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And then there were two.  Philadelphia knocked off Birmingham in a battle of unbeatens while Arizona took care of Texas in another highly-anticipated matchup, leaving the two as a pair of unanticipated unbeatens after 5 weeks of USFL action.  The Wranglers now enjoy a 2-game lead in the SW Division, while Philadelphia remains a game up on the Feds in the Northeast. Meanwhile, the Pacific got more interesting thanks to our game of the week, a come-from-behind win by the underappreciated LA Express club.  In a week that saw all 14 home teams earn victories, we also saw Charlotte again assert their dominance in the Southeast and Ohio take a commanding lead over their division with a big win against Michigan to move to 4-1.  The season is taking shape, and it is a shape that has some fanbases very excited about the success their teams have seen so far, while others, like those of 1-4 Atlanta, Baltimore, Nashville, and Tampa Bay are feeling quite differently.  We will get right to it with our coverage of the GOTW as LA knocks off Oakland and sends a message that they are in the hunt this year. OAKLAND INVADERS 20   LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 23 In what has to be considered a statement game, the LA Express won their third in a row, knocked off their top rival, and declared that the Pacific Division would be a 3-team race, not the 2-team competition many had pictured.  In other words, they sent a broadside shot across the division.  They did this with another solid defensive performance, shutting Joey Harrington and the Invaders out for the entire second half, and with a strong performance from Keyshawn Johnson, long the most ardent of supporters of Mark Sanchez. Oakland came in holding a share of first place with the 3-1 Las Vegas Thunder.  LA was at home after knocking off Portland on the road last week to even their record at 2-2.  It had been an impressive win, but even after scoring 41 against the Stags, the Las Vegas books still had the visiting Invaders as 5-point favorites, a spread that seems to have insulted quite a few Express players.  They came out fired up and ready to make a point and by the final whistle that point had been delivered loud and clear. The first quarter saw both defenses winning the day.  The two opposing offenses each managed a field goal, but it was clearly a field position game early on.  That started to change in the 2nd quarter.  After a 2nd LA field goal from Damon Duvall, Oakland had its best drive of the half, working their way down the field over 12 plays, including a conversion on a key 3rd down when Harrington hit TE Joel Dreesen on a 9-yard in route on 3rd and 8.  The drive would end with Joey Harrington hitting one of his favorite new targets, rookie WR Keenan Allen, on a fade route from the 12.  Allen had to wrestle the ball away from LA defender Marcus Truffant, but in the end the rookie came down with it and with the first touchdown of the game. The score turned a 6-3 LA lead into a 13-6 Oakland advantage, but it would not hold. LA put together their own drive, relying heavily on the dual threat of newly acquired HB Reggie Bush.  Bush caught what appeared to be a 33-yard screen, but had it called back for a hold, but he did carry the ball 3 times for 20 yards, including the scoring play, a dive over the pile from the 1-yard line.  LA was back on top 13-10 with just 3:49 left to play, but Oakland was about to complete the longest pass of the game and take it right back. The play came on 2nd and 6 on Oakland’s next possession.  LA set up in man coverage, and while they had Keenan Allen and Greg Jennings well-covered, that left Pierre Garçon in single coverage with a safety, and that is a speed mismatch.  Garçon got a step on the safety and Harrington hit him in stride. The rest was a footrace ending in a 72-yard strike that silenced the LA crowd. The stunned Express went 3-and-out on their next possession, leaving Oakland nearly 1:30 to add to their lead. They would do so with a field goal in the final seconds, heading into the locker room feeling pretty good about their 20-13 lead.  They had their 5-point spread, they had made the biggest play of the half, and they would get the ball first in the second half.  But, what they did not count on was the LA defense adjusting to the Invader passing game and forcing Oakland to try to run the ball to move it. That was the strategy coming out of the half.  LA shifted to a nickel-dominant formation, daring Oakland to run the ball against 7 and 8-man coverages.  Oakland did oblige, a big reason that Ryan Williams finished the game with 102 yards, but the result was 5 straight drives that ended before crossing the LA 45.  The Express struggled as well in the third quarter, suffering a pick on one drive, a tipped ball that fell to Oakland safety Sean Jones.  They entered the 4th still trailing by 7. In the 4th, the break for LA came when LB Clay Matthews both stripped the ball from Ryan Williams’ hands and then fell on it, giving LA the ball at the Oakland 33.  It would only take 5 plays for LA to get on the board, though it was only a short field goal to pull within 4 at 20-16. While the lack of a TD was disappointing, the strip-fumble was still a crowd-pleaser and the LA defense seemed inspired for the remainder of the game.  They shut Oakland down on both of their 4th quarter possessions, nearly picking off Harrington on a 50-50 ball that ended up hittin the turf, and stuffing Benjarvis Green-Ellis on a key 3rd and 2, forcing Oakland to punt the ball away. But LA was still trailing with 1:47 left to play when they got the ball. They would need a TD to take the game.  Mark Sanchez would need to distribute the ball against a blanket zone, and make good use of the two remaining timeouts the Express had at their disposal.  The much-maligned QB did just that.  He hit 5 different receivers on the final drive of the game. First connecting with TE L. J. Smith, before finding young WR Jerrel Jerrigan for a 7-yard slant on 2nd and 2.  He would connect with Brandon Lloyd for 8, then rookie Robert Woods for a very nice 14-yard gain.  The ball was at the Oakland 28, but time was running short.  That is when Sanchez went to his top target, using a flood route form trip to force the defenders to split their zone.  That allowed Keyshawn to be matched against the safety, and when he took off for the corner of the endzone, the safety was out of position.  Sanchez pumped once but then let the ball go towards the endzone.  Johnson came down with it and the LA crowd erupted as Keyshawn paraded around the endzone triumphantly. LA had knocked off the Invaders, moved their record to 3-2, and sent notice to the league and, in particular, to their division rivals, that the Express were going to be a factor in this year’s race for the division title. ATLANTA 13   JACKSONVILLE 18 It was an ugly offensive game from both clubs in ALLTEL Stadium, one in which Jacksonville failed to score a touchdown in the game but still emerged victorious. Both Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow struggled as both teams dealt with offensive penalties and missed opportunities.  The lone TD in the game came with 6 seconds left to pull Atlanta within 5, but with no time for a last ditch comeback effort. MEMPHIS 10   WASHINGTON 23 A costly win for the Federals as a collision on a scramble left David Garrard unconscious on the field.  He would be taken to a local hospital in a back brace.  While no spinal injury was discovered, the head to knee collision did produce a skull fracture and swelling on the brain which had to be relieved at the hospital.  Garrard is expected to make a full recovery, but will be unable to return this season.  Joe Webb finished out the game at QB for the Federals, throwing 2 TD passes and completing 20 of 26 passes to get the W for the home team. BIRMINGHAM 7   PHILADELPHIA 12 The battle of unbeatens was played in off and on rain and high winds,  with both offenses being disrupted by the weather and the defenses.  Neither team was able to do much on the ground, with Steve Slaton rushing for a grand total of 9 yards while Joseph Addai did little better, rushing for only 17 on the day.   In a game that saw 14 punts between the two teams, Philadelphia got 4 field goals form Mike Nugent to pull out the win. SEATTLE 3   NEW ORLEANS 26 Drew Brees threw for 249 and 2 scores, but it was the much maligned New Orleans defense that stepped up in this one, sacking Byron Leftwich 4 times and producing 2 turnovers.  WR Early Doucet was the focus of the offense for New Orleans, catching both of Brees’s scoring throws and finishing the game with 115 yards on 5 receptions. TAMPA BAY 17   HOUSTON 38 The Gamblers got 4 TDs in 16 completions from Matt Hasselbeck as once again the Tampa defense seemed out of synch.  Ike Hiliard finished as the game’s only 100-yard receiver, also nabbing 2 of the 4 Hasselbeck scoring throws.  The other two went to Roy Wiliams and HB Herbert Perron.  With Michael Turner still sidelined, Cedrick Cobbs again ran for 100 yards in relief, earning 103 on 26 carries. MICHIGAN 7   OHIO 42 A dominant win against division rival Michigan for the Glory as they scored on their first 6 drives, producing a 30-0 lead.  Kirk Cousins was picked off twice by the Glory DBs, while Javon Walker ran wild over the middle of the field, catching 5 passes for 86 yards and both Chris Weinke TDs as the Glory absolutely lambasted the Panthers to move to 4-1. NASHVILLE 17   NEW JERSEY 24 Bryan Hoyer may have bought himself some good will in New Jersey with a solid 19 of 35, 201-yard, 2 TD outing against the Knights.  Combined with a defense that bent but rarely broke against the Knights, New Jersey was able to eke out the win and remain over .500 at 3-2. Peyton Manning threw the ball 44 times, completing 31, but every time Nashville got close in the game, it seemed the NJ defense had an answer. ORLANDO 13   CHARLOTTE 20 A back and forth game between these two SE Division rivals, but in the end Charlotte built up a 20-10 lead thanks to a Shonn Greene TD run and a Brandon Coutu fieldgoal in the 4th.  Knowshon Moreno had 105 yards rushing, but the Monarchs, using three backs, had 118 yards combined, with Fred Jackson leading the way.  Charlotte Moves to 4-1 and takes a 2-game lead on the division. PORTLAND 10   LAS VEGAS 13 With Jake Plummer and both Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh unable to play, the Thunder struggled to put points up.  Thankfully Marshawn Lynch was there to run the ball for 130 yars and the only TD for the Thunder.  Offense was hard to come by for Portland as well, with Matt McGloin under center, the Stags mustered only 253 total yards of offense, nearly all of it in the second half after they had fallen behind 13-0. PITTSBURGH 6   CHICAGO 13 Another ugly offensive game, and this one in perfect weather in Chicago.  Neither team had more than 230 total yards, and Pittsburgh committed 3 turnovers, all Andy Dalton picks, as the starter returned to action but looked very rusty after 3 weeks recovering from injury.  Doug Martin rushed for 90 yards and the lone TD in the game as Chicago, almost reluctantly, improved to 3-2. DALLAS 14   DENVER 24 The Gold improve to 2-3 and Dallas drops their third in a row as they fall flat at Mile High.  Peerless Price and D. J. Williams each caught touchdowns and LeMichael James added a third as the Gold outlasted the Roughnecks on a windy but clear afternoon in Denver. BALTIMORE 23   ST. LOUIS 26 Baltimore’s woes continue as John David Booty gets a 2nd win, again thanks to the run game, with Eddie Lacy racing to 104 yards and a score.  The defense also contributed, sacking Ben Roethlisberger 4 times and limiting Ron Dayne to 68 yards on the day.  It was close throughout, but in the 4th, Booty connected with FB Jerome Felton for a short scoring toss and that gave St. Louis a lead it would not later relinquish. TEXAS 18   ARIZONA 21 In this battle of offense v. defense, this time the defenders kept the edge.  The Wranglers sacked Joe Flacco 7 times, but still watched him complete 21 of 32 for 294 and 2 scores.  David Carr played a great game in a limited role as the Wranglers handed off to Frank Gore 23 times for 128  yards. Carr threw only 15 passes, completing only 7, but three of those were for scores, thanks in part to Larry Fitzgerald’s after-catch gains.  The Wranglers now take a 2 game lead over Texas in the division and remain unbeaten at 5-0. Garrard Placed on IR After Skull Fracture A win this week for the Federals, but just like we saw earlier this season in New Jersey, they may have won the battle, but lost the war as a scary injury to QB David Garrard now throws Washington’s season into disarray.  It happened on what appeared to be a routine play, but when Garrard tried to throw a low block after a Jahvid Best cutback, he took a huge blow to the back of the head.  Laying motionless on the ground, there was fear of a spine injury. The trainers took the facemask off of Garrard’s helmet and put him on a backboard.  He was conscious but in obvious distress as they carted him off the field. Fans would not know Garrard’s situation as Joe Webb helped pull the game against Memphis out for the homestanding Federals, but later that night it was reported that there was no spinal injury, but instead, Garrard had suffered not only a concussion but a fracture to his skull which had produced swelling in the brain cavity.  The cavity needed to be drained, and Garrard is likely to spend at least 4-5 days in the hospital as doctors work to ensure that additional swelling does not happen.  According to the physicians at GWU Hospital stated that they believe that Garrard is stable and not at risk of life-threatening developments, but that the skull has a chip in it which may require surgical correction. The Federals have already put Garrard on IR, recognizing that his recovery will require months, not weeks.  They will go with Joe Webb at QB for the foreseeable future, with Cleo Lemon as the number 2.  Expect them to sign a free agent to the practice squad as their emergency, but both Webb and Lemon are longstanding members of the club and have the confidence of Coach Payton. Hines Ward Ruptures Hamstring News was also not good for one of the league’s leading receivers as Hines Ward’s hamstring injury is not a strain, but a tear.  The Panther receiver is expected to miss at least 6 weeks, though a longer absence is possible. That is not good news for a 1-4 Panther team that was hoping to develop 2nd year QB Kirk Cousins over the season. Thanks in large part to Ward’s stable presence and ability to make space in zone defenses, Cousins was starting off well, 2nd to only Drew Brees in passing yards after 5 weeks. The Panthers are expected to go with Mario Manningham as their new number 1 target, with Keary Colbert in the slot and either Kevin Kasper or B. J. Cunningham on the opposite side. That is a significant downgrade from Ward as the primary target. If Michigan were 2-3 or 3-2, we might expect them to make a deal to bring in another receiver, but that seems unlikely for the 1-4 club currently sitting in last place in the division. Ohio Wins 4th in a Row in Impressive Fashion We stay in the Central Division to celebrate the rapid rise of the Ohio Glory.  With Chris Weinke taking over at QB and with an offense that is beginning to find itself, Ohio moved to 4-1 with an impressive 42-7 destruction of the Panthers this week. It was a game that saw Ohio dominate in every phase of the game, from Weinke’s 22 of 27 passing game to the defenses 5 sacks and 2 picks of Kirk Cousins. Ohio was picked by many to finish last in the Central for a 4th straight year, but after 3 consecutive 10-loss seasons, the Glory are sitting pretty at 4-1.  Sure, this is not the star-studded, high flying offense of the Collins-George-Galloway years, but this is a solid club, one who are able to play complementary football in all three phases.  Chris Weinke is third in passing yards, tied for 1st in the league with 11 TD passes, and has an outstanding 98.9 QB Rating, all numbers no one expected from the former backup who seems to have found his groove. HB Isaiah Pead is also making a good impression with 379 yards in 5 games, while WR Steve Smith is the talk of Columbus with 468 yards and a league-leading 49 receptions, on pace for a whopping 150 for the year. On defense, the stars for Ohio are across the roster.  Chauncey Davis has 5 sacks, while DT Tommy Harris already has 3 this year. CB Chimdi Chekwa leads the team with 30 tackles, but LB Philip Wheeler is right there with 22, followed closing by the other 2 starters, Tommy Polley and James Laurinitis.  The kick and punt team is also doing well, with both Ashton Youboty and Justin Forsett putting up solid numbers while the coverage team is holding teams to one of the worst return averages in the league. Big Weekend for Defensive Football We talked a bit about the Ohio defense, but this week it was all about defense all across the league.  Whether it was Aldon Smith’s big game for St. Louis (highlighted by a sack-fumble-recovery), Tommy Polley’s pick-six for the Glory, Olivier Vernon’s safety, or Baltimore’s Jason Taylor getting a rare tip-catch-return for a pick-six while blitzing.  It was a good week for the defenders.  We should also mention Arizona’s Adam Carriker, who added two sacks in their big win over Texas, or Denver’s 2-interception game from free safety Dashon Goldson.  It was just a good week for the defenders, a reality evident by the fact that of the league’s 28 clubs, 18 were held to 20 points or less, including a 13-6 defensive slugfest between Chicago and Pittsburgh and a 12-7 war of attrition between the unbeaten Stars and Stallions.  Some weeks it is glitzy scoring plays that make the highlights, this week it was big hits and huge stops to help teams pull out games. Another bad week, as once again we lose a top quality starting QB and an All-USFL skill player.  But beyond Garrard and Ward, already covered above, there were more big hits for USFL rosters as the season is proving to be a tough one for the training crews.  Here is the full injury report for the week (new additions): OUT CB Marquand Manuel          SEA        Biceps                 IR QB David Garrard                   WSH     Skull                      IR OG Dan Santucci                     MEM     PCL                       IR WR Hines Ward                        MGN     Hamstring         6-8 Wks CB Marlin Jackson             CHI        ACL                       4-6 Wks CB Brandon Flowers              ARZ       MCL                      4-6 Wks OT Marco Colombo               DAL       ACL                       1-2 Wks FS Antuan Edwards                 LA          Wrist                     1-2 Wks DOUBTFUL WR Demaryius Thomas         ATL         Toe DE Antonio Smith                   MEM     Hip CB Philip Buchanon                 TBY        Concussion QUESTIONABLE WR Darnerien McCants          WSH     Miniscus CB Dee Milliner                       ORL       Knee LB Chris Claiborne                 DAL       Foot DT Kevin Vickerson                 MGN     Finger DT Marcell Dareus                  OHI       Pinched Nerve C Stefan Wisniewski               DEN      Foot Ohio’s Incognito in Hot Water Over Racial Slurs Overheard on Field It was a good week in many ways for the Ohio Glory, but they did not escape the week without at least one negative story.  During the game, broadcast audio caught Ohio center Richie Incognito’s banter with the defenders, and the language the microphone picked up was not at all appreciated.  In addition to the usual expletives and taunting, the broadcast microphones picked up Incognito using both homophobic and racial slurs during the game as he lined up opposite Michigan’s Kevin Vickerson and Jerel Worthy.  In addition to terms such as “pansy”, and both the anti-gay “f” slur, the mikes picked up Incognito using the “n-word” on multiple occasions. NBC shared their audio with league officials after a request from the NY offices.  New York then communicated with the Ohio Glory and apparently a joint investigation is underway.  No sanctions have been issued yet, but this is certainly a nasty distraction for the team and a troubling issue for the league, which has generally had a strong record of player behavior and race relations.  It would not be surprising to see either the league or the Glory suspend Incognito, though we also expect the player to make a statement ahead of this week’s game.  If that will be enough to dispel the issue, we don’ t know, but the pressure is definitely on both Ohio and the USFL to make a statement and that could certainly lead to more significant sanctions. Three Veteran Coaches Who Could Be In Trouble As we complete 5 weeks, the question of coaching and of coaches on the hotseat certainly has begun to be a conversation both in the press and with fans.  What might make this year a bit unique is that the names being tossed around are all coaches who have pretty significant tenures with their clubs. Among those rumored to be in trouble are Denver’s Dick Jauron, Michigan’s Dick LeBeau, and Nashville’s Jim Johnson. It may seem hard to believe that Jauron, who is in his 16th season with the club and whose tenure includes a 3-year run of Summer Bowls (1999-2001, with a title in 2000) is on the hot seat, but that great stretch was over 10  years ago, and the Gold have been hovering around .500 seemingly every year since then. Could this be a case of diminishing returns for Jauron and the Gold? Dick LeBeau is another coach in unexpected danger.  The Coach of the 2008 league champion Panthers is in his 10th season but has failed to make the playoffs in 2 of the past 3 years.  Dropping to 6-10 last year, and off to a 1-4 start this year is not a good look for LeBeau, and the injury to Hines Ward is certainly not going to help.  Now, if Kirk Cousins continues to look good this year, and if LeVeon Bell can provide a boost to the Panther run game, we could see Michigan having a strong 2nd half, which could be enough for LeBeau to get another year, but if 1-4 turns into 2-8 and then 4-12, well, that could be a real problem for the veteran defensive coach. Finally, there is Jim Johnson, who has been in charge with the Knights since before they relocated from St. Louis.  Coming to the Knights in 1996, Johnson has had an incredible 19-year run, particularly for a club that has never won a title.  He has taken the Knights to the playoffs 12 times in 19 years, which is a pretty amazing record.  A win-loss record of 182-159 would be the envy of many coaches, but again, high expectations can lead to a pretty high floor for potential release.  The Knights were 8-8 each of the past 2 years, and Johnson’s playoff record of 5-12 has long been a topic of debate among Knight fans.  Could a 1-4 start in Nashville this year, particularly after they brought in a bona fide super star from the NFL in Peyton Manning, turn into a very shaky situation for Johnson?  Seems hard to believe, but we have seen stranger things, especially when there is a sense that the defensive-minded coach has simply not paid enough attention to an offense that has major issues. Oakland Reveals 2014 Look, Including Retro Colors Perhaps trying to clean their palette after a rough loss in LA, the Oakland Invaders opted to hold a press conference this Tuesday to reveal their new look for 2014.  Working with Adidas, the Invaders opted to go for a retro, nostalgic look, not with huge uniform changes, but with a reconsideration of their colors. Over the past decade, with changes during both the Reebok and and Nike eras, Oakland has continuously lightened both their sky blue and their gold colors, to the point where the current helmets look more lemon than athletic gold. That will change in 2014, when the Invaders will return to the colors they first used when they appeared in the league in 1983.  Bay Blue is a darker hue while still clearly a sky blue, and the Invader Gold color is far more “mustard” than lemon.  It is a welcome change for many Oakland fans, who still sport vintage jerseys with names like Besana, Whittington, Banks, and Manumaleauga on them. The new, darker uniforms will still feature traditional sleeve stripes, a block number font (now with shadows) and a gold helmet with blue and white stripes (now slightly tapered).  It is a traditiona look, though there is some innovation, such as the new Bay Blue pant set, a look designed to appeal to all the Invader faithful who have been with the team since the early 80’s and who need to be enticed to stick with the team when they relocate to Santa Clara in a couple of years. So, what is on tap after a pretty intense Week 5?  Well Week 6 has its intense matchups as well.  How about a battle of desperate squads, two teams expected to battle for division titles but who now sit at 1-4?  That is what we have under the Friday night lights as 1-4 Nashville visits 1-4 Tampa Bay.  Which team can use this game to turn the corner, which will fall even deeper in the hole? Saturday features a full slate of national games, including some cross-country matchups like Denver in Orlando, Houston in Atlanta, Chicago visiting the hot LA Express.  The two night games, however, are traditional divisional grudge matches as New Jersey hosts Baltimore at 7pm on NBC and Dallas tries to spark a rivalry with the Texas Outlaws at 9pm Eastern Time on ESPN and the ESPN Football Network (where the EFN group are bringing in Texas legend Ricky Williams to give commentary). On Sunday, our favorite early game is the War of the South, with Memphis hoping to sneak up on Birmingham after their tough loss to Philly this week.  At 4pm, you will want to check out the Las Vegas Seattle game, as the Dragons are trying to prove to themselves that they too are a contender in the Pacific.  Arizona is again at home, trying to move to 6-0 with a win over the struggling Portland Stags.  Finally, the nightcap features the current Central Division leaders headed to St. Louis to face the defending league champions. The Skyhawks have won 2 in a row after a shocking 0-3 start, and a win here could truly put them back in the mix with the Glory in the Central. Friday @ 8pm          Nashville (1-4) @ Tampa Bay (1-4)         NBC Saturday @ 12pm Denver (2-3) @ Orlando (2-3)                  ABC Saturday @ 12pm   Philadelphia (5-0) @ Charlotte (4-1)        FOX Saturday @ 4pm      Houston (3-2) @ Atlanta (1-4)                 ABC Saturday @ 4pm     Chicago (3-2) @ Los Angeles (3-2)        FOX Saturday @ 7pm      Baltimore (1-4) @ New Jersey (3-2)         NBC Saturday @ 9pm      Dallas (2-3) @ Texas (3-2)                        ESPN/EFN Sunday @ 12pm      Birmingham (4-1) @ Memphis (1-4)        ABC Sunday @ 12pm       Jacksonville (2-3) @ Pittsburgh (1-4)         FOX Sunday @ 12pm       Michigan (1-4) @ Washington (4-1)         FOX Sunday @ 4pm         Las Vegas (4-1) @ Seattle (2-3)                ABC Sunday @ 4pm         New Orleans (2-3) @ Oakland (3-2)         ABC Sunday @ 4pm        Portland (1-4) @ Arizona (5-0)                   FOX Sunday @ 8pm         Ohio (4-10 @ St. Louis (2-3)                     ESPN/EFN

Player of the Week: Aldon Smith was a huge part of St. Louis's 2nd consecutive wins. Not only did the linebacker wrap up 10 tackles, but he was a huge factor on the blitz, with 2 sacks, including one of the plays of the game, a sack, strip, and recovery. Hi all. My apologies this week. I got a bit to anxious and simulated Week 6 before double checking that I had completed the weekly stat leaders sheet. I had not, so there are no stats this week, but they will return in Week 6. Sorry for the gaff.

A good week for the winless as Nashville, Tampa Bay, and St. Louis all notch a win at the ¼ mark, leaving no teams without at least 1 win after four weeks.  We do still have 3 unbeaten clubs as Philadelphia joins surprise 4-0 squads from Arizona and Birmingham atop the standings and the power rankings.  The Stallions sit atop a division where their 4-0 record gives them a 3-game advantage over all three of their rivals, a huge advantage as we move into the 2nd quarter.  Las Vegas fell this week, evening them up with Oakland atop the Pacific, while Ohio and Charlotte now top the Central and Southeast Divisions.  We will review each club at the ¼ mark, look at who might want to make some changes, and, of course, recap all the action and our first midseason trade as well, with New Jersey hoping to expand their options at QB as they put Bradford on IR.   It’s all right here, so let’s get started with our game of the week, the surprising Ohio Glory moving to 3-1 with a win over a former division rival. OHIO GLORY 29   PITTSBURGH MAULERS 26 The Maulers and Glory were a pretty decent regional rivalry when both lived in the Central Division, but even with Pittsburgh being shunted back to the NE Division with Boston’s relocation, these two still find ways to dislike each other.  The two former division foes faced off in the Steel City this week and gave us one of the week’s best games, even if it was only available regionally on ABC on Sunday. With Andy Dalton still nursing a pinched nerve in his throwing arm (he is questionable again for Week 5), it was Quincy Carter again getting the start as he faced off against one of the stories of the season, the resurgent Chris Weinke at QB in Ohio.  Weinke won the starting position over Vince Young this preseason and has turned that opportunity into a pretty solid start and a growing fanbase in Columbus. In this game, both QBs would play well, though Carter’s numbers earned him some POTW recognition, with 387 yards passing on 27 of 38, and with 3 TDs.  Weinke’s numbers were more modest, 25 of 31 for 251, but he too threw for 3 scores and, as he has done all season, he managed the game, the clock, and the emotions of his team to help them pull out the 3-point win in the end. Ohio started the game very much in command, building an opening 14-0 lead thanks to early TD passes from Weinke to both Steve Smith and Zach Miller.  In the 2nd, Pittsburgh finally started to put some drives together and would score on all 3 possessions.  By the half the score was Ohio 17-12 and we had a game on our hands.  Both passing games were working well, but while Ohio’s combo of Isaiah Pead and Rashad Jennings were well on their way to the combined 130 yards they would earn, Pittsburgh was having no luck with the combo of Brown and Watson, with the two combining for only 17 yards in the first half (they would finish with only 14 carries for 34 yards for the game.)  it would be on the passing game of each team to keep the offenses moving. That passing game gave Pittsburgh their first lead early in the 3rd, when Quincy Carter found Jimmie Graham on a seam route up the middle.  The 25-yard pass was only one of 7 passes over 20 yards that Carter would have against an Ohio defense which continued to crowd the line to limit the run.  The Maulers took the lead at the 13-minute mark, and it would hold for most of the third, but late in the quarter, Weinke would again find his new best friend and favorite target, former Philly Star, Steve Smith.  Smith brought in his 2nd TD of the day and once again it was Ohio on top. The Glory would add 2 field goals by the midpoint of the 4th quarter and with a 29-18 lead felt pretty good about their position.  But that mood quickly soured when Pittsburgh put together a lightning quick scoring drive of only 3 plays, capped with a 26-yard strike from Carter to Victor Cruz.  The quick score pulled the Maulers within 3 and with over 4 minutes still on the clock, it put pressure on Ohio to hold on late. The Maulers needed to hold Ohio and get the ball back to have a chance at the game winner or a game tying field goal.  On Ohio’s first set of downs it took them only 2 running plays from Pead to get a first down, a 6-yarder followed by a 5-yard off-tackle run.  But, with time still available, the key would be the second set of downs.  Pittsburgh held Pead to only 1 yard on first down, a good start. On second down they pressured Weinke, forcing a scramble and bringing the QB down behind the line, but a flag on the play for a defensive hold not only gave Ohio 5 yards but another first down.  Pittsburgh would have to start again. They did well on first down again, this time stuffing Jennings for no gain.  They used their 2nd timeout to stop the clock.  Ohio would try the run again on 2nd down, this time handing the ball to FB Mike Karney.  His lone run of the game again produced no yards, leaving the Glory with a 3rd and 10.  After using their last time out, Pittsburgh new that if they held Ohio on third down, they would get the ball back with no less than 1:33 left in the game, plenty of time to get at least the game-tying field goal. It would come down to a 3rd and 10 play from the Ohio 41.  Weinke lined up in the shotgun, Smith, Walker and TE Zach Miller on his left, Benn on his right and Jennings by his side.  Pittsburght opted to pressure, bringing Donnie Spragan on a blitz, but the pressure meant that there was a gap in the zone, right in the center-right of the field.  It was a short gap, about 5 yards downfield, but it was perfectly placed for Weinke to find Javon Walker on a crossing route.  The pass was short of the first down, but when Walker put a move on safety Robert Sands, he was able to gain 12, pulled down just past the line.  But, whether by 20 yards or just 2, it was enough to give Ohio 4 more downs, and more than enough for 3 kneel downs to end the game. Ohio would move to 3-1 and take first place in the Central Division.  Pittsburgh would drop to 1-3 and join Baltimore in the NE Division basement as the 4th week concluded.  Two former and current rivals who seem to be headed in different directions. NEW ORLEANS 29   BIRMINGHAM 39 A nice offensive showcase as Cam Newton threw for 3 scores and rushed for another to help the Stallions keep their record perfect at 4-0.  Drew Brees also had a good day, throwing for 3 scores, while Matt Forte topped 80 yards in the game, but it was Newton keeping plays alive, scrambling for first downs, and finding Randy Moss for 118 yards and 2 scores that gave the Stallions the win and pushed them to a stunning 3-game lead in the division after only 4 games played. PHILADELPHIA 16   BALTIMORE 3 An unseasonably hot day in the Charm City produced a game defined by defense as neither club could do much on offense.  Philadelphia got the game’s lone TD on a pass from Gutierrez to his rookie TE Travis Kelce.  Beyond that it was all the two offenses could do to get into field goal range.  Neither were consistent on 3rd down, combining for a 6 of 24 conversion ratio (25%).  While Steve Slaton ended the game with a very solid 128 on the ground, most of that came on 2 runs, both of which led to Philly field goals.  Stars DE Anthony Hargrove was the game’s MVP with 2 tackles, and a sack of Ben Roethlisberger that produced a safety, the game’s first score. ATLANTA 19   NASHVILLE 26 The Knights earned their first win thanks to a surprisingly successful run game, with Ray Rice gaining 84 yards while Montario Hardesty added another 71.  The run game made life easier for Peyton Manning, who used play action to throw for 243 and 2 scores.  Kyle Orton did not have that advantage as newly-activated NFL transfer Steven Jackson struggled to find holes, finishing with only 2 yards rushing.  That lack of a run game left Orton exposed, and Nashville garnered 5 sacks on the day as they outlasted the Fire to move to 1-3. LOS ANGELES 41   PORTLAND 16 A major shift in offensive strategy led to a blowout win for the Express as Coach Reid shifted away from the spread sets and put into place for Mark Sanchez an offense that looked very much like the old Bill Walsh West Coast offense.  Sanchez responded with 4 TD passes, all to Keyshawn Johnson in the brash receivers most dominant game in years.  Portland seemed flabbergasted by the new offensive strategy of the Express, and when Ryan Fitzpatrick went out early in the game, the Stag offense could not keep pace, with rookie Mark McGloin throwing 2 picks. HOUSTON 17   SEATTLE 24 Seattle kept Byron Leftwich’s status secret until gametime, but the veteran did take the field and helped lead the Dragons to a very solid home win over a good Houston squad.  Leftwich, who contributed 260 yards and 3 scores, was helped by HB Cadillac Williams’s 88 yards rushing, and by a defense that forced 3 turnovers, two of them in the red zone to snuff promising Houston drives.  Both clubs now enter the 2nd quarter of the season at 2-2. CHICAGO 30   MICHIGAN 20 The Machine got the edge in this important Central Division rivalry as they built a 17-0 lead on the road, quieting an initially rambunctious Panther crowd at Ford Field.  A Ben Tate TD run and a Quinn to Floyd TD pass helped Chicago forget a horrible Week 3 pick-fest by Quinn.  The Chicago QB responded to his bad week by going 21 of 29, managing the game and allowing Doug Martin to do his part, rushing for 115 yards.  Kirk Cousins had 3 TD passes for Michigan as they abandoned the run early on, but it was not enough as Chicago moves to 2-2 and the Panthers fall to 1-3. LAS VEGAS 10   OAKLAND 23 A huge game in the Pacific Division and the Invaders were ready for it.  The pressure on Jake Plummer was intense, with the Invaders scoring 9 sacks on the day.  While Plummer still managed to play well (20 of 28 for 271 yards), the sacks caused 3 drives to crash and burn, enough for Oakland to build a 20-3 lead after 3 quarters.  The Invader offense, while not explosive, was productive, with Ryan Williams grinding out 86 yards on 23 carries, and Joey Harrington finding Williams for a TD on a nicely timed screen pass.  The win gives Oakland the tie-breaker as both sit atop the division at 3-1. WASHINGTON 23   NEW JERSEY 7 Another day of struggles for Bryan Hoyer and the Generals offense as Washington just stymied them at every turn.  It was 23-0 before the Generals got their lone score in a game that saw some boo birds come out in MetLife Stadium.   It may be these boo birds, as well as the lackluster performance by the offense that convinced the Generals to make a trade after only 4 weeks to bring in another QB option (See the story below). ARIZONA 24   ORLANDO 6 We know it seems like we are beating a dead horse, but man, that Arizona defense is scary. They held Orlando to only 134 total  yards, including a pathetic 31 yards rushing.  They even ran Russell Wilson out of the game as it was Chad Henne who came out in the second half.  Knowshon Moreno was held to only 2.1  yards per carry as Arizona’s d-line, reinforced with their NFL import Glenn Dorsey, was dominant.  On offense, Frank Gore scored for the Wranglers but also got some rest as his 15 carries was split with 19 for backup Stephen Ridley.  A good sign for Gore’s long term health. CHARLOTTE 24   MEMPHIS 17 The Monarchs struggled with Darren McFadden, an old foe from his Atlanta days, but still managed to claw out the road win in Memphis to move to 3-1.  McFadden averaged 7.2 yards per carry on his way to 101 on the day and 2 TDs, but Charlotte countered with TDs from Taiwan Jones and Dereck Mason.  An early injury to Fred Jackson may have derailed the Monarch offense just enough for Memphis to keep it close, but in the end, the Mason TD from Delhomme was the game winner. ST. LOUIS 24   DALLAS 21 Dallas may have dropped to 2-2 with a home loss to the defending champs, but there is no doubting that the fans in Big D were at the top of their game.  Over 55,000 showed up at the Cotton Bowl to root on the Renegades.   Unfortunately, what they saw was a determined St. Louis squad rack up a 24-3 lead on 3 rushing TDs, one each for Eddie Lacy (93 yards on the day), William Bethea, and James Ridley, as St. Louis shifted gears with John David Booty at QB.  Booty managed the game well, completing 16 of 28 for 201 yards, mostly short routes to Jacobs, TE Jeramy Stevens, and Santana Moss, but it was effective and St. Louis gets their first win of the campaign. DENVER 13   TEXAS 37 The Outlaws move their record to 3-1 with an impressive division win over the Gold.  Arian Foster rushed for 111 and a score, while Joe Flacco tossed TDs to three different receivers on the day as the Outlaws simply overmatched the Denver defense.  They also controlled the clock, racking up 38 minutes to Denver’s 22.  The win keeps them only 1 game behind the unbeaten Wranglers. JACKSONVILLE 13   TAMPA BAY 20 The Sunday Night weekly finale saw the Bandits ensure that no winless teams remained in the league as they edged the Bulls  thanks to another strong game from Vincent Jackson and a much better defensive showing.  Tampa got 2 picks of Tim Tebow, including one that put the ball on the Bulls’ 5-yard line and led to the game’s first TD.  While Jacksonville was able to run against Tampa’s 2-deep zones, with Miller and Spiller combining for 141 yards, the zones frustrated the passing game and forced Tebow to hold the ball far too long.  Both clubs now sit at 1-3 after 4 weeks. “Finally”: Bandits, Skyhawks, and Knights all get 1st win in Week 4 A good week for the winless and for the league that wants to see more parity, particularly when their reigning champion is among the 0-3 squads entering the week.  All three winless clubs, all of whom were expected to compete for their divisions, found themselves on the winning side this week.  So, what went right?  Well, for St. Louis it was a necessity. With Josh Freeman out on the injured list, they had to recalibrate with John David Booty under center. They did, and the recalibration left Dallas unprepared for what they would face.  What they got was a 3-headed run game and a lot of crossing patterns.  That was enough to help St. Louis pull out the 3-point win. For Tampa Bay it was making Jacksonville one dimensional and forcing Tim Tebow to throw into complex zones.  The Bandits did not blitz nearly as much as in past games, allowing Tebow time, but very little space to throw, and that proved effective against the 2012 leader in Interceptions thrown.  Finally, for Nashville it was the run game that finally came to life as they split carries between Ray Rice and Montario Hardesty.  After several years in both New Jersey and LA, it may finally be appropriate to say that Rice is just not a bell cow back, that he does better in smaller doses, and that is what Nashville did against the Dallas Roughnecks. So, can any of these three turn their week starts into  playoff run?  We know enough about the USFL to say “yes” to that question, but the answer is different for each.  Both Tampa Bay and St. Louis find themselves 2 games behind the division leaders (Charlotte & Ohio respectively), while Nashville has an even tougher path, with Birmingham sitting at 4-0 and looking very much like a club on a mission.  Any one of these three teams could turn things around in quarter two and get hot, and we expect that St. Louis might be the one that is in the best position to get back into the mix, as the Central is generally considered a weaker overall division, but all three need to continue to mix things up and not rely on what worked in 2012, because it seems that they are at their best when the opposition cannot effectively plan for what they will see each week. Oakland Topples Las Vegas to Assume 1st Place We had a feeling that the Pacific might come down to these two clubs, though Seattle and LA also seem to be finding themselves with recent success.  But when the two faced off at the Coliseum in Oakland, we knew this was a battle for first place between an undefeated Thunder squad and a very solid Invader club.   What we got was a well-played competitive game, and Thunder fans will certainly point to Marshawn Lynch’s absence as the factor that held them back.  But what is apparent about these two rivals is that both have solid defenses that can cause all kinds of mayhem for the opposition and offenses which are diverse enough to beat you in a variety of ways, especially once Lynch comes back on the field. Jake Plummer is putting up potential MVP numbers (see article below) while the Invaders have been much more successful with finding ways to balance Ryan Williams’ carries with effective play action and mid-range passes to Greg Jennings and rookie T-draft star Keenan Allen. Allen has proven to be the deep threat Oakland needed (60 yards on only 2 receptions this week), while Jennings and the tight ends (Joel Dreesen and another rookie, Zach Ertz) are showing that even in a tight 2-TE formation, the Invaders can pass the ball effectively. The two clubs will face off again in Week 15 and that game should be a major showcase as the two are almost certainly going to be battling for their playoff lives at that point.  We cannot wait to see that game and these two very good, very bitter rivals. Very Early MVP Candidates We mentioned that Jake Plummer has been putting up some MVP numbers, and with the current lead in both passing yards (1,162) and rating (125.6) we have to consider the veteran Thunder QB one of the frontrunners, but it is way to early and way to close to say he has it locked up.  So, who might be competing with the veteran QB? How about Cam Newton, the leader of the unbeaten Stallions?  While Cam Newton’s numbers are not as flashy (he is only 12th in yardage), but he is leading the league with 10 passing TDs and he has his 4-0 Birmingham club looking very much like the rising club of the season. If Newton can continue dominating the Southern Division and if Birmingham can clinch and clinch early, there will be a lot of votes headed his way. We know that QB’s usually have the advantage for the MVP vote, but we cannot leave Frank Gore out of the mix in this year’s vote.  Sure, after 4 weeks he is only 5th in the league with 363 yards, but that is because the Wranglers gave him a breather this week, cutting his usual carry total in half.  He leads the league with 98 touches, 8 more than even annual workhorse Deuce McCallister.  He is helping Arizona grind out games, burning time off the clock, and that is one of the reasons their defense is staying fresh and just shutting down the opposition. Finally, we wanted to give a nod to Ohio receiver Steve Smith, even if his odds may not be great to be a finalist for MVP.  Smith is the league leader with 33 catches, but he has done that with only 44 targets, an incredibly efficient 75% completion rate.  He is also among the leaders in the league with 5 TD receptions and with 385 yards in 4 games.  His resurgence with his new QB Chris Weinke has been a huge factor in Ohio jumping out to a 3-1 start.  The Glory boast the league’s best offense in both points and  yardage, averaging an even 400 yards per game, an a huge factor in that is Smith’s presence.   He is not doing it alone, as TE Zach Miller and slot receiver Javon Walker are also looking solid, but Smith is clearly a leader for this squad, not just in word (and he is known for his talk), but in deed. Generals Cut a Deal for a QB With two straight troubling performances from Bryan Hoyer and two straight sub-10-point games, the Generals felt that something had to be done.  Rumors had them reaching out to Ohio to ask about Vince Young, but they apparently found greener territory in Charlotte, where the Monarchs had 4 QBs under contract.  New Jersey inquired both about backup Brandon Wheedon, who, as you will recall, led Charlotte to the Summer Bowl with two straight upset playoff victories in the Eastern Conference playoffs last year, and former NFL QB Charlie Whitehurst. As you might expect, with Jake Delhomme turning 37 this year, the Monarchs were keen on keeping Wheedon, the 2nd year QB out of Mizzou, under contract and available should Delhomme decide to hang up the helmet.  They were more flexible on Whitehurst, who was sitting third on their depth chart with Jeff Tuel limited to the practice squad.  New Jersey felt that they knew enough about Whitehurst’s game from his time in the NFL, and it matched well with what they hoped to do on offense now that Sam Bradford was placed on IR. He would also come relatively cheap. New Jersey agreed to send their 5th round pick both this upcoming offseason and in 2015 to the Monarchs in exchange for Whitehurst.  Charlotte, with Tuel already available to them, also felt that this was a good deal.  So, New Jersey will get the former Clemson QB who played 3 years with the NFL Chargers and Charlotte will have some picks to play with and a clear protégé for Delhomme in Brandon Wheedon. Whitehurst arrived in East Rutherford on Wednesday and is expected to be #3 on the depth chart this week, behind Hoyer and veteran Jeff Blake, but you should expect that if Hoyer struggles again in their Week 5 matchup against Nashville, that it very well could be the former Monarch at the helm in Week 6. Fortunately for the USFL’s 28 clubs, we saw no season-ending and very few month-long injuries this week, but that does not mean there are not issues. While neither of their injuries are serious, both Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh could be out this week for Las Vegas, leaving them quite a bit shorthanded at the position.  Here are all the new additions to the injury list after Week 4: OUT CB Carlos Rogers           CHA              Hernia                 4-6 Weeks LB Brian Cushing            PIT              Quad                    2-4 Weeks QB Landry Jones             DAL             Thigh                     1-2 Weeks QB Ryan Fitzpatrick      POR                 Eye                        1-2 Weeks DT Luis Castillo               TEX                  Shoulder             1-2 Weeks DE Antonio Smith           MEM              Hip                        1-2 Weeks HB Mike Tolbert              NOR               Groin                    1-2 Weeks TE Vernon Davis              HOU                Hip                        1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL FS Ed Reed                                   WSH                     Foot CB Philip Buchanon                      TBY                        Concussion SS Terrance Holt                             TEX                        Shoulder WR Dwayne Bowe                          ORL                       Thigh WR T. J. Housmandzadeh           LV                           Jaw QUESTIONABLE DE Aaron Kampman                     NJ                           Hip HB Lorenzo Booker                        JAX                         Finger WR Deion Branch                           WSH                     Concussion OT Erik Pears                                    LA                          Concussion LB Karlos Dansby                           ARZ                       Abdomen WR Chad Johnson                          LV                           Hamstring CB Nate Clements                        NJ                           Neck QB Jake Plummer                           LV                           Elbow First Quarter Feel For All 28 Clubs Four games down, twelve to go.  Plenty of time to right the ship, or to drop off and fall closer to the pack. So, how do all 28 clubs stack up after their first four games.  Who is outpacing expectations, who has had a rough start, and what can each team do to improve in Q2?   Here is our look at all 28 clubs with our best thoughts on what might be ahead. ARIZONA (4-0) Sitting at 4-0 and leading the league in all 4, yes, all 4 major defensive categories (Points,  Yardage, Passing Yards, and Rush Yards)  has given the Wranglers a storybook start.  Yes, they would like to their offense to be more than just Frank Gore rushing for 3.2 yards, but if they can keep holding teams to 5 points a game, a truly staggering number not seen since the 2002 Baltimore Ravens in the NFL, well, they could well be on their way to a division title and a very deep playoff run. ATLANTA (1-3) This is not the start the Fire wanted, and Steven Jackson’s opening week 2-yard effort is not making anyone feel good, but if Jackson can get his legs under him, there is still potential here for the Fire.  They need to improve on a 26th ranked scoring offense, and that may well be up to Kyle Orton.  The passing game has been more anemic than we expected, and that has led to far too many 3-and-outs. BALTIMORE (1-3) We had a feeling the season would start off rough, with Philly on the schedule twice in 4 weeks and the Knights as well.  Baltimore dropped both games to the Stars, and they have struggled on offense, not scoring over 16 points in any game this year.  Coach Caldwell has installed a new offense and it is taking time to find itself.  The Blitz need to move from learning to executing the offense or they could be irrelevant by midseason. BIRMINGHAM (4-0) Another dream season so far in the USFL.  Birmingham does not have the dominance we are seeing in Arizona, as they have been close in nearly every game to letting one slip, but they are finding a way to win.  Now what they need to do is find their run game.  Joseph Addai has only 144 yards in 4 games.  And while the fans all want to see Owens and Moss running fly patterns, that is easier to do if there is a viable run threat.  But, that said, this is still an incredible start for the Stallion faithful. CHARLOTTE (3-1) A surprise loss to the Dallas Roughnecks is the one blemish on an otherwise strong start for the defending Eastern Conference Champions. Fred Jackson is running well (308 yards before getting dinged up this week) and Jake Delhomme is among the league’s QBR leaders.  The defense clearly misses Rey Maualaga, among the league leaders in tackles for New Jersey, but they are doing well enough to have Charlotte atop the division at the ¼ mark. CHICAGO (2-2) Sitting at .500 is not bad for the Machine, adding a win in division over Michigan is a nice touch too.  The Machine are targeting Week 6 at St. Louis as their bellweather game. If they can win that and, even better, be 4-2 after 6 weeks, well then the confidence will be there.  Now, all they have to do is avoid more Brady Quinn 6-interception games.  Woof, that was a rough one. DALLAS (2-2) After opening a surprising 2-0, the Roughnecks have fallen back to earth.  We have to remember that this was a club that had 3 wins all of 2012.  Yes, they have changed up their roster quite a bit, but there are still holes here. What we do like is that even in the losses Jake Locker has played pretty well, with already over 1,000 yards and a very solid 88.0 QBR after 4 games.  If the ‘Necks can continue to play complementary football, they could be one of the surprise teams this year (by that we mean surprisingly at or near .500). DENVER (1-3) The Gold always seem to be in the mix, but this year they are struggling to score, having been held under 14 points in all 3 losses.  They need more out of the run game, to be sure, and out of Matt Leinart. The offense seems sluggish, unable to get big plays or quick drives. That seems a constant statement about Denver teams under Coach Jauron, but in past years defense has allowed that to be OK.  This year’s club may not have enough to compete if they cannot get more offense going. HOUSTON (2-2) The Gamblers are right around where we thought they would be at this point.  We thought they would beat Seattle and lose to St. Louis, and those results were reversed, but they are where we thought they would be.  They are in the Top 10 in scoring, but give up too many points (ranked 22nd).  If they can get more takeaways, or just more stops on defense, they can compete.  They face Tampa, Atlanta, and Orlando in a 3-game SE swing to open the 2nd quarter of the season.  They need to go 2-1 in that swing before facing the Wranglers in a very big Week 8 game in Glendale. JACKSONVILLE (1-3) The Bulls let one get away in the season opener in New Orleans, and they have struggled for consistency all season.  Sitting at 1-3, but 1-1 in division is not a killer, but they need to find a way to get more out of the 23rd ranked offense if they hope to make waves in a pretty balanced SE Division. LAS VEGAS (3-1) The 3-0 start was a bit of surprise for a club that is dealing with a lot of off-the-field tension.  The loss to Oakland this week was disappointing, but considering that both Jake Plummer and both starting receivers had to miss plays due to injuries, while Marshawn Lynch has been out since Week 2, gives hope to Thunder fans that all 4 will be back in action and that the Thunder can make a run, especially with 3 straight divisional games on the slate (Portland, @ Seattle, and home to LA). LOS ANGELES (2-2) Sitting at 2-2 is not going to excite LA fans, but what we saw this week from what appears to be a newly reimagined offensive plan has to.  The Expressed put in a shorter passing game and more of a West Coast look and rattled off 41 points against a pretty solid Portland defense.  Can they do that week in and week out?  That is what fans are hoping and what the rest of the Pacific is afraid of. MEMPHIS (1-3) If you told the Showboats preseason that they would be tied for 2nd place in the division after 4 weeks, they likely would have taken that, but sitting at 1-3 is not really that positive, even if 2 other division foes are also doing the same.  Memphis is getting what they hoped for from Eli Manning and Darren McFadden, but it is clear that they still have issues on offense, and one of them is that their line is a bit problematic and their receivers struggle to get open.  Neither of those seems like a quick fix for them. MICHIGAN (1-3) Panther fans have to be happy with the first 4 games for both Kirk Cousins and LeVeon Bell, but that has not been enough to produce wins.  Why?  Well, two reasons. First, the yardage produced is not mirrored by points being put on the board. Too many failed drives or field goals instead of touchdowns.  Secondly, the defense needs to do more, especially against the run, where they are allowing a disturbing 125.8 yards per game. NASHVILLE (1-3) This was supposed to be Peyton Manning’s coming out party, and while 986 yards and a QBR over 93 is not bad at all, it is not translating into wins.  Let’s face it, the club is just not that explosive, Manning’s arm does not have the life it once did, the receivers are good but not great, and the run game with Ray Rice replacing Frank Gore is clearly not what the Knights hoped for.  They got their first win this week and they have winnable games against New Jesey, Tampa, Portland, and New Orleans filling their 2nd quarter, so they could come out of it at 5-3 if they play their best football, but if they don’t they could also find themselves out of it by midseason, not a position Coach Johnson is often in. NEW JERSEY (2-2) The loss of Sam Bradford will define this season.  Hoyer was able to hold on in Week 2 for a win, but since then the Generals have scored 6 and then 7 points.  We are not sure that Charlie Whitehurst is the answer, but it is at least good to see the Generals trying.  It will be tough for them to keep pace with the Feds and Stars, but they could still be in a Wild Card hunt if their D and run game can just give whoever their QB is a smaller role. NEW ORLEANS (1-3) The Breakers are looking rough on defense, which is a surprise considering they brought in Antonio Pierce to lead their LB group. Pierce is looking solid with 34 tackles, but the defense as a whole is shaky, giving up 28.5 PPG (worst in the league). They need to find some backbone in the D if they want to compete, because the offense of Matt Forte and Drew Brees is not strong enough to go it alone. OAKLAND (3-1) The win at home against Las Vegas was a big one for the Invaders, who may be a better team than they even believe they are.  They have a Top 5 defense and an offense that is improving.  Back to back division wins after their lone loss to Arizona have helped.  Having a 3-0 division record in 4 weeks is a huge help.  They have a huge game at LA this week. If they pull that one out they may then be the team to beat in the Pacific, but we are still going to circle that rematch with Vegas on our Week 15 calendar. OHIO (3-1) They may not be unbeaten like Arizona or Birmingham, but this start is all the Glory faithful could have hoped for.  The run game is dynamic, Steve Smith is having a highlight reel season, and their QB controversy has turned out about as well as you could hope.  Yes, the defense is still not great (ranked 20th in yards and 21st in points allowed), so that is a concern, but a 3-1 start is a great way to build confidence in Columbus. ORLANDO (2-2) The Renegades think they made the right move, trading Manning and giving Russell Wilson the offense. So far Wilson has looked very good, even if his 624 yards passing is not exactly an MVP number.  He is protecting the ball, not trying to play hero ball, and the offense is responding.  Calais Campbell finally  had the big game this week that Orlando fans were waiting for, and if he and the defense can start to put more pressure on opposing QB’s, the ‘Gades could rebound from a horrific 2012. PHILADELPHIA (4-0) Apparently the preseason pick of the Stars to drop a notch or two has done nothing but inspire Philadelphia.  Their defense is impressive, allowing only 8.5 points per game (2nd to Arizona) and they are diverse enough on offense to keep defenses guessing.  Steve Slaton is averaging almost 90 yards per game, which is always a good start to an offense.  They got the early win over Washington and we think their eventual position will depend a lot on their Week 15 rematch, because it is looking more and more like a 2-horse race in the division. PITTSBURGH (1-3) The Maulers were hoping a win against Ohio would put them at 2-2. Instead they sit at 1-3 and there are concerns that they may be slipping.  Now, that said, they have been playing without Andy Dalton at QB for most of the season, but Dalton is expected back this week. That could be a turning point, though it will not be an easy game back as they face another old Central Division foe in Chicago. PORTLAND (1-3) The Stags started the season well, with a big win over Memphis, but they have now lost 3 straight divisional games, and will face Las Vegas next week.  They  have not clicked on either side of the ball, currently ranked 24th in points per game and 27th in points allowed.  Neither of those bodes well for this club.  Despite this, they still have the league’s leading rusher after 4 weeks in Jonathan Stewart, but unless they can get more from their last-ranked passing attack (only 165 yards per game), they may  need to start selling off pieces to rebuild next year.  Ryan Fitzpatrick is injured (out one to two weeks after taking a finger to the eye) which means that rookie Matt McGloin will get a chance to show what he can do.  If he has success, he could wrest the starting gig away from Fitzpatrick.  If not, well, do they go to Mike McMahon or hope Fitzie can improve this year? SEATTLE: (2-2) The Dragons are at .500, which is not a bad start for a team picked to finish last in the division.  The defense has been solid, led by the secondary, and yet they have only 1 pick and 4 team sacks after a month.  Those numbers have to worry Stump Mitchell.  Cadillac Williams has been an upgrade at tailback, and the passing game is getting there, with Mike Wallace looking better this season than last.  NFL Import Dennis Pitta has 9 receptions in his first 2 weeks with the team, and surprise starter Joe Toller is up to 13 catches, so expect to see more 2-TE sets this season. ST. LOUIS (1-3) The record is not what the Skyhawks hoped for one month in, and their only win coming with backup John David Booty at QB is also not ideal, but there are still signs that the Skyhawks can turn it around.  The offense is still one of the best in the passing game, and rookie Eddie Lacy has also shown he can be a solid option, going over 100 yards in Week 2.  They absolutely need more out of the defense as it appears that teams are willing to slow down the offense and take their chances that they can outlast the Skyhawks in a lower scoring game simply because the D is giving up too many big plays. TAMPA BAY (1-3) This is not the Bandit squad we expected to see.  Yes, Vincent Jackson is having a very good year with Daunte Culpepper throwing him the ball, and Willis McGahee is looking very much like Wilis McGahee, but there seems to be little else going right.  The defense is a major concern, having issues against both the run and the pass, and the offense, while not the worst in the league, is not exactly humming.  The Bandits do not have an easy schedule, with Houston, Nashville, Atlanta and Charlotte up next, but they better start finding some ways to win these tough matchups or they could see themselves slipping even further behind. TEXAS: (3-1) The Outlaws are more or less where we expected them to be, but we did not predict a 4-0 Arizona team ahead of them in the standings.  They will face Arizona this week in what should be the game of the week.  If they can get the win on the road, that would position them very well for the rest of the season.  If they lose and find themselves 2 games back of the Wranglers, well, that will create some challenges, even for a team as solid as the Outlaws. WASHINGTON (3-1) The Feds are another team that is looking very good but also looking up at an unbeaten division foe.  Not only are the Feds 1 game behind the Stars, but their one loss this year was to Philadelphia, so it is like being 2 games back.  That said, with New Jersey limping along without a QB and with both Pittsburgh and Baltimore sitting at 1-3, the Feds are still very much in a good position right now.  They likely want a bit more out of their 16th ranked passing game, but they are happy to have a run game that is a bit more varied with Jahvid Best spelling Deuce McCallister and providing a spark in the passing game.   All in all we expect Washington to be there at season’s end, and that includes a Week 15 showdown with the Stars in Philly. Four USFL Owners Who May Be Looking at Las Vegas When we reported last week that the league would be taking over operational management of the Las Vegas Thunder and that an ad hoc search committee had been created to seek out potential ownership for the franchise, well, it looks like we set off a bit of a frenzy.  Fans from nearly every franchise in the league wanted to know if their team could be sold off so that their owner could take over what could be a very lucrative market with a new stadium already under way and a team that looks ready to roll.  While the idea of most current USFL owners jumping ship on their franchises and signing on to take over a brand new franchise is largely ludicrous, it is not entirely out of the question, at least with a few of the teams in the league. Our crack team of financial and organizational analysts looked at all 28 clubs in the USFL and we believe we have identified four of the 28 ownership groups that could be considering a Las Vegas option.  Each one is different and not every scenario would even lead to their current USFL club dissolving or relocating, but some could.  So, let’s break down the four franchises we think could be most impacted if the USFL does not find a ready, willing, and able external candidate to take on the Las Vegas Thunder franchise. Chicago:  Why, you ask, would the owner of a franchise in the nation’s 3rd largest market give up that market to purchase a team in a much smaller, less established location?  Stadium rights.  That is the key for the entire Las Vegas option.  Unlike what we see in many cities, where the USFL is often either the lone tenant in an older facility owned by the city or shares a stadium with an NFL team where the NFL team, by virtue of longevity or finances, is the primary tenant and the USFL club gets a lesser cut of the deal, often a deal that may even provide the NFL franchise with funding from USFL sales of parking, concessions, or tickets.  It may not always be an adversarial relationship, but in  several NFL-USFL cities there is a 2nd fiddle aspect to the contract deal most USFL teams face, and that impacts profitability.  That is true nowhere more than in Chicago where the deal the Bears have with Soldier Field allows them revenue even from Chicago Machine gamedays, while the Machine do not receive similar benefits. The stadium itself in Chicago is fine, but the revenue streams are not as robust as they would be in Las Vegas, where the USFL’s investment in a new stadium would produce a situation where the owner would reap a much greater value from events, including USFL games and even possibly NFL games if the stadium is able to lure a fall tenant.  Imagine a USFL owner benefitting not only from their own games, but from the Las Vegas concert scene and from a possible NFL franchise in town as well. That is the kind of revenue that Bill Wirtz (owner of the Machine) can only dream of in Chicago. Los Angeles:  The situation in LA with the Express is quite different from that in Chicago.  What you have in LA is a team that is adequately (but not extravagantly) funded, but an ownership group that is a bit contentious and potentially interested in a split.   What we envision for the Express, and what could cause a Las Vegas ownership group to develop, is the idea that several of the minority owners see potential benefit to becoming  majority owners in a new franchise.  One minority owner in particular, John Tu, who bought a 15% share of the Express in 2001.  Tu, the Chinese-American tech investor behind Kingston Tech, and who sold off his shares of Softbank for $1.5B only to buy it back just a few years later at 1/3rd the price, has long had an interest in a more prominent role in the league.  It seems unlikely he will find that opportunity within the LA Express ownership group, but if he were to sell off his ownership of the LA franchise, he would then be eligible to seek the Las Vegas franchise, and he certainly has the resources to put together a winning bid. Nashville: The Knights are perhaps the best case, even more than Chicago, to prove the value of the front end stadium revenue model.  Nashville not being the huge market that Chicago is, it would be even more likely for ownership to look at both the potential of the Las Vegas stadium situation, but also a much less problematic market shift from Nashville (the nation’s 40th largest MSA in 2010) to Las Vegas (the 34th and growing quickly) than say a Chicago relocation.  We already know that Knights ownership has been trying and struggling to make strides in their negotiations with Adelphia Stadium and that they still are undervalued and receiving lower stadium revenue than many franchises (currently anticipated to be 26th of 28 franchises.)  A move with the potential of the Las Vegas situation could certainly be a profitable option for Nashville ownership. Portland:  This one may be more a nostalgia pick than the other three. The Thunder began in Portland in 1988, and there is still a pretty sizeable contingent of Portland football fans who see the Thunder as an identity preferred over the current Stags franchise.  Does that translate into a bid to purchase the team and transfer is identity to the Rose City?  Could we see Portland make a deal with the league to assist with management, bring in additional owners, transfer the Thunder to Portland and essentially start fresh in Las Vegas with a new identity and new owners?  There is some appeal in that, because despite the recent success on the field for the Thunder, the incessant negativity coming out of the financial investigations and possible legal actions against Thunder ownership have soured the city on the team quite noticeably.  A new owner bringing in a new identity could be seen as a very positive outcome, and if that is a possibility, then Portland could very well be in the market to contribute to the value of the sale in exchange for the Thunder’s name, logo, identity and history. Week 5 brings us a schedule with a lot of intrigue, but there are two that stand above the others. First we have a Saturday noon showdown between two unbeatens as Cam Newton and the Stallions travel up to Philadelphia to take on Steve Slaton and the Stars. Someone is coming out of this game 5-0, but will it be the scrappy Stallions or the methodical Star machine? On Sunday we have another huge matchup with the 3-1 Texas Outlaws, favored to win the SW Division, heading to Glendale to face the surprising 4-0 Arizona Wranglers and their absolute shutdown defense. Will Joe Flacco and company be able to find a chink in the armor of the Wranglers or will Arizona shut down the Outlaw attack and build up a 2-game lead in the division? Friday @ 8pm            Atlanta (1-3) @ Jacksonville (1-3)                         NBC Saturday @ 12pm         Memphis (1-3) @ Washington (3-1)                     ABC Saturday @ 12pm         Birmingham (4-0) @ Philadelphia (4-0)             FOX Saturday @ 4pm            Seattle (2-2) @ New Orleans (1-3)                        ABC Saturday @ 4pm            Tampa Bay 1-3) @ Houston (2-2)                           FOX Saturday @ 7pm            Michigan (1-3) @ Ohio (3-1)                                      NBC Saturday @ 9pm            Oakland (3-1) @ Los Angeles (2-2)                       ESPN/EFN Sunday @ 12pm              Nashville (1-3) @ New Jersey (2-2)                         ABC Sunday @ 12pm              Orlando (2-2) @ Charlotte (3-1)                               ABC Sunday @ 12pm            Pittsburgh (1-3) @ Chicago (2-2)                           FOX Sunday @ 4pm               Portland (1-3) @ Las Vegas (3-1) ABC Sunday @ 4pm                Dallas (2-2) @ Denver (1-3)                                        FOX Sunday @ 4pm                Baltimore (1-3) @ St. Louis (1-3)                              FOX Sunday @ 8pm               Texas (3-1) @ Arizona (4-0)                                       ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Arian Foster's 173-yard day had a bit of everything; tough inside running, breakaway outside runs, and 62 yards receiving as well. Foster also contributed both a rushing TD and one through the air as Texas moved to 3-1 and prepares for a huge matchup with unbeaten Arizona in Week 5.

A look at the standings and you may think that the world has turned upside down.  Nashville, Tampa Bay, and St. Louis all sit dead last in their divisions at 0-3.  Ohio (2-1), Birmingham, and Arizona sit atop their divisions, with the latter 2 joining Philadelphia and Las Vegas at 3-0.  It is a mixed up crazy season so far in the USFL.  As we review the week, we will look at how this came to be, see how the Generals faired without Sam Bradford, and report on the owners’ meeting and the fate of the Las Vegas Thunder.  All this plus a look at the last wave of NFL transfers to be added to USFL rosters, all right here this week in the USFL. CHICAGO MACHINE 30   HOUSTON GAMBLERS 33 We will be honest.  This was not the game we thought we would be highlighting this week, but NBC got themselves a real humdinger on Friday Night and it ended up being our showcase game.  Chicago and Houston, both showing a bit more offensive diversity and a bit more aggressive style than we expected as both tried to finish Week 3 at 2-1.  What is perhaps even more surprising is that somehow Chicago managed to stay in this game despite what has to be one of Brady Quinn’s worst outings, throwing 6, yes, 6, interceptions in the game, including a pick-6 to Chris Canty to end the 3rd quarter. In a game that Houston led from the very first drive, Chicago just would not go away.  The Machine got 72 yards from 2nd year back Doug Martin and 288 yards passing from Brady Quinn and somehow managed to stick close despite Quinn’s six turnovers.  For Houston, with Michael Turner out for the  matchup against his former club, it was Cedric Cobbs who got the start, and the “short yardage” back proved he could do more than that with 94 yards on 32 carries.  Not a great per-carry average, but he slogged his way through the game and added 2 touchdowns as well. Houston started the game strong, with Matt Hasselbeck going 3 for 3 on the opening drive and connecting with Ike Hilliard for the game’s opening score.  Chicago responded only 2 minutes later with a Vontae Leach TD run to even the score at 7.  Houston then drove the ball again, and as the quarter started to wind down, we saw Cobb score the first of his 2 TDs, a 3-yard off-tackle grinding run that got him barely over the line. In the 2nd Houston looked like it might pull away.  Already up 13-7 after the last TD and missed PAT, the Gamblers got the ball back and in only 8 plays were back in the endzone, this time Cobbs from 11 yards. When they added a field goal (following a Quinn interception), it was 23-7 and it looked very much like the homestanding Gamblers had control.  But Chicago just would not go away.  They rallied in the final minutes of the half, and when Anthony Fasano caught a scoring throw from Quinn, they went into the half down 9 at 23-14. That 9-point margin turned to 2 after the first drive of the 2nd half as Chicago again avoided mistakes and Quinn hit Emmanuel Sanders with his first USFL touchdown.  Houston would add 3 more on the next possession, but after a Shaun Springs pick at the goalline had the ball placed on the 2, Chicago got the upper hand as Mante Te’o sacked Matt Hasselbeck in the endzone for a safety.  Down 26-23 at this point, Chicago took the free kick, but once again Quinn misfired, and this time it was a bad one.  He tossed the ball behind Aaron Dobson and Chris Canty was there not only to snag the errant pass, but to race it all the way for a pick-six.  That gave Houston a better cushion at 33-23.  They would need it. Chicago would have 2 major offensive drives in the 4th quarter, but both would be thwarted by Houston takeaways.  The first lasted 8 plays and got into the redzone before nickel back Justin Knox picked Austin Pettis’s pocket, stealing the ball away as the two fell to the ground. On their next possession, Chicago again moved the ball well, but again a Quinn interception ended the drive, this time FS Willie Andrews dove for a tipped ball and came up with the pick.  The play was challenged but was upheld as yet another Quinn interception. As Houston tried to control the ball and the clock, they too got into the interception funk, though it was Hasselbeck’s only one of the game.  It was a pretty costly one as Haselbeck’s pass sailed on him and fell right into the hands of CB Captain Munnerlyn, who returned it 62 yards for a score, a score that brought Chicago within 3 points.  Unfortunately for the Machine, time was not with them.  After failing to get a first down on their next drive, they punted the ball away.  By the time they got it back they had burned all 3 of their timeouts and Houston had left them only 37 seconds.  Chicago tried, but was unable to get into field goal range for Jason Myers.  Stuck at their own 48 on the final play of the game, they did not send him out to try a 69-yard attempt but went for a Hail Mary instead.   The ball barely reached the 15-yard line and was easily swatted to the ground.  Chicago fell to 1-2 and Houston escaped a tough game, despite all their defensive success, with a win and a 2-1 record after 3 weeks. TEXAS 10   ATLANTA 17 The Outlaws fall for the first time and the Fire get their first win as a tough defensive stand helps Atlanta edge Texas at the Georgia Dome.  The Fire D held Texas to only 1 converted third down, sacking Joe Flacco a painful 6 times on the day.  It was a close battle, tied at 10 until the final 2 minutes, when Kyle Orton found Demaryius Thomas for the game winning score and Atlanta’s first W of the season. PITTSBURGH 24   ORLANDO 34 The Renegades were impressive, particularly on offense, as they earned their 2nd win in 3 weeks, this time a home victory over visiting Pittsburgh.  Both Knowshon Moreno and rookie Latavius Murray scored as Moreno rushed for 102 on the day.  Pittsburgh’s Kenny Watson also rushed for 100+ yards, but with 2 picks Quincy Carter struggled against the Renegade defense.  Russell Wilson again looked solid, tossing 2 touchdowns and completing 70.6% of his passes (24 of 34) in the Orlando victory. NASHVILLE 20   LAS VEGAS 33 Win number three for the surprisingly focused Las Vegas Thunder as the newly-ownerless franchise continues to impress between the white lines.  The defense again was the story, as they produced 3 turnovers, boosting their league lead.  Jake Plummer also had himself a good game, throwing for 325 and 3 scores with no picks on the day.  With Marshawn Lynch expected back in Week 4, we may  have to just expect Las Vegas to get even better as they regain their running attack. SEATTLE 10   DENVER 27 The Gold get their first win of the year thanks to a little home cooking and two TD tosses from Leinart to Golden Tate.  The Gold were outgained by Seattle, but were effective in the red zone, allowing only 2 scores and 10 points in 4 trips into the 20.  LeMichael James had himself a good game for the Gold, splitting carries with DeMarco Murray but rushing for 76 yards on the day, but it was the Leinart-Tate connection that pushed Denver to 1-2 and dropped Seattle to the same record. WASHINGTON 26   ST. LOUIS 16 The Feds send St. Louis to a very unexpected and unwelcome 0-3 start with a defensive performance that shocked the home Skyhawk crowd.  St. Louis was limited to only 27 yards rushing and Josh Freeman was knocked from the game in the 3rd quarter in a frustrating game for Skyhawk fans.  Add in both a rushing and a receiving TD from McCallister and Washington pulls away for a 10 point win. OAKLAND 27   PORTLAND 14 Oakland tops .500 with a solid win over a division foe, using TDs from Jennings, Joique Bell, and a Joe Odom pick-six to rattle the Stags.  Portland was driving to tie the game when Odom picked off Ryan Fitzpatrick, shifting the momentum solidly to the visitors.  Oakland would use Ryan Williams’s 118 yards to control the clock in the second half and the Stags would never get within 10 points as they drop their second game of the year. BIRMINGHAM 16   BALTIMORE 15 Three weeks in and the Stallions have yet to lose a game.  This time it was the defense that carried the day, limiting Baltimore to 216 total yards while Cam Newton, with a 1-yard TD plunge and a 16 of 29 pasisng day did enough to help his club edge the Blitz on a 4th quarter field goal.  The Stallions are quickly becoming the story of the season as they surprise the pundits and Las Vegas and just keep winning. MEMPHIS 27   NEW ORLEANS 16 The Express and QB Eli Manning find their swagger and earn their first win on the road against a sloppy Breaker squad.  Manning completed 25 of 43 passes, including 2 TD tosses and no picks as the Showboats racked up a surprising 426 yards against the Breaker defense.  They used a 3-back rotation of McFadden (47 yards), Allen (56 yards), and rookie Knile Davis (51 yards) to bamboozle the Breakers and keep the defense guessing.  Is this a strategy we will see more of?  Memphis fans hope so. NEW JERSEY 8   PHILADELPHIA 26 The Generals struggled without Sam Bradford as stand-in Bryan Hoyer completed only 12 of 37 passes against a Philadelphia defense that was in no mood to coddle the backup QB. Meanwhile, Steve Slaton and Leon Washington combined for a whopping 184 yards rushing as Philadelphia easily took this edition of the Stars-Generals rivalry, moving to 3-0 in the process. MICHIGAN 14   LOS ANGELES 16 The Express finally showed some defensive backbone, not only holding Michigan to only 2 scores, but breaking up a final scoring play to preserve the win in the process.  Michigan had a shot as time ran out, but Dominique Rogers-Cromartie made a huge play, disrupting what appeared to be a sure game winning TD to Hines Ward as time ran out.  The Express get their first win of the year and show some danger to offenses by sacking Kirk Cousins 6 times in the game.  Lofa Tatupu secured 2 of the 6 to take the lead in the sack race after 3 weeks, a rare thing for a linebacker. OHIO 24   DALLAS 16 The crowd came out for the Roughnecks, but this time it was not enough as Ohio used 126 yards from HB Rashard Jennings (and another 64 from Pead) to outlast and outmuscle the homestanding Dallas club.  After a 17-16 first half, it was scoreless well into the 4th when Chris Weinke found Steve Smith, his new best friend, for the score that secured the win for Ohio.   Don’t look now but the Glory find themselves in first place in the Central. JACKSONVILLE 0   ARIZONA 24 We told you the Arizona defense was good, but we did not expect them to be this good.  They not only shut out the Bulls but held Jacksonville without a first down in the entire second half in a dominant performance.  Huge games from CB’s Joe Haden and Brandon Flowers highlighted a stifling defensive performance by the Wranglers.  The offense helped out as well, with Frank Gore again going over 100 yards and David Carr throwing for 2 scores. TAMPA BAY 19   CHARLOTTE 28 Is it time to panic in Tampa Bay, where the Bandits drop to 0-3 after another tough loss.  Charlotte got 4, yes, 4 touchdowns from Fred Jackson, a nice pairing with his 137 yards rushing as Tampa’s defense had no answers at all for the veteran back. Add in two Bandit turnovers, including a Jerrod Mayo pick of Daunte Culpepper in the endzone and you have another rough week for Mike Shula and the Bandits. Skyhawks, Bandits, & Knights Mired at 0-3 It is stories like this that give preseason prognosticators a bad name and an ulcer.  Three teams favored to be in the hunt for not only a division title, but possibly a Summer Bowl appearance have all started the season 0-3, and are in danger of completing the first month of the 2013 campaign without a win.  So, just what is the issue with the Knights, Bandits, and most shockingly, the Skyhawks? Nashville:  Two things are being discussed as the primary concerns in Nashville. The first is the fact that their usually-stellar defense is looking old and slow.  They are currently ranked 25th in the league, allowing 26.7 points per game, including their 33-20 loss to Las Vegas this week.  The second is the complete lack of offensive continuity.  Not only has Peyton Manning seemed a shadow of his former self, certainly lacking in the power his arm used to have, but also not making reads that many expect should be second nature to him, but the run game, trying to rebuild with Ray Rice taking on Frank Gore’s role, has been pathetic, barely reaching 70 yards per game.  Rice, who is always talked about as a player whose potential has never been fully met, has only 179 yards in 3 games, just slightly under 60 yards per game.  That is a far cry from the production fans got used to watching Frank Gore run for the Knights. Tampa Bay:  The Bandits had a couple of close losses, dropping by 5 to Orlando in the opener and then by 4 to the Stallions, but this week’s 28-19 dismantling by the Monarchs has really caused concern.  The Bandits currently sit dead last in scoring defense, allowing 29.7 points per game.   They don’t look too good against either the run or the pass, sitting near the bottom in both categories as well.  That means teams are playing to their strengths, running if that is their best option, or going to the air if they wish.  It means  Tampa is unable to dictate what the opposing offense can and cannot do.  The Bandit offense is still doing quite well, with Willis McGahee averaging 100 yards rushing per game and Vincent Jackson looking like the perfect fit, but if they cannot improve their defense, it may not help to have some good offensive weapons. St. Louis:  We have talked about the Skyhawks before, but after another loss, this time to Washington, and this time where they did not reach 20 points, there is reason to be nervous that St. Louis will not be able to defend their league title with a playoff run.  The offense has been solid, though the run game is not quite there yet with rookie Eddie Lacy at the helm.  The passing game remains one of the league’s best, but this is once again a story where defensive woes make good offense not good enough. Not quite as bad statistically as the Bandits, St. Louis is still not looking solid, ranked 27th in scoring defense (28.0 PPG allowed) and in the bottom 8 in the league in every other major category.  If Coach Arians cannot get more from his defensive team, he may well find himself struggling to reach .500, much less a playoff berth. Arizona Shut Out A Scary Scene As good as the Wrangler defense has been over the early wins against  Denver and Oakland, no one anticipated that they would completely shut down and shut out the Jacksonville Bulls.  Maybe the Bulls were jetlagged, maybe they left their playbooks at home.  Whatever it was, they were simply ineffective all across the board against the Wranglers on Sunday. Outgained 419-234, with only 36 yards rushing combine between Spiller and Lamar Miller, Jacksonville only crossed the 50 twice, and both times their drives stalled before they reached the 40.  They did not even attempt a field goal in the game, much less threaten the red zone.  Tim Tebow, who dropped back to pass 50 times in the game, averaged only 4 yards per completion.   Miller averaged 2.6 yards per carry and Spiller an even worse 1.6.  And what is stunning about this is that we are not seeing Arizona using a superstar cast on defense.  Yes, they have some solid players like Karlos Dansby (5 tackles, 1 for loss), Lance Briggs (7 tackles), Adam Carriker (3 tackles, 1 sack) and Joe Haden (7 tackles, 5 passes defended and 1 pick) but this is not a team made up of household names.  It seems that Coach Tomsula, who was brought in as a defensive-minded guy, may have finally put together the exact combination of talents who can turn his defensive schemes into a legitimate force in the league.  Arizona will be tested as they have Orlando and then Texas coming up, but this defense looks like it is playing as a unit, playing fast, and hitting hard. So watch out, USFL, the Wranglers could be in this for the long haul. Birmingham Pulls Out a Nail Biter for 3-0 Start The other surprise 3-0 club is doing it in a different way.  Birmingham has upended Nashville, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore but has not won a game by more than 4 points.  They are hanging in games, playing smart at the end of games, and getting timely plays when needed from their 3rd year QB, Cam Newton.  While many figured it would be the passing game that got Birmingham some wins, based mostly on the combo of Randy Moss and Terrell Owens out wide, we don’t think that many thought they could go it alone, but they largely have.  Birmingham is near the bottom of the league in rushing with only 55.3 yards per game.  Danny Woodhead is actually the leading rusher with 81 total yards, ahead of starter Joseph Addai (72) and big back Marion Barber (1 carry for 9 yards).  And it is not that Cam Newton is really the team’s lead rusher.  He has scrambled far less, and officially now has 16 carries for negative 2 yards. It is just that they are not trying to run the ball.  Woodhead, with 25 carries is the leader in that category too.   Meanwhile Newton has thrown the ball 89 times for nearly 800 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Stallions defense is much improved, and currently ranks 9th in yards allowed, but somehow, despite a seemingly one-dimensional offense and a solid, but not spectacular defense, they are keeping scores low, staying right there with their opponents and finding a way to win.  We will see how that fares this week with New Orleans coming to town, and then a huge game against 3-0 Philadelphia in Week 5, but for now, the fans in the Magic City are feeling the love and getting behind their Stallions. Freeman & Leftwich Sidelined in Losses Scary moments for fans of the Skyhawks and Dragons as both Josh Freeman and Byron Leftwich had to leave this week’s games due to injury. But, fortunately for both clubs and both fanbases, neither player has an injury as serious as that of Sam Bradford.  Freeman is expected to miss a game, possibly two, with a wrist injury, but there were no fractures and no displacement, just a sprain, which is very good news.  For Leftwich, the diagnosis was a broken finger, but it is on his non-throwing hand and can be splinted and the index finger in question can be taped to his ring finger to allow for the hand to be used.  Leftwich is listed as questionable, while Freeman is out this week.  That means we will be seeing John David Booty under center for the Skyhawks and if Leftwich cannot go, then it will be 2nd year player Ryan Lindley starting for the Bandits. While there was relatively good news on the QB injuries in St. Louis and Tampa Bay, not every injury was as manageable and not every player as lucky.  Here is the rundown of the new additions to the league injury list: OUT SS          Lance Schulters             LA        Neck                     8-12 Weeks OG         Chester Pitts                   TEX        Wrist                     8-12 Weeks LB           Brian Cushing                 PIT         Quad                    4-6 Weeks QB         Josh Freeman                  STL         Wrist                     1-2 Weeks TE           Vernon Davis                  HOU     Hip                        1-2 Weeks CB          Patrick Peterson             NOR      Knee                     1-2 Weeks OT          Erik Pears                       LA          Elbow                   1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL OT          Wade Smith                      ARZ       Wrist CB          Nate Clements                NJ           Concussion OT          Jared Gaither                  PIT         Personal LB           Karlos Dansby                  ARZ       Abdomen DE          Ryan Denney                    DEN      Thigh CB          Drayton Florence           MGN     Wrist TE           Brandon Pettigrew         CHA      Finger QUESTIONABLE OG         Aaron Sears                      WSH     Back DT          Stephen Paea                   POR      Concussion C             Nick Hardwick                 JAX         Toe DE          Erasmus James               LV           Concussion QB         Byron Leftwich                SEA        Finger LB           Angelo Crowell                BAL        Neck Owners Vote for League Takeover of Thunder, Will Seek Ownership Options Huge, but not unexpected, news out of the league meetings this past week as the league has taken over the ownership responsibilities of the Las Vegas Thunder from Phil Ruffin and the Thunder investment group.  Ruffin and company are still technically the owners, until such time as a sale can be completed, but all operations will now run through a team set up by the league office in New York.  Expect Team President Reggie McKenzie will retain his position, as will Director of Football Operations A. J. Smith, but all organizational and financial processes will now operate out of New York. The league has also put together an ad hoc search committee to locate potential ownership groups for the franchise. It took some work to determine how the transition would be handled, but eventually an agreement was reached between the league and the Ruffin group, one that guarantees the sale will provide no less than a 15% gain on the initial purchase price paid for the Thunder when Ruffin took over the team and relocated them from Portland to Las Vegas.  That is a low return on investment for a franchise, but considering the financial issue surrounding Ruffin and company, it is considered a positive outcome for Ruffin’s group. While there is some speculation that an ownership group from within the USFL may opt to put their hat in the ring, due to Las Vegas’s attractiveness as a market and the already initiated stadium project in place, the league’s ownership search committee, headed by Denver co-owner Charles Monfort and including 3 other owners as well as league officials and legal representatives, is still expected to look at both existing USFL investment groups and potential local ownership.  The process is expected to take between 6-10 months before official bids will be taken, so we may well be talking about this process and the direction of the Thunder well into the offseason. Jackson, Freeney, Dorsey, & Clady Finally Cleared to Play As we prepare for Week 4 of the USFL season,  the final wave of NFL transfers is finally ready to take the field as several players who had been held out so far have now been moved to the active roster for their respective clubs.  The final wave includes Atlanta HB Steven Jackson, Arizona DT Glenn Dorsey, Pittsburgh DE Dwight Freeney and offensive tackles Ryan Clady for Chicago and Sebastian Vollmer for Philadelphia.  While Steven Jackson may be the player that most fans are focusing on, especially in Atlanta, where the Fire just earned their first win of the season, the one that folks should be looking at may well be Glenn Dorsey joining the already scary Arizona defense.   Expect to see Dorsey splitting snaps in a rotation with Monsanto Pope and Josh Shaw in the middle of Arizona’s 4-3 alignment.  Just how many snaps he will get this first week is unknown, but we don’t expect it will take long for Dorsey to be on the field for most downs. In Atlanta, Jackson is expected to step into the starting role, pushing rookie Marcus Lattimore, who averaged just over 55 yards per game in the first three weeks, to drop to the 2nd position while J. J. Arrington may see the field mostly on third downs.  Jackson, who rushed for 1,045 yards in the NFL this past fall, but may see a reduced load to avoid the burnout and physical risks of playing back to back seasons.  Atlanta faces Nashville on the road this week, so we will see just how much action Jackson sees. Both Ryan Clady in Chicago and Sebastian Vollmer in Philly are expected to see significant snaps this week, with Clady, formerly a left tackle, likely to see snaps at both RT and LT for the Machine, while Vollmer is slated to take over for Ken Shackleford at RT, allowing Shackleford to sub all across the line, as a tackle or center. The one quarter mark is up in Week 4 and it is a week with significant divisional play as 8 of the league’s 14 games will feature divisional rivals facing off.  It begins on Friday Night where the surprising Birmingham Stallions are hosting the 1-2 New Orleans Breakers. If the Breakers want to be a factor in the divisional hunt, they need to ensure that they don’t fall 3 games back of Birmingham after only 4 weeks. Saturday starts off with a Northeast clash as Philadelphia visits Baltimore.  The Stars are unbeaten, while the Blitz sit at 1-2 and, just like New Orleans, do not want to fall 3 games back this early in the season.  At 4pm we have a Pacific clash with LA headed to Portland. Both clubs are 1-2 so a win means reaching .500 at the one quarter mark.  Saturday night’s doubleheader includes a Central Division clash on NBC, with Chciago and Michigan resuming their Great Lakes Rumble.  Both sit at 1-2 and would like to even their records. The late game has unbeaten Las Vegas visiting Oakland in what should be an early season battle for bragging rights in the division. On Sunday we open with Washington at New Jersey, a game that may have lost a bit of luster with Sam Bradford out of action, but which is essential for the Generals if they want to show that the season is not lost.  At 4pm we have a nice rivalry in the SW Division, with Denver visiting Texas in San Antonio.  The Gold got their first win this week and showed some offensive spark in doing so.  They will need that as they try to keep pace with Joe Flacco and the Outlaws.  We end the weekend with a Florida Derby as Jacksonville and Tampa Bay battle at Raymond James. The Bandits cannot afford to drop to 0-4, but Jacksonville wants to rebound strong after an embarrassing shutout in Arizona. Friday @ 8pm             NEW ORLEANS (1-2) @ BIRMINGHAM (3-0)  NBC Saturday @ 12pm            PHILADELPHIA (3-0) @ BALTIMORE (1-2)       ABC Saturday @ 12pm           ATLANTA (1-2) @ NASHVILLE (0-3)                FOX Saturday @ 4pm              LOS ANGELES (1-2) @ PORTLAND (1-2)       ABC Saturday @ 4pm              HOUSTON (2-1) @ SEATTLE (1-2)                     FOX Saturday @ 7pm              CHICAGO (1-2) @ MICHIGAN (1-2)                 NBC Saturday @ 9pm              LAS VEGAS (3-0) @ OAKLAND (2-1)                 ESPN/EFN Sunday @ 12pm            WASHINGTON (2-1) @ NEW JERSEY (2-1)     ABC Sunday @ 12pm              ARIZONA (3-0) @ ORLANDO (2-1)                   FOX Sunday @ 12pm              CHARLOTTE (2-1) @ MEMPHIS (1-2)                FOX Sunday @ 4pm                 ST. LOUIS (0-3) @ DALLAS (2-1)                         ABC Sunday @ 4pm                 OHIO (2-1) @ PITTSBURGH (1-2)                       ABC Sunday @ 4pm               DENVER (1-2) @ TEXAS (2-1)                             FOX Sunday @ 8pm               JACKSONVILLE (1-2) @ TAMPA BAY (0-3)       ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: This one was not a difficult choice. When a back rushes for 4 touchdowns in one game, you pretty much expect he will get the award that week. Fred Jackson's Week 3 performance was not the flashiest--his longest of the 4 TD runs was only 11 yards-- but it was a clinic on consistency and finishing power.

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

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

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

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

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

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