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Sporting News, February 11, 1990 The story in the Western Conference is all about the quarterbacks. Texas and Los Angeles were forced to make major trades to replace NFL departures Doug Williams and Steve Young. Houston is trying to figure out what happened to Jim Kelly last year. Oakland and Arizona are still unsure about what they have at the position. Portland imported David Archer from the NFL to try to gain some traction in their division, while Michigan is just hoping that Jack Trudeau will stay healthy. It is going to be a wild ride all season as the 10 teams out west battle to define themselves and string together enough wins to avoid road playoff games. CENTRAL DIVISION PREVIEW Predicted Order of Finish: New Orleans Breakers (11-5), Houston Gamblers (10-6), Michigan Panthers (8-8), Chicago Machine (8-8), Texas Outlaws (6-10) NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (11-5 in 1989, Division Winner) Biggest Change: The departure of SS Joe Restic will hurt the Breakers defense, but they still have some solid performers on the defensive side of the ball and their offense remained intact and very dangerous. Biggest Question: The Breakers have quietly won the division 3 of the past 4 years. Can they win a third in a row and, more importantly, can they finally get over the hump and appear in their first Championship? They have the weapons to do it, do they have the focus? Rookie to Watch: We love the addition of Lamar Lathon at LB with the Breakers’ first round pick. Lathon is a thumper who will make opposing backs fear the big hit. If Lathon can help New Orleans cause more turnovers, or even get off the field on more third downs, the Breakers could be in for that Championship run they covet. Outlook: New Orleans has to be the favorite for the division. They are solid at every key offensive position and have made some good additions on defense. After two straight division titles, the Breakers will want more. They want a shot at the title. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (10-6 in 1989, Wild Card) Biggest Change: Houston lost two big contributors in WR Ricky Sanders and DE Simon Fletcher. Sanders has been the #1 receiver for Jim Kelly since both began with the Gamblers in 1984. While Clarence Verdin and Ernie Jones remain from a deep receiver group, neither is a true #1. On defense, the loss of Fletcher may force the Gamblers to be more creative to generate pass rush. Houston signed USFL DE turned NFL DT, and now back to DE with the Gamblers, Adam Carreker, but he is not a pure pass rusher. Biggest Question: Just how will new head coach Ray Willsey change up the Houston formula for success? The Gamblers already looked to shore up lost positions with 2 WR’s chosen in the draft along with three D-linemen, but just how will the Gamblers be different this year? And will any changes Willsey makes help Jim Kelly avoid the costly interceptions that plagued him last year? Rookie to Watch: Houston drafted 2 wideouts, and if camp is any indication the plan will be to run more 2-WR sets with new TE Keith McKellor helping the run game, but when they do go 3-wide, look out for rookie Ricky Proehl in the slot. Verdin almost certainly will move outside, and the quick-footed Proehl could excel as a slot receiver. Outlook: Houston has a new Head Coach, and the losses of Fletcher and Sanders will certainly hurt, but this is a team with a ton of talent on defense, a gunslinger at QB and a dual threat RB in Thurman Thomas. We expect good things from this roster, but can they get back for a 3rd Championship game appearance? MICHIGAN PANTHERS (10-6 in 1989, Wild Card) Biggest Change: If the loss of Sanders hurts Houston, the signing of Anthony Carter by the NFL’s Vikings is a mortal wound for the Panthers. When paired with Derrick Holloway, Carter was nearly unstoppable. He is one of football’s great deep threats. Without him the Panthers may have to look at multiple options to help free up Holloway. They brought in Danny Knight from Birmingham, and drafted Wolverine Chris Calloway, but neither bring the breakaway speed that Carter possessed. Biggest Question: Can the Panthers return to defensive dominance? The big names are still there, Corker, Paggett, Nickerson, Bostic and Carnell Lake, but the fire was just not there last year. With John Williams definitely losing a step, and no Carter to take the roof off the pass game, the Panthers will need that defense to be at least a Top 5 squad if they want to return to playoff glory (and wins). Rookie to Watch: Michigan spent an early pick on DE Renaldo Turnbull from West Virginia, in the hopes that they could replicate the 1-2 punches we have seen have such success in Birmingham and Memphis. If Turnbull brings what his film promises, it could lead Ronnie Paggett to return to 20 sack form again. Outlook: Michigan looked like the best team in the league until Jack Trudeau got hurt and the offense fizzled. If Trudeau can stay healthy, and if the new receivers can help free up Holloway, the Panthers could be a surprise division winner, but that is a lot of ifs for us to predict such a thing at this stage. CHICAGO MACHINE (7-9 in 1989, 5th in Division) Biggest Change: Chicago lost one of their premier players in LB Clay Matthews, but they gave as good as they got in free agency, signing not only a high quality LB for themselves in Buffalo’s Darryl Talley, but also snagging a local favorite to shore up the run game in DT Dan Hampton of the Bears. These two should help an already good Machine defense become even stronger. Biggest Question: Is this the year that Chuck Long makes the leap? Chicago has been very patient with Long over the past 3 seasons, but even as his production has increased, he remains middle of the pack among USFL quarterbacks. Chicago needs more. It may be time to take a look at former NFL QB Rusty Hilger. Chicago also took a flyer on Auburn QB Reggie Slack, but he is seen as a developmental player who is likely to be the emergency quarterback only. Rookie to Watch: Joe Bugel wants to win at the line of scrimmage, and adding 3 D-linemen, all early round picks, may be another step to building a solid rotation on the line. NC State’s Ray Agnew will likely start opposite Dwayne Board outside, while Memphis’s Torey Epps could work his way into the DT rotation. Outlook: Chicago has a defense that could propel them to their first playoff appearance. And they have young talent on offense, so the pressure is on both Coach Bugel and Chuck Long to make the offense just good enough to keep ahead of their opposition and let the defense help them hold leads and salt away winnable games. TEXAS OUTLAWS (8-8 in 1989, 4th in Division) Biggest Change: No team was hit harder than Texas by NFL raids. Bad enough they lose veteran QB Doug Williams, but they also saw HB Stump Mitchell return to the NFL. Then, as if that were not tough enough, backup HB Scott Stamper announced his retirement. So, what does Texas do. They trade with Arizona to bring in Kelly Stouffer to lead the team, a move that has to upset both Glen Carano and Mike Shula, both of whom thought they would get a shot at starting. To replace Mitchell, the Outlaws got Lee Rouson from Denver and then drafted a potential lead back in Tennessee’s Reggie Cobb. Biggest Question: Did Texas do enough to stop the bleeding? We like Stouffer, but he is no Doug Williams, and while Reggie Cobb has potential, there is no guarantee that he can match the consistent production of Stump Mitchell. And in the process of trading to acquire replacements for Mitchell and Williams, Texas gave up a lot of draft picks, ending up with only 5 signees this year. We cannot help but think that the Outlaws took a big step back this year. Rookie to Watch: Cobb is the obvious choice, but don’t sleep on DE Lester Archambeau. He has the athleticism and drive to be a special player on a relatively weak Outlaws front line. Outlook: Texas got slammed this offseason, and we are just not confident that they come into 1990 looking better than the team that lost their last 4 games last season, sliding from 8-4 right out of playoff contention at 8-8. We think this year’s team will be very happy to be back at 8 wins. PACIFIC DIVISION PREVIEW Predicted Order of Finish: Denver (10-6), Oakland (9-7), Arizona (7-9), Los Angeles (5-11), Portland (4-12) DENVER GOLD (10-6 in 1989, Championship Runner Up) Biggest Change: Denver had both NFL raid issues and salary cap concerns, which made for an awkward offseason just after climbing all the way to the USFL Championship Game. Harry Sydney, a constant presence for the Gold, is now gone. CB Solomon Wilcots also left for the NFL, and the Gold sent both DT Laval Short and HB Lee Rouson to Texas for DT Dave Butz, a lateral move that helped save cap space but did not improve the team. Biggest Question: Did Denver’s gambit on trading players for picks pan out? The Gold had an impressive 8 draftees sign on with the team, but now we have to see if any of them pan out and help the Gold improve on their 10-win finish and playoff run. They have tasted success, and now they have the title in their sights. Can the youth movement help them get there? Rookie to Watch: Two rookies from the Gold’s 8-player stash stand out to us in camp. HB Barry Foster from Arkansas looks like a perfect fit to take over Harry Sydney’s roll as Thunder to Timmy Smith’s Lightning. And adding UCLA linebacker Marvcus Patton also looks like an immediate upgrade for the Gold linebacking corps. Expect him to line up alongside Kurt Gouveia, John Roper and Fred Strickland from day one to provide Denver with one of the best 3-4 linebacking groups in football. Outlook: Denver has a legitimate chance to repeat as both Division Champ and Western Conference rep in the Championship. With added youth and energy on defense, a solid mix of run and pass, and a dependable line protecting Bob Gagliano, the Gold are poised for another good year. OAKLAND INVADERS (10-6 in 1989, Wild Card) Biggest Change: Oakland came on strong in the second half of 1989 and hope to carry that momentum into 1990. Losing Kevin Gogan on the O-line is tough, but it was the only major loss for the Invaders. They were also a non-player in free agency, choosing to resign their own instead of searching for new talent. That consistency and coherence may serve them well this year when so many other teams are trying to redefine themselves. Biggest Question: Is Gale Gilbert the long-term answer at QB? Gilbert had his best season and did finish 5th in the league in QB Rating by season’s end, so the answer may be “yes”. And while he has been efficient, the Invaders are hoping for more than his 17 TD’s last year in order to fully trust him. Waiting in the wings is former NFL QB Jeff Kemp. Gilbert needs to show this year that he can be more than a game manager if Oakland is going to make a return to the playoffs. Rookie to Watch: Oakland played it safe in free agency, putting faith into their draft, but when we look at the players chosen we are not sure we see any immediate help here. DT Jeff Alm from Notre Dame will likely see some playing time, as will U. of Houston CB Chris Ellison, but we just don’t see any breakout stars in this bunch. Outlook: Oakland could go 12-4 or 8-8 and we just don’t know which is more likely. They are clearly better than several teams in the division, but with a strong Central Division even a 2nd place finish may not be enough to garner a Wild Card slot. ARIZONA WRANGLERS (6-10 in 1989, 4th in Pacific) Biggest Change: Arizona’s big issue this offseason was the cap. They started free agency significantly over the cap, but through some shrewd trading were able to get back to a comfortable surplus to be able to sign a decent rookie class. They traded away QB Kelly Stouffer, so now they have to hope that Robbie Bosco does not repeat his injury-filled 1989. They also traded away HB James Wilder, who never produced his strong NFL numbers for the Wranglers. In his place they signed scatback Lionel James from the NFL Chargers and will likely promote Darryl Clack to the starting position. Biggest Question: Will Arizona finally put together a solid year on defense. The talent is there. We love Brian Noble and Broderick Thomas at LB. There is also good talent on the line with veteran Earl Weaver and massive Dan Saleaumua, and they can now rotate in rookie Mike Lodish from UCLA to avoid tiring out the vets. Everson Walls and Nate Odoms are also a solid 1-2 combo at corner. Safety is still a question, but the Wranglers signed 2 rookies in hopes that one of them would emerge. Rookie to Watch: Arizona garnered a lot of picks with all their trades, and they ended up signing a record 11 drafted players. Of those, the best of the bunch may be Lodish at DT, though we also like guards Mike Brennan and Glenn Parker. They also used a territorial pick to sign QB Scott Mitchell of Utah, who will likely end up 3rd behind Bosco and Blair Kiel, who was acquired from Texas in the Kelly Stouffer trade. Outlook: If the defense can play up to their potential, and Bosco can stay upright, this Wrangler squad could see major improvements in their record and playoff hopes, but we feel like we have said this before and it has not panned out. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (7-9 in 1989, 3rd in Division) Biggest Change: You all know what we are going to say. We like Walter Lewis, and he was certainly serviceable in Memphis before being supplanted by Mike Kelley, but he is no Steve Young. Losing Young was a major blow for the Express. It is basically Van Halen losing David Lee Roth. People showed up just to see him, even when the Express were losing. Without him we already see that season ticket sales have taken a 33% dip in the fickle LA market. Add to this the loss of HB Christian Okoye and SS Chuck Cecil and we are looking at a very different LA Express team, and one that looks to be in full rebuild mode. Biggest Question: Who is going to run the ball for the Express. We fully expected the Express to take a serious run at a topflight back such as Blair Thomas, Emmitt Smith, or Rodney Hamption. While we like Darrell Thompson from Minnesota, we are not sold that he can carry the load for LA’s preferred power run game. And what is behind him on the roster? Tim Richardson, Mel Gray, and Spencer Tillman (acquired from Jacksonville) do not fill us with a sense of security about the Express run game. Rookie to Watch: Thompson is the biggest name in the small LA draft pool (they signed only 6 rookies), and is likely the only one of the six to get a lot of early season playing time. Safeties Pat Eilers (Notre Dame) and Anthony Shelton (Tenn State) will have roles to play but will not be reminding anyone of Chuck Cecil. Outlook: LA feels very much like a team on the ropes and in need of rebuilding. Walter Lewis is a stopgap for them on offense, and their ramschackle backfield does not inspire confidence either. They still have a strong receiving corps in Eric Martin, Jo-Jo Townsell, and Todd Christiansen, but is that enough? PORTLAND THUNDER (1-15 in 1989, 5th in the West) Biggest Change: Portland had a ton of cap room and while their defense was pretty atrocious last year, they spent most of their cap money on offense. Portland was far and away the most aggressive team in NFL signings, bringing in QB David Archer, WR Cris Carter, and trading for WR Webster Slaughter. They did sign former Charger Gill Byrd at CB and their draft was almost entirely defensive, so we still expect improvement on what was one of the worst pass defenses we have eve seen last year. Biggest Question: Are the Thunder headed in the right direction? It seems so. The Kerwin Bell experiment at QB does not seem to have worked, and the signing of David Archer seems to indicate that the Portland front office recognizes this. They did lose Flipper Anderson to the NFL, but signing both Cris Carter and Webster Slaughter (from Washington) seems a clear upgrade in the receiving corps. We still do not trust HB Robert Drummond to be a 1,000-yard bellcow, but maybe he will get a boost from the presence of rookie Derrick Loville. And we are all waiting to see if Byrd and the rookies on defense can improve that sad sack group. Rookie to Watch: Portland drafted and signed 5 players on defense, and the most promising by far seems is LB Bobby Houston from NC State. He looks like a plug and play guy to us and will likely lineup on the Strong side, next to veteran Mike Weddington and opposite Billie Ray Smith. Another to watch out for is CB Le-Lo Lang who could move from the Nickel to the #2 CB as the season progresses. Outlook: Are the Thunder ready to challenge for the division title? No. But will they win 3 or fewer games again? Also no. We think they will be a better team but are still a year or two away from truly challenging. Their goal this year should be to play in more close games, and win a few of them too.

Sporting News, February 10, 1990 The free agents are signed, the draftees are in camp, the rosters are filling In, new coaches are installing their philosophies and their game plans. It is time to get the 1990 USFL season started. So much has changed this offseason, both on the field and off, and so much is unknown. There is hardly a franchise in the league that does not look quite different from last year. In the Eastern Conference we have a new coach in Philly for the first time in team history, roster upheavals across the 10 franchises, and new optimism in almost every camp. Can New Jersey repeat their magical run to a title? Is Orlando ready to take on the “big boys” in the South? Is there a break-out team in the Atlantic just waiting to shock the league? Is there a coach whose job is on the line if the season starts out rough? So much to look forward to and so many questions. Let’s take a look at the Eastern Conference and try to get some answers. ATLANTIC CONFERENCE Predicted Finish: New Jersey (11-5), Baltimore (9-7), Philadelphia (7-9), Pittsburgh (6-10), Washington (4-12) NEW JERSEY GENERALS (10-5-1 in 1989, League Champions) Biggest Change: The Generals lost two key contributors on offense in TE Brent Jones and FB Keith Byars to the NFL. In trying to replace them, they decided to bring back a fan favorite, FB Maurice Carthon. But no one expects Carthon and rookie TE Derrick Walker (Michigan) to be able to produce the same numbers. Expect Doug Flutie to have to do more to find receivers or to scramble out of trouble. Biggest Question: Does this squad have what it takes to repeat? The Generals defense is solid, led by LB Chris Spielman, but not overpowering, so it will once again take balance across the team and a mix of timely offense and opportunistic defense for New Jersey to overcome a packed Southern Division. Playing in a somewhat weaker division may help New Jersey get home field advantage, which would improve their chances of a repeat. Rookie to Watch: New Jersey went for a lot of depth in the draft, but the one player who could find himself starting soon, other than Walker, is former Syracuse LB Terry Wooden. Wooden has the skills to play either outside position, though he will need to bulk up a bit to be most effective. Outlook: The Generals are the clear favorite to win the division, but once the playoffs start, they will face some tough opposition if they hope to repeat. BALTIMORE BLITZ (6-9-1 IN 1989, 2ND in Division) Biggest Change: Baltimore came out of the NFL “raids” largely scott free, which has angered many around the league who blame the NFL’s more aggressive posture on the Blitz’s pursuit of Marty Schottenheimer. They have been vilified by fanbases around the team, so the biggest change may just be the perception of the team as a pariah by fans in every stadium they will visit. Biggest Question: Can the Blitz revive their run game? Tim Spencer has not had a 1,000-yard season since the league’s 1st in 1983. He keeps coming up with 700-850 yards, but that is not enough to warrant an uncontested starting job. And yet, Baltimore seems unwilling to fully replace Spencer. They used a mid-round pick on San Jose State’s Johnny Johnson, but we don’t see him pushing Spencer out of a starting position. So it may just be more of the same for the Blitz offense. Rookie to Watch: LB Bryce Paup from Northern Iowa was Baltimore’s early defensive pick, but the guy who has been impressing everyone in camp was 7th round pick John Randle, the feisty DT from little Texas A&I. He has a real shot of becoming a starter for the Blitz after an impressive camp. Outlook: Baltimore, by virtue of adding more pieces than they lost, is poised to potentially challenge New Jersey. A lot will depend on how the QB position plays out, with Eric Kramer challenging longstanding starter Vince Evans last year with some strong outings. Coach Schottenheimer loves to run the ball as well, so this year will test whether the Blitz have the backs they need to ground & pound. PHILADELPHIA STARS (5-11 in 1989, 4th in Division) Biggest Change: It has to be at the top, where the resignation and very quick signing of Jim Mora by the NFL’s Saints has led to uproar across the league. While the USFL’s tampering lawsuit hinges largely on just what transpired between Mora and the Saints, the arrival of Jack Bicknell from BC is hopefully going to bring some calm to a team that spiraled last year, failing to make the playoffs for the first time in team history. Biggest Question: Can this defense rebound and play solid football in 1990? The Stars have always been known for a methodical offense and a shut down defense, but last year teams were not intimidated, and the Stars were not anywhere near their usual mistake-free selves. Losing CB Cris Dishman will not help, but Philly concentrated heavily on defense in the draft, signing two DT’s and using a territorial pick to bring in Penn State LB Andre Collins, who may become a Week One starter. Rookie to Watch: Philly’s offense still runs through Fusina, Bryant and Mike Quick, but the signing of TE Eric Green from Liberty gives Fusina another weapon to try to keep drives moving. Green looks like a solid dual role player who can help in the run game and find space against zone defenses. Outlook: We do not believe the Stars are as bad as their 1989 record indicated. They may not be the juggernaut of the division any longer, but this is a team that can finish above .500 if they can get the defense to gel and keep on keeping on with Fusina and Byrant. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (5-11 in 1989, 5th in Division) Biggest Change: The biggest issue in the offseason for the Maulers was not the NFL (they lost no players) but their own budgeting office. The Maulers were well over the cap despite having a roster that is not filled with big names, so they had to make some trades to cut salary. Out are T Dwayne Massey and underwhelming WR Shawn Collins. In were multiple draft picks. The Maulers will have a lot of rookies on the roster, and have to hope that some shine this year. Biggest Question: Will the Maulers ever find a defense that works? The Maulers were once again near the bottom of the league in yards allowed, and not great in scoring D either. They signed two safeties and a DT (Pitt’s Tony Siragusa) in the draft, but no free agents to help out. That may well mean another long season of missed tackles and big plays against that D. Rookie to Watch: Siragusa is a fun hometown pickup, but perhaps the two most promising signees were both offensive linemen. We love the energy from Hawaii guard Leo Goeas, and in camp we have seen a lot of potential as well in center Roman Fortin from San Diego State. Mike Rozier must be happy to see both rotating into the lineup. Outlook: The Maulers’ offense will be entertaining, with Rozier going for a rushing title and Alan Risher making plays all over the field, but once again that defense needs to figure out something that works or it will be another losing campaign for the Maulers. WASHINGTON FEDERALS (6-10 in 1989, 3rd in Division) Biggest Change: Talk about a talent drain, Washington’s offense took 3 big hits. The NFL scooped up both TE Mark Bavaro and HB Craig James, kneecapping the Federals’ offense. Then Washington hurt themselves by trading away Webster Slaughter to Portland. They drafted 3 wideouts, a halfback and a TE but that is a lot of weight on rookies to come through. Biggest Question: Who will tote the rock? The expectation is that Coach Rutigliano will give the Week One start to Kevin Harmon, with a lot of Alfred Jenkins as a 3rd down back. Rookie Andy Murray from Kentucky may also get a chance, but can this combo match the consistent 1,000-yard production of the departed Craig James? Rookie to Watch: After drafting 3 wideouts, Washington has to hope that at least one of them is a quick learner. New Mexico’s Terrance Mathis is the speediest, Mississippi’s Willie Green has the best range, and returner/receiver Kerry Simien (Texas A&M Kingsville) has the quicks, but are any of them ready to step in and provide Don Majkowski with a reliable target? Outlook: We love the Majic Man, but is there enough around him to compete? This looks like a squad that needs to sign some free agents and get one more draft in them before they are ready to return to the playoffs. SOUTHERN CONFERENCE Predicted Finish: Tampa Bay (11-5), Memphis (10-6), Orlando (9-7), Birmingham (7-9), Jacksonville (6-10) TAMPA BAY BANDITS (10-6 in 1989, 3rd in Division, Wildcard) Biggest Change: The loss of Gary Anderson will hurt this team. No other back has been so consistently involved in a team’s passing game, with the possible exception of Houston’s Thurman Thomas. Anderson has rushed for over 1,000 yards 5 times in 7 seasons and has been over 40 receptions each of the past 5 years. Losing him to the NFL was a big hit. Biggest Question: With more pressure on him this year, how will Troy Aikman’s second year look? Aikman is likely to have a weaker run game with Lars Tate and rookie Richard Bell (Nebraska) trying to replace Anderson. He may have to hope the defense is improved, which we think it is, and expect to throw the ball out wide more often. Rookie to Watch: When the Bandits failed to sign Emmitt Smith, hearts sank on the gulf coast. He seemed a natural fit but opted to join the Dallas Cowboys instead. So, the pressure is on late round pick Richard Bell to prove that Tampa did not need to use a high pick in the open draft to secure a productive back. He will certainly sit behind Lars Tate at first, but if he cannot get carries fans will wonder why Tampa did not draft another back higher up or do more to sign Smith. Outlook: The Southern Division could be a very tough nut to crack this year. Four teams look like legitimate contenders for the title, but despite the concerns about the run game, we like what we see from the Bandits. Their defense and the obvious talent of QB Troy Aikman may just be enough to put them over the top. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (11-5 in 1989, 2nd in Division, Wildcard) Biggest Change: Memphis came out of the offseason largely unscathed. The one big move, trading Walter Lewis to LA, may leave their QB bench a little thin, with an untested backup and rookie Cary Conklin of Washington as the only backups behind Mike Kelley, but if Kelley stays healthy, the rest of the roster is primed for a deep playoff run. Biggest Question: When will Mel Gray slow down? The 35-year-old certainly did not show signs of slowing last year, winning Offensive Player of the Year with 130 receptions and 1,427 yards. He has caught over 100 balls and gained over 1,100 yards each of the past 3 seasons, and Memphis has not done a lot to take the weight of the passing game off him. Expect TE Keith Jackson to be Kelley’s second target as Memphis did not sign or draft a complementary receiver for Gray. Rookie to Watch: First round pick Tony Savage (DT, Washington State) should get into the rotation early on, and Coach Tobin hopes he can occupy some blockers to allow Reggie White and Booker Reese to blow up quarterbacks all year long. Outlook: Memphis has been on the cusp of greatness for 2 years now, and if Tampa is not what we expect, then this year the Showboats may just go all the way. They need Kelley to throw more TD’s than Int’s this year (17 to 20 last year) and protect the ball. If he can do that, this team could be scary good. ORLANDO RENEGADES (8-8 in 1989, 4th in Division, Wildcard) Biggest Change: While the loss of SS Bill Bates will sting, the signing of former Houston Oiler DE Ray Childress will help us forget about that. Childress will force teams to reduce their double teaming of his opposite, Rueben Davis, creating a 1-2 combo on the line that rivals that of Memphis’s White & Reese. Expect a lot of scared looks on opposing QB faces when they head to Orlando this year. Biggest Question: Is defense enough? Orlando had a solid D, and now it looks even stronger, but they did not add much for the offense. They got TE Danta Whittaker from Birmingham, but he is not exactly a gamebreaker, so what new wrinkle will Coach Schnellenberger add to make the Orlando offense more dangerous? Rookie to Watch: Orlando signed only 6 of their rookie picks, and we are having a hard time picturing any of their signees becoming a starter this year. SS Alton Montgomery (Houston) has the clearest path with Bates now in the NFL but may not outperform reserve SS A.J. Greene. Outlook: Defense can win championships, and the 8-8 Renegade’s deep playoff run last year proved that they can bring the heat in the postseason. They just need to maximize their offensive output to win more consistently and avoid becoming a 5 seed again. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (12-4 in 1989, Division Winner) Biggest Change: Losing Art Still was huge. Bob Barber is not getting any younger and having a gamechanger like Still opposite him made his life so much easier. While we like the look of rookie DE Anthony Pleasant (Tenn State), we are just not sure he is going to create the types of blocking scheme chaos that Art Still did. Biggest Question: Will youth be served? Birmingham had to purge some veterans to get under the salary cap, but the benefit is that they ended up with multiple draft picks, signing a whopping 9 of those picks. And it looks like a really well-chosen haul. So the question becomes, can a team rely on young players in key positions? If the answer is yes, then Birmingham could repeat. We are not so sure, which is why we have them sliding back a bit. Rookie to Watch: There are three players from this draft that may be asked to start on day one. Pleasant is one, Tackle Richmond Webb, the Stallions’ #1 pick is another, and surprising rookie TE Shannon Sharpe from Savannah State may just find himself in the starting 11 as well. We all expect good things from Webb, but Sharpe has been a revelation in camp and could become an impact player for the Stallions offense. Outlook: Birmingham is talented, no doubt, but they are also incredibly reliant on just a few veterans, none of whom are spring chickens anymore. Will Joe Cribbs’ hip be back to form? Is Cliff Stoudt losing some arm strength? Can Barber be a dominant force on the D-line without Art Still? We see potential issues this year for the Stallions. JACKSONVILLE BULLS (6-10 In 1989, 5th in Division) Biggest Change: When you lose a leader like Gary Clark and then your bellcow back also departs, you have some questions. Fortunately, the Bulls had a deep wideout group, with Hassan Jones, Brian Blades and Weegie Thompson all capable of absorbing Clark’s offensive output. The same may not be true in the run game. With George Adams now a NY Giant, and with Spencer Tillman traded to LA, Jacksonville took a shot at Arizona’s James Wilder, who has underperformed since coming over from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. Biggest Question: It has to be Wilder. After some great seasons in the NFL, Wilder went to Arizona and struggled, barely making it to 1,000 yards in 1988 and fallng short last year. He is backed up by Tommy Agie and Jamie Covington in Jacksonville, so Coach Hall may opt for a committee approach, but if the Bulls cannot run the ball, this may be a long year in north Florida. Rookie to Watch: The two best looking rookies are both in the defensive backfield, SS LeRoy Butler and FS Mark Carrier, but the fan favorite may be the high-motor DE Bill Goldberg. Goldberg has already become a character in camp, one the fans seem to adore. So, while he may not be the day one starter, he may find himself with some TV endorsement deals. That may not help the Bulls win more games, but it always helps to have players the fans like. Outlook: A lot is going to be asked of QB Chris Miller this year. Without George Adams to fall back on, and with questions about Wilder at HB, expect teams to pressure Miller and focus on the pass game against the Bulls. We should also mention that the Bulls D was in the bottom half of the league in every major category last year and relying on two rookies in the defensive backfield may not help improve that situation.

Sporting News, December 3, 1989 With the 8th USFL Draft only days away, and with the trade and free agency wire finally winding down, the 20 spring league franchises are beginning to get a sense of how they have navigated this rough offseason. Some had big shoes to fill as top players jumped to the NFL, while others had cap concerns that forced them to trade away talent in order to meet their financial limits. Every team still has gaps, some need to add depth, nearly all need at least one impact player who can start from day one, and while some teams have hoarded draft picks ahead of the draft (often by trading established players) others will have few picks and many positions of need to fill. But, before we get to our pre-draft analysis, there has been some news over the past month which should be reported. We begin in Houston, where, after an extensive search and interview process, the Gamblers believe they have their man, and just in time before the draft. The Gamblers in early November announced that former Cal head coach and longtime NFL assistant coach Ray Willsey will be the new leader of the squad. Willsey, who played briefly in the CFL as a DB has served as Defensive Coordinator for the NFL Cardinals and Washington Redskins. He recently switched from defense to offense and has been serving as the RB coach for the LA Raiders since 1979. The other news of the month was made just yesterday by the Memphis Showboats, who have revealed their new look from Russell Athletic. While there are some tweaks to the uniform itself, the main change is to the team’s color scheme. Previously scarlet red and light silver, the Showboats felt that their look too closely mirrored that of the rival Tampa Bay Bandits. To create their own look, the Showboats worked with Russell Athletic, testing out alternatives to silver as a team color. As the paddlewheelers which the Showboats use as their primary iconography were usually red and white, the team tested a single color design, but felt that a second color was essential. They tested black, navy blue, pewter grey, and sky blue before settling on a color new to professional sports. The color, dubbed Silver Sky, is a metallic silver with strong blue notes, meant to evoke both the morning sky and its reflection on the Mississippi River. The blue-silver tone is the first of its kind in pro sports, though some point to the Dallas Cowboys’ greenish silver pants as a parallel. The new color features prominently into the Showboats’ look, with Silver Sky helmets (now stripeless), pants, and sleeves on the new jerseys. Memphis head coach Vince Tobin, while somewhat skeptical that uniform colors mattered in the grand scheme of things, added that he liked the new tone of silver-blue, stating that it worked well to distinguish the club and felt almost patriotic when paired with Memphis’s scarlet. With league business complete, it’s time to get to the draft and the needs each USFL club finds on their roster. As we look at each team, let’s review the moves made to date and look at what kind of roll they will have in this year’s draft. We will present the teams in order of the first round of the upcoming Open Draft. PORTLAND THUNDER (1-15) Departures: WR Flipper Anderson (NFL) Acquisitions: QB D. Archer (NFL), WR C. Carter (NFL), CB Gill Byd (NFL) WR Webster Slaughter (from WSH), Trade News: Portland was very active in NFL signings, but also traded 2 draft picks to the Federals for wideout Webster Slaughter. Draft Picks: 5 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: CB, LB, FS, HB Draft Preview: Portland was one of the most active teams this offseason, and with good reason. Their roster last year lacked playmakers, and their defense was atrocious. Despite this they seemed to focus more on offense, signing a QB and 2 WR’s, while only adding one defender in CB Gill Byrd. They will need to do more in the draft, but have only 8 total picks. Expect them to go after more DB’s to boost the pass defense, and an athletic LB if they can find one in the mid rounds. PHILADELPHIA STARS (5-11) Departures: T W. Wolford (NFL), CB C. Dishman (NFL), HB S. Howell (Ret) Acquisitions: None Trade News: No Trades Draft Picks: 7 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: DT, TE, G, LB, S Draft Preview: Coach Bicknell inherits a team with solid talent on offense, though some of the starters are getting a little long in the tooth. The defense still hasn’t recovered from the retirement of LB Sam Mills (who has since unretired and rejoined Coach Mora now with the NFL Saints). The Stars lost two solid players in Wolford and Dishman, but both were positions of depth to begin with, so we expect them to go after other areas which were already weak. Defensive Tackle is the weakest defensive position, so do not be shocked if the Stars take more than one player here. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (5-11) Departures: T D. Massey (to MEM), WR S. Collins (to TEX) Acquisitions: None Trade News: The Maulers found themselves in significant cap distress this year due to some bubble years in contracts. Their solution was to trade off two higher priced players in exchange for low cost backups and a 4th rounder from Texas. Draft Picks: 8 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: FS, DT, HB, C, LB Draft Preview: Pittsburgh needs more defensive help as once again the defense simply was not solid enough to help the offense out when points were tough to earn. Expect a combination of defensive line and DB picks, along with depth on the O-line and perhaps a shot at a a more dynamic backup behind Mike Rozier. Expect the Maulers to use a late pick on local favorite, Pitt’s Tony Siragusa at DT, a need position. WASHINGTON FEDERALS (6-10) Departures: HB C. James (NFL), TE M. Bavaro (NFL), WR W. Slaughter (to POR), WR R. Johnson (Ret) Acquisitions: T. D. Massey (from PIT), Trade News: Washington used the trade wire to snag a very good tackle from Pittsburgh and to grab some draft picks from Portland. They will miss Webster Slaughter, but hope to add a speedster in the draft. Draft Picks: 7 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: TE, WR, CB, HB, LB Draft Preview: The Federals seem content with the backs they had behind Craig James, so don’t expect them to draft a back early, but perhaps in the later rounds. WR and TE are the areas of immediate need, especially if this will remain a team defined by QB Don Majkowski’s magic touch. ARIZONA WRANGLERS (6-10) Departures: C K. Carter (NFL), QB K. Stouffer (to TEX), HB J. Wilder (to JAX), TE K. McKeller (to HOU) DE B. Williams (to NOR) Acquisitions: HB L. James (NFL), QB B. Kiel (from TEX), C W. McKinnon (from JAX), TE M. Boyer (from NOR) Trade News: Arizona’s dire cap issues forced their hand. The good news is that in trading high price players like Wilder and Stouffer the Wranglers got solid backups and a ton of draft picks. Draft Picks: 11 Open, 3 Terr. Areas of Need: G, HB, SS, T, DE, QB Draft Preview: Arizona is flush with picks, but a 6-win team usually also has a lot of needs. The Wranglers will likely devote multiple picks to the Guard and Safety positions, and will likely take a shot at Utah QB Scott Mitchell with one of their territorial picks. JACKSONVILLE BULLS (6-10) Departures: HB G. Adams (NFL), WR G. Clark (NFL), HB S. Tillman (to LA), C W. McKinnon (to ARZ) Acquisitions: HB J. Wilder (from ARZ) Trade News: The Bulls used two trades to land a new starting HB in former Wrangler James Wilder and to add a draft pick, trading away little used HB Spencer Tillman. Draft Picks: 6 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: SS, FS, TE, DE, LB Draft Preview: The Bulls need to address the safety positions, which were the clear weakness of their defense last year. Having acquired James Wilder to replace the departed George Adams, the offense has most of the weapons it needs, though a good dual use TE would certainly help QB Chris Miller out of trouble. The good news for Jacksonville is that if they can sign him, one of the best strong safeties in the country is at a Bulls territorial school, Florida State’s LeRoy Butler. BALTIMORE BLITZ (6-9-1) Departures: WR. S. Morgan (Ret) Acquisitions: None Trade News: None Draft Picks: 7 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: WR, SS, CB, G/T, HB, QB Draft Preview: Baltimore was one of the teams least impacted by this offseason’s craziness. Other than the retirement of wideout Stanley Morgan there were really no changes of note to a roster that started strong and faded down the stretch of 1989’s season. They will need to use the draft to fill in some depth at the skill positions, but they also need to strengthen both the defensive backfield and the offensive line. Will they take a shot at QB Neil O’Donnell from Maryland, or will they use those territorial picks on positions of higher need? LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (7-9) Departures: QB S. Young (NFL), HB C. Okoye (NFL), SS C. Cecil (NFL), FS J. Skinner (Ret) Acquisitions: QB W. Lewis (from MEM), HB S. Tillman (from JAX) Trade News: LA used a trade with Memphis to bring a viable starter to the team as they groom 2nd year QB Rodney Peete. They also got a solid HB in Spencer Tillman from Jacksonville. In both cases the Express gave up draft picks to get talent, trading future for present. Draft Picks: 5 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: HB, FS, WR, SS, CB, G Draft Preview: Tillman is a solid contributor, but he is not a lead back. LA feels comfortable at QB, though it will he hard to replace Young, but at HB they know they have to spend an early pick to get a possible year one starter. Unfortunately this is a rare year where neither USC or UCLA have a prime back for LA to snag with their protected picks, so they will have to compete with the rest of the league to find one. CHICAGO MACHINE (7-9) Departures: QB S. Beuerlein (NFL), LB C. Matthews (NFL), Acquisitions: DT D. Hampton (NFL), LB D. Talley (NFL) Trade News: No Trades Draft Picks: 7 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: DE, DT, CB, QB, WR Draft Preview: Chicago had money to burn below the cap, so it is no surprise that they signed two good talents from the NFL, linebacker Darryl Talley from Buffalo and former Bear Dan Hampton at DT. They still have more need along the D-line, both inside and outside, and they could upgrade at a few key skill spots as well. Expect a mid-to-late round pick to be spent on a QB. They will not try to go after U. of Illinois star Jeff George, not with Chuck Long and Rusty Hilger already on the roster. TEXAS OUTLAWS (8-8) Departures: QB D. Williams (NFL), HB S. Mitchell (NFL), QB B. Kiel (to ARZ), DT D. Butz (to DEN) HB S. Stamper (Ret) Acquisitions: QB K. Stouffer (from ARZ), DT L. Short (from DEN), WR S. Collins (from PIT), HB L. Rousson (from DEN) Trade News: After getting hit hard by 2 big NFL defections, Texas used the trade route to try to rebuild, bringing in QB Kelly Stouffer from Arizona, and got HB Lee Rousson from Denver as part of the Butz-Short swap, but they still need a bellcow back. Draft Picks: 5 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: HB, FB, G, DE, TE, C, DT Draft Preview: This is a very good year for backs, so Texas should be able to find an immediate contributor in the early rounds. Full back is always tricky, and the D-line will likely be a late round priority. With only 8 total picks, the Outlaws have to choose wisely, because signing only 4 of 8 would not fill their needs. TAMPA BAY BANDITS (10-6) Departures: HB G. Anderson (NFL), C D. Goodrich (Ret) Acquisitions: None Trade News: No Trades Draft Picks: 7 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: HB, LB, C, CB, TE Draft Preview: The Bandits only lost one player to the NFL this offseason, but it was Gary Anderson, so they need to find an answer at HB. The answer is right there for them in territorial pick Emmit Smith from Florida, but can they sign a player who may well be a top 5 NFL draft pick? Will they even try? There are so many solid backs in this year’s draft that they could double up, just in case Smith proves an impossible task. They have several areas that are not urgent but which they would love to improve, so expect them to use all 10 picks to try to add depth across several fronts. OAKLAND INVADERS (10-6) Departures: G. K. Gogan (NFL), Acquisitions: None Trade News: None Draft Picks: 7 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: T, G, DT, LB, QB Draft Preview: Expect the Invaders to try to shore up their O-line early in the draft. They have good talent at the skill positions on offense, but could also use more depth on defense. We also expect a developmental QB to be taken late in the draft. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (10-6) Departures: DE S. Fletcher (NFL), WR R. Sanders (NFL), SS K. Moody (Ret) Acquisitions: DE/DT A. Carreker (NFL), TE K. McKeller (from ARZ) Trade News: Houston upgraded at TE by bringing in McKeller from the Wranglers. Draft Picks: 6 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: WR, DT, DE, SS Draft Preview: Houston will almost certainly try to find a good route-running wideout early in the draft, and then focus a lot of attention to their defense. Signing Carreker from the NFL helps the line, but they need more athleticism across the line. They will also likely seek a replacement for retired SS Keith Moody. Baylor’s Robert Blackmon may be an early target for the Gamblers at safety. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (10-6) Departures: WR A. Carter (NFL), C D. Dawson (NFL), Acquisitions: WR D. Knight (from BIR) Trade News: Acquiring Danny Knight from the Stallions helps the WR corps, but he is no Anthony Carter. Draft Picks: 7 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: DE, DT, WR, C, G Draft Preview: Michigan will try to find a speedy playmaker at wideout and then concentrate on D-line over several picks. Wideout Chris Calloway from the Wolverine seems a natural T-draft pick, and there is good talent at both DE and DT between the Spartans and Wolverines, so Michigan needs to draft well and sign their territorial picks. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (11-5) Departures: QB W. Lewis (to LA) Acquisitions: WR R. Thomas (from LA) Trade News: In one move Memphis garnered several draft picks and a solid WR to pair with Mel Gray. They also removed the potential complaining of Walter Lewis by sending him to LA and investing fully in Mike Kelley as their starter. Draft Picks: 8 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: CB, G, LB, DT, QB Draft Preview: Memphis would love to add some run-stopping power to the DT position, some speed at LB, and some athleticism to the guard position. They have an additional early pick from LA, so they could do all three and still have room to add a QB for depth behind Kelley. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (12-4) Departures: DE A. Still (NFL), CB K. Howard (NFL), WR D. Knight (to MGN), TE D. Whittaker (to ORL) Acquisitions: WR W. McKall (from MGN) Trade News: Birmingham was forced to trade away Knight and Whittaker due to cap restraints. But, in getting picks for those players they have a chance to improve at both positions. Draft Picks: Open 9, Territorial 3 Areas of Need: DE, T, TE, CB, S Draft Preview: Birmingham wants to get stronger along both lines, so expect some big beefy picks. They also want to add a receiving TE, a part of their offense that has been lacking in recent years. They have a lot of picks to throw around, so don’t be surprised if they package some to move up in early rounds. ORLANDO RENEGADES (8-8) Departures: SS B. Bates (NFL), Acquisitions: DE R. Childress (NFL), TE D. Whittaker (from BIR) Trade News: Orlando’s only trade was for some TE depth. Draft Picks: 5 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: SS, TE, DE, DT, S Draft Preview: Orlando traded away some picks last year as they played the trade wire. This year they largely stood pat, though they did bring in a big TE. They also gave as good as they got in the battle with the NFL, losing safety Bill Bates but bringing in the disruptive DE Ray Childress. In the draft, they need to find a new strong safety, and perhaps one more TE along with depth across the D-line. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (11-5) Departures: SS Joe Restic (NFL), TE M. Boyer (to ARZ) Acquisitions: DE B. Williams (from ARZ) Trade News: Traded their 2nd TE to Arizona for more DE help. Draft Picks: 7 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: T, LB, CB, S, TE Draft Preview: Aside from the loss of Defensive MVP Joe Restic, the Breakers have solid starters across the roster. They were unable to lure a top NFL safety to the Big Easy, so they will turn to the draft to find a young talent. They would also love to find a rangy LB who can play weak or strongside with veteran Marcus Marek in the middle. DENVER GOLD (10-6) Departures: HB H. Sydney (NFL), CB S. Wilcots (NFL), DT L. Short (to TEX), HB L. Rousson (to TEX) Acquisitions: DT D. Butz (from TEX) Trade News: In a bit of an odd swap, Denver sent DT Laval Short to Texas for DT Dave Butz. They gain a player 3 years younger but not as proficient. This, along with Lee Rousson thrown in for cap space, means that they essentially stand pat. Draft Picks: 8 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: HB, TE, WR, CB, LB, DE Draft Preview: While Timmy Smith is a fun back to watch, we don’t see him carrying the ball 25 times a game. Denver needs to find a grinder, someone who will relish the chance to pick up a 3rd and 2. They will also look to shore up the LB corps and the D-line with their 11 picks. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (10-5-1) Departures: TE B. Jones (NFL), FB K. Byars (NFL), Acquisitions: FB M. Carthon (NFL) Trade News: No trades but an intriguing NFL-USFL swap. The Philadelphia Eagles signed FB Keith Byars away from the Generals, but New Jersey turned around and renewed their relationship with former General and NY Giant Maurice Carthon. Carthon is not the receiver Byars was, but he can carry the rock among the best FB’s in the game. Draft Picks: 8 Open, 3 Territorial Areas of Need: TE, C, G, T, LB, SS Draft Preview: The new league champions are still not satisfied with their offensive line, and look to add depth across the front. They need to start, however, with TE. Brent Jones was a huge part of the Generals’ offense, so they need to do what they can to bring in a tight end with good ball skills and solid route running, otherwise, without Byars and Jones, Doug Flutie will have to spend a lot more time scrambling.

In what has been one of the most tumultuous offseasons in the USFL’s short history, the league’s 20 ownership groups find themselves trying to navigate a precarious relationship with the NFL, while also coordinating a transition in leadership as Chet Simmons steps down and Wayne Duke takes on the mantle of the commissionership. When the owners met this week in New York, they had a lot to discuss and not a lot of clear paths forward. There were some decisions postponed, others backburnered, but the issue of NFL-USFL player and staff acquisition could not be deferred or ignored. A NEW LAWSUIT After vigorous debate, the owners, by a 15-5 vote, have opted to move forward with a second major lawsuit against the NFL. Unlike the Anti-Trust lawsuit from 1984-1985, which looked at NFL stadium and television exclusivity, the current legal efforts will focus on what the USFL claims to be tampering with players and coaches under contract. Not every offseason acquisition by the NFL will be included in the claim, but it seems clear that the league will be focusing on the signings of Philadelphia Head Coach Jim Mora by the New Orleans Saints, San Francisco’s signing of LA Express QB Steve Young, San Diego’s signing of Tampa Bay HB Gary Anderson, and the Washington Redskin signings of both Doug Williams (QB-TEX) and Ricky Sanders (WR-HOU). The league feels that after internal investigation as well as supporting materials from the USFLPA that there is good evidence that NFL officials acted improperly and prematurely in working with players and their agents while the players remained under contract. While the USFL may have evidence to prove their case, the line between appropriate and illegal or inappropriate contact or comm-unication is a very grey area in sports labor law, and the ability to provide solid testimony and first-hand accounts of who said what to whom may be nearly impossible to obtain. Several USFL insiders seem to indicate that the lawsuit itself may be a strategy to force the NFL to consider a form of mediation or arbitration which could help forge a more structured player recruitment, signing, and transfer system. Several mentioned the success of the European soccer leagues to develop transfer windows and a system of reimbursement payments when players shifted between leagues as a potential model which could both cool tensions between the two leagues and allow players to consider multiple offers when their contracts expired. It is, of course, much to early to know if this gambit will bear fruit, but it is an intriguing concept to envision. OTHER LEAGUE BUSINESS The USFL owners released a “highlights” listing of other decisions made this week, though we imagine that most of these items were discussed in committee and quickly passed as the main topic of discussion clearly dominated the proceedings. Among the highlights listed we find the following which would be of interest to fans: • The league voted to retain the current salary cap at $55M and to retain only 5 cap-exempt positions on each roster. There had been significant speculation that one reaction to the NFL raids would be to allow greater cap and exemption flexibility, but this was offset by owners concerned that a bidding war would quickly drain the coffers of the league and its franchises. • The league extended their moratorium on league expansion. The previous cessation was due to expire in 1990, but by a unanimous vote the league owners expressed that they did not believe the timing was correct to allow for expansion, so the moratorium was extended through the 1992 season, meaning that any league expansion beyond 20 clubs would not likely occur before the 1994 season. • The Competition Committee proposed, and the body of the whole accepted, several changes to on-field rules, including further expansion of the Instant Replay Challenge, now to include both ball placement and automatic review of all turnovers. Plays which were not ruled turnovers may still be called to review by a coach challenge, but any play ruled a turnover on the field would be reviewed automatically. The other significant change deals with cut blocks in which a player, typically a lineman, engaged with an opponent cannot be cut or blocked below the waist by a 3rd player. Several injuries from these engaged blocks have occurred over the past 3 years, and this new rule will provide greater protection for linemen. The new offense will be treated as a form of clipping. The league also approved, as expected, the next two Championship Game locations. While there was no news on the proposed renaming of the USFL Championship, the league announced that the 1990 Championship would be held in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl, while the 1991 Championship would be held in Los Angeles, not at Angel Stadium where the Express play their games, but at the larger LA Coliseum. The selection of Orlando was considered something of a surprise as heat, even at night, in Orlando in July can trend very high (with humidity as well), but the city itself is such a tourism mecca that it seems clear that the USFL is hoping the location will bring very high attendance for the game. • Finally, the league approved a sub-committee to research the prospect of a formal All-Star Game to take place the week after the USFL Championship. Declining attendance and revenue at several other All-Star games, including the NFL’s Pro Bowl, may be evidence that adding such a game will not prove a revenue generator, and the USFL is open to exploring other options such as a coordinated Fan Fest, Skills Competition, or international exhibition game in place of a more traditional All-Star game. Outside of the USFL Owners’ Meeting there was still plenty of news for the league’s 20 teams over the past 10 days. We have coaching hires, more player movement, and the first of three anticipated team redesign reveals from uniform partner Russell Athletic, so let’s get right to it. COACHING HIRES Two of the league’s three open coaching slots (PHI, POR, HOU) have been filled. The Portland Thunder did not travel far from home, announcing Washington State Head Coach Dennis Erickson to be the new man in charge of the 1-15 Thunder. Erickson, who had been in negotiations with the U. of Miami, was lured away from the Hurricanes for a shot at pro football with the Thunder. He has a lot to deal with helping get this team up to a competitive stature with fellow USFL squads, however with major salary cap space, the Thunder, who have already signed NFL quarterback David Archer, may be in a position to be big players in free agency this year. The second hire was in Philadelphia, where the Stars, still reeling from the departure of Jim Mora, had reached out to Memphis for permission to try to speak with former Stars DC and current Showboats HC Vince Tobin, but with Tobin still having 3 years left on a recently extended contract, and with Memphis now a playoff contender two seasons in a row, the Showboats were in no mood to allow the Stars to speak with Tobin. Philadelphia moved on, held several interviews with both NCAA and NFL coaches, as well as a couple of USFL coordinators, before settling on their man. They, like Portland, look to the college ranks, announcing Boston College Head Coach Jack Bicknell as the next coach of the Stars. Bicknell, who has led the small private school in Chestnut Hill, MA to an impressive run of success in the Big East. Of course, Bicknell is no stranger to USFL fans as he coached New Jersey QB Doug Flutie to a Heisman tropy. Bicknell will take over a roster filled with veteran leaders, particularly on offense, where Chuck Fusina and Kelvin Byrant have been there since the league was founded. There is work to be done as Philly’s defense was sub par last year and the team slumped to a 5-11 record after 6 consecutive playoff seasons. The third coaching vacancy, the Houston Gamblers, is expected to be filled soon. Houston has had interviews with three prospects expected to be at the top of their list: former Arizona State HC Al Luginbill (now with San Diego State), former Cal HC and Raiders RB Coach Ray Willsey, and TCU Head Coach Jim Wacker. Wacker is an interesting choice as his time at TCU has been controversial, with the Horned Frogs being cited for various NCAA violations. TRADE WIRE Three big trades highlighted the hot stove for the USFL this week. The first may have just answered our questions about how the LA Express would handle the QB position now that they have lost Steve Young, their 6-season starter, to the NFL. While they have expressed confidence in the growth of rookie Rodney Peete, they have been feeling out several USFL teams hoping to acquire a veteran who can perhaps bridge the position as they groom Peete. They have found a taker in the Memphis Showboats. Memphis, confident in the arm of Mike Kelley after his first full season as their starter, have opted to trade away veteran Walter Lewis. Lewis, who had been somewhat vocal about his desire to find a potential starting gig after being demoted behind Kelley, will likely be the new starter in LA, at least at the start of the season, and will have a chance to hold onto the job with solid performances. Memphis, for their part gets not only a 2nd round pick in this year’s draft, but also picks up a solid wideout to add to the mix of Mel Gray and Bobby Joe Edmunds. LA will send the promising 1989 rookie, Robb Thomas to Memphis along with their 2nd round pick. It solves a major problem for the Express, who now have a veteran and a good-looking 2nd year player at QB, and for Memphis, the added speed and skill at the wideout position helps them position themselves to take on Tampa and Birmingham once again. The second big trade saw Washington trade wideout Webster Slaughter to Portland for a 4th rounder this year and their 3rd round pick next year. The signing of Slaughter is hoped to offset Portland’s loss of Willie “Flipper” Anderson to the NFL, while Washington, which still has Duane Gunn and Joey Walters as starters now gains some more draft options this year. Finally, in a cap-saving move, Denver has opted to move veteran DT Laval Short, who was scheduled to make over $1.2M this year through a bubble payment to the Texas Outlaws for another veteran, but one on a much lower salary, Dave Butz. As part of the deal, Denver also sends backup HB Lee Rouson to San Antonio, who lost both Scott Stamper (retirement) and Stump Mitchell (NFL) this offseason. Texas will also send their 5th round pick to Denver this year. So, Texas gets an upgrade at DT and a contributor at HB, while Denver gets a slightly younger and much cheaper DT with good production and a draft pick. OTHER PLAYER NEWS On the player front, the past week has not seen further incursions from the NFL into USFL rosters and the only signing from the USFL of an NFL player over the past 2 weeks has been Arizona's signing of former San Diego Charger Lionel James, likely in a backup role. But, there have been several noteworthy retirements announced in advance of the owners’ meeting. Among the well-known names and league starters we find Baltimore wideout Stanley Morgan, Philadelphia (and former Houston starter) HB Steve Howell, Houston’s starting strong safety Keith Moody, Birmingham corner Kenneth Howard, and LA free safety John Skinner. The other big item is the issue of salary cap roster adjustments. Generally teams hope to go into the free agency and draft periods with at least $5 million in available cap space. This year that may require some significant roster adjustments as there are several teams who are not only below that desired total, but are significantly over the cap if their current contracts stay in effect. We expect some teams will reconfigure or extend contracts to provide a smaller 1990 footprint, while other teams may have no choice than to trade away some significant talent. The teams in the worst condition right now appear to be Arizona ($6.5M over the cap), Pittsburgh ($3.5M over), LA ($2.5M over), Philadelphia ($2.3M over) and Birmingham ($2.2M over), while the teams who are in a position to spend big this offseason remain mostly the 1987 and 1988 expansion clubs. Portland leads the bunch with over $18M in cap space, while Orlando has $14.6M, Chicago has $13M and Texas has $17.2M. The non-expansion clubs who could make some moves are Michigan ($9.4M), Tampa Bay ($8.1M), Baltimore ($7.4M) and the 1989 Champion New Jersey Generals ($7.2M). So, expect to see even more trades this offseason. The wheeling and dealing seems to have just begun. NEW UNIFORMS Denver was the second of the three anticipated Russell Athletic redesigns to be revealed, with only Memphis left to be seen. The Denver design is more of a “tweak” than a complete reimagination. The golden starburst logo remains as the primary logo, though the team did add a secondary logo in which a black “D” is filled with white-capped mountains and a golden sun. It seems very “tourism bureau” as logos go, but since it only appears on the uniform in the form of a small helmet sticker, it certainly does not take away from the team’s overall look. The larger changes are the addition of a black set of pants, with white and gold stripes; the shifting from two identical stripes on the jerseys to two distinct stripes, white and gold on the home uniform and black and gold on the road jersey. Finally the Gold have opted to drop the stripe from their helmet and increase the size of the starburst. A modest change all around, but one in keeping with the look that fans have come to expect from this year’s league runner-ups.

In what is shaping up to be one of the most tumultuous offseasons in the short history of the USFL, the spring football league continues to see major incursions into its free agency pool, as well as its coaching ranks, by the NFL. With the league’s summer owners meeting only a week away, there is clearly a sense of urgency and anger with the new, more aggressive stance being taken by the NFL. While the last 2 weeks have seen additional USFL free agents signing with the NFL, the biggest shock has been the departure of yet another top USFL Head Coach to a lucrative NFL offer. Jack Pardee, who led the Houston Gamblers to two straight USFL Championship Games, including the 1988 league title, has signed on to stay in Houston, but with the rival NFL Houston Oilers. Unlike the earlier case of Jim Mora, where a suspicious resignation was followed very quickly by the announcement that he would be signing with the New Orleans Saints, Pardee was no longer under contract. He had been in negotiations for a new contract with Jerry Argovitz and the Houston Gambler ownership group throughout the late spring, and following Houston’s ouster from the playoffs, officially was no longer under contract. But, despite the less-problematic nature of the signing, the fact that Pardee announced his departure from the Gamblers and agreement with the Oilers in the span of one day again begs the question as to whether any contact was made by the NFL team to Pardee prior to the end of Pardee’s contract and the Gamblers’ season. This, along with the Jim Mora situation, is certain to be a major topic of discussion when the owners meet in New York next week. The other major item will almost certainly be a league-wide discussion on how to respond to the feeding frenzy NFL teams have had on USFL rosters. Just in the last 2 weeks we have seen yet one more wave of signings as NFL teams can now make offers to the teams who participated in the league’s Conference Finals and Championship Game, and the NFL has not been shy about doing so. New Orleans was the fist to be hit, as the NFL’s Chicago Bears signed Defensive Player of the Year, safety Joe Restic to a 3-year, $4 million dollar deal. Restic won this year’s USFL DPOY as a dual threat safety, able to play deep coverage or come to the line to take on ballcarriers. New Orleans could not match the Chicago deal as they have already filled all 5 of their cap-exempt slots in resigning Marcus DuPree and Marcus Marek to lucrative contracts, along with restructuring QB Matt Robinson’s deal. The other Conference Championship participant, Orlando, likewise took a big hit as the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys resigned one of their former players, safety Bill Bates, who had only been with Orlando for 2 seasons. Bates returns to his former team, while Orlando, fresh after resigning HB Curtis Bledsoe, now finds themselves with an open cap-exempt slot, and perhaps a chance to look at an NFL veteran in a position of need. Upon completion of the USFL Championship game, league runner-up Denver immediately worked on their free agents, resigning DE Laval Short to a 3-year deal, but they ran into difficulty trying to get HB Harry Sydney to sign a contract extension. Sydney and his agent seemed to be stalling, and we soon found out why, as it was soon announced that the 7-year veteran of the Gold had become the newest member of the San Francisco 49ers. The ‘9ers, who already made the biggest splash of the offseason by signing Express QB Steve Young despite already having future Hall of Famer Joe Montana on the roster, are now doubling down on USFL talent with the signing of Sydney. In 7 seasons with Denver, Sydney had accumulated 7,068 yards rushing and 40 touchdowns. He has, for the past 3 seasons, been part of a “Thunder and Lightning” rotation with speedster Timmy Smith. New Jersey, the newly crowned USFL Champion, was also a key target for NFL signings as once again the 3-time Super Bowl Champion 49ers reached out to snag a top offensive talent. Tight End Brent Jones signed with the 49ers this past Monday, making him the third offensive star to move from the spring league to Bill Walsh’s NFL club. This was a bad loss for the Generals, and for QB Doug Flutie, who relies often on Jones as a safety valve. The news got even worse for Flutie and the Generals when the league’s All-USFL Team fullback, Keith Byars signed on with the Philadelphia Eagles. Byars, who is another safety valve receiver for Flutie, as well as one of the league’s best lead blockers and a frequent halfback fill-in for Herschel Walker, came to New Jersey 4 years ago, and helped them win the title this year, but will now be headed down I-95 from the Meadowlands to Veterans Stadium and from spring to fall. Byars represents the 6th 1989 All-USFL selection to depart for the NFL, alongside QB Doug Williams (TEX to Redskins), TE Mark Bavaro (WSH to NY Giants), WR Ricky Sanders (HOU to Redskins), Center Dermotti Dawson (MGN to the Steelers), and Defensive POTY Joe Restic (NOR to the Bears). When you add in other top offensive talent from around the league, including Young and Steve Beurlein at QB, HB’s Christian Okoye, Gary Anderson, Stump Mitchell, Harry Sydney, and Craig James, WRs Anthony Carter, Flipper Anderson, and Gary Clark, lineman like T Will Wolford, Center Kevin Carter, and Guard Kevin Gogan, you are looking at a major earthquake across the league. And then, we also have to look at the exodus of defensive talent. Not just Restic, but also DE’s Art Still and Simon Fletcher, LB Clay Matthews, and DB’s Solomon Wilcots, Bill Bates, Chuck Cecil, and Chris Dishman, it is basically an entire All-League team that has left the USFL. It is unsure how teams will react. To date the only significant NFL signing has been Portland’s signing of former Atlanta Falcon QB David Archer, but there may be more as USFL teams regroup and try to recover talent. The issue for many is how to find cap room or cap-exempt slots for potential signings form the fall league. It may be easier for many to plug gaps with lesser-known names and focus on signing higher-ranked NCAA prospects, much as the league did in signing big names such as Herschel Walker, Steve Young,and Jim Kelly in the first place. There is enough suspicion that the NFL owners are both colluding to create this wave of signings, and potentially tampering with players still under contract before the season ended to potentially lead the USFL to once again seek justice in the courts, as they did in 1984 with an anti-trust suit. Another court case may take months to resolve issues but could once again provide the USFL with both financial remuneration and leverage to force the NFL into a more collegial agreement on player and staff transfer from league to league, something the USFL has sought in the past, but with little to show for it. The Pardee and Mora signings, along with the exodus of USFL players for the NFL this off-season have the owners worried, and have the fans upset. The USFL’s lower salary cap cannot sustain a coordinated and well-funded effort by the NFL to sign top talent. And while some stars, like Walker and Kelly, have reupped with their USFL squads, so many have left that teams are now left having to rebuild on the fly. Just how will teams do this? We talked to league owners, GM’s and coaches around the league, checked in with beat reporters, and these are right now the top questions that will need to be answered this offseason? 1. How will league owners respond? Will there be lawsuits brought? Perhaps changes to the cap and exemption system? A refocusing on free agency v. building through the draft? The owners have to consider some cap strategies to help their clubs become competitive with NFL offers, perhaps not for all players but for key talent, and yet the entire financial solvency model for the USFL still depends on avoiding bidding wars with the much-more financially stable NFL. The Owners may opt instead to focus their funds on big name college signings, and then risk losing those players later, as we saw with several stars this offseason. They may also opt to push the NFL towards arbitration or mediation to create an amenable free agency or player transfer structure between the two leagues by pushing legal action. This option will be more likely if USFL investigators can discover evidence of tampering by the NFL, either with players under contract or with coaches such as Mora and Pardee. 2. How does this impact the balance of power in the league? While the NFL raids have impacted almost every team in the USFL, it is clear that teams like LA, Texas, New Jersey and Tampa will have major rebuilding to do or are losing hard-to-replace talent. Does Portland’s relatively weak roster and salary cap room allow them to do what others cannot and go after some NFL talent? Will teams like Memphis, Philadelphia, or Arizona, which are hard-pressed with the cap and their use of exemptions have to make deals or make cuts to free up funds or cap-exempt slots in order to sign new talent? A lot will depend on how each team addresses the cap, and what, if any, the USFL owners decide next week about adjustments to league cap structures as a response to the NFL raids. 3. Will USFL teams take shots at NFL starters? There are not many NFL free agents left right now, but if teams are willing to wait, they could see several quality names become available in January and February when the NFL regular season ends. Some of the potential names that could be available to join USFL teams in February include Quarterbacks Warren Moon, Joe Montana, Steve Walsh, Dave Krieg and Chris Chandler. Other potential targets could include halfbacks Ernest Byner, Gerald Riggs and Alonso Highsmith or defenders Bruce Smith, Lawrence Taylor, or Darrel Green. There is talent like this across the NFL that will be free agency eligible if not right now then in January or February (depending on playoff status for their teams). The question is whether the NFL will focus on resigning during the season and limit the access USFL squads may have. 4. With so many HB’s off to the NFL, where will their replacements come from? The Draft is the obvious answer, as running back is one of the positions where a rookie can have an immediate impact. The 1989/1990 pool of draft-eligible backs is quite deep, led by Penn State’s Blair Thomas, Florida’s Emmitt Smith, Minnesota’s Darrell Thompson, Georgia’s Rodney Hampton, and Washington State’s Steve Broussard. NFL prognosticators expect as many as 10-12 halfbacks would be Round 1 or Round 2 picks, so this is almost certainly where USFL squads will try to replace players like Gary Anderson, Christian Okoye, Harry Sydney or Craig James. 5. What will LA and Texas do at QB? The Express have recently drafted USC QB Rodney Peete, and may opt to bring in a veteran to compete and/or mentor Peete, but only if they feel confident that he can emerge as a viable starter. Otherwise, they may have to look for a potential starter from among USFL backups and NFL free agents. In Texas the bench behind Williams included some talent. Blair Kiel, Glenn Carano and Mike Shula could be the basis for a QB competition, but again, is there confidence among the Outlaws’ coaching staff that one of these three could emerge as a viable starter? So much uncertainty and so much angst for one offseason. Hard to imagine that it was only 3 years ago when the USFL David defeated the NFL Goliath in court, paving the way for the ongoing growth and relative financial success for spring football through the USFL. So, with an eye on positivity, let’s finish today’s report by looking forward to next year with optimism. As they did last year, Russell Athletic has undertaken team identity revisions for three more clubs this year, Denver, Memphis, and Orlando. In some cases the changes to the team identities are expected to be minor, in other cases quite significant. This week RA and the Orlando Renegades unveiled their new look for 1990. Coming off their first playoff season, and a run that saw them upset both Tampa Bay and Birmingham to reach the Eastern Conference Championship, Orlando did not want to throw out the baby with the bathwater. They wanted to retain most of the look that has begun to gain value as the team improves. So, the changes to Orlando’s look are somewhat muted. The most obvious change will be the increase in the use of black as one of the team colors. Black has always featured on the team’s official color palette, and has been part of the team’s tomahawk logo since their inception in 1987, but it never appeared on the uniform outside of the logo. That changes this year with black being used as a complementary color, found in the sleeve, pant, and helmet stripes as well as appearing as part of the new number outlines. The second significant change is the introduction of a blue set of pants to be worn with the white away jersey. Although the all-white look will remain an option for the Renegades, the new blue pants will be a common feature of the team’s look for away games. And finally, the logo itself will be altered slightly for the 1990 season, with the block letter “ORLANDO” removed from the helmet logo, while being retained for marketing items. The tomahawk will also be tweaked, with both feathers now featuring silver tips instead of red and blue tips. Red will still appear in the “Renegades” script, but the emphasis is clearly on blue, silver and black as the team’s colors moving forward. Here is a design sheet for the new look Renegades. Based on comments made at the reveal event in Orlando, it sounds like we can expect an announcement from Denver very soon, while Memphis may not be ready to reveal their look until January’s draft. Sounds like something bigger is in the works in the Mid-South.

After years of underachievement and disappointment, the New Jersey Generals and the USFL’s first superstar, Herschel Walker, reach the mountaintop, defeating the Denver Gold by a score of 23-18. In what many are seeing as the culmination of a 4-year process by coach Ray Perkins, the Generals moved from Wild Card in 1987 to Division Champion and a Conference Title Game appearance in 1988 and now League Champions in 1989. They defeated a Denver club that had also suffered through several years of playoff disappointment to reach their 2nd title game, only to fall short once again. The Generals did it through balance on both offense and defense, holding both Denver’s passing game and halfback duo of Harry Sydney and Timmy Smith in check while winning the field position battle with Herschel Walker and an efficient play action game. Quarterback Doug Flutie was named game MVP with his efficient 25 of 31, 247-yard, 2 TD day, but in reality this was a full team effort, with all three phases of the game helping New Jersey to their first league title. After a scoreless first quarter that saw both teams testing the opposition defense, New Jersey got off to a strong start in the second quarter with a 71-yard drive. On the drive the Generals combined short passes to TE Brent Jones and FB Keith Byars with 4 Herschel Walker runs, including the eventual scoring play, a 1-yard plunge by the former Georgia Bulldog. This would be a pattern all day as Jones, Byars and Walker proved to be among the top receivers for Flutie. Denver concentrated on taking away wideout Lam Jones (ony 2 catches, but one biggie for a TD) and using their backers to focus on the run. Denver would be relatively successful in containing league rushing leader Walker, holding him o 82 yards on 25 carries, a 3.3 average. But in doing so and in frequently double-covering Lam Jones, they spread themselves thin and Doug Flutie, willing to dump off the ball to his backs or tight ends, showed patience and helped New Jersey maintain possession on key drives. But it was not all General success. Following the Walker touchdown, Denver replied with their own long drive, but when they reached the red zone the Generals’ defense stiffened, holding Denver out of the endzone. Denver had obtained a 1st and 10 from the New Jersey 13, but was only able to get the ball to the 11 after a short Sydney run was followed by two endzone shots which failed to produce a score. Denver would settle for a 28-yard chip shot from Brian Speelman. The Gold would get another shot when a failed 3rd and 5 pass to Scott Schwedes forced New Jersey to punt on a 3-and-out possession. The Gold quickly moved the ball down the field, aided by a 31-yard pass interference call on CB Cliff Hicks, trying to time a swat move on Lam Jones. Denver would once again move the ball well into the red zone, earning a first and goal on the 8. Two short passes on very similar crossing routes finished the drive with a score. The first, to Mark Carrier got the Gold to the two, and then another to Bill Brooks finished off the drive and gave Denver a 10-7 lead. With just over 1:30 left in the game, New Jersey got the ball on their own 31 after a solid return by HB Bobby Morse. After a screen to Walker that only gained 3 yards, Denver prepared for an attempt at a first down gain, moving into a shell zone. As Doug Flutie dropped back, it looked like Denver had called it right, and DE Vince Rafferty looked like he would have a shot at Flutie, but the diminutive QB spun away from Rafferty and started to roll to his right. As he did this the Denver zone started to break down and a clear miscommunication led to Lam Jones getting behind the coverage, where a scrambling Flutie was able to find him. Brooks caught the ball in stride and 71 yards later had the play of the game, a perfect example of Doug Flutie’s ability to extend plays and make something out of nothing. New Jersey would go into the half up 14-10. After a rousing halftime show by Lionel Ritchie, the Denver Gold received the second half kickoff and started what appeared to be a very promising drive. They paired an 11-yard run from Sydney with a 12-yard reception by Odessa Turner and a 9-yard run by Timmy Smith to move into New Jersey territory. They were poised to at least kick a field goal but were derailed when Gary Jeter stunted with DT Kit Lathrop on a 3rd and 4. After a short chase, he clipped the knee of QB Gagliano, who stumbled and then went down back at the 40. Denver was forced to punt. They went for a coffin corner, but CB Kirby Jackson snagged the ball at the 10 and weaved his way for a 32 yard return, setting New Jersey up at the 42. The Generals would start this drive with a 14-yard run to Walker, as he bounced off LB Kurt Gouveia before being brought down by a combo tackle from Denver’s John Roper and Vencie Glenn. This was followed by a short pass to Brent Jones, the game’s leading receiver, a 6-yard swing pass to FB Keith Byars for another first down, and then short completions to Walker (one of 4 on the day) and J.J. Birden. The result was a first down on the Denver 11. Walker pushed the ball to the 5, and then on a beautifully executed play action bootleg, Flutie found Brent Jones open for the score, putting New Jersey up by 21-10 and forcing Denver to start thinking about picking up the pace. After a failed drive for both teams, Denver got the ball back with 3 minutes gone in the 4th. They drove down the field in stops and starts, taking advantage of a defensive holding call, then getting called for false start themselves. Completing to Jay Novacek, then getting stuffed on a Sydney run. But, Denver, as they had been all year, proved resilient and tenacious, and when Odessa Turner caught a Gagliano pass at the 3-yard line, he ground his way through SS Gary Barbaro’s tackle to edge the ball over the line and into the endzone. Gagliano would hit Novacek on the 2 point try and the game was back in play at 21-18. Things were looking up for the Gold. They had just pulled back within 3, and after a short drive in their own territory, a Flutie pass to Birden sailed high on 3rd and 6, the Generals were forced to punt. They got a boomer, a 59-yard kick from Ryan Criswell, and backup safety John Raines was able to track the ball and touch it down at the Denver 3. Denver tried to outsmart the Generals on their first play from the 3, and it backfired on them. They faked the ball to Sydney and then pitched it out to Timmy Smith. Smith tried for the sideline, but, facing 2 oncoming defenders, tried to reverse field, backtracking into the endzone, where DT Kit Lathrop was waiting. Smith was tackled for a safety, putting New Jersey back up by 5 and forcing Denver to kick the ball away to the Generals. New Jersey would get the ball back on their own 44 with just over 3:30 left in the game. They gave the ball to Walker on 3 consecutive plays, producing a first down at the Denver 43. Two more runs, and the end of Denver’s timeouts meant that New Jersey would only need to convert a 3rd and 2 to salt the game away. All eyes were on Walker, and the defense veered to the left when Walker made his first steps in that direction, but the ball was not in his hands, but in those of FB Keith Byars, who plunged between the right guard and the tackle for an apparent first down and the game. The referees conferred, the chains came out and the 1st down was confirmed. As Doug Flutie took the victory on 3 straight downs, members of the Generals’ defense lifted Ray Perkins on their shoulders and began to bounce him as the clock wound down. The players stormed the field when the clock hit double-zero and the celebration in Jersey and around the NY-NJ area began. Flutie would be named the MVP of the game, a clearly downhearted Bob Gagliano would congratulate Flutie on the field, Mouse Davis shook Ray Perkins hands once his feet were back on the ground, and Red, White, and Blue confetti showered from the enclosed roof of the Silver Dome. Perkins would later get a call from President George Bush, congratulating the former Alabama Head Coach and now USFL Champion on the victory. And with New Jersey’s triumph, the 1989 USFL season would end. With the league struggling to handle recent NFL aggressiveness in signing both players and coaches, no one would be surprised if the league wanted to savor this moment, because come Monday they would have to get back to the dangerous waters of free agency and the USFL offseason. Congratulations to Ray Perkins, Doug Flutie, Herschel Walker and all the Generals on a well-played, well-deserved victory and their first USFL Championship.

The USFL announced its annual awards and ALL-USFL roster today, just 2 days prior to their Championship showdown in the Pontiac SilverDome. This year featured a very balanced field of MVP candidates, a runaway winner for Rookie of the Year, and a surprise at Defensive Player of the Year. Let’s get right to it. MVP: Thanks in part to a late-season surge as well as to a sense that this honor was long overdue, the USFL panel of coaches, GM’s and designated journalists selected Herschel Walker as the 1989 MVP. Walker led the league in rushing for the third time in his 7 year USFL career, and his consistent efforts helped New Jersey garner their first division title with a 10-5-1 record. Second in the voting was last year’s MVP, New Orleans QB Matt Robinson, followed at a distance by Memphis Showboats receiver Mel Gray. Offensive Player of the Year: In recognition of a season that saw him lead the league in receptions, with 130 catches, a 23 reception lead over 2nd place, as well as finish 2nd in the league in receiving yards with 1,427 yards, the USFL recognized veteran receiver Mel Gray of the Memphis Showboats. Gray has been the prototype of a “possession receiver” for his 4 year USFL stint. He does not have the per catch average of a Derrick Holloway or Carlos Carson, but routinely leads the league in receptions on 3rd down, and is viewed as one of the best route runners in the league. Defensive Player of the Year: In a highly divided field it appears that DE’s Jerry Reese and Rueben Davis split a lot of votes, as did linebackers Eric Kumerow and Sam Norris. That left just enough room for a surprise candidate, and that surprise candidate was New Orleans Strong Safety Joe Restic. Restic did not lead the league in any one category, but his overall numbers are impressive. Restic garnered 80 tackles, forced 2 fumbles, recovered 4 fumbles, added 2 sacks and 4 interceptions as well as a safety and two defensive touchdowns over the course of the season. He played deep when needed, but also crept up to the line to blitz or defend the run. He was all over the field making plays. And while some still believe that the league leader in sacks (it was a 3-way tie) or tackles should take the trophy, no one denies that Restic had a standout season. Rookie of the Year: This one was a no brainer. QB Troy Aikman was a revelation this season for the Tampa Bay Bandits. Leading the team to a 10-6 record and a playoff berth, Aikman also finished the year as the league’s leader in pass attempts and yardage. He finished his rookie season with 4,331 yards passing, 29 touchdowns (tied for 3rd in the league) and a passer rating of 89.4. In a year where rookie performances, especially on offense, were disappointing, Aikman was a shining star. Coach of the Year: While some wanted to give Steve Spurrier this award for the simple act of convincing his GM to go after Aikman and make a trade with LA to secure the rights to the QB, the consensus pick for Coach of the Year was Birmingham’s Carl Reese. Asked to step in as interim head coach when Rollie Dotsch stepped down due to illness, Reese earned the permanent position not only by leading the Stallions to the league’s best record at 12-4, but by helping the team weather the emotional storm of losing Dotsch to pancreatic cancer just as the season was getting underway. Yes, the Stallions were a good team under Dotsch last season, but through the tragedy Reese led the team to greater victory, and helped build a culture that revered their lost leader and brought toughness and grit to work every day. ALL USFL TEAM 1989 In a year with a lot of balance and a lot of outstanding performances, picking one roster of All-USFL Stars is tough to do, but the league has made their selections and here is this year’s All-USFL Squad. Quarterback: Doug Williams (TEX), Matt Robinson (NOR), Don Majkowski (WSH) The only surprise here is that Majkowski, on a poor Federals team, received more votes than Troy Aikman, but there was certainly a desire to recognize his efforts and perhaps a bias against the rookie. Halfback: Herschel Walker (NJ), Joe Cribbs (BIR), Thurman Thomas (HOU) Walker and Cribbs were shoe-ins, while Thomas was a worthy pick, largely for the dual threat nature of his game, though many would have preferred to see Mike Rozier in this slot. Fullback: Keith Byars (NJ) No real competition here as Byars is truly the only league fullback who gets regular carries and heavy use in the pass game. Ron Wolfley of Pittsburgh gets kudos for his blocking skills in Pittsburgh. Tight End: Mark Bavaro (WSH), Butch Rolle (MGN) Bavaro was a clear favorite here, with 8 TD’s on the season, and Butch Rolle has become an integral part of the Panthers offense. Votes also went out to Mike Shaw for the Maulers. Wide Receiver: Mel Gray (MEM), Carlos Carson (TEX), Nolan Franz (NOR), Wamon Buggs (ORL), Ricky Sanders (HOU) How do you pick only 5 receivers from the USFL’s bevvy of stars. Other contenders worthy of consideration include Tampa’s Eric Truvillion, Philadelphia’s Mike Quick, and Michigan’s Derrick Holloway. Tackle: Bruce Wilkerson (MEM), Howard Ballard (HOU), William Israel (NJ) A solid group, no complaints, except perhaps from Texas, where Ryan Dudley felt snubbed. Guard: Kevin Gogan (OAK), Harry Galbreath (PIT), Ron Schaeffer (DEN) The only other name that could be put into this group would be James Zimmerman from Tampa. Center: Dermotti Dawson (MGN), William Copley (NOR) Far and away the two best in the business this year. Defensive End: Jerry Reese (NOR), Rueben Davis (ORL), Reggie White (MEM), Ronnie Paggett (MGN) Here is where the popularity contest comes into play. Everyone loves Reggie White, and his 15 sacks were only 1 behind the 3 co-leaders, but a lot of folks expected to see Al Noga of Arizona here because of his effectiveness against the run. Defensive Tackle: William Perry (TBY), Roland Putzier (POR), Earl Weaver (ARZ), Jumpy Gaethers (PHI) A solid group, including perhaps the best player on Portland’s otherwise underwhelming roster. Linebacker: Eric Kumerow (PIT), Brian Bosworth (TEX), John Roper (DEN), Hardy Nickerson (MGN), Sam Norris (BAL), Brian Noble (ARZ) Hard not to include Michigan’s John Corker or Baltimore’s Ben Apuna, but if you do not want 2 players from the same linebacking corps, Norris and Nickerson deserve the kudos. Cornerback: Anthony Blaylock (BIR), Domingo Bryant (HOU), Tory Nixon (OAK), Derrick Cudrup (MEM) No complaints here as each of these players proved hard to pass against this year. Strong Safety: Brian Blades (MEM), Joe Restic (NOR) Restic was the Defensive POY so no shock there, and Blades was a monster for Memphis. Free Safety: Martin Bayless (ARZ), Frank Wilder (NOR) This one is a schocker. I love Frank Wilder, but it seems clear that league interception leader (tied with D. Bryant), Oakland’s Ryan Sparkman, deserves to be here. Kicker: Scott Norwood (BIR) I would have voted for Kevin Shea, whose 33 of 35 successful kicks was the best conversion rate in the league, but how do you vote against Norwood’s 44 field goals? Punter: James Schafer (MGN) Shafer did not have the highest average, but his 27 kicks within the 10 yard line were astounding, often leading to short fields for the Panthers. Special Teams: Aubrey Matthews (POR) A dangerous man in open space, Matthews is better as a returner than as a receiver.

The twin stories of playoff football and interleague raiding have marched on over the past week. We have our USFL Championship matchup and we have a very tense situation between the spring league and their fall counterparts as ongoing NFL signings of some top level USFL stars has continued after the conclusion of last week’s Divisional Playoffs, and while USFL franchises have been able to retain several big-name players, at considerable cost, they have lost several others, changing the landscape of the league and its coexistence with the NFL. We will start with this story and then cover the two Conference Championships and preview the 1989 USFL Championship Game. The week following the USFL’s divisional matchups began with good news for the league, and for the defending champions, as Houston announced that star QB Jim Kelly, still uninterested in the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, who retain his rights, has signed on for another 3 years with the Gamblers. There had been rumors that the Bills, settled at QB after drafting and signing Purdue’s Jim Everett in the 1986 NFL Draft, would release Kelly’s rights to another NFL team, as Tampa Bay did with Steve Young and the 49ers, but Buffalo did not opt to do so, and so Kelly remains a Gambler for the next three years. But, only a day after the Kelly announcement, Houston was hit with two NFL departures. DE Simon Fletcher was announced as the newest signing of the New York Giants, where he will be paired with NFL All-Pro Lawrence Taylor. Even more shocking was the signing of Jim Kelly’s favorite target and perennial All-USFL receiver Ricky Sanders by the Washington Redskins. It appears that Sanders will now catch balls from another USFL signee, QB Doug Williams. Houston now finds themselves without one of their best defenders and their clear #1 receiver. Birmingham also found themselves in potential deep trouble on the D-Line. Former Chief Art Still was announced as a new signing by the Seattle Seahawks, and with a season ending injury to Bob Barber, one that may trigger a retirement by the veteran, Birmingham could be looking at a complete overhaul at DE. Memphis avoided a similar fate this week when All-USFL DE Reggie White turned down an offer from the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles to sign a multi-year deal to stay in Memphis. White was already a cap-exempt player for Memphis, so his increased compensation will not force Memphis to alter their roster. The same may not be the case as Memphis still has to try to sign both TE Keith Jackson and QB Walter Lewis. Lewis and starter Mike Kelley are both already exempt players, but Memphis may not be able to retain both if they must pay to keep Jackson in the fold. The fourth Divisional Playoff loser was perhaps in the toughest position. With C Dermotti Dawson, and both starting wideouts, Carter and Holloway now free agents, and with limited cap-exempt space, it was clear they could not sign all three. Dawson was the first to depart, signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday. Michigan had hoped to retain Dawson and at least one of the two standout receivers, but soon after Dawson’s departure was announced, the Minnesota Vikings announced that they had come to terms with Anthony Carter, ending his USFL career after 7 glorious years and 2 titles. Derrick Holloway would resign with the Panthers the next day, and will occupy the cap exempt space once held by Carter. The mass exodus of top flight USFL talent to the NFL seems an inevitability this year, as the senior league, fresh off their new player-friendly 1987 CBA has the cash to entice away established players, while the USFL continues to focus their attention on signing top name college players. The one exception to this one-way flow of talent came from an unexpected source this week as the Portland Thunder, the league’s worst club at 1-15 this year, announced that they had signed NFL signal caller and one-time Atlanta Falcon starter David Archer to a 3-year deal. With fewer star players to be pillaged, the Thunder have an advantage over other USFL squads, who are now so focused on resigning their own talent that they have been slow to enter the fray by trying to sign away NFL talent. With two more teams completing their season this week, and the final two in just a week, we can expect to see some of the top talent from the as-yet unscathed teams to start following the money trail to the fall league. Looking at the talent currently unsigned we find players such as Orlando’s Bill Bates and John Jefferson; New Orleans SS Joe Restic and CB Terry Daniels, New Jersey FB Keith Byars, TE Brent Jones; and Denver DE Laval Short and HB Harry Sydney. With what we have seen this offseason, we have to expect that some, if not all, of these players will be looking at potential windfalls should they join the NFL. As the USFL grapples with the reality of major NFL talent raids, the league is still trying to maintain attention on the ongoing post-season. And while the mid-week focus tends to flow towards big name signings and player movement, once the weekend hits, it is all about the football. This week we saw both conference champions crowned and we are set up for a brand new champion in the USFL’s 7th season. ORLANDO RENEGADES 10 NEW JERSEY GENERALS 28 Can you lose by winning? New Jersey is going to find out. When QB Doug Flutie went out of the game with a concussion in the 1st quarter, backup Timm Rosenbach came in, and under his leadership the Generals went on to dominate the Orlando Renegades, outscoring the #5 seed 28-3 in the game’s final three quarters. But did the Generals create a QB controversy in the process of winning entry to the Championship Game. Will Coach Perkins stick with the hot hand in Rosenbach, the taller, more traditional pocket passer, or will he go back to Flutie, the unconventional scrambler? The game began with both teams playing it close to the vest offensively, testing and probing the defensive scheme of their opponent. It took 3 drives, but Orlando finally moved into Generals territory late in the first half. ‘Gades HB Todd Fowler ended a 10-play drive with a 3 yard off-tackle run for the score. The small clumping of Orlando fans in the East endzone cheered, not knowing that this would be the last time the guys in blue and white would find themselves in the endzone. On the very next drive a Flutie first down bootleg ended with a solid arm to the crown of his helmet from linebacker Tim Green. Flutie came off the field a bit shaken, and Rosenbach went in to lead the Generals. It took him only 5 plays, including an acrobatic 20 yard catch by Lam Jones, to move the ball inside the Orlando 20. After a slant to Scott Schwedes got the ball to the 1, Keith Byars pushed it in for the equalizing score. Eight minutes later New Jersey would get another as Rosenbach found Lam Jones on a fade pattern for the score and New Jersey was up 14-7. Orlando gained only 37 total yards in the 2nd quarter as neither Curtis Bledsoe or Todd Fowler could find room to run. The combination would finish the day with only 42 total rush yards combined. Herschel Walker would gain that in the 2nd quarter alone, well on his way to a powerful 149 yard rushing day, and while Keith Byars would score the two rushing TD’s for New Jersey, all eyes were on Walker as he ran through, around, and over Orlando’s defense. Rosenbach threw his second TD in the 3rd quarter, finding Schwedes on a 10 yard out pattern to the right pylon. The young QB would finish the day with 184 yards on 18 of 30 passing and would avoid getting sacked all game long as Orlando was simply unable to scheme a 4-man rush to break through the NJ line. The same was not true for Orlando’s O-line as Generals’ defenders got in Reggie Collier’s face all game long. They would only record 2 sacks, but also caused Collier to scramble on multiple occasions and also forced a tipped ball which was picked off by CB Cliff Hicks as it fluttered well short of its intended receiver, Wamon Buggs. Orlando simply could not slow down Walker and the Generals, and their offense seemed equally unable to figure out New Jersey’s defensive playcall pattern. In the end the game was about as one-sided as any playoff game this season. The Generals came in determined and focused, Orlando seemingly spent after two tough road games to get here. The result was a solid win for the Generals, a ticket to their first USFL Championship game, and a potential QB controversy between the plucky but unorthodox Doug Flutie and the prototypical pocket passer in Timm Rosenbach. What will Ray Perkins do next week in Michigan? DENVER GOLD 24 NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 22 This game played out as a Tortoise and Hare tale, just as expected, except it seemed the roles were reversed. Denver bolted out to 14-0 and 21-3 leads and then held on, coming back in the 4th after it seemed the tortoise had caught them. It was an out of character game for both teams as the two teams traded big plays and long drives throughout the day. In the end, it was some surprising performances from some unheralded places that won the game for the Gold. Denver got off to a brilliant start, holding New Orleans on 3rd and 2 on the Breakers’ first drive, and then taking the ball 67 yards in 4 minutes to go on top in the 1st quarter. Bob Gagliano hit Mark Carrier for the first score and Denver was looking ready for a fight. They would double up that score 10 minutes later, this time with Gagliano hitting Odessa Turner on a 16 yard corner pattern. Denver was up 14-0 without New Orleans even hinting at getting into scoring range. The Breakers would cash in on a long Tim Mazzetti field goal to get on the board, but the following drive by Denver, capped by a 2 yard TD plunge by 3rd string HB Darryl Daniels, would give the Gold a seemingly untouchable 21-3 lead. But, if we have learned anything this year it is that leads are not safe in the USFL. Matt Robinson, after a quarter and a half of uninspired play, caught fire after Denver’s TD. He would lead New Orleans on three straight scoring drives, one to end the 2nd quarter and two in the 3rd to take a 1 point lead. The first of the three Robinson TD tosses was a beautiful arcing ball to Nolan Franz, deep down the sideline. Franz caught the ball in stride and was in the endzone before the cornerback could get a hand on him. 21-10 at the half. The second strike from Robinson was a very different toss, as the Breakers had used several big plays to get the ball to the 2 yard line, only to watch as both Marcus DuPree and Dalton Hilliard failed to punch the ball in on two consecutive plays. On 3rd down the Breakers went for a 3 TE set, looking again to run, but Robinson kept the ball and found backup TE Mark Boyer alone in the endzone. 21-16 Denver as the Breakers went for 2 and failed to convert. The final New Orleans touchdown was back to Franz as the Breakers closed out the third with what looked like an epic comeback. Franz bobbled the ball at the 1 before falling on his back, ball tucked into his belly in the endzone. 21-22 after another failed 2-pointer. Those two missed PAT attempts proved deadly for the Breakers as their 1 point lead would have to hold for an entire quarter. For most of the 4th quarter it looked like it would hold. Denver seemed unwilling to go away from the run game, or to try deep balls, so New Orleans was able to wait out drives and watch them stall outside of field goal range. For their part, the Denver defense also stiffened and kept the Breakers from building on their lead. Finally, with about 5 minutes left, Denver got their first big play of the half. Jeff Herrod missed a tackle on Denver’s Timmy Smith, and the small back scampered for 16 yards, tripped up at the Breakers’ 47. They got their second big play on the very next snap as wideout Mark Carrier caught his 7th ball of the day, a short 5 yard hook, but turned just as the defender was closing, moving into the field instead of spinning to the sideline, he eluded the tackle and gained 24. Three plays later the Gold called on kicker Brian Speelman and the veteran came through, knocking in a 39 yarder to put Denver back on top, 24-22. It would be the final score of the day as Matt Robinson could not move the ball into Denver territory for a final second kick. The game ended at the Breakers’ 44 yard line and a packed SuperDome went home downhearted again. For the Gold players, it was a glorious moment of victory and celebration, but when you are the road team there are not many in the stands to share it with. LOOKING AHEAD So, there you have it. The USFL’s seventh Championship Game will feature the Denver Gold, champions of the Pacific Division and the Western Conference, against the New Jersey Generals, champions of the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference. Looking at the matchup, this could honestly go either way. OFFENSE: Denver 22.7 PPG New Jersey 21.4 PPG 288 YPG 360 YPG DEFENSE: Denver 20.5 PPGA New Jersey 18.4 PPGA 312 YPGA 289 YPGA +11 Turnovers -2 Turnovers New Jersey has the slightly stronger defense in both yardage and points scored, but Denver is clearly better at minimizing turnovers and creating takeaways. New Jersey puts up more yardage but does not score as much as Denver. Basically it would appear that New Jersey is not quite as efficient as Denver, but is capable of big plays on offense, while Denver relies on short fields and turnovers to help drive their offense. Clearly the star power is with New Jersey. Flutie, Walker, Spielman and Lam Jones get a lot more press than Gagliano, Sydney, Bill Brooks or Larry White, but that may also be because the NY market inflates their exposure while Denver’s market is somewhat sedate. If either QB gets hot, they could pose a lot of problems for the opposition. If Herschel Walker is able to find running lanes, it could be game over for Denver, but if the Generals become sloppy with the ball, the Gold defense will take advantage. So, what to think? I think we can expect a close game, possibly a low-scoring game, but who is to say? I guess that is why they play the games. So, let’s get ready. It’s Championship Weekend. Let’s prepare for Denver v. New Jersey for the 1989 USFL Championship.

Divisional weekend is often the best of the playoffs. 8 teams in 4 games, all with a lot on the line. This year proved no different as we got 4 really entertaining games in this round, and now we are looking at the very real possibility of two new teams facing off in the Championship as 3 of 4 winners have not participated in a Championship game. It is a new day in the USFL and it looks like some new fanbases will get a shot to fight for a Championship. And while the games were being played on the field, more news from the NFL/USFL cold war turned hot. With only 2 teams eliminated from the playoffs last week, there was not quite the impact we saw when the regular season ended and 10 teams suddenly had free agents available. But, for Tampa Bay and Oakland, there have already been losses. Oakland caught word early that the NFL Buccaneers were making a play for Invader DE and former Dolphin Kim Bokamper. They reacted quickly and resigned Bokamper to a 2 year extension, but at a price that may force them to name Bokamper as one of their 5 allowed salary cap exemptions, which means that one of their current five will need to be either removed, to count against the cap, or to be released or traded. Tampa Bay was not so fortunate. Only 2 days after losing to the Orlando Renegades, and only 1 day after their unsigned players officially became available as free agents, the NFL’s San Diego Chargers announced the signing of Gary Anderson, the Bandits’ dual threat running back. Anderson had given no indication that he was looking to leave Tampa Bay, and, as with several deals made in the past two weeks, there is widespread suspicion that NFL contacts must have reached out to Anderson or his agent prior to the completion of his contract, a very legally tenuous situation. So, Tampa becomes the latest USFL team to lose one of their elite players to an NFL swoop & sign deal. It seems the ongoing barrage of quick signings is not over and the USFL squads still engaged in the playoffs may want to consider coming to terms with some of their unsigned players even as they focus on playoff football. OK, enough front office frenzy. Let’s talk about the games themselves. We had four dynamic, engaging, and close football games this week, leading to four teams punching their tickets to their conference title games. Let’s check them out. Houston Gamblers 16 New Orleans Breakers 19 A classic game of strength v. strength and weakness v. weakness. It was New Orleans’s high octane offense vs. Houston’s shut down defense, and Houston’s inconsistent offense against the Breaker’s often erratic defense. Which combo would come out on top? Chalk this one up to the two defenses coming out strong. New Orleans in particular was effective at corralling the Gamblers. Despite giving up 388 total yards of offense, the Panthers found themselves behind the 8-ball early and had to fight back in the second half. New Orleans also had trouble finding the endzone, settling for 3 field goals in the first half to go with their one TD, a short pass from Robinson to Franz. But, with Houston unable to push into scoring range, the Breakers found themselves with a 16-0 lead at the half. In the 3rd, Houston made some adjustments and started focusing on incorporating HB Thurman Thomas into the passing game. The refocusing worked, and midway through the 3rd Thomas scored on a swing pass from Kelly to get the Gamblers on the board. They would add another score to open the 4th, a short strike from Kelly to Ernie Jones, and with both scores they were able to successfully convert the 2-point plays, leading to a 16-16 tie with 5 minutes left in the game. New Orleans, despite not moving the ball well in the 2nd half, found what they needed in the final minutes as Matt Robinson completed 3 key passes and the combo of DuPree and Hililard rushed for 33 yards on 5 carries to move the Breakers to the Houston 13 with just over a minute left in the game. Tim Mazzetti put New Orleans on top, and nervous fans watched as Houston’s last second drive could not get closer than the Breaker’s 34 yard line. Houston brought Dave Jacobs out to tie the game, but 51 yards is no gimme, and Jacob’s kick hooked left, giving all of the Big Easy a collective sigh of relief and a victory dance as they head to the Western Conference Finals. Memphis Showboats 31 New Jersey Generals 34 OVERTIME If the drama of Saturday’s early game was not enough for you, how about an overtime thriller from the Meadowlands for the nightcap? In a game that saw a furious 27 points scored in the 4th quarter, Memphis came back from a 10-point deficit to tie the game, only to watch Roger Ruzek win it for the Generals in overtime. Both teams had offensive schemes that found success, though not in the usual ways. Memphis gained 455 yards on the day, with a huge combined day from Greg Boone (83 yards) and Buford Jordan (45 yards), while New Jersey relied heavily on Doug Flutie’s 328 passing yards to counter a defense set on containing Herschel Walker (74 yards). Walker would be the Generals lead receiver, a tactic that got the ball in his hands in space. Memphis would find Mel Gray for 11 catches and 102 yards, but it was unheralded backup receiver Jeff Query who stole the show for the Showboats, catching 10 balls and 2 TD’s for the visitors. After 3 quarters Memphis held a tenuous 21-14 lead, but a Walker 9 yard run was followed by a Brent Jones TD catch and a Ruzek field goal as the score flipped and the Showboats seemed to be fading, now down 31-21. But Mike Kelley rallied the Showboats, hitting Michael Coates for a 3 yard score with 1:38 left. Memphis got lucky on the onside kick as the ball grazed a NJ blocker and a mad scramble led to a Showboats recovery. Just over a minute later Ali Haji-Sheikh put the ball through the uprights and we were headed to overtime. In the extra period, both teams traded drives, both defenses held, and we looked like we were headed for a second overtime period. But, with just over a minute to go, New Jersey got a break when a missed tackle sprung Lam Jones, turning a 10 yard in route into a 57-yard gain and putting the Generals well within range for Ruzek. New Jersey ran the ball 3 straight plays to set Ruzek up and he was true from 41 yards out to give New Jersey the win and a berth in the conference title game. Orlando Renegades 23 Birmingham Stallions 13 After Saturday’s wild games, many expected a letdown on Sunday, but that did not happen. In Birmingham the upstart Renegades got the news they had hoped for when the Stallions had to remove Joe Cribbs from the active roster due to his ongoing knee injury. This news buoyed the Showboats chances, and they took advantage early, going up 7-0 on a Curtis Bledsoe run. Birmingham showed they were not toothless without Cribbs, marching down the field and pushing the ball in with Michael Haddix diving into a goalline pile for the equalizer. But Orlando was feeling fortunate on the day, and they responded with a quick strike to John Jefferson to go up by 7 in an exciting first quarter. The second quarter saw significant movement up and down the field, but both squads were limited to field goals to end the half, two for Orlando and 1 for Birmingham, giving the ‘Gades the 20-10 advantage at the half. In the second half, the lack of a consistent running game by the Stallions, and a game-shortening strategy on offense from Orlando paid off for the Renegades, as again both teams were only able to trade field goals. The slowdown allowed Orlando to retain their 10 point lead, and when Kevin Edwards dropped a potential TD on a long pass that just would not settle in his hands, the Birmingham sideline deflated and the air went out of the stadium. The #1 seed had lost, and the 8-8 fifth seed Renegades were now one game away from the USFL Championship Game. Michigan Panthers 21 Denver Gold 22 The final game of the weekend was another gem, as the Panthers took an early lead and then watched as the slow and steady Gold marched back and took the game in the final seconds. The Panthers, expected to struggle on offense, got off to a lightning quick start that stunned the Denver faithful in Mile High. Mark Hermann led a scripted first drive that took only 2:04 to go 78 yards and ended with Anthony Carter spiking the ball in the end zone. Denver struggled on their first drive, but a booming punt in the thin air backed Michigan up to their own 3 yard line. After an unsuccessful running play lost them a yard, Denver guessed pass, and were right, finding Mark Hermann in the endzone and almost causing a strip fumble. Denver settled for the safety, and on the short drive following the safety kickoff, added another 3 to trail 7-5 after 1. Denver would add another field goal to go up 8-7 as the 2nd quarter got underway, but Michigan was showing that their offense still had some weapons. They scored twice in the 2nd to build a 21-8 lead at half. Denver was rattled, and in the 3rd quarter, while their defense held Michigan in check, their offense struggled. It was not until the start of the 4th and a shift of focus away from the often double-covered Bill Brooks to the speedster Odessa Turner that Denver would gain an edge. Turner would have an amazing 7 receptions in the 4th quarter, including a 19-yarder on third and 9 that put the ball on the Michigan 9 yard line. Timmy Smith would dive for the pylon on a wide run to bring Denver back to 21-15, only 6 points behind Michigan. The lead held for most of the rest of the quarter, but Denver would get the ball back with 2 time outs and just over 2 minutes to play. Bob Gagliano was no stranger to this situation, and he moved the ball downfield efficiently until, with only 22 seconds left, he took the snap, looked the safety towards Odessa Turner, and then pivoted to find Bill Brooks, the forgotten man in the 4th quarter, with a step on the DB. He hit Brooks with a perfect strike just over the hands of the linebacker and Denver had tied the game. With the Speelman kick, Denver was on top, the crowd was apoplectic, cheering and drowning out Mark Hermann on Michigan’s desperation drive, and when the clock struck :00 Denver had punched their ticket to New Orleans and the title game. LOOKING AHEAD Four great games and a very interesting set of matchups for the Eastern and Western Conference Championships next week. The four finalists represent a major shift in the league, with three teams that have not been to a USFL Championship before and one who last appeared in the title game in the league’s first season. DENVER GOLD (2) & NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (1) Saturday, July 15 @ 7:00pm ET Louisiana Superdome The two top seeds in the West have made it here, though it was not easy for either. It is a classic Tortoise and Hare contest. Denver comes into the game hoping their defense can withstand the Breaker’s fast paced offense, while New Orleans hopes that this time the tortoise cannot outlast the hare. All eyes will be on the Breaker Offense – Gold Defense matchup, but this may be more about the Gold offense vs. the Breakers defense. If Denver can control the tempo, slow down the game and milk the clock, keeping close, they have shown that they can win out in the end. If New Orleans is able to find big plays and exploit Denver’s secondary, they could blow the game out of range for the Gold. We like New Orleans at home. They have the offensive balance needed to disrupt Denver’s defense, and they will have a rowdy Big Easy crowd in their corner. ORLANDO RENEGADES (5) @ NEW JERSEY GENERALS (2) Sunday, July 16 @ 6pm ET Giants Stadium It’s the classic cinderella story, or maybe the somewhat more rare David vs. David story. The fifth seed Renegades have knocked off two divisional rivals, Tampa Bay and Birmingham to get here. The 2-seed Generals had to go to overtime to knock off the other Southern contender, Memphis, but they are here, at home, and with a chance to redeem a Conference Title Game loss last year. Last year the Generals fell flat against the Showboats. This year they have overcome that hurdle and now face a plucky underdog, while they themselves feel like a perennial underdog. It will be Scrambler (Collier) vs. Scrambler (Flutie), RB by Committee (Boone & Buford) vs. Bellcow (Walker) quick cuts (Buggs) vs. speed (Jones) and the pass rush of Rueben Davis vs. the hitting power of Barbaro and Spielman. It’s a great matchup but someone has to win. We give the edge to the more experienced home team. Generals end the Cinderella story and finally make the big show.

Yes, it is Wild Card Weekend for the USFL, but there is a story which has taken over the league and become the only discussion on sports radio. The NFL is clearly making a power move to defang the USFL and reassert their dominance, and it is happening right before our eyes. Before we review the Wild Card games, let’s first address the elephant in the room, the NFL has declared war. What does that mean? Just how did they do this. Well, you will remember that right after the regular season ended the twice champion head coach of the Philadelphia Stars surprisingly resigned from the team after the squad had its first non-playoff season in the USFL’s history. There was speculation that this was not simply a matter of a coach disappointed with himself and his team, that something else was happening here. Well, it did not take long to find out what. Mora resigned on Black Monday and by Friday was in a press conference in New Orleans announcing that he had signed on to be the new Head Coach of the NFL’s Saints. The deal is reportedly worth $6M over 4 years and provides Mora with significant personnel autonomy. The USFL immediately started chuffing over what many view as a potential case of tampering, as Mora still had a year on his Stars contract, so any contact from the NFL prior to his resignation would have been inappropriate, with Philadelphia possibly able to petition damages. The Philadelphia story was followed by a rash of NFL signings of some top USFL free agents. While this is not abnormal each offseason, the scope of the signings and some of the names switching leagues seems to indicate that the NFL is seeking to weaken the image of the USFL as a destination league. The biggest hit was taken by the Los Angeles Express who not only saw SS Chuck Cecil and HB Christian Okoye leave the team, the latter after a 1,000 yard season to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, but also saw longtime starter Steve Young bolt for the San Francisco 49ers, who already have the legendary Joe Montana on the roster. Young’s rights were held by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Tampa, after 5 years, rescinded their claim, allowing San Francisco to sign Young as a free agent. This essentially cripples the Express offense, who now find themselves without their lead rusher and their starting QB of 5 years. The next dominoes to fall were in Texas, where a similar pattern emerged. Doug Williams was signed by the Washington Redskins while former St. Louis Cardinal Stump Mitchell was inked to a 3-year deal by the now-Phoenix Cardinals. This again severely impacts the team’s entire offensive scheme and will force Texas to spend significant free agent capital trying to rebuild their skill positions. Similar high-impact departures have been seen across the league, with Chicago losing both LB Clay Matthews (to Green Bay) and QB Steve Beurlein (to the Dallas Cowboys). The NFL struck quickly, hitting the 10 teams not participating in the USFL playoffs, and not bench players, but top talent from the teams being targeted. Washington lost both TE Mark Bavaro (Giants) and All-Time leading rusher Craig James (Patriots). Philadelphia discovered that tackle Will Wolford had signed with the Buffalo Bills and that CB Cris Dishman would sign with the Houston Oilers. In Jacksonville it was again the HB position that was hit with the NY Giants signing starter George Adams, while another premier player, wideout Gary Clark, was signed by the Washington Redskins. Even 1-15 Portland was not spared as the LA Rams signed wideout Flipper Anderson as his rookie contract expired. While it Is relatively common for the NFL and USFL to swap a significant number of players during the short window between the end of the USFL season and the start of NFL training camps, the speed and aggressiveness of the NFL this offseason is a definite shift in tone. Whether this will be parried by the USFL, looking to sign NFL talent is unclear at this point. There seems to be a definite ramping up of pressure by NFL clubs. The next few weeks will show us how severe as each USFL playoff round provides more rosters with player contracts ending and potential free agents available for an NFL raid. Whether or not this will extend to coaches as well, as many believe it has with the Jim Mora signing, remains to be seen, but even if the aggression is limited to USFL rosters and not staffs, this is certainly a turning point in the relationship between the two leagues. WILD CARD WEEKEND Orlando Renegades 17 Tampa Bay Bandits 15 Orlando found the formula to knock off the Bandits on the road and win their first playoff game. Two parts offensive balance and one part defensive pressure. It was a three phase win, though a close one, for the Renegades, as they contained Troy Aikman and the Bandits offense for 60 minutes while methodically moving the ball and using up clock. The star of the game was Curtis Bledsoe, whose 113 yards were largely hard-fought battles for 4 or 5 yards, though he did bust out a 19 yarder on a key 3rd and 3. His efforts were paired by a solid game from QB Reggie Collier, who completed 23 of 38 passes for 223 yards. Collier hit John Jefferson for the first TD of the game, and set up a Bledsoe TD with a nice 19-yard pass to Wamon Buggs. Tampa for their part struggled to string together first downs, with Troy Aikman only able to complete 51% of his passes against Orlando’s pressure scheme. Gary Anderson did well to gain 75 yards, but was not able to produce consistent first down runs to fuel the Tampa passing game. Orlando also held all three of Tampa’s top receivers below 100 yards, despite a couple of big plays from Aikman to Gillespie. All in all it was solid defense that bent but did not break and an offense which was able to pick up blitzing Bandits and move the chains that produced the win for the Renegades. Orlando will now be challenged in a very different way as they head off to Birmingham to face yet another Southern Division foe. Birmingham will be a much bigger defensive battle to be sure, but with Joe Cribbs still in doubt for the game, they may be lacking offensive power themselves, giving Orlando a chance to steal another win on the road. Houston Gamblers 17 Oakland Invaders 10 Another defensive battle between two teams that live for these kinds of games. Everyone came into the game expecting that Oakland would try to slow things down and play close to the vest, while expecting Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and the Gamblers to try to speed up the tempo to overwhelm Oakland’s defense. But that never happened. Houston also played the slow and steady game, willing to keep the tempo and the score down. The game was a pedestrial 7-3 Oakland lead at the half, with Richard Williams scoring the only 6-pointer of the half. Gale Gilbert had avoided errors, while Jim Kelly had thrown two early interceptions (one leading to the Williams TD) but had also put 135 yards passing up in the first half. Both Williams and Houston’s Thomas seemed to be the focus of each defense, and both would finish well below 4 yards per carry on the game. Of course, Thomas is a dual threat, so his paltry 52 yards rushing was only half the story as he also gained 53 through the air. The third quarter belonged to Houston as they scored twice in the quarter. The first came after a shanked punt gave Houston good field position. Kelly found Sanders along the sideline. When Sanders stepped out at the 2, it was up to Thomas, and he came through with a scoring run on the next play. 2 drives later Houston would strike through the air, again with Sanders being the target. Kelly faked the counter run to Thomas and found Sanders with single coverage. 30 yards later it was Houston up 17-7, and that was all she wrote for the Invaders, who managed only 171 total yards on the day against Houston’s swarming defense. So it will be Houston heading off against a familiar foe as they face New Orleans in the next round. DIVISIONAL ROUND PREVIEW HOUSTON (5) @ NEW ORLEANS (1) Saturday, July 8, 4pm ET Louisiana Superdome We have seen this battle before, twice this year alone, with a 19-13 defensive battle going to Houston early in the season and a 48-38 shootout favoring New Orleans in Week 12. This one could go either way. Both teams are relatively healthy, with only New Orleans center Copley and SS Fong on the injury report. Last year Houston edged New Orleans 27-21 in the Western Conference Finals, and Houston definitely has the playoff history edge here, but this is a hungry bunch of Breakers and their run to end the year brings them into the game with a lot of momentum. A tough pick, but we are going to go with the Breakers here. MEMPHIS (3) @ NEW JERSEY (2) Saturday, July 8, 8pm ET Giants Stadium Another Conference Championship rematch, as last year the Showboats knocked off the Generals 24-14 to advance to their first USFL Championship Game. Just as with New Orleans, the Generals are the hungrier team, but that does not necessarily make them the better team. New Jersey had a pretty easy path to the playoffs, leading a division with no other winning clubs in it, while Memphis battled with Birmingham and Tampa all year to get to this point. Both teams emphasize the run, Mike Kelley is a better pocket passer than Flutie, but the diminutive Flutie is a wild card, capable of pulling out some magic when needed. The two met earlier this year and it was an 11-point victory for the Showboats, but we are wagering that New Jersey learned a lot about the Showboats that day and will have something in store for them. We will pick the Generals to return to the Eastern Conference Finals. ORLANDO (5) @ BIRMINGHAM (1) Sunday, July 9, 1pm ET Legion Field Congratulations, Orlando. You won your first playoff game. Your prize? A chance to play the best team in the conference, a team that defeated you twice already this season, and a team with some serious playoff experience behind it. If it were not for the potential loss of Joe Cribbs, the Stallions would likely be a double-digit favorite in this matchup. Even without Cribbs Las Vegas has them up by 5. We like the moxie of the 8-8 Renegades, and they catch a break with a gimpy Cribbs likely a game-time decision, but it is hard to pick against Birmingham’s defense here, even without Cribbs. MICHIGAN (3) @ DENVER (2) Sunday, July 9, 4:30pm ET Mile High Stadium Michigan lost 4 of 5 games to end the season. Denver has not won back to back games since week 6 and 7, so who do you trust? We certainly trust Bob Gagliano more than Mark Hermann, but that Michigan D can win this game on their own if they want to. And yes, we recognize that Denver is also no slouch on defense. Whenever there is a matchup this close we know it will come down to 3-4 big plays. Turnovers, missed opportunities, timely strikes, that will be the story of this matchup. Again, looking at past history, there is a lot of playoff experience on the Panthers side, and a lot of winning, so we give a slight edge to Michigan in this one, but even within our own staff this is a toss-up.

Sporting News, June 30, 1989 After sixteen weeks of football, we are down to ten USFL teams vying for the league championship. The playoffs begin this week with the #4 and #5 seeds battling for the right to play each conference’s top seed in the Wild Card round. It is a round that sees playoff newcomers (Orlando), perennial also-rans (Oakland) and former champions (Tampa Bay), even the defending USFL Champion (Houston) in action. We will break down the matchups and look ahead at the teams waiting in the wings for their chance to play for a title. We begin with this week’s two play-in Wild Card games. ORLANDO @ TAMPA BAY Sunday, July 2. 1pm ET Tampa Stadium It is a newcomer vs. a retooled former champion as Orlando faces Tampa Bay. It is also a battle of two in-state rivals separated by only 85 miles. The two squared off twice this year, with Orlando winning in Week 6 but Tampa evening the score with a Week 12 victory. Both teams boast offenses which can catch fire and blow through opponents and defenses which run hot and cold, but are much improved over past years. Orlando has a core of veteran players on offense in QB Reggie Collier, HB Curtis Bledsoe, and WR Wamon Buggs, who have each had both dominating and forgettable games over the course of the season. Bledsoe finished the year with just over 1,100 yards and 9 TDs, his second consecutive 1,000 yard season with the Renegades after several years languishing on the bench in Washington. Reggie Collier also came over to Orlando in their expansion season after several years with the Federals. This year was one of his best, throwing for 3,500 yards and 20 TD’s. The Renegades defense had their best year to date, ranking 5th in points allowed and 4th in yards allowed. Led by DE Rueben Davis (16 sacks) the Renegades were among the league leaders in pressuring opposing passers, a tough test for a young QB to face. For Tampa the signing of projected NFL 1st round pick and former UCLA standout Troy Aikman has been nothing short of game-changing. After the loss of veteran QB John Reaves last season, a season that saw Tampa miss the playoffs for the first time in team history, there was concern about the future of the Bandits. Reaves retired after the injury-shortened season and Bandit fans saw the end of an era. But with the signing of Aikman the Bandits were reborn. Aikman not only is the runaway candidate of the Offensive Rookie of the Year, but may be in the running for League MVP as well. In his rookie season he has only thrown for 4,300 yards and 29 TD’s, placing him among the league’s elite. He has also immediately bonded with veterans such as wideout Eric Truvillion and HB Gary Anderson. Tampa’s defense proved effective in general (8th in yardage allowed) but had some games in which they simply could not contain some of the league’s high-powered offenses. They have a dynamic rookie on the D-line in DE Keith DeLong, and veteran leaders in the backfield, such as CB Eric Allen. Our Pick: We like Tampa Bay here. They have been the hotter team down the stretch and we like the weapons available to Troy Aikman, even if the Bandits may have to play without WR Chris Collinsworth. The combo of Truvillion, Gillespie and Brett Perriman, along with the dual threat of Gary Anderson is a lot for a defense to contend with. Orlando will need to pressure Aikman into some mistakes (he did throw 18 interceptions this year) and hope for a big day for Bledsoe to win on the road in Tampa. HOUSTON @ OAKLAND Sunday, July 2. 4:30PM ET Oakland-Alameda Coliseum Houston was not expecting to finish the year third in their division and playing in the Wild Card Weekend. Oakland is happy to be back for Dick Vermeil’s 3rd playoff season after slumping to a 7-8-1 season in 1988. Both clubs come in at 10-6 and both clubs still seem to be uncertain about their identities. Houston is the defending USFL Champion, but this year they have seemingly alternated between offensive firepower, led by HB Thurman Thomas, and defensive battles. Oakland has more consistently relied on their 2nd ranked scoring defense to pull out close games, but are still a bit unsteady on offense. After two straight USFL Championship Games, and a victory last year for their first title, we know the major players for Houston. QB Jim Kelly is a gunslinger, willing to take risks to create big plays. He threw for over 4,000 yards for the third time this season, and tossed 30 touchdowns along the way. He also led the league in interceptions with 24 in a year that saw some pretty bad outings. The key to the Houston offense is clearly HB Thurman Thomas, who rushed for over 1,100 yards despite missing 3 games due to injury. Thomas is equally dangerous as a receiver (570 yards on 59 receptions) and can take over games. On defense the key is the linebacking corps, led by veteran Kiki DeAyala and 2nd year player Johnny Holland. They have some injuries in this key group, so expect to see rookies Chris Chenault and Jesse Small see a lot of playing time. For Oakland, the key question all year has been the performance of QB Gale Gilbert. In his 2nd year as the starter for the Invaders, Gilbert struggled with injuries and inconsistency. He threw for 2,239 yards and 17 TD’s in only 10 games, but he has had games where he seemed to shrink under pressure. The Invaders have a solid receiving corps with Henry Ellard and Mark Duper out wide and one of the league’s best tight ends in veteran Raymond Chester in the middle. On defense, the Invaders have been one of the league’s best this year. FS Robert Sparkman was among the league leaders in interceptions with 7, and the Invaders have a linebacking corps of their own with dynamic 2nd year player Ken Harvey lined up alongside Ron Rivera and Leon White. The one gap in Oakland’s D is the pass rush, with the team needing blitzes to put pressure on opposing passers. That gap may make things easier for Kelly and the Houston passing game than Oakland would like. Our Pick: We like the defending champions to pull out a win. With Thurman Thomas in the lineup, the Gamblers have won their last 5, and Oakland’s weakness (pass rush) plays into Houston’s offensive strength. However, if Gale Gilbert can find a rhythm, and if Richard Williams finds space to run the ball and provide Oakland with a balanced attack, this Invader squad is capable of knocking off the champs. LOOKING AHEAD While these four teams battle this week, the other six playoff squads get a week to rest, recover and prepare for the Divisional Round. How does each team stack up? Who looks like they can win out and take home a trophy? MICHIGAN (#3 in West) If Michigan is going to make any run at all in this year’s playoffs it will have to do it with defense. The Panthers have a top 10 defense in both yards allowed and points allowed. The offense, since the season-ending injuries to both Jack Trudeau and John Williams, has been a liability. Michigan has scored over 20 points only once in the last 7 games, 4 of which they lost prior to last week’s 1 point win over Chicago. They have Ronnie Paggett at DE, who can ruin offensive game plans, and they still have two of the best deep ball receivers in the game in Anthony Carter and Derek Holloway, but unless Mark Hermann can be well-protected, Michigan may have to hope for a low-scoring slugfest vs. Denver to move on. MEMPHIS (#3 in East) Memphis made it all the way to the USFL Championship last year, thanks to their ferocious pass rush and a red hot Mike Kelley. This year Kelley has been more luke-warm, throwing only 17 TD’s to 20 Ints, but the defense remains solid, ranked 7th in PPG allowed. Where Memphis has excelled this year is in balancing their offense. HB’s Greg Boone and Buford Jordan have combined to score 23 touchdowns, and the ageless Mel Gray again led the league in receptions with 130 receptions. Memphis spent the entire season battling with Birmingham and came up just short of being the #1 seed, so this is a team that can make a serious run if they play to their abilities. DENVER (#2 in West) Earlier this year we wrote that despite consistent success, including playoff appearances in 5 of 7 USFL seasons, the Denver Gold simply get no respect. These gridiron Rodney Dangerfields are again an under the radar contender. They finished 6th in yards allowed this year and 5th in points scored. They are not flashy, never have been, but with weapons like Bob Gagliano, Harry Sydney, Bill Brooks and Jay Novacek on offense, the Gold can put up points when called upon. The defense, led by DE Larry White and CB David Martin comes into the game a bit banged up (White is listed as doubtful) but can still play well enough to turn a game Denver’s way, especially at home in Mile High Stadium. Facing the offensively-challenged Michigan Panthers may be just the first game they need to build some momentum. NEW JERSEY (#2 in East) New Jersey was the best of a bad division this year. But, unlike their division-mates, the Generals proved that they have what it takes to win tough games. The Generals boast the #1 defense in yards allowed, and the #3 offense in yards gained. And while their defense is also very solid in not giving up points (3rd lowest in the league) the offense can struggle to put the ball into the endzone. The thing with New Jersey is that everyone knows who you have to contain, but few can do it. HB Herschel Walker remains the centerpiece of the Generals offense, rushing for over 1500 yards, often against stacked defenses, to take the rushing crown for the second year in a row and the 3rd time in 7 seasons of USFL football. You stop Walker, and the the New Jersey offense grinds to a halt. On defense, the combo of Chris Spielman and John Offerdahl are tough to manage, and can make plays all across the field. New Jersey does not have a dynamic pass rush, but Gary Jeter and Co. can get enough pressure to feed into a solid secondary, led by veteran Gary Barbaro. NEW ORLEANS (#1 in West) The Breakers started the season a bit rough, and were only 4-4 at the midpoint of the year. They have since found their groove and have won 7 of their last 8, with only a 1 point loss in Birmingham to blemish their second half schedule. First in points per game, and with one of the most vicious 1-2 punches in the backfield that you will ever see, the Breakers can put up points in bunches. The combo of Dupree (1,045 yards) and Hilliard (912 yards) is capable of breaking down and tiring out a defense, while QB Matt Robinson has regained his 1988 MVP touch after a rough start, throwing for 3,344 yards and a league-leading 31 touchdowns. Once again the Breakers defense is not a league leader, but they have two dynamic playmakers who can turn the tide of any game. Safety Joe Restic is a darkhorse for Defensive Player of the Year with 80 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 sacks and 4 fumble recoveries. Second year DE Jerry Reese had a coming out party this year. After a rookie season with an impressive 9 sacks, Reese led the league with 16 sacks this season. A pure pass rusher, Reese is not as strong against the run, but can wreak havoc for opposing QB’s. BIRMINGHAM (#1 in East) The Birmingham Stallions have already been through the wars just to get here. In a division where both Memphis and Tampa were in contention for the title until the very last week, these Stallions have earned this seeding the hard way. They have dedicated this season to their departed Coach Rollie Dotsch, and they have played their hearts out all season long. They come into the playoffs having knocked off Tampa Bay, Orlando, New Orleans and Denver in the past 6 weeks, but they come in with a major concern. All-USFL halfback Joe Cribbs is still dealing with a significant knee injury, and may simply not be able to go. Birmingham eked out a win against Tampa without him in Week 16, but a deep playoff run without Cribbs may be tough for the Stallions. Cliff Stoudt depends on play action to be effective, and while a solid grinder, backup Brent Fullwood is not going to force defenses to load the box. Birmingham does have the #1 scoring defense in the league, so if Cribbs is unable to go, it may come down to defensive stops and opportunistic plays for Stoudt and the Stallions. So there you have it, your playoff preview. Who are we going with to run the table? Well, we started the year picking Los Angeles and Philadelphia, so you may not want to place money on anything we say. Looking over the teams, their injuries, trends, and stars, we like the look of New Orleans in the West and Memphis in the East. Both teams have been hot, and both have the weapons needed to either shut down the opponent or outscore them. So, at this late date, we are going to pick the New Orleans Breakers to win it all, in a close one, over the Memphis Showboats in a matchup that is sure to have the gumbo boiling and the bbq smoking all across the South.

Note: For reasons unknown, the simulator places Houston as 2nd in the Central and Michigan 3rd, but in the playoff seeding Michigan is given the 2nd seed (with bye) and Houston is the 5th seed below Oakland. This is not something I can control, so for the sake of matching the simulator, we need to imagine that Houston is ranked below Michigan and therefore gets the 5th seed. It makes no sense to me, because Houston clearly has the better division record, but that is what the game wanted to do.