Search this site

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.

SCORES NJ 38 PIT 20 Herschel Walker dominates the Pittsburgh D, leading the team in rushing and receptions on his way to over 200 yards from scrimmage and 2 TDs. With the win, New Jersey is now 4 games over 500, a mark they have never hit in their prior 4 years of play. PHI 31 WSH 28 Philadelphia owns the 4th quarter and sends Washington to yet another divisional loss as the Stars solidify their place atop the Atlantic Division. Chuck Fusina threw for 302 yards and 2 scores to pace the Stars, while Philly’s D picked off Feds QB Neil Lomax twice and allowed only 5 of 13 conversions on 3rd down. JAX 20 ORL 15 Orlando’s slide continues, losing 4 straight after starting the year 4-0. Jacksonville’s George Adams rushes for 144 and a score against what appears to be a deflated Renegade defense. For the ‘Gades, the brightest star was backup HB Rodney Carter, who averaged 7.2 ypc on his way to a 101 yard day in the defeat. Reggie Collier struggled against the Bulls, with only 125 yards and no scores. MEM 13 TBY 30 Tampa Bay seeks to run away with the division, beating Memphis handily on a strong day for John Reaves (333 yards and 3 TDs). Eric Truvillion hauls in 6 for 167 and 2 scores in the win. For Memphis, Walter Lewis completes 6% of his throws, but cannot find the big play, throwing for under 200 yards on 23 completions. CHI 3 NOR 30 Chicago’s offensive woes continue as Todd Blackledge fares no better than Chuck Long had, completing only 45% of his passes for a meager 135 yards and 2 Ints. Meanwhile, Tony Eason was back under center after an injury to Matt Robinson, but completed only 12 of 28 for 147 yards. New Orleans relies on a pick-six from Randal Berlin and 3 field goals to boost their score in the win. ARZ 8 OAK 31 Arizona outgained Oakland 309 to 252 and yet the scoreboard shows a very lopsided win for the Invaders. The absence of Trumaine Johnson (wrist injury) and three turnovers are the story of the game for Arizona. Two costly fumbles by Darryl Clack and James Wilder, allow Oakland to score on short drives as Arthur Whittington scores 3 times despite being held to only 68 yards rushing. DEN 23 LA 15 Denver gets a rare road win as Harry Sydney and Timmy Smith combine for 186 yards on the ground, while the Gold D holds Tony Boddie to only 36 yards rushing. Mel Renfro caught both TD’s for LA, one to start the game and one to end it, but between thosetwo drives LA only musters 257 yards for the game. BLT 13 OKL 27 In a classic trap game, Baltimore overlooks the Outlaws and pays the price. Vince Evans looks pedestrian, throwing for 230, while Tim Spencer only gets 4 carries due to lagging hamstring concerns. For Oklahoma, a strong game from Stump Mitchell (85 yards rushing) and solid defense all day help the Outlaws get their second win of the year. BIR 40 SAN 3 The Stallions even their record at 4-4 with their fourth straight win as they trample a demoralized Gunslinger squad. Cliff Stoudt throws for 2 scores for the Stallions, while the defense limits the Gunslingers to only 213 total yards and a miserable 20 yards rushing on the day. Scott Stamper and Ken Lacy simply cannot find holes as the Stallion D-line overwhelms the San Antonio blockers. GAME OF THE WEEK Houston Gamblers 17 Michigan Panthers 16 Two of the league’s best defenses square off when the Gamblers face the Panthers, with Houston staking their claim on the division. After 3 straight 7-9 seasons, the Gamblers now get their 7th win after only 8 weeks, and build a two game lead over the usually dominant Panthers. And while Jim Kelly did what he needed to, throwing TD passes to both Clarence Verdin and Ricky Sanders in the 2nd half, it was the Houston defense that stole the show. Michigan QB Jack Trudeau has to be coming out of this game shellshocked. He dropped back to pass 27 times on the game, but completed only 4 passes all day, a truly stunning statistic. The pressure from Houston’s blitz packages was constant, leading to 6 sacks on the day, and clearly rattling Trudeau, who missed several throws and seemed skittish for most of the second half. Michigan was able to run the ball somewhat effectively (Williams and Morse combined for 128) but time after time Houston ended Panther drives by forcing an errant throw or recording a sack on 3rd down. Jim Kelly did not have it much easier, also sacked far too often (4 times) by Michigan’s pressure, but he was still able to complete 71% of his passes for 254 and the two key second half scores. For the Gamblers, this was a statement win, going into the Silverdome and defeating the defending champs and Central Division titans to take a 2 game lead on the division. While the big name in Houston has always been QB Jim Kelly, fans in the Bayou City are beginning to rally around a truly dynamic, aggressive and effective defense. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK As hard as it is to believe, this is Herschel Walkers first POTW award since 1983. The first big star of the USFL has been solid but not dominating over the past 3 rough years for New Jersey, but this year’s success (a 6-2 record being their best start to a season ever) has given Walker the chance to shine, and this week, after a slow recovery from injury, proved once again that the Georgia product can be one of the league’s most potent weapons. Walker averaged 6 yards per rush against an admittedly weak Pittsburgh defensive front, on his way to 132 yards on the ground. That in itself is a very solid day for Walker, but he also caught 7 balls, 3 while lined up wide for the Generals, gaining another 76 yards through the air, including a beautiful 24 yard touchdown as Doug Flutie found walker alone along the sideline on a swing route. That the best WR performance on the day was only 3 receptions, Walker’s 7 catches demonstrates just how essential he is to every aspect of the New Jersey offense. Expect more from the big guy as the Generals make a serious run at Philadelphia for the division title and their first playoff appearance in team history. NEWS & NOTES We will discuss the on-field tidings for all 20 USFL squads in our midseason report, but lets take a moment at the half-way juncture to award our Mid-Season Awards to some deserving parties. Midseason MVP: Jim Kelly-QB-HOU: Yes, we have to acknowledge the quality of the Houston defense, but this season, Kelly, who has never really sniffed the Top 5 of QB Ratings before is now well-established as one of the league’s most prolific passers. His 19 touchdowns leads the league, and his 2204 yards is also first in the league at the midway point. Even after losing 2 key receivers in the offseason, Kelly is finding ways to get the ball down the field in chunks and, most importantly, lead Houston to a 7-1 start. Midseason Coach of the Year: We looked long and hard at Houston’s Jack Pardee or Tampa’s Steve Spurrier, but for sheer unexpected success we are going to go with New Jersey Head Coach Ray Perkins. The former Giants and Alabama Crimson Tide coach has found a magic formula to make the Generals not just win games, but exciting to watch. Flutie is playing his best ball and even an injury which kept Walker out of 3 games has not slowed down the 6-2 Generals. Perkins has built a team that believes in itself and which has proven to be truly dangerous when they have all their weapons on hand. Midseason Rookie of the Year: Normally this would go to a slashing RB or a high-flying WR, maybe even a new QB, but this year the player who is outshining them all is linebacker Brian Bosworth. Bosworth leads the league in tackles and is the undisputed firebrand leader on the Outlaw defense. And yes, this is a 2-6 team we are talking about, but that is certainly not Bosworth’s fault. He is running sideline to sideline, making plays in the offensive and defensive backfield, and holding others accountable, all the while acting as the face of a franchise. There are a lot of issues in Oklahoma, but MLB is certainly not one of them. MidSeason Award for Best Free Agent Acquisition: Early on it looked like Orlando’s Reggie Collier or Curtis Bledsoe were clearly the frontrunners here, but a bad 4 final weeks of the first half have moved them out of contention. Right now the two players who stand out are both NFL transfers. WR Carlos Carson is 4th in receptions and 6th in yardage despite playing on a mediocre San Antonio expansion squad. His big question going forward is whether or not he can keep up this pace now that Rick Neuheisel is out and Damon Allen is under center. If he cannot, then the likely winner as the best new face in a new place will likely go to Neil Lomax in Washington. Lomax has thrown for 1579 yards and 14 TDs in only 6 games (he missed 2 due to injury). He has also raised the expectations for the entire Federals team. And while they have slipped a bit, falling back to 4-4 overall, this feels like a Federals team that is capable of winning consistently with Lomax at the helm. INJURY REPORT A few noteworthy injuries and a lot of tired bodies around the league as the reality that there are no bye weeks this year sinks in. Arizona will be without CB Nolan Cromwell for a solid 2 months or more after a rough collision fractured his collarbone and caused some damage to his shoulder as well. Tampa will miss guard Jeff Zimmerman at least a month with a nasty groin injury. New Orleans will have to wait at least one more week for QB Matt Robinson, and Baltimore will be without HB Tim Spencer, who injured his right knee this past week. Players expected back this week include LA linebacker Niko Noga, Jacksonville QB Ed Luther, Memphis WR Bobby Joe Edmunds, Pittsburgh CB Ron Osborne and Arizona TE Terry Orr. LOOKING AHEAD We kick off the second half of the season with a full inter-division slate of games. On the East Coast, Orlando will play the Blitz in the Charm City. Tampa has a tough game at New Jersey. Birmingham will try for a 5th straight win in Philadelphia. Jacksonville heads to Pittsburgh. Washington hosts the Memphis Showboats. Chicago has a tough home match against Oakland. Oklahoma must face Houston’s brutal D in the Astrodome. Michigan hosts the Wranglers. Denver heads to the Big Easy to face the Breakers and LA is in San Antonio to take on the Gunslingers.

SCORES BLT 20 JAX 28 After only 3 plays, Ed Luther is knocked out of the game, but rookie Chris Miller comes in and throw for 4 TDs to lead the Bulls to a much needed W. Is there now an unexpected QB controversy in Jacksonville? NJ 24 MEM 11 Herschel Walker looks almost back to 100% as he rushes for 98 yards on 19 carries, and Doug Flutie again tops 300 as the Generals move to 5-2, their best record ever after 7 weeks. PHI 22 ORL 7 Philly’s Kelvin Bryant runs around, through, and over the Orlando defense for 146. The loss is Orlando’s 3rd in a row. Curtis Bledsoe sits after an injury in practice, and the Renegades cannot move the ball without him. PIT 21 TBY 28 Alan Risher has his best game of the year, but it is not enough as John Reaves throws for 309 and 2 scores to secure the win for the Bandits. After trailing 21-10 at half, Tampa shuts Pittsburgh out in the 2nd half and scores 18 unanswered to take the 7 point win. CHI 24 DEN 34 With Todd Blackledge at the helm, the Machine only gain 162 total yards of offense, but capitalize on 3 takeaways to score 24, but it is simply not enough once again, as Denver rolls up 398 yards and Bob Gagliano throws for 3 scores against the opportunistic but overmatched Machine defense. HOU 20 LA 3 Houston’s D smothers Steve Young and the Express on the way to a comfortable win. Jim Kelly is efficient, throwing 22 of 29 for 240 yards in the victory and taking over the top spot in the QBR rankings. MGN 14 OAK 26 Oakland’s defense bends but does not break, holding Michigan to only 2 scores, as the Invaders defend home turf. Four sacks of Jack Trudeau and 3 forced fumbles, 2 by veteran Gary Plummer, help Oakland stifle the Panthers and move to 4-3 for the year, atop the Pacific Division. NOR 31 OKL 16 Matt Robinson and the Breakers feast on the Oklahoma defense. Robinson throws for 3 scores, 2 to wideout Nolan Franz, and the Breakers shut down Doug Williams (168 yards passing) to get a much needed win. Hilliard and Dupree combine for 141 as New Orleans platoons their two backs. SAN 20 ARZ 35 Robbie Bosco’s 4 TD passes lead Arizona to a win over the expansion Gunslingers. Damon Allen plays well, completing 71% of his passes and throwing for 2 scores, but the dink and dunk strategy of coach Gill Steinke cannot match Arizona’s offensive production. GAME OF THE WEEK Washington Federals 17 Birmingham Stallions 20 Cliff Stoudt is not showing up on the QBR leader board, but only because he has simply not thrown enough passes to qualify. His numbers would put him on top, and this week, he completed nearly 80% of his throws (27 of 34) to lead Birmingham to a third straight win as they come roaring back in the 4th quarter to defeat the Federals. Washington had built a 17-10 lead over 3 quarters, with Neil Lomax hitting Webster Slaughter for 2 scores along the way. But in the 4th the Birmingham D found a way to shut down the Federals and on 2 consecutive drives Cliff Stoudt led the Stallions to a TD and the game winning field goal with only 24 seconds left on the clock. Of course, this being Birmingham, it was not all Stoudt. Joe Cribbs contributed 75 yards on the ground, a slow day for him, but a solid day. Ernest Givens had his usual 5+ receptions (7) but was another Stallion held below his yardage average with only 58 yards, but a steady, efficient Stoudt kept the chains moving and the Stallions defense held Craig James to only 54 yards on 18 carries to help Birmingham win 3 straight after and 0-4 start. The win moves Birmingham only one game below Jacksonville and Orlando for 2nd in the Southern Division, something unthinkable just a few weeks ago. The loss, moves Washington to 4th place in the Atlantic, but only 1 win away from 2nd as they chase the Stars and Generals. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK When starter Ed Luther came out of the game after being sacked on only the 3rd play of the afternoon, the Jacksonville faithful were an understandably nervous lot. But after the day rookie Chris Miller put on against the Blitz’s vaunted defense, they could not be more excited about their young QB. The only problem is now there may be a true quarterback battle in Jacksonville. Luther had played well enough to win 3 games but had not shown the ability to carry the team on his shoulders. Miller, fresh out of the U. of Oregon, came in after Luther suffered what looked like a knee injury, and lit up the Blitz for 273 yards, an 81% completion rate, and 4 scores. You can chalk some of that up to unfamiliarity on Baltimore’s part. Miller had not seen any game action to date so there was no film of him in the Bulls offense, but that does not explain it all. Miller was able to use his legs to avoid pressure, but never looked to run, instead finding dump off receivers when needed. Miller also made maximum use of Jacksonville’s two best receivers, hitting Gary Clark 6 times for 103 yards and a score, and Daniel Corral, the speedster, 7 times for 115. He also used unheralded players like fullback Larry Bachman (2 receptions for 2 TDs) and backup TE Tim Lear (TD catch) to disrupt the Blitz defensive scheme. It was the kind of game that legends are made of. So now the big question in Jacksonville is whether or not Lindy Infante sticks with the effective but unspectacular Luther, who is listed as doubtful for next week, or sticks with Miller moving forward. Next week’s game, with Miller now on film and Orlando now fully aware of what he is capable of, will be a bit test to see if this was a flash-in-the-pan performance or the sign that the Bulls may have found a franchise quarterback for the long haul. NEWS & NOTES We are nearly half way through the season and our four expansion clubs have had very different introductions to the league. Both on and off the field there have been successes, but also some significant concerns about the franchises. We knew this going into the year, as 2 of the 4 had to essentially relocate prior to their first game due to stadium lease issues. On the field early success for some clubs has now melted away while for others wins have been hard to come by. Let’s look at the four newest USFL clubs and assess where they stand as we near the season’s midpoint. CHICAGO Still winless, the Chicago Machine clearly seem to be the weakest of the four clubs on the field. While their financial situation is quite solid, the lack of offensive talent on the team has made it tough to watch most games. The recent switch from rookie Chuck Long to veteran and former Heisman hopeful Todd Blackledge could help, but Chicago is certainly going to have attendance issues in the tough Chicago market if they cannot string together some wins and start playing a more attractive brand of football. They have only played 3 home games so far, but attendance has dipped already, and a winless team is unlikely to see those numbers improve as the year moves on. OKLAHOMA The Outlaws have drawn well enough in the tiny market of Tulsa, averaging 27,000+ in Skelly Stadium so far, and they have leaders on both sides of the ball in Doug Williams and league tackle leader Brian Bosworth, but this has not translated into many wins. Their only W so far was a 1-point 21-20 win over Arizona in week 2. Since then they have seemed to tail off rather than improve with time. Their loss this week at home to New Orleans was typical as it seemed that Doug Williams and Stump Mitchell were trying to carry an otherwise uninspiring roster to victory. They need more from their receivers and on defense to compete. Meanwhile there are rumors flying around town that the Tatham ownership group is still shopping the franchise around to other markets, with recent visits to Kansas City and Dallas. That will not help grow a fanbase in Tulsa and there is only so much the appeal of “The Boz” can do to keep butts in seats in Tulsa. ORLANDO By far the biggest surprise to start the year, the relocated Miami franchise has apparently found an eager fanbase and a solid home field advantage in Orlando. The Renegades are averaging over 43,000 a game in the Citrus Bowl, enhanced by their 4 game win streak to start the season. Since that high mark, the Renegades have lost 3 in a row, and will need to regroup to keep the fans coming in. The team averages a solid 22.5 points per game behind the combo of Reggie Collier and Curtis Bledsoe, and their defense is currently solid enough to win games, but the schedule does not get easier with the Bulls, Blitz and Panthers all in the next 4 weeks. Not much was expected of the Renegades this year, so even an 8-8 season will be seen as a huge positive, especially compared with the other expansion clubs’ struggles. SAN ANTONIO The loss of QB Rick Neuheisel for the year may spell the end of a pretty solid year to date for the Gunslingers. Playing in tiny Alamo Stadium, the Gunslingers have come close to selling out the 24,000 seats each game. That is good, but what is not good is the fact that even with a 22,000 attendance average over 4 home games there are already stories coming out of San Antonio of delayed paychecks, delinquent bills and other signs that the finances are not as solid as the league expected for Clint Manges, the team owner. On the field the Gunslingers have been a mixed bag. They are only averaging 18.1 points per game, but have been able to garner wins against some of the league’s lesser teams. Blowout losses to Houston and Michigan are to be expected in an expansion year, but the Gunslingers, now with Damon Allen at QB need to find ways to win games against weaker foes to keep the folks in San Antonio engaged. As for Manges, he had better find some additional owners because the USFL is not going to stand by and watch a team tarnish the league’s reputation with poor financial management. INJURY REPORT Ed Luther was knocked out of the game, as reported above, but is expected to miss only 1 more week of action for the Bulls. Similarly Brian Sipe (Migraines) is expected back next week. New Orleans will have to go back to Tony Eason after Matt Robinson was knocked out of the game in the last minutes of the 4th quarter with a rib injury and could miss up to a month. We also mentioned that Curtis Bledsoe for Orlando was injured, but it is not expected to be serious and he could return as early as this week. It is midseason and dings are the norm around the league. As far as major injuries go, this was a pretty clean week, as the only anticipated long term injury was to New Orleans reserve tackle Dan Slaughter, who will miss the rest of the year with an ankle injury. Otherwise it is a week here, a questionable status there, which is not bad for 7 weeks in. LOOKING AHEAD Week 8 marks the halfway point of the year, and there is a lot to play for pretty much everywhere. A lot of big divisional games highlight this week’s slate as Philly travels to Washington, Jacksonville and Orlando tussle in the Citrus Bowl, Houston faces off against Michigan in the Silverdome, and all 4 top teams in the Pacific face off: Arizona @ Oakland and Denver in LA. In other divisional games New Jersey is in Pittsburgh, Memphis visits Tampa Bay, and Chicago heads down to the Big Easy to face the Breakers. Our two inter-divisional games this week are perhaps the least interesting games as Baltimore heads to Oklahoma and Birmingham tries to make it 4 in a row with a visit to Alamo Stadium in San Antonio.

SCORES PHI 16 BLT 30 The last of the undefeated teams falls as the Baltimore Blitz stun the Philadelphia Stars in a rowdy Memorial Stadium. Tim Spencer and Jackie Flowers both shone in the game as Spencer bounced back from a horrible week 5 performance by rushing for 103 against the usually stingy Stars D. Jackie Flowers found success on deep routes, catching only 4 passes, but 2 were scores and all were big gainers. WSH 23 PIT 22 The Federals got Neil Lomax back under center and they needed every ounce of magic from him as it took a late 4th quarter TD drive, capped off by a Lomax to Walters TD to give the Federals a win in Pittsburgh. MEM 13 BIR 27 Birmingham wins their second in a row with a big game from Joe Cribbs and a 17-point 2nd quarter to crush the spirit of the Showboats. Ernest Givens continued to impress for the Stalliions, racking up 120 receiving yards on only 4 receptions, one being a 52-yard score. HOU 34 NOR 7 Matt Robinson struggled after being named the starter and the Houston D shut down the Breakers’ vaunted run game on their way to an easy win. Houston is now 5-1 behind their underappreciated defense and the strong arm of Jim Kelly, who again threw for 3 scores, finding Ricky Sanders twice for points. SAN 6 MGN 45 A likely season-ending injury to QB Rick Neuheisel and an absolute beat down by the Panthers is not what San Antonio had in mind this week, but that is what they got. Michigan scored 35 points between the 2nd and 3rd quarter and Jeff Kemp even got to play some football in mop up time as he replaced Trudeau after the young Illinois grad’s 4th TD on the day. OAK 7 DEN 31 Bob Gagliano must have heard the boo birds last week, because he came out angry this week, throwing for three scores and leading the Gold to their best offensive performance of the year. Bill Brooks and Mark Carrier each scored, and rookie HB Timmy Smith saw his first solid action with 5 carries, 1 reception and a TD. OKL 31 LA 35 It was an old-fashioned shootout in Angel Stadium this week as Doug Williams, back from injury, matched Steve Young shot for shot. It came down to a final drive for the Express, and when Steve Young found former Raider Todd Christiansen for the game-winning score, the deflated Williams could do nothing but applaud the performance and encourage his teammates on a tough loss. CHI 13 NJ 30 Chuck Long helped make the case for his own benching, throwing 6 interceptions in an absolutely horrific day at the Meadowlands. New Jersey’s defense shut down everything Chicago tried to do, and although Herschel Walker still did not look 100% (rushing for only 44 yards), his presence on the field was more than enough as the Generals D served up short field after short field for Flutie and Walker. ARZ 31 JAX 37 Another great offensive show in the Gator Bowl as Ed Luther had his best game of the year, throwing for 4 scores and 294 yards. Robbie Bosco kept pace for the Wranglers, throwing 3 scores of his own as the two clubs went back and forth on the scoreboard. In the end it was the outstanding day by Luther and by HB George Adams (131 yards rushing) that made the difference as the Bulls pulled their record back to .500 at 3-3. GAME OF THE WEEK Tampa Bay Bandits 25 Orlando Renegades 19 It was the Renegades’ second consecutive loss, but no one is overlooking these expansion darlings anymore. They played Tampa Bay tough for 60 minutes and evened the score as the clock ran out. Reggie Collier was solid throughout, throwing for 2 scores, including a last-minute fade to Vic James to even the score and send the game to overtime. But, for all their efforts, Orlando could not find a solution to the Tampa Bay offense. On a day when HB Gary Anderson rushed for 119, and Eric Truvillion caught 8 balls for 90 yards, it was unheralded backup Speedy Neal, who had the final say. Neal, who only had one carry on the day, made the most of it, as he subbed for Gary Boone in overtime, took an innocent-enough looking pitch, and juked his way past the defense and into the endzone on a spectacular 25-yard rush that ended the game and moved Tampa up to sole possession of first place in the Southern Division at 5-1. Orlando has impressed a lot of folks as they started the year 4-0, but after two straight divisional losses (to Tampa and Birmingham), the Renegades have to figure out where things have started to go wrong. Meanwhile, for Tampa Bay, Banditball is cruising along as John Reaves and company continue to effectively mix the run and the pass, providing highlight reel moments each and every week. They return home to the 1-win Pittsburgh Maulers next week and hope to further solidify their position as a division leader and Championship favorite. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK Ed Luther had his best game of the year and helped to hold off any thoughts of giving rookie Chris Miller a shot under center. Luther not only rallied the Bulls to tie the game with 1:04 left, but also led the Bulls to the win on their first possession of overtime, hitting Daniel Corral for the winning score only 3 minutes into the extra period. While his 282 yards passing is not eye-popping, his 75% completion rate, and a 6 for 7 completion rate on 3rd down throws was. With Hasssan Jones out, Luther focused on Gary Clark as his reliable chain mover, and newby Daniel Corral as his deep threat. It was the kind of game that the 3-3 Bulls can build on as they play catchup with Tampa and Orlando in the division. NEWS & NOTES So far, the 1987 season has been a pretty simple script, follow the QB. Whether it is teams like Michigan and Jacksonville replacing lost superstars and finding great success with new leaders, or expansion clubs like Orlando and San Antonio getting great return on investment with their QB play, the position is clearly key to this league. Teams like Chicago, New Orleans, and Pittsburgh are flailing because their on-field generals are not getting it done. Others, like New Jersey, Washington and Houston are looking like they have found the right man for the right system, or vice versa, and are riding their QB play to victories. And now, as we get closer to the midpoint of the year, injuries will be a factor. We have already seen this in Oklahoma and Tampa, where missed games lead to a lot of nervous coaches and fans, and now, very clearly, it will be a key issue for the Gunslingers. If you want to win in the USFL, you better have a stud at QB, and a system around him to lead to success week in and week out. INJURY REPORT The nasty looking shoulder injury to Rick Neuheisel, one in which his arm essentially hung limp as he came off the field, has been the news of the week. San Antonio knew about Neuheisel’s reputation as a bit of a injury magnet, but a season-ender so early into their first year will be tough. They will now turn to Damon Allen to lead the Gunslinger offense. For Neuheisel, it marks yet another year marred by injuries, and this one will likely have lasting impact on his arm strength and ability to make deep throws. It was a nasty injury to see occur, and one which puts his entire future in jeopardy. LOOKING AHEAD Week Six sees the entire Atlantic battle the Southern Division as the Central takes on the Pacific. The marquee matchups are Philadelphia at Orlando, Baltimore @ Jacksonville, and Houston @ LA. Expect good action as well when San Antonio, now with Damon Allen at the helm, face Arizona, when Michigan travels to Oakland, and when the Federals take on the Stallions at Legion Field. Potential lopsided games include New Jersey @ Memphis, Chicago @ Denver, and Pittsburgh @ Tampa Bay. The one game that thankfully is not on a national broadcast is New Orleans, giving Matt Robinson one more week, facing off against Oklahoma in Tulsa.