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Houston endured a rowdy AlamoDome crowd, eked out a one point win, but at a price as QB Jim Kelly appeared hobbled by injury late in the game. Kelly remained in the game, though visibly in pain, to lead the Gamblers on a last minute drive that gave Houston the win. After the game, Kelly was immediately taken away for testing, and hours later we discovered that he had suffered a hairline fracture in his hip after an awkward tackle by Texas LB Garth Jax. Kelly is listed as doubtful for the game against New Orleans next week, but is expected to make a recovery within 2 weeks. As for the game, it was Houston’s early, as Kelly found Keith McKeller for a score on the Gamblers’ first drive, and then connected with Thurman Thomas in the 2nd for a 42 yard td off of a screen. Texas mustered only 2 field goals in the first half against the Houston D, so they went into half down 14-6. In the second half Kelly Stouffer made some adjustments and the Houston run game got a huge play on a 43 yard run from FB Undra Johnson to pull back into the game and into the lead. They scored first on a Stouffer to Metcalf pass, then in the 4th quarter it was little-used receiver (but special teams expert) Steve Tasker on the end of a Stouffer pass to pull ahead 19-14. Texas’s lead was short-lived however as Clarence Verdin took the ensuing kickoff 108 yards to paydirt on a brilliant return that saw him wriggle past the wedge and simply outpace the remaining defenders to the endzone. Houston went for 2 and failed, giving them a 20-19 lead. Six minutes later Nick Mike-Myer put Texas back up on top with a 48 yard boomer, and with 5 minutes left to play it was Texas’s game to win. On Houston’s next drive, Jax fell on top of Kelly as the less-than-nimble QB scrambled and fell at the line of scrimmage. Kelly would limp off the field in obvious pain, and on the next play the Gamblers opted to hand off to Thomas despite it being 3rd and 7. Texas forced the punt, but their offense could do nothing and they sent the ball right back to Houston. Most in the stadium expected to see David Klingler come out to the Houston huddle, but a visibly slower and uncomfortable Jim Kelly came out to begin what would be the final drive of the game. With a few key rushes by Thomas, Houston moved closer to Texas territory, and then Kelly found Thomas on an identical play to the earlier TD. This time Thomas bolted for 37 yards to move Houston to the edge of John Kasay’s range. A short pass to Perriman and another Thomas run set up the kicker, and with 18 seconds on the clock, John Kasay put through the 37 yard kick for the win. It was a well-played game by both teams Kelly finished the day with 288 yards passing and 2 scores, Stouffer with 245 and 2 scores as well. Both teams were able to run effectively. Houston with 73 yards from Thomas and another 21 from Keith Woodside. Texas got 43 from Cobb, and another 49 from Johnson, although 43 of that did come on one play. Metcalf was the big play man for Texas with 9 receptions for 93 yards, while Houston got a solid day from Ernie Jones (62 yards on 4 receptions) and Thurman Thomas did that dual threat thing he does, adding 82 receiving yards to his 73 yards rushing. POR 27 ORL 24 The cross-country flight did not seem to drain the Thunder as they dueled with Orlando for 60 minutes. Both Cris Carter and Webster Slaughter had big games as Kerwin Bell threw for 373 against the Renegade D. Reggie Collier had a nightmare game, throwing 5 interceptions, including a Dwayne Galloway pick-6, but Orlando was right there at 24-24 after 3. A late Al Del Greco field goal would be the difference. NOR 17 PIT 41 Pittsburgh dominated the first half, scoring the first 28 points of the day and forcing Danny McManus to throw far more than expected in the second half. Mike Rozier had 2 scores to go along with his 163 yards rushing, and Alan Risher hit three different receivers for scores as this one was never close. STL 27 DEN 38 Denver’s offense came alive against the Knights as Dave Krieg threw for 370 and 3 scores while the combo of rookie Natrone Means and veteran Timmy Smith combined for 106 yards rushing. Smith also caught 4 balls for 108 yards and 2 scores to lead the Gold. While both Rocket Ismail and Eric Martin had big days (124 and 141 yards respectively), Denver was able to maintain a comfortable lead throughout the second half to take the home win. OAK 15 ARZ 17 Bobby Hebert struggled against the Arizona defense, and Siran Stacy was limited to only 40 yards rushing as Arizona edged the Invaders in Tempe. A late Bruce Hill TD reception put Arizona up 17-9, and when Hebert missed TE Sam Bowers on a 2-pt conversion (following a late TD to Ellard), the Wranglers dodged a bullet and took the win. MGN 27 CHI 33 OT In a game that saw several lead changes and a late John Carney FG to send it to overtime, Chicago got the win on a broken coverage that freed up Michael Haynes for the winning score. Both QB’s played well as Jack Trudeau threw for 314 and 2 scores while Bernie Kosar hit a whopping 406 with 2 scores of his own. TE Wesley Walls continues to be a favorite target for Kosar, catching 7 balls for 160 and a score in the game. For Michigan, the combo of Rodney Culver and Alfred Jenkins played well, garnering 128 total yards on the ground. JAX 16 TBY 24 Tampa Bay got a much more polished game from Troy Aikman, and the Bienemy-Harmon combo produced over 100 yards rushing as Tampa Bay used home cooking to get the win. Up only 1 point at 17-16 late in the game, a game-clinching drive of 9 minutes, ending with Bienemy diving into the endzone from a yard out, gave Tampa the win over their in-state rivals. MEM 22 BIR 34 The Favre TD Machine continues to pump out points as the 3rd year QB threw for 3 more despite the constant harassment of Reggie White and Santana Dotson. Ernest Givens scored twice and gained 132 yards on the day, and the Stallion D held Greg Boone to only 50 yards on 14 carries. Add in TDs to Derrick Walker and Lawrence Dawsey and it was a solid win for the Stallions against a regional rival and in front of a boisterous crowd of nearly 50,000 in Legion Field. NJ 21 WSH 9 After 3 quarters that saw only 9 points on the board, all by the Federals, the dam broke in the 4th as Doug Flutie hit both Lam Jones and Irving Fryar with touchdowns. A desperate Don Majkowski threw a pick-6 as time wound down to create the final score in a game dominated by the New Jersey 3-3-5 defense. Terry Kirby, subbing for an injured Barry Word, did well against the pass-squelching formation, running for 77 yards on 20 carries, but it was not enough once the Generals’ offense started producing against a tired Feds D in the 4th. PHI 20 BAL 17 Chuck Long struggled, throwing 3 picks, but the Stars still found a way to upend the homestanding Blitz in Baltimore. TD’s from Dereck Brown and Kelvin Bryant, along with 2 timely David Trout field goals, were enough to topple the Blitz as Chris Miller also struggled against a much-improved Philadelphia defense. Newly acquired MLB Ed Brady had 7 tackles for the Stars and 3 interceptions kept the Blitz from coming back in this tight divisional game. There was certainly no shortage of strong individual performances this week to choose from. We could again celebrate Mike Rozier as the AP did with their Offensive POTW award, or we coul revel in Bernie Kosar’s 406 yards passing. On Defense it was a big day for New Orleans CB Dwayne Galloway, with 8 tackles, a pick-six and a forced fumble, and Jacksonville’s underappreciated DE Jim Reynosa had himself a day with 9 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. But, we decided to look at Denver QB Dave Krieg this week. Krieg has had a rough start to his USFL career after several good years as a Seattle Seahawk. The graduate of tiny Milton College started 11 games for the Gold in their rough 4-12 season, throwing for 15 TD’s but also 18 interceptions and finishing with a 66 QBR, one of the lowest in the league. Krieg’s 1993 campaign under new head coach Wade Phillips seems to be starting off much stronger. After 2 games he has a rating of 98.2 and has 4 TD’s to only 1 pick so far this year. This week’s performance included a 3-0 TD-INT ratio, 370 yards passing, and, most importantly, a win for the Gold. Denver is counting on Krieg to be a game manager, putting a lot of the load on HB Natrone Means and hoping that Krieg can be a reliable field marshal to put the right people in position to make plays. So far this year, he has been up to the task. Even in Week 1’s loss to Memphis, Krieg played pretty well, completing over 60% of his throws and avoiding big sacks through his ability to move in and out of the pocket. Fans in Denver hope he can keep up the solid play as the Gold head out on the road for the next two weeks before a return to Mile High to face the Gamblers in Week 5. TAMPA BAY: Sad news to report today as Tampa Bay Bandits owner John Bassett released a statement this week announcing that he has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, thought to be cancerous. Mr. Bassett, who has been one of the most influential leaders in the USFL since the league’s conception, will step away from football operations as he participates in treatment in the Tampa Bay area. Well wishes and condolences have come in from around the league, as well as from owners, executives and players within the NFL. We are all wishing Mr. Bassett a complete and speedy recovery. WASHINGTON: Just when you thought NFL-USFL relations might be getting better, you get a story that shows that resentment still exists. Just last year we marveled at how William Tatham and NFL owner Al Davis were able to work together to get approval from the city of Carson, California to build a new football stadium which will be home to both the NFL Raiders and expansion USFL Express. But this week it was announced that the Washington Redskins are working with the state of Maryland and Prince George’s County in Maryland to build a new state-of-the-art stadium for the NFL franchise. When asked whether this is to be a join project with the USFL Federals, Washington owner Jack Kent Cooke vehemently asserted that he had no interest in sharing the stadium with, as he put it, “that second rate circus they are running in the spring”. Seems there is no love lost between the Redskins and the Federals, though the two franchises have had almost no contact and no player disputes over the first 10 years of the USFL. So, it soon may be a situation where the Redskins have their suburban stadium in place and the Federals will have to work with the District of Columbia to seek improvements to the much older RFK Stadium located within the city. While the injury to QB Jim Kelly got a lot of the headlines, he is expected only to miss 1-2 games at most with the hairline fracture in his hip. The same is not true for Denver CB Bruce Pickens, who could be out for 4-6 weeks with a pretty rough fracture in his tibia. New Orleans tackle John Wojciechowski might miss about the same with a knee issue, and St. Louis will be without CB Troy Vincent for at least another month due to an ACL tear. Rookie DE John Copeland will likely miss the game this week with a shoulder issue, while others on the “Doubtful” list include Oakland DE Derwin Jones, Tampa LB Derrick Little, and Memphis LB Darrin Smith. Apparently a bad week for guys whose names start with D. A second week of great divisional matchups in Week 3. We start in the East where the Maulers host the Blitz and the Federals will try to get their first win as they host Philadelphia. In the Central this could be a pivotal early game as 2-0 Birmingham is at 0-2 Orlando. If the Renegades lose, they would have dug themselves a 3-game hole to start out the year in a very tough division. The other Southern Division game pits 1-1 Memphis against 1-1 Tampa Bay. In the Central the Chicago Machine can move to 3-0 if they can beat the Texas Outlaws in Soldier Field. Houston takes their 2-0 record to New Orleans while Jim Kelly stays home recuperating. In the Pacific it is Denver at 2-0 Portland and Arizona hoping their trip to St. Louis does not produce the Knights’ first win. A couple of good matchups in the interdivisional games as well, with Michigan at New Jersey and Oakland going across the country to face the Jacksonville Bulls.

Football is back. The USFL returns for season 11, and if this week is any indication, the league is wide open. Will Houston repeat? Will Pittsburgh take another step? Who will win the topsy-turvy Pacific, and just what will Bobby Hebert and Bernie Kosar do? Bobby Hebert’s return to the USFL got off to a good start on Sunday as the Invaders held off the Renegades to win their home opener. Hebert was a little out of synch with his new teammates, completing only 57.6% of his passes, but he got help from Siran Stacy, whose 88 yards and 1 TD helped the Invaders start the season off with a 10-point win. The big hero of the day was not Hebert, but young CB Aeneas Williams, who followed up a solid rookie year with a great first day of season two. His late game interception return moved Oakland from a 17-14 precarious lead to a 10-point lead that would hold. The Renegades came into the game expecting to use a well-practiced combo of Collier to Jefferson to overrun the Invaders. Jefferson had an impressive day, catching 10 balls, but was unable to get the deep ball as those 10 catches added up to only 99 yards. Collier threw 55 times on the day, finding 9 different receivers on the day, but they had trouble getting the ball over the endline and had to settle for 2 first half field goals as their only scoring until the 4th quarter. Hebert, who went 19 of 33 had a strong first drive, one which ended with him finding ALL-USFL receiver Henry Ellard for a short TD score. His top receiver on the day would not be either Ellard or Duper, as he found a connection with 3rd wideout Ed McCaffrey to the tune of 6 receptions for 85 yards. Leading 14-6 at the half, Oakland escaped a scoreless 3rd quarter and added a field goal in the 4th to go up by 11. Orlando put a scare into the Invaders however when Reggie Collier led a 10-play drive that ended with John Jefferson scoring from only 3 yards out. Oakland converted the 2-point conversion and suddenly it was 17-14 with all to play for. But, after a good Oakland punt put Orlando on their own 10 yard line with only 1:15 to go, a mistake by Collier turned the game from a nail biter to a comfortable win. Collier tried to hit Wamon Buggs in the flat, but the route was jumped by Aeneas Williams, who easily glided into the endzone for 6, and the Oakland win. While hardly the high-flying offense of the early Michigan Panther years, Hebert’s performance was solid and the air of excitement in Oakland was palpable. The Invaders are hoping for a second ring and they see Hebert as the man who can lead them there. NJ 23 CHI 34 The Bernie Kosar-Marty Schottenheimer combo got off to a fast start in Chicago as the veteran QB exploited the New Jersey defense for 339 yards and 4 TD’s. Kosar spread the ball to 9 receivers as Haynes, Walls, and Wendell Davis each had over 80 yards receiving. For New Jersey, Lam Jones topped 100 yards and Herschel Walker rushed for 82 as New Jersey tried to keep pace. A late Reggie Langhorne TD for Chicago put the game out of reach and the Machine start the season off looking like a contender. PHI 17 HOU 20 New Head Coach Raymond Berry got a good performance from his new Stars, but in the end the defending champs had just enough to pull out a win at home. Houston held Kelvin Bryant in check and allowed new Stars QB Chuck Long only 181 yards on 28 completions, but the revamped Philly defense was also looking like they have hit midseason form, holding Thurman Thomas to 87 yards rushing and limiting Houston’s scoring, even if the Gamblers were able to muster 400 yards of offense on the day. PIT 17 MGN 30 Just 3 days after head coach Jim Stanley announced that 1993 would be his last season as a pro football coach, his Panthers showed that they plan to make Stanley’s retirement tour one to remember. Michigan forced 4 takeaways, including 2 picks of Alan Risher. They also held Mike Rozier to a paltry 23 yards rushing as they dominated the Eastern Conference Champs. Jack Trudeau threw for 233 and 2 scores and Rodney Culver added another as Michigan pleased the home crowd on opening weekend. WSH 25 NOR 34 Citing a greater familiarity with the offense, New Orleans Head Coach Bill Arnsparger chose Danny McManus to start week one, and McManus responded with a 4 TD 0 Int day against the usually tough Washington pass defense. He was aided by some huge plays from WR Qadry Ismail, who caught 3 balls, but in those 3 catches gained 134 yards and 2 scores. The Breakers were also aided by a pass rush that knocked Don Majkowski out in the 2nd quarter. The Breakers ended the game with 5 sacks, 2 of Majkowski and 3 of his understudy, Mike Hohensee. BAL 24 TEX 31 Texas completed the Central Division’s sweep of the 5 Atlantic Division teams as the Outlaws got scores from 3 different rushers (Cobb, Undra Johnson, and rookie Roosevelt Potts) and withstood a late Baltimore rally to take the home win in their first game at the newly christened AlamoDome. Over 45,000 showed up to welcome the Outlaws to their new home, and they did not go home disappointed. JAX 34 ARZ 24 The Bulls started off strong as they got two pick sixes of Robbie Bosco to overpower the Wranglers. Tony Eason had a rough day, throwing 2 picks of his own, but Bosco, who threw 3 TD’s saw both of his mistakes turn into instant points for Texas. Arizona’s modified West Coast Offense had its moments and Bruce Hill topped 100 yards receiving as Bosco adjusts to the new elements of the passing game. MEM 20 DEN 13 New Denver Coach Wade Phillips had his defense ready to play, but there are still some kinks to work out for the Gold’s offense. Natrone Means had trouble finding holes in a top notch Memphis line, rushing for only 24 yards on 9 carries. Memphis fared better as Greg Boone rushed for 87 yards on the day. The difference in the game, one Denver led 13-12 after 3 quarters, was a late Carl Pickens TD grab followed by a successful 2-pointer as the Showboats escaped the showdown at Mile High. TBY 3 POR 28 Tampa looked out of sorts from the start. Maybe it was the cross-country flight, or maybe it was Portland’s young defenders flying all over the field, but the Bandits simply did not put up much of a fight. Troy Aikman was sacked 5 times in the game and tossed a costly INT on their one deep drive into Portland territory. Meanwhile Cris Carter caught 3 TD’s in his 6 receptions to help Portland build up an insurmountable lead. BIR 31 STL 17 Brett Favre threw three interceptions in his first action of the year, but he made up for it by tossing 4 TD’s, including an amazing 82-yarder to TE Shannon Sharpe, who ended the day with 136 yards and 6 receptions to lead the team. Lawrence Dawsey had a huge day as well, catching 6 balls for 127 and 2 scores. For St. Louis, both Rocket Ismail and Eric Martin had over 100 yards receiving, but the Knights could not turn yardage into points. Yes, there were several QB’s who threw for 4 scores this week, including Brett Favre, Danny McManus, and Kerwin Bell, but we are going to give our accolades to the old man, Bernie Kosar, who has come into Chicago as part of Coach Schottenheimer’s reconfiguring of the underachieving Machine. Kosar, who became a hero to the city of Cleveland under Schottenheimer during his NFL days, was unceremoniously released by the Browns in the offseason and Schottenheimer jumped on him, trading away long-time Machine Starter Chuck Long to free up cap space. Kosar is seen as a short-term answer, but if the Machine can actually win more than 8 games and make the playoffs in the short term, then it is absolutely worth it. His game against New Jersey, 31 of 41 for 339 and the 4 scores, was a great start to what Chicago fans hope is an upward trajectory for their frustratingly underachieving USFL squad. Special kudos as well to two rookies who have informed the league that they are ready for USFL football. WR Qadry Ismail was the master of the deep ball for the Breakers, catching only 3 balls, but racking up 134 yards and 2 scores in those three catches. On the opposite end of the spectrum we have the new centerfielder for the Oakland Invaders, Strong Safety John Lynch, who proved to be a big hitter this week with 11 tackles and a key fumble recovery. MICHIGAN: As we mentioned earlier in the article, Michigan coach Jim Stanley has announced that he will retire from football after this season. Stanley, who has won 2 USFL titles with the Panthers, has been in coaching since 1958, serving as a Defensive Coordinator for several schools before getting his first head coaching job at Oklahoma State in 1973. He would later go on to work in the NFL with the Giants and Falcons before jumping to the USFL in its inaugural season. 1992 marks his 11th season as the leader of the Panthers, a mark matched only by Steve Spurrier in Tampa Bay. His Panthers were one of the powerhouse teams of the mid-80’s and while success has been harder to come by in recent years, the proud Stanley is still a very respected name around the league. NEW ORLEANS: With the success he had this week, Danny McManus is beginning to sound like a starting QB in the Big Easy. In his post-game interview, McManus brushed off suggestions that he needs to watch his back for the expensive Timm Rosenbach, coming to New Orleans in a trade with Jacksonville. “I am the starter this week, and I expect to be the starter every week unless I screw up. I don’t plan to screw this up. So get used to interviewing me after we win.” That is the type of confidence we like to see in a QB. So now we watch Rosenbach and see how he handles yet another QB competition where he is not the week one starter. LOS ANGELES: The William Tatham-led LA Expansion franchise, due to come into the USFL in 1995, is not wasting any time building up their plans for a return to USFL action. The Express opened a downtown LA office this week, and held a press conference to show off an updated team logo. The “New Express” will retain the navy and silver primary palette of the original club, along with the streaking “LA” logo, but have replaced burgundy red with a light blue, called “Steel” in the media release. According to Tatham, the double blue scheme will separate the team from other USFL squads, along with other unnamed teams (Cowboys?). The new logo will look familiar to fans of the original Express, but the sharp-eyed will notice the use of the new Steel Blue in the logo itself, adding depth to the streaking LA monogram. Uniform designs are not expected until the 1994 season, when the Express will host “scouting parties” around LA to watch other USFL games and get fans excited about the upcoming expansion draft. Still no word on which other cities will be in contention for USFL expansion, but news on that front is expected soon. It’s not really football without hard hits and that also means injuries. A few big ones to report this week and a lot of players dinged up but likely to play next week. The big losses include Houston tackle Ken Reeves, who could miss as much as 3 months; Jacksonville guard Duval Love, expected to be out at least 2 months; St. Louis CB Troy Vincent, who has a partial ACL tear that could cost him 8 weeks; and Tampa legend Eric Truvillion, who could miss a month after a hairline fracture in his femur was detected. Other players who are likely to miss a game or two include Philly WR Gerard Phelan (hip), Washington HB Barry Word (toe), Orlando CB Rickey Reynolds (wrist), Tampa LB Keith McCants (knee) and Chicago HB Ricky Watters (hand). Week two is our first lineup of divisional games, so let the blood feuds be renewed! Philly is in Baltimore and New Jersey visits Washington as the entire Atlantic Division is seeking its first win. In the South, Memphis renews their rivalry with a trip to Birmingham, while it is a North Florida Derby between the Bulls and Bandits at Tampa Stadium. In the Central we have regional rivalries as Michigan visits Chicago and Houston is in San Antonio to face the Outlaws. Oakland will try to move to 2-0 as they visit the Arizona Wranglers, while St. Louis heads up to Mile High to face the Gold. In our two non-divisional games we see New Orleans headed to Pittsburgh and Portland on the long flight all the way to Orlando to face the Renegades.

USA Today, March 6, 1993 As the USFL prepares to initiate it’s 11th season this week, we take a moment to look back on an improbable dream made reality. In 1983 12 owners and 12 franchises looked to do something that had never been done, to not only create a spring football league, but to take on the NFL, sign top name talent and develop a brand that was viewed not as developmental football, or minor-league football, but a major league, a spring league of professional football. THE LEAGUE Ten years in, the dream of David Dixon, John Bassett, and the 11 owners who took a leap of faith that football could be a year-rounds sport has been realized. The league, which began with high hopes, but some clear obstacles, has navigated the treacherous waters of any start up and come out stronger for their tribulations. There were initial signs that the league would be taking this endeavor seriously, the signing of Heisman Winner Herschel Walker prior to the first season was a shot across the bow of the NFL. Hiring quality coaches such as George Allen, Steve Spurrier, Dick Coury, Rollie Dotsch, and Jim Stanley to lead the founding franchises, and the quality of play in an inaugural season that saw new stars emerge, helped to set the foundation for what was to come. The league dealt with two challenges in its second season, first the logistical complications of adding 4 new franchises, and second a significant effort by some owners to push for a shift to a fall season, to directly compete, and perhaps merge, with the NFL. That effort was squelched, and with their commitment to spring football the USFL found willing partners in corporate America and among fans, some of whom wanted year-round football in places like Tampa, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Houston, others who knew that the USFL was their ticket to top tier pro sports, cities like Memphis, Birmingham, Phoenix, San Antonio and Portland. There would be issues along the way, contract squabbles, franchise underfunding and mismanagement, relocations, stadium conflicts, but the USFL stayed the course, building fanbases across the league and proving that they could be financially viable, while also offering a top tier football experience. As the league grew stronger, more expansion became possible, and by 1988 the spring league was at 20 teams and saw average attendance creeping towards 40,000 per team. As we enter a second decade of spring football it hardly seems possible that there was a time when football fans had to sit and wait from February through August for their favorite sport. Today there are barely gaps between the NFL’s Super Bowl and the start of the USFL regular season or between the USFL Summer Bowl and the beginning of NFL play. And along the way stars were born in the USFL. Some, like Walker or Houston’s Jim Kelly, were expected, top college talent that proved their quality in the spring league, others like Tampa Bay legend John Reaves or 2-time champion Bobby Hebert from NE Louisiana U, made a name for themselves in the USFL. Proving they could play the pro game at the top level. Whether you love the slashing running style of Mike Rozier or Joe Cribbs, the power of Kelvin Bryant, or the lightning speed of receivers like Trumaine Johnson, Jackie Flowers, Anthony Carter or Henry Ellard, the USFL had offensive fireworks to entertain the most fickle of football fans. There were also defensive standouts to root for, whether it was sack artists like Junior Ah-You, Reggie White or Ronnie Plaggett, bonecrushing backers like Brian Bosworth, Kiki DeAyala, or John Corker, or gifted pick-off artists like Raphel Cherry or David Martin, the USFL had talent at every level and it shone week in and week out. With recent agreements between the USFL and NFL there is a hard-won peace between the two leagues, both benefitting from the year-round football model, both developing talent and providing opportunities for players to emerge from college and play the game they love for a living. Those who have played or coached in both leagues attest to the level of quality the USFL has brought to their game, and the praise for the professionalism of the USFL and the quality of ownership, staff, and players is a great sign that this league is only just beginning what will be a glorious future. THE TEAMS What began with 12 franchises is now up to 20, and while we saw some initial instability, with Chicago moving to Baltimore, Boston to New Orleans, or Oklahoma to San Antonio, the past few years have been defined by consolidation and the building of a strong fan base in the league’s 20 cities. With expected expansion in 1995, the league hopes to grow to as many as 24 clubs, adding more options for fans around the country. As one would expect of any league, there have been teams that immediately rose to the top, there are those that have struggled, and there are teams that seem to always be in the mix. Tampa Bay was the league’s first champion, winning the title in the summer of 1983. They retain the same head coach after 10 seasons and Coach Spurrier has them looking like contenders again. Philadelphia’s Stars and the Michigan Panthers were two of the early powerhouses, each winning 2 titles within the league’s first 5 seasons. Since then, the title has moved to others, in Houston, Oakland, Washington, and New Jersey. The Houston Gamblers have proven to be the cream of the 1984 expansion crop, appearing in 3 championships, and winning their second title this year. Memphis has also done well, regularly challenging in the playoffs. Two early sad sacks have found a path to success, with both Washington and Pittsburgh finding recent success, and while their 0-5 record in Conference Championships remains a painful truth for their fans, the New Orleans Breakers can boast that they have appeared in the last 9 post-season tournaments, a league record. Only 1 franchise, the 1987 expansion Chicago Machine, have yet to appear in the post-season, while teams like the Breakers, Gamblers, Stars, Bandits, and Panthers have made playoff appearances a regular expectation. As we look at the overall records of each franchise, we can see that this is a league of opportunities, with both teams and players rising up to stake a claim on glory or fading as others take a stronger position. There is opportunity, with the right roster and the right coach, to redefine a franchise’s history. Every March all 20 teams start with a clean slate, and, as we have seen in the past, every team has a shot to put all the pieces together and shoot up the standings and into history. THE PLAYERS As we stated earlier, the USFL has become a league of stars, with players on both sides of the ball setting themselves apart and developing into legends. We include statistics both on the best individual seasons in the league’s first 10 years as well as overall 10-year records. Many of the stars who helped to guide the league in its first seasons are still active and performing at a top level, for others the league was a way to end their professional careers on a high note. And at the same time new stars continue to emerge, records to fall, and stellar performances to engage the fans. Looking at the All Decade record holders, it is exciting to see that so many of the best of the best are still in the league and adding to their records. Three of the Top 5 passing yardage leaders (1-Kelly, 2-Collier, 3-Stoudt) are set to suit up this year, as are 3 of 5 top rushers (Walker, Bryant, Rozier) and 4 of 5 top receivers (Truvillion, Johnson, Holloway, Walters). And while fans still rave about the play of those who have retired, Reaves, Fusina, Cribbs, James, Flowers or Gray, there are new stars on the rise to excite fans and help teams to a championship. Even more exciting is the fact that some of the greatest performances in league history have happened in just the past few years, whether it is Brett Favre’s astounding debut season with 5,169 yards passing and 49 TDs, or mike Rozier’s 1,743 rushing yards in ’92. We have Eric Truvillion holding 3 of the top receiving seasons in league history and John Jefferson challenging Mel Gray’s record of 143 receptions. Ernest Givens caught 23 TD’s last season, only 2 behind the All-Time record, and 4 o the top 5 QBR seasons of all time happened in either 1991 or 1992. Defenders such as DE Phil Hansen or LB’s Brian Bosworth, Eric Kumerow and Marvcus Patton chase the tackles title each year. It is an exciting time for the league, with so many young stars, and so much drama as teams battle to prove their mettle each season. The USFL is here to stay and for fans of football it is now a year-round passion.

USA Today, February 26, 1993 To say that this year’s USFL offseason was won full of surprises is an understatement. It began with the unexpected retirement of halfback Joe Cribbs and gave us one last surprise just 1 week ago, when Chicago finally found their starting QB. Looking back, we saw a somewhat stilted engagement between the USFL and NFL, with the biggest departure from the USFL being QB Gale Gilbert of the Invaders and the biggest NFL import being…well, we will get to that. We also saw a draft that was deep in some key positions (HB, G, DT, DE and S) but somewhat shallow for both the quarterback and wide receiver positions. We also saw some big trades this offseason with the Breakers acquiring their new starting QB from Jacksonville and with Chicago reinventing themselves by trading away QB Chuck Long to the Stars. And, of course, it is never a USFL offseason without a final month that explodes with action with both the college draft and the NFL-USFL window. Before we get to each USFL team’s prospects based on their camp rosters, let’s look first at the Top 5 surprises that came out of these last few months. 5) Denver wins the USFL Draft. That seems to be the consensus. Not only did they meet needs, they also may have built some depth and planned for the future. The Gold got good value at a low cost from their territorial picks, bringing in former Buff LB Greg Biekert as well as BYU Free Safety David Owen. In the Open Draft they went big with their first pick, selecting and signing a bruiser of a back in UNC’s Natrone Means. Means will likely take on the role which Harry Sydney or Barry Foster held in the past, the thunder to Timmy Smith’s lightning. They then added depth at TE with Fred Baxter from Auburn, at wideout, with Miami’s Horace Copeland, and found their kicker of the future in Hawaii’s Jason Elam. The most intriguing pick of their entire draft was a late round flier on Washington Husky QB Mark Brunell. The lefty QB split time with the higher-rated Billy Joe Hobert but has looked very good in camp and may be a 2–3-year project behind starter Dave Krieg. We don’t see a lot of weak spots in this draft, and a lot of upside for a team that needs to make major changes from last year’s 4-win season. 4) A Confusing Pick: Our second surprise decision was Memphis’s 3rd round selection of Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta. Most pundits expected Memphis to either bring in a veteran QB such as the NFL free agent Vinny Testaverde, or to sign a solid backup this year and then make a run at Heath Shuler when he comes out of the U. of Tennessee next year. Signing Torretta, who has not graded out well in the pre-draft workouts, seems counter-productive. It is great for incumbent Mike Kelley, who now has to feel secure that he will be the 1993 starter despite his issues with turnovers the past 2 years. But by signing a high-profile project QB are you undermining the potential to line up Shuler for 1994? It is an unusual move and one that is not inspiring much confidence in the front office. 3) Birmingham's Gambit. When Joe Cribbs announced his retirement, the solid money was for the Stallions to sell off the farm in order to find a replacement. They did not. Yes, they drafted Robert Smith of Ohio State, but very quickly seemed to abandon the hunt to sign him, as he opted for the NFL draft and seems intent on signing there. Birmingham did not sign a high value free agent, or trade for a known commodity. Perhaps there is something we do not know about current incumbent Brent Fullwood, but when the only additional halfback signed this year is a mid-round talent such as Alabama’s Derrick Lassic, it certainly looks like Birmingham and Coach Erhardt are either sold on Fullwood’s talent or are looking to shift to a pass-first philosophy on the strength of 1992 breakout star Brett Favre’s arm. 2) An Old Friend with Very Old Legs: We all thought we knew the plan when Chicago traded away QB Chuck Long, adding draft picks and taking a long look at Notre Dame QB Rick Mirer as a slam dunk Territorial Draft pick. Chicago did as expected, drafted Mirer and immediately began negotiating. For a while it looked like Plan A was fully green-lighted, but somewhere along the way it got sidetracked. No one is quite sure what happened. Perhaps Mirer made it clear that his selection by the Seattle Seahawks made him look at the NFL as his primary interest. Quickly the negotiations with Mirer’s agent stalled and Chicago promptly had to develop a Plan B. It was Coach Schottenheimer who first proposed going with a talent he knew well, and very quickly reached out to former Browns QB Bernie Kosar. Kosar met with Chicago and signed the same day. He is certainly not a long-term QB solution for the Machine, but bringing in a championship caliber QB, one familiar with Coach Schottenheimer’s system, personality, and philosophy may be a good short-term solution. Kosar is only 27 but has a lot of mileage on his never-particularly-stable knees, so we do not expect him to lead the Machine for the next decade, but it makes sense as a bridge until the Machine can find the young QB of their dreams. 1) Oakland Finds their QB: Finally, the one that shook the USFL world, in a good way. One of the league’s early heroes returns. The Cajun Cannon is back in the fold as Oakland surprised everyone by signing the Michigan Panther great. He was not expected to be available, but after talks in New Orleans broke down, Hebert suddenly was open to negotiation with the USFL, and the Invaders jumped all over it. Eschewing options such as Vinny Testaverde or Rich Gannon, other NFL free agents, the Invaders and Coach Vermeil moved quickly to bring Hebert to Oakland and to get him to sign with the Invaders. A two-time USFL champion, Bobby Hebert still holds many USFL records and is regarded as one of the early stars that helped develop the league. His return to the league is seen by many as a sign that the USFL has arrived and does not need to overpay to sign NFL talent, that players want to be in the league, and that top USFL talent is comparable to top NFL talent. For Oakland, the impact is immediate. The Invaders go from a position of weakness after Gilbert left for the NFL, to one of strength. Many will now certainly project Oakland as an immediate championship contender, but we must remember that it has been several years since Hebert suited up for the Michigan Panthers, and that in that time his body has taken quite a pounding in New Orleans. But, cautious optimism aside, USFL fans are just happy to see Bobby back in the fold and back on the field. Before we get to the team profiles, let’s recap a few of the items which have come out of the league’s Winter Meetings. The first update is a good one for William Tatham and his LA Expansion club. The voters of Carson, CA have approved a bond issuance to support the creation of a new 65,000 seat football stadium in the city. The stadium will be home to both the new LA Express, who will begin play in March of 1985, and the NFL’s Los Angeles Raiders. With the bond in place, and with designs already under review, the stadium construction can begin post haste, and there is a possibility that the new facility can be operational in time for the LA Raiders’ 1995 season, with the Express moving in the following spring. Mr. Tatham already has an agreement with the home of the former Express club, Angel Stadium, for the 1995 season, the team’s return to the city. Tatham has also been building a staff for the team,which will draft players, along with the other 1995 expansion team (or teams) in October of 1984. He has hired former Washington Redskin scout and current San Diego Chargers Director of Player Personnel to be his general manager, and has put into place both his financial VP and Director of Football operations. We also have news from Nike regarding the schedule of upcoming team “modernizations”. After giving the Michigan Panthers a new look for 1993’s season, the two clubs on the docket for 1994 are two of the league’s fist champions, the Tampa Bay Bandits and the Philadelphia Stars. Rumors have both clubs retaining their present logo but receiving a secondary logo as well. Secondary logos have become a major part of sports branding in recent years, providing an option for teams to have both a helmet-appropriate image and one that works better on either the sleeve of the jersey or simply in marketing materials. No word yet on whether or not either team will make changes to their color scheme or general look, but more is sure to come on this front. We also have verification that after 1993’s Summer Bowl in New Orleans, the next two USFL Summer Bowls will continue the Western Conference – Eastern Conference swapping, with Birmingham’s Legion Field selected to host the 1994 championship game, and then for Denver’s Mile High Stadium to become the first locale to host a second Summer Bowl. Of course, when Denver hosted the first USFL Championship it was not yet called the Summer Bowl, but 1995, the league’s 12th season, will return to the Rockies. ATLANTIC DIVISION Predicted Finish: 1-Pittsburgh 2-New Jersey 3-Washington 4-Baltimore 5-Philadelphia Predicted MVP: Eric Kumerow-LB-PIT Predicted ROY: Michael Barrow-LB-WSH PITTSBURGH MAULERS (10-6, Conference Champions) Free Agent Update: The turnover for the Maulers was on the O-line, where they lost both C Roman Fortin and T Doug Reisenberg. They hope that signing Doug Gamboa from Chicago will help at Center but waited until the 3rd round of the draft to try to replace Reisenberg. Good Looking Rookies: Demetrius DuBose looks like the real deal at LB and may crack the starting lineup very soon. Another possible contributor is Bob Kuberski out of Navy at DE. Outlook: The Maulers made the leap last year, from marginal playoff team to championship contender. They have a solid returning corps to make another run. The Key may be just how well their two hardest hit squads, O-line and linebacker, recover from losses this offseason. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (5-11, 3rd in Atlantic) Free Agent Update: New Jersey had one key signing in the offseason, snagging strong safety Eric McMillian to replace the retiring Gary Barbaro. Is that one signing enough? Good Looking Rookies: Five of New Jersey’s 7 signees will be on the defensive side. Of those we have seen in camp so far, the most likely to get some playing time early are DT Leonard Renfro of Colorado and DE Albert Fontenot of Baylor. Outlook: We believe New Jersey can compete in the Atlantic, if for no other reason than we see Washington fading and the Generals have more to offer than Baltimore or Philly at this stage. Are they a potential 12-4 juggernaut? No. Can they win 9-10 games and get a playoff game this year? Very possibly. WASHINGTON FEDERALS (10-6, 2nd in Atlantic) Free Agent Update: They knew they could not resign Charles Haley, and so they will have to deal with that big loss. They did sign Ken Lanier to replace the departed Jim Lachey, which seems a pretty fair swap. Other than that they largely stayed out of the free agent fray. Good Looking Rookies: Other than first round pick Derrick Barrow, the LB out of Miami, there was not a lot that impressed the pundits about the Washington draft. HB Terry Kirby of UVa is unlikely to unseat Barry Word, and Mitch Lyons at TE is not a major offensive weapon either. Outlook: A lot of folks are expecting the Federals to take a step back this season, and we count ourselves among them. There just was not much added this year to feel that they are keeping pace with other playoff contenders. BALTIMORE BLITZ (5-11, 4th in Atlantic) Free Agent Update: While the Blitz snagged a solid LB in Todd Bell during Free Agency, their biggest move was to acquire WR Mervyn Fernandez from the NFL to replace the retired Jackie Flowers. Fernandez brings speed that the Blitz sorely need. Good Looking Rookies: With Barry Foster simply not providing what the Blitz need at HB, they went out and signed Notre Dame’s Reggie Brooks to try to add more elusivity and big play potential. Expect Brooks and Foster to share time as the Blitz try to figure out an inside-outside run game. 2nd round pick Lamar Thomas from Miami adds more speed to the wide receiver group as well. Outlook: Year two of the Lindy Infante era seems to be focused on adding more explosiveness on offense and more depth on defense. That is a good idea as both were lacking last year. A lot will ride on how Chris Miller plays in his second year with the team. There are still many not sold on him as a playoff caliber QB. PHILADELPHIA STARS (4-12, 5th in Atlantic) Free Agent Update: The Stars needed to upgrade in several areas and were aggressive in the offseason to do so. Adding Chuck Long is a very solid move as Browning Nagle struggled to produce wins last year. Signing Ed Brady at LB and Esera Tuaolo at DT is perhaps more important as the defense was simply not tough enough last year. The third piece of the puzzle was signing SS Marcus Quinn from Oakland to solidify the central spine of the defense. Good Looking Rookies: Philly drafted two guards and two cornerbacks in hopes that one will emerge as a first-year starter, but the player who seems to be winning folks over in camp is former Penn State wideout O.J. McDuffie, who may unseat Tom Donovan outside along with Mike Quick. Outlook: When you win 4 games and then bring in a whole new coaching staff, you have to expect some growing pains and some tough lessons. We expect Philly to slowly improve over the season, but they will have their struggles as they start to build a new identity. SOUTHERN DIVISION Predicted Finish: 1-Tampa Bay 2-Memphis 3-Birmingham 4-Jacksonville 5-Orlando Predicted MVP: Brett Favre-QB-BIR Predicted ROY: Deon Figures-CB-MEM TAMPA BAY BANDITS (9-7, 3rd in Southern) Free Agent Update: Tampa lost LB Ed Brady, a team captain in past years, but gained Bobby Houston, a faster, more versatile player at the position. So, they will need a new leader to emerge, but we expect the defense to look a bit faster. The tougher loss may be that of retired Roy Gee from the secondary. Good Looking Rookies: Tampa signed CB Darien Gordon from Stanford to help their secondary, but the biggest improvement may be at guard, where Nebraska’s Will Shields has been impressing everyone in camp. Expect him to start Week One. Outlook: The Bandits have been an up and down team the past two seasons. They lose games they should win and then they win games as soon as you start to give up on them. Aikman is a star, but unless the combo of Bienemy and Harmon can start to produce a solid run game the Bandits will still be too one-dimensional to truly contend for a title. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (10-6, Division Champion) Free Agent Update: Memphis lost 4 contributors in free agency, but only signed one, LB Joe Mott, who is hardly considered a gamechanger. This feels like a team that took a step back because of those losses, and because of an uncertain QB future. Good Looking Rookies: The Gino Torretta signing still baffles us, but we like the signing of Deon Figures at CB and former Razorback Raylee Johnson at DE. With White and Dotson ahead of him, we expect Johnson to mostly come in to rest the big pass rushers on some anticipated running downs. Outlook: Memphis is a very talented team, with a defense that is still likely to be among the league’s elites, but the offense has to be more than just Greg Boone. The Showboats need a more consistent, less reckless Mike Kelley to be successful. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (10-6, 2nd in Southern) Free Agent Update: Birmingham’s signing of Guy McIntyre at guard and George Little at DT are both solid moves, but the loss of Joe Cribbs will be big, and they just did not do enough this offseason to account for that. Good Looking Rookies: Yes, the Stallions added Bama HB Derrick Lassic to back up Brent Fullwood, but the fact that they also drafted and signed two speedy wideouts, Mississippi State’s Olanda Truitt and Central Arkansas’s Tyree Davis tells us that they are shifting gears and may move to more 3-4 receiver sets to try to become a pass-first offense. Outlook: If the shift in offensive philosophy works, and the loss of Cribbs can be minimized by that, then the Stallions may do fine. But if teams are able to play the pass first and all but ignore the run, Brett Favre may find his 2nd year as a starter a much harder one. JACKSONVILLE BULLS (9-7, 4th in Southern) Free Agent Update: The loss of Weegie Thompson is an issue, but signing Robb Thomas, and picking up several draft picks in the Timm Rosenbach trade gave the Bulls the ability to plug a lot of holes and still have a solid passing offense. Bringing in HB Vince Workman could be the biggest move, as he may well prove to provide the inside run game that just never materialized with James Wilder. Good Looking Rookies: LB Jesse Armstead from Miami looks like a keeper, and Oregon safety Eric Reid has been impressive in camp. The rest of the deep draft for Jacksonville looks like roster depth more than immediate impact. Outlook: With Rosenbach shipped off all the pressure of leading the Bulls falls on Tony Eason. Our concern is that it has been extremely rare for Eason to complete a full season. His only 16-game season was back in 1986 with New Orleans. He has missed 22 games in the past 3 years, and now the prime backup is Mike Shula. That should worry the Bulls quite a bit. ORLANDO RENEGADES (9-7, 5th in Southern) Free Agent Update: Orlando lost 2 of their top 3 corners in free agency and retirement. Their response, sign a Center. That could come back to bite them as no team should be playing fast and loose with good corner play in this league. Good Looking Rookies: Orlando tried to answer their corner dilemma with the pick of Ryan McNeil of Miami in the Territorial Draft, but they needed to do more. Outside of the secondary, the other position of draft focus was at guard. Of the two guards drafted, we like Corbin Lacina of Augustana College (SD), but he will need time to adjust to the pro game after playing in Division II. Outlook: The South remains a very even and very good division top to bottom, but when we look at each roster, it is the Renegades who pose the most questions and therefore have the longest hill to climb to return to postseason glory. CENTRAL DIVISION Predicted Finish: 1-Houston 2-Texas 3-New Orleans 4-Chicago 5-Michigan Predicted MVP: Thurman Thomas-HB-HOU Predicted ROY: Qadry Ismail-WR-NOR HOUSTON GAMBLERS (11-5, League Champions) Free Agent Update: The loss of Michael Dean Perry from the nose was expected, but that does not make it any easier to overcome. The defending champs were all but no-shows in free agency, as they focused on resigning their core. The key will be if the DT position can be band-aided. Good Looking Rookies: Houston signed two rookie DT’s in Alabama’s Antonio London and Hawaii’s Maa Tanuvasa. They will likely form a rotation with veteran Ike Readon, unless one can shine once the games begin. Another player who may get some serious PT is safety Brock Marion from Nevada, who has been all over the field in camp. Outlook: They are the league champions because they have talent all over the roster. Barring a collapse or a very unlucky season with injuries, it is hard not to look at Houston as a favorite again. TEXAS OUTLAWS (7-8-1, 3rd in Central) Free Agent Update: Signing Arnoldo Gardner from the Panthers is a boon for Reggie Cobb, as Gardner is an outstanding run blocker, but it may not be so great for Kelly Stouffer. No starting tackle has given up more sacks in the past 5 seasons than Gardner. Good Looking Rookies: The Outlaws draft was about depth. Backup QB Alex Van Pelt from Pitt, backup HB Roosevelt Potts from NE Louisiana, and backup TE John Henry Mills from Wake Forest will all contribute, but expect to see a very similar starting 22 on the field for Texas this year. Outlook: Texas was a few bad breaks from a very strong season. We think this time the breaks will go there way and their talent, particularly on offense, will carry them to the playoffs. Their defense needs to stop giving up big plays, and if they can just hold teams to 20-23 points, the offense should pull out a lot of wins. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (10-6, 2nd in Central) Free Agent Update: The injury that forced Matt Robinson into retirement also forced New Orleans to make some risky moves, none riskier than bringing in Timm Rosenbach to compete with Danny McManus at QB. The bigger issue is that the Breakers lost 5 solid players to retirement, including their #1 receiver and 3 defensive stalwarts. Their signing of tackle Doug Reisenberg and safety Patrick Gannon hardly seems to even the score. Good Looking Rookies: Qadry Ismail will hope to contribute in a receiving corps that lacks a clear #1, but other than his signing, the Breakers did not do much to impress us. Outlook: The defense and some good play from McManus saved the season for New Orleans last year, but that defense looks pretty deflated after the wave of retirements, and we are not sure that the offense will be anything special either. New Orleans could be headed for a precipitous fall. CHICAGO MACHINE (7-9, 5th in Central) Free Agent Update: Bernie Kosar? Really? Well, it had better work. Chicago made some good moves in free agency, signing DT Kevin Fagan and CB Derrick Burroughs. The defense could see some improvement, and if Marty is right about bringing in the veteran Kosar, the Machine could be there to contend with Houston if both Texas and New Orleans fail to rise to the occasion. Good Looking Rookies: We like DE Chris Slade from UVa, but we love safety George Teague from Alabama. We expect him to be making plays very early in this season. Outlook: We know, we know. Every year we all get excited about Chicago as a hot pick to rise to the top of the league, and every year they end up with 7-8 wins. But we just cannot give up picking them. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (7-9, 4th in Central) Free Agent Update: Letting Vince Workman go makes sense, especially if Rodney Culver can stay healthy. Letting Gardner go and replacing him with former Fed Jim Lachey feels like an upgrade too. But if that is all, is it enough to right what may be a sinking ship? Good Looking Rookies: There is some good talent in this draft haul, DE Michael McCrary, TE Tony McGee, DT Gilbert Brown, and FB Lorenzo Neal all look legit, from what we can tell in camp. But, are these the positions Michigan needs to upgrade? Outlook: The Panthers have the feel of a team past their prime and on the downward slope. Coach Stanley, for all his accolades in the mid-80’s, will have to prove he has what it takes this year to rebound, or he may be on the hotseat. The USFL, like most pro sports leagues, is a “what have you done for me lately” endeavor. PACIFIC DIVISION Predicted Finish: 1-Oakland 2-Arizona 3-St. Louis 4-Portland 5-Denver Predicted MVP: Henry Ellard-WR-OAK Predicted ROY: Natrone Means-HB-DEN OAKLAND INVADERS (10-6, Division Champions) Free Agent Update: Oakland lost 3 key players from last year’s 10-6 squad, but may actually be better. Adding Cary Conklin and 2-time champion QB Bobby Hebert to the QB group is a huge upgrade, one which may return the Invaders to the Summer Bowl sooner rather than later. Good Looking Rookies: Oakland also added some solid talent in the draft. Strong Safety John Lynch from Stanford was a very shrewd T-Draft signing, Glyn Milburn at HB is another good pickup, and getting help on the O-line by picking and signing Iowa’s big and powerful Mike Devlin can only help. Outlook: Sure, it may be Hebert-mania, but we are high on Oakland to get back to championship form. They were good last year, but look stronger and potentially much more dangerous with Hebert on board. ARIZONA WRANGLERS 9-7, 2nd in Pacific) Free Agent Update: Ed Weaver’s retirement left a big hole on the line, but signing the #1 overall free agent in DE Charles Haley has fans giddy about the potential pass rush the Wranglers can develop. Good Looking Rookies: A mean & potatoes draft with 4 linemen signed. Maybe not immediate help, but depth and the ability to rotate in players. The one rookie who may get to start is fullback Richie Anderson from Penn State, and don’t be surprised if former Hoosier QB Trent Green competes with Scott Mitchell for the backup position behind Bosco. Outlook: The Wranglers spent big to get Haley, which means they did not do much to upgrade other positions. If Haley improves the pass rush the way most expect, the Wranglers D could make a big leap and that will benefit the whole team. ST. LOUIS KNIGHTS (7-9, 4th in Pacific) Free Agent Update: The Knights lost 3 players to retirement, the biggest being TE Todd Christiansen, but adding Alex Higdon from Philly should help soften that blow. And don’t sleep on Terrance Flagler as a replacement for Tim Richardson. With Jordan and Thompson carrying most of the load, Flagler can come in on 3rd down and be an effective receiver. Good Looking Rookies: The Knights looked to add depth and more “pop” to their LB corps, and it looks like they signed two good ones in Middle Tennessee’s Mike Caldwell and Tulsa’s Barry Minter. They also added a potential H-back tight end in U. of Maryland’s Frank Wycheck to go along with Higdon’s more traditional TE skills. Outlook: Coach Elway saw good improvement from the squad he took over 2 years ago. They are on an upward trajectory, though most are still not sold on Dan McGwire at the helm. If McGwire falters, expect to see David Archer take over. Solid QB play, and the continued development of Darrell Thompson as a lead back are key to the continued upward climb of the Knights. PORTLAND THUNDER (8-8, 3rd in Pacific) Free Agent Update: We do not like Portland losing 3 of their best defenders in LB Houston, DT Tuaolo, and SS McMillian. That is going to hamper a defense that already had issues. Vencie Glenn is a good add at safety, but Jamie Kimmel, while decent, is not going to replace Houston. Good Looking Rookies: Portland’s first five draft picks were on defense, so it is clear they know where the problem on their roster lies. How many of those picks will get significant playing time? We like Alabama DE Eric Curry to be on the field a lot, especially in passing downs, and DT Chidi Ahanotu should be part of a D-line rotation as well. LB Lewis Bush from Washington State is likely going to need a year to just get up to speed, but may play some as well. Outlook: Portland made the playoffs despite a very mediocre 8-8 season. We don’t think that will happen again. They need to take a step forward and develop some real playmakers on both sides of the ball. It cannot all be Cris Carter making amazing sideline catches. DENVER GOLD (4-12, 5th in Pacific) Free Agent Update: Denver lost Patrick Gannon at strong safety, which is a problem, but adding the best DT in the free agent pool in former Gambler Michael Dean Perry will also help the secondary. Perry is a space hog in the middle, which helps against the run, but also will free up Larry White and Vince Rafferty to rush the passer. Good Looking Rookies: We have already declared Denver the winner of the 1993 USFL Draft. We love the signing of LB Greg Biekert out of the U of Colorado, and we see UNC’s Natrone Means as a perfect fit for a power running game. If Horace Copeland can provide some spark to a lackluster receiving corps, the Gold may see quick results. Outlook: Wade Phillips inherits a roster that simply did not have much gamebreaking ability on it. It will likely take at least one more draft to change that dynamic, but at least this year’s Gold are likely to have a more consistent run game and a harder hitting defense. It likely is not enough to move them up the divisional standings yet, but it is a start. OUR 1993 SEASON PREDICTIONS We have proven over the years that we are not great at this, but you expect it of us, so here it is. Don't place any bets based on this prediction. We have not been on point once in 10 years. USFL Championship: After just barely edging out Oakland in the Conference Final, we see Houston returning to the Summer Bowl. There they will face a dangerous Tampa Bay Bandits squad. It will likely be an aerial show, but in the end we are picking the Houston Gamblers to become the first club in USFL history to repeat, and the first 3-time champions. USFL MVP: After the year Brett Favre had last year, his first as a starter, we would be crazy not to pick him as this year’s MVP. He will have to hold off a bevvy of quality running backs, including the 1992 MVP Mike Rozier, and the versatile Thurman Thomas, to do so, but with the entire Stallion offense now squarely on his shoulders, we think he will come through with another strong, if not record-setting season. USFL Rookie of the Year: If for no other reason than that he will get the carries and the opportunities to succeed, we have to go with Denver HB Natrone Means, but keep your eyes out for Chicago DE Chris Slade or Portland DE Eric Curry. Both will be expected to produce sacks and pressures as starting ends, and if either can have a year like Santana Dotson did last year, they could get into this conversation.

Sporting News, December 18, 1992 Happy Holidays to all, and to all a hot stove. Nearly five months into free agency, the NFL-USFL Transfer Window opening in 3 weeks and the USFL draft only 6 weeks away, and what do we know? We know that there are still some teams in dire need of some talent at key positions. Every team has needs but some squads seem to be cutting it close as the offseason reaches its final weeks. But, with the draft and the NFL window still ahead, there is time for your favorite franchise to get those quality pieces that could make the difference between success and failure, a deep playoff run and a losing season. We are going to look at what is still on the Christmas (or Hanukkah) wish list for each USFL franchise, but first lets review what has happened since our September league update. FREE AGENCY SIGNINGS With the NFL Transfer window closed, it was all about signing those last few USFL free agents, and we can now safely say that pretty much the cupboard is bare, at least as far as starting talent is concerned. Here are the major signings over the past 3 months: TAMPA BAY: The Bandits got the biggest fish of the remaining free agents, signing former Portland LB Bobby Houston to a 4-year deal. Houston will likely take the weakside, opposite Mike backer Keith McCants, with either Keith DeLong or Derrick Little in the middle. Houston brings a fierce competitive nature to the position, In his 3 years in Portland he has accumulated 273 tackles, including a 104-tackle season in 1991. He can also cover or blitz, with 3 interceptions and 7 sacks to his young career, a real find for the Bandits. BIRMINGHAM: Signed DT George Little from Philly. After 8 seasons with the Stars, Little will try his luck at the center of the Stallion line. His last two seasons have been his strongest, not something you usually hear for a lineman in his late 20’s. He had 43 tackles and 17 for a loss in 1991, dropping off a little with 34 and 9 last season on a pretty rough Philadelphia defense. Lined up next to Collin Scotts, with Anthony Pleasant and Darryl Williams on the outside, expect Little’s numbers to go up in his 9th season. CHICAGO: The Machine are starting to rebuild a defense that slid in Coach Schottenheimer’s first year. Signing the best CB in the free agent pool, Memphis’s Derrick Burroughs, is a good place to start. Burroughs has averaged over 80 tackles a season the past 4 years in Memphis, and has twice been among the interception leaders. Lined up in the nickel with Robert Massey and Eric Thomas, the Chicago secondary could be a very dangerous crew indeed. HOUSTON: The Gamblers added some muscle on the line, signing former Bandit guard Bob Sims. Sims will almost certainly line up at right guard with All-USFL guard John Rienstra solidly entrenched at left guard. NEW ORLEANS: The Breakers tried to recover from losing several players in the early part of free agency, signing SS Patrick Gannon from the Gold as a means of restocking their defensive core. Gannon did not get much press attention in Denver, but his play has been solid since coming into the league with the Gold in 1983. After 10 seasons at Mile High, which have seen him accumulate 567 tackles, he will likely finish his career in the Big Easy. OAKLAND: The Invaders started addressing their QB woes by signing former Memphis backup Cary Conklin. Conklin has started a grand total of 6 games in his 3 year career, but has a lifetime record of 9 TD to 7 Int. While he hardly seems the answer at QB, we could see Conklin as a solid backup to the Invader starter. Now, of course, the question is whether or not Oakland has a plan to bring in a true starter. Is a draft day trade in the works? In other signings, Philadelphia added some quality to their secondary by signing Oakland SS Marcus Quinn. Pittsburgh started rebuilding their offensive line by inking former Machine center Doug Gamboa to a 3-year deal. Portland did what it could to replace Bobby Houston by signing General LB Jamie Kimmel, and Memphis added a solid and versatile backer to their linebacking group in former Knight Joe Mott. TRADES As the Free Agent Pool cooled down, the trade wires started to heat up. We all knew that with several teams reevaluating their QB position, that there was a chance for some shuffling of the deck among the league’s starters and overqualified backups. We saw some of that this past month, with players and draft picks in the mix. Everyone knew TIMM ROSENBACH was on the block, and it was pretty obvious that with so many teams looking for a starter that he was going to go. After talks with at least 3 teams, the New Orleans Breakers made the best deal, this year’s 2nd and 4th round picks. So, Rosenbach heads to his third team in 4 years, hoping that this time the starting job will be his. He will have to compete with Danny McManus, who had a solid performance this summer, but will be the favorite to get the job after his own strong outing in relief of Tony Eason. As expected, with Rosenbach, McManus and Pease all under contract, the Breakers have released Matt Dunigan. Dunigan is likely to return to the Canadian game, where his initial success got him the attention of the USFL. We thought that with Rosenbach clearly in place, that the only other QB movement might be with Oakland, or some lower level trades of backups, but Coach Schottenheimer in Chicago is trying to put his stamp on the franchise. After six years of pretty solid numbers but few wins to show for it, CHUCK LONG is out as the Machine QB. Long has accumulated 18,723 yards and a 93-68 TD-INT rate over 6 years, hardly poor numbers, but he simply has not been able to convert stats into wins. Coach Schottenheimer opted to start fresh, perhaps with Scott Zolak, who played well in limited action this year, but more likely we should expect the Machine to draft and then work hard to sign Notre Dame QB Rick Mirer. Chicago has Notre Dame as a protected school and could begin to speak with Mirer as soon as the Irish complete their season with an appearance in the Cotton Bowl against Texas A&M. This seems the path Schottenheimer has chosen, and in so doing he picks up a draft pick and a player. Schottenheimer sends Chuck Long to Philadelphia, where he will compete with Browning Nagle for the starting job. Philadelphia sends Chicago their 3rd round pick along with backup center Kendall Farrell. Chicago then turned around and sent their 4th round pick to Arizona to bring another Golden Domer back to Chicago, trading for former Blitz QB Blair Kiel as a security blanket for Zolak and an emergency starter if the Rick Mirer gambit does not pay off. Arizona, with Robbie Bosco and Scott Mitchell ahead of Kiel on the depth chart will now likely take a flier on a lower round rookie QB to develop. The final big trade, and the only one which did not involve a QB, was Washington’s attempt to get a 2nd HB on the roster, likely to share carries with Barry Word. Having lost Jenkins in free agency and Covington to retirement, the Feds needed help at the position, and they think they have found it in Orlando’s CURVIN RICHARDS. Richards, who looked like a solid product coming out of Pitt 2 years ago, but could not bust past Todd Fowler, Dalton Hilliard or (in 1991) Curtis Bledsoe. Washington sees parallels in the straight ahead rushing style between Richards and Word, allowing them to maintain a battering ram style inside run game regardless of who is lined up behind the QB. To get Richards the Feds shipped a 4th round pick and CB Thomas Pittman to Orlando, receiving the HB and a 5th round pick in return. PRE-DRAFT NEEDS With all of these moves, there still remain some serious questions out there. As we look at each team’s draft prospects, we are going to focus on the key positions of need, and the best option for each team. ARIZONA: The Wranglers need a DT to put between Noga and Charles Haley. They could go with Ty Parten from ASU in the Territorial Draft, or swing for the fences and draft Dana Stubblefield out of Kansas. BALTIMORE: Despite having Barry Foster, we still think Baltimore wants a more dynamic and versatile back. The best back in the T-Draft for them is UNC’s Natrone Means, but he is basically a Foster clone, so we think they will wait for the open draft and make a run for a dual threat back like Garrison Hearst or Robert Smith. BIRMINGHAM: The Stallions have to draft a runner, no choice. It won’t come in their T-Draft, so look for them to look long and hard at Hearst, Smith, Jerome Bettis and Adrian Murrell. CHICAGO: We all know what to say here. It is all about getting Rick Mirer to move the short distance from South Bend to Soldier Field. Is ownership ready to pony up the big bucks to sign the “next Montana”? DENVER: Denver is another team hoping that a choice HB, one with an eye on the USFL, will fall in their lap. They have an early pick, so it will be about picking wisely. We think a big bruising back like Bettis or Means makes the most sense for the Gold and their style of play. HOUSTON: The new league champs don’t have a lot of needs, but with Michael Dean Perry following the money to Denver, they do need help on the nose. Best prospects for them include Colorado’s Leonard Renfro, Kansas’s Stubblefield, or FSU’s Carl Simpson. JACKSONVILLE: The Bulls want to free up their outside receivers by having a TE who can threaten the middle. Not a lot of those prospects out there, but they could look at Wake Forest’s John Henry Mills in the Territorial Draft or wait for a shot at Notre Dame’s Irv Smith or Michigan’s Tony McGee. MEMPHIS: It does not look like Memphis is going to take a shot at a QB. They are thinking of their defense, and that means looking at CB, with Derrick Burroughs gone. They have a good one just waiting for them at Rocky Top, Volunteer Dave Thomas. MICHIGAN: Michigan has needs across the defense, which means they could go in a lot of different directions. Their best Territorial option might be Spartan LB Ty Hallock or Toledo DE Dan Williams. In the Open Draft, don’t be surprised if they make a run for Stubblefield or LB Demetrius DuBose from Notre Dame. NEW JERSEY: Another team looking for help on the D-line. They could go with one of the tackles, but they might be better off trying to find a speed guy to line up on the other side from Phil Hansen. The best speed rusher that could be available for them would be Alabama’s Eric Curry (if Birmingham passes). NEW ORLEANS: The Breakers lost a lot in this offseason, but they have their QB in Rosenbach, so now they can focus on replacing some of the other losses. The retirement of Charlie Smith leaves a big gap at wideout. We love Miami’s Kevin Williams here, and if not, then perhaps another Hurricane in Horace Copeland. OAKLAND: They are not going QB here, are they? Who would it be? We don’t see them taking the longshot at Bledsoe, who seems a sure shot for the NFL’s first pick to New England. And with Chicago locking in on Mirer, that leaves UW’s Billy Joe Hobert or Heisman Winner Gino Torretta. Neither of those seem good choices. So if they are looking to the NFL window for a QB, what happens here? ORLANDO: The Renegades desperately need to get more help at the corner to compete in the Southern Division. With the U. of Miami on their protected list, we would expect them to try to sign Hurricane CB Ryan McNeil. And if not, perhaps they go for Ray Buchanon of Louisville. PHILADELPHIA: We are ruling out QB now that Chuck Long is in the QB room in Philly, so that leaves guard as their pressing need. There are some good ones at the top of the ratings, including South Carolina’s Ernest Dye, Jackson State’s Lester Holmes, and Penn State’s Todd Rucci. They can start talking to Rucci as soon as January 2, the day after Penn State appears in the Blockbuster Bowl. PITTSBURGH: The Maulers are still hoping to add some speed to their LB corps. With no help in their Territorial Schools, they will have to look at Round 1 of the open draft and hope that either FSU’s Marvin Jones or Clemson’s Wayne Simmons is not chosen as part of the territorial draft of other teams. PORTLAND: I feel like we say this every year, but Portland has to figure out how to stop the run. That means DT or DE. Too bad their territorial schools are mostly graduating linebackers. For a DE they will need to go to the open draft. There they could do worse than Viginia’s Chris Slade. ST. LOUIS: The Knights could go guard, tackle, or linebacker. A lot of options for a team in the middle of the pack. Looking at their protected schools, the best option might be to start negotiating with Iowa center Mike Devlin, and if not, then try to add some speed with wideout Victor Bailey from Mizzou. TAMPA BAY: Safety is the most glaring need for the Bandits, and the best one they might have a chance at is Texas A&M’s Patrick Bates. If Houston protects him, then look for Alabama’s George Teague or UNC’s Rondell Jones. TEXAS: Guard or DT is the likely pick, and Jackson State’s Lester Holmes would be right at home in San Antonio with the Outlaws. WASHINGTON: They could replace Charles Haley’s pressure with a young speedy DE or with an aggressive OLB. Chris Slade, the technically sound DE from UVa could be a no brainer in the Territorial Draft. If that works out, they may still go for a LB like Notre Dame’s Demetrius DuBose or Miami’s Michael Barrow to add even more speed. NFL NEWS Before we go, one quick bit of NFL news. Just as the USFL has committed to expanding to LA and between 1-3 additional cities in 1995, the NFL too has opted to push their franchise count to 30 in the same year. This week the senior league announced the 5 finalists for an NFL franchise in 1995. They include the former NFL and current USFL cities of Baltimore and St. Louis, along with three new locations, one of which is home to a USFL franchise: Charlotte (NC), Nashville (TN), and Memphis (TN). It seems clear that Tennessee is being viewed as prime expansion territory, in no small part due to the box office success of the Memphis Showboats, we expect. With a new stadium nearing completion in St. Louis and a rabid fanbase in Baltimore still upset about the Colts’ departure, we expect one of these two cities to be granted an expansion club, but we should not count out Charlotte. The ownership group there, headed by former NFL player Jerry Richardson, and with the city becoming a hub for banking in the Southeast, means there is a lot of financial push behind a Charlotte or Carolina franchise. If we had to wager right now, we would bet on Charlotte and St. Louis, but we expect that the owners in Memphis, St. Louis and Baltimore are all feeling the heat a bit. All this and no word yet from the USFL as to their finalists for 1995 expansion. We expect something soon, but for now the owners are still reviewing more than 10 bids, hoping to whittle that number down to a reasonable 4-5 finalists.

Sporting News, September 4, 1992 To say that the USFL offseason has gotten off to a bang would be an understatement. We have seen dramatic moves, surprise announcements, and some odd decisions during the first weeks of free agency, and although the first NFL-USFL transfer window did not produce a flood of movement, there were some names changing leagues and some questions raised, but let’s start with the biggest news, the retirement of future USFL Hall of Famer (if such a thing exists), halfback Joe Cribbs of the Birmingham Stallions. JOE CRIBBS RETIRES It had been rumored for weeks, but on August 20, in a press conference in Birmingham, former Auburn Tiger and 9 season star for the Birmingham Stallions, Joe Cribbs announced that he would be leaving the game. Cribbs, who had his first sub-1,000 yard season in 1992, cited the ongoing wear and tear on his body, as well as simply feeling it was time for him to step away, as the motivators for the decision. Cribbs leaves the team with pretty much every record in the franchise’s record book. He will retire 3rd all time in rushing yards (behind Walker and Bryant) with 12,577, and second only to Kelvin Bryant with 83 rushing touchdowns. Cribbs also holds two of the top 5 seasons in USFL history, with his 1984 season of 1,765 yards currently the 2nd best in league history, and his 1986 season ranked at 5th best. He was part of the 1984 Stallion squad that advanced all the way to the USFL Championship in his first season after coming over from Buffalo in the NFL. Cribbs’s departure will create a huge hole in the Stallion roster. Backup Brent Fullwood, while a solid inside runner, is not likely to be the answer long term for Birmingham. And as odd as it sounds, this may be the first year in nearly a decade where neither of the core Territorial schools for Birmingham, Alabama and Auburn, have produced a top halfback prospect. This following a string of star backs which includes the 1992 USFL rookie of the year Siran Stacy, along with such names as Bo Jackson, Bobby Humphrey, Brent Fullwood, Lionel James, and Tommy Agie. Of course, it won’t be long before another emerges, perhaps as soon as 1994, when current Bama lead back Sherman Williams is expected to go pro, but in the short term the Stallions are going to need to find some help at the position. OTHER RETIREMENTS Other departures that will impact USFL teams include the anticipated retirement of QB Matt Robinson from the Breakers, Halfbacks Speedy Neal (TBY), Lydell Carr (MGN), and Jamie Covington (WSH), Safety Mike Fox (CHI), C William Copley (NOR), and Guard Elias Sneed (PHI). In addition to Robinson hanging up the cleats, the Breakers also will be without wideout Charlie Smith, who retires after 8 seasons with the team. The Breakers are clearly the team hardest hit by retirements, losing not only their starting QB, but one of their top receivers, a core member of their offensive line, and two key defenders. That is a lot to replace in one offseason. While Danny McManus may be able to step in at QB after a very successful run at the end of the 1992 season, we expect the Breakers to seek out a QB through either free agency or a trade. It is likely they will seek to find replacements for some of the other positions through the draft, particularly a speedy wideout. FREE AGENCY The free agent wire has started to heat up, and what we are seeing is that the USFL-USFL competition has been fiercer than the inter-league exchange, with one notable exception. QB Gale Gilbert, the only true starter on the USFL free agent market, has made the leap to the NFL. He will be joining the San Diego Chargers and leaving Oakland with a major hole in their roster. Oakland currently has only 1 QB signed, young backup Mike Pawlawski. The question now is how will Oakland fill the spot. Do they seek a trade with Jacksonville to get Timm Rosenbach, work with either Chicago or Portland to try to wrangle a T-Draft pick to go after rookies Drew Bledsoe or Rick Mirer, or do they hold out until the next NFL-USFL window, when several NFL starting QB’s are expected to join the market? Lots of questions for Coach Vermeil to answer. DE Charles Haley, considered the prize defender in this year’s free agent pool, wasted no time signing on the dotted line. Despite getting interest from NFL clubs, Haley will stay in the USFL, as the newest Arizona Wrangler. Paired with Al Noga across the line, Haley will once again form part of a brutal 1-2 pass rush combo. Arizona still has a hole at DT after the retirement of Ed Weaver, but signing the best pass rusher available will certainly help the Wranglers pressure opposing offenses. Denver also shored up their defensive front, signing DT Michael Dean Perry away from Houston. Perry is a solid run stuffer who takes up a lot of space and will free up both the DE’s and LB’s to rush the passer. With 34 year old Larry White the only real pass rusher on the Denver line, Coach Phillips may not be done trying to boost the strength of this group yet. We would not be shocked to see a high draft pick at either the DT or DE position. Jacksonville, which is still looking to potentially trade 2nd string QB Timm Rosenbach after his strong performance this year, added a 3rd QB to their roster (after the Jason Garrett retirement) by signing former Texas backup Mike Shula. They also added depth to a WR corps headed by Brian Blades and Hassan Jones, signing Robb Thomas away from the Showboats. Movement among offensive linemen as well, as we saw three big signings this past month. Pittsburgh’s Doug Reisenberg is now a New Orleans Breaker, another tackle, Ken Lanier, is the newest Washington Federal, and center Roman Fortin becomes the second Mauler to depart, signing with Orlando. Pittsburgh had good depth on the O-line, so all is not lost for the defending Eastern Conference champs, but don't be shocked if O-line still occupies a high priority on draft day. Some movement among backs as well, with former Knight HB Tim Richardson headed to Pittsburgh to back up Mike Rozier, and scatback Terrance Flagler moving from Portland to St. Louis. There were overtures made by at least 2 USFL squads towards the LA Raiders as Marcus Allen was up for grabs, but Allen would eventually end up with the Kansas City Chiefs instead. A shame, he would have looked good in Birmingham to be sure. Finally, we had just one noteworthy NFL signing, as the Baltimore Blitz, knowing that Jackie Flowers was to announce his retirement, came to terms with former Raider wideout Mervyn Fernandez this past week. Fernandez will join Bill Brooks as centerpieces of the Blitz passing attack. So, as we look ahead to the remaining weeks of Free Agency, the second NFL-USFL transfer window, and the upcoming draft. What are the biggest question marks left? What holes need a quick filling, and a good one at that? Here are our top 5 looming questions for USFL teams this offseason. Where do some of the still-unsigned defenders end up? There are some good ones out there, waiting for the right deal. LBs Bobby Houston, Joe Mott, and Jamie Kimmell, DT George Little, safeties Patrick Gannon and Marcus Quinn, and cornerback Derrick Burroughs. There are a lot of teams that could use some depth, or some pop on their defenses. The fact that Houston is still out there is surprising to us, but likely he will not last long, and getting a solid corner like Burroughs should be a priority for any team. Does New Orleans have enough capital to fill all the holes on their roster this offseason? They almost certainly will be looking for a QB in case McManus was a fluke this year, but they have also lost key members of their line and several key defenders. With this year’s draft being somewhat thin at key positions, this may force the Breakers to spend in free agency or push for a trade. Is Memphis happy enough with Mike Kelley to wait another year for a QB? The Showboats were the #1 seed in the East, but that was largely due to defense and a stellar year from Greg Boone. Many view the gunslinging, and interception prone, Kelley as the weak link that is holding Memphis back. Will they go after Rosenbach or will they hold out one more year, knowing that Heath Shuler of Tennessee will come out in 1993 and would be a fan favorite from day one? Can Joe Cribbs be replaced? Birmingham may have to opt for a committee approach as they are unlikely to snag an NFL back in January, and the draft does not break well for them. The best back coming from a college locked up in the T-Draft is Roosevelt Potts of NE Louisiana, and he is not projected to be a day 1 starter. They could trade with the Bulls or Machine for the rights to draft a Garrison Hearst or Jerome Bettis, but those picks are likely to come at a very high price. Who will be the starting QB in Oakland? Most folks expect the Invaders to make a hard run at Timm Rosenbach, but if that is the case why have they not done so yet? There are two top ranked QB’s in the draft, but Portland and Chicago may pick them both as T-Draft selections unless Oakland can trade for the pick. And, if they wish to take a risk, the Invaders could hold out for the next NFL-USFL window, when at least 3 quality NFL starters, led by the Buccaneers’ Vinny Testaverde, are expected to test the waters. AND FINALLY With the USFL beginning a 5-year exclusive contract with NIKE to produce game uniforms, sideline gear, and fan replica gear, we expect a lot of Nike influence in uniforms over the next few years. For 1993 they have largely reproduced past designs, though several teams have signed on for a modernization or redesign for 1994. The only team to ask for an initial redesign for the upcoming season were the Michigan Panthers, and this week that new look has been revealed. The “New Look” Panthers come complete with an updated primary logo, incorporating more of the champagne and sky blue, along with a new secondary meant as a better stand-alone logo than the helmet design. The uniforms remain the same as far as colors go, champagne helmet and pants, burgundy jersey and socks, but the design is radically different. Gone are the traditional sleeve and pant stripes, and in their place are tapered bands of color on the shoulder and leg. The new stripes are meant to evoke both motion and the slashing of claws. Initial response has been extremely positive, with fans snatching up the first set of new jerseys and hats as soon as they went on sale at local stores. What are your thoughts of the new look for Michigan?

Summer Bowl 1992 was all that was advertised, two evenly matched teams playing their best football at the right time. Two dynamic backs trying to will their teams to victory. Two defenses doing their best to stunt the opposition attack. This was a good one. In the end only one team could come out victorious, but this was a battle between two teams that both deserved to be here and both showed what they were made of. In the end, Houston had just enough in the tank to outlast Pittsburgh and earn their second league title, thanks in large part to a passing game that included the wideouts, tight ends, and backs. Pittsburgh was game, and they got a solid performance all around, but there was just too much Kelly & Co. and the Houston Gamblers would walk away victorious when the clock ran down. The game began with a 68-yard Houston drive, one helped by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the worst time. Houston had a 3rd and 17 after a Godfrey Miles sack of Kelly, but on an incomplete pass, the flag came out. Illegal hands to the face from DT Tony Siragusa and Houston got the automatic first down. They would cash in 3 plays later when Kelly found HB Thurman Thomas from 11 yards out for the game’s first score. Pittsburgh immediately responded with their own first drive, again aided by a penalty, this time an encroachment call on blitzing safety Robert Blackmon, who mistimed his jump. Risher found Louis Lipps to get the ball to the 5, and on the very next play he hit backup TE Charles Arbuckle for the score as the entire Houston D followed Mike Rozier on the play. Pittsburgh would score again on a brutal play from Kelly. Trying to squeeze the ball to Perriman as he rolled left, Kelly’s ball trailed his receiver and was snatched from the air by CB Quintin Jones, who had easy sailing for 52 yards and the go-ahead score. A noticeably upset Kelly roamed the sidelines trying to rally his troops. He would lead the Gamblers on a field goal producing drive later in the quarter, finishing the half with Houston down 14-10. Things would look worse for Houston on the opening drive of the second half. Starting on their own 32, it only took the Maulers 3 plays to find paydirt. Risher hit TE Mike Shaw on first down, on a play that should have gone for about 8 yards, but ended up going for 45 thanks to a missed tackle. Mike Rozier then took the ball around the left end for another 18, and suddenly, in only 22 seconds, the Maulers were at the Houston 9-yard line. Rozier punched it in from there and now Pittsburgh had an 11-point lead and it was time for Kiki DeAyala to rally the troops. Houston could do nothing on their next drive, and once again Pittsburgh got the ball, bu ton a 3rd and 10, the Maulers failed to convert and the ball went back to Houston. On this drive Kelly started to hone in on his outside receivers. He found Proehl for 33 on a nice slant & up, then hit Perriman to get into the red zone. From there it was Ron Heller to the 1 and then Thurman Thomas up and over the pile to pull Houston to within 5 at 21-16. Kelly would go for 2, but the ball deflected away from Perriman and the score remained a 5-point Mauler advantage. The Maulers gained only 3 yards on their next possession and Houston was back in business. The DC crowd could feel the momentum shift as Kelly carved up the Mauler D on his way to a 2nd TD pass. The big play on the drive was a 3rd and 3, which turned into a first and 10 on the Pittsburgh 13 as Brett Perriman found a gap in the zone coverage and split defenders on his way to a 27 yard catch. Two plays later Kelly found Proehl for the 13-yard score. He would complete the 2-pointer to Thomas as well, flipping the score. Houston led 24-21 with under a minute gone in the 4th. Pittsburgh had some success on their next drive, but a well-timed blitz by Pat Swilling on a 3rd and 6 produced a sack of Risher, and the Maulers would again have to punt. Now Houston was clicking and everything seemed to work. Manoa for a short gain was followed by a perfect play action to Thomas which pulled in the safety and gave Ricky Proehl single coverage. 56 yards later he was tackled for a first down in Mauler territory. Kelly then found Heller, a couple of Thomas runs, and then went back to Proehl once more, this time for a 26-yard TD pass on a skinny post. Houston was up 31-21, the tide had fully turned, and the entire stadium could feel the pressure that the Mauler offense now faced. Pittsburgh and Alan Risher were up to the task. In only 6 plays the Maulers worked their way back into the game. Risher hit Mike Pritchard on a deep ball, then Mike Shaw and Mike Rozier for short plays on what appeared to be an “all Mike” drive. With a first and goal at the 3, the Maulers gave Rozier a moment to catch his breath, and that moment gave Lydell Carr the chance to get his name on the scoreboard. He took a handoff intended as a counter tre to the right, but seeing nothing, shifted left, found space between the center and the guard, and plunged in for 6. Pittsburgh was within range at 31-28 with 2:16 left in the game. The Maulers opted not to go for the onside kick, which surprised many in the stands, as well as many of us watching. Houston got the ball at their own 31 after a good return by Rowe. Rather than sit on it, Kelly used play action to fake out the Mauler D, and found Perriman deep, moving the ball all the way to the Pittsburgh 33. From here it was Thomas left, Thomas right, Thomas left again, and eventually John Kasay moved the differential to 6 points with a 31 yarder. More importantly he left Pittsburgh only 30 seconds on the clock. It was too little for the Maulers as they were unable to move into range to even try a Hail Mary. The clock ran out and the Houston Gamblers celebrated a hard-earned championship title. Coach Willsey was doused in GatorAde. Jim Kelly hoisted first the USFL Trophy and then the Summer Bowl MVP Award, and the streets of Houston filled with rowdy revelers through the night. For Pittsburgh it was a game well-played. Mike Rozier finished with 102 yards on 16 carries. Alan Risher connected on 74% of his passes and threw two scores with no picks. Mike Shaw was the leading receiver with 76 yards on 16 carries, and the defense managed to get to Kelly 3 times, along with Jones’s pick-6 score. But it was not enough against a Houston team that found momentum in the second half and made the plays when they had to. Kelly would win the MVP award for his 368 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. Thurman Thomas would contribute 79 yards rushing and another 78 as a receiver. Ricky Proehl, who caught two touchdowns, ended the game with 141 receiving, and teammate Brett Perriman also finished the game with 102 after 13 targets and 5 receptions. The defensive stars for Houston were DeAyala, with a workmanlike 8 tackles, Swilling, with his key sack of Risher, and a secondary which kept everything in front of them and made tackles when called upon. Houston now joins the Panthers and Stars of the 80’s as the only teams to win multiple titles. For Pittsburgh the Summer Bowl was a huge step in the right direction, capping off a season few predicted, but one which Coach Marchibroda has been pointing towards since arriving in the Steel City. Another great championship game, another great season, the USFL’s 10th. And now it is on to fall and the long USFL offseason before we kick it all off again in March of 1993. On to the 1993 USFL Season!! See You in The Big Easy for Summer Bowl '93!!!

Four teams came into the weekend with visions of Summer Bowl ’92 in their heads. Two teams emerge with their tickets to DC punched. For one it is a chance to reignite past glory and become only the third USFL club to win multiple titles. For the other it is a chance to change the narrative, from also-ran to champion. It was a weekend of dreams and possibilities, and of heartbreak. Let’s get right to it. Sunday, July 26 @ 1pm ET Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN 57,234 in attendance PITTSBURGH 29 MEMPHIS 18 The Pittsburgh Maulers had never won a playoff game before this season. They had never won their division. And they had never been considered a powerhouse. This week’s convincing win over the favored #1 seed Memphis Showboats may change all of that. The Maulers dominated the early game and then contained the Memphis comeback on their way to a conference title and an almost undreamed of trip to Summer Bowl 1992. The Maulers used a balanced attack and an opportunistic defense to build up a 23-0 lead over the course of the first quarter and a half, forcing Memphis to play catch up for most of the game, and allowing their defense to focus on containment. It all started with special teams and defensive pressure. After both teams were held to short drives and quick punts, Pittsburgh drove the ball to their own 47 and then got a perfect coffin corner punt from Mark Royals, pinning the Showboats on their own 3 yard line. After a Greg Boone run set them back to the 2, Memphis tried a play action pass to get out of the shadow of their own endzone, but the slow-developing play was exactly what John Bosa wanted, and by the time the Memphis receivers were getting open, he was forcing Mike Kelley to tuck the ball and take the safety. Pittsburgh received the safety kickoff and in only 4 plays they were up by 9. After a 2nd and 5 run by Rozier got them the first down, Alan Risher missed on a pass to Mike Shaw and then hit on a big 2nd and 10 deep ball to underappreciated wideout Raynard Brown. The out & up worked to perfection and the line protected Risher, leading to a 31 yard touchdown for the Maulers. They would add the next 14 points as well, first on a Lydell Carr screen pass and then a 2-yard off tackle run from Mike Rozier. Only 4 minutes into the 2nd quarter and the visiting Maulers were up 23-0. Memphis would have to dig deep to come back. They would also need to adjust both their offensive and defensive schemes on the fly. They got on the board 3 minutes later when Greg Boone had his best run of the day, a 31 yard rumble to the endzone. He would finish the day with 147 yards on 23 carries, outpacing the league rushing champion, who gained 120 on 24 carries, but Pittsburgh was more than happy to let Memphis run the ball in chunks of 3-4 instead of giving up quick strikes. Both teams would trade field goals to end the half, with the Maulers taking a comfortable 26-10 lead into the half. The second half would be a war of attrition. Pittsburgh was happy to let Rozier and Carr tote the rock, to stretch out the play clock, and to play a containment defense that slowed Memphis down the rest of the way. Memphis would score 10 more points over the half, to Pittsburgh’s 3, but nothing came easy and with 2 second half turnovers (a Terrell INT of Kelley, and a Godfrey Miles strip of Tommy Agie) the Showboats simply did not have enough offense or enough time to battle back. Pittsburgh would be headed to their first Summer Bowl, Mike Rozier, after years of frustration, would have his shot at a title to go along with all his individual accolades. Coach Marchibroda, whose slow development of the Maulers’ identity almost cost him his job a year ago, was now leading a championship calibre team towards the final prize. Sunday, July 26 @ 5pm ET Astrodome, Houston, TX 51,405 in attendance NEW ORLEANS 30 HOUSTON 43 It was a battle of expectations. The savvy veteran QB with the cannon arm against the surprise starter. The league MVP runner-up against a division rival who knew every trick in his arsenal. The #1 seed against the squad most predicted to miss the playoffs entirely. Houston was the favorite and they played like it all game long. New Orleans was the plucky upstart and they too played their part, challenging Houston throughout the day, but in the end there was simply not enough for the Breakers to upset the favored Gamblers. Houston would be returning to the Summer Bowl after a 3 year absence. Kelly and Thomas would get a shot at immortality with another championship shot. The game started out slowly, with both the Breakers and Gamblers forced into two quick 3-and-out possessions each, testing each other out and devising a strategy after the initial scripted plays failed to produce much. On their third possession, the Gamblers found the answer, with Thomas working in the screen game to loosen up the D-line and Kelly looking beyond the tight coverage on Proehl and Perriman. He would eventually find TE Ron Heller, a former Breaker, open for a 19-yard TD pass to open the scoring. New Orleans responded with their first downs of the game, 3 of them to move into Houston territory and set up Tim Mazzetti for an easy 33 yarder. 7-3 after one. In the second quarter the dyke burst and the Houston offense rushed in. The Gamblers would score 21 unanswered points in the quarter before New Orleans added a second field goal to end the half. Again it was Kelly spreading the ball out, with a quick strike TD to slot receiver Ernie Jones on their first possession of the quarter. On their next possession it was a 4 WR formation that forced New Orleans into single coverage, and that allowed Ricky Proehl the space he needed to haul in a 22-yarder to put Houston up 21-3. After a solid defensive stop which included a tipped ball nearly picked off by LB Johnny Holland, Houston took over and once again drove the length of the field, this time primarily on Thomas runs, before a subbed-in Keith Woodside dove in from 2 yards out to give Houston a dominant 28-3 lead. Down 28-6 at the half, New Orleans abandoned a run game that simply found no room against the Houston defenders and turned the ball over to Danny McManus. What did they have to lose? McManus, who had only 81 yards in the first half, would throw for 281 in the second half, including 121 to Michael Jackson and three scores to three different receivers. It would still not be enough. Thurman Thomas added another Houston TD, John Kasay would add two field goals, and despite late TD passes to Herman Fontenot and Greg Paterra, it was still Houston 41-30 when a muffed snap forced Marcus Dupree to fall on the ball in his own endzone, producing a safety and the final score of 43-30. Kelly would end the game with 338 yards passing, 4 touchdowns, and a QBR of 156.5. Thomas would rush for only 37 yards but would add 59 more through screens, circle routes, and swing passes. Houston did what they had to do to take control of the game and contain New Orleans throughout. The Gamblers would be headed back to the championship with a chip on their shoulder and a chance to become 2-time champions. SUMMER BOWL PREVIEW While we love to focus on quarterbacks in the USFL, this year’s USFL Championship, Summer Bowl 1992, is shaping up as a battle between two of the league’s best halfbacks. It is league MVP Mike Rozier against 2nd place vote-getter Thurman Thomas. Rozier is a classic one-cut back, willing to run you over or make you miss. Thomas is the dual threat, a solid runner and excellent out of the backfield. While there are other stars on both offenses, from QB Jim Kelly and wideouts Ricky Proehl and Brett Perriman to newly-acquired deep threat Louis Lipps and reliable TE Mike Shaw for Pittsburgh. And both teams also have solid defenses with two of the league’s best middle linebackers in Eric Kumerow and Kiki DeAyala. But, when all is said and done, the team that can best utilize their star halfback will likely be the team to win. Both clubs have first-time championship coaches in Pittsburgh’s Ted Marchibroda and Houston’s Ray Willsey (It was Jack Pardee who took Houston to consecutive championships in ’87 and ’88). Let’s take a quick look at the key positions before we make our pick: QB Advantage: Houston. Jim Kelly can be a bit of a gunslinger, but this year he has avoided the negative plays, setting league records for QBR and completion rate along the way. HB Advantage: Toss Up. Rozier is the league MVP and came close to the league rushing record, but Thomas became the first back in league history to gain 2,000 all purpose yards with WR-like receiving numbers. TE Advantage: Pittsburgh. The combo of McKeller and Heller works for Houston, but in a pinch we know that Pittsburgh’s Mike Shaw is a better option for a desperate QB. WR Advantage: Houston. We like what Louis Lipps has brought to Pittsburgh, but the combo of Brown and Lipps is not as proficient or as diverse in what they offer as the trio of Proehl, Perriman and Ernie Jones for Houston. OL Advantage: Pittsburgh. The Maulers have one of the best run-blocking lines in football. Both clubs can protect their QB’s, but the advantage goes to Pittsburgh’s ability to pull guards and their center to work the outside run. DL Advantage: Pittsburgh. John Bosa had a career year with 12 sacks and 4 forced fumbles. Add in DTs Dan Saleamua and Moe Gardner and you have a line that can put pressure on QBs or stuff the inside run. Houston’s best D-lineman is DE Gerald Williams, who is a solid passrusher but tends to vanish on run plays. LB Advantage: Houston. We love Eric Kumerow for Pittsburgh, and his teammates Godfrey Miles and rookie Mark D’Onofrio are good complements, but for our money the more athletic set of backers is the one led by Kiki DeAyala, and includes Johnny Holland, Quentin Coryatt, and former Saint Pat Swilling. DB Advantage: Houston. Ashley Ambrose is developing into an elite CB, add in safeties Donald Dykes and Robert Blackmon and you have both experience and talent. Pittsburgh’s secondary has had its issues over the season and is a clear weakness when matched up against deep receiving corps such as Houston’s. Coaching Advantage: This is tough, as neither coach has proven himself in the USFL before. Marchibroda came to Pittsburgh with a solid NFL pedigree, while Willsey was viewed as something of a surprise selection. Both have had midling success so far with this season being the high point for both. We are going to call this one a draw. OUR PICK: Like we said, it likely will come down to the halfback position and the ability of the offensive squads to find ways to use them to good effect. We like Thurman Thomas’s versatility to make that easier for Ray Willsey. Add in a more confident Jim Kelly and we like the odds for Houston to win a second title. Our pick is Houston 24 Pittsburgh 20. As expected, with Washington, Tampa Bay, Oakland and Portland joining the free agency pool, and with all clubs now having their coaching staffs in place, we are seeing more action on the hot stove. Let’s get right to the movement seen around the league. PHILADELPHIA: The coaching search ended this week as the Stars announced that NFL Hall of Fame receiver and former New England Patriots head coach Raymond Berry would be the new leader of the club. Berry has spent the past year serving as QB coach for the Lions, and with Philadelphia hoping to either develop young Browning Nagle or find a suitable alternative, those QB development credentials are going to be vital. Berry is also known as a WR guru, and he will need to look at restocking a very old WR corps of Mike Quick, Tom Donovan, and Gerard Phelan. Coach Berry and the Stars did not waste any time in working to strengthen the roster, they added two players in their first 48 hours on the job. Despite WR being a priority, the Stars started with defense, signing Portland DT Esera Tuaolo and veteran MLB Ed Brady from Tampa Bay. Berry commented that the key to defense is a strong central line running from NT to MLB to SS, and he hopes to build out from there. Expect Philly to look to the draft for wideouts as there are not many left within the USFL free agent pool and no clear choices to defect from the NFL until at least February’s transfer window. MICHIGAN: The Panthers’ attempt to reimagine their offense continues as Michigan signed HB Alfred Jenkins from the Federals. Jenkins is a change of pace back, a good receiver, and a solid punt returner. He adds a bit of quickness and ball skills to the more power game of Rodney Culver. PORTLAND: The Thunder moved to fix an obvious hole in their defense, picking up Birmingham FS Vencie Glenn. Glenn has been a top flight safety since coming into the league, and free safety was a clear weakness for the Thunder who rotated Darren Carrington with Gary Jones, to poor effect, all season. TEXAS: The Outlaws hoped to improve their O-Line performance and protect QB Kelly Stouffer. To do so they have signed Michigan LT Arnoldo Gardner. Gardner, despite giving up significant sacks each year, is thought of as an effective run blocker and does well against power rushers, despite having a bit of a problem with the speed rush. BIRMINGHAM: The Stallions snapped up one of the best linemen in the free agent pool, signing Oakland guard Guy McIntyre to a 3-year deal. Big Mac is expected to immediately move into the Right Guard position on the strong run side, making Joe Cribbs happy for certain. NEW JERSEY: The Generals have signed Portland SS Eric McMillian, a clear sign that they have inside information on the possible retirement of longtime starter Gary Barbaro. McMillian is known for the same type of hard hitting and run support as Barbaro, but with considerably more tread left on the tires. MICHIGAN: The Panthers, after losing Arnoldo Gardner, dipped back into Washington’s roster and have signed tackle Jim Lachey. Lachey is a more athletic pass defender, able to handle the speed rush, and is quite adept at run blocking as well. Many in the Motor City are seeing this as an upgrade, and we tend to agree. OAKLAND: No official signing yet, but it looks as if Oakland is definitely going to have to look for a new QB. Since their loss last Sunday, Oakland has seen QB Gale Gilbert interview with the Chicago Machine, but also with the Seattle Seahawks and San Diego Chargers of the NFL. Oakland’s GM all but admitted that the Invaders were not seeing themselves as a viable contender for Gilbert’s services. Expect to get word on Gilbert’s final destination next week, but now we have to wonder who is available for the Invaders to go after. It may take a trade, or a costly NFL raid for Oakland to find a viable starter. At present the only available free agent is Texas backup Mike Shula, and, as of Monday, Memphis backup Cary Conklin. Neither of those seem like strong starting QB material, and with Oakland’s roster only having Mike Pawlawski and Troy Taylor as backups to Gilbert, the cupboard is pretty bare. Retirements: We have seen a significant number of players announce their retirements this past week, but still no word on one we have heard in rumors but are unable to confirm. Here are the new retirees we can confirm: Baltimore WR Jackie Flowers St. Louis TE Todd Christiansen Tampa Bay S Roy Gee Philadelphia HB and PR Vi Sikahema New Jersey DE Gary Jeter New Orleans DE David Wilkinson and FS Matthew Fong Michigan LB Rick Naylor Denver K Brian Speelman Chicago D-Linemen Dan Hampton and Dave Board While none of these departures are huge surprises, it certainly will not help Baltimore to lose their top receiver, or for St. Louis to lose the dependable Christiansen. New Orleans and Chicago will have to start looking for defensive help as well as both clubs are losing key role players. This is always the case in pro football. Either through free agency or retirement there is always turnover on USFL rosters, and teams are always asked to adapt and move forward. We will see how these clubs do so.

The busiest week of playoff action all summer. Eight teams playing in four games, and everything to play for. It’s the Divisional Playoffs in the USFL and this year we had a little of everything. The defending champions playing at home against a perennial also-ran, past champions hoping to return to the biggest show in spring football, newcomers and upstarts, top tier defenses and dynamic offenses. This was a week for football fans to enjoy. And at the end of the week four teams remain in the hunt for a USFL championship. Saturday, July 18 @ 3PM ET Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA (42,403 in attendance) WASHINGTON 7 PITTSBURGH 19 The Maulers, appearing in their franchise’s first home playoff game earn their first playoff win, dispatching the Washington Federals with a stifling defense and an unrelenting ground attack. Pittsburgh owned the clock, set the tempo, and never let the Federals sniff victory as they took the lead early in the first and held it for the entire game. Pittsburgh got 116 yards rushing from Mike Rozier, added another 30 from backup Lydell Carr, and combined that with a turnover-free passing day form Alan Risher to dominate the Federals. The Maulers got on the board first with a field goal 7 minutes into the game. They would add a Rozier TD run and another field goal in the 2nd to take a dominant 13-0 lead into the half. Washington QB Don Majkowski was knocked out of the game early and Coach Rutigliano opted to go with young Will Furrer at the helm. The Federals tried to come back, scoring a lone TD in the third quarter, but there just was not enough on offense to sustain a comeback, and as the game wore on the Federals vaunted defense got tired. More and more Mauler runs paid off, more third downs were converted, and with 2 more Raphael Septien field goals in the final period the Maulers comfortably ground out the game and took the W. Erick Kumerow finished the game with 10 tackles, John Bosa got a key sack to end a Federals drive, and free safety Pat Terrell picked off the inexperienced Furrer to seal the game. It was a full team effort, and in every phase of the game the Maulers came out ahead. They will now head off to the Conference Finals and a chance to erase 8 years of futility and frustration. Saturday, July 18 @ 8pm ET Houston Astrodome, Houston, TX (43,250 in attendance) PORTLAND 20 HOUSTON 27 In a game that was much tighter than most anticipated, the 8-8 Thunder held their own against the 11-5 Gamblers before a late TD sealed the win for the home team. Houston outgained Portland only 404-327 as Kerwin Bell threw for 222 yards and Robert Drummond ground out 86 yards rushing. But the day would belong to the Gamblers as Jim Kelly threw for 284 and 3 scores and Thurman Thomas combined 116 yards on the ground (a 6.1 ypc average) with 38 yards and a TD through the air. Brett Perriman also had a big day with 102 yards and a score, and the always reliable Ricky Proehl added 62 and a score as well. After falling behind 14-3 with 5 minutes left in the first half, on a Mike Cade run and Adrian Cooper TD reception, Houston scored twice in the final 4:30 to take a halftime lead against a stunned Portland defense. The first score was a 35-yard corner pattern from Kelly to Perriman with 2:56 left in the half. The second came only 2 minutes later when Kelly found Proehl from 26 yards out. In the span of just 2 minutes, the Gamblers had put 14 on the board and silenced the small contingent of Thunder fans in the Astrodome. Portland tied the game in the third with a long Del Greco field goal, but Houston added a kick of their own only minutes later to go up 20-17. Entering the 4th quarter it felt like a game that could go into overtime, as both playoff games the week before had. Portland again tied the scoreat 20 at the 9 minute mark of the final period, but the tie would not hold. On their next drive, Houston took advantage of Portland’s overpursuit of the run game. With a first down inside the Portland red zone, they faked the outside run to Thomas, who had already carried the ball 4 times on the drive, Kelly bootlegged right, then reversed himself and found Thomas unguarded in the flat. 13 yards later it was paydirt for the Houston MVP and the Gamblers had themselves a 7-point lead late in the game. Portland would get two more possessions, but both ended badly, the first with a Robert Blackmon interception of Kerwin Bell, his only turnover of the day, and then, with time running out, a final drive ended when Bell could not hit Webster Slaughter on 4th and 10, leading to a turnover on downs and two very content Jim Kelly kneeldowns. The Gamblers, the West’s #1 seed, avoided a first round letdown and would not await the winner of New Orleans-Oakland next week. Sunday, July 19 @ 12pm ET Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN (56,203 in attendance) TAMPA BAY 27 MEMPHIS 30 In front of a huge and rambunctious Memphis crowd, the home team took a first quarter lead and held it despite every effort of the visiting Bandits to come back. In a game that saw QB Troy Aikman sacked 7 times by the impressive Showboat line, the Bandits would not go away, and in the end only a Kevin Shea field goal allowed Memphis to advance and prepare to host the Maulers next week. The game opened with something we have seen repeated all year long, Aikman to Truvillion for 6. This one was particularly pretty as Truvillion lept beyond the grasp of the defender, managed to stay on his feet, and dashed 75 yards for the score. It would be the first of several big plays by both teams all night. After a quick 3-and-out for the usually bendable Tampa D, the second big play changed the momentum of the game. With Tampa Bay backed up to their own 3 after a muffed kickoff return, Reggie White got the first of his huge 4 sacks on the day, this one the biggest of all, a safety. Memphis was on the board, and after the short post-safety drive resulted in 3 points, it was Tampa 7, Memphis 5. On their next drive, Memphis would take the lead, as former Bandit Greg Boone once again came back to haunt his former team. On a 2nd and 4, Boone exploited a hole in the Tampa line, juked past the charging backer and was off to the races. His 38-yard TD scamper put Memphis up 12-7 as the first quarter ended. The second quarter would see Tampa score on two field goals, but sandwiched between those drives was a Memphis drive that resulted in a Kelley to Townsell TD toss, allowing the home team to head to the intermission up 19-13. Tampa would come out strong in the second half, and for a few brief moments retook the lead. Aikman again found Truvillion, this time from 29 yards out, and Tampa gained the upper hand 20-19, but only 5 plays later Kelley would do his own repeat performance, finding Townsell for his second score of the day, a 38 yard beauty, and with the 2 point conversion good, the Showboats took the 27-20 lead. As the third quarter wound down, Aikman showed he had other targets, finding little-used wideout Robert Brooks for a 22 yard scoring play, splitting the safeties down the middle of the field, and we were all tied up at 27. At this point Memphis let Greg Boone carry most of the load. With only 2 drives, one producing the final score of the game, a 33-yard Shea field goal, Boone would earn 44 of his 117 for the day, and would grind out nearly 11 minutes of game time to keep Aikman and the Bandits from having a chance to equalize or take the lead. Tampa did have one more possession, but it was cut short by yet another huge Reggie White sack, this time on 3rd and 11 on the Memphis 44. Tampa was forced to punt, and they would not see the ball again as the Showboats killed the clock and punched their ticket to next week’s Conference Title Game. Sunday, July 19 @ 4:30pm ET Oakland-Alameda Stadium, Oakland, CA (37,844 in attendance) NEW ORLEANS 27 OAKLAND 20 The story of Danny McManus and his surprising run as a replacement QB for the New Orleans Breakers just continues to get more and more exciting. The former 3rd stringer led the Breakers to a win over the defending champs, throwing for 307 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions in the biggest game of his short pro career. Aided by a defense that kept Oakland in check all day and a wideout in Charle Smith who had a career day with 152 yards receiving on only 5 receptions, McManus earned a playoff win for a team that many expected to collapse when starter Matt Robinson went down for the year. Oakland came out flat, it must be said, and by the time they awakened, the Breakers were already up 13-0. McManus had hit Charlie Smith with the longest pass of the day, a 65-yard TD toss, and Tim Mazzetti had added both a 44-yarder and a 47-yarder. Oakland would finally show their mettle, scoring twice in the 2nd period to take the lead at the half. The first was a 1-yard plunge from rookie Siran Stacy, one of only 66 yards on the day. The second a Mark Duper TD reception as time wound down in the 2nd quarter. Back on top, and after adding a field goal in their first possession of the second half, Oakland started to feel that they had the game, and the fans started to celebrate, but that all ended when, on a broken play, McManus escaped the Oakland rush and found Ray Rowe, hardly a household name, wide open for a score. McManus had put the Breakers up 20-17. Oakland came right back and tied the game with a Matt Bahr field goal, but the Invader defense seemed shaky, not knowing just how to defend the young Breaker QB. With 1:51 left in the game, the Breakers started a drive tied with Oakland at 20 and with an eye on Tim Mazzetti to once again with the game for them. But, after a costly pass interference call got New Orleans into field goal range with just under 1 minute left on the clock, the Breakers took a chance. McManus faked the ball to Dupree, and with the entire Oakland defense expecting run, they bit on it, leaving Erric Pegram open for a quick McManus pass. Pegram raced down the sideline, and dove over SS Chris Carrier and into the endzone to put New Orleans on top for good. The crowd was stunned, the complaints about that PI call are likely still being heard in bars all over the Bay Area, but New Orleans would be moving on. They now head to Houston to face a Gamblers squad who the Breakers had split their two games with under Robinson. Houston has not faced McManus yet, and for the Breakers, the prospect of going into a big game vs. Houston with McManus at the helm is no longer a scary prospect. There were very few major moves this week, though we did see Denver sign their coach and several of the moves cited last week were made official. Let’s run through the news of the week. DENVER: As expected, the Gold announced this Wednesday that their new Head Coach would be former Broncos Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips. Phillips, the son of legendary Bum Phillips, has been with the Broncos for only 3 seasons, having also served as DC in Philadelphia (86-88) and New Orleans (81-85). Technically this is his second head coaching job as he did serve as an interim HC with the Saints in 1985. Known for his prowess in designing a defense to match his personnel, the challenge for Phillips will be to strengthen the defense while also upgrading an offense that was 20th of 20 teams in scoring, total yards, and passing yards. He is likely to retain Dave Krieg, a major NFL signee just last season, but expect a new OC and a lot of turnover in the offensive roster. On defense his best returning players are showing some age, with DE Larry White turning 33, DT James Herribone also 33, DT Dave Butz 32, and LB Kurt Gouveia now 28. Denver does have some young talent on D, with Marvcus Patton looking like the next big Gold LB at 25 years old, and rookie CB Bruce Pickens having a solid first year. We also like 25 year old Charles Mincy at Free Safety and 24 year old Kurt Schulz as a possible candidat to take over the position as 35 year old Patrick Gannon has hinted that retirement may be eminent. ARIZONA: Long time DT Ed Weaver has announced his intention to retire this year. The loss likely means that Arizona will seek to sign a proven nose tackle as their remaining DT’s Sean Lee and Mike Lodish are best suited for support rather than over the center. BIRMINGHAM: FS Vencie Glenn has been on the market for just under a week and has already spoken with 2 USFL clubs and the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. Glenn, who is 27 and just finished a 4 interception, 47 tackle season, is the most senior of Birmingham's three players at the position. ST. LOUIS: The Knights have signed Philadelphia TE Alex Higdon. With the emergence of Eric Green as the primary receiving TE in Philly, Higdon was simply not going to get a better contract with the Stars. He will serve as the 2nd TE in St. Louis, behind 32-year old Todd Christiansen, but may be positioning himself to take over should Christiansen retire within the next year or two. CFL-USFL: Baltimore wideout Derek Hill has decided that his supporting role with the Blitz is not his ideal situation and has signed a contract with the CFL Toronto Argonauts, hoping to reboot his career up north. Hill caught 59 passes in Baltimore this year but was stuck behind both Jackie Flowers and Bill Brooks in the depth chart. With Toronto he hopes to obtain a 1 or 2 position. RETIREMENTS: A few retirement notifications have come in over the past week. Most prominent are Chicago SS William Cesare, Jacksonville QB Jason Garrett, and Orlando wideout Nathan Bruce. Chicago is perhaps the hardest hit by the retirement as Cesare has been the regular starter for the Machine since coming over from Birmingham. We are expecting several more retirement notifications over the next two weeks, with rumors circulating that one of the league's biggest stars may be walking away from the game. No details until we get more secure intel on that, but expect something soon. There you have it, a pretty slow 2nd week of free agency, but with 4 playoff calibre teams now joining the free agency pool, we expect next week will be a busy one. Meanwhile on the field it will be a battle of top seeds in the East as #2 Pittsburgh heads to #1 Memphis, while out West it is a divisional matchup as New Orleans is at #1 seed Houston.