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Here we go, predictions, previews, positives and negatives for all 28 teams. It is all right here as we prepare for Week 1 action. Who made the most of the offseason? Who is on the way up and who is possibly struggling after a rough offseason? We will break down the players to watch, the moves that could determine the season, and make all our picks for the divisions, the playoffs, and the league awards. It is all right here, and it is all a total guess. Yup, you know by now that we do not endorse betting the ranch on anything we say. We are often wrong, and teams surprise us every single year. So, while we think we have done our best to look into the crystal ball, we recommend you take a cynical stance on any prediction we might make. That said, let’s get to it.   Ten Immediate Impact Players for 2019 As we look ahead to the USFL’s 37 th season, one of the stories we know we will be following is how new acquisitions impact their teams, from rookies who impress from Day 1 to free agents and NFL imports who slot right in and improve their teams beyond expectations, new seasons provide opportunities for players to stand up and be counted. As we look at all the moves, from the first free trade of the offseason to the final draft pick signing or the recent NFL additions, more than 200 new players are found on USFL rosters, and while some may not get a chance to impress in the opening weeks, and others may find themselves struggling to maintain their roster spots, we expect that there will be some who make their GMs look like geniuses for signing them. Here is our pick of 10 players we think we will be hearing from this year, players who could well move the needle on their team’s success this season.   10- Blake Martinez, LB-LV (NFL Import) Two new Vipers made our list this year, one on offense and one on defense. The Vipers, in our opinion, had one of the better NFL signings in LB Blake Martinez. This is a player who had over 140 tackles in each of the past two seasons with the NFL Packers. He steps into the Vegas LB group as the starting MLB, with DeAndre Levy and Nate Irving flanking him. We think he has a shot at being a Top 5 tackler in his new role with the Vipers.   9- Nick Bosa, DE-LA (Rookie) We must be excited about Bosa’s potential if we are making him the cover boy for our USFL Draft Report. The truth is that we think LA will be a huge story all year, and while QB Kyler Murray may struggle to pick up the pro game, that transition is much easier for an edge rusher who will have one job only, get to the QB.   8- Bud Dupree, DE-ARZ (NFL Import) Dupree showed some flashes in the NFL, but now he is in a position that will open up options for him. With Calais Campbell absorbing most of the double teams, Dupree could well see his opportunities for QB sacks open wide up, and we well could see something akin to the Campbell-Moats double 20-sack season of 2017.   7- Aaron Dobson, WR-LV (Free Agent) Las Vegas’s other big signing is a receiver who just gets open. With over 100 receptions each of the past 3 years, that is just fact at this point. Now, he will have a new system to learn and a new QB in Matt McGloin to build rapport with, but we think that the combo of McGloin to Dobson is very likely one that could blossom by midseason.   6- Clay Matthews, LB-DAL (Free Agent) Dallas needed a leader on defense. Matthews needed out of what he saw as a toxic culture in LA, so, is this a match that will work? Well, we know that Matthews has talent, with 100+ tackles for 9 straight seasons, the proof is there. But, will Dallas be a good fit for him?   5- Kyler Murray, QB-LA (Rookie) No pressure, Kyler, but more or less the entire franchise is in your hands. What LA did this offseason, particularly in trading away Sam Bradford, along with a good number of future draft picks, is to swing for the fences, but sometimes those swings produce huge strikeouts. Murray cannot afford to swing and miss.   4- Brian Orakpo, LB-PIT (Free Agent) Orakpo left Tampa Bay after season after season of frustration as his outstanding individual effort did not get seconded by a defense around him that could hold its water. Now, in Pittsburgh, there is more talent, more focus, and a coach in Vic Fangio who understands how to turn defensive talent into results.   3-Josh Jacobs, HB-BAL (Rookie) Very often a big-name back like Jacobs will end up with a team that has few other weapons on offense. That is certainly not the case with the Blitz trading to get the rights to Jacobs. In the Blitz, Jacobs has an offense that is prolific in the passing game, but needed a solid 3-down runner to help keep pressure off their QB. Now, with Jacobs in the fold, defenses facing the Blitz will simply have to prepare for a broader range of possibilities. Good for Jacobs, good for Roethlisberger, and good for the Blitz offense in general.   2- Ryan Nassib, QB-WSH (Free Agent) No quarterback comes to a new team with a guarantee, but in what we saw of Nassib last year, there certainly seems to be a pretty good chance that the Federals have found themselves a decade-long franchise QB. It will be an adjustment of styles from what David Garrard offered, but if Coach Bradley can cater the offense to Nassib’s strengths (accuracy, decision making, and mid-range targets), Washington could be set at QB for quite a while.   1-Calais Campbell, DE-ARZ (Trade) There is no way Campbell’s production in Arizona won’t be a story all season long, no matter what happens. We tend to think he will have a career year, which is a lot considering the career he has had so far. We just think he has more talent around him, will be playing with a lead more often, which means more straight-up pass rush focus, and we could see him reaching for his own record. He may not again be expected to finish the year with 100 tackles, like in Orlando, but 30 sacks, that may well be a target for the future Hall of Famer.   Taking the Helm: New USFL QBs Under Pressure We have 10 new quarterbacks in a league of 28 teams, that means more than a third of all teams are rolling the dice with someone new under center. That can be a gamble, the kind of gamble that can lead a coach towards a Coach of the Year award or towards a pink slip on Black Monday. So, who are the new signal callers across the league, which are under pressure right away, and which are in the best position for early success. We took all 10 QBs and put them in one of three categories: Sitting Pretty, Control their Fate, and Hoping for Help. Here is our assessment of all ten in these three categories.   SITTING PRETTY San Diego—Christian Ponder Technically a new starter this year, since he did not begin the 2018 season as the starter, Ponder is in a very solid position after putting up great numbers last year, leading San Diego to a 9-3 record and a home playoff win, and surrounded by talent like WRs Marques Colston, Nick Toon, and DeVante Parker, and a run game led by Ryan Williams.   Washington—Ryan Nassib Unlike Ponder, Nassib comes to a new team this year, but the Feds are not a team sitting at 2 or 3 wins last season and desperate for talent. They were 9-7 and have a lot to offer Nassib to make him successful, from strong outside receivers in Keenan Allen and Brandon LaFell, to newly added TE Rob Housler, Nassib will not lack for weapons in the passing game. It may take a few games for him to build rapport, but we think the situation is a very good one for him to find that success quickly.   New Orleans—Geno Smith You are puzzled. What makes us think that Geno Smith is in a solid spot? After all, he fizzled out quickly with the NFL Jets, failed to find success when he moved to the Giants and now joins the Breakers with no offseason rest. Yes, all true, and all could make it a tough transition, but look at what Smith inherits in New Orleans, an offense that averaged nearly 30 points a game last year, has one of the league’s best receivers in Jordy Nelson, a solid 2 nd  option in Kenny Britt, a really strong slot receiver in Tyler Lockett, and the best pass-catching TE in the league in Coby Fleener. What more could a QB need to be successful? How about an All-USFL left tackle like Willie Colon? Yup, he has that too.   CONTROL THEIR FATE Denver—Josh Allen After sitting for his rookie season, the keys to the Gold were handed to Allen this offseason. Word is he has been working all offseason with Jordan Palmer to improve his weaknesses, and he has an offense that will not demand that he win single-handedly. He has reliable receivers in Golden Tate and Michael Crabtree. The Gold also landed a very nice security blanket in TE T. J. Hockenson, and he has Ryan Clady defending his blind side. So, with all that, it really is up to Allen to prove his detractors wrong and show that he can go from Jr. College to Wyoming to a starting position in Denver.   Las Vegas—Matt McGloin The only reason we think McGloin is here and not in the “Sitting Pretty” group is because as good as his 2018 season was in Seattle, he did spend his first five seasons as a backup, which generally does not happen if a player has the stuff. There are some who think last season was a fluke and McGloin will be at best a serviceable bridge QB until Vegas finds a better option. Viper management and Head Coach Rick Neuheisel believe more is possible, but McGloin will still need to win over many.   Los Angeles—Kyler Murray This status is about all any rookie QB can hope for. So many questions, so many possible ways for either him or others around him to screw up his head space. It is just not easy to step from college to the pros and be immediately successful. Even some of the greats needed 1-2 bad years under their belt before the game really started to slow down for them. Honestly, if we expect Murray to immediately make LA a contender, we are setting him up for failure. A solid year, a growth year, and signs of what is to come should be the hope.   HOPING FOR HELP Chicago—Sam Bradford We like Bradford, really, we do, but in stints with both the Generals and the Express he has struggled to put together complete seasons. His best years were early on in New Jersey, but in LA he struggled to find receivers and to make plays on key downs. With the Machine, he may find the same issues, especially with Aaron Dobson no longer there to reliably be available on 3 rd  down. The Machine will still be a run-first club, but Bradford will need to get more out of Michael Floyd, Kenny Golladay and Will Fuller if he wants to change his image as a serviceable, but not a contending QB.   Dallas—Josh Freeman Freeman began last season as the starter in St. Louis, got benched, and watched as the Skyhawks fell in love with Lamar Jackson. By season’s end he was in Dallas, trying to play with little to no preparation. He will be in a better situation this year, but Dallas is not a particularly talented offense, and Freeman may find he just does not have the tools he needs to return to his 2012 MVP status.   Jacksonville—Teddy Bridgewater/Jeff Tannehill The fact that we are listing 2 different QBs here tells you all you need to know about the Bulls’ QB situation. Both Bridgewater and Tannehill are viewed as renovation projects. The Bulls got both relatively cheap (for former NFL starters) and their hope has to be that one of them proves them right. But we have to say, we are not all that excited about the weapons they have to work with, receivers Mike Williams, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Tajae Sharpe are not exactly a killer trio that defenses cannot handle. Tight end Gavin Escobar is adequate, but hardly a game breaker, and the line still has some issues, particularly at center and right guard. So, is either QB good enough to find success with that crew in support?   St. Louis—Lamar Jackson We get why fans in St. Louis are excited about Jackson and the 2019 offense. We saw some really impressive flashes last year, and Jackson was just so much more dynamic in and out of the pocket than Freeman had been, but is St. Louis depending too much on their young QB? They did very little to improve their roster this year. We like the addition of HB David Montgomery in the draft, and Stevie Johnson is still a solid target, but there is not a lot behind him in the receiver group and TE Rob Gronkowski has simply not produced as expected since coming over from the Wranglers.   Five 2nd Year Players to Watch Out For Preseason is a time when we tend to focus on the new arrivals, free agents, and rookies, but there is another group who can be huge for a team’s progress, second year players. These are the members of the prior year’s rookie class who now take on a bigger role, find their groove, or just mature into valuable contributors. We ran through the Draft Class of 2018 and we think we have found five players who are ready to emerge in their second year. Some were solid last year and could become special this season, others did not have much of a chance to shine last year but now find themselves in a position to prove their worth. So, here are five 2 nd  year players to keep watch on this year, because we think they could break out.   LB Roquan Smith (STL) 2018 Stats: 92 Tackles, 2 Sacks, 1 FF Absolutely nothing wrong with 92 tackles from a rookie, and the Skyhawks had to be overjoyed that Smith was able to do so much in his first year, but he was playing mostly on instinct. Now, with a full offseason of training and coaching he could easily become a 100-tackle guy, and St. Louis is also hoping to have him take on a larger role as a pass rusher.   OG Quenton Nelson (OAK) 2018 Stats: 16 starts, 41 pancakes, 0 sacks allowed There is not much more you can ask from a guard than to have 16 starts and not give up a single sack, but while Nelson was certainly one of the better first year players in 2018, the Invaders run game did not get where they wanted it, and so they are hoping that Nelson can expand his repertoire and become a more dynamic run blocker in 2019.   LB Tremaine Edmunds (WSH) 2018 Stats: 1 start, 12 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF Edwards played mostly on special teams as a rookie, with only 1 start. That will not be the case in 2019, where Edwards is penciled in to replace Shawne Merriman as the starting MLB. Those are big shoes to fill, and there will certainly be some growing pains, but Edwards’s aggressive and athletic style could be a good fit for Gus Bradley’s defense.   WR Calvin Ridley (MGN) 2018 Stats: 49 receptions, 543 yards, 5 TDs Ridley saw action in all 16 games last year, and his numbers were very solid, but this season we expect to see him take a step up as he takes on the swing role for all 3 receiver positions. There is even a chance he will take over for oft-injured slot receiver Jerrel Jernigan.   TE Mark Andrews (OKL) 2018 Stats: 22 receptions, 155 yards, 1 TD Andrews saw limited action behind Julius Thomas last season, but Coach Stoops has already indicated that Andrews will see a larger snap count, more starts, more 3 rd downs, and a lot more targets. We could easily see Andrews jump from 22 receptions to 50, 60 or more in Stoops’s offense.   Are you ready to get into the weeds with all 28 teams? So much news, so many storylines, and so much potential, there is a lot to talk about. We are going to divide the 28 USFL teams by their 6 divisions, give you a short division projection and then talk up each team, its potential, strengths, weaknesses, and biggest offseason story. We will finish up each team assessment with our ceiling and basement for each team based on their roster, coaching, and overall vibe. So, here we go, a deep dive into all 28 clubs as we prepare for this week’s season openers.   Always a tough division to call, the NE has not had a repeat champion since 2013-2014 (Stars), and this year looks like it could be another scramble with a lot of teams looking solid, but not dominant once again. We think Philadelphia will be improved, Washington could also take a step forward with Ryan Nassib at QB, and Baltimore added a new wrinkle in HB Josh Jacobs, so, who will take it? Our prediction is parity:   New Jersey   10-6* Philadelphia    9-7* Washington    9-7* Baltimore         7-9 Pittsburgh       7-9   BALTIMORE BLITZ Head Coach:  Jim Caldwell 2018 Record:  6-10 (5 th in NE)   Biggest Offseason Story:  While many expected the defense to be the focus of the offseason, the biggest story had to be the pick-for-pick swap of Territorial Draft number ones with Birmingham, and the subsequent selection and signing of Alabama tailback Josh Jacobs. Jacobs was the clear number one back in the draft and his presence in the Blitz backfield could dramatically alter the Baltimore offense, freeing up receivers, forcing safeties to play closer to the line, and keeping pressure off Roethlisberger. Will that improve their defense? Well, if they can possess the ball more, have fewer 3-and-outs, and play with a lead more often, yes, it actually can.   Biggest Strength:  As intriguing as the Jacobs signing is, the strength remains the passing game, led by Big Ben with a solid 4-man receiver group of Darrius Heyward-Bey, Brian Hartline, TE C. J. Uzomah, and newly acquired 100-reception receiver Denarius Moore. Adding Moore means that Baltimore can now rotate receivers situationally while also creating mismatches inside and outside. This offense could now be special with this group plus Jacobs in the fold.   Biggest Weakness:  We want to say “defense” in general, but it is more accurate to say that the nickel defense is the issue. Baltimore had huge issues getting off the field on third down last year, and that was largely because the nickel package could not pressure the QB or cover receivers beyond the initial 3 seconds of a play. Beyond Jabari Greer the CB group is suspect, there is a rookie in Nasir Adderley at Strong Safety, Eric Weddle is not the greatest cover safety in the FS spot, and the 3-man line of DE’s Da’Quon Bowers and Olivier Vernon and DT Angelo Blackson just does not pose enough of a threat without committing blitzers.   Outlook:  The offense could be special, and we are all excited to see Josh Jacobs mixed in, but it just does not look like the Blitz have done enough to improve on defense. This could mean a lot of shootouts and “who has the ball last” games, but could also mean a lot of playing from behind, which could limit the benefit of having a runner like Jacobs on the squad.   Predicted Finish:  We do think that if the Blitz offense is as strong as it could be, Baltimore could surprise, so we are putting their ceiling at 11 wins, with a floor of 5 wins. Where do we think they will fall, well, 7-9 feels just about right to us.   NEW JERSEY GENERALS Head Coach: Norv Turner 2018 Record: 9-6-1 (1 st in NE)   Biggest Offseason Story: The defending NE Division champs very much held serve this offseason, without any major signings, deals, or even big name draft picks. Is that enough in such a tight division? The loss of Chase Blackburn will hurt, even with a quality addition like Akeem Ayers coming to the squad. Honestly, when we look at the roster, the key may well be whether 2 nd  year MLB Matt Milano can truly take over for Blackburn as the QB of the defense. He is a high motor guy, but does he have the vision to make the right adjustments at the line?   Biggest Strength: You might expect us to focus on MJD, but as good as Jones-Drew is, when we look at the Generals’ roster, it is the cornerback group that stands out. Aqib Talib is one of the true shut down corners in the league, and if you try to throw to the other side you have Devin McCourty, who is a ballhawking corner who has the make-up speed to recover if he misreads a route. The nickel and dime slots are also solid with Rashard Robinson and Isaac Yladom more than capable of playing both effective zone coverage and strong bump & run on the slot receiver. This is a tough group to break down, and that helps Aaron Kampman and Vic Beasley find time to reach the QB.   Biggest Weakness: Coach Turner seems to be satisfied with his receiving group, but outside of OBJ, we are not seeing what he sees. Flanker Muhamed Sanu has good hands but struggles to find space, and slot receiver Zay Jones has found it difficult to make catches in traffic. TE John Carlson is serviceable but hardly a game breaker. We are honestly surprised New Jersey did not go after Denarius Moore, Aaron Dobson, or even a top rookie receiver in the draft, landing only T-draft “afterthought” Jeff Smith from BC.   Outlook: Despite our concern about their receivers, the Generals have a pretty solid squad top to bottom. They likely will play a conservative offensive game, focused on running the ball and creating makeable 3 rd  downs, while the defense focuses on stuffing the run and keeping passing in front of them. That can win you a lot of games, but as we saw in the Eastern Title Game against Houston, it may not be enough to beat a truly talented team.   Predicted Finish: We think the NE Division is too balanced for New Jersey to rattle off 12 or 13 wins, so we are going to say 11 wins is the cap, with a basement of perhaps 8 games, because they are too talented to drop below .500, at least without major injury issues. We have picked them to win the division again, but it will be a dogfight that has them barely overtaking Washington and Philadelphia at 10-6.   PHILADELPHIA STARS Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh 2018 Record: 7-9 (4 th in NE)   Biggest Offseason Story: Another team that largely focused on retaining talent, Philadelphia did not make any splashy moves, but when we look over their roster for 2019, we do notice two signings that could produce results, both on defense with the additions of MLB Channing Crowder and safety Ha Ha Clinton Dix. Both will start from Day 1, and both will be upgrades as the Stars look to follow the defensive pathway to victories. Crowder’s arrival allows Coach Harbaugh to move Kirk Morrison to the strong side as a run-stuffing specialist. This will not be the fastest LB group in the league, but it may be one of the best tackling threesomes in the league.   Biggest Strength: No question, it is the O-line. With every single member of the Star’s O-line graded at a B+ or better by Athlon, who we trust in these matters, there is not a weak link, and this is a group that not only keeps Matt Gutierrez in a clean pocket, but they are outstanding in creating quick gaps in the line, gaps that Derrick Henry can exploit to great effect. They say games are won in the trenches, and the Stars’ line regularly wins the battles that win the war.   Biggest Weakness: Depth, simple as that. We saw what happened when Derrick Henry went down last year. Zac Stacy just could not substitute. We think the same is true with backup QB P. J. Walker, any receiver outside of the starting 2, and all across the defense. This is a team that is deeply impacted by almost any injuries, and that is a problem when we know that a USFL season is rarely injury-free.   Outlook: It is hard to picture Philadelphia winning the division, but easy to see them in a Wild Card hunt, especially if they can stay healthy. Outside of Henry, we don’t see a lot of All-USFL performers, but what we see is a well-coached, cohesive, and veteran squad that knows how to avoid self-harm and force other teams to play mistake free football to beat them.   Predicted Finish: We think Philadelphia tops out at 10 wins, and, again, if they stay healthy, likely won’t dip below 7 wins, so we are saying 9-7 with a Wild Card game in the works. PITTSBURGH MAULERS Head Coach: Vic Fangio 2018 Record: 8-8 (3 rd in NE)   Biggest Offseason Story: No team did a better job of dealing with offseason departures than the Maulers. They lost Paul Posluszny and Victor Cruz, but between the NFL import of speedy Jarvis Landry and the brilliant signing of Bryan Orakpo, the Maulers have not only filled those roster spots, but possibly improved in both cases. We love the Orakpo signing, especially when the athletic and whip-smart LB can stand behind Aaron Donald and get free pathways into the backfield. That is going to be fun to watch.   Biggest Strength: Straight up the middle on that defense. You start with Donald and Gabe Wright in the center of the line, place Orakpo behind them, and then follow up with the duo of Tyvon Branch and Robert Sands at safety and you have just a gauntlet of big hitters, smart players, and a heck of a lot of natural talent to get past. The Maulers are not quite as talented on the fringe, but their middle can basically dominate anything between the two sets of hashmarks.   Biggest Weakness: As strong as the middle is on defense, it may well be the biggest weakness on offense. Vandervelde, Caldwell, and Ehinger are not a particularly effective guard-center-guard combo, not particularly athletic in the run game, and too predictable in protection. The HB duo of Sony Michel and Marcus Lattimore are also not particularly effective on the inside, and TE Anthony Hill, while a solid blocker, is not a dynamic weapon over the middle. Pittsburgh has to live on the outside, with Thielen and Landry, and a run game overdependent on pitches, sweeps, screens and swing routes. That is a concern in a division with some solid outside defenders.   Outlook: More and more it looks like the offensive explosion that produced 13 wins in 2015 is not returning. Pittsburgh, like so many NE Division clubs, needs to play close games, grind out wins, and keep scores under 20-24 points to have a chance. That is a tough thing to do regularly, especially when playing teams from other divisions who don’t share that philosophy.   Predicted Finish: We picked the Maulers to bring up the rear at 7-9, and that may actually be their cap. Could they reach .500, sure, if all goes well, but can then surprise us and go 11-5? We don’t think so. More likely they surprise us in a bad way and finish 3-13.   WASHINGTON FEDERALS Head Coach: Gus Bradley 2018 Record: 9-7 (2 nd in NE)   Biggest Offseason Story: Winning the Ryan Nassib derby. The Feds outbid, outwooed and outhustled the Breakers, Machine, Vipers and maybe 3-4 other teams to land the very coveted Arizona QB. They now feel like they could again be set at the position for another decade. Nassib is very different from David Garrard, so the offense may look quite different this year, but with the talent around him, particularly out wide, this could be a very good match.   Biggest Strength: The receiver group is deep, fast, and good. It starts with a very dynamic and polished pair of starters in Keenan Allen and Brandon LaFell. Add in slot receiver Tyreek Hill, who is one of the fastest men in the league, and who may see more outside snaps this year, and you have a very strong trio. But it does not end there. In Jalen Saunders and rookie Kavontae Turpin you have more speed, more quickness, and some great YAC moves. And while the loss of Kellen Davis inside is tough, we love that Washington recognized the need to have that inside option and signed former Panther Rob Housler. He is not as dynamic as Davis was, but he is a reliable safety valve for Nassib.   Biggest Weakness: Defensive playmaking. While we like the front 4 quite a bit, behind them there are just not many players capable of turning an offensive mistake into a takeaway or a defensive score. They have an unproven MLB in Tremaine Edwards, slower outside backers in Ogletree and Jackson, and both safeties (Kyshoen Jarrett and Adrian Amos) are mid-grade at best in the league. The lack of defensive dynamism could be a huge issue for the Feds this year.   Outlook: Despite our concerns about the Federals’ back 7 on defense, we still think that they are one of the better teams in the division, helped by the arrival of Nassib. We are concerned that we are off base here and Washington could backslide, but our gut tells us they will again be in that 9-10 win range and that should get them a playoff spot (though it did not last year.)   Predicted Finish: Washington is another team we think caps out at around 10 wins, maybe 11 if Nassib really gets going. But they do have greater potential to struggle on defense, so that could drop them into the 5-6 win range. We are being optimistic, so we have them at 9-7 and this time that gets them a Wild Card.   With three 10-loss teams, the SE is viewed as one of the league’s weaker divisions, but both Atlanta and Charlotte were solid clubs last year. Will the gap close between them and the three Florida clubs? Hard to see it, though we do like some of the changes made. It looks to us like Orlando has taken a big hit this offseason, Jacksonville needs to solve their QB situation, and Tampa Bay hired an offensive coach to fix a pretty terrible defense, one that also lost their best player in Bryan Orakpo. Our prediction: Another clear Top v. Bottom split.   Atlanta             9-7* Charlotte          9-7 Jacksonville     5-11 Tampa Bay      5-11 Orlando           5-11   ATLANTA FIRE Head Coach: Bruce Arians 2018 Record: 10-6 (1 st in SE)   Biggest Offseason Story: Fire fans are still trying to figure out their team’s offseason. The Fire lose 3 starters on their D-line and essentially don’t do anything about it. That has fans worried. Chris Kelsay, Sylvester Williams, and Nick Fairley are essentially being replaced by their backups, Sione Pouha, Jarron Gilbert, and Mario Edwards. That feels like a major downgrade on a club that is not dominant elsewhere.   Biggest Strength: The one group we are not worried about in Atlanta is the LB group. The three-man wrecking crew of Kuechley inside and Dannell Ellerbe and Patrick Willis outside is aggressive, fast, and they tackle well. They may need to do even more this year with the unproven D-line, but this is a group that is trouble for offenses.   Biggest Weakness:  Line play. We are concerned about the D-line, yes, but the O-line is also a possible issue. Despite the success the offense had last year, this is not a line that consistently wins battles, and it can be overpowered by better edge rushers, which must make Aaron Murray a bit nervous.   Outlook: In any other division we might be picking Atlanta to go 8-8 and finish third, but in the Southeast, they are still perhaps the most likely team to take the division. Can they do anything with that or will they be one and done in the playoffs? That is a very valid question for a team that does feels weaker now than 6 months ago.   Predicted Finish: While we pick Atlanta to go 10-6 and win the division, if any of the Florida teams can put the pieces together, we could also imagine them slipping quite a bit. We think 11 wins is possible, but so is 5, and that should worry Coach Arians.   CHARLOTTE MONARCHS Head Coach: Jim Mora Jr.   2018 Record: 9-7 (2 nd in SE)   Biggest Offseason Story: Unlike most teams, the big story this offseason for Charlotte was not player acquisition but cap space management. The Monarchs simply did not have money available, and unlike some teams, they did not effectively alter current contracts to build more. They found enough to sign Latavious Murray, but at a lower salary than NFL import (and now export) Adrian Peterson, so basically, they just gave Murray some of Peterson’s money. Beyond that, the moves were largely trying to stand pat, and that does not seem like a winning formula.   Biggest Strength: Is it a problem that we identify only one half of the O-line as the strength of an entire team? There is no question that the combination of center Mike Pouncey, right guard Jonathan Cooper, and right tackle Kelvin Beachem is as good as you will find in the league, but that is not even an entire line. So, while Nick Chubb will love running over the right side, what happens if he wants to go to the left? And can that side of the line help shift defensive pressure enough to allow Trubisky a solid pocket?   Biggest Weakness: If there is one thing that sunk the Monarchs last year, it was the tendency by their QB to make throws he knew were too risky. Mitch Trubisky has thrown 47 picks in his first two years in the league, and while Charlotte has overcome them to have back-to-back playoff seasons, it has to be a concern for them. You just cannot give other teams the momentum and the field position that a pick so often does. If the Monarchs’ coaches cannot coach that tendency out of their QB, they may have to look for another option at the position.   Outlook: While there are individual players on the Monarchs who are special, players like HB Nick Chubb, center Mike Pouncey, MLB Rolando McClain and DE Chandler Jones, they are not backed up well enough by other talented players to become a real force. Yes, this Charlotte team is talented enough to knock off many sub-.500 teams, but that won’t get you to a Summer Bowl, and likely not even to a Conference Title Game either.   Predicted Finish:  We have Charlotte finishing at 9-7 and losing a tie-breaker to Atlanta. But here is the thing. If Mitch Trubisky can cut his picks from 24 to 16 (still bad, but not horrid) then the Monarchs could win 11 games. But if he cannot, and if any of the Florida teams is improved this year, then Charlotte, like Atlanta could be on the outside looking in come playoff time.     JACKSONVILLE BULLS Head Coach: Brian Flores 2018 Record: 4-12 (4 th in SE)   Biggest Offseason Story: The biggest story for Jacksonville actually happened before the offseason officially began when the club decided they would move on from Robert Griffin III and not re-sign the talented, but oft-injured QB. It seemed clear that Coach Flores was not excited by the prospect of a running QB who just could not consistently operate a pocket-offense. Despite the struggles from NFL import Teddy Bridgewater last year, the Bulls let Griffin go. He would eventually end up back in the NFL with the Ravens, and after pursuing a 2 nd  option in Ryan Nassib (and to a lesser extent Matt McGloin) they brought in Ryan Tannehill from the NFL just 2 weeks ago. They now have 2 NFL QB reclamation projects, with the hope being that one of them will prove to be effective in a more traditional offense.   Biggest Strength: The defensive front 7 is the key to the Bulls’ defense and maybe their season. The three-man line of Robert Ayers, Kedric Gholston, and Barkevious Mingo can be disruptive at the line, can penetrate, and can disrupt running lanes. Behind them MLBs Sean Lee and Alex Anzelone are more than happy to take on the backs who make it out of the backfield, freeing up Jordan Hicks and Jarret Johnson on the outside to play coverage or pressure the QB. That is a nice start to a very solid defense.   Biggest Weakness: While we have criticisms of the secondary (the reason Jacksonville is not a Top 5 defense), the bigger issue is an offense that simply cannot sustain drives or create enough big plays. Matt Jones is a serviceable halfback, but not a guy who will bust a lot of 20-yard plays. Jacksonville hopes the addition of HB Devin Singletary will add a bit more of that big play capacity. The receiving corps is also equally unintimidating. Mike Williams leads a group that is largely unknown and largely unimpressive. There just is not enough bang for the buck with the group, requiring long drives and sustained possession rather than the very necessary occasional quick strike.   Outlook: Of the division’s 3 Florida clubs, the Bulls are perhaps closer than the other two, at least on defense, but unless they can get more out of their offensive squad, it is hard to picture this team surpassing .500. It may require that they spend a bit, perhaps lose a good player, to make a deal to get a true playmaker on offense or they again could be looking at 10 losses.   Predicted Finish: We have all 3 Florida clubs sitting at 5-11 in our divisional pick. We think Jacksonville could do better, but if the offense is as troubled as we think, then a lot of 17-13 losses seem to be on the menu. An 8-8 season would have to be considered a success, while anything below 6 wins would be trouble for Coach Flores.   ORLANDO RENEGADES Head Coach: Ron Rivera (1 st Yr) 2018 Record: 6-10 (3 rd in SE)   Biggest Offseason Story: This one is obvious, right? The most talented player on the team, perhaps the most talented player in the entire league over the past decade declared he had had enough of mediocrity and demanded a trade to a contender. He got his wish, as Calais Campbell joins the Arizona Wranglers. So what does that mean for Orlando? Well, it means they need to reimagine what kind of team they are. Bring in a new head coach in Ron Rivera, perhaps focus on more offensive explosiveness with Russell Wilson and Brashad Perriman, and hope the defense can work more as a team with others stepping up. Short term, this may be rough, but give Rivera another year and some talent added to the roster, and it may help the Renegades overcome their “underachiever” culture.   Biggest Strength: Chunk play capacity. Orlando does not have a solid 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust power game, not with Knile Davis and Rashad Jennings as their backs, but with those two in the backfield, and a pretty dynamic receiver group (Perriman, Bowe, Maclin and TE Njoku), all led by an elusive and accurate QB in Russell Wilson, this is an Orlando offense that could and should be looking for big plays regularly. Get the backs in space with pitches, screens and swing passes, open up single coverage for the receivers, and you could see a team that is the exact opposite of what the Bulls offer, a team built to put up yards in chunks and have a lot of 3-6 play drives.   Biggest Weakness: Defensive fortitude. We wanted to highlight the LB group as particularly problematic, but the real issue is that if Orlando does become a quick-strike offense, can this defense hold up if the opposition get the ball for 33-38 minutes per game? That seems unlikely. We will see if the combo of rookie Montez Sweat and veteran Arthur Moats can get to the QB, but even if they can, the defense of the Renegades may still struggle to keep teams from slowly moving down the field and owning the clock. The big worry is that by the 4 th  quarter they may well have played too many downs and be wearing down, allowing for a lot of late comebacks.   Outlook: There were mixed feelings about the Renegades in our bullpen. Some thought the style of offense they have the potential to create could be a real problem for defenses in their division, and give them a shot at 10 wins, others worry that the defense is just not stalwart enough and think 5 wins is where they end up. So, while we say they will be a 5-11 team, they are on our radar as a possible surprise team this year.   Predicted Finish: We just laid this out for you, that there is potential here for the offense to carry Orlando to a winning record, but there is also potential for them to just wear down on defense and lose a lot of late leads. We tend to lean towards the more conservative estimation of their abilities and that means 5-11 along with the Bulls and Bandits.   TAMPA BAY BANDITS Head Coach: Mark Trestman (1 st Yr) 2018 Record: 3-13 (5 th in SE)   Biggest Offseason Story: The weak get weaker. That is the impression of what happened to the Bandit defense this offseason. A squad already seen as the major flaw in the Bandit roster, a flaw that sent them to 3-13 despite a pretty solid offensive set of weapons, is not looking any better after losing both DE Jerry Hughes and LB Bryan Orakpo. The loss of arguably their two best defenders leaves the Bandits looking like a team that just does not have what it takes to keep their opponents under 25 points, maybe not even under 30 per game.   Biggest Strength: If Orlando is seeking a quick strike offense, they just need to look at Tampa Bay for inspiration. Though the Bandits want to use HB Dalvin Cook more inside, they are at their best when they get the ball out of Dak Prescott’s hands quickly, get receivers in space, and keep defenses spread thin. They have weapons in Dez Bryant, Ryan Grant, and now Ted Ginn Jr. who can do just that, and Cook is also a capable receiver, so this offense should again be Top 5 in yards, but can they also add Top 5 in points as well?   Biggest Weakness: The front 7 is just not scaring anyone. While a secondary that includes Jalen Ramsey, Trumaine McBride, Derwin James and Xavier Woods is as talented as any in the league, the front 7 is just a mishmash of players who are too slow, too mistake-prone, and too unsure of themselves. Maybe NFL imports Preston Brown and Pernell McPhee will help with that, but overall this looks very much like a team that will struggle to get teams into the 3 rd  and long situations that make their secondary’s strength useful.   Outlook: While we think it is possible for Tampa Bay to improve on their 3-win season in 2018, we don’t think they have enough on defense to get to .500. They just don’ t have the tools needed to keep offenses off the field, and if they lose the time of possession battle, their offense does not have the possessions it needs to outpace the opposition.   Predicted Finish: We think Mark Trestman will be challenged to get this group past 4-5 wins. He may well be innovative on offense, but what will he bring to the defense? What can be done with the talent he has there? We gave Tampa Bay 5 wins, but we think they have a good chance at picking first in the 2020 draft.   With Memphis rising from 6 wins to 11 last year, we got a really fun division to watch, with even 4 th  place Birmingham a better team than their 7-9 record showed. A lot of change, of course, as Drew Brees has retired from the Breakers, Birmingham brings in a new coach to try to get more out of the offense, but one constant, the Gamblers look stacked. Our Prediction: The defending USFL Champions have an easier go in the division this year as the Breakers drop without Brees.   Houston          13-3* Memphis        10-6* Birmingham     8-8 New Orleans  7-9   BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS Head Coach: Todd Haley (1 st Yr) 2018 Record: 7-9 (4 th in S)   Biggest Offseason Story: There was not a lot of press thrown towards Birmingham this offseason, but what is clear is that the coaching search was both disappointing for fans and confusing for pundits. While we like Todd Haley as an offensive play caller, pretty much everyone felt like what Birmingham needed was a Rex Ryan type, someone who would push the defense and demand more from every player. Haley is a play designer, not a motivator. Can he really get more out of this team?   Biggest Strength: Birmingham’s receiver group is very much an overlooked squad in league circles. They have four receivers who have the potential to be a lot of concern for defenses, with Amari Cooper and Dontrelle Inman outside and Julian Edelman and TE Hunter Henry inside. They need for Newton to stay in the pocket longer before giving up and taking off, because if he can get the ball to them, they will make plays for him.   Biggest Weakness: The biggest issue when the offseason began was the linebacker group, and it is still a huge issue. Outside of DeMeco Ryans, this is a group that simply does not tackle well and makes far too many mistakes in their angle of approach and their coverage. With a Front 3 that also struggles to win on the line of scrimmage, you need an aggressive linebacker group that takes the right approach to the ballcarrier and tackles well. That is not this group.   Outlook: While not a bad team overall, the Stallions are just not competitive with the best teams in the division. Houston and Memphis should dominate the division and if Geno Smith is even mediocre, Birmingham could once again find itself bringing up the rear in perhaps the toughest division in the league.   Predicted Finish: We are pretty skeptical about Smith in New Orleans, so we do have Birmingham moving to 3 rd place, but we just don’t see them making the postseason. That feels like an unreasonable goal for a team with a new head coach, and no significant upgrades in the offseason. HOUSTON GAMBLERS Head Coach: Wade Phillips 2018 Record: 12-4 (2 nd in S)   Biggest Offseason Story: The league champions spent a good part of the offseason celebrating their 5 th  title, but they did have a mission to complete, rebuilding a D-line that lost two starters. We think the additions of DTs Nick Fairley and rookie Ed Oliver will produce a solid interior, though that may take half a season to gel, but replacing Antwan Applewhite with a rotation of Tm Crowder and Tashawn Bower feels very much like a significant downgrade. Coach Phillips will need to do more to generate QB pressure, which leaves his secondary more exposed. If Houston has a backslide, we think it starts in the line.   Biggest Strength: The best way to help your D-line is to play with a lead, and Houston has every possibility of doing that with one of the most diverse and dangerous offenses in pro football. Colt McCoy, Carlos Hyde, and that receiver group, led by Mike Evans and JuJu Smith-Schuster, is just nasty. Few teams can keep them down for long, but if they can start fast, they set up the defense to just pursue the QB and ignore the run, and that is something any defense would love.   Biggest Weakness: We already gave you the answer to this, it’s the D-line. We are not sure how they will generate pressure, not with every O-line able to focus on Dante Fowler. Unless Tim Crowder or Tashawn Bower can prove to be effective against single blockers, the Gamblers may find that they are giving QBs a lot of time to make throws, and that is never a good thing.   Outlook: Despite our concerns about the pass rush, we still think Houston is one of the best teams in the league and has a real shot at repeating as champion. They will likely find Memphis a tough foe in the division, but with Drew Brees gone, New Orleans likely cedes the division crown to the Gamblers, and if they can get home field, well, that is just a formula for another Summer Bowl appearance.   Predicted Finish: This is not a team we think can go 16-0, but we also don’t think they drop below 11 wins this year, not unless we are wrong about the issues in New Orleans and Birmingham. Expect them to be in the hunt, and perhaps the favorite, to earn the 1-seed and home field in the East.   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS Head Coach: Rex Ryan 2018 Record: 11-5 (3 rd in S)   Biggest Offseason Story: For a defensive-minded coach, Rex Ryan surprised many with his offseason priorities. The Showboats lost two important pieces from Ryan’s defense (CB Patrick Robinson and DE Mario Williams), but spent most of their offseason improving the offense by signing OT Jordan Pugh from the NFL, center Phillip Blake, WR Devin Funchess (another NFL import) and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to back up and mentor Paxton Lynch. It was only in the draft that the team addressed the CB and DE positions. That seems like a very interesting strategy for a head coach who spends all of his time focused on the D.   Biggest Strength: The inside run game is the key to everything Memphis does on offense. The line is focused on creating holes for Todd Gurley, the play action pass game depends on having 2 nd and 5 or 3 rd  and 2 to surprise defenses with quick throws to Woods and Patterson. Adding Funchess as an NFL import just adds to the play action capacity because he can win those 50/50 balls in man coverage. Fullback Roosevelt Nix is one of the best in the game, which is why you will see us predict Gurley as the OPOTY this year, because we think he has a real chance to top 1,600 yards and propel Memphis back to the playoffs.   Biggest Weakness: As much as Rex Ryan might protest, we have to say the edge rush capability of the Showboats without Mario Williams. Unless rookie Chase Winovich is the second coming of Phil Hansen, we just don’t see how he and Sam Acho can even equal the sack total that Williams gave the club last year, much less the needed pressure from the front 4 to avoid dependence on blitzes. If, as we predict, Ryan will have to send either MLB NaVorro Bowman or safety Jordan Richards on blitzes, then Memphis could be vulnerable to inside throws, especially against teams with above average receiving tight ends or slot receivers, and that is quite a few teams.   Outlook: While we are concerned that Memphis has something of a single gameplan to victory (run the ball, play action passing, stuff the run), we still think they can be a 10-11 win team. The formula is likely to work more often than it doesn’t, but we are concerned that the very team they need to overcome to have any shot at a division title is the team best-suited to overpower their defense. I mean, if you cannot pressure Colt McCoy, what chance do you have to beat the Gamblers?   Predicted Finish: We have Memphis solidly in 2 nd  place in the South, and that seems about as solid a pick as we ever make in the preseason. It just feels like that is where they are and where they belong.   NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS Head Coach: Lamar Lathon 2018 Record: 12-4 (1 st in S)   Biggest Offseason Story: As soon as Drew Brees announced he would be retiring after the 2018 season, we knew the QB position would be the focus of the Breaker offseason. There was no heir apparent in waiting. Pat White, despite getting the Week 1 start this week, was not going to be the man, and Chad Kelly is still very much a player being developed. And so, New Orleans went hard after both Ryan Nassib and Matt McGloin. They failed in both cases and that left them with few options. They did not have an inside track on Kyler Murray, and no other QB in the draft class felt like a Year One starter. So, they waited, hoping that there would be options in the NFL pool. They toyed around with the idea of pursuing Blake Bortles or Ryan Tannehill but settled on former Jet and Giant Geno Smith. Was that smart, or are they going to struggle this year and then make a deal for a better option next year?   Biggest Strength: Perhaps the best thing going for Geno Smith, who we expect will be starting by Week 2 or 3 at the latest, is that he inherits an incredible receiver group. You start with Jordy Nelson, who still dreams of being the league’s first 2,000-yard receiver. Then you have Kenny Britt, king of the 30-yard fly or fade route, and lightning quick slot receiver Tyler Lockett. Oh, and did we forget to mention the only 1,000-yard tight end in the league last year? Oh yeah, the best receiving tight end in the USFL, Coby Fleener is your safety valve. If you believe Geno Smith struggled in the NFL because he played for the Jets, and they always destroy their QB talent, then you have to like what Smith might be able to do with this group as his targets.   Biggest Weakness: If you think we are going to buy in on the theme that Geno Smith is overrated, even after struggling so much in the NFL, well, yes, you are right. We just don’t see Smith as the answer. We can honestly imagine a scenario where he ends up splitting starts not only with Pat White this year but with Chad Kelly by season’s end. If things go badly, as many think they will, New Orleans could drop to 4 th  in the division despite their stellar defensive talent, and then all eyes turn to Coach Lathon and the Personnel team as they look for a better option for 2020. Do you think we are kidding? After only 1 season at LSU, you can already find “Burrow 4 the Breakers” t-shirts throughout the Big Easy. That is an amazing thing and not a confidence builder for Geno Smith.   Outlook: We love the Breaker D. And there is talent on the offense, so if we are wrong about Geno Smith, this is a team that can battle Houston for the title. But we don’t think we are, so we have picked the Breakers to finish 4 th  and, yes, very possibly, use their T-Draft to bring in the very popular Joe Burrow next year.   Predicted Finish: I feel like we are picking on Geno Smith. Is it his fault he spent those years with the QB-crushing NY Jets? No. But for now, we have to say that while we give New Orleans the biggest possible swing range in wins (from 11 to 3), we think the most realistic situation is that they hang around .500 on defense alone and then find a new QB next year. Sorry, Geno. We hope we are wrong, because you seem an upstanding guy, but the confidence is just not there. This is perhaps our favorite division just because there are cases to be made that any team can finish first or last. We love the energy that Lamar Jackson has brought to the Skyhawks, but he cannot play defense (can anyone in St. Louis?), and we think the late trade that brought Sam Bradford to Chicago makes the Machine a much more interesting team, but in the end we think it still comes down to Michigan and Ohio. Our prediction: The Panthers rebound in a tight race.   Michigan     11-7* Ohio                10-6* Chicago         8-8 St. Louis          6-10   CHICAGO MACHINE Head Coach: Lovie Smith 2018 Record: 7-9 (3 rd in C)   Biggest Offseason Story: Is luck better than talent? That is what fans are asking about the Machine front office. Chicago made the choice to let Ryan Fitzpatrick walk, frustrated with the boom or bust nature of his Fitz-magic.  The hope was that the Machine would do what they needed to in pursuit of Ryan Nassib. When that failed, they moved on to Plan B, trading with the Federals to select Duke’s Daniel Jones. But Jones did not sign, and for the Machine Maniacs it seemed like their club would go into the season with Trevor Siemian at the helm of the offense, but when LA started calling clubs about Sam Bradford, the Machine front office seemed to stumble into a perfectly suitable option. Machine fans may not be happy to get a 3 rd  choice at QB, but ending up with Bradford is certainly a better option than standing pat with Siemian, so the Machine may have actually just stumbled into an upgrade at the game’s most important position.   Biggest Strength: As tempting as it would be to praise the HB duo of Matt Forte and Jeremy Hill, we would be doing an injustice if we did not point to the Machine secondary as the strongest part of the roster. Safeties Lano Hill and Micah Hyde are outstanding and Tavon Wilson may be the best swing safety (able to sub for either starter or play the nickel) in the game. Then you add on Josh Norman, one of the best man coverage corners in the business, and Jordan Poyer, who is outstanding in zone coverage and may well transition to safety in the future due to his willingness to play the run game, and you have a last line of defense that can produce takeaways, shut down a team’s best receiver(s) and be a factor in run defense as well. That is a great positive for any team.   Biggest Weakness: Slot receiver. This is not a knock on Kenny Golladay, who is a very solid receiver, he is just not a natural slot guy. Chicago essentially has a roster of outside receivers in Michael Floyd, Kenny Stills, Golladay, and Will Fuller. Only rookie Miles Boykin really looks like the kind of quick, shifty, fast-twitch receiver who should be lined up in the slot. So, how does Chicago use the receivers they have if no one is well suited to run those slants and crossing routes?   Outlook: We like what Coach Smith is building on the defensive side. The Machine added Arik Armstead at DT, giving them a very solid front 4. They have a talented LB group led by Manti Te’o and Kevin Minter, and that secondary. So, if Sam Bradford can turn this offense into a Top 10 or even Top 14 offense, this Chicago team could be a real contender in a division that has strong teams but teams that are not clearly dominant. Add Chicago to our list of possible dark horses for 2019.   Predicted Finish: We have the Machine at 8-8, mostly because we are just not sure if Sam Bradford is the answer. Honestly, we had folks in our staff picking them to win 12 games, and no one picked them to be worse than 7-9, so maybe we are being too negative here.   MICHIGAN PANTHERS Head Coach: Sean McDermott 2018 Record: 9-7 (2 nd in C)   Biggest Offseason Story: Honestly, we are having trouble finding a storyline for the Panthers. They were essentially non-factors in free agency, with only the Antonio Bryant signing creating any press at all. They pretty much decided to focus on the draft, signing some good players in LB Devin Bush, DE L. J. Collier, and HB Alexander Mattison, but is that enough to create buzz? Doesn’t seem so.   Biggest Strength: As much as we risk offending LeVeon Bush for a second time (after picking Gurley as our OPOTY), we think we have to say that the strength of the Panthers is the defense. They have perhaps the best 3-man LB group in the league with Odell Thurman, Sean Porter and DeVonte Holloman, and now they add in Devin Bush, who could push Holloman for snaps very soon. They have a solid 4-man line with Vickerson and Troupe clogging up the middle so that Dee Ford and Justin Tuck can crash the outside. And then you have Dre Kirkpatrick and Jabril Peppers in the secondary. That is one nasty combination of talented players on the defensive side.   Biggest Weakness: I guess we have to address the elephant in the room. For all the talent on this team, they seem to play down to the level of their opposition. Some of that falls on QB Kirk Cousins, who will have some great games and some real head scratchers. But it is more than Cousins. Last season in particular, Michigan just never seemed to be prepared for their games. They let teams hang around, and that produced some bad losses and upsets. This is a team that found their groove in the 2017 playoffs, a run that saw them capture a title, and if they could play like that each week they could win another, but their inability to stay focused and to be prepared for when things don’t go as planned holds them back.   Outlook: I know we just ripped Michigan for not playing up to their talent, but we also recognize just how much talent they have, which is why we are picking them to reclaim the division title from Ohio. They are just the better team, they just have to play like it week in and week out.   Predicted Finish: Michgan playing their best ball could go 15-1 or even 16-0, but that is not what we usually see, so we have them more in the 10-12 win range. It is all about focus. If they have it we think they dominate the division. If not, then Ohio, and maybe Chicago as well, can catch them.   OHIO GLORY Head Coach: Tom Coughlin 2018 Record: 10-6 (1 st in C)   Biggest Offseason Story: Glory fans are still angry and frustrated with management’s decision to trade away the pick that essentially gave Nick Bosa to the LA Express. Ohio did not have a dominant pass rush last year, and with Kamerion Wemberley leaving, it seemed a natural fit to add Bosa out of Ohio State. But the personnel team had other priorities and the offer from LA was just too good to pass up, so Bosa is now on the West Coast, and Ohio is going to have to figure out another plan to improve their pass rush.   Biggest Strength: While the safety duo of Tyran Matthieu and LaRon Landry is perhaps the best in the league, the real key to Ohio’s success is a concept, not a position. It is discipline. Coach Coughlin demands it, and the Glory provide it. This is a team that rarely beats itself. They are not flashy, not explosive, not all household names, but they know their roles, they play those roles, and they don’t make mistakes, and that helps them win a lot of games.   Biggest Weakness: The biggest issue we have with Ohio is that they are reliant, perhaps over-reliant on the maintained drive model of offense. Penalties, sacks, poor first down play calls, all of these can derail a drive because Ohio is not a team that can escape a 3 rd and 15 and they are not a team that is going to get a lot of 1-play 70-yard scores. They wear you down, they stick around, and they win at the end, but sometimes you just need that one big play and this offense rarely finds those.   Outlook: Ohio is not going to wow anyone, and will rarely come away with a 20-point win, but you don’t need either to be successful, at least to a point. We like Ohio as a playoff team this year, but just as with last year, once you get to the postseason, you are going to have to do more than just plug along to make a run, and we wonder if this Ohio squad can produce the magic needed to win 3 or 4 playoff games.   Predicted Finish: We picked Michigan to edge past the Glory for the division, but it will be close. It could go either way. With Ohio we see stability without a huge upside or a big dip, but with Michigan the ceiling is just higher.   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS Head Coach: Frank Reich 2018 Record: 5-11 (4 th in C)   Biggest Offseason Story:  As much as we believe in the “build through the draft” philosophy, it is rare that a team goes all in on the draft to the absolute absence of any other plan. But that is exactly what the Skyhawks did. They signed only a few “camp bodies” in free agency, made no signing from our top 100 free agents, no NFL imports, and their only trades involved draft picks. Essentially they just put it all on the draft, which is so risky when the NFL snaps up 50% of all picks. They did come away with a larger-than-normal draft class, but that also means they have a rookie-heavy roster, which may mean that improvement will come too late for Coach Reich, unless they can surprise this year.   Biggest Strength: I guess we should say “youth”, but the real answer may be “unfamiliarity”. Teams just don’t know this team well, from QB Lamar Jackson, entering his first full season as the starter, to the crop of rookies who will likely see a lot of action, there is just not a lot of film on these guys, and that could be a strength if the Skyhawks can keep from playing vanilla football and can throw some unexpected twists at the opposition.   Biggest Weakness: With such a focus on youth, the obvious answer would seem to be “inexperience” but when your run defense is one of the worst not only in the league, but in league history, we cannot ignore it. The Skyhawks simply could not stop anyone on the ground. They gave up more 200-yard games to teams than most teams do in a decade. We honestly feel for LBs Roquon Smith and Trey Hendrickson, who were asked to run from sideline to sideline to chase down backs who went through the line untouched. It is an area that has to improve or this club will simply not be competitive, no matter what magic Lamar Jackson has.   Outlook: We just don’t see enough improvement on defense to have St. Louis escape the basement of the division. This is a team that needed to go after Ndamukong Suh or Sedrick Ellis in free agency, but did not. They need more out of their front 4, but we just don’t think they will get it, and that means another season of halfbacks licking their chops every time they see the Skyhawks on the schedule for the week.   Predicted Finish: We fell on 6-10 for St. Louis, but beware, this could be a 2-win team, seriously. We think Lamar Jackson, Eddie Lacy, Stevie Johnson and Rob Gronkowski can keep that from happening, but even 6 wins seems generous unless that defense has a major upgrade in output.   Arizona is just stacked on defense, but we have to believe that even with Victor Cruz coming over, the WR group will miss Fitzgerald and Bryant. Does that create space for another team? Well, Denver is starting an untested QB, Oklahoma did very little to improve their roster from 2018, and Dallas, well, a bit of a mess still, so we look at Las Vegas, with Matt McGloin and Aaron Dobson added as the most likely challenger. Will they have enough? Our prediction: Arizona holds on, but Las Vegas, Oklahoma, and Denver are in the mix.   Arizona           12-4* Las Vegas       10-6* Oklahoma        9-7 Denver             7-9 Dallas               5-11   ARIZONA WRANGLERS Head Coach: Jim Tomsula 2018 Record: 12-3-1 (1 st in SW)   Biggest Offseason Story: It may seem a bit crass to put it this way, but the story for the Wranglers this summer was throwing money around to maximum effect. With the retirements of Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore and Troy Polamalu, Arizona shot to the top of the big spenders, with nearly $30 million available to use to restock their roster, and man, oh, man, did they use it. The highlight, of course, was the deal struck with the Orlando Renegades to land Calais Campbell, and to give him a contract that will have him finish his career in the desert. But it did not stop there. Arizona knew they had needs to fill and they used every tool available to do so.   Through free agency they added WR Victor Cruz, CB Jeremy Lane, and FB Andy Janovich. From the NFL they brought in HB Isaiah Crowell, DEs Bud Dupree and Terrance Fede, and OT D. J. Humphries. They added WR N’Keal Harry through the draft, and they acquired SS Corey White in a second deal with Orlando in which they moved out of the first round of the draft. In other words, Arizona had money to spend and they did just that.   Biggest Strength: We could point to several position groups, but the overwhelming theme is that this is a club that has veteran leadership up and down the roster, perhaps less than in recent years, as there has been a steady turnover the past two offseasons, but there is still a wealth of savvy leadership across this roster. It starts with QB David Carr on offense, where the line is also supported by veteran left tackle Brandon Scherff. And while Arizona has lost a lot of longstanding team captains on defense, they still have solid experienced leaders in LB A. J. Klien, CB Joe Haden, and safety Nate Allen. You can count Calais Campbell in that group as well, though new to the Wranglers, he will bring in a huge career wealth of experience, knowledge, and motivation to the club.   Biggest Weakness: Depth is a concern. With the exodus of talent through free agency and retirements in the past two years, the big hit has been depth. The Wranglers have filled a lot of gaps but have not necessarily backfilled the bottom 20 spots on the roster. We see this in the secondary, where key injuries to Haden or Nate Allen could produce issues. The same is true if any of their starting D-Linemen go down. And, unlike last year when Ryan Nassib was able to step in for David Carr and lead the Wranglers to a Summer Bowl, this year they will have two very inexperienced and unsure players behind Carr (Brandon Allen and Tom Savage).   Outlook: If the key figures for Arizona can stay healthy, this will be a Summer Bowl contender. Fans of the rest of the SW Division as well as the entire Western Conference had to be distraught to see the Wranglers acquire Campbell, a once-in-a-lifetime talent. They also did well to restock their receiver group, though we don’t expect that Victor Cruz can truly replace Larry Fitzgerald. All in all this looks like a team ready to once again make a run at a title.   Predicted Finish: We gave Arizona 4 losses purely out of deference for a pretty solid division, expecting that Las Vegas, Denver, or Oklahoma will at some point find a way to upend the Wranglers at some point, but we still don’t see any of them being able to match Arizona’s season-long success.   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS Head Coach: Kliff Kingsbury 2018 Record: 3-13 (5 th in SW)   Biggest Offseason Story: Kliff Kingsbury now leads a very different team from the one he inherited a year ago. He has a new QB in former MVP Josh Freeman, and, now, after two solid free agent moves, they have veteran leaders on the O-line (guard Chance Warmack) and on defense (MLB Clay Matthews). The addition of both veterans and veterans with strong locker room and on-field leadership skills can only help the Roughnecks as they try to get a foothold in a very tough division.   Biggest Strength: Dallas has been very intentional the past two years, focusing on adding veterans who can still play at a high level. Think about these recent additions in the Kingsbury run: QB Josh Freeman, WR Sammy Watkins, OG Chance Warmack, OT Cordy Glenn, DT Domato Peko, DE Connor Barwin, LB Clay Matthews, LB Jamie Collins, and CB Patrick Peterson. This has not only been an infusion of talent, but one of quality locker room guys. Will it now start to pay off?   Biggest Weakness: The one area where we look at the Roughnecks and wonder if they have what it takes is the run game. The RB room of Perine, Charles Sims, and Myles Gaskin is just not one most defensive coordinators are going to gameplan around. That means a lot of pressure still sits with the QB, and while Josh Freeman has skills, he may not be able to salvage wins without a viable run game.   Outlook: Dallas could make a leap this year, but we are not feeling comfortable saying that right now. There is talent on this team, but the SW Division is a brutal gauntlet and we have yet to see enough out of the Roughnecks to think they can survive it. We think they still sit in the basement, but if they do come together and if others, particularly Denver and Oklahoma, struggle more than anticipated, they could find themselves in a Wild Card hunt.   Predicted Finish: We gave Dallas 5 wins in our division prediction. That may be lowballing their potential a bit, but again, there are just not going to be many divisional games where they are favored, perhaps not a single one. If we are wrong, we will see it early on as Dallas faces Denver twice in the first 5 weeks as well as Oklahoma and Arizona. If they can get even 2 wins in that run, they may well be better than we are giving them credit for.   DENVER GOLD Head Coach: John Hufnagel 2018 Record: 9-7 (2 nd in SW)   Biggest Offseason Story: Trusting the process. That was the story we heard out of Denver all offseason. Despite some calling for the Gold to go after one of the break out QBs available, the Gold stuck to their plan to have Josh Allen take over after Matt Leinart. They signed a solid backup in Kyle Orton, a player whose experience can benefit Allen, whose style would be similar (though not nearly as mobile) and whose presence is not a threat to the 2 nd  year QB. They signed a quality safety valve, trading to acquire rights to T. J. Hockenson from St. Louis, and they did not panic after losing Ndamukong Suh in free agency. Coach Hufnagel exudes competence and confidence and so a stay the course plan is one Denver fans are buying into.   Biggest Strength: There are several position groups we would call strengths of the Gold, but the O-line is the one that seems to be ahead of all the others. It is a veteran group, one that will have played together for the better part of 3 years, and they can do it all. They can open holes for DeMarco Murray and Phillip Lindsay. They excel in the screen game, and they will provide solid protection for their young QB. That is a good place to start for any new starting QB, but especially for one who just has not seen the kind of talent on the field that the USFL will throw at him.   Biggest Weakness: It has to be Allen. Denver fans just do not know what they will get from the former Wyoming Cowboy. Will he be the next Cam Newton? The next Joe Flacco? Or the next Ryan Leaf? He has arm strength to compare with the best in the game. He can be physical and is an effective runner like Newton, but accuracy has always been a concern. And what about his psychological makeup? This is a player who no one wanted out of HS. He had to send tapes to coaches out of Jr. College to get any interest at all, and then it was only Wyoming that took a shot on him. What happens if his first month is rough? If fans start calling for Kyle Orton to play? Will he develop a thick skin or crumble under the pressure. This is a reality that playing in Laramie just does not prepare a player to handle.   Outlook: Denver has a solid roster, with a few highlight players like DE Von Miller, SS DaJuan Morgan, and the always reliable Golden Tate at WR. It also has some young talent like HB Phillip Lindsay and rookie TE T. J. Hockenson, but when push comes to shove, Coach Hufnagel is putting this team in the hands of his 2 nd  year QB and how Josh Allen responds will make or break the season.   Predicted Finish: We cannot imagine that this will be an easy season in Denver. We think they hover around .500 because they have good talent on the roster, but we think it is a growing year with a new QB and that means you have to measure success based on growth rather than the final record.   LAS VEGAS VIPERS Head Coach: Rick Neuheisel 2018 Record: 7-9 (4 th in SW)   Biggest Offseason Story: Viper fans may have been laser focused on the QB position after Eli Manning’s retirement, but inside the personnel room at Wynn Arena, the Viper front office was not. They understood that to be successful in 2019 they needed to be better across the board. Yes, they addressed the QB position, locking in 2018 breakout player Matt McGloin with a 4-year deal, but they also added talent all over the roster, bringing in 100-reception possession receiving stud Aaron Dobson, luring tackling machine Blake Martinez over from the NFL, beefing up the line with DT Sylvester Williams, and then drafting for depth with another DT in Dre’Mont Jones and a promising young wideout in Darius Slayton. Yes, the QB is important, but he cannot do it alone. That seems to be the message from Coach Neuheisel.   Biggest Strength: Don’t look now, but it seems that Las Vegas has built themselves quite an impressive front 4. Adding Sylvester Williams and rookie Dre’Mont Jones to the middle of the line, pairing Mario Addison and Matthew Judon outside, and having solid depth with DE Malik Jackson and DT Nate Orchard, and we could see 7 or 8 players rotating in and out on the line to keep the group fresh and wear down the opposing O-line. They are not the biggest name group, but they could be a handful for offenses to manage.   Biggest Weakness: We love the Dobson signing, but there is still concern that the rest of the Vegas WR group is just not going to be able to step up. Arrelious Benn has never lived up to his potential. Darius Slayton is an unknown commodity, and neither Derek Hagan nor Arnold Brown are going to take the top off the defense. And that may be the biggest issue here. We just don’t see anyone here who is going to pull a safety deep and allow underneath receivers to play the gaps in the zone.   Outlook: We like Las Vegas as the likely 2 nd  place team, though it is close and either Oklahoma or Denver could be right there as well. Why do we prefer Las Vegas? They have solid talent on both lines, they play within themselves, and they don’t take too many risks. That can be enough in a close game to give them an edge.   Predicted Finish: The Vipers are not a team that can rattle off 12 or 13 wins, but that 10-win threshold which usually produces playoff berths seems very much within their capabilities. They would love more, but this year that feels like a good target for them.   OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS Head Coach: Bob Stoops (1 st Yr) 2018 Record: 7-9 (4 th in SW)   Biggest Offseason Story: Outside of the signing of Bob Stoops, there was not much news out of Oklahoma City this offseason. Fans are excited about Stoops, but he is a first-time pro coach, so there will be a learning curve. He has great veteran leadership in Joe Flacco, but the team has not done much to add talent to a roster that seemed overmatched quite a few times last season.   Biggest Strength: Oklahoma does not have the most impressive roster in the league, but what they have is personnel who fit what they want to do, especially on offense. Coach Stoops wants to use a lot of 2-TE, 1-back formations, run the ball inside, throw off play action, and protect his QB. The Outlaws should be able to do just that with 2 solid receiving tight ends in Mark Andrews and Julius Thomas, along with an inside run game led by Marshawn Lynch. Flacco’s lack of mobility could be an issue, but not if an effective run game keeps teams from overcommitting to the pass rush.   Biggest Weakness: We are having trouble seeing how Oklahoma will generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Neither DE (Chris Harrington or Jordan Willis) has what it takes to be a consistent 10+ sack guy, and their LB group is just not built for blitzing. So, if the Outlaws cannot put pressure on the opposing QB, how do they get teams off the field?   Outlook: The Outlaws had a shot at a playoff spot up until the final week last year, and that could be the situation again this year, but while 8 wins seems very viable, we struggle to see how the Outlaws can do much better without addressing their somewhat limited capacity to make big plays and their defensive concerns.   Predicted Finish: We put Oklahoma at 9-7, but it could just as easily prove to be 7-9 again. They have a veteran in QB Joe Flacco who gives them stability at the most important position, but last year they struggled to get Marshawn Lynch any space in the run game. If that happens again, it is hard to see how Oklahoma finishes in playoff position.   The story of the offseason has been the LA Express, but they are a team now built on rookies, so don’t expect immediate success. Oakland and San Diego still look like the best all around teams in the division, and we think both Seattle and Portland will again hover around .500, but this is a division that could certainly bring surprises. Our prediction: We like the Thunder to edge out Oakland for the title, but it will be a battle of near equals between these two. We are going to also say that Seattle does not go 0-5 to start the year, so they have a shot as well.   San Diego        11-5* Oakland         10-6* Seattle             9-7 Portland           8-8 Los Angeles     6-10   LOS ANGELES EXPRESS Head Coach: Marvin Lewis (1 st Yr) 2018 Record: 3-13 (5 th in P)   Biggest Offseason Story: The way the new Express front office gamed the 2-tier USFL draft process will be studied for years. They worked every angle to perfection and what that got them was the consensus top pick at three vital positions, QB, DE, and WR. That was a coup, plain and simple, and what a way for former Seattle head coach Marvin Lewis to make a splash with a very cynical fanbase. LA may struggle this year, as most teams with rookies in key positions of leadership do, but there is a clear sense that the Express are not messing around anymore.   Biggest Strength: It has been a while since we have said this, but LA could have a truly outstanding D-line. That has not been the case in a long time, but now, with Chris Jones inside, with Nick Bosa on the left end and with a rotation of Laurence Jackson and Andy Studebaker on the right side, the Express present offenses with some tough choices. Throw in veteran LB Keith Rivers calling the defensive adjustments and we could see a revival of some tough front 7 play with this Express team.   Biggest Weakness: For all the excitement about the rookie haul of the Express, the offense is likely to be a work in progress as Murray adjusts to the speed of the USFL. We love that the Express added C. J. Anderson in the past 2 weeks, because they need a better option on 3 rd  and 3 than Reggie Bush can provide, and we hope that Murray and Jason Whitten are getting a lot of reps together, because we fully expect Murray to have happy feet and to need some emergency escape valves as he learns how tough USFL coverage can be on a young QB.   Outlook: Does anyone want to hazard a guess? While we love the aggressive stance the Express took this offseason, it did focus mostly on the draft, which means this will be a team that needs time to mature, to grow together, and to learn the pro game. So, we expect a slow start, and improvement over the 2 nd  half of the season.   Predicted Finish: We have LA finishing last in the division once again, but we think the vibe coming out of the 2 nd half of the season will be one of great promise. Rome was not built in a day, but with a fresh start, this franchise feels like one that is going to build towards something special. It just takes time.   OAKLAND INVADERS Head Coach: Gary Kubiak 2018 Record: 11-5 (1 st in P)   Biggest Offseason Story: The 2019 offseason was all about building depth on an Oakland roster that took them to the Western Conference finals. Yes, they did suffer a couple of big losses in center Matt Light and DT Sedrick Ellis, but their focus in talent acquisition was far more on backups who can contribute than on immediate impact players. Whether it is Bryce Love at halfback, J. J. Arcega-Whiteside at WR, or Christian Wilkens at DT, the moves made, particularly in the draft, were about adding to the depth on some key player rotation positions.   Biggest Strength: The Invader blitz game is one of the best in the league, perhaps the best. Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett are a solid left-right end combo, but they are made even better because of the capacity of LBs Bobby Wagner and Junior Galette to crash the line, the willingness of Coach Kubiak to send either Jaiquawn Jarrett or Jahleel Addae from the safety slot, or even to send Chris Gamble from the CB position on blitzes, and, oh yes, the Invaders just added Shaq Barrett on the weak side LB position, another LB blitz option with speed and ferocity. Have fun Pacific Conference QBs. Oakland is going to be coming for you.   Biggest Weakness: With the only addition being mid-round rookie J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, it looks like the Invaders have once again forgotten the WR position in the offseason. Sure, Davante Adams is an elite receiver, but he would benefit so much from having a true number two on the field. Davone Bess and Taylor Gabriel are both better as slot receivers, and Donte Moncrief has just not developed as hoped. Had Oakland gone after a possession guy like Aaron Donald, they could be dominant in the air, but at present it feels very much like Jimmy G has to look deep for Adams and then settle for a dump down to Ertz over the middle as the primary offensive plan.   Outlook: When you have a defense like the one Oakland puts on the field, led by DPOTY Bobby Wagner, you are going to be in every game and very likely you will win far more than you lose. Add a full offseason of rest and preparation for Jimmy Garoppolo and we again see Oakland as not only a playoff contender but a team that could make it all the way to Las Vegas and Summer Bowl 2019.   Predicted Finish: We all but flipped a coin between Oakland and San Diego, as we think either one could win the division. Oakland is the more conservative call, and they could well step up to the 12-13 win plateau, but we felt like there is slightly more “pop” coming out of San Diego right now, so we gave it to them.   PORTLAND STAGS Head Coach: Matt LaFleur 2018 Record: 9-7 (3 rd in P)   Biggest Offseason Story: Portland fans are over the moon about the signing of Ndamukong Suh to solidify the D-line, but after losing both Channing Crowder (free agency to Philadelphia) and Lance Briggs (retirement), we wonder who is going to play behind Suh in the LB group. The Stags need for either Justin Hollins or David Hawthorne to step up at MLB, because right now that looks like a big need area for them, even with a stud like Suh at nose tackle.   Biggest Strength: The Stags have a brutal 1-2 punch at halfback with Doug Martin and Ben Tate. We could actually be seeing a backfield with two 1,000-yard backs if the offense can stay on the field to give each enough carries. Portland will lean on that running duo all season long, allowing Mariota to play 2 nd  fiddle and pick and choose his chances against a defense that will be forced to creep the safeties to the line. That could be very good news for Brandin Cooks once again.   Biggest Weakness: The Stags MLB position is an unknown quantity, but we are actually more concerned about the options at tight end. Neither Trey Burton nor Pharaoh Brown provides much to QB Marcus Mariota. They are also not outstanding blockers, so the run game does not benefit as much as they would from a dedicated run-blocking end on the line. It is a glaring issue for an offense that wants to play power football with a mix of play action.   Outlook: Portland feels like a team that could surprise us with 10-11 wins or with 5-6 wins. We choose to think that Coach LaFleur will get something between those two poles from this club. They tend to play very well at home, but struggle on the road. That feels like an 8-win season more or less, which is what we predicted.   Predicted Finish: Until Portland proves that the MLB and TE positions are stronger than what we see, we cannot put them at more than 8-8. There are a few other areas that worry us, but those two are the big and obvious question marks.   SAN DIEGO THUNDER Head Coach: Dick LeBeau 2018 Record: 10-6 (2 nd in P)   Biggest Offseason Story: The Thunder became the masters of the double down this summer. They saw need areas and they added not one but two possible solutions. Take HB for example. There was not much behind starter Ryan Williams, so San Diego added not only scatback Taiwan Jones in free agency but also brought in a big thumper in Miami big back Travis Homer in the draft. They did the same thing at OT with Jack Conklin the free agent and Jacob Skule in the draft, and at DT with Damon Harrison in free agency and Dexter Lawrence in the draft.   Biggest Strength: The San Diego receiver group can do it all. They have one of the best deep ball receivers in football in Marques Colston, a quality possession guy in Nick Toon, and an elusive slot receiver in DeVante Parker. Add depth with Chris Givens and David Clowney and you have more than enough weapons for Christian Ponder to have success with.   Biggest Weakness: Killer instinct. That is what the Thunder seem to lack. At least that is what head coach Dick LeBeau stated as his biggest concern after the Thunder were knocked from the playoffs last year. Has he addressed that in the offseason? Can he teach that to his team? We are not exactly sure how you address that.   Outlook: We like San Diego to challenge Oakland for the Pacific Division, and after going 0-1 two years ago and 1-1 in last year’s playoffs, we wonder if they can string together 3-4 solid games to make a Summer Bowl run this year. If Coach LeBeau can build that killer instinct he wants to see, they have the talent to make the run. It is one of the reasons we have them as our dark horse Summer Bowl contender.   Predicted Finish: We put San Diego just ahead of Oakland in the division. If they can do just a bit better, maybe secure a 1 or 2 seed, they could be a real contender.   SEATTLE DRAGONS Head Coach: Mike Riley 2018 Record: 8-8 (4 th in P)   Biggest Offseason Story: While there were some in the PNW demanding that Seattle make a deal with Matt McGloin, that was not the sentiment in the personnel room for Mike Riley’s team. They are sticking with Jacoby Brissett as their starter, bringing in a bit of a Brissett doppleganger in former NJ quarterback Brett Hundley as the backup. So, while fans clamored for something very different, the Dragons spent the offseason focused on becoming a top tier defense. The additions of DE Jerry Hughes and rookies Josh Allen (LB) and Taylor Rapp (S), could have them headed in that direction.   Biggest Strength: If you think speed and aggression should be the hallmark of a linebacker group, you will love the Seattle Dragons. From Kahlil Mack and Carl Ihenacho outside to Calvin Pace at MLB, and now the addition of Josh Allen, who could sub both inside or outside, you may have the most violent and pursuit-minded LB group in the league. Expect Coach Riley to use them in coverage, in blitz schemes, and as run blitzers as well. It should be fun to watch.   Biggest Weakness: As much as we love Coach Riley’s devotion to his 2017 starter, we are just not sold on Jacoby Brissett as a franchise quarterback. But with Brett Hundley and Brad Gradkowski behind him, we think Brissett will get every chance to prove himself, with a very slow hook if he struggles. We saw how effective Matt McGloin could be in this offense last year, so if Brissett struggles this year, we think they will address the position in 2020, but that is not what fans want to hear if they are buying tickets in 2019.   Outlook: It is simple, if Seattle had gone 3-2 or even 2-3 in each of the prior seasons, they would have been right in the hunt for the division title. Fans are antsy, but the reality is that another 0-5 start will have people questioning just what Mike Riley is doing in camp. If Seattle can get off to even a mediocre start, they could be a factor, so just win the opener and go from there.   Predicted Finish: We ended up giving Seattle the benefit of the doubt, mostly because we think their defense has potential to be elite this year. If they can avoid the slow start, they could be right there at the end, but if they start off with even just a few losses to start the year, we could see a full-on panic set in.   OUR 2019 PLAYOFF PICKS Our divisional picks give us New Jersey, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston and Memphis in the East with San Diego, Oakland, Arizona, Las Vegas, Michigan, and Ohio in the West. Houston and Arizona earn the top seeds, and we see both as very strong contenders for another Summer Bowl matchup. And while we tried out all kinds of scenarios, we realized that we simply were looking for ways to avoid a Summer Bowl rematch. Why? There has never been a rematch year-to-year in the Summer Bowl, maybe we are due? Yes, we are due. The Gamblers and Wranglers are in strong positions to return to the title game, and so we are going to predict two very rare occurrences. We are predicting a Summer Bowl rematch of the Gamblers and Wranglers, and we are predicting only the 2 nd  back-to-back title in league history as the Gamblers take it again for their 6 th  title.   And, for those who hate this scenario, who do we see as the most likely spoilers? We give the best odds to San Diego in the West and Atlanta in the East, but, like we said, why fight the rematch if it seems the logical choice?   OUR 219 AWARD PREDICTIONS We have predicted the divisions, each team’s possible record, and our choice for a rematch in the Summer Bowl. All that is left to decide is who walks away with the individual honors. We will give you our favorite and two very likely contenders for each award as we look ahead to the 2019 season.   MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Our Pick: Colt McCoy, QB-HOU.  No shock here. The QB of the defending champions, heading up one of the league’s most dynamic offenses and picked to go back-to-back as champions, yes, a pretty solid choice if we say so ourselves. Contenders: This is still a QB category, and we have two intriguing picks for you, both out of the Northeast. Ryan Nassib proved last year that he could win with Arizona’s outstanding receivers, and now, as the starter for Washington, he does not lose much with Keenan Allen and Brandon LaFell to throw to. If the Feds can make a run at the division, Nassib could get a lot of looks. The other pick is a bit of a dark horse, but if Josh Jacobs has the kind of rookie season he is capable of, that could really open up the coverages, and Big Ben Roethlisberger, a former MVP, can have a field day if that happens. Baltimore needs help on defense if they want to top .500, and that could hold Big Ben back, but on stats alone he could be a contender.   OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Our Pick: Todd Gurley, HB-MEM. Did you all just hear LeVeon Bell punch a wall? Yes, this pick will upset him, but we think Coach Ryan and the Showboats want to turn Gurley into a consistent 1,600 yard back, and we think that they will feed him the ball in a way that we suspect Coach McDermott does not want to do with Bell. Contenders: Bell, of course, so let’s just assume that. Our other pick is Houston WR Mike Evans, a serious contender last year and likely to be one again this year.   DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Our Pick: Calais Campbell, DE-ARZ. Look, the only reason he has not won every single year for a decade is that his Renegade teams could not support him with more wins. He will not have that issue with Arizona. What is more, we think he has a real chance of breaking his own record of 34 sacks in a season because Arizona’s other defenders are solid enough to force QBs to hold the ball, and that will make Campbell grin from ear to ear. Contenders: If we imagine a world where Calais Campbell somehow takes a step backwards, then who is around to challenge? Well, we have 2018 winner LB Bobby Wagner of the Invaders. He is a very strong contender. Our dark horse is Bryan Orakpo, moving from Tampa Bay to Pittsburgh, where he has Aaron Donald in front of him, could help him set a league record in tackles and tackles for loss. We love his potential as a Mauler.   ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Our Pick: Josh Jacobs, HB-BAL. We love Jacobs to the Blitz. They have dynamic receivers, a proven QB, and a solid line. That all means that defenses will simply not be able to stack the box or overcompensate for Jacobs, and we saw what he could do against top competition in the SEC. We think he could be a huge difference maker and a 1,200-yard rusher as a rookie. Contenders: If the LA Express’s huge offseason gambits pay off, we could imagine either DE Nick Bosa or QB Kyler Murray being in the mix simply because we will be talking about them all season long. Murray would need to improve LA’s win total to have a shot, but Bosa, with big individual numbers could certainly be in the running.   COACH OF THE YEAR: Our Pick: This is always tough because it is essentially asking us to figure out which team that everyone expects to be mediocre that completely outplays their talent and ends up in the playoffs. Look back at the COTY award and that is what you see almost every year. That is tough, but if we have to pick someone with that model, we think the potential is there for Baltimore to rise up in the NE and that means Jim Caldwell could win his second COTY. Contenders: Marvin Lewis has to be on this list even if LA only wins 6 or 7 games, because he is well-respected around the league and he worked with the Express to reimagine what an offseason could look like. We also think Jim Harbaugh in Philadelphia and potentially 1 st year coach Todd Haley in Birmingham could sneak in if their clubs exceed expectations.   Is it time for kickoff yet? Nearly there. Friday starts us off on a week of firsts, new faces in new places, rookies making their pro debut, and a long list of new QBs taking the field. It is exciting, it is about time, and, based on the weather forecast for this week, it may be one of the better opening weekends in league history (at least for folks that like to stay dry and avoid scraping the ice off their car after the game. Here is every matchup for the weekend ahead. Enjoy, and let’s get this season going!!!   Friday @ 7pm ET           Ohio @ Michigan                     NBC The season kicks off with a huge Central Division opener as the last two division champs go head to head on opening night.   Friday @ 9:30pm ET       New Jersey @ Houston             ABC The late game gives us a rematch of the Eastern Conference Title Game as Houston hosts the Generals.   Saturday @ 12pm ET     Washington @ Memphis             ABC Ryan Nassib steps in as Washington’s new field marshal as the Feds face a very different-looking Rex Ryan defense without Patrick Robinson or Mario Williams.   Saturday @ 12pm ET     Chicago @ Pittsburgh                   FOX Sam Bradford will don the Machine maroon as Chicago heads into Pittsburgh to face Andy Dalton and NFL import wideout Jarvis Landry for the Maulers.   Saturday @ 4pm ET       Philadelphia @ Birmingham     ABC Coach Todd Haley has his first test as his Stallions host Jim Harbaugh and the Philadelphia Stars.   Saturday @ 4pm ET       New Orleans @ Seattle               FOX NFL Import Geno Smith gets the start at QB as the Breakers head to Seattle, where Jacoby Brissett has a lot to prove to Dragon fans.   Saturday @ 7pm ET     Charlotte @ Orlando                 NBC A SE Division clash as Mitch Trubisky and the Monarchs head to Orlando, who hope rookie Montez Sweat can help fill the gap left by Calais Campbell.   Saturday @ 9pm ET     Los Angeles @ Oakland            ESPN/EFN Kyler Murray, Hollywood Brown and Nick Bosa all begin their pro careers for LA, and no easy task taking on the 2018 Division Champ Invaders.   Sunday @ 12pm ET      Jacksonville @ Atlanta              ABC Regional Teddy Bridgewater gets the start over newly-arrived Ryan Tannehill as the Bulls head into Atlanta to face Nick Chubb and the Fire.   Sunday @ 12pm ET        St. Louis @ Baltimore                  ABC Regional Lamar Jackson and the Skyhawks taken on the Blitz, but how will St. Louis’s defense handle rookie Josh Jacobs?   Sunday @ 12pm ET        Las Vegas @ Tampa Bay              FOX Matt McGloin steps into Eli Manning’s shoes and Aaron Dobson gets a new start as the Vipers travel to Tampa Bay to face Dak Prescott and the Bandits.   Sunday @ 4pm ET         San Diego @ Portland                ABC Marcus Mariota and Christian Ponder will duel at Columbia Sportswear Stadium as the Stags and Thunder kick off their 2018 campaigns.   Sunday @ 4pm ET         Arizona @ Oklahoma                 FOX David Carr is back under center, and Calais Campbell dons the copper helmet of the Wranglers for the first time as they face Joe Flacco and the Outlaws.   Sunday @ 8pm ET         Denver @ Dallas                           ESPN/EFN After a year in apprenticeship behind Matt Leinart, QB Josh Allen takes over the reins of the Denver offense as they face Josh Freeman and the Dallas Roughnecks on Sunday night.

Welcome to the 2019 USFL Season Preview. We will be covering the upcoming USFL season in two parts, starting with our look back to a busy, surprising, and impactful offseason. We will look at the stories and moves that will have an unquestionable impact on the upcoming season, from a new aggressive attitude in Los Angeles, to Calais Campbell’s power move to Arizona, as well as a full draft review (with signing update) and all the most recent NFL additions. Then, in part 2 we will look at what the offseason might mean for the 2019 season, which teams have improved, which may have taken a step back, and which new arrivals and rookie signees may have a chance for immediate impact. We will also make our picks for each USFL division, take a close look at each team, and even take a shot at playoff and season award predictions. But we start with our look back at the offseason. So, let’s get our preview kick started with a look back at all the moves that will make or break the year for all 28 USFL clubs.   LA’s Aggressive Attitude Pays Off When the offseason began the stories we expected to follow were well known, Calais Campbell’s trade demand, multiple QB retirements leading to a frenzy for free agent options Ryan Nassib and Matt McGloin, and a draft without the QB cohort we saw in 2018, but several potential impact players across the lineup. We thought we knew who the big players would be, thanks to the cap’s modest growth, and we knew we would see 5 new head coaches across the USFL. What we did not expect was a transformational attitude change in Los Angeles, where the Express have been a complex, often frustrating story since the franchise returned to the league in the 1995 expansion.   Since the arrival of the second iteration of the Express club, LA has been a bit of everything, an also-ran, a disappointment, a surprise playoff team, a contender, pretty much everything but a league champion, and it seemed the fans in LA had gotten used to that, as had ownership. But, after the failure of NFL “legend” Andy Reid to get results in SoCal, it seems ownership had seen enough. They wanted change, they wanted impact, they wanted to sell more tickets, and the best way to sell tickets in a tough market is to prove to fans that you are going all out for a title. With the arrival of new head coach Marvin Lewis, a new front office staff, even new uniforms with a speed blue helmet for the first time in team history, marching orders to transform the Express also arrived. Ownership wanted Lewis and the personnel team to be bold, to make a splash, to do what LA teams have rarely done, think big.   The result? A flurry of draft moves that set up the 3-13 Express for perhaps the biggest draft day in league history. By the time the Territorial Draft and Round 1 of the Open Draft were done, the Express had nabbed the top-rated prospect at not one, not two, but three key positions for the franchise. They outsmarted, outmaneuvered, and out-imagined the rest of the league. And it did not stop there. Not only did LA accumulate picks in the draft, they used newfound cap space (thanks to several reworked contracts and a few cuts) to sign all 3 of their highly coveted draft picks, and still have some room left for last second roster moves, including perhaps the 2 nd biggest trade of the offseason.     LA’s new aggressive stance may set a new standard for USFL clubs, particularly those who have struggled to find results with old, reliable strategies for roster construction. Let’s look at the 5 moves that defined LA’s offseason, and the players they now add thanks to their newfound take-no-prisoners attitude.   1.      Trading 3 draft picks to Oklahoma for the Outlaw’s 1 st Territorial Pick. The Express worked the trade wire in a way few teams have over the 35 seasons of the USFL, and it all began with a willingness to trade away future picks for a shot at talent held by another club. The Express made the Oklahoma Outlaws a deal they simply had to accept, offering the Outlaws their 1 st  and 2 nd round picks in the 2020 USFL Open Draft. When you consider that LA had the 1 st overall pick in 2019, Oklahoma had to believe that they had just landed two “lottery” picks in 2020. And, since everyone and their mother now looked at OU quarterback Kyler Murray as LA’s pick, the Outlaws, who are not in the QB market, would still have 2 picks to sign other talent from the home-state Sooners and Cowboys.   2.      Trading more picks to Ohio for a second T-Draft Pick. The deal with Oklahoma was a surprise, because while there had been some frustration with Sam Bradford in LA, no one really saw the Express as a team desperate to shake up the QB position. So, when the Express made the deal, it did turn some heads, but not nearly as many as when they offered another “only a fool would say no” deal to the Ohio Glory. Unlike Oklahoma, Ohio had a need that their 1 st Territorial Pick could help fill. The Glory needed a truly top tier edge rusher, and Nick Bosa, brother of Joey Bosa of the NFL Chargers, was sitting right there in Columbus. But the Express also need to improve on defense, and they loved what they saw from the younger Bosa brother. The offer to Ohio, the first pick of the open draft this year, along with potential additional picks (contingent on Bosa signing and playing for LA), was enough to move Ohio off of Bosa and give LA a second potential lightning strike acquisition.    3.     Retaining the 1 st  pick in the draft for an OU Double Dip . And this is where it all came together. LA may have traded away a lot of picks (2 nd rounders in this year’s and 2020’s Open Draft, next year’s 1 st rounder too), but they retained their 1 st  overall pick in the Open Draft this year, meaning that they would have first shot at any player who was not claimed by the league’s 28 picks in the T-Draft. What we did not see until the draft began was just how shrewd this move was.   LA announced their picks for the T-Draft, starting with USC cornerback Iman Marshall, LB Cameron Smith, and another LB in Nevada’s Malik Reed, three pretty conservative “build depth” picks, and with Ohio’s first T-Draft pick, they did just as everyone expected, protecting DE Joey Bosa as a potential boost to their defensive front. But when it was Oklahoma’s turn, and LA announced their use of the Outlaws’ 1 st  selection, the Express shocked everyone. The Express used the pick acquired for two 2020 Open Draft selections not to draft QB Kyler Murray as everyone had assumed, but to get the rights to the best speed receiver in the draft, Sooner Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.   This was a move that sent shutters through the room, and immediately had teams across the league changing plans, because when Oklahoma announced they had protected the rights to HB Justice Hill (OU) and CB Duke Shelley (K-State), it meant that Kyler Murray would drop into the Open Draft. LA had outsmarted the room, knowing that the Outlaws could no longer trade their T-Draft pick and that they would not use the pick on Murray, LA let the QB slide into the Open Draft, and, when the time came 4 days later, the Express, holding the first overall Open Draft selection, then named Murray as their choice. They had used that one trade to acquire the best QB in the pool as well as the best WR available, and create an instant pitch-catch combo, oh, and, just as vital, they also held the exclusive USFL rights to the best edge rusher in the draft. A 3-player haul that could radically change the fortunes of a franchise, if they can sign them.   4.      Reworking the Cap to Sign all three big picks. The draft surprises mean nothing, of course, if the players cannot or will not sign, but the Express had thought of this as well. They had spent months reworking deals, extending contracts, shifting funds from salary to signing bonuses, and shifting bubble payments from 2019 into later years, all to free up space and collateral to negotiate with their draft selections. The strategy again proved prescient, as the Express had Nick Bosa under contract within 48 hours of the draft, even before the NFL draft occurred. A sure fire Top 10 NFL draft pick ended up going to the 49ers in the 5 th  round, a move designed only to give San Francisco exclusive rights if Bosa backed out of his USFL contract.   Within 1 week of the NFL draft, both Kyler Murray and Marquise Brown had joined Bosa as new members of the Express. The signings put LA temporarily over the cap, but they had a plan for that as well, a plan that hinged on the fact that there were still several teams looking for a starting QB, and few options available even with the NFL Transfer Window set to open.   5.      Trading Away Sam Bradford to Usher in a New Age With Murray signed and already looking over Coach Lewis’s playbook, and with Brock Osweiler and former Oakland backup Bob Volek both signed, Sam Bradford, and his large contract, were more than expendable. The Express fished for offers from the three teams that seemed most in need of a last-second reprieve from a rough offseason of failed QB bids. New Orleans, Chicago, and Jacksonville had all made early runs at Ryan Nassib and Matt McGloin. New Orleans, having failed to capture one of the free agents, had selected Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins in the Open Draft, only to watch him sign with the NFL Redskins. Chicago had made a deal with the Federals after seeing Washington land Ryan Nassib. They used that pick on Duke’s Daniel Jones, but again the NFL won out in the bidding. Jacksonville had let Robert Griffin III go in free agency, he too jumped at an NFL offer, but the Bulls only QB selection in the draft had been a 5 th  round pick spent on Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham, and while it appeared that the Bulls would move ahead with Teddy Bridgewater under center, LA still made a push to see if Sam Bradford was a more attractive offer.   The Express would find their buyer in Chicago, where the Machine were simply not ready to move into camp with Trevor Siemian as their starter, even if the NFL had a few potential “reboot” quarterbacks seeking a new opportunity. The Machine agreed to send DE Andy Studebaker and their 2020 2 nd  round Open Draft pick to LA (giving LA back a pick in the early rounds next year) in order to sign and extend Sam Bradford.   The end result of this massive offseason scramble? The Express now have a whole new dynamic in place, a fresh-faced new QB in Kyler Murray, a potential 15-20 sack dynamo in Bosa, a deep threat in “Hollywood” Brown, and are still within the cap, with enough room to add two more quality players during camp, adding former Dragon HB C. J. Anderson on a cap-friendly 1-year deal, and then nabbing NFL tight end Jacob Hollister as a backup to aging All-USFL TE Jason Whitten.  The Express had built excitement among their own fans, with nearly 9,000 season tickets sold between the draft and the start of camp, and had rebuilt their franchise with youth, quality, and a lot of chutzpah. Will it work? We will have to see, but what we know already is that there are GMs all over the league wishing they had the guts and the backing of ownership to make the kinds of moves the Express pulled off this winter.   10 Prospects to Watch in 2019 Between the Territorial and Open Drafts, the USFL had a major influx of young talent, but just who among the more than 100 players signed by the league will have an impact in their first year? There is a lot of talent in the pool, but some are simply better positioned to have immediate success. We picked 10 players who we believe you will be hearing a lot about this season, our 10 prospects to watch.   DT Quinnen Williams (WSH) Despite not being taken by the Federals until the 16 th  pick in the draft, Williams still felt the Feds gave him the best offer, and the best chance to make an immediate impact. Williams is already slated to start as we approach Week 1, and lined up next to last year’s 1 st  rounder, Bradley Chubb, the Feds could well be building one of the league’s best 4-men lines.   WR Deebo Samuel (TBY) The Bandits chose Samuel in the Territorial Draft and now seem ready to give him plenty of early snaps. Samuel has taken up the 2 nd  string slot behind Ryan Grant but could also see some snaps in the slot and will very likely be back on kickoff returns as well.   LB Josh Allen (SEA) Seattle has Allen listed in the swing spot behind all 3 starters in the LB group, and, since they tend to mix up 4-3 and 3-4 situationally, that almost certainly guarantees Allen at least 20 snaps per game.   TE T. J. Hockenson (DEN) With Jack Doyle more of a run-blocking end, we expect to see a lot of Hockenson in late downs, and possibly in all but obvious rushing situations. Expect him to be a security blanket for QB Josh Allen as the 2 nd  year player works through his first season on the field.   HB Devin Singletary (JAX) While Matt Jones is still the clear number one, Singletary is expected to get some looks early in the season. He is a much better receiver than 3 rd  stringer Kory Sheets and could be used in 3 rd  and long if he can pick up blitz packages.   LB Devin Bush (MGN) Bush has taken on the weakside LB role and sent Phillip Dillard into a swing position. He has two very good potential mentors on either side of him in Odell Thurman and Sean Porter. The key to his early success is finding his way around blocks to get to the ball carrier.   DE Nick Bosa (LA) Bosa will be the Left End from day one, pushing Laurence Jackson to the right side. Expect him to be given a very basic mission, get the QB. With Keith Rivers standing beside him to pick up the run, Bosa won’t have to be as worried about draws and delays in the run game.   DE Montez Sweat (ORL) No player will be under greater pressure to perform immediately than Sweat, who steps into Arthur Moats’s position, with Moats headed to the left side, but we all know that the real replacement is for Campbell, and that is a set of shoes no one should be expected to fill.   HB Josh Jacobs (BAL) Perhaps the main concern for the Blitz offense was the lack of a serious run threat last season. Yes, the defense also had issues, but the pressure will be on Jacobs to produce on the ground, keep pressure off Roethlisberger, and allow play action to help Baltimore bring back a vertical game with their strong receiver corps.   QB Kyler Murray (LA) The Express are putting a lot on Murray, trading away Sam Bradford and a good number of draft picks to add Murray and WR Hollywood Brown. We cannot expect that he will walk right into the USFL and have immediate success, that is too much for any rookie QB, but what LA wants to see is an offense that allows Murray to fall back on his natural abilities rather than trying to be the next Steve Young.   10 Late Round Picks Who Made the Roster Not every draftee is a sure-fire first round gamechanger. For every highly coveted early pick there are even more players who fall to the mid-rounds or beyond. Some of them see their pro football dream last only until the initial camp cuts, but others find a role to play and a place on the rosters. Here are 10 such players, late round gems who showed what they had and found a place in their team’s final 53.   FB Khari Blasingame (CHA) The Vandy fullback beat out 2 veterans to earn the single FB position on the team.   WR Miles Boykin (CHI) Chicago’s third Territorial pick, the Notre Dame receiver will start his USFL career deep on the depth chart for receivers but will have a role to play in special teams.   TE Dawson Knox (NOR) Knox comes out of the T-Draft and finds himself with perhaps the best possible mentor for a young TE in Coby Fleener, 1,000-yard receiver and solid blocker.   WR Olamide Zaccheaus (LA) A fifth-round pick who is in the active 53 but does not yet have a spot on the depth chart. We expect Zaccheaus will find himself bumping back and forth on the practice squad unless he can impress in practice.   QB Trace McSorley (PHI) The Stars were looking for a lower cost 3 rd  string emergency QB, and in Penn State’s McSorley they got that, but could also be looking at a 2–3-year development process as Matt Gutierrez heads into his final seasons.   WR Hunter Renfrow (ORL) Almost an afterthought for the Renegades, Renfrew impressed in camp and moved from 4 th string to sitting as the 2 nd  stringer behind Brashad Perriman. He could also see some snaps behind Jeremy Maclin in the slot as well.   WR Darius Slayton (LV) Another receiver who is likely to have more opportunities in special teams than in the offense, at least at first. Slayton has shown good route-running skills but has had too many drops in camp to get a lot of early snaps on offense.   K Chase McLaughlin (MGN) Yes, this is a bit of a cheat, since kickers are almost always late round selections, but McLaughlin won the kicking battle fair and square over veteran journeyman Phil Dawson.   QB Brett Rypien (NJ) The nephew of former NFL QB Mark Rypien, the Boise State product was considered a longshot to make the Generals’ roster, but he showed enough in camp and in the team’s lone preseason game to win the emergency QB spot and he will now get a chance to learn from Nick Foles and Ricky Stanzi, both of whom share many qualities with the young QB.   WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (OAK) Another mid-round talent who gets a shot through the Territorial Draft, Arcega-Whiteside joins Oakland out of Stanford and earns a spot on the final 53, where he will serve as the starting kickoff and punt returner. That is his shot to show his skills, since he is pretty deep on the WR depth chart on a team with quite a bit of talent ahead of him.   NFL Imports With Huge Potential Impact Rookies are not the only additions who can help give a team the boost they need or help turn around a struggling franchise. Every February the USFL brings some players who have proven themselves in the NFL. Some struggle at first as their bodies are not quite ready to give their all for another 16 weeks, but many find their rhythm by midseason and can help push a team to late season success. We have again identified 10 players we think can make a difference this year, 10 imports who could be huge additions by season’s end.   HB Isaiah Crowell (ARZ) Crowell had 5 consecutive NFL seasons with more than 600 yards, now he joins the Wranglers, where he will share carries with Ka'Deem Carey, likely getting more inside opportunities, though he can also be effective as a receiver.   DE Bud Dupree (ARZ) After averaging 5.5 sacks per season in the NFL, Dupree joins the Wranglers and finds himself face to face with the greatest edge rusher in league history. Dupree will line up opposite Campbell as the RE, and that could well mean that he never sees a double team all year long.   DT Arik Armstead (CHI) Armstead had a breakout season in the NFL last year, starting all 16 games in San Francisco, a season that got him noticed and got him a very nice 3-year deal in Chicago. He will form part of a 4-man line with fellow DT Eddie Goldman and pass rushers Jason Pierre-Paul and Victor Abiami.   HB C. J. Prosise (HOU) Being Carlos Hyde’s understudy may not seem that promising a position, after all Hyde is not known for taking a lot of breathers during a game, but getting the chance to be part of what could be a title defense season for the Gamblers has its allure as well.   QB Ryan Tannehill (JAX) It took nearly the entire offseason for Jacksonville to find a competitor to go up against Teddy Bridgewater, signing Tannehill only 5 days ago, but the former Dolphin could find himself in an ideal situation by midseason. Either Bridgewater succeeds, which gives Tannehill plenty of time to adjust to spring football, or he struggles, and Tannehill gets a shot this year to show he can be a full time QB.   LB Blake Martinez (LV) A tackling machine with 144 tackles in both 2017 and 2018 (in Green Bay), Martinez now makes the jump to spring and will start his USFL career right from Week 1 as the starting MLB in the Vipers’ 4-3 scheme.   WR Devin Funchess (MEM) Funchess came to the Showboats after his potential simply was not met in the NFL. This is a second chance for him and in Memphis he is going to be given a chance to start opposite Robert Woods. It is still a run-first offense, but if Paxton Lynch can get the play action game working, Funchess could see a lot of targets.   S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (PHI) The man with one of the most unique names in sports is going to get to hear his name called often as a “centerfielder” in Philadelphia’s zone defense. While Glover Quinn will step towards the line frequently, Clinton-Dix is going to be that last line of defense who will have some shots at interceptions.   LB Shaq Barrett (OAK) It seems almost unfair that Oakland will now be placing Shaq Barrett next to Bobby Wagner in the Invader’s 4-3. Along with Junior Galette, the Invader LB group may well be the hardest hitting in the league.   LB Preston Brown (TBY) The Bandits brought in two early NFL selections back in September, Brown and DE Pernell McPhee. Unlike most of the NFL signees this February, these two will be well-rested since their last action in the 2017 NFL season. Both are slated to start, with Brown taking over the strong side LB position that Devon Kennard moved out of to replace Brian Orakpo in the center. McPhee takes on Jerry Hughes’s role as the left end and designated edge rusher. Two players who will play a huge role in whether Tampa Bay can build a solid defensive group under Mark Trestman.   The USFL Players Who Moved to Fall In September we saw a mass exodus of USFL talent to the fall league, with defenses across the league hit hard as the NFL signed away players like CBs Patrick and Dunta Robinson, DE’s Mario Williams and Quentin Groves, veteran linebacking stars like Shawne Merriman and James Laurinaitis, and inside space eaters like Haloti Ngata. And while the list of names from this February’s second transfer window were decidedly more impressive on the NFL-to-USFL track, we should acknowledge that a few more contributors were lost to the fall league this past month.   Among the more impactful departures we find former Generals’ MLB Chase Blackburn, DT Sedrick Ellis, and cornerback Justin King. On offense we saw WR Tavon Austin head off to the fall, along with OT Xavier Fulton and former Bulls QB Robert Griffin III, who signed a “prove it to me” one year deal with the Baltimore Ravens. While these players are certainly significant losses, as we have gotten used to seeing, the haul of NFL talent, from frontliners like Dupree, Martinez, and Clinton-Dix, to reclamation projects like QBs Ryan Tannehill and Geno Smith,is significantly more impressive and more impactful.   The 10 best signings in USFL Free Agency Free agency is not just about which players performed best where they were. It is also about which players fit best where they are headed. We have all seen the highly-talented player come out of free agency on a club that simply does not know how to maximize their potential, the “bust” is often more about the team than the player, and the same is true in reverse, a player who barely had an impact on their original team finds a new landing spot where their talents can reach their full potential and where the coaches understand how best to use them. So, as we look at the free agent signings this offseason, it is not just about talent, it is about matching talent to opportunity and to a scheme that makes sense for that player. With that in mind, here are the 10 signings we think are can’t miss combos of player, position, scheme, and opportunity.   WR Victor Cruz (ARZ) We certainly cannot say that Cruz was ineffective in Pittsburgh, with four 1,000-yard seasons as a Mauler, but in Arizona there is a real chance that Cruz will show us some numbers we just have not seen from him before. While most would argue that the former Mauler is not going to be able to duplicate what Larry Fitzgerald did with the Wranglers, we still see 1,500 yards and double-digit touchdowns as a very real target for the 9-year veteran.   G Chance Warmack (DAL) Cruz heads to Arizona, Warmack leaves the Wranglers to become a leader on an O-line that desperately needs to improve. Stats may be hard to find for an interior lineman, but we will know that Warmack has had an impact by watching the rushing totals for the Roughnecks and by checking on how often QB Josh Freeman finds himself on the turf.   LB Channing Crowder (PHI) After a 3-year run that saw Crowder lead the league in tackles in 2014 and rack up 355 over 3 seasons (2014-2016), the wheels fell off the bus for the veteran linebacker. A season-ending injury kept Crowder out of all but 1 game in 2017, and his recovery lingered well into 2018, costing him his starting position as he continued to struggle with recovery. By all accounts, the 33-year-old MLB is back to form, in the best shape of his career, and ready to be the latest in a long line of All-USFL Philadelphia Star middle linebackers.   HB Knile Davis (ORL) Davis felt underutilized in Oakland, and with only 95 carries in 2018, that argument certainly seems valid. With Orlando he will get a chance to touch the ball 15-20 times a game, sharing some carries with Rashad Jennings, but there is no doubt that Coach Rivera will want to see if Davis can handle a heavy load and still produce breakaway runs.   S Baccari Rambo (ATL) Rambo was solid in Birmingham, but with a far better front 7 in place in Atlanta, he has a chance to shine as a member of the Fire. Expect Rambo to benefit from having Earl Thomas as the “in the box” safety, allowing Rambo to hang back, pick out the biggest receiving threat and make plays on the ball.   DE Jerry Hughes (SEA) With 6 consecutive 10+ sack seasons in Tampa Bay, Hughes certainly had success on a defense that struggled, but in Seattle, where he will have one of the league’s best secondaries behind him, his numbers could reach that coveted 20 sack territory. If the secondary keeps the receivers under wraps for just a second longer, then more of those near misses or late hits turn into sacks and Hughes becomes an elite edge rusher.   LB Clay Matthews (DAL) As much as we understand that LA dominated the draft, Dallas may have won the free agency pool. In addition to Warmack, they add a 30-year-old MLB who will likely be a team captain and a coach on the field. We all know Matthews has the capacity to be a 150-tackle guy, and now, in a rebuilt 4-3 in Dallas, one that has NFL import Jamie Collins and blitz specialist Melvin Ingram alongside him, we could see the former Express linebacker lead the league in tackles.   WR Aaron Dobson (LV) Dobson got the stats, but not the accolades he deserved in Chicago. Sure, possession receivers never get the hype that the deep ball threats get, but after putting up 306 catches the past three seasons in windy, unpredictable Chicago weather, Dobson will now play in the comfortably controlled environment of Wynn Arena. That, along with a more dynamic offensive philosophy in Las Vegas could see him set a league record for receptions in a season.   LB Brian Orakpo (PIT) It is one thing to rack up 100-tackle seasons, but when you do it as the lone bright spot on a pretty ineffective defense, the personal accolades don’t seem so great. Now, on a Mauler defense that also boasts DT Aaron Donald, DE Dwight Freeney, and fellow LB Brian Cushing, Orakpo may see his total tackles drop, but what he loses in personal stats could be replaced by team success and defensive squad respect, something he saw very little of in Tampa Bay.   QB Ryan Nassib (WSH) Last year Nassib got his shot, a chance to play nearly a full season with one of the best offenses in football. He outperformed every expectation, perhaps every hope of Wrangler fans as well, leading the league in QB Rating and the Wranglers to a Summer Bowl. That one year of highlights got him a lucrative 4-year deal to lead the Federals into a new era, and with talented receivers like Keenan Allen and Brandon LaFell, Nassib could be in the perfect position to prove that it was not all Coach Tomsula and his Arizona teammates, but that he too has the stuff to be an elite player in the USFL.   The 5 Biggest Losses in the Offseason (include retirements) It is not all happy days in free agency. For every exciting signing there is a team that lost a major talent. That is certainly the case with these five players, some off to a new club, some leaving the game for good, all likely to be very hard to replace. This is our list of the 5 biggest losses that teams will have to deal with this season.   DE Calais Campbell (ORL to ARZ) Hart to argue this one. The most dominant defensive player in league history will not finish out his career in Orlando. He demanded and got a trade to a contender and now joins the Arizona Wranglers, where he could very well put up perhaps his best season ever on a very talented defensive team. Will it get Campbell the ring he seeks, or will he again find himself frustrated?   QB Matt McGloin (SEA to LV) We put McGloin here and not Nassib for one basic reason, without Nassib, Arizona still has 2-time league MVP at quarterback. Seattle, without McGloin, has a question mark. Is Jacoby Brissett a long term answer? Can he become the player that Mike Riley hoped he could be, or will the Dragons be on the hunt for another option, when they could have secured McGloin for the next few years.         CB Patrick Robinson (MEM Retired) There is no doubt that a player of Robinson’s caliber will be very hard to replace. New Orleans has a very solid defense, but the loss of Robinson in the secondary will certainly challenge teams to throw more. The Breakers likely replace Robinson with rookie Xavier Crawford, but the USFL is a long way from Central Michigan University, and that could be a lot to ask of Crawford.   HB Adrian Peterson (CHA to NFL) We like Latavious Murray, and we are glad to see he his getting a shot to be a true lead back, but we cannot expect him to produce the way Peterson did for Charlotte. It is not even about yards, it is about key yards on key downs to keep drives going. Murray may well have a great season, but will his impact be felt the way Peterson’s was?     QB Drew Brees (NOR Retired) Another difficult task, replacing a very likely first-ballot Hall of Famer at QB. The Breakers tried everything this offseason, first losing out to Washington in their attempts to sign Ryan Nassib, then struggling to find options in the draft, and finally “settling” with NFL castoff Geno Smith. We do not see 2019 being a happy year for Smith, who will need to prove himself while likely hearing a lot of criticism from local media and a lot of unflattering comparisons to Brees.   A Look at All 5 New USFL Head Coaches Five new coaches, five new situations. Who will find success early on? Who will struggle? Will we see a rapid rise, a slow steady improvement, or a battle with frustration as these five new leaders try to turn their teams from disappointments to dynasties? Each new coach has challenges in front of them. Here is what we see as each one's situation and potential. Todd Haley (BIR) Haley inherits a Stallion team that may be a solid squad but will struggle to get to .500 in a division that includes the league champion Gamblers, as well as 12-win New Orleans and 11-win Memphis. Haley’s job is to refocus the team, to create a culture that is more than just hoping and praying that Cam Newton can break a big run. The Stallions look to have beefed up on defense with the arrival of LB Keenan Clayton from Oakland and rookies Darnell Savage (SS) and Zach Allen (DE), but is it enough to keep Birmingham close enough so that a struggling offense can find its way?   Marvin Lewis (LA) No new coach comes in with more change, more excitement, or more uncertainty than Marvin Lewis. Sam Bradford is gone, as is MLB Clay Matthews, but the Express add youth in QB Kyler Murray, WR Hollywood Brown, and DE Nick Bosa. They also add experience with backup QB Bob Volek, who very likely will be the calming voice in Murray’s head. There is a whole lot of novelty to the Express, and it will be Lewis’s job to turn the new LA roster into an actual team.   Ron Rivera (ORL) Rivera joins the Renegades in a period of transition. Their legendary defensive star is gone, so this team likely will become more of an offensive-minded team, led by QB Russell Wilson and breakout star of 2018 WR Brashad Perriman. But Rivera will want a solid D. He hopes rookie Montez Sweat can be a first year phenom, and he also is hoping the SE Division is as weak as many think it is, giving him a good shot at .500 if he can just keep his offense on the field.   Bob Stoops (OKL) Coach Stoops inherits an underachieving Outlaws team, but one with a lot of good talent in key places. He, at the very least, knows who his QB will be. Joe Flacco needs more weapons, and he needs more out of Marshawn Lynch, but at least there is a field marshal in place. Now, on the defensive side, Oklahoma is hoping that rookies Blake Cashman, Duke Shelley, and Marquise Blair can make an immediate impact, because this Outlaw team did not spend much in free agency.   Mark Trestman (TBY) Trestman still seems an odd choice for the Bandits. Tampa Bay has plenty of offense, and good players at key positions, like QB Dak Prescott, HB Dalvin Cook, and NFL import WR Dex Bryant. Offensive imagination is nice, but the issue is still that defense, now a defense that does not even have Brian Orakpo anymore. The Bandits did add some good early NFL finds in transfers Preston Brown and Pernell McPhee, and Coach Trestman seems to like what he is seeing from rookie DE Brian Burns, but this is an offensive coach whose main mission has to be to improve the defense.   Previewing the 2019 USFL Schedule The USFL Season is always packed with storylines, surprises, and major movement up and down the standings. It is one of the reasons fans come back year after year, and also one of the reasons why putting together a compelling schedule can be so challenging for the league. What looks like a possible matchups of heavyweights in November could be a battle of sub .500 teams come June. That regional matchup of 10-loss teams from 2018 could turn into a major playoff-impacting battle of surprise contenders. But, the league does what it can, between divisional rivalries, inter-divisional matchups, and inter-conference clashes, to provide compelling action each and every week. As we look over the 2019 USFL schedule, we see games each and every week that should not be missed. Here is our list of the Best Games on the Schedule for 2019.   WEEK ONE GOTW: New Jersey @ Houston —A rematch of the Eastern Conference Final and a showdown of two very well-coached clubs. Other games to catch: Ohio @ Michigan, Washington @ Memphis, and the debut of Kyler Murray as LA heads up to Oakland for a California Derby.   WEEK TWO GOTW: Los Angeles @ Chicago —Sam Bradford does not have to wait long before facing the team that discarded him as the new Machine QB will take on his former club at Soldier Field. Other games to catch: Oakland @ Portland, Arizona @ Portland, Memphis @ Birmingham, and Josh Allen’s home debut with Denver as the Gold host the Renegades.   WEEK THREE GOTW: Baltimore @ Washington —Rookie HB Josh Jacobs takes on Ryan Nassib and the redesigned Federals offense. Other games to catch: Denver @ Arizona, New Jersey @ Ohio, and Orlando @ Seattle. WEEK FOUR GOTW: Charlotte @ Atlanta —Two Southeastern clubs expected to battle for a division title meet for the first time this season. Other games to catch: Oakland @ Ohio, Washington @ New Jersey, and Denver @ Oklahoma.   WEEK FIVE GOTW: Chicago @ Ohio —A Central Division clash as the Machine and Glory try to get an edge in a very competitive division. Other games to catch: Arizona @ Las Vegas, Orlando @ Jacksonville, Houston @ New Orleans, and Michigan @ Oakland.   WEEK SIX GOTW: Arizona @ Denver —One of the league’s biggest rivalries as the Wranglers head into Invesco Field to battle the Gold at altitude. Other games to catch: Atlanta @ Charlotte, Michigan @ New Jersey, Houston @ Birmingham, and Seattle @ Oakland   WEEK SEVEN GOTW: Michigan @ Arizona —Two heavyweights from the Western Conference butt heads in Glendale as Kirk Cousins leads the Panthers against David Carr and the Wranglers. Other games to catch: Memphis @ Oakland, Seattle @ Los Angeles, Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia, and Charlotte @ Houston   WEEK EIGHT GOTW:   Dallas @ Oklahoma —A former in-state rivalry is now a border war as the Roughnecks head up to Oklahoma City to taken on the Outlaws. Other games to catch: Las Vegas @ Arizona, Orlando @ Charlotte, San Diego @ Denver, and Michigan @ Ohio.   WEEK NINE GOTW: Oakland @ Arizona —We had the rematch of the Eastern Conference Final from last year, now it is time for the Western rematch as Jimmy Garoppolo and the Invaders head to Arizona to face Calais Campbell and the Wranglers. Other games to catch: Portland @ Seattle, New Jersey @ Atlanta, Washington @ Philadelphia, and Memphis @ San Diego.   WEEK TEN GOTW: San Diego @ Houston —Two potential division champions meet at NRG Stadium as Christian Ponder and the Thunder take on Colt McCoy and the Gamblers. Other games to catch: Portland @ Oakland, New Orleans @ Memphis, and Philadelphia and New Jersey.   WEEK ELEVEN GOTW: Michigan @ Chicago —A battle of two Central Division rivals as LeVeon Bell leads Michigan to Soldier Field to take on Sam Bradford and the Machine. Other games to catch: Oklahoma @ Denver, New Jersey @ Washington, Memphis @ Charlotte, and Oakland @ San Diego.   WEEK TWELVE GOTW: Washington @ Baltimore —Can Ben Roethlisberger and the Blitz get the upper hand on their Beltway rivals, Ryan Nassib and the Washington Federals?  Other games to catch: Houston @ Memphis, Chicago @ Michigan, San Diego @ New Orleans, and Arizona @ Ohio.   WEEK THIRTEEN GOTW: New Jersey @ Philadelphia —The classic rivalry game could also be a playoff battle and a ground game grudge match as Maurice Jones-Drew and Derrick Henry go head to head. Other games to catch: Orlando @ Atlanta, Denver @ Las Vegas, Ohio @ St. Louis, and Birmingham @ Houston.   WEEK FOURTEEN GOTW: New Orleans @ Houston —The two Southern giants face off in Texas as New Orleans, with former NFL QB Geno Smith at the helm battle Carlos Hyde and that intense Houston offense. Other games to watch: Oklahoma @ Arizona, Ohio @ Chicago, Birmingham @ Memphis, and San Diego @ Seattle.   WEEK FIFTEEN GOTW: San Diego @ Oakland —A California Derby that could be for the Pacific Division Title as the Invaders host the Thunder in the penultimate week of the season. Other games to catch: Orlando @ Tampa Bay, Memphis @ Houston, Philadelphia @ Washington, and Las Vegas @ Oklahoma.   WEEK SIXTEEN GOTW: Seattle @ Portland —Could this version of the Cascade Clash be a playoff win & in game? These two teams seem primed for possible late season drama in the Pacific. Other games to catch: Ohio @ Washington, Los Angeles @ San Diego, and Oakland @ Michigan in a final week clash of Summer Bowl contenders.

it has been a busy winter across the USFL, as teams prep for the USFL Draft, engage in trades, sign free agents, and for two clubs, find a new head coach. No team has been more active than the LA Express, with new leadership in the personnel department and a new head coach in former Dragons' main man, Marvin Lewis. The Express have been adjusting contracts, freeing up cap room, and burining up the trade board to the point where they now may have access to two, if not three, of the top draft prospects on the board. We will start with our Big Story on the Express's new "take no prisoners" attitude, cover all the moves of the past few months, and take a long look at the USFL Draft, kicking off tomorrow with the Territorial Draft. We will also preview the pool of NFL players who are now free agents and who could hold out until the February NFL-USFL transfer window, giving the spring league a shot at a talent infusion just as the season prepares to kick off. All that starts now at This is the USFL. The LA Express Are Done Playing Nice It is a new day in LA, and the Express have decided that they need to seize it. We don’t know if it is just a matter of ownership getting tired of mediocre results (or worse, such as last year’s 3-win campaign) and mediocre attendance, or if it is the work of new GM Brett Veach and new, but USFL veteran Head Coach Marvin Lewis, but the LA Express are clearly headed in a new direction, and they are taking no prisoners along the way.  Bosa & Murray both to LA? The Express made two trades in the past 6 weeks that dramatically alter the outlook of the 2019 USFL draft. While holding onto their 1st overall selection in the open draft, Los Angeles has managed to acquire the first overall Territorial Draft picks of two fellow USFL teams, and with each they could well target two of the top 5 prospects in the draft, and still have the 1st overall pick in the Open draft to nab a third high value player. In trading to obtain the first T-Draft picks of both the Oklahoma Outlaws and Ohio Glory, LA appears to have their targets locked on QB Kyler Murray and DE Nick Bosa, a two-fer that could radically alter the franchises fortunes moving forwards. But it was not easy.   It began in November, when the Express not only restructured the deals of no fewer than 10 starters on their 2018 roster, including QB Sam Bradford, HB Reggie Bush, and CB Stephon Gilmore, but also made some cuts to turn an $8M salary cap number into nearly $24M. That cash reserve made the next moves possible. The next big move was a deal with the Oklahoma Outlaws for their first of 3 T-Draft selections. Oklahoma had been shopping the pick around, secure in their QB position and very aware that someone would want a guaranteed shot at OU quarterback Kyler Murray. LA offered the Outlaws their 2nd round Open Draft pick this year as well as their 2nd in 2020. That was more than enough for the Outlaws to make the deal. And while some Express fans and pundits believed LA might be going after another OU product, WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, the general consensus is that for two number 2 picks, it had to be Murray in LA’s sights.  Is Murray trading Sooner Red for Speed Blue? Now, this kind of pick for the highest rated QB in the draft pool is hardly new, and had LA stopped there, we might wonder what the plans were for veteran Sam Bradford, but we likely would not have gotten too excited about the new direction for the Express. But then, LA started lobbying hard to obtain the same 1st T-Draft pick from the Ohio Glory. Ohio had not been shopping around their 1st pick as it was pretty clear that they were interested in adding Ohio State DE Nick Bosa to the squad and hopefully improving their mid-table pass rush stats. After all, the Glory had long made a living off of those Ohio State prospects, and Bosa was a clear Top 5 talent in everyone’s draft analysis. But, when the Express offered what still seems like an obscene deal for the pick, Ohio had to take it seriously.   The deal was cut just 8 days after LA’s acquisition of the Oklahoma pick. Ohio would give LA their first 2019 T-Draft selection and in return the Glory would obtain the Express’s 1st round picks in both the 2020 T-Draft and 2020 Open Draft. That is a huge win for the Glory, particularly when you consider that many expect the 2020 Draft Class to include at least 3, maybe 4 first round QB selections, making Ohio’s 2 open draft picks now extremely valuable, while also giving them 2 T-Draft first choice selections.   With these two deals, LA is primed to make some wide sweeping changes to their team’s roster, but also their culture. Imagine 3 top tier rookies all coming into the locker room at the same time, along with a new head coach. And we are not sure the Express are done. There is now every chance that they look to trade QB Sam Bradford, if not this year, then next, and they could also still be a player in the upcoming NFL-USFL free agency window. They still have some holes on defense, particularly at MLB, a key position for any defensive squad, so we are still expecting some fireworks out of what appears to be a very different and very aggressive LA Express franchise. With the draft just days away, all eyes are now turned to the Express, something we have rarely said about a city and a franchise that has never won a title and often been significantly behind the curve compared to more prominent USFL franchises.   Stallions Sign Haley to Spark Offense As was anticipated, it took only 1 week from the end of the NFL regular season before the Birmingham Stallions had their man. The Stallions signed Cleveland Browns OC Todd Haley as their new head coach, bringing a decidedly offensive mindset to the team. Haley, who helped lead Cleveland to their first division title since 1989 with rookie Baker Mayfield at QB, will now try to revive an offense in Birmingham that has struggled for consistency despite the presence of dual threat QB Cam Newton.  Can Haley kickstart the Stallions? This will be Haley’s first head coaching position. Before taking on the OC position in Cleveland, Haley spent 5 years in that position with the NFL Steelers, working before that for several NFL teams as a WR position coach. With some talent on the Stallion offense, including Newton, WR Amari Cooper, underrated, but effective HB Rex Burkhead, and a strong 1-2 combo at tight end with Hunter Henry and Eric Ebron, the pieces are there for Birmingham to fare much better than their 2018 ranking as the league’s 22nd rated offense (both scoring and yards).  Haley, who will be bringing another Brown coach, former DE and current D-Line coach Clyde Simmons to Birmingham as the new DC. Simmons’s task will be equally challenging, as Birmingham’s defense also struggled in 2018, finishing 25th against the pass and 21st in yards allowed.   Prior to Haley’s arrival, Birmingham made a couple of moves to improve the defense, trading for CB Dwayne Gratz and signing free agent safety Tashaun Gipson to replace the retired Will Allen. Haley will be working with the front office on this week’s draft, so expect some attention to the offense as well, though the Stallions have already traded away one of their T-Draft picks to Baltimore, assumedly allowing the Stallions to select HB Josh Jacobs out of Alabama. That still leaves several talented players in the T-Draft for Haley, including OT Jonah Williams, HB Damien Harris, CB Jamal Dean, Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham, S Deionte Thompson, and DT Quinnen Williams. Birmingham also holds the 9th pick in the USFL Open Draft, with many expecting they will look very long at more help on the defensive side, though an additional wideout and a true 3rd down back could also be in the mix. Renegades Jump on Rivera After NFL Snub Orlando found its man 2 weeks before the NFL season ended, thanks to an early firing by the Carolina Panthers. The NFL Panthers let 5-year head coach Ron Rivera go with 4 weeks left in their season and Orlando pounced on the chance to interview the former DC and HC of the NFL team. Many in NFL circles decried the move by Panthers’ owner David Tepper, who has come under a lot of criticism for his tampering with the club. Orlando saw the firing as an opportunity, brought Rivera in, and offered him a chance to return to the USFL for a second stint. As USFL fans will recall, Rivera spent 8 years in Pittsburgh as the lead man for the Maulers (2006-2013), leading them to two division titles and a conference championship between 2010-2011 before friction with team ownership (paired with an unexpected drop to 7-9) led to his dismissal. Just as with the current hiring, many in USFL circles back in 2012 felt that Rivera was treated unfairly by ownership and he was quickly snatched up by the Panthers for their 2012 campaign.   That cycle appears to have continued as Carolina, despite Rivera winning a division title in his first season in the NFL, then taking Carolina to 15-1 in 2025. His 2016 club dropped to 6-10, and struggled to a 5-7 start in 2018 when Rivera was let go.  Rivera returns for a second USFL gig. In Orlando, Rivera has a squad that is reimagining itself after the demand by Calais Campbell for a trade. The Renegades agreed to a deal with Arizona, sending the 10-time Sack Champion to the Wranglers in exchange for 3 draft picks over the next 3 years. Rivera will help oversee a draft that will seek to address the huge loss to the Renegade pass rush. Most expect Orlando to select Mississippi State DE Montez Sweat in the T-Draft as a first step, but expect other picks as well to focus on the new defense Rivera hopes to bring in. However, Coach Rivera will also need to address some issues on offense, particularly after HB Latavius Murray left in free agency for Charlotte. The Renegades have a very solid passing attack, led by QB Russell Wilson, particularly with the emergence of WR Brashad Perriman as a true number one. Perriman had 91 receptions, 1,450 yards, and 9 TDs in 2018, and the Orlando offense produced 25 passing touchdowns to only 13 on the ground (2 by Wilson). With Murray leaving, Rivera’s squad will have to find a 2nd option behind Rashad Jennings. But, as many expect, the first order of business for their new coach is to manage the loss of Campbell and produce a defense that helps Renegade fans get over the huge departure of the team’s legendary player. As is the norm every offseason, the wave of retirement announcements slowed to a trickle in the fall, and while there are certainly some big name players who have declared their intent to file for retirement, the overall number has been quite small. Here are the most impactful departures from the past 4 months:   DT Albert Haynesworth: Houston allowed Haynesworth to enter free agency, very likely with foreknowledge that his announcement was likely. When he did not get a deal enticing enough to keep him in cleats for another year, he made his announcement. Haynesworth retires as a 9-time ALL-USFL selection and a league champion after last year’s Houston Summer Bowl victory.   LB Shantee Orr: At age 36, Orr, who played 14 seasons in Arizona, Las Vegas and San Diego, retires with 563 career tackles, 15 sacks and 8 interceptions.   FS Jairus Byrd: After a single season with Chicago, Byrd’s big break came when he was traded to Philadelphia in 2010. He would go on to serve as the starting free safety for the Stars for the next 9 seasons, racking up over 500 tackles, 25 picks, 16 sacks, and 21 forced fumbles.   OT Zach Strief: The big right tackle played 10 seasons with Atlanta, earning 2 All-USFL nods, and giving up an average of only 3.6 sacks per season.   LB Bart Scott: An interesting career for Scott, who played 10 seasons in the USFL but never started more than 8 games in any season. Scott was the epitome of the “swing” player, filling in all across the Texas/Oklahoma linebacker group.   HB Lamar Miller: A big, bruising back, who took a good share of hits as well, Miller retires at only 29-years old, having missed more than 50% of games due to injury over the past 3 years. After a career high of 700 yards rushing with Jacksonville in 2014, Miller’s health have limited him considerably, finishing 2018 with only 136 rushing yards and appearing in only 8 games.   DT Atiyyah Ellison: A veteran of 14 seasons (8 in Baltimore, 3 in Portland, and 3 in DC), Ellison retires after starting 35 of Washington’s 46 games the past three seasons.   TE Owen Daniels: A 13-year veteran who played for the Skyhawks, Maulers and Thunder, Daniels had 273 career receptions and 10 career TDs.   WR Brandon Marshall: In his13 year career, Marshall accumulated 517 receptions for 8,700 yards and 67 touchdowns. His best seasons were a strong 2-year run in Texas where he had 102 receptions for over 2,000 yards and 22 combined touchdowns. He spent his final 3 years in Memphis, but appeared in only 7 games this year for the Showboats.   A strong fall for free agent signings across the league, with a lot of teams, particularly those with larger cap allowances, finding deals and bringing players into the fold. There are still positions to fill in the draft and through the NFL-USFL window, but many teams built up their rosters with solid free agent finds from October through the winter. Here is a quick breakdown of the deals that could impact the 2019 season and beyond:   ARIZONA was busy, outbidding Jacksonville to acquire fullback Andy Janovich and signing CB Jeremy Lane to a 3-year deal. The Wranglers are still looking for help at several positions, but with plenty of cap room, they have lots of options.   DENVER: Never big spenders, the Gold still managed to add 2 key players to their roster, finding a veteran backup to help guide QB Josh Allen through his first year as the starter. Denver signed former Atlanta starter Kyle Orton to serve as Allen’s backup for the next two years. They also added a fullback to their RB Room, landing former Express blocker Jay Ballard.   MEMPHIS wanted a veteran to back up Paxton Lynch, and to help him deal with the ups and downs of his 2018 success. They found a good one in former Chicago starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitz-Magic seems an ideal mentor, and can also step in to the offense if Lynch struggles or suffers an injury.   SEATTLE also needed a veteran QB after Matt McGloin left early in free agency. They wanted a player who could run the same playbook as starter Jacoby Brissett, and were happy to see that Brett Hundley, a one-time starter in New Jersey, was open to a 2-year deal.   LAS VEGAS solved one of their biggest roster issues, finding a true space-eater for the middle of their D-line by signing former Fire DT Sylvester Williams to a 3-year deal. Williams is only 27 and could have many more solid years ahead of him.   BALTIMORE was thought to be looking at a true slot receiver, but with Tavon Austin signing with the NFL Rams during the transfer window, they changed gears, signing veteran Denarius Moore to a 2-year deal. Moore, who had over 100 receptions, could split time on the outside with Brian Hartline, with both or either also serving as a slot option in Baltimore’s vertical offense.   Other signings of note include WR Earl Bennett (POR), DT Daquann Jones (NOR), FS Shalom Luani (MGN), QB Bob Volek (LA), DE Trevor Guyton (CHI), LB Keenan Clayton (BIR) and guard Jeremiah Poutasi (ATL). Among those still looking for just the right deal we find SS Brandon Taylor, HB C. J. Anderson, FB Sean Smith, SS Kendrick Lewis, CB Jaylen Watkins, HB T. J. Yeldon, and WR Emmanuel Sanders. We started our report this week with the huge deals made by the LA Express to acquire some choice Territorial Draft picks, but those deals have hardly been the only ones. Moving around in the draft often starts days if not weeks before Draft Day, and that was certainly the case this year. And while the Express have rightfully garnered a lot of attention for their aggressive moves, they are hardly alone. Here are a few more trades that will impact the next week’s draft order, and we suspect it is only the tip of the iceberg.   Denver acquires St. Louis’s 1st T-Draft Pick in trade for a 2nd round Open Draft selection (acquired from Atlanta in an earlier trade). We know what this one is about, and we reported on it back in October as the first draft-focused deal of the year. This gives the Gold their choice of the two top tight ends in the draft, both from Iowa, either T. J. Hockenson or Noah Fant. The choice is theirs, and all they give up for it is their 2nd of two second rounders in the open draft, a pick they acquired from Atlanta in a deal last offseason.   Birmingham & Baltimore swap their 1st Territorial picks. This is a move I am honestly surprised we don’t see more often, as team needs did not align with the talent pool in their T-Draft protected schools. Baltimore is, by nearly all accounts, seriously pursuing Alabama HB Josh Jacobs, while Birmingham is desperate to improve their secondary by signing a safety. This deal gives Baltimore exclusive USFL rights to Jacobs (though they will have to compete with the NFL, of course), while Birmingham now can lay a claim on the top-rated strong safety in the draft, Maryland’s Darnell Savage.   Arizona Drops Out of Round 1 We often see these kinds of moves in the days just before the draft, if not on draft day itself. Arizona, needing picks more than it needs the best possible player at the 28th position in the Open Draft, makes a deal with Orlando to drop back from 28 to 34, giving Orlando a second 1st rounder, as well as their 6th round pick, in exchange for Orlando’s 6th pick in the 2nd round and backup safety Corey White.  For Orlando it is a chance to jump up 7 slots, and for Arizona, they get a proven commodity in White while only dropping back a handful of selections.   St. Louis Acquires More Picks The Skyhawks, looking to maximize draft day value by increasing their pick total, did just that, sending fullback Jason Cabinda to the Ohio Glory in trade for the Glory’s 4th rounder. Now, that may not seem like a deal worth advertising, but what we need to acknowledge is that the Skyhawks have now accumulated a total of 5 picks between the 4th and 5th rounds, their own two picks and also Ohio’s 4th, Arizona’s 5th and Atlanta’s 5th. With that much draft capital, the Skyhawks could stand pat and get 5 mid-round players, or could package picks to improve their position, possibly leaving with 2-3 additional selections in the 3rd, possibly even the 2nd round. We have to believe that the Skyhawks are nowhere near done yet, with draft week moves still very much available to them. Todd McShay'sTop 10 prospects—Where they could go   1-QB Kyler Murray (OU): Murray’s T-Draft rights have been locked up by LA thanks to their deal with Oklahoma. But, could this be a bluff? LA could use this position to make a deal with a team that is more desperate for a QB than they are, someone like Chicago or New Orleans, both of whom lost out in their pursuit of Ryan Nassib or Matt McGloin. Could LA simply be playing the field to acquire other positions, or, if there is legit interest in Murray, do they push for the OU quarterback and use Bradford as trade bait for the Breakers or Machine? NFL Option: The Arizona Cardinals have the first pick in the NFL Draft, 10 days after the USFL’s Open Draft. While many believe they are not in the market for a QB, having signed UCLA’s Josh Rosen last season, Rosen did not have a particularly strong first year, and we could envision the Cardinals potentially trading Rosen and taking a shot at Murray. But, if it is between LA, with Coach Lewis, and Arizona, with a defensive minded coach in Vance Joseph at the helm, we think LA might have an advantage.   2-DE Nick Bosa (Ohio State): No doubt about this. The move by LA to acquire the first T-Draft pick from Ohio is a clear move for Bosa. Or is it? Could LA be actually looking at locking up the top two QB prospects in the same draft by getting rights to both Dwayne Haskins and Kyler Muray? Are they going to turn around and trade one or both of these picks (or players) to the highest bidder? Or are we just imagining huge conspiracies just to add drama? We honestly don’t know. There is clearly a need for edge pressure on the LA Express defense, so picking and signing Bosa would make a lot of sense, but the Haskins concept also has its intriguing possibilities.   NFL Option: Most folks have Bosa being picked either 2nd by the New York Jets, or third by the San Diego Chargers. Either of those teams could be tough competition if LA truly is looking to sign both Murray and Bosa. But, both are seen as pretty dysfunctional franchises, much like LA, so at least the Express would be in game, which likely brings it down to money, which LA now has plenty of, even with 3 very costly early draft picks.   3. DE Montez Sweat (Miss. State): Another top edge rusher who is unlikely to escape the USFL T-Draft. Orlando has his rights and having traded away perhaps the best player in league history in Calais Campbell, they need to get this right in order to avoid a fan revolt. Sweat should be the obvious pick and a major focus of Orlando’s offseason campaign. They may have to overpay him in order to avoid him going to the NFL, but that seems like something they will have to accept in order to get the player they have to have.   NFL Option: Sweat could go to the Jets with the 2nd NFL pick, as they need help at both DE and DT, but he also could drop if NFL clubs think he will be overpaid by Orlando to join them. That actually makes Orlando’s case easier, because the further Sweat drops in the NFL draft, the less that NFL team can offer (thanks to their Rookie Cap system) and the cheaper the total cost for Orlando.   4. WR D.K. Metcalf (Ole Miss): We don’t see the Breakers protecting Metcalf with their T-Draft pick, and if they were going to trade that pick, they likely would have done it by now. We think they are going for LB Devin White, which means that Metcalf makes it into the open draft. Once there, the first likely contender would be either Jacksonville with the 4th pick or St. Louis at 5. Both need to improve their receiver corps, and while Jacksonville might jump at a QB if one is available, this position would make sense for Metcalf as well.   NFL Option: We are not sure where Metcalf goes, but we doubt he escapes the Top 10. It is between him and OU’s Marquise Brown to be the first WR off the board. We could see him headed to Las Vegas at pick 4 or to New England at 5. Both need to improve their WR groups, so a back-to-back mini-run on wideouts is not out of the question.   5. OLB Josh Allen (Kentucky): While the Blitz traded away their 1st T-Draft pick to Birmingham, we are quite sure the Stallions are looking at Maryland safety Darnell Savage, which means that Allen could be available to the Blitz with their second pick. That said, they have a lot of needs that seem more pressing than an outside linebacker (even if replacing Jason Taylor is on their radar). We think Allen ends up in the Open Draft, and if that is the case, he could go to LA first overall, or he could end up at pick 7 with the Vipers.   NFL Option: Another Top 10 prospect, we think he could be taken at pick 5 by the Buccaneers or perhaps pick 8 to the Jaguars. That means that if he is picked first by LA, the Express could have an edge, but if taken by the Vipers at pick 7, there could be a real battle for him.   6. DE/OLB Rashan Gary (Michigan): Gary is a tweener, which could make him more attractive to some teams and far less attractive to others. What we do know is that the Panthers are almost certainly looking elsewhere, to other needs, so that puts Gary very likely in the Open Draft. Once there, we think the most likely option is that he is taken either with the 2nd overall pick (Tampa Bay) or with the 6th (Orlando). Here is our thinking. Tampa Bay is likely going to select Brian Burns, the more traditional DE out of FSU, but this could be a very solid option for a double down, and if both Burns and Gary like the Bandit offer, they could have one on the end and the other at linebacker. The same goes for Orlando, who could be thinking of pairing Sweat and Gary on the same side to help provide some semblance of the pass rush that Campbell provided on his own. Again, this assumes that both are signable.   NFL Option: We could see the Las Vegas Raiders going after Gary, but if they have their eyes on a wideout, then Gary could drop out of the Top 10, with Green Bay being the next team who could make use of his skills in a standard 3-4 alignment.   7. OT Jawaan Taylor (Florida): We have to admit we are a little surprised that McShay had Taylor as his top-rated OT, since we had him solidly 3rd behind Alabama’s Jonah Williams and Washington State’s Andre Dillard, but we promised to go by McShay’s ranking so here we are. The Bulls have Taylor within their protection of Gator prospects, and we think that in their quest to both attract a quality QB and give that QB a halfway decent shot at surviving the season, that they will select Taylor with their 1st or 2nd T-Draft pick.   NFL Option: No shortage of teams needing a solid LT, but will the NFL rank Taylor as McShay has or will he drop behind several other options? The further he drops, the better it is for the Bulls to negotiate with the Florida product.   8. DT Quinnen Williams (Alabama): Of all the teams in the USFL, it is most often Birmingham which finds itself having to make tough choices in the T-Draft. Between the Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers, Birmingham always has more than 3 potential 1st rounders to choose from. And while Williams is a very intriguing prospect, we don’t think Birmingham (which has only 2 picks after trading their first to Baltimore) will go for him. That puts the big DT into the Open Draft, where there will be no shortage of interest. We like Chicago at pick 8, Las Vegas at pick 10, or Washington at pick 16 to take a shot at the big man.   NFL Option: This may be the first case of an NFL team having the higher pick of the two leagues (which often gives them the negotiating advantage). Whether it is the Jets at 2 or the Buffalo Bills at 9, there is a reasonable chance that Williams comes off the board in the Top 10 in the NFL Draft, but drops into the teens in the USFL Draft.   9. QB Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State): We don’t think LA is looking to draft Haskins now that they acquired Ohio’s 1st T-Draft pick. But that does not mean they don’t use that pick to trade for someone they want and someone else opts to trade into the mix for Hopkins. We have Chicago and New Orleans still seeking QB help. One of them could make a deal to get that pick from LA. But, if not, if Haskins waits for the Open Draft, he could drop. Why? Because Chicago traded to get Washington’s first T-Draft pick, and that means they like Duke QB Daniel Jones. Could New Orleans really land a potential Top 10 pick with the 24th selection? And a QB at that?   NFL Option: Here is where the Breakers need to worry. If they get Haskins at 24, but an NFL team picks him in the first 15 picks, they almost certainly lose out on that draft pick. We just don’t see a lot of USFL teams win a battle for a player if the NFL team has more than a 5-pick advantage in placement. So, the Breakers might have to move up if they want a real shot at Haskins, because when we look at the NFL teams that are showing interest, we see the Giants and the Redskins, both in the Top 15.   10. OT Jonah Williams (Alabama): We have Williams rated higher than Taylor, but so be it. We do think this is a position of necessity for the Stallions, who would have the Bama tackle’s territorial rights, so we think they use that 2nd T-Draft pick to lock in Williams and help Cam Newton. Now, does selecting him mean they can sign him?   NFL Option: This is always tough to gauge. The USFL generally does better with their T-Draft picks than they do in their Open Draft. There is something about parlaying local college fame into pro endorsements that just helps the USFL make deals with their T-Draft picks, but, that said, if Williams is the top OT taken in the NFL Draft, which could mean New England at 4 or possibly Pittsburgh at 9, then the competition gets that much tougher for Birmingham. Top 5 Prospects at Each Position OK, we have looked at Todd McShay’s 10 best players and where we think they are headed this offseason, but a draft is more than 10 players, so what talent is really out there in this year’s draft pool? Here is our breakdown of the 5 highest-rated players in each major position group. How many escape the Territorial Draft to be available to all 28 teams, that is impossible to say, as is how many opt to join the NFL after both drafts have concluded.   Quarterback:  1-Kyler Murray (OU), 2-Dwayne Haskins (OSU), 3-Daniel Jones (Duke), 4-Drew Lock (Mizzou), 5-Will Grier (WV)   This is not the high-profile and deep QB pool we saw last season. We will not be seeing a lot of 1st round picks here, and it already looks like we know who the first two off the board will be, since LA and Chicago both made moves to acquire T-Draft picks from Oklahoma (Murray) and Washington (Jones). We think that Drew Lock and Dwayne Haskins could both possibly be first round picks, but the most likely scenario is that one of them drops into the 2nd round.   Running Back: 1-Josh Jacobs (Bama), 2-Miles Sanders (PSU), 3-David Montgomery (IA St), 4-Darrell Henderson (Mem), 5-Devin Singletary (FAU)   Baltimore is almost guaranteed to use the T-Draft pick they got from Birmingham in a 1-for-1 swap to select Jacobs. Beyond that this looks like a very fluid ranking, and we could see 2 or more backs go in the first round. It is more about matching style of play with offensive scheme, so if things break right, we could see a lot of backs come off the board early.   Tight End: 1-T. J. Hockenson (Iowa), 2-Noah Fant (iowa), 3-Irv Smith Jr. (Bama), 4-Drew Sample (Wash), 5-Jace Sternberger (TAMU)   So rare to see the top two players in any position coming from the same college, but that is the case with the tight end position and the Iowa Hawkeyes this year. The thing is, St. Louis, who has the rights to Iowa players, has no need for a TE, since they have Gronk firmly established as their number one. Enter Denver, who has made a deal to get their shot at either Fant or Hockenson.   Wide Receiver: 1-Marquise Brown (OU), 2-N’Keal Harry (ASU), 3-Deebo Samuel (So Car), 4-A. J. Brown (Mississ), 5-Mercole Hardman (UGA)   A lot of speed, but not a lot of polish. This year’s WR group is either pure speed receivers (Both Marquise or A.J. Brown) or elusive, quick cut receivers like Samuel. No doubt that we will see several off the list after the T-Draft, but how many are truly 1st round talents who can make an immediate impact?   Offensive Line: 1- OT Jonah Williams (Bama), 2-OG Chris Lindstrom (BC), 3-C Garrett Bradbury (NC St), 4-OT Andre Dillard (WSU), 5-OT Tytus Howard (AL St)   A solid and pretty deep pool of linemen, with a bit more at tackle than guard. The Wild Card is Howard, who is the only player on this list, and a rare 1st round talent, who is not within any team’s protected pool.   Defensive End: 1-Nick Bosa (OH St), 2-Quinnen Williams (Bama), 3-Clelin Ferril (Clemson), 4-Rashan Gary (Mich), 5-Montez Sweat (MS St)   Bosa is pretty much the consensus number one option, and LA made a deal to acquire his rights, one that was more surprising than the deal with Oklahoma. Sweat is very likely going to the Bandits in the T-Draft as well, the others, including swing DE/LB Rashan Gary, well, we think they won’t last long.   Defensive Tackle: 1-Ed Oliver (Hou), 2-Christian Wilkins (Clem), 3-Dexter Lawrence (Clem), 4-Jeffrey Simmons (MS St), 5-Jerry Tillary (NDame)   This is such a position of demand, we are likely to see several stretch picks, where 3rd round talent jumps into the early 2nd round just out of sheer necessity. Ed Oliver is a disruptor, while Wilkens and Lawrence are much better as run stuffers and space eaters.   Linebacker: 1-Devin White (LSU), 2-Josh Allen (UKy), 3-Devin Bush Jr. (Mich), 4-Jahlani Tavai (Hawaii), 5-Germaine Pratt (NC St)   We listed Gary as a DE, so that gave us room to include a very interesting prospect, Hawaii’s Tavai. At the top of the list is White and Allen, both of whom excel as sideline-to-sideline react-and-pursue linebackers.   Cornerback: 1-Deandre Baker (UGA), 2-Byron Murphy (Wash), 3-Rock Ya-Sin (Temple), 4-Sean Bunting (CMU), 5-Trayvon Mullen (Clem)   No superstar in this bunch, but a lot of players who could start strong as nickels and then move up to a starting job in a year or two. So, for immediate need, not ideal, but for building a solid secondary, yes, there is talent here.   Safety: 1-Darnell Savage (Mary), 2-Johnathan Abram (MS St), 3-Marquise Blair (Utah), 4-TaylorRapp (Wash), 5-Juan Thornhill (Uva)   One of the deeper positions in the draft. In any other year we would say that 4, maybe 5, would go in the first round. This year we could still see that, but the need for D-line seems to be taking precedence, so expect a heavy safety-filled 2nd round. Every Team, What They Need, and Who They Might Target Here we go, team-by-team analysis of needs, wants, and opportunities. With the T-Draft very much in play, it is so hard to just call a player a “1st round talent” because, while they may be rated according to rounds, the truth is that so much of what the USFL does is tied into the territorial draft that we always see half or more of the highest rated players already off the board for the league by the time we get to the first round of the Open Draft. This year is no exception, with Chicago, Baltimore, Birmingham, Denver, and Los Angeles (twice!!) making moves to snag a T-Draft pick from another club. It is no guarantee, after all, plenty of top picks, including T-Draft picks, head to the NFL instead, but as we look through each team’s situation, the hope is always that the players who every team falls in love with feels that love and signs on for spring football.   LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (3-13) Roster Needs:  DE, LB, DT, TE, WR T-Draft Outlook:  Once again we expect LA’s entire T-Draft to focus on USC players, their historical pipeline. Of course, the big story is the trade that gave them Oklahoma’s 1st T-Draft pick, a move that might very well indicate that they are going for Kyler Murray, hoping to build for next year perhaps, or is Marvin Lewis just not interested in having Sam Bradford as his QB1? But, aside from that pick, what could LA pick up from their own T-Draft selections? Honestly, the USC pool is not as strong as in past years, though we think that either DT Chuma Edogo or LB Cameron Smith would make sense for the Express. Possible Target Player:  Assuming that LA does go for Murray with the T-Draft pick they obtained from Oklahoma, what do they do with the 1st overall? Our guess is DE, so it is a question of who escapes the T-Draft and is available. Could Nick Bosa or Clenlin Ferrell be available? If so, then LA should absolutely address that need with the first overall pick.   TAMPA BAY BANDITS (3-13) Roster Needs:  DE, DT, OT, OG, CB T-Draft Outlook:  The Bandits can get exactly what they need in Florida State DE Brian Burns. He fills an immediate need after the departure of Jerry Hughes. Beyond that, it is a mixed bag. If they go for need positions there is FSU DT Demarcus Christmas and South Carolina OT Dennis Daley, but if they go for some splash, how about South Carolina wideout Deebo Samuel? Possible Target Player:  If Alabama DT Quinnen Williams is in the pool, he has to be the Bandit pick. If not, then potentially guard Chris Lindstrom from BC or OT Dexter Lawrence from Clemson.   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS (3-13) Roster Needs: OT, HB, DE, QB, FB T-Draft Outlook: The only 1st round talent in Dallas’s T-Draft pool is DE L. j. Collier form TCU, but we could see them look at another DE, Texas’s Charles Omenihu. With OT being a major need as well, we think they will protect Longhorn tackle Calvin Anderson. Possible Target Player: Dallas probably should focus on that OT position, which would mean hoping that Alabama’s Jonah Williams is available. But there is a shot that they go rogue and go for a QB who can sit behind Josh Freeman for a year. Haskins? Daniel Jones? Just guessing at what may or may not be a priority for the Roughnecks.   JACKSONVILLE BULLS (4-12) Roster Needs: QB, WR, SS, C, HB, OT T-Draft Outlook: The Bulls won’t find their future franchise QB in the T-Draft, but they could get some help at safety with Florida’s C. J. Gardner-Johnson, orat OT with another Gator, Jawaan Taylor. We are also not sure they don’t BPA and lock in DE Clelin Ferrell even if DE is not a priority. Possible Target Player: If LA does not go for Murray, we could see Jacksonville diving on him, but that seems an unlikely scenario. So, the next best option may well be Haskins, but that almost guarantees that Teddy Bridgewater is the starter for 2019.   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS (5-11) Roster Needs: WR. FS. OG, HB, DT T-Draft Outlook: The Skyhawks have traded away their 1st T-Draft pick, which means that either T. J. Hockenson or Noah Fant are off the table. Thing is, St. Louis has Gronk, so they really are not in the TE hunt. They also are unlikely to protect QB Drew Lock. They could take a look at Iowa State HB David Montgomery, but a more certain bet is WR Hakeem Butler, another Cyclone, but one in a position with greater need. Possible Target Player: This may be a bit early to go for a safety, with Maryland’s Darnell Savage and Mississippi State’s Johnathan Abram as the top rated players, both falling later in the first round in most mock drafts. If they want to go WR here, the best option (again assuming he clears the T-Draft) is likely OU’s Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.   ORLANDO RENEGADES (6-10) Roster Needs: DE, LB, CB, HB, WR T-Draft Outlook: A lot of 1st round talent out of Mississippi State this year. After the Calais Campbell trade, the obvious pick is DE Montez Sweat, but safety Johnathan Abram and even DT Jeffery Simmons are also solid options. Possible Target Player: A lot depends on how confident Orlando is about Sweat. If they are not sure, they could double down by looking at Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell or FSU’s Brian Burns. If they like what they are hearing from Sweat and his people, they could go LB, which could be Devin White from LSU or Josh Allen from Kentucky.   BALTIMORE BLITZ (6-10) Roster Needs: HB, SS, WR, CB, TE T-Draft Outlook: The deal with the Stallions almost certainly means that Baltimore wants to lock up an RB1 and they want that RB1 to be Josh Jacobs. They did a 1-for-1 swap of T-Draft picks with the Stallions, and we think that means Birmingham is going for safety Darnell Savage, the only true 1st round talent in Baltimore’s pool. With their other 2 picks, we think Baltimore also goes safety, jumping on Delaware’s Nasir Adderley, though they could also look at CB with Kentucky’s Lonnie Johnson Jr. Possible Target Player: If the Blitz snag their RB1 and their safety through the T-Draft, then we see this pick definitely being a slot receiver. Within that group, the best option is likely to be either Arizona State’s N’Keal Harry or South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel.   CHICAGO MACHINE (7-9) Roster Needs:  QB, DT, OG, OT, DE T-Draft Outlook: Chicago made the deal with Washington to get a shot at QB Daniel Jones, but with their own T-Draft picks we think they need to improve the line in front of him. That means OT Max Scharping from Northern Illinois and/or guard Michael Deiter from Wisconsin. Possible Target Player: If Chicago can address QB, OT, and OG in the T-Draft (and that is a big if), then we think they look hard at the DT pool in the Open Draft. At the top of that pool is Quinnen Williams from Alabama, but he could well be gone, so up next is either Ed Oliver from the U. of Houston or Christian Wilkins from Clemson.   BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (7-9) Roster Needs: DE, FS, DT, LB, CB T-Draft Outlook: The deal with Baltimore gives the Stallions the chance to draft the highest rated safety in the pool, Darnell Savage from Maryland. It also costs them their 1st T-Draft pick, but with Baltimore likely taking Josh Jacobs, all those quality Alabama front line folks will be there, including DT Quinnen Williams or OT Jonah Williams. They may also use a pick towards their CB group with Auburn’s Jamel Dean as a good candidate. Possible Target Player: If one of the top rated DE’s is still on the board, we think Birmingham goes there, but if not, they could choose to address the LB position with Devin Bush, Josh Allen, or Michigan’s Rashan Gary.   LAS VEGAS VIPERS (7-9) Roster Needs: DT, LB, WR, OG, DE T-Draft Outlook: Vegas is getting used to a pretty slim T-Draft pool. This year’s best prospect is not in a position of need, safety Marquise Blair, but they do like the two LBs in the pool, Utah’s Cody Barton and BYU’s Sione Takitaki. Possible Target Player: Defensive tackle and wide receiver are the two big needs. We think they go wideout if either Marquise Brown or A. J. Brown of Ole Miss is here. If not, then best DT available seems the most likely 1st round option.   OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS (7-9) Roster Needs: CB, SS, LB, HB, OG T-Draft Outlook: The Outlaws already traded their 1st pick to LA, presumably for QB Kyler Murray. They very well could trade the 2nd pick if someone is eager to select WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Neither QB nor WR is really a high priority pick. We think if they keep only 1 of their 3 picks, they will use that to get some added “shimmy” in their run game, and that means OK State’s Justice Hill. Possible Target Player: Oklahoma could be the first team to look at the CB position, and if they do, they will almost certainly look at Georgia’s Deandre Baker and Washington’s Byron Murphy, the two 1st round graded corners.   PHILADELPHIA STARS (8-8) Roster Needs: FS, CB, DT, SS,WR T-Draft Outlook: Not a bad pool of players, but few who align with the Stars’ primary needs. Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin could be an option, as could Penn State CB Amani Oruwariye, but no real help at safety or DT in this pool. Possible Target Player: Free safety is the biggest need, and the best option there is Utah’s Marquise Blaire, who Philly could get in the 2nd round. We could see the Stars draft down to get more picks, or, if they stick, they could go for the less necessary, but still helpful strong safety position with either Johnathan Abram or Taylor Rapp from Washington.   SEATTLE DRAGONS (8-8) Roster Needs: DE, LB, SS, OT, HB T-Draft Outlook: OT Andre Dillard of Washington State seems the obvious pick, though we also like Washington’s Kaleb McGary in the same position. The Dragons could also take a 3rd pick shot at LB Ben Buur-Kirven, another Huskie with a lot of potential. Possible Target Player: The DE pool is likely to be quite a bit thinner by this point in the draft, but we still think Seattle prioritizes the position. How about either TCU’s L. J. Collier or BC’s Zach Allen here?   PITTSBURGH MAULERS (8-8) Roster Needs: DE, TE, LB, CB, WR T-Draft Outlook: If we assume that the Maulers pass on West Virginia QB Will Grier, which seems likely, then the choice that makes the most sense is WR Gary Jennings Jr, also a Mountaineer. We could also see them adding some LB depth with either fellow Mountaineer David Long Jr. or Akron’s Ulysses Gilbert III. Possible Target Player: We are back to that DE group again, but if it is looking pretty picked over, it seems almost certain that one of the two Iowa tight ends will be here. So, will it be Hockenson or Fant?   DENVER GOLD (9-7) Roster Needs: TE, DT, FS, LB, CB T-Draft Outlook: Denver did not want to wait and hope that their preferred tight end would be available in the Open Draft, so they cut a deal with the Skyhawks and can now scout both Fant and Hockenson, choosing their favorite. Then, with their own picks, look for them to address the safety position, either with Wyoming’s Marcus Epps or Andrew Wingard, the former being the higher rated prospect, but the latter being perhaps a better fit at free safety for the Gold. Possible Target Player: If the Gold feel good at TE and safety after the T-Draft, then we think they go DT here, but if not, then they could draft a 2nd player at either position to double down on a key need. But, let’s assume they are looking for a DT (which means Suh did not resign), our pick for the Gold would be Houston’s Ed Oliver, assuming he is available.   WASHINGTON FEDERALS (9-7) Roster Needs: DT, QB, OT, WR, LB T-Draft Outlook: The only truly coveted player in the Feds’ pool (Virginia, Va Tech, Duke) was QB Daniel Jones, who the Feds essentially traded to Chicago by sending the Machine their 1st pick. So, what is left worth picking in the T-Draft? How about a developmental project at WR in Virginia’s Olamide Zaccheaus? Maybe some linebacker depth with Duke’s Joe Giles-Harris? Possible Target Player: There are just not enough D-linemen in this draft to satisfy all the demand, and by the time Washington picks, we don’t see much 1st round talent being left on the board. So, do they go wideout, linebacker or BPA with this pick? How about a curveball, picking up the backup QB that Jones could have been (expensive though), which could be Will Grier or Drew Lock.   PORTLAND STAGS (9-7) Roster Needs: LB, WR, OT, C, SS T-Draft Outlook: A very shallow pool for the Stags, though they do have a halfway decent option at safety with Oregon’s Ugo Amadi, and maybe some depth at LB with Justin Hollins, another Duck. Possible Target Player: Linebacker has not been a high-priority need for many teams ahead of the Stags, so there could be a steal left on the board. Could it be Devin White from LSU? Not as likely, but perhaps Josh Allen from Kentucky or Rashan Gary from Michigan.   CHARLOTTE MONARCHS (9-7) Roster Needs: FS, LB, DE, TE, HB T-Draft Outlook: With LB being a priority, we think Charlotte jumps on NC State’s Germaine Pratt. We also think they should at least consider center Garrett Bradbury, even if O-Line is not a current need area. Possible Target Player: We think Charlotte will be practical and go BPA from any of the five positions listed. Yes, they signed Latavius Murray, but HB still has to be on the list, especially if Miles Sanders from Penn State is still on the board, which we think is very possible.   MICHIGAN PANTHERS (9-7) Roster Needs: FS, DE, QB, HB, LB T-Draft Outlook: Either Devin Bush or Rashan Gary, and maybe both, could and should be T-Draft picks for the Panthers. They could also look at the CB position, with 3 prospects there from either the Wolverines or the Spartans. Possible Target Player: As much as there is immediate need for the defense, if either Drew Lock or Dwayne Haskins is on the board here, we could see the Panthers building behind Kirk Cousins.   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (11-5) Roster Needs: CB, DE, WR, LB, OG T-Draft Outlook: The Showboats catch a break as their position of top need, CB, has a top prospect waiting for them in Vandy’s Joejuan Williams. After that pick, the Boats could go a lot of directions, from a U. of Memphis HB (Darrell Henderson or Tony Pollard) to guard Hjailte Froholdt from Arkansas. Possible Target Player: Unless they use a double down strategy, we think Memphis will see cornerback as solid and will move on to address needs at the WR position. If they see N’Keal Harry here, they almost certainly go for him. If not, then it could be A. J. Brown or Georgia’s Mecole Hardman.   SAN DIEGO THUNDER (10-6) Roster Needs: DT, OT, TE, HB, FB T-Draft Outlook: After a couple of decent years from UCLA, this year the Thunder don’t get much. They will likely take a flier on TE Caleb Wilson, but not as their only TE pick. They could also look at SDSU’s Kahale Warring here and look for Noah Fant in the Open Draft. Possible Target Player: Fant would be a good selection this late in the round, but we could also see the Thunder go for someone at either OT or DT since their T-Draft just does not help them there.   OHIO GLORY (10-6) Roster Needs: OT, LB, DE, TE, CB T-Draft Outlook: Before the trade with LA we thought for sure that the Glory were going to woo Buckeye DE Nick Bosa hard, but the Express made another big deal and now it looks like they will be wooing the consensus best edge rusher in the draft. So, what does Ohio do with their two remaining picks? Well, there are three solid wideouts in their pool, and while it is not a listed priority, you can never have enough good ones. They have Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin from Ohio State, but also Toledo’s Diontae Johnson to consider. Possible Target Player: We think the Glory look at the two Wolverine LBs and hope one slides this far. Either Gary or Bush would be a help to Ohio, even if fans may balk at rooting for a former Big Blue player.   ATLANTA FIRE (10-6) Roster Needs: OT, OG, DT, QB T-Draft Outlook: A list of linemen needed and the best T-Draft prospects are all small guys like WRs and CBs. We guess they will select CB Deandre Baker and WR Mecole Hardman, but not so much out of need as out of respect for their draft grades. Possible Target Player: No way Quinnen Williams get shere, and very likely Jonah Williams is also off the table, so Atlanta could be looking at Washington State’s Andre Dillard or unprotected Alabama State OT Tytus Howard.   NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (12-4) Roster Needs: SS, TE, HB, OG, CB T-Draft Outlook: LB is not a priority position, but LSU’s Devin White could be special, so we think the Breakers and former LB Lamar Lathon cannot pass the chance up. Beyond White, perhaps WR, with A. J. Brown and DK Metcalf both out of Ole Miss. They do need a tight end and another Rebel could be their answer, Ole Miss’s Dawson Knox. Possible Target Player: If there is a 1st round graded safety on the board, that Is where we think the Breakers will go, though they could take a shot at a halfback as well, especially if they are serious about adding lightning to Leonard Fournette’s thunder.   NEW JERSEY GENERALS (9-6-1) Roster Needs: TE, OG, WR, QB, FB T-Draft Outlook: The Generals find a match as BC guard Chris Lindstrom fits in nicely in a position of need. Beyond Lindstrom, there are no obvious choices. Possible Target Player: We think New Jersey could be another club looking long and hard at QBs like Haskins, Lock, or Grier. Will they bite in the first round? Or do they need to just build more around Nick Foles?   OAKLAND INVADERS (11-5) Roster Needs: OT, DT, HB, LB, CB T-Draft Outlook: We think one of the reasons the Invaders let Knile Davis go is because they really like Stanford’s Bryce Love, a very likely T-Draft pick. They could also take a long look at TE Josh Oliver from San Jose State or WR J. J. Arcega-Whiteside from the Cardinal. Possible Target Player: Either O-line or D-line is the need, so whichever has the highest rated prospect still available at pick 26 is the likely candidate.   ARIZONA WRANGLERS (12-3-1) Roster Needs: DT, OG, CB, WR, OT T-Draft Outlook: The obvious pick for the Wranglers is ASU wideout N’Keal Harry, who can help them restock their WR room (along with Victor Cruz, of course). They also could look at DT Rebekk Wren, though we think they will also look for a higher-rated DT in the Open Draft. Possible Target Player:  The Wranglers have a lot of needs, but also a lot of cap space. We think that makes them a prime candidate to drop back through trade, move out of the late 1st round and get some extra picks later in the draft. If they do stay put, then someone like Notre Dame DT Jerry Tillery or Georgia CB Deandre Baker could be a good option here.   HOUSTON GAMBLERS (12-4) Roster Needs: DT, HB, WR, FS, OT T-Draft Outlook: Things are just going the Gamblers’ way. Yes, Albert Haynesworth will be very hard to replace, but there is Cougar DT Ed Oliver just sitting there, ready to select. Oliver is a disruptive playmaker in the middle, just as Haynesworth was. Possible Target Player: Houston could again get lucky and find a quality halfback with the final pick in the first round. It is not going to be Josh Jacobs, and probably not David Montgomery either, but it could be Miles Sanders, Darrell Henderson, or Devin Singletary, all pretty solid options at pick 28.   NFL Free Agent Pool Has Plenty of Enticing Options for USFL Clubs As many of you probably already know, this past September the NFL raked in a bumper crop of USFL talent during the shared transfer window between the two leagues. With a heavy emphasis on defensive talent, the NFL signed over 40 USFL players, including several All-USFL caliber players like CB Patrick Robinson, DE Mario Williams, LB Chase Blackburn, TE Kellen Davis, LB James Laurinaitis, OT Andrew Whitworth, and DT Haloti Ngata. Now, with the NFL season recently completed, the pools are switched, with few USFL players still unsigned, but a large player pool of NFL talent who will be eligible to jump to the USFL if they remain unsigned by February 4th.  We looked over the full Free Agent list from the 32 NFL clubs and picked our favorite 20 potential free agents for the USFL to target. Here is our list of the 20 players who deserve serious wooing this February, along with the age of each, as that is often a factor in teams’ decisions to go after a player.   20- HB Bilal Powell (30) A big bruising back who could be a good short yardage and red zone option.   19- WR Devin Funchess (24) A big body receiver at 6’4”, Funchess spent 4 years in Carolina, with his best stats in 2017.   18- OG Ron Leary (29) A veteran guard with good feet and the ability to pull. Spent 6 seasons with Dallas.   17- QB Geno Smith (28) After 4 years with the Jets, Smith played 1 season with the Giants and appeared in 5 games for the Chargers this year. Smith would be a bit of a reclamation project, since losing confidence in New York.   16- LB Jamie Collins (29) Started his career in New England and started 16 games for the Browns in 2016, with 104 combined tackles, a very good option for a team looking for a run-stuffing backer.   15- S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (26) Still only 26 after playing 5 years in Green Bay, Clinton-Dix, is good in coverage, and had 93 tackles in 2018, so he is not afraid to come up and lay the wood on a back.   14- HB Chris Thompson (28) A solid dual-threat back, Thompson won’t be a lead back, but can contribute to both the run and passing game. In 2018, with Washington, he had 41 receptions as a 3rd down option.   13- CB Ronald Darby (24) After 2 years in Buffalo, Darby went to Philadelphia, where he started 11 games for the Eagles. Not much of a ball hawk, Darby is best in zone coverage.   12- HB Tevin Coleman (25) With over 800 yards rushing and 7 combined TDs, Coleman is looking for a payday and may well be open to a USFL deal to get one.   11- LB Shaq Barrett (26) A bit of a disappointment in that he saw very little action in Denver, Barrett is still considered an athletic option on the outside. Will a USFL team give him more opportunities to earn a starting job?   10- QB Blake Bortles (27) Bortles put up some big numbers in Jacksonville, including a 4,000-yard season in 2015. At 27, he still has plenty of spring left in him if a team is willing to take a shot on his arm talent.   9- DE Bud Dupree (25) Dupree could be a steal, from the Steelers. He became a full-time starter in 2017, and in 2 seasons he has 110 tackles and 30 sacks. Those are numbers that should make him a very coveted target indeed.   8- LB Za’Darius Smith (26) Another young pass rusher, Smith only started 12 games in the past two seasons in Baltimore but produced 12 sacks in those 12 games. Many expect he can do a lot more if he shifts from DE to OLB.   7- TE Austin Hooper (24) Highly coveted coming out of college, Hooper’s 3 years in Atlanta have shown why, jumping from 27 receptions as a rookie to 65 in 2017 and 88 in 2018. He could be the answer for a team looking to add a wrinkle to their passing game.   6- LB Preston Brown (26) Brown started nearly every game for Buffalo from 2014-2017, but in Cincinnati an injury held him to only 7 appearances this past season. When healthy, Brown produced 4 straight 100-tackle seasons, including 144 combined tackles for the Bills in 2017.   5- HB Austin Ekeler (23) A rare case of a player on a very short initial deal, Ekeler has played only 2 seasons in the NFL, but is now a free agent. In his two years in San Diego, he spent most of his snaps as a receiver, where he excels, but has also shown a willingness and talent for tenacious inside runs.   4- QB Ryan Tannehill (30) After 6 seasons in Miami, the Dolphins are going in another direction, allowing their 6-year starter to walk in Free Agency. Tannehill has had mixed results as a starter, but with two 4,000-yard seasons and 3 seasons with 20+ touchdowns, he will be an attractive option for any team that has not solved their QB situation in the draft.   3- S Landon Collins (24) A young safety who is not afraid to come up and play inside the box, Collins had 100+ tackles in each of his first 3 seasons and would have been there again had he not missed 4 games last year.   2- DE Jadeveon Clowney (25) Clowney can play OLB in a 3-4 or DE in a 4-3, and in both cases can be a disruptive player. He had 9.5 sacks in 2017, 9 in 2018, and we think he can do even better with the right DT inside him. Speed, aggression and good tackling are all qualities he would bring to a team.   1= WR A. J. Green (30) The best of a pretty good WR group that also includes Funchess, Robby Anderson, Keenan Cole, Tim Patrick, and Quincy Enunwa. Green is a veteran at 30, and with six 1,000-yard seasons behind him, he is no stranger to being a primary target.   USFL Expansion Committee Names 3 Finalists for 30th Franchise The report is out, the finalists set, and the vote will be happening sometime in the next month as the list of 7 expansion groups has been cut to three finalists. The Expansion Committee, citing stadium arrangements, market demographics, alignment questions, and concerns expressed by several current USFL ownership groups about regional competition have removed 4 of the 7 teams, leaving three bids prepared to present their cases in person at the early February league meetings in New York, with deliberation to follow and a planned national announcement in late March. But which cities will be vying for a franchise? It will be the East Coast vs. the Midwest as the three remaining bids represent the Boston metro area, the Twin Cities, and, in a surprising underdog bid, the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. We will highlight each of the bids, but first, let’s walk through the issues that held back the other four bidding groups. We start in Miami, which not only had stadium issues, a lease agreement that would make the club the third tenant in Hard Rock Stadium, and very much third in the pecking order behind the NFL Dolphins and the University of Miami Hurricanes. That situation, with significant concerns about stadium scheduling as well as revenue stream, combined with significant opposition not only from expected sources like the 3 current Florida teams (Bandits, Bulls, and Renegades) but also from several other franchises citing health and safety concerns about mid-summer games in the heat of South Florida. Several clubs presented formal statements to the committee regarding scheduling games in Miami and concerns for player safety. That mix of issues doomed the Miami bid despite a solid ownership group.  Very different concerns in Kansas City, where the tethering of the bid to Arrowhead Stadium, with few alternative sites available, proved to be a bigger obstacle than the bid group anticipated. Questions about potential clashes between the new franchise and the NFL Chiefs, as well as concerns about the age of the facility and the potential for needed renovation in the short term put Kansas City at a disadvantage over the two other Midwestern bids, both of whom made strong cases for regional rivalry potential while having better stadium deals in place.  For Hartford the issue was market size. There was significant skepticism that the team could draw from both Boston and New York as their proposal claimed. A Boston Globe poll taken during November seemed to indicate that for most Boston football fans, a trip to Hartford was a deal breaker. That, combined with significant opposition mounted by the ownership of the New Jersey Generals, as well as the relatively low attendance capacity of UConn’s Rentschler Field were enough to push Hartford beneath both Gillette Stadium bidding groups.  And so, the two Boston groups battled each other. The market was a clear favorite of many on the committee, not surprising for the 11th largest metro area in the nation. And while there were concerns that Boston be granted a 3rd USFL franchise, the ability to obtain a lease for Gillette Stadium would remove that concern. Both the Breakers and Cannons had solid fan support, but their stadium situations were untenable. With the New England Patriots in opposition of adding a USFL team to Gillette Stadium’s schedule, the options for Boston were very limited. But, with changes in the stadium management, and with the recent revelations of a potential scandal involving Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft removing his clout from the NFL pushback, it came down to which of the two bidding groups could get the deal with Gillette Stadium.  The winner? New England Football Group , who emerged in late December with the best possible Christmas present, a signed agreement for an 8-year lease should the USFL select the greater Boston area for its 30th franchise. With that deal in hand, the investment group headed by Robert Grant Jr. CEO and founder of Granite Telecom, and investor Bill Alfond were able to pull ahead of Boston 2020, despite the presence of former governor Deval Patrick in the Boston 2020 group. Without the stadium deal, the Boston 2020 group simply did not have the one key piece that could provide them with an upper hand. And while it is rumored that both Patrick and Boston 2020 minority owner and USFL celebrity Doug Flutie have been in talks to join the NEFG group if they earn the franchise bid. They would join former Celtic Kevin McHale and former footballers Steve Grogan and Tiki Barber if they did.  So, Boston is in, in the form of the New England Football Group. They will be up against two midwestern markets, ready to join the Central Division if they can win the favor of the league’s 28 current owners. The favorite in the group has to be the Twin Cities Football Group , representing the state of Minnesota. The Minnesota group is rumored to have received the most votes within the committee vote, buoyed by their agreement with both the NFL Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority to call U.S. Bank Stadium home. The 66,000-seat convertible stadium would allow the Twin City franchise to adapt to changing weather conditions in the Upper Midwest and could be seen as a future Summer Bowl site.  The third finalist is perhaps the most unexpected, having joined the bidding process well after most other groups had sent in their proposals, but the Hoosier Football Group, headed by Carl Cook (medical supplies) and Bruce White (hotels), made an effective case. They had in hand a solid 7-year contract to play games at the Lucas Oil Stadium, a retractable roof dome in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. They also had favorable support from both city and state officials, hoping to add a second tenant to the facility and a third “big league” franchise to the city. The Hoosier group also made clear that they were well-positioned for immediate rivalries, with Indiana bordering 3 current franchise states, Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois. The case was made that by adding the Hoosier State, the Central Division would see some of the biggest team-to-team engagement by fans, with followers of the Panthers, Glory, and Machine easily able to attend games in Indianapolis.   And with that we have our three final bids. Just one last detail to reveal before the owners meet and the vote is taken. In a media exclusive, we here at This is the USFL have been given exclusive rights to reveal the identities proposed for each of the three finalists. One of these three teams will be joining the USFL in just over 2 years, taking the field as the USFL’s 30th franchise. Which do you think will have the edge? The Hoosier Football Group has chosen a mythical firebird as the identity of their new team. Clearly associated with the auto industry, the famed Pontiac Firebird featured in 80’s pop culture (Smokey & the Bandit, Knight Rider, and the Rockford Files) but also with popular fantasy “universes” like those of Harry Potter. The logo features an orange firebird rising and spreading its wings, tipped in “ember grey”. The helmet will be white with a grey facemask. Team colors will include the primary deep orange, a secondary lighter orange, and the dark grey “ember”, a unique combo for the league to be sure. The NEFG unveiled a design and name that harken back to the early days of pro football when the Providence Steamroller had a short-lived NFL existence. The new Steamrollers will feature black, “asphalt grey”, and bright orange as their colors, a clear departure from the usual red, white and blue so common among Boston sports. Their logo features a football player acting as a human steamroller, flattening everything in his path. The helmet, will be asphalt grey with a wraparound stripe that extends from beneath the steamroller logo. An identity that evokes the famous Iron Ranges of northern Minnesota, the Iron celebrate the industrial and mining history of the state, while providing a tough image of hardened metal as their primary identifier. The logo is a football depicted in two tones of grey/silver and featuring a beveled “M” at the center, surrounded by sunken heptagonal rivets. The helmet is black, with the primary logo on either side and a center stripe featuring the two grey tones. The Iron would be the first team in the USFL to use a purely black-grey tone design, something akin to the NFL Raiders, though featuring 2 different tones of grey.   There you have it, three bids left, 28 owners to vote on the winner, and very soon a new USFL franchise ready to join the San Antonio Gunslingers as the newest franchises in a growing USFL. The vote will happen in February, the results published in March, and we will be here for it. The finalists are here, and once again you will get a chance to vote for your favorite. A new poll is available right here: https://form.jotform.com/251808278196064 The survey will stay open through the publication of our 2019 season Week 2 article, and the winner will be revealed, along with a full uniform set, in the Week 3 recap. This is a longer voting period, but in the end only 1 team will be selected. But, if you want to see some of the teams that did not make the cut, beginning with the 4 eliminated bids, check out the Concept message boards at Chris Creamer's SportsLogos site . I will be revealing all the eliminated proposals ahead of the final announcement of the league's 30th franchise.   We are back in just over a month with our 2019 USFL Season Preview. So, what can you expect? Well, we will include a full draft & rookie signing review, a breakdown of the final free agency moves, including the NFL players headed to spring football, and a look ahead at all 28 teams, with our divisional analysis, team breakdowns, stars to keep an eye on, a look at the 2019 schedule of games, and our picks for rookies who could have immediate impact. It is going to have everything you need to prepare for the 2019 season, whether you are a fantasy player, a gambler, or just a passionate fan of your team. The two-part preview will be out in early March, just in time to help you get pumped up for the upcoming season.

October 2, 2018 Welcome back USFL Fans. After the thrilling 2018 Summer Bowl victory by the Houston Gamblers, we took our usual August hiatus, but we are back and better than ever with a new format for our offseason USFL Coverage. We will still be publishing 2 offseason reports and then a 2-part Season preview, starting right now with our Fall USFL Offseason Report, but we are moving our 2nd report until just days before the USFL Draft to give you full pre-draft coverage. Our 2019 Season Preview will come out one week before the 2019 season kicks off on Friday, March 22 and it will include all the signings, NFL transfers, and camp outlooks for all 28 USFL clubs. So, a shift in timing, but still all the offseason moves, deals, and news to prepare you for the 36th season of USFL action.   In this, our first report of the offseason, we will look at the final tally of retirements, talk about the coaching hires to date, run through the first 10 weeks of free agency, including our big story on QB movement, then take a look at trades this offseason, including a second huge story as Calais Campbell finds a new home, talk about the big hit the league took during the NFL-USFL Transfer Window and review our Top 25 Free Agents, updating the list with new additions as many names came off the original list over the first months of free agency. All of this ahead of our December Draft Preview edition available December 28.   We start with the players, many of them All-USFL talents, who made their announcements this fall that they will not be returning to the USFL or to pro football in 2019. Some were well-anticipated, others very much a surprise, and, in nearly every case, their announcements mean adjustments to each club’s offseason plans. We start with the QBs, and will work through the positions, looking at the departures and the impact on the league and their clubs.   Quarterbacks: Drew Brees (NOR), Eli Manning (LV), Matt Leinart (DEN), David Garrard (WSH), Troy Smith (OHI) While only the Troy Smith announcement was a surprise, the other four retirements are the ones that are likely to have the biggest impact on their teams. Denver had anticipated the move and is ready to make the transition to Josh Allen after he spent his first year in the league learning at the feet of Matt Leinart. Washington and Las Vegas have made their moves to bring in a new starter via Free Agency (see that report below), leaving New Orleans as the lone team to yet reveal their path forward.   Running Backs: Frank Gore (ARZ), Adrian Peterson (CHA), Lamar Miller (SD), and Javon Ringer (ORL) Gore and Peterson both leave huge holes to fill for their clubs, both in on-field performance and locker room leadership. Charlotte has taken a step towards refocusing their run game (again, see our Free Agent news), while Arizona will likely be looking for a power runner to pair with Ka’Deem Carey in a two-back system.   Receivers: Larry Fitzgerald (ARZ), Mario Manningham (OHI), Harry Douglas (BAL), Reggie Brown (DAL), Erik Decker (STL), TE Owen Daniels (SD), TE Delanie Walker (DEN), TE Brent Celek (LA). Another huge leadership departure from the Wranglers, though they acted quickly in free agency to bring in a quality option for David Carr. Ohio is still in the market for a receiver to place opposite speedster Eric Weems, while most of the other teams on the list have options already in house, but could look to sign depth at either WR or TE.   Offensive Line: T Zach Strief (ATL, OT Matt Light (OAK), OT Max Starks (ATL), OT Erik Pears (LA), OG Carl Nicks (TBY), C Nick Hardwick (JAX) Atlanta is clearly making their tackle position a priority in the offseason after losing two of 4 on their active roster. Oakland will likely move D. J. Fluker from the RT to LT position, or may draft for a true LT. The Express have already made a move, bringing in former Thunder tackle Rees Odhiambo.   Defensive Line: DE Kamerion Wemberley (OHI), DE Chris Kelsay (ATL), DT Atiyyah Ellison (WSH). Again, it is Atlanta in the most desperate situation, with Kelsay a surprise retirement. Look for them to use some T-Draft of early round Open Draft selections on this vital position. Ohio could be looking at Ohio State prospect Nick Bosa as well, with Wemberley stepping away.   Linebacker: Jerod Mayo (CHA), Paul Posluszny (PIT), Jason Taylor (BAL), Lance Briggs (POR), Shantee Orr (SD), Brady Poppinga (NJ) Poz chooses retirement over free agency, while Taylor, Briggs, and Orr join Mayo as somewhat anticipated retirements. The Maulers have already made a huge signing to fill Poz’s spot (see Free Agency below), and New Jersey is feeling good about signing Chicago’s Akeem Ayers to replace Poppinga. While Baltimore has signed Jarvis Jones away from Memphis, he is unlikely to take on the pass rush role that Jason Taylor held. And with so many linebackers snatched up by the NFL (again, see below), the market is a bit tight right now, so expect the draft to see the position as one of great interest.   Secondary: CB Cortland Finnegan (PHI), CB Chris Spencer (NOR), FS Will Allen (BIR), SS Troy Polamalu (ARZ), SS Bob Sanders (CHI), SS Patrick Chung (JAX) Arizona got the trifecta that no one wanted, losing Gore, Polamalu, and Fitzgerald within 10 days of their Summer Bowl appearance. Chicago will also be in the safety market while Birmingham jumped on former Outlaw Tashaun Gipson within 3 days of the start of free agency to fill their gap at the position. So far that is the only signing clearly tied to these retirements.   Special Teams: K Mike Nugent (PHI), K Dan Carpenter (POR), P Mat McBriar (OAK0, P Reggie Hodges (CHI) No signings yet, which is no surprise as kickers and punters tend to be post-draft signings or even NFL imports. There are several potential candidates in the draft as well, including Utah kicker Matt Gay and a solid crop of 4-5 late round punters to consider.   As much as we want to jump right in on the Free Agent market and the NFL transfer window, we need to start with the men in the big office, the new head coaches across the USFL. We have had two more hires in the past 10 weeks, joining new LA head coach Marvin Lewis, to bring the number of open vacancies down from 5 to 2. Here are the reports on all 4 positions which were vacant at the time of our last report, with 2 still open and potentially playing the slow, waiting game as the NFL season plays out.   Snowbird? Trestman from Toronto to Tampa Bay The Bandits have found their man, and he may actually qualify as a Snowbird, leaving the cold and ice of Canada for the sun and shore of the Gulf Coast. In Mid-August, the Bandits announced Mark Trestman, former head coach of the Toronto Argonauts, as their new team leader. Trestman, after rising up through the offensive coaching ranks of the NFL, found success in his first head coaching position, leading the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. Trestman struggled in his return to the NFL, lasting only 2 seasons in Chicago, where, to be fair, good quarterbacking is about as common as a sunny 75-degree day in January.  CFL to NFL to CFL to USFL for Mark Trestman Trestman returned to the CFL, where he led the Toronto Argonauts to a Grey Cup in 2017, but matters with the team were largely unsettled as the club prepared for 2018. Trestman remained with the club through a tough start to the 2018 season but resigned from the team when the Bandits made their offer. For those wondering how a mid-season “poaching” is even possible, it should be noted that, unlike the USFL deal with the NFL, there is no negotiation window between the USFL and CFL. The lack of an interleague agreement makes this kind of mid-season move possible, still frowned on, but possible. Trestman turned over the reins of the Argonauts to his DC, Mike Archer mid-week, upon notifying the Argos that he was leaving to join the USFL.   The new HC joins the Bandits as their 3rd coach since 2010, following a 2-year stint for June Jones. His mission, to return the Bandits to what most Tampa Bay fans believe is their legacy, exciting offensive football, “Bandit Ball” in the Spurrier era, and a rightful place atop the Southern Division. Tampa Bay finished 3-13 this year and will have the 2nd pick in the upcoming draft, with defense being the primary area of need.   Stoops Signs On, Set to Lead Outlaws “Give them what they want” appears to be the mantra in Oklahoma, where the Outlaws signed former OU head coach Bob Stoops to take the reins of the franchise. Stoops, who left the Sooners in 2016, after 18 seasons at the helm of the Big 12 powerhouse. A "No Brainer" for Outlaw Ownership Stoops's debut with the Outlaws will be his first pro football position, having risen up the ranks in the college game. Certainly, from a win-loss standpoint Stoops is more than qualified, having racked up a 190-48 record at Oklahoma, including 9 major bowl victories (2 Sugar, 1 each in the Orange, Rose, Cotton and Fiesta).   Stoops now takes on a new challenge, leading a veteran pro club, but comes in with a settled QB position, and a squad that was in the playoff hunt up until the season finale in 2018. Among his primary tasks this offseason will be reviving the run game with Marshawn Lynch, finding quality targets for Joe Flacco, and adding more talent to a defense that finished 23rd in yards allowed and recorded only 25 sacks in 2018.   Renegades & Stallions Playing the Waiting game Two positions left, and it seems that both Orlando and Birmingham may play the somewhat risky game of waiting out the 2019 NFL season to find their new coaches. This means that the GM’s will be running the entire offseason up through the draft, giving their new coach a largely set roster when they enter the team facilities. Both clubs are considered rebuilding projects, though both also have a solidly entrenched starting QB and some significant talent around them. Orlando will, of course, still be dealing with the departure of DE Calais Campbell, but all indications are that they plan to select and woo University of Miami prospect Montez Sweat as a potential T-Draft selection.   As for Birmingham, questions remain as to whether they will pursue Alabama halfback Josh Jacobs in the T-Draft or focus on their struggling defense, which finished 25th in pass defense and 21st in overall defense. Early on there were USFL names associated with both clubs, including Arizona OC Zack Taylor in Orlando and Oakland DC Reggie Herring for Birmingham, but it appears that neither hit the right notes in interviews and both clubs are now settling in to scout the NFL ranks as they prepare to go through the winter without naming the successors to John Fox and Henry Ellard.   Quarterbacks on the Move as Nassib & McGloin Cash In on 2018 Success Free Agency kicked off just 4 days after Houston’s 2018 Summer Bowl victory, and it did not take long for things to get wild. More than 20 players signed within 24 hours, and while that included quite a few big names, it did not include the two breakout star QBs of 2018, Arizona’s Ryan Nassib and Seattle’s Matt McGloin. The two QBs each received multiple inquiries and several serious offers before making their choices, but by the end of the first week of August we had both QBs under contract and ready to suit up with their new teams.   Ryan Nassib, the league’s QB Rating champion in 2018, was the first to sign with a new team. As much as Arizona would have loved to keep the young QB under contract, it simply was not possible when they had 2-time MVP David Carr locked up for another 3 years, so Nassib hit the market after throwing for 3,900 yards and 32 touchdowns in an absolutely amazing year. Nassib led the Wranglers all the way to the Summer Bowl after having only 1 start in his previous 2 years in the league. Along the way he showed that he had the juice to be a legitimate starter and franchise guy for someone, and there were no shortage of teams with interest. Nassib turns 1 amazing year into a 4-year deal. Nassib and his agent took calls from no fewer than 9 teams, but quickly the race for his services came down to 3 clubs, each looking for a new face to their organization. Ryan jetted to New Orleans first, meeting with Coach Lathon and the Southern Division champion Breakers. Then it was a meeting with Brian Flores and the Personnel staff of the Jacksonville Bulls, before trekking up to D.C. to meet with the Federals. Nassib was apparently impressed by what Coach Bradley, former Stars’ DC, had to say about the Federals and their offensive philosophy, and certainly the money was there, with Washington having significant cap space available. The result, in less than a month after long-time starter David Garrard announced his retirement from the Feds, he was welcoming Nassib to the team in a press conference at team headquarters. Nassib was the proud owner of a new 4-year deal that puts him among the Top 10 highest paid QBs in the league, and a new Kelly-green number 12 jersey. Nassib, who grew up a fan of the Philadelphia Stars now will face off with them twice a year as the newest QB for the Federals.  It was only 3 days later that the second of the two “breakout” QBs signed on the dotted line. Matt McGloin, also an injury-sparked sub for his team’s Week 1 starter, finished 2018 with 3,180 yards passing and 26 touchdowns. A 6-year veteran who had backup stints with Portland, Memphis, and Seattle, McGloin was also courted by several teams, including visits with the Federals, Bulls, and Machine. In the end it would be Coach Rick Neuheisel, himself a former USFL QB, who would land McGloin. The Las Vegas Vipers, having celebrated 2 years with Eli Manning at the helm, wanted a veteran presence at the position, and while McGloin is not a multiple-year starter in the USFL, the Vipers liked his growth curve, and certainly his 2018 results. McGloin will join Jeff Tuel and Curtis Painter in the Viper QB room and is all but assured the starting gig to go along with his 4-year, $22M contract.   The signings leave several teams without a clear number one at the QB position, including Jacksonville, who missed out on both of the stars in free agency. New Orleans, and Chicago also have to be considered teams with a big hole at the QB position. With Ryan Fitzpatrick the biggest QB name left in free agency, we could see attention turning to him as well as to the consensus top 3 college QBs expected to be available in this year’s draft, Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray, Duke’s Daniel Jones, and Missouri’s Drew Lock. Will one of these teams make a move to get rights to one of these three by trading with the Outlaws, Federals, or Skyhawks to obtain a Territorial Draft Pick. If not, then what plan do they have?   Maulers and Roughnecks Find Their Men in the Middle Outside of the QB position, there was no hotter market this July than at Middle Linebacker, where a solid group of players had opted to join the free agent market, including Tampa Bay’s Bryan Orakpo, LA’s Clay Matthews, Portland’s Channing Crowder, New Jersey’s Chase Blackburn, and Washington’s Shawne Merriman. That, of course, also meant that we had several teams looking for an option at the position due to the anticipated departure of their 2018 starter. Add to this teams that felt an upgrade was needed and, in the case of the Maulers, a team looking to replace a retired All-USFL contributor, and you had a bit of a feeding frenzy. Throw in the NFL Transfer Window only 1 week after free agency began and the market got very tight indeed.   And yet, at least 2 clubs found their men, making deals to lock up two of the better options at the position. Pittsburgh landed themselves the consensus top player at the position, giving former Bandit Bryan Orakpo a 3-year deal that made him the highest-paid MLB in the league. Dallas followed with a 2-year deal for former Express tackle leader Clay Matthews . The two signings still leave several teams without a clear starter at the position, while, in the case of Dallas, they now have their 2018 starter and a former All-USFL starter at the MLB position. With their base defense a 4-3, that means we are unlikely to see Matthews and 2018 starter Brandon Spikes both in the middle. It is possible that Spikes will become a swing backer, playing both in the middle and on the strong side, or quite possibly, he will be asked to compete with Jamie Collins on the strong side.   In Pittsburgh the situation is a lot clearer. With the retirement of Paul Posluszny, the path is cleared for Orakpo to step in and take over the middle in the Mauler 4-3, with Brian Cushing and Vince Biegel to either side. And we may not be done with the Maulers, who have been scouting both T-Draft option David Long Jr. out of West Virginia, and unaffiliated LB Quincy Williiams of Murray State this fall. Dallas has also looked at rookie options, with TCU’s Ben Banogu and Ty Summers getting a long look, but with their free agent success, both teams are now looking at depth rather than an immediate need.   Meanwhile, the LB pool is certainly shrinking with both James Laurinaitis and Shawne Merriman jumping to the NFL. Right now Chase Blackburn remains the top talent on the board, with Channing Crowder of Portland right there. With so many teams looking to fill gaps at MLB, we cannot expect both to be there long as this offseason of signings continues.   Arizona’s WR Room Rebuild Starts on Cruz Control The Wranglers wasted no time trying to figure out how to retain a deep threat offense despite the retirement of Larry Fitzgerald and the decision by Antonio Bryant to enter the free agent market. It had been hoped that if Fitzie retired, Bryant would agree to stay on in Arizona, but Bryant opted instead to enter free agency, despite ongoing talks with Arizona, signing only 5 days into the marketplace, a 1-year deal with the Michigan Panthers.   Arizona, on the same day that Bryant announced his departure, had their own news, with the team welcoming former Mauler wideout Victor Cruz to the desert as a new weapon for David Carr and the Wrangler offense. Who had back-to-back 1,100 yards seasons in 2016-2017, struggled to get targets in 2018 and demanded a chance to find a new home. Now, in Arizona, he has a home with a team designed to take advantage of his deep ball skills. Cruz will join DeMarcus Robinson and Taiwan Taylor in the Wrangler WR room, and we are not entirely sure the Wranglers won’t add another speedster to the squad as well, since they are down two 1,000-yard receivers with the departures of Fitzgerald and Bryant.   Vegas Gives Mcgloin a 100-Reception Option The other “top tier” receiver to enter the market lasted slightly longer before signing on, as Aaron Dobson , Chicago’s 100-reception receiver, received offers from no less than 4 clubs before signing on with the Vipers. It appears that he stalled a bit, giving Las Vegas time to find a solution at QB before taking their offer of a 4-year deal and a clear role as the Viper’s mid-range possession receiver. Dobson’s skills align well with McGloin, whose accuracy is certainly more highly rated than his arm strength. Together with veterans Arrelious Benn and Derk Hagan, the Vipers will focus on possession and a quick decision passing game, rather than a deep vertical game. That would suit Dobson just fine, as long as he keeps getting those targets, keeps making those first downs, and has a shot at some playoff football.   D-Line A Big Story This Offseason Even with several big-name players still unsigned, players like former Gold DT Ndamukong Suh and former Bandit DE Jerry Hughes, this has already been a banner year for the D-Line. In just the first month of the offseason we saw Breaker Kony Ealy accept a 4-year deal at nearly $1M more per season than he was earning in New Orleans. We saw DE Mario Williams jump to the NFL Bills for a nice paycheck, with Houston’s Antwan Applewhite joining him 2 days later as the newest Las Vegas Raider. We also saw a major run on defensive tackles, with Kedric Gholston leaving Chicago for the Jacksonville Bulls, Amobi Okoye moving from Denver to Charlotte, and Damon Harrison joining the San Diego Thunder. Add to this the choice of former Thunder standout Haloti Ngata to go season-to-season by joining the NFL Ravens 1 week into the NFL regular season and you have a major run on D-linemen in full effect.   Still left to sign, as teams head into winter, is the biggest name of the bunch, Denver’s Ndamukong Suh, who is still speaking with the Gold, but is also taking other offers, including inquiries from LA, Portland, New Jersey, and Philly. Others to consider are Atlanta’s Sylvester Williams, Chicago’s Linval Joseph, Viper Daquon Jones, Oaklands Sedrick Ellis (an All-USFL choice this year), and Bandit DE Jerry Hughes (15 sacks in 2018).   Is Murray to Monarchs a Fit? Charlotte certainly hopes the answer is a resounding “yes”. Latavius Murray joins Charlotte on a 2-year deal, once again hoping for the chance to be seen as a true lead back after sharing carries with Rashard Jennings in Orlando the past six seasons. At 30 years old, Murray is on the fringe for some teams, but Charlotte felt the price was right and they are hoping that Murray can help replace the lost yards after Adrian Peterson’s retirement announcement.   Murray has been really solid on a per-carry basis, topping out at 5.2 YPC in 2015, but also putting up seasons at 4.5 YPC (2016) and 4.4 YPC (2018), all well above the league average. The issue has always been workload, with Murray never topping 150 carries in season, less than half of what we would normally expect of a true bell cow back.   In Charlotte, Murray may well get the chance to top 200 or even 250 touches, as not only did Charlotte lose Peterson, but also saw 3rd down back and special teamer Taiwan Jones head to the Thunder this offseason. That leaves only Murray and 2018 rookie Nyheim Hines on the roster at this time. We expect the Monarchs will bring in at least 2-3 more backs for camp in February, but certainly, unless they surprise us moving forward, it looks like the full-time starting gig is Murray’s for now.   Other Signings of Note While the QB and D-Line stories seem to be on everyone’s lips these last 10 weeks, there certainly have been plenty of other impactful signings across the league. We will run down the Top 25 Free Agent list a bit later in this report, but for now, here are a few more signings that you should take note of, as these players almost certainly will have something to say when the season kicks off in March.   On offense, we had slot receiver Percy Harvin jump from Oklahoma to Ohio while veteran possession receiver Mark Clayton leaves Memphis on a 1-year deal with the Outlaws. Another slot receiver, Tedd Ginn Jr ., will be joining his 5th USFL team after only 1 season in Pittsburgh. Ginn heads down to Tampa Bay on another 1-year deal. We also saw one of the better tight ends in the market finding a new home as Rob Housler leaves the USFL Champion Gamblers to sign a new 3-year deal with Washington, where he will be paired up with QB Ryan Nassib. We also saw several linemen find new homes, with guard Chance Warmack the biggest get, and another offseason victory for the Dallas Roughnecks. Another guard, Zach Martin of the Machine, heads to Oklahoma, who are clearly trying to find some more protection for their immobile QB, Joe Flacco.   On defense, in addition to the linemen and backers already mentioned in our earlier stories, we will be seen three outside linebackers also making moves, with Akeem Ayers leaving Chicago for New Jersey (where he could move inside), Nathan Triplett leaving LA for Memphis, their second defection from the LB group after Clay Matthews’ departure, and Jarvis Jones , leaving Memphis to play for Coach Caldwell in Baltimore.  We wrap up our Free Agent review with the strong safety position, where Birmingham’s Baccari Rambo got a new deal worth nearly $2M per season to join the Atlanta Fire. Following Rambo’s signing, Tashaun Gipson was signed by the Stallions with the intention of having the young safety step in for the departed Rambo.   Those are the highlights of the first 10 weeks of Free Agency, but there is more to report as we look at trades and the NFL-USFL transfer window, which certainly had a huge impact this year. We should also remember that we still have several months of free agency to go, and a lot of good players as yet unsigned. We will take a look at some of them in our review of the Top 25 Free Agents coming up a bit later.   Not all the action these past weeks has been with free agency. Calais Campbell’s demand for a trade added a lot of drama to the offseason’s first weeks, and the eventual trade that brought him to a new home, along with several other early offseason trades, has also helped to shape what is looking like a very busy, very complicated offseason in the USFL. We will break down several trades that could impact your team, but we have to start with one of the biggest stories of the offseason to date, the battle to sign perhaps the greatest defensive end in USFL history.   Campbell Gets His Wish, Finds a New Home. It was a shot fired across the bow of the Orlando Renegade franchise. Fed up with middling results and a lack of support across the roster, the consensus best USFL player of this generation, Calais Campbell, demanded to be traded or have Orlando face a retirement filing. The Renegades had little choice but to shop around the 10-time USFL sack leader. In working with Campbell’s representation, they learned of a short list of 10 teams he would be willing to join, all of them considered by him to be contenders, or on the rise towards contention. Orlando would communicate with each. While everyone had interest, because you just have to when a talent like Campbell is on the trading block, but few had the cap space or the collateral to make a deal feasible. Orlando wanted multiple picks over three years to give up Campbell, and few teams could both make that happen and also fit Campbell’s understandably large contract into their cap budgets.   But one team had all three key factors: a clear contender for a title, draft collateral to spend, and a huge budget beneath the cap due to a spate of retirements. That team? The Arizona Wranglers. Yes, the defending Western Conference Champions, the club that has appeared in 4 Summer Bowls in the past 6 years, and a favorite to get back in 2019 had everything needed to make the deal happen, and when the time came, they pulled the trigger.   Campbell will now flex in the Southwest. Arizona sent Orlando three guaranteed picks, their 2nd rounder this year, a 3rd in 2020, and a 4th in 2021. In addition, there were 2 other picks in play, both contingent on Campbell’s longevity, potentially getting Orlando additional picks in both 2020 and 2021. In return, the Wranglers get the most dominant defensive player the USFL has ever seen, a man capable of 30 sacks and 100 tackles in the same season. Campbell had 1 year left on his contract with the Renegades, but a deal was quickly cut to extend Campbell through 2021, with enough of an incentive to make him the highest paid Wrangler and the highest paid defender in the league.   Even with the big new deal, Arizona still has nearly $19,000,000 in cap space to manage the retirements of Troy Polamalu, Frank Gore, and Larry Fitzgerald, something they have already begun to do this offseason (see our Free Agent news below). For Campbell, arriving in Phoenix 24 hours after the deal was accepted by the Renegades, the opportunity is clear, a chance to add his talents to a Summer Bowl caliber team, one that gives him an amazing opportunity to earn a ring and finish his career not only as one of the best players in league history, but as a champion as well. And, as if that is not enough, we now all get to watch twice annual battles between Campbell and his closest rival, Denver’s Von Miller.   Offensive Line a Hot Spot on Trade Wire Pretty easy to see this offseason how important the O-line is to many teams, as every single trade outside of the Campbell deal had offensive linemen in the mix. Five significant trades, all with linemen included, have already been agreed upon as teams try to do their best to shore up their trench warriors and protect their QBs. Here are the deals that caught our attention over the offseason’ s first 10 weeks.   Houston sends OT Marcus Cannon and a 6th rounder to Atlanta to obtain the services of DT Nick Fairley . It is a clear need for Houston with Haynesworth unlikely to resign, but also a key addition for Atlanta as they try to build on Nick Chubb’s rookie year success.   Birmingham also upgraded at tackle, taking advantage of Baltimore’s tricky cap situation to acquire LT Riley Reiff in return for CB Dwayne Gratz and a depth pick at tackle in Lamar Holmes.   Memphis got themselves a new starting center, acquiring Seattle’s Phillip Blake by sending backup Joey Hunt and HB Gus Edwards to the Dragons.   Michigan continued to work on their LB group, trading OT Cameron Fleming to the Renegades in exchange for Devonte Hollman.    Finally, Charlotte gave up a pretty solid pass rusher in Michael Johnson to acquire tackle Geoff Schwartz from the Federals. We also had our first draft trade just a few days ago as Chicago tipped their hand by trading their 2nd round pick in the Open Draft, pick number 36, to the Washington Federals for the Feds’ first T-Draft pick. No question what that is about. Washington got their QB through free agency, signing Ryan Nassib, which means that their interest in Duke’s Daniel Jones was significantly reduced. Enter Chicago, who were unable to wrestle away Nassib or McGloin from the Feds or Vipers and so are now focused on a top rookie option, and it appears they like what they are seeing from Jones in his final year with the Blue Devils.    Major Defensive Exodus to NFL There is no way to say it other than that the NFL just marauded the USFL and took away some pretty significant plunder, plunder in the shape of defensive playmakers. We knew going into free agency that this was a deep and rich pool of defensive talent, but the hope had been that USFL teams would make quick deals and secure as much of the spring league’s talented veterans as possible. It would seem that agents for many of the defensive stars of the league understood this, advised their clients to hold out until the NFL could enter the negotiations, and then it was a full-on piranha attack in the free agency waters.   Just a quick glance at the transfers from the spring to the fall and you can understand why USFL officials are distraught by the intense pressure the fall league just put on the league. Just on the defensive side of the ball, we are looking at:   Cornerbacks Patrick Robinson, Captain Munnerlyn and Dunta Robinson, 3 of the top 4 rated free agents at the position.   MLBs Shawne Merriman and James Laurinaitis, both perhaps a little long in the tooth but both also highly productive.   Four defensive ends also make the move to fall, led by Memphis’s Mario Williams, but also including Quentin Groves, Antwan Applewhite and Muhammad Wilkerson. Another big name from the defensive side, DT Haloti Ngata, also heads to the fall, and had already appeared in his first NFL game.   The exodus of defensive talent is our big story from the NFL transfers, but hardly the only one. We have several other stories to tell, and we will look at the smaller cohort of NFL players who will get a break this fall and then start up with their new USFL teams in January camps.   Blue Changes Leagues, not Zip Codes With two touchdowns in the Gamblers’ Summer Bowl victory, Alfred Blue got his moment in the sun. The big bruiser of a back who rarely hit double-digit touches in a game thanks to Carlos Hyde’s 3-down effectiveness, got a chance to shine, scoring twice in the biggest game of his career, and now that moment provides him with a chance to seek a bigger role on a team without even having to change his address.   Blue, who had only 66 carries and 2 touchdowns in 2018 before his Summer Bowl highlights, signed with the Houston Oilers of the NFL, allowing him to stay put while also starting anew with a new club. Blue, who has played 2 seasons with the Gamblers after coming over from the Thunder, now joins the fall league, hoping he can prove that he is more than a short yardage back.   He will join another USFL tailback headed to the fall as C. J. Spiller opts to leave the Breakers for a new position in Kansas City. The Clemson product, who had his best season back in 2011 with Jacksonville, has largely been limited to third downs and some special teams play since leaving the Bulls, first in Dallas and this season in New Orleans, where he rushed for 318 yards. He now joins the NFL Chiefs, who are looking to use him more consistently in their spread style of offense.   Whitworth & Solder Jump to Fall Just as the O-line was a key area of interest on the USFL trading block, it was also in demand in the transfer window. Among the linemen leaving to join the fall league were Dallas’s Andrew Whitworth, who now heads to the Rams, and Portland’s Nate Solder, who has joined the New York Giants. Solder, who has started 119 games since coming into the USFL with Denver in 2011, now becomes an immediate upgrade for Big Blue as he joins the Giants 2 weeks into their season. Whitworth leaves Dallas, where he started 30 of the past 32 Roughneck games since coming over from Chicago. This year, in 15 starts he gave up only 1 sack, a stat that helped him cash in with a new 4-year contract with the Rams.   Davis Leaves a Huge Hole in Washington’s Receiving Group After a career year that saw Washington TE Kellen Davis catch 69 passes for 823 yards and 3 touchdowns, the dual-use end found a buyer in New York, where he joins the NY Jets. Davis played 11 seasons in Washington, and many in the Federals’ organization wondered if he would retire after being allowed to enter the free agent market, but the NFL Jets offered him a 2-year deal at just over $1.2M per season, and the price was right. Davis has already played in his first few games for the Jets and has recorded his first NFL touchdown with them.   As for Washington, Davis’s departure was anticipated, since they opted not to resign him after his solid season, and they have already made their move to find a replacement, signing free agent Rob Housler away from the Panthers. Housler does not have Davis’s speed, but he has good hands and a knack for finding the gaps in zone coverage. Expect him and Kellen Winslow II to share snaps for the Federals.     NFL Players Headed to Spring So, we have covered the big moves from USFL to NFL, but what about the reverse track? Well, as we have come to expect, the pool of NFL talent available every September, after their fall season has started, tends to be pretty thin, though occasionally through holdouts or spats between player and team, we do see some pretty solid players opt to join the spring league rather than losing a year in wait for the perfect NFL deal.  We have several such players in this year’s early window pool for the USFL.   Crowell the Inside Man for Arizona? Former Brown back Isaiah Crowell is hoping his move to the USFL will rekindle his career. After a solid start in Cleveland, one that saw him rush for 1,700 yards between 2016 and 2017, Crowell hit NFL free agency in hopes of finding a big payday, but the deal never materialized. He came close to signing with the Jets, but the deal fell through in August, setting him up to be free and clear when the Transfer Window opened up 3 weeks later.   Crowell will now join Ka’Deem Carey in what is very likely to be a new version of the HB duo that saw Carey split carries with veteran Frank Gore in 2018. This past season Carey and Gore evenly distributed carries, with Carey getting 186 and rushing for 815 yards and 3 scores, while Gore got only 4 fewer touches, rushed for 690 yards and added 7 touchdowns. Crowell is very likely to take on the short yardage and red zone carries that defined Gore’s role this past year, and he is fine with that if it means a chance to get back on the field and prove he is worth more than the NFL clubs were offering him.   Maulers Sign Landry after Cruz Departure A second pretty big name in NFL circles heads to the USFL after holding out for a deal from his NFL club, the Dolphins, and finding little give in the organization. No such issues with the Pittsburgh Maulers, who were looking to replace Victor Cruz with an equally speedy option at the split end position opposite Adam Thielen. In Landry they may have found it. The former Dolphin had himself 3 very strong seasons in Miami, topping 1,100 yards in both 2015 and 2016. He fell slightly short of that with 987 this past season, but did prove he could also play underneath, catching 112 balls in Miami. But, the Dolphins did not offer him the cash he felt he was owed, while Pittsburgh opened up the wallet in an effort to bring back a true speed receiver to their roster, and so, they get themselves a possible 100-reception and/or 1,200-yard receiver to pair with Thielen.   Bandits Add Defensive Depth with NFL Imports The Tampa Bay Bandits knew they had some issues on defense this past season, and with the departure of both Bryan Orakpo and DE Jerry Hughes, they knew they had to act fast to rebuild a defense that could keep them in games long enough for their potent offense to get them a W. They made two big moves during the transfer window to help bring that about. The first move was to steal away LB Preston Brown from the Buffalo Bills. Brown, who has seen his tackle totals increase from 109 to 144 over his 4-years in Buffalo, is now going to bring that talent to Tampa Bay, where the chance of having to deal with frostbite is pretty much non-existent.   The second big NFL signing made by Tampa Bay in the September window is again a strategy to help offset a departure. With Jerry Hughes out, the Bandits are looking for edge pressure, and the signing of 7-year NFL veteran Pernell McPhee is part of that plan. McPhee, who spent 4 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before joining the Chicago Bears in 2015, now joins the Bandits as what will likely be a RDE or Swing DE position. McPhee’s best year as a sack man was in 2014, when he had 7.5 QB sacks for the Ravens. Last year in Chicago he recorded only 4, but he did so in only 5 starts, giving Tampa Bay hope that he can be productive if placed in the right situation.   Some other signings of note from the early inter-league transfer window include center Greg Mancz (NOR), guard/tackle Justin Pugh (MEM), DT Justin Ellis (NOR), DE Terrence Fede (ARZ), safety Tavon Wilson (CHI), and two special teamers, kicker Cody Parkey (POR) and punter Marquette King (CHI). As we have come to learn, the pool of talent from the NFL in the two leagues’ second transfer window (Mid-February to Mid-March) will almost certainly be deeper, richer, and could feature some players who will jump immediately into games as early as the 1st or 2nd week of the spring season.                 A Second Look at the Free Agent Pool So, here we are, 10 weeks into Free Agency, with a lot of big signings already (by both USFL clubs and the NFL), but there is still a lot of talent left out there. With that in mind, we are revisiting our Top 25 Free Agents, and we are adding 10 more to the list, all of whom remain available as we enter the heart of the fall, now free from further NFL “poaching” and ready for USFL teams to make a deal ahead of the draft. So, let’s take a look at who is off the market, who is playing in the fall, and who is still looking for their golden ticket to a new destination.   1—DT Albert Haynesworth       Unsigned The action on Haynesworth has been slow, with many reports indicating the big man is seriously considering retirement, which may have scared off the early contenders for a DT.   2—LB Bryan Orakpo                     3-year deal with Pittsburgh Maulers Orakpo joins a Mauler squad that also features Aaron Donald in the middle of the line, and a very solid safety pair, giving the Maulers strength up the middle of their D.   3—CB Patrick Robinson              Jumped to NFL   4—QB Ryan Nassib                     4-year deal with Washington Federals Nassib picked the Feds, a 9-7 squad this past year, over several other contenders. His new deal essentially guarantees him his shot to be a full-time starter, and with Keenan Allen and Brandon LaFell outside, he has the talent to repeat his long-ball success from Arizona.   5—WR Victor Cruz                 3-year deal with Arizona Wranglers Taking over for Larry Fitzgerald will not be easy for Cruz, but in the Wranglers, he will be surrounded by talent and a winning culture.   6—QB Matt McGloin                     4-year deal with Las Vegas Vipers After several years as a backup, McGloin showed us what he could do in 2018, and now he earns the chance to prove it as the Day 1 starter in Las Vegas. The Vipers are looking like a team hoping for a major offensive makeover and McGloin’s skills will be a factor in their roster decisions, to be sure.   7—DE Mario Williams                  Jumped to NFL   8—LB Clay Matthews                2-year deal with Dallas Roughnecks We are not sure Matthews made the right choice if a title is what he is shooting for, but he certainly did not suffer financially, taking the money over a very lucrative 2-year deal with the Roughnecks.   9—LB Chase Blackburn              Unsigned Without a doubt the best MLB still available. We are a bit surprised that he is still out here, as there are several teams with need.   10—WR Aaron Dobson            4-year deal with Las Vegas Vipers Dobson joins McGloin in Las Vegas, a good complement to McGloin’s accurate touch passing style.   11—DE Jerry Hughes               Unsigned With the Campbell frenzy settled, Hughes is now the clear fallback option for every team who is not Arizona. Would he consider returning to Tampa Bay?   12—QB Ryan Fitzpatrick          Unsigned If Fitz-magic is comfortable starting his next phase as a number 2, then he will find work in the USFL. If he is hoping to be anointed the starter, the wait could be a while.   13—DT Ndamukong Suh               Unsigned Concerns about his knees (and his age, let’s be honest) are slowing down what would have been a much more dynamic market for Suh 1-2 years ago.   14—CB Dunta Robinson           Jumped to NFL   15—TE Kellen Davis                 Jumped to NFL   16—WR Antonio Bryant         1-year deal with Michigan Panthers We are not sure why Bryant opted to leave Arizona, where he could have stepped up as the primary target for David Carr, but landing in Michigan is not a bad option for the speedy Bryant, who will force defenders to defend a deeper field than with the other Panther receivers.   17—DT Sedrick Ellis                   Unsigned Right now, Suh and Ellis are talking to the same teams. We think the two will get signed 1-2, like dominoes, with both able to fit well in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.   18—LB James Laurinaitis              Jumped to NFL   19—HB Knile Davis                       Unsigned We know New Orleans has interest, since they are hoping for a speedy option to pair with Fournette, but there are several other contenders who love Davis’s shiftiness, speed, and contributions in the passing game.   20—OT Andrew Whitworth             Jumped to NFL   21—DE Kony Ealy                        4-year deal with San Diego Thunder Ealy cashed in as the Thunder were eager to get the DE position settled. They may have overpaid a bit, but Ealy has been ascending and improving each year.   22—SS Baccari Rambo                 3-year deal with Atlanta Fire Atlanta needed someone solid in the back end of their defense, and they got the best possible option from the market available.   23—OT Nate Solder                      Jumped to NFL   24—HB Latavius Murray             2-year deal with Charlotte Monarchs Murray gets his shot to be a 1-back, and Charlotte hopes they have another successful veteran signing to keep the run game competitive.   25—QB Robert Quinn III                Unsigned   And our 10 new additions, all still available as of this report.   1— FS Jairus Byrd After 8 seasons in Philadelphia, it seems Byrd is ready to find a new nest, and while he is not the best ballhawk of the safeties in the pool, he is a solid contributor and excels at zone protection.   2— SS Brandon Taylor At only 29 years old, and after starting every game in New Orleans for the past 5 seasons, Taylor offers a mix of savvy leadership and athletic ability that should be attractive to a lot of teams. He has only 3 picks in his 6-year career, which may be why he has lasted this long.   3— HB C. J. Anderson After a very solid 2017 campaign saw Anderson rush for 6 touchdowns and nearly 700 yards, his production and his opportunities just did not come in Seattle this past season. Don’t expect to get 1,200 yards from this bulldozer back, but as an inside rusher and short-yardage guy, Anderson can be quite effective.   4— WR Denarius Moore The 7-year vet of the Vipers, who saw his best season in 2018 with 105 catches for 1,244 yards and a team-best 9 touchdowns, is ready to cash in. His asking price has been a bit high for most of this offseason, but as the options begin to shrink for clubs across the league, we are pretty sure that someone is going to give Moore the contract he wants as a potential number one.   5— CB Jaylen Watkins At only 25, Jaylen Watkins still has room to grow, and while his 2018 season with Oklahoma was very much hit or miss, he showed us in 2017 that he has potential, picking off 3 balls and recording 19 passes defended.   6— QB Kyle Orton Orton, who started 8 seasons in Atlanta, has seemingly grown to see that he is likely going to be playing the backup & mentor roles wherever he ends up. That was in Memphis the past 2 seasons, where he threw a combined 17 passes in 2 seasons. He could be a valuable backup to a young QB, and there are several teams with such a situation (or about to have that situation after this year’s draft) so Orton likely gets signed right around draft time.   7— SS Kendrick Lewis The 8-year veteran spent most of his career in St. Louis, signed a 1-year deal with Baltimore, and is now back in the market. His season with the Blitz was pretty solid, producing 52 tackles, 3 sacks, a pick, and 9 passes defended. It may not get him a huge deal, but that kind of season should get him a roster spot somewhere.   8— DT Sylvester Williams A big space-eater of a D-tackle, Williams is not the most athletic, in that he won’t get you 5-10 sacks a season, but what he will do is make it tough for teams to run on the inside when he is in the game. He would be best suited to a rotational plan that sees him get about 50%-60% of the snaps.   9— HB Anthony Dixon Dixon flirted with 1,000 on several occasions in Baltimore but could never clearly take over as the lead back for the Blitz. This season he was the starter only for 8 games, sharing carries with Kerwynn Williams. He would lead the team with 709 yards but still have fewer touches than Williams. Will he get the shot to be a true 1-back, or is Dixon, now 31, more likely to get a rotational role in whatever city he finds himself?   10—WR Miles Austin In 12 seasons with the Generals, Austin only came close to 1,000 yards once, a 947-yard, 67 reception season in 2016. More often than not he was used as a specialist, coming in on long yardage third downs and returning kicks. It is that latter skill that may find him a spot on a roster this year, as he is particularly solid as a kick returner, even if teams feel that as a wideout his game is a bit one-dimensional.   USFL Expansion Committee Hears 7 Bids for League’s 30th Team The bids are in, the presentations have been made, the financial reviews are under way, and the USFL Expansion Committee could reveal the 3 finalists any time between now and January, when the League Owners will meet to review the top bids and select the league’s 30th franchise. Seven contending groups, representing 6 markets, made their cases to the 7-member committee over a week-long schedule of meetings, and now it is up to the committee (and you) to determine who the final bidders will be. Boston (2), Hartford, Miami, Indianapolis, Kansas City, and the Twin Cities are all in the race to join San Antonio as expansion franchises of the spring league, ready to kick off in just about 18 months. Over the next few weeks each bid will be evaluated, the financial backing of each investment group thoroughly vetted, and the scenarios for leaguewide competitiveness, rivalry potential, and market benefit will be explored before the committee reduces the bids from 7 to 3. In January the full ownership will review the findings of the committee, here once again from the three bid groups, and come to a decision, with a final announcement due no later than April of 2019.  For each of these bid groups, and the cities they represent, the decision will represent the culmination of months, if not years of work, and a win in this competition could mean millions, if not billions as the USFL continues to be one of the most reliable sports investments of the past 50 years, joining the NFL to create year round football mania across the country.  So, now we wait. Wait for the report, and the announcement of the three finalists who will meet with owners in January. You are the Committee—Pick the final 3 contenders. Hello “The USFL Lives” fans and followers. I hope you did not think I would let this kind of horse race for a franchise pass without you getting a say. Not at all. You get a chance to vote, and to provide feeback to persuade me as to which city and which bid is the best suited to become the USFL’s 30th franchise.  At the website below you will be able to review the basics of each bid, the metro areas, the stadia, the ownership, and the potential benefits or drawbacks of each bid. You will be asked to rank each bid from 1st to 7th, and that weighted ballot will help me determine which 3 bids will make it to the league owners for final consideration.  You will be in on that vote as well, but first, we need to whittle down the options a bit. This will be a quick poll. It is open now, and will remain open only until July 2nd. The results will be part of our first Season Preview Edition on July 4 (Happy Birthday, America!), when we will open up the poll of the 3 finalists (with team names, logos, and helmets). That will run until July 11th, with the results and the USFL’s newest team revealed on July 14 (Week 3 of the 2019 USFL season).   So, the choice is now in your hands. Seven bids, 3 make it to the next round. How would you rank them? Vote right here, but get that vote in quickly, the poll closes on July 2.   https://form.jotform.com/251643376205152   This Week in the USFL will be back not next week (We know, the name is not a perfect fit in the offseason), but on January 18, just 3 days before the T-Draft announcement on Monday, January 21 and 1 week before the Open Draft on Saturday, January 26. In that edition, we will not only preview both the T-Draft and the Open Draft, but we will bring you up to date on all the latest USFL news, including any further free agent signings, pre-draft trades, and an early look at the pool of NFL talent which could hit the NFL-USFL Transfer Window from February 18-March 15. A lot to look forward to as we prepare for the USFL kickoff on March 22.

Houston Goes All In, Dominating 2nd Half to Win Their 5th Title The Houston Gamblers, down 24-17 at the half in an exciting back-and-forth Summer Bowl, made their moves at halftime, changed up their defense, and burst out of the gate with 21 points in the period and 31 in the half to secure their fifth Summer Bowl title and end Arizona’s quest for a third title in 6 years. In a game that saw the offenses make big play after big play and convert drive after drive, Houston made the stops they needed in the second half to turn a 7-point deficit into a 17 point victory, one of the widest margins of victory in Summer Bowl history.  McCoy looking loose in pregame warm-ups. This was a game that saw the biggest stars shining brightest. For Houston it was HB Carlos Hyde with a combined 187 yards from scrimmage (102 on the ground, 85 in the air), Mike Evans with touchdowns in consecutive drives to push Houston from one point down to 14 points up, and it was Colt McCoy throwing for 419 yards and 3 scores in his 2nd consecutive Summer Bowl appearance. For Houston it was veteran Frank Gore, playing in what we now know was his last game, averaging 8.1 yards per carry and scoring his final USFL touchdown, it was Larry Fitzgerald, Antonio Bryant, Ka’Deem Carey and TE Jimmie Graham each catching a 40-yard or longer field-flipping pass from Ryan Nassib.   This was a game for those who love offense, who appreciate when one stop can turn the tide of a game, and who love to see two teams throw abandon to the wind and just go for haymaker haymaker. The result was over 1,000 yards of offense between the two teams, 35 combined first downs, and 18 plays of over 20 yards. It was everything the USFL first won hearts with back in 1983, the drama of wide open football, played with joy and passion, and a hell of a lot of skill.   Sure, this was a title game, so there was pomp and circumstance before kickoff, and in New Orleans that means music, but even the pregame performances by Aaron Neville and Carrie Underwood, and the halftime show with New Orleans’s own Lil Wayne, Master P and southern rockers Kings of Leon, while certainly high energy, could not compare to the performance of the Wranglers and Gamblers in one of the most fast-paced, pedal to the metal championships in league, or pro football, history.   The fireworks began early, as in the 4th play of the game, when Ryan Nassib, an unknown backup when the season began, found TE Jimmie Graham on a 50-yard touchdown toss on the game’s first drive. The Wranglers had taken possession on their 31 after a nice kick return from Taywan Taylor. After a couple of mid-range gainers to get to midfield, Arizona went deep, and in doing so found their tight end open on a seam route straight up the middle. Only 1:25 into the game the Wranglers had put points on the board and big play football was served up as the order of the day.   Houston replied with a quick drive of their own, but one that ended in frustration. Following some nice gainers to Mike Evans, and a 17-yard run by Hyde that nearly got into the endzone, the ball was placed at the 1 and the Houston fans, expecting an easy dive play for the equalizer, got ready to cheer their team. But, a false start on Houston pushed them back to the 6. A run by Hyde and a short toss to TE Tony Moeaki only got them back to the 1, and when a 3rd down throw from McCoy to JuJu Smith-Shuster was ruled out the back of the endzone, a play Coach Phillips challenged, but lost, Houston settled for a 17-yard field goal from Younghoe Koo to put points on the board.   Arizona would add a field goal of their own on their next possession, extending their lead to 10-3, but the fast pace of the game meant that Houston would have time to equalize the score before the first quarter ended. They did just that on their 2nd possession, taking only 7 plays to get into Arizona territory and then giving the Gambler fans the Carlos Hyde run that did not come when they were on the goal line. It was a first and 10 from the Wrangler 38, a simple toss play, but when TE Vernon Davis pushed LB Travis Goethel out of the play, it gave Hyde the ability to cut back and find a lane right into the Arizona secondary. A stiff arm on safety Nate Allen and Hyde was off to the races. Troy Polamalu almost caught him at the 3, but Hyde was able to survive the hit long enough to extend himself over the endline and in for 6 points. With the Koo kick Houston had tied things up in a 1st quarter that saw 4 possessions and 4 scores.  Fitzgerald getting ready to go in on offense for the Wranglers. The second quarter would start off with more of the same. Arizona responded to the Houston drive with one of their own, using barely 2 minutes to get down field and put another 7 on the board. The key to their drive was a 2nd and 4 play that turned into a 40-yard catch and run for speedster Antonio Bryant. 3 plays later it was Nassib to Larry Fitzgerald for the All-USFL receiver’s only TD of the game, fade to the corner from the 1-yard line that Fitzgerald caught above the reach of CB Siran Neal. With 16 minute of action and 5 drives in the books, we had 5 scores, and Arizona led 17-10.   Houston did not want to be the first to blink, so they too found a big play to equalize the score a second time, and for the second time in the game it was their halfback, Carlos Hyde, getting the job done. After several more pedestrian plays got the ball into Arizona territory, Coach Phillips and OC Zac Taylor called up the perfect play, a screen to the wide side that sprung Carlos Hyde into the secondary once again. This time it was Mike Evans who gave the key block, forcing Troy Polamalu out of position and allowing Hyde to scramble 44 yards down the field for his second huge scoring play of the game. With only 18 and a half minutes of game time down, the game had seen 34 points put up and we had a battle of big plays on our hands.   But, just as everyone in the Super Dome were gearing up for another huge drive, they got what no one expected, a 3-and-out from the Houston defense. Ryan Nassib missed on a 3rd and 6 throw to Antonio Bryant and Cody Bojorquez came out to punt, clearly stunned that he needed to even be dressed for this game. As stunned as Bojorquez must have been, Houston punter Chad Lester must have been even more shocked when 5 plays later he was called on. Houston had gotten a first down on a McCoy toss to Smith-Schuster, but then failed to pick up another first down and sent Lester out to punt. Arizona would come out again, and, while they did manage to get two first downs before sending Bojorquez out for a 2nd time, they again failed to get into scoring range. With 2:17 left in the half, Houston had a chance at taking their first lead of the game.   The Gamblers came out and immediately hit on a big play, a 30-yard completion to slot receiver Josh Reynolds. Clearly, they were going to be able to take the halftime lead. Well, not so fast, my friend, as Lee Corso would say. On a 2nd and 7, Colt McCoy was certain that the read would send Smith-Schuster on an in-cutting route, but the speedy receiver saw it differently and cut towards the sideline. The miscommunication put CB Mike Mickens in perfect inside position to snatch Colt McCoy’s throw, giving Arizona the first turnover of the game and a chance to take the lead for themselves.   Arizona would not squander that opportunity. In only 4 plays they moved the ball 63 yards, finding Antonio Bryant and Demarcus Robinson on back-to-back plays to get inside the 35. After a run by Gore, it was time for an endzone shot, and again it was TE Jimmie Graham, in single coverage over the middle, who got position on the safety and Jimmie Graham who caught the laser throw from Nassib to score the final points of the half. Arizona had scored on 4 of 6 possessions and went into the half with a well-earned 24-17 lead.   While the fans in the Super Dome were enjoying their halftime show and their scramble to the concession stands, in the two locker rooms the coaching staff of each team were doing their own scramble, trying to get their players ready to make changes in the second half. For Coach Phillips, the focus was on doing more to control the clock. Houston would take their shots and have their big plays, but he wanted Arizona to have fewer opportunities, and he wanted the defense to force the Wranglers to slow their own drives down, less blitzing, more shell zone to avoid more deep balls. For the Wranglers it was quite the opposite message. Coach Tomsula urged his defense to be more aggressive, to take more chances, and come up with some big plays.   When the two teams emerged for the second half, both messages would be received, but one strategy shift would prove far more effective than the other. Houston received the second half kick, having deferred when they won the toss before the game. After a touchback, the offense took to the field, ready to pace themselves just a bit more. The Gambler offense started to do just that, taking longer between plays, running more on first down, McCoy taking the underneath route instead of the riskier deep throw. The strategy proved effective. Arizona, still wary of the big play, was giving up the underneath routes. Both Evans and Smith-Schuster were able to make plays underneath. Carlos Hyde was able to find room between the tackles, and Houston moved the ball steadily over 4 minutes. When a 1st and 10 from the 12 produced an 10-yard play stopped just short, Houston did not rush to the line. They took their time, surveyed the defense and McCoy checked to a simple dive play over right guard. Alfred Blue was in to pound the ball, and from the 2 he ground his way over the line and in for a Summer Bowl TD, tying the game at 24 apiece.   Arizona came out for the next drive, planning to do just the opposite, still looking for the big strike. After achieving a first down on a nice throw from Nassib to Bryant, they went for a deep ball and immediately paid the price, the ball finding the waiting hands of FS Jessie Bates instead of Larry Fitzgerald. Bates came down with the ball just outside the Houston 25, and the Gamblers were back on offense. Again the high-powered Gamblers opted to stick to the underneath routes, to mix in the run, and to be patient. Again this strategy helped them wind their way into the red zone, and for the second time in a row, it would be Alfred Blue taking the ball into the endzone, this time on an inside handoff that he cut back to the left, avoiding the blitzing linebacker and creating a hole that led him 7 yards to paydirt. Houston finally had a lead, and even with a yip from Younghoe Koo causing them to whiff on the PAT, they were up 30-24.   Undeterred by the pick on the last drive, Arizona again came out looking for the big play. This time they found two of them, first with Nassib connecting with Antonio Bryant for a 40-yard completion, and then with Frank Gore turning a 3rd and 2 into a 26-yard TD run as his refusal to go down when contacted led to him finding a gap behind the run blitz, and that gap turned into a rumbling touchdown for the veteran. With Parson hitting on his PAT, Arizona was back on top 31-30.   The Gamblers' 2nd half was a master class on breaking tendencies to break a defense. Houston took over with 4:55 in the third quarter, and for the third time in the period, they used a slow and steady approach. This time, however, they got the reaction Coach Phillips had hoped for as the Arizona defenders started to creep closer to the line and to jump on the undercutting routes. That adjustment gave McCoy the chance he needed to set up a double move route for Mike Evans. A hook turned into a hook & go, and with the defenders moving up, Evans was able to get behind them for a big 27-yard play. Evans would again use the double move when the Gamblers reached the red zone. This time, an inside move drew in the corner, allowing Evans to race towards the back corner of the endzone, where McCoy’s pass was waiting for him. The league’s TD leader had his first of the game, and, after a nice 2-point play, Houston had themselves a 7-point lead. They did not know it at the time, but that score would be the game winner. Arizona would not score again.   The fourth quarter began with the Wranglers driving, but just as they reached midfield a call of hands to the face put them in a 2nd and 18. They got back 7 of the yards, but could not convert and turned the ball over to Houston. The Gamblers, now playing about as slowly on offense as we have ever seen from this group, would hold the ball for nearly 7 minutes on their way to the endzone. When they eventually did get into range, it was Evans again, this time faking the fade and cutting inside, where McCoy hit him with a low ball that only Evans could slide to the ground to catch. With his 2nd score of the game, Evans gave Houston the first double-digit lead of the day, now up 45-31 with just over 8 minutes left to play.   Arizona had no choice. They would have to press to get 2 scores. It was a situation the Wranglers and QB Ryan Nassib really had not encountered all year, having to play fast and play catchup at the same time. As it turned out, it was a scenario that did not fit them well. Nassib, under pressure from the Gamblers’ front, took a sack on a 2nd and 5, leading to a 3rd and 12. Then, trying to make something out of nothing, he threw the ball late over the middle, and that is where Houston LB Jelani Jenkins was waiting. The errant throw produced Nassib’s 2nd pick of the game, and a crushing one based on the timing of it.   That pick would lead to another slow build-up drive from Houston, producing a 23-yard field goal by Koo that made the Houston advantage 17 with only 3:44 to go. It was clear that the Gamblers had won the second half, that their strategy had worked and they had left Arizona with too much to do and too little time to do it. The final 3 minutes of action saw Ryan Nassib sacked twice more, for 6 on the day, and in the only 4th down play of the day, the pressure forced him to throw the ball underneath, finding a receiver in Peyton Barber, but not a first down.   Houston would finish the game on offense, their All-USFL quarterback calling every player’s favorite play, the victory formation. A knee, a timeout, and a knee and the game was over. The Houston Gamblers had won a league-best fifth title. Wade Phillips had his second as the coach of the franchise, and Colt McCoy, Carlos Hyde, Mike Evans, and company, after coming so close in 2017, now felt the joy that comes with hoisting the John Bassett Trophy. Arizona had started well, but the halftime adjustments worked against them. They watched almost helplessly as Houston outscored them 31-7 in the second half. They had made it to a fourth Summer Bowl, but for the second time they were returning to the desert as the 2nd best club in the league. Within 2 days, there would be a pall over this defeat as three of their biggest stars all announced that they were leaving the game. Frank Gore, Larry Fitzgerald, and Troy Polamalu would all announce their retirements on the day before Free Agency kicked off, marking what very much feels like the end of an era for the Wranglers. For the Gamblers, their second straight Summer Bowl, and their fifth title felt very different, like a club that could still accomplish a lot. Nearly all of the offensive stars of the Gamblers would be back next year. Yes, they did lose some talent on defense (Albert Haynesworth and Antwan Applewhite would be free agents by Wednesday), but there was a core group of Gamblers who could continue on to see if Houston could be a team to reckon with for years to come. Game & Playoff MVP Carlos Hyde. But, for now, it was the 2018 Gamblers that were the talk of the town, a group that could not win their division despite a 12-4 season, but came together in the playoffs. Carlos Hyde would be named game MVP and MVP of the playoffs thanks to his 4-game run of stellar performances. It would be on to the offseason, but for Houston an offseason of celebration that would include fittings for championship rings and another trophy on display at NRG Stadium next March. Players of the Game:   HOUSTON HB Carlos Hyde: 15 Att, 102 Yds, 1 TD, 3 Rec, 85 Yds, 1 TD WR Mike Evans: 8 Rec, 129 Yds, 2 TD LB Jelani Jenkins: 4 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 PDef, 1 Int   ARIZONA                   HB Frank Gore: 9 Att, 73 Yds, 1 TD     TE Jimmie Graham: 2 Rec, 77 Yds, 2 TD   CB Mike Mickens: 4 Tck, 1 PDef, 1 Int

It will be the Houston Gamblers vs. the Arizona Wranglers in Summer Bowl 2018. This week’s title games brought us a matchup of two of the league’s best offenses facing off in New Orleans this Saturday. It will be McCoy, Hyde, Evans and Smith-Schuster going up against Nassib, Gore, Fitzgerald and Bryant in what could be one of the best shootouts in Summer Bowl history. We will recap how we got this matchup, reviewing both Conference Title Games, look at the looming free agency period and who is in the best position to spend big, review all the awards from last night’s USFL Gala, and give you the inside scoop on everything from coaching searches to the surprise bid for USFL expansion.  It’s all coming up now, starting with our breakdown of the Free Agency Situation which is now just 8 days from going live.  Buyers & Sellers as Free Agency Approaches We are one week from free agency opening up across the USFL, and this offseason, with two emerging QBs, several top tier defenders, and a decent smattering of talent at HB, WR, and on the O-line in the pool, this may be one of the more aggressive free agent markets we have seen in a while. The presence of both Matt McGloin and Ryan Nassib in the pool certainly will create interest, as will defenders like DE’s Mario Williams, Jerry Hughes, and Kony Ealy, LBs Clay Matthews, Brian Orakpo, Channing Crowder, Chase Blackburn and Shawne Merriman, and DBs Patrick Robinson, Dunta Robinson, Baccari Rambo, and Jairus Byrd. So, who has the funds available to make a major run at some position upgrades this offseason? And who may have to be frugal, focus on the draft, and hope to find some gems with lower salary expectations? Here is our list of the 5 most flush teams and the 5 most cash-strapped clubs.   READY TO SPEND BIG Chicago     $25.1M The Machine have the largest cap margin of any team, and we pretty much know where much of it will be going as the club tries to find a franchise QB. Expect Chicago to make an early offer to either McGloin or Nassib, hoping to lock up their preferred choice. They are also in the market for help at the defensive tackle position as well as along the O-line. They certainly have funds to make inroads with all of those positions, while also looking to the draft to find a new number one receiver (assuming they are not in love with Michael Floyd in that role.   New Orleans  $20.3M The Breakers are also in the QB market with the retirement of Drew Brees. Expect them to look at the two free agent QBs as well as some of the top young talent in the draft. They will also want to find a replacement for Ealy at defensive end, and they may be looking at Knile Davis as an option to add some lightning to the Thunder game of Leonard Fournette.   Tampa Bay     $17.8M Finally we see a team with a lot of need who also has a lot of money to spend. The Bandits need to replace Jerry Hughes, but also need upgrades at several other defensive positions, including DT, CB, and, of course, MLB, with Brian Orakpo also on the way out of town. Add to this a desire to better protect Dak Prescott and to offer him a few weapons and the Bandits could be very busy in the next month.   Philadelphia    $17.5M The Stars have a chance to upgrade at some key positions, including defensive tackle, safety, corner, and may also be in the market for a speed receiver to help add some life to the offense. Fans would love to see them add an Aaron Dobson or Victor Cruz, but the Stars clearly see defense as a more important focus area.   Arizona      $16.7M Hard to believe that a team headed to the Summer Bowl could be in such solid position, but the Wranglers are still looking at restocking on defense. They could actually jump up this list in a week’s time if any of their big-name vets decide to retire after this season. Rumors have been swirling about several players, including Frank Gore (35), Larry Fitzgerald (35), and Troy Polamalu (36). If one or more of these All-USFL players were to retire, their position would suddenly become a priority one for the Wranglers, who also are hoping to upgrade at DE.   LOOKING FOR BARGAINS St. Louis         $6.2M With barely enough in their cap to sign rookies, the Skyhawks are likely going to have to restructure some deals and let some talent go in order to have any impact in free agency. The good news is that they have their new starting QB on a rookie contract, so they are not in that expensive market. Their main needs are at safety, linebacker, and on the D-line, so they may be able to make a few deals to either add more draft picks or to free up some space to sign a free agent or two.   Orlando        $6.1M The Renegades are in a similar situation, though they have the disadvantage of needing to replace Latavius Murray, and halfbacks can be pricy. The Renegades could look to the draft for that position, which may make it possible for them to address another need like corner or wideout. Of course, if they do find a trading partner for Calais Campbell, that could bring some contracts their way, or significant draft picks.   Oklahoma     $5.6M The Outlaws are almost certainly going to want to rework some of their higher-end contracts to find room to sign some talent. They need help on defense, would love to add another running back, and still have a somewhat understaffed WR room. To deal with those needs, expect Oklahoma to reach out to their highest paid players (DT Luis Castillo, HB Marshawn Lynch, QB Joe Flacco, and LB Chad Greenway) to see if a more cap-friendly deal could be struck.   Seattle           $4.5M The Dragons have at least 2 players on contracts that are clearly inflated for the player’s actual contribution. Sorry, but there is no way that DT Malik McDowell should be making $4.5M per year, and the same is true of LB Edward Church and his $3.5M deal. The Dragons are going to need to rework those two, and several other deals, and perhaps jettison a veteran or two to free up some space. Otherwise their ability to boost the talent on the squad will be very limited.   New Jersey     $3.8M The Generals are in something of a dire situation. Even with the likely departure of Chase Blackburn, QB Brett Hundley, and WR Miles Austin, they simply need more cap space if they want to fill gaps, improve weapons, and defend their division title. Look for them to rework and extend several contracts to ease the cap situation, but this may be a year where the Generals have to rely on a very good draft and maybe some late free agent signings, after the market cools off in the winter. As much as fans want to see it, we don’t think the Generals have a shot of trading for Calais Campbell, not with their cap situation.   HOUSTON GAMBLERS 41  NEW JERSEY GENERALS 24 “We just got overpowered by a better team.” That is how Generals’ head coach Norv Turner described his impression of the Houston victor at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. We have to agree. New Jersey put the first points on the board, but that opening score was followed by 5 consecutive Houston scores, 4 of them touchdowns, on their next 5 possessions and by the half it was Houston up 31-14.  New Jerey pulled closer, but not close enough to truly challenge the Gamblers in the second half. This one was the Gamblers to lose, and they simply did not lose it.   Three picks from Nick Foles, including a pick-six that formed part of Houston’s 24-point run in the 2nd quarter, forced New Jersey to play from behind, which is just how the Gamblers like it. With touchdowns from Carlos Hyde (2), Mike Evans, and Vernon Davis, along with Jelani Jenkins’s pick-six, there was just too much Houston for the Generals to contain. McCoy finished with a modest 252 passing but combined with 115 and 2 scores on the ground from Hyde, and 3 Houston takeaways, it was more than enough to turn the tide of the game.   The game, played in front of just under 55,000 at MetLife Stadium, turned from a tight battle in the first quarter to a landslide of big plays and scoring from the Gamblers in the 2nd, a quarte that saw a total of 31 points put up, with Houston getting the absolute better of the deal with 24 to New Jersey’s 7 ( a late Zay Jones TD catch). The second half saw far fewer fireworks, but after New Jersey pulled to within 14 at 31-17, a Vernon Davis TD early in the 4th again put the Generals down 21 and signaled the end of a competitive game.   With their victory, Houston will now make their 9th Summer Bowl appearance and will have a chance to earn their 5th title, breaking their tie with Michigan as the franchise with the most league championships. New Jersey, who needed a 3-game win streak to end the season in order to win the Northeast Division, played well to knock off Charlotte and Atlanta, but simply seemed undermanned and unable to match up with the playmakers for the Gamblers. They will now look towards the offseason in hopes of building up more defensive fortitude and offensive explosiveness for next year.   OAKLAND INVADERS 24   ARIZONA WRANGLERS 27 The Invaders-Wranglers game was more along the lines of what everyone wants from playoff football, a game that is close all the way from start to finish. It was 0-0 after 1 quarter, 3-3 at the half, then 10-13 after three, and decided in the fourth, a quarter that saw more scoring than the rest of the game combined. It appears that both halftime adjustments and the wear of a long game shifted this clash from a defensive standoff to an offensive battle.   What we saw in the first half were two defenses who had a good idea what they were going to be facing. Oakland stayed in some 2 and 3-deep shells, allowing a bit more room for Frank Gore, but ensuring that Fitzgerald and Bryant would not get behind them. Arizona, focused on keeping Christian McCaffrey bottled up, forcing the Invaders to put the ball up in the air more than they wanted. The result was a very defensive-minded half, one which saw the two clubs combine for only 6 points. But, what you don’t see in that number is that both kicks were from within the 10-yard line. Both Oakland’s kick with 13 minutes left in the half and Arizona’s response 11 minutes later, were the result of failed 1st and goal scenarios. In both cases, the defenses stood up, producing incompletions on key 3rd and goal plays, and in both cases Coach Kubiak and Coach Tomsula put 3 on the board instead of trying their luck on a 4th down.   In the second half, that dynamic would change as both teams opened things up a bit more. As the defenses started to tire, more and more plays started to get more than their minimum yardage. That was certainly the case with Ryan Nassib’s 34-yard TD pass to Larry Fitzgerald to open the 3rd. It was only a 7-yard in route, but Fitzgerald slipped a tackle and turned it into six points. Four minutes later, it was Christian McCaffrey showing the ability to break tackles, as he escaped a sideline hit, spun back to the middle of the field and raced for a 27-yard TD to even the score at 10. Arizona would add an Elliott Parson field goal in the quarter, but at 13-10, this was anyone’s game as the 4th quarter opened.   Oakland would strike first, taking their first lead of the game since opening a 3-0 margin in the first half. It would be a long drive, including 2 costly penalties for Arizona, but also including a nice 18-yard completion from Garoppolo to Taylor Gabriel. Knile Davis put the finishing touch on the drive with a 4-yard run. The score gave Oakland a 17-13 lead, but that lead would not last long, just about 50 seconds.   Arizona responded with the play of the game, an 81-yard strike to Fitzgerald for the All-USFL receiver’s 2nd on the day. It was a double move, one of Fitzie’s best tricks, and it left the corner flat-footed as Ryan Nassib lofted the ball up to his favorite target. The score put Arizona back on top once again and got the crowd all the way back into the game. That rush would continue as a tipped ball turned into a pick for Wrangler safety Troy Polamalu. And that safety, 6 plays later, turned into a Frank Gore TD run to give Arizona a very welcome 10 point lead with 6:44 left to play.   Unphased, Oakland went back to work, and while they did put another 7 on the board when Garoppolo hit Davone Bess, Arizona’s D did what it needed to, forcing the Invaders to use nearly 5 minutes before the 9-yard TD pass pulled Oakland back within 3. With only 47 seconds on the clock, Oakland would need a successful onside kick recovery to have any chance at a game-tying field goal. They brought out the hands team, but so did the Wranglers, and when Roberto Aguayo’s kick failed to make the typical 3rd bounce hop into the air, it was easy pickin’s for Carlos Rogers, who fell on the ball and allowed Arizona to take a knee and the W.   The Wranglers now return to the Summer Bowl for the 4th time in the past 6 years. It is a run that cannot be called anything but a dynasty. And, if they can knock off Houston to win their 3rd title in that 6-year span, well, then dynasty will certainly be the word we all use to describe Jim Tomsula’s Wranglers.    Do Wranglers See 2018 as a “Window Closing” Run? We mentioned in our breakdown of teams with significant cap room, Arizona is a club that could be on the edge of a major roster turnover. While no one is saying it out loud, there is a sense that this 2018 Summer Bowl run could be the last hurrah for several veteran stars. You have Troy Polamalu at 36-years-old, and both Gore and Fitzgerald only one year behind that. Add to that list QB David Carr at 35, TE Jimmie Graham at 33, and FS Nate Allen at 32, and this is a pretty grizzled group (by pro football standards). We could be looking at a major roster shakeout this offseason, much like what we saw last year when the club lost LB Karlos Dansby, DE Adam Carriker, LB Demorrio Williams, and DT Glenn Dorsey, forcing them to overhaul the defense. Could we be about to witness the same on offense with Fitzgerald, Gore, and possibly Antonio Bryant (Free Agent) and Jimmie Graham?  Is Carlos Hyde the Key to Summer Bowl 2018? With so much talent on the Gamblers and Wranglers, it seems hard to believe that one player could be the focal point of the game, and yet, when you look at the matchups, and what happened in the playoff games leading up to the title game, you cannot deny that Hyde’s performance is about as good an indication as you can get as to how the game will go. The Houston halfback has been on fire in the playoffs, starting with a 111-yard performance against Memphis in the Wild Card round. He followed that up with only 87-yards against that tough Breaker run defense, a game Houston won, but the closest of their three playoff encounters. With a major rebound against New Jersey, 115 yards rushing, another 57 receiving, and 2 touchdowns, it seems clear that if Hyde can put up numbers on a defense, the Gamblers offense becomes that much tougher to stop. So, if you are rooting for the Wranglers in this week’s Summer Bowl, the thing you want to look for early is just how the Arizona defense holds up against Hyde in the first few possessions. If they can limit his effectiveness, then the Houston offense may be containable, but if we have learned anything this postseason it is that if Hyde gets hot, the Gamblers can roll.   Generals Fans Wonder Openly if Foles Has What it Takes? Another big game and another shaky performance. After steady performances against Charlotte and Atlanta, Nick Foles had a rougher outing against the Gamblers, throwing 3 picks, including a pick-six, and struggling with pressure. And when we add up the numbers across all three playoff games, the Generals’ QB has pretty pedestrian numbers: 64 of 107 for 659 yards with 5 TD and 3 picks. They are not horrible, but they also don’t feel like championship QB numbers.   For a Generals team that focuses so much of their offense on Maurice Jones-Drew, the question becomes whether or not they can get more out of Foles in the future, to balance their attack and produce more big plays. Some are saying that this season showed how far Foles could take the Generals, and that it may take a new QB if the club wants to get over the hump, win more than the division and return to the Summer Bowl. Foles is locked up through 2021, so if the Generals do want to go a new direction, they are going to have to either eat a lot of guaranteed money or find a trade partner for their starter.   Kubiak’s Invaders Outperformed Our Expectations but not Theirs. It was certainly not the way the Invaders wanted this postseason to end, but for a club that many saw dropping below .500 and likely missing the playoffs in Gary Kubiak’s first year at the helm, the Invaders certainly outperformed expectations by making it to the Western Conference Title Game. Eleven wins, a division title, and two playoff victories is nothing to sneeze at, but for many on the Invaders’ squad, the hope was for more.   That is pretty natural, especially with a strong regular season that saw Oakland win 3 of 4 down the stretch to claim the Pacific Division crown. The players saw themselves not only as a playoff team, but as a contender. Losing the way they did to Arizona was something of a wakeup call. They played the Wranglers tight all game, showed they belonged in the title tilt, but could not get the result they wanted. So, what do they do from here? Well, the offseason will provide a chance to address concerns, perhaps upgrade at wideout, left guard, and free safety. They will need to find a replacement for Sedrick Ellis as well, but for a club that many saw taking a step back this year, the feeling should be one of accomplishment, even if the season ended a week earlier than most would have wanted.    No new developments for either team, so it will be a very familiar, and very potent, squad put on the field by both Houston and Arizona in this year’s Summer Bowl. Throw in the comfortable confines of the air-conditioned Super Dome, and this could be a very fast-paced and high-scoring Summer Bowl.   HOU: C Shaq Mason (OUT), CB Leodis McKelvin (OUT) ARZ: QB David Carr (OUT)   USFL Award Winners & All-USFL Team Revealed Wednesday’s USFL Gala at the the Steamboat Natchez in New Orleans was full of surprises, from the venue, a very different setting from the usual 5-Star hotel ballroom, to the guests in attendance, including New Orleans “royalty” Harry Connick Jr., Aaron Neville, John Goodman, Sandra Bullock and Archie Manning, and, of course, the award winners themselves. While we would love to run down everything from the sumptuous cajun-inspired meal to the music on hand, we know you are here to learn about the 2018 USFL award winners and All-USFL team, so let’s not delay. Here are your USFL honorees for 2018.   MVP: Drew Brees-QB-Breakers In a move that certainly pleased everyone from the celebrities on hand to the local waitstaff, the USFL honored New Orleans QB Drew Brees with the big award of the night, the league MVP. It was apparently a pretty close vote between Brees and Houston QB Colt McCoy, but while McCoy won the matchup on the field this week, Brees can take solace in earning his third MVP trophy, with 2018 joining his awards from 2005 and 2007. With Brees having already announced that 2018 was his final season in the league, the 17-year veteran leaves the game on top, recognized as the best player in the spring for a third time, tying Jim Kelly and Kerry Collins with that honor.   OPOTY: LeVeon Bell-HB-Panthers The Offensive Player of the Year award came down to two names, with LeVeon Bell beating out Mike Evans, wideout of the Gamblers, for the award. Bell, who finished the year with a leaguewide best 1,617 yards, set personal bests with his yardage total and with his outstanding 4.8 YPC average. Since coming into the league in 2013, Bell has never failed to gain at least 1,200 yards, with 2018 being his highest career total yet. The OPOTY award is Bell’s second in 3 years, having won as well in 2016.   DPOTY: Bobby Wagner-LB-Invaders Wagner takes the trophy for DPOTY in a move that again will anger Orlando Renegade fans, but as has been the trend over the past decade, Calais Campbell, despite his outstanding individual performance, did not win the award in a year when the Renegades finished without a playoff berth. Wagner gets his first win in the category, having led Oakland to the top 5 in points allowed (16.6 per game), yards allowed (295.6 per game) and passing yards allowed (210.4 per game). Wagner personally finished with 102 tackles, his third 100-tackle season in the past 4 years, and also contributed 7 sacks, 2 picks, and five forced fumbles as the leader and captain of the Invader defense.   ROTY: Nick Chubb-HB-Fire In the widest margin of any of the five major categories in this year’s Awards, Atlanta tailback Nick Chubb “ran” away with the Rookie of the Year award. Chubb not only helped Atlanta win their first SE Division title since 2014, helping to take a 7-9 club in 2017 to a 10-6 record, but also became the first Atlanta back to rush for over 1,000 yards and finish in the Top 10 in the league since Terrell Davis back in 2007.     COTY: Tom Coughlin-Glory Another two-man race as Coughlin beat out Oakland’s Gary Kubiak for the honor. Having started 4 different quarterbacks in the season, Coughlin’s Ohio Glory still managed to unseat the defending USFL Champion and claim their first Division Title in over a decade. The 10-6 Glory were among the league’s best clubs against the pass, and allowed only 18.9 points per game, while also finishing in the Top 10 in rushing yards. Coughlin, known as a disciplinarian, molded a team in his image, tenacious, consistent, and, while not the most talented, a club that simply does not make mistakes that cost it games.   Along with the 2018 Award Winners, the All-USFL Team for the season was also honored, with many of the players appearing at the Gala (Wranglers and Gamblers excused due to the demands of the week of preparation for the Summer Bowl). Unsurprisingly, it was the playoff and Summer Bowl favorites that dominated the All-USFL team, though, in something of a surprise, Tampa Bay did quite well also, with 3 players recognized for their individual success. Twenty teams are represented on the roster, with Houston leading all teams with 7 selections, followed by Arizona (5), Oakland (3), and New Orleans, New Jersey, and Tampa Bay with 3 apiece. San Diego and Charlotte were the only playoff teams not to earn a bid, along with non-playoff teams Baltimore, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, and Washington. Here is your 2018 All-USFL Team:   QB:        Drew Brees (NOR), Colt McCoy (HOU), Ryan Nassib (ARZ)                 ALTS: Joe Flacco (OKL), Matt McGloin (SEA)   HB:        LeVeon Bell (MGN), Maurice Jones-Drew (NJ), Carlos Hyde (HOU)                 ALTS: T. Gurley (MEM), R. Williams (SD)   FB:        Mike Boone (OHI)                 ALT: Marcell Reese (ATL)   TE:          Coby Fleener (NOR), Julius Thomas (OKL)                  ALT: Jimmie Graham (ARZ) WR:       Mike Evans (HOU), Brandin Cooks (POR), Jordy Nelson (NOR)                 Larry Fitzgerald (ARZ), Brashad Perriman (ORL)                 ALTS: Marques Colston (SD), G. Tate (DEN)   OT:         Levi Brown (TBY), Brandon Scherff (ARZ), Ryan Clady (DEN)                  ALT: Cedric Ogbuehi (HOU)   OG:       Chance Warmack (ARZ), Jason Asamoah (HOU), Kevin Zeitler (CHI)                  ALT: Kevin Zeitler (CHI)   C:            Shaq Mason (HOU), Frank Ragnow (TBY)                  ALT: Rudy Niswanger (STL)   DE:         Calais Campbell (ORL), Von Miller (DEN), Michael Bennett (OAK)                 ALT: Mario Williams (MEM)   DT:         Albert Haynesworth (HOU), Chris Jones (LA), Sedrick Ellis (OAK)                  ALT: Aaron Donald (PIT)                 LB:        Bobby Wagner (OAK), Kirk Morrison (PHI), Aldon Smith (NJ)                 Dannell Ellerbe (OHI), Brian Orakpo (TBY), A. J. Klien (ARZ)                  ALTS: Manti Te’o (CHI), Sean Lee (JAX)   CB:        Marcus Williams (MEM), Aqib Talib (NJ), Eric Wright (OAK)                 Darius Slay (ATL)                  ALT: Dominique Rogers-Cromartie (JAX)   SS:         Kenny Vaccaro (HOU), Dezmen Southward (DAL)                 ALT: Brandon Taylor (NOR)   FS:          LaRon Landry (OHI), Donte Whitner (SEA)                  ALT: Will Allen (BIR)   K:            Lewis Ward (MEM)                  ALT: Roberto Aguayo (OAK)   P:            Robert Capps (STL)                  ALT: Zoltan Mesko (LA)   A Surprise Expansion Bid from a Surprising City News this week from New York as a seventh, and quite honestly, unexpected bid has emerged as investment groups and cities vie for the 30th USFL franchise. With six bids already well-established and fully anticipated for the September review of proposals, the new entry, announced this week, adds yet another wrinkle to the upcoming League Expansion Committee meetings this September. The bid comes in from a group called the Hoosier USFL Football Group, a name that seems very fitting, not only because they seek to bring the league to the Hoosier State, Indiana, but because like their movie namesake, they are a clear underdog in the fight for a USFL franchise. Led by Carl Cook, CEO of the Cook Group, a medical device company founded by his parents. Cook is not alone in his bid, with additional investors including Bruce W. White, owner of White Lodging Services and son of billionaire businessman Dean White (d. 2016). As with most of the other bids, the Hoosier Group also enlisted some well-known Indiana football legends to the group, including former Purdue QB Jim Everett, former Golden Domer and CFL star Rocket Ismail, and former Colts receiver Bill Brooks.  Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Aside from financial backers with pretty deep pockets, this Indianapolis group has an agreement in principle with Lucas Oil Stadium, the 63,000 seat domed facility that is home to the NFL Colts. Indianapolis had not really been on the radar for the league, but it does serve one key function for the USFL, allowing for a straightforward alignment expansion when paired with the already-approved San Antonio Gunslingers. Having the Midwest city added to the USFL lineup would allow San Antonio to join Houston in the USFL Southern Division, while an Indianapolis expansion club would join natural rivals Chicago, St. Louis, Michigan, and Ohio in the Central Division.   While certainly a bit of a late entry into the race for the 30th USFL franchise, there is a lot that Indianapolis has on its side, though there are also some concerns. Some would argue that adding a team so solidly between several existing fanbases would only pull fans from the Panthers, Skyhawks, Machine and Glory, and could see resistance from all four, something we would not anticipate with either the Kansas City or Minnesota bids. Additionally, two major spring sporting events in the area, the annual NCAA basketball tournament (as well as the Big 10 Championship which often has its finals in Indianapolis) and the Indianapolis 500 race could both detract from spring football interest in a city and state known much more for their following of both racing and basketball than football.   But, as with all of the seven known bids, this one has positives and negatives, and certainly will have some pushback and some supporters. We will know more after the September report from the Expansion Committee, which is expected to produce a final list of only 3 bidders which will then go to the full league ownership meeting for a decision on the final choice and the 30th franchise set to join the league for the 2020 season. That meeting is expected to be held in January, during the festivities of the USFL’s Territorial and Open Collegiate Drafts, when all 28 teams and ownership groups will gather in Los Angeles.   USFL Reveals 2020-2021 Summer Bowl Sites One more bit of league news as the USFL this week announced the venues for the 2020 and 2021 USFL title games. Following Summer Bowl 2018 in New Orleans, and next year’s highly anticipated Summer Bowl 2019 in Las Vegas’s shiny new Wynn Arena, the league will head back east, with the 2020 game now announced to take place in Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, with 2021 jumping to the West Coast and Levi’s Stadium, home to the NFL 49ers and USFL Invaders, in Santa Clara, California.   UPCOMING SUMMER BOWL SITES 2018: Mercedes Benz Super Dome, New Orleans, LA 2019: Wynn Arena, Las Vegas, NV 2020: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC 2021: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, CA These USFL title games will be the first for the league in both venues, and the first league title from either pro football league to be held in Charlotte. Santa Clara held Super Bowl 50 in 2016, and now will hold the Summer’s Biggest Party in 2021. Logos for both Summer Bowls will be expected to be released in 2019, and while fans in both cities are certainly excited for the opportunity to host the league’s title game, all attention right now is on New Orleans and Summer Bowl 2018.     Summer Bowl 2018 pits the four-time league champion Houston Gamblers, back after falling just short last year against Michigan, against a Wrangler squad making their fourth title appearance in the past 6 years and hoping to become a 3-time winner as they return to the big game. Both clubs are experienced, offensively potent, and have some credentials on D too. For most fans, we know what they want. They want to see two of the league’s top offenses trading body blows, big play for big play, like Rocky and Clubber Lang going face to face.   This may not be a game for defensive purists, but it is not as if these two clubs have shoddy defenses. Houston finished 3rd in the league with 65 sacks on the year. Arizona, while not as dominant as in past years, still held teams under 20 points per game, and was solid against the run, despite a major roster overhaul over the offseason. Las Vegas does not think this will be a defensive struggle, setting the over/under at an uncustomary high of 49.5 points. But, we have been surprised before.   As we look at the two teams, it is not hard to figure out who the key players are on each. We picked 4 players for each team who may very well determine how this game plays out.   HOUSTON HB Carlos Hyde No surprise here, as we have already laid out the case for Hyde as a pivotal figure in the game. If he can force Arizona to support their run defense with safeties, it means more chances for Colt McCoy to work deep.   TE Vernon Davis With so much attention owed to wideouts Mike Evans and JuJu Smith-Schuster, we turn to Vernon Davis as the key weapon on the inside. Davis has the potential to have a big game, especially if the Wranglers are also worried about Hyde out of the backfield.   DE Dante Fowler An underrated pass rusher, Fowler finished 2018 with 14 sacks, his third straight season over 10 for the year. If Houston can get pressure with Fowler, Haynesworth, and Antwan Applewhite, they can use their LB group to support the pass defense and prevent Arizona from getting the single coverage their deep vertical game eats up.   CB Janoris Jenkins With a pick-six in this week’s win over New Orleans, Jenkins is finally getting some media attention. The 6-year vet is not even the most famous Jenkins on his team (LB Jelani wins that title), but with 4 picks and 24 passes defended this year, he is quickly becoming a player that opposing OCs need to keep an eye on. He could be trouble for Nassib if the Arizona QB does not recognize his speed and ability to break on the ball.   ARIZONA QB Ryan Nassib By this point in the season we have sort of lost track of the fact that Nassib was a backup with only 1 start to his name before David Carr went down. This is his first playoff season, much less his first title game. So, while his 38:7 TD:INT ratio should tell us that he can handle the pressure of the big game, history tells us that it is not a sure thing. A title game can be a whole different ballgame.   HB Ka’Deem Carey As much as we would love to see Frank Gore be the bell cow for Arizona, it seems those days are over. Gore will get carries predominantly on short yardage and inside the red zone. Expect Carey to finish the game with more touches and more opportunities to break a long run. If he can do that, it will force Houston to keep their LBs engaged in the run game, and that means more chances for Nassib to find single coverage outside. LB A. J. Klien A first-time All-USFL selection in his 6th season, Klien has become the leader of the Wrangler defense this year, having learned from one of the best in former Wrangler Karlos Dansby. Klien’s game is more focused between the hashmarks, jumping into the fray on inside runs and TE routes, but he will be challenged by Houston’s inside receivers, Hyde, Davis, and slot receiver Josh Reynolds.   CB Joe Haden The interceptions have not come for Haden this year, with only 3 on the season, but he remains a solid man-coverage corner who is not afraid to play the run, as is evident with his 93 tackles. The key for Haden will be getting support over the top from the safety so that he can bump either Evans or Smith-Schuster at the line and not risk being outpaced as he drops back.   While both teams clearly have talent and depth, we also know that the difference between good and great can come down to the coaching, and a gameplan that takes advantage of weaknesses your opponent may not even know they have. So, what can we expect from these two coaches?   Wade Phillips, Houston: Phillips is a defensive coach who has one of the league’s best offenses to play with, so how does he approach this matchup? Our expectation is that like the team’s namesake, Phillips will gamble quite a bit. That means more 1st down throws from McCoy, more deep throws to Evans and Smith-Schuster, and more blitzes on defense. Houston would love to put pressure on Ryan Nassib, and while that ideally comes from the D-line, we expect Phillips to dial up the blitzes, particularly from LB Ramik Wilson and SS Kenny Vaccaro.   Jim Tomsula, Arizona: While also a defensive-minded coach, Tomsula has shown over the past 5-6 years that he too believes in the power of the deep ball, not only to put points on the board, but to dispirit a defense. Arizona on offense will keep testing the Houston defense to see if they can get man coverage instead of umbrella zones. But, if Houston is disciplined, then it will have to be Nassib finding TE Jimmie Graham or HB Ka’Deem Carey on short routes, taking what the defense will give them. On defense, Arizona has struggled to put pressure on QBs, but they are solid in their zones. That has worked against many QBs across the league, but against Colt McCoy they may just have to find ways to bring Polamalu, Scooby Wright or even CB Mike Mickens on blitzes to throw off McCoy’s timing.    OUR PICK: This is a really tough one. We have the league’s best scoring offense (Arizona) against the leader in yards per game (Houston). We have two defensive coaches whose offenses are certainly the stronger aspect of their team. We could easily see this as a game where the team with possession last wins the game, one of those games where the punter might as well not show up. All that is to say that we think you should take the over if you are the type to bet on games. It also means that we feel we could make arguments for either side to come out on top. It may well come down to how many stops each defense can make, and if either can produce some takeaways.   So, what differentiates the two teams? Honestly, not much. We feel pressure to pick a winner, but our bullpen is pretty divided. Some favor the experience of McCoy over Nassib. Others think that Arizona has great on-field leaders in Gore, Fitzgerald, and Polamalu, and could well take the blows from Houston without flinching. In the end, we took a vote, made sure there was an odd number of voters and came up with a 21-20 vote, but that vote said Arizona, so that is our pick. We choose Arizona to win their 3rd league title in 6 years, defeating Houston by a score of 41-39 in a game that will be the highest scoring in USFL Championship history.

Two Conferences, two very different weekends. While the top two seeds in the West held serve and won their games by a combined 42 points (most of that due to Arizona’s blowout win over the Thunder), the two Eastern underdogs made things rough for the homestanding top seeds, with both 1-seed New Orleans and 2-seed Atlanta going down to close 3-point defeats. Those results mean we will have a 1 vs. 2 matchup in Glendale this week, but a 3 vs. 4 showdown in East Rutherford as New Jersey gets a surprise gig as the host of the Eastern Conference Finals.   But, as big as the weekend’s action was, the big story of the week is all anyone is talking about. Calais Campbell, the 10-time USFL leader in sacks (Man! Is that a ludicrous record!!) has announced that he wants a trade. Every team in the league is now smacking their lips and hoping a deal can be cut with the Renegades. It is a huge story, with leaguewide ramifications, and we will cover it starting this week with the announcement that he wants a deal done by October. We will, of course, also cover all the week’s news, including a review of the weekend’s action, all the latest retirement updates, a breakdown of our Top 25 anticipated free agents, and a preview of two very interesting Conference Championships. All happening right now.   Campbell to Renegades: “Trade Me or I Walk Away” In what may be the biggest case of “too little, too late” in USFL history, it seems that after 11 seasons of frustration, Calais Campbell, the unquestioned best defensive player in the league, and quite possibly the best pure pass rusher in football history, has had enough of his efforts going for naught. According to multiple reports from within and around the Renegades franchise, Campbell laid down the law this week, demanding to be traded by November or he insisting he will file for retirement. It is a huge blow to the Orlando franchise, whose entire identity has revolved around Campbell for the better part of a decade.  Campbell at his most fierce with the 'Gades in 2015. This is a player after all who has not only set the league record for sacks with 34 sacks in 2009, but is the only player ever to reach 30 in a season, having done so four times, with 33 in 2014, 32 in 2016, and 30 this year, his 11th in the league. In addition to the amazing sack totals, Campbell has now twice topped 100 tackles in a season, a feat simply unheard of for a defensive end. He had 100 even in 2015, barely missed out on that feat in 2016 and 2017, and this year topped it by recording 101 tackles. Campbell has not had a season below 25 sacks since 2010, and has won the league’s sack total an astonishing 10 years running. When that player says he is fed up, it is a major shot across the bow of the organization. So, why is Campbell so frustrated? Well, when you consider that over his amazing 10-year run, beginning with his 34-sack 2009 season, the Renegades have only qualified for the playoffs 3 times, have never won their division, and have never advanced past the Divisional round of the playoffs, you can understand why Campbell is feeling like his amazing efforts are being wasted. A drop from 10-6 last season to a very disappointing 6-10 record this year, paired with the resignation of coach John Fox, appears to have been the last straw and the key motivator for Campbell to call out the Renegades and demand a chance to play for a contender in what is likely his final few years on the field.   There will be absolutely no shortage of teams in the hunt to trade for Campbell, after all, even teams with solid pass rushers are still getting nowhere near the production that Campbell has provided to the Renegades. Sure, there will be some teams that simply don’t have the resources, as Orlando will almost certainly have some high demands, and maybe a club like Denver, with Von Miller under contract, or San Diego, who seem to have found something in Jonathan Newsome, will not be in the hunt, but that group will be quite small. The others who may bow out include several clubs who simply don’t have the cap space to take on Campbell’s contract. Teams like New Jersey, Seattle, or St. Louis, who are already looking to restructure some veteran contracts or let go some high end talent, are unlikely to make the move, but you know they wish they could. So, who do we see as the top contenders for Campbell’s services? Well, it has to be a team that Campbell views as a contender, so that rules out quite a few, and a team with a significant package of talent or draft picks to offer Orlando, not to mention cap space to absorb Campbell’s contract. Looking across the league, we think there are really 6 teams who fit all three criteria, and who very well could be on the phone with the Renegades right now. They include the SW Division champion Wranglers, whose defensive exodus last year gives them a ton of cap room now; the New Orleans Breakers, winners of the Southern Division and a team that will certainly free up space with Drew Brees’s retirement, though they may need a chunk of that to find a replacement. Also potentially in the hunt are the Chicago Machine, who finished 7-9 and need a QB upgrade, but might be able to convince Campbell that they are at least in the hunt in the Central Division; Houston, who have one of the league’s best pass rushes right now but certainly would love to add Campbell; Memphis, whose cap situation is not ideal, but who have plenty of potential trade fodder in their draft status; and finally, the Atlanta Fire, who are looking to replace Chris Kelsay and could have quite a bit to offer in trade to Orlando if Campbell is on the table. A lot to consider for the Renegades, but it seems that Campbell has all the cards, able to use retirement as a legitimate ultimatum to force a move by the club. Bad news for Renegade fans to be sure, but almost certainly a story that will dominate headlines this offseason all over the league.   NEW JERSEY GENERALS 16  ATLANTA FIRE 13  OVERTIME It took nearly 75 minutes, but the New Jersey Generals punched their way to the Eastern Conference Final with a 3-point overtime win over SE Division Champion Atlanta on Saturday. It was a battle for all 72 minutes and 37 seconds, with both teams crowding the line to stuff the run, playing multiple zones behind them to limit big plays, and both defenses finding success with that strategy. The result was a low-scoring affair well below the over-under of 38 points.   There were only two touchdowns in the game, and they came on back-to-back drives in the second quarter. Prior to those drives neither team crossed midfield, and for the rest of the game it was all about getting in field goal range. New Jersey had more success getting in range, but Ka’imi Fairbairn missed on 3 kicks (though, to his credit, 2 of them were from over 50 yards). Neither star halfback cracked 60 yards, much less 100, in the game, and both QBs had to take what the defense gave them, dinking and dunking their way down the field.   The scoring started with a TD pass 27 minutes into the game when Aaron Murray found backup receiver Trey Quinn for his only catch of the day, a 16-yard fade route that produced a touchdown. New Jersey followed up that score with their best offensive drive of the day, a 77-yard two-minute drill that included a 13-yard swing pass to MJD, a 22-yarder to Sanu, an 11-yard completion to TE John Carlson, and ended with another throw to Sanu, tying the score at 7. The score would not be the last of the half as Atlanta got in range for kicker John Bounds, who drilled a 45-yarder at the whistle, giving Atlanta a slim 10-7 lead at the break.   Both defenses adjusted after the late first half flurry of points and for the rest of the game, neither offense got closer than the 12-yard line of their opponent. Bounds hit a 3rd quarter kick that gave Atlanta a 6-point lead, but the 4th quarter saw Ka’imi Fairbairn put up 3 points from 46 yards and then 40 to tie the game. Fairbairn had a shot at a regular time win but needed to connect on a 56-yarder on the final play of regulation, a distance that proved to be too tricky for the kicker.   New Jersey thought they had the game won early in overtime, but again Fairbairn missed on a kick, this time a 47-yarder that sliced to the right. That gave Atlanta good field position, but rather than play conservatively to give John Bounds a shot, they tried to send the ball deep, and that led to a holding penalty which pushed them further back and produced a quick 3-and-out. When New Jersey got the ball back, they opted for the conservative route, using MJD runs and catches (he finished as the Generals’ top receiver) to get in range, and on his 2nd attempt in overtime, he sent the ball through the uprights and gave New Jersey the win. The Generals would be heading on to the Conference Title Game. OHIO GLORY 10   OAKLAND INVADERS 20 Oakland won the first Western semi-final by making better halftime adjustments, allowing them to shut out Ohio in the final 30 minutes while scoring 13 unanswered points of their own to double up the Glory and claim victory. In a game in which Ohio limited Christian McCaffrey to only 35 yards rushing, the weight of the offense fell on QB Jimmy Garoppolo, and Jimmy G responded with 221 yards passing and a TD run of his own. But it was the Oakland defense that truly put this game away, forcing Ohio to go 0-7 on third down attempts in the final 30 minutes of action.   Ohio had seen some success in the first half, scoring the first points of the game with a Hackenberg to Weems TD late in the first. Oakland responded with a 14-play drive that saw Garoppolo score on a QB keeper from the 1. Ohio then added a field goal, and it looked very much like we would have a seesaw game as the two teams headed into the locker rooms at the half. But the second half was all Oakland. They limited Ohio to only 5 first downs, no points, and forced 2 turnovers, both fumbles on their own side of the field. The first produced Oakland’s first lead as Knile Davis ran in the go-ahead touchdown 7 plays after the turnover. The second produced a Roberto Aguayo field goal, one of two in the 4th quarter. And while the Oakland offense did not exactly look explosive, compared to what Ohio was doing in the second half, they looked like a Run-&-Shoot dynamo. Ohio simply could not keep a drive going. They had a couple of good Isaiah Pead runs, but could do nothing with them, and with 1 fumble by Pead and another by TE Lee Smith, the Invaders were able to keep them off the scoreboard and secure the win and their ticket to the next round. HOUSTON GAMBLERS 24  NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 21 We had a feeling that the third meeting between these two Southern nemeses would be a good one, and we were not disappointed. The Gamblers started fast, putting up 17 points in the first quarter, and that initial explosion was enough to keep them in front the entire way, but not without some challenges from Drew Brees and the Breakers. It began on the first Gambler drive of the game, a rapid-fire 7-play drive that saw Colt McCoy connect with Mike Evans on a 39-yard throw and then find JuJu Smith-Schuster only 2 plays later with a 16-yard touchdown toss.   Both Evans and Smith-Schuster would finish the game with over 100 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns between them. Houston was up 10-0 in the first quarter when New Orleans first got on the board, a nice drive that saw them move the ball crisply before Leonard Fournette broke free from the 11 for a TD run that felt like a turning point. But it was a false feeling. Houston responded with a quick strike attack that put up their 2nd touchdown of the first quarter, another laser throw to Smith-Schuster, this time from 23 yards out.   When McCoy hit Mike Evans for a 22-yard score, the game was getting out of hand for New Orleans. Houston had a 17-point lead and, when Drew Brees threw up a desperation toss at the end of the quarter, one picked off by the Gamblers, it meant they went to the half with a considerable deficit. To their credit, the Breaker defense made some very good adjustments at the half, and that allowed them to force Houston into several long third downs, hold them from the endzone and slowly fight their way back. A Brees to Britt TD in the third dropped the difference to 24-14, but they would not score again until there were only 2 minutes and change in the game, a short toss to TE Coby Fleener.   The late score meant that New Orleans needed to try the onside kick to have any chance at a game-tying field goal, but when Houston recovered the ball, they had only 1 time out left and could only stop the clock once. With Carlos Hyde able to eke out a first down on a 3rd and 3 run, it was the end for the Breakers, meaning that Houston would travel to New Jersey in a 3 vs 4 matchup in the Eastern Conference Final. SAN DIEGO THUNDER 6   ARIZONA WRANGLERS 38 The final game of the weekend was the least competitive as every bit of playoff experience the Wranglers had in them came to the front and simply outflanked an eager but mistake-prone Thunder squad. Arizona ran up a 21-0 lead before San Diego even crossed midfield, and that was all she wrote for this one. With an early 48-yard scoring toss on a screen from Nassib to Carey, followed only 4 minutes later by a Jimmie Graham TD catch, the route was on. Nassib found Graham again early in the 2nd quarter and then Cary got his second score before the half to create a 28-3 deficit for the overwhelmed Thunder.   The halftime lead meant that Ryan Williams would see only 5 carries in the second half, with Christian Ponder forced to put the ball up. That produced 3 second half sacks and 2 picks, all of which fed the Arizona fury as they added a Frank Gore TD and put the game to bed early. Brooks Bollinger finished up the 4th quarter as no San Diego rally was coming. The Wranglers played very much like a 1-seed confident in their own quality. Ryan Nassib finished the game 16 of 22 for 281 yards and 4 TDs. Frank Gore, looking 5 years younger than his true age, rushed for 81 yards and caught 3 balls for 21 and a score. The Wranglers spread the ball around on offense and shut down San Diego on defense. A dominant win that has Arizona one more home game away from a possible 4th Summer Bowl appearance in the past 6 years.   Thanks to Upsets, Generals to Host Eastern Finals When you come into the playoffs as the three seed, there are several realities you have to face. It means that even though you are a division champion, you are going to have to face 3 games to reach the Summer Bowl, while the other Division Winners get a bye and need only win 2 games. It also means that you will play at least one, and likely 2 games on the road. Sure, you get that Wild Card matchup at home, but then it is off to face either the 1 or the 2 seed, and if you win that game, the other high seed is likely waiting for you. At least that is the expectation. But, with both Houston and New Jersey knocking off the 2 top seeds this week, the Generals get something they could not have anticipated, a 2nd home game, a chance to host the Eastern Conference Title Game and to play that pivotal game in front of their home fans. Now, that may all sound great for New Jersey, but we should point out that unlike in most seasons where the 4-seed may be a team that is lucky to be there, New Jersey will face a 12-4 Houston team that could have easily been the 1-seed had the tiebreakers not gone against them. Houston had 3 more wins than the Generals during the year and would likely be favored even on the road after they knocked off the Showboats and Breakers in back-to-back games. The Generals, having beaten Charlotte at home, then edging past Atlanta in overtime, now get to return home this week, but they almost certainly will still be facing their toughest task of the postseason when they take on the Gamblers.   It will be 1 vs. 2 in the West as Invaders Travel to Arizona The situation in the West is a mirror image of what we see in the East. The two top seeds blew through their Divisional opponents and will now face off in the desert. Oakland turned up the defensive pressure on Ohio in the second half of their game, while Arizona used shock and awe in the first half to break the San Diego Thunder’s spirit and roll to a dominant 32-point blow out.   As much as we want to see this game as a battle of an immovable object (Oakland’s D) against an unstoppable force (Arizona’s offense) the reality is that Oakland’s offense can also be dangerous, and Arizona’s rebuilt defense is still one of the league’s best. And while we certainly don’t expect a blowout, when we look around the sports pundit world, there are plenty saying that Oakland needs everything to go right to pull the upset, while Arizona has the potential to turn any game into a blowout victory. But, for now it is 1 vs. 2 in a battle of Western heavyweights.   LA Finds their Man in Marvin The LA Express, the first team to release their 2018 Head Coach (way back in Week 6 of the season), now become the first team to sign a new leader. The Express announced on Tuesday that former Seattle Dragon head coach Marvin Lewis was going to return to the league to take over the franchise in America’s 2nd city, a franchise which has been snakebit since it returned to action in 1995’s expansion.   Lewis will need to get to work right away to both repair a defense that showed a lot of promise the past few years but fell short in 2018, and to build an offense, something that even Andy Reid, the NFL offensive mastermind struggled to accomplish in his tenure. Just how much Lewis will work with the front office to rework the LA roster is unknown. We can expect he will want to find more playmakers on offense, as well as players who can produce more pressure on defense. 10 Years in Seattle, and now sunny LA awaits. Lewis spent 10 seasons at the helm of the Dragons, from 2003-2012. During that time Seattle made the playoffs in each of his first 6 years, including two divisional championships and a miraculous run from a 6-8 regular season to a league title in 2005. His last 4 seasons saw Seattle slip to 3 consecutive years of 7 wins, followed by a low point of 3-13 in 2012 that led to his departure. With LA he will be asked to bring success to a team that has made the playoffs as recently as 2016, but has not appeared in a Summer Bowl since 2006 and has never won a league title.   The squad he inherits has talent at several key positions with QB Sam Bradford, HB Reggie Bush, WR Demaryius Thomas, and one of the league’s best left tackles in Matt Kalil on offense. The defense had been led by LB Clay Matthews, but he is now a free agent who has pretty much given up on the Express franchise as an option. Expect CB Stephon Gilmore and LB Keith Rivers to be key players for the Express in 2019. Lewis will need to boost a pass rush that simply did not cause many QBs any trouble, as the 3-13 Express ranked 27th against the pass and gave up over 330 yards of offense per game.   Stoops Says he is Open to USFL Gig In a statement that likely made many Outlaw fans very happy, former OU head coach Bob Stoops told Fox Sports that he would be open to taking a job in pro football, though he also stated that he had not yet been approached. It seems the Outlaws are still in the research and background check phase of their coaching search, and while they would be foolish not to include Stoops in the initial pool, there may be factors which are keeping them from reaching out early to the former Sooner coach.  From Norman to OKC? One of those may well be the veteran nature of the Outlaw squad, one led by 10-year veteran QB Joe Flacco, 34-year-old HB Marshawn Lynch, and 33-year-old DT Luis Castillo. This is not a group that is going to get all rah-rah with a new coach right out of college, even a coach with Bob Stoops’s resume. A veteran team is going to want to see systems, strategy, and a clear knowledge of the challenges of professional football, something that may be causing pause for the club’s leadership as they consider all the options before them. But, for fans in the Sooner state, it seems clear who they would like to see roaming the Outlaw sideline.   Retirement Update: Several Big Names in Latest Retirement Announcements Two weeks into the postseason, and for several teams the offseason, and that means two more weeks of decisions and announcements regarding retirement. The wave of quarterbacks calling it a career continues, with one we knew in advance and one we strongly suspected, as both Drew Brees and David Garrard made it official. But they were hardly alone as the USFL postseason is paired with a season of goodbyes across the league. Here is our take on the biggest departures as retirement season hits full stride.   Drew Brees, QB-NOR It did not even take 24 hours for Drew Brees to make it official. The Breakers were ousted from the postseason by Houston on Sunday evening, and by 2pm on Monday, Brees had made his announcement. This is a huge hit for the Breakers, who quite honestly have not done a great job of preparing for a transition. Their current number two, Pat White, has not shown us much and does not feel like a player ready to step in for one of the league’s legendary QBs.   Brees, an almost certain first-ballot Hall of Famer, retires after 17 seasons, the final 8 with New Orleans, a run that has seen him win a title for the Breakers, their only one in nearly 40 years of USFL action. It has also seen him throw for over 57,000 yards, 401 touchdowns, and maintain a stellar career rating of 98.3. Where Brees goes from here may not be known, but come 2023, we know where we can find him, in Canton.   David Garrard, QB-WSH The second longstanding starter to call it a career this week was more of an uncertainty. David Garrard had kept his plans very tight to the vest, but this Monday he made it official, saying his goodbyes to coaches, teammates and the fans of Washington, D.C.. Garrard came to the Federals in 2010, after a year and a half of intriguing but largely uninspiring seasons with Atlanta, and several years on the bench in Philadelphia. He was expected to be a backup, perhaps to have a chance to compete for a starting job, but early in the 2010 seasons Garrard started impressing coaches and he would go on to keep the starting job for the next 9 seasons. He would make the All-USFL team that first year in D.C., and while it would be his only such honor, he proved himself a solid option at QB for nearly a decade.   Garrard retires with 31,471 yards passing, 181 TDs to 128 picks, and a solid career QB Rating of 84.9. He also leaves Washington now with a uniquely open QB room, as backup Mike Flynn was allowed to head to free agency. So, what might Washington’s plan be? Well, they do have the Territorial rights to Duke QB Daniel Jones, so that has to be a consideration. We are also in a year where USFL free agency includes two break out stars of 2018 in Arizona’s Ryan Nassib and Seattle’s Matt McGloin. The Federals look like they have some decisions to make as Garrard rides off into the sunset.   Kamerion Wemberly, DE-OHI While not the most well-known pass rusher in the league, it is hard to argue that Wemberly is not one of its best. With 43 sacks over the past 4 years, including a career-best 14 this season, it seemed like the former Renegade, Stallion, Federal, and Monarch had found a home in Ohio and was getting better with age. But, the knees, hips, and back of a 34-year old d-linemen can tell another story, and with his announcement this week, it is clear that Wemberly is thinking about his long term health rather than trying to squeeze out another season or two with the Glory.   Mario Manningham, WR-OHI Another member of the Glory, Manningham also turned 34 this year, and the former Wolverine, who “defected” from the Panthers and found himself with their rivals in Ohio, struggled with health issues all season. After a stellar 2017 which saw him catch 91 balls for over 1,100 yards, Manningham missed 4 games this year, and his numbers reflected that dip. He leaves Ohio with a pretty significant gap at the flanker position, with Stevie Johnson now the only true veteran presence among the Glory receivers.    Lance Briggs, LB-POR Very few players can say they played linebacker for 15 seasons. It is just not a position where longevity is commonplace, but for Lance Briggs, 2018 marked his 18th year in the league. He came in with Arizona in the 2003 draft, spent 11 seasons in the desert, and then got a second wind when he signed with Portland in 2015. He had his best year with Portland this season, starting all 16 games and helping the Stags make the postseason, but, at 36 the time was right for him to step away.   Jerod Mayo, LB-CHA Another veteran linebacker calling it a season and a career is Charlotte’s Jerod Mayo, who turned in one of the best linebacker performances of the year back in Week 6, winning him Player of the Week. But, for all we saw in that game, it was not an easy season for Mayo, who saw fewer snaps this year, finishing the season with only 62 tackles. The 11-year veteran, having played his entire career with the Monarchs, retires as their all-time leader in tackles for loss, while placing 2nd behind Rolando McClain in tackles.   Adrian Peterson, HB-CHA Another Monarch who will be missed, Adrian Peterson would spend only 3 seasons in the USFL, but the fact that he could play at all after a devastating MCL/ACL combination injury in the NFL was amazing in itself. Peterson never reached the heights of his NFL career with the Monarchs, though he did crack 1,000 yards last season. This hear finished with him 35 yards short at 965, but he remained a key piece of the Monarch offense, one the club will have to replace this offseason as they hope to improve on their Wild Card performance this season.   Chris Kelsay, DE-ATL Our last highlighted retirement is another DE who just does not get enough credit around the league. Atlanta’s Chris Kelsay has topped the 10-sack mark in 5 of the past 6 seasons, including a career best 19 sacks in 2016. His numbers the past two years have dipped a bit (8 sacks in 2017, 10 this year) but he was still a major factor in the late season run of wins that helped Atlanta win the SE Division this year. He retires after a career split between Denver and Atlanta, with 149 career sacks. Other than a pair of short-term injuries to Oakland backup center Peter Konz, and rotational DE Da’Shawn Hand of Arizona, the Conference Finals will have very much the same players on the field as the divisional round. Not much new and no seriously concerning injuries for either game.   NJ: HB Kiero Small (OUT) HOU: C Shaq Mason (OUT), CB Leodis McKelvin (OUT), SS Budda Baker (OUT)   OAK: LB Tavares Gooden (OUT), C Peter Konz (OUT), FS Jahleel Addae (D) ARZ: QB David Carr (OUT), DE Da’Shawn Hand (Q)   Our Top 25 Likely Free Agents & Where We Think They Should Go We have picked the 25 players we fully anticipate being free agents when the USFL playoffs conclude, reviewed what they offer, and what teams are likely to see in them, and tried to identify the best possible new home for their talents. Some are pretty clear, others could struggle to find a home, and yet others are likely to have multiple offers to mull over. These are all talented players but fit will be a factor to be sure as they seek greener pastures in Free Agency. We are also going to imagine that none of these players will jump to the NFL, which we know is unrealistic, but trying to figure out the best fit between both leagues is more than we wanted to take on, besides we hope each of them does opt to stay in the spring.   25-QB Robert Griffin III Griffin is perhaps one of the tougher free agents to find a fit for. He is one of the most dangerous rushing QBs in the league, perhaps the most dangerous, but he is erratic in the passing game and has proven to be too injury prone to trust as a full-time starter, as proven by Jacksonville’s willingness to let him hit free agency with only Teddy Bridgewater available for the Bulls right now. BEST FIT: Birmingham . As a starter, Griffin has been a bit too erratic and a bit too fragile, but as a backup to Cam Newton, his skills mean he can come into games without forcing the Stallions to change gears. We could even imagine some scenarios where an innovative coach might put them both on the field at the same time.   24-HB LaTavius Murray In Orlando, Murray saw his role shrink a bit this year. He had 25 fewer touches than Rashad Jennings and produced nearly 300 fewer yards. His 4.4 YPC average is still very solid, and with 5 touchdowns, he is still a solid option as a 3-down back. Will he likely become a true number one, or will he remain part of a tandem? We think he is best suited to the latter, and that factored into our thoughts on where to go. BEST FIT: Dallas . We are not sure if Coach Kingsbury is using a HB duo out of necessity or desire, but if it is the former, then we think Murray will be an upgrade of the disappointing performances from D’onte Freeman, whose average per carry has yet to hit 3.0 yards over his first two years. Pairing Murray up with Samaje Perine seems a much better option for the Roughnecks.   23-OT Nate Solder Solder has been a solid starter for the Stags at right tackle, but his skill set is best suited for the left side, more of a pass protector than a road grater. He will be seeking out a club that could give him that shot to switch sides. BEST FIT: San Diego . The Thunder have had issues on the left side, both in the run game and in pass protection, and Solder seems like a good fit for Coach LeBeau’s emphasis on fundamentals.   22-SS Baccari Rambo After 6 years in Birmingham, Rambo is hoping to find a contender where his aggressive style can be put to use, that means a team where the corners are good enough to hold their own if he is blitzing or taking on a slot receiver over the middle. BEST FIT: Atlanta . Not just because Shaquile Griffin and Darius Slay are exactly the type of corners who can cover man-to-man without safety help, but because lining up with Earl Thomas inside will produce a nasty 1-2 punch for inside receivers and against the run.   21-DE Kony Ealy In an edge-rich pool, Ealy could find it tough to get top dollar. Yes, he had a career year this season, with 13 sacks, but with Jerry Hughes, Mario Williams, and now, apparently Calais Campbell in the mix, Ealy may not be seen as the best option for an edge-hungry team. BEST FIT: Tampa Bay. We picked the Bandits for two reasons. First, they are very likely to lose both Brian Orakpo and Jerry Hughes in free agency (see further down our list), and secondly because having Tank Carradine, and his 15 sacks across from him means that the Bandits will have a dual threat line, which likely makes Ealy’s quest to be a 20-sack end a more likely scenario.   20-OT Andrew Whitworth What team would not want a veteran tackle who averages fewer than 3 sacks per year allowed. Andrew Whitworth gave up only 1 sack in Dallas this year, and we think the market will see that and make the tackle a priority. BEST FIT: Ohio . If Xavier Fulton resigns with the Glory, then they are off the table, but if not, they would be happy to have Whitworth take on his role protecting Christian Hackenberg’s blind side. They certainly don’t want to put a rookie in that position.   19-HB Knile Davis Used mostly as a 3rd down back in both Memphis and Oakland, Davis wants a shot to see more touches and more opportunity to show off his speed. That likely means finding a team that prefers a Thunder & Lightning combo and already has their big man in place. BEST FIT: New Orleans. Not that the Breakers have truly used the Thunder & Lightning combo with C. J. Spiller, but with Leonard Fournette’s midling use as a receiver, a player like Davis could both take some of the workload off of Fournette, and provide a real threat out of the backfield.   18-LB James Laurinaitis The main man at the heart of the Ohio defense for the past 8 seasons, Laurinaitis might be a salary cap casualty for the Glory. That means he may also be a solid 2-3 year stand-in for another club, taking on the MLB position as a club develops a younger player. BEST FIT: Portland . The Stags have let Channing Crowder go, and while Laurinaitis is a very similar player, they can likely get him for less and have him for 1-2 years longer than their former MLB.   17-DT Sedrick Ellis At 33, Ellis may struggle to retain a starting position for most teams. His best option is to join a 4-3 base team that uses a rotation so that he is asked for perhaps 40 snaps per game instead of 60. He can still be disruptive, but he also wears down over the course of games in a shallow DT group where he is on the field every down. BEST FIT: St. Louis. Picturing Ellis in rotation with Sheldon Richardson and Stephen Paea seems a perfect opportunity for him. For St. Louis it means having a solid presence in the middle no matter which combination of the 3 they go with on a given down.   16-WR Antonio Bryant Bryant’s future with the Wranglers could depend on what Larry Fitzgerald does this offseason. The 35-year old Fitzgerald has hinted that this could be his last trip around the league. If that is the case, the Wranglers will do all they can to lock up Bryant to avoid needing to replace their two top receivers. But, if Fitzie stays on for 2019, then we could see Bryant on the market. BEST FIT: Michigan . Bryant is a deep threat (20.8 Yards per catch) and a Red Zone nightmare (11 TDs), and while Cody Latimer does a lot well, Michigan could use both, and they have the kind of offense that Bryant would be attracted to.   15-TE Kellen Davis One of the best receiving tight ends in the league, second perhaps to only Coby Fleener, Davis will be able to pick his destination. In addition to bags of money, we expect Davis will look for a stable QB situation and a chance to be a focal point of an offense. BEST FIT: Baltimore . Sure, they may not seem like an immediate contender (though stranger things have happened), what Davis would get by jumping to the Federals’ rival is a chance to play with an All-USFL QB in Ben Roethlisberger, and to get man coverage from a backer or a safety since the defenses have to worry about Hartline and Heyward-Bey outside. When Antonio Gates was in the middle, the Blitz offense was nearly unstoppable. Davis could offer them the same options.   14-CB Dunta Robinson Any team will take a corner like Robinson, with good man and zone skills. Not the biggest ball hawk, what Robinson does so well is keep receivers from becoming a target, blanketing them so the ball goes somewhere else. BEST FIT: Orlando . The Renegades desperately need a number two to line up opposite Dee Milliner, and that is likely going to be either Robinson or Jaylen Watkins. We think the veteran Robinson may be the better fit.   13-DT Ndamukong Suh Hard to believe that Suh is leaving the Gold, but after his injury this year and the strong play of Amobi Okoye and Sharrif Floyd, Suh’s hefty pricetag just did not align with Denver’s fiscally conservative plans. BEST FIT: Philadelphia . Sure, Justin Babineaux is a very solid player, and with their 3-4 alignment, we likely would not see Suh on the field with Babineaux, but if the Stars, who are flush with cash, think a 2-man rotation in the middle works for them, that combo could be absolutely brutal for offenses. No tired NT in the 4th quarter if you have these two trading series.   12-QB Ryan Fitzpatrick This is a tough one for us, because we like Fitz-Magic, but the consistency is just not there to assume he will get a starting gig, even with the rash of top tier QB retirements. Maybe we are wrong, but we think that a mentor/backup role makes the most sense for the 35-year-old QB. BEST FIT: Memphis . Fitzie advising Paxton Lynch makes a lot of sense to us, and if Lynch goes down, they have a more than solid option at QB behind him.   11-DE Jerry Hughes With 15 sacks this year giving us his 6th 10+ sack season in a row, Hughes will be a top dollar signing, something the Bandits knew and simply did not feel comfortable with in a tough salary cap year for them. Their loss will be someone else’s gain, but with a hefty pricetag. BEST FIT: Arizona . They have the money (nearly $25M in cap space) and they would love to add Hughes’ athleticism to a line that produced only 29 sacks in 2018, despite being a pretty tough defense overall.   10-WR Aaron Dobson Quarterback uncertainty and a lack of scoring chances in Chicago are the main reasons Dobson, who has led the league in receptions twice in the past 5 years, with over 100 receptions 4 times in that span, is looking for a new home. He will almost certainly be a designated number one target wherever he goes. BEST FIT: Arizona . We are going to say the Wranglers on one condition: Fitzgerald retires. If that is the case, then they can bring in Dobson as the possession and mid-range guy and resign Bryant as the deep ball guy, a really nice combination. If that does not pan out, well, Dobson would look really good in Oklahoma with Joe Flacco too.   9-LB Chase Blackburn Another big time MLB in a year with several on the market. We would love to see Blackburn stay with the Generals, but we think that is not likely as New Jersey seems to really like the development they see from the faster, younger, and more dynamic Matt Milano. BEST FIT: Ohio . Well, if Laurinaitis leaves, why not go with another model of the same type of middle linebacker thumper? Blackburn may actually cost less to sign than Ohio would need to bring Laurinaitis back, so it could be a fair deal for them.   8-LB Clay Matthews Our third of four MLBs who we think change teams this year. We know in Matthew’s case that he wants out of LA, but will he end up jumping from the frying pan to the fire? BEST FIT: Honestly, Tampa Bay seems the logical choice. Sure, Matthews is not the full-range dominator that Orakpo was for the Bandits, and he will likely only play 2-3 more years, but he will fill a need and give the Bandits (whoever their coach is) a shot at developing a younger, more speed-oriented player behind him. 7-DE Mario Williams We debated whether Williams should be ahead of Hughes or not. The two both use speed well, have good first moves, and can be disruptive in the run as well as the pass, but with more sacks over the past 3 seasons and a ceiling that could go even higher, we think Williams is the best edge rusher not named Campbell that a team could acquire this year. BEST FIT: Orlando . If we assume Campbell is out the door, as seems to be the case, the Renegades are going to need at least a suitable replacement. The could use a T-Draft pick on Miami’s Montez Sweat, or they could go with a known entity in Williams.   6-QB Matt McGloin So, here is the thing with McGloin: his 2018 numbers look like a total aberration when we look at everything else from 2013-2017. But, most of his earlier numbers were from 2013 and 2014 with a pretty shaky Portland club. If we believe he has matured, and that his 26 TDs and 3,180 yards this year are a sign that he is ready to be “the guy”, well, some team could get a very good QB for a very reasonable price. BEST FIT: Las Vegas . We want to say Seattle, because he earned a chance to be their QB, but they have too much invested in Jacoby Brissett to have him on the bench, so, McGloin gets his shot to prove himself by following Eli Manning as the leader of the Viper offense. We should add that you also cannot rule out New Orleans in this race.   5-WR Victor Cruz 2018 was a huge down year for Cruz, who was over 1,100 yards in both 2016 and 2017. At only 31, we don’t think this is an age thing, or a “losing a step” thing, more like a less-than-friendly relationship with QB Andy Dalton. Cruz has a huge chance to rebound with a new team. BEST FIT: Jacksonville . The Bulls need a homerun hitter. Justin Blackmon is a solid receiver, but he is not that. Of course, they also need a QB, and Cruz may hesitate to sign with them if they don’t have one, so that is a factor, but if they can land a quality QB, we think the potential is there for Cruz to regain his 1,200-yard form as the Bulls’ deep threat.   4-QB Ryan Nassib Like McGloin, something of a one-season wonder. How much of his success was the talent and system around him, especially when that same group and that same coach made David Carr a 2-time MVP. Watching the tape, however, we are impressed by Nassib’s confidence, decision-making, and delivery. We think he is the real deal and someone will pay to have the real deal at QB. BEST FIT: Los Angeles . What? Don’t they already have a starter? Yes, but Bradford has not exactly been lighting things up. With so many teams in the QB hunt, we think the Express would be able to find a suitor for Bradford if they went bold and signed Nassib to a big money deal to be their new QB. Of course, they need a coach first, but it should be on the table at least.   3-CB Patrick Robinson A pure shut-down, lock-up, press corner who can take down half the field. Who doesn’t want that? Well, the price tag may mean that some simply cannot be in the market for Peterson’s talents. So, a limited field of options, but still enough for him to play 2-3 bidders against each other. BEST FIT: Houston . The Gamblers have funds, have few other needs, and have a Wade Phillips defense that loves aggressive corners. Picture Robinson in the same defensive backfield with Janoris Jenkins and Kenny Vaccaro and their won’t be a place to throw the ball where someone is not getting hit.   2- LB Bryan Orakpo Too good not to be the among the highest paid LBs in the game, and too good to keep playing on a completely dysfunctional Tampa Bay defense. Orakpo is an immediate team captain, leader on and off the field, and a guy that you can build your entire defense around. BEST FIT: Pittsburgh . The retirement of Paul Posluszny gives the Maulers a chance to move from a defense that stuffs the run to one that blows plays up behind the line. Orakpo would be huge lined up behind Aaron Donald. Every center’s nightmare in that combo.   1-DT Albert Haynesworth We debated about putting Orakpo at the top spot, but while Haynesworth is likely only a 1-2 year addition, what an addition he is!! We saw how he opened things up for Calais Campbell in Orlando, and his presence in Houston the past two seasons have made the Gamblers one of the best pass rush teams in the league. He is a run-stuffer, a line-disruptor, with 9 sacks of his own this year, and he makes DE’s that much more dangerous. BEST FIT: Chicago . As much as we would love to see Haynesworth end up wherever Campbell does, we don’t think most teams can afford that. Chicago can afford, however, to line up Haynesworth alongside Jason Pierre-Paul, which is its own nasty combo, and would give Albert a chance to once again turn a team into a sack-producing machine. (Machine, see what we did there?)   We are down to 4 teams and 2 games to determine who will appear in Summer Bowl 2018 next week in New Orleans. It is a battle of the 2 top seeds in the West, while the 3 hosts the 4 in the East. Here is our breakdown of both games as you head into Conference Championship Weekend.   (4) Houston Gamblers @ (3) New Jersey Generals Sunday, July 22 @ 1pm ET MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ Gamblers -5   As rare as it is to have a road team favored by this much in a playoff game, when that road team is the 12-4 Gamblers, with the league’s best offense, and the home team is a 9-win Generals team that has been up and down all season long, it really is not a shock. These two met in MetLife Stadium back in Week 10, with Houston coming away with an 11 point win, 21-10. In that game the Generals limited Carlos Hyde to 43 yards rushing on 25 attempts, a paltry 1.7 yards per carry, but in doing so they struggled to contain Colt McCoy and the passing game, with McCoy connecting with both Mike Evans and Josh Reynolds for scores. Now, we should say that this was a game started by Ricky Stanzi for New Jersey, so the rematch may well be a lot closer.   Statistically, this game still leans towards the Gamblers, with Houston ranked 2nd in the league in points per game at 27.1 and again 2nd in yards per game at 369.6 per game, while New Jersey’s numbers are considerably lower: 20.5 PPG (16th in the league) and 304.2 YPG (21st in the league). Where New Jersey succeeded this year was in run defense (only 81.5 YPG) and in keeping teams out of the endzone, allowing only 17.5 PPG. Houston’s run defense was also solid, 7th in the league at 82.6 YPG allowed, but they did struggle against the pass despite a solid pass rush.   OUR PICK: The numbers point to Houston, as does the history, and while we think New Jersey will prove to be a bit more formidable an opponent with Nick Foles at QB, we just think Houston is the better team. Our pick is Houston 28-22 and on to The Big Easy.   (2) Oakland Invaders @ (1) Arizona Wranglers Sunday, July 22 @ 6pm ET University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ Wranglers -8   The Western Final is a clear clash of styles, with Oakland relying on their top tier defense and using a mix of run and pass to shorten games, keeping them in the teens in most instances, while Arizona is all about the big play, the deep ball and the takeaway. The Wranglers lead the league at 389.4 yards per game, and while their defense is solid, ranked 11th in points allowed and 17th in yards allowed, this is not the shut down defense of the past few years.   The two last met in Week 13, and Oakland came in red hot, taking all the Wranglers could dish out and then showing they could put up points as well in a 39-34 victory for the visiting Invaders. In that game Oakland rushed for 176 yards, with Christian McCaffrey leading the way with 92 yards on the ground, but with Knile Davis also contributing 60 yards and a score. It was also one of Jimmy G’s better games, completing 23 of 32 for 230 and 2 scores. But, in that same game Ryan Nassib seemed unstoppable, throwing for 4 scores and 304 yards. Both Bryant and Fitzgerald had over 100 yards in the outing, with 3 TDs between them.   OUR PICK: We don’t expect these two teams to run up and down the field the way they did in the regular season. Both defenses will be more intense and should be able to make more stops, but we still think this will be a close one. So what do we see as the difference between the two? Experience. Arizona has been here before, with this being their 4th Conference Title Game in the past 5 years. That means confidence, even with a new QB, and it means they know what it takes to win. Our pick is Arizona 24-20 over the Invaders.

Was it a week of nail biting, last second, down to the wire action? No, it was not, with the margins of victory in Wild Card Weekend being 32, 15, 21, and 11 points, this was not the weekend for late game drama. What we did see was a clear separation from the “knew they should be there” and the “glad to be there” crowds. In both conferences what we got were the 5 and 6 seeds being eliminated, and the 3 and 4 seeds moving on to the Divisional round, which should not feel so strange, and yet we have gotten so used to Wild Card Weekend upsets, that it does feel a bit strange to see a Divisional Round featuring exclusively the 1-seed against the 4, and the 3 visiting the 2.   Regardless of the large differential in games, and the victories by all 4 home favorites, it was still playoff football, and we will break down each game for you. We will also discuss the spate of retirement announcements over the past week, including a few players who may well be very difficult for their teams to replace. We will take a look at the QB situation among all 28 teams as we prepare for the offseason, and we will get you up to speed on early interviews for the league’s 5 vacant coaching positions. We kick it all off with our look at the week’s retirement news.   QBs Lead Early Retirements Wildcard Weekend brings two things every year, the excitement of playoff football and the realization that rosters will change this offseason. It is too early for free agency, that starts up 4 days after Summer Bowl 2018, but with the end of the season for 16 of the league’s 28 teams, we start to get the first wave of retirement announcements. These are often players who have notified their teams, if no one else, that they intend to hang up their cleats at the end of the year. The week only makes those decisions public. So far, at this early stage, it seems safe to say that there are no big shockers, with most of the announcements somewhat expected. But, that does not mean that these will not be players who will be missed by their squads. We start with the 2 quarterbacks whose retirements we already knew well in advance, and then we will hit the rest of the impactful announcements from the week.    Eli Manning, QB-LV This was known and celebrated for the latter half of the season, but it will still be a huge hit for a Vipers team still trying to find an identity after moving from Nashville. Manning is considered by many a borderline Hall of Fame candidate, borderline only because he never won a title. But with over 40,000 yards passing and 214 TDs, Manning certainly was a franchise QB, and a great addition to the new franchise in Sin City. Finding a replacement to become the new face of the franchise will be job one for Coach Neuheisel, GM Phil Savage, and the entire Vipers organization.   Matt Leinart, QB-DEN After 14 seasons as the starter in Denver, Matt Leinart leaves with a lot of fond memories, but no championship ring. Leinart is another borderline Hall of Fame candidate. The stats are there, again 40,000 yards, 239 touchdowns, but no title. He had one of his best seasons in 2018, with 21 TDs to only 8 picks, but it still was not enough to get Denver to the playoffs. The Gold, quite distinct from Las Vegas’s situation, already have their QB of the Future (now QB of the Present) in house as 1st round draft pick Josh Allen spent the entire season watching, learning, and working with QB guru Jordan Palmer to transition his game to the pro level in preparation for the job in 2019.   Bob Sanders, SS-CHI After 15 seasons in the USFL, first with Washington, then New Jersey, and finally Chicago, Bob Sanders has been perennially solid, occasionally great, winning All-USFL accolades 3 times. He retires with over 1,000 tackles (1074), 38 sacks, 16 picks, and over 200 starts.   Patrick Chung, SS-JAX Another veteran centerfielder, Chung spent most of his career in Houston, winning a title with the Gamblers in 2010. He made his lone All-USFL team in 2015 with the Gamblers, and parlayed that season into a nice contract with Jacksonville. He retires with 624 tackles, 21 sacks, and 7 career picks.   Jason Taylor, LB/Edge-BAL Taylor came to the USFL after several very strong years in the NFL, mostly with Miami. He was expected to be a 2-3 year bridge player, but retires after 9 years in the league. He produced only 42 sacks in those 9 years, but was solid against the run and helped Baltimore claim their only league title in team history in 2014.   Paul Posluszny, LB-PIT The “Poz” (a nice riff on USFL HOFer Brian Bosworth), was a fixture in the middle for several teams over his USFL career. He came into the league in the 2007 Draft and was a 1st day starter in Philadelphia. After 3 seasons in Philly he moved on to Orlando before finishing his career in Pittsburgh. Known for his ability to stuff the run or drop back into coverage, Poz retires with 174 starts, 1,038 tackles, 20 sacks and 18 picks.   Will Allen, FS-BIR A 15-year veteran of the USFL, Allen made a name for himself in Oakland before moving on to Boston/Dallas, and finishing with 2 one-year stints in Tampa Bay and Birmingham. A ball-hawking safety, Allen could also dish out the hits. He retires with 747 tackles, 34 picks, 18 sacks, and 8 career defensive TDs.   CB Cortland Finnegan-PHI In both Orlando and Philadelphia “Finn” was considered an outstanding zone coverage corner who was also solid with tackles in the run game. He retires with 901 tackles and 39 picks. He was also a quick study of the “Peanut Punch”, producing 15 forced fumbles after picking up the famous Cedrick Tillman punch move in his tackles.   Erik Pears, OT-LA After 14 years in the league and 10 locking down the right side of the LA Express line, Pears retires at 35 years old. He became the regular starter in 2008 and was known for his pancake blocks in the run game.   Mike Nugent, K-PHI A career Star, Nugent retires with a career 82.2 FG% (396 of 482), 1682 career points, topping Philly legend David Trout in PATs made, while finishing 2nd in Philly history in several other kicking categories. But, the one category that may well be remembered for a long time was an accomplishment this year, when he connected on a league record tying 63-yard field goal, matching Jeff Hall’s 2008 record. The kick gives him a 63, 62, and 61 yarder in his career, placing him on the Top 10 list for longest USFL kicks three times.   Others announcing this week include tight ends Delanie Walker (DEN) and Brent Celek (LA), Wideouts Harry Douglas (BAL) and Erik Decker (STL), linemen Stacy Andrews (CHI), Carl Nicks (TBY), Deuce Lutui (STL), and Nick Hardwick (JAX), and DT Atiyyah Ellison (WSH). We also know that QB Drew Brees is stepping away, but he still has work to do this year with the Breakers in action this week in the Divisional Playoffs.   CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 6   NEW JERSEY GENERALS 38 This game felt competitive for 30 minutes, with the Generals holding a reasonable 14-6 lead at the half, but the second half saw complete and utter domination by the Generals, scoring the only points of the half and adding 24 unanswered to their 8-point lead. And if you missed the game and are wondering how it could have turned so severely, there is one obvious reason, Mitch Trubisky had to leave the game midway through the 2nd quarter with a rib injury that simply made it impossible for him to put any velocity on his passes. Backup Tyler Thigpen, having had very few snaps in practice, was simply not ready to come in, taking 3 big sacks, throwing a costly pick early in the 3rd, and simply faltering in place of the season-long starter.   Add to these issues a New Jersey defense that was so keyed in on HB Adrian Peterson, that the former NFL star was held to a ludicrous 13 yards on 12 attempts. That is a miserable 1.1 yards per carry. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, Maurice Jones Drew was averaging 5.5 per touch, including 2 touchdowns, as the Generals just poured on the points in the second half. In addition to the two MJD scores, New Jersey got TD passes from Foles to both Muhamed Sanu and Odell Beckham Jr, as well as a game-closing pick-six from Quinton Carter.   It was exactly what General fans wanted, a dominant performance and a confidence-builder as they prepare to face the 2-seed Atlanta Fire next week. For Charlotte, it was everything they dreaded, an injury to a key player, a failure to establish balance, and an overall let down that included 2 missed field goals, 10 of 14 third down conversions failing, and a general lack of comeback ability once things started to go south.   Stars of the Game: HB Maurice Jones-Drew: 26 Att, 144 Yds, 2 TD                                   LB Chase Blackburn: 10 Tck, 1 PDef                                  CB Aqib Talib: 9 Tck, 4 PDef MICHIGAN PANTHERS 37   SAN DIEGO THUNDER 48 The second game of Saturday’s slate felt quite a bit more competitive, with Michigan coming back on San Diego multiple times, but when you look over the boxscore, what you notice is that despite this sense that it was a closer game than the final score indicated, you see that the Thunder took a 7-point lead late in the 2nd quarter and would never trail again. Their lead fluctuated, from 7 points to 144, then 7, then 14 again, then 11, then 4, then bac ku to 11, and 17, before finally settling at 11 for the final score. So, yes, Michigan was in the game, but they never retook the lead after that 2nd quarter score.   So, how did the Thunder do it. Two things were clear, they were going to allow LeVeon Bell to have his share of runs, but they were going to focus on making life miserable for Kirk Cousins. They may have only sacked him twice, but he took countless hits, had to scramble out of the pocket far more than he likes to do, and he did force two bad throws, both picked off (it honestly could have been 3 or 4 picks). On offense, San Diego found the big plays that eluded the Panthers, with a 74-yard throw to Colston, along with a 42-yard TD toss, a 64-yarder to DeVante Parker, and a 44-yard throw and catch to Nick Toon. The big “chunk” plays were nearly all for San Diego, especially in the second half.   Michigan started quite strong, putting up the first 13 points of the game, worrying the San Diego faithful that they would be in for another rough outing in the postseason, but the Thunder rallied in the 2nd quarter, scoring a ridiculous 27 points to fly past the Panthers in a span of barely 10 minutes. In that span, we saw 2 field goals by Reed, followed by a TD from Ponder to Toon, then a pick by Cousins, leading to the Marques Colston 42-yard score, and then, to rub it in, a 2nd Cousins pick, this one returned all the way for 6 by LB Myles Jack. So, from a 13-0 deficit, the Thunder went into the half with a 27-13 advantage.   Michigan fought back, starting with a LeVeon Bell TD run to open the 3rd, but every time they did, San Diego had a response. A Ryan Williams TD run from 15 yards out, Colston’s 2nd TD, and finally the big throw to DeVante Parker that put San Diego up 18 with only 6 minutes to play. Yes, Michigan pulled back 7 points, but they needed 3 scores and that was simply not going to happen. The defending champs were simply not the same team this year. The fire was not there, the breaks did not go their way, and the Thunder were simply the better team on the day, giving the city its first ever USFL home playoff victory celebration.   Stars of the Game: QB Christian Ponder: 15/29, 322 Yds, 4 TD, 0 int                                WR Marques Colston: 4 Rec, 133 Yds, 2 TD                                 LB Myles Jack: 2 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD PORTLAND STAGS 10   OHIO GLORY 31 Another good start that quickly turned ugly as Portland put up the first points of the game in Columbus, then suffered as the Glory responded with a 31-3 run to walk away with the game and set up a matchup with Oakland next week. The Ohio defense, often unsung and certainly not stocked with big names, did their job for sure, sacking Mariota 4 times, securing a pick-six in the final minutes of the game, and holding Tate & Martin to a respectable, but not game-impacting 80 yards combined.   The Ohio offense was not splashy, their longest score on the day was from the 9-yard line, but what they lacked in explosiveness, they made up for in efficiency. Pead and Carter combined for 133 yards and a score. Hackenberg completed 19 of 25 passes, while getting sacked only once by the anemic Stag pass rush. That combination forced Portland to play vanilla defense, and in drips and drabs, medium gains, short gains, and key 3rd downs, Ohio just kept adding points. The Glory won the turnover battle 2-0, held the ball for 5 more minutes, had 7 more first downs, and were better on 3rd down. When you can say all that, you are probably winning that game.   Stars of the Game: QB Christian Hackenberg: 19/25, 200 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int                                  WR Mario Manningham: 8 Rec, 88 Yds, 1 TD                                 SS Ryan Neal: 5 Tck, 1 PDef, 1 Int, 1 Def TD MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 20   HOUSTON GAMBLERS 35 Perhaps the most purely entertaining of the week’s games, something we largely expected out of these two Southern Division foes. The Showboats outpaced the Gamblers, with 448 yards of offense to Houston’s 378, but a 3-1 turnover deficit and 7 penalties to Houston’s lone infraction, all paired with yet another scoring streak, a period when Houston went from a 13-7 deficit to a 35-13 advantage, and this game swung towards the team that simply made more big plays.   The Gamblers fell down 13-7 after a 2nd quarter Lynch to Clayton TD, and the score stayed their until the half, creating a lot of nervous Texans at the snack bars during the break. But, as so often happens in the USFL, halftime adjustments swung momentum. Houston would score 28 unanswered points before Memphis added a late TD, opening up the 3rd with a long McCoy to Evans TD pass, then adding another to Vernon Davis. The 4th quarter saw Carlos Hyde score on consecutive drives and it was 35-13 and all those nervous Texans were now ready to party.   Hyde would win the game MVP for his 111 rushing yards, 67 receiving yards, and 3 combined TDs, but this was just as much a victory for the Houston defense, which held Memphis out of scoring range for the better part of the second half, giving up a late TD only after they had built out a 22-point advantage. They got 3 picks, including 2 from CB Janoris Jenkins (in for the injured Leodis McKelvin) and held Todd Gurley to only 2.6 yards per carry on his way to a 45-yard day.   Houston now moves on to another huge Southern Division clash, as they will visit New Orleaans to take on the Breakers, both clubs sitting with identical 12-4 records, but Houston having to play the extra week due to a tiebreaker costing them the division crown.   Stars of the Game:  HB Carlos Hyde: 18 Att, 111 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Rec, 67 Yds, 1 TD                                  QB Colt McCoy: 16/29, 262 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int                                CB Janoris Jenkins: 8 Tck, 5 PDef, 2 Int   MJD and Generals topple the Monarchs Maurice Jones-Drew has not been shy all season long about his role in the Generals’ offense, his desire to be considered for a major award, and his desire to turn stats into wins. Well, he certainly attained the latter this week, with a dominant performance against Charlotte pushing the Generals into a Divisional Round matchup with another Southeastern team in Atlanta. It was not a game where MJD broke off big run after big run. He did have a very nice 29-yarder for his longest of the day, but it was a constant barrage of 4, 5, and 6-yard runs that wore down the Monarchs and helped New Jersey dominate the second half.   MJD finished with 144 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns, and a 5.5 YPC average, all testaments to the power and stamina of “Pocket Hercules”. He may be disappointed when the MVP or OPOTY votes come out (solid money is on a QB for the former, and on either Bell or Evans for the latter), but there is no doubt that MJD is turning stats into wins and that he has the full respect of the league, and the full attention of the Atlanta Fire coming up this week.   Ponder Shines vs. Michigan If there was any questioning of Coach LeBeau’s decision to keep Christian Ponder at the helm of the San Diego offense when season starter Joe Webb came back from injury, his performance in this week’s Wild Card matchup against the defending league champs certainly put that to bed. Ponder was at his best, throwing 4 touchdowns and no picks against a very talented Michigan secondary that features Dre Kirkpatrick and Jabril Peppers.   Ponder was under pressure from the Panthers, who blitzed him often, but still completed 15 of 29 passes, averaging over 11 yards per completion, and finding big plays to multiple receivers, including a 42-yard TD to Colston, a 64-yard score to DeVante Parker, and a beautiful 44-yard scrambling throw to Nick Toon. The former NFL “washout” showed he had the stuff to be a true difference maker for the Thunder. He and Marques Colston have become tight, and it shows on the field. So, now the question is not who starts for San Diego when they head to Arizona to face the Wranglers, but what the Thunder will do with Webb this offseason. The veteran starter is under contract through 2019, but will he play second fiddle, demand a trade, or compete with Ponder in camp? Ohio “Who Dey” Defense Shut Out Stags in 2nd Half Yes, it is a bit of copyright infringement to call the Ohio Glory defense the “Who Dey” defense. After all, it is in-state NFL “rival” Cincinnati who coined the “Who Dey” chant, but at the same time, many of the Glory fans also claim the Bengals as their team, and, to be honest, when you look across the Glory defense, it might make sense to ask “Who dey?”.  This is not a team with a lot of names you might recognize, though certainly team captain James Laurinaitis certainly made a name for himself when he was playing for the Buckeyes. Others, like Marcel Dareus, Kamerion Wemberley, and Ryan Shazier should be bigger names around the league. Their play the past few seasons has merited more attention than this club from the center of the Buckeye state often gets.   After knocking Michigan from the top of the Central Division, shutting out Marcus Mariota and the Stags for the final 30 minutes of their Wild Card game, and winning their first playoff game since 2007, you know fans in Columbus are aware of this defense. And they are not alone, you can bet that there are a lot of folks in Oakland who are very aware of how good the “Who Dey” defense has been playing for the Glory. Coach Kubiak and the Invader offense is going to be taking that question very seriously, as they try to not only learn who “dey” are, but what they can and cannot do against the Invader offense.   Houston’s 28-0 Scoring Run Sinks Showboats To say that Houston won a game by simply outscoring an opponent is nothing new. They were doing that long before Colt McCoy became the starter. But, when you pair regular TD drives with regular stops on defense, well, that just seems unfair. That is what happened during a 28-0 run that turned a 13-7 deficit into a devastating 35-13 lead for the Gamblers.   It is all the names you would expect it to be—McCoy, Hyde, Evans, Smith-Schuster, Davis—too many topflight offensive weapons for nearly any defense to handle. Certainly it is a talent pool that the Breakers and Coach Lamar Lathon, a former All-USFL linebacker himself, are well aware of. The Breakers had their difficulties with Houston’s talented offense this year, giving up 31 and 38 points in their split-series with the Gamblers. They won in Week 3 by outscoring Houston in a shootout, then lost 38-35 6 weeks later. So now they face that potent offense, but also the possibility that the Gambler D is just a bit more coherent, a nasty combination, but one the 1-seed need to have an answer for if they want to move on in the postseason.   Thunder Lose Sack Leader in Wild Card Win It was not all sunshine and high fives in San Diego’s 48-37 victory over Michigan. They might have taken a significant hit when DE Jonathan Newsome went down with an ankle issue. Newsome was a revelation for the Thunder this year, racking up 15 sacks to lead the club. He added a 16th, along with several pressures, against Michigan, but midway through the 4th quarter he went down after stepping on the foot of the OT, and landing awkwardly. The ankle could be solid enough for him to make an appearance in the Conference Championship, but in order to do that, he will have to miss this week’s Divisional game at Arizona. Sen’Drick Marks, who had only 3 sacks this season, will step in, but may well struggle to fill the shoes of the Thunder’s best edge rusher.  Shaq Mason To Miss Playoff Run for Gamblers Another injury that could impact the Divisional round is in Houston, where the Gamblers lost center Shaq Mason for the rest of the playoffs after the big man got caught in a dogpile and emerged with a fracture to his right arm. Mason will not be able to play even if Houston reaches the Summer Bowl, meaning that they will have to turn to Travis Swanson, who has a total of 42 snaps at center this season. There is some speculation that Houston may also sub in tackle Marcus Cannon at center periodically to ensure more continuity on the line. Cannon would move over from RT and Chad Rinehart would take over on the end. Either way, it is a significant adjustment for an offense that is about as complex and demands as much as any in the league from their linemen.  We have highlighted the two major injuries that came out of the Wild Card round. Here is the full injury list for all four upcoming Divisional games.   NJ: HB Kiero Small (OUT) ATL: WR Pharoh Cooper (OUT), G Trevor Canfield (OUT), DE William Gholston (D)                   DT Sione Pouha (P)   OHI: SS Tyran Mathieu (OUT) OAK: LB Tavares Gooden (OUT), DT Rakeem Nunes-Roches (P)   HOU: C Shaq Mason (OUT), CB Leodis McKelvin (OUT), SS Budda Baker (OUT),          DT R. J. McIntosh (P) NOR: OT Willie Colon (OUT), CB Tra’Davious White (Q)   SD: DE Jonathan Newsome (OUT), FS Mark Barron (OUT), LB A. J. Hawk (P) ARZ: QB David Carr (OUT), DE Da’Shawn Hand (D)   COACHING CAROUSEL We start our look around the league with updates on the five vacant head coaching positions. Not a lot of action yet, but we are starting to see some feelers going out, and some interest in coaches currently under contract with the league’s playoff teams.   Birmingham: The Stallions are still looking to fill the GM position first, so we expect some pause before they get serious about the head coach position. With both positions open, there is a chance we see Birmingham delay any coaching search until the conclusion of the NFL fall season, though that only makes sense if their top target is a current NFL coach. If they are going for a USFL coordinator, they could act sooner, but it seems clear they want a new GM to be part of that process.   Los Angeles: The Express seem eager to get someone signed, but just who remains a mystery. Rumors have them speaking with former Seattle Dragon coach Marvin Lewis, former NFL head coach Jon Gruden, and recently released Oklahoma Coach Tom Ramsey (a former Express QB back in the 80’s).   Oklahoma: No word yet on if the Outlaws have been in communication with former OH head coach Bob Stoops, but we do know that fans in the state want that to happen. They have asked about setting up a time to speak with Oakland DC Reggie Herring, but that won’t happen as long as Herring has work to do with the Invaders in the playoffs.   Orlando: The Renegades may well be the club closest to announcing a hire as they seem to have locked their eyes on former Mauler head coach Ron Rivera. Rivera would be a defensive-minded hire, which makes sense if they want to keep Calais Campbell happy, and, certainly, Rivera brings a solid resume with him. Orlando is also very likely going to try to find a big-name OC as well, in an effort to revive a group that was pretty hit-and-miss this year, but likely will not do so until they have their head coach in place.   Tampa Bay: Nothing yet out of Bandit camp, where word is that Steve Spurrier is not a candidate for a 3rd tenure at the helm of the club he helped build in the 80s. Some fans on local sports radio may want a 3rd Spurrier regime, but it seems that neither the Bandits nor Spurrier himself have any interest in a 3rd term for the “Head Ball Coach”.   Could Memphis Lose Clayton & Marshall to Free Agency? There is no shortage of teams with potential contract conundrums. From Arizona having to let the league’s QB Rating leader go because they are locked in on David Carr as their starter, Seattle discovering how good Matt McGloin can be, and then having to let him loose as well, but Memphis’s WR situation may be one of the toughest. Memphis has pretty good cap space for this offseason, more than enough to resign some key players and still go shopping in free agency and the draft for some roster improvements. That is a good position for a team who went 11-5 to be able to boast, but they also have a few players making what many would call unrealistic demands.   At the top of the list are two of their top receivers. Mark Clayton, who finished 2nd in both receptions and yards (79 for 843) and Brandon Marshall, who is used mostly in 3-WR sets as a deep threat, are both asking for pretty big pay increases. Of course, with Robert Woods signed for the next 3 seasons, any pay hike for either, but especially Clayton, is likely to produce a demand for renegotiation from Woods as well, after all, he was the leader in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, so he certainly can ask to be the highest paid receiver.   Now, throw in DE Mario Williams, who is looking for Von Miller money in a contract year, FS Calvin Pryor, who wants to renegotiate his deal, LB Jarvis Jones, and backup QB Kyle Orton, and the Showboats, even with a good cap situation, could have some tough decisions to make. They don’t want to give up on both of their wideouts, especially not in a division with Houston and New Orleans among the league leaders in offense, but they may have to try to find some up-and-comers and let 1-2 key players go if they want to be financially sound going into 2019. They may not be alone in this situation, but after rising from 6-10 to 11-5, there are more players than ever looking to cash in from their success this year, and that means some are going to do so, and others may have to do so elsewhere. QB Situations Around USFL a Major Offseason Focus Sure, we could probably say this every season, but with several major retirements across the league, along with some big performances from QBs headed into free agency, and quite a few teams either in flux or seeking to upgrade at the game’s most essential position, it seems only appropriate that we look across the league and see what we see when it comes to the QB position in the 2018-2019 offseason. We are going to clump teams into groups based on how established they are and what they might be looking for this offseason, so this is not a team-by-team analysis, though some teams will get the spotlight, based on their unique situations.   TEAMS STANDING PAT These are clubs that have a solid 1-2-3 depth chart, all signed and ready to move ahead with no changes needed or wanted. Not to say that any one of these clubs would pass on a good prospect in the draft, but don’t expect any of them to make major moves for a starter, future franchise guy, or to trade away their talent.   Who is in the group?: Baltimore, Birmingham, Charlotte, Oakland, Oklahoma, Philadelphia, Pitttsburgh, Portland.   Team to Watch?: This is not really a group where we expect much to happen, but if we had to pick one team that may shake things up and surprise us, it has to be Birmingham. Until they have a new GM and HC in place we won’t know what to expect. But is it really likely that they dump Cam Newton, even with his mixed results and up-and-down play? No. More likely is that they try to find a backup who more closely parallels’ Newton’s style. Would they go after RG3 as a quasi-Newton clone? McCarron certainly is not Newton Jr, so it is not out of the question.   TEAMS WITH A POSSIBLE QB CONTROVERSY FOR 2019 These are teams that seem to have some options already on their roster but may not yet have a very obvious 1-2-3 ranking after this year. These teams are also potential landing spots for a player like Ryan Fitzpatrick, who could compete for a starting job, or may sit back as a 2, ready to jump in if needed.   Who is in the Group? Dallas, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, New Jersey, San Diego, Seattle, Tampa Bay.   Team to Watch?: This group really falls into 2 subcategories, teams looking to upgrade if a chance presents itself (Bandits, Dragons, Generals, Express) and teams looking to have 2 options because they are not sold on their number one (Bulls with Bridgewater, Roughnecks with Freeman and an unsettled Manziel situation). And then there is San Diego, who now seem set with Ponder at number one, but what does that mean for Webb? Is he on the block? Is he kept as insurance? The Thunder are in an interesting situation.   TEAMS IN SEARCH OF A FRANCHISE STARTER AT QB Every year we have several such teams, but this year we know that retirement will drive several teams to try to find a franchise guy, not just a workable starter.   Who is in the Group?: Chicago, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Washington Two certain retirements (Manning & Brees), one potential retirement we are still unsure of (Garrard) and a decision to let Fitz-magic walk in Free Agency put these teams in this situation.   Team to Watch: The Machine, Vipers, and Breakers are all losing an established starter (Chicago to free agency, the other two to retirement), so expect them to look long and hard at the rookie class. But our most interesting team is Washington. It all depends on what happens with David Garrard. Rumors have him stepping away, but he has not said anything yet, at least not publicly. The Feds are letting backup Mike Flynn walk, so that means they could be in the market for both a starter and a backup, which is a tough way to start an offseason.   TEAMS LOOKING FOR A VETERAN These are teams with young talent at the starting position, but they want someone to help mentor that starter, so, not really looking for competition, but a solid backup who can step in if needed and who will serve as a teacher for their young protégé.   Who is in the Group?: Denver, Memphis We could be putting Washington, Seattle, or Tampa Bay here, depending on what they end up deciding about their current starter. Does Garrard return? Is Brissett the clear number one? What does Prescott need to turn stats into wins, and who will be coaching the Bandits?   Team to Watch?: Memphis loves what they got from Lynch this year, so they just want to see him continue to grow. Denver does not yet know what they have in Allen, though they love his attitude and work ethic, so they may well be looking for a veteran backup who can not only mentor the young Wyoming product, but also potentially step in if Allen’s issues with accuracy have not improved with a season of QB guru Jordan Palmer’s attention.   TEAMS WHO MAY BE LOOKING FOR A DEVELOPMENTAL QB These are teams who have veteran leadership, maybe even a solid number 2, but want to look for the future. We all saw what happened in Houston as the Gamblers developed Colt McCoy over several years while Hasselbeck was still on the squad. McCoy stepped in without the team skipping a beat and they may now have an MVP QB once again. Expect teams to look in the mid-rounds of the draft for a guy who has a high ceiling but needs time.   Who is in the Group?: Arizona, Michigan, New Jersey, Orlando We repeated on New Jersey because we are just not sure if they love Foles or just see him as a bridge to a true franchise option. The others all have solid starters, if not All-USFL QBs at the helm, so they just want to put something in reserve for the future.   Team to Watch?: Arizona is a fascinating case. They have a 2-time MVP in Carr, then saw Ryan Nassib put together a possible MVP season this year, but Nassib was in a contract year and the Wranglers just don’t have the funds to resign him or the option to offer him the full-time starting gig, so he is on the market as soon as the Wranglers’ playoff run is over. That leaves a big hole behind Carr, but after seeing how Coach Tomsula developed Nassib in only 2 years, we think they go for a mid-draft QB and try to do the exact same thing.   If your team was not here, what does it mean. Most likely it means that their only QB move is to add a low-cost number 3, or maybe sign a backup who could maybe be a 2, but has no specific need to do something dramatic. So, not much to say for teams like St. Louis, Ohio, or Atlanta, who simply will focus in other areas for impact additions to their teams.   And, just for those of you wondering, who is available in both the free agent pool and the potential rookie class of 2019. Here is a quick breakdown:   USFL Free Agents: This is the best, deepest, and most interesting pool, with potential 2018 MVP Ryan Nassib here, along with Matt McGloin, who Seattle simply cannot afford to keep, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is likely not a clearcut starter after several up-and-down years in Chicago, and Robert Griffin III, who has had his wow moments, but few wins in Jacksonville. Add in some veteran backups like Kyle Orton, Brett Hundley, Mike Flynn, and you have a very deep pool.   NFL Free Agents: Way too early to know who will be in the pool when the 2018 NFL season is over, because there are a lot of great options in contract years, but we know most will not be there come January. Available right now for the upcoming September pool, the biggest name is former NY Jets QB Geno Smith, along with controversial former 49er Colin Kaepernick, and backups Mike Glennon and Josh Johnson.   Rookie Class of 2019: The top prospects expected to come out in the 2019 draft class include Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray, Duke’s Daniel Jones, Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins, and Missouri’s Drew Lock. This is not as flashy a class as 2018, but it may have more depth, with some good looking 2nd-5th round options like West Virginia’s Will Grier, Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham, or another guy with huge numbers in the FBS, North Dakota State’s Easton Stick.   On to the divisional matchups, and that means 4 more games over 2 weeks, now with the top 4 seeds in each conference all matched up in 1 v. 4 and 2 v. 3 setups. So, will the home favorites take the games, or will we see some upsets? Here is our breakdown of each of the 4 games, along with the Las Vegas lines.   (3) New Jersey Generals @ (2) Atlanta Fire Saturday, July 14 @ 3pm ET Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA Fire -1   Atlanta earning only a 1-point advantage in Vegas means that there is a lot of doubt that they can maximize home field to beat a very tough New Jersey team. When we look at the numbers, we can see why folks might be nervous about the Fire. The number that jumps right out is their 24th ranked run defense. When you have Maurice Jones-Drew coming into town, that low ranking has to make you nervous. But, on the positive side, Atlanta is one of the better ball control teams in the league, with a solid run game and effective short passing game as well. They may well try to grind out a low scoring win by holding onto the ball as much as they can. As for New Jersey, they come in with the league’s 3rd best scoring defense and one of the best run defenses in the USFL as well, so Atlanta cannot assume they can run the ball to eat clock against this Generals team. The strengths of New Jersey align well with Atlanta’s issues, and their defense could force Atlanta to be one dimensional, which does not often work well for the Fire.   OUR PICK: We share in the Vegas books’ skepticism of the Fire. Yes, they are a hot team, having won six in a row, but the matchups with New Jersey seem to fall in favor of the NE Division Champs. We are going to say it is a low-scoring match, but one the Generals pull out thanks to that run game. Generals 16-13. (3) Ohio Glory @ (2) Oakland Invaders Saturday, July 14 @ 7pm ET Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA Invaders -4   The Invaders get a 4-point edge from the books, and that makes sense. They have been pretty solid at home, They also went into Columbus in Week 3 and walloped the Glory by a score of 32-13. Now, that was when Brock Osweiler was in for an injured Hackenberg, and Osweiler is not only the starter this week, he isn’t even with the team any more. So, we hope Oakland is not counting on that early season game as a sign that they have this in the bag. They do still have the league’s 2nd best scoring defense, allowing only 16.6 points per game, but the offense has been shaky, which, against Ohio, could be an issue. Ohio’s numbers are not quite as good on defense, but, as we saw in the Wild Card round, they are certainly capable of shutting teams down when necessary. The key for the Glory may be how well Isaiah Pead can get the ground game going. With it, Hackenberg will have time to make his play-action throws. Without it, the Glory have to open things up, and that is not their game.   OUR PICK: This one is tough, because it really could swing either way, but as much as we love what we are seeing from Ohio this year, we think Oakland just has more talent, especially if Bobby Wagner and that defense can start strong. We think the game will be tight, but we see the Invaders moving on. Oakland 17-13.   (4) Houston Gamblers @ (1) New Orleans Breakers Sunday, July 15 @ 3pm ET Mercedes Benz Super Dome, New Orleans, LA Breakers -2   This one should be fun. Both teams have offensive explosiveness, but they both also have defenses that can take over a game. The Breakers have the top scoring offense in the league and a Top 10 defense, including the best defense in the league against the run. Houston is 2nd in scoring, 2nd in yards, and in passing. They also have a solid defense, 7th against the run.   So, what do we see as the key here? We think it comes down to the big plays. Which team can connect on more deep balls? Have more runs break through the front 7? Force more mismatches? There are just so many weapons in this game, if we knew who could find those mismatches and exploit them, we would know who wins.   OUR PICK: The two split their series this year, with both games very close down to the wire. We expect nothing less this third time around. But, since both games were won by the home team, and since we expect a loud and fully rowdy N’awlins crowd on hand in the dome, we are going to give the slight edge to the Breakers. New Orleans 33-31.   (4) San Diego Thunder @ (1) Arizona Wranglers Sunday, July 15 @ 7pm ET University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ Wranglers -6   It is no easy task to go into Glendale and get a win, even tougher if your best pass rusher is out of commission. That is San Diego’s challenge. Arizona has more experience, more playoff history, more depth, and certainly more on offense. San Diego has enough talent, however, to make this one a tough win for the Wranglers. If they are not on their game, or if Nassib struggles with the pressure of the playoffs, we could certainly imagine the Thunder pulling off the road upset.   The pressure is on Arizona, since most would expect them to win. But if San Diego can play loose, if they can get Ryan Williams into some good early runs, it will make the game more manageable for Christian Ponder and the Thunder offense. On defense, the key for San Diego is to rein in Fitzgerald and Bryant. If they can keep the passes short and in front of the safeties, they can keep Arizona from those back-breaking chunk plays and dramatic scores.   OUR PICK: A lot of “if” situations for San Diego. That is because Arizona is clearly in the better position, and they have the playoff experience to not be overtaken by the moment. We cannot pick against them in this one. Our pick is Arizona, 27-21.

I don’t know what else you could want from a USFL regular season final week. We had a true play-in game on Sunday night, we had Wild Card battles in the Northeast, South, Southwest, and Pacific Divisions. We had teams battling for bye weeks, for home field, and for their playoff lives. We had tiebreakers and heartbreakers. It was a week to remember and one I hope you did not miss. So, what were the results? We will get to that soon enough, but first we will start with the big story of the week, 4 more coaches joining Andy Reid and John Fox on the golf course as Black Monday strikes again in the USFL. Then we will cover all the big games, starting with our GOTW, the Portland-Oklahoma game that helped one team claim the final playoff spot in the league. Then all the recaps, all the stories, and our look ahead to a Wild Card Weekend that will feature a massive divisional showdown in the East and a battle of surprising playoff teams in the West. All that, plus the final Power Rankings of the season, with a few surprises as streaks take on extra value at season’s end. All now, all here, you know this is the place for all your USFL news: This Week in the USFL.   Four Join Coaching Job Hunt on Black Monday After the mid-season resignation of Andy Reid, and the Week 15 announcement from John Fox, we were not sure how many positions would be vacated on Black Monday. We had a feeling that Interim Coach of the Express Emmitt Thomas would be let go, and he was. We also suspected that a 7-9 finish was not enough to keep Henry Ellard in his position in Birmingham, and it wasn’t. We also saw the Oklahoma Outlaws opt out of the final year of their contract with Tom Ramsey after an 11-year run in San Antonio that saw only 4 playoff appearances, no titles, and then a frustrating pair of 7-9 seasons in Oklahoma. It was also no surprise that Tampa Bay, suffering through a 3-13 season, has jettisoned offensive “genius” June Jones , whose version of the run & shoot provided plenty of stats for Dak Prescott and Dalvin Cook, but could not provide wins for the team.   So, four more coaches let, go meaning there are 5 positions available in the league. Before we get to our picks for the perfect candidates for each position, a note about a few coaches who must be thanking their lucky stars that they get another chance (at least that is what we think, though they could get a pink slip at any point this offseason, so don’t breathe too easy). Among the surprise retentions we have Baltimore’s Jim Caldwell, who many saw as on the hot seat after his Blitz club slid all the way to a 10-loss season, but a few late season upsets, and a sense that the team very much supports the coach who won them a league title only 4 years ago, and Caldwell gets a chance to rebound with the Blitz. Another coach who has to be thankful today, Las Vegas’s Rick Neuheisel, whose Vipers slid from division champs to 7-9, but it was only a 2-game difference, one that could be blamed on Eli Manning’s midseason injury, so Neuheisel returns and now will face the challenge of finding a replacement for the retiring Manning. Oh, and a few 1st year coaches who got the benefit of the doubt after poor seasons, largely because they need time to work with the GMs to rebuild their rosters. That is you Kliff Kingsbury (Dallas) and Brian Flores (Jacksonville). Expect major overhauls to both teams, especially at QB this offseason.   So, what about the 5 open positions. What does each team need? What might they do as they head into their offseason? Here is our best guess:   BIRMINGHAM: The Stallions are not far from competing, though they are in a brutal division with 3 teams that won 11 or more games this year. They saw significant improvement on the defense, but the offense runs hot & cold. What they need is a coach who can delegate play-calling and focus on a scheme and a culture of discipline, execution, and players taking accountability for themselves. We think a disciplinarian in the mold of Ohio’s Tom Coughlin would be ideal, but who is that coach? We are not sure, though we like what we saw from the Ohio defense (which is 50% Coughlin), so maybe Ohio DC Jim Schwartz.   LOS ANGELES: The story going into 2018 was that LA had a solid D and an incoherent offense. Well, we got it half right. The Express offense remained a muddle, finishing 25th in points scored and 26th in yardage, despite a 1,000-yard season from Reggie Bush. The defense, however, was a huge disappointment, so much so that star LB Clay Matthews has openly declared he is leaving in free agency. So, what we think LA needs is a coach who can rebuild the team almost as if they were an expansion team. Someone who can take advantage of their 1st overall draft choices, and the USC talent pool in the T-Draft. That means experienced, focused, and a proven commodity. Two names come to mind, former Seattle Head Coach Marvin Lewis and former NFL “superstar” coach John Gruden, both available if you can pull them out of broadcasting and both the kind of big name that will get some sour LA fans to buy season tickets even for a rebuilding club.   OKLAHOMA: There is certainly talent in OKC, with Joe Flacco, Marshawn Lynch, emerging WR Dede Westbrook, and a defense that has Pacman Jones and LB Jonathan Moulton, but the Outlaws are a team with no clear philosophy. They need to rebuild their D around their 2 best players, and they need to find an offense that plays to the strengths of Flacco’s arm and Lynch’s legs. They need to rebuild both lines as well. But, with all these needs, we still think there is an obvious choice who will excite folks in the Sooner State, former Sooner HC Bob Stoops. Stoops has never led a pro team, but his experience in building winners and his Oklahoma credentials would make him an immediate favorite among the Outlaws new fanbase in OKC.   ORLANDO: So, here is the key to this position. If Orlando goes offense, trying to support Wilson, Perriman and a new style of offense, then that tells us that Calais Campbell may be on the way out (retiring or demanding a trade), but if they go with a current defensive coordinator, like Schwartz in Ohio or Oakland’s Reggie Herring, then Campbell could stay put and we will all wonder what happens to the offense. Our pick would be someone who could work with both squads, perhaps a college success like Georgia’s Kirby Smart or former Wisconsin & Arkansas coach Bret Bielema.   TAMPA BAY: The June Jones was short and not-so-sweet. But Tampa Bay is still very much interested in playing “Bandit Ball” and winning with a big strike offense. The problem is they finished the year 4th in yards but only 15th in scoring, and the defense, well, the less said about that, the better. We know what fans want, they want the club to once again turn to Steve Spurrier, but that seems far-fetched at best. How about finding a younger, up-and-coming offensive mind. There are plenty out there, in college, in the USFL, maybe even in Canada. How about someone like Kevin Gilbride, Joe Lombardi, or Eric Bienemy?  PORTLAND STAGS 17  OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS 10 While the showdown between Portland and Oklahoma at OGE Energy Field was not directly a play-in game, only Michigan-Seattle met that criteria, it was a game with huge playoff implications. Portland would clinch a Wild Card spot with a win, Oklahoma could still get in with a win, despite a 7-8 record, if, and only if, Denver lost in their game against Chicago. The two games were played simultaneously, so for the Outlaws, the key was to worry about Portland and not spend energy on tracking Denver’s game on the scoreboard.   For the Stags, the job was easier. All they needed was a road win. They had already beaten both Pittsburgh and Oakland on the road in the past month, so what was one more hostile crowd? They had Marcus Mariota back under center, both Ben Tate and Doug Martin available at HB and Brandin Cooks was on his way toward locking up the league title for receptions. Sure, this was Joe Flacco, but with Marshawn Lynch unavailable, the key was to play the pass on every down and force Oklahoma to run the ball with Jahvid Best and James Ridley.   That strategy, paired with both teams hoping to shorten the game and keep the score in the teens, led to a scoreless, and largely punchless first quarter, but that would change in the 2nd, when 19 of the game’s 27 points would be scored. It started simply enough, Mariota found Brandin Cooks on a nice double-move route and picked up 29 yards to place the ball inside the 20, but Oklahoma’s defense tightened, allowing only 4 yards between the two runs on first and second down, and then pressuring Mariota to throw the ball away on third down. Dan Carpenter’s 33-yard kick would be the first points of the game, but only 3 points let up by the Outlaws.   Oklahoma would be the first to put a touchdown on the scoreboard, doing so only 6 seconds later, as a well-executed play action to best set up TE Julius Thomas in single coverage with safety Darrian Thompson, a 2nd year player who still has not fully grasped the speed of some USFL tight ends. Thompson went for the ball instead of the man, and Thomas made him pay for that mistake, racing 74-yards to paydirt and giving Oklahoma their first lead of the day, 7-3.   The rest of the first half would be a kick-fest, with Portland adding 2 more field goals and Oklahoma’s Kai Forbath hitting his first of the day. By the half, the score was 10-9 Oklahoma, still holding the advantage thanks to that one big play from Julius Thomas. The Outlaw defense had bent, but not broken on two more Portland drives, forcing short field goals on both occasions and allowing the Outlaws to go to the half with a slight lead.   The third quarter, much like the first, saw very little in the way of offensive success. Joe Flacco struggled to find an open receiver (He would go only 11 of 25 on the day thanks to Portland’s zone coverage) and Portland struggled to turn yards into points. The Stags would finish the day well ahead of Oklahoma in yards gained, 428 to 285, but they just were unable to find the big play or the right call to put the ball in the endzone.   And yet, early in the 4th, the Stags would still put up the only points of the half. It came after a poor punt by Oklahoma gave Portland the ball at their own 47. They opted to go to big formations, bringing in 2 tight ends and a fullback on several plays. That seemed to work for them against an Oklahoma defense that had been on the field for a good part of the game already. Ben Tate would be the lead back as the larger, more physical of the two main Portland options. He would have 7 of his 17 carries on this one drive, and with those 7 carries he produced nearly 45 yards of offense. Other than a short crossing pattern to Alshon Jeffery and a hook to TE Trey Burton, every positive play on the 11-play drive was Tate carrying the rock.   So, with a drive like that, it was fitting that Tate would be the one to score. He did just that on a classic counter tre, looking very much like John Riggins as the initial tackler slid off him and the smaller DB was simply carried backwards. Tate’s 6-yard run made it a 15-10 lead for the Stags. Coach LaFleur, recognizing that anything less than a 7-point lead could lead to a 4th quarter drive ending their playoff hopes, kept Mariota, Tate, and the offense on the field. The Stags did nothing fancy, just lined up tight and let Tate find the hole on an inside run. The line pushed forward against a tired Outlaw defense, and Tate stretched the ball over the line to secure 2 more points.   Oklahoma, now down 7, with just over 10 minutes to play, still had time to even the score, but they would need to find more on offense than the one big play that had given them their earlier lead. Looking at Oklahoma’s final 3 possessions, it is clear that they simply did not have the quick-strike capacity they needed to pull out the win.   Their first possession was a 3-and-out, with Best gaining only 1 on first down, an incompletion to Westbrook on 2nd down, and a short 5-yard gain on third down. Their second possession was only 1 play longer, and only because the ref called a defensive holding on Portland’s A. J. Bouye on first down. But even with the automatic first down, Oklahoma could not pick up momentum. Again it was a short run on first down, an incompletion on 2nd down, and, in this case, a draw to Best on third down that did not come close to reaching the line to gain.   Oklahoma’s third and final possession would begin with 2:02 left on the clock. It would be longer, but no less frustrating for the fans in the stands. Starting at their own 11, the Outlaws got a quick first down when Flacco found Thomas for 12 yards. They would get a 2nd one 2 plays later with a nice pass to Thomas (Flacco’s favorite target on the day), but with only 1:31 left, Oklahoma had only reached their own 37. That is as far as they would get on the drive. On 1st down, Flacco’s pass to Goodwin was broken up. Second down saw the Outlaws called for illegal shift, sending them back to the 32. Then, on the replay, Flacco was sacked by Tyrunn Walker for a loss of 11, taking them back to the 20 and producing a 3rd and 26. Flacco gained 9 of those yards back on a pass to Goodwin, but facing a 4th and 16, the Oklahoma offense simply did not have a play. Flacco completed the pass to Justin Hunter, but he was easily tackled after 10 yards and the Stags took over on downs.   A kneel from Mariota and the game was over. Oklahoma’s season was also done, and, we now know, so was Greg Landry’s time as the Outlaw head coach. For Portland, the win meant that they were in the show, now all they needed to know is if they would be headed to Ohio to face the Central Division champs, or to San Diego to face the Thunder. That answer would have to wait until Sunday night. If Seattle won, then Portland would be the 5-seed and would face San Diego in a Pacific Division clash. If Michigan could beat the Dragons in Seattle, then the Stags would have the 6-seed and would be headed to Ohio to face the Glory.   PHILADELPHIA 22  JACKSONVILLE 17 P. J. Walker gets the start at QB for the Stars and gets a W as Philadelphia finishes 7-9. Karlos Williams led Philadelphia in rushing, Randall Cobb in receiving. For Jacksonville, Teddy Bridgewater threw for 221 and 2 scores, while Matt Jones finished with 81 yards rushing. Both clubs now turn to the offseason and trying to build more depth and more explosiveness across their rosters. POTG: Stars’ DE Malik Jackson: 5 Tck, 3 TFL, 2 FF, 1 FR   PITTSBURGH 10   WASHINGTON 19 The Feds outlast the Maulers to finish 9-7, sending Pittsburgh to a 3rd consecutive loss and a disappointing 8-8 finish. David Garrard was unable to finish the game, but would be available if Washington made the post-season. They now need to wait to see the result of Charlotte’s final game. POTG: Federal LB D’Qwell Jackson: 9 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 FF, 1 FR   NEW JERSEY 30  TAMPA BAY 13 The Generals take care of business and the Bandits. Building up a 20-7 halftime lead and cruising to a win and the NE Division title. MJD rushed for 81 yards and a score, while Nick Foles survived 6 sacks to throw for 227 and a TD to OBJ as the Generals win their 2nd division title in the past 3 years. POTG:  New Jersey LB Aldon Smith: 13 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   DALLAS 0   LAS VEGAS 26 It was all Vipers in the send off game for QB Eli Manning. Their retiring QB threw for 2 scores and the defense dominated the Roughnecks in a game that had no playoff potential, but plenty of fans there to say goodbye to Manning in his final pro game. Coach Neuheisel sent Manning to the bench with 3 plays left in the game so that fans could give him a final ovation. For Dallas, the loss was their 9th in a row to end a truly brutal season. POTG: Viper QB Eli Manning: 19/27, 174 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   ST. LOUIS 13   OAKLAND 14 Oakland struggled, falling behind 13-0 after 3 quarters but came alive in the 4th, taking the lead with a late Davante Adams TD reception. The star of the game for Oakland was HB Christian McCaffrey, who rushed for 155 yards, but needed 2 more, finishing the season at 998 for the year. POTG: McCaffrey: 21 Att, 151 Yds   SAN DIEGO 26   LOS ANGELES 16 The Thunder lock up the 4 seed on the road, scoring the first 17 points of the game and then holding off Brock Osweiler to secure the win. Marques Colston caught 7 for 106 and the defense picked off the LA quarterback twice in the 2nd half to secure the win and a home playoff game next week. LA dropped to 3-13 and will have the 1st overall pick in the 2019 draft. POTG: San Diego QB Christian Ponder: 19/25, 305 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int   HOUSTON 17   MEMPHIS 13 In a game that ended up being a battle to see who would host the rematch next week, Houston got a Vernon Davis TD in the third quarter and held off Memphis in the 4th to take the win, assuring their fans get the chance to cheer them on next week. Colt McCoy played only a half after taking a shot to the head, but is expected to be back next week. Paxton Lynch threw two costly picks, as Houston clamped down in the final 20 minutes of action to secure the 4-seed. POTG:  Houston WR Mike Evans: 5 Rec, 83, Yds, 1 TD   BALTIMORE 30  ATLANTA 27 The Fire rested several starters and Baltimore went into the game with Brandon Boykin at QB as the Blitz won their finale to finish 6-10. Boykin threw for 2 scores and 244 yards, while Atlanta’s DeShone Kizer threw for 233 and 2 scores, but had a costly 4th quarter pick as well. The halfbacks also performed well, with Anthony Dixon racking up 118 yards and Nick Chubb crossing the 1,000-yard mark for the year with 93 and a TD in the game. POTG:  Baltimore HB Anthony Dixon: 12 Att, 118 Yds   CHARLOTTE 19  BIRMINGHAM 30 The Monarchs, knowing that Washington’s win over Pittsburgh gave Charlotte the 6th seed on a tiebreaker, played it very vanilla against Birmingham, resting several players after the first quarter, and fell to 9-7 as a result. Birmingham got 3 TDs from Cam Newton, who played the entire game, as the Stallions finished 7-9. By Monday they would learn that 7 wins was not good enough for the club to hold onto Henry Ellard as their head coach. POTG:  Stallion WR Dontrelle Inman: 2 Rec, 110 Yds, 2 TD   ORLANDO 10   NEW ORLEANS 27 New Orleans had no sentiment about John Fox’s last game with Orlando. They needed the win to wrap up the 1-seed, and they got it, thanks in part to a defense that held Orlando under 300 yards of offense and an offense that controlled the clock, with KennyBritt, Jordy Nelson and C. J. Spiller all scoring for the new 1-seed in the East. POTG:  Breaker DE Kenny Ealy: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF   OHIO 27   ARIZONA 28 Arizona rested several starters, so it was Brooks Bollinger who got the win over Ohio, who kept their starters in all game. Bollinger threw for 2 scores and 273 yards, showing that Arizona’s system is solid regardless of who is under center. Ohio could have nabbed the win, but a late fumble killed a drive in field goal range. POTG:  Arizona WR DeMarcus Robinson: 8 Rec, 105 Yds   CHICAGO 10   DENVER 13 Denver needed help to make the postseason. They did not get it. But, they did their part to finish 9-7, edging Chicago at home to lock up a winning record in Matt Leinart’s final game. Like Manning in Las Vegas, Denver took out Leinart with just a kneel down left, allowing their long time starter to get a standing ovation from a grateful Denver crowd. POTG:  Denver LB Shaquile Barrett: 7 Tck, 1 Sck   MICHIGAN 38  SEATTLE 20 Seattle held a 20-14 lead at the half, but Michigan dominated the 2nd half of the season finale, scoring 24 unanswered points to take the win and the final playoff spot in play. LeVeon Bell got 101 of his 155 yards in the 2nd half, and touchdowns from William Bethea, Bell, and Kevin Kraft gave Michigan what they needed to secure the 5-seed in the West and a shot to defend their title in the postseason. Seattle, finishes 8-8 after an 0-5 start, which is still impressive, but one game shy of what they had hoped to achieve this week. POTG:  Panther HB LeVeon Bell: 21 Att, 155 Yds, 2 TD   Federals Do Their Part, but Fall Short On Tiebreaker The Feds did what they needed to do, but they apparently did not read the fine print. Had they (and their fans) done so, they would have realized that even at 9-7, after knocking off the Pittsburgh Maulers to claim 2nd place in the NE Division, they would not make the post-season. Why? Because as of 3 years ago, strength of non-division schedule was moved above conference record as a tiebreaker, and that gave Charlotte the tiebreaker, so even a loss by the Monarchs did not remove them from the advantaged position. Had Pittsburgh won, they would have claimed the final Wild Card spot, but with Washington’s victory, the Monarchs locked up the final spot, even with Washington winning in Week 16 and Charlotte getting knocked around by the Stallions. It is a harsh way to go, to put your all in, to beat a division rival on the season’s final week, believing it gave you a shot, and then finding out that even with a loss, another club still nabs the final playoff spot. Would Washington be a better foe for the Generals next week? Almost certainly, if only due to familiarity, but it will be Charlotte sneaking in, some would say backing in, to that game, and Washington, who surprised many by finishing 9-7, who will be sitting home wishing they had won just one more game this year.  Gold Reach 9 Wins, but Stag Win Ends Playoff Hopes It is a similar feeling in Denver, though with less illusion as the Gold knew exactly what they needed to get in. They needed to beat the Chicago Machine and, as that game was happening, they had to watch the scoreboard to see if Oklahoma could take care of the Portland Stags at OGE Energy Stadium. Denver did their part, though it was no picnic, a tough 13-10 victory that was not decided until the 4th quarter, and things seemed to be going their way in Oklahoma as well, with the Outlaws holding a 10-9 lead through the first 3 quarters, but a Portland TD from HB Ben Tate with 10 minutes left in the game meant that Denver would not make the postseason. When the Gold game finished, Denver players and fans stayed in the stadium, watching the final 2 minutes of the Stag-Outlaw game on the big screen, and eventually went home disappointed. Portland held on, locking up the 6-seed in the West, and Denver, despite a solid 9-7 first season under Coach Gary Kubiak, were another team with a winning record, but no playoff berth.  Express Lock up 1st pick in 2019 Collegiate Draft On the other side of the standings, with their loss to the San Diego Thunder, the LA Express finished the year at 3-13, tied with the Bandits and Roughnecks, but assured the first pick in the draft thanks to their weaker strength of schedule. Tampa Bay “earned” the 2nd spot, and Dallas, despite a 9-game losing streak to finish the year, ends up 3rd. Both the Express and Bandits will have new coaches in place for 2019, so those early draft picks will go to good use, but it is not the kind of advantage any team wants to have.   The remainder of the non-playoff draft order was also set, with Jacksonville picking 4th as the lone 4-win club this year. They are followed by 5-11 St. Louis, then 6-10 Orlando and Baltimore, before we get to the cluster of 7-9 teams. Tiebreakers only went so far, and a coin toss was used to determine the 8th and 9th pick. It will be Chicago at 8, Birmingham at 9, followed by Las Vegas, Philadelphia, and Oklahoma. 8-8 Seattle picks 13th, Pittsburgh at 14, and the 9-7 but not quite good enough Gold and Federals wrap it up with the 15th and 16th picks. As always, the remaining 12 picks will depend on when teams are removed from the playoffs and then their records, with the lowest seeds getting the earlier picks as teams are eliminated from the postseason.   So, Kyler Murray, Nick Bosa, Clelin Ferrell, and Ed Oliver, you have a season ahead of you to impress the Express, Bandits, and others that you deserve their attention come draft day (yes, we know, most are also likely T-Draft selections, but what is the fun in assuming none of them will be available in the Open Draft?)   Sturgis & Vinatieri Surge for Points Title It was the one statistical race that really was unsure. We pretty much knew who to expect in passing, rushing, receiving and most defensive categories, but the league scoring leader was a very tight race with several potential winners in the mix in Week 16. While Roberto Aguayo (OAK) and Lewis Ward (MEM) entered the weekend in the lead with 123 points, there were no fewer than 4 other kickers who could conceivably catch them, and one did. Caleb Sturgis of New Orleans added 2 field goals and 3 PATs in the Breakers’ 27-10 win over Orlando and that was enough to give them a league-leading 131 points for the year. But, Sturgis was not alone in having a big game this weekend. Washington’s Adam Vinatieri was the bulk of Washington’s offense in their 19-10 win over Pittsburgh, putting 4 field goals and a PAT on the board. That 13 point game shot Vinatieri from 118 to 131 points, giving him a share of the scoring title with Sturgis, even if the Feds are not going to be seeing more action while New Orleans sits pretty with the 1-seed in the East.   Other league stat champions in 2018 are pretty much what we expected: Passing Yards:          Colt McCoy                     4,377 Yards Passing TDs:            Colt McCoy                     35 TDs Passer Rating:         Ryan Nassib                   117.9 QBR Rushing Yards:         LeVeon Bell                     1,617 Yards Rushing TDs:           Maurice Jones-Drew  16 TDs Receptions:             Brandin Cooks              128 Receptions Receiving Yards:      Mike Evans                      1,616 Yards Receiving TDs:        Mike Evans                      16 TDs Tackles:                  Kirk Morrison                  130 Tackles Interceptions:          Marcus Williams         9 Interceptions Sacks:                       Calais Campbell          30 Sacks   MVP Chase Could be Heated Battle of QBs So, which QB is the MVP? The leader of the club with the best record, who also holds the QB Rating title? The QB with the most yards and most TDs, despite only qualifying his club as a Wild Card contender? How about the 2-time MVP who finished 2nd in yards and touchdowns, while locking up the 1-seed in the East? Those are your obvious contenders: Ryan Nassib of the 12-3-1 Wranglers, Colt McCoy of the 12-4 Gamblers, or Drew Brees of the 12-4 Breakers?   There is a case for each, so it comes down to what the voters prefer, game results, big numbers, or efficiency. All three teams have 12 wins, so do we blame Colt McCoy because New Orleans won the tiebreaker to take the 1-seed in the East or do we focus on the stats. All three have huge numbers, but none are at or close to league records. Does that give the underdog, the surprise candidate, Nassib an edge? Or will voters recognize the rise of Colt McCoy as an elite QB in the tradition of Kelly and Hasselbeck, former Gambler MVPs? Or, with his retirement eminent, do voters give Drew Brees one more accolade on his way into the sunset? It is a very tough call, because all three had great seasons, on great teams, and it is very likely that one of these 3 QBs will also be headed home this offseason with a title trophy and a championship ring on order.  They all are deserving, but only 1 will get the MVP. Should be a nice topic of debate for the next 3 weeks until the USFL Gala in New Orleans ahead of the 2018 Summer Bowl.   When all the dust had settled, and the final game of the weekend was in the books, we had our 12 playoff teams. New Jersey had won the NE with their victory in Tampa Bay. Michigan and Portland had won their must-win games and wrapped up the final Wild Cards in the West, and Charlotte, thanks to the 3rd tiebreaker, had backed into the East’s final Wild Card spot over Washington. Losing out were the Federals and Gold (both finishing 9-7), the Dragons and Maulers (both 8-8), and the Outlaws (dropping to 7-9).   The week also set up the schedule for next week, with the 4 Wild Card games set and scheduled by Monday morning. Wild Card weekend would kick off with Charlotte visiting New Jersey, followed by the defending champion Michigan Panthers starting their title defense on the road in San Diego. Sunday would see an inversion, with the Eastern Conference game actually taking place further West than the Western Conference game, and so it would be Portland visiting Ohio in Columbus for the early game and Memphis and Houston reprising their Week 16 matchup in NRG Stadium in the late game.  The early lines for both had all 4 home teams favored, with Ohio as the largest favorite with a 6-point advantage and New Jersey as the shakiest with a 2-point advantage. Expect those to rise and fall as the bets come in over the next few days, but for now all four home favorites are being given marginal advantage over the visitors.   As we look ahead to the Wild Card round of playoffs, there are certainly some games that will be affected by injuries, though, we must say, most of these teams have been dealing with their unavailable players for some time, with many on IR already and for several weeks.   CHA: WR Hakeem Nicks (IR), DT Vernon Butler (OUT), DE Anthony Zettel (P) NJ: HB Kiero Small (IR) No doubt that losing Nicks has hurt the Charlotte offense. Blackmon remains the main target, but Austin Proehl will have to step up as the number 2.   MGN: LB Jake Ryan (IR), SS Tarvarious Moore (IR), TE Rob Housler (OUT),                   WR Jerrel Jernigan (Q) SDG: LB A. J. Hawk (P) The Thunder are very much hoping that adrenaline and a sense of duty will put A. J. Hawk on the field this Saturday. For Michigan, losing Housler is a blow to the offense, meaning that LeVeon Bell may have to play the role of outlet receiver, one he does not often fill.   POR: FS Rudy Ford (IR), LB Nico Johnson (Q), C Sean Harlow (P), HB Ben Tate (P) OHI: SS Tyran Mathieu (OUT), CB Jeremy Lane (P) Ohio has been without Mathieu for most of the season and still rank as a Top 10 scoring defense. For Portland, getting Ben Tate back this week helped them win their matchup with the Outlaws, and now, paired with Doug Martin, they have a very formidable 1-2 punch in the run game.   MEM: TE Luke Stocker (IR), HB Jacob Hester (IR), WR Cobi Hamilton (D), LB NaVorro        Bowman (D) HOU: CB Leodis McKelvin (IR), SS Budda Baker (IR) Houston has been without their 2 best DBs for several weeks now, but against Memphis that could be a real issue for them. Meanwhile, the Showboats are still coping with Luke Stocker’s absence and will count on rookie Dallas Goedert to help pull safeties off of either Robert Woods or Mark Clayton.   No Record as 10th Pick Proves Elusive for Williams There is no doubt that the 2018 season will be remembered as a monumentous one in the home of Marcus Williams. After 4 seasons in Memphis, Williams had captured a grand total of only 3 picks, but this season he reached 9 interceptions by Week 14. With 2 games left he had a shot to either tie or surpass the league record of 10 interceptions in a season, held by another largely-unknown player, Texas Outlaw Free Safety Elbert Shelley back in 1997. It was a record now 12 seasons old, but one of the toughest to break because it depended on so much. Unlike a rushing, or even a sack stat, where the player is largely able to dictate the possibilities to score another notch on the statboard, with interceptions, much like receptions, so much depends on other players, players like the opposing QB.   Williams had 2 games to tie or break the record, but in those two games he would face the Dallas Roughnecks (QB Josh Freeman) and the Houston Gamblers (QB Colt McCoy). While Dallas was struggling, and was perhaps the easier target for Williams, Josh Freeman is no anxious rookie or inaccurate gunslinger. Colt McCoy would be even tougher, with very good receivers who could fight a pick away from a DB, and an offense that tended to find success against even the best secondaries.   And so Williams had a chance, but it was by no sense assured, and, as we saw, over his final two games the chances to nab that 10th pick was simply not coming his way. There would be only 1 Memphis pick in the 2-game run, and that was a tipped ball far from Williams’s side of the field. So, no record, but even without that accolade, Williams will in all likelihood be named an All-USFL player this year, something not on anyone’s radar before the season.   Final Regular Season Power Ranking Offers A Few Surprises Sixteen weeks down, an entire season of ups and downs, and we come to the final Power Rankings of the season. There is no doubt that some teams have outperformed their preseason expectations, others have fallen well short of where we thought they would be, and along the way, we have seen teams go from cold to hot, hot to cold, or bouncing from win streaks to cold snaps. Our final rankings take into account the way teams finished the year, from 3-4 game win streaks, to a truly nasty 9-game losing streak. So, without further delay, here is the way the 28 USFL clubs stack up as we prepare for the postseason to begin.   1—Arizona Wranglers (12-3-1)            Up from 6th in preseason poll. Best record in the league and the first team to clinch a playoff spot. Makes sense they are here.   2—New Orleans Breakers (12-4)       Up from 7th in preseason poll We had a feeling that whoever won the South would end up here. The Breakers get it on a tiebreaker.   3—Houston Gamblers (12-4)               Down from 2nd in preseason poll Houston finished tied with the Breakers at 12-4, but while many think they are the better team, we nod to the standings and the playoff seeds.   4—San Diego Thunder (10-6)               No change from preseason poll. The Thunder have won 4 in a row and 10 of 12 since their 0-4 start. They are a team that has found their stride, and possibly a new QB in Christian Ponder.   5—Memphis Showboats (11-5)          Up from 21st in preseason poll. A great story in 2018, the rise of Paxton Lynch and the Showboats could end quickly if they cannot figure out how to slow down Houston this week.   6—New Jersey Generals (9-6-1)         Up from 9th in preseason poll. It was not the most direct route to a Division Title, but the Generals slogged through a tough schedule and a lot of ups and downs to earn this spot.   7—Oakland Invaders (11-5)                  Up from 18th in preseason poll. As much as it feels strange to put an 11-win team below a 9-win team, there are still concerns about Oakland’s offense that make us pause about their playoff prospects.   8—Ohio Glory (10-6)                                  Up from 12th in preseason poll. The Glory have been a grinder of a team, finding ways to win, but rarely looking dominant. The fact that they lost to a team of Arizona backups this week has to worry them.   9—Atlanta Fire (10-6)                                Up from 13th in preseason poll. An argument can be made that we are selling short a Fire team that won 6 in a row to win the SE Division, but when we look at who they beat (Tampa twice, Jacksonville, St. Louis, Birmingham), we are not so sure they are for real.   10—Michigan Panthers (9-7)                Down from 1st in preseason poll They fought their way into a Wild Card on Week 16, but that 3-game streak of losses to St. Louis, Ohio, and Arizona still worries us about their ability to win on the road in the playoffs.   11—Portland Stags (9-7)                         Up from 28th in preseason poll. No doubt that this is much higher than anyone thought for the Stags this year. Back-to-back wins at Oakland and Oklahoma to get a Wild Card means they could be a dangerous road team in the playoffs.   12—Charlotte Monarchs (9-7)            Down from 5th in preseason poll. After leading the SE Division for much of the year, the Monarchs seem to be fading, and having their QB lead the league in picks is not something that often spells postseason success.   13—Washington Federals (9-7)          Up from 26th in preseason poll. The Feds came within a hair of being a playoff team, and many might argue that they are a better team than Charlotte, but we cannot place them higher than 13th if they did not make the postseason dance.   14—Denver Gold (9-7)                              Down from 8th in preseason poll. Denver, like Washington, just missed out on a Wild Card due to a tiebreaker, or is it due to losing to Oklahoma, twice.   15—Seattle Dragons (8-8)                      Down from 14th in preseason poll. A nice recovery from an 0-5 start. Not the Cinderella run of last year, but a nice recovery. Now… how do they start their season better next year?   16—Las Vegas Vipers (7-9)                    Down from 10th in preseason poll. Week 15 and 16 victories with Eli back at the helm was a nice sendoff for their QB, but now they need to find a replacement. We don’t think Jeff Tuel is the guy.   17—Pittsburgh Maulers (8-8)               Up from 20th in preseason poll. So much promise this year, so many good early results, but losing their final 4 games is just a nasty way to end up the year. They had a shot in Week 16 to make it all better, but again came up short and finish a disappointing 8-8.   18—Birmingham Stallions (7-9)         Down from 16th in preseason poll. We said it early on this year, another 8-8 or 7-9 season would not bode well for Coach Ellard, and that is exactly what happened. And, one thing we should not ignore, this was a team that went 7-1 at home and 0-8 on the road. Something their new coach will have to fix in 2019.    19—Philadelphia Stars (7-9)                 Down from 3rd in preseason poll. So much was expected of Philadelphia this year, and we cannot blame the disappointing year on the Derrick Henry injury, they were not finding consistent success before he went down. Tough decisions ahead for Coach Harbaugh.   20—Baltimore Blitz (6-10)                      Down from 11th in preseason poll. The Blitz played hard for Coach Caldwell down the stretch, winning their final 2, both against playoff teams, but the Blitz need to figure out both their 22nd rated run game and their very disappointing 24th rated scoring defense.   21—Chicago Machine (7-9)                   Down from 19th in preseason poll. A 1-game improvement over 2017, but they need more. With the 19th rated passing game, and Aaron Dobson likely headed out the door, Chicago will need to focus on the passing game this offseason.   22—Oklahoma Outlaws (7-9)              Down from 15th in preseason poll. Another midling season meant the end of a long tenure for Tom Ramsey as head coach. Now the Outlaws start over, but with some nice pieces in place. But, let’s remember that in 2020, the new San Antonio Gunslingers get to claim some of those pieces.   23—Orlando Renegades (6-10)          No change from preseason poll. Another year, another disappointing season, and this time it was too much for Coach Fox, who resigned officially on Monday. The Renegades seemed to sense that it was over, losing their last 5 to drop to a 10-loss season.   24—St. Louis Skyhawks (5-11)            Up from 27th in preseason poll. All the talk in St. Louis is about Lamar Jackson, but he will need more around him on offense, and a lot of new pieces for the 28th ranked defense.   25—Jacksonville Bulls (4-12)               No change from preseason poll. Coach Flores gets a 2nd year, is likely hoping for a new QB, and will need to improve the HB & WR positions, along with a defense that just did not come through this year.   26—Tampa Bay Bandits (3-13)            Down from 24th in preseason poll. The 2-year June Jones era is over. The Bandits, who were 4th in the league in yardage, just did not have enough scoring power or enough stopping power on defense to compete this year.   27—Los Angeles Express (3-13)         Down from 22nd in preseason poll. That is right. The Express have the 1st pick in the draft, but we are not putting them dead last in our rankings. They are bad, no doubt, but Dallas just gave up this year.   28—Dallas Roughnecks (3-13)            Down from 17th in preseason poll. It is 1 thing to wallow in self pity when your starting QB is suspended for the year, and even though the Roughnecks tried to fix things by trading for Josh Freeman, losing 9 consecutive games to end the season has to put you in last place as a team that simply did not fight for their pride as the season wore on. It is July, so it is playoff season in the USFL. We just missed 4th of July weekend this year (well, since the 4th is on a Wednesday, we all kind of missed out on a holiday weekend. We have 4 Wild Card games, only one of which is a divisional battle, but what a battle it will be. Here is what you need to know about each matchup ahead of this weekend’s wild action.   6-Charlotte Monarchs (9-7) @ 3-New Jersey Generals (9-6-1) Saturday, July 7 @ 3pm ET MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ Generals -3   Two teams that still have a lot of doubters. Charlotte has lost 3 of 4 to find themselves dropping from the 2-seed down to the 6th, and even that was only due to a strength of schedule tiebreaker. New Jersey is only 3 weeks beyond a 13-0 debacle against Washington, but they did win those 3 games to get here, and to earn the right to host this game. We all know what the key is for New Jersey, get Maurice Jones-Drew cranking early and often, force Charlotte to bring men up to the line and then surprise them with some play action.   Charlotte’s strategy could be very similar as they try to keep Mitch Trubisky in short third downs. The concern for Charlotte has to be Trubisky’s tendency to put the ball up when he should either take the sack or throw it away. When you lead the league with 21 picks in 15 starts, well, turnovers are going to be a concern.   OUR PICK: We are going to go with the Generals. They have won 3 in a row to get here, have more to offer on offense, and can play solid D as well. New Jersey 18-13. 5-Michigan Panthers (9-7) @ 4-San Diego Thunder (10-6) Saturday, July 7 @ 7pm ET Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA Thunder -4   The Thunder survive an 0-4 start, winning 10 of 12 to get here. Meanwhile, Michigan has been an extremely inconsistent defending champion. They needed to win their last two (Chicago and at Seattle) just to get here. But, in those two games they did show some spirit, so we could be seeing the fires reignite in Michigan just in time. The Panthers will ride LeVeon Bell as much as they can, especially with Rob Housler out and Jerrel Jernigan still not at 100%.   San Diego has their own run game, led by Ryan Williams, but it has been Ponder to Colston that has ignited the Thunder over the past 3 months. San Diego has won 4 in a row, including impressive wins over the Stags and Dragons. They will be at home, where they suffered a bad loss in last year’s Wild Card round, and certainly they don’t want to repeat that.   OUR PICK: There is something about a culture of success. We know it may be counter-intuitive, but we think Michigan has rediscovered their passion and now that it is playoff time we may see a team much more like the one that ran through last year’s postseason and claimed a title. We are going with the Panthers, but in a tight one: Michigan 28-27.   6-Portland Stags (9-7) @ 3-Ohio Glory (10-6) Sunday, July 8 @ 3pm ET Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH Glory -7   These are two great stories, neither expected to be here. Portland, after all, was our choice in the preseason to be the worst team in the league. What did we miss? Well, Marcus Mariota taking a huge leap forward, Ben Tate becoming a back capable of 1,000 yards (he finished with 972 due to an injury costing him 2 games), and a defense that does not have big names but gives up only 289 total yards per game (2nd best in the league.)   Ohio, who has started 4 different QBs this year, has their Week 1 starter back in Christian Hackenberg, has a solid inside-outside run game with Isaiah Pead and Delone Carter, and a defense that saw 15 different players record a sack while holding teams under 19 points per game. So, here is the weird thing, an argument can be made that if this game is in the teens, it could favor both teams. Neither has a quick-strike, shoot-out-ready offense. These are two clubs that love to milk the clock, stick around, and get just enough points to win. Almost mirror images of each other.   OUR PICK: The two played way back in Week 8 and Ohio doubled up Portland in Portland, 28-14. We don’t think it will be that dramatic, but we still think Ohio is the more disciplined team (thanks, Coach Coughlin) and the more battle-tested in the Central Division. We are going with the favored Glory to move on to the next round. Ohio 21-17.   5-Memphis Showboats (11-5) @ 4-Houston Gamblers (12-4) Sunday, July 8 @ 7pm ET NRG Stadium, Houston, TX Gamblers -4.5   Oh, man, will this one be fun. The two met this past weekend in Memphis, and the Gamblers snuck out with a 17-13 win. Earlier in the year Memphis won in Houston 27-20, so home field does not appear to be a big issue. Of course, this is home field in the playoffs. Houston is the more talented team, that goes without saying, but Memphis has proven they can play with the big boys, beating both the Gamblers and the Breakers this season.   This is a game where we think the final score tells us who wins. Memphis’s defense and run game is the key to their success, while Houston (whose defense is solid) is all about big plays, big scores, and lead the league at nearly 28 points per game. So, if the game is in the teens, that certainly means Memphis has found some answers. If it is in the 30’s, that tells us Houston has the edge and is connecting on big plays.   OUR PICK: Houston remains very hungry after losing to the Panthers in Summer Bowl 2017, and there is a fear that Memphis, coming off a 6-10 season only a year ago, may suffer from the “happy to be here” syndrome that often hits newly-successful playoff teams. It is also hard to pick against a team that may have the league MVP in McCoy, the OPOTY in Mike Evans, and a HB with over 1,500 yards from scrimmage in Hyde. We think this one gets away from Rex Ryan, his defense, and his eager, but inexperienced club. Houston gets their mojo working and wins this one. Gamblers 33-24.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: When the Panthers absolutely, positively need a win, who do they turn to? No one but LeVeon Bell will do, and Bell did what he does, runs against stacked fronts, gets the yards the Panthers need, and puts the ball in the endzone. In Week 16's huge win over Seattle, propelling the Panthers to the 5-seed, Bell finished with 155 yards and 2 scores. PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Generals win the NE Division, Charlotte, San Diego, Michigan and Portland wrap up Wild Cards and heartbroken fans in Washington and Denver fall just short. Here are your 2018 Playoff Seeds: EAST: 1-NOR, 2-ATL, 3-NJ, 4-HOU, 5-MEM, 6-CHA WEST: 1-ARZ, 2-OAK, 3-OHI, 4-SD, 5-MGN, 6-POR

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: No doubt about this one, as Ohio's Isaiah Pead was a monster in the Glory's division-clinching win over Orlando. Pead was all about balance as he racked up 87 yards rushing, with 2 touchdowns, oh, and also 82 yards receiving, with 2 touchdowns. Yes, it was a blowout win for the Glory, but largely because Pead blew it out. PLAYOFF PICTURE: We have a bit more clarity this week, with Arizona locking up the 1-seed out west, with Atlanta landing the SE Division title with their win over Charlotte, and with Ohio clinching the Central. We still have 5 unclaimed playoff spots with 1 week to decide them. New Orleans can clinch the 1-seed in the East with a win this week. Others who can lock up playoff spots with a win include New Jersey, Charlotte, San Diego, Portland, Seattle, and Michigan. How is that possible, 6 teams with Win & In? Well, because Michigan and Seattle will play a pre-playoffs playoff game, with the winner locking up a Wild Card and the loser sitting at home.

Week 15 may have added only 1 more team to the 2018 playoff field, with Atlanta’s victory over Charlotte locking up the Southeastern Division, but it certainly gave us far more clarity as to the playoff picture. With 1 week left we know who controls their own destiny, who will need help in the final slate of games, and which two teams will play a season-ending “play-in” game. We also learned this week that one more USFL coach will be out the door as of next Monday, our story of the week as we discuss the decision by Orlando coach John Fox to leave the club after 6 frustrating seasons with the Renegades. We will outline that story, review the Game of the Week from Atlanta, then cover all the Week 15 stories as we look ahead to the final week of the regular season and the playoff impact of each upcoming game. There is a lot to unpack, so don’t go anywhere.   Fox to Step Down from Renegades after 6 Seasons. In a press conference yesterday afternoon, Coach John Fox of Orlando made it known that this week’s upcoming matchup with New Orleans would be his final game with the Renegades. After a successful run with the Atlanta Fire/Boston Cannons, Fox left the club prior to their relocation to Dallas, becoming the Orlando head coach after only a few weeks away from football. Combining his two tenures, he has been a head coach in the USFL for 18 seasons, but the last 6 have been tough sledding for the veteran leader of the club. His tenure in Orlando produced playoff teams in 2015 and 2016, but in both cases they fell in the divisional round. But with another losing season guaranteed by Orlando’s 6-9 record, his overall coaching record in Orlando can be no better than 48-48. In fact, since the 2009 season, when his Boston Cannon’s won the league title, Fox has been unable to recapture that success, or even moderate success in either Boston or Orlando.   With many now vocally calling on the franchise to go a new direction, and many more lamenting the “waste” of Calais Campbell on a team that simply never truly challenged for a league title, Fox is stepping away from the sideline. His teams have had moments, but they simply have not been able to put together enough offense, or enough on the back end of their defense, to be considered an elite squad. Fox did not specify what his plans for the future are, though many believe he may move into broadcasting, but the Renegades now know that they will join the LA Express in the list of clubs seeking a new head coach, a new culture, and a new path.   What does this mean for the current Renegade squad? Well, it could mean a lot of change. We know that Orlando is likely to lose HB Latavious Murray and CB Johnathan Joseph, two of a pretty short list of players who are not under contract past next week. They could also be looking to shift up their roster more completely by trading away some key players. Does that mean Calais Campbell could be available? Not particularly likely, as it would take a pretty huge offer for the Renegades to move away from their one consistent achiever. But, others, like QB Russell Wilson, CB Dee Milliner, WR Jeremy Maclin, or DE Arthur Moats could find themselves as trade bait for the Renegades if they engage in a rebuild or a redesign. We won’t know how widespread the changes in Orlando will be this offseason, as that will largely depend on the coaching staff that comes with Fox’s departure, but we do anticipate that Orlando will want to use Fox’s departure as a clear pivot point to try to regain the fans’ enthusiasm, something sorely lacking the past 2 years as Orlando has floundered on the field.   CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 20   ATLANTA FIRE 27 There were no last-minute heroics in this game, no late game drama, but what we got instead is a truly meaningful game, one that determined the SE Division champions, and a pretty intense game at that. Turnovers were a huge factor in the game, and the star may be a name you simply don’t know yet, an unsung player who came up big when it mattered the most.   With both clubs coming into the game in a position to win the division,Atlanta, winners of 5 in a row, at 9-5, with Charlotte just a game back at 8-6, we knew this game would be a battle. The winner would take the division title and would have a very good shot at the 2-seed, granting them a much-coveted bye week before opening postseason play. The loser would be at serious risk of losing out on the postseason altogether. With 3 clubs in the Northeast also in that ballpark, a loss here, paired with another next week, would almost certainly spell disaster and a long offseason of questions.   That was the hornet’s nest that the Fire and Monarchs entered as they took the field at Mercedes Benz Stadium, facing off with their playoff lives very much on the line. Both clubs had similar aspirations and similar strategies, use the run game to provide play-action opportunities for their QBs, hope that the defense could get pressure and produce takeaways. That strategy worked better for one than the other, as one team escaped with only 1 turnover and no interceptions, while the other had 3 picks cost them drives in this game, And yet, for the entirety of the game neither team ever built more than a 7-point lead, meaning that at no point did either team feel a sense of desperation, not until the final seconds, that is.   The game started off somewhat slowly, with a first quarter that produced 1 drive each into the other team’s side of the field. Atlanta got the better of that tradeoff, putting up 3 points for the only score of the quarter. Charlotte had two short drives in the period but never got in range for their kicking team. They would, however, find better success early in the 2nd quarter, when they had their first scoring drive, a 12-play, 61-yard drive that showcased HB Adrian Peterson with two nice runs before Mitch Trubisky gave Charlotte the lead by finding TE Brandon Pettigrew for a 6-yard score.   The Charlotte score put the visitors up with 10:05 left in the half, but would not hold, as Atlanta had themselves a very nice scoring drive 2 possessions later. Aaron Murray got help from HB Nick Chubb, who had a beauty of a 22-yard run on 2nd and 7 to cross midfield. Five plays later, Murray found WR Roy Williams for a 39-yard scoring strike, taking advantage of play action and the single coverage, it produced. Atlanta was back up by 3, and, following Mitch Trubisky’s first pick of the day, a self-inflicted mistake that gave Atlanta the ball in Charlotte territory, the Fire added another 3 to boost their advantage to 13-7 with just 1:03 left to play.   Charlotte would use an effective 2-minute drill to get into position for kicker Stephen Earl, and their kicker would shrink the gap to 3 with a 43-yard kick at the buzzer. We had seen a battle for 30 minutes, and we had another 30 to go. Atlanta would need to keep the pressure on Trubisky, who had shown a tendency to force balls into coverage all year, producing 18 picks already this year. For Charlotte, the key was to keep Nick Chubb’s gains to a minimum, forcing Aaron Murray to try to convert 3rd and more than 5, a situation that essentially took Chubb out of the equation on 3rd down.   When the Monarchs equalized the score on a 37-yard kick from Earl, the game was once again back to a war of field position, with each team forcing the other to give up on a drive before they even reached their own 40. But on their 3rd possession of the half, Atlanta figured out a soft spot in the Charlotte defense. They used 4-wide receiver sets and saw that in their nickel coverage; Charlotte was forced to put a linebacker on slot receiver Trey Quinn. That was a mismatch to be sure. On the drive, Murray found Quinn first on a 12-yard inside slant, then, after marching the ball down to the Charlotte 28, he found Quinn on a seam route, and this time it was for 6 points. It was the rookie’s first TD of the season, on only his 7th catch of the year.   Atlanta had found a gap in Charlotte’s coverage, but Charlotte had also found an issue with Atlanta’s D, as Adrian Peterson started to see success in the 2nd half, with runs of 8, 11, and 7 on his next 3 touches. Those runs, paired with some dump-off passes, helped Charlotte move methodically down the field, with Trubisky eventually finding Austin Proehl from the 5 to once again equalize the score. There were still nearly 10 minutes in the 4th, but Charlotte was still very much in business in this game, with Atlanta having to adjust their coverage once again.   The Fire still wanted to test Charlotte’s nickel coverage, and they found it lacking once again. After a couple of short completions from Murray to TE O. J. Howard and flanker Dorial Green-Beckham, they went back to Quinn again, and once again the rookie came up big. A slant and go worked perfectly to free up Quinn, and the pass from Murray allowed him to run under the ball, catch it in stride, and race off to a 43-yard touchdown. Still, with 8:42 left to play and only a 7-point lead, the Fire needed to keep the pressure on.   Atlanta’s defense did exactly that, producing both a sack and an interception on the next drive. The sack came on 2nd and 5, creating a 3rd and 11 after Mario Edwards spun Trubisky to the ground. On that 3rd and 11, Atlanta brought pressure, with SS Derron Smith getting into the backfield in a flash, an unblocked blitzer that forced Trubisky to put the ball up early. That ball ended up in the hands of CB Darius Slay, ending the Charlotte drive and putting Atlanta in a position to kill some clock and expand their lead. They succeeded in the former but failed in the latter as Coach Arians opted not to trot out John Bounds to try a 51-yarder, instead pooch punting the ball inside the 15 and challenging Charlotte to move more than 85-yards for an equalizer.   The Monarchs were not up to the task. On a 2nd and 7 from their own 31, the turnover bug struck again. This time it was DT Nick Fairley getting a hand up and tipping a low throw from Trubisky. The ball ended up in the hands of Daniel Ellerbe, the Fire linebacker, who gained only 2 yards before being knocked to the turf by a frustrated Charlotte lineman. But with only 2:13 left to play at this point, that pick meant that Atlanta could try to run out the game. They stuck to the ground, gaining one first down before having to punt, but killing nearly 1:55 in the process. That time was too much for Charlotte to overcome.   The Monarchs got their last possession with barely 18 seconds left to play. The desperation to gain chunks of yards forced Trubisky to stand in the pocket, producing a sack on 1st down, and then two incompletions as the clock ran down. Atlanta had won their 6th in a row, had come from 4-5 to now sit atop the division at 10-5, clinching the title and sending Charlotte to 8-7, on the fringe of the Wild Card group, and potentially out of the postseason if they could not earn a win in their season finale against the Baltimore Blitz.   BALTIMORE 33  PITTSBURGH 27 The Blitz, playing without Ben Roethlisberger, deal Pittsburgh a franchise-shaking loss, one that could drop them completely out of the playoffs. It was a 20-0 run in the 2nd half that undid a 20-13 Mauler lead and gave Baltimore an upset that drove Mauler fans into hysteria. The Maulers got 284 yards and 3 TDs from Andy Dalton, but it was not enough as they found themselves down 13 with only 2:21 to play and just could not get 2 scores in. The loss drops them to 7th in the East, meaning they now need help to get back in the playoff picture. POTG:  Baltimore WR Brian Hartline: 4 Rec, 101 Yds, 2 TD   SEATTLE 7   SAN DIEGO 27 This one was all Seattle from the start. The Thunder put up 14 in the first, with Ponder hitting Nick Toon and Luke Willson for scores. Down 14-0 at the half and with nothing happening on offense, Coach Riley tried putting in Jacoby Brissett to mix things up. It helped a little, but not nearly enough to catch the Thunder, who added 13 more in the 4th to move a game up on Seattle and give themselves a Win & In scenario for Week 16. POTG:  Thunder QB Christian Ponder: 12/25, 294 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   LOS ANGELES 13  WASHINGTON 16 The Express gave Washington a scare, but in the end the Feds held on and kept their playoff hopes alive. With Mike Flynn in for the injured Garrard, the offense was not what Feds fans wanted, but it did just enough to get the W, thanks in large part to Anthony Allen’s 78 yards and 2nd quarter TD. LA dropped another close one as Brock Osweiler suffered 4 sacks, a pick, and averaged only 5.3 yards per completion. POTG : Washington SS Kyshoen Jarrett: 9 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty   BIRMINGHAM 7   NEW ORLEANS 27 The Breaker D sacked Cam Newton 5 times, held him to only 3 yards rushing, and thoroughly dominated the Stallions. Drew Brees connected twice with Kenny Britt for scores, and Jordy Nelson had another 100-yard day as New Orleans put themselves in position to claim the 1-seed in the East with a win in their finale. Birmingham drops to 6-9 and will need a win to avoid a 10-loss season for Coach Ellard, who could well be on the hot seat in a week’s time. POTG:  Breaker DE Cameron Jordan: 5 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 Sck, 1 FF   MEMPHIS 30  DALLAS 23 Dallas got a nice 93-yard day from Samaje Perine and kept this one close, but Memphis QB Paxton Lynch found Mark Clayton for 2 scores, and special teams ace Cordarelle Patterson contributed a 74-yard punt return TD to help Memphis take the W and stay within 1 game of the Breakers. Assure a playoff spot, Memphis is now fighting for position and a chance to play at home in the postseason. POTG:  Memphis WR Mark Clayton: 5 Rec, 101 Yds, 2 TD   DENVER 20  ST. LOUIS 17 After a scare that sent Lamar Jackson to the bench with an ankle issue, Coach Reich opted to let Kyle Boller play the rest of the way. Boller almost got St. Louis the win, putting up 2 TDs and building a 17-3 halftime lead, but the Gold came out determined in the second half and scored 17 unanswered to take the 3-point win and stay alive for a Wild Card. Golden Tate shone with 6 catches, 117 yards, and a 3rd quarter TD to start Denver’s run. POTG:  Denver WR Golden Tate: 6 Rec, 117 yds, 1 TD   CHICAGO 13   MICHIGAN 23 The Panthers got the memo that their title defense depended on a win over Chicago. They are still not clear for a playoff spot, but can earn one with a win in the finale after sending Chicago down to 7-8 and out of contention. They did it largely thanks to the D, which included a pick-six from LB Odell Thurman and 5 sacks of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Cody Latimer added 99 yards and a score as Michigan stayed alive for 1 more week, and now face a win & in game in Seattle in the finale. POTG:  Panther LB Odell Thurman: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   TAMPA BAY 34  JACKSONVILLE 21 The Bandits showed some pride, winning their 3rd game of the year in impressive fashion. Dez Bryant caught 7 for 116, but all 4 Bandit TDs came on the ground, two from Devontae Booker, 1 from David Wilson, and one from Dalvin Cook. The D even stepped up, holding Jacksonville and Teddy Bridgewater to only 1 converted third down in 10 attempts. POTG:  Bandit DE Tank Carradine: 11 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 FF, 1 FR   OHIO 49  ORLANDO 17 Chants of P-E-A-D from the small Glory contingent in the stands as the Ohio back accounted for 4 touchdowns in a game thoroughly dominated by the new Central Division champion Glory. Tim Tebow, in for Wilson, threw 3 picks, was sacked 3 times, and scrambled 8 times for a combined -4 yards as the Glory D was ready for him. The same could not be said for the Renegade defense, which watched as Isaiah Pead rushed for 2 scores, caught 3 balls for 82 yards and 2 more scores, and just looked like a man on a mission. That mission won Ohio their first Central title since 2007. POTG:  Glory HB Isaiah Pead: 16 Att, 87 Yds, 2 TD, 3 Rec, 82 Yds, 2 TD   PHILADELPHIA 7  NEW JERSEY 13 The Stars’ D did not make it easy for the Generals, sacking Nick Foles 4 times and holding MJD to only 44 yards rushing, a 1.5 YPC average, but in the end, the Generals pulled this one out. Their only TD on the day came in the 1st on a pick-six from CB Aqib Talib, but two later Fairbairn field goals proved to be enough as the New Jersey D also played very well in this one. The win, paired with the Baltimore upset of Pittsburgh, means the Generals can lock up the division title with a win next week, something that seemed nearly impossible 3 weeks ago. POTG:  Generals’ CB Aqib Talib: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   PORTLAND 23  OAKLAND 7 Did Oakland rest on their laurels, or did Portland just step up? We may never fully know, but what we do know is that this was a very good win for the Stags, who remain alive for a Wild Card with only 1 game left. They need some help, but they are still in it thanks to TDs from Brandin Cooks and Doug Martin and a defense that only allowed Jimmy G 158 yards passing. The pass rush was much better than usual for the Stags, who pressured Garoppolo into several scrambles and several bad throws despite not recording a sack. POTG:  Stag LB Lance Briggs: 6 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR   LAS VEGAS 31  HOUSTON 20 A shocker in Houston as the Gamblers drop out of the top spot in the East and make room for the Breakers to steal the 1-seed out from under them. Las Vegas came in fired up, with Eli Manning throwing for 298 and 3 TDs, while unheralded James Wilder Jr. rushed for 72 against a usually tough Gambler D. Colt McCoy found Mike Evans for 2 scores, but it was not nearly enough as the Vipers also scored on a pick-six in the 4th to take the surprising W home. POTG:  Viper QB Eli Manning: 30/42, 298 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   OKLAHOMA 17   ARIZONA 31 The Wranglers took care of business and wrapped up another 1-seed as their long run of success, and Ryan Nassib’s run at a 3rd straight Arizona MVP award, continued. Nassib went 18 of 29 for 265 yards and 4 TDs, including 2 to All-USFL wideout Larry Fitzgerald. Oklahoma could not run the ball at all with Lynch out, so it was all on Flacco, who threw for 2 scores but just could not escape the Wrangler pass rush, forcing several poor throws and recording 4 sacks. Oklahoma is mathematically alive, but only a PhD in Calculus could tell us how they can get past all the 8-7 teams next week. POTG:  Wrangler QB Ryan Nassib: 18/29, 265 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   San Diego D Forces QB Change as Dragons Flounder To say it was not the day that the Dragons, Coach Riley, or QB Matt McGloin hoped for is a major understatement. The Thunder absolutely dominated in front of over 48,000 rabid fans at Snapdragon Stadium. They drove McGloin from the game at the half, having taken a lot of hits and produced next to no offense in 30 minutes. Jacoby Brissett started the 2nd half, fared a bit better, at least putting 7 on the board with a toss to slot man John Brown, but that was nowhere near enough as San Diego dominated the game and all but assured themselves of a playoff spot. Seattle is still very much alive in the mix, but will have to upend the defending league champs next week to qualify.   It was a very strong game from Christian Ponder who certainly has earned Coach LeBeau’s trust over the course of Brissett’s injury. He will lead the Thunder into their season finale at LA next week, and with a win, to San Diego’s first home playoff game since a stunning loss to the Dragons in last year’s Wild Card round. So, a bit of revenge for the Thunder, but they are not done yet. They need to lock up the 4th seed with a win win next week, and they could very well be facing the Dragons in the Wild Card round. Seattle could well be the 5 seed if they knock off the Panthers, potentially setting up a rematch of last year’s tough loss in the playoffs. But, after this game, perhaps the Thunder are feeling that even a rematch is not a problem. Manning Not Going Quietly into Retirement Eli Manning may be headed to retirement and even more ads filmed with his brother Peyton, but he does not seem ready to go out quietly. The younger Manning put up some huge results this week in an upset win over the Houston Gamblers. He will now have one more game to share with the fans in Las Vegas as the Vipers finish out the year with a home game against Dallas. Las Vegas won’t be making a playoff appearance, but the game could still be a big one for Vegas fans as they say goodbye to Manning. While Manning has only played 2 years with the Vipers after a career that had stops in New Orleans, Orlando, Memphis, and Tampa Bay, he will hang up the cleats in Las Vegas, with one more outing in front of him, one more chance to stand on a USFL field and share in the cheers of a fanbase that is appreciative of his contribution to the game. Locker Gets the Start, Gets Hurt, but gets the W in Upset of Maulers When it was announced on Friday that Big Ben would not appear in Pittsburgh, but that Jake Locker would get the start, many thought it was a sign that Jim Caldwell was tanking, throwing the game in hopes of getting a better draft position, but Jake Locker is no slouch, and the Blitz definitely were not tanking as they took it to the Maulers, possibly costing Pittsburgh not only the NE Division crown, but a playoff spot altogether. Locker played well, but perhaps more surprisingly the Blitz D played well, and there was no sign that this club, sitting at 10 losses, was giving any ground or tanking to get a better draft position. Much to the contrary, they seem to be battling for Coach Caldwell. Will that be enough to give their coach another season in Baltimore? That is yet to be seen, but at the very least they are clearly still feeling the fire as they head into their final game of a disappointing season. Panthers Back in Playoff Hunt, with Huge Week 16 Showdown in Seattle It is a true pre-playoff playoff game when the Panthers head into Seattle next week. Regardless of other results in the week, the winner of that game will be making a playoff appearance. Michigan was on the ropes, needing a win against rival Chicago to even have a shot at a meaningful Week 16 game, but the 2017 league champions got the win they needed and now face a play-in situation against a Seattle team that has demonstrated heart and determination all season long.   Seattle is in a very similar position to the Panthers. A win in the finale, now scheduled for Sunday night, and they leap right back into the 2018 playoffs, duplicating their amazing 0-5 to 9-7 run from last season. It was a feat few thought they could accomplish, but once again they can control their own destiny, playing at home, against a tough and determined team, but that is not new for these Dragons. Just who will come away with the playoff berth and the win is not known at this point, but what we do know is that we are going to get some true playoff football in Week 16 when these two meet.   One week left, 5 playoff berths still up for grabs and 10 teams still mathematically in range to claim one. But, not all opportunities are equal. Some can control their own destiny, others will need help, perhaps too much help to be a realistic contender. But, by the end of this weekend, we will know not only the 12 teams that will continue playing in the USFL playoffs, but who and when they will play in the league’s 17th week. We will go conference by conference, breaking down each teams’ situation and what they need to get their best playoff position, starting in the West, where the top seed is already locked in but plenty is still on the line. Arizona: The Wranglers have locked up the SW Division and the 1-seed, so do not be shocked if we see a lot of subs in this week’s season finale as Arizona preps for a bye week and a home game in the Divisional round.   Oakland: The Invaders know they are headed to the playoffs, but they want that division title and the 2 seed. They need a win this week to lock up both and hold off the hard-charging San Diego Thunder.   Ohio: The Glory locked up the Central Division this week, so the only thing on the line for them is a possible 2-seed. But, here is the thing. Oakland plays Saturday and Ohio does not play until Sunday. If the Invaders win, then Ohio has nothing to play for, locked into the 3-spot, so they will rest some starters, but if Oakland loses, then there is a lot on the line when the Glory take on the Wranglers.   San Diego: Despite an 0-4 start, the Thunder can win the division. They need Oakland to stumble and then they have to ensure they get past LA and the Division, even a possible 2-seed could be theirs.   Portland: The Stags have no chance at the Division, or even a home playoff game, but they still need to ensure they get into the dance. A win over Oklahoma gets them there, but the Outlaws also need a win to qualify, so this won’t be an easy Week 16 matchup.   Seattle: The Dragons had their “play in” game last week, and struggled against the Thunder. They have a “mulligan” because a win this week at home will still get them a Wild Card. Problem is, they face not only a team that is also in with a win, but a team that won last year’s league title and is not looking forward to dropping out of the hunt if they can prevent it.   Michigan: The Michigan-Seattle game is a true “play in” game. The winner is guaranteed a playoff spot, the loser almost certainly out (not entirely, but realistically, yes.). No wonder the league put this game in the prime Sunday night slot.   Denver: The Gold are still alive, but they need to beat Chicago at Invesco Field, which seems doable, but also hope that Portland stumbles at Oklahoma. Honestly, when we say it out loud, it does seem viable.   Oklahoma: Believe it or not the 7-8 Outlaws are still in the mix. They need to upend Portland at home in OGE Energy Stadium, that is a given. They also need Chicago to knock off Denver, and that may be the tough part. But, if they get both results, they would leapfrog over the Stags, the Gold, and the loser of the Michigan-Seattle game and claim the final spot. It is the most tenuous of all situations, so the Outlaws just need to focus on the task at hand, knocking off Portland.   That is the situation in the West, where we have 3 open playoff spots and 6 teams in play. We move now to the East, where only 2 spots remain, and we have 4 teams not yet guaranteed a playoff spot, all battling for the right to get one more game.   New Orleans: The Breakers sit in a 3-way tie atop the Southern Division. They are the club, of the three, who can control their own destiny. A win over Orlando and the 1-seed is theirs. After a long season that saw all 3 contenders take over the top spot at some point, it is the Breakers in the best position to claim the title, the bye, and homefield advantage.   Atlanta: The Fire are locked into the 2-seed, so they can rest some starters, take it easy, not show much against Baltimore, and know that they will be resting next week ahead of their home game in the Divisional playoffs.   New Jersey: The Generals have crept up on the Maulers, taken over the lead in the division by ½ game and now control their own destiny. They have what should be a very winnable game against a 3-12 Tampa Bay club with nothing to play for. Of course that also means the Bandits have nothing to lose. If the Generals win, as you would expect, they wrap up the NE Division crown and will host the 6-seed next week.   Houston: The Gamblers hold the 4-spot currently, but they know that if Orlando can knock off the Breakers, then Houston could leap all the way to the top spot and get themselves homefield for the entire Western Conference playoff run. They face Memphis in a game that matters for both teams, both hoping for the 1-seed, but both also knowing that a loss would drop them all the way to the 5-seed, and a road game next week. Memphis: The Showboats are in exactly the same situation as Houston. A loss puts them in the unwanted 5-seed. A win means they at least get a home Wild Card game as the 4-seed, and if New Orleans loses, a possible 1-seed. Here is the thing though. How much do you fight for that home game next week? How much do you show, since a Breaker win means that Houston and Memphis will certainly meet in the Wild Card round. So, do you show everything to get a home game, or do you hold something back so that you can surprise the other next week?   Charlotte: After holding the division most of the year, the Monarchs have slipped and lost the crown to Atlanta. Now they are fighting for their playoff lives. A loss and they are almost certainly out of the postseason, with both Pittsburgh and Washington right there to jump over them. But, a win and they claim the last spot, dooming the two Northeastern clubs to watch from the outside. They control their own destiny, but still must be wondering how it came down to this in the first place.   Pittsburgh: Another team that has to be shaking their heads. They had the division won, but have lost 3 in a row, allowing New Jersey to leapfrog them. Now, they need a win plus a Charlotte loss just to get in as a Wild Card. If they are very lucky, they get a win, a Charlotte loss, and somehow Tampa Bay stuns the Generals, which would provide Pittsburgh with the NE Title and their only shot at a home game next week.   Washington: The Federals play the Maulers in the season finale, and just like Pittsburgh, they need help. They too can earn a Wild Card with a win and a Charlotte loss. Or, just like the Maulers again, a win over Pittsburgh and a loss by the Generals and it is Washington atop the NE Division and sitting pretty with a 3-seed. So, they, like many other teams, need to focus on the job at hand, and hope others do their part as well. Not ideal, but the chance is still there. Few injuries to report this week, not compared to some weeks this season, though with nearly every game having some influence on the playoff picture, any one of these injuries, even those where players could take the field at less than 100% could be a factor.   OUT WR       Nelson Agholor        LA          Hip                12-16 Weeks DT        Corey Liuget                BIR         Back               6-8 Weeks OT         Erik Pears                   LA          Leg                  4-6 Weeks DE        William Gholston           ATL         Neck                1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL QB          Jake Locker              BAL        Concussion       SS            Leon McQuay          OKL       Neck DE         Kemoko Turay        BIR         Concussion   QUESTIONABLE OG         Michael Dunn             LV           Concussion CB         Dunta Robinson              PIT         Hip C            Sean Harlow                 POR      Neck LB           Keenan Clayton           OAK      Concussion LB         Matt Milano                  NJ           Pinched Nerve   League Sets Final Week Schedule with Panther-Dragon Play-in Game as Sunday Nighter On Monday, following the study of all playoff permutations, the USFL finished its usual Week 16 flex scheduling, and they have given us a weekend full of questions and full of must-watch games, ending with a crescendo on Sunday night when the Panthers and Dragons will face off in Seattle, the winner advancing to the Wild Card round, and the loser headed home for the year.   The weekend will start with 2 huge games for the Northeast Division at Noon on Saturday. As always, when possible, games that impact each other are scheduled at the same time and that is certainly the case on Saturday afternoon when Pittburgh faces Washington and New Jersey finishes their season in Tampa Bay. If the Generals win, then the Mauler-Federal game could be for a Wild Card berth (depending on what happens with Charlotte. If New Jersey loses, then the Mauler-Federal winner would claim the NE Division title and the 3-seed, hosting a Wild Card playoff.   At 4pm the focus shifts to the Pacific, with St. Louis taking on Oakland and San Diego headed to LA. Oakland is already locked into a playoff spot, but San Diego needs the W to earn their berth. If the Thunder can win, and if Oakland falls to the Skyhawks, it would be San Diego claiming the Pacific Division, a total shock after their 0-4 start to the year. If both clubs win, Oakland keeps the division and the bye week, while San Diego will host a Wild Card game as well as the 4 seed.   The night game on Saturday is a big one for the Southern Division as Houston faces Memphis with both 11-4 and behind New Orleans on tie-breakers. The winner of this game has a shot to claim the 1-seed if New Orleans falters on Sunday. The loser is likely a 5-seed and on the road for their Wild Card game. The Breakers won’t play until noon on Sunday, so this game won’t involve scoreboard watching, but you know the winner will be tuned in to the Renegades-Breakers game and rooting hard for Orlando.   Sunday’s noon games include that ‘Gades-Breakers game, but also a game that will be huge for the NE Division as Charlotte heads to Birmingham. If they win, the last Wild Card is theirs, regardless of what happens with the 2 NE Division games on Saturday, but if Birmingham pulls off the upset, it means that a 2nd NE Division team will get in, and by the time this game starts we will know which team will be on the edge of their seats hoping against hope that the Stallions can get the job done.   Sunday at 4pm we have 3 games that pit the Central Division against the Southwest, with Ohio at Arizona, Chicago at Denver, and Oklahoma hosting Portland. We expect both Ohio and Arizona to put in several subs as both are locked into their playoff spots. But, the other two are huge games in the Western Wild Card race. Denver can earn a Wild Card spot with a win, but only if Oklahoma can upset Portland. Oklahoma can get in if they pull off that upset, but only if Denver is losing, so a lot of scoreboard watching from both those clubs. Finally, Portland is in with a win, plain and simple, so they will be going after Oklahoma with everything they have.   And then we get to Sunday night, where the Panthers and Dragons know that the winner is in the playoffs and the loser goes home. That is a true play-in game, and we expect it to be a beauty. A great set up by the league, lots of crossover games happening at the same time, and a Sunday night finale that should be a true war of wills, a game we all can enjoy as the final regular season game in what has been a highly entertaining 2018 regular season. When the schedule is over, it is then on to Black Monday (sorry, coaches) and Wild Card Weekend for mid-summer playoff football!!   League Leader Boards As Week 16 Looms As we look across the league with one week left, the playoffs are clearly the main focus of attention, but for many players this last week is about putting together a big game to reach a milestone, an incentive-laden stat, or to leapfrog over another player and claim a statistical title this season. We are going to run through the major stat categories and see who is in range to challenge for the top spot in each, and who is closing in on a big milestone, record, or statistical marker.   PASSING Basically the same names in rotation, but with almost no chance at all that one player can win the big 3: yardage, touchdowns, and QB rating. In yardage, the race is between Colt McCoy and Drew Brees. The Gambler has about 150 yards on the Breaker, and both QBs will almost certainly see lots of action this week as their games determine the 1-seed in the East. Others with possible milestone-achieving games include Ryan Nassib (57 yards from 4,000) and Dak Prescott (92 yards away).   For Touchdowns, we have a tie right now between McCoy and Brees again, and while Ryan Nassib is only 2 back, with 32 to their 34, Arizona is unlikely to keep their MVP candidate in for more than a series or two, with nothing on the line for the Wranglers in the game result.   QB Rating: Ryan Nassib seems to have this wrapped up at 117.9. Even a masterful game by Brees at 104.7 won’t produce a 10-point leap. We should note that San Diego’s Christian Ponder is currently the only other player above 100, with a 102 rating, but he has insufficient pass attempts to be included in the big board when it comes to QB Rating.   RUSHING We know who is going to win the rushing title. LeVeon Bell’s 135 yard lead is nearly uncatchable, especially with Bell and the Panthers playing a very meaningful game this week. Maurice Jones-Drew will need to focus on winning the game, but if he gets up around 150, he may start thinking about reaching 1,500 for the year, currently 168 yards away.  Several other players are hunting for a 1,000-yard season, including Atlanta rookie Nick Chubb (37 yards away), veteran Monarch HB Adrian Peterson (62 yards away) and Seattle’s Knowshon Moreno (98 yards off).  As for touchdowns, MJD has a 2-score lead over LeVeon Bell, 15 to 13, with Houston’s Carlos Hyde likely too far off the pace at 11.   RECEIVING We have 2 receivers already over the 100-catch mark, with Portland’s Brandin Cooks running away with the title at 120 after 15 games. Aaron Dobson is just over 100 at 101. Closing in on that magic number are Viper Denarius Moore (99), Denver’s Golden Tate (93), Breaker Jordy Nelson (91), and Orlando’s Brashad Perriman (90).   Mike Evans has a healthy lead in yardage, sitting at 1,533, with 2nd place Larry Fitzgerald at 1,468. Fitzie will see very limited action, if any at all, this week, so he may be lept by New Orleans’s Jordy Nelson at 1,445 currently. For those closing in on 1,200 yards, a common contract boosting number, we have Denarius Moore again (1,180), JuJu Smith-Schuster (1,177), Mauler Adam Thielen (1,161), and Michigan’s Cody Latimer (1,111). We should also note that Coby Fleener is the only TE over 1,000 yards, sitting at 1,098, more than 200 yards ahead of 2nd place.   For receiving touchdowns, it is again Mike Evans leading the pack, sitting on 15 scores in 15 games.  Three behind him are Breaker Kenny Britt and Seattle’s Marshall Newhouse, both at 12. Then Jordy Nelson and Antonio Bryant at 11, and TE Julius Thomas leading all big men with 10.   DEFENSE Do we even have to say who is going to win the Sack title this year? Once again it is not a race, with Calais Campbell sitting pretty at 29, hoping to hit 30 yet again, the only man ever to do so. Von Miller is well back at 18, but still comfortably ahead of Chris Long and Dwight Freeney, both at 15.   Among the tackle leaders we have Philly’s Kirk Morrison (123), with Arizona’s A. J. Klien next up at 117, and Jacksonville’s Sean Lee at 114.  Likely to reach the century mark are Oakland LB Bobby Wagner (99), Dallas’s Brandon Spikes (97) and a fun race on the same team, with both Campbell and LB Sean Spence sitting at 98 apiece.   The real fun may be watching Memphis’s Marcus Williams, who is sitting at 9 picks this year, and has to try to get one more, against Colt McCoy and the Gamblers, if he wants to tie the league record. Of course, he also has competition, with Orlando FS Deion Bush and Seattle FS Donte Whitner both sitting at 8 apiece. A 2-pick game from either of them could leap right over Williams and into the record book.   SPECIAL TEAMS Finally, we should mention that we have one of the closest races for the scoring leader in several years. After 15 weeks we have two kickers, Oakland’s Roberto Aguayo and Memphis’s Lewis Ward tied at 123 points, but we also have Elliott Parson of Arizona and Caleb Sturgis of New Orleans only 1 point back at 122. And don’t count out Pittsburgh’s Andrew Franks (120) or Adam Vinatieri of Washington (118) and Greg Zeurlein of Denver (also 118). A big game, with several field goals, could propel any of them to the top of the leaderboard. Stars Reveal Some Radical Changes with 2019 UA Unis We wondered if the Under Armour Class of 2019 would reveal any radical changes. Most of the designs have been tweaks here or there, with a few retro elements built in. But with Philadelphia we finally got a bit more of a radical departure. Now, we should start by saying that the main logos for the team are not altered, the “phasing” star remains the focal point of Philly’s look. But what UA has done is take that motif and crank the intensity up quite a bit.   The new uniforms will be the first to feature a helmet stripe in Stars’ history. But no ordinary stripe, a stripe that transitions from red to orange to gold, and back again. That same “shifting” angled striping will be a feature on every element of the uniform, including side panels on the jerseys and the pants, with the design starting at the armpit in red, transitioning to orange, then gold, and then back again from the hip to the knee. It is a very different look from the more traditional thick red pant stripe or old-school sleeve stripes. The other new feature is an almost military style bar on the chest. Another transitional stripe, the bar features the angled stripes, but also 3 stars, representing the 3 titles held by the Stars over their long USFL history. Beneath the bar will appear a small wordmark, displaced now from beneath the collar to the left chest.   These primary uniforms come with only the gold pant set, matching the helmet. For variation we will need to look at the alt jerseys and pants. Philadelphia released two alt looks. The first, as you might expect, was a pure callback to the early years of the league, featuring the team’s original logo, a thick red pant stripe, and modified Northwestern stripes on the sleeves. The club can use the same helmet shell as their primary uniforms, but now with the striping removed. The second look is an all-white jersey and pant set, apparently for high-heat outings, called the “Summer Sun” alternate. This uniform removes all use of the team’s trademark scarlet red, and uses color shifting from gold to orange as the exclusive palette for the midsummer look. The ombre effect from orange to gold is present on the unique color-shifting helmet, on the numbers for the white jersey, and even on the socks. The pants are white and feature a gold and orange set of angled stripes which also extend to the side panels of the jersey. It is a bright, and very “heat” focused look, to be sure, one clearly aligned with the long tradition of Philadlephia Star football, but also quite unique in a history defined by a very traditional style.   OK. Here we are, Week 16. We have already broken down the playoff picture, and we know about the strategy of scheduling games with crossover impact at the same time. So, with very little more to say, here is the full rundown of Saturday and Sunday games, each with their potential impact on the playoff race included.   Saturday @ Noon             Philadelphia (6-9) @ Jacksonville (4-11)                                  No Playoff Ramifications   Saturday @ Noon             Pittsburgh (8-7) @ Washington (8-7)                                           Winner takes NE Division if NJ loses, Wild Card if Charlotte loses.   Saturday @ Noon             New Jersey (8-6-1) @ Tampa Bay (3-12)                                           New Jersey Takes NE Division with Win.   Saturday @ 4pm               Dallas (3-12) @ Las Vegas (6-9)                                          No Playoff Ramifications   Saturday @ 4pm               St. Louis (5-10) @ Oakland (10-5)                                           Oakland Takes Pacific Division with Win.   Saturday @ 4pm               San Diego (9-6) @ Los Angeles (3-12)                                          Thunder Takes Pacific Division with Win + Oakland Loss.   Saturday @ 8pm               Houston (11-4) @ Memphis (11-4)                                          Winner Takes Southern Division with New Orleans Loss.   Sunday @ Noon              Baltimore (5-10) @ Atlanta (10-5)                                         Atlanta is locked into the 2nd Seed in the East.   Sunday @ Noon             Charlotte (9-6) @ Birmingham (6-9)                                           Charlotte earns a Wild Card with a victory.   Sunday @ Noon             Orlando Renegades (6-9) @ New Orleans (11-4)                                            New Orleans Takes Southern Division + 1 Seed with a Win.   Sunday @ 4pm               Ohio (10-5) @ Arizona (11-3-1)                                           Ohio Takes 2 seed with win and Oakland loss   Sunday @ 4pm              Chicago (7-8) @ Denver (8-7)                                           Denver earns Wild Card with win + Portland loss.   Sunday @ 4pm              Portland (8-7) @ Oklahoma (7-8)                                           Portland earns Wild Card with win, Oklahoma needs win + Denver Loss   Sunday @ 8pm                Michigan (8-7) @ Seattle (8-7)                                            Winner earns a Wild Card