Player of the Week: Move over Cam Newton, there is another running QB to deal with. Jacksonville gets a huge win this week and most of the credit goes to Robert Griffin III, who was pretty average through the air (15 of 28 for 172 yards) but was astounding on the run, rushing for 163 yards and 3 TDs, two of which were over 50 yards. He was simply untouchable once he got moving, something Bulls fans have to be excited to see.

A surprisingly slow start to the year for three 2015 playoff teams as St. Louis, New Orleans, and Baltimore all drop to 0-2 after surprising losses this week.  On the flip side of that, we have Washington and Charlotte off to very nice starts at 2-0, with the Monarchs getting the added bonus of back-to-back division wins.  It was a week for the halfbacks as well as we saw 100+ yard games from Ryan Williams, Deuce McCallister, Frank Gore, Darren McFadden, Marshawn Lynch, LeVeon Bell, Reggie Bush, C. J. Spiller, and T. J. Yeldon, but the biggest game of the week may have been from a QB, as Robert Griffin III rushed for 2 long scores on his way to a 163-yard outing as a running QB.    A lot to talk about, and a small bit of controversy as the USFL’s experiment with its schedule this year has already got people upset.  We will talk about that, about the fast and slow starts across the league, and about the upcoming league meeting, all right here. Let’s get it started with our Game of the Week, one of the weirder overtime finishes we have ever seen. DALLAS ROUGHNECKS 26    ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 24    OVERTIME It is rare to see an overtime game ended with a defensive score, but even more rare for that score to be a safety.  And yet, despite the odds against it, that is exactly what we got as the Roughnecks edged the Skyhawks, sending St. Louis to an 0-2 start with an overtime safety.  It was an odd play, in an otherwise straightforward game between two teams considered playoff contenders.   Both teams came into the game after rough Week 1 losses. Dallas was shellacked by a dominant Arizona squad, 41-14, while St. Louis fell at home in a hard fought, low scoring game against the Philadelphia Stars.  Both expected more in the second week of the season, and on the whole both teams played much better, but someone had to lose this one, even if it would take extra time to decide who.   After a scoreless first quarter that saw both teams play well on defense and struggle on third downs, the 2nd quarter started with back to back TD drives from the Skyhawks. On both occasions it was receiver Eric Weems who had the honors of putting points on the board, first from 7 yards out, and then from 22.  Weems would finish the game with 5 receptions for 74 yards, but would not see the endzone again after these early scores. Dallas responded to the St. Louis advantage, mounting a 13-play, 81-yard drive that concluded with their first TD of the game, an 8-yard toss from Manziel to TE Ben Watson.   The game would go to the half with St. Louis up 7, but with Dallas feeling like they were right in this one.  The 3rd quarter would be a low-scoring affair, but one that saw both teams turn to their run games.  Both would find success in the 2nd half with their running games, and by the end of the affair we would have 3 running backs over 100 yards, with Dallas getting 105 from starter Rashard Mendenhall, but also another 127 from third-down back C. J. Spiller.  St. Louis countered with a 105-yard game from Eddie Lacy as the two teams seemed hesitant to risk opening up the passing game.   St. Louis had the only scoring drive of the third, with Freeman finding TE Rob Gronkowski to once again go up by 14, but the lead would be halved again by Dallas on their next drive.  Starting with 3 minutes left in the 3rd, Dallas put together a short 6-play drive, with Manziel connecting with Percy Harvin and rookie Geronimo Allison for back to back chunk plays before finding Allison again for the score, his first pro TD.  Once again down 7, Dallas just would not go away.   After a St. Louis drive produced 3 points from the foot of their new kicker, Andrew Hamilton, Dallas went 3-and-out but a nice punt put St. Louis back on their own 3 yard line.  Two plays later, Dallas defensive end broke past the tackle, who held him to protect Freeman, leading to a penalty in the end zone, which produced 2 points and had Dallas back within 8.  They would need a defensive stand to get the ball back with time to equalize.   They got the stand they needed when Josh Freeman missed on a shot to Jordy Nelson on a 3rd and 8. Dallas got the ball back and wasted no time moving downfield.  A nice 26-yard run from Mendenhall on a draw play helped put the ball in St. Louis territory, and from there Manziel hit Percy Harvin for the score.  The Roughnecks would need a 2-point conversion to equal the score at 24 just before the 2-minute warning.  They would get it when Manziel found Spiller in the endzone out of a spread formation.  Game all tied at 24, but time on the clock for the Skyhawks to end it before time ran out.   Once again the Dallas defense came up big, getting a sack on 2nd and 4 to create a 3rd and 11.  Freeman missed on a pass to Weems and opted to punt rather than risk 4th and 11 from their own 33 with 1 mnute left.  Dallas took a couple of shots but eventually took a knee and settled for overtime.   The Roughnecks won the toss in the extra period, and their opening drive looked promising at first.  Spiller ran for 9 yards, followed by Manziel to Tim Wright for 8 more, but the drive bogged down at midfield, forcing Dallas to send out the punter.  Harold Halstead earned his pay again by putting the ball inside the 5 for the second time in the game.  St. Louis would be backed up, starting the drive form their own 4.  On first down they gained 3, but a flag appeared and holding was the call.  They now sat at 2nd and 12 from the 2.  While most, including the game announcers, anticipated another run play, St. Louis rolled the dice by calling a play action pass.  Dallas seemed to expect this as they called for a safety blitz on first down.  It was the perfect call and one that St. Louis did not handle well.  When the guard opted to take on DT Star Lotuleilei, it gave Will Allen a free shot into the backfield and the veteran safety got the play of the game, wrapping up Freeman and producing a whistle for “in the grasp”. That whistle meant that Dallas earned 2 points and the game would end on a safety.  Perhaps one of the more unusual overtime deciders we have seen, but a welcome one for the Roughnecks. MEMPHIS 24     NEW ORLEANS 17 The defending champs are off to an 0-2 start, dropping another home game, this time in division as Memphis gets a big day from Eli Manning (323 yards on 33 of 44) and the Showboat defense limits the Breakers to only 43 yards rushing.  Anthony Allen took over for an injured Todd Gurley and rushed for 73 yards and a score.  Robert Woods added 70 yards and a TD as well as Memphis upsets New Orleans. POTG:  Showboat HB Anthony Allen: 16 Att, 73 Yds, 1 TD, 4 Rec, 71 Yds   PHILADELPHIA 16   PITTSBURGH 22 Philly puts up a good fight, but the Maulers prevail as a sloppy, icy field brings us our first true weather-impacted game.  Players were slipping all over, and it deeply impacted the run game, with the top rushers for each team being Derrick Henry with only 15 yards and Chris Sims with only 19.  Andy Dalton connected for scores with both Thielen and Cruz on a tough day for both offenses. POTG:  Mauler DE Dwight Freeney: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty   WASHINGTON 20    CHICAGO 12 The Feds improve to 2-0 with a nice road win, thanks in large part to a big day from Deuce McCallister.  The Ageless One rushed for 126 and a score as the Federals controlled the clock for 34 minutes and limited Ryan Fitzpatrick to only 173 yards passing. Federal LB D’Qwell Jackson had himself a day as well, racking up 10 tackles, , 4 for loss, and a sack.  POTG:  Federals’ HB Deuce McCallister: 28 Att, 126 Yds, 1 TD   OHIO 10   MICHIGAN 29 The Panthers got their run game cranked up, outrushing Ohio 187-79 thanks to 168 yards on 31 carries from LeVeon Bell.  Dre Kirkpatrick also had a good day, with a pick six of Brock Osweiler.  17-10 at the half, Michigan held Ohio without a score in the second half and pulled away to win by 19. POTG:  Panther HB LeVeon Bell: 31 Att, 168 Yds, 1 TD, 4 Rec, 30 Yds   NEW JERSEY 14   TEXAS 20 On this weekend of big rushing results, it was Marshawn Lynch having a day as he rushed for138 yards and 2 scores to power the Outlaws to victory in San Marcos.  Joe Flacco completed only 9 of 20 passing, but Lynch was a runaway train for most of the game.  New Jersey’s Maurice Jones-Drew tried to keep pace, rushing for 115 and a score as well, but in the end it was Texas’s ability to run out the clock that helped them hold on for win number two. POTG:  Outlaw HB Marshawn Lynch: 28 Att, 138 Yds, 2 TD   ARIZONA 43    DENVER 19 Arizona is looking like a juggernaut with a second enormous offensive output.  David Carr threw for 420 and 5 TDs as play after play broke for big yardage.  Touchdowns of 87 yards, 30, 32, and 54 were all part of the fireworks as Larry Fitzgerald caught 5 for 184 and 3 scores with Antonio Bryant right there as well, catching 5 for 139 and 2 more Carr scoring tosses.  It was a display we are not used to seeing from the Wranglers, and a bad sign for the rest of the league. POTG:  Wrangler QB David Carr: 18/24, 520 Yds, 5 TD, 0 Int   CHARLOTTE 20    TAMPA BAY 13 The Monarchs move to 2-0 and send Tampa Bay to 0-2, thanks to another big rushing game.  Darren McFadden rushed for 113 yards and a score to help offset 3 Brandon Wheedon interceptions.  Tampa Bay’s Philip Buchanon had 2 of the 3 Wheedon picks, including a 64-yard pick six to help keep Tampa Bay in the game despite a rough 2nd outing for rookie QB Dak Prescott, who threw two picks on the day. POTG:  Bandits’ CB Philip Buchanon: 6 Tck, 2 Int, 1 DefTD   JACKSONVILLE 34    BALTIMORE 23 A stunned Blitz crowd in Baltimore watched as Robert Griffin III just went off, not with his arm, but with his legs.  RG3 had TD runs of 56 and 74  yards on his way to 163 yards rushing as Jacksonville gets the huge upset to send the Blitz to 0-2.  The Bulls defense also shone, sacking Big Ben 7 times, including 3 from Barkevious Mingo.  POTG:  Bulls’ QB Robert Griffin III: 15/28, 172 Yds, 13 Att, 163 Yds, 3 TD   ATLANTA 30    ORLANDO 24 A strong defensive performance by the Fire helped Atlanta pull off the road upset.  Orlando QB Russell Wilson was sacked 5 times and threw up 3 picks as the Fire outpaced the Renegades.  Rookie HB Kenyan Drake got the start for the injured Chris Ivory and rushed for 52 yards, while also catching one of Kyle Orton’s 3 TD passes. Knowshon Moreno was the rarity this week, a star HB who struggled, rushing for only 19 yards on the day.  POTG:  Atlanta free safety Earl Thomas: 7 Tck, 2 Sck   SEATTLE 6   OAKLAND 10 A rough day for both offenses in Oakland as the Invaders edge the Dragons thanks to the only TD of the game, a 2-yard Tyler Ervin run in the 2nd quarter.  Both teams struggled to put together drives and both defenses came up big on third down to make this one a war of attrition and a bit of a punting festival.  POTG:  Invader WR Keenan Allen: 7 Rec, 103 Yds   LAS VEGAS 21   SAN DIEGO 24 A good game between two evenly matched teams saw San Diego prevail as QB Joe Webb rushed for 2 TDs and Ryan Williams had a much better 2nd week, rushing for 121 anda score as well.  For Las Vegas it was Cody Pickett tossing 2 TDs and completing 26 of 38 for 307 that kept them in this one.  In the end, San Diego was able to stop the Vipers on 4th and 11 to preserve the win. POTG:  Thunder HB Ryan Williams: 22 Att, 121 Yds, 1 TD   LOS ANGELES 40    PORTLAND 0 Perhaps the most shocking score of the season to date, not just because Portland was completely manhandled, but because Los Angeles showed some real offensive firepower, outgaining the Stags 401-224.  This was a bad day for Marcus Mariota, with 2 picks and sacked five times, but it was a huge day for LA halfback Reggie Bush, who amassed 143 yards and 3 TDs on the ground.  Portland could do nothing right and it seemed like the Express could do nothing wrong in this dominant performance. POTG:  Express HB Reggie Bush: 18 Att, 143 Yds, 3 Td   BIRMINGHAM 22   HOUSTON 24 A really nice finale to the week, the Sunday Night game saw division rivals Houston and Birmingham battle all game, with the deciding score coming with only 17 seconds left on the clock.  Cam Newton was held in check on the ground, but threw for 3 TDs on a 20 of 33 evening.  Matt Hasselbeck threw for 3 scores but had to leave the game early in the 4th after a late hit left him a bit goofy.  Colt McCoy led the Gamblers on the final field goal drive for the win.  POTG:  Birmingham HB T. J. Yeldon: 13 Att, 108 Yds Bush & Express Explode as Stags Caught in Headlights It was the most surprising game of the week, perhaps of the past few years, as the LA Express, long suffering from an offensive malaise, found their stride on both offense and defense against the Portland Stags, last year’s Pacific Division Champion.  We knew going in that the Express had a solid defense, despite their 4-2 record last year, but offense had always been the issue with Andy Reid’s squad. It certainly was not an issue this weekend.   Portland, which had also built it’s 2015 division title largely on defense, was overrun by the Express, and we do mean run, because it was HB Reggie Bush who did most of the damage. While new Express QB Sam Bradford had a solid game (before being removed late), completing 11 of 18 passes for 125 yards, it was Bush, with 18 carries for 145 yards and 3 touchdowns, who took over the game.  Bush averaged 7.9 yards per carry and while his touchdowns were modest 1, 1, and 11-yard runs, he had both a 42- and a 36-yard scamper on the day.  And Bush was not alone.  Rookie Paul Perkins got 15 touches, mostly late in the game when the verdict was already decided, and averaged 4.3 yards to garner 65 yards rushing.  Even FB LeRon McClain got in on the act with 5 carries for 34 yards (a 6.8 YPC average) and a touchdown.  It was a ground assault the likes of which we have  not seen from the Express in many years, and perhaps a blueprint for how they want to approach the season.    A run-first attitude is a bit unusual in the USFL, but with Sam Bradford new to Andy Reid’s system,and with a receiver group most would be generous to describe as “pedestrian”, developing a strong run game could well be the Express’s best option to produce offense each week. It certainly worked against a Stags team that simply did not see it coming and did not prepare well for it.   Griffin and Bulls Shock the Blitz Another shocker this week involved the Baltimore Blitz and the stunning scrambles and scripted runs that Bulls’ QB Robert Griffin III used to upset Baltimore in their own house.  Jacksonville came into this game as a 10-poiint underdog to the defending NE Division Champion, but it did not take long for the Blitz to be served notice that they had their hands full. Only 3 minutes into the game, on a scripted run-pass option, Griffin broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run that was electric to watch.  Not since his rookie season in the NFL had we seen Griffin be so effective as a rusher, and it was just beginning for the Bulls and the stunned Blitz in this game.   Griffin would remain a featured part of the offense all game, rushing for an even longer 74-yard score early in the 3rd, and then finishing up with a short 1-yard TD dive later in the period.  He would finish the game with 163 yards rushing, easily eclipsing halfbacks Cadillac Williams and Matt Jones to lead the Bulls.  Baltimore simply did not have the resources to defend against the halfbacks, the passing game, and to place a spy on Griffin.  They would try this tactic in the 4th quarter, to some effect, but by then it was too late and Jacksonville was happy to use short passing and runs by Williams to wind down the clock.   So, as with Los Angeles, we have to ask if Jacksonville may have just found their key to offensive production this week.  A running quarterback can be a very dangerous weapon, but, of course, it comes with risk.  Griffin’s NFL career took a turn south after injuries started to pile up, and while he seems more than fit now, there are questions over whether or not pushing him to run with the ball is a good option for his long-term presence under center.  For now, however, it is certainly a threat that teams will have to consider as they prep to play the Bulls.   David Carr on Crazy Pace After 2 Games Two weeks in and David Carr, often the forgotten man in discussion of the league’s best quarterbacks, is making a statement.  In his first two games this year, Carr has been absolutely on fire.  After posting 306 yards and 4 TDs in the opener at Dallas, Carr followed up that performance with an even stronger 420 yards and 5 TDs this week against Denver.  That is two divisional wins, over 700 yards passing and a 9:0 TD:INT ratio in his first 2 weeks. No wonder he tops the league passing stats with a QB Rating of 146.9.    And yet, despite these numbers, Coach Tomsula says he is not asking more of Carr. “He is taking what the defense gives him”, said Tomsula.  Well, the defenses are giving him a lot of deep balls and a lot of big plays.  With Frank Gore still looking spry at age 34, and with Ka’Deem Carey showing sparks as well, the Arizona run game has maintained its usual role as the bread and butter of Arizona’s attack, but that has provided Carr with a lot of man coverage and a lot of opportunities to connect with Larry Fitzgerald and Antonio Bryant. We should also not forget that Arizona went out and signed 2015’s receiving TD leader, TE Jimmie Graham, in the offseason.  That move has proven a brilliant one as Graham regularly attracts safety coverage, meaning that either Bryant or Fitzgerald is likely matchup up in single coverage, and that is a bad move for any defense.   Can Carr keep up this pace?  It seems unlikely.  Expect teams to opt for more zone coverage, and for them to be willing to give up more runs to Gore and Carey, because as bad as being gashed for 8 or 9 yards on a run is, getting toasted for a 60-yard TD is much worse.  For now, at least, Arizona is looking like a team that can and will dominate the SW Division, possibly the entire Western Conference, and has the Wranglers as the early favorite for Summer Bowl 2016, which would be their 3rd appearance in 4 years.   Beasley a Beast for New Jersey If David Carr’s numbers are the early season story on offense across the league, the emergence of 2nd year DE Vic Beasley in New Jersey has to be the defensive story of the year so far.  Beasley, the 3rd overall pick in the 2015 USFL Draft out of Clemson, has emerged as a major threat on the Generals’ defense.   After a year working with Aaron Kampman and taking over the RE position, Beasley is now being moved around, with he and Kampmann flip flopping frequently during drives.  The flexible positioning has worked for him, producing 6 sacks in the first two games of the season.   Any time you can outpace Calais Campbell, you are doing something right, and Beasley currently leads the 7-time Sack Champion by 1 sack.  Do we expect that to stay there?  Unlikely, because you know Campbell is not happy about being in the second position, but what we can say is that New Jersey may now have a very potent pass rush with the front 4 of Beasley (6), Raji (2), Kampman (2), and Ta’amu (2) producing 12 sacks in 2 games.  That means no blitzes are needed, freeing up 7 players for pass coverage.  That is always a plus for any defensive coordinator.    Ivory Lost for Season, Rookie Steps In One of Atlanta’s offseason priorities was to find a way to offset the retirement of former NFL back Steven Jackson, the team’s leading rusher the past three seasons. Their solution was to trade for Chris Ivory (NJ) and to draft Kenyan Drake out of Alabama.  Well, with only 2 weeks gone in the season, half of the plan is now shuttered.  Ivory, in his 2nd year in the USFL after coming over from the NFL Jets, has been placed on IR after x-rays revealed what the team had feared, a significant fracture of the femur with secondary fractures of the tibia, both in his right leg.  With Ivory now in a hard cast, he has been ruled out for the season and the full weight of the Fire run game now falls on their 2nd round draft pick.    The Fire have 2nd year back Raymond Williams behind Drake and just added rookie free agent Noel Hurst to the roster as the 3rd back.  We expect that there will be more moves to come to add some experience to the backfield.  Currently, the best available free agents are former Wrangler Stevan Ridley, former Breaker Mike Tolbert, and a potentially very controversial pick, former General, Express and Thunder back Ray Rice.  Rice has not played in the league since 2013, when video of an altercation with his wife became public knowledge and charges of domestic abuse were filed.    Atlanta will almost certainly look to land a veteran back to help Drake with run game duties.  Will they take the publicity hit to land the talented but troubled Rice, go for a more conservative pick like Ridley or Tolbert, or will they use the trading block to try for another option?  We will see, but for now, it is Kenyan Drake’s turn to make an impression as Atlanta sorts out their options. The Chris Ivory injury was by far the most impactful of the week.  Several other players are set to miss Week 3 action, but most if not all could be back in action for Week 4, including DE Robert Quinn (OHI), HB Todd Gurley (MEM), and QB Matt Hasselbeck (HOU).   OUT HB         Chris Ivory                ATL        Fractured Leg                 IR OT         Joe Staley                STL        Team Rule Violations    1-2 Weeks G           Sean Locklear          CHA      Back                                  1-2 Weeks WR        Nate Burleson         SEA       Hand                                1-2 Weeks C           Zach Williams         TBY       Shoulder                          1-2 Weeks WR        Michael Crabtree     DEN      Eye                                   1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL DE         Robert Quinn     OHI       Knee                   OT         Greg Robinson       BIR        Knee G           Trevor Canfield      ATL        Migraines FS          Nate Allen               ARZ       Concussion   QUESTIONABLE HB         Todd Gurley           MEM     Neck HB         Ka’Deem Carey      ARZ       Wrist QB         Matt Hasselbeck     HOU     Concussion WR        Tim Wright              DAL       Tendonitis OT         Xavier Fulton          OHI       Toe CB         Vontae Davis            STL        Concussion TE          Anthony Hill           PIT        Abdomen DE         Chris Long               WSH     Back LB          Vontez Burfict           TEX       Wrist   League Meeting To Focus on Outlaws & Oklahoma This week will not just feature on-field action, but in New York there is sure to be some fireworks as the league owners meet.  The main item on the agenda is the future of the Texas Outlaws franchise.  There appears to be real concern about the offer made by the OKC Football Group to buy out majority owner Red McCombs and work with minority owner William Tatham to relocate the team to a new facility in Oklahoma City.  McCombs is in favor of the deal, but only if the league will essentially guarantee him a new franchise for San Antonio upon completion of the full demolition and reconstruction of the Alamodome.  Essentially, Tatham’s position is one seeking a guarantee of expansion, likely within the next 4-5 years.  That may be a tough sell for the gathered owners. There is some support for expansion, and certainly the league would like to recover a team in San Antonio, a sizeable and growing market, which also understanding that the current situation with the Alamodome does not work for any parties.  There will certainly be some dealmaking required between all parties to bring a deal to the table.  OKC Football wants approval for their facility and their ownership model.  Tatham wants to retain his portion of the Outlaws franchise, as well as the team’s history, records, and identity.  McCombs, as mentioned, is pushing for guaranteed re-entry in either 2020 or 2021, but is also interested in retaining team identity and records, a clear sticking point between the two current owners of the franchise.  The league, of course, is concerned about the impact of relocating the franchise from the larger San Antonio market to a much smaller Oklahoma City site.  That concern could be addressed with confirmation of an expansion team locked in for San Antonio and Red McCombs, but questions of team identity and history could be a sticking point.   A decision, or at least a pathway to a decision, needs to emerge from this week’s meetings.  The Outlaws are spending 2016 with three different home stadiums in three different cities (Houston, Ft. Worth, and San Marcos), and everyone agrees that this model is not viable beyond one year.  It is costing the league upward of $20M in support to the Outlaws to allow for the rotating home venue model, something the league has no interest in continuing, but with no other viable stadium in or around San Antonio, the question of relocation is one the league has to take a hard look at.   Fans Cry Foul on New Schedule Format As we head into Week 3 of the season, fans around the league are getting their first taste of the league’s scheduling experiment this year, and they are not happy.  The experiment, one impacting nearly all of the clubs in the league, involved “clustered scheduling”. The best way to describe this is that there will be several divisional matchups where the two teams’ home and away matches are within 2 weeks of each other, and many where the teams essentially play a home-and-away series in back to back weeks. This is a huge departure from the usual strategy of trying to balance divisional rivalry games with one matchup in the season’s first half and the other towards the season’s final month.    A quick look at the schedule shows this new strategy in obvious ways. After facing off this past week in Atlanta, the Fire and Renegades will play their second matchup this week in Orlando, a true back-to-back series. Orlando will do the same with Tampa Bay in Weeks 7 and 8. The Bandits likewise have already played Charlotte in back-to-back weeks in Week 1-2, with the Bandits losing both matchups. Philadelphia will have a back-to-back series with Baltimore, one that could be vital to the divisional standings, in weeks 5 and 6. Later in the year, Arizona and Texas, one of the best matchups in the West, will play back-to-back games in weeks 12 and 13.  The same will happen with Ohio and St. Louis in weeks 13 and 14, and with Michigan and Chicago in Weeks 9 and 10.   In addition to these 2-week “series” there are no less than 5 times when two divisional foes will play each other twice within a 3-week span, including Washington & Pittsburgh (5 & 7), Texas and Dallas (6 & 8), Denver and Las Vegas (4 & 6), Charlotte and Jacksonville (12 & 14), and, for one of the league’s best rivalries, Memphis and Birmingham, who will meet Week 5 at the Liberty Bowl, and then reprise the rivalry only 2 weeks later at Progressive Stadium in Birmingham.   The general reaction of fans, gauged mostly through call in radio and online postings, has, to say the least, been negative. It appears that fans are not interested in back-to-back series, or in immediate reprisal games after an initial meeting. There is concern that having games so close together creates a situation where the team that loses the first meeting has little time to make adjustments and win the 2nd, and there are complaints that the close scheduling of these divisional games leaves longer stretches in the season when teams are playing less intense inter-divisional and inter-conference games. The league set this model up as a test, to see if it might foster greater emphasis on the rivalry games and on road trips between cities as teams faced off in close succession game to game. What it seems to be producing instead is annoyance and disappointment among fans who prefer to see their teams run through their divisional games over a full 16 weeks, rather than clustering these games. We expect the league will continue to monitor social media and their own mailroom as they determine if the experiment was more advantageous than unpopular and as they prepare to design the 2017 schedule, but for this year at least, the clustered divisional games are here to stay, so buckle up for some back-to-back rematches, including this week’s game in Orlando, where the Renegades will try to undo the damage caused by their defeat Week 2 in Atlanta.      ORLANDO RELEASES HELMET DESIGNS With one week left in the voting for the new logo, design, and branding for the Orlando Renegades, the team has upped the ante by releasing the helmet designs for all three options. Each will feature a different shell color, and we can now see how the primary logo will appear in each design. Here are the three choices once again, now with the helmet designs. TUSKER DESIGN: The wild boar or "tusker" features a Renegade Blue shell and black facemask. The helmet will have a large decal of the hog logo on each side with three tapered stripes from the rear to the front of the helmet. MAMMOTH DESIGN: Will the Renegades be entering a 3rd grey/silver helmet into the state of Florida. With both the Bandits (bright silver) and the Bulls (dark, almost pewter) already sporting a grey-toned helmet, this design for the Mammoth option seems like a challenge to the other USFL clubs in the state. it features a black facemask, a matte grey shell, and a 4-stripe pattern in black and two tones of Renegade Blue. BLACKTIP DESIGN: Orlando proposes a return to a white shell, the color they began their USFL run with in 1987. The blacktip shark emerges out of the blue waters, soaring in the air across the helmet on each side. This is the only one of the three designs not to include center striping, understandable considering the use of a wraparound decal. Voting continues on the designs through Week 3's action, with the winning brand, and possibly a more complete uniform design, scheduled for a Week 5 reveal. Week 3 kicks off with another of the controversial back-to-back matchups as Orlando heads to Atlanta only 1 week after the two faced off in Florida.  It continues through the weekend with a heavily divisional lineup of games. Saturday sees Birmingham @ New Orleans, Philly @ Washington, a Cascade Clash with Seattle @ winless Portland, and twin divisional night games with New Jersey @ Pittsburgh on NBC and San Diego headed to LA to face the Express on ESPN/EFN.   Sunday has only 2 divisional matchups (Chicago @ St. Louis and Arizona @ Las Vegas), but also has a clash of 2-0 clubs as ESPN’s Sunday night game features the Houston Gamblers visiting the Charlotte Monarchs. A full slate of good games this week as we are still looking to see who is for real, who is in trouble, and who may be a surprise this year. Can 0-2 Baltimore get into the win column? How about the Breakers, Skyhawks, or Stags?  Will surprising Washington make it 3 in a row? Will Arizona continue to dominate the opposition? A week when the last of the NFL players, including HB Adrian Peterson, are expected to see action. Should be a good week for football.   Friday @ 8pm ET              Orlando (1-1) @ Atlanta (1-1)                 NBC   Saturday @ 12pm ET      Birmingham (1-1) @ New Orleans (0-2)          ABC Saturday @ 12pm ET     Philadelphia (1-1) @ Washington (2-0)          FOX Saturday @ 4pm ET         Seattle (0-2) @ Portland (0-2)                         ABC Saturday @ 4pm ET        Denver (1-1) @ Michigan (1-1)                     FOX      Saturday @ 7pm ET         New Jersey (1-1) @ Pittsburgh (1-1)               NBC Saturday @ 9pm ET        San Diego (1-1) @ Los Angeles (1-1)             ESPN/EFN   Sunday @ 12pm ET        Baltimore (0-2) @ Tampa Bay (0-2)                   ABC Sunday @ 12pm ET         Chicago (1-1) @ St. Louis (0-2)                        FOX Regional Sunday @ 12pm ET         Arizona (2-0) @ Las Vegas (0-2)                        FOX Regional Sunday @ 4pm ET           Jacksonville (1-1) @ Dallas (1-1)                      ABC Regional Sunday @ 4pm ET           Memphis (1-1) @ Oakland (2-0)                       ABC Regional Sunday @ 4pm ET           Ohio (1-1) @ Texas (2-0)                                    FOX Sunday @ 8pm ET          Houston (2-0) @ Charlotte (2-0)                     ESPN/EFN

Week one saw its share of upsets, big games, and big debuts, but, as we often see in Week 1 of any season, it also saw some sloppy play, some penalties, and some turnovers as teams still try to find their groove after a short preseason.  What we did not see this week was snow or bitter cold.  With only 3 games in outdoor cold weather cities (Baltimore, Washington, and Pittsburgh), the league got lucky with the Northeast generally looking at good weather. So, no blizzard games or rain outs, just football and some growing pains.  Speaking of pain, Tampa Bay suffered the first big setback of the year, or did they?  We will review the Bandits-Monarchs game, our Game of the Week, then recap all the action of the league’s opening weekend.  Get your USFL fix right here as football is back! TAMPA BAY BANDITS 17   CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 20    OVERTIME This was not a game that many had circled as “must watch” in Week 1, but it ended up being a game filled with drama, surprises, and some pretty well-played football.  Plus, it went to overtime, which we always find intriguing.  It matched up the top and the bottom of the 2015 standings in the Southeast Division, with reigning division champions Charlotte facing off against basement dweller Tampa Bay.  For many, the game looked on paper like a pretty easy opening week for the Monarchs, facing a Bandit squad whose biggest offseason story was one of failure, failure to obtain a bona fide starting QB.  Charlotte, for their part, had made several big offseason moves, bringing in NFL talent on both sides of the ball.  Even though the biggest name added this offseason, HB Adrian Peterson, would not be activated for the game, the other big signing, DE Chandler Jones would be on the field and was expected to be a nightmare for beleaguered Bandit QB Pat White.   For Tampa Bay, the biggest new name was former NFL linebacker Don’t’a Hightower, though rookie Jalen Ramsey was also a story of interest.  What we did not expect is that it would be a rookie QB who would impress us and nearly provide the Bandits with a huge upset over the heavily favored Monarchs.  Midway through the 2nd quarter, Tampa Bay starter Pat White would go down after a scramble and would have to be helped off the field, meaning that T-Draft rookie pick and “backup option” when Jared Goff signed with the NFL, Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, would find himself in the game and likely starting for the Bandits for the next month or longer.    At the time Prescott came into the game, the score was only 3-3, with both starting QBs having already thrown a pick, and both defenses looking a bit more advanced than the offenses. Prescott would have one play on offense, a 3rd and 5 draw that did not convert, before returning to the sideline to get some very hasty coaching.  In the meantime, Charlotte hit on a big play that looked like it might finally turn the tide in the game.  Brandon Wheedon benefitted from miscommunication in the Tampa Bay secondary, with rookie Jalen Ramsey expecting help over the top from the safety.  That help was too late and Wheedon hit D. J. Hackett for a 79-yard TD toss on a perfect out & up route.    Now down 7, Prescott returned to action and promptly missed on his first 4 pass attempts.  Nerves were clearly an issue, as was a lack of snaps in practice all week with Pat White getting the pre-game focus. Prescott would calm down and earn some first downs in the third quarter, but while he was getting his feet under him, the Monarchs were increasing the lead to 17-3, thanks to an 11-play drive that ended with Wheedon finding his tight end, Brandon Pettigrew for a Brandon-to-Brandon TD.  Now down, 14, it was beginning to look like Tampa Bay was going to start the year with a loss and that the 9-point spread that Las Vegas had given the Monarchs was in good shape. But, a funny thing happened in the 4th quarter.  The rookie started to make plays, and others around him made plays for him.  With the run game producing absolutely nothing against the Monarch front 7 (a total of 37 yards for the game, a clear issue the Bandits need to address), Coach Shula showed confidence in the young QB and started calling more pass plays, using bootlegs, play action, and run-pass options to allow Prescott to maximize his talents and play a style closer to his college days. The 4th round pick got help from his receivers, particularly Hank Basket, another new Bandit, having come over from Dallas as a free agent.  Basket would have 4 of his 5 catches in the 4th quarter, including a 38-yard catch and run on 3rd and 7 that put Tampa Bay in position for their first TD of the game, putting the ball on the Charlotte 15.  After a scramble for 3 yards, Prescott found 3rd year receiver Ryan Grant on a 12-yard scoring toss, pulling the Bandits within 7 and boosting the confidence of the young QB.    Charlotte responded with a nice drive down to the Tampa Bay 22, but when Brandon Coutu surprisingly missed on the 39-yarder, it raised the Bandit spirits even more.  They had over 5 minutes to get another score and send the game to overtime.  The Bandits rallied around Prescott, with 5 different receivers making catches on the drive, including a 1-handed grab by Santonio Holmes on a 3rd and 11 that just barely crossed the line to gain.  With just over 1:30 left to play, Prescott found his tight end, former Renegade Greg Olsen in the endzone and we had a tie game.   The Bandits had proven resilient, and their rookie QB had shaken off the early game jitters and produced two touchdown drives in the final 9 minutes of action.   Charlotte would play conservatively in the final 90 seconds, not wanting to give the ball back to the Bandits.  They moved the ball only to midfield and then took a final shot at a Hail Mary which was easily swatted to the ground, sending the game to an extra period.  In the extra period, both defenses got more aggressive, sending blitzes and keeping any completed passes in front of them.  Both teams had the ball twice, but it was only on the final drive of the game that anyone saw any offensive success.  Charlotte moved to a 2-minute offense late in the extra period, eschewing huddles and rushing back to the line. That strategy paid off as Wheedon was able to find Hakeem Nicks and D. J. Hackett on back to back throws that brought the ball in range for Brandon Coutu.  With a timeout taken with 2 seconds left in the game, the Monarchs knew they would not lose the game.  They could win with a 46-yard kick from Coutu, or they would get a tie if he missed.  Coutu, having been embarrassed by his sub-40 shank earlier in the game, redeemed himself by sending his kick straight down the middle of the field.    Charlotte got the win, but Tampa Bay may have gotten something they did not expect, a sneak peak at what their rookie QB could become.  Prescott did not play perfect ball, completing only 15 of 31 throws, but he showed spirit and an ability to make plays in his 2 fourth quarter drives.  The verdict on White’s injury would have to wait 24 hours, but it appears that the Bandits may have lucked into a viable option in the draft after all, at least that was the impression received in his first 40 minutes of action. OAKLAND 17    NEW ORLEANS 3 We expected a defensive battle and we got one.  Neither team cracked 200 yards passing or 300 yards of total offense.  The two combined for only 6 converted 1st downs in 22 tries, and the Breakers had trouble holding onto the ball, with 4 turnovers, 3 of them picks by a beleaguered Drew Brees.  Oakland got just enough from their offense to build a 17-0 lead, helped by 10 points off turnovers.  New Orleans finally got on the board in the 4th to avoid the shutout, but it was not a good showing at all from the Breaker offense. POTG:  Invader LB Bobby Wagner: 10 Tck, 2 Int   ATLANTA 3   WASHINGTON 16 Another defensive game, with both teams a little sloppy to start the year, committing 10 penalties between the two.  Washington got two Garrard to Benjamin TD tosses to put themselves on top 16-0, with Atlanta getting only a late FG to avoid the shutout.  Garrard had a good first week, completing 25 of 32 passes for 259 yards and 2 scores. POTG:  Federals’ WR Kelvin Benjamin: 4 Rec, 52 Yds, 2 TD   HOUSTON 35    MEMPHIS 16 Memphis outgained the Gamblers in this one, but not on the scoreboard.  Three Hasselbeck TD tosses, and 108 yards from WR Mike Evans were enough to more than double up the Showboats, who moved the ball, thanks in part to 100-yard games by both Robert Woods and Mark Clayton, but could not score in the red zone, settling or fireld goals on 3 different red zone trips. POTG:  Gambler HB Carlos Hyde: 17 Att, 86 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Rec, 8 Yds, 1 TD   LAS VEGAS 20   TEXAS 34 A game that looks closer on the scoreboard than it really was.  Texas had built up a 34-6 lead before the backups came in and gave up two late TDs to Cody Pickett and the Vipers.  Joe Flacco threw for 289 and 2 scores in this one, while Marshawn Lynch rushed for 63 yards on 16 carries, including a TD run in the 3rd to boost the Texas lead to 28 points.  POTG:  Texas LB Bart Scott: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD.   PORTLAND 6    BIRMINGHAM 29 Portland outgained Birmingham 300-177, but committed 3 turnovers to help the Stallions get the home opening win.  The star for the Stallions was kicker Garrett Hartley, who converted on all 5 field goal tries.  Kudos as well to the Stallion D, which pressured Mariota all day, producing 5 sacks and a pick.  POTG:  Stallion kicker Garrett Hartley: 5/5 field goals   NEW JERSEY 29    BALTIMORE 24 A stunning upset in Baltimore, where the Generals got a Devin McCourty pick-six in the 4th to build a 12-point lead that Baltimore could not overcome.  Brett Hundley was a respectable 25/40 for 217 yards, surviving two picks thanks to his defense, which also picked off Ben Roethlisberger twice to even the score. POTG:  Generals’ DE Vic Beasley: 4 Tck, 3 Sck   MICHIGAN 27   SAN DIEGO 10 The panthers build up a 14-3 lead at the half and then expand it for a 17 point victory in San Diego despite only 2.3 YPC from LeVeon Bell (26 attempts for 60 yards). Kirk Cousins was the star, throwing for 2 scores and nearly 300 yards.  Joe Webb threw 3 picks and Ryan Williams was a non-factor in his first game for the Thunder, rushing the ball 13 times for a stunning -2 yards.  Not what Thunder fans expected from their big free agent signing. POTG:  Michigan QB Kirk Cousins: 26/29, 293 Yds, 2 TD   PHILADELPHIA 18    ST. LOUIS 16 Two very good early signs for the Stars as they beat a 2015 Division Champion on the road to start the season. The defense looked very solid against the Skyhawks, holding Eddie Lacy under 40 yards rushing, and rookie Derrick Henry looked like everything Stars fans hoped for, rushing for 107 on 20 carries. POTG:  Stars LB Terrell Suggs: 9 Tck, 1 Sck   DENVER 17   JACKSONVILLE 10 The Gold get a road win to open the season as Matt Leinart throws for 279 and 2 scores to begin the 2016 campaign.  Golden Tate caught 7 and brought in a score as well. The Denver d did their part, holding Jacksonville to only 4 of 16 on third down and shutting down the Bulls’ run game.  QB Robert Griffin III was the leading rusher for the Bulls with only 34 yards as Matt Jones and Cadillac Williams combined for only 42 yards on 16 carries. POTG: Denver DE Justice Cole: 8 Tck, 2 Sck   OHIO 30   SEATTLE 14 Maybe Ohio does not have a QB problem after all. Brock Osweiler goes 27 of 34 with 2 TDs in the surprising Ohio outburst.  He did throw 3 picks, which helped keep the game close for a half, when Seattle led 14-10, but in the second half he connected with both Mario Manningham and Justin Blackmon as Ohio took the lead and pulled away.  The defense also came up big, especially rookie Xavien  Howard, whose first pro pick was run back for 6 points. POTG:  Ohio CB Xavien Howard: 4 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   CHICAGO 21   LOS ANGELES 19 This battle between two last place finishers in 2015 was a pretty entertaining game.  Each club had a new QB under center, with Ryan Fitzpatrick just slightly outperforming Sam Bradford. Fitzie went 15 of 22 for 174 yards and 2 scores while Bradford finished 21 of 31 for 231 yards and a score.  Ohio trailed in the 4th, but a TD toss from Fitzpatrick to veteran Michael Floyd gave them the lead and the D held late to give them the win. POTG:  Chicago WR Aaron Dobson: 7 Rec, 113 Yds   ARIZONA 41    DALLAS 14 The Wranglers make an opening week statement, turning a 17-14 halfttime lead into a dominant second half. Arizona scored the final 31 points in the game, including a pick-six on defene and long TDs from both Frank Gore and Larry Fitzgerald to crush Dallas’s hopes for a big divisional win to open the season.  POTG:  Wrangler QB David Carr: 12/23, 306 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   ORLANDO 42   PITTSBURGH 25 The Renegades had the formula to upend the Maulers in their home opener, racking up 433 yards of offense and pulling away from the Maulers in the second half.  Russell Wilson threw for two scores and Latavius Murray was dynamic, rushing for 80 yards on only 8 touches, including a 16-yard TD run that thrilled the small contingent of Orland fans on hand at Heinz Field.  Pittsburgh was not in synch on either side of the ball, coming out of the gate slow, with Andy Dalton suffering 9 sacks in the game, including 6 from the Orlando pair of starting DE’s. POTG:   Orlando DE Calais Campbell: 9 Tck, 4 Sck, 1 Sfty Campbell, Carr, Beasley, and Hackett impress in Week 1. The stars of Week 1 were not hard to find.  Calais Campbell, perhaps annoyed by predictions that he was due to see his reign as the Sack King of the USFL end, put up 4 sacks in Week 1 action against Pittsburgh.  Andy Dalton suffered 9 sacks in the game as the front 7 of the Renegades was relentless, but it was Campbell who was the focal point, and even with constant double teams, the 7-time USFL Sack Leader was up to the task, earning 4 sacks, one of them producing a safety, and taking the league-wide lead in the season’s first week.   Second to Campbell on the sack tally is a surprising candidate, 2nd year DE Vic Beasley of the Generals.  We should not be entirely surprised by Beasley’s big opening week, he did finish 2015 with 16 sacks for the Generals, a very impressive rookie season.  Well, with 3 sacks in the Generals’ upset win in Baltimore, Beasley set himself up for a strong sophomore campaign as well.  The Clemson product benefitted from a Blitz O-line that was focused on Aaron Kampman (5 tackles, 2 sacks), so Beasley found himself often in a single block without chipping.  Ben Roethlisberger suffered 8 total sacks, as it seems that both the Generals and Renegades opted to focus on QB pressure as a way to derail the Mauler and Blitz offenses.  With two upset victories, led by their D-lines, it appears they found an effective strategy, at least for Week 1.   On offense, the big star of the week was Charlotte WR D. J. Hackett, who brought in 7 catches for 184 yards, including a 79-yard TD catch in the Monarchs’ overtime win over the Bandits.  Hackett was all over the field, often on the deeper routes, while Hakeem Nicks and TE Brandon Pettigrew dealt with the underneath coverages.  Hackett averaged 26.3  yards per catch for the day, producing a score and 5 first downs with his 7 receptions.    The other big offensive star of the week was Arizona QB David Carr, who started the season with a 4-TD performance against Dallas in a key divisional Week 1 game.  Carr starts the year with a 300-yard game and a 26-point win over a team we predicted to finish 2nd in the division.  The Arizona QB spread the ball around, hitting Larry Fitzgerald 4 times for 126 yards and 2 scores, Antonio Bryant 3 times for 75 yards, and connecting with tailback Frank Gore twice, both times producing scores. A good start for all 4, and many others, as the league kicked off with a bang and players got their first chance to impress the fans (and the fantasy team owners) with games that count.   Prescott Pressed into Service in Tampa Bay It was not planned, and it was certainly not Coach Shula’s preference, but rookie QB Dak Prescott became the first of the rookie QBs to see action in 2016.  Coming into the game when Pat White suffered a knee injury on a scramble in the 2nd quarter, Prescott struggled at first, but had a big 4th quarter to send the game to overtime.   While it may not have been the plan, Coach Shula is now likely to be pressed into developing Prescott on a faster timeline.  The 4th round pick is likely to see between 4-6 weeks of action before Pat White is ready to return.  White’ knee was imaged on Monday and a partial MCL tear is the verdict. That puts White on track to remain out at least through week 5, possibly longer.  In the meantime, Prescott will get the start over 3rd stringer B. J. Daniels.  Tampa has already added a third QB to the roster, signing former Memphis Showboat QB Ryan Mallett to a one-year deal.  Mallett will be on the practice squad this week, eligible only as the 3rd “emergency” QB behind Prescott and Daniels.    For Prescott, this is a chance to show the Bandits and the league what he is capable of. If he can find success with the Bandits, he could earn the starting position over White.  If he struggles, he returns to the bench and is back in place as the number two option.  For the former Mississippi State starter who signed with Tampa Bay over the Houston Oilers (4th round pick there as well), it is a chance to show everyone that he deserved more consideration after a very strong career in Starksville.  For Coach Shula and the Bandits, it is a chance to see if they lucked into a potential starting QB despite their much criticized failures with Jameis Winston and Jared Goff in the past 2 drafts.   Henry and Howard Best of the Rookie First Impressions First impressions are huge, and at least for two rookies they made the best of their chance to impress USFL fans.  Stars’ HB Derrick Henry finished Week 1 as the league leader with 107 yards on 20 carries, a very nice 5.4 YPC in his first pro action.  He also added 2 receptions for 18 yards, proving that he could be a factor in the passing game.  Henry’s success was a big factor in Philadelphia’s surprising season opening win in St. Louis.    The other initial impression came from Seattle cornerback Xavien Howard.  Howard could not will the Dragons to a win as their offense struggled to put anything together, but his day was highlighted not only by his first pro interception, but a pick-six at that, returning an errant Osweiler throw 24 yards on the opening drive of the game.  Howard finished with 4 tackles and that strong opening shot, a play that likely kept Osweiler from trying to exploit the rookie the rest of the game.   Another rookie who started the season looking like he would have a considerable role this year include Atlanta HB Kenyan Drake, who rushed for 30 yards on 9 carries.  We also saw Hunter Henry lead all Birmingham receivers with 5 receptions, racking up 35 yards, in his first action.  San Diego linebacker started in Week 1 and finished the game with 8 tackles, with one a TFL, snagging Mike Hart behind the line.  Of course, QB Dak Prescott saw more action than anyone expected, and likely will over the next month.  Finally, two rookie kickers got their first points in the league, with New Jersey’s Ka’imi Fairbairn connecting on 3 of 4 field goal attempts in the Generals’ upset victory over Baltimore and Oakland’s Roberto Aguayo going 1 of 2 as Oakland fell to New Orleans.    Two Sack Specialists Already Out (But Not for Long) You never want to see a star edge rusher knocked out of action, especially not in Week 1 of the season, but the good news for both the Maulers and Invaders is that the injuries to their star defensive ends are not expected to be significant, with both Jared Allen of Pittsburgh and Cliff Avril of Oakland targeting Week 3 for a possible return, meaning they will miss only 1 game.  Allen suffered a neck injury, believed to be a nerve pinch in a dogpile after a Philadelphia fumble, while Avril has a deep thigh bruise which he picked up after taking a knee right between the quad and hamstring, a classic Charlie Horse.  Neither injury produced significant damage, so both players should be cleared to play after taking this next week to rest and rehab. The injury to Tampa Bay QB Pat White got headlines, but he is hardly alone on the injury list.  No players added to IR after one week, but several who could be out for several weeks and more listed as doubtful for week 2.  Football is a brutal sport.   OUT OT          James Carpenter            ORL       Ankle             6-8 Weeks QB         Pat White                       TBY        MCL              4-6 Weeks DE          Marcus Harrison             NJ           Arm                 4-6 Weeks C             Zach Williams           TBY        Shoulder        1-2 Weeks CB          Vontae Davis                   STL         Eye                   1-2 Weeks DE          Jared Allen                     PIT         Neck                1-2 Weeks DE          Cliff Avril                          OAK      Thigh               1-2 Weeks LB           Vontez Burfict                WSH     Toe                   1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL G            Joe Thuney                     WSH     Toe FS           Nate Allen                       ARZ       Concussion WR         Nelson Agholor              LA          Toe DE          Michael Johnson            CHA      Hamstring OT          Ju’Wuan James             ARZ       Concussion OT          Xavier Fulton                  OHI       Foot   QUESTIONABLE TE           Kevin Everett                   SD          Hand TE           Antonio Gates                BAL        Neck DE          Chris Long                       WSH     Back LB           Alec Ogletree                  WSH     Abdomen   Tracking the Biggest Free Agent Impacts of Week One We have already looked at the rookie class of 2016 and how some of the big name signings fared in Week 1.  How about the big free agents and traded veterans?  Well, it was a mixed bag, with some big games and some disappointments. Here is the rundown of 12 players who are in new homes this year and how their seasons began.   QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (POR to CHI trade) Fitzpatrick had a solid game, going 15 of 22 for 174 yards, 2 TDs and 1 pick in his Machine debut, but more importantly, he got the W for a Machine club that started last year 0-8.  That alone was reason for fans to start warming up to the Harvard grad and beard aficionado.   WR Doug Baldwin (NJ to LV trade) Baldwin’s numbers were solid in his first game as a Viper, catching 8 of 10 targets for 78 yards.  It was not enough for the Vipers to defeat Texas, but it was a solid outing for the 5th year veteran.   HB Knile Davis (MEM to OAK trade) Davis led the Invaders with 57 yards on 13 carries, splitting time with Donald Brown.  He did not have any receptions, which is odd because Oakland was expected to use Davis quite a bit in the passing game.    HB Chris Ivory (NJ to ATL trade) Ivory, as expected, got the start at tailback, but produced only 2.4 yards per carry with 14 attempts for only 33 yards.  He did not appear to be as productive as rookie Kenyan Drake, but that may be due to the timing of their runs, with Ivory taking more of the tough 1st down carries.   LB Angelo Crowell (LV to STL trade) Crowell started at MLB and had himself a solid game, finishing behind only Aldon Smith with 7 tackles, including 1 tackle for loss.   TE Jimmie Graham (PIT to ARZ, free agent) Graham was largely silent for the Wranglers, catching 1 of 4 targets for only 3 yards.  Arizona really did not need him as the outside receivers for the Wranglers were devastating, with Bryant and Fitzgerald combining for 201 yards on 7 receptions. QB Sam Bradford (NJ to LA, free agent) A solid outing for Bradford, going 21 of 31 for 231 yards and a TD. He probably was not a fan of the 6 sacks Chicago landed, but that is really no different from what he experienced in New Jersey. He had LA in this game but could not come up with a final game winning drive.   DE Robert Quinn (BAL to OHI, free agent) Quinn was one of the more successful transfers, racking up 4 tackles and 2 sacks in his first game for the Glory. His contribution and pressure on Leftwich helped Ohio start the year off right with a road victory.   HB Ryan Williams (OAK to SD, free agent) A horrible opening week for Williams as he rushed the ball 13 times for a putrid -2 total yards. Nothing was there for him as the Michigan defense seemed to be one step ahead of the Thunder all game long.   HB Felix Jones (TEX to POR, free agent) Jones won the starting job in camp over fellow new arrival LeMichael James, but he also struggled in his first game as the starter, rushing for only 1.2 yards per carry (20 attempts for only 36 yards).  Not what the Stags were hoping to see as they try to replace Jonathan Stewart.   LB Kevin Burnett (HOU to WSH, free agent) Washington’s defense came out strong in their opener against Atlanta, and Burnett was a big part of it, finishing with 6 tackles (1 for loss) and 2 pass deflections.  A good start for the veteran in a new home.   WR Hank Basket (DAL to TBY, free agent) Our last free agent check in, Basket had a strong first outing, catching 5 passes for 102 yards.  He did miss on a couple, with his 5 receptions coming on 12 targets, but we also have to acknowledge that QB Dak Prescott was a bit inaccurate on some throws as well.   NFL Stars Sit in Opening Week We did not see all the big names that came over from the Fall league as the USFL kicked off.  That is pretty normal due to the physical need for players to heal and recover after a full NFL season. We did see several players contribute this week, including DE Connor Barwin in Chicago, though it was LB Courtney Upshaw who had the bigger impact, with 6 tackles and his first USFL sack.  In Tampa Bay, LB Don’t’a Hightower got 2 tackles in limited action, while in Dallas got only 2 extra points from NFL import kicker Chandler Catanzaro, who did not attempt a field goal.   We expect to see more NFL imports in action in Week 2, with the announcement that DE Chandler Jones will get his first action for Charlotte, with Jamaal Charles cleared to play for Denver, and with Memphis hoping to have Cordarelle Patterson ready for action.  No word yet on whether or not Charlotte’s other big signing, Adrian Peterson, will be suited up.  We do know that WR Dorial Green-Beckham for Atlanta and WR Kenny Stills of Chicago are not expected to be activated yet.  San Diego will have Christian Ponder in uniform, but we still expect Joe Webb to get the start as the Thunder face off against Las Vegas in the second iteration of the Thunder relocation revenge game, this time in San Diego.   Chicago & Orlando Unveil 30th Season Patches This year four USFL clubs celebrate their 30th anniversary in the league. Or is it two?  It depends how you look at it.  What is unquestioned is that the USFL expanded from 16 teams to 20 in the Spring of 2017.  For two of those expansion clubs, the Chicago Machine and the Orlando Renegades, the story from there is pretty straightforward.  For the other two, the San Antonio Gunslingers and the Oklahoma Outlaws, the history gets murky really fast.    Chicago and Orlando have been stable franchises for the 30 seasons since then, with Orlando making a Summer Bowl appearance only 4 years later in 1991, then, a decade later, winning a league title in 2001. Chicago has appeared in three Summer Bowls since replacing the relocated Chicago Blitz in 1987, but have yet to bring a title to the Second City.  Both clubs celebrate their 30th season this year, and this week each club took to the field with commemorative patches on their jerseys. Chicago’s patch includes 4 logos used by the Machine over the years, from the Block M of the first few seasons to the first and later versions of the “Gear C” logo, and finally the newest of the logos, the “Machinery M” design that is a current secondary logo for the squad.   The Orlando logo was a bit trickier considering that the club is in the middle of a process to remove the tomahawk logo from its identity, a feature of the Renegades’ design since their opening season.  So, how did they celebrate their history without referencing the controversial design element?  Well, for starts, they used the team’s original red script “Renegades” wordmark, then paired it with a “30” made up of a 3 and the now-iconic Orlando “O” design in blue and black.  Finally, they added the years 1987 and 2016 on a squared banner behind the numbers, one that evokes, without representing the tomahawk handle from recent versions of the team logo.   But what about the Gunslingers and Outlaws?  Well, as you might imagine the topic of celebrating the 1987 Oklahoma Outlaws would be a very touchy subject in San Antonio right now.  As for the Gunslingers, there remains significant debate over whether the Outlaws, who retain the 1987 team’s kelly and royal color scheme, is the true heir to the team, or if it is the Thunder, who took on considerable portions of the Gunslinger staff and roster when they were formed in Portland in 1988.  The easiest thing to do, and what it appears that both teams are doing, is to wait for the 2017 to recognize the formation of the two clubs that came to be known as the Thunder and the Outlaws.  How the situation with Texas ownership, potential sale, and the club’s current “road” status, impacts any celebration of club history will have to wait until then.    Dallas Leads Strong Opening Week at the Box Office A very good weekend for mid-March weather helped the USFL increase their Week 1 attendance by nearly 1,100 attendees per game.  Leading the pack were the Dallas Roughnecks, whose season opener against Arizona drew an impressive 52,082.  They were followed by Baltimore’s 48,507 and Pittsburgh’s 48,425, in an unusually strong opening week for teams in the North. The rest of the Top 5 saw League Champion New Orleans draw 47,889 for their opener, with a party atmosphere that still felt like Mardis Gras nearly a month later, and Birmingham, always among the attendance leaders, drawing 47.011 to their opener.   Only 2 clubs drew fewer than 40,000 in a strong opening week for the league.  Texas, playing their opener in San Marcos at 30,000 seat Bobcat Stadium had a sellout, but that still only meant 30,022 in attendance. The other sub-40k team was no shocker as Los Angeles drew only 31,244 to Farmers Insurance Field.  LA has almost always been a tough market for the league, with plenty of other distractions in the city and a team with a reputation as one of the league’s least successful over the decades.  Following up on a 4-win season, LA struggled to sell season tickets, even with Sam Bradford as the new star attraction.  Facing a 3-win Chicago team in the opener did not exactly pack in the fans, and now, with LA sitting at 0-1, Express tickets could remain a tough sell. Week two seems early for a major divisional action week, but we have 9 of 14 games including divisional opponents, starting on Friday with the Showboats visiting the Breakers.  The divisional clashes continue on Saturday, with 3 more games, including Philly @ Pittsburgh in a Keystone Clash, Ohio @ Michigan and the nightcap game, Arizona @ Denver.  Sunday has 5 more, with Charlotte @ Tampa Bay and Atlanta @ Orlando in two SE Division 12:00 noon clashes.  At 4pm we have two Pacific clashes with Seattle visiting Oakland and LA heading up the coast to Portland.  Finally, at 8pm in the weekend’s finale, we have the Birmingham Stallions visiting Houston.  That is a lot of meaningful division games all in one weekend.  As always, blue denotes our divisional matchups in the week's schedule rundown.   Friday @ 8pm ET             Memphis (0-1) @ New Orleans (0-1)              NBC   Saturday @ 12pm ET        Philadelphia (1-0) @ Pittsburgh (0-1)              ABC Saturday @ 12pm ET      Washington (1-0) @ Chicago (1-0)                   FOX Saturday @ 4pm ET        Ohio (1-0) @ Michigan (1-0)                              ABC Saturday @ 4pm ET        New Jersey (1-0) @ Texas (1-0)                          FOX       Saturday @ 7pm ET         Dallas (0-1) @ St. Louis (0-1)                             NBC Saturday @ 9pm ET         Arizona (1-0) @ Denver (1-0)                             ESPN/EFN   Sunday @ 12pm ET         Charlotte (1-0) @ Tampa Bay (0-1)                  ABC Regional Sunday @ 12pm ET          Jacksonville (0-1) @ Baltimore (1-0)                  ABC Regional Sunday @ 12pm ET        Atlanta (0-1) @ Orlando (1-0)                           FOX Sunday @ 4pm ET          Seattle (0-1) @ Oakland (1-0)                           ABC Sunday @ 4pm ET            Las Vegas (0-1) @ San Diego (0-1)                    FOX Regional Sunday @ 4pm ET          Los Angeles (0-1) @ Portland (0-1)                  FOX Regional Sunday @ 8pm ET           Birmingham (1-0) @ Houston (1-0)             ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: The first POTW for 2016 goes to a player accustomed to getting accolades, Orlando DE Calais Campbell. We predicted that this year would be the year he loses out on the league sack leaderboard for the first time in 8 years, and he apparently took offense to that. The tally after Week 1: Our predicted champion, Von Miller 0 sacks, the 7-time reigning champion, Calais Campbell, 4 sacks. Mauler's QB Andy Dalton, 3 Aleve, an ice bath and recurring nightmares of Campbell coming free to his left.

Welcome back for Part 2 of our 2016 USFL Season Preview.  We have looked at the big offseason moves across the league, so now it is time to look forward, making bold (often far off base) predictions and previewing each club and their prospects for the season ahead.  We will go division by division, then team by team, discussing the hopes and the concerns for each club, then make our picks for both the potential playoff participants, eventual champions, and for the league’s most prestigious award, all to help you prepare for the 2016 season less than a week away.   Regular Season Predictions We start our annual futile effort to predict the unpredictable with the six USFL divisions.  You know by now that we are more often wrong than right.  Yes, we predicted Pittsburgh to be a fast riser last year, but totally missed on our predictions for Portland, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay.  So, as you look at the arguments we make for some teams to find success and others to flop, don’t get too excited, or too downhearted.  We are not good at this, and you should know that by now. It would be easy to look at last year’s standings and predict another 2-team battle between the Blitz and the Maulers for 2016, but we are feeling a bit edgy about this, so we are going to say it will be a three-team race.  Yes, Baltimore and Pittsburgh will be right there, powered by explosive, big play offenses.  But we are going to add a team many may not expect, the Philadelphia Stars, back into the mix.  We are just not buying that this is truly a 5-11 team.  They struggled last year, but they have so many good pieces and adding two impactful players like HB Derrick Henry and DE Malik Jackson is going to help this club rebound quickly.  That and we just think that Coach Harbaugh is not going to see his club stay below .500 for another year.    That is where we see the NE Division going, with quite a bit of distance between the top three and the bottom two.  We just don’ t see enough improvement this offseason from the Washington Federals, not enough young talent added.  As for New Jersey, they are taking a big risk with 2nd year QB Brett Hundley expected to start.  He may well be playing on a short rope with Nick Foles coming over from Arizona just in case.    OUR BEST GUESS:  We see Pittsburgh getting the upper hand on Pittsburgh to finish 12-4 to the Blitz’s 11-5, with Philly right there at 10-6.  Behind them we have Washington at 6-10 and New Jersey rounding out the division with a lot of growing pains at 4-12. Does anyone really want to win this division?  There is no one in the division who looks like a club that can win 11 games or more.  So, once again we think the SE Division will be one that a 10- or even 9-win team can take.  Of the teams in contention, we think Orlando may have the best shot, if only because they are solid at QB, can run the ball, and have the best defensive player in the game.  Behind them we see Atlanta and Charlotte as the most likely choices, but we are watching to see how the Bulls go this year.  They had some good wins last year, and if they can get more consistency from QB Robert Griffin III, they could be a tough out.  We see Tampa Bay as a team still in an identity crisis after two straight years of high profile QB failures.  With Pat White at the helm, this team just does not seem to have enough to be dangerous to anyone but themselves.   OUR BEST GUESS:  We have Orlando going 10-6 and taking the division  We like the moves Charlotte made, especially adding Chandler Jones to their D-Line, but we are still going to go with Atlanta in 2nd at 9-7, followed by both Charlotte and the Jacksonville Bulls at 8-8, and Tampa Bay coming in at 4-12 for a second year in a row.  The South just feels like a division on the rise.  Not only does it have the defending league champion in New Orleans, but a very good Houston squad, and both Birmingham and Memphis are significantly better than they were a year ago.  The battles within the division should be epic.  We still see the Breakers and Gamblers in a head to head battle, and we are a bit gun shy about picking Birmingham as a dark horse because every year they seem to be a team on the rise and every year they end up hanging around .500.  As for Memphis, they added a lot of pieces, but the transition from Eli Manning to Paxton Lynch will determine just how competitive they can be. OUR BEST GUESS:  We see  New Orleans and Houston both finishing at 11-5, each suffering a couple of division losses.  We are going to put Birmingham slightly up from last year, potentially a Wild Card team at 9-7, and then we have Memphis improving slightly to finish at 6-10, but with Paxton Lynch getting plenty of playing time over the final month of the season. Last year Michigan seemed to have this locked up, but stumbled down the stretch and watched as St. Louis outlasted them to take the crown.  This year we think the Panthers have learned their lesson and will hold onto the top spot.  St. Louis is going to be right there as well, and we think Chicago may well be improved enough after a lot of moves this offseason to leapfrog the Ohio Glory, who still have huge questions at QB.  We love the idea of Ryan Fitzpatrick opening things up a bit for Coach Lovie Smith, and we think the defense will certainly be better.  Can Chicago compete for a title?  No, that is asking too much, but from 3-11-1, we could see them winning 7, maybe 8 games.    OUR BEST GUESS:  We are going to put Michigan on top at 11-5, with St. Louis a bitt behind at 9-7, then a resurgent Chicago at 7-9, and Ohio struggling to a 3-13 season. Arizona was so close last year.  They thought they had a 2nd title in their grasp, but the Breakers broke their hearts.  We think that will inspire even more out of the Wranglers this year.  They went out and added a true Red Zone weapon in Jimmie Graham, and that defense is still going to be among the league’ s toughest.  The bigger question is who finishes in 2nd.  Your instinct might be to say Texas for sure, but not so fast.  Dallas was a much improved team last year, and we think they have a shot.  It will be tough just because the Outlaws have an outstanding offense, with Flacco, Colston, and now Marshawn Lynch for the entire season.  But Texas is also in franchise limbo, playing all over the state and rumored to possibly be transplanted to Oklahoma by year’s end.  That will wear on the team, so we think Dallas jumps over them in a move to become a playoff contender.   OUR BEST GUESS:  Arizona takes the division by 2-3 games, with Dallas in 2nd and earning a Wild Card.  Texas finishes around .500, and both Las Vegas and Denver bring up the rear, with both somewhere between 5-7 wins. This may be the toughest division to figure out.  We thought Oakland would dominate last year and they could not even hold on to the division title, with Portland stealing it away in the final week of the season last year.  But now Fitzpatrick is gone and Portland’s reign will depend on Marcus Mariota, who saw very few snaps as a rookie.  LA has a new QB, but is that enough to resuscitate the moribund Express offense?   San Diego has their own QB controversy brewing after they brought in Christian Ponder from the NFL to compete with Joe Webb.  The team that may actually be in position to turn heads is Seattle. They have a veteran QB, a solid run game with Joseph Addai, and they could have the best defense in the division, especially if rookie CB Xavien Howard looks as good in live games as he has in camp.   OUR BEST GUESS:  We think that like the SE Division, this one will be close, with 10 wins likely taking the crown.  We are going to go for the dark horse and pick Seattle as that 10-win club.  They will be followed closely by a 9-7 Oakland squad, then Portland, rebuilding just a bit after losing both Fitzpatrick (Trade) and Stewart (Retirement).  Hard to decide between San Diego and Los Angeles for 4th place.  Either club could make a move, or either could fall flat on their faces, so let’s say that both clubs finish somewhere in the 6-win area.   8 Bold Predictions You know we love to go out on a limb, so we asked our bullpen to give us their biggest home run swings (ok, we are mixing sports a bit). Here are 8 predictions that range from "out there" to "wait, what?".   Andy Dalton Gets his MVP after a 2nd Brilliant Season Picking Pittsburgh to jump from 5-11 into contention for a Summer Bowl was a bold pick last year.  We are not entirely sure that after coming off an OPOTY season where he threw for over 5,000 yards and 47 touchdowns, picking Andy Dalton for MVP is all that bold.  But, with other big name QBs always in the mix, from Big Ben, to Matt Hasselbeck, to Joe Flacco, and now Drew Brees as defending champ, well, the competition will be fierce.   Rookie Derrick Henry gains over 1,500 Yards for the Stars This may not seem insane at first glance.  We know that the Stars love to push their run game, and we all saw how Henry played at Alabama, but when you look at recent USFL history, 1,500 yards is a huge deal, and for a rookie?  Almost unthinkable.  Even Carlos Hyde, in his amazing first year, did not crack 1,500 (He fell just about 50 yards short).  So, what makes us think that Henry has a shot? Well, first off, it is the Stars.  They don’t have a Matt Hasselbeck to offset the run, so they are going to rely on Henry more than most teams rely on a back.  Secondly, other than maybe the Maulers, there are not a lot of sturdy run defenses in the NE Division.  We think Henry could well be among the league leaders for rushing, and we are going to push for 1,500.   Both Paxton Lynch and Christian Hackenberg are Starting by Week 10 Both are possible, but neither is starting the season as the team’s number one.  Honestly, we expect Eli Manning to do all he can to boost his value in a contract year when he knows he is likely heading into the free agency market.  If he is playing at his best, maybe Paxton Lynch gets a season like Marcus Mariota had last year, watching a veteran put together a great year and learning along the way.  As for Hackenberg, well, he is not quite as polished as Lynch, nor as athletic, but the QB in front of him in Ohio, Brock Osweiler, is hardly a sure thing, so the odds are good that the Glory will pull the plug if he cannot deliver.   Adrian Peterson Finishes the Year with More Yards than Starter Darren McFadden This one could be tough.  Peterson had a great bounce-back year after suffering a dual MCL/ACL tear in 2014, but he now comes to the USFL after playing nearly a full NFL season and we have seen a ton of backs struggle physically as they jump from fall to spring.  That said, few players are as motivated or as fit as Peterson.  He is a truly a wonder.  Pair that with pretty low expectations for McFadden and we can envision a situation where Peterson slowly starts attracting more and more carries and takes over the lead spot by midseason.   One of the 2015 Division Winners Ends the Year Under .500 This almost always happens, so that is not very bold. The mystery is always who it will be.  The easy money is Portland, bringing in a new QB and playing without Jonathan Stewart.  But, we also look at St. Louis and wonder how legit they are.  We don’t think it will be either Arizona or Baltimore, but pretty much any team can be one key injury away from a season going South.  Just look at what happened to Philly last year when Gutierrez went down.  Our money is on Portland, but just because they have more dramatic changes to the roster than any of the other 2015 division winners.   Someone Other than Calais Campbell Wins the Sack Title It has been 7 years since anyone not named Campbell won the sack race.  That is an insane fact, just nuts.  So why this year?  Well, for one, we are just expecting a run like that to end.  Secondly, we love what we saw out of Von Miller last year, a year in which  his body had to be exhausted playing back-to-back seasons.  We see Miller as the candidate to possibly dethrone the King.  It won’t be easy.  Miller does not have a man mountain at DT like Campbell has with Albert Haynesworth, but Miller’s game is about speed and elusiveness, so we think he can still be very effective even if double teamed.  Maybe it is laughable to think Campbell won’t lead the league in sacks, but some year it is going to happen.   Sam Bradford Gets LA’s Offense Into the Upper Half of the League Look, Bradford had his struggles in New Jersey, so it is not like the Express brought in a Roethlisberger or Flacco. But Bradford is simply far more talented than any QB the Express have had in several years.  He has an outstanding HB to lean on, one who is a dual threat, in Reggie Bush, and the young receivers in LA may not be household names, but there is talent there.  Add a sure fire safety valve like Jason Whitten and this team could be a very big surprise on offense.    A Coach Will be Fired By Week 12 Again, not the most outrageous of predictions, but a change that early is rare.  That said, there are a few coaches who squeeked by in 2015 and will be on a very short leash.  We could easily see a team like Tampa Bay letting Mike Shula go early, especially if the lack of QB proves as brutal as it seems on paper.  Another coach who has to be entering the year feeling the heat is Andy Reid.  The man was an offensive genius with the Eagles in the NFL, but so far his LA teams have been laughably bad on offense. If getting Bradford cannot turn that around, then Reid is in big trouble.  Finally, if we look for a team that could realistically start the year out 0-8, putting pressure on ownership to make a move, it could be the Las Vegas Vipers, and while the team is only in its 2nd year in the desert, Coach Roman is in season 3 of his contract, and we have not seen anything like improvement since he showed up, so he too could be in real trouble.  2016 Preseason Power Rankings We once again will use the ESPN/EFN Power Rankings as our guide for our team-by-team breakdown and preseason analysis.  We will revisit these power rankings at the end of each quarter of the season to see how teams have met, exceeded, or fallen short of our expectation.   THE SUPERIOR SEVEN 1)  NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS                        13-3 in 2015, League Champions Why fans are excited for 2016:   After 33 seasons, the Breakers finally broke through and brought home the John Bassett Trophy. Their win over the Arizona Wranglers was celebrated for weeks in the Big Easy.  Spurred by an underrated defense and the leadership of QB Drew Brees, the Breakers enter 2016 as the league champions. Why fans are nervous about 2016: The Championship hangover is real.  Teams tend to lack fire after winning a title, but unlike many champions, the Breakers did not suffer huge hits in free agency or a large cluster of retirements. They return a very similar team to the field for 2016, and that Is not necessarily a bad thing. Player to keep an eye on: LT Marcus Gilbert comes over to the Breakers from San Diego in free agency and immediately finds himself protecting Drew Brees’s blind side.  His ability to keep defenders off of Brees could be the difference between a run at a repeat and a post-title slump. Our Best Guess:   New Orleans is a solid club, with little turnover from last year.  We think they may lose a few more games due to everyone playing up to their level, since they have the League Champ target on their backs, but come playoff time, we expect New Orleans to be right there. Predicted Finish:  11-5, 1st in Southern Division   2) ARIZONA WRANGLERS                               12-4 in 2015, Conference Champions Why fans are excited for 2016: This team came within 1 score of winning a 2nd title in 3 years, and there are few teams in the West who look like they can compete with them.  They added the league’s TD leader in TE Jimmie Graham, and they have one of the best defenses in all of football.  There is a lot to like about the Wranglers. Why fans are nervous about 2016:  The one position where Arizona may be a bit thin is perhaps the most important one on the field.  Last year, David Carr missed several games and Nick Foles came in and played like a USFL starter.  Now Foles is in New Jersey and the backup is either Jim Sorgi or NFL import Ryan Nassib, neither of whom have much of a track record.  Oh, and their star back is eligible for AARP benefits, so there is some fear there too. Player to keep an eye on: Fans are expecting a lot from TE Jimmie Graham, but Arizona is not Pittsburgh and David Carr is not going to be throwing him 18+ touchdowns.  That said, Graham is about as good a red zone target as any in the league, so Carr could see his numbers improve, helping to take some pressure off the Wrangler defense to hold teams down. Our Best Guess:   Texas and Dallas will give Arizona some competition, but in the end we still see the Wranglers as the most complete team in the conference.  Another Summer Bowl appearance is certainly not out of the question.  Predicted Finish: 13-3, 1st in SW Division 3) PITTSBURGH MAULERS                              13-3 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: The 2015 Maulers were one of the stories of the year, with a killer D-line combo, a dynamic passing game, and some budding young stars.  The sudden rise, an 8 game swing from a 5-11 2014 to 13 wins in 2016, paired with a playoff win in Baltimore, has Pittsburghers thinking that a title run is in the cards this year. Why fans are nervous about 2016: The one area where the Maulers still have some big question marks is at HB.  The duo of Marcus Lattimore and Chris Sims is not going to terrify opposing defenses, but if they can do enough to keep them honest, the passing game can thrive.  Mauler fans wish the club had found either a USFL or NFL free agent to do more, but the cap can only support so much talent. Player to keep an eye on: Free Agent safety Tyvon Branch has big shoes to fill.  Comparison with Sean Taylor is not fair, but it is natural.  Branch is likely not going to spend the time impacting the run game that Taylor did, but if he can effectively play center field, then free safety Robert Sands might see more time closer to the line of scrimmage. Our Best Guess: The Maulers are a hot pick to win it all, and we share the enthusiasm that many have for this team.  Whether it is the offense of Dalton-Thielen-Cruz-and Mike Williams or the D-line with Jared Allen, Aaron Donald, and Dwight Freeney, this is a team that can beat you in a variety of ways. We think that makes them a favorite in the division and in the Eastern Conference. Predicted Finish:  13-3, First in NE Division. 4) BALTIMORE BLITZ                                          13-3 in 2015      Why fans are excited for 2016: The offense.  For a second year in a row, Ben Roethlisberger was named league MVP and the Blitz offense, particularly the passing game, was nearly unstoppable.  Blitz fans are feeling very confident that they can once again with the division and this time they believe they will knock off the Maulers and find themselves back in the Summer Bowl.   Why fans are nervous about 2016: The pass rush.  With Robert Quinn now in Ohio and Joe Tafoya retired, the Blitz are starting a brand new set of edge rushers in Vernon Olivier and Da’Quan Bowers taking over the pressure game for Coach Caldwell.  Blitz fans are not looking forward to a year when the offense has to carry the bulk of the responsibility to win games. Player to keep an eye on: WR Dwayne Jarrett.  A free agent from Atlanta, Jarrett is expected to serve as the 3rd receiver and slot specialist.  Baltimore does not use 3 WR often, as it pulls All-USFL TE Antonio Gates off the field, but Jarrett will have a chance to demonstrate his skill set when Baltimore opens up and spreads the defense out. Our Best Guess: The Blitz are too talented to fall far, even if their pass rush is not as productive as in past years.  They have a solid secondary, headed by safety Adam Archuleta, and they can count on their offense to score a lot of points.  We can imagine them falling behind Pittsburgh, but no further.  Predicted Finish:  11-5, 2nd in NE Division 5) HOUSTON GAMBLERS                                12-4 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: Houston was a very good team, with both offensive and defensive stars playing well last year.  They are also the only team in the league that will be starting no newcomers.  Yes, some players are stepping from the bench to the first team, but they are all players who know Coach Phillips’s system well. Why fans are nervous about 2016: Players moving to the starting lineup can be a good thing or it could mean that the team has not done enough to replace starting talent with new starting talent.  Is Kenny Vaccaro as good as Patrick Chung?  Can Janoris Jenkins really replace Shaun Springs?  Player to keep an eye on: DE Dante Fowler. After a strong rookie season, Houston was impressed enough with Fowler to let Malik Jackson walk despite a 9-sack season.  Fowler now steps in and is expected to equal or improve upon that number.  Our Best Guess:   As long as Matt Hasselbeck is upright, and has the kind of talent that Houston has at receiver and back, the Gamblers will be dangerous.  A few questions on defense, but we expect the Gamblers to be right there with the Breakers once again. Predicted Finish:  11-5, 2nd in Southern Division   6) MICHIGAN PANTHERS                                10-6 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: The Panthers have perhaps the best run game in the USFL, led by LeVeon Bell, and now they add NFL fullback Kyle Juszczyk, one of the best dual blocker/receiver options at the position.  That alone will pose more problems for their opposition.  They also improved at LB with the arrival of Cody Glenn vis Free Agency. Why fans are nervous about 2016: While Kirk Cousins continues to improve as a decision maker, we are still baffled by Michigan’s apparent lack of urgency to improve the WR group. Now, with Hines Ward playing golf somewhere, they have perhaps the least impressive WR group in the league:  Cody Latimer is their number one, followed by free agent Jerrel Jernigan and slot man Ted Ginn Jr.  it is just not a WR group that many will fear, which makes the Panthers’ offense an easier one to defend. Player to keep an eye on: Jernigan is on his 4th team in 6 years, and this is his best shot yet to prove he can be a playmaker.  He had 64 catches as a rookie in Birmingham, but the years in LA and Chicago since have just not shown much.  Michigan sees something in him, but we are not sold on the idea that he has enough skill to be a consistent starter in the league. Our Best Guess:   Defense and a run game can get you pretty far, and in a relatively weak Central Division, Michigan could once again compete for a division title, but don’t they want more? Predicted Finish: 10-6, 1st in Central Division 7) TEXAS OUTLAWS                                            10-6 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: Three new members of their 5-man secondary give fans hope that the Outlaws will not have to be a team that outscores teams to win. They still can outscore teams and win shoot outs, but the hope is that the new secondary, featuring CBs Jaylen Watkins and Benjamin Richards alongside Pacman Jones, and backed by SS Tashaun Gipson, will be able to keep the opposition from matching Joe Flacco score for score. Why fans are nervous about 2016: The departure of Brandon Marshall could be a bigger issue than most Outlaw fans want to admit.  Justin Hunter was brought in as a free agent, but he is not in the same league with Marshall when it comes to being a deep ball threat.  Joe Flacco is hoping that a full year with Marshawn Lynch as the lead back means less pressure on the passing game, but if Lynch struggles, it will have to be Flacco again, but without a key weapon. Player to keep an eye on:  More than anything else, the Texas defense needs for Reynaldo Wynn to return to the form that had him closer to 20 sacks than 10.  Last year he managed 12, which is a respectable number, but Texas needs more out of him and the entire front 7 if their defense is going to hold up all year. Our Best Guess:   We think Texas is going to be a solid team, but playing all their “home” games across the state, the uncertainty of their future, and the need to consistently put 30 or more points on the board to win is going to be exhausting.  That combination of psychological concerns could be enough to see the Outlaws slip a bit, and Dallas is right there waiting for that. Predicted Finish:  9-7, 3rd in Central     THE SOLID SEVEN 8) OAKLAND INVADERS                                   10-6 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: Coach Green did not stand pat this offseason, not after a second year in a row with a late season swoon.  He added speed at HB with Knile Davis now partnered with Donald Brown in the backfield. He added solid tackling in LB Tavares Gooden, and he may have found a gem in CB William Jackson III, who is expected to start in the nickel. Why fans are nervous about 2016: The swoons have to be a concern.  Despite having a very solid defense, led by DE Cliff Avril and MLB Bobby Wagner, Oakland blew a few games that they should have won.  Mental toughness and more of a killer instinct is needed for the Invaders to live up to their potential. Player to keep an eye on: The Invaders have not been happy with their kicking game, so they went out and invested in it this year.  They used an early draft pick on the best kicker in the college game, FSU’ s Roberto Aguayo, and then they paid top dollar for one of the game’s best punters, Mat McBriar.  So, can improved special teams help them avoid a late season collapse? Our Best Guess:   On paper the Invaders remain the clear frontrunner in the Pacific.  Now, can they turn talent into consistent wins?  We won’t know until Week 10, when they have faded in the past.  A great start is nice, but a strong finish is needed to give us all faith in this club. Predicted Finish:  11-5, 1st in Pacific 9) ORLANDO RENEGADES                             9-7 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: The Renegades made their return to the playoffs last year after a long drought.  They won and advanced before falling in the Divisional Round, but it was a good start.  Now, this year they have improved their offensive line with a trade to bring Max Jean-Gilles over, and by signing OT Cameron Fleming.  That could be a huge boost to them as they try to become more than Calais Campbell’s team. Why fans are nervous about 2016: The offense remains a concern.  They have some talent in Russell Wilson, Knowshon Moreno, and Michael Jenkins, but they don’t seem to have a clear offensive philosophy.  Are they a smashmouth team?  A vertical game team?  Do they have enough speed?  Do they have enough power?  The answer is simply unknown. Player to keep an eye on: Not a newcomer, but WR Jeremy Maclin has to be a bigger part of the offense for Orlando to succeed.  Michael Jenkins is a possession guy, slot receiver DeSean Jackson is a deep threat, but Maclin has yet to really define himself.  He needs to if Orlando is going to be more than a competitor within their division and a minor speed bump outside of it. Our Best Guess:   We are bullish on Orlando, perhaps not at the league-wide level, but as a very real contender to take the division title.  The defense added a quality signing in DT Jerel Worthy, and rookie Deion Bush has looked good at FS in camp.  Predicted Finish : 10-6, 1st in SE Division 10)  PORTLAND STAGS                                        10-6 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: Despite loving what Ryan Fitzpatrick gave them last year, most Stag fans are eager to watch Marcus Mariota in orange and brown.  The Stags had a lot of turnover this offseason, especially on offense, but fans trust in Coach Pep Hamilton to produce offense with this squad, especially if he can find ways to let Mariota use all of his talents as a passer and rusher. Why fans are nervous about 2016: The loss of Jonathan Stewart, a surprise retirement in August, leaves a huge hole in the Stags’ plans for the year.  They did their best to replace him, trading Fitzie to Chicago for the 1st overall pick in the Open Draft, a pick they used on Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott, but Elliott opted for the glitz of the Dallas Cowboys, so now the Stags are looking at Felix Jones and LeMichael James and wondering if they have enough to operate what had been a run-first offense. Player to keep an eye on: It has to be Mariota.  We expect Pep Hamilton to put a lot of this offense on his shoulders. The Stags have to pivot to more passing and more spread formations.  They just don’t have the reliable lead back in place to run last year’s offense any more, and Mariota has some skills that Fitzpatrick just did not.  Our Best Guess:   We like Mariota, but we think he will need time.  We are not fans of the current RB group, so we think Portland will need time to regroup, redefine their offense, and maybe even seek another option.  We think that may be enough to keep them from repeating as division champs. Predicted Finish: 9-7, 3rd in Pacific Division 11)  ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS                                 10-6 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: St. Louis is banking on stability to help them step up in 2016.  They had only minimal changes to their starting lineup, Brett Williams at RG (from the NFL), Angelo Crowell at LB (Trade), and rookie Deiondre Hall at FS are the only modifications, so the Skyhawks are looking for the team’s familiarity with each other and the steady leadership of Josh Freeman to propel them into the postseason again. Why fans are nervous about 2016: While a lack of major turnover can be good, it rarely provides dramatic improvement in a team.  St. Louis may again be one of those teams that finds its way to the postseason only to face a quick exit.  They are not elite on either offense or defense, so how do they get past some of the conference’s better teams? Player to keep an eye on: Crowell comes over from Las Vegas, having had his best season as a pro last year and will likely take over at MLB, which could help Aldon Smith be even more effective on the edge.  St. Louis does not look like a team that can depend on their front 4 to generate pass rush (Kony Ealy & Adrian Clayborn at DE just don’t have that kind of burst), so blitzing Crowell, Smith, or safety Kendrick Lewis may be a regular part of the plan. Our Best Guess:   We are not as high on the “stand pat” strategy of the Skyhawks as some are.  We think that the odds are that others can catch or surpass a team that does not keep improving.  Yes, the Skyhawks can win against weaker teams, but we are not convinced they can knock off the Arizona’s, Texas’s or maybe even Michigan’s in the conference. Predicted Finish:   9-7, 2nd in Central 12)  DALLAS ROUGHNECKS                              8-7-1 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: The Roughnecks had their first winning season since moving from Boston, giving Dallas fans plenty to be excited about.  Then, this offseason, they go out and sign two very solid defenders to add to their squad, LB Melvin Ingram and DT Brandon Mbane.  Mbane’s presence alongside Star Lotuleilei will make it very tough for teams to double up on the edge rushers.  We could see Larry English and Elvis Dumervil really step up this year, and that is something Dallas fans would relish. Why fans are nervous about 2016: The Dallas offense has some weapons, but we are not sure they have what it takes to be elite.  Rashard Mendenhall dropped from 1,200 to 800 yards last year, and fans fear the cliff has hit him. The receivers (Wright, Harvin, and free agent Tiquan Underwood, are not exactly a murderer’s row. And, rumors that Johnny Manziel spent more time in the clubs than in the gym this winter are not going over well. Player to keep an eye on: Honestly, it is Manziel.  The former Aggie improved his numbers from 2014 to 2015, with a higher QB rating (90.3 vs. 82.2), better completion percentage (68.1 vs. 63.6), and more yards (3,145, v. 2,986), but his TD production dipped by 6 scores.  The Roughnecks need Manziel to continue to improve in his 3rd season.  They need him to be smart with the ball but also to take enough risks to produce big plays.  Our Best Guess:   We like the defensive additions, hopeful that the offense can do enough to keep them in games, and we think that coach Sherman has the team believing it itself, which can be half the battle for a club on the rise. Predicted Finish:  10-6, 2nd in SW Division 13)  SEATTLE DRAGONS                                     7-9 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: Seattle had nice improvement in 2015, especially on defense.  They won the same number of games as in 2014, but they were more aggressive and more able to stay with the better teams in the league.  The hope this year is that they can take another step, one that adds more wins to the record. Why fans are nervous about 2016: The defense was a strength last year, but the Dragons now have two new starters in the secondary, one of them a rookie (Xavien Howard).  Can the new secondary come together and work with each other to help the front 7?  Can the offense sustain possession to limit the reps the D has to be on the field? Player to keep an eye on: LB Khalil Mack could spend even more time blitzing this year.  After jumping from 3 sacks as a rookie to 7 last year, Coach Mitchell wants to maximize his role as a pass rusher, and that could very well turn this defense from a tough one to a brutal one. Mack’s versatility and mobility could be the best argument for the Dragons staking a claim to the division. Our Best Guess:   We like several aspects of this Dragon club, from an aggressive blitzing D to the stability at QB with Byron Leftwich.  We love how Joseph Addai responded in his first year since coming over from Birmingham, and we like Mike Wallace’s big play ability.  This could be a darkhorse team in 2016. Predicted Finish:  10-6, 2nd in Pacific 14)  CHARLOTTE MONARCHS                         9-7 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: How could you not be excited by the arrival of Adrian Peterson?  Yes, he is not the dominant back he was back in 2012 or 2013, but he could still have a huge impact on the Monarch offense, making life a lot easier for Brandon Wheedon and scaring defenses every time he touches the ball.  Why fans are nervous about 2016:  We are worried about Wheedon, who has been throwing far too many picks for comfort, and about a WR group that has just not stepped up.  D. J. Hackett is a solid number one, but the Monarchs need more from both Hakeem Nicks and James Hardy if they want to compete offensively with some of the league’ s best. Player to keep an eye on: As much press as AD is getting, it is Chandler Jones on the defense who we think will have the biggest impact.  He takes over after the retirement of Jevon Kearse, and the hope is that he can equal, or even best, Kearse’s production.  Our Best Guess: Even with a very talented 2-headed HB situation (McFadden and Peterson), we are looking at the Monarch offense and wondering if they have enough.  Perhaps in the SE Division, which looks like it could again be the league’s weakest, but in the big picture, just not enough to feel good about. Predicted Finish:  8-8, 3rd in SE Division     THE STRIVING SEVEN 15)  BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS                        8-8 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: The Stallions added some talent on defense in the shape of free agent DT Corey Liuget (WSH) and free agent CB LaDarius Webb (MGN).  That, plus the maturation of their young offensive stars, and fans feel they can make a move. Why fans are nervous about 2016: We have heard this song before.  It seems like every year we think Birmingham is poised to make a major leap in their results, and each year they finish within 1-game of .500.  That won’t do it in a division with two clear Summer Bowl contenders ahead of them. Player to keep an eye on: The arrival of Corey Liuget may not seem like a big deal, but if he can absorb some of the guard’s attention, it means that DE’s Greg Hardy and Derrick Harvey could see more one-on-ones, and Birmingham could be a better team on third down.  That would be a huge add for Birmingham. Our Best Guess:   It is so hard to look at Birmingham and see a team ready to knock off either New Orleans or Houston.  They could be improved, but we are not sure it will make much difference in their final record.  Predicted Finish:  8-8, 3rd in Southern Division 16)   PHILADELPHIA STARS                                5-11 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: Two new additions have Stars fans starry-eyed.  On offense it is all about Alabama HB Derrick Henry, but don’ t discount how big the addition of former Houston DE Malik Jackson is.  The Stars think they are better on both sides of the ball, and if their faith in Henry results in big games as a rookie, they could bounce back strong in 2016. Why fans are nervous about 2016: There is a creeping doubt in Philly that Matt Gutierrez is the solid starter he started off as.  Some are worried that defenses have figured out his tendencies and that without an all-league run game he just cannot carry the team.  That concern seems legitimate after last year, when he just could not produce wins, or stay healthy. Player to keep an eye on: The easy answer is HB Derrick Henry, but let’s also take a look at FB Ira Johnson, who comes over in free agency with the mission to create holes for Henry to run through. Our Best Guess:   We like Philly to rebound. The defense is improved, though rookie nickel Prince Charles Iowah, could be picked on early.  We like the LB group with Morrison, Lloyd, Connor, and Suggs, and we think Malik Jackson will have an impact as a pass rusher after a 9-sack season as a rookie in Houston. Predicted Finish:  9-7, 3rd in NE Division 17)  DENVER GOLD                                                               7-9 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: After nearly 20 years, the Gold have a new coach, and while there are a lot of question marks about John Hufnagel’s transition from Canadian ball to the USFL, there is also excitement that some of the wide open style of the CFL will find its way to Denver.  The addition of Jamaal Charles to the backfield seems to point to an interest in more 1-back sets, more draws, screens, and HB catches, and more big plays. Why fans are nervous about 2016: While the offense may benefit from John Hufnagel’s CFL pedigree, there is serious concern about a defense that struggled last year and which lost 3 starters.  Two rookies will start on defense, but we all know who is the centerpiece of the Gold’s D, it will be all about Von Miller and Denver fans’ hopes that he will be elite again. Player to keep an eye on: Outside of Miller, the player who needs to prove that they are elite this year is DT Ndamukong Suh. His presence in the middle is key to Miller and Justice Cole getting pressure on the QB.  He needs to not only occupy space, but disrupt blocking schemes to make it easier for Miller and Cole to get mismatches and find the QB. Our Best Guess:   Denver is a tough team to figure out.  They could gel early and be a very tough team to face each week, or they could struggle to find themselves and once again slip below .500. We are feeling a bit more of the latter, but we admit we could be all wrong about this club. Predicted Finish: 7-9, 4th in SW Division 18)  WASHINGTON FEDERALS                        7-9 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: Deuce McCallister did not retire. He is back for another year, and there is a generally good feeling about the defense, which added DT Atiyyah Ellison and LB Kevin Burnett.  Why fans are nervous about 2016: Deion Branch is gone, and fans are not sure if the Feds did enough to replace his production in the offseason.  Brandon LaFell becomes the top target for David Garrard, with Kelvin Benjamin now opposite him as a starter.  Is that pair enough to help Washington compete in a very top-heavy division? Player to keep an eye on: Slot receiver and rookie wideout Tyreek Hill is one of the fastest players in recent years to sign with the league.  If his ball skills and route running can improve, he could be a real weapon, turning slants into sprints, and hooks into home runs.  Our Best Guess: We see the Federals still as a middle of the pack club. The defense could be better, but likely will not be dominant.  The offense is only as good as Deuce McCallister’s 78-year-old legs can carry them. (OK, exaggeration, but at 35, Deuce is playing on borrowed time. Predicted Finish :  8-8, 4th in NE Division   19)  JACKSONVILLE BULLS                                5-11 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: Bulls Nation is putting a lot of faith in QB Robert Griffin III to have a strong sophomore spring season.  We have seen it before, a QB who comes over from the NFL needs a year to get their legs under them.  Bulls fans feel that Griffin is primed for a huge comeback year.  If that is the case, the Bulls could make a leap forward in a division that lacks a true powerhouse franchise. Why fans are nervous about 2016: While we like Griffin, we are not huge fans of the receivers he has available.  The top 4 targets for Griffin will be Sinorice Moss, Reuben Randle, Tavon Austin, and TE Kellen Winslow II.  Is anyone shaking in their boots at that roster of receivers?   We did not think so. Player to keep an eye on: The newest Bull on the defensive side, veteran SS Patrick Chung, could be the most important.  Chung will be the defensive play caller and leader on the field, but he needs help from others in this defense in order for the Bulls to move out of the bottom half of the league in points allowed. Our Best Guess:   We think the Bulls could surprise, and even 8-8 could garner them 2nd place in the division.  A lot will depend on the defense and on HB Cadillac Williams.  If he can be a threat each week, then the passing game benefits and even a mediocre receiver group can become dangerous. Predicted Finish:  8-8, 2nd in SE Division 20) SAN DIEGO THUNDER                                               6-10 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: I think we all may have expected too much out of the Thunder last year.  They had some good games, and they added a true lead back in Ryan Williams this offseason, so there is hope that they can be a much better team in 2016. A lot will depend on their QB position to see if they can make that happen. Why fans are nervous about 2016: The QB position is the big mystery.  Joe Webb got his chance to be a full-time starter after a very successful career as a backup in Washington, but his first year produced a 3:4 TD:INT ratio (12 to 16), and a QB rating of only 71.7.  As an insurance policy, San Diego recently added NFL QB Christian Ponder.  So now you have a full blown QB competition.  That can produce players playing at their best, or it can divide the locker room and produce incertainty. Player to keep an eye on: Our favorite new addition to the Thunder is rookie LB Myles Jack out of UCLA.  First off, what a great name for a hard-hitting LB.  But, more importantly, Jack will be on the outside, able to blitz the QB, contain outside runs, and provide a nice bookend to Shantee Orr on the other side.  San Diego has an underrated LB group (With Kyle Van Noy and A. J. Hawk inside), and Jack could be the piece they need to become elite. Our Best Guess:   We think the Thunder will be improved in 2016, especially if they can get a run game going with Williams. The QB concerns are real though, and that puts a ceiling on where we think they can go. Predicted Finish:  7-9, 4th in Pacific Division 21)   ATLANTA FIRE                                                 6-10 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: This is a tricky question.  We are not getting a lot of energy out of Fire fans after a pretty lackluster offseason.  The additions (SS Tra Battle, LE William Gholston, HB Chris Ivory) are just not splashy signings, and the club seems to lack true big play capacity on offense.  The LB group (Ellerbe-Keuchley-Willis) remains elite, but is that enough? Why fans are nervous about 2016: Lots of questions, but the run game, now without Steven Jackson, has to be the biggest concern.  Atlanta did little to address it and now enter the season looking like rookie Kenyan Drake and veteran Chris Ivory will share carries unless one of them shows some real dynamism.  That puts even more pressure on Kyle Orton, and we are not convinced he does well with that kind of pressure on him. Player to keep an eye on: Kenyan Drake played second fiddle to Derrick Henry at Alabama.  Now he has a chance to make a name for himself. If he can show some spark early in the season, he could take on a lead back role, rather than splitting carries with Chris Ivory. Our Best Guess: We see Atlanta as a team whose playoff window may have closed.  Not enough new faces to give us confidence that they will improve from 2015.  In this league, if you are not moving forward, you are falling behind. Predicted Finish:   5-11, 4th in SE Division     THE SINKING SEVEN 22)  MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS                            5-11 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: If it were just the arrival of U. of Memphis QB Paxton Lynch, we would be very skeptical of enthusiasm around Memphis.  After all, Eli Manning is still expected to get the starts this year.  But in adding both veteran deep threat Brandon Marshall and NFL “swiss army knife” Cordarelle Patterson, the Showboats also have more weapons and more big play potential.  That could make them a team to watch. Why fans are nervous about 2016: Rex Ryan took the job in Memphis hoping to replicate his father’s monstrous 46 defense, but we just don’t see the talent on that side of the ball to make it happen.  Other than NaVorro Bowman, the LB group is not impressive, and the pass rush of Mario Williams and Antonio Smith has just never materialized as a major factor.  We just don’t see that enough was done to add to this side of the ball. Player to keep an eye on: We will all be watching Cordarelle Patterson, in the return game, and whenever he is on the field on offense.  He is a dynamic, elusive, and electrifying player with the ball in his hands. Our Best Guess:  We see Memphis providing fans with plenty of big plays and exciting moments, but still finding ways to lose games.  The defense has to be more than the sum of its part if this club hopes to avoid the basement.  We are not sure it can do that. Predicted Finish:  6-10, 4th in Southern Division 23)  NEW JERSEY GENERALS                          6-10 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: There is a lot of young talent on this team, from WR Odell Beckham Jr, to CB Devin McCourty, and now, potentially, former USC quarterback Brett Hundley.  The Generals could be a team that just needs to mature in order to be competitive.  Fans who think that maturation comes this year are excited about the possibilities. Why fans are nervous about 2016: The Generals are all about potential, particularly at QB.  The truth is we do not know what they are going to get from Hundley, which is why they signed Nick Foles from the Wranglers as well.  We also don’t know if they have the defensive strength to stay in games with some of the dynamic offenses within their own division.  A lot of questions all around. Player to keep an eye on: We are going to highlight two players, the starting corners for the Generals.  Devin McCourty showed a lot of promise last year, and a trade with Atlanta brought them a bona fide starter in Brandon Boykin.  That is a pretty good combo.  Is it good enough to keep New Jersey from giving up big plays?  Or will they need help from DE’s Aaron Kampman and Vic Beasley to keep plays from going too long? Our Best Guess:   Compared with every other team in the division, New Jersey has a lot of questions and a lot to prove.  This is a team that may be ready to improve, but they have a tough road ahead, and not a lot of winning experience to fall back on.  It will be a tough job for Coach Turner to get them above .500 this year. Predicted Finish:   5-11, 5th in NE DIvision 24) CHICAGO MACHINE                                   3-12-1 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: Six new starters from 2015 to 2016 have Chicago fans feeling like this is a new team.  Of course, having a new head coach in former Bear front man Lovie Smith is also a positive, but the one thing everyone is talking about is Fitz-Magic.  Ryan Fitzpatrick had his best season as a pro last year in Portland.  Chicago made the deal to get him to Soldier Field, and fans are hoping that Fitzie can do what Brady Quinn could not, turn Aaron Dobson into an elite receiver and find ways to turn the Machine offense into a top 10 group.  Why fans are nervous about 2016: Three new offensive linemen mean that Chicago will need time to get their run game going, and could struggle against solid pass rush clubs.  Will they be able to gel quickly enough to keep this team from having another brutal start (0-8 in 2015) and show some life early on? Player to keep an eye on: In addition to Fitzpatrick, the players that are bringing excitement back to Chicago are two NFL imports, LB Courtney Upshaw and FS Micah Hyde.  Both were much needed positions for improvement and both come from the NFL with a lot of upside in front of them.  Our Best Guess: We think Chicago will be an improved team in 2016. They have weapons on offense, weapons we think Fitzpatrick can use to get the ball down the field and points on the board.  The defense should also be improved, though a lot depends on if Jason Pierre-Paul can live up to the hype when they got him from the Bandits last year.  The secondary is solid, the LBs disruptive, but the front 3 has to do more.  We see Chicago improving and leapfrogging over Ohio to get out of 4th place. Predicted Finish:  7-9, 3rd in Central.   25) LOS ANGELES EXPRESS                             4-12 in 2015                                       Why fans are excited for 2016: All the buzz in LA is about Sam Bradford.  He is a clear upgrade from the decline of Mark Sanchez and from the failed attempt to make Aaron Murray into the starter.  Bradford is certainly an upgrade, but is that enough? Why fans are nervous about 2016: Roddy White, Nelson Aholor, and Marqise Lee. Those are the top 3 receivers in LA.  Do you expect any of those three to top 85 catches, 1,200 yards, or 8 TDs? Neither do we. Bradford is a solid QB, but we are just not sure how he produces an effective passing game.  More likely he spends a lot of time looking for Reggie Bush out of the backfield or running for his life. Player to keep an eye on: TE Jason Whitten put up some huge numbers in Jacksonville, and the expectation was that he would do the same in LA, but last year was not the year for that.  Whitten had 54 catches for only 451 yards.  With Bradford under center, Whitten could have a resurgence. Our Best Guess:   Coach Reid came to LA with the promise of producing a dynamic and multifaceted offense. It has not happened yet, but now he has a better shot with Bradford.  If only he had some weapons out wide.  LA will have a solid defense, and maybe they stay in more games, but they still look like a team destined for the Pacific Division basement. Predicted Finish: 5-11, 5th in Pacific Division. 26) OHIO GLORY                                                   5-11 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: They aren’t.  It’s just that simple.  There was a brief moment when Glory fans thought they had nabbed Carson Wentz. That got them excited, but now, with Brock Osweiler and rookie Christian Hackenberg as their QB options, we are not sensing a lot of optimism in Columbus.  And we kinda think they are right to be concerned. Why fans are nervous about 2016: Beyond the QB issue, Ohio fans are not happy with their receiver group (Blackmon, Mario Manningham, Randall Cobb), uncertain about Isaiah Pead as a premier back, and, despite some nice additions (DE Robert Quinn, Daniel Ellerbe, and LaRon Landry), not feeling confident about the D. Player to keep an eye on: We are a bit more optimistic about the Ohio D.  We think all three additions are upgrades for the Glory D, and the combination of Quinn and Wemberly at DE could produce a pretty good pass rush. We love Ryan Shazier at OLB and the addition of Ellerbe makes that group better.  CB is still an issue, but LaRon Landry is solid option at safety.  If this club has any success this year, we think it will be because of the defense. But, all said, wins will be tough to come by. Our Best Guess:   Could Ohio surprise us?  Well, if their defense holds up, and the run game with Pead is better than expected, and either Osweiler or Hackenberg proves they can be a steady hand at the wheel, and pigs sprout wings.  Basically, we just don’t see the talent on this team to compete in what could be a very strong Central Division.  Chicago has improved quite a bit over the offseason, in ways Ohio has not, so that does not bode well for the Glory, who need to do more to revamp a team that feels left behind in the mix. Predicted Finish:   5-11, 4th in Central 27)  TAMPA BAY BANDITS                                   4-12 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: The two types of people who might be very excited about the Bandits this year are masochists and the family of rookie CB Jalen Ramsey.  Outside of those two groups, we are having a hard time finding excitement about a team that once again failed to land a premier QB and has more questions than answers across their roster. Why fans are nervous about 2016: Well, a 4-12 season, with no coaching change, will make teams nervous.  Failing to sign Jared Goff a year after whiffing on Jameis Winston will just make them angry.  Fans expected a bigger roster turnover from 2015 to 2016, but they got only a few new faces. That does not seem like a team ready to leave the divisional basement. Player to keep an eye on:  Ramsey is by far the most exciting of the new players on the club.  He and NFL import Don’t’a Hightower could be vital to any defensive resurgence the Bandits hope for. Our Best Guess:   Our take on the Bandits is that they are uncertain at QB, underwhelming at HB, understaffed at WR, and unsure on defense. That is a lot of un-good. Predicted Finish:  3-13, 5th in SE Division 28)   LAS VEGAS VIPERS                                       6-10 in 2015 Why fans are excited for 2016: They are drunk?  They won big at the blackjack table?  It certainly is not because of the roster the Vipers have put together.  Look across the Viper offense and show me a player who is top 5 at his position?  Heck, do the same on defense.  Not easy, is it? Why fans are nervous about 2016: The Vipers have the look of a team that will be picking first or second in the Draft next January.  We just don’t see how this roster is supposed to be competitive. Add to that a coach in Greg Roman, who very few see as having the capacity to turn these parts into a surprise success, and there is a lot of pessimism about the Vipers. Player to keep an eye on: Rookie Matthew Judon won the RE job over several veterans.  He will be a player to watch as the Vipers’ 4-3 tries to produce pressure without the heavy blitz rate that the club used last year.  Could he be a surprise find in the draft?  We shall see. Our Best Guess:   Honestly, we think Las Vegas is the frontrunner to be the worst team in the league. We just don’t see them being favored in many games. They will win a few, because going 0-16 is almost as hard as going 16-0, but nothing will be easy for them this year. Predicted Finish:  3-13, 5th in SW Division Postseason predictions Sticking with our team by team predictions above, we end up with the following division and playoff positions:   NORTHEAST:    PIT 13-3,  BAL 11-5, PHI 9-7, WSH 8-8, NJ 5-11 SOUTHEAST:     ORL 10-6, JAX 8-8, CHA 8-8, ATL 5-11, TBY 3-13 SOUTHERN:      NOR 11-5, HOU 11-5, BIR 8-8, MEM 6-10                   Seeds:  1-BIT,  2-NOR, 3-ORL, 4-HOU, 5-BAL, 6-PHI   CENTRAL:           MGN 10-6, STL 9-7, CHI 7-9, OHI 5-11 SOUTHWEST:    ARZ 13-3, DAL 10-6, TEX 9-7, DEN 7-9, LV 3-13 PACIFIC:              OAK 11-5, SEA 10-6, POR 9-7, SD 7-9, LA 5-11                                 Seeds: 1-ARZ, 2-OAK, 3-MGN, 4-DAL, 5-SEA, 6-STL   Texas, Portland, and charlotte drop from the 2015 playoff roster. Dallas, Seattle, and Philadelphia make playoff appearances, but the favorites remain the same. Arizona, Oakland, Pittsburgh, and New Orleans get bye weeks, which can be a huge advantage especially after the wear and tear of a full season.     In the Wild Card round we see Orlando defeating Philadelphia in a low scoring affair, Baltimore edging Houston in a high scoring shoot out, Michigan holding off division rival St. Louis, and Seattle upsetting Dallas in Dallas. That sets up Orlando @ New Orleans, Baltimore @ Pittsburgh, Michigan @ Oakland, and Seattle @ Arizona. We are going to predict two upsets here, with Baltimore edging Pittsburgh as a revenge game from the Maulers’ road win last year, and we see Michigan outlasting Oakland. So, our Conference Championships would be Baltimore @ New Orleans, and Michigan @ Arizona. We cannot currently picture the Panthers upending the Wranglers, so we are going to put Arizona in their 3rd Summer Bowl in 4 years. We do think that Baltimore has the firepower to get past the Breaker defense, so we are going to go with the upset, creating a Summer Bowl battle of the 2013 vs. 2014 Champions with Baltimore vs. Arizona. This would be a fascinating game to analyze, as both teams are superior in one clear area but solid I the other. Baltimore’s offense would have their hands full with Arizona’s defense, while Arizona’s offense matches up well with Baltimore’s defense.  We are going to say that if the winning team’s point total is 24 or less, that points to the Wranglers, but if the winning side has 25 or more, that leans it to Baltimore. When in doubt, at least in the USFL, we go with offense, so we are going to call the upset, with the 5th seed Blitz edging the 1st seed Wranglers by a total of 27-23.   But, as always, do not put the deed to the ranch on this bet, because it truly is impossible to call at this stage of the year. Award Predictions When we look over the league and try to make predictions about league awards, we feel a bit more confident than when we try to look at entire teams and determine their placement.  With the league awards there are already favorites, players whose performance in recent years puts them in prime position to garner votes early and hold them for the year.  We will make our picks for the Big 5 awards the USFL hands out, recognizing once again that everything from injury to team strategy can influence the outcome of these races.   MVP:  Dalton over Roethlisberger We pretty much limit our exploration of MVP votes to the quarterbacks, because history shows us that it is rare for a non-QB to do enough to jump over the highest rated signal callers.  When we look over the league, there are several QB’s who could be in the initial running, but we clearly end up with 2-time MVP Ben Roethlisberger and his top competitor, Pittsburgh’s Andy Dalton as the two most likely candidates.  We are going to give Dalton the edge this year because we are also predicting Pittsburgh to take the division, but we expect it will be a split vote between the two gunslingers.   OPOTY: Marques Colston Comes Close Again. It seems almost cruel to say that Maques Colston will once again finish second in the voting, but with our prediction that Texas suffers a bit from the loss of his opposite, Brandon Marshall, we think both the team record and his personal stats will drop just enough to allow someone else to sneak in ahead of him.  We are going to go with HB Carlos Hyde, the 2014 Rookie of the Year, to have a huge season, both rushing and receiving, likely topping the 2,000 yard mark for Yards from Scrimmage, and we think that, along with Houston’s better final record, will allow Hyde to overtake Colston for the title.   DPOTY: Von Miller Emerges in Year Two We made the bold prediction earlier that Campbell would have his sack total snapped after 7 seaons, and we predicted Miller to be the one to do it.  If he can win the title, and if his sack total is 25 or higher, which feels very possible, then we cannot see any way he does not win the DPOTY award.   If Campbell can once again hold onto the sack title, then the race is wide open because we know folks are tired of giving Campbell awards.   ROTY: Derrick Henry Runs Laps Around the Contenders Just based on circumstance and opportunity we have to give Henry the clear advantage here.  He is the only HB already penciled in not only as the starter, but as a lead back in a 1-back system. Most of the other rookies, whether backs like Kenyan Drake or Paul Perkins are pencilled in as the 2nd back, either a pure backup or a rotational starter. We don’t see any rookie QB’s starting, at least not initially, and among the rookie receivers (Will Fuller in Chicago, Tajae Sharpe in Jacksonville, or Tyreek Hill in Washington), we just don’t see any who are going to emerge quickly enough to outpace Henry statistically. There are a couple of defenders who will be in the race, players like CBs Jalen Ramsey (TBY) or Xavien Howard (SEA), a LB like Myles Jack (SD), or a D-lineman like Matthew Judon (LV) or Chris Jones (LA), we just don’t see them doing enough to overtake a solid offensive starter.   COTY: Jack Del Rio Gets Kudos for Resurrecting the Bulls We are picking Jacksonville to improve to 8-8, which may not seem like much, but when Coach Del Rio took over the Bulls, they were 0-16, so a two year program that gets them to .500 is a pretty amazing accomplishment.  We believe voters will see and acknowledge that.  However, as was the case last year with Vic Fangio in Pittsburgh, if any team can jump from sub-.500 into a 10+ win season and a playoff berth, they could be looking at this award. Right now we would say that Jim Harbaugh is the most likely candidate in that group.   So, we have reviewed the offseason moves, dissected the rosters, and made our picks.  Are we ready to play some football?  Week 1 is only 3 days away, so it is time to pick your venue, order some wings or burgers, and pour yourself a brewski.  Football is back!  Here is our breakdown of the first week of action across the league, 14 games, no waiting!!!    FRI @ 8:00pm ET                           Oakland Invaders @ New Orleans Breakers                 NBC The Breakers begin their title defense hosting the Invaders in a game that will likely feature a lot of defensive football.     SAT @ 12:00pm ET                        Atlanta Fire @ Washington Federals                                 ABC Two teams hoping to make a statement with an opening week victory.   SAT @ 12:00pm ET                        Houston Gamblers @ Memphis Showboats                 FOX Eli Manning opens what could be a swan song season with a tough matchup against Matt Hasselbeck and the Gamblers.   SAT @ 4:00pm ET                          Las Vegas Vipers @ Texas Outlaws                                     ABC The Vipers were unable to win a road game in all of 2015.  Starting with one in Texas is no way to snap that streak as Joe Flacco will be waiting for them.   SAT @ 4:00pm ET                          Portland Stags @ Birmingham Stallions                         FOX Marcus Mariota debuts as the clear number one in Portland, but the Stags D had better be ready for Cam Newton, or it could be a long day for the home team.   SAT @ 7:00pm ET                          New Jersey Generals @ Baltimore Blitz                           NBC Brett Hundley will get the start for the Generals against a revamped defense for the Blitz, including the arrival of Olivier Vernon as the new LE chasing opposing QBs.   SAT @ 9:00pm ET                          Michigan Panthers @ San Diego Thunder                      ESPN/EFN Kirk Cousins, LeVeon Bell and the Panthers hope to start the season fast, but the Thunder are hoping that their new run game can match Michigan with Ryan Williams taking the lead.   SUN @ 12:00pm ET                      Philadelphia Stars @ St. Lous Skyhawks                        ABC It’s the pro debut of Derrick Henry.  Is he the newest in a long line of outstanding Star halfbacks?   SUN @ 12:00pm ET                      Tampa Bay Bandits @ Charlotte Monarchs   FOX Regional Two teams with a lot of question marks and a lot of new faces.  We are excited to see Chandler Jones in action, but Pat White probably is not as psyched by the prospect.   SUN @ 12:00pm ET                      Denver Gold @ Jacksonville Bulls                                      FOX Regional Two teams hoping they are heading in the right direction.  Denver has a new coach in John Hufnagel, but the Bulls showed some fight last year and in Jack Del Rio’s second year, they are hoping to compete.   SUN @ 4:00pm ET                         Ohio Glory @ Seattle Dragons                                              ABC Regional Tom Coughlin is hoping to whip the Glory into shape, but he needs to be careful of a Seattle defense that could be a real challenge.   SUN @ 4:00pm ET                         Chicago Machine @ Los Angeles Express                      ABC Regional Two QBs with new homes as Chicago’s Ryan Fitzpatrick faces off against LA’s Sam Bradford.  Only one of them can start this new phase of their careers with a win.   SUN @ 4:00pm ET                         Arizona Wranglers @ Dallas Roughnecks                      FOX If the Roughnecks want to prove they are ready for prime time, they have to find a way to knock off the big boys in the division, David Carr, Frank Gore, and Troy Polamalu have other ideas.   SUN @ 8:00pm ET                         Orlando Renegades @ Pittsburgh Maulers                   ESPN/EFN Calais Campbell and the Orlando defense offer a tough start for Andy Dalton, Adam Thielen, and the Mauler offense in the first Sunday Nighter of the season.

With the USFL only a week away it is time to review the offseason, look at the moves and signings that could define the season, take our best guesses at what the year ahead will hold, and explore the players and teams that could make news in 2016. The first half of our USFL season preview will focus on the offseason, the deals, acquisitions, and surprises that set up the season ahead. Then, in Part 2, we will look forward, previewing all 28 clubs, all 6 divisions, the playoffs and the league awards we think could be on tap this year. Let's get right to it with our 2-part Big Story, the late offseason frenzy of draft signings and the NFL-USFL Transfer Window. Offseason- Part 1: NFL Runs Away with Top Players in Battle of Draft Signings No two ways about it, the NFL got the better of the USFL this year.  Not only did the fall league sign the top 6 players selected in the USFL Draft, and 7 of the Top 10, but when you look at the NFL Draft you find that the fall league also secured the rights to 14 of the top 23 picks.  The strong outing by NFL franchises in the draft left several USFL teams scrambling with just over 1 month to go before the regular season was scheduled to begin.  Among the NFL’s haul were both of the top-rated QBs in the draft, with the St. Louis Rams outbidding the Tampa Bay Bandits for the services of Cal’s Jared Goff and the Philadelphia Eagles signing North Dakota’ State’s Carson Wentz away from the Ohio Glory. The USFL fared a bit better with QBs selected in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the draft, with Memphis landing Paxton Lynch, Seattle signing Jacoby Brissett, and Ohio getting some help in the form of Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg, but once again the NFL seems to have the upper hand when it comes to the top of the draft.   In addition to the QBs already mentioned, the NFL also signed DE Joey Bosa (OAK), DE DeForest Buckner, (SD), DE Shaq Lawson (MEM), WR Laquon Treadwell, and, in a huge blow to the Portland Stags, they were also able to sign away HB Ezekiel Elliott, making the trade of Ryan Fitzpatrick to the Chicago Machine an effort in futility. Portland now scrambles to find a suitable running game with USFL journeyman Felix Jones and former Denver Gold back LeMichael James. Tampa Bay finds itself in a familiar position, having lost out to Jameis Winston in 2015, now they lose out on a bidding war with the NFL for QB Jared Goff. They were able to take advantage of their double-down strategy, landing Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, but the loss of Goff almost certainly means that it will be Pat White again at the helm of the Bandit offense, which is not the offseason result that Bandit fans were hoping for.    Ohio did not fare much better, missing out on Wentz and having traded Troy Smith means the Glory are going to start the year with Brock Osweiler under center. As we mentioned, Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg will be an option, depending on how he develops over the spring. As for the two lost defensive ends, the inability to sign Buckner or Bosa means that both San Diego and Oakland are looking for answers. San Diego will likely turn to Adewale Ogunleye as their LE, pressuring the opposing QB’s blind spot, while Oakland still has Cliff Avril and will likely rotate Junior Galette and Laurence Jackson on the right side. All in all the USFL was able to sign 15 of the first 28 picks in their open draft, with notable successes being the arrival of Alabama’s Derrick Henry in Philadelphia, DT Chris Jones in LA, CB Xavien Howard in Seattle, and TE Hunter Henry in Birmingham. Additionally, several of the T-Draft selections opted to stay close to home and play in the spring league. Chief among them was Paxton Lynch who trades the blue and silver of the U. of Memphis for the silver sky and crimson of the Showboats. Other notable T-Draft signings include LB Reggie Ragland (BIR), DT Vernon Butler (CHA), WR Will Fuller (CHI), LB Deion Jones (NOR), TE Austin Hooper (OAK), CB Eli Apple (OHI), LB Myles Jack (SD), CB Jalen Ramsey (TBY), and LB Scooby Wright (ARZ). But, overall, the results of the signing period were less than what the USFL would hope for, especially at the top of the talent pool where the NFL dominated.   Offseason-Part 2: NFL Imports Enhance Rosters But the USFL had one more chance to recover from a rough draft outcome, one last pool of talent that could produce a key addition to a club’s roster. The NFL-USFL Transfer Window has become a last second tradition, kind of like shopping on Christmas Eve, for some USFL teams.  And while this year’s free agent pool may not have been the biggest or the richest, there were some treasures selected by the teams across the league. We have picked out 10 players who could have an impact this year for the USFL, newly arrived after a full NFL season, do not expect to see them all on Week 1, and, as we have learned in past years, some may not fully blossom until season 2, after their bodies have had time to recover, but every year there are one or two who make immediate impact.  With that in mind here is our list of the 7 teams (only 1 in 4 USFL clubs) that may have found gems via the Transfer Window.                 Tampa Bay:   The Bandits had only 1 NFL signing, and it was not a QB, which fans hoped for, with regular calls into local radio begging the team to go after Christian Ponder or Blaine Gabbert. The player the Bandits did sign will be an impactful one, LB Dont’a Hightower.  A powerful tackler with good instincts in pursuit, Hightower will occupy the strong side slot, next to Brian Orakpo in the middle.   San Diego:   Another one hit win, but this time it was the QB position. The Thunder have added former Viking signal caller Christian Ponder. We expect Ponder will need several weeks before he might challenge Joe Webb as the starter, but if Webb struggles, we think that Coach LeBeau will go with the former FSU star.   Denver: Despite their reputation as a frugal club, the Gold over the past few years have shown interest in the NFL transfers.  Sure, neither signing this year is of the magnitude that the big Von Miller pickup was last year, but the two players they brought in this past month could help the Gold rebound after a down year. The Gold took a shot at HB Jamaal Charles, who struggled in 2015 with the Chiefs, but hopes to rebound in the USFL. Their other signing, back in September, was TE Jack Doyle, a solid receiver who can also play a role as a run blocker.  Memphis: With 4 NFL signings, Memphis was aggressive in the transfer window, and that attitude paid off with both depth and potential impact. FB Zach Line was signed in the fall’s September-October window, and as such is already slated to start the year blocking for Todd Gurley.  In the February window the Showboats added HB Travaris Cadet and TE Chris Gragg.  Neither are household names, but both could be important to the ball control offense that Coach Rex Ryan wants to create. The biggest addition however, and one that is likely to be a favorite of QB Eli Manning is WR/KR Cordarelle Patterson. The versatile slot receiver and return man is a dangerous weapon. The only question is whether the Showboats will be creative enough to put the ball in his hands with space to make defenders miss.   Dallas:   Dallas solved one of their roster mysteries and may have picked up a solid defender as well. The mystery was at kicker, where the club only had an undrafted rookie in camp until they signed Chandler Catanzaro away from the Arizona Cardinals. Catanzaro is now expected to win the job. The other pickup, LB Jamie Collins, looks like a sure bet to take snaps at both MLB and SLB, currently behind Zak DeOssie and Johnathan Casillas, but we expect that by mid-season he will be pushing for snaps and potentially a starting gig.  Charlotte:   Charlotte was one of the clubs with the most cap room and they acted like it, snapping up 3 NFL veterans to help build up their club. They started small, adding DT Sen’Derrick Marks (Ok, small in cost, not in size, he is huge.) They then opened up the safe and signed two of the more expensive players available, but both could be huge additions. On defense they landed the best DE in the pool, New England’s Chandler Jones. Pencil Jones in as the starting LE from day one, with Michael Johnson taking on the RE role.  But for sheer splash factor, no pick was quite as big as the signing of Viking HB Adrian Peterson. As dual league fans will remember, Peterson suffered a season-ending ACL/MCL injury back in 2014. It was doubtful he would play again, but he returned less than one year later and had a very strong season with Minnesota.   So, how was AD (All Day) available? Well, it seems that the later season dip in production and lingering concerns about Peterson’s reconstructed knee gave the Vikings pause, and they let him enter the market. Charlotte is hoping that he will be successful in spot action most of this year, subbing for starter Darren McFadden, but, like many NFL transfers before him, that he will have a huge 2nd year, so Peterson joins the Monarchs, but the payoff may not be immediate.   Chicago:   No team was more aggressive in the NFL Transfer Window than the 3-12-1 Machine. Following their worst season in years and after the draft week trade that brought Ryan Fitzpatrick in as the new starting QB, the Machine added 4 NFL veterans to their roster. Among the big haul was DE Connor Barwin, a September pickup who is now slated to rotate between RE and LE for several weeks but could eventually start over Victor Abiami on the right side, opposite JPP.  Chicago added a second defender in the shape of LB Courtney Upshaw. The former Falcon will be another “swing” player, subbing for both MLB Brian Urlacher and ROLB Akeem Ayers as he gets his USFL legs under him.   But Chicago was not done after landing two defenders. They went for one more and in so doing may have landed a key player for their secondary. The Machine went for and landed Green Bay Packer safety Micah Hyde, inking the young player to a 3-year deal. Hyde fills an obvious need in the secondary, where he will be paired with Bob Sanders for a very intriguing safety duo.    The fourth and final signing from the Machine is to the offense as Coach Smith adds a weapon for his new QB. In addition to landing WR Will Fuller from Notre Dame in the T-Draft, the Machine provided Fitzpatrick with a true speed receiver, former Miami Dolphin Kenny Stills. Stills is very much a 3-4 route receiver, but his raw speed will produce problems for secondaries. Expect to see Stills lined up outside, with Aaron Dobson and Michael Floyd, while Austin Pettis takes on the slot role. Rookie Fuller could also see considerable snaps as Smith hopes to implement more 3-4 receiver sets.   Some other notable NFL players jumping to the league include QB Ryan Nassib (ARZ), FB Kyle Juszczyk (MGN), OT Cameron Fleming (ORL), G T. J. Lang (JAX), DE Jacquies Smith (BIR), LB Jelani Jenkins (HOU), CB Jalen Collins (OHI),  and safety Jahleel Addae (OAK). 10 Biggest Moves of the Offseason We have reviewed the draft, poured over the NFL signings, and wrapped up free agency, so what were the moves that will have impact? That have a chance of changing the fortunes of a club, or to push a team from good to great? We have selected 10 offseason moves which we believe can have a big impact and can actually help teams take a step in the right direction, whether that is from the basement to mid-table or from a Wild Card to a potential Summer Bowl contender.  Here they are, our Moves that Matter.   New Jersey Trades 2 to Atlanta for CB Brandon Boykin We are honestly not sure if this was a steal for the New Jersey Generals, landing a corner to line up with Devin McCourty in their secondary, or if Atlanta won this deal by landing both HB Chris Ivory and DE William Gholston. Honestly this could be the rare Win-Win, where both teams are improved by the deal.  All three are expected to see a lot of action, and Chris Ivory could well be the starter at HB, though we expect he will end up sharing carries with rookie Kenyan Drake. Chicago Sign Two NFL Starters We are double dipping with the Chicago Machine, because they landed not one, but two legitimate starters from the NFL to join their defense.  Safety Micah Hyde will join Bob Sanders in the secondary, where he will likely play center field, allowing Sanders to lay hits over the middle. In addition to Sanders, the signing of DE Connor Barwin could help Chicago rise up from being the worst pass rush team in the league last year. Barwin had a monster year with 14.5 sacks in 2014, and the Machine are counting on him to relive that high point in Lovie Smith’s newly remodeled 3-4 alignment.  Philadelphia Sign FA DE Malik Jackson It surprised us that Houston opted to retain both Antwan Applewhite and Dante Fowler, allowing Jackson to test the free agency waters, but it was no surprise at all that Philadelphia jumped on the chance to sign the 26-year-old edge rusher. The Stars are looking at what could be Anthony Hargrove’s final year, and the idea of lining up Jackson opposite Muhammad Wilkerson (and his 16 sacks) is just too tempting for a team that wants to pressure the QB as the focal point of their defense. Memphis Sign rookie QB Paxton Lynch It was a pick that everyone saw from miles away, but it is still a potentially very important one for the Showboats franchise. Eli Manning has had his moments, but they have been too few and too far between. He is in the final year of his deal with Memphis and will have a chance to go out with a bang while Lynch sits and learns, ready to take the reins in 2017, unless of course, Manning proves ineffective, in which case the switch could come quite a bit earlier. Charlotte  Sign NFL DE Chandler Jones With Jevon Kearse retiring, you knew the Monarchs would have to make a move to bring some edge to their edge rush. The Monarchs added DT Vernon Butler through the draft, but it was in the NFL pool that they found their edge rusher. Chandler Jones had had a rough 2014, with an injury costing him half the season, but rebounded well in 2015 with 11 sacks for the Patriots. He now joins the Monarchs, where he is expected to step right in at LE and start terrorizing SE Division QBs. Ohio Sign FA DE Robert Quinn It may seem like an odd move for the Ohio Glory to go after an edge rusher, but the club that racked up 71 sacks in 2015, second most in the league, did so at the detriment of pass coverage, using blitzes more than any other club and resorting to single coverage far too often. That was under Bart Andrus. Now, with Tom Coughlin in town, the Glory are hoping to pressure QBs with only 4 rushers, and former Blitz DE Robert Quinn is expected to be right there to make that happen. Quinn led the Blitz in sacks in 2015 and will now line up with 12-sack man Kamerion Wemberly across from him. It is an unquestionable upgrade, and one that could allow Ohio to have 6, maybe 7 in coverage on most plays. Philadelphia Sign rookie HB Derrick Henry The Stars appear on our list for a 2nd time, this time on offense, as they land one of the best college tailbacks in the nation. After a season that saw Philadelphia struggle with the combo of Leon Washington and Zac Stacy, and with Washington departing in Free Agency (off to the NFL), the Stars drafted Derrick Henry out of Alabama and then locked him up for 4 years. No doubt about it, Henry will be a workhorse for the Stars as they try to ascend once again in a very tough NE Division. Arizona Sign FA TE Jimmie Graham Graham was unstoppable last year, catching 59 balls for 1,236 yards, an amazing 20.9-yard average, for a tight end!!!!  Add to that his league leading 19 touchdowns and you can see why he was an All-USFL star last year. Entering free agency was not what the Maulers wanted for him but cap space simply could not be made. Enter the Western Conference Champions with a 3-year offer for the 29-year-old.  Graham will join Daniel Graham in an All-Graham rotation at TE. Expect him to see a lot of targets from David Carr, and while his yards per catch are likely to drop with Carr and the more controlled Wrangler offense, he will continue to be a huge red zone target. San Diego Sign FA HB Ryan Williams When they traded Marshawn Lynch in midseason last year, the Thunder all but gave up on the run game. Lamar Miller finished the year as the team’s leading rusher with only 335 yards and a 2.3 YPC average. So, no surprise that the Thunder spend big to bring in 1,000 yard rusher Ryan Williams. Williams wanted out after being asked to split carries with Donald Brown, and he stays in the division just down Highway 1 in San Diego. Chicago Trades the 1st Overall pick to Portland for QB Ryan Fitzpatrick It was a risky decision, especially with the first overall pick in the draft at stake, but when we see that the likely target of that pick for Chicago, NDSU QB Carson Wentz, ended up choosing the NFL, it makes sense why Chicago would go for the sure thing and bring in a QB who just had one heck of a season. They went out and added talent at WR in both the draft and the NFL transfer window (Rookie Will Fuller and NFL speedster Kenny Stills). Now, if Lovie Smith can take advantage of Fitzpatrick’s often unorthodox style, he could have found the steal of the offseason.    Five Biggest Misses of the Offseason With every story of the hot rookie, big free agent signing, or game changing trade, there is a story of the one that got away. This offseason had plenty of those. We don’t want to rub salt in the wounds of these teams or their fanbases, but in all likelihood these are the 5 big fish that got away and which will haunt their clubs this season.   Seattle Cannot Woo Gilmore The Seattle Dragons have always prided themselves on their cornerback play, and this offseason they tried to boost what is already a very solid group by bringing in the best NFL free agent at the position, Buffalo’s Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore was wooed pretty intensely by the Dragons, who flew  him out to their facilities and had him meet with both Head Coach Stump Mitchell and their defensive coaching staff. They had him pal around with Richard Sherman, Khalil Mack, and Brodrick Buckley, but it was not enough. When it was all said and done, Seattle’s  offer was not as lucrative as that offered by the NFL Patriots, so Gilmore opted to stay in the Fall. Don’t feel too bad for the Dragons, as they still have a solid combo with Norman in the lead position, rookie Xavien Howard, and veteran Desmond Truffant in the top 3 spots. Oakland Went All in On Bosa but Rolled Snake Eyes Is there any consolation when you don’t get what you want but neither does the other guy? The Oakland Invaders made one of the biggest trades of the USFL Draft, swapping their 1st T-Draft pick to Tampa Bay for the 2nd overall pick in the Open Draft. The target for the Invaders was clear, Ohio State DE Joey Bosa. The problem was, Bosa ended up with two California clubs to choose from. In a classic NorCal-SoCal battle, Bosa chose the newly relocated Los Angeles Chargers over the Invaders. Bosa signing with the NFL means that once again the Oakland pass rush will be Cliff Avril, almost exclusively. The only possible bright side is that Tampa Bay also whiffed with their pick, Cal QB Jared Goff. Ohio Has to Settle for Plan B The “double down” theory of the USFL and NFL drafts has been around since the early years of the signing wars between the two leagues. A club picks a high-profile player in the first round of the draft, then returns and picks the same position within 2 rounds of that pick.  It is done year in and year out, and for good reason, no draft pick is a sure thing.  Most players, especially first year talents, have options, with two leagues competing for them they can play one against the other. That is what happened to the Ohio Glory, losing out to the NFL on their 1st round pick, QB Carson Wentz,  but using the double down, actually trading to get into the late 2nd round to select Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg. Not anything against Hackenberg, who was selected in almost the identical position in the NFL Draft by the NY Jets, but he will always now be compared with Wentz, which is not what Ohio wanted. Portland Swings Big and Whiffs on Elliott It was a bold move, trading away a starting QB who took you to the Western Conference Championship, but with a 5-interception performance in that game, and with All-American Marcus Mariota on the bench, Portland felt they had the perfect position to use Fitzpatrick as bait to get themselves a running back. Jonathan Stewart had retired unexpectedly, leaving Portland with a huge vacancy. Ezekiel Elliot was right there for the taking, and so the Stags swapped Fitzpatrick for the first overall pick in the Open Draft and called on Elliott with the pick. The problem was Elliott was also a very early selection of the Dallas Cowboys.  Had Elliott been chosen by Cleveland, Green Bay, or Buffalo, the Stags might have had a chance, but when you are competing with Jerry Jones for an early draft pick, the lure of the Cowboys makes it a tough sell. Elliott went to the Boys and Portland is now staring at the same huge open spot in their roster, with no one happy about the options on the roster this year. Tampa Cannot get a QB It has been a rough couple of years in Banditland.  Daunte Culpepper retires after 2014 and the Bandits go after a home state kid, FSU QB Jameis Winston. They whiff, with crosstown rivals, the NFL Buccaneers, outbidding them in an embarrassing moment. So they go to plan B and cut a deal with the LA Express to bring in Mark Sanchez. Sanchez spends the first half of the season demonstrating why LA was happy to deal him.  So, they make another deal for Oakland backup Pat White.  White is adequate, but hardly a sure-fire starter. So now we enter the 2015-2016 offseason and QB is again a top priority.  Tampa makes another huge deal to land a QB, giving Oakland the 2nd overall pick in the Open Draft for the rights to sign Cal’s Jared Goff, the top-rated QB in the draft.  Tampa makes the pick, but so do the St. Louis Rams. The Rams outspend the Bandits yet again, and Goff is wearing blue and gold, not scarlet and silver.  One last chance, can the Bandits land a viable QB candidate in the NFL Transfer Window?  They settle on Mizzou’s Blaine Gabbert as their target.  Not exactly Jim Kelly, but a decent option. They cannot get that done either. Gabbert resigns with the NFL, moving from San Francisco to Arizona (his third NFL stop). So now we enter the season and Tampa Bay is looking at Pat White again, with 3rd round rookie Dak Prescott as the likely backup and untested B. J. Daniels behind him.  This is not the halcyon days of Reaves, Aikman, or Culpepper. This is a tough time to be a Bandits fan.   10 Newcomers to Keep an Eye On So as we explore league rosters and take a look at the depth charts, the question becomes, who will have an impact on the league this year?  Which newcomers are in a position to make a difference, upgrade their team and provide a spark. We have identified 6 rookies and 4 NFL imports who we think have the potential to make a difference right away. These are our 10 impactful finds.   Rookie LB Scooby Wright (ARZ);   Wright has been impressive in camp and could garner a starting slot as the weak side linebacker. That is a big move for a rookie joining one of the league’s elite defenses.  With Troy Polamalu and LB Karlos Dansby as role models, Wright could not have asked for a better set of mentors as he makes the transition from college ball to the pros.   Rookie TE Hunter Henry (BIR):  The Stallions have a dynamic QB in Cam Newton, two outstanding young wideouts in Dontrelle Inman and 2015 ROTY Amari Cooper, and now add a playmaking TE to serve as an inside threat and a safety valve for Newton. We expect Henry to be in the range of 50-70 catches this year, and with Birmingham’s offense he could be in the running for ROTY himself.   NFL Import QB Christian Ponder (SD):   He is not likely to be the Week 1 starter, but this NFL import could very well be under center by midseason. Now, we have certainly seen plenty of NFL quarterbacks struggle in their first spring season, but the pattern has typically been that older veterans are those that struggle physically with the back-to-back seasons, while younger players are more able to adjust on the fly. If Ponder can do that, he has a shot at being the starter the Thunder are hoping he can be.   Rookie DT Chris Jones (LA):   Defensive Tackle can be a tough position to gauge. They don’t usually put up easily measurable stats, with their impact felt more in how the team as a whole succeeds on defense. With Jones, an aggressive, penetrating interior lineman, we may see some sacks and tackles for loss to help us assess his addition to the team, but what we should also look for is whether or not the Express improve their team sack total without requiring additional blitzers.   NFL Import S Micah Hyde (CHI):   We like Hyde’s skill set, and we see a lot of potential growth with Chicago as the Machine add a lot of new pieces to a defense that was a letdown last year. Hyde will likely defer to Bob Sanders as the leader of the secondary, but his presence will make it possible for Sanders to be more aggressive closer to the line of scrimmage, much as Polamalu has done in Arizona.   NFL Import WR Cordarelle Patterson (MEM):   This all depends on how Rex Ryan and his OC, Anthony Lynn, opt to use him. If they limit Patterson’s role to that of a traditional slot receiver, well, that would be a waste of his talents. They need to have him working kick and punt returns, yes, playing the slot, but also finding ways to get him involved in jet sweeps, screens, and maybe even Wildcat formations. If they are creative, he could be a very high impact signing.   Rookie LB Myles Jack (SD):   We love Jack’s energy and motor. He slots in perfectly between A. J. Hawk and Shantee Orr as part of a variable defensive front 7 that will alternate between 4-3 and 3-4 depending on the situation. Jack will have the freedom to follow his instincts as a disruptor while Hawk, Orr, and Kyle Van Noy act as a safety net around him. Expect San Diego to use their new rookie as a blitzer against both the run and the pass.   NFL Import HB Adrian Peterson (CHA):  Peterson’s recovery from ACL surgery was stunning, and while we expect him to be used sparingly at first, if his body holds up over the first half of the season, we can look forward to the Monarchs providing him with more and more touches as the season wears on. He can provide the kind of break away, big play potential that Darren McFadden just can’t. If they overuse him, he may break down, as we saw late in 2015 with the Vikings, but if they can limit him to 10-15 carries a game, he could be a real threat, especially later in the season.   Rookie CB Jalen Ramsey (TBY):  The Bandits had a lot of misses in their offseason efforts, but signing FSU cornerback Jalen Ramsey was not one of them. The rookie has been impressing coaches in camp and could slot in as the number one corner from day one. He is an aggressive, ball hawking, shut down corner, which is always a prized commodity in the USFL with its pass-heavy offenses.   Rookie HB Derrick Henry (PHI);   No rookie has a bigger opportunity to impact his team quite like Alabama HB Derrick Henry. The Stars, for all the talk of the pass-happy USFL, have always relied on a solid run game to drive their offense. It was true with Jim Mora Sr and Kelvin Bryant back in the 80’s, with Jim Mora Jr and Stephen Davis in the early 2000’s, and it could be the solution for Jim Harbaugh and the 2016 edition of the Stars. Henry will be the starter, no doubt about that, and his role will be to get 20-25 carries every single game as the Stars try to control the clock, shorten games, and keep Philly’s offense on the field for as much of the game as possible, an old formula, but one that has proven successful over the league’s entire history.   10 USFL Returnees Poised to Break Out in 2016 While rookies and NFL imports tend to be the focus of the offseason, every year we see players who either stayed put or who shifted teams within the USFL, jump another step up and break into the spotlight. Last year it was QB Andy Dalton, TE Jimmie Graham, and DE Cliff Avril who went from solid starters to superstars. Who do we see emerging this year?  Hard to say, but here are 10 players we think are in a position where they could emerge as major players in 2016.   Portland QB Marcus Mariota:   This one is a no brainer as Mariota takes the helm of a Portland club that was one game away from the Summer Bowl.  If Mariota is able to replicate his success at Oregon, he could be the added spark Portland needs to take that next step.   Memphis HB Todd Gurley:  Gurley started slow last year but came on strong towards the end of the year, a classic rookie trajectory. That gives us, and Showboat fans, hope that his 2nd year could be a true breakout season for the former Georgia HB.    Oakland HB Knile Davis:  Coming over from Memphis to Oakland will almost certainly produce a big jump in touches for the elusive Davis. The departure of Ryan Williams means that the Invaders are looking to create a HB group rather than a single focus.  Donald Brown will get the dirty carries, but Davis is poised to be the breakout threat, with great elusiveness, good receiving skills, and the speed to turn a short run into a downfield sprint.   Washington WR Brandon LaFell:  Deion Branch leaves behind big shoes to fill, but the Federals are so confident in LaFell’s ability to step up that they did not even prioritize the WR position in the offseason, adding only mid-round rookie speedster Tyreek Hill to the roster. Expect LaFell to be a frequent target for David Garrard, and with his size, a clear red zone target as well.   Chicago WR Aaron Dobson:  Dobson has been a very solid receiver for several years, racking up three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in his first three years in the pros.  Now, with Ryan Fitzpatrick replacing Brady Quinn at QB, he could leap up to the 1,500-yard range and quite possibly become a 10-TD receiver as well. The talent is there, and now the opportunity as well.   Philadelphia DE Malik Jackson:  After an impressive first season in the USFL, Jackson was surprisingly let loose by the Gamblers, and the Stars could not be happier. Jackson will start the year at RE, opposite veteran Anthony Hargrove, but the Stars may use frequent swaps to put him in a position to get to the QB.  He had 9 sacks last year, and we think he could take another step up and find himself in the 15-sack range.   Ohio DE Robert Quinn:  Another player who could take a big step towards stardom thanks to a move to a new team. Quinn was impressive in Baltimore, but their scheme did not put him in a position to be a true sack specialist. In Ohio we expect Quinn to have one mission and one mission only, to get to the QB. Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald:  The Maulers have built themselves a star-studded squad, with a defensive line that is simply terrifying for opposing OC’s, and while DE’s Jared Allen and Dwight Freeney have been outstanding, film shows that it is Donald who makes the engine purr. Will he get 10-12 sacks this year? Possibly, but it is the ability to disrupt plays, mangle blocking schemes, and free up the ends to get to the QB that is so impressive.   Seattle LB Khalil Mack:  The Dragons are hoping that they have the pieces they need to have an elite defense. Where they seem to be weakest is at DE, where we just don’t see Travis LaBoy or C. J. Mosley as elite pass rushers. Enter LB Khalil Mack, who will, in all likelihood, spend more time in the offensive backfield than in Seattle’s pass coverage. Mack had 7 sacks in his sophomore season, and we would not be surprised at all if his total doubled in 2015 as his role moves to one focused on the team’s blitz packages.   Oakland LB Bobby Wagner: Unlike Mack in Seattle, Wagner is going to have a diversified role in the Seattle defense. Yes, his main task will be to shut down opposing backs, forcing fumbles when possible, with big hits, but also breaking through the line to get to the runners before they even get to the line of scrimmage. He will also play coverage and should be involved in blitz packages as well. Wagner had his first career 100-tackle season in 2015, and we have him pegged as a possible league leader this year, a tackling machine who will serve as a team captain as well in his 6th season.   Orlando CB Dee Milliner:   Our last break out candidate is poised to step into some elite company. Moving from the 2 slot to become the designated number one corner for the Renegades, we anticipate that Milliner will be facing off against the best receiver of the opposing team each and every week. This is likely to help him increase his interception rate, but perhaps more importantly we should watch his target-to-catch ratio, because that is where we expect Milliner to shine.    Join us for part two of our USFL Season Preview, where we make all the picks and give you the inside scoop on who we see emerging in 2016. Will it be the Wranglers and Breakers leading their conferences this year? Will Pittsburgh leap over the Blitz in the Northeast?  Just who has the right stuff to take over a very balanced Southeast division? What do we think about Dallas as a contender in the Southwest? And just who is the best team on the West Coast? We will look at all the division races, evaluate the offseason moves of all 28 USFL clubs, and make our picks for the 2016 playoffs and award winners. It is coming in just 2 days, setting us up for Week 1 of the 2016 Season and preparing our expectations for the year ahead. Don’t go anywhere, USFL football is about to take the field again.

The USFL Draft has wrapped up, teams are only 10 days from reporting to camp, and USFL diehards are already looking past the NFL Super Bowl and filling the airwaves of sports radio with predictions about their favorite USFL team and questions about the upcoming free agency pool available for the NFL-USFL Transfer Window.  It may be a cold, dreary winter across much of the country, but it is also the season of anticipation for USFL Fans.  Some are feeling very good about their potential rosters as the final pieces are ready to be put into place, others are looking at pretty large holes in the roster and wondering if the key to the season is an NFL import yet to be acquired.  It is a period of transition across the league, with most rookies still debating conflicting offers from two different leagues, and most GM’s obsessing about missing pieces that still need to be filled.  Sounds like a good time for us to assess the situation, review the Collegiate Draft, and take a look at just who might be ready to make the leap from the fall to the spring this February.    We will cover all the latest deals, free agent signings, and the recently completed USFL Draft, but we have to start with a story we have been following for the past 6 months, the story of the Texas Outlaws and their ever-worsening stadium situation. A new player has entered the game and that could cause a major upheaval for the Outlaws.  We begin there and then will shift to the player personnel side of the league once again, reviewing all the major signings, trades, and draft results that will help to build the 28 clubs as they prepare for the upcoming season. An Offer They Can’t Refuse? Things turned dark for the Outlaws over the winter, with litigation initiated between the city of San Antonio and the insurers of the Alamodome, Chubb INA, with the former asserting that the denial of claims for the reconstruction of the facility were unwarranted, while the insurer seeks to present evidence that lays the blame for the large scale tornado damage to the facility largely on the city and its contractors for use of substandard materials and a structurally unsound design.  It is a case that could last for months, and with voters in no mood to foot the bill for what could be a $2 billion dollar demolition and reconstruction, the fate of the Alamodome is very much in doubt.  Initial demolition has already begun due to safety concerns with the exposed building regularly drawing trespassers onto the cordoned off grounds, but even that is moving slowly as the city is now required to warehouse the materials removed from the site due to the evidentiary needs in the argument of substandard construction.  To put it shortly, the site itself, and the legal issues surrounding the facility’s collapse and ever-questioned reconstruction plan, are a huge mess, a fiasco about as convoluted and messy as the building itself.   So, what does this mean for the Texas Outlaws, gearing up to compete for the 2016 season across three different stadiums in three different Texas cities?   It means that a return to normalcy could be both a long way off and at a considerable cost to owners Red McCombs and William Tatham.  Projections of a possible completion date for a rebuilt Alamodome now stretch possibly as late as 2021, and even those are tentative.  Expectations that the USFL and the Outlaw ownership in particular will be major contributors to the reconstruction efforts are becoming quite vocal and could potentially require a sign off from the team owners that would commit the team to significant funding, perhaps as much as $1B, before any steps are taken to put shovel to dirt and start the rebuild.  Principle club owner Red McCombs has been consistent in his message that he is committed to seeing the Alamodome rebuilt and that the USFL will retain its longstanding presence in San Antonio.  His minority partner and club founder, William Tatham, has seemed less than enthusiastic about both the financial and logistical pain of spending perhaps 3-5 seasons playing on the road as well as the incredible expense which will be asked of the Outlaw franchise to contribute to the reconstruction efforts. Enter a third party, one which could very well be making an offer that the Outlaws cannot refuse.  The OKC Football Group, a private lobbying and investment group headed by billionaire George Frazier of Tulsa and Clay Bennett, primary owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA, is making a pitch to the ownership of the Outlaws, one which may very well offer a path forward that provides the Outlaws with a solution for the short term and the city of San Antonio with a longer term solution to the Alamodome situation.  It is a solution that could appease many interests, though fans of the Outlaws may not be one of them.    The proposal is essentially this, OKC Football Group would buy out Red McCombs’s 51% share of the Outlaws, with the goal of relocating the Outlaw franchise to the newly completed OGE Energy Stadium on Oklahoma City’s south side.  William Tatham, the club’s founder and the man who first brought USFL football to Oklahoma when the Outlaws began their USFL journey with one year in Tulsa in 1987, would retain his 42% share of the Outlaws and would have a role in the operational side of the franchise.  The deal would allow the Outlaws to have a permanent home beginning in the 2017 season, rather than shuttling between Texas cities for up to 5 seasons, losing value and revenue each year.  It would also provide McCombs with significant income from the sale of his shares, perhaps as much as $600 million, which could help to fund his efforts to rebuild the Alamodome.   The plan would also require the USFL to commit to returning a franchise to San Antonio within 2 years of the completion of the new Alamodome, a nod to McCombs’s dedication to the city and its presence within the league.  It is an ambitious plan that would certainly improve the financial stability of the Outlaws almost immediately, but at the expense of the San Antonio and south Texas fanbase.  The fans of the city and region would be losing their beloved Outlaws just as they were preparing to celebrate 30 years of Texas Outlaw football in 2017.  It would ensure that a new franchise would call San Antonio home, but perhaps not until 2020 or 2021, and not the same franchise, of course.  It would also increase the private funding available for the Alamodome project without committing the USFL to fund the project as they did in Las Vegas, a messy situation that the league is loathe to repeat. It may well be an offer the league and the Outlaws cannot refuse.  It solves so many financial and logistical issues for the Outlaws, provides the league with a “legacy” market and a brand new 55,000 seat stadium in a growing metropolitan area, and provides a timeline for San Antonio and current Outlaws owner Red McCombs to return to the league.  There is, of course, a lot more complexity to this offer than we have described, and it will have to make its way through months of negotiation between the OKC Football Group, the USFL, the Outlaws, and the City of San Antonio, but this is an option which offers much to all parties, making it attractive both in the short term (particularly for the Outlaw ownership, the USFL, and the city and state of Oklahoma) while providing long term viability for the Alamodome project and the return of USFL football to the city of San Antonio.  Expect more news on this proposal and the response of the Outlaws and the USFL as we move through the 2016 season. Winter Free Agent Signings Turning now to the ongoing offseason player personnel changes across the league, we start with a quick rundown of later signings across the league.  As we typically see, the rush of signings in August and September slowed to a trickle over the winter, with only a handful of notable signings up until the period of the draft.  We could still see a few significant additions as camps open up, particularly as teams come to learn that some of their prized draft picks have opted to join the NFL, leaving gaps in their clubs’ rosters, but as of right now, with only a few rookies having signed, the hot stove of free agency has turned cold.  But, that said, there were several signings from November through January which we should note.  We will start there and then provide you with our list of 10 players still on the market who could be looking for a home this February.   DE Malik Jackson (HOU to PHI) Jackson’s release from the Gamblers was one of the early surprises across the league.  The 1st year NFL import had rotated on the Houston D-line with veteran Antwan Applewhite and rookie Dante Fowler.  The three had combined for 28 sacks, with Jackson’s 9 sacks settling between the 11 from Applewhite and 8 from the rookie Fowler. We had anticipated that Houston might opt to keep the two younger players, but instead opted to retain Applewhite and Fowler and let Jackson go. The beneficiary of that decision ended up being the Philadelphia Stars, who were able to sign Jackson to a 3-year deal and now plan to put the speed edge rusher on the opposite side of the line from veteran Anthony Hargrove.  Jackson could share time with Muhammad Wilkerson or may, with a good camp, jump into a full time role in the right end slot.   G Deuce Lutui (NJ to STL) The long-time Atlanta Fire starter at right guard, Lutui spent one year in New Jersey before hitting the market again.  He lands in St. Louis, where he is expected to compete with Brett Williams for the starting right guard gig.  Lutui could also serve as a swing lineman, taking snaps on the left side or at center.  A solid run blocker, Lutui has been a full time starter since 2011, but could once again see himself playing spot duty on a line that is expected to both produce holes for Eddie Lacy and protect Josh Freeman.   LB Tavares Gooden (BAL to OAK) Gooden has averaged only 5 starts per season but has seen regular action in his time in Baltimore, moving from weak to strong side over the past 2 years. He finished 2015 with 66 tackles, playing primarily in Baltimore’s nickel packages as a coverage linebacker. In Oakland he may finally get a shot to be a full-time starter, slotted in as the strong side linebacker at present, ahead of Nick Koutavides, who likely will see more action in the middle.  Expect Gooden to remain on the field in nickel situations, a role he proved adept at with the Blitz.   C/OT Brian Schwenke (SD to NOR) A solid swing lineman, Schwenke is not expected to overtake Chris Spencer as the starting center in New Orleans, but should see significant snaps both at center and tackle.  Schwenke’s flexibility has been a strong suit for the 3-year veteran. After starting at center for the Showboats in 2015, injuries and a falling out with coach Rex Ryan had him serving the swing lineman role, but it suited him well, and could be why the Breakers opted to bring him in on a 2-year deal.   WR Reggie Brown (OHI to DAL) Dallas had plenty of slots to fill in their WR group, and after signing slot receiver Tiquan Underwood in August, they added Brown in November.  Brown is likely going to rotate with Percy Harvin in the slot, but could also see considerable action outside, sharing time with Underwood.  At 34, and entering his 12th season in the league, Brown now joins his 4th team after long stints in Seattle and Texas as well as the past 2 years in Ohio.  Brown had his best season with the Glory last year, targeted 44 times and catching 18 balls for 244 yards and 2 scores.  Expect his role to again be a supporting one, though with Dallas’s uncertain receiver group, he could well see more opportunities.     HB Ronny Hillman (CHA to ARZ) 2nd year halfback Ronny Hillman was cut loose by the Charlotte Monarchs after what many would consider a solid first year with the club.  Working behind both Darren McFadden and Taiwan Jones, Hillman still managed to see the field, both as a gunner on kick coverage and in the backfield. He finished 2015 with 86 attempts for 321, a pretty respectable 3.8 YPC average.  He also added 4 touchdowns.  In Arizona he will again likely play a dual role, serving on punt and kick coverages, but also spelling Frank Gore.  With Gore the clear lead back and with Ka’Deem Carey seeing carries on third down and in spread formations, Hillman will likely have to fight for touches, but can be productive when given a chance.   Ten Free Agents Still Looking for a Home   FB Rick Razzano (SEA) —We are honestly surprised that no one has jumped on the 32-year-old former lead blocker for Michigan, Texas, and Seattle, but with the reduction of use of fullbacks in newer offenses, perhaps it is not surprising that he was not snapped up early.   WR Sidney Rice (MEM) —A 9-year veteran of the Showboats, Rice is a potential retirement candidate after suffering significant injuries in both 2013 and 2015. That uncertainty has kept teams away from serious negotiations with the receiver.   CB Drayton Florence (MGN) —After 5 seasons with Philadelphia and Michigan, the nickel back is looking for a home either as a kick returner or at cornerback. With only 4 interceptions in 5 years, there has been limited interest so far this offseason.   HB Leon Washington (PHI) —After 9 seasons in the league, with both the Panthers and Stars, Leon Washington is looking for a club that sees his 2015 season, where he had 896 yards and 8 touchdowns, as a sign that at 29 he still has a lot of gas in the tank.  Washington is a solid 3-down option, with 19 receptions in 2015 and an ability to make the first tackler miss in the run game.  He is one of the surprises on our list of free agents as yet unsigned.   DE Chris Canty (TEX) —Canty is another surprise on our list.  A 12-sack DE back in 2012, Canty has not recovered that form over the past 3 years, topping out at 7 sacks in 2015 with the Outlaws.  At 32 this may be an age issue, or it may just be that he has to wait to see which of the bigger DE names in the draft sign with the NFL before finding a landing spot in the USFL.   CB Carlos Rogers (TBY) —A 2-time All-USFL selection, Rogers is a 10-year veteran who has proven to be effective in both zone and man coverage.  His best year from a takeaway perspective was 2010, when he finished with 6 interceptions.  He garnered only 2 with the Bandits last year, while starting all 16 games. There have been rumors that the Bandits are trying to resign the veteran corner, but as of yet, no deal has emerged.   QB Vince Young (BAL) —Injuries and inconsistency have been the story for this former Heisman Trophy winner.  After coming to the USFL with much fanfare in 2011, Young has yet to start a full 16 games, topping out at 11 games with Chicago in his 2nd year before injury cut his season short.  He moved to Baltimore in 2014 to back up Ben Roethlisberger after 2 years with sub 70 QB Ratings as a part-time starter.  Since then he has started only preseason games, and was lost for the year last season after suffering an injury during mop up duty for the Blitz.  A major star in college, Young is now generally considered a bust in pro circles.  That alone could be why no one has taken a flyer on the former star of the Longhorns.   WR Santana Moss (TBY) —At 35, there is much speculation that unless a deal comes in soon, Santana Moss could opt to retire from the game.  Moss started all 16 games for the Bandits last year after having mixed roles in both Arizona and New Orleans.  He finished the year as the Bandits’ top receiver with 101 receptions, 1,052 yards and 5 touchdowns.  So, the question is, why did Tampa Bay let him go at the end of his contract and why is he not getting offers now?    CB Nnambi Asomugha (BAL) —There is no question why Asomugha has yet to sign.  After a 7-pick, league title season in 2014, Asomugha regressed in 2015, dropping to only 2 picks, but also giving up 88 catches to opposing receivers. Despite this, Asomugha is insisting on getting All-USFL compensation before he will sign. He views himself as one of the top corners in the league and is looking to be compensated as such.  Teams have been hesitant to deal with the ego they see in Asomugha and have been unwilling to offer the type of compensation that he is demanding.   WR Steve Smith (OHI) —This one truly baffles us.  After 4 All-USFL nominations, an 1,100-yard season, and his second 100-reception season in the past 3 years, we just don’t know why teams are shying away from Steve Smith.  This is a receiver who at times was single-handedly keeping the Ohio Glory in games. Yes, he is 37 years old, and yes, he is both extroverted and opinionated, but he has also been described as a locker room motivator.  Could this really be all about his age, or is there something else happening here?   Draft Trades The4 2016 USFL Draft saw some of the most active trading, particularly for the early picks of the first round of any draft in recent history.  With 48 hours of the opening picks of the Territorial Draft we saw both of the top two picks change hands, with two more teams dropping out of the top 4 on the day of the Open Draft, significantly shifting the focus of the draft and creating ripples that ran through the first round.                  46 Hours Prior to the Territorial Draft: Tampa Bay Trades for Rights to Jared Goff Just two days before the first of the league’s two Collegiate Drafts, the question of who would make a move to obtain the rights to draft Cal QB Jared Goff was answered.  The Tampa Bay Bandits, having collapsed from a playoff team to the 2nd pick in the Open Draft due in large part to a failure last year to land FSU quarterback Jameis Winston, and a disastrous trade with Los Angeles for Mark Sanchez, made a deal to try once again to acquire the top QB talent in the draft.  Tampa Bay would swap their 2nd overall pick in the Open Draft to the Oakland Invaders, holders of the key to Goff, the rights to select 3 players from Cal, Stanford, and Fresno State without competition from other USFL clubs.  Oakland gave up their first pick in the T-draft, confident that Tampa Bay was targeting Goff, but earning the 2nd pick in the Open Draft with the possibility of landing their top selection in a position of need.   As expected, 2 days later, Tampa Bay would announce that Jared Goff was their pick, and the negotiations would begin.  Oakland, with the second pick in the draft would go for the best defensive player in the open pool, Ohio State DE Joey Bosa.  27 Hours Prior to the T-Draft: Portland Trades Ryan Fitzpatrick to Chicago for 1st Overall pick With Goff almost assuredly coming off the board in the T-Draft, the Chicago Machine, owners of the first pick in the Open Draft had a decision to make.  Did they like North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz enough to spend the first pick in the draft on the 6’5” pocket passer, or would they use their position to make a deal.  When Portland came to them with an offer for a QB solution that was already game tested, the Machine pulled the trigger on the deal. Chicago would provide the Portland Stags with the first overall pick, allowing them the best chance of any team of landing a star player. In return, the Portland Stags send QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to the Machine.  Fitzpatrick, coming off his best year as a pro and having guided the Stags to the Western Conference Finals, was a luxury that Portland could afford to lose thanks to the signing of Marcus Mariota out of the 2015 draft.  He would step into Chicago as the opening day starter, allowing the Machine to groom Trevor Siemian, their own 2015 QB draft pick, while immediately improving their offense at the same time.  For Portland the motivation was clear.  With Jonathan Stewart having retired unexpectedly at age 29 in September, the Stags were desperate to rebuild a run game that was the crux of their offense.  They had already signed Felix Jones away from the Texas Outlaws, but they wanted more. The expectation was that either Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliot or Alabama’s Derrick Henry, perhaps both, would escape the T-Draft and be available with the Stags’ newfound draft-starting pick.  The rights to both Elliott and Henry were held by teams, Ohio and Birmingham respectively, who had no pressing need at halfback, and with deep talent pools coming out of the Glory’s and the Stallions’ protected schools, they could afford to let the halfbacks slip into the Open Draft.   Even if another halfback-needy team, someone like Philadelphia, made a deal with either Ohio or Birmingham, the other highly-rated back would still be on the board with the first pick, all but assuring the Stags of having a shot at a lead back, a shot complicated by the NFL Draft, certainly, but a shot nonetheless.    And so, Chicago had their QB, Tampa Bay had their chance to draft their preferred rookie QB, and the Stags and Invaders had found themselves with the two top picks in the Open Draft.  But the swapping was not yet over. 24 Hours Before Open Draft: New Jersey & Jacksonville Trade down in Top 10 The next two trades would happen in the hours leading up to the Open Draft, after the protected lists of players from the T-Draft had been announced.  Elliott, Henry, Joey Bosa, and a significant pool of prospective Top 20 picks had escaped the T-Draft process and were available.  With everyone expecting Portland to go after a halfback and Oakland expected to use the 2nd overall pick on Joey Bosa, there was a flurry of interest in the next few picks, in part due to interest in QB Carson Wentz, but also simply out of desire to get one of the truly elite prospects in the early rounds.   The Los Angeles Express held the third selection in the draft, but after signing Sam Bradford in free agency, they were not viewed as a contender in the Carson Wentz quest. In fact, with LA looking primarily at Defensive Tackle and Offensive Line needs, the Express could afford to shift downwards and still get a player they coveted.  They let it be known that the third pick was available for the right price.  Several teams would make offers, all interested in Wentz, but in the end, the best offer came from the New Jersey Generals, the very team Sam Bradford had left in a huff.   New Jersey provided LA with what they wanted most, additional picks.  The Generals would give LA their first round pick, number 10 overall, as well as their 3rd rounder for the rights to move up 7 slots.  But, was New Jersey looking for a QB?  Many believed that their earlier signing of Arizona backup Nick Foles pointed to a team that was going to move forward with their 2015 rookie pick, USC’s Brent Hundley, but wanted a solid 2nd option if that did not pan out.  The expectation that New Jersey might not be in the QB market meant that it might be the 4th pick, not the 3rd where Carson Wentz would hear his name called.   And so, the owner of the 4th pick, the Jacksonville Bulls, were now getting calls from across the league.  They too were not viewed as a QB-hungry team, having brought in Robert Griffin III from the NFL the year before, and having seen considerable improvement in their offense from 2014 to 2015.  If Jacksonville was not in the QB hunt, others who might be could try to move up for Wentz.  But, Wentz was not the only coveted player still expected to be on the board.  With Portland clearly looking at halfbacks, Oakland well-known to be interested in Bosa, and New Jersey likely going after a position of need on either the offensive line or in the linebacking corps, there was a very good chance that the 4th pick in the draft would not be Wentz, but the other big name edge rusher in the draft, Oregon’s Deforest Buckner.  Portland had passed up on Buckner in the T-Draft, so the big bullrushing end would be there, along with Wentz to the bidder who could convince Jacksonville to make a deal.   That trade partner emerged only 6 hours after the New Jersey – Los Angeles swap.  The San Diego Thunder, trying to rebuild a once-domnant defense, was only 4 picks lower in the draft order, a minor drop for the Bulls, and when they threw in two additional picks, a 4th this year and another in 2017, it satisfied Jacksonville’s desire to build through the draft.  The Bulls would drop down to pick 8, allowing San Diego to almost certainly get a shot at Buckner.    So, who was the biggest winner in all of these early first-round swaps?  Well, that largely depends on who has the ability to sign the player they would draft, but the other obvious choice was Ohio, owners of the 5th pick in the draft.  It looked very plausible that without making any moves at all, Ohio might have found themselves in the position to acquire the rights to QB Carson Wentz, a player that Coach Coughlin was said to be impressed with.  The Glory could stand pat, retain all of their later picks, and still have a shot at the consensus number 2 QB in the draft.    Draft Day: Ohio Trades Troy Smith to Portland for 2nd Round Choice But the moves did not stop there.  There was still one more significant trade to be made.  Following their first round selection of Carson Wentz, a move still viewed as fortuitous, Ohio decided to adopt a common strategy in the USFL draft, the double down.  With the NFL likely to woo Wentz quite hard, there was no guarantee that the QB would opt to land in Columbus with the Glory, so the team opted to make their first move in the 2nd round.    Ohio had selected Wentz, as expected, with pick 5 in the first round.  In the 2nd round they used their 5th pick to go for Safety Karl Joseph from West Virginia, but they saw at the end of the 2nd round a chance to move into the round for a second pick and they took it.  The Glory approached the Portland Stags, who now had their HB chosen (Ezekiel Elliott), but who had traded away Ryan Fitzpatrick to obtain the pick for Elliott.  This was a team that needed a backup QB and Ohio had just the player to send over to the Stags.  The Glory offered Portland QB Troy Smith, a mobile, athletic QB who had split starts with Brock Osweiler in 2015.  Smith would be able to play in the same high-mobility, dual-threat style that starter Marcus Mariota was set up for, making him an ideal backup for Portland’s newly christened starter.  Portland agreed, providing Ohio with their 2nd round pick.  After all, the Stags had already made two picks in the first round (Elliott and CB Vernon Hargreaves at pick 26.   So, with the need for a backup QB satisfied, why not give up their 2nd rounder to the Glory. The deal was cut just as Baltimore made their 2nd round pick, 2 slots before Portland’s pick.  Ohio would move up for a 2nd pick in the round, and their objective was clear.  They goal was to sign Wentz and have a similarly-built QB behind him in NFL import Brock Osweiler, but with Wentz still a risk to join the NFL, the Glory would double down at the position and take another pure pocket passer in Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg.  Hackenberg was similar in build and style to Wentz and Osweiler, allowing Coach Coughlin to put in a traditional run-first, play action, vertical game that would suit whichever QBs he had in place by season’s start.   And so, five trades impacted the opening day of the USFL Draft and quite possibly the remaining draft as well, with the QB position again at the center of the action. Three prominent QBs were taken off the board in the T-Draft (Goff to Tampa after the trade, Paxton Lynch to Memphis as suspected, and Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott to the Bandits as well, as they two played the “double down” strategy).  Three more would come off the boards in the first two rounds of the Open Draft, with Carson Wentz taken third, NC State’s Jacoby Brissett going with the 42nd pick to the Seattle Dragons, and Ohio making the move with Portland to get back into the round to take Christian Hackenberg at pick 54.  More on all the moves and selections up next as we review the full draft and look at all 28 clubs.   While first round trades, all in the top 4 picks, were the story of the draft, there was still plenty of action throughout the 3 days of draft action.  The T-Draft, held on Wednesday, saw several major talents taken off the board, and the Open Draft saw all the drama of teams taking their shots at potential impact players over two days of selections, with Friday Night providing the first and second round excitement and Saturday filling out the remaining 5 rounds.  As we look back on the draft, fully aware that the NFL Draft will greatly influence who finds their way to each league, we expect that teams will have a mix of joy and pain as players use the two league structure to make the best deal for themselves and find the home that is best suited to their interests.   We will review the draft in the original draft order (pre-trade), looking at each club’s T-Draft choices as well as the names from the Open Draft that are drawing attention, beginning with Chicago, who would trade out of the first round in order to acquire a QB with a proven track record.   CHICAGO MACHINE T-Draft Selections: WR Will Fuller (NDame), DE Jihad Ward (Illinois), DE Dean Lowry (NDame)  First Round Story: The Machine traded away the first overall pick to Portland in exchange for QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.  Fitzpatrick is expected to be the starter after a strong 2015 campaign in Portland.   Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): Chicago drafted 3 linemen in the later rounds.  The most promising is guard Donavon Clark from Michigan State, who could see some snaps with the first team in camp if he signs.   TAMPA BAY BANDITS T-Draft Selections: CB Jalen Ramsey (FSU), QB Dak Prescott (Miss St), CB Javien Elliott (FSU), QB Jared Goff (Cal-pick from OAK)  First Round Story: Tampa Bay traded the 2nd overall pick in the Open Draft to Oakland in order to select QB Jared Goff from Oakland’s protected pool of players.  In return, Oakland would select DE Joey Bosa of Ohio State with the Bandit’s Open Draft pick. Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): We are intrigued by HB Devontae Booker.  He may not have a big role with the Bandits, but when you look at his film there are some skills there.   LOS ANGELES EXPRESS T-Draft Selections: C Max Tuerk (USC), LB Joe Schobert (Wisc), CB Kevon Seymour (USC)  First Round Story: Los Angeles traded down 7 slots to the 10-spot, With that pick they selected Mississippi State DE Chris Jones, also picking up a 3rd round selection which would be used to select HB Devontae Booker from Utah.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s):  Just on quantity alone, we have to call this a solid draft for the Express. They had 14 picks between the 3 T-Draft and 7 Open Draft rounds.  Now, as for quality, the player who we think could be a mid-round steal is HB Paul Perkins, a potential dual threat back out of UCLA.   JACKSONVILLE BULLS T-Draft Selections: DE Shaq Lawson (Clemson), LB Kevin Dodd (Clemson), LB Antonio Morrison (Florida)  First Round Story: The Bulls traded down 4 spots in a deal with San Diego.  Now with the 8th selection, the Bulls selected OT Ronnie Staley of Notre Dame. The trade also landed them a 4th round pick next year and another this year, with which they selected WR Kenny Lawlor from Cal.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): If he signs with the Bulls, WR Tajae Sharpe out of UMass could be an interesting prospect on both special teams and in the slot.   OHIO GLORY T-Draft Selections: CB Eli Apple (Ohio St), DT Adolphus Washington (Ohio St), WR Jalin Marshall (Ohio St) First Round Story: The Glory stood pat at pick 5 and saw Carson Wentz fall to them after all the trades in the first 4 selections.  Ohio selected Wentz, the first QB taken in the Open Draft, and would later trade into the later 2nd round to obtain a 2nd QB, Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): LB Blake Martinez out of Stanford is a motor guy who could fit in well with the Glory defense.  Ohio has to outbid the Packers to sign him as both teams picked him in the 4th round.   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS T-Draft Selections: QB Paxton Lynch (Memphis), DT Robert Nkemdiche (Ole Miss), HB Alex Collins (Ark)  First Round Story: Memphis had attempted to move up to the 4-spot in hopes of landing DeForest Buckner, but were unable to get Jacksonville to deal, so at pick 6 they went with their second option at DE, Clemson’s Shaq Lawson. Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): Temple LB Tyler Matakevich had a 5th round grade, but Ohio signed him in the 7th, as did the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He could catch on as a special teams player for either team.   PHILADELPHIA STARS T-Draft Selections: DT Austin Johnson (PSU), DE Carl Nassib (PSU), S Jordan Lucas (PSU) First Round Story: Feeling very fortunate that Portland opted to use their first pick on Ezekiel Elliott, the Stars were overjoyed to have Alabama’s Derrick Henry on the board with the 7th pick. They are currently competing with the Tennessee Copperheads of the NFL for Henry’s signature on a deal. Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): He may not grade out as first round talent but on name alone Prince Charles Iworah deserves a shot.  He was a 6th round pick of the Stars out of Western Kentucky.   SAN DIEGO THUNDER T-Draft Selections: DT Kenny Clark (UCLA), LB Myles Jack (UCLA), WR Devin Fuller (UCLA)  First Round Story: San Diego traded up to the 4 spot and got their choice of edge rushers, settling on Oregon’s DeForest Buckner, generally considered the most complete De on the board.  They will compete with the NFL 49ers for Buckner’s talents. Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): The Thunder are creating a kicker competition for incumbent Jeff Reed, signing Georgia State’s Will Lutz in the 7th and final round of the draft.   ATLANTA FIRE T-Draft Selections: DT Adam Gotsis (UGA), WR Pharoh Cooper (So. Car.), OT John Theus (UGA)  First Round Story: The Fire hope to add Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadmill to their offense, providing both a deep threat and another option for QB Kyle Orton. Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): It’s not too much further down, but the Fire’s 2nd round pick, Alabama HB Kenyan Drake, could quickly get on the field in rotation with trade acquisition Chris Ivory.    LAS VEGAS VIPERS T-Draft Selections: DE Bronson Kaufusi (BYU), LB Nick Vigil (Utah St), S Marwin Evans (Utah St)  First Round Story:  Las Vegas used the 10th pick in the draft to select DT Sheldon Rankins of Louisville.  The big man also became the first of the USFL’s first round picks to sign with the league, with Rankin agreeing to a 4-year deal with the Vipers. Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): Keep an eye on 5th round pick Matthew Judon out of Division II Grand Valley State.  He has not played against top competition, but what he has on film is impressive. He could be a steal for the Vipers.    NEW JERSEY GENERALS T-Draft Selections: TE Tyler Higbee (WKU, LB Steve Longa (Rutgers), OT George Fant(WKU)  First Round Story: The Generals moved up from 10 to 3 with a deal that gave the LA Express their first and third round picks.  Many expected them to select Carson Wentz with the pick, but New Jersey instead opted to select the best LT in the draft, Michigan State’s Jack Conklin.  They will be competing with the Tennessee Copperheads for his rights after the NFL team traded several players to get a 2nd Top 12 pick in the NFL Draft.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s):  The Generals continue to look for a consistent kicker.  Is UCLA’s Ka’imi Fairbairn the answer?  New Jersey hopes so after spending a 6th round pick on him.   DENVER GOLD T-Draft Selections: DT Maliek Collins (Nebr), OT Alex Lewis (Nebr), CB Ken Crawley (Colo)  First Round Story: Denver went for secondary help, selecting Miami of Florida’s Artie Burns with the 12th pick in the draft.  Burns now has to choose between two notedly stingy teams, the Gold and the NFL Steelers. Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): The Gold took two linebackers in the later rounds, Portland State’s Patrick Onwuasor and Louisville’s James Burgess.  Both play a similar style and both could make the roster (if signed) as New Jersey tries to rebuild their LB group.   WASHINGTON FEDERALS T-Draft Selections: S Kevin Byard (MTSU), LB Dadi Nicolas (Va Tech), G Lucas Patrick (Duke)  First Round Story: the Federals opted to build on their D-line by selecting Alabama’s A’Shawn Robinson.  The Feds are reportedly close to a deal with the big man in the middle, hoping to outbid the Detroit Lions.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): We are keeping an eye on West Virginia HB Wendell Smallwood, and we think you should too.  He was a 5th round pick for the Feds, who need to find a way to reduce Deuce McCallister’s workload now that he officially earned his AARP card.   SEATTLE DRAGONS T-Draft Selections: G Joe Dahl (Wash St), LB Travis Feeney (UW), TE Joshua Perkins (UW) First Round Story: Seattle looked for secondary help and believes they have found it in Baylor’s Xavien Howard, a speedy corner used to going up against those dynamic Big 12 receivers.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): The selection of NC State QB Jacoby Brissett in the 2nd round may be an indication that Byron Leftwich has given the team a warning about his long term plans. We can see the similarities in the two players’ games, so this could be a 1-year mentoring program in the works for the Dragons.   BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS T-Draft Selections: C Ryan Kelly (Bama), LB Reggie Ragland (Bama), DT Jarran Reed (Bama)  First Round Story: After a strong T-Draft crop once again, Birmingham used the Open Draft’s 15th pick to select a player that rival Memphis passed on, Arkansas TE Hunter Henry. The Stallions continue to add receiving options for QB Cam Newton with the pick of the athletic receiving TE.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): The Stallions usually live and die by the T-Draft, but this year, they may have found a steal midway through the Open Draft, selecting Vandy’s Steven Weatherly, a LB who might have gone in the first 2-3 rounds had he played at a different SEC school.   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS T-Draft Selections: WR Corey Coleman (Baylor), DT Hassan Ridgeway (Texas), DT Andrew Billings (Baylor)  First Round Story: Dallas felt very fortunate to see Georgia LB Leonard Floyd both escape the T-Draft unchosen and then drop to them at pick 16 in the first round of the Open Draft. They will need to outbid the Chicago Bears of the NFL to land the aggressive linebacker.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): Another name game contestant, Illinois WR Geronimo Allison was taken in the 4th round and could see the field as part of Dallas’s very “in flux” receiver room.   OAKLAND INVADERS T-Draft Selections: (TE Austin Hooper (Stan), HB Tyler Ervin (SJSU), 1st Pick Traded to TBY)  First Round Story: After their trade with the Bandits, Oakland found itself with both the 2nd overall pick and the 17th.  With the 2nd pick in the draft, the Invaders did as everyone expected, selecting Ohio State’s disruptive DE Joey Bosa.  Later on in the round they went defense again, selecting CB William Jackson III out of the University of Houston.  Bosa was also selected by another Cali team, the San Diego Chargers, while Jackson was chosen in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): HB Darius Jackson had some very good games for Eastern Michigan.  He did not grade out well on the tangibles, but his game film shows some intangibles, and that may help him make the roster in Oakland.   MICHIGAN PANTHERS T-Draft Selections: DE Shilique Calhoun (MSU), C Graham Glasgow (Mich), WR Aaron Burbridge (MSU)  First Round Story: The Panthers look to beef up their O-line with the selection of Texas A&M tackle Germain Ifedi.  Ifedi will now have to choose between the Panthers and the NFL Seahawks.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): Indiana QB Nate Sudfeld could slot right in at the 3rd QB position if he signs with the Panthers, but we think he can move up to 2nd if he plays his cards right and pays attention to how Kirk Cousins prepares each week.    HOUSTON GAMBLERS T-Draft Selections: OT Germain Ifedi (TAMU), CB Brandon Williams (TAMU), LB Brandon Roberts (Houston)  First Round Story: Houston looked to add some range to their LB group by selecting Boise State backer Kamalei Correa.   They will be bidding against the Baltimore Ravens for Correa’s talents, but could be in a good position as Correa was a 2nd round choice by the Ravens, locking him into a lower salary on their rookie pay scale. Most Intriguing Later Pick(s):  The Gamblers took a 6th round flyer on La Tech QB Jeff Driskel.  While we think Colt McCoy is the heir apparent for Hasselbeck, Driskel will have a chance to prove us and the Houston coaches wrong.   CHARLOTTE MONARCHS T-Draft Selections: DT Vernon Butler (La Tech), HB Kenneth Dixon (La Tech), CB Justin Burris (NC State)  First Round Story:  Charlotte also went for a linebacker, selecting Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith.  Smith was also chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL 2nd round but has already signed on the dotted line with Charlotte. Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): Safety Kavon Frazier from Central Michigan may be one of our favorite prospects from the entire 2nd day of the draft.  That he fell as far as the 4th round is a bit of a surprise.   ORLANDO RENEGADES T-Draft Selections: S Deon Bush (Miami), S Sharrod Neasman (FAU), S Michael Pierce (Samford)  First Round Story: The Renegades hope to add another weapon for QB Russell Wilson by selecting WR Sterling Shepherd out of Oklahoma. The tall, lanky receiver now has his choice of sunny Florida or glitzy New York as he was also chosen by the NY Giants. Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): TE Beau Sanford out of Montana State has good hands, can block the run, and is a big target, but needs to work on his routes if he hopes to move up the depth chart and actually get the ball thrown to him.   TEXAS OUTLAWS T-Draft Selections: DE Emmanuel Ogbah (OK State), OT Le’Raven Clark (Texas Tech), DE Charles Tapper (OU)  First Round Story: The Outlaws went for a safety, selecting Florida’s Keanu Neal with the 22nd pick in the draft.  They will have to outbid the NFL Falcons for Neal’s services. Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): The Outlaws hope they found a diamond in the rough with 6th round pick Colby James, a LB out of Colorado State.   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS T-Draft Selections: S Deiondre Hall (N. Iowa), C Evan Boehm (Mizzou), HB Jordan Howard (IU)  First Round Story: St. Louis surprised many by taking a wide receiver, already a position of strength for the team, but they had Ohio State’s Michael Thomas high on their board, so with him still available they opted to go for the player they believed had the most upside.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): The Skyhawks’ first four picks were all defenders, and of those, the most intriguing may be 3rd rounder, DT Javon Hargrave from South Carolina State.   BALTIMORE BLITZ T-Draft Selections: DE Yannick Ngakoue (Maryland), CB Eric Murray (Minn), DT Quinton Jefferson (Maryland)  First Round Story: The Blitz look to deal with the departure of Robert Quinn, choosing edge rusher Jihad Ward out of Illinois as their late first round selection.  Ward has a coast to coast choice to make, having also been drafted by the recently relocated Las Vegas Raiders.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): Despite signing Jake Locker this year, the Blitz still go after a project QB to put behind Big Ben.  Trevor Boykin from TCU could have a special role, being used on short yardage as an option specialist for QB sneaks and bootlegs.   PITTSBURGH MAULERS T-Draft Selections: WR Tyler Boyd (Pitt), LB Nick Kwiatkowski (WVU), S K. J. Dillon (WVU) First Round Story: The Maulers decide to add more protection for the 2015 OPOTY, QB Andy Dalton, selecting tackle Jason Spriggs from Indiana University.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): QB Kevin Hogan from Stanford is unlikely to see snaps at that position.  We think the Maulers chose him in the 5th round hoping to convince him to try his hand as a receiver.   PORTLAND STAGS T-Draft Selections: S Darian Thompson (Boise), C Isaac Seumalo (Or State), LB Joe Walker (Oregon)  First Round Story: The Stags made perhaps the most controversial move of the draft, trading away the QB who took them to the Western Conference Finals, Ryan Fitzpatrick, in a quest to get a halfback.  The trade gave them the first overall pick in the Open Draft, and they spent that pick on Ohio State’s bruising and blazingly fast Ezekiel Elliott.   Now they find themselves in a bidding war with the one NFL owner who will not let cost keep a player from his squad, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys.  Portland did have a second pick in the round, but rather than double down on the halfback position, they opted to go for defense and get some help at cornerback by selecting Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): OT Fahn Cooper from Ole Miss could be a 4th round steal.  He has the size and the power to be very effective as a run blocker, but needs to improve his footwork in pass protection.   ARIZONA WRANGLERS T-Draft Selections: TE David Morgan (UTSA), WR Devin Lucien (ASU), LB Scooby Wright (ASU)  First Round Story: Many expected Arizona to trade down and get out of the first round, but they stayed put, selecting guard Cody Whitehair from Kansas State.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): One of our favorite picks in the entire draft is HB Peyton Barber in the 3rd round.  This Auburn product could be a very effective stand-in for Frank Gore this year and could possibly earn the starter’s role in 2 years.   NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS T-Draft Selections: LB Deion James (LSU), CB Rashard Robinson (LSU), HB Jalen Richard (So Miss)  First Round Story: The Breakers also stood pat late in the round, keeping their final pick of the round and selecting some O-line help in the form of Notre Dame center Nick Martin.  Martin was also selected by the Houston Oilers early in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft, but the Breakers will still have to make a deal that attracts the lineman to the club.  Most Intriguing Later Pick(s): Another mid-round HB who could have a role this year, Southern Miss back Jalen Richard could be a special teamer as well as depth at the position for the Breakers.   Top 20 NFL Players Available & Best Matches The draft will certainly provide a talent boost and help many teams fill key areas of need, but as we full-well know, with competition from the NFL for every single player, the draft is not enough.  Every year half, if not more of the USFL draft picks end up playing in the senior league in the fall, not with their USFL teams.  So, what is a team to do when camps open and their draft picks did not sign on?  Well, the answer is the NFL-USFL transfer window.  That is typically the last minute call, even in some cases with players coming on as the regular season starts.  The Window lasts from February 15-March 15, meaning that there are players signing just as teams suit up for the first week of action.  It means that some NFL imports may not see the field until Week 3 or 4, but it still provides hope that a key piece needed for a club to succeed is still available.  So, as we look at the upcoming class of NFL Free agents, who do we see as potential targets of USFL interest?  We picked the “high interest” players who appear to be headed to free agency (unless they sign in the next 2 weeks as we await the Super Bowl), and we offer you the best option for where they might end up. Here is our Transfer Window Primer.   QUARTERBACKS:  Blaine Gabbert (SF), Geno Smith (NYJ), Christian Ponder (Min) Most years the NFL free agent QB pool is filled with journeymen, lifelong backups, and maybe the occasional protesting veteran or aging former starter.  This year is a little different.  We have three past starters, all coming off their rookie deal, but all considered in one way or another a potential bust. They are in the pool because they have not delivered on the promise they showed in college, but with QB development very much an issue in both leagues, there is still hope that one or more of these players could develop.  So, who is a prime target and where could they end up?  Looking across the USFL, we think the best scenarios are teams that have a questionable QB situation and could be open for a QB competition.  That includes clubs like San Diego, Las Vegas, Ohio, Tampa Bay, and Memphis. The last three largely determined by whether Goff, Wentz, or Lynch opt to join the NFL.  If the top draft picks at the position bail on the USFL, then you can bet that Gabbert, Smith, and Ponder will get a lot of attention.   RUNNING BACKS: Adrian Peterson (Min), DeAngelo Williams (Pit), Isaiah Crowell (Cle), Jamaal Charles (KC) With the exception of Crowell, what we have in the halfback pool is a game of “do you trust them now?”. AP is a superstar, and he had a stellar recovery from his ACL last year, but there are still concerns that he is not the player he once was, thus the free agent status.  Jamaal Charles went over 1,000 yards with Kansas City in 2014, but this past year played in only 5 games and could be a high risk for any team to sign. DeAngelo Williams, once a monster in Carolina, struggled with injury, and while his one season in Pittsburgh was solid, much like AP, there are real questions about his longevity.  Finally, there is Isaiah Crowell, who seems to be the only HB on an ascendant path, having gone form 607 yards in 2014 to 706 this past year in Cleveland.  Is he a potential 1,000 yard rusher or is 700-800 yards his true cap?  Teams likely to be interested in any of these backs are not likely those hoping for a bell cow, but those looking to partner them with another back for a 2-headed rushing attack.  Who is in that boat? How about Atlanta (with Ivory/Drake), Charlotte (McFadden), Denver (Murray), Jacksonville (Williams), Las Vegas (Hardesty), Oakland (Brown), Pittsburgh (Lattimore), or Portland (Jones)?  That is a pretty long list.    RECEIVERS:  Torrey Smith (SF), Cordarelle Patterson (Min), Kenny Stills (Mia), TE Martellus Bennett (GB) In the receiver group it all depends on what you want.  If you are looking for a deep threat who can take the roof off a defense, then you are likely looking for either Smith or Stills, both of whom make their living on fly routes.  If you want a swiss army knife who  can play outside, inside, and even get into the run game with jet sweeps and bubble screens, well that is Cordarelle Patterson. If your squad still needs a receiving TE, the only option is Bennett.  So, let’s break these down by need. Needing speed: Dallas, Tampa Bay, Charlotte, or Chicago.  Needing versatility or a clear slot receiver: Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, or New Jersey.  How about at Tight End? Plenty to choose from but we see Pittsburgh, Orlando, or Michigan at the top of our lists.   OFFENSIVE LINE:   OT Andrew Whitworth (Cin) Sure, there are plenty of mid-range O-linemen available, but for true impact Whitworth is the only player truly worth targeting. We expect some of the others could sign with the USFL for depth, but who has the immediate need for a starter on the outside?  Orlando, Chicago, and Jacksonville come to mind for us. Again, however, if the draft does not work out, then we add New Jersey, and Houston to the list.   DEFENSIVE LINE:  DE Chandler Jones (Arz), DE Datone Jones (SF), DE Jacquies Smith (Det), DT Sen’Derrick Marks (Jax), DT Chris Baker (Wsh) The biggest name on this list is clearly Chandler Jones from the Cardinals, with Datone Jones a solid runner up.  And when you look for possible takers, it all comes down to which high profile rookie edge rushers sign with the NFL, making DE a priority for a last second signing. When we look at the top of the USFL draft we see plenty of teams trying to upgrade their pass rush, so expect action from one of these teams if the cited rookie DE does not sign:  Oakland (Bosa), San Diego (Buckner), Memphis (Lawson), Baltimore (Ward).  The same is true at DT, where we saw three picked in the first round of the draft, so Marks or Baker could get a call from one of these teams if their rookie pick does not sign:  Las Vegas (Sheldon Rankins), Los Angeles (Chris Jones), or Washington (A’Shawn Robinson).   LINEBACKERS:  Dont’a Hightower (NE), Ahmad Brooks (SF), Jamie Collins (Cle), Zach Orr (Bal) Hightower and Brooks can be absolute disruptive forces. Collins and Orr are more group leaders, directing others and holding down their area, so we expect that teams will first take a shot at the more dangerous and potentially impactful pair on this list, but all 4 could get some looks. Linebacker is a position where no team feels they have the depth they want, but at least for Hightower or Brooks you are talking about major money, so the teams likely to be in the market are those with obvious need. Who is that? We think it is Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Jacksonville, Birmingham, Orlando, or Tampa Bay,  A big pool of teams all fighting over the same 2-4 names.   SECONDARY:  CB Stephon Gilmore (Buf), CB Malcolm Butler (NE), CB Morris Claiborne (Dal), S Micah Hyde (GB), S Jahleel Addae (SD), S Ricardo Allen (Atl) Corners and safeties are always in high demand in the pass happy USFL. From this group, Gilmore is the clear top dog, having proven himself in Buffalo and now looking for a more lucrative destination. Green Bay safety Micah Hyde is young and improving, so he could be a steal for a team. Similarly, Malcolm Butler has shown some flashes with the Patriots and could be ready to break out.  So, who is interested?  Well, at corner we see needs in Denver, Ohio, Seattle, Oakland, and Portland. For safety help, look at Texas, Oakland, Orlando, Chicago, and Charlotte.   SPECIAL TEAMS: K Brandon McManus (Den), K Chandler Catanzaro (Arz), P Colton Schmidt, P Jeff Locke Kickers and punters often end up rotating teams frequently as one bad game can sour a coach on either one. Will any USFL teams jump at the chance to sign a slightly higher-cost veteran over a rookie or free agent specialist?  It happens, so who could be in the market? Kickers we could see getting offers in Dallas, St. Louis, or Orlando among others, while for Punters the obvious needs are in Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Washington, Arizona, or Oakland. Our Top 5 Lists Heading into 2016 As football fans prepare to transition from the NFL Super Bowl to the USFL preseason and March opening weekend, we thought we would entice you, and maybe start some debates, with some quick and easy Top 5 lists. The kind of lists that fuel sports radio and online discussion as fans decry the undervaluing of their favorite star or their team as a whole, or come alive bragging about their top ranked superstar.  So, we will keep this short and sweet, and let you fill in the gaps with your arguments.  Feel free to use the comment section to add your thoughts to our speed rankings of the best of the USFL.   Top 5 Coaches in the USFL 5.  Dennis Green (OAK) 4.  Jim Harbaugh (PHI) 3.  Wade Phillips (HOU) 2.  Jim Tomsula (ARZ) 1.  Jim Caldwell (BAL):  A title in 2014 and a budding dynasty in only 2 years.   Top 5 Quarterbacks in the USFL 5. Drew Brees (NOR) 4. Andy Dalton (PIT) 3. Matt Hasselbeck (HOU) 2. Joe Flacco (TEX) 1. Ben Roethlisberger (BAL): The numbers over the past 2 years do not lie.   Top 5 Running Backs in the USFL 5.  Frank Gore (ARZ) 4.  Maurice Jones-Drew (NJ) 3.  Carlos Hyde (HOU) 2.  LeVeon Bell (MGN) 1.  Deuce McCallister (WSH): On longevity and consistency alone he is at the top.   Top 5 Receivers in the USFL 5. D. J. Hackett (CHA) 4. Adam Thielen (PIT) 3. Mike Evans (HOU) 2. Darrius Heyward-Bey (BAL) 1. Marques Colston (TEX):  Perhaps the best deep ball threat since Truvillion?   Top 5 Edge Rushers in the USFL 5. Aaron Kampman (NJ) 4. Von Miller (DEN) 3. Cliff Avril (OAK) 2. Jared Allen (PIT) 1. Calais Campbell (ORL): We expect no debate at number one.   Top 5 Linebackers in the USFL 5. Brian Orakpo (TBY) 4. Clay Matthews (LA) 3. Brian Urlacher (CHI) 2. Channing Crowder (POR) 1. Rolando McClain (CHA):  A beast against the run and a nightmare in coverage too.   Top 5 Defensive Backs in the USFL 5. Asante Samuel (CHA) 4. Adam Archuleta (BAL) 3. Antrell Rolle (TBY) 2. Aqib Talib (DEN) 1. Troy Polamalu (ARZ): The scariest safety in all of football,  not just the USFL.   Top 5 Stadiums in the USFL 5. Farmers Insurance Field (LA) 4. MetLife Stadium (NJ) 3. University of Phoenix Stadium (ARZ) 2. Columbia Sportswear Stadium (POR) 1. Lumen Field (SEA):  Not the newest, but for amenities and atmosphere, the best.   Top 5 Traditions in the USFL 5. NJ/PHI Rivalry Games 4. Singing “Renegade” in Orlando 3. Memorial Day Celebrations at RFK in DC 2. The Ride of the Bandit before every Tampa Bay game. 1. Tailgating outside any MEM v. BIR rivalry game.   Top 5 Foods at USFL Stadiums 5. Just a classic Hot Dog in NJ or Philly. 4. Pierogies at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh 3. A new one, the Fish Tacos in San Diego 2. The Boudin Dog with Etoufee Sauce in N’awlins. 1. Brisket on a Bun in Houston   Top 5 Tailgate Scenes in the USFL 5.  Jacksonville 4.  Ohio 3.  Baltimore 2.  Memphis 1.  Birmingham: We expect a helluva debate over our 1-2 picks of BBQ Tailgates.   Orlando Announces “Choose your Renegade” Logo Contest The Orlando Renegades are ready to pick a new logo, but they don’t want to do it alone.  After significant controversy with Native American groups over the team’s longstanding use of the tomahawk as a symbol of rebelliousness and aggression, the Renegades have opted to replace their Native American imagery with a new look, but they are asking fans to decide which look best captures the spirit of the club as a rowdy, fun-loving, and dominant sports franchise.  The Renegades, along with the USFL Design Team and Adidas, the uniform providers for the USFL have set up a “Choose Your Renegade” logo competition that will allow fans from all over the country to help select the final design for Orlando’s new look.   Fans can vote online from February 1st through Week 3 of the USFL Season on three designs, each featuring an animal logo to represent the renegade spirit of the franchise.  Voting will require that entries include location information, with votes from within the state of Florida weighed more heavily than those from outside the state.  Additionally, all season ticket holders will be “superdelegates” with their votes recorded through a separate tally and given equal weight to the more open national poll.    So, what are the choices?  Well, three animals with very different profiles, but all three known for aggression, power, speed, and force of will. The three different designs, all retain the team’s traditional color scheme of Renegade Blue and Black.  Early images seem to indicate that the team will swap out their metallic silver for a matte grey, but otherwise the traditional colors will remain.  So, to prime your interest as the competition begins in only 2 weeks, here are the three options for the New Look of the Orlando Renegades. Option 1:  The Wild Boar or Tusker This animal, native to most of the American Southeast, is a ferocious wild hog, tusks at the ready to charge the opposition.  Known to run in herds, the boar is a nasty opponent not afraid to get dirty, take on bigger animals, or defend its turf.  Any hunter will tell you that a run in with a boar is nothing to take lightly, they are fast, powerful, and mean.    Option 2: The Black Tip Shark The waters off Florida are certainly prime shark country, and no shark is more dangerous or more aggressive than the Black Tip.  A lone “renegade” shark can wreak havoc on the coastline, shutting down beaches and going after prey large and small.  A perfect eating machine, the shark is swift, agile, aggressive and strong.   Option 3: The Mammoth This behemoth of a creature roamed the earth in the earliest days of humanity.  A hulking figure, the mammoth is a dominant force in the wild, with huge tusks and enormous brute force, no one pushes around one of these renegade bulls.  And for  those doubting the connection to Orlando, a reminder that the largest ever mammoth remains were found in Central Florida’s Aucilla River and on display at the Florida Museum just up the road in Gainesville.   (Fans of The USFL Lives can vote between now and our publication of Week 3’s results. Select your favorite logo for the new look in Orlando and the winner will be revealed in Week 5. Check the index at the top of the screen for the Poll webpage.)

October 14, 2015 The USFL offseason may not provide fans with weekly on-field action, but that does not mean that it is a down period, just one where the GMs and personnel teams get most of the press. Over the past 10 weeks we have seen the annual flurry of player movements all across the league, as well as between the NFL and the USFL.  Trades, free agency, retirements, coaching hires, it has been a full fall so far, with more to come over the winter.  We will, of course, provide you with all the big news out of the “hot stove” for USFL football, beginning with an unanticipated retirement, and working our way through all the player movements and two coaching hires this fall.  We finish up with a preview of the upcoming January Collegiate Draft process, exploring possible landing spots for some of the top college players taking the field right now and preparing to turn pro.  So, if you love USFL football, this is an edition not to miss, because there are a lot of moving pieces, and you want to know where your team lands in the offseason player movement dance.   Jonathan Stewart Surprises Stags with Retirement Announcement August saw considerable retirements across the USFL player pool, but none more impactful or more surprising than the announcement from Portland Stags running back Jonathan Stewart. The three-time All-USFL halfback announced only weeks after Portland’s deep playoff run that he would step away from the game at the age of only 29. Stewart, having played 8 seasons in the USFL, announced that he was prioritizing his long-term health and wellbeing, and that while he loved the game of football, the physical toll of his position was a  concern, one which had to take precedence over his commitment to team and his profession.   Stewart played all 8 seasons of his pro career with the Stags, rushing for 1,000 yards or more in all but one year, an injury-shortened 2009 campaign.  He finished 2015 with 1,208 yards, placing him 5th among USFL backs, the third time he has finished the year as a Top 5 rusher in the league. Much of the Stags’ offense was designed to run through the bruising back and the threat of the run, so the loss of a back who was expected to have several more highly productive seasons in his future is a huge blow to the team, shaking up their entire offseason plan.   Portland now will have to prioritize the halfback position, with Javon Ringer already expected to depart in free agency, leaving only little used 3rd stringer Kevin Smith on the roster.  The Stags had little time to pivot and explore free agent options, with Stewart making his announcement after the free agent period had opened and the top free agent back, Ryan Williams of Oakland, already off the board (see free agent roundup below). The top remaining back in the pool is either Texas’s Felix Jones, demoted to the 3rd string after the arrival of Marshawn Lynch, or Charlotte’s Ronny Hillman, another backup. Alternatively, Portland could try to land a back in the upcoming draft, but with no pro-prospect tailbacks in the protected pool of T-Draft schools for the Stags (Oregon, Oregon State, and Boise State), and with their selection not coming until pick number 26, the prospects of the Stags finding a potential first-year impact rusher in the first round, a player like Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott or Alabama’s Derrick Henry, are not very good. The Stags may well have to seek a major trade to either acquire the T-Draft rights to a top back or to move to a much more favorable position in the open draft.    While many around the league as well as on popular ESPN and EFN network shows were quick to support Stewart’s decision, citing the intense physical demands of the halfback position, one that often sees players fall off a production cliff as early as age 30, there was significant criticism of the timing of Stewart’s announcement and the predicament created for a Stags team that surprised many by claiming the Pacific Division crown with a season finale win over Oakland and then defeating the St. Louis Skyhawks to earn a spot in the Western Conference Finals.  Portland, already dealing with a potential QB controversy as Ryan Fitzpatrick’s strong 2015 upended the planned transition to Oregon superstar draft pick Marcus Mariota, now face two major questions on their offense as they must decide how to move forward at both quarterback and halfback in the 2016 offseason.   While Jonathan Stewart’s late retirement notification has certainly been a buzz-worthy story over the past 6 weeks, his was hardly the only late announcement as several players, particularly from teams that ran deep into the playoffs, have made similar announcements. Among the August announcements were three other Portland Stag veterans, center Brad Meester, and both of the team’s strong safeties, 35-year-old Clifton Black and 34-year-old Terreal Bierria.  Arizona, the league runner-up, also had multiple announcements, though the retirements of both punter Shane Lechler, the league’s All-USFL player at the position, and WR Domenic Hixon, are not expected to be quite as impactful as Portland’s losses.   Other later retirement announcements include Atlanta WR Javon Walker, Birmingham LB Nate Webster, Charlotte DT Ryan Sims, Chicago WR D’Juan Woods, and Michigan guard Vince Manuwai.  While, in many cases, these departures were known within the teams’ personnel departments well before public announcements were made, the addition of retirements to each club’s free agent departures will, as always, prove a challenge to the GMs around the league. Chicago Lands on Lovie As expected, Chicago got the man they wanted, former Chicago Bears’ head coach Lovie Smith.  Smith joined the Machine in August, declaring that he was happy to be back in Chicago and taking a couple of light-hearted jabs at the Bears and their ownership for letting him go after taking the club to the Super Bowl.    Smith inherits a Machine club that bottomed out this year, that has a major question marks at quarterback, and which has significant issues with their defense, despite the presence of MLB Brian Urlacher.  The Machine have the first pick in the draft, and we expect QB to be the pick so Smith, who comes out of a defensive coaching background, will need to hire himself a “qb whisperer” to hep guide the rookie to success.  He will likely leave the offense to his OC and spend his time trying to rebuild a once proud Chicago defense, just as he did with the NFL Bears.   Denver Heads North for Coaching Choice The Gold are taking a chance that a coach with success in the Canadian League can translate that success to spring football in the USA.  On August 28, the Gold introduced former Calgary Stampeder HC John Hufnagel as their next Head Coach.  Hufnagel comes off 8 years in Calgary, where he had great success, winning two Grey Cups. These go along with a Super Bowl trophy as a member of the NY Giants coaching staff, and a Summer Bowl as a special teams assistant with the Federals way back in 1990.    Coach Hufnagel has big shoes to fill as longstanding coach Dick Jauron was not renewed this year when his contract expired despite having taken the Gold to the playoffs 6 times in his last 8 seasons. Jauron, now with ABC as part of their USFL broadcast team, is rumored to be awaiting the next NFL coaching cycle after not being considered for the jobs in Chicago and Ohio in this year’s USFL cycle.  For Hufnagel the adjustment back to 4-down, 11-player football comes with a team that finished at 7-9, has a reputation for being frugal when it comes to player salaries, but one that has a stable QB situation with USC product Matt Leinart at the helm of the offense, and one of the best defensive players in the league with NFL import Von Miller on the D-line. The USFL Free agent pool opened on August 1st with a flurry of activity in the first week, and with the NFL-USFL transfer window not opening until 2 weeks later, it gave USFL clubs the first opportunity to sort through the available talent and find players who might provide either star power or depth at key positions. The first official signing of the Free Agent period came only 1 hour into the open market within the USFL, when Tampa Bay announced the signing of Dallas WR Hank Basket. This opened the floodgates and within 48 hours more than 20 USFL players had found homes, either resigning with their 2015 clubs or finding a new home across the league. All in all over 45 players had signed new USFL contracts before the opening of the NFL-USFL transfer window, but, with a pool of nearly 300 players in free agency, the signings had just begun. We start our review of the USFL Free Agent Market with the in-league signings. Here is our list of the 15 most impactful signings made by USFL clubs in August and September.   15— Mark Clayton, WR, MEM Resigned The Memphis Showboats are trying to put weapons around Eli Manning (and prospective T-Draft focus, Paxton Lynch), with Clayton being an important return to the WR group, along with another big WR signing appearing later on our list.   14— Corey Liuget, DT, WSH to BIR The 25-year old “pressure tackle”, known for his penetrating run stops and QB pressures (4 sacks in 2015) moves from DC to Birmingham as the Stallions try to improve a D-line that gave up 99 yards per game rushing in 2015 but which struggled to put pressure on opposing QBs.   13— Austin King, BAL Resigned The Blitz retain a key piece of the line which protects Big Ben by coming to terms on a 3-year deal with the 34-year-old King. Expect King to compete with 2015 backup Ryan Pontbriand for the starting position, despite King’s 16 games started this past season.   12— Olivier Vernon, DE, STL to BAL After a major letdown in 2015, dropping from 13 sacks in 2014 to only 6 last year, Vernon did not enhance his value, but still found a buyer in the Baltimore Blitz. Baltimore, having lost Robert Quinn earlier in Free Agency, wanted a veteran DE presence, and Vernon wanted to try to return to his 10+ sack form with a defense known for its aggressiveness.   11— Mario Manningham, WR, DAL to OHI The long-time Michigan Panther now joins his 2nd team in 2 years after a 1-year stint in Dallas that saw him catch only 37 passes on 48 targets, both career lows for the former Wolverine and Panther. After only a single season in Dallas, Manningham now joins an Ohio team that has a lot of questions on offense, including at the QB position.   10— L. J. Smith, TE, LA to CHA The 33-year-old mainstay of an often-fluid Express receiver group now moves on, signing with the Monarchs for the next 2 seasons. Smith was underutilized in LA this year, losing targets and starts after the arrival of Jason Whitten in 2014.  Smith, who has had multiple seasons of over 500 yards and more than 50 receptions, was limited to only 30 catches and 152 yards as the number two TE in LA’s offense. He now joins a Charlotte squad that has Brandon Pettigrew penciled in as the starter.   9— Hank Basket, WR, DAL to TBY Dallas continues to hemorrhage receivers, with Basket, a major target for Johnny Manziel, now departing for Tampa Bay, where he hopes to duplicate the success of other veteran Bandit receiver signings like Randy Moss and Joey Galloway. Basket has a good shot at being the top target for the Bandits, with Santonio Holmes a pretty stable number two. What is not stable in Tampa Bay is the QB position, where Pat White finished the year out after a horrible start by Mark Sanchez.   8— Brandon Marshall, TEX to MEM The first 2015 All-USFL player to change teams, Brandon Marshall parlayed a 52-catch, 1,159 yard, and 12 touchdown contract year into a very sweet 3-year, $13M contract with the Memphis Showboats.  Marshall will likely compete with veteran possession receiver Mark Clayton for the top spot on the depth chart, but no matter the final ranking on the team’s roster, expect Marshall to again see 90 or more targets as Memphis adds more weapons.   7— Arron Sears, G, WSH to SDG The big, bruising run blocker moves from leading Deuce McCallister into the 2nd line of defenses to now working on behalf of another fellow free agent (see number 1 below) in San Diego. Sears will almost certainly lock down the right guard position as the team’s dominant run-blocking lineman.    6— Reggie Bush, HB, LA Resigned The Express have not gotten what they had hoped for from Bush in his first few years with the team, but there were games in 2015 where Bush showed that he still had the ability to make defenders miss and break plays. The Express get 2 more years in the new contract to see if Bush can rediscover the skills that made him a Heisman winner at USC.   5— Kevin Burnett, LB, HOU to WSH After 11 years in Houston, Burnett, who had himself a 100 tackles season back in 2010 and who has been over 80 tackles each of the past 3 seasons, now moves to Washington, where he is very likely to shift to MLB from the strong side, lining up inside of Federals’ OLBs Alec Ogletree and D’Qwell Jackson.    4—Sam Bradford, QB, NJ to LA We knew Bradford wanted out of New Jersey, but is moving to the LA Express really a step up?  Andy Reid is certainly a quality coach, and he loves what Bradford can bring to an LA offense that really struggled in 2015, but does Bradford have enough weapons in LA to find success, or will he again be frustrated with the options around him.  At least he has solid safety valve targets in Bush and TE Jason Whitten.   3— Jimmie Graham, TE, PIT to ARZ This is a big one. When the league’s TD leader moves from one Summer Bowl contender to another, it is a big move.  Graham instantly becomes David Carr’s best friend as the Wranglers look to implement more 2-TE formations to enhance both the run game and the short passing game for Carr. Graham, a 1,000 yard receiver in Pittsburgh, gets a huge financial winfall to move across the country to Phoenix, and will now line up with Daniel Graham in the an All-Graham TE group for the Wranglers.   2— Robert Quinn, DE, BAL to OHIO Ohio was one of the worst pass pressure teams in the league last year, with Isaac Hilton and Kamerion Wemberly struggling to put on a pass rush without blitzers involved.  Enter Robert Quinn, who will become the LE opposite Wemberley, and who toyed with 10+ sacks over the past 5 seasons in Baltimore. Expect Ohio to try to build a defense that requires fewer blitzes and to support Quinn to try to make a legitimate 15+ sack candidate out of the former Blitz end.   1—Ryan Williams, HB, OAK to SD We knew after they traded Marshawn Lynch that San Diego had to address the HB position in the offseason. They did not hesitate to do so, signing Williams on the first day of the open signing period.  Williams, who has rushed for 1,000 or more yards each of the past 3 seasons in Oakland, heads down the coast, where he will try to torment his former team 2 times a year.  The 26-year old signed a 4-year deal worth nearly $22M to join San Diego, where he will be the clear lead back with Lamar Miller serving as a short yardage option behind him.   Other signings of note include: FB Glen Smith (MGN to CHA) C Andre Gurode (CHI to PHI) DT DeMarcus Tyler (PHI to CHA) G Carl Nicks (ATL to BIR) SS Tyvon Branch (ATL to PIT) WR Tiquan Underwood (SEA to DAL) WR Jerrel Jernigan (CHI to MGN) OT Xavier Fulton (CHAto OHI) LB Cody Glenn (JAX to MGN) WR Ben Obamanu (PIT to OHI) QB Mike Flynn (SEA to WSH).   After two weeks of USFL clubs feeding at the Free Agent trough, the NFL got their chance, just as their preseason was cranking up, to add some last-minute talent to their teams’ rosters, and they did not hesitate to do so, signing over 20 USFL starters to new NFL contracts. Some of the signings were a bit of a surprise, like benched Tampa Bay QB Mark Sanchez joining the Philadelphia Eagles, or HB LeGarrett Blount leaving Las Vegas for the Tampa Bay Bucs.  Others were pretty big blows to the USFL, such as DE Tamba Hali leaving the Machine to go to Baltimore in the NFL, or Denver’s man mountain Gabe Watson taking a 3-year deal to sign with the Green Bay Packers.  Here, very quickly, is our list of the 20 biggest USFL to NFL signings before we talk about NFL talent coming to the spring out of the September Transfer Window.   QB Mark Sanchez                          Bandits to NFL Eagles QB Terrelle Pryor                            Orlando to NFL Browns HB LeGarrett Blount                     Las Vegas to NFL Bucs HB J. J. Arrington                             Atlanta to NFL Cardinals HB Shonn Greene                          Los Angeles to NFL Jets WR Nate Washington                   Memphis to NFL Oilers WR Malcolm Floyd                        Chicago to NFL Chargers C Matt Birk                                        Philadelphia to NFL Ravens G Derrick Dockery                          San Diego to NFL Browns DE Tamba Hali                                 Chicago to NFL Ravens DT Gabe Watson                             Denver to NFL Packers DT Kyle Williams                             San Diego to NFL Bills LB Cameron Wake                         Washington to NFL Dolphins LB Barrett Rudd                               Orlando to NFL Bucs LB DeMarcus Ware                        Michigan to NFL Cowboys CB Duane Starks                            Las Vegas to NFL Packers CB Nnambi Asomugha                Baltimore to NFL 49ers CB Marcus Truffant                       Los Angeles to NFL Jaguars CB Ashton Youboty                        Ohio to NFL Bills S Marviel Underwood                   San Diego to NFL Raiders   Some real talent on that list, including former All-USFL players like Nnambi Asomugha and DeMarcus Ware, and some big motor guys like DT Kyle Williams and LB Barrett Rudd.   As we have come to expect each year, the September Transfer Window produced more USFL to NFL jumps than vice versa.  The USFL will have their chance to pluck from a deeper and richer pool of NFL talent in February, when the two leagues have their second offseason transfer slot.  But that is not to say that we saw no new NFL imports this past September.  Four players of note came over from the fall league to the spring.   DE Connor Barwin , upset by coaching decisions within the Philadelphia Eagles franchise, held out well into NFL camp, got his release and immediately signed with the Chicago Machine.  Barwin had 14.5 sacks with Philadelphia in 2014, his best season by far after coming to the Eagles from the Oilers, but he was at constant odds with coaches, and now moves to Chicago, where he will likely line up opposite Jason Pierre-Paul as the Machine continue to prioritize the D-line and QB pressure under new head coach Lovie Smith.   LB Courtney Upshaw , another disgruntled hold out, refused to sign a deal with the NFL Ravens and got what he wanted by waiting, a lucrative 3-year deal to join Chicago as the Machine are getting very aggressive with their personnel moves after suffering through a 3-12-1 season in 2015.  Lovie Smith is clearly pushing to add defenders to a defense that was among the league’s most generous in 2015.   TE Jack Doyle , a pretty solid receiver for the Colts and a decent blocker as well, will be joining the Denver Gold as a “low cost” signing for the club.  Doyle failed to find a taker in the NFL free agency period and was rumored to be returning to Indianapolis, but waited long enough to get a better offer from the often frugal Gold.   Another lower cost, undervalued position player, fullback Zach Line , found a home in Memphis after leaving the New Orleans Saints.  Memphis is hoping to use Line both as a path-clearer for Todd Gurley, their 2014 rookie star, and as an occasional safety valve receiver, a role he often played in New Orleans.     The trading block opened up during the USFL playoffs back in July, when Oakland sent SS Jordan Richards to Memphis for HB Knile Davis.  That move stood alone for a couple of weeks but then the floodgates opened.  With several teams, including Jacksonville, Denver, and Las Vegas, in real salary cap struggles, some quality players were shipped as a means of removing large salaries from each team’s salary pool, often to the detriment of those three teams as high end players were traded for draft picks or position depth.  We also saw several teams make deals to try to improve key areas of weakness on the roster.  While we have not seen any major movement in the draft order yet, particularly the key 1st round of the Open Draft, we expect those moves will come as we get closer to January’s draft.  As we look over the past 10 weeks, here are, in our estimation, the 8 biggest trades of the fall, with a few honorable  mentions as well.   Las Vegas sends LB Angelo Crowell to St. Louis for CB E. J. Gaines and a 5th round pick. The Vipers began the offseason with nearly $5M in salaries for 2016 over the league cap.  That means a fire sale of higher priced talent, with draft picks and less expensive talent on the way in.  In the first of several moves, the Vipers send 7-year veteran LB Angelo Crowell to the Skyhawks. Cowell, a 13-game starter for the Vipers who finished the year with 84 tackles and 5 sacks, could find himself at either strongside linebacker or even MLB with the Hawks. In return, Las Vegas gets a mid-round pick and CB E. J. Gaines, who could serve as either the nickel or a possible number 2 corner for the Vipers.  More moves from Las Vegas will be on the way on our list.   Houston sends veteran SS Patrick Chung to Jacksonville for DE Tim Crowder and HB Kiero Small. Houston’s HB room gets a bit crowded with the addition of Small, which may indicate that one of their 2015 backs is on the way out of town.  Tim Crowder projects as a swing end, playing either LE or RE behind starters Antwan Applegate and Dante Fowler.  For Jacksonville, safety was a big concern this past year, so obtaining a veteran and All-USFL quality safety like Patrick Chung is a big upgrade.  Houston felt that the 29-year old Chung was potential trade fodder due to the presence of 2014 draft pick Kenny Vaccaro as a very viable option at the position.   New Jersey sends WR Doug Baldwin to Las Vegas for C Kory Lichtensteiger Coach Turner is making some big waves with the New Jersey offense, with Sam Bradford leaving in free agency, another veteran, 5-year vet Doug Baldwin, now headed to Las Vegas.  Baldwin’s rookie deal was extended in 2014, front-loaded, which made it possible for cash-strapped Las Vegas to afford his 2016 salary.  In return, New Jersey gets a starting center with good athleticism in Lichtensteiger.  With starter Ethan Albright retiring, this was a position of need for the Generals.   Portland sends DT Atiyyah Ellison to Denver for OT Nate Solder Speaking of need, Portland had to upgrade at RT, where Nate Potter was frequently the target of very effective bull rushes and stunts.  With Michael Oher locked in at LT, the Stags went after a viable and more powerful RT.  Denver’s Nate Solder fit the bill, and with Denver needing to clear some cap space, he was a good target, coming now to the Pacific Northwest in exchange for DE Atiyyah Ellison.  The swap saves Denver about $500k over Solder, but they are still on the wrong side of the cap, so will need to clear more salary before the draft.   Denver sends HB LeMichael James to Portland for guard Nathan Roush and a 6th round pick. And Denver does just that, clearing $800k by sending HB LeMichael James to Portland.  This was not a 4-player deal, just two deals made within about 2 weeks.  The Stags reached back out to Denver after the Solder deal and started addressing their gap at HB by acquiring James, the odd man out as Denver tries to turn DeMarco Murray into a bell cow back.  James is unlikely to be Portland’s only HB acquisition as he does not project to being a 3-down option for the Stags.  As for Denver, they add some low cost depth at guard and pick up a late round draft pick in the deal.   Atlanta sends CB Brandon Boykin to New Jersey for both HB Chris Ivory and DE William Gholston It is rare to see the top cornerback on a team dealt, but Atlanta has depth at the position with the emergence of Darius Slay and Andre Woolfork.  New Jersey gets themselves a bona fide starter in Boykin, and send away two players who were not happy with their rotational roles, HB Chris Ivory and DE William Gholston.  Expect Gholston to get the chance to start opposite Chris Kelsay in Atlanta, while Ivory could be in a competition to start, depending on what Atlanta does in the draft to address the departures of both Steven Jackson (retirement) and J. J. Arrington (Free Agent to NFL).   Las Vegas sends guard Max Jean-Gilles and FS Ryan DeAngelo to Orlando for FS Darnell Bing A two-for-one that sends one of the best guards in the business to the Renegades for more safety help.  Bing, the former starter in LA, had found himself losing the starting job to Deion Bush and now has a chance to reignite his career in the desert.  Jean-Gilles, a 10-year veteran with the Vipers (Nashville Knights) is an immediate upgrade for the Renegades.  At 32 and on the last year of his contract, expect Jean-Gilles to put in a monster year as he seeks what could be his last pro contract in 2017.   Dallas sends QB Jake Locker and OT Gary Gilliam to Baltimore for QB Tyrod Taylor and LB Melvin Ingram in a 4-player deal.  The Renegades had been trying to find a buyer for Locker ever since they made Johnny Manziel the starter, but Locker’s contract was unwieldy and costly for a player that lost the starting job multiple times. But, with the club willing to pay off a portion of Locker’s remaining salary, they were able to find a taker in the Baltimore Blitz.   Baltimore, after dealing with Vince Young’s injury issues, and seeking a QB who could play in an offense that was designed for pocket passer Ben Roethlisberger, found Locker to be a good fit.  So, the former Cannon/Roughneck will be headed to Baltimore and Dallas receives a more mobile backup QB in Taylor, one who perhaps fits well in the Johnny Manziel mold, as well as veteran LB Melvin Ingram, a 4-year vet who had struggled to get starts with the Blitz.   Other trades over the past 2 ½ months saw HB Charles Sims leave Pittsburgh for Birmingham, exchanged for WR Chris Chambers; Ohio sent center Jamey Richard to Portland for LB Justin Durand;  Jacksonville dumped more salary by sending CB Jaylen Watkins to Texas and G Arron Sears to San Diego, reaping a 3rd round pick in 2017 and LB Jordan Hicks in return.  Finally, Michigan acquired some depth at CB by trading a 4th round pick in 2017 to Seattle for CB Tramon Williams. With free agency in full swing, the next 2 months are likely to see more signings, perhaps some player trades, and even some movement in the draft order, but the big push in December will be to prepare for January’s Draft.  It is a draft that has 3 quarterbacks projected as potential early picks, with a rare potential early pick QB who is not protected by any team in the T-Draft.  As we look at the 28 USFL clubs, each has their needs, their wants, and their limitations.  As they plan for the draft, some may need to make deals to move up, others may be willing to trade down, and, of course, there is also the possibility, as we see each year, of teams trading Territorial Draft picks to another club with a specific target in mind, often garnering significant upgrades in the Open Draft as a result. In this Draft Preview, we will go down the draft order from 1-28, focusing on each teams’ needs and what we see as the top 3 strategies they should consider as they approach the twin drafts, Territorial and Open, starting with the first pick in the draft, held by the Chicago Machine.   PICK 1—CHICAGO MACHINE (3-12-1) Team Needs:  QB, FS, WR, C, DE Best Available Protected Player:  With so many needs on the Machine roster, there is sure to be a couple of perfect fits in the T-Draft.  We really like the idea of the Machine going after WR Will Fuller from Notre Dame as well as DE Jihan Ward of Illinois, and maybe even bolstering their HB group with Notre Dame’s C. J. Prosise.   Draft Plan 1: So much hinges on the Machine’s feel for Trevor Siemian.  We think Option 1 has to be to pick a more certain option at QB, and that is likely Carson Wentz, an unprotected player from North Dakota State.   Draft Plan 2: But, what if Chicago likes Jared Goff better?   Well, having the 1st overall pick in the Open Draft could be the perfect way to acquire Oakland’s T-Draft pick for Goff.  Oakland is not really in the QB market, so we could see them being very happy to trade Goff’s rights to Chicago for a shot at the top non-QB in the draft at number one overall.   Draft Plan 3:   What happens if Chicago is happy with Siemian, or if they add someone in free agency, like a Nick Foles, to be there in case Siemian flames out?   Well, then this pick is wide open.  They could go for defense with OSU linebacker Joey Bosa, or they could trade down just a few picks if someone else has eyes on Carson Wentz.   PICK 2—TAMPA BAY BANDITS (4-12) Team Needs:  QB, CB, G, LB, P Best Available Protected Player:  The Bandits have a perfect fit for their need at cornerback in FSU’s Jalen Ramsey, a brash, outspoken, but very talented corner.  They could also look at kicker Roberto Aguayo, who many are saying is the best kicker prospect in 4-5 years.  No clear option at QB, though we could see the Bandits taking a run at Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott just as insurance if they cannot land Goff or Wentz in the Open Draft. With the 2nd pick in the draft, they may have a shot at Wentz if Chicago goes another direction.   Draft Plan 1: With the 2nd pick in the draft, Tampa is in a bit of a precarious situation.   Option 1 is that they stand pat and hope that Chicago does not jump on Carson Wentz.  But that is very risky, because both Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch are already likely off the board.  This is the easiest plan, but not the one likely to solve their QB question.   Draft Plan 2: So, option 2 is to outbid Chicago (if Chicago likes Goff) and make a deal with Oakland to try to secure Goff in the T-Draft. Goff seems a better fit for the Mike Shula offense anyway, so this may really be option 1 in Tampa Bay’s mind.   Draft Plan 3:   Last option, and one we think could actually be on the table: After failing with their signing of LA quarterback Mark Sanchez, the Bandits may be a little gun shy about going after a veteran, but there is a chance they could trade out of this pick to acquire Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Stags.  Fitzie had a very good 2015 and that could attract Tampa Bay to him, and Portland is open to a good trade since Mariota is there, so a straight up player for 1st round pick swap could get the Bandits a QB.   PICK 3—LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (4-12) Team Needs:  DT, C, G, LB. TE Best Available Protected Player:  The Express have a need at center and USC may have a solution in Max Tuerk.  They could also take a shot at QB Cody Kessler, but after acquiring Sam Bradford, that may not be as important a position for them.  If not, how about more defenders like LBs Su’a Cravens (USC) or Joe Schubert (Wisconsin)?   Draft Plan 1: LA is not in the QB market, not after signing Bradford, and the 3 slot is likely not good enough to land one.  So, what are they after? How about the best defensive player on the board.  Depending how the T-Draft goes, that could be the LB they need in Georgia’s Leonard Floyd or OSU’s Darron Lee, but more likely it is a DT like Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins or UCLA’s Kenny Clark.   Stand pat and take the best player at a position of need.   Draft Plan 2: LA could also be a team willing to drop down maybe as many as 4-5 spots for the right price.  If Elliott or Henry are here at number 3 for a HB-needy team, we could easily see LA drop down to swap places with Philadelphia or Atlanta, both of whom covet a big back.   Draft Plan 3:   Does LA really pick an O-lineman this early? Usually we see tackles as the only early first round linemen, and LA needs a guard or center.  They could surprise us and take a very early pick for someone like Alabama center Ryan Kelly or Stanford guard Joshua Garnett, hoping that a Top 3 pick is enough to keep the interior lineman from jumping to the NFL.     PICK 4—JACKSONVILLE BULLS (5-11) Team Needs:  LB, SS, G, OT, P Best Available Protected Player:  The Gators often produce the core talent for the Bulls’ T-Draft, but this year Clemson also has some talent.  We like S Keanu Neal from the Gators, but the Bulls are also high on two Clemson LBs,  Kevin Dodd and Antonio Morrison.      Draft Plan 1: The Bulls need help at LB and at OT, so we see two easy choices with their 4th pick, Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley or Georgia LB Leonard Floyd.   If both make it to the Open Draft, then the Bulls likely stand pat and take one of the two with the 4th pick.   Draft Plan 2: The other option we could see is for the Bulls to drop down a bit, since there are solidly 3-4 offensive tackles they could get if they stay in the top 12 selections.  If they like all of them, then earning more picks by trading down could be very appealing.     Draft Plan 3:   Finally, while far less likely, Jacksonville could go for a safety. The best choice is WVU’s Karl Joseph, but Florida’s Keanu Neal is also a possible pick.  Problem is that neither seems like a Top 10 pick, so is this another trade down option?  We would think so.   PICK 5—OHIO GLORY (5-11) Team Needs:  QB,SS, CB, LB, WR, OT Best Available Protected Player:  Ohio needs an option at QB, but there is not one in this draft, however, we could see the Glory try to trade their top T-Draft pick to a team in love with Buckeye HB Ezekiel Elliott, especially if it gives them a shot at either Goff or Wentz.   Draft Plan 1: The Glory are very likely heavily scouting Goff and Wentz, but can they afford to wait for the 5th pick and pray that somehow Wentz is available?  That seems unlikely. So, what about a trade with Chicago?  Move up from 5 to 1, get first crack at the NDSU quarterback.  That is likely to be a very costly trade, but Ohio State has a lot of OSU talent protected, so maybe Chicago takes a shot at LB Joey Bosa by trading for the Glory’s top T-Draft selection.   Draft Plan 2: Option 2, they stand pat at QB, give Osweiler and Troy Smith another year and use this pick to land some secondary help.   It is risky, but in only his 2nd year, we could see Coach Coughlin risk it to go after more defensive help.  If they don’t go after CB Eli Apple in the T-Draft, that may be a sign that they think they can get either FSU’s Jalen Ramsey or Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves with the fifth pick.   Draft Plan 3:   Ohio could be yet another team willing to trade down, especially if all 3 QBs are off the board by now.   They likely won’t want to drop too far, but again, if there are HBs on the board, they could swap out of pick 5 and grab some more draft choices in later rounds.   PICK 6—MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (5-11) Team Needs:  QB, C, CB,LB,DT,SS,WR Best Available Protected Player:  We all know where Memphis’s focus is, Paxton Lynch, the athletic and mobile QB right there in their back yard at the U. of Memphis.  Since they get 3 picks, they might also want to take a look at TE Hunter Henry, HB Jonathan Williams (both Razorbacks) or DT Robert Nkemdiche from Ole Miss, all worthy of some attention.   Draft Plan 1: Memphis hopes their future franchise QB is in the T-Draft, with Paxton Lynch.  So we are taking them out of the QB race.  That means that we are looking at one of many other positions at pick number 6.  If it were us, even with their free agent signings, we would be looking for a topflight speed receiver.  That could be Baylor’s Corey Coleman, Notre Dame’s Will Fuller, or TCU’s Josh Doctson.      Draft Plan 2: Coach Ryan is a defensive guy, though, so maybe WR is not the pick.  What about pass rush?  DE Joey Bosa is likely not going to be here, but we could see DeForest Buckner going unclaimed in the T-Draft.  That would be a great option for Rex Ryan’s scheme.   Draft Plan 3:   OK, let’s say that none of the receivers merit a Top 10 pick, and Buckner is off the board, then the next option is cornerback, so we are back again to Jalen Ramsey, Eli Apple, or Vernon Hargreaves with this pick.     PICK 7—PHILADELPHIA STARS (5-11) Team Needs:  HB, DT, C,DE,CB,FS Best Available Protected Player:  The Stars love DT Austin Johnson from Penn State, so we expect him to be their first pick.  Now, do they go for another Nittany Lion in QB Christian Hackenberg, or do they perhaps try to trade that option away to a more QB-needy team?    Draft Plan 1: Philadelphia needs a halfback.  That was so clear last year when their lack of a productive run game just devastated Jim Harbaugh’s offensive gameplan.  So, the best option is for Philadelphia to trade away the 7 pick to get into the T-Draft and land either Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio Glory) or Alabama’s Derrick Henry (Birmingham).  Neither the Glory nor the Stallions are really desperate for a back, so they both might be willing to trade away the pick to get a Top 10 Open Draft option.   Draft Plan 2: If the Stars cannot pull off a trade, perhaps no one does, and both Elliott and Henry drop to the Open Draft.    Odds are that one of the two will be gone by now, but perhaps the other falls to pick 7.  That seems possible, if risky for the Stars.   Draft Plan 3:   If they whiff on both backs, then we expect Philadelphia will try to trade to the middle of the round, picking up perhaps an additional 2nd rounder, and in the 2nd round they then are in position to possibly land a backup option like Kenyan Drake, the other Bama back, or Notre Dame’s C. J. Prosise.  Not optimal, but a solid fallback option if everything else fails.     PICK 8—SAN DIEGO THUNDER (6-10) Team Needs:  OT, LB, DT, G, TE Best Available Protected Player:  The Thunder have a lot of needs, and some of them line up very well with their newly acquired T-Draft school, UCLA.  How about LB Myles Jack?  DT Kenny Clark?  OT Caleb Benenoch?  Or even HB Paul Perkins?  All would be welcomed to the Thunder quite readily.   Draft Plan 1: With Ryan Williams in the fold in free agency, the need for a HB disappears.  So, that means OT is the primary need. Got to have someone to protect Joe Webb, assuming he has held his QB position.  At pick 8 there are options.  We expect Ronnie Stanley from Ohio State, Jack Conklin from Michigan, or Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss to be here as all three are potentially slipping out of the T-Draft.   Draft Plan 2: If none of the Big 3 tackles make it this far, then San Diego has to go to plan B, which could be BPA (Best Player Available). That seems odd for a Top 10 pick, but the Thunder have a lot of needs, a lot of areas to improve, so BPA may actually be a viable option for them.     Draft Plan 3:   Last option, trade this pick and some others to get a shot at Goff. Seems unlikely, but it would be a high risk, high reward option for the Thunder.  The problem is that Oakland is unlikely to want to see Goff in their division for the next decade.   PICK 9—ATLANTA FIRE (6-10) Team Needs:  DE, SS, HB, WR, P Best Available Protected Player:  LB Leonard Floyd from Georgia is the best talent on their board, but not a position of need.  They could look at one of two wideouts in Georgia’s Malcolm Mitchell or South Carolina’s Pharoh Cooper.   Draft Plan 1: Atlanta added William Gholston in trade with NJ, so maybe DE is no longer a priority.  If that is true, then pick 9 could be a solid option for a safety.  We really like Keanu Neal from Florida, assuming the Bulls don’t jump on him.    Draft Plan 2: If HB remains a priority, then perhaps the Fire put together some picks and trade up to get a shot at Elliott or Henry.   They could even make a deal with Ohio to give the Glory two top 10 picks as they go after Elliott in the T-Draft. That would then allow Ohio to trade both picks to get a shot at Carson Wentz.   Draft Plan 3:   If all else fails, there will be plenty of speedy wideouts here that Atlanta could latch onto.   Josh Dotson or   Laquon Treadwell would both be welcome targets for the Fire.     PICK 10—LAS VEGAS VIPERS (6-10) Team Needs:  OT, DT, FS, LB, CB Best Available Protected Player:  The Vipers are not getting much out of BYU or Utah this year, which is why the league has offered them a 4th school.  They opted for Utah State, and the theory is that they are targeting Aggie LBs Nick Vigil and Kykler Fackrell.   Draft Plan 1: As much as Greg Roman is an offensive guy, we just think he needs to address the defense here.  That could be DT, FS, LB, or CB, so he will have his pick.  That means that we think best defensive player available (at least in those 4 spots) is the play here.   Draft Plan 2: What if they do go for offense?   Well, OT is the obvious need (though many positions could be improved).  Cody Pickett is mobile, but not so mobile as to not need a solid LT.  so, if Tunsil or Conklin is here, the Vipers could make a wise pick and go for a protector for their QB.   Draft Plan 3:   Back to defense.  Yes, we listed 4 positions above that could be solid picks for the Vipers, but edge rushers are always in demand, so if somehow Buckner or Clemson’s Shaq Lawson are here, the temptation may be great to add more QB pressure.     PICK 11—NEW JERSEY GENERALS (6-10) Team Needs:  QB, G, OT, CB, WR Best Available Protected Player:  Another teamgranted a 4th school because of their limited pool form Rutgers, BC, and Syracuse.  The Generals don’t see a lot in their 4 schools (Western Kentucky was their pick) but might take a shot at WKU tight end Tyler Higbee.  WR Leonte Carroo from Rutgers might also be worth a flyer at least for depth.   Draft Plan 1: Does NJ have enough to offer to get into the QB race? Do they even want to?  They could add a veteran free agent and hope that 2015 rookie Brett Hundley is as good as his Week 16 cup of coffee appearance seemed to indicate.   If they go QB, that means trading this pick away, almost guaranteed.   Draft Plan 2: If they don’t go QB, well, then offensive line is the play.  That could be a tackle like Tunsil, OSU’s Taylor Decker, or A&M’s Germain Ifedi.     Draft Plan 3:   The third option is to take the best guard in the draft, assuming he is here, an that is Stanford’s Joshua Garnett.   Not a sexy pick, but a definite position of need for the Generals, and one that will keep Maurice Jones-Drew happy.     PICK 12—DENVER GOLD (7-9) Team Needs:  DT, FS,CB, LB, SS Best Available Protected Player:  With the Gold we usually start with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and there is some talent there, like DT Maliek Collins, and OT Alex Lewis.  They could also take a flyer on Colorado State WR Rashard Higgins, though that is not a position of immediate need.   Draft Plan 1: Denver is almost certainly going defense with this pick.  It is just a question of which position, LB, CB, DT, or Safety?  Let’s say that the LB crop has not been heavy so far, that means that Leonard Floyd, Darron Lee, or Kevin Dodd could be available, or at least 1-2 of them.  LB is a good pick here.   Draft Plan 2: If the T-Draft takes away most of the linebackers, then we think cornerback is the next best option, with Apple, Hargreaves, or Houston’s William Jackson III as potential targets.   Draft Plan 3:   What if Denver throws us a curveball? What would a curveball pick be?  How about TE Hunter Henry?  He would be a great target for Matt Leinart, but many Gold fans would be shaking their heads.   PICK 13—WASHINGTON FEDERALS (7-9) Team Needs:  LB, DT, G, WR, QB Best Available Protected Player:  The Federals are looking for depth from the T-Draft, failing to find any round 1 or 2 prospects in their pool.  Depth could mean a player like Va Tech CB Kendall Fuller, LB Dadi Nicolas, or MTSU safety Kevin Byard, all developmental players who will likely see action on special teams.   Draft Plan 1: If Denver zigs and does not pick a LB, then the Feds almost certainly will.  We have already listed several, but one darkhorse who could rise up the draft board is Alabama’s Reggie Ragland, if somehow he gets past the T-Draft.   Draft Plan 2: If the Feds just don’t see 1st round talent in the linebackers that are available, they could look for help on the interior line.   That could be Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins or Mississippi State’s Chris Jones, both potential disruptors in the middle.     Draft Plan 3:   It seems a very longshot, but David Garrard is not getting any younger.  Could the Feds stretch a little and take a look at Christian Hackenberg?  The Penn State project likely escape’s Philly’s T-Draft and could sit behind Garrard for a year or two.  Seems a high price, but QB talent always seems to draw extra attention.     PICK 14—SEATTLE DRAGONS (7-9) Team Needs:  FS, CB, OT, QB, DT Best Available Protected Player:  Seattle is looking at a crop from U-Dub, Wash-State, and Montana that simply does not have anyone expected to go before round 4.  So, that means they have neither a clear target nor much trade possibility.  We think they will go for positional depth with players like Washington State guard Joe Dahl, Montana DE Tyrone Holmes, or UW LB Travis Feeney.   Draft Plan 1: Seattle’s biggest issues are in the secondary, so we think they look at corner or safety.  Lots of options there, and some will certainly be on the board at pick 14.  If one of them is Baylor’s Xavien Howard, we could see him being a very solid option for Coach Mitchell.   Draft Plan 2: Seattle, like the Federals, could also be thinking of the future and take a hard look at Hackenberg.  Byron Leftwich takes a beating each year, and at 35 he is not the mobile escape artist he used to be.    Draft Plan 3:   We are not sure what kind of market there is for Seattle to trade out of this position.   Mid-Draft tends to be a bit of a no-man’s land for trades, but if someone wants to move up from the low 20’s, we could see Seattle taking that option if it garners them some more picks later on.     PICK 15—BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (8-8) Team Needs:  DT, HB, TE, LB, CB Best Available Protected Player:  The strong 2015 rookie group out of Alabama and Auburn is followed by a much more shallow pool, but one player stands out in a need position for the Stallions.  Expect B’ham to make an effort to land LB Reggie Ragland from the Crimson Tide.   Draft Plan 1: We mentioned Sheldon Rankins and Chris Jones as top DT options, but Birmingham has one at Alabama as well in A’Shawn Robinson.  If they don’t protect Robinson in the T-Draft, then we think they go DT here.   Draft Plan 2: This could be a position where TE does not seem too high. If Arkansas senior Hunter Henry is available, or if Austin Hooper from Stanford is not protected by the Invaders, we could imagine Coach Ellard looking for another target for his QB. Draft Plan 3:   We need to realize that this pick could be Birmingham’s second in the draft, allowing them to go BPA with the pick.  Why?  Because there is a lot of talent coming out of Alabama and we could easily see someone trading an earlier 1st rounder to Birmingham to get a shot at Derrick Henry, center Ryan Kelly, or LB Reggie Ragland.    PICK 16—DALLAS ROUGHNECKS (8-7-1) Team Needs:  LB, WR, DT, TE, FB Best Available Protected Player:  Not a great pool for the Roughnecks, but we do like a couple of prospects out of Baylor.   How about CB Xavien Howard or DT Andrew Billings?   Draft Plan 1: Dallas lost 2 receivers from their top 4, so that is a position of need to be sure. Could they pass up someone like Corey Coleman, Josh Doctson, or William Jackson III if they are here?  We don’t think so.   Draft Plan 2: Dallas also has needs at OLB, maybe even a greater need, so if they don’t see a WR who they think can contribute in year one, perhaps they go after a Darron Lee, Leonard Floyd, or Jaylon Smith.     Draft Plan 3:   While Rashard Mendenhall is certainly the top back for the Roughnecks, we could see them wanting to shift to a 2-back system, so, while it is a longshot, it would not shock us if they look at Kenyan Drake or C. J. Prosise.     PICK 17—OAKLAND INVADERS (10-6) Team Needs:  HB, CB, TE,DE, LB Best Available Protected Player:  The Oakland Invaders have themselves an interesting problem. They have the consensus number one overall pick in Cal QB Jared Goff, but they have neither the need nor the cap room to sign him.  So, the obvious choice is to wave the T-Draft pick out there and see who will pay the most to land the protected shot at Goff.  Expect them to hear from Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Ohio, and likely many others.  As for picking a player, there is deep talent in the pool. We like G Joshua Garnett,  TE Austin Hooper, and LB Blake Martinez, all from Stanford.   Draft Plan 1: So much of what Oakland does depends on that Jared Goff pick.  We think there is almost no chance that they let him slip out of the T-Draft without trading with someone for a top 3-5 pick.  So, that puts Oakland in the Top 5, which means they have a real shot at a halfback to replace Ryan Williams.    Draft Plan 2: If they feel HBs are easier to find in later rounds, which some GM’s do, then they could also use whatever pick they acquire for Goff to land a defensive stud.  That could be CB, LB or DE.     Draft Plan 3:   How about this for a wild trade?  Oakland and Ohio swap T-Draft picks so that Ohio gets a shot at Goff and Oakland gets a chance at DE Joey Bosa.  Crazy improbable, but brilliant too.     PICK 18—MICHIGAN PANTHERS (10-6) Team Needs:  LB, WR, CB, DT, OT Best Available Protected Player:  The best player out of the Michigan/Michigan State combo is likely OT Jack Conklin from the Wolverines. He is a road grater of a tackle.  The Panthers, who are not in the QB market, could also take offers from other teams for the chance to sign Spartan QB Connor Cook.   Draft Plan 1: We think Michigan looks at the departure of Hines Ward and goes wideout here. They loved Ward’s physicality, so perhaps a bigger receiver is the call.  How about someone like Sterling Shephard from OU?     Draft Plan 2: If WR is not the play, then linebacker is the move.   Ragland, UCLA’s Myles Jack, and Boise’s Kamalei Correa all seem good options at pick 18.   Draft Plan 3:   Finally, offensive tackle could be an option if they just don’t like their choices at wideout.  A&M’s Germain Ifedi could be a nice fit at RT for the Panthers.     PICK 19—HOUSTON GAMBLERS (12-4) Team Needs:  FS, LB, CB, DE, QB Best Available Protected Player:  The Gamblers really like CB Brandon Williams of A&M, but they should also take a long look at another Aggie, OT Germain Ifedi, projected as a 1st rounder if he makes it to the Open Draft.   Draft Plan 1: The Gamblers would love to see either Keanu Neal or Karl Joseph drop to this pick at safety.  If one of them is here, expect that to be the pick.   Draft Plan 2: Like Michigan a pick ahead of them, LB is also a need area.   Same names for the Gamblers as with the Panthers.  Just a matter of who is still on the board.     Draft Plan 3:   We think the Gamblers are counting on Colt McCoy stepping up when Matt Hasselbeck does choose to retire, but McCoy won’t wait forever, so perhaps a 3rd option is needed. That could be Hackenberg if he drops this far.     PICK 20—CHARLOTTE MONARCHS (9-7) Team Needs:  DE, DT, FS, HB, LB, OT Best Available Protected Player:  Charlotte has a need at DT and the T-Draft has a solution in Louisiana Tech’s Vernon Butler.  La Tech was added as a 4th school for the Monarchs because of the small pool coming out of UNC and NC State, very fortuitous for the Monarchs to get a school that has a top talent in a position of need.   Draft Plan 1: Any of the top linebackers would be a good option for the Monarchs.  That could be Correa, Ragland, LSU’s Deion Jones, or USC’s Su’a Cravens.   Draft Plan 2: The D-line also needs beefing up, so perhaps the best D-lineman on the board, either end or tackle.   How about someone like Ole Miss’s Robert Nkemdiche?     Draft Plan 3:   Halfback could also be a position of need, someone to either spell McFadden or to offer different skills. How about a speedy 3rd down back like DeAndrew Washington from Texas Tech?   PICK 21—ORLANDO RENEGADES (9-7) Team Needs:  OT, LB, FS, TE, QB Best Available Protected Player:  CB Artie Burns from Miami is the best player on the board from Orlando’s 3 protected schools (Miami, UCF, Purdue), so we could see them go for Burns even if CB is not a deep need.  We also like Burns’s teammate, Miami safety Deon Bush, as a target, especially if Orlando sees him as a true Free Safety and not a tweener.   Draft Plan 1: The Renegades could go about 10 different directions here.  Our first choice for them would be TE, especially if Hunter Henry somehow slips to this stage of the first round.   Draft Plan 2: Another option would be a tackle, especially a solid run-blocking right tackle to make Knowshon Moreno’s life a bit easier.     Draft Plan 3:   If their top choices at TE and Tackle are gone, we could see Orlando drop down, perhaps to later in the round or even to the early 2nd round.  It all depends on who is left on the board that seems like 1st round material.     PICK 22—TEXAS OUTLAWS (10-6) Team Needs:  SS, OT, CB, DE, WR Best Available Protected Player:  The Outlaws have some choices ahead of them after a shuffle in T-Draft schools gives them a shot at some OK State talent as well as Texas Tec.  How about OT Le’Raven Clark from the Red Raiders?  We also like HB DeAndre Washington, though that is not an immediate need.  Another Red Raider who the Outlaws could add for depth is WR Jakeem Grant.    Draft Plan 1: With Brandon Marshall now in Memphis, the Outlaws will want a nice 2nd option behind Colston.  Perhaps a middle-of-the-field underneath guy.  How about Josh Doctson from nearby TCU?   Draft Plan 2: If Doctson is not there, a good 2nd option might be Pitt’s Tyler Boyd, a solid route runner who could prove a dangerous YAC option for Joe Flacco.     Draft Plan 3:   With needs at safety and corner, the third option for Texas is the Best DB Available.  All 4 slots in the secondary could be upgraded in some fashion, so that would be a shrewd decision if the WR options are not knocking anyone’s boots off.     PICK 23—ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS (10-6) Team Needs:  LB, G, DT, FS, DE, K Best Available Protected Player:  The SkyHawks are in a similar position to Seattle, without a clear 1st or 2nd round pick in their pool.  They like Indiana OT Jason Spriggs, and could take a flyer on another Hoosier, HB Jordan Howard as well.   Draft Plan 1: Look across the St. Louis defense and you see needs to improve.  They play well as a team, but they need to get a playmaker.   So, this is another situation where we think a BPA option, particularly on defense, makes sense.   Draft Plan 2: St.   Louis could also be a team looking to move down and nab some picks.  They won’t get choice options at pick 23, but they could drop to the 2nd round and perhaps pick up an extra 3rd rounder.     Draft Plan 3:   We are going to throw a name at you. It would be a stretch pick, but we could see the Skyhawks falling in love with this guy. Robert Aguayo.  Yup, a kicker.  With Bironas gone, the Skyhawks need one, and Aguayo has been discussed as a generational talent.  Would a team really jump on a kicker in the 1st round?  Risky, but of all the “late pick” teams in the round, St. Louis would be the team to do it.   PICK 24—BALTIMORE BLITZ (13-3) Team Needs:  DE, WR, G, CB Best Available Protected Player:  The Blitz have several good options, including Louisville DT Sheldon Rankins, Maryland safety Sheldon Rankins, or, for a position of immediate need, how about Maryland’s athletic edge rusher, Yannick Ngakoue.   Draft Plan 1: If Baltimore feels that they have found their DE in the T-Draft with Ngakoue, then they will look at WR.  We have listed many players so far, but one we have not is OSU’s Michael Thomas.  Could you picture his deep ball skills matched with Big Ben’s arm?  Scary.   Draft Plan 2: If the DE spot is still uncertain, then we think that is the pick.  Robert Quinn is gone, so the Blitz have to try to find an answer.  We like Illinois’ Jihad Ward and EKU’s Noah Spence if some of the earlier names are not available at 24.     Draft Plan 3:   Cornerback is the third option that we could see the Blitz focus on, especially if one of the top 3-4 corners drops this far. If Hargreaves or William Jackson III is still on the board, the Blitz would likely opt for the secondary help.     PICK 25—PITTSBURGH MAULERS (13-3) Team Needs:  G, LB, SS, QB, TE Best Available Protected Player:  Sometimes the universe just decides to help a team out.  Safety Shaun Taylor announces his retirement and the T-draft immediately provides the perfect replacement.  West Virginia safety Karl Joseph could be a perfect fit for the Maulers.  They might even double down and also pick his teammate, K. J. Dillon, just in case Boyd wants to hold out for the NFL.   Draft Plan 1: Let’s start with the boring, conservative choice.  A guard like K-State’s Cody Whitehair or NC State’s Joe Thuney would be a solid, if uninspiring pick.   Draft Plan 2: Ok, now let’s get a bit more adventurous.  What if the Maulers are not happy with Marcus Lattimore and Toby Gerhardt?  They did rely awfully heavily on Andy Dalton last year, so how about a big bruising back with some moves, someone like Alabama’s Kenyan Drake or SJSU’s Tyler Ervin?     Draft Plan 3:   Now let’s go really wild, Pittsburgh puts together a package, likely involving players and picks to get the T-Draft pick from their former division-mate, Ohio, and go after Ezekiel Elliott? Could you imagine Elliott in Pittsburgh with that offense? Yikes!!!  But with Ohio and Pittsburgh now in different conferences, it would not be off the table just because they used to be division rivals.     PICK 26—PORTLAND (10-6) Team Needs:  HB, C, G, CB, OT Best Available Protected Player:  The Stags are now in HB focus mode, but their T-Draft provides no help.  They could use the T-Draft mostly for depth and focus their attention on trying to move up in the draft somehow to get a shot at a strong HB candidate like Ezekiel Elliott or Derrick Henry.  Someone might be open to a trade if Portland will let them take their first T-Draft pick for highly coveted DE DeForest Buckner from Oregon.   Draft Plan 1: In almost any other situation we would not image a team trading their 16-game, playoff caliber QB, but the Stags have huge money invested in Marcus Mariota, and they now have a huge need at HB, so we think they will make every effort to make a deal either with Ohio or Birmingham to get a shot at Elliott or Henry respectively.     Draft Plan 2: If neither the Glory nor the Stallions will help Portland out, then their best option may be to trade for a veteran HB, a trade that could involve this pick.     Draft Plan 3:   Third option, keep the pick and use this pick and a 2nd rounder to draft two mid-range HBs hoping to sign both and get a clear starter out of the combo.  Risky, to be sure, but if all else falls through, what other shot do they have?     PICK 27—ARIZONA WRANGLERS (12-4) Team Needs:  G, LB, WR, HB, P Best Available Protected Player:  Not a great pool this year for the Wranglers. ASU guard Christian Westerman is the highest rated and he is still only a 3rd-4th round prospect.  Expect the Wranglers to build depth, particularly at LB, where they like the motor on Arizona’s Scooby Wright.   Draft Plan 1: We see Arizona as a pretty clear BPA candidate.  They don’t need a lot of help in their starting lineup. But could use depth at several positions, so it makes sense they might just wait and see who has slid furthest.   Draft Plan 2: The second strategy Arizona could employ is to look for a team willing to trade down.  The Wranglers have more picks than needs, so they could combine this pick with a mid-range one or two and launch themselves up the board in the first round.  But for whom?     Draft Plan 3:   Finally, the Wranglers could go the opposite direction, moving down.  Again, they have plenty of picks, so they really don’t need more, but they might move down if they could get a pick in the early 2nd round and perhaps 1-2 in the 2017 draft.   PICK 28—NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (13-3) Team Needs:  G, OT, C, LB, CB Best Available Protected Player:  The Breakers are licking their chops over the LSU class this year, with several players aligning perfectly with roster spots the Breakers would like to either fill or improve.  Whether it is LB Deion Jones, CB Rashard Robinson, or OT Jerald Hawkins, there is a lot for the Breakers to pursue. The problem, of course, is signing these well-known talents.   Draft Plan 1: If they stay put, the pick is likely on the offensive line.  They have needs at center, guard and tackle, so they can play the waiting game and see who lands at this spot.   Draft Plan 2: New Orleans is a prime option for a team to move into the 1st round for a 2nd early pick. They likely could get the Breakers to drop down for a mid-range 2nd rounder, since there is a deep pool at the key O-line positions for New Orleans to bank on.     Draft Plan 3:   Finally, this could be a spot for a stretch pick.  We could see the Breakers try to add a slot receiver or a scatback to pair with their current roster of talent.  It is a stretch to be sure, but it sure would be fun to see someone like Tyler Boyd or Michael Thomas join the Breakers’ receivers group. We will be back in late January with our Draft Recap, a preview of the 2nd NFL-USFL Transfer Window, all the latest trades, free agent moves, and a special feature, our Top 5 Lists for 2016, citing the best coaches, players, and traditions in the USFL. It's all coming this January as we ramp back up for the 34th season of USFL Football on EFN, your home for the USFL, and the best news show in the business, This Week in the USFL.

Breaking Through: New Orleans Wins First USFL Title   A Summer Bowl that required overtime saw Quincy Carter become the unlikely star as the backup led the New Orleans Breakers to victory in the extra period to win their first league title in the club’s 33-year history.  In a game that saw New Orleans start fast, building an early 17-0 lead, only to have Arizona chip away throughout the second half, Drew Brees went down on a controversial play, stayed in the game despite the injury, only to be removed late,  and it would be up to his backup to lead the team through the final minutes and into overtime.   Arizona, who kicked off as an 8-point favorite by game time, struggled in the first half as New Orleans broke through to score the first 17 points of the game, but late in the half would find their legs, and over the final 39 minutes of action would slowly build their way back to a tie, seemingly shifting both momentum and the odds as they scored the final 17 points of regulation to send the game to overtime.  But in the extra period the Breaker defense got a huge stop on Arizona’s first possession and Quincy Carter, thrust into the game after the Drew Brees injury, came through with a game-winning drive and TD toss to Coby Fleener to give the underdog Breakers, winners of the Southern Division and 2 seed in the East, the victory over the top seed from the West.   This was a game of contrasts, with a clear momentum shift midway through the second quarter, following the injury to Breaker QB Drew Brees.  It was also a game which saw both defenses struggle at times and rise up at others.  The game saw 10 sacks between the two defenses, with Breaker DE Ty Warren earning two, but Wrangler DT Ryan Carruthers getting the sack-safety in the 4th quarter that would lead to the overtime period.  In overtime, it was the Breaker defense that came up big, providing the underdogs from New Orleans the chance to end the game, and their backup QB made it happen, with a drive that he will remember always.   The game began in the heat of an LA afternoon at Farmers Insurance Field, ending in the cooling evening sky under the stars, and as day shifted to night, the momentum of the game also shifted.  The USFL title game began with all the star power and glitz that you would expect from Los Angeles in a season dubbed “The Road to Hollywood”.  Celebrities from film, television, music, and sports were on hand as Mariah Carey belted out the national anthem and Donna Hudson “America the Beautiful”.  The halftime show would feature two LA bands, the Black Eyed Peas and a surprise guest appearance from Guns & Roses, but it would be an evening dominated by the stars on the field, from ageless Wrangler HB Frank Gore’s 105-yard performance to the late heroics of former LA Express draft pick and journeyman backup Quincy Carter, with his 6th different team in New Orleans. The game started fast for the New Orleans Breakers and Coach Lathon.  After choosing to get the ball first after winning the coin toss, and using their standard 15 scripted plays, New Orleans had immediate success, mounting a 13-play drive from their own 22 that saw Jeremy Hill find some gaps in the Wrangler run defense and which saw Drew Brees connect on a 3rd and 11 pass to Kenny Britt for 14 yards to keep the drive alive.  Brees would also produce the game’s first score, connecting with DeMetrius Byrd on what would be his only catch of the game, a 6-yard toss over the middle that saw Byrd squirm through  the tackle to cross the goal line for a 10-yard score.    Arizona, who would go the entire game without converting on a single third-down attempt (0 for 15), would manage to earn only one first down on their first drive before being forced to punt after a missed throw on 3rd and 7.  It would be a rough game overall for Wrangler QB David Carr, who would complete only 9 of his 28 passes on the day (32%) and who would be pursued relentlessly by a cavalcade of Breaker defenders.  The Wranglers would find more success with the run game, but not until later in the half.    Following the short Arizona drive, New Orleans got the ball back at their own 17, and once again proved effective in using both misdirection and well-designed plays to get the ball down the field once again.  The Breaker’s second drive would last only 4 minutes and 9 plays, but it would end with a similar result to the first, a second New Orleans touchdown.  The second score came on a 1st and goal on the 6 yardline.  Jeremy Hill, who would finish the game with 82 yards on 24 carries, took a pitch left and found the endzone pylon before rolling out of bounds.  The Breakers were up 14-0 after only two possessions and both the pundits and Wrangler fans, both of whom clearly expected the game to start very differently, were on edge as the first quarter came to an end with Arizona holding the ball, but struggling to get their offense going.   The Wranglers and Breakers would trade short 3-and-out possessions to end the first quarter and begin the second.  When a holding call forced Arizona into a 3rd and 17 on their 3rd possession, a draw play to Gore got them 11 yards, but they were again forced to punt.  New Orleans took over and again found success mixing runs from Hill with quick passes designed to protect QB Drew Brees from the aggressive Wrangler pass rush.  Once again the Breakers would drive the ball well into the Arizona red zone, but on a 2nd and 8 at the 14, a questionable hit on QB Drew Brees would shift the nature of the game.    It was a throw away pass out of the back of the endzone as Brees could not find a receiver on the 2nd down play, but Arizona DE Quentin Groves rolled into Brees, awkwardly rolling his right ankle and forcing the Breaker QB out of the game for the 3rd down play.  As Brees sought medical attention on the sideline and the Breaker contingent of fans at Farmers Insurance Field cried for a penalty, no flag was thrown.  It was debatable whether Groves had been blocked into Brees or if he had lunged at the Breaker QB as the ball was thrown.   Either way, the Breaker QB and star of their playoff run was hobbled by the hit to his ankle.  Quincy Carter would come in for the key 3rd down play, with the Breakers opting to give the ball to David Wilson on a draw play.  Wilson would gain 4, falling short of the first down and forcing New Orleans to send kicker Caleb Sturgis out on the field.     Now up 17-0, New Orleans kicked off to Arizona as Brees sat on the training table along the Breaker sideline, having his right ankle rotated and palpated, with obvious pain on his face.  The Breakers might have hoped for a somewhat drawn out Arizona possession to give them time to analyze the damage to their QB’s ankle, but they would not get it.  Arizona took the kickoff as a fair catch on the 19.  After a 3-yard run on first down from Gore, they would get the first big play of the game. It was a 2nd and 7 from the 22 and the Breakers were ready for yet another Gore off-tackle run, but David Carr kept the ball, avoided the rush from LB Rocky McIntosh, and found speedster Antonio Bryant with 2 steps on his defender.  Carr launched the deep ball, both Bryant and CB Shaquille Robinson went up for the ball, with the Wrangler receiver bringing it down and making a quick turn to get further upfield.  He would race down the sideline, outpacing safety Brandon Taylor to the endzone and putting Arizona on the board for the first time in the game.   Kicker Elliot Parson, the league’s All-USFL selection at the position, doinked the PAT off the upright, his first miss in nearly 30 attempts, and Arizona was down 11 at 17-6.  But, more importantly, the momentum had shifted.  Drew Brees was still shoeless and getting iced on the sideline, and the Breakers would retake the field with Quincy Carter at QB now in a much different game than the first quarter had produced.   Carter would hand off twice on 1st and 2nd downs before missing on a throw to Early Doucet on 3rd and 5.  A quick and ineffective possession that gave the Wranglers hope that they could close the score even more before the half.  The Wranglers got the ball back with just over 7 minutes left in the half and with a feeling of expectation.  They would fail to pick up a first down as Carr was sacked by Safety Mike Doss on a well timed third-down blitz, forcing Arizona to give the ball back to the Breakers.  New Orleans, with Carter at the helm once again, would earn a first down, burn quite a bit of clock and then fail to produce a 2nd first down on the 4th run play of the drive.  They would punt back to Arizona, but with only 33 seconds left on the clock.  Arizona would settle for a deep shot down field that missed out of bounds and then a knee to run out the clock and take the game to the break.    Drew Brees was carted into the locker room as the teams departed the field. The halftime break was a mix of entertainment on the field and discussion of the Brees injury and its impact among the broadcasters.  Arizona would get the ball first in the 2nd half, and it was noteworthy that Brees did not emerge from the locker room with the rest of the team as the half kicked off.  With the Wranglers receiving the kickoff in the endzone, Arizona’s offense took the field and the Breaker D joined them, understanding that this game may well depend on their ability to hold down the Wranglers. Arizona wasted no time trying to tighten the score.  Using Frank Gore as a battering ram, they methodically moved the ball down the field.  David Carr would complete only 2 passes on the drive, one however, saved the Wranglers as he found Larry Fitzgerald with a very nice out route on 3rd and 9 that gave the Wrangles a new set of downs.  Carr’s other completion would be a perfect play-action pass on 1st down, finding David Tyree for a 23-yard gain and putting the ball in the New Orleans red zone.  From there a 9-yard run from Ka’Deem Carey, his longest of the day, and a strong 6-yard effort from Gore, put the ball on the 1.  From there it was a simple matter for the Wrangler line to give Gore a crease and that was all he needed to get Arizona back on the board once again.  The Wranglers would go for 2, hoping to bring the score to 17-14, but David Carr was flushed from the pocket by Ty Warren and forced a low throw to TE Daniel Graham, too low for Graham to come up with, leaving New Orleans with a 5-point lead at 17-12.   Quincy Carter started the next drive under center, and after a short completion on 3rd and 2, had a Breaker first down, but it was what happened just before that play that got the Breaker fans on their feet.  As Carter was in the huddle, Drew Brees jogged out of the locker room and onto the Breaker sideline.  Following Carter’s successful third down throw,  Brees would walk out to the huddle, shaking Carter’s hand as the two passed on the field, and the Breaker fans started to make noise once again.   The Breakers’ enthusiasm was muted quickly as Brees was clearly not at full capacity, looking somewhat awkward on his first full drop back and failing to connect with Kenny Britt on the next third down play.  It was clear that the injury to his plant foot, now visibly covered in heavy tape, would impact Brees’s mobility and even his throwing motion.  He would not be able to scramble away from danger and would need to be cautious even in simple pocket passes.   A short punt gave Arizona good field position on their own 44, and the Wranglers, despite their issues with third down, were able to get the ball into Breaker territory before settling for a 47-yard Parson field goal to pull within 2 at 17-15.  Now, with less than a field goal lead, and with Arizona having scored 15 unanswered points, the Breakers were not feeling confident in their chances, even with Brees on the field, but clearly not at 100%.    New Orleans went 3-and-out on their next drive, with Brees taking a sack on third and 8, wrapped up by Karlos Dansby, but able to quickly return to his feet.  But the Breakers would get a big play on defense on the next Arizona possession, helping them turn the tide a bit.  David Carr, seeking to connect with Larry Fitzgerald on a 2nd down play-action pass, was clipped by a blitzing Kwon Alexander as he threw, and the errant pass fell right to safety Shaquille Richardson for the game’s first turnover.  It would be the first of 4 interceptions over the final 16 minutes of action and overtime.    New Orleans took over at midfield, but Brees’s mobility issues would produce another turnover, New Orleans’s first, only 2 plays later as an outside throw to Doucet did not have the zip on it that was needed, allowing Arizona’s Joe Haden to cut in front of Fitzgerald and nab the interception as he fell out of bounds.  It was a clear sign that not only would Brees’s injury impact his ability to escape the pass rush, but that it was also impacting his throwing motion and the power of his throws.   Arizona would garner a first down thanks to a nice catch by Daniel Graham on 2nd and 7, gaining 12, but that would be their only chain adjustment on the drive as again the Breaker defense got to Carr, this time Ty Warren with his first sack of the day to force a punt.  Punt Returner Tyler Lockett would call for the fair catch on his own 9, but muffed the catch, causing the ball to roll out of bounds at the 4 yard line.  That put New Orleans in a precarious position.  That position was made even more precarious when Frank Gore’s first down run was stuffed behind the line by Arizona DE Kapron Lewis-Moore, creating a 2nd and 12 from the 2.    Confident in his QB’s ability to get the ball out quickly, Coach Lathon and OC Ryan Day called a pass play for 2nd and 12.  But once again Drew Brees’s mobility issues proved problematic as Arizona called a zero coverage with 2 blitzers coming right up the middle.  Brees could not avoid the rushers and went down, providing Arizona with the 2 points they needed to tie the score.  It was becoming obvious that Brees would not be able to be effective against heavy Arizona pressure.   The Wranglers were again ineffective with the ball and again failed to convert on third down after receiving the free kick from New Orleans.  They would punt the ball back to the Breakers, but this time a touchback would give New Orleans breathing room.  Drew Brees came out again, and again, the Breakers struggled with pressure.  On a 3rd and 9, Brees had a ball tipped at the line, always a danger for the somewhat diminutive QB.  Karlos Dansby was in the right spot to bring in the tipped ball and suddenly Arizona was in position to take the lead, with the ball on the Breaker 38.    But, as they had done all game, the New Orleans defense found a way to upend the Wrangler plans.  On first and 10, the Wranglers went for the kill shot, with a fake to Gore and a shot towards Daniel Graham up the seam, but the Wranglers were ready.  They had feigned a man coverage, but LB Kwon Alexander had backed away from the line at the snap and the Breakers dropped into a cover 2, with Alexander taking position in front of Graham’s route.  Carr’s ball did not arc enough to avoid Alexander’s hand, and the linebacker tipped the ball to himself, producing the 2nd pick in as many plays and once again giving the ball back to the Breakers.   Coach Lathon had made the call that needed to be made.  Out onto the field trotted Quincy Carter.  Drew Brees, visibly upset, sat on the bench.  Carter took over on the 29, got a solid first down run from Hill to make it 2nd and 2, then let Hill pick up the first down on another run.  The drive would stall after that, but the 5 plays helped New Orleans wind the clock down another 3 minutes, leaving Arizona with just over 2 minutes to go.  Punter Matt Allen would play his part, booting a booming 62-yard punt that backed the Wranglers up to their own 13.   Arizona would not find success on their drive, once again coming up short on third down, this time with Graham taking a hard hit 2 yards from the line to gain and going down just short.  Rather than risk giving the ball to New Orleans in field goal range if a 4th and 1 failed, Coach Tomsula played it conservatively and punted.   New Orleans would run the ball on the next two downs and then take a knee to send the game to overtime.   Arizona, having scored the final 17 points of the game, and looking at a Breaker team with serious questions on offense, opted to take the ball first in the extra period.  Caleb Sturgis kicked off and Ka’Deem Carey took a knee in the endzone for a touchback.  The Wrangler offense took the field, hoping to pull off one of the bigger comebacks in Summer Bowl history.  Frank Gore seemed to hit on a nice 9-yard run on first down, but the Wranglers were called for holding, giving them a 1st and 20 and throwing a wrench into their plans for a game-winning drive.  They would get back 14 of the 20 yards, but once again the Breaker pressure got to David Carr before he could find a receiver on 3rd and 6.  The combination of Ty Warren and a blitzing Kevin Minter pressured Carr and his ball sailed out of bounds, well over the head of Antonio Bryant.  Arizona would have to punt.   The Breakers got the ball on their own 33.  A field goal would win the game if they could just get into position.  New Orleans sent Carter back onto the field. At this point the QB was only 3 of 10 throwing the ball, but he was certainly more mobile than Brees, and Coach Lathon would do all he could to protect the ball by using Hill and Wilson to run and use short routes to supplement that run game.  A short pass to Hill on first down garnered only 2 yards.  Hill’s 2nd down run was more successful, adding 6 more.  Third and 2.  OC Ryan Day called a draw play with David Wilson in the backfield.  The midirection worked, with Wilson gaining 3 and giving the Breakers a new set of downs.  Day would take a chance on the next play, calling a play action pass to Kenny Britt.  The fake drew in the safeties, and Britt had single coverage.  Carter lofted the ball a bit, forcing Britt to jump for it, but the lanky receiver brought it down for a gain of 18.  That play forced Arizona to step back from their heavy run defense and at least consider that Carter would be given a chance to throw the ball.    Carter would do just that on the first down play, connecting with Joel Dreesen for 8 yards.  On 2nd down, Hill would again pick up a first down.  With the clock now ticking down under 5 minutes, New Orleans seemed to be finding the plays they needed.  After Jeremy Hill was stuffed for only 1 yard on 1st and 10, Carter would line up in the shotgun, an obvious passing down.  Arizona brought a blitz from LB Karlos Dansby and Carter threw the ball to the vacated zone where Dansby had been, finding WR Tyler Lockett for 11 yards.  The ball was now within range for Sturgis, but the Breakers wanted to see if they could get him even closer to improve his odds.    The next two plays would prove fatal for the Arizona defense, one of the league’s best all season long.  On first down from the Arizona 32, tight end Joel Dreesen got an excellent block on SS Troy Polamalu, allowing Hill to reach the corner on a pitch play.  The play would gain 14 yards, putting the ball on the Arizona 18.  Certainly the Breakers would send out Sturgis.  They did not, they put Carter under center in a big formation, bringing in 3 tight ends, fullback Ira Johnson and showing every intention of lining the ball up for Sturgis with an inside run to the right.   But that was not the call.  Carter did not hand the ball off to Hill and as the Wranglers crashed the line to stop the back, Carter rolled to his right, looking for TE Coby Fleener.  Fleener was there, crossing from left to right with no  one in pursuit.  Carter almost lobbed the short 5-yard pass, and with only 1 man to beat, Fleener rumbled towards the right corner of the endzone.  Free Safety Nate Allen tried for an arm tackle, but the bigger tight end was able to shrug it off and step into the endzone for the game winning score. New Orleans, in perhaps one of the most surprising final drives in Summer Bowl history, had claimed their first title in the 33 year history of the franchise.  The combination of fierce defense, particularly on third downs throughout the game, and the unexpected heroics of backup Quincy Carter had snatched victory out of the jaws of potential defeat.  Drew Brees hugged his backup at midfield.  Coach Tomsula congratulated Coach Lathon, a former Breaker player himself, and the sky above the field was filled with confetti in the unique Breaker Blue and silver colors of the newest league champion.   The MVP would recognize the defensive impact of Breaker DE Ty Warren, a 12-year veteran in his 10th year with New Orleans.  Coach Lathon would thank pretty much everyone from his parents to the owners to the people of New Orleans as he held aloft the John Bassett trophy, finishing off his acceptance speech with the familiar “Who Dey Breakers?” chant familiar to all football fans of the Crescent City.  Arizona had shown their mettle, battling back from a 17-0 first half deficit, but in the end it would be a night for Breaker fans everywhere to celebrate as a USFL founding club won its first title, leaving only 1 franchise from the original 12 without a Bassett Trophy (the original LA Express, then St. Louis and Nashville Knights, and current Las Vegas Vipers.)  Another season completed, a new champion crowned, and an overtime title game to excite and engage the fans once again in spring football.  As the stars came out in Los Angeles over Farmers Insurance Field, the USFL had once again given us a show, and now the Breakers would join the constellation of stars in the USFL with championship rings as their prize.   And so, we shift to the offseason and another long road to a USFL title. 2016 sees the Summer Bowl return to New Jersey and MetLife Stadium as the league will kick off their 34th season in March, culminating with another title game in the heat of summer in the Meadowlands.

It will be the Breakers and the Wranglers facing off in Los Angeles for Summer Bowl 2015.  That is the news out of this week as New Orleans survives a clash with the Pittsburgh Maulers and Arizona absolutely dominates over the Portland Stags in the two Conference Title Games.  The Breakers will be returning to the Summer Bowl for only the 2nd time in their 33rd season history, and the first time since 2003, still seeking their first league title.  In their way will be the 2013 league champions, as Arizona returns to the title game for the 2nd time in 3 years, very much still presenting an intimidating defense and a dual threat offense.  We will break down how each team punched their ticket to LA, sorting through the lessons of the two Conference Championship Games and then preview the big game at Farmers Insurance Field.  Along the way, we have an update on the Chicago coaching situation, news out of Denver, and some league news, but we start in New Orleans with the Maulers and the Breakers.   PITTSBURGH MAULERS 10   NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 24 The Breaker defense has been one of the underreported stories of the USFL playoffs this year, but for a second straight week the “Riptide Defense” has done its job, shutting down the opposition and giving the W to the homestanding Breakers. In the Divisional Round the Renegades did not provide much of a challenge, but this was the Pittsburgh Maulers, led by OPOTY Andy Dalton, with their outstanding young receivers coming to town.  It did not matter.  The Breakers held Pittsburgh to only 10 points, just 33 yards rushing, and held Dalton below 300 yards with only 1 touchdown.  They pressured him, they confused him with disguised coverages, and they just flat won on the line of scrimmage.   The star of the day for the Riptide D was DE Cameron Jordan.  He was disruptive from the very first snap until the final whistle.  He finished the day with 2 sacks and a forced fumble, but his presence was certainly more than those numbers.  But it was not a one-man job.  This was a true team effort, with 5 different players recording 4 tackles or more, with two forced fumbles created and a third down defense that limited Pittsburgh to only 3 conversions in 13 attempts.    While the defense was making life hard for the Maulers, the New Orleans offense, led by QB Drew Brees, was finding holes in the Pittsburgh D.  Brees would finish the day with 321 yards passing, completing an impressive 30 of 42 attempts and connecting with both Early Doucet and Donnie Avery on scoring throws.  Jeremy Hill would also have a big day, rushing for 92 yards on 19 carries, a very healthy 4.8 YPC average.  He would also contribute a rushing touchdown to the Breaker cause.   The game began tentatively, with Pittsburgh going 3-and-out on their opening drive, while New Orleans managed a lone first down before being forced to punt as well.  On the Maulers’ second drive, they had a bit of better luck, getting a first down on an offsides call and then another on a nice 31-yard connection from Dalton to Victor Cruz, but they could get no further and were forced to settle for an Andrew Franks field goal to put the first points on the board.   New Orleans responded to the Mauler score with a drive of their own, a six-minute, 12-play drive that led to Jeremy Hill’s 1-yard plunge on 3rd and goal.  Drew Brees went 5 of 7 on the drive, finding Kenny Britt for a key third down completion and relying on Hill to keep the defense honest.  The score would stay at 7-3 for 3 more drives before the Breakers again broke through, this time on a big play.  Brees used a pump fake and Donnie Avery a double move to freeze the corner, and that was all he needed as the Breaker QB hit the speedy Avery with a perfect deep ball, leading to a 52-yard touchdown.  The game would go to the half with New Orleans up 14-3 and with Pittsburgh only having managed 4 first downs in the entire half.   The Maulers came out at the half intent on putting points on the board, but at every turn there was a Breaker defender.  Linebackers Kevin Minter and Rocky McIntosh kept Marcus Lattimore in check as the Breakers stayed in nickel coverage most of the game.  The Mauler back would only rush the ball 10 times, and only picking up 2.4 yards per carry.  After an initial first down on a Dalton to Thielen connection, the Maulers again failed on 3rd down and their opening drive of the half failed to produce a scoring opportunity.  New Orleans would soon put them even further behind. The Breakers took over on their own 31 after a short punt and wasted no time moving downfield.  A 16-yard run by Hill was followed by an 18-yard connection to rookie Tyler Lockett.  Within 5 plays the Breakers were inside the 5-yard line, and from there it took only 2 plays before Drew Brees connected with Early Doucet to extend the Breaker lead to 18 points.  Up 21-3, the Breaker D could focus on pass rush and keeping the Mauler receivers short of first down yardage. That strategy would prove effective the rest of the way.   The Maulers would get their first and only touchdown late in the 4th on a Dalton to Cruz pass, but with only 6 minutes left to play, they still trailed by 11.  A Caleb Sturgis field goal on the next possession for New Orleans bumped the difference to 14 with only 2 minutes left, and that was basically all she wrote.  The Breakers had spoiled the Cinderella story of the Maulers and had written a new chapter in their own rich playoff history, one still lacking the final prize, a league title. They would be heading to LA as the Eastern Conference Champions, a team on a mission to bring home their first Bassett Trophy in the club’s 33-year history. PORTLAND STAGS  0   ARIZONA WRANGLERS 41 Standing in New Orleans’s path will be the 2013 league champions and one of the best defenses in the game, as the Arizona Wranglers emphatically placed down their marker for the league title, destroying Portland to reach their 2nd Summer Bowl in three years.  This was as one-sided a title game as we have seen in the league’s history, with Arizona’s defense holding Portland to a total of 240 yards and picking off Stags’ QB Ryan Fitzpatrick 5 times.  It was pure and utter domination.   Before we spend most of the article talking about the scary Wrangler defense, we should acknowledge that the offense did their part too.  The combo of Gore and Carey combined for 96 yards, David Carr threw for 209 and 2 scores, and both Antonio Bryant and David Tyree went over 100 yards on the day, with 3 touchdowns between them.  But we also recognize that they played on a lot of short fields thanks to 6 turnovers produced by the defense, and that the game would have been won by Arizona even if the Wrangler offense had been shut out, thanks to a pick six from CB Mike Mickens.   To say the Wrangler defense was the best squad on the field would be a no brainer.  Allowing only 1.6 YPC on rush attempts, only 5.6 per pass completion and those five nasty picks, that was utter domination, and it started early.  While there was no scoring in the first quarter, and only a 3-0 Arizona lead at the half, two Fitzpatrick picks were the clear highlights of the opening half.  Both were seemingly unforced errors, but upon review, we can see that both were actually well-disguised defenses that confused Fitzpatrick, despite his Harvard education, and caused him to force the ball into dangerous areas of the field.  LB Karlos Dansby got the first pick of the day, stepping in front of Stag TE Jordan Cameron.  Later in the half, it would be safety Troy Polamalu taking the ball away from Brian Quick. Both picks were around midfield, with the Polamalu pick leading to the game’s first score, an Elliott Parson field goal, giving Arizona the 3-0 advantage at the half.   The low-scoring first half did not prepare us for a 3rd quarter that would see Arizona score 4 times and build up an impenetrable 27-0 lead.  The second half started with Arizona taking the kickoff and, after only 4 plays, adding 7 to the scoreboard.  The biggest offensive play of the day came on the 4th play of the half when David Carr used a play fake to Gore to then find Bryant streaking down the sideline.  A perfect ball to Bryant led to a 53-yard score and Arizona was up 10-0.   Still room and time for Portland to come back, except that they had to get past that defense.    The Stags could not.  For the third time in the game Ryan Fitzpatrick misread the defense, and this time it was pure disaster.  He threw to Alshon Jeffery, but Jeffery cut outside instead of inside and instead of finding his receiver, Fitzpatrick found Arizona cornerback Mike Mickens.  Mickens had a clear path down the sideline and scored to put Arizona up 17-0.  It would only get worse from there.   Arizona would force a 3-and-out, nearly picking Fitzpatrick off again on 3rd down, but would get the ball back and in only 5 plays would add 7 more as Carr connected with Bryant again, this time from 10 yards out to make it 24-0. At this point the game was well in the control of the Wranglers, and over the next 24 minutes of action it would just prove more and more out of reach for the Stags.   A fumble by Javon Ringer, another 2 picks from Fitzpatrick, and this game was well out of hand.  Backup QB Nick Foles came in for Carr midway through the 4th with the Wranglers having added yet another score on a Ka’Deem Carey 21-yard run.  Foles would add one last humiliation to the Stags, finding David Tyree with a 1-yard TD toss on 3rd and goal midway through the 4th.    The Wranglers had dominated from the opening kickoff, a week after knocking off division rival Texas they had destroyed the 2 seed and were now setting their sights on the New Orleans Breakers.  Did they peak a game too early or is this a dominant club on its way to a 2nd league title in 3 years?   We will find out next week when the Wranglers face the Breakers in a battle of two very formidable defenses and two solid, but perhaps nervous offenses.  Nightmare Game for Fitzpatrick Could Influence Stags’ Offseason Plan It was a season to remember and a final game to forget for QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.  In a year when Fitzie was expected to hand the torch to rookie Marcus Mariota, Fitzpatrick’s outstanding play kept the highly touted rookie on the bench all season, but the Harvard QB’s final game has shifted the narrative, and quite possibly shifted the course of the offseason for the Stags.   Fitzpatrick looked utterly overwhelmed against the Wranglers.  After a 16-game regular season in which he threw only 9 picks to 21 touchdowns, this one game saw the QB toss five picks to the Wranglers’ defense. And these were not tipped balls or butter fingered receivers at blame, these were each balls thrown, either under duress or just poorly, which went right into the hands of Wrangler defenders. It was a game that could redefine how teams view the 6-year veteran after what was undoubtedly his best season as a pro. Fitzpatrick’s final regular season numbers were very solid: 3,369 yards, 21 TDs, and a QB Rating of 93.6, all personal bests. He had kept Mariota on the bench all season long despite obvious pressure to see the Oregon star on the field.  But now, the question may well be if this one game is enough to push Portland to move Fitzpatrick and start anew with Mariota at the helm.  The truth is that there are certainly teams interested, though the price for a trade may well have lost some of its value after this week’s game. It is one thing to bring in a veteran QB who comes off a good season, but to make a deal for a QB who had a game as bad as the one Fitzpatrick had this week, well that may not be the slam dunk that most GMs would hope for.  Still, with so many teams in such dire straights at the QB position, there will likely be a market for Fitzpatrick if the Stags are, in fact, hoping to move to Mariota in 2016.   New Orleans’s “Riptide” Defense Gets Results, Not Hype. We expect to talk about defense when the Wranglers or Panthers take the field, but the Breakers’ squad has largely avoided the hype, until now.  After holding Orlando to 7 points, the Breakers’ “Riptide Defense” limited explosive Pittsburgh to only 10 points, something no team had done all year. Until the Championship, the Maulers had scored 20 or more points in every single game except one, a 20-17 loss in Memphis that still feels like a glitch in the matrix.    So how did New Orleans do it?  They are not the most statistically impressive team in the league, though their 4th ranked scoring defense had held 11 of their 17 prior opponents to 20 or fewer points, averaging only 17.5 PPG allowed over the entire year.  The key to the Breaker defense seems to be three levels of defense working as one.  They get pressure on the QB without many blitzes, with the front four of Ty Warren and Cameron Jordan outside and Ricky Jean-Francois and Ra’Shon Harris inside accounting for the top 3 sack spots on the roster and a total of 26 QB captures.  Behind them, the linebacker trio of Kwon Alexander (99 tackles), Rocky McIntosh (88) and Kevin Minter (84) are excellent at containing backs, limiting yards after contact, and pretty solid in flat and short route coverage. Screens in particular just do not work well against this group.  Then, behind them, a secondary led by Patrick Peterson and Randall Gay outside are tenacious in coverage. Peterson, the team leader with 6 picks, is a master of bump and run man coverage, while Gay (4 picks) is solid in both zone and man coverage.  Behind them, safeties Mike Doss and Brandon Taylor have been sweeping up loose balls and interior receivers.    The result of this team effort is a defense that has taken a huge step up in the postseason and now has the Breakers in the Summer Bowl looking to earn the team’s and the city’s first USFL title.  As much as fans talk about the efficiency of Drew Brees on offense, it is this very good, but very underappreciated defense that has New Orleans heading to LA for a shot at the title.   Last Minute Signings Take 2 Big Name Backs off the Market We tend to think of the end of the regular season as the end of the resigning period for players at the end of their contracts, but the fact is that all teams can continue to work with agents to get a deal done until the Tuesday after the Summer Bowl, when the free agent pool is locked in, allowing teams to start negotiating with players across the league the very next day.  It does not happen often, but there are players who come to terms with their teams in the interim between the end of regular season action and the start of true free agency.  Typically, we don’t see this as players are often looking to maximize their value in the open market, but it can happen, and this week it happened with two star running backs.   There was little doubt that Frank Gore would actually be leaving the Wranglers for another team, not at 34 years old and not when he is on a team that is competing for a 2nd league title.  The question was whether or not the former Miami Hurricane and former USFL league MVP would be retiring if he got another ring from this year’s Wranglers. Well, put that thought out of your head. This week the Wranglers announced that Gore had agreed to a 2-year extension, boosting his annual salary over $4M to stay with the Wranglers, potentially until he hits his 36th birthday in 2017.    The other big re-signing was more of a surprise in that most anticipated that Reggie Bush , underused and undervalued with the LA Express, would seek to either find a new squad or to return to the NFL.  Bush, who topped 1,000 yards in 2014 with the Express, dipped back to only 633 this year on a deeply disappointing Express squad.  Many suspected he would be looking to upgrade his position and his paycheck in free agency, but the former USC back has opted to take a 3-year deal with the Express to remain in LA and perhaps start all over with a new QB and a new OC for the 3rd time in 3 years.    So, with these two players now resigned, the clear number one back in the pool of available talent is Oakland’s Ryan Williams. Williams is expected to seek a new home after complaining about sharing carries with Donald Brown, the NFL import that the Invaders brought in.  Expect Williams to seek a location where he can be a clear number one.  One possible landing spot is just down the coast in San Diego, where Marshawn Lynch was traded away mid-season.  Another could be Atlanta, where the sudden retirement of Steven Jackson leaves an obvious need in the Fire’s offensive roster.   Sean Taylor Calls it a Career By far the biggest name retirement this week is Mauler SS Sean Taylor.  The 11-year veteran of the Maulers had told local media that retirement was a consideration, but one he wished to keep to himself and his family until after the season had ended. With the Maulers advancing to the Conference Title Game in the East, news on Taylor’s status had been delayed, but this Tuesday he made the announcement that many had anticipated, stepping away from the game after 11 seasons. Taylor retires with a solid record of accomplishment, often on pretty shaky Mauler teams.  He finished this season with 59 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 picks.   Others joining Taylor in retirement this week include Texas CB Nathan Vasher, Orlando LB Tommy Polley, Oakland CB Deon Grant, and Baltimore WR Roscoe Parrish.   Both Arizona and New Orleans suffered an injury on their defenses in the Conference Finals, with the Wranglers seeing safety Nate Allen leave the field with an ankle injury while New Orleans cornerback Randall Gay suffered what was diagnosed as a hip pointer.  Both could potentially play this week, though Randall Gay’s injury has placed him as “doubtful” for the game.  That could be a big hit for the Breakers, as Gay would most likely be matched up against Antonio Bryant, with Patrick Peterson almost certainly drawing duty on Larry Fitzgerald.    ARZ: DE Adam Carriker (Q), FS Nate Allen (P) NOR: G Evan Mathis (OUT), CB Randall Gay (D) Alamodome Insurer Seeks to Deny Coverage The report has come out and it is not good for the owners of the Texas Outlaws or for the city of San Antonio. Chubb INA, the primary insurer for the Alamodome is citing substandard workmanship and materials used in the recent renovations of the facility to deny large portions of the claim towards its repair following the recent tornado damage and subsequent partial demolition. This points a direct finger at the stadium authority and members of the city board that approved and sourced the renovation project, as well as several contractors and subcontractors.  The assertion that significant elements of the damage produced by the Memorial Day Weekend tornado were the direct result of shoddy work, substandard materials, and poor design by the low bidding engineering firm mean two things are almost certain, that lengthy legal cases are about to begin, delaying any potential final demolition and reconstruction of the facility, and that the cost of the project is likely to skyrocket as legal expenses will now need to be factored in. In addition to what is now almost guaranteed to be a delayed timeline and a higher expenditure, the denial of support from Chubb INA could well lead to significant internal shakeups and possibly investigations of the stadium authority itself, which again, could balloon both costs and delays in any reconstruction project. All this to say that the situation surrounding the Texas Outlaws has gotten a whole lot more complex, and a whole lot more costly.  Any hopes that the Alamodome would be ready for the 2017 season now seem very dim, and the expectation that the full cost of reconstruction for the facility would be supported by insurance and the city is looking very dubious. This puts significant obstacles in the way of club viability for the Outlaws and for their ownership group, led by Red McCombs and William Tatham.  Both Tatham and McCombs are expected to be meeting with the USFL Commissioner and the strategic planning team at the league’s New York headquarters next week, and it should be expected that the long term viability of the Outlaws, their stadium insecurity and related financial stressors will be a major portion of that discussion. While the 2016 season seems to be sorted out, with stadium deals in place for 3 different venues, extension of the team’s “traveling home” status will be a contentious issue, as will any requests that the league financially support the team. That last topic, one which had originally been considered almost a slam dunk, now could be far more problematic, particularly if the Outlaws are in any way associated with decisions related to the claims by Chubb that the renovation of the dome was mismanaged and violated construction and safety standards.  If that is the case, even in an ancillary connection to the team, it could produce major resistance towards league support for the Outlaws.   League Honors & All-USFL Team Last nights’ USFL Honors Banquet, held in the Dolby Theatre in LA, home to the Oscars ceremony, were more star-studded than in most years, with appearances by noted celebrities and football fans Will Ferrell, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Martin Short, Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Snoop Dog, and Reese Witherspoon.  But despite the Hollywood glitz added to the affair, the stars of the night remained the best of the USFL, players named to the league’s annual All-USFL team and the five major award winners.  Here is the rundown of each of the night’s big awards, followed by your 2015 All USFL team.   MOST VALUABLE PLAYER We have a back-to-back winner in the MVP category as Baltimore Blitz QB Ben Roethlisberger edged out up-and-coming QB star Andy Dalton to win his second MVP trophy.  Roethlisberger, who led the league in passing yards (5,524), QB Rating (135.2) and who tied Matt Hasselbeck for the league lead with 49 touchdown passes, received 3 more ballots than 2nd place finisher Andy Dalton.  This marks the first time a player has won the title in back to back years since Kerry Collins won the award during the Ohio Glory’s back-to-back title runs in 2002 and 2003.  Roethlisberger led the Blitz to both the NE Division title and the overall one seed in the Eastern Playoffs, and did so without the support of a 1,000 yard rusher. His 5,524 yards passing is the second highest total in league history, trailing only Troy Aikman’s 1998 total of 5,675.  His 49 touchdowns and 135.2 rating also place among the top 10 all time (TDs = tied for 5th, Rating = 6th all time.)   OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Mauler fans may not have gotten the MVP award for their star quarterback, but they can be happy that Andy Dalton was recognized for his outstanding season with the Offensive Player of the Year award, beating out Michigan HB LeVeon Bell and Texas WR Marques Colston for the honor.  Dalton finished 2015 with 5,131 yards, 47 touchdowns and a QB Rating of 129.8 as he led Pittsburgh from a 5-11 season in 2014 to 13-3 in 2015, a 7 game improvement.  But for a tiebreaker based on points scored, the Maulers could have taken the division title.  Dalton put together by far his best season as a pro, assisted by a solid young receiver group that included Adam Thielen (1,691 yards), Victor Cruz (930 yards in only 12 games), and league receiving TD leader, TE Jimmie Graham (1,236 yards and 19 touchdowns).    DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR After several years of “Campbell Fatigue” leading to other defenders beating out the Orlando DE for the title, this year Calais Campbell returns to the official status as the best defensive player of the year.  Three factors played into the landslide victory for Campbell.  First was his domination over all other edge rushers, recording 27 sacks when the next highest total was 19 (Cliff Avril of Oakland).   The second factor is that for the first time since Campbell started racking up huge numbers, his team supported him by winning 9 games and making the playoffs as a Wild Card.  In past years voters have been able to deny Campbell the title due to his club’s sub .500 record, but that was not a factor in this year’s voting. But, perhaps most importantly, and most astonishingly, it was the tackle stat and not the sack total that put Campbell over the edge.  This year, with exactly 100 tackles on the season, Calais Campbell became the first DE in USFL history to crack the 100-tackle mark.  Typically reserved either for a middle linebacker or a drop down strong safety, 100 tackles from any D-lineman is almost unheard of, but Campbell achieved this by not only focusing on the pass rush, but by playing across the line and aggressively taking on blockers to get to running backs both behind and across the line of scrimmage.  That total, for a player who still led the league in sacks with nearly 2 per game, is truly an awesome display of dominance and well-deserved of the DPOTY honor.   ROOKIE OF THE YEAR In what was a very strong year for rookies across the board, Birmingham WR Amari Cooper beat out competition from across the league, primarily Houston LB Ramik Wilson, Memphis HB Todd Gurley, and LA wideout Nelson Agholor to take home the prize.  Cooper won 22 of the 28 possible first place votes to win handily after putting up a 72 reception, 1,163 yard, 9 touchdown season for a Birmingham club that played the last month without their starting QB, Cam Newton.  Cooper and former Alabama teammate and fellow rookie star T. J. Yeldon formed the core of a new offense in Birmingham and helped the Stallions complete an 8-8 season, with high hopes for even better results next year.    COACH OF THE YEAR This one was not particularly close.  While many have praised the work done this year by Portland’s Pep Hamilton, St. Louis’s Bruce Arians, or New Orleans’s Lamar Lathon, it was clear that what Vic Fangio did in his second year with the Pittsburgh Maulers blew them all away.  Improving from 5-11 to 13-3, an 8-game swing, and putting together both a Top 10 offense and defense, well that is impressive.  The Maulers began the season as a Cinderella pick, but finished the year as one of the most potent and dangerous teams in the league, a club that was not surprising anyone, but was coming out week in and week out and dominating on the field.  No surprise then that Fangio received all 28 of the first place votes for this year’s Coach of the Year title.   ALL USFL TEAM Here is the 2015 All-USFL team, along with our picks, when appropriate, for the player who just missed the cut and likely feels a bit snubbed this week.  We won’t argue the merits of those named, but it is always tough to limit the roster of the team and that means some very deserving players were left out.   QUARTERBACK Ben Roethlisberger (BAL), Andy Dalton (PIT), Matt Hasselbeck (HOU) SNUB: Texas QB Joe Flacco.  No way we can deny that the three QBs named were not worthy, but Flacco once again was a master this year, but finishing 4th in yards, TDs and rating means that there is not a spot in the top 3 for you.   HALFBACK LeVeon Bell (MGN), Deuce McCallister (WSH), Carlos Hyde (HOU) SNUB: Joseph Addai (SEA):  Addai actually had more rushing yards than Hyde, by 9 yards, but it was Hyde’s role in the Houston passing game that gave him the edge, that and a playoff appearance for Houston seems to justify why Hyde would be taken over Addai, who would have been a contender for Comeback Player after his move to Seattle, but that is not an official award the USFL offers.   FULLBACK Quinn Johnson (BAL) SNUB: Arizona’s LeRon McClain.  We get it.  Johnson had more TDs (5, all receiving) and more touches than McClain, playing a big part in the Baltimore passing game as a safety valve, but for pure run blocking, there is no denying that McClain is a huge reason that Frank Gore is still a 1,000 yard rusher at age 34.   TIGHT END Jimmie Graham (PIT), Dennis Pitta (SEA) SNUB: Vernon Davis (HOU), Antonio Gates (BAL):   The pick of Graham was a no brainer, with 19 touchdowns and 1,236 yards, but we are absolutely flummoxed that Dennis Pitta, a very good tight end, beat out both Davis and Gates.  Pitta had more receptions than either (as did several others), but both Davis and Gates had more yards, by 200 or more, and more touchdowns.  Is this a case of the voters not wanting to overload the All-USFL team with players from the same 3-4 teams?  It seems that may have been a factor, but both Davis and Gates have reason to complain this year.   WIDE RECEIVER Marques Colston (TEX), Darrius Heyward-Bey (BAL), Adam Thielen (PIT), Mike Evans (HOU), Brandon Marshall (TEX) SNUB: Steve Smith (OHIO), D. J. Hackett (CHA): The big issue on this list is that both Colston and Marshall, from the same team, made the list.  Yes, Marshall had an impressive year with 1,149  yards and 12 touchdowns, but he was still well behind others like D. J. Hackett (CHA), Brian Hartline (BAL), and Antonio Bryant (ARZ) in yardage, while also not finishing in the Top 10 in receptions.  Steve Smith, the league’s reception leader with 114, and Hackett, who was second with 110 receptions and as many TDs as Marshall both have good arguments with his selection.   TACKLE Jeff Otah (PIT), Brandon Scherff (ARZ), Brian Bulaga (STL) SNUB: Roger Saffold (TEX):  We expect that a lot of casual viewers are surprised to see rookie LT Brandon Scherff on the list, but with a league leading 138 pancake blocks and a strong year as both a pass blocker and protector for David Carr, we absolutely think he should be on this list.  This is a case where there were 4-5 worthy candidates, with Saffold being among them, and only 3 spots to give.   GUARD Jon Asamoah (HOU), Duke Robinson (BAL), Chance Warmack (ARZ) SNUB: Steve Sciulo (PIT): Another case of too many good choices and not enough slots.  Sciulo was a beast for Pittsburgh all year, but the more established candidates got the votes.   CENTER Mike Pouncey (CHA), Jeff Faine (MGN) SNUB: Austin King (BAL): Too many Blitz nominees?  Is that the issue.  We cannot say that Faine or Pouncey don’t deserve to be here, but King also deserves recognition for his work this year on one of the league’s most dangerous offenses.   DEFENSIVE END Calais Campbell (ORL), Jared Allen (PIT), Cliff Avril (OAK) SNUB: Von Miller (DEN):  This is a classic “first season” scenario.  USFL voters do not want to admit that sometimes an NFL import can dominate, ubt with 18 sacks on the year (2 more than Jared Allen), there is no denying that Miller was one of the best edge rushers in the league.  Of course, it also does not help that despite Miller’s presence Denver went 7-9.   DEFENSIVE TACKLE Albert Haynesworth (ORL), Sean Ellis (OAK), Tommy Harris (OHI) SNUB: Shaun Rogers (LV):  No denying that Haynesworth, Ellis, and Harris all played at an elite level this year, but Rogers had more tackles than 2 of the 3 and is perhaps more effective against the run than two as well. The problem Rogers has is that he is not going to ever put up big sack numbers, and without a strong edge rush outside in Las Vegas, his numbers just don’t match up to DTs who do have a topflight edge rusher lined up next to them.   LINEBACKER Brian Urlacher (CHI), Kevin Minter (NOR), Karlos Dansby (ARZ), Khalil Mack (SEA), Paul Posluszny (PIT), Rolando McClain (CHA) SNUB: Clay Matthews (LA):  Matthews finished the year with 121 tackles, second only to Urlacher, and also had 2 sacks and 3 forced fumbles, but when you play for a 11-loss team, well, it is just hard to get credit for your work.  LA had a very high functioning defense, but their offensive incompetence cost them games and that cost Matthews votes.   CORNERBACK Derech Cox (CHA), Dunta Robinson (PIT),  Richard Sherman (SEA), Dre Kirkpatrick (MGN) SNUB: Patrick Peterson (NOR):  Peterson finished 2nd in the league with 6 picks, and had 82 tackles as well, so we have no idea how he did not make this team.  Richard Sherman, with only 3 picks is ahead of him likely on the grounds of Sherman’s 107 tackles, but cornerbacks only get to 100 tackles one way, by giving up receptions, so we are not sure why the voters value this so much.    SAFETY Brian Taylor (NOR), Corey Chavous (MGN), Mike Doss (NOR), Will Allen (DAL) SNUB: Troy Polamalu (ARZ):  We get it, Polamalu’s dominance does not show up in stats, because no one wants to throw toward him, run toward him, or take the hits he dishes out.  But there has to be a way to recognize that Polamalu is the most impactful, dominant, and intimidating safety in the game.   SPECIAL TEAMS K Elliot Parson (ARZ),  P Shane Lechler (ARZ) SNUB: Kai Forbath (TEX): What do we award with kickers?  The most points? That is often due more to the team’s offensive success than the kicker’s ability.  The longest kick?  That can be a one kick fluke.  How about accuracy?  That seems a good measure, and in that case Forbath’s 93.3% conversion rate on field goals and 54 of 55 on extra points should give him the nod, but how do we go against the season Parson put up with 33 field goals.  Forbath had more points, but Parson had more big kicks, and that is a factor too.   Summer Bowl 2015 Preview Here we are, two teams left, one game to play, a title on the line.  This one looks like it could be a slugfest with two of the league’s best defenses making it all the way to the title game. But it is also a matchup of two offenses that have star power and the capability to ruin defensive game plans.  We have veteran leaders on both clubs, young stars hoping to break out, and no shortage of All-USFL players in this matchup. We also have two teams that have often flirted with glory but rarely found it.  Arizona got their first title two years ago, New Orleans, despite making 21 playoff appearances in the league’s 33 year history, has yet to lift aloft the John Bassett Trophy.    In this matchup we have a former player for the Breakers now on the sideline as their head coach, bringing them to the brink of a title that had eluded him as a player.  We have a veteran halfback hoping to go down as one of the league’s best with a 2nd title.  We have a former MVP in Drew Brees, who has yet to put a ring on his finger, and we have a defensive squad in Arizona that wants to be remembered alongside the 1985 NFL Chicago Bears or the 1997 Washington Federals as one of the elite squads of all time.    Who has the advantage in this matchup?  Well, the oddsmakers are clearly favoring Arizona on both experience and defensive stopping power, but are they underestimating the Breakers?  We break down the game across the various statistical categories and we see a more balanced picture.  Here is our assessment of the game.   QUARTERBACK:  New Orleans—Drew Brees We give the edge here to the former MVP.  Brees and Carr were neck and neck all season, both hanging around a 97 QB Rating.  Brees had more touchdowns, more yards, and a better completion percentage, but Carr hit on more deep balls and generally played in a more vertical attack.  In a title game, we have to go with accuracy and quick release over the deep ball, so we give the edge to Brees and the Breakers.   RUNNING BACK:  Arizona--Frank Gore A pretty easy win for Gore over Jeremy Hill, on experience, on production, and on sheer force of will. We like what New Orleans has done with Hill, but it cannot compare to how the Wranglers use FB LeRon McClain and their interior line to allow Gore to hit the line at full speed and make one move to gain yards.  New Orleans has more depth with David Wilson and Mike Tolbert, but the potential impact of the run game is just stronger with the Wranglers.   RECEIVERS:  Arizona—Fitzgerald, Bryant, Graham Both Larry Fitzgerald and Antonio Bryant topped 1,000 yards this year, and each had 7 touchdowns.  When we add in the 553 yards and 5 TDs from TE Daniel Graham, that is a pretty solid 3-man starting group.  New Orleans counters with Early Doucet (1,107 yards, 5 TDs), Kenny Britt (828 & 8 TDs) and Coby Fleener (424 and1 TD), while also throwing the ball often to slot receivers Donnie Avery and Tyler Lockett.  But, all in all, the threat of the deep ball and the effectiveness in YAC has to go to the Wranglers.   OFFENSIVE LINE— Arizona Another win for the Wranglers.  With All-USFL selections Chance Warmack and Brandon Scherff, there is no doubt that the Wranglers have talent in the line, and this talent allows them to run a vertical offense with a strong run game.   New Orleans has some talent on the line too, particularly in center Chris Spencer and LT Nat Dorsey, but they are not as dominant at the point of attack.  Drew Brees is a quick release, short to medium range QB, so the offense helps that line quite a bit, but if you want to know which line can dominate a defense, Arizona is better positioned.   DEFENSIVE LINE: New Orleans—Ty Warren, Ricky Jean-Francois, Cameron Jordan Both clubs use a 3-4 alignment, but New Orleans relies less on blitzing linebackers to bring pressure thanks to the ability of Francois to occupy blocks and the dual outside threats of Jordan and Warren.  That means more 8-man coverages and more freedom for LBs Kevin Minter, rocky McIntosh and Kwon Alexander to make plays in the run game and in coverage.  Arizona may have the more aggressive defense, but for sheer muscle up front, we give the edge to the Breakers.   LINEBACKERS:  New Orleans--Kevin Minter, Christian Jones, Kwon Alexander, Rocky Mcintosh This may be a very big shock for some folks, but when we look across all 4 linebackers, we like the combo in New Orleans better than the combo for Arizona.  There is no doubt that Wrangler LB Karlos Dansby is the single best linebacker on the field for both teams, and he can single-handedly ruin an offensive gameplan, but alongside him, we just don’t see A. J. Klien, Orlando Huff, and Demorrio Williams as a stronger group than the 4 players New Orleans will have on the field:  Minter, Christian Jones, Kwon Alexander, and Rocky McIntosh   SECONDARY:  Arizona--Joe Haden, Mike Mickens, Brandon Flowers, Troy Polamalu, Nate Allen Here is where the Wrangler defense truly shines.  You have Polamalu playing more often as a 5th linebacker than a true deep safety, making life tough on backs, tight ends, and slot receivers.  You have Joe Haden simply shutting down every team’s top receiver, and then you have Brandon Flowers, Mike Mickens, and FS Nate Allen ballhawking and making big plays.  The Wranglers’ secondary can shut you down, force the turnover, and then run it back for six, and they have, repeatedly.  New Orleans has talent, including one of the best corners in the game in Patrick Peterson, and both Mike Doss and Brandon Taylor were All-USFL at safety this year, but if you want sheer gamechanging play out of a secondary, we have to give it to Arizona.   SPECIAL TEAMS:  Arizona--Elliot Parson, Shane Lechler When both your kicker and your punter are the All-USFL team members this year, you pretty much know you have the better options.  Elliot Parson has been outstanding all season, 2nd in scoring and hitting on 33 of 36 field goals.  Shane Lechler, the punter, can both boom the ball 60 yards or place it in the coffin corner better than anyone.  Clear advantage to the Wranglers.   COACHING:  Arizona—Jim Tomsula This one is tough.  We love the passion and drive of Lamar Lathon.  He gets his players ready to give 110% on every play.  They will be fired up, but for gameplanning, clock and time out management, and especially defensive-minded football, Tomsula is the better tactician and game manager.  He also has more experience, and has led this club to a title only 2 years ago.  That gives Arizona a big edge. There will be no “happy to be hear” attitude on this Wrangler squad.   OUR PICK You see where we are going here.  We think the game will be closer than the Las Vegas spread, so if you are a betting man you take the Breakers, but if you just want to know who will win, our pick is Arizona.  We think the run game will force New Orleans to pull their safeties up, and that means that David Carr will have his chances to hit either Bryant or Fitzgerald deep.  We think that the Wrangler defense will stifle the run, forcing Drew Brees to take on this secondary with a one-dimensional offense, and that does not play to the Breakers’ favor.  We think it will be a field-goal game, but we also give the advantage there to the Wranglers.   Our pick is Wranglers 20, Breakers 16.

Four teams remain in the 2015 USFL Playoffs after four huge divisional games gave us our Conference Championship matchups.  This week we saw a top seed fall to a divisional rival, another divisional matchup went to the home favorite and we saw a Cinderella story continue for another week.   After two weeks of playoffs we have one 1 seed, both 2 seeds, and a 4 seed left to contend for a shot at Summer Bowl 2015 in LA.  We saw a defensive slugfest in New Orleans, a late bomb as a game winner in Baltimore, a back and forth battle in Portland, and a dominant performance from the top-seeded Wranglers in Arizona.  Four very different games, four teams moving on.  We will cover all the action and also give you the updates as 2 of 3 teams without a head coach found the right man to step in and take the lead.  All that, plus a breakdown of the upcoming USFL Conference Title Games.  ORLANDO RENEGADES 7   NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 10 We expected a game dominated by defense, since that is really what got both of these clubs to the Divisional Playoffs, but we did not expect this much defense.  Both teams were held under 80 yards rushing, both failed to reach 300 yards of total offense, both struggled on third down, but one club committed 3 turnovers and the other none, and that made all the difference as New Orleans survived and advanced to the Eastern Conference Championship next week.   It was a game played mostly between the 30’s as both teams struggled to penetrate the opposing defense.  Not only did we get only 2 touchdowns in the game, we only had 2 field goal attempts, a converted 28-yarder and a missed 47-yarder.  That was it for scoring opportunities as the two defenses found ways to keep teams out of scoring position all day.  As expected, Orlando focused on the pass rush with Calais Campbell leading the way with 2 of the team’s 5 sacks of Drew Brees.  New Orleans focused on ballhawking and forcing errors, as they had all season, and they came away with one pick of rookie Connor Shaw and two fumble recoveries.   We saw 8 combined 3-and-outs between the two clubs, including 3 in the first quarter.  The only scoring in the opening period came after a fumble by Knowshon Moreno, who was cleared to play on Friday.  Moreno, who would carry the ball 23 times for only 72 yards, coughed up the ball on the Renegades 31-yardline, the first big play of the game for New Orleans.  Drew Brees would get the offense down to the 4, but a sack on 3rd and goal forced them to go for the chipshot field goal.  Caleb Sturgis connected from 28 yards out and we had the first points of the game.   The second quarter saw the only legitimate offensive drive of the game, a 67-yard, 15-play drive that saw Connor Shaw connect on 4 of 6 throws and saw Moreno with his longest run of the game, a 14-yarder.  The drive reached the 7 yard line, where Shaw hit TE Daniel Fells with a go-ahead TD toss.  It would be the only score of the quarter and would allow Orlando to go into the half with a slim 7-3 lead.   The drive gave hope that the second half might see more fireworks than the first, but that would not really pan out as the defenses continued to dominate action.   New Orleans got a first down on the first drive of the 2nd half, but then was forced to punt.  That led to 3 consecutive short possessions and 3 punts.  Once again it would be an opportunistic defensive takeaway that would put New Orleans where their offense could not, deep in Orlando territory.  Connor Shaw, who had an otherwise solid, if conservative game, (19 of 30 for 205), made a fatal error in trying to force a ball to Michael Jenkins.  Breakers’ CB Patrick Peterson anticipated the throw, undercut Jenkins and brought in the ball before falling out of bounds.  New Orleans ball on the Orlando 22.   The second major turnover by Orlando gave New Orleans their second scoring chance, and, down by 4, the Breakers would not settle for a field goal this time.  New Orleans used a screen, a solid run by Jeremy Hill of 7 yards, and a quick pass to the TE to get to the 2.  From there, a good play fake to David Wilson and Brees was able to catch a streaking Tyler Lockett coming across the middle.  Seven points and the lead for the Breakers.    Orlando would have just over 1 quarter to either get another TD or to find a field goal that would send the game to overtime.  They could do neither.  They took a shot at a long field goal on their next possession, but the 47-yarder hooked to the right, leaving the score at 10-7.  On their next possession, the crossed midfield, but again a turnover cost them. This time it was TE Patrick Estes who coughed up the ball after a hard hit from Breaker LB Kwan Alexander.  The scramble for the ball led to DE Ty Warren coming up with it at the bottom of the pile, and that gave the ball to New Orleans once again.    The Breakers would struggle to sustain drives, giving New Orleans 2 more shots with the ball before the game ended, but both times the Renegades had possession they failed to move the ball into New Orleans territory.  The game ended with a half-hearted Hail Mary that fell to the ground at the Breaker 10-yard line.  Orlando had simply been unable to crack the Breaker defense and that was good enough for New Orleans to plan for one more game, but would they host the Maulers in the Super Dome, or ready themselves for a trip to Baltimore?   That would have to wait a day to be determined.   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 24    PORTLAND STAGS 28 A very different game in Portland, where the Skyhawks and Stags both showed some offensive fireworks, though once again the turnover difference would be a factor in the Stags’ 4-point victory.  St. Louis fans were excited by the news on Friday that Josh Freeman would be under center, but by game’s end, the concern that their star QB and former MVP had thrown 3 picks was palpable.    For Portland, the game would be won by a combination of playmaking by veteran QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and tough running from Jonathan Stewart.  Neither would have huge numbers, with Fitzie going 22 of 33 for only 197 yards, and Stewart limited to 48 yards on the ground, but when the Stags hit the red zone, both seemed to take it to a different level.    Unlike most close games, this one did not start with a low-scoring first quarter as the two teams probed the opposing defenses for weaknesses.  It began with 21 points scored as both teams came out trying to impose their wills on the opposition.  St. Louis got the ball rolling with a drive that consumed 7 minutes and included a lot of short passes to the tight ends and backs.  The scoring play would be a 6-yarder to rookie TE C. J. Uzomah, the hero of last week’s Wild Card victory.  Uzomah would be a frequent target on the day, catching 5 balls on 7 targets and scoring both of St. Louis’s early TDs.    The second Skyhawk TD came less than 2 minutes later after a pick of Fitzpatrick was returned deep into Stags’ territory.  It would be the only turnover for the Stags, but it gave St. Louis the chance to go up 14, and they did so on an almost identical play from Freeman to Uzomah, this time from 7 yards out.  Only 10 minutes into the game and the Skyhawks had put up a 14-point advantage, but Portland would recover.   Unphased by the pick, Ryan Fitzpatrick led Portland to their first score on the very next possession, a 7-play drive that saw the QB connect on two big plays, a 26-yard completion to Brandin Cooks, and a 15-yard strike to Antwan Randle-El that put the ball on the 3.  From there it was two Jonathan Stewart dive plays, with the 2nd crossing the plane and putting Portland on the board.   After an exciting first quarter, things calmed down in the 2nd, with the only score a Rob Bironas field goal, but it was in holding that score to a field goal that Portland kept themselves in the game.  St. Louis had reached the 4 yard line, but Portland stuffed the run by Jay Finley on first down, and a 2nd down false start pushed back the Skyhawks.  They would only reach as far as the Portland 7, and from there settled on a field goal on 4th and goal.  Still, with a 17-7 lead at the half, Skyhawk fans had to be happy with the game so far.   The 2nd half would not start well for the Skyhawks or their fans.  On the first play from scrimmage, Coach Arians called a deep ball, hoping to catch Portland expecting a run. Portland was ready and the deep sideline pattern to Jordi Nelson was easy pickin’s for FS Donte Whitner. He would run the ball back to the St. Louis 44, putting Portland in position to narrow the St. Louis lead. It would take the Stags 10 plays to reach the endzone, but once again a Jonathan Stewart off-tackle run did the job and Portland was now within 3.  They would take the lead on their next possession.   After a St. Louis punt, Portland got the ball on their own 22.  They proceeded to move the ball effectively, with Fitzpatrick connecting with Brian Quick, Trey Burton, and Alshon Jeffery on consecutive plays. A nice 12-yard run from Javon Ringer got them even closer, and on a 2nd and 4 from the 14, Fitzpatrick went to the endzone and found Jeffery again, this time for 6.  Up 21-17, Portland started to feel good about their situation, and the fans started to get loud.   St. Louis had to make a statement to shut down the Portland momentum, and they found that statement in the form of a 30-yard strike from Freeman to Nelson.  The sudden TD strike silenced the Portland crowd and gave St. Louis a 3-point lead after 3 quarters.  They would get the ball back after a good defensive stand and started the 4th with a chance to increase the lead, but once again an overly aggressive call was their undoing.    Once again the attempt was made to hit a receiver on a quick out pattern, this time aimed at Erik Decker, but again Portland was ready and CB Dale Luong cut off the pass and brought it down for a pick.  The Skyhawk mistake again proved pivotal.  Portland moved the ball well after the pick and after a defensive pass interference call in the endzone gave the Stags a first and goal at the 1, they wasted no time, using play action to set up an easy 1-yard TD toss to Trey Burton to retake the lead at 28-24.   St. Louis would not have enough in the tank to take the lead back, failing on 3 drives to cross midfield.  One ended with a punt, the second with a tipped ball that was picked by Cedric Griffin, and the final by a turnover on downs.  As Ryan Fitzpatrick took a knee to end the game, Josh Freeman left the field, upset with himself after a game that he would rather forget.  The Stags were moving on, St. Louis was going home.  PITTSBURGH MAULERS 21    BALTIMORE BLITZ 14 Round three of what was the heavyweight fight in the NE Division all season saw Pittsburgh head into Baltimore to face the Blitz. Both teams had won on the road in their regular season tilts, and Pittsburgh hoped they could repeat that feat once again in Baltimore.  For the Blitz, the hope was that a Week 15 drubbing of the Maulers would prove prophetic for this playoff rematch.    It was a matchup of MVP candidates in Ben Roethlisberger and Andy Dalton, of solid defenses, and of missed opportunities, a game that saw several deep balls mis their mark, but the one that did hit, hit hard, providing a last second win on a deep ball that will be controversial for years to come.  It was also a game that may have made Mauler receiver a household name, a recognition he likely should have received quite a while back, but which is undeniable now.   This was a game that started a bit slowly, with only 14 total points scored in the first three quarters, but that did not mean that there were not big plays.  Both Big Ben and the Red Rifle connected on big pass plays in the first half.  Dalton’s was a 32 yard strike to Jimmie Graham that put the ball at the 7, and three plays later he found Thielen on a rub route for the game’s first score.  Roethlisberger’s came in the 2nd quarter, when he found HB Jacquizz Rogers on a 22-yard sideline strike that put the ball at the 10, and on the very next play he was able to hit Darrius Heyward-Bey for 6.  Both were the only scoring drives of the first half as the game saw several miscues and missed opportunities as well.   Roethlisberger threw his only pick of the game in the first half, giving Pittsburgh the ball on their own 44, but the Maulers could not convert the turnover into points.  The Maulers tried a fake punt also in the first half, but it was snuffed out by Blitz LB Brandon Jenkins, and so the game went to the half at 7-7 despite some pretty good action.  It would remain there through the third quarter as well, with the next big play hitting on the very first play of the 4th.  Facing a 3rd and 11 on the Blitz 49, Andy Dalton pump faked to his short receiver and then let a ball fly deep towards Mike Williams.  The safety had bitten on the pump so when Williams beat cornerback Nnambi Asomugha, he had a clear path to the endzone.  It was the longest play of the day, a 49-yard strike that gave Pittsburgh the lead at exactly 15 minutes to play.  It would take Baltimore 13 minutes and 45 seconds to get the equalizer.   That equalizer came on the end of Baltimore’s best offensive drive of the game, a 13-play, 77-yard drive that included a huge run by Anthony Dixon.  On a first and 10, Dixon took the ball off the right side, made a man miss and raced 45 yards before being caught. That play electrified the Baltimore crowd, and when they put the ball in the endzone on a Roethlisberger to Quinn Johnson toss, the game was tied once again, but the big run and the subsequent TD did not take the clock down low enough.  Pittsburgh would have 1:15 to get points on the board and take the W.   The drive did not start well for Andy Dalton and the Maulers.  A holding call created a 1st and 20 on their own 11.  But, in 3 plays they went 7, 9, and 7 again to gain the first down and keep the drive alive.  Two plays later they were at their own 44, but were down to only 12 seconds on the clock.  They had a timeout left, so one big play to get in field goal range for Andrew Franks was all they needed.  They would get much more.   The play was designed to send the outside receivers deep, and send Mike Williams underneath about 12 yards to get close to field goal range and then call a timeout.  But the plans changed when Baltimore LB Brandon Spikes mistimed the snap and was clearly offsides.  This was a free play and Andy Dalton knew it. Rather than take the underneath receiver, he went for it all, heaving a ball high and deep for Adam Thielen.  The star receiver for the Maulers got a step on the corner, caught the ball in stride and raced to the endzone, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 7 ticks left on the clock.    58,000 Blitz fans in Baltimore (ok, maybe 48,000, there were easily over 10,000 Mauler fans at the game),  stood in stunned silence.  Jubilation on the Mauler sideline.  Dalton and the Mauler offense ran down the field to celebrate with Thielen.  The Pittsburgh Maulers, only 5-11 last season, were now headed to the Eastern Division Championship.  They were one win away from a Summer Bowl in a season that felt more than ever like destiny. TEXAS OUTLAWS 21   ARIZONA WRANGLERS 31 You have to love divisional rivalry playoff games. We saw a great one in Baltimore and then had another on tap in Arizona, where the Wranglers would host the Outlaws.  Texas had come into Glendale only 2 weeks earlier and whipped the Wrangler squad that was missing many of their starters, 39-10.  This would be a very different Wranglers team and a very different result.   This one was Arizona early, and Arizona throughout, with Texas falling back by 10 at the half and never getting closer.  Joe Flacco would throw for 349, but with little help from the run game, he just was not able to bring the Outlaws back.   Derrick Carr would throw for only 193 but he had 3 touchdowns before Coach Tomsula took him out after a big hit and let Nick Foles guide the offense from there.  Arizona was able to build up a lead and then use a better-than-expected run game to slow down the game, leading to no scoring at all in the 4th quarter.   Frank Gore would finish with 89 yards on 21 carries, and even bigger, backup Kadeem Carey had 111 yards on only 10 touches, to give Arizona 198 yards rushing in the game.   The scoring started on the initial drive, after Texas deferred after winning the coin toss.  Arizona went 74 yards on only 7 plays and got in the endzone when David Carr found slot receiver David Tyree from 26 yards out.  Following a Texas fumble, Arizona added another 3 on a 52-yard kick from Elliott Parson, and then, just 2 plays into the 2nd quarter, Carr found Antonio Bryant for a second score and Arizona had a 17-point lead, a perfect scenario for their defense to tee off on Flacco.   Joe Flacco would get the Outlaws on the board with a TD pass to Marshawn Lynch at the end of the first half, but over the course of the game he would suffer 6 sacks, and the Outlaw defense would be unable to get Arizona off the field often or quickly enough to allow for a full comeback.  Arizona opened the third quarter as they had opened both the first and the second, with a David Carr touchdown pass. This time it was a 47-yard strike to Bryant for his second TD of the day.  That put Arizona back up by 17, and despite late scores from Texas, a Nick Foles TD pass to Fitzgerald made certain that the Outlaws never got closer than 10 points.   The fourth quarter was all about slowing the game and speeding up the clock as Arizona had 17 of their 31 carries on the day in the quarter and just ate away at the clock.  The Outlaws never crossed midfield against the aggressive Wrangler defense, and despite pushing Arizona back, every time the Wranglers got the ball they got 2-3 first downs on the ground and just ate up clock.  The game ended with a deep ball from Flacco to Brandon Marshall that got the ball to the 11 yard line, but with no time left.  Arizona had held Texas at bay, limited Flacco’s effectiveness, and run the ball to win the game.  They now would host upstart Portland with a chance to return to the Summer Bowl for the 2nd time in 3 years.     Foles Expected to Test Waters After Playoff Run Nick Foles, backup to David Carr in Arizona and potential free agent has let slip his hopes for 2016. The Wrangler backup spoke with local media this week after Arizona’s big win over Texas and all but guaranteed that he would be entering the free agent pool, hoping for a shot to earn a starting gig somewhere in the league.  The Wrangler QB has seen action in several games this season, and has shown an ability to both be productive and to adapt to changing game situations, two qualities that may make him very attractive to teams across the league with unsettled QB situations.  With Carr locked into the starting gig, it seems only logical that Foles would test the waters and see if he can catch on with a team where the QB situation is a bit more in flux.    Thinking about teams across the league, there is no shortage of possibilities for Foles.  We expect major QB attention to be paid by the Express, Glory, Generals, Bandits, and Machine, but don’t count out the Thunder, Vipers, Monarchs, or Showboats in the mix.  That is a good “seller’s market” for a young QB who has shown some talent and some leadership in a backup role.  There will, of course, be other options, with Sam Bradford and Brady Quinn on the market for certain, rookie options like Paxton Lynch, Carson Wentz, and Jared Goff expected to be draft-eligible, and we also fully expect that LA will be releasing Tim Tebow this week, after comments from Andy Reid seem to verify that he is not in the plans for 2016.  Lots of competition, but in Foles a team could get a solid potential starter without a lot of baggage, and that could be very appealing indeed.   An Early Offseason Trade Sends HB Davis to Invaders The Hot Stove got off to an early start, 2 solid weeks before Free Agency officially opens, as the Invaders and Showboats completed the first trade of the offseason.  With Ryan Williams unhappy in Oakland and heading to the free agent pool to look for a new team, the Invaders wasted no time finding a quick-footed back with good receiving skills to pair with Donald Brown.  Oakland agreed to terms with Memphis to send 3rd down back Knile Davis to the Bay Area in exchange for some defensive help in the form of strong safety Jordan Richards.   The emergence of rookie Todd Gurley in Memphis left fewer touches for Davis, so now he will take his dual threat skills to Oakland, where he will be expected to play in passing downs and to support the lead back, Donald Brown, in the Oakland run game.  Memphis, for their parts, may well have upgraded their secondary with the acquisition of Richards, a solid backup in Oakland, but a player who has flashed some good instincts in the secondary.  Memphis is still looking long and hard at additional defensive talent as Coach Rex Ryan tries to return the team to the kind of defensive dominance they showed when his father, Buddy Ryan, had a tenure with the club.  Oakland, who for the second year in a row faded down the stretch before being ousted from the playoffs in the Wild Card Week, are looking to fill holes left by free agency, meaning that any hope that Ryan Williams would return is almost certainly squashed at this point.   Retirement Announcements Continue Another week into the offseason and another wave of retirement announcements.  Not quite as many big names as in the first two weeks of the offseason, but still some players who will certainly be missed.  Perhaps the biggest name in this week’s pool of retirees, DE Jevon Kearse informed the Monarchs that he would not return for an 18th season.  Kearse spent 3 seasons with Charlotte, following 1 lone year in New Jersey, 4 in Michigan, 5 in Los Angeles, and his first 4 in Jacksonville. He retires with 144 career sacks and 8 career 10+ sack seasons.   Houston CB Shaun Springs will also be missed.  The 36-year old cornerback retires after 12 seasons in Houston, seasons that included 862 tackles and 30 career interceptions (5 returned for scores).  He leaves Houston with Leodis McKelvin the most likely replacement at the lead spot.  3rd year player Jenoris Jenkins is expected to compete with Malcolm Butler for the number 2 slot.    Other defenders of note in this week’s listing include Baltimore DE Joe Tafoya , Las Vegas DT Shaun Rogers , Orlando LB Mark Simoneau , Oakland DE Justin Smith , and Michigan corner Deltha O’Neal .  Michigan lost two big stars this week, with both O’Neal and 8-time All-USFL receiver Hines Ward both stepping away from the game.  Ward is hoping to get into coaching after a stellar 18-season career split between Arizona and Michigan.  Ward finished 2015 with 79 receptions for 817 yards and retires with eleven 1,000 year seasons under his belt, including a league title in 2008.  Expect to see his name among the semifinalists in the Hall of Fame Class of 2020.   Ohio Signs Former Blitz HC Tom Coughlin to Revive Glory The Glory opted for experience as they seek to rebound from a rough few years, signing former Baltimore Blitz head coach Tom Coughlin to a 4-year deal to lead their club.  Coughlin, who coached the Blitz from 2004 through the 2012 season, has spent the past 2 years back at Boston College, serving as a “consulting coach” to the Eagles.  He returns to full time coaching after a 3-season hiatus, with the challenge to shape up an Ohio Glory team that started 2015 well but then fell hard and finished as a 5-11 club, losing 6 of their final 8 games.    Coughlin, known as a disciplinarian who believes you need to be 10 minutes early to be on time, had a good run with Baltimore, amassing a 76-59-1 record in his 9 seasons, taking the team to the playoffs 4 of his final 5 seasons, but he struggled in the playoffs with a 2-4 record, never advancing past the Divisional Round with the Blitz.  Many, however, believe it was his team development which left Jim Caldwell with a squad that was ready to compete and which would win the league title only 2 years later.  The first issue Coughlin is likely to face is the QB situation in Columbus, where neither NFL import Brock Osweiler nor former OSU alum Troy Smith showed much this year.  Smith finished they year with a slightly better 74.1 QB rating compared to Osweiler’s 65.8, but the two QBs combined for only a 19:18 TD:INT ratio.  It may very well be that Ohio does not have their 2016 starter on the roster right now.  Of course, with a 5-11 team there are more than one issues to address.  The Glory were also pretty poor on defense, giving up 23.8 points per game and over 340 yards of offense each week.  Expect Coughlin to bring in an OC to run the offense while he takes a very hands-on approach to building a defense for the Glory.   Chicago Hoping to Land Lovie Smith It is not official yet, but all indicators point to the Chicago Machine bringing in former NFL Bears’ head coach Lovie Smith.  Smith, who led the Bears from 2004 through 2012 (the same years Coughlin was with the Blitz) is still accepted by Chicago fans as a coach who did well with a somewhat dysfunctional franchise.  Smith did get the Bears to the playoffs 3 times in his tenure, appearing in a Super Bowl in 2006.  He was released after the 2012 season, a year in which Chicago finished 10-6, certainly far better than the Machine’s past two seasons.    Smith and the Machine still need to agree on a deal, but by all accounts, it is just a matter of days before we see Lovie Smith back in Chicago on the sidelines of Soldier Field.  Like Coughlin, he would be walking into a major QB controversy.  Brady Quinn was allowed to test the free agency waters, and according to several sources close to the former Notre Dame star, Quinn is eager to find a new home and not interested in returning to the club that drafted him but which also benched him twice this season in favor of an untested rookie from Northwestern (Trevor Siemian).    Chicago has some talent, particularly at halfback with Matt Forte and Doug Martin.  They have two solid young receivers in Aaron Dobson and Austin Pettis, and their defense has some talent, but has simply not come together.  After signing Jason Pierre-Paul last offseason the hope had been that the team would develop an elite pass rush, but both JPP and the Machine defense struggled to get pressure on opposing QBs.  With Brian Urlacher now 36 years old, new leadership will need to step up on defense, and Smith will need to mold them into a more effective and more intimidating squad.    Denver Talking with Three Candidates this Week The Denver Gold seem resigned to the fact that longstanding coach Dick Jauron is not returning in 2016.  They have scheduled interviews with three coaches for the next 10 days, each bringing a very different approach to the game to the Gold.  The three include longstanding CFL coach John Hufnagel, current Michigan Panther DC Paul Pasqualoni, and former NFL Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Soprano.  While none of the three would be names we would have listed as hot coaching prospects, they do all share one thing in common, a dedication to an aggressive defense, one that is not afraid to blitz or to put pressure on QBs.   That emphasis tracks with Denver’s major commitment to pass rush in 2015, signing NFL veteran Von Miller in the offseason, a financial commitment atypical for the usually frugal Gold franchise.  The goal clearly seems to be to focus on the defense in the offseason, though many would suggest that it is the lack of explosiveness on offense that has hindered the team’s success in recent years.  In a division that has one of the best teams in the league in Arizona, an explosive Texas squad, and a Dallas team that had its first winning season since relocating, Denver is feeling very much like the forgotten franchise.  Even Las Vegas got more press thanks to their odd home/road pattern for most of the year.  Denver struggled to 7-9 this year and simply did not look all that dangerous, and now, with Jauron all but stepping down from the team as his contract expired, it appears that Denver is looking to sign a coach who will bring defensive stability if not name recognition to the club. Four teams left, two games to play to see who is headed to LA and the Summer Bowl.  Pittsburgh and Arizona may have more injured players to deal with, but it may be the absence of Randall Gay for New Orleans that has the biggest impact, especially as it would have been Gay set up to cover Adam Thielen of the Maulers.  The loss of Adam Carriker to an ankle injury could also be big for the Wranglers, as that forces them to rethink their pass rush options and their need to blitz.   PIT: CB Reggie Smith (OUT), HB Marcus Lattimore (P), SS Sean Taylor (P) NOR: CB Randall Gay (OUT)   POR: C Brad Meester (OUT), LB Channing Crowder (P) ARZ: DE Adam Carriker (OUT), FS Nate Allen (D), OT Wade Smith (P), CB Mike Mickens (P)   Ten Possible Trade Candidates With the deal between Oakland and Memphis, the trading block is now open.  So, just who may be primed for a swap as teams try to use depth at one position to barter for a player that can help in an area of need?  While no one is ever fully tradeproof, we have identified 10 players who could be very likely trade candidates as teams try to acquire value for a player whose role on their squad may be in question.   OT Nate Solder (DEN) Solder was supposed to come in and become the new left tackle and protector for Matt Leinart, but he just could not work his way into the starting job.  He got moved to right tackle and has been a steady starter there for Denver, but the emergence of David Bakhtiari in his second season with the team has made Solder a likely trade candidate despite being only 3 years older than Bakhtiari.   WR Doug Baldwin (NJ) Veteran wideout Doug Baldwin seems to be getting caught in a crunch, with New Jersey heavy at the position and with others like Odell Beckham Jr., Miles Austin, and Muhamed Sanu taking away snaps and targets. Beckham eclipsed Baldwin in both targets and catches this year, and with Baldwin the  most expensive wideout on the squad, don’t be surprised if New Jersey does not dangle him out there to fill needs in other positions.   QB Jake Locker (DAL) The clear “odd man out” in a QB room that includes starter Johnny Manziel and young gun Landry Jones, Locker is a player without a clear path to a starting gig in Dallas.  The former starter for the then-Cannons, Locker fell to 3rd on the depth chart, but could rebound with a new team if someone is willing to pay the price to bring him in.  He is only 27 and certainly has some talent.  We could see a team being willing to part with a mid-round pick to bring him in either as a number two or to compete in an open QB room.   CB Brandon Boykin (ATL) Would Atlanta really part with a 26-year-old cornerback who spent most of the season in the number one position?  They might if the right deal is there.  Why?  Well, the emergence of 2nd year corner Darius Slay and the evident needs in other areas of the team seem to point to Boykin being a bit more expendable than most starting corners might appear to be.   HB Jacquizz Rogers (BAL) Another clear odd-man-out situation as Rogers lost carries to backup Kerwynn Williams, who finished the year with more yards on fewer carries than starter Anthony Dixon.  Williams and Dixon are both solid receivers as well as strong runners, so the need for a true 3rd down back like Rogers was minimized.  With only 33 touches this season, Rogers just did not see enough action to warrant his salary, but if Baltimore can get some value in a trade, we could see him blossom with a team that needs his skill set.   TE Luke Wilson (CHA) Wilson finished 3rd on the Monarchs with 43 receptions for 316 yards, but with a healthy Brandon Pettigrew, we could see Wilson shopped around to a team looking for an inside threat.  Wilson has only played 2 full seasons in the USFL, and at 24 could develop into a regular role player if not a starter. The price will not be high, but will someone bite?   DE Antwan Applewhite (HOU) A strong year from rookie Dante Fowler could be all that it takes for Houston to move Applewhite.  Fowler’s 8 sacks took about half the snaps that Applewhite needed to earn 11 sacks this year, and with Malik Jackson also looking solid with 9 sacks in 2015, Houston could part ways with Applewhite, save some much-needed cap room, and perhaps find a replacement for Shaun Springs at corner, if a team was inclined to swap one defensive role for another.   SS Patrick Chung (JAX) Hard to imagine that Houston would allow their 2nd most prolific tackler and a team captain leave?  Well, when you are Patrick Chung and you have a much younger, physically gifted youngster like Kenny Vaccaro behind you on the depth chart, the answer is yes.  Houston invested pretty heavily in Vaccaro, and there is some pressure to get the A&M product on the field.  Chung is only 28, but we could see him as a combination cap hit and youth hit.  Seems a tough call, but Houston is not afraid to go with youth, especially with the two years producing very strong draft classes.   HB Joique Bell (ORL) The emergence of Latavious Murray in his 2nd season has really put Joique Bell in a precarious situation.  Two years after coming over from Oakland, Bell does not seem to have much of a role in the new Orlando run game. He had only 50 attempts for 229 yards this year and was not used nearly as much in 3rd down situations as in 2014.  We still think Bell has talent and can be an effective 3rd down or scat back, but perhaps Orlando is not the place.   QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (POR) This will certainly be the most controversial name on the list.  Ryan Fitzpatrick started every game for Portland this year, has them in the Western Conference Championship, and put up some great numbers, throwing for over 3,300 yards and 21 touchdowns in his best season as a pro.  But, and this is a big one, Marcus Mariota, the golden boy of Oregon Football, is sitting there on the Portland bench.  The calls to start him are not being heard in the stands, but you know the pressure is there to let the young QB start in his 2nd year.    Fitzpatrick will never have more value than he does now, and with so many teams having no answer at all at QB, the Stags could ask a king’s ransom and get it.  Whether it is New Jersey, LA, Chicago, Ohio, or any number of other suitors, we expect the Stags to dangle Fitzpatrick out there and see if they can nab a very big fish in the form of players and draft picks.   Five Cities Pushing for USFL Expansion It has been a while since the USFL has seriously considered expansion, nearly 8 years since the last addition of teams in 2008, and it is not as if there are no cities hoping to add spring football to their local attractions and sports calendars.  Some have even suggested that Texas Outlaws owner Red McCombs should consider a sale and relocation of his club rather than take on the herculean task of rebuilding the Alamodome and playing what could be 3 or even 4 seasons in alternate stadiums.  While that conversation seems very premature, we thought we should at least take a peak at the situation regarding potential expansion suitors.  We looked over the cities that have made some noise in the past, or those which seem obvious targets, to see what the next pool of potential bidders for a USFL franchise could be.  These are the five cities we have identified as the next up to the plate, as it were, to see if the USFL could come to town.   BOSTON: This one seems pretty obvious.  The Cannons won a title in Beantown and then packed up ship for a bigger stadium and a big paycheck.  Boston is the largest market without a USFL franchise, has had clubs twice, and lost them twice.  The issue now is the same issue we have seen in the past, stadium viability.  With no access to Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium, thanks to the intransigence of Patriot’s owner Robert Kraft, there are slim pickings in Boston itself.  Could a team take on a regional identity and play somewhere else, like Hartford, for example, possibly, but the concern is that Boston fans would not make a trip to Connecticut to be part of the USFL family, not after being burned twice by clubs moving on.   NASHVILLE: Another recently jilted USFL city, Nashville lost the Knights to Las Vegas just this year.  The pain is raw and very real in the Music City.  But, could an expansion club help to revive interest in USFL football? What if the league made a deal like the one they pursued with Atlanta, bringing the Knights back as the Fire were revived back in 2006?  The stadium is there.  The fans were not the issue in Nashville.  So, why not bring spring ball back to central Tennessee?   MINNEAPOLIS: We like the Twin Cities as the best of the “never had it” cities.  A large, wealthy, and sports-crazed city in the upper Midwest, a team in Minnesota would help bring in viewers and fans from a wide region of the country spanning several states.  They would be a good fit for a Central Division that currently has only 4 teams, and they could be a good rival for at least 3 of the 4 Central clubs.  We like the idea of a spring team in Minnesota, especially if a new stadium for the Vikings comes to fruition, allowing the club avoid ridiculous snow and freezing games in March (or even April).    OKLAHOMA CITY:  Look, this growing city sits in the heart of football country, has huge audience for college ball, and have even gone so far as to build a 55,000 seat stadium, the sweet spot for a USFL club.  They could be natural rivals for the 3 current Texas clubs, and it would almost be a bit of a legacy team after the Outlaws played their first season in Tulsa before merging with the San Antonio Gunslingers and relocating.  It is not a huge TV market, but again, like Minnesota, we could see fans from as far away as Kansas City or Omaha making the trek to see a team that represents the Great Plains.   LOUISVILLE:  This was our hardest call. There were votes for Salt Lake City, Miami, and Indianapolis, but in the end, we wanted a new market, and what is more new than a city that has no other pro sports (major league) to compete with a USFL club?  We can hear the complaints already.  Louisville and the state of Kentucky is basketball country, not football country.  It’s too small a market.  Papa John’s Stadium at the U. of Louisville is not a pro stadium.  Yes, all true, in a way, but this is about capturing a new market, letting it grow into its role as a USFL city.  Isn’t that what the league did with other pro castoffs like Memphis, Birmingham, Jacksonville, and Portland?  Who is to say that Louisville might not be the next Jacksonville story, where the team helps put the city on the map for the rest of the nation?   We seem to have gotten a bit off topic.  After all, we have playoff football this week. Not just playoff football but Championship football with two teams crowned as the best in their conferences and heading off to battle in the USFL Championship, the Summer Bowl.  So, what do we think about these two title games?  Who do we see taking the win and the trip to LA?   Well, here goes.  We give you our best guess.   EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP (4) PITTSBURGH MAULERS @ (2) NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS Sunday, July 20 at 3pm ET Louisiana Super Dome,  New Orleans, LA Breakers -2   Can we really call Pittsburgh a Cinderella story after the season they have had?  We liked them in the preseason and they have proven pretty impressive all year long.  Maybe it is the big numbers from Andy Dalton, but we have seen more press about the Maulers than we have for New Orleans by a longshot.  And yet, despite it all, the Breakers are both the favorites and the home team in this Eastern Final.  They just don’t put up the huge eye-popping games to draw our attention, but this Breaker squad is solid from top to bottom.  They have a steady hand at the QB position in Drew Brees, they don’t make mistakes, and they can play shut down defense when the mood strikes them.   But, we love the flashier, more charismatic team, and that is certainly the Maulers.  Whether it is Andy Dalton’s gunslinger mentality, the flashing wideouts, Victor Cruz’s salsa dance moves in the endzone, or the most intimidating 3-man defensive line in football (Jared Allen-Aaron Donald-Dwight Freeney), there is just a lot more sizzle to the Maulers.  Will sizzle or substance win the day?   OUR PICK:  We are going with the sizzle.  Why? Well, mostly because we cannot believe we got a preseason pick, much less a long-odds pick, right.  So we want to stick with the horse that got us here, and that means picking the Maulers.  Pittsburgh 27-21. WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP (2) PORTLAND STAGS @ (1) ARIZONA WRANGLERS Sunday, July 20 at 7pm ET University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ Wranglers -8   We don’t call Pittsburgh a Cinderella any more, but we certainly do for Portland.  The Stags looked like a middle of the road, 8-8 pick most of the year, but came alive late.  They stunned us by pulling out not only the Pacific Division Title but snagging the 2 seed as well.  They got a bit lucky drawing St. Louis and not Texas in the Divisional Round, but they did what they needed to do to get here. But now things get very real. In Arizona they face a team that has been about as good as a team can be down the stretch.  Their defense has been among the elites not only of the year but of the past decade.  Their offense is balanced and dangerous.  They can run the ball down your throat with Gore or go over the top with Fitzgerald and Bryant.  They are just plain scary.   So, we have a David & Goliath situation here.  What can the Stags do to counter the Wranglers?  Well, first off, run the ball.  They have that in their DNA with Jonathan Stewart, but can they do it with Arizona loading the box?  If they struggle to run, then they will need to show that they have explosiveness in the passing game.  On defense they need to contain the big play but also find a way to limit the run game of Frank Gore.  Overcommit to one element of the Arizona attack and they will get you with the other.  That is the tough part, keeping balance on defense just as the offense can do.   OUR PICK:   We want to love the underdog, but every fiber in our bodies is saying Arizona takes this. After all it is not just a talent differential, it is an experience differential as well. There are over 30 players on this Wrangler team who were there in 2013 when they won the league title.  This year’s team looks very much like the club that won the first John Bassett Trophy for the Grand Canyon State two years ago.  We have to go with our guts and not our underdog instinct on this one.  Arizona takes the W 24-13.

Playoff football, is there anything better?  The Drama, the pressure, the big plays, and the surprises.  Well, we had ourselves a great weekend of Wild Card round games.  We had 4 games with not one producing a winning margin of more than 4 points.  Nailbiters every single one.  We had a backup QB step up big, a rookie earn a playoff win, and a former MVP lead his team to an overtime victory.  All this to set up a great divisional round for this week. We will cover that, update the situation in Denver with Coach Jauron, and give you the full story on the retirement announcements and free agency pool.  But, let’s start on the field, where the action this weekend was everything you could want from playoff football.   ORLANDO RENEGADES 23    CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 21 It was a battle of two teams with very different final months as the surging Orlando Renegades took on the fading Charlotte Monarchs.  The Monarchs had home field, thanks to a tiebreaker in the SE Division standings, but Orlando came in the hotter team, despite playing the final weeks of the season without Russell Wilson and having a rookie at the helm.  That rookie, Connor Shaw, had himself a very solid game in the Wild Card playoff, completing 20 of 29 passing and avoiding the big mistake.    Both quarterbacks played within themselves, with both throwing 1 pick in the game, but while Shaw threw for 218 yards and helped Orlando take the lead before the half and again in the 4th, Brandon Wheedon would throw for only 154 yards and struggle to make big plays.  It was a game that could have gone either way, but Orlando’s defense held when they needed to and put Charlotte in a last second bind that produced a missed field goal and a road win for the Renegades.   After a first quarter that saw both teams test each other’s defense without much result, Orlando led on a mid-range field goal from Billy Cundiff.  Charlotte responded early in the 2nd with Ronny Hillman diving in from 1 yard out to give Charlotte it’s first lead and our first lead change of the game.  A second Cundiff field goal did not change the lead but pulled Orlando within one.    Charlotte got the first truly big play of the game when rookie QB Connor Shaw tried to fit a ball in to Jeremy Maclin and instead threw a bad pick to Charlotte FS Tre Boston.  The safety took the ball back for a score and increased the Monarch lead to 8.  Undaunted, Shaw returned on the next drive, completing 3 of 4 passes and finding Michael Jenkins, the league’s leading receiver (receptions) with a 26-yard scoring toss to once again pull within 1.  The ‘Gades opted to go for 1 and not tie the score, but the late first half score let Charlotte know that they would not be going anywhere.   The third quarter belonged to Orlando.  They held Charlotte to only 31 yards of offense in the period, and took the lead back late when a 12-play drive fizzled at the Charlotte 29, leading to a third Cundiff field goal, but one that gave Orlando the 2-point lead at 16-14.  Early in the 4th it would be their turn to expand that lead, pushing the difference to 9 points and creating the first 2-score lead of the day.  The score would again come from Shaw finding Jenkins, this time at the end of a 13-play drive that saw Knowshon Moreno carry the ball 5 times for 33 yards.  Shaw faked to Moreno on a 1st and goal on the 10 and that freed up Jenkins in man coverage for a fading ball to the back corner of the endzone.   Now down 2 scores, Charlotte needed a spark. They got it from a 23-yard Darren McFadden run. It was his longest of the day, contributing to his 17-carry, 70 yard day.  It also put Charlotte in position to claw back into the game.  It would take the Monarchs 6 plays within the 10 yard line to get into the endzone, but on a third and goal Wheedon found James Hardy crossing at the 2, and the receiver was able to drag his tackler into the endzone for the score.  Still down two, with 3:49 to play, Charlotte needed a defensive stop and a quick drive to get the win. They got the stop when a 3rd and 3 run by Latavious Murray garnered only 2 yards and Orlando was forced to punt.  The Monarchs would get the ball back with 2:02 left to play, needing 33  yards to get into a realistic range for Brandon Cuotu.  Brandon Wheedon connected with Luke Wilson on 1st down, then got a 3-yard draw play from McFadden to get another set of downs.  In 5 more plays they got the ball to the Orlando 32, but could get no further. Two straight incompletions, and a lack of timeouts meant that Charlotte’s hopes would rest on a 49-yard kick from their former All-USFL kicker, Brandon Coutu.  The Monarchs’ kicker had already missed on a 28-yarder earlier in the game, and was now on the spot for a game winner.  The kick would slice to the left, missing the target by a good 3 yards, and a dejected Coutu would leave the field with his head down as Orlando players celebrated their first playoff win since 2007.  Orlando would move on to face the Breakers in the next round.  OAKLAND INVADERS 24   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 28 The Wild Card game between the Invaders and Skyhawks would be a microcosm of the entire 2015 Oakland season, with the team looking tough early, building up a good position and then watching as it frittered away. St. Louis would announce about an hour before game time that Josh Freeman would not be able to go, still recovering from an injury that cost him the last third of the season. It would be on Ricky Stanzi, who has surprised many this season with his solid play, taking on the Invader defense.   Early in the game, Stanzi showed that he could make the big play. Just 2:12 into the game, the Skyhawks’ QB connected with Erik Decker on a 64-yard TD strike, showing arm strength many doubted he had.  That score would be answered by the Invaders at the end of the opening quarter when Joey Harrington capped off a 76-yard drive with an 8-yard TD toss to Keenan Allen. Harrington, who finished the game 24 of 33 with 3 TDs was at his best in the first half, but would have a significant downturn in the second.  In the 2nd quarter, Harrington would score again, connecting with Davante Adams from 7 yards out to give Oakland a 14-7 lead at the half.    The third quarter saw St.  Louis even the game as Stanzi led the Skyhawks on a 14-play drive, ending with Bobby Rainey diving into the endzone from 2 yards out.  The drive began after Joey Harrington threw an errant ball into the endzone, picked by St. Louis CB Jordan Pugh for a touchback. It would be the first of 3 second half picks thrown by the Oakland starter.  The second would come just one play after a St. Louis fumble had given the ball to Oakland in Skyhawk territory. Going deep on first down, hoping to catch St. Louis napping, Harrington threw up a deep shot to Allen only to have SS Marquestan Huff bring the ball down for St. Louis.    The Skyhawks could not do anything with the pick and soon Oakland was back on top after a long field goal from David Buehler made the score 17-14. That score would be in place as the 4th quarter began, and Oakland would soon extend it as Harrington connected on his third TD of the day, a 10-yard corner route to Davante Adams that put the Invaders up 10, 24-14, but, just as we saw in the regular season, the Invaders would struggle to close out the game as they had struggled to close out the year.   Down 10 with just over 11 minutes to play, St. Louis turned to their playmakers, driving down the field on the receiving talents of Jordi Nelson, Rob Gronkowski, and Erik Decker.  Each had a catch on the ensuing drive, each was over 10 yards, and each produced a first down for the Skyhawks.  When the Birds got inside the 10, they used the big name receivers as decoys and Stanzi threw to an unexpected target, rookie TE C. J. Uzomah. The rookie brought in the TD toss and the Skyhawks were within 3 4:55 still on the clock.    St. Louis kicked deep, hoping their defense could stop Oakland and get them the ball quickly.  After 3 plays that produced a new 1st down, it was looking rougher for the Skyhawks, but on a 2nd and 7, Oakland opted to pass rather than trying to gain the first down on the ground once again.  That proved to be a major error as Joey Harrington’s pass to Zach Ertz was telegraphed and LB Bryce Hager was able to step in front of Ertz and pick off the pass, giving St. Louis the ball on the Oakland 41 with 2 minutes still left on the clock.    The Skyhawks, down 3, needed only about 10 yards to be within solid range for Rob Bironas.  But they would not go for the tie, they wanted the win in regulation.  They got the play they needed on a sideline route to Decker that gained 21 and put the ball on the 6 yard line.  After a run by Rainey, starting after the injury to Eddie Lacy, got the ball to the 3, Coach Arians felt that straight ahead runs would not get it done. On 2nd and goal he called for play action, and it was the correct call.  The Oakland defense crashed on the line, but TE Rob Gronkowski got behind them and Stanzi lobbed the ball up to him.  Gronk found the ball at its high point, with safety Jaqwuan Jarrett draped over his back, but the big man had blocked him out and came down with the ball.  Victory to the Skyhawks, who move on to the Divisional Round, with Ricky Stanzi finishing with 295 yards passing and 3 TDs.  The Skyhawks now would have a decision as they moved forward, stick with Stanzi, who had finished out the season for them and had just won them a playoff game, or return to Josh Freeman for the big game in Portland the following week? HOUSTON GAMBLERS 27   PITTSBURGH MAULERS 31 This was the game everyone had circled on the schedule, two teams with outstanding records, Houston at 12-4 and Pittsburgh at 13-3 don’t often match up in a Wild Card round, but both had fallen just short of winning their divisions, so here they were, the 4 and 5 seeds.  The game would be played in front of one of the biggest crowds ever to see a Mauler game, nearly 62,000 in Heinz Field. It would prove to be everything the fans had shown up to see, a back and forth affair that saw the home team pull the game out in the end.  True football classic stuff.   Matt Hasselbeck and Andy Dalton would duel it out, with both run game struggling to stay relevant (Hyde finished with 56 yards, Gerhardt with only 49). The Houston QB would finish the day with 385 yards and 3 TDs, the Maulers’ signal caller with 330 and his own 3 scores in a classic QB duel.  In a game that saw no turnover and only 3 penalties called, it would come down to each team taking advantage of their opportunities.   The game started very strong for the Gamblers, who opened with their usual 15 scripted plays, needing only 8 to get on the scoreboard as Hasselbeck hit Johnny Knox with a 37-yard TD only 3 minutes into play. After a short Mauler drive, Houston got the ball back and Hasselbeck did it again, this time driving the ball deep into Mauler territory before finding TE Vernon Davis for a 3-yard score.  Down 14-0, the Maulers needed to come alive, and that is what they did.   Pittsburgh would finish a 9-play drive with a field goal to get on the board as the 1st quarter ended, but the second would belong entirely to Pittsburgh. They would hold Houston outside of their side of the field for the entire quarter, and they would turn two drives into scores and a halftime lead. The first was an 11-play drive that ended with a Charles Sims TD run. Sims, who only had 2 touches on the day, would make good on his first, bursting off tackle on the left side of the line to score the Maulers’ first TD.   After a short Houston drive fizzled out when Roy Williams dropped a pretty good ball on 3rd and 6, Pittsburgh was back in action. Andy Dalton would only complete 2 passes on the drive, the first a key 3rd down toss to Victor Cruz, the second a 19-yard strike to Adam Thielen. It would be the story of the game. Dalton missing on 14 of his 32 throws, but connecting when it mattered.    At the half, Pittsburgh had clawed their way back and into the lead, 17-14 at the break.  Houston would now need to be the one to recoup. And just as the Maulers had done before, the Gamblers did as the 2nd half began. Houston would score the next 13 points as they added the only score of the 3rd quarter, a 38-yard Carpenter FG that evened the score at 17.  The Gamblers were driving as the quarter changed, Hasselbeck using shorter routes than in the first half to get the ball out quickly and avoid pressure from Freeney and Jared Allen.  Houston regained the lead on a short pass that turned into a big play. A 6-yard toss to TE Vernon Davis turned into a 36-yard TD when Davis shrugged off the tackle by safety Robert Sands and outpaced a LB to the endzone.    Houston would add to their advantage only 4 minutes later when a 3-and-out gave them the ball on their own 48 and the offense got them into range for Dan Carpenter. Carpenter connected on a 46-yarder and Houston saw its lead pushed to 10.  But, with over 9 minutes left, there was still time for the Maulers to recover and storm back, and that is exactly what we saw. After the kick, Dalton went to work, completing 3 long ball throws, including a 33-yarder to TE Jimmie Graham to get them inside the 20.  Two plays later, Dalton rewarded Graham, the league’s TD leader, with a TD throw into coverage. The ball split the two defenders and Graham came down with it to pull the Maulers within 3 at 27-24 and time left on the clock.  Pittsburgh kicked deep and put the game into the hands of their defense.   The defense came through, stuffing Carlos Hyde on two consecutive runs, putting Houston into a clear passing situation at 3rd and 11. Hasselbeck would not get the chance to pull a game-saving toss out as he was pressured almost immediately, not by one of the Mauler’s outstanding edge rushers, but by their young monster inside, Aaron Donald. Donald pushed aside the center with frightening ease and had Dalton in his grasp before the Houston QB could even scan the receivers. Houston was forced to punt and Pittsburgh would have nearly 2 full minutes to get a score on the board.   As with the Orlando-Charlotte game the day before, Pittsburgh could send the game to overtime with a kick, but Coach Fangio also knew that his offense could win the game in regulation, and that was the priority. On first down he would go big, and it would pay off with Dalton finding Adam Thielen for 34-yards, putting the ball almost immediately into field goal range for their kicker.  But there was still over a minute left, and the Maulers used that time to keep pushing the ball deeper and deeper into Houston territory. On a 2nd and 3 at the 10, the Maulers would get the play they wanted.  Houston, concerned about the outside threats of Thielen and Cruz, left TE Antony Hill in single coverage with a linebacker, and while rookie Ramik Wilson has had an outstanding year, coverage is not his strong suit. TE Anthony Hill was able to get the angle on Wilson and Dalton put a perfect ball on his hands.  For the 2nd time in the Wild Card round, the TE would be the star at the end as Hill repeated Rob Gronkowski’s feat from the Skyhawk win, and hauled in the game winner for the Maulers.   Pittsburgh would hold Houston without a first down in the final seconds and the Maulers would celebrate their first playoff win since their 2011 Summer Bowl trip.  Houston would be turned away, turning a very strong 12-4 season into a bitter final defeat in their opening playoff game.  MICHIGAN PANTHERS 21   TEXAS OUTLAWS 24    OVERTIME The final game of the weekend was also one of the most exciting and most controversial.  The Texas Outlaws, playing in Dallas due to the irreparable damage to the Alamodome from Memorial Day Weekend tornadoes, would be facing the Michigan Panthers, a team seeking their 4th league title. It would be the high-flying passing game of Joe Flacco and league yardage leader Marques Colston against the league’s best rushing attack, led by rushing champion LeVeon Bell.    Typical of the USFL’s entire history, it would be the passing game that would come out on top, but not before we got the post-season’s first big controversy and a game that would require extra time.  But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The game started slowly, with both teams going 3-and-out on their opening drives. Michigan would find their mojo on their second drive, helped in part by a bad offside penalty on 3rd and 4 that gave the Panthers an easy first down. That play, combined with a nice 13-yard toss to Cody Latimer got the Panthers inside the 10 and from there it was all LeVeon Bell as the back took a swing pass from Kirk Cousins and turned it into an 8-yard touchdown pass to open the game’s scoring.   While Bell would not have great success on the day, held to 82 yards on 35 carries, the constant threat of the run would help Kirk Cousins connect on 3 scoring tosses in the game, the first coming early in the 2nd period when a nice play fake left Ted Ginn in single coverage. Cousins looped the ball up to him and Ginn used his speed to take it all the way for a 44-yard score that gave Michigan a 14-point cushion early in the 2nd.  The lead would not last long.   Just 1 play after Michigan kicked the ball to Texas, the big play offense of the Outlaws had their first longball score. Joe Flacco had all the time in the world on first down and found his favorite receiver Marques Colston deep downfield for a 54-yard strike that pulled Texas within 7. It would  not be Flacco’s longest pass of the day, but it certainly set the tone for what was to follow.   Down at the half, Texas came out in the 3rd quarter with a focus on regaining the lead. That focus may have actually cost Texas points as Coach Landry opted to go for it on 4th and 2 from the Michigan 33 instead of sending Kai Forbath out to kick a 50-yarder. Marshawn Lynch got the call, but the Panthers saw it coming and stuffed the big back behind the line on 4th down, getting the ball on downs. The Panthers struggled to move the ball, however, and soon punted to Texas, a good kick placing the ball on the Outlaws’ 10-yard line.    It was from there, on their own 10, that Texas got the biggest play of the game (to that point). It was not designed to be a big play, just an easy drive starter for Flacco and the offense. A center screen to TE Chris Cooley, the play was designed to gain 6-8 yards, but they caught Michigan in a blitz, leaving a gap in the middle of the field and allowing the linemen to match up with much smaller safeties as they cleared a path for Cooley over the middle. The rest was on the tight end, who found himself in open field with the corners the only real threat to him going 90 yards for the score. A poor tackle attempt by veteran Deltha O’Neal and a good block by Texas WR Brandon Marshall and Cooley was cleared for a long huffing and puffing run down the field for the longest TD of the weekend, a 90-yard screen-turned-score.    With the game tied after 3 quarters, Texas seemed to have gained all the momentum. That thought was driven home over the course of the 4th as Texas kept Michigan’s offense in check, holding them to their side of the field and forcing 2 punts. The Outlaws had largely been stymied as well, but a late drive seemed to give Texas the win as they went 77 yards in 13 plays, finishing off their drive by taking their first lead of the day with 1:36 left to play, a 7-yard corner route to Brandon Marshall to seemingly give the game to the home team.    But a game is not over until it is over, and this game still had 1:36 left to play. That was enough time for Michigan to mount a drive to tie the game and send it to overtime. The Panther’s first 3 plays provided them with 22 yards and got the ball to their own 47.  But, the three plays had cost them 36 seconds. At this pace they would not be in range for a touchdown unless they could catch a break. They would catch that break on the most controversial play of the weekend.  Cousins unleashed a deep ball to Hines Ward, one that seemed to be heading out of bounds, well above the reach of Ward or the defender, Texas CB Demetrius McCay. It seemed a harmless overthrow until the flag came out. McCay, who had been handfighting with Ward down the field, was called with defensive pass interference, a call that would give Houston 40 yards on the play, but one that was booed endlessly by the Outlaw fans watching the Jumbotron. The ball seemed clearly to be uncatchable, but the officials called the penalty, and since it was within the last 2 minutes Texas Coach, Greg Landry, could not throw the red flag to force a review.    No review came. The call stood, and Houston had the ball on the Texas 14 with 30 seconds left to play. It would take them only 2 more plays to even the score, Cousins hitting Ted Ginn with his second score of the game. When Matt Prater put the ball between the uprights for the PAT, Michigan had forced overtime and Texas fans, those who made the trip up from San Antonio and those sporting Dallas Roughnecks gear but supporting their home state team, were in shock.   Michigan would get another break in overtime, winning the coin toss and getting first crack at winning the game with a score. But, other than the odd DPI call, Texas had done a good job of defending the Panthers throughout the second half of the game, and that continued in the extra period. Michigan was forced to punt after gaining only one first down and the Texas offense would get their shot to end the game and turn the odd penalty call into an annoyance rather than a game-altering play.    Texas got the ball on their own 25 after the punt went into the endzone. They would use a mix of runs from Johnson and Lynch and short passes to Cooley, Jordan Thomas and Colston to get the ball into Houston territory, and when a false start forced them to look at a 3rd and 12 from the Houston 34, they opted not to risk a pass to get a first down. They let Johnson take the carry and the Outlaw back gained 5, getting them in range for a 46-yard Kai Forbath kick for the win. The kicker came through and as Forbath’s kick soared between the uprights the fans in Cotton Bowl Stadium finally ended their chants of “Ref, You Suck” and turned to a happier celebration. The Texas Outlaws, who had endured so much in the later stages of the season and who were forced to play their home playoff game in the stadium of a rival team, had emerged victorious and would now hit the road to face off against another division rival, booking a ticket to face the Arizona Wranglers in the next round.   League Officials Admit Bad Call in Outlaws-Panthers Game It was the most talked about play of the week, a seeming “phantom” defensive pass interference call against a Texas defender that put Michigan in position to tie the game and send it to overtime.  In the end, Texas did manage to earn the win and move on, but the immediate outrage at the call, when it was clear that the pass from Kirk Cousins was well off target and uncatchable, remained a talking point all week.   Pundits across the league and its 4 television networks questioned the call, took sides, debated the validity of the call and its potential to alter a game.  Concerns were expressed about the next round of playoffs and the use of the same officials in next week’s St. Louis-Portland matchup.    By Wednesday the league had to say something and in a press conference, Alberto Riveron, head of USFL officiating, made a statement, acknowledging the controversy and admitting that the review by the league officiating committee in New York found that the call was a mistake by line judge Ron Phares, doubled by approval of the referee, Bill Leavy.  The ball was not catchable and that should have denied the possibility of a defensive pass interference call even if the cornerback was inappropriately impeding Hines Ward from pursuing the catch.  It is a rare admission of a mistake by the league’s officiating staff, but despite the “understandable error”, as Riveron was quick to categorize the call, no changes will be made to the officiating crews scheduled for this weekend’s matchup.    In the end, Texas fans are likely to let the call go since it did not cause them to lose the game in the end, but you can also bet that officiating will be under scrutiny as we move from the Wild Card Round into the Divisionals, Conference Title Games, and Summer Bowl 2015 in Los Angeles.   Could Moreno or Lynch Miss Divisionals? Both star backs stepped to the sideline late in their Wild Card victories, both were examined by team physicians, and later by external medical teams, and both are currently listed as “Probable” on the league’s injury report, but we have seen players listed as probable who had no chance of playing before.  It is often used as a tactic to keep the opposition from knowing the severity of an injury to a key player. That possibility is what both New Orleans and Arizona are contending with this week as they gameplan to slow down the Orlando and Texas offenses.   Moreno’s injury is listed as an ankle injury, and that makes sense based on the videotape of the play where he left the field gingerly. His foot was turned under the tackler, so an ankle issue is logical, but just how severe, whether a twist, sprain, or tear, is no known. If Moreno is not truly probable to start, then Orlando will likely suit up Latavious Murray as the lead back.  Murray, who led all rushers (50 season carries or more) with a 5.1 YPC average, is certainly a capable stand-in, though his style is somewhat more erratic than that of Moreno’s more straight ahead slashing style.   For Lynch, the question is his right knee, which was bent oddly to the side in the final overtime drive for Texas.  He was able to walk to the sideline under his own power, but did not return to the game. He has, to date, not been a full participant in Tuesday’s or yesterday’s practices, but that does not mean that his injury would absolutely keep him from the game on Sunday. The knee certainly does not have devastating damage, as Lynch was seen jogging on the sideline at practice, but his ability to cut or juke could be the issue.  If he is unable to go against Arizona, then Chris Johnson will resume his role as the lead back, breaking up the duo that has been so successful for the Outlaws over the final 5 weeks of the season.   Blitz & Breakers at Full Strength We often talk about injuries during the playoffs and how they might impact a team’s ability to play its best ball at this pivotal point in the season.  Well, this week the media in both Baltimore and New Orleans have not been able to follow that storyline as neither club reported any players on their injury report.  In other words, two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference are at full strength, with no missing pieces. That cannot be good news for the Renegades and Maulers who now must face these top seeds with all-hands-on-deck for the home teams.   Orlando is, as we all knew going in, already playing without their starter at QB, with Russell Wilson having missed the final 2 games of the regular season as well as last week’s Wild Card game.  Now they may also be limited in their use of starting halfback Knowshon Moreno.  Pittsburgh, heading to Baltimore to take on the NE Division champion who beat them only 2 weeks ago, are entering the game with CB Reggie Smith on IR, starting halfback Marcus Lattimore listed as doubtful and unable to practice, and two offensive linemen, center Nick Leckey and OT Oniel Cousins listed as probable, but likely not at 100%. That has to be concerning when facing a Baltimore squad that has its full complement of players ready to roll, and may explain the somewhat higher than anticipated 6-point line for the Maulers, nearly a touchdown underdogs to the Blitz in their divisional matchup.   Retirement Announcements Alter Team Offseason Plans A week after the announced retirements of WR Deion Branch (WSH) and HB Steven Jackson (ATL), we have had several more declarations of intent to file for retirement, including a possible future Hall of Fame lineman and several decorated defenders from across the league.  Here is our quick rundown of the newly-announced retirees from USFL action.   OG Steve Hutchinson (TBY):   One of the last holdovers from the Bandit team that won it all in 2011, Hutchinson completed 15 years in Tampa Bay this season, and will step away from the game at the age of 34.  “Hutch” started 201 of his 207 games in Tampa Bay and is generally considered one of the best pass protectors at the guard position.    LB Joey Porter (SD): Another potential Hall of Famer, Porter completed 17 seasons in the league, all with the Thunder, starting with the club in Portland, playing all 11 seasons in Las Vegas, and now the first season with the club relocated to San Diego.  Porter will retire with over 1,400 tackles (1,443 to be exact), 277 tackles for loss, 57 sacks and 13 interceptions.  When 2020 rolls around, do not be shocked to see his name among the list of Hall of Fame Nominees with numbers like that.   SS Pearson Prioleau (OH): Like Porter, Prioleau logged 17 seasons of USFL football before this week’s announcement.  Unlike Porter, Prioleau moved around a bit.  He began his USFL journey as a 4th round draft pick of the New Jersey Generals in 1999.  He would appear in 15 games that season with New Jersey, starting 5.  The next two years he would serve as a backup, appearing in 5 games each season but showing enough that when his contract was up, Oakland was interested.  Prioleau would play with Oakland from 2003 through 2014, becoming a starter and then a team captain.  He signed this year with Ohio, finishing his career on a 1-year contract and starting all 16 games for the Glory.  He retires with 892 tackles, 25 sacks and 14 career interceptions.   CB Nate Clements (NJ): The Generals signed the Ohio State product away from the NFL Bills in 2007 and he has played for them ever since, 9 seasons in which he has racked up 28 picks and 717 tackles.  Clements leaves New Jersey with a pretty sizable hole in their secondary, likely a position of focus for the upcoming offseason.   LB Chris Claiborne (DAL): At 37, Claiborne is the oldest of the retirees in our report today.  The USC star signed with the then Boston Cannons in 2003, and would stay with the franchise as they relocated to Dallas in 2013.  Claiborne retires with over 1,000 tackles, 23 sacks and 14 picks in his 13-year career.   Others of note who have announced this week include Birmingham HB Marion Barber, Denver CB Dawan Landry, LA defensive tackle Dan Klecko, Las Vegas corner Duane Starks, and Memphis DT Tank Johnson.   We have already spoken about several key injuries, but it would not be a full report ahead of this week’s games if we did not provide the full injury report, so here are all the reported dings, tweaks, and serious concerns for the 8 playoff teams still in the mix.   ORL: QB Russell Wilson (OUT), HB Knowshon Moreno (P) NOR: No injuries reported. The Breakers are looking to be at full strength. Orlando will roll with rookie Connor Shaw at QB once again, but may also have to go without their star halfback as well.   PIT: CB Reggie Smith (OUT),  HB Marcus Lattimore (D), T Oniel Cousins (P), C Nick Leckey (P) BAL: No injuries reported. Pittsburgh will travel to Baltimore on Friday, but the question is if their offense will be traveling with them. With Lattimore still absent from practice and two linemen also in question, Pittsburgh could be shorthanded as they face the Blitz.   STL: HB Eddie Lacy (OUT), LB Zavier Gooden (OUT), CB Vontae Davis (OUT), G Keleche Osamele (D) POR: C Brad Meester (OUT) The loss of Eddie Lacy was evident in St. Louis, even with the ‘Hawks getting the win at home. Now they go to the road, quite likely with Josh Freeman back under center, but with a run game that is not likely to take much of the offensive load against Portland.    TEX:  CB Nathan Vasher (OUT), DT Luis Castillo (OUT), HB Marshawn Lynch (P) ARZ: FS Nate Allen (OUT), OT Wade Smith (Q), CB Mike Mickens (P) Both Arizona and Texas have some injuries that could be impactful. With Nate Allen already out, losing Mike Mickens as well, especially against Joe Flacco, could be a real issue. For Texas, having Lynch sidelined could leave the team a bit shorthanded in the run game, and Luis Castillo being missing certainly will impact their ability to contain Arizona’s Frank Gore.   Coach Jauron Open to Offers With his contract in Denver now officially expired, Coach Jauron is a true rarity, a free agent coach with a proven track record of success.  There remain two coaching openings in the league, but we are also only 3 weeks away from the opening of the NFL-USFL transfer window, where Jauron is also likely to get a lot of attention from NFL clubs looking to bolster their coaching staffs.  There are no head coach vacancies this late into training camp in the NFL, but there is certainly room for an assistant head coach or a consultant, which can be a very good deal for a year before other positions open up.    What seems clear is that Denver is not itching to resign their 18-season veteran head coach, and that Jauron is not desperate to return to Denver either.  It does appear that whatever the path forward, the Jauron era in Denver is over.  So, is that a situation that leads the Glory or the Machine to have immediate interest in Jauron, or are we more likely to see the former Gold head man take a year, then return with a different club?   Ohio has seemingly been interested in a figure with prior head coaching experience, and there are a few out there who have had success in the USFL before, but Jauron is the newest to become available and perhaps the most highly-regarded.  Chicago seems to be headed in a different direction, looking at coordinators with a lot of upside.  They have also expressed an interest in a coach who was cut loose by the Bears despite having some success already in Chicago, that being Lovie Smith, coach of the NFL Bears from 2004-2012 and recently released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after only 2 seasons.    A look at the Early Free Agency List OK, here we go, we now have 20 teams whose unsigned players are officially free agents, only 8 teams with the players still under contract and the season still moving forward.  Yes, there are technically 2 more weeks (Conference Title Week and Summer Bowl Week) before free agency starts on the Wednesday following LA’s big Summer Bowl blowout, but from history we know that most players who are in the pool now will certainly stay there until multiple teams, including NFL teams, can get in the mix before resigning with their original teams.  We also know that a good many will not return back to the team that did not meet their demands during this past season with a new deal, so these are players who well could be headed to a new home for 2016.  Let’s break down the group we currently have by position.   QUARTERBACK Rarely a position where bona fide starters end up in the mix, we have something of a rich pool this year as Sam Bradford has chosen not to resign with the Generals and Chicago is letting Brady Quinn depart after a very rough year. Others in the pool of available QBs include Seattle backup Mike Flynn, former U. of Texas star Vince Young, and Washington’s 3rd stringer, Ingle Martin.   HALFBACK The Halfback position is one where some good options can often exist, and that is certainly the case this year, led by Oakland HB Ryan Williams, disgruntled with his use by the Invaders, and now available after they bowed out of the playoffs.  Others who are solid starters include LA’s NFL import Reggie Bush (expected to resign if rumors are true), and Charlotte’s Ronny Hillman. Frank Gore remains unsigned, but Arizona remains alive in the playoffs, giving the Wranglers time to still get a deal done.   RECEIVER Many names on this list will draw interest, with both speed, hands, and route running skill on display.  The big names on the list include the very vocally unhappy Steve Smith (OHI), Tampa’s Santana Moss, Philly’s Troy Williamson, two Memphis starters in Mark Clayton and Sidney Rice, and two Dallas contributors in Hank Basket and former Panther Mario Manningham.  We also have talent at TE with Philadelphia’s Brent Celek, veteran Express TE L. J. Smith, Charlotte’s Luke Wilson, and Jabari Holloway of the Stallions all available. Of course, the big question is whether or not USFL touchdown leader Jimmie Graham will resign before he becomes a free agent or parlay his huge year in Pittsburgh into a huge contract with the Maulers.   O-LINE Too many to count, as is typical with the Offensive Line, but plenty of names worth exploring for teams looking to upgrade their lines or their depth. Among the most noteworthy are centers Brian Schwenke (MEM) and Andre Gurode (CHI), guards Travis Bonds (WSH), Deuce Lutui (NJ), Brett Williams (LA), and Paul Fanaika (CHI.  Finally, among tackles, expect a lot of interest in Las Vegas LT Jonathan Stinchcomb as well as San Diego’s Marcus Gilbert and right tackles Jordan Gross (SEA) and Xavier Fulton (TBY).   D-LINE We start on the interior, where there are several intriguing names, including Washington’s Corey Liuget, who is only 24 but ending his rookie deal without a new one in place.  Others on the interior include Brandon Mbane in Seattle, Michigan’s Jerel Worthy, and Denver’s Gabe Watson. On the outside, no huge edge rushing success, as you would expect, but we do think there will be interest in Houston’s 26-year-old Malik Jackson as well as Atlanta’s 29-year-old Jamaal Anderson.    LINEBACKER Not a great pool, at least not unless Arizona’s Orlando Huff and Baltimore’s Jordan Gooden join the group. Right now the biggest name is likely Jacksonville’s Cody Glenn, followed by Clint Simtim (DEN), Philip Wheeler (OHI), Blake Costanzo (LA), and Richard Burr (NJ).   CORNER Perhaps the weakest position in the free agency pool, especially if Carlos Rogers from Tampa Bay retires, as many feel he might. Beyond Rogers the pool has Sean Smith (NJ), LaDarius Webb (MGN), and that is about it, pretty slim pickin’s.   SAFETY Houston’s Willie Anderson is the big fish in this pond, a former All-USFL selection who still can play at only 33. Beyond him, the Free Safety pool is interesting, with Philly’s Madieu Williams and Las Vegas’s Reggie Nelson also in the mix. The strong safety pool is also pretty rich, with Atlanta’s Tayvon Branch, Jacksonville’s Tra Battle, Memphis’s Idrees Basheer, and Ohio’s Isa Abdul-Quddus all in the marketplace.   SPECIAL TEAMS Memphis has let kicker Jason Neal depart, and that is about it unless St. Louis opts not to resign Rob Bironas after their season ends.  As far as punters go, the best of the bunch is Washington’s Sam Koch, joined by Oakland’s Matt McBriar, Tampa’s Tress Way, and Jacksonville’s Bruce Reese.  Texas Outlines Plan for 2016 The league schedule may still be several months away, but the Texas Outlaws now have a plan for where they will be playing their games in 2016. With the Alamodome out of commission indefinitely, the Outlaws have had to scramble in 2015 to relocate games, first to San Marcos and Bobcat Stadium, and with their lone home playoff game to Dallas and the Cotton Bowl, but a plan needed to be put in place for 2016, and perhaps beyond, depending on the timeline for demolition and reconstruction of the Alamodome facilility. This week the Outlaws identified what that plan would be. The team will use three different stadiums in an attempt to maximize potential gameday revenue, attendance, and statewide support. With a desire to make most games accessible to their core fanbase in San Antonio, the Outlaws will retain Bobcat Stadium in nearby San Marcos as their primary home, playing 4 games in the 30,000 seat outdoor stadium home to Texas State University. The small size of the facility will limit capacity and revenue, but it does allow Texas to offer a 4-game mini-package to their usual season ticket holders. In addition to San Marcos, the Outlaws will play 2 games each in two larger facilities within the state, Fort Worth's Amon G. Carter Stadium, home to the TCU Horned Frogs, and Rice Stadium in Houston. The move means larger capacity in these 4 as-yet undesignated games, but it also means stepping into the home territories of the Dallas Roughnecks and Houston Gamblers. Both Rice Stadium and Amon G. Carter can hold between 45,000-47,000 fans, well beyond the capacity of Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, but the downside, of course, is that in addition to being quite distant from the team's San Antonio home, they are also right in the heart of fanbases that root for other USFL squads. The trip from San Antonio will be a long one for fans of the Outlaws located in San Antonio, with Houston being 197 miles from San Antonio, and Ft. Worth 267 miles away, requiring 2-5 hour road trips for fans to reach the games. Of course, Texas has always defined themselves with a statewide following, having previously played games across the state, from El Paso to Dallas. We will need to wait and see which games are in which locations for the Outlaws, with the league schedule set to post in mid-December, and we are still waiting for news on the final analysis of the engineers as to just how the Alamodome will be rebuilt, as well as the city and state as to funding. The 2016 season is defined with this new stadium plan, but there is still fear that this could be a 3-5 year project to get a facility back in San Antonio, and, along with the potential cost to the city and to owner Red McCombes, the question of timing and potential loss of revenue over several years could spell real trouble for the Outlaws, trouble far more serious than playing several games a year in borrowed venues.   (6) Orlando Renegades @  (2) New Orleans Breakers Saturday, July 12 at 2pm ET   (ABC) Louisiana SuperDome, New Orleans, LA Breakers -8   The folks in the Vegas books feel pretty good about the Breakers being able to take this one. We have to agree.  New Orleans got to 13-3 because they do everything well, not great, but well. They are not huge yardage gainers, but they take advantage of opportunities, and with a rookie QB going up against their stingy defense, we think they will get their fair share of short fields and potentially turnovers as well. Orlando has some weapons, but they lack consistency. We just don’t see them being able to hold New Orleans in check for 60 minutes.   OUR PICK: Drew Brees makes enough plays to get New Orleans through to the next round.  New Orleans 21-13. (3)  St. Louis Skyhawks @ (2) Portland Stags Saturday, July 12 at 7pm ET   (FOX) Columbia Sportswear Stadium, Portland, OR Stags -4   This one is really interesting. To a degree it will depend on if Josh Freeman returns with a bit of rust or if he comes out firing strikes to his receivers. We don’t think St. Louis can run the ball without Lacy, so it will be up to Freeman to get points on the board. For Portland, it is about setting up Jonathan Stewart for success against the league’s 5th best run defense. If Stewart can find some space, then that makes life much easier for Fitzpatrick. Our guess is that the first quarter will give us our answers.   OUR PICK:   While we love the Cinderella aspect of Portland’s 2015 campaign, we think there is just too much experience on St. Louis’s side, especially if Freeman is on his game. We pick the Skyhawks to win 24-20.   (4) Pittsburgh Maulers @ (1) Baltimore Blitz Sunday, July 13 at 1pm ET   (NBC) M&T Stadium, Baltimore, MD Blitz -6   This one will be intense. Only 2 weeks ago Baltimore got revenge for their Week 11 loss to the Maulers, pulling out a 34-27 shootout in Pittsburgh to take down the Maulers in Week 15.  Both teams now know each other well, and both know what works, so it is a matter of one team having better execution than the other to end up on top. Dalton and Roethlisberger will get their yards, to be sure, but who can turn yards into points more effectively?   OUR PICK:   The Blitz are the defending champs and have been down this road before.  Pittsburgh is the young upstart, but are they truly ready for what awaits them?  Talented, to be sure, but we think Baltimore is in the right head space to take this one.  Our pick is Blitz 28-26. (4) Texas Outlaws @ (1) Arizona Wranglers Sunday, July 13 at 5pm ET   (ESPN/EFN) University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ Wranglers -6 Texas escaped a tough game against Michigan and now they get an even tougher assignment, march into Glendale and defeat the top seed, a 12-4 Wrangler team that boasts a Top 5 defense and a balanced offense among the league’s best as well.  Joe Flacco knows what it takes to win, but so does Jim Tomsula and the very veteran Wrangler squad.  We like that Arizona can win on the ground with Frank Gore or hurt you in the air with Bryant and Fitzgerald.  Texas is a bit more one dimensional, especially if Marshawn Lynch is hampered at all.   OUR PICK: We are going with the home favorite for the 3rd time in our 4 picks.  But hey, they are the favorites for a reason.  Arizona lost to Texas in Week 16, but that was a battle of backups for the Wranglers and this time the Outlaws have to deal with a healthy, rested, and motivated Wrangler team.  Our final score has the Wranglers winning 23-17.