2018 USFL Week 13 Recap: Day of the Dog!!

A wild week with more than its fair share of upsets as we saw all 3 10-loss teams find victory against favored opponents. Jacksonville stunned the SE Division-leading Monarchs, Tampa Bay outlasted Orlando in a Florida Derby game at Raymond James, and the LA Express went into Chicago and thrashed the playoff-hopeful Machine. Add to this Denver upending the Showboats, Las Vegas stunning the Breakers thanks to former Breaker Eli Manning’s return, and Portland stumping the Maulers in Pittsburgh, and you have a weekend that defies logic and quite simply complicates the playoff race all across the league. We will break down all the games, talk about the playoff implications and then finish off with the recently announced Hall of Fame class of 2018. All coming up This Week in the USFL.

Upsets Make Week 13 A Horror Show for Playoff Hopefuls

We already set it up, Week 13 was a week of upsets, with all three 10-loss teams earning victories, along with upsets of the Maulers, Showboats, and Breakers. It was a week that proves the adage about “any given Sunday” but also one that tightened the playoff race in both conferences. Charlotte, which had hoped to potentially expand their lead over Atlanta, fell to the lowly Jacksonville Bulls, and a stunningly good day from Teddy Bridgewater, and now finds themselves tied with the Fire atop the SE Division, a situation they had earnestly hoped to avoid. Both Memphis and New Orleans now fall a game behind Houston. While the Gamblers were taking care of business in Philadelphia, the Breakers watched as Eli Manning returned to action and stunned even the home fans in Las Vegas with a 4-TD performance. Meanwhile, Denver was showing that they were not yet dead in the playoff hunt, outpacing the Showboats and putting up the final 13 points of the game to jump past the ‘Boats and move to 7-6.

Add to this Tampa Bay stunning Orlando, quite possibly removing their playoff chance, and Los Angeles doing the same to Chicago, with both teams dropping to 6-7 after the surprising losses, and you have a weekend for the underdogs. At a time of year when we often start talking about teams playing out the string, players turning to their own personal numbers to try to justify new contracts, and veterans taking a seat on the bench so rookies can see some action, these five underdogs came out swinging, showed some moxie, and took it to their favored opponents. It is not logical at all, but it is football, and in football you never know what will motivate a team, what some good turns can lead to, or what can happen any given Sunday (Saturday, or even Friday night.)

We don’t know if the Gold will make it to the postseason, or what changes are on the way in Tampa, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, or LA, but what everyone now knows is that they cannot look at the schedule and assume that they have a win in hand. If you underestimate a foe, take them lightly, or assume they won’t show up ready to battle, you do so at great risk to your own goals. Something to look out for as we get ready for Week 14.

MICHIGAN PANTHERS 14  OHIO GLORY 15

We knew this would be a close one, we just knew it. The Central Division on the line, Ohio hoping to make a statement, Michigan hoping to regain the upper hand. This was born to be a classic, and while it was not exactly a shootout, the intensity was there in this game, a true slobberknocker of a clash between two teams and two fanbases that just love to hate each other.

It was a game that saw two lead changes in the final 1:09 of regulation, a slow build up to a frantic finish as the Panthers and Glory just kept grinding it out until both defenses had little left in tank, and, all in front of the largest crowd at Ohio Stadium since the 2003 USFL season, nearly 61,000 on hand, including a pretty sizeable contingent of fans in plum, sky, and champagne to make things interesting.

The game actually started off pretty quickly, with Ohio taking the opening kickoff after Michigan won the toss and deferred. They went on a 14-play drive, taking the ball from their own 27 yard line all the way to the Michigan 1. There they faced a 3rd and goal, and they put the ball into the hands of trusted inside back Isaiah Pead, but Michigan was ready, LBs Odell Thurman and Sean Porter both crashed the center of the line, Pead was turned away, and Coach Coughlin decided that a sure 3 points was better than the risk of coming away empty.

That field goal stood as the only score of the game well into the 2nd quarter. Both defenses tightened up, with Michigan getting no closer than the Ohio 47 on its first 4 possessions. Ohio also struggled after their initial drive, with Michigan holding Pead to only 2.5 yards per carry on the day, and only 21 total rushing yards in the half. LeVeon Bell struggled at first for the Panthers, but as the game progressed, his carries became more and more fruitful. On Michigan’s 5th possession, midway through the 2nd quarter he had his first big gainer, a 17-yard play that saw him spin off the initial tackler and carry safety Tyran Matthieu a good 4 yards before going down. That play, along with a very nice toss from Cousins to Cody Latimer on a 3rd and 8, got Michigan into scoring position, and once their they did not miss their chance, pushing the ball down to the Ohio 4-yard line and using backup Mike Hart as the battering ram, gaining 3 yards on his first red zone carry and hitting paydirt with his second. It would be 7-3 at the half, and both defenses were locked down for another hard-fought 30 minutes of action.

The third quarter produced more defensive magic as only 1 drive produced points, another 3-pointer from Ohio kicker Robbie Gould. Along the way Michigan got the only turnover of the game, a tight throw by Hackenberg that was essentially wrestled out of Mario Manningham’s grasp by safety Tarvarious Moore. It would be Moore’s final play of the game as in the melee that ensued he injured his back, but it gave Michigan the ball at the Ohio 44. But, just one play later, the Glory got a break when Michigan receiver Calvin Ridley muffed a bubble screen throw. The ball rolled out of bounds and was ruled a lateral, so it went from 1st and 10 to 2nd and 14. Michigan never recovered and Ohio got the ball back 3 plays later.

Down 7-6 after 3 quarters, Ohio needed a spark, and they got it on a drive that began with 1:02 left in the 3rd. The spark came in the form of the longest pass play of the game, a 45-yard catch and run by Glory wideout Curtis Samuel, who took a 7-yard hook, spun away from the corner and raced away from the safety before being forced out of bounds. That big play did not produce a touchdown, however, but with a third Gould field goal, Ohio took the lead with about 12 minutes left to play.

The lead would hold for nearly 11 minutes, but it would eventually give way to a Michigan touchdown. Kirk Cousins, having escaped a sack on 3rd and 5, only to scramble for the first down, led the Panthers into Ohio territory, and with the help of a defensive holding call, Ohio’s 3rd penalty (to 11 for the Panthers), Michigan lined up at the Ohio 11. After 2 LeVeon Bell runs got the Panthers to the 3, on 3rd and 2, Cousins found reliable TE Rob Housler for the score, a pure post-up move on the linebacker that got Housler a huge blow to the back, but not enough to shake the ball loose. Michigan was up 14-9 with only 1:09 left to play.

This was the time for Christian Hackenberg to make a name for himself, to win over the Ohio fans, and to prove that he was ready to lead the Glory back to Glory as a playoff contender. Hackenberg, who had already thrown 41 passes in the game, would throw 5 more. He would connect on all 5. On the final drive, Eric Weems, the wideout brought over from St. Louis to add speed to the Glory roster, would go over 100 yards on the day. Manningham and former Invader Richard Rodgers would each catch their 7th ball of the game, and most importantly, Curtis Samuel would catch the game winning toss for the Glory. Samuel’s 2nd TD of the season may well prove to be the most important one all year for the Glory. It was a corner route, and Samuel took the short outside shoulder throw, brought it into his body, dragged his toes, and fell out of bounds with 6 points on the board.

Ohio would fail on the 2-point conversion, but with only 16 seconds left on the clock and Michigan needing to go nearly 50 yards to get in range for Michael Beam, a few plays of solid prevent defense and the game was theirs. Ohio got what they needed, Kirk Cousins was forced to try a Hail Mary on the final play of the game, and the Glory came away victorious. It was a victory that would give Ohio a 2-game lead in the Central Division, 2 games up on the defending league champion and with only 3 weeks to go, they could clinch their first division title since 2007 with one good week of results.  For the defending champs, this was a sober moment, a sign that perhaps a repeat was not in the cards. Michigan was now 7-6, tied with 4 other Western Conference clubs with that record, and trailing 3 of them for a playoff spot. They will now need help simply to return to the postseason, a position few champions want to be in this late in their title defense season. They will finish with 3 tough games, home to Arizona, home to another rival, Chicago, and then a Week 16 road trip to Seattle, also 7-6 and also very much looking for a playoff spot.  A tough loss for the Panthers, and perhaps a tough road for them to try to defend their title.

NEW JERSEY 0  WASHINGTON 13

The weekend’s slate of games kicked off on Friday with a game many expected to be high scoring, evident in the Las Vegas books setting an over/under of 41.5 points. Easy to see that the under won this one. Both defenses came up big in this game, but it was Washington’s oft-criticized defense, one that gave up 34 points in each of their last two games, that came up the biggest. The Federals shut out New Jersey thanks in part to Nick Foles struggling in his return and thanks as well to a defense that came up huge when it mattered most, allowing a combined 2 for 16 on third and 4th down, including a goal line stand that saw New Jersey fail to score on 4 plays inside the 5 yard line.

POTG: CB Tre Herndon: 4 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR

OAKLAND 39  ARIZONA 34

The Invaders needed a statement win to get their fans believing again. Knocking off the Wranglers in Arizona certainly fits that bill. Ryan Nassib had the big numbers, throwing for 304 and 4 scores, but Oakland got 92 yards from Christian McCaffrey, 2 passing TDs and one rushing from Jimmy Garoppolo, and a well-rounded performance by the defense, and in the end they got the win they needed. The Invaders actually led 39-20 until two late Arizona touchdowns made the game look a lot closer.

POTG: Invader QB Jimmy Garoppolo: 23/32, 220 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int, 12 Att, 20 Yds, 1 TD

CHARLOTTE 28  JACKSONVILLE 30

A shocker of a win for the Bulls as they pull out the win over division-leading Charlotte in front of only 17,202 at EverBank Stadium. Skeptical Bulls fans stayed away from the game with Robert Griffin out of action and a likely blowout on the slate, but the Bulls surprised everyone, with Teddy Bridgewater looking very solid, going 24 of 32 for 230 yards and 3 scores. Despite a late surge from Charlotte, the Bulls held on and secured one of the bigger upsets of the year.

POTG: Bulls’ QB Teddy Bridgewater; 24/32, 230, 3 TD, 1 Int

ATLANTA 24  ST. LOUIS 21    OVERTIME

In a weekend of upsets, Atlanta avoided the trap game and winning their fourth in a row, though it certainly was not easy. Aaron Murray, who finished the game with 414 yards passing, needed to find a score late to send the game to overtime. He connected with Dorial Green-Beckham with 2:10 left, and then watched as Zane Gonzalez lined up to win the game for the Skyhawks at regulation. Gonzalez’s 48-yard attempt hooked to the left and the game went to overtime, where it was John Bounds who made the winning kick, sending Atlanta to 8-5 and giving them a share of 1st place in the Southeast.

POTG: Fire QB Aaron Murray: 34/55, 414 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int

OKLAHOMA 23  SEATTLE 45

We know we sound like a broken record, but can you really believe Seattle is doing it again? They now stand a game over .500 and in playoff position after defending home turf against the Outlaws. The game was close through 3 quarters, with Seattle nursing a 28-23 lead, but the 4th belonged entirely to the Dragons, with a field goal from Jeffrey Harris followed by TDs from Mike Wallace and Knowshon Moreno to open the game up and give the win to Seattle.

POTG: Dragon QB Matt McGloin: 24/31, 295 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int

ORLANDO 24  TAMPA BAY 30

Much like the Bulls, the Bandits shocked a road favorite in front of a small crowd, with only 20,467 on hand at Raymond James to see Tampa pull out the win with 10 unanswered points in the final 3 minutes. Down 24-20 against the Renegades, the Bandits drove the ball in the final minutes, with Dak Prescott finding Ryan Grant with the go-ahead TD with 2:13 left. With Russell Wilson throwing a pick only 2 plays later, Tampa was able to build up a 6-point lead and kill the clock at the same time, securing only their 2nd win on the year.

POTG: Bandit LB Brian Orakpo: 8 Tck, 2 FF

BALTIMORE 19  SAN DIEGO 24

The Thunder move to 7-6 and place themselves in playoff position thanks to a 5-point win over the visiting Blitz. Christian Ponder connected on 3 TD passes in the 2nd half, including two to former Outlaw Marques Colston, to turn a 12-3 deficit into a 24-12 lead. From there the defense did the rest, sacking Ben Roethlisberger to end one drive and forcing a bad 4th down throw on another.

POTG: San Diego CB Justin Gilbert: 3 Tck, 5 PDef, 1 Int

DALLAS 16  BIRMINGHAM 40

Believe it or not, at 6-7, the Stallions still have a chance, a slim chance, but a chance. They got there by demolishing the Dallas Roughnecks, thanks to A huge game from Cam Newton. Newton went 9 of 13 for 165 yards and a score through the air, but it was his legs that took Dallas out of the game, with both 80-yard and 66-yard TD runs. Newton simply took over with his legs and helped Birmingham put together a 24-point scoring spurt in little over 1 quarter to bury the Roughnecks.

POTG: Stallion QB Cam Newton: 9/13, 165 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int, 10 Att, 173 Yds, 2 TD

PORTLAND 30  PITTSBURGH 13

The return of Marcus Mariota was an eventful one as the Stags exploded for 24 points in the first quarter and then spent the remainder of the game just holding Pittsburgh at bay. In just the first quarter, Mariota hit Alshon Jeffrey with a 30-yard score, found Brandin Cooks for a 70-yarder, and then quieted down the Mauler faithful for good with a third TD, a second to Jeffery, to end the first period. The Maulers never recovered, and the Stags moved to 7-6 with an impressive road win.

POTG: Stag QB Marcus Mariota: 29/36, 299 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int

DENVER 24  MEMPHIS 16

Don’t tell Denver this was an upset, but they were a 6-point underdog in Memphis. They played like a playoff contender, however, with the defense producing 3 picks of Paxton Lynch, including a pick-six from C. J. Goodwin to put the visiting Gold on top for good in the 4th. Add a Leinart to Crabtree TD and the Gold improve to 7-6 and cost Memphis their shot at the lead in the South.

POTG: Gold CB C. J. Goodwin: 8 Tck ,1 Int, 1 Def TD

NEW ORLEANS 29  LAS VEGAS 31

Eli Manning’s pro career began in New Orleans, and it seems the Viper QB is perfectly happy torturing his former club. Manning returned to action by throwing for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns against a pretty good Breaker defense. New Orleans kept it close but was down 9 with 4 minutes to go after Manning found Richard Quinn for his fourth TD pass of the game. It was too much to overcome, even for Drew Brees and the Breakers, who dropped to 9-4.

POTG: Viper QB Eli Manning: 21/30, 260 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int

LOS ANGELES 30  CHICAGO 10

Another shocker, as the lifeless offense of the Express decides to come to life like vampires when the sun goes down. LA got 126 yards from Reggie Bush and Sam Bradford threw for 3 scores as they completely stunned an overconfident and underprepared Chicago club. Chicago did it to themselves as well, with Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing 3 picks and Matt Forte adding a fumble as Chicago lost the turnover battle 4-0.

POTG: LA safety David Bruton: 5 Tck, 2 Int

HOUSTON 45  PHILADELPHIA 20

The Gamblers take over sole possession of first place in the South thanks to avoiding the trap game and taking the Stars seriously. It was 45-3 at the half and very clear that Philadelphia, not Houston, came into the game with little to no plan. Name a Houston offensive player and they likely had pretty stunning stats. Carlos Hyde had 160 yards, averaging 9.4 every time he touched the ball. Mike Evans caught 4 passes, but 3 were touchdowns as he just could not be denied in the red zone. It was so bad that not only did we see Landry Jones in the 4th quarter but third stringer Jeff Driskel as well.

POTG: Houston HB Carlos Hyde: 17 Att, 160 Yds, 2 Rec, 47 Yds, 1 TD

Newton Explodes Against Dallas’s Deflated D

I think we can safely say that we have reached the part of the season where some teams just do not have the fortitude to get up for a game when there is nothing motivating them to play hard. That seemed to be the case in Philadelphia’s shellacking by Houston, in Chicago’s surprisingly flat outing against LA, and certainly in Dallas’s performance against Birmingham. Sure, Cam Newton is an amazing talent, and when he is on, there are few who can contain him, but with both an 80-yard and a 68-yard touchdown run against Dallas I think we have to be honest that the Roughneck D was not exactly putting 100% into every play. The Roughnecks were just flat, unwilling to go the extra mile to avoid big plays, and it led to a brutal 24-point beatdown by a Stallions club that is still mathematically alive for the playoffs, but hardly a favorite to qualify. Kudos to the Stallions for coming in with fire in their eyes. After upsetting Houston last week, you could imagine they would be flat against the Roughnecks, but they came in with an intensity that Dallas simply could not match, and once again Cam Newton made a halfhearted defensive effort look like a disaster.

Mariota & Martin Manhandle the Maulers

Portland fans were hoping that the return of Marcus Mariota might give their Stags something of a spark. Portland had lost back-to-back games and looked very flat against Seattle last week, but this week, with a tough assignment in Pittsburgh, Mariota picked up the team and got them inspired to play perhaps their best game of the year. But Mariota was not the only big return. With Ben Tate hurt, Doug Martin, who has not seen action since Week 1, came in, despite still being listed as doubtful this week. We are not sure what doubtful means if Martin can come in and rush the ball 25 times for 113 yards.

The win puts Portland in playoff position, and with both Mariota and Martin now apparently ready to roll, the Stags could be a very dangerous team over the final 3 weeks. They host San Diego this week in a game the Thunder now need to be far more worried about and then head to Oakland and Oklahoma. A sweep means they are guaranteed a playoff spot, and if they can play against those three teams the way they played against the Maulers this week, we could see it happen.

Manning Stuns Breakers with Blast from the Past

After missing the last 5 weeks, Eli Manning, in what many believe is his final season, returned to action this week against the team that gave him his start in the USFL, the Breakers, and he showed them no mercy. Throwing for 4 scores and helping the Vipers upset New Orleans in grand fashion, Manning’s return was a welcome sight for Viper fans who had seen the season completely get away from them when Manning went down to injury. Las Vegas still has some major issues, and we are still not sure if Manning is coming back or if he will join Matt Leinart and Drew Brees (see below) in stepping away form the game, but at least for this weekend, the former Breaker, Renegade, Showboat, and Bandit, was the star the Vipers hoped he would be when they signed him 2 years ago.

Federals Foil Foles

Not every return this week went as planned. Nick Foles, coming off a 3-week hiatus, looked much rustier than either Mariota or Manning. His numbers were not horrible (14 of 26, 158 yards) but he simply could not muster much on offense, and against a Federals squad that has been giving up an average of an average of 24.2 points per game. It is one thing to lose a tough divisional game, but to be shut out when you have a playoff berth still in range, that is pretty bad.

Credit where it is due, the Washington defense contained Maurice Jones-Drew without opening up obvious passing lanes for Foles. They limited Odell Beckham Jr. to only 4 receptions, and they were outstanding on third and fourth downs, despite only getting to Foles for 2 sacks on the day. New Jersey went 2 for 14 on third down and 0 for 2 on fourth down, including a goal line stand that kept the Generals off the board and crushed their spirit. New Jersey now slips to 6-6-1, and Washington jumps into 2nd place, now only 1 game behind the 8-5 Maulers, a deficit the Federals can remove when they face Pittsburgh in the Week 16 finale. They will have to get past Philadelphia and LA in the next two weeks to get that shot, but with Pittsburgh facing the Generals and Blitz, Washington may actually have a real shot at winning the division if they can run the table.

Invaders Ride 22-0 Scoring Streak to Victory

One last story to focus on with our Week 13 results, that 22-0 scoring run that helped Oakland upend the Wranglers in Arizona. It was the kind of offensive explosion that we have not seen the Wranglers give up all season long. Down 20-17 at the half, Oakland came out in the 2nd half with all kinds of attitude and some strategic shifts that stifled the Wrangler offense (producing a rare Ryan Nassib pick) and giving life to the offense. The 22-0 run included 2 Aguayo field goals, a 17-yard Garoppolo to Adams TD toss, a 2-yard Garoppolo TD run, and a safety, with the Oakland D getting to Frank Gore in the endzone for a rare negative play by the veteran.

It was a stunning reversal of fortune for Arizona, used to having their own offensive explosions but rarely having to face one down. From a 20-17 lead, Arizona found themselves down 39-20 with only minutes left. It was the roughest patch of play from the Western Conference’s current top seed that we have seen all year and may well be proof that they will have some major challenges in the post-season, once, that is, they qualify officially.

As for Oakland, the win gives them a 2-game lead over a trio of Pacific challengers, with 3 weeks to play, meaning one more win could be enough to clinch the division in Gary Kubiak’s first season as the head coach of the club. Oakland faces the Express this week and then has a tough showdown with Portland in Week 15 before finishing the year by hosting the St. Louis Skyhawks. A win this week could potentially win them the division, but with Portland and San Diego facing off, the winner of that game is likely to keep Oakland only up 2 games, which means they could still be caught. Oakland would certainly love to see a tie in that game, but more likely will need to get up for that Week 15 clash with Portland.

Only 3 weeks left to the season and still no teams have locked up even a Wild Card. That is a sign of parity, and a sign that we had better pay attention over the next 3 weeks. Who could clinch this week? Well, Arizona has a 2.5-game lead over Denver, so a win by the Wranglers this week and they lock up the Southwest Division. Ohio has a 2-game lead over Michigan, so they can get in with a win and a Panther loss to the Wranglers, which feels very possible considering what is at stake for Arizona. Houston cannot wrap up the division this week, but they win and lock up a playoff spot. Wins by Memphis or New Orleans, paired with a loss by Washington would also place those two Southern clubs in the postseason, with just positioning left to determine.

Things are not so easy for Charlotte, now tied with Atlanta atop the Southeast, or for Pittsburgh, with a very tenuous 1-game lead over the Federals. Oakland has a 2-game lead over the Stags, Thunder, and Dragons, all three of whom are in Wild Card position right now. They need Seattle to lose and the Thunder-Stag game to end in a tie if they want to win the division this week but could clinch a playoff spot with a win and some key losses among the cluster of 7-6 teams.

Meanwhile, down at the other end of the standings, Las Vegas, St. Louis, Chicago, Oklahoma, Philadelphia, Birmingham, and Orlando are all still mathematically alive, but you need a degree from MIT to figure out how. That leaves Baltimore, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Dallas, and LA as the clubs out of the running and playing out the string as they prepare to hit the links in 4 weeks.

A light week when it comes to serious injury concerns, which is always good to see. We could be without two starting QBs in the Southeast, however, as both Orlando’s Russell Wilson and Charlotte’s Mitch Trubisky may be held out this week with minor injuries. Likewise, some other dinged up players, like Blitz WR Brian Hartline or LA linebacker Clay Matthews may be given a week to avoid turning a minor injury into a more significant concern.

OUT

SS         Tarvarious Moore          MGN     Back              IR

WR          Andre Caldwell                JAX         ACL                2-4 Weeks

FS         Rudy Ford                     POR      Hip                2-4 Weeks

CB         Tra’Davious White         NOR      Knee           1-2 Weeks

LB           Phillip Dillard                MGN     Foot              1-2 Weeks

WR        Cobi Hamilton               MEM     Wrist                1-2 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

DT         Nick Fairley               ATL         Knee    

HB           Ben Tate                       POR      Concussion

QUESTIONABLE

OT          Oniel Cousins                  PIT         Knee

QB        Russell Wilson                 ORL       Pinched Nerve

WR         Mike Thomas                 BIR         Back

LB          Daniel Ellerbe                  OHI       Shoulder

WR         Briand Hartline                BAL        Concussion

LB          Clay Matthews                LA          Knee

QB          Mitch Trubisky                 CHA      Hamstring

Five All-USFL Players Who Will Not Be Re-Signing

Earlier this season we gave you our best guess of players who might make the Free Agent market. At this point in the season, we are now certain about a few of those who are absolutely looking to move on. We have 5 players who have either openly said they won’t resign, or whose agents have made that message known to their current clubs. In some cases, it is about their role with the team, or their lack of rapport with the coach. In others it is just a belief that their club is due for a major overhaul, and they don’t want to suffer through that, hoping they can latch on with a club who may only be 1-2 players short of a title run. These five players are five we now know are looking for greener pastures and a chance to alter their course in 2019.

LB Clay Matthews (LA)

No surprise here. LA is a bit of a mess, with an interim coach who almost certainly is playing out his final 3 weeks with the team, a major overhaul likely in the offseason, and a lot of uncertainty about the direction they will go. None of that is attractive to a 30-year-old, 9-year vet, who still thinks he has 4-5 really good years left in him. Look for the quality of the team to be a major factor for Matthews, not the funds available. Matthews wants a shot at a title, a chance to play on a contender, and there are almost certain to be some contenders interested in his talents.

WR Victor Cruz (PIT)

Of all the players on our list, Cruz has been the most vocal. He likes Coach Fangio, but he is not happy playing second fiddle to Adam Thielen, which is exactly what he has done the past few years in Pittsburgh. Cruz believes he has primary receiver talent, and he may be right. He also knows that a top-tier receiver is worth more than Pittsburgh can probably offer, so he is all in favor of finding a new home and getting paid to be the primary target.

WR Aaron Dobson (CHI)

Dobson has been the primary target in Chicago, and one of the leading receivers in the league, for some time now, but Chicago seems mired in a no-win situation on offense. They want to run the ball first, they get enough good games from Ryan Fitzpatrick that they don’t want to jettison the Harvard QB, but they are not turning into a playoff contender, and Fitzie also has some pretty bad games, like the 3-interception stinker this week against LA. Dobson clearly wants to go to a team with more upside, with a true stud at QB, and with a game plan each week that gives him the chance to showcase what he can do.

LB Brian Orakpo (TBY)

Orakpo has been the one bright star for Tampa Bay’s pretty miserable (28th ranked) defense. He is possibly going into his final contract, and he sees this as his shot to both find himself with a winner and with a big payday. By going into the market now, he has a real chance to become the highest paid LB in the league, and a real chance to see the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

SS Baccari Rambo (BIR)

The situation for Rambo is pretty interesting. Birmingham, like Chicago, is a team that seems to be mired in mediocrity. They are not horrible, not likely to blow up the entire team, but there is a chance that they will have a new coach next year, or at least a new DC. And it is a team that is just not going to spring for huge money for a safety. But who really is? Rambo has made it clear that he believes he does not get the media attention, the marketing options, or the respect he deserves as a player because he is stuck in Birmingham, with a team that just does not get much press, and on a team that has not made the postseason since 2013. So, he wants a shot to remedy all of that, preferably in a large market and a team that has better playoff possibilities.

QB Drew Brees Joins Leinart in Announcing 2018 Finale

After 18 seasons and more than 240 USFL games, there is not much Drew Brees has not done. He has won a title with the New Orleans Breakers, their only title in nearly 40 years of USFL action. He has been named MVP of the league twice. Has been named to five All-USFL teams. He has racked up more than 57,000 passing yards, nearly 400 touchdowns, and has led 3 teams over his career. So, it is not surprising that the only thing he really has not done as a USFL player is retire from the game. But we now know that he will do just that once the 2018 season is over.

Brees let it be known this week that his plan is to hang up his helmet, pads, and cleats after the 2018 season comes to an end. With a playoff spot almost a certainty for the 9-4 Breakers, we know that we have at least 4 more games, with a chance for more as the Breakers are set to enter the postseason. We know that Brees will appear at home for certain in the final two weeks of the season as New Orleans wraps up the regular season hosting Birmingham and Orlando. And we know that the Breakers still have shot at the Southern Division title and a possible bye week, though it won’t be easy.

So, we know that Brees will retire, regardless of the results of the 2018 playoffs, but can he leave the game as a 2-time champion? That will be up to him and this Breakers squad, but what better way to motivate everyone on the team than to make it clear that they are playing to give their leader, the man who has guided them for the past 8 seasons, a chance to go out on top? Brees’s announcement is not really a surprise, there had been talk of his retirement for months, but the timing of his announcement very much feels like a challenge to his team, and a motivator for the club to do all it can these next two weeks to bring home the Southern Division crown and propel the squad deep into the playoffs. Would we really expect anything else from Brees than to use his very personal decision to motivate his team?

The decision could also propel Brees to a 3rd MVP award, and since he is currently in 2nd place in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passer rating (trailing Colt Mcoy in the first two and Ryan Nassib in the third category), he is already a prime candidate. Finishing this season strong and leading the Breakers into the playoffs could well get him over the top there, another fitting end point for what is sure to be a Hall of Fame career for the Breaker QB.

Hall of Fame Class of 2019 Revealed

This week’s USFL and Pro Football Hall of Fame announcement was a moment of pride for 4 former USFL players and a legendary coach, but also for some fellow Hall of Famers who saw the result they were lobbying for. While we cannot prove that Jim Kelly’s and Antonio Freeman’s late season lobbying had an impact, the result they wanted was gained when the Legacy Committee named former Houston Gambler head coach Ray Willsey as their legacy candidate this year. The selection of Willsey is historic, making him the first head coach named by the committee for induction, and also making 2019 the first year to see two USFL head coaches enter the Hall in nearly 20 years. Not since 2000, when both Sam Rutigliano and Dick Vermeil were selected, have we seen 2 coaches honored, but Willsey will join former Knights head coach Jim Johnson as members of the Class of 2019.

The remaining 4 selections were not huge surprises, with 9-time All-USFL wideout Randy Moss leading a group that also includes 2000 Rookie of the Year and 8-time All-USFL back Ron Dayne, 4-time All-USFL safety Tebucky Jones, and 2-time Offensive Player of the Year QB Brian Griese. Griese, a 3-time All-USFL quarterback who won a title in 2008 with his third team, the Michigan Panthers, was the only repeat nominee to make the cut in what was a very strong class of first-time nominations. Among the semi-finalists not chosen we find potential 2019 nominees Willis McGahee and Peerless Price,along with returning candidates like HBs Antowain Smith and T. J. Duckett.  They will all have tough competition next year, as the 2020 class will include legendary players like Ed Reed, Jake Plummer, Quentin Jammer, and Anthony Weaver, along with a LB group that is star studded, including Hannibal Navies, James Farrior, Mike Vrabel, Lofa Tutupu, and Antonio Pierce.

But the celebration now is for the 6 former USFL legends who will be entering the Hall of Fame this October. So, congratulations to Randy Moss, Ron Dayne, Tebucky Jones, Brian Griese, Coach Jim Johnson, and long overdue congratulations to the family of Coach Ray Willsey. All men who helped shape the game and make the USFL a rite of spring.

Panthers Reveal New Look for 2019

Michigan had a rough week against Ohio this week, but with 3 games left, and still very much alive for both a playoff spot, the club took some time out of practice this week to reveal their new look for 2019, a look they hope to be wearing as part of the 2018 playoffs. As we all expected, the Panthers did not touch their iconic logo or helmet, leaving those to their already classic standard, but several other elements of their uniform have been updated.

The new primary looks for the club, both the plum and the white jerseys, will bring back several features of classic Panther looks. The jerseys feature two-color shoulder “slashes”, with a thick blue stripe and a thin champagne slash on the home jersey and a thick plum stripe with thin sky blue on the whites. Both will feature a block number font, with a shadow to the right of each number. New to the look for next year will be the absence of white on the plum jerseys, with champagne numbers replacing white. The secondary “stalking panther” monogram will be on both jerseys’ sleeves as well.

The team revealed only one pant set for the look, a champagne set, with thick plum and sky-blue stripes, that break into the now familiar block ascension at the knee. The look is finished off with plum-colored socks. It is a classic look for Michigan, which has often been voted one of the best-looking clubs in the USFL since they debuted their champagne helmets a few games into the league’s inaugural season.

That classic look can be seen in the Panthers’ throwback alternate look, which brings back the original panther logo on the helmet and the original sleeve and pant striping. No shocker there. What may surprise many is the newly released “Hunter’s Moon” alternative look, which features a champagne-colored jersey, plum pants, and, for the first time ever, a helmet without the trademark wrap-around panther design.

The new alternate helmet is plum, with a plum facemask and a single champagne striped down the center (with block ascension at the base). The logo on each side is the alternative monogram with a stealthy prowling panther. The logo will not feature any outlines, blending the plum elements of the logo into the helmet shell and leaving the champagne-colored panther and sky-blue monogram as contrast. It is a very different look for the Panthers, but, after all, that is what alternate looks are meant to be, even for a team with such a distinctive standard look.

Three weeks left, and a real chance that Week 14 could bring us our first playoff bids claimed. We have several huge divisional battles this week, along with several other games that could lead us to much more clarity on the playoff front. We start on Monday with a game that could determine the NE Division. Pittsburgh, up 1.5 games on the New Jersey Generals, can lock up the division with a win and a loss by Washington. But, if New Jersey gets the win, well the division is then still very much up for grabs. The late game features Houston at Denver, with the Gold desperate to avoid dropping back to .500, and a win certainly would help Denver with playoff position, but don’t expect Houston to take them lightly. The Gamblers want the win too, in hopes that it could lock up the Southern Division in their favor.

Saturday has more Southern Division action, with the Showboats hoping to gain ground on Houston as they face the Blitz in Baltimore, and New Orleans, fresh off Drew Brees’s announcement, taking on Dallas in Dallas. If Houston slips on Friday, these two Saturday games could lead to yet another 3-way tie atop the division. We should also watch out fo the Birmingham v. Oklahoma game. The loser may well be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss, the winner could still be very much in the mix. The other game that has a similar impact is in Portland, where both the Thunder and the Stags enter the game at 7-6. A loss does not eliminate either club, but a win certainly gives one team the advantage with only 2 weeks to play.

Sunday begins with a big game for the Federals, as they try to hold off the Stars, avoid the upset, and stay in the hunt in the NE Division, knowing that either New Jersey or Pittsburgh will drop a game this week. We also have a big game in Columbus, where the Glory can lock up the division if they can avoid a letdown against the surging Seattle Dragons, once again trying to prove that 0-5 means nothing to the club. We have a bit of a one-sided California Derby, with 9-4 Oakland traveling to 3-10 LA, and we have a likely elimination game in Chicago, where the 6-7 Machine cannot afford a loss to 5-8 Las Vegas. Finally, we have a game with a lot of drama in Michigan. After losing to Ohio head-to-head, Michigan’s only chance to win the division requires that they upend the Wranglers this week, but Arizona can clinch the SW Division if they can go into Ford Field and get the win. That is a game that could be among the most intense of the season.

Friday @ 6pm ET       Pittsburgh (8-5) @ New Jersey (6-6-1)        NBC

Friday @ 8pm ET             Houston (10-3) @ Denver (7-6)                       ABC

Saturday @ 12pm ET     Jacksonville (3-10) @ Orlando (6-7)            ABC

Saturday @ 12pm ET       Memphis (9-4) @ Baltimore (4-9)                   FOX

Saturday @ 4pm ET         Birmingham (6-7) @ Oklahoma (6-7)             ABC

Saturday @ 4pm ET         New Orleans (9-4) @ Dallas (3-10)                FOX

Saturday @ 7pm ET         St. Louis (5-8) @ Charlotte (8-5)                        NBC

Saturday @ 9pm ET       San Diego (7-6) @ Portland (7-6)                   ESPN/EFN

Sunday @ 12pm ET        Washington (7-6) @ Philadelphia (5-8)           ABC

Sunday @ 12pm ET        Atlanta (8-5) @ Tampa Bay (2-11)                   FOX Regional

Sunday @ 12pm ET    Seattle (7-6) @ Ohio (9-4)                               FOX Regional

Sunday @ 4pm ET           Oakland (9-4) @ Los Angeles (3-10)              ABC

Sunday @ 4pm ET           Las Vegas (5-8) @ Chicago (6-7)                     FOX

Sunday @ 8pm ET      Arizona (9-3-1) @ Michigan (7-6)                     ESPN/EFN