PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Charlotte stands alone as the only unbeaten team in the league, and this week they also get the POTW for LB Rolando McClain. McClain's big day included 7 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and a huge celebration as Charlotte moved to 4-0.

Everyone who had picked Charlotte to be the last unbeaten team in the league raise your hands.  No one.  That’s what we thought.  With Texas going down to defeat in Philadelphia and Portland struggling against the Las Vegas Thunder defense, the Charlotte Monarchs became the only team to reach 4-0 at the ¼ mark of the season, easily taking care of the Orlando Renegades to win their 3rd divisional game and take a 2-game lead in the Southeast Division.  Week 4 also saw four teams still sitting with a goosegg in the win column, including two franchises we did not expect to be here, the Michigan Panthers and the defending Pacific Division Champion LA Express.  It has been a wild first 4 games of the year and Week 4 did not disappoint as the tight games and surprise results continued.  We will review all the action from this fourth week of USFL action and also give you an on the unrest and speculation brought on by the as-yet undisclosed proposed sale of a current franchise to Dallas investors.  Let’s get right to it with this week’s best game, a Central Division showdown between two teams with very different first quarter fortunes in 2012. ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS  30   MICHIGAN PANTHERS 27 We had a good one in the Central Division this week as the Michigan Panthers hosted the St. Louis Skyhawks in a battle of two teams who seem to be headed in very different directions.  The Skyhawks entered the game at 2-1, having soundly defeated both the Machine and the Stallions before narrowly falling by 1 point to the Denver Gold last week. Michigan came into this matchup at a surprising 0-3, but have largely been in every game, losing to both Baltimore and Texas by exactly 3 points.  The Panthers have been close, but have been unable to hold teams down to secure wins, and that would be the storyline once again as for a second straight week they would fall by the score of 30-27. The problem for the Panthers has been their defense, which is giving up nearly 30 points per game, and against St. Louis it would fail them once again.  A game that was 13-13 after three quarters would explode for 31 combined points in the final quarter, 3 more than Michigan could afford to give up.  Michigan would allow 441 total yards of offense, and 130 yards rushing, but with 1:38 left to go they would have the lead, but once again would prove unable to hold it. The first three quarters of this game would not seem to foretell the explosive 4th quarter that we saw.  St. Louis would be held to only 2 field goals in the first half, while Michigan would score on only one drive, with Mike Hart getting a TD late in the 2nd quarter only to have the usually reliable Matt Prater doink the PAT off the crossbar, creating a 6-6 halftime score.  In the third quarter St. Louis would finally find paydirt, with Antowain Smith scoring from 2 yards out, but on the ensuing drive, Michigan would equalize as Brian Griese, who would finish the game with 287 yards and 3 TDs, would get his first, a 24-yard toss to Mario Manningham. Those two drives apparently cracked open the defenses for both teams and a wild 4th quarter would ensue.  It began mildly enough with a St. Louis drive bogging down in the red zone and ending with a 34-yard Rob Bironas TD.  After a 3-and-out for the Panthers, St. louis would get its longest play of the game as a missed coverage left Taylor Jacobs wide open for a 52-yard toss from Josh Freeman.  St. Louis had built a seemingly unassailable 10-point lead with over 9 minutes left to play. But the Skyhawks also had some issues on defense, and on their next drive Michigan would exploit the skyhawks, with Griese connecting on a 51-yard pass to Hines Ward that put the ball on the 6-yard line.  One play later Griese would find Manningham for a 2nd time and Michigan would be within 3.  After failing on a 3rd and 13 play, St. Louis would quickly return the ball to the Panthers, and Michigan would be in business, down only 3.  They needed only 1:58 to move the ball down the field once again, thanks in large part to a successful screen play that sent Mike Hart on a 24-yard scamper right up the middle of the field.  With 1:38 left to play, the seeminging unattainable comeback was in place as Gary Barnidge caught the 5-yard TD from Griese to put Michigan up 27-23.  It would appear that they would earn their first win after a rough 0-3 start. But 1:38 proved to be too much time.  Michigan’s defense moved to a shell, trying to protect against the deep ball, but allowing out routes and sideline patterns that were far too easy.  Josh Freeman connected on 5 consecutive passes, none longer than 11 yards, but quickly enough to put the ball at the 10-yard line with nearly 30 seconds left on the clock.  It was an epic failure of the prevent defense as the Panthers simply could not both protect against the deep ball and cover the outside routes that allowed St. Louis to pick up yards and stop the clock.  When Freeman took the snap from the 10, Michigan finally switched things up, sending pressure for the first time the entire drive, but when the blitz failed to get home, Freeman was able to find Taylor Jacobs fro his 2nd TD of the game, a perfectly thrown jump ball that Jacobs could pinpoint while his defender had his back to the ball.  Jacobs came down with it and St. Louis pulled ahead 30-27.  Michigan would drop to 0-4 while the Skyhawks, very much looking like a team that believes in its own ascendency, would rise to 3-1 on the year. TEXAS 21   PHILADELPHIA 28 As impressive as last week’s win over Atlanta was, this victory by the Stars over the unbeaten Outlaws may have just reminded the league that this team is so much more than a QB.  Matt Gutierrez only completed 10 of 22 passes, but the Stars still managed to hold off the Outlaws and move to 3-1.  Quentin Jammer again came up huge with his 2nd pick-six in two weeks, this time a 68-yarder that again got the crowd to their feet.  The Stars sacked Joe Flacco 7 times and limited the Outlaws to 4 of 14 on third down as they proved that they were still a force to reckon with in the East. NASHVILLE 29   OHIO 27 With 142 yards from scrimmage and 2 touchdowns, Frank Gore is doing his best to keep Nashville as a contender in the Southern Division.  Ohio had a good day from their lead back, DeMarco Murray (98 yards and 2 scores) but a failed 2-point conversion meant that the Glory fell to 0-4 on the season.  Nashville sits at 2-2 in large part due to Quincy Carter’s efforts to protect the ball and the defense’s ability to force teams to settle for 3 once they get into scoring range. PITTSBURGH 10  MEMPHIS 7 A second consecutive rainy and muddy week in the Mid-South forced both teams to slog through a tough game.  Kenny Watson was the man this week for the Maulers, as he rushed for 96 yards and Pittsburgh’s lone TD.  Memphis got within 3 on a 4th quarter TD to Sidney Rice after 3 quarters without a scoring try, but Dan Bailey went 0 for 3 on field goal attempts in the game, all from 40+, as the conditions made life miserable for the fans, the players, and the kicking game. NEW JERSEY 27   BIRMINGHAM 24 Birmingham got skirted by the rain on Friday, but by game time the field was in decent shape and both offenses could run a full playbook. That worked out well for both QB’s as both Bradford and Newton threw for 3 scores apiece.  Bradford found Doug Baldwin twice for scores, and by the half had a 24-3 lead.  Newton heated up in the second half, connecting with Terrell Owens twice, but could not get a final drive to tie or take the lead.  New Jersey escaped with the win and a 3-1 record at the ¼ mark of the season. LOS ANGELES 6   ATLANTA 9 Weather was not an issue inside the Georgia Dome, but poor offense certainly was.  In a sloppy game that saw the two teams combine for 17 penalties and go a combined 6 of 30 on third down, both offenses were inefficient, mistake prone, and just plain bad.  Randy Moss was again held under 50 yards in the game as his longest completion was for just 11 yards, and Atlanta could only muster 52 yards rushing against the Express in a game that was a joy for no one. PORTLAND 3   LAS VEGAS 16 The Stags’ surprising 3-0 start came to a halt as Las Vegas put up the first 13-points in the game and played shut down defense throughout.  Nine penalties for 80 yards did not help the Stags’ cause, and neither did Jonathan Stewart being held to only 2.3 yards per carry. The Thunder fared a bit better, with Lynch and Cedric Benson combining for 89 yards and backup QB Ingle Martin connecting with TE Ernie Williams for the lone TD of the game.  Las Vegas survives with Jake Plummer out, and gets the win to take a share of the Pacific lead with Portland. ORLANDO 10   CHARLOTTE 39 The Monarchs continue to impress as they blow out the Renegades and now sit as the league’s only unbeaten.  Jake Delhomme, who struggled through most of 2011 is looking right at home now, throwing for 200 yards on an 18 of 28 day.  Fred Jackson and Shonn Greene combined for 124 yards and 2 scores, and the Monarchs found the Renegade offense, without Knownshon Moreno, to be no threat at all. JACKSONVILLE 20   TAMPA BAY 17 Two losses in a row for the Bandits as they underestimate their in-state rival, let them hang around all game, and then look on in disbelief as the Bulls get 2 scores in the 4th, including a game winning TD from Tebow to Johnny Knox to take their first win of the season.  Tebow would go 22 of 38 for 226 and the score, while Lamar Miller, the rookie back, is beginning to look like a good catch, rushing for 86 yards on the day. BOSTON 6   BALTIMORE 14 Baltimore caught the front end of the rains for most of their game against Boston, but they may have found an answer as Anthony Dixon rushed for 102 in his best game of the year.  The defense was rough on Jake Locker, who has yet to settle into the pro game, and Boston could not get in the endzone again as the Cannons fall to 0-4 with another low-scoring loss. CHICAGO 13   NEW ORLEANS 21 After blowing out Arizona last week, the Machine came out flat against New Orleans. The defense pressured Drew Brees but the Breaker QB got the last laugh, completing 82% of his passes and connecting with both Early Doucet and rookie TE Coby Fleener for scores.  Doucet had himself a game with 150 yards on 6 receptions as New Orleans moved to 2-2, joining the 3-way tie atop the Southern Division. HOUSTON 20   ARIZONA 27 The Wranglers bounced back nicely from their loss last week, getting TDs from Fitzgerald, Mike Williams, and Stevan Ridley to upend the Gamblers.  David Carr had to leave the game just after the half, but Jim Sorgi rallied the Wranglers with a TD to Mike Williams to seal the win.  Ninety-five yards from LT helped as well as Arizona now moves to 2-2, along with the Gamblers. SEATTLE 16   OAKLAND 0 The Invaders drop to 2-2  with a stunningly ineffective showing at home against the winless Dragons.  Seattle held Oakland to only 59  yards rushing and controlled the ball for 38:25 of the 60 minutes, thanks in large part to the rushing of Jahvid Best and Jackson Smith, who combined for 98 yards on 31 carries.  Byron Leftwich hit Anquon Boldin for the game’s only touchdown, and Seattle got their first win of the year while shutting out a division rival. WASHINGTON 16   DENVER 3 Denver’s offense was also a no show on Sunday night as the Federals limited the Gold to 287 total yards and only 72 yards rushing.  A safety from Corey Liuget and a  pick-six from LB Antonio Pierce highlighted the dominance of the Federal defense in this game.  Five different Feds also got sacks as the visitors moved to 3-1 and now have a share of first place in the very competitive NE Division. Charlotte Moves to 4-0 But Cannot Shake Doubters The Charlotte Monarchs are beginning to understand what Rodney Dangerfield was talking about.  They just cannot get no respect.  The Monarchs are the last remaining unbeaten team, have won the last two games by a combined 76-10 score, are currently 1st in the league in scoring, 5th in scoring defense, and can boast a 19.3 point average margin of victory after 4 weeks, but no one seems to care.  The most recent ESPN Power Rankings have them 4th behind Texas, Pittsburgh, and Washington.   USA Today has them third, with only Washington falling behind, and the general opinion on sports talk is that this club is expected to start faltering and many are even saying they could finish 3rd in their own division. So, what does a team have to do to get some respect?  Well, the first thing may be to beat a team with a winning record.  So far, after 4 games, their toughest opponents have been 2-2 Atlanta and 2-2 Orlando, but that may change this week when they head out to Las Vegas to face the 3-1 Thunder on their own turf.  The game will also be the first road game of the year for the Monarchs, who have benefited from a quirky schedule that had them play an entire month of home games before hitting the road.  They will now head to Las Vegas, then to Nashville, and on to Jacksonville and Orlando in a 4-game road stretch. Charlotte will be challenged this week as both Fred Jackson and Shonn Greene appeared on the injury list.  Jackson is doubtful, Green questionable, but we expect one or both to be able to play.  The Monarchs will have their entire receiver group available, including D. J. Hackett, who leads the club with 303 yards, 23 receptions, and 4 TDs.  Former NJ General Mark Clayton has 3 scores of his own, despite only having 7 receptions so far this year.  The defense will also be intact, which includes Rolando McClain, who had a huge game this past week, as well as sack leader LB Rey Maualaga, and CB Asante Samuel, who already has 2 picks on the season. Charlotte may find that respect takes time, but as they venture out for a long road trip, this is the time for them to prove that they are not an early season fluke, but a true contender. Stewart the Story in Portland Portland fell to defeat for the first time this season in their game against Las Vegas, but don’t put the blame on HB Jonathan Stewart.  The 5th year back is having his best season with the Stags and could exceed 1,000 yards for the third straight year if he can keep up the pace.  He is on pace for 400 carries this season, something we have only seen once in 30 years of USFL football, 2008, when Michael Turner barely topped it at 402 for the season.  But, the 97 carries we have seen already have been productive ones for Stewart.  They include a 160 yard game in Week 2 against Orlando and two more games over 80 yards. The Stags need this kind of production from their lead back as the passing game has not exactly lit things up.  Ryan Fitzpatrick is doing pretty well this year, raising his completion percentage to a respectable 67.5% and he has been protecting the ball, with only 1 pick in 4 games, but he is not making huge plays downfield.  The Stags rely on the run, play action, and short passes to keep the chains moving, and it has been Stewart’s steady gains on early downs that have made it possible for the Stags to keep those chains moving and avoid the problematic third-and-long situations which tend to cause drives to stall. The defense has been a huge help to the Stags, ranked 2nd in points allowed at 12.2 per game (only Las Vegas is better) and barely 222 yards per game, but even that is partially a result of Stewart’s success, as Portland currently has the highest time of possession total through four games of any team in the league, nearly 37 minutes per game.  If the Stags are going to be a legitimate contender for the Pacific Title, especially after being picked by most to finish in 5th place, they are going to do so on the back (and the legs) of Jonathan Stewart. Flacco Holding the Triple Crown Despite Week 4 Loss As we look over the stats after 4 weeks (see our standings page for current totals) it seems clear that Joe Flacco is again on pace for a possible MVP award.  The Texas QB is currently holding the Triple Crown of yards, TDs and QB Rating.  It is a trifecta he was able to hold last year in his MVP season, an honor which only 5 QBs have ever achieved (Jim Kelly, Brett Favre-twice, Kerry Collins-twice, Troy Aikman, and Brian Griese) and one only Kerry Collins achieved in back to back seasons, the “Glory Years” of back to back titles in 2002-2003.  Texas fell short last year, falling to Pittsburgh in the Conference Title Game, but if Flacco can keep up this pace all season, the Outlaws may again be poised to reach their first Summer Bowl. Express Last in Scoring But First in Complaints The 2012 season is not going the way most expected for the LA Express.  After a 10-6 season that saw the Express win the Pacific Division and advance to the Divisional Playoff Round, there were high hopes that this year LA could go even further, maybe win the top seed and earn a bye, and make a serious push for the club’s first Summer Bowl appearance since 2006.  But, sitting at 0-4, and boasting the worst offense in both yards and scoring, it does not feel like that team has shown up yet. What has shown up in Los Angeles is discord.  It started with Randy Moss speaking publicly about the team’s offensive struggles, and calling out both the playcalling of his coach and the decision-making of his QB.  Now, after another brutal loss, and a 2nd straight game without scoring a touchdown, more and more fingers are being pointed in more and more directions.  Yes, Moss was again vocal about the team’s need for a more wide-open gameplan.  Keyshawn Johnson, the other distinctly extroverted receiver on the club, spoke out as well, stating that he felt chances were missed and that the gameplan continues to be far too conservative.  Halfback Ray Rice, who has yet to crack 1,000 yards in his career, is grumbling about a lack of carries, with only 52 this season.  Compare that to backs like Jonathan Stewart (97), Deuce McCallister (93) and Fred Jackson (88) and you can see why he is upset, but unlike those three backs, Rice is not providing enough bang for the buck at 3.8 yards per carry to warrant 20-25 carries a game. LA’s problems appear to be many.  Their line is struggling to hold blocks, their QB is rushing plays to avoid getting hit, and the receivers are not getting separation.  And while we can also critique the overall gameplan for not opening up the passing game, the truth is that the offense is not stable enough to allow for slow-developing plays or frequent deep shots.  Coach Gregg Williams is by nature a conservative coach with a defensive mindset, but the roster he has to work with on offense is not a classic smashmouth, grind it out, squad.  They are better aligned for a faster pace, more spread, deep ball vertical offense, but that is not the preferred strategy for Williams, so we are not seeing it on the field.  So, for the near future, expect to hear more grousing, more discord, and more post-game discussion as the losses continue to pile up. Injuries continue to mount as the USFL season continues, with the biggest hit coming in Memphis, where HB Cadillac Williams will be placed on IR after suffering a hip injury that will require surgery this week. The Showboats were not alone in their pain as Washington suffered two potential IR-inducing injuries, with RT Vernon Carey down with a ruptured Achilles tendon and DT Geno Atkins out with a fracture to his tibia.  A rough week all in all, with several season-impacting injuries to report. INJURED RESERVE Vernon Carrey              OT          WSH                  Achilles Cadillac Williams            HB          MEM                 Hip Andy Alleman                 G             BAL                   Achilles Geno Atkins                DT           WSH                 Leg OUT Terreal Bierria               SS           POR                       Arm                     6-8 Weeks David Bowens            DE          JAX                        Arm                     4-6 Weeks Michael Floyd             WR         CHI                        Abdomen            2-4 Weeks Jason Babin                  DE          BOS                       MCL                     1-2 Weeks Marshawn Lynch            HB          LV                           Ribs                      1-2 Weeks Shonn Greene               HB          CHA                       Ankle                   1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL Sinorice Moss                   WR         STL                        Concussion Jamar Fletcher                 CB           DEN                       Knee Tebucky Jones                  FS           MEM                     Concussion Marcus Truffant                CB           LA                          Shoulder QUESTIONABLE Michael Jenkins                WR         ORL                        Turf Toe Robbie Tobeck                 C             ATL                         Concussion John Greco                       OT          BIR                         Jaw Bobby Wagner                 LB           OAK                       Turf Toe Bob Sanders                     SS           NJ                           Hip Fan Groups Across USFL Call For Owners to Nix Sale This had to be expected.  With news that the USFL league offices had received the intent to transfer ownership paperwork from the Destination Dallas investment group fronted by tech billionaire Mark Cuban, but without naming the franchise in question to be transferred, fans in several cities have started making noise.  Organized efforts to protest the sale have emerged in all of the most likely cities impacted by a club sale: Boston, Chicago, Oakland, and Nashville, but also in Orlando, Memphis, and San Antonio, all cities not generally viewed as being in danger of a sale & relocation plot. The greatest pressure seems to be building in Chicago, where not only have over 25,000 fans signed a petition to ask the USFL to keep the Machine in the Windy City, but where Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, former White House Chief of Staff, has called for the city’s lease with the Machine to be held securely, requiring major punitive damages be paid to the city should the team leave town.  In Boston, fans have organized rallies to support the Cannons, but have been unable to get official support from City Hall.  In Nashville the local government is open to renegotiating the Knights’ contract with Adelphia Stadium, but have, as of yet, been unable or unwilling to go so far as to threaten legal action against the USFL should Nashville’s Knights be proposed as the club to be sold to the Dallas investment group. Meanwhile, in Dallas, the news of a potential club purchase has been greeted with widesweeping approval.  Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings has said that the USFL will be welcomed with open arms. The Cotton Bowl renovations are near completion so a club could begin play in March 2013, and nearly 24,000 fans have already placed non-binding $100 deposits on seat licenses for a potential franchise, a number that has already put nearly $2.5 million in the coffers of the Destination Dallas group. Our reporters have, as yet, been unable to obtain any reliable information as to the identity of the team which has signed off on the agreement to sell the franchise.  We know the league owners will be reviewing and very likely voting on the sale in just a couple of weeks, but clearly word has gotten out around the league that this is a topic to keep under wraps, lest one of the existing franchises suffer a midseason crisis of faith, with protests impacting both attendance and public image in the club’s current location.  We will continue to reach out to both league and various team sources to see if we can get a better sense of the future, and we will continue to follow the actions of the Destination Dallas Group, as they seem to exuding confidence that approval is forthcoming and planning for a Dallas USFL club is moving forward. Would League Consider a Double Move to Save a Market? Sports radio has lept on the news of the Dallas sale, and in an interesting move, both on radio and on ESPN’s USFL coverage a new wrinkle has been discussed.  Would the league consider a double move if the Dallas deal costs the league one of its cornerstone cities?  What does that mean?  Well, we all know that the league is largely TV revenue dependent, and we know that the revenue stream is tied to markets across the USA.  The concern, both within the league offices and among all 28 owners is that a move, even to a large market such as Dallas, could lead to reconfigured deals with both ABC/ESPN and FOX, particularly related to the Saturday and Sunday slates of simulcast games. The fear, of course, is that Chicago is the team on the chopping block. The league already dealt with the loss of the country’s second largest city back in the late 1980’s when the Chicago Blitz relocated to Baltimore.  The league was able to assuage the networks then through a guaranteed reinstating of a Chicago franchise in 1987 as well as an expansion that added additional markets such as intended franchises in Miami, San Diego, and San Antonio.  That plan backfired a bit when Miami turned out to be Orlando, and San Diego ended up in Tulsa, but Chicago did return with the Machine in 1987, and by 1988 the Orlando, San Antonio and now Portland squads helped expand the market coverage into the Pacific Northwest and within Texas. In the current scenario, there is no immediate plan for expansion, so the departure of a Chicago franchise would be hard for the league to swallow. Or, would they simply not allow that to happen.  The case put forward in sports media has been that if Chicago is indeed the franchise under the microscope, the league might push hard for a 2nd team, particularly a team in a smaller market, Nashville, Orlando, or Columbus, for example, to be pushed, cajoled, or enticed to relocate to Chicago immediately.  What we could see is for the Machine to suffer a major upheaval, perhaps with new ownership coming from one of the other cities, and with the full staff and roster of that relocated 2nd team to replace the Machine roster and staff, while the original Machine franchise would move to Dallas, with all the players and personnel traveling to their new city as part of the deal with Destination Dallas.  This would not be the first time we have seen something like this, not even for Chicago. Older fans may remember that after only 1 season in the USFL, when the league was still struggling to establish itself, and right as the antitrust lawsuit and discussion of a fall calendar were getting underway, the owners of the then Chicago Blitz and the Arizona Wranglers all but traded entire franchises.  Chicago’s initial ownership took over the Wranglers, and brought most of the Blitz roster as well as head coach George Allen to the desert, while Chicago got handed most of the Arizona roster and staff. Considering the long history of Chicago being a somewhat unstable location, a history that has largely been forgotten as the Machine have resided in the city without much incident since 1987, discussion of a double move seems both plausible, and concerning.  Of course Chicagoans would not be happy to lose the team they have rooted for, even if the shell of the Machine were picked up by another team, but a double move would also mean that somewhere else in the USFL nation a city would be losing their franchise entirely, despite local support, just to ensure that the league retained a huge TV market in Chicago. Of course, this all assumes that Chicago is the franchise that the Dallas investment group has targeted and come to an agreement with.  Were the agreement to be with a club like Nashville, we likely would not be discussing any double move.  The Knights and Memphis Showboats have struggled to not cannibalize each other’s fanbase, and further splits exist with some Tennessee and regional fans also supporting Birmingham, Atlanta, or St. Louis.  If the team being sold is either Boston or Oakland, then there is a debate.  Boston is the 11th largest market in the USA, and while the league would  like to retain as many Top 20 markets as possible, a move to Dallas, the #4 market, could not be defined as a negative impact move by the league.  Similarly, with the Bay Area currently the 13th largest market, relocation of the Invaders to Dallas would still be a net pick up for the league. Of course, this all assumes that the network don’t look at the numbers and decide that losing all of New England, or the Bay Area and all of northern California as a more significant subtraction than the addition of a 3rd Texas squad would represent.  With Houston and San Antonio already represented in the league, there is an argument to be made that adding Dallas is not as big a gain as may be anticipated, with many DFW football fans having already signed on with the Gamblers or Outlaws as their team.  Losing the Boston or Bay Area markets could actually produce a greater impact than the addition of the DFW metro area could counteract. The idea of a double move, while primarily tied to Chicago as a city of concern, could, even in the cases of other markets, be a considerable consideration.  Could a smaller market essentially be squeezed out by the league’s interest in maximizing their TV dollars?  While that seems an unpleasant potentiality, it also feels very much like the kind of financial consideration the USFL may well be willing to consider. Peyton Manning Cleared for Non-Contact Drills Our final report of the week is good news for what must be a very nervous Nashville fanbase. While the club is still being named as a very possible Dallas target for sale and relocation, and while the club has had marginal success with Quincy Carter at the helm, sitting at 2-2 in the division at present, the news fans have wanted to hear has come to pass. In his most recent medical evaluation, Peyton Manning has been deemed to be improving nicely, recovering from the spinal fusion surgery which cost him the entire 2011 NFL season and has been cleared to participate in non-contact drills and practice with the Nashville Knights.  Manning, who has been a regular presence at the team’s facilities, an unofficial coach to the QB group during film and gameplan meetings, and who has been seen engaging in private workouts both on the field and in the team’s weight and training facilities, is now able to join the team for walkthroughs and other non-contract drills.  This is a good step towards being able to join in full practices and eventually to being moved from the PUP list to the active roster.  That is something all Knight fans are hoping will happen this year.  The alternative would be for the Knights to decide to give Manning more time, place him on IR for the remainder of the season and target 2013 as his potential return date.  What fans are hoping for, and what the recent announcement of his eligibility for practice seems to indicate, is the potential for a late season return to action, and a possible appearance of the former Tennessee Volunteer on the field in Knight purple, silver and gold this season. Week Five kicks off with a battle we all want to see, as two NE Division rivals square off. It will be the Federals visiting Philadelphia to take on the Stars. The Stars have found ways to win over the past 2 weeks, shrugging off the loss of Kurt Warner by redoubling their commitment to shut down defense and a balanced attack.   Washington comes in with the best ground game in the league and with a desire to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the division. Saturday’s headline games include Houston traveling to Portland, and a traditional Alabama-Georgia border war between two clubs in different divisions but with a history of football rivalry, the Atlanta Fire traveling to Birmingham to face the Stallions.  Saturday also features a game that could be the beginning of the end for one team as the winless Michigan Panthers travel to neighboring Ohio to face the winless Ohio Glory. Not exactly the Michigan-Ohio State clash we love each fall, but a game that could mark the end of any realistic goals for this season as one team will likely come out of the game at 0-5. On Sunday’s slate we look forward to the Baltimore-Orlando clash in Central Florida, to the Generals headed to Denver to face the Gold, and to the Maulers and Skyhawks, both 3-1, clashing in the Gateway city, but the game of the week has to be Charlotte heading to Las Vegas for a Sunday 4pm classic of a 4-0 Monarchs club being tested in their first road game against the 3-1 Las Vegas Thunder, the club with the best scoring defense in football. FRIDAY @ 8PM ET             Washington (3-1) @ Philadelphia (3-1)           NBC SAT @ 12PM ET                Nashville (2-2) @ Boston (0-4)          ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                Michigan (0-4) @ Ohio (0-4)                            ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                Atlanta (2-2) @ Birmingham (2-2)                   FOX SAT @ 4PM ET                  Houston (2-2) @ Portland (3-1)                     ABC SAT @ 4PM ET                  Jacksonville (1-3) @ Seattle (1-3)                     FOX SAT @ 8PM ET                  Texas (3-1) @ Arizona (2-2)                               ESPN/EFN SUN @ 12PM ET           Baltimore (3-1) @ Orlando (2-2)                       ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               Memphis (1-3) @ New Orleans (2-2)               FOX SUN @ 12PM ET               Pittsburgh (3-1) @ St. Louis (3-1)                       FOX SUN @ 4PM ET              New Jersey (3-1) @ Denver (2-2)                   ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                Chicago (2-2) @ Los Angeles (0-4)                    ABC SUN @ 4PM ET               Charlotte (4-0) @ Las Vegas (3-1)                     FOX SUN @ 8PM ET                Oakland (2-2) @ Tampa Bay (2-2)                  ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Week 3's POTW is Joe Flacco, who once again took the Texas offense on his back and, thanks to his 428 yard, 3 TD day, carried the Outlaws to victory as the club moved to 3-0 on the year. Special acknowledgement for the defensive POTW, Quentin Jammer, who set a league record with a 100 yard pick-six in Philadelphia's big comeback win.

Finally a week without a season-altering injury to report on.  Week 3 was highlighted by a big home win for the Stars with their backup now set to play out the rest of the season, blowout wins by the Chicago Machine and Charlotte Monarchs, a barnburner between Michigan and Texas, and quite a bit or rain across the league.  Stunningly we have the Monarchs and Stags sitting at 3-0 along with Texas, while Michigan, LA, and Seattle sit uncomfortably at 0-3 (along with Boston,  Jacksonville, and Ohio who many expected to have rough starts).  In a week where the focus was the scoreboard and not the injury list, a lot of good games to report on, so let’s get started. ATLANTA FIRE 25   PHILADELPHIA STARS 30 For the second week in a row the Stars make our game of the week.  This time it is purely their on-field performance, and not a season-altering injury, that gets our attention.  In a game that may build some fan confidence in their stand-in quarterback, a confidence he quite frankly deserved after last year’s playoff performance, Matt Gutierrez survived two picks and 6 sacks and led a game-winning drive in the final minutes to secure the win for the Stars.  It was not easy, not always pretty, and he got a huge assist from the defense, but Matt Gutierrez again found a way to win in a tough matchup. The gameplan for the Stars was simple, push the run game, use play action, and don’t ask too much of their quarterback. That plan seemed to be working just fine in the first quarter, when Philadelphia took the opening kickoff 77 yards in only 8 plays, thanks in large part to a couple of 20+ yard strikes, and got on the board with a brilliant 26-yard run from Steve Slaton.  The Stars would double their advantage 10 minutes later when Gutierrez found Stevie Johnson from 10 yards out to go up 14-0.  Johnson would be Gutierrez’s favorite target all game, targeted 7 times and bringing in3 balls.  Slaton would be even more important, rushing for 114 yards on the day. After falling behind early, Atlanta started pulling their way back in the 2nd quarter.  They got their first points on a Josh Scobee field goal, and would then add 7 more on their next drive as Kyle Orton found Ted Ginn Jr on a short crossing route from the 3 yard line.  Down 14-10 with a chance for a third drive in the quarter, Atlanta looked like they had found the formula.  They used tough inside running from LaDell Betts and Darren McFadden to force Philadelphia into bringing the safeties down, and then connected with Reed, Ginn, and Matt Jones behind the coverage, the very same strategy that Philadelphia was trying to use. But, on their 2-minute drive, one key moment would alter the ending of the first half.  Having had success moving the ball into the red zone, and with time counting down, Jay Cutler forced a ball into the endzone, trying to connect with Josh Reed.  What he did was through a perfect ball to CB Quentin Jammer, who not only stepped right into the pass, but was all but clear to run the full 100-yards downfield to turn in a 100-yard pick six play.  Orton tried to get the angle on Jammer, but fell a yard short, clearing a straight line run for the cornerback to take the ball to the house.  It was a play that left the Philadelphia crowd in an ecstatic state at the half, their team up 21-10. The second half would prove more difficult for the Stars.  Their offense stagnated, producing only a sole field goal in the 3rd quarter.  At the same time the Fire continued to claw their way closer and closer.  The opening drive of the quarter led to another Scobee field goal, pulling Atlanta within 8, a one score game.  They would get that one score on their next drive, a 14-play march down the field that ended with Will Heller on the receiving end of another short Kyle Orton TD pass.  Orton would finish the day with 59 pass attempts, connecting on 35 of them for 369 yards, far outpacing Matt Gutierrez’s 9 of 19 for 120, but in the end Gutierrez would get the last laugh. Atlanta missed the 2-point conversion after the Heller TD, which meant that they trailed the Stars 21-19.  They would get a field goal just as the third quarter ended, which put them up 24-19 when the final period began. In that period, both teams struggled with pass protection. Gutierrez was sacked by Chris Kelsay to end the Stars’ first drive, then Orton suffered a 14-yard loss on a poor attempt to escape an initial defender only to be sacked by Anthony Hargrove even further back.  Both drives failed, and with 7 minutes left, the game remained 24-19.  But Atlanta would find their groove again on their second drive of the quarter.  Orton would connect with Josh Reed for a huge 32-yard play on a 3rd and 9, and McFadden would add a 22-yard rumble that took the ball to the 4. From there Orton would again connect on a short TD pass, his third of the game, this time finding Demetrius Williams along the back line of the endzone. The Fire again failed on their 2-point attempt, leaving them up 25-24 with 3:26 left to play. Needing only a field goal, Philadelphia embarked on a drive that had two missions, get Mike Nugent in range for the winning kick, and kill as much of the clock as possible in that drive.  The Stars would rely on Steve Slaton to get that done, and the lead back would come through.  Philadelphia found themselves breaking off big chunks on the ground, perhaps too big for the time-killing goal of the drive. Within only 4 plays they were inside the Fire side of the field.  Perhaps that is why Coach Harbaugh decided to abandon the slow march and go for the jugular.  On a 2nd and 8 from the 39-yard line, the Stars faked the handoff to Slaton, and after a legal rub route freed up WR Reche Caldwell on a slant & go route, Gutierrez found the receiver in single coverage with the safety, who was trailing by a good 2 yards.  He heaved up his longest pass of the game, and found Caldwell, who had not caught a ball add day.  Caldwell reeled in the pass, tumbling to the ground, but rolling over the goalline and into the endzone for 6.  Yes, there was time on the clock, 1:44 to be exact, but instead of a 2-point lead, Philadelphia had the chance to go up 7. Those 2-point conversions are so tempting, but can be so tough to pull off.  After watching Atlanta fail on two attempts, it was Philadelphia’s turn, and they too failed to get the ball into the endzone from 2 yards out. Atlanta would have nearly 2 minutes, with 2 timeouts left, to try to get a TD, down by 5. Philadelphia got the hero ball play from Gutierrez and now they would need the defense to step up and preserve the win.  The D did just that.  Safety Jairus Byrd broke up a pass play to Williams on a 1st and 10 from the 33, then Orton was forced out of the pocket on 2nd and 10, throwing the ball away instead of taking the sack as Robert Mathis caught up to him.  That left a 3rd and 10, and while Orton was able to connect with TE Will Heller, the play went for only 4 yards, leaving Philadelphia to defend a 4th and 6 attempt still in Atlanta territory. Orton would again look to Williams, but this time it was Quentin Jammer once again who was the man on the spot. With his 4th pass defense of the game, going along with his 100-yard pick six, Jammer broke up the 4th down toss with a perfectly timed jab between the arms of Williams, knocking the ball away while avoiding a DPI call.  Philadelphia would pull this one out and move to 2-1.  Gutierrez would have his game winning drive and a defense that had given up 489 total yards on the day would make the stand they had to make.  A big win for what had been a rattled Stars team a week earlier. TAMPA BAY 16   ORLANDO 23 The Renegades fell behind early at home but rebounded in large part thanks to relentless pressure from their front four.  Orlando recorded 7 sacks of Daunte Culpepper, including 3 from DT Albert Haynesworth and another 2 from Calais Campbell as they rattled the veteran, forcing 2 picks, including a Cortland Finnegan 47-yard pick six, and a fumble from the Bandit QB.  Both teams now sit at 2-1 in the division. PITTSBURGH 23   NASHVILLE 10 The Maulers racked up 151 yards on the ground and got another TD from rookie Brandon Boldin as they outpaced the Knights.  Ronnie Brown led all rushers with 90 yards on 18 carries, and Vincent Jackson added 93 through the air.  The Knights at one point recorded 4 straight 3-and-outs and finished the game with only 4 converted 3rd down tries all game. NEW ORLEANS 13   MEMPHIS 3 Rain the night before had created a bit of a mud pit at Legion Field, making offensive football tough for both teams.  Matt Forte led all rushers with only 40 yards on 12 carries, while Drew Brees found Early Doucet for the game’s only TD, but not until the 6:35 mark of the 4th quarter. Both clubs now sit at 1-2 on the year. LOS ANGELES 0   CHARLOTTE 37 An ugly game for the Express in a rainy Charlotte.  LA gained only 171 total yards and was 1 of 10 on third down.  Charlotte did not seem bothered by the rain a jake Delhomme went 20 of 25 for 177 yards and 2 TDs.  With the score 31-0 in the 4th, we got to see rookie Brandon Wheedon on the field. The rookie went 3 for 3 and found TE Justin Green for a TD to put the game away. TEXAS 30   MICHIGAN 27 A shootout at Ford Field that saw Joe Flacco explode for 428 yards passing.  Flacco also connected with 3 different receivers for scores. Both Brandon Marshall and TE Chris Cooley went over 100 yards.  NFL signee Arian Foster carried the ball 22 times but struggled as Michigan loaded the box.  He finished with only 35 yards but Flacco’s huge day won the game for the visitors. DENVER 21   ST. LOUIS 20 The Skyhawks drop their first game of the year as Denver gets two 4th quarter TD’s from their run game to pull back from a 20-7 deficit and take the win.  Maurice Hicks was the star for Denver, rushing for 71 yards on only 8 carries to help lead the Gold back and on to victory.  St. Louis went through 3 QBs in the game with Josh Freeman knocked out after only 2 passes. Troy Smith played most of the game, but was hurt in the 4th, which led to Ricky Stanzi coming in to finish the game. BALTIMORE 13   WASHINGTON 16 Another wet game as rain persisted throughout the Blitz-Federals game.  That did not bother Deuce McCallister, who rushed for 139 and caught a 5-yard TD pass from David Garrard.  Tory Holt led al receivers with 126 yards as Baltimore abandoned the run in the muck.  It was 13-9 Baltimore after 3, but McCallister’s late TD gave the win to the homestanding Federals, who move to 2-1, equal with the Blitz. OHIO 16   BIRMINGHAM 25 Birmingham was spared the rain that soaked most of the Mid-South, and that helped Cam Newton and the Stallions as they got TDs from Terrell Owens and a pick six from LB Ernie Sims to take the W at home and move to 2-1.  Ohio kept it close, but the Stallons added 2 late field goals to pull the lead out to 9 points and Ohio never recovered. JACKSONVILLE 21   NEW JERSEY 27 The Generals win their second in a row as Michael Crabtree put on a show with 139 yards receiving and 2 scores against the Bulls.  Sam Bradford added another to Doug Baldwin and the Generals were off to the races. Jacksonville clawed back, but it was too little too late as New Jersey secured the win with a 7 minute drive to kill most of the 4th quarter. ARIZONA 13   CHICAGO 41 Arizona looked lost against the Chicago defense, getting called for 11 penalties and managing only 78 yards rushing.  Meanwhile, Brady Quinn went for 257 on 14 of 21 passing.  Rookie HB Doug Martin made a splash in this one, scoring 3 times, all on short runs in the red zone.  Donald Driver added 2 scores and 126 yards receiving as the Machine looked particularly well-oiled on this day. BOSTON 13   HOUSTON 38 Houston got back on a winning track at home, thanks in large part to a 4-TD day from Matt Hasselbeck.  The veteran connected 3 times with Roy Williams and once with the ageless Ike Hilliard as Boston’s secondary floundered all day long.  It was 10-0 Boston at one point, but then Houston scored touchdowns on 4 consecutive drives in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and the game quickly got out of hand for the Cannons. SEATTLE 7   PORTLAND 12 Portland moves to 3-0 with a Cascade Clash win against the Dragons.  Ironically, this clash of Pacific Northwest clubs did not see any rain, and very little offense as well. Jonathan Stewart had a good day, rushing for 91 yards, but the Stags won the game without scoring a touchdown all game.  The only 7-pointer was a Nate Burleson catch early in the 4th that made the score 9-7, but the Dragons could not get another on the board. LAS VEGAS 7   OAKLAND 17 Oakland’s defense proved effective against the Thunder, limiting Chad Johnson to only 34 yards receiving and holding Marshawn Lynch under 100 yards.  And while they were hardly explosive, the Oakland offense did enough to get the home win, scoring on a Hank Baskett TD catch and a Ryan Williams TD run, both in the second half, as Oakland moves to 2-1 and gives Las Vegas their first loss of the year. Flacco Shreds the Panthers for 400 Yards Texas is looking very much the part of a Summer Bowl favorite, sitting at 3-0 and putting up points at a blistering pace.  Their leader, QB Joe Flacco is also looking very much like a contender, once again for the MVP award, as he puts up 428 yards and 3 TDs against the Panthers on the road.  Flacco completed 22 of 29 passes despite constant Michigan pressure that produced 4 sacks.  He used 9 different receivers in the game, going for over 100 yards to both Brandon Marshall and Chris Cooley while Michigan shifted their coverage to consistently double up Marques Colston, the league leader in receiving yards.  Flacco still managed to connect with Colston 5 times, but with 75 yards receiving, the wideout finished third on the team for the game. In a game in which Arian Foster, the NFL import that Texas hoped would replace T. J. Duckett, struggled to find holes to run through (22 carries for only 35 yards), it was Flacco’s arm that proved to be the undoing of the Panther defense.  Texas is 3-0 and now heads into a huge game in Philadelphia against the Stars before back to back division games (@ Arizona and home to Houston).  IF they can emerge from this three game stretch still unbeaten, they could be in a very good position to snatch the brass ring of the #1 seed in the playoffs.  We know it is early, but this team is looking just that good. Michael Crabtree Steps up for the Generals With both Mark Clayton and Santonio Holmes leaving the Generals in free agency, there was some concern that QB Sam Bradford would not have the weapons he needed to be successful this season. But Coach Herm Edwards felt confident in the players he still had in his receiving room, and so far this season, that confidence has proven appropriate. Bradford is off to a good start with 8-8 yards and 5 TDs in his first 3 games, and that is due in large part to the emergence of both Doug Baldwin and Michael Crabtree as the starting duo. Baldwin leads the club with 196 receptions (2 Tds) while Crabtree, with a strong 5 catch, 139 yard, 2 TD performance this week, is leading the club in receptions.  This week, the Generals also added TE John Carlson to the mix, and while the NFL import did not have a catch, his presence in the middle drew away safety coverage just as the Generals had hoped, making it easier for Bradford to find both Baldwin and Crabtree outside. Now, we are not saying that the General passing game is an unstoppable force, but they currently rank 5th in the league, averaging 269 yards through the air after 3 games.  What we are saying is that they are a good step ahead of where many expected and the future looks bright.  If they can get Carlson into the groove of the passing game, and if they can get more out of their slot position (Miles Austin), this could be a very tough offense to defend, something we have not said about the Generals in a while. Jammer Returns Pick for 6 and for 13. It was the most dramatic play in our game of the week, a 100-yard pick six that helped Philadelphia stave off the Atlanta Fire, and what made it even more memorable was the tribute made by Quentin Jammer as he scored the longest defensive touchdown in the past 5 years. Jammer, crossing the endline and celebrating with the endzone fans, raised his jersey over his head, revealing a t-shirt with a hand-painted #13 on both the front and the back.  The tribute to Kurt Warner and the feeling of solidarity among all the Star players go the crowd to its feet. Warner has been a crowd favorite ever since he came over from the NFL in 2005. He has helped Philadelphia make the playoffs each of the past 5 seasons, reaching the Summer Bowl in 2010, and while he has not brought a title to the City of Brotherly Love, both his teammates and the city itself are showing him their brotherly love in this tough time.  Warner was not able to attend the game this week, still hospitalized, with his neck and back locked into temporary traction.  It is expected he will be able to return home over the next week, but will likely be wearing a hard neck brace at least for 2 months as doctors hope to avoid surgery on his fractured vertebrae.   But, while Warner was not able to be on the sidelines this week, the volume of 13 jerseys in the stands, and the gesture by Jammer to celebrate Warner in his moment of glory certainly showed that 13 is very much on the minds of the Stars players and fans. Haynesworth & Campbell Make Statement Against Bandits Orlando needed this win.  They needed a statement game, and they needed to not fall 2 games behind the defending league champions with only 3 games played. They came through on all of those needs, and the credit has to go where it so often does with this Renegade squad, to their front 4 on defense.  The Renegade front 4 tormented Daunte Culpepper all day, forcing rushed passes, pushing the somewhat immobile QB out of the pocket, and sacking Culpepper 7 times, all without the need to overcommit to blitzes. For once it was not Calais Campbell leading the charge.  Yes, he did have 2 sacks to increase his league lead to 7 on the year, but with Tampa Bay doing all they could to double team Campbell, DT Albert Haynesworth stepped up big with consistent pressure up the middle and a team leading 3 sacks on the day.  The Stars would also get pressure with minimal blitzing, with both Paul Posluzsny and SS Atari Bigby both recording sacks on the day, but it was the front four of Campbell, Haynesworth, Kenny Smith and RE Arthur Moats that made the Bandits cringe all game long.  With the front four so successful it meant that on many plays we saw 7 defenders drop into coverage, crowding the passing lanes and offering Culpepper few options. The ability to rush only 4 and drop 7 will be essential for the Renegades this season.  Their offense has yet to truly hit its stride, 25th in the league with only 250 total yards per game, and while the pass defense has allowed 250 yards per game, it’s the pressure that has produced results in the team’s two wins, both division wins, and the pressure is likely to be their advantage all season long.  The Renegades face a tough task this week, heading to Charlotte to take on the 3-0 Monarchs, but you already know that Jake Delhomme is watching the footage of this week’s win against Tampa Bay and he is dreading what Campbell, Haynesworth and the Renegade front 4 are going to be unleashing this week. Randy Moss Not Shy About Criticism after 37-0 Blowout Loss Are we shocked that Randy Moss spouted off after the Express were just crushed by Charlotte this week?  Not at all.  Are we surprised that Moss went after both his QB and his head coach?  Yeah, that is not what you ever want to see.  Do we think he was wrong?  Honestly, no.  His critiques were accurate, it is just not something you ever want to see in a locker room, much less a press room, and only 3 weeks into the year, that is not a good sign. When asked about the offensive struggles of the team, Moss was visibly upset and did not hold back, critiquing not only the execution of the offense as a whole, but calling out the playcalling, and naming names, both among the coaches (Gregg Williams to be exact) and the players (Mark Sanchez).  We get why Moss is upset.  The Express currently rank 26th of 28 teams with ony 178 yards passing per game. Moss himself has only 19 targets and 9 catches (3 per game average) over 3 weeks.  He has yet to score a TD and is averaging only 12.1 yards per catch. That is simply not the kind of production he expects or we expect for him.  Generally considered one of the best deep ball receivers in the league, Moss does seem to be wasted on an offense that is just not giving him opportunities to stretch the field.  He is not wrong about that. Where he is wrong, as has often been the case for this particular receiver (and others, let’s be honest, WR has become a prima donna position in the pro game), is how he expresses that frustration and who he expresses it to. Maybe this is a strategy to publicly call out his QB and his coaches, to force them to focus more on him or on the play calls he wants to see.  Maybe it is a ploy to force LA to consider a trade, to quiet him down, or maybe he is just simply at a point of frustration on an 0-3 team that he cannot contain himself.  But no matter how you come at it, laying into your own team at a press meeting, and not behind closed doors, is never a good look or a good move. Mario Williams Looks Good in USFL Debut Several NFL transfers saw their first action this week, but while many were somewhat quiet in their debuts, DE Mario Williams of Memphis had himself a pretty nice day and a pretty good introduction to the fans in Memphis.  The offense floundered all day, leading to the 13-3 loss in the rain, but Williams was one of the few highlights for the Showboats. The newly activated DE finished the game with 6 tackles, including 2 for a loss, and added a sack of Drew Brees for his first QB takedown in the new league. Williams came to the USFL and the Showboats with a strong NFL track record behind him.  But, when you play defensive end for the Showboats, you know exactly the giant shoes you are going to have to fit. Memphis was the home of Reggie White for 16 seasons, and White’s shadow still looms large over the franchise.  Mario Williams has come to Memphis to become part of the tradition of the Showboats, and that includes embracing the legacy of the Minister of Defense.  While it is way too early to know if Williams can live up to the hype that came with him, or if he can help Memphis attain the level of success they saw when White was playing, what we can say is that he introduced himself to his new team with the kind of effort, motor, and results that all Showboat fans were hoping for. A better week on the injury front across the league, but not without impact.  A particularly bad week for rookies as WR Michael Floyd, HB Robert Turbin, and LBs Luke Kuechley and Bobby Wagner are expected to miss the next week.  St. Louis loses QB Troy Smith for the year, prompting a move to bring in a backup via trade, and at the same time lose their RT, Bryan Bulaga for 1, possibly 2 weeks.  Las Vegas is hoping that Jake Plummer can play in Week 4, but right now it is not looking very promising. INJURED RESERVE Keiwan Ratliff                     CB           MEM                     Torn ACL Troy Smith                          QB          STL                        Torn MCL OUT David Bowens                    DE         JAX                        Arm                      4-6 Weeks Deltha O’Neal                   CB          MGN                     Foot                       4-6 Weeks Michael Floyd                    WR         CHI                        Abdomen       2-4 Weeks Bryan Bulaga                     OT          STL                        Thigh                     1-2 Weeks Robbie Tobeck                  C             ATL                       Concussion         1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL Bobby Wagner                 LB           OAK                       Turf Toe Knowshon Moreno         HB          ORL                        Shoulder Tebucky Jones               FS           MEM                     Neck Michael Jenkins            WR         ORL                        Turf Toe Jake Plummer               QB          LV                           Concussion QUESTIONABLE Kevin Burnett                  LB           HOU                      Hip Ben Sobieski                    G             NOR                       Hamstring Robert Turbin                 HB          SEA                        Hand Demaryius Thomas          WR         ATL                         Concussion Luke Kuechley              LB           BOS                        Foot Busy Week For Roster Moves, But No NFL Signings Despite the closing of the NFL-USFL transfer window and a lot of talk about Alex Smith of the 49ers, no NFL players were signed this past week as the window once again shut.  That does not mean that there were no moves at all, as we saw some action within the USFL free agent pool as well as some trades as teams try to find injury replacements.  Here is our rundown of the most impactful moves. Moore Moves from Orlando to Philadelphia There was a question what the Renegades would do when NFL import Chad Henne was activated from the practice squad.  We got our answer this week.  Henne moved into the active roster and Charlotte cut QB Matt Moore to make room.  Philadelphia immediately pounced on the waiver wire and put a claim in for Moore. That claim held and by Thursday, Moore was practicing with the Stars.  Expect him to be listed as the #2 QB within a week as Philadelphia moved Austin Davis to their practice squad. John David Booty Finds a New Home Charlotte also had an NFL import QB shifting from the practice squad to the active roster as Charlie Whitehurst was added to the 53 this week.  That meant that Charlotte also had 4 QBs on the roster.  Rather than cut one, they opted to make a deal, sending Booty to the St. Louis Skyhawks, who had recently placed Troy Smith on IR after his MCL injury  Booty will start as the #3 QB behind Josh Freeman and Ricky Stanzi, but we expect that the veteran will move past Stanzi once he has had a chance to absorb the Skyhawk playbook. Nashville Swaps Kickers With Knights kicker Connor Barth missing on 3 of his 6 field goal attempts already this season, including a potential game-winning kick in regulation of their 20-17 overtime loss to Memphis, the Nashville Knights have made a deal to bring in a new kicker.  Chicago had both Tim Seder and Kai Forbath on the roster because Seder had suffered some hamstring issues in camp, but with Seder now back at 100%, they were happy to send Forbath to Nashville for a 7th round pick. Stallions Upgrade at FB. The Stallions had not been happy with the production from FB Rhett Ellison. The rookie was struggling to pick up blocking schemes and was not reliable in passing downs.  So, still hopeful for the future for Ellison, they moved the rookie to the practice squad and worked out a deal with Charlotte to acquire veteran Obafemi Ayanbadejo.  Ayanbadejo BIR trades 5th to CHA for FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo, the 36-year old former Blitz and Bandit fullback was expected to retire this year but came back with Charlotte.  He now joins Birmingham, where the expectation is that he will be a coach on the field, helping to develop Ellison as he also helps Joseph Addai and Cam Newton with the Stallions right now. Destination Dallas Files For Purchase, But Details Undisclosed. Reports out of NYC this week that the investment group Destination Dallas has reached on preliminary agreements with a USFL franchise for a sale to the Texas-based investment group.  In sealed documents presented to the USFL league office, DD was expected to present the terms of the agreement.  With the Owners set to meet in 3 weeks, the expectation is that this proposed sale will be the primary order of business.  League officials as well as team officials with the primary potential targets (Chicago, Boston, Nashville, and Oakland) have all been mum on the topic.  And while that makes good legal sense, it is not going to do anything to calm the nerves of their various fanbases, each of whom are now very concerned that their team is the one for sale and the one that could relocate to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The fear within league circles, of course, is that news will get out of the team to be sold, and that when that happens we will see a combination of protests, fueled by anger about the relocation of the franchise, and ticket sale declines, perhaps a collapse of the entire fanbase for the remainder of the 2012 seaosn in whichever city is about to lose there team.  The problem, of course, is that relocation takes time, and it would benefit the Dallas group to start working on everything from team identity to ticket sales as soon as possible, assuming the sale is approved.  But, from the league perspective, a delay in releasing the information about which team has agreed to terms with Destination Dallas could allow the team to have a meaningful 2012 season and still have fan support. Just how long the league and its various teams can keep a lid on the identity of the proposed seller is very much in question.  We find it hard to believe that no announcement would be made during the regular season, but it is theoretically possible that the sale of a USFL franchise could be approved without public revelation of which team is being purchased.  If that happens, then the Dallas group could begin to set up their franchise this season without an open declaration of just who is moving to the city.  With most insiders expecting Dallas to develop a new identity for their club, regardless of the current identity of the franchise in question.  So, we could be losing the Invaders, Machine, Knights or Cannons and gaining a brand new team, but even in that process we may not know which city or which fanbase is being dropped until later.  Of course that all assumes that leaks do not occur and that the deal is approved as designed. Is OKC Really Next Up? That is the hope of the investors and city officials who have approved construction of a new football/soccer/lacrosse facility in the capital city of Oklahoma.  The city is cashing in on recent growth and hoping to expand their sports profile by investing in a new 57,000 seat stadium to be built just on the southeastern suburbs of OK City.  The new facility will be completed by the early spring of 2016, and the hope, of course, is that the facility will attract both a USFL franchise and a Major League Soccer franchise.  Both feel a bit farfetched, but stranger things have happened.  With Dallas, Miami, San Diego and the Twin Cities already planning on a push for USFL recognition, Oklahoma City has a lot of citeis ahead of them, with stadiums either already available or under development, not to mention the demographic data which certainly supports the larger markets. While Oklahoma has actually been home to a USFL franchise, the ill-fated and short-lived Oklahoma Outlaws, who played at the University of Tulsa’s Skelly Stadium, the growing Oklahoma City market had not been host to any major league sports franchise until the relocation of the NBA’s Seattle Supersonics in 2008.  The success of the newly-dubbed Thunder seems to be one of the motivating factors leading to the stadium project, with the city and the local investors hoping to attract a USFL franchise to fulfill the passion for the game that has always been present in the Sooner State.  We still rank OKC as a clear darkhorse in any expansion or relocation discussion, but the stadium is underway and the money may just be there to make the dream happen for the city and the state. Week Four, the one quarter mark of the season, and we kick it off with a rare interconference clash between two teams that were in the Conference Finals last year, Texas and Philadelphia.  The Outlaws are a 7-point favorite on the road, largely due to the absence of Kurt Warner for the Stars, but coming into Philly and getting a W is never an easy task. On Saturday we have an interesting matchup between New Jersey and Birmingham, two teams on the rise, both sitting at 2-1, and hoping that they can reach 3-1 with a solid game. Los Angeles, stuck at 0-3 and dealing with at least one disgruntled player, head to Atlanta hoping to earn their first win.  Saturday ends with a battle of two divisional foes, one 3-0 and the other 0-3, as St. Louis takes their unblemished record to Michigan to face the hard luck Panthers. Sunday brings us some good divisional games as Orlando, fresh off their win over Tampa Bay, must now visit unbeaten Charlotte.  We also have a rivalry game in the Southwest as Houston will travel to Arizona for a divisional clash.  Seattle is also in division as the 0-3 Dragons travel to Oakland to face a 2-1 Invader club.  The Sunday Night clash is another somewhat rare inter-conference showdown, with the Federals making their first trip to the Mile High City in several years. BOLD = National Broadcast BLUE = Divisional Game FRIDAY @ 8PM ET             TEXAS (3-0) @ PHILADELPHIA (2-1)                    NBC SAT @ 12PM ET                 NASHVILLE (1-2) @ OHIO (0-3)                            ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                 PITTSBURGH (2-1) @ MEMPHIS 1-2)                      FOX SAT @ 12PM ET                 NEW JERSEY (2-1) @ BIRMINGHAM (2-1)               FOX SAT @ 4PM ET                   LOS ANGELES (0-3) @ ATLANTA (1-2)                   ABC SAT @ 4PM ET                   PORTLAND (3-0) @ LAS VEGAS (2-1)                     FOX SAT @ 8PM ET                   ST. LOUIS (2-1) @ MICHIGAN (0-3)                      ESPN/EFN SUN @ 12PM ET               ORLANDO (2-1) @ CHARLOTTE (3-0)                   ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               JACKSONVILLE (0-3) @ TAMPA BAY (2-1)                ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               BOSTON (0-3) @ BALTIMORE (2-1)                         FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                 CHICAGO (2-1) @ NEW ORLEANS (1-2)                 ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 HOUSTON (2-1) @ ARIZONA (1-2)                         FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                 SEATTLE (0-3) @ OAKLAND (2-1)                         FOX SUN @ 8PM ET                 WASHINGTON (2-1) @ DENVER (2-1)                    ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Four really good candidates this week, but we are going to give it to Tampa Bay HB Willis McGahee for his 210 yard day. Willis combined 82 receiving yards with 128 rushing yards as he dominated the game for the Bandits and set a mark for himself with this performance.

For the second week in a row a major injury, this one potentially career-ending, was the lead story coming out of the weekend.  Yes, there were some good games, and there are some teams turning heads with surprisingly strong starts, but the story of the week was the neck injury suffered by Philadelphia QB Kurt Warner and the potential impact not just for the 2012 season, but for Warner’s career.  We will run through that game, the status of Warner, the options available to Philadelphia, and, of course, all the games and highlights for the week.  We begin with Philadelphia’s ill-fated game against the Nashville Knights, a team already familiar with neck injuries as they wait out the situation with Peyton Manning. NASHVILLE KNIGHTS 24   PHILADELPHIA STARS 20 Of the 14 games this week, perhaps this one was not the closest contest, though it did feature a 10-point comeback in the 4th quarter, but, more importantly, it produced a play that could impact the entire course of the season.  Early in the 4th quarter, and leading by 10 points, Philadelphia’s Kurt Warner was knocked out of the game after taking a very hard hit on a rare scramble.  Complaining of both neck pain and numbness on his right side, Warner was quickly hurried to the locker room and then to a local hospital where it was determined that he had suffered fractures to two vertebrae in his neck,  There was some pressure on the spinal cord, but doctors were able to relieve that, restore feeling to the affected limbs, and stabilize the neck.  The final diagnosis was the two cracked vertebrae and a requirement for traction and stabilization of the neck which would end Kurt Warner’s season.  There is even talk that Warner could potentially be out of football altogether if the neck requires further stabilization, something that will not be known for several weeks. Following the injury to Peyton Manning of the NFL, this injury to Warner feels very much like a replay of that situation.  Both Manning, who was signed by Nashville this offseason, and Warner face a similar recovery timeline, though there has yet to be any talk of a spinal fusion surgery for Warner as Manning has completed. On the field, the game swung in that moment.  From Philadalphia having full control at 20-10, and with Warner having produced both Star TDs on passes to Reche Caldwell, the energy just got sucked out of the Stars’ players and staff.  It was apparent that they were deeply impacted by Warner’s injury, and that deflation allowed Nashville to rally in the 4th to take the win. Philadelphia had looked very good throughout the first 3 quarters, with Warner connecting with Caldwell from 23 yards out to go up 10-3 in the 2nd and then finding his deep ball receiver on a perfect fly route for a 63-yard score in the third to give the Stars their 20-10 lead.  But in the 4th, Philadelphia, and backup QB Matt Gutierrez, now very much looking like he will take on the starting position, just could not make plays and convert first downs.  On the other side of the ball, the defense was flat, and in two drives Nashville turned the table, first with a Frank Gore 9-yard run that pulled the Knights within 3, and then, n the final minutes of the game, with a  9-play drive that finished with Montario Hardesty scoring the game winning points just before the 2-minute warning. Philadelphia would get the ball back, but down by 4, and simply not playing in rhythm, it was too much to ask of the Stars. They failed on a 4th and 5 from their own 48 and that allowed Nashville to run out the clock.  Coach Johnson offered his support to Coach Harbaugh after the game, and all the Knight players interviewed in the post-game press room were in full solidarity with Kurt Warner, his family and the team.  For the second week in a row a team had lost a major star and one of the driving forces in their offense, and this time it might be a permanent departure, something that lends a somber air to the entire week and to the Stars’ season. ARIZONA 17   TEXAS 44 Don’t look now, but the Southwest Division race may already be over.  Texas put a Lone Star whooping on the Arizona Wranglers, scoring on 8 possessions and showing that they were the team to beat perhaps not only in the division, but the conference as well.  Joe Flacco completed 14 of 15 passes, throwing for282 yards and 3 scores, despite a vicious pass rush from the Wranglers that got 6 sacks on the day.  Texas’s rush was just as nasty, bringing down David Carr 7 times as neither o-line seemed ready for what they saw.  Marques Colston won honors this week for his 199 yards receiving, which included a 75-yard TD in the 2nd quarter and several 20+ yard catches.  Reynaldo Wynn was also recognized for his 3-sack game against the Wranglers. NEW JERSEY 25   WASHINGTON 22 A really good one at RFK that saw New Jersey take a 22-14 lead on Leigh Tiffin’s 3rd FG of the game, only for Washington to get a game tying TD from Deion Branch (with the ensuing 2-point conversion).  But, Sam Bradford, who finished the day with 321 yards passing, did what he needed to for Tiffin to get a shot at a 4th kick and with 26 seconds left Tiffin nailed a short field goal to give the Generals the win and move them to 1-1 on the year. JACKSONVILLE 23   CHARLOTTE 26 Another good game between divisional opponents as Jacksonville found a run game with rookie Lamar Miller (108 yards on 18 carries).  Charlotte countered with a pick-6 from Asante Samuel and Jake Delhomme connecting with free agent Mark Clayton for the second week in a row.  This one was also tied up until the final seconds, when Charlotte’s Brandon Coutu connected from 41 yards out to help Charlotte move to 2-0 on the season. PORTLAND 31   ORLANDO 9 Portland is proving the pundits wrong with a nice win in Orlando to move to 2-0.  The Stags got the ground game going against the Renegades, with Jonathan Stewart rushing for 160 yards.  That freed up Ryan Fitzpatrick to use play action, and he did so masterfully, throwing 4 TD passes on the day, including 2 to Roddy White and another to Stewart.  Orlando, meanwhile, struggled to get the run game going, and failed on 10 of 15 third down attempts as they drop to 1-1. TAMPA BAY 34   NEW ORLEANS 13 The Bandits move to 2-0 in their title defense with a pretty comfortable win in New Orleans.  It was 31-6 at the half as Tampa Bay got early scores form David Tyree, Willis McGahee, Shane Vereen and Joey Galloway.  New Orleans had no answers for the Bandit offense, which racked up 476 yards on the day, including 210 combined yards from scrimmage for Willis McGahee and another 109 in receptions from former General Santonio Holmes. SEATTLE 19   DENVER 21 Seattle made it close late, but the Gold hung on to win their first of the year, thanks to 2 Matt Leinart TD tosses and a key late stop by the defense.  Both Peerless Price and Daniel Graham found paydirt and Denver also got a score on a Maurice Hicks run as they held off a feisty Seattle squad.  WR Mike Wallace did not play in the game for Seattle, falling ill with the flu on the day the team flew to Denver. OAKLAND 27   LOS ANGELES 21 The first California Derby of the year goes to the visiting Invaders, who used 92 yards from HB Ryan Williams and another 71 from Jurious Norwood to run the Express into the ground. Joey Harrington only connected on 14 of 43 passes, but the ground game and the defense kept Oakland in it.  LA struggled on third down, and two turnovers domed their comeback attempt as LA now falls to 0-2. MEMPHIS 17   BALTIMORE 20 Anthony Dixon put in good work subbing for Ron Dayne, rushing for 89 yards on 18 carries, but the key to this game was Ben Roethlisberger connecting on 71% of his passes and finding both Antonio Gates and Donte Do for scores.  Memphis took a 17-13 lead midway through the 4th, but Big Ben connected with his new wideout, Do, in the final 2 minutes to move Baltimore to 2-0, atop the NE Division. BOSTON 21   ATLANTA 27 Boston played a tough game, as backup Adrian McPherson went 18 of 29 with 3 TDs and Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 125, but in the end, Kyle Orton’s third TD toss of the game was too much for the Cannons to overcome.  Orton hit Josh Reed, Matt Jones, and TE Will Heller with scores on an efficient day. BIRMINGHAM 21   ST. LOUIS 36 St. Louis is looking very much like a team on a mission with their second big win of the year.  Josh Freeman went 18 of 28 for 319 yards and 3 scores while Antowain Smith added 96 yards and a score as St. Louis pulled away from the Stallions, despite B’Ham QB Cam Newton rushing for 81 yards on the day.   Terrell Owens caught 6 fo r114 and a TD from Newton, but it just was not enough as St. Louis pulled away with 10 late points in the 4th quarter. HOUSTON 3   LAS VEGAS 23 Las Vegas also looked like a team to contend with as their defense completely befuddled the Gamblers.  Jake Plummer had a 14-yard TD run to go with his 180 yards passing, but it was the D that was most impressive, holding Shaun Alexander to only 49 yards rushing and limiting Houston to only 2 drives inside the Thunder 40. OHIO 21   CHICAGO 24 Terrelle Pryor was solid in his sub duty for Vince Young, throwing for 2 scores and 218 yards, but in the end Brady Quinn survived 4 picks to rally the Machine in the end. He got a huge assist from HB Michael Turner, whose 126 yards and 2 scores helped offset the Quinn errors.  Ohio falls to 0-2 despite winning the turnover battle 4-0. PITTSBURGH 27   MICHIGAN 16 The Maulers rebound from a season opening loss as they go into Detroit and get a division win against the Panthers.  The Maulers picked off Brian Griese twice and also forced a fumble to take a 3-0 turnover lead.  They got TDs from both Watson and Brown as the combo, along with 65 yards from rookie Brandon Boldin, combined for 175 yards rushing. Kurt Warner Lost for Season Two weeks into the season and our second major injury to a team’s big star.  First it was Ron Dayne in Baltimore and this week Kurt Warner for the Stars.  Warner, who had missed the end of the season opener, was the starter this week versus Nashville, but took a huge hit early in the 4th and was visibly shaken as he was helped off the field.  It would take 24 hours before we would get a report, and the report was not good, twin fractures in two vertebrae, the combination of the two requiring traction and limited movement for Warner over the course of 2 months, meaning that he is basically out for the year, with the potential to be a career-impacting injury. By Wednesday, Warner was placed on IR, ending his season.  Matt Gutierrez will be the starter, with Austin Davis as his backup.  But while Star fans send their well-wishes to their QB and we all hope that the medical staff is able to provide Warner with an option to return to the league in 2013, the Stars organization now looks to a long season with a backup at QB and few other options.  Matt Gutierrez, the 28-year-old backup who came in last postseason and won 2 games for the Stars now takes on the mantle as the club’s starter for this year.  Just how much this shakes up the Northeast Division remains to be seen, but for fans of the Stars the injury, and the uncertainly certainly cast a shadow of the 2012 season after only 2 weeks of action. Impressive Start to Year for Portland, St. Louis, and Las Vegas The power ratings do not look as we expected after 2 weeks, with Las Vegas, Portland, and St.Louis right there with Tampa Bay and Texas to form the Top 5.  It has been an impressive start for all three clubs.  While Texas leads all teams with 64 points in 2 games, St. Louis,  Las Vegas and Portland are all right there as well. Las Vegas is also doing it with defense, having allowed only 12 total points in their first 2 games. Portland is doing it with their ground game, leading the league with 256 yards rushing in their first two games, while St. Louis trails only the Bandits with 778 total yards over the first two weeks.  The Skyhawks have yet to take to the road, and will have a third straight home game this week against Denver, while Las Vegas, after two home games, will visit Oakland in a huge game for the Pacific Division.  Portland won on the road this past week in Orlando and returns home for a Cascade Clash with 0-2 Seattle.  Impressive starts for all three could be just the boost they need to build confidence as they head into the meat of their schedules.  With two of the teams, the Thunder and Stags, in the same division, and with the two set to face off in Las Vegas in 2 weeks, we could be building up to something big in the Pacific.  St. Louis has it’s big test in Weeks 4 and5 when they head to Michigan and then face the Maulers at home. It is early, but all three clubs are giving their fans hope that the somewhat negative predictions during the preseason may be way off base. Baltimore Acquires Clarett The Baltimore Blitz, despite a solid game from backup HB Anthony Dixon, made a move this week to shore up the HB group and provide more power in the backfield.  The Blitz sent two 2013 draft picks, a 4th and a 6th rounder, to Chicago for HB Maurice Clarett, the kind of big, bruising back that is not represented on the Blitz roster without Ron Dayne. Clarett is in his 8th season in the league, having played with Chicago his entire career after coming out early from Ohio State.  His best year to date has been in 2007, when he had 112 carries for 536 yards. Often used in short yardage and goal-to-go situations in Chicago, Clarett may have a bigger role in Baltimore as the thunder in a Thunder and Lightning combo with Anthony Dixon. NFL Players Expected to Debut in Week 3 As we have come to expect since the shifting of the NFL-USFL Transfer Window, it is Week 3, sometimes Week 4, when we start to see some of the newer NFL acquisitions make their way to the field.  As we look ahead to the third week of the year, we have seen many teams move their NFL signees off the practice squad and onto the active roster, a clear sign that they expect the veteran players to be on the field within a week, two at the latest.  So, who should we be watching this week?  Here are the 6 players we believe could make the biggest impact if they get on the field this week. DE Cliff Avril (OAK)—Expect Avril to rotate in with Justin Smith and Israel Idonije.  Just how much Avril will see the field may depend on down and distance.  He is more of a dual use DE, with more run stopping than pass rush specialization, so we might see him more in early downs. TE John Carlson (NJ)—We fully expect to see the talented Carlson in for at least 20-30 plays this week, especially on 3rd down and in the red zone, where Sam Bradford may look to the NFL veteran as a sure-handed target. HB Mike Tolbert (NOR)—While we think the Breakers will limit Tolbert’s carries these first few weeks, at least until he picks up the pass blocking schemes, we do think the bigger back will be on the field on short yardage and goalline situations.  After all, that is why they signed him. WR Mike Wallace (SEA)—Wallace was supposed to start in Week 2, but a stomach flu sidelined the former Steeler.  We expect him to jump into the starting lineup in Week 3, and to seek to do that with a splash. HB Arian Foster (TEX)—Texas has not had much luck with the run game led by Aveion Carson these first two weeks.  Carson has only 53 total yards rushing in two games, so do not expect a slow roll out for Arian Foster.  We would not be shocked at all to see the back with 20-25 carries in his first game on the active roster. DE Mario Williams (MEM)—This week, returning home to face New Orleans, we expect a big roll out for Williams.  He may not be in all 3 downs, but on third down you can bet the Showboats want him out there terrifying Drew Brees and the Breaker offensive coaches.  He is in great shape, seems energized for this second phase of his pro career, and will be very warmly welcomed by the team that made Reggie White a household name. Kurt Warner’s neck injury is clearly the top story of the week, but, as we see most weeks, it is not the only injury of note.  Week 2 saw several other players placed on IR after major injuries as well as a bevvy of shorter-term injury announcements.  Here is the rundown. ADDED TO INJURED RESERVE Logan Mankins          G             OAK            Bicep Kurt Warner                QB          PHI                   Neck Austin King             C             WSH                Quad OUT Knowshon Moreno         HB          ORL        Shoulder       1-2 Weeks Derick Harvey                    DE           BIR         Foot           1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL Matt Birk                              C             PHI           Hand Robert Turbin                     HB          SEA          Hand Dexter Jackson                  SS           BOS           Knee Zach Miller                          TE           OHI         Hand QUESTIONABLE Richie Incognito                C            OHI          Tendinitis Kevin Burnett                     LB           HOU       Hip Josh Reed                            WR         ATL          Neck Patrick Chung                    SS           HOU        Hand Joey Porter                          LB           LV              Knee NFL-USFL Transfer Window to Close on Friday It has been a quiet two weeks on the NFL-USFL transfer window, with only a couple of USFL Players (HB Julius Jones and WR Doug Gabriel) signed by the NFL.  This is not unusual, as once the USFL clubs reach the regular season they tend to want their rosters to be locked in, but with the injuries to Ron Dayne, Kurt Warner, and center Austin King of Washington, these last few days of potential signing could actually bring some movement.  As we look at the current unsigned NFL free agents, there are possible solutions for all three clubs looking to salvage their seasons despite these major injury hits. Philadelphia is clearly going to look to Matt Gutierrez as their best option at QB right now, but if they wanted to bring in a potential short-term solution, the  NFL free agent pool does offer them a couple of choices.  At the top of the list is former 49er Alex Smith.  Now, Smith is hoping to catch on as a true starter for an NFL club, so it may be very hard to sign him to a short term deal, with the expectation that Warner would be back next year.  But, if the Stars are concerned that Warner will not be back, which is a legitimate concern, they may well opt to plan for the worst and sign a player like Smith to a multi-year deal, essentially moving on from Warner just as the NFL Colts did with Peyton Manning. If Philadelphia has more confidence that Warner can return in 2013, they will likely only be looking for the best possible option in a 1-year deal to help them salvage the 2012 season if Matt Gutierrez does not prove capable of leading the team successfully.  Looking over the NFL free agent pool the best options in that situation include former Bear starter Rex Grossman, former Birmingham Stallion Jason Campbell, and a bit of a wild card, Buccaneer QB Josh Johnson.  We could see any of these three signiing a one-year deal in hopes that a good season would give them a shot at a better deal, a long term one, in 2013. Baltimore is next, having lost Ron Dayne for at least 10 weeks, possibly the year (though they have not placed him on IR).  The Blitz have already traded to bring Maurice Clarett over from Chicago, but if they are not satisfied there, they too could be looking for an NFL option.  Here the options are not as promising.  W esee the best option as former Packer Ryan Grant, but Grant is not really the style of back that Coach Coughlin wants to have as the lead back.  Ideally Baltimore would look for a bigger back who can emulate Ron Dayne’s style, particularly inside.  Looking over the NFL free agents, which include Tashard Choice, Kahlil Bell, Justin Forsett, and Marcel Reece, honestly, the best of that somewhat uninspiring group would be Forsett.  But, based on the pool available, we expect that Baltimore may well stick with their current roster rather than dabble in the NFL free agent pool. Finally there is Washington, which lost center Austin King to a fully separated quad muscle.  The Feds have 12-year veteran Matt Johnson penciled in at center for now, have signed 4-year vet Mike Pollack as well, but may still be looking for someone else.  There are three potential targets in the NFL pool, including the Raiders’ Samson Satele, the Packers’ Scott Wells, and OT Marcus McNeill of the Chargers who did play a considerable amount of center in college.  If Washington is feeling solid with Johnson at the pivot, they will likely avoid the expense of competing with NFL clubs for one of these three players, but if they are still seeking a solution, we think Satele is the clear option, coming out of a zone-blocking scheme similar to their own, and with a good track record in Seattle. Beyond these three positions, the biggest names still in the free agent pool (after a flurry of signings within the NFL itself) are all players who have potential but may be leary of jumping mid-season into the USFL.  Among them are LB Chase Blckburn of the Giants, WR Jacoby Jones of the Oilers, safety Michel Griffin of the Tennessee Copperheads, and DE Andre Carter of the Patriots.  Will we see any of these players join the USFL, or is that move just too problematic this late in the game? Who is Making a Splash With many of the NFL transfers beginning to see action in Week 3, we thought we might first visit with the USFL free agents who swapped teams this offseason and see who has had an impact on their team ahead of reporting on the new faces from the NFL.  There was no shortage of free agent moves within the USFL this past year and some of those moves appear to already be paying dividends. Patrick Willis-LB-ATL Perhaps the biggest name on defense to change teams, Willis went from Memphis to Atlanta and has not skipped a beat. The hard-hitting LB is currently second on the squad with 14 tackles, behind only SS DaJuan Morgan (16), and Willis has already started to show that he will be a leader in the locker room, in the huddle, and in game action. LaDell Betts-HB-ATL The other big signing by the Fire has also shown that he can still bring it.  Despite having 11 fewer carries than starter Darren McFadden, Betts has more yards (69 to 66) and a better YPC average (4.3 to 2.4), now, this is a bit unfair as Betts typically sees more action late in games than McFadden who faces fresh defenders in the early stages of games, but it is still a very good option for Atlanta to bring in the bruising back to help ground out wins late. Mark Clayton-WR-CHA While only 5th on the squad in receptions, Mark Clayton, the former NJ General, is proving to be a reliable red zone target for QB Jake Delhomme.  He leads the team with 3TD receptions in the season’s first 2 games.  That is not bad at all for a receiver who has only 5 catches.  We expect Clayton to continue to build his targets as the season goes along, swapping in for both D. J. Hackett and Derrick Mason. Chris Canty-CB-HOU Houston’s newest corner has been an immediate success with 8 tackles, a pick and a defensive touchdown in his first 2 games.  It will take a while before fans warm up to him after the long and distinguished career of Ronde Barber, but both coaches and teammates are already on board with the former Panther as a defensive leader. Marcus Truffant-CB-LA A similar story for the Express and former Dragon corner Marcus Truffant.  The lanky defensive back is 2nd on the team in tackles and has his first pick as a member of the Express.  Paired with Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, the Express believe they have a killer 1-2 combo at the position. Chad Johnson-WR-LV No surprise that Chad Johnson has been the toast of the town in Las Vegas.  His bigger than life personality have been a big hit among Thunder fans. Johnson has not yet caught his first Thunder TD, and has been limited to 8 receptions in 2 games, but he is proving a coverage nightmare for opposing defenses who also have to worry about Marshawn Lynch. Keary Colbert-WR-MGN Colbert has been an invisible man in Michigan so far, with only 1 catch on 3 targets.  Expected to be the #2 behind Hines Ward, Colbert has struggled picking up the Michigan offense and has been relegated to 4th WR status behind Ward, Manningham, and rookie B. J. Cunningham. That is not what he or others expected when he signed a pretty pricey 3-year deal. Bradie James-LB-OHI James has come in and made an impact for the Glory, recording 10 tackles and a sack in his first 2 games.  Lined up on the weak side, with Laurinaitis in the middle, James has been effective at shedding blockers and getting to the ballcarrier. Santonio Holmes-WR-TBY A year after striking gold with their Joey Galloway signing, the Bandits think they have done it again with Holmes. Brought in to replace the retired Chris Doering, Holmes has been lightning in a bottle, with 10 receptions on 15 targets and a very nice 14.8 YPC average.  While Galloway remains the main target in the passing game, and Willis McGahee the X-factor, Holmes has already started to prove he was a quality signing for the Bandits. Jimmy Williams-CB-WSH We never doubted that a quality veteran like Williams would fit in with the Feds, and he certainly has.  Williams is currently 3rd on the team with 10 tackles and has his first pick as a Federal DB.  He has shared #1 duties with Sheldon Brown and has already become a close ally of FS Ed Reed as the two vets have been seen palling around during the week as well as on the field. So a good start for some of the most celebrated offseason signings and this week we expect to see the NFL imports also take their place on the field with their new teams. As we have seen in past years, the influx of talent can make all the difference, and we expect that by Week 5 or 6 we will have a real sense of just how the offseason moves have affected the fortunes of all 28 USFL squads. So, what is on tap in Week 3?  How about a Florida Derby battle between the Bandits and Renegades on national TV to get things kicked off?  That is the matchup on NBC’s Friday Night Lights, and it is one that could produce some fireworks as Calais Campbell goes up against that explosive Banditball offense. On Saturday, we are looking forward to watching Texas take on Michigan in an interesting inter-divisional showdown, while the Baltimore-Washington nightcap should be a true brawl between two clubs that simply don’t like each other that much.  St. Louis, sitting pretty at 2-0, and preparing for a 3rd straight home game, will be tested as the Denver Gold come to town. On Sunday, we start off early with our first look at Matt Gutierrez under center for the Stars when they take on Atlanta at the Linc.  In the 4pm slot we have the Cascade Clash as the 0-2 Seattle Dragons try to right the ship against the surprising Portland Stags, sitting at 2-0.  We end the weekend with a great Pacific clash as the 2-0 Las Vegas Thunder head to Oakland to face the Invaders. FRIDAY @ 8PM ET             Tampa Bay (2-0) @ Orlando (1-1)             NBC SAT @ 12PM ET                 Pittsburgh (1-1) @ Nashville (1-1)            ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                 New Orleans (0-2) @ Memphis (1-1)             ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                 Los Angeles (0-2) @ Charlotte (2-0)               FOX SAT @ 4PM ET                   Texas (2-0) @ Michigan (0-2)                ABC SAT @ 4PM ET                   Denver (1-1) @ St. Louis (2-0)                         FOX SAT @ 8PM ET                   Baltimore (2-0) @ Washington (1-1)           ESPN/EFN SUN @ 12PM ET               Ohio (0-2) @ Birmingham (1-1)                      ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               Jacksonville (0-2) @ New Jersey (1-1)             FOX SUN @ 12PM ET               Atlanta (1-1) @ Philadelphia (1-1)                   FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                 Arizona (1-1) @ Chicago (1-1)                           ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 Boston (0-2) @ Houston (1-1)                       ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 Seattle (0-2) @ Portland (2-0)                           FOX SUN @ 8PM ET                 Las Vegas (2-0) @ Oakland (1-1)                  ESPN/EFN

A big opening weekend, only partially impacted by weather, as rain pounded the East Coast and a cold wintery day in Denver made fans bundle up. But the weather could not diminish the fan excitement as the USFL season kicked off.  The week included 2 overtime games, a nailbiter between New Orleans and Birmingham, and a couple of big upsets as Houston stunned the Pittsburgh Maulers and Portland won their home opener against the favored Express.  We also saw Calais Campbell start the year with a 3-sack game, and QB Joe Flacco begin his MVP defense with a nice 331-yard performance.  A lot of action, a lot of excitement, and just a lot of happiness that football is back as USFL season 30 kicked off. NASHVILLE KNIGHTS 17   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS  20   OVERTIME A good one at the Liberty Bowl where two in-state rivals went head to head in an opening week rivalry game.  Neither the Showboats nor the Knights are expected to have stellar seasons, but they put together a really nice opening week clash in front of 40,202 in Memphis.  Quincy Carter got the start at QB for the visiting Knights and went 30 of 42 for 274 yards and 2 scores. Second year Showboat QB Ryan Mallett also threw for 3 scores on his 24 of 48, 233 yard day. The game began very slowly, with both teams struggling to move the ball in the scoreless first quarter, but things started to heat up in the 2nd.  Starting with a short field after a poor Nashville punt, Memphis took advantage, driving down the field and putting up the first points on a Jim Kleinsasser TD catch for Mallett’s first TD of the season.  Nashville responded with a drive of their own, with Carter connecting on 3 of 5 passes on the drive, including the 7-yard TD to his own TE, Justin Peele.  Getting the ball back with 2:45 left in the half, Mallett again drove Memphis down the field, this time using a no-huddle offense. With just under 30 seconds to go in the half, Mallett connected with WR Robert Ferguson for a 30-yard score to put the home Showboats up at the half, 14-7. In the third quarter, Nashville would equalize the score, the only scoring drive being a 14-play slow grinder that ended with Carter finding Ahmad Merrit in the endzone from 4 yards out.  The game would stay tied at 14 throughout the rest of the 3rd quarter, with both teams still struggling to make headway on the ground. Frank Gore would finish the game with 53 yards on 17 carries (3.1 per carry) while Cadillac Williams only averaged 2.6 YPC on his way to a total of 50 yards on the day.  But, in the 4th quarter both clubs were able to get in range for their kickers, with Nashville breaking the tie with a 31-yarder from Connor Barth, and Memphis coming back to once again tie the game and send it to overtime on a Dan Bailey kick. In overtime, Memphis won the toss and managed to get in range for Bailey to add a 53-yard kick on the opening possession, meaning that Nashville would need to score on their opening drive or loss the game.  The Knights moved the ball well until they reached the 50, but then struggled as Memphis turned up the defensive pressure.  A sack of Carter by FS Tebucky Jones on a 2nd and 12 forced Nashville to try to get into field goal range on 3rd down.  They gained back 8 yards, but that forced Connor Barth to go for a 48-yard field goal to tie, and the kick sailed off to the left, giving Memphis a home win to open the season, and a big bragging point as they knocked off their in-state rival to start the year 1-0. TEXAS 20   DENVER 7 Friday’s season opener showcased Joe Flacco and the Outlaw offense once again.  With NFL import Arian Foster not yet activated, the onus of the offense was on Flacco, and he came through with 331 yards passing on a 20 of 33 day.  Flacco connected for scores with both Brandon Marshall and Marques Colston, with Colston catching 7 balls for 133 yards in an impressive opening week performance. BOSTON 14   WASHINGTON 29 Deuce McCallister put up 118 yards and a score, while Deion Branch added 2 TDs in an impressive opening week win for the Federals.  Jake Locker threw for 300 yards but had to leave the game in the 4th after getting sacked as Boston struggled to keep pace all game.  It was 22-0 early in the third before the first Boston score and Washington was never truly threatened in their home opener. MICHIGAN 21   BALTIMORE 24 Baltimore came back to win after falling behind 21-17 midway through the 4th, with Ben Roethlisberger hitting Darrius Heyward-Bey with the winning touchdown in the final minute. Big Ben, who only threw for 177 yards against the Panther D got 44 of those yards in the final drive which clinched the home opener for the Blitz. LOS ANGELES 17   PORTLAND 20 Portland gets the first official upset of the day as the 5-point home underdogs upend the Express in the Stags’ home opener.  LA had led most of the day, but Portland tied the game up with a Mason Crosby field goal early in the 4th and then got one more to earn the win as Ryan Fitzpatrick went 21 of 32 for 238 and 2 TDs.  Portland held Randy Moss to only 1 reception on the game, while both Koren Robinson and TE Cameron Jordan each had 6 catches for the Stags. OHIO 9   LAS VEGAS 31 Chad Johnson’s first game in the electric lime jerseys of the Thunder was equally electric, with the All USFL receiver catching 7 balls for 70 yards as Las Vegas rolled at home.  Marshawn Lynch rushed for 106 yards and Jake Plummer completed a stunning 25 of 28 throws for 286 yards and 2 scores against an Ohio defense that did not look ready for the season to start. PHILADELPHIA 14   NEW JERSEY 9 A rainy, blustery day made offense difficult for both NE Division teams as Philadelphia managed to get the road win despite trailing 9-0 at the half.  Two 2nd half TD tosses from Matt Gutierrez to Reche Caldwell helped Philadelphia eke out the win after Kurt Warner went down to injury in the first half.  New Jersey focused on run defense, and put up a wild number, with Steve Slaton rushing the ball 21 times for only 4 total yards, but it was not enough to get the Generals the home opening win. ORLANDO 24   JACKSONVILLE 13 The Renegades picked off Tim Tebow twice, held rookie HB Lamar Miller to only 12 yards rushing, and got 9 receptions for 103 yards and 2 scores from #1 receiver Michael Jenkins as they nearly doubled up the Bulls’ score.  Eli Manning looked solid, going 17 of 23 for 167 yards and the two scoring tosses to Jenkins.  And, as usual, Calais Campbell had a big day against the Bulls, recording 3 sacks in his season opener. NEW ORLEANS 19  BIRMINGHAM 21 A good one between two familiar division foes, with Birmingham building up a 21-13 lead in the 3rd and then disrupting a 2-point play to preserve the lead after New Orleans scored on a pick-six in the 4th quarter.  Cam Newton threw for 234 and 2 scored, but threw three picks, including the one late that could have tied the game had the D not stopped the 2-point play. ATLANTA 25   CHARLOTTE 33 Two teams expected to live on defense ended up in a shootout in Charlotte as both Jake Delhomme and Kyle Orton threw for 3 scores apiece.  Free agent acquisition Mark Clayton caught 2 scoring tosses from Delhomme, while Orton connected with Reed, Thomas, and Demetrius Williams for scores in this back and forth game. Charlotte safety John Keith recorded 9 tackles and 2 sacks as the Monarchs used a complex blitz scheme to try to disrupt Orton, and it was just enough to get the home and season opening win. ARIZONA 20   OAKLAND 6 Arizona starts strong on both sides of the ball, with David Carr throwing for 2 scores, Rob Gronkowski going for 109 yards on only 4 receptions and the defense holding Oakland to only 2 field goals on the day.  Not the debut the Invaders were hoping for as nothing seemed to work for them. The Invaders were outgained 339-229 and converted only 3 of 15 third down plays as Arizona kept them in check all game. HOUSTON 27   PITTSBURGH 21 The week’s most surprising result saw the Houston Gamblers come into Pittsburgh and shock the defending Western Division Champions.  Houston got 324 yards from Matt Hasselbeck, as the veteran QB also threw for 3 scores, including 2 to Michael Sims-Walker, who broke free for 143 yards, including a 93-yard scoring play in the third quarter that made the score 24-7. Pittsburgh struggled early on, and by the time they found their offense it was too little too late. CHICAGO 6   ST. LOUIS 26 A dominant season opening performance from the Skyhawks, as they held visiting Chicago to only 2 field goals and HB Michael Turner to only 28 yards rushing on 21 carries.  Josh Freeman completed only 7 passes all day, but 3 of them were for touchdowns.  Antowain Smith carried the load, rushing for 91 yards on 21 carries, but it was St. Louis’s defense that won the day, with LB Aldon Smith recording 10 tackles, 5 for a loss, and rookie Olivier Vernon recording 2 sacks, including a safety against Brady Quinn. TAMPA BAY 19   SEATTLE 13   OVERTIME The Sunday night finale became the 2nd overtime game of the week as Tampa Bay got a touchdown on their opening drive of overtime to take the win on the road.  Seattle had fought back form a 13-3 deficit, with a late Jahvid Best TD and a Dave Rayner field goal in the 4th quarter to equalize the score on a rainy night in Seattle, but in overtime, Tampa Bay went 71 yards on 13 plays and ended the game with Jared Cook catching the gamewinner from Culpepper.  Joey Galloway was the leading receiver in the game with 109 yards on 9 catches, while Willis McGahee led all rushers with 78 yards on the day. Ron Dayne Breaks Wrist, to Miss 8-12 Weeks It was not all good news in opening week as the spectre of injury struck the league right from the get go.  Despite pulling out the 24-21 win against Michigan, a dark cloud in Baltimore as their star halfback, Ron Dayne was forced out of the game with an injury, only to discover after X-rays that they could lose Dayne for 3 months or more with a broken wrist. The big back landed awkwardly and the replay showed the wrist bent backwards uncomfortably,  Dayne immediately grabbed his right arm and rushed off the field and quickly into the locker room.  X-rays would reveal two fractures and a displacement that would require immediate care and a cast be put on the halfback’s dominant hand.  It is possible that Dayne could return to play perhaps in Week 9 or 10, but there is no guarantee.  In the meantime the rushing duties will have to be taken up by 3rd year back Anthony Dixon, who had only 5 rushing attempts in 2011, and by rookie Michael Harper from South Carolina State, a late round draft pick. We expect Baltimore, who still have significant cap space to go after a third option, as the run game is key to their entire offensive scheme.  That may mean a trade, or the Blitz could look at free agents like Marion Barber, Kevin Smith, or Reno Mahe.  Whatever path they take, the absence of Dayne will certainly be felt. Vince Young Knocked Out on Field Another injury, though one without the long term prognosis, occurred in Las Vegas, where visiting QB Vince Young of the Ohio Glory was knocked unconscious in the game and had to be revived using smelling salts.  Young was scrambling and took a hard hit, helmet to helmet from the Thunder defender. He would lie on the field until team trainers got to him and revived him.  Out of precaution they put a back brace on him and took him to the lockerroom.  He would return to the sideline later in the game, with the prognosis being a concussion and a fracture to his eye socket, one that produced a pretty noticeable black eye. Young is expected to miss 1-2 weeks to allow the bone to heal and to avoid risking a more serious break were he to take another hit.  Terrelle Pryor finished the game for Ohio and is expected to start in Week 2, with Tony Pike in reserve. Warner Out, Gutierrez Gets Win Kurt Warner was also removed from the season opener as the former All-USFL QB suffered a neck stinger in the game against New Jersey.  He is listed as probable for this week, but is expected back on the field.  Once again, backup Matt Gutierrez, who led the Stars to two playoff wins and a Conference Title Game when Warner was injured in the Wild Card round last year, came in for Warner and again looked like a solid option.  Gutierrez finished the game 13 of 15 for 202 yards and threw both second half TDs to win the game for the Stars.  Had he qualified, he would have been the league’s passing leader with a 158.3 QB Rating, but his 15 attempts were insufficient to meet the minimum requirement in the category.  That said, Gutierrez again proved how valuable a quality backup is in this league, helping Philadelphia tough out the road victory in their season opening rivalry game with the Generals. Olivier Vernon Makes Huge First Impression While many of the offensive stars who signed on with the USFL as rookie draft picks this year did little on the field, defensive end Olivier Vernon of the Skyhawks made the most of his debut in the league, recording 2 sacks, a forced fumble, and a safety for St. Louis as they crushed the Chicago Machine in front of nearly 45,000 in St. Louis to open the season strong.   Vernon, a 2nd round pick out of the University of Miami, played 40 downs, and looked dangerous on most of them, shrugging off the right tackle on several plays and showing both power and speed as he harassed Brady Quinn.   He made his presence known right away, scoring a safety on the opening drive of the game after a muffed kickoff return gave Chicago the ball on their own 5.  On 2nd and 12 from the 3, Vernon got past the right tackle and found Brady, who apparently thought he would have more time.  Vernon hit the QB as he was winding up to throw, forcing a fumble, which was recovered in the endzone by a Chicago lineman, but resulted in a safety. Vernon would be a factor the entire game, recording a second sack in the 3rd quarter, but forcing Chicago to shift their line away from LE Adrian Clayborn and towards the rookie.  A very good opening week for a player we have not talked much about this offseason, as well as a very good start to the year for the Skykhawks, who enter the season with high hopes to reach their first postseason in franchise history. Chad Johnson’s First Game in Las Vegas No surprise that when he took to the field for the first time as a member of the Las Vegas Thunder, Chad Johnson would show a little swagger and a little style as he soaked up the spotlight in Sin City.  Johnson had himself a very strong outing as Las Vegas cruised to a 31-9 victory over the Ohio Glory.  He finished the game with 7 receptions on 8 targets, racking up 70 yards, and while it was T. J. Houshmandzadeh who would bring in both of Jake Plummer’s TD tosses, it was Johnson who was taking in the limelight, seen often on the Thunder sideline pumping up the crowd and making sure fans saw when he caught passes for first down, to the point of being called for taunting on one occasion, a rare call in the USFL, where exuberant post-play celebration has long been allowed. Johnson joined the Thunder after 8 seasons in Boston, and seemed energized by the city, the fans, and their reaction to his arrival. In his 12th year in the league, Johnson already has Hall of Fame numbers and three league titles (two with Ohio in 2002 and 2003, and Boston’s title in 2009).  Fans in Las Vegas are absolutely hoping he can bring a title to the city and are more than happy to feed #85’s love of the spotlight to help him do it. While the injury to Ron Dayne is certainly the headline from Week 1’s injury report, and the Vince Young injury was unnerving to watch, these two were not the only unfortunate knocks to USFL clubs in their first week of play. The injury list is sadly quite long after only 1 week. Here are the players in each category for Week 2: OUT Ron Dayne                           HB          BAL        18-12 Weeks      Wrist Andy Alleman                    OG          BAL        Placed on IR        Achilles Austin King                          C             WSH      Placed on IR        Quad Deltha O’Neal                    CB           MGN     6-8 Weeks           Foot Zach Miller                          TE           OHIO     1-2 Weeks           Finger Patrick Demarco               OT          PIT          1-2 Weeks           Abdomen Jeb Putzier                          TE           OAK       1-2 Weeks           Shoulder Vince Young                        QB          OHI        1-2 Weeks           Eye Morris Claiborne               CB           WSH      1-2 Weeks           Neck Mark Barron                       FS           LV           1-2 Weeks           Knee DOUBTFUL Greg Scruggs                      DE           LA           Abdomen Matt Light                            OT          OAK       Hand Jake Locker                          QB          BOS        Concussion Clyde Adams                      FS           TEX         Shoulder QUESTIONABLE Casey Hampton                DT           BOS        Thigh Ben Grubbs                         OG          BIR         Neck Lee Evans                            WR         MEM     Hip LaRon Landry                     SS           NSH       Shoulder Randy Moss                        WR         LA           Concussion First Impressions: 2012 Draft Class We already highlighted the strong first outing of DE Olivier Vernon of the Skyhawks, but Week 1 is always our first chance to see how the draft class starts off, and with several players obtaining starting positions this year, there were plenty of faces to get to know and impressions to make. Here is our list of the most prominent first year players in their first week of pro football. Justin Blackmon – WR – BOS The Cannons started two prominent rookies, Blackmon on offense and Luke Kuechley on defense.  Blackmon lined up opposite Cedrick Wilson for the Cannons and led all receivers with 97 yards on 6 receptions for the Cannons.  He saw 9 targets, second only to veteran Cedric Wilson, and had a nice 2/3 competion rate with those tosses. Luke Kuechley – LB – BOS The second rookie starter for the Cannons, Luke Kuechley out of BC, had a somewhat less stellar game statistically, with only 3 tackles, though two were behind the line of scrimmage, but what was noticeable was his comfort extending run plays to the sideline and taking on blockers.  A somewhat quiet start, but one that showed a lot of promise. Vontez Burfict – LB – TEX Another impressive defensive performance, this time from late round pick Vontez Burfict, who saw 30 snaps in the game against Denver, finishing the game with 4 tackles and a sack. Burfict is being used on the weak side, and was able to exploit the RT on a key down to get to QB Matt Leinart of Denver. Isaiah Pead – HB – OHIO Halfback Isaiah Pead split carries with DeMarco Murray in the first Glory game of the year, and while Murray ended the game with more carries (13 to 9), Pead’s numbers were better, averaging a very nice 7.5 yards per carry and rushing for 54 yards to Murray’s 49. We expect the two to continue to split carries, but if he keeps producing like this, Pead could start to see more touches. Malcolm Floyd – WR – CHI Chicago’s offense looked pretty rough in their big loss in St. Louis, but we did get to see a bit of both HB Doug Martin (2 carries for 0 yards) and Michael Floyd, who certainly had the better day with 5 targets, 4 catches, and 47 yards receiving.  Both will continue to be phased into an offense that Coach Schiano still has to mold. Lamar Miller – HB – JAX Jacksonville also struggled on offense vs. Orlando, but with 14 carries, Lamar Miller was certainly a featured player, limiting C. J. Spiller to only 1 carry on the day.  Unfortunately, a 0.9 YPC average is not going to build much confidence in Miller.  He will need to do better in upcoming games if he wishes to remain the go to back on first and second down. Josh Norman – CB – HOU Of the two rookie corners, Josh Norman had the better day.  Not only did he get the start as the #2 corner, but he finished the day with 2 tackles and a pass defended, while Janoris Jenkins did not register any stats in his 22 snaps. Robert Turbin – HB – SEA While Jahvid Best had the lead in both yards and carries for the Dragons in their game vs. Tampa Bay, Robert Turbin did see 24 snaps, and carried the ball 12 times.  His 16 yards show that he did have issues with finding gaps and with the speed of the game, but he is certainly part of the mix for the Dragon run game. Week Two brings us mor intriguing matchups, including another divisional game for Texas, who open their home schedule with the Arizona Wranglers.  On Saturday New Jersey heads to Washington to face the Federals for the Generals’ second divisional game in as many weeks.  Other divisional matchups this week include Jacksonville @ Charlotte, Oakland at LA in a Saturday Night showdown, Ohio visiting Chicago, and a nice Sunday Night finale with Pittsburgh headed to Michigan.  Our best non-divisional game of the week has to be the Birmingham-St. Louis clash in the Dome at America’s Center, with both clubs feeling optimistic about 2012 after opening week victories. BOLD = National Broadcast BLUE = Divisional Game FRIDAY @ 8PM ET             Arizona (1-0) @ Texas (1-0)                                NBC SAT @ 12PM ET                 New Jersey (0-1) @ Washington (1-0)                     ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                 Jacksonville (0-1) @ Charlotte (1-0)                          FOX SAT @ 12PM ET                 Portland (1-0) @ Orlando (1-0)                             FOX SAT @ 4PM ET                   Tampa Bay (1-0 @ New Orleans (0-1)             ABC SAT @ 4PM ET                   Seattle (0-1) @ Denver (0-1)                               FOX SAT @ 8PM ET                   Oakland (0-1) @ Los Angeles (0-1)                      ESPN SUN @ 12PM ET               Memphis (1-0) @ Baltimore (1-0)                   ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               Boston (0-1) @ Atlanta (0-1)                                       ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               Nashville (0-1) @ Philadelphia (1-0)                         FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                  Birmingham (1-0) @ St. Louis (1-0)                       ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                  Houston (1-0) @ Las Vegas (1-0)                       FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                  Ohio (0-1) @ Chicago (0-1)                                    FOX SUN @ 8PM ET                  Pittsburgh (0-1) @ Michigan (0-1)                             ESPN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: While we were impressed with the opening weeks from Calais Campbell and Deuce McCallister, we have gotten used to those kinds of games from these two superstars, so we are going to award the first POTW to WR Michael Sims-Walker, who surprised us as well as the Pittsburgh Maulers with a 4-catch, 148-yard, 2 TD performance against what we expected to be one of the league's best defenses. A nice start to the year for MS-W and for the Gamblers.

Twenty-eight teams, twenty-eight destinies.  Will this be the year for your club?  Will this be the year they get over the hump and into the playoffs?  The year they win it all?  Or they year it all comes crashing down?  The start of a new season means that every possibility is on the table.  We have seen teams come from nowhere to emerge as champions and we have seen Summer Bowl Champions crash to the ground and fail to make the playoffs.  It is all on the table right now.  So, what can we say about the next year?  Well, we can say that each team has reasons to be optimistic and reasons to be cautious.  As we break down all 6 USFL Divisions and all 28 clubs, we take a look at the changes each team has made and the situation they find themselves in, at least on paper, before the games kick off.  Here is our team-by-team analysis of what we see on the horizon for 2012. Predicted Order of Finish:  1-Philadelphia   2-Washington  3-New Jersey   4-Baltimore   5-Boston Our Thoughts on the Division: The Northeast feels like a two-team race between the Feds and the Stars.  Last year we predicted Baltimore would slip, and they did.  We also predicated that New Jersey could rise up, but they did not.  This year we still see the Generals on an upward trajectory, and we have our doubts about Baltimore.  I think it is safe to say that the Boston squad that went 1-14-1 last year will be better in 2012, but not good enough to make waves in this tough division. 2011 Final Record: 12-4 (2nd in NE) Roster Movement: Departures: G Cooper Carlisle (NFL), LB Ben Leber (Ret), G Rich Ornbelger (FA), CB Justin Miller (FA), WR Lance Moore (Trade) Arrivals: DT DeMarcus Tyler (FA), OT Jared Gaither (NFL), OG Mike McGlynn (Trade) Rookies to Watch: QB Austin Davis, OG Rokevious Watkins, OG Josh LeRibeus, DT Devon Still Our Analysis:  Last year the Stars got just about everything right, but finished 1 game behind for the division and then found themselves in the playoffs without Kurt Warner.  Had he stayed healthy, who knows, we might have gotten the all Pennsylvania finale after all. This year they look very much like a team that will compete again.  Losing Cooper Carlisle was a hit, but the Stars invested heavily in the O-line in the offseason, so we think that offense of theirs will do just fine. Predicted 2012 Record: 13-3, #1 in NE Division 2011 Final Record: 13-3 (1st in NE) Roster Movement: Departures: OT Matt Stinchcomb (RET), CB Brandon Flowers (FA), G Scott Tercero (FA), WR Dontrelle Inman (Trade) Arrivals: CB Jimmy Williams (FA), P Sam Koch (FA), OT Geoff Schwartz (NFL), DE Karmerian Wimberley (Trade) Rookies to Watch: CB Morris Claiborne, HB David Wilson, WR Chris Givens Our Analysis: The Federals surprised some by winning the top seed last year, but this is a solid team in every phase.  Deuce McCallister is still a beast, and now they can get him some rest by bringing in rookie David Wilson to spell him. Expect the defense to continue to be strong, particularly in the secondary, where Jimmy Williams should slot right in as the team’s top shut down option. Predicted 2012 Record: 12-4, Just one game behind Philly and 2nd in the NE Division. 2011 Final Record: 6-10 (4th in NE) Roster Movement: Departures: LB Piso Tinoisamoa (NFL), TE Anthony Becht (Ret), WR Mark Clayton (FA), WR Santonio Holmes (FA), SS Tom Zbibikowski (FA), DE Tamba Hali (Trade) Arrivals: FS Scott Shields (FA), DT Brandon Mbane (FA), QB Bryan Hoyer (NFL), TE John Carlson (NFL), CB Daniel Manning (Trade) Rookies to Watch: OT Donald Stephenson, S Peyton Thompson, WR Mohamed Sanu Our Analysis: We picked the Generals to compete for the division last year and they did not live up to that expectation.  Do we expect that this year?  No, but we do think this team has enough talent to fight for a Wild Card.  They lost some major players, including 2 wideouts, but they did well in free agency, particularly in snagging John Carlson away from the NFL to replace Anthony Becht.  This is a team that is still looking like they have more ahead of them, but they could be a breakout team this year. Predicted 2012 Record: 9-7, 3rd in the NE and possibly a Wild Card. 2011 Final Record: 9-7 (3rd in NE) Roster Movement: Departures: C Melvin Fowler (Ret), CB Ken Lucas (FA), HB Antonio Pittman (FA), FS Shaunard Harts (FA), QB Chris Simms (FA), WR Doug Gabriel (FA) Arrivals: WR Donte Do (FA), DE Antwan Odom (FA), Rookies to Watch: LB Melvin Ingram, CB A. J. Davis, S Winston Guy, DE Jonathan Massoquoi Our Analysis: We just don’t feel confident about the Blitz.  They can look very good one week and below average the next.  They struggle to turn drives into touchdowns, putting too much on the defense to keep them in every game.  We just suspect that they just are not as good as some would have you believe. Predicted 2012 Record:  7-9, and 4th in the division. 2011 Final Record: 1-14-1 (5th in NE) Roster Movement: Departures: HB Tony Hunt (NFL), TE James Whalen (Ret), LB Corey Miller (Ret), WR Chad Johnson (FA), CB Fred Smoot (NFL), LB DeMarcus Tyler (FA), SS Rich Cody (Ret), LB Ike Reese (FA), QB Jamie Martin (FA), OT Joseph Bragg (Trade) Arrivals: QB Dereck Anderson (FA), CB Brandon Carr (NFL), FS Earl Thomas (Trade) Rookies to Watch: LB Luke Kuechley,WR Justin Blackmon, DT Akiem Hicks, WR Nick Toon Our Analysis: Boston fell and fell hard last year, producing the worst record in the league, and, even worse, a lost season for highly touted QB Jake Locker.  Locker will get another shot this year, though it is telling that Boston brought in Dereck Anderson just in case he struggles again. Thee loss of Chad Johnson in free agency, along with Fred Smoot, Corey Miller, and Ike Reese also don’t help what is clearly a team in transition. Predicted 2012 Record: 4-12, 5th in NE Division. Predicted Order of Finish: 1-Tampa Bay   2-Orlando  3-Atlanta  4-Charlotte  5-Jacksonville Our Thoughts on the Division:  Tampa Bay surprised us a bit last year, finishing much stronger than we expected and earning their 3rd league title.  That makes them the team to beat in the SE Division, but as we have seen with the last few champions, returning to a Summer Bowl is no easy feat.  We see competition coming from Orlando and Atlanta.  We expect Charlotte to take a step back and we just don’t see Jacksonville as being a contender this year.  The Bulls could be better, and may not finish in the basement, but we just don’t see them finishing over .500  with the changes they have made this year. 2011 Final Record: 12-4 (1st in SE, League Champion) Roster Movement: Departures: DE Marcellus Wiley (Ret), WR Chris Doering (Ret), FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo (Ret), LB Zeke Moreno (Ret), G Steve Sciulo (FA), QB Matt Cassel (FA), WR Earl Bennett (FA) Arrivals: WR Santonio Holmes (FA), QB T. J. Yates (Trade) Rookies to Watch: WR Alshon Jeffery, QB Ryan Lindley, LB Caleb MCSurdy, LB Nigel Bradham Our Analysis: The Bandits put all the pieces together last year and had a championship run in a year when many expected them to struggle.  So what happens this year?  They have suffered some significant roster losses, but we like their approach to the offseason.  They brought in two quality receivers, one through free agency and another in the draft, also drafted at their 2nd key position, linebacker, and have largely filled holes caused by retirement and free agency.  This very much looks like a team ready to defend their title. Predicted 2012 Record: 11-5, 1st in Southeast. 2011 Final Record: 8-7-1 (3rd in SE) Roster Movement: Departures: FB Paul Williams (Ret), DT Jarron Gilbert (FA), HB Jacob Hester (FA), WR Leondard Hankerson (Trade) Arrivals: QB Chad Henne (NFL), HB Tim Hightower (NFL), OT Chris Terry (Trade) Rookies to Watch: QB Russell Wilson, LB Sean Spence, OG Brandon Washington, DT Jeris Pendleton Our Analysis: For the second year in a row, the Renegades have been the “first team out”, meaning the team that was closest to a playoff spot without getting one.  That has to change.  Their offseason was both uneventful and a bit strange.  No major losses from the 2011 squad, but no huge gains either.  We like the signing of Tim Hightower, but why did they both draft a QB and bring in an NFL QB when they have a proven starter in Eli Manning on the squad? That has to be a sign that the club is not sold on Manning, which cannot go over well with the veteran.  That alone is reason for concern, and in a very tough division, that could be enough to keep them on the fringe once again. Predicted 2012 Record:  9-7, 2nd in the SE Division, but again on the outside? 2011 Final Record: 7-9 (4th in SE) Roster Movement: Departures: LB Rahim Abdullah (Ret), SS Brandon Merriweather (FA), G Bobbie Williams (FA), WR Marcus Robinson (Ret), HB Julius Jones (FA), HB Anthony Allen (Trade) Arrivals: LB Patrick Willis (FA), HB Ladell Betts (FA), FB Marcel Reese (FA), S Tyvon Branch (NFL), WR Matt Jones (Trade) Rookies to Watch: OT Cordy Glenn, OG Brandon Brooks, CB Brandon Boykin, HB Michael Smith Our Analysis: The Fire brought in one of the most coveted free agents in the market with LB Patrick Willis.  In the draft they tried to address issues on their line, but we are not sure it is enough to make a major move.  The defense should be better, which will help, but we are still not sure they have enough playmakers on offense to consistently pull out wins in close games. Predicted 2012 Record: 8-8, 3rd in SE Division 2011 Final Record: 9-7 (2nd in SE) Roster Movement: Departures: LB Raynoch Thompson (NFL), DE Julius Peppers (Ret), G Sean Locklear (FA), WR Anquon Boldin (FA), TE Anthony Hill (FA), FS Nick Collins (FA), FS Corey Hall (FA) Arrivals: WR Mark Clayton (FA), QB Charlie Whitehurst (NFL), Rookies to Watch: QB Brandon Wheedon, OG J. R. Sweezy, TE Garrett Celek Our Analysis: Charlotte improved over the course of the second half last year, and managed a winning record, but they also took quite a few hits.  They are clearly building for the future, as the selection of Brandon Wheedon demonstrates.  But, will they scuttle this year in order to build for 2013?  We will get a sense of that in how they treat Jake Delhomme and Wheedon.  The sooner Wheedon sees action the more likely the team is looking at the future. Predicted 2012 Record: 7-9, 4th in SE Division 2011 Final Record: 3-12-1 (5th in SE) Roster Movement: Departures: HB LaBrandon Toefield (NFL), G Michael Moore (NFL), OT Jason Odom (Ret), CB Dereck Combs (FA), HB Kerry Joseph (FA), WR Nate Washington (FA), DT Alan Branch (FA) Arrivals: QB Chase Daniel (FA), WR Lance Moore (Trade) Rookies to Watch: DT Fletcher Cox, HB Lamar Miller, CB Coty Sensabaugh, OT Tom Compton Our Analysis: This is a make-or-break year for QB Tim Tebow. He has shown flashes, especially with his feet, but also as a passer, but consistency and decision-making have not always been there.  What is particularly concerning is that the Bulls don’t seem to be doing much to build around him.  We look over the Bulls’ roster and we are just not seeing the kind of overhaul that a 3-win team should have to shake up the status quo, and so we predict another status quo year. Predicted 2012 Record:  4-12, 5th in SE Division Predicted Order of Finish:   1-Birmingham   2-New Orleans   3-Nashville   4-Memphis Our Thoughts on the Division: By all accounts, the Nashville Knights, who have won the division the past three years, are looking like a team in transition.  Peyton Manning will miss no less than the first 8 games and may not see the field at all, which, in our minds, means Birmingham has the best QB situation this season.  They also showed good improvement on defense last year.  We see them as possibly one of the fastest risers in the league.  New Orleans has several flaws, but still looks like the 2nd best team in the division, especially after we saw how they reacted to Lamar Lathon as head coach last year.  Nashville finishes 3rd, with Memphis bringing up the rear unless Ryan Mallett has a major sophomore surge. 2011 Final Record: 7-9 (2nd in South) Roster Movement: Departures: WR Arnaz Battle (Ret), FS Clarence Love (Ret), P Kyle Richardson (Ret), FB Shawn Bryson (FA), OT Jeff Backus (NFL), WR Donte Do (FA), DE Karmerian Wimberley (Trade) Arrivals: SS Pat Watkins (FA), WR Dontrelle Inman (Trade) Rookies to Watch: OT Riley Reiff, P Bryan Anger, S Christian Thompson, FB Rhett Ellison, TE Dwayne Allen Our Analysis: Can you win a division by default?  Birmingham is in a position to prove you can.  They were much improved last year and rookie QB Cam Newton, the league’s ROTY, was a breath of fresh air, but had it not been for the implosion of Jay Cutler and the inability of Nashville to land Andrew Luck, we might very well be predicting Nashville to win the division for a 4th straight year.  We don’t think the Stallions are ready for an 11 or 12 win season yet, but 9-7 may well be enough to win a very week Southern Division. Predicted 2012 Record:  9-7, 1st in Southern Division. 2011 Final Record: 5-11 (3rd in South) Roster Movement: Departures: HB Michael Robinson (NFL), LB Calvin Pace (NFL), C Todd McClure (Ret), G Paul Zakauskas (FA), C Josh Sewell (FA), K David Green (FA), LB Bradie James (FA), G Terrance Metcalf (FA), QB Luke McCown (Trade), FS Earl Thomas (Trade) Arrivals: C Chris Spencer (FA), DT Ra’Shon Harris (FA), K Graham Gano (FA), G Mike Brisiel (NFL), HB Mike Tolbert (NFL), OT Joseph Bragg (Trade), P Matt Allen (Trade) Rookies to Watch: TE Coby Fleener, S Brandon Taylor, LB Dezman Moses Our Analysis: We are picking New Orleans to be the main challenger to Birmingham for two reasons, first, they have a veteran QB in Drew Brees at the helm, and second, they have a coach that the players battle for in Lamar Lathon.  But, when you look at all the departures in offseason, and the lackluster draft class, it is hard to get too excited about this roster. Predicted 2012 Record: 8-8, 2nd in Southern Division 2011 Final Record: 8-8 (1st in South) Roster Movement: Departures: LB Keith Burns (Ret), LB D. D. Lewis (Ret), OT Jason Fabini (Ret), G Jeb Terry (FA), P Sam Koch (FA), DE Gary Stills (FA), DE Quintin Moses (FA), QB Chase Daniel (FA), LB Terrell Suggs Trade) Arrivals: LB Jarret Johnson (NFL), QB Peyton Manning (NFL) Rookies to Watch: OT Bobby Massie, DT Bradnon Thompson, DE Malik Jackson, P Marquette King Our Analysis: The Peyton Manning signing is generating a lot of excitement, but we expect the weekly updates on his practices will be better news for the Knights than the weekly scoreboard of actual games.  This team lost a lot, added not nearly enough, and may have hobbled their defense by sending Terrell Suggs to Oakland for what turned out to be a failed attempt to draft Andrew Luck. The folks in Music City may be excited to see Peyton Manning throwing passes, but it is Quincy Carter who is likely to be under center for most of the season, and that does not bode well for 2012. Predicted 2012 Record: 5-11, 3rd in Southern Division. 2011 Final Record: 4-11-1 (4th in South) Roster Movement: Departures: G Darnell Alford (NFL), FB John Kuhn (NFL), OT Mike Gandy (Ret), CB Kareem Larrimore (Ret), LB Patrick Willis (FA), WR Matt Jones (Trade) Arrivals: QB Matt Cassel (FA), LB Ryan D’Imperio (FA), G Carl Nicks (NFL), DE Mario Williams (NFL), HB Anthony Allen (Trade) Rookies to Watch: DT Dontari Poe, DE Jake Bequette, CB Richard Crawford, G Gino Gradkowski Our Analysis: Here is the deal. The USFL is a QB-Driven league, always has been and continues to be.  Based on last year, we are not sure Ryan Mallett is a QB who can get the job done.  And while bringing in Summer Bowl hero Matt Cassel is a nice move, we are also not so sure he is the answer.  Add to that the loss of their best defensive player, Patrick Willis, in free agency, and the retirement of their All-USFL left tackle, and, well, this just feels like a team that needs to start all over again. Predicted 2012 Record: 3-13, 4th in Southern Division Predicted Order of Finish:  1-Pittsburgh   2-St. Louis   3-Michigan   4-Chicago   5-Ohio Our Thoughts on the Division:  The Maulers are primed to make another Summer Bowl run after coming up just short against the Bandits in last summer’s title game.  Behind them we see three teams who are all in the range of what a Wild Card team should look like. We are taking a chance that St. Louis, under Coach Arians, will continue to improve and will finally make a playoff appearance.  Michigan and Chicago have a lot of questions, the Panthers in the run game, the Machine with a new coaching staff just getting geared up.  We have Ohio in the basement again this year as we are just not convinced they have rebuilt a talent pool that got old fast and needed a major overhaul. 2011 Final Record: 13-3 (1st in Central, Conference Champion) Roster Movement: Departures: OG Rex Hadnot (NFL), HB Brandon Jacobs (FA), OT Daniel Loper (FA), QB Tee Martin (FA) Arrivals: G Steve Sciulo (FA), WR Ben Obamanu (Trade) Rookies to Watch: HB Brandon Bolden, DT Kendall Reyes, S Brandon Hardin, G Senio Kelemete Our Analysis: The Maulers came so close last year, and were clearly a team with a lot going right.  We don’t think they lost much in the offseason, as their roster is about as stable as any in the league.  That is a very good sign for 2012, as they should continue to build on a very strong 2011 campaign.  The Central Division does feel like it has weakened overall, which means a pretty good path for Pittsburgh to repeat as the #1 seed in the West, a feat we think they will accomplish. Predicted 2012 Record: 13-3, 1st in Central and in the Conference. 2011 Final Record: 8-8 (3rd in Central) Roster Movement: Departures: FB Vontae leach (FA), DE Eddie Freeman (FA), TE Fred Baxter (FA), WR Tiquan Underwood (FA), LB Ryan D’Imperio (FA), SS Coy Wire (Trade) Arrivals: FB Jerome Felton (FA), G Paul Zakauskas (FA), WR Nate Washington (FA), LB Dan Conner (NFL), WR Eric Weems (NFL) Rookies to Watch: G Kenechi Osamele, TE Michael Egnew, DE Trevor Guyton, DT Mike Daniels Our Analysis: When we look across the division, we think that Chicago and Michigan are trending downwards, but the Skyhawks have been slowly and steadily improving under Coach Arians, and we think this could be the year they break through and become a true threat. They were very active in free agency, adding weapons around Josh Freeman, and while their draft is not glitzy, we think they at least targeted some key positions.  Are they a juggernaut?  Unlikely, but they are good enough to get to 9 or 10 wins and make their first playoff appearance. Predicted 2012 Record:  10-6, 2nd in Central and a Wild Card. 2011 Final Record: 9-7 (2nd in Central) Roster Movement: Departures: LB/DE Igor Olshansky (NFL), HB Thomas Jones (FA), CB Chris Canty (FA), WR Laverneous Coles (NFL), FB Jerome Felton (FA), TE Bennie Joppru (FA), G Mike McGlynn (Trade) Arrivals: WR Keary Colbert (FA), FB Glen Smith (FA), CB LaDarius Webb (NFL), CB Drayton Florence (Trade) Rookies to Watch: QB Kirk Cousins, CB  Dre Kirkpatrick, WR B.J. Cunningham, C David Molk, DTJerel Worthy Our Analysis: A long list of departed contributors is concerning, but we do like some of the new faces in Detroit. Keary Colbert is a quality #2 option behind Hines Ward. LaDarius Webb will get a shot to step into Chris Canty’s shoes, and we like the idea of developing a QB like Kirk Cousins behind Brian Griese.  That all said, it does still feel like the 2012 Panthers have more questions and fewer answers than the 2011 squad. Predicted 2012 Record: 8-8, 3rd in Central. 2011 Final Record: 8-8 (4th in Central) Roster Movement: Departures: HB Noah Herron (NFL), C Grey Ruegamer (Ret), FS Corey Hall (FA), G Taylor Whitney (FA), WR Andre Brown (FA), OT Charles Spencer (FA), CB Daniel manning (Trade), QB T. J. Yates (Trade) Arrivals: FB Vontae Leach (FA), TE Anthony Hill (FA), C Darrell Nix (FA), DE Tamba Hali (Trade) Rookies to Watch: HB Doug Martin, WR Michael Floyd, G Jeff Allen, LB Darius Fleming Our Analysis: After a run that saw the club make the playoffs in 9 of 10 years, Coach Marty Mornhinweg is out, quickly hired by Portland, and Chicago starts over with a coach who has never been a head coach in the pros, Rutgers’ Greg Schiano.  The learning curve could be a steep one, but this club does still have talent at key positions like MLB, QB, DE, and HB.  What they lack is a clear identity.  We think it will take Schiano the season to define that identity, which means a season of growth but not necessarily of outcomes. Predicted 2012 Record: 6-10, 4th in Central. 2011 Final Record: 5-11 (5th in Central) Roster Movement: Departures: LB Nick Greison (NFL), K Josh Brown (NFL), LB Glenn Cadrez (NFL), TE Stephen Alexander (Ret), HB Kevin Smith (FA), SS Pat Watkins (FA) Arrivals: LB Bradie James (FA), K David Green (FA), HB Rashad Jennings (FA) Rookies to Watch: DE Bruce Irvin, HB Isaiah Pead, K Blair Walsh, S Matt Johnson Our Analysis: The Glory had one of the more productive offseasons in the league, adding talent through the draft in the form of DE Bruce Irvin and HB Isaiah Pead, and in free agency with the signings of Bradie James and HB Rashad Jennings.  The run game in particular looks a lot deeper and more diverse, which is good for Vince Young, who struggled last year to carry the entire offense.  The defense still looks a bit dicey, and losing both Glenn Cadrez and Nick Greison is not helping.  This will be a tough year for the defense, and possibly for the team as a whole. Predicted 2012 Record:  5-11 again seems about right. Predicted Order of Finish:  1-Texas 2-Arizona   3-Denver   4-Houston Our Thoughts on the Division: As tempting as it was to imagine a scenario where Houston jumps right back into the mix and battles the Texas Outlaws, it just never felt realistic.  We think that 2012 will look a lot like 2011, with Texas being a step ahead of a pretty good Arizona team, which, in turn, is a step ahead of a mediocre Denver squad, who are still better than a Houston team that needs to consider a rebuild. 2011 Final Record: 12-4 (1st in SW) Roster Movement: Departures: LB Rocky Boiman (NFL), LB Jeff Ulbrich (NFL), C Aaron Graham (FA), G Solomon Page (FA), TE Jermichael Finley (FA), WR Ben Obamanu (Trade), P Matt Allen (Trade) Arrivals: G Anthony Oakley (FA), OT Daniel Loper (FA), HB Arian Foster (NFL), QB Luke McCown (Trade) Rookies to Watch: LB Vontaze Burfict, C Philip Blake, LB Keenan Robinson, TE Brandon Bostick Our Analysis: The season Outlaw fans have been waiting for over decades finally came last year.  The pieces fell together, their QB had an MVP run, and they got oh, so close to a Summer Bowl. And while they did take some hits in free agency, we like this roster.  The biggest loss was the announcement from T. J. Duckett of his retirement at 31, but the Outlaws, unable to move up to select Trent Richardson in the draft, did the next best thing, signing a Duckett clone in HB Arian Foster from the NFL Oilers.  Foster should be able to play from day one and, if his body can hold out after a full NFL season, he could find himself over 1,200 yards and on another championship contender. Predicted 2012 Record: 12-4, 1st in SW Division and battling for the #1 seed. 2011 Final Record: 10-6 (2nd in SW) Roster Movement: Departures: CB Jimmy Williams (FA), OT Ed Ellis (FA), DT Kimo Von Oelhoffen (FA), WR Matthew Slater (FA), QB Dave Dickenson (FA) Arrivals: CB Brandon Flowers (FA) Rookies to Watch: CB  Omar Bolden, QB Nick Foles, WR Juron Criner, LB Nathan Stupar, S Justin Bethel Our Analysis: Arizona’s 2011 campaign started out with an 8-0 start, but then the wheels started to fall off the bus. Looking at their offseason, we are not sure they have made the moves they need to to get back to the front of the division.  Losing Jimmy Williams and Kimo Von Oelhoffen are big hits to the defense, so it looks like the Wranglers may have to depend on LT and David Carr to outpace opponents.  Not sure that is a division-winning strategy. Predicted 2012 Record: 10-6, 2nd in SW Division and a Wild Card. 2011 Final Record: 7-9 (3rd in SW) Roster Movement: Departures: DT Montae Reager (Ret), P Brad Costello (Ret), LB Nick Rogers (Ret), WR Keary Colbert (FA), FS David Young (FA), DT Brandon Mbane (FA), K Graham Gano (FA), OT Chris Terry (Trade) Arrivals: LB Clint Kriewaldt (FA), P David Zastudil (NFL), DT Sione Pouha (NFL), WR Leonard Hankerson (Trade), WR Golden Tate (Trade) Rookies to Watch: S Jerron McMillian, C Ben Jones, K Greg Zuerlein Our Analysis: The Denver Gold slid quite a bit behind their usual position last year.  Then they lost some key players in the offseason.  This is feeling a lot like a team that needs to shake things up. Coach Jauron may have squeezed every last ounce of ability out of his roster and it may well be time to blow things up a bit.  We like the Tate trade, but we still look at this club and wonder how they hope to compete with Arizona and Texas without much that scares folks on either side of the ball.  This season could be a wake up call for a club that rarely dips below .500 but could dip quite a bit this season. Predicted 2012 Record: 6-10, 3rd in SW Division 2011 Final Record: 6-10 (4th in SW) Roster Movement: Departures: DT Ra’Shon Harris (FA), LB Keith Brooking (Ret), CB Ronde Barber (Ret), FS Brian Dawkins (Ret), QB A. J. Feeley (NFL) Arrivals: CB Chris Canty (FA), QB Chris Simms (FA), LB Stephen Tulloch (NFL), Rookies to Watch: CB Janoris Jenkins, CB Josh Norman, DT John Hughes, OT Don Barclay Our Analysis: It feels somewhat surreal that Houston won a title only 2 years ago.  What is even weirder is that good arguments could be made that the 2012 team is closer to that 2010 result than the very disappointing 2011 campaign. This club still has a lot of talent on both sides of the ball.  We love the acquisition of both Stephen Tulloch and Chris Canty for the defense, but they could end up starting two rookies at cornerback, and that has to worry Coach Philips.  It worries us. Predicted 2012 Record: 5-11, 4th in SW Division. Predicted Order of Finish:  1-Oakland   2-Los Angeles   3-Seattle   4-Las Vegas    5-Portland Our Thoughts on the Division: Another 2-team battle as we view Las Vegas slipping a bit and Seattle not quite there yet.  Oakland and Los Angeles match up well against each other and are likely to split their series, so a lot will come down to who can do better at consistently knocking off the other three division squads.  We do see Seattle as potentially dangerous, and Las Vegas will likely do what they can to exploit the arrival of Chad Johnson to the roster, while Portland just feels like a team spinning its wheels without a true sense of who they are or can become. 2011 Final Record: 9-7 (2nd in Pacific) Roster Movement: Departures: LB Mike Maslowski (Ret),  C Jeff Saturday (Ret), P Josh Bidwell (Ret), LB Brendon Ayanbedejo (FA), FS Roman Harper (FA), FB Marcel Reese (FA), WR Joey Jamison (FA) Arrivals: FS Sean Jones (FA), DT Jarron Gilbert (FA), WR Tiquan Underwood (FA), E Cliff Avril (NFL), P Mat McBriar (NFL) Rookies to Watch: C Peter Konz, LB Bobby Wagner, LB Aaron Brown Our Analysis: The Pacific is consistently inconsistent, which makes it the hardest division to predict.  We could make solid arguments for any of 4 teams to win the division (Sorry Portland), but when we look top to bottom, Oakland feels like the deepest and most talented roster. We Still worry that Ryan Williams is not a true lead back, but the defense is solid, and may have gotten better by adding rookie LB Bobby Wagner and free agent safety Sean Jones.  In a very volatile division, we see Oakland as the best of a pretty even foursome. Predicted 2012 Record: 11-5, 1st in Pacific Division. 2011 Final Record: 10-6 (1st in Pacific) Roster Movement: Departures: CB Terrence McGee (Ret), G Alan Faneca (Ret), FS David Givson (Ret). WR Eddie Kennison (Ret), C Chris Spencer (FA), CB  Renaldo Hill (FA), WR Bernard Berrian (FA) Arrivals: CB Marcus Truffant (FA), G Solomon Page (FA), WR Earl Bennett (FA), FS Nick Collins (FA), CB Tracy Porter (NFL) Rookies to Watch: OT Matt Kalil, DT Alameda Ta’amu, OG Ryan Miller, DE Greg Scruggs Our Analysis: The Express surprised many by taking the division last year, but they have been underachieving for several years.  It was good to see them step up, but can they repeat?  They had some pretty big losses in the offseason, particularly in the secondary, but they made the big move, signing Marcus Truffant away from Seattle, and then adding an NFL corner in Porter and a quality safety in Nick Collins.  They may be better on defense than in 2011, which should worry the rest of the division. Predicted 2012 Record: 11-5, and right there with Oakland. 2011 Final Record: 9-7 (4th in Pacific) Roster Movement: Departures: G Bill Ferrario (NFL), TE Tyler Eckler (NFL), WR David Boston (Ret), CB Marcus Truffant (FA), HB LaDell Betts (FA), FB Glen Smith (FA0, G Vince Manuwai (FA), LB Clint Kriewaldt (FA) Arrivals: FS Corey Hall (FA), G Jeb Terry (FA), LB Ike Reese (FA), DT Alan Branch (FA), WR  Mike Wallace (NFL) Rookies to Watch: HB Robert Turbin, S D. J. Campbell, FB Jamize Olawale, G Amini Silatolu Our Analysis: Of the next 3 teams in the division, we see Seattle as the one in best position to make a move.  They have a solid QB, but lost their star receiver to retirement. So, they go out and land an All-Pro NFL receiver, but one who could be a major distraction.  If he can stay within the game, Mike Wallace could be a huge boon to the Dragons, but if he acts much as he did his final year in Pittsburgh, he could be a major distraction.  We do like Seattle’s other offseason moves, particularly acquiring solid contributors like safety Corey Hall and LB Ike Reese. Not much splash in those signings, but they will be good for this team. Predicted 2012 Record: 9-7, third in Pacific Division, but could surprise. 2011 Final Record: 9-7 (3rd in Pacific) Roster Movement: Departures: WR Kahlil Hill (NFL), TE Brian Koslowski (FA), FS Sean Jones (FA), HB Rashad Jennings (FA), QB Tony Banks (FA), G Antony Oakley (FA), WR Samie Parker (FA) Arrivals: WR Chad Johnson (FA), LB Ahmad Brooks (NFL), SS Coy Wire (Trade) Rookies to Watch: S Mark Barron, QB Case Keenum, DE Taylor Thompson Our Analysis: That sound you hear is the clock ticking on Jake Plummer.  There were so many rumors of his retirement that we thought rumors alone could lead him to walk away.  But, he is back, and the Thunder got him a brand new toy, one of the best deep ball receivers in the league, Chad Johnson.  That combo should be fun to watch, and Johnson’s presence instantly opens up even more room for Marshawn Lynch in the run game.  All that is great, but the problem is that the Thunder defense, once very formidable under Jerry Glanville, has gotten weaker and weaker each season, and we think it could be a major problem this year as we just don’t see the depth or quality across the roster that the Thunder once had. Predicted 2012 Record: 7-9, 4th in Pacific. 2011 Final Record: 5-11 (5th in Pacific) Roster Movement: Departures: LB Josh Stamer (NFL), WR Andre Davis (FA), DE Antwan Odom (FA0, QB Dennis Dixon (FA) Arrivals: DE Eddie Freeman (FA), S Dashon Goldson (NFL) Rookies to Watch: WR Brian Quick, DE Tyrone Crawford, OT Nate Potter, LB Josh Kaddu Our Analysis: There was a time when we saw Portland flirting with the playoffs and the division, but they have stumbled, and that led to major changes.  Bringing in Marty Mornhinweg, who had a very solid track record in Chicago, seems like a good idea, but it is going to take more than a new coach for Portland to climb back up the ladder.  We are not sold on the Stags’ roster overall, particularly at wideout and O-line.  We are also not sure the defense has what it needs, as veteran DE Eddie Freeman is good but not explosive, and NFL safety Dashon Goldson is not what we would consider a blue chip signing.   Mornhinweg can build a team that will compete, but he may need another year to get the pieces he needs to do so. Predicted 2012 Record:  4-12, 5th in Pacific. OUR ALWAYS SHAKY PLAYOFF PICKS As we review our picks for the divisions, we see the following playoff picture emerge.  We have Philadelphia and Pittsburgh both winning the #1 seeds in each conference, setting up dreams once again of a Keystone Clash in the Summer Bowl.  Behind the Stars in the East we see Tampa Bay again as the #2 seed, with Birmingham coming in as the 3rd Division winner.  Washington, Orlando, and New Jersey get the Wild Card berths.  In the West, Texas is again the #2 seed, with Oakland taking the Pacific and the #3 seed.  The Wild Cards will be Arizona, Los Angeles, and St. Louis, their first playoff appearance. We think once again it will come down to Philadelphia vs. Tampa Bay in the Eastern Final, but this time the Stars get the job done.  In the West Texas and Oakland face off in the final after an upset of the Maulers, and Texas makes their first Summer Bowl appearance after winning a rowdy game in the Alamodome.  The title game in St. Louis will show off two high power offenses, but one has more consistency than the other, as well as more experience, so we are predicting the Philadelphia Stars to join Houston as the league’s only 4-time champions.  Philadelphia 42  Texas 38 in a barnburner in the Dome. EQUALLY SHAKY AWARD PICKS Our last set of predictions for the year, we take a look at each of the top 5 awards and give you our top 3 candidates for each.  We will start with the MVP, move through the Players of the Year, and finish with our Coach of the Year pick. MOST VALUABLE PLAYER We see two of last year’s finalists returning to battle for the title, with both Philadelphia and Texas as high seeds in the playoff race, we expect both Kurt Warner and Joe Flacco to be among the favorites for an MVP in 2012.  The third possible candidate?  Well, that is where we pick a bit of a dark horse, and for us that dark horse is a rising star, New Jersey QB Sam Bradford.  If New Jersey is competitive this year, as we expect they will be, it will be in large part because Bradford has matured into an elite QB. OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR With 3 QBs battling for MVP, we are going to look at other offensive positions for this award.  The obvious choice, and our first option, is the engine that pushes Washington’s entire offense, HB Deuce McCallister.  The defending OPOTY is primed for another big year and could be a back-to-back winner. Our second choice is a player who is always among the league leaders but who may actually get a boost this year as he joins a new team. Pairing wideout Chad Johnson with the Run & Shoot scheme of Coach June Jones could very easily produce a 120-catch season and a possible run at the as-yet unreachable 2,000 yard mark.   We expect Johnson to be a frequent target for Jake Plummer, frequent enough to put up stellar numbers even as the Thunder struggle to win games. Finally, we go back to the run game, and this time we look at a frequent “bridesmaid” in this competition, Baltimore’s Ron Dayne.  Dayne is consistent, and almost always within range of the rushing title.  If he can finally surpass McCallister, and if Baltimore is at all competitive this year, we could see the voters giving Dayne the nod almost as a lifetime achievement award. DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR How do you bet against Calais Campbell?  He is easily the most dominant player in the league.  So, we have to but Orlando’s sack master at the top of the class.  Behind him we see the obvious 2nd choice to be Chicago’s Mr. Everything, MLB Brian Urlacher.  You know he will be at or near the top of the tackles leaderboard, and he is also likely to be among the leaders at the LB position in passes intercepted.  If he can force a fumble here and there or return one of the anticipated picks back for 6, he could give Campbell a run for his money. Our third pick is a bit of a longshot, but we really like the game that Troy Polamalu has brought to Arizona.  Troy’s issue is that “decleating hits” is not a category of statistic that the league tracks.  He will never have huge numbers in areas like interceptions or sacks, and it is not uncommon for a safety to fall well behind the league leaders in tackles, but true fans of the game can see every week the huge impact that Polamalu has on the field. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR This is always a tough one to pick, especially in a year when we don’t anticipate any rookie QB’s getting a week one start.  Our favorite for immediate impact should be Justin Blackmon in Boston.  The first pick of the draft will be starting immediately, but the QB situation in Boston is so shaky that it is hard for us to feel confident that Blackmon will get the kind of numbers that would put him at the top of the class. Another Cannon could actually have a better showing. LB Luke Kuechly is expected to be on the field a lot right from the opening kickoff of the season.  If he is all he appears to be on film, he could easily become a 100-tackle guy in his first year, and that would put him in the running for ROTY without a doubt. Our final candidate is another dark horse pick.  It would take a lot for a tight end to win the award, but we think Coby Fleener in New Orleans is in a perfect spot to make a difference.  He will have Drew Brees throwing him the ball, will not draw double coverage with the Breakers’ solid wideouts forcing teams to protect the outside of the field, and he has the kind of hands that could make him a favorite security blanket for Brees.  We could see him also as a key target in the redzone.  Particularly if New Orleans has a winning year, maybe 9 or 10 wins, we could see Fleener getting some love from the voters. COACH OF THE YEAR This one is always tough to predict because it almost always goes to the head coach of a team that surprised us.  Getting the most out of an underrated roster tends to be the formula, so each of our picks is a team that is not expected to make a playoff run, but if they do, this coach will certainly get the credit.  Of the many options in this category, we think that the most likely to surprise us with a better-than-anticipated club are Herm Edwards in New Jersey, Lamar Lathon in New Orleans, and Tom Ramsey in Atlanta.  Here is the thing though, two of those three have already garnered the award in recent years, so that makes it far less likely that they will win another one.  If St. Louis can stay close to Pittsburgh, perhaps Bruce Arians gets the credit.  That could be the most likely of all the scenarios we have cited. OK, enough speculation, let’s kick this thing off.  We start with a Southwest Showdown as Texas opens their division defense in Denver against the Gold.  Then on Saturday we get the Battle of Tennessee, and of two QB’s no one trusts, Quincy Carter for Nashville and Ryan Mallett of Memphis.  Saturday Night gives us another firecracker of a divisional game as the Generals and Stars clash in the Meadowlands.  Then, on Sunday, we get Divisional battles in Jacksonville, Birmingham, Charlotte, and St. Louis before a very intriguing nightcap that has the defending champs all the way on the opposite corner of the country to face the Seattle Dragons. Should be a good week for football, though we may well see some weather impacted games this week.   But, games are games, so let’s get to it.  Time for USFL football once again!! BOLD = NATIONAL BROADCAST BLUE = DIVISOINAL GAME FRIDAY @ 8PM ET             Texas Outlaws @ Denver Gold                                 NBC SAT @ 12PM ET                 Boston Cannons @ Washington Federals         ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                 Michigan Panthers @ Baltimore Blitz                  ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                 Nashville Knights @ Memphis Showboats           FOX SAT @ 4PM ET                   Los Angeles Express @ Portland Stags                 ABC SAT @ 4PM ET                   Ohio Glory @ Las Vegas Thunder                          FOX SAT @ 8PM ET                   Philadelphia Stars @ New Jersey Generals         ESPN SUN @ 12PM ET               Orlando Renegades @ Jacksonville Bulls                ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               New Orleans Breakers @ Birmingham Stallions    FOX SUN @ 12PM ET               Atlanta Fire @ Charlotte Monarchs                           FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                 Arizona Wranglers @ Oakland Invaders              ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 Houston Gamblers @ Pittsburgh Maulers              ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 Chicago Machine @ St. Louis Skyhawks               FOX SUN @ 8PM ET                 Tampa Bay Bandits @ Seattle Dragons                  ESPN

A momentous, surprising, and potentially league-altering offseason has come to a close, and with all teams wrapping up their preseason schedule and gearing up for opening weekend, there is a lot to be excited about.  Of course, for every team that has their fans excited about the upcoming season there is another whose fanbase is concerned that their moves were either not enough to keep pace or not the right decisions.  That uncertainty, along with the hope that many fans feel, is the very essence of the preseason in pro football. Not knowing if the highly rated rookie will come out of the gates on fire, or will stumble and underperform against expectations.  Add to that the preseason chaos that always impacts the USFL due to the timing of its draft and that of the rival NFL, as well as the transfer window that allows players to jump leagues only twice in a calendar year, and you have a lot of rosters in flux right up until opening day. Nashville Loses Luck, Signs Manning in Blockbuster Deal In what has clearly been the story of the offseason, Nashville’s QB situation has absorbed the entire USFL biosphere since the first weeks of free agency, through the draft, and into camp.   As you will recall, as the 2011 season wound down, QB Jay Cutler expressed his dissatisfaction with how he was being utilized in Nashville’s offense, and particularly with the limitations that Coach Jim Johnson had placed on his ability to audible and to seek to make big plays in an offense designed for ball control.   Within days of being eliminated in the Wild Card game, a 5th consecutive loss for the Knigthts, Cutler was publicly demanding to be traded. Almost immediately the Knights seemed ready to deal their starting QB, but they found no takers, no one willing to provide what they asked to have Cutler join a potential rival team in the league.  They held their ground until the NFL-USFL transfer window was about to open and then surprisingly released Cutler.  The move had the desired effect for Nashville.  While they did not get compensation for their release of Cutler, as opposed to a trade, it quickly became apparent that Cutler would jump leagues to the NFL, ensuring that he would not be a factor in the USFL.  Within 1 week of being eligible to make a deal with an NFL team Cutler was in Chicago, shaking hands and putting on a Bears cap to symbolize his new contract. When that came to pass, it was clear that Nashville would need a plan to acquire a quarterback.  That plan revolved around the consensus top talent in the College Draft, Stanford QB Andrew Luck.  Luck’s rights were within the protected territorial schools of the Oakland Invaders, which meant that Oakland could opt to draft Luck, trade the pick so that someone else could do the same, or simply not use one of their three picks on the QB, which would all but ensure a feeding frenzy with the Boston Cannons, who owned the first pick in the Open Draft.  Many even debated whether Oakland would try to trade Joey Harrington, their starter, to Nashville and then draft Luck.  But, in the end, that did not happen.  The Invaders got what they wanted from Nashville, a selection of picks and a key defensive player, edge rusher Terrell Suggs.  Suggs would be in Oakland and Nashville would obtain Oakland’s first T-Draft pick, with an agreement that Luck would be that pick. When the T-Draft came around, it was not a surprise at all that Nashville listed Luck as their target with the traded pick from Oakland.  It was by this point a foregone conclusion.  But, as with all draft picks for the USFL (and NFL), getting into position to select the player you covet is only half the battle.  Nashville approached Luck’s agent, hoping to get a deal on the table before the NFL draft, but, as we see with nearly all top prospects, Luck and his agent would not agree to anything, even with a handshake, before seeing what the NFL Draft would produce.  When it produced Luck as the #1 overall pick, a choice by the Indianapolis Colts, the war of offers would begin. Indianapolis would contribute to the offseason chaos in two ways, their selection of Luck, but also their release of 3-time NFL Champion and MVP Peyton Manning.  Manning, who had recently signed a 5-year deal, had then been diagnosed with a serious spinal issue and would undergo a spinal fusion procedure early in the Fall of 2011.  He would not play a down for Indianapolis in 2011, and by the winter holidays the club had written off any chance that Manning would return to play professional football.  So, on the one hand you had the Colts releasing a QB who, if healthy, would fetch a king’s ransom on the free agent market, and then using their poor 2011 season to lock up the top pick in the NFL draft and select the best QB prospect in many years, perhaps since Manning himself. Nashville would do all they could to woo Andrew Luck, but the club, known for its defensive posture and very conservative offensive mindset, had trouble competing with an Indianapolis team which had, until Manning’s injury, been a dominant force in the NFL and which still had a lot of pieces in place for another title run.  The Knights learned late on a Wednesday night in early February that Luck would indeed sign with the Colts, meaning they had traded one of their key defenders to Oakland and gotten nothing in return. The Knights would need a plan B, but the perfect plan B was staring them right in the face.  Peyton Manning, a legend at the U. of Tennessee, would be a massive get for the Knights.  His presence would sell tickets, merch, and publicity for the club.  All they had to do was convince him that Nashville was the right fit.  They would find themselves competing against no fewer than 7 additional teams, some from the NFL and some as close as their rivals from Memphis.  Manning’s filmed workouts seemed to show that he was regaining mobility, that his arm still had plenty of zip, and that his desire to return to the game was fueling him. The injury would keep the salary demands of Manning within a range that both leagues could work around.  Unlike the $90,000,000 contract he had signed pre-injury with the Colts, a new contract, with all the risks of Manning’s health, would be more in the range of $10,000,000 per year.  That was a price the Knights were more than willing to pay.  They played up the “returning home” theme, the presence of several UT teammates and friends of Peyton on the roster and the staff, and the ability for Manning to take the time he needed to prepare before taking the field. Just as camps were set to open, and with veteran backup Quincy Carter as the only QB on the Nashville roster, Manning and his agent agreed to terms with the Knights. Manning would report to camp, participate in private workouts for several weeks, and potentially take the field at the midpoint in the season.  His contract would ensure a percentage of guaranteed money even if he were to delay his return until 2013, and even a smaller guaranteed payout if it was decided that he would need to retire after all.  It was a risk the Knights were willing to take. Nashville, looking at a minimum of 8 weeks of the season without their newly signed QB, would quickly go out and sign the two best options in free agency to help tide them over along with Carter.  They added both Jeff Smoker (released by Michigan) and Sage Rosenfels (a free agent formerly with Texas) with a promise that both would get their chance to compete with Quincy Carter for starts, potentially for 8 weeks, but also potentially for the full 2012 season.   Just as quickly, the Knights started cranking out number 16 jerseys, t-shirts with Manning’s likeness, and ticket sale adds touting the return of the conquering hero of Knoxville. While the honest truth is that we have no idea just how much of Manning we will see in Knights’ purple, gold and silver, including the very real possibility that we will not see any snaps with Manning under center, the reality is that it does not really seem to matter.  Knights fans are over the moon with the signing, even if they do acknowledge that Manning’s return may be too late for 2012 to be a strong season.  For the rest of the nation, just having Manning in the USFL seems to have heightened excitement and anticipation for the new season.  The USFL has Manning fever, which is good for business even if it proves to be a false alarm. Griffin & Richardson Land in NFL While the Andrew Luck signing with Indianapolis certainly garnered headlines across the nation, the reality is that the NFL did quite well with their earliest picks.  All three of the top 3 NFL selections, Luck with Indy, Robert Griffin with the Redskins, and HB Trent Richardson with the Browns, opted to sign on the bottom line with the fall league, leaving Nashville, Memphis, and Seattle seeking other solutions for those positions.  Richardson had been the 3rd player taken in both the NFL and USFL draft, and was a pick that cost Seattle 2 first-rounders (2012 and 2013) to move from 9th to 3rd to select him.  His signing with the NFL Browns meant that the Dragons had given up 2 picks for no one, a common fear of GM’s in both leagues as each league tends to obtain barely 50% of the players picked. Griffin had also been part of that same trade, slipping to 9th in the draft where Memphis picked him with one of the picks they had obtained from Seattle.  The Showboats, despite having selected Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett in the 2011 draft were hoping they could appeal to the more athletic Griffin to come to the USFL and their franchise.  But, as one might expect, getting picked 9th by one league and 2nd in the other tends to favor the higher selection.  Washington played up that option, as well as the higher initial contract value that a 2nd pick in the NFL would have over a 9th pick in the USFL, and Griffin agreed to terms with Washington in short order. Overall, the exchange between the two leagues was pretty even.  Of the NFL’s 32 first round picks, 17 signed with their NFL clubs, a 53% conversion rate.  For the USFL, of their 28 first round picks, some of whom were later picks in the NFL, they converted 16 to USFL contracts, a 57% conversion rate.  Both leagues could claim victory in the annual player battles.  All 3 of the NFL’s Top 3 picks signed with them, and while picks 4-9 all signed with the USFL, their overall numbers were strong.  For the USFL, five of the top 7 Open Draft picks signed with their USFL clubs, including #1 pick, WR Justin Blackmon of OK State, who signed with Boston.  The USFL also did well overall with their Territorial Draft picks, often the stronger of the two drafts for the spring league.  Players with 1st or 2nd round NFL grades did opt to stay with their regional USFL clubs, names like USC OT Matt Kalil for the Express, LB Luke Kuechly from BC to the Boston Cannons, Memphis DT Dontari Poe who doesn’t even have to change apartments after signing with the Showboats, and Notre Dame wideout Michael Floyd, whose fans can make the short drive from South Bend to Chicago to see Floyd with the Machine. Obviously not every T-Draft pick ended up signing, with Luck being the poster child of that reality, and some teams whiffed pretty big, missing out on 2 or all 3 of their T-Draft picks. Both Denver and Houston missed on all three of their T-Draft picks, including QB Ryan Tannehill, who preferred the option to sign in Miami with the NFL Dolphins over staying in Texas to sit behind Matt Hasselbeck in Houston.  Overall, a mixed result, but one that for most teams provided enough enthusiasm and enough infusion of talent to keep the fans engaged and build some enthusiasm for 2012.  We will break down the picks that signed and those that got away in our team by team preview in part 2 of this special preseason preview. Foster, Wallace, and Williams All Jump to USFL While the draft results were mixed, the NFL-USFL transfer window this February proved to be very much a positive experience for the spring league.  In addition to the headline-grabbing signing of Peyton Manning, the USFL also landed several of the top NFL free agents, something of a coup for the league. Defensive End Mario Williams became an immediate target of the Memphis Showboats when Peyton Manning was off the table, and it took no time for Memphis to get ink on paper, signing the edge rusher to a 4-year deal worth nearly $30M. The Texas Outlaws, who were attempting to replace retired HB T. J. Duckett in earnest, had no options in the T-Draft, were unable to move up to select Trent Richardson in the Open Draft, and found no solutions later in the draft, were finally able to find a suitable replacement in another bruising back, former Houston Oiler Arian Foster.  Foster agreed to a 3-year deal with the Outlaws and will likely emerge as the #1 back within 2-3 weeks of the season start, depending on his physical and his ability to pick up the blocking schemes used by the Outlaws. Finally, controversial and outspoken wide receiver Mike Wallace, let go by the Pittsburgh Steelers despite back-to-back 1,200 yard seasons, found a home in the USFL, in the Pacific Northwest.  The Seattle Dragons and head coach Marvin Lewis were willing to take on the often confrontational personality of Wallace in order to bring to the Dragons a bona fide number one receiver.  With David Boston retiring this year, a receiver who could draw double coverage and still beat it was the top priority for the Dragons, and that meant overlooking some of the more outlandish elements of Wallace’s time in Pittsburgh. Other NFL players of note who opted to continue playing into the spring with the USFL include QB’s Bryan Hoyer (Pats to Generals), Charlie Whitehurst (Seahawks to Monarchs), and Chad Henne (Dolphins to Renegades).  Along with Arian Foster, halfback Mike Tolbert made the leap, leaving San Diego to join the New Orleans Breakers, and former Redskin Tim Hightower is now another Renegade signing.  The only other wideout of note to sign with the USFL was former Falcon Eric Weems, who now joins St. Louis. Mario Williams was certainly the biggest name on defense to jump leagues, but others like DE Cliff Avril (Lions to Invaders), LBs Dan Conner (Panthers to Skyhawks) and Stephen Tulloch (Lions to Gamblers), corners Brandon Carr (Chiefs to Cannons), Tracy Porter (Saints to Express), and LaDarius Webb (Ravens to Panthers) also made the interleague move.  Many expected QB Alex Smith to make the move to the USFL, but with few teams seeking to provide Smith with a guaranteed starting job, he would sign eventually with the Kansas City Chiefs instead. A lot of new faces, a lot of learning on a quick pace as teams hope to get all of their NFL signings on the field as soon as possible. It varies by position and by player, but we should expect to see a few players on opening day and more each week as we build through the first month of the season.  Expect Foster and Tolbert to get carries right away, while the QB’s, receivers, and some defenders could take 2-3 weeks to get up to speed and on the field.  All the while, of course, we will continue to monitor Peyton Manning’s progress and his possible appearance in the lineup for Nashville. Denver and Chicago Make Swap Players on the Cusp of Opening Games We finish our quick review of the moves and signings of the offseason with one last trade, a trade at the wire, as both teams are already preparing for their opener.  Chicago, concerned that they were unable to enhance their safety group through the draft or free agency, opted to make a move to bring in a veteran strong safety.   In doing so, they made a major shakeup to their wide receiver group, sending Golden Tate to Denver to acquire David Young.  Young is almost certain to be the starter this week at strong safety, but Tate, who finished 2011 with 83 receptions for 930 yards and 6 TDs was a major contributor to the Machine offense.  Of course Chicago did draft and sign Malcolm Floyd from Notre Dame, and Floyd’s strong preseason may just have given them the confidence to let Tate go.  For the Gold, acquiring Tate gives them a solid second option after veteran Peerless Price.  It also means that they can shift James Hardy to more of a floating  position, both inside and outside, and get more snaps for promising young players like Leonard Hankerson. Is Denver and Chicago’s trade the last of the season?  For now perhaps, but we always see teams make moves between weeks 5-10 as their preseason optimism gets traded for the harsh reality of the season.  For now, however, we believe the roster are set and the teams know who they are, at least who they think they are.  All illusions are dispelled when pads hit pads in opening weekend. T-Draft Winners & Losers The trend over the past several years has been for USFL squads to be more cautious, and equally more successful, with their Territorial Picks than with the Open Draft.  Perhaps it is the built-in advantage that comes with keeping players near their college markets, a situation that allows players, particularly high profile players, to add to their financial windfall by cashing in on their local popularity through advertising and spokesperson deals in a way that is not as possible when a player from Cal ends up in Buffalo, or a Longhorn plays for the Bears.  This benefits mid-round picks as well as the big name players and has often produced good return on investment for the USFL clubs, who frequently will land 2 or all 3 T-Draft picks while only hitting on 40% or fewer of their Open Draft picks.  So, with this in mind, were there clear winners and losers in this year’s T-Draft.  Yes.  Some due to the talent pool available, and others due to their ability to sign players.  Here is our list of the 3 biggest winners from the T-Draft as well as the three biggest losers. WINNER—BOSTON The Cannons landed 2 of their three picks, signing WR Nick Toon of Wisconsin, missing on fellow Badger, punter Brad Nortman, but landing the big fish, Boston College ILB Luke Kuechley.  A top-10 pick by the NFL Panthers, Kuechley saw the value of staying in Boston, where his local notoriety was already well established, and he essentially walks into the MLB position for the Cannons, meaning immediate minutes and a fast track to being the defense’s play caller and even team captain.  For Boston they get one of the best LB prospects to come out in recent years and an instant face for a franchise struggling with perception and with a 1-win season behind them. LOSER—BIRMINGHAM The Stallions had such a deep pool of talent to choose from, just from Alabama alone, with Trent Richardson, Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, Don’t’a  Hightower, and Courtney Upshaw all considered first or second round talent.  They opted to select only the two Bama linebackers, Hightower and Upshaw, and while others like Barron and Kirkpatrick would go on to sign with the USFL clubs that picked them in the Open Draft, both Hightower (New England) and Upshaw (Baltimoe) opted to sign with the NFL club that picked them.  That is a major whiff.  Add to that the indignity of midround pick, OT Matt McCants of UAB, signing with the NY Giants instead of staying in Birmingham with the Stallions, and you have an embarrassing draft form a front office that hit big in 2011 with Cam Newton coming to the team. WINNER—MICHIGAN The Panthers may have felt that the crop of draftees from the Wolverine, Spartan, and Chippewa programs this year was not the deepest, they certainly found talent they liked, and talent that wanted to stay at home in Detroit.  Michigan not only signed all three T-Draft picks—QB Kirk Cousins, DT Jerel Worthy, and WR B. J. Cunningham, but also nabbed a 4th in Center David Molk of Michigan late in the Open Draft.  Now, these were not all early round picks, so you have to temper the excitement, but anytime you can bring in a QB from the T-Draft, and particularly one who seems well suited to mentor under Brian Griese, and also nab 3 other players for depth, you have fulfilled the promise of the Territorial Draft concept. LOSER—LAS VEGAS We have to consider Las Vegas one of the biggest losers for this year’s T-Draft.  Not only did they have a really bad pool coming out of Utah, BYU, and UNLV, but they managed not to sign those players they did select.  Honestly, though, we don’t think the Thunder are too upset, as even the top rated player in their pool, Utah guard Tony Bergstrom, was not considered a blue chip impact player.  Essentially, Las Vegas knew they drew a bad hand from the onset and had to strategize around that fact. WINNER—TAMPA BAY The Bandits only landed 2 of the 3 players selected, but both of their signees were early round picks in WR Alshon Jeffery and LB Nigel Bradham.  Both are positions of need after the retirements of Chris Doering and Zeke Moreno (who was a free agent), so both are positions of need.  Now, Tampa Bay did double down at WR by signing Santonio Holmes, but having a promising rookie who can learn from Joey Galloway’s example may be the best possible result for the Bandits. LOSER—NEW JERSEY The Generals managed to sign one of three picks, which is still better than some teams (Denver & Houston), who did not land a single one, but what hurts for New Jersey is that both of their top tier choices, DE Chandler Jones and WR Ryan Broyles, opted to join the NFL, Chandler with the Patriots and Broyles with the Lions.  Admitedly, the connection between Oklahoma and New Jersey is not a strong one, with the school in the Generals’ Territorial group only due to the lack of top tier programs in the greater NY/NJ area.  So the lure for a Sooner of playing in New Jersey is not as great as it is with Florida, California, or Texas teams and players.  New Jersey did sign Rutgers WR Mohamed Sanu, and he is a solid mid-round product, but Jones in particular was the local star that the Generals most coveted, a Syracuse product with outstanding pass rushing skills, so missing out on him was a big hit. We will comment on the rest of the draft when we do our team-by-team preview, outlining the new faces on each team’s roster and where we see the most potential impact. FIVE BIG STORIES TO FOLLOW AS WE HEAD INTO THE 2012 SEASON While every team will have their storylines, whether it is surprise breakout players, slumps and obstacles, injury woes, or player quarrels with coaching staffs, but there are some stories we already know we are going to be following through the year.  Here is our list of the Top 5 stories to keep checking in on. 5) Does Dallas Make a Deal? The self-designated goal for the Destination Dallas investor group was to have a USFL franchise playing in the refurbished Cotton Bowl in 2013.  The stadium is well on its way to being prepped, but time is running out for the investors to make a deal and get league approval to relocate a franchise to the DFW area.  They have been meeting during the offseason with several teams, and most believe that they have serious interest from the ownership groups in Nashville, Boston and Chicago.  As we have already reported, the ease of approval for a sale and relocation is very much in the air with all three cities, but Chicago would be the toughest to get approved.  We fully expect a deal to be cut at some time during the next few months, at least between the investors and one of the teams, but then the long process of getting league approval will begin.  If it occurs during the season, will it even be reported, because clearly an announcement of purchase and a plan to relocate would make whichever team is sold a lame duck for the season, and that will absolutely produce hostility, protests, and a major collapse of attendance for this season.  It will be a black eye on a season that has a lot of promise, but if Destination Dallas is serious about their timeline, a sale will have to happen soon. 4) Which 2011 Non-Playoff Team is Ready to Make a Run? Every year we have 12 clubs that make the postseason and 16 that do not.  And every year who those teams are changes.  Houston won the title in 2010 but was AWOL in 2011, while Texas ascended to win the first division title in franchise history.  Who will be the risers this year?  Which teams might be ready to break loose and put together a playoff season, perhaps even a division winning or title-winning season?   We picked 4 teams we think are on the cusp and could make the final push from also-ran to playoff contender. ST. LOUIS The Skyhawks had a very strong 2nd half to the season in 2011, winning 5 of their last 7 games and finishing with a franchise best 8=8 record, the first time since the club joined the league in 2006 that it did not have a losing record.  Now, admittedly, they play in a very tough division and will have to find a way to leapfrog clubs like Michigan and Chicago to get close to the Maulers, who dominated the Central last year, but they are absolutely on the right path.  We love the additions of LB Dan Conner and WR Eric Weems from the NFL, the signing of Nate Washington and guard Paul Zakauskas in free agency, and the addition of DE Olivier Vernon in the draft.  This is a Skyhawks team that is getting enough pieces to compete with anyone. BIRMINGHAM The Stallions started 2011 very strong, but slid back over the course of Cam Newton’s rookie year, but they clearly are looking like a competitor in a division that is looking pretty down overall.  With Nashville likely to start a career backup at QB for at least half to the season, if not the entire season, and with New Orleans and Memphis still very big question marks, the division could be Birmingham’s this year.  The Stallions bombed in the T-Draft, but we do like the addition of LT Riley Reiff, who has already earned the starting gig protecting Newton’s blind side.  If Newton takes a step up in his 2nd year, he will possibly be the best QB in the division (Drew Brees would argue this), but he could also be on the best team in the division. ORLANDO The Renegades have been so close, just missing the playoffs in both 2010 and 2011.  They have the most dominant defensive player in the league, and with a  full year under his belt in Coach Thomas’s system, Eli Manning could be primed for a strong year.  Orlando was very active this offseason, signing NFL QB Chad Henne to back up Manning, adding another NFL vet, HB Tim Hightower to help spell Knowshon Moreno, and then bringing in a top 20 prospect in U. of Miami LB Sean Spence in the T-Draft.  We are still a bit mystified why Orlando went after Russell Wilson in the draft, but the rookie QB will now have a chance to grow into the position behind Manning as well.  The key to the Renegades this year will be cohesiveness. It cannot be all Calais Campbell on defense. He needs support elsewhere on the D.  The same is true for Manning on offense. He needs his receivers and his line to be there too.  The Renegades are close, but they will need to play together to stay in range of the defending champion Bandits. SEATTLE Another club that has been flirting with .500 for a while now.  They have had 7 wins in all three of the past three seasons.  Meanwhile other clubs have risen and fallen around them. Will the addition of NFL gadfly Mike Wallace help them get over the hump or drag them down?  Will replacing LaDell Betts with rookie Robert Turbin help the run game develop an inside-outside game?  Will the defense come together with the additions of Ike Reese and Alan Branch?  A lot of ifs, but like Birmingham, this is a division with a lot of equity, and while LA and Oakland might be favored to take the title, Seattle is absolutely in the mix this year. 3) Which Players are Ready to Break Out in a Big Way? The cliché about player development is that it is season three that makes or breaks a player.  Sure, there are some who immediately hit the ground running and make a huge impact as rookies, while others may never develop their game to match their hype in the draft.  But typically by year three if a player has not broken out they are either in a bad fit with their current team, or their talent was overhyped in college.  As we look at the 2010 draft we see some names for whom 2012 could be a year to make a splash, or could be a year that sinks them.  Here is our list of 6 players to watch this year in hopes of a breakout season. WR Aurelious Benn (OHI) To say that Benn’s performance in his first two years in Chicago has been a tease is about as accurate as you can get.  His 112 receptions and 1095 yards are decent 2nd or 3rd receiver numbers, but not the kind of production you expect of a 1st round talent. Benn has struggled to stay ahead of Golden Tate on the Chicago roster, and now with Tate off to Denver it will fall on Benn to step up and become a focal point of the offense. Donald Driver is not getting any younger and the Machine need a 2nd receiver to pick up the baton. WR Golden Tate (DEN) Speaking of Tate, the newest member of the Denver Gold has a golden opportunity (sorry for the pun) to break out this year.  Tate had a huge step up last year, from 24 receptions in 2010 to 83 in 2011, outpacing Benn and securing more snaps each week. He now moves on to a Denver squad that absolutely needs a receiver opposite Peerless Price and could very soon need Tate to move into the top slot on the depth chart.  He has a solid QB in Matt Leinart, a very good offensie line to protect the QB and allow for deeper routes, and a clean slate to start with as a member of the Gold. The time is now if Tate is going to break out. DE Jason Pierre-Paul (TBY) JPP won a title with the Bandits last year but fans in Tampa Bay are still hoping for a breakout season individually.  Pierre-Paul did not start a game in 2010, and recorded no sacks.  Last year he was the starter in 14 of 16 regular season games and all through the playoffs.  In that span he recorded 5 sacks.  That is a number that everyone in Banditland wants to see doubled or tripled this year.  JPP has the talent, we see it on individual plays, but we need to see it every play.  If he can increase his motor, he has the potential to be a 10 or 15 sack contributor to the Bandits, which would go a long way towards the club returning to defend their title this July. DT Ndamukong Suh (DEN) Suh came out of college with a huge reputation as a disruptive force of nature.  In two years with the Denver Gold we just have not seen that.  He improved on his rookie numbers in 2011, with 48 tackles (only 5 for a loss) and 4 sacks, but what Gold fans were expecting were more like Jerome Brown numbers. They want to see Suh in the backfield making opponents fear calling inside runs.  They want to see him bursting through to get to the QB right up the middle.  Suh has been solid, but not spectacular, and the expectations were so high coming out of college that only spectacular will satisfy Gold fans. QB Tim Tebow (JAX) Tim Tebow arrived in Jacksonville from just down the road in Gainesville with a huge following, a fervent fanbase, and a lot of expectations.  His first year saw him start 11 games and have pretty solid numbers with a 7:4 TD:Int ratio (14:8 in actual numbers) and over 2,000 yards.  In 2011 he bumped up his yardage to 3,802, the highest from a Bulls QB in a long time, but we also saw him throw 19 picks to only 18 touchdowns.  That has to have fans concerned, even if they won’t admit it.  Tebow needs this to be a breakout season.  We mean 3,500 yards, at least a 2:1 TD:INT ratio and a rating over 90.   Failing that, the Tebowmania may quickly turn to Tebowphobia. 2) Will Chad Johnson or Mike Wallace Explode in a Good Way or a Bad Way? There is no doubt that both Johnson and Wallace are extremely talented.  Johnson has had  11 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons in both Ohio and Boston, but he has also been quick to attack his QB and his coaches when he is not seeing enough of the ball or the team is not winning.  He now finds himself in a new situation with a new QB (Jake Plummer) and a coach who loves to throw the ball. Can this be a win-win for the Thunder and for Johnson?  And if it is not, will Johnson explode once again?  That is a sideshow we expect to be tuning in for. Very similarly, Mike Wallace has put up good numbers in the NFL, but his off-field and media antics quickly soured the more traditional Steeler organization on the young receiver.  He now finds himself in Seattle, with a veteran QB, and a veteran coach.  The problem is that the coach is starting the year on the hotseat after 3 straight 7-win seasons and the QB may be nearing retirement.  Is Wallace really in a good position for immediate success and a positive relationship with his team, coach, QB, and fanbase?  Or is he on a fast track to becoming a nuisance once again? 1) Will We See Peyton Manning in Nashville This Season? You knew this had to be our top story, right?  Even after games begin and the season gets under way, everyone will still be tuning in to Manning’s workouts, his practices with the Knights, and his press comments. Knight fans, USFL fans, and football fans in general are rooting for Manning to play again, and, at least for the Knight Nation, for him to be able to do so at a high level and as soon as possible.  The first half of the Knights’ season could be a tough go, but fans will still be excited if they see progress week to week on Manning’s status and ability to add more and more football to his routines.  He is a superstar, we know that, and if he can add some of that star power to Nashville, a team that has lacked a true national face of the franchise since moving from LA to St. Louis and then Music City, then this could well be the start of something special for the Knights.  And all this as fans freak out about the club and its interest from the Dallas group.  A perfect storm of tensions, opportunity and star power.  That is a story we will follow all year long.

January 22, 2012 To say it has been an eventful 3 months since we last joined you with our USFL offseason update would be a major understatement.  We have had signings, trades, and, of course, a wild Collegiate Draft.  As teams were able to swap Territorial Draft picks for the first time in several years, there was a lot of horse trading on all parts.  We will break it down for you, starting with our 3 big stories of the winter, then take  a detailed look at the 2012 drafts (Territorial and Open) and finish up with a look at the top 15 NFL players currently not under contract.  Just as minicamps have opened, with the main training camps opening in just about a week, it is all coming together. Nashville Sends Terrell Suggs to Oakland for Right to Pick Andrew Luck We all saw it coming, the cutting of Jay Cutler, the lack of potential replacements within free agency. It all tied together.  And, in early November it all came together.  Cutler had signed with the NFL Bears during the transfer window, so there was no going back.  The Nashville Knights had to have a plan for a new option at QB or risk going into the season with only Quincy Carter as a veteran QB on the roster.  Yes, they could sign a free agent from the USFL pool, but with the top available QBs being backup options like Tony Banks or Dennis Dixon, they would not find a day one starter in that pool.  So, from the point that the Knights opted to let the disgruntled Cutler walk, they were clearly targeting a second option, and it was pretty clear that the best option was to make a deal with Oakland to obtain the Invaders’ first T-Draft pick and use that pick to select Stanford’s All-American QB Andrew Luck. And that is exactly what happened back in November.  As expected, Oakland, wary of the 50% NFL signing rate in the rookie drafts nearly every year, wanted signed and sealed commodities.  They wanted a guaranteed top flight player in return for the shot at Andrew Luck.  Based on our reporting we know that the Knights initially approached them with a pick for pick deal, but that was inadequate.  What they would end up settling on was a combination deal that sent Oakland’s T-draft pick to the Knights and in return Oakland would obtain not only the Knights’ 1st rounder in the open draft, but also veteran LB and edge rusher Terrell Suggs.  Suggs, who came to the Knights in 2009, had his best career year in 2011, with 6 sacks and 106 tackles.  He will immediately upgrade the Invader defense, lined up alongside Nick Koutavides and Joe Odom. And while Nashville did just as expected and used their expensive pick on Andrew Luck, beginning negotiations immediately upon selection, Oakland now found themselves with 2 first round picks within a 4-pick span.  They would use their own pick (number 18 in the round) on Stanford guard David DeCastro, a player they likely would have chosen in the T-Draft had they kept their first pick. With Nashville’s pick, only 2 later, they doubled up, adding yet more linebacker help with the selection of Utah State LB Bobby Wagner.  While at present all three picks (the two Oakland selections and Luck for Nashville) remain unsigned and awaiting their NFL draft selection, there is hope in both camps that this year’s draft will prove monumental in their club’s futures. Chicago Finds Their Man... In New Jersey? The Chicago Machine waited out the NFL and College seasons before settling on a head coach, and still managed to surprise us. This week Chicago named Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano as the newest leader of the Machine franchise. Schiano, who served as the head coach at Rutgers from 2001-2011, built up the program from a Big East also ran into a 6 time bowl participant with a 5-1 recod in those bowls. He had previously served as a DB coach in the NFL with Chicago and at both Penn State and Miami. While Schiano certainly has enough of a career to warrant becoming a pro coach, he is still a surprising pick, both because he is not known for innovative offensive design, nor for developing top tier talent. Yes, his Rutgers teams have had better results, and several player, like HB Ray Rice, have moved on to the pro ranks, Schiano is more known as a players' coach and a good motivator than as an innovator on the field, something the Machine had previously expressed interest in. Schiano will take over a Machine club that fell to 8-8 in 2011 after a run that saw them make the playoffs in 9 of the prior 10 seasons with Marty Mornhinweg at the helm. The team has a solid QB in Brady Quinn, and one of the league's most outstanding defenders in MLB Brian Urlacher. Seattle Trades Up to Select HB Trent Richardson The November trade between Oakland and Nashville was the biggest of the offseason until the week of the draft.  We saw a few other less noteworthy trades, such as New Orleans sending FS Earl Thomas to Boston for OT Joseph Bragg and a draft pick, or guard Mike McGlynn sent from Michigan to Philadelphia for CB Drayton Florence, but it was not until Draft Week that we saw bigger moves. Oddly, while we anticipated more moves within the T-Draft as players tried to snag those attending one of the 84 protected schools (3 each for all 28 USFL franchises), what we saw instead were moves to adjust draft position in the open draft.  The biggest moves occurred in the 24 hours leading up to and during the Open Draft itself.  Here are the moves that impacted the first round alone: Seattle sent their 1st this year and next year to Memphis to move up from pick 9 to pick 3.  We all suspected what that was about and it was exactly what we thought, with Seattle using the 3rd pick on Alabama HB Trent Richardson.  Memphis, dropping down, would select Baylor QB Robert Griffin III of Baylor, who was not protected by the Texas Outlaws, since they have reigning MVP Joe Flacco a the position. Charlotte had wanted to move up to the Top 10, but were unable to find a trading partner, so they settled for the 11th pick, making a move with Denver to jump up from 19th to 11th.  That  move allowed them to snag the QB they had hoped to find, OK State’s Brandon Wheedon.  Wheedon is expected to sit behind Delhomme this year, but could see action if the veteran struggles. In trade for their 11 pick, Denver dropped down to 19, but also picked up a 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft.  The Gold would not stand pat with their new pick, turning right around and packaging that 19 pick with a late rounder to make a deal with Michigan, moving ahead of Oakland and selecting CB Dre Kirkpatrick out of Alabama.  Michigan, moving down only 2 spots and confident that Oakland was not looking for a HB, were able to still get their target, Oregon HB LaMichael James. The end of the first round also saw two deals as both Philadelphia and New  Jersey made deals to move into the later part of the round to snag a second 1st round talent.  Philadelphia sent their 2nd and 3rd round picks to Arizona to get pick 23 in the first round, selecting OG Kevin Zeitler of Wisconsin.  They would also add Cal OT Mitchell Schwartz 3 picks later with the 26th selection as they hope to build up a young and athletic O-line.  New Jersey, who had chosen CB Stephon Gilmore with the #8 pick in the draft, saw someone they liked still on the board, and made the deal with Tampa Bay to get the final pick of the round, sending the Bandits their #8 pick in the 2nd round as well as a 4th rounder so that they could select safety Tavon Wilson of Illinois.  It seems secondary is the prime concern for former DB and current Generals’ head coach Herm Edwards. There were also the usual set of mid-round swaps throughout the day, and even a player swap as Orlando sent WR Leonard Hankerson and a 6th rounder to Denver for OT Chris Terry, but the big news, as usual was in the first round.  And, honestly, the bigger news has yet to be written as most players, with just a handful of exceptions, are waiting for this week’s NFL Draft and negotiations with both leagues  before settling on a deal.   We will all have to wait, as we have gotten accustomed to doing, until camps open to find out which rookies will be joining the USFL and which will hold off and wait until next Fall to see the field again. Could Peyton Manning be Headed to the USFL? That has been the speculation ever since Indianapolis announced that they would be releasing Manning after a neck injury cost him the entirety of the 2011 NFL season.  Manning, who had just signed a 5-year, $90 million contract with the NFL Colts, underwent spinal fusion surgery in August, was put on IR for the year in September, and throughout the season was a topic of hot debate.  With Colts owner Jim Irsay convinced that Manning would never step on a field again, the Colts released Manning from their roster in mid-December, just around the time that Manning started throwing footballs again for the first time since his surgery. Progress in the short span since then has been tentative, but Manning himself has stated that it is his intention to return to play in 2012. So, what does this mean for the USFL?  Well, the obvious first thing is that USFL clubs would have to wait until mid-February to even explore the option of signing Manning.  They would, of course, want to get as much information about his recovery and his potential future as an athlete before making any moves, and, they would likely be up against some competition from any number of NFL teams who would jump at a healthy Manning, but who, like them, are concerned that Manning is simply not going to be able to return.  The other factor for a USFL club is one of timing.  The earliest that Manning could even possibly take the field as a pro football player would be in late May or early June, even if every single step of his recovery went perfectly.  That means that a team is looking at Week 9 or later as the earliest possible start.  That is certainly a concern for most teams, as Manning would likely be a huge chunk out of their salary cap even if he were to take a drop in pay from the contract he signed with the Colts pre-surgery. Does that mean no USFL club would take the chance?  Hardly. Manning is a generational talent and a huge boost for the marketing arm of any club.  And while this offseason we see very few clubs who are desperate for a change at QB, there are certainly many who would have interest in Manning.  While it would be a cap challenge for a club like Charlotte, Houston, or Las Vegas to have Manning on the roster while also having starters like Delhomme, Hasselbeck, and Plummer in games, the potential to swap in Manning for 2013 may just be enough to motivate them.  Then you have clubs like LA, Portland, Memphis, or St. Louis, who have QBs in place, but would certainly see Manning as an upgrade if he were healthy.   Finally, we have to consider both Nashville and Memphis seriously.  There is a very good chance that Nashville will whiff on signing Andrew Luck and that would make them very desperate indeed to sign a veteran like Manning.  Memphis is looking at Ryan Mallett after a pretty bad year, bad enough to draft Robert Griffin III this year, but if Manning is available, they would certainly consider the chance to bring a local hero to the squad.  And that is the extra bonus for both the Showboats and Knights, the chance to bring one of the most celebrated Tennessee Volunteers to a Tennessee-based USFL club would be a marketing coup, even if Manning spends the entire season on the bench recovering and prepping for 2013. The possibilities are fascinating, the risks very real, and the water cooler talk all but endless as the Manning saga rages in the fanbases of 60 clubs across two leagues. Beyond the Manning speculation, there was certainly plenty of Free Agent news this Winter, as well as the prospect of a new round of NFL signings in less than a month.  For now the NFL front is quiet, though we will take a look at the top free agents likely to be available in February.  But before we do that, we should recap some of the winter signings from within the USFL pool as several very talented players changed uniforms between our last report and this one. Pass defenders and QB protectors were all the rage over the past month as we saw DBs and guards as the two hottest positions for change. Since October we have seen several in both areas find new homes, while Portland pulled off the rare post-deadline resigning when they retained the services of SS Clifton Black.  Among those moving were cornerbacks Chris Canty (MGN to HOU), Jimmy Williams (ARZ to WSH) and Brandon Flowers (WSH to ARZ), essentially producing a “trade” of CB’s between the Feds and Wranglers.  We also saw an All-USFL safety cash in as Pittsburgh’s Scott Shields took the money and ran, to the tune of nearly $20M over 4 years to join the New Jersey Generals, where Herm Edwards is just stocking up on defensive backs. Among the guards that swapped home addresses we saw Jeb Terry (NSH to SEA), Paul Zakauskas (NOR to STL), and Solomon Page (TEX to LA) all find new homes.  There are still several quality options at guard yet to sign, including veterans Bobbie Williams (ATL), Vince Manuwai (SEA), and Taylor Whitley (CHI). Others making a move in the doldrums of winter include TE Anthony Becht, who leaves behind 12 seasons in New Jersey, signing with the Breakers in New Orleans.   HB Ladell Betts leaves Seattle to join his 5th USFL club, the Atlanta Fire.  DT DeMarcus Tyler will leave Boston for a division rival in Philadelphia, while two edge rushers also move on, with Eddie Freeman leaving St. Louis for Portland and Antwan Odom trading Portland brown for Baltimore blue.  Kicker David Green will compete for the job in Ohio after signing with the Glory, while the latest move, that of HB Rashard Jennings, has the former Thunder backup to Marshawn Lynch hoping for more opportunities to carry the ball as a member of the Ohio Glory. While the pool of available USFL free agents is shrinking, there still remain several savvy veterans and quality depth players yet to sign as we move towards camps.  Among the most noteworthy we find FB Shawn Bryson (BIR), WR Andre Davis (POR), C Aaron Graham (TEX), CB Dereck Combs (JAX), and DE Corey Sears (LA).  For teams hoping to get some depth at QB there are some veteran backups still out there, though none who are likely to compete for a starting job.  Among those still unsigned we find Tony Banks, Dennis Dickson, Dave Dickerson, and Tee Martin.  For those hoping to bolster their run game, they can still get some solid carries from players like Brandon Jacobs, Antonio Pittman, or Kerry Joseph.  Among receivers, the best remaining on the board is Andre Davis, but teams could also take a look at Arnold Brown, Matthew Slater or Joey Jamison.  Finally, among defenders, the surprising player still out there is DT Kimo Von Oelhoffen, who had a great season with Arizona. He and Damione Lewis are the best DT’s still unsigned, while on the edge there is still Corey Sears, Gary Stills, and Quintin Moses. Add to this group a potential pool of NFL players who stick out their league’s free agency period in hopes of using the USFL-NFL transfer window as leverage, so we are not done yet with free agents by a longshot. As we look back at the USFL Draft, we recognize that, as always, selection is only the first step.  How the signing period turns out for the league will be our focus moving forward.  As soon as the NFL Draft is complete, the agents for all the top talent will begin playing one offer against another, one team against another, as the NFL and USFL both attempt to get the better of the other.  Nashville eagerly waits to get a solid response from Andrew Luck’s agent while we all await to see if the Colts, having released Peyton Manning, use their first overall pick on the Stanford product.  But that is just the first of over 250 players likely to be selected by teams in both leagues and eager to use that reality to leverage better deals.  So, as we review each USFL team’s picks, let’s keep the excitement level under control, because if the past 29 drafts have shown us anything, it is that our favorite USFL club will be lucky to sign half of the players whose names were called out during the USFL’s Territorial and Open Collegiate Drafts.   We will review the draft as we previewed it, with the teams in order of their originally assigned 1st round pick. BOSTON CANNONS Territorial Draft Notes: Boston did not disappoint, locking up Luke Kuechley, the hard-hitting BC linebacker with their first pick.  They also hope they can sign Wisconsin WR Nick Toon, who they chose with their 2nd pick. Open Draft 1st Round: Wideout remained a focal point in the Open Draft as Boston used the 1st overall pick on the best “unprotected” player available in their eyes, WR Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State. Clearly Coach Fox is looking to provide Jake Locker with  more weapons and more of a chance to develop in his sophomore year. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Here is one we did not see coming.  Out of the U. of Regina, that’s right, as in Regina, Canada, the Cannons selected DT Akiem Hicks.  Of course there is more to the story.  Hicks was in Canada to begin with because of issues with his signing out of HS by LSU, issues of illegal recruitment that meant he could not play in any U.S. university.   So, he became a big fish in a very small pond in Saskatchewan but now has a chance to catch on back in the good ole’ USA. JACKSONVILLE BULLS Territorial Draft Notes: The Bulls focused on defense with their T-Draft, first selecting DE Andre Branch, then CB Coty Sensabaugh, both of Clemson.  With their 3rd pick they went after a possible special teams contributor and backup in HB Chris Rainey of Florida. Open Draft 1st Round: With the 2nd pick in the Open Draft, Jacksonville again went defense, selecting Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox, who they hope can shore up the middle of the line and help get their edge rushers into single blocks. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: The Bulls have clearly not been happy with the production of C. J. Spiller as a primary back, so the selection of U. of Miami HB Lamar Miller in the 2nd round is hardly a surprise.  Miller is a bigger, more physical back who is better suited for those 1st and 2nd down inside runs that the Bulls like. MEMPHIIS SHOWBOATS Territorial Draft Notes: Not great depth for Memphis in the T-Draft, but the 1st pick was a clear one, with the Showboats hoping to land a local star in U. of Memphis DT Dontari Poe.  Poe would be a force in the middle for the ‘Boats.  They doubled up on defense with DE Jake Bequette of Arkansas their next pick, finishing with WR Jarius Wright from the 3 graduating Razorback receivers this year. Open Draft 1st Round: The Showboats must have known something we didn’t.  We all expected them to select Robert Griffin III with the draft’s third pick, but they shrewdly traded down to number 9 with Seattle and still were able to land Griffin as their pick. Now, will the Baylor star sign with the Showboats, or will he be a Top 5 pick in the NFL and likely get a bigger paycheck out of it? Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Delaware OG Gino Gradkowski may need some time to develop his footwork after playing in the FCS, but he is a big physical guy, and with a name that just screams O-line. PORTLAND STAGS Territorial Draft Notes: We are a bit surprised that Portland did not protect either Boise State star, DE Shea McClellin or HB Doug Martin, instead using the T-Draft for lower-rated “depth” players like DE Tyrone Crawford of Oregon State, LB Josh Kaddu of Oregon, and OT Nate Potter from the Broncos. Open Draft 1st Round: Portland had several offers for their pick but did not budge.  They selected Alabama DE Michael Brockers at number 4, and are hoping he can be the edge rusher they have always lacked on their defense. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick:  We love the pick of App State WR Brian Quick by the Stags. Their WR group has always lacked pure straight line speed and, just like his dad, Quick can provide that. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS Territorial Draft Notes: As usual LSU is the prime pipeline for the Breakers. They selected WR Rueben Randle first, then doubled up with safety Brandon Taylor as their 2nd pick.  Tulane LB Dezman Moses rounds out a pretty good group, if they can sign them all. Open Draft 1st Round: We call this pick the first that is a bit of a stretch.  New Orleans went with the best TE in the draft, Coby Fleener of Stanford, but could have very likely made a deal with Charlotte, who was looking to jump into the Top 10, and still gotten Fleener at 19.  But, when you love a player, you go get that player, at least that is the theory. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: We just don’t see much worth commenting on in the later rounds.  A couple of mid-round linebackers, and a little-known HB out of North Texas to end the draft. Honestly, we see New Orleans’s front office as having dropped the ball overall in the Open Draft. OHIO GLORY Territorial Draft Notes: With Ohio State not providing the usual cornucopia of top talent, this was an odd T-Draft for the Glory.  They used their 1st pick on HB Isaiah Pead from Cincinnati, traded away pick 2 and then used pick 3 on safety Nate Ebner, a Buckeye, but not a top tier prospect. Open Draft 1st Round: Hoping to upgrade their pass rush under defensive-minded coach Bart Andrus, the Glory went with West Virginia DE Bruce Irvin with their first pick.  If he signs,  he will likely slot into a starting position, or at least a rotation, on day one. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Our favorite pick is a bit of an odd one, Georgia kicker Blair Walsh. Sure, a kicker in the draft is always a bit of a headscratcher, but Walsh has been all but automatic in Athens, and should be a solid option for the Glory to consistently provide both deep kickoffs and plenty of 3-pointers. HOUSTON GAMBLERS Territorial Draft Notes: The Gamblers made it no secret that they were going to select Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill in the T-Draft.  He needs more seasoning, but that is perfect as the Gamblers hope to slowly transition from Matt Hasselbeck over the next few years.  Houston also selected TAMU kicker Randy Bullock and HB Cyrus Gray, making it a full trifecta for the Aggies. Open Draft 1st Round: Losing Ronde Barber to retirement made this a pretty logical pick, with Houston going after North Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins.  There will be a sharp learning curve from an HBCU to the USFL, but Jenkins is a very fast, very talented, and technically sound corner. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: As is often the strategy to cope with NFL signing of USFL picks, Houston doubled down at corner with their 3rd round pick of Coastal Carolina’s Josh Norman.  Norman is a very athletic, ball hawking cornerback, but will need to play with more discipline. NEW JERSEY GENERALS Territorial Draft Notes: That OU connection just keeps paying off as New Jersey hope to sign OU standouts, DE Chandler Jones and WR Ryan Broyles.   They doubled down at receiver with their 3rd pick, a tall, possession receiver in Rutgers’ Mohamed Sanu. Open Draft 1st Round: New Jersey moved up to get a 2nd pick in the 1st round, getting back in with Tampa Bay’s final pick.  That means they were able to select 2 of their top 30 prospects.  With pick 8 they went DB (a theme for Coach Herm Edwards this year) with South Carolina’s Stephon Gilmore, then at 28 they took safety Tavon Wilson of Illinois, hoping to build a young and athletic secondary group. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: The Generals did not pick OU tackle Donald Stephenson with their T-Draft picks, but returned to him in the 4th round of the Open Draft, hoping to add more Sooner beef to the line. . SEATTLE DRAGONS Territorial Draft Notes: Seattle traded away a T-draft pick to Ohio in a swap of number 2’s after picking Montana safety Trumaine Johnson with their first pick. They then returned to the T-Draft in round 3 with a possible kick/punt returner in Washington WR Jermaine Kearse. With their pick from Ohio they went with TE Adrien Robinson from Cincy. Open Draft 1st Round: The Dragons continued to wheel and deal in the Open Draft, sending two first round picks (2012 and 20130 to Memphis to move up to the 3rd overall pick, where Alabama HB Trent Richardson was ready and waiting. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Seattle also did the “Double Down” strategy, not wanting to come away from the draft without a big back to pair with Jahvid Best.  They selected Utah State’s Robert Turbin in the 4th, who is very much in the mold of the departed Ladell Betts, a pounder who can do the inside work to free up Best outside. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS Territorial Draft Notes: With the Stallions it is almost always which Crimson Tide and Tiger players they will choose to let go.  This year that included a lot of 1st round talent, including Richardson, safety Mark Barron, and CB Dre Kirkpatrick.  In their stead, Birmingham protected LB Dont’a Hightower, LB Courtney Upshaw, and OT Matt McCants from UAB. Open Draft 1st Round: Birmingham wants to protect Cam Newton’s blind side and they may have found their man in Iowa LT Riley Reiff, big and technically sound, Reiff could slot in on day one if he signs with the Stallions. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Fullback Rhett Ellison may not get a lot of carries, and won’t be a big part of the passing game, but the USC product knows how to run block, and that will be a huge addition for the Stallions and HB Joseph Addai. DENVER GOLD Territorial Draft Notes: A pretty modest output from Colorado, CO State, and Nebraska this year.  Denver opted to go with LB Lavonte David, DE Jared Crick (both Huskers) and Colorado WR Toney Clemons, but honestly, none of these are season 1 starters. Open Draft 1st Round: With Reiff off the board, Denver opted to accept the trade offer from Charlotte and move down from 11 to 19.  They then got excited to see CB Dre Kirkpatrick still there at pick 16, so they made a deal with Michigan to move past Oakland and snag Kirkpatrick at 17. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Denver needed a strong-legged kicker and opted to take the first one off the board, pretty early as a 5th rounder.  Missouri Western may not be a familiar name to football fans, but we expect that with the altitude-aided wind in Denver, kicker Greg Zuerlein could become a household name for Gold fans. ATLANTA FIRE Territorial Draft Notes: The Fire jumped at the chance to select UGA tackle Cordy Glenn with their first pick.  It is a position of need and Glenn is a first round talent.  They then went with CB Brandon Boykin, another Bulldog with their 2nd pick, and finished up the UGA trifecta with guard Justin Anderson. Open Draft 1st Round: Atlanta went for defense with the 12th overall pick, selecting DE Whitney Mercilus from Illinois. We like Mercilus as a speed rusher, but worry he is not bulky enough to be much help against the run. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: HB Michael Smith is not likely to start this year, but the Utah State product could see a mix of special teams assignments and backup HB duties as Atlanta tries to keep Darren McFadden from wearing down. CHICAGO MACHINE Territorial Draft Notes: The Machine had a clear shot at the highest rated wideout on the board, and they took it, selecting Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd with their first pick.  If Floyd signs he will have a great mentor in Donald Driver as Chicago begins a new era with a new, still unnamed coach.  The two other selections were Illinois guard Jeff Allen and Gold Domer Darius Fleming, a developmental LB. Open Draft 1st Round: The Machine opted to double down on their run game, and perhaps provide a bit more rest for Michael Turner, picking a very similar back in Boise State’s Doug Martin with the 13th pick in the draft. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Chicago used their remaining picks as “double down” insurance, taking another guard and another wideout, though neither particularly highly touted.  Insurance for their T-Draft is what we see here. ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS Territorial Draft Notes: While St. Louis surprised many by not protecting Iowa OT Riley Reiff, they felt that there were more pressing needs on the roster.  They opted to use their first pick on TE Michael Egnew of Mizzou, then went DT with Iowa’s Mick Daniels, and finished up with WR Marvin McNutt, another Hawkeye. Open Draft 1st Round: So rather than protecting Reiff at tackle, the Skyhawks went for an interior lineman, selecting Iowa State guard Keechi Osemele in the 1st round of the Open Draft. Osemele is a bulldozer of a guard, likely going to be a big part of the run game for St. Louis. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: While we like Osemele, we think the real steal of the draft for St. Louis was when Miami DE Olivier Vernon fell all the way to pick 37 in the 2nd round.  He should be a huge addition for St. Louis, who need more out of their pass rush. ORLANDO RENEGADES Territorial Draft Notes: The Renegades went for three very different players with their 3 pick, starting with WR Travis Benjamin from Miami, then following up with guard Brandon Washington, and then a position you don’t often hear much about, as they selected UCF long snapper Charley Hughlett.  Hey, every team needs a long snapper, so why not draft a good one? Open Draft 1st Round: The Renegades had to be shocked when Boise State DE Shea McClellin fell all the way to 15.  Shea likely will serve as a respite player for Calais Campbell, but could also line up on the opposite side of Albert Haynesworth and cause real problems, as if opposition offenses were not already in a bind with the Orlando front 3. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: A very intriguing pick in the 2nd round as Orlando, who seem set up at QB with Eli Manning having a solid season last year, opted to go with a young, athletic, but somewhat short QB in former NC State starter and 1-year wonder at Wisconsin, Russell Wilson.  We expect Wilson to spend the year on the bench behind Manning, but he does bring some interesting skills with him if he signs with the ‘Gades. LAS VEGAS THUNDER Territorial Draft Notes: Las Vegas had one of the weakest pools of players available, and getting permission to add Idaho to their other colleges did not do much to improve it.  They ended up picking only 2 players, both from Utah, in guard Tony Bergstrom and DE Derrick Shelby, but to be honest, we are not sure either player can make the final 53.  Practice squad seems more likely. Open Draft 1st Round: With very little to build on in the T-Draft, Vegas needed to hit on as many Open Draft picks as possible.  They started off very strong by selecting one of the most instinctual players in the draft, Alabama safety Mark Barron.  Barron could be an impact player for the Thunder from the season opener on. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Of the later picks in the draft, the one that could pose some future payout is 5th round QB Case Keenum from the U. of Houston.  Keenum had strong numbers at Houston, and will get the chance to learn at the feet of one of the most dynamic QB’s in the USFL in Jake Plummer.  Give him a year or two and we could see Keenum pushing to become the next starter for the Thunder. MICHIGAN PANTHERS Territorial Draft Notes: The Panthers always seem to do well with the T-Draft, and this year is no exception.  They may have found their future QB in Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins, as well as a potential target in fellow Spartan, WR B. J. Cunningham.  They wrapped up the T-Draft with C David Molk, their lone Wolverine selection. Open Draft 1st Round: Michigan opted to accept a trade offer from Denver that moved them down two spots.  Denver jumped on CB Dre Kirkpatrick, but Michigan was not concerned about that.  They watched Oakland go guard and that left them in prime position to select the halfback they had been eyeing all offseason, Oregon speedster LaMichael James.  James is a shifty, make-you-miss kind of back, something very different from the more traditional straight ahead backs the Panthers have had in the past and still have with Mike Hart on the roster. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Michigan returned once more to the home state pipeline in the 3rd round, where they may have found a steal in another MSU product, DT Jerel Worthy, considered by some to have first round talent. NASHVILLE KNIGHTS Territorial Draft Notes: Nashville had a better than usual selection of talent out of Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vandy, and opted to go with the Rebel, OT Bobby Massie with their first pick.  He is a monster of a man, and should be a contributor in his first year.  They then selected Vol DE Malik Jackson and wrapped up their draft predictably by selecting Vol QB Matt Simms.  Clearly not a priority pick for them, since they are hoping to land Andrew Luck, but a very valuable backup if Luck bolts to the NFL. Open Draft 1st Round: The Knights sent this pick to Oakland, as well as next year’s number1, for a shot at Andrew luck.  Now they have to seal the deal. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Of the later picks, our favorite is a somewhat undervalued pick, punter Marquette King from Fort Valley State.  Film of King is hard to find, but what we have seen shows an absolute cannon of a leg. This is a guy who can flip the field with his foot.  That is a rare thing to find, so using a 7th round pick on him seems more than reasonable. CHARLOTTE MONARCHS Territorial Draft Notes: DE Quinton Coples from UNC was something of a no-brainer for the Monarchs.  Their second pick, WR T. J. Graham is more of a developmental pick, while selection 3, guard J. R. Sweezy feels a little extraneous, especially when the Monarchs could have locked down a LB like either NC State’s Terrell Manning or UNC’s Zach Brown. Open Draft 1st Round: Having made the big trade with Denver to move from 19 to 11, Charlotte got the shot that they wanted to nab a 1st round QB talent.  They went for OK State’s Brandon Wheedon as their choice over others like Brock Osweiler or ECU’s Dominique Davis.  Wheeden will certainly get time to develop as the Monarchs plan to go with Jake Delhomme under center in 2012. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: The Monarchs are hoping that TE Garrett Celek, younger brother to Brent, can develop very much in the same mold as his older brother, a very solid dual option TE who has nice hands, and a good blocking technique. OAKLAND INVADERS Territorial Draft Notes: We all know what the big story here was, as Oakland landed not only picks but also edge rushing LB Terrell Suggs in trade for their first T-Draft pick, allowing Nashville to pick Andrew Luck. So what did Oakland do with their other picks?  Well, how about OT Jonathan martin of Stanford and LB Mychal Kendricks of Cal.  What?  Not as impressive as Luck? Sure, but both could be solid contributors in areas of need. Open Draft 1st Round: As we cited in our story of the trade, holding two picks between 18 and 20, Oakland could double up on talented players. They think they did just that by selecting Stanford G David DeCastro, a player they likely would have picked in the T-Draft had they not traded away the selection. They then added LB Bobby Wagner of Utah State to provide a solid 1-2 combo in the first round. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Our favorite midround pick for the Invaders was Hawaii LB Aaron  Brown.  Brown is speedy, but hits hard.  He will also fit right in on an Oakland squad that has several Samoan and Polynesian players, just like playing in Hawaii. BALTIMORE BLITZ Territorial Draft Notes: Baltimore hopes their three picks turn into three signings because they could certainly benefit from all three.  Safety Winston Guy of Kentucky, LB Danny Trevathan also of UK, and Louisville WR Josh Bellamy are all in positions where they could contribute right away. Open Draft 1st Round: We love the fit between the aggressive Baltimore defense and the talents of LB Melvin Ingram of South Carolina, the Blitz’s first round pick.  He could be extremely disruptive in Baltimore’s high risk, high reward system. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Another potentially disruptive defender the Blitz took was Troy DE Jonathan Massaquoi.  He will need time to get up to speed against the tougher USFL competition, but he has natural burst and uses his hands well to get past linemen. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS Territorial Draft Notes: No shock here as LA hopes to land USC left tackle Matt Kalil and keep him in La-La Land for his pro career.  The Express also selected HB Ronnie Hillman of SDSU and another Aztec in DT Jerome Lang.  They had toyed with the idea of SDSU QB Ryan Lindley, but opted instead to Brodie Croyle to an extension. Open Draft 1st Round:  The Express opted to help out their secondary by picking Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith with their first round pick. Smith would be a solid contributor on Special Teams, but we don’t see him displacing Lance Schulters in 2012. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: How can a team in LA not sign a guy named Alameda?  Alameda Ta’amu of Washington is a big space eater in the middle of the D-line, and could be a good find for a line that wants to rotate in more people to keep their line fresher this year. ARIZONA WRANGLERS Territorial Draft Notes: We knew the Wranglers would use at least 1 T-Draft pick on a QB, but which one.  Tall and strong armed Brock Osweiler of ASU or more cerebral and mobile Nick Foles of Arizona.  They opted for Foles, then added a potential and familiar weapon for him in fellow Wildcat, WR Juron Criner. Open Draft 1st Round: The Wranglers opted for quantity over quality, moving out of the 1st round by trading their 23rd pick to Philadelphia and picking up a 2nd and 3rd rounder for their efforts. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: No team made more picks in the Open Draft than the Wranglers.  Thanks to a combination of trades both this offseason and last year, the Wranglers finished the weekend with 14 players selected.  Perhaps our favorite of all of them is the pick they got with Philly’s 2nd rounder, Auburn OT Brandon Mosley.  His footwork needs some work, but this is a man mountain who could slot into the RT spot quickly. WASHINGTON FEDERALS Territorial Draft Notes: The Feds went for depth with their T-Draft picks, selecting Va Tech HB David Wilson as depth for Deuce McCallister, Wake Forest WR Chris Givens as backup for Deion Branch, and then WR Jarrett Boykin from Va Tech just to have yet another potential receiver/returner in camp. Open Draft 1st Round: By pick 24 LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne had to be wondering what he had done wrong to slide so far.  Washington is not complaining, but now they have to hope that Claiborne does not go Top 10 in the NFL draft or he will almost certainly jump at the NFL offer. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Washington, due to earlier trades from 2011, had only 4 total picks in the Open Draft, and aside from Claiborne, we honestly don’t see anyone who we think will avoid a training camp cut.  Just being honest about that. TEXAS OUTLAWS Territorial Draft Notes: In a year when UT did not produce a single player graded as 1st round talent, the Outlaws just did not have their usual crop of blue chippers. They went with 2 Baylor prospects, selecting WR Kendall Wright first, then C Philip Blake. They finished up with LB Keenan Robinson, viewed as a mid-round talent by most pundits. Open Draft 1st Round: The Outlaws continued looking for LBs in the Open Draft, using the 25th pick on USC product Nick Perry. Perry can play middle or strong side backer but will have to improve his coverage skills to stick with the Outlaws. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Do not sleep on yet another Outlaw LB choice.  Sixth rounder Vontez Burfict out of ASU may be a bit of a hot head, but he is also a mean hitter and tackler.  He should be a dynamo on special teams if nothing else. PHILADELPHIA STARS Territorial Draft Notes: In a year when Penn State did not crank out linebackers, Philadelphia had to try something new.  They started with DT Devon Still, then went to TE Evan Rodriguez of Temple and HB Bernard Pierce, also of Temple with their 3 picks. Open Draft 1st Round: Trading with Arizona allowed Philadelphia to get two selections in during the final stages of the first round. They went O-line with both.  First up was Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler, and three picks later, they selected Cal OT Mitchell Schwartz. They are hoping that both can be 10-year starters, which would make this a very successful draft indeed. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: They may not be the most talented players in the draft, but the Stars’ selected two of the best names in the draft, both at guard.  SMU product Josh LeRibeus is outdone only by South Carolina product Rokevious Watkins.  Too bad the two cannot be merged into one to get Rokevious LeRibeus. PITTSBURGH MAULERS Territorial Draft Notes: The Summer Bowl runner up went full John Denver with three picks from West Virginia in their T-Draft.  DE Vinny Curry of Marshall joins WVU grads Najee Goode (LB) and Keith Tandy (CB). Open Draft 1st Round: With the penultimate pick in the first round, the Maulers opt to go defense once again, as Coach Rivera hopes to add UConn DT Kendall Reyes to his rotation of D-linemen. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: Another great name for a player, guard Senio Kelemete from the U. of Washington was Pittsburgh’s 3rd round pick.  They also found an answer for the departure of Brandon Jacobs, selecting Ole Miss HB Brandon Bolden. TAMPA BAY BANDITS Territorial Draft Notes: The Bandits passed on CB Stephon Gilmore, and opted instead to go with WR Alshon Jeffery with their first pick.  The Gamecock receiver certainly fits a need as Tampa tries to rebuild their depleted WR group and anticipate the retirement of Joey Galloway.  They also selected FSU LB Nigel Bradham and another Seminole in OT Andrew Datko. Open Draft 1st Round: The Bandits dropped back 7 spots and out of the first round in a trade with New Jersey. Our “Best of the Rest” Pick: The Bandits added a QB to sit behind Rhett Bomar in the 5th round of the draft, selecting San Diego State product Ryan Lindley.  He is not the gunslinger that either Culpepper or Bomar can be, but he does have a lively arm. As we anticipate USFL camps opening up and players reporting, two stories will dominate the news around the league, first, the signing of rookie draft picks, and, soon after, the opening of the NFL-USFL Transfer Window.  The first will have an immediate impact on the second as teams that are banking on landing that key contributor out of the draft may find that their prize rookie opts to join the NFL, as typically 50% (more in the earlier rounds) tend to do. The insecurity of the rookie signings forces teams to have a plan B, which usually leads one of two ways, signing one of the few veterans still in the pool of USFL free agents, often overpaying or settling for a short-term solution from veterans on the cusp of retirement, or, alternatively, looking at the NFL free agent market and outbidding both fellow USFL clubs and all 32 NFL clubs to try to land an NFL veteran for that key unfilled roster spot.  In some cases the NFL pool offers a clear advantage, in others we see another form of settling, with NFL talent garnering significantly better pay simply because the USFL franchise has few other options available after missing on their draft picks. In many years, the NFL free agent market is pretty slim, after all, just like in September-October with the USFL, the 1 month head start that NFL teams have to sign other NFL players before the transfer window opens can mean a lot of talent is off the board before USFL clubs can begin to meet with free agents.  This year, we are starting the year with a pretty deep, and very intriguing pool.   Just how many of these NFL players will remain unsigned by the mid-February window, well, that is to be seen.  But, as we look at the 10 most intriguing free agents, we do expect a good number to delay signing in the hopes that they will get either a strong offer from a USFL squad or enough interest from the USFL to force a good counter from an NFL team.  With that strategy in mind, here is our list of the 10 most interesting, and potentially impactful, NFL free agents in this year’s pool. 10--HB Ryan Grant:  There are three potential starting backs in this year’s pool, with Grant rated slightly ahead of San Diego’s Mike Tolbert but behind Houston’s Arian Foster.  Grant provides a good mix of one-cut dynamism and short yardage power.  He is something of a tweener, not a scat back to be sure, but not a pounder either.  But, for a team that wants to use a zone-blocking scheme, or just one that already has a true bulldozer of a back in house, getting a player with Grant’s breakaway potential will be enticing. 9--TE John Carlson:  Several USFL clubs went into the draft looking for a potential starter at TE, but it was a pretty week group, with only Stanford’s Coby Fleener grading out as a top 1-2 round prospect.  That means that a veteran like Carlson, who has had some good years in Seattle, will absolutely get a lot of attention from across the league. 8--OT Jared Gaither:  Were Gaither a guard or center we don’t think he would garner the attention he has, but tackle is a tough position to find, and Gaither, while not an immediate All-league candidate, is a solid blocker in both the run and passing game.  With the number of teams in the USFL hoping to fill either a LT, or more likely a RT slot, someone is not going to land their prize rookie tackle, and that could mean interest in Gaither. 7--WR Wes Welker:  Another player who is parlaying a strong 2011 season into a possible cash windfall. Welker broke out in his first season in New England (his 4th NFL season), catching 112 passes for 1,175 yards.  His numbers increased every year, save for an injury-impacted 2010, and this past year he hit 122 receptions and 1,500 yards as the Patriots had one of their best years in decades.  New England has made offers to retain Welker, as you would expect, and will continue to be a factor, but he has not resigned and could be available for a team that has a clear need in the slot and some cash to throw his way. 6--QB Alex Smith:  A #1 overall draft pick (ahead of Aaron Rodgers), Smith has been viewed as something of a bust in NFL circles, but it is more that he has had issues staying healthy.  2011 was only his second 16-game season since coming into the NFL in 2005, but in 2011 he led San Francisco to a 13-3 record and threw for over 3,000 yards.  In Smith a club is getting a player who still has strong physical attributes but who may need to be in the right system to succeed, one that helps him with his progressions and decision making. 5--DE Cliff Avril:  Detroit’s Avril is an intriguing option.  He has slowly seen his sack numbers increase from 5 in his rookie season to 11 in 2011.  That is a nice trajectory, and any team that signs the Purdue product could be catching him at the high point of his career, getting 3-5 solid years of pass rushing on the edge from Avril.  That will be enticing for many clubs even if Avril never reaches the heights of some of the top edge rushers in either league. 4--HB Arian Foster:  The Oilers’ have major cap issues and have two huge free agents on the market.  While Mario Williams is getting most of the press, HB Arian Foster is a major talent who has produced in Houston but could now make a leap elsewhere.  While not as coveted a position as QB or DE, finding a bell cow back in free agency is almost as rare, and, as we saw with Birmingham signing Joseph Addai last year, can help transform an offense. 3--DT Mario Williams:  The Houston Oilers’ All-Pro DE could be the most targeted player in the pool, and almost certainly will get advice from his agent to wait out the NFL offers until the USFL clubs have a shot.  It is not every day that a player capable of 20+ sacks per season becomes available in free agency.  Half of the teams in the NFL and the USFL have to be salivating that Williams is in the pool as edge rusher can be one of the toughest positions to find in free agency, and one of the most sought after.  Expect a feeding frenzy here, where the money will be good from all teams who make offers, so coaching fit and scheme could be the difference to entice Williams to town. 2--WR Mike Wallace:  The former Steeler is a high output, high ceiling, but high headache player.  Yet another Diva in a long line of wideouts who can be a PR nightmare but an on-field terror for defenses. Wallace played 3 years with the Steelers, following a strong rookie year with over 1,200 yards and 10 TDs in his second season.  He dipped a bit in 2011, but still had very strong numbers, so it is very tempting to take a shot at him, especially for a franchise that feels confident in its coaching staff to be able to reign in the extroverted and often image-damaging comments that Wallace is prone to make. 1--QB Peyton Manning:   This is the great mystery.  Manning says he will return to play football after his spinal fusion surgery.  His former team, the Colts, were so convinced that the former MVP and Super Bowl champion would not be able to play again that they cut him loose only 1 year into a 5-year contract.  If his workouts continue to show progress, he could be one of the most coveted players in the free agent market.  And while he likely would not see the field for a USFL team until at least Week 8 or 9, possibly until 2013, if there is a chance he could return to play at the level he had for a decade in the NFL, well, that is a risk several teams may be willing to take. Beyond these 10, there is certainly more talent in the pool, whether for depth or for potential.  Among the names being discussed are QB’s Charlie Whitehurst, Chad Henne, Brian Hoyer and Josh Johnson.  Halfbacks like Mike Tolbert, Khalil Bell or Tim Hightower could see some attention.  Wideouts beyond Wallace and Welker include Eric Weems, Josh Morgan, Eddie Royal, and Jacoby Jones. The TE pool also includes Buffalo’s Scott Chandler and LA’s Kevin Boss.  Among linemen you have tackles Marcus McNeill and Geoff Schwartz, guards Carl Nicks and Travelle Martin and center Scott Wells. The DE pool dips quite a bit after Williams and Avril, but both Andre Carter and Anthony Spencer could get some attention.  At DT you have players like Paul Soliai, Red Bryant and Sinoe Pouha available.  At linebacker Jarret Johnson, Ahmad Brooks, Erin Henderson and Stephen Tolluch will almost certainly warrant some inquiries.  Corners in the market include LaDarius Webb from Baltimore, Brandon Carr of the Chiefs and Brent Grimes of Atlanta. Tyvon Branch of the Raiders tops a safety group that also includes Michael Griffin and Dashon Goldson.  And finally, there are several punters who could find work in the USFL, including former Cowboy Mat McBriar and the Cardinals Dave Zastudil. LEAGUE MEETING DECISIONS REVEALED While the USFL owners' meeting was held back in September, very little was initially revealed or reported about any decisions made. We learned then that the league had, in fact, moved to retain the 12-team playoff format, dismissing the concerns that on occasion a 9-7 team might miss the playoffs, as was the case this year with Las Vegas. Clearly the bigger concern was that a 7-9 team could make the postseason in the larger format, something that did happen and led to the surprising run of the 2005 Seattle Dragons in 2005, who finished the year 6-8 but qualified and went on to win a league title. There was also concern that the 14-team format, while producing 6 Wild Card games, instead of 4, would also provide only 1 team with the advantage of a bye week, instead of the top 2 seeds getting the delayed start to the postseason, something most clubs and players value quite a bit. Other than that confirmation, which was released upon conclusion of the meetings, little had been reported out until just recently. It seems that on the matters of the television contract with with ESPN, on the concerns regarding Destination Dallas, and on the financing of the new domed stadium in Las Vegas, the owners felt more information needed to be gathered, reports presented, and arguments both pro and con had to be laid out. Ad Hoc select groups were organized, and those reports came in just before the holidays in December. A special Winter Meeting was called for the first week of January, and in Los Angeles the owners again convened. Here is what we now know from that meeting. ESPN Contract The league rejected the initial deal to have EFN cover games in the afternoon timeslot, with ESPN then covering the Saturday and Sunday evening games. There had been objections from NBC, which has been trying to expand their footprint for several years, and from several owners who feared that their markets in particular would be disproportionally moved from broadcast networks to the cable-exclusive EFN broadcasts. The league and the ABC/ESPN group went back and forth with counter offers and the following was eventually agreed upon: NBC would retain their 1-game per week broadcast format for 2012, but in 2013 would be granted a second timeslot, a Saturday Night broadcast which would run simultaneously with ESPN's night game, essentially moving one of the Saturday afternoon games to the evening timeslot. ABC and FOX would now be broadcasting a total of 4 Saturday games, rather than 5, which means that every Saturday game would be a national broadcast. ESPN would retain the Sunday Night weekly finale, taking over for the EFN broadcast, but would also pick up 2 Sunday games, one in each timeslot, again maximizing the number of national broadcasts, with ABC, FOX, and ESPN all covering 2 games each Sunday afternoon. EFN would be used to simulcast all 3 Sunday ESPN games, but could only be exclusive with their broadcast for games during the opening 8 weeks of the season, with requirements that ESPN also broadcast any EFN games during the final 8 weeks of the year. So, what is the result for viewers and fans? Actually very positive. Essentially this arrangement means that in almost every case, all 14 USFL games will be available for national broadcast coast to coast. There will be the traditional NBC Friday Night Lights game, only 4 Saturday afternoon games, two each at noon and 4pm ET, with ABC nationally broadcasting one in each timeslot and ABC the other. Then, on Saturday night, fans get their choice of a second NBC game or the nationally broadcast ESPN Saturday Night Football game. Finally on Sunday, you would have 6 games split between the noon and 4pm ET kickoff time, one in each timeslot on ABC, one on FOX, and one on ESPN/EFN, with only early season games potentially limited to the cable elective channel of EFN, the ESPN Football Network. The week, as always, ends with ESPN's Sunday Night Football broadcast. Who loses in this deal, well two groups really, The folks at EFN lose their exclusivity for most of the year, but overall ESPN, giving up exclusivity on Saturday Night, does pick up 2 more games per week. ABC and FOX both lose 2-3 games per week with 2 going to ESPN and 1 game per week now with NBC, but they too gain an advantageous position by being able to have all broadcasts as national broadcasts rather than regional coverage. The other group that may now have issue with the TV deal is the ever-shrinking population of Americans who have not obtained either cable or satellite TV and rely on broadcast networks. With more games to be provided on ESPN and/or EFN, there is a greater chance that they will miss their favorite team in any given week. But, as we have seen with most professional sports broadcasts, the move for some time now has been towards cable channels as a larger piece of the television pie. So, if you have rabbit ears on top of your set, the time may be now to break down and get hooked up. Las Vegas Stadium Project While the decision to invest in Las Vegas as a market and for the league to directly invest in the construction of a domed stadium for the Thunder was never in doubt, the question around how the league would finance their portion of the project was very much up for debate. There were some who sought to have the Thunder and the city of Las Vegas serve as the initial backer, with the league money delayed until 2013 or later as a second phase of project development. There was concern that both parties were subject to possible shortfalls and delays in payment which could derail or delay the project. City officials in Las Vegas had agreed to a 30% commitment, but had yet to implement the local hotel and restaurant tax that would provide the revenue. Meanwhile, Thunder ownership had balked at being required to put a large portion of their committed 40% funding into the project in 2012 and 2013, hoping they too could spread out their financial commitment over the full 5 years of the project. In the end, the position of Thunder ownership won over enough votes to force the league to accept a dual-sponsorship position, one that had league funds begin to flow to the project beginning in 2012 and both league and Thunder funding to span the full 5 years of the project. This will impact the league's bottom line, of course, just as it does the Thunder's, with one strategy to provide funding tied to a slower increase in the salary pool, the largest single expenditure made by the league from its shared revenue model. Essentially this means that while funds are diverted to the Las Vegas stadium project, we should expect the annual shared revenue to be capped artificially and the salary cap to see only modest growth over the 5-year span. That likely will not sit well with the player's union, who will insist that the cap must expand as revenue expands in order for the league to meet its requirement that the cap be tied to a percentage of revenue, not a percentage of post-commitment profit. Expect some discussion of this aspect of the funding to be central to upcoming union-league CBA conversations. Franchise Sale & Relocation Policy While there was clear sentiment among the owners that expansion is preferable to relocation, there was also hesitancy among many owners on codifying any restrictions on the ability of an owner to sell their franchise, even if that meant relocation and abandonment of a current market. The owners, fully aware that today's interest among investors could lead to tomorrow's windfall sale of their own franchise at 5, 10, or even 20 times the initial investment, were in no mood to restrict their own ability at some point to sell their franchise. At the same time, the recent engagement between the Destination Dallas investor group and ownership in larger market franchises such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston did send ripples of concern through the group. We have to remember that while the owners are largely in favor of a big market like Dallas getting into the USFL, they are very wary of the impact of losing another major market, like Chicago's 2nd largest MSA would have on the league. And what if the Dallas example is allowed to proceed, only to be followed by much smaller markets with deep-pocketed ownership groups seeking to move a franchise? The nightmare scenario for the league is to see cities like San Diego, Raleigh, or Oklahoma City pull teams away from LA, New Jersey, Chicago, or Houston in a move that would diminish the league's market share, impact their television contracts, and shift the focus away from the league as a legitimate major league alongside the NFL. So, what was decided? Essentially that the league would take a laissez-faire position to individual franchise sale, potentially opening the door to the concerns many expressed but preserving each owner's ability to 'cash out" when the time is right, but allowing for the league ownership to veto the relocation of any franchise, or require "replacement" of a franchise. Essentially a group like Destination Dallas could purchase a club, but only relocate it in one of two scenarios, a 2/3 vote of the ownership to permit the relocation, possible with a market like Dallas, but unlikely for a smaller market seeking to move a larger market team to a less populous region or city. The other option available would be for a relocation plan to be approved if, and only if, it was paired with a plan to return a franchise to a market within a 3-year span. So, essentially, to use a hypothetical example, if an ownership group from a smaller market, say Raleigh, wanted to buy the LA Express, and the owners in LA wanted to make the sale, the league could hold the sale until a plan was developed to repopulate LA with a club. This could be through an expansion or by allowing another owner to shift their franchise to LA. That last option would potentially lead to a further issue, but if the market being abandoned was a smaller market, it is likely the league would opt to swap out a Nashville or Portland for LA or Chicago, even if it produced ill-will in the original market. This is good news for fans in places like New Jersey, Chicago, and LA, but potentially bad news for the Birminghams, Portlands, and Charlottes of the league, as it all but guarantees that major cities will retain their franchises or get replacements while smaller markets may be left in the lurch. But how does this impact the current issue at hand, the potential sale of a franchise to the Destination Dallas group? Well, of the three franchises most under scrutiny as possible sales to DD, Boston, Chicago, and Nashville, it means that the path is easiest if DD were to purchase the Nashville Knights, as a much smaller market, but that purchase of either Chicago or Boston could be feasible. So, fans of the Knights, Cannons, and Machine need to be worried at this point, in that order. So, there we are, awaiting the signing frenzy from the draft, looking forward to following the NFL-USFL transfer window, and expecting some last minute USFL free agent signings as teams enter camp, assess their late offseason gaps, and start prepping for a March opening weekend that cannot come too soon.  We will be here, and will be back with a 2-part Season Preview in March as we look ahead to a momentous 30th USFL season.

14-October, 2011 Two months into the offseason and we already have some wild stories to follow as we focus on teams building rosters and making personnel decisions.  From the retirement of T. J. Duckett following the Outlaw’s first deep playoff run in years, to the unceremonious cutting and eventual NFL signing of Nashville QB Jay Cutler, to a flurry of early trades and, of course, free agent signings.  There is a lot to talk about.  We will begin with the final coaching hires to lock in all 28 clubs, and then move on to retirement news, trades, free agency, and the NFL-USFL transfer window.  We will wrap it up by looking at the top needs of all 28 USFL teams ahead of this January’s USFL College Draft. Memphis Goes With Brad Childress In what had come to be the expected move, the Memphis Showboats have opted to hire former Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress.  Childress, a former RB position coach and OC, was let go by the Vikings despite 2 consecutive playoff seasons, including a 12-4 record in 2009 with the Vikings.  He had interviewed with several NFL and USFL clubs after the 2010 season saw him dismissed after only 10 weeks.  Memphis is, as you would expect, hoping that Childress’s experience both as an OC and as a head coach can help them revive a franchise that has yet to truly recover since the 2nd retirement of Brett Favre. Memphis drafted Ryan Mallett last year, but the Arkansas product struggled in his rookie season and many looked at Head Coach Jim Haslett as part of the program.  Bringing in an offensive-minded coach, and one with a proven track record in the NFL makes sense as the Showboats need to rebuild on defense but also need to develop an offensive personality.  The Showboats have already been active this offeason, and after hiring Childress in mid-August, made their first big move, signing 7-year veteran backup and Summer Bowl hero Matt Cassel to a 3-year deal.  It is expected that Cassel will serve as a mentor to Mallett, sharing backup duties with another veteran, Bob Volek, but hopefully bringing the lessons from Tampa Bay with him.  If Mallett continues to struggle, we could envision Cassel getting a true chance to become a starter for the Showboats. Chicago Surprises with Delay Strategy Most in Chicago expected the Machine to sign a defensive coordinator to their open head coach position, with either Pepper Johnson of the Maulers or Perry Fewell of the Federals viewed as the most likely candidate.  Chicago did interview both, but then announced that they would be waiting until the January window to speak with NFL coaches rather than hire one of the currently available coordinators.  This, of course, puts the pressure on their GM George Paton to put together a roster without a head coach in place.  It certainly is not the first time a team has opted to sign their coach late in the process, allowing the GM to build the team and then bringing in a figurehead to put a gameplan in action.  Typically this means that a franchise already has an NFL coach in mind, often a coordinator, and are now forced to wait until the legal cross-league signing period. Admitedly, the 8-8 Chicago Machine do have a lot to offer a new head coach.  You have a QB in place with Brady Quinn, the base of a solid offense with Michael Turner and Donald Driver, and one of the most dominant defensive players in the league in Brian Urlacher.  This is, after all, a club that has been a regular playoff contender for several years, so the new coach, whoever he is, will be stepping into a position where the holes in the team are not huge and the base of talent is pretty substantial. T. J. Duckett Makes it Official, Retiring at 31. In late August, Texas HB T. J. Duckett addressed the rumors and his comments following the Western Conference Final, and officially declared that he has chosen to retire.  Duckett will step away from the game at only 31 years of age and after a season that saw him rush for over 1,100 yards.  But, as is so often the case for running backs, Duckett cited the wear and tear on his body, the difficulty of dealing with chronic pain, and a desire to remain active later in life. Duckett retires after 2,831 carries, 11,439 yards, and 54 career touchdowns, numbers which put him in second place in team history behind only Hall of Famer Reggie Cobb.  He has topped 1,000 yards each of the past 8 seasons, but has seen his numbers slowly decrease since his massive 2008 season, a year in which he rushed for 1,521 yards, barely missing the rushing title due to a huge final week from Deuce McCallister.  His departure makes halfback a prime position of need for the Outlaws, with Alabama’s Trent Richardson looking very much like a target for the club, though one they will need to deal to acquire, as they draft late in the open draft, but could make a deal with Birmingham to trade for their first round Territorial pick. Retirements Impact Playoff Squads While Duckett was certainly the biggest name to declare his retirement from this year’s 12 playoff teams, he is hardly alone.  Among the others who announced they were putting the pads away for good we have Washington LT Matt Stinhcomb, Oakland LB Mike Maslowski and center Jeff Saturday, Nashville LB Keith Burns and OT Jason Fabmini, LA guard Alan Faneca, and two members of the new league champions, Tampa Bay wideout Chris Doering and DE Marcellus Wiley. Some had wondered if we could see a spate of QB retirements with Matt Hasselbeck, Jake Delhomme, and Jake Plummer all on people’s tongues, but all three have since made it clear that they expect to be back under center come March of 2012.   We did, however have several players make delayed announcements in August, including 3 members of the Houston Gamblers’ defense.  The Gamblers are scrambling to recover after veteran CB Ronde Barber, LB Keith Brooking, and safety Brian Dawkins all announced they are leaving the game only 1 year after celebrating a league title with the Gamblers.  Others who delayed their announcement, but who have now confirmed they will not be back include LA wideout Eddie Kennison, and Chicago strong safety Reggie Tongue, both of whom were set to be free agents, but opted instead to step away from the game. Whether through retirements or free agency, there were plenty of roster spots open once free agency began in August, but there were also a fair number of substantial trades in the early weeks of the free agent period, as teams tried to use leverage at some key positions to either obtain draft picks or pick up a player in a position of need. Perhaps the biggest name to change hands in a trade was that of St. Louis strong safety Coy Wire.  Considered one of the best at his position, Wire became expendable when St. Louis saw a lot of promise out of 2nd year player Kendrick Lewis.  With Lewis developing into a very strong contributor, St. Louis felt they could offload Wire’s hefty salary cap and they found a willing buyer in the Las Vegas Thunder.  Las Vegas would give up two picks to get the All-USFL safety, a 2nd rounder in both this year’s draft and in 2013 as well. Another intriguing early trade of defenders saw New Jersey ship off DE Tamba Hali to Chicago to get some help in the secondary.  Hali had rotated with Aaron Kampman since the NFL product came to the Generals, and so one of the two was viewed as potential trade material.  New Jersey had issues at corner this year, and so sending Hali off to the Machine for cornerback Daniel Manning helps both clubs in areas of need. Two interesting trades involving wideouts also hit in August, with Memphis sending former Arkansas WR Matt Jones to Atlanta for HB Anthony Allen.  Memphis seems ready to use Allen to spell Cadillac Williams and preserve the big back longer into the season while Atlanta is hoping to get some deep ball capacity with Jones.  Washignton dealt a young wideout, Dontrelle Inman, not for a different offensive weapon, but to enhance the D-line by adding DE Karmerion Wimberly from the Stallions.  Expect Inman to start working with Cam Newton this offseason, while Wimberley will compete with Chris Long and Mathias Kiwanuka as the Feds continue to work with a rotating D-line. It is not often you see a punter involved in a trade, but with Texas having 2 solid options on the roster they were able to pair punter Matt Allen with a 6th round pick and solve their backup QB situation by snagging veteran Luke McCown from the New Orleans Breakers.  The Breakers were eager to move out of a 4-QB roster situation, and with the development of Keith Null behind both Brees and Kyle Boller, it made McCown the odd man out. Finally, we have some player for picks deals to report as Chicago sent backup QB T. J. Yates to the Bandits for a 6th rounder.  With Matt Cassel signing with Memphis, Tampa Bay was hoping to land a 3rd QB to join Culpepper and Rhett Bomar in the QB room.  Philadelphia opted to deal WR lance Moore, rather than restructure his deal.  They received a 3rd rounder from Jacksonville for the slot receiver.  Texas also dealt one of their receivers from a very deep pool, as Ben Obamanu was traded to Conference Title Game opponent Pittsburgh for a 5th rounder in this year’s draft. It took only 1 day for USFL free agency to explode onto the national news after the league opened their offseason market in early August.  Within 24 hours of the signing period open three of the biggest names in the market were signed, sealed and delivered.   The biggest name, and loudest of the free agents, WR Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, wasted no time, announcing he was signing with the Las Vegas Thunder from the floor of the MGM Grand Casino’s main gaming floor.  It was the kind of brash, self-celebrating press event that both Johnson and Las Vegas love. Following suit, though in not so dramatic a fashion, LA announced that they had signed cornerback Marcus Truffant away from division rival Seattle, while Atlanta also announced that they landed the best linebacker in the free agent pool, former Memphis Showboat Patrick Willis.  Within 72 hours the flurry of action at the front end of the free agent period was in full effect.  Here is a quick list of the signings that have occurred just since August. WR Chad Johnson—Boston to Las Vegas LB Patrick Willis—Memphis to Atlanta CB Marcus Truffant—Seattle to LA C Brad Meester—Resigns with Portland FB Vontae Leach—St. Louis to Chicago C Chris Spencer—LA to New Orleans SS Chad Scott—Resigns with Las Vegas G Steve Sciulo—Tampa Bay to Pittsburgh LB Rahim Abdullah—Atlanta to Seattle FS Corey Hall—Chicago to Seattle WR Keary Colbert—Denver to Michigan WR Mark Clayton—New Jersey to Charlotte LB Zeke Moreno—Tampa Bay to Nashville FS Sean Jones—Las Vegas to Oakland WR Kassim Osgood—Resigns with Arizona WR Donte Do—Birmingham to Baltimore DT Jarron Gilbert—Orlando to Oakland LB Clint Kriewaldt—Seattle to Denver QB Matt Cassel—Tampa Bay to Memphis WR Tiquan Underwood—St. Louis to Oakland WR Nate Washington—Jacksonville to St. Louis WR Santonio Holmes—New Jersey to Tampa Bay LB Bradie James—New Orleans to Ohio DT Brandon Mbane—Denver to New Jersey Despite the flurry of free agent signings ahead of the NFL-USFL transfer window, there were still many USFL players left in the pool when the fall league came knocking.  The new timing of the NFL-USFL window in September (and February-March) has reduced the cross-league signings, but there are still several well-regarded players who have made the leap, including one who was release by his club only 1 week before the portal opened. Having reached an impasse with their starting QB, and getting no solid offers from around the USFL, the Nashville Knights opted to eat the final cap year of bonuses for QB Jay Cutler and released the QB only days before the NFL-USFL transfer window opened in September.  That sent ripples through both leagues as speculation flew wildly about where Cutler would end up.  After all, it is not often that a QB who consistently took his team to the playoffs was available as a true free agent.  While several USFL clubs made inquiries to Cutler’s agent, it took only 3 days of the transfer window for Cutler to find a home, and join the NFL Bears.  Chicago, who had started the year with Caleb Hanie as their starter, were more than generous in signing Cutler to a 4-year deal.  While the former Knight has not yet started in Chicago, it is expected that he will take the reins of the club following their Week 7 bye later this month. Cutler was certainly the biggest name, and the biggest surprise in how his case was handled, but he was certainly not the only departure for the Fall league.  Here is our list of the 15 biggest names to make the leap from spring to fall. 15—G Cooper Carlisle (PHI) 14— WR Anquan Boldin (ORL) 13—G Bill Ferrario (SEA) 12—HB LaBrandon Toefield (JAX) 11—OT Jim Backus (BIR) 10—DT Igor Olshansky (MGN) 9—CB Fred Smoot (BOS) 8—QB A. J. Feeley (HOU) 7—HB Thomas Jones (MGN) 6—LB Rocky Boiman (TEX) 5—HB Michael Robinson (NOR) 4—LB Glenn Cadrez (OHI) 3—LV Calvin Pace (NOR) 2— WR Laverneous Coles (MGN) 1—QB Jay Cutler (NSH) Michigan takes a hit with 3 players jumping to the fall, but, of course, these were all players that were expected to move on in free agency one way or another.  The biggest loss is certainly that of wideout Laverneous Coles, who finished 2011 with 67 receptions, 767 yards and 4 TDs for the Panthers.  The Panthers also lose their leading rusher, Thomas Jones, who had 813 yards in shared snaps with Mike Hart, a duo system which led Jones to finally leave the Panthers and return to the NFL. QB A.J. Feeley, who came to the USFL from the fall league back in 2008, was the starter in Portland for the first three seasons of that club’s existence, but was traded to Houston this past season when Ryan Fitzpatrick was brought in.  In Houston it was thought that Feeley would back up Matt Hasselbeck, which he did, but that led to only 2 appearances and only 105 pass attempts all season.   Feeley returns to the NFL with the St. Louis Rams. Finally, after 10 seasons as a member of the Ohio Glory, LB Glenn Cadrez, who helped Ohio go unbeaten in 2002 and win two titles in back-to-back years will not be back in Columbus after signing a 3-year deal to become a Kansas City Chief.  Cadrez leaves the USFL with nearly 800 tackles and 21 forced fumbles in his 8-seasons in Ohio. As we look ahead to January and the USFL's Territorial and Open Collegiate Drafts, the complexity of how the USFL drafts comes into clear focus. Whereas the NFL clearly has Andrew Luck as the #1 prospect, with HB Trent Richardson right behind, the clubs of the USFL have to navigate the T-Draft to even have a shot at these two top prospects. Luck's rights, as a Stanford product, are held by the Oakland Invaders, while Richardson, coming out of Alabama, is potentially protected by the Birmingham Stallions. But, as so often happens, Oakland really is not looking for an immediate starter at QB, and Birmingham is quite happy with NFL transfer Joseph Addai. So, what happens, well, you get a market for those T-Draft picks, now tradable after the USFL rescinded their restriction on trading T-Draft picks. So, now teams are looking to put together trade packages not for 1st round Open Draft options, but for the T-Draft picks. Now, we also need to add one more factor here. Teams are typically unwilling to make huge player for pick draft day deals because with the NFL Draft just 2 weeks later, and the usual 50/50 split of players between the NFL and USFL, it is very risky to trade signed talent away for the rights to bid against the NFL for a top prospect. Take Andrew Luck, for example. There is no way he makes it to the Open Draft. Either Oakland will fall in love with him, protect him and try to sign him, with thoughts of possibly trading away Harrington, or they will feel good about their current QB and opt to trade the T-Draft pick to a QB-needy team like the Knights, for example. Oakland will try to get players for that pick, but Nashville will almost certainly prefer to send them a combo of draft picks. Even if Nashville makes the deal, they now have to face the very real possibility that their highly coveted QB will be unwilling to make a deal until after the NFL draft. If the NFL team with the #1 pick is not a total disaster, or if someone who is not a total disaster trades up, then Nashville is in a bidding war. They could give away real talent and draft capital and come up with nothing. That is the complexity of the USFL draft, some of it self-generated with their territorial picks, but part of it the drama that comes with pro football having 2 premier leagues and having to share the top prospects between them. That is the formula for a tense, and hair-greying month of offseason drama every February. We make our picks and analysis below, but we are well aware that the best strategy is more about who you can sign than who you can pick. That said, here, in order of the 1st round, are our breakdowns of each USFL club's needs, and best options in both the T-Draft and Open Draft this January (recognizing also that free agent moves and offseason trades could fill some of the needs we list here.) BOSTON CANNONS Team Needs: TE, WR, DT, LB, CB T-Draft Prospects: While there are several good options between BC and Wisconsin in their T-Draft pool, the obvious focal point is linebacker Luke Kuechly, the BC standout.  Linebacker is a position of need and Kuechly would be an ideal player to slot into the middle.  Boston could possibly also look at the Wisconsin battery of QB Russel Wilson and WR Nick Toon. First Round Pick: #1 Possible First Round Targets: Wideout is a key need with the departure of Chad Johnson, so we could easily see Boston either take OK State’s Justin Blackmon #1 overall or trade down a few slots and still land Blackmon as a target for Jake Locker.  If, however, they are concerned about Locker, they could potentially throw us a curve and go after either Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III with this pick, assuming either survive the T-Draft unselected. JACKSONVILLE BULLS Team Needs: DT, CB, LB, HB, DE, QB T-Draft Prospects: When looking for a match between need and talent, the best option for Jacksonville is likely Clemson DE Andre Branch, but with DT being such a big need as well, they could certainly take a long look at two potentials in Clemson’s Brandon Thompson or Florida’s Jaye Howard. First Round Pick: #2 Possible First Round Targets: The Bulls have a lot of needs, but the lack of production from C. J. Spiller has to have them interested in Alabama’s Trent Richardson.  With a pick this early they would have a good shot at Richardson, because we do not see Birmingham going for a HB this year, not with the success Joseph Addai had in 2011. MEMPHIIS SHOWBOATS Team Needs: DE, LB, G, DT T-Draft Prospects: While Coach Childress is an offensive guy, the needs on defense cannot be ignored.  They could find quite a bit of help in the T-Draft with U. of Memphis DT Dontari Poe and Arkansas DE Jake Bequette both available.  The Razorbacks are also graduating 3 wideouts who are expected to be mid-round picks, so don’t be surprised if the Showboats select at least one, with either Joe Adams or Jarius Wright the most likely targets. First Round Pick: #3 Possible First Round Targets: If Poe gives off “NFL vibes” to the Showboats, they will likely jump on another DE in the open draft to hedge their bets.  We like Fletcher Cox from Mississippi State or Bruce Irvin from West Virginia as options at #3. PORTLAND STAGS Team Needs: WR, LB, T, SS, C, DE T-Draft Prospects: This is one of the deepest T-Draft classes the Stags have seen in their short existence.  We expect a halfback to be one pick, either Boise State’s Doug Martin or Oregon’s LaMichael James.  With the other, they should look at either DE Tyrone Crawford or Boise State’s Shea McClellin, two good prospects in a position of some need. First Round Pick: #4 Possible First Round Targets: Wideout is a position of true need, but one not likely to be solved in the T-Draft.  So, if Justin Blackmon is there at #4, they should jump at him. If he is not, then either Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd or Baylor’s Kendall Wright are the next best options. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS Team Needs: LB, T, G, C, TE, C, K T-Draft Prospects: The Breakers have a lot of need, but their T-draft does not line up particularly well for those needs.  We expect they will take a shot at DE Michael Brockers from LSU, despite it not being a high need position.  O-line is the real prominent need, and there just are not great prospects among LSU, Tulane, and La Tech this year. First Round Pick: #5 Possible First Round Targets: The Breakers have to get a lot of help for their line, and we think a big piece of the puzzle will be here.  If LA does not snap up USC LT Matt Kalil, we think New Orleans will.  If they do, then the next best option is Riley Reiff of Iowa. OHIO GLORY Team Needs: DE, LB, FS, G, SS, K, HB T-Draft Prospects: The Glory are looking at a lot of areas of concern and one of the thinnest Ohio State graduating groups we have seen in a decade.  They may actually do better going after some Cincinnati prospects like HB Isaiah Pead, or OT John Hughes.  Safety Nate Ebner could be a developmental prospect at safety, but not an immediate help. First Round Pick: #6 Possible First Round Targets: Several good options at DE, which is a very high need for the Glory.  They should take a long look at Brockers if he is available, then Bruce Irvin or Syracuse’s Chandler Jones, again all assuming they are not sucked up in the T-Draft, which we really don’t expect. HOUSTON GAMBLERS Team Needs: CB, DT, LB, QB T-Draft Prospects: We are intrigued by Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill.  He played only 1 year at QB for the Aggies, but showed a lot, which is prime for him to be a possible developmental project for 1-2 years as Matt Hasselbeck gets on in age.  Just seems a good fit, right? First Round Pick: #7 Possible First Round Targets: If the QB position is more urgent, we could see Houston taking a shot at Robert Griffin III, but we think they are still expecting Hasselbeck to stay put for at least 1-2 years.  If that is true, then cornerback is a priority after Ronde Barber’s retirement, so we say they should look long and hard at LSU’s Morris Claiborne and South Carolina’s Stephon Gilmore as 1st round options. NEW JERSEY GENERALS Team Needs: WR, T, TE, SS, LB T-Draft Prospects: A classic question of Best Player Available or drafting for need.  Syracuse DE Chandler Jones is a clear talent, but not a position of need for the Generals. Do they select him anyway?  If not, then expect quite a few Oklahoma prospects among their 3 picks.  We like WR Ryan Broyles and OT Donald Stephenson as picks to fill need. First Round Pick: #8 Possible First Round Targets: If the Generals don’t like Broyles as a fit for their offensive scheme, they could use the first round to go after a wideout.  Assuming Blackmon is gone by pick 8, they have several options to look at, including Notre Dame’s Floyd, Baylor’s Wright, and Illinois wideout A. J. Jenkins. SEATTLE DRAGONS Team Needs: WR, HB, TE, SS, G, LB, FS T-Draft Prospects: No plug & play option to replace David Boston in the T-Draft pool, and, honestly, no 1st or 2nd round talent from UW, Wash. State or Montana this year.  Looks like the T-Draft will be mostly about adding depth. First Round Pick: #9 Possible First Round Targets: The Dragons could look to the draft to try to deal with David Boston’s retirement, but they have many other needs as well. They are very interested in upgrading the run game, so Trent Richardson could be a target, but they could also use a safety valve for Byron Leftwich, so how about TE Coby Fleener of Stanford?  Maybe not this early, but they could trade down and still get their TE of the future. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS Team Needs: T, WR, SS, FS T-Draft Prospects: The Stallions hold the rights to the clear #1 HB in the draft, but they really like what they got from Joseph Addai last year, so we could easily see them trade away their #1 T-Draft pick for some more open draft options.  They could also jump on defense with some good prospects in CB Dre Kirkpatrick, safety Mark Barron, and LB Dont’a Hightower. First Round Pick: 10 Possible First Round Targets: Tackle is a position of immediate need. Kalil could be gone by 10, but there are other solid options like Iowa’s Reiff and Cal’s Mitchell Schwartz. DENVER GOLD Team Needs: FS, CB, WR, LB, K, P T-Draft Prospects: A pretty light pool for the Gold this year, though we do like LB Lavonte David as a potential target. First Round Pick: 11 Possible First Round Targets: Safety is a key need, but at #11, that seems early to go after anyone other than Alabama’s Mark Barron.  If Barron is there, he is the pick, if not, they could look at WR or Corner. ATLANTA FIRE Team Needs: G, T, LB, SS T-Draft Prospects: Tackle Cordy Glenn is perhaps the best prospect that aligns with Atlanta’s needs, but we could also see them go after C Ben Jones from the Bulldogs, with the thought of playing him at guard. First Round Pick: 12 Possible First Round Targets: O-line is a big need for the Fire, but so is linebacker.  If South Carolina LB Melvin Ingram is available, we could see the Fire jump at the Gamecock as a plug and play option on the strong side. CHICAGO MACHINE Team Needs: C, G, HB, LB, WR T-Draft Prospects: While there are higher rated players in their pool, the best fit may be Illinois guard Jeff Allen, a position of need and a solid Big 10 player to put in that slot. First Round Pick: 13 Possible First Round Targets: There are no true centers who have 1st round grades this year, so guard may be the way to go.  We like David DeCastro of Stanford or Kevin Zeilter from Wisconsin here. ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS Team Needs: DE, TE, LB, G, WR T-Draft Prospects: While OT is not a need position, will St. Louis pass up the shot at Riley Reiff of Iowa?  If they do, they could land the TE they need in Missouri’s Michael Engrew, or go for O-line help with Adam Gettis, Reiff’s line mate on the inside. First Round Pick: 14 Possible First Round Targets: There is no clear DE option in the T-Draft for St. Louis, and that is their most glaring need.  Can they make a deal to get a top prospect like Michael Brockers (LSU), Bruce Irvin (WVU), or Quinton Coples (UNC)? ORLANDO RENEGADES Team Needs: HB, T, DT, DE, QB T-Draft Prospects: As always, it is the U of Miami who will likely feed Orlando with their best options, whether that is DE Olivier Vernon, LB Sean Spence, or HB Lamar Miller.  None are 1st round talent, however, so they will need to focus more on the Open Draft. First Round Pick: 15 Possible First Round Targets: We are assuming that Trent Richardson is out of reach for the Renegades, who are looking for a short yardage back to spell Knowshon Moreno.  For that style of runner, the next best option is likely either Isaiah Pead (Cinci) or Lamar Miller (T-Draft), so this may be the first true BPA selection of the draft. LAS VEGAS THUNDER Team Needs: FS, TE, SS, LB, DE T-Draft Prospects: The Thunder are almost certainly going to appeal the league for a 4th T-Draft option, because there are only 2-3 potential mid-round options available from their standard 3 schools.  We just don’t see much here except perhaps Utah G Tony Bergstrom.  Expect them to get more options once the league rules on the pool expansion. First Round Pick: 16 Possible First Round Targets: With the big signing of Chad Johnson, WR comes off the board for the Thunder draft. That leaves safety as the biggest hole in the roster.  If Mark Barron of Alabama is off the table, the next best option is likely Notre Dame’s Harrison Smith, though we also like Illinois safety Tavon Wilson as a possible riser. MICHIGAN PANTHERS Team Needs: HB, DT, TE, WR, C, CB T-Draft Prospects: No immediate help at HB in the Panther’s pool, though they may still select MSU’s Edwin Baker just for insurance.  The best option, in a position of need, is Jerel Worthy at DT, but could the Panthers surprise us and select Spartan QB Kirk Cousins?  Brian Griese is no spring chicken anymore. First Round Pick: 17 Possible First Round Targets: The first of the playoff teams is yet another club hoping to find a solution at HB after Thomas Jones left for the NFL.  Problem is that this is a very weak HB  draft.  They may have to try free agency or the NFL-USFL transfer window to find a true starter.  If not HB, then perhaps DT, where there are some top names like Fletcher Cox (Miss St) or Derek Wolfe (Cinci) who could be here at 17. NASHVILLE KNIGHTS Team Needs: QB, LB, T, DE, DT, P T-Draft Prospects: After releasing Jay Cutler (now in the NFL), Nashville is the most QB needy team in the league, but there is no hope here unless the Knights have fallen in love with Tennessee’s Matt Simms, which seems risky to us.  They can help their OT situation with Ole Miss’s Bobby Massie, or go DE with Malik Jackson of the Vols. First Round Pick: 18 Possible First Round Targets: We fully expect Nashville to throw everything they can at Oakland to obtain the rights to their #1 T-Draft pick and take a shot at Andrew Luck.  The cleanest QB prospect in several years, Luck could even tempt Oakland to trade Joey Harrington as an option, but a risky one since he is also likely a #1 pick for the NFL as well. CHARLOTTE MONARCHS Team Needs: G, TE, QB, DE, WR T-Draft Prospects: DE Quinton Coples seems an easy option for Charlotte to fill a need.  They could also look at LB Zach Brown as a potential upgrade at weak side LB, but Coples is a surer choice. First Round Pick: 19 Possible First Round Targets:  Jake Delhomme came on at the end of the year, but we still see Charlotte in the QB market.  Maybe not pushing to get Luck or Griffin, but they could be seriously looking at options like Tannehill, OK State’s Brandon Wheedon, or ASU’s Brock Osweiler. OAKLAND INVADERS Team Needs: G, TE, DE, LB, WR T-Draft Prospects: We can just hear Oakland singing Willy Wonka’s “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket” as they consider what to do with the rights to Andrew Luck.  They could select Luck, and if sign him then trade away Harrington, but that seems very risky.  The better option may be to trade their T-Draft pick for players already under contract or for a boatload of picks in the Open Draft. First Round Pick: 20 Possible First Round Targets: With QB not a priority, Oakland has several options.  There should be top flight TEs and guards on the board.  We love the idea of adding a faster outside LB as well. How about Melvin Ingram or Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw? BALTIMORE BLITZ Team Needs: FS, LB, WR, T, DE T-Draft Prospects: Another club who could petition for a 4th T-Draft club as their options from Maryland, Kentucky and Louisville are pretty limited.  We do like WR Josh Bellamy, but he is a mid-to-late round prospect at best. First Round Pick: 21 Possible First Round Targets: With little to go on in the T-Draft, it all comes down to the Open Draft for the Blitz.  They need to hit on at least 3 picks to fill needs.  We think LB is the deepest of their need positions in the first round talent.  Dont’a Hightower of Alabama would be a perfect fit for them if they can pry him away from the Stallions. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS Team Needs: G, DE, DT, LB, CB, T T-Draft Prospects: A solid crop of talent for the Express, beginning with LT Matt Kalil from USC, but continuing with another Trojan, LB Nick Perry.  How about LB Miles Burris from SDSU, or even a QB prospect for the future in Ryan Lindley? First Round Pick: 22 Possible First Round Targets: Let’s assume the Express select Kalil for their O-line, then the next thing they need could be a DE.  By this late in the round, and after the T-Draft, we think the best option on the board may well be either Whitney Mercilus (great name!) from Illinois or possibly Vinny Curry of Marshall. ARIZONA WRANGLERS Team Needs: CB, FS, G, DT, FS T-Draft Prospects: As weird as it sounds, Arizona may draft 2 QB prospects in the T-draft, just to have a young up and comer behind David Carr.  Either ASU’s Brock Osweiler or Arizona’s Nick Foles could be a prime candidate to replace Carr in a few years, if either is willing to sign and then wait. First Round Pick: 23 Possible First Round Targets: Thinking about need here, and that is in the secondary, so we look at late 1st round options like safety Harrison Smith (NDame), CB Janoris Jenkins (North Alabama), or safety Tavon Wilson of Illinois. WASHINGTON FEDERALS Team Needs: DT, LB, DE, T, CB, HB T-Draft Prospects: We fully expect the Feds to select HB David Wilson from Va Tech as a security blanket behind Deuce McCallister. Beyond that they could go a lot of different ways, though we expect that CB Jayron Hosley, also of the Hokies, will be one of those picks. First Round Pick: 24 Possible First Round Targets: D-line is a core need if the Feds are going to get back to a Summer Bowl.  But, who will be left by pick 24?   How about either Chandler Jones (DE-Syracuse) or Shea McClellin (DE-Boise State)? TEXAS OUTLAWS Team Needs: HB, C, G, LB, QB T-Draft Prospects: No replacement for T. J. Duckett coming out of Texas this year, so expect the Outlaws to look to the line and the defense if they can. We like LB Keenan Robinson as a prospect out of Baylor.  Not 1st round talent, but could develop into a solid player. First Round Pick: 25 Possible First Round Targets: As with Nashville and Andrew Luck, we expect Texas to trade anything short of the deed to the ranch to try to get their shot at Alabama HB Trent Richardson.  He is in the Duckett mold as a solid inside runner with enough burst to make big plays.  Failing that, they do need to address the LB position as well as the O-line. PHILADELPHIA STARS Team Needs: LB, G, DT, OT T-Draft Prospects: Penn State has let the Stars down this year.  Linebacker U usually provides plenty of options, but not this year.  So, they will almost certainly look at guard and DT, with the best option being Temple nose tackle Devon Still, a solid 2nd rounder. First Round Pick: 26 Possible First Round Targets: It has to be linebacker, and we are looking at players like Hightower, Nick Perry (USC) or Courtney Upshaw (Alabama) as the best players potentially falling this far into the round. PITTSBURGH MAULERS Team Needs: FS, G, DT, WR, HB T-Draft Prospects: The Maulers don’t really need DE help, but they would be foolish to not take a shot at either Bruce Irvin of WVU or Vinny Curry of Marshall, both protected players.  Beyond that, the talent dips quite a bit. First Round Pick: 27 Possible First Round Targets: Safety and DT could be the pick in round 1.  If Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith drops this far, the Maulers would feel very fortunate. TAMPA BAY BANDITS Team Needs: DT, LB, WR, QB T-Draft Prospects: With the retirement of Chris Doering, expect the Bandits to draft at least 2 receivers.  We expect South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery to be one of them.  With LB also a position of need, another Gamecock, Melvin Ingram, could also be a T-Draft diamond. First Round Pick: 28 Possible First Round Targets: Looking at late 1st round WR options, how about Brian Quick of App State?  We also like the size and hands of Rueben Randle of LSU as a possible late 1st round option. We will be back in January with our full draft recap, along with all the USFL offseason news ahead of camps opening and the late NFL-USFL transfer window.  Until then, enjoy your Fall football season, and we will be here to keep track of all the spring football news.