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.

We have our Summer Bowl 2016 lineup set. The Arizona Wranglers will be making their third appearance in the past 4 seasons, bordering on dynasty status. Their opponent will be the upstart Memphis Showboats, a team with one of the most unique quarterback situations we can recall. We could very well have the Summer Bowl champion QB headed to free agency, something that is unprecedented in the league’s 30+ years. How did these two clubs get here? We will recap the two Conference Championship games, both closer and more exciting than most fans expected. We will then, of course, preview the Summer Bowl with our breakdown of each club’s difference makers and our fearless prediction. All that, plus we have coaching news as two clubs find their men, and we have the league’s 2016 Award Winners and All-USFL Team, both inspiring some debate and controversy. All this plus Two big retirements, which, while not surprises, will be impactful for two playoff clubs. Let’s get right to it with the biggest news of the week, the Conference Championships.   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 26 NEW JERSEY GENERALS 24 A good preamble to the Summer Bowl at MetLife Stadium as the Showboats edge the Generals and return to the USFL Championship for the first time since 2008, when Brett Favre was leading the Showboat offense. The 2016 Showboats would build a 16-point lead before New Jersey roared back and nearly sent the game to overtime thanks to the efforts of Odell Beckham Jr., the game’s offensive POTG despite playing on the losing side.   The big individual performances were on the Generals’ side, with OBJ catching 7 balls for 135 yards and 2 late touchdowns, Miles Austin also going over 100 yards, and Maurice Jones-Drew rushing for 106, but the steady hand was Memphis’s, putting together 6 scoring drives and taking the ball away from the Generals twice. When you look at the usual indicators, New Jersey had the yardage advantage, but Memphis won both the time of possession (35-25 minutes) and the turnover battle (2-0), and that helped them win by a slim margin, that and one essential defensive play.   The game started, as so many do, with more cautious, exploratory drives. Both Memphis and New Jersey finished their first drives with field goals, both testing to see if the run game would be effective (it would, for both teams) and what kind of defense they might see (primarily man with pressure from New Jersey, and single safety deep zone coverage from Memphis). Once the two teams got a sense of the primary schemes used by the opposition, the two offenses started to find more success.   That success began with Memphis, who put together a 77-yard drive lasting just over 6 minutes. Todd Gurley would convert a 3rd and 7 run, Eli Manning would complete 3 of 5 and would end the drive by hitting his new favorite target, former LA wideout Robert Woods, with an 8-yard TD strike. When they added a field goal on their next drive, Memphis had bumped their lead to 13-3 early in the second.   New Jersey would respond in the 2nd quarter, putting together their first touchdown drive, one sparked by a beautiful catch by Miles Austin for a 38-yard gain. Five plays later Maurice Jones-Drew would take the ball on a counter play and find a gap in the Memphis defense, slashing 5 yards for the score. With just over 6 minutes left in the half we were down to a 3-point Memphis advantage. It would not last.   After a 3-and-out, New Jersey got the ball right back, but only for 1 play as Brett Hundley made the first of two truly poor throws on the day. It was just a bad choice that saw Hundley throw the ball into double coverage, trying to hit OBJ but finding FS Lonnie Ballentine instead. The Memphis safety stepped in front of Beckham and took the ball cleanly, racing 12 yards before stepping out of bounds. With the ball at the New Jersey 31, it would take Memphis only 3 plays to make the Generals pay for the turnover. From the 12, Manning pump faked, then handed the ball to Anthony Allen on the delay draw. Allen found a huge hole on the right side of the Generals’ line and the linebackers occupied with “receivers”. Fooled by the design of the play, no one made contact with Allen until he was at top speed, and arm tackles proved worthless as he raced 12 yards to pay dirt. Memphis 20-10 with 2:02 left in the half.   New Jersey still had time to push the ball down the field and make it a one score game once again, but for the second time in two drives, Brett Hundley felt the pressure of the moment and made the wrong read. He had his TE open for a 7- or 8-yard hook, but instead chose to go deep to Austin. This time it would be cornerback Keiwan Ratliff who got the takeaway, and once again Memphis was in a position to cash in on a Hundley misread. They would get the ball to the Generals’ 32 before the clock forced them to take their final timeout and send in Lewis Ward for another kick. Ward’s 49-yard attempt was true, and Memphis went into the half with a 23-10 lead.   With nearly all of the 57,201 on hand rooting for New Jersey, there was a noticeable negative vibe in the stadium at halftime, a mixture of disappointment, worry, and classic NY neurosis. The third quarter did nothing to dissipate the concern New Jersey fanbase felt. Neither team scored in the half, with the lone big play, a beautiful 41-yard pass to OBJ called back for offensive holding. Memphis did not gain on their advantage either, seemingly content to use the run game to shorten the game and play the field position game of pinning New Jersey back.   When the fourth quarter began with another long Lewis Ward field goal, putting New Jersey down 16, the feeling of dread became palpable in the stands. It would take 9 minutes for the Generals to respond, but when they did, they shifted the mood considerably. Hundley went deep again, this time a 33-yard toss to the endzone that Beckham tipped in the air to himself, falling to the ground with his shin hitting in bounds before he fell out of the back of the endzone. No flags, just a back judge with his hands in the air to signal the touchdown. When Hundley bootlegged, faked the throw, and dove in to convert the 2-point conversion, the stadium erupted and New Jersey was back in business, down 8 with 6:38 to go.   The Generals would need to stop Memphis, get the ball back, and repeat the 8-point score once again. It took 6 plays, but they completed the first part of the task, forcing Memphis to punt after one first down was gained. The Generals got the ball back with nearly 2:30 left in the game, plenty of time for a game-tying drive. This time they moved the ball more slowly, Memphis keeping in shell defenses to force the Generals to earn their yardage. They did, one play after another until they found themselves on the 20-yard line with just over 30 seconds to play. On a first and 10, Hundley would fake the handoff to MJD and instead look for Beckham again. The ball was thrown high, but the Generals’ receiver would go up and get it, practically climbing up the back of the corner. When Beckham came down with the ball in the end zone, the stadium again erupted. New Jersey was within 2 points and could send the game to overtime with one more converted PAT.   Memphis had been here before, just the week prior it was an end-of-game defense of a 2-point play that won them the game in Houston. They lined up to do it one more time and punch their ticket to the Summer Bowl. Again, Hundley started in the pistol formation, with MJD beside him and his receivers to the wide side of the field. Would he roll right again and use the run-pass option? No, he would bootleg to the left and try to find his receivers meshing across the middle. But this time, Coach Ryan had called for pressure and when Jarvis Jones blitzed, left tackle Donald Stephenson hesitated between taking on the linebacker of DE Mario Williams. That hesitation was all it took for Williams to outpace him to the edge, and find Hundley headed right for him. Hundley was caught dead in his tracks, tried to release the ball, but it popped almost straight up, swatted down to the ground and incomplete. Memphis had done it again, survived a late comeback, defended the 2-point play that would have sent the game to overtime and emerged victorious. The Generals fought back but came up short. The Memphis Showboats would represent the East in the Summer Bowl. CHICAGO MACHINE 19 ARIZONA WRANGLERS 24 Very few expected to see the type of drama in the Eastern final repeated when Chicago headed to Arizona to face the Wranglers. While there was great respect for the improvement Chicago had shown this season, and respect for Lovie Smith’s remolding of the team, this was supposed to be a cakewalk for the Wranglers, a coronation of sorts after a dominant season. It was neither.   It would be a 1-point game at the half, an 8-point lead after 3, and only a 5-point difference when the final whistle blew. Arizona would win, but in no way was it the dominant performance that most inside the air-conditioned University of Phoenix Stadium expected. Chicago actually outgained Arizona by a notable 417-306, had 20 first downs to Arizona’s 9, and controlled the clock, with nearly 37 minutes of possession. The Wranglers did not look like the dominant team that had been blowing their opposition out of the water earlier in the season. They were a good team, but one that was not firing on all cylinders. The run game in particular seemed to fail Coach Tomsula. Frank Gore would have 19 carries on the day but average only 1.6 yards per carry on his way to 30 total yards on the ground. Ka’Deem Carey gained 1.2 per touch and finished with only 6 yards on 5 carries. That was a huge shock, especially with Brian Urlacher not on the field for Chicago. Meanwhile, the Machine saw Ryan Fitzpatrick open it up against a Wrangler defense that was crowding the line to limit Doug Martin and Matt Forte, even though the pair would finish with 103 combined yards.   So, how did Arizona end up winning this game? Efficiency and a lack of panic by the coach, the quarterback, or the team in general. They simply made more of the opportunities the Chicago defense gave them. They used a defensive holding call on their first drive to keep possession, a drive that would finish with David Carr connecting with Antonio Bryant from 8 yards out to put the Wranglers on the board. They would also stand up on defense when needed. On Chicago’s first scoring drive the Machine had 5 plays from inside the Arizona 5-yard line but would fail to get the ball in the endzone, settling for a field goal. Their second field goal came on another stalled drive, this time at the 10. Chicago had drawn to within 1 point at 7-6 but could have had a 14-7 lead had they been able to finish drives.   Following Chicago’s second field goal, Arizona took over and spent nearly 6 minutes slowly moving the ball down the field, taking what the defense would give and making 2 key third downs as they marched into Chicago territory. Unlike the Machine, Arizona would finish this drive, Carr hitting on his second TD toss, this one to Ka’Deem Carey out of the backfield. The score boosted the Arizona lead to 8 points with barely 2 minutes left. Chicago would not go into the half down 8. They got the ball at the 2:12 mark and struck quickly. On only the 4th play of the drive, a seam route by TE Scott Chandler proved to be the perfect route against the Arizona defense. When the line picked up the blitzing linemen, Ryan Fitzpatrick had time to find Chandler down the seam and the big TE caught the ball in stride, racing to the endzone untouched. In one play, Chicago had undone all the good work of the Arizona defense during the first half. The first Machine TD would make the game a 14-13 affair at the half.   Chicago would take the lead, the only one they would have in the game, on their 1st drive of the second half. After a blitz by Bob Sanders produced the sack that took Arizona out of field goal range, Chicago responded with a nice drive, sparked by a 23-yard run by Matt Forte, and would go on top when William Hopper hit from 44 yards out. Arizona would need to respond or risk losing the crowd and their home field advantage to the upstart Machine.   Arizona replied with a deep seam to the tight end as well, borrowing from Chicago’s playbook by having David Carr hit Jimmie Graham in stride for a gain of 39 yards early in their drive. They too would have to settle for a field goal, but the 46-yard kick by Elliott Parson put them back on top at 17-16.   The defense would produce the next big play, when, on third and 4, Adam Carriker escaped the block and found Hundley, clipping his arm as he threw and forcing an incompletion that produced a quick 3-and-out and a punt that gave Arizona the ball at their own 44. The Wranglers would take that short field and expand their advantage in short order. A quick toss to Frank Gore netted 6 yards. A nice catch by Tyree made it first and 10 on the Chicago side of the 50. 4 plays later the Wranglers were at the Chicago 27. From there Carr used a pump fake, and Antonio Bryant a double move, to create some space deep. Carr’s throw caught Bryant on the sideline, extending to bring in the ball, the Wrangler wideout fell into the endzone with the ball in his hands. Lovie Smith threw the red flag, hoping that video would prove that Bryant had bobbled the ball, but the video review showed the ball under the receiver’s control. Arizona once again was up by 8, with the third quarter ending with the Wranglers clinging to a 24-16 advantage.   Arizona’s defense would be the story of the 4th quarter. Coach Tomsula turned up the pressure on Fitzpatrick. It gave Martin and Forte more room to run, but on 2 different third downs it forced quick and inaccurate throws from Fitzpatrick. Chicago would go for it on 4th down on both occasions, but only succeeding once. That drive, midway through the 4th, ended 4 plays later with a 4th and 11 proving too risky for Coach Smith, who settled for a 36-yard field goal. New Jersey would never cross midfield again. On their final drive, Arizona again forced the Machine to attempt a 4th down conversion. Fourth and 7 was a lot to ask and the play was quickly doomed when LB Travis Goethel broke through the line. Fitzpatrick got the ball away, but it was at the feet of Aaron Dobson, uncatchable.   Arizona had dodged a bullet. They escaped with a 5-point victory over Chicago. Coach Tomsula and Coach Smith hugged and spoke at midfield, and Arizona began preparations for their trip to New Jersey, the Summer Bowl, and their meeting with another upstart team, the Memphis Showboats.   Will Eli Manning Really Go from the Summer Bowl to the Free Agent Market? It has never been seen before and will certainly be a story that can only grow as we prepare for the Summer Bowl. It seems all but inevitable that Eli Manning will be testing the free agent waters just 4 days after he leads the Memphis Showboats in the Summer Bowl. Manning seems resigned to it. The Showboats seem to be resigned to it. They have their next franchise QB in waiting with Paxton Lynch ready to roll in 2017, but we have never seen a Summer Bowl QB, especially not one with the kind of season that Eli Manning has put together, immediately hit the market.   The feeding frenzy could be unlike anything we have seen as well. When we do the math, we perhaps can come up with 12-14 teams whose QB situations are so secure as to remove the thought of pursuing Manning from the equation. But for every Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger, or David Carr, there is a team that has doubts, that could and should at least consider making a run at Manning. At the front of the list, we have to consider teams who seem to not have an answer at QB right now, teams like Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Ohio, Seattle, or Las Vegas. Then we have teams who have chosen a guy but may not be fully sold that he is the future. Certainly, Charlotte has doubts about Wheedon, though they may be looking at the T-Draft and UNC’s Mitch Trubisky for answers. What about San Diego? Is St. Louis happy with the past few years with Josh Freeman? Is Robert Griffin the answer in Jacksonville? Could we even see a team like Portland give up on Marcus Mariota after one rough season?   Let’s face it, if Manning plays well, he could make a very appealing option for many teams. Even if we are talking about a 1-2 year commitment, that could be just the fit for a team with a younger QB who has not yet blossomed. Expect the demand to drive up the cost, and with a free agent pool that does not have a clear 2nd option, this could be one heck of a race to the top, with every team questioning how high they are willing to go for a shot at immediate payout. Fascinating, and furious is what we expect it to be, but will it be a long slow seduction or a lightning strike signing? We only have to wait another week to find out.   Odell Beckham Does it All but not Enough You could not ask more from a receiver than what we saw from Odell Beckham Jr in New Jersey’s bid to come back against Memphis. He caught deep balls, made dynamic grabs that defied physics, and brought in two touchdowns in the final minutes of the game, but, sadly for OBJ and the Generals, it was just not enough. OBJ finished the game with 7 receptions, 135 yards, and 2 scores, but his success in the final period forces the question of why he was not the primary target all game long? After 3 quarters, Beckham had only 6 targets, 2 catches and 27 yards. It was in the 4th quarter when he exploded, catching 5 of 8 targets, racking up big play after big play to add 108 yards in one period and bringing New Jersey to to the point of tying the game. His final catch of the day, a self-tip in the endzone that brought New Jersey to within a 2-point PAT of tying the game was a thing of beauty, demonstrating superior body control and amazing focus. If there were any USFL fans out there who had really not noticed Beckham before, they knew him now. OBJ has 2 more seasons on his contract, but we would not be shocked if he walked into the GM’s office this offseason with a tape of Sunday’s game and asked for a new deal. He was just that good.   Dansby Held Out of Wrangler Victory It was a gametime decision, but the choice was to let Karlos Dansby once again spend the playoff game on the sideline. He had been listed as questionable to play, but most had expected he would find himself on the field in key moments, playing on a “pitch count”, but there if the game was close. But in pregame warmups, Dansby struggled with his hamstring, visibly tight and uncomfortable. The decision was made to take on Chicago without him. He spent the game on the sideline, again in training gear, trying to rile up his teammates, keep the energy up and drive them forward. His reward? A chance to play in a third Summer Bowl. Arizona has taken Dansby off the injured list this week. He is practicing in full, and he looks a good sight more comfortable doing it. He may not truly be at 100% but he will be there in New Jersey, helmet on, ready to play a part in the league’s title game. Would you have wanted to be the one to tell him he couldn’t?   Ryan Feels Jilted in COTY Voting Rex Ryan has never been considered a wallflower, a shy, quiet voice on the sideline. In that he takes after his father, once fired for getting into a scuffle with one of his own assistant coaches. Ryan has opinions and you are going to hear them. So, when the Memphis coach finished 3rd in voting for the Coach of the Year, trailing both Chicago’s Lovie Smith and eventual winner, New Jersey’s Norv Turner, he was not shy about his response.   Ryan called the vote a sham, particularly since his Showboats defeated Turner’s Generals this week, and because his club finished with a 12-4 regular season, a game better than New Jersey’s 11-5 mark. Ryan was critical of the process, the timing (with voting closing before the playoffs began), and the electors (we believe the term “pencil-necked geeks” was used more than a few times.). Of course, Ryan can have the last laugh, with his Showboats still alive and prepping for a Summer Bowl appearance. While a Coach of the Year award is nice, a championship ring and a Bassett Trophy in the trophy case is better.   Urlacher to Call it a Career Two anticipated but still impactful retirements this week. The first came on Tuesday, when Brian Urlacher, fresh off a tough loss in Arizona, announced to gathered press in Chicago that he had donned the burgundy, grey and sky uniform of the Machine for the last time. Urlacher had patrolled the middle of the field in Chicago for 16 seasons, taking up the mantle of Chicago legends like Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Sam Norris. He retires with the team record for career tackles (1,904), tackles for loss (182) and forced fumbles (51). His 140 tackle season in 2008 remains one of the league’s best, and he retires with 22 more tackles than Jacksonville great Mike Vrabel, making him the all time USFL tackle leader, ahead of greats like Vrabel, Broderick Thomas, DeMetrius DuBose and Lamar Lathon.   Urlacher missed the final playoff game of his career, sidelined by an injury, a factor which certainly played into his decision. Rarely missing a game in his long career, Urlacher prided himself on his toughness and physical training. This season saw him again among the league leaders in tackles, but injury has long been a reality in his playing career. He will certainly be hard to replace. Chicago likes 5-year vet Akeem Ayers, and they brought in Courtney Upshaw this year to take over the Strong Side, but as a true MLB they really don’t have a candidate. And so, the Machine will enter the offseason with MLB as a priority for the first time in nearly 2 decades.   Hasselbeck Steps Away, McCoy to Take Reins Was it father time, or a fatherly instinct that convinced veteran Houston QB Matt Hasselbeck to announce his retirement after 18 seasons in the game? Yes, the game has taken a toll on the 38-year old starter, but perhaps more than the physical pain of the game it was seeing that Houston was in good hands if he left that helped make the decision possible. Hasselbeck missed 4 games this year, his first missed starts since 2013. But while he was recovering he watched as Colt McCoy stepped up and played like a savvy veteran. McCoy in 4 starts threw for over 1,400 yards and had 10 touchdowns to 2 picks. If Matt Hasselbeck was concerned that his retirement would leave his beloved Gamblers in a lurch, McCoy’s performances this year showed that they were ready, that they could succeed if he decided the time was right. And so he announced that it was.   Like Urlacher, Hasselbeck leaves Houston with a long shadow behind him. He will forever be remembered for the 2010 season that brought the Gamblers’s their 4th league title, the only team to reach that number to date. In that season he earned his 2nd All-USFL recognition, won both league MVP and playoff MVP, and, of course, helped them win it all with a strong performance against the Philadelphia Stars in a battle royale of 3-time league champions. Hasselbeck retires holding the Gambler career records for attempts, completions, completion percentage, and passing yards, throwing for over 55,000 yards in his career and surpassing legendary Gambler Jim Kelly. On a league-wide level, he stands third in both pass attempts and completions (behind Doug Flutie and Jake Plummer in both), 3rd in passing yards behind only Plummer and Brett Favre, 5th in passing touchdowns, and, yes, 2nd in interceptions, topping Brett Favre and Jake Plummer just this season. His 2004 completion rate of 73.0 rates 4th all time for a season, and he will certainly be considered a first ballot Hall of Fame candidate. Quite a career, quite a quarterback.   Little to report on the injury front. The removal of Karlos Dansby’s name being the most notable change to the report. Memphis has the biggest negative with TE Luke Stocker’s participation very much in question, but overall these are two pretty healthy teams preparing to face off.   MEM: TE L. Stocker (D), CB D. Martinez (P) ARZ: FB L. McClain (OUT), G D. Robinson (OUT), TE D. Graham (Q)   USFL Awards & All-USFL Team not without Controversy The League Awards Dinner last night did not disappoint. In one of the most debated years in memory we had close races in nearly all categories of major awards, with the lone exception of Rookie of the Year. We also saw an All-USFL roster reveal that produced some surprises and a significant number of players who could legitimately feel snubbed. But, with only so many slots on the roster, that seems almost inevitable. Let’s begin with the major awards and then finish up with this year’s All-USFL first team.   MOST VALUABLE PLAYER We had a feeling this one would be close, with a real risk that the votes for Arizona QB David Carr and WR Larry Fitzgerald could split the Wrangler vote, creating a path for Michigan HB LeVeon Bell or even Baltimore QB Ben Roethlisberger to sneak into the number one position. Well, that did not exactly play out as Wrangler fans feared. Of the 85 first place votes, David Carr won 34, with LeVeon Bell garnering 30, and Fitzgerald coming in third with only 15. Carr takes home the award and now has a shot at becoming both the season MVP and the Playoff MVP if he can get the W in New Jersey this week.   OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR It was in the OPOTY where we saw Fitzgerald make some waves. He and LeVeon Bell practically split the first-place votes between them, with only 2 votes going to others (Roethlisberger and Marshawn Lynch each getting one vote, likely from local media in Baltimore and San Antonio). Bell would edge Fitzgerald, 43-40, perhaps providing some solace for falling short in the MVP vote.   DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR This one was closer than we ever thought possible. Once again we believe that Campbell-fatigue was the culprit as Calais Campbell ’s third 30+ sack season certainly merited the award. And yet, despite another stunning season from the Orlando DE, one that saw him fall only 2 tackles short of his 2nd 100-tackle season, Campbell only garnered 39 first place votes. There was apparently a major upswing for Charlotte MLB Hunter Hillenmeyer, perhaps bolstered by the (then) rumors of his impending retirement. While Hillenmeyer’s league leading 132 tackles were an impressive swan song, as a total they don’t compare to Campbell’s sack dominance.   ROOKIE OF THE YEAR The one race that did not provide any drama was the Rookie of the Year voting, where Philadelphia halfback Derrick Henry received 81 of 85 possible votes. Only some apparent “homer” votes got in the way of a perfect sweep (1 vote each for QB Dak Prescott, LB Scooby Wright, LB Myles Jack, and TE Hunter Henry). Henry finished the year as the league’s 3rd leading rusher, only 11 yards behind 2nd place Marshawn Lynch. He helped propel Philadelphia to a 9-7 record, and by all accounts, the Stars did not use him as much as they could, so expect even more of the big back in 2017.   COACH OF THE YEAR We already mentioned the reaction to the award from 3rd place vote getter Rex Ryan. Admittedly, it was a very tough year to pick just one coach who exceeded expectations and did more with less. Norv Turner got credit for leading a team that had 2nd year QB Brett Hundley to the playoffs, a longer shot perhaps than Memphis with Eli Manning, or even 3-12-1 Chicago with new QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. We also saw votes for San Diego’s Dick LeBeau thanks to the strong season we saw from the Thunder. In the end, in a packed field, it was Norv Turner who would come away with the award, though we expect he would prefer to have the Eastern Conference Championship trophy to hoist instead of the COTY award.   As much controversy as the annual awards produced, the All-USFL team may have produced more. With so many players putting up strong seasons and good numbers, there were bound to be some snubs and meritorious players simply unable to fit into the limited spots provided by the honor. So, as we present the winners, we will also present those with the best case to be argued.   QB:         David Carr (ARZ), Ben Roethlisberger (BAL), E. Manning (MEM) Snub: Russell Wilson (ORL). You cannot go against the numbers that put the top 3 on the team but Wilson’s improvement in 2016 should not go unnoticed.   HB:         LeVeon Bell (MGN), Carlos Hyde (HOU), Reggie Bush (LA) Snub: Marshawn Lynch (TEX), Deuce McCallister (WSH). Lynch was only the 2nd leading rusher in the league, McCallister not far behind him and in his final season, but voters were more impressed by the dual threat option that Hyde and Bush provided.   FB:          Quinn Johnson (BAL) Snub: Hard to say, there are so few fullbacks that build up any statistics that it is just a matter of opinion on whose blocking skills help their HB the most.   TE:           Tyler Eifert (LV), Coby Fleener (NOR) Snub: Zach Miller (OHI): Fleener was the clear top choice, leading all TEs in yards and receptions, but Zach Miller was 2nd in each while Tyler Eifert was 4th in both.   WR:        L. Fitzgerald (ARZ), A. Bryant (ARZ), M. Colston (TEX), B. Hartline (BAL), A. Dobson (CHI) Snub: Amari Cooper (BIR), Cody Latimer (MGN). Receiver is always a tough category because the USFL produces so many great receivers. Latimer just does not have the name recognition and Cooper’s team did not win a lot of games, so we understand why they have not made the small 5-man list.   OT:          Tyson Clabo (MEM), Brandon Scherff (ARZ), Jeff Otah (PIT) Snub: Brian Bulaga (STL). Bulaga had a great season and is a leader on his team, but St. Louis was a poor team this year and that tends to keep good players from being recognized.   OG: Chance Warmack (ARZ), Andy Alleman (BAL), Logan Mankins (OAK) Snub: Jahri Evans (MEM). Evans finished behind only Alleman in pancake blocks and gave up only 1 sack all year.   C:           Shaq Mason (HOU), Ryan Pontbriand (HOU) Snub: Shaun O’Hara (STL). Just like Bulaga, O’Hara played well on a bad team and that cost him votes.   DE:          Calais Campbell (ORL), Von Miller (DEN), Justin Tuck (MGN) Snub: Chris Kelsay (ATL), Aaron Kampman (NJ). Kampman’s votes got split with teammate Vic Beasley and Kelsay went largely unnoticed on a bad Atlanta team, despite finishing 3rd in the league with 19 sacks.   DT:          Aaron Donald (PIT), Luis Castillo (TEX), Eric Wyms (BAL) Snub: Albert Haynesworth (ORL). This will likely rile up Haynesworth, who will be a free agent this year, but his numbers are just not there, and his attitude issues are putting a black mark on his resume.   LB:          Bobby Wagner (OAK), Hunter Hillenmeyer (LV), Brian Urlacher (CHI), Jarret Johnson (JAX), Chase Blackburn (NJ), Clay Matthews (LA) Snub: Manti Te’o (CHI), Sean Lee (JAX), Odell Thurman (MGN). So hard to break through when you have legendary veterans like Urlacher and Hillenmeyer playing so well. But with both retiring, there will be 2 spots up for grabs even if all the others in this year’s pool continue to excel.   CB:         Joe Haden (ARZ), Leodis McKelvin (HOU), Richard Sherman (SEA), Randall Gay (NOR) Snub: Antonio Cromartie (BIR). Philip Buchanon (TBY). Cromartie and Buchanon finished tied for 3rd with 6 picks,and Cromartie had 104 tackles as well, but those numbers are considered inflated by the inability of either defense to get off the field.   S:             Darren Sharper (PHI), Kenny Vaccaro (HOU), Nate Allen (ARZ), David Young (LA) Snub: Troy Polamalu (ARZ). Hard to believe but his own backfield mate may have bumped Polamalu from the list.   ST:           K Mike Nugent (PHI), P Zoltan Mesko (LA) Snub: Dan Bailey (LA), Elliott Parson (ARZ). Both are good kickers, but Nugent led the league in scoring and made 91.4% of all field goal attempts (32 of 35) a number neither could match.   Atlanta Makes it Official, Arians is Their Man It seems the Atlanta Fire were just waiting to see if St. Louis would let Bruce Arians go. When they did, the Fire pounced and this week they signed the Summer Bowl winning coach to a 4-year deal to try to do the same in Atlanta. Arians took 2006 expansion club St. Louis to a title in 2012, and now Atlanta, the other 2006 expansion franchise, is hoping for a repeat. Arians is known as a great motivator, a player’s coach, and a solid game manager. He may not be the most innovative coach, but that can be left to his coordinators. In Atlanta he will have the challenge of figuring out a path forward at quarterback, solidifying a mediocre run game, and improving a defense that once was among the league’s best but struggled in 2016.   For Arians, Atlanta is both a challenge and an opportunity. Win a title here and you can almost guarantee a Hall of Fame bust, because only 1 coach in league history has done that feat (Jim Mora Sr. and his two teams were not as rough to start out as St. Louis and Atlanta have been. For the Fire faithful, they can count on a more disciplined and well-prepared team, so now the question will be who is on that roster in March.   Las Vegas Signs QB, but not to Replace Pickett The Las Vegas Vipers have signed a veteran QB to the club, but not to play QB, to coach the team. The Vipers this week announced that they were bringing back a familiar face to the USFL. Their new head coach was announced as former Wrangler and Outlaw QB Rick Neuheisel. Neuheisel had a short tenure as the head coach of the expansion LA Express from 1995-1997, struggling to be competitive with an expansion franchise. Even Rick himself will admit he was not ready for the challenges of being a pro head coach. But after more than a decade working in the college game, leading both Washington and UCLA, Neuheisel believes he is ready to return to the USFL and to find success with the Vipers.   Neuheisel returns to USFL for 3rd time. The former QB enters a situation where the franchise’s star QB surprised many by announcing his retirement this past month. Neuheisel will be working with the player personnel team to address that issue. Many expect Las Vegas to be among several teams in the Eli Manning sweepstakes, but to be competitive the finance team is going to have to get several high cost players to adjust or extend their contracts to create more cap room. It seems certain that if given the chance Neuheisel would certainly prefer to pursue Manning than to risk his first year or years on the job with either Jeff Tuel or a possible rookie QB at the helm.   Governor’s Plans for Canton Stadium Collapse It was a bold scheme, to build a 55,000-60,000 seat stadium in what would be the smallest market in either pro football team, but that was Governor Rick Kasich’s plan for Canton, Ohio and a potential home for the Ohio Glory. The goal was to create a stadium close to the Pro Football Hall of Fame which could be a part-time home to both Kent State and the University of Akron and the full time home to the Columbus-based Ohio Glory. Initially it seemed he had the political clout and backing of the economically depressed cities of East Ohio to get the job done, but that quickly dissolved over the past year as Kasich’s attention turned to a failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination.   Much like Kasich’s sputtering campaign, his support in the Ohio state house fizzled away and when the final budgetary approval votes came to the floor, they failed miserably. Kasich insists that the new facility would help to revive the economies of the Akron-Youngstown corridor, but legislators never bought the projections, calling the development a pork-filled pitch for votes from the region in Kasich’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.   With the project almost certainly scrapped, this means the Glory are back to square one, hoping to work out a deal with the Columbus Crew MLS club to develop a stadium that could suit both franchises. The Crew are hoping to get a new stadium, but have been hesitant to build anything of the scale that a USFL team would want. They hope to have 20k, maybe 25k, in their ideal stadium, while the Glory are looking in the 55k-60k range as the ideal USFL stadium. That has been a major sticking point all along. So for now, the Crew will likely extend their deal with Ohio State University to paly in the clearly oversized Ohio Stadium. They will try to find common ground with the Crew, and they will explore other options. Could they eventually find a new Ohio home in either NFL city, Cleveland or Cincinnati, or is an option in Columbus still on the table?   SUMMER BOWL PREVIEW Three days from the culmination of another USFL season. Will it be Arizona claiming a 2nd title in 4 years, potentially to earn the moniker of dynasty? Or will it be Memphis winning a 3rd title to go along with their 1999 and 2007 championships? Will Eli Manning take home a trophy and then immediately hit the free agent market with more bargaining power than almost any USFL player in history? Or will league MVP David Carr make it a double dip and win Playoff MVP as the league champion? We will all find out on Sunday when the Showboats and Wranglers clash at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. But, of course, before that happens, we need to take a long look at both teams, how they got here, who to watch, and what we think the outcome could be. Here is our Summer Bowl preview, hoping to answer all three questions.   How they Got Here Every champion’s journey is unique, and every season presents twists, turns, surprises and challenges. Memphis and Arizona took very different paths to get to Summer Bowl 2016, one perhaps more expected than the other, but both a very telling story of what each team brings to the title game.   Arizona was supposed to be here. They were a preseason favorite, having appeared in 2 Summer Bowls in the past 3 years. They began the season very much looking like a favorite as well. They won their first two games by a combined score of 84-33, putting up 40+ points in both games. They would go on to win their first six games, most by 20 points or more. A stunning loss at home to Denver was quickly followed by 3 more dominant wins. What was developing in Arizona was not that the team was winning, that was expected, but it was how they were winning. The dominant defense was still very good, but the offense was making headlines. David Carr was hitting deep routes to both Larry Fitzgerald and Antonio Bryant weekly. The Wranglers were more explosive and more aggressive than we have ever seen them. No one was surprised that they were able to finish the season with only 3 losses and sitting atop the Western Conference. In the playoffs they did not have the dominant 20-point victories, but they were in control in both games, beating San Diego by 7 and Chicago by 5 on their way to their 3rd Summer Bowl in 4 years. Still the favorite, still the expected victor, Arizona has shown this year that they can win with defense, or win with explosive offensive plays. Pick your poison.   Memphis was not supposed to be here. After finishing 2015 at 5-11, their 7th consecutive 10-loss season, they had needs. They opted to bring in a new head coach in Rex Ryan and they brought on a new quarterback, using the T-Draft to land University of Memphis QB Paxton Lynch. The plan was to rebuild, to develop Lynch behind Eli Manning, perhaps with a mid-year switchover, and to hopefully win a few more games than in 2015. Memphis was blown out in their first game, but then rebounded with four nice wins, 3 of them against 2015 playoff teams. What was more impressive was that veteran QB Eli Manning, in a contract year and expected to lose his position over the course of the season, was putting up great numbers, showing leadership, and looking very much like the player Memphis had hoped they would get several years back when they signed him away from Orlando. As the season progressed, it was clear that Rex Ryan’s influence on the defense was immediate and impactful. It was also clear that an offense geared around the run game was making huge strides in the passing game as well. It was not all Manning, as the receiver group was taking shape as well. Robert Woods developed into one of the best medium route receivers in the game. Brandon Marshall provided the Showboats with a deep threat, and Cordarelle Patterson was owning the slot, but was also a big jet sweep option. Memphis would finish the year with one of the best offenses in the league, 4th in total yards, and top 5 in both rushing and passing. It was unexpected and it helped the Showboats turn their record completely upside down, from 5-11 to 12-4. They entered the playoffs as a Wild Card, losing the tiebreaker to Houston, who had beaten them twice in the regular season. After dispatching New Orleans, the league’s defending champion in the first round, they got a third matchup with Houston and this time they got the upper hand, winning thanks to a stifled 2-point PAT at the end of the game. Then, in the Eastern title game against New Jersey, they did it again, holding off the surging Generals with yet another defensive stand on a 2-point PAT. They enter the Summer Bowl as an underdog once again, a role they have gotten quite accustomed to playing.   Top Stars to Follow Every Summer Bowl has its storylines and its superstars, and the 2016 game is no exception, a matchup of teams and players who have excelled all year long and who could be the difference maker at any moment to deliver victory for their club. We have highlighted 5 players for each team, 4 who you might expect to make a huge impact and one wild card, a darkhorse player who just may find themselves in a position to stun us all with a huge day. We start with the Wranglers, then wrap up with Memphis as we look at potential game-breaking players on both sides. ARIZONA WRANGLERS   QB David Carr The league MVP, having the season of his career, Carr is the decision-maker. He has the liberty to hand the ball off to Gore or Carey, or to hold onto it and take advantage of man coverage to blow the roof off the defense with a deep ball to either of his outside targets. Carr has been making the right call far more often than not. He has two All-USFL receivers and he has gotten more out of the Wrangler offense than we could have expected even from past Summer Bowl years.   WR Larry Fitzgerald A strong candidate for OPOTY and the league’s leading receiver by yardage, Fitzgerald is part of a two man deep ball onslaught that has revolutionized how the Wranglers approach offensive football. It is all about the big play, the deep ball, and the momentum shifting score with Fitzie and the more aggressive Wrangler game plan.   LB Karlos Dansby Unable to play in any of the playoff games, as well as the last few weeks of the season, Karlos Dansby will be back for the Summer Bowl. He is not ony the team captain and the playcaller on defense, he is the heart and soul of this defensive unit, riling up his teammates on the sideline, gaining their focus before the play, and getting into the mix on nearly every tackle. Expect Dansby to be vocal, active, and intensely focused as he returns to action in the biggest game of the year.   CB Joe Haden Perhaps the best cornerback playing today. He may not have the INT numbers that some other corners get, but that is because quarterbacks are not dumb enough to throw the ball his way. He will be lined up against the best receiver Memphis has on the field, changing sides of the field and assignments depending on the ball’s location, down, and distance. Haden is also not afraid to get mixed up in the run game, coming to the line to hold the edge and push the back towards the interior. In other words, keep an eye on where he is on the field every play and you will see how offenses tend to go the other way.   LB Scooby Wright The rookie linebacker for the Wranglers has been a revelation. Fans on the East Coast may not have seen much of him, but with 62 tackles, 2 picks, 3 sacks, and a nose for the ball, Wright has made a lot of fans in Phoenix and could well be a key player both on running downs and when Memphis tries to throw over the middle. He is all engine and all energy when he is on the field, and when he is alongside Dansby, that is a serious obstacle for a defense.   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS   QB Eli Manning Manning is having by far his best season in 4-5 years, perhaps his best ever. He was supposed to pass the baton to Paxton Lynch but instead has put up career numbers with over 4,000 yards passing and 27 touchdowns. Like Carr, he loves to use play action, but unlike his opposite, he tends to focus on mid-range routes, picking up first downs, moving the chains, and controlling the clock. His accuracy and ability to keep the team in makable third down situations will be key to a Memphis victory.   HB Anthony Allen While Todd Gurley is the clear lead back, it is Allen who tends to come in when the team has to get those last 2 yards or get the ball into the endzone. Often, on fewer carries, Allen can outgain Gurley. He is not a classic ground and pound back, does not do well with 20+ carries, but at the right time, when the yards are needed, do not be surprised if Memphis swaps out Gurley for Allen and his battering ram style.   WR Robert Woods Coming out of USC the LA Express had hoped Robert Woods would be the next great Trojan wideout. He was seen as a disappointment with the Express, but in his second year in Memphis he has built a rapport with Manning and has found his groove. This year he blossomed into one of the best route runners and mid-range receivers in the league. He led the team with 99 receptions and over 1,250 yards. He also added 8 touchdowns, mostly red-zone throws. Woods is not going to streak down the field, but what he will do is give you a shoulder fake, quick turn, and find himself open and ready to catch the ball.   LB NaVorro Bowman Bowman slipped a bit in total tackles, sharing more plays with Ryan D’Imperio and Jarvis Jones. He also took on more of a role as a run blitzer and QB disruptor, but the change in role has not diminished the fire within NaVorro Bowman. He remains one of the most aggressive linebackers in the league, and he has proven that he can be dangerous both at the line of scrimmage and as a blitzer. He will make plays in the Summer Bowl, but he needs to avoid them being negative plays, penalties or unnecessary roughness calls that can turn a defensive stand into a first down for the offense.   SS Jordan Richards Definitely an unsung player on the Showboat defense. Richards is not going to garner 10 tackles in a game, or make 3 picks (he has only 1 on the year), but what he can do is remove a receiver from the game. He will almost certainly be used to occupy Jimmie Graham’s headspace and to double up on Larry Fitzgerald, providing support for the corners so they can be more aggressive in how the approach their positioning. That means that while Richards may not finish the game with the biggest stat line, his presence has the potential to disrupt the gameplan of the Wranglers.   Our Best Guess Here is the part where we once again go out on a limb, having largely missed on our preseason picks, having made several misreadings of the playoff game scenarios, we now try once again to pick a winner in the championship. Do we go with the favored Wranglers or take a shot at predicting an upset? Memphis has been outperforming expectations all season long, can they do it one more time.   We are going to be up front here. We don’t think so. Arizona matches up very well with the Showboats. They have enough weapons to force Memphis’s secondary to make tough choices and risk exposing themselves to big plays. They can run the ball if the Showboats opt to stay in nickel and dime formations. And they have a defense that can make a mid-range passing game tough to engage. Memphis will have to establish the run early and truly force Arizona to commit resources up front if they want to get their passing game going, but with Joe Haden there, likely on Robert Woods for much of the game, Arizona does not have to rely on 2-deep zones or shell defenses. They can be aggressive and still feel good about their back end coverage. So, based largely on the matchup of strength to strength, we think Arizona just has too much, and will present too many issues, for the Showboats to get the upper hand. We are going to pick the Wranglers to win their 2nd title in 4 years, and to hold up not only the John Bassett Trophy, but the title of dynasty as well. OUR PICK: Arizona Wranglers 27 Memphis Showboats 21

Four Games, two upsets, four teams moving on and four going home disappointed. That is the USFL Divisional Playoffs. While New Jersey and Arizona held serve, taking care of business at home, Houston and Los Angeles stumbled, upset in their own stadiums and each by less than a field goal. That means upstarts Memphis and Chicago are still alive and headed to the Conference Championships. We will review how the Generals, Wranglers, Showboats, and Machine got here, look ahead at next week’s huge title games at Metlife Stadium and U. of Phoenix Stadium, but we will also bring you the big story of the week off the field, three huge retirements that came as surprises to us and very likely to their teams as well. All this, plus a look at the first 2 coaching hires, both familiar faces now headed to new places. It’s all right here in This Week in the USFL.     ORLANDO RENEGADES 8   NEW JERSEY GENERALS 12 This one was a slugfest, the kind of score you expect of a January game in the NFL when the weather is foul and the conditions keep the score down. No such issue in new Jersey, where the weather was perfect and it was only the defenses keeping each offense out of the endzone. The two teams combined for 8 third down conversions in 24 attempts, and Orlando got busted for 12 penalties, accounting for 104 negative yards. New Jersey lost the turnover race 0-2, but still came out on top thanks to their gameplan against Calais Campbell and their dedication to running the ball even when the big plays did not come.   The New Jersey defense made the first big play of the game when Vic Beasley, one of the break out stars of this season, caught up with Russell Wilson in the endzone. Wilson threw the ball away, but was called in the grasp, which makes the intentional grounding throw into a sack, and a sack in the endzone is a safety. It would be the only score of the first quarter as both defenses dominated action.   The second quarter saw only 1 score as well, as a methodical New Jersey drive got them into field goal range for Ka’imi Fairbairn. New Jersey’s kicker added a field goal and we had a baseball score at the half. 5-0. The two teams combined gained only 201 yards in the first half as both defenses were a step ahead of the offenses. New Jersey was keeping the Orlando pass rush off of Brett Hundley but Orlando had 7 or 8 men in coverage and Hundley just could not hit on anything but short dump downs. New Jersey, for their part, forced a lot of early throws and throw-away passes from Russell Wilson. He would complete only 10 of 20 passes in the first half.   Wilson would have a better start to the second half, putting together a drive that would give Orlando the lead. The drive was patient, even plodding, taking 15 plays before Wilson hit TE Daniel Fells with a 2-yard roll-out pass. Wilson went 5 of 8 on the drive, with 7 rushes split between Moreno and Murray accounting for the rest of the yardage on the way to the score. Wilson rewarded his backs, pitching the ball on what looked very much like a college option play. From Wilson’s hands to HB Knowshon Moreno and into the endzone for 2 points and a 8-5 lead for the visitors.   It would take New Jersey nearly a full quarter to respond. Three consecutive General drives provided no danger for Orlando, but the fourth one, beginning 3 minutes into the final period found a formula for success. It began with Hundley faking the ball to Jones-Drew, drawing in the coverage, and then finding Miles Austin on an out route for 12 yards. Jones-Drew would get 5 carries on the drive, but would only gain 17 yards on those carries. Hundley would connect on two more passes, but was also helped by two big penalties on Orlando, an offsides on 2nd and 4 that gave New Jersey a new set of downs, and a roughing the passer on a frustrated Arthur Moats, for a blow to Hundley’s head. The drive finished with Hundley handing the ball to Delone Carter, who burrowed in from the 2. The refs delayed their call but upon finding carter well beyond the line called the play a touchdown. Orlando protested, throwing the red flag, but there was simply no video evidence to overturn the call. With 8 minutes left in the game, new Jersey would go up by four, 12-8.   Orlando would not get a chance to come back. On their next drive, they failed on a 4th and 2 form the New Jersey 47. They would get the ball back with only 55 seconds to play and needing a touchdown. They would reach the New Jersey 22, but the final throw of the game was again a failed 4th down play, this time into the endzone.   New Jersey survived thanks to defense, patience, and a solid game plan to offset Orlando’s pass rush. They simply outlasted the Renegades, and for that effort they would get the chance not only to play in the Conference Title Game, but to host the game at MetLife in a week’s time. SAN DIEGO THUNDER 16   ARIZONA WRANGLERS 23 The San Diego Thunder never quit, showed quite a bit of moxie, but simply did not have answers against the Wranglers. Arizona would score the first 17 points of the game and while San Diego did all they could to fight their way back, it was never enough to get closer than 7 points. Every time they pulled closer, Arizona would find a way to increase the lead once again. Not the Wranglers’s most complete game, not their most dominant, but certainly more than enough to move them along to the Conference Title Game, which they will host next weekend.   The game did not start well for San Diego. On their very first drive Joe Webb had a ball tipped at the line and right into the hands of A. J. Klien. The linebacker returned the ball to the Thunder 31, and from there Arizona moved quickly, scoring on a Ka’Deem Carey 2-yard run only 5 plays later. San Diego could not respond, punting the ball away to Arizona after only 6 plays. Arizona would then move downfield on two big plays, the first a 49-yard Carr to Fitzgerald connection, and the second the scoring play, Carr to Bryant from the 25. With 3 minutes left in the 1st quarter Arizona had built a 14-0 lead and looked to be dominating.   The Wranglers would add a field goal in the 2nd quarter and it looked like the game might be a 17-0 shutout at the half, but San Diego found some success in the 2-minute no-huddle to end the half. Joe Webb connected with Chad Johnson, then TE Kevin Everett, before finding Luke Willson, his 2nd tight end, for a 3-yard scoring toss. It was not enough to be within 1 score, but going into the half at 17-7 was a small victory for the Thunder.   The second half began with another solid San Diego drive, one which ended with a 36-yard field goal from Jeff Reed. San Diego was clawing their way back, but Arizona would not let them get closer than 7. They replied to Reed’s field goal with one of their own. Back down 10, San Diego again came out hoping to shrink the difference, but fate would not have it. Arizona CB Joe Haden gave up a short hook route to Nick Toon, only to punch the ball out after the catch. Teammate Mike Mickens would scoop the ball up and run out of bounds to give Arizona the ball in San Diego territory. The Thunder held them to another field goal, but now San Diego was down 13, with the 3rd quarter ending at Arizona 23, San Diego 10.   The Thunder would have to settle for field goals on their next two drives. Arizona would milk the clock, maintaining their lead in time of possession, and making key first downs to stay in control. San Diego would put 6 points on the board, but that would be as close as they got, a 7-point final deficit as Arizona moves on and prepares for their 3rd Western Conference Final in 4 years. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 31  HOUSTON GAMBLERS 29 Two divisional foes, though only for the past 2 years after Houston moved over from the SW Division to the Southern Division. Nevertheless, the Gamblers and Showboats know each other well. They have been playing each other in big games ever since both teams joined the league in the 1984 expansion. They met twice in the regular season, with Houston winning both games, but in this third matchup, it would be the surprising Showboats who would get the last laugh, an upset road victory that would send more than 56,000 at NRG Stadium home disappointed.   This was a fun one, with the two teams combining for 808 yards of offense, 35 first downs, and 60 points. In the end it would come down to a 2-point conversion needed to tie the score and send the game to overtime. Matt Hasselbeck would throw for 203 and a score, Carlos Hyde running for 75 and 2 scores. But the game belonged to two Showboats. Eli Manning, having a dream season, completed 24 of 30 for 284 yards and 4 touchdowns against Houston’s defense. And while the Gamblers held Todd Gurley to only 1.2 yards per carry, it seemed like every time Anthony Allen was brought in to carry the ball, he made a big play. Allen would finish with 93 yards on only 12 carries, slashing and running over Houston defenders along the way.   The game was close throughout, a 10-7 Houston lead after one quarter with both Hyde and Memphis’s Robert Woods scoring in the opening period. In the 2nd quarter Houston kept their lead as the two teams traded scores. Memphis added a TD to Brandon Marshall, while Houston expanded their advantage with 2 field goals and a final drive TD run by Carlos Hyde to take a 23-14 advantage into the break.   Memphis came out in the 3rd quarter with a single focus, cut into the Houston lead. They did just that with a 14-play drive that saw Manning connect with Wood for a second time. This time the 8-yard TD pass pulled the Showboats back to within 2 points, 23-21. In the fourth, their mission would see them take the lead with a short Lewis Ward field goal, and then expand the lead as Manning hit Woods for a 3rd score. The former Express wideout, practically given up on by LA, has found new life in Memphis as a route specialist who can get open underneath. He would finish the game with 7 receptions, 99 yards and 3 of Manning’s 4 touchdown passes.   The Memphis score put the Showboats up by 8 with 7 minutes left. Houston would need a touchdown and a 2-point play to take the win away from their Southern Division rivals. With 1:53 left on the clock, the Gamblers got the first part of that formula, Matt Hasselbeck hitting on his only TD of the day, a 12-yard strike to Roy Williams. Within 2, they would need to go for the 2-point conversion. They lined up with 3 receivers wide, TE Dante Rosario on the edge, and Carlos Hyde behind Hasselbeck. When Rosario shifted wide, it looked to everyone like a spread pass play, but Hasselbeck handed the ball to Hyde, and the Memphis linebackers were there. Ryan D’Imperio and Jarvis Jones were not fooled, crashing into the line and stuffing Hyde behind the line of scrimmage.   The onside kick would fail, the Showboats would kill the clock and take the W as Houston fans filed out of the stadium. Memphis, a 5-11 team only a year ago, a team that was supposed to be rebuilding and preparing to transition to a rookie QB, had not only outperformed expectations, but were now heading to the site of Summer Bowl 2016 for a conference title game against the homestanding New Jersey Generals, one game away from the league championship. CHICAGO MACHINE 24  LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 23 This was a game no one saw coming before the season. The two teams, Chicago and LA, had combined to go 7-24-1 only a year ago. Both were seen as also-rans in the preseason picks, but here they were, fighting for a ticket to the Western Conference Final. And man, did they fight. Two different styles would clash in Farmers Insurance Field, with Chicago leaning heavily on their run game, and LA taking to the air.   Matt Forte and Doug Martin would combine for 177 yards rushing, with Martin edging his teammate 97-80 in rush yards. LA’s Sam Bradford would complete 25 of 44 throws for 248 yards, with new Express teammate Demaryius Thomas his primary target. Like the Houston-Memphis game, this one would also stay close throughout, with 4 lead changes, including a 4th quarter flip that would hold up in the final minutes.   LA scored first, a 1-yard in-route to Nelson Agholor providing the opening 7 points. Chicago would respond only 1 minute later with a perfect play-action pass producing the longest play of the day, a 71-yard toss and catch from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Aaron Dobson. Dobson would finish with 116 yards on the day, but 71 of those yards came on this one play. The period ended with Chicago adding 3 on a William Hopper field goal to take their first lead, 10-7. They would extend that lead to 17-7 when Doug Martin busted through the initial line and scampered twenty-three yards for Chicago’s second score to open the 2nd quarter. But, that lead would not hold for long. LA controlled the rest of the period, frustrated to only score field goals, but still able to pull back to 17-13 by the half. They would get their go-ahead moment early in the third quarter.   Chicago got the ball to start the half, and were moving it well, but a poor choice by Fitzpatrick produced the worst possible result. Trying to connect with Dobson in double coverage, CB Tracy Porter came up with the ball and a clear field ahead of him. Porter would score from 48 yards out and instead of Chicago extending their lead, LA was back on top 20-17. They would extend that lead to 23-17 with an early 4th quarter field goal. But a 6-point lead is a precarious lead, and LA would learn that the hard way as Chicago would come back.   Using play action effectively, Chicago moved the ball after LA’s kick and the success of both Martin and Forte meant that LA had to respect every play fake. When Fitzpatrick put the ball in the gut of Martin on a 1st and 10 from the LA 25, the linebackers crept in, the safeties took the inside receivers, and that left Kenny Stills outside in man coverage. Fitzpatrick pulled the ball back out, rolled slightly to the right, and found Stills with a step on his man. A perfect touch pass put the ball in Stills’s hands, and with 6:06 left the Machine were back on top, 24-23.   LA would never cross the 50 again. With no threat from Reggie Bush on the ground, Chicago used tight man coverage and pressure from blitzers like Courtney Upshaw and Akeem Ayers, the Machine disrupted both LA drives, forcing them to punt at the end of the first and disrupting their final play, a 4th and 7 throw that did find its target. With their defensive stops, Chicago went from the worst team in the league in 2015 to a Conference Finalist in 2016. They will head to Arizona for a faceoff against the team with the best record in the league, a David vs. Goliath showdown in the Western Final. Surprise Retirements Shock Several USFL Clubs While we all expect retirement announcements during the weeks of the playoff season, these are usually well-anticipated decisions that both fans and team management has a sense for long before the player steps in front of a camera. Not this week. In addition to several anticipated announcements, there were three surprises, players who pretty much everyone expected to see on the field in 2017 who have made a different decision and stepped away from the game. In each case, the sudden change of heart means that their teams now have to recalibrate their offseason, shift priorities and potentially expend draft capital or salary cap on a position that they thought was secure. For fans, the feeling of loss and, in some cases, betrayal, can taint the offseason. We start with perhaps the biggest surprise of the three, then we will discuss the other two retirement announcements and finish up with a recap of other announcements made over the past 7 days.   Las Vegas QB Cody Pickett This was one that, at least for fans and outsiders, came out of left field. Yes, Cody Pickett’s season was cut short by a PCL tear that would require surgery. However, there had been little talk of retirement during the season or in the time since he was sidelined. The 12-year veteran was expected to come back for at least a season, perhaps two, with Las Vegas expected to be looking for a protégé in the draft either this year or next. Now, with his announcement on Monday, the club is forced to find an immediate answer. Jeff Tuel finished the year, and played adequately (9 TD, 5 Int, 66.5% Completion Rate), but no one expects the Vipers to go into 2017 with Tuel as their starter. So, what are the options? Well, unless they restructure some of their more expensive contracts (WR DaVante Parker $4.5M, Dee Ford $4.3M, or Peria James $3.5M) they don’t have the cap space to make a serious run at the most anticipated free agent QB in several years, Eli Manning (who is still in the playoff hunt with Memphis making his asking price rise with every win.) They could go for a more modest option like Landry Jones, Adrian McPherson, or Troy Smith, but none of those QBs have proven they can be a long-term, or even necessarily a 1-season solution.   Pickett retires after 9 seasons as a USFL starter, first in Pittsburgh and then with the Knights/Vipers. He has a championship ring, but it was from the 2005 in Seattle, where he was backup to Byron Leftwich and only threw 98 pass attempts in limited action. He has since put up some solid numbers, with a lifetime QB Rating of 86.3, over 28,000 yards passing and 167 TDs. He was on pace for perhaps his best season this year, with over 2,600 yards passing in 10 games, but the PCL injury in Week 10 put an end to his season and, it seems, to his career in the USFL. Charlotte HB Darren McFadden While some speculated that McFadden might call it a career after an injury cut his season short this year, it was not something widely considered. McFadden, like Pickett, was having one of his best years. At the age of 32 he was averaging 64 yards per game, rushing for 513 yards in 8 games, on pace for 1,000 for the year. Despite the fact that the Monarchs had brought in Adrian Peterson from the NFl to split carries, McFadden had retained his position as the starter and primary back through the season’s first 8 weeks. He announced this week that the wear and tear on his body after 8 USFL seasons was significant and that if he wanted to live an active life he had to take seriously the advice of his doctors. With ongoing concerns about his hips, knees, and back, it is certainly understandable that McFadden would look at the long term future and opt to step away before irreparable damage was done.   Charlotte has 3 backs on the roster and under contract at this time, with Peterson signed through 2018 and backups Taiwan Jones and Kenneth Dixon also locked up for another 2 years. They may feel comfortable with that arrangement, or they may opt to bring in some fresh legs in the offseason. With serious concerns about Brandon Wheedon at QB, they may have another priority on their minds for the offense.   New Orleans WR Early Doucet Another true shocker as Early Doucet put up a fabulous season this year. He finished the regular season with 1,289 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 89 catches. It was also an injury-free season that saw the receiver start all 16 games. So when he took to the podium on Tuesday very few in the room expected to hear him announce that he had signed the retirement documents required by the league.   Doucet cited a desire to spend more time with his family, to move to the next phase of his career, and, yes, to preserve his health as reasons for his decision. He thanked his teammates and coaches, the fans of New Orleans, and his mother and uncle for their longstanding support of his dream to play pro football. Doucet retires with 3 All-USFL honors, over 9,500 yards receiving, 71 career touchdowns, and, of course, a championship ring from last year’s Summer Bowl victory.   The Breakers now enter the offseason without one of their best offensive weapons. They perhaps feel fortunate that 2nd receiver Kenny Britt has come on very impressively over the past 3 years, with over 900 yards and 9 touchdowns this year.  They may feel that the time is right to move slot receiver Tyler Lockett to the outside as a full-time starter. Beyond that they have veterans Donnyie Avery and DeMetrius Byrd under contract for 2 more seasons, but may well decide to search for another option in free agency or the draft.   Those three players were the retirements that caught us, and perhaps their teams by surprise. They were hardly the only announcements of the past week. Here are the other notable names that have announced they are not returning for 2017:   Washington LB Kevin Burnett Seattle DT Alan Branch (34) Seattle WR Nate Burleson (35) Philadelphia P Steve Carlton Ohio K David Green (37) Los Angeles DE Keneche Udeze (35) Las Vegas CB Willie Middlebrooks (35) Jacksonville HB Cadillac Williams (34) Houston FS Willie Andrews (34) Dallas HB Antonio Pittman (32) Birmingham WR Chris Chambers (34) Atlanta DT Jason Ferguson (36)   While replacing important team contributors like Burleson, Williams or Udeze will not be easy but these players had informed their teams of their intentions several months before their official announcement, so we expect the player personnel teams have had plans in place for this offseason, something that might not have been the case in Charlotte, New Orleans, or Pittsburgh.     Martin & Forte Run All Over Express D It certainly was not a surprise that Chicago would try to use the run game to set the tempo and the tone of the game. The Express expected as much, after all it has been Chicago’s primary approach to winning games all season long. But, like Lake Michigan snows in February, it is one thing to know it is coming and another thing to deal with it in real time. The Express quite simply did not handle it well. Forte averaged 5.7 yards per carry, which is not what you want as a defense. Martin averaged 8.1 yards per carry, which is well beyond reasonable. The two combined for 177 yards, an impressive total, and their constant success made it that much easier for Ryan Fitzpatrick to connect with his receivers, including on the game winning play a play action toss to Kenny Stills. Like we said, it is one thing to know it is coming, and a very different thing to actually shut it down.   Anthony Allen Surprises with Big Game If Chicago’s run success was to be expected, Memphis’s success was more of a surprise. With Houston playing very well against Todd Gurley, Memphis threw them a curve ball, using Anthony Allen more and more as the game went on. He did not earn a ton of carries, only 12 to Gurley’s 20, but those 12 touches were impactful, with Allen averaging 7.8 yards per touch and building up 93 yards in just those 12 carries. Allen’s performance was not the only factor that led Memphis to their upset win in Houston, certainly Eli Manning’s rapport with Robert Woods was also a huge factor, but when you can get that kind of performance from a backup halfback, throwing the defense into an unexpected Plan B mode, you have something you can use to keep them off balance and making mistakes. The result? Memphis moves on and Houston can only wonder where that came from.   Swan the Secret to Generals’ Protection Plan We spent a lot of time before the New Jersey-Orlando game talking about each team’s pass rush, and particularly just how destructive Calais Campbell can be to an offensive game plan. Certainly the two clubs felt the pressure, and a 12-8 final is not exactly an offensive showcase, but we have to note that New Jersey gave up only 3 sacks in the game, one fewer than they earned against Orlando’s offensive line. How did they minimize the damage the front line of Orlando can produce? The key may well be a name we just don’t call that often, William Swan. Swan is a prototypical blocking fullback. His primary role in the New Jersey offense is to clear holes for Maurice Jones-Drew. And yes, he did that on most of MJD’s 24 rush attempts, but more importantly, New Jersey kept him in on passing downs, rotating to whichever side Campbell was on. Consistently, if Campbell tried to get around the tackle, there was Swan laying a hit on the big DE. If he tried to overpower the tackle, there was Swan supporting the tackle with another set of hands. Campbell ended the game with 2 sacks, which is a good game for most edge rushers, but far short of what the Renegades had hoped for. The strategy, using the fullback as a second tackle, a backup blocker on every pass play, well that worked out well enough for New Jersey to edge a tough Orlando team in a low scoring affair.   Dansby Questionable But Hopes to Play Karlos Dansby was listed as doubtful for this week’s Divisional Playoff game, and before kickoff he was scratched, standing on the sideline in a track suit, not a uniform. But the hope in Arizona is that the story will be very different in this week’s Western Conference Final. Dansby has been upgraded to questionable, which typically means a 50/50 chance of playing. He has been practicing, taking ice baths, doing all the things you do to prepare for a game, and you know that if the call were his, he would be on the field when the Wranglers take on Chicago. Don’t be surprised if he is cleared to play, and while he may be on a play count, in the key moments, and on the key plays, don’t be surprised if the 12-year veteran is right there in the middle of the action. Dobson Hurt but Expected to Start Chicago got a scare in their game with LA when Aaron Dobson went out with what looked like a possible ankle injury. He would not return in Chicago’s final push to victory, but after getting imaging done on Monday, he is listed as “Probable” with a sprained ankle. A sprain can be a wide range of things, but it is not reported as a high ankle sprain, so it very well may be the more manageable lower ankle, an injury that is often addressed with a bit of cortisone and a good tape job. So, if you are a Machine fan, expect to see Dobson on the field on Sunday, doing his best to help Chicago pull off one of the most unexpected rags to riches stories in league history.   Two games to report on, and we have already addressed most of the meaningful injuries, from Dansby to Dobson, Urlacher and Maualaga. Nothing new to report, just two teams with the usual end-of-season aches, pains, and players in training gear. Will Urlacher’s absence play a bigger role against Arizona? Will Dansby be able to come in and be a difference maker? Will New Jersey struggle with Stephenson out, or will we get four teams playing their best with the 50+ men they have available?   NJ: SS A. Bethea (OUT), LB R. Maualaga (OUT), G I. Sowells (D), OT D. Stephenson (D), MEM: CB D. Martinez (Q)   CHI: LB B. Urlacher (OUT), WR A. Dobson (P), G K. Zeitler (P) ARZ: FB L. McClain (OUT), G D. Robinson (OUT), TE D. Graham (Q), LB K. Dansby (Q)   USFL Free Agency Primer We are officially 20 days from the opening of Free Agency for the USFL, only 35 days from the first of two NFL-USFL transfer windows, and we still have so many questions. It seemed time for a full preview of the offseason chaos to come, so we are going to raise our five big questions heading into the final weeks before the marketplace of talents officially opens, then, just to put everyone on the same wavelength we will reveal our list of the top 25 free agents we expect to be available. No guarantees, there is still time for teams to cut that deal before it becomes official, but as of right now, this will be our best estimation of who will be out there and who will be interested in them. But, let’s get started with the 5 looming questions for the free agent market.   1. Will Memphis actually let Manning walk? This is the question we all think we know the answer to, but we cannot believe it. Every indication, from the club and from Eli himself is that he will be allowed to test the waters and potentially find a new home for his final years in the game. In the preseason that seemed a viable path, with Manning spending one year mentoring Paxton Lynch and preparing to move on. But now, with the year he has put out there and with Memphis headed to the Eastern Final it seems unthinkable that the Showboats would not even try to lock him in for 1-2 more years. Yes, they have spent some serious cash to sign Lynch, but a transition now could be the worst move a franchise has ever made, throwing out elite performance (yes, Eli has been elite this year) for an unknown. But again, all signs point to this being the case.   2. What other options are out there for QB-needy teams? Not a lot. We see quite a few 2nd stringers in the pool, names like Landry Jones, Tony Pike, Matt Moore, and Adrian McPherson, but not anyone who a USFL team is likely to sign and start from day 1. Even the NFL pool (typically very slim in September) has only 1 prior starter among them, former Bills 1st round pick E. J. Manuel. So, it looks like even more pressure than usual to either trade for a 2nd stringer that has potential or to make that deal to get a top tier draft eligible college QB. Could this be the year that there is a market for starters who are in some heat? Wheedon? Orton? Osweiler?   3. Could we see one of the best receiver pools in years? If the QB pool looks like Manning and nothing else, the receiver market could be the richest it has been in years. Just based on where things stand right now (and again, it could change in 2 weeks) we have some major talent here: Roy Williams, Keenan Allen, Jordy Nelson, Percy Harvin, Kelvin Benjamin, and Davone Bess are all expected to be allowed to put themselves out there. On the second level we have quite a few names too: James Hardy, Marshall Newhouse, Jordan Shipley,Derek Hagan andLance Moore are all expected to be available. That is a deep pool with a lot of cream on the top.   4. Are there more big name retirements on the way? That is a huge question. Not only potential free agents who could opt out, but also players under contract who could create immediate needs on their team if they opt to call it a career. We know Houston is waiting to see if this is the year that Matt Hasselback does what many have expected for years, but each year he comes back and plays as well as ever. Health concerns could force Brian Urlacher to leave the Machine after yet another late season injury. We have heard rumors about Drew Brees, Antonio Gates, Roddy White, Joey Harrington and Frank Gore, but nothing confirmed and nothing the teams or the players will speak to publicly.   5. What position could be a bare cupboard in free agency? Maybe not a position, but a whole squad as we are not seeing a lot of big names nor depth in the entire offensive line group. Yes, there are a couple of veteran linemen like OTs Andrew Whitworth and D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OG Kevin Zeitler, and C Richie Incognito who look to be seeking a new home, which is bad news for Baltimore (both Ferguson and Incognito) but otherwise this is a pretty lackluster market if you are in need of line help, and who is not always looking to upgrade their protection?   Top 25 Anticipated Free Agents in the USFL Pool for 2017 So, we have looked at the key questions, but every pool is different, with a mix of veterans looking for one more deal, players disgruntled with their current situation, young players coming off their rookie deals who have not yet shown their value, and middle-of-the-pack players who could blossom in a new system or with a new coach. As we look over the likely 2017 free agent marketplace, there is certainly a lot of talent out there. Some may be retiring before the market opens (a few, we suspect), some may end up in the NFL (as always happens) but now is the time to dream that all of the players you covet for your favorite team will find their way to just that destination. Here is our list of the 25 names that everyone wants to see headed their way.   25-OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson (BAL) At 34, Ferguson could be a retirement risk, or he could be a gem on a 1-2 year deal.   24-WR David Tyree (ARZ) A quality receiver, but one not likely to draw big money with a deep pool this year.   23-OT Clint Oldenberg (MEM) Two years younger than Ferguson, and that could mean a longer deal.   22-DT Terrell Troupe (TEX/OKL) Not a splashy player, but a solid inside space-eater, especially for a 3-4 scheme.   21-DE Antwan Odom (LA) A solid 7-10 sack guy, but at 33, he may well be a retirement risk.   20-LB Nick Koutavides (OAK) A swing LB in Oakland hoping for a shot to start somewhere else.   19-HB Ben Tate (HOU) A bruising back who only got 62 carries behind Carlos Hyde.   18-TE Richard Rodgers (OAK) The first of several starters from Oakland’s receiver group to seek a big deal.   17-WR DeShaun Jackson (ORL) Used mostly as a very dangerous return man, but wanting more snaps on offense.   16-C Andre Gurode (PHI) At 34, could still have some good years in him, but Philly still hopes to resign him.   15-QB Kyle Boller (TEX/OKL) A solid backup who some think could be a solid starter in a game manager role.   14-LB Kevin Minter (NOR) Only 23, and the Breakers want to resign him, but they are cash-strapped.   13-SS Glover Quinn (WSH) A savvy veteran who finds himself in a very rich safety pool, not ideal for a deal.   12-LB Angelo Crowell (STL) He may have lost a step, but his instincts are still solid. 104 tackles in 2016 for St. Louis.   11-SS Darren Sharper (PHI) With 57 tackles this year, Sharper is a solid option for a run-stopping safety.   10-B Patrick Robinson (DEN) We cannot believe Denver is willing to let Robinson go. A possible steal.   9-DT Glenn Dorsey (ARZ) The Wranglers will try to resign him, but he could be a costly player if others want him.   8-WR Pierre Garçon (OAK) Oakland’s slot option, looking to move outside if someone will give him a shot.   7-LB Shawne Merriman (DEN) The best LB option in a pretty shallow pool. Another cost-cutting loss for Denver.   6-DT Albert Hayneswoth (ORL) He is brash, often a handful, but even at 34, he could be a valuable short-term signing.   5-SS Corey Chavous (MGN) One of two safeties sure to get a huge pay hike with a new deal. A team leader.   4-WR Keenan Allen (OAK) He wants a shot to be the top dog in a team’s receiving group, and likely will get it.   3-SS Anthoine Bethea (NJ) Our top-rated defensive player after a very strong season with the Generals.   2-WR Jordy Nelson (STL) He wants out, and this top tier target will get his shot at a huge deal.   1-QB Eli Manning (MEM) The feeding frenzy to get Manning after the year he has had could be epic.   Two games to decide who will appear in the 34th USFL Championship, Summer Bowl 2016. Can the Generals become that rarest of beasts, a team playing for a title in their home stadium? Can Memphis cap off a Cinderella season with a trip to the title? Is Arizona just too good to be stopped at this point, or is Chicago the miracle team that can go from worst to first? So much drama, so much at stake, so much fun for us as football fans. Here is your guide to Sunday’s huge double header of playoff football.   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (4) @ NEW JERSEY GENERALS (2) Sunday, July 17 @ 2pm ET MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ Generals -2   This one could be incredibly tough to predict, which is what Vegas is telling us by setting only 2-point differential. New Jersey will have all the fan support, and we expect a big crowd at MetLife just one week before they host the Summer Bowl. Memphis has the QB, that is for sure, but New Jersey has more than enough weapons to compete. Hard to believe that these two teams both had 10 losses last year because when we look at this year’s film there is just so much we love about them.   Coach Ryan will want to pressure Hundley, but after surviving Orlando’s pass rush last week is there really anything Memphis can do that will work? New Jersey will want to establish the run with MJD and then give Hundley some easier throws. When Memphis has the ball, the format is very much the same, establish the run with Gurley and Allen, then let Eli pick apart zone coverages. Honestly, the team that throws a wrinkle into the expected game plan could well be the victor. That or, as we hate to bring up, the team that turns the ball over the most could be the loser. Cliché, we know, but it is a cliché because it is true more often than not.   OUR PICK: We love both of these teams, their rise to excellence, their pluck and determination, the stories they provide, but if we have to pick a winner, we think we have to go with home field advantage and the capacity for Coach Turner to innovate on offense. Coach Ryan has a smart one in OC Kyle Shanahan, but we think he tempers Shanahan’s creativity, while Turner will certainly plan some surprises based on what he knows of Ryan’s defense. We think it will be close, but it will be the Generals when the clock runs out. New Jersey 22-20. CHICAGO MACHINE (6) @ ARIZONA WRANGLERS (1) Sunday, July 17 @ 6pm ET University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ Wranglers -6   This one looks like a mismatch. How could it not? Last year the Machine were the worst team in the league, winning only 3 games and seemingly directionless. Enter Lovie Smith, in comes Ryan Fitzpatrick, and now we have the Machine in the Western Conference Finals. That is quite the Cinderella story, but is Arizona the clock striking midnight? They certainly look and feel like a juggernaut, a team on a mission, and certainly the deeper, more talented, and, oh yes, far more seasoned team.   With Urlacher out, a lot falls on Manti Te’o to lead the defense. He has help, but against the deep ball threat of the Wranglers, it will be a challenge. Expect Arizona to test the Chicago secondary early and often, and to use Frank Gore as a battering ram on short yardage. As for Chicago’s offense, we know the formula, run the ball to shorten the game. Get outside shots to Aaron Dobson and use both Forte and Martin as receivers out of the backfield. OUR PICK: We love a good David v. Goliath, but the truth is that for every David victory, there are a ton of Goliath demolitions, because that is how Goliath got famous in the first place. Arizona is the 1 seed for a reason. They were not just winning games, they were dominating for most of the season. We think that Chicago, for as good a story as they have been, are just overmatched in this one. Arizona 27-17. Hey there, USFL Fans, a quick note here to say that the Hall of Fame, Teams, and History pages have all been updated and are up to date through 2016. If you don't want spoilers for the 2016 playoffs, don't visit the History page just yet, because it will give away the Summer Bowl Winner. But, it is a great time to look at the HOF and Teams pages.

What a weekend!! Four playoff games, and 4 games decided by one score. We knew this weekend had potential with 3 of 4 games being between divisional rivals, but we got about as exciting a week of playoff football as you could hope for. We will start by running down all 4 heart pounding games, then discuss the other news of the week, preview the Divisional Round and prepare you for what we hope is a week as exciting as the one we just experienced. USFL playoff football, everyone, just about the best midsummer fun you can have. So, grab some ice cream, get your pool time in early, because you are going to want to be in front of the TV or in the stadium once again this weekend!   BALTIMORE BLITZ 21   ORLANDO RENEGADES 26 Ben Roethlisberger was held to 198 yards passing, but really it was only 111 yards, because he was also sacked 10 times for 87 yards by a relentless Orlando rush.  Nine different players had sacks, with, who else, Calais Campbell leading the way. Baltimore tried everything, extra linemen, extra tight ends, leaving the back in to block, screens, draws, you name it.  It did not matter.Orlando simply dominated the line of scrimmage and that helped them dominate the game. They built a 24-7 lead at the half, and even a 3rd quarter surge from Baltimore (2 scores in 6 minutes) never really threatened the Renegades. They shut Baltimore down in the 4th and held on for the 5-point win in a game that could have been a 14 or even 20-point difference.   The Renegades, thanks to their line dominance, outgained the Blitz 395-265. The combination of Knowshon Moreno, Latavious Murray, and planned runs for Russell Wilson led to 175 yards rushing for the home squad, while Baltimore could only muster 67 yards on the ground, and with Big Ben under constant pressure, including a 3rd quarter safety. The surprise star of the day was slot receiver Jeremy Maclin, who regularly beat coverage to turn short tosses into long gainers. He finished with 105 yards, including a 65-yard TD in the first quarter, leading all receivers in the game. Russell Wilson threw for 220 and the TD to Maclin, also running one in from 26-yards out to put Orlando up by 2 scores.    The Blitz started the year at 0-4 but showed their tenacity, clawing their way back into a playoff position, but the road ends here for the Blitz as Orlando was clearly the more aggressive, more stalwart team, winning at the line of scrimmage with both their defense and their offense. They move on and will face another NE Division team, New Jersey, in the Divisional Round.  CHICAGO MACHINE 31    MICHIGAN PANTHERS 28 Divisional matches are always fun, but rarely do we get the pleasure of watching two bitter rivals face off three times in the same year. We watched Michigan and Chicago duel in back-to-back games this year, with each team winning their home match. In the postseason it would be Michigan at home, but it would be Chicago getting the upper hand and moving on. From the top draft pick as the league’s worst team in 2015, Chicago has risen under former Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith and are now headed on to face another 2016 surprise team, the LA Express.   Chicago pulled off the road upset by igniting their run game with both Matt Forte (11 carries for 124 yards) and Doug Martin (11 for 86). They found ways to put players in space, including a 37-yard TD to TE Scott Chandler, a 39-yard scamper by Forte, and 11 total plays of over 15 yards.  But this game was no blow out. Michigan was right there all the way.  At the half they held a modest lead, 12-10, thanks to a holding call in the endzone that produced a safety against the Machine. LeVeon Bell proved dangerous as always, catching a screen for a 50-yard TD on the first drive of the game and finishing with 96 yards rushing. But, over the course of 25 minutes between the late 2nd period and the early 4th, Chicago outscored Michigan 31-3, and even two late Michigan scores were not enough to bring them all the way back.    Despite the fact that Doug Martin scored all 3 rushing touchdowns for the Machine, it was his backfield mate, Matt Forte, who got the POTG for his 124 yards rushing and 143 total yards from scrimmage. The game ended with a 3-point difference, a difference that would have been erased had Matt Prater connected on a 51-yard attempt as time ran out in the first half, but Michigan struggled in the 2nd half and even two late Cousins to Latimer TDs could not bring them all the way back. Chicago, the worst team in the league a year ago, is now a playoff game winner and will advance to the Divisional Round. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 17   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 20 Another divisional grudge match, with Memphis having beaten New Orleans in both regular season meetings. They say it is very tough to win 3 games in a row against the same foe, and it certainly was a struggle in this game, but Memphis used home cooking and a late drive orchestrated by Eli Manning to pull off the feat.   Manning, who may still be looking at free agency after the Memphis playoff run, had himself a day. In his duel with Drew Brees, Manning was locked in, completing 33 of 44 throws for a strong 75% on the day. He would accumulate 305 yards against a formidable New Orleans defense, with a lone TD. Brees played well also, completing 19 of 26 for 245 and 2 scores. The two teams struggled to run the ball as the defenses focused on making the opposition one-dimensional. The combination of Gurley and Allen produced only 81 yards while Jeremy Hill of the Breakers accounted for only 42 yards on the ground.    At the 3:09 mark of the 4th quarter, Drew Brees had his best throw of the game, a perfect deep ball to Kenny Britt, finally breaking through the 2-deep zones New Orleans had used well all game long. The play would go 49 yards and would tie the score at 17 apiece.  But 3:09 is a lot of time for a team to get in field goal range, especially when that team has nearly 58,000 screaming fans on their side. In the final minutes, Eli Manning was patient, taking the drop-down throws when needed, and efficient, completing 6 of 7 passes on his way into field goal range. With 15 seconds left and the ball on the New Orleans 6, Coach Ryan decided to send the kicker in on 3rd down, just in case there was an issue. Lewis Ward had no issues and with just seconds left on the clock, Memphis defeated their division rival, setting up a matchup against yet another Southern Division foe. Memphis’s win means they head to Houston next week for a matchup with the Gamblers, another foe they have battled with twice already this season. OAKLAND INVADERS 13   SAN DIEGO THUNDER 15 Final game of the weekend was also the third and final divisional matchup of the week with Dennis Green’s veteran Oakland Invaders club, a team that has made the postseason each of the past 9 years, headed down the coast to San Diego to take on the Thunder, a team new to the city and to the playoffs, having appeared only twice in the past 12 years. This would prove to be a defensive clash, one in which neither team topped 300 yards of total offense or 100 yards rushing. It would be a game in which the winning team managed to get the W without scoring a touchdown, and the losing team would fail on their only field goal attempt, a last second prayer from 55 yards out.    The Key to this game was patience. San Diego showed it, down 6 early on a Harrington TD pass to Davante Adams (with a missed PAT). The Thunder would have few big plays, instead driving down the field on 5 consecutive drives, always ending with Jeff Reed putting the ball between the uprights. He connected on 23-yard chip shot in the first quarter, then added 40-, 44-, and 35-yard kicks in the 2nd period, with Coach LeBeau playing conservatively and refusing to go for it on 4th and fewer than 3 yards on 2 of those drives. Hall added a final kick, a 34-yarder in the third, giving San Diego a 9-point lead over the Invaders.    That lead would be tested in the 4th, with Harrington finally breaking through and connecting with Richard Rodgers for the second Oakland TD of the game.  San Diego again refused to go for it on 4th down with 1:47 left to play and gave Oakland one more chance. Coach LeBeau told his defense he believed they could stop Oakland outside of field goal range, and that confidence was tested. With 3 seconds left and the clock stopped by Oakland’s final time out, they were on the San Diego, 38, just outside Roberto Aguayo’s comfort zone. The rookie would need to kick a 55-yarder, his longest kick of the year by more than 3 yards. Oakland lined up, Aguayo took his swing, and the ball slowly drifted to the right, never hooking back in.    San Diego had survived; their defense had done just enough to preserve the win. The Thunder now move on to the Divisional round, where they will face the Arizona Wranglers. It seems doubtful that even a Dick LeBeau defense can win that game without scoring some touchdowns, but the Thunder will at least have a chance. Oakland, for the third straight year, would be one-and done in the postseason.   We will review the news out of the four playoff games in just a moment, but, as is always the case, the end of the regular season and the first week of playoff action is always accompanied by player retirement announcements, and this year we had some big ones, retirements that could, in 5 years, create quite a tough pool of Hall of Fame candidates. Already, after only 1 week, we are losing a Summer Bowl winning QB, a certain 1st ballot HOF halfback, and one of the best edge rushers of this generation.  Add to that the 2016 league leader in tackles and you have a pretty stunning set of departures for one week. Let’s run through the names and then get back to on-field stories for you. Washington Federal HB Deuce McCallister  announced on Tuesday that he had carried the ball for the last time. The future Hall of Famer had played 16 seasons of pro football, including 14 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, a truly amazing accomplishment. Retiring at the ripe old age of 36, McCallister’s durability is legendary. His first step is textbook, and his ability to always fall forward is something younger players should study for a long time to come. He will retire with over 4,500 carries and exactly 19,271 yards rushing, setting a new league record by topping former Mauler Mike Rozier by nearly 200 yards.  McCallister’s 105 rushing touchdowns places him 4th all-time, oh, and we probably should mention his 4,207 yards receiving and another 33 touchdowns. Fans of the Federals, or just of McCallister, should book their tickets to Canton for October 2021, because there is no way Deuce McCallister is not being enshrined in Canton in 5 years.   Seattle QB Byron Leftwich  did not leave the game the way he wanted, but in his announcement speech he focused on the positive. He spoke with pride of his 13 seasons in the USFL, all of them in Seattle, a city he loves and thanked for years of support.  He thanked all the teammates who he played with over his career, and especially his offensive linemen. He thanked his various coaches, tearing up when speaking about Marvin Lewis and the 2005 Dragon club that made the surprising run from a 6-8 regular season record through 4 playoff games to the Dragon’s lone title.    Leftwich left the game with every single career passing record for the Dragons. That includes over 43,000 yards passing, 306 career passing touchdowns, and a career QB Rating of 95.6. This past season he was simply not himself, something he acknowledged, saying that Father Time comes for us all and that it was the right time for him to step away.  He will certainly get HOF consideration, and we expect it will not take long before the Dragons put his name on a banner or wall of honor.   Texas Defensive End Reynaldo Wynn  will not be making the move to Oklahoma with the Outlaws team. The 12-year veteran (11 with Texas), announced on Monday that 2016 was his final season in the trenches. Wynn leaves the game as he entered it 12 seasons ago, with yet another 10-sack season. His lowest sack total came in his rookie year, when he cleared the 10-sack mark with New Jersey, only to be traded to the Outlaws. In San Antonio Wynn was a regular on the leaderboard for sacks, racking up 137 sacks in 12 seasons, an average of 11.4 per season. Overshadowed by Calais Campbell for the past decade, Wynn was always positive, always adored by Outlaw fans, and always up for a game.    Las Vegas MLB Hunter Hillenmeyer  is going out on top. The 13-year veteran of the Knights, then Vipers, was the top tackler in the league in 2016, finishing the season with 132 tackles, a personal best in a career that saw him top 100 tackles on 8 different occasions. Hillenmeyer has also started a stunning 121 games in a row at Middle Linebacker, more than 8 seasons of consecutive games. In 206 career games, he started 191, truly an ironman at one of the game’s most punishing positions. Hillenmeyer hopes to take a year away from football but then is interested in getting into coaching, something he did on the field with younger linebackers during most of his career.   Dallas announced on Wednesday that HB Rashard Mendenhall  had notified the team of his decision to retire, and had asked them to make the announcement. Mendenhall, always a bit leary of the press during his career, played 8 seasons with the franchise, first in Boston and then in Dallas after the club’s relocation. He came into the league a year after Tiki Barber retired from the Boston Cannons. In his rookie year (2008) he finished with over 1,400 yards and 9 touchdowns, ushering in a new era of football in Boston. Alongside QB Drew Bledsoe and WR Chad “85” Johnson, he helped Boston win the city’s first pro football title of all time, the 2009 Summer Bowl. Mendenhall would be the team’s leading rusher every season of his career, retiring with 2,563 carries for 10,298 yards and 60 career rushing touchdowns.   L. J. Smith , a 13-year veteran of the LA Express and Charlotte Monarchs announced his retirement on Tuesday, one year after making the move from LA to the Carolinas. A dual use TE, Smith was both a solid blocker and a soft-handed receiver. His best year as a receiver was this final year with the Monarchs, in which he had career highs with 98 targets and 71 catches. He retires with over 500 receptions and 6,500 yards receiving.    35-year old edge rusher David Bowens  of the Jacksonville Bulls also announced his retirement this week. The 13-year veteran had a strong 2016 with 15 sacks on the  year, a career high.  It was the 6th time he had topped 10 sacks in a season. He retires with 103 career sacks after 13 seasons in Jacksonville. In his retirement speech he thanked his coaches, teammates, and the city of Jacksonville for their support, noting his disappointment that he was not able to help bring a title to the city, a streak without a championship that goes back to 1984, when the club was founded.   Finally, Philadelphia quarterback Chad Henne  has decided to retire from the game after 5 seasons in the league, three with Orlando and the last two with the Stars.  Henne had come over from the NFL in 2012, having spent his first 4 years largely carrying a clipboard for the Miami Dolphins. Henne started 5 games for Philadelphia last year during an injury to Matt Gutierrez, producing his highest numbers of the short USFL career.  He did not start a game this year, but came in only a couple of times in mop up time.    As we continue through the playoffs, we will continue to update you on any new retirement announcements and their impact for each player’s respective team. As you might imagine, this first wave will produce some significant needs for their clubs, with Washington seeking a new bell cow back, Texas a new edge rusher, and Seattle very likely moving on to Jacoby Brissett as their featured quarterback.    Chicago Advances but Loses Urlacher The Machine, while certainly ecstatic in their victory over rival Michigan and their advancing into the Divisional Round of the playoffs, have to also have a bit of trepidation, losing defensive captain and star MLB Brian Urlacher to a left foot injury.  Urlacher came out of the game in the 3rd quarter, sat on the sideline, tried to come back in, but lasted only 1 play. On Monday the team announced that their star linebacker had suffered a high ankle sprain and would be out of action for at least 3-5 weeks, essentially ending any chance of a return during the playoffs.    It is a big hit for the Machine defense, which tends to run through Urlacher’s line calls and his vision. In his absence, Manti Te’o will take over the defensive calls while Akeem Ayers will step into the MLB role. Ayers is a rangy, athletic player, but is simply no Brian Urlacher. This loss could be a real point of emphasis as Chicago prepares for a very tough matchup against the Pacific Champion LA Express and running back Reggie Bush.    Maclin Shines in Spotlight Game While Orlando’s front 7, and particularly their pass rush was certainly the story of the Wild Card game vs. Ben Roethlisberger and the Baltimore Blitz, we should celebrate the game turned in by slot receiver Jeremy Maclin. Maclin may not be a household name around the country, but he has been an important part of Orlando’s offense all season, finishing third on the team with 47 receptions despite being on the field far less than number 2 receiver Dwayne Bowe. Maclin essentially took over the slot duties from veteran DeShaun Jackson this year. Jackson finished with only 23 catches while still playing a major role on special teams. Maclin took more snaps in the slot, with 627 yards and 4 touchdowns during the regular season. In the Wild Card game, Maclin had only 3 catches, but they included a 65-yard touchdown as well as a 21-yard catch for a first down on 3rd and 17.    Expect to see more of Maclin next week against New Jersey. With Devin McCourty expected to be set up one-on-one with Orlando outside threat Michael Jenkins, Maclin could see a lot of opportunity underneath and inside.    Campbell Shares Spotlight in Orlando’s 10-Sack Onslaught It did not take long for Calais Campbell to shift the spotlight during the post-game interview. When asked how he felt about Orlando’s 10-sack explosion, Campbell pointed out that it was a full team effort, with 9 different players getting sacks. He noted that while he loves his role on the team, that there is a lot of talent across the entire defense and that is evident by the way they approached the Blitz game.   Campbell, who this past week won the sack title for a stunning 8th straight year, finished the season with 32 sacks. He remains the only player to ever top 30 sacks in a season, setting the league record in 2009 with 34, then reaching 33 in 2014, and 32 this year. This year, however, he was not alone. RE Arthur Moats topped the 10-sack mark with 14 QB takedowns this year.  DT Albert Haynesworth had 6 and a total of 12 different players recorded at least one sack during the regular season. And now, in one game we saw 9 different Renegades get to QB Ben Roethlisberger. Great news for the Renegades, but not what New Jersey 2nd year QB Brett Hundley wants to see in this week’s upcoming game. Hundley is quite a bit more agile than Roethlisberger but may still want to speak with his coaches about running the ball and calling a lot of quick passes to get the ball out of his hands.   Coach LeBeau Appreciates Win but Has Plenty of Notes It was a win, sure. But was it a pretty win?  No.  Not according to San Diego Head Coach Dick LeBeau. “We left too many points unscored and could have easily lost that game.” Said the fiery defensive-minded coach. His club did win the game despite not scoring a touchdown, on 5 field goals, and that does not make Coach LeBeau happy as he looks ahead to a matchup with the Arizona Wranglers. “I am proud of my team for how they fought, but we have to play smarter and turn 3 points into 7 if we want a positive result next week.” LeBeau stated to reporters after the game. We don’t disagree. It will be hard to beat Arizona with field goals alone. The Wranglers average 30.1 points per game, 2nd best in the USFL, along with the 3rd rated scoring defense. Expect San Diego to come in as a heavy underdog after losing their last 3 games of the regular season and eking by the Oakland Invaders without a touchdown to show.    Orlando’s New Look on Display vs. Baltimore. Renegade fans are still mixed in their opinion of their new brand. There are many who refuse to accept the departure of the tomahawk design that has been a part of the team’s brand since the club first took the field in 1987. For others, the shark logo, first seen on the field in this week’s Wild Card game, is sleek, aggressive, and a welcome image for the Florida-based team.  It may take a while for the tomahawk chop cheer to convert to a shark fin atop the head of fans, but the crowd at the game this week did seem to appreciate the use of music from Jaws at the game, singing along with the “Da Dums” of the famous musical score. The team wore their all-white look, with the new shark-adorned white helmets, white jersey and white pants. Good thing too as the temperature at gametime was in the high 80’s.  Forcing Baltimore to wear their dark blue jerseys was an expected element of the game, but the shift from the black tomahawk-adorned helmet to the white shark helmet may have been just a tiny advantage as well.  With new designs permitted during playoff games as a prelude to the next season, we should see the shark design for Orlando as they head up to New Jersey. We can also expect to see Arizona’s new gear on display in Glendale this week, when the Wranglers will face off against the Thunder. Arizona will wear their red jerseys in the climate-controlled environment of U. of Phoenix Stadium.   Once again, we recap the injuries reported for the 8 teams playing in this week’s playoff round.  Some are new developments from the Wild Card round, while many are holdovers from the long regular season.   ORL: CB K. Johnson (OUT), OTJ. Carpenter (OUT), WR B. Perriman (P) NJ: SS A. Bethea (OUT), LB R. Maualaga (OUT), G J. Garnett (Q) Nothing new for New Jersey, who had already replaced Rey Maualaga earlier this season, trading for St. Louis OLB Aldon Smith. The Anthoine Bethea injury means that Jonathan Cyprien will once again be in the secondary. For Orlando, no new injuries and WR Brashad Perriman has been upgraded from questionable to probable for Saturday’s game. CHI: LB B. Urlacher (OUT), HB M. Forte (P) LA: G. M. Morse (OUT), CB K. Seymour (D), SS D. Morgan (P) No doubt which injury has the biggest impact for this game. Brian Urlacher’s absence will leave a huge hole in the Chicago defense, one LA will likely try to exploit with TE Jason Whitten and slot receiver Marqise Lee.  We may also see more of Reggie Bush coming out of the backfield against the Machine with Urlacher out.  MEM: WR M. Clayton (Q) HOU: G K. DeVan (OUT), DE T. Crowder (OUT), FS W. Anderson (P)   Memphis will definitely miss Mark Clayton, but Brandon Marshall has proven a valuable asset in the passing game, so we don’t envision a big shift from what we saw against New Orleans. For Houston, the biggest question mark was safety Willie Anderson. The former All-USFL safety has been upgraded to probable and we expect him to be on the field for this important game.   SD: DE A. Ogunleye (OUT), QB C. Ponder (OUT), CB T. Smith (D), DT F. Moala (P) ARZ: FB L. McClain (OUT), G D. Robinson (OUT), TE D. Graham (OUT), LB K. Dansby (OUT)   Arizona had hoped that Karlos Dansby would be back in time for this game, but he has officially been ruled out. Tight End Daniel Graham is also out, which  means fewer 2 TE formations for the Wranglers. That may force Coach LeBeau and the Thunder to use more nickel defense as the best alternative for Arizona is to replace Graham not with 3rd string TE Michael Egnew, but with a 3-receiver set, putting David Tyree on the field with Fitzgerald and Bryant, a pretty tough trio to defend.   Atlanta Not Waiting, Interviews Arians The Atlanta Fire know a good opportunity when they see one and they seem to be feeling certain that St. Louis made a mistake in letting Bruce Arians go only 4 years after he helped with the franchise a league title.  Atlanta has not even been in the zip code of a John Bassett Trophy, so the chance to land a title-winning coach is certainly an attractive opportunity. Atlanta wasted no time interviewing Coach Arians only 6 days after he was let go by the Skyhawks. Nothing is signed yet, but it seems pretty clear that Atlanta has a lot of interest in the veteran USFL coach.  Arians led St. Louis to the title in 2012, and while he had only 2 playoff seasons in 7 seasons in St. Louis, he is still considered one of the league’s most adept player development specialists.  Atlanta will certainly interview other candidates, but it is unlikely any will have the history in the league that Arians brings. If they are looking for experience and a steady hand, they could certainly do worse, though it seems most teams are eagerly seeking the bright up and comer, Atlanta could well feel good about bringing in someone who has led a franchise to success before.   Bandits Ask to Interview Shanahan, Reach Out to Jones Tampa Bay’s objective with their open coaching position also seems obvious. They want to awaken their offensive potential in ways that we only saw on occasions with Coach Mike Shula, especially after the retirement of Daunte Culpepper. Shula’s more recent teams were more sputtering than special, and the Bandits want to get back to “Bandit Ball”, a loosely-defined term that often just means high-scoring, fast-paced offense.    To find that formula again, the Bandits have been looking at coaches with a reputation for offensive inventiveness. They have already reached out to the Memphis Showboats to interview their OC, Kyle Shanahan. They have permission but must wait until Memphis’s playoff run is done before they can sit down with Shanahan to discuss the position.  In the meantime, they have already been in contact with former Hawaii and SMU head coach June Jones.  Jones, a USFL old-timer, worked with Mouse Davis both in Houston and in Denver in the early days of the league, developing his own brand of the Run & Shoot offense that was so successful in the early years of the USFL.  Jones’s newer spread offense formulations worked well at both Hawaii and SMU, two schools that often lacked the strong lines that are needed for traditional ground & pound offenses. His spread modifications to the Run & Shoot have produced huge numbers in the passing games and often on-field success for his teams. It is early, but with these two moves it seems pretty clear that Tampa Bay has a very specific image of what they want out of their offense and their team, so expect them to focus on the passing game in the offseason, regardless of who gets the HC position.   St. Louis Ready to Play Waiting Game The St. Louis Skyhawks, having released Bruce Arians from his contract, now say that they are in no hurry to land a new head coach.  This is USFL-Speak for “We may well wait until the NFL season is over to see who is on the rise”. They certainly would not be the first USFL team to take a wait and see attitude.  It has become somewhat trendy for a team to allow their GM to manage the offseason signings, creating a roster that is then used to attract an NFL coordinator with a desire for a head coaching position. It was once considered a risky proposition to wait until January to put a coach in place, with only training camp and preseason before a March start, but several coaches have jumped straight from the NFL to the USFL and found success, so we are seeing more teams use this formula to get a shot at a trendy NFL coordinator. Whether or  not St. Louis will have that kind of patience or if the pressure to get a plan in place will lead them to interview USFL candidates this Fall, we will have to wait and see, but at present the Skyhawks appear to be playing the waiting game.   Here we go again, into the fray with 4 more playoff games. We did pretty well as prognosticators last week, picking three of the four Wild Card games correctly. We will look at all four divisional matchups and see if we cannot have similar success. Regardless of our picks, we certainly hope the on-field action is as good as what we got in the Wild Card round. We would love nothing more than to have 4 close games with fantastic finishes once again.   Orlando Renegades (3) @ New Jersey Generals (2) Saturday, July 9 @ 3pm ET MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ Generals -7 The first playoff test for a Generals team that no one expected to be here. They open their playoff run at home, where more than 55,000 are expected to be at MetLife Stadium to cheer on their squad. They bring with them the 2nd rated scoring defense, and the 7th rated scoring offense, a pretty solid combination for playoff success. Their opponent, the Orlando Renegades, won the Southeastern Division pulling away as Charlotte faded down the stretch. Orlando boasts the 6th rated offense and also the 6th rated scoring defense, but we all know what Orlando’s ace in the hole is, that nasty, nasty pass rush. Calais Campbell has been dominating the league since he came into the USFL in 2008. This year marks the third time he has topped 30 sacks in a season. He had only 2 sacks last week, but the team as a whole sacked Ben Roethlisberger 10 times. If they can bring that pressure on a largely untested Brett Hundley, it could be a rough day for the Generals.  If New Jersey finds a way to slow down that pass rush, perhaps by finding success on early downs, they can certainly put their own pressure on Orlando’s offense. Maurice Jones-Drew will be key to New Jersey’s offensive success.  On defense the Generals can bring pressure as well, particularly with the bookend rushers Aaron Kampan (17 sacks) and Vic Beasley (15 sacks).  They rarely blitz, so it will be Russell Wilson throwing into 7 or 8 man coverage.    OUR PICK: As much as we love the story of the Generals this year, after what we saw Calais Campbell and the Orlando do to Ben Roethlisberger, we just don’t think Brett Hundley is ready for what is about to come. We think both defenses harass the QBs all game long, keeping the score down, but in the end we go with Orlando as the more experienced club. Renegades 17-13. San Diego Thunder (4) @ Arizona Wranglers (1) Saturday, July 9 @ 7pm ET University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ Wranglers -8.5 This one does not really seem fair, and the Vegas books are telling us that with the 8.5 point margin they are setting. Arizona has been the best, and most consistent team all season.  San Diego struggled down the stretch, losing their last 3 games before barely eking out a win over Oakland at home. They will not be at home this week. They will be in the Valley of the Sun, where Arizona will have every advantage. The Wranglers are far more experienced, having appeared in 2 Summer Bowls in the past 3 years (winning it all in 2013) and they have veteran leadership on both sides of the ball. Karlos Dansby may not be playing in this one, but he will be on the sideline, coaching up the defense, and with Troy Polamalu on the field, the defense is still one of the league’s most dangerous. We tried to come up with ways San Diego could shock the Wranglers and the only thing we could think of was Chad Johnson going “superstar” once again, as he did with Boston back in 2009 when they won it all.    OUR PICK:  We don’t think Johnson is the same player as 7 years ago, and we just look at the Wranglers and see a team on a mission. Sorry, San Diego. Your rise in the Pacific was a great story, but we think it ends here.  Wranglers 31-17.   Memphis Showboats (4) @ Houston Gamblers (1) Sunday, July 10 @ 3pm ET NRG Stadium, Houston, TX Gamblers -4 What fun!  A divisional rivalry game in the divisional round. This should be good. Houston swept the series with the Showboats in the regular season, but that was in Weeks 1 and 9, so earlier season games. We think Memphis has had time to prepare for what Houston did against them in those earlier matchups, and we think the Showboats have proven that they can be a very difficult team to plan for. If you try to lock down Gurley, Allen and the run game, Eli Manning can go over the top on you. Focus too much on the outside receviers and the runners can find holes. It is a much improved Memphis offense, and the Rex Ryan defense has been playing well also.    All that said, Houston has the league’s top scoring offense, 2nd in yardage, and they too can attack you in any number of ways. They can run the ball with Hyde, swing it out to him on short throws, or go over the top with Roy Williams and Mike Evans. Matt Hasselbeck is having a fabulous year, and even if somehow you knock him out of the game, heir apparent Colt McCoy has put up even better numbers when he has played. As for Houston’s defense, while not great in yardage (27th, giving up 353 per game) they find ways to get you to kill yourselves, forcing turnovers or simply tightening up in the red zone.   OUR PICK: This one has the potential to be a shootout, and will likely be yet another 1-score margin, but we are going to go with the more experienced team, which also has home field advantage inside the climate-controlled NRG Stadium. Our pick is the Gamblers, 34-31.   Chicago Machine (6) @ Los Angeles Express (2) Sunday, July 10 @ 7pm ET Farmers Insurance Field, Carson, CA Express -4.5 We end the week with two Cinderella teams hoping the glass slipper fits. Chicago was the worst team in the league last year, earning only 3 wins. LA is a chronic underachiever who put the pieces together this year to win the Pacific Division with 7 straight wins. Can they make it 8 with a home playoff win against the Machine? This will be the first home playoff game for the Express since 2011, and the chronically uninvested LA fanbase seems to be paying attention this time as the game could see upwards of 50,000 fans in attendance (though we are hearing stories of Chicago fans making the trip out to bolster that number). LA enters the game with the 5th ranked defense in yards allowed, though they have given up some big plays. Chicago brings the 10th rated offense, led by their run game with twin backs Doug Martin and Matt Forte wearing down defenses. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Sam Bradford have found success with their new teams and they have some weapons outside, namely Aaron Dobson for the Machine and midseason acquisition Demaryius Thomas for the Express. This may not be the highest scoring game, but we expect a few big plays, so watch players like Forte, Reggie Bush and Thomas closely.    OUR PICK:  We are going to give the LA Express the edge because they have simply been on fire in the second half of the season, winning 7 straight, including 4 wins over teams above .500. This could be a back and forth affair, and both teams are likely to try to shorten the game with their running backs, but in the end we will go with the home team. Express 20-16.

With 7 teams fighting for 4 playoff spots and with 3 divisions still to be locked in, you knew this was going to be a wild Week 16, and so it was.  This was one for the stat nerds as tiebreakers were the key to understanding how teams could lose and get in, win and be kept out, or just why any team was placed where they were.  It also proved to be a week that would produce some major upheaval on Black Monday as 5 coaching positions became available in less than 12 hours.  When it all shook out, all 6 teams that had been in playoff position after Week 15 had berths in hand, but it was not so simple as the weekend played out.  It seemed every team needed a certain combination of wins and losses in other games to help them make a move, and in the end, everything still stayed the same.  Let’s run it all down, starting with our Big Story, the Blackest of Black Mondays, and then a review of all 14 games and what it means for next week’s Wild Card playoffs.    Black Monday Claims 5 in Biggest Bloodbath in Years In what some are already calling “Blackest Monday”, five coaches were let go, along with countless coordinators, position coaches, and several GMs.  Monday was a bad day to be in charge of a team that underperformed, which means that we are also in for a feeding frenzy as teams seek to find a replacement and fill their staffs this offseason.  Here is the report, all 5 positions that are now available for a new hire, none really a surprise, but in their accumulated numbers, a pretty big shift for the 28-team league.   Atlanta’s Tom Ramsey Eight years of mixed results, two straight 10-loss seasons, and an overall record of 61-65 was enough for the Atlanta Fire to move on from Ramsey.  Issues at QB did not help, of course.  Neither did ending the year with the 28th rated offense in both scoring and yards gained.  Not when your pedigree as a former USFL quarterback and offensive position coach is offensive football.  Ramsey will likely return to a role as a QB coach while Atlanta looks to reinvent its offense this offseason, likely leading to another offensive specialist hired as the new Head Coach.   Las Vegas’s Greg Roman Roman was always on something of a short leash. That is just what happens when you are hired by one owner only to have the team sold to a new ownership group, moved to a new city, and focused on creating a new image.  Honestly, most expected Roman to have only 1 year in Las Vegas.  He got a second one because last year’s Vipers showed signs that an upswing was on the way.  This year’s club had moments too, but the injury to Cody Pickett left the Vipers undermanned down the stretch and a 3-6 second half doomed them to another 10-loss season, and that doomed Coach Roman to being a Black Monday candidate.  No clear picture exists of what Steve Wynn and the Vipers ownership group is going to look for next, but you can expect that they will want to make something of a splash.   Seattle’s Stump Mitchell A former running back in both the NFL and USFL, Stump Mitchell was a classic “players’ coach”, but that only works if you can get the players to outperform expectations.  Mitchell seemed to have something going in 2015, when a strong finish led to a 7-9 record and some prognostications that the Dragons would compete for the division this year.  That never materialized as Seattle started the year 0-5, ended the first half at 1-7 and finished the year at 3-13.  That gap, between what was expected and what resulted, was just too much for the 2nd year coach to overcome.  Seattle management voided the 3rd year of his contract and are expected to look at the entire franchise for a full makeover.  What that means for 1st year starter Jacoby Brisset remains to be seen, though the young QB was by no means the main reason the Dragons struggled.   Tampa Bay’s Mike Shula The first of two coaches with a championship ring to be let go on Monday.  Shula peaked in his first year with the club, taking a team largely built by his predecessor, Steve Spurrier, to a league title.  Since then it has been the law of diminishing returns. The retirement of Daunte Culpepper proved to be the pivotal moment for the Bandits as they slipped from 12-4 with Culpepper in 2014 to 4-12 without him in 2015.  Repeating that 4-12 record this year, paired with ongoing questions about the QB position was the end of the line for both Shula and for GM Ryan Herman.  Both were let go on Monday and Tampa Bay will be looking for both positions in the next few weeks, with ownership already saying they want the positions filled before the NFL-USFL transfer window opens up.  Could they be looking at former FSU star and current NFL free agent E. J. Manuel as a possible import?   St. Louis’s Bruce Arians This one was always a big question mark for us.  Arians had some truly great results in St. Louis.  He helped make Josh Freeman an MVP and brought a title to the Gateway City as recently as 2012. And yet, since that magical year, every arrow has been pointing downwards in St. Louis. The Skyhawks dropped to 8-8 the year after their title, then fell even further in 2014, dropping to 4-12 in 2014.  Last season saw them compete for a playoff spot, finishing 10-6 and earning a Wild Card berth, but this year, one in which they were again seen as a potential contender, it very much felt like the wheels had fallen off. The Skyhawks finished with the worst record in the league (tied with Tampa and Atlanta) at 3-13, with a bottom 10 offense and defense.  Josh Freeman looked like a shadow of his former self, and several players, including star wideout Jordy Nelson have vocally said they want to move on.  It seems the team is also interested in moving on, as they released Arians on Monday. There is a chance he, like John Fox before him, gets quickly picked up by one of the other 4 teams in the market right now.  After all, his resume is pretty strong, even if the past few years have not gone as planned.   Outside of Arians, or any of the recently sacked coaches, who is under consideration for a position at the top?  Well, after they amazing year they have had, particularly on offense, Memphis OC Kyle Shanahan, son of former Stallion head coach Mike Shanahan, could be on a lot of short lists.  Several teams may also be thinking of a shift of style, and if they are thinking more aerial assault, the obvious candidate is Mouse Davis protégé, Hawaii and SMU coach, and a true Run & Shoot (now called “Spread”) maven, June Jones.  Not exactly a new name in the world of the USFL, having worked with the Gamblers and Denver Gold back in the early days of the league, but certainly an offensive innovator.  One other name to keep in mind is former USFL quarterback, twice head coach in the league, and most recently head coach of UCLA, Rick Neuheisel.  Success at both Washington and UCLA have largely erased the shaky work he did with the expansion LA Express back in the mid-90’s.  He could well be seen as a coach who can both design offenses and manage the team rosters, as he did in his college position.  But, let’ s not jump the gun, there is time to consider options as teams start to interview.  For now, we leave the Black Monday carnage with 5 positions and plenty of opportunity for a restart for these franchises.   Rather than post only one game, we thought it more interesting to work through the two impactful Saturday Night games as they happened. The two games, Chicago at Philadelphia and Texas at Michigan had playoff implications for all four teams. Both Texas and Philadelphia would be eliminated with a loss (and needed help even with a win), while Michigan and Chicago had the Central Division title on the line. Michigan would earn it as long as they did not lose and see Chicago win, while Chicago needed help from the Outlaws and a win over Philly to secure the title only 1 year after finishing at 3-12-1.   8:00 PM ET:    Both games kick off, with Michigan and Philadelphia getting first possession after the coin toss. 8:09 ET:           The Panthers put the first points up of the night, a 9-play drive ending with a Mat Prater field goal.   8:11 ET:           In Chicago the Stars draw first blood as Matt Gutierrez hits Cameron Brate for a 5-yard TD pass.   8:24 ET:            Michigan adds a second Prater field goal after causing Texas to go 3-and-out.   8:27 ET:            Only 3 minutes later, Chicago is on the board at home, Doug Martin scoring from the 7 on a nice toss play. Score tied at 7, while Michigan leads 6-0.   8:33 ET:           Texas takes the lead in Michigan. Roosevelt Nix gets a rare carry and takes it in as Texas was aided by a defensive pass interference call in the endzone a play earlier. Texas 7-Michigan 6.   8:38 ET:            Mike Nugent gives Philadelphia the lead again, ending the first quarter in Chicago with a 21-yard field goal after a nice goal line stand by the Machine defense.   8:51 ET:           Chicago equalizes the score once again with William Hopper’s 46-yard field goal.   8:58 ET:           A 24-yard pass from Cousins to Cody Latimer puts the ball inside the 5 and LeVeon Bell pushes it across the line form there to give Michigan a 13-17 lead.   9:09 ET:            Texas responds with a 12-play drive, ending with Joe Flacco hitting Chastin West from 14 yards out on a nice fade route that gives the Texans the lead at 14-13.   9:11 ET:           Philadelphia once again takes the lead, Mike Nugent again. Stars 13-10.   9:21 ET:           Ryan Fitzpatrick’s pass is tipped by LB Dan Connor and ends up in the hands of Prince Charles Iworah, who returns the pick 36 yards for a score. The pick- six gives the Stars a 10 point lead at 20-10.   9:28 ET:           The Texas-Michigan game goes to the half with Texas up by 1. With both Michigan and Chicago trailing, the Panthers would have the Central title and Chicago would be in competition with several teams for a Wild Card. Texas would be one of those teams, while Philadelphia would be in the mix in the East at 9-7.   9:33 ET:            Chicago pulls within 3 on a nice Fitzpatrick to Dobson strike in the final minute of the half. The Machine are within 3 as the game goes to the half.   9:54 ET:           Texas gets another score, with Marquise Goodwin going in motion and taking the shovel pass from Flacco on a modified jet sweep. The speedy Goodwin gets in for the 1-yard TD and Texas now holds a 21-13 advantage, meaning Michigan will need to go for 2 to tie the game if they can score.   10:17 ET:         After a long Chicago drive ends with a turnover, Philadelphia once again extends their lead when Zac Stacy runs the ball in on 1st and goal from the 1. The Philadelphia lead is back to 10. 10:22 ET:         Only 5 minutes later (real time) Chicago pulls right back again with Fitzpatrick hitting Dobson for his second TD of the day, a post-corner route that burns the secondary and puts them on the board from 25 yards out. Philadelphia 27-Chicago 24.   10:29 ET:         Michigan pulls within 2 points when LeVeon Bell dives into the endzone, but the following 2-point play is disrupted when Texas DT Luis Castillo bursts through the line and forces Kirk Cousins to make a desperation throw. The score sits at Texas 21 Michigan 19 with a quarter left to play.   10:37 ET:         Chicago equalizes the score in Philly with a 36-yard William Hopper field goal. If they can pull ahead, they would be in position to win the Central, with Michigan trailing at home.   10:44 ET:         A promising Michigan drive is cut short at the Texas 41 when TE Rob Housler is hit by Texas LB Vontez Burfict. The Outlaw LB falls on the ball, retains it during the dogpile and Texas takes over possession.   10:51 ET:         Michigan forces a Texas punt as Marshawn Lynch (who would finish the game with 104 yards) is stuffed behind the line on a 3rd and 4 attempt. The Panthers take over with just under 3 minutes left to play.   10:52 ET:         Philadelphia fails on 3rd and 6 from the Chicago 18-yard line, but are still well in range for Mike Nugent, who puts a 3rd FG on the board and gives Philadelphia a 30-27 advantage with less than a minute left to play in the game. This lead would give the Central Division to Michigan regardless of he Panther-Outlaw result.   10:58 ET:         Michigan lines up for a game winning 51-yard field goal with only 7 seconds left in regulation. Matt Prater’s kick sails wide and Texas takes the win. They are now in the mix in the West, while Michigan has to hope that Chicago cannot come back in their game.   11:06 ET:         The final ticks of the clock in Philadelphia have Chicago trying a Hail Mary from their own 44. The ball reaches only the Philadelphia 12, where a swarm of players flail at the ball and it falls to the ground. Philadelphia and Texas have both defeated their central division foes.   The results provide Michigan with the Central Division title. Chicago now must wait and see if they get a favorable cluster of 9-7 teams to allow them to advance on tiebreakers. Texas is in that mix with their victory, but Denver’s earlier win is a possible problem for them. Philadelphia improves to 9-7, but they need Charlotte to win over Memphis in order to force a 3-way decision. If they remain tied with Baltimore head-to-head, they are out. In the final results of the week, we would see the weirdness of playoff positioning as the two losers in this pair of games will qualify for the postseason, while the two winners, both now sitting at 9-7 end up on the outside looking in.   CHICAGO MACHINE 27   PHILADELPHIA STARS 30 TEXAS OUTLAWS 21   MICHIGAN PANTHERS 19 TAMPA BAY 28  JACKSONVILLE 20 The Bandits start the game with a pick-6 of Bulls’ backup Chase Daniel and roll from there. Both Tampa Bay (Pat White) and Jacskonville (Daniel) played their backups throughout, though the Bandits did allow Chris Johnson to remain in for 3 quarters. Johnson responded with 78 yards and 2 scores as he tries to boost his value ahead of joining free agency. The game allowed Mike Shula to exit the franchise on a positive note, with a win, though some fans were hoping a loss might lead to better draft position. POTG:  Bandit FS Lemarcus Joyner: 5 Tck, 2 Int, Def TD   LAS VEGAS 20   ORLANDO 27 Both teams let their starters play in this one, except for Calais Campbell, who is still dealing with a minor injury. Vegas played tough, with Jeff Tuel going 26 of 41 without Campbell chasing him. Russell Wilson threw for 2 scores and ran for another. The combo of Moreno and Murray added 83 yards on the ground as Orlando improved to 10-6 and prepared to host a Wild Card game next week. POTG:  Orlando QB Russell Wilson: 13/29, 220 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Int, 5 Att, 14 Yds, 1 TD   ATLANTA 13  DENVER 16 It was a slog, but Denver got the W they needed to have any chance at a Wild Card spot. DeMarco Murray had 65 yards on the ground and had one catch for a big play, 41 yards and his 2nd TD to earn Kyle Orton returned to the starting lineup for Atlanta, throwing 2 picks, and may well be on the trading block this offseason. POTG:  Gold HB DeMarco Murray: 22 Att, 65 Yds, 1 TD, 1 Rec, 41 Yds, 1 TD   DALLAS 21   ARIZONA 38 David Carr, having missed the past 2 games, came back in this one to knock the rust off before Arizona’s bye. Even with Gore and Antonio Bryant on the sideline, Arizona had more than enough, with Larry Fitzgerald wrapping up the receiving title with 109 yards and yet another touchdown. Jimmie Graham also scored and the Arizona defense, with several starters resting, gave up 324 yards to Johnny Manziel, but still held Dallas in check most of the game. POTG:  Wrangler QB David Carr: 13/20, 301 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   PITTSBURGH 34   BALTIMORE 28           OVERTIME A bad loss for a Blitz team that would have automatically qualified with a win. Kevin Hogan stunned the Blitz faithful, throwing for 3 TDs and building a 28-13 lead before Baltimore clawed back with 15 points in the final quarter. But it was Hogan to Marcus Lattimore for the game winner in overtime to stun the crowd and put Baltimore’s playoff hopes in doubt. Would they qualify at 9-7 or get bumped? POTG:  Pittsburgh QB Kevin Hogan: 15/25, 317 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   ST. LOUIS 17  WASHINGTON 8 Washington too failed to rise to the occasion with the playoffs on the line. St. Louis, with nothing to lose and the first overall draft pick already assured, came out swinging. Ricky Stanzi threw for 2 scores and the Skyhawk defense played like it was a postseason game, not a run-out-the-string game for St. Louis. Deuce McCallister had only 17 yards rushing despite being in for the entire game. The loss eliminates Washington from the postseason and helps Baltimore, their arch rivals, with tiebreakers. POTG:  Skyhawk WR Eric Weems: 4 Rec, 105 Yds, 1 TD   OAKLAND 16  OHIO 20 A lot of pride shown by the Ohio Glory as they fought to finish the year at 8-8. That meant trouble for Oakland, who were guaranteed a spot with a win, but could not muster the points needed to make it happen. Donald Brown had a strong game, racking up 105 yards on only 12 carries, but Joey Harrington and the passing game struggled and Oakland could not get the ball in the endzone, going only 1 of 5 on red zone touchdowns. Two 2nd quarter Isaiah Pead TD runs gave Ohio a 14-10 lead and they would hold off Oakland in the second half to earn the win and put the Invaders’ playoff hopes in doubt. Oakland would have to hope for the right combination of 9-7 teams for their tiebreaker advantages to assist them. POTG:  Ohio CB Chimdi Chekwa: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR   NEW ORLEANS 27  NEW JERSEY 6 The Generals rested most of their starters, including QB Brett Hundley and HB Maurice Jones-Drew. The result was a much easier go of it for the Breakers. Drew Brees threw for 286 and 3 scores and the Breaker D picked off backup QB Nick Foles twice as New Orleans improved to 10-6 and assured themselves of the 5th seed, which means a divisional matchup in the Wild Card playoff. POTG:  Breaker QB Drew Brees: 15/25, 286 Yds, 3 TD, 0 int   CHARLOTTE 10   MEMPHIS 20 The Monarchs needed a win to have even a slight chance at a Wild Card, but the Showboats were not feeling generous. With a possibility still on the table for both a division title and the 1-seed, Memphis came out hot and stayed that way, doubling up the Monarchs and eliminating Charlotte from any postseason shot. Robert Woods had a good day with 7 catches for 71 yards and a score, while Brandon Marshall also scored for the Showboats. All they needed now was for Houston to fall to Birmingham and the top seed would be theirs. POTG:  Memphis QB Eli Manning: 26/39, 225 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int   HOUSTON 31  BIRMINGHAM 23 The Gamblers had no intention of letting Memphis sneak into the Southern title on the last week of the year, but Birmingham gave them a fight. T. J. Yeldon rushed for 100 yards and a score, Amari Cooper had 120 yards of his own through the air, and backup QB A. J. McCarron looked solid subbing for Newton in the finale. But Houston got 99 yards and a score from Carlos Hyde and Matt Hasselbeck threw for 3 scores on the way to the Houston victory and the top seed in the East. POTG:  Houston QB Matt Hasselbeck: 12/15, 277 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   LOS ANGELES 34  SEATTLE 24 Sunday Night and two simultaneous games to see who would win the Pacific Division. LA Controlled their own destiny but found Seattle a tougher out than expected. The Dragons actually took a 24-23 lead at the end of the 3rd, but LA dominated the final period, putting 10 points on the board and claiming the division with the win. Reggie Bush was the star for the Express, rushing for 104 and a TD. POTG:  Express LB Keith Rivers: 4 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF   PORTLAND 27 SAN DIEGO 20 As tough as Seattle was, Portland proved even more problematic for the Thunder. The Stags built up a 24-14 lead at the half, and while San Diego fought back to 24-20, the news that LA had taken the lead late in Seattle might have reduced the drive of the Thunder as the only 4th quarter points came on a Portland field goal. Ryan Williams was outstanding for San Diego, even in defeat, rushing for 163 yards, but JoeWebb struggled with 4 picks on the day, including a pick-six early in the game to Portland’s Dale Luong. POTG:  Portland CB Dale Luong: 4 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD Backing In is Just Fine for Blitz, Panthers, Invaders, and Machine. Tiebreakers are weird beasts, in part because sometimes it is the combination of teams that finish with the same record which makes all the difference. That was certainly the case this year for Denver, Texas, and Philadalphia, all of whom won this week only to be excluded, while Michigan, Chicago and Baltimore all lost, but still made the postseason. Whether it is division record (Michigan and Baltimore) or conference record (Chicago) that did the trick, it certainly was not final week performances.   Denver has to be the most downhearted after the weekend because they finished the season with a 5-game win streak but it was still too little, too late. Texas snapped a 5-game losing streak with their win in Michigan, but the damage had already been done, with the Outlaws dropping from 8-2 to 8-7 with just the finale left. Baltimore had survived an 0-4 start by going 9-3 over the final 3 quarters of the season, while Chicago won 5 of 6 prior to the Philadelphia game, putting them in good position to absorb a Week 16 loss and still qualify. Ending with an 8-4 conference record put them ahead of Texas (6-8) and Denver (6-8). Baltimore edged Philadelphia thanks to their division record, 4-4 to Philly’s 2-6 mark. The result is that there are 3 teams that can take pride in finishing with a winning record, but must accept that it was not enough to get them into the playoff field.   Surprise Success Stories Make Pundits Look Bad Again Every year we make picks in our preseason edition and every year we find ourselves woefully inaccurate and just plain wrong. Just look at this year’s surprise playoff teams and look where we picked them and you see why we always warn you not to bet the mortgage on our preseason prognostications.   Back in early March we said that Los Angeles would finish 4th or 5th in the Pacific, winning 5 games. All they did was finish 11-5 and atop the Pacific as one of the hottest teams in the league. LA is riding a 7-game win streak. Even at midseason when they were 4-4 they were outperforming our preseason expectations, but the past 2 months have seen them morph into one of the toughest outs in the game.   Memphis was equally undervalued in our preseason report. We had the Showboats as the 22nd best club in the league, finishing dead last in the 4-team Southern Division and lucky to win 6 games. We fully expected Paxton Lynch to be starting by mid-year, and did not see the rise of Coach Ryan’s defense or the sudden positive shift in Eli Manning’s play. Now we are looking at the 2nd best record in the East in Memphis, Manning as a likely All-USFL selection, and perhaps the hottest free agent in the league.   New Jersey is our third case study in preseason blindness. Rated 23rd out of 28 teams, we felt pretty confident that the Generals would finish 5th in the NE Division, having chosen Philadelphia as the team to challenge Baltimore and Pittsburgh. We did not see a collapse for the Maulers or significant improvement for the Generals. This one was perhaps the most out of left field simply because the Generals were putting their trust in 2015 draft pick Brett Hundley, with Nick Foles as a possible alternative, at QB. The Generals blew away our preseason pick of 5 wins, racking up 11 on the season.   Finally, there is Chicago . Now, let’s be clear. We may have looked at the league’s worst team from 2015 and expected modest improvement, but so did you. There were not a lot of folks expecting first year coach Lovie Smith and newly acquired QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to take a 3-win Machine club and immediately turn them into a division contender. But football can take turns like this and Smith absolutely deserves some attention for Coach of the Year in getting the Machine to jump up 6 games from 3-12-1 to 9-7 in one year. Up until this final week, Chicago was in a position to possibly win the Central Division, and they will still have something to prove when they take the field next week against the Panthers in the Wild Card round.   So, we were wrong. We admit it. But you should be honest with yourselves as well. Did you pick these 4 teams to jump into the playoff hunt this year? All of them? Maybe just 1?  Maybe none of them, right?   Three of Four Wild Cards Will Be Divisional Affairs Something about the way the USFL is structured, or perhaps just fate, but far more often than in the NFL we see Wild Card playoff that stack divisional opponents agsinst each other.  That is certainly the case this year, where 3 of the 4 Wild Card games are intra-divisional rematches.  We start on Saturday with 6-seed Chicago Machine headed to Michigan to face the 3-seed Panthers.  The truth is that these two are not as widely separated as their seeding would indicate. Both finished the year at 9-7, with Michigan winning the title on tiebreakers.  The two played a back-to-back series in weeks 9-10, with both home teams taking the W.  Since then Chicago has gone 4-2 while Michigan finished 3-3, so you tell me which team is the true favorite in this one?   Sunday has two divisional matchups on tap.  We open with Memphis hosting New Orleans.  The 12-4 Showboats have been a huge revelation this year, but now face the defending Summer Bowl Champion in the 10-6 Breakers.  Memphis did sweep the series with the Breakers this year, but you know the old saying about beating the same team 3 times in a season.  And when that other team has the type of playoff experience that the Breakers do, you know this won’t be a cakewalk.  Not only that, but we get a great showdown of veteran QBs with Eli Manning leading the Showboats against Drew Brees and the Breakers. The weekend concludes with a Pacific Division clash as another upstart, the San Diego Thunder, who spent most of the year in first place only to be ousted late by the Express, get to host an in-state battle as Oakland, who slipped to the 6 spot, comes to Snapdragon Stadium.  It will be the Thunder’s first playoff game in San Diego, and the first home playoff game for the Thunder as a franchise since 2012.  Oakland has more experience, to be sure, but the Thunder have been riding their Top 5 defense to victories all season and could see a very large and very enthusiastic crowd on hand for the SoCal-NorCal matchup.   Not to be outdone, we should mention Saturday’s Baltimore-Orlando game.  With Calais Campbell expected back, we should have a classic offense v. defense showdown.  Can Big Ben and the Blitz put their offense into high gear against one of the best defensive lines in the game?  Or will Russell Wilson prove to be an effective weapon against a somewhat more pliable Baltimore defense.  Not a divisional game, but a good one nonetheless.   Carr Finishes Season Off Leaderboard, Bell & Fitzgerald Cruise to Stat Titles A quick look at the league leaderboard at the end of the year shows us that controversy cannot even escape the plain numbers of the statistics page.  David Carr, considered the frontrunner for the MVP award is nowhere to be seen on the passing stats board.  He finished the year with too few pass attempts to qualify for the leaderboard, despite the fact that he finished the season with the most passing touchdowns (36) and managed to put up 3,921 yards, good enough for 4th best. What is worse, his QB Rating of 136.1 would have put him at the very top of the rankings, over 20 points higher than Ben Roethlisberger, who we find at number one on the official statistics. No such controversy in other areas of the leaderboard as LeVeon Bell easily won the rushing title, with over 150 more yards than 2nd place finisher Marshawn Lynch.  Bell’s run at the league record came up quite short, but his season is still a testament to his talent as he outpaced all contenders for over 12 weeks, remaining on top of the board from the first month through the end of the year. Larry Fitzgerald similarly led the receiving list nearly the entire year, despite never being among the receptions leader.  Fitzie finished the year with 1,697 yards, nearly 200 more than 2nd place Brian Hartline.  He did this on only 61 receptions, more than 40 behind receptions leader Aaron Dobson of Chicago (105). The reason?  Yards per catch in Arizona’s vertical game.  Both Fitzgerald and his teammate Antonio Bryant finished the year averaging over 25 yards per catch.  No “possession receiver" here, only home run hitters.   On defense, there was no doubt who would finish with the sack lead. For the 8th straight season Calais Campbell took the trophy, racking up his 32 sacks by Week 14, before sitting out the last 2 games with a nagging injury.  Von Miller finished 2nd with a very respectable 23 sacks, but that is still 9 fewer than the Master.  Hunter Hillenmeyer of Las Vegas had a strong June, pulling from 3rd to 1st in tackles and finishing with 13 more than 2nd place Bobby Wagner (OAK), 132-119.  Finally, New Orleans’s Randall Gay caught and overtook Philip Buchanon and Nate Allen, with a pick-six wrapping up his season with an 8th pick for the year, enough to win the title of the league’s best turnover magnet for the year.   Oakland Loses Ertz for Playoffs The Invaders earned a playoff spot despite a Week 16 loss at Ohio, but perhaps the bigger loss was due to injury. Tight End Zack Ertz, a mainstay of the team’s frequent 2 TE sets, along with Richard Rodgers, suffered a broken wrist after falling out of bounds blocking on a sweep.  Ertz collided with one of the benches on the sideline, causing the injury.  Ertz, who had 34 catches for 276 yards with the Invaders, often lined up with Rodgers opposite him, with Coach Green using motion to overload one side of the field. Both Rodgers and Ertz are also strong receivers, used often to overload zone defenses or set up bad man-on-man matchups for linebackers.  Ertz will be in a cast for the next few weeks and then will require at least a month of therapy to get the wrist back in playing shape.   The Invaders have 2 other tight ends on the roster, with Rodgers and Austin Hooper, and it is expected that rather than sign a third TE off of free agency, they will go with just two, using WR Derek Hagan or OT Kirk Chambers as a third option depending on the formation (passing or running).  The injury may also lead Oakland to use more 3-wide formations. The Invaders had one of the lowest percentages of 3-receiver use in the league, but now it may be expected that we will see more of Pierre Garçon in 1st and 2nd downs, rather than primarily in long yardage passing downs.    By now we expect you have gotten the lay of the land as far as who is in and who is out, but let’s run through it very quickly before we preview the Wild Card round below in our “Upcoming Action” Section.  In the East, Houston holds on to the Southern Division title and the 1 seed with their win over Birmingham.  The Gamblers finish an impressive 13-3 and will have the bye this week and home field throughout the playoffs.  In the 2nd slot in the East we have the 11-5 New Jersey Generals, who clinched the division a few weeks back and now get a bye as well.    In the West, Arizona has had the 1 seed and the bye it provides in hand for some time.  They will await a Wild Card winner in the Divisional Round.  The LA Express, coming in hot with a 7-game winning streak have won the Pacific Division over the San Diego Thunder. They too will have a bye and await the results of the Wild Card round.  In that round, the 3rd best division winners, in this case Orlando in the East and Michigan in the West, will host the 6th seed in each conference.  That pits the Panthers against a familiar foe, division rival Chicago, while Orlando will take on the Baltimore Blitz, who finished 2nd in the NE Division.  The other Wild Card matchups will feature the 4th and 5th seeds, and both of those matchups are also divisional games, with San Diego hosting Oakland and New Orleans visiting Memphis.  Memphis at 12-4 becomes one of the rare wild card teams with 11 or more wins in a season, a result of Houston’s 1-game lead in the division.    The USFL does not reseed after the first round, which means that Arizona would face the winner of the San Diego-Oakland game, LA the winner of the Michigan-Chicago, New Jersey the winner of Orlando-Baltimore, and Houston the winner of Memphis-New Orleans, regardless of which team wins each matchup.  That lineup assures at least 1 divisional rivalry match in the next round as the two Southern Division teams will battle to see who will visit Houston, yet another division rival.  A second divisional matchup is also possible if Baltimore can upset Orlando in Orlando, setting up a trip to New Jersey. 2016 is also a bit unusual for the league in that we ended the year with three teams that finished above .500 but did not qualify for the post-season, the most we have had in that situation in nearly a decade. Philadelphia, Texas, and Denver all finished 9-7 but lost out on tiebreakers to the Baltimore Blitz, Oakland Invaders, and Chicago Machine. Rather than run through the full injury report, we have chosen, as we usually do for our Week 16 report, to provide you with only those injuries which will impact our Wild Card round.  We will list the injuries for each team and then highlight how each matchup may be affected, starting with the early game on Saturday, Baltimore @ Orlando.   BAL: No injuries reported. ORL: CB K. Johnson (OUT), OT J. Carpenter (OUT), WR B. Perriman (Q)   The Blitz come in healthy while Orlando has 2 player out for certain and could possibly be without wideout Brashard Perriman.  So, the clear advantage goes to Baltimore, the healthier team.     CHI: CB J. Poyer (P) MGN: WR J. Jerrigan (OUT), CB D. Kirkpatrick (OUT), OT A. Peat (Q)   Chicago will miss cornerback Jordan Poyer, likely filling in with nickel back Captain Munnerlyn, a savvy veteran of 7 seasons.  For Michigan, the biggest loss is certainly CB Dre Kirkpatrick, though they have been playing without the All-USFL corner for several weeks, so no new adjustments will be needed.   NOR: HB D. Wilson (OUT), DT R. Jean-Francois (D), DT B. Logan (P) MEM: WR M. Clayton (D)   Memphis will certainly miss WR Mark Clayton if he cannot play.  Clayton had 76 receptions and 892 yards this year.  He will likely be replaced by former Texas deep threat Brandon Marshall, a fact that may entice Eli Manning to attempt more deep throws than usual.  For New Orleans, HB David Wilson has been out for a few weeks and we have seen that they have felt comfortable putting Jawan Jamison in whenever Jeremy Hill needs a breather.  Their more immediate concern is the loss of space-eating DT Rickey Jean-Francois, especially if Memphis is going to hit them with both Todd Gurley and Anthony Allen as a 1-2 inside punch.   OAK: TE Z. Ertz (OUT), DT R. Nunes-Roches (P), LB N. Koutavides (P) SD: DE A. Ogunleye (OUT), QB C. Ponder (OUT), DT F. Moala (OUT)   Oakland is hoping that both Nunes-Roches and Koutavides are able to go on Sunday.  Missing either would hinder the run defense against former Invader Ryan Williams.  Missing both would be a huge hole to deal with.  For San Diego, the only new injury is to DT Fili Moala, a swing player who often subbed for Haloti Ngata when the starter needed a breather.  Expect 2nd year DT D. J. Reader to take on that role with Moala out. League Reverses Field, Set to Implement Bye Weeks in 2018 The USFL and USFLPA announced this week that they have come to an agreement to include a bye week in the league’s schedule beginning with the 2018 season.  The league had rejected the inclusion of a bye week for 2017 earlier this year, but after continued discussion with the players’ union, which was pushing the concept, the league agreed that with the additional year of preparation they could implement a one week bye for each team in 2018.  The players have been pushing for a midyear bye for several years, citing injury concerns, increased physicality in the game, and simple fatigue.  The league, concerned that the bye weeks would produce issues with their television partners, had been very resistant to the idea, but have been in discussions with all 4 broadcast partners, and a deal has been reached.   The new schedule will contain the same number of games as the current schedule, allowing each broadcast partner the same number of games to televise, but with several weeks in the midseason having reduced participation, adding a 17th week to the season but with 3 weeks impacted.  The league opted to go with a more compressed bye period, limited to 3 weeks, rather than the protracted NFL style for byes which sees some teams receiving a bye as early as Week 4 of the season and as late as Week 15.  The USFL model will put all byes between weeks 8-10, meaning that between 8-12 teams will have a bye at the same time.  The goal is to give each team a midseason bye, while limiting the number of impacted weeks to a minimum.  No further details of the plan have been released.  We should expect to see the 2018 schedule published in early October of 2017.  For the upcoming year, the schedule will remain at the traditional 16 weeks, with a mid-March start and a final week at the end of June.   Union, League Seek New CBA for 2018 Season Following the conclusion of the bye week concept, discussions between the USFL and USFLPA continue with the hopes at arriving at a new CBA (collective bargaining agreement) in time for the 2018 season.  The USFLPA is pushing on four main issues: an increase in the revenue percentage allocated to the players, which leads to an increase in the team salary caps; an increase to the veteran minimum salary to offset increased rookie pay scales; greater league contributions to the support fund for retired veterans (a medical and financial support plan for veterans of at least 5 seasons in the league), and greater funding for CTE research related to brain injuries.  The league is amenable to the third and fourth demands, both of which produce positive public image for the league, but argue that increasing support for both CTE research and post-retirement support make it impossible for the league to also increase player compensation and salary cap numbers beyond the annual growth in revenue.  Discussions to date have been amiable, with both sides feeling positive that an agreement can be reached before the current CBA expires in December of 2017, however, as with all labor-management negotiations, the closer to that expiration the discussions reach, the more we tend to see tension and the possibility of disruption of league activities.  Let us hope that the two sides can reach a deal well before the tensions reach a boiling point.   Still No Timeline in San Antonio That is the word out of the state of Texas where the courts have gotten involved in the dispute between the USFL, the City of San Antonio, and Chubb, the insurers of the Alamodome.  While demolition of the facility is ongoing, the timeline for development of a new domed stadium remains very much in the air as several parties, including former Outlaws owner Red McComb and his growing investment group, bring suit against Chub in hopes of greater compensation from the insurer for the damage to the Alamodome.  All parties in the suit are committed to a construction project for a new Alamodome stadium, with the USFL having committed as well to return a franchise to San Antonio when and if a new facility is completed, but the issue is who is funding that project.    McCombs and his partners have said that they are willing to put up 60% of the construction costs for full fiduciary and logistical control of the facility, a deal the city seems willing to accept.  However, both the investors and the city are still pushing for a significant portion of the funding to come from the insurance policy on the original structure.  Were Chubb to lose the legal wrangling, they would be responsible for up to $900M of the project, more than 80% of the estimated cost for a new domed stadium in the city. However, the odds of a full victory are quite slim as Chubb has presented significant evidence that the 2011-2012 renovation of the facility was significantly flawed and produced major concerns with the facility which were exposed by the tornado damage.  Legal experts anticipate that a settlement which might provide the city with perhaps $300M is more likely, which would still help reduce the public cost for the new facility.  And so, as the courts and the lawyers dispute the case, the plans for a new facility remain in limbo and construction remains without a timeline.  Here we go, playoff football, and with so many divisional rivalry games on the slate, you just know that this will be an intense weekend.  It is about pride, but more than anything it is about surviving and advancing to the next round.  We have seen a fair share of Wild Card round participants win it all, so for the 8 teams playing this week, the key is to do what is needed to move on and then reassess and adjust as they head into another nasty fight in the divisional round.   9-7 BALTIMORE BLITZ (6) @ 10-6 ORLANDO RENEGADES (3) Saturday, July 2 @ 3pm ET Orlando Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL Renegades -1 The only non-divisional Wild Card matchup is a classic battle of unstoppable force and immovable object.  The force is Ben Roethlisberger and a Blitz offense that averages nearly 28 points a game.  The object is an Orlando front 7 that is Top 5 against the run, 2nd in the league in yards allowed, and, oh yes, has perhaps the greatest edge rusher in pro football history healthy and ready to wreak havoc once again.  Who will win out, Big Ben, or Calais Campbell?  This will be fun to watch.  Of course, on the other side we have Russell Wilson, playing in only his 3rd playoff game as a pro, going up against a Baltimore defense that has given up some pretty big games to opposing passers. Wilson can be effective with his arm or his legs, posing a unique challenge to the Blitz.  OUR PICK:  The two did not meet this regular season, so there is little to go on. What we do know is that the key to the entire game is Baltimore’s ability to hand the 3-man line of the Renegades.  That is always a tough task, and while Big Ben is famous for extending plays, spending a long time in the pocket may not be a wise choice in this matchup.  Give us the Renegades, 19-14.   9-7 CHICAGO MACHINE (6) @ 9-7 MICHIGAN PANTHERS (3) Saturday, July 2 @ 7pm ET Ford Field, Detroit, MI Panthers -3 Does it get any better than this? Two teams who have been fighting tooth and nail for dominance in their division ever since the late 1980’s.  Representing Detroit and Chicago, these two teams, and their fans, just don’t like each other.  The two were part of this year’s (questionable) experiment in scheduling back-to-back games, and what we saw was Michigan barely holding off the Machine in Detroit only to have Chicago return the favor in Chicago.  The margin between the two games was 1 point in favor of Chicago (a 6-point Michigan win, a 7-point Chicago win).  Expect much the same as the two face off for the 3rd time. OUR PICK:  This one is truly a toss-up.  Michigan has the advantage of home field, which will help, but the biggest key is whether or not LeVeon Bell can find space against Chicago’s 4th rated run defense.  If he can, then that will open up the play-action passing game for Kirk Cousins.  If not, well, Chicago could well keep Michigan in check, wait for opportunities to score, and upend the division champs.  We think Bell is motivated, still hoping for an inside shot at swaying MVP voters, so we are going to go with the home team and the run game of Michigan. Panthers in a nailbiter, 21-20.   10-6 NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (5) @ 12-4 MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (4) Sunday, July 3 @ 1pm ET Liberty Bowl Stadium, Memphis, TN Showboats -6 New Orleans may be the defending league champions, but Memphis has looked the better team all season long, sweeping the series with the Breakers 24-17 in New Orleans (Week 2) and 23-10 in Memphis (Week 13).  While we are sure that the Breakers are the more experienced playoff team, the Showboats have simply played better ball all year long, and with potential injuries up the center of New Orleans’s defense we think that Todd Gurley and Anthony Allen could have a big day between them in this one. OUR PICK:   We rarely pick any game to be very one-sided, but our gut tells us this will be Memphis and big.  Showboats 27-13 over a shell-shocked defending champ.   9-7 OAKLAND INVADERS (5) @ 10-6 SAN DIEGO THUNDER (4) Sunday, July 3 @ 5pm ET Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA Thunder -5 This is a tough game to pick for one reason, neither team has looked their best down the stretch. San Diego comes into this game having lost their last three games, all in division, and including a 23-3 beatdown in Oakland.  However, the Invaders haven’t exactly been running away with games either.  They enter the playoffs 2-2 in their last 4 games, with a pretty bad loss last week in Ohio in a game they needed to win to assure that they would be here.  Both teams are going to be missing a couple of key pieces, Oakland with Zach Ertz’s injury likely changing their offensive gameplan, and San Diego thin at Defensive Tackle.  It is also a game between two very different coaches.  Dennis Green lives on motivation and energy.  Dick LeBeau is all about schemes and confusion for the opposition.  That should make this a fun one. OUR PICK: The stadium in San Diego will be rocking.  The Thunder should be fired up, so it is on Coach LeBeau to get them to play within themselves.  They have lost 3 in a row to end the year, but we still like them in this game, just because we know LeBeau has been a very good playoff coach from his years in Michigan.  We are picking the Thunder to make the home fans proud:  San Diego 22-17

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Two Breakers highlight our POTW list, with Patrick Peterson having put in a solid game and having helped New Orleans gain momentum with a pick six, but we are giving the award to the offensive leader, QB Drew Brees, who threw 3 touchdowns for the Breakers as they won their season finale and locked up the 5-seed at 10-6 on the year. PLAYOFF PICTURE: Week 16 results have clinched the Southern Division Title for Houston, the Pacific for Los Angeles, and the Central for Michigan. All 4 teams that were in Wild Card position in Week 15 have retained Wild Card position, despite losses by 3 of 4 teams. Tiebreaker deficits meant that Philadelphia, Texas, and Denver were unable to leapfrog the clubs ahead of them, despite equalizing their records at 9-7 with those clubs. The seeding for the playoffs are set as follows: EAST: 1-HOU 2-NJ 3-ORL 4-MEM 5-NOR 6-BAL WEST: 1-ARZ 2-LA 3-MGN 4-SD 5-OAK 6-CHI

Baltimore, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Charlotte get much needed wins. San Diego, Texas, Washington, and Memphis get tough losses as we close in on the final week of the season and the playoff picture gets just a little clearer. The week produces only 1 new berth locked up and one team removed from consideration, but we do start to see some divisions claimed and some positions locked in. We also see a bold move by Coach Jim Mora Jr. pay off as he benches Brandon Wheedon and gets the W that was 7 weeks in coming. Texas drops their 5th in a row, producing our Big Story of the Week and raising concerns about yet another late season swoon for the Outlaws, a pattern they had hoped was a part of history for them. All this, plus an update on free agency, some potential NFL talent available in September, and all the playoff scenarios as we head into the final week. Coming right up.   Texas Wear Down Over Long Road Season The Texas Outlaws were well aware that their 2016 would be one unlike any in team history, or in league history for that matter. The Memorial Day Weekend tornadoes that devastated San Antonio and destroyed large sections of the Alamodome meant that the Outlaws would have to play all 8 home games outside of the city. The team split games between stadiums in San Marcos, Fort Worth, and Houston. Ongoing issues with the city, the stadium insurers, and within ownership threatened to extend the road trip to several seasons. Then, as the season was just starting, you add to this the discovery that the deal cut between the league, majority owner Red McCombs and an investment group from Oklahoma meant that this would be the team’s last season as the Texas Outlaws before a permanent sale and relocation would move the franchise to Oklahoma City in 2017. That is a lot to process, and all the while playing football at a high level. But the Outlaws seemed to have found a way to work through the shock, confusion, and uncertainty. They began the season with 5 wins in their first 6 games, and extended the solid play another month, standing at 8-2 after 10 weeks. But the past 5 weeks have shown us that the combination of a grueling USFL season and a lot of distraction and discomfort have taken their toll. Texas has dropped their last 5 games, including 2 games where they were heavy favorites. They lost back-to-back games to Arizona and went 0-4 in their own division over the span. Now, with only 1 game left, they are on the outside of the playoff pool with a key game against the Michigan Panthers which could qualify them for a postseason that seemed almost assured 6 weeks ago.  But even that is not guaranteed. The Outlaws will need the right combination of teams to finish at 9-7 in order for them to come out with a Wild Card. Too many tie breakers go against them thanks to the late season swoon and the drop in their own division.   This is not the first time the Texas Outlaws have swooned in the heat of summer, but this one might be the most painful because this was to be a season devoted to their home city as it tries to recover from the disaster of multiple tornado hits. It is also painful because of all the promise the team showed over the season’s opening months. The offense was clicking, Joe Flacco and Marshawn Lynch were complementing each other, with the pass built off the run and the run opened up by teams playing pass defense against deep threats like Marques Colston. Even the defense was looking solid, a rarity for the Outlaws, as they were in the top 10 at the 8 week halfway point of the year. But all that has come crashing down.   The Outlaws have not topped 20 points since Week 10 and have been held below 10 points twice. It does not help that the past 5 games have been played in 5 different stadiums, the toughest stretch of the year for the Outlaws, who seem to spend more time on buses driving across Texas than they do on the practice field. While ownership felt that playing games in 3 different venues gave them the best chance to avoid a financial catastrophe, it seems certain that for the players an entire season at one stadium, even a smaller venue like Texas State’s Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, would have made this an easier season to complete. With one week left, and yet another road trip, this time to Detroit, Texas has slim playoff hopes. What may be more hopeful for this club is that next year they will indeed have a single home, a new stadium, and a very welcoming fanbase in Oklahoma City. Sure, the uniforms will be very different, the venue and atmosphere will be different, but it will once again be a true home schedule, with home town fans, and stability of a single venue, something that we now can plainly see is a valuable asset.   LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 27 SAN DIEGO THUNDER 24 The Express continue to impress, winning their 6th game in a row, a huge victory in San Diego, losers now of their last two, and flipping the division race on its head. LA now takes over the lead and can lock up the Pacific with a Week 16 victory as the win over the Thunder gives them the tiebreaker. San Diego has lost to Oakland and Los Angeles in consecutive weeks, turning a 2-game lead in the division into a tie with the Express and a need for help if they want to win the Division.   This one was a back-and-forth affair, with the lead changing hands 5 times over the course of the game, a battle of two teams both hoping to defy expectations and take home the Pacific title. LA started strong with an opening drive that went 12 plays and ended with Regie Bush taking a pitch off the left side and squirting through the defense to reach the endzone. San Diego responded on the next drive but were forced to settle for a field goal after getting stuffed on 3rd and goal with a sack at the 9 yard line.   LA added a field goal at the start of the second, ending a short drive that started with a pick of Joe Webb. San Diego would then equal the scoreboard at 10 with their best drive of the first half. Webb atoned for his pick with a nice TD strike to Chad Johnson as the Thunder marched down field in only 8 plays.   With the score tied up at the half, LA shut down San Diego’s first drive and then put themselves in range for Dan Bailey to connect from 42 yards out. Down 3, San Diego proved they were very much fighting in this game, mounting a 16-play drive, that took nearly 8 minutes, helped by a pair of defensive holding calls, before Ryan Williams plunged in from the 1. Williams would have only 54 yards on the day, but this one gave San Diego a 17-13 lead.   That lead would not last the quarter as LA responded with a drive of their own. The big play on the drive came as a San Diego lineman jumped offsides, giving Sam Bradford a free play. He took the shot on a deep ball to Roddy White, connecting with the receiver for 45 yards and putting LA in the red zone. From there Paul Perkins would get the touchdown, ending the drive with a leap over the pile form the 1. LA retook the lead at the end of 3, 20-17.   The game continued to go back and forth in the final quarter. After a pair of short possessions yielding no results, San Diego again found their groove, mounting a short 7-play drive that included a 30-yard completion to Chad Johnson and a nice 12-yard play on 3rd and 10, with Joe Webb eluding pressure and finding Nick Toon with the needed yardage. The drive ended with Ryan Williams earning his 2nd TD of the day, this time from the 2. Our fourth lead change of the day saw San Diego go up 24-20 with 7:40 left to play.   LA would take the ball at the 20 after the touchback kickoff. It would take them nearly 5 minutes and 11 plays, but they would again turn the scoreboard in their favor. On a 2nd and 8 from the 12, Sam Bradford was caught behind the line by Tye Smith of the Thunder, forcing a 3rd and 14 at the Thunder 18. With a field goal being of no use to the Express, they dialed up a man-beating play. San Diego, as expected, brought pressure, with Shantee Orr blitzing from the right side. The line picked up the blitz, giving Sam Bradford time to find Demaryius Thomas with the 18-yard TD pass, his biggest catch of the season since coming over from Atlanta. With just 1:47 left on the clock, LA had retaken the lead by a score of 27-24.   San Diego had 2 time outs and needed only a field goal to send the game to overtime. But carelessness cost them right away. With two players in motion at the time of the snap, they got called for illegal motion. That 5-yard penalty meant they had 15 yards for a first down. In 4 plays they would make only 11 of those 15, failing on 4th down and turning the ball over to Los Angeles. Sam Bradford handed off to Reggie Bush on the first LA play and his 8-yard run made it possible for LA to earn an easy 1st down on the next play and then take a knee as San Diego had no more timeouts to use.   With the win, LA equalized records with the Thunder at 10-5. The win also gave LA the tiebreaker over the Thunder with an 8-4 conference record (the 3rd tiebreaker). That means that if the Express can go into Seattle and win a 7th in a row by knocking off the 3-12 Dragons, they claim the division and the 2 seed, giving them a bye before their playoffs begin. San Diego is assured a playoff spot but need to defeat Portland at home and get help from the Dragons if they want the 2 seed, the bye, and the division title.   CHARLOTTE 26 ORLANDO 21 The Monarchs’ backs were against the wall, and they came out swinging. Orlando, having already clinched the division, were not as sharp, and with Calais Campbell sitting this one out, it gave the Monarchs a chance and they took it. Tyler Thigpen used play action based on a strong run game from Adrian Peterson (55 Yds, 2 TD) and Taiwan Jones (88 yds) to edge the Renegades and stay alive in the Wild Card hunt. Russell Wilson accounted for all 3 Orlando scores (2 passing, 1 rushing) but Charlotte got the W it needed. POTG:  Charlotte DE Chandler Jones: 6 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 Sck   MEMPHIS 14 PHILADELPHIA 38 The Stars were another team with their playoff hopes on life support and they responded in a big way, an impressive win over the 11-3 Showboats. Derrick Henry rushed for 100 yards and 2 scores as Matt Gutierrez connected with Ronald Johnson for 2 more. The defense also came through, holding Todd Gurley to 50 yards rushing and stopping Memphis on 11 of 13 third down tries. The Stars still need help, but this win was a big step in the right direction. POTG:  Stars’ HB Derrick Henry: 17 Att, 100 Yds, 2 TD   HOUSTON 31 WASHINGTON 28 The Gamblers take a 1-game lead in the Central and damage Washington’s playoff hopes with a slim 3-opoint victory in DC. Houston got 3TD runs from Carlos Hyde, despite the back being held to only 30 yards rushing on the day. Mike Evans caught 4 for 116, and the Houston defense picked off David Garrard twice to help Houston get the road W. Washington outgained Houston 486-325 but needed 2 scores in the final quarter and could not get them both. POTG:  Houston SS Kenny Vaccaro: 7 Tck, 1 Int   OAKLAND 27 PORTLAND 10 The Invaders took care of business in Portland, keeping them in the Top 7 in the West and one win away from a Wild Card berth. Donald Brown had a big game, rushing for 121 and 2 scores against the Stag defense. Oakland’s D picked off Marcus Mariota twice and forced a Felix Jones fumble to help secure the needed win. Oakland now controls their destiny with 1 more win locking up a playoff berth. POTG:  Invader CB Eric Wright: 4 Tck, 2 Int   NEW ORLEANS 27 SEATTLE 13 The Breakers also stay in Wild Card position with a road win on the Pacific Coast. Two TDs from backup HB Jawan Jamison and a Randall Gay pick six help New Orleans outpace the offensively challenged Dragons. Seattle had a 10-0 lead after 1 quarter but would only score 3 more points the entire game as New Orleans’s defense clamped down. POTG:  Breaker CB Randall Gay: 4 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD, 1 FF   ARIZONA 21 BALTIMORE 28 The Wranglers rest David Carr and that gave Baltimore a chance for a much-needed W. The Blitz responded with Big Ben throwing for 344 yards and 3 scores. With Darrius Heyward-Bey also sidelined, Brian Hartline stepped up with 4 receptions for 112 yards and a score. Anthony Dixon added a late TD to help the Blitz stay in Wild Card position at 9-6. POTG:  Blitz QB Ben Roethlisberger: 21/36, 344 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   PITTSBURGH 7   NEW JERSEY 36 No team is looking more primed for the postseason than the upstart New Jersey Generals as they obliterate Pittsburgh on their way to an impressive 11th win. Maurice Jones-Drew was held under 100 yards 977) but had 3 scores. OBJ caught 6 for 123 and Ka’imi Fairbairn set a league record with 4 field goals in 1 quarter as the Generals and DE Aaron Kampman simply obliterated rookie Kevin Hogan (7 sacks) and the Mauler offense. POTG:  Generals’ DE Aaron Kampman: 8 Tck, 5 Sck, 1 FR   TAMPA BAY 10 ATLANTA 16 Atlanta moves from the 2nd overall draft pick to 3rd, flipping spots with Tampa Bay after beating the Bandits for their 4th win. Only 18,010 showed up at the Georgia Dome for this battle of disappointing squads. Those who were there saw HB LeRon McClain rush for 118 yards, well outpacing the entire Bandit team, which gained only 27 yards on the ground. POTG:  Atlanta HB LeRon McClain: 16 Att, 118 Yds.   JACKSONVILLE 17 BIRMINGHAM 27 The Stallions avoid a 10th loss, giving it to Jacksonville with a solid outing from Cam Newton and Amari Cooper. Adrian McPherson continued to struggle for the Bulls as Jacksonville was outgained 407-213 on the day. Sean Lee was the one bright spot for the Bulls, racking up 13 tackles and a pick on the day. POTG:  Stallion QB Cam Newton: 18/27, 337 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Int   ST. LOUIS 10 CHICAGO 27 The Machine stayed in range to win the Central if Michigan stumbles, knocking off a deflated Skyhawk squad. Doug Martin took the lead in the Machine backfield, rushing 22 times for 107 yards and 2 scores, while Ryan Fitzpatrick went 17 of 25 for 154 and 2 more scores as Chicago rolled. Jordy Nelson, perhaps auditioning for free agency, had 5 catches for 113 yards, the only Skyhawk showing any drive on the day. POTG:  Chicago HB Doug Martin: 22 Att, 107 Yds, 2 TDs   DALLAS 28 LAS VEGAS 20 A well-played game considering neither team has anything to play for. Johnny Manziel throws for 4 TDs and 319 yards, connecting for scores with 4 different receivers. Vipers kick returner Lance Moore had a moment in the sun as well, returning a kickoff 101 yards to keep the Vipers in the game. But, in the end, with Dallas outgaining the Vipers by over 100 yards, Dallas takes home the win and moves to 6-9 on the year. POTG:  Roughneck QB Johnny Manziel: 27/35, 319 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int   TEXAS 20 DENVER 23 The Outlaws lose their 5th in a row, a spiral that has removed them from the playoff field and risks being classified as one of their biggest late season swoons ever. Denver takes the game with a 4th quarter Jamaal Charles TD run and is now in a position to make the postseason with a bit of help. Texas outgained the Gold 424-216 but suffered 2 big turnovers and failed on a key 4th down play, giving the Gold just enough advantage to pull out the game and send Texas to 8-7 on the season. POTG:  Denver DE Von Miller: 3 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF   MICHIGAN 34 OHIO 20 The Panthers shore up their shot at the Central Division and remove Ohio from playoff contention with a road win in Columbus. Ohio led 20-10 after 3 quarters but Michigan exploded for 24 points in the final period as Odell Thurman’s 45-yard pick six of Brock Osweiler sparked a huge quarter. Kirk Cousins would then connect with TE Rob Housler and LeVeon Bell would finalize the Panther victory with a late TD run to dishearten the Ohio fans and players. POTG:  Panther LB Odell Thurman: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   Express the New Hot Ticket in LA The Express clinched a playoff spot on the road this week and can clinch the 2 seed next week with a win in Seattle, but what may be more surprising is that the Express have turned a jaded LA fanbase into an enthusiastic one. After years of middling attendance numbers, LA had nearly 50,000 on hand at Farmers Insurance Field for their final home game against Texas in Week 14, and the calls have been coming in for playoff tickets even before the playoff situation for the Express has been decided.   Call it a fickle LA fanbase, or just a lot of bandwagon jumping, but the Express’s success, particularly their 6-game win streak, and a shot at the division title, seems to have hit LA right were it counts, turning the Express into a team fans want to watch. Can the Express extend this fan interest into next year? Can they capitalize on a good season, and perhaps the star power of Reggie Bush and Sam Bradford to expand their season ticket base? That is the hope of course, as ownership would love nothing more than to see the Express move out of the bottom 7 in ticket sales.   We all know that LA is a tough town for sports franchises, especially related to attendance. With 2 NBA clubs, 2 NHL clubs (we are counting Anaheim), and 2 MLB clubs (again counting Anaheim), the LA market has a lot of competition, especially in the spring, when weather also plays a factor. The NFL Raiders had better luck, largely due to their unique history and culture, but the Express have always struggled to compete with the Dodgers, Lakers, and everything else the city has to offer.   The 2016 season has been a surprise, and a very good one for LA and its football fans, and it seems that the fanbase is responding as they rarely do, with honest enthusiasm for their team. It is a development the league has to be happy with and one we know is music to the ears of the Express ownership, who are looking to expand by adding new minority owners this year. For them the timing of the Express’s win streak and playoff run could not have come at a better time.   Chicagoans Rooting for Outlaws This Week As a general rule, Chicagoans have little love for Texans, who they view as brash and boastful, but this week at least there is one set of Texans who will be getting the full support of Chicago’s football fanbase, the Texas Outlaws. The Outlaws finish their season with a road game in Michigan, and an upset win by the visitors will give Chicago a legitimate shot at winning the Central Division, only 1 year after finishing the 2015 season with the worst record in the league.   Chicago has to do their part of course, defeating the Stars in Philadelphia, no easy task since Philly’s playoff hopes also depend on a win at home, but even with a victory in Philadelphia, Chicago needs help to capture the Central. They need Texas to snap their losing streak and get a W in Michigan. Seems a big ask, and perhaps the Machine faithful should focus on rooting for their team on the road in a tough environment, but they will have their attention split. As Chicago is playing the Stars, the scoreboard will be getting a lot of attention as the Texas-Michigan game occurs simultaneously. That is the magic of Week 16 scheduling, where the league tries to align gametimes to maximize drama. That drama will certainly be there if Texas can muster one more win this year and if Chicago is caught up in a tight game with the equally desperate Stars.   Can a 10-Loss Team Play Spoiler There is often little a coach can do to motivate a team that is already eliminated from the playoffs, especially a 10-loss team that may well be seeing a change of coach at the season’s conclusion. One of the few options is to push the players to play with pride and play the spoiler. We have 5 games this week where a 10-loss team could impact the playoff picture by doing just that. History shows us that at least one of these 5 teams will come up big and crush the playoff dreams of their opponent. The hard part is figuring out who it will be. Who has the drive to play spoiler this week?   ATL @ DEN: The Gold need a win and some help to squeak into the playoffs, but they have to take care of the 4-11 Atlanta Fire first. Atlanta fans are likely split on their desire for the Fire to win a 2nd game in a row. Every win at this point takes them further and further down the draft list and reduces their leverage in trying to negotiate with another team to land a T-Draft pick that will bring a new QB to town. It is expected that Coach Ramsey will not be with the team in one week’s time, so it is hard to envision how or why the Fire would pull off the upset with Denver, especially on the road.   LA @ SEA: The Express are already in the playoffs, so there is no pressure there, but a win gives LA the Pacific title. Seattle is a division rival, and likely a very bitter one as it seems LA has the storyline this year that the Dragons expected to hold. Coach Mitchell is on the edge and could potentially make a case for another season if he can both win this game and show that he is developing rookie QB Jacoby Brissett. LA is clearly the better team, but we expect Seattle to put the effort in, especially at home, to play spoiler.   STL @ WSH: The Federals need a win and help to make the postseason. St. Louis “earns” the 1st overall pick in the 2017 USFL draft with a loss, so is there really motivation for the Skyhawks to put in the work to upset Washington at home? We are not even sure Josh Freeman will play, and Ricky Stanzi has struggled in his recent starts. Washington will be motivated because they see potential in a loss from either Baltimore or New Orleans as a gateway to a playoff spot. Hard to see a St. Louis victory here.   POR @ SD: San Diego has lost two straight division games. They need to defeat the Stags at home in Snapdragon Stadium and hope Seattle pulls off the upset of LA. Portland coach Pep Hamilton does not appear to be in the hot seat despite a disappointing 2nd season, so there may not be much pressure on him, but that lack of pressure, paired with the intense pressure San Diego must be feeling to not fritter away the division and enter the playoffs on a 3-game losing streak could well play into Portland’s hands.   PIT @ BAL: The Maulers have nothing to play for except pride. The Blitz have everything to play for, with a victory getting them a Wild Card ticket. So, will the Maulers rise up and give the Blitz a nasty parting gift? Or will a flat Mauler team be easy prey for the Blitz? If Andy Dalton were starting we would likely give Pittsburgh a fair chance to play spoiler, but with Dalton out with a knee injury, we think Baltimore has every advantage in this one, both on a talent level and a motivational level. With 5 playoff spots still unclaimed and 3 divisions yet to have been decided, there is a lot on the line for Week 16. We will run down the situation in each conference along with the best and worst case scenarios for each team, starting in the East.   HOUSTON (12-3) The Gamblers are assured of a playoff spot, but could still lose the division. A win and they are division champions. A loss plus a Memphis win over Charlotte and the Gamblers drop down to the 4 spot, hosting a Wild Card game against the 5 seed.   NEW JERSEY (11-4) Even with a win and losses by Houston and Memphis, the Generals cannot claim the 1 spot. They stil lose the tiebreaker to the Gamblers, so New Jersey is locked into the 2 spot and their game against New Orleans may well be a time to rest some starters.   ORLANDO (9-6) The Renegades are locked into the 3 seed and will play the 6 seed next week. They face Las Vegas at home this week and Coach Fox has said they will play their starters in an effort to build momentum leading into the Wild Card playoffs.   MEMPHIS (11-4) The Showboats will finish no worse than 4th, but they are hoping for a Houston loss and a win over Charlotte to propel them to the 1 seed.   BALTIMORE (9-6) A win and they are in as the 5 seed. A loss and they are at risk, with New Orleans, and Charlotte as potential teams that could leapfrog them and cut them out of the playoffs.   NEW ORLEANS (9-6) The Breakers control their own destiny. They may well face a lot of backups in New Jersey, which is just fine with them. Win and they are in, a win and a loss by Baltimore and they move from the 6 slot up to 5th. But a loss and they could well drop out of the playoffs.   WASHINGTON (8-7) The Federals need to win this week, and they need a significant amount of help due to the better division record of the Blitz and the better conference record of the Breakers.   PHILADELPHIA (8-7) The Stars are in some trouble due to a 2-6 division record. They would land behind Baltimore and Washington in the standings if all three were to finish at 9-7, and that does not bode well for them.   CHARLOTTE (8-7) A win over Memphis and losses by either Baltimore or New Orleans could catapult the Monarchs right back into the playoffs, despite their nasty losing streak. It seems unlikely, but if they can beat Memphis, their odds are better than either Washington’s or Baltimore’s.   ARIZONA (12-3) The Wranglers have the 1 seed all locked up and the only question is if Coach Tomsula wants David Carr to get some snaps ahead of the bye week, because he has been out the past 2 weeks and you don’t want a rusty QB in a divisional playoff.   LOS ANGELES (10-5) Win and you get the division and the bye week as the 2nd seed. That is a lot to play for. Lose and they could slip all the way to the 6th seed if all the games go against them. That would be a huge step down, so expect LA to be very motivated this week.   MICHIGAN (9-6) A win gets them the Central Division, regardless of the Chicago-Philadelphia result. A win plus losses by both LA and San Diego is unlikely, but if it happens, Michigan gets the 2-seed and a bye. A loss and Michigan could drop to the 6 seed, with only a very minute chance of being ousted from the playoffs altogether.   SAN DIEGO (10-5) The Thunder need a win and an LA loss to reclaim the Pacific Division title and a bye as the 2 seed. A loss, however unlikely, would drop them even further down the Wild Card ranks.   OAKLAND (9-6) The Invaders cannot win the division, but they can improve to the 4 seed with a win and a San Diego loss. A loss and it is possible, though unlikely, that they would be removed from playoff contention. Their stronger conference record helps, but in a 1-v-1 matchup of 9-7 teams they could lose the tiebreaker of head-to-head.   CHICAGO (9-6) Chicago’s situation is feast or famine. Win and they are in. Win and have Michigan lose and they also claim the Central. Lose and they could face the same head-to-head issues as Oakland and that could remove them from playoff contention.   TEXAS (8-7) Due to Tiebreakers, the Outlaws only hope is to defeat Michigan at Ford Field and hope that they end up in a 1-v-1 matchup with the Panthers for the final playoff spot. That win this week would be the tiebreaker that gives the Outlaws the win.   DENVER (8-7) Defeat Atlanta and they have a shot, but their shot, due to a worse conference record, depends on head-to-head. Denver has defeated Michigan, so just like Texas, their only real scenario is to end up with a tie at 9-6 with the Panthers for the final spot. Anything else and they are out. That means Denver actually has to root for Texas, and hope the Invaders also win, so that they are not included in the mix. It is complicated, but let’s just say the odds are against the Gold this time. With only 1 week left teams who have players injured often add them to IR just so that they have room to bring up some practice squad guys, which is what we are seeing in several cases. The one exception is Jerrel Jernigan in Michigan, where the reserve receiver is truly lost to a PCL tear even if Michigan were to go on a long playoff run. Several other teams are likely to have their dinged up veterans sit out the finale, particularly teams whose playoff position is set or who are already eliminated from contention.   OUT WR         Andre Caldwell                JAX         Back                     IR WR         Jerrel Jernigan                 MGN     PCL                       IR FB          LeRon McClain                ARZ       Quad                    IR OT          David Bakhtiari                DEN      Arm                       2-4 Weeks TE           Hunter Henry                   BIR         Hand                    2-4 Weeks SS           Troy Polamalu                  ARZ       Concussion       1-2 Weeks LB           Channing Crowder        POR      Groin                    1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL FS           Earl Thomas                   ATL         Thigh LB           Melvin Ingram                  DAL       Neck SS           DaJuan Morgan             LA          Hamstring DE          Kony Ealy                         STL         Thigh   QUESTIONABLE DT          Fili Moala                      SD          Concussion   Agents Are Open About Their Players Looking to Join Marketplace It may anger fans to have star players openly announce that they are going to test the free agent waters and get the best deal they can, rather than retaining loyalty to their current club, but that is the way of the football business, and it certainly is a business. Over the past few weeks, as teams draw closer to the end of the season and the end of the resigning period, tension has been high as it seems several star players are interested in exploring their options. What has made this worse, at least in the eyes of local fans, is that the player agents are not staying tight lipped about this.   Just in the past 2 weeks we have learned of several outstanding players who are very much open to moving on from their current teams. We knew about Eli Manning already, having not taken the signing of Paxton Lynch as a good sign for his future in Memphis.  And, of course, we have seen the signs for Byron Leftwich’s departure from Seattle, but they are hardly alone in feeling that their own best interests are served by putting their names in the hat for free agent consideration. Among those who have all but come out and said that they plan to test the waters are wideouts Keenan Allen (OAK) and Roy Williams (HOU), both on teams currently slated for the playoffs. The same can be said for Orlando DT Albert Haynesworth , who seems eager to see if he can parlay the success of the Renegade D-line into a personal windfall.   Add to these names some veterans who feel that their teams are unlikely to sign them to shorter-term end-of-career deals, players like Denver LB Shawne Merriman , Philadelphia LB Terrell Suggs , and Arizona DT Glenn Dorsey . We could also see New Orleans safety Mike Doss , Dallas safety Will Allen , and Ohio DT Tommy Harris take this route. Of course there are others where it is the team, and not the player, who seem to be heading in a new direction. This is the case with Leftwich in Seattle, and quite possibly Brock Osweiler in Ohio, but it is also the case for HB Chris Johnson in Tampa Bay, WR Austin Pettis in Chicago, and HB Ben Tate in Houston. They are all solid players, but their asking prices may not be aligned with their current roles. There will be more free agents, of course, but when starting players, particularly on playoff bound teams, openly admit that they are going to test the waters, it tends to be a big deal, especially for fans that worry that the players may not give 100% to the team if they are preoccupied with their market value after the season is over.   Five NFL Players Still Unsigned as Mini-camps Conclude It is “voluntary” camp season in the NFL and despite the league’s free agency period being in its 4th month, there remain several player who may well be delaying a decision until the USFL-NFL transfer window opens in early September, just as the NFL season kicks off. It is a risky move, but there are several players every year who may feel that the NFL offers they are receiving are below their market value and are willing to bet that the USFL will see value in them, or at least provide enough pressure that NFL clubs will up the ante to match them. We looked at the somewhat smallish pool of talent that remains unsigned and we think we can identify 5 players who are almost certainly delaying a decision in hopes of a more lucrative deal, or a better team fit, by holding out for the USFL to get a shot to enter the discussion.  These five could well be of interest to USFL clubs in the next 2 months.   QB E. J. Manuel (Buffalo) Following a promising rookie year in which he started 10 games and threw for nearly 2,000 yards, E. J. Manuel’s health and productivity have taken major hits the past two years, producing the label of “draft bust” and leaving him unsigned after his rookie contract expired. He has gotten a couple of nibbles from NFL teams, including the Raiders and Chiefs, but no signing as of yet. Can a USFL club see his potential and consider a reclamation project?   WR Terrance Williams (Dallas) A solid contributor for the Cowboys, Williams has been unhappy with his role in Dallas and is hoping to land a primary receiver gig, which may explain why he is still unsigned. Williams, at this stage, is almost certainly hoping that a USFL team will make a better offer than the Cowboys or other NFL clubs have made to date.   OT Luke Joeckel (Jacksonville) The number one overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Joeckel has not panned out as the Jaguars wanted. A left tackle at A&M, he began at right tackle in the NFL, switching over to left tackle only last season, where he started 14 games. Just weeks ago, Jacksonville announced they would not pick up the 4th year option on his rookie deal, making him a free agent at that time. The Jags say they want to resign him as a guard, but Joeckel would prefer to play tackle, and could look at the USFL as his best shot to do so.   DE Darryl Tapp (Lions) A 10-year veteran of the NFL, Tapp played for Seattle from 2006-20008, then spent 3 years in Philadelphia, before bouncing around on several 1- and 2-year deals. In 2015 he started only 1 game for Detroit, but appeared in all 16 games as a swing linebacker. He could find a home in the USFL for a team looking to add depth and experience.   S Rafael Bush (Saints) Another veteran defender, Bush had his best years in 2013 and 2014. Injuries forced him to miss most of the 2015 season with New Orleans. He was not resigned this offseason and is still looking for a home. There has been interest shown by a few NFL teams, so the fact that he remains unsigned either indicates that there remain health concerns or that he is hoping the USFL will provide a better landing spot. Here is your Week 16 lineup, with its unique Saturday-Sunday lineup of games, designed to avoid teams knowing their playoff position before they play. Lot’s of scoreboard watching is likely this weekend, which could lead to some serious drama. We give you the playoff impact of each game as we outline the schedule for you. Teams with a chance for a playoff spot, but not one guaranteed will be indicated in bold font. Enjoy.   Saturday @ 12 PM          Tampa Bay (3-12) @ Jacksonville (5-10)               ESPN No playoff implications   Saturday @ 12 PM          Las Vegas (6-9) @ Orlando (9-6)                              ABC No playoff implications. Orlando is locked into 3rd seed in East.   Saturday @ 4 PM            Atlanta (4-11) @ Denver (8-7)                                    FOX Denver needs a win + help to earn a Wild Card                 Saturday @ 4 PM            Dallas (6-9) @ Arizona (12-3)                                    ABC No playoff implications. Arizona is locked into 1st seed in West   Saturday @ 4 PM            Pittsburgh (5-10) @ Baltimore (9-6)                       FOX Baltimore clinches a Wild Card with a Win.   Saturday @ 8 PM            Chicago (9-6) @ Philadelphia (8-7)                        NBC A Chicago win locks up a Wild Card. A win + Michigan loss = Division.  Philadelphia needs a win + help to earn a Wild Card.   Saturday @ 8 PM            Texas (8-7) @ Michigan (9-6)                                     ESPN/EFN Texas needs a win + help to earn a Wild Card. Michigan wins the Central with a win. Sunday @ 12 PM             St. Louis (2-13) @ Washington (8-7)                       NBC Washington needs a win + help to earn a Wild Card.   Sunday @ 12 PM             Oakland (9-6) @ Ohio (7-8)                                        ABC Oakland earns a Wild Card with a Win.   Sunday @ 12 PM             New Orleans (9-6) @ New Jersey (11-4)               FOX New Orleans earns a Wild Card with a win. New Jersey is locked into 2nd seed in East.   Sunday @ 4 PM               Charlotte (8-7) @ Memphis (11-4)                          ABC Charlotte needs a win + help for a Wild Card. Memphis is locked into the 4 seed in the East.   Sunday @ 4 PM               Houston (12-3) @ Birmingham (6-9)                     FOX Houston is locked into the 1 seed in the East Sunday @ 8 PM               Los Angeles (10-5) @ Seattle (3-12)                       NBC A win and Los Angeles is the 2 seed and the Pacific Champion.   Sunday @ 8 PM               Portland (3-12) @ San Diego (10-5)                        ESPN/EFN A win + LA loss and San Diego is the 2 seed and the Pacific Champion.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: With teams focusing on emerging star Vic Beasley, Aaron Kampman has had himself a strong second half, but nothing prepared us for a Campbell-esque display this week, with Kampman racking up 5 sacks against the overmanned Maulers and backup QB Kevin Hogan. PLAYOFF PICTURE: Only 1 more slot was claimed this week with LA not only earning a playoff berth but also leapfrogging San Diego into first place in the Pacific, a position they can lock down with a Week 16 victory. Ohio was also the only new team eliminated from the playoff picture as they drop to 7-8. The teams that control their own destiny for a Wild Card berth are Baltimore, New Orleans, Oakland and Chicago. Washington, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Texas and Denver remain alive but will need help to jump into one of the unclaimed slots.