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Derrick & The Big Win Wrench The first month of the season wraps up with 3 teams still unbeaten and 4 still looking for their first win. It is all rose-tinted victory for the Gamblers, Wranglers, and somewhat surprisingly for the 4-0 Philadelphia Stars. Things are looking quite a bit less peachy for the winless Dragons, Bandits, Stags, and especially for the Washington Federals, who did not expect to struggle quite as much as the other three winless clubs might have foreseen. Week 4 also saw a couple of surprises, the most impressive being winless Atlanta’s total domination of unbeaten Orlando in a result that likely cost some Vegas bookmakers quite a bit of cash. In a week that brought some key injuries to teams that can ill afford to lose key playmakers, St. Louis lost Eric Weems for the year, Jacksonville could be without C. J. Spiller for up to 2 months, and Memphis sees Robert Woods out at least 1-2 weeks. So, we have unbeatens, we have teams struggling to find their first W, we have upsets, and we have some injuries impacting teams across the league. Sounds like football season to us.   Way Too Early Award Favorites Yes, it is a long way from Week 16, and even further from the announcement of the annual award winners the week before Summer Bowl 2017, but we are a month into the season and it seems fitting to recognize some of the players who have started the year strong. So, with no guarantee that these frontrunners will last atop the podium all year long, here are our top 3 picks for each of the major USFL awards after 4 games.   MVP We are going to stick with the QB position, just because that tends to be where this award lands. Looking at the first month of the season, three names pop out. In New Orleans, Drew Brees is putting up strong numbers. He is currently 2nd in yards passing (1,166), 2nd in passing TDs (8), and first in QB Rating at 130.4. He is getting a lot of competition from 2016 MVP and Arizona QB David Carr , who is 2nd in QBR, and first in both yards and touchdowns. A possible darkhorse who has his club unbeaten after 4 weeks, Colt McCoy is a story fans love to see, a guy who waited patiently behind a legendary QB only to get his shot. He is taking that shot for sure, third in TDs and 10th in yardage, McCoy is the underdog story that may just capture some votes.   OPOTY If the MVP is a 3-QB race, then we are going to focus on the other offensive skill positions for the OPOTY. Our top three in this category are the league’s current rushing leader, Matt Forte , its current leader in receiving yards, Brian Hartline , and the very vocal and often justified LeVeon Bell . Bell currently trails both Matt Forte and Maurice Jones-Drew as defenses key on him, but he is within 30 yards of 1st place and we know he is motivated to rack up yardage this year after setting 2,000 as his target.   Forte is a bit of a surprise at the top of the rushing leaderboard, but he has clearly taken advantage of the trade of Doug Martin (himself 4th on the list) to get more carries and make more plays. He was held to only 56 yards this week, so he needs to get back on the 100+ track again if he wants to stay in this field. As for Brian Hartline, the Blitz wideout may only have 15 catches on the year, but at 32.3 yards per catch, he is making the most of his opportunities. It will be a tight field among the wideouts, with Jordy Nelson and Chad Johnson right there with him, but if he can continue to score TDs at the pace he has (7 in 4 games) he could be a runaway OPOTY candidate.   DPOTY Yes, once again it is the Calais Campbell vote vs. the anyone-but-Campbell vote. So, we know Campbell will be in the mix ,and why not? He is after all atop the sack leaderboard once again. But, let’s say he slows down, or decides to quit and sell insurance instead. Who else is in the running? Our first potential contender is Oklahoma’s Pacman Jones , who not only has 3 picks so far this year, but has returned 2 for scores in the season’s opening month. That is an impressive display, especially for a 1-3 team. The other dark horse candidate is Arizona CB Joe Haden . Haden may only have 2 picks so far, but that is because he gets fewer balls tossed to the man he covers. What is more impressive is that he has 33 tackles in 4 weeks, a very high total for a corner and a sure sign that Haden is not afraid to come up and play the run. He trails only Tampa LB Brian Orakpo for the tackle lead, almost always won by a linebacker.   ROTY While there are several rookie running backs who are starters for their clubs, and even more receivers who are getting targets, the running for the Rookie of the Year may come down to three very different players. On the one hand we have Mitch Trubisky , who is the only full time starter among the rookie QBs and who has Charlotte sitting at 3-1 after the first month of action. He may be hurt by his role as a “game manager” in his first season, as well as a stat line that does not scream “MVP”, with only 735 yards in 4 games (under 200 per game) and a 3:5 TD:INT ratio.   Our second contender seems more like the frontrunner, Oakland HB Christian McCaffrey . In addition to racking up 256 yards in his first 4 games, good enough to be in the top 10, McCaffrey also leads all tailbacks with 14 receptions. He is becoming a focal point for the Invader attack, and he seems happy to have that role.   Finally, let’s pick the best looking defensive rookie as our third option. Little doubt on that one. Houston safety Budda Baker has been all over the highlight reels week in and week out. The young safety has 14 tackles, a pick, 3 sacks, a forced fumble, and 4 pass defenses in 4 games. He is blowing up plays, taking down backs, and making big time moves on receivers. He is also just fun to watch, a Tasmanian Devil of a player who is not afraid to get some trash talking in, but who also seems able to back it up.   COTY When we look at the Coach of the Year, what we usually look for is the team that is far outperforming expectations. That is hard to gauge so early in the season, but if we look across the league, three names do emerge pretty easily. Jim Harbaugh has his Stars sitting pretty at 4-0, something few anticipated. In Denver, John Hufnagel has impressed many with his no nonsense style and the grit his Denver Gold have shown in slogging to a 3-1 record despite scoring 17, 13, and 10 points in their 3 wins. Finally, we should mention that Birmingham sitting at 3-1 is very much a surprise. Back-to-back wins over Oklahoma and Charlotte have impressed and Coach Henry Ellard could well be moving from the hotseat to a very comfortable seat among the coaches considered for this award.   LAS VEGAS VIPERS 26  OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS 23  OVERTIME Another sellout crowd at OGE Energy Stadium greeted the Oklahoma Outlaws as they returned for their 2nd home game. Their opponent, the Las Vegas Vipers, came into the game with the same record as the Outlaws, both sitting at 1-2 and hoping for a win to send them to .500 instead of a tough 1-3 start to the year. Oklahoma would hold the lead for most of the game, but never put Las Vegas away, and that left enough room for Eli Manning to bring the club back at the end of regulation and send the game into extra time.   Manning would finish the game with 381 yards passing, a season high, as he completed 33 of 46 passes, surviving 2 picks with 2 TD tosses. On the other side of the field, Joe Flacco struggled, completing only 8 of 19 attempts against the Viper defense. Marshawn Lynch faired a bit better, averaging4 yards per carry as he contributed 76 yards to the Outlaw attack. The two big receivers, one for each club, did as many expected, crossing the 100-yard mark, with Denarius Moore going for 12 receptions and 127 yards while Marques Colston caught 4 for 103, including a 57-yard TD catch and run.   The first quarter was largely uneventful, with both teams testing the opposition defense and neither one finding much luck. Oklahoma got the first points on the board and the only points of the quarter when Kai Forbath connected from 36 yards out. He would add a 42-yarder early in the 2nd quarter to double the Oklahoma lead before Las Vegas started finding offensive success. The Vipers had two solid drives to end the first half. The first took the ball all the way to the 4-yard line, but when 3 attempts to punch the ball in did not produce a TD, Coach Neuheisel settled for a 21-yard chip shot from Brett Maher. Neuheisel’s patience paid off 5 minutes later when the next Las Vegas drive put the first 7-pointer on the board. Unlike their prior drive, this one was not a slow, methodical move down the field, it was a quick strike score, as play action set up Brandon Marshall in one-man coverage and Eli Manning found enough time in the pocket to get the ball deep. The result was a 62-yard scoring play that gave Las Vegas their first lead of the game, and sent both teams into the locker room with Vegas leading 10-6.   Oklahoma would receive the second half kickoff, and they were eager to retake the lead after the late miscue in the first half. The Outlaws quickly proved that they too could hit on the big play as the 4th play of the drive provided Oklahoma with a long TD toss of their own. Joe Flacco found his favorite target, Marques Colston deep and the Outlaw receiver shrugged off the corner with a nice spin to the inside before high-stepping into the endzone to once again put Oklahoma back on top. Down 13-10, Las Vegas took over and after what appeared to be another deep TD pass was called back on a holding call were forced to settle for 3 again, tying the score at 13.   Oklahoma could not move the ball on their next drive, but got a big play on defense when Manning, trying to hit Denarius Moore, underthrew on an out route, feeding the ball right to Oklahoma corner Pacman Jones. Jones weaved his way across the field to return the pick 17 yards to for a TD as Texas went back on top 20-13.   With an Oklahoma field goal to start the 4th, the Outlaw lead was now 10 points, but Las Vegas had moved the ball well throughout the game, sprinkling Jeremy Hill and Montario Hardesty runs in between Manning passing plays. They found success in the 4th quarter as well, first with a short 34-yard drive that produced a field goal to drop the Outlaw lead to 7 points, and then with a 13-play drive that began with 3:33 on the clock and finished with a game-tying score with only 5 ticks left on the clock.   The drive was classic Manning at his best. He avoided the rush, extended plays, and found his receivers over the middle of the field, connecting twice with Tyler Eifert on key third downs and dumping the ball off to Hardesty twice for nice gains. The drive took most of the game’s remaining time, but with 13 seconds left, Manning had a first and 10 on the 13, and time for 2-3 shots into the endzone to tie the score and send the game to overtime. After missing on a throw to Doug Baldwin on first down, he was now at 7 seconds. The second down throw went to the slot receiver, Devante Parker, lined up in a 3-receiver cluster on the left side. Parker got a natural pick from Baldwin’s route, cut inside and found the ball waiting for him. He fell into the endzone and Las Vegas had set the game up for overtime.   Oklahoma won the toss and chose to get the ball in extra time, receiving the ball on their own 3 and getting a runback to the 17. Joe Flacco would rely on Marshawn Lynch to get the initial two first downs on the drive, the big back converting on 3rd and 3 and then on a 2nd and 4 run. On their third set of downs, a false start pushed them back, producing a 3rd and 11, but Flacco found Colston on a nicely run deep out, and Oklahoma was in Las Vegas territory. Having seen their defense give up 2 conversions on third down already, Las Vegas got more aggressive now that the ball was on their side of the field. A blitz on 2nd down forced Marshawn Lynch to take a 3 -yard loss, rare for the big back, and with 3rd and 9 on the Vegas 38-yard line, Flacco dumped the ball short to Chris Cooley, setting up a 49-yard attempt that could not immediately win the game, but would put a lot of pressure on Las Vegas. That pressure would come only if Forbath made the 48-yard kick, but when his kick sailed just too far to the left, Las Vegas took over on their own 37 with every chance to win the game with a kick of their own.   Manning led Las Vegas quickly into Oklahoma territory, hitting Moore on his 12th catch of the day for 9 yards, then Hardesty out of the backfield and Baldwin on the sideline. Before long, Las Vegas had the ball in range for Brett Maher, 1st and 10 on the Oklahoma 24. The Vipers tried to get even closer, but on 2nd and 8, Manning took a bad sack, dropped back at the 33 by DE Mllicah Goodman. After a miss on 3rd down, Coach Neuheisel put his trust in kicker Brett Maher to connect from 50 yards out. Maher was only 5 of 10 on the year, having gone 0-2 from beyond 45 yards, but on this day he made the most of his opportunity and proved worthy of Coach Neuheisel’s trust, sending the ball straight down the middle on a kick that easily would have been good from 55 out.   Oklahoma would drop to 1-3 with their first home loss and Las Vegas would move to 2-2 at the end of the first quarter of the season. Eli Manning had a game saving drive once again, and Coach Neuheisel had a positive first month at the helm leading Las Vegas to a solid .500 start. HOUSTON 20  MEMPHIS 16 Houston’s offense may have cooled off a bit the past 2 weeks, but their defense remains solid as they limit Memphis to only 245 total yards, picking off Paxton Lynch twice and allowing only 1 touchdown all game. Carlos Hyde outrushed Memphis’s duo of backs, gaining 114 and adding a TD as Colt McCoy was limited to 15 of 30 passing for only 168 yards. But, down 16-13 late, it was McCoy to rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster for the game winner with just 34 ticks left on the clock. POTG:  Gambler HB Carlos Hyde: 23 Att, 114 Yds, 1 Td   MICHIGAN 17   LOS ANGELES 20 The Express get the statement win on Friday Night, knocking off the unbeaten Panthers thanks to a 13-0 run to finish the game, coming back from 10 points down to win by 3. The Express D picked off Kirk Cousins twice in the 2nd half to spark the comeback, with Reggie Bush running in the 2nd half’s only TD as LA takes this one and moves to 3-1. POTG:  LA defensive tackle Chris Jones: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 FF, 1 FR   JACKSONVILLE 30  OHIO 13 Ohio’s D is not living up to the hype, while Jacksonville’s is looking very solid. Seven sacks of Christian Hackenberg, paired with 3 picks of the Ohio QB were enough to help Jacksonville to a big win and put the Bulls at .500 after ¼ season. Rookie C. J. Beathard got the start, rushing for his only TD of the day on a QB sneak at the goalline, The Defense added a pick-six from David Bruton and that was all she wrote for the Glory. POTG:  Bulls’ CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie: 12 Tck, 2 Int   ORLANDO 3   ATLANTA 28 A stunner at the Georgia Dome as 0-3 Atlanta absolutely took it to the 3-0 Orlando Renegades. The ‘Gades rush for only 21 total yards as Atlanta hits them early and often. Aaron Murray threw for 265 and 2 scores, Chris Ivory combined with Kenyan Drake for 115 rushing yards and 2 scores, and the Fire defense played like their season depended on it, which it may have. POTG:  Fire WR Roy Williams: 6 Rec, 122 Yds   CHICAGO 6   DENVER 10 Snow made this one a slippery and sloppy affair. The only TD came on a shovel pass from Leinart to TE Delanie Walker as players slipped all over the snowy field. Denver managed only 120 total yards of offense, but 2 turnovers by Chicago and very few advances into Denver territory allowed the Gold to hold on for the win in whiteout conditions. POTG:  Denver DE Von Miller: 3 Tck, 2 Sck   PHILADELPHIA 30  SEATTLE 24 The Dragons almost pulled off a major upset and did better than anyone else so far this season against the Stars’ defense. Jacoby Brissett threw for 284 yards and 2 scores while Joseph Addai added 76 yards on the ground as Seattle put a scare into the Stars. But, a Gutierrez to Zac Stacy TD pass and a late Mike Nugent field goal helped the Stars pull this one out in the 4th. POTG : Stars’ HB Derrick Henry: 21 Att, 115 Yds   PITTSBURGH 20   NEW JERSEY 22 Another close battle involving the NE Division as Pittsburgh held a 20-16 lead after 3 quarters, but a late Nick Foles to Maurice Jones-Drew swing pass gave the Generals the needed score to pull out the home win. Nick Foles played the entire game for the injured Hundley, completing 16 of 26 passes for 194 yards, outdueling fellow backup QB Kevin Hogan on the day. POTG:  Generals’ HB Maurice Jones-Drew: 20 Att, 98 Yds, 3 Rec, 15 Yds, 1 TD   ARIZONA 38 DALLAS 14 It was shock and awe for Dallas’s Brandon Wheedon in his first start for the Roughnecks. Arizona threw everything but the kitchen sink at him limiting the former Monarch to 145 yards passing. Meanwhile, Derrick Carr went off for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns, connecting with 4 different receivers, including Larry Fitzgerald, who finished with 120 yards to lead all receivers. POTG:  Wrangler QB David Carr: 21/30, 316 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   TAMPA BAY 7   BALTIMORE 19 With Jake Locker knocked out of the game and 3rd stringer Trevone Boykin thrown into action, Baltimore’s offense struggled, but the D was very tough against E. J. Manuel (in for another injured starter). Baltimore would get TDs from both Darrius Heyward-Bey and Brian Hartline, add a safety on defense, and have more than enough for the Bandits’ anemic attack. POTG:  Blitz WR Brian Hartline: 3 Rec, 125 Yds, 1 TD   NEW ORLEANS 31  WASHINGTON 24 Drew Brees averaged 18 yards per completion as he completed 16 of 23 throws for 413 yards and 3 scores against Washington’s overmatched defense. Both Jordy Nelson and Kenny britt went over 140 yards on the day and Leonard Fournette added a solid 69 yards on 13 carries for the Breakers. Washington hung close, thanks to 137 yards from Keenan Allen, but it was not enough as the Feds fall to 0-4 at the ¼ mark of the season. POTG:  Breaker QB Drew Brees: 16/23, 413 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   CHARLOTTE 16   BIRMINGHAM 36 The Stallions make a statement, moving to 3-1 and knocking off the previously unbeaten Monarchs in a dominant 36-16 performance. Cam Newton threw for 2 scores, including a 72-yard beauty to Dontrelle Inman, and the defense pressured Mitch Trubisky all game long, producing 2 picks and 3 sacks while holding Charlotte to only 1 TD all game. Add in 5 Garrett Hartley field goals, and by game’s end, Birmingham scored on 8 of 9 possessions in a truly impressive game for the Stallions. POTG:  Stallion LB DeMeco Ryans: 7 Tck, 3 Sck, 1 FF   OAKLAND 29   PORTLAND 13 Portland’s offense continues to struggle, amassing only 261 total yards as Marcus Mariota was sacked 4 times. The Stags’ only TD came on defense, a Donte Whitner pick-six, as the Invaders controlled the line of scrimmage all game. Christian McCaffrey rushed for 62 and added 21 more through the air, while Taylor Gabriel had a solid game with 7 catches, 91 yards, and a score for the visitors. POTG:  Oakland DE Cliff Avril: 4 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF   SAN DIEGO 23  ST. LOUIS 17 OVERTIME The Sunday nighter was a nice finish to the week, with the Skyhawks kicking a late field goal to send the affair into overtime. In the extra period, San Diego pushed the ball down the field on the opening drive and a 1-yard Ryan Williams dive over the top clinched the game for the Thunder. POTG:  San Diego CB Justin Gilbert: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   Coach Hamilton Stands with Mariota Despite yet another bad loss, and another offensive no-show, Coach Pep Hamilton stands behind Marcus Mariota. “Look at the film, look at the stats and tell me we are not winning because of Marcus” said the Stags’ head man. He may be right. While Marcus Mariota’s 746 yards are not exactly setting the league on fire, his QB rating of 77.0 is better than most, including former league MVP Andy Dalton (76.6), Denver’s Matt Leinart (74.3), Chicago’s Ryan Fitzpatrick (72.6) and Oakland’s Joey Harrington (71.6). There are a lot of issues in Portland, but Coach Hamilton may well be right when he says the issues do not start with Mariota.   So, where do they start? How about a WR group that does not have a single receiver averaging more than 13 yards per catch, with two of the team’s supposed deep ball receivers, Alshon Jeffery and Brian Quick both averaging below 10 yards per catch? Or we could look at a line that has Mariota using his legs far more often to survive than to make plays? We are also looking at a Stag defense that was supposed to be a strength of the team but currently ranks dead last in scoring allowed at 28 points per game, and has allowed an average of 365 yards of offense each game, 2nd worst in the league behind the winless Federals.   Sure, Mariota is not making the big plays that can help produce points when long drives are not easy to come by, but that could well be on the receivers and his line as well. He is not making huge mistakes, with only 3 picks in 4 games, but there is just not enough happening around him to make his job easier. Coach Hamilton’s vote of confidence almost certainly means that Mariota will continue to get starts with Portland, but now the question is what can Coach Hamilton do to get more production around his young QB?   Murray Stuns Monarchs & His Own Coach In a game that could well have been Aaron Murray’s last as the starter for the winless Atlanta Fire, Aaron Murray picked as good a time as any to show that he could be an effective leader and accurate passer. Murray completed 24 of 33 passes for 265 yards agsinst the unbeaten Renegades, but what was perhaps more impressive was his hold over his offensive teammates, calling them to the line quickly, making adjustments, and generally reading the Orlando defense very effectively.   There is no doubt that Murray’s performance, as well as the team’s as a whole, won the former UGA signal caller more time under center. Even his new coach, Bruce Arians, had to admit that he was taken aback by Murray’s strong game against a very solid Orlando defense. “We know Aaron can play, but we were very impressed by how he took control today.” Was the statement Arians made to the press when asked about the sudden turnaround for Murray and the Fire offense. We agree. Murray showed us something this week, the potential to lead his team.   Federals’ Defensive Woes Mount The Federals have been hanging around the .500 mark for the past 3 years, but an 0-4 start may make that a very difficult target in 2017. The reason for the sudden ineptitude? Look no further than the team’s defensive woes. The Feds are currently dead last in the league, allowing 300.5 passing yards per game and 408.5 total yards, a combination of bad play, bad communication, and bad tackling that has doomed them to 4 straight defeats to start the year.   Yes, there are major issues with a run game that is averaging only 37.5 yards per game. Yes, you read that right, under 40 yards per game as a team. But even with that as a reality they are dealing with, the defense is perhaps an even bigger problem. You simply cannot give up 300 yards passing and 100+ yards rushing every game and expect to win many contests. Newly arrived MLB Shawne Merriman looks lost on the field, which is such a change from what we saw from him in his years with the Denver Gold. The front line just cannot produce pressure, with Chris Long the only lineman with more than 1 sack, and the secondary, well, let’s just say they are not exactly stuck like glue to their receivers.   It is a bad look for a team that made its name on defense with players like Jerome Brown, Antonio Pierce, Charles Woodson, Michael Barrow, and Ed Reed. The once proud Federal defense now looks like a shadow of its glory years, and that has the entire team scrambling to figure out how they can compete in a very tough division where there could be 3 playoff teams among the 5 clubs along some of the league’s more potent offenses. It has already been a long season for the Federals, and unless they can figure out how to spark a run game and how to actually slow down opposing offenses, the forecast for the next 12 weeks does not look much better.   St. Louis Loses Weems for the Year Coach Reich and the Skyhawks are trying to rebuild a winner in St. Louis, but that got just a bit tougher to accomplish as they lose one of their primary offensive weapons to injury. WR Eric Weems, who currently leads all Skyhawk receivers with 16 receptions and 220 yards, was placed on IR after both tearing and separating the bicep on his left arm in this week’s tight loss to San Diego. Weems went up for a contested ball, was wrestling with the DB and landed with the arm extended. An MRI conducted Monday proved the worst, a complete separation and a 12-16 week recovery timeframe. The decision was made immediately to place the receiver on IR.   Weems production will be missed. It appears that Coach Reich is going to promote Terrance Williams, the NFL speedster acquired in the offseason, to Weems’s spot, leaving David Nelson in the flanker spot and Allen Robinson at the slot. Some assumed that Eric Decker, who has more time with the team, might get the call, but Williams is apparently showing some flashes in practice and Coach Reich wanted to put a player with a skillset more akin to Weems’s in that spot.   Maualaga Goes Down Again A talented player who just cannot stay on the field. That is becoming the verdict on Rey Maualaga. The former Monarch LB came to the New Jersey Generals in 2013 and has been somewhat snakebit ever since. He went down this week with an ACL injury that could cost him the season. There is a window where he could come back, so New Jersey has not placed him on IR so far, but this is another major injury for the linebacker.   It looks like even in a best-case scenario, we are looking at 8-10 weeks before Maualaga could return to action. This comes a year after the linebacker lost 12 games to a season-ending quad injury. Now, in the same leg, it is the ACl that causes him to miss at least 2 months and possibly the entire remaining season. Maualaga had success early in his career, winning the unofficial Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2009 and making an All-USFL team in 2012, but after coming to New Jersey a year later, he has seen nothing but injury compounded on injury. He missed 5 games in each of his first two seasons in New Jersey, came back to play in 13 in his third year, and then both last year and this year it looks like he will be out for the long haul.   The Generals are expected to move rookie Matt Milano into the weakside LB slot that Maualaga had occupied, though we also think MLB Brady Poppinga could also see some snaps on the edge as well. The Generals will first test this new LB group Saturday as they host the Baltimore Blitz.   A rough week all around as we have our longest list of new injuries this season. St. Louis has a big loss as their lead receiver is out for the season. Las Vegas and Tampa Bay have not placed their injured starters on IR yet, but both could well end up there within the week. Dallas is down to 2 rookie HBs on the roster with C. J. Spiller expected to miss at least 6 weeks, and in Portland the LB group could have some rough seas ahead of them with Channing Crowder out at least a month and Lance Briggs expected to miss this week’s game at a minimum.   OUT WR         Eric Weems                 STL         Torn Bicep                IR OT          Nat Dorsey                   LV           Neck                     8-12 Weeks LB           Devon Kennard                TBY        Torn Quad               8-12 Weeks HB         C. J. Spiller                        DAL       Broken Leg              6-8 Weeks LB           Channing Crowder        POR      Shoulder                   4-6 Weeks OT          David Tremblay               ORL       Abdomen                 4-6 Weeks WR         Mike Williams                  PIT         Abdomen                2-4 Weeks OT          Levi Brown                      TBY        Torn Biceps              2-4 Weeks LB           Lance Briggs                  POR      Ankle                        1-2 Weeks CB          Dunta Robinson              PIT         Arm                        1-2 Weeks WR         Robert Woods                 MEM     Shoulder                 1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL QB         Ryan Lindley               OAK      Personal FB          Andy Janovich            ORL       Wrist DT          Andrew Billings               DAL       Scratched Cornea LB           Calvin Pace                   SEA        Hip WR         Percy Harvin                 OKL       Knee CB          Alphonso Hodge         OAK      Turf Toe C             Mike Pouncey                CHA      Foot   QUESTIONABLE DT          Dan Williams            MEM     Finger CB          Aqib Talib                      DEN      Pinched Nerve HB         Isaiah Pead                   OHI       Knee QB         Jake Locker                   BAL        Concussion CB          Xavien Howard             SEA        Knee   USFL First Quarter Power Rankings Here we go, our 2nd power rankings poll of the season. While there is no change at the very top and the very bottom, there are some major movers as the early season has thrown us some surprises. The two biggest risers are both up 13 spots as unbeaten Philadelphia jumps from 16th to 3rd and the 3-1 Birmingham Stallions move from 23rd to 10th in our new poll. The biggest drops? Well, that would be a tie between Memphis and Washington, both dropping 13 spots from our preseason rankings. The Showboats at 1-3 sit in 24th, while the Washington Federals have plummeted from 14th all the way to 27th, saved from the absolute basement only by the equally winless Seattle Dragons.   1-Arizona (4-0)              No Change No need to move Arizona from the top spot. They have looked every bit the league champion.   2-Houston (4-0)           No Change Houston has clearly found their new QB in Colt McCoy as he has the Gamblers sitting pretty and undefeated (with a bit of help from that defense.)   3-Philadelphia (4-0)                   Up 13 The Stars seem to be doing it with smoke and mirrors, but they are doing it, reaching the ¼ mark without a blemish on their season.   4-Baltimore (3-1)                      Down 1 A tough loss to Houston is the only reason they dip below the Stars. The defense has been a surprising strongpoint for the Blitz so far this year.   5-Los Angeles (3-1)                Down 1 The defense is still carrying the Express, but Reggie Bush and Sam Bradford are doing enough to finish 3 of 4 games with a lead in hand.   6-New Orleans (3-1) Down 1 Leonard Fournette is not having the immediate impact Coach Lathon wanted, but Jordy Nelson sure is.   7-Orlando (3-1)                  Down 1 Another club that is winning with defense, partially because Russell Wilson has missed some time to a nagging injury.   8-New Jersey (3-1)              Down 1 The Generals have been in a lot of tight games so far, but that seems to be toughening them up, which is very good when you look at their division.   9-San Diego (3-1)              Up 1 The Thunder started strong last year but faded down the stretch. Coach LeBeau wants to ensure that pattern is not repated.   10-Birmingham (3-1)            Up 13 A much better opening month than we gave them credit for. The defense seems much improved and Coach Ellard is getting more out of Cam Newton and the passing game.   11-Denver (3-1)                      Up 4 The Gold are winning ugly, partially due to early season weather, and partially due to a defense that is tenacious and an offense that is not exactly building big leads.   12-Michigan (3-1)                   Up 1 The Panthers have looked good on offense, but the defense needs to tighten up a bit, especially in the secondary.         13-Charlotte (3-1)                  Up 7 The start to the Mitch Trubisky Era has been far more positive than negative, though the loss this week to Atlanta should be sounding some alarms.   14-Jacksonville (2-2)             Up 7 The defense is there, the offense needs a lot more work if the Bulls are going to compete with Orlando and, apparently a revived Charlotte club, in the SE Division.   15-Oakland (2-2)                  Down 10 We are concerned by the lack of offensive consistency. While we like what rookie Christian McCaffrey is bringing, there needs to be more provided by others on the offense.   16-Las Vegas (2-2)               Down 4 Manning has had up games and down games, which feels like his full biography more than a recap of just his first 4 games in Las Vegas.   17-Atlanta (1-3)                       Up 7 The Fire are playing games tighter than we expected. We still look at their offense and wonder where the playmakers are, but this week’s big win against Charlotte was an eye-opener.   18-Pittsburgh (1-3)                Up 1 We just look at that D-line and wonder why they are not more dominant each week. The same could be said for the receiver group and QB Andy Dalton.   19-Dallas (1-3)                         Up 3 This may be only a temporary placement as Dallas has just played their first of 6 games without Johnny Manziel. Can Wheedon prove to be more reliable and protect the ball for Dallas in a way he did not in Charlotte?   20-Oklahoma (1-3)              Down 8 The offense is not getting the production Outlaw fans are used to and the defense seems middle-of-the-pack at best. More is needed if Oklahoma wants to get back in the mix in what could be a very tough division.   21-Chicago (1-3)                      Down 10 While Matt Forte has started the year strong, the rest of the Machine have not been keeping pace. Ryan Fitzpatrick seems to have left his magic act at home so far this season.   22-Ohio (1-3)                           Down 5 We expected defense to carry this club, but the defense we have seen to date is not what is needed if the Glory want to compete in the Central.   23-St. Louis (1-3)                    Up 3 The Skyhawks are not exactly taking the world by storm, but they are losing games by small margins, which is a good sign that they are fighting for Coach Reich.   24-Memphis (1-3)                   Down 13 Showboat fans may be getting buyer’s remorse as they compare Paxton Lynch’s early season against last year’s Eli Manning performance, but you should never judge a new QB by his first 4 games. He will need time.   25-Tampa Bay (0-4)               Up 2 How do you determine which winless club is the worst and which is the 4th worst? We at least see some signs of life when Dak Prescott is in the game and when they get Dalvin Cook involved.   26-Portland (0-4)               Down 1 As our earlier article cited, the problem does not appear to be Mariota, though his numbers are not great, it is the surrounding roster which is there to help Mariota and is just not doing it.   27-Washington (0-4)     Down 13 We did not see the Federal defense being this bad, not with Merriman signed in the offseason, but he is just not finding his role and the entire defense seems to be looking at others to get the job done.   28-Seattle (0-4)                    No Change We had Seattle in position 28 in preseason and we are not seeing enough to move them out of it yet. Coach Riley needs a plan to see growth this year and then a very good offseason to build a roster he can truly work with. It will be a long year in the PNW with the Dragons and Stags likely among the worst clubs in the league this year.     Rookie Roundup Four weeks in and already we are seeing some rookies beginning to take on major roles around the league. Some have started hot right out of the gate, while others are growing into their positions, and others still are waiting for their big break. We will take a look at the biggest names from the 2017 Draft and see just how things are starting off for each of the highly anticipated draftees.   Quarterback While the main focus here is obviously the only Week One starter from among the USFL draft class, we should note that this week saw a second rookie get a start as Jacksonville’s C. J. Beathard got the W for the Bulls as he replaced Robert Griffin Jr. But, the only true starter from the class is, of course, Charlotte’s Mitch Trubisky. With Charlotte sitting at 3-1 we have to say that Trubisky is starting well, even if his numbers are not earth shaking. Trubisky currently sits in 19th place for yardage with 735 yards over 4 games, less than 200 per game. His 3:5 balance on touchdowns and picks is not ideal, though he is completing nearly 63% of his passes. But, the key overall is that win-loss record, and so far that is definitely in his favor.   Halfback Four rookies were handed the starting job for their teams at the tailback position: Oakland’s Christian McCaffrey, LSU product Leonard Fournette in New Orleans, Tampa Bay’s Dalvin Cook, and Dallas’s Samaje Perine, having beaten out fellow rookie Donte Foreman in camp. So, where do they stand right now? Well, only one, McCaffrey is among the Top 10 rushers, with 256 yards (64 Yards per Game), while Cook and Fournette are close at 224 and 207 after 4 games. Perine has been splitting carries, so his 179 yards is pretty solid considering the lower play count. Perine actually leads all the rookies with 4 rushing touchdowns so far, so it seems fair to say that all four are contributing in their opening weeks in the pros.   Receivers Between wideouts and tight ends, there are 6 players we have been monitoring. In terms of receptions, Atlanta TE O. J. Howard (20 for 164 yards and 2 scores) and JuJu Smith Schuster (11 receptions for 238 yards and 2 TDs) are leading the pack. Behind him we find Chicago’s Kenny Galloday (10-92-0), with Charlotte’s Mack Hollins (4-42-0) and Orlando TE David Njoku (4 receptions).   Defense Among defenders, the names that pop out early in the season are St. Louis LB Trey Hendrickson (22 tackles with 3 sacks), Philly LB Hassan Reddick (18 tackles and 2 sacks), Atlanta CB Shaquile Griffin (18 Tck with 1 sack), Breakers’ corner Tre’Davious White (22 tackles) and perhaps the early frontrunner for the Defensive Rookie of the Year, Houston safety Budda Baker, who is already making a name for himself with 14 tackles, a pick, and 3 sacks in the SS position.   Special Teams Finally, we cannot talk about the rookie class of 2017 without mentioning the kickers, because this group of rookies, both drafted and free agent signings, is making an immediate impact for their teams. At the front of the pack is Michigan’s Michael Beam, currently 4th in the league in scoring with 39 points. Not far behind we find Houston’s Younghoe Koo, with 30 points, and Seattle’s Jeffrey Harris with 28. While we do not expect a kicker to have a shot at the ROTY, these four players are certainly getting their chance to prove their worth as they make clutch kicks each week.   Week Five is Divisional Mayhem, with 10 of 14 games between divisional rivals. High passions, energized fanbases, and teams that know each other well. This should be fun!! We start it off on Friday Night with a classic rivalry game as Memphis heads to Birmingham for the worlds biggest barbecue! The late game is a Wild West showdown between Las Vegas and Oakland, both at 2-2 and hoping to get over the .500 hump.   Saturday has three non-divisional games early, then heats up in the afternoon and evening. One non-divisional game to catch is the Denver @ Michigan clash on ABC at 4pm ET, with both teams coming into the game at 3-1. We also have LA @ Seattle in that timeslot, while our evening double headers has Baltimore @ New Jersey with first place in the division at stake and Oklahoma heading into Arizona to face the unbeaten Wranglers.   On Sunday every singe game is a divisional matchup. We kick off at 12 with the Federals vs. the Stars, the Renegades at Jacksonville, and the Fire in Tampa Bay to face the Bandits. Then at 4pm it’s Portland in San Diego and Ohio @ St. Louis. The final game of the week is a huge one in the South as 3-1 New Orleans tries to knock 4-0 Houston from the ranks of the unbeatens. A huge weekend for rivalries and for football all over the schedule!   FRI 7PM ET            Memphis (1-3) @ Birmingham (3-1)           ABC FRI 9PM ET             Las Vegas (2-2) @ Oakland (2-2)                   ESPN/EFN   SAT 12PM ET           Charlotte (3-1) @ Pittsburgh (1-3)                 ABC SAT 12PM ET           Dallas (1-3) @ Chicago (1-3)                          FOX SAT 4PM ET             Denver (3-1) @ Michigan (3-1)                          ABC SAT 4PM ET             Los Angeles (3-1) @ Seattle (0-4)                    FOX SAT 7PM ET           Baltimore (3-1) @ New Jersey (3-1)                 NBC SAT 9PM ET          Oklahoma (1-3) @ Arizona (4-0)                      ESPN/EFN   SUN 12PM ET        Washington (0-4) @ Philadelphia (4-0)             ABC SUN 12PM ET         Orlando (3-1) @ Jacksonville (2-2)                 FOX Regional SUN 12PM ET       Atlanta (1-3) @ Tampa Bay (0-4)                     FOX Regional SUN 4PM ET         Portland (0-4) @ San Diego (3-1)                      ABC SUN 4PM ET          Ohio (1-3) @ St. Louis (1-3)                               FOX SUN 8PM ET       New Orleans (3-1) @ Houston (4-0)              ESPN/EFN

Pablo Panther Leads the Cheers in Michigan Charlotte and rookie QB Mitch Trubisky are off to a great start, sitting at 3-0 after knocking off the Memphis Showboats. Philadelphia joins them after knocking Brett Hundley out of their matchup with New Jersey. Arizona, Orlando, Michigan, and Houston join them at 3-0 after their Week 3 victories, though it was certainly no cake walk for most of them. We will recap a week highlighted by QB injuries (fortunately all minor) and huge days for 2 dual-threat QBs as the debate over the running QB returns to the headlines. We will also look at how the Blitz and Gamblers are winning with…defense? And how Matt Forte is making Chicago’s front office look awfully smart for ditching the 2-back system. All this, plus we have the 2017 Hall of Fame semifinalists and an editorial about the HOF controversy surrounding former USFL great Phil Hansen. So, lots to discuss, let’s get right to it.   The Dual-Threat QB: Fierce or Fragile? In a week that saw two USFL QBs put up huge rushing numbers, it is clear to see why many fans, and some coaches, are loving the new emphasis on mobile, dual-threat quarterbacks. This week alone we saw San Diego’s Joe Webb rush for 126 and 2 scores as the Thunder knocked off Seattle, and Birmingham’s Cam Newton put together 99 yards rushing, with 2 long rushing touchdowns, as the Stallions knocked off Oklahoma. It is very apparent that a running QB creates all sorts of issues for a defense. And yet, for many the trend is not a good one. Concerns about injury, uncertainty about the division between a quarterback and a rusher, and the protection afforded to each, as well as some iffy passing numbers for some teams, have spurred a debate about the value of the dual-threat QB.   On the positive side we get games like those in San Diego and Birmingham this week, where the quarterback’s ability to take off and use their legs to make huge gains, to salvage third and long situations, or to bust out for a momentum-shifting score makes the game electric. There is no doubt that the fans in the stadium love to see their QB scramble for a first down on a 3rd and 13 or befuddle defenses by forcing them to cover a possible run only to leave receivers open. It adds a dimension to a team’s offense that is simply hard to prepare for and even harder to consistently defend.   But there are concerns as well. Last year we saw injuries take out some dual threat QBs, including Jacksonville’s Robert Griffin III. There is no doubt that by turning from passer to runner, these quarterbacks are putting their bodies at greater risk. But, in a strange way they are also putting defenders at greater risk. The issue of the QB slide and calls of unnecessary roughness are becoming a concern for the league as officials seem inconsistent in what they will call and what they will not. We saw this in the two games this week, where in the Stallions’ game Cam Newton was barely glanced by a defender during a slide and received 15 yards on an unnecessary roughness call, while in San Diego Joe Webb took a solid hit to the head and neck area as he did almost an identical foot-first slide and no call was made.   The league wants to protect their quarterbacks, this is obvious, and in itself controversial as many fans bemoan penalties they view as soft, but when a QB leaves the pocket and particularly when they are clearly running for yardage and not survival, the rules should mirror those we see for other backs and receivers, but there seems to still be a double standard. Particularly in the case of a player like Newton, who is as big as many halfbacks, bigger than most, actually, the issue of “protecting” him seems patently unfair when smaller backs are expected to take on huge hits and never receive the kind of roughing calls we see with Newton, Webb, Griffin or other scramblers.   Of course the USFL is very much in the business of keeping as many stars on the field as possible, and that is partly responsible for the rules around intentional grounding, roughing the passer, and unnecessary roughness, but it seems clear that the league and their teams of officials need to better define when a quarterback is a passer and when they turn into a ballcarrier, and make adjustments accordingly. We all love to see the QB run turn into a big play, and we all hate to see a star QB go down to injury, but at the same time, there has to be consistency in how defenders are expected to treat ballcarriers, whether they are halfbacks or QBs out of the pocket, and right now that consistency is just not there.   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 21   MICHIGAN PANTHER 23 Any time a game comes down to the final seconds with the result in doubt, you have yourself some good football. When that is happening between two division foes, the pressure is even higher and the drama just that much more intense. That is what we got when the Panthers and Skyhawks battled in Ford Field, a game that proved to have plenty of drama and plenty of big plays. In the end, the homestanding Panthers were able to take the W and remain unbeaten on the year, but that result was in question for over 59 minutes of action as the Skyhawks came out ready to take it to their division rival.   It was a good game for several players, from Eddie Lacy’s 2 touchdowns to Cody Latimer’s 110 yards, but in the end, it would be a rookie kicker who would decide the outcome as Michigan’s Michael Beam connected on a chip shot field goal with 15 seconds in regulation to give Michigan the win. A tough loss for the Skyhawks, but a good performance from a team that is still struggling to define its identity under new head coach Frank Reich.   The game started the way it ended, with rookie Michael Beam putting points on the board. Michigan went up 3-0 early in the first when Beam connected on a 37-yard kick, but that lead would not last long. In only 5 plays St. Louis got on the board as Josh Freeman hit Eric Weems with a 44-yard strike to get St. Louis into the Michigan red zone on only St. Louis’s second play from scrimmage. 3 plays later, Eddie Lacy would have his first of two TDs on the day and St. Louis would rattle the Panthers by taking the 1st quarter lead.   Michigan got back on top in the 2nd, LeVeon Bell adding another touchdown to his season total. Despite being held to only 44 yards on the day by a Skyhawk defense that had no interest in helping Bell reach his stated season goal of 2,000 yards, Bell was able to bounce off Skyhawk defenders to give Michigan a 10-7 lead that held up through the half.   In the third, St. Louis again used Eddie Lacy’s big frame and grinding style to get in the endzone and retake the lead. This time it was at the end of a more labor-intensive 14-play drive, one ending with a simple 1-yard dive play for the score. But, for the 2nd time in two tries, St. Louis kicker Andrew Hamilton, missed the PAT. Hamilton has been struggling all year, and we may well see St. Louis bring someone in to compete with their kicker if this continues to be an issue. The 2nd missed PAT meant that St. Louis’s lead was only 12-10, rather than 14-10.   Michigan turned that 2-point lead into a 5-point deficit on their next drive, finishing up the 3rd quarter with a Cousins to Jerrigan TD strike from the 13. Jerrigan, who finished the day with 5 catches for 63 yards, made the catch on a jump ball in the endzone that very easily could have gone to St. Louis corner Vontae Davis.   The two missed PATs also meant that when Hamilton did put through a 34-yard kick at the start of the final period, it did not tie the score, only brought St. Louis back within 2 at 17-15. Michigan added a field goal of their own, a nice 46-yarder right down the middle, to again go up by 5, but St. Louis was not out of tricks. On a nicely-executed flea flicker, they caught the Panthers flat-footed, allowing Rob Gronkowski to come down with a nice catch to get into Panther territory. From there it was a series of short passes and runs by both Lacy and Bobby Rainey before Josh Freeman connected with Alan Robinson for a 5-yard score to once again give St. Louis the lead. The were up only1 at 21-20, but with 1:29 left, they had the lead.   The problem is, they only had a 1-point lead, not a 3-pointer, and that would mean that if the Panthers could get in range for Michael Beam, they could win the game with a field goal. The possibility of that kick coming seemed in doubt at first, as St. Louis seemed to be disrupting Kirk Cousins and the Michigan offense early in the drive, but after a needed 4th down conversion (a short dumpoff to Martellus Bennett that picked up a first, Michigan got what they needed as Latimer got behind the defense, something that simply should not be possible with less than a minute to play. Latimer got the better of the corner and Cousins found him for a 52-yard strike that nearly went to the house. Latimer was shoved out of bounds at the St. Louis 8 with only 21 seconds to play.   Following a short run by Bell to center the ball, Beam came out for a very makable 20-yard kick. St. Louis used a timeout to ice Beam, but unlike their own kicker, Beam did not seem phased by the short kick. He put the ball up and through and the Panthers remained unbeaten, perhaps a bit humbled by the nature of the win, but still unblemished after 3 weeks. MEMPHIS 20   CHARLOTTE 23 The Monarchs need a 4th quarter touchdown to come back on the Showboats, but they get the job done and stay unbeaten at 3-0. Taiwan Jones outpaced Adrian Peterson, rushing for 95 yards on 14 carries and Mitch Trubisky hit on one of the plays of the week, a 79-yard TD strike to D. J. Hackett with 7 minutes left in the game to give the Monarchs the home win. POTG:  Monarch WR D. J. Hackett: 5 Rec, 108 Yds, 1 TD   CHICAGO 17   ARIZONA 24 The Wranglers knocked off Chicago to also move to 3-0, coming back from a 17-14 deficit in the 4th, with David Carr connecting with Jimmie Graham for the game winner. Matt Forte led the Machine with 111 yards rushing, but it was backup Brandon Boldin who put Chicago on top with a 3rd quarter TD. Chicago had ridden the run all game, compiling 182 total rushing yards, but in the 4th it was David Carr’s arm that gave Arizona the W. Carr finished with 352 yards and 3 scoring throws as the Wranglers stay unbeaten. POTG:  Wrangler QB David Carr: 20/31, 352 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   OHIO 17   ORLANDO 23 Another close game but another loss for the Glory as Orlando stay unblemished with a home win. Russel Wilson returned to action after missing Week 2 and threw for 160 with a TD and a pick. Christian Hackenberg threw for 234 and 2 TDs, but it was too little too late as the Glory’s last minute TD did not offer them time to get any closer than 6 points. POTG:  Orlando DE Arthur Moats: 4 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   ATLANTA 13   NEW ORLEANS 20 Drew Brees threw for 2 scores and Leonard Fournette had his best game to date with 96 yards as New Orleans held off Atlanta to move to 2-1. The winless Fire again struggled in the air, with Aaron Murray throwing for only 148 yards while being sacked 5 times by the Breakers. Jordy Nelson had only 3 catches, but one was a 49-yard TD and he finished the game with 98 yards. POTG:  Breaker LB Rocky McIntosh: 10 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   SEATTLE 12   SAN DIEGO 27 San Diego had little trouble with the Dragons, scoring the first 20 points of the game and putting it on cruise control from there. It was the Joe Webb show, with the Thunder QB throwing for 146 yards but also gaining 126 on the ground, with 2 rushing TDs. Webb’s big play was an 86-yard scramble on a busted play early in the 3rd that put San Diego up 27-3. POTG:  Thunder QB Joe Webb: 14/20, 146 Yds, 8 Att, 126 Yds, 2 TD   DALLAS 15   PORTLAND 10 Despite the looming suspension, Johnny Manziel helped Dallas get their first win of the season, connecting with rookie HB Samaje Perine for the game winning TD in the 4th. Doug Martin again had a good day for the Stags, with 113 yards and a TD, but there was little else to celebrate as Portland simply could not sustain drives. They also could not contain Dallas WR Tim Wright who averaged 16.4 yards per catch on his way to 131 total yards on the day. POTG:  Dallas DE Larry English: 5 Tck, 2 Sck   NEW JERSEY 10 PHILADELPHIA 13 Another low scoring game for the Stars, but another win as they take over 1st place in the East at 3-0. The Stars defense sacked Brett Hundley 4 times, with the final sack causing the Generals’ QB to leave the game, replaced by Nick Foles. Foles threw a TD to Zay Jones, but it was not enough as Philadelphia held New Jersey out of the endzone the rest of the way. With New Jersey up late, 10-6, Matt Gutierrez had his best drive of the year, pulling the win from the jaws of defeat with a TD pass to Stevie Johnson with only 45 seconds left to play. POTG:  Stars’ DE Malik Jackson: 4 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FR   BALTIMORE 14   HOUSTON 17 We thought this would be a shootout, but no one noticed that the Gamblers and Blitz are also boasting two of the best defenses in the league in these early weeks. Those defenses were on display in this one as the two offenses combined to go only 7 of 23 on third down. Neither team would reach 300 yards of total offense and neither would reach 100 yards on the ground. With Carlos Hyde limited to 2.6 yards per carry and Ben Roethlisberger knocked out of the game early, it was the defenses that shined brightest. POTG:  Houston rookie safety Budda Baker: 5 Tck ,1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   PITTSBURGH 20  WASHINGTON 7 The Maulers finally got their offense going, and Washington continued to struggle to run the ball as the visitors get the emphatic win. The Feds were held to only 33 yards rushing, while Marcus Lattimore of the Maulers dashed for 111 all by himself. With Andy Dalton knocked out of the game in the 2nd quarter, it was Kevin Hogan leading the Maulers, tossing a TD to Victor Cruz while the Mauler D kept David Garrard and the Federal offense off balance all day. POTG:  Mauler HB Marcus Lattimore: 15 Att, 111 Yds, 1 TD   JACKSONVILLE 17   TAMPA BAY 16 A nailbiter in Tampa Bay, but the homestanding Bandits just could not get the late field goal they needed to snatch the win. Jacksonville gave up 104 yards rushing to the duo of Cook and Burkhead, but they also knocked the Tampa starting QB out of the game (a trend in so many games this week). Former NFL QB E. J. Manuel looked rusty, going 9 of 21 and throwing a costly pick late in the game. Jacksonville also lost their QB late in the 3rd, so it was rookie C. J. Beathard, who went 11 of 14 to get the W for the Bulls. POTG:  Bulls’ LB Jordan Hicks: 5 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 Int   OKLAHOMA 26   BIRMINGHAM 29 Cam Newton had one of those highlight reel games that he seems to pull out 2-3 times a year and that was enough to edge the Outlaws at home. Newton rthrew for 178 and a TD, but he also had TD runs of 5, 31, and 58 yards on his way to a POTW honor. The defense also did their part as Joe Flacco, the human statue, was sacked another 6 times in this one. Oklahoma is now 0-2 on the road, but 1-0 at home. POTG:  Stallions’ QB Cam Newton: 18/43, 178 Yds, 1 TD, 8 Att, 99 yds, 3 TD   DENVER 13   LAS VEGAS 10 More QB issues as Eli Manning threw only 6 passes before getting taken out of the game. Jeff Tuel finished the game, but could not generate much on offense. The lack of offense allowed Denver to come back form a 10-0 hole and score the game’s final 13 points to get the narrow victory. It was a day to forget for both offenses as neither proved very effective. POTG:  Denver DE Von Miller: 6 Tck, 1 Sck   LOS ANGELES 27   OAKLAND 24 The final game of the week was a good one, with 5 lead changes and both teams showing what they could do on offense. Sam Bradford had a great game under the lights, throwing for 3 scores and 344 yards against the Invaders. Oakland, for their part, got 135 yards rushing, though surprisingly it was Knile Davis, not McCaffrey, who got the majority of the yardage, 98 yards to McCaffrey’s 37. It was 24-20 Oakland with 2:55 left, but that proved to be too much time for a red hot Bradford, who found Brent Celek for the game winner in the game’s final seconds. POTG:  LA quarterback Sam Bradford: 31/53, 344 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   Manziel Suspension Upheld, Begins This Week The league’s ad hoc appeal committee has delivered the news that both Johnny Manziel and the Dallas Roughnecks were afraid would come, that the 6-game suspension of the Roughneck’s starting QB would be upheld and would begin immediately, making Manziel ineligible for this week’s upcoming duel with the defending champion Wranglers at the Cotton Bowl. Manziel is not permitted to enter team facilities during the 6 week suspension, which means he cannot practice with the team, though he is allowed to maintain communication with Coach Sherman. He would next be eligible to return to the team ahead of Week 11’s road game in New Orleans.   Manziel, of course, is still on the hook for potential legal concerns which could impact that return. His court date on DUI charges is set for May, and would align with Week his final week of suspension. Were the case to conclude with any potential incarceration, the league would be forced to extend the suspension even further. For now, however, Dallas must move ahead with Brandon Wheedon, acquired from Charlotte in the offseason, as their starter.   Baltimore & Houston Doing it with Defense? Sounds strange to us as well, but when we look atop the leaderboards for team defense, there we find the Gamblers and the Blitz. While both teams have outstanding offensive schemes, producing 30+ points per game this season, we should acknowledge that both clubs have also upped the ante on defense.   Houston currently sits 2nd in the league in scoring with 92 points (trailing only Michigan’s 100), but is also 2nd in the league, having allowed only 31 points in 3 games, barely topping 10 points per outing. They are doing particularly well against the run, where they have allowed only 175 yards per game, and have also been ball hawks on defense, racking up 6 takeaways over their first 3 games.   Baltimore’s numbers may be even better, despite their loss to the Gamblers this week. Baltimore ranks 3rd in scoring, only 5 points behind the Gamblers, while their defense is the league’s best in not allowing the opposition to put points on the board. They have allowed 30 points, exactly 10 per game, and are also ranked in the Top 5 among USFL clubs for total yards allowed and passing yards allowed, giving up only 275.7 total yards per game and a very stingy 189 thorugh the air.   Both clubs are looking very much like early season contenders, and when you put together Top 5 offenses with Top 5 defenses, what you end up with are teams that are tough to beat because either side of the ball can count on the other to make their lives easier. Their clash this week was a defensive battle but could have gone the other way and become a shootout. You just don’t know which side of the ball will prove dominant in any given week, and when both are playing at their highest level, these two teams are difficult to stop.   Matt Forte Making the Case for a 1-Back System With a 2nd straight dominant game, HB Matt Forte is silencing the doubters who criticized Chicago’s trade of Doug Martin to Portland this offseason. Having played with Martin in a dual-back system for the past 4 seasons, Forte had never topped 1,000 yards, with 2016 his best season at 837 rushing yards, but Chicago head coach Lovie Smith prefers the one-back system and made the call, along with the GM’s office, to send Martin to Portland in trade for defensive help. Forte is making Smith look pretty smart for doing so.   After a 63-yard opening week, Forte has rattled off 138 yards against Seattle and, even more impressively, 110 yards in this week’s matchup against Arizona. Few backs break the 100-yard mark against the Wrangler defense, so for Forte to do so, even in a loss, is a sign that the Machine have a solid run offense in place. Forte has yet to take the ball to the house, but his production has helped Chicago’s offense in all three games, having faced 2 of the league’s best defenses in the first 3 weeks (Orlando and Arizona). He will have another tough opponent this week in Denver, but then faces Dallas and Tampa Bay in two games that could allow him to run wild. With 312 yards already, he is averaging over 100 yards per game, which, of course, puts him on pace to top 1,600 for the year.   Which Winless QB Will Get the Hook? Five starters, five winless teams. It is just a matter of time before the head coaches of those winless clubs start trying to tinker, to find a way to earn a W, and that often starts with a change at QB. So, who will be the first to get the hook? We have 2nd year starters in Seattle’s Brissett, Tampa Bay’s Prescott, and Portland’s Mariota, along with veterans in Atlanta’s Aaron Murray and Washington’s David Garrard.   Garrard has to be the least likely to get the hook. A veteran who has had significant success in Washington, the 7-year starter for the Federals has had plenty of strong outings, and while his 2017 numbers have not been great (73.2 QBR and only a 2:1 TD:INT ratio), it seems far fetched to think the answer for the Federals is to bench the veteran and go with backup Mike Flynn.   On the other end of the spectrum is Aaron Murray , who has already been benched after rough starts with his past team, the LA Express. Murray did not lock up the Week 1 start until the week before the game, competing with veteran backup Brad Gradkowski or rookie DeShone Kizer. Murray was named the starter, but in his first 3 games has thrown 4 picks to only 2 TDs and has Atlanta yet to top 13 points in any game. Murray is expected to start this week against a very good Orlando Renegade team, but we look at the Week 5 matchup against the winless Bandits as a time when we could see Coach Arians make a switch.   The three 2nd year players are a tougher call. On the one hand, their coaches want to give them time to develop, to grow into the role and to watch the game slow down for them. On the other hand, the fanbases in Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Portland are only going to tolerate so many loses before they get feisty about the QB position. The key to who continues to get the vote of confidence from their coach and who gets pulled depends very much on what Option B is. For Jacoby Brissett , former Memphis backup Matt McGloin just does not seem like a viable option, not having started a game since 2015 and not having been a regular starter since 2014. In Portland, Mariota is backed up by Kellen Clemons and Kellen Moore, neither of whom have been a full-time starter in the league. Finally, in Tampa Bay there is perhaps a more viable option in NFL import and former FSU star E. J. Manuel. If there is an argument for Prescott it is that his stats are among the best of the 0-3 quarterbacks, with an 81.5 QB Rating, over 570 yards passing and a positive TD:INT ratio of 2:1. But, as with any of the 5 starters cited here, continued losses make all the stats in the world largely irrelevant. Teams will change the QB just to “create a spark” when the team is floundering as a whole.   QB Injuries Impact Several Games Week 3 provided some mixed news on the injury front for league QBs. On the downside, we saw 8 different quarterbacks, including 2 for the Las Vegas Vipers, leave the game early. But, the upside is that only 2 of these QBs are currently listed as “out” for this week, with most already cleared to play in Week 4.   We saw the starters chased from the game by injury in 7 games, as Robert Griffin, Andy Dalton, Dak Prescotte, Brett Hundley, Russell Wilson, and Ben Roethlisberger all left their games with an array of injuries. In Las Vegas, Eli Manning was forced out early only to have backup Jeff Tuel also removed from the game later on, forcing 3rd string QB Curtis Painter into some rare action. The good news is that when we look over the injury report this week we see that both Manning and Tuel are not present, Ben Roethlisberger is questionable, but expected to start, Prescott and Hundley are doubtful but could be in action, and only Andy Dalton and Robert Griffin are definitely out.   Dalton is dealing with a swollen knee and expected strain to the meniscus on his left knee. He has already been ruled out for Week 4’s divisional clash against the 2-1 Generals, which means that we will see Kevin Hogan again, after the 2nd year player helped Pittsburgh get the win at Washington this week. For Jacksonville, Robert Griffin III has been diagnosed with a deep thigh bruise and is expected to be out this week against the Ohio Glory, hopefully able to return in Week 5 against Orlando.  That means we will see a very different Bulls offense in Week 4 as we expect rookie C. J. Beathard, a pretty standard pocket passer, replacing the dual threat of RGIII at QB.     OUT OT          Nat Dorsey                 LV           Back                   IR LB           Devon Kennard             TBY        Quad                    IR FB          Francis Sosa                DAL       Arm                       4-6 Weeks LB           Calvin Pace               SEA        Hip                        1-2 Weeks QB         Robert Griffin III            JAX         Thigh                     1-2 Weeks HB         Jamaal Charles             DEN      Foot                      1-2 Weeks LB           Jelani Jenkins                 HOU     Hamstring         1-2 Weeks QB         Andy Dalton                PIT         Miniscus             1-2 Weeks CB          Prince Amukamara     WSH     Concussion       1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL QB         Dak Prescott                    TBY        Foot                      G            Deuce Lutui                     STL         Concussion LB           Bobby Wagner              OAK      Personal OT          Terron Armstead             SEA        Thigh QB         Brett Hundley                 NJ           Back CB          Aqib Talib                      DEN      Pinched Nerve   QUESTIONABLE FS           Dashon Goldson             SEA        Knee LB           Chad Greenway              OKL       Knee LB           Karlos Dansby                  ARZ       Concussion QB         Ben Roethlisberger       BAL        Scratched Cornea DT          Marcell Dareus                OHI       Pinched Nerve   USFL Hall of Fame Semifinalists Named A first for the Hall of Fame as we have a player who has been selected for induction as both an NFL and USFL dual candidate. With the finalization of the NFL’s Hall of Fame Class of 2017 we have a first for the Hall. In an arrangement between the Hall, the NFL, and the USFL, former NFL Rams and USFL Stars QB Kurt Warner will be inducted as a joint candidate. Warner, who helped to lead a dynamic passing offense with the Rams, winning an NFL title in 1999 (Super Bowl XXXIV) later joined the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars and won the 2010 Offensive Player of the Year, while helping the Stars make the USFL playoffs each year from 2007 until 2012, they year of his retirement, including a Summer Bowl appearance in 2010. Warner will be inducted in August, during the NFL Hall of Fame ceremony, but will also be on hand in October, when the USFL Class of 2017 is inducted. His presence in the Class of 2017 for both leagues will mean that the USFL will only induct 4 currently eligible players and one Legacy player with their remaining votes. It also means that the slate of nominee semifinalists just released is also 1 player short of the normal 10 currently eligible players. Before announcing the 9 USFL stars who made the semifinalist list this year, we should mention that another USFL great, HB LaDainian Tomlinson, was also named as part of the NFL Class of 2017. Tomlinson played 3 years with the Arizona Wranglers, gaining more than 1,000 yards in each, after his storied NFL career with the Chargers. As only a 3-year USFL veteran, he would not be eligible for a USFL nomination, but we are, of course, proud to see another USFL alum among the NFL nominees.   Now, with the unique nature of the 2017 USFL class and semifinalist list defined, let us present the 9 men who will be in consideration for 4 open slots in the USFL Hall of Fame class of 2017. QB Brian Griese Seattle 1998-2002, Philadelphia 2003-2004, Michigan 2005-2012 First Year Nominee An interesting nomination as Griese had a career of peaks and valleys. He started for 4 seasons in Seattle (a 5th was lost due to injury), and then 2 more in Philadelphia, but when he left the Stars he was made the backup in Michigan for 2 years before earning the starting job in 2007. His second career is where he gained the most accolades, nominated to 3 All-USFL teams and named OPOTY twice. He also won a title with the Panthers in 2008, throwing for 23 touchdowns that season. He retired in 2012 with over 38,000 passing yards, 262 touchdowns and 137 picks.   HB Antowain Smith Los Angeles 1997-2002, Jacksonville 2003-2009, St. Louis 2010-2012 First Year Nominee Smith can be said to have “finished strong” as a pro, winning the 2012 rushing title and a league championship in his 16th and final season of football. In that fateful year, Smith was the centerpiece of the St. Louis Skyhawks’ playoff run, finishing the year with 1,502 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, by far his best season as a pro. However, Smith was not a one season wonder. After a slow start to his career, he had his first 1,000 yard season in 2001 with the Express. He would go on to have 7 more over his long career, amassing an impressive 15,925 yards upon his retirement. He was a 2-time All-USFL nominee, both in 2006 and in his final season, 2012.   WR Joey Galloway Ohio 1995-2010, Tampa Bay 2011-2012 First Year Nominee We cannot imagine that Galloway, an Ohio State product who stayed local with the USFL Glory, will not be a first ballot entrant into the Hall. Retiring in 2012 with over 2,100 receptions, 24,000 yards receiving and 167 receiving touchdowns, Galloway is in the Top 5 All Time in the USFL for receptions (2nd to Henry Ellard), yards (1st All Time) and receiving TDs (2nd to Eric Truvillion). He is a 12-time All-USFL award winner, the 1996 Offensive Player of the Year, and won titles both with Ohio (2002-2003) and in his short stint with the Tampa Bay Bandits (2011).   WR Tory Holt Los Angeles 1999-2007, Baltimore 2018-2012 First Year Nominee Another outstanding receiver, Tory Holt played 9 seasons in Los Angeles and another 5 in Baltimore, all the while being among the best deep-ball receivers in the game. He retired in 2012 with over 15,000 yards and 1,550 receptions. He also had 125 career touchdowns between his two clubs. He was honored with All-USFL designation 8 times, and while his clubs never won a league title, Holt was always among the league receiving leaders.   CB Charles Woodson Washington 1998-2007, Atlanta 2008-2012 First Year Nominee Another fully expected first ballot Hall of Famer, Charles Woodson is both a model of excellence and of longevity. The former Michigan corner played in the USFL for 15 seasons in a position where long careers are few and far between. In that time he had over 1,200 tackles, 53 interceptions, over 360 passes defended, and a league record 15 defensive touchdowns. A 6-time All-USFL nominee and the 1998 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Woodson was and still is revered as one of the premier pass defenders ever to play in the USFL.   HB T. J. Duckett Michigan 2002, Texas 2003-2011 Second Year Nominee Duckett returns for a second year as a semifinalist. A veteran of 10 USFL seasons, the former MSU Spartan rushed for 11,439 yards and 54 touchdowns in his career, mostly with the Texas Outlaws. Named to the All-USFL team 4 times, Duckett retired in 2011 without having seen his Outlaws achieve the ultimate goal of a league title.   OT Mike Gandy Orlando 2001-2003, Memphis 2004-2011 Second Year Nominee Another 2nd year nominee, Gandy played 11 seasons in the USFL, most of them with the Memphis Showboats, where he won two titles, taking home a ring in both 2001 and 2007. Considered a classic Left Tackle, Gandy helped protect some of the league’s best QBs, gaining fame as Brett Favre’s right-hand man in the 2007 title campaign. He retired in 2016 having allowed only 33 sacks in 11 years, a true testament to his role as the QB’s best friend.   DT Montae Reager Memphis 1999, St. Louis 2000-2001, Denver 2002-2011 Second Year Nominee Defensive Tackle is a tough position to gauge. Statistically there is just not as much obvious dominance as with a linebacker or an edge rusher, and yet, despite this, many consider Montae Reager to be a clear Hall of Famer. Reager spent 13 seasons in the trenches, first with Memphis, and then in St. Louis and Denver. It is with the Gold that he had his best years, though he did win a league title as a rookie with the 1999 Memphis Showboats.   FS Anthony Dorsett Philadelphia 1996-2009 Fourth Year Nominee In his final year of eligibility, Anthony Dorsett once again makes the field of semi-finalists. A Philadelphia Star for his entire 14-year career, Dorsett retired in 2009 with 632 tackles, 34 interceptions, 19 sacks, and 4 All-USFL honors. His Stars made one Summer Bowl appearance, but he was not able to obtain a ring with the long title drought that began with Philadelphia after their 1994 title.   Others from the Retirement Class of 2012 who did not make the cut for 2017 Hall of Fame nomination include HB Shaun Alexander, DT Anthony McFarland, DE Robert Mathis, as well as two DBs from the Class of 2011 Retirees who were included last year as semi-finalists, but did not earn enough votes this time around, CB Ronde Barber and FS Brian Dawkins.   Is it Time to Honor Phil Hansen? With the latest pool of USFL Hall of Fame semifinalists announced, we once again come back to an old debate, when and how will DE Phil Hansen get into the Hall. The all-time USFL Sack Leader has been blacklisted ever since his 2007 memoir asserted massive steroid use throughout the league, including by himself, causing an uproar and an official league investigation. Hanson, who retired in 2004 with a league record 289 sacks, was considered a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer when he left the game and the New Jersey Generals, but his auto-biography “On the Edge” raised a lot of negative attention for the league, angered a lot of players, coaches, and league oficials, and ruined public perception of him as a player, his team, and the league. In his book, Hansen admitted to use of a range of steroid and growth hormone abuses, all apparently overlooked by league officials in the 1990’s. He would not name names, but spoke in generalities about teammates and opponents who not only participated in similar performance enhancements, but who helped him acquire the drugs. Hansen’s book, paired with similar revelations about Major League Baseball, professional wrestling, body building, and to a lesser degree the NFL, led to a significant shift in public opinion about performance enhancement. Just as we have seen with voters for the Baseball Hall of Fame, steroid use has been a huge factor in pushing a player who otherwise seemed a slam dunk out of consideration altogether.   Hansen’s USFL production is undeniable. He averaged 19.2 sacks per year for a 14-season career, topping 20 sacks in a season on 9 occasions and never had a season below 10 sacks. He was the gold standard for the edge rusher position throughout his career and only now is being challenged by Orlando’s Calais Campbell. A 13-time All-USFL player, 19991 Rookie of the Year, 2001 Defensive Player of the Year, and 2004 league champion, Hansen’s production and impact on the league are undeniable. And, if his assertions, even without names cited, are true, he was just one of a huge number of players in his era to use steroids, hormones, and other performance enhancers. So, why is he the lone player who seems to be impacted by the revelations?   Well, the answer is pretty clear. He is the whistle-blower. Whether intentionally or naively, Hansen revealed a dark secret about the USFL, pro football, and sports in general in the 1990’s, one that many did not want to admit, and certainly not to publicize. His autobiography, while largely unverified, is widely believed to be an accurate accounting of the culture of the league at the time he played, and that culture was rife with players doing whatever they could to stay on top, to stay in the league, and to enhance their value. Should he really be the only one to face scrutiny for this? Certainly there are players in the Hall of Fame, from both the USFL and the NFL who did just as Hansen did. Some, like NFL stars Bill Romanowski, Lyle Alzado, Mark Gastineau, and Joe Klecko have admitted to use. Many others are strongly suspected, in both leagues, but have never confessed to being users, including USFL players who many believe Hansen references without naming in his book.   The facts are pretty clear, up until the early 2000’s there was almost certainly pretty widespread use of performance enhancers throughout sports, from home run hitters in baseball to track and field athletes, cyclists, swimmers, and throughout pro football. We would argue that, asterisks or not, we should acknowledge this reality and not punish one man for being the whistle blower that took this dark secret and shone some light on it. It is time for the USFL’s all-time sack leader to get a shot at the Hall.   We kick off Week 4 with a Southern showdown as the Houston Gamblers head into Memphis to face the Showboats. Houston is rolling, while Memphis is struggling to find their footing with a new and inexperienced QB at the helm. Friday’s late game comes to us from LA, where the 2-1 Express will host the unbeaten Panthers in an early season interdivisional game. LA is hoping to knock off Michigan and stake a claim to the Pacific Division by moving to 3-1.   On Saturday, it is desperation time in Atlanta, where the winless Fire host the unbeaten Orlando Renegades. Aaron Murray will start, but with Calais Campbell gunning for him, he may regret that. At 4pm we have a nice one as Chicago heads out to Denver in what could be a real slog if the predicted spring snow comes as models anticipate. Then at 7pm ET it is Pittsburgh at New Jersey in a NE Division clash, followed by the nightcap, Arizona traveling to Dallas where Brandon Wheedon will get the start.   On Sunday, start your day with the Bandits at the Blitz, Breakers at Federals, or Fox’s national game, the unbeaten Monarchs heading to Birmingham to face the Stallions. The late games feature Oakland in Portland and Las Vegas headed to Oklahoma for the first time. Finally, we top off the weekend with San Diego making a rare trip to St. Louis to face the Skyhawks.   FRI 7PM ET            Houston (3-0) @ Memphis (1-2)                       FOX FRI 9PM ET            Michigan (3-0) @ Los Angeles (2-1)                  ESPN/EFN   SAT 12PM ET          Jacksonville (1-2) @ Ohio (1-2)                         ABC SAT 12PM ET           Orlando (3-0) @ Atlanta (0-3)                            FOX SAT 4PM ET             Chicago (1-2) @ Denver (2-1)                          ABC SAT 4PM ET             Philadelphia (3-0) @ Seattle (0-3)                     FOX SAT 7PM ET             Pittsburgh (1-2) @ New Jersey (2-1)                 NBC SAT 9PM ET            Arizona (3-0) @ Dallas (1-2)                               ESPN/EFN   SUN 12PM ET         Tampa Bay (0-3) @ Baltimore (2-1)                  ABC Regional SUN 12PM ET         New Orleans (2-1) @ Washington (0-3)           ABC Regional SUN 12PM ET          Charlotte (3-0) @ Birmingham (2-1)                FOX SUN 4PM ET            Oakland (1-2) @ Portland (0-3)                         ABC SUN 4PM ET           Las Vegas (1-2) @ Oklahoma (1-2)                FOX SUN 8PM ET            San Diego (2-1) @ St. Louis (1-2)                     ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: It does not happen often enough for Stallion fans, but every once in a while Cam Newton just explodes, often as a ballcarrier more than a passer. That was the case this week, when Cam rushed for 99 yards, including TD runs of 31 and 58 yards against Oklahoma. Add to that a 5-yard QB keeper and a TD pass to TE Bo Scaife, and you have a 4-TD day and the reason why dual threat QBs are very much a trend in the USFL. Now, how can Birmingham get something similar on a more regular basis? That is the question.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: After being contained in the season opener, LeVeon Bell busted out in Week 2, rushing for 156 yards and adding 3 touchdowns for the Panthers. The work load is going to be there for Bell, with 27 carries this week, but as teams stack the box against the Panthers, breaking out for over 150 yards may be a tough goal to reach consistently, but a necessary one if Bell wants to break past Herschel Walker's 35-year-old record for rushing yards in a season.

Breaker's Mascot, Gulliver Houston and their new starter, Colt McCoy, continue to roll. Baltimore continues to put points on the board, while also playing solid defense. Arizona plays it close to the vest, but comes out on top, and the New Jersey Generals win a defensive slog in Jacksonville. Week 2 sees the number of unbeatens drop to 8, and the number of winless clubs at the same number. We have a strong start by Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Michigan, and troubling starts from Washington, Pittsburgh, and Dallas. We will break it all down, take a look at the big performances of the week, and a couple of players whose years have not started how fans would hope. We kick it all off with the Houston Gamblers new dynamic duo, QB Colt McCoy and his favorite target, TE Vernon Davis.   McCoy & Davis Becoming a Dangerous Battery It is not hard to figure out how Houston has started the year at 2-0. They are averaging nearly 370 passing yards per game, which has them at 37.5 points per game. After saying goodbye to their veteran leader, Matt Hasselbeck, the reins of the Gambler offense have been turned over to Texas product Colt McCoy, who waited patiently for 3 seasons to become the starter, and now that he has his chance, he is quickly making headlines. McCoy followed a 310-yard, 2-TD season opener with an even better 281-yard, 4-TD Week Two. And while Houston has a strong receiver group headlined by veteran Mike Evans and enhanced with rookie starter Juju Smith-Schuster, it is tight end Vernon Davis who is not only McCoy’s favorite target but leads all receivers in the USFL by averaging over 150 yards per game.   Davis had a solid 655 yards in 2016 but is nearly halfway to that total after only 2 games in 2017. He and McCoy are finding gaps in zone coverage, exploiting the safeties as they try to deal with the outside speed on the roster, and making huge plays. Davis, a tight end, is averaging nearly 35 yards per catch after having huge gainers, often for scores, in both games this season. McCoy is also atop the league’s leaderboard after two very strong performances that have his TD:INT ratio sitting at 6:0.   Davis is not doing it alone, with Mike Evans also at 9 catches after 2 weeks and Smith-Schuster starting strong with 149 yards and TD in his first 2 pro games, but the story of the Gamblers so far has been McCoy to Davis for big play after big play. Defenses are going to have to divert more coverage to Davis, and that is a dangerous shift as it means one of Houston’s outside receivers could end up in single coverage, and that too could be fatal. It is an attack bolstered by the strong run game of Carlos Hyde, and one of the reasons the Gamblers are an early season favorite to represent the East in the Summer Bowl this year. It just goes to show that sometimes patience pays off as a seasoned and schooled Colt McCoy steps in and finds immediate success as a starter after spending 3 seasons learning at the side of Matt Hasselbeck. SAN DIEGO THUNDER 30  OAKLAND INVADERS 27  OVERTIME Both the Thunder and the Invaders are starting the season with three consecutive divisional games, both playing LA and Seattle as well as each other, so getting some wins in these early weeks is absolutely essential. Oakland got a 3-point win in Seattle last week, but San Diego fell to the LA Express, setting up a situation where the visiting Thunder had some early season pressure not to let another game slip away in the division.   The Thunder came into the Saturday night game on ESPN/EFN with a plan to contain rookie HB Christian McCaffrey and to get the ball to their playmakers, HB Ryan Williams, and WRs Chad Johnson and Nick Toon. Oakland hoped to keep the pressure off of Joey Harrington by using a lot of McCaffrey and by focusing on shorter routes against the Thunder defense. Both teams succeeded in one aspect of their plan, but not in others.   The San Diego offense looked very prepared for Oakland’s zone schemes, with Joe Webb able to find receivers sitting in zones most of the day. He would finish 33 of 45 for 340 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ryan Williams would struggle (only 50 yards on the day) but both Toon and Johnson would finish the game over 100 yards apiece. On the Oakland side, while San Diego did not make life easy for McCaffrey, the rookie back did manage to average 4.2 yards per carry on his way to 85 yards on the ground. Joey Harrington would throw for 254, mostly on shorter routes but throwing over the middle also produced three picks, including one to LB Kyle Van Noy that was just a momentum killer for the Oakland offense.   San Diego had the early momentum in the game, scoring the only points of the first quarter (a 19-yard Webb to Toon strike), and building a 17-7 lead at the half after also connecting with Chad Johnson. Oakland got an early touchdown from Taylor Gabriel, who would finish the game as the lead receiver for the Invaders, making 6 catches for 80 yards and 2 scores by game’s end. As the 2nd half started, Oakland was determined to draw closer to the Thunder, and succeeded thanks to a 74-yard opening drive that concluded with McCaffrey going off-tackle to the left and plunging in from 3 yards out.   Oakland would take their first lead of the game only 3 minutes later when an errant Joe Webb pass was snatched out of the air by FS Jahleel Addae and returned 55 yards for an Oakland score. Now down 21-17, San Diego finally got back on track just as the 3rd quarter rolled to a close. On a drive that started with 2 minutes left in the 3rd and extended well into the 4th, Webb connected on 5 of 7 passes before finding HB Ryan Williams out of the backfield for a 10-yard score. The Thunder would add a field goal only 3 minutes later to take a 27-21 lead into the final minutes of the game.   A six-point lead is a tricky one, because a field goal is no use, but a touchdown can swing the lead to the opposition. San Diego tried their best to keep Oakland from getting that late touchdown, but a bad pass interference call helped the Invaders out of a 3rd and 13 play and gave them new life in San Diego territory. Only 4 plays later, Harrington found Gabriel for the 2nd TD combo of the game. A PAT kick would put Oakland on top. But when Roberto Aguayo overcorrected for an earlier FG miss, the ball rattled against the goalpost and slid outside, a stunning missed PAT that caused the home crowd to groan and moan in Levi’s Stadium.   The game would be going to overtime, but, the good news for Oakland is that they won the toss and could take the win with an opening drive touchdown. They seemed to be on their way towards doing just that, gaining 2 first downs on their first 3 plays of overtime, but on a 1st and 10 from their own 47, Joey Harrington and his receiver got their signals crossed and the result was Harrington’s third pick of the day. While Harrington expected Donte Moncrief to make a quick hook in the zone, Moncrief instead took a sharp turn to an out route. The problem was that the ball was already on its way inside, making it easy pickings for San Diego CB Tye Smith. Smith picked the ball off at the San Diego 44 and returned it all the way to the Oakland 22 before Christian McCaffrey pushed him out of bounds.   The turnover meant that a field goal could win it for the Thunder. They had Lamar Miller dive into the center of the line twice and then brought out Jeff Reed to kick the game winner on third down. The kicker did his part, and San Diego got their first win of the year, evening their record and sending Oakland to an identical 1-1 start.   MEMPHIS 7   OKLAHOMA 44 It was a party in OKC as the Outlaws, in their home opener, absolutely demolished the Showboats in front of a sellout crowd. It was 7-7 midway through the first, but the Outlaws scored the next 37 points in a rout of the Showboats. Marshawn Lynch had 95 yards and 2 scores. Joe Flacco threw for 2 more, and Pacman Jones returned a pick for a score as the Outlaws simply rolled in this one. Memphis 2nd year QB Paxton Lynch was sacked 5 times, threw 3 picks, and ran for his life most of the game. POTG:  Outlaw HB Marshawn Lynch: 22 Att, 95 Yds, 2 TD   MICHIGAN 45  LAS VEGAS 14 Friday saw 2 blowouts as Michigan also manhandled the Vipers in Eli Manning’s home opener. Manning was picked 3 times, but it was LeVeon Bell who just crushed all hope for the Vipers, rushing for 156 yards and 3 scores (Mike Hart added a 4th). Kirk Cousins was again hot early, connecting with Cody Latimer for two early scores, and then the Panthers just let Bell run wild in the 2nd half, scoring on TD runs of 18, 1, and 4 yards on his way to a big night on the road. POTG:  Michigan HB LeVeon Bell: 27 Att, 156 Yds, 3 TD, 3 Rec, 25 Yds   TAMPA BAY 12   ORLANDO 21 Bandit QB Dak Prescott was sacked 5 times, but hung in. After 3 quarters the score was only 14-12 Renegades, who played without Russell Wilson due to a flu bug. Backup Connor Shaw struggled for most of the game but found Jeremy Maclin for the game clinching score in the 4th quarter to help Orlando start the year at 2-0. POTG:  Orlando DE Calais Campbell: 4 Tck, 2 Sck   CHARLOTTE 29  NEW ORLEANS 21 The Monarchs move to 2-0 with rookie Mitch Trubisky at QB. The rookie got help from Adrian Peterson’s 95-yard day, and from a defense that held Leonard Fournette to 46 yards and returned a Brees pick for a score. Trubisky played well, completing 20 of 28 passes for 170 yards and a TD. New Orleans pulled within 1 score late but could not recover the onside kick and fell short at home. POTG:  Monarch LB Gabe Miller: 2 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   ST. LOUIS 20   OHIO 33 Ohio QB Christian Hackenberg had his best game to date, throwing for323 yards, and the Glory Defense held St. Louis in check, sacking Josh Freeman 5 times and limiting Eddie Lacy to 71 yards rushing. The Glory had a 30-7 lead early in the 4th but allowed two late scores to make the game look closer than it was. The Glory outgained St. Louis 410-238 and converted 50% of their 3rd down plays, while the Skyhawks struggled to 1 of 10. POTG:  Glory QB Christian Hackenberg: 25/34, 323 Yds, 1 TD, 1 Int   DALLAS 13  DENVER 17 Both offenses struggled to turn yards into points as the Gold put up an early 14-0 lead and held the Roughnecks at bay the rest of the afternoon. It was 13-14 halfway through the 4th quarter, but Denver held on for the win by shutting down Dallas on 4th down on their final drive. POTG:  Denver HB Jamaal Charles: 22 Att, 72 Yds, 1 TD   WASHINGTON 6   BALTIMORE 31 A lopsided Beltway Brawl as the Blitz put up 457 yards of offense, including 128 yards from Darrius Heyward-Bey and another 115 from Brian Hartline. David Garrard connected with 9 different receivers but could only muster 2 field goals against the Blitz defense. Big Ben once again went over 300 yards and threw for 3 scores, despite 5 Washington sacks. POTG:  Blitz QB Roethlisberger: 17/33, 347 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   BIRMINGHAM 25  PITTSBURGH 20 A tight game, broken open by DB Corey White, who had 3 picks of Andy Dalton, returning one for a score. Dalton would throw for 367, including 128 to Thielen and 101 to Cruz, but the picks stymied 3 drives and helped Birmingham cash in on short fields, getting 17 points off turnovers despite being outgained by the Maulers. POTG:  Stallion FS Corey White: 5 Tck, 3 Int, 1 Def TD   PORTLAND 20   PHILADELPHIA 26 A good one in Philly as Mariota hit both Cooks and Jeffery For scores to keep Portland in the game the whole way. Philly got TDs from Stevie Johnson and Zac Stacy but needed two 4th quarter field goals to break the tie and claim the win. Gutierrez got the W despite throwing 4 picks in the game, including 2 to CB Cedric Griffin of the Stags. POTG:  Stars’ WR Stevie Johnson: 4 Rec, 98 Yds, 1 TD   NEW JERSEY 9   JACKSONVILLE 6  OVERTIME No snow, no monsoon, no hurricane winds, just two teams playing defense in this one. Both clubs were able to move the ball, but could not get points on the board. It would come down to a 51-yarder in overtime, but Ka’imi Fairbairn connected and gave the Generals the win in this defensive showdown. POTG:  New Jersey DE Vic Beasley: 6 Tck, 4 TFL, 1 Sck   ATLANTA 10   HOUSTON 38 Aaron Murray threw for 340 and a score, but was outpaced by Colt McCoy, whose 4 TDs and 10 of 18 day helped put him atop the league QB ratings. Both Mike Evans and Vernon Davis finished with over 100 yards and 2 scores apiece. With Carlos Hyde dealing with the after-effects of a concussion suffered in practice, Alfred Blue subbed in, but it was all Colt McCoy in this one, as the Houston QB orchestrated scoring drives on 4 consecutive possessions to pull away. POTG:  Houston QB Colt McCoy: 10/18, 281 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   SEATTLE 21   CHICAGO 24 Seattle again played a tight game but came up short to fall to 0-2. Chicago got a 4th quarter field goal to take the lead late and the defense stuffed Seattle on a 4th down play to preserve it. Chicago won without a single offensive TD. They got 5 field goals from Hopper, a safety, and a pick six from Josh Norman, and that was enough to eke out the win against a very game Seattle squad. POTG:  Chicago CB Josh Norman: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   ARIZONA 24  LOS ANGELES 23 The Week came to a close with a nailbiter on Sunday night. LA took the lead 23-17 with just 1:18 to go, but David Carr pulled a miracle out, connecting with Antonio Bryant for the winning score with just 31 seconds left on the clock. It was Carr’s 3rd TD pass and Bryant’s second of the game. La Had gotten a great game from the HB duo of Bush and Perkins, combining for 130 yards, but the defense just could not hold the lead in the final minutes and Arizona moves to 2-0. POTG:  Arizona TE Jimmie Graham: 4 Rec, 146 Yds, 1 TD   Bell Runs Wild in Panther Mauling of Vipers After a tough week against the Ohio Glory that saw 2,000-yard hopeful LeVeon Bell limited to only 75 yards rushing, the Michigan Panther back more than doubled his Week 1 total as Michigan ran roughshod over the Las Vegas Vipers. Bell, who stated his target for the year is not just Herschel Walker’s 1983 rushing record of 1,767 yards, but the 2,000-yard mark, went from a reasonable but underwhelming 3.1 YPC against the Ohio Glory to an impressive 5.8 YPC against the Vipers. With 2,000 yards his target, he needs to average 125 yards per game, so his current 2-game pace of 115 is getting closer.   Teams are clearly going to prioritize stopping Bell and the Panther run game each week, some with more success than others. That has already proven to be a dangerous tactic as both Cody Latimer and Jerrel Jernigan have benefited, combining for 345 yards and 4 touchdowns (all from Latimer) in the Panthers’ two games. Much like Houston’s inside-outside conundrum for defenses, the need to stack the box against Bell undoubtedly produces great coverage options for Kirk Cousins to take advantage of in the play action game. And when teams feel pressured to drop their safeties back and play more of a shell coverage, well, that is when we start to see Bell getting to the secondary untouched and with a head of steam. It’s another dangerous game of “choose your demise” for defenses.   Corey White helps Stallions Win Steel City Clash After a rough Week 1 loss to Memphis in which the Stallions could do nothing right and scored only a lone field goal, Birmingham needed someone to step up against Pittsburgh. That person was cornerback Corey White, who proved to be a major headache for Mauler QB Andy Dalton. Birmingham continued to struggle on offense, gaining only 227 yards total in the game and rushing for only 53 yards, but White bailed them out with three picks, including a 29-yard pick-six that helped propel Birmingham to a narrow 25-20 win.   White got some help from a front 7 that harassed Andy Dalton all game, producing 5 sacks, including 2 from DE Dereck Harvey, but it was White’s positioning in coverage against Adam Thielen that made the difference. White was assigned Pittsburgh’s top receiver all game, and of the 12 targets for Thielen, White came away with 3 of them. He continuously forced Thielen towards the sideline with inside position and then stepped in front of him to make plays on the ball. It is a risky play, as a whiff could lead to a long gainer, but it proved effective as it seemed Dalton’s throws were often a step late and in range for White to steal away.   Birmingham will need to find some offense, but when your defense can produce turnovers and score points, it can help as the offense tries to find an identity and a rhythm. For White, more weeks like this could well have him in the conversation for DPOTY and could have Birmingham in more games than in recent years.   Lynch Struggling to Adjust to USFL Speed While Colt McCoy is finding immediate success as he replaces Matt Hasselbeck in Houston, 2nd year QB Paxton Lynch is having quite the opposite experience as he steps in for Eli Manning. Lynch currently sits as the worst-rated starter in the league after 2 weeks, averaging only 151 yards per game, with 3 picks and no touchdowns yet this season. The University of Memphis product was brought in last year through the Territorial Draft to be the future of the franchise, expected to compete with Eli Manning in his rookie year. But, as we are sure most USFL fans are well aware, Manning had a career year, guiding the upstart Showboats all the way to the Summer Bowl, only to move on to Las Vegas for one of the richest contracts in the league, paving the way for the local hero to step in and become the new leader of the ‘Boats.   Well, so far, it has been rough waters for the Showboats. Despite a very solid overall game in Week 1 against the Stallions, Memphis is not showing the offensive strength that got them to the title game last year. In that win, Lynch looked solid, going 21 of 27, but was unable to put the ball in the endzone. In Oklahoma this week, facing a very boisterous crowd and a pumped-up Outlaws squad (making their debut in their new home), Lynch was just not up to the task. Going 18 of 37 with 3 picks, 5 sacks, and only 133 yards, he looked very much like a rookie thrown into the deep end.   Chalk it up to a tough outing against a very fired up team, but Memphis fans are already getting nervous that their present may include a significant step back from last year’s unforeseen success, and that their future may need more work. It is early, granted, and Coach Ryan will need time to get Lynch up to speed as the pro game is a long way from the American Athletic Conference. It also does not help that the Showboats lost their OC to the NFL and a head coaching job in San Francisco. Ryan, and new OC Terry Robiskie, have some work cut out for them. With Todd Gurley currently averaging a paltry 1.4 yards per carry (42 yards on 29 carries), the Showboats need to take pressure off Lynch by getting the run game going. They also need to find ways to get some depth into the secondary. Robert Woods is averaging only 10.4 yards per catch and Brandon Marshall, the speed receiver on the squad, has only 2 catches to date, as does slot receiver Cordarelle Patterson. That is not a formula for success for a young QB who is seeing the game move very quickly past his eyes.   Gutierrez has Stars 2-0 Despite Poor Play The Stars sot at 2-0 after victories over Jacksonville and Portland, but they have reached that record despite of, not because of, the play of their QB. Matt Gutierrez has not started the season well, completing only 50.8% of his throws and sitting with a 3:6 TD:INT ratio after two weeks. His current 57.2 QB Rating is among the worst in the league and a solid 24 points below last year’s season ending 80.4 QBR. The Stars, despite their two wins, rank only 14th in points scored and have admittedly played two of the league’s weaker offenses, which may indicate how they have found early success despite poor play on offense. That will change very quickly as they face New Jersey this week and Baltimore in 3 weeks. Gutierrez, in particular, has been coming under a lot of scrutiny over the past 2 years. After starting his career with two very strong seasons (a 121.7 QBR in his first year as a starter in 2012 and a very solid 92.1 in his 2nd season), his results have declined every year. He has not topped a 90 QBR since 2013 and last year’s 17 picks were the worst of his career. After 2 games this year, he is already on pace to shatter that number, with 6 picks, a pace that would give him over 40 on the season.   Now, we don’t expect that to happen, but something has to be done to give him better options, whether that means more carries for Dereck Henry, who has yet to crack 20 touches in a game this year, or more options beyond deep balls to Johnson and Cobb, something is needed. Gutierrez has had some success connecting with TE Travis Kelce (who went over 100 yards this week), so perhaps more use of the TE position is needed if Philly is going to give their QB a shot at a successful season. Either that or they may well have to consider an upgrade.   Donald Brown Not the Answer for Federals The Washington Federals, spoiled by season after season of incredible numbers from future Hall of Famer Deuce McCallister, are finding that post-Deuce success is no guarantee. The Federals made a deal with Oakland to bring in the Invaders’ 2016 lead rusher, Donald Brown, confident in their ability to turn Brown from a 900-yard back into a 1,200-yard back. Well, so far that has not gone as planned.   Brown has accumulated only 39 yards in his first two games in the Kelly green jerseys of the Federals. He is averaging a miserable 1.3 yards per carry to date, outpaced by 3rd down back Wendell Smallwood’s 4.2 YPC and 51 total yards. Despite having 3 times the touches as Smallwood, Brown is not proving productive. Call it adjustment to a new blocking scheme and a new offense, but so far the investment that saw Washington send DE David Bass and a 4th round pick in the 2018 draft to the Invaders is not paying dividends.   Of course, we cannot expect Brown to step in and immediately look like McCallister. The former Federal back was a rare generational talent, rushing for over 1,000 yards for 13 consecutive seasons and playing at an All-USFL level until the age of 35. Those are ludicrous expectations for any back, but 1.3 yards per carry and a per game average under 20 yards per game are what you might expect from a backup getting 5-8 carries a game, not your lead back. Washington sits at 0-2, and just how long Coach Payton can be with Brown and the Federal run game remains to be seen, but some sign of success is needed soon if Brown hopes to keep the position uncontested and Washington could very soon be looking to trade once again. No new injured reserve additions, but plenty of players who will be out at least a week, some up to 4 weeks. Michigan looks to have several players out in Week 3 and St. Louis has 2 of their starting O-line out for their Week 3 game. Oakland will be without their defensive captain for at least a week, one of several star linebackers who are on the list after Week 2.   OUT OT          Willie Colon               HOU     Meniscus        2-4 Weeks OT          Ryan Considine               WSH     Knee                2-4 Weeks LB           Odell Thurman             MGN     Wrist              2-4 Weeks G            Deuce Lutui                    STL         Shoulder        1-2 Weeks TE           Coby Fleener               NOR      Neck               1-2 Weeks LB           Bobby Wagner             OAK      Personal          1-2 Weeks G            Ron Leary                      LV           Shoulder          1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL LB           Karlos Dansby                  ARZ       Concussion       G            Donald Thomas               DAL       Knee LB           Chad Greenway              OKL       Tendinitis DT          Marcell Dareus                OHI       Pinched Nerve C             Rudy Niswanger             STL         Concussion CB          Eric Wright                     OAK      Hand WR         Mike Williams                  PIT         Thigh DT          Star Lotuleilei                  DAL       Wrist   QUESTIONABLE LB           Kevin Minter               CHI        Thigh WR         Ted Ginn Jr                   MGN     Neck CB          Dre Kirkpatrick                MGN     Hamstring CB          Derech Cox                    CHA      Hip   Third Year Coaches On Hot Seat As Season Starts With Win Now Expectations We often talk about a 3-year plan for coaches arriving to a new team. You need a year to assess what you have and where the roster needs upgrades, a year to fully implement your system and preferred personnel, and a year when that work should turn into noticeable improvement. Realistically, pro football rarely allows a coach 2 years, much less 3 to make improvements that are visible to everyone paying attention. So the fact that we have 3 coaches all entering their 3rd season and just now feeling the heat of the hot seat is something of a surprise, but that is where we stand in Birmingham, Jacksonville, and Portland.   Of the three, Portland’s Pep Hamilton may be the coach with the most to defend. After all, he began his tenure with the Stags by taking them not just to the playoffs, but to the team’s first ever division title, edging the Oakland Invaders in the final week of the 2015 season to stand atop the Pacific Division. So, when his second year produced a pretty sizeable collapse, it put even more importance on this third year. Hamilton needs to show that the team Is on the right path, that the decision to jettison QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and go with Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, was the right call, and that he can now build a viable offense around Mariota and HB Doug Martin.   For Henry Ellard , a legend in Birmingham as a player, the welcome was all cheers and celebration, but in his first two seasons with Cam Newton and the Stallions, Ellard has not produced the offensive dynamism that he was hired to bring to the club. Birmingham dropped from 8-8 in Ellard’s first season to 6-10 last year, and the offense continues to be the biggest question that has gone unanswered. While Cam Newton can have occasional monster games, he also has far too many games where he is simply not producing extended drives or adequate points for a win. T. J. Yeldon has not panned out as the star everyone anticipated when he came out of Alabama, and even WR Amari Cooper has seen his numbers plateau, without improvement since coming into the league in 2015.   Finally, Coach Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville is coming off back-to-back 5-win seasons, not exactly a secure path to a second contract. His defense has at times looked like a real strength, but the Bulls continue to flounder without a real identity on offense. As much as we want to see Robert Griffin as a duel threat, for every big outing he has there is an equally head-scratching one, and the risk of further injury as well. Jacksonville could well be on the fringe of a major overhaul and that does not bode well for Del Rio, whose reputation for strong interior play is being undone by an offense that simply has not proven it can run the ball effectively.   Ohio Seeks Stadium Partnership with MLS Crew With setbacks in the plan for a new Canton-based football facility turning from doubts to near definite failure, the Ohio Glory turn in a new direction in their attempts to get a more suitable venue of the ground. This time the goal is to remain in Columbus, but to work with another club seeking a new home, the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, to get a new facility approved and funded. The Crew and the Glory are proposing a 48,000 seat stadium to be built to the NW of the city in the area of New Albany. The open air stadium would serve as the home to both clubs,, each with their own current stadium concerns, and is being proposed as a 60/40 private/public partnership. The hope, of course, is that the city of Columbus, as well as the state, will approve bond measures to cover the public portion of the funding, while a combination of funds from the two franchises, the two leagues, and an array of sponsorships and naming rights would provide the 60% private funding for construction and maintenance.   With the bill to the state and city to be about 1/3 of what Governor Kasich’s proposed Canton football campus had targeted, there is hope that the two franchises can get broader support in the Statehouse. It helps, of course, that between the two teams there is already strong corporate support and the potential for naming rights that could bring in considerable revenue. The proposed stadium, while smaller than many USFL venues, would allow for the Glory to retain an attendance number at or even slightly above their 10-year average of 41,202, and certainly above the 39,593 they have averaged the past 3 seasons. For the Crew, the new stadium would be a considerable increase in capacity from their current facility, Crew Stadium, which is capped at just over 19,000. The facility would also allow the crew to partition the upper levels on both sidelines, providing a lower bowl with 28,000 seats with the ability to expand to the upper decks (one or both) as needed for larger events like international soccer tournaments.   The proposal is already before the city, as it will require backing of the city and county before it is taken to the Ohio Statehouse, and initial response has been positive. If all goes smoothly (as it rarely does, but just for argument) the facility could receive both city and state approval by June and construction could start in the spring of 2018 with a target of the 2020 USFL and MLS seasons for the grand opening.   Atlanta’s New Stadium On Track for 2019 Season Speaking of new stadiums, Atlanta’s new facility, a retractable dome stadium with a capacity of 71,000 is moving along nicely, expected to open for the spring USFL season in December of 2018. The facility recently added a 3rd tenant with Major League Soccer approving an expansion franchise for the city to go along with the USFL Fire and NFL Falcons. The as-yet-unnamed stadium will replace the Georgia Dome, turning 25 years old this year. Located west of downtown and on the edge of the Vince City district, the new facility will allow for the outdoor football experience when weather permits, but allow the Fire, Falcons and MLS Atlanta club to close the roof when heat, humidity, rain, or winter cold would make for an unpleasant atmosphere.   Coming in at roughly $300M to construct, the new facility will be managed by the Georgia World Congress Authority, the same semi-public stadium authority which currently operates the Georgia Dome. While the Fire are expected to be the first team to play a regular season game in the facility, it is already scheduled to host the SEC Football Championship as well as the NCAA BCS Championship games in December of 2018 and January of 2019. The facility is just another example of cross-league collaboration between the USFL and NFL, something the league is actively seeking with all their dual-league locations.   There is a lot to like in the Week 3 lineup of games. We start on Saturday with Memphis @ Charlotte, a game both teams view as a winnable game that can help propel them towards the top of their divisions. The late game is another interesting matchup as Chicago tries to knock off the defending league champions in Glendale. Arizona is thinking 3-0 sounds awfully nice and has no interest in helping Chicago stay in the fight in the Central Division.   On Saturday we have a cavalcade of 0-2 teams all trying to avoid 0-3. Atlanta heads to New Orleans seeking their first win. Seattle heads down the coast to San Diego, and Dallas and Portland, both 0-2, clash in the PNW, with both hoping this game is the start of something. Then, at night, we get the opposite as four teams sitting at 2-0 clash in our Saturday night double header. It is the classic matchup of the Generals and the Stars in Philly to kick things off at 7pm, then, in the late game, we have two of the league’s most prolific offenses facing off in Houston as the Gamblers host the Blitz. Sunday returns us to the 0-2 crowd, with both Pittsburgh and Washington hoping a division win will keep them from the dreaded 0-3 and help them build some momentum. We also have a matchup of two more winless teams, 0-2 Jacksonville and 0-2 Tampa Bay meet in a Florida Derby neither team can afford to lose. Later in the day it is St. Louis at Michigan and Denver at Las Vegas, and we end the weekend with another California Derby as the LA Express and Oakland Invaders, both 1-1 after 2 weeks, face off in Santa Clara with first place in the division on the line.   FRI 7PM ET          Memphis (1-1) @ Charlotte (2-0)                  ABC FRI 9PM ET             Chicago (1-1) @ Arizona (2-0)                         ESPN/EFN   SAT 12PM ET         Ohio (1-1) @ Orlando (2-0)                             ABC SAT 12PM ET          Atlanta (0-2) @ New Orleans (1-1)                FOX SAT 4PM ET          Seattle (0-2) @ San Diego (1-1)                     ABC SAT 4PM ET            Dallas (0-2) @ Portland (0-2)                          FOX SAT 7PM ET          New Jersey (2-0) @ Philadelphia (2-0)           NBC SAT 9PM ET             Baltimore (2-0) @ Houston (2-0)                    ESPN/EFN   SUN 12PM ET         Pittsburgh (0-2) @ Washington (0-2)                ABC SUN 12PM ET        Jacksonville (0-2) @ Tampa Bay (0-2)            FOX Regional SUN 12PM ET        Oklahoma (1-1) @ Birmingham (1-1)             FOX Regional SUN 4PM ET          St. Louis (1-1) @ Michigan (1-1)                      ABC SUN 4PM ET            Denver (1-1) @ Las Vegas (1-1)                       FOX SUN 8PM ET            Los Angeles (1-1) @ Oakland (1-1)                ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Plenty of strong outings in Opening Weekend, but we are going to highlighta player who has been here several tims before, Baltimore QB Ben Roethlisberger. Once again the deep ball was working for Big Ben as he threw for 359 yards on only 12 completions, hooking up with Brian Hartline 3 times for scores, with 4 total TDs on the day as Baltimore flew cross-country to Portland and blew out the shellshocked Stags.

This season we celebrate the Mascots, featuring 16 of the league's favorite fluffiest and most fanciful team mascots. Week One features a rarity, a non-cartoonish mascot, as the Tampa Bay Bandits go for a very real rider and a fierce black steed named "Midnight". Opening week and all the celebrations it brings across the country. This year’s opening week of USFL action was hampered by a major late winter storm that made travel and gameplay tricky across the Midwest and into the Atlantic region, but the games went on. We had the defending champs in a tough Friday night battle, the debut of rookie QB Mitch Trubisky for the Monarchs and Eli Manning in a Las Vegas Vipers jersey. We also had big games from unexpected places, with a huge weekend for tight ends. TE Vernon Davis came within inches of a 200-yard game and both Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce had huge outings. Finally, it was a week for rookies to show their stuff, and we saw very good games from both Trubisky and Oakland HB Christian McCaffrey. But we also had our first bad injury of the season, and now news of a possible suspension for a starting QB. We start there with the league’s decision to suspend Johnny Manziel following his arrest for a DUI this winter. We will then return to the field, reviewing the weeks’ games and looking ahead to Week 2 as the new season gets rolling. Dallas QB Johnny Manziel suspended for 6 games. We knew it was just a matter of time before the league’s investigation into Johnny Manziel’s offseason auto accident and arrest for DUI turned into league action. This week that action was announced, a six-week suspension for the Dallas Roughneck quarterback. The suspension, as expected, is under appeal, which could take 2-3 weeks to complete, and in the meantime Manziel will be permitted to practice and play for Dallas, but if he fails to win a lighter verdict from the league’s Judiciary Committee, Manziel could miss a month and a half of action, pushing Dallas to prepare former Charltte QB Brandon Wheedon for action.   The suspension is the result of a mid-winter car accident in College Station, Texas, where Manziel was returning to his alma mater. Manziel crashed his Alfa Romeo roadster in a one-car accident that did not see the quarterback injured, but did take out both a fire hydrant and a street sign. Police administered a breathalizer at the scene and took Manziel into custody with a reported blood alcohol level twice the legal limit. He was released on his own recognizance, and has a court date set for mid-May. The league immediately began its own investigation into the incident, with the resulting finding that Manziel had violated the misconduct clause of his contract with the USFL and the Roughnecks, and issuing the 6-game suspension on Monday, following Manziel’s solid performance in the Roughnecks’ game on Sunday afternoon. Manziel’s agent immediately filed the appeal paperwork and now we wait and see if the suspension is lifted, shortened, or remains to be served later this season.   Dallas made a deal with Charlotte in early February, just as camp was opening, that brought Brandon Wheedon over to the Roughnecks, very much aware that Manziel did risk suspension by the league. Now Wheedon is likely to see action perhaps as soon as Week 4. In the meantime, as the league reviews the appeal documents and convenes an appeal committee, Manziel will be at practice and is certainly expected to suit up next week against the Denver Gold. Just how much the looming league sanction, and possible legal issues in Texas will impact his play is yet to be seen.   LAS VEGAS VIPERS 24   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS 23 How often is it that the best game of the week is not between two teams at the top of everyone’s expectations list, but two teams scrapping for respect. That is what we got Sunday in Dallas in a showdown of SW Division teams as Las Vegas came into the Cotton Bowl to face the Dallas Roughnecks. The hype pre-game was about Eli Manning’s first outing in a Vipers’ uniform, and Manning certainly made news in the game, but this was a well-played opening week game from both teams and one that would come down to a final drive before it would be decided.   The game began very well for the visiting Vipers, who built up a 17-0 lead midway through the 2nd quarter, but Dallas fought back and was able to take back the lead in the 3rd. Johnny Manziel would finish the game with 323 yards passing but threw two costly picks. Eli Manning would throw for only 224, but avoided turnovers and connected for scores three times, all three to veteran WR Doug Baldwin.   Las Vegas’s first possession started off Baldwins strong day, as he helped turn the drive into 7 points with a 20-yard touchdown from his new quarterback. Las Vegas would add another 3 points on their next drive but as the first quarter wound down, Dallas was driving. With the ball at the Las Vegas 17, Johnny Manziel tried to hit Tiquan Underwood to put Dallas on the board, but the ball was caught instead by Las Vegas corner E. J. Gaines, producing a touchback and giving Las Vegas the ball back.   The Vipers would turn that pick into seven points as the 2nd quarter began. The pick turned into an 80-yard, 13-play drive that concluded with Manning finding Doug Baldwin for a second time. Now up 17-0, it all looked to be going the Vipers’ way. But, Dallas was not willing to give up and fought back in the 2nd quarter. On their next possession, Manziel guided the offense down to the 2-yard line, connecting with Tim Wright and Ben Watson on key third down throws. From the 2 it was veteran C. J. Spiller who got the ball into the endzone and put Dallas on the board. Spiller would have only 4 carries on the day as Dallas split the majority of carries between Texas rookie Donte Freeman and OU’s Samaje Perine.   With a late field goal before the half, Dallas was back in the game, down only 7 at the break. They came out for the second half determined to come all the way back. They did just that with the only scores of the period, a 31-yard Catanzaro field goal, and, on a drive that began when Dallas recovered a Montario Hardesty fumble, a 5-yard run by rookie Samaje Perine that gave Dallas a 20-17 lead, having scored the last 20 points in the game. Ka Midway through the 4th it would become the last 23 points as again Catanzaro connected on a short field goal after a 3rd and goal touchdown was called back by an illegal motion against Geronimo Allison. Dallas could not convert, so they sent out the kicker and took a precarious 6-point lead.   Las Vegas would have just over 6 minutes to try to get a score and retake the lead, but after a holding call they found themselves with a 3rd and 16, which proved too much, forcing them to kick the ball back to Dallas with just over 4 minutes in the game. They needed a defensive stop or a takeaway to have a shot at getting the ball back with time to get the touchdown they needed. They would get the latter when, on a 3rd and 7, Manziel scrambled to his right and then tried to throw back to the middle of the field towards TE Ben Watson. Safety Eric Berry was there to snatch the ball away form Watson, giving Memphis possession at their own 46 with time to move the ball into scoring range.   Eli Manning was at his best during the final drive, connecting on 4 of 5 throws as he moved the ball using out routes, a quick strike slant to Denarius Moore, and scrambling for a first down on a key 3rd and 3. With 1:10 left to play, he had the ball inside the Dallas 10, and he did not wait around to put las Vegas back on top. On 1st and goal he again looked for Baldwin, and again found him. Doug Baldwin’s third TD, and the ensuing PAT, gave the Vipers a 1-point lead with just over a minute left.   Las Vegas would have a chance, and all they would need is a field goal, but the clock was against them. With only 1 time out left, they had to play the sidelines, and while they got close, they did not get close enough. With only 2 seconds left on the clock they asked Catanzaro to attempt a 61-yard kick, a career long. The ball slid off to the right and lacked the distance, giving Las Vegas the win and Eli Manning his first official comeback drive as a member of the Vipers, a good start to a new chapter in his career.   WASHINGTON 13 NEW JERSEY 20 It took a 4th quarter rally, but the Generals won their season opener at MetLife thanks to a solid performance on both sides of the ball. Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 90 yards, Brett Hundley threw for 2 scores, and the defense held Donald Brown to only 15 yards rushing on the day as the Generals take the W on Friday night. POTG: Generals’ DE Aaron Kampman: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF   DENVER 20  ARIZONA 26 Friday’s late game was a good one as Denver gave Arizona fits all night long. David Carr was sacked 5 times, but the Wranglers still managed to build up a 23-3 lead before Denver came alive in the 2nd half. TD throws from Leinart to Crabtree and newly-acquired Kelvin Benjamin put a scare into the defending league champions, but a 4th quarter Haden interception on Denver’s final possession preserved the win for the Wranglers. POTG:  Wrangler CB Joe Haden: 7 Tck, 2 Int   NEW ORLEANS 23  PITTSBURGH 7 Snow caused some issues for both teams, but New Orleans rallied behind Drew Brees as Leonard Fournette had a brutal day against Pittsburgh’s front line ( negative 4 yards on 11 carries). Down 10-7, New Orleans scored the final 13 points, with Brees taking over in the 2nd half, throwing for 352 in the snow, including a 72-yard strike to Kenny Britt that secured the win for the visiting Breakers. POTG:  Breaker QB Drew Brees: 17/24, 352 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   BIRMINGHAM 3   MEMPHIS 22 The Showboats got a solid game from Paxton Lynch (21 of 27 for 170 yards), and the defense contained Cam Newton to give the Showboats an opening week home win in their big rivalry game. Of the Showboats 23 points, 15 came off the foot of their kicker, with a short Todd Gurley TD run in the 4th quarter the only 7-pointer of the game. POTG:  Memphis CB Patrick Robinson: 9 Tck 2 FF, 1 FR   OAKLAND 26   SEATTLE 23 Seattle got a big game from CB Xavien Howard, with 2 picks, one returned for a score, and hung tough all game long, but in the end Oakland pulled the game out on a Roberto Aguayo field goal with 11 seconds to play in a heartbreaker for Dragon fans. There were 5 picks in the game on a sloppy outing for both Brissett (2 Int) and Harrington (3 Int). Rookie Christian McCaffrey was, as expected, the center of the Oakland offense, with 72 yards rushing and another 42 in the air. POTG: Seattle CB Xavien Howard: 6 Tck, 2 Int, 1 Def TD   BALTIMORE 42  PORTLAND 7 Doug Martin had a solid opening game as a Stag, with 111 yards on 22 carries, but that was about the only thing that went right for Portland as Baltimore rolled. Ben Roethlisberger averaged 16.3 yards per completion on his way to a 359-yard, 4-TD day. Brian Hartline caught 3 of the 4 scores, with newly arrived TE C. J. Uzomah adding 104 yards and a TD as well. POTG: Blitz WR Brian Hartline: 4 Rec, 173 Yards, 3 TD   OHIO 10   MICHIGAN 32 The weather produced several thousand no-shows in Detroit, but did not impact the game inside Ford Field, as Michigan outgained Ohio 395-288 and had zero penalties to Ohio’s 12 for 88 yards. The game was close at the half ,13-3, but the Panthers pulled away in the 2nd half to take a 3-score victory. Both Cody Latimer and Jerrel Jernigan went over 100 yards as the passing game was effective all game long. Ohio focused on LeVeon Bell, limiting the back to 3.1 yards per carry and a total of only 75 yards on the day. POTG: Panther WR Cody Latimer: 9 Rec, 102 Yds, 2 TD   LOS ANGELES 17  SAN DIEGO 10 LA’s defense struggled against the pass, but came up with a big 4th down stop late in the game to preserve the win in a low scoring but fun game. Reggie Bush had 81 yards on 17 carries, but also led the team with 4 receptions, including a 43-yard touchdown. Chad Johnson had 159 yards on 10 catches, but the Thunder just could not get the points they needed after LA built up a 17-3 lead. POTG: Express HB Reggie Bush: 17 Att, 81 Yds, 4 Rec, 69 Yds, 1 TD   CHARLOTTE 19  ATLANTA 13 Despite the low score, both clubs moved the ball surprisingly well. Rookie QB Mitch Trubisky debuted with a 16 of 24 performance, throwing for 138 and avoiding turnovers. Atlanta went with former UGA QB Aaron Murray, who went 30 of 38 for 293 but also threw 3 picks and was sacked 5 times. The key to the game was the 2-back strategy of the Monarchs, with Adrian Peterson and Taiwan Jones combining for 108 yards on the day. POTG: Monarch CB Derech Cox: 10 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   TAMPA BAY 12   ST. LOUIS 29 Frank Reich opened his tenure with the Skyhawks with a solid game plan, shifting the offense to more of a run-focused pro-style and getting a better-than-expected showing from the defense. June Jones’s new spread style had mixed results as rookie Dalvin Cook rushed for 55 yards on 12 carries, but the passing game struggled to sustain drives. The star of the game was TE Rob Gronkowski, who Reich’s offense featured against LB and safety coverage. POTG: Skyhawk TE Rob Gronkowski: 6 Rec, 121 Yds, 1 TD   JACKSONVILLE 6  PHILADELPHIA 13 Significant snow accumulation and two solid defenses kept the points down in this game. Both teams tried to use the slippery field to get receivers open, and both run games suffered, with Bulls’ HB Matt Jones slipping in his own endzone to produce a safety. Derrick Henry had the only TD of the day, a 1-yard swing pass from Gutierrez, with a 2-point dive for the conversion. POTG: Stars TE Travis Kelce: 5 rec, 122 Yds   ORLANDO 17  CHICAGO 10 You would think Chicago would have the advantage on a snowy and cold day, but this defensive battle went to the Renegades. Orlando got 2nd quarter TDs from Jeremy Maclin and CB Dee Milliner who returned a tipped ball 29 yards for a score. Chicago was held without a TD until late in the 4th, and could not get the ball away from Orlando in the final minutes. POTG: Orlando CB Dee Milliner: 6 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   OKLAHOMA 7   HOUSTON 37 Old rivals clashed, but Houston got the clear advantage as Colt McCoy went 13 of 20 for 310 yards and 2 scores. TE Vernon Davis was his favorite target with 5 catches for 198 yards, including TD tosses of 68 and 66 yards on nearly identical plays. Joe Flacco struggled, completing only 15 of 31 passes and suffering 11, yes, 11 sacks from the Houston defense, including 3 from Dante Fowler and 2 from rookie safety Budda Baker. POTG: Houston TE Vernon Davis: 5 Rec, 198 Yds, 2 TD   First Impressions: 10 Debuts to Note A new season always means new opportunities, whether it is a rookie making an immediate impression in his first action or a veteran free agent shining in a new setting. After this week’s action we had more than a few notable games from newly arrived players as a combination of NFL imports, Free Agents, and Rookies all made good on the promise they brought to their teams. Here are the 10 players we believe gave us great first impressions.   QB Eli Manning (LV) No doubt that Viper fans are excited about Eli Manning being their QB. His final drive in Dallas was exactly what fans hoped he could bring to the team. It was efficient, timely, and turned a loss into a season opening win. What more could you ask for.   QB Mitch Trubisky (CHA) The UNC rookie did not produce an offensive explosion, but what he did was produce a win and avoid negative plays as Charlotte went into Atlanta and came away with a W. Trubisky went 16 of 24 for 138 yards but was sacked only once and did not throw a pick. For a rookie debut at QB that is a pretty solid outing.   HB Doug Martin (POR) The game certainly did not go the way Portland wanted, blown out by the Blitz, but you cannot fault new starting tailback Doug Martin for that. Martin was solid in the lead back role, toting the rock 22 times for 111 yards, a 5.0 YPC average. It was pretty much everything else that went wrong, especially on defense.   HB Christian McCaffrey (OAK) Perhaps the best rookie outing of the week was in Seattle, where Oakland HB Christian McCaffrey showed he was up to the task of being a centerpiece in the Invader offense. CMC ran for 72 yards on 17 carries, a healthy 4.2 YPC, and also contributed 5 receptions for another 42 yards. A very strong sign that his role in the Invader offense will only continue to grow.   TE C. J. Uzomah (BAL) Fans who were worried that the retirement of Antonio Gates would cause a dip in the Blitz’s offensive production had to be happy with their 32-7 win in Portland. Not only did Big Ben and Brian Hartline put up big numbers, but TE C. J. Uzomah, brought over in trade from St. Louis, also had himself a game, matching Hartline with 4 catches, going over 100 yards on the day and adding a TD.   WR Jordy Nelson (NOR) We thought that the addition of Nelson would be a big deal in New Orleans, and we think we were right. Six catches, 161 yards, and enough draw to pull defenders off of Kenny Britt showed just how impactful his arrival could be as New Orleans scored 23 and easily defeated the Maulers, even during snow and ice.   LB Trey Hendrickson (STL) A rookie we have not said much about, Henderson got the starting gig at strongside linebacker for the Skyhawks, and had himself a nice debut. Hendrickson helped St. Louis knock off Tampa Bay in their home opener, with 3 tackles and a sack which produced a safety. Keep an eye on Hendrickson, who the Skyhawks are using as a passing down pressure option.   CB Stephon Gilmore (LA) Gilmore came into the USFL after a solid career in the NFL and immediately showed why he was a high profile free agent target. In LA’s 17-10 defeat of the Thunder in San Diego, Gilmore led all Express defenders with 10 tackles, he also had 3 pass defenses, including an endzone swat in the 2nd that forced San Diego to go for 3 instead of getting 7.   SS Budda Baker (HOU) With 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 pass defenses, and a pick, Budda Baker was one of the most impressive rookies to debut this week. He was all over the field, playing deep coverage on one play, blitzing on another, stacking the box against the run on yet another. It seems Coach Phillips and the Gamblers may have themselves a playmaker in the secondary with Baker.   K Younghoe Koo (HOU) Just to give some love to the kickers, we chose Houston’s Younghoe Koo to highlight. The Korean-American kicker from Georgia Southern had a nice debut, going 3 for 3 on field goals and 4/4 on PAT’s in Houston’s opening win. Koo was not the only rookie kicker to open the season, as he was joined by Michael Beam (MGN), Harrison Butker (TBY), and Jeffrey Harris (SEA) as newly-minted pro kickers.   McCoy to Davis a Week One Debut to Remember Houston fans had to be overjoyed with what they saw this weekend out of their offense. With Matt Hasselbeck retired and Colt McCoy announced as the heir to the QB position, there was understandable trepidation in Houston. What if McCoy was not able to replicate the success he had in a handful of outings last year? Well, if Week 1 did anything, it helped dispel those concerns. McCoy had himself a major coming out party against the Outlaws, completing 13 of 20 passes for 310 yards and 2 scores, both to his new favorite target, tight end Vontae Davis. Davis went off with both a 68-yard and a 66-yard touchdown, both on seam routes opened when the safeties ran off to deal with Mike Evans and rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster.   McCoy was cool in the pocket, extended plays like a savvy veteran and found 6 different receivers on the day. It seems that with McCoy taking over for Hasselbeck, the talented Gambler squad did not so much rebuild as reload. They look dangerous once again, and fans can apparently rest easy that the QB position is in good hands.   Big Ben Makes Big Plays in Blitz Bombing Run Any game where your QB throws for over 350 yards is a big day, but when he can do that with only 12 completions, well, you are just connecting on big play after big play. That was the scenario for our Player of the Week, Ben Roethlisberger, who just kept finding his receivers open deep against a stunned and clearly underprepared Portland secondary. Ben’s day included a 75-yard TD to Hartline, a 41-yarder to TE C. J. Uzomah, a 34-yard toss to Jacob Tamme, another 34-yarder to Darrius Heyward-Bey, a 33-yarder to HB Anthony Dixon, and, oh yes, another deep TD to Hartline, this one for 82 yards. So, in other words, the deep ball was there for Roethlisberger whenever he felt like connecting on one.   Hartline and Uzomah both finished the game with 4 catches and both went over 100 yards on the day. Heyward-Bey, Dixon, and Lance Moore each had only 1 catch, but again, when your catches are over 30 yards apiece, well, that is pretty impactful.  Portland clearly missed the mark in trying to pressure Roethlisberger. They got to him for 4 sacks, and they had a few more hurries, but they also left their secondary in a very awkward place whenever the pressure did not immediately displace Roethlisberger from the pocket. The Blitz QB did finish the day with incompletions on 10 of his 22 throws, but the 12 that connected were huge and helped Baltimore blow out Portland by a score of 42-7.   Crowder Possibly Lost for Season with Back Injury It was not all joy and excitement as USFL football returned. The specter of injury is always a factor in pro football, and, as if a blowout loss to Baltimore was not bad enough, a season-ending injury to a star player made Portland’s home debut one to remember. Linebacker Channing Crowder, a past league tackle leader, was having a strong game, with 6 tackles in the first half, but a bad collision with one of his own players left the MLB lying on the ground, unable to get up. The stadium was pin-drop quiet as training staff came out to evaluate the situation. Players took a knee, visibly upset. The trainers removed Crowder’s helmet, and it was clear he was communicative, but he was just not moving his lower half. A backboard was used, and Crowder was driven off the field in the cart, his hand raised to give a thumbs-up to the crowd.   News of his condition would not come out until the next day, when the positive news that Crowder had regained feeling in his lower extremities was mixed with the disappointing news that his recovery time would be extensive, with the season lost and the very real potential that this was a career-ending injury very much still in play. Crowder was to be held in traction as doctors would have to rebuild two vertebrae, cracked and potentially at risk to shatter. The recovery time would be 6-8 months, and only then could the medical team assess whether or not it would ever be safe for the linebacker to step on a field again. A sobering thought on a tough day all around for the Stags.   While Channing Crowder’s injury was the most impactful and sobering of the weekend’s injuries, it was hardly the only major medical situation the league saw in its opening week. Two additional players could be placed on IR, though neither has officially been added yet. LA wideout Earl Bennett suffered a broken wrist that is expected to keep him out of action at least 8 weeks, while guard Ryan Seymour suffered a broken leg. He too could be placed on IR, depending on how Houston wants to deal with the possibility of a return for the postseason. Hard to imagine a full 3 months before the playoffs even begin, but this is football and injuries that can cost players a season or even a career are simply part of the game.   OUT LB           Channing Crowder        POR      Back                     IR G            Ryan Seymour                 HOU     Broken Leg              8-12 Weeks WR         Earl Bennett                   LA          Wrist                       8-12 Weeks DT          A’Shawn Robinson         WSH     Abdomen                1-2 Weeks DE          Chris Kelsay                     ATL         Concussion              1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL WR         Reuben Randle           JAX         Hip Pointer                        DT          DeMarcus Tyler            CHA      Toe   QUESTIONABLE SS           Tra Battle                     ATL         Knee DE          Anthony Zettle               CHA      Hernia HB         Carlos Hyde                 HOU     Concussion SS           Duke Williams             SD          Knee OT          Dereck Newton          TBY        Concussion   Oklahoma Home Opener a Tough Ticket Week 2 will see the Oklahoma Outlaws begin their new life at OGE Energy Stadium in Oklahoma City, but don’t expect to walk up and get a ticket. The first game of the relocated and “reborn” Oklahoma Outlaws is a sellout of the 55,422 seat stadium. Tickets on secondary markets are going for double face value and the entire state seems to be abuzz about their team returning pro football to the Sooner State.   The Outlaws have welcomed back two legendary former players, LB Brian Bosworth and QB Doug Williams to welcome the team to the state. The Governor and famous Oklahoman singer Blake Shelton will also be on hand as the Outlaws take on defending Eastern Conference Champion Memphis in their first game in the new stadium. What may be a sour start to the year for football fans in San Antonio, who lost their team after the destruction of the Alamodome in 2015 tornadoes, is certainly a sweet situation for Oklahoma City, which is expected to garner somewhere in the order of $400M in additional business and tax revenue from the Outlaws’ presence in the city.   And while there is some good news in San Antonio, with the stadium demolition complete, a settlement with Chubb insurance pumping $200M into the stadium reconstruction project, and a recent bond vote approving another $150M from the city, there is hope that the Alamo City will be back in the USFL within 4 years time. But, for now, it is all about Oklahoma and the Outlaws returning to the state for the first time since a short-lived love affair back in 1987, and the Sooner State is ready for it.   Weather Still an Issue for USFL Season Openers It has been an issue ever since the USFL was founded as a spring league back in 1983, foul weather impacting early season games. We see it every year, and we saw it this year as significant snowfall from the plains to the Appalachians impacted 5 season openers. The impact is not as great as it once was, in part due to more use of domed facilities and better snow clearing options for open air stadiums, but it was still certainly a factor in several games.   Michigan and St. Louis both held their season home openers with smaller than anticipated crowds due to weather conditions. Michigan reported a total of over 17,000 no shows, sold tickets that did not cross the turnstiles and enter the stadium. In St. Louis the number was closer to 8,000, in large part due to a lower snow total. But, for games in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, the impact was more noteworthy because slick conditions on packed snow and ice made footing treacherous.   We saw this with Jacksonville HB Matt Jones just faceplanting in his own endzone of the Linc on what should have been a simple dive play, but turned into a safety. We also saw it with poor showings from HBs Derrick Henry, Matt Forte, Knowshon Moreno and a truly bad day for rookie Leonard Fournette, who finished his debut with negative yards on a very sllck turf in Pittsburgh.                 Snow, cold, wind, and rain is simply a reality in the month of March, and it is something the USFL just has to deal with. Unlike the NFL which gets these conditions late in their season, the USFL gets them right up front, with the season progressing towards warm, sunny summer weather. So, it is a tradeoff. Some lower attendance games and sloppy play in March is a price the USFL pays for those late season tailgates and evening games on beautiful summer nights (OK, with some humidity as well. Looking at you, Birmngham).   Week 2 provides us with “Divisional Saturday” as 5 of 6 Saturday games are clashes within divisions. Before that we get another strong Friday night doubleheader, kicking off in OK City, where a sold out stadium greets the Oklahoma Outlaws and defending Eastern Conference Champion Memphis. That is followed by Michigan heading out to Las Vegas, where Eli Manning makes his debut in Sin City.   Saturday is all about the divisions with matchups in the SE (Tampa Bay @ Orlando), Central (St. Louis @ Ohio), Soutwest (Dallas @ Denver), and in the evening double header we have a NE Division clash between Washington and Philadelphia, followed by the West Coast feed, with Pacific rivals San Diego and Oakland going head to head in Santa Clara.   Sunday isheadlined by Arizona traveling to LA for the nightcap, but don’t miss out on what could be a very interesting showdown in Jacksonville, when the Generals take on the Bulls. Also on the slate we have a Steel City showdown with the Stallions in Pittsburgh to face the Maulers, and we have a clash of run games as Portland is in Philadelphia with Doug Martin showing up against Derrick Henry. A solid week 2 lineup with a lot of games that should be fun to watch. Now, let’s hope the weather is a bit better this week.   FRI 7PM ET         Memphis (1-0) @ Oklahoma (0-1)                NBC FRI 9PM ET             Michigan (1-0) @ Las Vegas (1-0)                    ESPN/EFN   SAT 12PM ET         Tampa Bay (0-1) @ Orlando (1-0)                   ABC SAT 12PM ET          Charlotte (1-0) @ New Orleans (1-0)             FOX SAT 4PM ET           St. Louis (1-0) @ Ohio (0-1)                             ABC SAT 4PM ET            Dallas (0-1) @ Denver (0-1)                            FOX SAT 7PM ET            Washington (0-1) @ Baltimore (1-0)               NBC SAT 9PM ET           San Diego (0-1) @ Oakland (1-0)                    ESPN/EFN   SUN 12PM ET         Birmingham (0-1) @ Pittsburgh (0-1)             ABC Regional SUN 12PM ET         Portland (0-1) @ Philadelphia (0-1)                 ABC Regional SUN 12PM ET         New Jersey (1-0) @ Jacksonville (0-1)           FOX SUN 4PM ET          Atlanta (0-1) @ Houston (1-0)                           ABC SUN 4PM ET           Seattle (0-1) @ Chicago (0-1)                           FOX SUN 8PM ET          Arizona (1-0) @ Los Angeles (1-0)                    ESPN/EFN

We’ve walked through the Eastern Conference, highlighting the best players in each division and a few of our boldest predictions, and now it is time to do the same for the Western Conference, home to the defending champion Arizona Wranglers. We will kick our Western preview with a look at the three new coaches, including the latest to be added in St. Louis. We will then look at the players that will define the West races this year, take a look at each team as they prepare to kick off the season, and then we will wrap it all up with our predictions for the postseason and the league awards. We will give you the quick version of our Power Ratings, and then get ready for this week’s action as we look at the 14 opening matchups in Week One. Let’s get this going and get ready for some spring football.   St. Louis Finally Has its Head Coach The St. Louis Skyhawks took the delayed hire approach about as far as it can be taken, not only waiting until the conclusion of the NFL regular season to negotiate with an NFL coordinator, but holding off the signing of a new coach until after the USFL draft, but on January 30, just 10 days before the team was supposed to open camp in Shreveport, Louisiana did they announce their new hire. And who was that hire? It was one-time St. Louis Knights backup QB and current San Diego Chargers OC Frank Reich .   Reich, who played 3 seasons in the USFL after several years in the NFL, has been rising up the NFL coaching line since beginning as a coaching intern with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006. He has been serving as the OC for the Chargers since being promoted from QB Coach in 2013. His return to St. Louis will be his first head-coaching position and his first return to the USFL since retiring from the game in 1998. He faces quite a challenge with a Skyhawks team that finished 2016 at 3-13. Initially faced with significant cap issues, the Skyhawks saw star WR Jordy Nelson depart in free agency, along with SS Marqueston Huff and 4 other significant contributors. However, during the offseason, the Skyhawks were able to restructure several contracts of higher salary player, helping to free up cap space to be a player when the NFL-USFL Transfer Window opened. Making up for lost time and for a total lack of activity in USFL free agency, the Skyhawks, with Reich now in camp with the team, has made 3 big NFL signings in Reich’s short interim. In addition to adding WR Terrance Williams back in September, the Skyhawks also added former Packer LB Nick Perry, and former Jaguars and 49ers QB Blaine Gabbert, a Mizzou product. Reich, who rose up as a QB whisperer, appears to be using a QB competition to either spark the fire in starter Josh Norman or to find an alternative in Gabbert.     Reich becomes the third new head coach in the Western Conference, with Las Vegas having brought in another former USFL quarterback in UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel , while Seattle opted for another San Diego Charger connection, signing former Charger and Oregon State head coach Mike Riley to take over for Stump Mitchell. Riley will have his own QB situation to manage as veteran Byron Leftwich, benched midway through the 2016 season, chose to retire at the end of the year, leaving rookie Jacoby Brissett as the likely Week 1 starter for the Dragons for 2017. Seattle also brought over Matt McGloin in a trade with Memphis as a Plan B, but it seems clear that Riley’s charge will be to coach up Brissett and revive a moribund Dragon offense.   As for Neuheisel, the former quarterback got a strong shot in the arm 2 months into his tenure when the Vipers beat out several other teams in the race to land Memphis QB Eli Manning. Manning signed a 2-year contract with Las Vegas and immediately brings some excitement to the Vipers. In addition to the All-USFL quarterback, Las Vegas added 3 free agents who could all start for the club, including fullback Patrick DeMarco, CB Shaquille Richardson, center Richie Incognito. Coach Neuheisel, who had a short tenure as the 1st head coach of the expansion LA Express from 1995-1997, now has a second chance to make a first impression as the Vipers hope to improve their standing in a division recently dominated by the Outlaws and Wranglers.   Five New Faces to Watch in the West As we saw in the East, a lot of the excitement across the Western Conference is focused on free agents and NFL imports who could immediately impact their new teams, turning a roster weakness into a strength or adding that extra boost needed to get their team to the next level. Our bullpen went through all the moves and picked 5 players on new teams who could have an immediate positive impact. Here is our list of the 5 newly-located players who could be stories to watch in 2017.   1) QB Eli Manning, Las Vegas (Free Agent) No doubt that Manning coming to the Vipers is a huge story for Las Vegas. When Cody Pickett retired after an injury-shortened 2016 season, it sent shockwaves through the team. It was not expected and left the team without a strong option at the most important position on the field. After a competition that saw 7 other teams make serious overtures to the QB of the Eastern Conference Champion Showboats, Las Vegas sealed the deal with Manning and now new head coach Rick Neuheisel may have one of the best QBs in the conference to build an offense around.   2) CB Stephon Gilmore, Los Angeles (NFL Import) Considered one of the best young corners in the NFL, Gilmore left the Buffalo Bills for the USFL as the Express outbid several NFL teams to land him. The 5-year veteran of the Bills comes to an LA team that already boasted a Top 5 defense and one of the best pass defenses in the league in 2016. Gilmore will join Jamar Taylor, Kevin Seymour, DaJuan Morgan, and Jalen Mills to form a formidable secondary group. With LA rising up to claim the Pacific Division last season, the goal now is to get the team and the city of Los Angeles their first league title.   3) HB Doug Martin, Portland (Trade) When Chicago started shopping around one of their two dynamic backs, Portland jumped at the chance to revive their run game. Since the retirement of Jonathan Stewart the Stags have struggled to put together a reliable run game. They finished 2016 with no back over 800 yards and a clear need to improve the position. Martin, who shared carries almost 1-for-1 with Matt Forte in Chicago’s backfield, still managed to top 1,000 yards and added 15 touchdowns for the Machine. He will be a huge addition to the Stags as they try to rebound from a rough 4-12 season only 1 year after winning the division.   4) WR Percy Harvin, Oklahoma (Free Agent) The elusive slot receiver may be exactly what the Outlaws need to take pressure off of wideout Marques Colston. Harvin comes to OKC after 7 seasons with the Cannons/Roughnecks. He had 45 receptions and 7 touchdowns in Dallas last season but should see his numbers increase with Joe Flacco in the huddle and Colston sucking up coverage on the outside. Expect Harvin to be used often in 3-receiver sets as the underneath route to Colston’s and speedster Marquise Goodwin’s deeper shots.   5) LB Nick Perry, St. Louis (NFL Import While most fans in St. Louis are talking about the potential for a QB duel between incumbent Josh Freeman and another NFL import, former Mizzou Tiger Blaine Gabbert, the best offseason signing by the Skyhawks may well have been former Packer Nick Perry. Perry had his best year as a pro this fall in Green Bay. He finished the year with 11 sacks as the Packers used him almost as a blitz specialist. Expect St. Louis to also focus on his run-stuffing and sack-producing incursions into the backfield as he takes the weak side position alongside Colin McCarthy and rookie Trey Hendrickson in a rebuilt linebacker group.   Five Rookies Who Could Have and Impact in the West   1) HB Christian McCaffrey, Oakland (Rookie) No one gave much thought to the Invaders having the rights to McCaffrey in the USFL Territorial Draft. The Invaders had a solid 1-2 halfback duo in Donald Brown and Knile Davis, so the expectation was that they would allow McCaffrey to enter the Open Draft and focus on other areas of need. But Coach Green loved everything he saw in McCaffrey and lobbied the personnel team to select the Stanford back with their first T-Draft pick. He then rolled out the red carpet to land the dual threat back. Once signed, Donald Brown was traded to the Federals to make room and the Invaders now have a lot of buzz around their new offense, something that was lacking when the team lost 3 key weapons, WRs Keenan Allen and Pierre Garçon, and TE Richard Rodgers in free agency.   2) WR John Ross, Seattle The former Husky is well-known to fans in Seattle, and will be a welcome addition for 2nd year QB Jacoby Brissett and new head coach Mike Riley. A speedster who can help extend the defense and produce big plays which have been lacking for the Dragons in recent years, Ross will have the chance to learn from two veteran receivers in former NFL imports Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders.   3) DE Charles Harris, St. Louis A Mizzou product who was happy to stay in the region as a T-Draft prospect of the Skyhawks, Harris already projects as the starting left end, taking on the QB’s blind side while veteran Kony Ealy moves to the right side. At Mizzou, Harris finished his career with 61 tackles and 9 sacks for the Tigers and comes to the Skyhawks as their potential sack specialist. Also solid against the run, Harris will hope to benefit from lining up next to DT Sheldon Richardson.   4) LB Jarrad Davis, Denver The Florida rookie is said to be competing with Patrick Onwuasor for a starting MLB position as Denver transitions to a hybrid style that will mix 3-4 with 4-3 formations. When he is on the field he will have veteran support in outside backers Shaquile Barrett and Randy Gregory. Expect the Gold to focus on using Davis as a run-stuffer, with Ndamukong Suh up front occupying blockers to allow the rookie to penetrate and stuff the run behind the line, at least that is the hope.   5) HB Samaje Perine, Dallas Dallas did more than double down, they tripled down on the HB position in the draft, taking D’Onte Freeman and Aaron Jones in the T-Draft and then selecting Perine in the Open Draft. With both Freeman and Perine signed by the Roughnecks, expect a HB rotation, with room as well for veteran C. J. Spiller in the mix. Perine will likely be the primary 1st and 2nd down back with Freeman also getting plenty of touches while Spiller retains his role as a 3rd down and receiving back.   The 10 Best Players in the Central Division It has been a while since the Central has been a power division, and it may still not be, but with two Central teams in the 2016 playoffs, there was certainly talent in the division. Here is our look at the 10 players we believe are at the top of their game right now and who could be pivotal for their clubs.   QB Kirk Cousins, Michigan We had quite a bit of debate over who the best QB in the division was. After all, Josh Freeman was once a league MVP but has declined in productivity over the years since. It really came down to Cousins in Michigan and Ryan Fitzpatrick in Chicago. We lean towards Cousins, who may not be the flashiest passer in the league but is a pretty consistent presence, while Fitzpatrick may occasionally produce magic but is also more prone to bad games and bad throws.   HB LeVeon Bell, Michigan No doubt about who the best back in the division is. While Eddie Lacy, Matt Forte, and Isaiah Pead make the Central one of the better run-producing divisions in the league, it is 2016 OPOTY Bell who stands head and shoulders above the rest. If Michigan will give him an even heavier load (a risk, to be sure), he could legitimately challenge Herschel Walker’s rushing record, a record that has stood since 1983.   TE Rob Gronkowski, St. Louis Gronk is a legitimate difference maker at the TE position. We saw this in 2014 when he helped propel Arizona to its first league title. Since arriving in St. Louis, he has had solid numbers, but the Skyhawks have to start prioritizing him as a target if they are going to see his full potential at work.   WR Aaron Dobson, Chicago Leading all USFL receivers with 105 receptions in 2016, Dobson is also able to break the big play, evident with his 13 touchdowns last year. He will get some competition from Michigan’s Cody Latimer and Ohio’s Justin Blackmon for best WR in the division this year, but we expect the consistent and confident Dobson to come out on top again.   LT Brian Bulaga, St. Louis Our first lineman to make the list, there is no denying that Bulaga has developed into one of the league’s best pass protectors. He gave up only 1 sack last season, which is stunning when we look at how many times Josh Freeman was either pressured on the right side of the line or held onto the ball too long trying to find a receiver.   DT Marcell Dareus, Ohio He does not get the attention of Haynesworth or Ndamukong Suh, but Marcell Dareus is a major factor for OC’s when they face the Glory. More of a space eater than a penetrating DT, Dareus makes the interior run game very challenging for opponents of Ohio, and helps Robert Quinn and Kamerion Wemberley get favorable matchups on the edge.   LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio A disruptive force for the Glory, Shazier’s numbers have improved each of his 3 seasons in the league. He finished 2015 with 74 tackles and could well hit 100 this year. As a blitzer he is tough to deal with, but he may be his best in coverage, where he can keep pace with slot receivers on shorter routes and lay down the lumber if they do come up with the ball.   CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Michigan In a division where we recognize 3 DBs as among the best in the division, Dre Kirkpatrick is still the king of the hill. In 5 seasons he has put up 19 interceptions and 9 defensive touchdowns. The undisputed leader of the Panther secondary, Kirkpatrick is a ball hawking corner that teams are simply starting to avoid at all costs.   CB Josh Norman, Chicago Norman does not have the takeaways of Kirkpatrick, but what he does have is the ability to smother a receiver without drawing a DPI call. With one of the best catch-to-target ratios in the league, Norman is quickly becoming a household name in Chicago, even without the flashy pick-sixes that we see in Michigan from Kirkpatrick.   SS LaRon Landry, Ohio A veteran of 8 seasons with the Knights/Vipers, Landry came over to Ohio last year and had an immediate impact, racking up 91 tackles and putting some backbone into a Glory secondary that had been week against the inside throw as well as the run. Landry is not afraid to come up to the line and hit a bigger back. With a game not unlike that of Arizona’s Troy Polamalu, Landry can impact the decisions receivers, backs, and the quarterback will make.   CHICAGO MACHINE 2016 Recap:  The Machine had a very nice season in 2016, surpassing most expectations and clearly benefitting from Ryan Fitzpatrick’s presence. They even threw in a Wild Card win over rival Michigan to really stoke the fires.   Biggest Offseason Story:  As much as the Machine want to talk about the signing of Kevin Minter or rookie receiver Kenny Galloday, the story is still the retirement of Brian Urlacher and the potential impact that will have on the Machine’s defense.   Player to Watch:  Galloday is an exciting prospect. He will likely split time between the slot and the flanker position, with veteran Michael Floyd swapping positions with him as the formation dictates. We will see how often Ryan Fitzpatrick can get him the ball if Aaron Dobson insists he is open on every play.   Why Be Bullish?:  The Machine have a solid base, with an improved passing game, and a lot of good parts on defense as well. They play in one of the league’s weaker divisions and they have proven they can upend the Panthers when needed.   Why Be Concerned?:  In addition to missing Urlacher on defense, the decision to trade away Doug Martin, their lead rusher, is still a big head-scratcher. They really like Matt Forte, who split carries with Martin, but if he struggles, they really don’t have a plan B. MICHIGAN PANTHERS 2016 Recap:  The Panthers won the division on a tiebreaker, dropping several late season games to finish at 9-7, and were immediately bounced form the playoffs by rival Chicago. Not a great finish to a year that started with a lot of promise.   Biggest Offseason Story:  Two big signings are what folks are discussing in Michigan, free agent DT Terrell Troupe is expected to line up next to Kevin Vickerson to bolster the front line on defense. Fans also hope that NFL import Martellus Bennett means more 2-TE power formations, which certainly could help LeVeon Bell get the yards he wants to rack up this year.   Player to Watch:  Rookie Jabril Peppers comes down the road from Ann Arbor and is already set up as the starter at the strong safety position. He will need to learn on the fly as Michigan is counting on him to shape up a secondary that had some major gaffs last year.   Why Be Bullish?:  By all accounts the Panthers have the best player in the division in Bell, they have a steady QB situation with Cousins, and they have added some support for the defense. These all may be enough to keep their position atop the Central and maybe get a few more wins as well.   Why Be Concerned?:  We are still not very impressed by the Panther receiving corps, and while Bennett is a good receiver, a 2nd tight end does not seem to solve the issues. The Panthers are just not going to take the top off the defense, and struggle to come back if they give up an early lead.  OHIO GLORY 2016 Recap:  Despite a lot of confusion at QB, the Glory had a strong second half and finished a respectable 8-8. Defense and ball control helped make that happen.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The Glory did not spend big, but they did add pieces that can help Hackenberg have success in his sophomore campaign. Bringing in Richard Rodgers from Oakland gives Hack a nice safety valve. Drafting and signing Buckeye wideout Curtis Samuel gives him another speedy target, likely in the slot this year, and kicker Robbie Gould, the former Bear, could allow more drives to end with points.   Player to Watch:  We think Rodgers is going to finish the season in the Top 5 in receptions and yards for a TE. He is just that essential to the offense in Ohio. Hackenberg is still going to have a questionable O-line in front of him, and he will likely be dumping down the ball quite a bit, which makes Rodgers a prime target.   Why Be Bullish?:  The defense looks like it could be special. We love the trio of Ellerbe, Shazier and Laurinaitis at LB, and the Glory have a very solid, if not flashy, front 4 as well, anchored by Marcell Dareus, with Robert Quinn the primary pass rusher. Landry locks down the secondary as well. If the defense reaches its potential and the offense is even middle-of-the-pack, Ohio could be in a position to win some games.   Why Be Concerned?:  One of the reasons Ohio did pursue Eli Manning was a lack of certainty about Hackenberg. What worries us most is that there is just not a lot of explosiveness in this offense. Teams can load up at the line to stifle Isaiah Pead because neither Manningham or Blackmon is likely to race past the coverage. That does make it somewhat easier to defend the Glory. ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 2016 Recap:  To call 3-13 a nightmare season sounds about right. The collapse of the defense and the lack of consistency on offense cost Bruce Arians his job and sent the Skyhawks to the front of the line at draft time, not something fans expected at this time last year.   Biggest Offseason Story:  Probably the bizarre coaching search that delayed a decision until the end of January and brought Frank Reich to the team with very little prep time before camp opened. Beyond that, and on a positive note, St. Louis did manage to rework a lot of contracts and actually participate in the offseason, bringing in NFL veterans Blaine Gabbert, Nick Perry, and Terrance Williams. Player to Watch:  NFL import Terrance Williams is getting a lot of attention from St. Louis fans, but it is really Eric Weems who we think needs to make the leap. He is the anticipated WR1 which means he has to be more reliable and more explosive. He has had some good games but this is a much bigger role for him.   Why Be Bullish?:  It can’t get worse? Is that enough? OK, how about the fact that the Skyhawks have a veteran QB in place, and now have a backup with a lot of potential in Gabbert. They have a solid HB in place, and they will likely lean on him a bit more as Reich brings in a more traditional offensive mindset.   Why Be Concerned?:  You also have to play defense in this league, and we are not sure St. Louis will be able to do that. By all accounts, even with the addition of Perry from the NFL, they have the weakest linebacker group in the league. They don’t have a truly dynamic pass rusher either. The secondary is better, but with limited QB pressure and a mediocre run defense, teams don’t need to worry about the secondary quite so much.   Division Prediction It is hard not to look at this division, which was a 2-team race last year, and see the same thing this year, but we are trying and we think we have an angle that could be a legitimate insight. While Ohio has questions at QB, they also have a defense that could potentially be among the league’s best. St. Louis may not have defensive swagger, but they are one solid scheme away from having a top 5 offense, and we think Coach Reich knows how to create such a scheme. So, we are going to work from the premise that both Ohio and St. Louis will be improved this year, with the Glory potentially leaping over either Chicago or Michigan if either struggles to maintain their momentum from last year. And, once again, we will end our discussion of the division with a list of 4 bold predictions which are viable, but hardly predictable as we enter a new season.   1) LeVeon Bell will top 350 carries and that will get him within 100 yards of breaking Herschel Walker’s 1983 rushing record.   2) Ohio will figure out how to maximize pressure and that will help them hold teams below 18 points per game in 2017.   3) St. Louis will diversify its passing game without a clear number one receiver, and that will produce a 3,500 yard season for QB Josh Freeman.   4) Chicago may struggle in the run game with Doug Marting gone, but that will help Aaron Dobson become a 130 reception receiver, blowing away all competition. The 10 Best Players in the Southwestern Division The home to the Wranglers, the newly relocated Oklahoma Outlaws, and now to QB Eli Manning as well, the Southwest could be a very tough division to predict, and with a lot of talent spread across the 5 Southwestern teams, there is certainly good reason to think this division will be a tough one for others to knock off.   QB Joe Flacco, Oklahoma An elite QB with a tendency to throw for big numbers. Flacco no longer has to put the team on his back, but he can when he needs to, which is a good ace to hold onto.   QB David Carr, Arizona Arizona’s QB had never been thought of as an elite QB, but all of that may have changed with last year’s double MVP season and the amazing deep ball game that the Wranglers have developed.   QB Eli Manning, Las Vegas One of the best QBs in the East last season timed a career year at exactly the right time and parlayed his Summer Bowl run into a big deal with the Vipers. Can he now turn them from also ran to contender?   HB Marshawn Lynch, Arizona Arguably the toughest runner in the league to get to the ground, Lynch exploded last year and now seems ready to compete for a league rushing title as well as a league title.   WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Fitzgerald’s numbers last year were astronomical, and he is not done yet. His stated goal is to challenge Eric Truvillion’s record for yardage, and in this offense he well could do it.   WR Marques Colston, Texas Another master of the deep ball, Marques Colston is no longer the only weapon in the Outlaw arsenal, but he is still perhaps the deadliest one.   DE Von Miller, Denver We picked Miller to challenge Calais Campbell last year, which just made Calais angry. But maybe this year, after a strong 2016, Miller might just have a shot.   LB Leonard Floyd, Dallas An underappreciated but highly effective player. Dallas needs to surround Floyd with more talent or he could see his strong play hidden by the inconsistency of the defense as a whole.   CB Willie Middlebrooks, Las Vegas Absolutely great in zone coverage and improving in man-to-man, Middlebrooks is poised to break out this season. He will need to turn more pass defenses into picks if he wants to get his name on people’s lips, but is well known to offensive coordinators already.   SS Troy Polamalu, Arizona An absolute monster at the safety position. Faster than some corners but stronger than many linebackers. No one wants to see themselves targeted by him. Better to just get out of bounds now. ARIZONA WRANGLERS 2016 Recap:  The Wranglers were about as dominant a team as we have seen in a decade or more. They took control of the division early on and swatted away most challenges on their path to a 2nd title. It was a scary sight for the rest of the division and maybe the league as well.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The lack of stories was the story. Most league champions see teams pick their rosters apart in free agency, but Arizona had nearly everyone under contract and so they lost no one of real concern. They also did not feel the need to spend to add players, focusing on re-signing DT Glenn Dorsey. In the draft they added depth, with punter Matt Haack from ASU the only likely rookie to see starting time. So, a solid “keep the band together” offseason.   Player to Watch:  We all know who we need to watch this year. It’s going to be about Fitzgerald on offense, and Polamalu on defense, two of the best at their positions and two players on a mission to turn this Wrangler team into a USFL dynasty.   Why Be Bullish?:  This is such a solid team, with great veteran leadership, strong coaching, and a “come and get us” swagger. After their last title there was a little bit of a hangover, but that does not seem to be happening this year.   Why Be Concerned?:  Other than a spate of injuries, overconfidence may be the only weakness in the Wranglers’ plan for 2017. Oklahoma is no slouch in their division, Las Vegas and Denver could also be improved, so the road might be just a bit bumpier.   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS 2016 Recap:  A hot prospect for a playoff run in 2016, the Roughnecks disappointed everyone with a disjointed season and a truly distressing defensive collapse. They finished at 6-10, but could have easily been in the 3-4 win range.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The Roughnecks had a lot of cap space and went into the offseason ready to spend. They signed 4 free agents, the best of whom are DE Connor Barwin and OT Andrew Whitworth ,both formerly of Chicago. They added NFL import DT Domato Peko and Charlotte QB Brandon Wheedon late, with Wheedon possibly as a pressure valve for Manziel, who could be facing suspension once the league finishes their investigation of a DUI situation in the offseason, and they drafted and signed 2 of 3 halfbacks targeted.   Player to Watch:  The story at tailback has been fascinating. Trying to respond to the retirement of Rashad Mendenhall, the Roughnecks drafted 3 backs who were all Top 10 prospects at the position, signing both Longhorn Donte Foreman and OU’s Samaje Perine. Right now it looks like the two will rotate in the backfield, but we expect one will emerge quickly as the primary back.   Why Be Bullish?:  The offseason spending spree should help build a little more muscle on defense. New Roughnecks Connor Barwin (DE), Domato Peko (DT), and rookie FS Jamal Adams are all slated to join the starting lineup, which is a solid infusion of talent. On offense, if either HB pans out, they have a solid base offense to build on.   Why Be Concerned?:  Even with the additions on defense, the team has to prove it can stop the explosive offenses within its own division. Dallas now seems to have unquestionably the worst QB in the division, with Manziel far less productive than Carr, Flacco, Manning, or Leinart, and now possibly facing suspension as well. And, do we really like a WR group of Tim Wright, Tiquan Underwood and Geronimo Allison?  DENVER GOLD 2016 Recap:  Denver did what Denver always seems to do, stick around and somehow get into the mix. Their eventual 9-7 record was better than most predicted, and they knocked off Arizona in Glendale, which was impressive. No playoffs, but a good season all in all.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The move that is getting headlines is the Kelvin Benjamin deal, which now gives Denver a speedster to go along with their quality possession receivers. But our favorite move was adding OT Ronnie Stanley in a trade. He is not a huge name, but acting as a swing tackle means that starters Ryan Clady and David Bakhtiari can get some spells and that will help this Denver O-line stay aggressive.   Player to Watch:  Benjamin’s arrival means that Michael Crabtree’s role will change a lot. He can still swap in for either Benjamin or Tate, but we think it signals that Denver will use a lot more 3-receiver sets. Not great for fullback Derrick Coleman or TE Delanie Walker, but possibly a very good move for Matt Leinart and for DeMarco Murray, who may see far fewer 8 and 9 man fronts.   Why Be Bullish?:  Denver is never a flashy team, but they are solid on both sides of the ball. If the Benjamin signing can spark a few more big plays, and if Von Miller can continue to make life tough for opposing QB’s, this Denver club could make a run at Oklahoma and Arizona.   Why Be Concerned?: No one seems to want to say it out loud in Denver, but we are beginning to wonder if Matt Leinart is not really a top tier starter. We don’t even mean elite, we mean generally capable. Why would we say that? Well, 15 picks last year, a QB rating that dipped to 80.2 in 2015 and 75.8 last year, and as much as folks complain about a lack of explosiveness in the receiver group, if Leinart cannot use Benjamin to that end this year, it may be time to go another route.   LAS VEGAS VIPERS 2016 Recap:  6-10 was largely the result of Cody Pickett going down to season (and career) ending injury. The Vipers actually had some nice moments, and even backup Jeff Tuel proved he could win a game or two, but it was too little to win consistently.   Biggest Offseason Story:  Hmm…what happened this offsesason in Las Vegas. Oh, yes, they signed Eli Manning after one of the most chaotic piranha attack free agent situations in recent memory. Pretty much the entire rest of the Viper offseason has been hidden by this front page story.   Player to Watch:  Let’s not say Manning. So, how about HB Jeremy Hill. The lead rusher for the Breakers the past few years would have normally been a big story this offseason but was totally overshadowed. Hill will start the season sharing carries with Hardesty, but we think he will end up a true lead back (something he rarely had in N’awlins) by season’s end. Why Be Bullish?:  This will be a new offense. They have a QB coming off a very strong 2016, a new halfback, and a decent set of wideouts. They also brought in a former QB to be their new head coach, so the odds are that we are going to see some offense out of the Vipers this year.   Why Be Concerned?:  It is a lot of new pieces, in key places, and we are just not sure how all of them will fit together. Throw in the history of Manning pre-2016, and the uncertainty about Hill, and well, it is just a lot of optimism that could be unrealistic in the long run.   OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS 2016 Recap:  The Outlaws started off strong in their “vagabond season” but it wore on them over the long haul, with more losses at season’s end and no playoff spot. 9-7 was the final result and a disappointment for Texas fans as their team packed up for a new home.   Biggest Offseason Story:  Honestly, the relocation to Oklahoma and the warm welcome the team has gotten in the Sooner State. Yes, Reynaldo Wynn’s retirement and losing Terrell Troupe in free agency will be negatives, but this is a team that believes they are ready for a bounceback season now that they have a home again.   Player to Watch:  With a very quiet offseason overall, the two big names we look at as potential impact makers are free agent WR Percy Harvin and rookie WR Dede Westbrook. Harvin will take over the slot position from day one, while Westbrook is seen as a challenger to Marquise Goodwin’s position, potentially offering more than straight line speed.   Why Be Bullish?:  You have Joe Flacco, Marques Colston, and Marshawn Lynch on your offense, and you just added a very shifty slot receiver. This is an offense that can be a league leader, and could, with more stability all around them, help Oklahoma be right there challenging the Wranglers.   Why Be Concerned?:  The biggest offseason hits happened on defense. Reynaldo Wynn will be missed, to be sure. We look at Chris Harrington and Jordan Willis and wonder if either can reach 10 sacks, much less 20. The LB group still has some talent in Greenway and Burfict, but other than Pacman Jones, we are not sure the secondary can hold up without more pressure up front. Division Prediction It is very hard to envision scenarios where the Wranglers don’t maintain their position atop the division. They have serious repeat and dynasty vibes going on and basically lost nothing from their dominant 2016 season. Behind them is where it gets interesting, because we fully expect the Outlaws to rebound after their turbulent 2016 campaign, to enjoy what could be a rabid home advantage, and because they still look more complete than any of the other clubs. Denver is always just Denver, in the mix, but not quite a dominant team. Las Vegas should be a more competitive team this year, and we are just not sure if Dallas rebounds or flounders, but either way, they could find it difficult to make ground in this division.  What about bold picks, in a division we are largely expecting to maintain the same 1-5 standings? Well, here goes.   1) Just like LeVeon Bell pursuing Herschel Walker’s rushing record, Larry Fitzgerald will make a serious attempt to surpass Eric Truvillion’s receiving yards record, which means he is shooting for 2,000. He could actually reach it.   2) While he won’t have the big yardage of a Marques Colston or Larry Fitzgerald, we think Percy Harvin catching balls from Joe Flacco could be seeing a lot of action, so we are going to say that he finishes the year in the top 5 for receptions.   3) Dallas has two rookie back, Perine and Foreman. We are not sure who will come out on top, but we do think the combo could be very good as a tandem, so we are going to say that their combined yards as rookies will top 1,200.   4) Eli Manning brings a whole different skillset to the QB position from former Vegas starter Cody Pickett. We know he won’t go for as many deep balls, but he has the accuracy to push his receiver’s catch total up. So, our prediction for Las Vegas is that WR Denarius Moore finishes in the Top 8 in both yards and receptions. The 10 Best Players in the Pacific Division Los Angeles surprised many last year, but in the often-unpredictable Pacific Division, we need to be ready for anything. It is a division without a dominant QB, and that means that any team can get hot and rise to the top.   QB Joey Harrington, Oakland The best and most established of the Pacific QBs, Harrington is typically not considered elite, but is about as consistent as they come. In a division with a lot of upheaval at QB, that is good enough to win a lot of games.   HB Reggie Bush, Los Angeles Bush came on last year and that helped spark the Express to rattle off 7 season-ending wins and rise up to claim the division title. He is not going to pound out 3-yards, but when it comes to the inside-outside game, Bush can do both.   HB Ryan Williams, San Diego Williams moved from Oakland to San Diego last year and we saw the Thunder suddenly competing for the division. That is how important a consistent playmaking back can be to a team.   WR Chad Johnson, San Diego He is not the speed demon he used to be, but the former “Ochocinco” still has great hands, outstanding body control and the ability to go up and bring down contested throws.   OT Michael Oher, Portland Portland did not have a lot to celebrate last year, but tackle Michael Oher is certainly deserving of some praise. He is about as good a 3-down tackle as we have in the game, able to bulldoze defenders in the run game or block out edge rushers on passing downs.   LB Bobby Wagner, Oakland One of our favorite players, if we are allowed to say that. Look at the film and see if you can find a time when Wagner was not both in the right place and providing a hit. He is just about the smartest linebacker and the most instinctive in the league.   LB Clay Matthews, Los Angeles In a division with a lot of strong linebackers, Clay Matthews makes our list for his consistency, his leadership, and his ability to sniff out the dirctoin of a run and block the gaps in the line.   LB Shantee Orr, San Diego Another solid linebacker, Orr impresses us with sideline-to-sideline pursuit. No play is not in his sphere of influence.   LB Khalil Mack, Seattle Not the player in space that some of our other linebackers here are, what makes Mack so dangerous is his burst. He is perhaps the best pure pass rusher among the Pacific linebackers and that comes, in part, from his ability to get past the blocker faster than anyone else.   CB Richard Sherman, Seattle Seattle found a defensive QB when they signed Sherman. He is shrewd, can lure a QB into making a bad throw, and deceptively fast when running with the league’s elite receivers. In other words, he is a complete package. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 2016 Recap:  After a 4-5 start, the Express rattled off 7 consecutive wins to finish the season at 11-5, not only winning the division, but a bye week as well. In the playoffs, however, they were upended by a feisty Chicago club, a disappointing end to a surprising season.   Biggest Offseason Story:  While the retirement of DE Keneche Udeze started the offseason as the big story for the Express, the team made a huge signing right before camp opened, bringing NFL cornerback Stephon Gilmore over to the teams, and that has become the focus as fans get excited about the Express this year.   Player to Watch:  Aside from Gilmore, which seems obvious, we are looking at Sam Bradford. The Express brought in a true deep threat in Demaryius Thomas, and they convinced Jason Whitten to stick around at least one more year, so there are some weapons there, and we just want to see if Bradford can take a step towards being an elite QB in the league after flirting with everything from greatness to abject failure over the years.   Why Be Bullish?:  This defense is going to be stacked. Chris Jones has quickly become a very tough DT to deal with, the LB group is solid from end to end, and the secondary just got a huge boost with Gilmore joining Jamr Taylor, Kevin Seymour and safeties Morgan and Mills. This could be a very tough team to score on.   Why Be Concerned?:  While the Express certainly improved on offense over 2016, they were still not what we would call a particularly dynamic or threatening offense. We need to see the talent on this squad shift from long meticulous drives to quick strike capacity. They need to be harder to predict and harder to contain. OAKLAND INVADERS 2016 Recap:  It is beginning to become a trend. Oakland started fast, faded down the stretch, reached the playoffs and immediately exited. Coach Green has to find a way to break that pattern this year.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The exodus on offense was stunning, with Oakland losing three of their top 4 receivers. Only Davante Adams remains, and the receiver group does seem like a downgrade with Taylor Gabriel, Davone Bess, and Zach Ertz replacing Keenan Allen, Pierre Garçon and Richard Rodgers. But…   Player to Watch:  All eyes will be on Christian McCaffrey as he joins the Invaders after a stellar career at Stanford. McCaffrey could be as important to the passing game as he is running the ball, and fans are hoping he is able to keep Oakland afloat until they can sign a few more weapons in the receiver group.   Why Be Bullish?:  Coach Green is nothing if not practical, and so we fully expect this team to look different from 2016, and hopefully to play with more intensity, especially in the final 4-6 weeks of the year. The D is still very solid, and the offense has potential.   Why Be Concerned?:  As much as we want to jump on the CMC bandwagon, a team also needs receivers, and while Joey Harrington has a solid line in front of him, he cannot simply dump the ball off to his back every play. We worry teams will shut down McCaffrey and that will be all Oakland has.  PORTLAND STAGS 2016 Recap:  Disaster. That was the story. After surprising almost everyone by snatching away the division title on the final week of the 2015 season, they Stags could not build on that and fell hard. Marcus Mariota in particular struggled to take over on offense, which is an issue that will have to be addressed this year.   Biggest Offseason Story:  We are not sure why Chicago gave up on Doug Martin, but the Stags were willing and able to take on the 1,000-yard back. His presence is expected to return Portland to a run-first offense, though with Coach Hamilton, expect a few wrinkles as well.   Player to Watch:  Outside of Martin, we are keeping an eye on this LB group. They look strong on paper with Channing Crowder and Nico Johnson inside and Kiko Alonso and Lance Briggs outside, but can they develop the kind of rapport that turns a squad into more than the sum of its parts. Why Be Bullish?:  Of course Stag fans are hoping to see a 3rd year bump for Mariota, as the game hopefully slows down for him as well. More play action with the run game will certainly help. There is also hope that the front 7 can improve in their pass rush capacity, which would make the secondary happy.   Why Be Concerned?:  Last year the Stags could not get a sack even when they bought groceries. They had no pressure at all up front and that devastated their pass defense as a whole. We are worried that they really did not address that in the offseason, so how can it get any better? SAN DIEGO THUNDER 2016 Recap:  The Thunder were expected to bring up the rear but spent most of the season in first place until LA caught them at the end. Still, a Wild Card and a 10-6 mark was a clear net positive for San Diego.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The Thunder had about as quiet an offseason as a team can have. They added some depth,particularly on the O-Line with NFL center J. C. Tretter coming over and on the D-line with rookies Damontae Kazee and Takkarist McKinley coming through the T-Draft, but overall this will be very much the same squad we saw in 2016, which may be exactly what Coach LeBeau wants, continuity.   Player to Watch:  If San Diego is going to compete for a playoff spot, the one player who will need to step up is DE Lamarr Houston. Houston had 12 sacks in 2016, his second 10+ sack season with the club, but now the Thunder need him to take another step and get into the 16-20 range, among the league elites. That will make life so much easier for the secondary.   Why Be Bullish?:  Dick LeBeau is not about flash, he is about substance, and the Thunder have the capacity to be good at almost everything, though perhaps not great at any one thing. They can run, have solid receivers, and a more than suitable defense, but can any unit improve and become elite this year?   Why Be Concerned?:  We have two concerns, is good at everything actually good enough to do more than eke into the playoffs? Don’t you need to be able to be better than your opponents at something? And we are still not sure the Thunder have a QB. Joe Webb and Christian Ponder both got starts last year, until Ponder’s injury that is, but would you back either of them as a possible All-USFL candidate? We did not think so.   SEATTLE DRAGONS 2016 Recap:  Three wins in 16 attempts pretty much tells you what you need to know. Add to that the quick decline and eventual retirement of longstanding starting QB Byron Leftwich and an offense that simply could not put points on the board and you know why this team is in a bit of turmoil right now.   Biggest Offseason Story:  Retirements and defections. From Byron Leftwich and Nate Burleson to DT Alan branch and even kicker Dave Rayner. It was like rats leaving a sinking ship. And that is the mood Mike Riley inherits along with this roster, which is just not good enough right now.   Player to Watch:  Seattle brought in both DE Muhammad Wilkerson and DT Josh Boyd vis trade, and both are expected to start on the revamped D-Line. If these two new faces can help that front 4 make some stops in the run game and get to the QB in the passing game, well, the defense could be decent, if not actually good. Now, what about that offense?   Why Be Bullish?:  Jacoby Brissett played a little more than half the season and he did seem to be getting better over time, so perhaps in his 2nd year he will emerge as a solid pro QB. If he cannot, then getting a QB in place will become job one of Mike Riley’s tenure.   Why Be Concerned?:  There is some talent around Brissett, but no one we would call top tier at their position. This team has the potential to again finish dead last in scoring, which almost certainly means a roster overhaul by Riley for year 2, because he may need it to have any chance at a year 3. Division Prediction This is by far the most topsy turvy division in the league. Portland was on top in 2015 and collapsed in 2016, LA was a non-factor 2 years ago, and last year stormed up the standings to win the division. So, who do we see on top this year? Honestly, we are going to go with ol’ reliable, the Oakland Invaders. Yes, they lost 3 of their 4 top receivers, but we are believing the hype about rookie HB Christian McCaffrey, and if anyone can find a way to be creative with his skill set, it is Dennis Green. We are going to put LA in 2nd place, just based on their defense adding one of the best NFL corners in Stephon Gilmore. We think San Diego stays in the mix but struggles a bit more at QB and that causes them to drop back to .500. Rising up we think Portland gets a much stronger year from Marcus Mariota and benefits from landing Doug Martin in that trade with Chicago. And that leaves Seattle, 2nd year QB Jacoby Brissett and new coach Mike Riley bringing up the rear. And, to wrap up the last of our division predictions, here are the 4 bold picks about the Pacific.   1) If Oakland wins10 or more games, that means the McCaffrey hype is not hype. So, we predict that if Oakland picks up 10 or more games, McCaffrey also finishes the year over 1,600 yards from scrimmage. 2) The Stags used to run Jonathan Stewart into the ground. We think they do the same with Doug Martin. We predict Martin will lead the league in carries, even with LeVeon Bell looking to break the rushing record.   3) We think Sam Bradford is just beginning to come into his own, so we are going to predict that he finishes with the best QB Rating of any Pacific Division QB.   4) OK, most of our bold predictions have leaned towards positive results. This last one is going to be a big downer. We predict that Seattle does not have their QB of the future, and that they will finish the season with both the league’s worst scoring offense and the league’s fewest passing yards. Sorry, Jacoby. Guess you have to prove us wrong.       Eight Games not to Miss in Weeks 9-16 Back to our review of the upcoming season’s 16 weeks of football action. In our Eastern Preview we picked out a game a week through Week 8. Now we are going to continue at Week 9 and run through until the season finales. What games should you circle on your calendar and invite the guys over for? How about these ones:   WEEK 9: Philadelphia @ New Jersey We cannot pass up this rivalry game, and while the game in New Jersey could be a very tough one for Philly to pull out, you know that despite each team’s midseason record, they will be up for this one.   WEEK 10: San Diego @ Los Angeles The newest of the California Derby games, this one provides fans from both cities the chance to get into it with each other as it is an easy commute to either stadium. We think this one could be pivotal in the Pacific race as well as a fun game in almost certain perfect weather.   WEEK 11: Baltimore @ Orlando It’s the unstoppable force against the immovable object, USFL style. Baltimore’s high-flying offense vs. Orlando’s soul-crushing defense. That should be fun.   WEEK 12: New Orleans @ Memphis This game, 4 weeks from the season finale, could well be the lynchpin in either team’s push for a division title. If both are in the hunt, this will be one seriously intense game.   WEEK 13: Oakland @ Los Angeles A rivalry that dates back, in one form or another, all the way back to 1983. We are picking Oakland to reassert themselves in the division. This game could be the place and time to do it.   WEEK 14: Memphis & Houston Back to the Southern Division with another potential playoff-impacting slobberknocker. Houston could be on their way to a title, but Memphis is not going to concede the division without a fight.   WEEK 15: Houston @ Arizona Could we have a Summer Bowl preview only 2 weeks before the playoff start. We just pray that both teams have something to play for in Week 15, because it would be a shame to see the backups in this matchup.   WEEK 16: Denver @ San Diego It is impossible to tell which games will have high playoff impact in the season finale, but we all looked at this one and said that these look like two clubs who could be playing a “win & in, lose & you are out” scenario. It just feels like a game that will lead to a Wild Card and a team sitting at home.   Our 2017 playoff predictions We have reviewed the divisions, previewed all 28 teams, so where do we see this season going? Well, that depends on who you ask. We have a lot of opinions among our staff, but there is one constant. Arizona will be good. So, let’s start with the playoff teams we see emerging out of each conference. In the East we are picking Baltimore, Orlando, and Houston to be the division winners, with New Orleans, New Jersey, and Washington snagging the Wild Cards. In the West it is Arizona, Oakland, and Michigan atop their divisions, with Oklahoma, Los Angeles, and surprise team Ohio getting into the mix. So, who emerges from each conference? As much as we want to pick a lot of underdogs, we know that there are teams ready to make a run and others who have done well just to make the postseason. We are going to go with the two 1 seeds to make it all the way to the Summer Bowl. That means it is Arizona vs. Baltimore for the title. We have not seen a repeat champion since 2002-2003, the only one in league history but we think Arizona is on a mission to be the second, and they have the best combination of offensive firepower and defensive muscle to make it happen. It has historically been nearly impossible, but we are going to say that the Wranglers pull it off, becoming the 2nd team in league history to go back-to-back, and the 3rd title in 5 years for that Dynasty moniker to take hold.   Our 2017 Award Winner Picks With the season we are envisioning, which individual players will dominate the headlines and earn a shot at the league’s most prestigious awards? We have a mix of old familiar faces and some new up and comers in the mix. Here is our best guess at the 5 USFL Honors at the end of our season.   MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Even with an Arizona back-to-back title predicted, we are not going to go with David Carr again. We do think a Wrangler will be in the mix, but that Wrangler is WR Larry Fitzgerald. But, despite his push for the receiving yards record, we don’t think he will garner MVP. It tends to be a QB award, and we see two frontrunners in that race, Baltimore’s Ben Roethlisberger and Oklahoma’s Joe Flacco. If we had to pick today, we think Big Ben is in for a big year and that could put him back on top with another MVP award.                 OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR Both Fitzgerald and Michigan HB LeVeon Bell say a league record is their target for the season, and if either can pull it off, they are a lock for the OPOTY. If those goals tend to inspire defenses to shut them down, they could fall short, and if that happens, someone who is not getting that attention could surpass them. The most likely dark horse candidates in our estimation are Houston HB Carlos Hyde and Philadelphia HB Derrick Henry.   DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR In what could be called the Calais Campbell Invitational, it is all about who, if anyone, can put up numbers or have an impact comparable to Campbell’s consistent dominance. Just for the sake of argument, let’s say Campbell has a down year, who is positioned to step in if that were to happen? Well, the two most likely are two edge rushers who impressed us last year as they chased the big man: Denver’s Von Miller and New Jersey’s Vic Beasley. If Campbell falters and one of these two win the sack title, well, then they almost certainly have a shot. Outside of edge rushers, our deep dark horse is a corner, New Orleans’s Patrick Peterson, who we expect to have a big year with the Breakers.                 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR We could be wrong, but we see the ROTY as a race between three halfbacks who are already seen as not only starters but as central figures in revamped offensive schemes. The three to watch are Oakland’s Christian McCaffrey, New Orleans’s Leonard Fournette, and Tampa Bay’s Dalvin Cook. We see Cook as the dark horse, along with Charlotte QB Mitch Trubisky, because we are not sure their clubs are ready to win a lot of games, while the Invaders and Breakers could be serious playoff contenders. If that plays out as we expect, then it is a matter of who has the bigger games, best highlights, and greatest impact.   COACH OF THE YEAR Lots of contenders here, with 5 new head coaches in the league and plenty of possibility for a team to overachieve. Do you like former QB Rick Neuheisel’s chances in Las Vegas now that Eli is there? How about June Jones bringing the Run & Shoot to Tampa Bay? Bruce Arians trying to build a new culture in Atlanta? In our playoff picks, we had only 1 non-participant in the 2016 playoffs showing up in the 2017 postseason, the Ohio Glory. If they make a run and get past Chicago to make the Wild Card, then don’t be surprised if Tom Coughlin gets the nod. That’s a big if because Ohio has a tough road, but if they do it, he will have earned an award.   The Preseason Power Rankings Every 4 weeks of the USFL season we rank where the teams are, who is rising, who is falling, who looks like a real contender and who may be running out of steam. We start with our preseason ranking, where we try to figure out who we see as powerhouses, contenders, hopefuls, and rebuilders. This is a very fluid ranking, so expect a lot of shifting after Week 4, but for now, this is how we see it.   POWERHOUSES   1) ARIZONA We said it earlier, this is a team that has its eyes set on a repeat and a dynasty.   2) HOUSTON Coach Phillips believes in Colt McCoy, and we believe in this team as a true contender.   3) BALTIMORE If they can get a mid-level run game to go with the passing attack, they could go all the way.   4) LOS ANGELES We love the defense, and the offense is growing on us. Stephon Gilmore was a huge get.   5) NEW ORLEANS If Leonard Fournette can be in N’awlins what he was in Baton Rouge, watch out.   6) ORLANDO The defense is solid, the run game solid, now we just need Russell Wilson to take the next step.   7) NEW JERSEY We love the D-line, and the 1-2 punch of MJD and OBJ, but Hundley still scares us a bit.   CHALLENGERS   8) OAKLAND So much hinges on how Oakland builds a passing attack with fewer high quality targets.   9) MEMPHIS Paxton Lynch may have more pressure on him than any other QB in the league.   10) SAN DIEGO This team could contend while also being in the midst of a QB competition, a rare feat.   11) CHICAGO Still baffled by the HB decision to cut Martin loose, but a lot of good pieces are in place.   12) OKLAHOMA With a new home, a stable base of operations, and both Flacco and Lynch healthy, this team could be a juggernaut.   13) MICHIGAN Bell will get his yards, but Michigan needs to find a way to turn yards into points.   14) WASHINGTON Nice additions in Merriman and Keenan Allen. Is it enough to get over the hump?   THE HOPEFUL   15) DENVER If we pick them to be within a game of .500, we would almost always be right.   16) PHILADELPHIA They look good on paper, but do they have the spark to get past so many tough divisional foes?   17) OHIO The defense could be special, the offense could be special ed. That is a problem.   18) LAS VEGAS Eli Manning hopes he can do this year what he did for Memphis last year. It is a tough division to turn a team around, but there is hope.   19) PITTSBURGH The Maulers will prove this year whether 2016 was a fluke, or if it was 2015 that was not a true representation of who this team is.   20) CHARLOTTE A rookie QB and a geriatric HB. That could be a huge issue, or it could be just fine. We have no idea.   21) JACKSONVILLE We really thought the Bulls would add a lot more on offense to help out Robert Griffin III, but we did not see it.   THE REBUILDERS   22) DALLAS The Roughnecks brought in Brandon Wheedon, which tells us that they have real concerns about Johnny Manziel.   23) BIRMINGHAM Is this the year that Cam, T.J. and Amari put it all together or will Stallion fans again be underwhelmed by what they put out there?   24) ATLANTA Rarely does a team go into Week1 with no clue who will be QB in week 2, but that is how it feels in Atlanta where you have 3 QBs who all think they should start, but maybe none of them should.   25) PORTLAND It is about Mariota being better. It is just that simple. Having Doug Martin behind him is a huge start.   26) ST. LOUIS Bruce Arians is gone, and Frank Reich joins the team on the fly. Not sure that is a formula for quick success, so hopefully Reich is talking about baby steps with the owners.   27) TAMPA BAY Coach June Jones wants to turn the Bandits into a spread, run & shoot team, but we are just not seeing the players in place yet to make that work.   28) SEATTLE New coach, uncertain QB situation, aging receivers, but they do have a good looking rookie in John Ross, and the defense has some muscle to it. Are we being unfair putting them in the last position?  They can prove we are with one simple thing, win some games.   Get your tailgating gear ready, put on your team gear, get the menu set, get the gang all together, it is time for football once again. Week One and a whole season of possibilities in front of us. We kick off the year with the first of the new Friday Night Doubleheaders and then full slates of games on Saturday and Sunday. Every game a chance for a team to set the tone on a new year. Let’s break them down. Here is your Week 1 schedule.   FRIDAY 7pm ET   Washington Federals @ New Jersey Generals   NBC We kick the season off with a divisional rivalry and our first look at Keenan Allen with the Federals.   FRIDAY 9pm ET  Denver Gold @ Arizona Wranglers                         ABC The defending champs and their arch rival headline the first late Friday game. Can the Gold get an early upset under their belts? SATURDAY 12pm ET  New Orleans Breakers @ Pittsburgh Maulers         ABC Leonard Fournette makes his USFL debut as the Breakers head to Pittsburgh to face a Maulers’ squad hoping for a rebound season.   SATURDAY 12pm ET     Birmingham Stallions @ Memphis Showboats        FOX Memphis and Birmingham kick off their season with a huge rivalry game. It might be a bit cold for the massive tailgate this game usually gets, but you know the grills and smokers will keep people warm.   SATURDAY 4pm ET      Oakland Invaders @ Seattle Dragons                   ABC Two clubs trying to get a bad taste out of their mouths after last season, so who will start the year with a win?   SATURDAY 4pm ET       Baltimore Blitz @ Portland Stags                           FOX Can Portland slow down that Blitz offense? And just how much of a difference will Doug Martin make for the Stags run game?   SATURDAY 7pm ET      Ohio Glory @ Michigan Panthers                    NBC Another rivalry game pushed to the season opener. Ohio and Michigan always rile up the fanbases for this one. SATURDAY 9pm ET     Los Angeles Express @ San Diego Thunder       ESPN/EFN The California Derby kicks off with the Express making the short trip down the coast to face the Thunder.   SUNDAY 12pm ET       Charlotte Monarchs @ Atlanta Fire              ABC Man, we have a ton of rivalry games for Week 1, guess the schedulemakers wanted to start with a bang. So, will it be Mitch Trubisky’s first win as a pro or will Atlanta burn him?   SUNDAY 12pm ET     Tampa Bay Bandits @ St. Louis Skyhawks         FOX Regional Two teams hoping they can get the season started right, and that their new coaches have figured out how to turn things around and get more W’s in the future. SUNDAY 12pm ET      Jacksonville Bulls @ Philadelphia Stars         FOX Regional This one could be a defensive slugfest. Can either team unleash their big offensive weapons in a Week 1 clash?   SUNDAY 4pm ET          Orlando Renegades @ Chicago Machine    ABC Talk about defensive showdowns, and the chance of snow as well. This one cold be a 3-0 defensive showcase.   SUNDAY 4pm ET       Las Vegas Vipers @ Dallas Roughnecks      FOX Two SW Division clubs hoping they can be the Cinderella this year. Eli Manning gets his first start in a Vipers’ uniform, while Dallas unveils their new run game.   SUNDAY 7pm ET     Oklahoma Outlaws @ Houston Gamblers         ESPN/EFN Not an in-state rivalry any longer, but the Outlaws and the Gamblers don’t need that to hate each other. Expect fireworks in this one as both offenses expect to light things up.

March 8, 2017 We are doing things a little differently in our Two-Part USFL Preview this year. Rather than dedicate a whole edition to past moves and stories and another to preview the season ahead, we are returning to an older format, splitting the series between the Eastern and Western Conferences. In this first edition we focus on the East, with lead stories, team previews, discussion of the names to follow and then wrap up with a preview of the best games in Weeks 1-8. Our second half will do the same with the 14 Western Conference Teams, along with an update on the San Antonio stadium saga, and then wrap up with the best games of the season’s 2nd half and a preview of Week 1 action. So, let’s get this party started, exploring the Beasts of the East.   New Coaches Not New to USFL Football Two new coaches join the Eastern Conference, though neither is truly new to the league. Bruce Arians was unemployed for less than a month after being let go by the St. Louis Skyhawks. The 2012 Championship coach now resides in Atlanta, where the Fire have been anything but championship caliber since returning to the league in 2006. Over their 11-season history, Atlanta has had 3 winning seasons and has advanced out of the Wild Card round only twice. After a 4-12 season and a major shakedown at QB, the Fire are a team very much looking for a rebirth, and Coach Arians, who took a fledgling Skyhawk team from also-rans to league champs is looking to do it again.   Tampa Bay’s new head coach, June Jones , has not coached in the USFL since the late 1980’s, but after being an understudy to Run & Shoot mastermind Mouse Davis, Jones has become the wide open offensive scheme’s greatest proponent, taking the spread formation and its quick, undersized receivers to the University of Hawaii and Southern Methodist, helping both programs overcome recruiting disadvantages by using innovative formations, play calling, and decision-making. Jones will bring that innovative and dynamic approach to a Bandits squad that has lacked in big plays the past few seasons. Tampa Bay may have become something of a running gag as they have failed to bring in the high publicity QB they have sought each of the past 3 years, but Coach Jones insists he can win with the team he has, even if he is still uncertain who will play QB for him, 2nd year player Dak Prescott or recent NFL import E. J. Manuel.   5 New Faces to Watch in the East Every season brings new faces to teams across the league. Some add roster depth, others fill gaps in the roster, but some are ready to shine, redefining their public perception with a new team, a new opportunity, and a new chance to put their best on the field. As we look at the 14 Eastern Conference teams, there is no shortage of candidates for potential immediate impact among the newly signed USFL and NFL free agents. We reviewed every roster and these are the 5 players we see in the conference who could rocket into the national consciousness with a new chance on a new team.   1. FS Rafael Bush (Federals)-NFL Import Bush joins the Federals after 7 seasons in the NFL with 4 different teams. In that time he topped 50 tackles on two different occasions, including this fall in Detroit. He joins a Federals team that has needed a strong safety presence since the retirement of Ed Reed 3 years ago. Bush has a chance to become a leader on a relatively young and inexperienced secondary.   2. CB Patrick Robinson (Showboats) -Free Agent Coming over from the Denver Gold, a 31-year old veteran of 7 USFL campaigns, the crafty cornerback has averaged nearly 70 tackles per season over the past 3 years. More of a pass defender than a ball hawk, Roberston has averaged over 20 pass defenses a year since coming into the league with the Bandits in 2010.   3. QB E. J. Manuel (Bandits) -NFL Import The former 1st round pick of the Buffalo Bills, Manuel started strong, with 1,900 yards in his rookie year, but Buffalo was not the spot where this FSU grad could succeed. He struggled through 2 injury-shortened seasons and lost his starting job in 2016. Manuel is hoping a return to Florida is just the tonic for what must feel like an endless cold in Buffalo. He will have to beat out 2nd year QB Dak Prescott to get a chance, but Bandit fans see in Manuel a native son ready for a comeback in the Sunshine State.   4. WR Keenan Allen (Federals) -Free Agent Allen needs no recuperation. The 2nd Washington Federal on our list has proven over the past 3 seasons that he is as dynamic and dangerous as any receiver in the game. Competing with Davante Adams for targets in Oakland got old for Allen, so he declined a contract extension and now finds himself a top target for David Garrard in Washington. Allen will combine with Brandon LaFell as the Federals’ top targets, and could have a career season facing opponents who are less familiar with his moves.   5. TE C. J. Uzomah (Blitz) -Traded from St. Louis Uzomah is a big, strong end with good hands. He struggled to escape Rob Gronkowski’s shadow in St. Louis but now takes over as the top TE in the Blitz offense, filling in the very big shoes of retired legend Antonio Gates. Uzomah had only 25 receptions in 2016 but we would not be shocked if he doubled, maybe even tripled that production with his new club.   Five Rookies Who Could Have an Impact in the East Another year and another crop of bright-eyed rookies looking to make a splash in their pro debuts. Last year it was Philadelphia’s Derrick Henry who most impressed USFL fans with a stellar premier season. Who will it be this season?   HB Leonard Fournette (Breakers) No rookie finds himself in a better situation than Fournette. The Breakers are a legitimate Summer Bowl contender, with an All-USFL quarterback in Drew Brees, a lights-out defense, and a solid coach in former LB Lamar Lathon. Fournette so impressed the Breakers that they traded away their 2016 lead rusher, Jeremy Hill, to the Vipers. That means that Fournette has the gig if he wants it. All he has to do now is produce.   QB Mitchell Trubisky (Monarchs) Another team that went all in on their top rookie, Charlotte ditched QB Brandon Wheedon and his 20+ picks per season, sending him to Dallas to be a backup. That clears the path for UNC star Mitch Trubisky to start on Week 1. That can be a lot, and we hope the Monarchs and their fans keep reasonable expectations for a rookie QB, but the potential is there for Trubisky to establish himself as a franchise player with a solid first season.   S Budda Baker (Gamblers) Houston has a few intriguing rookies, including wideouts JuJu Smith-Schuster and Josh Reynolds, but the newbie who has stood out all camp long has been safety Budda Baker. Baker’s camp was so strong that he will be given a chance to start at free safety rather than sit behind Kenny Vaccaro in the strong safety position.   LB Haasan Reddick (Stars) Can the Stars make it 2 ROTY candidates in a row? Why not? Houston did it with Carlos Hyde and Ramik Wilson. Now the Stars have their defensive stud in the draft, a year after taking HB Derrick Henry. Reddick looks like a hitting machine, ready to take out blockers and feast on backs.   TE O. J. Howard (Fire) At Alabama, Howard was an oft-undervalued asset, but he can dominate in coverage against either a safety (too small) or a linebacker (too slow). Expect Atlanta’s QB, whoever that ends up being, depending on Howard for that outlet pass. If we had a better sense of Atlanta’s QB plan, we might even call Howard a dark horse for ROTY, but right now it is hard to have faith that Atlanta has the QB needed to make a receiver an All-USFL target.   So, those are the players to keep an eye on, but what about the teams themselves. Let’s get right into our division-by-division and team-by-team analysis with the Northeast Division, perhaps the most balanced of any in the game.   The 10 Best Players in the Division This is going to be tough, trying to name only 10 players who stand out in a division where we could see 3, maybe even 4 clubs make the postseason. But, we will give it a try, our Top 10 NE Division Stars coming right up.   QB Ben Roethlisberger, BAL Big Ben is a near lock to be an MVP candidate as he guides Baltimore’s explosive offense.   QB Andy Dalton, PIT The Maulers and Dalton expect a big upswing in 2017 after a very rough 2016.   HB Derrick Henry, PHI What can Henry do for an encore after a stellar rookie campaign?   HB Maurice Jones-Drew, NJ MJD enters his 12th season with 1,200 yards and 16 TDs as his personal goals.   WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, BAL The most dangerous receiver in the division, DHB will get some competition from Cruz, OBJ, and newcomer Keenan Allen this year.   DT Aaron Donald, PIT A dominant force inside, Donald is the prototype of the new defensive tackle.   DE Vic Beasley, NJ After sharing the spotlight with Aaron Kampman last year, Beasley is hoping to eclipse 20 sacks this season.   LB Shawne Merriman, WSH Merriman was a stud, but not a star in Denver, but that can all change in the eastern media market frenzy. Expect his highlights to light up the D.C. airways.   SS Adam Archuleta, BAL Not the flashiest player in the division, but certainly one of the best. Archuleta is ready to start a 17th campaign in the USFL.   Team Previews BALTIMORE BLITZ 2016 Recap:  The Blitz struggled to an 0-4 start, then came on with 9 wins in their final 12 games to lock up a Wild Card before getting knocked out of the postseaon by Orlando.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The retirement of Antonio Gates was the news that most impacts the Blitz for 2017, though they did well to recover by trading to acquire C. J. Uzomah from the Skyhawks.   Player to Watch:  HB Kerwynn Williams has been promoted to the starting position, though we still expect to see a lot of Anthony Dixon as well. If Williams can prove his worth as the starter, Baltimore’s offense could again be very tough to keep contained.   Why Be Bullish?:  The Blitz have one of the league’s best passing attacks, with a veteran QB who can command a game. The defense may not be dominant, but they are certainly good enough to protect a lead when Baltimore gets one, which is often.   Why Be Concerned?:  We are still somewhat shocked that the Blitz have not done more to improve their run game. The duo of Anthony Dixon and Kerwynn Williams was good enough to combine for over 1,300 yards in 2016, but you never feel like they can control a game, and if teams can stay with Baltimore early on, their D is not ideal for holding teams down for 60 minutes when they are not chasing from behind. NEW JERSEY GENERALS 2016 Recap:  Picked by many to finish last, the Generals stunned everyone, winning 11 games and taking the division title at 11-5. They knocked Orlando out of the postseason but fell in the Conference Title Game to Memphis by a single failed 2-point conversion.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The Generals hit on several draft picks, including WR Zay Jones and LB Matt Milano, but the one that got away will likely haunt them as LB/DE T. J. Watt ended up signing with the NFL Steelers.   Player to Watch:  Expect Coach Turner to move both Aaron Kampman and Vic Beasley from side to side to confuse blocking schemes. Both believe they are the best edge rusher on the squad, so we could be looking at another NY Sack Exchange if they both compete with each other, not good news for opposing tackles.   Why Be Bullish?:  New Jersey’s rise to the division title does not feel like a fluke. They had a balanced offense and the 2nd best scoring defense in the league. In the offseason they added quality on both sides of the ball and we think Norv Turner knows how to use his young QB in a way that does not expose the flaws in his game.   Why Be Concerned?:  Brett Hundley played well last year, but can he carry a team that won’t be sneaking up on anyone? The defense seems solid, and we know MJD can produce big games, so Hundley remains the one piece of uncertainty for a team most think have a good shot to repeat their 2016 performance. PHILADELPHIA STARS 2016 Recap:  The Stars started the season very strong, surprising many, but faded in the middle third. They rallied to finish the year 9-7, but just missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The Stars made a play to get Clemson’s Deshaun Watson at QB, trading with the Monarchs to select Watson, but the dual threat QB jumped to the NFL, which means a somewhat offended Matt Gutierrez will now be playing with a chip on his shoulder.   Player to Watch:  When Stevie Johnson went down mid-season, the Stars traded to bring Randall Cobb in. Now Cobb will be on the field with Johnson to form a very dangerous 1-2 combo. Watch to see which receiver become’s Gutierrez’s go to threat.   Why Be Bullish?:  The Stars, by all accounts, had one of the better drafts of any team, landing 4 potential 2017 starters (G Dion Dawkins, LB Haasan Reddick, LB Tanner Vallejo and P Rigoberto Sanchez), and they have the defending ROTY in a key position. That is a nice youth movement. Why Be Concerned?:  There are still concerns that Matt Gutierrez has been slowly sliding backwards for several years, and that is without the psychological blow that Philly’s pursuit of Deshaun Watson caused. If he is not the answer at QB, then Philadelphia could again come up short in a very tough division. PITTSBURGH MAULERS 2016 Recap:  After a dominant 13-3 season in 2015, last year was about as fast a collapse as we have ever seen. Injuries, penalties, and just sloppy play doomed the Maulers to a 6-10 collapse. They certainly hope to regain 2015 form this year.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The Maulers were relatively quiet considering their 2016 collapse. They brought in Jay Ajayi to help with returns and add some 3rd down sizzle, but they largely held pat in hopes that a healthy 2017 squad could regain their form from 2 years ago.   Player to Watch:  If the Maulers are going to rebound, it is the D-line that will tip us off. Watch Arnold, Freeney, and Jared Allen. If they start the year off strong, the Maulers could ride their talents back to the top of the division.   Why Be Bullish?:  If healthy, the combo of Thielen, Cruz and Mike Williams is one of the best 3-deep receiver groups in the league, and we know Andy Dalton can get them the ball. Throw in a very intimidating front 4 and you have a team that could rebound in a big way.   Why Be Concerned?:  While the D-line is certainly elite, that is where the quality seems to end. Other than Paul Posluszny, the LB group is among the league’s weakest, and the secondary is not scaring anyone either. Could the defense again be a major issue?   WASHINGTON FEDERALS 2016 Recap:  The Federals were competitive all season long, but some late week losses cost them a shot at a Wild Card and left them at 8-8 when the season wound down.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The retirement of Deuce McCallister is a huge blow to the Feds, but they did not sit on their laurels, trading with Oakland to bring in Donald Brown, a 1,000-yard rusher in a 2-back system for the Invaders.   Player to Watch:  Brown will be important, but it is wideout Keenan Allen who has folks in DC excited about the Federals’ offense. Not since Deion Branch retired has Washington had a true 1-2 combo outside, and now with Allen and LaFell they could be looking deep early and often.   Why Be Bullish?:  The combo of Brandon LaFell and Keenan Allen could electrify the Federal passing game, and we love some of the additions on defenes: NFL import Rafael Bush and LB Shawne Merriman in particular.   Why Be Concerned?:  It is nice that Washington got Donald Brown off the Invaders, but he is no Deuce McCallister, and there has to be an expectation that the run game will take a step backwards. We are also not sold on what appears to be a pretty thin defense, with hints that even the starting 11 has some exploitable weak spots.   Our Predictions for the NE Division This could be the toughest division of the six this year to correctly predict. Last year we did not see the rise of the Generals or the collapse of the Maulers. We could very easily see the division flip upside down again. So, what do we think is realistic? Here are the 4 things we think we think right now: 1.      We think Pittsburgh will rebound and at least be over .500 by season’s end. 2.      We think Philadelphia can only go as far as Matt Gutierrez can take them, and that may well be a sub-500 finish.   3.      We think Washington can get over the hump this year. They added quality on both sides of the ball and they have a settled veteran at QB.   4.      We think New Jersey may take a step back. They overachieved last year, and we think that will catch up with them.   So, after saying all that, what does it mean? It means we are going to pick Baltimore to regain the division title. They are the most complete team in the division and have the best QB as well. We think they are followed by Washington and New Jersey, both of whom could make the postseason as Wild Cards, and we think Philly and Pittsburgh will finish 4th and 5th, but not as 10-loss teams, more likely at 7-9 or even 8-8. The 10 Best Players in the Southeast Another very tough Top 10 list to curate as the Southeast has talent all over the board. We did our best, and these are the 10 players we just could not imagine this season without.   QB Russell Wilson, ORL While the QB play in the division as a whole has been an issue, Wilson is growing into a solid performer and can, when on his game, be a difference maker.   QB Robert Griffin III, JAX As a runner, there are few with Griffin’s moves and speed. As a passer, he needs to be more accurate and make better throws, but if he can, Jacksonville could be a quick riser.   HB Adrian Peterson, CHA We are fascinated by even the hint that AD can get back to the form we saw in his NFL heyday.   WR D. J. Hackett, CHA D. J. is not going to wow you with speed, or make 1-handed grabs that produce gasps, what he is going to do is get open when you need a play and make that first down.   WR Michael Jenkins, ORL Very much like Hackett, Jenkins is a possession receiver, not a gamebreaker, but week in and week out he just comes through and will almost certainly be a league leader in receptions.   DE Calais Campbell, ORL The dominant defensive player of a generation, perhaps of all time. No one has come close for nearly a decade, and as long as he is on the field, offenses cannot feel good about their schemes.   DE Barkevious Mingo, JAX Not as productive as CC, but a player with flair, energy, and style. He makes every sack, every tackle for loss a celebration, and that makes him fun to watch.   LB Luke Kuechley, ATL Perhaps undervalued on a shaky Atlanta team, Kuechley is one of the best young linebackers in the game. We expect Bruce Arians to get the most out of him this year.   LB Brian Orakpo, TBY A nasty tackler, and somehow always in the right place to make the big play. He needs more support around him, but the former NFL star is no one to trifle with.   CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, JAX One of the driving forces of Jacksonville’s defense, DRC can be a shut-down corner, a ball hawk, or a press nightmare.   Team Previews ATLANTA FIRE 2016 Recap:  A 4-12 season pretty much tells you what you need to know, but throw in QB confusion, a lack of consistent run game, and a poor defense and you have a team that needed a change, and so Coach Ramsey is gone and Bruce Arians is the new man in the big office.   Biggest Offseason Story:  We could say Arians, but honestly the question everyone is asking in Atlanta is why the Fire did not do more to lock up a clear number one QB. They got UGA product Aaron Murray from the Fire, traded Kyle Orton away, and signed Notre Dame’s Deshone Kyzer, but no one is sure who will step up this year, if anyone.   Player to Watch:  With an uncertain QB situation, we are just not sure how Roy Williams is going to match his numbers from Houston, but the veteran wideout absolutely has to be a focal point of this offense. Problem is every defense they face will believe that as well.   Why Be Bullish?:  There is talent on defense, especially the LB group with Kuechley, Patrick Willis and Dannell Ellerbe, and Chris Kelsay has been consistently over 15 sacks per year. If the secondary can come together under the leadership of FS Earl Thomas, the Fire could have a Top 5 unit. Why Be Concerned?:  Quarterback, plain and simple. Who is going to be the QB for this team. Is it Aaron Murray after several “meh” years in LA? Will Brad Gradkowski get a shot or is he just a semi-decent backup, and is Deshone Kizer ready? Without a QB, and without a clear bell cow back, we are not sure how Atlanta is going to put up enough points to escape the SE Division cellar. CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 2016 Recap:  After a 6-1 Start, the wheels came off the bus and Charlotte lost 6 in a row, dropping from first place all the way out of the playoffs with an eventual 8-8 record and a QB change in the offseason.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The discarding of Brandon Wheedon (sent off to Dallas for marginal draft picks) and the hype over UNC rookie Mitchell Trubisky are without a doubt the focal points of the Monarch offseason. Fans are expecting a lot from a rookie with barely a year and a half of college experience.   Player to Watch:  Aside from Trubisky, which is too obvious for us, we want to see what Adrian Peterson does with a full offseason of rest and rehab and with a new role as the clear lead back for the Monarchs.   Why Be Bullish?:  There is a lot of excitement around QB Mitch Trubisky, but we are honestly more interested in a defense that has quietly been adding talent every year, form DE Chandler Jones to LBs Jerod Mayo and Rolando McClain, and then CB Derech Cox, there is some muscle here.   Why Be Concerned?:  We just don’t trust rookie QBs to come in and succeed in their first year, especially with a questionable run game, questionable as long as Adrian Peterson plays like he is not fully back from ACL injury. We also wonder who in the receiving corps is capable of turning in some 20+ yard plays? We don’t see a lot of game breaking ability here.   JACKSONVILLE BULLS 2016 Recap:  The Bulls started the year strong, leaning on a much-improved defense to pull off some upsets, but they could not sustain the momentum without more offense, and fell to a 5-11 final record.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The Bulls are apparently fully committed to building through the draft, because they did not sign a single free agent of note. In the draft they looked to improve the offense, signing WR Mike Williams from Clemson, QB C. J. Beathard of Iowa, and a potential QB-turned-TE, Taysom Hill of BYU.   Player to Watch:  Despite all the offensive rookies brought in, our favorite addition is rookie LB Alex Anzelone of Florida, who is already slated to be part of the starting defensive 11.   Why Be Bullish?:  It’s all about the defense with the Bulls. With the addition of rookie Alex Anzelone, alongside Sean Lee, Jarret Johnson and Jordan Hicks, and with Rogers-Cromartie holding down the opposition’s best receiver, there is a lot to like about this defense. We want to see more in the pass rush, but otherwise this is a solid D that can win some games.   Why Be Concerned?:  The defense may have to win games because it does not look like the Bulls did nearly enough to produce more offense. Is Matt Jones really a lead back? Who among Reuben Randle, Mike Williams, and Tavon Austin is going to break down a defense? And can Robert Griffin prove he is a passer as well as a runner? We have lots of doubts.   ORLANDO RENEGADES 2016 Recap:  The Renegades had some impressive wins and Calais Campbell again proved why he may be the GOAT as an edge rusher. The result, a 10-6 record, the division title, but a quick exit as they could not generate offense in New Jersey.   Biggest Offseason Story:  It was pretty quiet in Orlando, though we do like two of their draft picks, TE David Njoku and S Marcus Maye, both Florida products (U. of Miami & the Gators). Both are expected to start for the Renegades, who otherwise look very much like the 2016 team.   Player to Watch:  Too easy to say Campbell, so we are going to pick a different defender. The loss of Albert Haynesworth at DT means that Ego Ferguson has big shoes to fill. His success in the middle could determine if Moats and Campbell can go wild on the edge again.   Why Be Bullish?:  David Njoku could be a nice addition to the offense, giving Russell Wilson another potential target. The run game is solid, with room to improve, and the defense has playmakers at every level. A lot to be excited about.   Why Be Concerned?:  We are putting a lot of faith in Ego Ferguson to replace Albert Haynesworth. If he cannot hold the middle, it makes Campbell and Moats much less effective, and if Orlando cannot stop the run, then the opportunities for sacks on passing downs is lessened. Orlando still looks like the class of the division, but what if they want to actually win a playoff game? TAMPA BAY BANDITS 2016 Recap:  The Bandits were, well, a train wreck. QB Pat White got hurt in the opener, so rookie Dak Prescott ended up starting the rest of the season. But, the rookie struggled, the run game was a disaster, and the result was an embarrassing 4-win season for a proud franchise.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The Bandits again could not land the QB they desired. Unlike the past 2 years, they did not go for the rookie, but tried to land free agent Eli Manning, only to lose out to Las Vegas. So, they return Dak Prescott and bring in former Seminole and supposed “draft bust” E. J. Manuel from the NFL. Can either of them be effective in June Jones’s version of the Run & Shoot?   Player to Watch:  People often forget that the Run & Shoot depends on the run game as a balance to the spread receivers. Rookie Dalvin Cook from Miami could be huge if he can take advantage of defenses that have to focus on the pass and play in nickel or dime coverage.   Why Be Bullish?:  Both the Bandits coaches and those of us who have watched have loved what we have seen in Dalvin Cook during camp. He has speed, hands, and a killer first move. Even if the Bandits cannot turn around the win-loss record, he will make them more fun to watch. Throw him into a run & shoot and we may have some fun on our hands.   Why Be Concerned?:  We think the defense will be better, but we are looking at the roster and wondering if June Jones really has the pieces needed to run an effective spread offense. We still don’t know who the QB will be: NFL disappointment E. J. Manuel or 2nd year question mark Dak Prescott. And when we think of the prototypical run & shoot receivers, Hank Basket, Santonio Holmes, and Ryan Grant don’t seem to match the mold.   Our Predictions for the SE Division On paper the Southeast looks like it could be the weakest division once again. Outside of Orlando there is just not a lot of confidence in these teams. Someone will probably rise to the level of 9-7 or 8-8, but your guess is as good as ours as to who will do it. We could also see Orlando go 8-0 in division games. They likely won’t but if they do, then we could see a situation where they lock up the division by Week 12 and we get 4 teams in a 5-team division finishing with 10 losses. So, what else do we see happening in the SE Division this Year? Here are four fearless but perhaps bold predictions. 1) Charlotte HB Adrian Peterson returns to form and rushes for 1,200 yards. 2) Jacksonville QB Robert Griffin III becomes the first QB in league history to rush for 1,000 yards. 3) Without Albert Haynesworth in the middle, Calais Campbell records fewer than 25 sacks, but ends the season with more than 100 tackles. 4) In June Jones' spread offense, rookie HB Dalvin Cook averages over 5 yards per carry and has more than 30 receptions. The 10 Best Players in the South Who are the best in the South? The sweet tea and BBQ of USFL talent? Only 4 teams, so we go even deeper to pick our 10 standouts of southern football.   QB Drew Brees, NOR We are still not sure if Drew is a tactician or a gunslinger, because he can be either one whenever the need arises. With Jordy Nelson now in New Orleans, he could have a really big year.   QB Cam Newton, BIR We are still waiting for Cam’s dynamic plays to turn into more wins for the Stallions, but you cannot deny that he is just dangerous, at any time.   HB Carlos Hyde, HOU After a stellar rookie year, Hyde has become one of the game’s best, both as a runner and a receiver.   WR Robert Woods, MEM Woods did not show much in LA, but last year in Memphis he proved almost impossible to cover, especially in those mid-range routes.   WR Mike Evans, HOU A monster to defend, he will go up and get the ball no matter where it is thrown. A red zone nightmare for defensive coordinators.   DT Albert Haynesworth, HOU As if Houston’s D was not scary enough, they add perhaps the most disruptive DT in the game today. Haynesworth’s presence will make the DE’s even better. That is scary.   DE Ty Warren, NOR We need to start celebrating this man more. He has been outstanding for the Breakers for years, and we just don’t talk about him enough.   LB DeMeco Ryans, BIR The Stallions have a leader and a playmaker on defense. If they can just add more around him, he could really shine.   CB Patrick Peterson, NOR Yes, Randall Gay is gone, but PP is ready to step up and the the undisputed number one shut down corner in the South. A ballhawk with an attack philosophy, Peterson is a big play machine.   CB Leodis McKelvin, HOU McK came on last year and is ready to step up and be considered an elite corner. Not afraid to come in on the run, he is in the mix all 3 downs every drive.   Team Previews BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 2016 Recap:  The Stallions never really got on track, and while the other three teams in the division battled over playoff position, the Stallions just seemed to battle with their own mistakes, dropping to 6-10 and last place in the South.   Biggest Offseason Story:  Cap crunch was the story of the offseason for the Stallions. They had a solid draft but did very little in free agency because they just could not find ways to free up more funds, not a good look for a last-place club trying to improve. Player to Watch:  After gaining 849 and 958 yards in his first two seasons, this could be a make-or-break year for tailback T. J. Yeldon. Birmingham needs him to take a big step forward, a 1,000 or even 1,200 yard step, If he cannot show growth this year, the Stallions may well have to prioritize the position for improvement in 2018.   Why Be Bullish?:  The talent is certainly there on offense, from Newton to Yeldon to a receiver group that has Ameri Cooper, Dontrelle Inman and a good receiving TE in Hunter Henry. If they can just find a scheme that maximizes their talents, they could be an elite offense.   Why Be Concerned?:  Birmingham had needs on defense. They brought in bodies, but we don’t see any impact moves that turn this mediocre group into a potential shut down defense. Birmingham may well have to win a lot of shootouts. HOUSTON GAMBLERS 2016 Recap:  The Gamblers essentially sat in first place from Week 1 through Week 16. Yes, the Breakers and upstart Showboats made things interesting, but even with Matt Hasselbeck missing several games, Houston never relinquished their claim on the division. They finished an impressive 13-3, but then were shocked by rival Memphis in the playoffs.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The retirement of Matt Hasselbeck was a lot cleaner than most, with Colt McCoy essentially anointed as the heir apparent after some very good games in relief when Hasselbeck was dinged up. So now it is McCoy’s team. What can he do with it?   Player to Watch:  With Roy Williams gone, Houston double-dipped to get receivers in the draft. We think that it will be USC’s JuJu Smith-Schuster who will prove the breakout star, but don’t ignore A&M’s Josh Reynolds, who could also see a lot of action.   Why Be Bullish?:  What is not to love? They added the best DT in the league to their already tough defense. They added two more weapons on offense with Smith-Schuster and Josh Reynolds, and it looks like the trade to get a shot at Budda Baker is going to pay off. He is already locked in to start and Coach Phillips loves his game.   Why Be Concerned?:  Look, we saw some good things from Colt McCoy last year, but being dubbed the starter and heir to Matt Hasselbeck is a whole different enchilada. What if the pressure gets to McCoy? What if teams start to figure out his tells? A new QB is always a potential disaster. We don’t think it will be, but the possibility is there. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 2016 Recap:  Memphis was one of the feel-good stories of 2016, rising from mediocrity to challenge Houston for the division and finishing with the 2nd best record in the conference at 12-4. The Showboats took the long road but found themselves in the Summer Bowl after upsetting the Gamblers in Houston. They could not outmuscle the Arizona Wranglers, but it was still a very Cinderella story for the Showboats last year.   Biggest Offseason Story:  Do we even need to say it? The Eli Manning saga was all anyone could talk about. Could Memphis find a way to resign him? When that did not happen, was Paxton Lynch ready? We still don’t know, but who else does Memphis have? Well, a late offseason trade brings Kyle Orton to the Showboats, but many fans are hoping they never see him on the field. Lynch will get his shot and many hope he proves Memphis to be geniuses by transitioning to him over Manning.   Player to Watch:  It has to be Lynch, right? Memphis signed the 2015 rookie after struggling with Eli Manning at the helm. The move somehow inspired Manning to have a career season, and now, with Eli in Las Vegas, the Showboats need Lynch to look good or they all look foolish for prioritizing the 2015 rookie over the All-USFL QB who got them to the Summer Bowl. No pressure, Paxton.   Why Be Bullish?:  We saw a lot of good last year, from the 1-2 punch of Gurley and Allen in the backfield, to the development of Robert Woods, and the defense taking on the intensity of Coach Ryan. There is a lot there, and the trip to the Summer Bowl does not feel like a fluke.   Why Be Concerned?:  All that is true, but where is Eli? Oh yeah, he bolted. So now it all falls on a 2nd year QB who only saw about 1 game’s worth of action as a rookie. And how troubling is it to say “If Lynch flounders, we have Kyle Orton”. Not soothing, right? NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 2016 Recap:  The defending USFL Champions suffered a bit from Championship hangover, which happens more often than not. They started the year off slowly, but rallied late. It was not enough to win the division, but it did return them to the playoffs. However, in the postseason, their defense was not enough to defeat the Showboats and they had a quick exit in the Wild Card round.   Biggest Offseason Story:  The love story between the Breakers and LSU halfback Leonard Fournette was all the rage in the Big Easy this summer. New Orleans outbid the NFL Jaguars and Fournette is now staying in Louisiana to turn pro. The Breakers put all their faith in Fournette to revive the run game, sending 2016 starter Jeremy Hill off to Las Vegas in a post-draft trade.   Player to Watch:  The other big story this offseason was the retirement, very unexpected, of WR Early Doucet. So, what does New Orleans do to respond, only outhustle several other teams to sign St. Louis’s stud receiver Jordy Nelson to a deal that makes him one of the highest paid receivers in the game. He will now be the prime target for Drew Brees, and we expect big things.   Why Be Bullish?:  Leonard Fournette could help take this offense to a new level. Throw in the deep threat of Jordy Nelson as well and Drew Brees could be about to explode. Oh, and the defense is still nasty, with the additions of C. J. Mosely and Tre’Davious White only adding to their potential game-changing potential.   Why Be Concerned?:  New Orleans looks solid, we will admit that, but we are concerned that this team has some real issues in places where you don’t want them, the O-line and the linebacker group. If teams can exploit those two areas, even excellent skill players can be made irrelevant.   Our Predictions for the Southern Division The South will likely be a 3-team race once again. Any one of the the three (Houston, Memphis, New Orleans) could win it, though we tend to lean towards the Breakers for one obvious reason, they are starting a veteran QB with a lot of high pressure game experience. Now, maybe Colt McCoy or Paxton Lynch will prove to be the perfect fits for their teams, but we already know that Drew Brees is. So, we are going to go with New Orleans atop the division, Houston next, thanks in part to their defense, and then Memphis sliding back to 9-7 or even 8-8 as Lynch learns the pro game. And yes, Birmingham is also there, and they could surprise us, but we are not ready to predict that yet. But, what about our bold predictions? Never fear, we have not forgotten them. Here are 4 big swings for this year in the South. 1) Breaker QB Drew Brees finishes with over 4,000 yards as Jordy Nelson tops 1,500 on the year. 2) Houston HB Carlos Hyde combines rushing and passing for over 2,000 yards. 3) Memphis's combo of Todd Gurley and Anthony Allen combine for 30 TDs. 4) Birmingham LB DeMeco Ryans sets a new team record with over 150 tackles in 2017.   8 Games not to miss in Weeks 1-8   Week 1: Denver @ Arizona: The defending champs open up their title defense with a bitter rival and a team trying to prove they can hang with the big boys this year.   Week 2: Memphis @ Oklahoma: The first USFL game to be played in the Sooner State since 1987 sees Eastern Conference Champion Memphis coming to town to take on Flacco, Lynch, Colston and the new-look Outlaws.   Week 3: Baltimore @ Houston: An interdivisional game that could see 80 points scored. These two offenses are poised to be among the best in the league. Can they stop each other or will the last team with the ball get the win?   Week 4: Pittsburgh @ New Jersey: The Cinderella Maulers of 2015 take on the Cinderella Generals of 2016. Will either of them prove to be a championship caliber team in 2017?   Week 5: Oklahoma @ Arizona: The two best teams in the SW Division square off for the first time in 2017 as the Outlaws hope to prove that they are right there with the Wranglers in 2017.   Week 6: Oakland @ San Diego: It could be a battle for supremacy in the Pacific as the surprising Thunder host the Invaders and their redesigned offense with HB Christian McCaffrey at the heart of a new attack.   Week 7: Memphis @ New Orleans: A big time Southern Showdown as Memphis heads into the Big Easy hoping to repeat their 2017 playoff victory, but with Lynch, not Manning, at QB, can they repeat the feat against the Breakers’ stingy D?   Week 8: Michigan @ Chicago: The midseason slate gives us a nice Central Division rivalry game as the Panthers and Machine renew their Midwestern rivalry. Last year the two split back-to-back games, can one of them sweep their games this year or are they just too similar to each other?   OK, we are back in just 48 hours with our full analysis of the Western Conference, from defending Champion Arizona to the last place St. Louis Skyhawks. We will break down every team, highlight new faces on each team, the rookies to watch, and the best players in each division. We will wrap it all up with our postseason and league award picks, and then on to Week 1 and the 2017 USFL Season. So don’t go anywhere, our Western Conference Preview will be here before you know it.

February 9, 2017 Welcome back to This Week in the USFL, which we guess should be called These Past 3 Months in the USFL. We delayed our publication of the USFL offseason edition until 2 weeks after the USFL Draft because we just had a feeling that the early fallout from the draft might lead to some interesting moves, and we were absolutely right. So, we are now ready, with USFL camps opening up all of the country and the NFL-USFL Transfer window ready to open in 3 days, to review the past 3 months, the big stories, the moves that could make or break the season, the USFL and NFL draft picks that are making their choice of where to play as we speak, and the moves necessitated by the signings that happened and those that did not. We are going to kick the report off with our update on the Eli Manning saga, with the veteran QB choosing his destination, and sending ripples all across the league in its wake. Then we will go through the past 3 months in order, breaking the report up by pre-draft, Draft Day 1, Draft Day 2, and the 2 weeks post-draft. This should catch you all up as we head into camps and into the NFL transfer period, the last chance for teams to bring in new faces and fill obvious gaps in their rosters. It is an exciting time all across the league as teams start to set up and prepare for the 2017 season. Let’s get right to it with Eli Manning’s big decision. Manning Goes for the Glitz After 4 months of deliberation, presentations, team visits, and constant negotiation, QB Eli Manning has made his pick. In the end it came down to two options, a high visibility market with a lot of glitz but a questionable football track record and a reliable football town but a team looking to essentially start from scratch. In the end, Eli made his choice, and in a hotel media room in New Orleans (the QB’s offseason home), he announced his choice, surrounded by his family and his agent, and put on his head the ball cap of the…Las Vegas Vipers.   Manning’s decision, over months, had slowly whittled away the less serious contenders, the teams that were just fishing, and the teams with no cap room to spare. By Thanksgiving it was down to Atlanta and Las Vegas. The Fire had a lot of cap room, a lot of appeal in a football rich part of the country, not all that far from Manning’s New Orleans home or his Ole Miss college campus, but still very much the region where he had made his name and where his Q-factor (marketability) was all but maxed out. Atlanta also had major issues at HB, a depleted WR group, and two QBs on the roster who had no interest in stepping away from a possible starting gig.   In Las Vegas, Manning was offered the chance to build a franchise as well, but one that had perhaps a more solid foundation, built in Nashville and relocated to Sin City. This was the team Eli’s brother, Peyton, had briefly led, but after 2 seasons in Las Vegas they were also a bright, shiny, new toy for the city, a city where glitz and marketing were center stage. In Las Vegas, Manning would have several of the same issues as in Atlanta, a poor run game, a mid-range receiver group, and a defense that had issues. Las Vegas also had a new coach in town, and while Rick Neuheisel did not have the reputation of Atlanta’s Bruce Arians, he was a former QB, and he knew how to approach Manning as a QB. He could talk to him about legacy, about mechanics, about leadership, and with an authentic voice of a former USFL starter.   Manning, in the end, had two very similar teams to choose from, but two very different locations, and he went with the better financial opportunity. If he could have success on the field in Las Vegas, he could “expand his brand” so to say, essentially become a marketing commodity in the entire U.S. West, while still largely retaining his popularity in the South thanks to his upbringing, years at Ole Miss, in Orlando, New Orleans and Memphis. That, plus the challenge of outperforming his brother with the same team, an enticement he likes to joke about, pushed Eli towards the Vipers.   The Vipers, for their part, did all that they could to make the case to Eli. Even before his star-studded whirlwind visits with the team and in the city, Las Vegas had committed to making a deal possible. They extended several contracts, restructured others, made some tough personnel decisions, and essentially rewrote their cap story to match what Atlanta could offer. They made the deal possible, and just needed to sell the idea of Eli in Las Vegas to the quarterback and his agent.   So now Eli Manning will be the starter Day One in Wynn Arena, with his premier game scheduled for Week 2 against Michigan. Far from the familiarity of playing in Memphis, New Orleans, Houston, Birmingham and the South, Eli would now be relocating to the desert, facing off against teams in Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, and Oklahoma, selling the Vipers to a large region of the country and selling himself to USFL fans as a new QB, a leader growing in maturity, expertise, and leadership. It is a very new start for the youngest of the Manning boys, but also an amazing opportunity for Eli to redefine his legacy and his image across the country.             The 2016-2017 Winter Timeline While the Manning Sweepstakes occupied a lot of the offseason attention of USFL fans during the long fall and early Winter, it was hardly the only story to hit the press since our October edition. Rather than break the stories down by category, we will create a timeline, going month by month with the biggest signings, deals, decisions, and pre-draft preparations, then review the T-Draft, the Open Draft, and then the post-draft frenzy as teams try to sign prospects ahead of and even during the NFL draft. There is a lot to cover, so let’s get straight to it.   October 15 to Thanksgiving As always, the most furious free agent period is in August, but throughout the fall we still saw some pretty important signings, and we also started to see some trade action as teams started assessing their draft position, their need list, and their chances of solving their issues with the draft. So, moves were made throughout the fall. Here are the moves made before the typical late November lull around Thanksgiving.   Oct. 20 TRADE: Baltimore Acquires TE C. J. Uzomah from the Skyhawks With the retirement of Antonio Gates, Baltimore had the tight end position near the top of their priority board. With Rob Gronkowski the starter and a need for more cap space, St. Louis could not pass up the offer from the Blitz. 3rd year TE C. J. Ozumah would be in Baltimore and St. Louis would obtain much needed line help in center Rudy Niswanger, at barely half the cost of their TE.   Oct. 27 FREE AGENCY: Breakers Add Edge Help with Mosely C. J. Mosely had rejected a 1-year deal to stay in San Diego, having been traded from Seattle midseason. He accepted New Orleans’s deal, also for 1 year, and now finds himself on a 4th team in 4 years. At 33 years old, New Orleans could try to lock him in for another year or two if his production continues to be strong. He had 11 sacks his final year in Atlanta, 9 in 2015 with Seattle, and 7 between the Dragons and Thunder last year. In New Orleans, he will likely rotate with Cameron Jordan or sub for another veteran, Ty Warren.   November 1 TRADE: St. Louis Lands WR Allen Robinson The Skyhawks continue to try to address the departure of Jordy Nelson. While Eric Weems and David Nelson are the two likely starters, the deal with Philadelphia that sent a 4th round pick to the Stars gives St. Louis a 3rd option outside (we assume that NFL import Terrance Williams will play the slot.)  More weapons for Josh Freeman and whoever St. Louis settles on as their new head coach.   November 4 FREE AGENCY: Dallas Adds to D with Barwin Addition A nice addition to the Roughneck defense as Machine 2016 rookie Connor Barwin, cut inexplicably by Lovie Smith, signs on with Dallas. Barwin had 5 sacks as a rookie, but rumors of animosity with Lovie Smith apparently were well-founded as the 1st year Chicago coach cut him in mid-September. Hopefully Mike Sherman and he can develop a rapport, because as of right now he is the prime candidate to be the starting Right End.   November 11 TRADE: Atlanta Jettisons Kyle Orton We had a feeling that Atlanta would make some QB moves as they pursued Eli Manning. One way or another they were not going to return to Kyle Orton as their starter. So, they needed to find a buyer who saw Orton as a strong backup, a potential starter in the case of injury, or a “push” to their starter. They found that buyer in Memphis. Once it was clear that the Showboats were not able to resign Eli Manning, and had only 2nd year QB Paxton Lynch on the roster (no 2nd or 3rd QB), they knew they needed a solid number two, and someone they could trust if Lynch flamed out. Orton was a solid choice, and the price (a 4th rounder this year and another in 2018) was right. So, Orton will now be in Memphis, almost certainly as the backup to Lynch, but with some possibility of getting the job if the rookie struggles.   November 15 FREE AGENCY: Atlanta Signs Roy Williams to Lure Manning Williams was the last of the big name receivers to find a home. After a very strong 2016, Williams was asking a ransom to sign, and, quite frankly, no one was buying. With Jordy Nelson now in New Orleans, Keenan Allen in DC, Kelvin Benjamin in Denver, and even Percy Harvin signed to a nice deal with the Outlaws, Williams had to readjust his sites. When Atlanta offered the chance to come in as a starter, a 3-year deal at competitive rates along the lines of Benjamin’s deal with the Gold, Williams could no longer hold out for more. So, the upside for Atlanta, they now had a WR to lure Eli Manning with. The downside, he was coming to the Fire with marginal enthusiasm and a bit of a chip on his shoulder.   Thanksgiving to Draft Week December and early January tend to be a time with very few free agent signings, though we did get two surprise ones towards right before the draft, including one retired player who rescinded his decision to hang up the cleats. We also saw the first pre-draft shuffling of picks and territorial rights. Here is the breakdown of the major moves made prior to the opening day of the T-Draft.   Dec. 3 FREE AGENCY: Vipers Sign Incognito to Improve O-Line One of the few “big name” veterans left in the free agent pool, well, of those under the age of 35, Incognito was a solid player in Baltimore after having some issues (largely tied to his behavior and taunting of teammates) in Ohio. Las Vegas saw in incognito a chance to upgrade at Center, with the option to play him at right tackle if needed, and with their goal to sign Eli Manning, having a stronger line made sense. And so a 2-year deal was cut.   Dec. 10 TRADE: Fire Seek insurance with UGA Fan Favorite Having sent Kyle Orton to Memphis before Turkey Day, the Fire bought themselves some insurance in case they lost out in the Manning Sweepstakes (which now looks wise, since they did). In a player-for-player swap, Atlanta sent HB Raymond Williams, mostly a special teams contributor, to the LA Express, along with a 6th round pick in this year’s draft, to acquire former UGA star Aaron Murray. Murray started for portions of 2 years with the Express, before being benched for Sam Bradford this past season. His numbers were not great: A combined 74.3 QB Rating, 12 total TDs and 14 picks. But, if there is one fanbase that would be happy to have Murray on the team and even under center, it would be Atlanta. After all he did as a Bulldog, he gets a lot of leeway as a pro, at least that is the theory.   Dec. 11 FREE AGENCY: Veteran K Dan Carpenter Finds a Home Not willing to wait until draft day, or to go with an untested rookie, the Portland Stags signed veteran kicker Dan Carpenter to a 2-year deal. Carpenter, who spent the last 9 seasons as a member of the Houston Gamblers, comes to Portland with a lifetime field goal percentage of 80.1%, though he is an impressive 15 of 27 beyond 50 yards and nearly perfect inside of 40. In rainy Portland, consistency and a strong leg are certainly necessary.   Dec. 15: FREE AGENCY: Manning Makes it Official Eli Manning announced that he had signed a deal to join the Las Vegas Vipers. This officially ended the sweepstakes and the chase for the veteran QB. Las Vegas would have the answer to their “who follows Cody Pickett” question. The other teams would be on to Plan B. For Atlanta that means either Aaron Murray or Brad Gradkowski, though a rookie could still be in the offing. For Ohio it seems certain that Hackenberg is their starter. In Memphis, the trade for Kyle Orton provided backup for Paxton Lynch, and in both St. Louis and Philadelphia the status quo (Freeman and Gutierrez) seem to be the order of the day. -   Dec. 17 FREE AGENCY: LB Terrell Suggs Unretires to Join Skyhawks When we saw it come across the wire, we were shocked. Terrell Suggs had announced his intention to retire at the end of 2016, had done the press conference as so many do, and had thanked the Stars for the past 3 years. Suggs had played well as a member of the Stars, racking up nearly 280 tackles and 26 sacks in his 3 seasons there, but at 35 it was time to let the game go. Or so we thought. Apparently, there was something offered by the Skyhawks that made Suggs rethink that decision. He had not yet filed his paperwork, so he was within his rights to sign on with another team, though we expect the league will look into the deal and may well penalize St. Louis a draft pick to the Stars if any improprieties are found. But, in the meantime, the Skyhawks get a very effective edge rusher, at least for the short haul.   Jan. 2 TRADE: First Draft Board Trade Gives LA a Shot at Garrett We had a feeling that once we got into the new year we would start seeing deals being made, particularly for Territorial Draft picks. It was no secret that Houston was hoping to shop around at least one of their 3 protected player slots. They had no interest in Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes, and only marginal focus on Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett. The Express were just the first club to make a sweet-enough deal to Houston. The Express will get the Gamblers’ 1st T-Draft pick, which is almost certainly going to be Garrett. In return, Houston will get a second pick in the first round. LA’s 23rd pick is now Houston’s, giving the Gamblers back-to-back picks at 23 and 24. Will they now trade these two picks to get much higher in the round, or will they just address two priorities in round one?   Jan 6 FREE AGENCY: Ohio Throws a Hail Mary, Signs Tim Tebow. Ohio dropped out of the Manning Sweepstakes pretty early, apparently sensing that there was little they could offer outside of a stake in the team that would attract Manning to Columbus. So, what do they do? They still have Brock Osweiler on the roster, but the expectation is that they will move ahead with Christian Hackenberg as their starter. We honestly did not expect them to make a move on a 3rd quarterback, much less this move. After five very up-and-down seasons in Jacksonville as the starter, a failed relocation to LA with the Express, and, quite frankly a bad experience in only 8 games with the New York Jets, Tebow is now back in the USFL. He signed a 1-year deal with Ohio, still listed as a quarterback, but honestly we are not sure what Coach Coughlin plans to do with him. It is not as if Coughlin is known as an innovative offensive mind, but perhaps there is a plan here. It likely has nothing to do with starting games, but could be some form of Wild Cat formation. Your guess is as good as ours.   Jan 8 TRADE: Houston Uses 2nd Rounder to Get Seattle T-Draft Spot The Houston Gamblers, now holding 2 first round picks, decided that their 2nd rounder would be better used as trade bait to get them a player they covet. They offered the pick to Seattle for the 2nd of 3 T-Draft picks the Dragons hold. It is a very unusual deal. Normally when a team trades into the T-Draft they do so to acquire the first pick, guaranteeing that they get to choose the player they want. In this case, Seattle will pick one player ahead of Houston’s pick, and the Gamblers have to hope they don’t go rogue and pick the player Houston is seeking to acquire. We expect the two GM’s have been in touch and there is an understanding, but it is still a weird deal. So, who could Houston be going after. There are two likely candidates, almost certainly representing Seattle’s 1st pick and then Houston’s 2nd. Washington WR John Ross could be a target for either club, but we think Seattle is very interested in him, so who is 2nd? That is almost certainly Huskie safety Budda Baker, an instinctive ballhawk of a safety who has likely caught the eye of Houston Head Coach Wade Phillips, a former DC.   Jan 8 TRADE: Stars Trade for Rights to DeShaun Watson And now the QB Derby starts. No doubt what this is about. Philadelphia sends the Bulls their Bulls their 1st round pick, number 15 overall for the Bulls’ first T-Draft pick. This has to be a play for QB DeShaun Watson. It is an interesting choice for Coach Harbaugh, who has never shown a propensity towards running QB’s, but it seems that Watson’s combination of arm strength and athleticism is too enticing for Harbaugh to stay out of the running. We would know for sure in under a week, but it would have shocked everyone had the Stars use this pick on anyone else. The Territorial Draft The T-Draft is something of an odd beast. There is no live draft, unlike the USFL Open Draft and the NFL College Draft, only teams calling in their picks to New York on a conference call. In most cases it is an easy listing of three names, not much drama and not much excitement. When a pick has been traded it slows things down a bit, but there is no real competition, so one team’s pick does not impact any other team’s choices. That evening EFN, the ESPN Football Network, dedicates an hour to presenting the picks, interviewing some of the chosen college players, and analyzing which teams might have found a key piece of their puzzle. Most players get a phone call that day, others know days or even weeks ahead. Occasionally we get a signing announcement that day, but usually 2-3 days later is the first really big announcement. Mostly it is a wait and see, because most players with any hopes for a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd round grade in the NFL draft want to wait and see where they go when the fall league holds their draft. So, we will report the names here, but don’t get too excited. If any of the players have signed, we will report that below in our post-draft recap. These are just selections, not signings, so take them with a grain of salt, ok, people.   ARIZONA: WR Cooper Kupp (EWU), LB Samson Ebukam (EWU), P Matt Haack (ASU) Had the league not allowed Arizona to add a 4th school (EWU), they might have had a very hard time finding 3 players to pick.   ATLANTA: DE Dylan Donahue (W. Ga), WR R. Davis (Ga St.), TE Mo Alie-Cox (VCU) Atlanta also needed additional teams added with almost no Georgia or Georgia Tech players in this year’s draft.   BALTIMORE: TE Michael Roberts (Toledo), OT Storm Norton (Toledo), LS Thomas Hennessey (Duke). No Maryland players this year and a very obvious “middle round” strategy used by Baltimore to maximize signability.   BIRMINGHAM: LB Reuben Foster (Bama), OT Cam Robinson (Bama), DT Montravious Adams (Bama). Is having Alabama as one of three schools just an unfair advantage? And if so, why is Birmingham not a dominant franchise in the league?   CHARLOTTE: QB Mitchell Trubisky (UNC), WR Mack Hollins (UNC), HB Elijah Hood (UNC) No surprise, the Monarchs have been obsessed with Trubisky all fall and pick his favorite WR as enticement to stay in Carolina.   CHICAGO: WR Kenny Golloday (UNI), DE Ifeadi Odenigbo (NWestern), LB Joseph Jones (NWestern). Getting Northern Illinois added because of weak numbers from Notre Dame and Illinois may just land Chicago a solid receiver.   DALLAS: HB D’Onte Freeman (Texas), WR Chad Williams (Grambling), HB Aaron Jones (UTEP), Dallas doubles down on halfbacks, hoping to land one, if they cannot get both.   DENVER: CB Chidobe Awuzie (Colo), S Tedrick Thompson (Colo), S Nathan Gerry (Nebr) It is a rare year that Denver does not protect at least one offensive lineman between the Cornhuskers and the Buffs, but there just was not one available this year.   HOUSTON: (1st pick traded to LA), WR Josh Reynolds (A&M), S Budda Baker (Seattle’s 2nd Pick), TE Ricky Seals-Jones (A&M). As expected, Houston uses their pick from Seattle on safety Budda Baker, but we also like the Reynolds pick as they try to add depth to their receiver group behind Mike Evans.   JACKSONVILLE: (1st pick traded to PHI), WR Mike Williams (Clemson), LB Alex Anzelone (Florida). The Bulls opt out of Deshaun Watson, sending Philly the pick but we like the two players they selected. Now, can they sign them?   LAS VEGAS: HB Joe Williams (Utah), G Isaac Asiata (Utah), WR Tim Patrick (Utah) Three offensive players to help out Manning in his first year. Patrick is a straight-line speedster, not exactly what Manning loves, but always good to have.   LOS ANGELES: DE Myles Garrett (A&M—Houston 1st pick), CB Adoree Jackson (USC), G Zach Banner (USC), DT Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (USC). The Express pick Garrett, as planned, and then go USC with three straight picks.   MEMPHIS: DE Derek Barnett (Tenn), CB Cameron Sutton (Tenn), QB Joshua Dobbs (Tenn) For us the most interesting pick here is Dobbs, who is clearly a project player, but a possible wildcat QB if that is what Memphis wants.   MICHIGAN: S Jabril Peppers (Mich), CB Jourdan Lewis (Mich), TE Jake Butt (Mich) A bad year for the Spartans, but plenty of Wolverines to choose from.   NEW JERSEY: LB T. J. Watt (Wisc), LB Matt Milano (BC), HB Corey Clement (Wisc) No way could the Generals pass up on Watt, but doubling down with Milano may be smart, because the NFL is certainly going to woo J. J. Watt’s brother very hard.   NEW ORLEANS: HB Leonard Fournette (LSU), CB Tra’Davous White (LSU), QB Chad Kelly (Ole Miss). Fournette was a no-brainer. White is a very polished corner, and then they go for a longshot, the nephew of USFL legend Jim Kelly, but a bit of a loose cannon at Ole Miss.   OAKLAND: HB Christian McCaffrey (Stanf), QB Davis Webb (Cal), WR Chad Hensen (Cal) We did not think Oakland would pursue McCaffrey, but they picked him. He could be a huge help to a team that lost a lot of offensive pieces this offseason, if they can woo him away from the NFL.   OHIO: CB Marshon Lattimore (OSU), WR Curtis Samuel (OSU), LB Eric Wilson (OSU) Ohio was always going to pick Samuel, so using the first pick on Lattimore was a surprise but possibly done to keep him out of the Open Draft and away from Michigan or St. Louis.   OKLAHOMA: DE Jordan Willis (K State), WR Dede Westbrook (OU), DT Vincent Taylor (OSU) The Outlaws pick one Sooner and one Poke, trying to balance the fan allegiances in their new home.   ORLANDO: TE David Njoku (Miami), S Rayshawn Jenkins (Miami), WR Stacy Coley (Miami) We love the Njoku pick, but are a bit mystified by Coley, who grades out as a late round option. Maybe a special teams role for him? We just don’t know.   PHILADELPHIA: QB DeShaun Watson (1st pick from JAX), LB Haason Reddick (Temple), G Dion Dawkins (Temple), QB P. J. Walker (Temple). The Stars’ T-Draft is fascinating. If Matt Gutierrez is not insulted by the Stars trading to select Watson, the pick of Walker from Temple has to sting even more.   PITTSBURGH: CB Rasul Douglas (WVU), QB Nate Peterman (Pitt), OT Adam Bisnowaty (Pitt) Douglas is a solid pick, Peterman a hometown hero who will be a popular clipboard holder behind Dalton. Many, including the player himself, thought they would surely go after Pitt HB John Conner, but they passed on the back and took his QB instead.   PORTLAND: C Sean Harlow (Ore St), HB Jeremy McNichols (Boise), TE Pharaoh Brown (Oregon). Not a great year for the Ducks, but some decent talent between the Beavers and Broncos for Portland to choose.   SAN DIEGO: DE Takkarist McKinley (UCLA), DT Eddie Vanderdoes (UCLA), CB Damontae Kazee (SDSU). We think San Diego wins the All-Name team, between Takkarist, Vanderdoes, and Damontae Kazee. But can they play?   SEATTLE: WR John Ross (Wash), (2nd pick sent to Houston), DT Elijah Qualls (Wash) Ross was a given. They sent their pick to Houston for Baker and then went interior D-line with a big space-eater in Qualls.   ST. LOUIS: DE Charles Harris (Mizzou), TE George Kittle (Iowa), DT Jaleel Johnson (Iowa) With Uzomah traded away, it makes perfect sense that the Skyhawks would select Kittle, a gifted receiver at the TE position who can develop behind Gronkowski if he comes to the USFL.   TAMPA BAY: HB Dalvin Cook (FSU), DE DeMarcus Walker (FSU), OT Kofi Amichia (USF) The Bandits have had Cook’s name circled on their “must have” board for a while now. Expect them to throw top dollar at the FSU back.   WASHINGTON: LB Zach Cunningham (Vandy), TE Bucky Hodges (Va Tech), WR Isaiah Ford (Va Tech). Not a great draft crop for potential impact players, but for depth, yes, we get it.   The Open Draft—Day 1 The Draft opens with a 2-round first day. We are going to focus on Round 1, which is always where the excitement lives. We know from history that the signing rate of these players is roughly 45%, with the NFL getting more of their Day 1 picks than the USFL does, and the USFL catching up to generally equalize the balance in the later rounds. We also know that about half, if not more, of the players taken in the NFL first round will already be off the board for the USFL Open Draft thanks to the T-Draft. So, even the 1st round of the USFL Draft tends to combine 1st, 2nd, even 3rd round NFL picks as teams try to select the player who is not only left over after the T-Draft, but at least open to a USFL contract. As always, we will follow the 1st round in the order of the selections. This year saw far fewer trades involving 1st round picks, and none in the opening 10 picks, so it is a very straightforward draft. We will also identify which NFL team picked the players, and where, in the NFL Draft 8 days later.   Rnd 1 Pick 1     STL      WR  Corey Davis (WMU)           (Copperheads-Pick 5) Rnd 1 Pick 2     SEA        DE  Soloman Thomas (Stanf)       (49ers-Pick 3) Rnd 1 Pick 3     TBY        QB Patrick Mahomes (TX Tch)    (Chiefs-Pick 10) Rnd 1 Pick 4    ATL         QB Deshone Kizer (N Dame)      (Browns-Pick 52) Rnd 1 Pick 5    POR      S    Malik Hooker (Ohio St)  (Colts-Pick 15) Rnd 1 Pick 6     JAX         HB   Joe Mixon (OU)                      (Bengals-Pick 48) Rnd 1 Pick 7     LV           OG Forrest Lamp (WKU)             (Chargers-Pick 38) Rnd 1 Pick 8    BIR         CB   Marlon Humphrey (Bama)     (Ravens-Pick 16) Rnd 1 Pick 9     DAL       S    Jamal Adams (LSU)                 (Jets-Pick 6) Rnd 1 Pick 10  PIT         DE  Jonathan Allen (Bama)  (Redskins-Pick 17) Rnd 1 Pick 11  OHI       TE   Evan Engram (Ole Miss)        (Giants-Pick 23) Rnd 1 Pick 12   WSH     OG  Taylor Moton (WMU)               (Panthers-Pick 64) Rnd 1 Pick 13   CHA      HB  Alvin Kamara (Tenn)                (Saints-Pick 67) Rnd 1 Pick 14   DEN      LB   Jarrad Davis (Florida)              (Lions-Pick 21) Rnd 1 Pick 15   JAX         TE   O. J. Howard (Bama)             (Bucs-Pick 19)  Trade-PHI Rnd 1 Pick 16   OKL       DE   Taco Charlton (Mich)              (Cowboys-Pick 28) Rnd 1 Pick 17  OAK      TE   Gerald Everett (So. Ala)         (Rams-Pick 44) Rnd 1 Pick 18  BAL        OT   Garrett Bolles (Utah)               (Broncos-Pick 20) Rnd 1 Pick 19  NOR      LB Tim Williams (Bama)           (Ravens-Pick 78) Rnd 1 Pick 20   NJ WR  Zay Jones (ECU)                    (Bills-Pick 37) Trade-MGN Rnd 1 Pick 21   SD          OT  Antonio Garcia (Troy)            (Patriots-Pick 85) Rnd 1 Pick 22   ORL       S     Marcus Maye (Florida)          (Jets-Pick 39) Rnd 1 Pick 23   HOU     WR   JuJu Smith-Schuster (USC)   (Steelers-Pick 62) Trade-LA Rnd 1 Pick 24  HOU     S     Marcus Williams (Utah)        (Saints-Pick 42) Rnd 1 Pick 25   CHI        C    Ethan Pocic (LSU)                 (Seahawks-Pick 58) Rnd1 Pick 26   MGN     TE   Jonnu Smith (FIU)                  (Copperheads-Pick 100) Rnd 1 Pick 27  MEM     OT   Ryan Ramczyk (Wisc)             (Saints-Pick 32) Rnd 1 Pick 28   ARZ       WR  Taywan Taylor (WKU)              (Copperheads-Pick 72)   Ok, first, let’s explain the font choices. Green font means that the player chosen by the USFL club was also a first round NFL pick, but that the USFL team picked the player with a higher choice (Davis going first to St. Louis in the USFL but 5th to Tennessee in the NFL Draft). These are players who may see the higher selection by the USFL in a positive light, and if the deal looks good, they could be more likely to take the USFL offer.   Players in blue (only Jamal Adams) are players also taken in the first round by the NFL, but the NFL selection is higher, which often means the NFL team has the edge unless the USFL team is willing to overspend.   Picks in black font are players taken in the NFL second round. Players in red might be USFL reaches. These are players selected as 1st round choices in the USFL draft but were not taken until the 3rd round or later in the NFL Draft. The USFL teams may well be hoping that by picking a 3rd round talent this early, they get a clear upper hand in signing them. It does not work 100% of the time, but the odds are good, the problem is that you are looking at what may actually be 3rd round talent, so you miss out on a potential impact player to have a better shot at signing a contributing player, but maybe not a star.   OK, a few thoughts before we move on to Rounds 2-7.   We were not surprised to see Tampa Bay go after Mahomes. His slide to 10th in the NFL Draft could be a good sign that he is amenable to the Bandits’ situation. We are not at all sure why Atlanta used a 1st round pick on Kizer, who was clearly graded 2nd-3rd round, but they are somewhat in dire straits and perhaps simply could not wait and take the chance. Jacksonville may have stretched a bit to take OU’s Joe Mixon in the top 10, but we love how they rebounded, using the pick they got from Philadelphia for the T-Draft rights to Deshaun Watson to select Alabama TE O. J. Howard. He will be a huge help to Robert Griffin III (if he signs). The biggest reach of the draft has to be Charlotte, going for a 3rd round halfback midway through the first round, but it is only a reach if he does not pan out. Obviously, all the teams in red made reaches, but if they work out, then perhaps we just call it shrewd scouting.   The biggest drop of the day was clearly WR Zay Jones, who we had predicted as a Top 10, maybe Top 5 pick, but that was before the T-Draft and our true sense of which top prospects would be available in the Open Draft. That said, Jones was not expecting to be on the board as late as pick 20, but since he was not selected by the NFL Bills until the early 2nd round, he really cannot be too upset that he was a late 1st round USFL pick. A player who could perhaps be upset is HB John Conner from Pitt, who both expected to be picked by the Maulers in the T-Draft, but then also felt confident he would be a 1st round pick in the USFL draft. He was chosen late in the 2nd round by the Chicago Machine, and not until the 3rd round by the NFL Steelers, so again, maybe his expectations were a bit out of synch with what scouts were seeing in him.   The Open Draft—Day 2 Day two saw the final 5 rounds of the Open Draft, and, as we all know, that is where rosters are really built, finding depth, discovering underrated players who blossom into major contributors, even just filling in key positions, or setting up your special teams for success. We focused our Day 1 review on the first round of the draft. For our day two recap, we have selected 15 players selected in rounds 2-7 who we believe could be valuable additions to their clubs. As always, the caveat that many of these players were later also selected in the NFL Draft and that there is a good chance that many will find their way to the fall league instead of the USFL, but we always discuss the prospects in relation to the USFL team that drafted them, and we will do that here. So, our 15 potential impact players from rounds 2-7.   CB Shaquille Griffin (Round 2-Atlanta) The UCF cornerback has good instincts and recovery speed, will need time to adapt to the pro game, but could start out in the nickel spot before hopefully becoming a starter.   HB Samaje Perine (Round 2-Dallas) Very often teams double down on a key position, drafting two players at the same key spot in the hopes that they will be able to land their first choice, but with the option for a second player if that does not work out. In selecting Perine in the 2nd round, Dallas triple-downed at a position they absolutely have to fill. After selecting D’onte Foreman and Aaron Jones in the T-Draft, they pick Perine in the Open Draft to ensure they will have a young tailback in the fold come March. LB Trey Hendrickson (Round 2-St. Louis) FAU may be a smallish, and somewhat unheralded program, but Hendrickson shone on the field for the Owls. If he comes to St. Louis he will very likely have a shot at making the starting lineup with a Skyhawk defense that could certainly use his skillset.   WR Chris Godwin (Round 3-Portland) We are honestly a bit surprised that Penn State’s Godwin dropped to the 3rd round in both the USFL and NFL draft. He has strong hands, runs good routes, and while not a speedster, is certainly fast enough to get open.   QB Taysom Hill (Round 4-Jacksonville) Hill is not projecting as a pro QB, but could be something of a “Slash” player as Kordell Stewart was in the NFL or Antwan Randle-El was in the USFL. Jacksonville may have him work in Wildcat formations, as a tailback, tight end, possibly a receiver. There are lots of options if Hill himself is open to taking on a Swiss army knife role.   QB Nick Mullens (Round 4-Los Angeles) The Southern Miss QB is a bit raw, but he has the build and arm strength to play the position. In LA he will get the chance to model his game after Sam Bradford’s, which is a good parallel for his body type and skills. We may not see him on the field much in early years, but Coach Reid could see him as a long term project that will eventually pay dividends.   HB Marion Mack (Round 5-Ohio) Mack is a bulldozer of a back. He honestly could convert to fullback, but as a tailback he could, and likely should be used for short yardage, goalline, and end of game wearing down of defenses. In Ohio he would be a good sub for Isaiah Pead, who has been doing it all for the Glory, helping to minimize the wear and tear on Pead over the season.   HB Donnel Pumphrey (Round 5-LA) We see the San Diego State product as a 3rd down back, return man, and a good backup for Reggie Bush. Pumphrey’s style is something of a poor man’s Reggie Bush, so the playcalling and uses for him in LA are pretty well aligned with the offense already in place. A case of a square peg aligning with a square hole.   DE Avery Moss  (Round 6-Ohio) Like the Express, the Glory are doing very well in the later rounds. Moss, a beast at Youngstown State, will need time to adjust to the speed and size of the pro game, but he possesses excellent first step burst and uses his hands well to shift his opponents out of position.   DT D. J. Jones (Round 6-Birmingham) After 3 seasons of SEC slog, Jones has about as solid a training for the pro game as any lineman could. He is not the biggest D-tackle in the draft, and he has, at times, taken plays off, which will have to change, but he has the potential to develop into a steady interior run-stuffer.   FB Sam Rogers   (Round 7-Washington) The late rounds is where most fullbacks seem to end up. It is just not a position that gets enough focus, attention, or respect, and with more teams using spread offenses, it also does not get as many snaps as it used to. Washington gets a good one in Va Tech’s Rogers, and he gets a team that is dedicated to a 2-back, power run game.   K Harrison Butker (Round 7-Tampa Bay) The later rounds also tend to be when the kicking specialists get chosen, if at all, and Butker is the first of 2 kickers we think will end up making their team if they sign on. At Georgia Tech, Butker was effective from within 45, but also has, on occasion, shown a powerful leg, so it will be up to the Bandits to get him to connect on deeper kicks.   QB Cooper Rush (Round 7-Michigan) Very much as we said with Mullens in LA, this is a case of finding a later round QB whose style matches well with the team’s starter. Cooper Rush, out of Central Michigan, has had plenty of time to watch and model his style after Kurt Cousins, and comes to the Panthers where he can continue to grow in that mold. That is a good option for a 2nd or 3rd string QB, to have someone who can emulate the starter.   HB Austin Ekeler (Round 7-St. Louis) The Skyhawks get their 2nd call out with the diminutive but high motor tailback out of Western State (a school we had to look up because we had no idea where it is. It’s in Colorado). Expect to see him as a special teams player at first, but he has some physical attributes that could translate well into the pro game, and he is all effort, which is great in the clubhouse.   K Younghou Koo (Round 7-Houston) With Dan Carpenter now in Portland, Houston needed a kicker, and they found a good one at the end of the 7th round in Georgia Southern’s Koo. We will have to see how Koo’s experience at an FCS school prepared him for the pressures of making game-impacting kicks at the pro level, but we expect the rookie to be the starting kicker come March.   Draft Day until Today: The Signing Period With the draft complete, the important work of turning selections into signings began. As expected a few of the T-Draft players were ready to go on day one, while most players, especially those looking at 1st-3rd round status in the NFL Draft were in no rush. With 2 weeks behind us since the draft, and less than a full week since the NFL Draft concluded, most players have yet to sign, however, we do have a few newly-minted USFL contracts to report on, and a couple of moves that occurred as a result as well. Here is our quick summation of the last 2 weeks.   January 19 SIGNING: Only 2 days after the Open Draft, Deshone Kizer signs with the Atlanta Fire. Kizer chose the USFL Fire over the NFL Browns, in part because of the presence of Head Coach Bruce Arians, and in part because, let’s be honest, Cleveland has gotten a reputation as a QB graveyard. The deal is reported to be for 4 years and will create a 4-player cluster at the position along with former Express starter Aaron Murray, and 2016 backup Brad Gradkowski and the recently acquired Tajh Boyd.   January 20 SIGNING: Memphis 1st round (Open Draft) pick Ryan Ramczyck becomes the first NFL first rounder to opt for the USFL, signing a 3-year deal to play for the Showboats.   January 20 TRADE: With the Bandits unable to secure guard help in the draft, they make a deal to acquire Daniel Bruskill from the Chicago Machine, sending HB James Wilder Jr to Chicago.   January 22 SIGNING: The first high round T-Draft selection signs with the USFL as Wolverine safety Jabril Peppers chooses to join the Michigan Panthers.   January 23 SIGNING: A day after Peppers signs on in Michigan, New Orleans gets a major coup, with the signing of LSU halfback Leonard Fournette. Fournette was the 4th overall player taken by the NFL, a very high pick for a quick USFL jump, but the LSU product now gets to stay in the state and, by all accounts, gets a very competitive 3-year deal to do so.   January 25 TRADE: Washington, having not drafted a halfback to replace Deuce McCalister, finds their solution at tailback, cutting a deal with the Oakland Invaders to send Donald Brown to the Federals in trade for DE David Bass and future draft picks. Brown, who rushed for 910 yards and 8 touchdowns as part of a tandem with Knile Davis in Oakland now becomes a clear lead back in Washington. Rumors fly that the willingness of the Invaders to trade Brown comes with good news about surprise T-Draft selection, Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey.   January 28 TRADE: Charlotte trades 2016 starting QB Brandon Wheedon to the Dallas Roughnecks for a 3rd rounder in 2018 and a conditional pick in 2019. This almost certainly guarantees that the Monarchs have UNC QB Mitch Trubisky signed and ready to announce that he will join the USFL and not the NFL Chicago Bears.   January 30 SIGNING: As many suspected, 2 days after trading Brandon Wheedon, the Charlotte Monarchs present Mitch Trubisky as the newest member of the team. The UNC quarterback agrees to a 4-year deal with a 5th year option and could well start the season as the number 1 QB, ahead of veteran backup Tyler Thigpen.   February 2 SIGNINGS: The Trubisky deal seems to have broken the wall, as several top picks from both drafts make their decisions and sign on the dotted line. Coming to the USFL are LB Haasan Reddick (PHI), TE O. J. Howard (ATL), CB Tra’Davious White (NOR), OT Cam Robinson (BIR), and WR Curtis Samuel (OHI). NFL clubs get deals signed for the following USFL picks: DE Myles Garrett (LA), CB Marshon Lattimore (OHI), HB Joe Mixon (OKL), HB Kareem Hunt (CHA), and DE Solomon Thomas (SEA). The two remaining high-grade QB prospects, Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson remain uncommitted.   February 4 TRADE: Failing to sign 1st round pick Solomon Thomas, Seattle makes a deal with the Philadelphia Stars to acquire some edge rush help. The Stars send Muhammad Wilkerson to the Dragons in exchange for a 4th round pick in 2018. Wilkerson had been bumped out of a starting job in Philadelphia by the arrival of Malik Jackson, limited to only 5 sacks as a swing DE in 2016. Wilkerson will now rotate with Deshon Hall opposite Travis LaBoy in Seattle.   February 6 SIGNINGS: We get our next QB decision along with several other early selection decisions. Patrick Mahomes opts not to join the Tampa Bay Bandits, leaving the USFL club with a major issue at QB, signing a 4-year deal with Kansas City of the NFL, despite Alex Smith having a strong 2016 campaign with the Chiefs. The decision means that at present Dak Prescott and Pat White remain the two primary QB options in Tampa Bay. Other signings on the day include, for the USFL, WR Mike Williams (JAX), WR John Ross (SEA), DE Charles Harris (STL), DE Takkarist McKinley (SD), and TE David Njoku (ORL), and for the NFL—with USFL pick indicated, WR Corey Davis (STL), DE Derek Barnett (MEM), DE Jonathan Allen (PIT), LB T. J. Watt (NJ), and OT Garrett Bolles (MEM).   And that brings us to today, with many players still out there, including Deshaun Watson, claimed by both the Philadelphia Stars and the Houston Oilers, and Stanford HB Christian McCaffrey, drafted by two local clubs, the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Invaders. We expect to hear news on both in the upcoming days, and will report on all the USFL and NFL signings in our preseason edition.   The Upcoming NFL-USFL Transfer Window We finish our second offseason report with a look at the upcoming NFL-USFL Transfer Window and the players who could be at the top of everyone’s list. As is typical, the USFL pool at this time is quite limited, while the NFL pool is significantly larger, with NFL free agency starting only a week ago. We will cover this in two ways, first by looking at the top free agents in both leagues, and then with a quick rundown of the USFL teams that have glaring needs yet to be filled, with a possible NFL import their best chance to find a match. We start with the USFL veterans still unsigned at this time:   SS Darren Sharper: A bit of a surprise, at only 34, he could still be a valuable addition. FB Rick Razzano: A solid player at an undervalued position. FS Mike Doss: A member of the Breakers’ title-winning defense looking for a home. LB Ernie Sims: The former Stallions could be NFL bound. DT John McCargo: Knee issues have added questions to his potential signing. DT Tommy Harris: Ohio would love to resign him, but not at his asking price. C Andre Gurode: Injuries and age are a concern for the veteran pivot. TE Ben Hartsook: Did not want to return to Atlanta, but has yet to find a new home. HB Chris Johnson: His half-year stint with Tampa Bay was unimpressive. HB LeMichael James: Has bounced around several teams in recent years. CB Morris Claiborne: Federals tired of frequent blown coverages. HB Steven Ridley: A solid bit player, but not a primary back. CB Asante Samuel: Turns 35 in 3 weeks, and has lost a step.   While the USFL pool has only a few players that may pique NFL interest, the NFL pool is more robust and could provide some late-offseason support to a USFL team in need. Here are our picks for the 20 best prospects in the NFL free agent pool at this time:   CB Stephon Gilmore: Very strong in man coverage. The gem of this pool for sure. OT Luke Joeckel: A Number one overall pick and starting LT for the Jaguars. DE Andre Branch: 5.5 Sacks in 2016, but with potential for more. G Ron Leary: Perhaps the best interior lineman in a pretty shallow pool. QB E. J. Manuel: A 1st round QB pick by the Bills who has yet to reach his potential. DT Stefan Charles: A solid run stuffer who can take on double teams. QB Blaine Gabbert: Another 1st round pick, though he has struggled in the NFL. S Rafael Bush: A very solid safety who can play either position. TE Martellus Bennett: A solid pass catcher and decent blocker. HB Christine Michael: Had 7 TDs and over 500 yards with the Seahawks in 2016. K Robbie Gould: With several teams trying out kickers, this veteran could be a find. S Terrance Newman: Former Cowboy & Bengal hoping for maybe 1-2 more years. QB Geno Smith: The former Jet is looking to rehab his image with a new team. LB Nick Perry: Had over 50 tackles and 11 sacks for the Packers last year. DE Darryl Tapp: A savvy veteran but coming to the end of his career. CB T. J. McDonald: Good in zone, and a potential nickel back. LB Lawrence Timmons: A 10-year vet with the Steelers, likely looking for 1-2 more years. QB Mike Glennon: Has looked good in limited action. Could develop into a starter. CB Asa Jackson: After 3 separate stints in Baltimore, a journeyman with some skills. DT Corbin Bryant: A former Bear, Steeler and Bill reserve, looking for a shot to start.   So, who may be in the market for one of these NFL free agents? The Transfer Window is unpredictable, but there are a few teams who come to mind as needing some last minute support. Here is our pick of the five teams most likely to be taking a long look at the players listed above.   Tampa Bay —Looking for a QB Losing out to the NFL on Patrick Mahomes leaves Tampa Bay with a very tenuous situation. They have both their 2016 starter and the 2016 rookie who took over and finished out the season in Pat White and Dak Prescott, but fans want another option, and we suspect that new Head Coach June Jones would also like one. Gabbert and Manuel seem the most likely potential targets, though both come in as damaged goods after rough starts to their pro careers.   OHIO —Needs a Kicker The Glory are the only kickerless team that did not draft a rookie kicker. There are several USFL free agents still out there at that position, but none of them have the leg that Robbie Gould of the Bears has. Ohio should jump at the chance to land Gould before another NFL club does.   DALLAS —Lots of Defensive Needs The Roughnecks’ defense was just plain rough last year, and they lost a ton of starters in free agency, so Dallas would be wise to look up and down the free agent list of the NFL and see if they can bring in some new blood. They are still strong on the cap, so they have funds to do so.   WASHINGTON —Veteran Safety Help Needed We see no better matchup of need and talent than safety Rafael Bush to the Federals. They need some veteran presence back there and Bush would be an ideal fit. ST. LOUIS —Any Help is Welcome The Skyhawks are another team whose defense just does not look good right now. We know it was not good last year, so they need to see if they can find some money to sign someone. That is the big issue, however, as they just do not have much cap room. If they can restructure some contracts now, they could look at someone like LB Nick Perry or DT Stefan Charles, but they need to get more cap space first.   We will be back with you in just 4 short weeks, as camps wrap up and all 28 USFL teams prepare for opening week. By then we will have the full draft signing roundup, any NFL transfers in place, and any last minute trades to report to you. We will also preview all 28 clubs, look at potential high impact faces in new places, and give you our always earnest, often way off, preseason picks and predictions. It is almost time for the season to start, and we are excited to bring it to you on This Week in the USFL.

October 14, 2016 Ten weeks after the Arizona Wranglers won their second title and the league is already beginning to look a lot different from the 2016 season. Whether it is new coaches in place across the league, free agent signings, NFL imports, or some early offseason trades, the USFL offseason is transforming teams across the country, and with the draft still 3 months away, there is still a lot of change expected. We will run through it all, all the moves, signings, and deals, but we start with the big move that has not yet happened, and all the players involved. The fate of QB Eli Manning could well have a ripple effect on free agency and the draft as teams scramble to find one of the toughest needles in the pro football haystack, a franchise quarterback.   Manning Being Courted By Up to 8 Teams, With No Decision in Sight Eli & Brother Peyton on Late Night It is the story of the offeseason.  After putting together his best season in over 10 years, leading the Memphis Showboats into the Summer Bowl, Eli Manning became a free agent on July 30th and since then he has had more suitors than the prom queen. He may be relaxing this offseason, spending time with family, his brother Peyton (making the late night TV rounds) and letting his agent do the hard work, but his agent is absolutely frantic this offseason. Teams with every type of QB situation have reached out to him and his agent to try to see if a deal is possible. We know that only one team will succeed, and that several others could end up with tricky QB rooms as they try to explain to their current starter why they were wooing Manning all offseason.  For his part, Eli has not made a public statement. His agent, Tom Condon, has also been largely quiet, though there have been some hints that a decision will be made before December and team mini-campus. So, just who appears to be in the race?  We will run down the teams in competition for Manning’s services, from least likely to most likely in the Manning sweepstakes, but just like our preseason picks, our guess on who could win this particular lottery is just that, a guess. PHILADELPHIA: We are calling the Stars a longshot in the Manning sweepstakes for two reasons. The first is that they still have Matt Gutierrez, a more than serviceable starter, under contract through 2019, so switching to Manning now would be both pricey and unneeded. Yes, we agree that Gutierrez has not been as good the past two years as his initial years, but he is still a very viable option and Philadelphia could be just 1-2 pieces away from making a run, so we don’t think their pursuit will last into the final stages of Manning making a pick. ST. LOUIS: The Skyhawks have absolutely reached out to Condon about Manning, but they, like Philadelphia, have a very serviceable quarterback locked in through 2019. St. Louis would be better served bringing in a stronger backup to support Josh Freeman or to challenge him, but Manning is not going to want to take on that role, so we don’t see their campaign as being too serious. CHARLOTTE: The Monarchs are certainly hoping to move on from Brandon Wheedon, who had just a brutal second half to the season and is just far too interception-prone to continue uncontested as the starter. Charlotte would be a solid landing spot for Manning, but we have our money on the Monarchs making a play for UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky, whose 2016 campaign has started off very strong.  Getting Trubisky on a 4-year rookie contract would certainly be a better financial move than 2 years of Manning at a much higher cost, and has more long term upside as well. MEMPHIS: Would Manning, after they year he just put in, be willing to return to the Showboats?  He certainly would have the best shot of repeating his strong 2016 campaign if he stayed with the same coach and receivers, but the move to draft and sign Paxton Lynch still has to sting, and the threat of getting pulled for the high price rookie would still be a factor.  We think Memphis has a decent shot at getting Manning to finish up with the Showboats, but not at a discount price, and not if ownership wants to push the Paxton Lynch era into the present. ATLANTA: There is no mystery about Atlanta’s QB situation.  Kyle Orton is not the answer, and neither is Brad Gradkowski.  The Fire have a decent cap situation and can rework some deals to try to lure Manning to town, and in signing Bruce Arians to be their new head coach they have a QB friendly option for the veteran.  Manning would also be a good local fit with his Southern roots and pedigree.  LAS VEGAS: The Vipers did not expect to be here, but when Cody Pickett surprised us and them with his retirement announcement, they suddenly raced to the top of the list. Las Vegas would certainly be a high-visibility landing spot for Manning, one he could parlay into more sponsorship deals on the side. It is also not a horrible situation for a veteran QB.  He would be uncontested as the starter, with a solid roster around him, and the chance to expand his regional draw beyond the south after playing in New Orleans, Orlando, and Memphis over his career. OHIO: Whether or not Ohio is a serious contender for Manning depends very much on if Tom Coughlin can provide him with assurances that offense will be a priority. It has not been over the past couple of years, and Coughlin is not known as an offensive guru or a “players’ coach”.  Ohio has the money available, is more than happy to drop Brock Osweiler to make space, and would have funding to bring in some additional weapons if Manning insists on it. But, Columbus  is not a big market and Ohio would be one of the least impactful locations for Manning if he cares about his marketability. TAMPA BAY: You knew we had to put the Bandits on this list, and near the top as well. Yes, both Pat White and 2016 rookie Dak Prescott are under contract, but with a new head coach in June Jones, one who wants to run a pass-happy run & shoot variant, he may well want a QB with a lot more experience and a better track record. Manning makes sense for the Bandits, if they can find the right combination of incentives, funding, and sponsorship options for the veteran QB.  It also would not hurt to get Troy Aikman and Daunte Culpepper to talk to Manning about the Bandit fanbase and their devotion to their QBs. So, there you have it, 8 teams all vying for one player. We place Tampa Bay, Ohio, and Las Vegas as the top 3 potential landing spots, with Atlanta, Memphis and Charlotte as viable options and both St. Louis and Philadelphia as longshots.  But, the USFL is a wild and wacky place and by our next report we could find Manning almost anywhere.  Guess we will just have to wait and see. We already mentioned above a few new coaching situations, but we had five positions open this July, and after only 10 weeks we have only one left. Let’s run through the moves made and then finish up with the last club still without a head coach, along with what the new hires may be bringing to their teams.  ATLANTA:  Former St. Louis Head Coach Bruce Arians The Fire were the first to sign a coach, jumping on the chance to bring in 2012 Summer Bowl Champion Bruce Arians. Clearly they feel that St. Louis made a mistake in letting him walk after a pair of rough seasons. The hope in Atlanta is that Arians will revive a pretty moribund offense, while also instilling a culture change for a team that has played 11 seasons and never sniffed the sweet air of a Summer Bowl. What to expect from Arians?  Well, based on the experience in St. Louis, he is going to want a balanced offense that requires both a solid run game and a QB who can make plays when the script goes sideways.  He will run a jovial, open locker room, and give his players a lot of freedom to be themselves, if they are puling their weight each gameday. We see this as a very good move for a franchise that still struggles to define itself.   LAS VEGAS: Former Washington & UCLA Head Coach Rick Neuheisel We list Neuheisel’s more recent positions above, but USFL fans know him as the one-time USFL QB of the mid-80’s and perhaps as a pretty short-lived coach for the LA Express. Neuheisel’s first time around as a head coach in the USFL was, to be kind, not ideal. The expansion Express struggled to be competitive, and Rick was out after only 3 seasons. However, since then he has grown into coaching, finding success with both the Huskies and the Bruins.  Eager to return to the pro game, we expect Neuheisel to focus on player development and to bring back a little bit of the freewheeling style of the early years of the USFL. Now, the question is, can he find himself a QB who wants to join that kind of atmosphere?  SEATTLE: Former Charger, Oregon, and Nebraska head coach Mike Riley. Riley has bumped back and forth between the college game and the pros over his career, with short stints as well in the CFL and the USFL (2 years in San Antonio with the Texans).  He will join a Seattle team that wanted a bit more seasoning in their new head coach, and perhaps a bit of straightforward structure for the team. Riley will focus primarily on defense, leaving the offensive game planning to his OC, Mike Johnson.  What can we expect from Riley’s Dragons? Well, we think Joseph Addai will be happy, because the run game will certainly be an emphasis, especially with 2016 rookie Jacoby Brissett expected to return as the starter in 2017. The defense will likely put more emphasis on pass rush, and the team as a whole should look for a “return to basics” approach.   TAMPA BAY: Former Hawaii and SMU head coach June Jones. If Las Vegas bringing in Rick Neuheisel reminds folks of the old days of the early USFL, June Jones could be a huge wayback machine moment.  Jones cut his teeth in Mouse Davis’s Run & Shoot and has been one of the system’s biggest advocates for 30 years. Yes, the style of multiple-receiver, shotgun formations and short passing with a lot of attention on run after the catch may now be called the Spread Offense, but we all know what it really is. It’s Mouse Davis’s Run & Shoot, and Jones is perhaps the biggest proponent of the system around today. So, with the Bandits, what do we expect? We expect them to try to find a true lead back, someone who can take on defenders without a fullback or a tight end helping out.  We should expect more 3 and 4 receiver sets, and more quick throws. Now, who will be delivering those throws? That is very much in question.    ST. LOUIS:  To Be Determined The Skyhawks are playing the waiting game, which likely means that they have someone in the NFL as their top candidate. Just who that is we don’ know, but our suspicion is that it is likely an offensive coordinator, someone who will help revitalize a once-potent Skyhawk passing game, and someone who will alter the success of the team without necessarily altering the style of play or personnel needs of a team that simply does not have the cap room right now for a full roster overhaul. No power run, smashmouth offense, no spread, but someone who can run what they want to run with the players St. Louis has on their roster.  Expect St. Louis to name that person at some point in January, as soon as current NFL coaches are freed up to talk to potential new employers. In the meantime, the GM and his staff will be tasked with adding talent to a roster that  has lost and could still lose a few big pieces this offseason.   The first month or two of the offseason is when we tend to see the bulk of the retirement announcements from the league, and this year we had a larger than usual list of players, some of them potential Hall of Fame candidates in 5 years. Some we have already discussed, some are new to our list, but all will impact their teams with their departures.  Rather than go team by team, we thought it made more sense to go by position, discussing potential impact along the way. So, here, without further ado, is the retirement class of 2016, some of whom (highlighted in bold font) we may be considering for gold jackets in 2021.   Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (HOU),  Byron Leftwich (SEA), Cody Pickett (LV), Quincy Carter (NOR), Chad Henne (PHI)   While Houston seems prepared for Hasselbeck’s retirement, with Colt McCoy primed to step in, not everyone was that lucky. Seattle appears ready to move ahead with Jacoby Brissett but that is a big leap of faith. Las Vegas was somewhat sideswiped by Cody Pickett’s retirement and may well spend the rest of the offseason trying to find a solution for the short term. As for the Hall, while some may argue that Leftwich deserves consideration, there will be little doubt that Matt Hasselbeck will be a front runner from this year’s retirees.   Halfback Deuce McCallister (WSH) , Rashard Mendenhall (DAL), Darren McFadden (CHA), Cadillac Williams (JAX), Antonio Pittman (DAL), Kevin Smith (POR).   We count 4 USFL franchises who are losing their primary back, including the legend and certain 1st ballot Hall of Famer (Deuce McCallister).  Of the four teams looking to find a new bell cow back, Charlotte may be in the best situation if Adrian Peterson continues to improve the further he gets from his ACL surgery. Dallas may be in the worst position, losing their starter and a key backup. Look for them to go for a back in the draft. Charlotte added Travares Cadet in free agency, and may be happy with their 4-back group right now. Washington will need to either use up some draft capital or to make a move in free agency because they don’t want to go into the season with Wendell Smallwood and Shane Vereen as their main options. RECEIVERS: Early Doucet (NOR), Nate Burleson (SEA), Roddy White (LA), Chris Chambers (BIR), Mike Sims-Walker (BAL), David Tyree (ARZ), Sam Hurd (ORL)   No obvious Hall of Famers here, as Doucet’s career of 8 years is likely not long enough to convince voters. That is not to say he will not be missed in New Orleans.  We initially thought Kenny Britt would jump up to the number one slot, but New Orleans made a huge move in free agency (see below) and now have to be happy with their Top 3 receivers. Seattle is likely to go with their 2 NFL imports (Sanders and Wallace), moving Legedu Naanee into the slot position. LA traded for Demaryius Thomas and should pair him with Nelson Agholor outside. So, while the big 3 receivers retiring this year are important players, their teams seem ready to move ahead without major draft capital needed at the position.   Tight End Antonio Gates (BAL) , Daniel Graham (ARZ), L. J. Smith (CHA)   The Gates retirement will be a tough one to overcome for the Blitz.  He is a sure-fire Hall of Famer someday, and right now their best alternative is Jacob Tamme, a serviceable receiver but hardly a target that strikes fear into defenders. Arizona had already largely phased Daniel Graham out of most passing downs in favor of Jimmie Graham, and Charlotte had promoted Brandon Pettigrew (when healthy) to the starting job.  So, Baltimore seems the most impacted and should likely invest in a tight end via trade or the draft.   Offensive Line: C Jeff Faine (MGN), C Ryan Kalil (MEM), G Harvey Dahl (DAL), G Steve Edwards (PHI), T Barrett Brooks (MEM)   Memphis loses 2 pieces of their offensive line group, though Barrett was not a starter. The biggest loss may be in Michigan, where Faine was the captain of that line and will be tough to replace. Expect them to look at a big body out of the Big 10, though backup David Molk may also get a shot. In Memphis, veteran T. J. Johnson is the most likely candidate to step into Kalil’s position.    Defensive End: Reynaldo Wynn (TEX/OKL),  Keneche Udeze (LA), David Bowns (JAX), Adewale Ogunleye (SD), Antwan Odom (LA)   The Express lose not only Udeze, but Antwan Odom as well, meaning they will have to prioritize edge rush this offseason. Expect at least 1 draft pick dedicated to the position. The Outlaws lose perhaps the face of their defense, and while Chris Harrington will probably be moved from RE to LE, they will need to add someone opposite him. Could a draft pick be the solution?   Defensive Tackle: Jason Ferguson (ATL), Alan Branch (SEA), Keyonta Marshall (ATL)   Atlanta loses two members of their 4-man rotation at the position. We thought they would lobby hard to bring Albert Haynesworth in from Orlando, but they did not. With neither Seattle or Atlanta signing Haynesworth, it looks like both will look to add depth and talent at the DT position in this year’s draft.   Linebacker: Brian Urlacher (CHI), Hunter Hillenmeyer (CHA),  Kevin Burnett (WSH), Justin Durant (OHI), Brian Allen (BIR) Two potential Hall of Famers are retiring this year. Both Chicago and Charlotte have already started to address the huge holes left behind through free agency, Chicago with Breaker LB Kevin Minter and Charlotte with Gabe Miller from the Bulls. Two very good players, to be sure, but perhaps still a step down from the impact Urlacher and Hillenmeyer had on each defense. Cornerback: Randall Gay (NOR), Willie Middlebrooks (LV), Keiwan Ratliff (MEM), Adolph Petrie (BIR) Gay saved his best for last, finishing this season as the USFL’s interception leader. The Breakers still have Patrick Peterson and may try to promote nickel Rashard Robinson up to the 2 slot, but don’t be surprised if they also add an early round corner in the draft. As for Las Vegas, the emergence of Shaquille Richardson this year, makes Middlebrooks’s retirement a bit easier to stomach.                 Safety: Willie Andrews (HOU), Coy Wire (SD), Chad Scott (ORL)   Three very talented safeties, and very good leaders in the secondary as well. Houston really does not have an answer at free safety right now. San Diego has two candidates on the roster in Duke Williams and Jonathan Amaya, so they may stand pat.  Orlando looks to have a bare cupboard.  Expect them to potentially add an NFL veteran or to draft, maybe both.   Specialists: K David Green (OHI), P Craig Jarrett (SD), P John Carlton (PHI)   While Ohio would like to get someone with experience, a strong leg may be more important and so we could see them using a late round pick on a kicker. Philly and San Diego are likely to wait until after the draft to find a punter, either a veteran or a rookie free agent.   Rather than go through each step of the offseason (trades, free agency, NFL transfers) and have you try to piece together what it might mean for your favorite team, we thought we would go a different route, looking team by team to see what departures and arrivals are of the highest impact and to take a quick look at what needs are still most glaring as we continue into the winter and preparations for the College Draft in January.  So, going division by division, and alphabetically within each, here is what has occurred and what needs remain outstanding for each USFL club as they prepare for 2017.     BALTIMORE BLITZ Biggest Departures: TE Antonio Gates (Ret), FB Quinn Johnson (NFL), C Ryan Pontrbriand (NFL), C Richie Incognito (FA-LV) Free Agent Signings: LB Clint Sintim (Re-Signed) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: The biggest hit was certainly Antonio Gates choosing to retire, though the loss of both Pontbriand and Incognito also makes center a priority. Needs to be Met: Tight End, Center, Tackle, and fullback are pretty obvious needs. Rumors have the Blitz looking to get a veteran tight end, either by trade or free agency, but nothing is certain yet. In the draft, expect them to focus on the O-liine and perhaps find a fullback. T-Draft Prospects: Baltimore, due to low prospect numbers from their 3 protected schools, was granted a 4th school, Toledo, which could be a good spot for them, especially if they are interested in HB Kareem Hunt.    NEW JERSEY GENERALS Biggest Departures: DE Michael San (NFL), SS Anthoine Bethea (NFL) Free Agent Signings: SS Marquestan Huff (STL) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: Not much to choose from, but landing a quality safety after the NFL snapped up Bethea was a needed move to be sure. Needs to be Met: the Generals would like to add a back behind MJD, and could also look at depth at guard, defensive tackle, and wide receiver.  That list tells us they are really happy with their 22 starters right now. T-Draft Prospects: Our favorite player from New Jersey’s 3 protected schools is pretty obvious, LB/DE T. J. Watt, brother of NFL superstar J. J. Watt. But don’t sleep on another defender, BC’s sparkplug, Matt Milano.   PHILADLEPHIA STARS Biggest Departures: QB Chad Henne (Ret), P John Carlton (Ret), G Steve Edwards (Ret), WR Marshall Newhouse (FA-SEA) Free Agent Signings: DE Sen’Drick Marks (CHA), SS Glover Quinn (WSH), QB Tony Pike (OHI) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: The Stars think they have solved their backup QB position with Pike coming over from Ohio, but, of course, the question of if they are satisfied with Matt Gutierrez was raised by their interest in Eli Manning, so Pike may well be looking at 3rd string if somehow Philly wins the Manning sweepstakes. Needs to be Met: Aside from any QB issues, Philadelphia wants to add some bodies at linebacker, defensive tackle, land a new punter, and perhaps some O-line depth. T-Draft Prospects: The Penn State pipeline does not have a lot for Philadelphia this year, though we do like WR Chris Godwin. However, Temple could be a good source for young talent with Philly looking at LB Haasan Reddick, DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, and OG Dion Dawkins as potential prospects.   PITTSBURGH MAULERS Biggest Departures: OT Jared Gaither (NFL), LB Buster Davis (NFL), HB Charles Sims (FA-DAL) Free Agent Signings: None to date. Trades: Sent DT Josh Boyd to Seattle for HB Jay Ajayi Biggest Move So Far: The trade for Ajayi is the only positive move so far for Pittsburgh. Expect to see the back on third down and in kick returns. Needs to be Met: If Ajayi meets their need for a speed back, then the biggest remaining needs are at QB (a backup to Dalton), linebacker, corner, and tackle.  T-Draft Prospects: We expect the Maulers to take a shot at HB James Conner, a local favorite, but they could also look at Pitt’s Nate Peterman as a possible backup for Dalton, or CB Rasul Douglas as a good prospect at cornerback, out of West Virginia.    WASHINGTON FEDERALS Biggest Departures: HB Deuce McCallister (Ret), LB Kevin Burnett (Ret), WR Kelvin Benjamin (FA-DEN), SS Glover Quinn (FA-PHI), HB Jacob Hester (FA-MEM) Free Agent Signings: LB Shawne Merriman (DEN), WR Keenan Allen (OAK) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: The Feds have landed two immediate impact players in Merriman and Allen.  We expect Merriman to step right into Kevin Burnett’s role at the center of the Federal linebacker group, while Allen will get his shot to be a true number one receiver, or at least 1B with Brandon LaFell also hoping to be a frequent target for David Garrard. Needs to be Met: Washington has quite a few, including G, FS, CB, SS, LB and CB, but the most obvious is at halfbak, where they need to find someone who can be their primary ball carrier.  T-Draft Prospects: The Federals added Vanderbilt this year as a protected school, butwe still see Virginia and Virginia Tech as their best pools of talent.  For example, safety Chuck Clark of Va Tech seems a natural fit, as would TE Bucky Hodges or WR Isaiah Ford, all current Hokies who should be there for the Feds in the T-Draft. ATLANTA FIRE Biggest Departures: DT Jason Ferguson (Ret), DT Keyonta Marshall (Ret), QB Kellen Clemons (FA-POR) Free Agent Signings: None to date. Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: The only moves we can really speak of for Atlanta have been extensions and re-signings made to free up more cap room. In theory the Fire, a prime candidate in the Manning Sweepstakes, have more than enough room, but that may be because they also need to add more receiver talent if they want to attract Manning. Needs to be Met: We already said it, quarterback.  Outside of that obvious need, there is also TE, CB, DT, and LB on their list. T-Draft Prospects: With Williams in the fold, interest in Georgia’s Isaiah McKenzie may not be as big as first thought. They could go with kicker Harrison Butker out of Georgia Tech, but also added both VCU and Georgia State as supplementals due to the small crop of eligible players coming out of their top 3 schools. One potential player of interest from those smaller schools is tight end Mo Alle-Cox.   CHARLOTTE MONARCHS Biggest Departures: HB Darren McFadden (Ret), TE L. J. Smith (Ret), WR Donte Do (NFL), DE Sen’Drick Marks (FA-PHI), WR James Hardy (FA-PHI) Free Agent Signings: DE Gabe Miller (JAX), CB Zachary Bowman (SD) Trades: Sent HB William Bethea and DE Obum Gwacham to the Panthers for DE Anthony Zettl.  A good two-for-one deal that helps Charlotte build a passrush with a potential impact player on the edge. Biggest Move So Far: The moves so far have been solid if unspectacular.  It is clear in the Miller signing and the Zettl trade that Charlotte wants to upgrade their pass rush, which seems like a good idea, creating some rotation alongside Chandler Jones (10 sacks in 2016). Needs to be Met: The Monarchs are in the Eli Manning hunt, but are also actively pursuing UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky, so we expect Brandon Wheedon to be out of a job come March.  Other than QB, the Monarchs want to add more depth to the receiving corps, and would love to improve the O-line as well. T-Draft Prospects: Other than Trubisky, the big fish in their protected pool, NC State safety Josh Jones, UNC wideout Mack Hollins, or possibly LB Marquel Lee, another Tarheel talent.   JACKSONVILLE BULLS Biggest Departures: HB Cadillac Williams (Ret), DE David Bowens (Ret), WR Sinorice Moss (NFL), QB Adrian McPherson (FA-CHI) Free Agent Signings: None Trades: Jacksonville brought in HB Andre Williams from Denver, along with a 5th round pick by sending OT Ronnie Stanley to the Gold. Biggest Move So Far: The trade with Denver was really the only action from the Bulls so far. We don’t see Andre Williams as the solution with Cadillac Williams retiring, so expect more options at HB to be considered. Needs to be Met: We would point to halfback, wide receiver, linebacker and defensive end, but picking up another running QB to back up Griffin without changing schemes would be wise too. T-Draft Prospects: As odd as it may seem, we don’t see Jacksonville pursuing DeShaun Watson, not with Griffin in house already.  Perhaps they trade away the option on Watson, allowing them more picks in the open draft. Others in the T-Draft pool that could be better options for Jacksonville include WR Mike Williams from Clemson, LB Jarrad Davis of Florida, or possibly another gator LB in plugger Alex Anzalone.   ORLANDO RENEGADES Biggest Departures: WR Sam Hurd (Ret), SS Chad Scott (Ret), WR DeShaun Jackson (NFL), OT Cameron Fleming (FA-MGN), TE Daniel Fells (FA-DAL), OT James Carpenter (CHI), DT Albert Haynesworth (FA-HOU) Free Agent Signings: WR Tandon Doss (BIR), Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: Not a positive one, but Albert Haynesworth leaving for a 2-year deal with the Gamblers is a big blow.  There was little chance Orlando could resign him, but still, to have him stay in the conference is not what they would have wanted. Needs to be Met: Just look at the list of departed players and you get the idea: DT, DE, SS, WR are the big ones. T-Draft Prospects: Having U. of Miami in their pool is usually a huge help for the Renegades. So, this year, how about TE David Njoku, QB Brad Kaaya, S Rayshawn Jenkins, or G Danny Isidora?  They should also take a long look at UCF cornerback Shaquill Griffin, a quality player with high upside.   TAMPA BAY BANDITS Biggest Departures: C Jimmy Hook (FA-OKL), WR Davone Bess (FA-OAK) Free Agent Signings: CB Trumaine McBride (DAL0, FS Will Allen (DAL) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: The Bandits have had very few losses, but made a couple of interesting signings, picking up two DB’s from one of the few teams with a worse defense than their own. That said, Will Allen has a proven track record and could be some veteran leadership for the Tampa secondary. Needs to be Met: We still think QB has to be a priority, even if they do like 2016 rookie Dak Prescott. To that add halfback, center, safety, and oh, yes, they need a kicker at some point too. T-Draft Prospects: FSU has the perfect option for them at halfback, speedy and shifty tailback Dalvin Cook should be a priority.  Outside of him, they could look at DE DeMarcus Walker, HB Marlon Mack from USF, or OT Roderick Johnson, another Seminole product.   BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS Biggest Departures: LB Brian Allen (Ret), CB Adolph Petrie (Ret), WR Chris Chambers (Ret), QB Colt Brennan (NFL), OT Marshall Yanda (NFL), WR Donte Moncrief (FA-OAK), WR Tandon Doss (FA-ORL) Free Agent Signings: QB Matt Moore (PHI), LB Philip Wheeler (MEM) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: More departures than additions at this point, though we like Philip Wheeler coming over from rival Memphis. Moore is a serviceable backup and could adapt to the run-pass options that Cam Newton uses as he is pretty fleet of foot. Needs to be Met: The primary need continues to be adding speed and depth to the linebacker group, but Birmingham is also interested in OT, DT, and perhaps some WR help after losing two backups to free agency. T-Draft Prospects: What will Auburn and Alabama provide this year? How about CB Marlon Humphrey, DE Jonathan Allen, and TE O. J. Howard from Bama?  Or they could look at LB Reuben Foster, OT Cam Robinson, or DT Montravius Adams, all available if they want to protect them.   HOUSTON GAMBLERS Biggest Departures: QB Matt Hasselbeck (Ret), FS Willie Andrews (Ret), WR Mike Sims-Walker (Ret), K Dan Carpenter (FA-POR), HB Ben Tate (FA-POR), WR Roy Williams (FA-ATL) Free Agent Signings: DT Albert Haynesworth (ORL), QB Landry Jones (DAL) Trades: Sent SS Duke Williams to San Diego in return for big back Alfred Blue and a 4th rounder. Biggest Move So Far: While the loss of Hasselbeck is big, the Gamblers like what they saw from Colt McCoy last year, and they added Landry Jones as the likely backup.  But the big move is an obvious one, stealing big Albert Haynesworth away from Orlando and adding him to the Houston line has to put a big smile on Wade Phillips’ face. Needs to be Met: Houston is lacking at WR with Roy Williams leaving for Atlanta, so expect that to be a priority.  They also want some help at safety and they need a new kicker after Portland picked up Dan Carpenter. T-Draft Prospects: If Houston can put Texas A&M prospect Miles Garrett next to Haynesworth, they could rival Orlando for their pass rush.  We don’t see the Gamblers going after Patrick Mahomes, but they would be wise to take a trade with a QB-needy team to add the Texas Tech QB. Not a lot of help at other areas of need, though Texas A&M wideout Josh Reynolds has some speed and could be a good depth addition for the WR group.   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS Biggest Departures: C Ryan Kalil (Ret), OT Barret Brooks (Ret), CB Keiwan Ratliff (Ret), LB Philip Wheeler (FA-BIR) Free Agent Signings: HB Jacob Hester (WSH), CB Patrick Robinson (DEN) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: Pursuing Eli Manning. Memphis is by no means guaranteed to get Manning back, that ship may have sailed, but they have to try.  If they cannot resign him, then it will be Paxton Lynch’s team.  If that is the case, then Memphis will want to get him more help than they have so far, only backup HB Hester so far. Needs to be Met: If they cannot persuade Manning to come back, then a veteran at QB2 seems essential in case Lynch struggles.  Other than that obvious situation there is need at OT, LB, and safety. T-Draft Prospects: Our favorite potential target for Memphis is Tennessee HB Alvin Kamara, a possible gem of a 3rd down back. We also like another Vol, DE Derek Barnett.  LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin could be a target, as could CB Cameron Sutton.  Memphis may also look at kicker with Jake Elliott a local favorite out of the U. of Memphis.   NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS Biggest Departures: CB Randall Gay (Ret), WR Early Doucet (Ret), QB Quincy Carter (Ret), LB Kevin Minter (FA-CHI), CB Shaquille Richardson (FA-LV) Free Agent Signings: FS Clyde Adams (TEX/OKL), WR Jordy Nelson (STL), G Vlad Ducasse (NFL) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: The loss of Early Doucet was a gut punch to the Breakers, but they immediately resigned themselves to be players in a very good year for free agent receivers, and they got their man, signing Jordy Nelson away from St. Louis on a 4-year deal. Now Nelson will line up with Kenny Britt for a very good 1-2 punch in the passing game. Needs to be Met: Corner is a need after the Randall Gay retirement,as is CB, backup QB, safety, and quite possibly halfback. More on that just below. T-Draft Prospects: As good as the Breakers have been the past 2 years, Jeremy Hill has not been the back they need to be a dominant team. The good news is that LSU has the answer for them.  The Breakers need to do what they can to land Leonard Fournette, the perfect piece for their offensive needs.  That is a no-brainer.  And if they can add another Bayou Bengal or two, players like safety Jamal Adams, Tra’Davious White, or LB Duke Riley, well it will be a very happy Mardi Gras in Breakerland.   CHICAGO MACHINE Biggest Departures: LB Brian Urlacher (Ret), FB Vontae Leach (Ret), WR Austin Pettis (NFL), DE Connor Barwin (FA-DAL), OT Andrew Whitworth (FA-DAL) Free Agent Signings: QB Adrian McPherson (JAX), OT Charles Brown (LA), OT James Carpenter (ORL), LB Kevin Minter (NOR), OG Kevin Zeitler (Re-Signed) Trades:  Chicago sent QB Mike Kafka to Oklahoma for a 4th round pick, but the biggest shocker of all was that they split up their HB duo, opting to send HB Doug Martin off to Portland for a 3rd round pick and fullback Greg Jones.  That was not expected at all and changes up the run game for certain. Biggest Move So Far: Very little could be done to replace Brian Urlacher, but landing a savvy veteran like Kevin Minter from the Breakers is a pretty good first step. Chicago has been very active, and their O-line has benefited from three signings, so that is a great early start to the offseason. Needs to be Met: Center is still a priority, as is DT, SS, and maybe another LB prospect. We would also not be surprised if they went after a bigger running back for goalline and short yardages situations. T-Draft Prospects: Chicago has several good options in this year’s pool, including Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer, Illinois DE Dawuane Smoot, and NIU wideout Kenny Golloday.  MICHIGAN PANTHERS Biggest Departures: C Jeff Faine (Ret), K Matt Prater (NFL), SS Corey Chavous (NFL) Free Agent Signings: DT Cameron Fleming (ORL), DT Terrell Troupe (OKL) Trades: The Panthers sent DE Anthony Zettle to Charlotte for DE Obum Gwacham and HB William Bethea.  An interesting move that adds depth but no real impact to the Panther roster. Biggest Move So Far: We love that the Panthers addressed the DT position with not one signing but two.  That means they are looking at rotation as a strategy, which seems a good one to us. Needs to be Met: Center is still a big issue with Jeff Faine’s retirement, and Michigan could use a tight end, and some more help in the secondary.  A kicker has to be in the plan as well. T-Draft Prospects: Safety Jabrill Peppers from the Wolverines sems a natural fit, as does CB Jourdan Lewis.  We would have said DT Malik Mcdowell from MSU, but we think the DT position is good as is.  One last possible target is safety Montae Nicholson from MSU.   OHIO GLORY Biggest Departures: LB Justin Durant (Ret), K David Green (Ret), TE Zach Miller (NFL), G Darnell Stapleton (NFL), QB Tony Pike (FA-PHI) Free Agent Signings: QB Troy Smith (POR), G Travis Bond (LA), TE Richard Rodgers (OAK) Trades: Ohio sent DE Isaac Hilton to the Invaders in a 1-for-1 trade to get DT Jarron Gilbert. Biggest Move So Far: Buckeye fans will be happy to see Troy Smith return to the Glory, but the player Glory fans should be excited about is TE Richard Rodgers, who not only helps fill the gap created when Zach Miller left for the NFL, but is a step up as a pass receiver. Needs to be Met: Wideout is a biggie, with LB, HB, and both ST positions, kicker and punter.  Oh, and did we mention that Ohio looks to be a major player in the Eli Manning chase despite continuing to say that they like what they saw from Christian Hackenberg this past season. T-Draft Prospects: Ohio State has some talent ready to roll this year, but it does not really align with Ohio’s main needs.  We do like WR Curtis Samuel as a possible option for the Glory, but CB Marshan Lattimore and S Malik Hooker are great talents in positions that Ohio does not have as priorities.  The Glory could solve their punter issue in the T-Draft also, with Buckeye Cameron Johnston a viable option.   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS Biggest Departures: LB Brandon Siler (NFL), LB Angelo Crowell (NFL), G Brett Williams (NFL), WR Jordy Nelson (FA-NOR), SS Marqueston Huff (FA-NJ) Free Agent Signings: TE James Casey (Re-Sign), WR Terrance Williams (NFL) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: The loss of Jordy Nelson is going to hurt, there is no doubt of that.  While we like that the Skyhawks were able to sign former Cowboy Terrance Williams, we are not sure that is enough, and with their tight cap number, they may not have many options outside of the draft to improve the roster. Needs to be Met: Wideout remains a concern, but ehy also need perhaps 2 LB positions filled, major help at safety and they certainly could improve at DE as well. T-Draft Prospects: The answer for the DE issue may be right here, with Missouri’s Charles Harris, a very adept speed rusher on the edge. St. Louis could also look for a backup QB if they like Iowa’s C. J. Beathard.  Iowa also has an intriguing TE in George Kittle, and a solid CB in Desmond King.     ARIZONA WRANGLERS Biggest Departures: WR David Tyree (Ret), TE Daniel Graham (Ret) Free Agent Signings: DT Glenn Dorsey (Re-sign) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: It has been a very quiet offseason for the league champions, with the biggest deal so far the new deal for DT Glenn Dorsey. Needs to be Met: The Wranglers need a new slot receiver and would like to add a 2nd tight end as well. T-Draft Prospects: Not a great pool for the Wranglers, but with Eastern Washington added to their usual 3 protected teams they could get some value, especially with receivers Kendrick Bourne and Cooper kupp coming out of EWU this year.   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS Biggest Departures: HB Rashard Mendenhall (Ret), HB Antonio Pittman (Ret), G Harvey Dahl (Ret), DT Brandon Mebane (NFL), DE Elvis Dumervil (NFL), QB Landry Jones (FA-HOU), CB Trumaine McBride (FA-TBY), WR Percy Harvin (FA-OKL), FS Will Allen (FA-TBY) Free Agent Signings: HB Charles Sims (PIT), TE Daniel Fells (ORL), OT Andrew Whitworth (CHI) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: No team has seen more departures either from retirement or free agency than Dallas.  But, that said, the Roughnecks have done well in free agency so far, landing quality players in OT Andrew Whitworth and TE Daniel Fells.  They will need to be as aggressive the rest of the offeseason to restock and improve their roster. Needs to be Met: Halfback has to be a priority. Look for them to focus on that position in the draft.  They could also use more help at safety, guard, DT, and they still need to find a replacement for Landry Jones, who headed down to Houston in free agency. T-Draft Prospects: If Dallas wants some home grown halfbacks, they have a few to choose from, including D’Onte Foreman from UT and Aaron Jones at UTEP.  They should also consider taking a run at TCU linebacker Josh Carraway.   DENVER GOLD Biggest Departures: WR Anthony Gonzalez (NFL), WR Leonard Hankerson (NFL), CB Patrick Robinson (MEM), LB Shawne Merriman (WSH) Free Agent Signings: TE Richard Quinn (Re-sign), WR Kelvin Benjamin (WSH) Trades: Sent a 5th round pick and HB Andre Williams to Jacksonville to bolster the line with tackle Ronnie Stanley, a move that could help the Gold run the ball more effectively. Biggest Move So Far: No doubt that the biggest splash the Gold have made so far is landing up and coming receiver Kelvin Benjamin, with Michael Crabtree and veteran Golden Tate, this gives Matt Leinart three very reliable targets. Needs to be Met: Denver needs to find a replacement for Shawn Merriman, a huge gap.  They could actually use at least 2 additional linebackers, along with a corner, and perhaps 1 more receiver. T-Draft Prospects: The best player from Colorado is at corner, Chidobe Auzie, and the best from Nebraska is a safety, Tedric Thompson.  No help at linebacker in their pool, but a possible 3rd selection could be TE Cethan Carter from the Huskers.   LAS VEGAS VIPERS Biggest Departures: QB Cody Pickett (Ret), LB Hunter Hillenmeyer (Ret), CB Willie Middlebrooks (Ret), HB Christian Michael (NFL), WR Lance Moore (FA-BAL), FB Sean Smith (FA-SD), OG Spencer Long (FA-SD) Free Agent Signings: CB Shaquille Richardson (NOR), FB Patric DeMarco (PIT), WR Derek Hagan (OAK) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: A rough combination of free agent departures and retirements, particularly the losses of Hillenmeyer and Pickett.  The biggest move may actually be just restructuring some contracts so that they have enough cap room to even consider bringing in Eli Manning, because otherwise they will need to do some work to get into position to draft a QB. Needs to be Met: QB is job one.  Beyond that, we are still looking at MLB, CB, G, and WR.  There are a lot of holes to be filled and not a lot of cap space right now to fill them. T-Draft Prospects: The Vipers like HB Joe Williams out of Utah as a special teamer and short yardage back, but the rest of their pool is a bit week.  Center J. J. Dielman is a bit of a stretch, but with Incognito gone, Las Vegas may need him if only for depth. Utah WR Tim Patrick and BYU QB Taysom Hill are also interesting options, especially if Hill is willing to be reassigned as a fullback or tight end, since we don’t see him projecting as a drop back passer.   OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS Biggest Departures: DE Reynaldo Wynn (Ret), QB Kyle Boller (NFL), SS Sean Considine (NFL), DT Terrell Troupe (FA-MGN), FS Clyde Adams (FA-NOR) Free Agent Signings: C Jimmy Hook (TBY), WR Percy Harvin (DAL) Trades: The Outlaws sent a 4th round pick to Chicago for backup QB Mike Kafka. Biggest Move So Far: Nothing we would call a big move yet, and Oklahoma has some holes to fill with the departure of half their defensive line starters. Needs to be Met: Defensive end, defensive tackle, and safety are obvious needs, but Oklahoma also needs to add some depth at wide receiver, even after signing Harvin away from Dallas. T-Draft Prospects: Some potential help from their T-Draft pool, including WR Dede Westbrook from OU, some DT depth in OSU’s Vincent Taylor, and, perhaps most importantly, a good looking DE in K-State’s Jordan Willis.  All this plus OU halfback Joe Mixon to consider.     LOS ANGELES EXPRESS Biggest Departures: DE Keneche Udeze (Ret), DE Antwan Odom (Ret), WR Roddy White (Ret), OT Charles Brown (FA-CHI), G Travis Bond (FA-OHI) Free Agent Signings: DE Laurence Jackson (OAK) Trades: None Biggest Move So Far: The dual departure of Udeze and Odom leave a huge need at DE.  We like Laurence Jackson but not as a starting edge rusher, so LA has more work left to do to find a pass rush. Needs to be Met: An effective edge rusher is the top priority, followed by cornerback, guard, defensive tackle, and perhaps a backup QB for Sam Bradford. T-Draft Prospects: We love USC corner Adoree Jackson as a candidate for the Express.  They may also want to look at WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, guard Zach Banner, and DT Stevie Tu’ikotovatu, all strong options out of USC.   OAKLAND INVADERS Bigge st Departures: LB Nick Koutavides (NFL), DE Junior Galette (NFL), WR Pierre Garçon (NFL), WR Derek Hagan (FA-LV), TE Richard Rodgers (FA-OHI), WR Keenan Allen (FA-WSH) Free Agent Signings: WR Donte Moncrief (BIR), Davone Bess (FA-TBY) Trades: Oakland sent DT Jarron Gilbert to Chicago to acquire DE Isaac Hilton Biggest Move So Far: The deal for Hilton was a good one for the Invaders, who need more pressure beyond Cliff Avril on the line.   While losing Keenan Allen is a big loss, we like the addition of Moncrief and Bess, who both play well inside and can help with special teams. Needs to be Met: Another WR would be good, especially a good possession receiver.  But, more important is for the Invaders to shore up the defense with a good OLB, a safety, and some more help at DE. T-Draft Prospects: DE Solomon Thomas from Stanford seems a no-brainer here.  We also think the Invaders could do worse than bringing in Cal QB Davis Webb to learn from Harrington. WR Chad Hensen also makes sense for the Invaders, but we are also hearing rumors that they could zig instead of zagging and make a big move for Stanford HB Christian McCaffrey.  HB is not a position of immediate need, but McCaffrey has all the skills Dennis Green could ever want in a tailback.   PORTLAND STAGS Biggest Departures: WR Kevin Smith (Ret), C Geoff Hangartner (NFL), K Mason Crosby (NFL), DE Cullen Jenkins (NFL), QB Troy Smith (FA-OHI) Free Agent Signings: QB Kellen Clemons (ATL), DE DeMarcus Lawrence (SEA), WR Jordan Shipley (OKL), HB Ben Tate (HOU), DT Domata Peko (NFL), S Duke Ihenacho (NFL) Trades: Perhaps the biggest move of the trading block to date, with Portland landing HB Doug Martin from the Machine in return for a 3rd round pick and FB Greg Jones. Biggest Move So Far: the Stags have been very aggressive early in the offseason, with the Martin trade certainly a highlight, but the addition of Peko and Ihenacho from the NFL could be equally impactful as Portland tries to improve their defense. Needs to be Met: The O-line is a huge concern, with holes at center and guard.  They could also use help in the secondary, at both corner and safety, and they do not currently have a punter on the roster. T-Draft Prospects: Ask for a center and the T-Draft provides one, this time in the shape of OSU’s Sean Harlow. No such luck at guard, however.  We do like LB Tanner Vallejo from Boise State as well as a couple more Beavers, TE Pharaoh Brown and FB Ricky Ortiz.   SAN DIEGO THUNDER Biggest Departures:  DE Adewale Ogunleye (Ret), SS Coy Wire (Ret), P Craig Jarrett (Ret), G Aaron Sears (NFL), CB Zachary Bowman (FA-CHA), DE C. J. Mosely (FA-NOR) Free Agent Signings: FB Sean Smith (LV), G Spencer Long (LV) Trades: The Thunder traded HB Alfred Blue for a position of need, safety, and got a pretty good option in Houston SS Duke Williams. Biggest Move So Far: Nothing huge so far, mostly adding depth and filling a fewer low-cost positions, but no splashy signing to excite the fans. Needs to be Met: Right Tackle is a huge need, with D-line right behind that, maybe another corner, and some depth along the O-line.  That is if the combo of Joe Webb and Christian Ponder feel like what Coach LeBeau wants to work with at QB. T-Draft Prospects: No OT help out of UCLA, SDSU, but perhaps some depth with 3rd school, Minnesota providing OT Conor McDermott.  More there at guard, with Daniel Brunskill or Nico Siragusa out of SDSU. How about some defensive help, with the best UCLA recruit being DE Takkarist McKinley?   SEATTLE DRAGONS Biggest Departures: DT Alan Branch (Ret), QB Byron Leftwich (Ret), WR Nate Burleson (Ret), K Dave Raynor (NFL), DE DeMarcus Lawrence (FA-POR) Free Agent Signings: WR Marshall Newhouse (PHI) Trades: The Dragons got some D-line help in the shape of Josh Boyd from Pittsburgh.  To get him they opted to send special teamer and 3rd down back Jay Ajayi to the Maulers. Biggest Move So Far: For a team that looks like they are starting to rebuild, the Dragons have done very little so far.  Maybe they are waiting for Coach Riley to get his feet under him, but we expected more movement at both wideout and possibly at QB as well. Needs to be Met: WR, LB, QB, and kicker are all holes to fill, but if Seattle wants to improve as a team, they need to get more aggressive on the D-line.  Too many games were lost due to poor line play on defense. T-Draft Prospects: If the Dragons want to replace Nate Burleson with a deep threat receiver, John Ross of UW could be the perfect T-Draft pick.  If not, then how about safety Budda Baker, DT Elijah Quails, or CB Kevin King?   Five Early Offseason Winners and 4 Early Offseason Losers We all know that USFL season is a rough and tumble affair, producing clear winners and losers, ups and downs, surprise successes and big disappointments.  But the offseason is really not that dissimilar, especially for those who follow all the ups and downs of player personnel decisions.  Whether landing the perfect free agent, making the deal that brings a star to town, or landing that mid-draft gem who turns into an All-USFL player, the wins can be enormous.  But, by the same token, teams can see their rosters decimated by free agency, can make a deal only to have a bust on their hands, or even worse, a locker room cancer, or they can make the wrong picks in the draft.  After all, for every Michael Jordan there is a Sam Bowie.  For every Marino there is a Todd Blackledge, and for every Barry Sanders a Tony Mandarich.   So, just 10 weeks into the offseason, are we really ready to declare winners and losers?  Not really, but we can say who we think has come out looking good after the initial free agency blitz and the first NFL-USFL portal.  Still a long way to go, and, of course, we really won’t know which moves worked and which did not until the season plays out, but for an early peak at whose offseason moves have impressed us, here is our list of 5 early fall winners and 5 potential losers:   WINNER: Washington Head Coach Sean Payton First off, we do want to congratulate the Feds for clawing to 8-8 last year, but with the club not having finished over .500 since 2013, and with a playoff record of 3-6 when his teams did make the playoffs, is anyone luckier than Sean Payton to have a job?  Well, this year he may need to earn it, because the retirement of Deuce McCallister is a huge hit to the Federals.  However, even with the departure of their “face of the program”,  Washington may come out stronger.  They will need to address the HB position, of course, but the addition of WR Kelvin Benjamin and Shawne Merriman in the first 2 weeks of free agency is already a huge boost to the Federals’ chances.  Benjamin, in a WR group with Brandon LaFell, Steve Breaston and supersonic sophomore Tyreek Hill will be a very scary group to defend.  On Defense, Merriman steps in at MLB, with two strong linebackers to either side in D’Qwell Jackson and Alec Ogletree.  Washington could well be an oft-picked dark horse this year with these improvements, if, and only if they can find serviceable starting HB.   LOSER: The Skyhawks’ Defensive Coordinator We have no idea who is going to be tasked with running the Skyhawk defense in 2017.  That won’t come until they get a head coach, which may not be until January.  Well, good luck to him. He will need it. St. Louis had the 18th ranked defense last year, and since then have lost LBs Angelo Crowell and Brandon Siler to the NFL, leaving them with an as-yet unfilled hole in their linebacker group that will be tough to fill.  The Skyhawks have almost no cap room to sign veterans, and only 8 total draft picks this year. Whoever gets picked to run this defense will have a handful. The front 7 is a disaster, and the only saving grace in the secondary is CB Vontae Davis, perhaps the only defender on St. Louis who is top 10-15 at his position in the league.   WINNER: Ohio QB Christian Hackenberg Yes, Ohio is in the Eli Manning sweepstakes, but they don’t seem willing to throw the kitchen sink at the free agent QB, and that is a good sign for the 2nd year Penn State QB.  What is even better news is that they look very much like a team that wants to put weapons around their young QB, and help protect him.  Already they have added guard Travis Bond, a young, powerful blocker who will help Isaiah Pead but also help keep Hackenberg upright.  We also really like the addition of Richard Rodgers as a safety valve target for their QB.  They need a speedy receiver to join add to sure handed Mario Manningham and Justin Blackmon, someone who could put some fear in the defense.  He is not signed yet, but Ohio State’s Curtis Samuel would be a great T-Draft addition, and it seems like the Glory know it, scouting him heavily as their scouts scour the Ohio State film.   LOSER: Oakland QB Joey Harrington Harrington is one of those QBs who is always in the conversation, but usually on the outside looking in when we discuss which signal callers are “elite” players.  He is the clear number one in Oakland, but his job could get a heck of a lot tougher this year.  In just 2 short months he has watched as his receiving group disintegrated around him.  Keenan Allen is now in Washington.  Richard Rodgers in Ohio. Derek Hagan in Las Vegas. And Pierre Garçon is already catching passes from Andrew Luck with the Indianapolis Colts.  So, other than Davante Adams, it looks like Harrington will have to adapt to an entirely new receiver group. So far the only additions have been slot receiver Davone Bess and career practice squader Donte Moncrief.  Bess had a solid year with 45 receptions in Tampa last year, but that is the first time he has had more than a dozen receptions since 2010.  Moncrief has yet to catch a regular season pass in 3 seasons with Birmingham. Congratulations, Joey.  Enjoy playing catch with Davante, TE Zach Ertz, and no one else.  Better hope the draft brings some playmakers or it could be a long season for the offense.   WINNER: Houston DE's Dante Fowler, Antwan Applewhite, and Tim Crowder Houston’s pass rushers did quite well last year.  The team as a whole finished 6th in the league with 56 team sacks.  These three edge rushers contributed 29 of those sacks.  But now, after landing the biggest of big fish in free agency, DT Albert Haynesworth, you had better believe Crowder, Fowler, and Applegate are seeing stars, and dollar bill signs, as they can all expect to hit or exceed their sack incentive bonues in 2017.  While Calais Campbell was already a star in Orlando when Haynesworth arrived, there is no way Arthur Moats exceeds 10 sacks 3 of the past 4 years without the big guy eating up blockers in the middle.  Do not be surprised if Coach Phillips lays off the heavy blitzing in Houston and lets his front 4 go at the QB with only minimal LB help. John McCargo might also feel great about this move, as he now will not be facing double teams nearly as much, and could actually participate in the pass rush.  Watch out for this team’s front 4 next year.  It could surpass Orlando as the league’s most feared.   LOSER: The Las Vegas Vipers’ Locker Room One of the most underrated features of a team is their mix of youth and veteran leadership.  Well, Coach Neuheisel is going to have plenty of the former but will be sorely lacking in the latter.  He loses both his starting QB and his MLB, the heart and QB of the defense.  With both Pickett and Hillenmeyer gone, there is a leadership vacuum in Las Vegas.  Neuheisel may have to lean on WR Doug Baldwin to help keep the offensive players focused, while the next potential source of leadership in the defense is only entering his 2nd season with the team, safety Antrel Rolle.  What makes this worse is that it is very hard to import team leaders, since by their nature new additions to a club rarely have the trust of their teammates.  So, Neuheisel will need to find new leaders and prop them up if he wants to maintain control of his squad.  That is such a tough task for a first year coach, especially one who is coming in from the college game, without a long pro resume.   WINNER: Portland Head Coach Pep Hamilton The Stags did not perform as expected last year, and Marcus Mariota had more than a fair share of struggles in his first year as a starter, but things are already beginning to look up for the Stags in 2017.  Portland dealt with salary cap hell last year, but that meant that this year the had more than enough cap room to be aggressive, and they have been.  The Stags signed 2 solid defenders in the NFL transfer window.  Domata Peko will be a nice space-eater in the center of the D-line, and safety Duke Ihenacho is an underrated cover guy who can also lay down some hits.  They then went heavy into free agency, adding DE DeMarcus Lawrence, HB Ben Tate, and backup QB Kellen Clemons, who can be a nice calming voice for Mariota.  But the biggest move by far came just 2 weeks ago when Portland somehow convinced the Chicago Machine that a HB duo was not the way to go and that Doug Martin was expendable.    Running in a duo with Matt Forte last year, Martin managed to top 1,000 yards and had 15 touchdowns.  Why Chicago chose to move him instead of Forte, who had only 837 yards and a paltry 3 touchdowns is beyond us, though we have heard tell of some clashes between Martin and Coach Lovie Smith. So, Chicago’s loss is Portland’s gain, and it is a huge one. The Stags have not been the same since the retirement of Jonahan Stewart, and Martin gives them the one thing that can best help Mariota in 2017, a solid run game.  Portland’s receiver group (Brandin Cooks, Alshon Jeffery, Brian Quick and TE Jordan Camperon) is developing, not great yet, but getting better, Now, add in Martin, with Tate and Felix Jones for relief, and you have a pretty darn good supporting cast for the former Oregon QB.  That can only help Pep Hamilton build the kind of offense that got him the job with the Stags in the first place.   LOSER: Dallas Head Coach Mike Sherman It has not been a good offseason for Coach Sherman. The Roughnecks lose their star halfback, Rashard Mendenhall to what many are calling a premature retirement. He also loses 2 of his front 3 from the 3-4 defense. He also loses backup HB Antonio Pittman, backup QB Landry Jones to the Gamblers, WR Percy Harvin to the Outlaws (these are both division rivals), and two members of his secondary, Will Allen and Trumaine McBride to the Bandits. In other words, the cupboard is looking pretty bare.  Yes, Dallas did make some moves as well, adding DE Connor Barwin and OT Andrew Whitworth from Chicago, HB  Charles Sims from the Maulers, and TE Daniel Fells from Orlando, but the losses are outpacing the gains.  And, potentially worst of all, the league is currently investigating his starting QB, Johnny Manziel, for potential conduct violations tied to a car accident in College Station.  It appears Manziel was back on campus and may have overindulged. There are no formal charges yet, either from local police or from the league but all indications point to a potential DUI, which could bring with it a significant fine and suspension. With Landry jones now in Houston, that could be a huge issue.  Could Sherman’s tenure with the Roughnecks rely on Tyrod Taylor as his starting QB for 4 games or longer? WINNER: QB Eli Manning No doubt that Manning is having the time of his life this offseason.  He has 8 teams apparently vying for him (3-4 likely very seriously), he is almost certainly going to become one of, if not the highest paid QB in the league, and he will likely be welcomed as a hero wherever he lands.  Not bad for a QB who a year ago was being ushered out, asked to mentor his replacement in Memphis, and coming off two pretty unimpressive years in Memphis in which he threw for 24 picks and saw his QB Rating dip into the mid-60’s.  Manning had a career season at the ideal time last year.  He threw for over 4,000 yards, 27 touchdowns and a 97.4 rating.  Not only that but he led his club to the Summer Bowl, demonstrating poise, leadership, and a willingness to accept his role as mentor to Paxton Lynch, all while winning games. It is a mature Manning on the free agency market now.  He is not the long term answer for a club, but he is clearly in a place where he can be a huge benefit to a team right now, and perhaps alter his legacy and our perception of him at the same time. Eight Stories to Watch For in the 2017 Draft Yes the Draft is over 3 months away, but as we go quiet until January, this is our chance to get the first impressions out there and see how we did when we return post-draft with our 2nd offseason report.  Every draft has stories, some tied to specific players, others to teams trying to wheel and deal.  Players will rise over the course of the fall College season, others may drop off.  Someone will get a late round steal, someone else will have their offseason crushed if the player they covet goes elsewhere.   Here is what we see at this very early date as the 10 stories to follow as we gear up for the long winter and January’s draft.   1. Will any of the Big 3 QB prospects survive the T-Draft?  We see three potential top-grade (NFL 1st round) quarterbacks in this year’s draft: Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes, and UNC’s Mitchell Trubisky.  With a good season we could see Notre Dame’s Deshone Kizer possibly added to the bunch.  While Kizer is likely not going to draw interest outside of the Open Draft, the other three could see a lot of interest.  We expect Charlotte to woo Trubisky heavily.  With the issues Brandon Wheedon has had, the Monarchs would love nothing more than to protect, select, and sign Trubisky all during the draft week itself.  Jacksonville could take a run at Deshaun Watson, but they also could stick with Robert Griffin III (an expensive NFL import to cut loose) and offer their T-Draft pick to a team looking for a dual threat QB.  Finally, Mahomes, with a good year at Tech, could be very attractive, but not likely to Houston, who holds Texas Tech rights but is very happy with what they saw from Colt McCoy last year.  We could easily see Houston make a deal to move into the top half of the Open Draft and send the rights to Mahomes to Ohio? Las Vegas? Even St. Louis?   2. Where does Corey Davis end up? It happens every year, one or two potential stars emerge from schools that no USFL team has on their protected list. Last  year it was QB Carson Wentz of NDSU, who ended up snubbing the Ohio Glory for the NFL Eagles.  WR Corey Davis of Western Michigan is the obvious choice this year, along with East Carolina’s Zay Jones.  With receiver always a high priority in the pass-happy USFL, we have no doubt that both Jones and Davis will go within the first 5-10 picks in the league’s open draft.  Heck, if St. Louis holds onto their 1st overall pick, we could easily see them go receiver with the pick, having lost Jordy Nelson in the offseason.  Seattle is 2nd, and they lost Nate Burleson to retirement.  Tampa Bay is 3rd, and June Jones, the new Bandits coach, needs at least 8 receivers on his roster to make the spread run & shoot work.  Then at 4 you have Atlanta, who could use a wholesale overhaul of their offense, and at 6 you have Jacksonville, also in the receiver market.  With two quality options guaranteed to be available in the Open Draft we could see two receivers taken in the first 5 picks, something that has not happened in the USFL in years.   3. Will Houston trade away their top 2 T-Draft picks, and how much will they get for them? The Houston Gamblers are the proverbial cat that ate the canary, with a grin as big as a chesire cat when they think about the T-Draft.  Two of the draft’s top prospects are at Houston’s protected schools Texas A&M and Texas Tech, and both are in positions that Houston does not see as needs.  Houston has a strong pass rush, stronger now with Albert Haynesworth in the middle, so Aggie DE Myles Garrett would be a pure luxury.  They are also very happy with Colt McCoy at QB after strong outings relieving Matt Hasselbeck last year, so they are really not in the market for Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes.  But other teams are not so lucky.  Houston could cash in on their needs, racking up draft picks, perhaps even players, good players, for those two picks.  They won’t get a king’s ransom, no team wants to risk it all for a draft pick who has a 50/50 shot of choosing the NFL instead, but they will certainly expand on their draft capital with trades, and could pick up some solid players in the mix.  Not a bad position for the Southern Division Champion to be in.   4. Who will rise and who will fall on draft day? This is so hard to predict. We have the T-Draft which can pull players out of the main Open Draft pool.  We have 2/3 of a college season yet to play, so who knows if some of the top prospects will shine even more, get hurt, or fail to deliver down the stretch.  We have the long shadow of the NFL as well.  It has been known that a player who is very highly rated by the NFL can slip down the draft in the USFL if teams feel that the player is a lock to go to the fall. So, who do we see as possibly falling or rising?   Here are 4 names to watch.   Rising: Stanford HB Christian McCaffrey.  His talents are pretty self-explanatory, and for a league like the USFL where backs are almost always asked to be receivers as well, he could rise very high in the draft.    Rising: Florida LB Alex Anzalone. We like his pluck and his engine, and we expect USFL teams will value that as well.  He projects as a 3rd rounder but we could see him going late in the 1st if there is a team with a veteran MLB or Strong Side LB who needs a protégé.   Falling: DE Jonathan Allen of Alabama.  The talent is clearly there, but there are concerns about some statements he has made.  He seems luke warm at best at the prospect of joining the Stallions in the T-Draft, something that may cause Birmingham to pass on him.  But he has also hinted that he expects to go to the league that offers him the bigger paycheck, which, if he is taken in the first half of the first round in the NFL, almost certainly means the fall league. USFL teams are still wary of any hint that a player is not fully open to the USFL and if they only want a bigger paycheck they could be a major risk to join the NFL.   Falling: QB Taysom Hill of BYU.  Look, he’s a great kid, and a heck of an athlete, but those who had him as a 2nd or even 3rd round quarterback option are just not watching the same tape we are. We see a superb athlete who just does not play like, or look like a pocket passer.  Even in a league that is open to various styles of play and to running QBs, since the days of Flutie and Reggie Collier, the USFL is still looking for a QB who can throw for 4,000 yards in a good year, and that is not Hill.  If he is willing to play as a TE, FB, or even special teamer, we could see a team taking a shot on Hill, but if he wants to be a QB, he is going to have few takers and that will almost certainly make him drop in the draft.   5. What teams are most likely to try to jump up into the Top 10? This largely depends on who escapes the Territorial Draft, and who covets them, but there are a few teams we would say absolutely need to try to move up.  First on that list is Oakland.  With two quality receivers guaranteed to be in the draft, the team that lost most of their wideouts this offseason has to prioritize the position and may need to be top 5, even top 3 to get one of the unclaimed speed receivers.  Second on my list is Denver.  The Gold lost two of their best defenders in CB Patrick Robinson and MLB Shawne Merriman.  We would not be surprised at all to see them make a deal to get into the mix in picks 1-7, especially if either Ohio State CB Marshon Lattimore, Alabama CB Marlon Humphrey, or Temple’s Haasan Reddick somehow make it through to the Open Draft.   6. What small school studs will follow their dreams to the USFL? While the first day of the draft tends to be all about the power schools from the power conferences, the mid-rounds are where we start to see some of the brightest stars of the FCS, even Division II start to hear their names, and in some cases it is these players, the HBCU players, the big fish in the small ponds, or the standouts from the I-AA playoffs (as we still like to call them) find joy in the draft.  So, who do we like from these smaller schools?  Here are five names to remember:   TE Gerald Everett (South Alabama): A dual-use TE who can block the run and is a solid route runner with good hands. DE Tanoh Kpassagnon (Villanova): You know the Stars have been scouting this dynamic edge rusher right in their back yards.  Don’t be surprised if he ends up in Philly in the T-Draft. WR Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington): Kupp is in luck. The USFL Champion Wranglers were given extra pool schools due to the low number of prospects from their usual 3 schools this year, and one of them is EWU, meaning Kupp could get a lot of attention from a very good team that loves to go deep, a perfect fit. DE Derek Rivers (Youngstown State):  Another dynamic edge rusher from a smaller school who could cash in on the league’s obsession with passing and getting to the passer. LB Ukeme Eligwe (Georgia Southern):  The Bulls have Ga Southern as one of their schools and they have liked what they see from the son of Nigerian immigrants.    7. Will we see kickers or punters drafted this year? Well, the over-under on kicking game specialists being drafted is usually around 2 per year, but we may see a few more this year.  There are several teams in the league who saw their kickers either retire (David Green), join the NFL (Prater, Crosby, Rayner), or jump teams in the USFL Carpenter), and much the same with the punters, so there is going to be a market.  And while normally teams look at the free agent ranks or wait until the days after the draft to find college kickers, there are a few names to keep an eye on as possible draft day investments.  Among them are placekickers Jake Elliott (Memphis), Zane Gonzalez (ASU), Harrison Butker (Ga Tech) and Younghoe Koo (Ga Southern), along with punters Rigoberto Sanchez (Hawaii), Matt Haack (ASU), and Colby Wadman (UC Davis).   8. Who has the most to risk this draft? So many teams depend on the draft, it is hard to pick just one…no…wait…it isn’t.  The St. Louis Skyhawks are the obvious choice.  They have fallen from the league champion in 2012 to the 1st pick in the draft in only 4 years, just fired their respected coach, saw their best wideout run away at the drop of a hat, and have decided that they don’t need a new coach until the NFL season ends in early January.  That means that their (somewhat shaky) GM is running the show, and he needs to build a team that not only makes sense but can attract a coach who already has an NFL gig.  That is a tall order.  Yes, there is still some talent in St. Louis, but the defense looks like a disaster and the pieces are showing a lot of wear and tear.  If the Skyhawks, on a very limited budget, have to rely on the draft to bring new life to the roster, they cannot afford to blow it.  There is not much pressure on the T-Draft, except to sign the guys you pick, but in the Open Draft, especially when you have the 1st overall pick, you had better go for a sure fire star, a player with immediate impact and one who will cherish being the 1st USFL pick more than the shot at going to the NFL.  No sweat, right?  Yeah, I would not want to be Terry McDonough, the GM in St. Louis this January.  Just too many ways to do it wrong and too few paths to success in St. Louie. We will return in mid-January with a full draft recap, all the winter signings and trades, the rookie signing frenzy and NFL competition, and a preview of the upcoming USFL-NFL transfer window, each teams’ last chance to fill gaps and find impact players before the season kicks off.  Until then, enjoy college ball, the NFL, and your holiday season.  This Week in the USFL will be right there waiting for you in the new year.

It did not look good early, but Arizona rallied and wrangled a win away from the Memphis Showboats to win their second title in four years, becoming the ninth team to win multiple titles and the early frontrunner for team of the decade in the USFL. Memphis started the game strong, putting up the first 14, but Arizona adjusted and went on a 27-3 scoring run to put away the upstart Showboats and finish the year the way they started it, as the league’s best team. David Carr would also get the double up, winning Playoff MVP after his earlier Season MVP award. Larry Fitzgerald would be the game’s only 100-yard receiver, while 3 other Wranglers would haul in touchdowns from Carr. The star on defense would be rookie linebacker Scooby Wright, who came up big in the biggest game of the year, recording 9 tackles, and a sack-fumble combo.  Alicia Keyes Kicks Things off with the National Anthem. On a beautiful 85 degree evening at MetLife Stadium, the game began with the usual pomp and circumstance, and just a bit of New Jersey style as cast members from Jersey Boys from Broadway singing “America, the Beautiful” and Alicia Keyes belting out a gorgeous rendition of the National Anthem. Following a three C-130 flyover from McGuire Air Force Base, we were ready for the game to start. Memphis won the coin toss and deferred, so Arizona started with the ball.    It would be a quick 3-and-out with 2 incompletions and a NaVorro Bowman sack of Carr on third and 10. Memphis would have no better luck on their first possession, with Manning sacked by Adam Carriker on 2nd and 10 and completing a short pass on third down. Arizona got the ball back on their own 17 for their second drive as both offenses tested out the opposition early. Arizona would get the game’s first down after a 9-yard Gore run led to a quick Carr’s first completion of the game, a 19-yard strike to Larry Fitzgerald. But, two plays later Carr was sacked a second time, this time by DT Dontari Po, leading to another punt and the first big play of the game. Memphis brought pressure on the punt and backup safety Scott Silva clipped the ball on its way off Chad Lester’s foot.  Memphis would recover the kick on the Arizona 38 in prime position to turn the blocked kick into points.   Memphis would need only 5 plays to turn the big special teams play into 7 points. A Todd Gurley run pushed the ball into the red zone, and 2 plays later Manning would find his tight end Jay Finley in the endzone for the score. Memphis was playing well in all three phases, with 2 sacks in the early stages of the game, a blocked kick, and Manning connecting on early passes.  Manning's First Half Success Faded in the 2nd. After the kickoff Arizona’s issues continued, Carr would be sacked for a third time, this one a poorly chosen scramble out of pressure that cost the Arizona QB 11 yards and forced a tough 3rd and 18 throw. After 3 possessions the league MVP was 2 for 8 with 3 sacks against him. Arizona would get the ball off cleanly on the punt, but once again Memphis was back on offense after a very short Wrangler possession. The ensuing drive would last 10 plays, take the game into the early 2nd quarter, and give Memphis a 2-score lead. After completions of 8, 13, 10, and 38 yards, Memphis was at the Arizona 2 yard line. The big play had been a dump down pass on 1st and 10, a pass that backup HB Anthony Allen took nearly 40 yards down to the 2 before Troy Polamalu caught up to him.  Memphis appeared to not only have figured out how to pressure David Carr, but how to find weaknesses in Arizona’s defense as well. On 2nd and goal from the 2, Manning threw his second TD of the game, a quick flat route to Robert Woods, and the Showboats had stunned the crowd by taking a 14-0 lead on the Wranglers.   Carr would miss on his next two passes, forcing another punt and dropping his completions to 2 of 10. Memphis had seemingly figured out how to defend what had been one of the league’s best big play offenses. However, when a Manning pass to Finley came up short on 3rd down the Showboats chose to punt. Arizona got the ball on their own 12, much in need of a play to show they were in this game. After 2 runs from Gore got the Wranglers a first down, they got the play they were looking for.   On 1st and 10 from the 27, Carr faked the pitch to Ka’Deem Carey, rolled to his left and saw Larry Fitzgerald in single coverage. He did not hesitate and uncorked a deep ball to his favorite target. Fitzgerald brought the ball in over his shoulder, tightrope walking the sideline until eventually pushed out by Calvin Pryor. It would be a 66-yard catch and run, putting Arizona on the Memphis 6-yard line. The Showboats would come up strong in their goal line defense, stuffing Carey on 2nd down and forcing two incompletions from Carr, now only 3 of 13, and when Coach Tomsula sent out the field goal team there was a sense of disappointment, but Arizona had proven that the big play was still possible and that would motivate them for the remainder of the game.   Memphis would gain only 1 first down on their next drive, with Ryan D’Imperio stopping Frank Gore short on a 3rd down catch. Arizona, with 1:23 left in the half, would get the ball back. A poor kick by Memphis’s Pat McAfee was returned 17 yards by Carey and Arizona took over in Memphis territory at their 33 yard line. Arizona shifted up formations, trading WR David Tyree for more protection and Carr used the extra time to hit on 4 of 5 passes on the drive. After a 9-yard completion to Demarcus Robinson, Carr turned back to the little-used receiver and this time he hit Robinson for his biggest catch of the season, a 15-yard TD strike. It appeared as we reached the half that Arizona had started adjusting to Memphis’s surprisingly strong start and had found their feet. They would go into the half down only 4 points, Memphis up 14-10. Halftime was the kind of production you might expect this close to New York City. Alicia Keyes returned to the stage, accompanied by Jay-Z, for a rendition of “Empire State of Mind” and also entertained the 62,304 in attendance with “If I Ain’t Got You” before an unannounced appearance by New Jersey’s favorite son, the Boss.  Bruce Springsteen joined with Keyes for a huge crowd pleaser, “Born to Run”, before the two combined for a peppy “Born in the USA”. Meanwhile, in the locker rooms, each coach was pushing his team to stay focused, to do their jobs, and to not let the moment be too big for them. Arizona was now focused on pass protection and third down defense, Memphis on continued QB pressure and on trying to get the run game established more solidly.   When the second half started, both coaches told the ABC sideline reporters that there was good and bad in the first half but that they had 30 minutes to show what they could do. Memphis would get the ball first in the half and would look very much like the confident team that started the game. With Todd Gurley rushing the ball and Manning using Allen, Mark Clayton, and Finley to turn short completions into first downs, the Showboats moved the ball well on their opening drive. A nice tackle by Carriker on Gurley on a 3rd and 3 run led to a decision from Coach Ryan, who opted to send out his kicker for a 36-yard field goal and the 17-10 lead. Carr started slow, but got hotter as the night went on. Arizona got the ball on their own 14 and once again the Wranglers found a big play, though it turned out to be big for an unanticipated reason. Carr hit Antonio Bryant on the second deep ball of the game, a 57-yard play based on a double move by the speedy receiver.  The play took the ball from the Arizona 14 to the Memphis 28, but even more damaging, it ended with Showboat MLB Ryan D’Imperio on the field in pain. He would be carted off with a game-ending injury that would impact the Memphis defense for the remainder of the Summer Bowl. While the medical staff took D’Imperio to the locker room, the Wranglers made short work of the final 28 yards to paydirt. Gore would slash for 9 yards on first down and Carr would then go for it all with another nice ball to Bryant. The 19-yard play would see Bryant tip-toe the final two yards along the sideline before falling into the endzone for the score-equalizing 7 points. Despite a strong early game from Memphis on both offense and defense, the Wranglers had evened up the scoreboard and found their big play offense.   Memphis would drive once again on their next possession, benefitted by a bad taunting penalty against Carriker. Manning hit Mark Clayton on back-to-back plays, first for 19 and then for 10 more, and the ball was on the Arizona side of the field, but a nice tackle for loss on Gurley from Polamalu and a dropped 3rd down pass forced the Showboats to go for the long 48-yard field goal. Lewis Ward’s kick was no good and Arizona took over on the 38.  Seven plays later the Wranglers would take their first lead.  Fitzgerald topped 100 yards for the Wranglers. The pivotal Arizona drive started with a swing pass to Gore that gained 28. Carr, now finding his receivers with more regularity thanks to better protection, then connected with Michael Egnew for 6, Fitzgerald for 12 and on the scoring play found Ka’Deem Carey on a circle route over the middle for a 16-yard completion that saw the back slip past the tackle attempt of the safety and slide into the endzone for the Wranglers to take over the lead of the game.   The kickoff following Arizona’s score finished up the third quarter and set us up for a huge 4th quarter. Memphis would take over at their own 28 after a nice return from Antwuan Molden. After a false start call, Memphis found themselves with a 1st and 15, which turned to a 2nd and 15 after an incompletion, and then got much worse. On 3rd down, Manning dropped back, but rookie Scooby Wright raced untouched into the pocket, catching Manning’s arm, popping the ball out and falling on it to give Arizona the ball on Memphis’s 22 yard line. But Arizona had their own issues, they too were called for a false start, and on third and 14 they gained only 4 yards, forcing Coach Tomsula to go for the short field goal, a 39-yarder that made the score 27-17. Memphis was now down 10.   Time ticked away as both teams went three and out on their next possession. Memphis got the ball back after the exchange, 7:57 left, down by 10, on their own 21. Manning would hit Finley on two consecutive plays to get a first down, then 9 yards to Clayton, a 1 yard run by Allen and a 2nd first down. They got their third on an 11-yard pass on 3rd and 9 as Manning found Woods on an out route. Then a 4th as Allen rushed for 10 on 1st down. The Ball was now at the Arizona 29, but it would go no further. Todd Gurley was stuffed on first down, Manning threw to Cordarelle Peterson, but the ball was dropped. On third and 10  Manning found Woods for 6 yards, making for a 4th and 4 call from the 23. Coach Ryan opted not to send out the kicker, hoping he could get the touchdown now, with 2;33 left to play. He was wrong.   Gurley took the ball from Manning on 4th and 4, hit the line, but was turned back by the Wranglers. The ball was marked at the 20, a yard shy of the line to gain. Coach Ryan used a timeout to call for a review, but the video evidence did not change the verdict. Memphis had turned the ball over on downs with only 2:29 left to play and now need desperate plays to make up a 10-point deficit. Arizona moved the ball from their own 20 to the Memphis 43, hitting David Tyree for 26 yards on a surprise pass play, but two plays later fate would hand Memphis an opportunity. Marcus Tubbs broke through the Arizona line, caught Carr just as he was aiming to pitch the ball to Gore, causing a fumble which Tubbs was able to recover.  Memphis had the ball back at the 2-minute warning, needing 2 scores.   The Showboats would again try to get the touchdown first, needing both a field goal and a TD to tie the score. Despite using their last timeout and Manning spiking the ball whenever possible, they reached the 6-yard line with only 18 seconds left. A 2nd and goal produced another sack, this time Quentin Groves blitzing to catch Manning by surprise. Memphis would have only 1 play left, and down 10 they had no way of catching up. Manning threw to the endzone, and the ball failed to find a target.   Coach Tomsula was all smiles after the game. The Showboats had performed admirably, putting a real scare into Arizona, but in the end, the Wranglers were just too solid on both sides of the ball to take the loss for a 2nd year in a row. Arizona players celebrated as copper and red confetti showered the field. They had a 2nd title in only 4 years and could rightfully be called the dominant team in the league over the past 4 seasons. David Carr would finish the game 17 of 34 for 307 yards, 3 TDs and no picks, winning the MVP for the playoffs and getting himself a second ring. Scooby Wright, in his first season had made the championship, and been a big part in winning it, his sack, fumble, and recovery being perhaps the most important play in the game. As Coach Tomsula presented the John Bassett Trophy to his owner, the state of Arizona celebrated and the state of New Jersey did as well, getting a great game to cap off a great season.  And so we move on, preparing for the offseason, gearing up for the NFL, or perhaps awaitig the draft, the opening of USFL camps, and another season in 2017 to come. Next up the Summer Bowl returns to New Orleans, so you know that will be a party. And you know we will bring it all to you, from the offseason moves to every game of the regular season, and into the playoffs before the league's 35th title game next year.