memory.
Stand pat seems to be the message of 2017. Teams want to build in the draft, make a few key free agent moves in the offseason, but with pretty much every club still mathematically alive, and with only a few apparently “elite” teams at the top, there is room for a lot of teams to dream of a playoff trip, and that means there are few sellers and even fewer teams ready to blow up the roster this season.
LAS VEGAS VIPERS 31 DENVER GOLD 23
We may well have a new rivalry budding in the SW Division. Denver and Las Vegas have had some really tight games, both teams are potential playoff spot competitors, and both just don’t seem to like each other very much. Now, we are not saying that Las Vegas is going to replace the Wranglers as Denver’s primary rival, but, much like the 3-way rivalry in Florida between Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tampa Bay, we could be seeing a 3-way rivalry in development in the Southwest. If that is the case, this week’s game at Invesco Field could be a spark point for that rivalry to build in intensity.
The showdown between the 4-5 Vipers and the 6-3 Gold had a lot of drama to go around, from Denver’s Von Miller all but foaming at the mouth at the prospect of going after Viper backup Jeff Tuel, and producing some bulletin board quotes leading up to the game, to Vegas Head Coach saying that Denver has had some lucky breaks this year to reach 6 wins, again nice bulletin board material. The pre-game posturing continued in the stadium where it was clear the two teams were intent on intimidation from the get-go.
Once the game started, that intensity translated early into some chippiness and early penalties. Both the Vipers’ and the Gold’s opening drives were cut short by unnecessary penalties. But once the initial feistiness settled down and the two teams started putting plays together, the game started to move quicker and get interesting. Both the Vipers and Gold put touchdowns on the board in the final minutes of the first quarter, with Las Vegas starting things off with a 9-play drive that concluded with Jeff Tuel finding Doug Baldwin for the game’s opening score. Tuel, would have himself a very solid day, despite Von Miller’s presence. He would finish the game 25 of 38 for 267 yards and 3 scores (2 passing, 1 rushing), all the while suffering only 3 sacks on the day.
Denver responded to the Viper drive with one of their own, a 15-play marathon that ended with Jamaal Charles diving into the endzone from the 1. That score came with 1:26 left in the quarter, and it would be Denver’s last score of the half, as Las Vegas took over in the 2nd. The Vipers scored quickly upon getting the ball back, moving into Denver territory on a nice 23-yard run by Montario Hardesty, followed by a 16-yard Tuel to Eifert connection. The drive fizzled inside the 20 and Las Vegas settled for a field goal, giving them a 10-7 lead.
Denver, however, struggled to replicate the success on their early scoring drive. They would have 3 three-and-outs in the 2nd quarter, drawing groans from the partisan crowd. One of those short possessions was followed by an absolute shank off the foot of punter Dave Zastudil, a fluttering ball that went out of bounds only 22 yards from the 4th down spot. That muffed kick gave Las Vegas easy access to scoring position and in only 5 plays they increased the lead to 10 points, with Tuel adding a 2nd TD on the day, this time a bootleg run that saw him nip the corner of the endzone before falling out of bounds. Up 17-7, Las Vegas was happy to see Denver grind the ball for 1 first down before the half ended.
When the second half started, the Gold new they had to retake momentum, and they did so with a very nice 11-play drive, one in which Matt Leinart took a huge hit from LB Nate Irving, drawing the roughing call that helped them retain possession. That hit was followed by a lot of jawing and some pushing, but no other penalties were called. Denver would score 4 plays later when Leinart hit Golden Tate on a short red zone TD toss. Following a short Vegas drive, Denver’s D got them the ball back by breaking up a 3rd and 7 toss, and the Gold had a chance to even the score or take the lead. It would be the tie as the Gold could not advance past the Vegas 30 and had to settle for a 39-yard Zeurlein field goal.
So, after 3 quarters we were knotted up at 17, with regular scuffles and exchanges of words on almost every drive. One such scuffle all but undid the work Von Miller put in to get his only sack of the day. Miller had swept outside the LT, then spun past the back to reach Tuel, bringing him down for a 7-yard loss, but after the play, Las Vegas guard Ron Leary took offense to Miller’s post-sack taunt, and shoved the Denver edge rusher. The refs did not see that shove, but they saw the retaliation from Denver DT Sharrif Floyd, who pushed Leary to the turf, drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty that gave Vegas the automatic first down. They would continue the drive from there, eventually putting the ball in the endzone on Tuel’s 2nd TD toss, a short swing pass to Hardesty.
Finding themselves down 7, with just over 10 minutes to play, Denver opted to go for a big play, expecting Las Vegas to overplay the run, sensible since DeMarco Murray and Jamaal Charles had already combined for over 110 yards rushing. The call was the right one and Leinart found Golden Tate in single coverage on 1st and 10. Eighty-four yards later, Tate crossed the plane of the endzone, taking a late hit from the Vegas safety, and rolled into the endzone. Denver could tie with the PAT, but Greg Zeurlein somehow doinked the PAT off the right upright and, despite the big play, Denver found themselves still trailing.
Las Vegas tried to slow things down on their next possession, and did a fairly good job of it, producing an 8-play drive that used up over 5 minutes of clock before fizzling out in no-man’s land at the Denver 38. The Vipers opted to punt, setting Denver back at their own 7 with just over 3 minutes to go. Denver would have time, and still had 2 timeouts, to get into field goal range and let Zeurlein make up for his earlier doink.
Denver would struggle to find consistency on their final drive. They got a first down to the 19, then lost 8 yards on a sack of Leinart by Vegas FS Antrel Rolle. They needed 4 downs to get the first, using a Leinart QB sneak on 4th and inches to get one on the 29, but then the play that could define the rivalry between these two teams sent the game into chaos. On a 2nd and 8 from the 30, Leinart attempted to hit Michael Crabtree on an inside-cutting hook route. Just as the ball arrived, Crabtree was taken out by SS Eric Berry, the ball popping up in the air, where it was snagged by Darnell Bing. As Bing raced down the sideline, avoiding a half-hearted tackle effort by Leinart to score, Crabtree and half the Gold team were surrounding the refs, demanding that pass interference be called against Berry. Replay on the screen seemed to clearly indicate that Berry had arrived early, crashing into Crabtree before the receiver’s hands grasped the ball. But, the officials on the field had not called the penalty. Fans wanted a challenge, but there is no option to challenge a non-call, so there was no option available to Coach Hufnagel.
Las Vegas lined up for the PAT. Brett Maher put the ball through the uprights and Las Vegas had an 8-point lead with only 26 seconds to play. Denver fans were incensed, the offense was now completely out of synch and unable to do anything but a pair of fruitless deep throws as time ran out. Vegas pulled out the win, moved to 5-5 and clearly put themselves in playoff contention, while Denver dropped to 6-4, and clearly left the field incensed, as did many of their fans.
ATLANTA 21 ORLANDO 19
The SE Division tightens up some more as Atlanta pulls to .500 and drags Orlando down to the same 5-5 record with a road win at Camping World Stadium. It came down to a 2-point PAT as Atlanta took the lead with 2:42 to play on a Murray to Green-Beckham TD toss. Orlando roared back with Connor Shaw hitting Perriman with a TD only 1 minute later, but on the 2-pointer, the Orlando QB could not find TE David Njoku and the 2-point margin held for Atlanta.
POTG: Atlanta FS Earl Thomas: 3 Tck, 1 PDef, 1 Int
ARIZONA 33 OKLAHOMA 12
Joe Flacco’s nasty sack total rises another 6 spots as Arizona manhandles the Outlaw line. Flacco would complete only 13 of 34 throws, with constant pressure. Meanwhile, David Carr had outstanding protection and completed 20 of 26 throws, totaling 297 yards and throwing for 4 TDs as Arizona rolled over a fading Oklahoma team.
POTG: Arizona HB Ka’Deem Carey: 17 Att, 137 Yds, 2 Rec, 36 Yds
JACKSONVILLE 7 CHARLOTTE 28
The Bulls could not mount a run game, even with Robert Griffin in the game for 4 quarters, as Griffin and Matt Jones combine for only 4 rushing yards, a true low point for the Jack Del Rio offense. For Charlotte, Peterson and Taiwan Jones combined for 108 and kept the pressure off Mitch Trubisky, who completed 20 of 29 and threw for 3 scores as Charlotte rolled at home.
POTG: Monarch WR Hakeem Nicks: 5 Rec, 93 Yds, 1 TD
MEMPHIS 6 NEW JERSEY 34
The Generals picked off Paxton Lynch 4 times and got 2 rushing TDs from Maurice Jones-Drew as Nick Foles got his first “W” as the newly installed starting QB. New Jersey was outgained 331-257 but won the turnover battle 4-0, which was more than enough for them to build up a 34-point uninterrupted scoring streak against the mistake-prone Showboats.
POTG: New Jersey LB Aldon Smith: 11 Tck, 2 Sck
SAN DIEGO 20 LOS ANGELES 16
This was a good back-and-forth game that saw LA take a 16-13 lead with 4:57 to play, but in the final minutes Joe Webb found Nick Toon for a score and San Diego escaped with the divisional win. Webb went 15 of 21 on the day, throwing for 2 scores, while Sam Bradford went 25 of 40 for 234 yards and a touchdown. The biggest star of the day was Thunder TE Kevin Everett, who turned 5 catches into 118 yards and a score.
POTG: San Diego TE Kevin Everett: 5 Rec, 118 Yds, 1 TD
OHIO 27 TAMPA BAY 16
Rex Burkhead had a huge game for the Bandits, rushing for 129 on 18 carries, but in the end it was not enough as Ohio shut out Tampa Bay in the 4th quarter and got two late scores to come back for the win. Christian Hackenberg connected with TE Richard Rodgers for the go-ahead score early in the 4th and then Ohio’s D did the rest, keeping LA out of range for the rest of the quarter.
POTG: Ohio LB Ryan Shazier: 8 Tck, 1 Sck
SEATTLE 26 OAKLAND 10
The Dragons make it 5 in a row, evening their record at 5-5, and at the expense of a key divisional foe. Ryan Lindley struggled, completing only 14 of 32 throws for 116 yards, while Jacoby Brissett found his groove, completing 29 of 37 for 236 and 2 scores. It was 10-0 Oakland early, but Seatle adjusted, shut down the Invader offense and rattled off 26 unanswered points to take their fifth win in a row.
POTG: Seattle QB Jacoby Brissett: 29/37, 236 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int
BALTIMORE 37 WASHINGTON 17
The Blitz found their offense once again as Washington’s D continued to struggle. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 337 and 2 scores, Kerwynn Williams rushed for 90 yards and a score and Darrius Heyward-Bey broke out for 146 receiving as Baltimore just dominated the Feds all game long. Washington did get a respectable game from HB Donald Brown, who finished with a season-high 72 yards, but it was far from enough as the Blitz scored on 4 consecutive drives in the 2nd half to pull away.
POTG: Blitz WR Darrius Heyward-Bey: 5 Rec, 146 Yds, 1 TD
DALLAS 20 NEW ORLEANS 19
Pat white continued to struggle at the helm of the Breaker offense and New Orleans dropped one late to the Roughnecks. Dallas’s Brandon Wheedon went 15 of 20 for 184 and a TD, but got dinged up, bringing on Tyrod Taylor to finish the game. Despite 166 yards from Kenny Britt, the Breakers simply could not put together enough on offense, settling for field goals. A missed PAT proved costly as Caleb Sturgis’s missed point proved the difference in the final score.
POTG: Dallas DE Connor Barwin: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF
PORTLAND 21 MICHIGAN 24
The Stags played Michigan tough but fell just short as they could not convert late in the game to keep a possible game tying drive alive. LeVeon Bell had his first back-to-back 100-yard games after racking up 128 and a score in this one. Doug Martin, the league’s leading rusher, kept pace with 119 and a score of his own in this matchup of two of the league’s leading ballcarriers.
POTG: Michigan CB Dre Kirkpatrick: 4 Tck, 2 FF, 1 FR
CHICAGO 17 ST. LOUIS 18
Blaine Gabbert got the start for St. Louis, and while his numbers were not eye-popping (16/24, 171, 2 TD), he avoided any turnovers, kept St. Louis moving, and got the W with a late TD toss to Erik Decker. The former Mizzou product started his first USFL game after coming over from the NFL. He got help from Eddie Lacy’s 86 yards on the ground, and from a defense that picked off Ryan Fitzpatrick twice,
POTG: St. Louis SS Kendrick Lewis: 10 Tck, 1 Int
HOUSTON 31 BIRMINGHAM 14
The Gamblers reached a perfect 10-0 thanks to 4 passing TDs (2 each from McCoy and Driskoll) and a monster game from TE Vernon Davis. Davis caught 6 for 135, with 2 turning into scores. Carlos Hyde added 80 on the ground, and rookie sensation Juju Smith-Schuster added another TD as Houston rolled. Cam Newton threw for 215 and rushed for another 35, pulling the Stallions to within 3 at 17-14 at the end of the 3rd quarter, but Houston got TDs from Kiero Small and Davis in the final period to pull away.
POTG: Houston TE Vernon Davis: 6 Rec, 135 Yds, 2 TD
PHILADELPHIA 20 PITTSBURGH 13
The Stars also finished the week a perfect 10-0, but the Maulers did not make it easy. Despite losing Andy Dalton to a minor injury in the first half, Pittsburgh kept it close and was within 7 with the ball with 2:21 left to play, but a 4th and 7 proved too much as a pass from Hogan to Thielen was knocked away by Stars’ DB Courtland Finnegan, giving the ball back to the Stars with only seconds left.
POTG: Stars DB Courtland Finnegan: 8 Tck, 1 FF, 4 PDef
Kaepernick Declines Skyhawk Offer, Boller Signs
While the trade wire remained silent, St. Louis tried to make news in free agency. With the injury to Josh Freeman, they sought a potential infusion of talent, and thought they had one lined up as they negotiated with the agent of former NFL starter Colin Kaepernick. St. Louis offered a 2-year deal, a rarity for a mid-season signing, and one that would have provided Kaepernick a mid-range starting QB salary. But after 48 hours, Kaepernick’s agent responded that his client could not accept the offer. He would not be coming to the USFL while his suit with the NFL for collusion and violations of the CBA between the NFL and NFLPA was still in process.
That led St. Louis to look for Plan B, and they found it in unemployed former Stallion, Breaker, and Outlaw QB Kyle Boller. Boller signed a deal for the rest of this season and will join St. Louis this week. However, with former NFL washout Blaine Gabbert getting a W in his first USFL start, it may appear that the Skyhawks have their starter for the moment, even if he was not considered the first, or possibly even the 2nd option by team officials.
Everything but the W
By every stat we could measure, Denver should have won the game over Las Vegas, and yet, they didn’t, and Las Vegas evened their record at 5-5, with Jeff Tuel getting another W in Eli Manning’s absence. Denver led in total yards (417-321), in time of possession (32:02-27:58), in rushing yards (128-54), in penalties (3 for 35 vs. 5 for 50), and in first downs (17-14), and yet, they drop this one.
You will note that there is one stat we did not mention, turnovers. There was only one in the game, but it was a beauty, as Matt Leinart was not only picked off with 26 seconds left to play, but the errant pass was returned for a score by Las Vegas’s Darnell Bing, turning a 1-point deficit into an 8-point obstacle, one Denver simply did not have time to remedy. Sometimes football truly is a game of inches, and this was a game that could have, and probably should have broken the other way, but one bad play, one poor decision, can turn a possible late FG for the W into a loss at home. So it goes.
Tailback Showdown at Ford Field
We had a feeling that Portland vs. Michigan would be all about the run games, and so it was, with both Doug Martin, the league’s leading rusher, and LeVeon Bell, the reigning rushing champion, going head-to-head. Both had strong games despite both defenses trying to stack the box to defend the run. Martin averaged 5.2 yards per carry and had a beautiful 25-yard TD run in the 2nd quarter. LeVeon Bell averaged an impressive 6.1 yards per carry, with a 28-yard spring in the 3rd, and a 24-yard TD run of his own in the first quarter. Both backs looked very much like All-USFL shoe-ins, and with a final total of 119 yards for Martin and 128 for Bell, the 2016 rushing champion may have gained only 7 yards on Martin, but it was enough to move him from 3rd to 2nd in the current rankings. He is coming for Martin, and with 6 weeks left to play, the difference between the two is down to only 16 yards.
Vernon Davis Back in the Headlines
Remember back to the first week of the season when Houston TE Vernon Davis led all receivers with a 198 explosion to open the season? Then in Week 2 he had 2 TDs and added another 113 yards. Well, he has not had the big numbers all season, and he has dropped out of the Top 10 in receiving, as most TE’s do over time, but this week he reminded us what a weapon he is for the Gamblers, once again topping 100 yards and showing up big for his QB (or QB’s as he had 2 in the game.)
Davis had his 2nd highest receiving total of the season this week, trailing only that Week 1 outburst. With 6 catches for 135, he was a weapon this week, adding 2 more receiving TDs to his total of 10. He stands tied with another TE, Arizona’s Jimmie Williams, atop the receiving TD leaders list. The two veteran tight ends lead a long list of wideouts and are the only receivers to hit double digits in scoring catches to date (Brian Hartline is at 9). Against Birmingham, Davis was simply uncoverable. They tried a safety, but he proved too small for Davis’s block out moves, then a linebacker, but as you would expect, he could not keep up with Davis on longer routes. A fast, big, and muscular TE can be a very dangerous weapon, and it seems that Houston has figured out how to use this particular blunt instrument. With 744 yards and 10 TDs, Davis could top 1,000 for the year and seems destined for All-USFL recognition.
Lynch Struggles with Accuracy in 4 Int Debacle
When the Memphis Showboats drafted Paxton Lynch out of the local U. of Memphis, they saw potential for a hometown star in the making. When they delayed negotiations with Eli Manning, they were all but guaranteeing a passing of the torch, and when they opted not to allow Kyle Orton to truly challenge Lynch’s status this offseason, they basically handed the keys to the Memphis offense to their 2nd year QB. After 10 weeks, many are now questioning the wisdom of having such a clear path, with few other options. Yes, Memphis did bring in Kyle Orton, so there is a possible alternative, but it seems that Coach Ryan is holding firm to Paxton Lynch as his starter.
Lynch has had some moments, including a beauty of a game against Arizona, with 4 TD passes against the unbeaten Wranglers. But he has also struggled with accuracy throughout the year, throwing multiple picks in 4 of his first 10 games as the starter. This week was perhaps the most egregious of Lynch’s poor games, with 4 interceptions all but handing the win to the New Jersey Generals. Lynch clearly has some talent, he can escape pressure, can make the deep throws and the outside the hashmark throws, but he has got to make better decisions on when and where to force the ball. Of course, even with a year on the bench watching Manning lead Memphis to the Summer Bowl, this is really the QB’s first season of on-field action. We expect that the game will be a bit fast, and that his reads will need to improve with time, but what we are not seeing is a strategy to minimize risk. It seems Coach Ryan is just throwing him in the deep end and hoping he will swim. Known as a defensive strategist, perhaps Rex Ryan needs to bring in some help to bring Lynch along. Perhaps one year watching Manning is not the same as having a true QB guru on staff. One way or the other, games like this week’s could define Lynch in his early career, so the time is now to give him the support he needs to succeed.
Feds Get Hit Again as Smallwood added to IR
This year has been nothing short of disastrous for the Washington Federals. They start the year with six straight losses, losing QB David Garrard along the way. Their run game, expected to be led by former Invader Donald Brown, is a disaster, averaging less than 60 yards per game over that losing streak. They turn to Wendell Smallwood out of desperation, and less than a month after being given the starting job, he is lost for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Since becoming first, the part-time rotational starter in Week 5 and then the designated starter in Week 8, Smallwood has shown some flashes. He had 94 yards in a good game against the Generals. In the club’s first win of the season, a Week 7 squeaker over Atlanta, he rushed for 97 yards and caught 5 balls for 55 more. This week, he appeared headed for another big day, with 34 yards on his first 8 carries and 6 receptions in the first half against Baltimore, the dreaded pop. It was mid-juke when you could see Smallwood’s right ankle just give way. He needed to be carried from the field by two of his linemen and went straight to the locker room. Torn Achilles was the verdict, a season-ending injury that will require extensive rehab after surgery. For the Federals it was just one more big blow in a season that seems to be defined by misfortune and misery. For Coach Payton, it could well be the end of his tenure at the helm, and for Federals fans, well, offense could well be a very difficult thing to come by over the next 6 weeks.
We expect that when the first playoff picture comes out in Week 10 each season, we will be looking more at potential than at actual secured berths, but this year we are about as close as we get to an early clinching. Philadelphia sits atop the Eastern standings with a 10-0 record and a 4-game lead on the next club in their division, the 6-4 Generals. Houston is in an even better position, with their 10-0 record a full 5 games ahead of 2nd place New Orleans. The Gamblers could very well clinch their division with a win next week and a Breaker loss.
In the West, Arizona has a 3-game lead over their closest rival, Denver, while San Diego’s lead is also 3 games, and Michigan is 2 games up on Ohio. We will, of course, watch those divisional battles, but the West also has a nice cluster of teams all in play for the Wild Card, including 4 teams sitting at 5-5 and separated only by tiebreakers. Throw in the 6-4 and 4-6 clubs, and you essentially have 8 teams fighting over 3 possible Wild Card spots.
A nasty week for injuries, with 6 players added to a growing Injured Reserve list, including two offensive starters for the Washington Federals and Pittsburgh’s defensive captain, Paul Posluszny. The Maulers will also likely miss QB Andy Dalton for the next 2-3 weeks after he suffered a partial hamstring tear. Birmingham, Pittsburgh, Denver, and Washington each suffered multiple injuries this week. On the other side of the ledger, there is a good chance Drew Brees will be back from injury in Week 11 and Dallas could well activate QB Johnny Manziel after the conclusion of his suspension as of this past Monday.
OUT
HB Wendell Smallwood WSH Achilles IR
OT Ryan Considine WSH Hip IR
TE C. J. Uzomah BAL PCL IR
LB Paul Posluszny PIT Hamstring IR
OT Nat Dorsey LV Neck IR
CB Dunta Robinson PIT Hamstring IR
OT Stacy Andrews CHI ACL 6-8 Weeks
HB Peyton Barber ARZ Arm 4-6 Weeks
OT Brennan Williams BIR Neck 2-4 Weeks
QB Andy Dalton PIT Hamstring 1-2 Weeks
G Carl Nicks BIR Jaw 1-2 Weeks
DE Cameron Jordan NOR Concussion 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
WR Antonio Bryant ARZ Concussion
LB Patrick Onwuasor DEN Concussion
G Connor McGovern BAL Ankle
WR Muhammad Sanu NJ Wrist
CB Ken Crawley DEN Concussion
CB Demetrius McCay OKL Arm
QUESTIONABLE
FS Adrian Adams WSH Back
FB Arthur Phillips DAL Concussion
QB Drew Brees NOR Ankle
News of 2020 Expansion Has Investors Lining Up
We had a feeling that the official announcement of league expansion up to 30 teams in 2020 would have an immediate reaction across the nation, and we were not disappointed. Even with the knowledge that former Texas Outlaw owner Red McCombs and his investment group is already locked in for 1 of the 2 expansion franchises, the furor of expansion options has been immediate and impressive. Fan groups have gone public, trying to petition and pressure their communities into putting together a bid. Investment groups have started to form, or have gone public with their formation, and sports radio is abuzz with opinions on just what cities should be in the mix.
There is general agreement that the league was right to guarantee a spot to San Antonio, with many expressing disgust that the Outlaws team was sold at all, even with the stadium issues involved. What is not at all generally agreed upon is just where a 30th franchise should be placed. There are some frontrunners, to be sure, but it seems everyone has a pro or con argument for any destination. Not that we want to stoke these fires any more than they are already in play, but we decided to give you our quick assessment of 8 cities we are hearing being discussed or which already have publicly acknowledged investor groups ready to make a pitch.
1. BOSTON
The early front-runner just based on metro area (nearly 56.M people in greater Boston) as well as the regional capacity of a team to represent all of New England from the NY-CT border all the way to northern Maine. Losing the Cannons several years back meant that for the 2nd time in league history, Boston lost its spring football franchise, and with the Patriots in absolute disarray as a franchise, football fans from Bridgeport to Kennebunkport have to be hoping that Boston gets a third try. The issue, of course, is whether or not Robert Kraft will finally see the value of sharing Gillette Stadium with a USFL squad. His dislike of USFL collaboration is a growing oddity in NFL circles, but it has been the primary obstacle to a strong USFL presence in New England, simply because his stadium was the one truly optimal venue in the entire 6-state region.
2. MIAMI
While no one is anxious for a 1pm game in Miami in August, there is no denying that the country’s 9th largest metro area (6.3 million by latest count) is an attractive option. But you already know what the biggest obstacle for a Miami franchise is? It’s the USFL’s three other Florida teams. Both the NFL and the USFL seem to have settled on 3 being the optimal cap for teams in the Sunshine state, with the two leagues sharing Tampa Bay and Jacksonville, while the NFL has the Miami monopoly with the Dolphins while the USFL staked a claim on Orlando way back in 1987. There may be money in Miami to make this happen, but they will face a pretty powerful block of owners in the Bandits, Renegades, and Bulls if they become a finalist.
3. MINNEAPOLIS
This one is a particular favorite for me, having spent nearly 30 years living in the Midwest, and with a new domed stadium in place for the NFL Vikings, a stadium that will make summer football very attractive in the Twin Cities, we have to include Minnesota as a high value market. Throw in the fact that a club there would be another natural rival for Central Division clubs like Chicago, Michigan and St. Louis, and that it could draw fans from Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas, and you have a lot of positives to speak of. The only problem I can see is what you call a new Minnesota team? Vikings is so obvious, but so taken, and neither of the recent major league additions have really hit a homerun with the T-Wolves and the Wild.
4. VIRGINIA BEACH
After losing out to Charlotte in 2008, the Virginia Beach contingent has been largely silent, but they seem to have reawakened interest in bringing USFL football to their region. The Tidewater area is the largest MSA without any major league sports franchises, but that is for a reason. Unlike most other large MSA’s, there really is not a magnet city in the region. Norfolk and Virginia Beach may both be nice places to visit, but they don’t have either the corporate strength or the cache of a large city like Miami, Boston, or Minneapolis to hitch their wagon to. That and the lack of a “ready to go” stadium are pretty big issues the Tidewater Football Group will need to deal with.
5. HARTFORD
If Boston is in the mix, how can Hartford stand a chance? That is the common refrain from those who doubt the bid being put together by investors, led by Ray Dalio, the 67-year-old founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest hedge funds. While there is certainly no great love of hedge funds in general, an owner with over $22B in persona resources is a compelling plus in his and Hartford’s column. The other potential plus is just outside the city in East Hartford, UConn’s Rentschler Field. The 42,000 seat stadium is a bit smallish for the USFL of today, but an expansion plan that allows for seating to increase over 50,000 is already on file, and could be fully funded by Dalio and associates. The potential downside, of course, is the proximity to New Jersey and the Generals, as well as the overall luke-warm football atmosphere both at UConn and in the state in general. Not to disparage southern New England, but it is hardly Alabama, Texas, or Ohio when it comes to football-centric cultures.
6. CLEVELAND
Speaking of Ohio, the failed effort to build a new stadium & football “theme park” outside of Canton may have forced the Ohio Glory to refocus their attention on Columbus, but it also may have reawakened interest in bringing the USFL to Cleveland. Of course, nearly 20 years of struggles by the “reborn” Browns since their return to the NFL in 1999 could also be a factor in a popular, grassroots movement to bring a 2nd pro team to the city on the shores of Lake Erie. I suppose I don’t have to tell you that while Clevelanders may be growing in enthusiasm for a club, you can expect loud and frequent complaints from both the Ohio Glory and the Pittsburgh Maulers if the league looks seriously at the city. Cleveland would need to put together a dynamite ownership group, an outstanding stadium plan, and a lot of concessions to their closest neighbors, which is why we are placing them in the Group of 3 that we consider longshots, along with the next two cities we name here.
7. HONOLULU
Not since the failed World Football League in 1975 has a pro football team called Hawaii home. Heck, no other major league sport has even tried to put a team in the distant islands. Yes, Honolulu and the islands are a beautiful location, with great weather, and certainly a tourist mecca, but Honolulu has two glaring issues that have kept it a wasteland of pro sports for decades. The first is the distance. Just ask the University of Hawaii or any of the teams they play how grueling it is to go on the road, especially if multiple week jaunts are not possible. Hawaii, for an East Coast team is further than playing games in London, Dublin or Amsterdam. The second factor is that the once-perfect stadium for a smaller USFL, Aloha Stadium, is no longer an ideal venue. While it has a nice capacity of 50,000 seats, it is very much a college stadium, with a lot of open seating and very few luxury suites, amenities, concession venues, or even press space. Major upgrades would be needed if a Honolulu-based franchise wanted to stay competitive with the mainland teams.
8. NEW YORK
We just felt the blood pressure of the Generals’ ownership go through the roof. For years, New Jesey has been making the case that they are a regional franchise, drawing fans from as far and wide as upstate New York, NE Pennsylvania, and even Delaware. The idea that New York would get a team (some would call it a 2nd team) when the Generals play in the same stadium as the two NFL New York franchises, will get a lot of pushback. The argument is clear, adding NY does nothing to expand the fanbase of the USFL. It only cannibalizes one of the most established “big market” teams in the league.
Yes, NYC has the corporate and personal wealth to put together a very good ownership group. Yes, there are certainly some fans that would prefer to stay far away from New Jersey to watch football. These are both true, but NYC has to be considered a longshot for very obvious reasons, first is the cannibalization argument. What truly is added by having a fourth major league football team in the city? And second, where would they play? Citifield would be a very awkward fit, as would Yankee Stadium, both configured clearly for baseball, and both with baseball teams that would certainly claim primary tendency, which minimizes a USFL club’s leverage for stadium revenue. Soccer club NYCFC is exploring the possibility of a stadium in Queens very close to Citifield, but they seem intent on a nice, cozy, maybe 18,000-20,000 seat facility that can have a more urban “in the neighborhood” feel, not a 50,000-65,000-seat behemoth that requires 20,000 parking spaces. Some NY fans may want a 2nd team, but we think that it is perhaps the least likely of any of the contenders.
Breakers Break out a New Logo & Updated Helmet for 2018
Maybe the Breakers should have had The Pet Shop Boys and Thomas Dolby on hand at their Wednesday press conference, because they went fully “new wave” with their new UA look. Under Armor was on hand when Breakers’ management, Head Coach Lamar Lathon, and players Leonard Fournette, Jordy Nelson, Patrick Peterson, and Kwon Alexander unveiled the new look for the 2018 Breakers.
The first and biggest announcement was the new logo for the team, a return in a sense to the original, more abstract, breaking wave motif that the club has used since their first season in Boston in 1983. The new pattern uses stacked color blocks to depict the crashing wave. A rising teal (officially Breaker Blue) wave rides on undercurrents of silvery grey, white and navy (Deep Gulf Blue officially). All of this is contained within a circular shape, intersected, as always, by a lone flying gull. The elements are very much the same as in past iterations, but the execution is more minimalist and symbolic than representational.
Of course, it is the full helmet wrap design that has been the hallmark of New Orleans’s design since the beginning, and that is not changing. The new Breaker helmet features the same wave components, wrapping from front to back across the entire helmet: a huge teal wave, with grey, whlte and navy beneath it. This new design will be a challenge with the new helmet designs featuring so many cut outs and flex points, but the Breakers are committed to the full-helmet design that has become so iconic over the decades of USFL football.
The uniforms also call back several elements of past designs while sticking with the new symbolic wave motif. The grey and white pant sets feature undulating waves in 3 colors. The teal and white jerseys have offsetting colors and sleek modern numbers. The sleeves introduce a new feature, with the team’s new circular logo centered on each sleeve and the various “water levels” of each stripe matching with the stripes to the right and left of the logo. What this means visually is that some stripes are far thinner on the left than the right and vice versa. They align with the cutoff points for each color in the logo, creating a very novel effect, but one that certainly speaks to the unique style of the Breakers.
No word on the alternative uniforms yet, but, if New Orleans is anything like several other teams this year, we might get to see those designs next week. Rumors are that the throwback will go all the way back to 1983, when the club was born in Boston, with a very different double blue color scheme. There are also rumors that the new alternate look will feature either a teal or navy helmet, an allowable shift since both the primary design and the throwback can use the same white shell (with a lot of decal work for the prep team every time they switch it around). So, will it be navy? Will it be the league’s 2nd teal helmet (after Charlotte)? Or will they surprise us? And just how will they do something different with the helmet design for an alternate? Could we see something like a more traditional logo-on-side design? From the Breakers? Gotta say, I am a bit jazzed to see what they come up with.
With only 4 divisional games on the docket for Week 11, this is a week to celebrate some cross-country showdowns and inter-divisional playoff positioning. We kick it off on Friday with the unbeaten Houston Gamblers, holding a 5-game lead in their division, taking on the SE Division-leading Charlotte Monarchs, whose hold on the Southeast is about as tenuous as it can get.
Saturday we have some interesting matchups of teams that are struggling right now, with Baltimore having rediscovered their offense last week now headed to Orlando, who needs to discover an answer at QB with Russell Wilson gone for the year. We have Memphis going into Philadelphia to try to stop the runaway train that is the 10-0 Stars, and we have a matchup of two of the best teams in the Western Conference as 8-2 Michigan, leaders of the Central, take on the Pacific Division-leading 8-2 San Diego Thunder.
On Sunday we have 3 divisional games, including big ones in New Orleans and Las Vegas, with 4-6 Birmingham and 4-6 Oklahoma coming to town to take on the 5-5 Breakers and Vipers. We also have an interesting matchup of two of this season’s surprise teams, the 6-4 Ohio Glory are in Seattle to take on the Dragons, winners of 5 in a row to sit at 5-5. It is a make or break weekend for a lot of teams, so we should get some tight games and some high pressure performances.
FRI 7PM ET Houston (10-0) @ Charlotte (6-4) FOX
FRI 9PM ET Dallas (4-6) @ Arizona (9-1) ESPN/EFN
SAT 12PM ET Baltimore (4-6) @ Orlando (5-5) ABC
SAT 12PM ET Memphis (4-6) @ Philadelphia (10-0) FOX
SAT 4PM ET Pittsburgh (3-7) @ Denver (6-4) ABC
SAT 4PM ET Chicago (2-8) @ Oakland (5-5) FOX
SAT 7PM ET Washington (2-8) @ Los Angeles (4-4) NBC
SAT 9PM ET Michigan (8-2) @ San Diego (8-2) ESPN/EFN
SUN 12PM ET Tampa Bay (2-8) @ Atlanta (5-5) ABC Regional
SUN 12PM ET St. Louis (3-7) @ Jacksonville (3-7) ABC Regional
SUN 12PM ET Birmingham (4-6) @ New Orleans (5-5) FOX
SUN 4PM ET Oklahoma (4-6) @ Las Vegas (5-5) ABC
SUN 4PM ET Ohio (6-4) @ Seattle (5-5) FOX
SUN 8PM ET New Jersey (6-4) @ Portland (1-9) ESPN/EFN
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