Sporting News, August 10, 1985
With the USFL in full Free Agency mode and NFL Camps in session, there are a lot of new faces in both league’s facilities this month. The USFL knew this would happen as many of their original 1983 contracts began to close out, the NFL would try to defang the league by signing some of its top players. Of course, the NFL could not have predicted that a court loss would give the USFL the financial wherewithal to do the same with NFL players, leading to a frenzy of action across the two leagues. While franchises in both leagues have done what they can to renew or lock in players at the end of their contract years, there was inevitable loss on both sides, players who became household names in their respective cities but who are now not only jumping teams, but leagues.
Over the past few weeks the inevitable has happened. NFL Players seeking better deals have delayed resigning and have been using the USFL for leverage, with many signing with the upstart league, flush with recent anti-trust winnings. The NFL, still very bitter over their court loss has also been signing USFL free agents at a breakneck pace. The result is that there will be a lot of players in both leagues introducing themselves to both the fans and their own teammates this year. Looking from the USFL perspective, let’s explore who has left and who has come into each locker room.
ARIZONA WRANGLERS
Lost: CB V. Livers (CHI), SS L. Hale (TBY)
Added: FS Martin Bayless (BUF), CB Nolan Cromwell (LARm)
BALTIMORE BLITZ
Lost: SS E. Brown (CLE), LB E. Smith (Retired)
Added: CB Leslie Frazier (CHI), DE Rulon Jones (DEN)
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS
Lost: G. B. Aydolette (ATL), DE J. Cline (PIT), LB R. D’Amico (NYG)
Added: G Mike Munchak (HOU), DE Art Still (KC),
DENVER GOLD
Lost: SS D. Dumars (CHI)
Added: QB Matt Cavanaugh (SF), WR J.T. Smith (STL)
HOUSTON GAMBLERS
Lost: LB K. Teel (STL)
Added: DT Michael Carter (SF), TE Jimmie Giles (TBY), T Keith Van Horne (CHI)
JACKSONVILLE BULLS
Lost: FS B. Homer (NE)
Added: LB Gary Reasons (NYG), T Steve Moore (NE)
LOS ANGELES EXPRESS
Lost: LB D. Rich (LARd), TE R. Ellis (PHI)
Added: WR Mike Renfro (DAL), TE Todd Christiansen (LARd)
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS
Lost: FB M. Davies (CIN), K. E. Herrera (DAL)
Added: DE Booker Reese (LARm),K Ali Haji-Sheikh (NYG)
MICHIGAN PANTHERS
Lost: SS D. Greenwood (PIT), LB R. Bentley (IND). TE M. Cobb (SEA), G P. Novak (Retired)
Added: G Ron Hallstrom (GBY), DT Tim Krumrie (CIN)
NEW JERSEY GENERALS
Lost: C K. Hull (BUF), FB M. Carthon (NYG), SS D. Thompson (Retired)
Added: C Mike Baab (CLE), QB Vince Ferragamo (BUF)
NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS
Lost: LB B. Needham (KC)
Added: DE Mike Gann (ATL), QB Joe Ferguson (DET)
OAKLAND INVADERS
Lost WR G. Banks (LARm), LB F. Manumaleuga (SD)
Added: WR Mark Duper (MIA), G Ed White (SD)
PHILADELPHIA STARS
Lost: T. I. Eatman (KC),WR S. Fitzkee (TBY), C B. Oates (NYG)
Added: CB Everson Walls (DAL). DT Jumpy Gaethers (NOR), C Blair Bush (SEA)
PITTSBURGH MAULERS
Lost: None
Added: HB Stanford Jennings (CIN), G Steve Kenney (PHI), TE Emory Moorhead (CHI)
TAMPA BAY BANDITS
Lost: TE L. Gilbert (MIN), G J. Martel (DEN)
Added: QB Oliver Luck (HOU), TE Mike Tice (SEA)
WASHINGTON FEDERALS
Lost: DT D. Hickman (SD), CB G. Butler (Retired)
Added: LB Cliff Odom (IND), DE Dexter Manley (WSH)
Let’s look at some of these shifts. What do we think of them and what does each team need to do in December’s USFL Draft?
ARIZONA: We are not sure that Cromwell is going to be able to replace Livers, but Bayless is a solid pickup at safety. They still need to address the run game in the draft.
BALTIMORE: Rulon Jones lining up opposite Junior Ah You is going to destroy offenses. In the draft they will need to look for some O-line help and depth at LB.
BIRMINGHAM: The Stallions got two great additions in Mike Munchak (replacing Buddy Aydolette) and Art Still. They seem serious about winning at the line of scrimmage, but they are thin and weak at wideout and will need to find some talent there in the draft.
DENVER: Mouse Davis wants to pass the ball, and bringing in J. T.Smith from the Cardinals is sure to help. Adding a solid backup to Gagliano in Matt Cavanaugh is also shrewd. The Run & Shoot can often be the Sack & Hit for QB’s.
HOUSTON: If Denver is picking up the Run & Shoot, Houston is bringing in some more standard offense, so snagging a TE like ex-Buccaneeer Jimmie Giles is a big move in the right direction. They also improved the defense with the signing of DT Michael Carter. Now, in the draft, we expect them to look for some more help for their shaky O-line.
JACKSONVILLE: Losing Homer in the defensive backfield hurts. Picking up LB Gary Reasons, while a good player, won’t fix that need. Expect a high draft pick in the safety position.
LOS ANGELES: The Express lost two huge players, the league’s leading tackler in Danny Rich, and one of its best TE’s In Ellis. But, LA management did not hesitate to replace at least one of the two, stealing All-Pro TE Todd Christiansen from the cross-town Raiders.
MEMPHIS: We love the signing of DE Booker Reese, and while the Showboats lose a solid kicker in Herrera, Haji-Sheikh should prosper in the Liberty Bowl. Now, in the draft, they need to look at the LB position and get some more receivers for Walter Lewis.
MICHIGAN: The Panthers expected to lose some talent this year, and boy did they! Bentley and Greenwood will be hard to replace. The Panthers did not even try, but did shore up the D-Line with former Bengal Tim Krumrie. Now, in the draft, can they find a new Strong Safety?
NEW JERSEY: The Generals got some insurance for Doug Flutie, signing former Ram hero Vince Ferragamo. They also replaced Kent Hull with a quality player in Mike Baab. The biggest loss may be fullback Maurice Carthon, a position difficult to fill in the draft.
NEW ORLEANS: If the Breakers want to train up and toughen up QB Tony Eason, they could find no better player-coach than former Bills and Lions QB Joe Ferguson. Ferguson may be the 3rd QB on the roster, but he will likely serve a vital role in helping Eason mature. Expect defense to be the key to the Breakers draft as they go all in on a smashmouth philosophy.
OAKLAND: Losing Gordon Banks was a shocker, and injured Frank Manumaleuga a major blow, but we like what Oakland did in signing Miami wideout Mark Duper. In the draft, expect the Invaders to look for a speedy 3-down linebacker and maybe some help for the D-Line as well.
PHILADELPHIA: The problem with being champions is that everyone has their eyes on you. Those eyes translated into lost players, with Fitzkee, Eatman and Oates all departing for the NFL. We like the talent of the players signed, especially Everson Walls at CB, but they need to fill back in that O-line if they want to repeat.
PITTSBURGH: The only team not to lose anyone to the NFL, that says a lot about the Maulers, most of it not flattering. But, Pittsburgh did spend some cash and sign some talent this year. We expect the biggest impact to come from HB Stanford Jennings, who might allow Rozier to rest from time to time. They need to think about helping Todd Blackledge by getting him some more targets in the draft.
TAMPA BAY: The Bandits lost their best offensive lineman and John Reaves’ lifeline in TE Lewis Gilbert. Signing Mike Tice from the Seahawks might help, but we don’t expect the same production from him. In the draft they will need to shore up the O-line, and perhaps get some help at linebacker.
WASHINGTON: Dexter Manley wanted to send a message to the notoriously cheap Redskins, and signing to play in the same stadium for the USFL Federals sure sends that message. The Feds are happy to have him as their pass rush needed a boost. In the draft I expect then to try to get a receiver opposite Joey Walters, and maybe to look for some additional D-line help.