2022 USFL Week 3 Recap: Glory & Gamblers Get Big Wins
- USFL LIVES
- 1 day ago
- 26 min read
A lot to discuss this week, including a devastating injury for the Atlanta Fire, a huge win for the Ohio Glory, and some interesting developments coming out of Canton just as the Review Committee reveals the Class of 2022 semi-finalists. We will give you all the action from a very busy and very interesting Week 3, talk about the future for the Fire, as well as the Maulers, both of whom are staring down some real uncertainty at the QB position, and take a look at the Week 4 slate, along with our next 3 “40 for 40” players, but first, we turn to the Hall of Fame, and some announced changes during this, the 40th season of USFL football.
Hall of Fame to “Make Amends” With Changes to USFL Legacy Committee Role
It has been a busy week for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Two days ago they announced the class of semi-finalists for the enshrinement class of 2022, and yesterday they announced 2 new additions to the selection process, one permanent and one a special addition just for the 40th season of the league.
The two new additions include a new category, similar to the Legacy nomination. In addition to a pool of up to 5 former players who are nominated through the standard eligibility process, the USFL has had a Legacy category where players whose career ended no less than 15 years prior can be reconsidered. It is through this process that early stars of the league, names like QB Doug Williams, WR Louis Lipps, and DE Phil Hansen were recognized long after their standard eligibility had run out. The new category, which will require a 3rd selection committee to determine, will be a “Contributor” nomination. This category will be limited to members of the USFL family who are not part of the normal categories of former players and retired coaches.
The Contributors can be broadcasters, player personnel staff, owners, commissioners, and other off-the-field personnel who have helped the USFL grow and prosper. General expectation is that this will be used primarily to celebrate longstanding and influential owners who have not been recognized in the past. At present, only former Bandits owner and league founder John Bassett has been enshrined (posthumously) without having played or coached in the league. The Contributor can certainly be used to bring more of the league founders, shapers, movers and shakers into the hall. We also would not be shocked to see broadcasting legends like Keith Jackson or Lee Corso (eligible as a coach but unlikely to be recognized as such) make the Hall with this new option.
The second addition for 2022 is limited to this year and the 40th Season celebration. Members of the Hall, recognizing that there were several positions that were either underrepresented in past enshrinement classes or simply not present at all. And so, the Legacy Committee this year will be nominating two players, rather than one, and are committed to focusing on the three positions which have the lowest representation in the league, which means center, guard, and the punter positions will be the focus this year. There are currently no USFL punters in the Hall of Fame (and only 1 from the NFL, Ray Guy). There are 2 centers (Jeff Saturday and Mike Baab) and 1 guard (Gary Zimmerman) currently enshrined, which seems criminal when you consider that there are 9 offensive tackles, not to mention 20 quarterbacks, 20 halfbacks, 20 linebackers and a whopping 28 wide receivers. So, along with the 10 players named as semifinalists for this year’s class, expect to see at least one lineman, perhaps two, and quite possibly a punter.
So, who are the 10 players in the class of 2022, we figured we should provide that tidbit to you as well. The Class of 2022 will include 5 of these ten, and the group is split evenly between 1st year candidates and returning nominees. Among the first year candidates, we see only one slam-dunk finalist, wide receiver Chad Johnson, who played 16 seasons in the league, racking up over 21,000 yards, 157 touchdowns, and 3 championship rings (2 with Ohio and his 3rd with the 2009 Boston Cannons).
Outside of Johnson, the class seems a bit weaker, which may give us a rare year when we see more than 1 or 2 repeat nominees make the cut. The four other first year candidates are former Chicago halfback Michael Turner, Baltimore strong safety Adam Archuleta, former Invader and Stag DT Jason Fisk and center Austin King, who played for 3 different USFL clubs in his career. Turner, who played 10 seasons in the USFL finished his career in the NFL, which may reduce his viability. Archuleta, King, and Fisk all competed in the USFL their entire careers.
The returning candidates have some strong credentials and may well have a leg up this year. Within this group we have former Michigan center Jeff Faine. If the committee wants to recognize more inside linemen, Faine is certainly a good place to start, with nearly 200 starts, over 700 pancakes, and only 18 sacks given up in a 14-year career. The second returning nominee struggled to get recognized behind Steve Smith last year, Hines Ward in 2020 and a very strong 2019 class. Donald Driver, a 13-year veteran with over 14,000 yards and 88 touchdowns now has to compete with Chad Johnson in his final year of standard eligibility. And if you really want to talk about competition within a nominee group, how about having 3 defensive ends all in the returning nominee class. You have Seattle’s John Abraham, who had 160 sacks for the Dragons over 13 seasons. You have Reynaldo Wynn, who played for both the Generals and Outlaws, racking up 137 sacks and 5 All-USFL nominations, and you have Justin Smith, who retired with 200 sacks after a career that saw him play for LA, Texas, and Oakland.
Honestly, if we were laying odds, we would have Chad Johnson at 1-to-1, Jeff Faine looking good, and then it is a pure dogfight for the 3 remaining spots. Will one of the three Des get the nod, or will they cancel each other out and make room for someone like Archuleta, King, or the sentimental pick, Driver. But, we will have to wait and see, with the finalists expected to be named in about 10 weeks.
HOUSTON GAMBLERS 32 NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 29
It was a showdown in the Big Easy, with the Houston Gamblers coming into town at 2-1 and the Breakers sitting at 3-0, a classic Southern Division game that had a bit of everything, Part shootout, part smashmouth, and 100% classic. It was a game made for the big name players, and those players came out strong, with Carlos Hyde racking up a season-best 127 yards rushing, both Geno Smith and Colt McCoy throwing for over 300 yards apiece, Justin Jefferson making some huge catches on his way to 140 yards on the day, while Ezekiel Ansah racked up 2 sacks to move into the Top 5 in the league.
It was a game certainly not lacking for action, with each quarter producing 3 different scoring plays as the lead changed 7 times over the course of 60 minutes and the two teams combined to produce 33 first downs and 875 combined yards. Despite all this, the game started off with defense, with Houston forcing a punt after only 5 plays for the Breakers, followed by New Orleans shutting down Houston just inside the 20, forcing a field goal that both teams knew would not be enough.
Following the Houston scoring drive, New Orleans immediately responded with one of their own, and only needed 4 plays to do it. The Breakers’ first play was a 35-yard strike from Geno Smith to TE Coby Fleener. Two plays later Smith found another open receiver, this time it was Justin Jefferson for a 29-yard TD strike on a perfect corner route. Four plays, 71 seconds and the Breakers produced the 1st true lead change of the game.
Their 7 points would hold through the end of the 1st quarter, but not their 4-point lead as Houston finished up the quarter with a second field goal from Younghoe Kim, this time from 44 yards out. The Gambler defense then came up big, forcing a 3-and-out by batting down a pass at the line on 3rd and 8. Houston got the ball back, and in only 5 plays had their own TD strike, with Hyde helping to move the ball into Breaker territory, drawing in the safeties, which, in turn, allowed Gerald Everett to show he too could get behind the coverage, hauling in Colt McCoy’s first TD of the day, a 45-yard catch and run that again flipped the score, with Houston taking a 13-7 lead after only 3 minutes of the 2nd quarter.
Houston again played well on defense, setting up another short field and helping Houston expand the lead with Younghoe Kim’s 3rd field goal on the day. With 3:24 on the clock, Houston stretched the lead to 9 with the kick, leading 16-7, but New Orleans still had time, and they made use of it. On a nicely designed 2-minute drill, New Orleans used a pair of DeMarco Murray delayed runs and some outside throws to Jefferson and Olamide Zaccheaous to get the ball into Houston territory. After a debatable defensive holding call gave New Orleans a new first down inside the 20, Geno Smith hit on his 2nd of what would be 4 TDs on the day, finding fullback Curtis Nelson in the flat. The big man rumbled past the overmanned corner and into the endzone, cutting Houston’s halftime lead to 16-14.
Coming out of the half, it was New Orleans’s defense that set the initial tone, sacking Colt McCoy three times in the quarter, including a third down play that ended their opening drive. Following the sack, this one from veteran Cameron Jordan, New Orleans got the punt and returned it to their own 44. From their it was Smith to Jordy Nelson on 2nd and 7, hitting on a deep sideline throw that went 53 yards to paydirt, Nelson’s only catch on the day, but also his 3rd TD on the season. The score again flipped the lead, with the Breakers pulling to a 21-16 advantage.
Houston would struggle to reach the endzone in the quarter, but with two more Koo field goals they again took the lead back, taking a 22-21 lead into the final period. Koo already had 5 field goals on the day, but his 6th would be the biggest. Down only 1 point, New Orleans again went to the air. Smith connected with Justin Jefferson for 31 yards on the opening possession of the final period, and then found Fleener for 18 more, before hitting Dawson Knox, covered by an overmatched Kamalei Correa, for yet another go-ahead score. The Breakers opted to go for two and got the points when Smith found Fleener for the conversion. The 8-point play gave New Orleans a 7-point advantage, 29-22.
That touchdown lead would last nearly the entire quarter, from the 11:03 point until there was 1:39 on the clock, but with a mix of slashing runs from Hyde and a couple of key third down pickups, Houston had worked their way deep into Breaker territory before Colt McCoy turned to Carlos Hyde as a receiver. A quick screen worked just as planned, with Hyde picking up blockers on his path to a 19-yard TD that evened the score at 29 with just 1:39 to play.
After DeMarco Murray failed to gain more than 3 yards total on first and second down runs for New Orleans, the Breakers opted to try to pick up the key first down through the air, but FS Jessie Bates was ready for the throw to Nelson, batting the ball down and forcing New Orleans to punt the ball back to the Gamblers. Houston took the punt, returning the ball to their own 33 with just under 50 seconds to play. They opted to use quick passes to the sideline to move the ball down the field, picking up 2 first downs before using their final timeout with the ball on the New Orleans 31. It was on the edge of Koo’s range, but the kicker had been feeling it all game and the Gamblers did not hesitate to send him out with 13 seconds left and a 3rd and 8.
Koo was iced by the Breakers, using their last timeout to force Houston to regroup. The kicker was unphased, lining up the kick and putting it through from 48 yards out to give Houston the lead with only seconds left. A squib kick and a short return later and the game was over, with New Orleans removed from the ranks of the unbeaten and Houston now sharing the division lead with their unhappy hosts. A back and forth game that saw 6 TDs and 6 field goals had finished with the visitors stealing the win 32-29.
BALTIMORE 16 NEW JERSEY 27
Baltimore outgained New Jersey 454-220, held the ball for over 37 minutes, but also coughed the ball up twice, committed twice as many penalties, and scored only 10 points in four trips to the redzone. New Jersey, for their part, was 3 for 3 in the red zone, committed no turnovers, and turned a 10-9 halftime lead into a 27-9 comfort zone with 17 unanswered points in the 3rd and early 4th quarter in this battle of NE Division rivals. Josh Jacobs rushed for 107, but the combo of Pollard and Procise had 110 and 2 TDS (both from Pollard) to help the Generals get the division win.
POTG: General CB Aqib Talib: 4 Tck, 7 PDef, 1 Int
SEATTLE 23 MICHIGAN 7
Seattle flexed their Conference Champion muscles against a Michigan squad playing without Kirk Cousins. The Dragon defense cued on LeVeon Bell, holding him to only 60 yards while Knowshon Moreno and Wendell Smallwood combined for 168 yards and a score. Taylor Heinecke completed 22 of 36 passing, but 4 of those 14 incompletions were picked by the Dragons, helping them build up a 23-7 lead before a late garbage time touchdown avoided an embarrassing shut out for the homestanding Panthers.
POTG: Seattle CB Richard Sherman: 8 Tck, 3 PDef, 2 Int
DENVER 6 NEW ENGLAND 26
Josh Allen took a huge hit on the 2nd play from scrimmage and was ruled out for a concussion, and while Mitch Trubisky completed 17 of 27 and avoided any turnovers, the Gold fumbled the ball away twice, had only 65 yards rushing, and no answers as New England built up a 12-0 lead and then cruised to their 3rd consecutive win to open the season. C. J. Beathard got the start and was clearly better prepared than Trubisky, going 18 of 27 for 161 yards and 2 TDs in leading the Steamrollers to the win.
POTG: Steamroller DE Mario Addison: 5 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty
TAMPA BAY 21 OHIO 31
While not the closest game of the week, this was certainly the Must Watch game in Week 3. The Glory, a 4-point underdog at home, took offense, and some good halftime instruction, turning a 14-6 halftime deficit into a 10-point win with Justin Fields taking the game into his own hands (and feet). Following the break, Fields hit Terry McLaurin for a score, then ran in touchdowns from 20 and 71 yards out, the last one being a pure thing of beauty as Bandit defenders flailed, lept, and scrambled to try to catch the Ohio QB only to be left in the dust.
POTG: Ohio QB Justin Fields: 19/29, 173 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int, 11 Att, 117 Yds, 2 TD
OKLAHOMA 22 OAKLAND 19
The Invaders drop a 2nd in a row as visiting Oklahoma took a 14-0 lead early in the 2nd on a Jordan Willis fumble return TD and never looked back. Oakland pulled it to 14-12 in the 3rd, and took a 19-14 lead on a Hassan Redick pick-six in the 4th, but Jalen Hurts recovered, finding DeDe Westbrook for the game winner with 2:27 on the clock and then picking off a desperation throw from Mills to salt away the road win and improve to 2-1.
POTG: Outlaw QB Jalen Hurts: 20/30, 183 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int, 8 Att, 34 Yds
PHILADELPHIA 30 DALLAS 24
The Roughneck defense has some questions to answer after the 0-2 Stars rush for 187 yards on them. Henry had an even 100 and Marcus Lattimore added 91, thanks to a pair of 30-yard runs as Philadelphia fought back from a 24-7 deficit with 23 unanswered points in the final 18 minutes of game time. The Dallas D just wore down, giving up 123 yards in the second half, when the Stars started taking advantage and putting points on the board.
POTG: Star HB Marcus Lattimore: 7 Att, 91 Yds, 1 TD
BIRMINGHAM 6 MEMPHIS 13
Not the game we expected from these two rivals, but Coach Ryan will take the win, especially because it was largely delivered by his defense. The Showboat D held Cam Newton to exactly 0 yards on 8 rush attempts, and while they gave up 297 yards to the Stallion QB in the air, no touchdowns were put on the board by the Stallions. Memphis’s offense did not fare much better, but well enough for David Williams to put the only TD on the board, a 2-yard plunge in the 2nd quarter that proved to be the difference. Memphis got the win despite being outgained 380-175 and having the game’s only turnover. Real offensive problems for Coach Ryan, assuming he is even paying attention to that side of the ball.
POTG: Memphis DE J. J. Watt: 7 Tck, 4 TFL, 2 Sck
CHICAGO 39 JACKSONVILLE 14
We have a perfectly set up battle of 3-0 teams next week as Chicago blows past Jacksonville to set up a showdown with the Ohio Glory next week. The Chicago defense held rookie James Cook to only 15 yards on 11 carries, kept Trevor Lawrence to only 158 yards passing, and kept Chicago close to the Bulls’ side of the field all day. Sam Bradford did the rest, throwing 2 touchdowns to Chase Claypool, one more to TE Tyler Eifert and passing for 341 in total.
POTG: Machine QB Sam Bradford: 17/26, 341 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
CHARLOTTE 10 ATLANTA 9
Congratulations to 1st year coach Brian Daboll, who gets his first USFL win, first road win, and first division win, all at the same time. Charlotte stunned the Fire, who fail to get the win despite Nick Chubb going off on the Charlotte D to the tune of 175 yards. With starting QB taken from the field to a local hospital with a broken leg just before the half, Josh Rosen handed the ball off to Chubb as often as possible. Chubb averaged 8 yards per carry and yet Atlanta was held to only 9 points in the game. Charlotte’s offense struggled mightily, losing the yardage battle 417-219, but when it counted, they got the ball in range for kicker Stephen Earl, and with their hopes riding on a 55-yard attempt, Earl came through and the Monarchs got their first win of the season and the first for the new regime.
POTG: In defeat, we still have to recognize Atlanta HB Nick Chubb: 22 Att, 175 Yds
ORLANDO 21 WASHINGTON 27
Both Travis Etienne and Chris Carson ran for over 100 yards as the two slugged through a wintery mix on Sunday. The run game was the key for both teams, with Orlando racking up 112 yards, but Washington outpacing them with 171, with Etienne doing the bulk of the work, carrying the rock 22 times for 142 yards and a TD. Backup Darrynton Evans got in the mix with 8 carries, 35 yards, and 2 short yardage scores as the Federals hang on and hold off a late surge from Orlando to get their first win of the season.
POTG: Federals’ HB Travis Etienne: 22 Att, 142 Yds, 1 TD
LOS ANGELES 13 SAN ANTONIO 31
Nick Foles struggled in his first start as a member of the Express, Paul Perkins rushed for only 57 yards, and the oft-praised LA defense had trouble with a very balanced San Antonio offense that saw three different backs score, along with a TD from Joe Flacco to rookie Garrett Wilson. San Antonio dominated the first half, building up a 21-0 lead while the flaccid LA offense could only muster 3 first downs. The Express tried to mount a comeback in the 2nd half, but San Antonio kept them at arm’s length and picked up their 2nd win on the young season.
POTG: Gunslinger CB Jordan Pugh: 6 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int
PITTSBURGH 20 ST. LOUIS 23
Kenny Pickett had another solid game but another loss in relief of Andy Dalton as Pittsburgh battled to a 20-20 tie with 1:43 left to play only to watch Lamar Jackson move the Skyhawks into position for a game-winning Zane Gonzalez kick in the final seconds. Pickett threw for 293 and 2 TDs, while Jackson was held to 245 total yards (219 passing, only 26 rushing), but in the end, it was enough for the Skyhawks to get the home win and move to 2-1 on the season, dropping Pittsburgh to 0-3.
POTG: St. Louis LB Roquon Smith: 5 Tck, 1 TFL, 2 PDef, 1 Int
PORTLAND 16 SAN DIEGO 27
Don’t look now, but unheralded coaching hire Andy Becht has the Thunder at 2-1 after 3 weeks. San Diego defended their turf, with Chris Sims and Demetric Felton combining for 105 yards rushing on the day and Christian Hackenberg finding Chris Givens for a score. The Thunder were helped by a late-game injury to Portland QB Marcus Mariota, who had thrown for 289 yards. Backup A. J. McCarron could not rally the Stags, throwing 2 picks in the 4th quarter to help San Diego seal up the win.
POTG: San Diego SS Marquise Blair: 6 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR
LAS VEGAS 10 ARIZONA 27
The Vipers join Pittsburgh at 0-3 after falling to the Wranglers. Ryan Nassib again managed the game, relying on his twin backfield, with Ka’Deem Carey gaining 57 yards and Tyler Allgeier adding 32, with each adding a TD to help the Wranglers. The defense limited Matt McGloin to a 50% completion rate and only 178 yards as rumors of a QB change in Las Vegas start to grow.
POTG: Arizona WR DeMarcus Robinson: 4 Rec, 103 Yds, 1 TD
Fields Gives Kudos to His Line & His Defense in Huge Win for Ohio
Sure, the numbers that impress us from the box score of Ohio’s win over the Bandits belong to Justin Fields, but the Glory QB wants us to remember that any victory is a team effort. After his club’s surprising 10-point victory over Tampa Bay, Fields, who contributed 3 touchdowns and a combined 290 yards rushing and passing, was quick to remind us that without his line and his defense, the game could have turned out very differently.
While we appreciate the team focus and gratitude Fields showed in the post-game interviews, we cannot help but be impressed with the 2nd year quarterback’s on-field exploits. Against a pretty solid Bandit defense, Fields racked up three 3rd quarter scores, including TD runs of 20 and 71 yards. That 71-yarder was a thing to behold, with Fields outpacing the containment on the left side of the line, juking LB Preston Brown in a moment that is sure to become a meme, and then blowing past All-USFL safety Derwin James in a show of speed that may set Fields apart from some of his dual threat colleagues. It was a show of elusiveness and pure breakaway speed that is rare to see against professional defenders. So, yes, the line played an outstanding game. The defense kept Tampa Bay’s explosive offense from blowing up, but Fields put the fire in the Ohio Glory’s gameplan and we now get to see what he can do against the league’s best defense, as Ohio heads up to Chicago for a huge Sunday night game this week.
Where are Calais & Montez? The Changing Face of the Sack Leaderboard
After 13 seasons as the top dog in the world of USFL pass rushers, Calais Campbell found himself tied with his successor in Orlando as both he and Montez Sweat finished the 2021 campaign with 27 sacks apiece, sharing the title. So, where are they now? Well, both the former Renegade and the newest in a long line of quality Orlando edge rushers are sitting at 3 sacks apiece, both tied with a pretty sizeable group in 8th place in the sack standings. Do we think they will stay with the pack? No, not really. History has taught us that both of these edge rushers can rack up sacks in spurts and quickly rise up the leaderboard. But as of Week 3, we have 2 names firmly atop the rankings, one very much expected and one forcing fans to ask “Who?”.
It is no shock to anyone familiar with his work in the NFL that J. J. Watt has taken the USFL by storm, racking up 7 sacks in the first 3 games of the USFL season. That early spurt puts him 4 sacks ahead of last year’s co-champions, but he is not alone. Also sitting pretty with 7 sacks is St. Louis Skyhawk end A. J. Epenesa. The former Penn State star, drafted by St. Louis in 2020, has turned his 3rd season into a breakout campaign. Epenesa spent most of his rookie season on the bench, getting into all 16 games but starting only 2 of them, finishing that year without a single sack, causing some to question if the former Nittany Lion was a Draft Day bust.
Those questions were quickly dispelled last season, when Epenesa turned up the heat, racking up 15 sacks to lead the Skyhawks and locking up a spot as the team’s left end. This year has only seen further growth, with Epenesa already at 7 sacks, a pace that would put him over 30 for the season, something only a few have ever managed. It is a long season, of course, and even the best sack specialists tend to pair spurts with lulls over the course of the year. We fully expect teams to start game planning to manage both Epenesa and Watt, but for now, the 3rd year player and the NFL import are looking awfully impressive.
Steamrollers Only Unbeaten in the East, West a Bit More Crowded
In our season preview we mentioned that Coach Fox and the Steamrollers may finally be ready for prime time in 2022, but after 3 weeks, we don’t think anyone expected them to be all alone atop the Northeast Division and the sole unbeaten in the entire conference. With Tampa Bay’s loss to Ohio, paired with the Rollers big home win over a Kirk-Cousin-free Michigan squad, the Steamrollers are now in the catbird seat, looking down at the rest of the division and the conference.
Before they get too cocky, the Rollers need to remember that there are still 13 games left to play, that New Jersey is only 1 game back, and that they have some very tough games ahead of them. Chief among those is a road trip to San Antonio next week, a game that now looks like a battle of contenders, not a clash of recent expansion teams. After that road game, the Steamrollers will still have 6 divisional games to play, including two against New Jersey and Baltimore. It is a long season, but for Steamroller fans, it is starting off in just the right way, with their team looking very much like a potential playoff contender.
Atlanta’s Murray Lost for the Season after Breaking Both Shin Bones
Fans in Atlanta were hoping to catch a break, but the kind of break they got was not what any Fire Fanatic wanted to see. With the Fire leading rival Charlotte 9-7 early in the 3rd quarter, Murray was looking pretty solid, having gone 10 of 18 for 12 yards and, despite the lack of touchdowns, helping Atlanta rack up over 300 yards of offense in just over 1 half of play. He was helped, of course, by Nick Chubb’s big day, but overall things seemed to be going his way. That was until it all went south, and in a hurry. It was a simple enough play, a fake to Chubb, a drop back, and hopes of finding A. J. Green in single coverage on a 2nd and 6. But, what it turned out to be was a play that likely impacts the Fire’s entire season, and certainly Murray’s.
Murray made the fake to Chubb, and started to drop further back in the pocket, but never saw LB Brian Asamoah crashing inside as the tackle took on Chandler Jones. Asamoah had a clear path to Murray, laying a hit on the QB between the ribs and the shoulder, but it was not the hit that caused the issue, it was the tangle of legs between Asamoah and Murray that caused the crowd to shutter. Murray hit the ground hard, Asamoah popped up quickly, surveyed the damage and immediately called for help. Murray’s leg was bent to the side, mid-calf, as it was clear that he had broken the bones in his leg, a sight reminiscent of Joe Theismann’s career-ending sack at the hands of Lawrence Taylor. Murray was surprisingly calm on the turf, likely suffering from shock which kept the pain fully out of his mind. The medical crew came out, the cart followed, and Murray was quickly driven down the tunnel and into a waiting ambulance.
Word out of the hospital in central Atlanta was positive, the bones would be reset, the leg in traction, but the season would be over for the Atlanta signal caller, and very possibly his career as well . We don’t want to be morose, but a dual bone break, one causing the kind of displacement we witnessed this week, is not the kind of injury that a player (in body or spirit) quickly recovers from. In the short-term Atlanta will turn to NFL import Josh Rosen as their starter, but long term the Fire may need to consider the very real possibility that Aaron Murray will not return. We certainly would not blame him if he did opt to retire after recovering from the brutal injury. We don’t think anyone would.
Dalton to Miss 3rd Game for Struggling Maulers
Nowhere near the severity of Murray’s injury, the fracture in QB Andy Dalton’s foot still remains a story in Pittsburgh. Dalton has already been ruled out for Week 4’s showdown between the Maulers and the Seattle Dragons, and with the Maulers already 0-3 and facing the Western Conference Champs this week and the unbeaten Chicago Machine the week after, this season is quickly turning south for the Steel City’s spring football team. So, what will Coach Holtz and the Maulers do if by the time Dalton is ready to return the club is already 0-4 or even 0-5? Would they return Dalton to his starting position or, realizing they were already in a hole, stick with Kenny Pickett as the QB of the future? It is certainly too early to know the answer to that question, but with Dalton now expected to miss his 3rd game and the Maulers staring at two very tough games ahead of them, it won’t be long before Coach Holtz and the Maulers have to decide if they are playing for a major comeback or for the future.
The Aaron Murray injury is the most devastating for his team, though we certainly want to send out support to Reuben Foster after he was diagnosed with a skull fracture after a helmet-to-helmet hit that left him unconscious forseveral minutes. Foster is expected to make a full recovery, though there could be lingering effects which might extend his absence past the 8-12 weeks initially listed. Far less serious, but certainly an issue for Week 4 are the dual injuries to two of Portland’s offensive focal points. Both QB Marcus Mariota and HB Doug Martin could be out this week, handcuffing the Stag offense as they face a tough road game in Birmingham.
OUT
QB Aaron Murray ATL Broken Leg IR
LB Reuben Foster BIR Fractured Skull 8-12 Weeks
CB Justin Gilbert SDG Neck 4-6 Weeks
C Matt Hennessey PHI Ankle 1-2 Weeks
OT Rees Odhiambo LA Knee 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
SS Nick Cross DEN Toe
QB Marcus Mariota POR Knee
HB Doug Martin POR Concussion
OT Isaiah Wilson ATL Concussion
QUESTIONABLE
WR DeVante Parker NE Concussion
TE Gerald Everett HOU Thigh Bruise
SS Taylor Rapp SEA Migraines
WR Tajae Sharpe JAX Tendinitis
USFL In Negotiations with Google for Potential Streaming Exclusives
To the utter shock of no one, the USFL appears to be following in the footsteps of the NFL when it comes to diversifying how fans can and will watch their product. Citing the growth of streaming as a means of transmission and the ability of streaming broadcasts to reach a global audience, the USFL has begun negotiating with Google and their subsidiary streaming platform, YouTube. The goal is to add a streaming option for all USFL broadcasts, but also on the table is the possibility option is to have a select number of games available only via YouTube and its YouTube TV options. Much like the recently adjusted NFL agreement with Amazon Prime which this fall will, for the first time, provide the streaming provider with some exclusive games, without options for cable, satellite or broadcast coverage.
For many USFL fans this is another example of one league playing copycat of the other. The NFL has done it with USFL rules and partnerships, and the USFL has done the same with NFL CBA agreements, salary structures, and broadcast deals, a reality that looks to extend to streaming options as well. What does this mean for the average USFL fan? With every game of the current USFL season available on either ABC, NBC, FOX, ESPN or EFN, it means one more potential platform that fans will need if they want to be ensured of catching every possible game. In a league that has only 4 regionally broadcast games each week, unlike the NFL which continues to offer most of its games at competing timeslots, a reality softened by services like NFL Total Package, the USFL has few games that fans cannot catch through the most common broadcast and cable/satellite packages. Adding exclusive games via YouTube would mean that some fans may not be able to follow their favorite team without adding that service to their viewing options. Diversification, certainly, but also a very likely added cost for fans who don’t want to miss their favorite team even once per season.
USFL 40 Greatest Players of 40 Years: 34-32
We continue our countdown of the 40 greatest players in the USFL’s 40 seasons with three more additions, including the first current player and the first quarterback to make our rankings. As with all things, there will be some controversy, either in the order by position or the overall ranking, but, hey, that is why we make these lists, to get you talking about the players you idolized and those you feel are the best you have ever seen.
34) C Mike Pouncey (2011-Present)
We reach our 34th selection and get our first current player. Little doubt that Pouncey is the best center in the game today, but this recognition puts him among the best in the 40 years of the league. How did the Steamroller pivot get this recognition? How about 11 seasons of outstanding play in Charlotte, his former home? Perhaps it was the fact that in 169 starts he has given up 9 total sacks? Sure, the center position is not where the best passrushers focus their attention, but even with that taken into consideration, any lineman who gives up fewer than 1 sack per season must be doing something right. Pouncey has done a lot right, winning All-USFL honors 4 times and recording 689 pancakes over his 11 years, that comes out to more than 62 per year. An impressive number for a very impressive player.
33) QB Troy Aikman (1989-2001)
Another first on our list as we get our first of what we expect will be several quarterbacks. But, if Aikman, who still holds the record for the greatest season in USFL history, is only 33rd, how many signal callers are ahead of him? The season in question was 1998, a year in which Aikman did not only lead his Bandits to a league title, but one where he set two records that still stand. Aikman’s 5,675 yards in ’98 remain the highest total for any USFL quarterback, his 54 touchdowns also stand at the top of the all-time record book. So, with those records under his belt, why is Aikman way down at 33rd?
Aikman’s numbers are very solid overall; 49,507 yards, 372 touchdown passes, a career QBR of 98.6, but are they the best ever? Not over a career, and while Aikman is a 6-time All-USFL QB, and the 1998 MVP, we can think of several QBs with more titles and more MVP honors. We have 5 in mind who we think may be ahead of the former Bandit, but the intrigue will be if a 6th snuck in ahead of Touchdown Troy, and if not, who is 5th, 4th, and, most importantly, the top rated QB in USFL history? We expect many of you think Troy Aikman needs to be higher, but let’s see how the ranking pans out as we see more signal callers listed.
32) S LaRon Landry (2007-2021)
Had he not retired this offseason, LaRon Landry would be the 2nd current player on our list, but after 15 seasons, Landry felt his time had come and he said his goodbye’s this past fall. Before doing that, Landry was one of the most feared and respected safeties in the game. A 4-time All-USFL selection, able to play both safety positions, Landry was the 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year, beginning his career in Nashville, where he would spend 9 seasons, moving with the team to Las Vegas to be one of the founding Las Vegas Vipers before moving to Ohio in free agency.
Landry retired this offseason with an impressive 981 tackles, 40 sacks, 17 picks, and 99 career passes defended. He never sniffed a title but was a regular among the ratings of the best safeties in the league. Landry makes our list as the 2nd DB we have seen, but the first safety to be named.
Week Four kicks off with a pair of divisional rivalry games as Jacksonville heads down to Orlando to face the Renegades and the Arizona Wranglers make their annual trip to Dallas to face the Roughnecks. Both the Bulls and Renegades sit at 1-2, which means the winner claws back to .500 while the loser finds themselves at 1-3 after one quarter of the season. Arizona is one of the league’s 4 unbeaten teams, and they are hoping to make it a perfect first quarter of the season by finishing Week 4 at 4-0.
Saturday features two more divisional games, with Michigan traveling to St. Louis and the Beltway Brawl reignited with Washington headed to Baltimore to face the Blitz. But despite these two rivalry games many will be looking elsewhere as the 4pm slot features a battle of two 2020 expansion clubs that are both making a case that their time has come. Unbeaten New England will face 2-1 San Antonio in the new Alamodome in a game that could cement one of the two as a true contender.
Sunday is a mix of interdivisional games and division rivalries, with the headliner being the night game between Ohio and Chicago. Both are unbeaten, with the Glory having just knocked off Tampa Bay and looking to take down the Machine. Chicago has been very impressive in its 3 wins, and it is looking very much like these two teams could be the two battling for the division this year, so the game, broadcast only on the ESPN Football Network, may be the one you don’t want to miss this week, even if it means finding a sports bar on a Sunday Night.
Fri. 7pm ET Jacksonville (1-2) @ Orlando (1-2)* NBC
Fri. 7pm ET Arizona (3-0) @ Dallas (1-2) ESPN/EFN
Sat. 12pm ET Michigan (1-2) @ St. Louis (2-1) ABC
Sat. 12pm ET Washington (1-2) @ Baltmore (1-2) FOX
Sat. 4pm ET New England (3-0) @ San Antonio (2-1) ABC
Sat. 4pm ET Pittsburgh (0-3) @ Seattle (2-1) FOX
Sat. 8pm ET New Jersey (2-1) @ Denver (1-2) NBC
Sat. 8pm ET Los Angeles (2-1) @ New Orleans (2-1) ESPN/EFN
Sun 12pm ET Memphis (1-2) @ Philadelphia (1-2)* ABC
Sun 12pm ET Charlotte (1-2) @ Tampa Bay (2-1) FOX Regional
Sun 12pm ET Portland (1-2) @ Birmingham (1-2) FOX Regional
Sun 4pm ET San Diego (1-2) @ Oakland (1-2)* ABC Regional
Sun 4pm ET Las Vegas (0-3) @ Oklahoma (2-1) ABC Regional
Sun 4pm ET Atlanta (1-2) @ Houston (2-1) FOX
Sun 8pm ET Ohio (3-0) @ Chicago (3-0)* EFN
(*) = Throwback Uniforms
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