2018 USFL Week 9 Recap: Jackson Tabbed, Freeman Traded

All eyes are focused on St. Louis this week, where Lamar Jackson got the Skyhawks his 2nd win in 3 attempts, and his showing convinced management to make a deal for Josh Freeman, sending the former MVP to Dallas. It was also a week that may have just given us our game of the year, a 38-35 overtime shootout that helped Houston earn a share of first place in the absolutely breakneck Southern Division. With the Trade Deadline about to hit, we saw a lot of movement this week, and we also saw a couple of 4-4 clubs make statements with big upset wins on the road as Oklahoma upended the defending league champions and Washington got away with a W in Orlando. We will cover all of the action of the week, on the field and on the trading block, will update you on injuries to Derrick Henry and Nick Foles, and will take a look at two newcomers to the 2020 Expansion Derby as the Midwest comes calling. But we start with the story of the week, 2012 MVP Josh Freeman traded midseason from the Skyhawks to the Roughnecks.

St. Louis Pulls Trigger, Trades Josh Freeman to Roughnecks

Maybe it was another strong game from rookie Lamar Jackson, perhaps it was that the price the Skyhawks had set internally was met, or perhaps it was just time, but this week St. Louis made of one the biggest deals in their team history, trading away a former MVP quarterback in Josh Freeman. Freeman, who started this season, as he has started every St. Louis season since 2010, as the starting QB of the Skyhawks, but a 1-5 start and some pretty shaky stats pushed head coach Frank Reich to make a move ahead of Week 7, and that move was to give his rookie QB and Heisman Award winner, Lamar Jackson a shot. Jackson threw for over 300 yards in his first game and has now won 2 of his 3 starts, looking very good in all three performances.

Freeman, who exploded on the scene in his 3rd year as a starter, setting personal bests for yards (3,983), touchdowns (39), TD:INT ratio (39:3, or 13:1) and QB Rating (114.3). They were numbers that helped St. Louis win the league title, defeating Charlotte in a battle of recent expansion teams. It also won him the MVP award, and with numbers like that, it is not surprising. But, after 5 more complete seasons, many had begun to believe that Freeman, rather than being a franchise QB, was a flash in the pan, a player who had one amazing season but who simply was not playing at that level year in and year out.

That assessment may not be entirely fair to Freeman. After all, this is a QB who went over 3,000 yards in 2010 as well, and who had 20 or more TDs in both 2010 and 2013. But what is clear is that injuries started to take a toll on the former K-State product. Freeman missed 8 of 16 games in 2014, played one game fewer than that in 2015, and played only 9 games in 2017. So, while Freeman may still have a lot in the tank, concerns about his long term health, as well as his ability to regain the form that won him the MVP made him expendable, and with a “first round talent” in Jackson, one who starts his career with three very strong outings, made that expendability all the more apparent.

But mid-season trades, particularly of players of Freeman’s caliber, are rare. Just the right combination of factors have to come to the fore. First, you need teams willing to make a switch at QB and looking to make that move during the season. Second, you need the right combination of picks and players to make a deal attractive. Third, you need a contract that is transferable without costing either club too much in the deal. And, finally, you need a sense that making the deal will not alienate fans, presenting the appearance of giving up on the season or opening up a fire sale.

Every one of those needs were met in the case of St. Louis and Josh Freeman. In the Dallas Roughnecks, struggling at QB after Johnny Manziel’s 2nd alcohol-related suspension cost him the rest of the 2018 season, you had a team desperate to find an alternative, not just for the current season, but potentially long term, particularly if they feel the time has come to cut the troublesome “Johnny Football” loose. Second, you had a deal offered by the Roughnecks that met the goals the Skyhawks had set for any agreement. Dallas offered a 2nd round pick this year and a 3rd next year. St. Louis wanted depth at QB, so they countered, asking for QB Tyrod Taylor to be included in the swap. Dallas agreed, and the deal was cut. The third factor, Freeman’s contract, was a non-factor. Freeman has 1 more year on his deal, a length that fits Dallas’s needs perfectly, giving them time to see how Freeman adapts to the Roughneck playbook before they have to work on an extension or a new deal. The contract also had limited signing bonus left to disperse, meaning that St. Louis would not be stuck with dead money still invested in their former QB. And finally, in St. Louis, and particularly with the immediate success Lamar Jackson showed in his first three outings, you had a fanbase ready to move on from Freeman and happy to have a chance to reboot a franchise that has won only only 6 games in the past 2 seasons combined.

And so, Freeman found himself on a plane to the Dallas metroplex, a chance to regain his position as a starter. He likely will not start this week against Michigan, but could see action as soon as a home tilt against the very tough Arizona Wranglers. Dallas coach Kliff Kingsbury certainly hopes that Freeman can pick up the offense quickly, build rapport with his teammates, and make the move into the starting lineup sooner, rather than later. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Tyrod Taylor, himself a mobile, dual threat QB, is expected to compete with Kyle Boller to back up the Skyhawks’ exciting rookie signal caller. Taylor’s game is very similar in some ways to Jackson’s, so it is certainly conceivable that Coach Reich will promote Taylor after only a week or two, allowing the Skyhawks to run the same offense if Jackson has to miss any time. So, the deal is done, Freeman’s time in Skyhawk blue is over, and as the trade window begins to shut (we have about 36 hours left for last minute deals), the Skyhawks and Roughnecks pull off one of the bigger deals we have seen in recent years.

NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 35 HOUSTON GAMBLERS 38 OVERTIME

It is already being called “The Game of the Year”, an exciting, nerveracking, well-played, battle of two very good teams playing some of their best football of the season. In a game that required extra time to decide, these two Southern Division foes went toe to to, throwing haymakers like they were Clubber Lang and Rocky Balboa in Rocky III. There was no jabbing, no bobbing, no weaving, just big blow after big blow, and why not, these are two of the heavyweights in the USFL this year, both now sitting at 7-2 after 9 weeks, and both very likely to meet again in the postseason after splitting their regular season meetings, with Houston winning both games, each by a lone field goal.

This second meeting of the season for the Breakers and Gamblers was a big game. Everyone knew it before the game began. Tickets were going for $1,000 or more on the secondary market, and, for the first time in over a year and a half, NRG Stadium saw a sell out of 61,000 on hand (The stadium can hold over 70,000, but the USFL has always used tarps to reduce capacity, using a lower total to register a sell out. For NRG Stadium, that cap is 61,000 even.) The game was a Friday night smash on the FOX broadcast as well, registering the highest viewership since last year’s Summer Bowl, and the highest for a regular season game since Week 16 of the 2015 season, when these two teams met in the Super Dome for the season finale, with the winner claiming the Southern Division. In that game it was New Orleans that pulled out the close victory, 22-17. This time it would be Houston completing the season sweep of the Breakers with their overtime victory.

The action in Friday’s game started almost from the first play of the game, and not in a way that the Breakers wanted to see. After receiving the opening kick and gaining only 1 yard on an inside run on first down, New Orleans went to the air, with Brees trying to hit Jordy Nelson on a quick out, but the route was jumped by Houston’s excellent corner, Leodis McKelvin, who caught the ball in stride, galloping down the sideline 46 yards for a defensive score. Houston’s D had made the first move, but New Orleans is a quality team, with a QB who is about as cool as they come, and neither were flustered by the early mistake.

The Breakers gained 2 first downs on their next possession, showing some success in the run game, particularly on a nice misdirection play that had FB Curtis Nelson gain 5 on a 3rd and 3. But, the drive fizzled and the Breakers punted the ball back to Houston. The Gamblers offense took the field for the first time and immediately got to work. Colt McCoy hit Vernon Davis for 12 yards on the first play of the possession, followed by a nice run from Carlos Hyde. Both would finish the game with significant contributions, Davis finishing with 107 yards while Hyde would have 61 yards rushing and 39 receiving for an even 100 yards from scrimmage. But, just as we saw with New Orleans’s first drive, sometimes the energy and pressure of a big game can cause a team to be a bit careless, and now it was Colt McCoy’s turn. McCoy threw a ball over the middle, hoping to get it to Davis again, but the ball was high, and Davis managed only to tip the ball into the air, where FS Clyde Adams brought it down. Adams was almost immediately grabbed by Davis, but with his back to the line, he got help from LB Jerome Baker, who essentially took a handoff from the safety, and while the Gambler offensive players thought the play had ended, Baker made his way to the endzone. Coach Phillips would protest the initial call, that no whistle had sounded and that Baker had scored a pick-six while many of the Gamblers looked on. Using his red flag, Phillips argued that the play had stopped, apparently claiming that Adams had had his forward progress stopped by Vernon Davis, but the review came back confirming the original call, giving New Orleans a pick-six of their own and evening the score at 7 apiece.

Houston was clearly shaken by the call, going 3-and-out against the tough Breaker defense on the next possession, while the Breakers had their confidence boosted by the controversial play. When they got the ball back, New Orleans wasted no time moving into scoring territory, helped by a 18-yard pass and catch for Donnie Avery and a facemask penalty on a 1-yard run by Fournette. Fournette would be limited all day, but the facemask on this drive helped put New Orleans inside the red zone. 4 plays later, Drew Brees would find his favorite target, Jordy Nelson, for a 9-yard touchdown toss. The play gave New Orleans the lead, a lead they would expand to 13 points before Houston began to recover.

The Breaker momentum carried over into the 2nd quarter, with their next drive producing a field goal to boost the lead to 17-7, and then, with 1:24 left to play, Caleb Sturgis added a second 3-pointer and New Orleans hoped to enter the locker room up 20-7. But Houston had other ideas, and a blown coverage helped them score only 34 seconds later. Lining up as if to run out the clock, Houston fooled the Breaker defenders, and when Vernon Davis caught the seam pass from McCoy, he had only safety Brandon Taylor to beat. Davis used a stiff arm, and his 40 lb weight advantage, to shrug off the tackle and rumbled to the endzone for a 75-yard catch and run that got the Gambler fans in NRG Stadium on their feet before the half. This highly anticipated game would go to the half with New Orleans holding a 6-point lead, 20-14.

Houston would score the only points of the third quarter, taking the lead back with 3 minutes left in the quarter when Carlos Hyde finished off a 13-play drive with a 1-yard TD plunge. It was a quarter that saw both teams struggle to cross midfield until Houston’s long drive. Both clubs slowed down the pace with the run game, New Orleans with minimal success, while Houston had better luck with Hyde’s carries.

As the 4th quarter began, Drew Brees had helped the Breakers move out of the shadow of their own endzone with two consecutive completions, and New Orleans was changing gears from a position of safety to one of attack. The Breakers hit on a couple of nice third down plays, and soon found themselves in the red zone. Once there, it was once again Jordy Nelson, this time from 15 yards out, for his second score of the day. New Orleans went for 2 and on a toss to C. J. Spiller, the Breakers found the corner and took a 28-21 lead with 12:18 left to play.

It would be a 4th quarter that would see 4 touchdown drives in just over 12 minutes. Following the Breaker score, Houston was motivated to even the scoreboard, and they would use the big play to do it. The next Gambler possession was only 4 plays, but those 4 plays included a 40-yard completion from McCoy to Schuster and then a 35-yard touchdown strike when McCoy found Josh Reynolds on a corner route. With the safety following Mike Evans into the middle of the field, Reynolds got a step on the nickel corner and McCoy threw a perfect looping pass into his breadbasket.

With the game tied at 28 and nearly 9 minutes left to play, Houston would turn to their defense, and the defense would come up with a stop. On a 3rd and 7 from the New Orleans 37, it was SS Kenny Vaccaro who saw the ball coming for TE Coby Fleener. Vaccaro broke up the pass and forced New Orleans to punt. Houston would have just over 5 minutes to take the lead once again. They would need barely 3 to do just that. The Gamblers mixed runs by Hyde and Alfred Blue with short passes to Evans, Moeaki, and rookie Keke Coutee to get into range, and then McCoy found his speed specialist, JuJu Smith-Schuster for the lead. Smith-Schuster used a double move on a curl & up to beat the coverage and get behind the corner. McCoy again used perfect touch to connect with the receiver and Houston, at exactly the 2-minute warning, took a 35-28 lead.

So, it would be up to Drew Brees and the Breaker offense to put together a classic 2-minute drive to even the score and send the game to overtime. They too proved adept at the fast-paced offense, eschewing the huddle, with Brees calling plays from the line. First it was a screen to Fournette for 8, then a completion to Britt for 14, and a nice slant to Tyler Lockett for 8 more. All the while the clock kept ticking, save for the Breakers using their 2nd timeout after Lockett was brought down in the middle of the field. The drive in total would squeeze 11 plays into the 2-minutes of remaining time, and that 11th play a rub route that freed Kenny Britt just outside the endzone, would produce the game-tying score as Britt crossed the plane before falling to the turf.  This game, after providing 60 minutes of amazing entertainment, would be going to overtime.

For all the offensive fireworks of the first 60 minutes, it was the defenses that won out in overtime. Both teams struggled to find the connections that had worked in regulation. It would end up being one huge play that would decide this one. With just over 3 minutes left in the extra period, and many in Houston beginning to wonder if this game would be a “sister kissing” affair, Colt McCoy came up with a huge play to turn the game towards the Gamblers. It was a relatively routine looking play, an outside run with Hyde on a 2nd and 8, but the ball never landed in Hyde’s hand. The play fake was followed by a boot to the left by McCoy, and just as it looked like he might just run the ball out of bounds for a short loss, he squared up and heaved the ball downfield to a wide open JuJu Smith-Schuster. The Houston receiver had crossed the entire field and in the melee in the middle of the field, his coverage man lost a step, giving the speedy Smith-Shuster more than enough room to be seen by McCoy and to make a catch before running out of bounds inside the 10. It was a 40-yard toss that all but guaranteed the Gamblers a shot to win the game.

Coach Phillips did not fool around. The ball was on the left hashmark, exactly as kicker Younghoe Koo preferred, so on first and goal he sent Koo out to kick a chipshot, significantly shorter than the typical PAT. Koo’s kick was good, and the city of Houston celebrated a well-deserved sweep of the Breakers. The win evened up Houston’s record with that of their rival, both now atop the South at 7-2, with surprising Memphis only a game back at 6-3. For the rest of us, fans of the league if not, perhaps, of either team, what we got was a great game that could well be a precursor for the USFL playoffs.

Atlanta 14  Memphis 18

Memphis could not find the endzone, but another good defensive outing allows the Showboats to get the home win on 6 Lewis Ward field goals. Atlanta was game, with Aaron Murray connecting with WR Kelvin Benjamin twice in the 2nd quarter, but Memphis tightened up in the 2nd half, and got just enough out of their offense (and HB Todd Gurley) to get in range for Ward throughout the game, and the Memphis kicker came through time and again.

POTG: Memphis kicker Lewis Ward: 6/6 on FG, including 4 from over 40 yards.

Philadelphia 18  Baltimore 22

The Stars’ playoff hopes are fading fast as they lose another game with Matt Gutierrez stuck on the sideline with his knee still in a brace. Baltimore picked off Tony Pike twice, and got 2 TDs from Big Ben, along with 126 yards from WR Darrius Heyward-Bey to get back in the win column and upend the rival Stars.

POTG: Blitz CB Jabari Greer: 3 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 Int

New Jersey 3  Pittsburgh 9

Despite a combined 544 yards, neither the Maulers or the Generals could find the endzone in this one. Both had their only legitimate TD shot called back on penalties, and both struggled when reaching the red zone, going a combined 2 of 6 on red zone scoring chances. Add a Devin McCourty red zone pick for the Generals and a forced fumble form LB Vince Biegel for the Maulers and you end up with a very low scoring battle of two potential playoff teams.

POTG: Mauler MLB Paul Posluszny: 6 Tck, 1 FR

Tampa Bay 31  Arizona 37

The Bandits surprised us by finding holes in the Arizona D, amassing 331 yards, but they just got outdueled by Ryan Nassib, whose 407 yards helped Arizona amass 512 total yards on the day. Both Larry Fitzgerald (144) and Antonio Bryant (122) went well over 100 yards on the day. Nassib also hit Bryant, Kareem Carey and Mike Williams for scores. Throw in 75 yards and a TD from the ageless Frank Gore and you get another Arizona win, despite a very solid day from Dak Prescott (331 Yds, 3 TDs) against the Arizona D.

POTG: Wrangler QB Ryan Nassib: 16/34, 407 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int

Oklahoma 27  Michigan 14

A huge confidence builder for the Outlaws as they open up the offense a bit, finally get a solid game from Marshawn Lynch and upset the defending league champs in their own home. Despite 103 yards from LeVeon Bell, the Panthers struggled to get into scoring position all game. Meanwhile Oklahoma gave the ball to Joe Flacco and opened up the passing game. The result was 265 yards and 3 TDs for the veteran QB, including a beautiful 64-yard strike to Marquise Goodwin in the 3rd. The loss dropped Michigan into 2nd place in the Central, and helped elevate Oklahoma to 2nd in the Southwest.

POTG: Outlaw QB Joe Flacco: 15/28, 265 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int

Washington 27  Orlando 24

Another big road win for a 4-4 club as Washington upsets the favored Renegades in Orlando. David Garrard struggled, throwing 4 picks, but he is starting to get help from Anthony Allen, who had a nice game with 91 yards and 2 TDs on the day. The Federals defense did a good job against the Orlando backs, holding Murray and Jennings to a combined 61 yards, while also sacking Russell Wilson 4 times.

POTG: Federals’ TE Kellen Davis: 9 Rec, 109 Yds

San Diego 34  Denver 26

The Thunder are still in the chase after knocking off the Gold at Invesco Field. Joe Webb returned to action and had 4 TDs along with 235 yards. Webb hit both Marques Colston and Nick Toon with a pair of scores each as they move to 4-5 and send Denver to their 5th loss in 6 games. Despite chants from the crowd at Invesco, we did not see Josh Allen take the field, but another rookie, Phillip Lindsay saw lots of action with 20 carries for 71 yards and a TD for the Gold.

POTG: Thunder QB Joe Webb: 13/26, 235 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int

St. Louis 29  Jacksonville 19

Lamar Jackson gets his 2nd win in 3 tries as St. Louis knocks off the Bulls. Jacksonville returned to starting Robert Griffin III, and RG3 put on a show, throwing for 195 but also rushing the ball 10 times for 145 yards and 2 scores, but it was too little, too late, as St. Louis outpaced the Bulls, with TDs from newly acquired HB Bobby Rainey as well as FB Jerome Felton, paired with 5 field goals from Zane Gonzalez to take the win.

POTG: Skyhawk HB Eddie Lacy: 26 Att, 137 Yds

Las Vegas 6  Birmingham 33

Cam Newton throws for 2 scores and runs for another as Birmingham improves to 4-5 with a win over the punchless Vipers. Jeff Tuel struggled, suffering 3 sacks and throwing 2 picks as the Vipers simply could not put anything together. Birmingham relied on Newton and their defense, which held Las Vegas to only 11 first downs and 223 total yards.

POTG: Stallion QB Cam Newton: 11/21, 186 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int, 10 Att, 83 Yds, 1 TD

Dallas 14  Ohio 20

Another rough outing for Brandon Wheedon likely played a role in Dallas’s deal for Josh Freeman. Wheedon threw for only 157 and could not move the Dallas offense for large swaths of the game. Meanwhile, Christian Hackenberg returned, looked a bit rusty, but got enough out of the offense to earn the W and send Ohio to the top of the Central Division at 6-3.

POTG: Ohio CB Chidi Chekwa: 6 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 FR

Portland 26  Los Angeles 20

The Express fought for Coach Thomas, but in the end it was not enough as Portland scored the final 13 points of the game to come back from a 20-13 deficit and take the road win to move above .500. Kyle Lauletta got the start for the Stags, but was knocked out of the game with a hip pointer only 12 plays in. So it was Kellen Clemons who got the W, thanks in part to a monster game from Brandin Cooks, with 14 receptions on a ridiculous 20 targets. Reggie Bush had 2 scores for LA, but they were shut out in the 4th and fall to 1-8.

POTG: Portland WR Brandin Cooks: 14 Rec, 159 Yds

Seattle 10  Oakland 33

The Invaders looked at Seattle’s 3-game win streak and were not impressed. After a 10-7 halftime, they exploded, outpacing the Dragons 23-3 in the second half, spurred on by Christian McCaffrey, who gained 83 of his 100 yards in the 2nd half. Garoppolo threw for 184 with 2 scores and the defense sacked Matt McGloin 6 times, 5 in the second half as Oakland pulled away and claimed their 7th win in 9 tries.

POTG: Invader HB Christian McCaffrey: 20 Att, 100 Yds, 1 TD

Charlotte 27  Chicago 16

The Sunday nightcap produced one of Mitch Trubisky’s best games this season, avoiding turnovers and completing 19 of 26 for 280 yards and TD tosses to TE Brandon Pettigrew and HB Taiwan Jones. Despite the run game struggling against Chicago’s stacked box scheme, Trubisky succeeded in building up a 17-point lead before a late Fitzpatrick TD toss made the game look a bit closer.

POTG: Monarch QB Mitch Trubisky: 19/26, 280 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int

Hackenberg Helps Ohio Take Over First in Central

The numbers were not eye-popping, 21 of 29 for 157 yards, no touchdowns and 1 pick, suffering 3 sacks, but it was simply the presence of Christian Hackenberg back under center that helped Ohio earn the win over Dallas, move to 6-3, and leapfrog over the Michigan Panthers, the league’s defending champion, to take over 1st place in the Central. Hackenberg, who had started the season as the clear number one on the depth chart, was knocked out of the season opener and has not seen the field until this Week 9 clash. And while a lot of kudos have to go to an Ohio defense that held Dallas to only 8 first downs and a ridiculous 1 of 16 on third down. But, you don’t win games without some offense, and Hackenberg helped Ohio get into position for three 4th quarter scores (two field goals and a 1-yard run by Pead) to recover from a 14-6 deficit and earn the 20-14 victory.

Ohio is one of the success stories of the season, using 4 different quarterbacks this year, but still remaining very much alive in the playoff hunt. Now, with a one-game lead over the defending league champions, both the players in red, white, and blue, and the fans in the same colors are beginning to believe that they may well be the best team in the division, and that this year will see them return to the playoffs for the first time since the retirement of Hall of Fame QB Kerry Collins in 2009.

Fire Doused, Drop 4th in a Row

Things are not so cheery, and confidence is a lot harder to find in Atlanta, where the Fire again fell short, dropping their 4th game in a row. After a very heartening 4-game win streak in Weeks 2-5, Atlanta was upended by the surging Ohio Glory in Week 6, then dropped two straight divisional games, losing 45-23 to the Renegades and 24-19 to Charlotte. This week’s loss in Memphis is hardly a surprise, with Memphis sitting at 6-2 and playing at home, but the cumulative impact of losing 4 in a row is taking its toll on the Fire.

For many Fire fans, a home game against 1-win Tampa Bay is just the medicine their club needs. But while Atlanta can look forward to 2 games against the Bandits and 1 against equally-troubled Jacksonville in their remaining slate of games, they also have some tough tasks ahead of them: Birmingham in Week 11, a trip to St. Louis, with their new QB in Week 13, and a rematch with the Monarchs in Week 15 before they wrap up the season at home against Baltimore. With such strong competition in the NE and Southern Divisions, it seems unlikely that even 9 wins will ensure a team of a playoff spot, and certainly finishing 3rd in the SE Division is likely going to cost someone a shot at the postseason, but that is where Atlanta sits right now, 4-5, a game behind Orlando and 2 games behind the division-leading Monarchs.

The issues in Atlanta are pretty clear. While the defense has been solid against the pass, they rank 17th against the run, and their offense sits at 24th in passing, 21st in yards, and 16th in points per game, not numbers that typically translate into postseason action. But, for right now the focus is on Week 10, the Tampa Bay Bandits, and a chance to snap their losing streak.

Nassib Peaking at Perfect Time

When 2-time defending MVP David Carr went down in Week 2, many predicted the end of Arizona’s division dominance. After all, the defense was a total rebuild from 2017, and now the key pivot point in the Wrangler offense was lost for the season with untested and largely unseen backup Ryan Nassib having to step in. But, what no one saw coming was the kind of year Nassib could have in Arizona’s offense. OC Shane Waldron had worked with Nassib since the former Syracuse Orange product arrived in Glendale as a rookie in 2016. When given the snaps in practice to build rapport with the other 10 starters on offense, he started to have success from his first start.

Nassib impressed in his opening game, throwing for 367 yard and 3 scores against New Jersey. His numbers after 7 weeks of action have remained just as lofty. Nassib currently ranks as the top-rated QB in the league with a 115.2 QB Rating. He has 16 touchdowns to only 1 interception in 7 games, and could reach 3,000 yards this season. But why did we say that this success was perfectly timed?

One simple reason. Arizona signed David Carr to an extension this offseason, locking up the 2-time MVP through 2021, but Nassib, a 3rd year player, is coming up on the end of his rookie deal. That means that one of two things can happen, either Arizona will pay him a heck of a lot more than the $275,000 he signed for as a rookie, or they let him find a starting gig somewhere else, again with a pretty big shift in his take home pay. Most expect the latter is more likely, and there will certainly be no shortage of teams who would have interest, not after the season Nassib is putting up for the Wranglers. So, a payday is guaranteed, and a starting gig seems very much in the cards for a player that most fans around the country had never heard of before Week 3 of this season.

Griffin Returns & Runs Wild But Still Not Enough for Bulls

After a run of 3 games, all losses, in which Teddy Bridgewater threw 5 picks and no touchdowns, it appears that Coach Flores is now considering the QB switch away from Robert Griffin III a mistake. Bridgewater looked rusty, not up to the speed of the league, and largely unprepared to take on the starting job. Griffin, for all his flaws (and there are many), seems the better option at this time for a 1-win Jacksonville club.

Griffin himself made that case on the field Sunday, completing 21 of 33 passing (though for only 195 yards) and rushing for 145 yards and 2 scores, averaging 14.5 yards per carry largely due to runs of 77 and 31 yards, both for scores. It was not enough to get Jacksonville a 2nd win this year, but the dual threat of RG3 seems the best option Jacksonville has at this time. It may not be enough to turn around what has become a lost season for the Bulls, but for Coach Flores, the move away from Griffin has to be considered a mistake, and a return to the former starter provides at least some hope that the Bulls will not finish dead last in the league, and possibly not in their own division, where Tampa Bay is equally rancid at 1-8.

Trades Ahead of the Deadline Highlight Teams Trying to Find One Last Piece

We have already broken down the deal that sent QB Josh Freeman to the Dallas Roughnecks, but that deal was hardly the only one in this final week before the trade window closes. We still have just over 30 hours for any final deals, but what we have seen this week already is a clear sign that several playoff contenders are willing to make a deal to fill gaps, improve their roster, or position themselves for a playoff run.

Ohio Deals Osweiler to Bolster D-line

The Ohio Glory, with Christian Hackenberg back under center and with Troy Smith now the clear backup, have made a deal to send former starter Brock Osweiler to the LA Express for some additional defensive help. The deal involved 4 players and a draft pick as Ohio packaged Osweiler, DT Julian Taylor and their 5th rounder for 2019 to gain the services of LA DT John Jenkins, along with 3rd string QB Nick Mullens, who will likely be placed on the practice squad as an emergency QB behind Hackenberg and Smith. Jenkins will slot in alongside Marcell Dareus in Ohio’s 4-3 alignment, pushing Akiem Hicks to a swing role. For LA, Osweiler is expected to replace Brodie Croyle as the number two, but he will have to get healthy first. Osweiler is still expected to be unavailable at least for the next 2 weeks, but LA seems to be building for the future and Osweiler is a player who can play in a similar style to starter Sam Bradford.

Memphis sends 4th to STL for HB Gus Edwards

The Memphis Showboats, hoping to be playoff bound after a 7-2 start, decided to add a bit more depth to their run game, trading for St. Louis rookie Gus Edwards. Memphis sent a 4th rounder to the Skyhawks, who had placed Edwards on the practice squad after dealing for Bobby Rainey and promoting Kenneth Runyon, another rookie, to the 3rd HB position. Edwards, a big, bruising runner, will take on much the same role that Jacob Hester had held for the Showboats before his injury, short yardage, goalline, and occasionally spelling starter Todd Gurley. With David Williams also on the roster, those occasional carries outside of short yardage may be few and far between, but Memphis is gearing up for a playoff run and you do not want to be shorthanded at halfback when playoff season comes around.

Arizona Finds Replacement for Carruthers

Another contender, the Arizona Wranglers, decided that it was necessary to do something at the DT position after Tampa Bay had surprising success this weekend. With Ryan Carruthers expected to miss as much as 6-8 weeks of action, the interior line was thin, so the Wranglers made a deal, sending two 4th round picks (2019 and 2020) to the Skyhawks as St. Louis continues to wheel and deal. In return, DT Jason Hargrave, a 25-year old, 3rd year player, will join the Wranglers. Hargrave had 19 tackles in St. Louis before the trade, along with a lone sack for the Skyhawks. In Arizona he will rotate with Grady Jarrett and, when healthy, Ryan Carrethers in Arizona’s defensive scheme. Just another new face on a Wrangler defense that is exceeding expectations after a major overhaul this offseason.

Lauletta Gets Start but Clemons gets Win for Stags

When Coach LaFleur announced on Friday that it would be rookie Kyle Lauletta, and not backup Kellen Clemons, taking the starting job this week against LA, there was some surprise, but reports out of Portland had been saying for some time that Lauletta was looking good running the scout team and on those rare occasions when he was given practice snaps. But, as it turns out, it would be a short-lived opportunity for the Richmond Spider. Lauletta played only 2 drives for the Stags, neither producing points, before a scramble ended in his taking a hard dive to the turf. He got up trying to shake off numbness in his throwing hand, and when it was clear that the numbness was accompanied by swelling, Coach LaFleur had no choice but to call in Clemons.

Kellen Clemons played well in the game against the Express, completing 27 of 38 passes and throwing a TD to Alshon Jeffery. Whether that performance, Portland’s 5th win of the year, was enough to give him the start moving forward (at least until Mariota is able to return) is not known. As most coaches would do, LaFleur is not revealing the starter for the Week 10 tilt against Baltimore until the weekend, so we just don’t know if it will be Clemons or the rookie once again.

Henry Out 1-2 Weeks for Sinking Stars

We do know one player who will not be suiting up this week. Derrick Henry of Philadelphia will not be in action, and likely not on the sideline either after injuring his left knee this past week. No ligament damage, which is always good news for a back, but the injury, which has produced swelling and pain, will keep Henry out between 1-3 weeks. His absence will put pressure on QB Matt Gutierrez, himself dealing with a nagging injury to his knee. It will also require more out of fellow tailbacks Zac Stacy and Karlos Williams. Philadelphia is not expected to bring in a 3rd back during the Henry injury, using Stacy, Williams and FB Ira Johnson as the rushers for the next week and beyond. Having slipped to 4-5, Philadelphia can ill afford an injury to one of their primary weapons at this time of the year. The Stars have dropped their last 2 games (both with Gutierrez sidelined) and now they will be without their biggest star and perhaps their best offensive weapon.

Foles’s Injured Foot Puts Stanzi Under Center

New Jersey will also be without a key figure for the next 1-3 weeks as QB Nick Foles suffered a stress fracture in his foot is likely to need that time with significant rest to be ready to go for the final weeks of the season. In his stead, New Jersey will start former Skyhawk Ricky Stanzi. Stanzi has had significant starting experience due to injuries to St. Louis’s (former) QB Josh Freeman. He has started 17 games between 2014-2016 for the Skyhawks, but this will be his first action with Coach Turner’s offense. He will be backed up by former starter for the Generals Brett Hundley.

Another rough week, though we only saw 2 players added to the IR. With only 7 weeks left, some of the mid-range injuries could be reevaluated and more players added to the reserve, but even without IR additions this is a very long list for one week.

OUT

CB      Brandon Carr            DAL       ACL                       IR

C              Marcus Martin                 ATL         Torn Quad          IR

FS       Rudy Ford                       POR      Hip                        6-8 Weeks

CB         Artie Burns                    DEN      Hamstring         6-8 Weeks

HB           T. J. Yeldon                   TBY        PCL                       6-8 Weeks

DE         Takkarist McKinley         SD          Broken Arm       4-6 Weeks

HB           Kenyan Drake                  ATL         Neck                     4-6 Weeks

C          Wesley Johnson             LV           Ribs                       2-4 Weeks

OT         Roger Saffold                  OKL       Knee                     2-4 Weeks

HB        Derrick Henry                PHI        Miniscus             1-2 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

DE           Robert Quinn                   OHI       Hand                   

C           Robert Vega                   PHI        Arm

OT         Ryan Consididine           WSH     Concussion

LB           D’Qwell Jackson             WSH     Migraines

SS         Eric Berry                       LV           Wrist

OT          Xavier Fulton                   OHI       Pinched Nerve

WR          Darrius Heyward-Bey  BAL        Concussion

QUESTIONABLE

DE          William Gholston           ATL         Hamstring

C           Erik Cook                       JAX         Concussion

FS         Nate Allen                 ARZ       Toe

QB           Taylor Heinecke              MGN     Hand

WR           Mike Wallace                SEA        Stress Fracture

TE          Vernon Davis              HOU     Back

Expansion Update: The Midwestern Contenders

As we continue our look at the 2020 USFL expansion, this week we start with a look at two long-shot contenders from the Midwest. We already talked about a dark horse candidacy from Hartford, Connecticut, but this week we look at two NFL cities that are hoping to join the ranks of full year football cities like New Orleans, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, or Tampa Bay. We have two investment groups working hard to put together their bids by the September deadline, the only two that we know of from the Midwest region: the Minnesota Twin Cities and Kansas City, MO. Let’s take a look at each, and then, let’s assume one of the two wins out, how does that affect the structure of the league?

Kansas City, Missouri

Metro Population: 2.1 Million (31st)

Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium (76,416 capacity)

Investment Group Leadership: David Humphreys (Tamko), Donald Tyson (Tyson Foods)

Notable Local Celebrities Involved: Gale Sayers (UKansas), Steve Grogan (Ottawa HS), Mark Simoneau (Phillipsburg & K-State)

The bid from Kansas City, known as the Arrowhead Football Group, clearly has already worked out the details with the Hunt Family and the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority to make a pitch to add a 2nd team to the fabled AFL and NFL stadium. The Hunts, who helped to found the Chiefs and the AFL back in the 60’s and Major League Soccer in the 1990’s, have always been forward looking when it comes to new endeavors, so we are not shocked that they have given their blessing to adding a USFL team to the sports picture in Kansas City.

The ownership group has pretty deep pockets, and some local connections, but there is, as you would suspect, some hesitancy from franchise owners in the region, primarily St. Louis and Oklahoma, about adding another franchise in the Great Plains. The market size is on a par with Columbus, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, and Jacksonville, certainly larger than the league’s smallest market (New Orleans at 59th, but really they are a regional draw franchise). The economics of the region are solid, though the state of Kansas has had some issues over the past decade, and the football culture is solid, even if KU is not exactly a powerhouse. But, with a pretty nice stadium, though it is getting a bit long in the tooth and is a bit larger than the USFL ideal, the Kansas City group has to be considered a contender.

Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota

Metro Population: 3.52 Million (16th)

Stadium: Either TCF Bank Stadium (50,805) or US Bank Stadium (66,860)

Investment Group Leadership: Glen Taylor (Owner of Timberwolves in NBA)

Notable Local Celebrities Involved: Former Senator Al Franken, MLB star Kent Hrbeck, former Vikings Alan Page and Ahmad Rashad.

The Group known as Twin Cities Football 2020 has done a good job of building grassroots interest in a spring club to complement Vikings fever in the fall. Using local celebrities ranging from minority owners Franken, Page, Rashad, and Hrbeck, to such Minnesota legends as musician Morris Day, actor Vince Vaughan, and even actor William H. Macy reprising his character from Fargo to help drum up interest.

What has not yet been drummed up however is a clear stadium deal with either the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium, or the recently completed US Bank Stadium, home of the Vikings. General opinion is that the group would prefer US Bank Stadium, despite the more appropriate size of TCF Bank Stadium simply for the roof and the ability to ignore the often rough weather in the early weeks of each USFL season. The Twin cities have an advantage over Kansas City in that there is no current ownership group that feels particularly threatened by a franchise in that market. They are simply too far from Chicago, St. Louis, or Denver to be considered a drain on any current club’s fanbase. That could be a big factor in their favor. Minnesota’s strong economy and strong history of support for pro sports are also good indicators that this could be a winning option for the league. If they could just get a stadium deal done, we might even consider them a top contender.

So, what would it mean for the league structure if either KC or the Twin Cities got a franchise? Well, with Minnesota it is pretty clear. You place the new team in the Central, along with natural rivals in Chicago, Michigan, Ohio, and St. Louis, to form a mini Big-10 in the league. Kansas City could also fit into this model, and that may be the best option, even though a rivalry with Oklahoma would also make sense. It is just that trying to add another team to the SW Division makes no sense unless you can move at least 1 of the Texas teams, perhaps both of them, to the South, and that just means someone might get forced out to the Central, which is just much messier. The current favored position is that the league will want to add 1 team to the South and 1 to the Central without moving any other franchises, and that could be accomplished with a KC or Twin City franchise, another plus in the cap of these two bids.

League Reinstates Phil Hanson, Will HOF Now Welcome Him

After significant lobbying by the New Jersey Generals, and with steroids as an issue fading into the history books, the USFL has done what many feel it should have done years ago, it has officially reinstated Phil Hansen into the good graces of the league. The league’s all-time sack leader, Hansen retired with 289 sacks to his name, a record that still holds (though clearly Calais Campbell is shooting for it). But, after his autobiography not only included admission of hormone and steroid use, but accused the league of essentially turning a blind eye to what he called widespread use of the banned substances, the USFL all but disowned Hansen, his records, and his legacy.

Hansen looking intense during Summer Bowl 2004, in his final season.

Over the past 2 years, the Generals, along with fans across the league, have been lobbying for Hansen to be returned to the good graces of the league, and the voters of the Hall of Fame. This week the USFL announced that it was doing just that, reinstating Hansen’s eligibility for the Hall, as well as all of his team and league records and statistics. We at This Week in the USFL have always included Hansen’s numbers when talking about the sack leaders, and we are happy to see that Hansen will now finally get a shot at induction in the Hall, an honor which is long overdue. It will need to come through the Legacy candidacy process, as Hansen is well outside of the 5-year window for standard selection, but we fully expect that his name will quickly brought up when the Legacy Committee meets to determine their 2019 selection next spring.

The 14-year veteran of the Generals, in addition to a league best 289 sacks, had 730 tackles, 38 forced fumbles, and 2 defensive scores (both on fumble recoveries). He remains a beloved figure in the New York, New Jersey area, despite the revelations in his book. This was not always the case, as many turned away from Hansen after its publication, but as times have changed and as many now have come to accept that steroid use was a much wider practice (across many sports) than any league wished to acknowledge at the time, sympathy for Hansen and respect for his career have returned. Perhaps next year we will see him join his teammates and competitors in the Hall of Fame, something we believe is richly deserved.

Memphis Goes Retro with New UA Uniforms

The Memphis Showboats are seeing something of a resurgence on the field this year, a return to playoff contention for a club that has seen some hard times in recent years. It seems only fitting that with that resurgence they will be sporting a new look, perhaps as soon as the 2018 playoffs. Under Armour and the club released their newly-approved uniforms for the 2019 season this week, uniforms that could see the field in 2018 if the Showboats continue their strong play.

The look is very much one that builds on tradition for the Showboats, a retro-inspired look that recalls many past Showboat seasons. The helmet remains Silver Sky, a color the club created back in the late 80’s to differentiate themselves from the many silver-helmeted clubs in the league. It has a red facemask and a single tapered stripe, wider at the front than in the back. The home jerseys are very much a continuation of tradition, scarlet red with Silver Sky sleeves and white shoulder stripes. The white jerseys use the same template, trading white for red and vice versa. Both jerseys have numbers on the sleeves, the team’s secondary logo above the nameplate, and curved block letters with a vertical shadow.

Memphis bucks the trend of teams having multiple color combos by introducing only Silver Sky pants as an option; no mixing and matching different pant and jersey combos here. The pants feature a tapered stripe similar to the one on the helmet, thick at the waist and thinning to a point before the knee.

The club also presented two alternate looks, one very familiar to fans of the Reggie White, Walter Lewis, Mel Gray years. Back to a silver helmet, twin sleeve stripes, and traditional block numbers. The other alternate goes in a very different direction. Black is still an official color for the Showboats, seen in their wordmark and in the smokestacks atop their “M” monogram logo, but completely absent from the primary logo and both primary uniforms. That absence is undone in the team’s “Night Boat” alternates, which replace the team’s scarlet with black in all areas of the uniform.

The look includes both a home and away jersey, both pairable with a black pant set containing a Silver Sky stripe, and topped by a Silver Sky helmet with black facemask and tapered stripe. The Showboats will also use their secondary in this alternate look, with a black and white version added to the alternate helmet. While for some this may be a case of BFBS (Black for Black’s Sake) but fans of the look point out that the color has been a part of the Memphis palette since the beginning, when the 1984 red jerseys used black outlines on the numbers and striping. Love them or hate them, the alternates are certainly a departure from the teams’s primary look, and while many fans may jump on the new primaries (available for sale in the next month) we expect both the retro throwbacks and the “Night Boat” alternates will have their share of fans as well.

The playoff clock is ticking, and as we prepare for Week 10, we see more than a few games that will have an impact on the playoff picture. We start with a Keystone Clash on Friday night, where the Stars absolutely need to prepare themselves for the division leading Maulers. A loss here would move Philadelphia 2 games under .500 and put the defending division champions up against the wall. The other Friday night game features the resurgent San Diego Thunder, hoping to get to .500 with a home win, facing the division leading Oakland Invaders, hoping to move to a dominant position at 8-2 with a win.

On Saturday we have some very intriguing matchups, starting with a clash in the SE Division as Charlotte heads to Orlando. A win by the Renegades and we could again see a cluster atop the division, but if Charlotte pulls off the road match, they would build a nice lead for themselves. Also at noon on Saturday, Arizona heads into St. Louis to face a rising star in Lamar Jackson. At 4-m, two 4-5 clubs battle in Denver, each hoping to stay in the playoff hunt and to climb to .500 with a win. It will be the Stallions and the Gold facing off with very real playoff implications on the line. We have a good night game in New Jersey, where the Generals, playing without starter Nick Foles, will take on the Houston Gamblers, hot off their overtime victory over the Breakers. In the late game, we have a division clash as Ohio goes into Chicago hoping to put away the Machine and retain sole possession of first place in the Central.

Sunday kicks off with three seeming mismatches as Atlanta hosts 1-8 Tampa Bay, Washington hosts 1-8 Jacksonville, and Michigan travels to Dallas to take on the 3-6 Roughnecks. Don’t expect to see Josh Freeman in this one as he has only been with the Dallas club for less than 48 hours. It will be Wheedon taking on that tough Michigan defense. The late games feature two division clashes, with Oklahoma traveling to Las Vegas on ABC and LA visiting Seattle on FOX. Finally, the week ends with another nasty Southern Division clash when New Orleans tries to rebound from their tough loss in Houston, but faces an insurgent Memphis squad that hopes to get right in the mix with a win at home against a longstanding rival. Should be a good week to watch some football. (Division Games in Bold)

Friday @ 6pm ET             Pittsburgh (6-3) @ Philadelphia (4-5)      NBC

Friday @ 8pm ET             Oakland (7-2) @ San Diego (4-5)                     ABC

Saturday @ 12pm ET     Charlotte (6-3) @ Orlando (5-4)                    ABC

Saturday @ 12pm ET       Arizona (7-1-1) @ St. Louis (3-6)                      FOX

Saturday @ 4pm ET         Birmingham (4-5) @ Denver (4-5)               ABC

Saturday @ 4pm ET         Baltimore (3-6) @ Portland (5-4)                       FOX

Saturday @ 7pm ET         Houston (7-2) @ New Jersey (5-3-1)            NBC

Saturday @ 9pm ET       Ohio (6-3) @ Chicago (4-5)                              ESPN/EFN

Sunday @ 12pm ET        Tampa Bay (1-8) @ Atlanta (4-5)                      ABC

Sunday @ 12pm ET       Jacksonville (1-8) @ Washington (5-4)            FOX Regional

Sunday @ 12pm ET          Michigan (5-4) @ Dallas (3-6)                         FOX Regional

Sunday @ 4pm ET           Oklahoma (5-4) @ Las Vegas (3-6)                  ABC

Sunday @ 4pm ET           Los Angeles (1-8) @ Seattle (3-6)                     FOX

Sunday @ 8pm ET           New Orleans (7-2) @ Memphis (7-2)             ESPN/EFN