2022 USFL Week 7 Recap: Newton on MVP Run by not Running?
- USFL LIVES
- 15 hours ago
- 28 min read
With 6 teams from the Central and Southern Divisions on byes we had a 12-game schedule in Week 7, but that certainly did not diminish the level of excitement or the quality of games this week. In fact, of the 12 games on the slate, we saw 5 finish within 1 score, including a 1-point final advantage for Jacksonville over Memphis, a 4-point nail biter between Baltimore and Oklahoma, a 4-point upset win for the Portland Stags over rival Seattle, and our Game of the Week, a 6-point overtime victory for Cam Newton and the Stallions over Oakland. We will highlight Newton in our Big Story for the week, then focus on that great game between the homestanding Stallions and the Invaders. Then we will walk you through all the week’s action, look at a key injury for the Gamblers, and a trade rumor that may soon be reality. All that is right here, so let’s get started.
Newton's Case for MVP Grows Stronger
We are 7 weeks into a 17-week season, but it already seems that we have a frontrunner for the league’s MVP award, and it is hardly an unfamiliar name for USFL fans. Cam Newton, who has been in the running for MVP in the past, but has won neither the MVP or the OPOTY in his 12-year career, is making his clearest run for the title ever, currently leading the league with 1,993 yards passing and tied with Geno Smith with 17 passing touchdowns. Those two numbers, along with Newton’s 101.4 QB rating might well give him a leg up on the competition, but it is his legs which add another dimension to his MVP bid.
In addition to his league lead in passing yards and passing touchdowns, we have to consider that with 262 rushing yards and a league best (for a QB) 5 rushing TDs, Newton is well ahead of the field. Newton may be second in rushing among league quarterbacks, with 2nd year QB Justin Fields sitting at 341 yards, but the combination of rushing and passing stats, as well as Birmingham’s 5-2 record, have to make Newton the frontrunner at this point in the season. Many feel that Newton should have snagged the award last season, when his 3,041 yards and 22 touchdown passes, paired with 413 rushing yards and another 6 rushing touchdowns helped guide the Stallions to a division title and their first playoff berth since 2013. For those fans, recognition for Newton is long overdue.
Standard theories about how Newton has been looked over for either the Offensive Player of the Year or MVP awards tend to focus on the overall struggles of the Stallions as a club, with the team finishing at or under .500 every year from Newton’s rookie year in 2011 to 2020, save 1, a 9-7 campaign in 2017 that still saw them miss out on the playoffs. Without team success it is hard for a QB, even one as talented as Newton, to capture leaguewide awards. But last year, with the Stallions surprising many with an 11-5 record and a Southern Division title, there was an expectation that Newton would finally see a trophy headed his way. But, with Colt McCoy also long overdue for recognition, and with his stronger passing totals (5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns), the MVP was his to claim. As for the OPOTY award, voters wanted to recognize the outstanding play of the Tampa Bay Bandits on their way to back-to-back titles, and they did so by giving the OPOTY to WR Dez Bryant. His 1,547 yards and 15 TDs were certainly award-worthy, but for many it was a clear snub of Newton and the Stallions. The question now is whether Newton can overcome his history and finally get the recognition he deserves as one of the USFL’s biggest stars and most dangerous offensive weapons.
OAKLAND INVADERS 28 BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 34 OVERTIME
The case for Cam Newton as league MVP certainly did not take any hits this week as the Stallion QB, despite being contained to the pocket by a strategic adjustment to Oakland’s pass rush and the use of LB Ukeme Eligwe as a spy, put up MVP numbers against the invaders as a pure passer. Newton would account for all 5 Birmingham touchdowns, including the game winner in overtime, as the Stallions outlasted the Invaders in a 75 minute thriller.
Newton accomplished the victory entirely with his arm, throwing for 424 yards on a 24 of 44 passing day, rushing the ball only 10 times (6 being scrambles on passing plays). Oakland prioritized containment over pressure, and the strategy worked, limiting Newton to a total of -3 yards on the ground, but at the cost of allowing the QB time in the pocket, time that Newton used to throw 5 touchdowns and accumulate over 400 yards passing. In a game that saw both teams rack up big yardage, it was Newton’s ability to stand in the pocket, contained but not threatened, that proved to be the difference for the homestanding Stallions.
Before we even got to see how Oakland would defend Newton, the Invaders put Birmingham in a hole. After receiving the opening kick, Oakland marched the ball 75 yards in 13 plays, with both Bryce Love and Christian McCaffrey toting the ball, while Davis Mills used play action to find DaVante Adams and Austin Hooper on key connections. The drive concluded with a 3rd and goal from the 2, with Mills faking the ball to Love and finding FB Adam Prentice in the flat for the walk-in touchdown.
With Oakland up 7-0 when Newton first took the field, we quickly saw what Oakland had devised to slow down the dual threat QB. Both Vinny Curry and Michael Bennett took visibly wider routes towards Newton on the Stallions’ first few passing downs. The two hung outside, avoiding the instinct to undercut their blockers and shift inside. That created a pocket, and with LB Ukeme Eligwe hovering near the line of scrimmage but never charging, the plan was made evident. Contain Newton within the pocket, hopefully pressuring from all directions to avoid creating a clear running lane. On the opening drive we saw this 3 times, and it was largely effective, with Newton missing on a 3rd and 5 pass to force a punt.
But, when Birmingham got the ball back, the Stallions and Head Coach Todd Haley had figured out the Oakland strategy and adjusted appropriately. With pressure almost a non-factor, Newton simply had to play the part of a true pocket passer. On Birmingham’s second drive he did just that, completing 4 of 5 throws, including a 26 yard strike to Zach Ertz, and the drive’s final play, a 10-yard fade route to Henry Ruggs to even the score at 7.
Oakland would retake the lead late in the opening period, taking advantage of a pass interference call when the Stallion defender impeded Davante Adam’s ability to track to the ball on a deep comeback route. Three plays later, Christian McCaffrey sprinted off the right tackle, made a timely cutback, and raced 11 yards to paydirt to give the Invaders a 14-7 lead at the end of the quarter.
Birmingham would respond in the 2nd, the only scoring drive of the period being a 9-play Stallion drive that saw Henry Ruggs catch his 2nd touchdown on the day. The former Alabama product was getting the better of cornerback Jaylen Watkins, a trend that would continue the entire game, with Ruggs finishing with three scores, while his teammate Devonta Smith would finish as the leading receiver with 111 yards. The Newton to Ruggs TD evened the score at 14, and with both teams making some mistakes on offense, a holding call on one drive, a key 3rd down sack on another, the Ruggs TD would be the only successful drive for either team.
When the 3rd quarter started, it was clear that the containment strategy would continue, though Oakland also switched to more zone coverage to try to protect Watkins. The strategy slowed down Birmingham, but never stopped them. Their opening drive would take nearly 5 minutes, and 12 plays, but a well-conceived zone-buster play helped them retake the lead, with Newton finding TE Hunter Henry over the middle against the 2-deep zone. Henry was able to avoid a solid tackle form the safety and spin his way towards the endzone for the score, giving Birmingham a 21-14 advantage.
That advantage held into the 4th quarter, when Birmingham extended their lead on Henry Ruggs’ third TD catch. By this point Newton was well over 300 yards, and it seemed clear that the containment strategy, while helping Oakland avoid the big defensive gaff, had provided the Stallion QB with a clean pocket and plenty of time to slowly pick apart the Invader coverages. He did so on the opening drive of the 4th quarter, eventually finding Ruggs for a 3rd score, a 9-yard touchdown from a rub route that was well executed by the Stallion receiver group.
Down 14, Oakland needed some spark, and they found it in the form of a 48-yard Christian McCaffrey run. Unfortunately, that huge play came at a cost. McCaffrey was not so much tackled as he fell to the ground. Attempting a late cut to avoid the safety, McCaffrey misplanted his left foot, causing his leg to bulge outward and the player to fall to the ground. After being touched down, the training crew came out and helped the star tailback to the sideline. While it would not be until Monday morning that a full diagnosis would come in, a partial ACL tear that would cost McCaffrey no less than a month to address, what was known at the time was that Bryce Love would have to take over the HB duties for the remainder of the game. Love did just that on the ensuing set of downs, carrying the ball twice, including the 1-yard goalline plunge that would bring Oakland back to within 1 score.
With Oakland now down only 7, the Stallions needed to eat some time. They attempted to do this with runs by Najee Harris, but as Oakland had done all game, they again swarmed to the ball and limited Harris to only 2 total yards. He would finish the game with only 10 yards rushing on the day, Birmingham limited to only 21 as a team in a sad display of ineffective rushing. With the ball back in Invader hands and nearly 4 and a half minutes left, Davis Mills went about the business of tying the score. The Invader QB, who finished 21 of 29 for 209 yards, hit on 4 of 6 passes on the drive, including a very nice 3rd down toss to Michael Floyd to convert and keep the drive alive. With 3:41 left in the game, Mills found Davante Adams on an over-the-shoulder throw for a score and Oakland had pulled the game level once again.
Oakland would have over 3 and a half minutes to find a game winner. But while Oakland’s strategy of containment had allowed Newton time in the pocket, it had also largely removed the deep ball or the big “chunk” play from Birmingham’s arsenal. The Stallions slowly moved the ball down the field, but stalled out at the Oakland 22, forcing Birmingham to send out Chris Boswell for a 39-yard game winner. As a general rule, everything under 40 yards (maybe 45 in today’s game) is viewed as something of a gimme. But not on this day as Boswell’s kick sliced to the left, no good. With 47 seconds left, the game remained tied. Oakland tried a deep shot on 1st and 10 from their own 29, but after that failed, they ate the rest of the clock and set up overtime.
The added period would see both teams struggle to get into field goal range. Birmingham had the first shot but could not get beyond their own 38. Oakland took the punt, moved up to their 47, but then failed on a 3rd and 5 and were forced to punt the ball back to the Stallions. Birmingham had far better success on this, their second overtime possession, with Newton finding both Hunter Henry and HB Isaiah Pead on dump down throws that turned into key 3rd down conversions. With 2:38 on the clock, they had made it to the Oakland 29, centered the ball on a short run from Pead, and faced a 3rd and 6. With Coach Haley still stinging from Chris Boswell’s earlier miss, he sent in a dagger play, a play fake designed to lull Oakland into run support, followed by an outbreaking route from slot receiver D. J. Chark.
The play worked to perfection, with the corners getting in each other’s way as Chark crossed paths with Ruggs. The receiver had a clear 2-3 steps on his coverage man. Newton, still with a solid pocket, easily looped the ball to his receiver, and Chark high-stepped into the endzone for the game-winner, Newton’s 5th scoring toss of the game and perhaps the sweetest. With that throw, Newton had improved Birmingham’s record to 5-2, tied atop the South with the Gunslingers, but in a very good position to repeat as Division Champs. For Oakland, the strategy of containment had worked in its design, challenging Newton to win from the pocket, but the Stallion QB was up to the challenge, and the Invaders now sank to an uncomfortable 3-4 mark on the season.
LOS ANGELES 10 DENVER 35
If the Kyler Murray trade rumors are legit (see below) the trigger may be this week’s 10 of 23 performance from the LA quarterback. While Josh Allen was 19 of 24 despite facing 8 sacks on the day, Murray, who saw an equal number of QB takedowns, simply did not get the job done. LA mounted only 8 first downs on the day, only229 total yards, and with 2 picks, including a pick-six from J. C. Jackson, and a safety, Murray was not putting himself in Coach Lewis’s good graces.
POTG: Denver DE Odafe Oweh: 4 Tck, 3 Sck, 1 Sfty
CHARLOTTE 14 NEW JERSEY 26
Teddy Bridgewater went down with a foot injury only 5 plays into the game, but Connor Shaw came in and availed himself admirably, going 18 of 25 for 191 yards and a TD as the Generals pulled away from 2-5 Charlotte to earn their 4th win and rise above .500 once again. While newly-acquired HB Phillip Lindsay played well (20 carries for 73 yards), Charlotte fell behind early and Paxton Lynch was forced to put the ball up 43 times. He completed 30 but managed only 1 TD, and that was not enough as New Jersey got TDs from FB Chandler Cox, rookie HB Kyren Williams, and a Shaw to Sanu TD toss to earn the 12-point victory.
POTG: Generals’ WR Muhamed Sanu: 7 Rec, 103 Yds, 1 TD
NEW ENGLAND 16 WASHINGTON 0
A game Coach Gilbride and the Feds would love to forget. Washington only crossed the 50 twice all game long, but never even got in range to give Adam Vinatieri a shot at a field goal, getting shut out in embarrassing fashion by the upstart Steamrollers. New England forced two Brissett picks, held Travis Etienne to 2.2 YPC and 37 total yards, and slowly built up a 3-0, 6-0, 9-0 lead over the opening 3 quarters before a Tannehill to Pitta toss gave them the 2-score advantage and eventual 16-0 margin of victory.
POTG: Roller LB Cameron Smith: 7 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF
LAS VEGAS 34 PHILADELPHIA 24
Philadelphia fans showed up (41,012 strong) but were vocal in their displeasure with the team as they fell behind 10-0, rallied, then gave up 17 unanswered points to the Vipers. Even a late rally to make the game closer could not silence the boobirds in the crowd as the Stars fall to 2-5. Las Vegas, which had only 1 win coming into the game, saw Gardner Minshew go 24 of 33 for 270 yards and a pair of TDs (as well as 2 picks). Jones and Hunt combined for122 yards and a TD each, and Aaron Dobson caught 7 of 10 targets for 100 yards and a TD of his own as the Vipers win on the road for the 2nd time this season.
POTG: Viper WR Aaron Dobson: 7 Rec, 100 Yds, 1 TD
DALLAS 20 ARIZONA 28
The Wranglers become the league’s first 7-win team (Chicago was on a bye) as they knock off the Roughnecks, thanks in large part to 345 yards from QB Ryan Nassib and a defense that forced Justin Herbert out of the game early in the 3rd with a neck stinger. Underappreciated WR DeMarcus Robinson climbed into the receiving leaderboard with 7 receptions for 113 yards, though it was Brandon Aiyuk who scored Nassib’s lone TD pass. Josh Freeman tried to rally Dallas in the 4th, but a last second Hail Mary fell to the ground, preserving Arizona’s perfect record through 7 weeks.
POTG: Wrangler QB Ryan Nassib: 21/28, 345 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int
ORLANDO 14 TAMPA BAY 24
In an otherwise pretty even game, Dalvin Cook’s 103 yards helped Tampa Bay outlast their in-state rival. Cook and TE Jordan Cameron (2 TDs from Prescott) were the stars for the Bandits, with Orlando smothering Dez Bryant and Ryan Grant outside. Renegade fans are likely still steaming after an apparent 94-yard pick-six by safety D. J. Swearinger was brought back when the safety was ruled to have interfered with Dez Bryant. That call produced a 14-point swing, taking Swearinger’s score off the board and leading 2 plays later to a Prescott to Cameron TD pass that made the score 21-7 in the 3rd. From there, Tampa Bay held off Russell Wilson to improve to 5-2.
POTG: Tampa Bay HB Dalvin Cook: 21 Att, 103 Yds
JACKSONVILLE 21 MEMPHIS 20
A Memphis defense which has looked very solid in recent weeks gave way in the 4th, as Jacksonville got two late TD tosses to overcome a 20-7 deficit and stun the 44,729 at the Liberty Bowl. Trevor Lawrence, who was 7 of 20 the rest of the game, went 4 of 6 in the final 10 minutes, including a sack-defying scramble that led to an 81-yard catch and run for Tee Higgins. Seven minutes later, just at the 2-minute warning, Lawrence found Eric Ebron for a 29-yard strike, giving the Bulls the narrow lead they would retain to earn their 2nd win of the year and snap Memphis’s 4-game win streak.
POTG: Bulls’ WR Tee Higgins: 4 Rec, 182 Yds, 1 TD
ATLANTA 6 ST. LOUIS 21
In the battle of backups, Tyrod Taylor came out on top despite going 10 of 29 for the game. He got help from his defense, which held Atlanta to only 85 yards rushing and limited them to 2 long field goals on the day. Both kickers were active as Zane Gonzalez kicked 4 field goals for the Skyhawks, who also got a safety early in the game and a lone Taylor to Kyle Pitts TD in the 4th to help them seal the win and move to 5-2 on the year.
POTG: Skyhawk CB Vontae Davis: 5 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int
SAN DIEGO 31 SAN ANTONIO 13
A stunning home loss for a Gunslinger squad that had been building momentum and belief among USFL fans. San Diego gets only their 2nd win on the season as Mason Rudolph goes 20 for 26 for 318 yards and a game-defining 75-yard TD toss to HB Charles Sims. Sims, who rushed for only 21 yards in the game, accounted for 3 San Diego TDs, two short runs and his sideline sprint on a swing route that assured the W for the Thunder. This game saw some “Bad Flacco”, with the Gunslinger QB throwing 2 picks, and missing on a pair of key 3rd down throws.
POTG: San Diego HB Charles Sims: 15 Att, 21 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Rec, 75 Yds, 1 TD
BALTIMORE 27 OKLAHOMA 23
In a battle of teams trying to build some momentum, the Blitz escape Oklahoma City with the win. It did not look like it would go that way as Oklahoma got an Eddie Lacy TD run early in the 4th to take a 23-6 lead, but Jake Locker led a furious comeback which also included a horrible pick-six for Jalen Hurts, as he gave up an easy 7 points to Baltimore CB Ken Webster. Jake Locker to Christian Watson with 1:22 left proved to be the game winner, but that pick-six was the turning point for Baltimore.
POTG: Blitz CB Ken Webster: 5 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int, 1 DefTD
SEATTLE 20 PORTLAND 24
Brett Hundley was asked to throw the ball 48 times in his return from injury, and that was at least 3 too many as his 3 picks helped Portland gain short fields, with the Stags earning 14 of their 24 points off the takeaways. Knowshon Moreno was on fire, rushing for 141 yards on 23 carries, but Seattle kept shooting themselves in the foot, with the picks and with 9 offensive penalties as Seattle looked sloppy against their Cascade Clash rivals.
POTG: Portland FS Tre Flowers: 10 Tck, 1 TFL, 2 PDef, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
Is Southwest Race Over Already?
We get it. It is only Week 7, and there are 10 or more games left for each USFL team to play. All good reasons for teams in the Southwest Division to have hope. But, let’s be real. In only 7 games, the Arizona Wranglers have built up a 3-game lead in the division, and none of their potential rivals, not 4-3 Oklahoma, nor 3-4 Denver or 2-5 Dallas look like they have the consistency or the formula to outpace the Wranglers and gain some ground over the next 10 weeks. We don’t want to call it, but the odds are very much in Arizona’s favor. They are now likely looking at Chicago (6-0) and focusing their attention on the 1 seed, with its bye and home field advantage, as their next goal.
The Wranglers have struck gold with the return of Ryan Nassib, who is turning into the poster child for “System Quarterbacks” after struggling mightily in Washington only to return to outstanding form upon his reunion with Coach Tomsula and the Wrangler offensive scheme. The Wranglers also seem to have found a gem in rookie HB Tyler Allgeier, who has helped them establish themselves as one of the league’s best rushing team (currently 3rd in YPG at 121.9), and, of course, Coach Tomsula’s defense is getting the job done as well, allowing teams only 17.3 points per game. In other words, sitting at 7-0, and 3 games up on 4-3 Oklahoma, it is looking very good for Arizona to lock up the division in record time.
Thunderstruck in San Antonio
It was the end of a 4-game winning streak, a punch to the gut for a team that was really beginning to believe in itself, and a dangerous loss in a division that could be tight until the end. San Antonio’s shocking home loss to the San Diego Thunder was bad on the field, but could be even worse for the psyche of the club. They now find themselves tied with Birmingham atop the division, with the Stallions on their own 4-game winning streak. They are only a half-game game up on another dangerous team, the 4-2 Houston Gamblers, and just 1 game up on a Memphis team that has also shown a lot of fight this year. If San Antonio wants to finally claim a spot as a true competitor in the division, and possibly their first playoff spot since being re-introduced to the league in 2020, they need to put this one behind them and get back to the form that helped them pull off 4 consecutive wins.
Stars Not Silent After Home Loss
It was a rowdy crowd at The Linc this week, but not rowdy in the positive sense, rowdy in that Stars fans were booing there own team as Philadelphia dropped their 5th game of the year, this one to the previously 1-5 Las Vegas Vipers. It was a crowd that was already calling for Dan Quinn, the 2021 USFL Coach of the Year to be fired, calling for Carson Wentz to be sent back to the NFL, pretty much calling for everyone and anyone, from punt returner Quincy Enumwa to Governor Tom Wolf to be removed.
That is bad enough, though not particularly out of character for the famously aggressive, cynical, and irrascable Philadelphia fanbase. But it seems the negativity has seeped into the locker room as well. Among the “one game at a time” and “we need to stop hurting ourselves” cliches common to the postgame press interviews, there were more than a few biting comments and expressions of frustration. Whether it was Derrick Henry bemoaning the lack of commitment to the run game, K. J. Hamler hinting that he is not getting targets, or pretty much every defender who spoke to the media wondering why the club is ranked 25th in points allowed, always an expression that does not take their own role into account. Only QB Carson Wentz and defensive captain Jonathan Bostic gave us the more expected “mea culpa”, demanding of themselves that they play better.
If Coach Quinn, only 1 year removed from a pretty impressive 8-win uptick (from 2 in 2020 to 10 wins in 2021), seems to be losing control. Everything that went right in 2021 seems to be reversing course in 2022. Derrick Henry’s yards per game are down from 85.9 to 74.6 and his YPC is below 4 for the first time in his career. Only Randall Cobb has more than 30 receptions and 2 touchdowns over 7 weeks. The defense has only 17 sacks in 7 games, and has forced only 8 turnovers. But, more than a statistical dip, what seems to be lacking most of all is a sense of united purpose. The team is fractured, their confidence cracked, and their sense of purpose is just not fueled by the same fire we saw last year. And that, even more than wins and losses, could mark a very serious issue for this Stars team.
Sweat Gets into Sack Race with 4 Against Bandits
Back in Week 3 we commented on a Sack leaderboard that was fronted by Memphis’s J. J. Watt and the surprising rise of St. Louis edge rusher A. J. Epenesa. At the time we wondered aloud where Montez Sweat and Calais Campbell had hid themselves away. Well, while Calais Campbell has been dealing with an infection after lacerating the palm of his hand, one that has limited his playing time, Montez Sweat has been grinding out more games and closing in on the leaders atop the Sack rankings.
This week, with a monstruous 4-sack day against Dak Prescott and the Bandits, Sweat reappeared where he expects to be, right in the hunt for the sack title. Sweat’s 4 sacks this week bring his 2022 total to 11 at the 7-game mark, good enough to be tied for 2nd with Epenesa, only 1 behind Watt. Anyone who knows Sweat, knows that he will not rest until he is atop the list, as he finished 2021, for the first time beating out Calais Campbell for the title. This year it seems Sweat will be racing with the young Epenesa and the NFL veteran Watt for the title, with a cluster behind them at 9 sacks and Campbell already 5 back of the lead with 7 sacks in limited action. Of course, we won’t count Campbell out. He has shown us in the past an ability to close ground quickly, but this year it seems Sweat is the dog in pursuit of the fox in a chase that should be fun to watch all season long.
Hyde Sidelined by Hamstring, McCaffrey by ACL Tear
Apparently a bye week does not guarantee that a team will avoid injury. Houston came to that realization this week after star tailback Carlos Hyde suffered a hamstring injury in off-week workouts. The injury apparently occurred during a CrossFit-inspired workout on Thursday. Initially thought to be a sprain, by Sunday Hyde was being evaluated and the end result is that he has been diagnosed with a partial tear, an injury that will keep the back out of action at least a month, possibly longer. Hyde, who currently occupies the 4th position among USFL backs with 551 yards, will be sorely missed. Houston will split carries between Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Trayveon Williams, but are expected to seek a 3rd back to help address the load for at least the next 4 weeks. Rumors have them in discussions with current free agent Leonard Fournette, who was with Denver last year, signed with the NFL Buffalo Bills in the offseason but was released 3 games into the 2021 season, which means he has now passed the 6-month threshold to become a true free agent not bound to the NFL-USFL transfer window limitations.
Whether Houston brings in Fournette, or another back from the free agent pool like a Myles Gaskin or Kiero Small, the reality is that their run game is going to suffer without Hyde, and with Houston already trailing both San Antonio and Birmingham in the division and with questions about Colt McCoy’s health, Gambler fans are likely to be spending a good amount of time googling WebMD instead of Fantasy Football sites for updates.
In Oakland a similar timeframe for Christian McCaffrey, expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a partial ACL tear. Unlike Houston, the Invaders feel they have their answer already on the roster, in the form of 2021 draft pick Bryce Love. Love finished the game against Birmingham and is expected to take on the lead back role for the Invaders as they prepare for the upcoming month of action. He will be backed up by Justin Jackson and promoted practice-squadder Kevin Harris as the Invaders try to stay in the race in the Pacific, awaiting McCaffrey's return at some point in the league's final 6 weeks.
Are Rumors of a 3-Way Trade Legit?
It cannot be true, can it? Reports have been circling for the past 48 hours of a potential 3-team trade involving two starting QBs and a pair of defenders. If it comes to fruition, it would be the biggest midseason deal in perhaps a decade. So, what are we hearing and what might be the sticking point. The oft-repeated version of the deal would have Pittsburgh fully committing to rookie Kenny Picket by sending 11-year veteran and 2015 OPOTY Andy Dalton to the LA Express. The Express, for their part would be shipping off starting QB Kyler Murray to Atlanta, an option to step in for Josh Rosen if his up and down performance heads further south. Atlanta would complete the triangle trade by sending two defenders to Pittsburgh, with LB Zavier Gooden almost a certainty to be included. It is an intriguing deal, one that gives Coach Lewis in LA a more traditional drop back passer to work with, one more aligned with current backup Nick Foles’s skill set. It would give Atlanta another QB option, one that may be particularly valuable if veteran Aaron Murray’s severely broken leg is the career-ender that many fear it may be. For the Maulers, it means leaning into Kenny Pickett as the starter, but also adding some much-needed aggressiveness to a defense that currently ranks in the Top 5 in every yardage category but is somehow 19th in scoring defense, giving up too many big plays.
So, what could be holding up this blockbuster trade? Well, several things are certainly potential dealbreakers. First of all, we have to assume that LA wants to get a much better sense of Andy Dalton’s injury status. He left the season opener with a stress fracture in his plant foot, a tricky injury and one that can take longer than more traditional fractures to heal. He was expected to miss 1-2 weeks, but we are 6 weeks later and Pittsburgh’s last injury report still listed him as doubtful. LA will absolutely want a healthy Dalton if they are to pull the trigger on this.
For Pittsburgh’s part, getting LB Zavier Gooden is nice, but won’t be enough for them to step away from Dalton. They are asking Atlanta to part with more, with names like FS Earl Thomas, or one of the Fire’s top corners, Darius Slay or Shaquile Griffin. Los Angeles has also floated the idea of draft pick compensation as a part of the deal, but from who? With any 3-way trade, the balance of who gives up what and to whom is significantly more complicated than we see in simpler bilateral deals. No team wants to be seen as giving up the farm and getting little in return. All three have needs, all three have a good reason to part with a player they have soured on to get something they covet, but the key is in striking a balance that works for all three. Will it happen? Rumors have the three parties close, but we all know that a deal can either come together quickly, or fall apart just as fast. We will keep our ears to the wall on this one, and when we know, you will know.
A bad week for halfbacks, with Christian McCaffrey likely out for up to 6 weeks after a partial ACL tear and two other star backs, Carlos Hyde and Josh Jacobs expected to miss at least 1-2 weeks, Jacobs with a knee issue and Hyde with a troubling hamstring strain. The other big story is in Orlando, where star receiver Brashad Perrriman has been placed on IR and will be lost for the season after a complete Achilles rupture, a nasty injury that will require up to 12 months to completely heal. Orlando plans to promote Hunter Renfrew from the swing spot to a starting spot opposite Nelson Agholor, almost certainly removing any trade rumors for the receiver, but we would not be surprised to see the Renegades try to acquire another receiver as well.
OUT
WR Brashad Perriman ORL Achilles IR
OT Greg Robinson BIR Back IR
OG Daniel Kilgore OHI ACL 4-6 Weeks
HB Christian McCaffery OAK ACL 4-6 Weeks
HB Carlos Hyde HOU Arm 4-6 Weeks
SS Delarin Turner-Yell MEM Collarbone 1-2 Weeks
HB Josh Jacobs BAL Miniscus 1-2 Weeks
OT Ross Burton TBY Hand 1-2 Weeks
CB Amani Oruwarije PHI Turf Toe 1-2 Weeks
OG Nick Easten NE Ankle 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
DE Datone Jones OHI MCL
OT Lachavious Simmons STL Pinched Nerve
OT Darrian Kennard ATL Abdominal
DT Devon Godchaux BIR Concussion
OT Michael Oher POR Foot
QUESTIONABLE
DE Anthony Zettel CHA Collarbone
C Scott Quessenberry OKL Concussion
OT Riley Reiff BAL Wrist
LB Shaq Thompson DEN Hand
CB Robert Anderson CHI Groin
FS Jamal Adams DAL Concussion
QB Justin Herbert DAL Neck
WR Jamison Crowder MEM Hamstring
USFL Reports on Jersey Sales, With No Surprises
If I asked you to name the best players in the USFL, or those you think are most popular, you likely would throw out some pretty well-known stars: Colt McCoy (the 2021 MVP), Dak Prescott (the 2021 OPOTY), Montez Sweat (2021 Sack Leader), HB LeVeon Bell or Knowshon Moreno, or perhaps extroverted WRs Dez Bryant and Odell Beckham Jr.. And, as it appears, you would be correct. The USFL this week released a report on the top selling player jerseys from the league’s online stores as well as each team’s team shops (online and physical), and the list is not exactly filled with shocking revelations.
Dak Prescott, for a second year in a row, remains the top selling jersey. Not surprising considering he is the 2020 MVP and 2021 OPOTY for the league’s current “glamour” team and 2-time defending champs. He joins his favorite target, WR Dez Bryant as Tampa Bay’s 2 representatives in the Top 10.
In second is Houston QB Colt McCoy, the 2021 MVP, followed by Orlando DE Montez Sweat and another superstar QB, Denver’s Josh Allen. The only player who sports a new jersey among the Top 10 is Odell Beckham Jr, whose move from the Generals to the Machine for 2022 sparked a huge run on sky blue jerseys with number 13, enough new Machine jerseys sold with Beckham’s name on them to place him 5th in the league.
Rounding out the Top 10 we have LeVeon Bell (MGN), Knowshon Moreno (SEA), 2021 NFL import J. J. Watt (MEM), 2021 Rookie of the Year ,Justin Fields (OHI), and a second member of Seattle’s Summer Bowl squad, LB Khalil Mack.
Who from the rookie class of 2022 is looking to be a popular choice, well, within the top 40 jersey sales we find HB Tyler Allgeier (ARZ), WR Garrett Wilson (SAN), and New England lead back Breece Hall, but the current sales leader among rookies is on defense, and really not a surprise when you realize he went from Ann Arbor to the Michigan Panthers, DE Aiden Hutchinson ranks 23rd in the league and the 2nd best selling Panther jersey behind LeVeon Bell.
USFL 40 Greatest Players: 22-20
We breach the Top 20 with this week’s list, moving into the upper half of our Top 40, but not before we celebrate two of the league’s biggest defensive stars, heavy hitters with a reputation for fury, and a mouth to match their game. As we crack the Top 20 we find a fan favorite there as well, a player with a reputation for an easygoing frivolity on the sideline but an intensity of purpose on the field. Three great players, three great personalities, that is what we have on tap with players 24, 23, and 22 this week.
22) DT John Randall (1990-2003)
If ever there was a player who evoked pure fear on a USFL field, it was John Randall. Drafted by the Baltimore Blitz on a late round flyer in 1990, Randall was a wrecking ball of destruction for his entire 14-year career with the Blitz. He was so focused as a rookie that he not only earned a starting spot on the Blitz defensive line, but two separate fines for disobeying his coaches when asked to tone it down in practice. Randall was recognized immediately as a difference maker, selected to be All-USFL in his rookie campaign after racking up 66 tackles and 5 sacks in his first season. He would go on to earn All-USFL honors another 12 times in 13 years, retiring with 102 sacks at the DT position and a reputation as a pure force of nature on the field.
21) LB Brian Bosworth (1987-1997)
Brian Bosworth came to the USFL already a national celebrity as an All-American at Oklahoma. That it was 1987 and the Oklahoma Outlaws were able to not only sign “The Boz” but keep him in Oklahoma was a coup at the time for the young USFL, almost as big as the Herschel Walker signing in 1983. But fate would soon change Bosworth’s trajectory. Financial issues and team mergers meant that he would have only 1 season in Oklahoma before the team merged with the original San Antonio Gunslingers and he found himself a Texas Outlaw, not an Oklahoma Outlaw.
That early USFL instability certainly did not impact Bosworth on the field. After racking up a ridiculous 143 sacks in his rookie season in Tulsa, he followed it up with 8 more 100-tackle seasons at Middle Linebacker for the Outlaws, including a 155-tackle season in 1990 that still remains the league record. Bosworth sits first and third in the record book for his rookie year and that amazing 1990 campaign. And while his total of 1,255 career tackles no longer place him in the Top 10 all-time, overtaken by some players who eked a few more years out of their bodies, his average of 114 per season is still among the league’s all-time elites.
20) TE Keith Jackson (1988-1999)
No, not the announcer whose booming voice became synonymous with the USFL over its first 2 decades. You know that. We mean the 4-time All-USFL tight end who brought in over 1,000 receptions for 8,500 yards in his 11-year career with Memphis and Denver. A charismatic presence in the locker room, on the sideline, and in the press room, Jackson was also a nearly unstoppable force on the field. Jackson produced the first 100-catch season ever for a tight end in 1998, and then repeated the feat the following year, his final one with the Gold. Jackson was able to outrace most linebackers, block out most safeties, and run over pretty much any cornerback on the field.
Foiled from getting a ring by some shaky teams and unfortunate playoff losses with both the Showboats and Gold, Jackson still remains among the names that all USFL tight ends mention when talking about how they model their game. Those accolades, along with his larger-than-life career both on and off the field have him as the first player in our Top 20 and the highest ranked tight end on our list.
With the entire Southern Division, and the New England Steamrollers earning a well-deserved week of rest, we are again at 12 games and 24 teams in action in Week 8. Those 12 games kick off on Friday with a classic battle that goes back to 1983, when New Jersey head down to Birmingham to face the Stallions. It won’t be Walker vs. Stoudt, but this battle of playoff hopefuls should be a good kickoff to the weekend.
On Saturday we get our first divisional battles of the week, with a Border War between struggling Michigan and up-and-down Ohio. A win by either could be pivotal in regaining their lost form, either from 2021 for Michigan or from their fast start to 2022 for Ohio. The other divisional game on Saturday is at 8pm when Baltimore heads into Philadelphia to face the Stars. Expect another thunderstorm of boos to reign down on Dan Quinn and the Stars if he cannot get a result in this key NE Division showdown. The other 8pm game on Sunday is worth checking in on as well, as the 7-0 Arizona Wranglers head up to rainy Seattle to face the 2021 Western Conference Champions. We expect Brett Hundley to be back in form after a rough Week 7, which gives Seattle a chance against a very impressive Wrangler squad.
Sunday kicks off with a big one for the Houston Gamblers, going into their first game without Carlos Hyde in the backfield. They face a Memphis squad that sits a half-game behind them and a game behind the division leaders. Both teams in this Southern Division clash are hoping they can gain ground on the leaders with a win. Chicago returns to action after their bye, hosting the 2-5 San Diego Thunder. Will they be overconfident, looking ahead, or will Chicago join Arizona at 7-0 with a home win? Later in the day we head out West for two more divisional games. At 4pm it is LA visiting Portland. Both clubs are looking up at Seattle and wondering if they have a chance to make a run with 10 games left to play. Then at 8pm it is 3-4 Denver visiting 2-5 Dallas. Both desperately need a win, not because they can hope to catch Arizona, but because Wild Card football may be their best chance to play a 17th game this year.
Fri. 7pm ET New Jersey (4-3) @ Birmingham (5-2)* NBC
Sat. 12pm ET Washington (3-4) @ New Orleans (3-3)* ABC
Sat. 12pm ET Michigan (1-5) @ Ohio (3-3)* FOX
Sat. 4pm ET St. Louis (5-2) @ Oklahoma (4-3) ABC
Sat. 4pm ET Pittsburgh (1-5) @ Las Vegas (2-5) FOX
Sat. 8pm ET Baltimore (4-3) @ Philadelphia (2-5) NBC
Sat. 8pm ET Arizona (7-0) @ Seattle (4-3) ESPN/EFN
Sun 12pm ET Memphis (4-3) @ Houston (4-2)* ABC
Sun 12pm ET San Diego (2-5) @ Chicago (6-0) FOX
Sun 4pm ET San Antonio (5-2) @ Oakland (3-4) ABC
Sun 4pm ET Los Angeles (3-4) @ Portland (2-5) FOX
Sun 8pm ET Denver (3-4) @ Dallas (2-5) EFN
Byes: Atlanta, Charlotte, Jacksonville, New England, Orlando, Tampa Bay
(*) = Throwback Uniforms
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