2018 USFL Divisional Playoff Recap

Two Conferences, two very different weekends. While the top two seeds in the West held serve and won their games by a combined 42 points (most of that due to Arizona’s blowout win over the Thunder), the two Eastern underdogs made things rough for the homestanding top seeds, with both 1-seed New Orleans and 2-seed Atlanta going down to close 3-point defeats. Those results mean we will have a 1 vs. 2 matchup in Glendale this week, but a 3 vs. 4 showdown in East Rutherford as New Jersey gets a surprise gig as the host of the Eastern Conference Finals.

But, as big as the weekend’s action was, the big story of the week is all anyone is talking about. Calais Campbell, the 10-time USFL leader in sacks (Man! Is that a ludicrous record!!) has announced that he wants a trade. Every team in the league is now smacking their lips and hoping a deal can be cut with the Renegades. It is a huge story, with leaguewide ramifications, and we will cover it starting this week with the announcement that he wants a deal done by October. We will, of course, also cover all the week’s news, including a review of the weekend’s action, all the latest retirement updates, a breakdown of our Top 25 anticipated free agents, and a preview of two very interesting Conference Championships. All happening right now.

Campbell to Renegades: “Trade Me or I Walk Away”

In what may be the biggest case of “too little, too late” in USFL history, it seems that after 11 seasons of frustration, Calais Campbell, the unquestioned best defensive player in the league, and quite possibly the best pure pass rusher in football history, has had enough of his efforts going for naught. According to multiple reports from within and around the Renegades franchise, Campbell laid down the law this week, demanding to be traded by November or he insisting he will file for retirement. It is a huge blow to the Orlando franchise, whose entire identity has revolved around Campbell for the better part of a decade. 

Campbell at his most fierce with the 'Gades in 2015.

This is a player after all who has not only set the league record for sacks with 34 sacks in 2009, but is the only player ever to reach 30 in a season, having done so four times, with 33 in 2014, 32 in 2016, and 30 this year, his 11th in the league. In addition to the amazing sack totals, Campbell has now twice topped 100 tackles in a season, a feat simply unheard of for a defensive end. He had 100 even in 2015, barely missed out on that feat in 2016 and 2017, and this year topped it by recording 101 tackles. Campbell has not had a season below 25 sacks since 2010, and has won the league’s sack total an astonishing 10 years running. When that player says he is fed up, it is a major shot across the bow of the organization.

So, why is Campbell so frustrated? Well, when you consider that over his amazing 10-year run, beginning with his 34-sack 2009 season, the Renegades have only qualified for the playoffs 3 times, have never won their division, and have never advanced past the Divisional round of the playoffs, you can understand why Campbell is feeling like his amazing efforts are being wasted. A drop from 10-6 last season to a very disappointing 6-10 record this year, paired with the resignation of coach John Fox, appears to have been the last straw and the key motivator for Campbell to call out the Renegades and demand a chance to play for a contender in what is likely his final few years on the field.

There will be absolutely no shortage of teams in the hunt to trade for Campbell, after all, even teams with solid pass rushers are still getting nowhere near the production that Campbell has provided to the Renegades. Sure, there will be some teams that simply don’t have the resources, as Orlando will almost certainly have some high demands, and maybe a club like Denver, with Von Miller under contract, or San Diego, who seem to have found something in Jonathan Newsome, will not be in the hunt, but that group will be quite small. The others who may bow out include several clubs who simply don’t have the cap space to take on Campbell’s contract. Teams like New Jersey, Seattle, or St. Louis, who are already looking to restructure some veteran contracts or let go some high end talent, are unlikely to make the move, but you know they wish they could.

So, who do we see as the top contenders for Campbell’s services? Well, it has to be a team that Campbell views as a contender, so that rules out quite a few, and a team with a significant package of talent or draft picks to offer Orlando, not to mention cap space to absorb Campbell’s contract. Looking across the league, we think there are really 6 teams who fit all three criteria, and who very well could be on the phone with the Renegades right now. They include the SW Division champion Wranglers, whose defensive exodus last year gives them a ton of cap room now; the New Orleans Breakers, winners of the Southern Division and a team that will certainly free up space with Drew Brees’s retirement, though they may need a chunk of that to find a replacement.

Also potentially in the hunt are the Chicago Machine, who finished 7-9 and need a QB upgrade, but might be able to convince Campbell that they are at least in the hunt in the Central Division; Houston, who have one of the league’s best pass rushes right now but certainly would love to add Campbell; Memphis, whose cap situation is not ideal, but who have plenty of potential trade fodder in their draft status; and finally, the Atlanta Fire, who are looking to replace Chris Kelsay and could have quite a bit to offer in trade to Orlando if Campbell is on the table. A lot to consider for the Renegades, but it seems that Campbell has all the cards, able to use retirement as a legitimate ultimatum to force a move by the club. Bad news for Renegade fans to be sure, but almost certainly a story that will dominate headlines this offseason all over the league.

NEW JERSEY GENERALS 16  ATLANTA FIRE 13  OVERTIME

It took nearly 75 minutes, but the New Jersey Generals punched their way to the Eastern Conference Final with a 3-point overtime win over SE Division Champion Atlanta on Saturday. It was a battle for all 72 minutes and 37 seconds, with both teams crowding the line to stuff the run, playing multiple zones behind them to limit big plays, and both defenses finding success with that strategy. The result was a low-scoring affair well below the over-under of 38 points.

There were only two touchdowns in the game, and they came on back-to-back drives in the second quarter. Prior to those drives neither team crossed midfield, and for the rest of the game it was all about getting in field goal range. New Jersey had more success getting in range, but Ka’imi Fairbairn missed on 3 kicks (though, to his credit, 2 of them were from over 50 yards). Neither star halfback cracked 60 yards, much less 100, in the game, and both QBs had to take what the defense gave them, dinking and dunking their way down the field.

The scoring started with a TD pass 27 minutes into the game when Aaron Murray found backup receiver Trey Quinn for his only catch of the day, a 16-yard fade route that produced a touchdown. New Jersey followed up that score with their best offensive drive of the day, a 77-yard two-minute drill that included a 13-yard swing pass to MJD, a 22-yarder to Sanu, an 11-yard completion to TE John Carlson, and ended with another throw to Sanu, tying the score at 7. The score would not be the last of the half as Atlanta got in range for kicker John Bounds, who drilled a 45-yarder at the whistle, giving Atlanta a slim 10-7 lead at the break.

Both defenses adjusted after the late first half flurry of points and for the rest of the game, neither offense got closer than the 12-yard line of their opponent. Bounds hit a 3rd quarter kick that gave Atlanta a 6-point lead, but the 4th quarter saw Ka’imi Fairbairn put up 3 points from 46 yards and then 40 to tie the game. Fairbairn had a shot at a regular time win but needed to connect on a 56-yarder on the final play of regulation, a distance that proved to be too tricky for the kicker.

New Jersey thought they had the game won early in overtime, but again Fairbairn missed on a kick, this time a 47-yarder that sliced to the right. That gave Atlanta good field position, but rather than play conservatively to give John Bounds a shot, they tried to send the ball deep, and that led to a holding penalty which pushed them further back and produced a quick 3-and-out. When New Jersey got the ball back, they opted for the conservative route, using MJD runs and catches (he finished as the Generals’ top receiver) to get in range, and on his 2nd attempt in overtime, he sent the ball through the uprights and gave New Jersey the win. The Generals would be heading on to the Conference Title Game.

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OHIO GLORY 10  OAKLAND INVADERS 20

Oakland won the first Western semi-final by making better halftime adjustments, allowing them to shut out Ohio in the final 30 minutes while scoring 13 unanswered points of their own to double up the Glory and claim victory. In a game in which Ohio limited Christian McCaffrey to only 35 yards rushing, the weight of the offense fell on QB Jimmy Garoppolo, and Jimmy G responded with 221 yards passing and a TD run of his own. But it was the Oakland defense that truly put this game away, forcing Ohio to go 0-7 on third down attempts in the final 30 minutes of action.

Ohio had seen some success in the first half, scoring the first points of the game with a Hackenberg to Weems TD late in the first. Oakland responded with a 14-play drive that saw Garoppolo score on a QB keeper from the 1. Ohio then added a field goal, and it looked very much like we would have a seesaw game as the two teams headed into the locker rooms at the half.

But the second half was all Oakland. They limited Ohio to only 5 first downs, no points, and forced 2 turnovers, both fumbles on their own side of the field. The first produced Oakland’s first lead as Knile Davis ran in the go-ahead touchdown 7 plays after the turnover. The second produced a Roberto Aguayo field goal, one of two in the 4th quarter. And while the Oakland offense did not exactly look explosive, compared to what Ohio was doing in the second half, they looked like a Run-&-Shoot dynamo. Ohio simply could not keep a drive going. They had a couple of good Isaiah Pead runs, but could do nothing with them, and with 1 fumble by Pead and another by TE Lee Smith, the Invaders were able to keep them off the scoreboard and secure the win and their ticket to the next round.

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HOUSTON GAMBLERS 24  NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 21

We had a feeling that the third meeting between these two Southern nemeses would be a good one, and we were not disappointed. The Gamblers started fast, putting up 17 points in the first quarter, and that initial explosion was enough to keep them in front the entire way, but not without some challenges from Drew Brees and the Breakers. It began on the first Gambler drive of the game, a rapid-fire 7-play drive that saw Colt McCoy connect with Mike Evans on a 39-yard throw and then find JuJu Smith-Schuster only 2 plays later with a 16-yard touchdown toss.

Both Evans and Smith-Schuster would finish the game with over 100 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns between them. Houston was up 10-0 in the first quarter when New Orleans first got on the board, a nice drive that saw them move the ball crisply before Leonard Fournette broke free from the 11 for a TD run that felt like a turning point. But it was a false feeling. Houston responded with a quick strike attack that put up their 2nd touchdown of the first quarter, another laser throw to Smith-Schuster, this time from 23 yards out.

When McCoy hit Mike Evans for a 22-yard score, the game was getting out of hand for New Orleans. Houston had a 17-point lead and, when Drew Brees threw up a desperation toss at the end of the quarter, one picked off by the Gamblers, it meant they went to the half with a considerable deficit. To their credit, the Breaker defense made some very good adjustments at the half, and that allowed them to force Houston into several long third downs, hold them from the endzone and slowly fight their way back. A Brees to Britt TD in the third dropped the difference to 24-14, but they would not score again until there were only 2 minutes and change in the game, a short toss to TE Coby Fleener.

The late score meant that New Orleans needed to try the onside kick to have any chance at a game-tying field goal, but when Houston recovered the ball, they had only 1 time out left and could only stop the clock once. With Carlos Hyde able to eke out a first down on a 3rd and 3 run, it was the end for the Breakers, meaning that Houston would travel to New Jersey in a 3 vs 4 matchup in the Eastern Conference Final.

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SAN DIEGO THUNDER 6  ARIZONA WRANGLERS 38

The final game of the weekend was the least competitive as every bit of playoff experience the Wranglers had in them came to the front and simply outflanked an eager but mistake-prone Thunder squad. Arizona ran up a 21-0 lead before San Diego even crossed midfield, and that was all she wrote for this one. With an early 48-yard scoring toss on a screen from Nassib to Carey, followed only 4 minutes later by a Jimmie Graham TD catch, the route was on. Nassib found Graham again early in the 2nd quarter and then Cary got his second score before the half to create a 28-3 deficit for the overwhelmed Thunder.

The halftime lead meant that Ryan Williams would see only 5 carries in the second half, with Christian Ponder forced to put the ball up. That produced 3 second half sacks and 2 picks, all of which fed the Arizona fury as they added a Frank Gore TD and put the game to bed early. Brooks Bollinger finished up the 4th quarter as no San Diego rally was coming. The Wranglers played very much like a 1-seed confident in their own quality. Ryan Nassib finished the game 16 of 22 for 281 yards and 4 TDs. Frank Gore, looking 5 years younger than his true age, rushed for 81 yards and caught 3 balls for 21 and a score. The Wranglers spread the ball around on offense and shut down San Diego on defense. A dominant win that has Arizona one more home game away from a possible 4th Summer Bowl appearance in the past 6 years.

Thanks to Upsets, Generals to Host Eastern Finals

When you come into the playoffs as the three seed, there are several realities you have to face. It means that even though you are a division champion, you are going to have to face 3 games to reach the Summer Bowl, while the other Division Winners get a bye and need only win 2 games. It also means that you will play at least one, and likely 2 games on the road. Sure, you get that Wild Card matchup at home, but then it is off to face either the 1 or the 2 seed, and if you win that game, the other high seed is likely waiting for you. At least that is the expectation.

But, with both Houston and New Jersey knocking off the 2 top seeds this week, the Generals get something they could not have anticipated, a 2nd home game, a chance to host the Eastern Conference Title Game and to play that pivotal game in front of their home fans. Now, that may all sound great for New Jersey, but we should point out that unlike in most seasons where the 4-seed may be a team that is lucky to be there, New Jersey will face a 12-4 Houston team that could have easily been the 1-seed had the tiebreakers not gone against them. Houston had 3 more wins than the Generals during the year and would likely be favored even on the road after they knocked off the Showboats and Breakers in back-to-back games. The Generals, having beaten Charlotte at home, then edging past Atlanta in overtime, now get to return home this week, but they almost certainly will still be facing their toughest task of the postseason when they take on the Gamblers.

It will be 1 vs. 2 in the West as Invaders Travel to Arizona

The situation in the West is a mirror image of what we see in the East. The two top seeds blew through their Divisional opponents and will now face off in the desert. Oakland turned up the defensive pressure on Ohio in the second half of their game, while Arizona used shock and awe in the first half to break the San Diego Thunder’s spirit and roll to a dominant 32-point blow out.

As much as we want to see this game as a battle of an immovable object (Oakland’s D) against an unstoppable force (Arizona’s offense) the reality is that Oakland’s offense can also be dangerous, and Arizona’s rebuilt defense is still one of the league’s best. And while we certainly don’t expect a blowout, when we look around the sports pundit world, there are plenty saying that Oakland needs everything to go right to pull the upset, while Arizona has the potential to turn any game into a blowout victory. But, for now it is 1 vs. 2 in a battle of Western heavyweights.

LA Finds their Man in Marvin

The LA Express, the first team to release their 2018 Head Coach (way back in Week 6 of the season), now become the first team to sign a new leader. The Express announced on Tuesday that former Seattle Dragon head coach Marvin Lewis was going to return to the league to take over the franchise in America’s 2nd city, a franchise which has been snakebit since it returned to action in 1995’s expansion.

Lewis will need to get to work right away to both repair a defense that showed a lot of promise the past few years but fell short in 2018, and to build an offense, something that even Andy Reid, the NFL offensive mastermind struggled to accomplish in his tenure. Just how much Lewis will work with the front office to rework the LA roster is unknown. We can expect he will want to find more playmakers on offense, as well as players who can produce more pressure on defense.

10 Years in Seattle, and now sunny LA awaits.

Lewis spent 10 seasons at the helm of the Dragons, from 2003-2012. During that time Seattle made the playoffs in each of his first 6 years, including two divisional championships and a miraculous run from a 6-8 regular season to a league title in 2005. His last 4 seasons saw Seattle slip to 3 consecutive years of 7 wins, followed by a low point of 3-13 in 2012 that led to his departure. With LA he will be asked to bring success to a team that has made the playoffs as recently as 2016, but has not appeared in a Summer Bowl since 2006 and has never won a league title.

The squad he inherits has talent at several key positions with QB Sam Bradford, HB Reggie Bush, WR Demaryius Thomas, and one of the league’s best left tackles in Matt Kalil on offense. The defense had been led by LB Clay Matthews, but he is now a free agent who has pretty much given up on the Express franchise as an option. Expect CB Stephon Gilmore and LB Keith Rivers to be key players for the Express in 2019. Lewis will need to boost a pass rush that simply did not cause many QBs any trouble, as the 3-13 Express ranked 27th against the pass and gave up over 330 yards of offense per game.

Stoops Says he is Open to USFL Gig

In a statement that likely made many Outlaw fans very happy, former OU head coach Bob Stoops told Fox Sports that he would be open to taking a job in pro football, though he also stated that he had not yet been approached. It seems the Outlaws are still in the research and background check phase of their coaching search, and while they would be foolish not to include Stoops in the initial pool, there may be factors which are keeping them from reaching out early to the former Sooner coach. 

From Norman to OKC?

One of those may well be the veteran nature of the Outlaw squad, one led by 10-year veteran QB Joe Flacco, 34-year-old HB Marshawn Lynch, and 33-year-old DT Luis Castillo. This is not a group that is going to get all rah-rah with a new coach right out of college, even a coach with Bob Stoops’s resume. A veteran team is going to want to see systems, strategy, and a clear knowledge of the challenges of professional football, something that may be causing pause for the club’s leadership as they consider all the options before them. But, for fans in the Sooner state, it seems clear who they would like to see roaming the Outlaw sideline.

Retirement Update: Several Big Names in Latest Retirement Announcements

Two weeks into the postseason, and for several teams the offseason, and that means two more weeks of decisions and announcements regarding retirement. The wave of quarterbacks calling it a career continues, with one we knew in advance and one we strongly suspected, as both Drew Brees and David Garrard made it official. But they were hardly alone as the USFL postseason is paired with a season of goodbyes across the league. Here is our take on the biggest departures as retirement season hits full stride.

Drew Brees, QB-NOR

It did not even take 24 hours for Drew Brees to make it official. The Breakers were ousted from the postseason by Houston on Sunday evening, and by 2pm on Monday, Brees had made his announcement. This is a huge hit for the Breakers, who quite honestly have not done a great job of preparing for a transition. Their current number two, Pat White, has not shown us much and does not feel like a player ready to step in for one of the league’s legendary QBs.

Brees, an almost certain first-ballot Hall of Famer, retires after 17 seasons, the final 8 with New Orleans, a run that has seen him win a title for the Breakers, their only one in nearly 40 years of USFL action. It has also seen him throw for over 57,000 yards, 401 touchdowns, and maintain a stellar career rating of 98.3. Where Brees goes from here may not be known, but come 2023, we know where we can find him, in Canton.

David Garrard, QB-WSH

The second longstanding starter to call it a career this week was more of an uncertainty. David Garrard had kept his plans very tight to the vest, but this Monday he made it official, saying his goodbyes to coaches, teammates and the fans of Washington, D.C.. Garrard came to the Federals in 2010, after a year and a half of intriguing but largely uninspiring seasons with Atlanta, and several years on the bench in Philadelphia. He was expected to be a backup, perhaps to have a chance to compete for a starting job, but early in the 2010 seasons Garrard started impressing coaches and he would go on to keep the starting job for the next 9 seasons. He would make the All-USFL team that first year in D.C., and while it would be his only such honor, he proved himself a solid option at QB for nearly a decade.

Garrard retires with 31,471 yards passing, 181 TDs to 128 picks, and a solid career QB Rating of 84.9. He also leaves Washington now with a uniquely open QB room, as backup Mike Flynn was allowed to head to free agency. So, what might Washington’s plan be? Well, they do have the Territorial rights to Duke QB Daniel Jones, so that has to be a consideration. We are also in a year where USFL free agency includes two break out stars of 2018 in Arizona’s Ryan Nassib and Seattle’s Matt McGloin. The Federals look like they have some decisions to make as Garrard rides off into the sunset.

Kamerion Wemberly, DE-OHI

While not the most well-known pass rusher in the league, it is hard to argue that Wemberly is not one of its best. With 43 sacks over the past 4 years, including a career-best 14 this season, it seemed like the former Renegade, Stallion, Federal, and Monarch had found a home in Ohio and was getting better with age. But, the knees, hips, and back of a 34-year old d-linemen can tell another story, and with his announcement this week, it is clear that Wemberly is thinking about his long term health rather than trying to squeeze out another season or two with the Glory.

Mario Manningham, WR-OHI

Another member of the Glory, Manningham also turned 34 this year, and the former Wolverine, who “defected” from the Panthers and found himself with their rivals in Ohio, struggled with health issues all season. After a stellar 2017 which saw him catch 91 balls for over 1,100 yards, Manningham missed 4 games this year, and his numbers reflected that dip. He leaves Ohio with a pretty significant gap at the flanker position, with Stevie Johnson now the only true veteran presence among the Glory receivers.

Lance Briggs, LB-POR

Very few players can say they played linebacker for 15 seasons. It is just not a position where longevity is commonplace, but for Lance Briggs, 2018 marked his 18th year in the league. He came in with Arizona in the 2003 draft, spent 11 seasons in the desert, and then got a second wind when he signed with Portland in 2015. He had his best year with Portland this season, starting all 16 games and helping the Stags make the postseason, but, at 36 the time was right for him to step away.

Jerod Mayo, LB-CHA

Another veteran linebacker calling it a season and a career is Charlotte’s Jerod Mayo, who turned in one of the best linebacker performances of the year back in Week 6, winning him Player of the Week. But, for all we saw in that game, it was not an easy season for Mayo, who saw fewer snaps this year, finishing the season with only 62 tackles. The 11-year veteran, having played his entire career with the Monarchs, retires as their all-time leader in tackles for loss, while placing 2nd behind Rolando McClain in tackles.

Adrian Peterson, HB-CHA

Another Monarch who will be missed, Adrian Peterson would spend only 3 seasons in the USFL, but the fact that he could play at all after a devastating MCL/ACL combination injury in the NFL was amazing in itself. Peterson never reached the heights of his NFL career with the Monarchs, though he did crack 1,000 yards last season. This hear finished with him 35 yards short at 965, but he remained a key piece of the Monarch offense, one the club will have to replace this offseason as they hope to improve on their Wild Card performance this season.

Chris Kelsay, DE-ATL

Our last highlighted retirement is another DE who just does not get enough credit around the league. Atlanta’s Chris Kelsay has topped the 10-sack mark in 5 of the past 6 seasons, including a career best 19 sacks in 2016. His numbers the past two years have dipped a bit (8 sacks in 2017, 10 this year) but he was still a major factor in the late season run of wins that helped Atlanta win the SE Division this year. He retires after a career split between Denver and Atlanta, with 149 career sacks.

Other than a pair of short-term injuries to Oakland backup center Peter Konz, and rotational DE Da’Shawn Hand of Arizona, the Conference Finals will have very much the same players on the field as the divisional round. Not much new and no seriously concerning injuries for either game.

NJ: HB Kiero Small (OUT)

HOU: C Shaq Mason (OUT), CB Leodis McKelvin (OUT), SS Budda Baker (OUT)

OAK: LB Tavares Gooden (OUT), C Peter Konz (OUT), FS Jahleel Addae (D)

ARZ: QB David Carr (OUT), DE Da’Shawn Hand (Q)

Our Top 25 Likely Free Agents & Where We Think They Should Go

We have picked the 25 players we fully anticipate being free agents when the USFL playoffs conclude, reviewed what they offer, and what teams are likely to see in them, and tried to identify the best possible new home for their talents. Some are pretty clear, others could struggle to find a home, and yet others are likely to have multiple offers to mull over. These are all talented players but fit will be a factor to be sure as they seek greener pastures in Free Agency. We are also going to imagine that none of these players will jump to the NFL, which we know is unrealistic, but trying to figure out the best fit between both leagues is more than we wanted to take on, besides we hope each of them does opt to stay in the spring.

25-QB Robert Griffin III

Griffin is perhaps one of the tougher free agents to find a fit for. He is one of the most dangerous rushing QBs in the league, perhaps the most dangerous, but he is erratic in the passing game and has proven to be too injury prone to trust as a full-time starter, as proven by Jacksonville’s willingness to let him hit free agency with only Teddy Bridgewater available for the Bulls right now.

BEST FIT: Birmingham. As a starter, Griffin has been a bit too erratic and a bit too fragile, but as a backup to Cam Newton, his skills mean he can come into games without forcing the Stallions to change gears. We could even imagine some scenarios where an innovative coach might put them both on the field at the same time.

24-HB LaTavius Murray

In Orlando, Murray saw his role shrink a bit this year. He had 25 fewer touches than Rashad Jennings and produced nearly 300 fewer yards. His 4.4 YPC average is still very solid, and with 5 touchdowns, he is still a solid option as a 3-down back. Will he likely become a true number one, or will he remain part of a tandem? We think he is best suited to the latter, and that factored into our thoughts on where to go.

BEST FIT: Dallas. We are not sure if Coach Kingsbury is using a HB duo out of necessity or desire, but if it is the former, then we think Murray will be an upgrade of the disappointing performances from D’onte Freeman, whose average per carry has yet to hit 3.0 yards over his first two years. Pairing Murray up with Samaje Perine seems a much better option for the Roughnecks.

23-OT Nate Solder

Solder has been a solid starter for the Stags at right tackle, but his skill set is best suited for the left side, more of a pass protector than a road grater. He will be seeking out a club that could give him that shot to switch sides.

BEST FIT: San Diego. The Thunder have had issues on the left side, both in the run game and in pass protection, and Solder seems like a good fit for Coach LeBeau’s emphasis on fundamentals.

22-SS Baccari Rambo

After 6 years in Birmingham, Rambo is hoping to find a contender where his aggressive style can be put to use, that means a team where the corners are good enough to hold their own if he is blitzing or taking on a slot receiver over the middle.

BEST FIT: Atlanta. Not just because Shaquile Griffin and Darius Slay are exactly the type of corners who can cover man-to-man without safety help, but because lining up with Earl Thomas inside will produce a nasty 1-2 punch for inside receivers and against the run.

21-DE Kony Ealy

In an edge-rich pool, Ealy could find it tough to get top dollar. Yes, he had a career year this season, with 13 sacks, but with Jerry Hughes, Mario Williams, and now, apparently Calais Campbell in the mix, Ealy may not be seen as the best option for an edge-hungry team.

BEST FIT: Tampa Bay. We picked the Bandits for two reasons. First, they are very likely to lose both Brian Orakpo and Jerry Hughes in free agency (see further down our list), and secondly because having Tank Carradine, and his 15 sacks across from him means that the Bandits will have a dual threat line, which likely makes Ealy’s quest to be a 20-sack end a more likely scenario.

20-OT Andrew Whitworth

What team would not want a veteran tackle who averages fewer than 3 sacks per year allowed. Andrew Whitworth gave up only 1 sack in Dallas this year, and we think the market will see that and make the tackle a priority.

BEST FIT: Ohio. If Xavier Fulton resigns with the Glory, then they are off the table, but if not, they would be happy to have Whitworth take on his role protecting Christian Hackenberg’s blind side. They certainly don’t want to put a rookie in that position.

19-HB Knile Davis

Used mostly as a 3rd down back in both Memphis and Oakland, Davis wants a shot to see more touches and more opportunity to show off his speed. That likely means finding a team that prefers a Thunder & Lightning combo and already has their big man in place.

BEST FIT: New Orleans. Not that the Breakers have truly used the Thunder & Lightning combo with C. J. Spiller, but with Leonard Fournette’s midling use as a receiver, a player like Davis could both take some of the workload off of Fournette, and provide a real threat out of the backfield.

18-LB James Laurinaitis

The main man at the heart of the Ohio defense for the past 8 seasons, Laurinaitis might be a salary cap casualty for the Glory. That means he may also be a solid 2-3 year stand-in for another club, taking on the MLB position as a club develops a younger player.

BEST FIT: Portland. The Stags have let Channing Crowder go, and while Laurinaitis is a very similar player, they can likely get him for less and have him for 1-2 years longer than their former MLB.

17-DT Sedrick Ellis

At 33, Ellis may struggle to retain a starting position for most teams. His best option is to join a 4-3 base team that uses a rotation so that he is asked for perhaps 40 snaps per game instead of 60. He can still be disruptive, but he also wears down over the course of games in a shallow DT group where he is on the field every down.

BEST FIT: St. Louis. Picturing Ellis in rotation with Sheldon Richardson and Stephen Paea seems a perfect opportunity for him. For St. Louis it means having a solid presence in the middle no matter which combination of the 3 they go with on a given down.

16-WR Antonio Bryant

Bryant’s future with the Wranglers could depend on what Larry Fitzgerald does this offseason. The 35-year old Fitzgerald has hinted that this could be his last trip around the league. If that is the case, the Wranglers will do all they can to lock up Bryant to avoid needing to replace their two top receivers. But, if Fitzie stays on for 2019, then we could see Bryant on the market.

BEST FIT: Michigan. Bryant is a deep threat (20.8 Yards per catch) and a Red Zone nightmare (11 TDs), and while Cody Latimer does a lot well, Michigan could use both, and they have the kind of offense that Bryant would be attracted to.

15-TE Kellen Davis

One of the best receiving tight ends in the league, second perhaps to only Coby Fleener, Davis will be able to pick his destination. In addition to bags of money, we expect Davis will look for a stable QB situation and a chance to be a focal point of an offense.

BEST FIT: Baltimore. Sure, they may not seem like an immediate contender (though stranger things have happened), what Davis would get by jumping to the Federals’ rival is a chance to play with an All-USFL QB in Ben Roethlisberger, and to get man coverage from a backer or a safety since the defenses have to worry about Hartline and Heyward-Bey outside. When Antonio Gates was in the middle, the Blitz offense was nearly unstoppable. Davis could offer them the same options.

14-CB Dunta Robinson

Any team will take a corner like Robinson, with good man and zone skills. Not the biggest ball hawk, what Robinson does so well is keep receivers from becoming a target, blanketing them so the ball goes somewhere else.

BEST FIT: Orlando. The Renegades desperately need a number two to line up opposite Dee Milliner, and that is likely going to be either Robinson or Jaylen Watkins. We think the veteran Robinson may be the better fit.

13-DT Ndamukong Suh

Hard to believe that Suh is leaving the Gold, but after his injury this year and the strong play of Amobi Okoye and Sharrif Floyd, Suh’s hefty pricetag just did not align with Denver’s fiscally conservative plans.

BEST FIT: Philadelphia. Sure, Justin Babineaux is a very solid player, and with their 3-4 alignment, we likely would not see Suh on the field with Babineaux, but if the Stars, who are flush with cash, think a 2-man rotation in the middle works for them, that combo could be absolutely brutal for offenses. No tired NT in the 4th quarter if you have these two trading series.

12-QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

This is a tough one for us, because we like Fitz-Magic, but the consistency is just not there to assume he will get a starting gig, even with the rash of top tier QB retirements. Maybe we are wrong, but we think that a mentor/backup role makes the most sense for the 35-year-old QB.

BEST FIT: Memphis. Fitzie advising Paxton Lynch makes a lot of sense to us, and if Lynch goes down, they have a more than solid option at QB behind him.

11-DE Jerry Hughes

With 15 sacks this year giving us his 6th 10+ sack season in a row, Hughes will be a top dollar signing, something the Bandits knew and simply did not feel comfortable with in a tough salary cap year for them. Their loss will be someone else’s gain, but with a hefty pricetag.

BEST FIT: Arizona. They have the money (nearly $25M in cap space) and they would love to add Hughes’ athleticism to a line that produced only 29 sacks in 2018, despite being a pretty tough defense overall.

10-WR Aaron Dobson

Quarterback uncertainty and a lack of scoring chances in Chicago are the main reasons Dobson, who has led the league in receptions twice in the past 5 years, with over 100 receptions 4 times in that span, is looking for a new home. He will almost certainly be a designated number one target wherever he goes.

BEST FIT: Arizona. We are going to say the Wranglers on one condition: Fitzgerald retires. If that is the case, then they can bring in Dobson as the possession and mid-range guy and resign Bryant as the deep ball guy, a really nice combination. If that does not pan out, well, Dobson would look really good in Oklahoma with Joe Flacco too.

9-LB Chase Blackburn

Another big time MLB in a year with several on the market. We would love to see Blackburn stay with the Generals, but we think that is not likely as New Jersey seems to really like the development they see from the faster, younger, and more dynamic Matt Milano.

BEST FIT: Ohio. Well, if Laurinaitis leaves, why not go with another model of the same type of middle linebacker thumper? Blackburn may actually cost less to sign than Ohio would need to bring Laurinaitis back, so it could be a fair deal for them.

8-LB Clay Matthews

Our third of four MLBs who we think change teams this year. We know in Matthew’s case that he wants out of LA, but will he end up jumping from the frying pan to the fire?

BEST FIT: Honestly, Tampa Bay seems the logical choice. Sure, Matthews is not the full-range dominator that Orakpo was for the Bandits, and he will likely only play 2-3 more years, but he will fill a need and give the Bandits (whoever their coach is) a shot at developing a younger, more speed-oriented player behind him.

7-DE Mario Williams

We debated whether Williams should be ahead of Hughes or not. The two both use speed well, have good first moves, and can be disruptive in the run as well as the pass, but with more sacks over the past 3 seasons and a ceiling that could go even higher, we think Williams is the best edge rusher not named Campbell that a team could acquire this year.

BEST FIT: Orlando. If we assume Campbell is out the door, as seems to be the case, the Renegades are going to need at least a suitable replacement. The could use a T-Draft pick on Miami’s Montez Sweat, or they could go with a known entity in Williams.

6-QB Matt McGloin

So, here is the thing with McGloin: his 2018 numbers look like a total aberration when we look at everything else from 2013-2017. But, most of his earlier numbers were from 2013 and 2014 with a pretty shaky Portland club. If we believe he has matured, and that his 26 TDs and 3,180 yards this year are a sign that he is ready to be “the guy”, well, some team could get a very good QB for a very reasonable price.

BEST FIT: Las Vegas. We want to say Seattle, because he earned a chance to be their QB, but they have too much invested in Jacoby Brissett to have him on the bench, so, McGloin gets his shot to prove himself by following Eli Manning as the leader of the Viper offense. We should add that you also cannot rule out New Orleans in this race.

5-WR Victor Cruz

2018 was a huge down year for Cruz, who was over 1,100 yards in both 2016 and 2017. At only 31, we don’t think this is an age thing, or a “losing a step” thing, more like a less-than-friendly relationship with QB Andy Dalton. Cruz has a huge chance to rebound with a new team.

BEST FIT: Jacksonville. The Bulls need a homerun hitter. Justin Blackmon is a solid receiver, but he is not that. Of course, they also need a QB, and Cruz may hesitate to sign with them if they don’t have one, so that is a factor, but if they can land a quality QB, we think the potential is there for Cruz to regain his 1,200-yard form as the Bulls’ deep threat.

4-QB Ryan Nassib

Like McGloin, something of a one-season wonder. How much of his success was the talent and system around him, especially when that same group and that same coach made David Carr a 2-time MVP. Watching the tape, however, we are impressed by Nassib’s confidence, decision-making, and delivery. We think he is the real deal and someone will pay to have the real deal at QB.

BEST FIT: Los Angeles. What? Don’t they already have a starter? Yes, but Bradford has not exactly been lighting things up. With so many teams in the QB hunt, we think the Express would be able to find a suitor for Bradford if they went bold and signed Nassib to a big money deal to be their new QB. Of course, they need a coach first, but it should be on the table at least.

3-CB Patrick Robinson

A pure shut-down, lock-up, press corner who can take down half the field. Who doesn’t want that? Well, the price tag may mean that some simply cannot be in the market for Peterson’s talents. So, a limited field of options, but still enough for him to play 2-3 bidders against each other.

BEST FIT: Houston. The Gamblers have funds, have few other needs, and have a Wade Phillips defense that loves aggressive corners. Picture Robinson in the same defensive backfield with Janoris Jenkins and Kenny Vaccaro and their won’t be a place to throw the ball where someone is not getting hit.

2- LB Bryan Orakpo

Too good not to be the among the highest paid LBs in the game, and too good to keep playing on a completely dysfunctional Tampa Bay defense. Orakpo is an immediate team captain, leader on and off the field, and a guy that you can build your entire defense around.

BEST FIT: Pittsburgh. The retirement of Paul Posluszny gives the Maulers a chance to move from a defense that stuffs the run to one that blows plays up behind the line. Orakpo would be huge lined up behind Aaron Donald. Every center’s nightmare in that combo.

1-DT Albert Haynesworth

We debated about putting Orakpo at the top spot, but while Haynesworth is likely only a 1-2 year addition, what an addition he is!! We saw how he opened things up for Calais Campbell in Orlando, and his presence in Houston the past two seasons have made the Gamblers one of the best pass rush teams in the league. He is a run-stuffer, a line-disruptor, with 9 sacks of his own this year, and he makes DE’s that much more dangerous.

BEST FIT: Chicago. As much as we would love to see Haynesworth end up wherever Campbell does, we don’t think most teams can afford that. Chicago can afford, however, to line up Haynesworth alongside Jason Pierre-Paul, which is its own nasty combo, and would give Albert a chance to once again turn a team into a sack-producing machine. (Machine, see what we did there?)

We are down to 4 teams and 2 games to determine who will appear in Summer Bowl 2018 next week in New Orleans. It is a battle of the 2 top seeds in the West, while the 3 hosts the 4 in the East. Here is our breakdown of both games as you head into Conference Championship Weekend.

(4) Houston Gamblers @ (3) New Jersey Generals

Sunday, July 22 @ 1pm ET

MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

Gamblers -5

As rare as it is to have a road team favored by this much in a playoff game, when that road team is the 12-4 Gamblers, with the league’s best offense, and the home team is a 9-win Generals team that has been up and down all season long, it really is not a shock. These two met in MetLife Stadium back in Week 10, with Houston coming away with an 11 point win, 21-10. In that game the Generals limited Carlos Hyde to 43 yards rushing on 25 attempts, a paltry 1.7 yards per carry, but in doing so they struggled to contain Colt McCoy and the passing game, with McCoy connecting with both Mike Evans and Josh Reynolds for scores. Now, we should say that this was a game started by Ricky Stanzi for New Jersey, so the rematch may well be a lot closer.

Statistically, this game still leans towards the Gamblers, with Houston ranked 2nd in the league in points per game at 27.1 and again 2nd in yards per game at 369.6 per game, while New Jersey’s numbers are considerably lower: 20.5 PPG (16th in the league) and 304.2 YPG (21st in the league). Where New Jersey succeeded this year was in run defense (only 81.5 YPG) and in keeping teams out of the endzone, allowing only 17.5 PPG. Houston’s run defense was also solid, 7th in the league at 82.6 YPG allowed, but they did struggle against the pass despite a solid pass rush.

OUR PICK: The numbers point to Houston, as does the history, and while we think New Jersey will prove to be a bit more formidable an opponent with Nick Foles at QB, we just think Houston is the better team. Our pick is Houston 28-22 and on to The Big Easy.

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(2) Oakland Invaders @ (1) Arizona Wranglers

Sunday, July 22 @ 6pm ET

University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ

Wranglers -8

The Western Final is a clear clash of styles, with Oakland relying on their top tier defense and using a mix of run and pass to shorten games, keeping them in the teens in most instances, while Arizona is all about the big play, the deep ball and the takeaway. The Wranglers lead the league at 389.4 yards per game, and while their defense is solid, ranked 11th in points allowed and 17th in yards allowed, this is not the shut down defense of the past few years.

The two last met in Week 13, and Oakland came in red hot, taking all the Wranglers could dish out and then showing they could put up points as well in a 39-34 victory for the visiting Invaders. In that game Oakland rushed for 176 yards, with Christian McCaffrey leading the way with 92 yards on the ground, but with Knile Davis also contributing 60 yards and a score. It was also one of Jimmy G’s better games, completing 23 of 32 for 230 and 2 scores. But, in that same game Ryan Nassib seemed unstoppable, throwing for 4 scores and 304 yards. Both Bryant and Fitzgerald had over 100 yards in the outing, with 3 TDs between them.

OUR PICK: We don’t expect these two teams to run up and down the field the way they did in the regular season. Both defenses will be more intense and should be able to make more stops, but we still think this will be a close one. So what do we see as the difference between the two? Experience. Arizona has been here before, with this being their 4th Conference Title Game in the past 5 years. That means confidence, even with a new QB, and it means they know what it takes to win. Our pick is Arizona 24-20 over the Invaders.