2021 USFL Conference Championship Recap

We have our Summer Bowl, a matchup of top seeds as both the Tampa Bay Bandits and Seattle Dragons defend their home turf in the Conference Title Games and advance to Santa Clara and Summer Bowl 2021. The two did it in very different ways, with the Bandits putting up 48 unanswered points to throttle the Orlando Renegades, while Seattle pulled out a war of field position in overtime to knock off a very tough Denver team. We will recap how both teams punched their tickets to the title game, give you a comprehensive preview of the USFL’s 39^th championship game, and explore the ways both teams can claim a title this week. But we start it all off, realizing we are only 9 days from the opening of USFL Free Agency. Our big story is a preview of who we see being the big fish in the pool, and the players looking for the biggest paydays. We start there, then back to the field, with some news on coaching searches and player decisions as well. There is a lot to do, so let’ s get right to it.

USFL Free Agent Pool is a Deep One in ’21

No doubt that the free agent ranks this year are both deep and fraught with dangers. Lots of players with proven talent, but questions as well. Lots of opportunity, but a short window before the NFL comes calling, and we expect that after last year’s Covid-impacted schedule and the removal of one of the two traditional transfer windows, the NFL will be looking to raid the USFL talent pool as much as possible this September.

We have divided our Top 25 Free Agents list into two categories, based largely on Athlon’s player impact ratings. Players who received a 91 or higher are our Golden Prospects, while those between 84-90 are our Silver Prospects. Twenty-five names in total, many of them very familiar to even casual fans. But just where they go, that is the mystery right now and the fun that starts in only a week and change. So, without further delay, here is our list of the top 25 free agents in the pool for the USFL for the next 2.5 weeks before the NFL can start fishing.

RATED GOLD (91 or Above)—11 Players

WR Odell Beckham Jr. (NJ)

In a pool that lacks premier talent at the QB or HB position, OBJ is without doubt the most tantalizing skills player available. Tired of what he sees as a restrictive passing game in New Jersey, Beckham is looking for two things, a wide-open attack that will allow him to maximize his talents, and a real shot at a title.

WR Victor Cruz (ARZ)

At 35, Cruz has a lot of miles on his odometer, but he also has results that are undeniable. His 2021 numbers include 68 receptions, 1,230 yards, and 9 touchdowns. He won’t be your guy 5 years down the road, but a 2-year deal may produce some immediate upgrade for many teams at the position.

OT Levi Brown (TBY)

With one more game to play, and a chance at a 2^nd title, it is not guaranteed that Brown will enter the free agent market, but at 35, if he wants one last payday, and likely a very big one at that, he may well need to enter the waters and see who wants a short-term, high impact left tackle to protect their QB. Expect a deal that makes Brown the highest paid tackle for a year or two if this does happen.

OT D. J. Fluker (OAK)

If you cannot afford Brown, or if you want someone who may have more than a couple of years in the tank, going after Oakland’s D. J. Fluker makes a lot of sense. He is an elite run blocker and can hold up as a left tackle or dominate on the right side.

C Mike Pouncey (CHA)

Perhaps the best player on the worst team in the league, Pouncey is at the top of his game just as the team hits rock bottom. At 34, Pouncey wants a chance for a ring more than a huge payday, but he is likely to get both if he makes a good choice of what should be a long line of suitors.

C Greg Mancz (NOR)

Another very solid option at the pivot. There are many who believe Mancz is just holding out for the Breakers to make him a deal he cannot refuse, but that means that if another team can prove their interest in Mancz with a bigger deal, they may just be able to land him.

SS Budda Baker (HOU)

We think Houston dropped the ball on this one. Yes, they had a lot of talent to resign, but we cannot believe that the one player they felt they could let go is perhaps the best center fielder in the game. With speed, hands, and a killer instinct, Baker is an ideal strong safety for any team that wants to deliver hits that send a message.

CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie (LA)

The best corner available, but also a 35-year-old corner. So, do you think you’re are a year away from a title but just need this one piece? Because we don’t see CRC being on your roster in 2024, but for 2022 he could be a difference maker.

CB Dee Milliner (ORL)

If you do want a guy who can be with you for the next 5-7 years, Milliner is your guy. Yes, he gives up the occasional big play, but he also makes many of them. A ball hawking corner who tends to jump routes, producing a feast or famine situation, but sometimes the feast is worth the occasional famine.

LB Myles Jack (SD)

A monster in the middle, Jack is fast enough to go sideline to sideline, powerful enough to stop a back in his tracks, and savvy enough to be effective in coverage and as a pass rusher. Jack sees no immediate future in San Diego after yet another 3-win season, so he is looking for a team that has more to offer both financially and on the field.

LB Clay Matthews (DAL)

Matthews was viewed as a likely retirement risk, but with no announcement yet, he will enter the free agency pool. The veteran MLB will turn 35 this offseason, so another case of a very good player in what could be his last season. Matthews can be a team captain for a new team, or he could end up a swing backup, it all depends on his motivation and his knees.

RATED SILVER (87-90 Rating)-14 players

QB Paxton Lynch (MEM)

The only QB on our list, Lynch is here because he was frustrated with what he perceived as a lack of respect from Coach Ryan in Memphis. Lynch put up a 102.3 QB Rating only 2 seasons ago, still has some wheels, and even in a down year in 2021 was above water on his TD:INT ratio and completed two thirds of his attempts. With so many teams unhappy with their QB situation, we think Lynch will get a lot of interest.

HB Devin Singletary (JAX)

The best of a pretty shallow pool of backs, Singletary is a solid receiver, can block in the shotgun, and has decent stats, averaging 3.8 YPC the past two seasons in Jacksonville. He may not be well suited to be a true bell cow back, but in a HB duo he can be effective. His best-case scenario is to be paired with a bigger back for a bit of a thunder & lightning scenario.

HB Rex Burkhead (OKL)

Is there tread left on the tires? That is the question with Burkhead, whose production saw major dips from 2019 to 2020 and again this year. Moving from Birmingham to Oklahoma really did not give him a chance this season, as is evident by his limited touches (only 22 runs and 10 receptions in 2021). If he can show well in tryouts, he could find himself with a better situation on a team looking for his varied skills.

WR Devin Funchess (MEM)

Funchess had a breakout season in 2020 as a sophomore, catching 102 passes for 1,547 yards and 10 TDs. Much was expected of him this year, but Memphis’s entire offense regressed, and now Funchess is looking like a one-year wonder. Not ideal for a player hitting free agency. He had 700 fewer yards, 30 fewer catches and only 1 TD in 2021, but we think that there is a team out there confident they can get the 2020 version of Funchess at a 2021 price.

WR Michael Floyd (CHI)

At 31, Floyd is certainly not the oldest receiver in the pool, but with 13 grinding years in Chicago under his belt, he may have the most mileage. The good news is that even with lower numbers this past year than in 2020, his gameday impact was still solid. He blocks well, is a quality route runner, but lacks the break away speed of his youth. Still, veteran possession receivers are certainly worth a look.

T Gabe Carimi (MGN)

An 11-year vet who turns 34, Carimi is likely going to get a lot of 1 and 2 year offers. When you realize that over the past 5 seasons, he has given up a total of 3 sacks, maybe make the guy a 3-year front-loaded deal and get yourself a true LT for at least the next two.

G Jon Asamoah (HOU)

The Gamblers do not want to lose their All-USFL guard, but they have so many holes to plug up, as we mentioned above with Budda Baker, and with Asamoah solidly in the AARP category for an offensive lineman, we think that the big guy either retires or takes a 1-year deal to feather his nest a bit more.

G Ross Pierschbacher (LV)

You likely don’t know his name but trust us when we say that GM’s across the league are well aware of the Vipers’ right guard. He is a human bulldozer, with over 100 pancakes the past two seasons. He will give up the occasional sack (9 in the past 2 seasons) but one of the reasons Kareem Hunt surprised us with a 1,000-yard season is because Pierschbacher was clearing his path through the line.

C J. D. Walton (ORL)

Not quite at the level of Mike Pouncey, but a very solid veteran presence and pretty good at both pass protection and the run game. Walton reminds many of Frank Winters, which is not a bad comparison for anyone who wants a reliable leader on their line.

DE Robert Quinn (OHIO)

With 32 sacks in the past 3 seasons, you are going to get solid, but not superstar production from the Ohio end. Quinn had a very solid year in 2021, racking up 12 sacks to lead the Glory. At 32, he wants a payday, one Ohio seems unlikely to create. You won’t get Sweat/Campbell numbers out of Quinn, but you will get a player who can disrupt blocking schemes and find the QB often enough to be a concern.

DE Malik Jackson (PHI)

Jackson has topped 10 sacks per year every season for the Stars since 2017. He has yet to top 15, but few have, so we see Jackson as a player that will get a lot of attention. The Stars are still in the picture, but they have failed to find the right terms to have Jackson sign on the dotted line, so we think he is hoping to wait this out a bit and see if any USFL, or even NFL, teams are willing to overpay a bit.

CB Prince Amukamara (WSH)

At 34, Amukamara had himself a very good year, with a personal best 5 picks in 2021. So, does he go out on a high or does he come back and try to build on 2021? Rumors have him considering retirement after missing 5 games this year with ankle and knee issues. But, if he has a change of heart, he will be available for a team that is looking for a solid cover guy who has some ball hawking skills.

SS Baccari Rambo (ATL)

You want Budda Baker, but the price tag is too high? Man, do we have a deal for you. Rambo is a gifted safety, not quite the thumper that Baker is, but extremely effective as a center fielder, with good instincts and the speed to make plays across the field.

SS Malik Hooker (BIR)

Our final “silver” player is yet another safety. Birmingham’s Hooker is overlooked a bit because the Stallions have just not had an elite defense. He is looking at options, and for a team that needs one more piece in an otherwise solid secondary, Hooker could well fit the bill.

Those were our Top 25, but there is no shortage of others (maybe we call them “Bronze” players) who can have an impact on your team. Here is our list of the Best of the Rest:

QB: NIck Foles (NJ), Mason Rudolph (OKL) Jimmy Garoppolo (CHA),

B. J. Daniels (TBY)

HB:     Jeremy Hill (CHI), Isaiah Pead (OHI), Leonard Fournette (DEN)

TE:            Eric Ebron (BIR), Martellus Bennett (MGN)

WR:       Brian Hartline (BAL), Doug Baldwin (NE), Julian Edelman (BIR)

OL:         G Nick Allegretti (CHI), C Ethan Pocic (SAN)

DL:         DE Arthur Moats (ORL), DT Sylvester Williams (LV), DT Kawann Short (TBY)

LB:         Devon Kinnard (TBY), Calvin Pace (SEA), Reggie Ragland (BIR)

CB:        Ronald Darby (MGN), Taron Johnson (POR)

S:              Mark Barron (SD), Brandon Taylor (JAX)

ST:          K Josh Lambo (BAL), P Marquette King (CHI)

ORLANDO RENEGADES 20  TAMPA BAY BANDITS 52

The Renegades started strong but could not sustain as a solid first quarter turned into a disastrous 2^nd quarter as Tampa Bay rolled for 4 touchdown drives in the 2^nd and put up 49 unanswered points on their way to a dominating win. Orlando’s defense was simply rolled, with the Bandits racking up 526 yards of offense, 460 through the air as both Dak Prescott (14/22, 344 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int) and B. J. Daniels, on in late relief (10/14, 116 Yds) just picked apart the Orlando defense. The Bandit defense also impressed, picking off the league’s interception leader twice, sacking Wilson 4 times, and limiting Chris Carson to only 24 yards on the day. In other words, the Bandits were dominant.

It certainly did not start that way, as the game started with the best possible result for an undermanned Orlando squad. Having lost the toss, Orlando set up to return the opening kickoff, and return it they did, with Renegade returner Kevin Johnson taking the ball out of the endzone, finding a crease, flying past the 2^nd wave of defenders and embarrassing Harrison Butker with his half-hearted tackle attempt. The return went for 108 yards, a new playoff record, and had the moderate contingent of Orlando fans among the 61,205 in attendance on their feet as the game started.

But the ecstasy of that moment was the last truly positive moment the Renegade fans would have. The Bandits replied to that instant score with a 10-play drive that finished with Dalvin Cook slicing the Orlando D for six points. The excitement of the kickoff return had morphed into the realization that the Bandits were not going to be taking Orlando too lightly. To their credit, the Orlando D had a good first quarter, sacking Dak Prescott on a key 3^rd down to get the ball back on the next drive, helping to set up a Mason Crosby field goal. Four plays after the Crosby kick gave Orlando the ball back, nickel back Kyle Wooten picked off Prescott and gave Orlando a chance to add to their lead. The Renegades were not able to put up 7 and held a modest 13-7 lead over the heavily favored Bandits as the game shifted into the 2^nd quarter, when the dam gave way.

The dam, in this case, is the Orlando defense, which simply had no answers the rest of the way. It started easily enough, another long drive from the Bandits, capped by Matt Breida diving in from the 2 to give Tampa Bay a 14-13 lead. Not too bad, as long as Orlando did not make things worse. They did. After driving into Tampa Bay territory, Russell Wilson succumbed to his all-too-frequent tendency to throw the ball to the wrong-colored jerseys, serving up an easy pick for safety Hamsah Nasirildeen, who returned the ball to the Orlando 18 before being tackled.

Nasirildeen’s pick led to a second Breida TD run, this time from the 5 and the Bandits were up 21-13. Still not horrible, but a 3-and-out quickly got the Bandits the ball back, and on the very first play of the Bandit possession, Dak Prescott hit on a classic Bandit Ball deep throw. With a solid pocket around him, Prescott tossed an arcing ball to Ryan Grant, who caught the ball in stride, already 2 yards ahead of the corner. The safety took a poor angle, and Grant easily outpaced him to the endzone for a 71-yard touchdown. Now up 28-13, the Bandits were feeling their energy growing, and Orlando was beginning to panic.

The Renegade panic resulted in the second huge mistake of the day for Wilson, another poorly timed throw to the flat, easily nabbed by Jalen Ramsey as he jumped the route, returning the ball 25 yards to the endzone and expanding the Bandit lead to 35-13. As the two teams headed into the locker room for the half, you could see the resignation on the faces of the Renegades and the celebration on the faces of the Bandits. Tampa Bay had just put up 28 unanswered points in one quarter and with Orlando missing their top two receivers, the odds of them coming back were not looking very realistic.

The second half was significantly less explosive, with the Bandits expanding the lead to 42-13 with another deep ball, this time a 72-yarder to Dez Bryant, Prescott’s last throw of the game as B. J. Daniels would mop things up the rest of the way. Daniels led Tampa Bay on a long march to finish out the 3^rd and start off the 4^th, with Matt Breida scoring his 3^rd short yardage TD of the day to expand the scoring streak to 42 unanswered and the lead to 49-13. Orlando would get a late touchdown on a Daniels pick which Dee Milliner returned for the score, but it was a drop in an ocean of Bandit points. The Bandits would add a field goal after recovering a Nelson Agholor fumble, and the game would come to a merciful end at 52-20. An ugly outing for Russell Wilson and the Renegades as Tampa Bay not only punched their ticket for a return trip to the Summer Bowl but looked about as dangerous as any championship contender we have seen in a long time.

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DENVER GOLD 10  SEATTLE DRAGONS 13   OVERTIME

The Western Championship could not have been more of a polar opposite to the Bandit romp. In a game that saw both defenses play extremely well, neither team managed to gain 300 yards or rush for 100. Both struggled on third down, with Denver’s 6 of 16 slightly better than Seattle’s 3 of 15, and both teams managed a single touchdown on the day. This was a game of two equally matched teams, both intent on limiting big plays and containing the other’s main threat. For Seattle, that meant pressuring Josh Allen (6 sacks on the day) and backing that up with a complex mix of zones, man coverage, and moving superstar LB Khalil Mack all over the field to confuse and disrupt the Gold protection schemes. For Denver, it was about mixing some 46 Defense concepts into their more traditional 4-3 alignment, sending run blitzers to cut off cutback lanes for the league’s leading rusher, Knowshon Moreno, and using 2-deep safeties on key 3^rd downs to keep the throws short of the line to gain. The result was a game knotted at 10-10 after regulation and an overtime tug of war that ended with the Dragons producing the win and a matchup of two very different 1 seeds in Summer Bowl 2026.

With Amari Cooper out of the game for Seattle, their passing game certainly struggled, with Brett Hundley dumping down to Kyle Rudolph 9 times, and struggling to get Kendrick Bourne involved. Hundley threw to Bourne 11 times, got 5 catches out of it, but also a key interception. Denver, for their part, saw Phillip Lindsay limited to 1.9 YPC on the day as the run game for the Gold simply did not provide Josh Allen with any cover. The overreliance on Allen led to his 6 sacks, including 2 from former Federals’ DE Chris Long, the subject of a feature article in last week’s recap.

The game was a war of attrition and a battle for field position all game long. By the half it was only 3-0 Denver as the Gold had managed a lone drive into Seattle territory, aided by a defensive holding call on a key 3^rd down. Seattle had entered Denver’s side of the field only twice, and both times they were rebuffed, failing on two key third downs as Hundley just could not find an open receiver. It was a half of football that defensive purists would love, but for the fans at Lumen Field, nearly 60,000 of them, it was a frustrating watch as time and again both teams failed to make plays when they were needed.

The second half saw a bit more action, 20 of the game’s eventual 23 points. It also saw Seattle start to make plays. This started with the opening drive of the half in which the Dragons hit on their longest pass play of the game, a 1^st down toss to Bourne that finally paid off, with the young receiver turning a 12-yard out into a 38-yard gainer thanks to a nice spin move. But even that play could not change the nature of the game, and with the offense bogged down at the Denver 19, Coach Riley had no choice but to send Jeffery Harris out for a game-tying field goal.

The two teams would trade defensive stops for the next 8 minutes before Seattle finally got a break. The break came in the form of Hundley escaping a sack attempt from Justice Cole, escaping to his right and finding Kyle Rudolph for a huge 19-yard completion on 3^rd and 8. That play motivated the Dragon offense, which marched to the red zone on 7 plays. When Cole had his revenge, taking a 2^nd and 8 from the 14 and sacking Hundley on the 20, Dragon fans could be understood for assuming this meant another field goal was imminent. But on 3^rd and 14, the Dragons surprised the Gold for the biggest play of the game.

With 3^rd and 16 from the 20, Denver prepared for Hundley to take a shot at the endzone. What they did not foresee was Gus Edwards, usually in for short yardage and his pass blocking on longer downs, getting the ball in a delayed draw play. As the Gold tried to react to the surprising call, Edwards picked up blocks from TE John Bates and pulling guard Laken Tomlinson, broke into the secondary and essentially rammed his way past safety Marqui Christian and into the endzone. The crowd erupted in cheers with the unexpected touchdown, and the Dragons had their first lead of the game.

As the game moved into the 4^th quarter, the pressure was firmly on Denver to make a play, put together a drive, and get the game back to a tie at the very least. After a pair of 3-and-outs by both teams, Denver got the ball on a Seattle punt with 12:17 in the 4^th, down 7. The punt return was a solid one, giving the gold the ball at their own 35. After yet another 1^st down run proved pointless, Coach Hufnagel knew he would need to put the game in the hands of his QB. Josh Allen would attempt 8 passes on the drive, complete 6 of them, finding 5 different receivers, and getting the ball to the Seattle 1-yard line. Only then would they give the ball back to Lindsay for the 1-yard TD plunge. On the drive, Allen completed a 14-yarder to Darnell Mooney, but every other pass was for 8 yards or fewer. But in the end, the drive did exactly what the Gold needed, it tied the score at 10 and proved that the Gold could move the ball.

The final 9 minutes of regulation saw both defenses make huge plays. The Gold stuffed Knowshon Moreno on a 3^rd and 2 run, forcing a punt. The Dragons sacked Josh Allen on a controversial call in which Allen seemed to escape the sack only to have had the Rear Judge blow the play dead when Allen was “in the grasp” of Khalil Mack. Neither team could even reach a range for their kicker to attempt a long field goal to possibly win the game. Resigned and with the ball on their own 27 with 3 seconds to play, Brett Hundley took a knee and sent the game to overtime.

The Dragons won the toss, took the ball, and almost immediately regretted it. On a 2^nd and 7 from their own 37, Hundley made his one mistake on the day, throwing a ball towards Marshall Newhouse despite his receiver being double covered. Newhouse was smothered on the play, and the ball ended up careening off his hands and his helmet, popping straight up and into the hands of Denver LB Harold Landry at the Denver 48. The Gold were fewer than 20 yards away from range for Greg Zeurlein.

The Denver kicker would get his chance, as Denver moved the ball into Seattle territory on a throw from Allen to his All-USFL receiver, Golden Tate. But just as the small pocket of Denver fans got excited, Allen took another sack, this time from Chris Long, and the Gold were stuck at the Seattle 32. Zeurlein was brought out to try the 49-yarder, but a combination of nerves and swirling wind coming off the Sound sent the ball wide, and gave Seattle another shot, with the ball on their own 39.

Seattle did not miss their opportunity. A nice Moreno run of 9 yards, his second longest on a day that saw him amass only 54 yards on the ground, set up a 2^nd and 1. Hundley used the “free down” to find Rudolph over the middle for 15, then connected with Newhouse inside Denver territory. Denver had allowed the Dragons to reach field goal range in only 3 plays, but what came next was even worse for them. On 1^st and 10, the Gold overplayed the fake to Moreno, allowing Hundley to roll to his left, where he found Kendrick Bourne on a 20-yard play that took the ball inside the 20. This would be a chip shot for Jeffery Harris. Seattle centered the ball with a dive from Edwards, and Harris came out to end the game and send Seattle down the coast to Santa Clara and Summer Bowl 2026. It took an extra 8 minutes of overtime for the Dragons to settle the game, but as Harris’s kick split the uprights no one was complaining. The Dragons were headed to the USFL Championship for the first time since their miraculous 2005 title run. It would be the league’s lead rusher, Knowshon Moreno, going up against the league’s most dynamic passing attack in the Tampa Bay Bandits with the title on the line. 

Bandits Solidly Favored to Defend Title, But Not Taking Seattle Lightly

The oddsmakers may like what they see in the Tampa Bay Bandits, making the defending 2020 champions a 7-point favorite in Summer Bowl 2021, but don’t tell that to Coach Trestman. The Bandits’ coach is quick to point out that Seattle gave his club one of their 2 defeats on the season, a 19-17 Dragon victory back in Week 12. Trestman is quick to remind the media that the Bandits were largely at full strength in that game and still could only muster 17 points against the Dragon defense.

His point is well taken. In that game, Dak Prescott threw for 408 yards but Dalvin Cook was completely contained, and for all the yardage, the Bandit offense managed only 1 touchdown until the final minutes, when they were trailing by 9 and Seattle allowed the drive as long as it took time off the clock. It was a game in which the Dragons sacked the Bandit QB six times, picked him off once, and thoroughly dominated the line of scrimmage. So, before we look at this week’s results, in which Tampa Bay romped over Orlando while Seattle was taken to overtime by the Denver Gold, and assume that the Bandits are going to cruise to back-to-back titles, we need to slow down for a minute and realize that these Dragons matched up pretty well with the Bandits only 7 weeks ago.

Dragons Hoping Cooper Can Return for Title Game

Seattle did what good teams do this past week, overcoming adversity, grinding out a tough win, and advancing. They knocked off Denver without their primary receiver able to go. Amari Cooper, who had 96 receptions, 1,205 yards, and 8 TDs for the Dragons in the regular season, was sidelined with a hamstring strain. His absence was certainly felt, with Brett Hundley largely forced to make throws within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage, unable to take the top off the Denver defense.

Both Cooper and Coach Riley are hopeful that their star wideout can return to action this week. He is being limited in practice, but has been seen running route trees and doing half-speed runs up and down the sideline. With Tampa Bay expected to use primarily man coverage, having Cooper would certainly alter the options available to the Seattle offense and provide them with at least a chance at keeping pace with Tampa’s vertical, big-play offense. Seattle is still likely to use a lot of 2-tight end formations, to work the run game with Moreno as a way to shorten the game and reduce Bandit possessions, but having the option to hit on a deep ball now and again could very much alter their gameplan and their ability to match the Bandits over 60 minutes.

Carr Makes it Official, Thanks Wrangler Fans for the Ride

In a press conference at State Farm Stadium, David Carr said his goodbyes to the Wranglers, his teammates, and the fans. The 37-year-old QB thanked Coach Tomsula, his team, and the fans for their support over a 17-year career. Carr had, of course, given the team and its fans plenty to be grateful for themselves, leading Arizona to 5 Summer Bowls (they have recently appeared in 6 but one was during Carr’s lost season). He won the USFL MVP in both 2016 and 2017, and won Playoff MVP in 2016 and 2019. He was a six-time All-USFL player and his Wranglers brought home 3 league titles over his career.

Carr steps away from football after 17 seasons in which he racked up over 4300 pass attempts, covering 40,577 yards. A big-play QB in a big-play offense, Carr averaged only a 59.6% completion rate, and yet retires with an average of 235 yards per game and an amazing TD:INT ratio of 314:93, more than 3 to 1. While we all expect his name to be called out in 2026 as a first ballot Hall of Famer, this day was about saying goodbye. Carr spoke for the gathered press, hugged Coach Tomsula, and waved as he stepped away from the podium, the Wranglers, and a stellar career as a USFL quarterback.

So, what is next for Arizona? Their 2021 backup, Brock Osweiler, is not seen as an heir to Carr’s legacy and is unlikely to step in as the 2022 starter. While there are rumors that Washington has reached out to the Wranglers to see if they would like to make a deal to return Ryan Nassib to the club, the struggles of the former Wrangler QB in D.C. may well convince Arizona to try going in a different direction. With a poor QB class expected in the draft, it seems that either trade or free agency could be the path forward for the Wranglers to find a new signal caller. With nearly $38M in cap space, Arizona is one of the most fluid teams as far as free agent funds, and could certainly take a look at the free agent QB pool, one we believe is headed by former Showboat QB Paxton Lynch, but there are certainly going to be QBs on the trading block as well, whether that is New England’s Ryan Tannehill or LA’s Kyler Murray, both rumored to be on the market. The Wranglers will have choices to be made, but, of course, the odds of finding another superstar and 3-time league champion are not exactly a lock.

Carter Surprises & Upsets General Fans with Retirement Notice

Fans of the New Jersey Generals were visibly upset (well auditorily upset) on sports radio this week after HB Delone carter announced that he too would be hanging up his helmet and retiring from the game. Carter, at age 31, had just completed the best season of his career, leading the Generals with 840 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was a major reason why New Jersey was atop the NE Division for much of the year and why they returned to the post-season. But, at age 31, and with 11 years of abuse on his body, it is certainly reasonable that the two-time General would feel that he had proven his worth in 2021 and could now step away.

Carter was drafted out of Syracuse in the 2011 Territorial Draft, spending the first 7 seasons of his career as a backup in New Jersey, solidly behind Maurice Jones-Drew for much of his early career. His best season with the Generals was in 2016, when he finally topped 100 carries, rushing for 398 yards. A free agent in 2018, Carter signed with the Ohio Glory, where he also shared carries, this time with their starter Isaiah Pead. His numbers dropped. This past offseason he returned to New Jersey, expected to back up Tony Pollard, but he outplayed the younger back and finished the season with 40 more touches, 100 more yards, and 4 more touchdowns. That strong production in 2021 had General fans feeling like their HB group was set. The team would enter 2022 with Carter and Pollard splitting carries and hopefully producing similar numbers (over 1,500 yards and 14 TDs between them).

Now, with Carter surprising many with his announcement, there is a huge question as to whether the Generals try to turn Pollard, entering his 3^rd season, into a true lead back, or if they have to add halfback to their list of offseason priorities. Some callers in recent days have demanded that New Jersey make a quick free agency move when the window opens in 9 days, with names like Isaiah Pead, Isaiah Crowell, and Devin Singletary being cited. Others feel the HB group is weak and want the Generals to consider using the draft on a player like Iowa State’s Breece Hall or Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker. Regardless of the path, it does seem like New Jersey will have to find themselves a halfback, whether as complement to Pollard or as a backup.

OBJ Wants Title Shot, Has Short List for Free Agency

We are not done with New Jersey yet. Not only is halfback now on the table, but with Odell Beckham Jr. very keen to enter the free agent pool and Nick Foles expected to do the same, the Generals are staring a complete offensive overhaul in the face. It may seem a lifetime ago, but Nick Foles was benched this year, with Teddy Bridgewater given the reins before an injury forced him out and Foles back. So, the fact that the Generals are letting Foles test the waters is not a huge surprise. What has been an issue is the insistence from their elite pass catcher, Beckham, that he wants and deserves top dollar and that the way to do that is through free agency.

Beckham started 2021 a bit slow, and was vocal about his desire to be with a winner. He did not catch his first touchdown until Week 9 of the season, and while his other numbers were consistently strong, finishing the year with over 1,300 yards, 99 receptions, and 5 TDs, his insistence that he has been undervalued and that free agency would prove this means that the Generals are unlikely to retain his services for 2022. Expect a pretty hefty bidding war for OBJ, who turns 30 this year and could still garner a 4-year contract, if not longer, for major dollars, the kind of dollars that a player of his caliber expects and usually gets.

So, going into the 2021-2022 offseason, the Generals, a playoff team this past year, could be looking at a change at QB and the need to acquire a new lead tailback and primary receiver. We feel confident that it will be Teddy Bridgewater under center when the 2022 season kicks off, but just who he will be handing the ball to, or throwing it to, well, that is a mystery right now.

Express Put Their QB Squarely on the Trading Block

We mentioned above, in our story about David Carr, that LA had put Kyler Murray out there as a possible trade option. It seems that Coach Lewis and the Express front office are just not satisfied with the numbers their 3^rd year QB has put up, or the lack of improvement from year to year. Murray finished 2021 with a career best 3,227 yards, and a vast improvement in his TD:INT ratio, moving from 19:18 in 2020 to 19:8 in 2021. The problem, of course, is that the improvement there did not lead to improvement on the scoreboard.

The Express fell from 11-5 in 2020 to 7-8-1 in 2021, and in pretty much everyone’s mind, the issue continued to be the lack of offensive output. LA ended the year as the 29^th team out of 30 in scoring, putting up only 16.1 points per game. Worse for Murray was that they were 28^th in passing at only 216 yards per game despite the fact that the Express had brought in some real speed demons in Hollywood Brown, Marquise Lee, and midseason acquisition Jeremy Maclin. If Murry could not create big plays with this high-octane receiver group, then the problem had to be his. And so, the Express are looking to shop Murray, who has 3 more years on his rookie deal. They don’t have a replacement in mind, as backup Matt Gutierrez not only had real bad showings this year, but recently announced his retirement, so it could be a complete overhaul if the Express do find a taker for Murray. Just how they overhaul is yet to be known, but we expect them to potentially look for a QB-for-QB deal if they can find the right combination.

We are looking at a pretty healthy Summer Bowl. Tampa Bay has upgraded center Frank Ragnow, while Seattle has moved DE DeShon Hall from questionable to probable. Of course, with John Brown out for the Dragons and Kawaan Short still doubtful for the Bandits, neither team is truly at 100%, but very few are after 18 games of USFL football.

SEA:   WR J. Brown (IR), T E. Fisher (D), DE D. Hall (P)

TBY:  DT K. Short (D), C F. Ragnow (Q)

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League Award Winners Include a Surprise Winner

The USFL Gala, held last night at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, provided plenty of glitz, plenty of entertainment, and just a few surprises. The league, as it does prior to every Summer Bowl, used the 5-star event to announce each of the league’s 5 major awards and to name the 2021 All-USFL first team. And while many of the names announced over the course of the evening were fully expected, there was at least one award that produced a true look of surprise and a couple of All-USFL team announcements that had folks a bit surprised. Here is the rundown of all the award winners from last night’s big event.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

By season’s end we all knew it would be a runoff between two stellar quarterbacks. Would it be Josh Allen’s 4,400-yard, 37-TD season, one that propelled the Gold from preseason picks near the bottom of the division to the SW Division title, or would it be Colt McCoy and his 5,236 yards and 38 TDs that won the night? Well, in the end, the pressure to recognize a full career of success for McCoy was a factor as the Houston signal caller took the trophy with 66 of the 89 votes. Allen, as you would expect, finished second, but after 5 very strong seasons, it was McCoy’s night to be recognized as the MVP.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Most expected the voters to reward Knowshon Moreno and the Seattle Dragons for their very strong year by having the Dragon halfback take the OPOTY, but we were thrown a curveball, In the closest vote of the evening, Moreno garnered 41 votes, but 48 votes went to Tampa Bay wideout Dez Bryant in an upset. Maybe it was the fact that Bryant put up huge numbers (1,547 yards, 15 TDs, and a 23.1 YPC average) despite the absence of Dak Prescott for multiple games this year. Both Moreno and Bryant had astounding years, both helped their teams wrap up the top seed in their conference, and both will be on the field in just 3 days, but on this night it was Bryant who took home the hardware.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

A three-way race developed in the DPOTY this year, with Montez Sweat and Calais Campbell essentially splitting the always-key “Sack Master” vote, allowing Khalil Mack to take the trophy with 39 votes. Sweat finished second with 28 and Campbell third with 22. Mack becomes the first linebacker to win the award since Bobby Wagner in 2018 and certainly had the merits to be a DPOTY, finishing in the top 3 on the Dragons in Tackles and sacks while leading the team with 4 interceptions. The versatile linebacker did a bit of everything, from run coverage to QB pressures, and even proved very effective in the secondary, a true Master of All Trades.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

In a result that surprised no one, Ohio’s Justin Fields walked away with the ROTY, garnering 54 of the 89 votes, with Denver’s Odafe Oweh and Washington’s Travis Etienne a distant 2^nd and 3^rd. Fields, who dazzled fans all year long, and who was without a doubt the primary factor in Ohio’s rise back to playoff position, only passed for 2,962 yards and 15 TDs, but also led the Glory in rushing with 728 yards, adding another 11 touchdowns to his total. Along the way, Fields set an all-time record for QB rushing yards in a game, absolutely embarrassing the St. Louis Skyhawks with 243 yards in a 45-point explosion against their division foe in Week 8.

COACH OF THE YEAR

In what came down to a two-man race, Philadelphia’s Dan Quinn beat Orlando’s Ron Rivera by 12 votes. Quinn likely benefited from late voting as his Stars leapfrogged the New Jersey Generals to win the NE Division on the season’s final week. Rivera produced 1 more win than Quinn, but they also improved from 8-8 to 11-5, a 3-game swing, while Quinn improved the record of the Stars from 2-14 to 10-6, an incredible 8-game improvement in a single season. Both were certainly deserving and both deserve praise for their leadership, but Quinn’s feat in Philadelphia is the one that will put pressure on every coach hired this offseason to repeat his immediate success.

ALL-USFL TEAM

Forty-four players were also introduced as the All-USFL First Team for 2021, and as always, with every player named, there is another who fans will cry was snubbed, but that is the nature of the beast. Here is the 2021 All-USFL Team, feel free to debate as you will.

QB: Colt McCoy (HOU), Josh Allen (DEN), Dak Prescott (TBY

Outlaw fans wanted to see Jalen Hurts recognized, but with the Outlaws finishing with 10 losses, that seemed unlikely even with his outstanding statistical year.

HB: Knowshon Moreno (SEA), Derek Henry (PHI), Carlos Hyde (HOU)

There may be a legitimate beef from Bandit fans as voters chose Hyde over Dalvin Cook as both were outstanding dual-threat backs, but with 7 All-USFL players, the most of any club, Bandit fans cannot be too upset.

FB: Mac Knapp (POR)

The lone Stag represented this year, Knapp cleared the way for the Portland backs and also contributed with 233 receiving yards out of the backfield.

TE: Mark Andrews (OKL), Kyle Rudolph (SEA)

So odd not to see Coby Fleener here, but both Andrews and Rudolph topped 1,000 yards, a gold standard for receiving tight ends.

WR: Dez Bryant (TBY), Golden Tate (DEN), Mike Evans (HOU), Sammy Watkins (DAL),

A.J. Green (ATL)

No debate here, though once again Aaron Dobson, the league’s reception leader, is missing, but that is the fate of the possession guy, never quite glitzy enough.

OT: Brandon Scherff (ARZ), Levi Brown (TBY), Brian Bulaga (STL)

No surprise at all seeing Scherff and Brown here. Bulaga has been a bright spot for a troubled St. Louis team.

OG: Xavier Su’a-Filo (TBY), Vlad Ducasse (CHI), Jon Asamoah (HOU)

Three absolute bulldozers in the run game and three quality defenders against looping or stunting pass rushers.

C: Steve Wisniewski (DEN), Shaq Mason (HOU)

Charlotte fans are certainly going to see that Matt Pouncey is missing, but that may well just the lingering effects of a 1-15 season, despite his obvious quality.

DE: Montez Sweat (ORL), Calais Campbell (BAL), J. J. Watt (MEM)

Will this be the last time we see Calais Campbell listed, or is the big man returning for 2022? It very likely won’t be the last time for either Sweat or Watt.

DT: Aaron Donald (PIT), Chris Jones (LA), Tyson Alualu (OAK)

Two absolute disruptors in Donald and Jones, and perhaps the best “space eater” in the game in Alualu, none of them new to this honor.

LB: Khalil Mack (SEA), Keith Rivers (LA), Devin Kennard (TBY), Alex Anzelone (JAX),

Brian Orakpo (PIT), and Tim Williams (NOR)

The DPOTY heads up a pretty scary lineup of linebackers, with the newest face in the bunch Jacksonville’s big hitter, Anzelone. Rolando McClain and Luke Kuechley are the surprising snubs here, but there are only 6 spots to give out.

CB: Patrick Peterson (DAL), Joe Haden (ARZ), Josh Norman (CHI),

Leodis McKelvin (HOU)

Peterson tied Haden with 8 picks apiece, but when 4 of those go for scores, it is no surprise that you get the most votes. The surprise here is McKelvin, who finished with only 4 picks, but that is because he had the lowest throw rate in the league. Teams just did not want to test him.

S: Derwin James (TBY), Jordan Poyer (CHI), Calvin Pryor (MEM), Lonnie Ballentine (LA)

No surprise to see James or Pryor here. Ballentine is a first timer, as is Poyer, who converted from corner to safety this year in a move folks are praising Coach Smith in Chicago for making.

ST: Harrison Butker (TBY-K), Jeff Locke (CHA)

Opposite ends of the team success spectrum, as Butker’s league leading 167 points and 36 field goals is a sign of Tampa Bay’s offensive firepower, while Locke’s 92 punts show how troubled the Charlotte attack was, though certainly his 41 punts inside the 20 and his 48.4 YPK average was the reason he got the honor, the league’s best punt average.

Vrabel Expected to “Return Home” with Bulls

It is not official yet, and cannot be as Coach Vrabel has one more relatively important game to coach for the Seattle Dragons, but the full expectation is that he will be made an offer as soon as Monday to become the next head coach of the Jacksonville Bulls. Vrabel met with Jacksonville during the Dragons’s bye week, and while the Bulls did bring in several other candidates over the past 2 weeks, it seems very obvious that they are just doing their due diligence and are hoping to announce that a team legend on the field is coming back to Duval County to hopefully turn around the fortunes of his former club. 

Vrabel spent 15 seasons occupying the middle linebacker spot, a free agent acquisition of the Bulls after three largely uneventful seasons with the then-Portland Thunder. Uneventful is not a word we would use to describe his time in Jacksonville. He retired in 2014 with 1,882 career tackles, and an amazing 12 seasons with 100 or more tackles credited to him. Of course, many of those tackles were due to the sub-par defenses that Vrabel was surrounded by in Jacksonville. In his 15 years with the club, the Bulls only reached the playoffs 5 times and finished with 10 or more losses 6 times, including his final season, an 0-16 disaster.

No one blames Vrabel, an 11-time All-USFL nominee and the 2004 DPOTY. With Vrabel developing an equally impressive resume first as a LB position coach and now as the DC for a rejuvenated Seattle defense, led by another All-USFL and DPOTY linebacker in Khalil Mack, Vrabel is seen as a players’ coach, but one who understands discipline and accountability, who will develop a system that puts players in a position to win, but which asks them to take ownership of their responsibilities. With Jacksonville coming off yet another losing season, 5-11 in 2021, Vrabel’s experience may well be just what the Bulls need.

Vance Joseph Takes DC Position with Federals

In case you were wondering what is happening with the 4 men who no longer had a USFL position after Black Monday, we have an update on one of the four for you. Vance Joseph, who took the fall for Charlotte’s 1-15 season, still has a lot of friends in the league, and a lot of respect as a defensive coach, and that reputation has already landed him a new position. Joseph will move up the coast a bit and is set to start his new position as the Defensive Coordinator for the Washington Federals. The Feds came alive in the second half of the season, with rookie HB Travis Etienne and former Seattle QB Jacoby Brissett leading the offense. The defense still had some major issues (28^th in yards allowed), so Coach Gilbride, known more for offensive schemes than defense, turned to Joseph and invited him in to help the Feds return to a winning tradition in the Northeast Division.

Joseph becomes the first of the 4 coaches released this offseason (we are not including Wade Phillips’ retirement, as you would expect.) While Winston Moss (JAX), Matt LaFleur (POR), and Dick LeBeau (SD) are not yet on anyone’s staff, we expect each to get their share of offers. For LeBeau, who has been a head coach since taking over in Michigan in 2004, it may be more likely he chooses to retire than to return to a coordinator position, while the offensive-minded LaFleur and the former DC Winston Moss are likely looking to return to the Coordinator ranks, that is unless either a USFL team in the next few months, or an NFL team starting in January, reaches out to give them a 2^nd shot at leading a franchise. Not impossible, but we think both will be up in the booth calling plays before they take the headset on the sideline.

San Diego Search Remains Hush Hush

Of all the searches underway, the one where we have heard the least is without doubt the San Diego Thunder. No known on-site interviews, no rumors or leaks. No confirmation that they are going to wait out the offseason with their GM in place and hire someone from the NFL in January. A lot of nothing, and that is very rare these days. Now, this is not to say that no one in San Diego has an opinion. Check out the message boards and listen to the local sports radio and the list of coaching candidates is quite extensive, everyone from Nick Saban to Jake Plummer gets named. One message board poster had to be reminded that Lindy Infante was not an option because he passed from the mortal coil in 2015. And yet, despite all the options and all the murmuring outside of the team, there is almost nothing going on within the team or between the team and the press. It is just odd, but, sooner or later, San Diego will name someone, and we expect it will not be Nick Saban or Jake Plummer, and almost certainly someone who is still among the living.

Summer Bowl Preview

From 30 franchises in March, all hoping for a shot to play football in August, we are down to two teams. The two top seeds, representing the Eastern & Western Conferences, ready to battle it out for the John Bassett Trophy and the title of Kings of the Spring. The Summer Bowl is only days away, so here is your primer, your guide to the two clubs, the Seattle Dragons, champions of the Pacific Division and the Western Conference; and the Tampa Bay Bandits, defending champions and 2021 champions of both the Southeastern Division and the Eastern Conference. Will the Bandits land their 5^th title, joining Houston in the exclusive 5-Rings Club and matching the 2002-03 Ohio Glory as the only teams to ever repeat as champions in the league’s 39 year history? Or will it be the Seattle Dragons claiming their 2^nd title and bringing the John Bassett Trophy back to the Pacific Northwest for the first time since 2005? Let’s look at how both teams got here, what they do well, and how they can win this one. Then we will, with all humility, make our pick.

How Seattle Got Here & What They Do Well

The Dragons represent the Western Conference having racked up an 13-3 record despite losing their first two games of the year. After an 0-2 start, Seattle rattled off 10 straight wins before dropping a 28-21 decision in Los Angeles. They rebounded with 3 straight wins to finish the season atop the Pacific Division, earning the 1-seed and a bye. Two weeks later they took on the Arizona Wranglers and absolutely deconstructed a very veteran team to the tune of 42-16. Things were quite a bit tougher in the Western Conference Title Game as the Denver Gold took Seattle to overtime, but in the extra period the Dragons held off Denver and put up a game-winning field goal to earn their spot in the USFL title game, Summer Bowl 2021.

So, what does Seattle do well? Quite a bit actually. On offense, Seattle had the 2^nd rated run game, but also boasted the league’s leading rusher in Knowshon Moreno. Averaging 111.4 YPG, Seattle was able to control the clock and the possession in most of their games. When they did give up the ball, their defense was among the best in the league in getting the ball back, producing 33 takeaways and a +16 turnover margin. The defense also proved to be one of the toughest to score against, allowing only 15.4 points per game and limiting teams to barely 72 yards per game on the ground. So, a team that likes to run the ball, control the clock, produce takeaways, and keep the score low.

How Tampa Bay Got Here & What They Do Well

The Bandits wasted no time asserting that the Champions were not suffering from a title hangover, coming out of the gates with a 47-point show against Jacksonville and racing to a 7-0 start that included wins over Orlando, Oakland, and Atlanta. They suffered a surprising 30-16 defeat at home to New Jersey, but came right back with yet another big win over in-state punching bag Jacksonville, this time a 43-6 “angry game”. They would lose only their second game of the year to their Summer Bowl opponent, traveling out to Seattle and suffering a tough 19-17 defeat. After that game, however, the Bandits have looked unstoppable, winning 5 in a row, and scoring 34 or more points in each game, including a whopping 44-3 win over Atlanta in the season finale, a game in which many of the team’s stars were sidelined to avoid injury.

In the postseason they used their bye to prepare for a rematch against the New Jersey Generals. This time there was no trap, no upset, with Tampa Bay holding off New Jersey 24-23, their closest game in nearly 2 months. They followed that up with another display of domination, taking out division and in-state rival Orlando with a humiliating 52-20 annihilation of the Renegades.

No real surprises in examining what the Bandits do well. They move the ball, they put points on the board, and they make more big plays than anyone. Tampa Bay finished the season with the league’s best scoring offense, averaging over 33 points per game. They throw the ball better than almost anyone, over 300 yards a game, but they are not one dimensional on offense, rushing for 102.2 yards per game, 6^th best in the league. On defense they are better than last year’s title team, finishing 4^th in points allowed (15.7) and were top 10 in yards, passing, and rushing. In other words, they tend to win and win big, putting nearly 18 points between themselves and their opponents.

Keys to the Game: Seattle

Seattle will try to do what they did at home against Tampa Bay in Week 12. In that game, the Dragons held the ball for over 33 minutes, mixed the run and the pass effectively, and pressured Dak Prescott, producing 6 sacks on the day. Expect to see Khalil Mack moved all over the front 7, pressuring at times, dropping back at others, and working in concert with DE Chris Long to disrupt and confuse the Bandit line. On offense, expect a heavy dose of Knowshon Moreno early, in hopes of forcing Tampa Bay to creep their safeties up so that Amari Cooper, who is expected to play, can get past the deep defender.

Keys to the Game: Tampa Bay

The Bandits will play it very differently, likely mixing in only enough run plays to keep Seattle’s pass rush honest, though, if he can find some seams, Dalvin Cook could be a game-changer in this one. If Tampa Bay finds success on the ground, it makes it that much harder for the Dragons to overload the passing game. Expect Dak Prescott to take his shots, after all, he is an outstanding deep ball passer and he has two receivers who can get deep in a hurry, Dez Bryant and Ryan Grant. On defense we think Tampa will try to pressure with only 4, leaving the LBs available should Seattle try to use draws and delays to free up Moreno. They will count on Jalen Ramsey to blanket Cooper and keep their safeties in the middle of the field in hopes of neutralizing Seattle’s other big weapon, TE Kyle Rudolph.

Our Pick

This feels very much like a game that will be defined by the Over-Under. If this game is in the high teens or low 20’s that almost certainly means that Seattle has again frustrated Prescott and the high flying Bandit deep game. If the game creeps into the 30’s, that may mean that the Bandits have found their offensive groove and Seattle may well struggle to keep pace. We are going to split the difference, hoping for a close but entertaining game, and say that the game stays close throughout, but with a score that keeps creeping higher until the Bandits put the game away late and reach that 30-point threshold. We are going with the Bandits to repeat, with a final score of 31-27.