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Week 4 witnessed some amazing action, including one of the greatest comebacks in USFL history as Tampa Bay wiped out a 22-point deficit with 28 points in the fourth quarter.  Texas remained unbeaten with a win over the Roughnecks, Arizona and Frank Gore found their groove, Las Vegas stunned the Federals in front of a mostly Washington-rooting crowd at Sam Boyd, and Seattle and Portland had an epic shootout in the Cascade Classic.  All in all, a pretty good week all across the USFL, assuming, of course, that you are not a Jacksonville Bulls fan, as the lone winless club looked very much like a team without a direction this week. We will report on all of it, take a look at our 1st quarter evaluations and the stories of the league this year, and then finish up with one of the most impressive Hall of Fame semifinal lists we have ever seen. Some tough choices ahead to be sure.  Let’s kick it off with that comeback in New Orleans as the Bandits make history. TAMPA BAY BANDITS 34   NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 27 An epic comeback in the Bayou as the Bandits race back from a 27-5 third quarter deficit with a stunning 28 points in the fourth quarter to shock and awe over 51,000 fans in the Super Dome.  It was a truly unbelievable feat by the Bandits, with both offense and defense contributing to the historic 4th quarter comeback. The game had appeared to be all New Orleans throughout the first three quarters.  Tampa got on the board first with a muffed shotgun snap in the endzone leading to Mike Tolbert falling on the ball and touched down for a safety, but after that initial flub, New Orleans had dominated.  Getting touchdowns from Tolbert, Early Doucet, and Kenny Britt, the Breakers had built up a 14-5 halftime lead and a 27-5 lead after three quarters. They had done this most of the day with a stifling defense and a solid relief performance from QB Quincy Carter, who threw both of the Breaker TDs after Drew Brees had to leave the game with an injury in the first quarter.  But everything that had gone right in the first three quarters fell apart in the fourth. Down 22 points as the quarter began, Tampa Bay finally put together a solid drive, their first really threatening drive all day.  When Daunte Culpepper hit Jahvid Best with a swing pass only to have the first defender whiff on the tackle, Best was able to scramble for 15 yards and put the Bandits in the end zone for the first time.  Still, up 27-12, the Breakers did not look phased.  That changed five minutes later when Culpepper hit Santonio Holmes on a perfect play action bomb for a 2nd score.  Suddenly the game was in range, with Tampa now trailing only 27-19, an 8-point lead that could be wiped away with a score and a 2-point PAT.  New Orleans needed a drive to kill time and perhaps add some more distance between themselves and the surging Bandits. What they got instead was a disaster of a play, one in which DT Terrell Mclain backed the right guard right into Quincy Carter as he threw the ball, impacting the thrown and producing a wobbly duck of a pass that was picked off by nickel back Corey Graham, putting Tampa Bay within range of the game-tying score at the Breaker 31. Only 5 plays later Jahvid Best dove over the pile on the goalline and the Bandits were within 2.  Culpepper connected with Luke Stocker for the conversion and the Breaker’s unassailable 22-point lead was gone. With it was all the momentum of the game.  Tampa’s score came with 4:46 left to play, plenty of time to kick the ball deep and count on the defense to get it back. New Orleans was a broken team at this point, having lost all momentum and all their fire.  They would bow out after only 5 plays, punting the ball back to the Bandits after a failed 3rd and 7 attempt.  The Bandits would not face the same issues, marching the ball down the field with all the confidence of an All-State HS quarterback on prom night.  It would take Tampa Bay only 6 plays to get in the red zone, and only 3 more to put the winning score on the board, another perfect pass from Culpepper to Stocker in the endzone. The Bandits had put 28 points on the board in a single quarter, and with it had taken over sole possession of first place in the Southeast, knocking New Orleans down to 2-2 and into a tie with the Stallions.  It was a comeback for the ages, or a choke for the ages, depending on who you ask. ATLANTA 24   PHILADELPHIA 27 Another huge game for Steve Slaton helps the Stars hold off the Fire for a 3-point victory.  Slaton rushed the ball 24 times for 136 yards and 2 scores, allowing Matt Gutierrez to have something of an off day and still come away with the win.  Gutierrez would pass for only 174 yards compared to Atlanta’s Kyle Orton, who went for 270.  Of course, the Philadelphia defense helped as well, picking off Orton three times and limiting Steven Jackson to only 37 yards rushing. POTG: Stars’ HB Steve Slaton: 24 Att, 136 Yds, 2 TD OHIO 13   ST. LOUIS 15 The Skyhawks finally notch one in the win column as a 4th quarter field goal is enough to sneak past Ohio.  In a tough day for both offenses, the defenses limited each team to only 2 of 12 on third down.  The fact that both punters had more yards than both quarterbacks tells you how this game went.  St. Louis got a safety from Olivier Vernon and a TD from Freeman to Weems, a 2014 break out candidate, while Ohio’s lone TD came in the third quarter on an Isaiah Pead run. POTG: St. Louis WR Eric Weems: 6 Rec, 87 Yds, 1 TD. BIRMINGHAM 10   NASHVILLE 3 An ugly game in Nashville as both offenses struggled to get anything going.  Following a 35-yard field goal by Nashville in the first quarter neither team would score until the final minutes of the 4th quarter.  Garrett Hartley tied the score with a 44-yard kick, and then, in the waning moments of the game, a defensive flub by the Knights allowed Dontrelle Inman to break away and score from 56-yards out to give Birmingham the win. POTG: Stallions’ DT Jonathon Sullivan: 9 Tck, 2 Sck. OAKLAND 15   DENVER 20 Denver continues to impress with another complementary game between the defense and the offense.  Despite 100 yards from Ryan Williams, Denver held the Invaders to one touchdown on the day.  The Gold defense scored as many, with Phillip Dillard returning a fumble for a touchdown, a decisive play that would help determine the final outcome.  Both QB’s struggled on the day, with Joey Harrington throwing for only 144 yards and Matt Leinart only slightly better at 194. POTG: Denver LB Shawne Merriman: 7 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 FF, 1 PD. MEMPHIS 28   ARIZONA 35 Arizona leveled their record at 2-2, but it was not an easy affair for the Wranglers.  Matt Cassel played well for the Showboats, throwing for 3 scores and 294 yards, but the day belonged to Larry Fitzgerald, who caught 6 balls for 150 yards and all three of David Carr’s TD passes.  Frank Gore also showed he is not done yet, rushing for 102 yards on 23 carries in his best game of the season.   Coach Tomsula is likely not happy with his defense’s play this year, but at least he has enough offensive firepower to pull out the game in the end. POTG: Wrangler WR Larry Fitzgerald: 6 Rec, 150 Yds, 3 TD. SEATTLE 26   PORTLAND 31 A shootout in the Cascade Clash as both offenses looked good, or was it that both defenses looked bad?  Byron Leftwich would throw for 314 yards and 2 scores, while Matt McGloin struggled with 4 picks on the day, but got a huge hand up from HB Jonathan Stewart, whose 174-yard explosion launched him to the top of the USFL rushing leaderboard.  Throw in 3 Stewart TDs and the Stags manage to get the W over the visiting Dragons despite their QB’s accuracy issues. POTG: Stags’ HB Jonathan Stewart: 27 Att, 174 Yds, 3 TD. BALTIMORE 33   JACKSONVILLE 3 Calls for Tim Tebow to be removed as the starter are getting louder after a game in which the Jacksonville offense looked utterly punchless.  The Bulls were outgained 495-225, which just shows that the defense also has a long way to go.  Big Ben threw for 4 scores and 298 yards on the day and the Blitz cruised to a 3rd victory on the year.  Jacksonville falls to 0-4 and new head coach Mike Nolan may already be feeling pressure to make a change. POTG: Blitz QB Ben Roethlisberger:  12/17, 298 Yds, 4 TDs, 0 Int. NEW JERSEY 26   PITTSBURGH 16 New Jersey is also sitting at 3-1 after a nice divisional win on the road.  Maurice Jones Drew rushed for 82 yards and added 52 more as a receiver as New Jersey showed a diversified offense against Coach Fangio’s defense.  Rookie Odell Beckham Jr. added another TD to his early career total and the General defense picked off Andy Dalton twice and sacked him 4 times as the Generals pulled away in the final period. POTG: Generals’ DE Aaron Kampman: 5 Tck, 2 Sck. ORLANDO 24   CHARLOTTE 33 A big game for both clubs, but Charlotte uses home cooking to edge the Renegades.  Well, home cooking and 130 yards from backup HB Latavius Murray, making a case for more touches when Knowshon Moreno returns to action.  The Monarch defense also had a good day, picking off Orlando QB Russell Wilson four times, including a pick-six from SS Jonathan Dowling. POTG: Monarch LB Jerod Mayo: 6 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty, 1 FF, 1 FR. DALLAS 14   TEXAS 35 Texas’s offense proved too much for the Roughneck defense to handle as the Outlaws got TDs from Felix Jones, Chris Johnson, and Brandon Marshall on their way to a convincing win.  A Terrance Holt pick-six did not help Johnny Manziel’s cause as the Outlaws took the home win and remained unbeaten on the year, the league’s only 4-0 club. POTG: Outlaw QB Joe Flacco: 18/28, 322 Yds, 1 TD, 0 int. WASHINGTON 24   LAS VEGAS 34 The Thunder win their second game, both at home in front of smaller, at times hostile, crowds.  This one was better as Feds fans helped boost the game to an attendance of 26,244, but the Federals’ fans who attended did not like the final result as Jake Plummer threw for 2 scores and Marshawn Lynch rushed for 2 more along with 108 yards on his first 100-yard outing of the season.  David Garrard was picked off twice and Las Vegas also held Deuce McCallister to a surprisingly low 23 total yards rushing. POTG: Las Vegas LB A. J. Hawk: 10 Tck, 1 Sck. HOUSTON 21   LOS ANGELES 14 Houston had to come back after trailing 14-6 at the half, but they did so thanks to TD runs from Carlos Hyde and Ben Tate.  The Gamblers held LA scoreless in the 2nd half, despite 120 rushing yards from former USC back Reggie Bush.  With the loss, the Express dropped to 1-3 while Houston stays only 1 game behind Texas at 3-1. POTG: Houston HB Carlos Hyde:  19 Att, 90 Yds, 1 TD. CHICAGO 20   MICHIGAN 12 Chicago won the War for 94 thanks in part to a big game from their perennial All-USFL MLB, Brian Urlacher. The big man racked up 14 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and a recovery to lead all Chicago defenders.  Brady Quinn connected for scores with both Emanuel Sanders and Matt Forte, while the defense, despite 117 yards for LeVeon Bell, held Michigan to only 2 field goals and one TD (with 2-point PAT). POTG: Chicago LB Brian Urlacher:  14 Tck, 2 FF, 1 FR. Our 1st Quarter MVPS Rather than look at the five different league awards after 4 games, we thought it made more sense to pick 5 players who, for different reasons, are the MVPs of their teams.  Each of these players is either overachieving, or surprising us with strong performances week in and week out.  In some cases keeping a team afloat, in others providing the spark to move from good to great.  Now, we are not sure that any of these five will be in the MVP hunt, usually reserved for the league’s top performing QB, but for their teams these players are certainly leading the way. QB Jake Plummer (LV) Yes, we expect that if  he keeps up this pace Plummer could well be the leaguewide MVP frontrunner, but for now let’s just say that the veteran is absolutely the MVP of the club.  Not only is he keeping the team focused at a time when they could easily find themselves distracted and dysfunctional, but he is almost single-handedly keeping them competitive.  Plummer currently leads the league with 1,266 yards passing, 11 passing touchdowns and a Quarterback Rating of 120.8, well ahead of his career average of 92.0.  His last 3 games he has thrown for 336, 425, and 259 yards, with 9 TDs in the three-game span. He is listed as doubtful for this week after suffering a toe injury (yes, turf toe) last week, but should be back for Week 6 if he does not go this week.  If Las Vegas is able to finish over .500 in this rough year, we think that the kudos will have to go to Plummer. HB Carlos Hyde (HOU) We will discuss the dynamic duo of Houston rookies as one of our divisional stories, but we thought that Carlos Hyde needs to be singled out because of what he has done for the Houston offense. The Gambles, with Hyde as the bell cow back, have shifted their offense away from overdependence on the passing game to a true balance, one that has come with the league’s 2nd best ground attack at nearly 114 yards per game.  Hyde is currently 2nd in the league behind only Jonathan Stewart with 357 yards and his 4 touchdowns have helped Houston to a 3-1 record, their only loss being a 2-point edging by the Texas Outlaws.  Hyde is on pace for 1,300, perhaps 1,400 yards this year and has fans excited about the run game in Houston and about the Gamblers in general. WR Vincent Jackson (TBY) A year ago we said that Vincent Jackson moving from Pittsburgh to Tampa Bay could be huge, and we were dead on about that.  After several seasons toying with 1,000 yards as a Mauler, (1,053 in 2012), Jackson exploded for 1,563 in his first year in Tampa and went from 4 touchdowns in 2012 to 19 in 2013 in one of the most dramatic changes of scenery we have ever seen.  So, what is he doing this year? Well, he is on pace again for a possible 1,600-yard season, and while the TD’s have not been coming (only 1 so far), the danger he poses has allowed others to benefit. Six different Bandits have at least 1 receiving touchdown as Daunte Culpepper is seeing Jackson double covered in the red zone and that is leaving players like Dustin Keller and Santonio Holmes in easier assignments.  Jackson will get his numbers, that seems assured, but his presence is changing the way teams play the Bandits, and at 3-1, that change seems to be helping Tampa Bay quite a bit. DE Aaron Kampman (NJ) While we are certainly impressed by rookie OBJ and the revival of the Generals’ passing game with Sam Bradford back, equally impressive has been the rise of the New Jersey defense, currently 1st in the league in yards allowed and 4th in scoring, allowing only 17 points per game (and most of that in one shocking let down vs. LA). At the center of the defensive revival is DE Aaron Kampman. Brought in from Texas after a pretty uneventful rookie year, Kampman has had double digit sacks each of his 3 years in New Jersey (12, 15, and 10) and this year, with 6 already on the board, he could make a legitimate run at 20 sacks for the year.  With no Shaun Ellis opposite him, Kampman  has become the clear threat for offenses, and yet he is putting up better numbers than ever before, not only leading the team in sacks (Gholston is a distant 2nd with 2), but also third on the team with 18 tackles as he proves he can also play the run.  Kampman is to the General defense what Bradford is for the offense, the centerpiece around which the gameplan runs. HC Greg Landry (TEX) We know that a coach cannot be MVP, but in the case of the Outlaws, Coach Landry may well be the key to their success.  No running game to speak of?  No problem, we just shift gears and use a spread offense to allow Joe Flacco to destroy nickel coverage. Trouble with allowing long drives, OK, we focus on a bend but don’t break philosophy and hold teams under 20 points a game by dominating the clock.  Maybe we throw in some trick plays, a fake punt, an unexpected onside kick, anything to add possessions to the Outlaws and steal them from the opposition.  Texas has been in a lot of tight games, including a squeaker over Houston, but in those games, Landry is working the clock, the tendencies of his opponents, and the expectations of what his team should do, zigging when they expect a zag, and that has been enough to keep Texas unbeaten after 4 weeks.  Now, with Arizona up this week, he can deliver a huge blow to the anticipated division champs and give himself and the Outlaws a 3-game lead over the Wranglers after only 5 weeks. Three Stories to Watch from Each Division So much happened across the league in the season’s first quarter, we thought we should run through all the stories that we are following in the USFL.  What are people talking about?  What is surprising us or what is becoming evident as the season progresses. Here are three stories from each division, 18 in total, that are on the minds of USFL fans and all of us who follow the league closely, stories to track as we enter the 2nd quarter of the season. Parity Reigns The first thing even the casual observer will notice about the Pacific Division is the apparent parity, with 4 clubs sitting at 2-2 and LA the lone outlier at 1-3.   Oakland was expected to dominate the division, and they are 2-0 in division games, but so far have not been able to build up an advantage.  When we look at team stats we also see that no one team is dominating the division across the board.  Las Vegas is the league’s top scoring team, but Portland and Oakland are not far behind.  Four of the five Pacific clubs are also in the top 5 for yards, with LA being the only one missing.  What we also notice is that Vegas, Portland, and Seattle struggle on defense, which may be the one area where LA and Oakland have a clear advantage. Las Vegas Hanging Tough The second story of the division has to be the surprising success of the Thunder.  As we mentioned, they lead the league in scoring with 116 points in 4 games.  They are also among the league leaders in total yards and passing yards.  That offensive production has kept them alive in games and helped them win both home games despite the chaos and lack of support at Sam Boyd.  Can the Thunder stay focused and stay competitive all season?  That was the issue last year, where the season wore them down and they lost 7 of their final 8. Running to Daylight A team with a very different strategy is Portland.  The Stags are 3rd in the league in scoring with 106 points per game, but they are doing it on the ground, leading the league in rushing with 464 team rushing yards already this year, most of it thanks to Jonathan Stewart, who has 97 carries to LeGarret Blount’s 22, and 407 of the 764 yards.  Stewart is on pace to possibly crack 400 carries this year, which many would say is not a good thing, but for now, his rushing attack is the main reason Portland is staying competitive despite having the 26th rated defense. Champions Struggle to Regain Form Arizona is not getting off to the hot start we saw this year.  As champions the bullseye is on their back every week, and the fire may not be the same for the team.  They suffered a tough loss in Denver in the opening week, falling by 3, just crushed Seattle, and then got smothered by New Orleans before bouncing back this week with a tougher-than-expected win at home against a Memphis team that is playing without Eli Manning.  It is easy to say the defense is lacking the same intensity, after all they are currently ranked 14th in yards allowed, which is not what most expected.  Coach Tomsula will have to try to find some of the magic that had Arizona’s defense setting records last year, because a middling defense is not what you want if you are trying to repeat as champion. Texas Does it Without A Run Game The Texas Outlaws are 4-0, but it is how they reached 4-0 that is most surprising.  The Outlaws have the league’s worst run game at only 40.5 yards per game.  Common wisdom is that you  need the run game to win games, to free up the passing game and grind out games in the 2nd half, but Texas is doing it with a wide-open passing game and a reasonably sound defense.  The strategy for the Outlaws seems to be to get the lead early and then play the pass the rest of the game to keep teams from coming back on them.  However, their wins have not all been comfortable, only this week’s blowout of Dallas had a final spread of more than 3 points.  So, this is a 4-0 team, but perhaps one that is vulnerable if someone can keep their score-first, defend-later strategy in check. Houston Rookies Shining Early They are the talk of Houston, the Dynamic Duo, the rookies taking the Gambler Nation by storm. Halfback Carlos Hyde and wideout Mike Evans look like the best rookie tandem we have seen in a long time.  Hyde is currently 2nd only to Jonathan Stewart with 357 yards rushing and his 4 TDs are a great start towards what could be a 12+ TD season for the rookie back out of Ohio State.  Evans is a little lower down on the rankings, currently 14th in the league with 304 yards receiving, but he has clearly become a favorite for Matt Hasselbeck, leading the team in targets and receptions, despite the presence of veterans Roy Williams and Mike Sims-Walker.  This is a duo to watch all year, and if they can keep up their early success, the 3-1 Gamblers could be a team to watch as well. St. Louis Starting Slow The Skyhawks finally got their first win this week, a muddling 15-13 win against the Ohio Glory, but that has not made Skyhawk fans any less concerned that this is not the same team as 2 years ago.  Yes, they did have to start the year without Josh Freeman, and Ricky Stanzi did not exactly light things up, but in his 2 games back Freeman has not yet topped Stanzi in yards or TDs, so the offense has simply not taken a step forward.  With Taylor Jacobs now in the NFL, St. Louis hoped to fill the hole in their passing game with Jordy Nelson and Devery Henderson, but neither has really stepped forward.  If not for unheralded WR Eric Weems (16 catches for 240 yards and 3 TDs) the Skyhawk passing game would be far worse than their current ranking of 22nd in the league.  With a defense that has never been dominant, St. Louis depends on offensive production, but having the 26th scoring offense after 4 weeks is a major sign that the 2014 team may not have what it takes once again. Leonhard a Rising Star It’s a phenomenon in Columbus.  After a pretty long and pretty anonymous career in Michigan, Jim Leonhard is making waves in Ohio with 4 picks in the first 4 weeks, including a 2-interception, 1 pick-six game last week. The free safety is gaining a following among Glory fans who see defense as the way forward in the Central Division.  Ohio may have won their accolades with the Collins-Galloway-George offense, but now it is Leonhard and teammates Tommy Polley, James Laurinaitis, and Ryan Shazier that have Ohio thinking like an old school defensive powerhouse. Chicago Does it with Defense The Machine are another team building on defense.  The Machine are averaging only 16 points per game, good enough for a tie for 2nd place in the league behind Baltimore.  They are also making life tough for opposing passers, allowing only 203 yards per game while also leading the league in forced fumbles.  Brian Urlacher is the league’s tackle leader once again and the Chicago pass rush is looking solid with Anthony Weaver leading the way.  Chicago’s offense is built on slowing the game down, running with Doug Martin and short completions from Brady Quinn, but the key is that when the opposition has the ball, nothing comes easy.  In their three wins, Chicago has held each opponent under 17 points, while  their one loss was a surprising 28-point outburst by Dallas.  Chicago needs to avoid those trap games and let-downs, as they are a team that wins in a very specific way, and that way is with ball control and a stifling defense. Manning Brother Woes It is not the best of times to be a Manning brother.  Not only is Eli out for at least another 2-3 weeks with a fractured arm, but older brother Peyton is struggling with a 1-3 Nashville team that is without lead receiver Robert Meachem and which is leading some to call for Cody Pickett to actually start over the 3-time NFL champion.  Peyton’s post-injury return to football with the Knights has been nothing short of miraculous, but the production is just not there, and the physical nature of Manning’s game is being called into question.  With a 1:3 TD:INT ratio after 4 weeks, Manning is looking like his fast ball is not there, and while he may still be one of the smartest players in the game, the physical requirements needed to be an effective USFL QB may be lacking.  It may seem unthinkable, but those calling for Cody Pickett to take over the offense may well have a point. Newcomers "Breaking" in Well The Breakers were very active this offseason and some of their moves seem to be paying some immediate benefits.  Whether it is rookie HB Jeremy Hill, who is averaging 4.1 YPC on his way to 235  yards over the first month, or NFL receiver Kenny Britt, who has 4 catches for 207 yards and 2 scores, the new faces in New Orleans are contributing to a Breaker team that finds itself in a tougher division than many expected.  Now it appears that a third offensive acquisition, backup QB Quincy Carter will also be called into action, at least for the next week or two.  With Drew Brees out this week, Carter will get his first start for the Breakers as they head to Baltimore to take on the Blitz.  Can the Breakers make it 3 of 3 in successful acquisitions turning into successful on field play? Inman Looking for Respect The talk all offseason has been debating how the Stallions could possibly replace both Terrell Owens and Randy Moss in their offense.  And while 3rd year receiver Dontrelle Inman certainly cannot keep up with the Moss/Owens media blitz each week, he is certainly doing his part to take on the receiving role.  Inman and free agent acquisition Chris Chambers are the two starters in Birmingham, and between them they have 39 receptions, nearly 560 yards, and 3 touchdowns.  Inman is averaging 19 yards per catch and seems to have caught on as the deep threat for the Stallions, while Chambers is better suited as a possession receiver, catching the tough over the middle balls to lock in some first downs.  The combo may not have the dynamism or flare of Owens & Moss, but they are helping Birmingham survive in a very tough division.  The Stallions still have the 13th rated passing game, only a slight dip from 2013, and with no apparent run game at all (even when Joseph Addai is healthy), they are really the only option in the Stallion arsenal, them and Cam Newton scrambling. Bandits Looking Rowdy in Tampa Bay It is way too early to declare that Bandit Ball is back, but fans in the bay area seem ready to party like it is 1983 all over again.  The Bandits are undeniably off to a good start at 3-1.  They have one of the best passing games in the league and their rebuilt running game with Jahvid Best as the lead back is doing enough to keep defenses honest.  Vincent Jackson has elevated his game to OPOTY levels and even the defense is chipping in, with Tampa Bay surprisingly in the Top 5 in yards allowed.  Kudos to Coach Shula for bringing in a game changing player like Brian Orakpo at MLB, and for trusting in some castoff players like Best and TE Dustin Keller.  This is a team that believes in themselves, and it seems that it is also a team that the community believes in again. Bulls’ Defense a Disaster What other term could you use for a defense that is giving up 32.2 points per game, 357 yards per game, and has allowed every single opponent to score 29 or more points?  It is not going well in Jacksonville, and that means that new head coach Mike Nolan may have to make some moves and quickly.  Whether replacing his defensive coordinator, or putting some younger players on the field, something will have to be done.  It seems clear that veteran LB Mike Vrabel is not the force he once was.  It does not help that his LB mates, Alonzo Jackson and Jarret Johnson seem to be chronically out of position.   The DE combo of David Bowens and Barkevious Mingo were supposed to be the backbone of the defense, but between the two they have only 3 sacks in 4 games.  The club also has only 2 picks over the season’s first quarter, with teams seemingly passing at will against a secondary that feels undermanned in every matchup.  It is not a good place to be for Nolan, and while he will likely have time to make some changes, he had better not wait until the offseason to do so. Fire Need More Firepower The Fire offense is not horrible, but it is not exactly “on fire” either.  Atlanta is solidly middle of the pack in nearly every category: scoring (16th), yards (11th), passing (12th) and rushing (15th).  That is fine if you have a Top 5 defense, which Atlanta is toying with, but it also means that the defense cannot have a bad series much less a bad game.  Atlanta has talent on their offense, players like Steven Jackson, Josh Reed, and Demaryius Thomas, but none of these players is playing like a superstar, and none is striking fear into the defenses they face.  While fans in Atlanta like to blame QB Kyle Orton, the QB’s stats are solid.  He has a 63% completion rate, his TD:INT ratio is above water (well, barely at 5:4) and his rating of 83, while not All-USFL level, is hardly a major concern.  But what the Fire seem to lack is explosiveness, the ability to make defenses worry. They can put together drives, but rarely make the big back-breaking play that demoralizes a defense. Generals & Blitz Impress Early Once again, the NE Division looks like a hornet’s nest, with all 5 teams looking solid and dangerous.  New Jersey looks far more like their 2012 12-win selves than the 4-win debacle last year.  They are currently boasting the 6th best scoring offense and the 4th best scoring defense and have already built up a 2-0 record in the division, including a win over the Stars.  Meanwhile, Baltimore, who we picked to finish last in the division is ranked 1st in scoring defense, 1st in pass defense, and 2nd in overall defense.  That, combined with a Top 10 offense has the Blitz at 3-1, a huge surprise for those of us who saw them headed the wrong way. Anthony Dixon has been better than anticipated, Big Ben is already over 1,100 yards on the year, and Antonio Gates is proving you don’t need a top tier wide receiver to have a quality passing attack. If these numbers hold up all year, we could see New Jersey and Baltimore competing for a division title, perhaps even a top seed. OBJ a Media Darling in NYC The story for New Jersey this first quarter has been rookie wideout Odell Beckham Jr.  Not only did he earn the starting job in camp but has already become the clear number one receiver for the Generals.  He leads the team with 16 catches and 201 yards, both significantly more than veteran Doug Baldwin, and his 3 touchdowns are equal to the next three receivers combined. Combined with a renewed run game in Maurice Jones-Drew (316 yards in 4 games) and the return of Sam Bradford under center, OBJ is helping New Jersey forget last year’s last place finish and has them thinking about challenging Philadelphia at the top of the division. Slaton Keeping Defenses Honest Not a lot has gone as planned for the Stars this season.  Yes, they are 3-1, but they are also ranked 23rd in scoring offense and their defense, expected to be a Top 3 squad, is ranked 19th.  But, the one feature of the team that is still on schedule is halfback Steve Slaton. With 318 yards and 4 TDs in the first month of the season, Slaton is on pace for possible career highs in both categories.  While Philly’s passing game is only 22nd in the league at 177 yards per outing (including 1 game without Gutierrez), the run game with Slaton in lead position is 8th at 102 per game.  Philadelphia needs to sort out other issues, but for now the run game feels like the core of their success, and at the center of that core is Steve Slaton. A good week if we look at long-recovery injuries.  No new IR placements, but we do seem to be having a flurry of short-term injuries across the league, including some concussion concerns and quite a few foot, ankle, and toe issues.  The biggest concern may be in Las Vegas, where the Thunder will likely be without both QB Jake Plummer and star TE Kevin Everett this week as they face off at home against Chicago.  Washington will also miss some key contributors as they prepare to face New Jersey.  In New Orleans, the Breakers are preparing to take on the Baltimore Blitz without Drew Brees.  Quincy Carter, acquired this offseason, is expected to get the start in Baltimore. OUT WR         Greg Jennings                   MEM             Finger                   1-2 Weeks SS           Darren Sharper                PHI                  Concussion       1-2 Weeks WR         Albert Wilson                    ATL                Concussion       1-2 Weeks OT          Cordy Glenn                     DAL        Shoulder             1-2 Weeks SS           Patrick Chung                   HOU              Neck                     1-2 Weeks DE          Mathias Kiawanuka       WSH             Shoulder             1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL QB         Jake Plummer                  LV              Toe QB         Drew Brees                        NOR                Neck CB          Devin McCourty              J                    Concussion QUESTIONABLE SS           Glover Quinn                    WSH            Toe TE           Kevin Everett                    LV                Concussion SS           DaJuan Morgan               ATL                Foot DE          Jarius Wynn                       BIR                Hernia CB          Nathan Vasher                 TEX               Pinched Nerve DE          Adam Carriker                 ARZ                 Ankle USFL Announces Hall of Fame Semifinalists for Class of 2014 The USFL’s 10 nominees for the 5 Hall of Fame slots in 2014 was announced this week and man, oh man, this year is going to be brutal.  This happens every once in a while, where a big retirement wave in a particular year leads to a crowded and very deserving cluster of players all eligible for Hall of Fame nomination all at once.  That was absolutely the case in 2009 when a wave of retirements, especially among the league’s top rated QBs led to a significant, but fortunately short-lived, talent drain.  For the Hall of Fame voters, that meant a year with an abundance of very worthy players.  Just look back at the retirement list from 2009 and you will see what we mean:  Brett Favre, Kerry Collins, Kordell Stewart, Drew Bledsoe, Corey Dillon, Jonathon Ogden, Wayne Gandy, Bobby Howard, Ray Crockett, Hugh Douglas, Anthony Dorsett, a massive cluster of elite USFL talent all fighting for recognition. So, who did the selection committee pick?  Well, they went with a heavy Class of 2009 group, with 7 of the 10 spots going to first year selections.  But even with that there were some deserving names left off.  Starting at the QB position, the committee chose four to be in the 7 new nominees.  Brett Favre, Kerry Collins, Kordell Stewart, and Drew Bledsoe made the cut, the largest single position group in any HOF semifinal class, and a group that may lead to several potential snubs. There is no denying that Favre, Collins, and Bledsoe are all deserving, and all capable of being first ballot entrants into the hall, but Stewart, a 5-time All-USFL QB, 2008 MVP, and leader of the 1997 USFL Champion Federals seems like he may have the toughest case to make, and yet still have a good case. Outside of the QB position, there were 3 more slots in the pool of first-year semifinalists, including two offensive tackles to rank among the best of all time.  Career-long LA Express keystone, Jonathan Ogden simply could not be left off the roster, and much the same could also be said for Wayne Gandy, a 6-time All-USFL tackle for the Blitz, Knights, and Monarchs.  The final spot was reserved for another deserving candidate, Seattle halfback Corey Dillon, a 7-time All-USFL performer with over 10,000 yards and 75 touchdowns in basically a 10-year career (he stepped away in 2006, but did not officially retire until 2009, hoping to get back into the league but nagged by health issues after 2006). So, there you have the 7 new nominees, any one of whom we could argue is a surefire 1st ballot candidate:  Favre, Collins, Bledsoe, Stewart, Dillon, Ogden, and Gandy.   So, what are the odds for returning nominees Dragon and Fire OT Willie Anderson, former Orlando DT Pat Williams, and 3rd year returnee Randall Godfrey, the Atlanta and Houston linebacker?  Honestly, the odds are not good.  By all accounts Favre and Collins have to be in as first ballot players.  We would also consider Ogden in that category as well.  That leaves 2 spots left for the remaining 7 candidates, so Godfrey, Williams and Anderson have to prove more worthy than Drew Bledsoe, Corey Dillon and Wayne Gandy. Ouch, that is a tough case to make.  We honestly would not be surprised to see all 5 picks be from the retirement group of 2009, it is just that strong. Expect the announcement of the 5 new Hall of Fame enshrinees as well as the 6th pick, the Legacy Candidate (retired prior to 2004) to come somewhere between Weeks 11-14 of the season, as we have typically seen.  The new class will be enshrined the weekend of October 18-19 in Canton, Ohio, becoming the 20th USFL Hall of Fame class, and, from the looks of it, one of the most anticipated. Rumors Aboud About Las Vegas Relocation Candidates With the USFL Owners expected to meet in mid-May to review the options and discuss potential relocation of a franchise, with a final vote expected in June, the speculation  has run wild across the league.  It is apparent that the league is dead set on putting a team in the soon-to-be completed Las Vegas Dome (still awaiting a naming rights partner), and that they are equally opposed to a 1-team expansion on such short notice, which leaves every team as a possible contender to be relocated, with potential sale also on the table.  While there are certainly some markets which seem very unlikely to be included in the mix of clubs to be propositioned with a move, teams like large market franchises in New Jersey, Houston, Oakland (Bay Area), and Philadelphia, many others could be on the table.  You may have noticed that we left two clubs off our list of large markets, Chicago and Los Angeles.  Chicago, having been sold to local investors just last year feels very much off the table, both for size and due to the “hometown” nature of the ownership group.  Los Angeles, on the other hand, could be ripe for the picking.  The team, as has been the case throughout its entire history, has struggled to meet attendance expectations, just saw an ownership split with one of its minority owners signing on with the San Diego group to bring the Thunder to southern California, and are also in a stadium deal that could be fractured if some rumors about the NFL Raiders are true. We should elaborate.  While the USFL is scrambling to find a tenant for the new dome in Las Vegas, the city and the stadium authority have also been scrambling to find an NFL franchise willing to make the move.  Among the lead contenders to consider a jump to Sin City are both the San Diego Chargers and the Los Angeles Raiders.  Many believe that the Raiders are using the lure of Las Vegas to obtain a more favorable deal in Farmers Insurance Field, also home to the Express.  The fate of Al Davis’s former club could very well determine the viability of the Express in the facility.  A new deal for the Raiders could be a very bad deal for the Express, but the relocation of the Raiders, making the Express the stadium’s lone tenant could be a boon for the club, which is already working with Major League Soccer to make the stadium home to a new MLS club, the city’s second. So, LA is absolutely in the mix, and oddly enough, it all may come down to what the renegade NFL Raiders opt to do.  But, as we have discussed before, LA being a large market would be a tough sell for the USFL’s TV partners, even if stadium attendance is not among the elites in the league, the TV market is.  ABC, ESPN, NBC, and FOX would much rather see a smaller market club make the move to Las Vegas.  In that pool we have the Ohio Glory, Nashville Knights, Memphis Showboats, Birmingham Stallions, and Orlando Renegades. Based on current ownership, stadium arrangements, and franchise finances, the two frontrunners for a possible move are Ohio and Nashville, with Orlando and Memphis also not out of the running. Birmingham’s unique partial public status, with 35% of the team owned by shareholders, and predominantly local shareholders, makes a sale and relocation of Birmingham nearly impossible, much as the sale and relocation of the Green Bay Packers would be. So, what is happening now?  Financial and logistical considerations are being prepared as reports by the USFL league office in New York.  Ownership groups are being questioned about their willingness or reluctance to sell off a portion of the team and relocate the franchise.  The Competition Committee is reporting on league parity and structure shift if the Pacific were to have both a San Diego and Las Vegas team, and every sports-talk radio station in the USFL sphere is taking calls from worried fans.  For now that is all there is, but it will not be long before we get actual news about the cities under consideration and the enticements being provided to fill that stadium in Las Vegas next March. USFL’s Top Rivalries:  Number 12: The Tennessee Tussle Yes, it is a relatively new rivalry, with the Knights having moved from St. Louis to Nashville only in 2002, but for Memphis fans, this rivalry goes back to the Knights in St. Louis, when the battle for the Mississippi was a thing.  Now that it is an in-state clash, the stakes are even higher. Memphis lost a considerable chunk of their fan base when Nashville got a team, and the folks on the western side of the state have not forgotten it.  Playing twice a year certainly plays a role as well, as these two often battle not just for pride, but for positioning in the division.  The Knights (both in St. Louis and Nashville, and even LA before that) hold a distinct edge in the rivalry, winning 22 and losing 12 over the years.  That makes sense considering Memphis’s overall issues for the better part of the past 2 decades while the Knights have been regular playoff participants. The question now is whether or not this rivalry is in danger.  Nashville is one of the teams featuring prominently in discussions about shifting a team to Las Vegas.  There are a lot of Memphis fans who would love to see that, not only for the potential return of a portion of their fanbase, but as a bit of spiteful derision for the city of Nashville, which has become trendy and “cool” at a time when Memphis is feeling like a forgotten community. A big week across the league with 8 divisional games and some nice inter-divisional matchups as well.  Tampa Bay can lay an early claim to the SE Division with a win over Charlotte on Friday night.  Orlando hopes to stay in the mix with a win at home over Jacksonville in a Saturday early game, while the Stags and Invaders, both 2-2, will square off with hopes of jumping to the top of the Pacific in the 4pm slot.  The two-night games are also big divisional matchups with New Jersey visiting Washington and LA trying to get back into contention with a road game in Seattle. Sunday brings us a slate of inter-divisional games early with Nashville and Pittsburgh both hoping for their second win, New Orleans with a tough matchup at Baltimore, and Atlanta taking on Memphis at the Liberty Bowl.  The late games bring us Chicago at Las Vegas and Michigan & Ohio renewing their college-fueled rivalry.  We also have a big one in the SW Division with Matt Leinart and the Denver Gold facing off against Houston’s Dynamic Duo of rookies, Hyde and Evans.  The weekend caps off with perhaps the game of the season’s first quarter as the unbeaten Texas Outlaws head to the desert to face the defending champions and a divisional rival, the Wranglers. FRI @ 8pm ET                  Charlotte (2-2) @ Tampa Bay (3-1)                     NBC SAT @ 12pm ET              Jacksonville (0-4) @ Orlando (2-2)                    ABC SAT @ 12pm ET              Philadelphia (3-1) @ Birmingham (2-2)             FOX SAT @ 4pm ET                 Portland (2-2) @ Oakland (2-2)                         ABC SAT @ 4pm ET                 St. Louis (1-3) @ Dallas (1-3)                               FOX SAT @ 7pm ET                 New Jersey (3-1) @ Washington (2-2)               NBC SAT @ 9pm ET                 Los Angeles (1-3) @ Seattle (2-2)                ESPN/EFN SUN @ 12pm ET             Nashville (1-3) @ Pittsburgh (1-3)                    ABC SUN @ 12pm ET             New Orleans (2-2) @ Baltimore (3-1)              FOX Regional SUN @ 12pm ET             Atlanta (2-2) @ Memphis (1-3)                          FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET               Michigan (1-3) @ Ohio (2-2)                           ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET               Chicago (3-1) @ Las Vegas (2-2)                       ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET               Denver (3-1) @ Houston (3-1)                            FOX SUN @ 8pm ET               Texas (4-0) @ Arizona (2-2)                      ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Just a week after being profiled as a free agent who is paying dividends, Leonhard has a huge game, picking off Tim Tebow twice, including a pick-six that turned the tide solidly towards an Ohio victory. The free safety now leads the league in interceptions after never having had more than 4 in any single season, much less in the first month of a season.

A fun week of USFL action with several close games, a couple of upsets, and some huge performances.  We are beginning to see some trends develop, a couple concerning and others enticing.  We are also seeing some performances that surprise us, whether it is veteran stars seemingly out of synch or newcomers showing their abilities early.  That is a lot of the fun of the early season, seeing what unexpected surprises await us and how our preseason expectations can be turned upside down by new faces making an immediate impact.  Join us as we take a look at all 14 games from this past weekend, preview the week to come, and give you all the updates on news from around the league, including the possible beginning of the end of Tebow-mania in Jacksonville and worries about the 2013 league MVP.  We start with a rivalry as big as Texas, the Gamblers and the Outlaws facing off for the first time this season in our Game of the Week. TEXAS OUTLAWS 26   HOUSTON GAMBLERS 24 We had a feeling this would be a good one, and we were right. A rivalry game, and two unbeatens going head-to-head, it rarely gets better than that.  And yes, we realize that unbeaten in Week 3 is not quite the same as in Week 10, for example, but it still indicates that we have two teams who are feeling good about themselves, and about their chances, and that often leads to coaches taking more chances and counting on their players to make plays.  And that is what we saw in this game. This was a game with a lot of big performances, including another 100-yard day from rookie tailback Carlos Hyde, the first signs that halfback Chris Johnson still had some breakaway ability, rushing for 41 yards on only 4 carries (none longer than 13 yards), and a break out performance from a player who barely had a catch before this season, with WR Jordan Shipley notching the first score of the game with a 77-yard strike, and then adding three more catches for a total of 136 yards on the day. Shipley, whose biggest play of his career came earlier this year with a 100-yard kick return for a score, is being worked more into the offense, and that became evident when Texas got possession after a Houston 3-and-out to start the game.  On their very first play, Texas used play action to Felix Jones and Shipley was in man coverage.  Flacco found him in stride and in just 9 seconds the Outlaws were on the board, a 77-yard scoring strike.  It looks like the Outlaws may have found themselves a breakout player. Houston responded, using their next drive to go 13 plays and show off one of their breakout performers, rookie Carlos Hyde.  Hyde, who would finish the day with 30 carries for 101 yards, added another touchdown to his season with an 11-yard run to put Houston on the board at the end of their long drive.  Houston would double their score and take the lead on their next possession, crossing from the 1st to the 2nd quarter before adding 7 with a Hasselbeck scoring toss to TE Vernon Davis.  Four minutes later they would add three more to take a 17-7 lead.  The Gamblers looked to be in control. Despite trailing by 10, Texas did not panic, and took advantage of a Houston miscue to shift momentum.  On a 2nd and 8, Matt Hasselbeck attempted a screen to backup HB Ben Tate.  Tate was not ready for the ball when it came to him. It bounced off his shoulder, straight up, and was easy picking for LB Jonathan Moulton.  Hard to blame Hasselbeck for the pick, but it was an interception that got the small but loud Texas contingent at NRG Stadium on their feet. The Outlaws would use that turnover, deep in Houston territory, to spark what would become a 19-0 scoring streak. It began with the ensuing drive, which lasted only 5 plays before Kai Forbath added 3 points to pull Texas within 7 going into the half.  The Outlaws would take the opening kick for the second half and use that drive to tie the game.  Eleven plays, nine of them passes, and Texas evened the score as Flacco found Brandon Marshall from 7 yards out.  It would be the only score of the quarter as both Houston and Texas got bogged down in their ensuing possessions. Texas would get another positive play from their defense to open the 4th.  After a solid Locke punt put the ball at the 3, Houston took a 1-yard loss on first down, and on second down, guard Kevin DeVan was called for holding in the endzone, the resulting safety gave Texas the lead at 16-14.  They would not score on their ensuing possession but were again able to pin Houston deep in their end.  The Gamblers managed to move the ball out of the shadow of their endzone but could not get past midfield.  Texas again had possession and would add a score that would force Houston out of their run-first mentality and play catchup. The drive took only 3:27 to complete, 7 plays, including a long completion to Shipley once again, and a nice 13-yard run by Johnson.  It would end with rookie Terrance West getting a rare carry at the goalline, and diving over the pile to score, putting Texas up 9 points with 2:07 to play.  Houston, held scoreless since the 9 minute mark of the 2nd quarter, would now need two scores in just over 2 minutes.  The Gamblers would drive the ball into Texas territory, but in doing so burnt off a lot of time.  As the announcers questioned whether or not it would be prudent to kick the field goal first and then try the onside kick with more time left, Coach Phillips stayed on course to get the touchdown. Houston would get that touchdown, with Hasselbeck connecting with Vernon Davis a second time, but it came with only 32 seconds on the clock.  An onsides kick and a very quick possession to get into field goal range would now be needed.  Coach Landry put his hands team on the field, and had Shipley back deep, just in case the Gamblers did kick deep.  They didn’t.  The onside kick took the desired high hop, but when WR Mike Sims-Walker first touched it, seeking the quick recovery, he was not yet 10 yards down field, so the Gamblers were called for the penalty and had to rekick from five yards deeper.  On the rekick, Texas safety Terrance Holt fell on the ball, and the Outlaws were able to take a knee to end the game and escape Houston with a win.  Texas would move to 3-0 and Houston would suffer a tough loss to their biggest rival. LAS VEGAS 27   OAKLAND 41 A shootout by the Bay that was close through most of 3 quarters before the homestanding Invaders went on a 17-0 run that put them ahead for good.  Both Joey Harrington and Jake Plummer went off, but Plummer’s 4 picks were a huge factor in Oakland’s late surge.  Plummer would throw for 425 yards and 2 scores, but 3 second half picks led to 17 points for the Invaders, helping them build a 31-20 lead that Las Vegas could not surpass. POTG: Oakland QB Joey Harrington: 27/32, 366 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int. NASHVILLE 10   TAMPA BAY 34 Both offense and defense came up big for the Bandits at home, despite Daunte Culpepper missing the game due to shoulder stiffness after a collision in Friday’s practice.  B. J. Daniels got the start and threw for 192 and 2 scores before he got dinged up, bringing in Ryan Lindley, who threw for 155, both with no turnovers.  Both Vincent Jackson and Santonio Holmes went over 100 yards as the Nashville D simply had no answers, and their offense could only muster 18 yards rushing with Hardesty and Oliver. POTG: Tampa WR Vincent Jackson: 7 Rec, 170 Yds. MICHIGAN 20   ATLANTA 36 A big first half gave Atlanta a 27-7 advantage at the break, and they held on to down the Panthers at the Georgia Dome. Steven Jackson and Marcus Lattimore combined for 27 carries and 149 yards rushing to power the Fire.  Michigan got 107 from LeVeon Bell, but struggled in the passing game, with Kirk Cousins throwing for only 167 despite trailing most of the game.  Cousins threw only 1 pick, but it was a big one, a pick-six to LB Luke Kuechley that put them down 21-7. POTG: Atlanta LB Luke Kuechley: 4 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD. ST. LOUIS 21   PORTLAND 38 Josh Freeman got his first start of the season after a bad flu kept him out of Weeks 1-2, but he did not look fully himself, and neither did the Skyhawks in general.  Portland came out strong, with Matt McGloin throwing for 2 scores and the run game of Stewart (84 yds) and Blount (25), added 3 scores as Portland pulled away to earn their first win in the battle of winless clubs.  St. Louis now drops to 0-3 and have questions on both sides of the ball. POTG: Portland HB Jonathan Stewart: 26 Att, 84 Yds, 2 TD, 8 Rec, 29 Yds. PITTSBURGH 17   SEATTLE 20 A hard-fought game in the rain between the Dragons and Maulers.  Pittsburgh’s Dalton threw for 319 yards but could not muster a late drive to overtake the Dragons. Cadillac Williams was the key for the Dragons, rushing for 100 even and adding the game winner midway through the final period.  The Dragon D focused on the run, limiting Ronnie Brown to only 9 carries before a hamstring took him out of the game.  Backup Toby Gerhardt averaged only 2.6 yards per carry in his first major action in the USFL. POTG: Seattle CB Desmond Truffant:  7 Tck, 1 Blocked Punt. WASHINGTON 16   BALTIMORE 14 Both defenses bent but would not break in this slobberknocker of a game. Deuce McCallister powered the Feds with 142 yards on 23 carries, while Anthony Dixon rushed for 90 yards on 15 carries for Baltimore.  The star of the game was CB Jimmy Williams of Washington, who picked off Big Ben not once, not twice, but three times in the game.  Roethlisberger finished with 4 picks on the day, including on the final play of the game, a Hail Mary that produced Williams’s third of the day. POTG: Washington CB Jimmy Williams: 2 Tck, 3 Int. BIRMINGHAM 30   MEMPHIS 10 Memphis fans were despondent as they watched Matt Cassel miss on 17 of his 30 pass attempts.  Birmingham was able to fill the box against the run, unthreatened by Cassel, and pulled ahead early, thanks to a 20 of 29, 252-yard game for Cam Newton.  Memphis went 0 for 10 on third down, and simply did not threaten, their only TD coming late in the game when the outcome was already well-established. POTG: Birmingham DT Brandon Williams:  3 Tck, 3 Sck, 1 FF. PHILADELPHIA 30   ORLANDO 14 The Stars got Matt Gutierrez back, and their QB provided stability, while HB Steve Slaton provided 114 yards and 2 scores to power Philadelphia to the road win.  Russel Wilson was removed fro the game early after suffering a blow to the head. In his absence, rookie Connor Shaw went 14 of 21 for 115 yards and a TD, but it was not enough for Orlando to keep pace with the Stars. POTG: Philadelphia HB Steve Slaton: 21 Att, 114 Yds, 2 TD LOS ANGELES 35   NEW JERSEY 14 A stunned crowd in the Meadowlands watched as Reggie Bush combined 89 rush yards with 39 receiving and 2 scores and LA manhandled the favored Generals.  Sam Bradford was picked off 3 times on a rough day for the Generals’ passing game.  All in all, the Generals committed 6 turnovers in a sloppy performance that saw 3 picks and 3 fumbles end New Jersey drives. POTG: LA linebacker Keith Rivers: 3 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD. JACKSONVILLE 12   OHIO 33 Jacksonville falls to 0-3 with another sloppy performance from Tim Tebow, throwing 4 picks to the Ohio defense.  Chris Weinke was much more effective with the ball, throwing for 3 scores and no interceptions, all 3 scores going to his favorite target, Steve Smith. Free Safety Jim Leonhard came up big one week after we pointed him out as a player to watch, picking off 2 Tebow throws and returning one for six points, his first career pick-six. POTG: Ohio safety Jim Leonhard: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 Int, 1 Def TD. CHARLOTTE 17   CHICAGO 27 Chicago rebounded from their shocker of a loss last week, building a 27-3 lead over Charlotte before the 2nd string gave up two late scores. Brady Quinn had a solid day, going 15 of 20 with 2 scores and no picks, but it was the run game of Doug Martin that had the Charlotte defense turned around all game.  Martin finished with 166 yards rushing as he spun, juked, and plowed through the Charlotte defenders. POTG: Chicago HB Doug Martin: 24 Att, 166 Yds, 2 TDs. DENVER 28   DALLAS 21 Dallas is proving a tough opponent, but Denver found a way late , thanks to two Golden Tate TDs in the final quarter.  Johnny Manziel was greeted by a huge ovation in his first home start, and responded with a 21 of 26, 2 TD game, despite throwing for only 180 yards.  Where Dallas struggled was on run defense, with Denver’s DeMarco Murray slashing them for 130 yards and 2 scores and backup LeMichael James adding another 81 to give Denver a whopping 218 on the ground.  That run game freed up the play action pass, which is how Leinart found Tate on both TDs, both within the 10-yard line. POTG: Denver HB DeMarco Murray:  21 Att, 130 Yds, 2 TD. ARIZONA 7   NEW ORLEANS 27 A rough day for the Wrangler offense as New Orleans showed off their defensive abilities at home. David Carr was sacked 5 times by the Breakers and Frank Gore rushed for only 45 yards on 17 carries as the Breakers won a statement game.  Both Mike Tolbert and Jeremy Hill had 17 carries apiece as the Breakers used a ground and pound strategy against the Wrangler D. Tolbert finished with 96 yards and a score, Hill added 43 and a TD of his own in the  Breaker win. POTG: Breaker DE Ty Warren: 8 Tck, 2 Sck. Should Wranglers be Worried About Frank Gore? In a week that produced a lot of “Should” questions, one of the biggest is if Arizona should be worried that Frank Gore, at age 33, has hit the HB cliff.  After toting the rock a career high 380 times in the Wranglers’ 2013 title winning season, Gore has not looked like the same back in 2014. The 2013 MVP has rushed for 66, 26, and 45 yards in three games this season. With Gore struggling to make the kind of key runs and convert first downs the Wrangler offense has struggled in both the 16-13 loss to Denver and this week’s loss in New Orleans.  In their 40-6 explosion against Seattle, Gore was almost an afterthought, rushing for only 26 yards. It is not uncommon to see running backs transition quickly from effective and dangerous to plodding and ineffective.  Arizona fans are certainly hoping that is not the case with Gore, but many are calling for Coach Tomsula to spell the 33-year-old back with rookie Ka’Deem Carey or 3-year vet Stevan Ridley, both to improve the run game with more diversity, but also to allow Gore to rest more and be more productive with his carries.  Whether or not the slow start represents an age-related decline in Gore’s physicality or just a need for the back to play a different role in the gameplan, what is clear is that the Arizona offense is not exactly what we saw in last year’s championship run and Coach Tomsula is going to need to adapt if he hopes to repeat. Should Jacksonville Bench Tebow? This question was all over Florida sports-talk radio this week after the former Gator threw 4 picks against Ohio.  Tebow, who has been a bit pick-prone his entire career, is now sitting on a 1:6 TD:INT ratio, a number that rarely accompanies a “franchise” starter. This follows three straight years of 15 or more picks (19 in 2011, 20 in 2012, and 15 in 2013). While Tebow’s yardage numbers as well as number of attempts has been near the top of the league, it is the constant threat of interception that has Tebow sitting at a mediocre career QB Rating of 75.3. The problem, of course, is that for many Bulls fans, the majority of whom are also Florida Gator diehards, the blame cannot be put on Tebow.  For them the charismatic QB cannot be the target of their disappointment or anger.  They had originally put the blame on a lack of targets for their QB, then on Coach Leslie Frazier’s offense, and now, despite Jacksonville bringing in an offensive-minded coach in Mike Nolan, and having added weapons like WRs Jeremy Kerley, Andre Caldwell and Sinorice Moss and NFL TE Kellen Winslow II in the offseason, the fans are still trying to explain away Tebow’s accuracy issues as the result of some other team failing. The question now is if Coach Nolan will tolerate the gaffs and turnovers due to the pressure within the team and community to raise up Tebow, or if he will look for another option.   For this year he may  not have many options as neither Josh McCown nor Chase Daniel seem likely to supplant Tebow as the starter. And with Tebow recently getting an extension through 2016, he may also be a hard player to move in the offseason as well.  So, what are Nolan and the Bulls to do?  Do they pull the QB?  Change his offensive reads?  Try to push the ball more to Lamar Miller and a largely ineffective run game?  Not a good position for the new head coach to be sure. Should St. Louis Panic? Another good question after the Skyhawks dropped to 0-3.   Now, in part we can look at this and say that the two games with Ricky Stanzi at the helm likely don’t reflect the quality of the team as a whole.  And while it is concerning that the defense gave up 49 points in those two games, the bigger concern has to be that with Josh Freeman back under center, the Skyhawks not only failed to look any better on offense, but also gave up 38 points to a pretty shaky Portland offense. There were problems we expected coming into this season.  Trying to replace their top WR, Taylor Jacobs, off to the NFL, was one of them.  The fact that after three weeks, Eric Weems is the leading receiver for the Skyhawks should be a concern.  There were also concerns about the defense, and we are seeing those manifest, both in the team’s rankings (26th in points allowed, 26th in rushing yards allowed, and 23rd in total yards allowed), what may be more concerning is that St. Louis is dead last in QB pressures and in sacks, with a total of 4.  That lack of pressure has made it easier for teams to sustain drives, convert on third down, and score more. While it may be too early for a full-on panic attack in St. Louis, the signs are there that this Skyhawk club may be more like the team that struggled to an 8-8 finish in 2013 than the team that rocketed to a league title only a year earlier. Should Texas Be Cocky? Here too we would advise caution.  Yes, at 3-0 and having just beaten their arch-rival, the 2-0, now 2-1, Houston Gamblers, things are looking up in San Antonio.  Add to this the fact that the Arizona Wranglers now sit at 1-2, a full 2 games back, and you can understand why fans of the Outlaws might be feeling a bit of bravado right now.  However, when we look at the numbers, there should be some concerns around the Outlaw camp. The Outlaws have the 3rd ranked scoring offense, averaging 25.7 points per game, but it is all dependent on Joe Flacco and the passing game. Flacco is averaging 313 yards a game (2nd best in the league), but the run game is dead last, with only 35.7 yards per game.  The Outlaws are hoping to see Chris Johnson build on his early struggles, but so far, with only 52 yards in 2 games of limited snaps, he is not looking much like the player who rushed for 2,000 in the NFL. Another potential concern is a defense that is ranked 21st in the league in points allowed (23 per game), despite being 6th overall in yardage.  That discrepancy is a tricky one.  While you certainly want to see your defense limiting offensive production in terms of yardage, giving up 23 points per game is not usually what we would consider a top tier defense, and even with the strong production of the passing game, that could be a sign of future issues. So, if you are an Outlaw fan, be happy for the quick start, but hope to see some progress in both the run game and the scoring defense.  If Texas can get those two areas within the top half of the league, they could be a very tough team to deal with.  If they cannot, then they are vulnerable. Should Las Vegas Trade Chad Johnson? Our last “Should” question is about Chad Johnson.  His numbers are outstanding, his on-field skill undeniable, but he is, without a doubt, a major distraction for a team that has more than their share of distractions already.  Despite a very strong 303 yards in 3 games (you can figure out the average for yourself), and despite Las Vegas having the top yardage offense (391 YPG) and the top passing offense (335.7 YPG), they still sit at only 1-2 on the year, having lost both road games so far this season. Now, we would be the first to point out that a lot of the blame for this falls on their 27th ranked scoring defense, giving up nearly 32 points per game and allowing over 420 yards per outing as well.  And we certainly see that Plummer to Johnson (and others) has been very successful while Marshawn Lynch’s run game has not (averaging just over 50 yards per game), we still cannot help but feel that the constant berating of his club, their owners, and the play calling by Johnson is a problem.  Johnson has always had a larger-than-life personality, and in many cases, it has seemed to help him, but the current situation in Las Vegas feels very much like one that can only lead to resentment, dissent in the locker room, and an eventual collision of wills.  This can be avoided, but it will take ownership and Coach LeBeau to decide that the production on the field is not worth the production happening off the field. A bad week on the injury front as we see our longest injury report of the year, including two newly shuttered players added to IR and gone for the year.  Atlanta will be without their 3rd down back, J. J. Arrington after a nasty injury that resulted in a full break of the tibia on his left leg.  In St. Louis, safety Dominique Barber had to be carted off the field with what was determined to be a fracture in his pelvic bone, a tough injury to recover from even on a long-term time frame.  Others likely to miss major action include 2nd year guard Chance Warmack in Arizona, Birmingham’s lead rusher Joseph Addai could be out 4-6 weeks with a hamstring tear, and former Wolverine, Jacksonville tackle Taylor Lewan will now miss a major portion of his rookie year after suffering a neck injury that is expected to require at least a 4-week recovery period. OUT HB         J. J. Arrington            ATL         Broken Leg             IR FS           Dominique Barber         STL         Broken Hip              IR G            Chance Warmack          ARZ       ACL                        6-8 Weeks HB         Joseph Addai                  BIR         Hamstring                4-6 Weeks OT          Taylor Lewan                    JAX         Neck                      4-6 Weeks WR         Robert Meachem           NSH      Hand                        1-2 Weeks FB          Justin Green                    CHA      Hamstring               1-2 Weeks DE          Jevon Kearse                   CHA      Hamstring                 1-2 Weeks G            Kyle DeVan                       HOU     Pinched nerve         1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL DE          Jarius  Wynn                    BIR         Hernia FS           Tyrell Johnson                 NSH      Wrist TE           Anthony Hill                      CHI        Knee CB          Devin McCourty              NJ           Concussion C             Chris Spencer                  NOR      Ankle DT          Clifton Ryan                    MGN     Concussion TE           Greg Olsen                      ORL       Neck QUESTIONABLE DT          Ricky Jean-Francois      NOR      Flu G            Mitch Petrus                     OHI       Miniscus SS           Shane Welton                  CHA      Pinched nerve WR         Johnny Knox                    JAX         Shoulder FS           Nate Allen                        ARZ       Eye Surprise Starts Both Good & Bad As we look around the league, we notice that several players who were being counted on as key figures in their team’s success have struggled to get up to speed, while others who many thought would have only a bit part have emerged as potential break out players.  We have selected 5 of each to highlight this year’s fast and slow starts. Fast Start: HB Rashard Mendenhall, DAL While we certainly felt that Mendenhall would again toy with another 1,000-yard season in 2014, what we have seen in Dallas’s first three games is a back who looks like he could contend for the rushing title this year.  Coach Sherman’s emphasis on the run as a way to ease Johnny Manziel into his starting role is certainly a factor, but when you put up nearly 270 yards (90 per game) in the first three weeks, it is noticed. Slow Start: HB Frank Gore, ARZ We already discussed the concerns about Gore’s production above, but it bears repeating that the 2nd year Wrangler and 9th year pro is off to one of his slowest starts ever. His per carry average is a shockingly low 2.6 yards per attempt.  He is averaging only 50 yards per game, and there is real concern that this is not just a slow start but the new normal. When last year’s MVP is currently ranked 23rd in rushing yards, you wonder if perhaps he was overused last year. Fast Start: TE Kevin Everett, LV We are not exactly sure what has happened the last 2 weeks, but it seems that either Coach LeBeau, or QB Jake Plummer suddenly discovered they have a quality receiving tight end on the roster.  After a pedestrian 2 catches for 6 yards in Week 1, Everett has exploded over the past 2 weeks, racking up 146 yards and a TD in Week 2 and then repeating that effort with 146 yards and a score against Oakland this weekend.  With defenders having to account for Las Vegas’s two outstanding outside targets, Everett is often in single coverage with either a safety or a linebacker, and that makes him a choice target.  I guess the question now is why it has taken everyone so long to see him there. Slow Start: TE Coby Fleener, NOR For a receiver who turned a 51-catch, 520-yard rookie season into a 61-catch, 740-yard sophomore season, the expectation was high that Fleener would be a central part of the Breaker offense in 2014.  So, what have we seen so far this season?  How about one target, one catch, and 10 yards.  That is a bit insane on the surface.  We cannot blame Fleener, since it seems clear that Brees is not looking his way, but the question is why?  Is he not getting open?  Is Coach Lathon pushing the ball downfield?  The stats seem to indicate that something else is happening.  Yes, New Orleans uses a lot of 3-receiver sets, but what is even odder is that both backups, Joel Dreesen (obtained from Oakland) and Shawn Nelson both have more targets and more catches.  It seems that either team is focusing on Fleener and taking him out of plays, or something has caused either Lathon, Brees, or both to sour on the Stanford product. Fast Start: WR Jordan Shipley, TEX Who? What? Where did he come from?  That is what you hear when people see Jordan Shipley listed 5th among all receivers in yardage.  The 5th year receiver went his first 2 seasons without ever getting a single target, then had only 3 in 2012 and 1 in 2013.  He was honestly seen as more of a return man than anything, but after a season opening kick return for touchdown, it seems Coach Landry has decided he needs to put the ball into Shipley’s hands more often.  Shipley had 4 receptions in that first week and has added 7 more since then.  His 4-reception, 136-yard, 1 TD game this week was by far his biggest production day to date.  In a Texas offense that also includes Marques Colston, Brandon Marshall, and Marquise Goodwin as outside receivers, it seems the Outlaws have found a diamond in the rough. It just took them 4 years to find him. Slow Start: WR Jeremy Kerley, JAX Kerley was brought to the Bulls to be their designated slot man.  That was the role he had taken on for the Houston Gamblers, where he had 77 targets and 36 receptions last year.  Our expectation was that Coach Nolan, and the Bulls were going to try to use Kerley to break man coverage against the outside receivers and to free up Jason Whitten in single coverage.  Well, with only 2 targets ad 1 catch so far this year, that appears to not be the case.  Whitten is doing fine, second on the team with 14 receptions, but Kerley  has barely seen the field.  Another free agent signing, Sinorice Moss, has had 16 more targets as a slot receiver than Kerley, leading many to believe that Kerley could be sent to the practice squad or let go unless he can prove himself. Fast Start: DE Cliff Avril, OAK With 5 sacks in only 3 games, Avril is on pace to surpass 25 sacks this season, far surpassing his personal best in 2013 of 18 sacks.  Now, as a player who had that many sacks last year, we likely should have seen a potential fast start coming, but we were also looking at his teammate Justin Smith, who finished last year with double digit sacks, but the truth is that Avril outpaced Smith last year and is on a tear to open 2014 as well. Slow Start: DE Barkevious Mingo, JAX Not that we want to pile on the negatives for the 0-3 Bulls, after already questioning QB Tim Tebow’s production and the use of Kerley as a receiver, but Mingo came into last year as the expected Jacksonville answer to Calais Campbell (perhaps too much to ask).  He had a strong rookie season, finishing with 10 sacks, but after 3 weeks in 2014 he has a grand total of 2 tackles and 1 sack.  That is not the production expected of a top draft pick, especially not one with Mingo’s credentials. Fast Start: LB Brian Cushing, PIT Cushing has been a solid player for the Maulers since they drafted him out of USC and has had two outstanding seasons in 2011 and 2012 with 115 and 119 tackles in those two years, but after an injury-shortened 2013, there were questions about his return to action this year.  Those now seem unwarranted as Cushing has racked up 26 tackles and 2 sacks in just the first three games of the year, well on pace for personal bests in both categories.  It seems that the arrival of Paul Posluszny and the shift from MLB to strongside OLB has been a very positive one for the former Trojan. Slow Start: LB Wali Rainier, STL It seems that Wali Rainier’s career may be on the edge after he was demoted this week, replaced as a starter by Brandon Siler.  After recording four straight 100-tackle seasons for St. Louis between 2007-2010, Rainier’s numbers have dipped each of the past 3 seasons and this year, with only 5 tackles in the first three games and some clear evidence that he may not have the quickness needed any longer, Coach Arians made the call and promoted Siler over Rainier for Week 4.  That may not just be a slow start, that may sadly be the sign that the 15-year vet should consider the next phase of his life. USFL Reveals 2015-2017 Summer Bowl Sites We are three weeks along the “Road to Atlanta” for Summer Bowl 2014, but now excitement will build in 3 other cities as they found out this week that they too will be hosting a Summer Bowl in the next few years.  No surprise that the league retained its rotation across the league’s six divisions. Following a SW Summer Bowl in Denver last year and this year’s SE Division hosting of the game, it moves to the Pacific Division as Los Angeles will host the league’s title game for the 3rd time, the second in Carson’s Farmers Insurance Field. Following the West Coast swing, the Summer Bowl will head back East, to the Meadowlands, as New Jersey will play host in Met Life Stadium in 2016.  This will be the NY Tri-State Area’s third Summer Bowl, but the first in the new stadium that plays host to the Giants, Jets, and Generals. And, after two coastal jaunts, the Summer Bowl will hit the heartland in the summer of 2017 as the Michigan Panthers and Ford Field play host to the event.  This will be the first USFL title game in Michigan since 1989 and the first at Ford Field. The league announced the three sites during ESPN’s weekly USFL Prime Time pregame show on Sunday. During the announcement, no logos for the upcoming games were presented, though league officials have said that the LA’15 logo will be revealed in the coming weeks.  For now these cities will begin preparations for the week-long celebration and the biggest game of the summer while the 28 USFL franchises are still striving to reach Atlanta and Summer Bowl ’14. Rivalry Countdown: Number 13: The War on 94. As with so many of our top rivalries, our 13th choice, dubbed The War on 94 after the highway that connects the two midwestern cities, is a divisional rivalry, where the bad blood gets fueled twice a year.  Many may think that the Central Division does not spur the hottest rivalries.  The cities have too many sports teams to centralize a single 2-team pair as a diehard rivalry, or the two teams are rarely good at the same time.  All of this is true to a point. Chicago and Michigan have a rivalry based largely on trying to out-position each other within the division.  With Ohio, St. Louis and Pittsburgh also all finding success during different periods, the battles between the Machine and the Panthers have often been battles for a Wild Card, occasionally for a division title, but rarely for league dominance.  It is also true that the Chicago-Detroit duality is most heated when both cities have a strong team, best seen in the rivalries between the Bears and Lions, Blackhawks and Redwings or Bulls and Pistons.  The same is true in the USFL.  Chicagoans are just as likely to list St. Louis as their top rival as Michiganders might point to the Ohio Glory.  A lot depends on when they are playing each other and how each team is faring in that season. What we can say about this rivalry is that when it is on, it is on in a big way.  The rivalry has been an even one over the decades since the Windy City got a 2nd team in 1987. Following the sale and relocation of the Chicago Blitz, the league quickly acted to put a team back in the 3rd largest market in the nation, and with that the Machine-Panther rivalry could begin to bear fruit.  Since 1987, when both teams began in the Central Division, they have played 48 times, and despite the Panthers holding a 3-0 edge in league titles over the Machine, it is Chicago who holds the slight advantage in their rivalry.  The Machine have won 24 regular season matchups to Michigan’s 23, and in their two playoff matches, each has won one, with Michigan victorious in 2008 while Chicago won the first meeting in the 1994 Divisionals. The two will renew their rivalry again next week in Soldier Field, with Chicago sitting at 2-1 and Michigan at 1-2.  They will meet for a second time in Week 11. Seven divisional matchups highlight the Week 4 schedule.  We have battles in every division including Ohio v. St. Louis and Chicago v. Michigan in the Central.  Every division has at least one divisional game, with New Jersey visiting Pittsburgh in the NE Division, Orlando at Charlotte in the Southeast, Birmingham and Nashville, both hoping to return to .500, clashing in the South, Dallas visiting the unbeaten Texas Outlaws in the SW Division, and a Cascade Clash as Seattle heads to Portland on Saturday. But, despite the nice divisional clashes, there are a few other games that we would classify as “must catch” games, including a battle of 2-1 clubs on Friday night as Atlanta heads up the coast to face the Stars in Philadelphia. Saturday’s Oakland-Denver and Tampa Bay-New Orleans games also feature matchups of 2-1 clubs, with one headed to 3-1 in each.  Sunda also has an intriguing matchup in LA as the Gamblers come to town.  Finally, we are intrigued to see what the scene will be in Las Vegas.  The Thunder report sales of nearly 28,000 even before the same day walk up sales, but we are suspicious that there is a major contingent of Federal fans who are making the trip out to Vegas to watch their squad.  It may also be the case that the 50% off discounted tickets for military personnel was an effective marketing tool for Las Vegas.  We will see on Sunday when the two face each other at Sam Boyd Stadium. FRI @ 8pm ET         Atlanta (2-1) @ Philadelphia (2-1)                                        NBC SAT @ 12pm ET       Ohio (2-1) @ St. Louis (0-3)                         ABC SAT @ 12pm ET       Birmingham (1-2) @ Nashville (1-2)                  FOX SAT @ 4pm ET         Oakland (2-1) @ Denver (2-1)                            ABC SAT @ 4pm ET         Memphis (1-2) @ Arizona (1-2)                         FOX SAT @ 7pm ET         Tampa Bay (2-1) @ New Orleans (2-1)             NBC SAT @ 9pm ET         Seattle (2-1) @ Portland (1-2)                            ESPN/EFN SUN @ 12pm ET      Baltimore (2-1) @ Jacksonville (0-3)                  ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET      New Jersey (2-1) @ Pittsburgh (1-2)                ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET      Orlando (2-1) @ Charlotte (1-2)                        FOX SUN @ 4pm ET        Dallas (1-2) @ Texas (3-0)                                  ABC SUN @ 4pm ET        Washington (2-1) @ Las Vegas (1-2)                 FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET        Houston (2-1) @ Los Angeles (1-2)                   FOX  Regional SUN @ 8pm ET        Chicago (2-1) @ Michigan (1-2)             ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: There was not a lot of debate this week. When a QB completes 14 passes, but 5 of them are for touchdowns, you are going to get POTW. Jake Plummer helped Las Vegas pull off a huge win at home against Portland. Too bad so few folks showed up to see it.

Week two of the USFL and we are already down to only 4 unbeatens as parity reigns over the league.  Four unbeatens, five winless clubs and 19 sitting at 1-1.  That is what parity looks like.  It also looks like teams getting big wins as underdogs, as New Jersey did against the Philadelphia Stars or as Memphis did at home against the Denver Gold.  We saw quite a bit more offense this week than in the season openers, with 12 of the league’s 28 teams scoring 28 points or more, including some surprising blow outs and a couple of shootouts.  Week 2 also saw the first action for several NFL imports and a couple of big games out of the rookie class, particularly in Houston, where it looks like the GM may be due for a raise.  We will recap all the action, explore an injury that could take the wind out of the sails of an up-and-coming offense, and give you the full rundown of Ray Rice’s suspension by the league.  All right here This Week in the USFL. PORTLAND STAGS 34   LAS VEGAS THUNDER 38 With all the hand wringing and worry about the first home game for the “lame duck” Las Vegas Thunder, no one seemed to talk much about the players or their potential performance.  Well, if this week is any indication, the Thunder are not going to be a walkover all year, even if their organization is in a bit of disarray as they prepare to relocate the franchise.  The team itself came out ready to play ball on Sunday.  Despite a modest crowd reported at 17,202, though many felt it did not reach that number, the Thunder proved they are ready to play football, regardless of the status of their franchise. They faced a Portland Stags team that was embarrassed in Week 1, putting up only 3 points in a home opener loss to Oakland.  The Stags needed to prove that they could mount a viable offense with Matt McGloin at the helm.  The Thunder wanted to prove that they would be playing hard this season even if their home fans were abandoning the team ahead of their announced relocation.  So, what we got was two teams trying to demonstrate that they were better than we all were giving them credit for, and they proved it with a thrilling Game of the Week. The crowd may have been sparse, but the scoring was not.  A combined 72 points between the two clubs, and no fewer than 8 lead changes over the course of 60 minutes of action.  By game’s end Portland had put up over 490 yards of offense, Las Vegas 370 but enough to win the game in the last minute, led by a receiver who is making a lot of noise about wanting out.  To call it a shootout seems the only appropriate way to describe the game. Matt McGloin would throw for 376 yards on the day, going 31 for 44 and adding 3 TDs with 2 picks to his totals for the year.  Jake Plummer, with little run game coming from Marshawn Lynch (31 yards on 11 carries), would account for most of the Las Vegas offense, throwing for 336 yards and connecting for 5 touchdowns, including throws of 42 and 36 to Chad “Show me the money” Johnson, 21 and 23 yards to T. J. Houshmandzadeh, and 68 yards to perhaps the most underrated tight end in the game, Kevin Everett.  For his part McGloin would connect with 10 different receivers on the day, with rising star Brian Quick and rookie Brandin Cooks both scoring on McGloin tosses. The game’s score was 10-7 Las Vegas after one quarter, following TDs from Jonathan Stewart for Portland and Housh’s first TD catch of the day for Las Vegas.  By halftime the game was knotted at 17, with both clubs adding TD tosses in the 2nd quarter, McGloin to the rookie Cooks from 29 yards out and Plummer finding Everett on a stunning 68-yard play in the waning seconds of the period. The third quarter would be just a bit calmer, with Portland taking the lead on a Mason Crosby field goal after 9 minutes of play.  This was followed by the only TD of the quarter as Plummer again found Houshmandzadeh, this time from 21 yards out, to again take the lead, their 2nd of the day to Portland’s 3.  It would come down to a 4th quarter that would see 4 TDs scored, two from each team as the lead switched hands 4 times in this see saw game. Portland would score first, Quick getting the honors from McGloin, flipping the score from 20-24 to 27-24 in favor of the visiting Stags.  Only 41 seconds later Plummer found Chad Johnson from 42 yards out on a perfect out & up route, and Las Vegas would take the lead back at 31-27.  The Stags would mount a slower, more methodical drive, killing 6 minutes with their possession before McGloin tossed his 3rd TD of the day, a short fade route to Laurent Robinson to again shift the score, now Stags on top 34-31 with 5:52 left to play. Las Vegas would fail to move the ball on their next drive, Jake Plummer’s 3rd down scramble coming 2  yards short on a 3rd and 11.  They would punt to Portland and hope to get the ball back with enough time to get back on top.  They would not wait long.  With just over 2 minutes left, Portland had to try to convert a 3rd and 7 with a slant to Quick, but cornerback Tyrone Bell guessed right on the route, stepped in front of quick and stole the ball away. Las Vegas was in business with 1:58 left to play.  They would not need all that time to get the win, only 1:15.  After a short pass and an offsides penalty against the Stags, Las Vegas was in range, and Jake Plummer went for it all. Once again it was the out & up route that burned cornerback Mike Rumph, the veteran counting on the out route to the sideline.  Johnson got the step he needed, and Plummer laid the ball out in front of him for an in-stride catch.  40 yards later Johnson was in the endzone feigning a phone call to his agent as his teammates celebrated the score. Johnson almost certainly did call his agent after the game, demanding his deal be reworked, but for now it was just a way to highlight his big game, 3 catches, 112 yards and 2 scores.  Tight End Kevin Everett may also want to speak to his agent after his 5 catch, 146 yard day.  At the very least his publicist. Las Vegas got the win, and despite a less than capacity crowd at Sam Boyd, the Thunder demonstrated that they were not treating the season like a lost cause as their fanbase seems to be doing.  Later in the week the apparent branding for the soon-to-be San Diego Thunder would apparently leak from Adidas, driving home the odd situation the Thunder find themselves in, but for this day they simply went on the field and played the game. PITTSBURGH 23   WASHINGTON 38 Washington’s big guns came out blazing with both Deuce McCallister and Deion Branch scoring twice each as Washington pulled away from Pittsburgh with a 17-3 run in the second half.  Pittsburgh started strong, and the passing game was there with Andy Dalton throwing for 334 yards, but with Ronnie Brown dinged up, the Maulers could not run the ball and that hurt them down the stretch.  Leading 21-20 at the half, Washington scored the only points of the 3rd quarter with Garrard finding Branch twice to push the lead to 15 and take the home win to even their record.  POTG: WR Deion Branch, 4 Rec, 81 Yds, 2 TD. HOUSTON 24   NASHVILLE 17 Houston got huge games from both of their star rookies as Carlos Hyde rushed for 108 and a TD, while Mike Evans led all receivers with 8 catches for 113 yards and a score. Houston needed their inputs as Nashville proved tough despite having a makeshift rushing game after the suspension of Ray Rice.  Montario Hardesty would run for 2 scores and Brandon Oliver pitched in 55 yards on only 7 carries as Nashville proved a tough out despite the distractions.  POTG: Houston HB Carlos Hyde: 22 Att, 108 Yds, 1 TD OAKLAND 19   BALTIMORE 27 The Blitz are surprising some folks with their early season success, as Oakland’s focus on Anthony Dixon allows Big Ben to pass for 321 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Antonio Gates had another good game with 5 receptions for 71 yards and a score, and the Baltimore defense kept Oakland from mounting comeback in the 4th despite 93 yards from Ryan Williams and a 20 of 37 performance from Joey Harrington. POTG: Baltimore QB Ben Roethlisberger: 20/30, 321 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int. SEATTLE 6   ARIZONA 40 Despite David Carr getting knocked out of the game early, the Wranglers rolled in this one.  Nick Foles threw for 3 scores and Frank Gore added 2 more as Arizona simply overpowered the Dragons.  Byron Leftwich tried to throw Seattle back into the game, finishing with 290 yards, but just could not turn yards into points as Seattel failed on 3 of 4 attempted 4th down conversions.  POTG:  Arizona CB Brandon Flowers: 10 Tck, 2 PD, 1 Int. ATLANTA 19   ST. LOUIS 14 The Skyhawks drop to 0-2 as they struggle to put together offensive drives with Josh Freeman still dealing with the flu.  Atlanta got 75 yards from Steven Jackson and a solid performance again from veteran Josh Reed, who caught 7 Orton passes for 94 yards.  The lone Atlanta TD came from newly acquired TE Ben Watson, while Ricky Stanzi accounted for both St. Louis TDs, including a 55-yard pass to Eric Weams, given a surprise start as well.  POTG: Atlanta DE Chris Kelsey:  5 Tck, 2 Sck. PHILADELPHIA 3   NEW JERSEY 41 Well, if we were looking for a weakness in the Stars, backup QB may be it.  Matt Moore struggled, sacked 3 times and throwing two picks as New Jersey just rolled over a punchless Stars team.  What may be more troubling for the Stars is the defense, which allowed 3 TDs to Sam Bradford and 122 yards rushing to the combo of Maurice Jones-Drew and Delone Carter.  A big win for the Generals, who now sit at 2-0 under Norv Turner.  POTG: NJ halfback Maurice Jones-Drew: 20 Att, 81 Yds, 4 Rec, 37 Yds, 1 TD. LOS ANGELES  18   TEXAS 21 Joe Flacco goes over 300 yards again and Texas gets the game winning kick with 25 seconds to play as they edge the Express in San Antonio.  The Texas offense did not score in this game, as all 21 points came from special teams and defense.  Texas put up 4 Kai Forbath field goals, a 104-yard Jordan Shipley kickoff return TD, and a defensive safety of Mark Sanchez. Despite the wild scoring, the game was tied at 18 until Texas added one final Forbath field goal for the win.   POTG: Texas KR Jordan Shipley: 2 returns, 116 Yds, 1 TD. ORLANDO 29   JACKSONVILLE 16 The Renegades are 2-0, thanks in part to another big day for DT Albert Haynesworth, who recorded a sack and a safety on the day.  Throw in 116 yards and a TD from NFL import Jeremy Maclin, and a solid 61 yards for Latavius Murray, in relief of an injured Knowshon Moreno, and Atlanta evens their record at 1-1. POTG: DT Albert Haynesworth:  5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty. NEW ORLEANS 34   BIRMINGHAM 23 Drew Brees finds a new target in NFL import Kenny Britt, connecting 5 times for 109 yards and a TD as the Breakers take this early season divisional game.  Rookie Jeremy Hill contributed 81 yards on the ground and the defense produced 2 takeaways to help New Orleans stay ahead of the Stallions and get the road win. POTG: Breaker QB Drew Brees: 15/29, 250 Yds, 3 TDs, 0 Int. TAMPA BAY 21   CHARLOTTE 34 A much-needed home win for the Monarchs as they find holes in the Bandit defense and put up 377 yards of offense against their division rivals.  Brandon Wheedon had a strong performance, throwing for 3 scores and avoiding mistakes.  Fred Jackson, however, was the big star, rushing the ball 15 times for 128 yards, a stunning 8.5 yards per carry. Jackson’s success made it possible for Wheedon to have time to throw, as he connected with D. J. Hackett for 2 scores and found FB Jacob Green for a third.  Charlotte also played well on defense, limiting WR Vincent Jackson to only 3 receptions and pressureing Daunte Culpepper all game (3 sacks, 8 hurries).  The result leaves both clubs at 1-1 after 2 weeks. POTG: Charlotte HB Fred Jackson: 15 Att, 128 Yds DALLAS 28   CHICAGO 10 A huge upset and a big win for Coach Sherman, as Dallas stunned the Chicago Machine in their home opener.  The Roughnecks put up a 21-0 lead before Chicago got on the board with a field goal and led 28-3 at halftime.  In a game that saw the Roughnecks pick off Brady Quinn 3 times and limit Doug Martin to only 44 yards rushing (2.1 YPC), Dallas made a statement.  The game also saw the debut of Johnny Manziel as the starter, named as such by Coach Sherman on Thursday. Manziel’s numbers were modest (8 of 17 for 90 yards and 1 TD), but the result was indisputable.  Thanks in large part to 154 yards from HB Rashard Mendenhall, the Roughnecks went into a hostile environment, against a 2013 division winner, and came out with a convincing victory. POTG: Dallas HB Rashard Mendenhall: 20 Att, 154 Yds, 1 TD DENVER 28   MEMPHIS 31 Another upset victory as Memphis defended their home turf against the Denver Gold, but a costly one as QB Eli Manning suffered a fracture in his non-throwing arm and could miss 4-6 weeks of action for the Showboats.  Manning had been leading an impressive offensive show, throwing for 213 yards and 2 scores before being forced out of the game.  He was helped by a solid day from Darren McFadden, with 108 yards on 14 carries.  Manning connected with Sidney Rice and Lee Evans for scores and left the game with a 10-point lead.  Matt Cassel finished up, draining the clock to keep Denver from completing a comeback.  Memphis now sits at 1-1, but will need to come together for at least the next month without their offensive leader. POTG: Memphis HB Darren McFadden: 14 Att, 108 Yds, 1 TD OHIO 14   MICHIGAN 37 Yet one more upset, although in this case not technically, since the game was viewed as even by the Vegas books.  What is perhaps surprising is the ease with which the Panthers took care of Ohio, building up a 24-0 halftime lead before subbing out some starters in the 2nd half.  It was a good game for Cousins, completing 22 of 28 passes for 251 yards and 3 TDs.  He connected early and often with Hines Ward, but also threw a TD to HB LeVeon Bell and another to rookie WR Cody Latimer.  Bell was somewhat limited in his rushing success (held to 42 yards), but proved an effective receiver, with 3 catches, including his 2nd quarter TD.  Chris Weinke and the Ohio offense did not have quite the same success, with Weinke going only 18 of 34 for 122 yards and Isaiah Pead held to only 40 yards on 10 carries.  Ohio converted only 2 of 12 third down attempts and turned the ball over twice in a big win for the Panthers within the division. POTG: Michigan WR Hines Ward: 7 Rec, 129 Yds, 1 TD. Eli To Miss a Month or More with Fracture It came late in the Memphis win over Denver, but it could have ramifications for the entire season as Eli Manning will be out of action at least 4 weeks, with a 7-8 week rehabilitation not out of the question.  The injury came on a sack of the QB, when, he was hit and driven to the ground with his non-throwing arm caught in an awkward position beneath both his body and that of the defender.  He was able to walk over to the sideline, holding the arm in pain, but was rushed back to the locker room immediately.  X-rays confirmed a linear fracture of his ulna, not displaced but a significant break. Manning was seen this week at team facilities with a cast on the lower arm and the arm in a sling.  It is his non-throwing arm, so the prognosis is a bit faster than if it were his throwing arm, but 4-6 weeks is considered the appropriate range to protect against future injury.  In the meantime, that means the Showboats must move ahead with either Matt Cassel or Ryan Mallett at QB.  Cassel is the likely starter for the next month, despite a pretty poor record in past Manning relief performances.  Mallett, who has been shopped around by Memphis and who is in the final year of his rookie deal, was once the starter in Memphis (2011-2012), but struggled with accuracy and decision-making. So, with two somewhat underwhelming options at QB for the next month, what should we expect from the Showboat offense.  Well, first off, expect a lot of carries for both Darren McFadden and scat back Knile Davis.  We also expect Davis, as well as TE Jermichael Finley, to get a lot of targets as both QBs are likely to need to use security valves and Coach Childress is almost certainly going to shorten routes to protect his QB.  The biggest downside could be for the outside receivers, Lee Evans, Greg Jennings, and Nate Washington.  Evans and Jennings have started the year strong with Manning at the helm, each with 9 catches and over 130 yards in the first two games.  They will now need to focus on quicker, shorter routes to help protect either Cassel or Mallett.  As for a third options, Memphis has recalled a player cut loose during camp, former Mississippi State QB James Franklin, an undrafted free agent signing out of the 2014 draft.  For the 1-1 Showboats, hoping to make a run at New Orleans for the Southern Division title, the ability to win games in Manning’s absence may well be key to their goals for the year, but to do so they will need a true team effort. Johnson Performing Despite Contract Squabble Say what you want about the public way in which Chad Johnson (formerly Ochocinco) has been airing his desire to either get paid or get traded, he is still bringing it on the field each week.  Johnson has taken nearly every opportunity in front of a camera to complain about his role, his pay, and his dissatisfaction with a Thunder team that has flatly refused to negotiate his current contract or trade him, but the one time when he is on camera where he is a team player is on the field.  In two games this  year, Johnson has amassed 211 yards receiving and 2 TDs, highlighted by this week’s big game against Portland.  He is making the case on the field that he is an elite receiver, something most of us probably understood already, while off the field he is pleading the case that his status should be earning him more targets, more voice, and particularly more money. It may be a major nuisance for the new owners of the Thunder to have one of their best players openly trashing the organization, something that began long before they took over the team, but they seem willing to ride out the rants and post-game complaints for now.  Johnson is locked up through the 2015 season, and with a salary exceeding $4M per year, he remains the highest paid player on the club (just edging out Marshawn Lynch and easily more than QB Jake Plummer).  That seems fair enough to ownership, and, they would insist, the question of targets and team role depends on the coaches, not the owners to dictate.  So, for now, Johnson will continue to vent, but as long as his gameday performances are there, we don’t see how or why the Thunder would cut a deal or cut him loose. Ray Rice Suspended by USFL just 2 days before Nashville’s Week 2 Game. It was a shock to the coaching staff and the team, but the league felt that no other path forward was possible when charges were brought against Ray Rice for domestic violence, or, more accurately, when video of Rice striking his wife in an elevator went public.  Rice’s arrest actually happened late in the USFL preseason, but, as he was released on bond awaiting the opening phase of his trial, the league allowed him to continue practicing, and to play the Week 1 opener.  As has been longstanding policy of the league, they were awaiting the result of his legal battle before reacting, but when the video of Rice essentially knocking his wife unconscious in a hotel elevator became publicly known, and quite viral on the internet, the league felt action needed to be taken swiftly. Rice is now suspended indefinitely as the league awaits his trial and the outcome of it.  This marks the most severe punishment for a player due to legal concerns since the case of another running back, Rashaan Salaam, back in 2001, a drug case that included charges of corrupting minors following the post-championship partying led by Salaam. Rice’s charges, dealing with a very touchy subject of domestic abuse, are going to be tried in both the courts and the court of public opinion, which could make even a plea in the case insufficient to reinstate the running back. As for Nashville, they went forward with Montario Hardesty and rookie Brandon Oliver as their running backs for Week 2, with the two combining for 87 yards in a 17-14 win over Houston.  They have since signed 4-year veteran Jonathan Dwyer to the roster off of the free agency list, but are likely going to be looking for a longer term option at the HB position.  Rice is unlikely to avoid trial in the case, and that means stretching out the suspension through the season.  A guilty verdict, or even a plea that requires admission of guilt is likely to have such significant public opinion consequences that the team may well opt to cut Rice loose rather than face public backlash.  For that reason many expect that Nashville will start to seek options to bring in a permanent replacement to be the team’s lead back. For now we expect to continue to see Hardesty and Oliver sharing carries. Houston’s Dynamic Duo Shines in Week 2 Don’t look now, but it seems these Gamblers have hit on a double down bet.  Houston put some serious funds and effort into this year’s draft and in so doing managed to land two players considered first round talent, wideout Mike Evans from Texas A&M, their top T-Draft selection, and halfback Carlos Hyde out of Ohio State, their first Open Draft pick.  The two offensive standouts began the year as starters for the Gamblers and this week they showed us why they were both so coveted.  Evans followed up a Week one 7-reception, 79 yard day with his first 100-yard day, catching 8 balls for 113 yards and his first USFL touchdown against Nashville.  He looks smooth in his release from the line and showed the ability to go up and high point the ball against shorter corners.  QB Matt Hasselbeck has praised his preparation and his natural ability.  That bodes well for Houston to be sure. What may be an even better sign is the 108 yard day that Carlos Hyde put up this week against Nashville.  Houston had been concerned after the departure of Michael Turner in the offseason that putting the run game squarely on the shoulders of a rookie back was a gamble.  That gamble seems to be paying off as Hyde is currently 2nd in the league with 166 yards in his first two outings, trailing only Rashard Mendenhall of the Roughnecks.  He has 2 TDs and has shown a real knack for shaking off the first defender and getting additional yards. Houston is 3rd in total yards after two weeks this year, and Coach Phillips says he is counting on his young stars to help the Gambler offense be a force this season.  Sitting at 2-0, Houston is starting strong, but this week’s game against rival Texas could be the truest indication of just how strong the new Houston offense can be.  A win over the Outlaws and a 3-0 start before a road date in LA may be just the way for Houston to assert themselves, and if they do, we expect that these two wild cards may just be a big piece of Houston’s success moving forward. Bad news for the Thunder, as if they need any more, as one of their best defenders, DT Haloti Ngata, will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.  The tear happened during the 4th quarter of their big win, putting a bit of a damper on the celebration as the team won their opener.  The other big hit this week was in Memphis, where QB Eli Manning suffered a fracture to his non-throwing arm after getting caught in an awkward takedown.  Manning is expected to miss at least a month, but that could be longer depending on his recovery pace.  Memphis is expected to go with 9-year veteran Matt Cassel, though they also have former Arkansas first-rounder Ryan Mallett on the roster.  With Manning sidelined at least a month, the Showboats also signed undrafted rookie Tyler Russell from Mississippi State.  No word yet if Las Vegas will be bringing in another DT or will ride with the current roster.  Here is the rest of the Injury Report ahead of Week 2: OUT DT    Haloti Ngata           LV     ACL           IR QB         Eli Manning           MEM      Broken arm          4-6 weeks CB          Nathan Vasher         TEX         Pinched Nerve     1-2 weeks DE          Jarius Wynn             BIR           Hernia                       1-2 weeks C             Chris Spencer          NOR        Ankle                       1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL TE           Anthony Hill             CHI          Knee WR         Kevin Kasper            SEA         Toe G            Steve Hutchinson   TBY         Concussion G            Long Howell           ORL        Arm FS           Nate Allen              ARZ          Scratched Cornea QUESTIONABLE WR         Arrelious Benn         OHI      Neck DE          Barkevious Mingo  JAX        Concussion Three Free Agents Making Early Waves Every year we see teams make moves in the offseason, designed to fill holes, improve areas of weakness, or add an element of danger to their roster.  Some of the free agent signings are huge letdowns, players who simply have little left in the tank or who don’t mesh with a new team, coach, or system, but every year we also see players who thrive in a new environment.  Only 2 weeks into the 2014 season, it looks like we have at least 3 players who are looking like very sound investments by their new teams. LB Terrell Suggs (PHI):  We all knew Suggs would be a factor in the Stars’ defense, but after 2 weeks the former Monarch, Knight, and Invader is proving to be a force for the Stars.  He is leadin the team in tackles, something we usually see from the MLB or SS, not a weakside backer.  He secured his first sack in the opener and forced New Jersey to dedicate a player to watch for his blitzes in this week’s game.  He has also become a vocal leader on the defense, leading the pre-game psych-up and calling out formation information as the offense lines up.  In other words, he is providing not only leadership by example, but also turning his experience into leadership among his teammates. CB Carlos Rogers (TBY):  Tampa thought they were getting something special in the former Express and Monarch cornerback.  After all, Rogers has had 3 or more picks in 7 straight seasons, but they did not anticipate he would reach 3 picks within the season’s first two weeks.  Rogers, along with the team’s lead tackler, Philip Buchanon, is part of a 2-cornerback tandem that is doing something we don’t see often, switching off on receivers.  Rather than have one locked into the number one receiver of the opponent and the other on the second option, Coach Shula has Buchanon manning the right sideline and Rogers on the left, with no swapping or switching.  In his new role, Rogers is making teams pay, and his good hands are proving vital to the Bandits desire to produce more takeaways. FS Jim Leonhard (OHI): Long an undervalued player with the Michigan Panthers, now relocated to one of their rivals, moving from Detroit to Columbus, Leonhard is getting some respect from the Glory fans, and is earning it with outstanding play at the free safety position in his first two games in the flag blue jerseys of the Glory.  Leonhard, who had not snagged an interception in the prior 6 seasons with Michigan, already has 2 on the year.  He has also been used as a blitzer, with 2 sacks to his name in his first two games with Ohio.  Add to that his run support and Leonhard is getting a second chance to make a first impression with his former club’s rival. San Diego Logos Leak Leaks and unofficial releases have long been a part of the sports branding world.  With the rise of the internet and the ability for an image to go viral in a matter of minutes, it is a surprise when a new uniform, new logo, or new team name makes it to a formal reveal without a leak having been the spoiler already.  It is just the reality we live in, so it is no surprise that an unverified image, one of what appears to be the new logo designs for the San Diego Thunder, is making the rounds. The image, what appears to be a snapshot taken from someone’s phone, shows a desk at Adidas, with a one page design schematic sheet, possibly part of the planned release  of the team identity. The image shows a revised primary logo, a new secondary logo, and a 2D representation of the team’s helmet.  As expected, the new ownership are maintaining the identity of the club, a team name that has been in place since 1988, now moving to its third home.  The logo itself is largely unchanged, with the now-iconic hammer & lightning motif, evoking the God of Thunder (and now popular film character), Thor.  There is one difference however.  Whereas both the Portland and Las Vegas versions of the Thunder used a solid “electric green” base or “halo” around the logo, the new image seems to indicate that the club will use an ombre effect with the bright green morphing into a sky or powder blue color.  We say “powder” blue, because this does seem to be a nod to the city’s (and Qualcomm Stadium’s) other pro football franchise, the San Diego Chargers, famous for the use of powder blue in their early years. Both the primary and secondary logos do appear to make more use of the light blue tone when compared to the former versions of the Thunder, where the color was barely an afterthought.  While it still appears that the iconic “electric green” color will maintain a strong presence in the Thunder identity, an increased use of light blue, whether the club calls it “powder” or not, is intended as a nod to the pro football history of San Diego and to the NFL Chargers. The leaked design image, if it is the final choice of the franchise, also includes a secondary image, an “SD” monogram paired with a flat-bottomed cloud formation that evokes the original logo of the Thunder, who once wore helmets with a cloud formation pierced by a wrap around lightning bolt. The monogram has a green-yellow ombre effect, while the cloud does the same with sky blue fading into white.  The use of this ombre effect throughout the logo designs would seem to indicate that the team may maintain some form of the effect in their jerseys, as they have had for their entire time in Las Vegas.  The question now becomes whether or not the team will retain the green-to-yellow effect seen in Las Vegas’s current look, or could we see a stronger element of sky blue in the unifoms as well? Rivalry of the Week: 14—The Keystone Clash Once a standard of the Eastern Division, the Keystone Clash battles between Philadelphia and Eastern PA and the Pittsburgh Maulers, representing Western PA, were twice a year battles from 1984, when the Maulers joined the Stars in the Eastern Division, through 2001.  In 2002, with a shift form 4 to 6 divisions in the USFL, the Maulers were shifted to the Central Division and the number of clashes between the two Keystone State teams were far less frequent, but always intense nonetheless.  It would be Boston’s relocation to Dallas last season that would bring the Keystone Clash back to prominence in the schedules for both clubs. With Boston moving out to Dallas, the league needed a team to move from the Western Conference back to the East to balance out the two conferences.  Some looked at St. Louis or Houston as possible relocations to the Southern Division, but the majority view was that reuniting Pittsburgh with their Northeast rivals made the most sense.  The Maulers still maintain a rivalry with the Ohio Glory, mirroring the NFL’s Cleveland-Pittsburgh rivalry, but their strongest feud has always been with the Stars, and the two can now renew the clash twice a year, battling for the honor of being the best team in the state. With rich histories for both clubs, including 3 league titles for the Stars and 1 for the Maulers, the stakes are often high between these two Pennsylvanian clubs.  And, what is even more rare in league rivalries, the contests are largely balanced.  Both clubs have won 19 of their 38 clashes. Will this year break the tie or will the two split their season series as they have done so many times in the past?  The Stars swept the series last year, their first season back as divisional foes, but it was not a landslide for the division champs.  Philly managed to land a 9-point win in Pittsburgh, but the rematch saw the Maulers come close, losing by only 3 in Philadelphia.  This year the two will meet in Philadelphia during Week 6, with the rematch scheduled for Pittsburgh in week 10. Week three looks like it could be a big one for the early season, especially with so many teams sitting at 1-1 and hoping for a quick start.  Friday’s night game opens in the Pacific Division with the Invaders hosting the Las Vegas Thunder in a preview of what will be an in-state rivalry in California.  Saturday opens with a lot of 1-1 clashes, including Tampa hosting Nashville, Atlanta Hosting Michigan, and Seattle hosting the Maulers.  We also have a battle of two 0-2 starters as either St. Louis or Portland will earn their first win. The game of the day is in Texas, where the Houston Gamblers and Texas Outlaws will meet in San Antonio, both coming in unbeaten. Another unbeaten will be tested on Sunday, when defending conference champion Philadelphia visits the 2-0 Orlando Renegades.  Matt Gutierrez is expected back under center, so we will see whether or not the Stars should be worried about more than their QB after their drubbing by New Jersey this week.  New Jersey is also unbeaten after 2 weeks and they stay home to host the LA Express. The best of the afternoon games could be Charlotte at Chicago, a matchup of two teams who have to prove to their fans that they can overcome some of the early season gaffs that have cost them a game already.  The Weekend concludes with the Wranglers visiting New Orleans in what could have been the Summer Bowl matchup last year. Both are 1-1 and hoping to avoid that 2nd loss this week. FRI @ 8pm ET                   Las Vegas (1-1) @ Oakland (1-1)                     NBC SAT @ 12pm ET                Nashville (1-1) @ Tampa Bay (1-1)                   ABC SAT @ 12pm ET                Michigan (1-1) @ Atlanta (1-1)                          FOX SAT @ 4pm ET                  St. Louis (0-2) @ Portland (0-2)                        ABC SAT @ 4pm ET                  Pittsburgh (1-1) @ Seattle (1-1)                        FOX SAT @ 7pm ET                  Washington (1-1) @ Baltimore (2-0)                 NBC SAT @ 9pm ET                  Texas (2-0) @ Houston (2-0)                              ESPN/EFN SUN @ 12pm ET              Birmingham (0-2) @ Memphis (1-1)                  ABC SUN @ 12pm ET              Philadelphia (1-1) @ Orlando (2-0)                    FOX Regional SUN @ 12pm ET              Los Angeles (0-2) @ New Jersey (2-0)               FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET                 Jacksonville (0-2) @ Ohio (1-1)                          ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET                 Charlotte (1-1) @ Chicago (1-1)                       ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET                 Denver (1-1) @ Dallas (1-1)                                FOX SUN @ 8pm ET                 Arizona (1-1) @ New Orleans (1-1)                   ESPN/EFN

Two overtime games, 7 games where the final score was a 1-score margin, and a lot of good defense, just what you might expect for the first regular season action of the year.  They say defenses gel faster, and that seems to be the case as only 6 of 28 teams scored more than 21 points in the season’s opening week. That is not to say that we did not have some great offensive performances, including 300-yard passing days from Tim Tebow and Joe Flacco, 2-TD days for both Rashard Mendenhall and Latavius Murray, and 7 different receivers going over 100 yards in the first week, including a nice 2-TD, 115-yard day from 2013 OPOTY Steve Smith.  We saw Sam Bradford return to action and get a tough win against Birmingham, and we saw a lot of rookies in their first action of the week. Let’s recap the first week’s action, including early defeats for two Summer Bowl Contenders as the season kicked off in grand style. TEXAS OUTLAWS 30   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS 27 A really fun game in front of a very enthusiastic crowd at the Cotton Bowl as Texas edges Dallas on opening day.  It was a game with a bit of everything, including a 300-yard game from Joe Flacco, some big plays by both teams, and yes, despite not getting the start, a Johnny Manziel appearance.  It was a game that saw scoring in all 4 quarters and while Texas led most of the game, Dallas never trailed by more than 8 points and had the lead with 7:30 left to play. Texas came into the game knowing that the passing game would be key.  NFL import Chris Johnson was not yet ready to see game action, so, with only 2 backs suited up, the Outlaws planned to focus the offense on Joe Flacco and the passing game.  Dallas was seeking a more balanced approach, hoping to use Rashard Mendenhall inside and find some opportunities for their own offseason acquisition C. J. Spiller outside.  What Dallas did not count on, though certainly many of the fans clad in sky blue Manziel jerseys hoped for, was to see the club’s rookie QB take the field.  Coach Sherman had chosen Jake Locker to start the opener, much to the chagrin of a large portion of the Roughneck fanbase hoping to see the Texas A&M rookie.  But, these fans would get their wish as the game progressed. The first quarter saw the two teams battle to a 7-7 tie, with Texas scoring their first points, a Flacco to Jordan Shipley 15-yarder, at the 3-minute mark.  Dallas responded with a quick drive that was capped off by Mendenhall on a 1-yard dive.  Early in the 2nd Texas again retook the lead, this time with Flacco hitting his tight end Chris Cooley from the five.  Dallas came out on offense, and on the 3rd play of the drive, saw their starting QB sidelined.  Jake Locker, who had thrown only 6 pass attempts in the first quarter, threw his 7th and clipped his hand on the helmet of a Texas defender.  Holding his hand, he came to the sideline only to hear the crowd roar with approval when Johnny Manziel trotted out to the huddle.  Manziel would lead the Roughnecks the rest of the way on the drive, and would tie the score when Mendenhall added a 2nd touchdown, again from short yardage. Texas would add a field goal by Kai Forbath to end out the first half, but even up 17-14, the game was far from over and now, with the unknown of Johnny Manziel at the helm the Texas defense would have to rely on reaction over their original gameplan, one designed to counter Jake Locker’s tendencies.  The Outlaws received the halftime kick and immediately found themselves in trouble when return man Nathan Vasher muffed the kick and had to retreat practically to the endzone to fall on the ball.  That gave Dallas a chance for a big defensive play, and they got it on Texas’s first play from scrimmage as LB Zak DeOssie blitzed and was able to drag down HB Felix Jones before the back could escape the endzone.  The safety dropped Texas’s advantage to 1 point and gave Dallas the ball back.  Again the Dallas crowd cheered emphatically as Manziel took the field.  The rookie was unable to move the ball on the drive and Dallas was forced to punt.  Texas would get the ball back and this time with much better options from their 17-yardline.  Joe Flacco would lead the Outlaws down the 83 yards to paydirt, again finding Cooley open in the endzone to build an 8-point lead. Dallas would get the ball back, now down 8, and Johnny Manziel would excite the crowd with a first-down scramble.  He then connected with Hank Basket to get the first down and the drive was on.  Basket would also be the target at the end of the drive when Manziel found him from the 10-yard line, for the rookie’s first career touchdown.  C. J. Spiller took a pitch from Manziel on the 2-point PAT try and found the corner of the endzone to even the score at 24.  But a change was coming in the 4th. Dallas held Texas without a first down on the Outlaw’s next drive, but when it was time for the Dallas offense to retake the field, it was the game’s starter, Jake Locker, who came out into the huddle.  Fans seemed perplexed, but Coach Sherman would go with Locker the rest of the way.  In the post-game press meeting, Sherman explained that he put Locker in once he was cleared by the physicians. Citing the fact that he did not believe a starter should be held out if he is able to play and that Locker had taken the lion’s share of snaps in the week’s practices and was more familiar overall with the offense than Manziel.  Two reasonable positions, but two that did not seem to please the fans in the stands during the game. Locker was successful in his first drive, connecting on 2 of 3 throws, but a failed 3rd and 3 run ended the drive and forced Dallas to go for a field goal.  Stephen Haushka connected and the Roughnecks to their first lead of the game, 27-24.  The question now was whether they could hold it against an Outlaw offense that had seemingly elected to give up on the run entirely.  Through 3 ½ quarters, Felix Jones had toted the rock 19 times but had only 8 yards to show for it.  That would be a concern for Texas as they looked to the future, but for now, they simply leaned into a passing game that had fared well against the Dallas secondary all game. Texas would tie the game on their next possession, Kai Forbath connecting on a 44-yarder to even the score at 27.  With nearly 4 minutes left on the clock, Texas elected to kick the ball deep and rely on their defense to keep Dallas out of field goal range.  The defense did just that, with DE Reynaldo Wynn nabbing Locker on 3rd down to force a 3-and-out and get Texas the ball back.  Now, with time still left on the clock, it was Dallas who needed to keep Texas out of kicking range.  Their hopes to do that fell when Joe Flacco connected with his favorite target, Marques Colston, for a 17-yard connection, 17 of the 95 yards for Colston on the day, but certainly the biggest catch for him in the game.  Four plays later, the Outlaws were in range for Forbath, and when they reached 3rd and 8, rather than run the ball one more time, they sent Forbath out with 9 seconds on the clock to win the game.  It would be a moderate range attempt, just over 35 yards, and Forbath would send the ball straight down the center. Texas would get the win, and for many Dallas fans the question immediately became whether or not the decision to return to Jake Locker was a factor in the Roughnecks’ loss.  It is a question we may hear quite a bit should Sherman opt to stick with Locker rather than turn the ball over to Manziel in the future.  When asked about this in the press conference, Sherman was non-committal, acknowledging that he understood the fan excitement about Manziel, but stating that his job was to put the players on the field each week who gave the team their best chance to win.  Again, a reasonable statement though very likely not the one many Dallas fans want to hear. ARIZONA 13   DENVER 16 A huge win for the Gold in their rivalry with Arizona as Denver pulls out the season opener at Invesco Field.  DE Justice Cole put on an impressive show, with three sacks on the day, three of 7 of Wrangler QB David Carr, including 2 drive-ending sacks.  Golden Tate was the other star on the day, catching 6 Leinart passes for 102 yards against the Wrangler D.  On a crisp but sunny day in Denver, the Gold allowed Arizona only 2 third down conversions on 14 tries and held the defending champs to only 273 yards on the day.  When Arizona tied the game on a late Rob Gronkowski TD catch, Denver found a way to get into range for Greg Zeurlein, and with 46 seconds on the clock, Zeurlein secured the win for the Gold. POTG: Denver DE Justice Cole,  5 Tck, 1 TFL, 3 Scks NASHVILLE 16   CHARLOTTE 3 A rainy slosh pit in Charlotte produced a sloppy game but a very good one for the Nashville defense, holding an ineffective Monarchs squad to only 175 total yards, including only 32 yards rushing.  Of course, Nashville also got bogged down, with only 41 yards rushing, but a 4-0 advantage in takeaways was huge in this game as Brandon Wheeden was harassed (5 sacks) and clearly impacted by the pressure (4 interceptions).  The only TD in the game came early when Peyton Manning found Lance Moore inside the 5-yard line.  Nashville CB Duane Starks had 2 picks in a good opening for Coach Roman. POTG: Nashville QB Peyton Manning; 24/32, 220 Yards, 1 TD, 0 Int. WASHINGTON 9   TAMPA BAY 17 Rain also impacted the game in Tampa Bay, but what was more impactful was the rebuilt Bandit defense.  Washington was held to only 72 yards rushing and 258 yards in total as Tampa Bay showed some defensive fortitude, exactly as the front office hoped it could.  David Garrard looked a bit shaky in his first game in nearly a calendar year, throwing three picks on the day.  Daunte Culpepper’s numbers were not HOF quality, but 235 yards and 2 TDs with no interceptions were enough to earn the win.  New Bandit HB Jahvid Best only rushed for 34 yards but also caught 2 passes for 33, showing he could be a dual threat for the Bandits. POTG: Bandit offseason acquisition CB Carlos Rogers: 4 Tck, 2 Int. BALTIMORE 21   LOS ANGELES 12 Anthony Dixon made a case for his ability to take over for Ron Dayne, with 95 yards on 18 carries and Antonio Gates had a huge 66-yard catch on his way to 118 yards in the road opener.  Despite 9 penalties for 90 yards, the Blitz slowly built a lead over 4 quarters, with touchdowns from Gates, Dixon, and Cedric Benson.  The lone LA Touchdown was a fluke QB scramble from Mark Sanchez that saw Roddy White throw a block that freed Sanchez to make it to the endzone.  But, all in all, with only 156 yards passing, and no receiver with more than 4 catches, a tough start to the year for the LA passing game. POTG: Baltimore TE Antonio Gates: 5 Rec, 118 Yds, 1 TD. NEW ORLEANS 14   HOUSTON 17   OVERTIME The newly-dubbed “Bayou Battle” needed extra time to be decided as both defenses looked good in the season opener. This was also a battle of rookie halfbacks with Houston’s Carlos Hyde edging New Orleans’s Jeremy Hill by a total of 58 yards to 42.  Hyde also added a touchdown to boost his first game stats, but the stars of the day were on defense where Breaker CB Patrick Peterson had 4 pass defenses, one of which should have been a pick, and Houston DE Antwan Applewhite had 2 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble.  The overtime winner came from Dan Carpenter with a booming 53-yarder to give the Gamblers a season opening win. POTG: DE Antwan Applewhite: 3 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 TFL, 1 FF. CHICAGO 10   ATLANTA 7 The rain that pelted the southeast was not a factor inside the Georgia Dome, but the game still slogged along as if played in mud.  Both defenses dominated with neither team able to put much together all game.  Brady Quinn was picked twice and Atlanta’s Steven Jackson was held to only 34 yards on 17 carries as defense won the day.  Atlanta CB Brandon Boykin had both picks for the Fire, while Brian Urlacher led the Machine with 9 tackles in a slow-paced game. POTG: A rare POTG for the losing team as Brandon Boykin gets I, accounting for all 3 Chicago turnovers:  6 Tck, 2 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR. OAKLAND 23   PORTLAND 3 The Invaders looked ready to defend their division crown and perhaps do more damage this year as they dominate on both sides of the ball.  With NFL import Donald Brown in civvies, Ryan Williams and Joique Bell combined for 83 yards and TD. Keenan Allen caught 6 for 78 and the TE combo of Zach Ertz and Richard Rodgers added 6 receptions for the Invaders.  The Invader defense completely shut down Matt McGloin, sacking the Portland QB 5 times, including 2 for veteran Cliff Avril. POTG: Oakland QB Joey Harrington: 22/27, 286 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int. BIRMINGHAM 14   NEW JERSEY 17 A nip and tuck battle at Met Life as the Generals held off Birmingham to notch a season-opening win.  All eyes were on Sam Bradford in his return to action.  The General QB would finish 15 of 23 for 184 yards and with TD tosses to Muhamed Sanu and rookie Odell Beckham Jr.  OBJ would finish the game with 4 catches for 45 yards and the TD catch.  Birmingham struggled to run the ball, but got a TD from Newton to Tandon Doss and a Newton goal line sneak to stay in the game, but a late drive failed to provide the game tying kick when Newton was sacked, pushing Birmingham out of range for Garrett Hartley and forcing a failed Hail Mary instead. POTG: New Jersey DE Aaron Kampman:  8 Tck, 2 Scks. MEMPHIS 10   PHILADELPHIA 15 Another defensive game as the Stars fell down 10-0 to the quick-starting Showboats before putting 15 unanswered on the board.  Despite the low score, Stars WR Stevie Johnson had a huge game, catching 10 balls for 121 yards.  His 27-yard catch in the 4th quarter set up the winning score, a Gutierrez to Travis Kelce completion for the game winner.  The two defenses combined for 12 sacks on the day as O-line coherence was an issue for both teams.  Despite the high number of sacks, no player had more than 1 as the wealth was spread around.  Memphis LB NaVorro Bowman had the play of the game early, a sack, fumble, recovery, TD for the quadruple, but it proved not enough as Memphis’s offense never found the endzone and was held scoreless for the final 3 quarters of the game as Philly chipped back with 3 field goals and the Kelce TD. POTG: WR Stevie Johnson: 10 Rec, 121 yds. ST. LOUIS 17   ORLANDO 30 Saturday’s rains did not return on Sunday as Orlando had a hot, but clear day to take on St. Louis.  That suited the Renegades just fine as they used a balanced attack to chip away at the Skyhawk defense.  Knowshon Moreno and Latavius Murray combined for 105 yards and 2 scores (both Murray), while Russell Wilson threw for 186 and a TD to Michael Jenkins.  Josh Freeman was a scratch due to the flu, so it was Ricky Stanzi at the helm for the Skyhawks, and Stanzi got to meet Calais Campbell and Albert Haynesworth, with each earning 2 sacks on the day. POTG: DE Calais Campbell: 4 Tck, 1 TFL, 2 Scks. LAS VEGAS 17   OHIO 20   OVERTIME The second overtime game of the opening weekend saw the Glory outlast the Thunder in front of 45,404 in Columbus.  WR Steve Smith had a big game, as expected, with 2 scores and 115 yards on 8 catches. It was a good game all around for Ohio QB Chris Weinke, who completed 22 of 36 for 257 despite suffering 5 sacks from the Thunder defense.  Las Vegas got 82 yards on 19 carries from Marshawn Lynch and Chad Johnson added 99 yards receiving as the game saw Las Vegas recover from a 17-3 deficit in the second half to send the game to overtime on a Plummer to Amendola TD catch in the final minute.  In overtime, Las Vegas gave up possession and Ohio made them pay with a 50-yard game winner from former Breaker kicker David Green. POTG: Ohio WR Steve Smith:  8 Rec, 115 yds, 1 TD. JACKSONVILLE 23   PITTSBURGH 34 A bit of an anomaly for the week in Pittsburgh as the Bulls and Maulers got into something of a shootout.  The two teams combined for over 670 yards of offense, with Jacksonville gaining a surprising 404 against the Mauler D.  Tim Tebow threw for 340 but Andy Dalton’s more efficient 19 of 29  game won the day as Dalton threw for 3 TDs and Tebow threw for 2 picks with no TDs.  Both second year Mauler receivers scored as Adam Thielen stayed hot with 2 TDs on the day and Tavon Austin added one as well.  The death blow for Pittsburgh did not come until the final 2 minutes, when, leading 27-23, safety Sean Taylor picked off Tebow and returned the gift all the way to the endzone for the game-clinching score. POTG: With more than just 1 key play, safety Sean Taylor: 8 Tck, 1 int, 1 Def TD. MICHIGAN 14   SEATTLE 17 Another close one in Seattle, where just a bit of rain fell, but the Dragons got a season-opening win thanks to a nice game from Byron Leftwich.  Nate Burleson also started the season strong with 124 yards on 6 receptions.  Hines Ward was the star for Michigan with 7 catches for 131 yards and a TD as the two teams stayed within one score of each other all game.  With no scoring in the final period, Kevin Kasper’s 24-yard TD from Leftwich proved to be the game winner. POTG: Seattle DE Jamaal Anderson: 1 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF. Locker Jams Finger, Manziel Sees Week 1 Action It may not have been the way Dallas fans hoped, but Johnny Manziel got into the game on Sunday Night and he looked pretty good as Dallas hung in against Texas in front of a very enthusiastic crowd.  Locker was named the starter early in the week, citing the need for Manziel to experience the pro game without the pressure of a Week 1 start, but a jammed finger took Jake Locker out of the game for most of the 2nd period and well into the third.  He would return in the 4th, much to the chagrin of some Dallas fans, who liked what they saw from their rookie phenom. Manziel went 15 of 23 in his 2-quarter performance, throwing for 189 yards and a score, significantly better than Locker’s 71 yards on 8 of 12.  Coach Sherman, after the game, cited the desire to have Locker come back in despite Manziel’s good day, because injury should not cost the starter the job.  When pressed if Locker would have the job in Week 2, Sherman would not commit, saying only that both QBs would be getting significant practice snaps. The crowd at Cotton Bowl Stadium clearly preferred Manziel, who got a rousing welcome with a noticeable cheer from the Dallas crowd when he entered the game.  Manziel missed on his first pass, but would calm down and hit 3 of 4 on that opening drive , leading to a Rashard Mendenhall TD run.  Fans in Dallas were clearly big supporters as the team reported that they had sold over 7,000 Manziel jerseys on game day alone.  Looks like we may have a phenomenon in Dallas as Manziel Mania is just getting started. Rookie 1st Impressions While Dallas QB Johnny Manziel may have been the focus of a lot of attention on the USFL’s opening weekend, he was hardly the only rookie making a debut.  It was a big day for newly-minted pro players across the league, with several making meaningful contributions in their first pro games.  Here are the highlights of the week for the rookie class of 2014. QB: Manziel was the big story, with his 189 yard, 1-TD performance the only rookie appearance in the league.  Expect a lot of pressure on Coach Sherman to start him as soon as this week when Dallas faces their first road test in Chicago. HB: Houston’s Carlos Hyde and New Orleans’s Jeremy Hill had the two best games for rookie backs as the two faced off in NRG Stadium.  Both were subbed frequently, and both struggled with reading their blocks, but both also showed some moves and some ability to break tackles.  Hyde finished with 58 yards rushing while Hill had 42.  Also seeing some action this week were Kiero Small for Jacksonville (10 carries for 29 yards and a score), Terrance West for Texas (4 carries for 11 yards), and Alfred Blue for Las Vegas (5 carries, 8 yards). WR: Houston’s Mike Evans led all rookie receivers with 7 catches, garnering 79 yards on the day in his debut.  OBJ had 4 catches for 45 yards and his first pro TD in New Jersey’s tight win over Birmingham.  While Trey Burton of Portland led all tight ends with 3 catches for 16 yards.  LA’s Marqise Lee had a quiet start with only 2 catches on the day for the Express. Oakland’s Richard Rodgers also had 2 catches, but served mostly as a 2nd TE behind Zack Ertz for the Invaders. Defenders: Orlando’s Anthony Barr led all rookie defenders in both snaps (52) and tackles (6), followed by Las Vegas rookie Kyle Van Noy (also 6 tackles).  Among the pass rushers, Denver’s Shaquile Barrett, and Orlando’s Ego Ferguson were the only two rookies to record a career-starting sack on the week.  Among DB’s Tampa FS Lamarcus Joyner was the lone defensive rookie to earn a pick on the week. Dixon Playing with a Chip on his Shoulder It appears that Anthony Dixon has not taken well all the questions surrounding the retirement of Blitz HB Ron Dayne and the general tone that the run game is going to take a huge step down.  Dixon, who filled in for Dayne with great success in 2012, was running angry on opening weekend, leading all rushers in the league with 95 yards on 18 carries a very healthy 5.3 yards per carry.  Dixon may not have the pedigree or the name recognition of some of the other starting backs in the league this year, but he is the first to say that none of that matters if he can tote the rock with success. Baltimore coach Jim Caldwell fielded a lot of questions leading up to the season opener, questions about his offense and about concerns he may have that the team did not pursue a big name back in free agency  or the draft.  Other than signing short-yardage back Cedric Benson, Baltimore largely stood pat.  Caldwell, to his credit, stood behind Dixon, stating that with him available, the halfback position was not a priority in the offseason.   Dixon paid him back for the confidence with a strong first week as he staked his claim to the bell cow title as the number one back for the Blitz. Cole Impresses After Offseason Bulk Up Defensive End Justice Cole came back to bite the team that originally drafted him in 2010. The former Wrangler had a strong 2013 season in Denver, with 7 sacks on the year, and came into the offseason with a pretty solid lock on a starting job. He spent the offseason adding 25 lbs, all of it muscle if you can believe his post-game interview. He showed off his new muscle on Friday Night, sacking Arizona QB David Carr three times, including a key late sack to help Denver preserve a 3-point win over the defending league champions.  In post-game interviews, Cole cited his motivation to play against Arizona, a team that only gave him 2 starts in 3 years, and to prove to Coach Jauron that he was ready to be a valuable piece of Jauron’s defense in 2014.  When asked about his goal for the year, he said his personal goal was to double his sack output from 2013 (from 7 to 14) but that this was not as important as helping Denver get the SW Division title and a good playoff run.   From the look of it, Cole is in a great place both physically and mentally. Several NFL Transfers Sit Out Week 1 With several NFL signings just in the past 10 days and with the fall-to-spring scheduling adjustment cutting very short the rest and recovery time for NFL players joining the USFL, it is not a surprise that many of the NFL signees did not see the field for opening weekend.  We got a bit of a taste of things to come from players like Philadelphia DT Jonathan Babineaux, Las Vegas DE Lamarr Houston, and Denver CB Aqib Talib, all of whom contributed on limited snaps in Week One, there were several noticeable absences on the sideline, including New Orleans WR Kenny Britt, Tampa Bay LB Brian Orakpo, Seattle LB Calvin Pace, and Texas HB Chris Johnson, all held out of the 53 man roster for the games this week.  Donald Brown was in uniform for the Invaders but did not get a snap, while St. Louis receiver Eric Decker did not make the trip with the Skyhawks for their opener. This is a pattern we have seen in past USFL seasons, with several NFL players signing just as the season begins, and with several still recovering physically from NFL playoff appearances or the long fall season, it is quite common for USFL clubs to hold off until Week 2 or 3 before some of the transfers make the field.  So, for those of you who saw the NFL import as a savior for your club, give it just a bit of time and you will see your new superstar, or hoped-for superstar, on the field. While there were some games impacted by injury in the league’s opening week, including the finger jam that took Jake Locker out and sent Johnny Manziel to the field in the Texas-Dallas game, the good news is that there are very few games that will cost players games, and only 1 player will miss significant time.  That is a pretty successful first week, though we suspect that fans of the Stars are not too excited about having Matt Gutierrez listed as “doubtful” for this week with a shoulder injury, even if the stiffness in his throwing shoulder is considered a minor concern.  Here is your injury breakdown for Week 1: OUT C             Russell Bodine                 OAK      Broken foot                     8-12 Weeks G             Mitch Petrus                    CHI        Miniscus                        1-2 Weeks HB         Knowshon Moreno         ORL       Concussion                       1-2 Weeks SS           Rahim Moore                    LA          Concussion                       1-2 Weeks G            Long Howell                    ORL       Arm                              1-2 Weeks SS           Shane Welton                  CHA      Pinched Nerve                 1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL G            Andy Alleman                  BAL        Hand QB         Matt Gutierrez                 PHI        Shoulder C             Shane O’Hara                  STL         Pinched Nerve DE          Adewale Ogunleye        LVS        Knee OT          Winston Justice              OHI       Neck QUESTIONABLE WR         Cobi Hamilton                 MEM     Concussion G            Paul McQuistan              POR      Wrist DT          Desmond Bryant            SEA        Shoulder Thunder Struggle to Sell Tickets for Season Opener Concerns around the league about the “lame duck” season in Las Vegas appear to be coming to fruition.  Las Vegas was on the road for the opener, but are scheduled to face the Portland Stags next week.  To say that ticket sales are slow might be an understatement. The team sold only 11,000 seaosn ticket packages, well below the league average of 33,206.  Single game sales are equally as disturbing and current estimates say the club will be lucky to get 20,000 for their season opener.  It seems that unlike Boston’s angry fans, the overwhelming emotion in Las Vegas is apathy.  This may be just a different way to show anger with the Thunder, or perhaps it is because, unlike Boston, there is an immediate plan to put a team in Las Vegas with the opening of their new stadium in 2015.  Fans seem to be holding off on any emotion towards the Thunder and investing in the new club which will arrive next year. The league had hoped to see a lot of visiting fans fill the gap so that Sam Boyd stadium would at least look full and have enthusiastic fans, even if they were road team fans.  Perhaps it was a bad choice to have Portland as the season opener at home, as Stag fans tend not to travel as some other fan bases do, so we are not expecting a big Portland contingent to make the trip to Las Vegas.  We will see if other fanbases accommodate the Thunder by traveling. They will face Washington in Week 4, Chicago in Week 5, and LA in Week 6.  That Week 6 game may be the best hope as the drive from LA to Las Vegas is one many Angelinos make each year, so if the Express fanbase is up for a road trip, Vegas makes sense. Barring more visiting fan arrivals, the new owners of the Thunder may have to pull some stunts to get butts in seats in this final year in Las Vegas. Since a drop below 30,000 attendance can lead to a reduced share of the league’s revenue sharing pool,  the owners cannot simply write off the 2014 seaosn and start fresh in 2015 in San Diego.  They will want to sell tickets to ensure the Thunder get a full share of the revenue as they move to southern California.  For the league, the concern is safety. After violence and vandalism disrupted the final games in Boston, leading their final match to be relocated, the league does not want to see the same occur in Las Vegas.  Next week may tell us if that is possible, but the immediate impact seems to be folks in the city turning to other means of entertainment and giving the Thunder the cold shoulder. Atlanta & Washington Pushing for Stadium Construction While we are discussing attendance, stadia, and relocation, we should highlight that two teams from the USFL are closing in on potential stadium deals.  The first, the Washington Federals, have been pushing for a new DC-located stadium for quite a while. They found a willing partner in Major League Soccer and their DC United franchise, and it now appears that a ballot initiative will be introduced to help fund a new soccer/football stadium with an interesting 25,000/40,000/60,000 stucture is going to move forward. The proposal from the USFL and MLS teams is to build a stadium with three decks or layers. The main level would have a capacity of 25,000 and would include both endzone sections as well as a lower deck surrounding the field. This would be the only section in use for MLS DC United games.  The middle deck, comprised of 28 boxes and a thin strip of open air seating, would boost the attendance capacity to 40,000 and could be used for large concerts, global events like the Copa America or even World Cup soccer tournaments, or for the Army-Navy game, for example, and then the upper deck, which would feature steep stadium seating on both sidelines, would add another 20,000 and would be open primarily for Federals games. With RFK well beyond its prime, the Federals and the DC United Club are pushing hard to get a new facilty in the region, and with the NFL Redskins still petulantly refusing to open up their facility in Maryland as a potential venue, the best hope for the Federals appears to be a new facility in the District itself, one which may be only 1 vote away from becoming reality. The more surprising initiative is in Atlanta, where both the NFL Falcons and USFL Fire are pushing the city to build a new convertible roof stadium. This is a bit of a shock as the Georgia Dome is only 12 years old, having opened in 1992 in advance of the 1996 Olympics.  Twelve years is a short shelf life for a stadium that cost over $200M to build.  The structure itself is sound, the systems and facilities are certainly not in disrepair, but, apparently, the new focus on retractable roof stadia, along with massive multimedia screens and higher luxury suite capacity is pushing the NFL, and now the USFL with it, to ask for a new facility in Atlanta. With the relative youth of the Georgia Dome, as well as Atlanta’s commitment to begin construction on a new baseball facility for the Braves this fall, a new stadium, particularly one with a price tag likely to be well over $1B, seems a long term strategy and not an immediate need either for the city or for the two leagues.  That said, with new stadia sitting ready for 2015 tenants in both Las Vegas and Oklahoma City, as well as strong expansion bidding groups in Miami, Minnesota, and Salt Lake City, can the city of Atlanta risk losing the USFL Fire?  That is a question the Fire franchise hopes is a resounding “No”. Top 10 Rivalries in the USFL We will be running a 15-part series on the best rivalries in the USFL, a nice topic for debate and discussion, especially when we start ranking them.  Rivalries are a huge part of any sports league. Sometimes based on geography and inter-city competition, other times based on frequent playoff matchups, or just a few key games that built up bad blood, a rivalry can turn a game into an event, a season series into a blood feud.  We looked at the league’s oldest, nastiest, and most intriguing 2-team rivalries and distilled it into a pool of 15.  We will reveal one rivalry a week, with today having the added bonus of a few Honorable Mentions, concluding in Week 15 (and leaving Week 16 free for all the news that always comes at season’s end.   We start off with our honorable mentions and then our 15th best rivalry in the USFL. Honorable Mention: There are certainly going to be cases made for the 4 rivalries we considered legitimate but just not up to the intensity of the top 15.  Some of these are inter-divisional rivalries that just don’t get a lot of chances to be rekindled, others are just rivalries so one-sided that they don’t merit the hype of others, or rivalries where the two teams don’t share the same passion, a bit too one sided.  The four we think just miss the mark are: New Jersey-Los Angeles:  Yes, one of the first games ever played back in 1983, and a nice cross-country rivalry between the cities, but this is not Yankees-Dodgers.  It is a way to hype the game between the two when they play, but fans just don’t feel it. Birmingham-Atlanta:  This is one the league has tried to build up since a version of the Fire came into the league in 1985, but it just has not taken hold. Yes, Georgia and Alabama have longstanding issues, mostly built around the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide, but with the Fire and Stallions in different divisions and with both having stronger rivalries within their division, the hate just is not that intense within the USFL pairing. New Orleans-Birmingham: This one is a divisional matchup, but it just seems that while Breaker fans love to get up for their game against Birmingham, the Stallion fans only get truly excited when they see Memphis on the schedule.  A good example of a one-sided rivalry, so not a good example of a fierce one. Jacksonville-Tampa Bay:  Yes, part of the 3-team Florida Derby series, but compared to the Renegade-Bandit rivalry, this one falls a bit flat.  They certainly play often enough, 58 times since 1984, and Bulls fans certainly get up for it, but Bandit fans are less intense about this one than their rivalry with Orlando, so it just did not make the cut for us. A relatively new rivalry, we will give you that.  The Fire and Monarchs have only been around since the 2006 and 2008 expansion cycles, but in that short time, the two rivals from the SE Division have had their share of clashes, controversies, and playoff-impacting matchups.  It began in 2008, Charlotte’s first year, when the Monarchs outperformed the Fire and Charlotte fans decided to rub that in over the offseason.  Since then the two have both won multiple division titles, to a degree almost overperforming the three Florida teams in the division.  Atlanta won the title in 2010,and 2012 and Charlotte in 2013, edging the Fire by only ½ game, thanks to a tie with New Orleans.  The mix of regional rivalry between the traditional “Capital of the South” and the new southern boom town is a part of the mix as well, and we even here there is some back and forth among fans about barbecue, which, if you know southern BBQ arguments, can get ugly fast. OVERALL RESULTS: 8-4 Charlotte PLAYOFF RESULTS: 0-0 Week two is headed our way, with 7 of 14 games occurring in divisional play, including one of our favorite rivalry games as Philly heads to New Jersey. The week kicks off with another NE Division matchup as Pittsburgh will be in Washington for NBC's Friday Night Lights. On Saturday we have the Stars-Generals game, but also interesting interdivisional games between Houston @ Nashville, Atlanta @ St. Louis, and LA @ Texas in the ESPN late game. On Sunday we have 5 divisional matchups, including the Breakers @ Birmingham, Orlando @ Jacksonville, Tampa @ Charlotte, Portland @ Las Vegas (good seats still available), and it all wraps up with Ohio visiting Michigan. FRI @ 8pm ET                   Pittsburgh (1-0) @ Washington (0-1)                      NBC SAT @ 12pm ET                Houston (1-0) @ Nashville (1-0)                              ABC SAT @ 12pm ET                Oakland (1-0) @ Baltimore (1-0)                              FOX SAT @ 4pm ET                  Seattle (1-0) @ Arizona (0-1)                                      ABC SAT @ 4pm ET                  Atlanta (0-1) @ St. Louis (0-1)                                    FOX SAT @ 7pm ET                  Philadelphia (1-0) @ New Jersey (1-0)                  NBC SAT @ 9pm ET                  Los Angeles (0-1) @ Texas (1-0)                                ESPN/EFN SUN @ 12pm ET              New Orleans (0-1) @ Birmingham (0-1)                ABC SUN @ 12pm ET              Orlando (1-0) @ Jacksonville (0-1)                          FOX Regional SUN @ 12pm ET              Tampa Bay (1-0) @ Charlotte (0-1)                          FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET                 Dallas (0-1) @ Chicago (1-0)                                      ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET                 Denver (1-0) @ Memphis (0-1)                                  ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET                 Portland (0-1) @ Las Vegas (0-1)                              FOX SUN @ 8pm ET                 Ohio (1-0) @ Michigan (0-1)                                      ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joe Flacco begins his 2014 campaign with a 300-yard game, throwing 3 touchdowns in a come from behind victory at Dallas. Flacco had to lead the Outlaws to two scores in the final 4 minutes to secure a road win in front of nearly 55,000 fans at Dallas's Cotton Bowl Stadium.

The second part of our season preview focuses on where the teams are now and what their prospects for the future hold.  We will break down all 6 divisional races, make our annual playoff predictions, and go in depth on all 28 clubs, their off-season moves and signings, their potential for this season, and our best guess (and it really is a guess more often than not) at who is on the rise, and who may be headed for a bit of a slide.  We start with a story we will be following all year, the “swan song” season for the Las Vegas Thunder, sure to be a difficult one for the club before they relocate to San Diego.  We will then preview the divisions, teams, and potential award winners, and finish up with some last minute news updates and a quick look at all 14 games on tap this opening weekend of the league. LAST SEASON OR LOST SEASON? The Thunder are preparing for their final season in Sin City, already shifting some team operations to their new home, San Diego, but still playing out the 2014 season as a lame duck franchise in the home they adopted after moving from Portland in 2004.  It has been a rough decade for the Thunder, with stadium issues, ownership issues, and a topsy-turvy decade on the field, but this season could be the weirdest and most turbulent of all. What can we expect from the Thunder this year?  Well, as we have come to expect, we should plan on seeing a lot of visiting fans at Sam Boyd Stadium for each home game. The Thunder and the city of Las Vegas have always been a popular road trip option for fans of visiting teams, but with only 11,000 season tickets sold for the final year of the Thunder in Las Vegas, there will be more seats than ever available to out-of-towners who step away from the strip for a USFL game.  We should also expect that with a new club already planned for 2015, fans in Las Vegas will be eagerly awaiting their new club, ditching their Thunder gear, and very likely openly hostile to the league and the team’s failed ownership group.  How that manifests at games is yet to be seen, but if the example of the Boston Cannon’s departure from BC’s Alumni Stadium is anything to learn from, the league should absolutely invest in beefed up stadium security. The new domed stadium, still seeking a corporate sponsor for the naming rights, is scheduled to open in time for a 2015 season opener for the USFL, and the city along with its stadium authority also continue to push for an NFL club to join the USFL in the stadium.  It will be a showcase venue, just steps off the famous Las Vegas strip and providing something Thunder fans have never felt, a cool, comfortable climate controlled environment for the home team’s games.  Just how the league will place a team in Las Vegas for 2015 is still unknown, though we expect that relocation will be the solution, but the league has committed to fill the stadium that it has largely financed. As for 2014, the Thunder not only have to contend with the fallout from their relocation and sale, but also from a 2013 season that saw them start 6-2 only to drop 7 of their final 8 games and miss the playoffs that seemed so likely at midseason.  The Thunder have a new head coach in former Panther head man Dick LeBeau.  A no-nonsense disciplinarian and defensive strategist, it will be a dramatic shift from the more easy-going and offensive-minded June Jones.  How the Thunder react to their new leader, their new direction, and to all the craziness that is sure to ensue over the next season and the next year will be a story we will continue to follow all season long. ANALYSIS OF THE 6 DIVISIONS Twenty eight teams in six divisions. How will they rank?  Who will take the division titles and who will compete for one of 6 Wild Cards across the league?  Will any of the 2013 division winners tumble as St. Louis did?  Will any non-playoff teams rise up like Arizona did last year?  We keep telling you that your guess is as good as ours, but you keep asking us to make picks anyway, so here they are. This feels very much like a 2-team race once again, with the Stars and Federals battling it out all season.  We feel a bit more confident about Philadelphia, so we are going to give them the division once again, but we see this as a 1-game swing either way.  Of the remaining 3 teams, we think Pittsburgh is best positioned to make a run, but would not be shocked if New Jersey rebounded from a disastrous 2013 with a strong season under Norv Turner.  We see Baltimore as heading into a rebuild cycle and lacking the firepower to challenge this year. Five Players to Watch in the Northeast: HB Anthony Dixon (BAL): Replacing Ron Dayne may seem an impossible task, but in 2012, when Dayne missed nine games, Dixon rushed for nearly 1,000 yards. The Blitz are counting on him being able to step up and step into the bell cow back role this year. TE WR Odell Beckham Jr (NJ): The Generals seem primed to have OBJ line up with Doug Baldwin as a starter from day one, and if his 131-yard preseason game is any indication, he may explode onto the scene in that role. Travis Kelce (PHI): As a rookie, Kelce had 70 receptions and 658 yards in only 12 games. He could make a legitimate run at 1,000 yards in 2014, which for a TE is a rare thing. DT Aaron Donald (PIT): Already a well-known commodity in the Pittsburgh area after a stellar career at Pitt, the big, brawny DT could now become a household name nation wide. Expect the Maulers to use Donald for more than blocker-occupation. They want him to penetrate and disrupt, something he did regularly as a Pitt Panther. DE Chris Long (WSH): After a 14-sack outburst in 2013, the Feds are hoping to see even more from their left end. The goal this year will be to put Long in a position to get one-on-one blocking assignments, with 20 sacks the ultimate goal. Our Projected Standings: Philadelphia*                  12-4 Washington*                   11-5 Pittsburgh*                       9-7 New Jersey                       8-8 Baltimore                          5-11 This division could see as many as 4 teams competing for a title, and could have a division winner with as few as 8-9 wins on the year.  Charlotte seems to be losing a step, and their advantage over Atlanta was not a big one to begin with. We also like Tampa Bay to make a run, Orlando to potentially surprise some folks, and, yes, Jacksonville to bring up the rear once again. Five Players to Watch in the Southeast: LB Luke Kuechley (ATL): The Fire snagged Kuechley from Boston/Dallas last year and he struggled a bit to adapt to a new system, but this offseason has been a good one for the MLB and Coach Ramsey says that he expects the former BC star to come into his own this season, seeking his first 100-tackle season in the league. FS Tre Boston (CHA): The UNC product will be the only rookie starter on the Monarchs squad, and starting as a rookie in the free safety position can be a big challenge. We will see if teams try to exploit his inexperience with slot receivers and tight ends. OT Taylor Lewan (JAX): Another rookie starter, Lewan will move from this LT position at Michigan to the right side in Jacksonville, at least at first. We may well see him take over the LT slot by midseason. QB Russell Wilson (ORL): In his first year as a starter, Wilson put up 19 touchdowns (15 picks) and threw for over 3,200 yards. The goal this year is to see his TD:INT ratio move towards 2:1 and to turn yards into points. HB Jahvid Best (TBY): Replacing a legend is never easy, so Best's role, stepping in for Willis McGahee, will be to create his own identity. In his best prior season, 2012 in Seattle, Best had 649 yards rushing. He may need to double that total to win over skeptical Bandit fans. Our Projected Standings: Tampa Bay*                       10-6 Charlotte*                           9-7 Atlanta                                 8-8 Orlando                               6-10 Jacksonville                        6-10 This feels like New Orleans’s division to lose, with Birmingham and Memphis the most likely competition, but at least one or two steps behind.  The bigger question for New Orleans is if they can be better in inter-divisional play, improving enough to take on the big guns from the Northeast?  We are not sure, but in the South they do seem the best team.  We are also looking at Nashville as both a potential basement dweller in Greg Roman’s first year at the helm. Five Players to Watch in the South: WR Julian Edelman (BIR): With the departure of both Moss and Owens, Edelman is the receiver on the squad with the most career receptions. Can the career slot man expand his role to become a primary target for Cam Newton? LB NaVorro Bowman (MEM): Now in his 5th year with the Showboats, a lot will be placed on the defensive captain to improve this defense and build a cohesive squad. Yet to reach 100 tackles in any season, Bowman has to lead by example. QB Eli Manning (MEM): If the Showboats are going to move into playoff position for the first time since 2008, it is going to be the offense that gets them there, and that means that Eli Manning has to show us all that he truly is an elite QB in the league and not just a decent QB who occasionally has explosive games. HB Ray Rice (NSH): Rice had his first 1,000 yard season in 2012 wth LA, then 1,100 with Nashville in 2013. Can his stock keep rising? The Knights could certainly use the balance that comes with a strong run game. HB Jeremy Hill (NOR): A lot is expected of the LSU product, with Matt Forte gone, the run game could be his. The Breakers have high hopes for this season and Hill coming out of the gate strong could be a big piece of those hopes. Our Projected Standings: New Orleans*                   10-6 Birmingham                        8-8 Memphis                             8-8 Nashville                             3-13 This division depends a lot on whether or not St. Louis can rebound from a disappointing 2013 season.  If they can return to their 2012 league title form, then we have a really nice 2-team race. If not, then Chicago may run away with this division.  We think that both Michigan and Ohio are slowly getting closer to the leaders, but they don’t seem ready to be there yet unless one can pull off an Arizona-like leap this season.  Our Projected Standings: Five Players to Watch in the Central: WR Aaron Dobson (CHI): Dobson had over 1,000 yards but only 4 TDs as a rookie. For Chicago to develop an elite passing game, they will need more out of him in his 2nd year. QB Kirk Cousins (MGN): A season with 23 TDs and 3,500 yards is a great start, but for Michigan to get over the hump, Cousins will have to work on avoiding mistakes. Another 18-pick season will have new head coach Jim Johnson looking for other options. DE Justin Tuck (MGN): The former NY Giant had 22 sacks last year in the NFL. The Panthers would be overjoyed to see those kinds of numbers from him this spring. LB Ryan Shazier (OHI): The Ohio State rookie is hoping to not miss a beat as he continues to cause chaos in Ohio Stadium. Coach Andrus would like nothing more than to see the Buckeye disrupt the Central Division the way he disrupted the Big 10. QB Josh Freeman (STL): The Skyhawk QB threw for 1,000 fewer yards and 15 fewer touchdowns in 2013 than their 2012 title year. If he cannot bounce back this year, St. Louis may not be able to rebound either. Our Projected Standings: Chicago*                         10-6 St. Louis*                     9-7 Ohio                              9-7 Michigan                        7-9 While this division is certainly Arizona’s if they can maintain their 2013 effort, we think the natural post-title hangover, along with pretty solid squads in Texas and Denver, will produce a tighter division than the runaway division crown that Arizona won last year.  There are a lot of new faces across the board in the SW Division, mostly on teams other than the defending USFL champions.  That may mean some time is needed to adjust, but it also could produce a team that rises up with the right mix of players to challenge the Wranglers. Five Players to Watch in the Southwest: HB Ka'Deem Carey (ARZ): Do we expect 200 carries or 1,000 yards from the Arizona Wildcat rookie? No, but what is needed is just a reliable back to spell Frank Gore and keep him healthy for the full season. QB Johnny Manziel (DAL): We know, we know, the season has not even started yet and you are already getting tired of hearing about "Johnny Football". Trust us when we say that the feeling is not shared in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. HB DeMarco Murray (DEN): Last year Murray said he wanted to be considered not only a starting back but an elite back, but with only 882 yards last year, he will need to prove he deserves that honor with at least 300-400 more this season. WR Mike Evans (HOU): One of two impressive rookies the Gamblers signed, along with HB Carlos Hyde, Evans has a shot to be a prime target for Matt Hasselbeck and a game changer for the Gamblers. HB Chris Johnson (TEX): The NFL import won't likely play for 1-2 games, to give his body time to recover from the NFL season, but Texas needs him to be an impact player as soon as he sees action. Our Projected Standings: Arizona *                     12-4 Texas*                       10-6 Denver*                        9-7 Houston                         7-9 Dallas                              6-10 This now feels like the division with the clearest frontrunner and the potential to only land 1 team in the playoffs.  Oakland looks and feels like a real contender, while LA, Las Vegas, and Portland all seem to be either treading water or taking a step back from their 2013 success.  We just don’t see this as a very tight division, and while we could be wrong, for now we are going to predict that Oakland is the first team to clinch a playoff berth even if they don’t end up as the top seed in the West. Five Players to Watch in the Pacific: HB Marshawn Lynch (LV): Lynch has not had a 1,000 yard season since 2009. Injuries and bad line play have stunted his talent. Las Vegas needs to set him free this year. WR Roddy White (LA): White had 1,000 yards and 8 TDs with Portland in 2012. After a rough 2013 he is now in LA, and he steps in as the number one target for Mark Sanchez. The Express are counting on him to grow into that role. TE Richard Rodgers (OAK): As excited as Invader fans are about WR Davante Adams, it may well be Rodgers who has a bigger rookie season. With Joel Dreesen gone, Oakland certainly hopes Rodgers can step up. QB Matt McGloin (POR): Coach Mornhinweg has put his faith in 2nd year QB McGloin over veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. Can the Penn State product deliver points, wins, and a playoff berth for the Stags? LB Khalil Mack (SEA): One player is not going to turn around the fortunes of the club, but don't tell that to Dragon fans, who are already canonizing Mack as the next big thing. Our Projected Standings: Oakland*                     12-4 Portland                           9-7 Los Angeles                   9-7 Seattle                              7-9 Las Vegas                       6-10 PLAYOFF PREDICTONS OK, we have the standings and the 12 playoff teams. Here is what we see happening.  Oakland and Philadelphia get the 1 seeds, with Arizona and new Orleans the twos (so no changes at the top).  The wild Card round sees only 1 upset, with St. Louis upending Texas in San Antonio.  The other top seeds all advance, Setting up Washington @ New Orleans, Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, St. Louis at Oakland and Chicago at Arizona.  Again, the favorites rule, with one exception, the Federals upend the Breakers.  Eastern Conference is Washington v. Philadelphia, and the West is a rematch with Arizona now traveling to Oakland.  Our pick for the Summer Bowl in Atlanta is for the Stars to return for another shot, where they will face Oakland, the two one seeds making it through once again. This is where it is a real toss up.  Good arguments can be made for either club, but we have a bit of a soft spot for Coach Green, Joey Harrington, and the Invaders, so we are going to pick Oakland to take home their second title and Philadelphia to once again be stymied in the Summer Bowl.  Of course, astute observers will quickly note that we did not even pick Arizona to make the playoffs last year, and we are very rarely even close, having missed on the SkyHawks the year before as well.  So, this is why they play the games. TEAM BY TEAM PREVIEW We have looked at the divisions and made our playoff picks.  Now it is time to look a bit more closely at all 28 clubs, who they have lost, who they have added, and what we think it all means for each.  It’s team by team previews, so be prepared for a lot of new names and a lot of pure speculation. BALTIMORE 2013 Record: 8-8, 3rd in division Head Coach: Jim Caldwell Departures: LB A. Crowell (FA), QB K. Kolb (FA), WR C. Thorpe (BAL), CB C. Graham (FA), DT J. Zgonina (NFL), CB J. Bell (CFL), P T. Gowin (RET), WR R. Ferguson (RET), HB R. Dayne (RET), G E. Steinbach (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: HB C. Benson (FA), P S. Gibson (FA), WR R. Parish (FA), CB J. Greer (NFL), QB V. Young (TRADE) Rookie Class: DT Dominique Easley (Florida), LB Marcus Smith (LVille), OT Mitchell Van Dyk (Por St) Outlook: it is hard to make the case that the Baltimore Blitz are a better team today than the 8-8 squad that barely missed the playoffs last season. Ron Dayne’e retirement is a big blow, one we are not sure the team is ready to address with Anthony Dixon and journeyman back Cedric Benson.  The team did add a pair of rookie defenders, and we like their effort to bring Jabari Greer in from the NFl, but overall this team feels a bit weaker than last year’s squad, and a lot more is going to be on the shoulders of Big Ben Roethlisberger. Predicted Finish: The NE Division is one where you simply have to be on your best every week, and we are not sure Baltimore’s best will be good enough.  We see them bringing up the rear in a rough year.  Our prediction is 5-11 and an early draft pick. NEW JERSEY 2013 Record: 4-12, 5th in division Head Coach: Norv Turner (1st year) Departures: CB A. Ward (FA), QB J. Blake (RET), DE S. Ellis (RET), G T. Reyes (RET), DT B. Mbane (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: OT J. Greco (FA), HB T. Bell (FA), G S. Mahan (FA), DE M. Harrison (FA), S A. Bethea (NFL), DE H. Melton (TRADE), G P. Zakauskas (TRADE) Rookie Class: WR Odell Beckham Jr (LSU), LB Chris Borland (Wisc), LB Telvin Smith (FSU), DE Michael Sam (Mizzou) Outlook: We all understand that 2014 will largely hinge on Sam Bradford’s return and how new head coach Norv Turner can best utilize his QB and the other offensive talent on the team. After trading away Michael Crabtree, the Generals go out and draft one of the most explosive and exciting wideouts available in LSU’s Odelle Beckham Jr.  That will certainly go a long way.  Bringing in two solid guards in Zakauskas and Mahan is another shrewd move.  Now, that defense.  That is still a problem, and losing Shaun Ellis will not help it any, even with lower cost DE’s Harrison and Melton brought in.  Expect more of a rotation on the D-line but it will be the LB group that may determine if New Jersey can compete. Predicted Finish: Somewhere between the 4-12 outing last year and the 12-4 outing in 2013 is the truth about this team.  They could stay down or could skyrocket back up, but we are going to take the middle position, 8-8 and 4th place in the division. PHILADELPHIA 2013 Record: 12-4, Division Winner, Eastern Conference Champion Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh Departures: G M. McGlynn (FA), WR J. Hardy (FA), TE D. Fells (FA), OT S. Vollmer (FA), HB K. Irons (FA), CB Q. Jammer (RET) Veteran Arrivals: LB T. Suggs (FA), DT J. Babineaux (NFL) Rookie Class: CB Jason Verritt (TCU), WR Allen Robinson (Penn ST), DE Aaron Lynch (USF), TE Cameron Brate (Harvard) Outlook: The Stars were a hair’s breath away from a title last year and they look like an even better team this year.  That defense, with the addition of Terrell Suggs and NFL DT Babineaux, is going to be just brutal for opponents.  The offense will largely be the same as last year, so as long as everyone can stay healthy this Stars squad should once again be a contender for the top seed and another Summer Bowl run. Predicted Finish: Philly’s 12-4 season last year was impressive.  Repeating in the same vein will be doubly impressive, but we think this team has what it takes to do so.  We will go 12-4 and another top seed in the East for the Stars. PITTSBURGH 2013 Record: 7-9, 4th in division Head Coach: Vic Fangio (1st Year) Departures: LB K. Bullock (FA), TE O. Daniels (FA), K E. Parson (FA), HB B. Boldin (FA), QB Q. Carter (FA), CB P. Surtain (NFL), HB K. Watson (NFL), LB K. Mitchell (NFL), DE H. Melton (TRADE), WR K. Johnson (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: WR M. Williams (FA), CB K. Lewis (FA), LB P. Posluszny (FA), K S. Graham (FA), HB T. Gerhardt (NFL) Rookie Class: DT Aaron Donald (PITT), QB Tom Savage (PITT), TE Arthur Lynch (UGA), LB Randell Johnson (FAU), HB Chris Sims (WVU) Outlook: The Maulers surprised many last year, but another sub-500 season meant that patience for what Ron Rivera was building came to an end.  In comes Arizona DC Vic Fangio, trying to recreate the magic of last year’s Wrangler D.  They have some tools to work with, including one of the best safeties in the league in Sean Taylor.  They need more QB pressure, and they need Andy Dalton to continue to develop.  Getting him a solid option at WR in Mike Williams, to go with 2nd year standouts Adam Thielen and Tavon Austin is a good start.  If DT Aaron Donald is everything we expect of him, the defense will be solid, now just put some points on the board. Predicted Finish: Pittsburgh is one of our darkhorse teams this year.  We think they have improved from last season and could jump into the 9-10 win range. We are going to be conservative and say 9-7, which could quite possibly put them in Wild Card territory. WASHINGTON 2013 Record: 10-6, 2nd in Division, Wild Card team Head Coach: Sean Payton Departures: OT V. Carey (FA), WR D. Amendola (FA), K S. Graham (FA), WR D. McCants (FA), WR R. Wallace (FA), DE R. Edwards (FA), WR B. Johnson (CFL), G G. DiNapoli (NFL), DE K. Wemberley (TRADE), HB J. Best (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: WR S. Breaston (FA), WR B. LaFell (FA), HB J. Hester (FA), K A. Vinatieri (NFL), LB D. Jackson (NFL), C Ben Jones (TRADE), G T. Bond (TRADE) Rookie Class: DT Brent Urban (Uva), WR Kelvin Benjamin (FSU), WR Jalen Saunders (OU), C Luke Bowanko (Uva) Outlook: There was a fear at the end of last season that Deuce McCallister would retire, leaving Washington in a lurch, but he is back, and Washington has added some talent around him as well, with receivers Steve Breaston and Brandon LaFell, the passing game under David Garrard (or Joe Webb) should be improved and that bodes well as Washington aims to challenge the Philadelphia Stars.  The one concerni is that the defense did not really add any major contributors, and with the loss of Ron Edwards and Kamerion Wemberley the D-line is thinner than in the past. Predicted Finish: We still like Washington as perhaps the 2nd best team in the entire conference.  The problem, of course, is that  our pick for the best team is also in their division.  We see 11-5 and another 4-seed as the top Wild Card in the mix for Washington. ATLANTA 2013 Record: 8-8, 2nd in division, Wild Card team Head Coach: Tom Ramsey Departures: C R. Tobeck (FA), LB R. Nece (RET), QB J. Palmer (NFL), OT C. Glenn (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: TE B. Hartsook (FA), QB K. Clemons (NFL), FS E. Thomas (TRADE) Rookie Class: C Marcus Martin (USC), S Nat Berhe (SDSU), WE Albert Wilson (Ga State) Outlook: After winning the division in 2012, the Fire slipped just a touch and that allowed Charlotte to take the title last year.  Atlanta needs to get to 10 wins to have a realistic chance at a title in a division where as many as 4 of 5 teams could be in the hunt.  We love the addition of Earl Thomas to the secondary and Ben Hartsook as a safety valve for Orton, but we don’t see a lot of help coming from the rookie class.  This feels very much like a team that is stuck in neutral. Predicted Finish: If Atlanta is treading water, we can’t expect a big leap in the standings.  We are going to say 8-8 once again, but this time that is 3rd place and not a playoff position. CHARLOTTE 2013 Record: 8-7-1, Division Winner Head Coach: J. Mora Jr. Departures: DT R. Sims (FA), CB C. Rogers (FA), WR A. Lelie (FA), WR S. Breaston (FA), DE F. Perry (RET), WR D. Mason (RET), QB J. Delhomme (RET), FS C. Crocker (NFL), G T. Bond (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: WR C. Thorpe (FA), CB D. Cox (FA), WR J. Hardy (FA), DE K. Wemeberley (TRADE) Rookie Class: S Tre Boston (UNC), OT Morgan Moses (Uva), G John Urschel (Penn St), S Jonathan Dowling (WKU), LB Brock Coyle (Montana) Outlook: The Monarchs won the division last year, but had some major losses in the offseason, including QB Jake Delhomme, who had largely passed the torch to Brandon Wheedon anyway, and CB Carlos Rogers, a bigger loss.  The rookie class is not particularly impressive, and whilewe like the addition of James Hardy and Kamerion Wemberley, this still does not feel like an 11-12 win team Predicted Finish: We think 9-7 is the ceiling, and that may only be good enough for 2nd place and a possible Wild Card this year. JACKSONVILLE 2013 Record: 4-12, 5th in division Head Coach: Mike Nolan (1st Year) Departures: HB C. J. Spiller (FA), CB K. Smith (FA), WR J. Cotchery (FA), K W. Farnsworth (FA), WE A. Caldwell (FA), CB T. Williams (FA), WR L. Moore (FA), G D. Woody (RET), G A. Snyder (NFL), DT M. Stroud (NFL), OT L. Petigout (NFL), TE V. Shiancoe (NFL), S J. Jarrett (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: DT H. Melton (FA), CB J. Knox (FA), WR J. Kerley (FA), G C. Hodges (FA), WR S. Moss (FA), TE K. Winslow II (NFL), C A. Caldwell (TRADE) Rookie Class: CB Jaylen Watkins (Florida), OT Taylor Lewan (Mich), G Dakota Dozier (Furman), HB Kiero Small (Arkans) Outlook: We have said that 4 of 5 teams in the SE Division should compete for the title, and Jacksonville is the 5th team. Other than Tim Tebow putting up huge numbers, often because the team was playing from behind, there was not much positive to take out of 2013.  The offseason saw a major roster turnover, and we do like some of the additions, including NFL TE Kellen Winslow II and receivers Jeremy Kerley and Sinorice Moss, but is it enough to turn the tide?  Mike Nolan, former Breaker coach, will be charged with helping to revive the team and get more positive results. Predicted Finish:  We think Nolan has his hands full and will need at least another year to build the roster he wants in Jacksonville.  For now modest growth, perhaps 6-10 , is what we should expect. ORLANDO 2013 Record: 8-8, 3rd in division Head Coach: John Fox Departures: LB P. Posluszny (FA), WR J. McCaerins (FA), QB D. Anderson (FA), HB L. Stephens-Howling (NFL), K B. Grammatica (RET), FS T. Kiel (RET) Veteran Arrivals: TE D. Fells (FA), FS D. Bing (FA), K B. Cundiff (NFL), WR J. Maclin (NFL) Rookie Class: LB Anthony Barr (UCLA), DT Ego Ferguson (LSU), DE Kareem Martin (UNC), QB Connor Shaw (So Car), OT Seantrel Henderson (Miami) Outlook: The question the past few years in Orlando is how can a team with the best defensive player in the game keep finishing with such mediocre records.  Orlando just has not put enough around Calais Campbell to win consistently, though 8-8 is not a bad start.  While we like rookie LB Anthony Barr, the loss of Paul Posluszny in the middle will be felt.  Orlando seems to have swapped a lost player with an equivalent or even a downgrade at several positions, with few where we see potential improvement.  That is not what Coach Fox needs in order to get over the hump. Predicted Finish:  Orlando should compete in a division where 9-7 could be enough, but our feeling overall is that they could also slip a bit from 2013.  The roster just does not have enough offensive punch to scare most opponents.  We think 6-10 is a very real possibility. TAMPA BAY 2013 Record: 7-9, 4th in division Head Coach: Mike Shula Departures: CB P. Robinson (FA), SS I. Basheer (FA), WE D. Tyree (FA), G M. McFadden (FA), LB M. Beisel (FA), LB J. Vilma (NFL), FS B. Scott (NFL), HB W. McGahee (RET) Veteran Arrivals: CB C. Rogers (FA), CB C. Graham (CB), G P. McQuistan (FA), OT S. Vollmer (FA), LB NB. Orakpo (NFL), HB J. Best (TRADE) Rookie Class: DT Timmy Jerningan (FSU), S Lamarcus Joyner (FSU), S Adrian Phillips (Texas), LB Devon Kennard (USC), WR Ryan Grant (Tulane) Outlook: The Bandits had one of the most explosive offenses in the league last year, with Daunte Culpepper hitting a second wind that most did not expect.  That offense will take a hit with the departure of Willis McGahee, but we like the potential for a combo of Jahvid Best and rookie WR/HB Ryan Grant to pick up the slack.  Add to that a younger, and more talented defense, particularly with the addition of CB Carlos Rogers and NFL linebacker Brian Orakpo, and this could be a tough team. Predicted Finish: We are liking the moves Mike Shula made, and we think that the defense could be improved enough to garner a division title in a very tight division.  Our pick is 10-6 and the SE Division crown for this Bandit group. BIRMINGHAM 2013 Record:  8-8, 2nd in division, Wild Card team Head Coach: Mike Shanahan Departures: OT J. Greco (FA), DT H. Melton (FA), TE J. Thomas (FA), QB A. Wright (FA), WR R. Moss (RET), WR T. Owens (RET) Veteran Arrivals: TE D. Walker (FA), WR C. Chambers (FA) Rookie Class: OT Greg Robinson (Auburn), WR Donte Moncrief (Ole Miss), DT Kaleb Ramsey (BC), QB A. J. McCarron (Alabama) Outlook: After a quick start in 2013, the Stallions got a bit sloppy and finished 8-8, with a bit of luck to eke their way into a playoff berth.  They will need to do more to get back there, but we do like some of the talent they have added.  Their biggest issue, and it is a huge one, is at wideout, where they lose potential HOF receivers in Randy Moss and Terrell Owens. Adding Chris Chambers and rookie Donte Moncrief does not feel like enough of a backfill to make up for the loss.  So, passing game could be weaker, can they run the ball and play more consistent defense?  That too seems problematic. Predicted Finish:  Birmingham should have been a 10-win team last year but they let games slip away.  This year they cannot afford to take any weeks off.  We think 8-8 is about right, but this year they cannot count on that getting them a postseason berth. MEMPHIS 2013 Record: 5-11, 3rd in division Head Coach: Brad Childress Departures: P D. Colquitt (FA), G L. Vasquez (FA), G C. Stephenson (FA), HB M. Smith (FA), SS J. Paige (NFL), FS B. Pollard (RET), TE J. Kliensasser (RET), FS T. Jones (RET) Veteran Arrivals: CB K. Smith (FA), FB P. Hillis (FA), S Idrees Basheer (FA), P P. McAfee (NFL) Rookie Class: S Calvin Pryor (LVille), TE Crockett Gilmore (Co State), S Lonnie Ballentie (Memphis), LB Jeremiah George (IA State), CB Marcus Williams (ND State) Outlook: The Showboats found some offense last year with Eli Manning as their new QB.  This yea rthey hope to build on that, but they absolutely had to rebuild a pretty porous defense.  Bringing in CB Kevin Smith, safety Idrees Basheer, and rookie Calvin Pryor all seem like good moves that will help them defend the pass in particular.  The stealthy addition of one of the best blocking fullbacks in Peyton Hillis could also be a huge help as the Memphis run game could really boost their overall offensive production. Predicted Finish: We like Memphis to take a step forward, possibly to overtake Birmingham for 2nd place in the division.  We are going to be conservative and say 8-8, but 9 wins is certainly feasible. NASHVILLE 2013 Record: 5-11, 4th in division Head Coach: Greg Roman (1st Year) Departures: FB P. Hillis (FA), TE D. Walker (FA), G S. Mahan (FA), WR A. Merit (FA), LB B. Johnson (FA), WR C. Roby (FA), C J. Grove (NFL) Veteran Arrivals: LB A. Crowell (FA) Rookie Class: DE Dee Ford (Auburn), G Spencer Long (Nebr), C Wesley Johnson (Vandy), LB Avery Williamson (UKy), HB Branden Oliver (Buff) Outlook: As much as we love Peyton Manning, he is not the same QB we saw in the NFL, and this year very much feels like the start of a rebuild, with new head coach Greg Roman tasked with creating something new for a team that now finds itself possibly in a lot of turmoil.  There is talent in the Knights’ draft class, especially with DE Dee Ford, but they needed to do more in free agency and just did not find success.  Time and more roster improvements are absolutely needed in Nashville. Predicted Finish: We see a rough year ahead for the Knights, rough as in 3-13.  A tough result for a proud team with a lot of success in the rear view mirror and a lot of uncertainty looking ahead. NEW ORLEANS 2013 Record: 9-6-1, Division Winner Head Coach: Lamar Lathon Departures: WR B. LaFell (FA), SS C. Chavous (FA), HB M. Forte (FA), QB K. Boller (FA), CB D. Landry (FA), LB T. Marshall (FA), LB D. Smith (NFL), OT J. Hatch (NFL), TE A. Shea (RET) Veteran Arrivals: TE J. Dreesen (FA), QB Q. Carter (FA), WE K. Britt (NFL) Rookie Class: HB Jeremy Hill (LSU), S Terrence Brooks (FSU), CB Shaquille Richardson (Ariz), OT Charles Leno (Boise), LB Christian Jones (FSU) Outlook: Lamar Lathon has improved this team each year he has been at the helm and we expect the same in 2014.  The addition of Kenny Britt from the NFL feels like a very good swap for the departure of LaFell to Washington.  Joel Dreesen is a nice add at TE as well, but our favorite move may be the rookie addition of Jeremy Hill from LSU.  After years trying to turn Matt Forte into the next Thurman Thomas, that experiment is over.  Hill is a different type of runner, and paired with Mike Tolbert, could be a nice 1-2 punch. Predicted Finish: New Orleans is a pretty solid bet to repeat as champions of the division.  After a run to the Eastern Finals, the question is whether they are ready to compete with the likes of Philadelphia or Washington for a Summer Bowl berth.  We think they are close, but maybe one step short. 11-5 is our pick for the 2014 Breakers. CHICAGO 2013 Record: 10-6, Division Winner Head Coach: Greg Schiano Departures: TE B. Hartsook (FA), HB B. Tate (FA), G P. McQuistan (FA), WR T. Streets (FA), QB A. Walter (NFL), LB K. Bell (RET) Veteran Arrivals: HB M. Forte (FA), HB B. Boldin (FA), QB J. Booty (FA), TE S. Chandler (NFL) Rookie Class: G Zach Martin (NDame), LB Christian Kirksey (Iowa), DT Louis Nix (NDame), TE Troy Niklas (NDame), S Jemea Thomas (Ga Tech) Outlook: The Machine surprised many with a 10-win season in 2013, but not Coach Greg Schiano.  Despite some losses in free agency, Schiano is even more optimistic about the 2014 club.  The addition of Matt Forte and Brandon Boldin gives him some depth behind Doug Martin.  NFL import Scott Chandler has impressed in camp, and the Machine, as per usual, were able to squeeze every drop of talent out of the Notre Dame graduating class.  We particularly like DT Louis Nix.  Keep an eye on Christian Kirksey out of Iowa as well.  Not slated as a starter, he could still see a lot of snaps. Predicted Finish: Chicago has to watch out for a rebound from St. Louis, but by most accounts, they are the team to beat in the division.  The defense is getting an infusion of young blood and the offense is both balanced and stable, if a bit predictable, but that is OK.  We think they repeat as division champs, and 10-6 feels about right once again. MICHIGAN 2013 Record: 6-10, 4th in division Head Coach: Jim Johnson (1st Year) Departures: DE C. Baker (FA), WR K. Kasper (FA), WR K. Colbert (NFL), LB K. Ellison (NFL), G L. Friedman (RET), S J. Leonhard (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: S C. Chavous (FA), DE J. Tuck (NFL) , LB R. Jeanty (TRADE), Rookie Class: WR Cody Latimer (IU), G Chris Watt (NDame), DT Caraun Reid (Prince), G Jon Halapio (Florida), G Bryan Witzmann (SD State) Outlook: From one longstanding coach in Dick LeBeau to another in former Knights head man Jim Johnson.  It seems the Panthers value stability.  Now, if they could just be as consistent on the field.  Kirk Cousins made plenty of mistakes last year, in part due to the loss of Hines Ward for much of the year, but the offense had some moments and LeVeon Bell at HB proved he was the real deal.  Those are some good building blocks.  The defense needed help, and the additions of NFL edge rusher Justin Tuck and free agent Corey Chavous could be the cavalry, but this is a team that will need to undergo some transformations to match Coach Johnson’s vision. Predicted Finish: Still rebuilding, now redesigning their schemes, Michigan is a work in progress.  We think returning to 6-10 would be a solid year, 7-9 would be an accomplishment. OHIO 2013 Record: 8-8, 2nd in division Head Coach: Bart Andrus Departures: WR J. Walker (FA), CB D. Cox (FA), C E. Olson (FA), P. S. Gibson (FA), OT J. Rogers (NFL), G k. Simmons (NFL), DE C. Davis (RET), FS T. Driver (RET), SS J. Philips (RET), QB V. Young (TRADE), LB R. Jeanty (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: P. D. Colquitt (FA), G M. Petrus (FA), WR R. Brown (FA), G E. Steinbach (TRADE), S J. Leonhard (TRADE) Rookie Class: LB Ryan Shazier (OH State), OT Jack Mewhort (OH State), S Maurice Alexander (UT State), DE Cassius Marsh (UCLA), C Corey Lindsley (OH State) Outlook: Ohio surprised us with their Chris Weinke-led offense last year.  Now, can the arrival of Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier and safety Jim Leonhard do the same for the defense?  Ohio could be in the mix when it is all said and done, assuming, of course, that they avoid the late season swoon we saw last year. Predicted Finish: We think Coach Andrus learned from last year’s issues, and that the defense can be better, which puts us in a 9-7 mindset, which may just be enough for a Wild Card. ST. LOUIS 2013 Record: 8-8, 3rd in division Head Coach: Bruce Arians Departures: WR S. Moss (FA), QB J. Booty (FA), DE M. Harrison (FA), WR T. Jacobs (NFL), SS K. Curtis (RET), FS A. Edwards (RET), G P. Zakauskas (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: WR E. Decker (NFL), DT B. Mbane (TRADE) Rookie Class: DE Kony Ealy (Mizzou), CB E. J. Gaines (Mizzou), S Marqueston Huff (Wyom), QB Tajh Boyd (Clems), G Justin McCray (UCF) Outlook: The Skyhawks did not fare well in their title defense, dropping to .500 despite staying relatively healthy last year.  They lose some role players, and the management decided to part ways with Taylor Jacobs after a pretty stellar career in St. Louis.  Who will step up as the new number one receiver?  That is a huge question for the Skyhawks.  We don’t think it will be NFL speedster Erik Decker, though he will likely have a strong year.  Even with that question out there, we think St. Louis rebounds, just enough to compete for the division title, but most likely a Wild Card. Predicted Finish: We are going to say modest improvement to 9-7, and perhaps a Wild Card as the 2nd team in the Central. ARIZONA 2013 Record: 15-1, Division Winner, League Champion Head Coach: Jim Tomsula Departures: DT L. Jordan (FA), WR M. Williams (FA), K D. Buehler (FA), HB J. Dwyer (FA), DT M. Pope (NFL), DT J. Shaw (NFL) Veteran Arrivals: K E. Parson (FA), WR D. Tyree (FA) Rookie Class: DT Will Sutton (ASU), OT Ja’Wuan James (Tenn), DT Ryan Carrethers (Ark St), LB Carl Bradford (ASU), HB Ka’Deem Carey (Ariz0 Outlook: Usually we see a league champion picked a part in free agency, but Arizona had very few major contributors available for other teams to land.  They also did a fair job of replacing those they did lose.  We particularly like Ka’Deem Carey as a change of pace behind Frank Gore and Ryan Carrethers adding depth at DT.  This is a team that is very much ready to make a run at a repeat. Predicted Finish: We don’t think the Wranglers will sneak up on anyone, so 15 wins may be a lot to ask, but a division title and deep playoff run, absolute.  We say 12-4 and a possible 1 seed once again. DALLAS 2013 Record: 4-12, 5th in division Head Coach: Mike Sherman Departures: HB T. Bell (FA), FB T. Fiametta (FA), OT S. McDougle (NFL), DE C. Nwokorie (RET), SS D. Jackson (RET), OT M. Colombo (RET), FS E. Thomas (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: HB C. Spiller (FA), TE B. Watson (FA), DE C. Baker (FA), LB M. Beisel (FA), OT V. Carrey (FA), OT C. Glenn (TRADE) Rookie Class: QB Johnny Manziel (TAMU), DE Taylor Hart (Oregon), DT Shamr Stephen (UConn), OT Garry Gilliam (Penn St), S Dezmen Southward (Wisc) Outlook: A lot of change in Dallas, but none bigger than the arrival of Johnny Manziel.  Other additions, such as receiving back C. J. Spiller or TE Ben Watson should help Manziel have early success, but the biggest changes are needed on defense, and we are just not sure enough has been done for Dallas to leave the divisional basement. Predicted Finish: We think Dallas still has some roster building to do, but they should be a touch better than 2013, so we will say 6-10 but still 5th place. DENVER 2013 Record: 10-6, 3rd in division, Wild Card Head Coach: Dick Jauron Departures: LB W. Overstreet (FA), CB K. Lewis (FA), HB J. Hester (FA), DT J. Mahelona (CFL), DE R. Denney (RET), CB J. Fletcher (RET), WR P. Price (RET), C B. Jones (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: CB D. Landry (FA), CB P. Peterson (FA), CB A. Talib (NFL) Rookie Class: LB Shaquil Barrett (CO St), DE Stephon Tuitt (NDame), HB Andre Williams (BC), LB Todd Davis (Sac ST), C Weston Richburg (CO St) Outlook: Denver basically replaced and, we think, upgraded their entire CB group.  That will be a big help in this league and this division.  We also like the pick of Shaquil Barrett in the T-Draft.  We do worry that the loss of Peerless Price will be a big one, but we see Denver still competing in a 3-way race for 2nd place.  Will they get there? Predicted Finish: We are going to pick Denver to finish third in the division, and we think that 9-7 feels about right this year. HOUSTON 2013 Record: 7-9, 4th in division Head Coach: Wade Phillips Departures: C R. Pontbriand (FA), CB J. Knox (FA), WR J. Kerley (FA), HB M. Turner (NFL), QB T. Rattay (NFL), CB C. Canty (RET), WR I. Hilliard (RET) Veteran Arrivals: HB B. Tate (FA), QB C. McCoy (NFL), CB L. McKelvin (TRADE), WR K. Johnson (TRADE) Rookie Class: CB Malcolm Butler (West AL), C Travis Swanson (Arkan), HB Carlos Hyde (OH State), WR Mike Evans (TAMU) Outlook: Two very good rookies on tap for the Gamblers with Carlos Hyde taking over Michael Turner’s interior run focus while Mike Evans will replace Ike Hilliard as the red zone target and “tall receiver”.  The signing of Colt McCoy is an interesting long term strategy, perhaps designed to get fans upset about giving away Johnny Manziel to Dallas off the team’s back.  Winning will do a better job of that. Predicted Finish: We are not sure that Houston right now is not a truly mid-range, 500-level team.  They just feel like a team that can win a big game and then lose two that they should win.  So, we are going to keep them right where they were last year at 7-9 until they prove otherwise. TEXAS 2013 Record: 10-6, 2nd in division, Wild Card team Head Coach: Greg Landry Departures: FB R. Razzano (FA), WR R. Parrish (FA), WR R. Brown (FA), HB J. Finley (FA), HB A. Foster (NFL), OT R. Tucker (RET), QB L. McCown (RET) Veteran Arrivals: QB K. Boller (FA), HB C. Johnson (NFL) Rookie Class: DT Ra’Shede Hageman (Minn), LB Anthony Hitchens (Iowa), HB Terrance West (Towson), FB Roosevelt Nix (Kent), OT Jeremiah Sirles (Nebr) Outlook: The consensus 2nd best team team in the division, Texas could compete with Arizona, but that will require them to get a very good season from Chris Johnson.  The NFL import had a couple of down years in Tennessee but is hoping to rebound in the USFL.  If he does, this team could compete. Predicted Finish: We are concerned that Johnson simply does not have the dynamism he once demonstrated, the 2,000-yard capacity and break away speed.  If we are wrong, than this pick will be wrong, but we are going to say 10-6 once again and 2nd place once again. LAS VEGAS 2013 Record: 7-9, 4th in division Head Coach: Dick LeBeau (1st year) Departures: FB M. White (FA), TE B. Watson (FA), HB C. Benson (FA), WR W. Ponder (FA), QB I. Martin (FA), CB W. Allen (NFL), DE E. James (NFL), DE E. Flowers (RET), WR M. Booker (RET) Veteran Arrivals: QB K. Kolb (FA), TE J. Thomas (FA), TE O. Daniels (FA), OT J. Bragg (FA), WR D. Amendola (FA), DE L. Houston (NFL) Rookie Class: CB Justin Gilbert (OK State), LB Kyle Van Noy (BYU), HB Alfred Blue (LSU), DE Jonathan Newsome (Ball St), FB Trey Millard (OU) Outlook: This feels like a team that players are fleeing from, and despite the addition of two solid tight ends, we are not sure the Thunder are ready to move forward.  The distractions will be there, both off the field and after last year’s horrific 1-7 finish that pulled them from 1st place to 4th.  We think 4th is very possible once again. Predicted Finish: We are pessimistic about this team’s ability to bounce back after so much chaos and a very bad 2nd half last year.  We think they end up slipping a bit more to 6-10 this year, and then try to regroup in San Diego. LOS ANGELES 2013 Record: 9-7, 2nd in division, Wild Card team Head Coach: Andy Reid Departures: WR B. Lloyd (FA), HB T. Fredrickson (FA), TE P. Estes (FA), WR K. Johnson (RET), G S. Page (RET), LB G. Irons (RET) Veteran Arrivals: LB W. Overstreet (FA), WR R. White (FA), G K. Nwaneri (NFL) Rookie Class: WR Marqise Lee (USC), QB Aaron Murray (UGA), TE Ted Bolser (IU), G Andrew Norwell (OH State), WR Willie Snead IV (Ball St), DT Jimmy Slaten (MTSU) Outlook: Los Angeles came on late, won a playoff game, but then lost one their stars in Keyshawn Johnson.  They got two good-looking receivers in the draft, but right now it still feels like a hole in their overall roster strength. They will need to rely more on the run game and the defense. Predicted Finish: We think that the loss of Johnson will be significant, and so we are going to drop them a game to 8-8 for this year, as they need time to rediscover their offensive rhythm. OAKLAND 2013 Record: 13-3, Division Winner Head Coach: Dennis Green Departures: LB T. Suggs (FA), TE J. Dreesen (FA), FB S. Smith (FA), G C. Hodges (FA), WR A. Bannister (FA), HB B. Green-Ellis (NFL), K M. Hollis (RET), C A. Caldwell (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: K D. Buehler (FA), LB K. Bullock (FA), HB D. Brown (NFL), SS J. Jarrett (TRADE) Rookie Class: WR Davante Adams (Fresno), TE Richard Rodgers II (Cal), LB Trent Murphy (Stanf), FS Christian Bryant (OH State), WR Taylor Gabriel (Abeline), C Russell Bodine (UNC), G Tyler Shatley (Clems) Outlook: The Invaders lost a couple of really big pieces in LB Terrell Suggs and TE Joel Dreesen.  However, they had a very strong draft, adding two very promising offensive weapons in Adams and Rodgers (both T-Draft choices).  We also like Abeline Christian’s Taylor Gabriel as a reserve slot weapon and return man.  LB Trent Murphy could also contribute this year and the addition of NFL back Donald Brown could mean fewer carries for Ryan Williams and a nice change of pace in the run game. Predicted Finish: Oakland came really close to a title game appearance last year before Arizona shut them down.  They may face the same hurdle again this year, but we like their odds in the regular season to win the division.  We are going to say 12-4. PORTLAND 2013 Record: 7-9, 3rd in division Head Coach: Marty Mornhinweg Departures: G M. Petrus (FA), WR R. White (FA), FS D. Bing (FA), OT T. Wade (FA), CB M. Manuel (NFL) Veteran Arrivals: G M. McGlynn (FA), DT R. Edwards (FA), FB G. Jones (NFL), S D. Whitner (NFL) Rookie Class: WR Brandin Cooks (Or St), CB Pierre Desir (Lindenw), OT Kevin Pamphile (Purdue), TE Trey Burton (Florida) Outlook: While we like WR Brandin Cooks to stretch the field a bit for Matt McGloin, this still feels like a team that is just not superior to most foes in any one area, nothing they can lean on.  They will need to manufacture wins by playing error free ball, and that is a lot to ask over 16 weeks. Predicted Finish: We are going to bump up Portland to 8-8, which may be good enough for 2nd in the division but may still miss out on the postseason. SEATTLE 2013 Record: 6-10, 5th in division Head Coach: Stump Mitchell Departures: WR C. Chambers (FA), OT J. Bragg (FA), LB S. Arnaux (FA), LB I. Reese (RET), WR A. Boldin (RET), LB T. J. Slaughter (RET), CB L. McKelvin (TRADE) Veteran Arrivals: WR J. Cotchery (FA), CB T. Williams (FA), LB T. Marshall (FA), LB B. Johnson (FA), FB R. Razzano (FA), LB C. Pace (NFL) Rookie Class: LB Khalil Mack (Buff), DE DeMarcus Lawrence (Boise), G David Yankey (Stanf), P Pat O’Donnell (Miami), S Pierre Warren (Jax St), DT Beau Allen (Wisc) Outlook: Seattle brought up the rear last season, but the good news is that they got the man they wanted in the draft, trading up for LB Khalil Mack, a day one starter.  We also like the selection of DeMarcus Lawrence in the T-Draft and the addition of NFL LB Calvin Pace.  It could be a very different LB group for the Dragons, but we are still worried that their offense is not as diverse as it should be to compete each and every week. Predicted Finish: Improved over 2013, but unlikely to reach beyond .500.  We will give them 7-9, but we are not feeling confident about it. AWARD PREDICTIONS One last set of predictions before we get to our last minute news of the week and our preview of Week One’s action.  We cannot preview the 2014 season without making some picks for the various league awards.  Rather than pick one winner, we will give you a pool of 3 top candidates for each, players (and coaches) who we think are going to put up some huge results and nice numbers this year. MVP: Most Valuable We all know that this award is nearly always the domain of the best QBs in the league, with last year’s choice of Frank Gore being the exception.  So, if we look at QBs around the league, who do we think could take home this trophy?  First up is Daunte Culpepper of Tampa Bay.  He had the numbers last year, but the team’s horrible defense kept them from posting a winning record, which killed his chances.  We have the Bandits winning the SE Division this year, and with that Culpepper rockets to the top of the list.  Next up is Joe Flacco, who is consistently among the league’s best and who may well have to do more this year, particularly if Chris Johnson does not prove to be the perfect replacement for the NFL-bound Arian Foster.  Finally, we want to throw a possible comeback player here.  Sam Bradford had huge numbers in 2012, then missed most of last year with an injury.  He would have a lot of support if his numbers rebounded. OPOTY: Offensive Player Assuming the MVP goes to a QB, then we look at the other offensive positions for standout players.  Among running backs we see two who could be big vote getters. The first is Chicago’s Doug Martin.  He finished 2nd to Gore last year in rushing and could top the list this year.  If that helps lead Chicago to a repeat atop the Central, he will be a top choice.  The other potential choice comes from Philly.  We all saw how huge Steve Slaton was in the playoffs, after his own return from injury.  If he can put together a season in the vein of his playoff run, he could also be among the top rushers in the league and that, paired with a strong season for the Stars, could give him the OPOTY nod.  Finally, among receivers, we are tempted to go back to Steve Smith, but we also really like the opportunity Vincent Jackson has in Tampa Bay.  He put up huge numbers last year, and if those can be paired with a 10+ win season for the Bandits, we could imagine a Bandit sweep of MVP and OPOTY. DPOTY: Defensive Player Let’s assume that Calais Campbell is in the mix.  How could he not be?  But if Orlando is not a playoff contender, he is not the favorite.  You have to win games to win DPOTY.  Just a fact.  So, looking at teams that are in contention and their best defensive players, we see 3 names that could jump to the top.  Troy Polamalu in Arizona did not have glaring numbers last year, but that could change, or voters could simply recognize how pivotal he is to one of the league’s best defenses.  Anthony Hargrove, the big DE in Philly, has been close to Campbell in numbers for several years, but never seems to get the recognition he deserves.  Another strong run by the Stars could change that. Finally, we are going to look at a potential darkhorse in Oakland’s Justin Smith.  He is a nasty edge rusher who is most likely the closest to catching Campbell, and Oakland is a clear contender, so Smith could finally get some spotlight this year. ROTY: Rookie Always a tough category to pick.  We know that Manziel will be considered from day one, but if Dallas finishes with 10 or more losses, it seems unlikely he would get the award without gargantuan production.  Our favorite is actually a receiver, Odell Beckham Jr in New Jersey.  With Bradford back, but Michael Crabtree gone, OBJ has a real shot at being the top receiver on a pretty solid offense. That is a good position for a rookie to have.  Our second pick is on defense and it is based purely on this player’s ability to disrupt games.  We love the idea of Aaron Donald in Pittsburgh becoming the next great Steel City defensive superstar.  If he even sniffs 10 sacks and can be the effective run disruptor we saw at Pitt, Donald could be a real contender.  Our final pick is another darkhorse, because we did not think this was a very good draft for running backs, but Carlos Hyde is penciled in as the lead back in Houston and any time a rookie halfback is given the starting nod before the season even begins, that back has a shot at big  numbers and consideration for ROTY. COTY: Coach What you are looking for here is either a coach who produces a huge jump in team wins (as Jim Tomsula did with Arizona last year) or a coach who is viewed as maximizing the potential of a somewhat undermanned roster.  In the former category, we think that Mike Shula in Tampa Bay has a real shot if our predicted rise up the standings for the Bandits takes place.  New Jersey’s Norv Turner is also in this category, if and only if the Generals can rebound back over .500 in 2014.  The third candidate falls into the “if this roster can win games, he deserves it” category.  That is Nashville’s new head man Greg Roman.  We are picking Nashville to win 3 games, worst in the league.  But, if Roman can finally get big numbers out of Peyton Manning and if the Knights somehow can reach .500, that may be enough for folks to praise and honor the work of the rookie head coach in Nashville. LATE BREAKING NEWS Baltimore Adds 2 Former Glory Players to Roster Apparently unhappy after their preseason performances, the Baltimore Blitz have added two late signings to their roster, both former Ohio Glory teammates.  The first is largely uncontroversial, wideout Javon Walker, the second, center Richie Incognito, could be a bit of a concern from a PR standpoint.  Both are solid players, with Incognito having been a full-time starter in Ohio before his suspension last year and Javon Walker having contributed over 110 catches and 10 touchdowns for the Glory in the past two seasons.  The problem for Baltimore with Incognito is the cause of his suspension and eventual release by Ohio, charges of both racist and homophobic slurs used against both opposing players and teammates.  While Incognito admits to using terms which many would find offensive, he insists that his type of trash talking is common in the league and in football in general.  Neither the league or the Ohio Glory concurred with that assessment, leading first to a team suspension, and then a league extension of that sanction.  Ohio released Incognito after the 2013 season and he passed through the free agent process as well as two NFL-USFL transfer windows unsigned until Baltimore added him to the roster just this Wednesday. Walker will be a far less problematic figure, having produced good numbers for the Glory the past few seasons.  He is likely to split time with Brian Hartline as the number two receiver, though we could also see Walker as a slot receiver as well.  Incognito is not expected to appear in this week’s game, but will almost certainly see action soon, either at center or potentially replacing Terron Armstead at right tackle. Birmingham Lures Quentin Jammer Back from Retirement Another club looking to fill an area of concern has reached out to a retired player and lured them back to the game.  Quentin Jammer, former Stars All-USFL cornerback, retired this past August, but apparently was open to a return for the right offer.  Philadelphia released Jammer’s rights and the Stallions found a formula for a 1-year deal that would bring the 5-time All-USFL selection to Birmingham.  Jammer arrived at team facilities Thursday morning and is expected to make his debut with the Stallions in Week 2.  When asked about the sudden change of status, Jammer said simply that he felt healthy and ready to play and that the passion for the game was still there.  Former coach Jim Harbaugh wished Jammer well and said he would look forward to reuniting with the cornerback when the Stars visit Birmingham to face the Stallions in Week 5. Bulls Add CFL Star Kory Sheets at HB Jacksonville continues to tweak their run game in hopes of finding a combination of players who can boost one of the league’s worse rushing attacks from last year.  C. J. Spiller left in free agency and it looked like Jacksonville would go into the 2014 campaign with Lamar Miller firmly established as the lead rusher, with rookie Kiero Small as the backup, but Jacksonville has added another option with just 3 days before their opener, signing 2013 CFL star Kory Sheets to a 2-year deal. Sheets finished the 2013 Summer/Fall CFL season with 1,598 yards and 12 touchdowns, huge numbers for a league where running backs and the run game are clearly secondary to the passing game.  Sheets is a Purdue product, having rushed for 1,131 as a senior with the 2008 Boilermakers.  He will be used largely on third down and to spell Miller, but he is considered a solid option in the run game, having  proven himself up north. Federals Cut Former Bandit QB Rhett Bomar Not all the last minute transactions were additions, The Washington Federals, now with David Garrard chosen as the starter, Joe Webb the clear number two, and only one more spot on the roster for a QB, had a decision to make between two veteran backup, Cleo Lemon and Rhett  Bomar.  Bomar had come to the Feds in 2013 after 4 seasons in Tampa Bay, and that lack of familiarity may well have been the deciding factor as Coach Peyton had worked with Lemon for far longer.  The Feds released Bomar, who now becomes a free agent.  For those hoping Bomar would return to Tampa Bay, we would say not to hold your breath as the Bandits feel quite comfortable with 2012 draft pick Ryan Lindley and 2013 signing B. J. Daniels behind Duante Culpepper.  Bomar started 3 games for Tampa bay back in 2010, but has not thrown a regular season pass since that time.  That said, there are always teams looking to add an experienced QB, especially once injuries start to hit this season. Teams Make Last Minute Moves to Get Under the Cap Finally, the reality of the league’s salary cap struck several team rosters as clubs had to reach a sub-cap number by this Wednesday.  For most teams it was a matter of adjusting or extending some high cost contracts to either reduce or spread over more years the cap hit from some key players.  This is what Birmingham did, extending LB DeMeco Ryans’ deal and adjusting the pay schedule for HB Joseph Addai.  Jacksonville did likewise, extending QB Tim Tebow for 2 more years, reducing his cap hit by nearly $1M.  Ohio restructured the contract of cornerback Ashton Youboty in a similar fashion to get below the cap maximum. Other teams had to make some tough choices.  Orlando cut linebacker colin McCarthy, whose $1.2M contract was not matched with his production.  Seattle did likewise with DE Christian Ballard. The moves now put all 28 clubs under the cap, though some, like Arizona, Birmingham, Charlotte, Dallas, Jacksonville, LA, and New Jersey have less than $1M in cap space and may need to restructure some more deals or make some more roster adjustments if and when they need to sign players midseason due to injury.  At present the clubs with the greatest cap space are the Stars ($10.8M), Invaders ($7.9M), and Federals ($6.5M), which just goes to show that the teams that are effective in their financial strategy can also be clubs who have great on field success as well. WEEK 1 GAME PREVIEWS Here is a quick look at all 14 games headed your way this week. Blue indicates divisional matchups. Friday @ 8pm ET                             Arizona @ Denver                           NBC A nice divisional matchup between two bitter rivals to open the year on Friday Night Lights. Saturday @ 12pm ET                     Nashville @ Charlotte                  ABC Two teams criticized for their offseason performance.  Can one silence the critics in Week 1? Saturday @ 12pm ET                     Washington @ Tampa Bay          FOX It’s defense against offense as both teams try to impose their will on the other. Saturday @ 4pm ET                       Baltimore @ Los Angeles            ABC A cross-country trip for the Blitz as LA hopes to notch a season opening win. Saturday @ 4pm ET                       New Orleans @ Houston            FOX A pseudo rivalry between bayou neighbors as the Breakers travel to NRG Stadium. Saturday @ 7pm ET                       Chicago @ Atlanta                       NBC Not much history between these two, but both want to get off to a 1-0 start. Saturday @ 9pm ET                       Oakland @ Portland                      ESPN/EFN Is this a battle of haves and have nots in the Pacific? Sunday @ 12pm ET                        Birmingham @ New Jersey        ABC It will be fun to watch Cam Newton and to see if Sam Bradford is back to his 2012 form. Sunday @ 12pm ET                        Memphis @ Philadelphia           FOX Regional A tough way for  the Showboats to start the year, against the favorite to hoist the championship trophy. Sunday @ 12pm ET                        St. Louis @ Orlando                      FOX Regional Just how well with St. Louis’s line hold up against Calais Campbell? Sunday @ 4pm ET                          Las Vegas @ Ohio                          ABC Regional Two teams that swooned late last year and want to start strong in 2014. Sunday @ 4pm ET                          Jacksonville @ Pittsburgh           ABC Regional The Maulers have playoff aspirations, Jacksonville is still in rebuilding mode. Sunday @ 4pm ET                          Michigan @ Seattle                       FOX Two teams hoping they have put enough pieces in place to compete this season. Sunday @ 7pm ET                          Texas @ Dallas                                ESPN/EFN A new rivalry that may be sparked this year, especially if Manziel gets in the game.

Camps have closed. The preseason games have been played.  The rosters have been trimmed, and all across the USFL teams are game planning and preparing for this weekend’s opening week.  In what will be a first USFL season for many, and a final season for the Las Vegas Thunder, the league prepares to kick off once again.  In our two-part season preview we will take a look back at the moves and stories of the offseason and then take a long look at what we might expect as we enter the new season.  Today we discuss the new faces across the league, assess who we think has improved and who may have slipped over the offseason, and preview both the schedule and the Fantasy Rankings for 2014.  Tomorrow we will complete our season preview with team-by-team analysis and our predictions for this season’s results and the major awards for the USFL.  It’s almost time to kick off, so let’s get right into our look at the offseason with the 10 biggest additions we see across the league this year. Hey all, a quick update on the website. Updates have been made to the HOF and the History Pages. I still need to add some narrative to the History Page, but I have added the basics up through 2013. THE OFFSEASON'S 10 BIGGEST ADDITIONS Every team hopes their new roster proves to be more than its accumulated pieces, and every team hopes they have found the right combination of veterans, new faces, rookies, and developing players to make a run at a title.  Last year it all came together for the Arizona Wranglers, pairing a run-first offense with a shut-down defense to win the club’s first title in 31 years of existence.  Who will emerge this year and which offseason acquisition will provide the key piece to the puzzle?  We start our preseason preview by thinking about new faces in new places and who we see as the players that could prove pivotal to their teams this season.  Here is our Top 10 Biggest Additions for 2014. 10—WR Brandon LaFell (WSH) FREE AGENT It seems like the Federals have been looking for a receiver to complement Deion Branch for over a decade, in part because they have.  Is Brandon LaFell going to be the one to finally provide another target and reduce the double teams on Branch?  The former Breaker is a deep threat, but there are questions about his consistency. 9—LB Khalil Mack (SEA) ROOKIE It is a big leap from the U. of Buffalo to pro football, but fans in Seattle are counting on Mack’s athleticism and energy to help him make the leap.  Fans in Seattle are eager to see their team develop a truly dangerous pass rush, and they are looking at Mack as the answer, able to line up wide or to act as a blitzer in the middle.  The physical skills are there, but how long will it take Mack to adapt to the pro game and the level of competition he will face? 8—HB Chris Johnson (TEX) NFL IMPORT The loss of Arian Foster back to the NFL was a big blow for the Outlaws.  Foster had an outstanding 2013 campaign and Joe Flacco relies on the run game to be successful on early down throws.  Can speedster Chris Johnson be the solution?  Once marketed as the fastest man in the NFL, Johnson has seen his production dip in his last two seasons with the Tennessee Copperheads before becoming a free agent this year.  Texas is hoping that they can bring back the speedster who eclipsed 2,000 yards in the NFL back in 2009 and has never had a season below 1,000 yards. 7—LB Terrell Suggs (PHI) FREE AGENT Just what the rest of the league needed, a Stars team that was among the league leaders in sacks bringing in one of the most effective pass rushers from the LB position.  What are teams going to do when they have Anthony Hargrove occupying the tackle and Suggs coming in right behind him?  You cannot chip Suggs with a TE or HB and expect it to slow him down.  This move makes the Stars even scarier on passing downs than they were in their Summer Bowl appearance 2013 season. 6—DE Justin Tuck (MGN) NFL IMPORT New Panther head coach Jim Johnson wasted no time addressing the biggest issue the Michigan defense had in 2013.  The Panthers simply did not have enough of a threat in their front 4.  They were among the worst in the league in sack percentage and overall pressure.  Bringing in NFL import Justin Tuck, formerly of the NY Giants, is seen as a move to try to add a sense of danger to the Panther front four and to allow Michigan to provide pressure without the need to blitz, a trademark of Johnson’s defenses in his time in St. Louis and Nashville. 5—LB Paul Posluszny (PIT) FREE AGENT The Maulers surprised many with a very solid 2013 season, but their defense gave up way too many points for them to truly compete in the very tough Northeast Division.  Adding a savvy and very effective MLB to the defense gives them not only a run stuffer and solid coverage backer, but also a team leader on a defense that needed to establish an identity.  “Poz” will likely end up with 100 tackles again, but more importantly he will add continuity and confidence to a Mauler defense that has lacked both. 4—WR Odell Beckham Jr. (NJ) ROOKIE There is renewed hope in New Jersey that with Sam Bradford returning, the Generals can rebound from a disastrous 4-12 season in 2013.  The strong preseason from LSU rookie Odell Beckham Jr. has only added to that hope.  OBJ, as he is being called in the press, has had a very strong camp, and looked like a very dangerous weapon in the Generals’ preseason games.  He will be a week 1 starter alongside Doug Baldwin, and should be a frequent target for Bradford and the Generals’ offense. 3—CB Aqib Talib (DEN) NFL IMPORT Denver saw what the Wranglers did last year, and they loved the formula.  Run the ball, and play shut down defense. That is a formula that works for Dick Jauron, and for a Denver ownership that has never wanted to spend big money on offensive playmakers.  But for this formula to work, you need quality at every level of the defense.  Denver believes they have added top flight talent in the secondary with NFL import Talib.  One of the best corners in the NFL, Talib is viewed as an instant All-USFL candidate, a shut down corner that could allow the Denver D to simply write off the top receiver of each opponent they face. That is a huge ask for a new player, especially one who is coming into the league with no offseason to speak of. 2—LB Brian Orakpo (TBY) NFL IMPORT Another NFL import expected to step right in and play another 16 weeks is linebacker Brian Orakpo.  The former Redskin is part of a full defensive rebuild in Tampa Bay that also includes the signing of corners Carlos Rogers and Corey Graham, and the addition of four defensive rookies, including  DT Timmy Jernigan and S Lamarcus Joyner from Florida state.  Orakpo is seen as the lynchpin to a new defense for the Bandits.  Aggressive, fast, and hard-hitting, he is a prototypical LB for a 4-3 system. 1--Johnny Manziel (DAL) ROOKIE No shocker that “Johnny Football” is our number one new addition.  Manziel Mania has hit Dallas and the entire state of Texas full force.  The former Texas A&M star joins the 2nd year Roughnecks already a conquering hero after his time with the Aggies.  While the rookie is not expected to open the season as the starter, we know that the pressure will be on Mike Sherman to get Manziel on the field and that Jake Locker will be on a short leash. Fans want to see their Aggie hero in Dallas sky blue, and we expect that even if the club finishes 3-13 again, the presence of Manziel on the Roughneck roster will keep the excitement level high all season. 10 WINNERS & LOSERS THIS OFFSEASON For as much optimism as each USFL club and its fans have at this time of the year, the truth is that there are always team who put the right pieces together to make a leap forward, like Arizona last season, and there are teams who are weakened by the offseason, just as we saw with St. Louis in 2013.  Not every team can find replacements for lost stars, not every rookie prospect pans out immediately, and not every combination of old and new faces meshes well.  As we look ahead to the 2014 season, we choose 5 teams we think are stronger now than in July and 5 who may well be taking a step backwards. Winner: Tampa Bay Bandits The Bandits were one of the most explosive and dangerous offenses in the league last year, but the defense let them down week in and week out.  We have already highlighted the new faces on defense, led by former All-USFL corner Carlos Rogers and NFL import Brian Orakpo.  If the Bandit D can be even mid-range, we could see a resurgence of Bandit Ball. The key question is the run game. With Willis McGahee’s early retirement, the need to replace his carries and catches is key to the Bandits.  Tampa traded with the Federals for speedster Jahvid Best and signed Tulane WR/HB Ryan Grant, with the expectation that they can use that combo to absorb the touches that McGahee had given them.  If they can, we could see a much more dangerous Bandit team in 2014. Loser: Baltimore Blitz While we like how Tampa Bay addressed the retirement of their All-USFL halfback, we have to shake our heads at what Baltimore did to try to replace Ron Dayne and his annual 1,200 yard contribution.  Baltimore did not make a big play on a top tier USFL or NFL halfback.  They did not draft a back until the 5th round, and UCF’s Storm Johnson ended up signing with the NFL Jaguars, so now Baltimore is left with a HB room potentially led by chronic underachiever Cedric Benson.  For a team whose offense is predicated on a power run game, we are just not seeing how Coach Caldwell gets what he needs from his current roster. Winner: Philadelphia Stars Not that the Stars needed to improve much, having taken Arizona into overtime in the Summer Bowl last year, but adding LB Terrell Suggs, NFL DT Jonathan Babineaux, and talented TCU cornerback Jason Verrett, this Stars defense could be even better than in 2013.  The late retirement of CB Quentin Jammer will be a blow, but if Verrett is all that his senior year at TCU showed, Philly could be improved on defense, which is a scary concept. Loser: Birmingham Stallions You cannot lose both Randy Moss and Terrell Owens out of your passing game in one season and expect to rebound as if nothing has happened.  Birmingham qualified for a Wild Card last year in large part due to the development of QB Cam Newton, and a huge part of his improvement was having two All-USFL receivers to throw to.  What does he have in 2014?  Free agent Chris Chambers, and Ole Miss rookie Donte Moncrief.  Does that feel like an improvement of the position to you?  We didn’t think so. Winner: Dallas Roughnecks All the attention in Dallas is going to be on Johnny Manziel at QB, but all across the roster this Roughneck team made improvements. They were very active in free agency, using their cap space to land players who are likely to start all across the roster, from TE Ben Watson to OT Vernon Carrey.  We even like the addition of C. J. Spiller to the run game because he is such a different player than starter Rashard Mendenhall, adding a new dimension to the Roughneck offense.  Dallas also added defensive depth and O-line help in the draft. We particularly like Wisconsin safety Dezmen Southward.  This is a Dallas team that will need time to gel, but should be significantly better than the 2013 team. Loser: Charlotte Monarchs There are teams that lost more players either to free agency, the NFL, or retirement this offseason, but we are not sure there is another team that lost as much leadership from their team.  The Monarchs saw Jake Delhomme retire after an injury-shortened 2013, but they also lost WR Derrick Mason, DE Fred Perry, FS Chris Crocker, and CB Carlos Rogers. That is a ton of veteran know-how, leadership, and experience.  Charlotte had cap issues which kept them from adding veteran leadership through free agency, and their rookie class is one of the least impactful, at least on paper, so we cannot help but expect Charlotte to take a step back this year. Winner: Houston Gamblers Yes, the loss of Michael Turner was a big hit, but no team added more to their roster this year than the Gamblers.  We especially love their draft class, as the Gamblers were very successful in signing their top targets, bringing a big bruising back (Carlos Hyde), a big play receiver (Mike Evans) and a quality cornerback (Malcolm Butler) to the team in the draft.  Add to that the signing of NFL QB Colt McCoy as the heir apparent to Matt Hasselbeck and we cannot help but think that the overall adjustment to the Houston roster is a net positive. Loser: Portland Stags An unimpressive draft class, a weak free agent class, and the loss of a key defender all point towards Portland having issues with the offseason moves this year.  Yes, the Stags like WR Brandin Cooks, their one big rookie signing, but they missed on their top pick, Sammy Watkins, who signed with the NFL Bills. They also failed to address the loss of their best cornerback Marquand Manuel, unless, of course you believe that rookie Pierre Desir from tiny Lindenwood College is the answer.  We do not. Winner: Oakland Invaders The Invaders had arguable the most complete draft-and-sign periods of any team, adding two immediate offensive contributors in TE Richard Rodgers and WR Davante Adams.  Paired with Keenan Allen, the Invaders now have one of the most athletic and youngest receiver groups in the league. They also signed Stanford LB Trent Murphy from their T-Draft a solid slot option in Abeline Christian WR Taylor Gabriel.  This will be an improved Oakland roster even with the departures of TE Joel Dreesen and LB Terrell Suggs.  And we have not even mentioned the addition of NFL back Donald Brown to share carries with Ryan Williams.  Not a bad offseason at all. Loser: Pittsburgh Maulers While we like the addition of Paul Posluszny, the list of departures from the Mauler roster has to make Pittsburgh nervous.  HB Kenny Watson, CB Patrick Surtain, LB Kawika Mitchell, TE Owen Daniels, QB Quincy Carter and LB Keith Bullock.  That is a lot of quality that is no longer there.  And while rookie Aaron Donald is impressing us all in the preseason, we are not sure the end result is a net positive for the Maulers, especially on offense where the addition of NFL back Toby Gerhardt to try to replace Watson’s production seems a stretch. 10 BIGGEST QUESTIONS FOR 2014 New arrivals, new coaches, new systems, and new challenges. That is what the offseason brings.  It also brings a lot of questions.  The impact of the offseason can provide optimism, but it also brings a sense of the unknown.  As we look at the 2014 season ahead of us, there are a lot of questions to be answered.  We picked the 10 that we find most interesting as the season gets ready to kick off. Which of the New Coaches Is Positioned to Win Now? Five new coaches across the USFL and as we usually see, most are not coming into the best situations.  Mike Nolan will have a tough time in Jacksonville, at least with the roster he has inherited.  Similarly, both Michigan and Nashville appear to be in rebuilding phases for Jim Johnson and Greg Roman.  New Jersey is an interesting case, and it all depends on whether or not we believe Norv Turner inherited a 12-4 team that had a bad year in 2013, or a 4-12 team that played way over their heads in 2012 to reach 12 wins. Perhaps the two teams that are closest to a possible immediate surge for their new coaches are the Thunder for Dick LeBeau, and the Maulers for Vic Fangio.  Both clubs were on the cusp of the playoffs last year, and both certainly have some talent to work with. Of course, the Thunder have all sort of other issues to deal with now that they have been sold off and scheduled for relocation.  That alone means that Vic Fangio in Pittsburgh may have the easier task, but the fact that they are now in the NE Division means that he will have Philly, Washington, and possibly even a resurgent New Jersey to deal with. Which 2nd Year Player Will Break Out This Season? Looking exclusively at 2012 rookies who did not have huge seasons already, who could be ready to break out in their sophomore season?  We have 4 names to watch.  Cornerback Darius Slay earned a starting gig by the end of the 2012 season and we think the former Mississippi State Bulldog could be a good one for a pretty solid Fire Defense.  Another corner, Jordan Poyer, has locked up the nickel spot, and could also see some time at the number two position for the Machine. On offense, our wideout to watch is Tim Dwight in Dallas.  The speedster was not given a lot of opportunities in 2012, but when thrown the ball he showed good hands and breakaway speed potential.  Robert Woods in LA will also see his stock rise with the retirement of Keyshawn Johnson.  LA brought in Roddy White, but Woods could be a top 3 target for Mark Sanchez this year.  Finally, while LeVeon Bell and Eddie Lacy came out strong in their first year, another 2012 rookie HB could be ready to break into the limelight this year.  Watch out for C. J. Anderson in Seattle.  He is a big, bruising back who the Dragons want to use more on short yardage and red zone carries.  We could see him even get a chance to supplant Cadillac Williams as the lead back if his early game show promise. Will Any Team in the South or Southeast Win 10 Games? Boy, it sure seems unlikely the way things have looked the past few years.  Both of these divisions could be described as highly competitive and balanced or as weak and inconsistent.  In the Southeast, we could envision Atlanta, and possibly Tampa Bay making a run at 10+ wins, but we are just not sure they are good enough to consistently win the games they are favored to win.  In the South, New Orleans and Birmingham look like the two most likely clubs to make a run this year, but both are still flawed and struggle with non-divisoin opponents.  We think the odds are good that both divisions see another 8 or 9 win champion in 2014, unless, that is, someone puts the pieces together and breaks out. Is there a 2013 Non-Playoff Team Ready to Jump to the Front of the Class? It depends who you ask, but there are several we are keeping our eyes on.  Pittsburgh has a shot, especially if Baltimore slips a bit with the retirement of Ron Dayne.  If 2013 is a fluke, then we have to expect New Jersey to also make a run. Orlando is on the cusp if they could just be a bit more consistent on offense, and in the West, we think that Houston, Ohio, St. Louis and Portland could all be close.  Will any of them jump up to 15-1 like Arizona did last year?  No.  That seems unlikely, but 10 wins, possibly for any of these teams, and that would give them a shot at a division title, at least for a good number of them. Which New Arrival Will Have the Biggest Impact for Their Team? From a marketing and merchandise perspective, the obvious answer is Johnny Manziel, but from a wins and losses perspective, our favorite new face on a roster has to be LB Brian Orakpo with the Bandits.  As we have said before, even a mid-level defense gives Tampa Bay a real chance to be a contender, even without McGahee on the squad.  Orakpo brings leadership, experience, and a lot of talent to a linebacker group that could determine if the Bandits are again a bottom 5 defense or can reach the middle of the pack. Can Johnny Manziel Be the Hero Dallas Wants Him to Be? No. Simply put, no. But he can be the start of something.  Dallas is not there yet. They still have a lot of issues in a lot of places, and asking a rookie QB to come in and immediately turn things around is unrealistic.  But what Dallas wants is for Manziel to offer those moments of magic that give the team hope for the future, that show that they have potential. Doing that would establish Manziel as a “hero” of sorts in Big D, but we think that the key for this year is to establish the groundwork for the future, not try to get it all now. How Will the Thunder Rebound From a Rough Year? Considering they are in franchise limbo this year, not only likely dealing with hostility at home in Las Vegas, but always looking towards 2014 and San Diego, that is tough.  Add to that a new coach with new systems, and a squad likely to be haunted by their 1-7 finish last year, and we think this could be another emotional rollercoaster of a year for the Thunder.  Their goal this year should be to bond and build on what they have, make a push to be ready to roll in 2014 in their new home, in front of a new fanbase, and with a new lease on life. Can New Jersey Return to their 2012 Form Under Norv Turner? That is the hope. With Sam Bradford back, with an exciting rookie receiver already making waves in the preseason, and with a coach who is known for his offensive schemes, the hope in New Jersey is that the 4-win 2013 season was a fluke, not the 12-win 2012 season.  We like Norv’s chances to at least have the Generals competitive in a way they often were not in 2012.  Having Sam Bradford back will make a huge difference, of course, but the key may well be the defense.  New Jersey has a new strong safety in NFL import Antoine Bethea, a new pass rush combo with Gholston joining Kampman up front, and a LB group that is still trying to find itself with Blackburn and Maualaga in their 2nd year with the team.  But this is a team that has talent at some key positions, and while they face an uphill battle with both Philly and Washington looking clearly like two of the best teams in the conference, there is room for them to make a push if they can put the pieces in place. Has Philadelphia Set Themselves Up for a Title? Boy, it sure looks like it.  Finishing 2nd to the Wranglers last year did not sit well with Coach Harbaugh and the Stars. They were active in the offseason, adding quality in players like NFL DT Jonathan Babineaux, former Invader LB Terrell Suggs, and rookie corner Jason Verritt.  The defense that was among the league’s best last year could be even better.  The big question now is if Matt Gutierrez can return to his 2012 form, bouncing back from a mildly underwhelming 2013, we say that despite them carrying a 12-4 record into the playoffs and winning the conference title.  They were ready for a title last year, and may be even more prepared this year to get the club’s 5th. Can Arizona Become Only the 2nd USFL Team to Repeat as Champions? The phrasing of our question tells you just how tough it is to repeat.  But this was a 15-win team last year, and they really did not suffer a lot of big hits to the roster in the offseason. Yes, losing DT Monsanto Pope was not ideal, but if either of their rookie picks at the position, ASU’s Will Sutton or Arkansas State’s Ryan Carruthers can help out returning DT starter Glenn Dorsey, we think that Arizona will have the defense once again to make a very deep run.  As you might guess, we see Philadelphia as their biggest challenge, a team that pushed the Wranglers to overtime in the Summer Bowl and looks even stronger this year.  But the real question is whether or not the Wranglers will have the same fire in their belly.  Repeating is so tough because the desire to win a title is so powerful, but the desire to repeat is just not as strong, especially for a team that won its first title in 31 years of existence.  Getting a second would be great, but is the motivation as strong? PREVIEWING THE SCHEDULE Looking at the USFL schedule, we know there are going to be games that are “must watch” events nearly every week, but what are the highlights?  Here is our pick for the 10 must-watch games of the year. WEEK 2: New Orleans @ Birmingham After an opening week that is a little short of drama, with Arizona-Denver being the best game, Week 2 may give us our first true sign of how the year will go.  We have 3 big games in just this week that could show us if the races for the divisions will be decided early or up for grabs late.  While we like the Philadelphia-New Jersey game and the Tampa Bay-Charlotte game to help us see if either the Generals or Bandits are ready to take a step, our favorite is Breakers @ Stallions.  Birmingham wants to challenge New Orleans for the South, and they were only off by ½ game last year, so this is their chance to make a statement.  Likewise, the Breakers see this game as a chance to tell the league they are ready to defend their Southern title and to return to the Conference Title Game again. WEEK 5: Texas @ Arizona Are the Wranglers going to be challenged in the SW Division?  This game will tell us if it will be a runaway division for Arizona again or if the Outlaws are ready to challenge them.  It is also a great matchup of offense v. defense, with Joe Flacco and that high-flying passing game going up against a Wrangler team that was simply a brick wall on defense last year. WEEK 6: Las Vegas @ Los Angeles The two teams expected to have a shot at knocking off Oakland first have to get past each other.  Both LA and Las Vegas have question marks, but both also have a lot of potential, and we see this game as the deciding factor to determine who will be the primary challenger to the Invaders in a Pacific Division that just may be the most underrated division in the league. WEEK 7: Atlanta @ Charlotte The last two SE Division Champs face off in what could be a crucial game for both.  The SE Division could be a very tough one, with 4 teams all looking like potential challengers. That means that every division matchup is vital, and none moreso than when these two contenders face off near midseason. WEEK 9: Chicago @ St. Louis We see the Skyhawks as the most obvious potential challenger to Chicago’s title hopes in the division.  If they can rebound from a major post-title hangover, the Skyhawks have the weapons to challenge that Machine defense.  This game, at St. Louis, is their best chance to announce to the league that they are back in title contention form. WEEK 10: Denver @ Arizona Another big clash in what could be a 3-4 team race in the SW Division, that is if Arizona does not once again build up a huge lead over the other contenders. This has become a great rivalry over the years, and that rivalry is only heightened when the Wranglers come into the year seeking to defend their league title. Denver would love to knock them off their high horse, and a win in Glendale would certainly be the way to do it. WEEK 11: Arizona @ Oakland A rematch of the Western Conference Finals and what are expected to be the two best teams in the West again.  Can home field advantage help Oakland avenge what was a painful loss in last year’s Western Finals? WEEK 12: Washington @ Philadelphia It is hard to imagine that these two rivals and contenders for the Eastern Title do not meet until Week 12 of the season.  That means two showdowns in the season’s final 5 weeks. Will this first matchup be a deathblow for one of them or a game that brings the two contenders into a down-the-stretch photo finish?  We don’t know, but we can pretty much guarantee that this will be one intense matchup. WEEK 15: Birmingham @ Washington Last year it was Week 15, more than the season finale, that made huge waves in the playoff picture.  There are a lot of interdivisional games in this year’s schedule in Week 15, but we see this one as a potential battle between 2 clubs still vying for a division crown.  The winner of this game could be in great shape, and, we expect, the loser may be in trouble, at least relegated to a Wild Card position, but perhaps far worse, possible removal from playoff position.  So hard to say at this point in the year, but on paper this game could be a biggie for both the Northeast and Southern Division titles. WEEK 16: Orlando @ Tampa Bay Yes, we could have picked the Feds-Stars rematch here, but we expect both to have playoff spots in hand by the season’s final week.  On the other hand, both Orlando and Tampa Bay are seen as dark horse picks for a playoff run, so this game could be the one that determines if one, both, or neither of these clubs makes the postseason.  We see it as the most likely game on the final week’s slate where both teams need a win to make the playoffs, and that is exactly what we like to see in Week 16. TOP FANTASY FOOTBALL PICKS While we tend to focus mostly on the on-field performances and leaguewide drama that the USFL provides, we would be blind if we did not see how fantasy sports has shaped and is shaping the way that professional sports is viewed, how fans follow teams and players, and how the league markets itself.  The USFL has been an early adopter of the star-based emphasis of Fantasy Football, since the early 90’s, and so it is no surprise that with the rise in online games and league management both from broadcasters like ESPN and FOX, but from the league website as well, Fantasy Football cannot be ignored.  So, as a nod to all our fantasy USFL fans out there.  Here is our quick ranking of the top 5 Fantasy performers in each of the commonly used positions.  For full rankings and strategy, check out the USA Today Fantasy USFL Preview available on newsstands, with digital content at our website. QUARTERBACK: No question here who the top fantasy QB is expected to be.  Daunte Culpepper put up huge numbers in 2013, and now, with Willis McGahee no longer in a Bandits uniform, the passing game will be an even bigger factor for Tampa Bay.  We could easily see Culpepper return to the days of 40+ touchdowns and make a push for 5,000 yards.  He still has Vincent Jackson as his primary receiver, and with new options like rookie WR/HB Ryan Grant and pass-catching back Jahvid Best available, Culpepper could again be the man to beat for both yards and touchdowns.  Behind Culpepper the four players we see as worth a pick in the first 3 rounds of your fantasy draft are Texas’s Joe Flacco, Memphis’s Eli Manning, Oakland’s Joey Harrington, and, assuming he is fully back in form, New Jersey’s Sam Bradford. HALFBACK: Frank Gore was the story of 2013 at halfback, but we are infatuated with another back, one with less mileage and more potential upside.  Doug Martin, Chicago’s break out star in 2013, should again be a centerpiece to Coach Schiano’s offense, and that means touches,  lots of touches.  We could see Martin leading the league in both yardage and touchdowns, although Gore will certainly be there too. We just see the ceiling for Martin being just a bit higher this year.  Aside from Martin and Gore, you should consider first round picks for Deuce McCallister (yet again), Eddie Lacy of the Skyhawks, and, our darkhorse pick, Knownshon Moreno of Orlando. RECEIVERS: 2013 saw Steve Smith come out of virtually nowhere, clicking with his new QB, and he put up some huge numbers on his way to an OPOTY award.  Can he repeat the feat?  Will Vincent Jackson also put up stellar numbers?  We think the answer to those two questions is a resounding yes in both cases. Both are clear number one options on offenses that are designed to hit the deep ball.  Smith is also effective underneath, so he becomes our top choice if you are going to take a receiver in the first round.  If that is your plan, but both Smith and Jackson are gone, the next best option may be a bit of an under the radar one, a pick you might hold until round 2, maybe even round 3, Pittsburgh’s Victor Cruz.  The spicy Cruz finished with 1,300 yards last year and could see his targets increase once again as Andy Dalton improves with experience.  Others to consider in your draft’s first three rounds are  Memphis’s Lee Evans, Texas’s Marques Colston, New Orleans’s Early Doucet, and perhaps a bit of a later round flyer, either of the rookie wideouts who find themselves in a starting position with solid QBs, New Jersey’s Odell Beckham Jr. or Houston’s Mike Evans. Among tight ends, if your league requires them, you won’t go wrong with one of the elite receiving tight ends in our Top 5, that group includes Arizona’s Rob Gronkowski, Orlando’s Greg Olsen, Jacksonville’s Jason Whitten, Baltimore’s Antonio Gates, and the newest entrant, in his 2nd year and looking to break out, Philadelphia TE Travis Kelce. KICKER: Kicker is such a tough spot to scout.  You want a guy who is on an offense good enough to get lots of field goal attempts, but not so good that he ends up kicking PAT’s instead of three-pointers.  The interesting pick this year is Washington’s NFL import, Adam Vinatieri, who has outstanding accuracy and will make the clutch kick.  Washington almost always delivers, putting Shayne Graham near the top of the rankings the past few years, so we expect nothing less from Vinatieri.  Others who should absolutely be considered, perhaps as early as the 9th or 10th round, include Philadelphia’s Mike Nugent, New Orleans 2nd year kicker Caleb Sturgis, Tampa Bay’s Nate Kaeding, and don’t miss on Graham, who is now in Pittsburgh, where he could continue to get strong numbers. DEFENSE: No surprise who the top defense is in our ranking.  Arizona’s squad can not only shut down opponents but can take the ball away and turn takeaways into points.  Philadelphia was close behind the Wranglers last year and with the addition of Terrell Suggs, could be even more dangerous as a scoring factor this year.  Others we would consider in leagues where turnovers can lead to points for you include Orlando (Calais Campbell factors in big here), Oakland, Atlanta, and, an up and comer perhaps, the Portland Stags, good for a final pick flyer if you still need a defense. COMING UP IN PART 2 OF OUR 2014 USFL PREVIEW Join us for tomorrow's 2nd part of our 2014 USFL preview, when we will preview all 28 clubs, the moves and adjustments made in the offseason for each, and their prospects for a sunny 2014 summer. We will break down all 6 division races, make our picks for Summer Bowl 2014 and all the major award winners, and take a special look at what could be a very saucy season in and around Las Vegas, with the Thunder packing up shop and a still undecided team looking to take their place in 2015. Don't miss it, right here, tomorrow.

Camps are open. Pads are hitting pads.  New faces are being introduced, and rookies are beginning to sign deals and pick their jersey numbers.  It’s February in the USFL and it has been an active 3 months since we last checked in with the spring league. A lot has happened in that time, from a draft day blockbuster trade to big news out of New York that is sure to make fans in several markets a bit nervous.  We will break down how the USFL Draft went, what later free agent signings will impact the 2014 season, and where there remain some pretty big gaps in team rosters, gaps that may well motivate some bidding wars as the 2nd of the offseason’s NFL-USFL Transfer Windows opens.  All of this, plus the latest coaching news, and a look at the 5 new Head Coaches that will have their hands full preparing for a new season.  Don’t go anywhere, the USFL is on tap. Texas-Sized Deal Sends Manziel RIghts to Dallas It was a shot fired across the bow of the USFL, and a deal that will define the legacy of two head coaches, one well established, one trying to make a name for himself.  With the Houston Gamblers holding the rights to Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel in the league’s Territorial Draft, teams had been calling in to Houston for weeks trying to discern whether or not the Gamblers were willing to make a deal, and just what the terms of that deal may be.  By the morning of the leauge’s T-Draft on January 25th, most clubs had decided that the price was either too high or the Gamblers were simply not going to part with a potential franchise quarterback, even if Matt Hasselbeck had made no indications of eminent retirement.  Most, but not all clubs that is. On the morning of the draft, about 2 hours before the three player selections from each team were due, and just hours before the live ESPN reveal show would tell the nation which three players would be protected from the Open Draft by each of the league’s 28 clubs, the Houston Gamblers got the deal they had hoped for.  In a risky move, the Gamblers would make a deal with a division rival, the newly-relocated Dallas Roughnecks.  Dallas had a lot to offer, including the very first pick in the Open Draft, and it would take 3 such picks for the Gamblers to make the deal.  Dallas offered their 1st overall pick, their 2014 first T-Draft pick, and the 2015 1st round pick to Houston, all for the rights to compete with the NFL and not 27 other USFL teams for “Johnny Football”.  Manziel would be the choice, and Dallas would begin in earnest to work with Manziel’s agent to try to seal a deal even before the NFL draft 2 weeks later. As for Houston, the move would certainly create some frustration and anger among a segment of their fanbase, after all, Houston and College Station are practically within spitting distance of each other, and many Gambler fans, eager to return to the style of wide open gunslinging they have not seen since Jim Kelly, had their hearts set on Manziel wearing black and red.  But, Coach Phillips and the Gamblers were not as enamored of Manziel and his style of play.  They certainly praised him in public, in part to keep his value high, but concerns over his style of play, his size, and his off-field escapades, had largely turned away the Gambler personnel team, who had decided back in December to field offers for the T-Draft pick that would nab the Aggie QB. Dallas’s deal gave Houston what they wanted, three high value picks, and a chance to rebuild in areas of more immediate need.  The day of the deal, Houston would use the Dallas T-Draft pick earned in the swap to select Oklahoma CB Aaron Colvin, a player they felt could plug in well to Coach Phillips’s defensive scheme, the hope being that Colvin could serve as a nickel corner in 2014 and perhaps move into the starting two if Shaun Springs retired after the season as many anticipate.  But, with secondary being a major concern for the Gamblers, they did not stop there.  Only 3 days later, on the cusp of the USFL’s open draft, the Gamblers again defied the wishes of some fans and traded away the #1 overall pick in the Open Draft. Many had expected that the Gamblers would take a run at DE Jadeveon Clowney, left unprotected by the Orlando Renegades and considered the best edge rusher in the draft. But with the combo of Osi Umenyiura and Antwan Applewhite well-established with the Gambler D-line, Coach Phillips was still concerned about the secondary.  Seattle was eager to move up from the 7th spot, fearing that their ideal pick, Buffalo LB Khalil Mack, would never make it past the Bulls at 3 or the Knights at 4.  The Dragons would send Houston their 7th pick, a 4th rounder they had picked up from New Jersey in a 2013 deal, and, most coveted by the Gamblers, man-up cornerback Leodis McKelvin. By trading away one pick from their Territorial Draft, Houston had acquired two potential starting cornerbacks, a first round pick in 2015, a 4th rounder this year, and now had both the 7th and 8th pick in the first round of the Open Draft.  They would, two days later, turn those three 2014 picks into potential players, using Seattle’s pick in the 1st round to select Ohio State HB Carlos Hyde, their own pick at 8 to select their own LB choice, Alabama’s C. J. Mosely, and the Seattle 4th rounder to select center Travis Swanson from Arkansas. Seattle had gotten their shot at Khalil Mack, making the linebacker the first player chosen in the Open Draft. Dallas, meanwhile, had used the pick on Manziel as predicted, but now find themselves in a bidding war with the NFL Cleveland Browns, who selected the quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft.  None of the players have signed with either league yet, with Mack chosen by the NFL Bears, and Houston’s two first round picks chosen by the 49ers (Hyde) and Baltimore (Mosely). Whether the moves prove to be boons for each club or major failures will depend a lot on the signing decision of each player.  Were Manziel to sign with the Browns, the Roughnecks would have expended three important picks with no return.  If Mack signs with the Bears, the Dragons would also have cost themselves not only picks but a very solid starting cornerback.  Houston certainly hopes to land all 4 players acquired via the trades during this year’s draft, but at the very least they have landed a corner in McKelvin.  Of course, if that is the only gain, and if Manziel does sign with Dallas, there could be some major blowback in Houston from the deal.  A lot of fans are not going to be happy to see Manziel in the Roughnecks’ sky blue jerseys, especially if Houston has nothing to show for it but a lone cornerback. The combined T-Draft and Open Draft saw a total of 17 other trades, with several coming on draft day in the open draft.  The Territorial Draft saw 2 other significant 1st pick trade, as the Ohio Glory made a deal with Oakland to acquire the Invaders’ first pick, a choice the Glory used to select Fresno State QB Derek Carr, brother to Arizona’s starter, David Carr.  Oakland would later chose the QB they liked best as a backup and protégé to Joey Harrington, Eastern Illinois’s Jimmy Garoppolo.  Meanwhile, Seattle sent their 1st T-Draft pick to the Washington Federals, who coveted and selected UW halfback Bishop Sankey. As for Open Draft swaps, we saw two more in the first round, followed by the usual flurry of movement in rounds 3-7.  Aside from the dual trade that moved the 1st pick in the draft from Dallas to Houston and then on to Seattle, the 2nd pick was also swapped, with New Jersey dropping from 2 to 6 in a deal with Michigan that gave the Panthers their shot to select DE Jadeveon Clowney to bolster their somewhat ineffective pass rush.  New Jesey felt comfortable that they could get the target they had at 2 with pick 6 as well, and the fans from the Tri-State area in Madison Square Garden certainly seemed happy when the name of LSU wideout Odell Beckham Jr. was announced by the commissioner as New Jersey’s pick. The only other first round movement came in a deal between the Maulers and the Renegades.  Orlando packaged their 2014 1st rounder and a pair of 2015 picks in a deal that helped them move up from 16th to 11th, a move designed to get them ahead of Portland, a team known to be interested in UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr.  Barr was left unprotected in the T-Draft by LA, in something of a surprise move, and when he survived the first 10 picks without being chosen, Orlando made their move, jumping up 5 spots to nab the Bruin linebacker.  Pittsburgh would drop down to 16th, where they would hope to help their offense with TE Eric Ebron of North Carolina. We will recap the entire 1st round of the draft a bit later on, but we should mention at least one more trade that occurred during the weekend, with Washington sending DE Kamerion Wemberly to Charlotte in exchange for a 5th rounder and guard Travis Bond.  The move came soon after Nebraska’s Spencer Long was selected in the 3rd round by Nashville. Long had been a targeted player for the Feds, so when he went off the table they dealt Wemberly to Charlotte to acquire Bond and fill the gap they had at RG. Before we jump into our recap of the USFL Open Draft’s first round, we should note that both of the open coaching positions in the league, that of Las Vegas and Nashville, were filled in December.  Short after being approved for ownership by the USFL, the new CEO of the Thunder, John Moores, consulted with the team’s personnel team and remaining front office staff, including several of the league-appointed “guardians” of the team during the league’s short ownership period, to select the next head coach.  The choice was a well-known entity to USFL fans, former Michigan Panthers head coach Dick LeBeau.  After over a decade prowling the Panther sideline, LeBeau spent less than 6 months on the unemployment line before the Thunder brought him in to be the leader of the team during what could be a rough year in Las Vegas and a huge transition as the team prepares to relocate to San Diego in 2015.  LeBeau takes over a club that started 2013 with a 6-2 record only to lose 7 of their last 8 and miss the playoffs, the result of one of the biggest collapses in league history for a team in first place at the midway point of the season. Now the only team without a coach, Nashville got their man 2 weeks later, making an early January announcement. Many expected the team to be announcing an NFL hire, as several NFL coaches were released from their positions in the days following the conclusion of the fall league’ season, but Nashville did not go that direction, choosing instead to jump on the still unsigned Philadelphia OC Greg Roman.  Roman had been reluctant to sign a new deal with the Stars while there were still open head coaching positions within the league and with 5 NFL positions also opening up in January, but the Knights made that delay in signing pay off, giving Roman his first head coaching job.  An offensive guru who has helped Philadelphia find success despite injuries over the past year to several of their biggest names on offense, Roman’s role will be to rebuild a Knights offense that has suffered with the departure of Frank Gore, and to try to maximize what could be the final year of pro ball for QB Peyton Manning. With all 28 coaching positions now filled, the draft would be an exercise in prioritization and expectation.  As always the USFL would have the first shot at the new class of college players, with the NFL holding their draft approximately 2 weeks after the USFL T-Draft and one week after the Open Draft. The T-Draft would produce its share of big names taken off the board for the other 28 teams, including A&M stars Manziel and Mike Evans, Auburn OT Greg Robinson, Pitt DT Aaron Donald, and Buckeye LB Ryan Shazier.  But with several of the big name, first round talents still on the board, there was room for teams to make a play for their preferred target before the NFL came calling.  The first round of the USFL Open Draft would be an attempt by each team to not only pick the best talent available, but to stress to that player that they were both in demand and best-suited for a move to Spring Football, an annual act of “persuasion” that tends to produce between 50%-60% success rates for the league. As we review the first round picks of all 28 teams, we will indicate any players who have signed a deal, as well as the NFL club that our USFL squads are competing with. Seattle (From HOU-DAL):   LB Khalil Mack (Buffalo) NFL Competitor: Bears The Dragons made the move to ensure they would get their man, a Tasmanian Devil of an outside LB, equally talented in the pass rush and in stretching out run plays.  Now all they have to do is outbid the often-stingy Bears. Michigan (From NJ): DE Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina) NFL Competitor: Houston Oilers The clear number one edge rushing end in the draft.  Michigan had to make a deal with the Generals to get ahead of Jacksonville and Nashville to get a shot at Clowney, but now they will be dealing with the NFL Oilers to try to land their pick. Jacksonville:  OT Taylor Lewan (Michigan) NFL Competitor: Tennessee Copperheads The Panthers left Lewan unprotected, which was a bit of a surprise, but then stole Clowney out from under the Bulls, so picking a Michigan Wolverine feels a bit like payback.  Lewan will certainly benefit from the bidding war sure to come between the Bulls and Copperheads. Nashville:  DE Dee Ford (Auburn) NFL Competitor: Kansas City Chiefs The Knights were another club hoping Clowney would be available.  There were rumors that they too were in negotiations with New Jersey to get ahead of the Bulls, but lost out to the Panthers.  Their second choice is big power rusher Dee Ford from Auburn.  To land him they may have to use the “home region” advantage over KC as well as the financial one. Memphis:  S Calvin Pryor (Louisville) NFL Competitor: New York Jets Chalk an early victory up on the board for the USFL as Memphis announced this week that they had signed the former Cardinal to a 4-year deal.  Apparently staying in the Mid-South was more appealing than dealing with the pressure of being a top draft pick for a NY club. New Jersey (MGN): WR Odell Beckham Jr (LSU) NFL Competitor: NY Giants Oof, it will be an in-house battle between two denizens of Met-Life Stadium as Beckham has to choose between the USFL Generals and the NFL Giants.  If there is any advantage to being picked earlier in the draft, that goes to the Generals, who took Beckham 6th, while the Giants had to wait until the 12th pick to select the Bayou Bengal receiver. Houston (SEA): HB Carlos Hyde (Ohio State) NFL Competitor: San Francisco 49ers The first of two back-to-back picks for the Gamblers, Hyde was ranked as the 3rd best back in this year’s somewhat shallow pool, but with Bishop Sankey and Jeremy Hill both selected out of the T-Draft, Hyde’s value soared.  Houston lost Michael Turner this offseason, so signing Hyde has to be a priority. Houston:  LB C. J. Mosely (Alabama) NFL Competitor: Baltimore Ravens Mosely is a solid all-purpose backer, perhaps best used on the strong side, and excels at run coverage.  Baltimore and Houston both need his youthful energy at that position so expect his final contract to be over market value since neither club wants to lose out on their pick. Tampa Bay:  QB Blake Bortles (UCF) NFL Competitor: Jacksonville Jaguars It will be an in-state battle between the Bandits and the Jags for this UCF product.  Tampa Bay wants to groom Bortles behind Daunte Culpepper, while the Jaguars seem ready for an immediate transition to a new starter.  That difference in trajectory could be a problem for Tampa Bay, who were hoping to sign Bortles quickly, before his NFL destination was known. Las Vegas: CB Justin Gilbert (OK State) NFL Competitor: Cleveland Browns Another of the rare breed of players on teams not included in the Territorial Draft, Gilbert is a solid zone corner who needs to work on his bump & run a bit, especially if he signs with a Dick LeBeau team.  Cleveland may have to expend a lot of funds to land Johnny Manziel, who they took earlier in the draft, so that may bode well for the Thunder. Orlando (PIT):  LB Anthony Barr (UCLA) NFL Competitor: Minnesota Vikings Barr going unprotected by the LA Express was a bit of a surprise, but one that Orlando could not let slip by. They traded up with Pittsburgh to get a shot at Barr, and now look to compete with the Vikings to land him. Portland:  WR Sammy Watkins (Clemson) NFL Competitor: Buffalo Bills What we have here are two teams known for being a bit on the cheap side, both fighting over a player with a lot of playmaking ability.  Buffalo used a much earlier pick on Watkins than Portland, which could bode well for them as they can use more cap room to sign the Clemson wideout.  Portland will need to be creative to offer a more enticing deal. St. Louis:  OT Jake Matthews (Texas A&M) NFL Competitor: Atlanta Falcons The second tackle off the board (Lewan-JAX), and in some estimations a better pass protector than Lewan.  The Skyhawks have a lot to offer the rookie, including a known commodity at QB and a dynamic HB in Eddie Lacy, but will team fit compete with some solid NFL money? Baltimore: DT Dominque Easley (Florida) NFL Competitor:  New England Patriots Easley was viewed by many as a late first round or early 2nd round pick, so this was seen as a stretch by many, but sometimes taking a player as a stretch is a good way to improve your odds of signing him away from the NFL.  That has already proven to be the case with Easley, who signed with Baltimore only 2 days after being chosen by the NFL Patriots as well. Ohio:  S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix NFL Competitor: Green Bay Packers Perhaps the best player name in the entire draft, Clinton-Dix is also an outstanding player who could start immediately for either club.  No real territorial advantage for either team as the Alabama product has to choose between cold late season games in Green Bay or cold early season games in Columbus. Pittsburgh: TE Eric Ebron (UNC) NFL Competitor: Detroit Lions The Maulers are hoping to provide Andy Dalton with a reliable target over the middle, but the Lions have exactly the same thought as they try to build around QB Matthew Stafford.  Detroit has more swagger, having made the playoffs 2 of the past 3 years, and a more stable coaching situation.  This could be a tough get for the Maulers. Birmingham: CB Kyle Fuller (Va Tech) NFL Competitor: Chicago Bears Birmingham is rooting for the Bears to land Khalil Mack away from the Dragons, because that expensive signing would all but guarantee that Fuller would get a better offer from the Stallions than from the NFL Bears.  If Seattle lands Mack, then the Bears will double down on Fuller to ensure they don’t miss out on both first round picks. Atlanta: C Marcus Martin (USC) NFL Competitor: San Francisco 49ers Another club hoping their NFL counterpart spends big on an earlier selection.  If the Niners can land Carlos Hyde, that helps Atlanta outbid them for Martin, but if not, then it could be a tough negotiation for the Fire. Denver: DE Stephon Tuitt (Notre Dame) NFL Competitor: Pittsburgh Steelers Two lunchpail clubs fighting over a lunchpail DE. What could be more perfect?  We like Denver’s chances for one big reason, Tuitt was Pittsburgh’s 2nd round pick, so the NFL rookie cap structure hinders their bidding ability, while Denver can use 1st round money to lure the big DE to the Mile High City. Chicago: QB Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville) NFL Competitor: Minnesota Vikings Both the Machine and the Vikings have what appears to be a 1-year development plan for the athletic Bridgewater.  Chicago wants him to watch and learn behind Brady Quinn, Minnesota behind Christian Ponder.  Problem for Minnesota is that Ponder is a younger player and the potential for Bridgewater to not get his shot any time soon is more tangible in the NFL than with the Machine. Los Angeles: WR Jordan Matthews (Vanderbilt) NFL Competitor: Philadelphia Eagles The Express make the predictable pick, a WR who they hope can stand in for the retired Keyshawn Johnson.  Matthews is a tall, rangy, deep ball receiver like Johnson in his early years, which would be a good fit for the Express.  However, it would also be a good fit for the Eagles, so let the bidding begin. Texas: DT Ra’Shede Hageman (Minnesota) NFL Competitor: Atlanta Falcons Another reach on defense, but another situation where the use of a 1st round pick on Hageman puts the USFL club at an advantage over the NFL club, as Atlanta can only spend 2nd round cap limits on the Minnesota product. Washington: WR Kelvin Benjamin (FSU) NFL Competitor: Carolina Panthers We like Washington’s chances of landing the FSU product.  The possibility of joining a perennial playoff contender, one with not one, but two solid QBs and a respected offensive mind like Sean Payton, those seem enticing factors for a player who will get paid regardless of the team he picks. Charlotte:  OG Xavier Su’A-Filo  (LA) NFL Competitor: Houston Oilers The Oilers moved back up in to the 1st round for a 2nd pick and that could be bad news for Charlotte, who hoped Su’A-Filo would fall to the 2nd in the NFL draft.  Houston is an attractive destination for the Samoan guard, while Charlotte could be a tougher sell. New Orleans: CB Darqueze Dennard (Michigan State) NFL Competitor: Cincinnati Bengals The upside for the Breakers is that the Bengals are notoriously cheap.  The downside is that Dennard’s parents attended every game at Michigan State, and that tradition is a lot easier for them to keep up if he plays in Ohio than if he is in Louisiana. Oakland:  QB Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois) NFL Competitor: New England Patriots The Invaders are hoping to groom Garoppolo behind Harrington. The Patriots are once again looking for a solution at QB, so Garoppolo could start in Foxboro.  That may be enough to offset the 1st round, 2nd round disparity between the two selections, that and the higher cap for QBs in the NFl system. Philadelphia: CB Jason Verrett (TCU) NFL Competitor: San Diego Chargers We are still somewhat shocked that Verrett fell this far. He was seen as a Top 15 player in nearly every mock draft.  That could be good news for the Stars, but now they have to compete with San Diego, who selected Verrett slightly earlier at pick 25 of 32, not 27 of 28.  Is that difference really important? Hard to say. Arizona: OT Ju’Wuan James (Tennessee) NFL Competitor: Miami Dolphins Can the Wranglers just keep winning?  Not only did they win their first league title last year, winning 15 of 16 games along the way, but they land their target at OT and sign him only days after he was also picked by Miami of the NFL.  Things continue to come up sunny for the team from the Valley of the Sun. We are less than 2 weeks away from the 2nd NFL-USFL transfer window of the offseason, and for USFL fans, this one is the one that tends to produce them most benefit for the league.  With the NFL having just concluded their season, the pool of available free agents is at its peak, just as the USFL list was back in September.  That means a lot of talent looking to use the two leagues to push up the offers and provide maximum benefits for the player.  So, just who is out there at this time for the 28 USFL clubs to consider?  Who will make the leap from fall to spring and begin their 2014 season within the next 4-6 weeks?  We have reviewed the NFL restricted and unrestricted free agent pools and selected who we believe are the 25 players that USFL clubs should be scouting, interviewing, and negotiating to sign.  We know that many will end up remaining with the NFL, but we should expect that some of these names will be announced at USFL games as soon as Week 1. QUARTERBACK Only two quarterbacks make our list, one a younger player with potential to grow, the other a known commodity, but one who comes with a lot of baggage.  Will teams take the PR hit by signing former Atlanta Falcon and Philadelphia Eagle Michael Vick?  The controversial dual threat QB has lost a bit of the dynamic run ability he had with the Falcons, but his time in Philadelphia with the Eagles has shown that he can still be a very effective starting QB.  The other potential starter in the pool this year is Colt McCoy, the UT product who has had sporadic opportunities to prove himself in the NFL, often with bad teams.  We could see McCoy being a “sign and develop” prospect for any one of several teams that have veteran QBs nearing their final seasons, teams like Las Vegas (Plummer), Tampa Bay (Culpepper) or Houston (Hasselbeck). HALFBACK There are three solid options at the tailback position, particularly if you are looking for a speed back or a 3-down back who is a bit more elusive than powerful.  No true grinders in the bunch, but when we look at former Giant Ahmad Bradshaw, former Colt Donald Brown, and former Copperhead Chris Johnson, we see a lot of potential for break away speed, one-cut moves, and use in the passing game.  Of the three, the biggest question mark is Johnson.  The one-time 2,000 yard back has not been the same since coming back from ACL injury, but could still be a good option for a team willing to nurse his recovery.  Brown and Bradshaw do not have as high a ceiling, but their floor is also not as tricky.  You take Johnson, you may have a boom or bust proposition, whereas with either of the other two you more or less know what you will have. TIGHT END One name rises to the top of this list, but is it because of his own talent or the name he carries.  Kellen Winslow II certainly has the pedigree to be a game-changing tight end, but his short NFL career has not yet shown that he can live up to the expectations, and certainly not the legacy of his father.  For the team that goes after Winslow, the goal has to be for them to find ways to make him into the receiver that most expected coming out of Miami. WIDE RECEIVER Speed with height or quick cut escapability?  Those are the two options at the wide receiver spot.  The best two receivers coming onto the market are very different in their demeanors and in their style of play.  Kenny Britt is solid as a straight line route runner and can go up and make the tough red zone catch above the corner or safety.  Jeremy Maclin is best used underneath, where his quick cut ability and off the line elusiveness can turn a 3-yard gain into a 15-yarder.  So, what is the interest of USFL teams, a possible slot or 2nd receiver with good inside moves or a bigger body to taken on the DBs and come down with the ball? OFFENSIVE LINE This is often an area where the transfer market has the biggest impact, but this year the depth of talent available is just not there.  We list 4 linemen among our 25, but none of them would be considered top 10 in our list, or clear-cut starters in the league.  At tackle we have Anthony Collins and Austin Howard, at guard we like Brian Waters, and then at center we list Brian De La Puente.  We could see any of these four as rotational starters in the USFL, though none of them feels like an immediate impact player. DEFENSIVE LINE Two solid defensive tackles and a potential 10-15 sack DE are who we see on the defensive line.  Of the three, the most expensive, but also the most potentially impactful, is former NY Giant Justin Tuck.  Tuck can be a very effective edge rusher, especially when paired with a block-absorbing DT inside.  With several USFL teams desperately trying to find an answer on the edge, an impactful rusher who forces teams to adjust their blocking schemes, we expect to see Tuck as a popular target for potential interleague transfer.  Inside we have both Randy Starks and Jonathan Babineaux.  You don’t here their names called a lot, but when you watch film of both you see how effective they can be at controlling the line and providing cover for aggressive LB play behind them. LINEBACKER Speaking of aggressive linebacker play, our Top 25 has three names that should excite USFL fans. That group is led by former Redskin Brian Orakpo.  A natural leader and strong run defender, Orakpo could be the key to a defensive scheme on any of the league’s 4-3 defenses.  We expect that defensive-minded coaches like Jim Johnson, Dick LeBeau, and Jim Tomsula will certainly be interested in Orakpo.  Perhaps not as dynamic as Orakpo, we also have Darryl Sharpton and Paris Lenon in the free agent pool.  We actually like both more in 3-4 lineups where they can roam behind the line and attack the gaps. CORNERBACK Perhaps no other position has the attention of the USFL quite like cornerback.  The reason?  The potential to land a true shut down corner.  There are two free agents this year who fit that category.  First up is Aqib Talib, who is a bona fide All-NFL selection and who could fetch a pretty penny from either league.  Just a small step below Talib is another outstanding corner, Jabari Greer, who works well in the nickel as well as in zone coverages. SAFETY Looks like a good year for the defensive backfield as we have another strong group in the safety position.  We like three players as strong options in an area where several teams have need.  Buffalo’s Donte Whitner, Dallas’s Antoine Bethea, and Seattle’s Chris Clemons are all solid tacklers and good in coverage. We could see all three being immediate starters across the USFL. SPECIAL TEAMERS It is rare to get excited about kickers and punters, but we have two of the most highly-touted specialists in this year’s free agent pool.  After a long career in New England, Adam Vinatieri is now a free agent. Known for his ability to shake off pressure and make the tough kick when it is most needed, Vinatieri is about as clutch as they come.  Punter Pat McAfee is known more for his flamboyant personality and willingness to make tackles as for the power of his leg, but that should not make us forget that McAfee is one of the most effective punters in the NFL, a kicker who can flip field position or pin a team back at any time. LEAGUE PUSHES INTERNAL RELOCATION PLAN FOR LAS VEGAS Following the surprising decision to allow the Moores/Tu investment group to purchase the Las Vegas Thunder with a plan in place to relocate the team to San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium in the spring of 2015, the same year that the new domed stadium will open just off the Las Vegas strip, questions have been flying about what the future for the league in Las Vegas will be.  With the league having taken on not only their own commitment to stadium construction, but also the share originally assigned to the Las Vegas franchise and their ownership, the USFL is in nearly $600M into the project, a project that now does not have a franchise attached to it. Well, the first question about the situation has now been answered.  The USFL has announced that there will be a concerted effort to place a team in the new facility in the spring of 2015 and that the primary vehicle for the establishment of a new Las Vegas franchise will be relocation of an existing franchise.  That announcement has sent ripples throughout the league as it essentially guarantees that another city will lose their USFL club within the next 2 years.  So, just who is at risk?  That is a complex question, though we believe we know the first piece of the puzzle. We know that the league is heavily invested in the television contracts which provide the largest portion of league revenue.  The reality of the move from Las Vegas to San Diego is that it provided a significant shift from a small media market to a larger market.  That benefits the league as they work with ABC/ESPN, Fox and NBC.  But what the league will absolutely want to avoid is to lose a large market in order to fill the gap in Las Vegas.  As the league explores options, reaches out to individual franchises, and debates best options, the first limitation we anticipate being a major factor in a relocation decision is one of market size. There are currently six USFL franchises whose market size is smaller than the Las Vegas market.  And while many are in growth areas, there are few markets that are growing faster than Las Vegas as an MSA, which means that each of these markets is likely to remain below Las Vegas in market size.  So, just which fanbases should be concerned about their franchises and the chance that their club will be sacrificed to salvage Las Vegas.  The six smallest markets currently in the USFL are largely in the U.S. south, with Las Vegas ranked as the 29th largest metro area in the USA, you have Columbus (32nd), Nashville (35th), Jacksonville (38th), Memphis (45th) and Birmingham (47th) below them. What makes this pool of potential relocation targets so interesting is that while the market share and market size is smaller in these markets, many of these clubs represent teams with strong attendance averages, including high-attendance tentpost franchises such as Jacksonville, Memphis, Birmingham and New Orleans.  It seems almost inconceivable that the league would look at a franchise like Birmingham, a founding franchise with an average attendance regularly over 45,000 per game, and see a team that is ripe for relocation.  Similarly, New Orleans and Jacksonville have also been strong attendance leaders and solidly-run franchises for decades.  So, who does that leave as potential targets for a move to Las Vegas? The most obvious answer is Nashville.  Already embroiled in a nasty stadium lease negotiation with both the NFL and the stadium authority.  The Knights have been a strong attendance club, but have only been in Nashville for around a decade, not for 30+ years as with several other clubs.  We have seen already that the owners of the Knights are using the Las Vegas situation to try to gain leverage on the stadium authority.  Could that leverage turn into a push to move the team from the South to the Southwest? The other fanbase that is feeling nervous right now is in Ohio, where the Glory have 20 years in Columbus, but are still playing their games at Ohio Stadium, an oversized facility that houses Ohio State, but even in good years is half-empty on game day.  Ohio’s average attendance of 40,012 in 2013 was an improvement over the past 3 years, when the club’s on-field struggles dropped the Glory’s regular attendance below 40,000.  A better 2013 campaign has helped to build some bounceback in both season tickets and overall attendance, but the Glory remain very much a secondary tenant of Ohio Stadium, and their gameday revenue is among the bottom 10 in the league, despite the size of the facility and the exclusivity of the Glory in a market that only has NHL hockey as a competitor. So, a rough patch if you are a Knights fan or a member of the Glory Nation, and potential trouble for the league as no market is eager to see their club head elsewhere.  And, while we look at these two markets as perhaps the most desirable for the league, there is also the very real possibility that an owner in another market will make a pitch.  The league is certainly not excited about the prospect of losing a New Jersey, Houston, or Detroit franchise, for the right deal, they may very well move in that direction and then speed up the expansion timeline to restock a club in the city, much like the NFL did when the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore, but their history and identity remained behind to be taken up by an expansion club.  The Las Vegas situation is certainly one we will be following throughout the year, particularly as there is great impetus on the league to put the pieces in place to have Las Vegas represented in 2015, the same year the Thunder will officially reside in San Diego. We will be back in 4 weeks, returning for our USFL Preview Edition.  At that point, with the season ready to kick off, we should have a clear picture of the draft signings, NFL transfers, and those last second moves that impact rosters and depth charts.  We will review the offseason’s biggest moves and preview the 32nd season of the Kings of the Spring, the USFL.

November 6, 2013 It has been three months since the Arizona Wranglers secured their first John Bassett Trophy in 31 seasons, and a lot has happened.  Yes, there was the chaos of a victory parade in Phoenix held at 10pm at night to avoid the heat of Arizona in August, and there was huge news out of New York, news that will not go over well in Las Vegas to be sure.  We also had a very active free agency period open up, a pretty one-sided NFL-USFL transfer, and four of six coaching vacancies have been filled.  In our first of two editions focusing on the USFL offseason, we will explore these stories and take a look at late January’s College Draft, with all the drama that can only come when hype builds around a college quarterback, and we have plenty of that as “Johnny Football” is taking Texas A&M and the college football world by storm.  Lot’s to talk about, so let’s get right to it with our Big Story, the sale and future relocation of the Las Vegas Thunder. OWNERS APPROVE SALE AND 2015 RELOCATION OF LAS VEGAS THUNDER We had a feeling that the Owners’ Meetings this past week would not be a smooth and quiet event and we were certainly correct on that account. The Chaos surrounding the sale of the Las Vegas Thunder produced some heated debates, many of which spilled out to the media, and while an eventual decision was made, it is one that simply will not make many happy around the league. It took 4 days and several failed votes before the owners finally, and largely begrudgingly sold the Thunder franchise to the investment group led by former MLB Padres owner John Moores and LA Express minority owner John Tu.  The group came into this week’s meetings with a clear advantage both financially and in familiarity for the league owners, but their proposal to relocate the team to San Diego went against the desire of nearly every owner to find an ownership group that would keep the team in Las Vegas and buy into the new domed stadium that the league has been funding in lieu of the failed prior ownership of the Thunder. The sale means that the Thunder will move to San Diego for the 2015 season, leaving the club with an uncertain 2014 season ahead, one likely to be almost as ugly as the final year of the Boston Cannons before their relocation.  Whether it is empty seats at Sam Boyd Stadium or angry protesters, the league simply has to expect that Thunder games will not be putting the league in the best light.  That said, what they do gain in the Moores-Tu group is a deep-pocketed and stable leadership that is very familiar with professional sports ownership as well as with the USFL.  John Tu will take on the CEO role for the new, soon-to-be San Diego Thunder, while Moores will be responsible for what the group hopes is a short-term contract with Jack Murphy Stadium as they work with the city and the Cal State University system to get a new stadium approved for both the USFL and the SDSU Aztecs. On the Las Vegas stadium front, the USFL remains committed to putting a franchise in the city.  That commitment has already been used as a lever for at least one team as Nashville Knights ownership is using the soon-to-be completed and soon-to-be-vacant Las Vegas domed facility to put pressure on the stadium authority in Nashville.  The Washington Federals are also expected to make use of the situation to try to push D.C. into a new stadium deal.  They have already been partnering with MLS Club DC United to try to make headway with the District, but the threat of the club moving to Las Vegas, after the NFL Redskins already abandoned the district for a suburban location in Maryland, is a powerful bit of leverage that the club can use in their negotiations. So, what does this mean for the Thunder?  Long term it is likely a good sign, stable ownership always is, but the players on the team need to get through what is likely a rough 2014 “lame duck” season at Sam Boyd before they relocate with the team to southern California and Jack Murphy Stadium.  All this for a club that still does not have a head coach, after their late-season collapse cost June Jones his position. A lot of uncertainty still lingers over the team and its players. Michigan Eagerly Lands Jim Johnson It certainly did not take former Nashville Knights Head Coach Jim Johnson long to find a suitor.  The 19-year veteran of USFL battles was snapped up early in August by the Michigan Panthers, themselves recently having released a longstanding coach in Dick LeBeau.  Michigan wanted a coach who could develop a waning Panther defense and provide stability for now 3rd Year QB Kirk Cousinsk, and by most accounts they found that in Johnson.  The Knights under Johnson were often among the league leaders in team defense, and his run-first philosophy could help keep pressure off of Cousins, especially if 2013 rookie LeVeon Bell continues to develop. Johnson had some struggles the last few years with the Knights, including a rough tenure with NFL import Peyton Manning, who simply did not deliver the wins or the offensive fireworks that Nashville fans expected, but there is no doubt that Johnson has proven himself, taking the Knights to the 12 times in the past 2 decades, including 4 division titles, a goal the Panthers certainly have in what feels like a very fluid Central Division. Generals Hire Former Outlaw Head Coach Norv Turner made a name for himself as an offensive guru, and while he did not find early success with the Texas Outlaws, the team he coached from 2007 through 2009, a lot of pundits now credit him with the development of Joe Flacco, a growth in skills that would manifest itself soon after.  It is that hope for offensive dynamism that brought Turner to the attention of the New Jersey Generals, who plummeted from 12-4 in 2012 to only 4-12 last year, largely due to the collapse of the offense without QB Sam Bradford on the field.  The Generals signed Turner to a 4-year deal with the hope that the former Outlaw coach and multiple team OC could bring back the explosive offense the team used to reach the 2012 playoffs. Turner is expected to have Bradford back in action by minicamps next month, but may well be looking for some more explosive players in the draft.  HB Maurice Jones-Drew had a solid 2013, his first 1,000-yard season, but the passing game lagged behind.  Doug Baldwin led all receivers with 940 yards, and Muhamad Sanu made solid gains after the team traded away Michael Crabtree, with several 100-yard games in the final half of the season.  Pieces to build around for Turner. Fangio Gets His Shot with Maulers Arizona DC Vic Fangio was one of the hottest coordinators on the coaching market. His tenure with Arizona was short, only 3 seasons, but this year’s Wrangler squad was such a phenomenon, setting record and guiding the club to a 15-1 record and the squad’s first league title.  It was that dominant defense that made Fangio a target of several teams, and the reason that Pittsburgh offered Fangio a $5M deal to spend the next 4 years in the Steel City. Fangio will take over a Mauler club that has some serious talent on defense, including former All-USFL DE Jared Allen, CB Dunta Robinson, and LB Brian Cushing, but struggled for consistency in 2013, finishing 26th in the league by allowing 25.9 points per game and nearly 335 yards each week. Addressing that defense will be Fangio’s main task, with his new OC, former Bandit and Showboat QB Ken Dorsey, taking on the task of turning QB Andy Dalton into an elite starter in the league.  With young receivers like 2013 rookies Adam Thielen and Tavon Austin on the squad, expect Pittsburgh to mix it up a bit on offense while Fangio brings some discipline to the D. Las Vegas & Nashville Yet to Pull the Trigger We are still waiting for the Thunder and the Knights to make their pick for their open head coaching positions.  Both clubs are in a bit of turmoil at the top, with the sale of the Thunder just announced, and with Nashville still without a stadium contract for 2014, so perhaps the attention of the GM and even the personnel teams are in a bit of turmoil, but both clubs need tRo step up soon.  The USFL Draft is only 2 months away, and there are still plenty of holes on both clubs which need personnel solutions.  Add to that a general sense that both clubs are perhaps not the most stable, and you have a tough offseason for signing quality players.  Lacking a proven head coach, or a player-oriented coach who will  motivate folks to sign with either club is a major issues as the two teams try to prepare for next season. Manziel Mania Puts Houston Gamblers in Tough Position How do you handle a problem like Manziel?  To paraphrase the famous song from The Sound of Music, the meteoric rise of “Johnny Football” has been a boon for Texas A&M and for College Football, but could be creating major headaches for one USFL club.  Manziel’s star quality is undeniable, but what is a team to do when they don’t see QB as a position of priority but they hold the rights to the Aggie QB and half of their fanbase is clamoring for the Aggie star? Manziel has taken college football by storm, very much reminiscent of the mania around Herschel Walker during his years at Georgia or Doug Flutie in his final season at BC.  And what do both of those players have in common? They became early superstars of the USFL as the fledgling league broke the bank to ensure that both Heisman winners would choose the young league over the NFL.  The USFL is not in that same desperate situation after 31 seasons, but to say that there is interest in having the hottest young QB in the game join the spring league is not an overstatement.  Not only is there general interest, but with the Houston Gamblers holding the rights to protect up to 3 players from Texas A&M (among 3 schools) from the open draft this January, the pressure is on the Gamblers to bring Manziel to Houston and keep him in the state of Texas, where his legend is growing exponentially with each win in College Station. Manziel broke onto the scene last fall, with a 26 TD season and some electrifying performances.  This fall has already seen the diminutive but agile QB pull off huge wins, putting up huge totals against early foes Rice (52), Sam Houston State (65), and even Alabama (a 42-49 loss).  The Aggies, with Manziel leading the way, have scored 40 or more points in every game this season , including a 57-7 drubbing of UTEP just this past weekend.  The 2012 Heisman winner is drawing all sorts of comparisons with past Heisman winners, including USFL legend Doug Flutie, and in the state of Texas there has not been a bigger star coming out of the state since Ricky Williams, possibly since Earl Campbell. So, what are the Gamblers to do?  They have a QB they really like and who has done very well for them in Matt Hasselbeck.  But, Hasselbeck is clearly in the final few years of his career, so there could be room for a transition. The pressure is there to make Manziel a Gambler and sell a ton of jerseys with his familiar number 2 on them.  But, Houston has several roster needs that supersede the QB position and there will be no shortage of teams offering them a king’s ransom to swap into the Gambler’s first T-Draft slot. Could Houston actually trade away the rights to Manziel despite his superstar status in the state?  We cannot imagine that they would make any friends in the Lonestar state if Manziel were to sign with the Seattle Dragons, Jacksonville Bulls, or Ohio Glory.  Even a move to the Outlaws or Roughnecks would be controversial, essentially providing a rival with a lot of publicity and revenue from Manziel.  At the end of the day, the Manziel decision will have to be a football one, and if the price is right we absolutely could see Coach Phillips and the Gamblers taking a handful of high draft picks to give up the rights to the Aggie QB, but they would do so at the risk of ostracizing their fans, fans who may well like Hasselbeck, but who readily admit that Manziel would be a superstar in a Gamblers’ jersey. MONTH BY MONTH RECAP OF THE OFFSEASON A lot happening as always in the first few months of the offseason.  Free Agency opened one week after Arizona’s Summer Bowl victory.  The NFL-USFL Transfer Window 3 weeks after that, and we have even started to see our first draft-related trades.  Rather than break down the moves by type, we thought we would take a quick month-by-month look at the action as it happened, including some pretty big retirement announcements and a few surprising moves early in the offseason.  So, let’s get to it with August’s moves AUGUST:  Retirements & Early Free Agent Signings August is often the month when clubs get a few surprises from their most veteran players. Retirement announcements tend to cluster around the first few weeks of the offseason and then again during mid-winter camps.  While some are known in advance, some are decisions made as players recover from the long season and discuss their options with their agents and their families.  We already knew of some pretty big names who were stepping away, players like HB Willis McGahee, QB Jake Delhomme, and a cluster of wideouts that included Randy Moss, Robert Ferguson, and Ike Hilliard.  But there were a few more pretty major decisions made following the Summer Bowl, retirements that will push teams to prioritize a new position in their offseason plans.   Here are the 10 post-Summer Bowl retirements which we feel will have the deepest impacts on their teams and the league. SS Kevin Curtis (STL):  After 6 years with the Thunder and 5 in St. Louis, Curtis has called it a career at the age of only 33.  The centerfielder has struggled with ankle and knee issues the past two seasons and faced a challenge from 3rd year player Kendrick Lewis, who started seeing more snaps than Curtis this year.  So, St. Louis may be well-prepared for this transition, but will want to add some depth to the position. QB Luke McCown (TEX):  A 10-year backup in the USFL, McCown had one lone season as the team starter, 2006 as the QB of the expansion St. Louis Skyhawks.  He spent the last two years in Texas, backing up Joe Flacco, which meant getting 7 starts in Flacco’s injury-shortened 2012 season.  He retires with some decent numbers, a career QBR of 85.7, 44 TDs and 27 picks, and just over 8,000 yards.  Texas, still very solidly Joe Flacco’s team, will almost certainly look to the draft to bring in a young backup, but could also seek to find a veteran backup as well. CB Quentin Jammer (PHI):  This one is going to hurt the Eastern Conference Champion.  Jammer was a 4-time All-USFL selection at cornerback. With 10 picks over the past 2 seasons, the Stars are going to be hard-pressed to fill Jammer’s spot on the roster.  They like Sam Shields as a number 2 corner, but is he ready to move up to the top spot?  Expect CB to be a major focus for the Stars this offseason as they cannot afford to be weak at that position in a NE Division that has Sam Bradford, Joe Webb, Andy Dalton, and Ben Roethlisberger among their annual foes. SS Tyrone Carter (MGN):  Another DB hanging up his cleats.  Carter opted to do it while on top, or perhaps he was just exhausted after a season that saw the safety lead the Panthers in tackles and finish in the Top 5 in the league with 130 tackles.  It marks 3 times in the past 4 years that the safety has had over 100 tackles, which is generally what you only want to see from a MLB.  After 14 seasons, that is a lot to ask. Michigan has 2nd year safety Troy Petty on the roster, and he will get a shot to win the starting job, but the Panthers have already added a Free Agent in former Breaker Corey Chavous to compete with Petty. DE Ryan Denney (DEN): After 3 straight 10-sack seasons, Denney dipped to 7 this year, and also saw his playing time drop as Bryce Fisher and Justice Cole both got more snaps.  After 12 seasons in the trenches, Denney decided that he had done what he came to the league to do, retiring with 78 career sacks.  With no moves made so far to replace Denney, we expect DE to become a priority for the Gold as they prep for the draft. OT Marco Colombo (DAL):  Whether Colombo’s departure was known ahead of time or came as a surprise, the truth is that you never want to lose your LT without a plan in place, and we are not sure Dallas has one.  Stockar McDougle is better suited for the right side of the line and we are not sure that Mario Henderson is starting material.  So, what is Dallas to do? Rumors have them pursuing free agent tackle Vernon Carey of the Feds.  If that pursuit fails, it may require a look at the NFL pool in January. K Mike Hollis (OAK):  Going out on top. That is what Hollis did as the 2013 All-USFL kicker after a career best 151 points and 43 of 44 on field goals.  Hollis kicked for 3 teams in his 12-year USFL career, but will certainly relish his time with the Invaders most of all, as they included clutch kicks that helped Oakland become a perennial division title contender. Oakland has already made their move to replace Hollis, signing former Wrangler kicker David Buehler to a 3-year deal. DE Shaun Ellis (NJ): After 13 years in East Rutherford, Ellis retires after one of his best seasons in the league, a 16-sack performance on a pretty shaky Generals defense.  Ellis won two titles with the Generals back in the early-mid 2000’s and will certainly be among the potential candidates for the Hall of Fame in 5 years.  As for the Generals, they did see this move coming, having brought in Aaron Kampman and drafting William Gholston this year.  We expect to see Gholston get his crack at Ellis’s left side while Kampmann stays on the right. WR Terrell Owens (BIR): Bad enough that the Stallions lose Randy Moss, a future Hall of Famer, but to also lose Owens as well?  That is going to require a major facelift to the Stallion offense.  The dual retirements mean that Dontrelle Inman, the 2nd year receiver, and slot man Julian Edelman are now the two wideouts on the team with the most catches over this past season, combining for 44 receptions, well short of either Owens’s or Moss’s total this year.  Birmingham has signed former Dragon Chris Chambers, but we are feeling pretty sure that is not going to be their only move. HB Ron Dayne (BAL):  Are we shocked that Ron Dayne has called it a career at age 33?  Not really, but after another outstanding 1,200 yard season, the 7th of his Hall of Fame career, the Blitz cannot be excited about filling those shoes.  Dayne has been the constant for the Blitz over the past decade, reliable and steadfast.  He undoubtedly will remain close to the team and the city that has welcomed him as one of their own, but the Blitz had better invest some time and resources into finding a run game solution with Dayne no longer in the backfield. August also opened the USFL Free Agency period and, as we often see, some big names came off the list of available players within the first 72 hours, a shockwave of signings that causes all other teams to recalibrate their plans. Here is our look at the first 72 hours of signings. DAY ONE The first day of free agency kicked off with a flurry of action across the league, and with immediate impact.  Two-time All-USFL corner Carlos Rogers was officially the first player signed to a new deal as he joins his third team in his 9 year career, staying within the SE Division by moving from Charlotte to Tampa Bay on a new 3-year deal.  Another defender made a big move as Oakland LB Terrell Suggs, the former Baltimore Raven, will jump from coast to coast, joining the Philadelphia Stars.  Tampa safety Idrees Basheer inked a deal with the Memphis Showboats as they try to build up their shaky defense. Chicago made an interesting move, signing Breaker HB Matt Forte to a 2-year deal to act as backup to Doug Martin, a big step down from his starting role in New Orleans, but a pretty lucrative deal for a backup position.  WR Sinorice Moss will move from the Skyhawks to the Bulls on a new 3-year deal, and TE Julius Thomas will join Kenny Everett in Las Vegas as the Thunder make a first day signing.  Finally, QB Quincy Carter is on the move again, the 33-year old QB joining his 5th team as he is signed by the Breakers as a backup to Drew Brees. DAY TWO On the second day, one of the bigger names in the free agency pool is off the table as Orlando’s MLB Paul Posluszny will move on to the Pittsburgh Maulers, returning to Pennsylvania, where he made his name as a Nittany Lion.  Charlotte had the first big re-signing as they inked DT Ryan Sims to a new deal, and we saw two backs switch teams as former Clemson star C. J. Spiller jumps from the Bulls to the Dallas Roughnecks and fullback Peyton Hillis stays in state, moving from the Knights to the Showboats. DAY THREE By day three we started to see a pattern as teams with bigger cap allowances, teams like Charlotte, Tampa, and Pittsburgh, added to their early free agent haul.  The Monarchs inked Stars’ wideout James Hardy, Pittsburgh added wideout Mike Williams, and the Bandits opted to give a second shot to German import Sebastian Vollmer, who moves on from the Stars to Tampa Bay.  Also signed on this third day of the market were HB Tatum Bell (Dallas to New Jersey), and QB Kyle Boller, who goes from backing up Brees in New Orleans to Flacco in Texas. We also saw our first major trades of the offseason in August as Washington sent Jahvid Best to Tampa Bay (Reported prior to the Summer Bowl), and then Ohio found a taker for QB Vince Young.  Young will now be the new backup to Ben Roethlisberger in Baltimore.  That kind of makes sense.  Both are big, strong-armed QB’s, though Young tends to be a bit more of a scrambler than Big Ben, they both can put the ball deep down the field when called on.  Baltimore sent guard Eric Steinbach to the Glory in the trade, as well as a 6th round pick in this year’s draft. Over the next few weeks, more names were taken off the free agency board, including WR Jeremy Kerley (HOU to JAX), LB Monty Beisel (TBY to DAL), DE Marcus Harrison (STL to NJ), and CB Dawan Landry (NOR to DEN).  Perhaps the biggest name from the rest of August was that of LB Keith Bullock, who leaves the Philadelphia Stars for rival Washington, a move that certainly will not win him any friends in eastern PA. SEPTEMBER:  The NFL-USFL Window Leads to Several Big Departures September saw the hot stove continue with several significant signings within the USFL.  The list of signings from the month included the following USFL to USFL moves and resignings: WR Brandon LaFell:       Breakers to Federals WR Josh Reed:                 Resigned with Atlanta G Mitch Petrus:               Stags to Glory CB Deltha O’Neal          Resigned with Michigan LB Angelo Crowell         Blitz to Knights P Dustin Colquitt            Showboats to Glory CB Patrick Robinson     Bandits to Gold WR Roscoe Parrish        Outlaws to Blitz TE Ben Hartsook             Machine to Fire HB Cedric Benson          Thunder to Blitz WR Danny Amendola   Federals to Thunder G Sean Mahan                 Knights to Generals K Shayne Graham          Federals to Maulers But while the USFL free agency market continued, the big story in September was the opening of the NFL-USFL transfer window.  As we often see, the September window heavily favored the NFL with nearly a 3-1 transfer rate to the fall league, with teams adding players with the fall season already in play.   The opposite would be expected in the February-March market, when recently released NFL players often joined USFL clubs for their season.  The USFL did have a few noteworthy signings, including Atlanta landing QB Kellen Clemons to be a backup to Kyle Orton.  Stanford product Toby Gerhardt could not find an NFL team after his rookie deal expired, but the Pittsburgh Maulers brought him in to rotate with Ronnie Brown in their 2-back system.  Chicago added some TE help, landing Scott Chandler, LA added guard UcheNwaneri, and LB Calvin Pace will now join the USFL Dragons in Seattle. But, when you look at the names that jumped from the USFL to the NFL in September, you see why teams across the league dread the fall transfer window. Here is the pretty deep pool of USFL players that will now join NFL clubs and begin seeing action this fall: 5x All USFL WR Taylor Jacobs (Skyhawks to San Francisco) 5x All USFL CB Patrick Surtain (Maulers to Denver) 4x All USFL CB Will Allen (Thunder to LA Raiders) 2x All USFL DT Jeff Zgonina (Blitz to Dallas) 2013 All-USFL HB Arian Foster (Outlaws to Houston) CB Marquand Manuel (Stags to Seattle) LB Jonathan Vilma (Bandits to NY Jets) HB Michael Turner (Gamblers to Atlanta) DT Monsanto Pope (Wranglers to Pittsburgh) FS Chris Crocker (Monarchs to Minnesota) WR Keary Colbert (Panthers to Carolina) FS Bryan Scott (Bandits to Philadelphia) DE Erasmus James (Thunder to Green Bay) HB Kenny Watson (Maulers to New Orleans) DT Marcus Stroud (Bulls to Buffalo) LB Jamie Winborn (Dragons to LA Raiders) LB Keith Ellison (Panthers to Washington) LB Kawika Mitchell (Maulers to NY Giants) QB Jordan Palmer (Fire to Jacksonville) HB BenJarvis Green-Ellis (Invaders to New England) QB Tim Rattay (Gamblers to 49ers) The pattern of the NFL focusing on experienced USFL veterans clearly continued, with several All-USFL standouts now joining the fall league.  The USFL continues to focus on “overspending” for their rookies, and the NFL, while not happy about losing out on many draft picks, seems more than content to sign away big name and All-USFL veterans to fill the gaps.  Whether the USFL will be able to reciprocate in turn next spring will have to be seen, though the trend is for the spring league to cherry pick players coming off their rookie NFL contracts rather than veterans in their 30’s. OCTOBER: Filling Gaps & Making Trades October tends to see a drop in USFL free agent signings, though we did have a few noteworthy selections, as well as our first draft-impacting trades of the season.  We should expect that action to grow as we enter the winter and teams shift their focus to the wrap up of the NCAA season and the declarations for both the NFL and USFL drafts from players ready to leave the college ranks. Among the noteworthy USFL free agents who have landed new deals we have OT John Greco leaving the Stallions for the Generals, FB Rick Razzano, a 4-time All USFL selection at the often undervalued position, jumping from the Outlaws to the Dragons, guard Mike McGlynn headed from Philly to Denver, and TE Delanie Walker leaving Nashville to join rival Birmingham.  Other signings include QB John David Booty (Chicago), LBTorrance Marshall (SEA), DT Ron Edwards (POR), HB Jacob Hester (WSH), and WR Steve Breaston (WSH). Quite a few player for picks trade deals were also signed this month, though the highest draft pick swapped out was a 4th rounder, so no big shakeup at the top of the draft just yet.  Pittsburgh sent DE Henry Melton to the Generals for a 6th rounder and WR Kevin Johnson to the Gamblers for a 4th rounder, as it seems clear that new HC Vic Fangio is looking to stockpile some picks.  Denver sent backup center Ben Jones to the Federals for two picks, a 4th and a 6th.  Jones is expected to compete for the starting job in Washington.  The Federals, in turn, sent DE Kamerion Wemberly to Charlotte, getting in return guard Travis Bond and a 5th round pick.  And in the one player for player swap we have seen, Jacksonville sends SS Jaiquawn Jarrett to the Invaders to bolster their line with center Antoine Caldwell.  No huge names yet, no top picks swapping hands yet, but we know from experience that this is just a matter of time. We may be two solid months away from the USFL’s College Draft, but there is more excitement this year than we have seen in a long time.  And while a lot of the attention has gone to 2012 Heisman winner, Johnny Manziel, the truth is that this draft may be special not because of one player but because of the depth of talent across many positions.  It may not be a great draft for running backs, with none receiving a top rating, but in many other positions there are solid ratings 10-12 players deep, and that is a rarity. What that means for USFL teams is that it will not just be about nabbing the best player in their Territorial Draft pool or landing the perfect 1st round pick.  It will be about the full two part draft process. But, that does not mean that there is not an upper echelon  of talent that has many across the league buzzing.  We have selected our 10 Immediate Impact candidates from what we anticipate will be the 2013 Draft pool.  The USFL would love to land as many of these 10 as possible, maintaining their strong draft history vs. the NFL, and for many of these players, it may be the Territorial Draft that determines how and when they get picked. These 10 are in order of position, not a ranked list, because by most accounts any of these 10 could prove to be ROTY candidates. QB Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) Territorial Pool: Houston Gamblers Profile: A dynamic dual threat QB with a knack for playmaking.  Some are comparing his game to that of Doug Flutie or Jim Kelly, two of the biggest names in USFL history. QB Blake Bortles (UCF) Territorial Pool: Orlando Renegades Orlando seems quite happy with Russell Wilson’s first year, so the more traditional pocket passer Bortles could be available in the open draft, which could make him a very coveted player when the teams without strong QB prospects start looking at that pool. WR Sammy Watkins (Clemson) Territorial Pool: Jacksonville Bulls The most dynamic playmaker of a pretty good receiver group, Watkins is strongest at quick cut routes and can play at all three levels of route.  The Bulls could very well be in the market for his skill set. WR Mike Evans (Texas A&M) Territorial Pool: Houston Gamblers More of a straight route and contested ball receiver than Watkins, Mike Evans is an ideal red zone target, big and able to leap as well.  We think Houston will be scouting him heavily ahead of the territorial draft, especially with Ike Hilliard retiring this year. OT Taylor Lewan (Michigan) Territorial Pool: Michigan Panthers The Panthers would be a good landing spot for the Wolverine LT, but they have a lot of needs on defense, so there is a chance that they go heavily in that direction this draft, allowing Lewan to possibly make an appearance early in the Open Draft. DE Jadeveon Clowney (So. Carolina) Territorial Pool: Orlando Renegades The most talked about defensive player in this year’s draft, Clowney is viewed as a top tier edge rusher, but here is the issue.  If there is one position where Orlando does not need or have the funding to support a top tier player, it is at edge rusher.  The new Calais Campbell contract all but guarantees that the ‘Gades will let Clowney join the Open Draft unless someone makes a solid trade offer to snap up one of their T-Draft picks. DT Aaron Donald (Pitt) Territorial Pool:  Pittsburgh Maulers We hope teams won’t get their hopes up about Donald.  There is little to no chance that the Maulers will not select him with their first T-Draft pick.  They have a clear need on the interior of their D-line and Donald looks very much like a cannot miss prospect. LB Khalil Mack (Buffalo) Territorial Pool: None This is an exciting prosepct, the rare top tier talent who is not at a protected school.  That makes Mack one of the few known quantities in the Open Draft from day one.  We cannot imagine he escapes the Top 10 picks in the Open Draft, and could be a good target for the 1st overall pick if Dallas does not go QB in that spot. LB Anthony Barr (UCLA) Territorial Pool: Los Angeles Express Barr is a solid tackler, a fierce competitor, and a natural leader.  Those are all things that an aging LA Express LB group could use.  We see Barr being the Express’s first territorial pick, even with the rich talent pool they have with USC and UCLA players in their exclusive domain. LB Ryan Shazier (Ohio State) Territorial Pool: Ohio Glory The last of our top 10, and another who could be available in the Open Draft if Ohio has other priorities.  Shazier is known for his hitting, and no team passes up on that, but Ohio has needs on both sides of the ball, needs that are more pressing than at LB, so it is conceivable that they will lock up some other Buckeyes and allow Shazier to seek top dollar on the Open Draft market. There are certainly more than 10 prospects that fans should be excited about.  As we review each team’s situation, we will try to present some of the best from each club’s territorial protected schools and some of the best fits should certain players remain available for the Open Draft.  Of course, we also realize that typically 50% or more of the picks from the USFL Draft end up on NFL rosters, but last year was a very strong year at the top of the draft for the USFL, so we don’t rule out the possibility that 2014 could see another bumper crop of rookie talent hitting the league. Team by Team Needs & T-Draft Prospects Let’s take a look at each club, in their initial first round draft order (assuming no trades happen in the next few weeks, at least for now).  We will present each club’s top position of concern, whether for immediate contribution or a need for depth.  We will then review the best options each has in the schools they have protected, and finally a possible name to consider in the first round of the Open Draft, if the players somehow make it that far without being selected. DALLAS ROUGHNECKS Positions of Need: QB, DE, SS, DT, OT Top T-Draft Prospects: TCU’s Jason Verrett is a very talented corner, but as a pure fit, Dallas may also look at QB Garrett Gilbert out of SMU to add to their young QB group. Perfect Fit: If the Bulls don’t jump on South Carolina DE JaDaveon Clowney, you know Dallas will be all over him in the Open Draft. NEW JERSEY GENERALS Positions of Need: WR, LB, DE, OG, OT Top T-Draft Prospects: Losing OU but gaining Wisconsin changes the pool quite a bit for the Generals.  This year that pool could provide them a safety in Dezmen Southward, or a LB In Chris Borland, both Badgers. Perfect Fit: New Jersey needs speed at WR, so either Clemson’s Sammy Watkins or LSU’s Odell Beckham Jr, would be ideal picks at 2. JACKSONVILLE BULLS Positions of Need: OT, CB, OG, HB Top T-Draft Prospects: Do the Bulls go after Clemson WR Sammy Watkins? It is not a high need area, but he is a talent.  They do need a corner (or two), so Florida’s Jaylen Watkins or Clemson’s Bashaud Breeland would be good options. Perfect Fit: The Bulls want to beef up the O-line, so they could look at someone like Greg Robinson, OT out of Auburn or Jake Matthews out of A&M. If Michigan passes on protecting Wolverine Jake Lewan, he too could be on their radar. NASHVILLE KNIGHTS Positions of Need: DE, G, OT, LB, HB, WR Top T-Draft Prospects: Not a deep pool for the Knights, but right at the top is OT Ja’Waun James, a definite need pick for Nashville’s rebuilding O-line. Perfect Fit: If Clowney somehow is there at pick 4, they will jump on him, if not, the next best option may be Auburn’s Dee Ford. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS Positions of Need: FS, LB, TE, OG, K Top T-Draft Prospects: A good selection of talent for the Showboats.  We know they like FS Lonnie Ballentine, but what about a wideout like Donte Moncrief or a guard like Kadeem Edwards from Tennessee State? Perfect Fit: Safety is a tough pick to make this early, but if they are serious about the need, they have either Louisville’s Calvin Pryor or Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton Dix both possibly here at 5. MICHIGAN PANTHERS Positions of Need: CB, WR, OG, DT, FS Top T-Draft Prospects: A pretty slim list out of UM and MSU this year, but if the Panthers can land OT Taylor Lewan or CB Darqueze Dennard, they will be happy. Perfect Fit: The Panthers and Coach Johnson will want to shore up that secondary, so how about a top flight corner like OK State’s Justin Gilbert, Va Tech’s Kyle Fuller, or TCU’s Jason Verett? SEATTLE DRAGONS Positions of Need: LB, DE, DT, OG, FS, P Top T-Draft Prospects: We love Boise State’s DeMarcus Lawrence as a good fit for the Dragon D-line, but they should also take a long look at safety Deone Bucannon out of Wash State, and, of course, Bishop Sankey is another top target for the Dragons. Perfect Fit: Seattle needs some stopping power at LB.  Are they comfortable that Buffalo’s Khalil Mack will drop to 7, or do they need to make a move up the board to get a shot at a player who is not coming out of a T-Draft protected school? HOUSTON GAMBLERS Positions of Need: HB, C, WR, CB, QB Top T-Draft Prospects: A great group coming out of Texas A&M, but do the Gamblers prioritize Manziel or his top target, Mike Evans?  How about tackle Jake Matthews?  Solid talent to pick from and certainly offers will be on the table for a chance to land Manziel. Perfect Fit: If Houston picks and signs Johnny Manziel, that will show us a lot. But if they trade that T-Draft pick, they could have several 1st round picks on tap.  That gives them a lot of options.  We like a halfback early if that is the case.  How about Bishop Sankey out of UW (assuming the Dragons don’t pick him.) TAMPA BAY BANDITS Positions of Need: DT, SS, LB, WR, FS Top T-Draft Prospects: So much talent out of FSU this year.  The best fit for the Bandits may be either safety LaMarcus Joyner or DT Timmy Jernigan, but what about Terrence Brooks, HB Devonta Freeman, or WR Kelvin Benjamin.  Some quality Seminoles on the board to be sure. Perfect Fit: If somehow Aaron Donald slips past the Maulers (how?), the Bandits will not hesitate to jump on the Pitt product. LAS VEGAS THUNDER Positions of Need: CB, LB, HB, DE, FB Top T-Draft Prospects: The Thunder’s schools (BYU, UTAH, and UNLV) rarely produce a truly solid pool, often requiring a 4th school be added.  At least this year there is one clear choice, LB Kyle Van Noy out of BYU is a must-target for the Thunder D. Perfect Fit: Another team looking for a corner. They like both Gilbert (OK State) and Fuller (Va Tech), so we will see who is on the board with this pick. PITTSBURGH MAULERS Positions of Need: DT, QB, TE, HB, LB Top T-Draft Prospects: If the Maulers do not throw everything they have at signing Pitt DT Aaron Donald, they will be guilty of malpractice.  A better plug-and-play defender has not come out of the college ranks in years and it is a position of need for the club as well. Perfect Fit: Let’s assume that the Maulers get their DT in Donald.  So, next up is a backup QB or a halfback.  We think there is a good chance that either Teddy Bridgewater or Blake Bortles will be here at this pick. PORTLAND STAGS Positions of Need: CB, WR, OT, TE, P Top T-Draft Prospects: We like Brandin Cooks as a target for the Stags and for QB Matt McGloin.  He could help take the top off the defense. Perfect Fit: Wideout and Corner are the two biggest needs, but if one of the big tackles is still here, they may have to jump on that. ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS Positions of Need: DE, SS, CB, QB, WR Top T-Draft Prospects: Iowa and Missouri have some interesting players to look at, including Hawkeye LBs Christian Kirksey and Anthony Hitchens and Mizzou CB E. J. Gaines.   DE Michael Sam is a bit of a controversial choice, but he has some talent, and that can be the most important factor. Perfect Fit: Dee Ford or DeMarcus Lawrence would need to clear the T-Draft, but St. Louis would be very happy if one of those big DE’s was to be had with their first Open Draft pick. BALTIMORE BLITZ Positions of Need: HB, DT, LB, OT, DE Top T-Draft Prospects: We think the Blitz will take a shot at both safety Calvin Pryor and LB Marcus Smith, both out of Louisville.  Do they also look at Teddy Bridgewater?  Or would that send a bad message to Big Ben? Perfect Fit: The Blitz want a big pounding running back. That is not Bishop Sankey, but it could be Carlos Hyde from Ohio State, and the Glory don’t seem inclined to spend the money needed to land him as a backup to Isaiah Pead, so he could be here. OHIO GLORY Positions of Need: SS, OT, DE, FS, C, LB Top T-Draft Prospects: LB Ryan Shazier and CB Bradley Roby are both top flight options for the Glory, though perhaps Shazier is a better need pick.  We also like OT Jack Mewhort, and maybe even HB Carlos Hyde, all Buckeyes, though Isaiah Pead’s outstanding 2013 may make the Hyde pick unneeded. Perfect Fit: Speaking of Ohio, they should solve some of their problems in the T-Draft, but they could be in the market for a tackle or a safety.  Calvin Pryor from Louisville would be a nice fit, as would OT Ja’Wuan James out of Tennessee. ORLANDO RENEGADES Positions of Need: LB, DT, DE, QB, OT Top T-Draft Prospects: The best player by far is DE JaDaveon Clowney, but can the Renegades really invest big money in Clowney as they restructure Calais Campbell to be the highest paid defender in the game today?  If they pass on Clowney, expect them to look at O-line with picks in the T-Draft. Perfect Fit: The Renegades are hoping some of the topflight linebackers like Shazier, Barr, or Mack somehow escape the T-Draft and at least one of them is still on the board here. If not, they may have to look at OT. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS Positions of Need: WR, OT, DT, QB, TE Top T-Draft Prospects: We love Greg Robinson, the big burley Auburn tackle as a perfect fit for the Stallions, and they might also take a look at safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix or DE Dee Ford out of Auburn as well. Perfect Fit: The Stallions have needs on both lines, but they also need to address the retirements of both Moss and Owens, so we expect them to draft several wideouts.  How about starting with big Mike Evans out of A&M, a receiver who will high point the ball and win those 50/50 matchups? ATLANTA FIRE Positions of Need: C, FS, LB, WR, K Top T-Draft Prospects: QB Aaron Murray is an intriguing prospect, but just not a need position for the Fire.  A much better fit would be at WR, where Albert Wilson is a low risk pick, very likely to sign.  We also like TE Arthur Lynch as a possible weapon for the Fire offense. Perfect Fit: Center is a weird position to take in the first round.  It is a clear need, but will they stretch to take a Weston Richburg (Colorado State) or Marcus Martin (USC) when one or both could be there in the 2nd round? DENVER GOLD Positions of Need: DE, LB, HB, C, TE Top T-Draft Prospects: Not a great pool for Denver, but a good potential pool for adding depth (not impact).  OG Spencer Long from Nebraska, LB Shaquil Barrett from Colorado State, or WR Paul Richardson of the Buffs could all be useful additions. Perfect Fit: As much as we want Denver to go for a flashy playmaker, that has never been their style.  How about a solid DE like Notre Dame’s Stephon Tuitt or a hard-hitting LB like Kyle Van Noy, if either get through to the Open Draft. CHICAGO MACHINE Positions of Need: LB, OG, DT, TE, HB Top T-Draft Prospects: Notre Dame could provide all 3 picks for the Machine, between guard Zach Martin, DE Stephon Truitt, TE Troy Niklas, DT Louis Nix, and guard Chris Watt, there is no lack of options for Chicago. Perfect Fit: This may seem an odd pick, but quality TE play is so important to the Chicago offense, how about UNC’s Eric Ebron at this point in the first round?  We don’t think Charlotte is going to protect him and he should drop at least this far. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS Positions of Need: DT, WR, TE, LB, QB Top T-Draft Prospects: The Express have a need for young linebacker and UCLA’s Anthony Barr should be a target.  They also want to add a young receiver with Keyshawn retiring, so USC’s Marqise Lee could also be a prime target. Perfect Fit: If Sammy Watkins or Brandin Cooks are here, the Express will be gleeful.  If not, they could do worse than someone like FSU’s Kelvin Benjamin or Vandy’s Jordan Matthews.  One way or the other they need a new number one receiver, and a rookie may have to be the answer. WASHINGTON FEDERALS Positions of Need: DT, WR, C, DE, K Top T-Draft Prospects: Not a great pool out of Virginia, Duke and Va Tech, but there is interest in CB Kyle Fuller, from Va Tech and CB Ross Cockrell from Duke. Perfect Fit: Washington is also hoping there is a quality receiver available, but would be equally happy if a big run-stuffing DT is here, someone like Florida’s Dominique Easley or Minnesota’s Ra’Shede Hageman. CHARLOTTE MONARCHS Positions of Need: DT, FS, OT, LB, SS, G Top T-Draft Prospects: UNC has three talented defenders in DE Kareem Martin, S Tre Boston and CB Jabari Price. We expect Charlotte to target one, two, or all three of these Tarheels. Perfect Fit: Charlotte is hoping Washington goes wideout, because they want the big DT even more than the Federals do. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS Positions of Need: HB, SS, OT, CB, LB Top T-Draft Prospects: A good year for LSU equals a good year for the Breaker’s T-Draft.  How about WRs O’Dell Beckham Jr and Jarvis Landry?  Or DT Ego Ferguson?  HB Jeremy Hill? Or guard Trai Turner? Perfect Fit: Halfback is the key position with Forte leaving in Free Agency.  They could solve this issue with LSU’s Jeremy Hill, but if not, and if Sankey is available, he would fit their run-pass system well. OAKLAND INVADERS Positions of Need: WR, LB, TE, K, C Top T-Draft Prospects: With WR a need, we expect Oakland to take a long look at Fresno State wideout Davante Adams.  They could also use a TE who can run the field, and Cal’s Richard Rodgers II fits that bill.  On defense, how about LB Trent Murphy of Stanford or Khairi Fortt from Cal? Perfect Fit: We could see the Invaders swap their way out of the first round, especially if they really like and are able to get reciprocal feelings from Davante Adams at WR in the T-Draft.  If not, then a LB like Jeremiah Attaochu (Ga Tech) or Marcus Smith (Louisville) would be a good addition. PHILADELPHIA STARS Positions of Need: CB, DE, WR, TE, OT Top T-Draft Prospects: Penn State has at least one prospect the Stars covet, wideout Allen Robinson.  They also will likely take a look at PSU DT DaQuan Jones and BC linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis. Perfect Fit: Philadelphia wants a corner more than anything, and the one we like for them is Jason Verett out of TCU.  Could they trade to get a T-Draft pick from Dallas to land him?  Not out of the question. ARIZONA WRANGLERS Positions of Need: OT, DT, LB, HB, K Top T-Draft Prospects: We love it when opportunity matches need.  How is this for a match?  DT Will Sutton from ASU to fill Monsanto Pope’s spot?  Then you have ASU linebacker Carl Bradford, and, if halfback is an area for some depth, Ka’Deem Carey adds a nice 3rd down dimension that could give Frank Gore some needed snaps off. Perfect Fit:  The last pick in the first round is often a “trade down” position for the defending champion.  Doing so saves cash and they still get an early 2nd rounder in most cases.  With OT and DT being pretty deep positions, we could see Arizona drop into the early 2nd round and still have a good shot at someone like Dominique Easley (Florida) or Ja’Wuan James (Tennessee). We will be back in February, right after the USFL Draft, to assess how the draft went, who is likely or unlikely to sign on for some spring football, and review all the trades, free agent signings, and offseason moves. We will see what the coaching situation looks like in Las Vegas and Nashville, and what the league is going to do about the Las Vegas market after the agreement was cut to move the Thunder to San Diego in 2015.  So, enjoy the holidays, Merry Christmas everyone, and we will be back just as camps open to look at the situation for your favorite USFL squad.  Until then, stay safe, enjoy the holidays, and enjoy the NFL as we gear up for the 32nd USFL season in March.  It will be here before you know it.

It was everything the USFL and its fans could have wanted out of a title game; two top seeds, the best of each conference, engaged in a back and forth struggle for 60 minutes, with the score unresolved, the game would go to overtime before a champion was decided, and in the end a new champion, a first-time champion was crowned.  It was a game filled with stars, with bone-crunching hits, dramatic turns, and big plays.  Pre-game concerns about the status of Frank Gore were dispelled, and by game’s end the Arizona halfback was able to take 28 carries, but Gore’s presence also meant that the threat of the run was fully felt, even if the back was not at 100%, and that made the play action game with David Carr work to perfection. Carr would finish the game as the Summer Bowl MVP, riding off with a 19 of 23 performance, 321 yards through the air against a tough Philadelphia defense, and three touchdown passes. Larry Fitzgerald would be dubbed the playoff MVP, with his third consecutive 100-yard game, this time racking up 135 yards on only 5 receptions, and the defense led by DPOTY Adam Carriker would hold off the Stars in overtime, allowing Arizona to set up the winning kick to bring the Wranglers their first title in over 30 years of play in the league. For the Stars, their big hitters also showed up in force.  Steve Slaton, who had missed the final month of the regular season, added a third consecutive 100-yard rushing game with 101 yards in the game. Stevie Johnson was nearly unstoppable, with 9 receptions for 115 and a touchdown.  On defense, LB Dan Connor racked up 9 tackles, 4 for a loss, and added a sack, while FS Jarius Byrd got the lone pick of Carr in the game. It was a hard fought, tight battle all game long, the kind of game that kept viewers, both in the stadium and at home, on the edge of their seats.  The festivities began with Kelly Clarkson performing “America the Beautiful”, before the national anthem was performed by the Air Force Academy Band from just down the road in Colorado Springs.  It was a perfect late summer Colorado evening, temperatures in the high 70’s with just a slight breeze coming down from the mountains.  The coin toss gave the Wranglers the choice, and they deferred, meaning that Philadelphia would take the ball first when the game kicked off. A booming kick from David Buehler started the game with a touchback.  The Stars’ first series would be a short one, with Arizona’s defense proving its mettle early on with a three-and-out.  Matt Gutierrez was pressured on 3rd and 4 and was forced to throw the ball away, unable to spot that James Hardy had gotten open over the middle.  Philadelphia punted and Arizona took over on their own 38.  The Wranglers would bring out Frank Gore and the offense to rousing applause as a predominantly Arizona crowd welcomed the Wrangler offense to the field. On his first touch of the day, Frank Gore found a hole on the right side and burst for 5 yards.  The run was met with another round of cheers from the nervous Wrangler faithful, happy to see their MVP in the game and starting off well.  Gore would not have an MVP game in his totals, averaging only 2.5 yards per rush against the stout Star defense, but on the second play from scrimmage, it became clear how Arizona would use him.  Faking the handoff to Gore, the Star defense converged on the back, and that created room for David Carr to roll slightly to the left and find Antonio Bryant for the first down.  The play-action strategy on first and second down would mean that Arizona would face only 9 third downs the entire game as they racked up over 400 yards of offense against a Star defense that was 2nd best in the league. On their opening drive, the Wranglers would mix the run and pass evenly (4 of each), with Carr getting the ball down to the Philadelphia 21 and then take a shot at the endzone.  Carr sought out Larry Fitzgerald in the endzone, but Fitz was obstructed by Sam Shields, and the refs threw the flag.  From the 1, everyone expected Gore over the top, but that perfectly set up a quick leak-out from TE Rob Gronkowski and the big man blocked out the defender and caught the 1-yard TD toss to open scoring in the game. Philadelphia would respond with their 2nd drive.  Establishing the run with Slaton and Zac Stacy, the Stars also began using play action to provide Matt Gutierrez with time to throw.  He connected with Stevie Johnson on a 17-yard gainer that shook the Arizona defense and sent a clear message that the Stars would not be intimidated by Arizona’s defensive rep.  4 plays later, Steve Slaton took a pitch, fond the corner, and raced 9 yards to the end zone and the equalizing score. In what was one of the higher scoring first quarters in recent Summer Bowl history, Arizona came right back, to the point where many were beginning to question how these two teams had cracked each other’s defensive schemes so effectively.  Again it was the play-action pass that was the key, as Arizona was able to get Carr time to throw and Carr, in turn, connected with his receivers, hitting Larry Fitzgerald for a 23-yard gainer before finding Antonio Bryant from 14 yard out to retake the lead at 14-7. It was a 15-minute span that had both head coaches consulting with their defensive coordinators to try to find answers.  The start of the second quarter saw the defenses start to find themselves after the flurry of offense in the opening period.   Arizona forced a Philadelphia punt after a sack of Gutierrez, one of only 3 on the day for the Wranglers, as Larry English shed his blocker and found the Philly QB unprepared.  Philadelphia reciprocated with a solid defensive stop, stuffing Frank Gore on a 3rd and 3 run to again force a punt.   But the Stars on their second drive of the quarter again fell short when Daniel Fells was hit by safety Troy Polamalu, turning a potential first down catch into an incompletion and again forcing a Philadelphia punt. The Stars would catch their first break, and a key shift in the first half, on the next Arizona possession however, when the Stars did not bite on the fake to Gore, having called a blitz on the play.   The blitzing linebacker occupied the tackle, allowing DE Reggie Torbor to reach David Carr just as he was winding up the throw. He clipped Carr’s arm in motion, and the ball sailed on the Arizona QB.  Safety Jarius Byrd won the tip drill and Philadelphia found themselves with the first turnover of the game and with the ball on the Arizona side of the field.  They would cash in to equalize the score 6 plays later, when Stevie Johnson used a rub route out of a 3-receiver cluster to work his way free of the corner and Matt Gutierrez found him for a 2-yard TD toss. With the game now tied at 14, Philadelphia kicked off to the Wranglers, who got a good return from Kassim Osgood, a 35-yarder that brought the ball practically to midfield.  But, unfortunately, the Wranglers failed to convert a 3rd and 4 and were forced to punt the ball back to the Stars.  However, the precision of All-USFL punter Shane Lechler turned a negative into a positive as he coffin corner kicked the ball out on the 4-yard line.  The Stars tried to run up the middle with Stacy, but the rookie back was absolutely stuffed by LB Travis Goethel, losing 2 yards and placing the ball precariously close to the endzone.  The Wranglers doubled down on pressure on 2nd and 12 from the 2.  Sending Karlos Dansby and A. J. Klien on blitzes to either side of the center, they immediately flushed Gutierrez out of his dropback, only to have him roll right into the rushing DPOTY, Adam Carriker.  The big DE wrapped up Gutierrez for the safety and a 2-point lead with just over a minute left in the half. Arizona would not be able to move the ball again and once again were forced to punt, but now, with only 17 seconds left in the half, Philadelphia was content to kneel down on the ball and send the game to the halftime break.  Both defenses had asserted themselves in the second quarter, Philadelphia holding the Wranglers out of scoring range and the Wrangler D putting points on the board with a big assist from their special teams unit.  Now, as both coaches looked over their offensive plans of attack, the defenses got a much needed rest. As the fans at Invesco Field rocked to music by Train and local Colorado favorites The Fray, the coaches tried to figure out what was and was not working for their teams.  This was a game that had the feel of a drawn out battle that could be decided on one or two key plays.  The kind of game that would require discipline and focus for all 60 minutes, and, as it turned, out additional time as well. The third quarter began with Arizona receiving the kickoff. They had a bit more success moving the ball, but once again were stymied as they crossed midfield. Philadelphia’s defense put enough pressure on Carr on third and 7 that his pass to Fitzgerald was off the mark and once again the Wranglers were forced to punt.  Backed up once again, Philadelphia played it conservatively. Using Steve Slaton out of a 2-back formation, they were able to gain 2 first downs and reach midfield, but they too bogged down.  Arizona would take over on their own 17 after a John Carlton punt.  Their next drive would be kind of slow, steady slog downfield that demoralizes a defense, though the Stars would not give up the touchdown, a huge factor down the road. Arizona got several nice runs form Frank Gore on the drive, his most proficient of the game, likely due to some trainer support during the half.  With Gore running the ball, spelled only once by Stevan Ridley, and with Carr finding WR Mike Williams and TE Rob Gronkowski with first down-earning passes, the Wranglers moved the ball down inside the Philadelphia five.  First and goal on the 4 seemed to indicate that the Stars were about to go down by 2 scores.  But Philadelphia held.  They limited Frank Gore to a 1-yard run on first down, then 2 yards on 2nd down, putting the ball on the 1-yard line.  On third down, Carr took the ball out of the shotgun, looked towards Gronkowski, but was flushed by the Stars defense.  He made it back to the line of scrimmage, but was officially ruled down, a sack for Anthony Hargrove, and the Wranglers, after nearly 10 minutes of possession, had only a field goal and a 5-point lead to show for it.  The third quarter wrapped up at 19-14. The final period would be the most furious of the game, with both teams moving the ball effectively once again.  Philadelphia took the first possession of the quarter down to the Arizona 34, before being stifled on third down.  Coach Harbaugh, trusting in the leg of Mike Nugent, and trying to get the score down within 3, would send his kicker out for the 51-yard attempt.  Nugent paid off his coach’s confidence with a solid kick and the Stars would find themselves down only 2 points with nearly 12 minutes left to play. Philadelphia would get a shot to tie only 3 minutes later, as Arizona’s offense again failed to convert and the Wranglers again punted, but after gaining two first downs and crossing midfield, the Stars would suffer another turnover as Leon Washington took a swing pass from Gutierrez, but in the process of going down on the tackle, the ball was forced out by a solid punch-out from LB Lance Briggs, and Arizona would recover the untimely fumble to take over again. They would strike quickly, with a perfect first down play action pass that found Larry Fitzgerald open for a 52-yard strike. Safety Jarius Byrd was able to track down the receiver and knock him out at the Philadelphia 12, but the damage was done.  Two plays later, following a false start by the Wranglers, Carr went back to his lanky receiver, and Fitzgerald rewarded him with a 17-yard touchdown on a fade pattern that was indefensible for the shorter cornerback against Fitzgerald’s height.  Arizona had built up a 9-point lead, 26-17, and it seemed were on their way to a celebratory champagne shower. But with just over 5 minutes left, this game was far from over.  The Stars drove the ball quickly into Arizona territory, and closed in on a touchdown, with the ball down to the Arizona 3-yard line.  But once again a fumble would undo the Stars. This time it was a botched handoff between Gutierrez and Slaton.  The Philadelphia fans in attendance groaned as they saw their shot at getting back into the game fumbled away.  But, they would be back on their feet only 1 play later. Pinned at their own end zone, the Wranglers tried once again to use play action, hoping to catch Philadelphia focused on Frank Gore, but this time the Stars were ready, and when David Carr dropped into the end zone, the pass rush was there.  Carr got the ball off, but not before a flag had been pulled.  Holding was the call, and with the call occurring in the end zone, it was 2-points for the Stars and a kickoff to Philadelphia with 47 seconds left to play, a last chance for a TD drive to equalize the score. The Stars were decisive in the final possession.  Leon Washington was brought in as a pass-catching back, three receivers (Johnson, James Hardy, and Michael Newhouse) and TE Travis Kelce would be the players on the field. An 11-yard pass to Hardy on first down got the ball to the Arizona 33 and with Hardy stepping out of bounds, the clock stopped with 34 seconds on the clock.  Rather than dink and dunk their way to the end zone, Philadelphia opted to go big.  Arizona was notorious for bringing pressure and playing man coverage, even in game ending situations, so OC Greg Roman sent in a play designed to beat man coverage, though it would require some time to set up.  Matt Gutierrez was to roll out to his right, to the side of the field that had only 1 receiver, Stevie Johnson.  Johnson would run a post route, with Michael Newhouse undercutting that route from the left side and racing to the right corner of the end zone. The play would require Washington to stay in and block to avoid a possible sack. The play worked as it was written up.  Washington chipped Carriker to help Gutierrez have more time, the safety followed Johnson towards the middle of the field, and Newhouse got a step on the corner.  Gutierrez put the ball out in front of Newhouse, and with 34 seconds left to play, Philadelphia connected on the play and Newhouse had himself a game-saving touchdown.  With Mike Nugent’s confident PAT kick the game was knotted up at 26. Arizona would elect to push the game to overtime, somewhat shellshocked by the final minute of play.  They would need to recover and regroup in the short break between the 4th quarter and the coin toss, because Philadelphia certainly had gained momentum with the 9-point swing in the game’s final minute.  As the visitor, Philadelphia called tails and it was tails.  They opted to receive, hoping to end the game on the first drive, never giving Arizona a chance to recover. The Wranglers needed to circle the wagons on defense and retake field position and momentum if they wanted to pull out this game and their title hopes.  They would do just that as Philadelphia earned one first down and then was stuffed, pressure and good coverage caused the Stars to falter on both 2nd and 3rd down from their own 33, forcing a punt that gave Arizona their first possession in overtime, knowing that any points put up would end the game. The Wranglers did not change their formula, mixing up the run and pass plays, using run formations but sending their backs and tight ends out on routes as well.  Frank Gore would get his only catch of the game, TE James Casey had two catches on the overtime drive, and Larry Fitzgerald got his final catch, a 14-yarder on 2nd and 9 that helped Arizona get into range for David Buehler.  By the 9-minute mark of overtime, the Wranglers were well within Buehler’s range, sitting with the ball on the Philadelphia 15.  They wasted no time, bringing Buehler out on first and 10 from the 15 for a 32-yard kick.  Philadelphia would ice Buehler, which sent the crowd into a Ferris Buehler-esque chant of “Buehler, Buehler… Buehler”.  The Arizona kicker sent the ball straight down the middle and Invesco Field was suddenly a blizzard of copper and red confetti.  The Wranglers had won their first title in the team’s and the league’s 31-year history.  It had taken an extra 7 minutes, but the victory was theirs. The team that featured the league’s Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and MVP stood at the podium to hold aloft the John Bassett Trophy.  The oft-unsung hero of the team, David Carr, received the game’s MVP award, but was quick in interviews to thank everyone from Coach Tomsula to his line and the defense that had given them a shot in overtime.  The Stars had come close once again, but now evened their Summer Bowl record at 3-3 with a third loss.  The Wranglers had finished off a magical season, one which saw them fall to defeat only once, with a well-deserved title.  Arizona would be home to the Champions of Spring Football.