Sporting News, August 11, 1987
The USFL Free Agency Period this offseason has been unlike any other. In large part this is due to the issues which have embroiled the NFL and its ongoing feud with the NFL Players Association. In a normal year there would be a pretty even back and forth of player “poachings” from one year to another, but with the NFL unable to arrive at a compromise collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA, the senior league has been unable to offer contracts to its own free agents, much less sign players away from the USFL. That is not to say that some, particularly agents for top USFL players, have not worked to arrange what they could. Two key USFL players, Oakland HB Arthur Whittington and LA Express HB Tony Boddie have both, to date, opted not to renew or renegotiate their USFL contracts and may hold out until such time as the NFL can sign them.
Despite the turmoil with the NFL, the signings of NFL free agents by the USFL has also been slower than usual. It appears that many of the NFL’s top players are holding out hope that the NFLPA will be able to alter the free agency guidelines for the fall league and are reluctant to make the leap. That is not to say that no NFL players have joined the Spring League, but the level of inter-league transfer has been noticeably lower. At the time of this article, the following are the most noteworthy signings by the USFL:
Baltimore: DT Joe Klecko (Jets)
Birmingham: C Chuck Pitcock (Buccaneers)
Chicago: QB Rusty Hilger (Raiders), T Ken Lanier (Broncos), DE Dwayne Board (49ers)
Los Angeles: LB Bob Crable (Jets)
Michigan: L Tony Franklin (Patriots)
Orlando: K Fuad Reveiz (Dolphins), LB Tim Green (Falcons), DT Greg Meisner (Rams)
Portland: TE Clint Didier (Redskins), CB Dwayne Galloway (Lions), LB Billie Ray Smith (Chargers)
Texas: DT Dave Butz (Redskins), CB Najee Mustafaa (Vikings), WR Dokie Williams (Raiders)
The pattern present in NFL signings, that the 1987 and 1988 expansion teams are trying to play catchup, also holds true of USFL to USFL free agency signings. This has been the busiest year yet for player movement within the league, due perhaps to the relaxing of certain free agency protocols negotiated by the USFL player association as part of the expansion process over the past 2 seasons. There are going to be a lot of new faces in new places, and while Chicago, Orlando, Texas and Portland are major players, with plenty of room within the league’s salary cap structure, most teams have made some moves. Here is the rundown of who will be coming to each USFL team through free agency this year:
Arizona: CB Everson Walls (SAN)
Baltimore: SS Dave Dumars (Resign)
Birmingham: WR Danny Knight (NJ)
Chicago: TE Cap Boso (LA), SS William Cesare (BIR), CB Woodrow Wilson (Resign)
Jacksonville: QB Tony Eason (NOR), WR Johnny Jones (BIR)
Los Angeles: DE Calvin Clark (ARZ), WR Emile Harry (DEN)
Memphis: HB Greg Boone (TBY), LB Michael Douglass (DEN)
Michigan: QB Ed Luther (JAX)
New Jersey: DE Jeff Lockette (JAX), DT Kit Lathrop (OKL)
New Orleans: WR Herman Fontenot (WSH)
Oakland: HB Richard Williams (MEM), QB Jeff Kemp (MGN), QB Mike Norseth (TBY)
Orlando: WR John Jefferson (PIT), C Jeff Wilkins (ARZ), FB Ted Torosian (OAK)
Philadelphia: FS Ed Gardiner (Resign), HB Steve Howell (HOU)
Pittsburgh: LB Greg Gerkin (ORL), WR Willie Collier (CHI), QB Jeff Hostetler (PHI)
Portland: DT Mike Golic (BAL), HB Rodney Carter (ORL), TE Victor Marchand (HOU)
Tampa Bay: CB Roy Gee (MGN)
Texas: DE Ron Byrd (NOR), T Long Sessions (DEN)
Washington: T Kevin McCray (JAX)
That is a lot of movement in just one year. Looking over the list, the biggest stories to follow will be the QB situation in Oakland, after the retirement of Brian Sipe, will Gale Gilbert get the nod, or will Jeff Kemp get a shot after coming over from the NFL and sitting in Michigan last year? Speaking of Michigan, Jack Trudeau is definitely the starter, but Ed Luther may get a chance if Trudeau struggles. The other potential quarterback controversy is in Pittsburgh, where new coach Ted Marchibroda wasted not time in bringing in former Mountaineer Jeff Hostetler to compete with Alan Risher for the starting job. Pittsburgh also tried to find a replacement for the departed John Jefferson (now in Orlando), by signing another former Star in wideout Willie Collier. Jefferson’s move to Orlando is an odd one, since he complained about the lack of wins in Pittsburgh and now goes to an expansion team. Back in Oakland they are hedging their bets that Arthur Whittington may not resign, by inking former Showboat starter Richard Williams at halfback. Memphis, in turn, signed Greg Boone from division rival Tampa, as well as linebacker Michael Douglass from Denver.
And lest we forget, there is a third pro football league, just to our north. The CFL has, for the first time, dipped into the USFL Free Agency Pool. The Ottawa Rough Riders have signed San Antonio QB Damon Allen, making this the third team in 3 years to bring in the Cal State-Fullerton product. And, the New Orleans Breakers, having released controversial starter Tony Eason (now to back up Miller in Jacksonville), and having moved veteran Joe Ferguson to the coaching staff as a QB Specialist, think they have found their new starter in the CFL as well. The Breakers have signed Edmonton Eskimo QB Matt Dunigan, a product of nearby Louisiana Tech, to a contract to begin in November, after completion of the CFL season. Dunigan, the starter for the Eskimos for the past 3 years, and an All-CFL star in 1985, threw for 21 touchdowns that year and surpassed that with 25 in 1986. He is leading the Eskimos through this season and will join the Breakers once the CFL season has ended, likely to engage in a competition with Matt Robinson, the only QB on the Breakers roster.
All in all a very dynamic offseason so far, and we still have the Territorial and Open Draft in December to look forward to. A lot of teams still have a lot of holes to fill, so do not be surprised if there are some late signings prior to the draft as teams position themselves to be able to limit their needs and maximize their resources for the draft process.