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SCORES BAL 17 MEM 33 In the spotlight game of the week Memphis wins convincingly over the Blitz to move to 4-0 despite losing QB Mike Kelley early in the 2nd quarter. Walter Lewis came in and showed he still has it, completing 71% of his passes for 221 yards. Memphis’s D also lended a hand, shutting down the Blitz run game (13 total yards on the ground for the Blitz). NJ 19 ORL 31 Orlando scored their first win of the year, thanks in part to a defense that caused 2 turnovers, sacked Doug Flutie 3 times, intercepted him twice and held Herschel Walker to 77 yards on the day. Despite being outgained by New Jersey 443-296, the Renegades were able to build a 24-10 lead and hold on for the 31-19 win. PHI 20 TBY 38 It was a battle between a team that is rebuilding and one which may just now be realizing they need to do the same. Philadelphia, playing without an injured Kelvin Bryant, could not muster a ground game, while Tampa rookie QB Troy Aikman had his best game of the young season, going 26 for 40 and 314 yards. He did throw 3 interceptions, which kept Philly in the game, otherwise this would have gotten ugly. PIT 14 BIR 24 Birmingham used an enthusiastic home crowd to carry them to a second straight victory. While Pittsburgh’s D held Joe Cribbs in check (only 56 yards on 26 carries), Cliff Stoudt took advantage of their focus on the run to throw for 289 yards and 2 scores. CHI 31 LA 21 Chicago had their best offensive performance of the season as Chuck Long threw for 3 scores and Albert Bentley saw a lot of action, getting the ball 11 times and taking it for 64 yards. Bentley also caught a ball for a score as Chicago found ways to defuse the LA defensive pressure. LA got 104 yards from Christian Okoye, but it was not enough as they simply could not keep pace. HOU 20 OAK 33 Oakland made a statement that they may just be legit at 3-1 by beating the defending champs this week. Gale Gilbert played mistake-free ball, using throw-aways instead of forcing balls, and that kept Oakland from giving Houston a short field. The Oakland D, led by CB Tory Nixon’s 2 interceptions of Jim Kelly and LB Ken Harvey’s 6 tackles, made Kelly uncomfortable all day as the Invaders get a big win on their path to legitimacy. MGN 48 POR 19 When an undefeated team faces a winless team it goes one of two ways, either the better team gets lazy and the two stay close, or the records reflect each team’s quality. The latter happened in this game, where Jack Trudeau had a field day against a pretty threadbare Portland D. Trudeau went 20 for 33 for 400 yards and threw 5 touchdowns, including two each to Carter and Halloway. NOR 31 ARZ 14 New Orleans got back to their winning ways as their offense returned against the Wranglers. The Breakers jumped out to a 21-7 lead and kept the pressure on as Matt Robinson threw for 284 and Marcus Dupree eclipsed the 100-yard mark with 105 yards on only 12 carries. TEX 21 DEN 37 Texas played well early, as both teams combined for 28 points in the 1st quarter, but could not keep up the pace as Denver’s defense started to clamp down. Denver scored the final 20 points in the game over the course of the final 20 minutes of action, including a Timmy Smith TD run and a Bill Brooks reception to leave Texas in Denver’s dust. GAME OF THE WEEK Washington Federals 14 Jacksonville Bulls 21 In a week which did not see a lot of close contests, Jacksonville’s comeback from a 14-0 deficit was the best drama of the weekend. Washington started strong, with Don Majkowski finding TE Mark Bavaro for two scores and by the midpoint of the 2nd quarter it all seemed to be going the Federals’ way. But, momentum is a tricky thing. A shanked punt and a good return from Jacksonville gave the Bulls solid field position as the 2nd quarter was winding down, and they capitalized, scoring on a Miller to Gary Clark pass to reanimate the home crowd and turn the tide. The second half was a back and forth battle of field position, with both teams trading punts throughout much of the half. It was not until 5:37 that Jacksonville equalized the score when Miller hit former Steeler Weegie Thompson on a 12 yard TD score. The Bulls were now energized and a quick 3-and-out by Washington meant that they would get the ball back with just over 2 minutes to go. But Washington was intent on holding the line, and after two incompletions, cornerback Eric Thomas knocked the ball out of the hands of Hassan Jones on 3rd and 10 and it looked like the Bulls would have to punt. But, there was a yellow flag on the field. Washington was called for defensive holding on Gary Clark, away from Miller’s throw, but the penalty gave Jacksonville new life. The Bulls’ very next play was a simple screen to George Adams, but sometimes a simple play becomes a big play, and when Adams stiff-armed the safety he was off to the races. A big assist from Jones on a downfield block cleared the path and Adams scampered into the endzone 60 yards later to give the Bulls a 21-14 lead with ony 1:07 left in the game. The Federals tried to advance the ball, but time was their enemy, and with no time outs, a desperation heave from Majkowski into the endzone fell harmlessly to the ground, giving Jacksonville their 2nd win on the year. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK Let’s be honest, Jack Trudeau has caught a lot of heat from Michigan fans simply for the fact that he is not named Bobby Hebert. True, the Panthers have not been the same since Hebert left, but Trudeau has had more than his fair share of solid games, certainly enough to hold onto the starting job for the Panthers. If this week’s game is any indication, Trudeau may be ready to take the center stage and lead the Panthers back to their former glory. His arm does not have the snap that Hebert’s did, but that did not stop him from throwing for 400 yards on the day, finding both Carter and Holloway for two scores each, and moving to the top of the QB Ratings. This season he has thrown 11 touchdowns to only 1 interception and it looks like he has found a rhythm with his All-USFL receivers. So, let’s acknowledge that while it is hard to replace a legend, Jack Trudeau is doing his part to make Michigan a contender again. NEWS & NOTES We are one quarter of the way through the season, and we have some surprises around the league, but we also have some teams that are desperate to turn things around. 0-4 Philly, 0-4 Portland, 1-3 Washington, Orlando and LA need to find fixes, and we are here to help. Knowing that there are a lot of players on the last year’s of their contracts, now might be a great time for some of these teams to work out a sign-and-trade deal or two with some fellow USFL clubs who may not be able to afford key star players. Here are our Top 5 Proposed Trades that we would execute if we were in each team’s front office. PHILADELPHIA: Trade HB Steve Howell and a draft pick to Chicago for LB Clay Matthews. Philly needs leadership on defense after the retirement of Sam Mills. Matthews would bring both experience and a ton of talent to the Philly linebacking corps. Chicago needs backs and Philly has a solid roster behind Kelvin Bryant to offer. Howell was a starting back in this league and still has gas in the tank to help Chicago’s run game. PORTLAND: Trade Willie “Flipper” Anderson to Memphis for QB Walt Lewis Yes, Portland needs to figure out how to play defense, and that should be a focus for them, but it seems clear that neither Craig Penrose or Kerwin Bell is getting it done for the Thunder. Memphis still relies too heavily on the ageless Mel Gray, and need some speed around him to help Mike Kelley. With Aubrey Matthews, Gerald McNeil and rookie Hart Lee Dykes, the Thunder can afford to send off Anderson if it settles their QB situation, and as we saw this week, Walt Lewis can still play this game. ORLANDO: Trade DE Cedric Hardman to Texas for HB Scott Stamper. Curtis Bledsoe is just not doing what is needed for the Renegades, averaging a paltry 2.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile Texas is solid at linebacker and in the defensive backfield, but lacks pass rush ability. This trade would help both teams fix a glaring weakness. WASHINGTON: Trade CB Eric Thomas to LA for SS Chuck Cecil. Washington has depth at corner but their defense lacks an intimidation factor. Cecil provides that in spades, but is not the best in LA’s zone coverage scheme. By sending a top flight cornerback to LA, the Feds could get the big hitter they need and LA could play more man-to-man with a clear #2 corner to line up opposite Raphel Cherry. LOS ANGELES: Trade LB Niko Noga to Tampa Bay for HB Speedy Neal. While breaking up a very solid LB corps in LA may seem like a risky move, the Express have the depth to afford a loss like the one proposed here. But with Christian Okoye as their primary back, the Express offense has a hard time engaging running backs in their pass game. They could use a scatback like Neal to balance out their offense and create more dump-off options for Steve Young. Tampa, whose defense has been hit-or-miss for a couple of years could benefit from an athletic and savvy vet on the squad. INJURY REPORT It is relatively easy work for a GM to know what to do when a player has a season-ending injury, and not all that complex when they are out for a week or 2, but when you get a diagnosis that will lead a player to miss between 4-8 weeks, you have some tough decisions. Put them on IR and they are gone for the year. Hold them on your roster and you have dead space there, plus you have to find a replacement or hope you already had adequate depth. It is a tough balancing act, but one that several teams are now playing. Washington has to look at their O-line and decide if they can wait 6-8 weeks for Jim Lachey to return at tackle. New Jersey is still trying to figure out what to do with Gary Barbaro’s injury. Birmingham is up in the air with CB Kenneth Howard’s sprained knee, and Philadelphia LB Frank Stams could be back in 2 weeks or not for over a month. For other teams the news is more positive. Memphis QB Mike Kelley was knocked out of this week’s game but is expected back for Week 5. New Jersey should have WR Steve Schwedes back after he dislocated his index finger in the game this week. Baltimore Safety Dave Dumars is listed as probable and should play for the first time since week one, and New Orleans’s best CB Terry Daniels had a concussion scare, but has been cleared to play this week. LOOKING AHEAD Back to divisional play in Week 5, with some early clashes that could shape the seasons ahead for several teams. Baltimore is in Pittsburgh hoping to avoid a second straight loss, while 2-2 New Jersey is visiting 1-3 Washington. The Stallions are hoping to top .500 with a win in Orlando, while Jacksonville and Tampa renew their rivalry at the big sombrero. Arizona has a key matchup at Denver while Oakland hopes to get a win to move to 4-1 as they face the winless Thunder. Chicago will try to prove they are legit by stealing a win from the Gamblers in Houston, while New Orleans faces the Outlaws in San Marcos. Outside of the divisional play we have two games that looked better before the season started. 4-0 Michigan faces their long time rival Philadelphia, who are still winless at 0-4, while 4-0 Memphis hosts the surprisingly 1-3 LA Express at the Liberty Bowl.

SCORES ORL 9 BAL 11 Baltimore gets the win despite never finding the endzone as an early safety of Reggie Collier,paired with 3 Luis Zendejas field goals is enough for the Blitz. Neither team was able to run the ball on the other, with Tim Spencer gaining only 46 yards and Curtis Bledsoe only 33. TBY 23 NJ 30 The Bandits hold Herschel Walker in check (68 yards) but forget about Keith Byars, who rushes for 43 yards on only 3 carries, including a key 4th quarter TD to help the Generals pull out a needed home win. BIR 26 PHI 20 In a battle of unexpected 0-2 teams, Birmingham comes out on top thanks to Joe Cribbs’s huge 203 yard day. Philly drops to 0-3 as concerns on both sides of the ball come up. Without Mills, Woerner or Gardiner, the Stars D just does not look the same. JAX 9 PIT 37 Pittsburgh forces two costly Jacksonville turnovers and the Bulls hurt themselves with 12 penalties for 106 yards in a sloppy game at Three Rivers. The Maulers hold George Adams to a measly 1.9 yards per attempt and the Bulls manage only 2 of 11 third down conversions on the way to a resounding loss. MEM 26 WSH 24 Memphis moves to 3-0 with a nail biter of a win at RFK Stadium. Mel Gray caught 2 first quarter touchdowns and Ali Haji-Sheikh kicked 4 field goals to pace the Showboats. Don Majkowski hit Mark Bavaro for 2 scores, but his third TD toss of the day came with only a minute left and when the onside kick failed, Memphis held on for the slim victory. OAK 29 CHI 12 Chicago could not find the endzone, but was still in the game after 3 at 12-15, but Gale Gilbert found Mark Duper and Richard Williams also found the endzone in the 4th to help Oakland pull away. POR 20 HOU 40 Houston doubles up the Thunder in the Astro Dome, as Jim Kelly throws for 352 yards and 4 scores. Thurman Thomas also comes up big with 127 on the ground and another 56 in the air, along with 2 touchdowns. Houston wins big despite two long Robert Drummond runs (43 and 41 yards) which helped him eclipse the 100-yard mark for the first time this season. ARZ 20 MGN 34 Michigan moves to 3-0 despite being outgained 408-280 by the Wranglers. Jack Trudeau found Anthony Carter twice and added a third TD to Dereck Holloway in the win. The combo of John Williams and rookie Vince Workman also added 123 yards on the ground. LA 10 TEX 17 The Express offense cannot get on track as Texas’s defense limits Steve Young to 166 yards passing. Stump Mitchell gains 109 and backup Scott Stamper finds the endzone twice to help Texas get their second win of the year. GAME OF THE WEEK Denver Gold 21 New Orleans Breakers 17 Denver’s defense kept the Breakers in check all game long and a 4th quarter Gaglliano to Stanley touchdown toss gives Denver the win. In a game which saw 4 lead changes, the two evenly-matched squads had their moments, but in the end Denver’s defensive prowess in the second half gave them the win. The Breakers started the game strong, scoring the first 10 points on a Nolan Franz 57-yard TD reception and a Tim Mazzetti field goal, but Denver fought back as Gagliano found his deep threat, Odessa Turner, and then took the lead in the 2nd quarter on a Timmy Smith dive from the 1. New Orleans would retake the lead 17-14 just before the half when Matt Robinson found Dan Ross for a score. Little did the Breakers’ faithful in the Super Dome know that this would be the final New Orleans score of the day. In the second half, Denver used a combination of zone defenses and ball control offense to keep the Breakers from producing long drives. While the strategy allowed the combo of Dupree and Hilliard to rack up 124 yards rushing, it kept the Breakers out of the endzone. Meanwhile, Denver, relying heavily on the rushing of Sydney and Smith, held the ball for 19 minutes of the 30 minute half, and with only 1:49 left in the game, Denver found the lead-shifting and game-winning score. After a long, time consuming drive, brought the ball to the New Orleans 3-yard line, Bob Gagliano faked the handoff to Sydney, rolled right and found TE David Stanley in the corner for the score. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK Blame it on a suddenly questionable Philadelphia defense, or just give Joe Cribbs all the credit, but his performance this week gave Birmingham what they needed to pull out a tough road win. Yes, he rushed for 203 yards on 24 carries (a healthy 8.5 yard average), and he had a 50 yard run early in the game that was a thing of beauty, but his key contribution was not a run, but a late 4th quarter TD catch that sealed the victory for the Stallions. Cribbs was, in this game, everything fans want to see from the elusive back. He was shifty, showed bursts of speed, picked his spots, and found gaps in the line where none seemed to be. Time and again he helped Birmingham avoid 3rd down by finding 6 or 7 yards on a 2nd and 5. His efficient running allowed the play action game to flourish, which allowed Cliff Stoudt to complete 74% of his passes on the day. We are all used to Joe Cribbs having at least one of these games every year, and we always hope he will have more, but to do so against last year’s top rated defense is a shocker, and may go a long way to explaining why Philadelphia now find themselves at an unfamiliar 0-3. NEWS & NOTES Many around the USFL are becoming growingly concerned that the league picked the wrong year to anger the NFL with the signing of Marty Schottenheimer by Baltimore during NFL camps. There is widespread anxiety that the NFL will retaliate by outbidding the spring league on free agent signings, and recent activity in which key USFL players and their agents have been open to NFL contacts even during the season might be an indication that this could be a very rough year for the resigning of veterans. If the NFL is able to negotiate futures contracts for players whose current USFL contracts expire in July, there could be a massive wave of movement towards the senior league. The USFL has seen this before, but this year’s crop of potential defections is both deep and heavy in top-name talent. Looking over the players who could be potentially lost, some USFL owners are already calling for an adjustment of the league’s salary cap and the capacity for cap-exempt roster spots, fearful that they will lose their biggest name players to the NFL. A quick look at the potential free agent list is enough to cause significant concern. The names listed here could sign with the NFL at any time. ARZ: LB Brian Noble, C Kevin Carter BAL: QB Vince Evans, QB Eric Kramer, WR Jackie Flowers, LB Sam Norris BIR: DE Art Still, DE Bob Barber, QB Bob Lane CHI: LB Clay Matthews, QB Steve Beurlein DEN: HB Harry Sydney, LB Kurt Gouveia, DE Larry White, DT Laval Short, WR Mark Carrier HOU: QB Jim Kelly, WR Ricky Sanders, DE Simon Fletcher, FS Donald Dykes JAX: G Duval Love, HB George Adams, QB Chris Miller, WR Gary Clark, WR Hassan Jones LA: QB Steve Young, HB Christian Okoye, SS Chuck Cecil, G Gary Zimmerman MEM: DE Reggie White, TE Keith Jackson, QB Walter Lewis, T Bruce Wilkerson, HB Greg Boone MGN: WR Anthony Carter, HN John Williams, C Dermotti Dawson, LB John Corker NOR: HB Marcus Dupree, LB Marcus Marek, TE Dan Ross, SS Joe Restic, CB Terry Daniels NJ: HB Herschel Walker, FB Keith Byars, TE Brent Jones, QB Doug Flutie, C Mike Baab OAK: QB Jeff Kemp, HB Richard Williams, WR Henry Ellard, DE Kim Bokamper, LB Ken Harvey ORL: QB Reggie Collier, HB Curtis Bledsoe, WR John Jefferson, FB Craig Hayward, SS Bill Bates PHI: QB Chuck Fusina, HB Kelvin Bryant, T Will Wolford, C Blair Bush, DE William Fuller, WR Mike Quick, DT Jumpy Gaethers, CB Lorenzo Lynch, P Sean Landeta PIT: HB Mike Rozier, QB Alan Risher, WR Danny Buggs, C Thomas Ponder POR: WR Flipper Anderson, TE Clint Didier, LB Billy Ray Smith, DT Mike Golic TBY: HB Gary Anderson, WR Eric Truvillion, WR Chris Collinsworth, DT William Perry, FS Roy Gee TEX: QB Doug Williams, WR Carlos Carson, HB Stump Mitchell, DT Dave Butz, LB Brian Bosworth WSH: QB Don Majkowski, HB Craig James, FB Barry Word, WR Joey Walters, WR Webster Slaughter, TE Mark Bavaro, DT Jerome Brown, DE Charles Haley USFL General managers had better start putting ink to paper to get these stars signed or we could be in for a player exodus the likes of which the USFL has never experienced before. INJURY REPORT Even at this early stage of the season, key injuries within the same position can truly hurt a team’s chances for victory. Arizona, for example, is already down 2 cornerbacks as both Nate Odomes and Leonard Bell will be out. Chicago is in an even worse situation as both Doug Gamboa and Frank Winters are down, forcing them to play a tackle at center this week. Baltimore’s line will also be impacted as two guards, Newberry and David Richards, are out. New Orleans will not be able to utilize their usual rotation on the defensive line as both Daryl Wilkerson and Mike Wise are sidelined from the DE position. Philadelphia, who was already wondering about their new-look LB corps, has to be concerned that both Danny Lockett and Frank Stams are out this week. While losing an individual star hurts a team, losing depth at any position forces others to play out of position and can be a clear target for opposing teams. LOOKING AHEAD Week Four features Atlantic-Southern and Central-Pacific matchups once again, with some teams desperately in need of a win hoping to avoid a very bad first quarter of the season. 0-3 Orlando hosts the New Jersey Generals while 0-3 Philadelphia travels to Tampa to face the Bandits. 0-3 Portland has a real uphill climb as they host the 3-0 Michigan Panthers. The other 3-0 teams, Baltimore and Memphis, will do battle in the Liberty Bowl. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is at Birmingham, Washington travels to Jacksonville, Chicago is in LA, Oakland hosts the Houston Gamblers, New Orleans is in Tempe to face the Wranglers, and Texas heads to Denver to face the Gold.

Close games abound in the second week of USFL play as several games come down to the wire. Philly and Birmingham start the year poorly, while Michigan and Memphis seem ready to roll. Major QB concerns in Washington and a testament to the ground game in the Stars-Federals battle. All this and the search for new leadership in the league office reaches a milestone. SCORES NJ 10 PIT 17 Alan Risher finds Raynard Brown for two scores and the Maulers force two turnovers to keep New Jersey at bay and move their record to 1-1. PHI 27 WSH 30 OVERTIME Craig James rumbles for 153 to help power the Federals to a home win. New Jersey had the 27-20 lead until a late Majkowski to Gunn TD tied the game up and sent it to overtime, where Ray Wersching kicked the game winner for the Feds. JAX 23 ORL 20 Jacksonville kicks a late field goal to send Orlando to 0-2 as the combo of George Adams and Tommy Agie combine for 144 yards rushing. CHI 19 NOR 7 The Machine stun the Breakers as John Carney kicks 4 fieldgoals and Chicago gets an Albert Bentley touchdown to outpace the stunningly silent Breaker offense. Despite 113 yards from Dalton Hilliard, the Breakers simply cannot put up points and Chicago gets their first win of the year. HOU 17 MGN 31 Michigan moves to 2-0 with an impressive home win over the defending champs. John Williams gains 128 in the win and veteran LB John Corker cashes in on a pick-six for the Panthers as they outpace Houston 17-3 in the second half to take the win. ARZ 28 OAK 23 A big day from Robbie Bosco, with 4 TD passes, powers the Wranglers over the homestanding Invaders. The Wrangler D also plays big, holding Oakland to 3 of 12 on 3rd down and forcing 3 turnovers. DEN 13 LA 38 Denver struggles to find their offensive groove in LA as the Express get two scores from Christian Okoye and Steve Young throws for 3. Denver LB John Roper is the Gold’s star for the day, racking up 2 sacks on Young along with 7 tackles. BAL 41 POR 10 Baltimore gets 2 defensive touchdowns to easily down the Portland Thunder as both LB Ben Apuna and CB Tim Smiley return errant Craig Penrose passes for scores. Penrose, subbing for the injured Kerwin Bell, is sacked 4 times, completes only 43% of his passes, and throws 14 points for the other team. BIR 9 TEX 13 Neither team finds much offensive rhythm in the game, but Texas gets just enough to hold on for the win. The two teams combine to go 7 for 29 on third down and no back in the game earns more than Joe Cribbs’s 50 yards as defense is the name of the game in Bobcat Stadium. GAME OF THE WEEK Memphis Showboats 24 Tampa Bay Bandits 21 In a nip & tuck game, Memphis scores the final 10 points of the game to steal a win from the Bandits in Tampa Stadium. Both Kelley and Troy Aikman throw 2 interceptions apiece, as penalties and unforced errors keep Memphis from taking the game sooner. The very first score of the game was a defensive touchdown, when an errant Aikman pass was picked off by James Bowers ad returned 52 yards for the score. Aikman would recover, and get some help from Gary Anderson, who sprinted for a 22-yard touchdown on the Bandits’ next possession. It was this way for the entire first half, as Memphis again went ahead on a Greg Boone scoring run, followed by a Chris Kelley TD catch for Tampa. In the 4th, Tampa would again take the lead as Aikman found HB Lars Tate for a score, but Boone would once again frustrate his former team, diving in from the 1 on the first Memphis possession of the final quarter. Tampa would try to take the lead again on a questionable attempt for a 51-yard field goal late in the game. When Benny Ricardo’s kick fell short, Memphis had the ball with time and strong field position. They would drive to the Tampa 7 yard line before settling on a chipshot from Ali Haji-Sheikh to take the lead and the win. The good news for Tampa is that Aikman recovered from his early pick and played well for the rest of the game, a good sign in a young quarterback. Fellow rookie Keith DeLong also played well for a second straight week, garnering 7 tackles and a sack on Mike Kelley. For Memphis it was the combo of Greg Boone (89 yards rushing and 2 scores) and Buford Jordan (10 carries for 45 yards) that helped propel the Showboats to victory. Memphis moves to 2-0 and an early lead in the division, while Tampa settles in at 1-1 and preps for interdivisional play next week. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK We are going to give a rare double POTW to the opposing backs in the Stars-Federals game. The USFL has made a name for itself with its more open, vertical passing and strong QB play, but let’s not forget how important running the ball is in this game. This is apparently especially true for teams in the Atlantic Division as all 5 of the top 5 rushing leaders in the league after 2 weeks are from the Atlantic: Walker (NJ), Bryant (PHI), Spencer (BLT), James (WSH), and Rozier (PIT) have all shown up big in the early going of the season, when weather is often foul and late winter winds make passing the ball in the Atlantic Northeast a bit of a challenge. In this game, James won the game MVP by rushing for 153 yards on 24 carries and scoring a key Federals TD, but let’s not forget that Kelvin Bryant also had a very strong day, rushing for 145 on 28 carries with 2 scores of his own. While the Atlantic has some strong QB’s in Risher, Fusina, Majkowski, Flutie and Evans, it seems clear that it is a division where smashmouth, in your face, ground attacks are still a big part of the USFL game. NEWS & NOTES News from the USFL League Headquarters in New York as the league announced the 5 finalists to replace Chet Simmons as Commissioner of the league. Not surprisingly the top candidates all come from outside of the league, as there were concerns about moving a current owner into a leaguewide position. The candidates include an interesting mix of those with prior sports management experience, television sports programming experience, or on the field experience. The league is expected to name one of these five men to be the next Commissioner within the next few weeks, with the transition to begin at the Spring Owners’ Meeting in May and final transition to be completed by August. Here are your candidates: Wayne Duke The former commissioner of both the Big 8 and later the Big 10 would bring a lot of experience dealing with both football matters and larger business concerns. Duke may help smooth over some of the concerns the NCAA and its member schools have had about the timing of the USFL Draft (between the college regular season and bowl season) and the selection of underclassmen. His experience negotiating television contracts for the two college conferences will also be useful to the league as they hope to expand their media platforms. Jack Kemp The former Buffalo Bill quarterback and longtime Republican representative from the state of New York is an intriguing choice. As a former player he certainly would be seen as a “player’s commissioner” and would likely push for better relations between the USFL and the USFLPA. As a fiscal conservative, something he is well-known for in Congress, he may seek to reinstate a stricter salary cap, revenue sharing, and overall financial model, and as a highly regarded NFL contact, he could help align the USFL’s and NFL’s interests to avoid what many see as an ongoing cold war. The only concern here is that Kemp has established himself deeply into the political machinations of Washington and may soon be tabbed by President Bush for a position within the President’s cabinet. Gary Davidson The founder of both the ABA and WHA, and once commissioner of the failed World Football League, Mr. Davidson certainly knows a thing or two about start-up sports leagues, but at this point in the USFL’s history, when it has outlasted all of Davidson’s prior endeavors and appears to be solidly on its way to a financial and practical success that none of those former leagues ever achieved, the selection of Davidson would seem an odd choice. One wonders if this selection is to appease those who are still upset about the league’s rejection of a move to the Fall and an attempt to merge some franchises with the NFL. Davidson has successfully led to mergers between his fledgling ABA with the NBA and the WHA with the NHL. If he were selected it may well signal an intent to do the same between the USFL and NFL. Willie Davis The former Packer great would be the first African-American Commissioner of any major sports league, and would bring an interesting combination of on-field expertise, labor expertise, and business acumen to the table. The former Defensive End is well-regarded in NFL circles, and has proven an effective businessman since his retirement from football. While still a player, Davis obtained his MBA from the prestigious University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Davis also has ties to the world of television, having worked as a color commentator for NBC in the 1970’s. Roone Arledge Currently the President of the ABC News Division, Arledge made his name as head of ABC Sports, where he developed ABC’s college football programming, modernizing the coverage of the college game, then created the highly successful “Wide World of Sports”, and the now-iconic concept of Monday Night Football. Certainly, an Arledge selection would indicate that the USFL sees television as its future, and, with strong ties already between ABC/ESPN and the USFL, this could consolidate a long-term relationship between the league, a major network, and the rising role of cable broadcasting within the television market. Others who had been early contenders, but who did not make the final cut for the league, include ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen, Neal Pilson (former head of CBS Sports), and Larry O’Brien (former commissioner of the NBA). The vote on these five candidates is expected to be conducted within the month. INJURY REPORT There are several significant injuries on this week’s report, including possible season-ending concerns for Washington DE Dexter Manley (back), New Orleans wideout Herman Fontenot (wrist) and Chicago center Doug Gamboa (neck), but no situation seems to have set a dark cloud over a franchise more than the concerns over Neil Lomax in Washington. After suffering what appeared to be a relatively mild hip injury last season, it was expected that Lomax would be back in playing shape and fit to go well before the start of camp this winter. Not only has that not happened, but Lomax has been unable to clear a physical to date and has missed the first weeks of the regular season. Doctors are becoming increasingly concerned that they may be dealing with a degenerative condition which could keep Lomax from returning to the game and could lead to a hip replacement in the future. Lomax is still listed on the Federals roster, but he is expected to go in for further testing this week and the results of those tests could determine if the former NFL quarterback and 2 year starter for the Federals can return to action this year, or may be forced into retirement. With that situation still in our minds, let’s look at other players who may be out of action for several weeks due to injuries in the early part of the season. New Jersey safety Gary Barbaro could miss as much as a month with a back injury, while New Orleans DE Daryl Wilkerson is looking at a minimum of 2 weeks out with a fractured jaw. Tampa’s dynamic wideout Eric Truvillion is expected to miss this week’s game with a knee strain, while Houston’s Clarence Verdin is listed as “doubtful” with a slight fracture in his right arm. Jacksonville played without Gary Clark this week, after the veteran wideout suffered a strained quad in practice, and may miss another week before coming back. Arizona listed Louis LIpps as questionable for next week after he went out with a back contusion in this week’s game. Kerwin Bell may also miss a second week, as will LA CB Ron Pitts. Expected back after a week out are Chicago HB Jamie Morris, Phlly tackle Will Wolford, and Arizona DT Eddie Weaver. LOOKING AHEAD It’s South @ Atlantic and Pacific @ Central in inter-divisional play for Week 3. Two teams no one expected to be 0-2 face off in Philly as the Stars host the Stallions. Baltimore hosts the 0-2 Renegades,New Jersey tangles with Tampa Bay, Jacksonville visits Pittsburgh, and the Showboats are at RFK to face the Feds. Oakland will be in Chicago, 0-2 Portland is in Houston, Denver visits New Orleans, Texas hosts the LA Express, and in a battle of 2-0 squads Arizona faces off against Michigan in the Silver Dome.

It was bound to happen at some point, when you start a season in mid-March you are going to have to face inclement weather, and we saw several games this week impacted by storms, whether snow or rain, the weather impacted games and depressed attendance for the USFL’s 7th opening week. The result? In most cases bad weather meant bad offense, with defenses having an easier go in the slop. For several teams it means we really don’t know what they are capable of. For others, it’s just a W on the board and that is all that matters. SCORES WSH 17 BAL 20 A light snow did not seem to impact the game significantly in Baltimore and fans were able to watch the MD Parkway Battle between the Feds and Blitz go down to the wire. A 51 yarder by Luis Zendejas with ony 4 seconds left kept the game from going into overtime and gave Coach Schottenheimer his first USFL win. PHI 6 NJ 16 Snow and slush helped Herschel Walker prove he was the best “mudder” on the field, as he racked up 130 yards to Kelvin Bryant’s 48. The Generals D also helped with that as 2nd year LB Chris Spielman racked up 9 tackles, including 3 tackles for loss against Bryant and backup Jamie Mueller. TBY 23 BIR 13 A combination of rain, sad news for the Stallions (see below) and solid play by Tampa’s rookies, helped the Bandits start the season on the right foot with a 10-point win. QB Troy Aikman was solid, completing 73% of his passes and avoiding the Stallions rush, while fellow rookie, LB Keith DeLong notched two sacks and 8 tackles on the day. MEM 6 JAX 3 In the game most impacted by weather, the Showboats and Bulls played through a monsoon and combined to go a miserable 2 for 27 on 3rd downs as neither team could do much on offense. Memphis was held in check most of the day, but managed to get two 4th quarter field goals to snatch a win away from the Bulls in a game that was more about the weather than the two teams. MGN 23 CHI 12 Weather was not a factor in Chicago, where a reasonable 42 degree day did not impact the game. Both offenses still struggled, but three Chicago turnovers helped Michigan build up a lead and hold it. CB Keith Bostic’s 3rd quarter interception proved pivotal as gave Michigan a short field and an eventual score to build up a 23-5 lead. TEX 25 HOU 42 Inside the Astrodome both Texas and Houston were able to get their offenses rolling as Doug Williams and Jim Kelly combined for 5 TD’s and over 600 combined passing yards. Thurman Thomas added 2 TD runs as the defending champions pulled ahead in the 2nd half for a comfortable win over their in-state rivals. POR 3 DEN 20 Denver got exactly what it wanted from Mother Nature as wind and snow combined to halt the Portland offense. Kerwin Bell and former Gold QB Craig Penrose combined to complete only 10 of 34 attempts for a total of 89 yards passing for the day. Meanwhile Bob Gagliano was able to dink and dunk for 204 and 2 scores to lead Denver to a blustery opening day win. NOR 31 PIT 20 A chilly 35 degrees at Three Rivers could not cool down the Breakers offense as Matt Robinson threw for 272 and 2 scores and the Dupree-Hilliard combo racked up 130 combined yards on the ground. Mike Rozier had a solid day with 112 yards on 20 carries, but it was not enough to overcome a mediocre passing game (Risher completed only 48% of his passes). OAK 26 ORL 19 The Invaders flew across the continent and braved the rain in Orlando but on one of Gale Gilbert’s better games they outdueled the Renegades to take the win. Gilbert threw for 231 and 3 scores on the day, including 2 to wideout Henry Ellard to help pace the Invaders. GAME OF THE WEEK Los Angeles Express 21 Arizona Wranglers 24 Weather was no issue in sunny Tempe as the Express and Wranglers faced off. Both teams seamed ready for regular season action as the Wranglers built up a 17-0 lead and then held on against a blistering 2nd half LA comeback attempt. Robbie Bosco looked primed for a good year as he completed 21 of 31 and found both Trumaine Johnson and Louis Lipps for scoring tosses. Bosco also ran a score in on a very rare scramble for the usually-pocketed QB. For LA Steve Young tried to match Bosco, running in a score and throwing for 2 more, but his 2 interceptions on the day helped Arizona quell the Express comeback. Rookie Broderick Thomas made a big impression on his first day, picking off Young on an ill-advised crossing route and adding 4 tackles, but the biggest defensive star was fellow Wrangler Brian Noble, who racked up 13 tackles on the day as Arizona flexed a little defensive muscle. The game was in doubt late as LA came back from a 24-7 deficit with two Young TD passes, one to rookie Robb Thomas and one to the always reliable Todd Christiansen. But, with time running down and LA needing to get into FG range to tie the game, Young tried to force a ball to Eric Martin and it was brought down by LA DB Everson Walls to all but end the game and preserve the 3-point lead for the Wranglers. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK Since we don’t want to award a POTW to Mother Nature, we are going to give it to one of last year’s breakout stars, Breakers receiver Nolan Franz. Franz, who has been in the league since its inception, upped his game last year and with new QB Matt Robinson had his best season, tallying 1461 yards and a league leading 14 scores. He is back on his game this spring, notching 7 receptions, 109 yards and 2 scores in the season’s first week. New Orleans does not have one of the most intimidating WR corps in the league, not even making our preseason Top 10 Receiver Groups list, but Franz is showing that he is among the league’s best. NEWS & NOTES The league, and particularly the Birmingham Stallions, were saddened this week upon the news of the passing of Stallions coach Rollie Dotsch. Dotsch, who led Birmingham for 6 seasons, including three playoff trips, two division titles and a spot in the 1984 USFL Championship, had stepped down this past July in order to battle pancreatic cancer, the disease which would eventually take his life. Fans across the league participated in a moment of silence before this week’s games in honor of the former Stallions coach and Birmingham announced that they would be adding a patch to their uniforms for the rest of the season to commemorate their departed leader. INJURY REPORT With a new season comes the prospect of injuries. Several teams, including Texas and Portland, saw their starting quarterbacks leave the game, though it appears that in both of the notable cases (Doug Williams and Kerwin Bell) the injuries are not severe and each may be back either next week or in Week Three. Most injuries this week were minor, though they may cost some players a week or two of action. Of the more serious injuries are LA linebacker Chip Banks’s broken collarbone (expected to miss 4-6 weeks) and Chicago wideout Michael Haynes’s fractured arm (again 4-6 weeks expected). LA will also miss DE Tony Tolbert for 1-2 weeks with a torn meniscus, while Baltimore’s Dave Dumars is expected to be out for a couple of weeks after suffering a hernia (not in the game, but in Friday’s practice). Tampa wideout Eric Truvillion and Jacksonville’s Gary Clark could both miss a game or two after both suffered hard hits going over the middle. Finally, New Orleans CB Terry Daniels suffered a hamstring injury while running with Pittsburgh wideout Raynard Brown and is listed as questionable for Week 2. LOOKING AHEAD This year’s schedule has started off with a bang as Week 1 included 8 divisional games. Week 2 likewise has a heavy divisional lineup. New Jersey will be in Pittsburgh as Philly heads to Washington in the Atlantic. Jacksonville and Orlando will both look for their first win in the intra-state rivalry, while Memphis heads down to Tampa. In the Central Chicago will visit New Orleans while Houston is in Michigan. The Pacific Division tilts include Arizona at Oakland and Denver traveling to LA to take on the Express. In the two inter-division showdowns, Birmingham will be in San Marcos to take on the Texas Outlaws while Baltimore catches the long flight to Portland to face the Thunder.

Sporting News, February 17, 1989 After an offseason which many view as a potential tipping point in the tenuous relationship between the NFL and the upstart USFL, the spring league prepares for its 7th season, and while overall there was less movement of players and staff between the two leagues than in past years, three controversial signings have turned up the heat on the rivalry between the fall and spring leagues. The inking of head coach Marty Schottenheimer by the Baltimore Blitz only week before the season began for his former NFL club, Cleveland, was a shot across the bow of the NFL. Add to this the signing of two potential Top 5 NFL Draft picks in UCLA QB Troy Aikman (Tampa) and Nebraska LB Broderick Thomas (ARZ) and we have a lot of anger within NFL circles. The two leagues have had something of a cold war brewing, with the occasional stolen star (Brian Sipe to the USFL, Bobby Hebert to the NFL) and, of course, the anti-trust lawsuit back in 1984, which enriched the junior league, but something feels different this year. Many in USFL circles are concerned that Baltimore’s bold move may end up costing all of them dearly, just as the USFL is seeking to rein in costs, largely labor costs, to allow for greater profitability, they may find themselves in a bidding war for talent on a scale they have not seen in their short existence. But, all this said, and with the fall out likely to occur after the conclusion of the 1989 season when the free agency window reopens for USFL clubs, there is a season to play, and one where the field feels more open and more unpredictable than ever. Last season was the first time in 5 years that the league did not see either Philadelphia, Michigan or both in its Championship Game. Houston’s victory over Memphis may usher in a new wave, as the Gamblers have now appeared in two consecutive Championships, while upstart teams like Memphis, New Jersey and New Orleans look poised to challenge for a trophy. At the same time we are reaching a period when the stars of the league’s first few seasons are getting older and new stars are emerging. So, this year, let’s look at a few key positions on the field and see where we rank the talent, then a quick prognostication as to the standings and the playoffs before we get into the action in just a couple of weeks. We start with our look at the best of the league. BEST QB SITUATIONS IN THE USFL 1. HOUSTON: Despite some setbacks last year, Jim Kelly still appears to be a top flight quarterback, capable of carrying the Gambler offense on his back when needed. Having solid backups in Sean Salisbury and rookie Chuck Hartlieb of Iowa means that the team is prepared even if Kelly were to miss time to injury. 2. NEW ORLEANS: Matt Robinson surprised everyone with an MVP season last year, after languishing on the Breakers’ bench behind Tony Eason for several seasons. If Robinson is for real, and can repeat his 1988 performance, the Breakers may again have the top offense in the league. Matt Dunigan and Danny McManus also give the Breakers solid depth at the position. 3. LOS ANGELES: Steve Young has never fully lived up to his potential, but last year saw growth in his game and his playoff appearance against Texas showed he could lead. The Express were confident enough in him that they traded away their top Territorial Draft pick to Tampa and allowed the Bandits to sign Troy Aikman, settling on former USC quarterback Rodney Peete to sign as a backup to Young. We like the fact that Peete can play in the same system as Young, so you have a quarterback who can step in and run the same plays if Young were to miss time. 4. ARIZONA: It is a definite perk to have two quarterbacks with solid pedigrees, both proven to be able to run an offense. We saw with Tampa last year what happens if the backup is just not up to the task. In Arizona Robbie Bosco is clearly the starter, but Kelly Stouffer is more than capable of starting in the league. That is a strength, though at some point we wonder wo content Stouffer will be to carry a clipboard. At some point Arizona might be wise to trade Stouffer while his value is high, but this season, with a new coach in former USC head man Ted Tollner, we don’t expect any change. 5. WASHINGTON: The Federals would be much higher on the list with the combo of Neil Lomax and Don Majkowski, except for the fact that what at first appeared to be a minor hip injury to their starter has lingered throughout the offseason. There is still significant concern that Lomax will not be able to start the season, and while Majkowski has proven to be a more than capable signal caller when called into action, concerns that Lomax may be facing a more serious condition have to make the Federals nervous. 6. PHILADELPHIA: Fusina is steady if not spectacular, but Perez and rookie Anthony Dilweg are untested. 7. MEMPHIS: Mike Kelley has been lighting things up for the past 2 years and being able to fall back on Walter Lewis is a luxury Memphis hopes they don’t need. 8. TEXAS: Doug Williams is a proven winner and adding Glen Carano to compete with Blair Kiel deepens the Outlaw bench. 9. PITTSBURGH: Alan Risher had a phenomenal season in ’88 and looks for even more success this year. Jeff Hostetler is largely untested as his backup, as is rookie Jason Garrett. 10. BIRMINGHAM: Cliff Stoudt does not often make the highlight reel, but he is steady and reliable, and if he falters, the Stallions can bring in another consistent performer in Bob Lane. BEST BACKFIELDS IN THE USFL 1. NEW ORLEANS: No team masters the HB rotation quite like New Orleans. Both Marcus Dupree and Dalton Hilliard can take over a game, and while their styles vary, the results often do not. Neither is likely to win the rushing title, but the combo is almost guaranteed to have the Breakers near the top of the team rushing list. 2. PHILADELPHIA: Kelvin Bryant is the USFL’s all-time leading rusher after 6 seasons, and looks to be the bell cow again for the Stars. Nothing wrong with that, but we would like to see some more carries for Jamie Mueller and former Gambler Steve Howell. Philly added another back in Vi Sikahema this year, though we expect him to be more of a special teams ace than regular ballcarrier. 3. NEW JERSEY: Herschel Walker is a superstar, to be sure, but the Generals also have perhaps the best fullback in the league in Keith Byars. If injury issues arise for Walker, they are more than comfortable letting Byars carry and catch the rock. Add in rookie Heath Sherman and former Panther backup Bobby Morse and this is a very talented RB group. 4. BIRMINGHAM: Joe Cribbs remains the motor of the Stallions offense. A smaller, more elusive back than Bryant, Walker or either Breaker back, Cribbs does not appear to be losing a step after 5 grueling seasons. Interim head coach Carl Reese has stated that he does want to spell Cribbs more this year, and in Brent Fullwood and recently acquired Calvin Murphy he has two capable backs to do so. 5. WASHINGTON: Craig James does not have the explosive speed of some of the league’s best rushers, but he also rarely loses yards. Washington is also trying to provide more carries for backup Kevin Harmon and likes the elusive rookie Alfred Jenkins as well. And, as with New Jersey, they have a mult-talented fullback in Barry Word to rely on for tough yards or the occasional screen. 6. DENVER: Like New Orleans, the Gold rely on a 1-2 punch, something of a Thunder & Lightning situation as they alternate carries between bruising Harry Sydney and elusive Timmy Smith. Not as talented as the Breakers’ duo, but still effective, this combination has days when they are on fire, and others where neither seems to be on track. Lee Rouson is a little used backup but one capable when called upon. 7. HOUSTON: This is all about rookie phenom Thurman Thomas, now looking to do even more in his second year. Thomas has a shot at gaining 2,000 total yards from scrimmage as his pass catching skills may be the best in the league for a back. We are not sure if there is much behind Thomas in little used Keith Woodside or rookie Patrick Egu, but if Thomas can stay healthy, this year could be huge for him. 8. CHICAGO: Much like Thomas in Houston, 2nd year player Jamie Morris was a big hit in his first year and is looking to do even more in his second. Don’t be surprised if Morris is among the league leaders this year, though he may lose some carries to veteran and former 1,000 yard rusher Albert Bentley. 9. JACKSONVILLE: George Adams has been a consistently good back who consistently gets no press. And what is even better news for the Bulls is that they now have one of the deeper RB corps in the league. Opting to keep 4 HB’s on the active roster, the Bulls have options in former Cornhusker Tommy Agie, elusive Spencer Tillman, and newly signed former General Jamie Covington. 10. MEMPHIS: Greg Boone and Buford Jordan form a solid one-two punch for the Showboats. Boone is an outstanding runner-receiver, while Jordan can run over defenders. They are not as consistent as Memphis fans would like, but when their line opens holes for them, the game is on and these backs can take over. BEST RECEIVING CORPS IN THE USFL 1. MICHIGAN: It has not been easy since Bobby Hebert left, but we still cannot deny that the Panthers have major weapons in the passing game. Anthony Carter and Derek Holloway remain two of the league’s best, while TE Butch Rolle is an undervalued redzone commodity. Jonathan Smiley, Daron Carter and Johnny Holloway add quality depth to a dangerous receivers group. 2. LOS ANGELES: They have the best TE in the game in former Raider Todd Christiansen. They have two dynamic playmakers in Jo-Jo Townsell and Eric Martin, and they just added a potential 4th target in rookie Robb Thomas. And we are also going to give them credit for keeping a wideout on their roster just because of his outstanding special teams play, gunner extraordinaire Steve Tasker. 3. JACKSONVILLE: TE is still a big question mark, but why dink and dunk when you have the wideouts that the Bulls have. Gary Clark just catches everything. Hassan Jones and Brian Blades can stretch the fields, and despite having many defensive needs, Jacksonville spent their 1st round rookie pick on Lawyer Tillman from Auburn and signed former Steeler Weegie Thompson. Can Chris Miller keep all these potential gamebreakers happy? 4. OAKLAND: Henry Ellard is one of the league’s best and most dangerous deep threats. Pair him with former Dolphin Mark Duper and top-notch TE Raymond Chester and the Invaders have a very dangerous receiving corps. Adding another quality TE in former General and 1-year Bandit Sam Bowers, and they can now diversify their formations as well. 5. TAMPA BAY: It is all about the deep ball in Tampa, always has been, and with All-USFL regular Eric Truvillion they have a perfect target. But Tampa also has depth here, with NFL alum Chris Collinsworth, veteran Willie Gillespie in the slot, and young Brett Perriman in the wings. Tampa is still trying to find a tight end who can also stretch the field, and, of course, now start a new chapter with rookie Troy Aikman at QB, hoping to find these receivers early and often. 6. DENVER: Mouse Davis still wants to run a wide-open offense, but receivers Bill Brooks, Mark Carrier, Odessa Turner and TE Jay Novacek are better suited to a more traditional offensive scheme. That friction keeps them from reaching their full potential. 7. HOUSTON: We love Ricky Sanders, and Clarence Verdin is solid (outstanding in the return game, but just solid as a receiver), while slot receiver Ernie Jones is coming on, but Houston still has yet to find a TE to help compliment the trio. 8. PHILADELPHIA: Mike Quick has been a huge addition for the Stars, as has young receiver Quinn Early. Old hands such as Tom Donovan and Gerard Phelan still contribute, and there were signs last year that Alex Higdon is ready to step up at tight end as well. 9. ARIZONA: The combo of Trumaine Johnson, Louis Lipps and TE Terry Orr is top level, but where is the depth? 10. CHICAGO: Adding rookie TE Wesley Walls to save Chuck Long when 2nd year receivers Wendall Davis and Michael Haynes are not open was a brilliant move by Coach Bugel. BEST DEFENSIVE FRONTS IN THE USFL 1. PHILADELPHIA: Who do you double team on this line? DT Jumpy Gaethers is a beast inside, but you also don’t want to leave William Fuller or Tony Simmons on a single blocker. Philly wins with solid defense and that starts with a line that can win consistently in the trenches. 2. WASHINGTON: Philadelphia has stiff competition for the best d-line in the league, as the Federals have put together a murderer’s row along the defensive front. Jerome Brown is quickly proving to be one of the best DT’s in all of football, while the combo of Dexter Manley and Charles Haley outside is just unfair to offensive tackles. This line can absolutely dominate a game, but they need solid play behind them to keep teams down. 3. MEMPHIS: Reggie White is a beast, an absolute terror for offensive coordinators, but if you over-compensate, Booker Reese will swoop in from the other side. The center of the line is a bit more pedestrian, but 2nd year player Curtis Maxey could come on strong this year with so much attention paid to the edges. 4. ORLANDO: Last year rookie Rueben Davis became a major name in the USFL, but the Orlando line is deeper than just this phenom. Cedrick Hardman is a solid opposite end, and now, in this year’s draft, the Renegades signed the top DT on the board in Auburn’s Tracy Rocker. This will be a tough line for years to come with these young stars. 5. MICHIGAN: Everyone focuses on Michigan’s LB corps, but Ronnie Paggett is still a handful at DE, leading the league in sacks after 6 seasons through consistent effort. On the other side Bob Otto does not get a lot of press but is solid in pass rush and run coverage. 6. BIRMINGHAM: Bob Barber and Art Still on the edge are a nightmare, but the center of the line needs to suck up more blocks to free them. 7. DENVER: Larry White outside, Laval Short inside. Nervous o-linemen all around. 8. ARIZONA: Strength in the center with DT’s Eddie Weaver and Dan Saleamua. 9. HOUSTON: Consistency is the issue, but Simon Fletcher at DE and Michael Dean Perry inside are both capable of having monstrous days. 10. PORTLAND: The Thunder have the inside set with Rollin Putzier and Mike Golic stuffing the middle, but they need to add more speed and power outside to start pressuring quarterbacks. BEST LINEBACKING CORPS IN THE USFL 1. MICHIGAN: John Corker anchors a squad that can do it all. With Corker inside and Hardy Nickerson outside you have a powerful combo. Scott Stephen and Rick Naylor round out one of the best groups in pro football. 2. LOS ANGELES: Giving Michigan a run for their LB money are the Express. The move to bring Chip Banks in from the NFL has paid off in a major way. He lines up with Niko Noga, 2nd year beast Marcus Cotton and veteran Bob Crable to form a formidable defensive force. 3. JACKSONVILLE: The combo of Vaughan Johnson, Charles Bratton and John Smalls are asked to do a lot in the Bulls’ 4-3 alignment, and they usually come through. 4. DENVER: Kurt Gouveia, the defending defensive MVP, does it all, and Fred Strickland can also shine. Add in rookie John Roper and Denver once again looks like a team that can win on defense. 5. HOUSTON: The Gamblers rely on their defense in a way few teams do, and the leader of that D is LB Kiki DeAyala. The backers also include underrated Johnny Holland and David Peace, and they have just added depth by signing rookies Jesse Small and Chris Chenault. 6. ARIZONA: Brian Noble gets one of the most highly ranked rookie LB’s in several years with the arrival of Broderick Thomas from Nebraska. This combo should immediately improve the Wranglers oft-maligned D. 7. CHICAGO: There is a lot of potential, we just need to see more from the combo of former Cleveland Brown Clay Matthews and his squadmates Gary Reasons, Eric Scroggins, and Rich D’Amico to rank them higher. 8. BALTIMORE: Ben Apuna, Sam Norris, Brian Davila, and Ed Brady are not big names around the league, but offensive coordinators know who they are. 9. MEMPHIS: Eddie Simmons anchors this squad, which also includes Derrick Jacks and NFL veteran Michael Douglas. 10. TEXAS: We had a hard time picking a 10th solid LB corps, so we are just going to award Texas here for signing Brian Bosworth and letting him run wild. Oakland, Orlando, and Washington can be upset about this, but not really. BEST DEFENSIVE BACKFIELDS IN THE USFL 1. PHILADELPHIA: Losing veteran and All-USFL safety Scott Woerner hurts, but Philly had a deep pool of talent and still does in the defensive backfield. CB’s Chris Dishman and Lorenzo Lynch are high energy, high impact players, and the new safety combo of Todd Bowles, Eric McMillian and recent NFL signee Glenn Blackwood should step up big for the Stars. 2. LOS ANGELES: Any defense with interception machine Raphel Cherry is sure to be a top squad. Add in the safety combo of hard-hitting Chuck Cecil and savvy Al Burleson and this is a combo that forces teams to run first because passing is no easy thing. 3. NEW JERSEY: Gary Barbaro anchors an underappreciated backfield that is one of the best in zone coverage in the league. 4. NEW ORLEANS: While the safeties for the Breakers are sometimes uneven in their play, cornerbacks Gene Atkins and Terry Daniels are perhaps the league’s best 1-2 combo. 5. MICHIGAN: Adding highly touted safety Carnell Lake to a backfield that already includes CB’s Garland Rivers and Keith Bostic is sure to help Michigan maintain their reputation for tough D. 6. TEXAS: Najee Mustafaa is the star of an underrated defensive backfield. 7. WASHINGTON: Adding rookie safety Louis Oliver to Mark Kelso and Lester Lyles gets the Feds on the list. 8. MEMPHIS: Bennie Blades was an excellent pickup last year, and CB Derrick Burroughs is consistent at CB. 9. TAMPA BAY: Roy Gee at safety and Eric Allen at CB are a solid 2-man lineup, but Tampa needs 2 more. 10. ORLANDO: Bill Bates at safety is a defensive QB on the field. Melvin Jenkins at CB is strong in the zone, but they do need more depth here. So, with this analysis of position groups (we apologize to the O-lines, we know you are important, really, we do) what do we know about the USFL this spring? Well, we know that there are a lot of teams vying for those 10 playoff spots, some trying to return to glory, some trying to find it for the first time. With so much wide open, and with so many teams that have potential to be great but also noticeable flaws, we may see another season where 8-8 is a playoff record and 16-0 an impossibility. Here is our best guess of where things will land this year. ATLANTIC DIVISION 1. PHILADELPHIA 10-6 We are just not ready to knock the Stars off the mountain top. Too much talent remains, despite the retirements of Sam Mills, Scott Woerner and Elmo Gardiner. 2. PITTSBURGH 9-7 The Maulers made huge strides last year, and we see a bright future ahead if they can just build some defensive consistency. 3. BALTIMORE 8-8 The signing of Coach Schottenheimer is bringing a lot of heat to the Blitz organization, but he will also bring a winning attitude and a hard-nosed style to the erratic Blitz team. 4. NEW JERSEY 7-9 The Generals had some really good runs last year, including a solid playoff run, but there are still so many questions about their receivers and their defense. 5. WASHINGTON 6-10 If Neil Lomax is back to his old self, or if Don Majkowski is the real deal, the Feds could be a lot better than this, but there are a lot of questions for a team that never seems to have answers. SOUTHERN DIVISION 1. MEMPHIS 11-5 Their playoff run to the Championship Game was no fluke. This is a team that can win a lot of games with a combo of defensive muscle and offensive balance. 2. BIRMINGHAM 10-6 Stoudt, Cribbs and Co. have something to prove after last year’s collapse and quick playoff exit. 3. ORLANDO 9-7 We see Orlando making the postseason this year after coming close for the past two. A lot is riding on the ability of Reggie Collier to lead a pretty talented squad. 4. JACKSONVILLE 8-8 There is still a lot of talent on the Bulls roster, especially in the skill positions, but they have to protect Chris Miller more, and he has to do more to lead the team. 5. TAMPA BAY 5-11 This is clearly a rebuilding year for the Bandits after the retirement of John Reaves. Rookie Troy Aikman has good tools around him, but the Bandits are still a big question mark on defense. CENTRAL DIVISION 1. HOUSTON 12-4 The defending champs will have to battle with New Orleans all year, but we think they have the talent on both sides of the ball to edge the Breakers for the #1 seed. 2. NEW ORLEANS 10-6 This is a very good team, especially on offense, but their draft was unimpressive, and their D still needs more playmakers. 3. MICHIGAN 8-8 If Jack Trudeau can play a full year, and if their defense continues to be a force, the Panthers can rebound and make it back to the postseason this year. 4. TEXAS 6-10 We are just not sold on Texas’s depth and quality across the roster. Doug Williams cannot do it alone, and we do not expect gaudy numbers from Mustafaa and Bosworth every year. 5. CHICAGO 4-12 This Machine squad is improving, but in this tough division the wins will simply be hard to come by. They could surprise, but looking at their roster, we think this will be another year of building something for the future. PACIFIC DIVISION 1. LOS ANGELES 10-6 We always seem to be high on the potential of LA each February only to be let down by June. We are hoping this year breaks that cycle. 2. ARIZONA 8-8 The Wranglers have all the potential in the world, but it never seems to gel for them. 3. DENVER 8-8 This is a team that is relying on a lot of seasoned vets to grind their way once again to 10 or 11 wins. At some point age catches up with all of us, and when it does, Denver does not have much to fall back on. 4. OAKLAND 6-10 The Invaders have lost a lot of talent in the past few years, and we are not as certain that their replacements have been of the same quality. A lot of pressure on Gale Gilbert to evolve from last year to this year. A lot of pressure. 5. PORTLAND 3-13 We feel a bit for coach Patera. The Thunder have added talent in the draft with WR Hart Lee Dykes and HB Robert Drummond, but we just don’t see a lot of wins in their future, at least not this year. Our prediction for the 1989 USFL Championship is a risky one. We are bucking the trends, choosing against history, and saying that the LA Express will finally max out their potential and take a title, victorious over the Philadelphia Stars, yes, the Stars again, in July’s Championship Game. It is a risky pick, and we know it, so, when LA starts the year 1-5, please don’t hold us to this. We are trying not to be boring by picking Houston or New Orleans.

Sporting News, December 10, 1988 With Christmas soon approaching all 20 USFL franchises are hoping to find presents under the tree in the form of top collegiate talent ready to sign with the spring league instead of waiting for a call from the NFL. With both territorial and open drafts to be held this week, the USFL is hoping to secure some of the big names of college football to contracts and have these young stars join their respective franchises in camp this January. It is a tight window, one made even tougher by the expanded college bowl season keeping players engaged with the college game and unable to sign with an agent before their postseason bowl concludes. Predicting the USFL draft is tricky. You have the territorial picks, which can remove a lot of players from the open pool, assuming their USFL teams are confident they can sign them, and you have the NFL factor, with many prospects opting to wait and making their preference known before the draft. The USFL typically only signs about 50% of those players drafted, and teams take a player’s openness to an early signing into account when looking at who to use a valuable pick on. For example, Heisman Winner Barry Sanders has been pretty open that it has always been his dream to play in the NFL and that he is not very interested in the spring league, so despite his obvious talent, he is unlikely to be drafted, at least not with an early pick and even less likely to follow former teammate Thurman Thomas to the USFL. So, here we go, looking at team needs and trying to find a match for them. To do this we are going to imagine that none of the first round picks are going to be selected in the territorial draft, though we will note when that is a possibility. Looking just at talent, need, and fit, we will try to predict who, in an ideal world, each USFL team could best use and who they may try to sign in the first round of this year’s USFL Open Collegiate Draft. PORTLAND (3-13) NEEDS: HB, WR, DE, CB, LB ANALYSIS: The Portland Thunder, by way of a 3-win season, have the first crack at the talent in this year’s draft. They have a lot of needs, but primary among them is getting Kerwin Bell some talent around him in skill positions. Owen Gill and Rodney Carter did not get it done last year, so a top HB talent may be the first order of business. But, the wide receiver room could also use a boost, so don’t be surprised if the Thunder look there as well. We expect offense to be the pick, but expect a lot of later picks to go towards the team’s many defensive needs. OUR PICK: With Barry Sanders making it clear that he is not interested in the USFL, Portland would be wise to look elsewhere. If they go HB they might look at Georgia’s Tim Worley or FSU’s Sammie Smith. If it is receiver, perhaps Texas’s Eric Metcalf or OK State’s Hart Lee Dykes. For our pick, we are going with Tim Worley as the best option for the Thunder. CHICAGO (5-11) NEEDS: CB, DE, TE, C ANALYSIS: Chicago was the winner (loser?) of the tiebreaker with Tampa Bay so they pick second. Their offense came along this past year, thanks to a great 1988 draft class that added HB Jamie Morris and WR Michael Haynes to the roster. They have to be hoping they can do the same on defense this year. They need to both generate more pass rush and more turnovers. Cornerback was a weakness with last year’s squad, as was DE. They could try to fix either in this year’s draft. OUR PICK: If he is open to the USFL (which is a huge if), we think FSU’s outspoken CB Deion Sanders would be a great fit for Chicago. But, if they sense that he is looking to wait for NFL dollars, they might opt for either DE Trace Armstrong of Florida or the second best DB in the draft, Clemson’s Donnell Woolford. TAMPA BAY (5-11) NEEDS: QB, LB, TE, G ANALYSIS: Unless Tampa signs someone this week, something they have not done all off-season, they are clearly going to go QB with the first pick. Expect Tampa to even secure this selection by trading for the territorial pick of their favorite prospect. Of the QB’s on the market, the ones most ready to step in and play on day one are UCLA’s Troy Aikman and Washington State’s Timm Rosenbach. Portland may want to take a shot at Rosenbach, so the easier trade might be with LA to get rights to Aikman. With the Dallas Cowboys looking like the likely #1 pick in the NFL draft, the question is whether or not Aikman wants to wait and see if Tom Landry picks him, or will he sign to play with a ‘new wave’ coach like Steve Spurrier. OUR PICK: If they can swing a deal with LA, we love Troy Aikman to the Bandits. We are sure Spurrier would love it too. JACKSONVILLE BULLS (6-10) NEEDS: C, G, T, TE, CB ANALYSIS: The Bulls have some offensive talent in George Adams, Gary Clark and Hassan Jones. What they don’t have is a line that can keep Chris Miller upright. So, we all know who the top prospect is, Michigan State tackle Tony Mandarich. But will he sign with the Bulls? Will they spend the money to sign him? We are not so sure. They could, and probably should, but they may opt for a more likely signee and a less expensive prospect like Notre Dame guard Andy Heck or Pitt tackle Tom Ricketts. OUR PICK: In a perfect world, Mandarich. But, more likely we see the Bulls going with T Tom Ricketts. ARIZONA (7-9) NEEDS: LB, CB, FS, K ANALYSIS: With the retirement of Frank Corral, the Wranglers need a kicker…ok, only kidding, they will get one late in the draft. The Wranglers have a lot of offensive firepower, but their pass defense is atrocious. Expect a lot of picks in the defensive backfield, as well as a solid LB who can cover as well as play the run. OUR PICK: If Chicago does not go for CB Donnell Woolford, the Wranglers should. He has appeared willing to sign with the spring league and he has the ability to immediately start in the depleted Wrangler defensive backfield. ORLANDO (7-9) NEEDS: DT, FS, CB, LB, WR ANALYSIS: Orlando has needs at every level of the defense. While DT looks like the primary need, the 1989 draft is not particularly strong there. The highest rated DT on the board is Tracy Rocker of Auburn, but he should be available in the 2nd round based on his grade. There is much more depth at LB or CB for the Renegades to use a first round pick on. OUR PICK: If they have a shot at either Alabama’s Derrick Thomas or Nebraska’s Broderick Thomas at LB, they should absolutely look there, and then worry about DT and the DB positions later. Of the two we like the fit for Broderick. WASHINGTON (7-9) NEEDS: T, TE, SS, QB ANALYSIS: Finding a top tackle to protect Neil Lomax (still rehabbing from a hip injury) is job one for Coach Rutigliano and the Federals’ scouting team. We are going to assume that if he is open to the USFL, Tony Mandarich will be signed by Jacksonville, so that leaves Tom Rickets and Florida’s David Williams as the best tackles on the board. They could also hold on the tackle position (though they shouldn’t ) and look for a difference maker at TE. OUR PICK: We already sent Ricketts to Jacksonville, so we are picking T David Williams here. OAKLAND (7-8-1) NEEDS: T, DT, LB, DE ANALYSIS: Another team desperately hoping to upgrade at offensive tackle. Oakland could take one of the three tackles already discussed, but let’s assume that all 3 are either chosen or otherwise not available. That means the Invaders stretch in the first round on a lesser grade tackle such as LSU’s Ralph Norwood, or they fill another gaping hole, this time at defensive tackle. We already mentioned Tracy Rocker as the best prospect, but again, not graded as a 1st round option. So, what is Oakland to do? OUR PICK: More out of desperation than talent, we have Oakland taking Tracy Rocker here. But don’t be surprised if they trade down and try to pick up a 2nd or 3rd round pick. MICHIGAN (8-8) NEEDS: S,G, HB, QB, SS ANALYSIS: We think Michigan is now solid at QB after signing former San Diego Charger Mark Hermann. So that leaves them free to either find an eventual replacement for the veteran HB John Williams or to shore up their defense with a much needed safety. There are three very talented safeties in this year’s draft, Razorback Steve Atwater, Gator Louis Oliver, and UCLA Bruin Carnell Lake. With Coach Stanley’s love of defense and hitting, Atwater seems a natural choice, but any of the three would be a good fit for the Panthers. OUR PICK: Steve Atwater, SS, Arkansas seems the natural fit, if he is willing to consider the league. BALTIMORE (8-8) NEEDS: WR, CB, HB, DT ANALYSIS: Coach Schottenheimer is going to have to hit the ground running, and the first order of business is to create a team in his image. The freewheeling style of Vince Evans is likely not it, but with Tim Spencer getting older, Martyball may require signing a new back. The Blitz also need someone to finally take the pressure off of Jackie Flowers and provide a solid second option at WR. Meanwhile the defense also needs attention. Lots of areas for improvement. Welcome to B’more Mr. Schottenheimer. OUR PICK: Martyball requires a solid run game. While Spencer is solid for now, we expect the Blitz to look for another option to balance the running load. If Tim Worley is off the table, the best fit for a power run game is Miami back Cleveland Gary. He would certainly bring some steam to the Blitz run game. TEXAS (8-8, Wild Card) NEEDS: G, WR, DE, CB, T ANALYSIS: The Outlaws were surprisingly solid as they built a roster out of the wreckage that was Oklahoma and San Antonio the year before. Reaching the playoffs at 8-8 was a feat, but the way LA dismantled their O-line in the Wild Card game has to be a concern for Coach Widenhofer. There is depth at the guard position, with Andy Heck, BC’s Joe Wolf, and Penn State’s Steve Wisniewski all grading out well. The Outlaws could also look at wideout, with several prospects looking like good fits to line up opposite league OPOTY Carlos Carson. OUR PICK: Go for a solid line to help Doug Williams, then draft wideouts later. We like Wisniewski here. PITTSBURGH (8-8, Wild Card) NEEDS: CB, SS, WR, HB, LB ANALYSIS: The Maulers surprised everyone with a Wild Card berth this year, but they were still only 8-8 and playing in the Atlantic that is not good enough in most years. They could use depth at the skill positions on offense (Does Mike Rozier ever take a down off?) but their immediate need is to shore up that defensive backfield. OUR PICK: We had Steve Atwater headed to Michigan, so we pick the next best option, Florida’s Louis Oliver here. BIRMINGHAM (9-7 Wild Card) NEEDS: SS, G, TE, T, WR ANALYSIS: There should still be some strong talent at safety and guard here, but word out of Birmingham is that initerim coach Carl Reese feels OK about his defense and wants to build some offensive continuity. So, they could go O-line, but when I hear that I think of playmakers, so wideout or tight end. OUR PICK: They could go wideout, looking at a top receiver like Eric Metcalf or Andre Rison, but we also really like TE Walter Reeves of nearby Auburn as a player who can help both the pass and run game. If they snag him in the territorial draft, then perhaps look for Metcalf here. LOS ANGELES (9-7, Wild Card) NEEDS: DE, QB, LB, WR, TE, CB ANALYSIS: LA has two top QB prospects right in their back yard in UCLA’s Troy Aikman and USC’s Rodney Peete, so we expect them to find a replacement for Mike Rae behind Young with the territorial draft. So, that leaves DE as their biggest obvious need. Looking at the prospects there we find Pitt’s Burt Grossman, Virginia’s Jeff Lageman, and Miami’s Bill Hawkins. OUR PICK: Jeff Lageman can do a lot of everything. Not the fastest or most powerful DE, but a guy who has great technique and can play the run in addition to rushing the QB. He is our pick here. DENVER GOLD (10-6, Pacific Div. Champion) NEEDS: C, T, LB, DE, DT ANALYSIS: For a team built on stingy defense and a risk-taking offense, it seems odd that the Gold are in such need of basic help on both lines. This is a team that says they want to be high-flying, but often get mired in offensive line issues, so they ought to try to address that here. But, it is also a team that often wins with defense, so why not strengthen the D-line or LB corps here? OUR PICK: This is a tough one, since Denver could go so many directions. They may play the “Best Player Available” card, at least among the positions of need. With no real clue which way they will go, we will play it safe and go with the top rated need position player, DE Burt Grossman of Pitt. PHILADELPHIA (10-6, Atlantic Div. Champion) NEEDS: LB, FS, G, T, QB ANALYSIS: The loss of Sam Mills and Scott Woerner leave huge holes in the staunch Philly defense. Their retirements were unexpected and difficult to replace. But, at the same time, Philadelphia was deep at those positions. Losing Elmo Gardiner at Free Safety, after such a strong final year, may be a more immediate need. OUR PICK: We think they will go safety here, though LB is also an option. Of the safeties on the board, We like Bruin Carnell Lake here. NEW JERSEY (8-8, Wild Card) NEEDS: DE, QB, CB, HB, LB ANALYSIS: The retirement of backup QB Vince Ferragamo leaves a hole behind Doug Flutie, but do you really use a first round pick on a backup position? You might if you feel good about most positions. New Jersey should likely go DE to get more pass rush, or could look to sign a backup for Herschel Walker, though they did grab Bobby Morse in free agency. But we suspect they will use this pick on a QB, as Doug Flutie’s scrambling puts him in constant danger of injury. OUR PICK: A lot of options here, they could stay local with Princeton’s Jason Garrett, but we think they will shoot for a bigger name, even if it means looking all across the country at Washington State’s Timm Rosenbach. NEW ORLEANS (13-3, Central Div. Champion) NEEDS: T, G, DT, FB, G, CB ANALYSIS: New Orleans was the surprise team of the season last year, moving from a perennial 8-8 squad to the top seed and 13 wins. Was it a fluke? Is it a sign of things to come? There are no huge obvious positions of need in New Orleans, though that defense has got to get better if they are going to compete come playoff time. While they could go for depth on the O-line, we think they might look to that defense first. OUR PICK: Linebacker is the best defensive position in this year’s draft, but it is also the area of least need for New Orleans. Defensive Tackle makes sense, and if Rocker is off the board, TCU’s Mitchell Benson is the best option here. MEMPHIS (10-6, Southern Div. Champion) NEEDS: DT, S, WR, CB, DE ANALYSIS: Memphis made a brilliant run all the way into the USFL Championship Game last season. They look poised to be a factor in the Southern Division for a while to come, but they still have some needs. While Reggie White is a monster outside, the inside of the D-line is susceptible to being gashed, as Houston’s Thurman Thomas proved in the championship game. They could also use a stronger, harder hitting strong safety, and they will have to figure out how to eventually replace Mel Gray at wideout. He is not getting any younger, and injuries may catch up to him soon. OUR PICK: If Memphis really wants a hard-hitting safety, you cannot find better than Miami Hurricane Bubba McDowell. HOUSTON (11-4-1, Wild Card, USFL Champion) NEEDS: TE, DE, LB, CB,QB ANALYSIS: With back-to-back championship appearances, it is clear that Houston does not need much to be a contender. We still think a solid TE would boost their offense, but we also know that Jack Pardee is never satisfied about the Houston D, even when it wins him a championship. If there were a clear 1st round pick at TE, we think Houston would go for him, but barring that, expect a defensive selection here. OUR PICK: Jeff Lageman would be solid here, if he is available. If not, and we think not, then we like the fit for Tennessee LB Keith DeLong. There you have it, our very shaky picks for the USFL Open Draft. With so much doubt about how teams will use the Territorial Draft, and with more and more college players making statements about USFL interest or disinterest, it is very likely we are more wrong than right with the picks, but we do expect a lot of these names to be on roster when the USFL season kicks off in March. Now we get to see who they are and if they sign.

Sporting News, August 14, 1988 This week the USFL’s 20 franchise ownership groups met in New York to discuss rule changes, league finances, and long term strategies. And while there were some adjustments made, some plans laid, and some issues debated, the biggest news did not come from the meetings of committees or the planned press events, it came from several hundreds of miles away in Cleveland, where Browns coach Marty Schottenheimer, flanked by representatives of the Baltimore Blitz franchise, announced he was leaving the Cleveland Browns and would take a position with the USFL’s Baltimore franchise. Negotiations between Schottenheimer and the Browns had been rough all offseason, but this late in the summer, with camps already in place across the NFL, it was always assumed that the rumors of Schottenheimer leaving the Browns were just a tactical ploy. Something went horribly wrong in Cleveland to cause a departure this late in the offseason. While it was all smiles on the podium, with Baltimore having snagged one of the most respected coaches in the NFL, there are clearly hurt feelings, real anger and frustration, and this is almost certainly going to spill over into NFL-USFL relations in General. The signing of players and coaches has always been a tricky process between the two leagues. On the one hand the offseason for the USFL begins just as NFL teams enter training camps, leading to free agent signings, often of NFL players holding out or expected to appear in camp with a new contract. Additionally the timing of the USFL’s college draft in late December angers both NFL teams and many NCAA head coaches as it means that seniors, and often juniors, have split attention going into bowl season. Of course this works both ways as the NFL free agency period and coach hiring season also corresponds with the latter portions of the USFL season, leading to players signing deals to leave USFL teams even as they play out the spring season with their soon-to-be former teams. It has always been awkward, and always had the potential for real conflict between the two leagues, but this is the first time when a high profile figure, a coach expected to be leading his team in drills during training camp, has jumped ship just before the NFL season was to start. The Browns, who contended for a Super Bowl berth last season before a shocking loss to the eventual league Champion Houston Oilers in the AFC Championship, quickly scrambled to fill the vacancy, promoting offensive coordinator and former Pittsburgh Maulers head coach Joe Pendry to the Head Coach position. Art Modell, owner of the Browns has been vocal in his disgust with how the process has been carried out, incensed that his efforts at coming to an agreement for a contract extension with Coach Schottenheimer were undermined by a competing offer from the USFL’s Blitz. “We believe we were close to a deal before those vultures flew in and swept Marty off” said the irate Mr. Modell. Fans in Cleveland are also furious, as they were one game away from the Super Bowl last year, losing on a miracle drive at in the final seconds by QB Warren Moon and the Oilers. Now, even with a very talented roster, they are looking at an interim coach and a lot of upheaval as camps are underway. “It’s tough. We undestand that Coach Schottenheimer had to look at all the offers, just as any of us would if we were not under contract, but we hate to see him go” said the team’s starting All-Pro QB Bernie Kosar. “We will bounce back, but this is a tough time to have to change leaders”, Kosar added. For their part the Blitz have said that the NFL’s Browns had nearly a year to sign Schottenheimer to an extension, and that when they approached the celebrated coach, he was more than open to discussions because the Browns had not come anywhere close to a contract that would be acceptable. Details of Coach Schottenheimer’s deal with the Blitz have not been confirmed, but it was well known that he was asking for over $3 million per year from the Browns during initial negotiations. It would not be surprising if the Blitz, eager to build some enthusiasm for a team that has missed the playoffs each of the last two years, to pay above market value for Schottenheimer and the boost he will bring to the franchise’s image and on-field performance. Others around the USFL, including several owners, have been welcoming of the signing in public, but off the record have expressed concern that the “cold war” truce between the two leagues may heat up after this signing. There are concerns that the NFL may more aggressively target top USFL talent, on the field and in the coaching ranks, as a result of a perceived “no holds barred” attitude by the USFL in the wake of this signing. While to date the NFL has not signed any USFL coaches to future deals while they were still under contract, and while several USFL players such as HB Arthur Whittington and QB Bobby Hebert have signed with NFL teams in lieu of resigning with their USFL teams, we have not seen the use of future contracts, offered mid-season, as a common NFL practice. Owners fear that this may change now, and that the USFL may find itself with star players viewing a USFL season or post-season as “playing out the string” until they move over to the senior league. It appears that the Blitz and the USFL have won this battle, but may have started a war. LEAGUE UPDATES As owners’ meetings go, this year’s USFL gathering was a relatively routine one. The biggest news was the announcement by Commissioner Simmons that the 1989 season would be his last in the role. Commissioner Simmons touted his accomplishments in navigating the often turbulent first 6 years of starting up a new league, balancing expansion and growth with solid financial policies, leading the USFL to a victory in their anti-trust lawsuit with the NFL, and reaching a point where well over half the USFL franchises are now seeing profits over the past 2-3 years (By latest count it is expected that 14 of the 20 USFL franchises made at least modest profits in the 1988 season.) The league has formed a subcommittee to find a replacement for Simmons, committed to the independence of the Commissioner, it has already been agreed that no principle team owner will be a candidate. Many expect the league to look either to its internal structures for a candidate, though there is also talk of bringing in a potential commissioner from the world of politics, television, or corporate law to manage the complex relationships between the USFL owners, and between the league and its growing pool of sponsors, television partners, and local authorities. In other league news coming from the owners’ meetings, the league approved continuation of its innovative instant replay policy by a 16-4 vote, allowing coaches to challenge 2 plays per game and expanding the allowance to include “judgement calls” such as defensive and offensive pass interference. The league also instituted an ejection policy for any player who commits either 2 unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a game or engages in what is described as “malicious conduct” which essentially boils down to throwing a punch during a melee or in any way physically engaging with a coach, referee or other field-level non-player. Finally, the league announced that beginning with the 1990 season, the USFL Championship would be renamed, though no name is as of yet decided upon. Until now the league has simply referred to the game as the “USFL Championship Game” and has used the same red, white and blue logo with the year and location changed each year. The league hopes to find a name for the annual July championship which conveys the energy and gravity of the event. It is anticipated as well that the USFL Championship Trophy, a gold-plated helmet atop a swooping silver base, will also be given an official name in time for the 1990 championship. That championship has not yet been given a location, as the league usually announces the championship location in 2 year cycles, with the 1989 game scheduled for the Pontiac Silver Dome in Michigan. It is rumored that Washington D.C., Orlando, and Memphis are all vying for the 1990 game as it is due to return to an Eastern Conference locale for 1990. TEAM NEWS Another story which gained traction during the USFL owners’ meeting was the plight of the Tampa Bay Bandits after the retirement of their All-USFL quarterback John Reaves. Rumors that the Bandits were pursuing NFL superstar Dan Marino were quickly squashed when Marino reupped with the Miami Dolphins on a new 5-year contract just as the owners’ meetings began this past Monday. Tampa is now rumored to be in discussions with several USFL teams, though it is not known if they are seeking to sign a young reserve QB such as Don Majkowski of Washington, Sean Salisbury of Houston, or Kelly Stouffer of Arizona, or if they are working to get a possible path towards drafting one of this year’s top QB prospects. All five of the top QB prospects coming out of college are within the territorial rights of other USFL squads, UCLA’s Troy Aikman with LA, Miami’s Steve Walsh with Orlando, Washington State’s Timm Rosenbach with Portland, Texas Tech’s Billy Joe Tolliver with Houston, and Wake Forest’s Mike Elkins with the Washington Federals. So if Tampa has their eyes set on one of these young stars, they will need to work out a trade to acquire the rights to that team’s first round terrritorial draft pick to ensure that the player is available to them. With Steve Young, Jim Kelly and Neil Lomax all looking like solid starters, the Bandits may find it possible to make headway with the Express, Gamblers and Feds, but there is value as well in signing a known commodity and a player with a couple of years of USFL experience already in place. It is a tough call for Coach Spurrier, and in the wings we have Oliver Luck, who played most of the 1988 season and who cannot be happy that his name is simply not part of the conversation being had among both fans and football pundits. Luck threw for 2734 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first major USFL action, but his arm strength and vision were both questioned and his talents do not seem a strong fit for the type of vertical game that Spurrier has preferred in his tenure with Tampa Bay. NEW LOOK FEDERALS As expected, the Washington Federals revealed their new look this week and it is a departure from their founding designs. Working with Russell Athletic and the USFL league office, the Federals have redesigned their eagle logo, increasing the connection between the eagle and the team’s “national” identity by creating a new eagle logo where the patriotic bird’s body morphs into a waving striped flag. The new logo also incorporates 3 stars, paralleling the three red stars found on the flag of the District of Columbia, but also, according to Federals staff, relating to the three pillars of Federals football: intensity, integrity, and ingenuity. That sounds like a marketing campaign to us, particularly for a team that does not exactly have a history of excellence to fall back on. The new logo makes use of an interesting artistic design feature in that, unlike most logos, the main colors, Washington’s traditional kelly green and black, are not separated as blocks of color but shift from one to the other, with the defining outlines along the head of the eagle in green, morphing to black by the end of the flag-like body. The same happens with the three stars, with the righ-most star in green, the left star in black, and the middle star in a half-way state. It is an interesting look, one which will be prominantly featured on the team’s new silver helmets. According to sources within the Federals’ marketing team, the team had considered upping their minimal use of silver for several years, and considered shifting to a silver helmet as early as 1984, but hesitated to do so due to the strong presence of silver in league helmets already (Tampa, Jacksonville, Memphis, Baltimore and Los Angeles already sport silver or metallic grey helmets). This year they were apparently ready to make the leap and join the large number of silver-clad teams, despite the potential confusion. It should be noted that with green jerseys the silver helmet and pants will still likely not cause an identity of confusion as no other USFL franchise sports green jerseys. Beyond the logo and the new silver pants and helmet, the uniform will look much the same as in past years, with kelly green jerseys and socks, trimmed in black. One can only hope that with the new look the Federals will find a new attitude and finally emerge from what has been a pretty dim history. As Coach Rutigliano stated “We have a new eagle, now it is time for us to soar.”

USA Today, August 3, 1988 With the USFL’s Summer Owners’ Meeting only a few days away, it has already been an eventful few weeks since Houston won their first championship. Free Agency has begun, and already there are some surprises as players are either retained or allowed to play the market, and we have had several retirement notices which will also impact teams. Two USFL franchises have new coaches in place and two teams have revealed new uniform packages with Russell Athletic, so a lot to discuss as we head towards the Owner’s Meetings. Let’s get to it. FREE AGENCY As expected, the NFL’s new collective bargaining agreements led to a lot of signings and resignings within their own ranks, creating a depressed free agency pool this summer and far fewer USFL signings. On the USFL end, teams invested in retaining their own players, so once again a depressed free agent market. There have been a few surprises among the players who chose to test the free agency waters, but, unlike past years, the inter-league swapping has so far been minimal. Here is what we have seen so far: USFL Movement Arizona HB and Kick Returner Vai Sikahema has signed with Philadelphia. Baltimore HB Calvin Murphy has signed with Birmingham Denver QB Craig Penrose has signed with Portland as a backup to Kerwin Bell. Houston HB Todd Fowler has signed with Orlando LA QB Mike Rae has signed with Tampa Bay. Michigan HB Bobby Morse has signed with New Jersey New Jersey HB Jamie Covington has signed with Jacksonville New Jersey CB Terry Daniels has signed with New Orleans Pittsburgh QB Glen Carano has signed with Texas Pittsburgh RB Stanford Jennings has signed with Portland Tampa Bay TE Sam Bowers has signed with Oakland Texas WR Richard Johnson has signed with Washington USFL to the NFL Arizona CB Nolan Cromwell has signed with the NFL's Phoenix Cardinals. Birmingham WR Jim Smith has signed a 1 year deal with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons Denver WR J.T. Smith has signed with the NFL's Cleveland Browns LA WR Mike Renfro has signed a 1 year contract back with the NFL Cowboys. Pittsburgh DT Alphonso Carreker has signed with the NFL's Denver Broncos Washington WR Mike Holmes has signed with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals Washington LB Cliff Odom has signed with the NFL's Houston Oilers NFL to the USFL San Diego Charger QB Mark Hermann has signed with Michigan Detroit Lion FB James Jones has signed with Orlando Pittsburgh Steeler WR Weegie Thompson has signed with Jacksonville San Diego Charger RT Jim Lachey has signed with Washington Kansas City Chiefs C Tom Baugh has signed with Chicago LA Raiders G Charley Hannah has signed with Portland San Diego Charger DE/DT Blaise Winter has signed with LA Chicago Bears LB Todd Bell has signed with New Jersey Miami Dolphin SS Glenn Blackwood has signed with Philadelphia Atlanta Falcon K Mick Luckhurst has signed with Arizona RETIREMENTS The USFL has also seen a significant wave of retirments announced this summer, including one legend sure to be honored should the USFL ever develop a Hall of Fame. A lot of leadership will be missed as the league replaces these savvy vets with younger players, but such is the nature of the game. Let’s look at the list of retirees first and then pay special tribute to one of the greats to help start the USFL on the path to success. ARZ: K Frank Corral DEN: LB Kyle Whittingham HOU: TE Victor Hicks & DE Francis Murphy NJ: QB Vince Ferrragamo NOR: DT Larry McCain OAK: CB Derrick Martin ORL: QB Todd Blackledge PHI: LB Sam Mills, SS Scott Woerner, FS Elmo Gardiner POR: LB Putt Choate, QB Fred Besana, and WR Frank Lockett TBY: QB John Reaves, LB Paul Plurowski, and DT Fred Nordgren While players like Putt Choate, Kyle Whittingham, Sam Mills and Fred Nordgren made their names in the USFL, and will certainly be missed in their respective locker rooms, and while Philadelphia must now look to replace three stalwarts on their top-rated defense, the retirement that has most rattled the league and caused a franchise to reassess their future is that of 5-time All-USFL quarterback John Reaves. Reaves, who spent almost the entire 1988 season on injured reserve, announced his retirement this past week, sending Tampa Bay and their fans into a deep funk as it became clear in this season that backup Oliver Luck is not ready to take up the mantle. Reaves was one of the league’s earliest stars, leading Tampa Bay to the first USFL Championship in 1983. He retires holding league records for career passing yards (21,667) and passing touchdowns (192). His 44 touchdown passes in 1985 remains the league record. He led the Bandits to the playoffs in every season in which he was the starter, and his decision making and accuracy on deep balls grew into legend within Steve Spurrier’s vertical attack. He was named League MVP in his 1983 championship season, and was an ALL-USFL selection every season until this year’s injury. In other words, he is a USFL legend and one of the brightest stars of the young league. He retires at the age of 38, leaving behind an appreciative fanbase and a now-troubling hole in the Bandits roster. Rumors have been swirling that both Orlando and Tampa have been negotiating with the NFL’s Dan Marino, perhaps a sign that Steve Spurrier was aware of the potential for Reaves’s departure. With Stan Gelbaugh signing with Pittsburgh, Oliver Luck remains the only QB on the Bandits roster, a hole which the team will have to fill and may need to make a big splash such as a Marino signing if they hope to rebound from their first non-playoff season in franchise history. COACH HIRINGS In addition to the recent announcement that Rollie Dotsch was stepping down from his position in Birmingham for health reasons, there are three additional openings for head coaches within the USFL. We know that Birmingham has moved DC Carl Reese into the interim head coach position, in hopes that Rollie Dotsch will return at some point later this year. We now have two additional coaches in place, with only Baltimore’s coaching situation to be sorted out (though the big rumor about possibly going after Cleveland Browns’ head man Marty Schottenheimer continues to be active in league circles). ARIZONA: The Wranglers have dipped into the college ranks to sign a former Pac-10 coach and QB Guru. Former USC Head Coach Ted Tollner, who as been serving as WR coach for the Buffalo Bills for the past year, has agreed to take on the challenge of building an offense around Robbie Bosco. Tollner, who led USC to a 26-20 record in 4 years, including a Rose Bowl victory over Ohio State in 1985, comes to Arizona with an offensive pedigree and a lot of enthusiasm about the combination of Bosco and Trumaine Johnson. Arizona has struggled to find wins despite having this dynamic duo in the offense, and the decision on defensive coaches and builiding up the defensive side of the ball this offeseason may be key to getting the Wranglers back in the playoff mix. JACKSONVILLE: Fans of Florida Head Coach Galen Hall may just be joining the Jacksonville bandwagon after the Bulls announced that Coach Hall would indeed be taking over for Lindy Infante as the Bulls’ head coach. Hall, who led the Gators to a 40-18-1 record and two bowl appearances in six years has been facing concerns about recruiting violations at Florida, and with pressure to replace the winning coach in Gainesville, Hall opted out of the remaining years of his contract with the Gator program and signed on as the new Head Coach up the road in Jacksonville. Hall is known for innovative offense and particularly for his ability to develop running back talent, certainly something that Bulls lead back George Adams has to be excited about. With the Bulls his job will be to continue to develop young signal caller Chris Miller, to add speed to both sides of the ball and to build up a defense that has been one of the league’s worst in recent years. So, we are left waiting for news from Baltimore. Will they steal away Marty Schottenheimer from the NFL or will they be looking at other options to take the helm of the Blitz? With Free Agency already in full swing, and with the draft quickly approaching, there is a lot to be done and the gap at Head Coach is not helping the Blitz get a leg up on the competition this offseason. NEW LOOKS While Baltimore has lagged behind in filling their coaching vacancy, the team was the first to reveal their new uniforms for 1989. In collaboration with Russell Athletic, three teams have announced that new looks are on the way. Baltimore’s and Birmingham’s were revealed this week, with Baltimore revealing the look on Monday to start off the design reveals. The new Baltimore Blitz look does not alter the team logo, but does bring some significant changes to the uniform. On Monday the Blitz revealed a new rendition of the Blitz’s familiar Red, White, Blue, and Silver look. Hoping to cash in on greater buy in from former Colts fans the new uniform swaps the red-dominant design for a blue-dominant look. The new jersey is royal blue with white sleeves and a red shoulder stripe, while the white uniform features blue sleeves and the same red stripe. The uniforms also add silver to the numbers as a second outline. To offset the blue jerseys, the Blitz will also swap their blue facemasks for red as they rebalance the colors across the uniform set. In Birmingham the changes to the uniform brought on by Russell Athletic are more subtle. White stripes surrounding the central red stripe on the helmet mirror the white outlining of the Stallion logo. The logo also now makes an appearance on the jersey’s as the team eliminates their 5-stripe sleeve pattern and uses the sleeve cuffs as the lone striping for the jersey. The other addition are white stripes on the gold pants (similar to the helmet) and gold stripes outlining the wide crimson stripe on the team’s white pants. The pants are designed to be paired with either the home or away jersey to provide 4 different looks for the team. Owner Marvin Warner commented that he did not want to move far from the identity that the fans in Birmingham have come to embrace, but that he likes the modest alterations that Russell Athletic has made, providing a recognizable, modern look for the Stallions. Washington is the third team on the docket for a new look, and rumors out of the team’s staff hint that a new logo may be part of the package for the Federals. Washington has been one of the trailing teams in merchandise sales, though much of that can be blamed on there somewhat unimpressive history of last-place finishes in the Atlantic Division. Perhaps a new look will inspire some wins or at least sell some more Lomax and Craig James jerseys. The Federals’ uniform reveal is expected to coincide with the owners’ meeting, so we should be reporting on it next week.