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USA TODAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1985 As the USFL prepares for its third season, there is much to anticipate and much to decide. With the league filing an anti-trust suit against the NFL, tensions between the two leagues has never been higher. It is anticipated that this may be the last season before an all out talent war erupts between the two. With many of the original 1983 USFL season signees now reaching the end of their 3-year contracts, players who have become household names, names such as Greg Boone, Joey Walters, Nolan Franz, William Cesare, Marcus Marek, Frank Malamaleuga, Jackie Cline, Maurice Carthon, and many more, will be available to the NFL for the first time. And with a limited salary cap structure, and significantly lower revenue streams, it may be difficult for the USFL to compete to retain their stars. This, and questions about the future of at least 2 franchises (Boston and Chicago) as well as continued concern about low attendance revenue in several other larger markets, have the league looking at 1985 as a make-it or break it season. For many USFL teams the same feeling is palpable. While franchises such as Tampa Bay and Michigan have seen both on-field and financial success, others, including the LA Express, New Jersey Generals, Washington Federals, Chicago Blitz and Oakland Invaders have struggled in both arenas, and will need to find themselves on a solid footing in the league’s third season if they are going to remain viable franchises going forward. There are new coaches trying to feel out the USFL game, Dick Vermeil in Oakland and long-pursued Frank Kush in Arizona. There are new stars ready to shine, such as Heisman winner Doug Flutie in New Jersey, RBs Owen Gill and George Adams, and wideouts Eric Martin, Gerard Phelan, and Reggie Langhorne. But after a draft that was heavy on linemen and defense, the league seems to be ready to balance the scales between its shining stars and the grunts in the trenches. There is a lot on the line in 1985, so let’s get to it. Here is a look at all 16 USFL Franchises and their prospects for the 1985 season: ATLANTIC DIVISION Prediction: 1. Philadelphia Stars 2. Washington Federals 3. New Jersey Generals 4. Boston Breakers PHILADELPHIA STARS 1984: 9-7, Division Winner, lost to Birmingham in Conference Finals. Returning Stars: QB Chuck Fusina, HB Kelvin Bryant, LB Sam Mills, DE William Fuller, SS Scott Woerner New Arrivals: DT George Little (Iowa), WR Gerard Phelan (BC), DE Tony Simmons (Tenn) Prospect: The Stars have been the class of the Atlantic Division for its first two years and we don’t see that changing this year. They are not flashy, but they play solid football in all phases. With an emphasis on defensive depth in this year’s draft, the Philly defense may again prove to be the key to another division title. WASHINGTON FEDERALS 1984: 7-9, 4th in Division, no playoff appearance. Returning Stars: QB Reggie Collier, HB Craig James, WR Joey Walters, DE Coy Bacon, New Arrivals: WR Herman Fontenot (LSU), TE Mark Bavaro (NDame), DE John Cade (Lville), FS Mark Kelso (W&M) Prospect: The Federals came close to their first playoff berth last year, falling just short on the final week of the season. In Reggie Collier they have found their QB for the future, and now, with some added weapons for Collier in the form of wideouts Gunn and Fontenot, and the camp hero Mark Bavaro, they may just be able to break through. The defense should also be better as two promising rookies, Cade on the line and Kelso in the backfield have garnered starting positions. We don’t expect the Feds to rip through the league, but a 9-7 or even 10-6 season is within their grasp. NEW JERSEY GENERALS 1984: 8-8, 3rd in Division, no playoff appearance. Returning Stars: HB Herschel Walker, FB Maurice Carthon, LB Jim LeClair, SS Gary Barbaro New Arrivals: QB Doug Flutie (BC), HB Jamie Covington (Syr), DE Lionel Washington (Rutgers), WR Lam Jones (NY Jets) Prospect: New Jersey has been touted as the flagship franchise of the USFL ever since their 1983 signing of Herschel Walker, but while Walker has lived up to the hype, the Generals have not. They are on their third starting QB in three years, and we are just not sure he will be ready for what awaits him. The Generals are not particularly frightening at WR, though the addition of the speedy Lam Jones from the NY Jets will help, and their defense has never been able to put together a full season. There are some pieces in place, but we don’t see enough to expect the Generals to truly challenge for the division this year. BOSTON BREAKERS 1984: 9-7, 2nd in Division, lost to Tampa Bay in Divisional Round. Returning Stars: HB Buford Jordan, WR Nolan Franz, TE Dan Ross, LB Marcus Marek, SS Joe Restic New Arrivals: QB Matt Robinson (JAX), DE Richard Byrd (So Miss), LB Jamie Kimmel (Syr) Prospect: Boston has been a feel-good story for its entire existence. Forced to play in undersized stadiums in the Boston area, with a low-end budget, and stars built out of sheer grit, the Breakers broke into the playoffs in 1984, but now, with the retirement of the actually geriatric Johnnie Walton, they must build again. Last year’s big name signing, QB Tony Eason, will be the key. If he can click with the talented but unheralded receiving corps of the Breakers, the offense could be solid. We do worry about their no-name defense, however. Marcus Marek is a beast at MLB, but he cannot do it alone. We think this could be a rough year as Boston not only seeks a new team owner, but a new identity as well. SOUTHERN DIVISION Prediction: 1. Tampa Bay Bandits 2. Birmingham Stallions 3. Memphis Showboats 4. Jacksonville Bulls TAMPA BAY BANDITS 1984: 12-4, Division Champion, lost in Divisional round to Birmingham. Returning Stars: QB John Reaves, RB Gary Anderson, WR Eric Truvillion, DT Adam Carreker, LB James Harrell, K Zenon Andrusyshyn New Arrivals: WR Cris Collinsworth (CIN), DT William Perry (Clemson), CB Tyrone Davis (Clemson) Prospect: Tampa had very few weaknesses last year and they have kept their core of offensive stars intact. They may even have improved on their passing game by trading Danny Buggs and finding a replacement in former Bengals and U. of Florida wideout Cris Collinsworth. On defense the Bandits are solid, and we are all intrigued to see if rookie William “The Refrigerator” Perry, weighing in at well over 300 lbs, will have the impact Tampa is hoping for. It will likely be a nip & tuck battle with Birmingham all year, but we anticipate a 3rd consecutive Division Title for Steve Spurrier and the Bandits. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 1984: 10-6, 2nd in Division, Lost in USFL Championship to Michigan Returning Stars: QB Cliff Stoudt, HB Joe Cribbs, WR Jim Smith, DE Jackie Cline, LB Rich D’Amico, SS William Cesare, K Scott Norwood New Arrivals: LB Kevin Greene (Auburn), DT Dallas Cameron (Miami), CB Issaic Holt (Alcorn St.) Prospect: Birmingham had a late season run to remember, blasting into the playoffs, upsetting Tampa in Tampa, and surging all the way to the USFL Championship before falling to the juggernaut Panthers. For 1985 they went all in on the defense, spending most of their draft capital on that side of the ball. We are excited to see the roll that Auburn’s Kevin Greene will have in the LB corps, and we expect DT Dallas Cameron to crack the starting lineup in short order. Birmingham will play games close and count on All-USFL RB Joe Cribbs to shorten games and bring home wins. They have a shot to knock off Tampa just as they did in the playoffs, but will need to do so one game, and perhaps one drive at a time. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 1984: 5-11, 4th in Southern Division, no playoffs. Returning Stars: QB Walter Lewis, HB Marcus DuPree, WR Willie Gault, DE Reggie White, CB Jeff George New Arrivals: QB Damon Allen (Fullerton), CB Derrick Burroughs (Memphis), WR Tim Moffett (Ole Miss) Prospect: Memphis spent much of 1984 just trying to become a team, a typical expansion issue. They started the year depending on their defense, but by year’s end they were forced to try to outscore opponents. In the offseason they built up depth across the board, nothing flashy, but the 1985 version of the Showboats looks like it has the depth needed to last the full season. DE Reggie White remains the star, but HB Marcus Dupree has a lot of flash and could be the engine for this offense. They may still struggle to keep pace with Tampa and Birmingham, but a wild card may not be out of the question. JACKSONVILLE BULLS 1984: 6-10, 3rd in Division, No playoffs. Returning Stars: QB Doug Williams, WR Gary Clark, WR Perry Kemp, LB Vaughn Johnson New Arrivals: QB Ed Luther (SDG), HB George Adams (Kentucky), DE Willie Broughton (Miami), G Duval Love (UCLA) Prospect: Last year the Bulls were basically the Doug Williams aerial show. They found a gem in WR Gary Clark, who led the league in receptions and was Top 5 in yards. But, that was not enough to provide a winning record. In the offseason they have tried to add a more dynamic run game, adding both Kentucky’s George Adams and Tennessee’s Johnnie Jones in the rookie draft, and they looked to bolster their defense as well, with the signing of U. of Miami DE Willie Broughton. Is it enough? In this division we just don’t think so. They may challenge Memphis but we don’t see them faring well in a battle against either the Bandits or the Stallions for a division crown. For now, as in 1984, they may have to settle for having the strongest fanbase in the league. CENTRAL CONFERENCE Prediction: 1. Michigan Panthers 2. Houston Gamblers 3. Pittsburgh Maulers 4. Chicago Blitz MICHIGAN PANTHERS 1984: 14-2, Division Champion, USFL Champion. Returning Stars: QB Bobby Hebert, HB John Williams, WR Anthony Carter, WR Derek Holloway, LB John Corker, LB Ray Bentley, CB Clarence Chapman New Arrivals: DE Bob Otto (Idaho St), DB Garry Kimble (Sam Houston), DE Kevin Brooks (Michigan) Prospect: Michigan was utterly dominant in 1984. They lost two games, one when they rested a banged-up Bobby Hebert, and the second when they rested their starters for a meaningless Week 17 matchup. As long as Hebert stays healthy, this team will roll. They did not add much flashy talent in the offseason, holding only to the rookie draft, but with some additions to the defense, and depth all around, they look like a championship squad again. Our only concern is that last year we saw a rash of QB injuries, derailing many seasons. Michigan has not invested in a trustworthy backup to Hebert, so they had better hope they can keep him on the field this year. HOUSTON GAMBLERS 1984: 7-9, 3rd in Central, no playoffs. Returning Stars: QB Jim Kelly, WR Ricky Sanders, WR Gerald McNeil, LB Kiki DeAyala, FS Donald Dykes New Arrivals: QB Fred Besana, HB Paul Ott Caruth (Bama), HB Lynn Cain (ATL), DE Simon Fletcher (U. Houston) Prospect: Houston was an exciting team to watch last year, as OC Mouse Davis’s Run & Shoot offense kept the ball in the air. Jim Kelly is the perfect QB to run a gunslinging offense, but the inability of the Gamblers to balance their 3-wide passing system with a solid run game was a major issue. The Gamblers hope they have solved that issue with the combination of NFL veteran Lynn Cain and U. of Alabama star Paul Ott Carruth now sharing the carries with Todd Fowler. On defense the Gamblers gave up too many big plays, and had no luck rushing the passer. They signed local star Simon Fletcher to help on both counts. We think Houston is on to something with this offense, and in a weaker division, that may be enough to at least garner a wild card placement. PITTSBURGH MAULERS 1984: 6-10, 4th in Division, no playoffs. Returning Stars: QB Todd Blackledge, HB Mike Rozier, TE Mike Shaw, SS Dave Duerson New Arrivals: WR Danny Buggs (TBY), WR John Jefferson (SDG), FB Ron Wolfley. Prospect: Pittsburgh’s offense was anemic last year, despite the strong rushing performance of 1983 Heisman Winner Mike Rozier. They simply could not generate a consistent passing game to complement Rozier. For 1985 the Maulers added two weapons out wide, luring former Air Coryell wideout John Jefferson from the NFL and trading with Tampa to get slippery WR Danny Buggs. Hopefully having this talent out wide will help QB Todd Blackledge develop further. On defense the Maulers still rely on a team concept, with few recognizable names on that side of the ball. In our estimation, the defense will still be an issue if Pittsburgh wants to get over the hump and into the playoffs. CHICAGO BLITZ 1984: 7-9, 2nd in Division, no playoffs. Returning Stars: QB Vince Evans, WR Jackie Flowers, DE Junior Ah You, HB Calvin Murphy New Arrivals: HB Tim Spencer (ARZ), W Reggie Langhorne( Eliz City), DE Mike Golic (NDame), DB Ken Stills (Wisc) Prospect: It seems clear that the full-franchise flip between Chicago and Arizona did the Windy City no favors. Chicago’s woes deepened when former NFL QB Vince Evans went out for the season on IR. Evans is back, and raring to go in 1985, and the Blitz were able to retrieve HB Tim Spencer, a bright spot from the 1983 team, but they already had a decent run game with HB Calvin Murphy, so we are not sure how much better the Spencer move will make them. We like the look of rookie wideout Reggie Langhorne, but we suspect that Chicago will still be a ground & pound team at heart. On defense, the Blitz have an absolute beast in 2-time Sack Leader Junior Ah You. Have they added enough around him to mount a truly scary defense? We don’t see it. Chicago could surprise us. We just have not seen enough out of them yet to know, and that does not fill us with confidence about this team. PACIFIC DIVISION Projection: 1. Los Angeles Express 2. Oakland Invaders 3. Denver Gold 4. Arizona Wranglers LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 1984: 9-7, Division Winner. Lost in Conference Championship to Michigan. Returning Stars: QB Steve Young, HB Tony Boddie, HB Kevin Mack, WR Jo Jo Townsell, LB Danny Rich New Arrivals: WR Eric Martin (LSU), CB Ron Pitts (UCLA), DB Raphel Cherry (Hawaii) Prospect: The Pacific is perhaps the tightest division top to bottom. All 4 teams can make a claim to it, but of course that is because all 4 teams could finish at 7-9 in a division that has yet to have a breakout winner. LA has a lot of weapons on offense, and added what looks like a good complement to Jo Jo Townsell in LSU’s Eric Martin. The problem for the Express is that their defense has been midling at best. They added two new DB’s to try to get stingier against the pass, but without a significant pass rush presence, that may be a moot point. We see LA as the best of the bunch, but it is a bunch, and that means that any of these Pacific teams could leapfrog them if the breaks go their way. OAKLAND INVADERS 1984: 4-12, 4th in Division, no playoffs. Returning Stars: HB Arthur Whittington, WR Gordon Banks, LB Gary Plummer, LB Frank Manumaleuga New Arrivals: HC Dick Vermeil (NFL), QB Brian Sipe (NJ), HB Albert Bentley (MGN), CB Tory Nixon (SDSU) Prospect: It is a new day in Oakland. They have a new principal owner, a new head coach in former Eagle Dick Vermeil, a new starting QB in Brian Sipe, and a new attitude. This is a team looking for a breakout season. Last year, with Whittington out for most of the year and Fred Besana simply unable to sustain offense, the team went nowhere. With Sipe at the helm, and a solid backup to Whittington in former Michigan Panther Albert Bentley, the Invaders may have the tools they need. The defense is again led by the combination of Plummer and Manumaleuga at LB and they expect a lot from rookie DB Tory Nixon. Oakland has struggled for 2 years, but we like their new direction and we think the enthusiasm of coach Vermeil will lead to some very positive changes in the East Bay. DENVER GOLD 1984: 8-8, 2nd in Division. Lost to LA in Divisional Round. Returning Stars: QB Bob Gagliano, HB Harry Sydney, LB Putt Choate, DB Dave Dumars, CB David Martin New Arrivals: HB Lee Rouson (Colorado), TE Jay Novacek (Wyoming), WR Emile Harry (Stanford), LB Manu Tuiasosopo (NFL) Prospect: Denver has made the playoffs in both USFL seasons, based largely on a blue collar mentality and a balanced offense. While the team’s new owners may be a bit more willing to open the team’s purse strings, as seen with the signing of LB Manu Tuiasosopo from the NFL Seahawks, the formula may not change much. Manu was the only major free agent signing of the Gold, and while we like the early look of rookies like Jay Novacek and Emile Harry, there are just a lot of high-motor, low-hype players on this squad. It has worked to some degree for 2 years, let’s see if a 3rd will follow the pattern. ARIZONA WRANGLERS 1984: 7-9, 3rd in Division. Lost in Divisional Round to Michigan. Returning Stars: QB Rick Neuheisel, WR Trumaine Johnson, DT Kit Lathrop, CB Virgil Livers, LB Jim Fahnhorst New Arrivals: HC Frank Kush, HB Mike Pruitt (NFL), HB Owen Gill (Iowa), LB Brian Noble (ASU), LB Alex Moyer (Northwestern) Prospect: It took the Wranglers to sign a new head coach after the retirement of George Allen, but they like what they have gotten in hard-nosed former ASU Head Man, Frank Kush. Kush inherits a team that many say underachieved last year. There is a lot of talent on this squad, including a solid LB corps made even stronger with two promising rookie picks, a strong QB duo of Neuheisel (named the starter) and veteran Greg Landry, and a completely overhauled running game. Gone is Tim Spencer (back to Chicago), and in the fold are former Cleveland Brown Mike Pruitt and rookie Owen Gill of Iowa. If Kush can install a new system in short order and get the most out of his players, this is a team that will challenge for the division title, but there is a lot of work to be done and not a lot of time to do it. For now, we remain skeptical. SEASON PREDICTIONS USFL CHAMPIONSHIP: Michigan over Tampa Bay. Not a daring pick, just the most logical one. MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Jim Kelly, QB, Houston—If, as we suspect, the Run & Shoot will be better in its 2nd year, then Kelly will likely reap the rewards. COACH OF THE YEAR: Lee Corso, Washington. We like the direction Corso has this team on. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Kevin Greene, LB, Birmingham. It would be easy to say Flutie, but we just don’t see the talent around him to help him shine. Greene comes to a strong team and has a perfect slot at OLB just waiting for him. If he can shine at Legion Field the way he has shone at Auburn, we think he has the potential to be a star in the USFL.

Sports Illustrated, January 7, 1985 The USFL completed their third annual Territorial & Collegiate Draft yesterday, and while this year’s draft certainly had some of the biggest names in college football, and a lot of mystery about which of the drafted players will bypass the NFL and head to the spring league, one of the biggest names has already signed on. Boston College QB Doug Flutie was chosen by New Jersey with a pick they acquired from Boston in the Territorial Draft, and appeared alongside Generals Head Coach Walt Michaels, #22 jersey ready and waiting. Flutie, who many believed would drop to the 2nd or 3rd round of the NFL Draft, was quick to sign with New Jersey because of the opportunity to start immediately and to play in a major market. New Jersey had gone all in on the diminutive quarterback, trading NFL Vet and 1980 NFL MVP Brian Sipe earlier this summer to make room and provide Flutie with a clear path to the starting QB position. Flutie was not the only player to commit to the USFL on its first day. The Oakland Invaders, holding the first pick in the Collegiate Draft had been in communication with their pick, Cal QB Gale Gilbert throughout the past month, so Gilbert too was on hand to show off his new Invaders Jersey at the New York Draft site. For the rest of the picks, and for the 16 USFL franchises, the dance now begins as we wait and see who will sign on to the USFL and attend training camp in just a few weeks, and who will wait and see where their NFL fortunes will hold. While we cannot guarantee that any of the drafted players will sign with the USFL squad which selected them, we offer this list of players of note selected by each squad: ARIZONA: QB Rusty Hilger (OK State), RB Owen Gill (Iowa), QB Randall Cunningham (UNLV), G Rich Moran (SDSU), LB Brian Noble (ASU), DB Lynnden Brown (Ariz), RB Kevin McCall (Ariz) BIRMINGHAM: CB Issaic Holt (Alcorn), T Louis Garza (NMSt), RB Ron O’Neal (Auburn), DE Dallas Cameron (Miami), LB Kevin Greene (Auburn), LB Freddie Joe Nunn (Ole Miss), RB Greg Allen (FSU) BOSTON: DE Richard Byrd (So Miss), LB Emanuael King (Bama), LB Tracey Mack (Mizzou) T Robert Cury (Mizzou), RB Freddie Sims (Okla), G Kevin Langford (LSU) CHICAGO: DE Mike Golic (NDame), WR Reggie Langhorne (Ez City), WR Eddie Brown (Miami), DB Mike Heaven (Illinois), WR Al Toon (Wisc), WR Steve Tasker (NWestern), DB Ken Stills (Wisc) DENVER: T Lomas Brown (Florida), WR Kelley Johnson (Colo), WR Emile Harry (Stanford), DB Anthony Tuggle (Nicholls), TE Jay Novacek (Wyom), RB Lee Rouson (Colo), LB Scott Strasburger (Nebr) HOUSTON: RB Paul Ott Carruth (Bama), QB John Mazur (TAMU), DT Ray Childress (TAMU), DE Simon Fletcher (Houston), DT Gregg Bomkamp (Baylor), T K Foster (TAMU), DE Chris Doleman (Pitt) JACKSONVILLE: RB Roosevelt Snipes (FSU), K Kevin Butler (UGa), TE Oliver White (UKy), RB George Adams (UKy), B Johnnie Jones (Tenn), G Duval Love (UCLA), WR Andre Reed (Kutztown), DE Willie Broughton (Miami) LOS ANGELES: WR Eric Martin (LSU), TE Mark Boyer (USC), RB Mike Walters (SDSU), DE Keith Cruise (NWestern), CB Ron Pitts (UCLA), QB Steve Bono (UCLA), LB Jack Del Rio (USC), WR Mike Young (UCLA) MEMPHIS: TE Jonathon Hayes (Iowa), RB James Williams (Memphis), RB Punkin Williams (Mem St), CB Derrick Burroughs (Memphis), WR Tim Moffett (Ole Miss), QB Damon Allen (Fullerton), G Rob Monaco (Vanderbilt), K Fuad Reveiz (Tenn) MICHIGAN: RB Curtis Adams (CMU), DE Bob Otto (ID St), C Kevin Glover (Maryland), RB Bruce King (Purdue), TE Ken Wisenhunt (Ga Tech), C Mar Napolitan (Mich St), DE Kevin Brooks (Mich) NEW JERSEY: QB Doug Flutie (BC), RB Jamie Covington (Syr), QB Steve Calabria (Colgate), RB Steve Sewell (Okla), DE Lionel Washington (Rutgers), WR Vance Johnson (Ariz), DB Kerry Glenn (Minn), WR Buster Rhymes (Okla) OAKLAND: QB Gale Gilbert (Cal), C Trevor Matich (BYU), G Matt Moran (Stan), C Brent Martin (Stan), K Mark Harmon (Stan), RBV Jacque Robinson (Wash), DB Audray McMillian (Houston), CB Tory Nixon (SDSU) PHILADELPHIA: QB Doug Strang (Penn St), WR Gerard Phelan (BC), DB Rich Miano (Hawaii), DE Tony Simmons (Tenn), DT George Little (Iowa), WR Jerry Rice (Miss Valley), WR Russell Carter (Temple), LB Micah Moon (UNC) PITTSBURGH: QB Mike Tomczak (Ohio St), T Jim Lachey (Ohio St), WR Willie Drewrey (WV), RB Marlon McIntyre (Pitt), DB James Bowers (Mem St), FB Ron Wolfley (V), G Mark Krerowicz (Ohio St), DB Kelvin Bell (Ohio St) TAMPA BAY: DB Reggie Pleasant (Clemson), K Donald Igwebuike (Clemson), RB Lorenzo Hampton (Florida), G Dave Heffernan (Miami), T Kevin Allen (Indiana), DB Herb Welch (UCLA), DT William Perry (Clemson), T Mark Behning (Nebr) WASHINGTON: QB Frank Reich (Maryland), CB Lester Lyles (UVa), DE Bruce Smith (Va Tech), LB Eric Wilson (Maryland), TE Mark Bavaro (NDame),WR Herman Fontenot (LSU), G Bill Fralic (Pitt)

Sporting News, August 14, 1984 Just one month after putting on a triumphant Championship Game in Tampa, the owners of the USFL met in New York to determine the future of the upstart spring football league. While the big news of the week was expected to be a report and vote on the proposed move to a fall schedule, sad news derailed the first day of the meetings, leading to a change in tone and focus for the meeting. It was announced by management of the New Jersey Generals that team owner Donald Trump would be unable to attend the meeting. Trump, who was expected to be the loudest voice in the room in favor of a fall calendar, has has some legal issues surrounding properties he owns and was forced to appear in court. Head Coach and GM Walt Michaels would stand in for Trump during the meetings, however, his position on a calendar shift was certainly not as strong or pervasive as the outspoken owner of the Franchise. By the time the vote was taken, Trump had been able to return, but the damage was done. FALL v. SPRING Ted Taube (Oakland) and Fred Bullard (Jacksonville) would have to take up the charge for a fall calendar, but in Tampa owner John Bassett they faced a charismatic spokesperson for retaining the spring calendar, and an argument backed up with several months of market research as well as affidavits from numerous USFL sponsors, including television partners ABC and ESPN, all pushing for the league to retain its league structure. While most of the discussion on this pivotal topic was conducted behind closed doors, it has leaked that while several franchises in non-NFL cities argued in favor of a fall season, the vast majority of franchises, which share cities with NFL rivals, saw a move to fall as a suicide pact, one which would cost them sponsors, television revenue, and certainly gate receipts as the league would be in direct competition with the NFL for fans in the fall. In the end, what came out of the discussions was a compromise position. The league would remain in the Spring for the foreseeable future, but two actions would be taken to ensure financial viability. The first would be a revision of the revenue sharing agreement to take into account the cost of business in different markets (stadium and office space rental, workers compensation costs in various states, and other business expenses) as well as a tighter gate revenue policy which required teams that fell below 25,000 average attendance to receive a lesser cut of the shared revenue, a motivator for some franchises to adopt more aggressive marketing campaigns or potentially consider relocation. The second, and more controversial, compromise was a decision to mount an anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL, citing both ongoing stadium lease conflicts in several cities as well as mounting evidence that the NFL was pressuring current and potential USFL sponsors to avoid signing lucrative multi-year contracts with the fledgling league. The final component of the lawsuit would make use of documents which demonstrate attempts by the NFL to limit TV contracts for the new league. The league will argue that the NFL has been engaging in monopolistic manipulation in several key markets. The proposed suit would be brought to the courts in the fall of 1984 with hopes that resolution could be found prior to the 1986 season. Of the owners who made public statements after the vote, only Mr. Trump was outspoken about his feelings on the matter. Stating that the league would always be small potatoes if it stayed in the Spring, and that his interests did not provide him with the time to "waste on a project that isn't going anywhere", it seems clear that at least at present Mr. Trump is reconsidering his decision to buy into the USFL, and we may soon be seeing him seek to divest himself from what he clearly views as a losing proposition, spring football. ATTENDANCE Leaguewide attendance was a second major topic of discussion and debate within the league meetings. While it was clear in 1984 that the recent expansion was a success, with Jacksonville, Memphis, Pittsburgh and Houston all averaging over 30,000 in attendance (Jacksonville led the league with over 54,000 average attendance), there remain concerns that some of the larger markets in the league--Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Oakland and Washington—had all fallen below the target attendance of 30,000 per game. New ownership in Oakland and LA made assurances that they would be more aggressive in local advertising and partnerships to increase revenue. Boston, despite moving to a stadium with a 33,000 capacity, still could not account for their attendance hovering in the low 20,000s (still an improvement over 1983). The biggest issue, however, might be Chicago, where attendance hovered just over 20,000 and where owner Ted Dietrich has expressed an interest in backing out of the league. While no official decision on Chicago ownership has been made, the league is very conscious of the fact that television revenue is tied to markets and any disruption in Chicago was likely to make ABC/ESPN wary about future contracts. NFL SIGNINGS While not directly discussed at the USFL meetings, it has become clear that the league has largely adopted a strategy to focus on the annual collegiate draft, rather than raiding NFL rosters, as the primary source of “name” players for the league. For the just concluded season, a few teams sought out NFL starters to enhance their rosters, most notably New Jersey with the signing of Brian Sipe at quarterback and Gary Barbaro at safety. Most franchises utilized their exempt positions on college stars such as DE Reggie White, RB Mike Rozier, WR Willie Gault and QB’s Jim Kelly, Steve Young, Todd Blackledge, and Rick Neuheisel. There were a few which stuck to the lower-budget model and have unused exemption slots for the salary cap, most notably Denver and Oakland. As part of the new “calendar compromise” these clubs will have to ensure in 1985 and beyond that at least 2 of 3 exemptions are utilized. Both Oakland and Denver have begun to move in this direction with recent signings of NFL players, and we expect this to continue following the January USFL draft. There have been a handful of early NFL signings, and some trades within the USFL triggered by the signings. Most notable have been the following: Jacksonville has signed San Diego Chargers QB Ed Luther to a 3 year deal. The arrival of the Charger backup to work behind ALL-USFL QB Doug Williams strengthens the Bulls’ bench but may mean the end of backup, and former Jets, Bills and Broncos QB Matt Robinson. The Houston Gamblers, perhaps wishing to take some pressure off of Jim Kelly, have signed former Atlanta Falcon RB Lynn Cain to a 2 year deal. Houston also acquired Denver wideout Robert Johnson in a trade that sent a 6th round draft pick back to the Gold. Denver enhanced their already stalwart defense, signing former Seattle Seahawk DT Manu Tuiasosopo to a 2 year deal. In perhaps the most interesting move of the early offseason, New Jersey, Boston, and Oakland completed a three-team trade. After a lackluster season, the Generals part with former NFL quarterback Brian Sipe, who will now play for the Oakland Invaders (a sign that Oakland’s new ownership is serious about bringing some name recognition to their franchise). Oakland, in turn, sends Boston their 2nd round draft pick in the open draft, and Boston agrees to provide New Jersey with their first pick in the Territorial draft. While New Jersey front office staff have been tight lipped about the choice to utilize Boston’s pick, speculation is running wild that the Generals are already in negotiations with Heisman winner and Boston College superstar QB Doug Flutie. Rumors are swirling about potential USFL signings of additional NFL players, with names like Richard Todd, Steve Fuller, George Rogers, Wilbert Montgomery, Mike Renfro, and Tom Cousineau being mentioned, though many suspect that these established NFL players may also be using the USFL to negotiate new contracts with their NFL franchises. Only time will tell how many and which NFL players will make the leap to the Spring league for their 1985 season. NEW OWNER, NEW LOOK The most lighthearted news out of the recently completed USFL Owners Summer Meeting came from new LA Express lead owner Ted Field, who unveiled a new uniform set for the Express. While largely paralleling the Navy & Silver look the Express have worn for the past two years, the uniform adds greater emphasis to the team’s little-seen third color, burgundy. The new uniforms feature bolder burgundy striping on the helmet, sleeves and pants, while adding a burgundy outer piping to the player numbers. No change to the logo was announced. A tweak from the new owner, but one which retains the identity of a team on the rise. Now we just have to see if there will be fans in the stands in LA, well, Anaheim actually, to buy replica jerseys.

Sporting News, September 14, 1984 Never let it be said that the USFL lacks excitement. On the field we see the excitement in the countless close games, big comebacks and astounding plays, but during the offseason the moves made by each team’s front office are as engaging as any found on the field. As we reach the midpoint of the league’s down time, with the Draft not arriving until early January, there is still plenty of news coming out of the league. OWNERSHIP UPDATE Earlier in the year our sources highlighted several potential changes to USFL ownership, and it appears our sources were very accurate in their early information. Los Angeles has indeed added an investor in Interscope President Ted Field. Oakland has found their own golden goose in tech millionaire William Millard. These are partnership deals with the two franchises existing ownership. In the case of Ted Field, the role of CEO of the Express organization is his, while William Millard has opted to allow Ted Taube, the Invaders’ original financier to retain the primary position within team operations. Also as expected, the Denver Gold now have an entirely new ownership group, headed up by brothers Dick and Charles Montfort, whose money comes largely from meatpacking. The Montforts were announced this past week and have already committed to keeping 2nd year coach Craig Morton at the helm of the team. After an 0-4 start, Morton lead the Gold to an 8-4 finish and a playoff spot despite the Gold having the lowest salary pool in the league. That appears to be a changing aspect of the Gold with the Montforts in town, as Denver announced their first significant NFL player signing in their franchises’s existence (details on that are below). And finally, in a press release sent out just yesterday, the USFL Ownership Executive Committee has announced that they will be assisting the ownership groups in both Chicago and Boston to locate new investors and ownership teams. They are hoping to review bids within the next 4 months, and, of course, a priority will be placed on retention of these two large markets. Despite this interest, rumors are already spreading that several rejected 1984 expansion groups are hoping to buy into the league, and the potential for relocation cannot be taken off the table for either the Blitz or the Breakers. COACHES In addition to ownership news, this past month has seen one of the two head coaching vacancies filled. The Oakland Invaders, having been rumored to be looking at several current NFL coordinators, went a very different direction, signing former Philadelphia Eagles and UCLA head coach Dick Vermeil to be the new face of the franchise. Known as an enthusiastic “player’s coach” with a strong background in creative offense, Coach Vermeil resigned from his position with the Eagles after the 1982 season, having taken the Eagles to Super Bowl XV, but suffered a rough 1982 strike-shortened season and departed the NFL, citing stress as a contributing factor. It appears that Vermeil has found some relief and is eager to return to football. Currently working on developing a staff to support him, Vermeil has stated that he is excited to return to football and to California, where he started his career as a HS coach, before stints at College of San Mateo, Napa Junior College, Stanford, and with both UCLA and the LA Rams. The signing of Vermeil leaves only the Arizona Wrangler position unfilled. Arizona has interviewed 3 candidates, including former Texas Longhorn coach Darrell Royal and current Tampa Bay Bandits Offensive coach John Rauch. Many are suspicious that the delay in finding a coach is due to interest in signing a current NFL coach, which may delay the process until December or January, which is a risky proposition for any USFL team, with training camps opening in late January. PLAYER NEWS The third piece of the offseason hot stove is player acquisition. While the USFL draft of new collegiate players will not occur until this Winter, trades and free agent movement within the league, as well as the signing of NFL players who are either released from their NFL teams or who are between contracts is well underway. As we have seen in past years, the USFL has had only limited reach in signing NFL free agents, as its teams seem more focused on acquiring big name college talent. This year certainly seems to be following this trend as there has been little poaching from the NFL to the USFL or vice versa. Obviously the use of multi-year contracts in both leagues has been a major contributor to this, but there also seems to be an unspoken agreement about roster poaching, at least once one league has players under contract. But, this is not to say that the waiver wire and free agency period has been without any news. In addition to the announced USFL signings earlier this summer of Chargers QB Ed Luther (JAX), Atlanta RB Lynn Cain (HOU), and Seahawk DT Manu Tuiasosopo (DEN), there have been a few noteworthy signings: 1983 Champion Tampa Bay, seeking to find a 2nd receiver to line up opposite ALL-USFL Wideout Eric Truvilliion, have signed former UF and Cincinnati Bengal receiver Cris Collinsworth to a 3 year deal. They immediately traded 3rd WR Danny Buggs to the needy Pittsburgh Maulers for draft considerations. Arizona has traded former Ohio State RB Tim Spencer back to Chicago (where he played his first season before the AZ-CHI franchise swap). Spencer has been the lead rusher for the franchise both seasons (In Chicago and then in Arizona) but has yet to crack the upper echelon of USFL backs, despite averaging 952 yards per season. With a vacancy at RB, Arizona reached out to the NFL and signed former Cleveland Brown RB Mike Pruitt to fill the gap. Pruitt became expendable to the Browns with the combination of Earnest Byner and Charles White on the roster. The 8 year NFL vet turns 30 this year, but Arizona clearly feels that he has gas left in the tank to trade away the younger Spencer. New Jersey is trying to add some flair to their offense, signing former NY Jets wideout, Johnnie “Lam” Jones. Jones, known as a deep threat with a penchant for avoiding contact in favor of deep ball acrobatics, is expected to be an instant starter for a Generals offense that will start their third QB in three years in search of a passing game. We still don’t know who that QB will be, with New Jersey having traded Brian Sipe to the Oakland Invaders. Acquiring the Boston Breaker’s first territorial pick in the upcoming draft is leading many to speculate that owner Donald Trump is seeking to sign Heisman winner Doug Flutie out of Boston College to lead the Generals. The Pittsburgh Maulers are clearly concerned that their C-List wide receiving corps was a big reason they finished last year out of playoff contention. In addition to getting Tampa wideout Danny Buggs in trade, they have signed former Charger and Packer wideout John Jefferson. Jefferson, who was a regular 1,000 yard receiver, has struggled with the Packers, and now will likely be catching passes from former Penn State star Todd Blackledge. Among other USFL moves, not involving NFL players, Jacksonville has, as expected, traded away backup QB Matt Robinson. The former NFL backup was moved to the Boston Breakers for draft considerations and will now likely serve as the clipboard-carrier behind 2nd year QB Tony Eason. Arizona acquired DT Eddie Weaver from Los Angeles for a late round pick. LB Kevin Teel is on his 3rd team in 3 years, having moved from the Federals to the Showboats and now the Houston Gamblers. Oakland was able to acquire rarely used Michigan Panther RB Albert Bentley for a future draft pick, while Washington has acquired former Express CB and Kick Returner Mark Berry.

USA Today, August 7, 1984 With a successful second season behind them, the USFL is looking ahead to 1985, and the 16 franchises that make up the league are doing the same. Some have undergone coaching changes, some have seen retirements from their rosters, others are reshuffling in an attempt to improve their rosters. No team will stand pat this offseason, but some have some major rebuilding (or just plain building) to do. In this article we will look at each franchise to determine what they will hope to do as the Free Agency Period and dual Territorial and Collegiate Drafts loom. How much will USFL teams raid the NFL, and vice versa? Who will use their roster cap exemptions to sign big name players, either from the NFL ranks or the recent class of college players ready for the pro game. No predictions here, just analysis of what each team needs and how they hope to build for 1985. ARIZONA WRANGLERS (7-9) Cap Exempt Players: RB Tim Spencer, WR Louis Lipps Key Needs: HB, DE, QB Arizona has talent throughout their roster, with their defense improving significantly from ’83 to ’84, but there are two glaring holes in this roster. The first is at RB, where Ohio State product Tim Spencer simply has not produced. The Wranglers may try to trade Spencer, free up an exempt position, and bring in a big name NFL or rookie RB to fill the gap and add some dynamism to their rushing attack. Their second great need is at DE. The Wranglers in 2 seasons have been at or near the bottom in sacks. In a league with so much QB talent, having talented defensive ends to pressure those quarterbacks is essential. We also added QB to the list not because we don’t see Rick Neuheisel as a rising start, but because we suspect that Greg Landry may just retire this offseason and with Neuheisel’s injury history, this is a team that needs a solid backup. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (10-6) Cap Exempt Players: RB Joe Cribbs Key Needs: DT, TE, CB, FS, RT The Stallions have 2 exempt slots open, and a decent amount of cap space for a championship contender and they should spend most of that on defense. The Stalliions have quality and depth at most of the offensive positions. They could use an upgrade at RT, and they have made little use of their TE position over their first 2 years, but both of those are low-cost positions. The glaring need for the Stalliions is a run-stuffing DT to fill the middle of the line and then some greater skill in the defensive backfield. These again are not high cost positions, but don’t be surprised if Birmingham goes after a top NFL prospect and uses one of their exempt spots on that DT position. BOSTON BREAKERS (9-7) Cap Exempt Players: QB Tony Eason, RB Buford Jordan Key Needs: QB, CB, DE, OL The just-announced retirement of QB Johnnie Walton, who has led the Breakers to winning seasons in both USFL outings, means that the team will now be in the hand of 1984 rookie Tony Eason, a major coup of a signing who saw almost no action last year. Boston will need to walk the tightrope of signing someone who can fill in when needed, who may be able to mentor the young Illinois product, but who is not seen as a challenger to the position, creating unneeded controversy. The rest of their needs deal with depth or improvement, such as their desire to increase their pass rush and to solidify the nickel corner position. O-line depth will also be a priority for the Breakers. CHICAGO BLITZ (7-9) Cap Exempt Players: NONE Key Needs: WR, DL, K While 7-9 is an improvement over 1983’s 5-11 campaign, Chicago will need more to drum up fan support in the Windy City. They spent most of the year with rookie backup Blair Kiel at QB, so they hope for the return of a healthy Vince Evans. They have not signed anyone as an Exempt player, so they have room to make a splash this offseason. Wideout may be the key position to spend some money, as is the defensive line. Also expect Chicago to seek a more consistent kicker, a low cost position, and to try to build depth across the line. Their main concern might just be CB, where neither starter impressed this year. DENVER GOLD (8-8) Cap Exempt Players: NONE Key Needs: WR, HB, CB, DL Denver, known for frugality, may be turning over a new leaf, in part due to league pressure to align their spending with other franchises, a new minimum salary cap, and the new ownership who seem to be a little more inclined to spend. If they are going to spend, they may want to look at RB, where the combo of Harry Sydney and Scott Stamper has been adequate, but uninspiring. Wideout is another area, assuming they trust the combo of Gagliano and Penrose at QB. Vic James was pretty solid last season, but there simply was not a reliable second option out wide. The LB corps is solid, anchored by Putt Choate, but they could look to improve in the secondary and on the line. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (7-9) Cap Exempt Players: QB Jim Kelly Key Needs: RB, G, T, The Run & Shoot does not call for a lot of run game, but the Gamblers clearly need more than what they got out of Todd Fowler this year. With 2 exempt spaces left, signing a quality RB is a good idea, and then the expansion squad needs to improve on its O-line in year 2, not just for the run, but for Jim Kelly’s safety as well. On defense, the 2 safeties played well and the LB corps is solid, so it will be the CB and DL positions that will garner the most attention. JACKSONVILLE BULLS (6-10) Cap Exempt Players: QB Doug Williams, WR Gary Clark Key Needs: HB, OL, DL, CB The Bulls lived and died on the arm of Doug Williams, so getting more O-line help is key. It also would benefit them to get a reliable RB to take some of the pressure off Williams. Sidney Thornton was injured for much of 1984, and not particularly impressive when he did play. The backups were absolutely not up to the level they need to be in the USFL. On defense, the D-line needs some dynamism and they could look for a top level CB to compliment a decent set of safeties. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (9-7) Cap Exempt Players: QB Steve Young, G Gary Zimmerman Key Needs: DL, WR, CB LA found their franchise QB in BYU’s Steve Young and they have a solid RB rotation with Boddie, Mack and Harrington, but their passing game is limited by a lack of depth at WR. Jo Jo Townsell is solid but the Express, and Young, will want more beyond him at the position. The Express also had major issues on defense last year, due in large part to an overmanned D-line. They should plan to sign several new players along the line to help their D put more pressure on opposing QB’s and keep opposing RB’s from running right around, over and past them. The offense is solid, the D should be the focus this year. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (5-11) Cap Exempt Players: RB Marcus DuPree, WR Willie Gault, DE Reggie White Key Needs: FS, TE, DL, QB Memphis used their exempt slots wisely, signing three dynamic playmakers, but this means that they have to be moderate in their budget use while still having some significant holes to fill. Walter Lewis was adequate at QB, and it is unlikely Memphis will sign a big-name QB with their budget, but perhaps a solid backup who can compete and motivate Lewis is in order. They could also use more weapons for Lewis, perhaps at TE or slot receiver. Their defense started the year solid but slipped late. Too much is on 2nd year player Reggie White, so getting either a bookend DE for him, or a solid NT to take on double teams is essential. Improvement at safety, particularly Free Safety would also help this team improve on passing downs. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (14-2) Cap Exempt Players: WR A. Carter Key Needs: Depth, DE, TE Only Carter is a Cap Exempt player at present, but ongoing negotiations with both QB Bobby Hebert and LB John Corker may quickly fill up the other two slots. That said, a team that went 14-2 is bound not to have as many needs as other squads. Depth will be a key aspect of the Panther’s offseason strategy, but don’t be surprised if they look in the draft for a pass-rushing DE who can take some of the pressure off the Panthers’ outstanding LB corps. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (8-8) Cap Exempt Players: RB Herschel Walker, QB Brian Sipe, SS Gary Barbaro Key Needs: DL, CB, HB, WR After two grueling seasons of being the only major weapon, Herschel Walker has to be hoping that New Jersey develops more talent in the passing game. Their two 1984 draft picks (Clemmons and Knight) at wideout did not exactly light up the league. It may also be time to consider signing a decent reserve HB to help spell Walker. Giving the ball to FB Maurice Carthon has worked short term, but Walker needs to get some help. New Jersey’s defense had major issues with the run game last year, so expect some capital to be spent on D-Line improvements as well. But, with all 3 exempt slots filled, the Generals are unlikely to sign any big names, unless, of course, they are willing to part with one of those top 3 signees. OAKLAND INVADERS (4-12) Cap Exempt Players: WR H. Ellard Key Needs: QB, DL, OL, HB The loss of Arthur Whittington last season manifest just how shallow the Invaders were on offense. After two failed seasons we cannot imagine that they will stand pat with Fred Besana at QB, and with new owners on board, perhaps there is interest in a major name signing to draw fan interest in a team that has given them little to cheer for so far. With Ellard and Banks the WR position looks solid of they could get a QB to deliver them the ball. So, perhaps some O-line depth too, to ease the pressure. The Oakland D has some players, but needs to improve, mostly on the D-Line and at cornerback. And signing a solid running back in case Whittington cannot return to his 1983 form may also be a need in Oakland. PHILADELPHIA STARS (9-7) Cap Exempt Players: HB Kelvin Bryant, HB Johnny Hector, DE Will Fuller Key Needs: CB, DT, FB While a division title is always a good thing, the 1984 season of 9-7 was a far cry from the 12-4 performance of the year before. That said, this is a team with a plethora of talent already. We are not sure that using 2 exempt spaces on the RB position is wise, but it is what it is. So, what should Philly be shopping for in the bargain bin? The defense is solid but could use depth, particularly at CB and DT. And, as weird as it sounds to say, the Stars may want to invest in a 3rd RB, this time a solid run-blocking FB to help spring Bryant and Hector to more big gainers. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (6-10) Cap Exempt Players: RB Mike Rozier, QB Todd Blackledge Key Needs: Pittsburgh went big last year, signing the Heisman winner in HB Mike Rozier, and then double dipping by signing expected NFL first rounder, QB Todd Blackledge. The problem is they did not do a great job of surrounding those two with a solid team. So, the mission for Pittsburgh this year is quantity. They need to improve in almost every area. The O-line needs more of a pass protection focus, they have weaknesses at every level of the defense as well, so hit those free agency wires and draft well, because Pittsburgh has a lot of improvement needed to be competitive. TAMPA BAY BANDITS (12-4) Cap Exempt Players: DT Adam Carreker Key Needs: Tampa is in a very enviable position. They have a ton of talent, which is still under pretty low-cost contract. We expect that both Gary Anderson and Eric Truvillion will seek to be exempt players when they renegotiate for 1986, but for the next year, they are not, and that gives Tampa the ability to fix some holes on defense and take a 3rd shot at a championship run. Cornerback is a major area of concern for the Bandits, so expect at least 1 pick there and maybe a free agent too. An edge rusher (at DE or LB) may also be in the cards. WASHINGTON FEDERALS (7-9) Cap Exempt Players: RB Craig James Key Needs: TE, CB, S, LB, WR Seven wins is a great improvement over 1983’s 3-win season, and the acquisition of QB Reggie Collier almost was enough in itself to propel the Feds into the playoffs. But, in the end, their defense was far too porous and they lacked weapons in the pass game. So, expect Washington to try to address these two areas. We expect them to sign either a speedy wideout or a pass-catching tight end (or both), and to focus most of their draft on defense, trying to find talent at all three levels. They have some Cap Exempt slots to work with, so perhaps an NFL signing is not out of the question.

Sporting News, July 30, 1984 With two seasons completed and several USFL franchises seeing serious red in their ledgers, it is not surprising that we are now seeing some ownership changes across the league. League sources have revealed that no fewer than 4 franchises are likely to propose ownership changes or restructuring to the League’s Executive Finance Committee. According to our sources within the league offices in New York, we should anticipate the following announcements to be made official over the following few weeks. OAKLAND The Oakland Invaders are bringing in a new majority owner. While Ted Taube is expected to remain a significant member of the ownership group, and may retain his position as Team President, it is anticipated that the Invaders will announce that the new lead investor in the franchise is William Millard, tech entrepreneur and owner of the computer retail chain Computerland. Millard is a Bay Area resident, and while attendance in Oakland has been poor this past season, the franchise is expected to remain at the Oakland-Alameda Stadium. LOS ANGELES The LA Express are expected to announce that Mr. Frederick Woodruff (“Ted”) Field will be added to the ownership group as soon as this month. Mr. Field is best known as the founder of Interscope Communication, whose film “Revenge of the Nerds” was a huge hit this past summer. While Interscope is the newest of Mr. Field’s investments, he has a diverse portfolio and was recently listed in the Forbes ranking of the wealthiest men in America. Mr. Field is expected to be a silent partner, with Alan Harmon staying on as the head of the ownership team. DENVER The Denver Gold are in final negotiations for the sale of the franchise by Ron Blanding to an ownership group headed by the brothers Dick and Charles Monfort. The two brothers are local investors linked to Montford of Colorado, a meat packing consortium. They have been vocal advocates for bringing Major League Baseball to the Denver market. It is anticipated that they will continue this effort, while also bringing a more risk-tolerant attitude to the Gold. Mr. Blanding opted to sell the franchise after the league ownership executive committee put into place salary cap requirements which would force greater expenditure by the Gold on player and staff. Denver has been one of the most frugal franchises in the league, a concern which other owners cite as part of their attempts to balance expenditure and revenue sharing. It is anticipated that the Montford brothers will seek to bring in through free agency and the draft a more nationally recognizable talent pool. CHICAGO The league is also preparing for Dr. Ted Dietrich and the ownership group of the Chicago Blitz to seek either a new ownership group or league-sponsored ownership for the Blitz. Chicago has been on of the lowest revenue-generators in the league in both 1983 and 1984. The transfer from Jim Joseph to Dr. Dietrich as the two swapped franchises (Chicago and Arizona) has not led to greater revenue for the Blitz and it seems clear that Dr. Dietrich will seek to sell off the franchise. It is anticipated that the league will require that the franchise retain its Chicago location as this has direct impact on the league’s television contracts, Chicago being one of the largest markets in the 16-team league. BOSTON George Matthews, owner of the Boston Breakers has also expressed interest in a possible sale of the franchise. While they are only at the exploratory stage, it seems clear that limited capacity, first at Nickerson Field, and now at Harvard Stadium, as well as poor attendance overall, may be motivating factors for the franchise to relocate from Boston should a sale come through. Unlike Chicago, a departure from the Boston market would not immediately lead to alterations in the league’s television contracts with ABC and ESPN. Obviously, any relocation would need to be approved by the owner’s executive committee, and the destination city would have to be considered a market comparable to those already in place. While it is certainly a positive to see new investment in the USFL, particularly in those cities which have proven to be difficult for the league, the potential for franchise suspension or relocation adds significant risk for the league. Any signs of instability will only heighten concerns as the league discusses possible rescheduling of the 1985 or 1986 season from spring to fall, and may cause ongoing negotiation with sponsorship partners as well as with ABC/ESPN to be impacted.

The Michigan Panthers fulfilled their dream season by bringing home the USFL title, defeating the Birmingham Stallions 33-27 in overtime in an exciting matchup of two strong clubs. The Panthers, who began the year 11-0 behind a stingy, hard hitting defense and the dynamic play of quarterback Bobby Hebert, were the odds on favorites to win as they entered the playoffs having only lost twice all season (with one of those being a Week 17 resting of their starters.) Hebert got some payback after the Panthers were bumped from the playoffs in 1983 as he sat on the bench with an injury. Hebert would not be denied this year, throwing for 310 yards and 3 scores, including the overtime winner, to lead the Panthers to victory. For Birmingham, the return of starting quarterback Cliff Stoudt produced a conundrum, as their backup, 1983 starter Bob Lane, had played very well in two playoff games to get the Stallions to the Championship. Coach Rollie Dotsch went back to his starter, but Stoudt struggled against the stingy Panther defense. Relying heavily on league rushing champion Joe Cribbs, the Stallions were able to put a scare into the Panthers, mounting a fierce second half comeback, but in the end, the league’s best team proved themselves just that with an overtime score to take the title. The game did not begin auspiciously for Panther QB Bobby Hebert. His third throw in the game was tipped, picked off, and returned for a score by Birmingham’s Frederick Wilder. But, the Panthers offense was undaunted and over the course of the first half, they would mount several successful scoring drives to take what seemed like a commanding 20-7 lead into the half. Two Bojovic field goals and two Hebert TD passes, one to TE Mike Cobb and an acrobatic 34 yarder to wideout Derek Holloway, gave Michigan the advantage. When Michigan scored again on the a John Williams 2 yard run to begin the 2nd half, the Panthers must have felt like the game was theirs, up 27-7, but there is a lot of fight in these Stallions. Cliff Stoudt rallied the troops and the Stallions would score the final 20 points in regulation over a quarter and a half to tie the game and send it to overtime. Behind 115 yards from Joe Cribbs, the Stallions turned momentum their way, leading to a Michael Haddix plunge for their 2nd score of the day. In the 4th they would add on a Scott Norwood field goal and a short Stoudt to Ross TD pass to pull back to within 3. Scott Norwood would once again be called upon to save the Stallions as, with 11 seconds left to play, he hit a 33 yard FG to tie the game and send it to overtime. Michigan had struggled for much of the second half, but their firepower quickly became apparent and came alive in overtime. After winning the toss and receiving the kickoff, the Panthers started the drive on their own 22 yard line. A quick slant to Holloway got them a first down at the 34. John Williams ran for 2 to get them to the 34, and then, on 2nd and 8, the Panthers took a shot. Anthony Carter ran a slant and go, and with the success of the slant two plays earlier, the CB bit on the short route and found himself trying to pursue the lightning fast Carter down the sideline. Hebert threw a perfect arcing ball which Carter caught in stride, allowing him to glide down the sideline untouched for the 64 yard score to win the game. It was a fitting final play for a team that had depended on the big play all season. Hebert would be named MVP of the Championship, to go along with his regular season and playoff MVP titles. In a year when it seemed the Panthers could do no wrong, they proved their dominance by fighting off a game opponent, and pulling out a championship moment when one was most needed. And for a second year in a row the USFL put on quite a show in its Championship Game. The overtime thriller followed a 1983 Championship decided by only 4 points, proving once again that the USFL knows how to put on a show, and that this upstart league is making a name for itself as the “More Fun League”.

Two outstanding games showcased the talent and tenacity of the USFL brand of football. The two championship games with a combined 8 points between winners and losers, and with a significant upset in the mix, brought all the excitement of playoff football to two large and enthusiastic crowds. Once again Michigan had over 60,000 in attendance as they faced off against the LA Express, while Tampa had just over 55,000 in attendance for their rivalry matchup against Birmingham. Two great games down and a championship to be played as we near the climax of the 1984 season. SCORES LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 26 MICHIGAN PANTHERS 31 All year Michigan had been the front runner, while the LA Express struggled to string together wins, but no one seemed to tell the Express that they were not supposed to stack up against the 14-1 Panthers. Los Angeles came out firing and fought until the very end against the home squad, but in the end, the Michigan offense was just too much for them. Michigan scored early on an Hebert to Holloway pass, but LA kept clawing back, first with a safety as they caused a Michigan holding call in the end zone on a 3rd and 7 from the 2 yard line. After trading field goals, it was 10-5 when Hebert found Holloway again to build a 17-5 lead. But LA would come right back, as Steve Young hit TE Ricky Ellis over the middle to bring the score back to 17-12. Michigan would have one more shot to score in the first half, and this time it was John Williams, who dove over the line on a 2nd and goal from the 2 to put Michigan up by 12 at the half. The Second half began both teams trading 3-and-outs, but then LA got hot and after a long 12 play drive, Young hit Kris Haines on a crossing route to pull within 5 at 24-19. Again the two teams would trade scores, as Anthony Carter snagged a 28 yard out & up from Hebert to build the Michigan lead once again. Young again led the Express down the field and with 10:15 left in the game, RB LaRue Harrington busted through the line on a 1st and 10 and ran for 18 yards and a score to bring the Express within 5 at 26-31. Michigan and LA traded short drives and punts, and with 1:07 left, LA had a chance to drive for a winning score, but on a desperation 4th and 12 pass, Young’s ball would sail on him and into the arms of Michigan SS David Greenwood, ending the Express’s hopes for final minute heroics and sending Michigan to the USFL Championship in Tampa. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 20 TAMPA BAY BANDITS 17 With a chance to make back to back USFL Championships, and to play this year’s title match at home in Tampa Stadium, the Bandits had all they could want in front of them. But they also had a determined and familiar foe in the Birmingham Stallions. Birmingham knows how to play against the high risk, high reward Tampa offense, and despite going into the game without their starting QB, the experienced backup (1983 starter for the Stallions) Bob Lane was more than capable of pulling out a win against the rival Bandits. Birmingham started strong, driving on their first possession well into Tampa territory before having to settle for a Scott Norwood 39 yard field goal. On Tampa’s next possession, the Stallions proved they knew the tendencies of the Bandits well, jumping on a quick slant route and intercepting Reaves deep in Tampa territory. It would only take 4 plays for Birmingham to score, Lane to Anderson to put Birmingham up 10-0. Tampa, unphased by the early success of the Stallions, would score the next 10 points, first a Reaves to Truvillion TD pass and then a 43 yard FG from Zenon Andrusyshyn to level the score at the half. When the two teams came out for the 3rd quarter, Tampa again would strike, Truvillion’s second TD grab of the game. Birmingham came right back, and with 5:22 in the 3rd Lane hit Jonathan Ross for a 16 yard TD to again level the score, now at 17. The 4th quarter would be a battle of attrition as both defenses proved more than capable of shutting down their opposition. Birmingham would stop Tampa on a 4th and 2 as they stuffed Greg Boone behind the line, while Tampa would get its lone turnover on the day, an errant pass from Lane towards Jim Smith that found its way into Bandit hands. With 3:33 left in the game, Birmingham took over on their 27 yard line, and piece by piece they moved into Tampa territory, killing clock while piecing together first downs. It all would have been over for them had a failed 3rd and 9 pass not been immediately followed by a defensive holding call which gave the Stallions a free first down. They capitalized, and with 47 seconds left on the clock, kicker Scott Norwood put the Stallions ahead for good with a 41 yard field goal. Tampa, desperate and with only seconds left, completed a couple of quick passes to move to their own 45 yard line, but when a 3rd and 10 heave from Reaves towards the endzone was swatted down, the clock expired and the Stallions celebrated a hard earned victory. NEWS & NOTES More coaching news from the USFL, as only 1 week removed from a pretty solid display in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Arizona Wranglers have parted ways with head coach George Allen. Allen had hinted that he was considering retirement, and while we do not know how the meeting between Allen and Wranglers ownership went, his sudden resignation does seem somewhat suspicious. Arizona has already made overtures to former ASU Head Coach Frank Kush, currently under contract with the Indianapolis Colts for the 1984 season, but they are also rumored to be reaching out to former University of Texas head man, Darrell Royal. Meanwhile, the Oakland Invaders have been sending feelers out to several NFL coordinators, including George Seifert in San Francisco, New York Giants OC Ron Erhardt, and Seattle Seahawk D-Coordinator Tom Catlin. While it certainly makes sense for the 3-13 Invaders to seek someone with NFL experience, ownership has seemed to indicate that they want to increase the brand recognition of the Invaders and signing a relatively unknown coordinator to lead the team may not be the direction they need to go to do so. INJURIES Both Birmingham and Michigan will come into the championship weekend relatively healthy. The big question mark remains the QB position for the Stallions. Bob Lane has played well enough to win in Philly and Tampa, so if Cliff Stoudt can return, does he? For Michigan, they may try to suit up John Corker again, though he clearly seemed less effective than usual against LA. Other than these two questions, both teams looks solid as they head into the season finale. LOOKING AHEAD TO THE 1984 USFL CHAMPIONSHIP Birmingham Stallions (10-6) vs. Michigan Panthers (14-2) Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida July 15, 1984 One was supposed to be here, the other was not. Michigan at 14-2 has run roughshod over the entire league all year, with their two defeats coming either when Bobby Hebert was out with a minor injury or in the final week of the season, when they rested their starters. Birmingham, while a better than average team all year, was not supposed to get past Tampa last week, shocking the Bandits and denying them the chance to play for a 2nd USFL title at home. But don’t sleep on these Stallions. Any team that possesses the league’s rushing champion, Joe Cribbs, is a dangerous team. With uncertainty at quarterback, and with Michigan LB John Corker unlikely to play, it is very likely that the Stallions will provide the Panthers with a heavy dose of Cribbs, Cribbs and Cribbs. For Michigan it is all about balance between a power run game, led by the duo of Williams and Lacy, and over-the-top vertical passing with Anthony Carter and Derek Holloway. So it may be smashmouth vs. aerial assault in Tampa. Both teams have solid coaches with strong pedigrees, both have defenses that can step up and put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and both have ball-hawking secondaries, so it may just come down to who makes the fewest mistakes. The Las Vegas oddsmakers have this as a Michigan win by 8, but we are not so sure that the margin of victory will be quite that wide. Our money is on a time-consuming Birmingham offense to keep the ball away from the Panthers and quarterback Bobby Hebert as much as possible. It should be a good one from Tampa as the Stallions try to win a 3rd straight upset as they face off against the Michigan Panthers.

Four big playoff matchups as the USFL's expanded 8-team playoff swings into action. The playoffs get off to a fiery start with domination from two division winners, a feisty 4th seed and a backup quarterback rising to the occasion. SCORES Birmingham 31 Philadelphia 28 Proof once more that having a solid backup quarterback is worth the investment. Bob Lane, who had barely played all season, was tabbed to start against the Stars when Cliff Stoudt was unable to go due to lingering concussion-related issues. All Lane did was throw for 3 scores and a 73% completion percentage. Relying predominantly on play-action off of Philly’s focus on RB Joe Cribbs, Lane was able to hit three different receivers for scores, including the tying score midway through the 4th quarter. Philadelphia QB Chuck Fusina also played well, throwing for 334 yards and 4 scores as the Stallions defense equally focused on stopping the run. Fusina found all three of his top receivers for scores, Fitzkee, Donovan and Collier. Kelvin Bryant scored the fourth TD at the end of the 3rd quarter to give Philly a 28-21 lead, but it would not hold. In the 4th, Birmingham killed 7 minutes on a long drive that led to the Lane to Lonnie Parker TD pass. They then held Philadelphia and got the ball back with 3:35 left in the game. Another time-consuming drive ended with a Scott Norwood field goal with 58 seconds left to give the Stallions the road win and propel them into the Conference Championship game next week. Boston 17 Tampa Bay 44 It did not take long for Tampa to put to rest any Boston ideas of an upset. The Bandits scored on 3 of their first 4 possessions, and, along with a safety when Buford Jordan could not get out of his own endzone, and Tampa built a 23-3 second quarter lead that they would never relinquish. While Boston had some good series, it was not enough against Tampa’s offensive onslaught. John Reaves threw for 2 scores, and RB Gary Anderson scored three times, from 1 yard, 3 yards and 1 yard again to cap long Tampa drives. Boston avoided the long bombs that typify the Tampa offense, but they could not get off the field on 3rdd down and Tampa just kept adding scores. The Bandits will face off against a familiar foe next week, division rival Birmingham. Arizona 27 Michigan 37 Give it up for the Wranglers. Most pundits had this game as a total blowout, but the Wranglers came in with a strategy to contain the Michigan offense, and for 3 quarters it worked pretty well. They played hard, and proved that despite their 7-9 record, the Wranglers were a solid squad. Despite having little luck running the ball with Tim Spencer or Mike Cade, the Wranglers managed to stay in the game, trailing at the half by only one score, 24-17. Despite over 60,000 fans cheering him on, Michigan QB Bobby Hebert was clearly bothered by Arizona’s defensive plan, as he threw 3 interceptions and no touchdowns, a season worst for him. But, despite these issues, the Panthers proved they were a tough out, with 3 scores from RB John Williams and another from Ken Lacy as they pulled away at the end. Michigan will face Steve Young and the Express next week, again in front of what should be a great crowd at the Silverdome. Denver 3 Los Angeles 32 Denver Gold fans came into the game hopeful that Bob Gagliano would be able to return to lead the Gold once again, but it was not to be. It was a game-time decision, but Craig Morton was forced to go with Craig Penrose, and, unfortunately for the Denver faithful (who seemed almost as prevalent at Angel Stadium as Express fans) Penrose was not up to the task. The reluctant starter completed only 39% of his passes, was sacked for a safety, and fumbled away a ball that gave LA a very short field right before the half. LA, led by QB Steve Young (22 of 28 for 249 yards) and a RB trio of Mack, Boddie and Harrington ate up the clock, winning the time of possession by 39:10 to 20:50. By halftime it was 17-0, and by the end of the 3rd quarter backup QB Mike Rae was able to get into the game. With the win, LA now moves on to face Michigan in the Conference Championships. NEWS & NOTES The USFL named its ALL-USFL Team this week, and to no one’s surprise, the team is led by several Michigan and Tampa Bay players. Both Bobby Hebert and John Reaves make the squad, as do receivers Eric Truvillion and Derek Holloway. New USFL players also made an impact, including league rushing champion Joe Cribbs, rookie wideout sensation Gary Clark, and the likely defensive rookie of the year, Memphis' Minister of Defense, Reggie White. Here is the full roster of the 1984 All-USFL Team: OFFENSE QB B. Hebert MGN QB J. Reaves TBY QB D. Williams JAX RB J. Cribbs BIR RB H. Walker NJ RB M. Rozier PIT FB M. Davies MEM TE M. Shaw PIT TE L. Gilbert TBY WR T. Johnson ARZ WR E. Truvillion TBY WR G. Clark JAX WR D. Holloway MGN T A. Gardner MGN T W. Israel NJ T D. Massey PIT G B. Aydolette BIR G D. Navarro CHI G A. Regan BOS C K. Hull NJ C B. Oates PHI DEFENSE DE J. Ah You CHI DE R. White MEM DE R. Paggett BIR DT L. Short DEN DT E. Weaver LA DT K. Lathrop ARZ LB J. Corker MGN LB J. Fahnhorst ARZ LB M. Marek BOS LB S. Morris CHI CB D. Martin DEN CB R. Osborne PIT CB J. George TBY FS H. Bonner MEM SS L. Hale JAX S S. Woerner PHI P W. Moss NJ K E. Herrera MEM KR A. Allen LA INJURIES A couple of potentially gameplan-altering injuries as we head into the conference championships. LA will be without rookie RB Kevin Mack, who suffered a torn knee ligament this past week and will likely need surgery in the next few weeks to be able to return to the lineup next Spring. Michigan may be without league leading tackler John Corker, listed as questionable for this week’s games with a hand injury. Tampa will miss ALL-USFL TE Lewis Gilbert, who suffered a shoulder injury in their game against Boston. And in Birmingham, Cliff Stoudt is still listed as questionable. Backup Bob Lane played well in the Stallions upset win over Philadelphia, but the Stallions are certainly hoping that Stoudt can return for the big matchup against the Bandits. LOOKING AHEAD #2 Los Angeles @ #1 Michigan LA has the talent and a solid roster, and could challenge the Panthers. If they follow the gameplan demonstrated by Arizona, they could again frustrate Bobby Hebert. That said, our money is on Michigan. They have just so many weapons, and even when their MVP candidate QB has a rough week they still scored 37 to beat the Wranglers. We are just not confident LA can do better. #3 Birmingham @ #1 Tampa Bay As division foes, Tampa and Birmingham have already played twice this year, splitting their series. The Stallions match up well against the Bandits, again, if Cliff Stoudt can return and play or if Bob Lane has one more super-sub day left in him. Tampa is the clear favorite, playing at home and with a healthier team, but Birmingham does 2 things you want a playoff team to do. They run the ball well and they defend against the run. They have the 5th rated scoring defense in the league and the 4th rated rush defense, but the big question is if they can contain John Reaves and the Bandit Ball deep passing attack. They were 12th against the pass this year, but played well both games against Tampa. Our money is still on the Bandits to return for a 2nd year to the Championship, but Birmingham is capable of the upset.

This week we watched the final jockeying for playoff positions and we got to witness the debate about resting vs. playing star players come to a painful conclusion. Several teams with their playoff lives secured opted to rest their starters, one did not, and it may have cost them dearly. SCORES MEM 7 NJ 38 The Generals make their charge for a playoff spot with win over Memphis. TBY 6 PHI 17 Philly does just enough to win the Atlantic with win over Tampa backups. JAX 31 WSH 17 Jacksonville finishes strong and crushes Federal postseason hopes. PIT 12 CHI 17 Both teams lack fire as they play out the string in final week. DEN 14 HOU 24 Houston win costs Denver a shot at Pacific Division title. ARZ 14 LA 45 LA cruises to division title, while Arizona backs into final playoff spot. MGN 7 OAK 33 Michigan rests most starters as Oakland tries to impress new ownership. GAME OF THE WEEK Birmingham Stallions 24 Boston Breakers 30 Birmingham opted not to rest its starters in a game that meant little for them, while Boston needed the win to wrap up a playoff spot. The result was a surprisingly close and hard-fought game. It seems that Birmingham coach Rollie Dotsch does not subscribe to the “rest your starters” philosophy, favoring a “keep the edge” attitude as his Stallions head into the playoffs secure in their wild card spot. The Stallions played like they had a lot to lose, and it showed. But that strategy may have cost them dearly, as QB Cliff Stoudt went out with a concussion which may impact his ability to play in next week’s playoff game. Stoudt played well in the first half, hitting Greg Anderson for the game’s first score and then leading Birmingham on a second scoring drive to take a 10-7 lead. Then, after Boston took back the lead on a Richard Crump run, the worst case scenario for Birmingham hit. Stoudt tried to avoid a sack by scrambling to his right, but did not spot LB Marcus Marek until it was too late. Marek’s tackle caused Stoudt’s head to hit the turf hard, and he was out of the game. Last year’s starter, Bob Lane, came in and played well, but the bigger issue is what this means for Birmingham next week. If Stoudt is not cleared to play, Bob Lane may have to up his game in order for the Stallions to advance. Boston spent most of the day focused on slowing down league rushing champion Joe Cribbs. They succeeded, holding Cribbs to only 38 yards on the day. Meanwhile their own running game fared much better, with Crump rushing for 84 yards and Buford Jordan adding another 26 for an even 100, including the game winner in overtime. Johnnie Walton also contributed 259 yards passing and two TD passes, one each to Nolan Franz and Mariano Alarcón. The win, paired with a Philly win, means that Boston will be the #4 seed and will head to Tampa next week to take on the Bandits. Birmingham will return to the North East to face the Philadelphia Stars in their matchup next week. NEWS & NOTES As expected, the first day after the end of the regular season was Black Monday in the USFL. This year, however, there were fewer casualties than usual. With 4 of the 8 non-playoff teams being expansion teams in their first year, the coaches have not yet begun to feel pressure to win, while Chicago, New Jersey and Chicago all also have first year coaches, who tend to get at least 2 years to turn a team around. That leaves only Oakland with a coaching question. The Invaders, as expected, parted ways with John Ralston, paving the way for the new majority owner, William Millard, to seek a higher profile head man. Chicago opted to retain coach Marv Levy, though they did release OC Ron Waller from his duties. There were rumors that Wranglers head man George Allen might be considering retirement, but any news on that front was delayed as Arizona will play in next week’s first round of playoffs despite a 7-9 record. So, a relatively quiet Black Monday as the USFL’s non-playoff teams largely still see themselves in building mode rather than rebuilding mode. INJURIES Many playoff-bound teams rested their starters, so, with the notable exception of the Cliff Stoudt concussion, there were few star players impacted by injury this week. Depth may be in issue, as it always is this time of year, but when we look at the teams that still have games to be played, the most notable injuries are to reserve players. Arizona has some depth issues on their O-line as no fewer than 5 members of that position group are on the injury report. Birmingham lost the services of backup RB Earl Gant, but with Cribbs still firing on all cylinders, we don’t see this as a major setback. Denver may be able to get Bob Gagliano back, which certainly would improve their chances against LA next week. Philly is hoping that ALL-USFL safety Scott Woerner and starting LT Irv Eatman will be back in action next week. PLAYOFF PREVIEW As one might expect, the #2 v. #3 seed games are viewed as the most interesting in the first week of playoffs as most pundits do not give Arizona much chance at Michigan, and while Boston could give Tampa some troubles, the Bandits remain heavy favorites. EAST #3 Birmingham (10-6) @ #2 Philadelphia (9-7) Home field advantage is Philadelphia’s main benefit this week, that and the possibility that QB Cliff Stoudt will be out for the Stallions. Expect a lot of running from both teams, as Joe Cribbs and Kelvin Bryant are both Top 5 backs. Earlier this season the two had a bizarre, back to back, series in weeks 13-14, and Philadelphia was able to take both matches by a combined 4 points (17-14 in Alabama and 25-24 at Veterans Stadium). It is tough to beat the same team 3 times in a season, so the Stars have to beware, but if Stoudt is unable to go, we give the nod to the healthy play of Chuck Fusina and the Stars. #4 Boston (9-7) @ #1 Tampa Bay (12-4) Boston had an up and down year, never winning more than 2 consecutive games, and they dropped both matchups against the Bandits by 10+ points. While Walton, Jordan and Crump have been playing better in the second half of the season, we just do not see them keeping pace with the quick strike Bandit Ball offense of John Reaves, Gary Anderson and Eric Truvillion. Tampa is primed for a return to the USFL Championship, and it would be a major upset for them to fall at home to the Breakers, who seem relieved and happy just to be here after a tough season-long slog in the well-balanced Atlantic Division. WEST #4 Arizona (7-9) @ #1 Michigan (14-2) Congratulations, Wranglers, on making the playoffs despite losing in week 17 and having a sub-.500 record. And condolences as well, as you now travel to the Silver Dome to take on the 14-2 juggernaut Michigan Panthers. With Hebert back to full health, a brutal RB tandem of Williams and Lacy, and two of the top 5 wideouts in the league, Michigan can kill you in numerous ways. We like Arizona’s moxy, but moxy won’t be enough against the Panthers. We see Michigan walking away with this one as they have a healthy team, unlike 1983, when Hebert missed their playoff game against Denver. #3 Denver (8-8) @ #2 Los Angeles (9-7) These two were neck and neck for the entire second half of the season. After an 0-4 start, the Denver Gold found their stride under new QB Bob Gagliano and won 8 of their final 12 to challenge the Express for the Division Title. Unfortunately for Denver, Gagliano may not be able to go, which leaves the erratic Craig Penrose at the helm for the Gold. LA comes into the game much healthier, and rookie QB Steve Young’s combination of scrambling skills and accurate arm have helped the Express win 4 of their final 5 to take the division crown. We think this game may be a close one, but we expect that the Express will find a way to pull it out. The only question now is whether or not LA fans will show up.

Playoff Seeds: EAST-- 1) TBY 2) PHI 3) BIR 4) BOS WEST-- 1) MGN 2) LA 3) DEN 4) ARZ