Sporting News, August 28, 1986
The USFL was rocked this week by a flurry of NFL signings of its top stars. In one week the USFL lost both its Offensive Player of the Year (and former MVP) as well as its Defensive Player of the Year (and 4-time sack leader), as well as several other top name players.
The biggest hit for the 4th year spring league has to be the loss of one of its brightest and most marketable stars, quarterback Bobby Hebert. Hebert has been a stalwart at the top of every passing category over his 4 years with the two-time champion Michigan Panthers. Regularly throwing for over 4,000 yards and 30 scores in a season, Hebert is not only the face of his franchise, but one of the great success stories of the league, as he was not highly touted coming out of Northwestern State (LA) University. Hebert blossomed in the wide-open style of the USFL, setting league records and leading his Panther teams to two Championships in the league’s short 4 year history.
Hebert had opted to test the free agency waters, turning away initial attempts to resign with the Panthers in hopes of a larger NFL payday, and that payday came, with the added bonus that Hebert would be able to return to his home as a new member of the New Orleans Saints. It will be a short off-season for Hebert, who played in the USFL Championship only one month ago and now will be reporting to the Saints training camp in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
The second big blow impacts the Baltimore Blitz as their stud defensive lineman, Junior Ah You, has signed with the San Francisco 49ers on a 5 year deal that makes him one of the richest defensive players in the league. Ah You, who played all 4 years for the Blitz (3 in Chicago and 1 in Baltimore) has led the USFL in sacks each of his four seasons, registering 22 this year.
These two are not the only well-known USFL players to break ranks and join the NFL. Others this offseason include several ALL-USFL Selections and team captains. Safety seemed to be a plum position where the NFL could raid USFL rosters. In addition to New Orleans losing Bobby Melendez and Oakland’s loss of William Liles, Pittsburgh loses one of its best defenders as Dave Duerson signs with the Chicago Bears, and Philadelphia loses All-USFL safety Scott Woerner to the Minnesota Vikings. On the offensive side of the ball, in addition to Hebert, the USFL lost out to the NFL on WR Willie Gault (from Memphis to Chicago), on HB Kevin Mack (LA to Cleveland), on QB Matt Cavanaugh (Denver to New England) and on Philly’s Johnnie Hector (to NY Jets).
The good news for the USFL is that they were able to resign some of their other marquee players, names like Herschel Walker, Mike Rozier, Doug Williams and Sam Mills will stay in the spring league. This does not lessen the blow of losing two of their biggest stars, and certainly for the Michigan and Baltimore franchises, the loss of these major stars will require not only a recalibration of their own free agency and draft strategies, but of their team marketing for 1987 as well.