Sporting News, June 10, 1987 The USFL Executive Board in New York announced today the merger of the San Antonio Gunslingers and the Oklahoma Outlaws, to be engaged upon the completion of the current season in three weeks. The two clubs have struggled in this their first season as expansion franchises, not only on the field, but administratively and financially. The merger, which the league hopes will resolve some of the current issues around financial solvency as well as claims of mismanagement in San Antonio, as well as the issues regarding Mr. William Tatham, owner of the Oklahoma Outlaws, and his desire to find a more lucrative market for the club. The league has over the past month become significantly disillusioned with the management of the San Antonio franchise as claims of financial delinquency and mismanagement of league-provided shared revenue have plagued the fledgling franchise. Players have claimed that paychecks have been delayed or have been rejected for insufficient funds. Vendors have claimed much the same. The deal includes funding from the USFL’s general account, largely league-retained monies from the successful 1984 lawsuit against the NFL, as a temporary measure to complete the season. Following the season, the league will proctor the financial and logistical transfer, which will reduce San Antonio’s Clint Manges to a role as one of three minority owners, with one being the league itself, and with Oklahoma Outlaws owner William Tatham as the majority owner. The league will then reduce its ownership over the next 3 years until it no longer holds a stake in the franchise’s ownership. As for logistics, it is believed, though the league would not comment, that the franchise will retain San Antonio, Texas as its location, though a relocation may not be out of the question due to the known inadequacies of the Alamo Stadium in San Antonio. The market itself is a large and growing urban center, one the league feels is a solid growth market, and with plans already under way for a 60,000 seat domed stadium in San Antonio, the league is hoping it can arrange a favorable lease to move the franchise in 1990, when the stadium is slated to open. USFL officials were somewhat mum on exactly how they would go about designating which players from the two franchises would be retained for the 1988 season, though it is expected that a good number of players from both franchises would become members of the new joint franchise. When asked about the possibility of a 19-team format in 1988, league officials were confident in stating that the USFL would play with 20 franchises in 1988, but would not elaborate on how this would be achieved. Having selected San Antonio, Chicago, Orlando (originally Miami) and Oklahoma (originally San Diego) in last year’s expansion process, there are no fewer than 3 expansion ownership groups who were turned away, and it would be a somewhat direct path for the league to reach out to the bidding ownership groups which were turned away, which includes suitors representing Seattle, Portland (OR), and Atlanta. USFL Commissioner Chet Simmons announced that further developments in the merger of the two franchises would be announced within the month, and that this would include plans for a 20th franchise to round out the league for the 1988 season. For now, the announcement means that players and vendors in San Antonio will be paid for the remainder of the season, and that the next next two games for the Outlaws, against Michigan and Los Angeles, are likely to be the last at Skelly Stadium.

SCORES PIT 20 BLT 3 Baltimore’s Vince Evans looked very shaky against the oft-maligned Pittsburgh defense, while both Alan Risher and Mike Rozier had solid performances as Pittsburgh upset the Blitz, all but crushing any playoff hopes the squad held. In a game where Evans threw 3 interceptions and completed only 44% of his passes, the heavily scrutinized Alan Risher fare much better, completing 73% of his throws and tossing 2 scores. ORL 14 BIR 16 Birmingham built up a 16-3 lead in this game, and withstood a late surge by the Renegades to hold on for their 8th win of the year. Joe Cribbs had a solid day, though he was pinned behind the line for a safety on a rough series for the Stallions. Cribbs’s 117 yards included a 12 yard TD run in the 2nd quarter which helped Birimingham take a sizable lead in the game. In the 4th quarter, Reggie Collier found Curtis Bledsoe for a score, but then had to settle for a field goal, which pulled them within 2, but it was a lead they would never overcome. TBY 41 JAX 24 In a game that was highly competitive after 3 quarters, Tampa pulled away in the 4th, turning a 27-21 lead into an eventual 41-24 victory. Tampa scored every way imaginable, with 3 TD passes (2 from Reaves, 1 from Oliver Luck), a fumble return TD by Fred Stokes, a pick 6 TD from Mauricio Eggleston, and a Gary Anderson 78 yard run. DEN 24 ARZ 14 In a game that would cost Arizona QB Robbie Bosco the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, Denver locked up a winning season and a playoff berth by handling the Wranglers and backup QB, rookie Kelly Stouffer. Stouffer played just over 3 quarters after the Bosco injury, and while his play was solid, he was unable to match the more experienced Denver defense. OKL 7 OAK 37 Another rough game from Doug Williams and the Outlaws provided Oakland with a win to reach 8-5 and lock in at least a Wild Card spot in the playoffs this year. Brian Sipe threw for 4 scores but passed for only 137 on the day, allowing Arthur Whittington to lead the offense with 160 yards rushing against the tired and unmotivated Outlaw defense. HOU 28 CHI 7 Houston scored 21 in the first 20 minutes of action and then took their foot off the peddle against an overmatched Chicago squad. Jim Kelly would finish the day with 4 TD passes and 360 yards, while the combination of Houston rushers gained 108 as they slowed the game down in the second half. Chicago Head Coach Joe Bugel, after the game, stated that he may look at the third QB of the year for Chicago, Notre Dame rookie Steve Beurlein, after another forgettable performance by Todd Blackledge. SAN 14 NOR 40 Despite solid play from Tony Eason over the past few weeks, Coach Coury of New Orleans stuck to his word and gave Matt Robinson the start. The result was a 24-7 New Orleans lead, but also yet another injury to Robinson. This one may end his year. Tony Eason came in for the second half and helped New Orleans pad their lead against the Gunslingers. San Antonio QB Damon Allen continued to struggle, throwing another 3 picks in the game. PHI 16 LA 3 In another game where neither offense felt like they had a rhythm, the Stars did enough to win by 13, holding LA to 249 yards of total offense, while relying on Kelvin Bryant’s 104 yards on the ground to play keepaway from Steve Young. LA, which started the massive Christian Okoye at halfback, did not fare well, with Okoye averaging only 1.9 yards per carry against the stalwart Stars line. MEM 14 MGN 27 In the battle of the Williamses, Michigan’s John outrushed Memphis’s Richard 100 – 67 as the Panthers defense helped Michigan get a much needed win over the Showboats. It was the first loss of Memphis QB Mike Kelley’s season, though he did play well, throwing for 287 and 2 scores. It was not enough though as Memphis committed 10 penalties for 116 yards, costing them field position and several key third downs in the 13 point loss. GAME OF THE WEEK Washington Federals 30 New Jersey Generals 24 The Federals got another key divisional win in this, their best season to date, as they were prepared for the Ferragamo and Keith Byars combo which had surprised the Philadelphia Stars a week before. With both Doug Flutie and Herschel Walker pulled as game-time decisions, the Generals attempted to once again rely on their fullback and their backup QB, former Ram Vince Ferragamo, but the Federals were prepared for both. Ferragamo fared relatively well, throwing for all 3 General TD’s, but Keith Byars had a much harder day against Washington than against Philly last week, rushing for only 21 yards and receiving for another 28. For Washington the run game was equally ineffective as they were forced to sit Craig James and start rookie Alfred Jenkins. Once again the burden for the offense was placed on former St. Louis Cardinal Neil Lomax, and once again Lomax, the league’s second rated QB behind only Jim Kelly of Houston, came through. Lomax completed 20 of 27 passing, hitting on deep balls to Joey Walters and Webster Slaughter, or a total of 356 in the air. His longest pass of the day was actually one of his shortest. The first score of the game was a simple out route by TE Mark Bavaro, but when Bavaro delivered a decleating straight arm on the New Jersey safety, the sideline was his, and 71 yards later he carried another defender into the end zone to give Washington the 7-0 lead. New Jersey answered when Ferragamo hit Lam Jones for a score to start the 2nd. IT went back and forth with 2 more scoring tosses in the half, a 17-17 battle. In the second half, Lomax found Joey Walters for a 30 yard score, and then on two subsequent drives, Ray Wersching field goals built up a 30-17 lead for the Feds. Ferragamo would hit Brent Jones for a score with only 1:31 left in the game, but when the onside kick was covered by the Feds, the game was over and the Federals earned their 3rd division win of the year. They now trail New Jersey by only 1 game for the top wildcard seed, with both trailing 11-2 Philadelphia in the division. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK Two players outshone the others this week, one we almost have come to expect, Jim Kelly, who led Houston to an easy victory with 360 yards passing and 4 scores. The other is a less anticipated performer, Tampa Bay DE Fred Stokes, who wins the award largely for one amazing play. Stokes surprised Jacksonville QB Chris Miller with a stunt that left him unguarded. Rather than go for the body, he went for the ball, getting the sack, but also forcing the fumble, which he picked up himself, and rolled his way into the endzone for a game-shifting defensive score. Stokes’s play not only put Tampa Bay up by 13, it shifted the emotional tenor of the game for the Bandits. When the two teams came out at halftime, Tampa’s defense was “stoked” (sorry for the pun) and a close game became a comfortable Bandit win. PLAYOFF PICTURE This was a big week for clinching around the league. The 5 spots in the East are all settled as losses by all four 5-7 teams dropped them out of contention and locked in spots for the 8-5 Federals and Stallions. Washington and New Jersey have now clinched their first playoff berths in team history, while Philly, Tampa and Birmingham return to the dance once again. Over the next 3 weeks the fight will be to see which two teams play in the Wild Card play-in game. Right now it would be Birmingham and Washington, but a lot will depend on the next 3 weeks. In the West, it is not as cut and dry, though Houston, Michigan, Denver and Oakland are all in. The fifth spot will be a battle between New Orleans (6-7) and the two Pacific 5-8 teams (LA and Arizona). Arizona will have to go at this without their starting QB, Robbie Bosco, while New Orleans will have to rely on Tony Eason the rest of the way. Michigan and Houston are largely locked in, though the Panthers would like to avoid the play-in game if they can stay up on Oakland for the top WildCard spot. Oakland still has Denver in its sights, as the two clubs are both 5-1 in division and will face off in Week 15, likely for the division title. NEWS & NOTES At this time of year, playoff positioning is not the only competition we follow closely. There are a lot of players hoping to finish the year with a flourish and take home some incentive money and some awards. When we explore the individual player stats, we see that this year there are some close races and some blow outs as we head into the final weeks. PASSING: Jim Kelly’s almost certain MVP season has blown the competition out of the water. Not only is Kelly the QBR leader, but he leads Robbie Bosco (now out for the year) and John Reaves by over 600 yards for the yardage lead, and only Reaves is within 5 TD’s of Kelly’s lead. He should take home all 3 crowns. RUSHING: This has been a rotating lead all year. This week it is Oakland’s Whittington who has the lead with 1295 yards, but Joe Cribbs (1255) and Kelvin Bryant (1194) are also within striking distance for the rushing title. Bryant leads Whittington by 2 TD’s for the scoring lead among RB’s, but he would also like to regain the rushing title after finishing a disappointing 5th last year. RECEIVING: No one is going to catch Memphis’s Mel Gray for the receptions title. His 118 catch mark after 13 weeks is amazing considering the issues in Memphis. The next closest is Orlando’s Frank Lockett with 88. But, when it comes to yardage, the race is as close as any. Houston’s Ricky Sanders overtook Tampa’s Eric Truvillion by only 23 yards this week, after trailing much of the season. The two are the clear #1’s on the two top offenses this season. Sanders may actually be at a disadvantage as Houston has wrapped up the #1 seed in the Western Conference and Coach Pardee may opt to rest some folks in the final weeks of the year, while Tampa has to worry about Birmingham on one side, and Philly on the other, so it is unlikely that Steve Spurrier will take his foot off the gas pedal. DEFENSE: Oklahoma has not had much to cheer this year, but rookie Brian Bosworth’s 122 tackles is one accolade that is likely going to be celebrated. Bosworth leads Chicago’s Clay Matthews by 17 tackles, and Bosworth is almost certainly going to wrap up the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. In other defensive categories things are a lot tighter. Jacksonville’s Doug Greene broke a 5 way tie in interceptions with his 6th this week, but now there are 8 players one INT behind him, including LA’s Raphel Cherry, Washington’s Lester Lyles, and New Jersey’s Cliff Hicks. The sack leadership, won by former Blitz DE Junior Ah You all 4 seasons before this one, was seen as Reggie White’s to lose, and White is right in the hunt with 15 sacks, but he still trails Michigan’s Ronnie Paggett by 3 sacks with only 3 weeks to go. Knowing White’s motor, I would not want to be a QB facing the Showboats over these final 3 weeks. KICKING: Other than the QB competition, no statistical category has been as dominated wire to wire by one player than the kicking title. Philadelphia’s David Trout has been the points leader since the early weeks of the season and his 131 places him 17 points ahead of the closest competitor, Birmingham’s Scott Norwood. With Philly likely holding off New Jersey for the final weeks of the season, expect Trout to keep pace and possibly reach 150 points for the year. INJURY REPORT You already know the big stories of the week. Arizona loses Robbie Bosco for the rest of the year and will have to rely on rookie Kelly Stouffer down the stretch. New Orleans also loses Matt Robinson to a torn bicep muscle and will lean on Tony Eason to snag the final playoff position. Of immediate, but not long term concern, are injuries to John Reaves in Tampa (questionable this week) and Doug Flutie in New Jersey (again questionable). Craig James remains doubtful for the Feds this week and Arizona’s Trumaine Johnson will be questionable as well. LOOKING AHEAD Back to inter-division games for Week 13, as the 5 Eastern clubs head to the Southern Division while the 5 Central squads travel to face Pacific Division teams. This does not mean that there are not big games that will help to decide playoff positioning. The best game of the week is almost certainly going to be Philadelphia at Tampa, in a battle of titans with the #1 seed on the table. Oakland also cannot let up as they face a very tough Houston squad in NoCal while Denver has a much easier matchup against the Gunslingers at Mile High. New Orleans and Arizona clash in the desert, with one playoff spot still to be claimed. LA hopes to gain ground with a game at home against the Chicago Machine. Washington has to avoid a trap game against Jacksonville after their big win this week. In other games, Pittsburgh heads to Birmingham, New Jersey is in Orlando and Michigan heads to Oklahoma.

SCORES BLT 13 WSH 23 The Federals win a huge divisional game at home, as Neil Lomax throws for 323 and 2 scores to down the Blitz and push Washington to 7-5 and well in control of their playoff destiny. TE Mark Bavaro catches 6 for 79 yards to help open up the Blitz D for Walters, Holmes and Slaughter. BIR 20 TBY 17 Birimingham makes its case for playoff contention, knocking off the division leading Bandits in Tampa. Cribbs rushes for 12, and little used FB Michael Haddix plunges in from 1 yard out to give the Stallions a huge win in the rivalry game. The Stallions D also came up big, holding Tampa Bay to only 36 yards rushing and forcing John Reaves into 2 interceptions. JAX 17 MEM 31 Rookie QB Chris Miller looked a bit shellshocked as he faced off against Reggie White. Memphis would sack the young starter 5 times, with White recording 2 of them and forcing 2 fumbles as well. QB Mike Kelley won his third straight game as the Showboats signal caller despite a 3-interception day, as halfback Richard Williams bailed him out with 110 yards and 3 scores on the day. CHI 6 MGN 20 The Panthers get a much-needed win as they host the moribund Chicago Machine. Former Mauler QB Todd Blackledge again passes for under 150 yards and the Machine only rush for 31 yards on the day against the Panther defense. While the Maulers did get to Jack Trudeau 5 times, he was still able to lead the Panthers to victory over a Chicago club that just has no offense to speak of. HOU 48 SAN 6 For what seems the umpteenth time this season San Antonio is simply overwhelmed and loses in a blowout. Houston racked up 522 yards of total offense, with Jim Kelly throwing for 331 and 3 scores in only 2 quarters. Backup Sean Salisbury played the fourth and threw for another 99 despite playing clock killing football. ARZ 31 LA 16 Arizona shocks the uneven and inconsistent Express in Angel Stadium with 339 yards and 3 scores from Robbie Bosco. Neither team even tried to run the ball (25 total yards for ARZ, 60 for LA), but two Steve Young interceptions helped the Wranglers build up a 31-9 lead after 3. DEN 23 OKL 17 The Outlaws were game and Stump Mitchell had his best day in black and red, rushing for 120, but it was not enough. Denver’s Harry Sydney also had great success, rushing for 140 yards on the day, and Bob Gagliano found both Bill Brooks and Mark Carrier for scores as Denver eked out a 6-point win to secure their 8th win of the year and retain sole possession of 1st in the Pacific. PIT 14 OAK 24 Oakland kept pace one game behind Denver with a needed home win over the Maulers. Arthur Whittington contributed as always, 112 yards and a score, and Brian Sipe found Henry Ellard and rookie back Paul Palmer for scores to lead the Invaders to the W. ORL 17 NOR 37 Tony Eason had another of his good days, throwing for 277 and 4 scores against the depleted Renegade defense. Despite 104 yards from Curtis Bledsoe, the Renegades could not keep pace with Eason and the Breakers as TE Dan Ross caught 2 scores and Eason also found Noan Franz and Charlie Smith for scores. GAME OF THE WEEK New Jersey Generals 31 Philadelphia Stars 26 If I told you that the Generals would go into this game without Herschel Walker and that Doug Flutie would come out with an injury after only 1 quarter, you would not give New Jersey a chance in hell of beating the Stars at home. Well, you would be wrong. Coach Ray Perkins coached a masterful game, with two key decisions that helped New Jersey pull of the upset and win one of the most important games in team history. The first shrewd decision was made early in the week, when Perkins opted not to go with Jaime Covington as the lead back but moved fullback Keith Byars into the lead back role. It was a move not advertised and Philadelphia was not prepared for Byars. The fullback turned halfback would rush for 127 yards on 17 carries and also catch 3 balls for 31 in a performance that is the highlight of his young career. He did not find the endzone, but his elusive, yet powerful, running was the spark that ignited the Generals’ offense. The other decision was also key. When Doug Flutie went out near the end of the first quarter, and with the game tied at 7, Perkins turned to former LA Ram Vince Ferragamo, and rather than play it safe with a backup, he relied on Ferragamo’s gunslinging ways to go over the top on the Stars defense. Ferragamo replied with a “can’t lose” mentality. He found Lam Jones and TE Brent Jones deep on several well-designed play action 1st down plays, avoided 3rd and long, and did not throw a pick despite consistently looking deep first on passing downs. The success of Byars and Ferragamo was both unexpected and off-putting for the Stars defense, which gave up 412 yards on the day to the Generals. Philly’s offense kept the game close throughout, and when Chuck Fusina hit Tom Donovan for a game tying score midway through the 4th, many in Veterans’ Stadium saw another Stars late-game victory in the offing. Philly had relied on Fusina finding Mike Quick (120 yds), Donovan and TE Steve Folsom all day, but now it would come down to the defense. That defense was unable to stop a game-winning drive by New Jersey, a drive that ended with a perfect seam route by Brent Jones and a 44 yard TD from Ferragamo. For New Jersey, this victory represents the team’s apex, knocking off the perennial division champ in their own home, and proving that the team could win without Herschel Walker in the backfield. Walker is expected to return next week, but now, after seeing what Byars can do, Generals fans can feel confident that the team is not dependent on the former Georgia back to win games. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK We could easily give this week’s POTW to Keith Byars, or to Tony Eason for his solid day, but what we saw the Showboats D-line do to the Jacksonville Bulls deserves recognition. The lineup of DE’s Reggie White and Booker Reese, aided by DT’s Jose Lightner and James Wheeler, just shredded what is normally a solid Bulls protection scheme. The results against rookie QB Chris Miller were impressive. White recorded 2 sacks and would have had a third had Miller not attempted an ill-fated lateral to George Adams which resulted in a fumble. The Showboats recorded 5 total sacks, hit Miller another 9 times, caused early and poor throws from the rookie and just did not let up all game long. The effectiveness of the line mean that Memphis did not need to blitz, allowing for 7 players in coverage. The combination play, stunting and speed rush on display was a master class in how to disrupt blocking schemes. For those of us who love the strategy of line play, this was a symphony. For Chris Miller it was a nightmare. PLAYOFF PICTURE With four weeks left, things are beginning to get clearer, and we have our first confirmed playoff tickets booked. As expected, Houston has clinched the Central Division title, wresting it away from Michigan for the first time in the league’s history. Philadelphia has also clinched a playoff spot, despite the loss (thanks to the Blitz’s loss in DC) but is in a heated battle with New Jersey for the division title. Tampa is one win away from locking up a playoff spot, though the loss to Birmingham pulls the Stallions within 2 games of the Bandits. In the Pacific, Denver and Oakland are looking solid, but with 5 wins each, LA and Arizona are not entirely out of the hunt, particularly for the 3rd Wild Card. It does appear that the biggest drama will be for that 5th Wild Card in each conference. In the East we have Philly, New Jersey, Tampa all but locked in, with Washington and Birmingham in solid position. Baltimore has the advantage for the 5th spot, but there is a clump of teams at 5-7, essentially the rest of the Southern Division, that will try to compete with Baltimore to get it. In the West, Houston, Denver, Michigan and Oakland look like good bets to be in the dance, with the Panthers and Invaders holding 2 games on any contenders. So, that 5th spot becomes vital. New Orleans, Arizona and LA, all at 5-7, will be competing for that final slot over the next four weeks. Only one of them can get it. NEWS & NOTES While we are talking playoffs on one side of the league, on the other side we are talking about the hot seat. Which coaches are under pressure to show progress, to start winning, or to do something to show that they deserve another year to build their teams? With expansion teams at the bottom of their divisions, it is unlikely we will see a massive wave of firings on Black Monday, because we all knew that these four would struggle, but that does not mean that there is not pressure elsewhere. In New Orleans, Dick Coury has to show that he can do more with the Breakers than end up 8-8 and lose another first round playoff game. If the Breakers cannot win that final Wildcard spot, we expect the owners of the Breakers to give serious consideration to a change. This could mean trouble for both Dick Coury and QB Tony Eason, whose erratic play has been a thorn in the side of the franchise for 3 years now. In Pittsburgh talk of a one-and-done for Roman Gabriel is getting heated. The Maulers hired Gabriel from within after 1 year as Offensive Coordinator, and he has shown no ability yet to actually create offense. The Maulers would be last in the league in offense if not for the expansion clubs in Chicago, San Antonio and Oklahoma, and their defense is also one of the league’s worst. Memphis coach Vince Tobin was feeling the heat earlier this year, but a 3-game win streak and the apparent success of placing the offense in the hands of Mike Kelley likely has spared Tobin for another year. If Memphis can somehow catch Baltimore and snag a playoff spot, that would assure it. And after the show we saw from the Memphis D-line this week, Tobin can make a case that his defensive pedigree is beginning to take shape for the Showboats. While it might seem that coaches who have had success such as Jacksonville’s Lindy Infante or Balitmore’s Marv Levy might not be feeling the heat, disappointing finishes this year might just cause ownership to question whether their teams are heading in the right direction. Baltimore has been horrible on the road (1-5 vs. 5-1 at home) and the Bulls have lost 4 in a row after a promising start to the year. Coaching in pro football is very much a “what have you done for me lately” profession, so do not be shocked if an 8-8 season or worse in either city leads to a pink slip. INJURY REPORT The biggest injury of the week is likely Doug Flutie’s concussion, but while he is listed as questionable, it may come down to how comfortable Vince Ferragamo seems in practice. Flutie likely could play but won’t if Ferragamo looks good. It’s a big game against the Feds in DC, so if Flutie can play, we expect he will. Washington will miss one of their defensive keys, as LB Curtis Taliferro is out for the rest of the year with a fractured fibia. In Arizona, Trumaine Johnson is listed as questionable after suffering a rib injury this week, while in Philly, a deep thigh bruise could keep D Jumpy Gaethers out. Michigan is listing John Corker as probable after he had to leave the game this week with migraines. Oakland is expecting Mark Duper to be OK after taking a finger to the eye this past week, and finally, Jacksonville hopes to welcome Hassan Jones back to the lineup after a case of turf toe. LOOKING AHEAD When you get to this point of the year, every game matters, but with so many divisional matchups, it is like early playoff season around the USFL. In the East the big game is Federals-Generals, as both want this win badly to keep pace with Philadelphia. Baltimore has what should be a solid opportunity to go above .500 as they host the 2-10 Maulers. In Birmingham, the Stallions are hoping to knock off Orlando and are hoping to get some help from the Bulls, who host Tampa. Denver will try to extend its lead over Oakland with a road game in Arizona. While the Invaders have a good shot to catch up to the Gold if they can beat the Outlaws in Oakland-Alameda Stadium. Houston and Chicago have a 10-game difference in the standings, so we expect something ugly in Soldier Field this week. San Antonio are in New Orleans, where the Breakers need the win to stay in contention for a Wild Card. In inter-division games, the Stars head to Hollywood (well, Anaheim really) to face the Express, while the Showboats have a tough matchup in Michigan.

SCORES OKL 10 WSH 52 The homestanding Federals show absolutely no mercy against the Outlaws, building a 28-10 lead and then continuing the onslaught in the second half. Neil Lomax throws for 4 scores and Craig James rushes for 121 in a game that was never close. OAK 24 BLT 38 Vince Evans returns and solidifies his starting position with a 308-yard, 3 TD game against a solid Oakland team. Even Whittington’s 120 yards rushing could not keep pace with Baltimore in front of a rowdy Memorial Stadium crowd. LA 31 PIT 24 It was not an easy win for the Express, but it was a win nonetheless. Alan Risher played well, and Mike Rozier gashed the LA defense for 117 yards, but in the end the Pittsburgh D could not hold on to a tie and send the game to overtime, giving up a Young to Martin TD with less than a minute left as LA gets a much needed win. ARZ 10 PHI 23 Arizona’s defense played well, but their offense simply could not find the endzone against the Stars. Arizona outgained Philadelphia 312 to 244 for the game, but 3 David Trout field goals, and 2 key interceptions of Robbie Bosco helped Philly remain atop the Atlantic Division at 10-1. DEN 22 NJ 3 New Jersey dropped a game they could not afford to lose. It is clear that with Walker injured this is not the same team, as we saw earlier this season. Doug Flutie tried, perhaps too hard, to compensate for Walker’s absence, but his 2 interceptions were costly. Denver, led by the combo of Harry Sydney and Timmy Smith, controlled the pace of the game and a Vencie Glenn pick 6 at the end of the 4th put the game away for the Pacific Division leaders. SAN 14 TBY 31 San Antonio stunned Tampa by putting the first 14 points on the board on two excellent passes from Damon Allen to Carlos Carson (70 yards) and to Aubrey Matthews (28 yards) but the Bandits woke up, perhaps a bit late, and the momentum totally shifted as Tampa scored 31 unanswered points, shutting down San Antonio for the final 3 quarters and ending up with a 17-point victory. NOR 13 BIR 33 In a rivalry game that saw at least 20,000 Breaker fans make the trek to Legion Field, the home team proved the better squad on this day. New Orleans depends on their run game, and the Stallions new it. They stacked the line and held the Breakers to only 44 yards rushing on the day, forcing Tony Eason to beat them. His 3 interceptions proved he could not, and with Cliff Stoudt throwing for 2 scores and completing 67% of his passes, the Breakers simply could not keep pace. CHI 7 MEM 31 Another horrific day for the Chicago offense as they muster only 180 total yards of offense to Memphis’s 422. Mike Kelley is making a serious bid for the starting job in Memphis, hitting on 27 of 44 passing for 321 and 2 scores. The ageless Mel Gray caught 10 of those balls for 156 yards and both scores. Meanwhile, Todd Blackledge had an unremarkable day, completing 50% of his passes but for only 166 yards. He was not helped by the absence of Albert Bentley, as backup Johnnie Jones rushed 16 times for only 13 yards against a usually porous Memphis defense. HOU 16 JAX 13 On a rainy day in North Florida, the weather and the Bulls defense kept Jim Kelly’s offense contained, but the same could be said for Jacksonville’s offense facing the #1 ranked Gambler D. Chris Miller looked solid in the start, but Houston focused on limiting George Adams and kept him to only 64 yards on the ground. The Bulls, holding a 13-10 lead after 3, held Houston out of the endzone on two key 4th quarter drives, but could not stop K Dave Jacobs from earning the Gambler win with two field goals. GAME OF THE WEEK Michigan Panthers 10 Orlando Renegades 11 In another rain-soaked game, the Renegades break their 6-game losing streak and shock a deflated and desperate Michigan Panther squad. Both defenses, aided by monsoon like conditions, kept the other from mounting much of an offense. Orlando’s Reggie Collier threw for only 89 yards as wind and rain made passing all but impossible. Jack Trudeau fared a bit better, tossing for 168, but also seeing two balls go astray and end up in Renegade hands. One of those tosses proved the difference as the Panthers, milking a 10-5 lead as the 4th quarter began, saw it all go up in smoke as a ball slipped through Derek Holloway’s hands into those of Renegade rookie CB Melvin Jenkins, who ran it back 41 yards for the ‘Gades’s only TD on the day, a winning TD in a game decided by 1 point. This was not a game that is going to make anyone in Orlando feel that the Renegades are back on track, but for Panther fans this one has to be rock bottom for a team so used to winning. The press back in Detroit may place the blame on horrible weather conditions, but at the end of the day the highly favored Panthers simply could not do what needed to be done to win the game. Following the Renegade pick-6 touchdown, Michigan had two additional chances to get into field goal range, and both times Jack Trudeau and the offense sputtered and stalled, including a horrible call, a draw play on 4th and 6, that fooled no one on Michigan’s final drive. For Orlando, the win brings them to 5-6 and technically in the hunt for a Wild Card, while for Michigan, the loss means that they are now well out of realistic range to catch Houston and may even be in danger of missing the playoffs altogether. Panther fans knew that losing Bobby Hebert to the NFL would hurt, but even the most pessimistic likely did not see this season, or today’s loss, as possible. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK This week Vince Evans did his all to put the question of a QB controversy to rest, showing the dual threat potential for the Baltimore offense. Not only was Evans an efficient and dangerous passer, completing 62% of his passes for 308 yards against the Oakland defense, but he was also the team’s leading rusher. His 66 yards on 10 carries outpaced the still-somewhat gimpy Tim Spencer, who only gained 49 yards on 13 carries. Evans was hot from the start, hitting Stanley Morgan with a 53-yard bomb on the Blitz’s first drive and then following that up on their next possession by driving the Blitz down to the 10 before finding Jerry Malcom for his second score on the day. In the 2nd quarter he dove in from 1 out for his own TD, and then in the 4th he found Stanley Morgan again to salt away the win for the Blitz. Baltimore will need Evans to be at the top of his game the rest of the way, as their 6-5 record is still in the Wild Card mix, but by no means comfortable. The Blitz have been up and down all year and they need Evans to provide solid leadership down the stretch to avoid a win-lose-win-lose erratic record. PLAYOFF PICTURE With 5 games left, there is still a lot on the line and almost nothing is guaranteed. What we do know is that only the Central Division looks wrapped up. Houston has a 4-game lead on Michigan with only 5 to play, so all they need is 1 win or 1 Michigan loss to wrap up their first division title. Tampa is next up, with a 3-game lead over a resurgent Birmingham. 2 wins or a combo of a win and a Stallion loss will give Tampa the Southern Title. In the Atlantic we have a two-horse race between 10-1 Philly and 8-3 New Jersey. The two battle at Veterans Stadium this week and if Philly can win their home game it may be enough to settle the matter, but a Generals victory and we are going down to the wire. Behind them in the Eastern Conference we have a cluster of teams looking to secure wildcard spots. Baltimore, Washington, and Birmingham are all 6-5 and both Jacksonville and Orlando are only a game behind that. In the Pacific Division, as usual, we have greater parity. Denver holds a 1 game lead over Oakland, and LA is only a game behind that. It is possible for all 3 to get playoff spots, especially with Michigan slumping right now. With 3 Wildcards in play, even if Michigan takes one, there are 2 more to have, and the two teams who do not win the Pacific title could still get in as they remain ahead of three 4-win teams (Arizona, New Orleans and San Antonio). This week’s matchup between Arizona and LA could end any hopes for the Wranglers and all but guarantee the 3 Pacific teams a playoff shot. NEWS & NOTES This may seem like an odd time to discuss potential retirements but rumors out of San Antonio that Rick Neuheisel may be considering stepping away from the game have a lot of folks looking at their own teams to see who may opt out for next year. In Neuheisel’s case, a career hampered by significant injuries each season, and a lack of enthusiasm playing for the financially troubled Gunslingers may be enough to cause the 28-year-old to call it quits earlier than most, but there are some other USFL stars who are getting on in years and whose productivity has slipped, so retirement may not be out of the question. Birmingham WR Jim Smith will be 34 next year, and he has definitely lost favor behind Ernest Givens for the Stallions. Denver’s two starting tackles are both 33 and have seen some miles on them. Houston SS Keith Moody turns 35 this year, but still seems to be at the top of his game for the top Gambler defense. Mel Gray is lighting up the league, leading in targets and catches, but he has a lot of miles on those legs and his lack of breakaway speed has been noticed by defenders. In New Orleans, the Breakers brought in 34-year-old Joe Ferguson, despite his 87 year old knees, to mentor Tony Eason. If, as rumors suggest, the Eason years may be over in New Orleans, it may also mean that Ferguson may shift from on-field coach to off-field coach for 1988. Meanwhile in Philly, Chuck Fusina, despite being one of the oldest players in the league, still looks like he has a solid grasp of the offense and has remained largely injury free this year, boding well for next year. The same could be said for John Reaves, who looks as good as ever. The biggest and perhaps toughest decision may be that of Brian Sipe. The 1986 MVP has looked a lot shakier this year and many fear that he has reached the dreaded “cliff” when solid players suddenly dip significantly in their productivity. Oakland is not talking about the issue openly, but off the record there are some who are wondering if backup Gale Gilbert might not be a better option in 1988. INJURY REPORT Chicago gets another blow to their season as their lead back, Albert Bentley is out for the rest of the season with a torn abdominal muscle. The core injury could take 2-3 months to heal, so Johnnie Jones may be Chicago’s option moving forward. Oklahoma TE Mike Tice will be out at least 2 weeks after getting hit across the face and fracturing his jaw. New Orleans will likely be without QB Matt Robinson at least one more week and New Jersey’s Herschel Walker is listed as questionable for the big game this week against Philadelphia. Among those likely to return to action this week are Tampa HB Gary Anderson (hairline fracture in last week’s game), New Orleans wideout Nolan Franz (sprained wrist) and Michigan wideout Anthony Carter (strained quad in the rain in Orlando). LOOKING AHEAD Back to divisional play as we head down the stretch in Week 12. Baltimore and Washington face off in what may be a decisive game within the Atlantic for Wild Card consideration. Can the Federals win an important division game for once? In Philly, the Stars have to face their toughest rival, as New Jersey hopes to have Herschel Walker back for the big matchup. In Tampa, the Birmingham Stallions will try to draw closer to a playoff berth if they can upset the Bandits. Memphis and Jacksonville still have slim playoff hopes, but only the winner of this game can stay relevant. Michigan hopes to rebound with a very winnable game at home against Chicago, while the Battle of Texas takes place in San Antonio between the Gamblers and the Gunslingers. Arizona and LA are two more teams with only slim playoff hopes, so it’s a must win game at Angel Stadium. Denver heads to Oklahoma hoping to get their 8th win of the year. In Inter-divisional play, the Maulers are in Oakland, while Orlando heads to the Crescent City to face the Breakers.

Is 1987 ushering in a new wave of contenders? Is Michigan a shell of its former self? Are New Jersey, Houston and Washington for real? Week 10 seems to say yes to all these questions. SCORES NJ 24 BLT 16 Doug Flutie throws 2 TDs and the NJ defense shuts down a Tim Spencer-less Blitz run game to lock in a 6th straight win for the Generals. Despite the loss, rookie Eric Kramer throws for 302 yards replacing the injured Vince Evans. PIT 21 PHI 30 The Maulers put a bit of a scare into Philadelphia, but 107 yards and 2 scores from Kelvin Bryant, along with 3 David Trout 2nd half field goals give the Stars what they need to hold off Pittsburgh and keep a game up in the Atlantic Division. JAX 27 BIR 41 Birmingham explodes for 21 points in the 4th quarter as they outpace the Bulls. Jacksonville rookie Chris Miller got the start and completed 77% of his passes fro 359 but also threw 2 costly interceptions. Birmingham rookie Brent Fullwood had his best game of the year, scoring twice, including a stunning 63 yard rush on his first carry of the game. ORL 20 MEM 27 Memphis switched things up at QB and Mike Kelley earned his first USFL win with a solid 2 TD game to lead the Showboats over the spiraling Showboats. Curtis Bledsoe returned for Memphis, but was held to 3.2 yards per carry by the Memphis defense. SAN 34 CHI 10 Chicago’ scoring woes returned as Todd Blackledge looked helpless, completing only 7 of 36 pass attempts. Damon Allen fared much better, throwing for 2 scores and helped by Scott Stamper’s solid 92 yards and 2 scores. Putt Choate led the defense with 7 tackles and a key forced fumble. OAK 31 LA 20 Oakland knew they needed this one, and they got it. Arthur Whittington rushed for 118 yards and 2 scores, while the Invaders D was able to contain LA despite rookie Christian Okoye’s 89 yards rushing. The win moves Oakland back into a tie for first in the Pacific. OKL 16 ARZ 27 A solid win for Arizona, and a good day for Robbie Bosco, who threw for 267 and 3 scores. Doug Williams threw for 318, but the Outlaws could not get points on several key drives,due in part to 75 yards of penalties and a 3 for 14 record on third down. HOU 45 WSH 24 Houston solidified their position as a Championship favorite with a thorough dismantling of the Federals. Kelly throws for 3 scores, and Todd Fowler has one of his best days, rushing for 78 and 2 scores. Neil Lomax tries to keep pace with 288 yards and 3 scores of his own, but Houston’s D also sacked him 5 times in the game. DEN 27 TBY 42 Tampa pulls away in the second half thanks to 28 consecutive points (3 Reaves TD’s and a pick 6 from Milton Mack). Reaves would throw 5 TD’s on the day to win Offensive Player of the Week. Truvillion, Collinsworth and TE Chris Kelley all go over 100 yards receiving in the game. GAME OF THE WEEK New Orleans Breakers 30 Michigan Panthers 20 We are not sure if this is a sign that the Breakers are turning things around or a sign that Michigan may be losing some of their edge. The New Orleans D, which has been unremarkable all year, came out strong this week, holding Michigan to 2 of 10 on third down, sacking Jack Trudeau 4 times and limiting John Williams to 56 yards rushing. On offense, the day again belonged to the Breakers run game. Marcus Dupree had 21 carries for a respectable 80 yards, but backup Dalton Hilliard stole the show, rushing for 129 yards on only 13 carries, including a tackle-busting, rumble of 53 yards in the 2nd quarter to help New Orleans take the lead for good. On a day when Michigan looked vulnerable, Jack Trudeau spent a good part of the day avoiding a vicious pass rush, one that caught him 4 times, including once for a safety. He would complete only 55% of his passes and gain only 218 yards. Tony Eason, who was benched earlier this year for Matt Robinson, had a solid game, completing 68% of his passes for 212 yards and 3 scores, but the star of the game was the run game, which when it is on its game is perhaps the most dynamic in the league. With the win, New Orleans at 4-6 finds itself in a pack of teams with the same record, all vying for the 5th and final Wild Card slot in the conference. This is a position the Breakers have found themselves in nearly every season, scrapping for the lowest playoff seed. With the loss, Michigan is now 3 games behind Houston and all hopes of yet another division title are fading. Michigan, for the first time in years, may be looking at playing any playoff games on the road. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK Denver’s defense is no cupcake, so for Tampa Bay’s John Reaves to throw for 420 yards and 5 touchdowns is a major coup for the veteran signal caller. Reaves was on fire this week, sending 3 different receivers over 100 yards for the day, all three also finding the endzone. Reaves threw a good number of short to mid-range passes, but also hit both Truvillion and TE Chris Kelley with a couple of beautifully thrown long balls, including a 75 yard gamechanger to Kelley on their first play of the 2nd half to stun Denver. Reaves may have the best Bandits team since 1983 around him. Standing at 8-2, Tampa is still 1 game behind Philadelphia for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but John Reaves seems eager to overtake the Stars and play some home playoff games this season. PLAYOFF PICTURE Speaking of the playoffs, it may be a bit early for anyone to clinch, but a clear picture is emerging. Tampa Bay (8-2) has a solid 3 game lead over Birmingham and Jacksonville (both 5-5). Houston (9-1), shockingly, has the same lead over a 6-4 Michigan squad. In the East it looks like Philly (9-1) and New Jersey (8-2) will battle to the end, as both are well ahead of Baltimore and Washington (both 5-5), while out west it is still close with 2 clubs (Denver and Oakland) at 6-4 and two more (LA and Arizona) at 4-6. Looking at the Wild Cards, in the East it looks like the four teams at 5-5 (BLT, WSH, BIR, JAX) will battle over 2 playoff spots. Out West we expect that both Houston and Michigan will be in, which leaves 3 spots for the Pacific Division winner and 2 teams from the 6-4 and 4-6 cluster. That means that San Antonio, New Orleans, LA and Arizona are likely to battle for a spot down to the wire. A lot of teams playing a lot of meaningful football late in the year is exactly what the USFL wants to see and this year it seems they will get their wish. NEWS & NOTES It has been a while since we talked of attendance, so let’s take a look at where things stand after 10 weeks. As you might expect, winning fills the seats, while prolonged losing streaks definitely kill the buzz. At the bottom of the league attendance numbers are San Antonio (20,765), whose stadium can only hold 24,000 when sold out, and Pittsburgh (20,781) whose fans are growing tired after 4 years of mostly forgettable play by the Maulers. In good news for the league, the only other team below 25,000 average is Oklahoma, and, as discussed last week, there are clear reasons why fans are not flocking to Skelly Stadium. On the other end of the spectrum, league attendance leaders include Philly (45,954), Baltimore (45,197), the resurgent Generals (44,884), Jacksonville (44,534), Tampa (43,771) and New Orleans (43,103). The league can boast a total of 9 teams averaging over 40k and another 4 at or around 35k. That is a good position for the league to be in. As we move into summer, expect some melt in cities like Chicago and Memphis, while we hope to see numbers improve in places like Houston, Denver, Oakland and other contenders gearing up for the playoffs. The league, if it can solve its San Antonio and Oklahoma issues, and if Chicago can show improvement leading into 1988, could be in a solid position towards profitability. TV numbers remain strong, despite spring NBA and NHL playoffs, March Madness and other distractions. Sponsorship is solid, and most clubs are managing the salary cap pretty well. Players are coming to the USFL for exposure and a chance to play, and salaries are competitive with the NFL, which may be in trouble with a CBA in dispute and a potential strike by the NFLPA this fall. Were that to happen, the USFL, with solid relations between players and management through the USFLPA, might benefit significantly. INJURY REPORT A good week for the league, injury wise, as no major injuries were reported. It is week 10 so there are a lot of aches and bruises to go around, but with no new injury reserve moves, and only a few players expected to miss action, there is generally good health around the league. Of the walking wounded, Herschel Walker is perhaps the biggest concern. He has apparently aggravated an older hip injury and is listed as doubtful for week 11, but team doctors say that they do not see a major issue and he should be back in 2 weeks. Pittsburgh receiver Danny Buggs may also be out a week with a concussion, while several key players are expected to walk off recent injuries and return to action, among them Orlando SS Bill Bates and New Orleans CB Gene Atkins. Vince Evans is also expected to return, sending Eric Kramer back to the bench after 2 weeks of solid play. LOOKING AHEAD Week 11 is an inter-conference week, with no divisional games. Among the key clashes for playoff position we find 6-4 Oakland at 5-5 Baltimore, 6-4 Denver at 8-2 New Jersey, 4-6 New Orleans at 5-5 Birmingham, 6-4 Michigan at 4-6 Orlando, and 4-6 San Antonio at 8-2 Tampa. Games that perhaps won’t be as attractive to TV audiences include 2-8 Oklahoma traveling to 5-5 Washington, 4-6 LA at 2-8 Pittsburgh, 4-6 Arizona at 9-1 Philadelphia, 9-1 Houston at 5-5 Jacksonville, and our stinker of the week, 1-9 Chicago at 3-7 Memphis.

Two big upsets mark week 9 as the Chicago Machine score their first win of the year and the Pittsburgh Maulers stun the Bulls as part of a 5-0 sweep of the Southern Division by the Atlantic. SCORES ORL 17 BLT 28 Another week another backup QB comes in and impresses. With Vince Evans out of the game, Baltimore’s Eric Kramer was called in to play and went 11 for 14 with 2 scores to lead the Blitz over the Renegades at home. Reggie Collier’s 3 interceptions did not help the cause for Orlando, in a game where both teams were missing their leading rushers. TBY 21 NJ 38 People are beginning to believe in the Generals after another impressive win over top level competition. Walker had 95 yards and 3 scores, and the Generals’ D picked off John Reaves 3 times to secure a pretty comfortable 17-point win. BIR 13 PHI 24 Birmingham’s 4 game win streak ends as they run into a buzzsaw in Philly. Kelvin Bryant’s 132 yards was enough to overcome 3 Chuck Fusina picks as the Stars get the home victory. Joe Cribbs was also impressive, rushing for 144 on only 20 carries, but it was just not enough against a Stars defense that bent but did not break, holding Birmingham without an offensive TD on the day. JAX 14 PIT 28 If Ed Luther wants to hold onto the starting job, he cannot have more days like this one. Against a poorly rated Pittsburgh D, Luther threw 2 costly interceptions. The Bulls D did not help either as Alan Risher was able to find holes and avoid pressure to throw for 3 scores in the upset win for the Maulers. MEM 20 WSH 24 Washington completes the Atlantic sweep of the Southern Division with a 4th quarter comeback to knock off the Showboats. Once again Neil Lomax waits for drama time in the 4th to shine, hitting Webster Slaughter and Mike Holmes with late scores to steal a win. OKL 16 HOU 38 The Outlaws were outmatched and outgunned by the Gamblers as Jim Kelly goes off for 447 yards passing and 5 TDs. HB Todd Fowler, in addition to leading the rushing attack with 15 carries, also catches 6 for 99 yards and 2 scores as Oklahoma tried to contain Ricky Sanders, leaving others open. ARZ 6 MGN 20 Michigan’s defense won the day, containing Robbie Bosco and limiting the Wranglers to 278 total yards of offense. Meanwhile the deep ball was working as Jack Trudeau completed only 14 passes but gained 323 through the air, including a 56-yard score by Holloway and a 63 yard completion to Carter. DEN 26 NOR 17 Denver consolidated its spot as a Pacific Division frontrunner with a tough road win in New Orleans. The combo of Harry Sydney and Timmy Smith again helped lead the way, rushing for a combined 97 yards, while the defense forced Tony Eason into 2 interceptions and garnered 4 sacks on the day. LA 31 SAN 14 The Express got back in the win column with a solid performance against the expansion Gunslingers. Steve Young was hot, throwing for 330 and 4 scores against an outmatched San Antonio secondary. Mel Renfro, usually relegated to special teams and the slot, had a great game, catching 6 balls for 80 yards and 2 scores. The bright spot for the Gunslingers was Carlos Carson, who caught 8 balls from Damon Allen for 127 yards and a score. GAME OF THE WEEK Oakland Invaders 14 Chicago Machine 23 Sure, it was not the closest or most dramatic game, but after 8 straight losses to start out their inaugural season you have to give this one to Chicago on the occasion of their first franchise win. Despite being outgained both in the air and on the ground, Chicago found a way to win behind a stingy defense and a solid day for HB Albert Bentley. The former Invader decided to show his old team just what they missed out on, rushing for 96 yards and a score, an exact match of Arthur Whittington’s performance on the day. Todd Blackledge only completed 41% of his throws, but avoided turnovers, whereas Brian Sipe, who has been struggling of late, threw two picks and only accounted for 188 yards passing against the Chicago D. One of those Sipe picks was the catalyst for Chicago’s whole day, as CB Woodrow Wilson ran back an errant Sipe throw for a pick 6 to start the 2nd quarter. After that the Chicago D was fired up. LB Gary Reasons had 10 tackles on the day, containing the Oakland run game, while Clay Matthews harassed both receivers and QB Brian Sipe. Oakland would go only 3 of 13 on 3rd down, and their 9 penalties, including several holding calls against Chicago blitzes, would hinder their offense. It was not a pretty game, and it was held in front of a sparse crowd of only 17,344 in Soldier Field, but those that were there got to cheer on a Chicago victory for the first time in 2 years. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK What can we say about the year that Jim Kelly is having that has not been said already? Against the clearly unprepared defense of the Outlaws, Kelly demonstrated why he is the clear frontrunner for MVP this season. Throwing for 5 scores, to 3 different receivers, including HB Todd Fowler twice, Kelly was at the top of his game against the Outlaws. Completing 74% of his throws on a day when the run game was adequate but not intimidating (it rarely is for Houston), Kelly showed full command of Houston’s fast-paced offense. Only in the late stages of the game did the Gamblers slow down their play-to-play timing, a mercy shown to the Outlaws’ gassed defenders. The Outlaws tried to limit WR Ricky Sanders with a lot of rolled zones and double coverage, and while Sanders was held to only 4 catches, we should acknowledge that one of them was a 51-yard scoring toss from Kelly that took the roof off the Astrodome. Kelly is on pace for over 40 TD passes this year and now leads the league in QBR after today’s performance. NEWS & NOTES I think we all expect expansion teams to have some struggles, but usually these are on-field issues. But this year in the USFL we have two expansion clubs that are dealing with off-field situations that can only distract the team. In Oklahoma it is well known that owner William Tatham is still unhappy with the idea of owning a team in Tulsa. A lot of the Outlaws’ attendance woes can be blamed not on the 2-win season they are currently enduring, but on the constant stories in local press about Tatham speaking with stadium groups and local authorities around the country, trying to peddle the Outlaws for relocation. So far there are no takers, but the process alone is leading many within the USFL to rethink the franchise altogether. Meanwhile in San Antonio, attendance has been solid even as the Gunslingers have slumped after a 3-2 start. Fans in Texas expected the team to need time to build, and the Alamo City has embraced the team, even if tiny Alamo Stadium is not an ideal venue. And yet there is clearly trouble in the Alamo City. Players have begun to become vocal about financial issues. Paychecks are not forthcoming, or if they are, players are asked to drive to a small rural bank to obtain their pay, leading to a sort of Cannonball Run from San Antonio to the bank each week. Vendors and team partners are also complaining about delayed or delinquent payments. There are also rumors that owner Clint Manges is under state investigation for potential financial malfeasance. Our answer, merge the Outlaws and Gunslingers. William Tatham is well financed, but looking for a new city, San Antonio is welcoming the Gunslingers, but their owner seems to have overrepresented his finances. A merger between the two franchises seems a natural fit. Sure, it would bring the league down to only 19 teams, but an expansion team from the bids not chosen last year could be brought in to keep the league at an even 20. A merged Gunslinger team would instantly be more competitive, and it would solve the two nagging issues that seem to be holding both teams down. Of course, that assumes that the egos of Tatham and Manges can handle the thought of working together, but, if they get on each other’s nerves, perhaps the team could be called the Inlaws. Seems appropriate. INJURY REPORT While Eric Kramer looked good for the Blitz, losing Vince Evans was not part of Baltimore’s plan. The good news is that the concussion which created a visibly woozy Evans on the sideline will likely only cost the Blitz one more week of his services. The same cannot be said for Blitz HB Tim Spencer, whose hand injury is not healing the way the doctors would like to see. Spencer may have to opt for surgery which would hold him out for at least 2 months, or he could try to play with a special glove to minimize lateral movement. Neither option sounds good for the Blitz back. Some players we may see back in action in week 10 include Orlando HB Curtis Bledsoe, NJ Safety Gary Barbaro, Birmingham TE Trey Junkin, Houston LB Johnny holland, Michigan HB John Williams, and LA linebacker Niko Noga. LOOKING AHEAD Some intriguing matchups in a heavy divisional game Week 10. New Jersey heads to Baltimore to face the Blitz, while Philly gets their cross-state rivals, Pittsburgh in Veteran’s Stadium. Jacksonville will test Ed Luther again as they face the Stallions in Birmingham. Orlando tries to snap their 5-game losing streak against 2-win Memphis. Chicago has a shot to go back-to-back as they face a beleaguered San Antonio squad, while New Orleans has the unenviable task of playing the Panthers in the Silverdome. Oakland and LA spark their cross-state rivalry in Angel Stadium, while Oklahoma heads out to the desert to face the Wranglers. In inter-division play, the Feds try to contain Jim Kelly and the Gamblers at RFK, while Denver heads down South to face the Tampa Bay Bandits.

Sporting News May 6, 1987 Half way through the USFL season, four new teams, lots of new faces, and a lot of excitement this year as it feels a little like the old order might be shifting and new contenders coming to the forefront. After eight weeks we have no undefeated teams, and of the expansion clubs, only Chicago has failed to register a win yet. We have new stars in QB Neil Lomax, HB Stump Mitchell and rookie LB Brian Bosworth, and we have drama, with quarterback controversy in Jacksonville, and longtime playoff regulars being challenged by new upstarts. It’s a year with a lot to offer and a lot still to be decided. As we look at where things stand for the USFL’s 20 franchises, let’s celebrate another exciting and engaging season. THE LEADERS OF THE PACK These are the teams that seem to have it all together. Whether they have unstoppable offenses or immovable defenses, there is something special about these teams and likely a deep playoff run in their future. PHILADELPHIA (7-1) Oceans rise, empires fall, and the Stars make the playoffs. That has been a pretty solid bet over the past 4 years, and this year does not seem to be any different. The consistency and quality of the Stars over their USFL existence has been astounding. And it’s the same old leaders doing the heavy lifting, Fusina and Bryant on offense, Mills and Fuller on defense. The biggest new addition, WR Mike Quick, has stepped right in. He is not destroying the league, but his 600 yards and 37 catches are leading the team and helping others, like Gerald Phelan and Steve Folsom find open spots. Philadlelphia is being challenged this year, not only by the Blitz, but by much improved squads in DC and New Jersey, so it won’t be a cakewalk, but these are the Stars, so one way or another they will play postseason football. HOUSTON (7-1) The revelation of the season, after 3 straight 7-9 seasons, the Gamblers have found the formula that has pushed them over the hump and given them a 2 game lead in the usually Michigan-dominated Central Division. The key has been a combo of stifling defense (allowing an average of only 13.6 points per game) and a quick huddle, sometimes no huddle, offense, led by leading MVP candidate Jim Kelly. After 3 years of only marginal success, Kelly has matured, and the offense is finally catering to his gunslinging style. They are first in the league in both total yards and passing yards, and when you pair that with a defense that only allows 67 yards a game rushing and 186 passing, you have a formula for a division title and playoff success. TAMPA BAY (7-1) The 1987 Bandits may just be the best team Tampa Bay has had in the league’s five years, and that includes the 1983 championship team. While the defense is middle of the road (10th of 20 teams) that seems t be enough as Tampa has put together the league’s 2nd best offense. John Reaves is on pace for his best passing year and HB Gary Anderson is on pace for 1,000 yards. What is even more amazing is that despite several years to figure him out, the league still cannot contain Eric Truvillion. He has over 1,000 yards receiving after only 8 weeks and will almost certainly once again be targeting the amazing goal of a 2,000 year receiving season. Since a 1 score loss to Washington in the season’s opening week, Tampa has ripped through the competition, winning 7 straight and going undefeated in divisional play. After the collapse of Orlando, it looks like only their familiar rival, Jacksonville is in pursuit. But, we are going to still stick with the frontrunner and pick Tampa to win the Southern Division. NEW JERSEY (6-2) It is safe to say that no one picked New Jersey for a 6-2 start. The Generals in their best days have typically hung around the .500 mark, so the strength of what they have done this year is unprecedented. The fact that they did this despite star halfback Herschel Walker missing 3 weeks in the middle of the run is even more astounding. QB Doug Flutie has stepped up, throwing for over 2,000 yards by the season’s midpoint, and 2nd year TE Brent Jones has not cooled off after a blistering rookie campaign. The defense is better than usual as well, standing at 7th in the current rankings, and allowing under 90 yards a game rushing. They have won 4 straight, although 3 of those were against Memphis, Pittsburgh and Chicago, so there is still some skepticism, but the Generals believe in themselves and seem to have found a formula that can help. With upcoming games against Tampa, Baltimore, Denver and Philly, the start of the season’s second half will be make or break for New Jersey. MICHIGAN (5-3) Despite losing 3 of their last 4 (Philly, Oakland and Houston), the Panthers still have to be considered one of the better teams in the league. They are clearly not the same squad that has raced out to 12 or 13 game win streaks in past seasons, but these Panthers still have a lot of the trademarks of past Michigan teams. The defense still scares opposing coaches, as they are 1st in the league in yards per game, and allow only 17.4 points per game. On offense they are still explosive, only now, with Jack Trudeau in place of the NFL-bound Bobby Hebert, sometimes they explode on themselves. Trudeau, overall, has looked very solid, a capable replacement to be sure, but his 6 interceptions and only a 52% completion rate have led to some concerns. This past week’s debacle against Houston (sacked 6 times, only completed 4 passes) is not the look you want heading into the 2nd half of the year. The good news is that Michigan has a nice stretch of winnable games, with 7 straight opponents sporting losing records, before a season finale at Houston, so Michigan could still end up as a 12-4 or 11-5 team. IN THE MIX These teams have show the ability to impress, but lack the consistency to push well above .500. They have potential, and a solid showing in the final 8 weeks could propel them up the rankings. OAKLAND (5-3) Oakland has a lot to like. You have to respect HB Arthur Whittington, already over 750 yards rushing, and that normally allows QB Brian Sipe to use play action effectively. They have two outstanding receivers in Mark Duper and Henry Ellard, and their defense, while not smothering, can keep teams from blowing past the Invaders. What worries fans is that Sipe seems to be showing his age, having more errant throws and bad games than in his MVP season only last year. A bad loss in Denver, and a stunning loss at home to Memphis are not good signs for the mindset of the Invaders, but their victory over Michigan and a shelacking of Arizona indicate that Oakland still has what it takes to win the Pacific. DENVER (5-3) If Oakland does not win the division, the likely culprit will be the resurgent Denver Gold. Still not a dominant offense (12th in scoring), Denver relies on a combination of ball control and reliable defense to win games. It is odd to think that Mouse Davis is trying to run ball control through a run & shoot offense, but with the talent on the Denver squad, that is their best option. Milk the clock, shorten games, keep possession through short passes and the rushing of Harry Sydney, and get timely defensive stops. It has worked well, allowing Denver tow in 5 of their last 6 with only a no-show collapse against the Wranglers in the L column. Their slow and steady approach may make the Gold a surprise playoff team this year if they can avoid injuries and a late season slump. JACKSONVILLE (5-3) A 2-3 start and the initial success of both Orlando and Tampa Bay did not look good for the Bulls after 5 weeks, but a 3 game win streak, paired with Orlando’s collapse has vaulted the Bulls back into the playoff conversation. But, rather than talking playoffs, the Bulls faithful are talking QB controversy. When Ed Luther went down to injury, rookie Chris Miller came in and exploded for 4 TD’s in his first game. His next outing was far more subdued, but he still led the Bulls to a needed victory in Orlando. Ed Luther is slated to return this week, and Coach Infante has repeated the cliché that players do not lose their jobs to injury, so we expect Luther to be back under center against the Maulers, but fans are excited about Chris Miller, and any slips by Luther could lead to a quick hook. We think this uncertainty, if not handled right, could lead to some issues and likely could keep the Bulls from being a serious contender this year. BALTIMORE (4-4) At 4-4 it is almost too easy to say that the Blitz have been an up-and-down team, but when you realize that they have essentially been altering wins and losses all year (W-L-W-L-W-W-L-L) it seems fair to say that there are 2 Blitz teams and you never know which you will get. Tim Spencer gains 8 yards one game and over 100 the next. Vince Evans, even with added weapons like WR Stanley Morgan (leading the team with 617 yards) has not found a rhythm. Baltimore is only 15th in scoring and 16th in passing yards. Not a good combo for success in the USFL. On defense the loss of Junior Ah You is clearly being felt. The team ranks 18th against the pass as the lack of consistent pass rush allows opponents to include deeper routes in their gameday plans. Baltimore could still make a run, but have not shown the ability to string together good games into a streak, so we are skeptical. WASHINGTON (4-4) Early in the season it looked like the Federals had found the formula to success, winning 3 of their first 4. But, going 1-3 down the last 4 games has taken some of the shine off this squad. Clearly the acquisition of QB Neil Lomax has been huge. The Feds are now 3rd in yards per game, and Lomax’s success has given Craig James fewer stacked fronts to face, allowing him to gain 725 yards in 8 games. The defense has had its moments too, but they are still not there, ranked only 17th against the pass. So, Washington will likely have to outscore opponents over the next 8 weeks if they hope to make their first playoff appearance as franchise. They have some tough matchups as well, with Houston, Baltimore, New Jersey, Jacksonville and Philly still to play. It will be tough, but at least this year the Feds seem up to the challenge, if they could only win a division game. BIRMINGHAM (4-4) After an 0-4 start we were all ready to throw in the towel and wait for Rollie Dotsch to get the pink slip in Birmingham. But, somehow, the Stallions have rallied, won 4 in a row, and are surprsinging back in the playoff mix. A lot of credit has to go to Cliff Stoudt, who has been efficient and effective in the last 4 weeks. The defense, often overlooked, also needs to receive kudos, as they have held their last four opponents to 10, 13, 17 and only 3 points as Birmingham streaked back to .500. It won’t be easy the rest of the way, as the Stallions next face Philly and then have matchups against Jacksonville and Tampa, but a late season stretch of Orlando, Pittsburgh, Memphis and Oklahoma to finish the year could translate into a late season run to relevancy. Don’t be surprised if the Stallions make it to 10 wins this year, which may just be enough in the 10-team playoff field. NEED TIME TO GROW The four expansion teams all fall in this category. Their rosters are not as deep, their cohesion is just not there yet, and the results are visible on the field. In some cases early success has faded, for others success has been hard to find all year. ORLANDO (4-4) It was fun while it lasted, but as the weather warmed up this Spring, the Renegades began to wilt. After a 4-0 start, the ‘Gades have lost their last 4. It is pretty easy to see how. They started the year with Pittsburgh, Memphis, and Oklahoma in their first 4, with only a surprise win over Oakland to impress. Since then they have lost to Birmingham, Tampa, Philly and Jacksonville. So what does the future hold? A mixed bag really. They will struggle against seasoned winners like Baltimore, Michigan, Tampa and Jacksonville, but they could snag some wins against foes like Memphis and New Orleans. We still think 7-9 or even 6-10 would be a solid record for a first year franchise, but after exciting fans with a 4-0 start, it may seem like a letdown. SAN ANTONIO (3-5) Playing in the league’s smallest stadium, and with significant roster issues, we expected the Gunslingers to be facing an uphill battle this year. That is why their 3-2 start was so surprising. Much of that start was them feeding on fellow expansion teams, and much can be credited to the play of QB Rick Neuheisel, a veteran of 3 USFL seasons in Arizona. But with Neuheisel down for the year to injury, the Gunslingers may simply not have enough for too many more wins. What they hope to avoid are more 45-6 or 40-3 beatdowns (Michigan and Birmingham respectively). Their second half schedule is not favorable, with only a game at Chicago where they will be favored. The Gunslingers will have to hope for development from their new starter Damon Allen, and hope that they can eke out some upsets along the way. OKLAHOMA (2-6) Doug Williams may now fully understand the “be careful what you wish for, you may just get it” refrain. Upset with his financials in Jacksonville, he agreed to a sign-and-trade deal that increased his net worth, but put him on an expansion team in a good deal of disarray. Not only did he find himself playing in Tulsa instead of San Diego, but the Outlaws roster, with the notable exception of HB Stump Mitchell and rookie LB Brian Bosworth, is not particularly rich in gamebreakers. The Outlaws are 19th in PPG and 20th in Points Allowed, so that points towards very few wins on the horizon. They do have a rematch against Chicago coming up, a potential win there, and a late season game against erratic New Orleans may be another, but between those two are a lot of teams with winning records, so the Outlaws are going to have to play spoiler if they hope to avoid the Western Division basement. CHICAGO (0-8) The Machine were the only one of the 4 expansion teams not to trade to get a proven commodity at QB. They signed two promising rookies and a veteran who already lost his job in Pittsburgh, and many expect that they are regretting that decision these days. But you have to feel for QB Chuck Long. After playing several passable games, he came out with a stinker of a 6 INT disaster and all but forced coach Joe Bugel to remove him. Former Mauler Todd Blackledge will likely start at least the next few games to see if the Machine can garner a win. At this point it is not about trying to avoid the basement, it is about avoiding the disastrous 0-16 season. This is not the way to attract and retain an already cynical Chicago fanbase, one still angry about the departure of the Blitz just as they became a playoff contender. NOT WHERE THEY WANT TO BE These are the underperformers, the disappointing, the not-there-yets, or the nevertheres. Expect changes for each of these teams as the season progresses. If not, expect some firings and roster turnover when the year is done. NEW ORLEANS (3-5) Is Tony Eason’s time in New Orleans coming to a close? Despite the Breakers making the playoffs three straight years under Eason, their erratic record, and his unreliable play in particular, may simply be too much for the Breakers to tolerate for another year. But what option do they have? They have started journeyman Matt Robinson the past 2 weeks, but now an injury means Eason will have to return. Unless his play improves dramatically over past years, we expect the Breakers to let him walk in free agency this offseason and for them to work to find another QB. Unfortunately this is a year when the college draft does not have any slam dunk candidates, so it may be a costly proposition to wrangle a starting calibre QB from another USFL or from an NFL team. ARIZONA (3-5) QB is not the issue in Arizona, where Robbie Bosco has proven to be more than capable of filling Rick Neuheisel’s shoes. Bosco has already thrown for 2484 yards, leading the league in that category. But, with only minimal returns on the signing of HB James Wilder, and with a defense that is giving up 348 yards a game, the Wranglers, while dangerous, are simply not consistently coming out on the right side of the scoreboard. Of the teams on this list, with the possible addition of LA, we see Arizona as the squad that has the potential to rip off 4 or 5 wins to get back in the mix, but to do so they will need to find a way to both run the ball and play more consistent defense. Bosco and star wideout Trumaine Johnson cannot do it all on their own. LOS ANGELES (3-5) The Express are just a tough team to figure out. They have talent across the board, a solid QB, two halfbacks who can look dominant at times, and a good receiving corps, and yet they are 19th in total yards. They have yet to beat a team with a winning record, and they will face several more over the final 8 weeks of the year. But with 5 games against teams with losing records, the Express have the ability to climb back into this season. Perhaps 8-8 is just about where they belong. MEMPHIS (2-6) When a team does this poorly, the tendency is to look at the head coach and the quarterback as the reasons. That seems fair with the Showboats. In his second year in Memphis, Vince Tobin, the guru of the early years of Philly’s D, seems unable to find talent to surround Reggie White. The Showboats are again near the bottom of the defensive rankings (18th in ppg allowed and 18th in yards allowed as well). If Tobin cannot get more out of his defense, he may not be the coach much longer in Memphis. As for Walter Lewis, we know he is a dual threat, but at the same time he seems to be no threat at all. His 11 interceptions all but wipe out his 12 touchdowns, and are a key reason why other teams seem to have such success against the Showboats, playing on short fields and given momentum by a big turnover. Memphis has a lot of issues, O-Line still seems problematic, the secondary is not effective, and the team simply does not believe in itself. None of those are signs that they are about to turn it around any time soon. PITTSBURGH (1-7) Unless they can somehow convince Terry Bradshaw to come out of retirement and suit up in purple, the Maulers again seem doomed to a top draft pick and a really bad season. At the end of last season they brought in Alan Risher and thought they had found a solution at QB. That has not proven to be the case. The Maulers just cannot move the ball effectively. They have one of the best running backs in the entire sport, but without an effective passing game they cannot keep drives alive. Worst of all, players are beginning to seek other options. WR John Jefferson has openly stated that he hopes to hit the free agent market this year. Things look bad in Pittsburgh again. Roman Gabriel does not seem to inspire much enthusiasm among fans or even his own players, and the Maulers just don’t strike fear in their opponents. Could Gabriel be one and done? And just how and when will this team find its quarterback? Eight weeks down, eight to go. What do we see in the future? Here’s our breakdown. Our predicted division champions are Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Houston and Oakland. The 6 Wild Card teams: New Jersey, Jacksonville, Washington, Michigan, Denver and Arizona. Our pick for the USFL Championship is unspectacular, we are going with the two best teams we have seen this year, Philly and Houston. Our MVP is Jim Kelly and our Rookie of the Year is Brian Bosworth. Eight weeks to prove us right or show us up. Let’s get back on the field and see what happens.