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A big week for rivalry games as St. Louis sent a crushing blow to the predicted Central Champs, Pittsburgh, thus assuring themselves of the title. Nashville and Birmingham clashed, with the winner the team in the best position to oust New Orleans from the top spot in the South.  Baltimore would go to Philly, hoping to stay relevant in a very contentious NE Division, and, in perhaps one of the best inter-conference games on the slate all season, the 9-3 Charlotte Monarchs would head out to the West Coast to face the Pacific Division-leading Oakland Invaders.  Oakland would get the W but potentially at great cost as they lose Joey Harrington to a hamstring injury, possibly for the rest o the regular season.  We will look at all the stories that came out of this exciting Week 13, and take a look at what Week 14 could bring.  Right here, on This Week in the USFL. NASHVILLE KNIGHTS 19   BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 12 Two teams on the edge of the Wild Card hunt, both a game behind division-leading New Orleans.  The winner will keep pace, while the loser finds themselves at 5-8 and very likely out of the running.  That was the scene in Birmingham when the Stallions and Knights clashed in a Southern Division tilt.  Birmingham had won two in a row, knocking off both Orlando and Chicago to claw their way back into the conversation in the South.  Nashville halted a 3-game losing streak with Peyton Manning’s first USFL win last week vs. Memphis, and now they were hoping to get on track to stake a claim for the Southern Division title.  They would see New Orleans twice in the final 3 weeks, but first they had another division rival to deal with, the Stallions. This would not be a high scoring game, nor one where Peyton Manning could show off his arm, throwing for only 163 yards on the day.  Cam Newton for Birmingham would fare a bit better with 221 yards, but would also throw two costly picks in this game.  It was a game for the defenses, with the two teams combining to go 8 for 28 on third down and fewer than 600 combined yards. The game started with 3 straight three-and-outs as neither team showed much offensive cohesion early in the game.  That would change with Nashville’s 2nd drive, one in which they relied heavily on the combination of Franke Gore and Montario Hardesty to keep the chains moving.  The two would combine for 7 rushes in a 10-play drive.  With the ball eventually on the 1-yard line after a DPI call in the endzone, the threat of the run was enough to freeze the linebackers, making it possible for Manning to find Robert Meachem in the back of the endzone for the game’s first points. Birmingham would get on the board 6 minutes later, but not from their offense, which continued to struggle.  A solid punt from Stallion Bryan Anger pinned the Knights at their own 2-yard line.  On 1st and 10 from there, the Stallions blitzed both middle linebackers, confusing the blocking scheme of the Knights and forcing a safety as LB Nate Webster got to Frank Gore in the endzone. Birmingham would get the ball at the 50 after the free kick, but on the first play from scrimmage Cam Newton would force a ball towards Terrell Owens, but it would end up with CB Duane Starks instead.  Nashville got their first takeaway and they cashed in on it, adding to their lead with a 49-yard Kai Forbath kick. With the score Nashville 10, Birmingham 2 at the half, both teams tried to rile up their troops at the half.  Birmingham had only put together 4 first downs in the first half, while Nashville had fared better, but still was making too many mistakes for Coach Johnson to feel confident at the half.   The Knights would get the opening kick of the 2nd half, and they would show a new focus to start the 3rd quarter. It would take Nashville only 7 plays to cross the 72  yards from the kickoff to the endzone.  Peyton Manning connected with Denarius Moore for a 23-yarder to start the drive.  Hardesty found room on a pitch left to run for 14, and on 1st and goal from the 7, Manning hit Moore again, this time for 7.  Well, it would have been 7, but Forbath’s kick clanked off the left upright, leaving Nashville with a 16-2 lead. Birmingham had to respond.  They were now down 2 scores and had yet to put a single point on the board with their offense.  Joseph Addai had been held to only 22 yards in the first half, but he was fed the ball 4 times on this drive, gaining 21 yards on the play.  That plus a nice catch from Moss, put the ball on the Nashville 38-yard line, first and 10.  On the new set of downs, Cam Newton began the series with a play fake to Addai, but with pressure from the outside closing in, he quickly opted to keep the ball and dash up the middle.  Newton put a nice move on Hillenmeyer, and then had a pretty clear run the 38 yards to the endzone.  A nice block by Ahmad Merrit got him the final yards needed, and just like that Birmingham was on the board and within 7, 16-9. Nashville would build on their lead, again bumping it to a 2-score game, thanks to a Forbath field goal, and with 12:34 left to play, they led 19-9.  But Birmingham had found some success on offense, and they had the crowd behind them.  They would march the ball down to the Nashville 5 yard line, but on 3rd and 2 from the 5, a false start pushed them back to the 10.  Newton tried to hit Randy Moss in the endzone, but his pass was too low and Moss could not reach it before it grazed the turf.  They would settle for a 27-yard chipshot and bring the game to a 7-point margin again, and with 6:03 left, they had time to kick the ball deep, play defense, and get a shot at a game-tying drive. That is exactly what the Stallions did.  The Knights got stuffed on the run on 1st and 2nd down, and when Manning went back to pass on 3rd and 9, Derrick Harvey broke outer containment and wrapped up Manning before he could get a pass off.  Birmingham would get the ball back with just about 4 minutes left on the clock, trailing by 7. Nashville knew that there was more than enough time, so a prevent defense would not make sense.  They had also learned on the last drive, that pressuring Newton from the outside could leave them vulnerable in the middle of the field.  They would opt to rush only 4 (3 linemen and 1 backer) on each play, and to mix blanket 2- and 3-deep coverages to keep Newton guessing if he opted to put the ball up. On the first two plays, he did just that, settling for dump off passes to Addai and Ayanbedejo.  On third down he would scramble to make up the ground needed and get a first down at his own 33.   With a new set of downs, Coach Shanahan wanted to take a shot.  He called a play fake to Addai and had Randy Moss on a hook & go route, hoping to catch the tight zone coverage by surprise and get their home run hitter open on the sideline.  The play could have worked, Moss’s double move had been effective, but by the time he got away from Starks, Newton was already feeling pressure from DT Shaun Rogers and DE Mario Addison.  He tried to shift to his left and hit TE Julian Thomas across the middle, but his elbow was hit as he threw. Instead of finding Thomas, the ball fluttered up into the air and right into the arms of MLB Hunter Hillenmeyer. Nashville would roll down the clock, with Manning eventually taking a knee to end it.  Nashville would move to 6-7 and only 1 game behind New Orleans with the Breakers up next on the schedule.  Birmingham would drop to 5-8, and now could only hope that Nashville and New Orleans would each cost each other a loss.  The Stallions were out of Wild Card contention, so their only hope was for them to win out and have both the Knights and Breakers drop 2 games over the next 3 weeks. LAS VEGAS 24   SEATTLE 13 With Marvin Lewis announcing he will step down in Seattle and with Byron Leftwich now on IR, it is no surprise that the Dragons came out flat against the Thunder, or that only 21,274 showed up in Seattle on a rainy Sunday to watch the game.  Jake Plummer connected on 2 TD passes and Marshawn Lynch added another as the Thunder olled and move to their big matchup with Oakland this week. NEW ORLEANS 24   ORLANDO 9 The Breakers move a game over .500, setting up a huge game against Nashville this week, with a solid win over a lackluster Orlando squad that is just playing out the string.  Drew Brees threw for 315 and 3 scores, with Brandon LaFell having a big game with 135 yards, but Early Doucett nabbing 2 TDs as well.  For Orlando, Knowshon Moreno looked solid, rushing for 106, and Calais Campbell sat this one out, nursing an injury. ATLANTA 24   JACKSONVILLE 17 A huge week for Atlanta as they knock the Bulls out of playoff contention and then leapfrog Charlotte into 1st place.  Josh Reed came up big against the Bulls with 131 yards and a score, while the defense just shut down the Jacksonville run game, holding rookie Lamar Miller to a disappointing 14 yards on 9 carries. WASHINGTON 10   TAMPA BAY 24 We think we might have jinxed the Feds with our story about their win streak in last week’s recap. They came up against a motivated Bandit squad in Raymond James Stadium and they fell pretty hard.  Philip Buchanon inspired the Bandit troops with an early pick-6 of David Garrard and Willis McGahee shredded the Feds for 156 combined yards (81 rushing and 75 receiving) as the Bandits move to 7-6 and stay alive in the playoff hunt, while Washington now pulls to only 1 game over Philadelphia, despite locking up a playoff spot this week. DENVER 22   PORTLAND 7 The Gold make it three weeks in a row as they move to 7-6 and right into the heart of the playoff hunt with a big win over an inconsistent Stags club. Hicks & Murray combine for 160 yards on the ground and the Gold defense forces two big Stag turnovers, both in the Denver red zone in a huge win for Denver as they look to turn around the season late. CHARLOTTE 17   OAKLAND 24 The clash of division leaders ends with mixed results for Oakland. They get the win and hold their spot atop the Pacific, while also sending Charlotte tumbling from 1st place to a Wild Card spot in the Southeast.  But, at the same time, they may have lost their starting QB at a vital time of the season, with Joey Harrington going out in the 2nd quarter, downed by a hamstring injury that will cost him at least 1 week, but could require he rest until the postseason.  Pat White did well in relief, with 2 TD passes, and will get the nod in Week 14 action. TEXAS 13   HOUSTON 22 Another upset and a huge win for the Gamblers as they knock off Texas and tighten up the SW division.  Houston held Luke McCown to only 12 of 27 passing and kept Arian Foster to only 2.5 YPC on the day as the defense did their job.  The offense was huge too, with Shaun Alexander scoring twice as Houston gets the win in front of a crowd of over 61,000 in NRG Stadium. BALTIMORE 13   PHILADELPHIA 24 The Stars position themselves for a 1st place battle with Washington next week by knocking off the Blitz, thanks in large part to another strong game from Matt Gutierrez, who now moves to the top of the QB Rankings in what seems to be another Kurt Warner style story.  The defense also came up big, causing 2 Baltimore turnovers at key points in the game, and limiting the Baltimore run game to only 23 total yards. BOSTON 20   NEW JERSEY 28 The Cannons had to be happy just to be out of Boston as they headed to New Jersey.  The Generals were happy to have a foe with nothing to play for, but still struggled a bit, with Sam Bradford dinged up and Bobby Hoyer in at QB, New Jersey struggled to hold on as Boston and Adrian McPherson made the play for an upset. In the end, the Generals held on and now are only 1 game behind the Feds and in the weird position of rooting for Philly to upend Washington next week.  General fans rooting for Philly.  That’s a new one. MEMPHIS 19   OHIO 6 The Showboats get their third win, but one that may actually upset Memphis fans as it puts them in a 4-way tie at 3-10 with draft order on the line.  Ryan Mallett was again knocked out of the game and Matt Cassel came in to relieve him, but it was kicker Dan Bailey who was the hero of the game, with 4 FGs to help Memphis get the win. CHICAGO 6   MICHIGAN 20 The Panthers and Machine have certainly played more meaningful games over the years, as this one likely does not help either team stay in the hunt for a Wild Card.  In one of the more shocking stat lines of all time, Michigan rushes for exactly 0 yards in this game.  Ciatrick Fason had 9 yards rushing on 16 carries, but Chris Perry had -9 yards total, so they cancel each other out in a humiliating stat for the ages. LOS ANGELES 13   ARIZONA 19 The Wranglers are not dead yet, as their win over LA in the desert keeps their slim playoff hopes alive.  David Carr threw for 2 scores and Larry Fitzgerald had himself a game with 126 yards on only 4 catches as the Wrangles salvage a win after trailing 13-3 early.  Mark Sanchez was sacked 4 times and produced 2 picks in a game that cannot make LA fans happy at all. ST. LOUIS 27   PITTSBURGH 17 The Sunday Night game was supposed to be the Mauler’s chance to get right back in the playoff hunt, but instead it locked up the Central Division crown for the Skyhawks and sent Pittsburgh below .500 and all but out of the playoff hunt.  The ageless Antowain Smith had a huge day, rushing for 153 yards on only 17 carries, with a highlight reel 45-yard run sure to be seen on Sportscenter all week. The Skyhawks celebrated their first ever division title in a wild locker room scene after the win. Antowain Smith Defying Age & History What can we say about St. Louis HB Antowain Smith.  At the age of 35, when most running backs have either retired or are a shadow of their former selves, Smith seems to be getting stronger.  He already has crossed the 1,200-yard mark, is averaging 5 yards per carry and has St. Louis looking like a Summer Bowl contender. 2012 is already Smith’s 8th 1,000-yard season and could be his best ever.  With 4 games left he needs only 72 yards to set a personal best.   So much for all the talk of backs losing both a gear and their ability to make people miss after they hit 30.  Smith has one more year on his contract and could well make a case to the Skyhawks to offer what would be a 37-year-old HB a multi-year contract.  That is some impressive feat in today’s day and age, almost as impressive as what Smith is doing on the field. Oakland LB Bobby Wagner Has Huge Game in Invader Win Hold the presses on the Rookie of the Year award.  Bobby Wagner of the Invaders would like a recount. Wagner, who trails only Terrell Suggs, with 83 tackles, had a monster of a game this week, producing 4 fumbles in one game against Charlotte.  He now has 10 for the year, the next closest player in the entire league is multiple Defensive MVP Brian Urlacher.  Wagner is proving to be a catalyst for the Invaders and a vocal presence on the field.  He is talking the talk, and absolutely walking the walk.   Oakland will need him as the injury to Joey Harrington will certainly put more onus on the defense to come up big, force takeaways and give backup Pat White short fields to play with.  If this week’s game against Charlotte is any measure, Wagner is primed for the challenge. Joey Harrington Could Miss the Playoff Push We referenced this above, but the reality is that no one really knows whether Oakland’s star QB will be out just in Week 14 or if he will miss the rest of the regular season.  The hamstring injury did not reveal any ligament damage, so it could be possible we will see Harrington in action in Week 15 against the Bulls, but that depends in large part on how the leg progresses over his week off.  Expect Harrington to make the trip to Las Vegas this week, to be in the ear of Pat White the whole game, and to be a presence on the sideline, but that is certainly not where Oakland hopes he will be for long. Memphis May Be Losing By Winning That is the concern among Showboat fans who have seen Memphis pull out two wins in the second half of the season, including this week’s road win in Ohio.  That win put them in a 4-way tie with Seattle, Orlando, and Boston, all at 3-10.  They play Orlando this week and a win would all but guarantee that Orlando, and not Memphis could have the top pick in the Open Draft.  Now, we are not suggesting that Memphis tank the game, especially not with the USFL only averaging signing 50% of their 1st round picks, and only 42% of picks in the Top 10 selections.  But, even with no guarantee that whoever is taken number 1 overall will sign with the USFL, it is often desired by fans to have their pick of every available player.  And with Memphis looking very much like a club without a solid option at QB, one would have to imagine that having the top pick would be a serious interest for the club’s GM and 1st year head coach Brad Childress. Memphis will finish the year at home to Orlando, then on the road to both Charlotte and top rival Birmingham.  You know they want to win that game with the Stallions, but will they put it on the line if they are in a position to get the top pick, or will Coach Childress “test out some younger players” in a lost season.  Many fans wish he would do that this week against 3-win Orlando, but it seems unlikely. We have playoff teams!!   St. Louis wrapped up their first ever franchise division title with their win over the Maulers.  They take a 4-game lead on the division with only 3 to play and that gives them the crown. Washington went down this week, but still clinched at least a Wild Card, though the loss sets up a huge game against Philly for this upcoming weekend.  Other division leaders at 13 weeks include Atlanta, who are now tied with Charlotte atop the SE Division, New Orleans, who have a huge matchup with Nashville with 1st place on the line this week, Oakland, who will face their closest rival without their starting QB, and Texas, who still hold a 2-game lead on their rivals but have both Denver and Houston chasing them. We also had 3 more teams drop from the playoff hunt as Jacksonville, Ohio, and Seattle are now officially eliminated.  Birmingham, despite a 5-8 record equal to Jacksonville, remains alive thanks to the possibility of both Nashville and New Orleans dropping games down the stretch.  It is a weird situation where they cannot win a Wild Card slot, but the Stallions could still potentially win the Southern Division. The roll call of injured players just keeps moving along, with several notable players added to IR, including New Orleans receiver Santana Moss, a big hit to the Breaker offense as they prepare for a vital game in Nashville.  Others likely to miss action this week include LA Linebacker Lofa Tatupu, Nashville center Jake Grove, and, possibly, New Jersey QB Sam Bradford.  Bradford is dealing with a pinched nerve, and while he is hoping to be available for the game against Houston, so far he has been unable to practice this week. INJURED RESERVE Dre Moore                    DT          BAL        Quad Lance Schulters             SS          LA           Shoulder John Abraham              DE          SEA        Quad Rolando Heredia            DE          LA           Knee Santana Moss                WR         NOR       Abdomen OUT Lofa Tatupu               LB           LA           Ankle                     1-2 Weeks Ellis Wyms                      DT          CHI         Neck                      1-2 Weeks Lee Smith                      TE           OHI        Groin                     1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL Jake Grove                   C             NSH       Knee Travis Claridge            G             DEN       Hand Terrelle Pryor                QB          OHI        Hip QUESTIONABLE Rick Razzano                      FB         TEX         Knee Antoine Winfield               CB         LV           Cornea Jerome Felton                   FB         STL         Nose Terrell Owens                     WR        BIR         Shoulder Sam Bradford                    QB         NJ           Pinched Nerve Hall of Fame Class of 2012 Announced Four first ballot enshrinees in the Class of 2012’s six man entry class, that is what the USFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced this week.  The four included three running backs and a wideout, demonstrating a return to offensive stars being the crux of the enshrine class.  Joining the four were 3rd year nominee Aeneas Williams and legacy selection Derek Holloway, the outstanding wideout who played opposite Anthony Carter in Michigan until taking over as the #1 target for the Panthers. In a pool of semifinalists that included 4 outstanding running backs, we knew that all 4 would not get in, but three did, with Tiki Barber, Terrell Davis, and Ahman Green making the Hall in their first year.  Curtis Enis got several votes, but not the required percentage to make the hall this year.  When combined, the trio of Davis, Green and Barber accounted for over 38,000 rushing yards and 281 touchdowns. The fourth member of the Class of 2012 is long-time New Jersey wideout Terry Glenn, whose 14,612 yards receiving and 100 TDs helped the Generals land two USFL titles.  Glenn joins center Mike Baab, HB and Herschel Walker as the only lifetime New Jersey Generals to make the Hall without playing for another team.  He and Holloway are the only players in the 6-man enshrine class of 2012 who played their entire careers with one USFL team (Holloway did briefly play in the NFL as well). Holloway was selected by the Legacy Committee, the 3rd player chosen by this select committee who review players from the early years of the USFL.  He follows QB Doug Williams (’11), and HB Marcus Dupree (’10) in this honor.  Hollowy played 11 seasons in Pontiac, where he racked up 763 receptions, 14,700 yards and 119 career touchdowns.  He had 10 or more touchdowns in 7 of his 11 seasons, including his first 7 in a row.  A 6-time All-USFL receiver, it is somewhat shocking that he was not recognized earlier, but as was the case on the field, in the league’s first HOF class, he was bypassed by Anthony Carter, who always did seem to have a way to draw the attention of fans more than the reliable Holloway. The only defensive player chosen, Aeneas Williams, enters in his third year of eligibility after losing out to Philippi Sparks in a close vote last year.  Williams played for 3 teams over his 15-year career, racking up 45 interceptions and over 1,200 tackles with Oakland, Arizona, and LA.  He also won a title in 1991, his rookie season with the Invaders. All six players will be inducted in mid-October in the Annual USFL Induction Ceremony.  For the first time, the induction ceremony will be held on a Friday, with a special Hall of Fame football game scheduled for Saturday in which Pitt will face Cincinnati in a neutral site game at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium.  The six players will be joined in Canton by a cavalcade of USFL stars, with many teammates on hand, some giving the introductions, such as Holloway’s QB Bobby Hebert, Terry Glenn’s Head Coach Bill Parcells, Ahman Green’s QB Trent Edwards, and, in a first for the USFL, Tiki Barber will be introduced by his brother, and a possible future Hall of Famer, Ronde Barber. Our Run Down of the USFL Award Favorites Only one month left and with a very up and down season for so many teams, the races for league awards feel like some of the most competitive in ages. We break down the 5 big awards and give you our best odds on who we think is in the running. MVP: QB Josh Freeman (STL), QB Matt Gutierrez (PHI), and HB Willis McGahee Freeman is the odds on favorite, currently ranked second in QBR, 5th in yards, and 1st with 31 TD’s, five more than 2nd place.  It also helps that his club has been one of the most pleasant surprises in the league, securing the first division title of any of the six divisions and far exceeding the slow growth we have seen in the past few years under Coach Bruce Arians. The Cinderella story for this year has to be Matt Gutierrez.  Expected to hold a clipboard all year, Gutierrez has not only stepped in for Kurt Warner, but been outstanding in doing so.  He currently has the league’s best QB Rating at 117.9 and is also 5th in TDs.  He is only 14th in yardage though, so that might be a tough argument to make, though certainly he will be named the Stars’ MVP this year. Finally, if, as is rare, a non-QB wins the title, it will have to be Willis McGahee.  Not only does the Bandit halfback lead the league in rushing with 1,212 yards after 12 games, only 1 of two backs to average 100 yards per game (Antowain Smith is the other), McGahee is also leading all halfbacks with 41 receptions and 487 yards, a solid 100 yards more than 2nd place.  His amazing dual threat nature has made him the central piece of a Tampa Bay offense that has plenty of weapons. OPOTY:  HB Willis McGahee (TBY), WR Tory Holt (BAL), HB Antowain Smith (STL) We don’t see a way that McGahee does not win this, unless, of course, he wins MVP.  If that happens, then there is a spot for either Holt, who is 2nd in the league in receptions and first in yardage, or Antowain Smith, who is defying time with over 1,200 yards at the age of 35.  Of course, it also means that Freeman or Gutierrez could fall here for consideration. DPOTY: LB James Farrior (HOU), CB Charles Woodson (ATL), DE Reynaldo Wynn Yes, we are leaving Calais Campbell off this list.  Why?  Well, Orlando is battling for the top draft pick, not a playoff spot, and while he has 3 fewer sacks, Texas DE Wynn can point to 5 forced fumbles to Campbell’s zero.  That and a winning record could be key for Wynn.  He will likely be up against two veterans who could be playing in their final seasons, and that could be a motivation to choose either one.  Charles Woodson is leading the league with 6 picks at the age of 36, while James Farrior seems to be improving with age, leading the league with 114 tackles through 12 weeks, and adding 5 sacks to boot. Rookie of the Year: WR Justin Blackmon (BOS), HB Lamar Miller (JAX), LB Bobby Wagner (OAK) As we have noted in past entries, this may be the closest rookie vote in a long time.  Our money is with WR Justin Blackmon, who is well on his way to 1,200 yards receiving or more. But don’t whiff on Oakland LB Bobby Wagner.  In 13 games he has 10 forced fumbles, a truly remarkable total.  That is on top of 72 tackles, 3 sacks and a pick.  Not a bad resume for a first-year defender at all. Coach of the Year:  Bruce Arians (STL), Tom Ramsey (ATL), Sean Payton (WSH) We think this one is a slam dunk for Arians.  Ramsey won a couple of years back and Payton has a team that was expected to win the division, so he does not get kudos for meeting expectations.  St. Louis has taken the slow road, winning 5 games in Arian’s first year, then 8 last season and now has jumped up and grabbed the division title, a solid year or more ahead of schedule.  St. Louis is looking very much like a potential top seed in the playoffs and Josh Freeman could well be the MVP.  Arians is likely to get the credit for his development, as well he should, and for the growth of the culture in St. Louis, a city that has not seen a lot of success with either the Skyhawks or the Knights before them.  We see Arians as a clear favorite in this category, and our sure fire winner from these 5 awards. Signings & Extensions Shrink Free Agent Pool Over the past month GM's across the USFL have been rolling their sleeves up and trying to lock in some priority players before their contracts expire. While there are a few players each year who are not interested at all in resigning, what this season of the year shows us is that most players are open to foregoing free agency if their current team is willing to show them some love, and "show them the money". WSH:  Extended HB Deuce McCallister for 3 years at a cost of just under $15M.  Extended G Aaron Sears for 2 years. TEX: New Contract for DE Reynaldo Wynn, 3-years at $12M.  Restructured Arian Foster’s Deal, adding 2 years and upping his annual salary by about $500k per year. TBY: As expected, they give Willis McGahee a strong 2-year deal, making him the highest paid HB in the USFL.  They also resign FS Antrel Rolle and McGahee’s backup, Shane Vereen, each for 3 seasons.   Joey Galloway remains in negotiations at age 38. STL: The Skyhawks helped solidify their WR group by extending David Nelson and by turning NFL signee Eric Weems’s one year “prove it” deal into a 3-year “you have proved it” deal.   They have not yet resigned HB Antowain Smith, which may be an indication that the 35-year old back could be looking to retire at the end of the year, because you know St. Louis wants him to stay a Skyhawk. SEA: The Dragons lock down their best corner, Leodis McKelvin for another 4 years and also extend WR Anquon Boldin for another 2.  They have not made progress with HB Jahvid Best, a possible sign that they may go a new direction at the position. POR:  The Stags have extended QB Ryan Fitzpatrick through 2015 and kept one of his favorite receivers as well, by offering Koren Robinson a new 3-year deal.  Still no word on a deal for Jonathan Stewart, the lead back for the Stags, or for DE Elvis Dumervil, who very likely wants to seek a free agent deal as he has not been happy with his role in Portland. PIT: The Maulers have completed Job 1, resigning SS Sean Taylor to a 4-year deal so he can finish his career in the Mauler secondary.  They also extended WRs Kevin Johnson and Victor Cruz, but their number 1 receiver, Vincent Jackson is asking for Moss/Holt money, and that may be more than the Maulers can afford. PHI: While Kurt Warner’s situation remains up in the air (He is in his last year of a contract, but medical concerns could force him to retire), the Stars have resigned injured DE Robert Mathis to a 3-year extension, also inking CB Sam Shields and FB Francis Sosa to new deals. ORL: The Renegades know who is keeping them afloat, offering a 3-year extension to both Eli Manning and Calais Campbell.  SS Atari Bigby and DT Kenny Smith are the biggest names now on the final year of their deals. OHI: The Glory have been slow to sign players this season.  They did give WR Randall Cobb an extension for the next 2 years, and DT Tommy Harris is expected to sign a 3-year deal, but they still have OT Jacob Rogers, DT Tank Johnson, and FS Haruki Nakamura unsigned. OAK: The Invaders have locked up DE Justin Smith, who is having a career year.  A new 4-year deal will make him the 2nd highest paid DE behind only Campbell.  They also locked up LT Matt Light, the 31-year old likely to retire an Invader after agreeing to a 5-year deal.  Still unsigned are Smith’s linemates Cliff Avril and Israel Idonije.  We do not see Oakland signing both, so one of the two is likely to be available. NOR: The Breakers prioritized resigning CB Randall Gay, and they have, with a new 3-year deal.  They also resigned OT Nat Dorsey, G Rich Ornberger, and C James McVey, all of which should make QB Drew Brees happy.  Now, the big question left is LB Hannibal Navies, who, at 35, could well be a cap casualty if he opts to come back for 2013. NJ: Safety Bob Sanders is apparently not enjoying himself in New Jersey.  Despite being a top priority for the Generals, he has turned down 2 different offers to extend his contract. Sean Taylor’s new deal with Pittsburgh is likely to increase Sanders’ demands.  The Generals have had more success at WR, extending both Michael Crabtree and Doug Baldwin with new deals. NSH: Could Frank Gore actually walk?  We know he can run, but all indications are that the Nashville HB is considering his option and wants to test the waters. Not good news at all for the Knights.  They have succeeded in resigning or extending several key players, including MLB Hunter Hillenmeyer, WR Robert Meachem, and DT Babatunde Oshinowo, one of our favorite USFL names. MGN: Center Jeff Faine has agreed to a 3-year extension, and the restructuring provided more funds for Michigan to also extend LB DeMarcus Ware.  Andy Katzenmoyer remains unsigned, but at 35, he may simply be stepping away, either that or he will land a 1-year deal somewhere if Michigan is not interested. MEM: The Showboats need to potentially free up some QB money, which may explain  why they have not yet signed LB Kirk Morrison or CB Tyrone Bell.  They have LB NaVorro Bowman for 5 years, a nice long deal for their defensive captain. LA: The Express have come to terms with CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, who will remain with the Express on a new 4-year deal. They have also locked up TE L. J. Smith with aa 2-year extension and QB Mark Sanchez has accepted a 2-year deal as well. The big holdout seems to be HB Ray Rice, who wants Top 5 numbers, though he has yet to be a Top 5 back. LV: With both Will Allen and Antoine Winfield up for new deals, the Thunder had a tough choice to make. Looks like they went for the slightly younger Allen, who just agreed to a 3-year deal.  Winfield is now likely to be a free agent at 34.  With extensions to both Plummer and Lynch already agreed upon, the Thunder now can turn to depth along the entire roster. JAX: The Bulls have resigned TE Jason Whitten for another 2 years and are working with 35-year-old LB Mike Vrabel to add 2 more years to his deal.  Unlikely to sign is TE Dustin Keller, who will look for a location where he can compete for a starting job. HOU: The Gamblers had 5 linebackers all coming up for new contracts.  They cannot sign them all, but have already extended both Kevin Burnett and Nick Barnett.  The big remaining question is if 35-year old James Farrior, the league’s leading tackler, will resign or retire. DEN: With both Maurice Hicks and Javon Ringer up for renewal, the general theory was that only one would be retained, and, in a bit of a surprise, Denver announced this week a new 3-year deal with Ringer, not Hicks.  Guess 25 trumps 31 in this math. CHI: While both Michael Turner and Brady Quinn have arrived at extensions which shift some cap hits until later years, the Machine still have a big concern in that WR Donald Driver has been adamant about wanting to look at other options. Their main receiving target could well be looking for a way out, because the funds are there to resign him, so if he is looking to enter the market, that may just mean he is not happy with Coach Schiano. CHA: The big move this season for Charlotte was locking up WR D. J. Hackett for another 3 years.  They also opted to extend guard Sean Locklear.  Now, with free agency approaching the question is whether they can also lock down LB Andra Davis or if they will let him test the waters. BOS/DAL:  There are sure to be a lot of changes as the Cannons become the Roughnecks, but two players we knew would not be going anywhere are DE Jason Babin and HB Rashard Mendenhall.  No surprise then that both have obtained solid multiyear deals from the club. BIR: While the Stallions are still working on a possible deal to keep Randy Moss in town, they have already reupped both DE Derrick Harvey and fellow WR Tandon Doss, both priorities for the club. BAL: Reupping TE Antonio Gates has been job 1 in Baltimore and it looks like it may have worked out.  Gates is expected to add 2 years to his current contract, with a nice frontloaded guaranteed pay out.  Now, what will they do about HB Anthony Dixon, who has been the main man after Ron Dayne’s injury? ATL: Extending WR Matt Jones, who has been a real breakout player for the Fire, is a priority and appears close to being complete.  Now the Fire have to decide what to do with HB Darren McFadden, who has seen his role diminish this year. ARZ: LB Karlos Danslby has agreed to a 3-year extension, and Arizona locked in David Carr for another 2 years earlier this spring, so that makes the primary focus right now that of CB Brandon Flowers, who, at 28, has several more good seasons ahead of him. A very good week for the night game presenters at NBC, ESPN, and EFN.  They get three of the best games in a very rich slate of games for Week 14.  The week opens with a huge battle in the SE Division as Charlotte, having slipped from the number 2 seed all the way to number 5, tries to stay on pace in the division but must face a desperate 7-6 Bandits squad on the cusp of Wild Card contention. On Saturday, a slate that features the Texas-Boston game being played in Detroit and a battle for the Southern Division between the Breakers and the Knights, ends with a Western Division Classic as Oakland can all but wrap up the division title by knocking off Las Vegas, but the Thunder are at home and could even the standings with a win over the Invaders. Sunday has more playoff panic as 7-6 Houston travel to New Jersey, Jacksonville and LA try to stave off elimination as both sit at 5-8, and Pittsburgh heads to Chicago with their entire season on the line.  Sunday’s nightcap is perhaps our most exciting game of the week as the Stars, sitting at 9-4, head to Washington to face the 10-3 Federals, with first place still very much in question.  What a week to be a football fan!!! FRIDAY @ 8PM ET            TAMPA BAY (7-6) @ CHARLOTTE (9-4)                    NBC SAT @ 12PM ET                TEXAS (9-4) V. BOSTON (3-10)*                               ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                ORLANDO (3-10) @ MEMPHIS (3-10)                      ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                BIRMINGHAM (5-8) @ BALTIMORE (7-6)                 FOX SAT @ 4PM ET                  NEW ORLEANS (7-6) @ NASHVILLE (6-7)                ABC SAT @ 4PM ET                  OHIO (4-9) @ DENVER (7-6)                                      FOX SAT @ 8PM ET                  OAKLAND (9-4) @ LAS VEGAS (8-5)                         ESPN/EFN *Texas-Boston Game to be played at Ford Field in Detroit SUN @ 12PM ET               MICHIGAN (5-8) @ ST. LOUIS (10-3)                         ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               SEATTLE (3-10) @ ATLANTA (9-4)                       FOX SUN @ 12PM ET               HOUSTON (7-6) @ NEW JERSEY (9-4)                FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                 PORTLAND (6-7) @ ARIZONA (6-7)                          ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 JACKSONVILLE (5-8) @ LOS ANGELES (5-8)           ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 PITTSBURGH (6-7) @ CHICAGO (5-8)                       FOX SUN @ 8PM ET                 PHILADELPHIA (9-4) @ WASHINGTON (10-3)         ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Two rookies were honored this week, both defenders as both Bobby Wagner (OAK) and Dre Kirkpatrick (MGN) had huge games. Wagner was incredibly agresssive for the Invaders, forcing 4 fumbles in Oakland's huge interconference win over the Charlotte Monarchs. PLAYOFF PICTURE: The first official playoff berths clinched this week as Washington earns a berth despite a Week 13 loss and St. Louis, with their big win over the Maulers now stands 4 games up in the Central, locking up the division title for the first time in the short history of the Skyhawks. We also had more eliminations as Seattle, Ohio, and Jacksonville are now out of the mix for a Wild Card. Birmingham also cannot win a Wild Card, but is still mathematically alive for the Southern Division title at 5-8.

Twelve weeks down, four to go, the ¾ mark of the season, and as of yet we have no teams clinched for playoff spots, though there are a few on the cusp.  Washington, St. Louis and Charlotte are all right there.  And while the week did not lock in any playoff spots, we did see teams removed from the hunt with 3 Eastern Conference teams now mathematically eliminated, Memphis, Boston, and Orlando.  It was also a week that saw a bad season take a turn for the weird as Jake Locker, already ruled out due to a groin pull, somehow convinced Coach Fox to let him practice, and made matters much worse, now landing on IR with a groin tear.  There is a lesson in there somewhere.  We kick off our coverage of Week 12 with our game of the week between the Houston Gamblers and the Washington Federals, but we will cover all the action and all the news of the past week, including the first coaching change announced. HOUSTON GAMBLERS 24   WASHINGTON FEDERALS 29 The sign of a true contender is not that they always win easily, but that when their backs are up against the wall, they find a way to work their way out of trouble and get what they need to win.  That was certainly the situation this week as Washington tussled with the Houston Gamblers and found themselves behind in the 4th.  They overcame the deficit, made the plays they needed, and surged to victory in the final minute of action, and in doing so, all but guaranteed themselves a trip to the postseason. Houston came into this game at 6-5, ready to put .500 behind them and make a late surge in the SW Division.  Washington, winners of 6 in a row, were atop the NE and hoping to put more space between themselves and their division rivals. Both clubs were motivated and both felt a win this week was essential. Houston won the toss and opted to take the ball first, hoping to set a tone on their opening drive.  While not a smooth drive by any measure, it would prove to be a productive one, as Houston survived 2 separate false start penalties but managed to move the ball methodically down the field, capping the drive off with a Roy Williams TD catch on a beautiful back shoulder throw from Matt Hasselbeck. Washington’s start was not as productive, a 3-and-out on their first drive, then a field goal to get on the board with their second.  They would add a second field goal at the start of the 2nd quarter and cut the margin to 7-6 Houston.  The Gamblers would also find more points through their kicker, Dan Carpenter, and would go up 10-6 at the midway point of the quarter. The game would go into the half with Washington up 13-10 thanks to a 12-play drive that ended with Rod Smart going off-tackle from the 4 and finding paydirt.  The Feds would then build that lead to 16-10 in the third thanks to a 3rd Shayne Graham field goal.  But, back to back drives from Houston quickly rewrote the script. The first of the drives took only 2:22 off the clock in the third, as Shaun Alexander busted out a 31-yard run to get the Gamblers into scoring position, and then Hasselbeck hit Ike Hilliard from 22 yards out to flip the game and put Houston up 17-16.  They would expand on that lead early in the 4th, when, following a nice 4th down stop that saw Deuce McCallister stuffed in the backfield, Houston went on a second quick strike drive, ending with TE Vernon David bringing in Hasselbeck’s third TD pass of the game, another pinpoint throw, this time from 16 yards out.  Washington was now down 8 with just over 10 minutes to play. But, the Federals have been in their share of scraps in recent weeks, and they did not panic. It would take only 4:27 for Washington to get in a position to tie the game, driving down the field in 8 plays, and finishing off the 4th quarter drive with a Garrard TD toss to Darnerien McCants.  Down 2, they went for the offensive play to tie the score, but Houston held and left Washington still trailing 24-22 with 6:57 left to play. They would need to count on their defense to get them the ball back with enough time to get into field goal range. The Washington D stepped up, stuffing Alexander on first down, disrupting Matt Hasselbeck’s throwing motion with a glancing hit on 2nd, and then former Denver Gold CB Jimmy Williams breaking up a third down throw to Hilliard to force Houston to give the ball back with only 45 seconds off the clock.  The Feds would take over after a solid punt, backed up to their own 11.  They would rely on short passes from Garrard to move the ball,  a swing route to McCallister, a curl to TE Kellen Davis, a slant to Bryant Johnson.  With Deion Branch on the sideline nursing an earlier injury, they needed to be diverse in their approach, and be patient enough to take what Houston’s zone defense would give them. With just over 1 minute to play, the Federals hit on a big play as a missed tackle allowed Bryant Johnson to slip away from the corner and gain an additional 12 yards.  That play put the ball on the Houston 22, and with time to play with, the strategy turned from securing a winning field goal, to putting the ball in the endzone, but with as little time left on the clock as possible.  Houston still had timeouts so the Feds could not kill the entire game, but they could slow play the final minute by hammering the ball with McCallister. In two plays, Washington killed 28 seconds and forced Houston to use their 2nd timeout.  They also got the ball to the 8, but faced a decision.  Continue to pound the rock into the line and then send out Graham, or use the threat of the run to force Houston into single coverage.  The Feds went for the more daring, but more advantageous play.  In heavy formation they faked run, and Houston bit.  That left TE Tony Jackson, a rarely used receiver, wide open in the endzone, and Garrard tossed him an easy lob that produced 6 points with only 22 seconds left on the clock.  The Feds would go up 29-24 after the kick, and with only 1 time out left, Houston would be in desperation time. The Gamblers would try a hook & ladder on their lone offensive play, but after a successful lateral from Hilliard to Kerley, the slot receiver tried to juke when he should have gone out of bounds and safety Ed Reed made him pay, locking him up around the knee and dragging him down in bounds.  Houston had no options, and the clock ticked down to triple zeroes.  The Feds had found their way to victory and with that became the first 10-win team in the league this season.  Houston would be back at .500 once again, and would have to try again to get the upper hand next week in a key matchup against the rival Outlaws. NEW JERSEY 23   PHILADELPHIA 20 New Jersey roared back after going down 20-7 at the half.  They owned the second half with a 16-0 run that included a safety and the game winner with 31 seconds left as Bradford connected with TE John Carlson for a goal line score with no timeouts left. New Jersey pulls even with Philly for 2nd place with the win. CHICAGO 11   BIRMINGHAM 28 Cam Newton throws for 2 scores and scores on a 67-yard run for a third as the Stallions stay alive with a big home victory.  Michael Turner was held to only 39 yards rushing and Randy Moss caught 7 balls for 104 and a score as the Stallions rolled. OAKLAND 20   OHIO 16 Ohio continues to play teams tough but again falls short as Oakland gets the only points of the 4th quarter with a Ryan Williams TD catch.  Greg Jennings caught 8 passes for 100 yards and a score and the defense knocked Terrelle Pryor out of the game, forcing Ohio to go with 3rd string option Tony Pike. PORTLAND 17   TEXAS 31 The Outlaws move to 9-3 with some home cooking as both Brandon Marshall and Marques Colston go over 100 yards receiving and each score.  Luke McCown looked very comfortable, going 17 of 26 for 363 yards despite being sacked 4 times.  Ryan Fitzpatrick also looked good, completing 22 of 28, but just could not get points on the board when needed. LOS ANGELES 18   LAS VEGAS 9 A big upset in the Pacific and a game that the Express absolutely needed as they try to salvage their season.  Jake Plummer got rattled by constant pressure and the Express put together a decent run game (112 yards between Rice and  McClain) against the usually stingy Thunder defense.  The only TD of the game was a Sanchez TD pass to newly acquired Jerrel Jerrigan (brought in with the Moss trade.) TAMPA BAY 23   ATLANTA 30 The Bandits came close, but in the end, Atlanta pulled this one out, thanks in part to 3 Bandit turnovers.  The Fire used three backs (McFadden, Betts, and Arrington) to rack up 120 yards rushing, and Tampa shot themselves in the foot with 2 picks, a fumble lost, and 10 penalties. JACKSONVILLE 7   ORLANDO 13 The Renegades finally get back in the win column as they shut down a flat Bulls team.  Knowshon Moreno led all rushers with 77 yards and TE Ben Watson caught the winning TD from Eli as Orlando snaps an 8-game losing streak in front of only 21,530 fans, many of whom with the telltale sign of an angry fanbase, the bag over the head look. SEATTLE 7  CHARLOTTE 23 The Monarchs moved to 9-3 with a pretty routine win over a struggling Seattle team.  Jake Delhomme threw for 2 scores and the defense held Seattle to only 57 yards rushing as Charlotte held onto sole possession of first place in the SE Division.  Rookie Richard Sherman picked off Leftwich twice for his best week of the season. MEMPHIS 10   NASHVILLE 13 A lackluster and sloppy rivalry game between these two Mid-South opponents, but in the end, Nashville got the win they needed to stay 1 game behind New Orleans in the South.  Ryan Mallett completed only 14 of 40 throws, while Peyton Manning got his first win in the USFL with a 26 of 41 day that saw him connect with HB Montario Hardesty for the lone Knight TD of the game. NEW ORLEANS 18   PITTSBURGH 14 A big confidence booster for the Breakers as they upended the Maulers in Pittsburgh, sending the home team to 6-6 after 12 weeks. Down 14-0 after one quarter, the Breakers shifted gears, shutting out Pittsburgh the rest of the way and then chipping away at the lead.  Two Brandon LaFell TD catches helped New Orleans steal a road win and return to .500 atop the Southern Division. BALTIMORE 27   BOSTON 13 An ugly scene in Boston as the small crowd of only 14,047 got rowdy and ugly as the Cannons lost to Baltimore.  More than 30 arrests, and damage to sections of Alumni Stadium infuriate BC leaders, forcing a decision by the Cannons to relocate their final home game against Texas to avoid an even worse scene. On the field, Boston was just not competitive, giving up 27 straight points after an early 7-0 start. MICHIGAN 10   DENVER 43 Denver makes a statement (and in a bad way so does Michigan), with their best offensive game of the year, pulling the Gold back to .500 and setting up a potential Wild Card run. Maurice Hicks rushed for 92 yards and 3 scores, and Peerless Price added another as the Gold roll over Michigan. Brian Griese was sacked 4 times, threw two picks, and suffered a safety in a bad day all around for the veteran QB. ST. LOUIS 30   ARIZONA 27 A really fun game to end the week as St. Louis survives a scare in Glendale and edges the Wranglers.  Josh Freeman throws for 307 and 2 scores while Antowain Smith grinds out 91 yards as the Skyhawks survive a late Wrangler rally and put up the winning score with only 15 seconds left in the game.  St. Louis now enjoys a 3-game lead in the Central with only 4 left to play. Locker Turns Minor to Major with Practice Injury Boston QB Jake Locker turned a 1-week injury into an IR situation by refusing to miss practice and turning a groin pull into a tear. Clearly concerned that missing any games would jeopardize his tenuous hold over a starting job for the Cannons, Jake Locker made things much worse by insisting on practicing with the team on Thursday before the Cannon’s home game against Baltimore.  Despite being visibly impacted by his groin injury, he was allowed to take part in 7-on-7 drills and went down to the ground in pain with what team physicians confirmed was a tear in the same groin muscle that had caused coaches to bench him for the Week 12 action.  The club put him on IR a day later, ending his season, and perhaps his time with the club.  Rumors have the new ownership looking to pivot and hoping to land a veteran QB to take over when the team begins play in Dallas next year. Leftwich Lost for Final Month with MCL Injury Seattle’s season has not gone as planned and now, with one month left and the team looking very much like a Top 5 drafting squad, news that Byron Leftwich’s injury in this week’s loss will keep him out for the rest of the regular season.  Leftwich’s knee injury was determined to be an MCL injury.  While doctors believe he could have returned for Week 16, the Dragons have opted to shutter his season, hoping that he will use the time to heal and to focus on 2012. Seattle does not have a lot of options behind Leftwich, having traded Chris Weinke to Texas only a couple of weeks ago. Alex Brink will get the start in Week 13, and they have Dan Orlovsky, a sweetener in the Weinke trade, but neither has seen much action in regular season games.  The Dragons have since signed veteran backup Seneca Wallace off of the free agent list, and honestly, we could see Wallace get a start by season’s end.  Leftwich is expected to be back next year, of course.   He is only 31 and has 2 more years on his contract, but some in Seattle are wondering if he might have been traded this offseason to go in a new direction, especially with the story about Marvin Lewis leaving the club coming out this week. Orlando Snaps 8 Game Losing Streak, But… Despite a victory over in-state rival Jacksonville this week, the story out of Orlando may be that it is much too little and far too late for Head Coach Emmitt Thomas.  The former Mauler coach, now in his 8th season with the Renegades is rumored to be on the chopping block and could be dismissed even before ethe season ends. Orlando was expected to compete for a division title in the very tough SE Division, but after wins over the Bulls and Bandits in the season’s first 3 weeks, the club then went on to lose for 8 straight weeks.  This despite having no significant injuries for most of that span and despite having perhaps the most dominant defensive player in the league in Calais Campbell.  Ownership seems particularly displeased with the way Coach Thomas has been utilizing, or not utilizing QB Eli Manning, who came over from New Orleans in trade 2 years ago and has simply been ineffective in Thomas’s system. News could come at any time that Thomas has been let go, though certainly the win over Jacksonville this past week might buy him some time until Black Monday.  The Renegades are home again next week with New Orleans in town and have a game against Memphis in two weeks that could be the decider. If Orlando loses to the 2-10 Showboats, that may trigger the hook with 2 weeks left in the season, otherwise, Thomas may last until the season ends in Tampa Bay before what seems an inevitable pink slip comes his way. Federals Win 7th in a Row Washington’s victory over Houston is their 7th in a row and puts them in the driver’s seat for the number 1 seed, controlling their own destiny the rest of the way.  With the top-rated scoring defense, giving up barely 13 points a game, and an offense averaging 24 points per game, the Feds seem primed for a deep playoff run. Over their 7-game win streak, Washington has been nearly unstoppable, winning most games pulling away.  While the game against Houston was closer than most, the Feds again proved that they can win in a myriad of ways.  They will need to mix it up down the stretch as they have some key games in their final month, starting with a road tilt in Tampa Bay this week, then a huge divisional game against the Stars, another tough road game in Texas, and finally a season finale against Charlotte that could determine who gets home field throughout the playoffs. Marvin Lewis to Step Down While not official just yet, we have confirmed information from within the Seattle Dragon organization that Marvin Lewis, head coach of the Dragons, will step down after this, his 10th season with the club.  Lewis came to Seattle in 2003 and took them to the playoffs in his very first season.  He would make regular trips there, making the postseason in each of his first 6 seasons and winning the Summer Bowl with a surprising playoff run in 2005.  But, despite his initial success with the club, he has not been able to top 7 wins in each of the past 3 seasons and now is on pace for a potential 10-loss season this year. Lewis could be a hot commodity for another team if he is interested, as his record as a motivator and his pretty solid 78-65 record with the Dragons will make him attractive to any number of teams.  Whether he wants to jump right back into the fire with another team, or perhaps take a year or two to recalibrate as a TV analyst, that will be up to him, but by all accounts, the season finale at Chicago will be his final game with the Dragons. Memphis Gives Vote of Confidence to 1st Year Coach Brad Childress The Memphis Showboat ownership has assured local media that despite a pretty horrendous 2-10 season to date, they have no intention of making Brad Childress a one-and-done coach. In interviews with local press, team representatives have stated that Childress will be back for a second season, continuing his 3-year deal, and that the goal of the team is to provide their coach with the roster he needs to find success. Childress took over a Memphis squad that that went 6-10 in 2011 and had a serious question at QB after the signing of rookie Ryan Mallett produced pretty subpar results.  Mallett has had an even worse second season under offensive-minded Childress, as he has missed 2 games due to injury, but also seen his QB Rating, yards per game, and completion percentage all drop in his second year.  He was not helped by the season-ending injury to lead back Cadillac Williams, but that excuse likely will not keep Memphis from looking for other options this offseason. Just how long the Showboats (and their fans) will wait to see if Childress can turn the ship around is unknown, but after a season that could well land Memphis with the first overall pick in the Open Draft, there is going to be an expectation that 2013 will bring more success, and, perhaps, a better option at QB. With four weeks to go, we have some cusp teams but no one has yet crossed the threshold into playoff territory.  Washington sits at 10-2 with the best record in the league and a 2-game advantage over both the Stars and Generals, but with 4 games left even the division title is not secured.  Texas is in the best position from that standpoint, sitting at 9-3 with the closest division rivals at 6-6.  St.Louis also looks very solid with a  3 game lead over the 6-6 Maulers.  The other races are closer, with Charlotte only up one game on Atlanta and facing a tough Week 13 matchup on the West Coast in Oakland. The Invaders are also up only 1 game over their closest division rival, Las Vegas, so a win against the Monarchs would be huge for them. In the Wild Card race, Philly, Atlanta, and New Jersey are all in the mix at 8-4, but Balitmore is only a game back, and Tampa Bay still very much a factor at 6-6. In the West, Las Vegas sits at 7-5 and hopes to make a play on Oakland for the division.  Behind the Thunder are 4 teams all at 6-6 and with only 2 more Wild Card berths out there, two of them are unlikely to get a shot.  Right now Houston and Portland have the tie breakers, but with a lot of divisional and intra-conference games left on the schedule, that can change a lot, giving hope Denver and Pittsburgh.  And, let’s not forget that at 5-7 Chicago, LA, and Arizona are only 1 game out, so they are not dead yet. There are three clubs that are done, Memphis, Orlando, and Boston, as the math does not work out for them any longer. Seattle and the 4-8 Glory and Panthers are still mathematically alive, but the odds do not look good at this point. And so we head into Week 13, where we expect at least 1 club to finally lock up that sweet playoff energy. In addition to the self-induced injury to QB Jake Locker, and Seattle shuttering Byron Leftwich’s season after his MCL injury, we did see more players join the IR this week.  In fact, it was our largest IR addition list of the season.  Though, we must admit, It does not take much when a 4-week injury all but ends a player’s season.  Here is the new list, with a lot of familiar names on it. INJURY RESERVE Dre Moore                DT           BAL        Quad James Brewer                   OT          BAL        Achilles Omar Bolden                    CB           OHI        Quad Anthony Weaver              DE           CHI         ACL Jake Locker                       QB          BOS        Groin Heath Miller                      TE           WSH      Quad Sam Hurd                          WR         HOU      ACL Byron Leftwich                  QB          SEA        MCL OUT Santana Moss                  WR         NOR       Abdomen            2-4 Weeks Solomon Page              G             LA           Back                       2-4 Weeks Cedrick Cobbs               HB          HOU      Concussion         1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL Chad Johnson            WR         LV           Concussion QUESTIONABLE Antonio Smith                   DE       MEM     Toe Deion Branch                    WR         WSH      Hamstring Rey Maualaga                   LB           CHA       Pinched Nerve Cannons to relocate Final “Home” Game After Ugly Events at Alumni Stadium It was not a pretty scene this week as the Boston Cannons hosted their penultimate game at Alumni Stadium.  Attendance was low, barely 14,000 showed up, but those that did made a spectacle of themselves.  After several fights broke out, security was tightened, but with more than 40 arrests, and with significant damage to the facility (everything from tagging to ripping up seats) the Cannons had to face the reality that holding their final home game, and a game against a Texas team (the Outlaws) would be a security nightmare. As per their contract, Boston College will be charging the Cannons for all damages to Alumni Stadium, and it was clear that officials from the Jesuit university were not at all pleased by what they saw on Sunday as drunken and belligerent Bostonians took their frustration about the teams’ sale and relocation to Dallas out on the stadium, their staff, and the team in general.  At least 22 people required medical attention at the stadium, and there is an estimated $300,000 in damages, largely from the removal of seats and damage to fencing. Boston has their final home game scheduled for Week 15, and they have already announced that they have opted to relocate the game to avoid potential violence.  While they have not officially decided on a location yet, outreach has occurred to both fellow USFL clubs and to several universities, including Cincinnati, Louisville, and Akron.  It appears that the Cannons are hoping to keep the game in the North to avoid a heavy Texas crowd but has abandoned New England altogether out of fear that fans will travel to any regional stadium to cause more trouble.  This is, of course, exactly what the league did not want to see with the relocation of the Cannons to Dallas.  It seems very likely that any future relocation votes the league may have will now be limited to the offseason to avoid this kind of localized backlash which gives the league a black eye. SAN DIEGO & OKLAHOMA CITY INVESTORS APPROACH USFL ABOUT LAS VEGAS We mention relocation because there are still several investment groups looking very seriously at trying to woo a current USFL club to their city.  With the news about serious financial concerns surrounding the Las Vegas Thunder, as well as a perception that both Chicago and Nashville were open to negotiations with the Dallas group, there is very much a sense that the time is now for these potential expansion cities to consider purchase and relocation as a better option. Two of the investment groups, one representing San Diego, and one affiliated with the new stadium being built in Oklahoma City, have reportedly approached the USFL to ask about the Las Vegas situation.  Could they be willing to bail out the Thunder in exchange for a shift of venue?  That would be a complex and seemingly unlikely scenario when one considers that the entire issue of Thunder financial capacity is tied to a new stadium already under construction in Sin City.  The league is certainly not going to be open to the idea of building a Las Vegas domed stadium and then selling off the Las Vegas franchise. An alternative is for an investment group to essentially bid funding to support the Las Vegas project as part of a package to obtain a club from another city, essentially a very costly “sweetener” to make the deal more palatable if a club like Chicago or Nashville were open to relocate.  The league would avoid the added costs of covering a portion of Las Vegas’s commitment to the stadium, and in return the vote to relocate another franchise might be fast-tracked.   This too feels like a far-fetched concept, as the purchase price for any USFL franchise is already going to be significant, without adding on additional millions to help prop up a Las Vegas franchise that is legally committed to funding a portion of the new stadium. And yet, the reality is that there are cities and investors scrambling to join the USFL and there appear to be current owners willing to not only sell off their investment in a USFL franchise but risk the public backlash of having their team abandon a city and anger a fanbase.  As the USFL investigates the finances within the Las Vegas Thunder investment group, and with more stadium costs on the horizon, the temptation to take another option, especially one that would bring revenue into the league, grows more and more feasible. Looking ahead to Week 13 and the start of our 4-week sprint to playoff football, we kick off on Friday with a game that looked like a good one back in February but may be a potential mismatch as 1st place Las Vegas heads to last place Seattle in a Pacific Clash. On Saturday, we have some teams trying to stay alive and some hoping to clinch.  The most intense game of the day is likely to be Texas at Houston, but don’t count out Charlotte @ Oakland or Denver @ Portland, where 2 teams at 6-6 are both on the fringe of Wild Card elimination. Sunday brings us a nice NE Division clash between the Blitz and the Stars, a battle that could end one team’s dream of a division title as neither 5-7 Nashville nor 5-7 Birmingham can afford to lose this one with both 1 game behind the Breakers and a Wild Card already pretty much out of the question.  We also have a similar situation in the West, where two more 5-7 clubs, Arizona and LA, will clash in the desert.  Loser is likely done.  Finally, Pittsburgh, sitting at 6-6 and at risk of missing the playoffs entirely, must get a win at home against the hottest team in the division, the St. Louis Skyhawks. FRIDAY @ 8PM ET            LAS VEGAS (7-5) @ SEATTLE (3-9)                             NBC SAT @ 12PM ET                NEW ORLEANS (6-6) @ ORLANDO (3-9)                  ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                ATLANTA (8-4) @ JACKSONVILLE (5-7)                    ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                WASHINGTON (10-2) @ TAMPA BAY (6-6)              FOX SAT @ 4PM ET                  DENVER (6-6) @ PORTLAND (6-6)                             ABC SAT @ 4PM ET                  CHARLOTTE (9-3) @ OAKLAND (8-4)                       FOX SAT @ 8PM ET                  TEXAS (9-3) @ HOUSTON (6-6)                                 ESPN/EFN SUN @ 12PM ET               BALTIMORE (7-5) @ PHILADELPHIA (8-4)                ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               BOSTON (3-9) @ NEW JERSEY (8-4)                        FOX SUN @ 12PM ET               MEMPHIS (2-10) @ OHIO (4-8)                                  FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                 NASHVILLE (5-7) @ BIRMINGHAM (5-7)                  ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 CHICAGO (5-7) @ MICHIGAN (4-8)                         ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 LOS ANGELES (5-7) @ ARIZONA (5-7)                    FOX SUN @ 8PM ET                 ST. LOUIS (9-3) @ PITTSBURGH (6-6)                      ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cam Newton did it with his arm and with his legs this week, throwing for 221yards and 2 TDs while also breaking off a 67-yard TD run as the Stallions stayed alive in the Southern Division. PLAYOFF PICTURE: Four weeks left and still no teams locked in. We did see several eliminated as Memphis, Boston, and Orlando no longer have a viable path forwards. Current division leaders have leads of 3 games (TEX over HOU, and STL over PIT), 2 games (WSH over PHI & NJ, or 1 game (CHA over ATL, NOR over NSH & BIR, and OAK over LV). This could mean playoff locks for the Outlaws, Skyhawks, or Federals if action plays out the right way in Week 13.

At this point in the season we are just happy to see a week without any major stars going down to injury. The fact that we got several great games this weekend is just all that much sweeter because we did not get any season-shattering news.  We saw Tampa Bay outlast Charlotte in a classic Bandit Ball shoutout.  We had Las Vegas edge Jacksonville in a tight one.  New Jersey put up an impressive performance at home. Arizona got past Houston in Houston with a late score. Philadelphia had a 4-TD day from Matt Gutierrez to in in the Super Dome, and the Express got back to winning ways with a tight one in Seattle. A lot of action, a lot of good games and important scores as teams jockey for position.  We will recap it all, and then present some thoughts on the rookie class of 2012 and the coaches who may not be in charge by 2013. CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 30   TAMPA BAY BANDITS 33 The current SE Division leader heads to Tampa Bay to face the 2012 SE Division and league champion as the Monarchs and Bandits clash.  Tampa Bay came into this one at a surprising 5-5, while Charlotte, for other reasons, surprised many by coming into the game at 8-1.  If the Bandits harbored any hopes of challenging for the division, they would need this win. Tampa Bay would contend with Charlotte’s tenacious defense, trying to maximize the effectiveness of HB Willis McGahee and blend in the deep ball to receivers Joey Galloway, Santonio Holmes, and David Tyree.  For Charlotte’s part, the game plan was to use the run to limit Tampa Bay possessions, passing through play action as Tampa Bay brought the safeties down to help defend against Fred Jackson and Shonn Greene.  Both offenses on this day had success with their strategies, leading to a high scoring game as the defenses seemed to be a step behind the entire game. The Bandits struck first, getting the opening kick after Charlotte deferred, and taking the ball down for a Santonio Holmes TD in a 12-play drive.  Charlotte answered with a scoring drive of their own, theirs needing 14 plays and ending with Jake Delhomme finding Derrick Mason in the corner of the endzone.  After one quarter it was 7-7 and we knew we were in for a dogfight. The second quarter would see 34 points scored as both teams moved up and down the field with relative ease.  Charlotte got a 2nd TD from Mason, then Tampa Bay scored on an interception return as Jake Delhomme had a ball tipped by his receiver and into the hands of Bryan Scott.  But, Charlotte bounced right back with yet another TD drive as Delhomme found TE Garett Celek.  A pair of field goals a brilliant 46-yard catch and run from McGahee meant that at the half we already had a shootout on our hands, the score tied up at intermission, 24-24. The second half would not see nearly as many fireworks, but the intensity was definitely there as the two defenses finally started to win some matchups.  Charlotte would get a pick and a turnover on downs, but could only add 3 points as the game went into the final period 27-24 for the visitors.  Tampa would drive to end the 3rd and early in the 4th would again equalize the score at 27.  Both teams now were fighting for every inch, trying all the could to try to stack first downs after each other.  The result of the back and forth struggle was that the quarter became a battle of field position an kickers.  After Tampa Bay equalized the score at 14:49, Charlotte again took a lead at 7:06, 30-27.  Tampa Bay would use up a lot of clock getting into position to tie the game again at 30, but left themselves only 1:18. The thought for most watching was the the Bandits would settle to have the game go to overtime.  But, Charlotte did not settle for a few inside runs and a shot at overtime.  Coach Mora clearly felt that the best shot for the visiting Monarchs was to win the game in regulation.  And so, as the clock ticked down, Charlotte kept risking the ball in the air.  On a 2nd and 7 Delhomme connected with Hakeem Nicks, but as he was tackled by Idris Basheer, the corner was able to swipe at the ball and it popped loose.  Patrick Robinson of the Bandits was there to fall on it, and now it was Tampa Bay’s chance to try to end the game in their favor in overtime. The Bandits, with 2 time outs left, were able to make use of the whole field.  Culpepper connected over the middle with Jared Cook, then a quick out to Galloway before a swing pass to McGahee, his 5th catch of the day, put the ball in range for Nate Kaeding.  As time ticked down, Tampa Bay position the ball for Kaeding, eventually bringing him in with the ball on the 22-yardline.  The kick was good as soon as it was struck and the fans in Tampa Bay celebrated as the Bandits improved to 6-5, stayed alive in the playoff hunt, and pulled within 2 games of the division-leading Monarchs. BALTIMORE 23   NEW JERSEY 40 Sam Bradford has one of his best games as a pro, going 18 of 30 for 322 yards and 3 touchdowns as New Jersey gets a huge home win to move into 3rd place and stay in solid Wild Card territory.  Michael Crabtree was a huge factor for the Generals as he caught 7 passes for 147 yards and a score.  Jevon Kearse also recorded his first sack as a General after coming over in trade. ST. LOUIS 28   NASHVILLE 19 Peyton Manning had another solid game but another loss for the Knights as his 2-TD, 22 of 33 game was just not enough to overcome Josh Freeman’s 279 yard, 3 TD day.  St. Louis also got 159 yards and a TD form the combo of Antowain Smith and James Ridley, but the big star of the day was slot receiver Eric Weems, who caught 4 balls, with 3 being Freeman TD passes. LAS VEGAS 19   JACKSONVILLE 16 The Thunder put aside the rumors about their ownership and focus on a tough road game in Jacksonville. The Bulls sacked Jake Plummer 5 times and held Cedric Benson to only 29 yards rushing with Marshawn Lynch unavailable.  But, even with that it was not enough as Las Vegas got a late Jeff Reed 52-yard field goal to earn the W and retain their share of first place in the Pacific Division. ARIZONA 27   HOUSTON 20 Arizona needed this one, and they got it thanks to a late Carr to Gronkowski TD toss.  Carr survived a tough day, shaking off 6 sacks to get the game winner in the final minute of play.  Houston drops to 6-5 and Arizona climbs to 5-6 with this result, tightening up the SW Division even more. ATLANTA 13   OAKLAND 23 A nice game from much maligned HB Ryan Williams as the back rushed for 111 yards on only 11 carries, a 10.1 YPC average.  Oakland also got a lot of help from their defense which forced 4 interceptions on the day, including a rare Terrell Suggs pick-six, as the linebacker, who usually is blitzing on the edge, dropped into coverage and snagged an errant Kyle Orton pass, taking it to the house. CHICAGO 21   PITTSBURGH 35 The Maulers are hoping that this division win is a sign that their momentum is back.  2nd year QB Andy Dalton looked really strong, completing 16 of 24 passes for 228 yards and 3 TDs as the Maulers turned a 14-14 tie into a 35-14 lead over the course of 2 quarters. Ronnie Brown had 2 TD runs and Vincent Jackson also scored twice as the Maulers move to 6-5 and send Chicago down to 5-6. PHILADELPHIA 28   NEW ORLEANS 21 A huge 4-TD day from Matt Gutierrez helped propel Philadelphia to a hard-fought win over the Breakers in the Super Dome.  The Game was knotted up in the 4th on a Brandon LaFell TD catch, but Gutierrez found Daniel Fells for the game winner with less than a minute left to get the Stars their 8th win and keep them right on pace with Washington in the NE Division. DENVER 21   BOSTON 16 The Gold get a win they really needed as they visit Boston.  Both Murray and Hicks rushed for scores as they combined for 94 yards on a whopping 37 carries.  Boston saw Jake Locker knocked out of action and Adrian McPherson suffered 4 sacks and threw a pick in his first action in several weeks.  All this happened in front of only 16,202 fans as Boston has switched from angry protest to walking away from the club that is in its last season at Alumni Stadium. ORLANDO 6   BIRMINGHAM 21 Orlando just cannot get anything going as Eli Manning is sacked 5 times and gives up a costly pick 6 to DeMeco Ryans.  Birmingham scored 21 points with that defensive TD, 4 field goals and a safety as Manning was sacked in the endzone early in the game.  That makes 8 consecutive losses for the Renegades and growing calls for Emmitt Thomas to be let go. WASHINGTON 23   MEMPHIS 3 Memphis was simply a speedbump to Washington’s 9th win of the year. Ryan Mallett was able to go, but completed only 10 of 25 passes for a total of 74 yards as Washington just shut down all Memphis offense.  The crowd openly booed the squad throughout the game.  Deion Branch was the standout for the Feds, catching 6 balls for 129  yards and a score. TEXAS 23   OHIO 16 Ohio drops their 2nd in a row to fall to 4-7 on the year as Texas gets 3 TDs and 283 yards from Luke McCown, adding a huge 146 yards on the ground from Arian Foster as they outlast the Glory and claim an 8th win, keeping them now 2 games up in the SW Division with Houston’s loss to Denver. MICHIGAN 7   PORTLAND 24 Portland improves to 6-5 and stays alive in the Wild Card hunt as they get 17 unanswered points to open the game,.  Jonathan Stewart went over 100 yards for the first time since Week 2, and Ryan Fitzpatrick goes 20 for 30 on a good day for the Stags. Michigan again could do nothing on the ground, with Ciatrick Fason leading all Panther rushers with only 18 yards on the day. LOS ANGELES 21   SEATTLE 19 LA wins their 4th game in 5 tries as they get the upper hand on the 3-8 Dragons.  A 4th quarter TD form Sanchez to L. J. Smith gave them a 21-16 lead in the 4th and Coach Lewis oddly went for 3 with 5 minutes left, rather than go for a 4th and 3 play from the LA 22 yard line.  Fans were not happy with that call to be sure. The Hot Seat is Heating Up Eleven weeks in and it is clear that not everyone is living up to their expected potential.  That is often the killer statement that can mean the end of a coaching tenure.  It is one thing to be on a team with low expectations and to meet those standards, but when there are real expectations for a playoff run and the team spirals downward instead, that can end up pretty poorly for even a veteran head coach.  As we look around the USFL after this 11th of 16 weeks, we see five coaches who may very well be coaching for their jobs over the final 5 weeks of the regular season.  Here is our look at 5 men who are likely looking over their shoulder and wincing every time they see the GM’s number on their phones. Emmitt Thomas—ORL When Emmitt Thomas took over the Renegades in 2005, many viewed him as a short term replacement, likely to last 2-3 years before the team went after a bigger name. He has now been with the team for 8 seasons, and he has had a modicum of success, making the playoffs in both 2007 and 2009, but after two consecutive 8-win seasons and two years without a playoff appearance, despite the presence of a bonafide superstar in Calais Campbell, and a trade that brought Eli Manning to the club, this year’s 2-9 record has to almost guarantee that a change would be made.  This was a club that was picked by most to be either 1st or 2nd in the SE Division and by nearly all assessments now is expected to finish last.  We place the heat under Coach Thomas about about 210 degrees.  Two more and we hit the boiling point and the steam turns to a pink slip. Marvin Lewis-SEA At 10 seasons, Marvin Lewis is one of the longest tenured coaches in the USFL.  The fact that he took a 6-8 Dragon squad through three straight road games to win a league title in 2005 is certainly not forgotten.  Nor is the fact that he made a run of 6 playoff seaosns in a row with Seattle. But, and it is a big but, the Dragons have not made the postseason since 2008, a 4 year run that would almost certainly end the tenures of most coaches.  With 3 straight 7-win seasons, Seattle has been on the cusp, and many hoped they would get back to playoff football this year, but they now sit squarely in the basement of the Pacific Division at 3-8, and a playoff berth would be a near miracle at this point.  Whether through resignation or firing, we think the time has come for Lewis to ply his trade elsewhere.  We put his temperature at about 200, 12 degrees from boiling, but only because he can show off that John Bassett Trophy in Seattle’s offices. Gregg Williams—LA Williams was brought in to LA to do two things, build a defense, and win playoff games.  He has done both, with the Express boasting a Top 10 defense in both yards and points allowed, and with a Wild Card victory last season propelling them to the Divisional round, LA’s first playoff appearance since 2007.  But the problem is that the team is both hard to watch, mostly due to a lackluster offense, and started the year 0-6, which put a sour taste in everyone’s mouth.  We think Williams has a chance to stick around, especially having won 4 of the past 5.  If they can reach 8-8 or even 7-9, we don’t think Williams will be  let go, but having already seen the chaos that Randy Moss’s critiques produced, a 10-loss season could well spell the end for Williams’s short tenure in LA.  The fans want to enjoy their team, and even winning games 13-10 is not really what they had in mind. We are going to say that the situation in LA is an uncomfortable but potentially salvageable 140 degrees in the shade. Bart Andrus-OHIO Andrus came to Columbus with the unenviable task of replacing a legend, 2-time Summer Bowl champion Al Luginbill.  He was charged with reimagining what Ohio football meant, bringing a defensive mindset to the club that had become a dominant offensive force with Collins, George, and Galloway leading the way.  He has yet to be able to find a QB to help move Ohio ahead, and now, after 5 straight losing seasons, the clock appears to be ticking.  Unless Ohio can show signs of having potential for a viable offense, the patience Ohio fans and management have shown, could soon be gone.  We are going to say that the heat around Andrus is somewhere in the range of 160-180 degrees.  Not enough to cook his goose immediately, but eventually unless he can find ways to cool things off. John Fox-Boston/Dallas In his 11th season with the franchise (beginning in Atlanta, then a very good run in Boston), Fox saw the Cannons rise from a non-factor into a regular playoff contender, and eventually to a league champion  only 3 years ago.  But since then, and with some pretty noteworthy retirements, the club has clearly declined.  From 7-9 in 2010, to a horrid 1-14-1 season last year and now they sit mired in last place in the NE Division at 3-8 and still no sense that they have an answer. Fox does not deserve all the blame. The GM is the one who invested heavily in Jake Locker, an investment which has just not paid off, but as the glory of winning a title often goes too much to the head coach, the stench of failure also tends to hang around him.  We think Fox, despite the 2009 league title, is very likely going to be out, in no small part because the team has been sold, will be moved once again, now to Dallas, and the new ownership is going to want to put their stamp on this team, a stamp that is easier to define if they bring in a new head coach for a new start.  We think the temperature here is already boiling over, just because the pot is getting moved and there is a new chef in the kitchen. Rookie Of the Year Race is a Tight One Nearly three months into the 2012 season and we are seeing a pretty close race for Rookie of the Year, with several players making good cases to be be recognized.  As with all rookies we are seeing many players step up and show potential, then fade back the next week.  Consistency, and the long wear and tear of backing a full NCAA season with a USFL season do tend to limit the effectiveness of rookies, but each year we see some stand out, and that is no different this year.   Here is our list of the top performing rookies in the 2012 USFL season. Justin Blackmon-WR-BOS The likely frontrunner, Blackmon has been a bright spot in a pretty dark season for Boston.  The OK State rookie leads all Cannon receviers with 74 catches and 918 yards.  Almost assured of reaching the 1,000 yard threshold, Blackmon has been a reliable option for Coach Fox and will almost certainly be used to attract fans when the club relocates to Dallas. Luke Kuechley-LB-BOS The Cannons certainly hit on the draft this year.  LB Luke Kuechley from BC has been lined up between Chris Claiborne and Dat Nguyen all season, and is doing well overall.  He still struggles with pass coverage, but his speed has helped him cover for assignment errors. He is currently 2nd on the team with 60 tackles and has2 forced fumbles as well. Lamar Miller-HB-JAX The Bulls were hoping Miller could step in and take on the bulk of the early down carries, freeing up C. J. Spiller to be more of a pass-catching threat and 3rd down back.  That is exactly what they have gotten form the bigger back.  Miller currently has 161 carries to Spiller’s 75, and while his 3.6 YPC average is not ideal, his 578 yards and 5 TDs lead all rookie backs. Bobby Wagner-LB-OAK Wagner has teamed up with Terrell Suggs to form a potent 1-2 combo in the LB group.  While Suggs tends to lurk around the line of scrimmage and blitz the QB, Wagner is the LB spy, watching out for cutback runs or providing middle zone coverage against TEs and back out of the backfield. He is second to Suggs with 54 tackles and has an impressive 6 forced fumbles this season. Vontez Burfict-LB-TEX A late-round gem, Burfict has moved from a spot player to a regular in the LB group alongside Jonathan Moulton and Chad Greenway.  His 44 tackles are solid, but it is his 6 sacks that have impressed Outlaw coaches. He has proven to be a very effective blitzer in both run blitzes and on passing downs. Isaiah Pead-HB-OHI Pead came on strong enough early on that Ohio felt comfortable trading away DeMarco Murray at midseason.  With that move, his 479 yards are currently tops for the Glory, and with a solid 4.1 YPC average, Pead is looking very much like he could be the clear starter going into 2013. Olivier Vernon-DE-STL Paired with Adrian Clayborn, Vernon has become one of the stars of a much-improved Skyhawks defense.  He is second to Clayborn with 7 sacks on the year, and has also contributed against the run.  A 10+ sack season is not out of the question. Dre Kirkpatrick-CB-MGN Kirkpatrick has been very solid for the Panthers, third on the team with 56 tackles and has 3 picks for Michigan as well.  He still struggles with some zone responsibilities but has been very strong in man coverage. Talk of Retirement for Several USFL Starting QBs With five weeks left in the season, one of the interesting debates around the league surrounds an aging cohort of quarterbacks and whether or not this offseason will see a major generational shift.  That could be bad timing as the 2013 draft class is not one that appears to offer much help at the QB position, but it is rare that a player looks at the draft as a factor in their decision to play another year or call it a career.  Looking across the USFL, we have 6 teams with starting QBs at or over 35 years of age.  How this season is faring and the prospects for each team in the near future may well determine which decide to stick around and who opts to retire as 2012 wraps up. Looking around these 6 teams, we have players who are having strong seasons and whose teams are very much looking like potential playoff contenders.  That includes Jake Delhomme in Charlotte, who has his team atop the Eastern Conference and looking very much like a postseason favorite.  We also have a resurgence for Houston and their veteran, Matt Hasselbeck.  Daunte Culpepper and Tampa Bay are competitive, but there has been some commentary that the veteran QB is just not the same player as in past years.   The same type of commentary is being said about Michigan QB Brian Griese, who just does not seem to have the same athleticism as before his 2010 injury. Jake Plummer in Las Vegas has certainly slowed down from his youthful disregard for personal safety and wild scrambling, but he does have Las Vegas performing well, and with new weapons like Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh, the Thunder offense is looking stronger than in recent years.  Finally, we have Kurt Warner, who was playing at MVP level the past few seasons, but whose spinal column injury and subsequent surgery puts a lot of doubt on his future.  Even if he is able to recover this offseason and could viably return to the game, better judgement may be to step away and avoid a more serious, possibly debilitating injury. If we had to lay odds on who may step away this year, we would place Warner at the top of the list, followed by Griese, Culpepper, and possibly Jake Plummer.  Of course if any of these QB’s were to win a Summer Bowl, there is also a temptation to go out on top, certainly not unheard of in pro circles.  So, will it be 1-2 vacancies or will we see a wave of retirement announcements?  Only time and press conferences post Week 16 will tell us. While no playoff spots have been locked up, we do have our first eliminations of the season, with 2-9 Orlando and 2-9 Memphis both officially eliminated from playoff contention.  Both now sit 5 games behind 6th place New Jersey, but even if either were to go 5-0 down the stretch, the combination of other matchups means that at least 6 teams would rank ahead of them and thus they are eliminated. Things are tighter in the West, where even 3-8 Seattle still remains within striking distance of 6th place (currently 6-5 Houston).  Among the divisions, Washington, Charlotte, and New Orleans all sit 1 game ahead of the 2nd place team, while in the West Texas has a 2-game lead over Houston, St. Louis has a 2game lead over Pittsburgh, and the Invaders and Thunder are tied up a 7-4, with Oakland holding the tiebreaker thanks to a 5-2 division record.  Portland, Houston and Pittsburgh are all 6-5 and battling over 2 Wild Card spots.  In the East Atlanta and New Jersey have spots 5 and 6, and are a game up on the two 6-5 clubs, Tampa Bay and Baltimore, but clearly there is a lot left to be decided. A couple of noteworthy shorter-term injuries as both Chad Johnson and Fred Jackson are expected to miss at least 1-2 weeks due to Week 11 injuries.  Fortunately, the roster of the USFL’s IR has not been expanded this week, which is always a positive.  Here are the newly reported injuries for Week 12’s games. OUT Victor Cruz                          WR         PIT          Back                   4-6 Weeks Josh Liberious                    G            PHI         Shoulder         4-6 Weeks Antoine Caldwell               C             BOS        Back                      2-4 Weeks Chris Kelsay                        DE          ATL         Knee                       2-4 Weeks Fred Jackson                      HB          CHA       Shoulder                 1-2 Weeks Jason Babin                        DE          BOS        Thigh                      1-2 Weeks Chad Johnson                    WR         LV           Elbow                      1-2 Weeks Jake Locker QB BOS Groin 1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL Garrett Celek                     TE          CHA       Ribs Terell Owens                      WR         BIR         Shoulder Grant Irons                         LB           LA           Hamstring LaRon Landry                     SS           NSH       Toe Monsanto Pope                DT          ARZ        Foot QUESTIONABLE Dre Kirkpatrick                  CB          MGN     Illness Chad Rinehart                   OT         HOU      Illness Peyton Hillis                       FB         NSH       Concussion USFL Celebrates Best DB Seasons With Top 5 All-Time Revealed The USFL has released another Top 5 Seasons list, this time focusing on the DB’s, and this one is likely to be significantly more controversial because there are so many ways to define whether a DB is successful.  It seems clear that interceptions were a huge factor, but so were tackles, and even scoring, so this one could be wide open. Here are the 5 names that the USFL panel has given us to discuss. 1997 FS Elbert Shelley (TEX) There was no doubt that Shelley would be on this list.  His 1997 came out of nowhere and was for all intents and purposes the sports equivalent of a 1-hit wonder.  Shelley  played 12 seasons in the USFL, all with Texas, but never topped 5 picks in any season, but something happened in 1997 and it just seemed like the ball kept bouncing into his hands.  He would score on two pick-sixes among his 10 interception but also recorded one of his lowest tackle numbers of his career, in part because teams just stopped throwing his way. 1990 CB Raphel Cherry (LA) The 1996 Hall of Famer is a name you might also expect to see on this list. His 9 picks in 1990 remains the 2nd highest total in league history, and it was paired with 100 tackles in that season with the Express.  Cherry, unlike Shelley, strung together several top tier seasons, topping 5 picks in 3 other seasons.  He also regularly was among the league leaders in tackles for a cornerback, but it was his 1990 season that stands at the top of a HOF career. 1998 FS Darren Woodson (NOR) This is the first one where we all looked at each other with a bit of surprise.  Yes, Woodson had 9 picks in 1998, but if we were going to put a Woodson on this list, it would have been current Fire CB Charles and not FS Darren. Nine picks is certainly a strong number, tied with Cherry for 2nd all time, but looking across the rest of his numbers, there just is not a lot of there there, and for a team that finished the year 6-10, we are just not sure what the focus is here. 1999 CB Patrick Surtain (PIT) We love Patrick Surtain, even though he has never been a huge INT guy.  He is unafraid to hit, unafraid to take on anyone from a speedy slot receiver to a bulky TE, and he is an outstanding tackler.  That is why he is on this list, because his 4 picks in 1999 certainly would not do it.  However, when you set a league record with 124 tackles from the cornerback position in a season, you deserve to be recognized.  Yes, his hands have on occasion failed, him, but his ability to take on backs, ends, receivers, and even the occasional lineman, well that is worthy of recognition. 1996  CB Chris Snyder (MGN) It took us a minute to understand why Snyder’s 8-Interception season in 1996 made the list, but once we saw it, we could not unsee it.  Snyder in this season had 8 picks and returned 4 of them for scores.  That is both a league record and an impressive feat for any defender.  Snyder had an up and down career, with several questionable seasons, landing over 5 picks on only 1 other occasion, but his 1996 season was absolutely a highlight reel of a year. So there is the list.  And yes, we absolutely recognize that there are some big names that we are surprised to see missing.  Where is Troy Polamalu, for example?  Or Ed Reed?  And what about Hall of Famers like William Cesare, Donald Dykes, Frederick Wilder, Bennie Blades, LeRoy Butler, Philippi Sparks, Aeneas Williams, or Bruce Pickens?  That is 8 players who were deemed among the best to ever play the game, and yet they do not get highlighted for an outstanding season?  Seems odd to us. League to investigate Las Vegas Finances With the USFL having to pony up nearly 20% of Las Vegas’s initial stadium funding, a total of nearly $30M, some major questions are now being asked of the Thunder and their ownership.  We learned this week that both the State of Nevada and the USFL league office is now asking to review the financials behind the Thunder ownership group.  Concerns that the investment group led by Casino developer Phil Ruffin, have inflated their portfolios and overreported their accessible resources could lead to both legal action and significant league action. Ruffin and his group signed on to a deal for the new strip-adjacent domed stadium in Las Vegas, with a pledge to cover 30% of the estimated $900M construction cost, but now are pleading that they are unable to access the funds needed for just the initial $140M.  The USFL was obligated to cover that pledged funding, causing the league to divert nearly $30M  from its reserve to the project, this after putting in an initial $200M just a year ago.  This does not sit well with anyone in the league, and there is growing discord among owners as they explore options with Ruffin’s group.  An audit will be the first step, and if they do discover instability and inaccuracy in the reporting of the Thunder group’s portfolio, there could be significant fallout.  Of course, the biggest question could well be whether or not the league is forced to either abandon the project, which would itself come with a major penalties, or potentially abandon the Thunder, meaning that the USFL might well build a brand new stadium in Las Vegas only to have no team to place there. Memphis Introduces Revamped Look for 2013 The Memphis Showboats, who appear to be on the fast track to the #1 draft pick in 2013 may be in disarray on the field, but they are looking to their future as they partner with Adidas to reveal their new uniform design for 2013.  Like Michigan before them, the Showboats are more ‘tweaking” or “updating” a familiar look than making sweeping overhauls.  The basic elements remain very much the same, a combination of scarlet red and silver sky blue, though the amount of black in use is dramatically reduced, appearing only in some logos and not in the uniform at all. There is definitely a bit of a retro feel with this look as Memphis brings back several elements of earlier uniform designs, including the thin red single stripe on the pants and the use of silver sky sleeves on both the scarlet and white jerseys.  The secondary logo “Showboat M” and the wordmark that depicts a paddlewheeler within the team’s name are also both in use on the uniforms.  The number font remains a thin non-serif font with drop shadows.  The team is introducing a white pant set to go alongside the silver sky pants they have worn since the late 1980’s.   The white look will largely be worn with the white jerseys later in the season when the heat and humidity of Memphis can become significant challenges.    The new look will be first worn in preseason of 2013 as Memphis has been eliminated from the playoffs and any potential reveal during the postseason. Looking at the Week 13 slate, we are just excited by the possibilities.  We kick it all off on Friday Night with the greatest of all USFL rivalries as New Jersey visits Philadelphia, down 1 game to the Stars and 2 behind the Feds in the NE Division. On Saturday we get some “do or die” games, including 5-6 Chicago at 4-7 Birmingham, 6-5 Houston headed to Washington, 6-5 Portland in Texas, and 6-5 Tampa Bay with another tough divisional game in Atlanta. Sunday brings us an intriguing game between New Orleans and Pittsburgh, and a Sunday night matchup with St. Louis having to head to the desert for a game against the Wranglers.  Arizona, like Denver (who host Michigan) need a win to reach .500 and stay relevant in the Western Wild Card hunt. FRIDAY @ 8PM ET            New Jersey (7-4) @ Philadelphia (8-3)                    NBC SAT @ 12PM ET                Chicago (5-6) @ Birmingham (4-7)                          ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                Oakland (7-4) @ Ohio (4-7)                                      ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                Houston (6-5) @ Washington (9-2)                          FOX SAT @ 4PM ET                  Portland (6-5) @ Texas (8-3)                                     ABC SAT @ 4PM ET                  Los Angeles (4-7) @ Las Vegas (7-4)                        FOX SAT @ 8PM ET                  Tampa Bay (6-5) @ Atlanta (7-4)                              ESPN/EFN SUN @ 12PM ET               Jacksonville (5-6) @ Orlando (2-9)                           ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               Seattle (3-8) @ Charlotte (8-3)                                 FOX SUN @ 12PM ET               Memphis (2-9) @ Nashville (4-7)                              FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                 New Orleans (5-6) @ Pittsburgh (6-5)                     ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 Baltimore (6-5) @ Boston (3-8)                                ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 Michigan (4-7) @ Denver (5-6)                                 FOX SUN @ 8PM ET                 St. Louis (8-3) @ Arizona (5-6)                                  ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: David Carr's 420 yard performance against Houston kept Arizona very much in the playoff hunt as the SW Division tightens up. Carr completed 22 of 34 passes and threw for 2 TDs, thanks in large part to a handful of deep balls that connected against the Houston secondary. PLAYOFF PICTURE: We may still be a ways from seeing teams clinch as many races remain tight. Washington takes over the top spot in the East after Charlotte's loss to Tampa Bay. Texas regains the top spot in the West, tied with St. Louis.

Texas rallies around Luke McCown just as the team makes a move to have a Plan B.  Peyton Manning throws for 300 yards but the Knights cannot topple Baltimore.  Final hour trades send Jevon Kearse and Joe Haden, and Jabari Holloway to contenders as teams try to fine tune ahead of the home stretch. All that plus we reconsider the standing of the Bulls and the Blitz as they push for legitimacy in the playoff hunt.  Throw in a major upset in Las Vegas, and a huge win for the Bandits over Atlanta and we have a week that could be the start of a wild playoff push down the stretch.  We get to it with Luke McCown and the Outlaws as they hold off Denver and regain sole possession of first place in the Southwest Conference. DENVER GOLD  14    TEXAS OUTLAWS 20 A huge game for both teams as Denver, coming in at 4-5, needed a win to get to .500 and pull closer in the race for the Southwest Division.  Texas, sitting at 6-3, but reeling from the loss of Joe Flacco to a season-ending season, wanted to shut the door on any talk about a competitive division and stake their claim to the SW for the 2nd year in a row after more than 20 years of frustration.  With backup Luke McCown under center, the Outlaws would need a full team effort to stay on top in this showdown at the Alamodome. McCown would face heat all game, taking4 sacks and countless pressures, but Texas would use the run game to try to keep the defense honest.  Halfback Arian Foster, new to the SW Division rivalry after coming over from the NFL, would hear the call to action, rushing for 104 yards on 25 carries.  The defense would also come through, with Denver held to only 3 converted third downs all game and 7 offensive penalties called against Denver. The game started well for Texas as they received the opening kick and in only 7 plays scored on a Jay Finley run from the 2.  They would then shut down Denver on the Gold’s first drive and follow that up with a field goal to close out the first period.  In the second, Denver would finally figure out the Texas defensive scheme and, aided by a defensive pass interference call, would get on the board with Matt Leinart connecting with TE Daniel Graham to pull back within 3.  That margin would not hold, however, as Texas milked the clock and maintained possession for over 6 minutes at the end of the half before McCown found Brandon Marshall for a 9-yard scoring strike. Down 17-7 at the half, Denver hoped to change the tone of the game in the third, pushing the ball downfield with a combination of DeMarco Murray runs and quick strike passes to both Golden Tate and Leonard Hankerson.  But, when they got close to scoring range they were hit with a 4th and 1, tried to rush in a run call, but were called for illegal substation, forcing a punt on what had been a promising drive.  That punt proved fateful as Texas’s Jordan Shipley returned the punt 37 yards and put Texas in position to increase its lead to 13 points with a Rian Lindell field goal. Denver now had just under 13 minutes to pull back from a 13-point hole.  It would prove to be not enough time.  Denver needed 5 minutes and 27 seconds to get on the board again, but the pass from Leinart to Murray got them within 6 with only 53 seconds to play.  Denver would need an onside kick and a quick strike to close the gap on Texas, now down by a TD.  They would get the onside kick, a nice recovery by TE Richard Quinn, but as they drove the ball down the field, mistakes cost them precious seconds.  Hankerson turned into the field when he should step out of bounds.  HB Maurice Hicks stayed upright, fighting for one yard when going down could have saved 3-4 seconds.  It all came down to a 2nd and 7 with only 2 seconds left, the ball at the Texas 21 yard line.  One play to turn this game to the Gold. Leinart started in the shotgun, with Hankerson and Tate to one side and James Hardy and TE Daniel Graham to the other.  Certainly Leinart wished he had Peerless Price available for this game, but the veteran was on the injured list and could not take a spot on the field.  Leinart looked to hit Hardy with the game’s final play, but his throw was off target and pulled the receiver out of bounds.  Time ran out during the play and Denver came up short, dropping them to 4-6 and boosting Texas and their fill-in QB to 8-2 and a solid position atop the division. ARIZONA 13   WASHINGTON 24 That nasty Washington D held Arizona to only 8 first downs and 1 converted third down all game as Washington outpaced the Wranglers 429 yards to 271, and held the ball for over 39 minutes in a one-sided affair on NBC’s Friday Night Lights.  Deuce McCallister again topped 100 yards with 111 on 20 carries.  Kellen Davis continued to improve at TE with another TD, and both Chris Long and Kamerion Wemberley left the game with 2 sacks apiece as Washington rolls to 8-2. BIRMINGHAM 3   JACKSONVILLE 19 We may need to start taking Jacksonville seriously as they move to 5-5 with another solid win. The game was even in yardage, but not in scores as Birmingham only crossed into the red zone 1 time.  Cam Newton was sacked 5 times and rushed for only 1 yard on 7 attempts as the Bulls showed that their defense is much improved over last year. Mike Vrabel had 2 sacks as he mirrored Newton all game in a surprisingly effective spy strategy. OHIO 13   NEW ORLEANS 27 Ohio’s win streak ends at 4 games as the Breakers hold home court and move to 5-5 to take over sole possession of first in the South.  Drew Brees threw for 255 and 3 TDs, including 2 to Santana Moss.  Forte and Tolbert combined for 127 yards and the Breaker defense benefitted from Vince Young coming out of the game with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder on a rough slide after a scramble.  Terrelle Pryor replaced Young and was largely ineffective in relief. NEW JERSEY 13   CHARLOTTE 27 The Monarchs rebounded after their big loss to Atlanta with a nice home win over a very tough New Jersey squad.  Charlotte was outgained 375-262, but held the lead from the first drive and never relinquished it. Fred Jackson had 72 yards rushing and both Derrick Mason and FB Justin Green had TD catches to power Charlotte to their 8th win on the year. PORTLAND 14   OAKLAND 27 Portland falls to .500 as Oakland takes over 1st place in the West with a solid defensive showing. The Invaders snagged 2 takeaways, including a huge fumble right before half.  Ryan Williams added 2 TDs and 75 yards rushing and the Invader D held Portland out of the endzone for the entire 2nd half, outpacing the Stags 13-0 after going into the half tied at 14. SEATTLE 16   LAS VEGAS 13 A stunner of a loss by the Thunder, who now slip back into a tie with Oakland in the Pacific.  Marshawn Lynch had only 9 carries before reaggravating his earlier injury, and the Las Vegas D gave up a surprising 123 yards rushing to the combo of Jahvid Best and Robert Turbin as Seattle just hung in all game, scoring the final 6 points on two late field goal drives to take the win. PHILADELPHIA 17   BOSTON 10 The boo birds were out in full force even before the initial kickoff, but the added police presence kept the game from getting out of hand as Boston fans let their displeasure with the club’s sale be known.  On the field, Boston played well, but in the end could not muster enough points against the Stars to come back from 14-10 and then 17-10 deficits in the 2nd half.  Steve Slaton and Stevie Johnson scored for the Stars, with both going over 100 yards as well, Slaton with 114 yards on the ground and Johnson with 116  through the air. ATLANTA 14   TAMPA BAY 17 Tampa Bay got the divisional win they desperately needed, holding Kyle Orton under 200 yards passing and riding another big day for Willis McGahee as the dual use back rushed for 130 and caught 2 passes as well. The Bandits even their record at 5-5, but still remain 3 games behind division-leading Charlotte. ST. LOUIS 35   MEMPHIS 19 St. Louis traded for TE Jabari Holloway on Thursday, and the big receiver caught 3 balls for 38 yards and a TD on Sunday. Not a bad move form first impressions.  Holloway’s score was one of 5 touchdown passes for Josh Freeman as he carved up a tired and undermanned Memphis defense.  Antowain Smith added 109 yards rushing as the Skyhawks sit atop the Central at 7-3. ORLANDO 13   MICHIGAN 37 Orlando loses a 7th in a row as the 3-6 Michigan Panthers get a good win under their belt.  Mario Manningham was lost in the game and could miss several weeks, but  Michigan got solid production from both offense and defense to take the win and send Orlando to 2-8, a very unexpected collapse that could cost Emmitt Thomas his job. BALTIMORE 38   NASHVILLE 23 Peyton Manning gets the start in front of nearly 60,000 happy Tennesseans in Nashville, and throws for 301 yards in his USFL debut, but the Knights defense struggles to keep Big Ben in check, giving up 3 Blitz TD passes as the Blitz spoil the debut of the newest Nashville Knight. CHICAGO 12   HOUSTON 17 Houston edges Chicago in a tough defensive battle that saw the two teams go 6 for 18 on third down.  Houston got two 4th quarter TDs with Ike Hilliard and Roy Williams both beating the Chicago secondary late.  Despite 95 yards from Donald Driver and a solid 85-yard day from Michael Turner, Chicago just could not get on the board at the end of the game when they needed a TD to steal the win. LOS ANGELES 3   PITTSBURGH 16 A huge change as Pittsburgh starts 2nd year QB Andy Dalton and the Maulers snap their losing streak, and end LA’s 3-game win streak with a dominant defensive performance at Heinz Field on Sunday Night.  The Express managed only 8 first downs all game and were 1 of 13 on third down as Pittsburgh’s defense shut down Mark Sanchez and the LA passing game.  With Ronnie Brown and Kenny Watson combining for 110 yards, and a key late TD toss from Dalton to Vincent Jackson, the former TCU signal caller gets a win for the Maulers in his first regular season start. Manning Throws for 300 in Knight Debut It was by no means a perfect game, and the Knights did not even get the win, but with 301 yards on a 31 of 38 night, there was a lot to cheer for among Nashville Knight fans as Peyton Manning made his USFL debut. Manning had an immediate rapport with lead receiver Robert Meachem, turning 13 targets into 12 receptions,130 yards, and the lone passing TD of the day. Manning took some heat, with 3 sacks on the day, but seemed unphased by contact and unafraid of reinjuring his neck.  Fans in Nashville, already loading up on Knight jerseys bearing Manning’s number 18, were there to cheer on the former Vol all night.  The game may not have ended the way Nashville would have liked, but the immediate impression was that the Knights are in good hands with Manning at the helm. Freeman Makes Claim for MVP With 5 TD Day With both Kurt Warner and now Joe Flacco out of the season on IR, there is a gap at the top of the MVP race, and St. Louis’s Josh Freeman made his case this weekend that he is the man to beat if anyone wants to claim the title.  Freeman only completed 14 tosses, but five of them were scores as he connected with Jordy Nelson for a hat trick and added scoring tosses to new TE Jabari Holloway and slot receiver Eric Weems.  Freeman, who leads the league with a 121.2 QB Rating and a beautiful 25:2 TD:INT ratio has to be considered at the top of the list among MVP candidates. And what a year to turn it up!  Freeman is in his 4th year, hoping to get a new deal with St. Louis as his rookie contract is set to expire this year.  Expect the Skyhawks, with a season like this, to pay some hefty money to keep Freeman in Skyhawk Blue.  After a rookie season with a 71.6 QB rating, Freeman has improved every season, but only hit 85.8 last year.  This year’s leap to a QB Rating in the 120’s is exactly what the Skyhawks and Freeman needed in what has become a very encouraging year, one which may see St. Louis not only qualify for the playoffs for the first time since joining the league in 2006, but also win the Central Division. Trade Flurry Before Deadline Moves Weinke, Kearse, and Haden Several trades erupted in the last 3 days before the trade deadline.  We expected Texas to go after a QB and they did just that, but three other contenders also tried to shore up key areas on their roster, producing some exciting moves just as the window for midseason trades closed.  Let’s look at each in turn. While Luke McCown was set to start in Week 10 as a replacement for Joe Flacco, Texas was looking for an option who would bring a bit more starting experience to the club.  They found what they were looking for in Seattle, where former Monarch starter Chris Weinke has been acting as Byron Leftwich’s backup.  With Seattle mired in a 3-7 season and unlikely to make a playoff run, the Dragons were willing to deal Weinke and go with Alex Brink as their backup. That allowed Texas to land Weinke, who will likely get a shot to start unless McCown continues to get wins as he did this week. New Jersey, struggling to get pressure on QBs after the injury to Shaun Ellis, decided to go for a short-term solution.  The Generals made a deal that sent a 4th round pick to nab Jevon Kearse for the rest of the season.  Kearse, who is finishing out his contract and who many expect will retire after the season, agreed to the deal as it allows him to move from the Panthers to a New Jersey team that looks ready to contend right now.  Kearse lined up opposite Aaron Kampman only 3 days after the deal was finalized, playing 30 snaps for the Generals against Charlotte and recording his first sack as a member of Big Red. Cornerback Joe Haden also gets a deal that sends him to a potential contender.  Ohio, dealing with cap concerns and trying to build some draft capital, sent Haden to the Arizona Wranglers for a 2ndround pick and a 5th rounder in 2014.  Two days later, Haden had limited snaps with the Wranglers, but finished the game with 8 tackles as Washington QB David Garrard tried to take advantage of the corner’s lack of familiarity with the Wrangler schemes.  Haden lined up as the number 2 corner, behind Brandon Flowers, but is expected to make the move to number 1 if he can quickly pick up the coverages in Coach Tomsula’s system. As you may have noted in our game summary, St. Louis made a deal to bring Josh Freeman another target, acquiring TE Jabari Holloway from Birmingham for a 5th round pick. Holloway had lost his starting gig to Julius Thomas in Birmingham, but had an immediate impact with St. Louis, catching 3 balls and scoring his first touchdown for the Skyhawks. Finally, Oakland upgraded their run game with a 4 player, 1 pick move with Boston.  Oakland sent their starting FB and guard Joe Berger to the Cannons for Boston guard Chadwick Hodges and their FB, Sean Smith.  Both are considered upgrades for Oakland, who are in a dogfight with Las Vegas in the Pacific Division.  Boston had the pot sweetened with a 3rd round pick from the Invaders as they prepare to overhaul their roster as part of their move to Dallas in the offseason. 14 Boston Fans Arrested in Return Home for Cannons The added police presence in Boston kept things from getting too dicey at Alumni Stadium, but that did not mean the day was without incident.  Loud Chants that we cannot repeat here were heard throughout the game, mostly directed at team ownership, as well as chants of “Dallas Sucks”, which is to be expected.  There were also a few skirmishes in the stands, and just a handful of folks who tried to cause damage to the facilty as the game ended.  Boston police reported 14 arrests either within the stadium, in tandem with BC Security, or in the parking area, with 4 for acts of vandalism, 3 for altercations leading to assault charges, and 7 public intoxication charges.  All things considered, with just under 28,000 in attendance, that is a surprisingly low number.  Just a regular week in Philly, for example. Are Bulls For Real? Are Stags Done?  Up & Down the Standings As the Bulls rise to 5-5, fans across the league are asking if they are now a team to be concerned about, while they are also asking if Portland’s strong start was a mirage as the Stags drop another game and land at .500 themselves. It just goes to show how the same record can be viewed in very different ways based on expectations. For Jacksonville, their rise to .500 has included three straight wins, including a huge upset of Philadelphia in Week 9.  Their defense has proven particularly stingy against the run, and their offense has found success with a combination of short passes and QB option plays that maximize Tim Tebow’s fearlessness as a ball carrier.  The Bulls now find themselves thick in the hunt for a Wild Card, while still 3 games behind Charlotte for the Division. For Portland, a 4-game losing streak has taken a 5-1 team and dropped them to .500 and third place in the division.  The Staags have seen their offense drop to 25th in the league and Jonathan Stewart’s early season success seems a long way back.  Stewart’s per carry average has dropped to a very pedestrian 3.5 yards per carry and the passing game has not been able to compensate.  Ryan Fitzpatrick, with little option to use play action has seen his QB rating dip into the 80’s and the team’s points per game drop to only 16.2 per game.  While the defense remains number 1 in the league in yards allowed and 3rd overall in rush defense, the offense is simply not pulling their weight, and that has caused the team to come crashing down after a rocket start that no one saw coming. Vince Young to Miss 1-2 Weeks With Shoulder Injury Good news in a sense for Ohio as Vince Young got word from physicians on Tuesday that the injury to his non-throwing shoulder did not include ligament damage and would not require surgery.  He is likely to miss only 1-2 games as he rests the shoulder and steps away from throwing for a short time.  Had the injury been to his throwing shoulder, the time frame could be much longer, but with the injury to his balance arm, the Glory should expect their QB back by Week 12 or 13 at the latest. Young’s departure from the game this week was a big factor in the Glory’s loss to New Orleans.  The loss snapped a 4-game winning streak.  Tyrelle Pryor came on in relief but struggled without having taken snaps in practice. That won’t be the case moving towards Week 11, but Ohio cannot afford more losses if they hope to make a run at a Wild Card.  Sitting at 4-6 already puts them in a difficult spot, in 9th place hoping to rise to 6th, but if they can get hot once again they are still only 1 game behind the slumping Portland Stags for the 6th and final playoff spot. Speaking of playoffs, it is time for our first playoff picture of the season and what we see this week are a lot of tight races that may not be determined any time soon.  It is, of course, too early for teams to clinch or to be eliminated, but in several races, the current standings and the lack of space between teams means that this could be a season that sees important matchups in Weeks 15 and 16. The team with the largest lead of any division leader is St. Louis, who sit at7-3, two games up on both Pittsburgh and Chicago, who are both 5-5.  Four of the division leaders have a one game advantage, as is the case with Charlotte (8-2) over Atlanta (7-3), Washington (8-2) over Philadelphia (7-3), Texas (7-3) over Houston (6-4), and New Orleans at only 5-5, but still up 1 game on Nashville (4-6).  The only division currently seeing a tie at the top is the Pacific, where Oakland is currently ahead of Las Vegas on tie-breakers as both clubs sit at 6-4. Another week and more players added to the growing IR list, as well as some who are hoping they can get back quickly for a playoff run as the long season starts to grind down on rosters across the league. Here are the  new names on the injury lists across the USFL. INJURED RESERVE Todd Wade                 OT          POR       Groin Omar Bolden                 CB           OHI        Quad Paul McQuistan                G             CHI         Back AQ Shipley                       C             SEA        MCL OUT Chris Kelsay               DE         ATL         Knee                      2-4 Weeks Lee Smith                 TE           OHI        Groin                     1-2 Weeks Vince Young                QB          OHI        Shoulder              1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL Grant Irons                         LB       LA           Hamstring Kevin Johnson                   WR         PIT          Hip David Bowens                    DE        JAX         Arm QUESTIONABLE Marshawn Lynch              HB          LV           Knee Hannibal Navies            LB           NOR       Concussion Deon Grant                     CB           OAK       Concussion USFL’s 30th Anniversary Celebrates Sack Masters The USFL continued their 30th Season celebration by releasing their choices for the 5 greatest edge rusher seasons. Rather than go purely on numbers, which would have essentially left only 2-3 defensive ends in the running, they went with impact and dynamism of the season’s performance.  This allowed them to have 5 different sack artists represented. 2009 Calais Campbell (ORL): 34 Sacks No doubt that Calais Campbell would be here.  The only question is if it would be his stunning sophomore season, when he jumped from 12 sacks to a league record 34, or his equally impressive 4th season, when he matched that feat, giving him the two highest sack totals in league history and put to rest any concerns that his 2009 feat was a fluke.  The league opted to go with that stunning 2009 season, one in which Campbell averaged better than 2 sacks per game and recorded his 34 sacks in only 14 games.  Two years later the league would be playing a 16-game season once again and Campbell would equal his 2009 mark, but needed the added two games to do it. 1999 Chris Doleman (ORL): 29 Sacks Before Campbell became the first man to ever record 30 sacks in a season, the record was held by another Orlando Renegade.  Chris Doleman in 1999 broke a 9-year record with his 29th sack of the season.  It was part of a magical run for the Renegades that included 6 straight playoff appearances and a Summer Bowl victory in 2001.  Of all his impressive seasons, it was 1999 when Doleman hit the pinnacle of his production, though, to be fair, for a man who hit double digit sacks in 11 straight seasons, there were certainly a lot of good years. 1991 Phil Hansen (NJ): 23 Sacks While it would  not be his highest sack total over a long and illustrious career, what made Phil Hansen’s 23-sack rookie season was just how much he stunned the league.  Coming out of North Dakota,Now one thought Hansen would have the impact he did on the league, much less in his rookie season, setting what was at the time the league record for sacks in his very first pro season.  Hansen would have an incredible 10 seasons with 20 or more sacks, including a run of 9 seasons in a row from 1992 until 2002, but it was his amazing rookie season that announced to the world that a superstar was born. 1990 Reggie White (MEM): 21 Sacks When you think of sacks and QB pressure in the USFL the conversation almost always turns to Reggie White, the Minister of Defense.  White was another rookie phenom, racking up 18 sacks in his first year in the league, a signee out of Tennessee with the expansion Memphis Showboats.  He would go on to become the face of the franchise for over a decade, and in 1990, he would reach his pinnacle with 21 sacks in the season, his first of 2 seasons over 20 sacks.  While he may point to his 1999 league title as the high point of his career, ever the team player, the league pointed to 1990 as his greatest individual season. 2000 Kavika Pittman HOU): 22 Sacks The fifth and final sack master to make our list, Kavika Pittman was a key reason the Gambler defense was so feared for so long.  Pittman came to Houston in 1996, putting up 13 sacks as a rookie.  He would play an astonishing 17 seasons in Houston and only in his final season did he fail to record double digit sacks.  Consistent and at times ferocious, Pittman was many a quarterback’s worst nightmare, and in 2000 he reached his high water mark with a 22-sack season. Thunder Miss Deadline for Stadium Fund Allocation Concerning news out of Las Vegas, where the Thunder have failed to produce nearly $140M in funding which was to be applied to the new stadium construction project.  After an initial investment of $200M from the USFL coffers, the next installment of funding for the stadium was due more than 6 weeks ago and we are now discovering that the ownership of the Thunder has yet to make necessary arrangements to provide the funding to the joint league-team-city fund which is responsible for keeping the project on pace. A lien from the city is the next possible step as concerns grow that the Thunder may be overextended and may not have the financial backing necessary to complete the stadium project as agreed upon.  Why this would be a sudden discovery and not part of the ongoing work of the league and the city in this project is unknown, but this has clearly caught both parties by surprise.  We attempted to speak with officials from within the Las Vegas Thunder organization and have not been able to get an official statement. The concern here is real.  The agreement between the league, the city, and the team, clearly places the onus of responsibility on the league to ensure that all payments are completed and that the project continue to advance in a timely manner.  If the Thunder are unable to provide full coverage for their investment responsibilities, it would fall on the league to step in and ensure coverage.  That would be a pretty sizeable hit for the league, one which would almost certainly lead to financial concerns on a leaguewide basis and significant pushback against the Thunder and their ownership.  The hope, of course, is that with the added pressure of the league’s responsibility for covering capital investment promises, the Thunder will do what is needed to secure the funds necessary for the project to continue on schedule for stadium completion in 2015.  But, if Las Vegas’s financial standing is truly in disarray, that could lead to some dramatic action by the league to ensure that there is not a breach of contract with the city of Las Vegas. Oakland and NFL 49ers Agree to Stadium Partnership On a more positive side, we have received word this week of an agreement in principal between the NFL San Francisco 49ers, the USFL Oakland Invaders, and the city of Santa Clara in the South Bay region of the Bay Area.  The agreement would lead to construction of a new facility in the South Bay which would serve as home to both franchises with a possible start date of Fall 2014.  That is an ambitious timetable considering the often convoluted California and Bay Area red tape that surrounds any construction project.  It is also a significant hit to both the cities of San Francisco and Oakland, which would essentially lose their pro football franchises to the South Bay.  While for fans the inconvenience is in the longer trip to the stadium from either city, for the cities themselves, the departure of each club would be a significant economic hit as both cities receive both direct funding from tax revenues and indirect funding through taxes levied for local hotels, restaurants, and businesses which see revenue boosts during each team’s football season, from both out of town and in-city fans.  The city of Santa Clara, and the larger “Silicon Valley” would, of course, benefit from the same revenue streams. Both the Invaders and the 49ers have tried for several  years to get public backing for a new stadium in their current cities, but both have been denied funding time and again, in both public referenda and within government bureaucratic committees.  The end result very much looks like both cities will lose out and Santa Clara will gain not one, but two pro football franchises. Early speculation is that both clubs would retain their current identities, despite the relocation, meaning that Santa Clara would be home to both clubs, but that they would still use San Francisco and Oakland as their identifying city despite the location in the South Bay region.   Not unheard of, with the NFL Giants and Jets both playing in New Jersey, the Dallas Cowboys playing in Irving, or the Detroit Lions having spent many years in Pontiac before relocating downtown. Potential good news for Bay Area USFL fans who had been very concerned that investment groups from Dallas, San Diego, or even Oklahoma City could find a way to woo the Invaders.  Sure, they will now have to find a way to get to Santa Clara for games, but that is a heck of a lot easier than rooting for their favorite club when it is 1,000 miles or more from your home. Week 11 and some good matchups across the entire weekend, starting with a battle of 6-4 clubs on Friday Night as Baltimore travels to New Jersey.  A loss sends either team to 4th place in the division, a win and a potential jump to 2nd place. On Saturday, Tampa Bay, fresh off their win over Atlanta, faces another tough SE Division foe as the Charlotte Monarchs bring their league-best 8-2 record to Raymond James Stadium.  St. Louis visits Nashville, where another capacity crowd is expected to be there to cheer for Peyton Manning.  Las Vegas will be a challenge for the rising Jacksonville Bulls, and Atlanta heads out to the West Coast to face the Pacific Division leading Invaders. On Sunday, a good early clash as Philadelphia heads to New Orleans to face the 5-5 Breakers.  At 4pm Texas will be in Ohio and Washington heads to Memphis, and a weekend finale that looked great on paper back in February with LA visiting Seattle, a game expected to pit two contenders in the Pacific, but now looks like a battle for draft position. FRIDAY @ 8PM ET        BALTIMORE (6-4) @ NEW JERSEY (6-4)             NBC SAT @ 12PM ET                CHARLOTTE (8-2) @ TAMPA BAY (5-5)                    ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                ST. LOUIS (7-3) @ NASHVILLE (4-6)                           FOX SAT @ 12PM ET                LAS VEGAS (6-4) @ JACKSONVILLE (5-5)                 FOX SAT @ 4PM ET                  ARIZONA (4-6) @ HOUSTON (6-4)                          ABC SAT @ 4PM ET                  ATLANTA (7-3) @ OAKLAND (6-4)                       FOX SAT @ 8PM ET                  CHICAGO (5-5) @ PITTSBURGH (5-5)                      ESPN/EFN SUN @ 12PM ET               PHILADELPHIA (7-3) @ NEW ORLEANS (5-5)         ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               DENVER (4-6) @ BOSTON (3-7)                               ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               ORLANDO (2-8) @ BIRMINGHAM (3-7)                  FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                 WASHINGTON (8-2) @ MEMPHIS (2-8)                  ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 TEXAS (7-3) @ OHIO (4-6)                                        FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                 MICHIGAN (4-6) @ PORTLAND (5-5)                      FOX SUN @ 8PM ET                 LOS ANGELES (3-7) @ SEATTLE (3-7)                     ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Josh Freeman wins POTW for his 5 TD dismantling of Memphis. His other numbers don't jump off the page (14/24, 285 Yds) but when you throw for 5 TDs in a game, you are likely to get the nod as the Player of the Week. PLAYOFF PICTURE: With 6 weeks left of play, there are no teams clinched, eliminated, or able to do so next week. Currently St. Louis holds the only 2-game lead in any division, with every other division leader only 1 game up on 2nd place or, in the case of the Pacific, tied atop the standings.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: We don't often celebrate kickers here, but when you not only score every single point in your team's victory, but also set a league record with an 8 for 8 day, you get some recognition, so good on ya Tim Seder of the Chicago "Kicking" Machine. Nicely done!

In a week dominated by the season-ending injury to the 2011 MVP, we saw teams flirting with .500 and striving to get off on the right foot for the second half of the season. And while Texas will now have to go through the same calculus that Philadelphia did about how to handle the loss of their captain and star quarterback, but with only 1 week before the trade deadline, other teams, teams expected to be at the top of the standings this year, are struggling just to keep out of the basement in their divisions.  It has certainly been a year of unexpected results and significant upheaval across the league, and it only continued in Week 9.  We will bring you the latest news on Joe Flacco’s injury, and all the game results, starting with an overtime thriller in the Southwestern Division. DENVER GOLD 27   HOUSTON GAMBLERS 24   OVERTIME Houston was looking to take control in the division, Denver hoping to stay alive, so you knew this one would be a brawl as the Gold and Gamblers faced off at NRG Stadium.  Denver came in at 3-5, knowing a loss could well end any hope for a postseason bid, while Houston, at the opposite 5-3 knew a win could propel them to a dominant position in the division and a legitimate chance at a top seed come playoff time.  Houston would lead throughout, but a 4th quarter comeback for the ages would propel the game to overtime an din the extra period the Denver Gold would get the win they needed to stay relevant and, hopefully, inspire a strong second half that could move them out of the SW Division basement. Early on this game looked like it would be controlled by the homestanding Gamblers.  Houston got the only points of the first quarter, a Hasselbeck TD toss to Jeremy Kerley, and the Gambler defense had Denver under control, but there were signs that perhaps not everything was going their way.  Early runs by DeMarco Murray and Maurice Hicks showed that Houston’s defense could be susceptible to the quick-hitting style of the revised Denver rushing attack.  And yet, after a Dan Carpenter field goal put Houston up 10-0, the Gamblers seemed to have things in hand. But that perception would end quickly when Matt Leinart found Leonard Hankeson, who would end the game with 113 yards in the air, on a huge 3rd down play.  After suffering a sack, Leinart was facing 3rd and 18, and most expected a screen or draw play followed by a punt.  Instead what they got was a perfect out & up and a throw that hit Hankerson in stride. The Denver receiver danced along the sideline before stepping out 30  yards upfield.  That play seemed to put a crack in the damn that had been the Houston defense.  The next play, an 18-yard run from DeMarco Murray, gave Denver the confidence they needed.  They would score 2 plays later on a 2-yard Hicks run, and at 10-7 were right back in the game. After holding Houston to a 3-and-out, Denver got the ball back with just under 2 minutes left in the half, and, using all their timeouts and a very timely offsides from the Gamblers, were able to get in range for kicker Greg Zeurlein, who leveled the score just as the first half was ending.  The Gold would go in at halftime believing they had the upper hand after a rough first 20 minutes of play. That belief was challenged in the third quarter, when Houston mixed up their coverages and, while allowing a few more solid runs, clamped down on Matt Leinart.  The pinnacle of this was on Denver’s 2nd drive of the half, when early pressure up the middle caused Leinart to make an ill-advised throw to the middle of the field, a throw that LB Kevin Burnett easily intercepted and then, led by a convoy of defenders, took 68 yards for a score.  The defensive scores seemed to turn momentum 180 degrees as Houston took a 17-10 lead into the final period. On a drive that began late in the third quarter and finished with a Shaun Alexander TD run in the 4th, Houston took its largest lead of the day, now up 24-10 and again feeling flush.  But Denver was not done.  With 5:22 left to play, they went against script, running the ball instead of going for the quick passes.  That strategy paid off as both Hicks and Murray, who would combine for 166 yards on the day, would slice and dice the Nickel defense of the Gamblers and without even using any timeouts, the Gold were inside the 5 with more than 2:40 to go. They would get the score on a quick slant route to Hankerson, and just like that the Houston advantage was down to 7. Denver would, of course, go for the onside kick, but rather than a straight shot bouncing towards one sideline, Greg Zeurlein sent a high pooch kick straight down the middle and over the initial line of Houston blockers. The ball hung in the air long enough for Denver to get men in position for what ended up looking like a rugby scrum as the ball came down.  A huge pile ensued, and while we may never know who first had the ball, in the end it was the Gold and LB Will Overstreet who emerged from the bottom of the pile with the ball.   Denver was in business with about 2:30 to play and down by 7. The Gold continued to use the quick run play,  mixed with short throws from Leinart to TE Daniel Graham and slot receiver James Hardy, to move the ball deeper and deeper into Houston territory.  After a timeout stopped the clock with 15 seconds to go and the ball on the Houston 17, Denver would have no more options but to keep the ball in the air.  Leinart hit Golden Tate with a short pass that brought the ball to the 8 yard line, with Tate stepping out of bounds to stop the clock.  10 seconds left, time enough for 2, maybe 3 quick pass attempts.  They would need only 1.  On the next play, Leinart rolled slightly to the right, pumped towards Hankerson, but then let the ball go underneath to James Hardy, who was slashing across the face of the endzone. Hardy leaned into the endzone and the referee raised his arms to signal a touchdown with 8 seconds left on the clock.   Denver had tied the game. After the kickoff, Houston would take a knee to send the game to overtime. In the extra period, Houston would get the ball first, but after two first downs, the drive stalled, and firmly located in nowhere’s land at the Denver 46, Houston opted to punt the ball back to the Gold.  They would not see it again.  Denver used their now-prolific rushing assault to slash their way through the Houston defense, setting up Zeurlein for the game winner.  With 7:29 left in the extra period, the Denver kicker ended the game with a kick straight down the middle and Denver escaped Houston with a much-needed win and a lease on life as they start the second half now only 1 game below .500. ORLANDO 13   BALTIMORE 19 Orlando continues to struggle on offense, despite 117 yards from Knowshon Moreno.  They scored only 6 points on offense (with a pick-six from Terrance Kiel their only TD) and yet at one point they led 13-0.  Baltimore came back with TDs from Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacob Tamme to upend the Renegades and improve their record to 5-4. PHILADELPHIA 13   JACKSONVILLE 27 A huge upset as the Bulls hold Philadelphia to only 19 yards rushing and outpace them with 14 points in the final 9 minutes to take the W and move within 1 game of .500.  Tim Tebow went 26 of 40 and found Jason Whitten for a TD, while the Bulls D kept the pressure on Matt Gutierrez, sacking the Stars’ QB 6 times and forcing 2 picks, including a pick-six in the 4th quarter to seal the unexpected Bulls’ win. CHARLOTTE 7   ATLANTA 35 This battle of division rivals turned lopsided early as Atlanta built up a 21-0 lead at the half.  Touchdowns came from every side as they got TD runs from Darren McFadden and J. J. Arrington, a TD catch from TE Will Heller and a pick six from venerable corner Charles Woodson.  Charlotte got 107 yards from Fred Jackson and Mark Clayton had 97 in the air, but they could not turn yards into points as Atlanta’s defense held yet another opponent below 10 points in the game. WASHINGTON 20   NEW JERSEY 0 Washington held New Jersey to only 5 first downs and 98 total yards in an absolutely dominant defensive showing. Sam Bradford completed only 8 passes for 64 yards and the run game produced only 34 total yards as  Washington rolled, and with the win took over sole possession of first place in the NE Division. BIRMINGHAM 10  MEMPHIS 12 Memphis gets their second win of the season as they shut down the run game of the Stallions and hold Birmingham without a touchdown until the waning seconds of the game.  Neither offense was particularly prolific, but Dan Bailey’s 4 field goals were enough to get Memphis the win in this rivalry game. NEW ORLEANS 19   ST. LOUIS 27 Taylor Jacobs had a field day,  gaining an average of 38.5 yards per catch on his way to 154 yards and a TD in the Skyhawk win. The Skyhawk defense did its part as well, holding New Orleans to only 3 points in the second half after the Breakers led 16-13 at the half.  Third quarter TDs from Jordy Nelson and Jacobs helped St. Louis move to 6-3 and hold first place in the Central Division. OHIO 28   MICHIGAN 14 Ohio, after an 0-5 start, could reach .500 with a win next week.  They notched their 4th in a row and yet another division win by heading up to Detroit an doubling up the Panthers.  Isaiah Pead and Ryan Jennings combined for 133 yards rushing and Vince young found Javon Walker for a TD that helped Ohio get the W against their rival. NASHVILLE 10   CHICAGO 24 Chicago got to 24 points the hard way, 8 field goals on 10 drives as Tim Seder set a league record for scoring in a game.  Nashville could only muster one kick until the last 30 seconds of the game as Chicago dominated with defense and ball control. Frank Gore was limited due to a sore hamstring, so he only had 7 carries, while Michael Turner toted the rock 28 times in the Chicago win. TEXAS 47   SEATTLE 5 Absolute domination for the Outlaws, but at a huge price as Joe Flacco went out with a painful groin injury in the 2nd quarter.  MRI would later show a full tear, meaning that Texas will have to continue without Flacco for the rest of the season. In his stead, Luke McCown would throw for only 128 yards, but got a lot of help from the run game as both Arian Foster and Aveion Carson both rushed for 2 touchdowns apiece in a blowout win for the visitors. PITTSBURGH 3   OAKLAND 29 Oakland wins the battle of 4-4 clubs, sending Pittsburgh to under .500 and causing Coach Rivera to make a change for Week 10.  The Invaders picked off Cody Picket twice and sacked the Mauler QB 4 times in a dominant defensive performance.  Jerious Norwood rushed for 104 and a score and Pierre Garçon again scored as Oakland put themselves in the Pacific hunt at 5-4. BOSTON 22   ARIZONA 17 Arizona got sloppy, let Boston hang around, and it cost them in the end.  Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 112 yards and a score and also caught the game winning TD as Boston stunned the Wrangler faithful at University of Phoenix Stadium.  David Carr was sacked 6 times, including two each from Jason Babin and Chuckie Nwokorie as the Cannons get a win in what many expected to be a lost season for the soon-to-relocate club. TAMPA BAY 14   LOS ANGELES 17 The Express win their third in a row and stun the Bandits, thanks again to a stifling defense.  Daunte Culpepper struggled to find open receivers all game, while Mark Sanchez relied on Ray Rice’s legs to get first downs.  Rice finished the day with 124 yards on 22 carries, but it was a Sanchez to Ronald Johnson TD toss in the 4th that got LA the win and sent Tampa Bay to a disappointing 4-5 record. LAS VEGAS 37   PORTLAND 20 Las Vegas asserted their claim on the Pacific Crown with a convincing win over Portland in Portland.  Jake Plummer excelled, going 29 of 36 for 309 yards and 3 TD tosses.  Both Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh scored as the new dynamic duo of the West again show they may be the most dangerous duo in the conference. Joe Flacco Lost for Year with Groin Tear It was a play that was hard to watch, and a loss that will be hard for the Texas Outlaws to overcome.  Caught around the ankle on a rare scramble, Joe Flacco’s left leg did not follow him forward as he fell to the ground and you could immediately see the pain on his face as he lay on the turf.  He was helped to the sideline, but was clearly in a lot of pain.  Taken to the locker room, it was clear that the 2011 MVP was out for the game, but even before the clash with Seattle was over, it was reported that the injury was not just a groin pull, but a significant tear.  Joe Flacco would be gone not for the game, but for the year. Texas would go on to easily defeat the Seattle Dragons, getting 4 TDs from their backs and 4 field goals from Rian Lindell to crush Seattle 47-5, but now the future of one of the league’s Summer Bowl favorites would be in doubt.  Just as with Philadelphia who lost Kurt Warner in the season’s second week, Texas would need to determine a path forward, and with the trade deadline only a week away, they would have to decide very quickly if they were comfortable with 9-year veteran backup Luke McCown at QB or would they make a move to bring in another option. McCown started appeared in 3 games in 2011, and looked shaky at best.  He last started significant action in 2007 as a member of the St. Louis Skyhawks and threw 7 TDs to 11 picks.  And while he almost certainly will get the start in Week 10 over 3rd string QB Dan Orlovsky, there is great concern in Texas that McCown cannot be effective for a 7 game stretch and a possible playoff run.  But, with the trade deadline looming, any deal to bring in a possible replacement will need to be completed within the next 4 days, a very compressed timeframe, and one likely to force Texas to overspend and risk their future for a very short-term solution. Can McCown have a stunning Matt Gutierrez-like rise? Possible, but can the Outlaws take a chance on that or do they have to make a move, recognizing that the rest of the team is primed for a deep playoff run and a possible Summer Bowl appearance?  The pressure will be on Coach Landry and the front office to provide the club with a viable answer, and for most observers, McCown may not be that answer. Tim Seder Kicks 8 for 8 In Chicago Win It is extremely rare for a special teams player to earn Offensive Player of the week, but when  your team wins 24-10, and all 24 points come off of field goals, setting a new league record with an 8 for 8 performance, you deserve to get recognized. Tim Seder bailed out a Chicago offense that time and again moved the ball well between the 20’s but fizzled in the red zone.  In a game that saw Chicago score on 8 of 10 possessions (the 10th being a kneel down at the end of regulation), Seder just kept putting 3s on the board, like Reggie Miller against the Knicks, he was just dropping 3’s on every drive. Seder hit from 47 on the first drive of the game, followed it with kicks of 29, 49, and 35 yards in the first half to give Chicago a 12-3 advantage, then added 3 more in the 3rd quarter as Chicago went up 21-3 on kicks of 43, 18, and 36 yards.  Finally in the 4th, Chicago had a drive that did not end with a Seder kick as a fumble cost the Machine possession, but he returned on the next drive, with fans already clued in that an 8th kick would be a record.  Seder nailed a 30-yarder, giving Chicago a 21 point lead with time waning and the stadium celebrated as the record was posted on the big board.  It was the kind of day every kicker dreams of, and without the pressure of having to make the game winner with no time left, just kicking for points over and over again. Peyton Manning to Get Start vs. Baltimore It has been confirmed and the fans in Nashville could not be happier.  Peyton Manning has been designated the starter for the Knights’ Week 10 clash at home against Baltimore.  Peyton, who has been seeing more and more snaps with the first team since Week 7, has been cleared to play and has been handed the reins of the Knights who come into Week 10 with a 4-5 record but still in the hunt for a division title. It is a day many thought would not come.  Manning’s spinal fusion surgery could have ended his career, but he agreed to sign with the Knights after being released by the NFL Colts.  Confident in his ability to play the game once again, Manning spent the past 8 months rehabbing, sticking to every medical protocol, and preparing.  He arrives with all the anticipation of a number 1 overall draft pick, viewed as a savior by Nashville fans who have long struggled with a team that was strong on defense, has an outstanding halfback, but always questioned their QB play. Just how sharp Manning will be on Sunday remains a big question.  All reports say that the veteran and 3x NFL Champion has fully absorbed the playbook, and teammates have expressed their respect for the work Manning has brought to practice and the attitude he shows in team meetings.  What is known for sure is the impact that Manning’s arrival is having for Nashville at the box office.  The Knights expect a crowd of nearly 60,000 on Sunday to welcome the former Tennessee Volunteer to Nashville and to the USFL.  The Knights are, of course, hoping that Manning’s arrival sparks the team to a playoff run, a division title, and a shot at an elusive USFL championship. Express & Glory Finding their Footing They started a combined 0-11 this season, but now Ohio and Los Angeles  have found their groove.  The Glory have won 4 in a row after an 0-5 start, and LA has won their last 3 after a horrible 0-6 start to the year.  What is even more impressive is that in their streaks both clubs have taken it to division rivals.  LA got their first win in Week 7 by defeating Seattle, and then added a win at home against Oakland in Week 8.  Ohio has won 4 in a row against Central Division rivals, knocking off Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Chicago, and now Michigan in succession. The Glory now sit at 4-5, only 1 game from .500 and only 2 games out of first place even with a brutal 0-5 start. For LA the climb is a bit harder.  Sitting at 3-6, they are still 3 games out of first, and sitting in 4th place, but this is still a far better place to be than they were in when they decided to trade away Randy Moss.  In what is being called a clear case of addition by subtraction, the departure of the talented but very vocal Moss has led to LA changing their dynamic in the locker room and on the field.  The offense is still struggling, but the defense has kept them in games and Mark Sanchez, despite all the criticism, has found ways to pull out tight wins, 17-10, 16-10, and 17-14 this week against Tampa Bay. With 7 games left to play, both the Express and Glory are still in the playoff hunt, and if they can keep their recent success going, they could very well find the story of 2012 changing dramatically from where it had originally seemed to be heading. Maulers & Bandits Slip Below .500 As uplifting as the recent win streaks for Ohio and LA are, the opposite is true for the Pittsburgh Maulers and Tampa Bay Bandits.  The Maulers, who appeared in Summer Bowl 2011 and were considered favorites to return to Summer’s Biggest Party, have now lost 4in a row and find themselves in 4th place in their division.  Their offense has completely fizzled, leaving them 24th in scoring and averaging barely 12 points a game in their last 4.  QB Cody Pickett is taking a lot of heat and there are rumors that we could see 2nd year TCU product Andy Dalton before too long. For Tampa Bay the slide has not been quite as dramatic, losing 3 of the last 4, but the result is the same, a 4-5 record and now 3 games behind Atlanta and Charlotte, and in 4th behind Jacksonville, a place they never expected to find themselves.  For the Bandits, the issue has been hard to pin down.  They are still ranked solidly in both defense and offense, Willis McGahee is leading the league in rushing, but they are watching games slip out of their control. Their loss this week to LA is a perfect example. They allowed the Express to stay in the game, failed to connect on big plays, and eventually lost the lead and the game. For both clubs there is still time to turn it around, but that time will not last long. Both the Central Division and Southeast Division are extremely competitive, and younger, hungrier teams like St. Louis, Ohio, Charlotte and Atlanta are feeling a shift that could propel them to the top.  They are not going to cede ground to the Maulers and Bandits, at least not willingly, so both Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay are going to have to fight tooth and nail for every win and hope they catch some breaks if they expect to return to championship form and to the playoffs. The Joe Flacco injury was unfortunately only one of several key injuries across the league in Week 9.  As with every season, dealing with injuries is an unfortunate reality for every team.  Football is a violent game that pushes the body to extremes and features bone-rattling hits each and every week.  That will produce injuries, just a part of the game, but one we always hate to see.   Here are this week’s newly cited injuries across the USFL. INJURED RESERVE Joe Flacco                   QB          TEX         Groin John Keith         SS           CHA       Hip Heath Miller               TE           WSH      Quad OUT Albert Haynesworth        DT           ORL        Wrist             4-6 Weeks Chris Liwienski                G             LV           Miniscus        1-2 Weeks Monty Biesel                   LB           TBY         Shoulder         1-2 Weeks Nick Barnett                    LB           HOU      Hip                  1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL Tyrell Johnson               FS           NSH       Concussion David Bowens            DE          JAX         Arm Frank Gore                   HB          NSH       Foot Leonard Davis               G            STL         Illness QUESTIONABLE Channing Crowder      LB           POR       Hamstring Richard Sherman              CB           SEA        Toe D. J. Hackett                  WR       CHA       Ankle Vernon Davis                 TE      HOU      Illness Michigan Unveils 2013 Uniforms The Michigan Panthers become the first club to unveil their 2013 Adidas redesign, assuming we don’t count the three options released by the new Dallas Roughnecks franchise.  As expected, there is no change to the primary logo or to the iconic helmet for a club that innovated the full side wraparound logo back in 1983.  There are, however, significant adjustments to the rest of the uniform. The Burgundy, Lake Blue and Champagne colors remain unchanged, but the new uniforms now include dual shoulder stripes and colored sleeves (champagne on the white jerseys). The new uniforms for the first time, also feature striping along the sidepanels from the underarm to the waist.  The thin single stripe, divided into small blocks at the arm, mirror the same pattern on the new white, champagne, and burgundy pant sets.  The use of small color blocks, paired with a longer single stripe, mirror the design element added to the team when they created their “Motor City M” secondary logo. The new look also features an angled number design, with the numbers rising from the lower left to upper right.  The secondary logo also makes an appearance on the jerseys, added to the back just above the nameplate. With Michigan mired in a 3-6 season, it seems unlikely we will see the team debut the new look in the playoffs, a practice most teams have used in recent years, but will debut in March of 2013. City of Boston and Boston College to Bolster Police Presence at Alumni Field With the now lame-duck Boston Cannons returning for their first home game since the announcement that the club was sold and would move to Dallas in 2013, both Boston College and the City of Boston fear that fans could lash out at the club on Sunday, when the Cannons take on division rival Philadelphia.  While single game ticket sales have lagged, another expected result of the franchise sale, the league and Boston College still expect a crowd in excess of 30,000, and the concern is that frustration (and beer) could overflow into potential vandalism and violence on Sunday. Boston College will have a full contingent of campus security on site, which will be bolstered by an additional 200 Boston PD reinforcements, 4 times the normal number of BPD who would be working security at prior Cannon games.  Expect much the same for the remaining home games on the schedule, with particular concern for the club’s final game at Alumni Stadium in Week 14, when they, somewhat ironically, face the Texas Outlaws, a future division and in-state rival for the Dallas Roughnecks. As we look to Week 10 and our first playoff analysis, we recognize that for a lot of teams, time is beginning to run short.  We see this in our Friday game, where the 4-5 Wranglers are on the cusp of .500 and need to string together some wins to challenge for the SW Division.  That will not be easy as they head to RFK Stadium to face the team with the best record in the league, the 7-2 Washington Federals. On Saturday, Ohio hopes to keep their 4-game winning streak going as they head to New Orleans to face the 4-5 Breakers.  It will be their first inter-divisional game since the win streak began.  New Jersey faces a tough Charlotte squad in Charlotte and Portland and Oakland clash in a battle of 5-4 teams hoping to challenge Las Vegas atop the Pacific Division.  We also have Denver, fresh off their win in Houston, staying in the Lone Star state, where they will face Josh McCown in his first start in place of the injured Joe Flacco. On Sunday we start off with a must-win game for Tampa Bay as they host the 7-2 Atlanta Fire. Atlanta has won 6 in a row, and are looking to knock the Bandits out of the race now, with 6 more weeks to play.  Baltimore will travel to Nashville to take on the 4-5 Knights, who could take over 1st place even at .500 in a down year for the Southern Division.  Finally, on Sunday night we have the LA Express, winners of 3 in a row, heading to Pittsburgh, where the Maulers have now lost 4 in a row, a battle of teams with very different momentum. FRIDAY @ 8PM ET             ARIZONA (4-5) @ WASHINGTON (7-2)                NBC SAT @ 12PM ET                 BIRMINGHAM (3-6) @ JACKSONVILLE (4-5)          ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                 OHIO (4-5) @ NEW ORLEANS (4-5)                         ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                 NEW JERSEY (6-3) @ CHARLOTTE (7-2)                 FOX SAT @ 4PM ET                   PORTLAND (5-4) @ OAKLAND (5-4)                       ABC SAT @ 4PM ET                   DENVER (4-5) @ TEXAS (6-3)                                   FOX SAT @ 8PM ET                   SEATTLE (2-7) @ LAS VEGAS (6-3)                          ESPN/EFN SUN @ 12PM ET               PHILADELPHIA (6-3) @ BOSTON (3-6)                    ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               ATLANTA (7-2) @ TAMPA BAY (4-5)                         FOX SUN @ 12PM ET               ST. LOUIS (6-4) @ MEMPHIS (2-7)                            FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                  ORLANDO (2-7) @ MICHIGAN (3-6)                      ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                  BALTIMORE (5-4) @ NASHVILLE (4-5)                    ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                  CHICAGO (5-4) @ HOUSTON (5-4)                        FOX SUN @ 8PM ET                  LOS ANGELES (3-6) @ PITTSBURGH (4-5)             ESPN/EFN

We have reached midseason, and it is a season that has had some huge storylines, from Philadelphia’s rally under Matt Gutierrez to the trade of Randy Moss by the winless Express.  We have seen a bit of everything this year. At the midway point we need to reevaluate what we thought would happen this  year and compare it to what we have seen so far.  We have seen teams like St. Louis, Houston, and Portland put in surprisingly strong starts, while LA, Pittsburgh, Oakland, and Orlando are absolutely not where we expected them to be.  We will start off with our recap of Week 8’s action before a team-by-team analysis of the season at the half-way point.  And then, as a cherry on top, we have both the 2012 Hall of Fame semifinalist list and news around the Dallas Roughnecks franchise. ARIZONA WRANGLERS 35   PHILADELPHIA STARS 31 The Stars looked like they had this one, up 14 after three quarters, but Arizona exploded in the final period and rattled off 21 points in the final 10 minutes of game time to shock the Stars and move their record to .500 at midseason.  It was a game that saw a little of everything, and a lot of big plays as we saw TDs of 32, 43, 57, and 64 yards.  It was a fireworks show as much as a football game. For a game that would end with 66 points scored, the game certainly did not start out that way.  Arizona got the lone score of the first quarter with only 2 minutes left in the period when David Carr found slot receiver Kassim Osgood in a mismatch with a linebacker.  Osgood turned upfield and Carr hit him for a 43-yard TD to put points on the board for the first time. Philadelphia responded by dominating the 2nd period and putting 17 points on the board. They got their first score on a Steve Slaton goal line run at the end of an 11-play drive.  They returned 4 minutes later with Matt Gutierrez finding Stevie Johnson for a score from the 12.  They capped off a good quarter with a late Mike Nugent field goal and at the break it looked like Philadelphia had the upper hand. But, as the third quarter opened, Philly could not move the ball, while Arizona took their first possession and drove 81 yards for a score, with HB Steven Ridley gashing the Philadelphia D for a 12-yard TD run, pinballing off a missed tackle and carrying the safety over the line.  Philadelphia responded, and with 5:21 left in the third, Gutierrez had his first long pass of the game, a 32-yard TD strike to TE Jermichael Finley on a perfectly executed seam route. And so, going into the 4th, Philadelphia was on top 24-14, but Arizona had shown they could move the ball, and that is exactly what they did on their first drive, capping off a 9-play 71-yard drive with a TD run from LT to pull within 3.  They would then take the lead only 3 minutes later when David Carr found Antonio Bryant behind the defense for a 32-yard scoring toss. Philadelphia was stunned to find themselves down 28-24, but they rebounded with a drive of their own, and with 3:30 left in the game they hoped they had the game winner when Matt Gutierrez hit on the biggest play of the game, a 64-yard rainbow of a 9-route to Stevie Johnson that put the Stars up 31-28. But, as we know, 3:30 left in a USFL game means that the lead is in no way safe.  With 2 timeouts left and all the motivation in the world, David Carr led the Wrangler offense back onto the field.  He would complete 2 short passes, paired with a draw to LT, before finding the game winner. Once again it was a case of the receiver getting behind the defense, something that should just not have been possible during the final minutes of a game.  This time it was Larry Fitzgerald and Carr hit him for what would be a 57-yard strike and the game winner.  Fitzgerald had shaken the coverage of the corner, and the safety could not get to him in time, waving helplessly at the ball as it dropped into Fitzgerald’s hands.  The big receiver easily cruised to the end zone and Arizona got a dramatic road win against the 6-1 Stars to move their record to 4-4 and alert the SW Division that they were not yet out of the hunt. NASHVILLE 30   BIRMINGHAM 27       OVERTIME Another contender for GOTW as the Knights and Stallions go to extra time to decide this one and propel one team to a share of first place in the South.  Birmingham went up 27-20 with only 1:49 left on a Joseph Addai TD, but Quincy Carter led the Knights back, hitting Denarius Moore with only 34 seconds on the clock to send the game to overtime.  It looked like it might go to a tie, but a pass interference call gave Nashville a shot, and Kai Forbath hit the longest kick of the season in the USFL, a 57-yarder for the win and that share of first for the Knights. ORLANDO 21   CHARLOTTE 34 The Monarchs hit the midway point with the best record in the league, sitting at 7-1 after a 13-point victory at home against the Renegades.  Jake Delhomme found Derek Mason for 3 scores and the combination of Fred Jackson and Shonn Greene, back from injury, provided Charlotte with 152 yards rushing as Charlotte asserted themselves with authority against an Orlando squad that has now lost 5 in a row. BOSTON 16    NEW JERSEY 24 Boston entered the final quarter with a surprising 16-10 lead, but New Jersey wore them down and took advantage of their desperate final drive.  Delone Carter gave the Generals a 17-16 lead with 8 minutes left, and in their rush to get back on top, Boston and QB Jake Locker got sloppy.  The result was a Nate Clements pick, returned 45-yards for a score and the 8-point win for the 6-2 Generals. OHIO 27   CHICAGO 21 Make it three in a row for the Glory as they knock off yet another Central Division club, taking advantage of every one of the limited scoring chances Chicago gave them.  Ohio was 3 for 3 inside the redzone, with rookie Isaiah Pead scoring twice and Vince young hitting TE Stephan Riley for a third score as the Glory drop Chicago to 4-4 and improve their own record to 3-5 with the club’s third straight division win. TAMPA BAY 14   LAS VEGAS 35 Jake Plummer had himself a game at home against the Bandits, throwing for 4 TDs and completing 23 of 28 passes as Las Vegas stunned the Bandits with a 35-point scoring streak.  Plummer hit 4 different receivers for scores, including a 61-yard strike to T. J. Houshmandzadeh as the Thunder take over first place in the Pacific and leave the defending league champs sitting at .500 at the midway point of the season. DENVER 21   HOUSTON 24 The Gamblers get a bit of home cooking, and a game winning field goal at regulation to knock off Denver and improve their record to 5-3.  Hasselbeck connected with both Ike Hilliard and Roy Wiliams, and short yardage back Cedrick Cobbs added another short TD to his total as Houston did just enough to edge the Gold. BALTIMORE 12   WASHINGTON 20 A hard-fought defensive battle between two clubs that know each other’s tendencies as well as their own.  Washington picked off Big Ben 3 times and got TDs from both McCallister and Smart as they built a 10-point lead that they would not relinquish, although a late deliberate safety did pull Baltimore within 8.  The Feds regain a share of first place while Baltimore sits 2 games back at .500. MEMPHIS 10   JACKSONVILLE 17 The Bulls finally beat someone other than Tampa as they moved to 3-5 and send the Showboats to the worst record in the league, 1-7.  Ryan Mallett saw just one series as he works himself back from injury, with Matt Cassel going 21 of 33 on the day.  For Jacksonville the run game was working as three backs combined for 119 on the ground.  Expect Mallett to be back under center for Week 9, though many fans wish there were a third option. ATLANTA 20   NEW ORLEANS 0 The Fire’s defense has been on fire of late, and nothing proved that more than the shut out they claimed against a solid Breaker squad.  Atlanta held the Breakers to only 8 first downs and only 37 yards rushing, all in the Super Dome.  Kyle Orton did not have a good game, throwing 4 picks, but the Fire defense bailed him out time and time again as Atlanta moved to 6-2, right there with Charlotte in the SE Division. OAKLAND 10   LOS ANGELES 16 The Express gut out a second consecutive win as they shut down the Oakland run game and force 4 Joey Harrington picks, including a Clay Matthews pick-six to open scoring in the game.  Ray Rice had a solid 103 yards and Mar Sanchez limited his mistakes, allowing the LA defense to do the rest. Oakland drops to 4-4 thanks to the loss to their rivals. SEATTLE 24   ST. LOUIS 34 Seattle looked good early but could not keep the Skyhawks out of the end zone late, and it cost them their 6th loss of the year.  St. Louis got 2 TDs from Taylor Jacobs and 2 more from Sinorice Moss and Antowain Smith as they came back from a 10-point deficit and turned the tables on the Dragons. Saint Louis now sits alone atop the Central Division at 5-3. MICHIGAN 7   PORTLAND 6 Torrential rain and a lightning game stoppage marred this game in the PNW as Portland and Michigan slogged out a real mess of a game.  Neither team could do much on the rain-soaked grass, but Michigan got just enough to score a 2nd half TD on a short pass from Griese to Kevin Kasper.  That lone TD was enough to hold off the Stags and move to 3-5. TEXAS 30   PITTSBURGH 23 The Sunday night game was a good one as both Texas and Pittsburgh battled to stay over .500 at midseason.  Both teams found their offense, though it was turnovers that eventually doomed the Maulers. Texas won the turnover battle 1-4, with 3 Cody Pickett picks, and the Outlaws managed to get 17 of their 30 points off those turnovers, including a Terrance Holt 30-yard pick-six. Mike Hart Out for Season, Panthers Looking For a Trade Michigan’s run game has been a topic of fan criticism all year, with the Panthers finishing the first half of the season ranked 26th in the league with only a 65.2 yard-per-game average.  That is unlikely to improve with the news that Mike Hart, the former Wolverine, is now out for the year after suffering a season-ending injury in their game in Portland.  That leaves Michigan with only Ciatrick Fason and Charles Perry in the HB room.  With few real options available through free agency, any attempt the Panthers will have to revive their rushing game will have to involve a trade, but they had better hurry.  The trade window closes in 2 weeks. Questions in Pittsburgh as Maulers Drop 3rd in a Row. Lots of questions as Pittsburgh drops another game to fall to 4-4.  Much more was expected of the Maulers this season and fans are beginning to wonder if Coach Rivera needs to do something dramatic.  The questions are across the entire roster, but the two primary concerns seem to be the play of QB Cody Pickett, who is near the bottom of the QB Ratings list with a score of only 77.1, hardly the kind of play fans expected of the 6-year starter. Pickett has thrown only 7 TDs this season and already has 11 picks, only 1 less than he had all of last season. There are some who are now calling on the Maulers to give 2nd year QB Andy Dalton a shot at the starting position, citing his strong preseason outings.  Dalton has yet to take a snap this year after throwing only 25 passes in 2011 in mop up duty.  We don’t expect Coach Rivera to hear that talk with Pittsburgh only 1 game behind St. Louis in the division, but if they fall further back, we could see him do something to spark the league’s 21st rated passing offense. But offense is not the only issue.  The defense has been far less consistent than last year’s squad, averaging 19.9 points per game allowed and struggling with miscommunication that has yielded some big plays that have hurt the Maulers.  As much as fans want to see the team be more explosive on offense, the expectation is that this defense should be able to hold down the opposition, and that is something they have just not done consistently, especially in their last 2 games, where they gave up 28 to Birmingham and 30 to the Outlaws. Team Report Cards We have reached midseason, a good time to reassess our expectations, recalibrate our prognostications, and take stock of where each of the 28 USFL squads find themselves.  We have some teams, like Charlotte, Atlanta, and St. Louis who are surprising us in a very positive way, while others, like LA, Pittsburgh, and Orlando, are not where we thought they would be.  Is it too late to turn things around? No, but there is not a lot of time to waste as the league preps for its second half.   We now take a look at each club, what is working, what is not, and what may be awaiting them as the season runs on.  We will also look at the free agent situation as teams try to lock in several players in their contract year, because it is never too early to start looking at rosters with a critical eye. PHILADELPHIA STARS (6-2) Preseason Pick: 13-3, 1st in NE Revised Pick: 11-5, 2nd in NE.  We are only docking Philly 1 win due to injuries, but it could be more. Upside: The Stars suffered a huge loss with Kurt Warner’s injury but have been more than effective in dealing with that setback, proving that this is a complete team and not a one-man show. Downside: The injuries keep stacking up and that will wear on a team over time.  They are not out of the woods by any stretch and in this division there is no room for error. Player to Watch: With Robert Mathis down, DE Anthony Hargrove is going to have to become the team’s leading edge rusher. The Stars cannot count on the rotation of Barwin and Wilkerson to get the job done unless Hargrove can prove to be a more dynamic pass rusher. Possible Impact Free Agent: Kurt Warner is in a contract year, but more importantly he is a very possible retirement candidate after a very scary neck/spine injury.  From what we have seen of Matt Gutierrez this year, the Stars may just stand pat even if Warner does retire. Final Thoughts: The Stars are deep, have a range of ways they can beat you, but have to be concerned that teams will start to find weaknesses as the season progresses. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (6-2) Preseason Pick: 9-7, 3rd in NE Revised Pick: 11-5, Tied for 2nd in NE Upside: The Generals have really put the plan together this year.  They are looking formidable, particularly with a run defense that allows barely 60 yards per game. The offense is diverse and the younger receivers, Baldwin, and Crabtree, have stepped up. Downside: The pass defense is still a concern, ranked 27th in the league and giving up too many big plays.  The Generals could absolutely benefit from relying less on the blitz to get pressure. Player to Watch: TE John Carlson has only 16 receptions in his first 8 USFL games after coming over from the NFL.  New Jersey needs to get him more involved in the gameplan, especially in the red zone. Possible Impact Free Agent: Strong Safety Bob Sanders is one player the Generals do not want to lose.  He is a leader on that defense but will demand leadership money. Final Thoughts: The Generals look very much like a team that is hoping to challenge for the division, instead of one expecting to do so.  While we like where they are headed, we are not convinced that they are quite ready to take on the Stars and Federals just yet. WASHINGTON FEDERALS (6-2) Preseason Pick: 12-4, 1st in NE Revised Pick: 12-4, 1st in NE.  We still see the Feds as the team to beat, but it will be close. Upside: Washington is Top 5 in both offense and defense, and, as expected, Deuce McCallister is again putting up OPOTY numbers.  They have been a little soft against the pass, but that is only because it is so hard to run against this defense. Downside: Other than Deion Branch and TE Kellen Davis we have just not seen a receiver step up.  It was expected to be Darnerien McCants, but he has yet to score a TD and has only 22 receptions so far.  They need more if they want to avoid having Branch smothered on every play.  Could Bryant Johnson be the answer, or should Washington bring in Heath Miller for more 2-TE sets? Player to Watch: Chris Long has been part of a 3-man rotation with Allen Bailey and Kamerion Wemberley, and all 3 have 4 sacks each.  But Long has more talent than that and should be a greater force for the Federal pass rush.  If he can step up and get on pace for 10-12 sacks, this defense could be championship caliber. Possible Impact Free Agent: Hard to imagine Washington lets Deuce McCallister walk, even at 31 (32 by the start of the 2013 season), so we think the most likely cap casualty could be LB Antnonio Pierce. Final Thoughts: We still like the Feds to take the division over an injury-plagued Stars team and a young but ambitious Generals team. BALTIMORE BLITZ (4-4) Preseason Pick: 7-9, 4th in NE Revised Pick: 8-8, 4th in NE Upside: Baltimore, like Philadelphia, was hit with an early season setback when Ron Dayne went down, but Dayne is now back, they have found a solid 2nd option in Anthony Dixon, and the Blitz have no excuses. Downside: The Blitz are the very model of an 8-8 team, capable one week of looking like a contender and the next very much a pretender.  They have lost 3 straight, and sit at only 1-3 in the division, which does not bode well for them to keep pace with the three teams ahead of them. Player to Watch: The DE Combo of Robert Quinn and Joe Tafoya have a combined 16 sacks, which is a very good start. Baltimore is 4th in yards allowed, and in order for them to make a run, they need these two edge rushers to do even more.  If they can pressure the QB without the need to blitz (ironic, we know), then Baltimore can hang with the big guys. Possible Impact Free Agent: TE Antonio Gates could get a very big paycheck by leaving the cash-strapped Blitz.  That is a development to watch. Final Thoughts: There is a lot to like about this squad, but they always seem to let down at the wrong time, and they just cannot afford to do that this year in this division. BOSTON CANNONS (2-6) Preseason Pick: 4-12, 5th in NE. Revised Pick: 4-12, 5th in NE.  Did we nail this division or what? Upside: Rookies Justin Blackmon and Luke Kuechley have been everything advertised.  Blackmon is on pace for a 100-reception, 1,200-yard rookie season, which is astounding considering how his QB is playing.  Kuechley is 3rd on the team in tackles but is quickly becoming a leader for this squad. Downside: The issue remains Jake Locker.  He has flashes, even the occasional strong game, but he is unreliable and still seems lost at times.  Boston will have a tough call to make moving forward because you know the new ownership will not want to have their brand-new team in Dallas sitting at 3-5 wins next year. Player to Watch: LB Chris Claiborne has been one of the revelations of this season.  His game has stepped up considerably and he could be a potential All-USFL nominee.  Not bead for a team with the 27th ranked scoring defense. Possible Impact Free Agent: With new ownership it is hard to know what the priorities will be, but resigning HB Rashard Mendenhall seems a no brainer.  But with both 26-year-old corners also in a contract year, either Trumaine McBride or Brandon Carr could be gone. Final Thoughts:  Boston has to figure out if they are building with Jake Locker or cutting him loose, because they still feel very much like a team that simply does not have an answer yet. CHARLOTTE MONARCHS (7-1) Preseason Pick: 7-9, 4th in SE Revised Pick: 12-4, 1st in SE.  As right as we got the NE Picks, we were way off on the SE Division. Upside: What has not been upside this year in Charlotte?  Their offense is first in the league, something no one foresaw, and their D is 5th, allowing only 17 points per game.  They have looked dominant for much of the year, and their lone loss was by 2 points, so they have not yet had a truly bad game. Downside: Hard to see one in a 7-1 squad, so unless this healthy squad suddenly starts accruing injuries, we see Charlotte as the clear favorite to win the division and possibly that coveted 1 seed. Player to Watch: HB Fred Jackson is on pace for his best season as a pro, already averaging over 80 yards per game and on pace for 1,200 yards and 12 TDs this year.  He is a high energy guy who makes smart reads at the line.  Charlotte will ride him as far as they can. Possible Impact Free Agent: WR D. J. Hackett is having a great year at just the right time. Expect him to test the waters because his value has never been higher. Final Thoughts:  Whatever doubters this team had early on should be gone by now.  They still have to face Tampa Bay twice, so it is not over, but they are looking very strong right now. ATLANTA FIRE (6-2) Preseason Pick: 8-8, 3rd in SE Revised Pick: 11-5, 2nd in SE.  Could absolutely challenge Charlotte at the top. Upside: Atlanta has found their strategy, and that strategy is to stifle the opposition’s passing game.  They are 1st in the league, allowing only 178 yards per game through the air.  In what could be Charles Woodson’s final year, he is showing the league how the CB position needs to be played. Downside: the offense is improved but still vulnerable to periods of inefficiency.  But, when your defense is keeping teams below 10 points as they have in 4 of the past 5 wins, you can get away with that. Player to Watch: HB Ladell Betts.  The big man has had a bit of a renaissance in Atlanta, and now leads the Fire in rushing with 346 yards. His 3.6 YPC average needs to get closer to 4, but he is providing exactly what the Fire wanted, a short yardage battering ram. Possible Impact Free Agent: We expect CB Charles Woodson to retire, so the next biggest priority has to be HB Darren McFadden, that is if the Fire don’t want to look elsewhere.  There could be a big crop of HBs in the NFL free agent pool, so they may opt to go fishing. Final Thoughts: Atlanta has a huge game with Charlotte next week. Win that and they are right there, sitting atop the division.  They need to continue to find the formula to hold opposing offenses below 10 or 14 points, because while they have been solid on offense, they have not proven to be a team that can win in a shootout. TAMPA BAY BANDITS (4-4) Preseason Pick: 12-4, 1st in SE Revised Pick:  10-6, 3rd in SE. Upside: The Bandit offense continues to be most dangerous when Willis McGahee can be used as a dual threat.  That has worked for them, and they should stay as close to that formula as possible if they hope to catch up to Atlanta and Charlotte. Downside: The Bandits are struggling with pass defense.  Jason Pierre-Paul has a decent number of sacks with 5, but he is doing it all by himself.  No one else on the team has more than 2.  In the secondary Phillip Buchanon has done very well, with 3 picks already, but again, we are not seeing a lot of help out there. Player to Watch: Santana Holmes was tapped to take over for the retired Chris Doering, but so far the former General has not made a huge impression.  As much as collecting 3rd down catches is important, it is more important to turn those short tosses upfield and break some big plays. Possible Impact Free Agent: Both Willis McGahee and Joey Galloway will be free agents.  Galloway is 38, so we think the priority has to be the 30-year-old halfback and then drafting a wideout. Final Thoughts: The Bandits still have time to find their groove and make waves, but they cannot afford too many more losses if they hope to have a shot at repeating. With two teams ahead of them in the division and 3 clubs in the NE sitting at 6 wins already, the odds of getting a Wild Card while sitting in 3d place in the division are not good. JACKSONVILLE BULLS (3-5) Preseason Pick: 4-12, 5th in SE. Revised Pick: 6-10, 5th in SE Upside: The Bulls have had some decent games, especially against Tampa Bay, who they swept, but they are still struggling to build an identity, particularly on offense, where they just have not been able to establish a clear strategy.  Rookie Lamar Miller has been a highlight however, rushing for 460 yards in the first half.  He could make a run at 1,000 if the Bulls will stick with him later into games. Downside: The Bulls will not have an easy path in the 2nd half of the season.  They face 5 more teams who are at or above .500, including a tough matchup with Philly next week. Player to Watch: We said before the season that this was a make-or-break year for UF hero Tim Tebow.  Well, 8 weeks in and we are looking at only 1800 yards passing and a 10:12 TD:INT ratio.  Jacksonville needs to show that they can build on his talents, but it seems like they are trying to turn him into Matt Hasselbeck, staying in the pocket, throwing shorter routes, none of that makes sense for Tebow. Possible Impact Free Agent: Veteran LB Mike Vrabel is likely to sign a 1–2-year deal to finish his career with the Bulls, but FS Eric Weddle is another defender they would like to ink before the market opens. Final Thoughts: The most important decision Jacksonville needs to make is whether or not they pursue a different QB option in the offseason, so expect them to give Tebow every chance to prove himself over the season’s final 8 weeks. ORLANDO RENEGADES (2-6) Preseason Pick: 9-7, 2nd in SE Division Revised Pick: 5-11, 5th in SE Division Upside: Outside of Calais Campbell’s consistently high quality play it is hard to find an upside for the Renegades in a 2-6 first half.  They have now lost 5 in a row, and only scored more than 15 points once in that span.  Fans are quick to turn on Eli Manning, who has only 6 TDs and 1,488 yards in 8 games, but a lot of blame has to go to the play calling and the inability of Michael Jenkins and Justin McCaerins to get themselves open. Downside: This team is 26th in the league in points scored and an almost equally bad 24th in points allowed.  That combination is not at all good, evident by the Renegades’ -10 per game point differential (24.2 allowed, 14.4 scored).  Unless they can generate more on offense, they will struggle to stay in games as the season continues. Player to Watch: As much as folks want to point the finger at Eli, we think it has to be Jenkins who steps up.  Of course, it would help if more throws were sent to TE Greg Olsen, who has all but been forgotten so far this season. Possible Impact Free Agent: After trading for Eli Manning 2 years ago, would Orlando cut bait on their starter?  The way this season is going we actually could see that happening, especially since Calais Campbell will demand a king’s ransom to stay in town on what looks like a team headed the wrong direction. Final Thoughts: We picked Orlando to earn a Wild Card, but that seems far-fetched now.  At 2-6, the Renegades have to start looking to the future, and that may mean making some trades to free up more cap space. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (4-4) Preseason Pick: 8-8, 2nd in South Revised Pick: 9-7, 1st in South Upside: While a 4-4 split at the end of 8 weeks is not the worst we see in the league, it is also not particularly inspiring.  That said, New Orleans does still hold a share of first place, and they have proven to have a pretty solid scoring defense, holding teams to only 18.2 points per game.  Now, they just need to find more consistency on offense. Downside: The Breakers have the worst run offense in the entire league, coming in at 58.5 yards rushing per game.  We know the USFL is a passing league, but even by USFL standards, this run game is not getting it done. Player to Watch: Patrick Peterson’s 3-pick game against Baltimore is exactly the kind of effort that the Breakers need if they are going to hold off both Nashville and Birmingham in the South.  The Breakers have also scored 5 defensive touchdowns, which certainly helps them address issues on offense. Possible Impact Free Agent: CB Randall Gay has matured into a reliable defender, so the Breakers will absolutely want to keep him out of the free agent pool if they can. Final Thoughts: The South is not a very good division, so even a 4-4 team can make a run and win the division.  The problem is that Peyton Manning could be in the mix for Nashville in plenty of time to be ready for the Knights-Breakers series in Weeks 14 and 16. NASHVILLE KNIGHTS (4-4) Preseason Pick: 5-11, 3rd in South Revised Pick: 8-8, 2nd in South Upside: The Knights have outperformed expectations, largely because Quincy Carter has been more effective than we anticipated.  They sit tied atop the division, and they may only be 1-2 weeks away from Peyton Manning taking the reins of the offense.  That could be all the push Nashville needs to make a late run and surprise us with their 4th consecutive division title. Downside:  A lot is riding on Manning being a miracle worker.  Nashville has not had the usual defensive fortitude we have grown accustomed to with Jim Johnson at the helm.  The Knights are giving up 23.1 points per game, placing them in the bottom quartile of all clubs.  That is a worrying sign no matter who their QB is. Player to Watch: It’s the guy we have been watching all year, Peyton Manning. Rumors are that the club is targeting Week 10 at home against Baltimore as the possible debut of Manning back in Tennessee. That game marks the start of a 3-game home streak.  Manning could use that block of home games to get himself accustomed to the USFL game while being cheered by the home fans throughout. Possible Impact Free Agent: WR Robert Meachem is too good and has too many years ahead of him to let him walk.  Frank Gore is also up for resigning, but the good news is that Nashville has a nice buffer of cap space and can land both if they structure it well. Final Thoughts:  The Knights hoped that they could still be in the mix when Manning was cleared to play, and it looks very much like they will be.  That may be bad news indeed for both Birmingham and New Orleans. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (3-5) Preseason Pick: 9-7, 1st in South Revised Pick: 6-10, 3rd in South Upside: The Stallions now have perhaps the brashest, but one of the best 1-2 punches at WR in the game, with both Terrell Owens and now Randy Moss on the squad.  But can they make use of them both in a way that benefits the offense and keeps both men happy? Downside: Last year we saw signs that the Stallion defense was improving.  This year it has backslid in a big way, currently ranked between 25th and 27th in every major defensive category.  That puts a lot of pressure on Cam Newton to be Superman, which is more than any QB should be expected to do week in and week out. Player to Watch: Randy Moss has been in on around 80 snaps per game for the Stallions since coming over from LA, but he has only 14 receptions in 3 games.  We want to see that number up closer to 7=8 receptions a game if Moss is going to make the impact that Birmingham needs from him. Possible Impact Free Agent: The Stallions just traded for Randy Moss, but do they have the cap room to resign him in his contract year.  That could be tough. Final Thoughts: Even at 3-5, Birmingham is still very much in the Southern Division race, but, that said, they have got to find a way to slow teams down if they hope to stay in the hunt, even if that hunt is just to be at .500. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (1-7) Preseason Pick: 3-13, 4th in South Revised Pick: 3-13, 4th in South Upside: While it may be hard to see in a 1-win team, Memphis’s defense has not been bad.  They rank in the Top 10 in total yards allowed and passing yards allowed.  They have 4 players with at least 4 sacks, including NFL import Mario Williams and LB NaVorro Bowman.  They need more takeaways to help the offense with shorter fields, but the defense has not been the issue this year. Downside: Memphis has lost 7 in a row after a Week 1 victory against Nashville, and the obvious reason why is that they have yet to score more than 20 points, dropping to 10 or fewer points in 5 of 8 games.  Ryan Mallett is expected back this week, but with Cadillac Williams at least a month away, we just don’t see this offense getting any better in the short run. Player to Watch: It has to be Mallett.  His sophomore season took an early hit with his injury, but he needs to show that he is progressing, or Memphis may be forced to go another direction in 2013. Possible Impact Free Agent: Linebacker Kirk Morrison has been steady, not outstanding, but steady.  Is that enough for Memphis to invest in the 28-year-old MLB? Final Thoughts: Memphis looks like a team headed for a top 3 draft pick, as even in a weak division they are the weakest link. ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS (5-3) Preseason Pick: 10-6, 2nd in Central Revised Pick: 11-5, 1st in Central Upside: The Skyhawks were a trendy pick to reach their first post-season, but few picked them to win the division. They have a legitimate shot at doing just that as they have proven their ability to win tight games all season. The offense has taken off this year and while the defense still has some issues with pass coverage, they have been good enough to allow St. Louis to pull out games when needed. Downside: The loss to Pittsburgh showed that St. Louis was close, but they need to be able to win those games against the toughest opponents to be taken seriously. Player to Watch: While Taylor Jacobs has gotten a lot of focus for his 9 TDs, the forgotten man in St. Louis is Jordy Nelson.  He should not be overlooked.  With 520 yards and 5 TDs, Nelson could help St. Louis have two 1,000-yard receivers this season, something we rarely see even in the pass-happy USFL. Possible Impact Free Agent: HB Antowain Smith looks awfully good for a 35-year-old back, but that mileage has to worry Skyhawk management.  They may well let him walk if he does not retire this offseason. Final Thoughts:  St. Louis’s season will likely come down to their final 4 game stretch, all division games, and particularly their matchup with Pittsburgh in Week 13. If they can split the series with the Maulers they could be in great shape to take a division title. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (4-4) Preseason Pick: 13-3, 1st in Central Revised Pick: 10-6, 2nd in Central Upside: All the pieces are there if Pittsburgh can just get them working together as one unit again. The 3-game losing streak has been a combination of sputtering offense and loose defense.  We know the talent is here, it just needs to be refocused and the Maulers can have a much more consistent 2nd half. Downside: The past 3 games, which include losses to two teams currently at 3-5 overall, has to be worrying for Mauler fans.  The club seems to have little offensive rhythm and is giving up far too many big plays.  They need their team leaders to shake things up and get more out of this talented team. Player to Watch: Cody Pickett in particular is key. His QBR has dropped from 98.9 to 77.1 this year, with 11 picks and only 7 TDs.  That is not going to do it.  If he cannot get back on the same page with the offense soon, Coach Rivera may have to consider giving 2nd year QB Andy Dalton a shot. Possible Impact Free Agent: SS Sean Taylor is about as valuable to that defense as any player on any team.  Pittsburgh had better find cap room to resign him, and while they are at it, throw some money at Vincent Jackson too. Final Thoughts: The Maulers are too talented to finish the year at .500, right?  They have to get back in rhythm and then they can rattle off some wins to get back on top. Don’t they?  Confidence seems lacking in a team that many predicted to win it all this year. CHICAGO MACHINE (4-4) Preseason Pick: 6-10, 4th in Central Revised Pick: 8-8, 3rd in Central Upside: The main area where Chicago is outpacing expectations, apart from wins, is on offense, where both their rushing attack and their passing game are in the Top 10 in the league.  Michael Turner is putting up great numbers, with over 600 yards in 8 games, though it would be nice to see him with more than 1 TD this far into the season, and Doug Martin is proving to be a great change up for the Machine. Downside: The defense needs to be more consistent.  They are currently ranked 20th in points allowed, 21st in yards.  They seem to almost take plays off, which is a weird thing to see. With 15 sacks between them, Anthony Weaver and Victor Abiani are doing fine, but the entire club has only 2 picks in 8 weeks, and that is a sign that the secondary is struggling to keep tabs on receivers and take advantage of the pressure the line provides. Player to Watch: We are still waiting for rookie Michael Floyd to have a true breakout game. He has 18 receptions in 8 games, and Chicago needs him to do more because right now Donald Driver and Anthony Fasano seem to be the only reliable options that Brady Quinn has. Possible Impact Free Agent: Brady Quinn has been the starter in Chicago for 6 years, but there are some calling for the Machine to go a new direction.  With a very weak QB Draft Class, they had better think twice before letting Quinn walk. Final Thoughts: If Chicago can get their defense to produce just a few more takeaways, they could be in the mix for a Wild Card.   That and diversifying the passing game a bit would be huge improvements. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (3-5) Preseason Pick: 8-8, 3rd in Central Revised Pick: 5-11, 5th in Central Upside: Hard to find an upside on a squad that has underperformed all season, but we can say that Hines Ward is still putting in the work and still getting results, with 745 yards and 5 TDs already this year. Downside: The run game of the panthers is atrocious.  Mike Hart, now injured, was leading all backs with a 3.0 YPC average. Ciatrick Fason, who now has to step up, is only at 2.6 YPC.  Michigan may have to look for a trade to bring in a more effective back.  Either that or hope they can land Michigan State back Leveon Bell in the draft. Player to Watch: Whoever the Panthers can get to bolster the run game. We don’t think it will be Fason long term.  Michigan seems eager to find a trading partner to do something and help this run game, but it may be hard to get anyone with real impact at midseason. Possible Impact Free Agent: Center Jeff Faine is 32, which means he could easily have 3-5 solid years of topflight play ahead of him.  That is a deal you want to get done because veteran leadership on the line is so vital to an offense. Final Thoughts: Every year there is a team that just drops through the floor of our expectations, and this year that title is between Michigan and Orlando. OHIO GLORY (3-5) Preseason Pick: 5-11, 5th in Central Revised Pick: 7-9, 4th in Central Upside: The first 5 games were not good, but the Glory have seemed to turn a corner with three consecutive wins, all against divisional opponents.  The Glory could be set for a decent second half and are likely to finish outside of the basement, which is a good first step for this young squad. Downside: While the offense has been the catalyst for Ohio’s improvement, the D still has a way to go.  They give up too many big plays in the passing game and are just not consistent enough on 3rd down. They will need to tighten that up if they want to push for .500 this year. Player to Watch: DT Tommy Harris came over from Denver in trade 3 weeks ago and could be a huge factor down the stretch.  As much as we talk about Steve Smith’s influence on the offense, Harris could be a key to getting this defense on track. Possible Impact Free Agent: Both starting DTs are up for renewaly this year, and we think that 28-year-old Tommy Harris will be a priority over 34-year-old Wendell Bryant because cap space won’t allow the Glory to sign both. Final Thoughts: Ohio would need to win 5 of 8 to finish at .500. That is plausible, but we think 4-4 is more likely due to the tough schedule ahead for the Glory. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (5-3) Preseason Pick: 5-11, 4th in SW Division Revised Pick: 9-7, 2nd in SW Division Upside: Houston is clearly outperforming expectations, with big wins already against both Texas and Denver.  Their offense looks very solid and the D has had its moments.  The key to the season is the balance they are achieving between Shaun Alexander on the ground and Matt Hasselbeck’s solid year in the air. Downside: The loss of Osi Umenyiura for several weeks and the apparent drop in Kavika Pittman’s production mean that Houston just does not have the pass rush they once did.  They will need to start blitzing more to create pressure, but that will leave the secondary potentially exposed. Player to Watch: CB Shaun Springs.  If Houston does move to more blitz packages, Springs, who is almost always matched up with the opponent’s top receiver, will have to become more of a lock down corner. Possible Impact Free Agent: Both LB James Farrior and DT Kenard Lang are 35, which is old for both positions.  Are 1-year deals in the offing here or will Houston let them go? Final Thoughts: The Gamblers look legit, and with both Denver and Arizona looking like pretenders, it will be between the two Texas clubs to decide this division. TEXAS OUTLAWS (5-3) Preseason Pick: 12-4, 1st in Division Revised Pick: 10-6, 1st in Division Upside: Joe Flacco may not have MVP numbers, but the passing game is still ranked #1 in the league, and that can get you a long way.  The Outlaws, after a rough 1-3 stretch, came back with a big win in Pittsburgh this past week.  Their next 3 opponents all have losing records, so this is the time to string together some wins and hopefully overtake the Gamblers. Downside: While the offense continues to chug along, the defense has not been as good as last year.  In particular, the Outlaw’s losses to Philadelphia and Houston showed that they are vulnerable to a balanced attack that forces them out of an all-out pass rush. The key to beating the Outlaws is in establishing the run to force the DE’s to stay home rather than immediately crashing down at the QB. Player to Watch: HB Arian Foster has had a solid start to his time in the USFL, but Texas will have to find ways to avoid the 2nd half slump many NFL players face as their bodies wear down midway through their second season without a long break to recover from the rigors of NFL and now USFL games. Possible Impact Free Agent: DE Renaldo Wynn may be the 2nd best DE in the league, and with Calais Campbell likely to get record-setting money, expect Wynn to want to be right there come payday. Final Thoughts:  We are predicting Texas to find a way to leapfrog the Gamblers and win the division.  What we are not as sure of is their ability to finish the year strong enough to win a bye or home field advantage with their seeding. ARIZONA WRANGLERS (4-4) Preseason Pick: 10-6, 2nd in SW Division Revised Pick: 8-8, 3rd in SW Division Upside: The good news, the Wranglers are first in total yards, 2nd  in passing and have been very good the past 2 weeks.  LT is running well, Larry Fitzgerald is still impossible to cover, and David Carr has stayed healthy, all good signs as Arizona sits 1 game behind both of the Texas clubs. Downside: This defense has collapsed entirely.  They are 28th in the league in scoring allowed.  You don’t finish the year with a winning record if your defense is giving up 29.1 points per game. You just don’t. Player to Watch: Troy Polamalu, not so much for his play but for his leadership.  Polamalu has to rally this group much like Steve Smith did with the offense in Ohio.  He needs to get more out of his teammates, particularly the fellow DBs, because right now this defense is holding the team back. Possible Impact Free Agent: David Carr is up for a new contract this year and we think he has done enough to at least get 2-3 years out of the Wranglers.  Stability at QB is just too vital to fool around with. Final Thoughts: Arizona is in range, but do they have enough to keep pace or will a 4-4 start turn into an 8-8 season?  We think the latter is more likely unless they can figure out how to keep teams out of the endzone. DENVER GOLD (3-5) Preseason Pick: 6-10, 3rd in West Revised Pick: 6-10, 4th in West Upside: Denver hopes that the trade for DeMarco Murray gives their run game the boost it needs, however, since arriving in Denver Murray has averaged only 29 yards per game. That has to worry Coach Jauron. Downside: The Gold just don’t have enough firepower to overcome a mediocre defense and a tendency to fall behind in games.  This is not an explosive squad, it rarely is, but that requires that they get an early lead and hold it, which has just not been happening. Player to Watch: We could say Murray, but with Peerless Price clearly losing a step, the Gold really need Golden Tate to step up and perhaps move into the #1 receiver spot.  So far he has not been able to do so, with only 1 TD and only 4 catches per game through 8 weeks. Possible Impact Free Agent: Denver has over 20 potential free agents this year.  None is more important than their two guards, Travis Claridge and Elton Brown.  Good news for Denver, they have cap room and guards are not a bank-busting position to sign. Final Thoughts:  We think Denver can match the record we picked preseason, but with Houston’s rebound, that now looks like it could leave them in the SW basement. LAS VEGAS THUNDER (5-3) Preseason Pick: 7-9, 4th in Pacific Revised Pick: 10-6, 1st in Pacific Upside: Las Vegas has surprised many by not only winning some tough games against Texas and Tampa Bay, but by reversing the decline in their defense.  The thunder currently sport the number 1 scoring defense, allowing only 13.6 points per game. They are getting great production from the rotation of Ogunleye, Erasmus James, and Eric Flowers on the edge, with 18 sacks between them, and the LB group of Orr, Hawk, and Porter seems reenergized. Downside: While there has not been much to criticize overall, the lack of takeaways has been one issue of concern.  Las Vegas has a 0-turnover margin, which is fine, but when you realize it is because they have both had 4 turnovers but also only 4 takeaways, you wonder if they need to be more aggressive on defense to help the offense out a bit. Player to Watch: As much as the fans have embraced Chad Johnson and his 44 catches this spring, the biggest fan of 85 has to be T. J. Houshmandzadeh, who is getting a lot more single coverage, translating into 35 catches and 6 TDs in half a season, both personal bests. Possible Impact Free Agent: Both outstanding corners, Will Allen and Antoine Winfield are up for new deals.  Vegas would love to lock both in for another 3-5 years, but they also have to find Marshawn Lynch his money this year.  This could all be possible if, as many suspect, Jake Plummer is in his final season.  Freeing up that QB money would make the cap a non-issue for the Thunder. Final Thoughts: Las Vegas has the pieces in place to remain atop the division, and they could be offering Jake Plummer the chance to go out on top if the rumors of his retirement are true. PORTLAND STAGS (5-3) Preseason Pick: 4-12, 5th in Pacific Revised Pick: 9-7, 3rd in Pacific Upside: Portland surprised us all with a 5-1 start, but they have dropped their last two and scored only 9 points combined in those two games.  Despite the worry that has caused, we should recognize that the Stags are right behind Las Vegas, allowing only 14.9 points per game, second best in the league.   Both their run and pass defense are #3 in the league, which could be a sign they are ready to stay in the hunt all season. Downside: While the defense has remained solid all season, the offense has been up and down.  Jonathan Stewart’s early success seems to be fading as his YPC average has dropped to a concerning 3.5 per carry, which is not what you want from a lead back.  If they cannot effectively run the ball, that makes Ryan Fitzpatrick’s play action game a lot harder to pull off. Player to Watch: Despite the success of the Stag defense, free agent DE Eddie Freeman has been largely a no show.  He has only 1 sack on the season, which is not what Portland expected when they added him opposite Elvis Dumervil. Possible Impact Free Agent: Jonathan Stewart’s run at a rushing title could not be coming at a better time.  A strong year now means a payday for sure.  Now, what to do about Ryan Fitzpatrick? Final Thoughts:  Portland needs to be able to pressure QBs and to have an effective run game to be effective and keep pace with the Thunder.  We also think they will be challenged by an experienced Oakland squad down the stretch. Can they keep the surprising season going with that pressure? OAKLAND INVADERS (4-4) Preseason Pick: 11-5, 1st in Pacific Revised Pick: 9-7, 2nd in Pacific Upside: The Invader defense has been solid all year, and the offense has been opportunistic.  It has been a solid combo, but too inconsistent, thus the 4-4 record.  The Invaders are at their best in divisional games where they hold a 4-2 record, but they have to avoid slumping when playing outside the division (0-2 so far). Downside: While the yardage numbers for the Invader offense are solid, they are only averaging 17 points per game.  Too many red zone mistakes and too many penalties are keeping this offense from reaching its capacity. Player to Watch: Pierre Garçon has been showing signs that he is ready to bloom as a big play receiver and Oakland could certainly use that as Greg Jennings, while very solid, is not taking the roof off the defenses.  If Garçon can stretch the defense a bit, it will make all other aspects of the Invader attack better. Possible Impact Free Agent: OT Matt Light, at 31, is coming into the prime of a lineman’s career.  Oakland absolutely has to find a way to keep him happy, even if it means giving up on veterans like DE Israel Idonije, or RT Anthony Clement. Final Thoughts: Our expectation is that Oakland can and will catch up to Portland, even if Las Vegas is able to stay ahead of them.  Will that be enough to land them in the playoffs, or do they need to go 6-2 or 7-1 in the second half to make up for a middling first half output? LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (2-6) Preseason Pick: 11-5, 2nd in Pacific Revised Pick: 5-11, 4th in Pacific Upside: After an 0-6 start the Express have won two in a row, both in division, so there is some hope that they are not as bad as we feared.  It may be the rare case of addition by subtraction as the departure of Randy Moss has seemed to improve team coherence.  It may already be too late, however. Downside: The problem all year has been the Express offense.  It ranks 27th, averaging only 13.9 points per game, and it is a team effort.  Mark Sanchez has a 5:7 TD:INT ratio after 8 games, Ray Rice is only averaging 3.6 YPC in the run game, and now, with Moss gone, the passing game seems limited to Keyshawn and TE L. J. Smith. Player to Watch: Either Brandon Lloyd or Ronald Johnson needs to step up and become a true number 2.  So far, between them there are only 28 catches and barely 200 yards. That is not enough to make LA a competitive team in a passing league. Possible Impact Free Agent: DT Anthony McFarland has been a mainstay of the LA defense, but at 35 he may just not be able to provide enough to merit a big contract.  We think LA will let him test the waters and build with youth.  Now, the bigger question.  Are they happy with Mark Sanchez as his rookie contract expires? Final Thoughts: It certainly appears that LA is going to have to manufacture points this year to even think about reaching .500, and we have to say that a playoff push would be a near miracle. SEATTLE DRAGONS (2-6) Preseason Pick: 9-7, 3rd in Pacific Division. Revised Pick: 5-11, 5th in Pacific Division Upside: Seattle’s lone bright spot this year has been their 7th ranked run defense, but how much of that is due to the fact that teams would rather pass against their shaky pass defense?  There is no other team stat where Seattle is in the upper half of the league, so I guess you tout that one bright spot. Downside: If it were not for Michigan, we would all be talking about how bad the Seattle run offense is.  They are averaging a combined 61.4 yards per game and lead back Jahvid Best has a paltry 282 yards in 8 games.  Rookie Robet Turbin has not yet shown much, with only 96 yards on 48 carries, a 2.0 YPC average in his first 8 pro games. Player to Watch: Seattle fans expected Mike Wallace to explode onto the scene as the next David Boston, but so far he has fizzled in rainy Seattle.  In 8 games he has only 18 receptions and is averaging barely 12 yards per catch.  That is not what Seattle bargained for and they have to hope Wallace can do more in the second half of the year. Possible Impact Free Agent: Line or Secondary?  Seattle has space to sign both DE John Abraham and CB Leodis McKelvin, but they also have a lot of needs, so they may prefer to let one or both go and free up more cap space to build a younger roster for the future. Final Thoughts: Seattle could be a team in transition.  There is talk that Byron Leftwich does not have the arm strength or mobility he once showed off, and the club desperately needs to find a run game, if not this year, for the future. Revised Predictions So, in our preseason edition we made our picks and as usual by midseason we are wondering what the heck we were thinking back then.  We will say that our Summer Bowl pick of Philadelphia and Texas still seems viable even after Kurt Warner’s season ending injury, but we don’t feel quite as confident now that we see how well Washington, New Jersey, Houston, and Las Vegas are playing.  We will stick with the pick, but it does feel like a much more wide-open field now than it appeared to be in the preseason. As for the award winners, we saw it as a Warner/Flacco race in preseason, and now, we would have to say that the frontrunner may not be a QB at all. How about Deuce McCallister in Washington?  If we had to handicap the race as one for best QB, right now the frontrunner is Josh Freeman of St. Louis, someone we never considered before the season started. McCallister remains a favorite for OPOTY, though Willis McGahee is certainly making a case as well, as is another Skyhawk, HB Antowain Smith.  For DPOTY, we cannot imagine sack leader Calais Campbell getting the award if Orlando is mired in last place in the Southeast.  That opens it up to other candidates and our favorite right now has to be Texas DE Reynaldo Wynn, who may finish well behind Campbell in sacks, but whose impact is being felt on a much better team. As for the last of the player awards, Rookie of the Year, right now the best odds are for Boston WR Justin Blackmon, who could be on pace for a 1,200- or 1,300-yard season on a pretty bad Boston team.  Behind him, but with a real chance to gain some momentum over the second half are Ohio HB Isaiah Pead, Jacksonville HB Lamar Miller, and St. Louis DE Olivier Vernon, all of whom have had flashes of real potential over the first half of the year. Five players added to IR as we have entered the stretch of the season when a 2-month injury means that a player is likely done for the year.  As reported earlier, Michigan will lose HB Mike Hart for the rest of the seasons and will now scramble to construct some semblance of a run game, a team weakness to begin with.  New Jersey will be without DE Shaun Ellis for the remainder of the season, which could be a big blow to a defense that has been much improved this season.  Arizona WR Mike Williams suffered an Achilles tendon partial tear that will cost him the rest of his season and means that Antonio Bryant’s role will increase over the season’s second half.  Washington will be without TE Heath Miller, so Chase Coffman will now move up to #2 and a 3rd TE will need to be signed.  Finally, Seattle will be without G Amini Silatulo, as the back injury he suffered in Week 7 has been designated as at least a 2-month recovery time. INJURED RESERVE Mike Williams                    WR         ARZ        Achilles Shaun Ellis                           DE           NJ           Hip Mike Hart                            HB          MGN     Back Amini Silatulo                     G             SEA        Back Heath Miller                        TE           WSH      Quad OUT Darryl Sharpton                LB           ORL        Wrist                     4-6 Weeks Jimmy Wilkerson               DE           ORL        Hip                         1-2 Weeks Terreal Bierria                     SS           POR       Arm                       1-2 Weeks Tyrell Johnson                   FS           NSH       Concussion         1-2 Weeks Andre Neblitt                     DT           TBY         Wrist                     1-2 Weeks Jason Williams                   LB           MEM     Arm                       1-2 Weeks Richard Sherman              CB           SEA        Toe                         1-2 Weeks QUESTIONABLE Vernon Davis                      TE           HOU      Illness Troy Williamson                WR         PHI         Tendinitis Chauncey Davis                 DE         OHI        Concussion 2012 Hall of Fame Semi-Finalists Named It took quite a bit longer than usual for us to get the Hall of Fame list of nominees for 2012, but it is finally here and once again t looks like a year dominated by 1st year nominees, with 7 of the 10 semifinalists being 2007 retirees.  As we look over the group of 10, there is one thing we think we can say for sure, this will not be another class dominated by defense.  With 4 running backs among the 10 nominees, two of whom may be sure fire 1st ballot Hall of Famers, this is likely to be a class with a lot of offensive firepower.  There will be 5 players nominated from this group of 10, and 1 more proposed by the Legacy Committee, which looks at players who began their careers in the early part of the league’s history (nominees must have begun their careers prior to 1992, though that will be adjusted next year to 1995.  Here is our look at the 10 nominees, listed in alphabetical order. HB Tiki Barber (ATL/BOS 1997-2006) The first player who started their career with the 1995 expansion Fire/Cannons to make a HOF nominee list, Tiki Barber may not have ever won a championship, but he still has plenty of hardware in his trophy case.  The former Virginia Cavalier exploded on the scene with Atlanta in their 2nd season of existence.  He would rush for 986 yards in his rookie season, winning Rookie of the Year honors.  The next year his total would jump to 1,206 yards. Despite playing on 6 consecutive 10-loss teams with the Fire, Barber would still be named an All-USFL player on 4 different occasions.  His best season would actually be his 10th and last in the USFL, rushing for 1,514 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2006 and leading the then Boston Cannons to the USFL playoffs.  He retired with 2,495 carries for 11,706 yards and 77 TDs, with a career YPC average of 4.7, one of the best we have ever seen in the USFL. CB Aaron Beasley (OAK 96-05, ATL 06-07) Aaron Beasley was a 2x All-USFL selection at corner, retiring with 541 tackles, 20 picks, 20 forced fumbles, and 5 career defensive touchdowns.  He had a career year in his first season with Atlanta, picking off 4 passes and making 62 tackles.  Known for his zone coverage skills, Beasley is another player who spent most of his career on losing teams, as his Oakland squad made only 1 playoff appearance between 1996 and 2004.  He heled get Oakland into the postseason in his last year with the team and then moved on to the expansion Atlanta Fire in the 2006 Expansion draft. DE John Copeland (BIR 93-97, SEA 98, OHI 99-01, TBY 02-06) The first of our returning nominees, John Copeland missed the cut in last year’s vote, and is hoping for a stronger 2nd vote.  Copeland won a league title with Birmingham in his rookie season, and retired 13 years later with 102 career sacks, including 5 seasons in double digits.  He played in 208 career games, all starts for the edge rushing DE. HB Terrell Davis (NOR 95-98, PIT 99-06, ATL 07) A solid back in New Orleans, Terrell Davis left for Pittsburgh in 1998 and became a superstar in the Mauler’s zone-blocking run game.  He would earn 7 career All-USFL nominations and would retire with 14,782 yards rushing on 3,641 career carries.  Add to that 104 touchdowns and a 4.1 YPC average and we think Davis is sure to make the Hall, but will he do it in the first ballot? HB Curtis Enis (NJ 98-07) Another big back, Curtis Enis came to the New Jersey Generals fresh out of Penn State. He would remain their lead back for a decade, rushing for 10,016 yards on 2,496 attempts, and, unlike both Terrell Davis and Tiki Barber, Enis would retire from the game with championship rings on his hands, two, in fact, as he helped the Tom Brady-led Generals to league titles in both 2004 and 2006, his final season.  A big bruiser of a back, Enis averaged 4.1 YPC over his career but somehow accounted for only 52 touchdowns. WR Terry Glenn (NJ 96-2007) Coming into the league two years before Enis, Terry Glenn was the primary receiving weapon of the championship Generals teams in 2004 and 2006.  He was a 4-time All-USFL selection, and in 2001 was the Offensive Player of the Year, a year in which he had 109 receptions for 1,762 yards and 17 touchdowns.  He would retire with 1,096 receptions for 14,612 yards and an even 100 touchdowns. HB Ahman Green (STL/NSH 96-04, PHI 05-07) The last of the “four horsemen” halfback nominees, at least alphabetically, Green was certainly not last in honors, receiving All-USFL recognition 7 times in his career.  He would lead the USFL in rushing 4 times (2000 and then a 3-year run from 2002-2004). The 2000 season saw him post his best numbers, with over 1,500 yards rushing and 12 TDs.  He would retire in 2007 with 12,456 yards rushing and 95 touchdowns. LB Randall Godfrey (ATL/BOS 96-03, HOU 04-07) Our second Atlanta Fire/Boston Cannon player as Godfrey joined the Fire in 1996 and stayed with the franchise through their move to Boston before finishing his career in Houston.  Godfrey would finish his career with 928 tackles and a whopping 159 of those going for a loss, an impressive 17%.  He would also have 42 sacks, and, showing his versatility, would also add 6 picks and 15 forced fumbles to his resume. LB Kevin Hardy (STL/NSH 96-04, ARZ 05) In his third year of eligibility, Hardy is hoping the third time is the charm. The long-time Knight was a 3x All-USFL player, and one of the best coverage linebackers of his generation.  He initially retired in 2004, but came back for one year on a very lucrative offer from the Arizona Wranglers.  He would retire after the 1995 season, having played on 7 playoff teams, appearing in the 1998 Summer Bowl, but without a ring. CB Aeneas Williams (OAK 91-99, ARZ 00, LA 01-05) A two time All-USFL selection, Williams made a name for himself as a cornerback who was never afraid to come up and lay a hit on a running back.  He won a title with Oakland in his rookie season, but would never find that level of success again as he played for some disappointing Invader, Wrangler, and Express squads.  He retired in 2005 with 216 career starts, 1,203 tackles ( a huge number for a cornerback), 45 interceptions and 30, yes, 30 forced fumbles. Dallas Roughnecks Reveal Uniform Options One week after the sale of the Boston Cannons to a group of Dallas investors led by media and tech guru Mark Cuban was announced by the USFL, the relocated franchise not only has a new name, but three potential looks for 2012.  The Dallas Roughnecks will debut in March of 2013 in their new home at the Cotton Bowl Stadium.  Before that fans in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro Area will have their say in what the team looks like as they take the field. The Roughnecks are offering fans three different versions of their logos and three different uniforms and asking folks in the region to pick their favorite.  The logos are the same for all three looks, but obviously impacted by the color schemes selected for each. All three designs feature the same primary logo, of a hard-hat wearing “roughneck” representing the Texas oil industry.  The design features a side profile of the oil-worker with a motion line from front to back.  This logo, while used with the team’s block “ROUGHNECKS” wordmark and as the main image for the team, will not appear on any of the helmet variations.  The helmets will feature the secondary monogram logo, an upper case D divided by a diagonal line to also form an R.  This logo, similar to a branding iron designation, will be depicted differently in each uniform and color scheme, but retains it shape in all three variations. OPTION 1:  The first option features a color scheme of black, “Texas Sky” blue, and fiery red.  Much like the NFL Oilers, the Roughnecks will feature the sky blue as their primary color.  The helmets are sky blue with the secondary monogram logo on either side in black, with a red “strike” within the diagonal line of the logo.  The helmets also feature a thin red line dissecting a thicker black helmet stripe, and an ombre effect from the rear bumper that produces what the team is calling an “oil slick” effect. A similar effect of shifting colors is featured on the jerseys, which shift from either Texas Sky or white to Black at the yoke.  The sleeve cuffs on both jerseys are sky blue.  The numbers also feature this ombre “oil slick” effect, with white numbers transition to black at the base on the sky blue jersey or sky blue numbers transitioning to black on the white jersey.  The numbers are then outlined in red and once again in black.  The pants feature the same thick black stripe (on white or sky blue bases) with a thin red line that ends in a single white star, a Lone Star if you will.  The thin red line and single star also appears on the collar of both jerseys. Option 2 has several of the same features but in this version the colors of the Texas flag are prevalent, with the team going with a dark blue, deep red, and metallic grey or silver look.  The helmet is now “wildcat” red with an ombre effect again pushing to what is now a navy “oil slick” at the base.  Unlike the first option, this second look does not feature a helmet stripe.  The jerseys retain their ombre effect both with the yoke vs. body and in the number font.  Again the colors fade into the dark blue, from either red (home) or white (away), and the numbers again feature two outlines, though now they are either navy and silver (red jersey) or white and navy (white jersey). The collar now features both thin red and white stripes, along with the single star for a nod to the Texas flag.  The pants feature a wide stripe which also transitions from dark blue to red.  There are three pant options in this second option: white, dark blue, or metallic grey. As with option 1, the primary logo (the roughneck profile) is found on the sleeves. Option 3 is a significant departure from the ombre effects of the first two.  This look retains the navy, grey, and athletic gold colors of the Boston Cannons, but adds several new features.  The helmets are now deep navy blue, with a “spark” gold facemask.  The DR monogram now has a beveled look to make it appear more metallic and three-dimensional.  The helmets also have a thick grey stripe which features a metalwork diamond pattern. This diamond pattern reappears in the front and rear numbers on both jerseys. The jerseys both feature metallic grey yokes and sleeves, ending in navy blue sleeve cuffs. The home jersey is navy blue, with the grey diamond pattern numbers and dual number outlines in navy and gold.  The white road jerseys also feature the grey numbers now outlined in navy blue and gold.  The collars are both navy blue with the returning motif of the thin central stripe (now in gold) and the single white star. Once again the main logo of the Roughneck is on each sleeve.  The team will match these jerseys with three pant sets in white, navy blue, and metallic grey.  Each pant set features a traditional stripe set, either in 5 stripes (blue or white sets) or a simpler 3-stripe pattern (on the grey set). Voters will have until the end of the regular season to select their favorites, and the Dallas Roughnecks will make a special presentation of their new look at halftime of the Western Conference Championship Game. League Reveals New Division Alignments for 2013 In addition to the uniform vote, the other big question coming out of Dallas this week was an official clarification of how the relocation of Boston to Dallas would impact the league’s six divisions, important since essentially we are looking at a team from the Northeast moving to the Southwest.  As expected Dallas will be moved to the Southwest Division to play alongside in-state rivals Texas and Houston as well as the Denver Gold and Arizona Wranglers.  But, that leaves the Western Conference with 15 teams and the East with only 13, so a team had to be moved.  This week the USFL announced that the team that would make the shift would be Pittsburgh, which will move to the Northeast Division, reducing the Central Division to 4 teams and retaining the 5-team NE Division. Obviously trading Pittsburgh for Boston means that the already killer NE Division is now even tougher, with a 2011 division champion joining a crowded division of playoff contenders with Washington, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Baltimore.  It is a bit of a homecoming as Pittsburgh began its run in the USFL as an Eastern Division club, but it certainly does not make life any easier for the other 4 NE Division squads.  For the SW Division teams it means that for the first time they will now be playing an 8-game division series instead of 6 division games.  The opposite is now true for the Central Division, which will drop to a 6-game division series, adding 2 more interdivisional games in 2013. Rumors had looked at Pittsburgh or St. Louis as the most likely clubs to be relocated, since the league had already announced that they would not do as the NFL does and have Dallas geographically misplaced in the NE Division.  Many had speculated that St. Louis would move from the Central Division to the Southern Division where they could spark rivalries with fellow Mississippi River cities like Memphis and New Orleans, but in the end the desire to retain the Chicago-St. Louis rivalry was stronger than the desire to maintain Pittsburgh’s rivalry with the Ohio Glory.  Of course, this is all expected to be a short-term arrangement with the league fully anticipating an expansion to 30 clubs before 2020. We kick off the second half of the season with a really interesting SE Division matchup as the two non-Florida teams, who also happen to be the two division leaders, clash at the Georgia Dome.  On Saturday, we continue the fun with Denver taking on Houston in a rare early start in Texas, then in the late game we have Pittsburgh at Oakland with the loser dropping below .500.  The night game is a good one from the NE Division when the Federals head into MetLife Stadium to take on the Generals, both teams entering at 6-2. On Sunday We are looking at another division clash in the evening game when first place is on the line between Las Vegas and Portland, with the game played at Columbia Sports Stadium in the Rose City.  Earlier in the day Philadelphia will try to keep their roll going as they visit Jacksonville and New Orleans will head up river to St. Louis in an intriguing inter-conference game. FRIDAY @ 8PM ET            Charlotte (7-1) @ Atlanta (6-2)                                   NBC SAT @ 12PM ET                Denver (3-5) @ Houston (5-3)                                    ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                Ohio (3-5) @ Michigan (3-5)                                       ABC SAT @ 12PM ET                Nashville (4-4) @ Chicago (4-4)                                  FOX SAT @ 4PM ET                  Pittsburgh (4-4) @ Oakland (4-4)                               ABC SAT @ 4PM ET                  Texas (5-3) @ Seattle (2-6)                                          FOX SAT @ 8PM ET                  Washington (6-2) @ New Jersey (6-2)                     ESPN/EFN SUN @ 12PM ET               Orlando (2-6) @ Baltimore (4-4)                                ABC SUN @ 12PM ET               Philadelphia (6-2) @ Jacksonville (3-5)                    FOX SUN @ 12PM ET               Birmingham (3-5) @ Memphis (1-7)                        FOX SUN @ 4PM ET                 New Orleans (4-4) @ St. Louis (5-3)                         ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 Boston (2-6) @ Arizona (4-4)                                     ABC SUN @ 4PM ET                 Tampa Bay (4-4) @ Los Angeles (2-6)                      FOX SUN @ 8PM ET                 Las Vegas (5-3) @ Portland (5-3)                              ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jake Plummer gets our POTW for Week 8 with a nearly flawless performance that helped put Las Vegas in first place in the Pacific Division. His 4 touchdown, 23 of 28 passing day was the difference as the Thunder throttled the Bandits.