2019 USFL Week 7 Recap: Roethlisberger's Career in Question After Back Injury

A potential career-ending injury to one of the game’s most recognized stars put a damper on the excitement of Week 7. Yes, there were exciting games, and we saw the last of the unbeatens fall unexpectedly. There were upsets, close finishes, and outstanding performances, but the images that will be burned into the minds of USFL fans everywhere are those of Ben Roethlisberger being carted off the field in Baltimore in a back brace, and the doctors several hours later confirming that while he will likely regain full mobility, the QB of the Blitz may never take the field again. It is a sobering and upsetting moment in what had been a strong opening to the season for the Blitz, a reminder of just how fickle this game is, and just how brutal it can be. We will start our report with the story of Big Ben’s injury, but we will also cover all the scores and look ahead to next week as the midpoint of the season. A tough week, to be sure, but we will continue to present you all the stories of the week.

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Big Ben Goes Down to Potentially Career-Ending Back Injury

In the midst of a strong start, sitting at 4-2, and sitting atop the Northeast Division, it all seemed to be going the right way for the Blitz. Even in this week’s tough matchup against a plucky Ohio Glory squad, Baltimore had built up a 14-3 lead and looked solid on both sides of the ball, and then it happened. Ben Roethlisberger took a hit after releasing a pass, slumped to the ground, then lay down. He would not get up. The trainers came out, quickly assessed the situation and called for both a back brace and the cart. Roethlisberger had feeling in all extremities, could move his arms, but not his legs. He had taken a big hit right across the mid-back from Ohio LB Ryan Shazier, and just crumpled. 

Big Ben in happier times, showing off his ring at last year's USFL Gala.

The star QB of the Blitz for the past 16 seasons was being carted off on a back board with a neck brace. He gave a “thumbs up” to passing teammates as he rode out, but it was clear that this was not a stinger or a nerve pinch. Roethlisberger would soon be in Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of the finest in the nation, attached to one of the finest med schools out there. He would be scanned and tested, and by late Sunday the medical team reported that the QB of the Blitz had suffered fractures in two vertebrae, that while there was initial swelling which impacted his motor functions, particularly in his legs, that the diagnosis was that Roethlisberger would gain full motion in time. But this was a serious injury, the kind of injury that many players might not come back from, that could cost the 2014 MVP and 5-Time All-USFL quarterback not only the season, but potentially his future in the game.

It was a heartbreaking announcement, not just for diehard Blitz fans, but for all USFL fans. One of the biggest stars of the 2000’s might never step into a huddle again. That is the reality, and all from a legal hit, a clean hit, but a hit that nonetheless could produce a career-ending injury. Yes, Jake Locker came in and helped Baltimore earn their fifth win, and the Blitz certainly feel comfortable with Locker as their go-to now that Big Ben is headed to the IR, and to a lengthy recovery. But the spirit of the win was lost in the news that the team’s star and captain was facing a very long and trying recuperation and may well be forced to put the game behind him.

The Blitz will now start scouring the free agent lists for a 3^rd QB, but, more importantly, they will start planning for the future, a future that may well be without their future Hall of Fame quarterback. It is the kind of planning no team wants to do, and the kind of exit no player ever wants. We cannot say for certain that Roethlisberger will never play for Baltimore, but the realistic interpretation is that this midseason game against Ohio could well be his last as a professional football player, and that is just a sad realization to make in the middle of what had been such a strong bounceback season for both Roethlisberger and the Blitz.

CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 35  HOUSTON GAMBLERS 38

This is a game that USFL fans won’t soon forget, one Gambler CB Leodis McKelvin certainly won’t, and one Charlotte QB Mitch Trubisky would like to. It was a game that Trubisky and the Monarchs certainly could have won. After all, they scored 35 points against a very solid Houston defense, and their QB threw for 310 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Monarch also held Colt McCoy to only 1 TD pass, held Carlos Hyde to only 40 yards rushing and no scores, and shut out Mike Evans, who had only 1 catch on the day. So how did they lose this game?

How about a 63-yard Trubisky pick six to McKelvin? Or a second pick-six, this one for 46 yards less than 3 minutes later, also to McKelvin? Or, just for kickers, after getting a 4^th quarter TD from Nyheim Hines to post a 35-31 lead, how about a third pick-six, this time to LB Jelani Jenkins, a poor choice throwing from the shadow of their own endzone that produced a 14-yard score, the game winning score for the Gamblers. Yes, that is right, the Charlotte offense put up 35 points, held Houston’s offense to only 17 points, shutting them out in the 2^nd half, and still lost because of three second half pick sixes thrown by the most prolific interception-throwing QB of the past 3 USFL seasons.

It was exactly the kind of hyper-frustrating game that Trubisky regularly gives Monarch fans. He looked so hot at various points of the game, zipping the ball to Austin Prohl for the first of 3 TD passes, then connecting with Isaiah McKenzie on a perfect slant route, before connecting deep with HB Darwin Thompson on a wheel route, putting up 3 TDs and helping the Monarchs keep pace with the Gamblers, but those three picks, all of them returned for scores, were back-breaking.

In a first half that saw no turnovers, Charlotte and Houston seemed very evenly matched. The Gamblers got early scores from C. J. Prosise (a fun-to-watch 32-yard scamper) and JuJu Smith-Schuster, but Charlotte came right back with a TD from Hines (one of two on the day) and Trubisky’s late TD pass to Proehl. The Monarchs were right there, only 3 points down at the half, 17-14. But, just 1:46 into the 2^nd half lightning struck. Trubisky underthrew an out route to Justin Blackmon and McKelvin swept in, snagged the ball and ran it back 63 yards, easily evading a half-hearted tackle attempt from the Charlotte QB. Trubisky came out for the next drive and only 4 plays into it he threw almost an identical pass, with an identical result, another McKelvin undercut and pick six. Fans in Houston were delirious, but you could also almost feel the folks in the Carolina’s throwing their remotes at the TV in disgust. What had been a very manageable 17-14 deficit was now a 31-14 gap.

Charlotte fought back, and Trubisky seemed to regain his composure, leading Charlotte on 3 consecutive TD drives against a Houston defense that did not seem right all game. First it was the slant to McKenzie, then the beautifully designed wheel route to backup HB Darwin Thompson, and finally, with just over 7 minutes on the clock, it was Nyheim Hines from the 1, diving over the pile to put Charlotte on top for the first time all game. Trubisky had brought them all the way back, and all the fans on the East Coast had to be turning back to Trubisky. He had survived two truly bad throws and led the Monarchs not only back, but into the lead. And when Houston could do nothing on their next possession, it seemed Charlotte was in very good position to get the upset road win.

But lightning struck a third time, this time an attempt to hit TE Brandon Pettigrew over the middle on a 3^rd and 5. Trubisky never saw Jenkins lurking near Pettigrew. The linebacker jumped the route, a third undercut pick for Houston, and only 14 yards later he was celebrating in the endzone and the Charlotte QB was sitting on the sideline with a towel over his head. Trubisky would come back in to try to rally the Monarchs one more time, but he was clearly shaken. He delayed his throws, almost visibly double checking the coverage, and that led to late throws and off-target throws. Charlotte went 3-and-out in their final possession. Houston got a couple of runs from Hyde and a kneel down, and the game was over. A surprising win for a Gambler team that did not look their best, but a stunning series of mistakes by a Charlotte QB who has simply developed a penchant for putting the ball in the hands of the guys in the wrong uniform. Houston moves to 6-1 and Charlotte now slumps to a 3-3-1 record after 7 weeks, now 1.5 games behind division-leading Orlando and looking like a team that does not know how to avoid shooting themselves.

PITTSBURGH 17  PHILADELPHIA 23

The Stars win their second in a row, winning the first of back-to-back games against the Maulers, thanks in large part to their defense. In a game that saw the two starting QBs suffer 13 combined sacks (6 of Dalton, 7 of Gutierrez), the Stars won the game by forcing Pittsburgh to be one-dimensional. The Mauler run game was completely ineffective, gaining a total of only 28 yards. Derrick Henry easily bested that with 78 yards on 17 carries, including a key 4^th quarter TD that helped Philadelphia win back-to-back divisional games after an 0-5 start.

POTG: Stars LB Kirk Morrison, 3 Tck, 1 TFL, 2 Sck

LAS VEGAS 10  DENVER 30

The Gold win their 3^rd in a row, with Josh Allen putting up 295 yards and 2 scores against the division rival Vipers. The Gold defense completely shut down the Viper run game, limiting Hunt and Hardesty to a combined 35 yards total. Golden Tate had his 7^th TD in 7 games and rookie T. J. Hockenson scored on a beauty of a seam route that went for 44 yards. The game was 10-10 at the half, but Denver dominated the second half, scoring 20 unanswered to move to 4-3.

POTG: Gold QB Josh Allen: 22/30, 295 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int

OHIO 16  BALTIMORE 21

The Blitz seemed headed for a dominant win, building up a 21-3 lead early in the 3^rd, but Ohio fought back, scoring the game’s final 13 points, but falling short when a Hail Mary was swatted down in the endzone on the game’s final play. In a game that saw Ben Roethlisberger suffer what may be a season-ending injury, Jake Locker stepped in and held the Blitz offense together as Baltimore paid a heavy price but moved to 5-2 with the home victory.

POTG: Blitz FS Eric Weddle: 5 Tck, 1 Int

NEW JERSEY 24  ST. LOUIS 21

The Generals break a 3-game losing streak, earning their second win on a late Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal. New Jersey had built a 21-0 lead over the first two quarters, with 2 touchdowns from Odell Beckham Jr and a third from Muhammad Sanu, but the Skyhawks bounced back, scoring 21 unanswered to tie the score with just over 7 minutes to play. Despite losing momentum in a big way, New Jersey rallied late, with Nick Foles pulling the Generals within range for a final game-winning kick with just 28 seconds left on the clock.

POTG: General WR Odell Beckham Jr: 4 Rec, 85 Yds, 2 TD

MEMPHIS 13  OAKLAND 6

The Invaders drop their 3^rd in 4 weeks as the Showboats escape a foggy, drizzly Levi’s Stadium with a hard-fought W. The only TD of the game proved to be the game winner and it came on defense as Marcus Williams returned a Jimmy G pick 55 yards for a 3^rd quarter TD. Neither team could do much in the 4^th quarter and Memphis escaped with the win as Oakland just could not get much going in the murky, wet game.

POTG: Memphis CB Marcus Williams: 3 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD

SEATTLE 28  LOS ANGELES 13

A stunner as the Dragons surprised LA by starting Brett Hundley. The move obviously worked as Hundley 21 of 28 for 319 yards and 3 scores, igniting a Dragon offense that had been stagnant in recent weeks. Coach Riley made the move after a rough week of practice for Jacoby Brissett, and it seems Hundley was ready as he torched a solid LA defense.

POTG: Seattle QB Brett Hundley: 21/28, 319 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int

ATLANTA 10  ORLANDO 30

The Fire fizzle against a red-hot Renegade squad that has now won 5 in a row. Knile Davis scored twice, and Rashad Jennings added a third as the Orlando run game combined for 143 yards. The Renegades also continued racking up takeaways with 3 picks of DeShone Kizer. Atlanta is now the only 1-win team in the league while Orlando is sitting atop the SE Division at 5-2 after their initial 0-2 start.

POTG: Orlando LB Jonathan Bostic: 9 Tck, 1 FF

OKLAHOMA 21  TAMPA BAY 38

The Bandits are proving that offense can win games as they again outscore an opponent, putting up 21 unanswered in the 4^th quarter to pull away from the Outlaws. The Bandits got 2 rushing TDs from Dalvin Cook and added TD tosses to Dez Bryant and this week’s POTW, tight end Jordan Cameron, who had a huge game with 118 yards and a 79-yard TD. The Bandit’s D gave up 490 yards of offense to Oklahoma, including 380 from Joe Flacco, but they shut out the Outlaws in the final quarter and that got them their 4^th win of the year.

POTG: Tampa Bay TE Jordan Cameron: 4 Rec, 118 Yds, 1 TD

JACKSONVILLE 21  WASHINGTON 35

The Federals finally get their offense clicking, with Ryan Nassib throwing for 3 scores and both Anthony Allen and FB Tommy Bohanan also scoring. The defense forced 3 turnovers, giving the Feds a 3-0 takeaway advantage, and while Teddy Bridgewater did throw for 3 scores, the Bulls were simply outpaced by a Washington offense that found its groove for the first time all season.

POTG: Washington TE Rob Housler: 4 Rec, 27 Yds, 2 TD

CHICAGO 17  DALLAS 10

The Machine hold Josh Freeman to a 33% completion rate (11 of 33) and hold them to a lone field goal until the final minutes of play in a defensive clinic. On offense, the Machine got scores from Jeremy Hill and Michael Floyd and held the ball for over 36 minutes in a classic game-shortening strategy that just did not give Dallas enough possessions to come back late.

POTG: Chicago CB Josh Norman: 2 Tck, 4 PDef, 1 Int

BIRMINGHAM 9  SAN DIEGO 16

Both defenses put pressure on the QB, with both Cam Newton and Christian Ponder taking 5 sacks apiece. Both also threw costly picks as Newton was picked off in the endzone late in the 3^rd and Ponder had one picked off in his own red zone, though the defense was able to hold Birmingham to only a field goal. And that was the key in this one, San Diego’s ability to hold the Stallions to only 3 field goals instead of getting 7.

POTG: Thunder DE Jonathan Newsome: 7 Tck, 2 Sck

NEW ORLEANS 28  PORTLAND 10

Geno Smith looked comfortable in the pocket, completing 23 of 28 passing and finding 3 different receivers for scores. It was another strong game for tight ends across the league as Coby Fleener finished with 117 yards receiving and a score while rookie Dawson Knox caught 4 for 27 and also added a scoring catch to his resume. Portland, still using 3^rd QB Tony Pike as they await Kyle Lauletta’s recovery from a concussion, struggled to get much going, only gaining 217 yards in the game.

POTG: Breaker QB Geno Smith: 23/28, 277 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int

MICHIGAN 27  ARIZONA 41

Three touchdowns from David Carr and 123 yards rushing from Carey and Crowell proved too much for the Panthers’ D to contain as Arizona built up a 34-10 lead and just traded blows with the Panthers after that. LeVeon Bell again went over 100 yards, but this game was dominated by the Wrangler offense, who scored on 5 of their first 6 possessions against a very highly respected Michigan defense. Victor Cruz finished with 140 yards and a score while DeMarcus Robinson added 2 scores as Carr’s 2^nd option. Michigan drops their first game of the year, so we now have no unbeatens and no winless clubs in the league after 7 weeks.

POTG: Wrangler QB David Carr: 14/25, 256 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int

Last of the Unbeatens Falls in Arizona

Sunday night’s ESPN broadcast was the clear Game of the Week when the schedule came out, a matchup of two perennial powers and a rematch of Summer Bowl 2017. The unbeaten Michigan Panthers were headed out to the desert to face the 4-2 Wranglers, who had surprisingly dropped their last 2 games (@ Las Vegas and @ Denver), were still considered one of the league’s most dangerous teams, enhanced by the presence of Calais Campbell on their D-Line and still very capable of offensive fireworks.

That is the version of the Wranglers that Michigan encountered, not the stifled and off-rhythm squad we saw lose in Denver, but the fully engaged and highly entertaining club that had rattled off 4 impressive wins to open the season. Michigan got the best Arizona had to offer, and it proved too much for the 2017 league champions. The Wranglers put up 41 points on Michigan’s usually stout defense, and dis so with a mix of everything, from an 81-yard bomb to Victor Cruz, to a 16-play drive that saw Peyton Barber score on a bruising run from the 5. It included a pick-six from Wrangler CB Jeremy Lane, three David Carr TDs, a combined 123 yards rushing from Carey and Crowell, and 140 yards from WR Victor Cruz, including that dynamic 81-yard score.

Michigan had its moments, with leVeon Bell still on pace for a possible record-setting season with 107 yards and a 6.3 YPC average, but two costly turnovers, both Kirk Cousins picks, and too many missed opportunities left Michigan trailing for most of the game, and simply unable to keep pace with an Arizona team that had struggled on the road but was back home and enjoying some good ole’ fashioned home cooking at State Farm Stadium, home cooking with some southwest spice to it.

A Week for the Tight Ends

It is rare that we spend much time celebrating the tight end position, but if ever we were going to do it, this week was the week to do so. In one week we saw Jordan Cameron of the Bandits earn the Player of the Week for his role in the Bandits’ win over Oklahoma, we saw the combination of All-USFL mentor Coby Fleener and his protégé Dawson Knox dominate the Stags, and a flowering of the position all across the league, with big games from Atlanta’s O. J. Howard, Seattle’s Dennis Pitta, Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews, and Washington’s Rob Housler.

It was a week that proved the value of the position as Housler scored twice, including the game winner for the Federals. We saw Fleener and Knox combine for 10 receptions, 143 yards, and 2 scores, and Oklahoma’s Andrews mature into the position with 6 receptions and a beautiful one-handed grab in traffic for an Outlaw touchdown. This has been a good year for the TE position, with 7 tight ends already over 30 receptions for the year and five already over 300 yards receiving. Both Cameron and Baltimore’s C. J. Uzomah have 5 touchdowns apiece, not bad for 7 games, and we are even seeing others without much name recognition, players like San Diego’s Isaac Nauta, Tampa’s Ryan Izzo or Jacksonville’s Taysom Hill (a converted QB), with 3 touchdowns. A good year for the position, and a great week as more and more teams are using their tight ends as deadly red zone and third down options.

Williams Gets His Trade

Deciding that it was better to send former NFL receiver Terrance Williams to a new team than have negativity in their locker room, the Orlando Renegades made a deal to ship Williams off to Denver in trade for fullback Jay Ballard and a 5^th round pick. The move allows Williams to get a shot with a 3^rd USFL team after coming over from the NFL Cowboys. The receiver will fit in as a slot option for the Gold, allowing Kevin White to shift to a swing position on the outside which giving Williams consistent snaps. For Orlando the payoff is in the run game, where Ballard will step in to lead the way for the combo of Rashad Jennings and Knile Davis. Orlando also adds a mid-round pick, giving them 9 picks in next January’s draft after adding Denver’s pick to the 3^rd rounder from Denver from the Calais Campbell deal.

Bulls add former Breaker Brandon Taylor

Jacksonville looked at the trading block, but opted instead to go for one of the highest rated players still in the free agent pool, signing former New Orleans strong safety Brandon Taylor. Taylor’s arrival will essentially demote rookie C. J. Gardner-Johnson to a swing safety position behind both Taylor and FS Matt Elam. Taylor, who had hoped to cash in during the USFL-NFL Transfer Window, could not get a deal done and has sat waiting for a call since the window closed after the first week of USFL action. Gardner-Johnson got the start the first 7 weeks of the season, where he contributed 21 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. He will now back up both safety positions and potentially play some nickel coverage as well.

Murray a Game Time Decision in Atlanta

The Atlanta Fire have not been particularly competitive on offense since Aaron Murray went down to injury in Week 2. Since his injury Atlanta has gone 1-3-1 and has scored over 20 points just once, a surprising 47-41 win in DeShone Kizer’s first start. But it appears that there is a chance that Murray, listed as “questionable” in this week’s injury report, could see the field when the Fire take on Baltimore. What had been hoped to be a 2-week absence lasted 5 weeks, placing Atlanta in a tough position at 1-5-1, the worst record in the league after 7 weeks.

DeShone Kizer struggled at times, despite a strong game in his opener at Tampa Bay. After throwing for 4 TDs and 1 pick in his first start, he has since thrown 5 touchdowns and 7 picks in the 4 games since. He looked to be improving 2 weeks ago when the Fire and Monarchs fought to the season’s first tie, with Kizer throwing for 309 yards and 2 scores, but this week against Orlando it was 1 TD and 3 picks as the Fire fell by 20 points.

And so Murray, the former Georgia Bulldog, may be back this week and Atlanta fans are hoping it is not too little too late for their season. They sit a solid 3.5 games behind Orlando and have a long road ahead of them, but Murray, who had a resurgent season last year, throwing for over 3,200 yards and 23 touchdowns, could be a pivotal factor in Atlanta’s ability to compete in a very competitive SE Division.

Obviously, the story of the week was the horrible injury to one of the league’s best quarterbacks. And while that story certainly cast a pall upon the week, we have to say that for the other 27 teams in the league this was one of the least impactful weeks for injuries. There will be a few players who miss action in Week 8, but for the most part teams are looking very solid heading into the season’s midway point.

OUT

CB      Ken Webster               TBY        ACL Tear        IR

QB         Ben Roethlisberger     BAL        Back               IR

OT          Ryan Considine               WSH     Ankle              4-6 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

DT          Geno Atkins                   WSH     Hand                   

DE          Jerry Hughes               SEA        Jaw

DT          Josh Boyd                       SEA        Groin

QUESTIONABLE

DE          Montez Sweat                  ORL       Wrist

DE          Donte Fowler                   HOU     Hamstring

WR         Hakeem Nicks                 CHA      Shoulder

HB         Todd Gurley               MEM     Concussion

HB         Kerryon Johnson             BIR         Back

DT          JasonHargrave            ARZ       Hand

A Thin Pool of Free Agents Remains for USFL Squads in Need

We are nearly midway through the 2019 USFL season, well past the NFL-USFL transfer portal, and quicky coming up on the Week 10 Trade Deadline, so options for teams to replace an injured player are beginning to get thin. There are very few players who were considered 1^st or even 2^nd string options who remain available and awaiting a call. Some are on the cusp of retirement, others failed to meet expectations or are viewed as potential locker room issues, so what is a team to do? We identified only 8 players in the entire remaining free agency pool who a team in need truly should consider. These are all players who have at least 2 more years of quality play in them, or who have shown moments of quality over their careers but who, for whatever reason, did not find themselves agreeing to an offer during the long offseason.  

QB Johnny Manziel (29)

We all know the issue here. Manziel has been suspended twice in the past 2 years for alcohol abuse issues, including a DUI. He was unceremoniously let go by Dallas this offseason, and while he claims to have things under control, there is a lot of concern that at any moment Manziel’s alcohol issues, as well as his ego, could flare up and cause real issues for a team. That said, as a starter in Dallas, Manziel certainly showed he had the talent to play this game, and if a team gets desperate enough, they might pull the trigger on a deal. We don’t see Baltimore doing that, as they are more than comfortable with Jake Locker as their Plan B, but if other starters go down, we could see a move.

HB T. J. Yeldon (26)

Yeldon is not viewed as a locker room concern, but in the offseason he was asking for far too much cash to get a serious offer. The former Bama star may still be playing off his name and his college career, at least in his own head, because as a member of the Stallions for 3 seasons (and 8 games in Tampa Bay), he averaged barely 45 yards per game. Still, it is not as if the free agency pool is filled with Herschel Walker talents out there.

FB Sean Smith (32)

Smith has played 12 seasons in the USFL, though rarely as more than a part-time starter, as most fullbacks are in the new age of 1-back and spread offenses. He is a talented blocker, but his lack of receiving skills makes him somewhat one-dimensional, and at 32, he may be considered only as a short-term solution for a team that loses their FB to injury.

WR Miles Austin (32)

After 13 seasons with the Generals, Austin became a free agent, with many expecting the veteran to retire. He has not made that decision official, so he is still technically available, but we are just not sure if he has the drive to get back in football shape to help a team out.

WR Tavon Austin (26)

Austin was supposed to be a game-changing slot receiver. Quick, elusive, and with break away speed, but those talents, while providing the occasional highlight clip, never developed into dependability as a 3^rd down or red zone option. We like Austin as a punt returner, and he is adequate in kick returns as well, and if a coach can find some formations that get him open in space, he can be dangerous, but so far his asking price, and his desire to be a featured player are keeping him unemployed, though there are rumors that the CFL has come calling, to no avail so far.

C/G Brian Schwenke

The 29-year-old former Showboat and Breaker is available for a team that wants interior line help. Schwenke started every game his first two years in Memphis, but an injury left him wearing a knee brace and impacted his mobility to a degree where he has not started a game since 2014. Schwenke insists he can still be effective, but we see him as a backup even for a team who loses their starter at center or guard.

DT Terrell McClain

The only solid contributor among free agent D-Linemen, McClain is another victim of steady decline of output and of opportunity. He was a full-time starter for the Bandits for his first 3 seasons, but from 2014-2018 he started a total of only 18 games (of a possible 80), not due to injury in most cases, so the question is whether or not he can step in right away and help a line rotation. We see McClain as an option primarily for teams in a 4-3, and primarily as a swing option behind the 2 starters. Still, it is a bit of a surprise that he is not on any roster at this point.

CB Jaylen Watkins (25)

Perhaps the biggest surprise of any free agent, Watkins is a solid option who showed some real talent in both Jacksonville and Orlando. He was a full-time starter for the last 4 USFL seasons. The story on Watkins may be more about the mental game, not the physical one. He went into free agency expecting to get a big USFL deal, or maybe to jump to the NFL. We know he turned down offers from both Dallas and St. Louis, so he was not without options. Perhaps having missed a good part of the season will have softened up his position and he will take a deal to get back in the league, but so far no one seems to be asking around for him.

St. Louis Fans Protest at City Hall

We reported last week that the lead investor in the Minnesota Iron expansion bid (Twin Cities Football Group) had been seen in Las Vegas meeting with ownership of the St. Louis Skyhawks. Well, in today’s web-linked world, it did not take long for St. Louis, or should we say, St. Louisians (is that a word?) to react. No sooner had the story broken than online fan groups started to organize, and by game day against New Jersey there was a well-organized pre-game protest that had more than 8,000 Skyhawk fans outside city hall, demanding a deal be made for a stadium to save the city’s team. Add to that the signs, chants and general hostility towards ownership within The Dome this weekend, and the pressure appears to be mounting for David Steward to confirm a commitment to St. Louis and for the city to work towards a stadium deal.

Skyyhawk fans letting their voices be heard.

Now, we all know that even rabid fanbases can see their efforts fail. We have seen this in the NFL with fans of the Baltimore Colts and Cleveland Browns, and we have seen it with fans in Atlanta, Boston, Portland, and Nashville, but what could be different this time around is the use of the internet as an organizing tool, a means by which fans can enhance their numbers, their reach, and their ability to organize. It was impressive how quickly the protest this past weekend materialized, and how large the crowd got outside of City Hall. Is that enough to push a city with some pretty significant financial issues to explore stadium construction, particularly if the rumors are true that the Rams are already as good as gone, leaving only the USFL Skyhawks and a proposed MLS expansion club as potential tenants for a new facility? That could be a tough sell. Could the USFL step in to save the Skyhawks, or might there be real interest in allowing one of the 3 expansion finalists relocate the 2012 league champions and move them from one midwestern city to another?

This situation is tricky. The USFL (and any pro league) tends to be very wary of relocation or any sense that the league is not a stable prospect for fans. At the same time, stadium improvement and replacement is a constant topic of discussion among team owners, none of whom seem willing to pay the full cost of building their own facilities. League owners were impressed with many of the expansion bidding groups, so we could envision one being welcomed to the fold if there truly is an impasse in getting a new facility built. We also understand that money talks, and if St. Louis is not investing in the Skyhawks, then there could be pressure to find not only ownership, but a community that is willing to do so. The question now is whether this grassroots fan movement to save the Skyhawks has the political clout to get the ball rolling in St. Louis, or will the big money being discussed by investors and billionaire owners make the fan voice an unheard one?

Gamblers Stick to Tradition with New UA Designs

Moving away from the heady business of pro football business, and back to more lighthearted topics, the Houston Gamblers, hot off their 5^th win in a row, provided their fans with a bit of excitement as the revealed 4 new Under Armour looks, one or more of which could make an appearance in the 2019 USFL playoffs. Houston revealed new UA primaries, a throwback look sure to make fans of Kelly, Thomas, and Clarence Verdin happy, and a new alt look that takes a surprising turn on the club’s image.

The primary looks, including both a home black jersey and a road white, retain a lot from more recent Gambler designs, including the team’s ongoing use of a “Western Shirt” motif seen in the use of scrolling "embroidery” on the jersey’s chest and shoulder yoke. The font is slightly modified, the sleeve cuffs embellished, and the pant striping enhanced with a new secondary logo and a knee band in red, but for the most part this design is what we have come to know as the Gambler’s “Olde West” inspired look. We also should note that Houston has once again updated their "Lucky Star" logo, adding their fifth title as a fifth dot on the two red dice.

That is it for the new primaries, and we really don’t have to say much about the throwback look, using the same helmet shell and classic uniforms with the very familiar original 1984-1991 striping that just evokes the club’s 4-year expansion-to-title run under Coach Pardee. Having just won their 5^th title, it seems more than appropriate to celebrate the club’s early success as the most elite member of the 4-team expansion in 1984 (along with Pittsburgh, Memphis, and Jacksonville).  But, what we do need to talk about is that “Whiteout” alternate. This was unexpected.

We thought for sure we would see a red-heavy alternate, but what we get instead is perhaps the most complete “whiteout” look of any team in the league. We are talking about a white helmet shell, white facemask, white jersey, white pant set, even white socks with only a single black stripe. In fact, the uniform, rather than being red-dominant, is completely devoid of Houston’s bright red. It is a pure white with black look, stark, clean, but also almost generic in its use of black on white. It is certainly a unique look, highlighted by the all black logo, black piping, and black numbers with white and black piping.

For a club that simply does not need to worry about summer heat, playing in a domed and climate-controlled stadium, it seems an odd choice. This is not a club that needs to address 100 degree game temperatures, at least not at home, so why go all white? The answer probably lies in the success of “white out” games in the world of college football (especially up at Penn State where the look really works on a cold November game). It certainly gives Houston a very different look from many alternates seen in the league, and one that does not infringe upon the color choices of other clubs, so it can be worn against pretty much anyone. Love it or hate it, the Gamblers are doing something different. That is a bet they are wiling to make.

Midseason matchups often feel like a kickoff for a playoff push (perhaps a bit too soon) but that usually also means a lot of divisional matchups, and that is certainly the case this season as the Week 8 lineup includes 7 of 14 games being divisional clashes. We start that off strong on Friday with two rivalry matchups. It kicks off on NBC at 7pm with the surprising 5-2 Machine headed down I-70 to face the St. Louis Skyhawks. Expect another big protest before that game and a crowd that will be hot about the Minnesota rumors. The later game, this week on ABC, features the USFL’s take on the Red River rivalry, with Dallas headed up to Oklahoma. A win by the homestanding Outlaws will pull them back to .500 and have them thinking about a run towards the leaders in the division.

Saturday features three divisional matchups, all in later games, with Oakland headed to LA in what feels very much like a “must win” for the 3-4 Invaders. A loss by Oakland would put them 3 full games behind the Express. The two night games feature Orlando heading up to Charlotte in another gut check game, this time for the 3-3-1 Monarchs. We finish the evening with Las Vegas headed to Arizona for the 2^nd of two in this year’s series, and after having knocked the Wranglers from the ranks of the unbeatens, Las Vegas had better expect a fired up Wrangler squad for the rematch. But, despite all these solid games, we should also mention one more that looks like it could be a lot of fun, a battle between the Pacific Division’s San Diego Thunder and the Southwest’s Denver Gold. These are two teams chasing their division leaders and neither can really afford a loss in this game.

Sunday has only 2 divisional games, but one of them is a real slobberknocker as Michigan and Ohio clash at Ohio Stadium on Sunday Night. The Glory are a surprising 2-5 after 7 games and need to find a way to knock off the 6-1 Panthers to have any shot at a second half surge. The other divisional game is a Keystone Clash as Philadelphia, got their 2nd consecutive win by beating the Maulers last week, head into Pittsburgh for the only back-to-back series in the league this year. Other games with some “gut check” moments include 4-3 Memphis hosting the Bulls, 2-5 Washington hoping to upset the visiting Breakers, and 2-5 Portland still trying to figure out their QB situation as they head to the slumping Stallions for a game at Protective Stadium.

Friday @ 7pm ET             Chicago (5-2) @ St. Louis (3-4)                         NBC

Friday @ 9:30pm ET     Dallas (2-5) @ Oklahoma (3-4)                       ABC

Saturday @ 12pm ET     Tampa Bay (4-3) @ New Jersey (2-5)                ABC

Saturday @ 12pm ET     Atlanta (1-5-1) @ Baltimore (5-2)                      FOX

Saturday @ 4pm ET        San Diego (5-2) @ Denver (4-3)                      ABC

Saturday @ 4pm ET        Oakland (3-4) @ Los Angeles (5-2)                 FOX

Saturday @ 7pm ET         Orlando (5-2) @ Charlotte (3-3-1)                    NBC

Saturday @ 9pm ET     Las Vegas (2-5) @ Arizona (5-2)                        ESPN/EFN

Sunday @ 12pm ET         Jacksonville (2-5) @ Memphis 4-3)                  ABC Regional

Sunday @ 12pm ET      Philadelphia (2-5) @ Pittsburgh (4-3)               ABC Regional

Sunday @ 12pm ET      New Orleans (4-3) @ Washington (2-5)          FOX

Sunday @ 4pm ET           Houston (6-1) @ Seattle (2-5)                            ABC

Sunday @ 4pm ET          Portland (2-5) @ Birmingham (4-3)                   FOX

Sunday @ 8pm ET         Michigan (6-1) @ Ohio (2-5)                            ESPN/EFN