Player of the Week: Cam Newton has had a fantastic start to the season. Following a 4-TD Week 1 performance, he came back in Week 2 with a 377-yard, 3-TD game against a tough Tampa Bay squad, helping Birmingham get off to a 2-0 start and sole possession of first place in the Southern Division.

Week Two did not disappoint as we saw some nailbiters, a great play for a final minute comeback, some significant upsets, and some emerging stars.   Surprisingly we exit Week 2 with  St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, and Nashville all winless, while Birmingham, Arizona, New Jersey, and Las Vegas start off the year 2-0.  It was not all good news however, as New Jersey lost their star QB for what looks like the full regular season.  Let’s get right to the action of the week, starting with a back and forth game between the Bandits and the surprising Birmingham Stallions. TAMPA BAY BANDITS   23   BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 27 Another tough loss for the Bandits and another impressive win for the Birmingham Stallions as Cam Newton leads B’ham on a final drive to victory to edge the Bandits and remain unbeaten.  It was a game full of stars, with Tampa’s Willis McGahee making a play on POTW with 137 yards rushing and another 28 in the air, oh, and 2 scores as well. But, with Cam Newton again hitting up both Randy Moss and Terrell Owens for over 100 yards apiece, this game went to the homestanding Stallions. With nearly 800 yards of total offense, and only 1 turnover, this was a game for the offenses.  It began with the first of McGahee’s 2 scores, a 2-yard swing pass from Culpepper that got the Bandits on the board first and was the only scoring play of the first quarter.  Kaeding shanked the PAT, but Tampa still took a 6-0 lead into the 2nd.  Early in the 2nd Tampa extended to a 13-0 lead, thanks to a Culpepper to Jackson 24-yard TD pass.  Jackson had completely faked out the corner with a perfect out & up route and Culpepper hit him on the back shoulder with a great throw under pressure. Birmingham would recover, capping off a 73-yard, 13-play drive with a 10-yard toss from Newton to Randy Moss.  In what would be a very exciting 2nd quarter, Tampa Bay responded as McGahee again found paydirt, this time on a perfectly executed draw that went for 16 and for 6.  But, with 3:41 left in the quarter, it was too much time to rest easy.  Birmingham again moved the ball effectively and when Newton found Dontrelle Inman alone against a slower safety, he made the Bandits pay, hitting the young receiver for a 35-yard score on a seam play that perfectly busted the Bandit defense. With the score 20-14 Tampa Bay at the half, Birmingham coach Mike Shanahan tried to emphasize composure on defense and motion on offense.  The defensive pep talk worked as the Stallions held Tampa Bay scoreless in the third, but the Stallion offense also struggled, with Newton taking 3 of his 5 sacks in the period, and producing the only pick of the game, a pass whose trajectory was altered by DE Jason Pierre-Paul.  The Stallions managed to add a field goal in the period, despite the Protection issues, and went into the 4th down only 3, at 20-17. In the 4th, Tampa Bay had some success on their first drive, but a costly holding penalty kept them from being able to cash in on a redzone possession.  They added 3 to their lead but would not score again in the game.  Birmingham would respond with a mid-period field goal of their own, again bringing the deficit back to 3, and, after a time-killing possession by the Bandits, the Stallions got the ball back with only 1:06 left and only 1 time out still in their possession.  The Bandits would need their defense to step up for just over a minute to preserve a 3-point win.  To say they didn’t pull that off would be an understatement. Coach Shula is certain to catch flak for how he handled the 2-minute drill in the game’s final minute.  It would take Birmingham only 1 play to turn the game on its head.  Shula’s defense opted not to go for a deep shell prevent, but to pressure Newton and play man behind the rush.  That was a huge mistake.  Cam Newton evaded the initial pressure, and as he surveyed the field, it was clear that Terrell Owens had gotten more than a step on his closest defender.  Newton let the deep ball go, and Owens ran under it.  The safety tried to trip Owens up with a diving tackle, but Owens stepped past the attempt and cruise down the sideline for a 93-yard score with 1:06 still left on the clock. The Bandits were deflated, the crowd jubilant, and the Stallions now on top 27-23.  That score would hold as Tampa Bay could not get into the endzone despite moving the ball well in the final minute.  The Bandits fell to 0-2, and a raucous and very happy Birmingham crowd celebrated as their Stallions moved to 2-0 on one of the most unexpected big plays of the week. ST. LOUIS 24   MICHIGAN 28 A second straight high scoring affair and a second straight loss to start the year for the 2012 league champions.  St. Louis gets 112 yards from rookie back Eddie Lacy, but a costly pick-6 thrown by Josh Freeman in the 3rd quarter helps the Panthers build up a 28-21 lead that they would not relinquish.  Dre Kirkpatrick did the damage with the 20-yard return, but Michigan also racked up nearly 400 yards of offense, including 272 yards on 18 of 29 passing by 1st year starter Kirk Cousins.  Add in 88 yards on only 8 carries by Michigan back Mike Hart and you have an upset that sends the Skyhawks to an unexpected 0-2 start in their title defense. ORLANDO 13   JACKSONVILLE 30 The Bulls forced 4 turnovers, including 2 picks of Russell Wilson and C. J. Spiller rattled off 96 yards on only 10 carries as Orlando was sideswiped by an effective inside-outside running game.  Knowshon Moreno, who had a huge Week 1, was held to only 29 yards on 19 carries as Jacksonville’s D homed in on the run game and shut it down.  Add in 2 TDs to Rashaun Woods and 7 penalties by a sloppy Orlando club and you get a comfortable win for the Bulls at home. LAS VEGAS 27   MEMPHIS 20 Eli Manning threw three picks to the Thunder defense, and Jake Plummer connected twice with T. J. Houshmandzadeh for scores as Las Vegas continued to block out the off-field distractions and play a complete game.  The score would have been worse had it not been for a 105-yard kickoff return by Memphis’s Antwaun Molden.  Jake Plummer found Housh twice, but also threw 5 times to Chad Johnson for 125 yards in a game where Marshawn Lynch was sidelined, and Vegas focused on the passing game. DENVER 6   CHICAGO 24 Two weeks in and the Denver Gold have yet to score a touchdown, held to only 2 field goals by Chicago as they drop to 0-2.  The Machine limited Denver to only 69 yards rushing and a total of 230 yards.  Doug Martin had a huge game for the Machine, with 121 yards and a TD on 23 carries. Ben Tate also scored as Chicago equalized their record at 1-1 with a convincing home victory over a Denver team that looks like they are sleepwalking. ARIZONA 14   OAKLAND 11 Another defensive gem for the Wranglers as they hold Oakland to only 184 total yards, including only 31 yards rushing on the day.  Two TDs from Carr to Larry Fitzgerald, both of over 60 yards, were all the Wranglers needed to pull this one out.  Frank Gore again had a huge carry total with 28 totes of the rock, leading to 102 rushing yards.  Oakland played most of the second half with Pat White at QB after Joey Harrington caught a finger in his eye, forcing him out. ATLANTA 10   NEW JERSEY 16 A costly win for the Generals as Sam Bradford appears to be lost for the year after suffering a fully separated bicep in his throwing arm during a 3rd quarter drive.  Tied at 10, New Jersey got what they needed from fill-in Bryan Hoyer, as the backup connected with Doug Baldwin for the game winning score.  The Defense did the rest, holding Atlanta down in the final quarter after giving up 144  yards ot the run game in the first three quarters.  Rookie Marcus Lattimore rushed for 84 in the game, with J. J. Arrington adding another 66 yards, but in the final period the Fire just could not get the ball into range for a score and New Jersey left for home with a W, but one that could cost them much more. HOUSTON 13   TEXAS 20 The Texas Tussle volume 1 goes to the Outlaws as they get a Flacco to Parrish TD to pull ahead for good in the 4th quarter.  Both Joe Flacco and Matt Hasselbeck were limited in their ability to move the ball, while Arian Foster proved the difference for the Outlaws, outgaining Houston’s Michael Turner 132-38.  Texas’s defense also did its part, holding Houston without a converted 3rd down all day (0 for 11). BALTIMORE 19   NASHVILLE 16 The Peyton Manning experiment continues to struggle for Nashville as they can only put up 1 TD and three field goals against a solid Baltimore defensive effort.  Ron Dayne led the way for the Blitz on offense with 154 rushing yards on 21 carries, a very strong 7.4 yards per carry.  Ben Roethlisberger also connected with Darrius Heyward-Bey for a 54-yard touchdown to help the Blitz even their record at 1-1, while Nashville starts off slow with an 0-2 mark. DALLAS 30   CHARLOTTE 28 The Roughnecks continue to impress with their tenacity, this time on the road against the Eastern Conference Champions.  Dallas trailed by 4 in the 4th quarter but got two late Haushka field goals to pull out the road upset against Charlotte.  The Monarchs racked up 406 yards of offense, including 307 yards passing from Jake Delhomme, but two Roughneck interceptions helped keep Dallas in range.  The offensive star for the Roughnecks was 2nd year receiver Justin Blackmon, who had 129 yards and a TD on only 4 receptions. LOS ANGELES 21   OHIO 31 Los Angeles has major defensive woes as they give up 420 yards of production to the Ohio Glory, who get 104 yards from Isaiah Pead, and 298 yards passing from Chris Weinke.  The game would have been much worse but for 3 LA interceptions of Weinke which kept them in contention for most of the game.  Rashad Jennings rushed for 2 scores and Weinke found Lee Smith and Zach Miller for scores as the Glory even their mark at 1-1 after 2 weeks.  Coach Andy Reid has to be frustrated with LA’s 0-2 start as his defense continues to be a major concern. NEW ORLEANS 3   PITTSBURGH 20 The Maulers held New Orleans in check all game, allowing a first quarter field goal but then shutting out Drew Brees and the Breaker offense the rest of the way.  Quincy Carter accounted for both Pittsburgh TD’s rushing for the game’s first and then finding rookie Adam Thielen for the second as the Maulers even their record with a home victory. SEATTLE 28   PORTLAND 10 The Dragon offense comes to life with 148 yards rushing from former Showboat Cadillac Williams.  Williams averaged 5.8 yards per carry and added 2 touchdowns to help the Dragons upend the Stags in Portland.  The Stags had some big plays but could not convert them into points as the lone TD came well after the game had slipped away. PHILADELPHIA 27   WASHINGTON 10 The Stars make a statement in DC by shutting down the Washington offense and picking off David Garrard twice.  Matt Gutierrez was efficient, completing 21 of 34 passes for 237 yards and three TDs, while Steve Slaton had his first 100-yard game of the season, averaging 5 yards per carry over 22 touches.  DE Alan Hargrove produced 2 sacks and was a constant presence in the Federal backfield as Philadelphia moves to 2-0 and sends the Feds to their first defeat of the year on Sunday Night Football. Sam Bradford Likely Lost for Season Bad news for the unbeaten Generals as the medical team has weighed in on Sam Bradford’s bicep injury.  It is, as feared, a complete separation, with the muscle having rolled up towards the shoulder.  It will require surgery, which is expected to happen within the week, and it will also require a long recovery period, estimated at between 12-16 weeks.  Even in the shortest timeframe, Bradford would be questionable at best for a Wild Card playoff game.  While Coach Edwards and the Generals have yet to move Bradford to the IR, the expectation is that the decision will be made post-surgery, and is likely to be a lost season for the 2012 All-USFL quarterback. The loss of Bradford is a major blow to a franchise expected to compete for a division title in the very competitive Northeast Division.  The Generals turned to former Michigan State and NE Patriot QB Bryan Hoyer in this weekend’s game, and it is assumed that Hoyer will be the starter moving forward.  Veteran journeyman Jeff Blake was the emergency QB this week and will now move up to the the backup role.  New Jersey has also activated rookie free agent signee Jake Joyner from the practice squad to be the new 3rd option.  Joyner, the Troy product, has yet to see any snaps in live game action, including the preseason. How Hoyer handles the position may help determine if New Jersey goes shopping for another option.  Right now, the free agent pool is limited to journeymen and lifelong backups like Seneca Wallace, Dan Orlovsky, Rhett Bomar and Dennis Dixon.  There is a former General available in 35-year-old Kris Kershaw, but if the Generals decide they need someone who can do better than Hoyer in the short term, they may find themselves looking to make a trade.  Former Pittsburgh starter Cody Pickett is now a 2nd teamer in Nashville and could be a possible target, as could Orlando’s Chad Henne, or possibly even Vince Young from Ohio if the Glory feel that Chris Weinke is solidly entrenched as the #1.  For right now at least, it is Bryan Hoyer’s opportunity to show that he can be an effective starter in the USFL after a season on the bench for the Generals. Cam Newton Silencing Doubters in Third Season Ok, perhaps we are overreacting after only 2 weeks, but the show that Cam Newton has put on with the Stallions this year, not only leading them to a 2-0 start, but throwing for nearly 600 yards and 7 touchdowns in his first two games, certainly seems like a shift in the young quarterback’s trajectory.  Newton sits at a 107.2 QB rating after these first two weeks, light years ahead of his 2012 rating of 67.3 and significantly higher than his 84.8 rating in his solid rookie year.  Birmingham currently finds itself ranked 5th in both scoring and passing yards, averaging 27.5 points and 286 yards per game.  Both Terrell Owens and Randy Moss seem happy with the playcalls and the game plan through the first two weeks, and why not, the two have combined for 345 yards and 3 scores. It is a long season and we have seen Birmingham start fast before only to fade in the heat of the summer, but this quick start has gotten fans in the Yellowhammer State excited about their only pro sports team.  The Stallions are on the road this week, but reports are that their next home game, against division foe New Orleans, could be the highest attendance game in nearly 5 years, with pre-game sales cranking up after this week’s win against the Bandits. Lacy Comes Up Big But Skyhawks Fall Again The Skyhawks must be a bit stunned, sitting at 0-2 after ending 2012 with a 12-game winning streak and a league title, but don’t tell us it is the departure of Antowain Smith that has produced the two losses.  Rookie Eddie Lacy has started the year strong out of the gate.  After a decent opening outing that saw him gain 59 yards against Houston, Lacy had himself a very strong game in this week’s loss to Michigan, rushing for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns on 20 carries.  That,  if anything, is a very Antowain-style game for the former Alabama Crimson Tide back. The issue in St. Louis does not appear to be the offense at all.  The club is first in the league in yards per game after 2 weeks, with an average of 409 yards per outing.  They rank fifth in rushing and 6th in passing, but when we look at the defense, well, there we might have some questions.  It appears that while we were all concerned about the departure of Antowain Smith, it was Richard Seymour’s retirement that had the bigger effect.  With Seymour retired the early results do not look good for the Skyhawk defense.  They are giving up an average of 97.5 yards on the ground in their first 2 games, 20th in the league in that category.  Against the pas sthey are even worse, ranked 26th with an average of 277 yards allowed per game.  Rookie DT Sheldon Richardson is struggling to shake off blockers, and the ends, Adrian Clayborn and Olivier Vernon are not finding the QB, with only 1 sack between the two starters in these first two weeks. There is certainly time for the defense to find its legs, but until they do, the offense is going to have to get more games like this week’s outing from Lacy, and more still from the passing game.   St. Louis has a rough one this week, when they host a very good Washington Federal team, then it is off to Dallas, where home cooking in front of an enthusiastic DFW fanbase has the Roughnecks playing far better than anticipated over these same 2 weeks. Early Defensive Excellence Propels Las Vegas and Wranglers to 2-0 No mystery when we look at how Las Vegas and Arizona have won their first two games.  It is all about the defense with both squads.  Las Vegas is allowing only 16.5 points per game, but even more impressive is that they have forced 8 turnovers in only 2 games.  That is a pace that seems hard to keep up, but the Thunder are counting on a ballhawking secondary and a hard-hitting LB group to keep the pressure on opposing ballcarriers.  CB Tyrone Bell is leading the league with 3 picks in 2 games, and he is not alone, with both A. J. Hawk and Mark Barron also snagging picks in the opening games. Arizona is not living by takeaways, they are just playing shut down defense.  The Desert Storm Defense is currently ranked 1st in scoring and in yards per game, giving up exactly 7 points between their first two games and an average of only 216 total yards per game, including a measly 43.5 yards per game rushing.   At the center of Arizona’s newfound defensive success is a solid core of veterans, including LB Karlos Dansby, SS Troy Polamalu, CB Joe Haden, and DE Adam Carriker.  The Wranglers already have 4 players with 12 or more tackles, and they have 3 different players with 2 sacks, including Carriker, his linemate Larry English, and CB Mike Mickens, who not only blitzes on passing downs, but is unafraid to take on backs in the run game. The Arizona offense has not exactly caught fire, averaging only 15.5 points per game, but if the defense can keep teams at 14 points or fewer, as they  have in both game so far, even a middling offense can do the job to produce more wins. Express Defense a Major Concern for Reid If Coach Tomsula in Arizona is pleased as punch with his defense, new LA Express head man, Andy Reid, must be stress-eating about his.  The Express are dead last in yards allowed, giving up over 410 yards a week, and they seem to be almost equally vulnerable to the run and the pass.  The LB group of Tatupu, Rivers, and Matthews, expected to be a strength of the club, seem to be out of position far too often.  DE Keneche Udeze has two sacks this year but has also been overrun on far too many running plays.  But the biggest issue may be the secondary, where the expected dominance of CB’s Marcus Truffant and Dominique Rogers-Cromartie has simply not emerged.  The two have been hit for big plays by both Jake Locker (DAL) and Chris Weinke (OHI), not two QBs known for their big play capacity. The Express faithful were excited by the offensive potential of the team with Reggie Bush expected to play as soon as this week, and with Andy Reid at the helm, but if they cannot get that defense to start shutting down the opposition, no degree of offensive fireworks may be enough to pull the Express out of the Pacific Division basement and make them competitive this year. Sam Bradford’s bicep injury was certainly not the only blow to a USFL team this week, though it is likely the most impactful.  Several other players, including Houston HB Michael Turner and Washington FS Ed Reed will be out in Week 3 and perhaps longer.  Here is the full roundup of new faces on the Week 3 injury list: OUT QB         Sam Bradford                   NJ         Bicep                    12-16 Weeks OT          Lamar Holmes                BAL        Skull                      8-12 Weeks OG         Chester Pitts                     TEX        Wrist                     8-12 Weeks HB         Michael Turner                HOU     Abdomen           2-4 Weeks LB           Chris Claiborne               DAL       Foot                      1-2 Weeks FS           Ed Reed                          WSH     Foot                      1-2 Weeks TE           Eddie Williams                NSH      Hamstring         1-2 Weeks TE           Brandon Pettigrew         CHA      Finger                   1-2 Weeks HB          Ronnie Brown                   PIT         Back                     1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL QB         Andy Dalton                      PIT         Nerve WR         Percy Harvin                     DAL       Ankle HB         Marshawn Lynch            LV           Shoulder QUESTIONABLE LB           Hannibal Navies             DEN      Toe LB           Angelo Crowell                BAL        Neck DE          Justin Smith                      OAK      Foot DT          Amobi Okoye                    SEA        Patella New Faces Having an Impact As we see each year, a new season brings a lot of new faces to teams across the league, whether through the draft, the NFL transfer window, or free agency, rosters in the USFL always shift year to year, and with that come new opportunities for players to find a good match for their skills or for teams to find the right piece to put in place to improve their club.  With two weeks complete in the USFL season, we look particularly at some of the USFL free agents and traded players who now find themselves adapting to a new team and a new chance to prove themselves.  Even as we wait for the last of the NFL imports to take the field, these USFL transfers have found success in the early going of the 2013 season. QB Chris Weinke (Texas to Ohio) The former Monarchs starter who has languished on the benches of of Seattle and Texas for the past two years was traded somewhat unceremoniously to Ohio for a 3rd round pick.  Coach Andrus promised the former starter a chance to compete, and Weinke has taken full advantage of that chance.  Weinke won the starting job over incumbent Vince Young through a strong camp and a solid performance in the preseason.  In his first two regular season games he has led Ohio to two strong offensive outings, a 31-21 win over the LA Express and a 36-29 loss to his former club, Texas.  He has thrown for nearly 600 yards in those two victories, and while his 4:5 ratio of touchdowns and picks is not ideal, his on-field leadership has helped Ohio to Top 5 rankings in both points and yardage.  Weinke has quickly built rapport with Ohio’s outspoken number one receiver, Steve Smith, who has over 100 yards in each of the Glory’s first two games, and has also incorporated TE Zach Miller into the action as the team’s second receiver.  The Glory hit the road for the first time this week, against an unbeaten Dallas squad, and Weinke will have a chance to show if he can take his early success on the road. HB Frank Gore (Nashville to Arizona) There was little doubt that Frank Gore would continue to be a workhorse and to have success with his move from the Knights to the Wranglers, but Arizona may want to pump the brakes a bit for the veteran back.  Gore currently leads all rushers with 57 carries in only 2 games, a pace that would put him near the dreaded 400 carry total, a killer for any back, much less a 32-year old 8 year veteran.  The results have been solid, with back-to-back 100 yard games, but the wear on the veteran back may be more than Arizona would like.  They are loving the results, but perhaps should consider offering a few more carries each week to Stevan Ridley or Jonathan Dwyer, just to keep Gore healthy all season. HB Cadillac Williams (Memphis to Seattle) The former Showboat back has welcomed his move to the Pacific Northwest, and this week he showed Seattle fans why they should be happy to welcome him to the team with a 117 yard, 2 TD performance.  Williams has stepped into the Dragon lineup as a catalyst for the offense, allowing Byron Leftwich the opportunity to work off of play action effectively.  Another 8-year veteran, like Gore, Williams has found a newfound appreciation for the game in Seattle, where he has been provided with an offense that suits his skills, with FB Jerome Felton often leading the way and a passing game that helps keep defenses from stacking the line, something that was not the case the past few years in Memphis. WR Vincent Jackson (Pittsburgh to Tampa Bay) We all predicted that the Maulers’ lead receiver would only get better as a member of Coach Shula’s more aggressive offense in Tampa Bay and that has certainly shown itself to be true after the season’s first two weeks.  Jackson is averaging 103 yards and 8 receptions a game over 2 weeks. He has scored a touchdown in both games, despite the Bandits difficulty getting in the win column, and it is clear that he has built immediate rapport with veteran Bandit QB Daunte Culpepper.  His 10-catch, 134 yard performance in the season opener was a wake up call to the division that Tampa Bay had itself a true weapon. TE Joe Toler (Birmingham to Seattle) The unheralded signing, Toler was released by Birmingham after only 1 season, a season in which he appeared in only 4 games, never got a start, and was targeted only once.  Seattle picked him up as backup to both Bennie Joppru and NFL signee Dennis Pitta.  With Pitta still unable to go, Toler has seen the field in each of the Dragons’ first two games, and has surprisingly outperformed Joppru as both a blocker and as a receiver.  Toler had 9 receptions in the season opener, impressing Coach Mitchell with his tenacity and ability to shake off linebackers in his routes.  With Pitta expected to suit up this week, Toler has retained his role as TE2, moving the veteran Joppru to the dreaded, and rarely used, TE3 position.  While he may not see as many opportunities to be a target for Byron Leftwich, he will certainly see a lot of action in Seattle’s heavy sets and 2 TE formations, something few anticipated when he was signed for the league minimum this offseason. LB Rey Maualaga (Charlotte to New Jersey) Many in the Carolinas were upset with the Monarchs for trading Maualaga after an All-USFL season, but the club felt they needed to boost their D-line and the deal for Jevon Kearse seemed the best way to do that.  New Jersey benefited immediately from that deal, with both Maualaga and NFL veteran Chase Blackburn becoming immediate starters for the Generals this year.  That move has paid early dividends for the Generals as Maualaga currently leads the team with 19 tackles in his first 2 games.  The strong-side LB has helped energize the General LB group, and the entire defense has benefited, helping the club start the year at 2-0 and proving that the right player in the right place can have an immediate impact. LB Antonio Pierce (Washington to New Orleans) Another linebacker with immediate impact has been Antonio Pierce.  Already considered a shoe-in for a Hall of Fame jacket some day, Pierce was not ready to hang up the cleats, signing a 2-year deal to join the Breakers, and New Orleans is seeing the benefit.  Pierce was named a team captain by the defense during camp and after two weeks leads the team with 18 tackles from the MLB position.  Add in a forced fumble in the season opening victory over Jacksonville and you have a veteran leader proving it on the field. LB Zak DeOssie (Houston to Dallas) The cross-state transplant is another case of a player getting a bigger role and having an immediate impact with his new team. DeOssie began his Dallas career this year with a 5 tackle performance in the season opener, and added a sack and two forced fumbles in this weeks upset win in Charlotte.  The 7-year veteran of Wade Phillips’s system in Houston has brought toughness and tenacity to a LB group that was lacking both last year (in Boston).  Lined up on the outside of 2nd year phenom Luke Kuechley has freed up DeOssie to bring the thunder, crashing into the line on run plays to allow Kuechley the ability to roam the second level of the defense and make plays across the field. Las Vegas Finances to Be Major Topic of Owners’ Meeting We are expecting the rubber to hit the road when the 28 USFL league owners meet this week in New York.  Top of the agenda is the emerging crisis and apparent financial malfeasance of Thunder principal owner Phil Ruffin.  There is every possibility that Ruffin and his ownership group will be ousted and that the league may have to take over the franchise until a new ownership group can be found.  The State of Nevada is exploring charges, and the league seems to have found enough in the financial records to determine that Ruffin and his group have been cooking the books to look more stable than they are.  That does not bode well for a Las Vegas franchise that is seemingly able to maintain focus on the field, where the Thunder moved to 2-0 this week.  But, as well as the Thunder are playing each weekend, it seems almost daily that new information emerges about the practices and deceptions of the ownership. If the owners do vote this week, expect them to appoint a conservator to oversee the operations of the franchise while the league handles the financial situation, the issues tied to stadium construction in Las Vegas and while an ad hoc search committee is formed to identify potential ownership options.  One option, one that many suspect will be on the table, is for another current owner to opt to replace Ruffin in Las Vegas, giving up their current franchise for a possible low-ball price on the Thunder and with a new stadium set to go on-line in 2 years. Another option the league could consider is to try to woo one of the ownership groups representing other markets on the Thunder franchise.  That would depend on the ability to move the ownership group towards maintaining the club in Sin City, with major investment in the new stadium.   That could be a tough sell, even for desperate ownership groups outside the city.  What the league is desperate to avoid is a situation where the only viable ownership option leads to relocation, leaving the USFL on the hook for nearly $600M towards a new stadium with no franchise to occupy it. We will know more by Tuesday, but we expect that the fallout from whatever is decided could take months to sort out, and all the while the Thunder players keep suiting up and, apparently, keep winning, despite the distraction. St. Louis to have fans vote on helmet redesign Long before they finished their stunning rise to a league championship, the St. Louis Skyhawks were slated for an Adidas uniform redesign for the 2014 season.  That redesign is still on track, but when a team just recently grabs a league title there can be pressure not to change away from the look the team wore for that victory.  Despite the fact that the Skyhawks have had the same look through several bad years after their 2006 expansion, there is still a feeling that you don’t want to drift too far from the look that won the title. So, while the Skyhawks are still moving ahead with a uniform update as part of the Adidas deal with the USFL, they want to give the fans a say in at least one aspect of their uniform.  The club has released four potential helmet designs, two each in Clear Sky Blue and in metallic silver.  The blue is a touch lighter than the current version, while the silver plays into the metallic hue seen on their pant set and their logo.  The designs are also divided by the two different logo options. On the one hand there is the current and initial helmet logo of the team, the hawk’s head with three streaking jets buzzing the Gateway Arch.  The new design is a set of wings, large and emerging from the facemask, not dissimilar to the type of wrap around looks we see from the Atlanta Fire or Portland Stags.  The silver, white and navy (midnight) blue wings extend from the facemask just past the midpoint of the helmet.  Both designs also feature a new center stripe, a curved stripe which is thicker at the rear and front bumpers than at the crown, designed to mirror the arc of the Gateway arch.  The blue helmets would retain their midnight blue facemask, while the silver helmet will be paired with the Clear Sky color on its facemask. A fan poll has been created on the Skyhawks’ website to allow fans to vote on which of the four designs will be the 2014 look for the team.  It is anticipated that Adidas will also roll out new jerseys and pants by the end of the 2013 season and we expect that whichever helmet is chosen will align with the look of that new uniform.  For now all we have is the new helmet options, with fans having until Week 8 to vote on the designs and select the new lid for their league champion squad. Only 4 divisional games on tap in Week 3, but that does not mean that there are not exciting matchups all across the schedule.  Two of the league’s most aggressive defenses meet on Friday night when the Chicago Machine travel to Houston to take on the Gamblers.  On Saturday we have some unexpected 0-2 vs. 2-0 matchups as Atlanta hosts Texas and Nashville travels to Las Vegas.  Will we see 3-0 for the Outlaws and Thunder or will the Fire and the Knights find a way to notch their first victories.  The late night game on ESPN will feature two Pacific clubs as Oakland visits Portland, both sitting at 1-1 after tough Week 2 losses. On Sunday we see Memphis visit New Orleans in a Southern Division tilt, a battle of unbeatens as New Jersey, with Bobby Hoying now under center, travel to face the Stars in their annual rivalry, and we have 0-2 Tampa Bay hoping they can get their first win on Sunday Night Football as they head to Charlotte to face the Monarchs.  The other game you are going to want to catch has two of the upstarts of the season facing off as Ohio heads down to Dallas to face the Roughnecks in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Friday @ 8pm           Chicago (1-1) @ Houston (1-1)                        NBC Saturday @ 12pm         Texas (2-0) @ Atlanta (0-2)                               ABC Saturday @ 12pm         Pittsburgh (1-1) @ Orlando (1-1)                      FOX Saturday @ 4pm            Nashville (0-2) @ Las Vegas (2-0)                     ABC Saturday @ 4pm            Seattle (1-1) @ Denver (0-2)                             FOX Saturday @ 7pm            Washington (1-1) @ St. Louis (0-2)                 NBC Saturday @ 9pm            Oakland (1-1) @ Portland (1-1)                        ESPN/EFN Sunday @ 12pm              Birmingham (2-0) @ Baltimore (1-1)                ABC Sunday @ 12pm              Memphis (0-2) @ New Orleans (1-1)             ABC Sunday @ 12pm            New Jersey (2-0) @ Philadelphia (2-0)               FOX Sunday @ 4pm               Michigan (1-1) @ Los Angeles (0-2)                  ABC Sunday @ 4pm                Ohio (1-1) @ Dallas (2-0)                                   FOX Sunday @ 4pm               Jacksonville (1-1) @ Arizona (2-0)                FOX Sunday @ 8pm               Tampa Bay (0-2) @ Charlotte (1-1)                 ESPN/EFN

Opening week, all the jitters and anticipation and all the hopes for a good start to the year, and yet we know that 14 of 28 teams will come away without a W in the opening week.  The 2013 season kickoff started with a good debut from the Eastern Conference champions as Charlotte knocked off division rival Atlanta on the road in Friday’s kickoff game.  We also saw Dallas draw over 56,000 to watch the new Roughnecks outlast the LA Express in overtime for the franchise’s first victory. St. Louis and Texas also looked ready to roll this week, and we got a smattering of upsets as well, with Birmingham stunning the Knights in Nashville, thanks to 4 TDs from Cam Newton, and Orlando edged Tampa Bay in Raymond James thanks to a strong performance from Russell Wilson and the ‘Gade offense.  Let’s run through all the week’s action, starting with Texas’s last minute victory over a very game Ohio squad.  We will take a look at the debut games for several new starters, rookies, and players in new places, run through all the news of the week, and prep for Week 2, all here on This is the USFL. TEXAS OUTLAWS 36   OHIO GLORY  29 Texas answered a lot of questions on Sunday as they outlasted a very game Ohio Glory squad on the road to pick up a win in the season opener.  Joe Flacco, taking the field for the first time since a hip injury ended his 2012 campaign prematurely looked every bit like the 2011 MVP, completing 13 of 20 passes for 309 yards, a 15.4 yards per completion average.  He had Texas’s offense humming, with 396 yards of total offense, and yet, with 1:27 left in the game, Texas found themselves trailing by one and needing a score to avoid a Week One upset. For their part, the Ohio Glory, led by head coach Bart Andrus and newly acquired former Outlaw QB Chris Weinke, came out ready to show that they were a team on the rise.  Weinke survived 4 sacks and 2 picks to put the Glory on top late in the 4th in a game that showed the potential of the Ohio offense. The Glory racked up 374 yards of offense, including 259 through the air from Weinke and 78 yards rushing from 2nd year back Isaiah Pead. The game started with a huge defensive play for Ohio as a punt after their initial drive placed Texas at their own 1-yard line.  In an attempt to give themselves some room, the Outlaws gave the ball to newly acquired HB Felix Jones, but the first carry for Jones was a nightmare, with the back coughing up the ball at the goal line.  When the pile was unstacked, it was Ohio DE Chauncey Davis who emerged with the ball and a 6-point defensive recovery. Texas would get their first big play on special teams, where rookie speedster Marquise Goodwin introduced himself to the league with a stunning 51-yard punt return touchdown on Ohio’s next drive.  The speedster blew through the initial coverage, spun out of an attempt by the punter to send him out of bounds and sped to the endzone.  After 1 quarter it was a 7-7 game with neither offense having contributed at all. That odd score line would shift in the 2nd quarter as both offenses calmed down and we started to see more of what each team would be able to do.  Ohio had a nice 51-yard drive, relying on a mix of Pead and Rashard Jennings runs along with a couple of well-timed play action passes from Weinke, but when the drive ground to a halt, Ohio brought out David Green to kick a 32-yard field goal from the 15 and give the Glory the lead.  Texas responded with a nice drive of their own, with runs by Arian Foster and a couple of good balls to Marques Colston, who would finish with 6 receptions on the day.  The scoring toss went to his opposite, Brandon Marshall, who would bring in all 3 of Joe Flacco’s TD tosses on the day.   Marshall’s score would give Texas a 14-10 lead at the half. When the second half began a nice defensive stop by Ohio got them the ball back, and they added a second kick from Green to pull within 1 at 14-13.  Texas could not advance past the 50 on their next drive, but caught a break when Chris Weinke had a ball tipped at the line.  The ball fluttered towards Steve Smith, but was snagged instead by Texas safety Terrance Holt, who wound his way through offensive players on his way to a pick-six, growing Texas’s lead to 21-13. Ohio responded on their next drive but were again held to only 3 and the 3rd quarter ended with Texas holding a 21-16 advantage.  They would expand their lead to 28-16 on their next drive, scoring only 30 seconds into the quarter as Marshall brought down a jump ball in the red zone to add his 2nd TD of the day.  Ohio, showing no quit, replied to the Texas score with a quick drive that took the ball from their own 28 all the way to the end zone in only 7 plays, the scoring toss going to Arrelious Benn from the 6 yard line.  They added a Green PAT kick and now were down only 5 at 28-23. When Texas kicker Kai Forbath missed on a 43-yard attempt, it gave Ohio the ball back with time to drive for the lead.  The Glory did just that, marching down the field in 11 plays and putting the ball in the endzone with 1:27 left on a Weinke to Steve Smith toss that got all 44,502 in attendance to their feet.  But nearly 90 seconds is a long time to give Joe Flacco and the Outlaws, especially when they have all three of their time outs remaining. The Texas offense took the ball at their own 33 after a good return from the rookie, Goodwin.  On first down Ohio got to Flacco with their 6th sack of the game as CB Chimdi Chekwa blitzed from the left side and caught Flacco unaware.  Facing a 2nd and 16 from the 27, Texas tried a draw play, but Arian Foster clipped the ankle of his lead guard and fell to the ground right at the line of scrimmage.  Facing a 3rd and 16, Texas needed a big play, and on third down they got one.  Joe Flacco lined up in the shotgun, with trips to the left and Marques Colston the only receiver to his right.  Ohio sent pressure, but when the Texas line created a solid pocket, absorbing the extra defender, Flacco was able to find Marshall racing down the left sideline, tossed up a deep ball, and found Marshall perfectly in stride.  Cornerback Derech Cox dove but failed to bring down Marshall, and safety Jermaine Philips was too far to the right to make up the distance.  Marshall cruised 73 yards for the score and with only 57 seconds left, Texas took the lead.  They would go for two and with a completion to TE Chris Cooley, Texas built the lead up to 7 points, 36-29. Ohio would have less than a minute to respond, and that is clearly not the way the Glory offense is built.  After a short completion to Javon Walker on first down, Chris Weinke missed the mark on second and third down, leading to a 4th and 6 with time running out.  He would try to find TE Zach Miller, but Texas LB Vontez Burfict was there to break up the pass to the TE and end the game.  Texas starts the year 1-0, Joe Flacco returns to his winning ways, but Ohio also impresses in a game that was entertaining from start to finish. CHARLOTTE 26    ATLANTA 10 Charlotte’s defense was in playoff form as they held the Fire to only 42 yards rushing (Stephen Jackson was not suited up), while Jake Delhomme threw off his poor Summer Bowl performance, completing 80% of his throws (20 of 25) and connecting with Brandon Pettigrew for his first TD of the season.  Charlotte also got a TD from Fred Jackson and, right on cue, 3 field goals from 2012 special teams player of the year, Brandon Coutu, as the Monarchs take this season opening division win. NEW JERSEY 31   MICHIGAN 21 Michigan got off to a slow start before providing a challenge to the Generals late.  Kirk Cousins shook off a rough first half and ended the game with 30 completions on 51 attempts for 342 yards.  His 3 TDs were matched by 3 picks however as the New Jersey defense held Michigan at arm’s length.  Maurice Jones drew had 2 TDs on the ground and Sam Bradford connected with Michael Crabtree for a third.  The General D contributed a pick 6 from new LB Chase Blackburn to help NJ to a season opening win.  Michigan rookie LeVeon Bell had a solid debut, rushing for 68 yards on 16 carries for the Panthers. JACKSONVILLE 28   NEW ORLEANS 31 A really fun opening week in the Big Easy as Jacksonville built up a 21-0 lead before Drew Brees sparked a Breaker comeback.  New Orleans would score 24 unanswered to take the lead, bu tit was a late Brees to Avery TD pass that got them the win in front of nearly 55,000 at the Super Dome.  Brees would finish the game with 4 TD passes to 4 different receivers.  Early Doucet was the engine, catching 7 balls for 124 yards. HOUSTON 30    ST. LOUIS 27 Another great game as Houston edged St. Louis on the day they unveiled their 2012 championship banner.  The Gamblers got 3 Hasselbeck TD tosses against the Skyhawk D.  Josh Freeman tried to rally the troops, hitting on a late TD to Taylor Jacobs after 2 scoring throws to Jordy Nelson, but there just was not time on the clock and when Houston converted a 3rd and 3 to keep possession late, they were able to kill the clock and take a very hard-earned opening week win on the road against the defending champs. OAKLAND 17   SEATTLE 12 A hard-fought game in rainy Seattle as the Invaders edged the Dragons by holding Byron Leftwich out of the end zone, keeping all Dragon points to the foot of Dave Rayner.  Ryan Williams had a strong opener, rushing for 92 yards and a score on 17 carries for the Invaders.  Rookie Keenan Allen led all Invader receivers with 4 catches for 31 yards, while Pierre Garçon had 76 yards and a TD for the visiting Invaders. BALTIMORE 10   PHILADELPHIA 13 Both offenses seemed out of synch as the Stars and Blitz struggled for yardage and first downs all game.  It was 6-3 Philadelphia into the 4th quarter, when Anthony Dixon gave Baltimore the lead with a short TD run.  That score sparked the Stars as Matt Gutierrez led a drive and found Stevie Johnson in the end zone for the game winner with just over a minute to play, giving Philadelphia the win at home on opening day. DENVER 3   ARIZONA 17 Frank Gore was the workhorse for the Wranglers in this slog of a win on opening day. The former Nashville Knight carried the ball 29 times in his Wrangler debut, rushing for 96 yards and a TD.  Stephen Ridley had the other TD on a short pass from Carr. Denver struggled to move the ball, with Murray and James combining for only 48 yards rushing.  Seven Gold penalties did not help the cause as Denver failed to reach the end zone in the rivalry game. LAS VEGAS 29   CHICAGO 13 An impressive road win in the season opener for Las Vegas, as their defense led the way, holding Chicago to only 78 yards rushing and keeping Brady Quinn without a TD.  Chicago led 13-10 at the half, but Las Vegas got into step with scores from Plummer to both Kevin Everett and T. J. Houshmandzadeh, who led all receivers with 131 yards on the day.  Three turnovers, including two Quinn picks, helped Las Vegas hold Chicago down in the second half and take the road win. BIRMINGHAM 28   NASHVILLE 24 One of very few upsets in Week 1, Birmingham got 4 TDs from Cam Newton, despite completing only 11 of 29 passes.  Newton connected with 4 different receivers, including two 4th quarter scores, one each to Dontrelle Inman and Randy Moss as the Stallions turned a 24-14 deficit into a 28-24 victory.  Peyton Manning had better numbers, with 273 yards on 29 of 36, but could not rally the Knights late, giving Birmingham an opening week win in the division. WASHINGTON 27   PITTSBURGH 21 The Maulers were game, despite Andy Dalton getting knocked out of the game in the 3rd.  They pulled within 7 in the final minutes but could not get the game winner at home.  Deuce McCallister rushed 22 times for 65 yards, but it was newly acquired former Dragon Jahvid Best who got the first rushing TD of the season for the Feds.  Best also caught a swing pass and took it 44 yards for another score in a pretty auspicious debut with his new team. LOS ANGELES 17   DALLAS 20   OVERTIME The Dallas Roughnecks opened their USFL season in front of 56,202 happy fans, and gave them something to cheer about, taking an early lead and then surviving a late LA drive to send the game to overtime and get the win on the right foot of Stephen Haushka.  Jake Locker went 27 of 45 for 335 yards and a TD to Percy Harvin as Dallas held off the Express, playing without NFL import Reggie Bush.  Stand in LeRon McClain played well for LA, rushing for 74 yards, but it was not enough as the defense could not prevent the overtime drive that led to Dallas’s winning kick. MEMPHIS 14    PORTLAND 24 Jonathan Stewart scored the first 2 touchdowns of the season for Portland, and with a 14-0 lead, the Stags held off the Showboats to claim a home victory in front of a full house at Columbia Sportswear Stadium.  Stewart would finish with 104 yards and 3 scores, snagging a screen for a score later in the game.  For Memphis, Eli Manning had a rough opening outing, going 19 of 38 and throwing 2 picks.  He did connect with Darren McFadden on a short TD toss, but otherwise it was not a great outing for the Showboat offense. ORLANDO 34   TAMPA BAY 29 The Renegades came out swinging and stunned the Tampa Bay crowd in this rivalry opener.  Russell Wilson looked like a savvy veteran, completing 19 of 34 passes for 176 yards and 3 scores, while Daunte Culpepper went 21 of 42 and had both Vincent Jackson (10 receptions) and Santonio Holmes both over 100 yards apiece by the game’s conclusion.  Knowshon Moreno racked up 119 yards on only 14 carries as Coach Fox’s emphasis on balance paid off for the Renegade offense. Dallas Roughnecks A Hot Ticket If there were any lingering doubters within the USFL about the decision to approve the relocation of the Boston Cannons to Dallas and the Cotton Bowl, the team’s season opener against Los Angeles must have dispelled them.  We already knew that Dallas had succeeded in their season ticket campaign, selling the initial 30,000 season ticket packages in only 3 months, and reaching their cap of 35,000 packages by Christmas, but with attendance of over 56,000 on hand for Dallas’s season-starting overtime victory over Los Angeles, the message seems to have been sent loud and clear, the DFW is not only a good investment for the league, but a market that will rival other Southern markets in enthusiasm. The crowd was noticeably invested in the team already, with the team colors of sky blue, black, and red noticeably dominating the stands.   Online sales of team merchandise were strong, and in-game sales at the stadium’s various merchandise shops was reported to exceed all expectations, with fans snapping up tees, hoodies, jerseys, caps and other accessories.  Whether the team on the field can build off of the momentum to improve on the 3-13 season that the Cannons put together in their last season in Boston is still to be seen, but the enthusiasm of the Texas-sized crowd certainly seemed to help as the Roughnecks battled Los Angeles for 4 quarters before snatching victory in overtime.  While there is still certainly aggravation and hurt in Boston, the league cannot regret the decision after seeing the reception the new Dallas franchise received, particularly with a crowd that was 12,000 attendees stronger than Boston’s stadium could even contain.  It looks like Dallas was the right choice, even if it was a painful one. New Leaders Make a Statement Several teams made QB moves this summer, some only this past week, and the overall initial impression has been that these moves were successful.  Michigan opted to move 2nd year prospect Kirk Cousins into the starting role with the retirement of Brian Griese and the former Michigan State product looked ready for the part in his first game as the first stringer, putting up 342 yards and 3 touchdowns in Michigan’s loss to New Jersey. The results were even better for Orlando, who traded away 2012 starter Eli Manning to Memphis, putting the weight of the offense on another 2nd year player, former NC State and Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson.  Wilson’s numbers were not as strong, throwing for 176 yards, but his 3 TDs helped pace the ‘Gades to an upset victory against the rival Bandits in Tampa.  In Ohio the decision came early last week that it would be former Monarch starter Chris Weinke, and not NFL import Vince Young, who would get the start.  Weinke, who had not appeared in any games for Seattle or Texas over the past two years, responded with 259 yards and 2 TDs in his opener, a narrow loss to his 2012 squad, the Outlaws. Not all debuts were as auspicious, with Eli Manning struggling to move the offense in Memphis, and Andy Dalton getting knocked out of his first season opener as Pittsburgh’s starter, but overall, the first impressions of the new QB’s, particularly the two 2012 rookies Wilson and Cousins, was a positive one that fans could get behind. Newton Throws for 4 Scores in Big Divisional Win He only completed 11 of 29 pass attempts, and his yardage total was hardly eye-popping, with 196 yards passing, but when the Stallions were in position, Cam Newton got the ball into the endzone, finishing off the Nashville Knights with 4 touchdown passes in a huge opening week victory for Birmingham.  The 2013 season has been viewed as a make-or-break year for the 3rd year starter, Newton.  After a 21-TD rookie year promised great things to come, 2012 proved a step back for Newton, who finished the year with only 18 TD to 15 picks.  If this opening week has shown anything to Stallion fans it is that their QB  may be able to live up to the big play hopes that fans had when he was signed out of Auburn. Newton was pressured often, succumbing to 4 sacks, and scrambling to safety on several other occasions.  That is not a good sign for the Stallion line, but the results were certainly more than adequate for Coach Shanahan’s offense.  In the 2nd quarter Newton escaped a Nashville blitz to find new TE Jabari Holloway for a 15-yard TD.  In the third he used a bootleg to buy time to find slot receiver Julian Edelman for a 7-yard score.  But down 24-14 in the early minutes of the 4th quarter, Newton truly started to shine.  He extended the play by evading defenders before unleashing an arcing deep ball to speedy wideout Dontrelle Inman, completing a 45-yard bomb for the first of 2 touchdowns in the final quarter.  On his next drive, he again used his stature and his legs to avoid a defender, shaking off DE Mario Addison before finding Randy Moss for the game-winning TD, a 39 yarder against a shell defense. While Birmingham may want to focus on cohesion on their O-line, their QB proved he could extend plays, continue to look downfield, and prioritize open receivers over scrambling to produce both yards and scores for the Stallions.  It is exactly the kind of growth that Stallion fans were hoping to see and, if it lasts, could prove to be the difference for a Stallion club that has high hopes of contending for the Southern Division title for the first time in many years. Lotuleilie Makes an Immediate Impression We return to Dallas for our rookie highlight of the week. Former Utah DT Star Lotuleilei showed in Week One that he was well worth the initial pick in the Open Draft by Dallas. The native of Tonga, Lotuleilei put on an opening week debut that any rookie would be jealous of.  He was a force on the inside against the LA interior line, racking up 12 tackles at the DT position, including stuffing Express backs behind the line on 4 occasions.  His disruption in the middle was a big reason LA was held to only 87 yards rushing and why Mark Sanchez was forced to scramble far more often than the pocket passer wanted. Lotuleilei was something of a surprise pick at number 1 overall, with many expecting Dallas to go after a quarterback like FSU’s E. J. Manuel or West Virginia’s Geno Smith, despite having chosen Landry Jones in the T-Draft.  Others felt that a high-profile DE like LSU’s Barkevious Mingo or BYU’s Exekiel Ansah would be the choice, but Dallas opted for the interior lineman to shore up the middle and that decision paid immediate dividends for the Roughnecks this week.  While it seems very unlikely that an interior d-lineman would be a contender for Rookie of the Year, it seems apparent that in Lotuleilei, Dallas may have truly found a Star in the making. Lynch to Miss 1-2 Weeks Not all the debut games were as positive for teams across the league, and that is certainly the case for Las Vegas.  Yes, the Thunder were able to dominate the Chicago Machine, winning by 16 on the road in the season opener, but the victory came at a cost.  Star halfback Marshawn Lynch had to leave the game after only 9 carries with a shoulder injury that could cost him as many as 3 games.  Initially thought to be a possible collar bone fracture, x-rays revealed no break, but possible ligament damage.  While not as devastating as a knee or other leg injury for a running back, the injury to Lynch’s dominant shoulder does pose a problem for the ballcarrier, as it impacts both his ability to take on tacklers and his ball security as any weakness in the shoulder could impact his ability to maintain a firm grip on the ball. While coaches were optimistic that Lynch could be back as quickly as Week 3, that is not assured.  In the meantime, 9-year veteran Cedric Benson will likely take over the lion’s share of carries, with assistance from unheralded backup Stanley Schuster until Lynch can return.  The Thunder are on the road again in week 2, traveling to Memphis to face the 0-1 Showboats before hosting Nashville in their home opener.  They have their first division game in Week 4 when they visit Oakland. Dalton Pinches Nerve, Could Miss Action The Pittsburgh Maulers also lost a key offensive player during their season opener, with QB Andy Dalton suffering a nerve pinch in his throwing arm which could cost him 1-2 starts.  Dalton went out after a hit from Washington LB Cameron Wake.  He came to the sideline with his throwing arm dangling at his side.   Fears of a break or major tendon or ligament damage were removed by an MRI, leaving a nerve pinch as the diagnosis.  Dalton should be able to recover relatively quickly but will certainly miss the upcoming game against New Orleans.  In his place, former Nashville Knight Quincy Carter will get the start.  Carter, who is on the 5th team in his career, started 9 games in 2012 for the Knights as the club awaited the availability of Peyton Manning.  In that time, he played relatively well, throwing for 13 TDs and only 4 picks and averaging 232 yards per game. Pittsburgh traded away 2012 season starter Cody Pickett to the Knights in trade for Carter, and now it appears that Carter will get his chance to show that it was not a one-sided trade favoring the Knights.  Carter will take the start against New Orleans, a familiar foe for the former Knight, and may also be in action in Week 3 when the Maulers first hit the road with a trip to Orlando. While we highlighted the injuries to offensive keystones Lynch and Dalton, their injuries were relatively light and likely short-duration concerns.  That was not the situation for all the injured players this week.  No IR additions, but several players will miss a month or more as the season just begins. Here is the breakdown of Week 1’s injury report: OUT OT Luke Petigout (JAX)                     6-8 Weeks          Ankle OG Travis Claridge (DEN)                4-6 Weeks          Hamstring SS Kenny Vaccaro (HOU)                  2-4 Weeks          Ankle OT Ken Shackleford (PHI)                        2-4 Weeks          Back CB Drayton Folorence (MGN)                  2-4 Weeks          Wrist WR Percy Harvin (DAL)                              1-2 Weeks          Hand HB Marshawn Lynch (LV)                           1-2 Weeks          Shoulder LB Hannibal Navies (DEN)                        1-2 Weeks          Toe QB Andy Dalton (PIT)                                1-2 Weeks          Pinched Nerve DOUBTFUL CB Brandon Carr (DAL)  Finger CB Josh Norman (CHI) Abdomen CB Tracy Porter (LA) Concussion LB Angelo Crowell (BAL) Concussion FB Vontae Leach (CHI) Shoulder QUESTIONABLE CB Brandon Boykin (ATL) Toe LB Marlon Greenwood (STL) Concussion DT Marcus Thomas (ORL) Hamstring LB Manny Lawson (DAL) Hamstring Rookie Roundup Week one is special for all players, but for rookies it is their one and only time to make a first impression. We have already discussed the stellar debut for Dallas DT Star Lotuleilei, but the big man was hardly the only rookie to debut in Week 1.  Here is our quick breakdown of the rookies who contributed in their USFL Debuts. HALFBACK We saw two rookies open the year in the starting 11 in offensive backfields, with both LeVeon Bell and Eddie Lacy announced as starters earlier in camp.  Bell had the better week, taking 16 carries for 68 yards, with a solid 4.2 YPC average.  Lacy had more modest numbers in a St. Louis offense that opted to pass first and run only as a way to keep the defense honest.  Lacy did get most of the snaps on offense, finishing with 20 carries for 59 yards, a 3.0 YPC average.  Other backs who saw limited action were Latavius Murray in Orlando (6 carries for 36 yards) and Marcus Lattimore in Atlanta (15 carries for only 24 yards as the Fire await Steven Jackson to be cleared to play). RECIEVER Pittsburgh had two rookies in their 3-wide receiver set and the early winner in the WR battle was former Minnesota State product Adam Thielen, who finished the opening game with 5 receptions for 113 yards, an auspicious start to be sure. The  more highly touted Tavon Austin returned kicks and played mostly in the slot, finishing the game with 1 catch for 10 yards on 2 targets. In Chicago, rookie WR Aaron Dobson started well with 4 receptions for 83 yards on 10 targets.  Brady Quinn struggled with accuracy or Dobson’s numbers could have been better.  Oakland WR Keenan Allen also started well, catching 4 of 5 targets for 31 yards on the day.  Philadelphia TE Travis Kelce also had a good first outing, catching 4 Matt Gutierrez passes in the Stars’s opening week victory. DEFENDERS In addition to Star Lotuleilei’s strong first game, kudos should also go out to Jacksonville DE Barkevious Mingo, who recorded 2 sacks in his pro debut, Baltimore LB Brandon Jenkins, who racked up 9 tackles in his first pro game, and safeties Kenny Vaccaro (HOU) and Jonathan Cyprien (NJ) who played well in the opening week, though Vaccaro did have to leave the game with an injury. KICKERS Yes, we are going to mention the new kickers around the league, including New Orleans draft pick Caleb Sturgis, who went 1- for 1 with a 38-yard field goal and 4 PAT conversions.  Atlanta rookie Ollie Brody also converted on his only FG attempt, a 22 yarder, while Pittsburgh rookie Elliot Parson struggled, missing both of his FG attempts in the Mauler loss to Washington. NFL Transfers Expected to Take Field in Week 2 While the two biggest names from the NFL transfer window, halfbacks Reggie Bush and Steven Jackson, are not expected to suit up in Week 2, several other NFL imports have been moved to the active roster and are receiving significant snaps in practice this week.  Among the NFL imports who we expect to see on the field in Week 2 we have new Blitz WR Brian Hartline, who is expected to start in the slot but perhaps see some snaps outside as well, particularly in 3rd down situations.  Another highly anticipated wideout who will make his first appearance is new Mauler Josh Cribbs, who has been seen in practice both on offense and in kick return drills.  Expect to see Cribbs returning kicks and punts even if he has not picked up enough of the offense yet to find himself on the field with QB Quincy Carter. Halfback LeGarrette Blount has been cleared to play by the Portland Stags and will likely get some snaps in short yardage and when starter Jonathan Stewart needs a spell.  Others who may see action this week include Birmingham DT Henry Melton, Washington LB Dannell Ellerbe, and in a move the Panthers have been waiting for, DE Michael Bennett. The Panthers were hoping to have Bennett in on obvious passing downs last week, but he was not yet cleared to play.  That has been resolved and Bennett is expected to step in as the starter at LE, with the hopes of Panther fans that the former Buccaneer can help add some ferocity to the Panther pass rush. Week two kicks off with a huge game for the Michigan Panthers as they open their home schedule with the defending champs on Friday Night Lights. The Skyhawks were stunned by the Houston Gamblers in Week One, while Michigan fell to a strong New Jersey team. Which Central Division rival will get their first win, and which will slip to an awkward 0-2 start? Saturday brings us more divisional games, with Orlando, fresh off their upset win in Tampa Bay, now headed up the highway to Jacksonville for a 2nd straight Florida road game. Houston, who knocked off the Skyhawks in St. Louis are also on the road again, now facing their arch rivals, the Texas Outlaws in San Antonio. In a nice battle of teams with 1-0 starts, Arizona will head to Oakland to face a familiar foe of 30+ seasons. Sunday's schedule starts off with a nationally televised ABC game between the Blitz and the Knights, both hoping to notch their first wins. We also see Tampa Bay headed to Birmingham in the early timeslot. At 4pm the national game on Fox is a Cascade Clash as Portland hosts the Seattle Dragons to renew their PNW rivalry. Then we cap it all off on ESPN/EFN with the Sunday Night Special, and it is a good one, with Philadelphia and Washington clashing at RFK in a key early season matchup in the Northeast. A good week of early season football as every team tries to get their season started the right way. All times Eastern. National broadcasts in BOLD. Divisional Games in Blue. Friday @ 8pm              St. Louis (0-1) @ Michigan (0-1)              NBC Saturday @ 12pm         Orlando (1-0) @ Jacksonville (1-0)       ABC Saturday @ 12pm         Las Vegas (1-0) @ Memphis (1-0)          FOX Saturday @ 4pm            Denver (0-1) @ Chicago (0-1)                   ABC Saturday @ 4pm            Arizona (1-0) @ Oakland (1-0)                 FOX Saturday @ 7pm            Atlanta (0-1) @ New Jersey (1-0)           NBC Saturday @ 9pm            Houston (1-0) @ Texas (1-0)                     ESPN/EFN Sunday @ 12pm            Baltimore (0-1) @ Nashville (0-1)          ABC Sunday @ 12pm              Tampa Bay (0-1) @ Birmingham (1-0)    FOX Sunday @ 12pm              Dallas (1-0) @ Charlotte (1-0)                   FOX Sunday @ 4pm                Los Angeles (0-1) @ Ohio (0-1)                  ABC Sunday @ 4pm                New Orleans (1-0) @ Pittsburgh (1-0)             ABC Sunday @ 4pm               Seattle (0-1) @ Portland (1-0)                     FOX Sunday @ 8pm               Philadelphia (1-0) @ Washington (1-0)   ESPN/EFN

Drew Brees struggled with 3 picks in the season opener but hung in to throw for 4 TDs and over 360 yards as New Orleans rallied to an opening week home win over Jacksonville in one of the week's more dynamic offensive shootouts.

You have to love the anticipation that comes as a new football season approaches. The USFL is poised to begin its 31st season and 28 fanbases are all imagining the possibilities.  Is this the year their club reaches the mountaintop, or stuns the pundits, or puts the pieces together for a playoff run?  Will their favorite player take the next step?  Will their top draft pick turn out to be a gem?  So much possibility, and while we know that someone is going to fall short, or disappoint, we also know that someone will surprise us all and far exceed our expectations, just as St. Louis did last year, not only making the playoffs for the first time in their short history but winning the league title at the end of a magical season.  Who will it be this year that astounds us? Upends predictions? Or defies the odds?  We are all ready and eager to find out as the USFL season prepares to kick off, but not before we take a look at the stories to follow this season, at least those we know of, and our always entertaining but oh, so often off the mark predictions.  Let’s get ready for 2013 as we preview the USFL season about to kick off. Ten Stories to Monitor as the Season Starts It is always a tough task to identify the storylines for a season.  We know what we know but there is always so much that we cannot see.  Last year it was early season injuries to Ron Dayne, Kurt Warner, and then Joe Flacco that in part defined the season.  It was also surprising runs by Portland and Seattle, and the unexpected collapses by Pittsburgh and Orlando.  What will it be this year?  We cannot predict the future, but as of right now, here are the 10 stories we think will be on our minds for the 2013 season. Dallas QB Quandary The newly relocated and newly dubbed Dallas Roughnecks begin their USFL lives with very much the same concern that their former club, the Boston Cannons, had last year, can they get reliable QB play.  With no clear franchise QBs available in the USFL or NFL draft pools, and only a couple of developmental options in the draft, Dallas did not have a lot of options to try to improve their QB room.  They opted to draft Landry Jones out of Oklahoma in the Territorial Draft, and Jones will join former Washington Husky Jake Locker and longtime Cannon backup Adrian McPherson as the QB trio this season but are any of the three of them able to show us something this year.  We expect Locker to start the season on the field, but fans seen eager to see what Jones can do.  The question is whether either can step up and grab the starting job with authority. Another QB Controversy in the Offing for Ohio The Ohio Glory also find themselves with quite a controversy as Coach Bart Andrus has named former NFL QB Chris Weinke the starter for Week 1 over 2013 starter Vince Young.  Weinke, something of a journeyman, now with his 3rd team in 4 years, just played better in camp, though clearly Young possesses more athleticism.  Just as with Dallas, the real question in Columbus is whether either of the two can consistently provide offense for an Ohio Glory team that got spoiled in the 2000’s but has fallen on harder times in a very difficult Central Division. Manning v. Manning in the South With Peyton Manning preparing for his first full season of USFL football in Nashville, and with the offseason deal that brought his younger brother Eli to the Memphis Showboats, we are primed for a battle of brothers in the Southern Division.  The two will face off twice this year in the in-state Tennessee Tussle series but expect us to be comparing the two throughout the year as each tries to bring their squad back to the playoffs.  Add to this at least 2 good “back with a vengeance” games when Eli and the Showboats face off against division rival, and former club, New Orleans, and the Southern Division may be the site of some of the most intense divisional rivalry games in the entire league this season. Will the New Faces at HB Sprint or Struggle? While in many years the offseason news is dominated by the quarterbacks, this past offseason was all about running backs as several switched teams, others arrived via the NFL Portal, and a few arrived from the draft with high expectations.  This year, we are looking at what could be a very different leaderboard when it comes to the run game.  With 2012 USFL rushing leader Antowain Smith retiring, and with so many new backs taking on lead positions with new teams, this could be a dynamic year for those who love the ground game.  Just look at this list of teams who will feature new backs in 2013: Arizona         2012: LaDainian Tomlinson      2013: Frank Gore Atlanta             2012: Darren McFadden             2013: Steven Jackson (NFL) Chicago           2012: Michael Turner                   2013: David Martin Houston          2012: Shaun Alexander               2013: Michael Turner Los Angeles     2012: Ray Rice                                 2013: Reggie Bush (NFL) Memphis         2012: Cadillac Williams             2013: Darren McFadden Michigan          2012: Ciatrick Fason                    2013: LeVeon Bell (Rookie) Nashville         2012: Frank Gore                            2013: Ray Rice Seattle             2012: Jahvid Best                           2013: Cadillac Williams St. Louis           2012: Antowain Smith                 2013: Eddie Lacy (Rookie) Can St. Louis Repeat Without Smith? Running back is the biggest question for the league champion Skyhawks, as they bring in Alabama rookie Eddie Lacy to replace 2012 rushing leader Antowain Smith. Smith’s will be huge shoes to fill, and with all the hopes that St. Louis can repeat, there will certainly be a lot of pressure on Lacy and on Head Coach Bruce Arians to keep St. Louis’s offense humming in 2013.  The Skyhawks raced to a 13-3 record thanks to their dynamic offense, one which not only led the league in rushing but also could devastate defenses through the air.  If the Skyhawks want to repeat, they will need to maintain that dual threat dynamic or teams could home in on QB Josh Freeman and clamp down on the passing game.  Everyone will be playing their best football when they face the Skyhawks this year, and only 1 team in league history has ever repeated as champion, so the challenge is there, and it will be a tough one. Rookie Defenders Hope to Start Fast The 2013 draft did not produce the big-name quarterbacks that so often dominate offseason press, but what it lacked in offensive stars, it had in depth on the defensive side of the ball.  The 2013 draft class for the USFL saw one of the deepest and most talented pools of defenders we have had in many years, so which ones will hit the ground running and provide their new teams with a boost of energy and muscle needed to dominate?  Here are our picks for the 10 most likely impact defenders from the 2013 draft: New Jersey S Johnathon Cyprien from FIU St. Louis DT Sheldon Richardson from Mizzou Memphis LB Jarvis Jones from Georgia Chicago LB Manti Te’o from Notre Dame Ohio DE Datone Jones from UCLA Washington LB Alec Ogletree from Georgia Dallas DT Star Lotulelei from Utah Orlando CB Dee Milliner from Alabama Portland DE Dion Jordan from Oregon Jacksonville DE Barkevious Mingo from LSU Is Wilson Ready for Renegades? 2012 was a season to forget for the Orlando Renegades.  Despite another outstanding year from DE Calais Campbell, the Renegades not only failed to reach the playoffs, but they also fell all the way into a Top 3 draft pick with a 3-13 record, a 5-game slip from 2011.  That collapse led to some major changes, not the least of which was the departure of Head Coach Emmitt Thomas and the almost immediate signing of Summer Bowl Champion and former Boston Cannon head man John Fox. Fox went to work with the Renegades from day one, setting up the trade that sent Eli Manning to Memphis and putting his full confidence in Russell Wilson, a rookie who had started only 1 game, a Week 16 wrap up game. Wilson will take over an offense that struggled to sustain drives in 2012 but will have a solid ground game with Knowshon Moreno and rookie Latavius Murray in the backfield.  The bigger question may well be whether Orlando did enough in signing rookies Dee Milliner and Montori Hughes, and trading for safety Chad Scott to improve on a defense that gave up 311 yards per game and nearly 24 points each week in 2012. Can Pittsburgh Survive Brutal NE Division? With Boston moving from the Northeast to the Southwest Division with their relocation to Dallas, someone had to move back to the East, and that someone was Pittsburgh.  The Maulers, who were the 2012 pick to win the Central Division, had a disappointing 7-9 season and now find themselves in a division with powerhouses Philadelphia and Washington, along with playoff contender Baltimore and a very solid, potential division challenger in New Jersey.  The Maulers begin the year as the likely basement dweller in their new division and must try to compete while also developing a young QB in Andy Dalton, given the starting job midway through the 2012 season and now crowned the starter after the club traded 2012 season starter Cody Pickett to Nashville.  It will be a long tough road for the Maulers, despite having one of the better defenses in football the past few years. Eight division games against teams with winning records in 2012 will not be a very warm welcome back to the NE Division for these Maulers. How Will Thunder Avoid Distraction? You hate to see any club impacted by non-football matters related to their team. We saw it in Boston last year, and we fully expect to see it in Las Vegas this year as the ongoing investigations into financial concerns (and possible crimes) by Thunder ownership are already casting a dark shadow over the 2013 season.  There is a question of viability for the team, of potential contraction, sale, relocation, or simple financial chaos for the Thunder that is sure to impact the players, even if they say, as they have all offseason, that their job is to be ready each week to compete on the field.  We have already begun to see football impacts as the Thunder struggled to sign players, including draft picks, due to concerns over the uncertain future of the team.  Just how Jake Plummer, Marshawn Lynch and the Thunder players will be able to set aside the club’s issues and uncertain future and put out good efforts each week, will be a huge factor as they try to improve upon what was a very good 2012 season on the field, a season that saw Las Vegas come one game from the Summer Bowl. Our 6 Break Out Players to Watch Last year Josh Freeman went from a solid QB to the league MVP.  Matt Gutierrez from career backup to a hero and the new starting QB for the Philadelphia Stars.  Jonathan Stewart became a 1,300-yard rusher, Stevie Johnson and rookie Justin Blackmon burst onto the scene as clear number 1 receivers, each with over 1,300 yards themselves, and Justin Smith and Reynaldo Wynn both challenged Calais Campbell for the sack title.  It seems every year we see several players up their games, figure out the pro game, or just match their skills with a good situation to break out.  We expect the same this year and we have found 6 players who we think will be well-positioned to do just that. Our list includes two NFL imports, two players changing teams, and a rookie we see as being in the right place to have a huge first year.   Here is our list of 6 players to watch out for in 2013. Reggie Bush, HB, Los Angeles Bush was a star before he ever left USC, in the running for the Heisman, he signed on with the New Orleans Saints and struggled to take on a lead role, never rushing for more than 600 yards in any season, though, as a receiver he certainly shined.  He moved on to the Miami Dolphins and had his best rushing years, with 1,086 yards in 2011 and 986 in 2012.  Now he is in LA, where new head coach Andy Reid loves his versatility and plans to use him as much as a threat out of the backfield as in the run game.  That seems like a perfect match to us. Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan The 2nd year QB out of Michigan State started one game in 2011, and now finds himself the designated starter after the retirement of Brian Griese.  He has in Michigan a superstar wideout in Hines Ward, a solid offensive line, a good friend in former Spartan, rookie HB LeVeon Bell, and a coach in Dick LeBeau who has seen it all and has all but done it all.  He is helping Cousins along as well by bringing in a former All-USFL QB as his QB Coach, former Machine and Stars’ QB Chuck Long.  Long should be able to help Cousins adapt quickly and with the weapons Michigan has, he may be able to have a good first full season. Josh Cribbs, KR/PR, Pittsburgh No one expects Cribbs to jump right into the receiver room and dominate.  That is not his thing, but if there is one thing we saw with him in Cleveland, with the NFL Browns, it is that he is an explosive player on special teams. He will get the chance to do that again in Pittsburgh with the Maulers, but with Pittsburgh, now that Vincent Jackson has departed in free agency, he may also see more reps with the offense.  We know what he can do on kick and punt returns, will he be able to expand his repertoire on offense? Rey Maualaga, LB, New Jersey Maualaga was a breakout star for Charlotte last year, helping the Monarchs surprise many and make a Summer Bowl appearance.  He caught the eye of New Jersey Head Coach Herm Edwards, and that spurred the Generals to make a deal to send DE Jevon Kearse to Charlotte for Maualaga.  Now, on a rebuilt LB group that also features NFL import Chase Blackburn and the ageless Donterrious Thomas, Maualaga could help another team find the promised land. Vincent Jackson, WR, Tampa Bay Yes, it is a bit ingenious to call Vincent Jackson a possible breakout star in 2013, when he has been a 1,000-yard receiver for Pittsburgh for the past 4 years.   So, why include him here?  Well, as we have seen in recent years, with Randy Moss and with Joey Galloway, there is something about Bandit Ball that seems to allow the number one receiver to go above and beyond expectations.  Jackson had 1,052 yards on 98 catches last year.  With Daunte Culpepper throwing him the ball, and with Wills McGahee forcing defenses to deal with the run/pass threat from the halfback, double coverage will be tough for teams to pull off, which means Jackson could have a career year. We would not be surprised if he reaches 120 catches or 1,600 yards with the Bandits, turning him from a solid number one into an All-USFL superstar. Barkevious Mingo, DE, Jacksonville There are several rookies who could do quite well this year, players like Michigan HB LeVeon Bell, Mauler slot receiver Tavon Austin, or Dallas DT Star Lotulelei, but  none are in a better position than Mingo when it comes to possible immediate impact.  The LSU grad will be set up as the Left End for the Bulls from Week One.  He is paired with DTs Marcus Stroud and Brodrick Bunkley, both excellent at absorbing blockers, and opposite him will be David Bowens, himself an underrated edge rusher.  What this all means is that the rookie end will likely not be facing nearly as many double teams as many pass rush specialists.  Add in Coach Leslie Frazier’s solid coaching of the Bulls’ secondary and you have a team that could get coverage sacks in addition to devastating pass rush generated sacks.  All of this points to Mingo as a potential 15, maybe even 20-sack producer in his first year in the league.  That would put his name on this list any year. TEAM PROFILES A new season brings with it a sense of possibility.  Every team starts the year with aspirations, hopes, and expectations.  The season may prove to be more than anyone bargained for, or a major letdown.  Players step up, teams come together, new arrivals find a home, and new stories are written.  As we stand at the cusp of a new season, the USFL’s 31st, there are 28 franchises all hoping that this year is their year, planning to put their best foot forward, and anxiously waiting to hit the field to prove themselves.  As we look at all 28 clubs and make our picks for who we think will emerge as true contenders in 2013, we should remember that at this point every team is sitting at 0-0, and that in one week’s time half the league will be unbeaten and half winless.  The story of the league is ready to be written, and for fans across the country the hope is that their favorite players and their team will become the heroes of the story. 2012: 11-5, Pacific Division Champion Coach: June Jones (4th season) Offseason Story:  We could focus on the financial issues the Thunder face, but we want to stick with football-related stories, and in doing that we point to the shakeup on the offensive line with both Kenyata Walker and Roberto Garza retiring this year.  The Thunder made almost no moves this summer which means that they are going with a very inexperienced right side with Mackenzie Bernadeau at guard and Joaquin Gonzalez at Tackle.  They both have been in the league a while, but neither has been able to break through and become a regular starter.  Will that be an issue for a club that has Summer Bowl aspirations? Biggest Addition: Cornerback Tyrone Bell comes over from Memphis in one of very few offseason moves. With the Showboats, Bell was steady, but rarely dynamic, which is OK for a number 2 corner.  But now the Thunder have a pair of corners who are both in their mid-30’s.  If either one loses a step at this point, it could be a big issue. Player to Watch: TE Ben Watson was the other Thunder signing, and in combo with Kevin Everett, you could now see the Thunder use a lot of 2-TE formations, which will certainly help Marshawn Lynch, while also producing some matchup concerns for defenses that will want to stay in base formation against the run. Outlook: There will certainly be a lot of distraction in Las Vegas this year as the franchises finances, and their future, are very much in question.  Will that impact their ability to defend a division title?  How could it not?  We think Las Vegas has the talent to repeat, but they will face some major challenges if they are going to be able to focus on the field this season. Our Predicted Finish:  We see the Thunder succumbing a bit to the chaos around them, enough to slip to 2nd place.  Our pick is 9-7 and 2nd in the Pacific. 2012: 6-10, 4th in Division Coach: Andy Reid (1st season) Offseason Story: The arrival of Andy Reid, a 2-time Super Bowl winner in the NFL, has Express fans feeling very good about their upside.  Add in Reggie Bush coming over from the fall league as well and the excitement was palpable.  The key for LA will be to see improvement in an offense that just was not very imaginative under Gregg Williams.  With Bush, Keyshawn Johnson, and rookie Robert Woods, the Express could look very different on offense in 2013. Biggest Addition: It has to be Bush, which goes without saying, but let’s not sleep on the signing of DT Rashad Moore and LB Nathan Triplett to a defense that was already pretty solid.  While Bush will be the fans’ focal point, the defense may still be the story for LA. Player to Watch: We are going to go with the two rookie receivers here, Robert Woods from USC and TE Gavin Escobar should start to see snaps early this season and Coach Reid has high hopes that both can help the LA offense be more “multiple” in how it challenges defenses.  Both can be great underneath options while Keyshawn provides the deep threat and Reggie Bush forces defenses to split their attention. Outlook: Gregg Williams was not able to pull together a talented team and produce consistent results.  Now the Express have landed one of the most respected and most successful coaches from the NFL in Andy Reid.  Reid will be a full 180 turn from Williams, particularly in his offensive scheme.  Bringing in Reggie Bush and some rookie playmakers will certainly give Mark Sanchez some options.  How quickly the team can coalesce around Coach Reid’s new plan will determine how different 2013 can be from 2012. Our Predicted Finish: We see LA as a potentially dangerous team, but we are not sure they are quite there yet.  We are going to go for modest improvement.  8-8 and 3rd in the Pacific is our pick. 2012: 10-6, 2nd in Division, Wild Card Coach: Dennis Green (11th season) Offseason Story: The Invaders lost two good contributors from their D-line, Kalimba Edwards to retirement and Israel Idonije to the NFL.  That leaves team MVP last year Justin Smith on something of an island.  The Invaders added Junior Galette from the NFL portal, but he is not likely to be the starter. It is another NFL signee from last year, Cliff Avril who will be called on. Biggest Addition: Rookie Keenan Allen has impressed in camp, moving up the depth chart quickly.  He is expected to start opposite veteran Greg Jennings in Week 1, pushing Pierre Garçon into the slot, which may actually be his best natural position.  Could Oakland have a legit 3-receiver group for a change? Player to Watch: Keenan Allen is a pretty obvious pick, but sometimes the obvious choice is the best one.  We see big things for Allen if he can build rapport with Joey Harrington.  Defenses still have to respect Greg Jennings as the primary, so expect the rookie to see a lot of single coverage. Outlook: The Invaders look to be the favorite to take the division title. They have consistency on their side, a solid defense and an offense that has enough weapons to be dangerous if not truly explosive.  The Invaders will lose a few games that we don’t see coming.  They always seem to do just that.  But, in the end, we think they will emerge out of the division with a solid chance to make a deep playoff run. Our Predicted Finish: We are going with Oakland as the most likely team to outlast the others and take the division.  10-6 and 1st place, but perhaps not a bye if they end up as the 3rd best division winner. 2012: 9-7, 3rd in Division, Wild Card Coach: Marty Mornhinweg (2nd season) Offseason Story: A lot of folks are wondering if the efforts made by Portland to sign FSU quarterback E. J. Manuel send a message to Ryan Fitzpatrick that even after a very solid 2012, where he led the Stags to the playoffs, throwing for over 3,000 yards, as not enough.  The Stags ended up failing to land Manuel, though they did bring in Penn State’s Matt McGloin, but the question is whether this challenge will crack Fitzpatrick’s resolve or redouble it? Biggest Addition: Portland brought in 2 backs to help keep Jonathan Stewart fresh.  Former Gold HB Javon Ringer is more a change of pace back while former NFL HB LeGarrette Blount is a pounder who likely will be used in short yardage to help relieve the stress on Stewart, who carried the ball over 350 times last season. Player to Watch: DE Dion Jordan was the first DE on the board for both the USFL and NFL draft gurus.  That Portland was able to keep the Duck in Oregon was a major coup for a team that generally does not get much help from their T-Draft.  Jordan will start on the left side for the Stags and they are hoping he can be an instant difference maker on passing downs. Outlook:  Portland was the surprise of the first half of 2012 before they cooled off a bit.  Coach Mornhinweg instilled a “can do” attitude in a roster that many saw as undermanned.  With the additions of Jordan, Blount, and Ringer, they have added some versatility to the squad, and if rookie Deon Jordan is all he appears to be, the Stags could make another run.  We have them falling short, but are open to the possibility that they again surprise us. Our Predicted Finish: We are still not sold on the ceiling for this club, and we are going to undervalue them based on last year.  We are saying 7-9 and 4th in the division because we are still not sure what direction the team is going, particularly on offense. 2012: 3-13, 5th in Division Coach: Stump Mitchell (1st season) Offseason Story: The Dragons watched as Marvin Lewis stepped away from the club, but they feel that they have one of the best young coordinators in football now with Stump Mitchell accepting the job after helping to mold the St. Louis Skyhawk offense into one of the league’s best.  Can he put together the pieces to give Byron Leftwich one more title run? Biggest Addition: As much as folks are going to focus on the club’s new halfback, we think the bigger get, and one that will pay dividends without fanfare, is landing rookie Eric Fisher as the new bodyguard for Leftwich.  Having an athletic left tackle can make all the difference for an older QB, and Fisher is good enough as a run blocker to help the Dragons finally get a legit run game back, something they really have not had since Corey Dillon retired. Player to Watch: It is going to be the new bell cow for the Dragons, Cadillac Williams.  Before a season-ending injury last year, Williams was on pace for his 2nd straight 1,000 yard season on a club with a pretty bad line.  If he is fully recovered, we could see 2013 be a big year for the back, and that would be a very good thing for the Dragons. Outlook:  Stump Mitchell takes over a club that has been in decline and hit rock bottom in 2013 with only 3 wins on the season.  While we like the addition of Fisher to the O-line, we are not as sold that Cadillac Williams is the man to revive the Dragon offense.  This very much feels like a club at the front end of a total rebuild, and Coach Mitchell will need time to build up a younger, faster, more dangerous roster. Our Predicted Finish:  We don’t see Seattle suffering another 3-win season, but they will still find themselves in the division basement in 2013.  Our pick is 5-11, a slight improvement, but still 5th in the Pacific. 2012: 6-10, 4th in Division Coach: Jim Tomsula (5th season) Offseason Story: The fall started with LaDainian Tomlinson announcing his retirement, but ended with the Wranglers winning the Frank Gore sweepstakes.  Generally considered the best back to be available as a free agent in several years, Gore was an immediate boost for Wrangler fan spirits.  Expect him to be a focal point of the offense, which works well for David Carr, who is more of a game manager than a gunslinger. Biggest Addition: Outside of Gore, and perhaps shadowed a bit by the HB’s arrival, was the signing of NFL DT Glenn Dorsey.  Dorsey’s career with the Chiefs has not had the impact that many expected, but in Arizona, he could be a big part of a restructured D-line that Coach Tomsula hopes can bring pressure without the need for extensive blitzing.  Dorsey will rotate with Monsanto Pope and Josh Shaw to keep him fresh after a long NFL season, but we expect to see him a lot on 3rd down to help free up the ends to pass rush. Player to Watch: Our pick to break out in 2013 is not a new arrival, but a player who has seen his numbers increase each year, TE Rob Gronkowski.  “Gronk” has gone form 418 yards and 2 TDs in his rookie year to over 800 yards and 4 TDs in 2012.  With Gore attracting a lot of LB attention, we could see this as a big year for the tight end, perhaps as big as 1,000 yards and 8-10 touchdowns, because the defenses are going to have to stack up against the run, and that means a lot of leaking out into the flat. Outlook: A lot was expected of the Wranglers in 2012 and they fell well short of expectations.  With the addition of Frank Gore, the Wranglers have solved their biggest issue (how to replace the retired LaDainian Tomlinson), but the overall impact could be minimal as other weaknesses still remain on this team’s roster. Our Predicted Finish:  We see Arizona being a mid-level team, possibly in the range of 7-9 wins, but more likely leaning towards the low end.  Our pick is 7-9 and 4th in the division. 2012: 3-13, 5th in NE Division as Boston Coach: Mike Sherman (1st season) Offseason Story: The move to Dallas was huge, but again, not really football-central, so we will go with the ongoing QB situation.  Dallas drafted OU passer Landry Jones both to lure in fans from the state to the north, but also because they simply did not trust that Jake Locker would develop as fans had hoped back in Boston.  In his two years in Boston, Locker put up 14 TDs and 16 picks, and averaged only a 68.8 QB Rating.  However, he did improve from a dismal 59.3 to 79 between year 1 and 2.  Given a shot, he could see growth again in 2013, and if not, Landry is ready to give it a shot. Biggest Addition: Dallas was very active in Free Agency, bringing in 3 defenders who could see considerable snaps, LBs Zack DeOssie and Brandon Chillar, as well as DE Elvis Dumervil. We think the former Stag could be a good fit in Dallas’s 3-4.  He will line up opposite Chuckie Nwokorie, who is as good a mentor as a young edge rusher could ask for. Player to Watch: Rookie DT Star Lotulelei could be the best of the D-linemen for Dallas.  His ability to shake off blockers and create pressure up the middle could be the best thing for both Nwokorie and Dumervil.  It is a big step up from Utah to the USFL, but we see so much physical presence in Lotulelei that we think he could be an instant impact player. Outlook:  Fans in the DFW are excited to get a team of their own, but it is a team with a lot of questions, not the least of which is who will be their QB.  We expect Locker to start the year, but if he cannot improve on past seasons the Roughnecks could well turn to OU rookie Landry Jones.  This club won only 3 games last year in Boston and they again look like a club that will struggle to string wins together. Our Predicted Finish: Coach Sherman will need time to rebuild a roster that simply did not keep pace over several seasons.  We see 4 wins as a ceiling, so 4-12 and 5th in their new division. 2012: 9-7, 2nd in Division, Wild Card Coach: Dick Jauron (16th season) Offseason Story: Despite being ahead of their offense, Denver again focused their offseason on the D.  Seems like Coach Jauron wants to simply bore other teams to death with a slow, methodical offense, while his defense keeps them from scoring.  The Gold added FS Dashon Goldson via trade, CB Keenan Lewis from the NFL, and both LB Hannibal Navies and DE Justice Cole through free agency. They then drafted Florida DT Sharrif Floyd, Illinois DE Michael Buchanon, and Nebraska safety Daimion Stafford.  No doubt what the plan is with an offseason like that. Biggest Addition: Honestly, despite all the defenders brought in, we look at rookie tackle David Bakhtiari and wonder if he might not be the biggest addition to the Gold.  Already competing for starting time at both RT and LT, we expect the Colorado Buffalo to find time at either end of the line this spring, and that could be a huge plus for Denver’s 3-headed running game. Player to Watch: Fans in Denver keep waiting for Ndamukong Suh to have the huge impact that was anticipated when Denver landed him as a rookie.  So far teams have been able to neutralize him because the outside edge rushers for Denver have been unimpressive.  We are not sure that changes with Justice Cole taking over opposite Ryan Denney, but at some point the Gold have to start scheming to make use of Suh’s undeniable physical abilities. Outlook: We could pretty much go back to any prior season, find a prediction for this team to be between 8-10 wins and reuse it.  Denver always seems to be in the same space in our power rankings and always seems to end up in the mix, but rarely at the top of the heap.  Once again we see a club here that can compete but will not be so dominant as to take over the division. Our Predicted Finish:  We are going to go with 9 wins again and say that is good enough for 3rd in the division. 2012: 8-8, 3rd in Division Coach: Wade Phillips (13th season) Offseason Story: Just as we saw with the Tomlinson-Gore transition, Houston is hoping for a smooth segway as Shaun Alexander is replaced by Michael Turner, obtained in trade with Chicago.  The Machine wagered that with his heavy workload for years, Turner will be one of those 30-year-old backs whose production drops off a cliff.  Houston, of course, is hoping they are wrong. Biggest Addition: Aside from Turner, the new face we like the most in Houston is rookie safety Kenny Vaccaro. He sits behind both Patrick Chung and Willie Anderson as a free-floating safety right now, but could also see the field as a nickel or dime DB and we fully expect that as the season moves along, Vaccaro will get more and more opportunity to prove himself. Player to Watch: Houston’s D was always at its best when it had 2 dynamic edge rushers. Osi Umenyiura is a known commodity, but we are still waiting to see what Jerry Hughes can do opposite him. He has shown flashes, but the Gamblers want to see if he can be more than just an occasional nuisance. They want a full time menace at the RE spot. Outlook:  A lot hinges on whether or not Chicago was right to let Michael Turner go. If he has a season or two left in his knees, then Houston will find a way to make him a productive back with the Gamblers, but if he hits the cliff, that could very easily derail an offense predicated on the threat of the run to allow Matt Hasselbeck, himself no spring chicken, to be successful. Our Predicted Finish: Houston is a short-term contender, meaning that we can see the rebuild on the horizon, but for 2013, we think they have enough to be in the mix.  Our pick is 10-6 and 2nd in the division. 2012: 10-6, Division Champion Coach: Greg Landry (4th Season) Offseason Story: All eyes in San Antonio this summer were scouring the news for updates on Joe Flacco’s recovery from a season-ending injury.  Well, the news appears to be very good as Flacco has had a strong camp and looks ready to roll in 2013.  Now fans can focus on watching Flacco arc some deep balls to Colston, Marshall and rookie speedster Marquise Goodwin. Biggest Addition: Texas did not make a lot of moves this offseason, but the one that could have a nice immediate impact is the addition of HB Felix Jones as a 2nd option behind Arian Foster.  Jones’s style is very much like that of Foster, so this is not a Thunder and Lightning situation so much as a “new back, same strategy” substitution option. Player to Watch: Reynaldo Wynn busted out last year to win Defensive Player of the Year.  So, what can he do for an encore?  Can he make a legitimate run at Calais Campbell. He has a solid line around him and a good secondary behind him, so the team is there to allow Wynn to have another outstanding 20+ sack season. Outlook: The Outlaws are a talented and dangerous team.  Had Joe Flacco not been sent to the IR late last season, they could easily have contended for a league title.  We expect Flacco to be back to full strength from Week 1, which makes Texas a frontrunner to take not only the division but the conference as well. Our Predicted Finish: We see a strong year ahead for the Outlaws.  Our pick is 12-4, first place, and a bye as either the number 1 or 2 seed. 2012: 7-9, 3rd in Division Coach: Greg Schiano (2nd season) Offseason Story:  The trade of Michael Turner was by far the most talked about Chicago story this offseason.  Turner, who had racked up seven consecutive 1,000 yard seasons was seen by many as the club’s most reliable players, so it was quite a shock to the fanbase, one which had questioned QB Brady Quinn but not Turner, to see the back sent off to Houston. The premise is that the club was concerned about the 30-year cliff that so many backs have, and they were very happy with the rookie year put together by Doug Martin, so they traded Turner before the cliff in hopes of getting top value, which they feel they did in acquiring cornerback Josh Norman, who also had a strong rookie season.  The overall picture, when we look at Chicago’s roster is that a youth movement is afoot. Biggest Addition: Chicago went all out to bring in an almost entirely new secondary, including the trade for Norman, the drafting of corners Nickell Robey-Coleman and Jordan Poyer, and, the addition of the player we think will have the biggest impact, safety Bob Sanders. Sanders has been a reliable presence in the middle for both the Feds and Generals, and we expect more of the same in Chicago, where the 9-year veteran will be a rare voice of experience in a very young secondary. Player to Watch: The other big change for Chicago was the loss of Donald Driver at WR.  The player expected to step up and fill those big shoes is NFL import Emmanuel Sanders, a former Steeler.  Sanders is a pure speed receiver, and a bit of a diva, which will be new for Coach Schiano to deal with after the workmanlike Driver last year.  We expect he will need a couple of weeks before he makes the lineup, so in the meantime it will be Michael Floyd filling in, but once Sanders hits the field, expect Coach Schiano to try to use him to force the safeties deeper, creating room underneath for Austin Pettis, Ben Hartsook, and the running of Doug Martin. Outlook: Losing both Michael Turner and Donald Driver will set back the Chicago offense.  Having to rebuild an iffy secondary will also contribute to what we see as a slow start for the Machine.  There is talent on this roster, but we think it will need time to emerge and to gel into a fully functioning squad.  Expect a lot of hiccups, bugs, and erratic play from this squad, particularly over the season’s first half. Our Predicted Finish: We think Chicago will struggle to keep pace with the better teams in the division, and likely will end up with a losing record overall.  Our pick is 6-10 and 3rd in the division. 2012: 6-10, 4th in Division Coach: Dick LeBeau (10th Season) Offseason Story: The retirement of Brian Griese is the end of an era in Michigan.  Griese has been the Panther QB since 2008, when he led the Panthers to a title in his first year as a starter.  Since then he has put up a 4,000 yard season, had three solid years over 3,000 and has been a consistent presence in the locker room.  All of that now falls on 2012 draft pick Kirk Cousins. The Michigan State product will take over another team having a youth movement, particularly on offense, where he will be paired with Spartan teammate LeVeon Bell. Biggest Addition: Defensive End Michael Bennett comes to the Panthers from the NFL Buccaneers, where he had a career high 7 sacks in 2012. The hope is that he will continue to grow and has the potential to be a 15-sack edge rusher in the USFL.  Michigan could certainly use the boost to their passrush.  Their strongest pass rusher in 2012 was D’Aundre Reed with 8 sacks, and that is not going to get it done in a pass-heavy league. Player to Watch: The player who has the highest expectations and who fills the biggest need is certainly LeVeon Bell.  The rookie HB is expected to resurrect a moribund rush attack for the Panthers.  With a combination of Mike Hart and Aveion Carson, the Panthers had one of the least productive run games in the league last year and the hope for 2013 is that Bell can quickly adapt and move the Panthes at least towards the middle of the pack, in  no small part as a way to take pressure off their inexperienced QB. Outlook: We all know what the biggest question marks are for Michigan.  Can Kirk Cousins be effective in his first year as a starter?   Does Michigan have a running game with rookie LeVeon Bell or will the Panther offense again be one-dimensional?  We don’t see the Panthers as a true playoff contender, but in this division they could well finish 2nd despite being a flawed team. Our Predicted Finish: We see the Panthers as being a year away from truly challenging St. Louis, so we are saying 8-8 and 2nd in the division, but not a playoff spot. 2012: 5-11, 5th in Division Coach: Bart Andrus (3rd season) Offseason Story: To say that Vince Young has underwhelmed since coming over from the NFL would be fair.  The lack of dynamism in the Ohio offense has been a huge disappointment to the fanbase, who were admittedly spoiled by Kerry Collins for a decade.  So now, after a trade with Texas, the Glory have 2 quarterbacks battling for the starting position. Chris Weinke has been named the starter for Week 1, but we expect he will be on a short leash and we could see Young as well.  So a 2-headed QB position, which, if the cliché holds, means that Ohio does not really have 2 QBs but none. Biggest Addition: The Glory signed several free agents, but mostly in depth positions.  The one exception is LB Tommy Polley, who is expected to take over the strong side duties alongside MLB James Laurinaitis and weak side LB Philip Wheeler. After 12 years prowling the field with Chicago, Polley is expected to be a leader on the field and in the locker room, but for how long? He is 34, so likely not part of a long term solution for the Ohio defense. Player to Watch: Ohio needs Steve Smith to step up and be the superstar they thought they acquired from Philadelphia.  Since coming to Ohio, Smith has been vocal as always, but his play on the field has not matched his last couple of years as a Star.  Smith has yet to crack 1,000 yards as a member of the Glory, and while his quarterback situation has not been ideal, at some point you just have to ask more of one of the most highly-paid players on the team. Outlook: The Glory showed some signs in the 2nd half of 2012.  If they can build on that, then they may contend with Michigan for the 2nd place spot, but we are still not sold on the idea that Vince Young is the answer at QB.  They may not be sold on it either, having brought in Chris Weinke for insurance.  That lack of certainty at the QB position has us thinking that another last place finish is not only possible, but probable. Our Predicted Finish:  We see Ohio getting better, but not enough to escape 4th place in the newly reduced 4-team division.  6-10 and 4th place is our pick. 2012: 13-3, Division & League Champion Coach: Bruce Arians (4th season) Offseason Story: The Skyhawks spent the offseason basking in the glory of a league championship.  From parades to sponsorship and spokesperson deals, no one has had this kind of reception in St. Louis since the baseball Cardinals won their last title.  Will all the hype and local fanfare be a distraction in 2013, or can the “Ka-Kaw Warriors” pull off a repeat, one of the rarest feats in the USFL? Biggest Addition: The league champions did not have a lot of holes and focused mostly on resigning as many of their free agent veterans as they could.  They signed no NFL talent, made no trades, and had only 1 new free agent come to town, but we think that free agent, TE Jeramy Stevens, was a very good addition.  He will upgrade the TE position and give Josh Freeman yet one more target to take advantage of.  Adding any weapons to the Skyhawk offense is a scary proposition. Player to Watch: With the retirement of Antowain Smith, halfback was the one glaring issue St. Louis’s front office would have to address. They opted to do so through the draft, trading with Birmingham to get a Stallion T-Draft pick and with that pick they went all in on Alabama halfback Eddie Lacy.  Lacy will be anointed the starter from the get-go, with only 2012 backups William Bethea and James Ridley behind him in the RB room.  That is a lot of pressure for a rookie HB, perhaps even more than what we see in Michigan with LeVeon Bell, because the expectation is that this is a team poised for a possible repeat run. Outlook: The defending champs look stoked and ready to run towards a repeat.  They had very few losses from their title-winning roster, and Coach Arians has put a system in place that plays to the strengths of his roster. If rookie HB Eddie Lacy can step in and produce right away, this team could be primed for another deep run. But if that is too much to ask, we still see St. Louis winning the division, though perhaps not advancing all the way to a title again. Our Predicted Finish: We see St. Louis as solidly 2-3 steps ahead of anyone else in the division.  Perhaps not good enough for another 13-win season, but good enough to win the division title and a bye.  Our pick is for 11-5 and a 2 seed in the playoffs. 2012: 6-10, 3rd in Division Coach: Mike Shanahan (5th season) Offseason Story: The key to Birmingham’s offseason was to resign two of their three-receiver “Birmingham Triangle”.  It took a good part of the offseason, but they were able to find the funds to hold onto both Randy Moss, who came to the Stallions midseason in 2012, and slot receiver Julian Edelman.  The combination of these two with outspoken Terrell Owens, gives Birmingham one of the most potentially dangerous receiving groups in the entire league.  Will that be the ticket for QB Cam Newton to have a big year everyone has hoped for since he signed out of Auburn? Biggest Addition: After signing their receivers, the biggest need for Birmingham was to shore up a shaky defense.  They spent most of their draft capital on defense, but it is NFL import, DT Henry Melton, who could be the key.  The veteran of the Bears is only 26 and could be a fixture alongside Johnathon Sullivan in the middle, helping to give the Stallions the power inside to improve against the run and allow Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves put more pressure on opposing QBs, something the Stallions struggled with last year. Player to Watch: We love the Melton signing and adding some youth to the defense in the form of safeties Baccari Rambo and D. J. Swearinger in the draft is another positive for the Stallions.  While Swearinger, the higher draft pick, is currently behind Corey White on the depth chart, Rambo had an outstanding camp, beating out Pat Watkins for the starting SS position.  Rambo has good instincts for the ball and seems poised to be a quick study when it comes to USFL offenses.  That is good, because Birmingham needs their defense to be more aggressive and more productive in 2013 if they want to challenge for the division. Outlook: If the Stallions cannot generate more points with the combo of Moss and Owens wide, then they will need a major overhaul.  Coach Shanahan is on the hotseat because the club has certainly brought in some big names and very talented offensive players.  It is put up or shut up for Shanahan, QB Cam Newton, and the entire offense.  And, with a defense that is still struggling a bit for identity, we believe that if Birmingham is going to turn the corner, it has to be built on their offensive firepower. Our Predicted Finish: The Stallions could win 11 games, or only 5.  It is so hard to see them as a consistent squad because they have proven over the past few years that they are not always in synch.  We think they fare better than 2012, but may still fall short. Our pick is 9-7 and 2nd in the South. 2012: 4-12, 4th in Division Coach: Brad Childress (2nd season) Offseason Story: Apparently the hype over Peyton Manning over in Nashville got to such a point that Memphis felt they needed some Manning mania as well.  Problem is, Eli’s career has not been as illustrious as his older brother’s.  Eli has played well but rarely gotten solid results for his club in both New Orleans and Orlando.  The Showboats are hoping that he will finally hit his stride and pair individual accomplishments with team success with his third team.  Fans are not so sure, but anything has to be an improvement over the past two years with Ryan Mallett proving to be a false hope. Biggest Addition: Memphis also made a big switch at halfback, allowing Cadillac Williams, and his diminishing production, head off to Seattle in free agency, and nabbing a free agent of their own in Atlanta HB Darren McFadden.  McFadden has been solid for the Fire, rushing for 1,000 yards in 2010, but has also had two years marred by injuries, playing in only 13 games over the past two seasons. He had a strong second half to 2012, so Memphis is again being hopeful and planning on having the big back for all 16 games this year. Player to Watch: Mario Williams’s arrival in Memphis last year had a lot of fanfare, but like so many NFL players making the transition, the lack of an offseason led to less-than-stellar results.  Williams finished the USFL season with 12 sacks, which is a pretty solid number, but Memphians are hoping that in 2013 they will see the 20-sack edge rusher they signed away from the NFL Oilers. Outlook: No team has transformed its roster quite as thoroughly as the Showboats this offseason.  Coach Childress brought in a new QB, new starting HB, and new coordinators to help build up this franchise.  Eli Manning is certainly an upgrade at the QB position, and we like Darren McFadden to step into Cadillac Williams’s role, but we are still not sold that this squad has either the defensive fortitude needed to compete, nor the receivers Manning will need to open up the offense. Our Predicted Finish: We think Memphis will be a better team in 2013, but that many not translate into a lot more winning.  We still have them bringing up the rear.  4th place and perhaps 5-6 wins in 2013 seems like a step in the right direction, but a small step. 2012: 8-8, 2nd in Division Coach: Jim Johnson (19th Season) Offseason Story: Fans in Nashville loved Frank Gore, and what was not to love, their star halfback had seven 1,000-yard seasons in 8 years.  He was the center of the Nashville offense for nearly a decade, but now he is in Arizona, and the offense clearly turns to NFL import Peyton Manning to be its pivot point.  Manning is certainly beloved in Tennessee, but he is not a spring chicken anymore and his spinal injury in 2011 is still a potential concern.  The Knights simply don’t know how long they will have the legendary QB available to them, so they had better get what they can from him now. Biggest Addition: With Gore off to Arizona, the key offseason move for the Knights had to be acquiring a suitable substitute.  They opted to go with former General and Express halfback Ray Rice.  Rice had his best year as a pro in 2012, rushing for 1,083 yards for a pretty shaky LA offense.  But he has yet to top 4 TDs in any season, and fans in Nashville just don’t see the same type of “all for the win” attitude in Rice that Gore personified.  It is a lot to ask any free agent to come in and immediately make fans forget the beloved player who left, and Rice is in a tough spot on that front. Player to Watch: This is the year for Peyton Manning.  At least that is the hope.  The NFL veteran made an optimal recovery from spinal fusion surgery and was able to see the field last year, starting the final 7 games of the season and looking pretty good doing it.  He finished 2012 with a 96.7 QB rating, 10 TDs to only 4 picks, and averaged 208 yards per game.  Both the Knights and their faithful are expecting even more in 2013, with a full year under his belt and even more time to adapt to the spring game. Outlook: As excited as fans were to see Peyton Manning in Knight purple last year, this season is truly the test of whether the risk was worth it to bring in the former NFL MVP.  With Frank Gore gone, the offense will have to lean on Manning more than it did in the latter stages of 2012.  Ray Rice is a capable back, but hardly the force that Gore has been for the Knights.  The defense should be solid, and if Manning can squeeze some juice out of the offense, we think Nashville can get the job done. Our Predicted Finish: We see Nashville surprising many and taking the division, once again likely in the final week showdown with New Orleans.  9-7 and 1st in the division by a hair. 2012: 9-7, Division Champion Coach: Lamar Lathon (2nd Season) Offseason Story: The Breakers were happy to finally beat Nashville in Week 16 and take the Southern Division, but now they want more, and it seems the path to doing more is to improve the LB group and become more aggressive on defense.  Would you expect anything less from a team led by former All-USFL and HOF linebacker Lamar Lathon?  New Orleans added two pieces to their LB group, the biggest of which was veteran Washington Federal team captain Antonio Pierce.  At 33, Pierce is expected to have at least a couple of years of quality left in his well-toned body, and his leadership is unquestioned.  The Breakers also added NFL veteran Rocky McIntosh and a promising rookie in local LSU product Kevin Minter. Coach Lathon is stressing team football with the group and hopes to see a swarming defense that makes life difficult for Southern Division rivals. Biggest Addition: Pierce’s signing was huge and is really the only top shelf addition to a roster that stayed relatively stable from 2012 to 2013. The offense could have certainly used some new blood, and the lack of veteran signings on that side of the ball should be a concern for Breaker fans. Player to Watch: We have been saying this for years, but if New Orleans is going to have a true breakthrough season, they need a running back to have a season to remember.  We are 5 seasons into Matt Forte as the starter in New Orleans, and while there have been flashes, he has simply not proven that he can be the main man. His career YPC average is only 3.7, and his best season saw only 740 yards rushing.  Short yardage back Mike Tolbert does not appear to be the answer, so we thnk that if Forte does not show something new in 2012, the Breakers will have to find a way to bring in someone who can simply provide more. Outlook: Some are picking the Breakers to be the dark horse team in 2013, but we just don’t see it.  We don’t see enough added value on offense to believe they will be able to pull away in even a weak Southern Division.  While we love the addition of Antonio Pierce to the LB group, the defense is still a step too slow for us to believe in it. Our Predicted Finish: We see New Orleans not as a rising team, but as one treading water and hoping that is good enough to again edge Nashville.   We are going to say it is not enough.  8-8 and 3rd place in the division as a wake up call to do more in the 2014 offseason. 2012: 11-5, Division Champion Coach: Tom Ramsey (5th Season) Offseason Story: Running back was the story of the offseason for the Fire.  Darren McFadden left the club in free agency to join the Memphis Showboats and with LaDell Betts retiring as well, the Fire were left with a pretty sizeable hole in their roster with only 3rd down back J. J. Arrington and practice squadder John Ball left on the roster.  In the draft, Atlanta believes they have found a good option in South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore, but the big get was not until this month when, during camp, the Fire reached across the NFL-USFL Transfer portal and signed one of the biggest names available in former St. Louis Ram Stephen Jackson.  Jackson may not be available Week 1, but as soon as he is, you should expect him to be the starter. Biggest Addition:  With all respect to WR Hank Basket and punter Hunter Smith, it seems clear that Jackson was the biggest signing of the offseason for Atlanta.  Jackson, who has topped 1,000 yards each year since 2005 for the Rams, may be losing a step, but he had several to spare, so we expect he will hit the ground running (sorry for the pun) as Atlanta’s main man in the backfield. Player to Watch:  Our other player to keep an eye on is WR Matt Jones.  Coming over from Memphis last year, his 4th team in 4 years, Jones started the season very strong and finished with a very respectable 34 receptions, but it was his 5 touchdowns that give us hope that he will have a larger role in 2013, particularly in the red zone. Outlook: Atlanta won the division with a solid defense and a varied offense, and that looks to be the formula again in 2013.  The big difference this year will be at HB, where Stephen Jackson comes in with a lot of expectation.  But, as we have seen time and time again, playing a full USFL season only 1-2 months after a full NFL season can be a big ask, especially at the HB position.  We see Atlanta struggling to get the ground game going as Jackson adjusts and as his body wonders where the offseason rest went. Our Predicted Finish: Atlanta is still a solid team, but we think they take an initial step back.  9-7 and third in the Southeast, with a Wild Card possible. 2012: 11-5, 2nd in Division, Wild Card & Conference Champion Coach: Jim Mora Jr (6th season) Offseason Story: For a team that made a surprising Wild Card run to the Summer Bowl, the Monarchs essentially stood pat this offseason.  They had only minor losses in free agency and signed no players of major impact.  The only story of any significance was the trade that sent Rey Maualaga to the Generals to acquire Jevon Kearse as an edge rusher.  Maualaga was well-liked on the team and was a solid contributor with 71 tackles and 11 sacks in the Monarchs’ charmed 2012 season. Biggest Addition: Jevon Kearse is a 14 year veteran with an up and down record of pressuring the QB.  He had 10 sacks in 2012 with New Jersey after coming over from trade with the Panthers.  Charlotte is hoping he has 1-2 good seasons left in him as they really want to be able to pressure the QB without the need for blitzing to pull that off, something they relied on very heavily last year. Player to Watch: Charlotte drafted two guards, hoping to shore up the interior line.  As of this week it looks like T-Draft selection Travis Bond from UNC is getting the start, but his Tarheel counterpart Jonathan Cooper is also hoping to bust into the starting lineup as well.  If one or both prove themselves to be pro-ready, that could be a boost for the Charlotte run game. Outlook:  The Monarchs were right there with Atlanta and were perhaps the best 6-seed in the history of the USFL playoffs at 11-5.  While the loss of Maualaga will impact them, their roster was pretty solid, with few changes in the offseason, and with Jake Delhomme back in full health, we think the Monarchs can make a run again. Our Predicted Finish: We see Charlotte taking the next step after a bit of a Cinderella playoff run to the Summer Bowl in 2012.  Our pick is 12-4 and first place in the Southeast. 2012: 6-10, 4th in division Coach: Leslie Frazier (4th season) Offseason Story: Another team with a pretty quiet offseason.  Jacksonville continues to build through the draft, largely using free agency to add depth rather than front-line talent.  Perhaps the biggest story was something of a non-story as Coach Frazier opted to stick with Tim Tebow at QB despite growing pressure to find a more conventional option at the position. With only Josh McCown and Chase Daniel behind him on the depth chart, Tebow’s position seems secure for another year, and after putting up a league high 20 picks in 2012, that is something of a surprise. Biggest Addition: Draftee Barkevious Mingo was one of the better signings of the draft class and should have an immediate impact for a D-line that struggled to find the QB in 2012.   Mingo will line up at LE, with Marcus Stroud next to him and RE David Bowens benefiting from fewer double teams. Player to Watch: With Mingo getting a lot of attention in 2013, we expect his linemate David Bowens to find himself in more favorable situations, which could allow him to return to top form after an injury-riddled 2-sack 2012 season.  We could imagine Bowens topping his career best of 14 sacks if Mingo draws the double teams we expect the rookie will garner on the left side. Outlook: The Bulls showed some flashes last year, and with the addition of the best edge rusher in the draft, they could be even more competitive in 2013.  We are still concerned about the turnovers, particularly Tim Tebow’s issues with throwing into coverage, but there are some reasons to be optimistic this season. Our Predicted Finish: We see modest improvement in a very tough division.  8-8 and the cusp of the playoffs feels right.  That would put them 4th in the division, but on the right path. 2012: 3-13, 5th in Division Coach: John Fox (1st season) Offseason Story: Something of a 2-part story as the Renegades, who finished 2012 with a horrific 3-13 record, jumped on Coach John Fox after he was released by the Cannons/Roughnecks.  Fox immediately shook things up with a very unexpected move, trading away starting QB Eli Manning.  The move sent a clear message, this team would not be the same Renegades that have struggled to make waves in the Southeast Division.  Now with a new untested QB in former Wolfpack and Badger Russell Wilson handed the keys to the car, there could be some growing pains, but Fox is certainly making a mark. Biggest Addition: Orlando traded away Manning for draft picks, and they largely built their 2013 roster with draft additions, the biggest and best of which may be Alabama CB Dee Milliner, who is expected to start from Week One.  Expect to see a lot of the draft class in action this season, with HB Latavius Murray, OG Barrett Jones, and DT Montori Hughes all expected to rotate into action from the season’s onset. Player to Watch: It has to be Russell Wilson, who started only 1 game, the Week 16 mop up game, in 2012 and is now stepping into a starting position largely sight unseen.  Wilson will be under immediate pressure to show that Coach Fox made the right call in trading Eli Manning to Memphis.  He has some weapons to work with in WRs Michael Jenkins, Justin McCaerins, and DeSean Jackson, but his most reliable target, as was Eli’s, is likely to be TE Greg Olsen.  Expect some growing pains and expect Wilson to need to use his legs to salvage some plays, as Orlando still has questions across its offensive line. Outlook: Orlando was a hot choice to win the division last year, and the results were a total collapse.  But this Renegade team will be a very different beast, starting at QB where they are putting a lot of faith in the untested Russell Wilson.  Their draft was solid, but it does feel like a bit of a retooling, and that could take time to show results. Our Predicted Finish: We think they will start to climb after hitting rock bottom last year.  It will be a tough season, but one with signs of hope.  6-10 and 5th in the SE Divisoin is our prediction. 2012: 9-7, 3rd in division Coach: Mike Shula (3rd Season) Offseason Story: Joey Galloway’s retirement was not a surprise to many in Tampa Bay, and it was well known that they would be a major player in the WR market during free agency, so it was no surprise at all when the Bandits announced that they had landed the one clear number one receiver in the pool.  Vincent Jackson comes down to Tampa after some very good years in Pittsburgh.  With a solid line, outstanding run game, and a veteran QB already in place in Tampa Bay, Jackson may well have a career year catching balls from Daunte Culpepper. Biggest Addition: If we take Jackson as a given, the next biggest signing may well be NFL OT Jake Long, a solid protector and good lead blocker for the Miami Dolphins who will now step in at RT for the Bandits, opposite veteran LT Levi  Brown.  The combo could make Willis McGahee even more dangerous, while also providing Culpepper with the time needed to hit Jackson or number 2 receiver Santonio Holmes on deeper routes. Player to Watch: TE Luke Stocker saw his numbers dip in 2012 after a strong rookie season in 2011. Tampa Bay is hoping to see him rebound this year, serving as a target for Culpepper over the middle and a release valve when pressured.  Stocker is capable of 50 catches and 500 yards, but will need to also block well as the Bandits want to continue to use McGahee on pitches, screens, and swing routes, a major portion of their offensive playbook. Outlook: Getting both a target and a protector for Daunte Culpepper was key this offseason.  Culpepper is not the mobile, play-extending QB he once was, so he will need to get protection and look to shorter routes to get the ball out faster.  The defense still remains a question mark, and could again prove to be the Achilles heel that keeps them a step behind clubs like Charlotte and Alanta. Our Predicted Finish: We think Tampa does enough to leapfrog the Fire and take 2nd place, but we are not sure they have the fortitude on defense to make a deep run in the postseason.  Our pick is 10-6 and a Wild Card. 2012: 8-8, 4th in division Coach: Jim Caldwell (1st Season) Offseason Story:  Tory Holt’s retirement was a bit of a surprise and one that the Blitz did not deal with well.  Yes, Baltimore did sign NFL slot receiver Brian Hartline, but that does not help them with their issue at the top of the depth chart.  They will go with Derrius Heyward-Bay, the speedster, as their number one, with former Stallion Donte Do and Hartline rounding out the top 3, but that is not a very intimidating or accomplished receiver group for Big Ben to throw to. Biggest Addition: A weak draft and few free agent acquisitions mean that Baltimore, in most assessments, has backslid a bit after another mid-range season in 2012.  In a tough division that is not good. The one addition who is expected to play immediately is FS Eric Weddle, signed away from the Jacksonville Bulls, but overall this has not been a good offseason in Baltimore. Player to Watch: Derrious-Bey will be under incredible pressure to step up and become a true number one receiver.  That seems a lot to ask for a speed guy who has never had more than 67 receptions or 963 yards in a season.  In 2012, Bey had a solid 65 for 952 and 6 TDs, which are great numbers for a number 2 receiver, but can he step it up and get into the range of 80-100 receptions and 1,000+ yards in 2013? Outlook:  Fans are beginning to complain that the Blitz have been wasting a franchise QB in Ben Roethlisberger, and now, with Tory Holt gone, the receiving corps looks like one of the weakest in the league.  They will need a huge year from Ron Dayne for this offense to work, and on defense, there are still holes to fill.  We just don’t see enough here to feel confident that Baltimore can take a step forward in one of the toughest divisions in the league. Our Predicted Finish: We think 8-8 is once again what we are looking at this year.  With a decent Pittsburgh squad replacing the weaker Boston team the division will be even tougher and we would not be surprised if Baltimore ends up in 5th place.  Our preseason pick is 8-8 and 4th. 2012: 12-4, 2nd in division, Wild Card Coach: Herm Edwards (5th Season) Offseason Story: The Generals had a great 2012 season, finishing at 12-4, but they still felt they had needs, and one of the biggest was a slow, and somewhat ineffective LB group.  So, what does Coach Edwards do?  He trades with Charlotte to bring in Rey Maualaga and then lands former NY Giant LB Chase Blackburn from the NFL-USFL transfer window.  Both are expected to start, surrounding MLB Donterrious Thomas with faster, more aggressive thumpers on either side. Biggest Addition: We love the Maualaga signing, not only because he is a very good blitzer and a solid run defender, but by trading away Jevon Kearse, who was a midseason acquisition from Michigan when Shaun Ellis went to the IR, New Jersey avoids a controversy, returning an excellent 1-2 combo of Ellis and Aaron Kampman on the D-line.  Add rookie William Gholston to the rotation and the Generals could be a very good pressure team with just their front 4. Player to Watch: Rookie SS Jonathan Cyprien steps in as the starter for the Generals. That is a lot to ask of a guy who played only 2 seasons at Florida International.  New Jersey loves his instincts, but he will be a certain target for opposing offenses, at least until he proves that those instincts can keep him from getting burned by the USFL’s complex route trees. Outlook:  A huge step up in 2012 with Sam Bradford having an All-USFL season and the defense could be even better in 2013 with the arrivals of Maualaga and Blackburn in the LB room. The secondary still has some questions as they likely will be starting a rookie at SS, but if Ellis and Kampman can produce pressure without a lot of blitzing, the Generals could be a tough out each week. Our Predicted Finish: 10-6 and 2nd in the East is our expectation for the Generals, who will be in dogfights each and every divisional game this year. 2012: 12-4, Division Champion Coach: Jim Harbaugh (9th Season) Offseason Story: Few in Philadelphia were surprised that Kurt Warner’s 2012 injury led to a decision to retire from the game.  Neck injuries are not something to trifle with.  That backup Matt Gutierrez had himself a true Cinderella season, finishing the year with the league’s best QBR has Star fans confident that they will not miss a beat with Gutierrez now set as the starter.  Matt Moore and Austin Davis back up Gutierrez as Philadelphia stood pat with their QB room this offseason. Biggest Addition: Rookie TE Travis Kelce steps in right away as the starter and is sure to be a regular target for Gutierrez.  The Stars love their outside-inside game, and now, with a receiving TE as well as slot receiver Troy Williamson as options, the Star passing game should be one of the league’s best. Player to Watch: Stevie Johnson and Reche Caldwell were both amazing at the deep game in 2012, with Johnson gaining over 1,400 yards on only 68 receptions while Caldwell averaged 23 yards per catch.  We see both being even more productive in 2013, but think it is Johnson’s year to make himself a household name around the league. Outlook:  The Stars surprised many with their success in a season without Kurt Warner.  But now Matt Gutierrez takes on the permanent role as the starter.  This is a deep and talented team, but we are concerned that teams will start to adjust to Gutierrez’s game and he will find his 2nd season under center to be a lot tougher than his first. Our Predicted Finish: This will be a good team, but we are not sure they can win the division again.  Both New Jersey and Washington are potentially ahead of them overall.  We are going to call it that way, with Philadelphia also going 10-6 but sitting in the 3rd position, which is still likely a Wild Card spot. 2012: 7-9, 2nd in Central Division Coach: Ron Rivera (8th Season) Offseason Story: The Maulers had a disappointing 2012 and that has led to some pretty seismic changes. Cody Pickett is gone, traded to Nashville where he will back up Peyton Manning.  Andy Dalton is now the starter and he will have a new WR group after Vincent Jackson signed with the Bandits.  The new number one is slated to be Victor Cruz, who has steadily climbed the depth chart over his short career.  Pittsburgh will then start 2 rookies as well with Tavon Austin in the slot and unheralded Minnesota State product Adam Thielen earning the number 2 spot in camp. Biggest Addition: As much as fans want it to be DE Dwight Freeney, we think Freeney is a stopgap at best, and will likely only see limited action.  We are more excited about WR/KR Joshua Cribbs. Cribbs can turn a game around in one play with his return skills.  Expect to see Pittsburgh also use him on offense, largely with screens and underneath routes, turning his return skills to after-the-catch skills.  At least that is the hope. Player to Watch: TE Jimmie Graham.  With a very untested WR group, Graham becomes a vital asset to QB Andy Dalton.  If Graham can find room in the middle, he could be a key player for the Pittsburgh offense, and he can help drop double coverage from Cruz on the deep balls. Outlook:  The Maulers backslid in 2012, and now they move from a relatively weak Central division to the loaded NE Division.  Andy Dalton is now the starter, and he will have some weapons, but the WR group is a bit of a question mark with Vincent Jackson now gone.  The defense will be solid, and that may be enough to keep Pittsburgh out of the basement in a division where we could see all 5 teams finish at or above .500. Our Predicted Finish: We are going to pick the Maulers to finish tied with Baltimore at 8-8 in a very tough division, and that may be enough for them to avoid the basement on tiebreakers.  But, we could also see them slip to something like 4-12 if the WR group proves to be as thin as we think it might be. 2012: 12-4, 3rd in division, Wild Card Coach: Sean Payton (7th Season) Offseason Story: Washington was good last year, good enough to do very little in the offseason, but they did not stand pat.  They added HB Jahvid Best to provide a change of pace for Deuce McCallister, but also added two NFL defenders to help an already solid squad.  Both LB Daniel Ellerbe and SS Glover Quinn could be starters by midseason and certainly can contribute as rotational players to start. Biggest Addition: Rookie LB Alec Ogletree is starting the season at MLB, but we think that when Ellerbe is ready to play he may shift outside to the weak side LB spot opposite Cameron Wake.  Ogletree is a bit raw, but the talent is definitely there and we think WLB is the best possible option for him. Player to Watch: When you have a steady 1,200 yard rusher in the backfield, how motivated are you to rotate him out?  With Jahvid Best now an option, Washington may well opt to do so more often. Best is ideally suited as a change of pace back, possibly a 3rd down back.  He is not a classic scatback, but his receiving skills and breakaway ability could be a huge option for a Federals team that sometimes feels uninventive with McCallister in the game. Outlook:  We are picking the Federals to win the division after a disappointing exit in last year’s postseason.  They still have one of the deepest and most diverse offenses in the league and, as usual, they have tried to add even more to the defense with rookie Alec Ogletree and NFL import Ellerbe.  We love the addition of Jahvid Best to help spread the load at HB but this will still be Deuce’s team and his offense to lead. Our Predicted Finish:  We see Washington as a strong contender for the title. They just don’t have the obvious holes or question marks that so many teams have.  Our best guess is 12-4, first in the division and a possible number one seed overall. PREDICTIONS Every year we do this, and every year we warn you that we are often way off base.  Blame it on group think, blame it on giving the prior year’s numbers too much creedence for the coming year, but we did not see St. Louis’s rise on the agenda for last year, and there is a good chance we will miss one this year as well. We also did not anticipate collapses from Orlando or Pittsburgh, and now we question who could be the 2012 playoff team to fall off a cliff in 2013.  So, it is with a lot of trepidation that we give you our picks for each division.  You know we will get some picks right, and some very very wrong.  Knowing that, feel free to put forward your own picks.  Maybe you will be better at this than we are. DIVISIONS PACIFIC              1-OAK*         2-LV*                    3-LA                  4-POR                  5-SEA We see this as a 2-way battle between the Invaders and the Thunder, and with Las Vegas dealing with off-field issues that will almost certainly provide a lot of distraction, we think the edge has to go to the Invaders.  We see LA as a potential riser, and we are picking the plucky Portland squad as the team that might slide a bit. SOUTHWEST    1-TEX*        2-HOU*              3-DEN                  4-ARZ                  5-DAL Texas was a Summer Bowl favorite last year and we see them in that same light this year.  The Outlaws have veteran leadership, speed, talent, and desire across the roster.  Their likely rival for the division will be Houston, though we know Denver will stay in the mix somehow.  Arizona could be in for a tough season, though they could also surprise us if they can quickly get Frank Gore rolling.  Dallas, which struggled to only 3 wins in their final year in Boston, looks very much like a team that is rebuilding from the ground up, and that rarely means a lot of initial success. CENTRAL            1-STL*              2-CHI*             3-MGN              4-OHI The Central Division had only 1 team above .500 in 2012, and now, reduced to only 4 teams with Pittsburgh’s departure, they could see that same feat repeated.  St. Louis is a worthy champion and has a solid shot to repeat, if, and this is big, if they can generate a run game without Antowain Smith.  We see Chicago as the closest team to the Skyhawks, as both they and Michigan are trying to retool their own run game.  Ohio is a bit of a mystery, largely due to the uncertainty at QB.  They could surprise or they could struggle. SOUTHERN       1-NOR*              2-NSH              3-BIR                 4-MEM The Southeast has been either the most parity-defined division, or the weakest, depending on who you ask. It seems like every year it comes down to the final game between the Breakers and Knights, with both sitting right around .500.  Can anyone win 10 games in this division, or are we headed for that again.   We are somewhat hoping to see Birmingham make a run, just because we think a winning Stallion team, with both Terrell Owens and Randy Moss on the squad will be a very entertaining team to follow.  Memphis, well, they will be better with Eli Manning, but is better good enough to make any waves? SOUTHEAST      1-CHA*            2-TBY*               3-ATL                 4-JAX                5-ORL We are predicting a minor shakeup with Tampa Bay and Jacksonville improving and Atlanta possibly taking a step back.  We think Charlotte is primed to take the division after a very strong end to 2012, and we see Orlando as a team very much in transition with a new coach and an untested QB.  This is the division that could see the most insecurity at the top, with 4 teams possibly fighting it out all year. NORTHEAST     1-WSH*           2-NJ*                  3-PHI*                4-PIT                 5-BAL We may just be providing the Stars with bulletin board fodder with our assessment this year. They are a very solid team, but we just cannot shake the feeling that they are due for a letdown and with both Washington and New Jersey looking very solid, we think it will be a tougher season for Philadelphia.  There appears to be a bit of a gap between the top 3 and the bottom 2, and, quite frankly, Pittsburgh could be a real wild card in the mix.  They will certainly be a tougher foe than Boston was last season, and in a division where a 1-game letdown could be the difference between a division title and 3rd place, the  Mauler games could be a real sign of what to expect. PLAYOFFS You see our picks in each division, and from those picks we have chosen our 12 playoff teams.  In the East we see Washington as the top seed, with Charlotte right there, and New Orleans grabbing the final title, again by a hair.  In the West the three division champs, in order of seeding, are picked to be Texas, St. Louis, and then Oakland.  The Wild Cards we are picking are the Generals, Stars, and Bandits in the East and the Gamblers, Thunder, and Machine in the West. As we imagine the playoffs, we anticipate that it will be St. Louis and Texas facing off in the Western final, and with Joe Flacco healthy (we hope), we are going to go with the Outlaws to make a Summer Bowl appearance.  We see the East as a NE Division showdown with Washington edging New Jersey in the Conference title. That sets up an Outlaws v. Federals showdown in the Summer Bowl.  That will be a tough game to predict, but we are going to lean towards Texas just because we feel they have more hunger, having never won a title, and we just think Joe Flacco has more to offer in a big game than David Garrard.  Our pick for the 2013 USFL champion is Texas. AWARD WINNERS The last set of picks are the major award winners.  We tend to do a little better here than we do with predicting wins and losses across the league, but still, there come seasons that surprise us, as Josh Freeman’s and Matt Gutierrez’s certainly did last year.  But, barring major injuries (always a concern), this is where we think the voting will be in July, when the USFL season wraps up. MVP Always a battle of QB’s we think this year that battle will be fully in the West, between Josh Freeman, the defending MVP, and Texas QB Joe Flacco.  They control two of the best offenses in the league and we expect their teams to be atop their divisions, so it will likely come down to some flashy game highlights and maybe a dramatic game-ending drive here and there to decide the winner. OPOTY If Washington is a contender, then there will be some emotional weight behind giving the OPOTY to star HB Deuce McCallister.  But that only works if he ends up in the Top 3 rushers in 2013, something that did not happen in 2012.  If he cannot, then we think it could go to a rising star like Portland HB Jonathan Stewart or a receiver like Texas’s Marques Colston or Philadelphia’s Stevie Johnson. DPOTY We all expect Calais Campbell to be in the mix, but if Orlando is again an also-ran in the playoff hunt even a stellar season from Campbell may not be enough.  If that is the case, then other pass rushers like Texas’s Reynaldo Wynn (2012 winner) or Oakland’s Justin Smith could make a push.  Don’t count out a “career recognition” vote for James Farrior, who led the league in tackles for Houston and could do so again. ROTY The early odds are for whichever of the two new Central Division HBs can have the best rookie year, either Eddie Lacy taking over for Antowain Smith in St. Louis or Michigan’s LeVeon Bell.  Halfback is a position that tends to start quickly, and with no rookie signal callers this year in the mix, we think that is the likely source for a ROTY.  But, don’t sleep on WR Keenan Allen, who is well positioned with a very good placement in Oakland.  He could see a lot of action and a lot of stats this year. COTY As always we are going to look for the coach whose team does the most with the least.  Typically this award goes to the team that makes the biggest leap from one year to the next, which makes it one of the toughest awards to guess in the preseason because by its nature we are looking for a surprise team.  We think the most likely surprise teams could be the LA Express and the Jacksonville Bulls, so that makes the favorites for the award either first year coach Andy Reid in LA, or veteran Leslie Frazier in Jacksonville.  Reid comes to the USFL with a huge reputation and a winning track record, so he is our early choice, even if USFL voters may hesitate to recognize an NFL coach as the new best coach in the USFL. The 2013 USFL season kicks off with a Friday Night matchup of contenders in the SE Division.  Charlotte, coming off their great playoff run, heads  to Atlanta to face the defending division champion in a game that should be dominated by both defenses.  Don’t expect to see Stephen Jackson on the field for Atlanta yet, so Charlotte may have the advantage here. Saturday has the new schedule with two evening games and all 6 games on nationwide broadcast, including the first NBC Saturday game, which has Baltimore traveling to Philadelphia in an early NE Division test. The late game, a 9pm ET start, has Denver in Arizona in a rivalry game kicking off at 6pm locally, which is a first for the league.  Another great Week 1 Saturday game has Houston visiting St. Louis in an early test for the defending league champions. Sunday kicks off at noon with 3 games, including divisional matchups with Birmingham at Nashville and Washington traveling to Pittsburgh.  The national broadcast in the afternoon slot features LA at Dallas in what should be a very rowdy and celebratory atmosphere at Cotton Bowl Stadium as the Roughnecks begin their run in their new home and with their new fanbase.   The first week wraps up with a Florida Derby matchup as Russell Wilson and the Renegades face a tough opener in Tampa Bay, where Vincent Jackson debuts as Daunte Culpepper’s new target. Friday @ 8pm    Charlotte Monarchs @ Atlanta Fire                 NBC Saturday @ 12pm         New Jersey Generals @ Michigan Panthers  ABC Saturday @ 12pm         Jacksonville Bulls @ New Orleans Breakers            FOX Saturday @ 4pm            Houston Gamblers @ St. Louis Skyhawks               ABC Saturday @ 4pm            Oakland Invaders @ Seattle Dragons                     FOX Saturday @ 7pm            Baltimore Blitz @ Philadelphia Stars                         NBC Saturday @ 9pm            Denver Gold @ Arizona Wranglers                           ESPN/EFN Sunday @ 12pm              Las Vegas Thunder @ Chicago Machine               ABC Sunday @ 12pm              Birmingham Stallions @ Nashville Knights             ABC Sunday @ 12pm            Washington Federals @ Pittsburgh Maulers            FOX Sunday @ 4pm               Los Angeles Express @ Dallas Roughnecks            ABC Sunday @ 4pm                Texas Outlaws @ Ohio Glory                                   FOX Sunday @ 4pm                Memphis Showboats @ Portland Stags                   FOX Sunday @ 8pm               Orlando Renegades @ Tampa Bay Bandits            ESPN/EFN

One week away from the kickoff of another USFL season, the 31st after last year’s big anniversary celebration, and this offseason has certainly been a busy one, and in many ways a surprising one.  We did not have the big QB drama of some past years, but plenty of moves, signings, shakeups, and surprises to keep us all on our toes.  Cap it all off with one of the biggest draft coups in the league’s history and you have an offseason that deserves another look before we hit the field.  And so, here it is. We will preview the 2013 season for each club in our next edition, but now we are focused on the changes that occurred all across the league during the offseason and the latest news as teams break camp and prepare for the regular season. USFL Shocks NFL With Rookie Signings The trend has been well known for a long time.  The USFL holds its Collegiate Draft, the NFL follows, and then the contract negotiations and bidding wars begin.  What we have also come to expect is that there will usually be around a 80% concordance between the players chosen in the 10 rounds of USFL Draft (3 Territorial and 7 Open) and the 7-round NFL draft, and that when we look at all the shared players selected, each league will typically sign half of their draftees, with the NFL typically faring better in their earlier rounds, where their higher salary range often wins out, while the USFL, with more equitable salary structures, tends to do better at landing players who graded out as NFL mid-round and lower.  That is the norm.  But that is not what happened this year. When we look at the NFL’s 1st round, their top 32 selections, we are stunned to see that a full 22 of 32 picks ended up signing with the USFL, just devastating the draft plans of nearly all NFL clubs.  When we add in the 2nd round of NFL selections, the number still mostly holds (11 of 32 2nd round picks signed with the NFL).  That means that of 64 picks in the NFL’s first two rounds, 43 signed with the USFL instead, a whopping 67%.  We have never seen this before and with the reaction this has sparked within the NFL, we expect we won’t see it again. What sparked such a strong USFL draft?  Well, for one thing, the first two rounds of the NFL draft were considered weaker by most accounts, with no marquee quarterbacks, very few high value positions overall, and a lot of linemen and defenders, players whose value within the NFL is often within the USFL budget capacity.   So, the lack of Andrew Lucks or Ricky Williams-type players meant that the USFL was on a more equal footing, and with a strong NFL raid on USFL rosters during the Fall transfer window, especially on defenders and linemen, there was need within the USFL to do well in the draft to fill holes. The NFL Did land several of the bigger name “skill” players, including QB E. J. Manuel, HB Cordarelle Patterson, and WR DeAndre Hopkins, but when it came to linemen, backes, corners, and edge rushers, the USFL did extremely well.  We will recap all the big signings in our team-by-team analysis, but just to give you a sense, let’s take a look at the NFL’s first 10 picks. 1—OT Eric Fisher (CMU):  Drafted by both KC and the Seattle Dragons, he opted to play for the Dragons despite being the number 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. 2—OT Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M):  Chosen by Houston in the T-Draft and by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Joeckel could not pass up the chance to play in Tony Boselli’s position with the Jags. 3—DE Dion Jordan (Oregon):  The ability to stay in Oregon and on the West Coast with the Stags trumped the money that Miami offered him to jump to the NFL, he became the highest rated T-Draft pick to join the spring football world. 4—OT Lane Johnson (OU):  Not protected by the new Dallas Roughnecks, the Breakers took an early shot at Johnson and the combination of their city as an attractive place to play, its proximity to Texas, and the recent coaching change with the Eagles, meant that Johnson would opt for the USFL over an uncertain situation in Philly. 5—DE Ezekiel Ansah (BYU):  Taken by Las Vegas in the T-Draft, this was one of the longer negotiations but eventually Ansah took a shot with Detroit of the NFL. 6—DE Barkevious Mingo (LSU):  While Mingo himself campaigned to be picked by his childhood team, the Renegades, being drafted by Jacksonville meant his family could see him play, something the Cleveland Browns could not compete with. 7—OG Jonathan Cooper (UNC):  That home cooking keeps working for the USFL as the appeal of playing for Charlotte, after the T-Draft pick, was just too much for the Arizona Cardinals to compete with, even though it was rumored that their deal would have given Cooper about $300,000 more per year. 8—WR Tavon Austin (WVU):  Austiin went back and forth between the Maulers and the St. Louis Rams, but in the end, the Maulers gave him more opportunity to play in his first year and ended up coughing up some sizeable cash as well. 9—CB Dee Milliner (Alabama):  The lights of NY with the Jets or the down home charm of Orlando with the Renegades.  Honestly, one factor trumped both, the lack of income tax in Orlando meant that even with a lower overall contract value, Milliner would see more income if he signed with the Renegades, which he did. 10—G Chance Warmack (Alabama): Drafted by the Copperheads of the NFL and the Wranglers in the USFL, Warmack was looking for a deal that would give him 5 years, and the NFL rookie limits would not allow that, while the Wranglers were happy to comply. Bush and Jackson Headline NFL Transfers The NFL did not only suffer some defeats in the draft pool, quite a few in fact, but also in their free agency pool, where the USFL again spent considerable capital to land NFL talent.  After a fall window that saw the NFL sign 4 USFL players for every USFL signing, the script was flipped, with the USFL landing a very solid class of 30 NFL veterans during the February window (and the window is still open for 1 more week, though late signings during the season are rare.) What stung more was the name recognition of at least two USFL signings, both halfbacks.  Reggie Bush and Steven Jackson were both high profile players on the outs with their NFL clubs, but the fall league had hoped to see both stay as NFL players.  That did not happen. Bush was a pretty easy sell, leaving the Dolphins to return home to the LA area with the USFL Express.  He signed on with LA on the 2nd day of the transfer window, bringing a sigh of relief to both LA fans and Coach Andy Reid, himself one of the bigger name USFL signings this offseason. Jackson was a bit more of a surprise, and a positive one for sure if you are a fan of the Atlanta Fire.  With Darren McFadden gone in free agency and Tennessee HB Cordarelle Patterson signing with the NFL Vikings, Atlanta was in need of a new bell cow back.  Jackson played hardball, looking at several offers before signing a 3-year deal to join the Fire. Others who signed on in the past few weeks include a third halfback in former Oiler Justin Forsett, now with Ohio. Wideout Emmanuel Sanders is likely the new number one target for Brady Quinn in Chcago after moving on from his time with the Steelers.   He was atop a pretty shallow WR group, though the USFL did land two more NFL vets in slot receiver Brian Hartline (now with Baltimore) and return specialist Josh Cribbs (moving from Cleveland to the Pittsburgh Maulers, which did not make Browns’ fans happy.)  Tight End Dennis Pitta was the other receiver of note to make the leap to the spring, joining the Seattle Dragons in their revamped offense. Among notable defenders, perhaps the biggest name was DT Glenn Dorsey, formerly of the Chiefs and now centering the D-Line for the Wranglers.  DE Junior Galette is now an Oakland Invader, former Buc Michael Bennett is with Michigan, and, while not yet official, it seems that former Colt sack specialist Dwight Freeney may be signing a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Maulers to play out his career in the Steel City. Others signed include LBs Rocky McIntosh (NOR) and Dannell Ellerbe (WSH), corners Chris Gamble (OAK) and Derek Cox (OHIO) and safety Glover Quinn (WSH).   No special teams players were signed by the USFL, and a QB group headed by “Draft bust” Jamarcus Russell and veteran backups Tarvaris Jackson and Rex Grossman also did not see any league switches. USFL Signings It has been a busy offseason and rather than break down the signings by type (NFL, Free Agent, Rookie) we thought it made more sense to look team by team at all the new faces that will make or break the season for all 28 teams. So, here is our team-by-team breakdown of all the new arrivals and who you should keep your eyes on. We focus here on the later signings, though we may comment on a few from way back in August as well. ARIZONA: LB Demorrio Williams (NFL), DT Glenn Dorsey (NFL), HB Frank Gore ROOKIES: G Chance Warmack, LB A. J. Klien, CB Jeremy Harris, DE Kapron Lewis-Moore Arizona shores up their defense with two good NFL signings but the big splash was nabbing Frank Gore to replace the retired LaDainian Tomlinson. ATLANTA: HB Steven Jackson (NFL) ROOKIES: CB Darius Slay, HB Marcus Lattimore, DE Armonty Bryant, TE Vance Donald The one late move for the Fire was a big one, nabbing former Ram HB Steven Jackson, who likely will not see the field for 2-3 weeks, but who will then step in as the number one back. BALTIMORE: WR Brian Harline (NFL), G George Bussey, HB Maurice Clarett, QB Kevin Kolb (Trade) ROOKIES: OT Terron Armstead, CB Dwayne Gratz, LB Brandon Jenkins, HB Kerwynn Williams Baltimore’s draft class did not pan out as well as many other clubs, but they feel good about addition of sure-handed wideout Brian Hartline. BIRMINGHAM: DT Harry Melton (NFL), LB Brian Kehl ROOKIES: LB Nico Johnson, S D. J. Swearinger, DE Corey Lemonier, S Bacarri Rambo, DT Brandon Williams The Stallions focus on defense was pretty comprehensive, from rookie safeties and LB Nico Johnson to the late signings of veterans Harry Melton and Brian Kehl. CHARLOTTE: DE Jevon Kearse (Trade) ROOKIES:  G Jonathan Cooper, TE Luke Willson, LB Steven Means, G Travis Bond, CB Marc Anthony, QB Jeff Tuel, S Zeke Motta Charlotte did little in free agency, but signed 9 rookies by trading for more picks and then spending on their younger players.  One trade did bring them a known commodity, getting Jevon Kearse from the Generals. CHICAGO: OT Ryan Clady (NFL), WR Emmanuel Sanders (NFL), HB Ben Tate, CB Josh  Norman (Trade) ROOKIES: WR Aaron Dobson, S Shawn Williams, LB Manti Te’o, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, CB Jordan Poyer, K Jason Myers Chicago was one of the more active teams all offseason, and that included the last 2 months, signing two quality NFL veterans, trading Michael Turner for CB Josh Norman, and then signing 8 draft picks from12 selections, including two more corners and LB Manti Te’o from Notre Dame. DALLAS:  C Phil Costa (NFL), LB Brandon Chillar, SS Mark Dillard ROOKIES: DT Star Lotulelei, QB Landry Jones, G William Campbell, DE David King, WR Tim Wright. The Roughnecks landed their top draft targets, Jones at QB and Lotulelei at DT, and also strengthened the O-line with veteran center Phil Costa. DENVER: CB Keenan Lewis (NFL), HB  Jacob Hester, DT Jesse Mahelona, LB Mohammad Brown, SS Dashon Goldston (Trade) ROOKIES: G Larry Warford, S Daimion Stafford, DT Sharrif Floyd, OT David Bakhtiari, G Garrett Gilkey, DE Michael Buchanon The Gold looked to strengthen their defense even more in the later stages of the offseason, not only through the draft, but by signing a corner from the NFL and several defenders from the USFL free agent ranks. HOUSTON: DE Antwan Applewhite (NFL), LB Pat Angerer, Michael Turner (Trade) ROOKIES: DE Damontra Moore, S Kenny Vaccaro, DT John Jenkins, G Ryan Seymour Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro may be the player that Houston fans are most excited to see, but the addition of LB Pat Angerer could also be impactful for a Gambler D hoping to get back to their glory days as one of the league’s most feared squads. JACKSONVILLE: LB Jarrett Johnson, TE Visanthe Shiancoe, WR Chastin West ROOKIES: DE Barkevious Mingo, DE Mallicah Goodman, S Matt Elam, OT Ryan Jensen, G Patrick Omameh The Bulls were another team that focused on more affordable players on defense and the O-line, though they did also add depth at TE and WR with two late free agent additions. The star of the signings is Mingo, who is already selling Bulls gear in his new number. LAS VEGAS: CB Tyrone Bell, TE Ben Watson (Trade) ROOKIES: LB Jonathan Bostic, OT Jordan Mills, S Duke Williams Not a great yield from 9 draft picks as only 3 players sign on with the Thunder. It seems the financial questions are making talent leary of the franchise. LOS ANGELES: HB Reggie Bush (NFL), LB Nathan Triplett, QB Terrelle Pryor, DE Tim Jameson, HB Rod Smart ROOKIES: CB Jamar Taylor, WR Robert Woods, TE Gavin Escobar, C T. J. Johnson, DT Sylvester Williams. All the excitement right now in LA is about Reggie Bush, but this is a team that has invested in offense, adding two good looking rookies in the T-Draft and signing Rod Smart, who will likely get a lot of work until Bush is ready to start in a couple of weeks. MEMPHIS: G Louis Vasquez (NFL), DT Tank Johnson, WR LaVelle Hawkins, C Ryan Kalil ROOKIES: LB Jarvis Jones, HB Knile Davis, FB Zach Line, WR Cobi Hamilton, TE Ryan Griffin, C Brian Schwenke After the huge trade with Orlando brought Eli Manning to Memphis, they spent the latter stages of the offseason adding depth to the O-line and adding weapons, particularly in the draft with HB Knile Davis as well as a wideout, TE, and fullback. MICHIGAN: DE Michael Bennett (NFL), QB Drew Stanton, LB Spencer Adkins, FS Matt Ware, G Alton Hulsey ROOKIES: HB LeVeon Bell, LB Sean Porter, HB Michael Cox, TE Dion Sims, OT Carter Bykowski The Panthers believe they have their new bell cow back in former Spartan LeVeon Bell.  They added another MSU guy in backup QB Drew Stanton, but the biggest splash may be from former NFL DE Michael Bennett, who is slotted to start at RE. NASHVILLE: TE Delaney Walker (NFL), C Chris Chester, QB Curtis Painter, HB Ray Rice, LB Nate Irving, QB Cody Pickett ROOKIES: TE Tyler Eifert, CB Kayvon Webster, G Dallas Thomas, WR Justin Hunter, K Brett Maher The Knights think they have a first week starter in Eifert, and they know they do after rookie Brett Maher won the kicking job in camp.  Ray Rice is the other new acquisition from whom a lot will be expected this year. NEW JERSEY: LB Chase Blackburn (NFL), OT Charles Spencer, LB Rey Maualaga (Trade) ROOKIES: DE William Gholston, S ShamarkoThomas, S Johnathan Cyprien The Generals traded away a lot of picks, and then failed to sign more, bringing in a rookie class of only 4 players.  Their LB group, however, should benefit from both NFL vet Chase Blackburn and former Monarch Rey Maualaga joining the team. NEW ORLEANS: LB Rocky McIntosh (NFL), G Dan Buenning ROOKIES: OT Lane Johnson, DT Bennie Logan, LB Kevin Minter, DT Everett Dawkins, HB Jawan Jamison, K Caleb Sturgis A rookie class that has not impressed the pundits, but the Breakers are liking what they see in LB Kevin Minter, and there is a good chance that Sturgis will beat out veteran Graham Gano as the team’s kicker. OAKLAND: DE Junior Galette (NFL), CB Chris Gamble (NFL), QB Bob Volek, FS Darcel McBath, G Chris Kemoetu, C Antoine Caldwell. ROOKIES: OT D. J. Fluker, WR Keenan Allen, TE Zach Ertz,OT LaAdrian Waddle, G Tim Lelito The Invaders went heavy on offense in the draft, but it paid off with some real talent joining the team in the form of WR Allen and TE Ertz, along with several linemen.  From the NFL the focus was defense and both Galette and Gamble should find starting positions. OHIO: CB Derek Cox (NFL), HB Justin Forsett (NFL), WR Sean Morey, QB Chris Weinke (Trade) ROOKIES: DE Datone Jones, LB Sio Moore, OTReid Fragel, DT Johnathan Hankins, G Edmund Kugbila The Glory had many holes to fill but they like the value they got both in free agency and in the draft.  The big story this camp has been the QB Battle between Vince Young and Chris Weinke, a situation that could remain in flux as the season opens. ORLANDO: HB La’Rod Stephens-Howling (NFL), G Ben Hamilton, QB Dereck Anderson, TE Gary Barnidge, S Chad Scott (Trade) ROOKIES: CB Dee Milliner, G Barrett Jones, HB Latavius Murray, G Eric Herman, DT Montori Hughes, LB DeVonte Holloman Moving up and down the draft board was the story for the Renegades after they traded away Eli Manning.  2nd year QB Russell Wilson will take over an offense with a lot of new pieces. PHILADELPHIA: OT Sebastian Vollmer (NFL), WR James Hardy, G Chris Kuper, DE Allen Bailey ROOKIES: TE Travis Kelce, DT Jesse Williams, HB Zac Stacy, DT Jared Smith The Stars did not go into the offseason with much cap room but still managed to make a few additions to their roster, most notably by signing former Patriots’ tackle Sebastian Vollmer. They added some potential offensive weapons for Matt Gutierrez in TE Kelce and HB Stacy through the draft. PITTSBURGH: WR Josh Cribbs (NFL), WR Kelley Washington, QB Jeff Smoker, OT Jared Gaither, QB Quincy Carter ROOKIES: WR Tavon Austin, OT Brennan Williams, DT Josh Boyd, WR Adam Thielen, CB A. J. Bouye The trade of Cody Pickett helped Pittsburgh free up some cap space and avoid a QB controversy. And while there are still a lot of questions about the offense with Andy Dalton at QB, the Maulers should be a quicker, more diverse offense with the additions of four new receivers to the squad, but are any of them as reliable a target as Vincent Jackson had been? PORTLAND: HB LeGarrette Blount (NFL), HB Kevin Smith, G Mike Briesel ROOKIES: DE Dion Jordan, OT Tanner Hawkinson, QB Matt McGloin, LB Kiko Alonso Portland had some success in the T-Draft, landing both of their top targets, Jordan and Alonso, both of whom should help their already stacked defense.  They also built some depth into their offense with two new backs to help spell Jonathan Stewart. SEATTLE: TE Dennis Pitta (NFL), FB Jerome Felton (NFL), HB Cadillac Williams, OT Joseph Bragg, TE Joe Toler ROOKIES: OT Eric Fisher, CB Desmond Truffant, OG Jeff Baca, CB Khalid Wooten, HB C. J. Anderson, TE Levine Toilolo Seattle is trying to retool their offense around the run game and a shorter passing game. The additions of TE Dennis Pitta from the NFL and HB Cadillac Williams should go a long way towards that, but it is rookie OT Eric Fisher who could be the biggest help to a less mobile Byron Leftwich this season. ST. LOUIS: TE Jeramy Stevens, WR Devery Henderson, OT Joe Staley ROOKIES: HB Eddie Lacy, DT Sheldon Richardson, P Sam Martin, LB Zaviar Gooden The Skyhawks went for quality over quantity in the draft and having fewer draftees allowed them the funds needed to sign both of their top picks.  Lacy will have huge shoes to fill as he steps into the lead back roll vacated by Antowain Smith. TAMPA BAY: OT Jake Long (NFL), TE Dustin Keller, WR Vincent Jackson, G Elton Brown ROOKIES: DT Kawann Short, LB Nick Moody, DE Tank Carradine, QB B. J. Daniels, P Tress Way, HB Rex Burkhead The Bandits got the player they most coveted in wideout Vincent Jackson, who will take on the number one target spot, but also added quality in TE Dustin Keller.  The rookie class looks like a slow-developing group that will likely not see a lot of action this year but could develop over time. TEXAS: K Kai Forbath, HB Felix Jones ROOKIES: G Kyle Long, WR Marquise Goodwin, P Jeff Locke, CB Demetrius Mcray, QB Sean Renfree, S Earl Wolff Not a very impactful offseason for the Outlaws, though they did manage to find replacements for both vacant kicker positions.  Felix Jones will once again likely find himself with spot duty despite good career numbers as he backs up Arian Foster. WASHINGTON: S Glover Quinn (NFL), LB Dannell Ellerbe (NFL), HB Jahvid Best, WR Roberto Wallace, OT David Stewart, DE Everson Griffin ROOKIES: LB Alec Ogletree, C Khaled Holmes, G Oday Aboushi, FB Tommy Bohanon, DE David Bass The Federals believe they have reinforced their LB group with the addition of NFL veteran Ellerbe and rookie Alec Ogletree.  They also provided the offense with a nice change of pace back in Jahvid Best, who brings a very different style to the team than that of their star, Deuce McCallister. Las Vegas Financial Mess Coming to Light It may be worse than first imagined.  The USFL and City of Las Vegas appear to have uncovered some significant issues with the financing of the Las Vegas Thunder and potential criminal actions taken by ownership, particularly casino developer Phil Ruffin.  Both the league and the city have been keeping quiet, with the potential for criminal charges still very much a possibility.  What is known is that the valuation of the Thunder and their ownership could be in serious question.  With the city having already sunk tens of millions of dollars into the construction of a new domed stadium just off the strip, the possibility that either criminal proceedings or violation of league bylaws will force the dissolution of the Thunder is one that no one wants to face, but neither party can escape. Not to bog this down in financial lingo, let’s just say that the Thunder ownership are overextended and very likely unable to meet their financial obligations, not only to the stadium project, to which they are committed for over $300M over the next 5 years, but to the league and its 27 other franchises as well.  It appears almost certain that some action will need to be taken, and with the potential for criminal action being brought against Ruffin and others within the Thunder ownership, the penalties could start to pile up. So, what happens to the stadium project?  It is far too late to halt the project, which is headed for a Spring 2015 completion, but that does not guarantee that the facility will have a franchise to call it home.  The Thunder now appear very shaky, and could very well be dissolved unless another option comes to light, and the city of Las Vegas has, as of yet, been unable to woo a potential NFL franchise to town, though not for a lack of trying.  The project will continue, but it looks like the USFL may well have to foot a much larger portion of the bill than originally intended.  Their 30% cut could now jump close to 60% if the Thunder are unable to support their end of the deal, a major catastrophe for the league. One possible saving move, one floated already within league circles, is to divest the franchise from current ownership, a move that will be made easier if the city or the state of  Nevada do bring charges against Ruffin and the ownership group, and then to sell the Las Vegas market to a new investment group, a deal that would come with major expense, since the new group would not only be buying into the USFL, but into a stadium construction deal as well.  Despite what could be a very high price tag, there may well be investors willing to take a shot on Las Vegas, particularly if the deal comes with an ownership stake in a new domed stadium and the potential for income from an  NFL lease as well.  Some have even speculated that another USFL franchise could elect to get into the market to relocate to Las Vegas if the Thunder are dissolved, a move which would not result in an expansion or purchase fee, but would still come with significant stadium costs. All of this is speculation at present, but it seems very much a possibility that Thunder ownership will find themselves both in legal issues with the league and with the city and state as well, which could, quite dramatically, lead to major changes for the franchise and the league.  We will, of course, stay on top of these developments as they proceed. League Schedule Provides Plenty of Must See TV Yes, it is an old expression, must see TV, but it certainly applies to the 2013 USFL schedule.  There are games every week that folks are not going to want to miss. Not if you love football.  Here is our rundown of highlighted games for each and every week of the season. WEEK 1: Charlotte @ Atlanta An opening week clash of two teams sure to be battling for the SE Division title all season long. Other Games to Catch include Denver @ Arizona, Baltimore @ Philadelphia, Washington @ Pittsburgh, and Dallas’s home opener at the Cotton Bowl as they face the Express. WEEK 2: Houston @ Texas The Texas Tussle continues, but will Dallas shake up the rivalry between these two longstanding Texas squads? Other Games to catch include St. Louis @ Michigan, Orlando @ Jacksonville, Philadelphia @ Washington, and Seattle @ Portland in the Cascade Clash. WEEK 3: Washington @ St. Louis Defense against offense in a game many expected we would see last summer in the title game. Other games to catch include Texas @ Atlanta, Tampa Bay @ Charlotte, New Jersey @ Philadelphia, and Oakland @ Portland. WEEK 4: Las Vegas @ Oakland These two were neck and neck in 2012 battling for the Pacific, and we think they will be again. Other games to catch include Atlanta @ Nashville, Jacksonville @ Tampa Bay, Denver @ Texas, Chicago @ Michigan, and Denver @ Texas. WEEK 5: Nashville @ New Jersey Manning vs. Bradford, old guard and young turks, plus two potential division contenders from the NE and South. Other games to catch include Texas @ Arizona, Baltimore @ St. Louis, Michigan @ Ohio, Pittsburgh @ Chicago, and Oakland @ Los Angeles. WEEK 6: Philadelphia @ Charlotte A rematch of the playoff shocker from 2012 when the Monarchs stunned the Stars to reach the Summer Bowl. Other games to catch include Nashville @ Tampa Bay, Baltimore @ New Jersey, Birmingham @ Memphis, Dallas @ Texas, and Las Vegas @ Seattle. WEEK 7: Arizona @ Denver A rivalry that always entertains and one that could go a long way to determining the season for both clubs. Other games to catch include Washington @ Baltimore, Chicago @ St. Louis, Los Angeles @ Las Vegas, and Tampa Bay @ Atlanta. WEEK 8: St. Louis @ Las Vegas The Western Conference final rematch with the offense of the Skyhawks again facing that tough Las Vegas D. Other games to catch include Charlotte @ Tampa Bay, Houston @ Arizona, Jacksonville @ Orlando, Birmingham @ Atlanta, and New Orleans @ Nashville. WEEK 9: Dallas @ Houston A new phase for the Battle of Texas as the state’s two biggest cities clash in the Bayou City. Other games to catch include Portland @ Seattle, St. Louis @ Pittsburgh, and Nashville @ Oakland. WEEK 10: Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh It has been a decade since the Keystone Clash has been a divisional game, but the bitterness of this rivalry has never faded. Other games to catch include Denver @ Houston, Nashville @ Charlotte, and Orlando @ Atlanta WEEK 11: New Jersey @ Washington If the Generals want to be considered true NE powers, they need to win games like this one, a tough road matchup in DC. Other games to catch include Arizona @ Dallas, Texas @ Denver, Atlanta @ Charlotte, and Philadelphia @ Nashville. WEEK 12: Michigan @ Chicago We don’t know if these two will be 9-3 or 3-9 when they clash, and, honestly, when they do the records rarely matter. Other games to catch include Houston @ Dallas, New Jersey @ Pittsburgh, Baltimore @ Washington, Portland @ Los Angeles, and Charlotte @ Philadelphia WEEK 13: Philadelphia @ New Jersey The most celebrated rivalry in the USFL sees the Stars headed up to East Rutherford to take on the Generals.  It never disappoints. Other games to catch include Atlanta @ Orlando, Houston @ Denver, St. Louis @ Ohio, New Orleans @ Memphis, and Las Vegas @ Portland. WEEK 14: St. Louis @ Chicago Blues-Blackhawks, Cubs-Cards, Machine-Skyhawks.  OK, the last one is not the oldest rivalry in the USFL, but it is turning into a good one as animosity between these two cities always brings out the fans. Other games to catch include Arizona @ Houston, Texas @ Dallas, Charlotte @ Orlando, New Jersey @ Tampa Bay, Los Angeles @ Oakland, and Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia WEEK 15: Washington @ Philadelphia This game could well determine the NE Division, as the Stars and Federals are both expected to be Summer Bowl contenders once again. Other games to catch include Baltimore @ Pittsburgh, Oakland @ Las Vegas, Tampa Bay @ Orlando, Nashville @ Memphis, Texas @ Houston, and New Orleans @ Charlotte. WEEK 16: Nashville @ New Orleans Is it even a season finale if these two are not fighting it out for the Southern Division title?   And, for the second year in a row, it will take place in the Big Easy. Other games to catch include Arizona @ Texas, St. Louis @ Denver, Portland @ Oakland, Pittsburgh @ New Jersey, and Atlanta @ Tampa Bay The second half of our season preview is up next, with team-by-team analysis, as well as a look at the top stories as we enter the USFL’s 31st season of spring football.  From player decisions to rookie standouts, new faces in new places, to high expectations and dreams of glory.  We will look over the entire league and do our best to assess what we think 2013 could hold across the USFL. Hello, faithful readers. We will be publishing the 2nd half of our season preview tomorrow, rather than waiting the usual 3 days, but then, there will be the usual 3-day gap before you get to see the results of Week 1's actoin and we will stick with the every-third-day publication schedule as that has proven to be a viable long-term strategy that allows me to keep publishing and neither lose my day job or get divorced. So, see you tomorrow for Part 2.

--February 3, 2013 For many USFL fans this is the toughest part of the entire season.  The draft is over, but we have to wait and see who will sign and who will choose the NFL.  Free Agency is closing down, but the NFL-USFL Transfer window is still 3 weeks away, so there are teams with obvious holes in their rosters and no real guarantee they can fill them.  Camps are open, but rosters are incomplete and we are playing a waiting game to see who ends up where.  It’s a tough way to get ready for a season, and already know that if teams can sign away some NFL talent, they may not be available to suit up until the regular season is underway.  But, that said, there certainly has been a lot of movement, a lot of news, since our October report, and a lot of new faces in new places.  We will break down the big moves so far this offseason, review the draft results, and take a look ahead at the NFL free agents who may just take the leap into the spring.  All that, plus the LA Express finally find their head coach, and he has some pedigree to him to be sure.  We start with that as LA’s patience may have just paid off big time. Express Waiting Game Pays Off It is risky business to go nearly the entire offseason with no head coach and just the front office making the roster moves, but in the USFL that strategy has occasionally paid off as January brings the NFL’s version of Black Monday, and every once in a while a coach with a lot to offer suddenly finds himself looking for a place to ply his trade.  That was the situation for Coach Andy Reid, who had taken Philadelphia to the NFC Conference game 6 times, made 3 Super Bowl appearances, and won two titles with Donovan McNabb at the helm. Since McNabb’s departure, things got a bit dicier in Philadelphia, and Reid this January was relieved of duties after a 4-12 season, despite the Lombardi Trophies he brought to the Eagles. And so, with Reid on the market, the LA Express, who did not jump on available candidates for their vacant position in August, were right there, ready and waiting.  Within 2 weeks of his departure from the Eagles, right in the heart of the USFL Draft, the news broke.  Andy Reid would be the next head coach of the Express.  In Reid, LA gets a proven winner, a coach with pedigree and a history of success.  It is something that LA fans have been clamoring for.  The Express (in two different iterations) have played in 27 of the USFL’s 30 seasons and have yet to bring home a John Bassett Trophy.  For Express fans, there is now optimism that Reid can do for them what he did for the Eagles, and bring a much-desired title to tinseltown. Chicago Trades Michael Turner to Bolster Secondary We reported back in October that the Chicago Machine were looking to deal their 7-time 1,000 yard rusher Michael Turner this offseason, and by Thanksgiving they had done just that. Turner, who had one of his best seasons in 2011 with nearly 1,400 yards on the ground, was sent to Houston in exchange for some draft capital and very promising young cornerback Josh Norman. The deal helps Houston reload after the retirement of Shaun Alexander, while providing Chicago with much needed help in the secondary. Turner has been a workhorse for the Machine for nearly a decade, topping 1,000 yards every year since 2006, and at 29 years old, he is still at a stage in his career where more of the same could be expected, but Coach Schiano loved what he saw in 2011 rookie Doug Martin, and so opted to deal Turner before turned 30, a pivotal point in any running back's career, and one where the risk of a quick decline in production often lowers their trade value. By dealing the veteran back now, Schiano and the Machine were able to demand a high cost, and that high cost came in the form of a talented rookie corner in Josh Norman. Norman was a mid-round pick of the Gamblers in 2011 out of Coastal Carolina but quickly emerged as one of the best finds of the 2011 draft after earning a position as a starter by midseason. He now will go to Chicago, where he is expected to line up behind Marlin Jackson as the 2nd CB, but could see some action against top receivers. Chicago also obtained a mid-round draft pick this year, one they would go on to use to select another cornerback in USC's Nickell Robey-Coleman, providing even more youth to a secondary that was a huge issue for the club in a disappointing 2011 season. For Turner, the move allows him to once again be a bell cow back, now for Coach Wade Phillips, and to play for a team that has Summer Bowl aspirations despite barely missing the playoffs last year. The 2-time All-USFL back will lead a HB room that also includes 9-year veteran short-yardage back Cedrick Cobbs and little-used 3rd back Herbert Perron. Expect Turner to be a focal point of the Houston offense, and perhaps to have a greater role in the passing game than he did in Chicago, where he caught only 18 balls in 2011. The big story leading up to the draft were the bevvy of quality running backs who did not sign with the NFL, did not sign early in free agency, and were available for USFL teams to try to woo into the Winter.  With players like Frank Gore, Cadillac Williams, Ray Rice, Felix Jones, and Jahvid Best still on the market, the theory was that when the first signed, the rush would be on.  That would prove to be exactly what happened. There were 5 teams in the market and in negotiations to try to woo former Nashville Knight Frank Gore to town.  He was the key to the entire market.  When he took a 4-year deal to replace LaDainian Tomlinson in Arizona, it broke up the logjam, and within 6 days five other backs were off the board and 5 more teams had found a running game. Gore signed a 4-year, $14M deal with Arizona on December 13th, joining the Wranglers as the clear number one back. The deal would take the former Knight to the age of 35, once unthinkable, but after seeing the success that Antowain Smith had at age 36, and with Gore’s famous work ethic, the Wranglers were more than willing to add a 3rd and 4th year to the deal when other clubs were still dangling 2-year deals out to Gore’s agent. With Gore off the table, Seattle quickly moved to make sure they would not be left without a viable veteran option.  They quickly signed former Showboat Cadillac Williams to a 3-year deal that would bring the back to the Pacific Northwest. At the same time Nashville was trying to find a back to replace Gore, and just one day after Williams had signed, the Knights cam e to an agreement with the youngest of the big name backs out there, former General and Express HB Ray Rice.  That left only former Seattle starter Jahvid Best on the table as far as starters go, but Best was considered marginal at best as a 2013 starter, and was more likely to find himself in a platoon.  He would sign 3 days later with Washington, an interesting move as it almost assures that Best will be a backup in 2013 behind legendary Federal HB Deuce McCallister, but McCallister is not immortal, and the premise here seems to be that Best will step in when McCallister calls it a career, possibly after just this season. In the next 3 days we also saw Felix Jones sign with Texas, Rod Smart with LA, and Antonio Pitmann with Dallas, all taking on smaller roles as they join new teams, but roles that allow them to keep playing.  By Christmas weekend the backs were off the board and several teams who had been thought to be favoring backs in the 2013 Collegiate Draft, now might have been off the table.  However, two big players in the HB Mad Dash, Michigan and St. Louis, were not.  Michigan was expected to look long and hard at one of the players in their protected pool, Michigan State’s LeVeon Bell.  St. Louis would need to make a deal to get access to a top back.  They would make that deal by New Year’s Eve, trading Open Draft selections for the right to the Birmingham Stallions’ first Territorial Draft selection, a clear move to get the inside track on Alabama HB Eddie Lacy. But HB was not the only position that saw a feeding frenzy in December.  With several players having delayed a decision through the fall, December was packed with deals as teams tried to reduce their high-impact roster gaps ahead of the USFL Draft, knowing full well that 1 in 2 draftees, if not more, would head to the NFL instead of signing to play with the USFL.  As we wrap up the  pre-draft signings, here is our list of the later signings with the biggest potential impact, position by position. QB A weak pool of QB prospects led to few signings.  Seattle nabbed Mike Flynn early in the offseason and in December only 2 more signed. Bob Volek returned to familiar ground in Oakland after a 2-year stint with the Showboats and Jeff Smoker, the former Michigan State Spartan, also had a homecoming, signing on with the Panthers as a backup to Kirk Cousins. TE After early action saw Jeremy Stevens sing with St. Louis, Jabari Holloway with Birmingham, and Dustin Keller with the Bandits, the biggest name left was Brandon Manumaleuna (a pretty big name), who waited until just before the holidays before signing on with the Dallas Roughnecks. WR It was rumored for weeks, but just before Thanksgiving the deal was finally cut and Vincent Jackson, who saw such success with the Maulers, was the new number 1 receiver for the Tampa Bay Bandits, taking over the position that future HOFer Joey Galloway had held the past two years.  Over the next month we saw several other signings; James Hardy with Philly, Julian Edelman reupping in Birmingham, Chastin West in Jacksonville, Roberto Wallace in DC, and Sean Morey with the Glory. OL November and December saw most of the remaining big guys off the boards.  Centers Antoine Caldwell (BOS to OAK), and Ryan Kahil (LA to MEM), guards Elton Brown (DEN to TBY), Chris Kemoeatu (SEA to OAK), and Chris Kuper (PIT to PHI), and tackles Jared Gaither (PHI to PIT), Joseph Bragg (NOR to SEA), and David Stewart (MEM to WSH), pretty much depleted the pool, save for 34-year-old Chris Terry.  The former Renegade remains unsigned as of today. DE With Elvis Dumervil (DAL0 and Reggie Torbor (PHI) off the board early, the biggest name among edge rushers still left was former Wrangler Justice Cole, who, at 23, is the rare case of a young player not being extended on his rookie deal.  Denver took advantage of that and signed Cole in mid-November, leaving only Brandon Noble and Everson Griffin left. DT Twenty-nine-year-old Amobi Okoye was seen as the best long term prospect among the DTs, especially after Atiyyah Ellison signed with Portland.  Well, Okoye also opted to head to the PNW, signing with Seattle just after Halloween.  Other signings included Ohio’s Tank Johnson, now with the Showboats, and Portland’s Kedrick Gholston, who will join Chicago. LB We had a huge rush of backers taken early, as we reported back in October, and that left basically Pat Angerer, Brian Kehl, and Nathan Triplett left for the latter stages of free agency. Well, now all three are gone.  Angerer joins the Gamblers, Kehl the Stallions, and Triplett heads out to LA, leaving very few options for USFL teams as camp opens. CB Perhaps the biggest surprise in Free Agency right now is that CB Antoine Winfield remains unsigned.  At this point it seems clear he is looking for an NFL option.  He and Rashad Bauman were the two most highly rated corners in the pool, and both are still out there.  No longer out there for the taking is former Showboat Tyrone Bell, who signed with Las Vegas. S Both FS Bhawoh Jue and SS John Keith opted to retire rather than start over with a new team, while 31-year-old Atari Bigby seems to be asking more than anyone is willing to pay.  He may well be headed to the NFL rather than signing back with a USFL team. K/P Texas got their replacement for the retired Rian Lindell, signing former Nashville kicker Kai Forbath to a 2-year deal. Josh Scobee has yet to sign and is the only established veteran left among placekickers. Before we look team by team at the USFL’s Territorial and Open Draft, a couple of stories emerged out of the draft that deserve to be noted.  We will explore these first and then look at how your favorite team strategized through the draft. Trades Up and Down the Open Draft We expected a lot of Open-for-Territorial swapping, but largely that did not materialize. The only significant moves made were St. Louis’s trade to get in position to draft Eddie Lacy, and Portland’s swap with Charlotte so that they could select NC State QB Mike Glennon.  More action was certainly seen within the Open Draft, where we had moves made involving picks in nearly every round.  It started with Jacksonville trying to leapfrog Ohio and get their top choice at DE.  They sent their 1st and 2nd this year to Memphis to move up 4 spots, one pick ahead of the Glory, and they went for the man they coveted, LSU DE Barkevious Mingo, who had already publicly talked about being a lifelong Orlando Renegade fan.  Guess he will now have to be satisfied with playing the ‘Gades twice a year, assuming he does not head to the NFL instead of to rival Jacksonville. Memphis used the 6th pick to snag the LB they coveted, Georgia’s Jarvis Jones, who was one of only a handful of players to sign with the USFL to date, so a good move by Memphis there. Houston and New Jersey pulled off the other trade entirely within the first round, New Jersey swapped their 1st for Houston’s, also sending the Gamblers two 6th rounders this year and a 4th rounder in 2014, all to take a swing at safety Eric Reid of LSU.  Having already chosen Shamarko Thomas of Syracuse in the T-Draft, it was very clear the Generals did not want to leave this draft without a first-year starter at safety.  For their part, Houston dropped down 7 spots, where they drafted Georgia DT John Jenkins. Both of the Summer Bowl contestants dropped out of the first round with trades that gave them extra picks in later rounds.  St. Louis would drop from 28th to the 2nd round in a deal with Birmingham, and then proceed to swap their two 2nd round picks with Orlando to move up near the top of the 2nd round, where they selected DE Bjorn Werner from Florida State.  Charlotte also moved out of the 1st round, sending their pick to LA for a 2nd and a 3rd rounder.  With their 2nd 1st round pick, LA took a shot at CB Jamar Taylor of Boise State, and with their 2 picks Charlotte selected OG Jonathan Cooper and LB Steven Means from Buffalo. Other trades saw Memphis swap their 2nd round pick with Baltimore so the Blitz could select OT Terron Armstead out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Atlanta sent 3 picks to Oakland to get another 2nd rounder, a pick they used on CB Darius Slay from Mississippi State, and Arizona sent three late round picks to Dallas to move into the 4th round and select DE Kapron Lewis-Moore from Notre Dame. For a draft that did not have a strong QB pool there was a surprising amount of movement all throughout the day.  But, in the end, what does it mean. Here is our breakdown of each team’s selections and the player they absolutely don’ t want to miss on. ARIZONA The Wranglers have already signed Iowa State LB A. J. Klien, so that is one big win for them.  The one they need to lock down is their 1st round pick, Alabama guard Chase Warmack. ATLANTA The Fire are hoping to sign Tennessee HB Cordarelle Patterson to be the lightning in a Thunder & Lightning backfield they want to put together, but he has a competing offer from the NFL Vikings, so they were smart to double down by also selecting South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore 2 rounds later. BALTIMORE The Blitz moved up to select Armstead, the big RT from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but the player that could be the key to their draft was 1st round selection DeAndre Hopkins, the speedy wideout from Clemson who they would slot into Tory Holt’s outside position. BIRMINGHAM The Stallions stockpiled picks and hope that they can have a strong signing record with a lot of cap room to spend.  We like their T-Draft particularly, where they selected Alabama LB Nico Johnson and DE Quinton Dial, focusing on signability over splash, after trading away the top T-Draft pick to St. Louis.  We also really like the mid-round steal of safety Baccari Rambo from Georgia, a very solid player with a great name. CHARLOTTE The Monarchs traded out of the first round, so they got some extra picks.  We like the focus on offensive line with UNC’s Jonathan Cooper and Travis Bond taken in the T-Draft, but in the open draft, the player they are most excited by is Rice TE Luke Willson. CHICAGO The Machine were hoping DeAndre Hopkins would be there.  He was not, and neither was Tavon Austin, so Chicago went with Aaron Dobson of Marshall, and then doubled down by picking West Virginia’s Stedman Bailey in the next round.  And yes, despite the weirdness of the catfishing controversy, the Machine still protected LB  Manti Te’o from Notre Dame in the T-Draft. DALLAS The first draft for the new ownership in the new city and it was all about OU in the T-Draft.  QB Landry Jones, DE David King, and WR Kenny Stills could give a very Sooner look to the Roughnecks if they can land all three.  In the Open Draft, the player they absolutely do not want to miss on is first round pick, DT Star Lotulelei from Utah, a mountain of a man to fill up the middle of that D-line. DENVER A pretty quiet year with only 5 picks in the open draft.  We do like OT David Bakhtiari from just up the road in Boulder, a T-Draft selection, but Denver is hoping they have the funds to entice 1st round pick, Texas A&M OT Luke Joecklel to forego the Jags, who selected him to be the next Tony Boselli in Jacksonville. HOUSTON The Gamblers did not protect Joeckel, but hope they got what they needed from a T-Draft that included A&M halfback Christine Michael, DE Damontre Moore, and WR Ryan Swope, a clean sweep for the Aggies.  In the Open Draft, Houston was the winner in the Kenny Vaccaro sweepstakes, snatching up the Longhorn safety, but now will have to compete with the Saints of the NFL to sign the top safety in the draft. JACKSONVILLE The Bulls surprised many by not protecting DT Sharrif Floyd (Picked by Denver) or WR DeAndre Hopkins, but by going for two safeties, Florida’s Matt Elam and  Georgia Southern’s J. J. Wilcox.  In the Open Draft, we like the pick of Barkevious Mingo, even if they had already picked Clemson’s Malliciah Goodman in the T-Draft.  Doubling up on a key position is always a good option. LAS VEGAS Even with a 4th T-Draft school added (Nevada), it was slim pickings for the Thunder. DE Exekial Ansah is the big fish in a small pool, but the Lions also picked Ansah in the NFL first round, which means the pricetag just went up to sign him. LOS ANGELES The Express went heavy for the offensive weapons in the T-Draft, selecting not only Trojan wideout Robert Woods and SDSU tight end Gavin Escobar, but HB Jonathan Franklin from UCLA for a skills trifecta.  In the Open Draft, LA traded back up into the 1st round to get a 2nd pick, choosing CB Jamar Taylor of Boise State after their initial selection of Houston Cougar CB D. J. Hayden in the same round, a serious double-down strategy. MEMPHIS The Showboats dropped from the 4th position to the 8th to allow Jacksonville to move up, but they still got the man they wanted, LB Jarvis Jones from Georgia.  We think they will break the bank to keep Jones from going to the Steelers.  But will that leave them enough money to compete for other players, like Arkansas HB Kniles Davis, selected in the T-Draft as an answer to Cadillac Williams’s departure.  Having signed Darren McFadden in free agency, perhaps Davis is not the priority he otherwise would have been. MICHIGAN The entire Panther draft hinges on T-Draft selection LeVeon Bell signing on as their bellcow back.  That is the biggest hole and the biggest name in their draft. They doubled down, as most teams do in key positions, with mid-round pick Michael Cox from UMass, but Bell is the key. NASHVILLE It will be an cross-city battle as both the Knights and the Copperheads selected WR Justin Hunter from Tennessee.  If they cannot win that battle, perhaps a good consolation prize is TE Tyler Eifert from Notre Dame, also picked by the notoriously stingy Cincinnati Bengals, so a good shot for Nashville in those dealings. NEW JERSEY The Generals traded away so many picks over the past few years that they only ended up with 6 total picks over both the T-Draft and Open Draft.  Their lone T-Draft pick was Syracuse safety Shamarko Thomas, a security blanket if Open Draft selection Eric Reid signs with the 49ers. NEW ORLEANS The Breakers feel they landed their new kicker in Caleb Sturgis, already signed on for 3 years, but the big fish for them is CB Xavier Rhodes of FSU, who they see starting from day one, if that is he does not sign on with the Vikings. OAKLAND While we like OT D. J. Fluker from Alabama in the Open Draft, the key to Oakland’s draft week is the T-Draft, where they are hoping to land both WR Keenan Allen from Cal and TE Zach Ertz from Stanford for a 1-2 punch of Bay Area ballers. OHIO A weak Ohio State grad class means that the T-Draft is for depth only for the Glory.  They need to hit big in the Open Draft, and their top choice of UCLA DE Datone Jones could be key.  He was also chosen by Green Bay, but Columbus has to be a better option, right?  Neither is LA, so it is a question of cold v. cold for Jones. ORLANDO HB Latavius Murray of UCF has already inked to stay in Orlando with the Renegades, so they have a win under their belt.  Now, can they land their top pick, Alabama CB Dee Milliner? That would make new head coach John Fox a happy camper to be sure. PHILADELPHIA The Stars traded away several picks to try to move up in the mid-rounds.  They had a weak T-Draft Pool, but are hopeful that they can land their Open Draft picks, including HB Zac Stacy of Vanderbilt, TE Travis Kelce of Cincinnati, and 1st round pick, LB Jamie Collins of Southern Miss. PITTSBURGH The Maulers went for the playmaker in the T-Draft, picking West Virginia mighty mite Tavon Austin to add some flare to their offense.  They then went with an interesting “reach” pick in the 3rd round of the Open Draft, selecting Minnesota State’s Adam Thielen, a player many expected to stick around until the 6th or 7th round.  Guess the Maulers are concerned about the passing game without Vincent Jackson. PORTLAND Linebacker Kiko Alonso and DE Dion Jordan could be a great 1-2 punch out of the Stags’ T-Draft, but where the Stags look most interesting is at QB, where they picked E. J. Manuel in the first round and then used a late round pick on Penn State QB Matt McGloin.  Guess Ryan Fitzpatrick should not be signing any 30-year mortgages for a home in Portland. SEATTLE The Dragons will have a tough battle on their hands for top pick Eric Fisher, the CMU tackle.  He also went first overall in the NFL Draft, picked by Kansas City.  The good news for Seattle is that they are not constrained by the 1st round rookie “slots” the NFL uses to control rookie pay, so they could outibid the Chiefs if they want to spend that kind of money. ST. LOUIS The big move for the Skyhawks was trading to get Birmingham’s T-Draft pick so they could try to lock up Alabama HB Eddie Lacy.  The lure of being the new bellcow back for the USFL champion could be enough to bring Lacy to St. Louis instead of signing with the NFL Packers. TAMPA BAY We are a bit surprised that with E. J. Manuel in their protected pool, the Bandits passed and went with USF QB B. J. Daniels instead.  But QB was not a priority position.  What was a priority is DE, which is why they also chose FSU’s Bjorn Werner and Tank Carradine.  In the Open Draft they went for inside line with Purdue’s Kawann Short. TEXAS The Outlaws love the straight-line speed of UT wideout Marquise Goodwin, another potential weapon for Joe Flacco.  But they also need to protect Flacco, which is why they selected both Oregon guard Kyle Long and FSU tackle Menelik Watson in the Open Draft. WASHINGTON The T-Draft produced very little, but Washington is high on LB Alec Ogletree from Georgia and FB Tommy Bohanon from Wake Forest, two Open Draft picks.  The other big name, taken a bit later in the USFL Draft than the NFL Draft (always a red flag for signing) HB Giovanni Bernard, picked by Washington in the 3rd round but selected by Cincinnati in the 1st.  Expect that to be a tough player to wrangle. Will anyone take a shot at JaMarcus Russell? If it is name recognition you want in a quarterback, it is hard to do better than JaMarcus Russell, but what the LA Raiders learned is that some spectacular moments at LSU do not necessarily mean that a young player will have immediate success at the next level.  By all accounts, Russell has been a bust after being chosen first overall by the Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft.  Russell has become the poster child for bad scouting after all the praise prior to the draft has led to 3 seasons of pretty bad stats and an arrest for codeine possession, becoming the first player in NFL history to be busted for “purple drank”. That was 2 years ago, and Russell says he is ready for a comeback, but the former Raider starter is a huge risk, the kind of risk that many teams in both leagues want nothing to do with.  And yet, we have seen risky players jump leagues and find success.  We have seen players with legal issues, drug issues, alcohol issues, you name it, so is Russell all that different?  The truth is that had he played at an All-Pro level with the Raiders, he likely would be able to get a deal, to have a team forgive his legal issues and his weight issues and take a shot on him.  But, when your pro stat line looks like that of a journeyman backup and not a top draft pick, well, the argument that he can turn it around 5 years since his college glory days, those are harder to buy into. Reggie Bush has LA on his mind. Another player with a bit of a checkered past and a bit of a chip on his shoulder is also going to be in the NFL free agent pool.  Reggie Bush came out of USC with all the hype a Trojan halfback deserves, picked second by the New Orleans Saints in the 2006 draft, Bush turned away a deal from the LA Express and played 5 seasons in New Orleans, but never topped 600 yards in a year, though his combined yards as a receiver and runner were solid. There was scandal, particularly related to his time with the Trojans, and Bush moved on to Miami, where he has played 31 of the past 32 games for the Dolphins, rushing fo rover 2,000 yards over the past two seasons and proving that he still has some shimmy left in him.  Now he is a free agent again, and hoping for a third act.  With so many USFL teams starting the offseason desperate for a lead back, the hope had to be that he could parlay USFL interests against NFL interests and get himself a top dollar deal. But, most of the USFL teams have found their solution at halfback, either within the USFL free agent pool or in the draft (assuming the bigger names sign), which leaves Bush with few options, but one very big opportunity could be right back at home.  The Express, who drafted Bush out of USC in 2006, are again looking for a lead back, and landing the former Trojan could be a move that is too good to pass up. NFL Pool Favors the Defense Once again, it looks like NFL clubs have largely protected their offensive playmakers, especially at QB and WR, but may have done so at the expense of linemen and defenders, creating a pool that is perfect for USFL contenders to plunder, but maybe not so great for teams that are looking for some explosive offense or a quick fix at QB. In addition to JaMarcus Russell, considered a major risk by most GMs, the QB group is pretty sparce.  You have Tarvaris Jackson, who is at least still somewhat of a younger player, and then you have veterans like Trent Edwards and Rex Grossman, and that is about it. In the HB group, outside of Reggie Bush, there are still several names that fans could get excited about, including former Ram Steven Jackson, who could still have some juice in those legs, and two pluggers in Chris Ivory and Chris “Beanie” Wells, both of whom have solid short-yardage skills.  Others in the group include Justin Forsett, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Jalen Parmele. At receiver the pool is just not that deep.  The top name is former Steeler Emmanuel Sanders, who has been something of a nuisance much in the mold of Mike Wallace.  You have a decent route runner in Brian Hartline, and you have an outstanding return man who struggles as a true wideout in former Brown Josh Cribbs. At TE the only receiver worth a look is former Raven Dennis Pitta, who is not the most fleet of foot but knows how to work a zone and get open. If you want to make hay in this free agent pool, O-line may be the place to do it.  Some very talented tackles head up the group, players like Falcon Tyson Clabo, Bronco Ryan Clady, Dolphin Jake Long, Ginat Will Beaty, Patriot LT Sebastian Vollmer, and the Saints’ Jermon Bushrod.  At guard there is not as much name recognition, but good talent in Louis Vasquez (SD), Ramon Foster (PIT), Kevin Boothe (NYG), and Ryan Lilja (KC).  And at center you have solid starters in Dallas’s Phil Costa and Titan Fernando Velasco. On the defense, the key position is linebacker, where the group is led by Raven Paul Kruger, and goes pretty deep with players like Chase Blackburn, Kaluka Maiava, Dannell Ellerbe, Demorrio Williams, Philip Wheeler, and Larry Foote. Defensive End is also a pretty solid group, though there are no Reggie Whites or Calais Campbells in this group.  Dwight Freeney is the old man in the group at 33, but he could be good for a 1-2 year deal.  He is joined by players like Michael Bennett,  Junior Galette, and Matt Shaughnessy,  Inside you have Henry Melton of the Bears, Glenn Dorsey of KC, Randy Starks from Miami, and Aubrayo Franklin from the Chargers. In the secondary, how about Patriot CB Aqib Talib?  Or you could look at the Vikings DeAngelo Hall, Panthers’ Chris Gamble, Chis Houston from Detroit, or E. J. Biggers form Tampa Bay.  We also like Derk Cox, the 26-year-old from the Jaguars.   At safety, we like Glover Quin of the Texans, Kerry Rhodes from Arizona, Quintin Mikell from the Rams, and Louis Delmas from Detroit. The only spot we don’t see any real finds is at the kicking positions, both placekicker and punter, where no serious potential solutions are found this offseason.  We have about 2 weeks before the action really starts on this front, and any players who don’t sign quickly will almost certainly miss some games, but at least there is talent out there, though, again, not so much if you are a QB needy team.  The players worth their salt at the QB position rarely make it to the free agent market. Join us in just about a month when we prepare to kick off the 2013 USFL season with our double edition USFL Kickoff preview edition.  We will have all the rookie signings, NFL transfers, last second free agents and trades, and we will preview all 28 USFL clubs ahead of the league’s 31st season.   All this plus we look at the full schedule and highlight the 16 best games of the year.

The Western Conference Champions made the most of home cooking in Summer Bowl 2012, scoring on their first possession and never trailing in a 33-20 victory over the Eastern Champions from Charlotte.  Both teams put on an offensive show, with Charlotte outgaining St. Louis 411-363 but Charlotte QB Jake Delhomme, returning from an injury in the Wild Card round, was picked off 3 times and the Monarchs committed 4 total turnovers in a game they needed to play cleanly to win.  St. Louis had one flub, a rare pick of Josh Freeman, but were the more efficient team, scoring on 6 of 9 possessions and holding Charlotte at arm’s length for most of the game to win their first title and stake their claim as the first expansion club from the 2000’s to win a USFL title. Halfback Antowain Smith was named the game’s MVP, rushing for 111 yards and a TD in 26 carries as the Skyhawks spent the day countering the defensive schemes of Charlotte and zigging when Charlotte played the zag.  The combination of turnovers, penalties (7 for 48 yards) and missed third down shots kept Charlotte from challenging the Skyhawks for much of the game, obtaining a brief tie in the 3rd quarter only to have Fred Jackson give up a safety and give the lead right back to the Skyhawks. The game started, after all the usual pomp & circumstance, with Charlotte winning the toss but deferring until the 2nd half.  That gave St. Louis the ball first.  They received the ball at the 25 after the opening kick form Brandon Coutu went out of the end zone.  They would need only 6 plays to put the ball in the end zone. Four of those players were Smith runs, and Charlotte overplayed the run on the 6th play, leading to a wide open Jordy Nelson after the play fake.  Freeman, rolling towards Nelson on the right side, hit the speedy K-State star with a perfect arcing ball and with only 2:42 gone off the clock, the Skyhawks had put points on the board and noise in the stadium. It was a heavily St. Louis crowd to begin with, but that big first drive scoring play drowned out any Charlotte fans who made the trip.  The St. Louis fans would prove to be a loud, proud, and happy group for the entire game.  After shutting down Charlotte after 4 plays, St. Louis got the ball back and again moved the ball well, this time using shorter runs by both Smith and William Bethea to get the ball into Charlotte territory.  On a 3rd and 7 Freeman missed on a pass over the middle to Sinorice Moss and the Skyhawks settled for 3, a chip-shot of a kick from inside the 10 to give St. Louis a 2-score lead. To their credit, Charlotte did not give up the ship at this point.  They mounted their first successful drive of the game, an 11-play grind, largely on the legs of Fred Jackson, that ended with veteran QB Jake Delhomme finding TE Brandon Pettigrew in the endzone from 5 yards out.  Pettigrew appeared to bobble the ball, but it never hit the turf so the replay officials ruled it a catch and a touchdown for Charlotte.  Charlotte’s happiness over scoring would be short-lived.  They would hold St. Louis to 12 yards on the next drive, and it started to seem that Charlotte would pull right back into the game, but on the next series Jake Delhomme would throw the first of three picks that would swing momentum back to the Skyhawks.  Strong Safety Kendrick Lewis would step in front of a ball intended for TE Brandon Pettigrew and pick his pocket.  Lewis returned the ball to the Charlotte 9, and from there it took only 2 plays, both Antowain Smith runs, for the Skyhawks to put 7 more on the board. Down 17-7, Charlotte was more careful in their next drive, again relying on Fred Jackson, with a carry by Shonn Greene mixed in, along with a nice out route from Delhomme to D. J. Hackett on a key third down.  But, while the St. Louis defense bent quite a bit, they did not break, and in the end, stuck inside the 5 but unwilling to take a chance on a 4th and goal, Coach Mora sent out his All-USFL kicker, Brandon Coutu, to bring Charlotte back within 1 score at 17-10. That would be the score at the half as a late Hail Mary from Freeman ended with a pick in the endzone on the final play of the half.  As fans enjoyed a halftime act of Sheryl Crow and Lady Antebellum, the two coaches were trying to inspire their troops at the half.  St. Louis needed little inspiration, the partisan crowd had assured that they remained high energy through the entire first half.  Charlotte’s Jim Mora Jr. reminded his team that they were within range to come back on St. Louis and that only an unfortunate turnover had given the Skyhawks the lead. Charlotte came out for the second half convinced they had what it took to even the score and fight until the end.  They were half right.  Their first drive was very impressive.  81  yards in 11 plays, including a nicely executed flea-flicker that got Mark Clayton 53 yards and was Charlotte’s biggest play of the game.  That pass led to Delhomme hitting D. J. Hackett from 9 yards out for the equalizer.  Charlotte had come out in the second half and punched St. Louis in the nose.  With the game now tied at 17, it seemed this one could go either way. It seemed that Charlotte had the advantage, or at least the momentum.  That bore out when St. Louis failed to convert a 3rd and 4 and were forced to punt.  Skyhawks’ punter Larry Contreras hit a perfect coffin corner kick, with the ball rolling out of bounds at the Charlotte 2.  The Monarchs would try to run the ball out of the end zone, but chose poorly in calling a counter run against a linebacker blitz.  Skyhawk linebacker Marlon Greenwood blew the play up in the backfield, dragging Fred Jackson down for a loss on the play and a safety.  Two points for St. Louis and possession of the ball. St. Louis again would struggle to establish their offense, and again punted to Charlotte.  This time it went safely into the end zone and the Monarchs would start at the 25.  But, the momentum had shifted, and on the 2nd play of the Charlotte drive, it would lean even heavier towards the Skyhawks.  Delhomme again attempted an out route to his favorite receiver, D. J. Hackett, but this time CB Jordan Pugh was ready for it.  He dove for the ball ahead of Hackett and brought it in before sliding out of bounds on the slick turf.  Once again St. Louis had stolen not only the ball but the momentum. Only 3 plays later Josh Freeman would show why he was the league’s MVP, threading a ball between the corner and the safety and giving WR Jordy Nelson his second long TD of the game, this one a 1-yarder.  St.  Louis was now up 9 and would not look back.  The next couple of drives for both teams did nothing to alter the score and as the 4th quarter progressed, Jake Delhomme and the Monarchs grew more and more rushed as they tried to make up 2 scores in the final period. Delhomme would guide the Monarchs into scoring range again, but missed on a pass to Mark Clayton deep, forcing Charlotte to settle for a 41-yard field goal from Coutu.  But, this score pulled them within one score, down only 6.  They would need their defense to do the rest and get them the ball back with time to get the game winner. Of course St. Louis knew that was the plan as well. They came out for the next drive in a 3-receiver set, forcing Charlotte to use a nickel package to help defend inside receiver Sinorice Moss.  From the 3-wide set, Charlotte used draw plays and a nice screen pass to Bethea to keep Charlotte off balance.  Soon they were knocking on the door and it seemed there was nothing that Charlotte could do to keep them out of the end zone.  With the ball on the 14 Antowain Smith broke free, rumbling through the initial tackle attempt and brushing off a linebacker on his way to the end zone.  Had it not been for an ankle tackle at the 4 from Jerod Mayo, Smith would have rumbled right into the end zone.  But, he fell to the ground just short, creating a 1st and goal from the 1.  Smith came out of the game, his right ankle a little gimpy.  In came Bethea, and the backup did Smith proud, pounding over the left side, just inside the guard for the decisive score.  Bironas put up the extra point and St. Louis now led by 13 with only 2:47 left to go. The Monarchs would need to score a touchdown, kick a successful onside attempt, and then do it again.  They would not even accomplish the first of those necessary steps.  On a 2nd and 4 from their own 33, Delhomme again tried to force a ball in to his receiver, Derrick Mason, and for the 2nd time in the game SS Kendrick Lewis was there to not only break up the pass but make the catch as well.  With 1:47 left to play, St. Louis had the ball, Charlotte had only 1 timeout left, and the Skyhawks could run the clock down to only 14 seconds left.  They did just that with carries by Smith and James Ridley.  On 4th down, Contreras again kicked the ball out of bounds and with only 14 seconds left, Charlotte attempted some deep throws but could not connect. St. Louis had won their first ever USFL title, and the first pro football title for the city in its long history with the Cardinals, Knights, Rams, and now Skyhawks.  Fans streamed into the summer Saturday night in the city, sure to keep the party going, but only after watching their Skyhawks lift high the John Bassett Trophy.  Charlotte had availed themselves nicely, particularly for a 6th seed, but questions would emerge over whether Delhomme had come back too quickly, of whether Wheedon was the better option, but these were the debates that every losing team in every championship game has, the what ifs.  For St. Louis it was a title well-earned in a season that will go down as one of the best in the long history of the city’s pro football legacy. And so the 2012 season ends with a new champion.  All 28 teams now look to the future, a future that will see USFL football in Dallas, but not in Boston, and a season that will certainly have its own stories and legends to make.

October 12, 2012 With the NFL season in full swing (Matt Ryan and the Falcons are looking unstoppable), we take a pause from the on-field action to check in on our other obsession,  the USFL offseason. It has been 2 months since the St. Louis Skyhawks became the first 2006-2008 expansion club to win a title, and it has been a busy two months.  We will break down all the big news, from a couple of big time retirement announcements, through USFL free agency and the NFL-USFL transfer window, the coaching hires, and then finish off with a preview of the 2013 USFL Draft coming this January.  A lot to cover so let’s get straight to it. A Pair of Superstars Step Away Two big USFL Stars, one with a brand new championship ring, have announced that they have played their last games.  QB Kurt Warner of the Philadelphia Stars and HB Antowain Smith, MVP of the Summer Bowl both announced in September that they would not be back in 2013.  For Smith it was a triumphant departure, winning a title in his 16th USFL season and earning the Summer Bowl MVP to boot. For Warner, a bittersweet departure from the game, caused in no small part by the neck injury that cost him practically the entire 2012 season and which created too much risk to his health for him to return to football in 2013. Warner retires as one of the great stories in pro football. Coming out of nowhere to win a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams, moving on to the Giants, then to the USFL, where he helped lead the Philadelphia Stars back to playoff contention, winning the 2010 Offensive Player of the Year.  From obscurity to a legendary two-league career.  He leaves the USFL with 8 seasons in Philadelphia, in which he threw for 22,469 yards and 155 TDs. Smith retires as the 4th leading rusher in league history, behind only Hall of Famers Mike Rozier, Herschel Walker, and Eddie George.  His 16-season career is one of the longest recorded for a running back, particularly one who was a starter for his entire career.  With eight 1,000-yard seasons and over 100 TDs scored, and now a title as well, he will certainly garner a lot of attention when the USFL Hall of Fame Class of 2017 is announced. We know what Philadelphia will do with Warner retired.  They will lean into the hero of 2012, Matt Gutierrez, who certainly earned the starting job with 31 TDs, 3,592 yards and an 11-3 record as the starter.  The situation is a little trickier for St. Louis, trying to replace Smith.  They have James Ridley and William Bethea returning, but were not able to snag one of the bigger name halfbacks in free agency. That leaves them the draft and the possibility of a decent back being on the market when the 2nd NFL-USFL transfer window opens. Renegades Trust Russell, Send Eli to Memphis John Fox wasted no time putting his stamp on the Orlando Renegades.  Within a month of his arrival the Renegades did something few expected, trading starting QB Eli Manning to the Memphis Showboats.  Manning who was obtained from New Orleans only 2 years earlier in the swap for Drew Brees, now finds himself on his third team, and back in the Southern Division with the Showboats.  The move shows incredible confidence in 2012 rookie QB Russell Wilson, who goes into camp as the starter, with NFL veteran Chad Henne as the backup. In return for Manning, Orlando receives two high picks, a 2nd rounder from Memphis in 2013 and a 1st rounder in 2014 which the Showboats had obtained from Seattle in a trade last year.  Orlando may not be done reshaping their roster, as Fox continues to reach out to other clubs, hoping to fill gaps he perceives in the roster.  But, by far, this move is the big one so far this offseason. Manning had a strong season with Orlando in 2011, throwing for 2,900 yards with 18 touchdowns and 9 picks, but his 2012 numbers dipped considerably.  He had 2,800 yards, but only 12 touchdowns and then 12 picks on top of that.  His QB Rating dipped to its lowest in several years, down from 89.5 to 76.7.  Wilson, the presumed starter for Orlando for 2013, appeared in only 1 game in 2012, the season finale, where he completed 19 of 29 passes for 137 yards, a TD, and a pick, but there is certainly plenty of film on the former NC State and Wisconsin QB, and Coach Fox must like what he sees. For Memphis, this solves a major issue from last year, when both Ryan Mallett and Matt Cassell failed to produce any spark on offense, leaving the Showboats with the 29th ranked offense (yardage and scoring) in the league and the 27th ranked passing game.  Mallett, who started 13 games, finished the year with a very poor 55.0 QB Rating, throwing for only 1,672 yards with 7 TDs and 9 picks.  Cassel did not fare much better in his 3 starts, throwing for 1,002 yards with 4 TDs and 5 picks, producing a QB Rating of 68.5.  Now they bring in a veteran who has proven effective in the past, but who never seems to find himself with the talent around him to produce a true contender.  In Memphis he will have some receivers to throw to in veterans Robert Ferguson, Lee Evans, Sidney Rice and Nate Washington.  Memphis appears to have solved their big question at HB thanks to free agency (see below), and now have a new QB to boot. Pickett Moves On, Traded for Quincy Carter The Maulers had a full blown QB controversy on their hands.  Cody Pickett, who had been the starter since coming over from Seattle in 2007, and he had some solid years, with his QBR topping 90 in both 2010 and 2011, but last year nothing was working right.  With 10 games under his belt, Pickett had 13 picks to 8 TDs and a rating of 75.1.  Coach Rivera had to make a switch, so he went with 2nd year TCU product Andy Dalton.  Dalton would start the final 6 games, and while his 88.2 QB Rating was not earthshaking, the offense did improve, with Dalton throwing for 500 more yards in 6 games than Pickett did in 10 and throwing 9 TDs and 6 picks in only 6 games. So, the Maulers had a conundrum on their hands.  They wanted to see what Dalton could do, and what he did was pretty solid, so what to do with Pickett.  Well, that question was answered in September, when the Maulers dealt their veteran QB to the Nashville Knights.  In return they would get a 4th round pick and Knights’ backup Quincy Carter.  Carter will be a clear number 2 behind Dalton, but his 2011 stats show that he can certainly step in if needed. For Nashville, having Pickett is solid insurance should Peyton Manning’s neck become an issue again.  Manning is the clear starter, a superstar in Tennessee and pretty much everywhere else, while Pickett will be a solid number 2, able to learn from one of the masters and perhaps earn the starting job when Manning hangs up the cleats.  It solved the Mauler’s QB problem and now gives Nashville one of the most experienced QB groups in the league. Stump Mitchell, From Hawk to Dragon It was the move we expected, with St. Louis Offensive Coordinator Stump Mitchell taking the offer from the Seattle Dragons to become their newest Head Coach.  Mitchell replaces Marvin Lewis, who stepped down after 10 seasons and a USFL title with the Dragons.  Mitchell inherits a team that many expected to compete for the Pacific title, but which finished a pretty dismal 3-13 and now boasts a Top 3 draft pick.  Seattle still has a QB who can play in Byron Leftwich, and some talent in players like Nate Burleson, Mike Wallace, and LT Kenyatta Jones on offense.  They also have some pieces on defense in Leodis McKelvin and Richard Sherman, but need to develop both a run game and a stronger front 7 on defense. Mitchell wasted no time with the Dragons, making a big free agent signing his first week when he brought in DT Amibi Okoye.  He would then add backup QB Mike Flynn from the Blitz.  The expectation is that he will look to solve their running game problems in the draft, but will have to work the Open Draft to find one as the team’s T-Draft protected schools (Washington, Wash St. and Boise St) do not have any top tier backs to offer this year. A Colt Comes to Baltimore The Baltimore Blitz filled their coaching vacancy with a former NFL head coach in former Colt Jim Caldwell.  Considered the favorite since an early interview in August, Caldwell comes to the Blitz having won a Super Bowl with QB Peyton Manning.  He hopes to do the same with Big Ben Roethlisberger and the Blitz.  He too began early, re-signing a key cog to the offense, center Austin King, to a 3-year deal.  The next week he looked at the defense, landing Bulls’ safety Eric Weddle to help build up the secondary. The Blitz have been decent, but not good enough the past few years, always hovering around the .500 mark in a division that this year had 3 teams with 12 wins.  He will have some tough sledding to get through the brutal NE Division this year, particularly with a pretty slim salary cap space left.  As for Caldwell, he is known for a pretty traditional pro-set offense and a defense designed to play with the lead, at least that is what we saw in Indianapolis.  He may need to mix that up a bit with the Blitz. LA To Play the Waiting Game The two hires leaves only 1 team left waiting for a new leader, and that is the way management want to play it. They are going to wait this out, build the team with their front office and scouting staff, and then see what options arise once the NFL season is over in late December.  Expect them to go hard for an NFL coordinator unless a head coach they really like is available.  Either way, whoever they bring in will have to hit the ground running. Whoever the new coach is, we know that he will have on his hands a team with a solid defense (6th in scoring and 5th in yards allowed in 2012) but one that is getting older.  His offense is more of a question mark.  In a pretty shaky 2012, the team gave up on Randy Moss after his vocal criticisms of QB Mark Sanchez and head coach Gregg Williams divided the locker room.  They also appear to be cutting loose HB Ray Rice, who is still out on the free agent market despite several teams needing a lead back.  So, the new head coach in LA will have to hope that the front office does some wheeling and dealing this offseason to give him weapons to work with.  So far the only free agent signings have been on defense (see below), so that offense is still looking pretty shaky to us. Our big story was about two noteworthy retirements, both with HOF potential.  But they were hardly alone in calling 2012 their final season.  In addition to Warner, Smith, and several early retirements such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Joey Galloway, and Charles Woodson. There have been several others which could be equally as tough for their teams to deal with.  Here is our rundown of August and September’s announcements. Denver FS Jamel Williams retires after 15 seasons in the Mile High City. HB Ladell Betts played 10 seaosns with 5 different clubs, retiring from Atlanta after 1 year with the Fire. DE Robert Mathis played one year in Oakland before becoming a Philly Star for the next 8.  He retires at 33 with 66 career sacks. A pair of DT’s call call it a career, with Houston’s Kenard Lang and Philly’ Seth Payne both announcing they would not be back for 2013. New Jersey will lose a key defender as LB Scott Fujita decided to finish with 10 USFL seasons under his belt. Linemen Dominic Raiola (C-DAL) and Manuia Saveea (G-HOU) also announced this past month. We already touched on two big trades, sending former starting QBs to new teams.  But those were hardly the only moves we have seen so far. Here are 3 more that could impact 2013. Weinke On the Move Again QB Chris Weinke, who came over to the USFL from the fall league in 2008, has not exactly had a smooth ride.  A 3-year starter in Charlotte, Weinke struggled, then was traded to Seattle before the 2011 season.  He never got a start with the Dragons and midseason this year he was traded to Texas as part of their strategy to replace Joe Flacco.  Texas never called on Weinke to lead the Outlaws, relying on Luke McCown the rest of the season.  And now Texas sends the much-traveled QB to a 4th USFL team in 4 years, closing a deal that sends the former FSU Seminole to Columbus, where he will likely back up, and perhaps compete with Vince Young for the Glory.  Ohio seemingly got Weinke quite cheaply, only sending a 3rd round pick to Texas to land the former NFL starter. Kearse to Bolster Monarch Rush Another player making a 2nd move in one calendar year is DE Jevon Kearse.  The 13-year vet was traded from the Panthers to New Jersey midseason when Sean Ellis went onto the IR. He played in several games for the Generals, including their playoff win over Washington and their divisional loss to Philly.  Well, he is now headed on the road again, swapped for LB Rey Maualaga and some pick exchanging between New Jersey and Charlotte.  The Monarchs struggled to rush Josh Freeman in the Summer Bowl and hope that Kearse can add some short term burst to the D-line, while New Jersey thinks that Maualaga will slot in nicely to Scott Fujita’s former spot. Las Vegas Gets a Target for Plummer The Thunder wanted targets for their veteran QB, the Renegades needed to rebuild a defense that failed them in 2012, so the swap just made sense.  TE Ben Watson was stuck behind Greg Olsen in Orlando, and by giving him up they get a very solid swing safety, able to play Free or Strong Safety, in former Thunder player Chad Scott.  Scott will likely slot in at Strong Safety, with Atari Bigby on the market and apparently looking for a new home. Chicago Shopping Michael Turner Whether it was a concern between coaches and their veteran or the Machine front office was really impressed with rookie HB Doug Martin, but whatever the reason it is clear that Chicago is shopping around Michael Turner, their lead back for the past 8 seasons.  Turner, who turns 30 this offseason, has produced 7 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, including 1,396 yards in 2012, but Chicago seems open to all offers, and with several teams in need of a reliable lead back, we expect they will find a taker willing to offer some decent value for the 2-time All-USFL back. So much to report in early free agency that it is hard to know where to start.  We will kick off with the USFL players changing teams within the league then take a look at the damage that the NFL-USFL transfer window did, as it is always an NFL-leaning swap in August with the USFL getting their share of talent in February, when NFL contracts expire. As we look across the USFL, there was no lack of movement among teams in the first two months of free agency this year, with, apparently, a particular emphasis on defense. Here is our list of the Top 12 players changing zip codes this offseason. 12—TE Jermichael Finley will join Eli Manning in Memphis, moving on from Philadelphia. 11—Another TE, Jacksonville’s Dustin Keller, will now certainly be booed in J’Ville as he moves south to join the rival Tampa Bay Bandits. 10—QB Mike Flynn finds a new home in Seattle, where he will be the backup to Byron Leftwich. 9—LB Zak DeOssie trades one Texas home for another, leaving the Gamblers to join the new Dallas Roughnecks. 8—LA tries to shore up their D-line by landing former Showboat nose tackle Rashad Moore 7—Another interior D-lineman on the move as former Blitz DT Atiyyah Ellison is now a Portland Stag. 6—Dallas is trying to deal with Jason Babin's departure, landing 29-year old Elvis Dumervil in free agency. 5—Free Safety Eric Weddle moves up the coast, leaving Jacksonville to become a new member of the Blitz. 4—Our highest ranked offensive players, other than the still unsigned Frank Gore, were both centers, and both have now signed.  Austin King resigns with Baltimore after an injury-shortened 2012, while Baltimore’s fill in, Ethan Albright gets a chance to start full time as the newest member of the rival New Jersey Generals. 3—Memphis LB Kirk Morrison joins a team that has a long history of linebacker quality, becoming the newest man in the middle for the Philadelphia Stars. 2—Safety Bob Sanders, one of the most sought after defenders in this year’s crop of free agents, makes a move from the Big Apple to the Big Shoulders, becoming the newest in a long line of quality defenders to play in Chicago. 1—LB Antonio Pierce, after a HOF career in Washington will try to add to his resume by signing on for 2 years with the New Orleans Breakers. If healthy, he could be a huge upgrade for the Breakers in the middle. Others changing cities include LBs Hannibal Navies (NOR to DEN), Tommy Polley (CHI to OHIO), and Jarret Johnson (NSH to JAX), Tight ends Jeramy Stevens (SEA to STL) and Jabari Holloway (STL to BIR), and guards Derrick Dockery (TEX to LV) and Carl Nicks (MEM to ATL).  Finally, wideout Hank Basket has been the only early transfer among the wideout group (within the USFL), leaving the Oakland Invaders to join Atlanta. The NFL Exodus this year was heavy on defense & O-Line, but the biggerst name to leave for the fall was neither a defender or a lineman.  Here is our list of the biggest NFL signings from the transfer window, with a lot of defense and blockers on the list, but a wideout at the top. 12—Center Roberto Garza will be leaving the desert of Las Vegas for the Chicago Bears. 11—New Jersey Free Safety Scott Shields had an All-USFL season and the Generals hoped to resign the veteran, but they were only willing to go so far and apparently the Pittsburgh Steelers were willing to pay just a bit more and so Shields leaves for the NFL. 10—HB Jerious Norwood had some strong games for Oakland this year, and that is a big reason why the Atlanta Falcons signed him to a 2-year deal. 9—HB Maurice Hicks was shocked that the Gold resigned Javon Ringer, so he took offense, and he took it all the way to the LA Raiders of the NFL. 8—Michigan Panther LB Andy Katzenmoyer jumps ship for his Ohio home, joining the Browns in 2013. 7—Former Texas Longhorn, DE Casey Hampton, stays in town, not with the Dallas Roughnecks, but with the Cowboys. 6—Center Casey Wiegemann leaves New Jersey to go closer to his Iowa roots with the KC Chiefs. 5—Seattle was shocked to see DE John Abraham leave with an offer on the table, but the Dragons were just plain outbid by Arizona Cardinals. 4—OT Kenyatta Walker made his name with the Thunder but now joins the Carolina Panthers. 3—Oakland DE Israel Idonije moves on, signing with the NFL Detroit Lions 2—Former Boston DE Jason Babin gets his wish, cutting a deal with the New England Patriots which will allow him to retain all his local connections. 1—WR Donald Driver leaves Chicago for the Green Bay Packers, so now Chicago hates him. As we often see, there was far less movement from the NFL, which was already suiting up for regular season games, to the USFL.  Only players who had not yet found a team were still available for the choosing, and few players of note fall into that category.  Among those who made the jump we have LBs Demorrio Williams (SD to the Wranglers) and Chase Blackburn (NYG to the Generals), DT Henry Melton (CHI to Blitz), DE Antwan Applewhite (CAR to Gamblers), CB Keenan Lewis (PIT to Gold), and the one noteworthy offensive skill player, HB La’Rod Stephens-Howling (ARZ to the Renegades). We finish up our October edition of the USFL Offseason Report, as we always do, by looking at the upcoming USFL draft and the needs each team has going forward.   With quite a few free agents still unsigned, it is possible that these priorities will change between now and January, but as of October these are the biggest gaps and the best opportunities to find rookie talent.  We will review the teams in the draft order and see what action we might expect from each as the draft draws closer. DALLAS ROUGHNECKS (Pick 1) Needs: QB, C, DT, G, C, DE Protected Schools: SMU, TCU, Oklahoma Best T-Draft Prospect: While OT Lane Johnson may be the most talented prospect, the question many fans are asking is if Dallas will look long and hard at OU quarterback Landry Jones. Best Rnd 1 Fit:  Dallas is not going to go with a QB with pick #1, there just is not one there.  Their best option may be to trade down a few spots to a HB-hungry team and look at guard, where both UNC’s Jonathan Cooper and Alabama’s Chance Womack would be good early picks (assuming either escape the T-Draft, which is true of all our 1st rounders.) SEATTLE DRAGONS (PICK 2) Needs: HB, TE, OT, CB, G, QB Protected Schools: Washington, Wash State, Boise State Best T-Draft Prospect: The Dragons lost Marcus Truffant to free agency. Do they go after his brother, Desmond? Best Rnd 1 Fit: Seattle will not jump up to 1 because they don’t expect Dallas to go HB, which means they may have their pick, and that pick could be Le’Veon Bell of Michigan State or Montee Ball of Wisconsin.  We like these bigger backs for Seattle over the flashier but much smaller Giovanni Bernard or Cordarelle Patterson. ORLANDO RENEGADES (PICK 3) Needs: HB, CB, LB, DT, G Protected Schools: Miami, South Carolina, UCF Best T-Draft Prospect: Safety D. J. Swearinger is not really in a position of high need, but a HB like Gamecock Marcus Lattimore or UCF’s Latavius Murray could be a good fit. Best Rnd 1 Fit: Now, Orlando may be a team that leapfrogs to get that #1 pick, because they too would like another option at HB, but with Knowshon Moreno in house, they won’t sell the farm to do it.  If they don’t they could still get the 2nd best HB, and they could go for a Patterson or Bernard type to supplement what Moreno does for them. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (PICK 4) Needs: C, LB, FB, WR, HB, TE, DT Protected Schools: Arkansas, Memphis, Ole Miss Best T-Draft Prospect: Halfback is a top priority after the Showboats signed Darren McFadden, so Memphis may take a shot at Arkansas back Knile Davis, but with several USFL halfbacks, including Gore, McFadden, and their own Cadillac Williams still out there, the need may be gone before draft day.. Best Rnd 1 Fit: Yet another team that could be looking for a halfback. But, we also think Memphis is in need of linebackers, plural, so this pick we go for their first LB selection, and if he is there, that should be Jarvis Jones of Georgia, who can plug in and be a factor in year one. OHIO GLORY (PICK 5) Needs: DE, LB, G, FS, CB, WR, DT Protected Schools:  Ohio State, Cincinnati, Miami (OH) Best T-Draft Prospect: Time to look over the Buckeye crop, and the best option this year is DT Johnathan Hankins, though another player we like is Cincinnati TE Travis Kelce. Best Rnd 1 Fit: Finally, a team not looking for a run game. They want a DE, and they may get the first overall choice here, which we think could be either Dion Jordan of Oregon or Ezekiel Ansah of BYU, again, as always, if not taken in the T-Draft. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (PICK 6) Needs: LB, DE, G, TE, DT, FS Protected Schools, Alabama, Auburn, UAB Best T-Draft Prospect: Several members of the Crimson Tide come to mind, perhaps CB Dee Milliner, OT D. J. Fluker, or LB Nico Johnson. Best Rnd 1 Fit: Birmingham would love to get Jarvis Jones from UGA, but if not, they will be fine with either Ansah or Jordan, or maybe take a look at Jones’s teammate from the Bulldogs, LB Alec Ogletree. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (PICK 7) Needs: FS, HB, DT, CB, C, WR, TE Protected Schools: USC, UCLA, San Diego State Best T-Draft Prospect: Noth the highest need on the board, but there are two receivers worth exploring, either wideout Robert Woods from USC or TE Gavin Escobar from the Aztecs. Best Rnd 1 Fit: LA would be a great fit for a Giovanni Bernard or Cordarelle Patterson, a pass-catching, multipurpose back who won’t be asked to run up the gut too much, well, assuming the Express hire a coach who is not a 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust kind of guy, which we don’t expect they will. JACKSONVILLE BULLS (PICK 8) Needs: DE, LB, T, FS, QB Protected Schools: Florida, Clemson, Georgia Southern Best T-Draft Prospect: DT Sharrif Floyd or LB Jonathan Bostic seem logical choices for a Bulls defense that still needs strength up the middle. Best Rnd 1 Fit: If one of the DE’s or LB’s we have mentioned is here, then that will likely be the pick, but Jacksonville could also use a big tackle to start on the right then move to the left, and this draft has two really good ones in CMU’s Eric Fisher and Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel. ARIZONA WRANGLERS (PICK 9) Needs: OT, LB, HB, DT, DE, G Protected Schools: Arizona, Arizona State, New Mexico, Iowa State (Added due to weak pool) Best T-Draft Prospect: With the addition of Iowa State this year due to a weak pool from their three regular schools, Arizona could and should go after Cyclone LB A. J. Klien Best Rnd 1 Fit: Another team still searching for a halfback, but also a tackle.  If one of the two big tackles is here, that might have to be apriority.  If not, a back like Alabama’s Eddie Lacy could be a great fit for Jim Tomsula’s offense. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (PICK 10) Needs: HB, DE, LB, TE, T Protected Schools: Michigan, Michigan State, CMU Best T-Draft Prospect: The Panthers desperately need some quality in their backfield, so they should roll out the red carpet for Spartan HB Le’Veon Bell. Best Rnd 1 Fit: What is it with halfbacks in this draft?  Well, there are still quite a few good ones in free agency, and Michigan could lock up Le’Veon Bell in the T-Draft, so let’s not go HB here.  How about a tight end for the Panthers?  Tyler Eifert of Notre Dame and Zach Ertz of Stanford both have 1st round grades and both could help Kirk Cousins in his first year as the starter. CHICAGO MACHINE (PICK 11) Needs: WR, FS, G, LB, T, SS, DTProtected Schools: Illinois, Notre Dame, Purdue Best T-Draft Prospect: Lots of options this year, so will Chicago go with yet another defender in LB Manti Te’o from Notre Dame or will they look for help on the line with Illinois big man, guard Hugh Thornton? Best Rnd 1 Fit: The Machine need to find a replacement for Donald Driver.  They need a possession guy with good hands and strong route running skills.  That sounds a lot like a good fit for Clemson’s DeAndre Hopkins or possibly USC’s Robert Woods. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (PICK 12) Needs: WR, DT, T, DE, OT Protected Schools: Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Marshall Best T-Draft Prospect: The Maulers need a wideout, and lo and behold, WVU has one in Tavon Austin.  More of a slot guy than a straight up number 1 receiver, he could still be a huge help to QB Andy Dalton. Best Rnd 1 Fit: Another team looking for a wideout.  We like Hopkins here just on speed alone, but Tennessee’s Justin Hunter could also be worth a look. NASHVILLE KNIGHTS (PICK 13) Needs: TE, CB, HB, LB, G, K Protected Schools: Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky Best T-Draft Prospect: HB Zac Stacy of Vanderbilt may be an attractive option for the Knights, as could Vol TE Mychal Rivera. Best Rnd 1 Fit: Could go TE with either Eifert or Ertz, or could have a shot at the best corner in this year’s pool, Dee Milliner out of Alabama. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (PICK 14) Needs: HB, DE, DT, SS, LB, G Protected Schools: Texas A&M, Houston, Rice Best T-Draft Prospect: OT Luke Joeckel is one of the top talents in the draft, but it is not a position Houston has much need for, so do they trade their T-Draft pick to someone who is tackle-needy? Best Rnd 1 Fit: If they don’t take Christine Michael from A&M in the T-Draft, they may still pick him here, but we think they prefer Eddie Lacy from Alabama as a bigger inside-outside back. BALTIMORE BLITZ (PICK 15) Needs: FS, C, DT, WR, CB, OT, LB Protected Schools: Maryland, Louisville, UConn Best T-Draft Prospect: UConn has a solid corner in Dwayne Gratz, and we also like one of their linebackers, Sio Moore. Best Rnd 1 Fit: Baltimore wants help in the secondary, so either a corner like Milliner or Houston’s D. J. Hayden, or go for the best safety prospect, UT star Kenny Vaccaro. TAMPA BAY BANDITS (PICK 16) Needs: DT, LB, WR, T, G, TE, QB Protected Schools: Florida State, FAU, USF Best T-Draft Prospect: Daunte Culpepper is not getting any younger.  Could E. J. Manuel be a good fit to pick up the baton for the Bandits? Best Rnd 1 Fit: Defensive Tackle is the most obvious need, and we have not named any yet, so even at 16 they may have their pick of the crop, which we think is Utah’s Star Lotuleilei. PORTLAND STAGS (PICK 17) Needs: DE, T, QB, DT, HB, LB Protected Schools: Oregon, Oregon State, Montana Best T-Draft Prospect: Defensive end is a top need and Oregon has a good one in Dion Jordan.  Seems a natural fit to us. Best Rnd 1 Fit: Portland could also look DT with Lotulelei or Mizzou’s Sheldon Richardson, or they could go for edge rush with Jordan, Ansah, or Barkevious Mingo from LSU. OAKLAND INVADERS (PICK 18) Needs: OT, CB, DE, WR, G, TE Protected Schools: Cal, Stanford, Fresno State Best T-Draft Prospect: The Invaders want to snag a TE and a WR, and they could get both from the T-Draft if they can sign both Stanford’s Zach Ertz and Cal’s Keenan Allen. Best Rnd 1 Fit: If one of the two big tackles are here, Oakland would be overjoyed.  They may even try to trade up to get one, but if not, the third option is likely Lane Johnson from OU. WASHINGTON FEDERALS (PICK 19) Needs: LB, C, FB, FS, G Protected Schools: Virginia, Va Tech, Duke Best T-Draft Prospect: not a lot of help at linebacker, but a good prospect at guard in UVa’s Oday Aboushi. Best Rnd 1 Fit: The Feds need to add youth and versatility to their LB group.  Looking at their system, the best fit is clearly someone like Oregon’s Kiko Alonso, though we also like Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o. DENVER GOLD (PICK 20) Needs: FS, DE, CB, SS, DT, OT Protected Schools: Colorado, Nebraska, Colorado State Best T-Draft Prospect: Ask for a tackle and you find one in the Buffs’ David Bakhtiari.  They also could take a long look TE Nick Kasa. Best Rnd 1 Fit: Denver is hoping that safety Kenny Vaccaro is still available.  If not, they could look long and hard at Eric Reid from LSU or Matt Elam of Florida. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (PICK 21) Needs: DT, T, LB, HB Protected Schools: LSU, Tulane, Louisiana Tech Best T-Draft Prospect: LB Kevin Minter and DT Bennie Logan are more immediate needs than their more publicized LSU teammates, DE Barkevious Mingo and S Eric Reid. Best Rnd 1 Fit: The Breakers want a road grater at RT, and our pick for that is  UNC’s Sylvester Williams, who should still be on the aboard at pick 21 if he is not taken by Charlotte in the T-Draft. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (PICK 22) Needs: SS, OT, FS, C, LB, DE Protected Schools: Rutgers, Syracuse, Wisconsin Best T-Draft Prospect:  The Generals were not happy about losing OU to the new Dallas club, but they get Wisconsin in return, and the Badgers produce good line talent, including center Travis Frederick this year.  Or, how about adding Montee Ball to the backfield? Best Rnd 1 Fit: Another team that could try to move up to get Kenny Vaccaro, a hot commodity in the draft.  We are assuming that they are picking big Center Travis Frederick in the T-Draft, or we would pencil them in for interior line here. ATLANTA FIRE (PICK 23) Needs: TE, CB, G, HB, K, P Protected Schools: Georgia, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State Best T-Draft Prospect: LB Jarvis Jones is the top prospect, but not a position of need.  Now, CBs Alec Ogletree or Darius Slay, those could be two very good targets for the Fire to try to replace Charles Woodson with a young athletic player. Best Rnd 1 Fit: If one of the two TEs happen to slide this far, great for the Fire, if not, then cornerback is the next need position andwelike Hayden or Washington’s Desmond Trufant here. TEXAS OUTLAWS (PICK 24) Needs: G, FS, WR, HB, P, K Protected Schools: Texas, Baylor, Oklahoma State Best T-Draft Prospect: While safety Kenny Vaccaro is a very possible target, we also like the speedster at WR out of Austin, Marquise Goodwin. Best Rnd 1 Fit: We have not listed a lot of guards yet, so Texas could luck out and find someone like Oregon’s Kyle Long or Alabama’s Chance Womack still on the board. LAS VEGAS THUNDER (PICK 25) Needs: OT, LB, C, Cb, TE, G, SS Protected Schools: BYU, UNLV, Utah, Nevada (Added due to weak pool) Best T-Draft Prospect: DE Ezekiel Ansah from BYU should be a target for sure, but the Thunder were able to add a 4th school (Nevada) due to the shallow pool, so perhaps Wolfpack safety Duke Williams or CB Khalid Wooten will be targets as well. Best Rnd 1 Fit: No way Fisher or Joeckel are still here, but still there is good depth at OT in this draft with Alabama’s D. J. Fluker, Syracuse’s Justin Pugh, or FSU’s Manelick Watson all potentially escaping the T-Draft and being here late in Round 1. PHILADELPHIA STARS (PICK 26) Needs: DT, TE, HB, LB, DE, OT Protected Schools: Penn State, Temple Boston College Best T-Draft Prospect: Philly got BC added to their pool thanks to Boston’s move, but, as usual, we expect a Nittany Lion draft here.  DT Jordan Hill or LBs Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti are all potential targets. Best Rnd 1 Fit: We know that Philly loved what they saw from Matt Gutierrez last year, but they need an insurance plan, and at 26 they are in the right position to look seriously at FSU’s E. J. Manuel or West Virginia’s Geno Smith. CHARLOTTE MONARCHS (PICK 27) Needs: DE, G, TE, LB, OT, CB Protected Schools: UNC, NC State, ECU Best T-Draft Prospect: Guard is a need and UNC offers them Jonathan Cooper, a Top 10 prospect.  We also could see Charlotte try to add a true scat back in Tarheel Giovanni Bernard. Best Rnd 1 Fit: While they are not likely to find one of the top DE’s still on the board at 27, they could see someone like FSU’s Tank Carradine or UCLA’s Datone Jones available at 27. ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS (PICK 28) Needs: HB, DT, TE, P Protected Schools: Missouri, Iowa, Kansas State Best T-Draft Prospect: With defensive tackle a priority, the Skyhawks have to try to woo Mizzou’s Sheldon Richardson.  We also like CB Micah Hyde out of Iowa as a top target even though it may not be a position of great need. Best Rnd 1 Fit: St. Louis does not have a lot of needs, so does that motivate them to trade away some picks to move up?  It seems plausible.  They could also trade into the T-Draft to get that HB prospect they covet.  Expect this pick to move and expect the target to be a reliable back like a Bell, Lacy, or Montee Ball. So there you have it, our full breakdown of the offseason so far.  You can now go safely back to the NFL for a while as USFL free agency plugs along.  We will be back with our Draft recap in late January, and with a preview of the NFL talent that could be out there for a last minute save for franchises desperate to upgrade at the 11th hour.  We will also likely finally know who LA’s next head coach will be and we expect a trade or two to shake things up as we get ready for USFL camps and the 2013 season. See you then.

A huge upset and an overtime thriller: You cannot ask for much more than that in Conference Title weekend.  We were first stunned as rookie Brandon Wheedon outdueled Cinderella QB Matt Gutierrez as Charlotte scored 30 unanswered points in their huge upset of the Philadelphia Stars. Then, as if that were not enough, Las Vegas and St. Louis found themselves in a shootout that ended regulation tied at 27 and saw 12 points scored in extra time.  A wild game to be sure and it sets up a completely unanticipated Summer Bowl matchup of two teams that have been in the league only 6 and 4 years, with 2006 expansion St. Louis facing off against 2008 expansion club Charlotte in one of the most surprising and exciting Summer Bowl matchups in years.   We will go deep into the two games this week, preview next week’s Summer Bowl clash in St. Louis, and reveal the 2012 All-USFL Team and League Award Winners. All that, plus Dallas makes their pick for Head Coach, tapping a former Aggie to be their team’s first front office leader. CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 30   PHILADELPHIA STARS 14 The Cinderella story for QB Brandon Wheedon and the 6th seed Charlotte Monarchs continues with a stunner in Philadelphia.  Most around the league saw this game as a clear victory for the Stars, but no one apparently told the Monarchs as they stunned the top seeded team from Philly, rattling off 30 unanswered points and punching their ticket to the Summer Bowl.  Charlotte did it by controlling the clock (38:30 time of possession), avoiding mistakes, and pressuring QB Matt Gutierrez from the LB position.  Rolando McClain, Rey Maualaga. and Jerod Mayo, rotated blitzes, throwing Philadelphia’s line into disarray as they kept the heat on all game, producing 6 sacks of Gutierrez and a costly pick.  Meanwhile, Brandon Wheeden went 28 of 36 as the Monarchs did not shy away from the passing game at all. It was a stunner as the 2008 expansion club makes its first Summer Bowl in only its 5th season of existence as Jim Mora Jr comes back to bite the club where he first started coaching under his father’s tutelage.  The Monarchs’ line in this one was impressive, outgaining the Stars 419 to 231, with 23 first downs to Philly’s 11, and a 50% conversion rate on third down.  Charlotte kept themselves out of trouble, ensured they had shorter third downs to convert and mixed run and pass very effectively.  HB Fred Jackson, the game’s offensive MVP rushed 24 times for 119 yards and a score, but all kudos went to rookie Brandon Wheedon, who stayed calm under pressure and completed 77% of his passes on the day. Philadelphia started the game well, using scripted plays, as most teams do, on their opening drive, a 9-play scoring drive that saw Matt Gutierrez connect with Daniel Fells, but they would then remain silent for over 3 quarters as Charlotte simply did not give them room to breathe.  Following the Fells score, Charlotte took their own scripted drive for 11 plays, ending with a Fred Jackson TD run from the 13 that saw him spin off an initial tackle and split the safeties to reach paydirt. That moment was likely the sign that Philadelphia would be in for more of a fight than most pundits anticipated.  The second quarter proved it as Charlotte held Philadelphia to only 39 total yards in the period, while putting together three scoring drives of their own to push the score to a stunning 20-7 at the half.  The Monarchs got two field goals from league scoring champion Brandon Coutu and added a Wheedon to Derrick Mason TD to stun the unhappy and unruly Philadelphia crowd. When the Stars opened the second half with a 3-and-out, Philly got nasty as boos rained down on the Stars and the refs (a controversial non-call on third down did not go over well.)  When Charlotte took the next drive 82 yards on 13 plays and Shonn Greene put the visitors up 27-7, well, let’s just say that Santa Claus was probably happy he was not in Philly that day or he could have gotten booed again, because the Stars certainly did. By the end of the third the score had reached 30-7 and it was clear that Philadelphia was not coming back in this one.  Their offense was simply not productive, their defense unable to get the Monarchs off the field.  Yes, the Stars added a garbage time Caldwell TD catch late, but by then Charlotte had already put in some backups and was in a celebratory mood on the sideline.  The upstart Monarchs, in their 5th season of existence, had knocked off the mighty Stars and were heading to the Summer Bowl. LAS VEGAS THUNDER 30   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 36    OVERTIME After the stunner in Philadelphia, USFL fans were ready for anything in St. Louis, and what they got was a classic shootout that would require a fifth quarter to be decided.  It was to be a classic matchup of the top defense in the league against the top offense, but while offense ruled the day, the Las Vegas Thunder took advantage of their opportunities and had chances to win in both regulation and overtime. It certainly did not look like that early as St. Louis raced out to a 21-0 lead before Las Vegas even got on the board.  The St. Louis offense, led by League MVP Josh Freeman, looked to be on fire in the first half, with Freeman connecting with both Jabari Holloway and Taylor Jacobs for scores. When Antowain Smith capped off a third St. Louis drive with a 4-yard TD run, it seemed like we were certainly headed for a blowout win by the home team.  But something happened at the half.  Las Vegas, bolstered by a late field goal to get on the board, did not fold, but doubled down. When the second half opened, Las Vegas changed gears, they put aside the blitzes which had been very effective all year and moved to a complex zone scheme that had the safeties frequently move to the line of scrimmage only to back off as the ball was snapped. The change in tactics worked, limiting St. Louis to only 2 field goals in the second half and producing more sacks (5 of 6 on the day) despite not sending additional rushers at Josh Freeman. The offense also changed gears, switching to more 3-wideout sets and leaving Marshawn Lynch without a fullback in one-back sets, Las Vegas started to find holes in the St. Louis defense.  The Thunder would get their first TD midway through the third on a Marty Bookier TD catch.  It would be the first of three Jake Plummer touchdowns in the half as the Las Vegas QB channeled his younger self to throw for over 250 yards in the second half after having only 71 yards the entire first half. The two style changes worked well for Las Vegas. Going into the 4th quarter down 24-10, the Thunder saw the differential grow to 17 after a St. Louis field goal, but then rapidly chipped away at the Skyhawk lead.  First it was Plummer to Chad Johnson, then, 4 minutes later, Plummer hit TE Kevin Everett with a 5-yard toss to pull within 3.  By this point St. Louis was showing signs of cracking.  When Josh Freeman missed on a 3rd and 7 toss with 2:17 left to play, Las Vegas had their chance.  They would march down the field, eventually connecting on the game tying field goal from the 18-yard line.  It was the first of 2 clear chances to win the game, but the Thunder missed on a third down throw to the endzone and were forced to settle for a tie and an extra period. Overtime began with St. Louis getting the ball first.  They moved well, using Antowain Smith’s legs to move into field goal range.  Smith, who would finish the game with 120 yards on 23 carries, could not help the Skyhawks get the ball into the endzone, and they settled for a Rob Bironas kick to go up 3.  Las Vegas would need to score on the next drive or lose the game. The Thunder proceeded to mount their own drive, using the threat of Marshawn Lynch runs to set up effective play action passes.  Vegas moved the ball to the St. Louis 20 but were stymied when tackle Marcus Gilbert was called for Unsportsmanlike Conduct after a skirmish with a Skyhawk defender.  The untimely penalty forced the ball back 15 yards and on third down Plummer could not connect with T. J. Houshmandzadeh on a long ball to the end zone. They would bring out kicker Jeff Reed to try the 51-yarder, and Reed would connect, keeping the game and Las Vegas’s hopes alive. St. Louis received the kickoff with 8:20 left in overtime.  They would not give the ball back.  Once again, they used Antowain Smith’s legs, mixed with some short passes, to move the ball down the field.  On a 4th and 1, they faked the HB dive and Freeman scrambled to the left and off tackle for the first down. Aided by a defensive pass interference call, they got the ball down to the Las Vegas 22.  Seeking to position the ball for a Bironas field goal, they called a counter run to the right.  The run did not go for the 2-3 yards expected as a brilliant block by center Shaun O’Hara popped Smith free.  The big back rumbled all the way to the 5-yard line.  From there Josh Freeman connected with WR David Nelson on a nice play action call, and Nelson, slanting across the middle, fell into the endzone for the game winner. St. Louis had survived a very tough Las Vegas team, a team that had come back form the brink only to go down in overtime.  And now St. Louis would have the chance to do something no team had ever done in 30 years of USFL football, they would have the chance to win the Summer Bowl at home, in their own stadium.  It would be a battle of recent expansion clubs as the Skyhawks and Monarchs, both appearing in their first league championship, would face off for the USFL Title. Delhomme to Return for Monarchs The news out of Charlotte is that Jake Delhomme’s ankle is good to go and the veteran QB will be back under center for the Summer Bowl, following an impressive run of wins for rookie Brandon Wheedon.  Delhomme was injured in the team’s Wild Card victory over New Orleans and was forced to sit out the Divisional and Conference Title games.  Rookie Brandon Wheedon came in, having only thrown 12 passes in the entire regular season and led the Monarchs to upset wins over Atlanta and Philadelphia.  But, with his ankle healed and his mobility (limited as it has always been) back, Jake Delhomme will resume his duties as the team’s QB. Delhomme, who finished 6th in the league with a QB Rating of 96.5 threw for 3,297 yards and 26 touchdowns this season, starting all 16 regular season games before his Wild Card game injury.  He returns to an offense that has focused on the short pass and the run game of Fred Jackson and Shonn Greene in his absence.  That focus may well continue as the Monarchs prepare for a matchup against the Skyhawks.  Most teams attempt to minimize St. Louis’s scoring opportunities by controlling the clock and shortening the game, and we expect much the same from the Monarchs, with or without Delhomme at the helm. Antowain Smith Dodges Questions About his Future At 36 years old, Antowain Smith is a rarity in pro football, a veteran player in his second decade of pro ball and at the halfback position who is playing at a top tier.  Halfbacks, who average only 4 years in the pros, have a reputation for falling off a production cliff at the age of 30, with the wear and tear on their bodies taking a toll earlier than with other positions.  And yet, Smith, at the age of 36, had one of his best years ever, leading the league in rushing with 1,502 yards, and averaging exactly 5.0 yards per carry, a mark few backs sustain for a full season. And so, it is not surprising that Smith was coy about his future when asked during Media Day in St. Louis.  While it certainly appears that he is in great shape and would have no trouble returning to action at the amazing age of 37, the reality may well be quite different.  Smith had 300 carries in the regular season and will likely top 350 by the end of the Summer Bowl. That is a significant load for any back, much less a 36-year-old.  When asked about whether he is considering stepping away from the game, Smith only laughed and said he was focused on one thing only, Saturday’s big game. If Smith does choose to return, there is a 2-year deal on the table form the Skyhawks.  Smith is a free agent as soon as the Summer Bowl is over, but all expectations are that he will either resign or retire.  Moving on to a different team with a different offensive philosophy would hold little interest for Smith, and most teams are unlikely to provide the financial package that St. Louis would to retain a fan favorite in the region. For now, we will have to wait, because as Smith himself said this week, he has other things on his mind for the next 3 days. Richard Seymour Hoping to Go Out on Top Another member of the Skyhawks has not been shy that this is his last year in pro football.  DT Richard Seymour made this known weeks ago when he directly answered a question about his future with the team.  Back in Week 7, Seymour, speaking with local media, stated that he believed this would be his final season in the pros, looking to step away after 11 years in the league, split between Houston and St. Louis.  Seymour, at over 300 lbs and with a style that has him often taking on double blocks, has seen a lot of wear and tear on his body, and with St. Louis doing better than any team he has been a part of, he is looking to go out on top.  A championship win would all but guarantee that the big man in the middle would snag his championship ring and ride off into the sunset.  A loss in this week’s title game and there may well be a chance St. Louis could bring him back for one more run.  That is the nature of the game, to get so close and fail is a motivator.  To reach the mountain top is often a good time to walk away with the glow of victory on you forever. No new injuries appeared on the Monarch’s official pre-game roster, which means that the team is now dealing only with known quantities.  Having Jake Delhomme drop from the list is certainly a relief for the club.  For St. Louis, there was a new addition after their victory over Las Vegas, as cornerback Vontae Davis is now listed as questionable after tweaking his knee in the outing this past week. CHA:  SS John Keith (IR), FB Justin Green (IR), LB A. J. Nicholson (OUT) STL:  WR Eric Weems (IR), CB Vontae Davis (Q) While both teams are largely healthy, the injury to Vontae Davis could be a concern for St. Louis, as he typically was matched up with the opposition’s top receiver.  This means that Jordan Pugh, himself coming off an injury, will likely have to step up to face D. J. Hackett, although we expect Charlotte to try to employ more zones to compensate. All-USFL and League Award Winners Named If there was any doubt which team caught the imagination of USFL fans this year the Annual USFL Awards Night put any doubt to rest.  Not only did the St. Louis Skyhawks see 6 players, all on the offensive side of the ball, land All-USFL honors, but three of the league’s five big awards also went to members of the Skyhawks.  MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year all went to St. Louis after their 13-3 season.  Quite a haul, to be sure. MVP: Josh Freeman wins the MVP award thanks to finishing the season as the league leader in both passing yards and touchdowns, and by leading his club to a 13-win season.  Freeman got 42 of the 50 first place votes in balloting, with Philadelphia’s Matt Gutierrez getting the other 8.  It was one of the cleanest victories in recent memory as nearly everyone acknowledged Freeman as the player that had the biggest impact on the season. OPOTY: It is extremely rare that the MVP and OPOTY come from the same team, but that is what happens when you have the passing and rushing leader on the same team.  At 36-years-old, Antowain Smith becomes the oldest OPOTY in league history.  He led the USFL in rushing and was the only player to top 1,500 yards this season.  Add to that a stellar 5.0 yards per carry and it is easy to see how he outpaced a range of receivers and backs for the award. Coach of the Year:  Not much debate here either, though there were some votes for both Jim Harbaugh (PHI) and June Jones (LV), but again, the vast majority (39 of 50) went to the Skyhawks’ rep, in this case Head Coach Bruce Arians.  Arians, who took over a 1-13 team in 2009 would get 5 wins from the Skyhawks in his first year, then finish 2011 with an 8-8 record.  Even with that solid growth over 2 seasons no one expected a 13-3 season and for St. Louis to win the division by 6 games (13-3 vs. 2nd place at 7-9).  Arians is only 3 days from adding yet another accolade as the Skyhawks have a real chance to become the first USFL team to ever win a title in their home stadium. DPOTY: Not every award can go to the same team, and St. Louis’s defense, while serviceable, was certainly not the focus of the team.  Once again the USFL honored their Defensive Player of the Year and once again it was a downlineman with a huge sack total that garnered the award.  However, this year it was not Calais Campbell, the 2-time winner and this year’s sack leader, but the 2nd place contender in the category.  Texas’s Reynaldo Wynn benefited from the collapse of the Orlando Renegades, as even with 25 sacks there was no way Campbell would win the title on a team that went 3-13.  Texas’s 10-6 record, and the roll Wynn had in that record were good enough for him to outduel CB Charles Woodson and LB James Farrior for the title this year.  Wynn, who finished the season with 22 sacks, 62 takles and 6 forced fumbles, has become the chief rival to Campbell among DE’s.  Only in his 5th season, we could be seeing Wynn v. Campbell for a long time to go. Rookie of the Year:  Talking about players with a long and potentially very good career ahead of them, this year’s ROTY certainly seems to have the right stuff to be a featured player for  years to come.  WR Justin Blackmon played on a pretty awful Boston team, and dealt with a pretty shaky QB situation, and yet he finished the year with 111 receptions for 1,305 yards and 5 TDs, all great numbers even for a veteran wideout, much less a rookie on a poor team.  Expect Blackmon and HB Rashard Mendenhall to be two members of the new Dallas Roughnecks who will be marketed heavily in the DFW, particularly as they search for a QB to be the face of the franchise. Finally, we have our All-USFL team for 2012.  A few surprises here, but mostly surprises from our preseason picks, not from the results we saw this yar.  As always, there will be some players who feel snubbed, but overall this is a very reputable roster of top USFL talent.  Here is your 2012 All-USFL Team. QB: Josh Freeman (STL), Matt Gutierrez (PHI), Sam Bradford (NJ) HB: Antowain Smith (STL), Willis McGahee (TBY), Deuce McCallister (WSH) FB: Justin Green (CHA) TE: Rob Gronkowski (ARZ), John Carlson (NJ) WR: Joey Galloway (TBY), Steve Johnson (PHI), Marques Colston (TEX) Taylor Jacobs (STL), Tory Holt (BAL) OT: Lomas Brown (TBY), Brian Bulaga (STL), Kenyatta Jones (SEA) OG: Dunta Robinson (NJ), Chester Pitts (TEX), Leonard Davis (STL) C: Mike Pouncey (CHA), Shaun O’Hara (STL) DE: Calais Campbell (ORL), Reynaldo Wynn (TEX), Justin Smith (OAK) DT: Jason Fisk (POR), Sean Rogers (NSH), Rene Jean-Francois (NOR) LB: James Farrior (HOU), Terrell Suggs (OAK), Clay Matthews (LA) Mike Vrabel (JAX), Rey Maualaga (CHA), Terrance Marshall (NOR) CB: Charles Woodson (ATL), Dre Kirkpatrick (MGN), Antoine Winfield (LV) Quentin Jammer (PHI) SS: Terrance Holt (TEX), Chad Scott (LV) FS: Jarious Byrd (PHI), Chris Crocker (CHA) K:  Brandon Coutu (CHA) P:  Nick Harris (NJ) So that makes 6 Skyhawks, 5 Monarchs, 4 Generals, 4 Stars, and 4 Outlaws on the 44-man roster.  The only rookie to make the list was not ROTY Justin Blackmon but Michigan CB Dre Kirkpatrick.  The oldest player, no question, HB Antowain Smith. Dallas Hires Mike Sherman as Head Coach The Dallas Roughnecks have selected their first head coach and it is a name familiar both in Texas and to pro football fans.  Former Texas A&M and Green Bay Packer head coach Mike Sherman has been named the new coach of the franchise which began in Atlanta, won a title in Boston and begins its first season in Dallas in 2013. Sherman, who started as a HS coach before getting positions at Pitt, Tulane, Holy Cross, A&M and UCLA, jumped to the NFL with the Packers in 1997, worked with Mike Holmgren in Seattle and then returned to Green Bay to lead the Packers form 2000-2005.  He would then have a short stint In Houston before taking the Texas A&M job in 2008.   Sherman led the Aggies to a 9-3 recored and a share of the Big 12 title in 2010, but suffered a disappointing 6-6 season in 2011 which led to Sherman’s release. Sherman will take over a team that struggled to find consistency on offense, despite having a solid HB in Rashard Mendenhall and the Rookie of the Year in WR Justin Blackmon.  He inherits a shaky situation at QB, where highly touted Jake Locker has not yet proven he can translate his college success to the pros.  In Boston in 2012, the club went 3-13, finishing with the top pick in the Open Draft for the second consecutive year after a 1-win 2011 season.  The Cannons finished 2012 24th in the league in points scored and dead last in the league in points allowed, giving up 27 per game.  Sherman comes with an offensive background and is expected to focus on developing a viable passing game while leaving the defensive concerns to his DC, as yet unnamed. Baltimore Looks at 2 Finalists The Baltimore Blitz are also closing in on a head coach candidate, and reportedly have limited the search to two finalists, former Indianapolis Colts head man Jim Caldwell, and former LA Express coach Hue Jackson.  Caldwell, who came up through the college ranks before becoming the QB Coach for the Oakland Invaders, left the USFL for the NFL and a gig with Tony Dungy in Indianapolis, rising from QB Coach to Assistant HC and eventually Head Coach in 2002.  Working closely with then Colts QB Peyton Manning, Caldwell led the Colts to two consecutive playoff seasons in 2009-2010 before the Manning injury led the team to drop to 2-14 in 2011.  Jackson served as the LA Express head coach from 2006-2009, leading the Express to the Summer Bowl in his first year with the club and returning to the playoffs in 2007, but back-to-back losing seasons in 2008 and 2009 led to his dismissal.  Both Jackson and Caldwell are considered player-friendly coaches with an offensive pedigree, very different from the defensive-minded and disciplinarian style of former Blitz coach Tom Coughlin. Tickets in St. Louis Up to $10,000 in Secondary Market Summer Bowl tickets are always a prized commodity, but this year, with the St. Louis Skyhawks making their first appearance in the USFL title game, and with that game being played at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, the demand for tickets has never been higher.  Secondary sources for ticket resale are posting asking prices as high as $10,000 for a seat at the 50-yard line, with other seats going for $5,000 or more, even in the upper deck and end zone areas of the domed stadium.  Both St. Louis and Charlotte, as the participants in the game, are issued 18,000 seats to be provided to their season ticket holding fans, while the remaining 34,000 seats for the game are split between league officials, partners, and sponsors, and open sale to the public (roughly 29,000 seats).  According to Seatgeek, a commonly used platform for secondary ticket sales, the driving engine for higher costs has been high demand from St. Louis and the surrounding area as Skyhawk fans seek to obtain seats for their team’s Summer Bowl appearance.  The Charlotte Monarchs have announced that all 18,000 of their team-designated seats have been awarded, but the secondary market is seeing more and more seats, including Monarch-designated seats, being resold within Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa, which is assumed to correspond to Skyhawk fan interest.  The game is expected to be sold out, filling the 67,000-seat arena, making the 2012 Summer Bowl only the 4th Summer Bowl to ever sell out fully. SUMMER BOWL 2012 Charlotte Monarchs (11-5) v. St. Louis Skyhawks (13-3) Saturday, July 30 @ 7pm ET The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis, MO Skyhawks -6 Breaking down the 2012 Summer Bowl is not particularly complex.  We have a 1-seed facing off against a 6-seed, so, as one might expect, the numbers do tend to skew heavily towards St. Louis, but there is also a clear distinction in style, with the Skyhawks, relying on their top ranked offense, while Charlotte tends to play a more conservative, defensive-minded game.  Here is the breakdown in numbers between the two teams: Points Per Game:     St. Louis (1): 27.8 PPG                    Charlotte (4)  26.2 PPG Yards Per Game:       St. Louis (2) 376.8 YPG                   Charlotte (10)  334.5 YPG Passing:                          St. Louis (3) 259.6 YPG                   Charlotte (15)  228.5 YPG Rushing:                          St. Louis (2) 117.2 YPG                   Charlotte (7)   106 YPG Points Allowed               Charlotte (7)  18.5 PPGA                St. Louis (12)  19.8 PPGA Yards Allowed                 Charlotte (4)   297.9 YPGA            St. Louis (18)   320.8 YPGA Passing Allowed             Charlotte (4)   206.2 YPGA            St. Louis (19)   226.9 YPGA Rushing Allowed            Charlotte (14) 91.7 YPGA              St. Louis (18)   93.9 YPGA Turnover Differential       Charlotte (1)  +26                             St. Louis (6)     +17 What is clear in these numbers is that while Charlotte’s offensive production trails that of St. Louis in all categories, the difference is not a huge one, while on defense Charlotte’s advantage over St. Louis is a bit clearer.  When we add to that the takeaway prowess of the Charlotte defense, leading them to a plus-26 total for the regular season, there is reason to believe that the Monarchs are not truly a 6-seed with little chance for victory, but rather a very competitive team that could very well take advantage of any carelessness or nerves on the part of St. Louis to pull off the upset.  Looking at these numbers, the 6-point advantage which Las Vegas gives to the Skyhawks may seem a bit overly generous.  That, of course, is also influenced by the wagers being made, and, as with ticket sales, that has leaned decidedly towards bets supporting the Skyhawks. When we look at individual players, many names stand out.  Here are our choices for the three potential gamechangers for each club. ST. LOUIS 1. QB Josh Freeman—No doubt but that the League MVP’s performance will go a long way to determining the outcome of this game.  Freeman finished the year as the leader in both passing yards (3,983) and touchdowns (39) while only throwing three picks over 16 games.  That is an impressive 13:1 TD:INT ratio.  His ability to hit both the deep ball and accurately play the short game makes him tough to defend.  Teams have tried pressuring Freeman, only to find him quite elusive, while others have watched as 6 and 7-man zone schemes have proved ineffective as well. 2. HB Antowain Smith—One of the reasons that Freeman is so effective is that defenses simply cannot spend the game in nickel and dime coverages. If they do, Smith will eat them alive. The league’s leading rusher with 1,502 yards and a 5.0 YPC average, Smith has been a wonder at 36 years of age.  His ability to keep defenses honest is a big reason Freeman has had the production he has this year. 3. CB Vontae Davis—Perhaps not the most well-known member of the Skyhawk team, Davis has come up big in 2012 with 6 picks and 79 tackles.  He is at his best in zone coverages, making smart decisions to crowd or hang back on receviers and making good breaks on the ball.  He is also unafraid to participate in run defense, taking away wide plays with aggressive angles on the ballcarrier.  His aggressiveness could be a factor for St. Louis in this game. CHARLOTTE 1. WR Derrick Mason—Most talk about the Charlotte passing game focuses on flanker D. J. Hackett, but the reality is that the Monarchs don’t really have a true Receiver 1, they have two pretty equal targets in Hackett and Mason.  Hackett actually finished 2012 with 19 fewer catches than Mason, though he did have 50 yards more.  The two were very close in scoring, with Hackett landing 9 TD receptions to Mason’s 8, but with St. Louis likely to put Davis on Hackett, that means Mason could be the key for QB Jake Delhomme. 2. HB Fred Jackson—Were it not for a 5-game span in late season that saw Fred Jackson sidelined, he likely would have been among the league leaders in rushing once again.  Even missing 5 games, Jackson finished with 911 yards on the season, a pace that put him in the range of 1300-1450 in a 16-game season.  In the playoffs, particularly with rookie QB Brandon Wheedon starting the Divisional and Conference title games, Jackson has been at the center of the Monarch offense, and responded with back to back 100 yard games for Charlotte.  His ability to keep defenses second guessing the play call, and to grind out the tough 3rd down yardage, could be key to a Charlotte upset. 3. LB Rolando McClain—It is hard to pick out one LB from this outstanding trio, as Jerod Mayo and Rey Maualaga are also outstanding performers week in and week out, but it is McClain who tends to make the big plays when needed.  He leads the team with 112 tackles,  and is equally good as a run stuffer and pass defender.  Expect Charlotte to try to stay in base 4-3 as much as they can, except when St. Louis brings in a 4th wideout, and to do that they will need their linebackers to hold their own against the slot receivers, as well as St. Louis tight ends Jabari Holloway and Tony Moeaki. OUR PICK We have been playing up the potential for a Charlotte upset.  And we are really excited about Jake Delhomme returning and getting his first shot at a league title since appearing with the Stars as a backup in 2000, but, all that said, we cannot pick the Monarchs to win. St. Louis has been an absolute juggernaut this year.  They have not lost a game sine a weird letdown in Ohio in Week 7, winning 9 regular season games in a row and then cruising through their playoff schedule over Oakland and Las Vegas. They have faced 2 tough defenses in those games and scored 30+ in both games.  They are at home, and we expect a heavily partisan Skyhawk crowd, so we expect a lot of noise, a lot of “Ka Kaw” throughout, and a lot of energy on the St. Louis sideline. Charlotte’s best chance is to force turnovers, but the Skyhawks do not turn the ball over.  Josh Freeman has only 3 picks all season and St. Louis led the league with only 8 turnovers in 16 weeks.  We see Charlotte being able to stay in the game perhaps through the half or even three quarters, but at some point as both defenses tire, the Skyhawks are either going to be able to dominate with Smith on the ground or hit the big play with Freeman and those receivers over the top.  Our pick is the Skyhawks, and we are going with another 30+ point performance.  We say Skyhawks 31-21.

Is this the year of the Cinderella story?  With so many Cinderellas I am afraid we are going to run out of pumpkins.  We have a Cinderella team in the St. Louis Skyhawks making their first ever playoff appearance and racing all the way to the top seed in the West.  We have the Cinderella story of Matt Gutierrez leading the Philadelphia Stars to the Eastern Conference Finals.  And now we have the Cinderella story of rookie QB Brandon Wheedon called into action for the first time in the Eastern Division playoffs and helping Charlotte to upset the Atlanta Fire in Atlanta.  The Fairy Godmothers must be working overtime this year. Join us as we recap all the action from this week’s 4 divisional playoff games, including the Charlotte upset of Atlanta, and strong performances from Philly, St. Louie, and Las Vegie (Hmm, that last one does not work.) We will also look into the quick hire of former Boston coach John Fox, the new free agents joining the open market, and the retirement announcements of two pretty much sure fire Hall of Fame players.  It’s all here along with our preview of the Conference Title Games. CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 16   ATLANTA FIRE 12 Defense wins titles.  That is the old cliché, and while the USFL has not always proven that to be true, the matchup between Charlotte and Atlanta certainly bore it out as the Charlotte Monarchs held Atlanta out of the end zone for 60 minutes and escaped a hostile Georgia Dome with a 4-point victory and a ticket to next week’s Eastern Conference Final.  The Monarchs used a staunch red zone defense and a run game led by Fred Jackson to win a war of attrition against rival Atlanta.  Despite only going 1 of 11 on third down, and rookie Brandon Wheedon throwing for only 102 yards, the Monarchs had the ability to limit Atlanta to only 4 Josh Scobee field goals and that was good enough to take the W, survive and advance. Wheedon avoided mistakes all game, throwing short to Derrick Mason and D. J. Hackett (9 receptions for 71 yards combined) when called on, but mostly managing the clock and the run game as Charlotte started the game with a scripted 11-play drive for a TD and then simply held Atlanta at arm’s length for the rest of the game.  Atlanta would outgain the Monarchs 318-230, and Kyle Orton threw for 246, but he was also sacked 6 times and threw a costly red zone pick that preserved the Monarch lead in the 3rd quarter. Despite all their success on defense, Atlanta had pulled within 1 point at 13-12 early in the 4th, but a sustained drive when they needed one allowed the Monarchs to put league scoring champ Brandon Coutu in position for a 41-yard field goal midway through the period and that 4-point lead meant that a fifth Fire field goal would not be enough.  Charlotte got strong games from LB Jerod Mayo (8 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pick), LB Rolando McClain (8 tackles, 1 sack), and their entire secondary as they just did not allow Atlanta to turn field position into points.  They now head into the Eastern Title Game with the potential that starter Jake Delhomme could return to action. TEXAS OUTLAWS 10   LAS VEGAS THUNDER 15 With the game delayed 2 hours due to heat, the 7pm local kickoff was still a scorcher at Sam Boyd Stadium, with kickoff temps in the high 80s’s, though the temperature continued to drop throughout the game.  The pressure from the Thunder defense never let up however, as Vegas held Texas to only 74 yards rushing and a miserable 1 of 9 on third down.  And while the Thunder offense was not exactly dynamic, limited to only 5 Jeff Reed field goals, it was enough to get Las Vegas its first playoff win since relocating from Portland. The Thunder were relentless in their pressure scheme, sending blitzes against both the run and the pass and producing 6 sacks and 9 tackles for loss.  DE Akin Ogunleye recorded two sacks of Luke McCown but was joined by 4 others in pressuring and frustrating the Texas QB.  Meanwhile, on offense, the Thunder relied on Marshawn Lynch, who would finish the game with 130 yards rushing on 20 carries, a very healthy 6.5 YPC average.  The game could have been a broader victory for Las Vegas, but Texas also was able to get pressure on Thunder QB Jake Plummer, producing 2 picks which kept Texas in the game.  The lone TD of the game came in the 3rd quarter when a communication error on defense left WR Marques Colston uncovered for a 24-yard TD.  Other than that one botched play the Thunder defense was truly lights out, and they will need to keep up that intensity next week as they hit the road to face the top seed St. Louis and their league-leading offense for a shot at Summer Bowl 2012. OAKLAND INVADERS 13   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 34 The Skyhawks punched their ticket to the Conference Finals in dramatic style, dominating the Oakland Invaders in front of nearly 62,000 enthusiastic “Hawkheads” inside the dome.  The familiar “Ka-Kaw” cries of the Skyhawk faithful were frequent and loud as St. Louis turned a 10-0 deficit early in the 2nd quarter into a 31-13 lead by the end of three quarters.  Josh Freeman hit Taylor Jacobs on all three of his TD passes as the likely league MVP went 14 of 26 for 394 yards against an Oakland defense that simply could not defend the entire field.  Oakland tried a high-pressure strategy against Freeman, which did produce 6 sacks, but also gave up some huge plays, including a 78-yard TD in the final seconds of the first half, turning a 13-7 advantage into a 14-13 deficit for the Invaders just as the teams headed to the locker room. Oakland would never recover.  St. Louis scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter, including a pick-six from CB Vontae Davis and Jacobs’s 3rd TD reception of the game.  The All-USFL receiver would only catch 5 balls on the day, but 3 would go for scores.   Jordy Nelson, the 2nd receiver for the Skyhawks, also topped the century mark with 4 receptions for 148 yards as the deep ball worked for St. Louis all game long. Oakland began the game well, scoring on a Greg Jennings TD early in the 2nd after holding St. Louis scoreless in the opening period, but the 78-yard bomb at the end of the half deflated the Invaders, who would not score again as St. Louis put together a 27-point unanswered scoring string.  St.  Louis now moves on to the Conference Championships against Las Vegas, once again in the Dome at America’s Center, which is also home to the Summer Bowl, giving the Skyhawks a real chance to make history as the first USFL club to win a title in their home stadium.  No other USFL Champion has matched up their title run with their home stadium being the host of the Summer Bowl, but St. Louis has a path to do just that. NEW JERSEY GENERALS 13   PHILADELPHIA STARS 37 We expected a dogfight in this one.  What we got was a whoomping.  The Stars proved once again why they are one of the most complete teams in the USFL by putting a three phase beatdown on a very good New Jersey club.  The Stars aggressively pressured Sam Bradford and by the middle of the second quarter they had taken the Generals’ young QB out of action with a concussion on a hard hit of his head to the turf at Lincoln Financial Field.  At that time, it was already 23-3 Stars, but losing Bradford all but ended any chance the Generals had of a comeback. As rough as Philadelphia’s defense was on the Generals, producing 6 tackles (2 of Bradford, 4 of Hoyer) and holding Maurice Jones-Drew to only 26 yards, the offense of the Stars was even more impressive.  New Jersey focused on shutting down Steve Slaton with 8 and 9 men in the box, the hope being that they could pressure Matt Gutierrez into making mistakes.  The former backup turned All-USFL QB did throw one pick, but he also thew for 294 yards and 3 touchdowns, proving the Generals’ strategy highly ineffective.  Stevie Johnson was the main target for Gutierrez, and he made the Generals pay with 121 yards on only 6 catches.  The touchdowns from Gutierrez went to Caldwell, Fells, and Andre Davis, but the drives belonged to Johnson, who seemed unstoppable on third down, converting time and again. Philadelphia now moves on to host the underdog 6-seed Charlotte Monarchs in next week’s Conference title game. Even with Jake Delhomme back, which is still only a 50/50 proposition, the Stars will be a huge test for a Monarchs team that has already played 2 road games in these playoffs.  Philadelphia is gunning for a 4th league title, and their first since the early 1990’s.  They have firepower, a solid defense, and one of the best stories of the year in Matt Gutierrez. Delhomme Could Be Game Time Decision The word out of Charlotte’s front office is that Jake Delhomme’s ankle is progressing nicely but that any decision on who will start this week will come from Coach Mora and will likely come only after pre-game warmups.  Both Delhomme and Wheedon have been taking snaps in practice, with Delhomme wearing a brace on his ankle which clearly limits mobility in practice.  That could be tricky either way as neither QB will see as many snaps in the week’s practice sessions as a starter normally would.  Meanwhile, Philadelphia is not exactly planning for two very different styles as both Delhomme and Wheedon will play a traditional drop-back pocket style.  The threat of a scrambler is just not there with either option. While Charlotte fans are certainly hoping that Delhomme, by far the most experienced QB in the game this week, is able to start, it is still no guarantee that his experience would be able to overcome what Philadelphia can throw at him. The bigger issue may well be how Charlotte’s defense handles the Star offense led by Matt Gutierrez and Steve Slaton. Home Teams Open as Heavy Favorites in Conference Title Games Not surprising when we have the two top seeds playing at home in the Conference Title Games, but the Las Vegas books are just not buying that Charlotte or Las Vegas can knock off the homestanding favorites.  In both games we have proficient offenses going against teams built on defense, and as we have seen time and again in the USFL, offense often wins out in the more explosive of the two major pro football leagues in the USA.  Of course, that rule is meant to be broken, but at least from the oddsmakers’ perspective, it is always better to lean towards the rule rather than the exception. We asked the folks at Caesars’ book specifically about the Monarchs, where there is a lot of uncertainty due to Jake Delhomme’s injury and were told that while the QB situation is certainly a factor, the general belief that Philadelphia is a superior team has a greater impact.  Currently the line is -9 for the Stars.  According to our source at Caesar’s, the line would likely be closer to -6 with Delhomme assured to start but would not get much closer for the Monarchs simply because there is so much betting that would lean to Philly anyway. We will see if the books are right in their defense of the offensive squad and top seeds once the games are played this week. Orlando Jumps on John Fox to Restore Renegade Hopes Well, that did not take long. John Fox needed only 9 days from his dismissal by the Cannons-now-Roughnecks to find a new gig. The 2009 Summer Bowl Champion coach was quickly approached and wooed by the Orlando Renegades, signing a 4-year deal even before the Divisional playoff games kicked off this week.  Fox, whose tenure in Boston included 4 playoff seasons, a league title and 5 winning seasons in 9 years, will now take over an Orlando club that was expected to be a playoff contender this year, but fell to a dismal 3-13 record. In Boston, Fox spent most of his career with QB Drew Bledsoe powering an explosive offense and a defense built with a bend-but-don’t break strategy.  In Orlando he will inherit a team that struggled on offense with QB Eli Manning at the helm, but which has one of the league’s most dangerous defensive players in DE Calais Campbell.  Expect Fox to bring with him a plan for a more balanced offense, something that may be good news for HB Knowshon Moreno, and a defense that will try to play from a lead, which again could suit Campbell very well.  Orlando will have an early draft pick (2nd overall in the Open Draft) and could make a play for some solid talent in the Territorial Draft, including South Carolina safety D. J. Swearinger, UCF halfback Latavious Murray, and Gamecock DE Devin Taylor.  We also expect Fox and the Renegades to be active in Free Agency as they try to add pieces to match Fox’s preferred schemes. With the Fox hiring, there remain 4 open coaching positions in the USFL:  Los Angeles, Seattle, Baltimore, and Dallas. Mitchell Still Frontrunner for Dragon Job Seattle interviewed St. Louis OC Stump Mitchell during the Skyhawks’s bye week and were apparently impressed with what they learned, but, with St.  Louis still very much involved in playoff football, the Dragons will be using the next few weeks to explore other options.  They brought in former Breakers’ head coach Mike Nolan this week, and are expected to interview two more candidates, including former Memphis head man Jim Haslett and Arizona OC Greg Landry.   The belief is that Mitchell remains the frontrunner, but there is no guarantee he will opt to join the Dragons or that Seatle won’t be impressed with one of the other candidates. Joey Galloway Announces Retirement, Will Join ESPN Team As many expected, Joey Galloway has announced this week that his long and illustrious USFL career has come to an end.  Galloway is stepping away from the field, but not the game as he announced that he would be joining ESPN’s USFL team for 2013, taking on an initial role as a game analyst with the studio team on USFL PrimeTime and the twice weekly USFL halftime and postgame reports. Galloway, who played 16 years as a member of the Ohio Glory before finishing his career in Tampa Bay, is one of the most decorated receivers in the rich history of the USFL.  An 11-time All-USFL selection and 1996 USFL Offensive Player of the Year, Galloway retires as the league’s all-time yardage leader with 22,825 receiving yards, nearly 3,000 more than the great Eric Truvillion.  He also leaves the game as 2nd all-time in receiving touchdowns with 158 career scores, and as the 3rd all-time receiver in catches with 1,195. Galloway came to Ohio in the Territorial Draft, staying in Columbus after an All-American career with the Ohio State Buckeyes.  As a rookie he caught 87 passes for the expansion Glory, gaining 845 yards as a rookie.  He would explode in his 2nd season to catch 104 balls for 1,825 yards in his sophomore season and largely not look back after that.  During the amazing run from 2000-2003 in Ohio, Galloway was nearly unstoppable, averaging nearly 1,800 yards and 14 touchdowns per season, including 18 in the 2003 title defense for the Glory, the only team to ever win back-to-back USFL titles. After 16 seasons in Ohio, a changing of the guard gave Galloway a chance to find a new home and he chose the Tampa Bay Bandits and QB Daunte Culpepper.  Galloway immediately established a rapport with the Bandit QB, catching 96 balls for over 1,200 yards in his first year with the Bandits, a year that also brought a league title to Tampa Bay, Galloway’s third as a player. This year he had 104 catches for nearly 1,500 yards and was among the league leaders in both categories. He leaves the game as one of the legends of the game and of the league. Charles Woodson Says Goodbye to the ATL and the USFL A second legend of the USFL also steps away from the game this year as Cornerback Charles Woodson announced this week that the playoff loss to Charlotte would be his last game as a member of the Atlanta Fire and as a professional football player.  Woodson, the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner out of Michigan, played 14 seasons in the USFL, beginning his career as the top draft pick of the Washington Federals.  He would play 10 seasons in Washington, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1998 and earning All-USFL accolades six times.  He retires with nearly 1,300 tackles (1,275) and 53 interceptions, numbers good enough to be 2nd in USFL history, behind Donnell Woolford in picks. Woodson also holds the league record with 899 career interception return yards and has a whopping 15 defensive touchdowns, 14 on interception returns and one fumble return.  As with Galloway, Woodson will almost certainly be a first ballot Hall of Famer when he is eligible in the Class of 2017.   And, in case you are wondering what post-career plans Woodson has, he has already signed on to be a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Michigan, where he will seek a degree in Sports Management while working with the DBs for the Wolverines. Only 4 teams remaining, and while each team is dealing with the usual late season bumps and bruises, all eyes are on Charlotte and QB Jake Delhomme ahead of this week’s Conference Title Game in Philadelphia.  Here once more is the rundown of each club’s injuries and the potential impact for the games this week. CHA:  FB Justin Green (IR), SS John Keith (IR), LB A. J. Nicholson (OUT), QB Jake Delhomme (D) PHI: DE Robert Mathis (IR), SS Darren Sharper (IR), OT Anthony Castonzo (Q), OT Ken Shackleford (P) No new injuries for Charlotte, but it does not appear that Delhomme may not be able to go, which puts a lot on the defense and the run game to help protect rookie Brandon Wheedon against the Stars.  For Philadelphia, OT Ken Shackleford should be back, which is good news since Anthony Castonzo is likely out. LV:  LB Joey Porter (P) STL:  WR Eric Weems (OUT), G Paul Zakauskas (Q), CB Jordan Pugh (P) Two pretty healthy teams in our 1 v. 2 matchup this week.  Joey Porter may be held back except on 3rd down, but that is still pretty solid for the Thunder. CB Jordan Pugh should be good to go for St. Louis. Free Agent Pool Expands with 8 More Roster Additions The USFL free agent pool continues to grow as more teams are removed from playoff contention.  For these later additions there remain just over two weeks before the players become true free agents, still time for some players to re-up with their current teams if they so choose before the marketplace officially opens, and yet, as we know from past years, most will wait and look at the interest shown by other franchises, whether within the USFL or the NFL before signing.  Here are the players currently without a contract from the 8 playoff teams now eliminated. ATLANTA: HB Darren McFadden, TE Will Heller, FS Tra Battle, K Josh Scobee DENVER: FS Jamel Williams, CB Tory James, HB Maurice Hicks, G Elton Brown, WR James Hardy, CB David Terrell NEW JERSEY: SS Bob Sanders, C Casey Wiegemann, OT Leander Jordan, FS Scott Shields, LB Scott Fujita, LB Napoleon Harris, G Duke Robinson, FS Tony Driver, WR Travis Wilson NEW ORLEANS: LB Hannibal Navies, OT Joseph Bragg, G Mike Briesel OAKLAND: DE Israel Idonije, OT Anthony Clement, WR Hank Basket, G Cameron Stephenson, HB Jerious Norwood, DE Kalimba Edwards PORTLAND: FB Ovie Mughelli, DE Elvis Dumervil, HB Michael Bush, DT Kedrick Gholston, TE Visanthe Shiancoe, HB Derrick Blaylock TEXAS: P Hunter Smith, G Derrick Dockery, K Rian Lindell, FS Darcel McBath, HB Aveion Carson WASHINGTON: LB Antonio Pierce, C Austin King, LB Cameron Wake, FB Chris Massey, HB Rod Smart, C Matt Johnson Santa Clara Stadium Deal Locked & Loaded It is official, both the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL and the Oakland Invaders of the USFL will have a new home, beginning in the Fall of 2014.  The two teams and the city of Santa Clara, CA have locked in plans for construction of a new 68,000 seat stadium in the South Bay.  The facility will boast 174 executive suites and have a natural grass surface.  Located 32 miles south of the Oakland Coliseum and 37 miles south of Candlestick Park, the stadium will nonetheless be home to two franchises which will retain their original city names as both Oakland and San Francisco will be the monikers of their respective teams. The deal ends speculation of a more dramatic relocation for both franchises, with the Invaders having long been rumored to be a potential target for investment groups from as far away as San Diego, Dallas, and Miami.  The Invaders will retain their training facilities in Oakland, but now will call Santa Clara home on gameday, beginning with the Spring 2015 season.  The cost to the team is estimated at $250M, with an equal share also to be contributed by the NFL 49ers, and another $700M to be financed publicly through a series of bonds issued by the city, county, and state of California.  Fans should expect to see seat licenses required for season tickets, a trend which upsets many but which has become commonplace among franchises in both professional football and baseball.  Concerns over parking and traffic flow have caused the city of Santa Clara to make arrangements with both the NFL not to schedule any weeknight games (Monday or Thursday) at the stadium until both traffic flow alterations and parking amelioration could be settled, but the Invaders, with all USFL games played on Friday nights or over the weekend days, was not similarly tasked.  The new stadium will seek a corporate naming rights arrangement, to be decided by the end of 2013. Will Vikings' New Stadium Push Twin City USFL Option? Another new stadium is in the works as the city of Minneapolis has agreed with the NFL Vikings to construct a new domed facility to house the city’s pro football franchise.  Of course, as has come to be expected, there is immediate interest in providing the facility with a second tenant.  Minnesota, and particularly the Twin Cities, has been a market long of interest to the USFL, having been listed as one of the potential expansion sites as early as 1987, but to date no serious efforts have existed to bring a franchise to the city.  That is likely to change as the Twin Cities looks at a new $1.3B facility and the USFL explores potential expansion within the next decade. As we have seen in other locations, namely Dallas, San Diego, Miami, and now Oklahoma City, all it takes is for a dedicated investment group to form and provide the financial backing for new cities to become serious players in USFL franchise politics.  Nashville, now being sued for their use of leverage, is one example of a franchise using the lure of potential relocation as a means of acquiring a better situation in their home city, while the fate of the Boston Cannons demonstrates that with the right pitch a franchise may indeed uproot itself and seek a new home. As of yet there has been no recognized investment group out of the Twin Cities to make a serious pitch for either USFL expansion or the sale and relocation of a current franchise.  However, as we have already seen with the cities named earlier, the process to incorporate a group and begin discussions with the league or with individual franchises does not require extensive time and with the city itself, and possibly NFL ownership within the Vikings, interested in exploring the option of a shared venue for both fall and spring football, we may very well see the Twin Cities join the list of suitors for either an upcoming expansion opportunity or for a current franchise, displeased with its stadium lease or its capacity to bring in localized revenue, to pick up shop and find a new home in a shiny new facility. As has tended to be the norm in the USFL, both top seeds advance out of the Divisional Round and will host the Conference Title Games this week. In the East we have a deceptive 1 v. 6 matchup, with an 11-5 Charlotte team hardly the usual cannon fodder of a low seed, while in the West we have a classic 1 v 2 as Las Vegas brings their top-rated defense up against the high-flying Skyhawks.  Two very different games, and 4 very interesting stories as we prepare for two teams to emerge victorious and set up Summer Bowl 2012. EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP 6-Charlotte Monarchs (11-5) @ 1-Philadelphia Stars (12-4) Sunday, July 24 @ 4pm ET Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA Stars -9 No surprise that Philadelphia is a heavy favorite in this one. With Jake Delhomme’s status expected to be a game-time decision, the uncertainty surrounding Charlotte is very real, whereas the Stars proved this week that they are playing at peak levels in all phases of the game.  We could have a very unanticipated matchup of Wheedon and Gutierrez in this title game, but of the two, it is clear that league QB Rating leader Matt Gutierrez is in a far better head space, having performed so well through the entire USFL season.  If, as some rumors have it, Kurt Warner may step away from the game after his neck injury, Philly seems primed to keep their roll going with Gutierrez.   We like the pluck of the Monarhcs, demonstrated with tough wins in road wins in both New Orleans and Atlanta, but this feels like a bridge too far for the Monarchs.  Our pick is Philadelphia big, Stars by two scores, 27-13. WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP 2-Las Vegas Thunder (11-5) @ 1-St. Louis Skyhawks (13-3) Sunday, July 24 @ 8pm ET The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis, MO Skyhawks -6 A classic matchup of the unstoppable force and the immovable object.  St. Louis’s high-powered offense will face off against Las Vegas’s top-ranked defense.  June Jones may be known for his offensive style, but it is the defense of DC and son of USFL Hall of Famer Sam Mills, Sam Mills III, which is making the Thunder a bona fide contender.  The Thunder will be challenged by a Skyhawk offense, led by OC Stump Mitchell which is equally as proficient in the run game as the passing game.  Head Coach Bruce Arians has built a club based on a nearly impenetrable offensive line, likely to have 3, possibly 4 All-USFL linemen on it. That will be a huge challenge for the Thunder’s blitz and stunt schemes, but if there is any team which can disrupt the Skyhawks, it is likely to be the Thunder.   We like Las Vegas’s chances here. Yes, it may require Jake Plummer playing like his 28-year-old self, and it may be a tough road, but something about the way this Thunder defense plays ball has us thinking they can do this.  We are going with the upset here, Las Vegas edges the Skyhawks in St. Louis.  Thunder 18-17.

A Wild Card weekend with few surprises as all four favorites won out.  Charlotte, the only road favorite, paid a price for victory however as they those their quarterback and now face a brutal challenge in the Divisional round.  New Jersey continues to look like one of the hottest teams in the league with a dismantling of the Federals.  Texas gets challenged by a plucky Portland squad but holds on to win at home.  And, finally, on Sunday night, Oakland uses a big fourth quarter to knock out the Denver Gold and move on to the divisional round.  We will recap all four Wild Card games, take a look at the Divisionals, and update you on the coaching and player news of the week.  Starting with the big cost the Monarchs paid for a win in New Orleans. CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 17   NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 10 A bittersweet victory for the Charlotte Monarchs as they race out to a 17-0 lead but then lose QB Jake Delhomme in the process.  Charlotte looked very much like an 11-win team in the opening three quarters of their Wild Card matchup with the New Orleans Breakers, holding the homestanding Breakers to only 122 yards and no points over 3 quarters and building a 17-0 lead thanks in part to a 12 of 15 performance from QB Jake Delhomme, but just as things were looking bright for Charlotte, Delhomme took a vicious hit from DE Ty Warren and was slow to get up.  He needed assistance getting to the sideline with what was determined to be an ankle injury.  It would keep him from the rest of the game as rookie QB Brandon Wheedon stepped in. Wheedon’s inexperience and lack of practice snaps were evident as Charlotte gained only 1 more first down in the game, while New Orleans fought to get back into contention.  With 1:22 left to play they got their first TD, pulling within 7.  The onside kick failed, and Charlotte needed a first down to lock down the win.  Wheedon handed off to Fred Jackson on first and second down, but on third and 3 he made his biggest play of the game, a 5-yard throw to TE Garrett Celek to ice the game.  The Monarchs will move on to face division rivals Atlanta next week, and by all accounts they will do so with the rookie at QB, a tough task to be sure. PORTLAND STAGS 17   TEXAS OUTLAWS 24 As with the earlier game on Saturday, the favorite raced out to an early lead with Texas getting first half TDs form Marques Colston (2) and Arian Foster. But Portland proved to be up to the task, coming back on the Outlaws in the second half but simply not able to get one more drive in before time ran out. Luke McCown had a good game as the Portland defense focused on Foster.  He would complete 15 of 23 throws for 289  yards and 2 scores.  On the other side of the ball Ryan Fitzpatrick was almost single handedly keeping Portland in the game by throwing the ball 41 times, completing 34 for 242 and 2 scores as well.  Roddy White finished the game with 8 catches, 2 for scores, while Marques Colston, the league’s receiving yards champion proved the point by catching 6 balls for 171 yards, including 2 scores, one a 57-yard strike. Texas will now go to Las Vegas to play the Thunder.  DT Terrell Troupe may not make the trip after injuring his knee, but otherwise the Outlaws are in good health as they prepare for a road playoff game. WASHINGTON FEDERALS 14   NEW JERSEY GENERALS 37 New Jersey continues to be on fire, despite Washington clamping down on Sam Bradford, holding the QB, who had thrown for 4 scores in each of the past 3 games, to only 152 yards and 2 scores on the day. But that focus on the pass meant that there were lanes for Maurice Jones-Drew, and the diminutive back took full advantage, rushing for 109 yards on only 15 carries, a 7.3 YPC average. New Jersey scored the first 30 points of the match as they just dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage through three quarters.  The game started with a 75-yard pick six from safety Sam Shields, and New Jersey added TDs from Doug Baldwin and John Carlson in the 2nd quarter.  Forced to play catch up in the second half, the Washington run game was neutralized and the Feds became somewhat one-dimensional, exactly as New Jersey would want it. The Generals will next head to Philadelphia to face their archrival in a game that could produce a lot of fireworks (on the field and in the stands).  New Jersey has become a squad that no one wants to face over the past month, and certainly the Stars will need to have a plan for this offense, which has been one of the league’s best over the home stretch.  With both offenses playing very well right now, we could be in for a real shootout in this NE Division grudge match. DENVER GOLD 17   OAKLAND INVADERS 31 Oakland was humiliated by Houston in their season finale, and that clearly motivated them as they faced another SW Division club in the Wild Card playoffs.  Oakland was much more efficient and less mistake prone than in their regular season finale.  They went toe to toe with the Gold for three quarters but were still down 17-10 as the 4th quarter began.  Denver had indeed stressed the run game with Maurice Hicks getting the majority of the carries and averaging 4.0 YPC.  Matt Leinart had connected with TE Daniel Graham for a score, while Oakland had gotten an early score from Greg Jennings. But, trailing by 7 at home when the quarter began, Oakland rallied and went on a run of three straight scoring drives that not only allowed them to even the score but build up what would be an unanswered 21-point swing.  Ryan Williams scored twice, and Jerious Norwood added a third TD in a dynamic 4th quarter that saw Norwood bust a 41-yard run to finish the day with 120 yards.  Joey Harrington, who had struggled most of the day, completing only 9 of 20 passes in the first 3 quarters, would go 9 of 12 in the 4th and Oakland would take the game and move on. The Invaders now face St. Louis in the second round, a tough task, but this is an experienced Invader squad that is unlikely to be phased by facing the top seed in the West, especially when as a team St. Louis has very little playoff experience compared to Harrington and the Invaders. Delhomme Injury the Story of Wild Card Weekend You hate to have an injury be the biggest story of any playoff game, but that was certainly the case for the Charlotte Monarchs, who now face a tough matchup at Philadelphia with a rookie under center.  Jake Delhomme, who was contemplating retirement a year ago, after a frustrating first season in Charlotte and a truly horrible 2010 season in Memphis, had stuck it out and in 2012 had a renaissance, throwing for nearly 3,600 yards and 26 TDs on his way to his highest QB Rating in 6 years.  He had led the Monarchs to their first playoff appearance as a franchise, as well as their first winning record after 3 consecutive years with 7 wins.  But all that would now be secondary as the story of the day was the veteran QB’s ankle. The injury is a severe strain, but there appears to be no ligament damage.  That is the report from the Monarchs’ medical team.  Delhomme will be unable to go in the Divisional playoffs, and even if Charlotte can overcome the top seeded Stars, he might also be forced to miss the Conference Championship.  A very tough pill to swallow for Delhomme and the Monarchs. So now all eyes turn to Brandon Wheedon, the 23-year-old rookie who  threw a grand total of 12 pass attempts in the regular season. Wheedon, who set school records at Oklahoma State with 4,727 passing yards in 2011 and who completed nearly 73% of his throws as a senior now takes over the Charlotte offense.  No doubt that veterans like Fred Jackson, D. J. Hackett and Derrick Mason will do all they can to make life easy on Wheedon, the truth is also that Philadelphia is going to bring heat.  The Stars’s pass defense is not considered a strength of the team (they live on offensive firepower), but Philly finished the regular season 4th in the league with 60 QB sacks on the season.  Led by DE Anthony Hargrove’s 18 sacks, the Stars have been known to use a wide range of stunts and line shifts to free up their ends and get pressure quickly.  That is something Wheedon is going to have to expect.  It is a role he certainly did not expect after watching Delhomme play all 16 regular season games, but it is one he now must take on. More Retirements Impact Offseason Plans across the USFL One week after the initial announcements from players like Brian Griese, Shaun Alexander, Kavika Pittman, Tory Holt and LaDainian Tomlinson, the announcements of retirements may not have the same name impact, but that still does not make live any easier for the impacted teams who now have added gaps to fill in their rosters. This week we saw several additional players announce that their playing days were over, including a couple who have stepped away following Wild Card Weekend losses. Here are the most impactful of the announced retirements this week: LA Defensive Tackle Anthony McFarland has been a mainstay on the D-Line for the Express, leaving an immediate need for the club that is also searching for a new head coach. When Birmingham signed Obafemi Ayanbadejo to a one-year deal, there was an understanding that the 36-year-old fullback would likely be a one-year fill in, and that has come to pass as the veteran blocking back announced his retirement this week. Just a few days after Kavika Pittman announced his retirement, Houston loses another D-lineman as DT Kenard Lang also declared his intention to retire at 36.  Houston had hoped they could convince the veteran nose tackle to stick around for 1 more year, but Lang opted out this week. Nashville TE Justin Peele announced he would retire after 10 seasons in the league, all with the Knights. Seattle OT Chad Clifton will not renew for another year, citing concerns with his long-term health as his motivation to retire at 33. New Orleans will miss DT Jason Peter next year after the space-eating tackle announced he would not return for another season. Peter is one of several linemen who have stepped away in the past week, including Boston OT Ed Ellis, Ohio DT Wendell Bryant, and Ohio OT Kwame Harris. Finally, Chicago kicker Tim Seder, who turns 38 in just 2 weeks, has also hung up the boot. One of the oldest players in the league, Seder has been in the league since 1998, when he started as a rookie for the Outlaws.  He has been Chicago’s placekicker since 2002 and finished third in the league this year in points, behind only Brandon Coutu and Rian Lindell. Babin Demands to be Released. Defensive End Jason Babin is apparently not interested in relocating to Texas.  The longstanding sack leader of the Boston Cannons has made his feelings clear this week that he wishes to be released from the final year of his contract so that he can seek employment somewhere other than Dallas.  Babin, who has been a leader both on the field for the Cannons and in the community in and around Boston, expressed his disappointment that the team was leaving New England.  Having lived in Boston now since signing as a rookie in 2004 and has become a fixture in local community outreach. The former Western Michigan product has a foundation that works with children in and around the Boston area, a home in Newton, and two children attending local schools.  While he says he understands that players often change teams, and that he understood that relocation was a part of the game, he added that this should be by choice, not by forced relocation not only of a player but an entire team.  Dallas ownership has not made public comment about Babin’s status, and while losing such a significant talent would be a blow to the team, it would also free up nearly $7M in cap space and if it avoids Babin holding out, that may also be a plus for the Roughnecks. Las Vegas to Host First Playoff Game with Start Time Delay Possible. League officials are concerned about Las Vegas’s scheduled 8pm ET kickoff time for this week’s Divisional Playoff.  Predictions from the National Weather Service put the ground temperature in Las Vegas at game time (5pm local) at nearly 100 degrees, and we all know that in the bowl of a stadium temperatures can easily be 10 degrees warmer than ambient temperatures in surrounding areas.  This will be the first home playoff game for the city and the team since it relocated from Portland, and the league wants to avoid some of the issues that have been seen in venues like Phoenix and Florida during high temperature games in past playoff years. While Thunder officials have said all the right things about providing ample equipment for cooling, misting, and hydrating players, the reality is that when temperatures reach that level, there is little that can be done to make playing conditions safer.  One of the things that the USFL could do, and is considering, is changing the kickoff time from 8pm ET to 8pm local time. That three-hour shift would make a world of difference in the desert climate of Las Vegas, particularly as the sun is expected to pass below the mountain peak line somewhere around 7:25pm.   As is typical for the desert, the drop of the sun will have an almost immediate impact on temperatures at Sam Boyd Stadium, an open-air bowl stadium.   By 8:30pm temperatures could dip to a much more manageable range of 78-83 degrees, well within the range that we see in many stadiums each weekend. Of course, an 8pm start in Las Vegas means an 11pm kickoff for fans on the East Coast, but that may simply be a necessity for safety.  The game is scheduled for Saturday Night, so a late kickoff is not as bad as it would be on a Sunday for viewership, but even with Saturday night being a late night for many folks, it almost certainly will drop the ratings for ESPN, who are scheduled to cover the game.  A decision is due on Thursday as both teams are preparing for the heat and hoping the league will do what it can to protect player safety. Going into the Divisional Round, the injury to Jake Delhomme is obviously the headline, but all 4 games could be impacted by the players who are not available.  Here is our breakdown of all 4 games. CHA: QB J. Delhomme (OUT), FB Justin Green (IR), SS John Keith (IR), LB A. J. Nicholson (OUT) ATL: CB Andre Woolfork (OUT), DE Chris Kelsay (D), SS DaJuan Morgan (P) The story of the game will be Jake Delhomme’s absence and the decision Charlotte has to make between rookie Brandon Wheedon, who has not started any games this year, and NFL import Charlie Whitehurst, who has been 3rd on the depth chart all season.  Wheedon has a grand total of 12 pass attempts this year, while Whitehurst has yet to appear in a game. This will absolutely impact Charlotte’s game plan. TEX:  DT Terrell Troupe (OUT), QB Joe Flacco (IR), DE Chris Canty (P) LV:  C Roberto Garza (Q), LB Joey Porter (P), FS Mark Barron (P) The Thunder expect all three of their injured players to be able to go this week.  Not the case for Texas, who get Chri Canty back but will be without DT Terrell Troupe.  Expect Paul Grasmanis to line up next to starter Luis Castillo in the 4-3 alignment Texas likes. NJ:  FS Scott Shields (OUT), DE Shaun Ellis (IR), CB Devin McCourty (Q), FB William Swan (Q) PHI: DE Robert Mathis (IR), QB Kurt Warner (IR) SS Darren Sharper (IR), OT Ken Shackleford (OUT) Both teams will be without a starting safety in this game, which may mean that both offenses will test the secondaries deep.  New Jersey has McCourty as questionable, but early indications are that he will play.  If Swan cannot go at FB then expect to see the Generals rotate in HB Gordon Guerin and TE Ryan Krause depending on the situation. OAK: TE Jeb Putzier (IR), DT Tyson Alualu (Q), G Logan Mankins (Q) STL: WR Eric Weems (IR), G Paul Zakauskas (OUT), HB William Bethea (P) The return of Logan Mankins could be a nice assist for the Oakland run game, while for St. Louis, losing Eric Weems and Paul Zakauskas in Week 16 was not at all what the Skyhawks wanted in a meaningless season finale.  Expect Sinorice Moss to step back in as the slot option, which is not really a downgrade. NFL’s Tennessee Copperheads File Legal Action Against USFL Knights The Tennessee Copperheads of the NFL have, to say the least, not been pleased with the results of the USFL Knights’ negotiations with LP Field, the home to both franchises. They have filed a lawsuit in the state’s district court, claiming that unfair practices were used by the Knights to renegotiate a contract with the stadium that grants them significantly higher revenue per game than their NFL counterparts and identifies the USFL Knights as the “primary tenant” moving forward. This is a significant change of standing for the Knights, one which essentially flipped the status of the two pro football teams that call LP Field home. The Copperheads, who were formed in Nashville in 1998 and participated in the initial drive to construct the facility, had been seen as the primary occupant since the facility opened in 1999.  The Knights arrived from St. Louis in 2002, added as a second pro football franchise and secondary occupant of the stadium.  The redesignation of the Knights essentially gives them a degree of veto power over any other events held at the stadium, particularly relevant during the months of February through August, when the USFL preseason through post-season is in effect.  That schedule does not overlap often with the NFL schedule but has the capacity to impact the stadium’s use as a site for the Super Bowl in February as well as the scheduling of NFL preseason games in August.  This, combined with a shift in game-day revenue splitting between the stadium authority and the two football franchises is the focus of the suit. The claim is that by using the threat of relocation to Dallas as a leverage tool, the Knights unfairly pressured the stadium authority to redefine the terms of their lease with LP Field, creating a conflict of interest with the NFL, the USFL, and the Copperheads in particular.  Both teams now have contracts which grant their franchise primacy in the stadium, a clear violation of the earlier deal set up by the NFL and the Copperheads with the stadium authority.  The NFL is claiming that the tactics used by the USFL and the Knights violated not only the lease already held by the Copperheads but both federal and state tort law related to contractual obligation made under duress.  The suit seeks a reversal of the new terms for the Knights and a return of the NFL franchise to primacy in its dealings with the stadium.  For their part the Nashville Knights are claiming no inappropriate pressure or duress was present and seek to retain the more favorable terms of their new stadium deal, one which provides them with a significantly higher percentage of revenue from parking and concessions as well as more direct revenue from ticket sales, shifting the stadium/franchise split from a 50/50 proposition to a 30/70 advantage for the Knights.  The case is preliminarily scheduled for initial arbitration in October and we will continue to cover the story as it develops. League Reveals 2013 Summer Bowl Logo The USFL this week revealed the logo for Summer Bowl 2013, to be held in Denver, Colorado, the third time the league’s title game will be held in the Mile High City, and the first time at Invesco Field.  The logo depicts a stadium set in front of mountains with a setting sun in the background.  The USFL name and “U” logo are prominently featured on the field, while the location and the starburst logo of the Gold are found at the bottom. In keeping with the tradition of the Summer Bowl, a palette of oranges, pinks, purples, and golds are used in the logo along with the black and gold of the USFL Denver Gold franchise.  Compared with the Summer Bowl 2012 logo which heavily leaned into the colors and identity of the St. Louis Skyhawks, the 2013 logo will bring back more of the summer-themed palette and imagery. Denver becomes the first city to host three Summer Bowls, having served as the site of the league’s first championship game in 1983 as well as the 1995 Summer Bowl, both at Mile High Stadium.  Both Los Angeles and New Jersey are scheduled to host their third title game in the next few years, with Farmers Insurance Field set as the site of the 2015 championship game, and MetLife Stadium on the docket for 2016 (2014 will be held in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome). Top 2013 Draft Prospect Makes His Preference for USFL Known The Orlando Renegades may have suffered an embarrassing season-long letdown that saw them finish the year 3-13, but they have at least one big fan. LSU edge rusher Barkevious Mingo, considered a clear Top 5 prospect in the upcoming USFL and NFL drafts made a statement to reporters in Baton Rouge this week as he prepares for his senior season with the Bayou Bengals. “I will go where I am picked, but if it were up to me, I would be in Orlando with my guys, the Renegades.”  That was the statement from the hybrid DE/LB, who hails from nearby Belle Glade, Florida.  “The ‘Gades have always been my team, ever since I was a little kid and I saw my first game with Chris Doleman blowing linemen up” added the jovial Mingo. While Renegade fans certainly love the praise for their club, and the interest of a top prospect, Mingo would be a player within the protected territorial picks of the New Orleans Breakers, not the Renegades.  However, if Mingo were not protected by New Orleans, he could be available as Orlando has the 2nd pick in the Open Draft.  Mingo’s problem, of course, is that with Calais Campbell locked in with the Renegades, the need for a speedy edge rusher is not exactly a top priority for the Renegades, who have glaring needs on offense and in the LB group.  Now, if Mingo translated as a multi-use linebacker, he could well be a prospect for the Renegades, but right now he is viewed mostly as an edge rusher, not someone who will play in coverage, so while there is certainly interest, it may not be enough to get Mingo into Renegade black and blue next spring. Divisional Weekend and we have two divisional rivalries among the four clashes, both in the East as Charlotte heads to Atlanta to face the Fire while New Jersey travels to Philadelphia to take on the Stars.  This is again part of the USFL’s fixed bracket format in which teams are not allocated in each round based up on their seeds, but matchups are designated by the initial rankings.  In other words, the games are pre-set with the assumption that the 3 and # seeds will advance, so the winner of the 6 vs. 3 seed will always face the 2nd seed, while the 4 v. 5 winner is automatically aligned with the top seed. This system has been critiqued as one that often benefits the top seed, but it is as the USFL has designed it, so that fans of the top two seeds know in advance which game is the one that will produce their opponent, theoretically increasing interest in the Wild Card Round.  More akin to the March Madness structure than the NFL playoffs, the system has produced good matchups most years, so while it may feel odd to have a 6 seed not face off against the 1 seed, the product on the field has still been very well-received.   So, that in place, impacting Charlotte’s path to the conference title, we will take a look at their game in Atlanta as well as the three other matchups on tap for us this weekend. 6-Charlotte Monarchs (11-5) @ 2-Atlanta Fire (11-5) Saturday, July 16 @ 4pm ET Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA Fire -8 The Delhomme injury has clear impact in how this game is perceived, but we should remember that when these two division rivals last met in Week 9, Atlanta thoroughly trounced the Monarchs 35-7 even with the Monarchs’ QB fully-healthy.  Now, with Delhomme out and the rookie Brandon Wheedon expected to get the start, the oddsmakers have been seeing a lot of action leaning heavily towards Atlanta, as surprises no one.  The line jumped from 3 points up to 11, but has since calmed a bit and sits at 8 points for the Fire.  Atlanta, which boasts the league’s 2nd best scoring defense, giving up only 15.9 points per game, will certainly have a confidence advantage if nothing else.  They will rely on that defense and on Kyle Orton to play mistake-free football.  Charlotte will almost certainly seek to keep the score low, to run the ball with Fred Jackson and Shonn Greene, and to keep as much pressure off of Wheedon as they can.  It will be a tough gameplan to enact against a good, disciplined defensive squad, particularly in a hostile environment.  Our pick is Atlanta, but we think this will likely be a game in the teens, not one that produces an 8, 10, or 14 point margin.  We say Atlanta 17-13. 3-Texas Outlaws (10-6) @ 2-Las Vegas Thunder (11-5) Saturday, July 16 @ 8pm ET (Time May be Adjusted) Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV Even An interesting line on this game as it seems that even in Las Vegas the Thunder cannot get any respect.  The Thunder defeated the Outlaws back in Week 7, and have won 5 of their last 6 games, and yet the betting on this game has been leaning towards Texas, producing the unusual “even” betting line.  Here is what we know ahead of this game.  First, Las Vegas has the best scoring defense in the league, giving up barely 14 points a game.  They have a veteran QB in Jake Plummer and one of the most dynamic running backs in the game with Marshawn Lynch. And yet, they are only 21st in rushing offense in the league, and again 21st in passing.  Texas, for their part, has the 2nd best scoring offense, putting up 26.9 points per game, but lost 3 of 4 regular season games heading into the playoffs.  Now, their win over Portland was a good sign, but they did struggle a bit to keep up pressure throughout the game.  Our thought is that folks are sleeping on the Thunder and that Texas without Joe Flacco at the helm is a far more vulnerable team than their record may indicate.  We are going to trust in the Las Vegas defense (and the heat) to wilt the Outlaws and get a win at home.  Outlaws 20-16 is our pick. 4-Oakland Invaders (10-6) @ 1-St. Louis Skyhawks (13-3) Sunday, July 17 @ 4pm ET The Dome @ America’s Center, St. Louis, MO Skyhawks -5 These two did not meet in the regular season, so there is no direct track record to look at. What we know from the 16 games both did play is that St. Louis can put up points and Oakland relies heavily on defense.  The Skyhawks can beat you on the ground with the ageless Antowain Smith or through the air with likely league MVP Josh Freeman.  They are also playing some of their best ball right now, having entered the playoffs with an impressive 9-game winning streak, including 4 straight games in which they have won by double digits over the opposition.  Oakland also played well down the stretch, going 6-2 in the second half of the season, but that 41-9 loss in the season finale to Houston still bugs us.  For a team that thrives on defensive stops and short fields that game looks like a very troubling blueprint on how to beat them.  The Invaders only average 18.8 points per game, so if this turns into a track meet in the Dome that clearly favors the Skyhawks.  Oakland’s best option is to try to control the tempo and limit Skyhawk possessions.   We view that as a tough task indeed, so we pick St. Louis to take this one.  Skyhawks 27-20. 4-New Jersey Generals (12-4) @ 1-Philadelphia Stars (12-4) Sunday, July 17 @ 8pm ET Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA Stars -3 We cannot imagine a more intense potential matchup than a Generals-Stars playoff game.  The teams don’t like each other.  The fans absolutely don’t like each other.  Both teams are playing extremely well.  This one should be good, which explains why the league scheduled it for the Sunday night slot, the highlight of the weekend and a surefire ratings spike.  The two last met in Week 12, with New Jersey edging the Stars in Philadelphia 23-20. Since then Sam Bradford has been on fire while the Stars, who also won their final 4 games, have been showing more defensive clout while still maintaining a blistering offensive pace.  Matt Gutierrez has been the Cinderella story of the 2012 season, giving us his own version of the Kurt Warner story with Kurt Warner right there cheering him on. But now he faces playoff football and a very good Generals team.  We think Sam Bradford’s added experience gives the Generals a slight edge.  Our pick is a road upset, New Jersey 27-Philadelphia 24.