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Player of the Week: Quarterback Brian Griese was the driving force behind Michigan's defeat of Ohio in Columbus this week. His 4 TDs and 434 yards passing put Michigan in position to win late and helped edge the Glory offense across the board.

A big week for surprising results as all 28 USFL clubs were in interdivisional play, matched up against foes they don’t know quite so well. That fact may explain why so many games did not go the way most predicted. Teams like Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Atlanta, and St. Louis put up solid fights, while other underdogs like Birmingham and Seattle pulled off the upset and scored impressive wins. Speaking of impressive, Jacksonville put it all together for their first win, a domination of the spiraling Showboats. Houston and Oakland were also impressive in their matchups against two 3-1 teams (Ohio and Denver respectively). And then, as if the on-field action was not wild enough, one of the weirdest mid-week stories we have ever seen as Oakland WR Plaxico Burress basically ends his season, and very likely his chance at a big contract payday, with one of the most boneheaded accidents we have ever seen from a pro athlete. But, before we get to that odd tale, let’s look back at the on-field action from the week. WASHINGTON FEDERALS 16 ATLANTA FIRE 13 OVERTIME It is something of a cliché to say that good teams find ways to win games while bad teams find ways to lose them, but despite this being an overused trope, it very often proves to be true. It is the difference between hoping to win and expecting to win, and that dynamic played out this week when the Federals found themselves in a tight matchup with the Atlanta Fire. On the one hand you had a team that was unbeaten and expecting to win, even on the road, while on the other you had a 1-3 team just hoping that they could do enough to get a win at home. The result, as the cliché would predict, was that the Feds found a way to win. The first thing we should acknowledge is that both teams played hard and both defenses did their best to secure a victory. The offenses struggled on both sides as the two teams battled for the full 60 minutes and then another 14:53 before a victor was decided. Washington’s field goal with 7 seconds left in overtime prevented a tie, which many in Atlanta were resigned to accept, but along the way both clubs showed that defensive football was the strength of their clubs. In a game with no turnovers and a combined 9 of 34 on third down, this was a game to warm the hearts of those old enough to remember the way football was played in the 60’s and 70’s. Sure, there were 4-wide formations, QB runs, and plenty of shotgun formation, but the essence of the game was the play of the offensive and defensive lines, big hits, and solid defensive strategy. We saw only 2 touchdowns on the day, both in the 2nd quarter as the game went to the half tied at 10. There would be only 2 more field goals in the second half, sending the game to overtime at 13-all. Atlanta struggled all day to run the ball with 2nd year back Darren McFadden. The big back would carry the ball 16 times for only 40 yards (2.5 per carry). Across the field, Deuce McCallister, the league rushing leader, would fare quite a bit better, averaging 5.2 yards per carry on his way to a 130-yard day, and yet, the Federals struggled to turn that production into points. McCallister did have Washington’s only touchdown, a 5-yard run to open the 2nd quarter, down 3-0 at that point. It was the final play in Washington’s best drive of the day, a 58-yard, 11 play affair that followed a poor punt from Atlanta’s Ronnie Howard (not Opie or Richie Cunningham, a different Ron Howard). It was Happy Days for Washington as they would add a field goal of their own just 5 minutes later to take a 10-3 lead, but Atlanta caught a break as the half was ending and equalized the score. The play came early in Atlanta’s scoring drive. Kyle Orton was pressured by Greg Spires and Anthony McFarland, with Spires catching Orton’s arm in motion and knocking the ball to the ground. LB Mark Simoneau picked the ball up and ran it to the endzone for an apparent score and a 17-3 lead for the Federals. But, it was not to be. A flag on the field penalized McFarland for a blow to Orton’s head, not only negating the fumble, but providing Atlanta with a 15-yard shift of field position. The play seemed to rile up the Fire, who would finish the drive 5 plays later with an Orton connection with Marcus Robinson for their only TD of the game. Rather than going into the half down 14, the Fire were tied up with the Federals, and this seemed to inspire the club to do even more in the second half. Following the break, Washington would have only 5 first downs in the entire second half. Three of them came on one drive, the only scoring drive for the Feds in the second half, a 52-yard kick from the always dangerous Doug Pelfrey. Atlanta was down, but they were squared up and standing their ground with the unbeaten Federals. The game would go into the 4th with the Feds clinging to a 13-10 lead. That lead would hold until the waning seconds of the game. Atlanta, desperate to get into field goal range, went to a no huddle, catching Washington in a nickel defense against 3 receivers and TE Will Heller. The Fire used the lack of substitutions to find mismatches, first Orton connecting with Ted Ginn for his only catch of the day, then Heller, and finally David Tyree. With 27 seconds left, on a 3rd and 8 from the 17, they were forced to clock the ball and trot out Josh Scobee for the game’s equalizer. His 35-yard kick was good and Atlanta pushed the game to overtime. That play, more than any other in the game, symbolized the difference in philosophy. With nearly 30 seconds left, the Fire went for the tie when they had plenty of time to get a 3rd down pass play off and get into position for the kick, but they played it safe, hoping they could get an advantage in overtime, rather than going for the win in regulation. That lack of confidence in their ability to score would prove their undoing as Washington would shut down the Fire offense completely in the extra period. Both clubs struggled to move the ball in overtime, creating a game of field position. When, with 2:04 left in the extra period, return man Johhny Morant returned a Fire punt for 27 yards, it gave the Feds the short field they needed. Washington kept the ball on the ground despite the running clock, moving closer and closer, and used their final time out with 7 seconds to play to set up Doug Pelfrey for the game winner. Pelfrey’s kick was good and the Federals escaped Atlanta with their 5th win in 5 tries. For the Fire it was a hard fought game, a game they had a shot to win, but in the end their lack of belief gave Washington the chance to get the road win and the more experienced, more confident club did just that. Winners win the tight game. The cliché exists for a reason. DENVER 10 OAKLAND 48 An ugly game for the visitors as Oakland opened up a 24-3 halftime lead and just kept pouring it on. Without Matt Leinart available, Denver just did not have enough in this one, and the defense had no answers as Joey Harrington threw for 3 scores and the Williams-Norwood duo scored 3 more. BIRMINGHAM 24 CHARLOTTE 17 The surprising Stallions knock Charlotte from the ranks of the unbeaten thanks to an Andre Weathers pick-six and a stellar defensive effort that saw Birmingham nab 5 takeaways, including 3 picks of Chris Weinke. The Stallion offense took advantage of short fields, scoring 17 of their 24 points off of turnovers to take down the Monarchs and move to 2-3. MEMPHIS 10 JACKSONVILLE 42 The problems for the 2-time Eastern Conference Champs are clearly way deeper than just Brett Favre’s injury as the winless Bulls just dominate the Showboats. Antowain Smith rushed for 2 scores and combined with Travis Minor to produce 118 yards on the ground. Memphis was 2 of 13 on third down and 0 for 2 on fourth down as they just could not produce drives. MICHIGAN 14 SEATTLE 29 The Dragons get their first win of the season, thanks to desperation and a new strategy, rotating Corey Dillon with Ladell Betts to wear down the Michigan defense. Two late TDs from Griese to Joppru made this one look closer than the 29-0 third quarter lead the Dragons held before they put in some subs. OHIO 24 HOUSTON 34 Houston gets a big inter-divisional confidence booster, with 164 yards rushing helping the Gamblers outpace the Glory. Kerry Collins was sacked 7 times, including 2 from Kavika Pittman, one for a safety. Eddie George rushed for 122 in the loss, but with Moss and Galloway held to only 83 combined yards, the Glory just could not get their aerial attack on track. BALTIMORE 7 ORLANDO 19 The Renegades dominate a Blitz team missing Ben Roethlisberger, as Calais Campbell adds 3 sacks of Chris Simms to his total for the year. The Blitz were simply not able to get it done ,converting only 1 third down all game, while Orlando played a conservative game on offense and relied on that shut-down D to get them the home win. PHILADELPHIA 32 NEW ORLEANS 17 An impressive game from the Stars’ offense as they rack up 431 yards, including a combined 139 on the ground from Robinson and Slaton. Kurt Warner throws for 296 and 2 scores, while the Star defense limits Eli Manning to only 181 through the air. NEW JERSEY 3 NASHVILLE 13 The New Jersey D was game, but the offense, led by Kevin Kolb, struggled to get anything going against Terrell Suggs and the Knights. Frank Gore scored the only TD on the day, along with 84 yards rushing as Nashville won a war of attrition against the very game Generals. PITTSBURGH 16 TEXAS 6 The Maulers’ strong start continues as their defense comes up big against Joe Flacco and the Outlaws. DeShaun Foster contributes 128 on the ground and Cody Pickett has a conservative but solid game for Pittsburgh as they move to 4-1. ARIZONA 22 LOS ANGELES 29 A really nice old style western conference clash as the Wranglers give LA all they can handle. Thanks to 109 yards and a score from Sedrick Irvin, it was tied at 22 midway through the 4th quarter before rookie Mark Sanchez drove the Express down for the game winner, a Jones-Drew 1-yard plunge. Sanchez finished the game 18 of 23 for 247 with 2 TDs as LA moves to 3-2. ST. LOUIS 13 LAS VEGAS 16 OVERTIME For a moment it looked like the Skyhawks had Las Vegas’s number, but a late TD was called back for holding and St. Louis had to settle for a game-tying field goal. In overtime, A. J. Hawk stopped the Skyhawks on a 4th and 3, allowing the Thunder field goal to hold up as the game winner. CHICAGO 28 PORTLAND 16 Brian Urlacher played like a man possessed, with 14 tackles, a pick-six, a safety and a fumble with recovery as Chicago just intimidated the Stags out of their game. Chicago picked off A. J. Feeley three times, and returned all 3 for scores in a defensive showstopper of a game. BOSTON 30 TAMPA BAY 20 The Sunday nightery was close throughout, but Boston just had too much for the Bandits as Drew Bledsoe threw for 396 and 3 scores. Daunte Culpepper started, but was relieved by Brad Gradkowski early on, after two ball got away from him, raising question about his shoulder. Three different receivers went over 100 yards for the pass-happy Cannons, with Joe Jurevicious leading the way with 144 yards, followed by Chad Johson with 124 and rookie Percy Harvin with 123. Plaxico Burress Out for Year After Self-Inflicted Shooting One of the most bizarre midweek stories in league history this week as Plaxico Burress essentially took himself out of the season for Oakland thanks to a poorly placed firearm. It appears, based on police reports, that while out a local club Monday evening in Oakland, Burress was carrying a loaded pistol in the waistband of his pants, and that while dancing the gun went off, putting a bullet in the thigh of the Invaders’ leading receiver. The injury puts Burress on the IR, with an anticipated 10-12 weeks to fully heal, but what may be even worse is that the violation of state and city gun ordinances could lead to legal entanglements which could extend his time away from the game well into the 2010 season. “Boneheaded” was the word Coach Green used to describe the incident which now places his team in a predicament. They have placed Burress on IR, promoting Manuel Johnson up from the practice squad and shifting Greg Jennings into the #1 receiver slot, but it is a contract year for Burress, believe it or not, so Oakland may have to either cut bait on their top receiver, fearing an extended absence due to potential incarceration, or risk significant blowback for resigning a player who just cost himself a season of play due to pure unadulterated immaturity and stupidity. Not a place the Invader management wanted to be this year. As for Burress, he has yet to make a statement to the press, still at the hospital but expected to be released by Friday. He will be watching the Invaders take on LA this weekend from home, where he will be for the rest of the summer, wondering if he may have not only shot himself in the thigh, but also shot himself in the foot when it comes to getting prime free agent money. Bledsoe Glad to Be Back On the opposite side of the player news spectrum we find Drew Bledsoe, who had announced his intent to retire early in the 2008 season only to suffer a season-ending injury. In the offseason, as he completed PT, he weighed his options, with Boston brass regularly communicating to him their hope that he would return for one more year. In the end he decided to do just that, coming back for one more go, and man, oh, man, does that look like a good decision for all parties. After 5 weeks, Bledsoe is leading the league with 1,654 yards, well over 300 per game, and he has Boston back in contention for a playoff spot. He sits in an offense that has three top 20 receivers in Chad Johnson (#1 in yards), Percy Harvin (#9) and Joe Jurevicius (#11), and has a halfback at #7 in the league’s rushing list, 1 yard shy of 400 for the year. The offense is humming, averaging nearly 27 points per game and over 400 yards each outing. Yes, the club is still 2 games behind Washington, but in the very tough NE Division, teams will knock each other off, and Boston is in very good shape to stay in the hunt. The line of tackles Stockar McDougle (resigned in free agency) and Marco Colombo, guards Kraig Urbrich and Chuck Johnson, and center Dom Raiola, have been focused on protecting their less-than-agile veteran QB, and Bledsoe has suffered only 2 sacks since a nasty 8-sack mess against Charlotte. That’s 2 sacks in 3 games, not bad protection at all. Backup Adrian McPherson, who shone for the Cannons in Bledsoe’s absence last year, has been saying all the right things and is apparently happy to bide his time and take over the team in 2010, which makes it all that much easier for Bledsoe to focus on his on-field performance and on Boston’s hope to make the Summer Bowl for the first time in team history. Knowshon a No Show? There is concern in Orlando that while we are all going gaga for their defensive line, the other big story of the offseason for the Renegades is not working out as planned. Knowshon Moreno was the clear #1 back in the draft and was considered the key piece of the puzzle to help the ‘Gades develop a balanced offense to pair with their stellar defense. But so far this season, the value for this high draft choice has not been felt on the field. Moreno is averaging fewer than 17 attempts per game, and, worse yet, is sitting at a miserable 2.9 yards per carry when he is given the ball. His best game so far only netted 89 yards, and that was against a Bandits team that has been sleepwalking through the season. It is early, but folks are beginning to wonder if the ‘Gades, and most of the draft “experts”, swung and missed big time on the Georgia product. The school that brought the USFL standout backs like Herschel Walker and Terrell Davis was expected to have produced another monster in Moreno, but so far it has been far more Dr. Jeckyll and not nearly enough Mr. Hyde for the Renegades. Guard is not generally considered a high risk position, but don’t tell that to the USFL this week as three starters went down with significant injuries this week. New Jersey’s Jesse James, Philadelphia’s Damien Woody, and Seattle’s Chris Kemoeatu are all expected to be done for the year with a variety of leg injuries, though the common theme seems to be ligament damage in each case. In addition to the loss of the three guards we have center Trey Teague of Tampa Bay gone to a broken hip, Boston corner Fred Smoot expected to miss a month or more with a torn hamstring, and New Jersey DE Shaun Ellis also suffering from a hamstring injury that could cost him up to a month. LA is hoping that 2nd year corner Dominique Rogers-Cromartie will only miss one game after suffering an ugly dislocated finger, an injury that often looks worse than it is. On the good news front, Brett Favre has started appearing at Stallion practices, and appears to be progressing well towards a comeback targeted at Week 8. Charlotte DT Kyle Williams went down in what looked like a nasty neck injury, but apparently it was a temporary setback. He is listed as Doubtful this week, but he doctors say he suffered no significant injury that will keep him out beyond Week 6. Similarly, Arizona CB Asante Samuel’s feared ACL injury was diagnosed as mere patella tendinitis, which again could mean he will be back by Week 7. Matt Leinart is still listed on Denver’s injury report, but with a Probable status, there is a very good chance we will see their starter back in action this weekend. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Keyshawn Johnson, Daunte Culpepper, and Donald Driver join Leinart as players who could return to action this week. Dallas Proving Prime Territory for USFL With three of this season’s eight home games in the books for the Texas Outlaws, it seems the decision to choose Dallas and the Cotton Bowl as their temporary home has been a huge success. The Outlaws are averaging nearly 48,000 fans per game, having faced LA, Houston, and Pittsburgh in the Big D. They are expecting a big crowd this week with Arizona coming to town, and will then hoast Memphis, New Orleans, Denver and St. Louis after that. And while the Outlaws are not looking ther best on the field, off to a 1-4 start despite many expecting a playoff run this year, the stands are something to be happy about. So, what is next? That is a question already being asked. The Outlaws are locked into a 5-year deal at the Alamo Dome, and are only traveling to Dallas due to renovations the club is helping to pay for. Expansion seems a distant possibility, so what could fans in Dallas do after 2009 is over? The obvious answer is to put together a group to potentially lure another team to the metroplex. That has been an issue in the past, as two different bids for expansion (1995 and 2006/2008) fell apart before the city really had a chance to show its support for a USFL team. If this year is proving anything it is that fans are not the issue in Dallas. If a viable ownership group could bring a team to town, the city itself seems more than ready to support a 2nd franchise after the NFL Cowboys (who have not exactly been burning up the NFL since the early 1990’s.). But would the league be open to relocation? And at what cost? This is all speculative, of course. There is no current bidding group out seeking a franchise to bring to town, but what we are seeing from the community and their support of the Outlaws clearly shows that if such a bid were to form, the city would very likely throw its support behind it and a new franchise in town would have no trouble attracting a crowd. Terrell Owens Sharpie Trick Has League Seeing Red You knew it would not take long for Terrell Owens and his king-sized personality to run afowl of the USFL brass. While hardly as restrictive or crotchety as the NFL, the USFL owners tend to frown on blatant self-promotion nearly as much as their fall counterparts. Yes, celebrations are bigger and more brash in the USFL than in the fall league, but when a player makes a first down, pulls a pen out of his sock, signs the official game ball and throws it into the crowd, that is more than the usual $500 fine for tossing the ball. This week the USFL penalized Owens $10,000 for his choreographed stunt with a Sharpee, citing the almost ludicrous claim that having the pen in his sock during the first down play is a violation of league uniform policy and posed a threat as a “potential weapon”. As laughable as that may sound, the truth is that carrying a foreign object on you while on the field could be an issue. We all remember the one actually interesting scene in the Bruce Willis film “The Last Boyscout” where a fictional player in a fictional league pulled a gun from his waistband and shot a defensive player. That is far from a Sharpee, but after the Plaxico Burress incident, there is some logic to the harsh league response to Owens’s little stunt. This is not the first stunt Mr. Owens has had to pay for, famously fined for a taunt at the 50-yard line in Dallas when he played in the NFL, but it is the first time that his antics have led to a fine in the USFL. In his earlier days with Jacksonville, Owens’s big personality had really not manifested, at least not beyond the occasional endzone dance. That came with his time in the NFL, and is apparently going to be a factor for him with the Stars in Philly. Of course, with Steve Smith opposite him on the field, you have in the Stars the perfect 1-2 combo of brash extraverts at the position. Some would say Prima Donnas, but we leave that up to you to decide. Best of the USFL: Halfbacks Perhaps one of the toughest positions to evaluate, because there are so many strong candidates for the league’s best halfbacks. This will be one that is debated across all the social media outlets, to be sure. A lot depends on what you are looking for in a back. Do you want a piledriver who is all but guaranteed to make that key 3rd and 2? Would you prefer an all-purpose back who can be effective in the passing game? Or what about the elusive back who may get hung up behind the line or could break one for 80? So many options. And yet, what we tend to see in the USFL are bigger backs who can complement the passing game or participate in it. Looking at our Top 5, we have 2 who are very active in the passing game, and 3 who are more about brute power and the ability to make the tough yards. Frank Gore (NSH) We have Gore as our top overall back because he combines the two attributes that USFL teams seem to crave the most, the ability to run tough and the ability to be effective in the short passing game. Gore is among the league’s elite for a reason, he is versatile, elusive, and powerful all at once. Deuce McCallister (WSH) Washington does not use Deuce McCallister much in their passing game, but he sure is effective on the ground. The Deuce has topped 1,000 yards each of the past 6 seasons for Washington, and, despite limited use, averages about 30 receptions a year. The key with McCallister is his ability to get around the edge or take the tough yards in the middle. Ricky Williams (OAK) Breakaway speed and impact power typify Ricky Williams’s game. Not an elusive back by any means, Williams depends on breaking tackles, dragging defenders, and busting into the secondary. Since coming over from New Orleans, Williams has had 3 seasons over 1,200 yards for the Invaders, with 10+ TDs in each of the past three years. Eddie George (OHI) The consummate all-purpose back, George is as dangerous in the Ohio air attack as he is toting the ball in the run game. For over a decade, the Ohio State product has been among the league leaders in receptions by a back and has often had numbers that compare favorable with mid-range starting wideouts, all while also averaging nearly 1,200 yards per season rushing the ball. Ron Dayne (BAL) The best example of a power back in this group, Dayne is a bulldozer who would rather run over you than try to juke his way around you. Baltimore’s big back has been a regular All-USFL selection for years, and while he does not offer much in the passing game, he is one of the most reliable short-yardage and goal line backs in league history. Like we said, this was a tough position to limit to only 5 candidates. How do we not include Texas’s T. J. Duckett? Or Tampa Bay’s dual threat back Willis McGahee? Marshawn Lynch has been a dominant performer in his short time with the Thunder, and since coming over from Birmingham to Houston Shaun Alexander has proven himself among the best in the game. Fourteen games and twelve of them will be divisional clashes again in Week 6. We have some great rivalry games as well with Memphis kicking it off against in-state rival Nashville on Friday Night. On Saturday it is Boston @ New Jersey, LA vs. Oakland in the California Derby, and Denver headed to Houston in a clash of 3-2 teams. Sunday features the two non-divisional games, as well as a Central Division clash between Michigan and Ohio. The Week wraps up with a battle for first in the Northeast when Baltimore heads just down the road to face Washington at RFK. FRIDAY @ 8pm Memphis (0-5) @ Nashville (4-1) NBC SATURDAY @ 12pm Atlanta (1-4) @ Tampa Bay (1-4) ABC SATURDAY @ 12pm Charlotte (4-1) @ Jacksonville (1-4) FOX SATURDAY @ 12pm Boston (3-2) @ New Jersey (1-4) FOX SATURDAY @ 4pm Las Vegas (2-3) @ Seattle (1-4) ABC SATURDAY @ 4pm Los Angeles (3-2 @ Oakland (4-1) FOX SATURDAY @ 8pm Denver (3-2) @ Houston (3-2) ESPN SUNDAY @ 12pm Portland (2-3) @ Philadelphia (3-2) ABC SUNDAY @ 12pm Pittsburgh (4-1) @ Orlando (4-1) ABC SUNDAY @ 12pm Michigan (3-2) @ Ohio (3-2) FOX SUNDAY @ 4pm Chicago (3-2) @ St. Louis (0-5) ABC SUNDAY @ 4pm Birmingham (2-3) @ New Orleans (3-2) FOX SUNDAY @ 4pm Arizona (2-3) @ Texas (1-4) FOX SUNDAY @ 8pm Baltimore (4-1 @ Washington (5-1) ESPN

Player of the Week: Brian Urlacher was everywhere for the Machine defense against Portland. Not only did he make 14 tackles, but he got a sack, fumble, and recovery on one play and a pick-six on another. Just call it a typical Sunday for Chicago's main man in the middle.

Player of the Week: QB Kyle Orton of Atlanta puts the Fire into the win column in a big way, throwing for over 350 yards and 5 touchdowns in Atlanta's 38-14 win over Jacksonville.

Baltimore staked their claim as the Beasts of the East by knocking off the Philadelphia Stars to remain unbeaten. They have competition though, as Charlotte, Washington and Nashville kept pace with their 3rd wins of the young season. In the west, we have three unbeatens, with Denver joining Central powerhouses Ohio and Michigan at 3-0. Finishing the week at a very troubling 0-3 we find Seattle, who have been here before, Memphis, who are trying to find answers after the injury to Brett Favre, and several of last year's 10-loss teams, including Atlanta, St. Louis, and Texas. All is not lost, as Seattle showed us last year, winning 10 of 12 after an 0-4 start, but desperation and a need for a new plan is certainly the formula for these clubs, while solidifying what is working for them is the order of the day for surprise division leaders in Charlotte, Nasvhille, Baltimore, and Denver. PHILADELPHIA STARS 35 BALTIMORE BLITZ 37 A Shootout and a statement game for the Blitz as they seek to lay their claim on the Northeast Division. In a game that came down to a 2-point play, the Blitz and the Stars traded body blows for 60 minutes in one of the best games of the early season and perhaps a sign that the level of play has fully reached regular season intensity after a couple of questionable weeks to start the year. It was a game that saw both offenses play to their abilities, with Philadelphia racking up nearly 500 yards of offense, thanks in large part to a 375 yard, 31 of 48 game for Stars QB Kurt Warner. Baltimore countered with Ron Dayne gaining 131 and scoring three times in one of his biggest games. It was entertaining, intense, and down to the wire, exactly the kind of game USFL fans have come to expect from the always competitive Northeast. It also did not take long to get cooking, with both clubs coring TDs on their first possession. Baltimore won the toss and deferred, so Philadelphia got the ball first and in less than 5 minutes time, they had 7 on the board, with Kurt Warner using Terrell Owens’ big frame to post up in the endzone for the first of his three TD passes. Baltimore responded immediately, driving 78 yards in 8 minutes, relying heavily on Ron Dayne, and scoring the equalizer with 3:44 left in the firt quarter on Dayne’s 5th carry, a 6-yard sweep to the corner of the endzone. Baltimore would get the ball back only 33 seconds later when FS Nelson Leaks got the first of what would be two picks on the day, putting Baltimore back in business at their own 49. The Blitz again used a methodical combination of Dayne runs and short passes to drive the field, this time using Dayne as decoy as Big Ben hit Harry Douglas with a 9-yard TD toss on play action. The second quarter saw Philadelphia get back on the board after a long drive stalled on the 12 yard line, producing a short 29-yarder from Mike Nugent. Baltimore was back in business as the offenses proved very effective on the day. Roethlisberger hit rookie Darius Heyward-Bey with a 29-yarder, his longest of the team-leading 4 receptions on the day. The score put them up 21-10, but it would not be a lead they would hold for long. Philadelphia came right back, and with 1:11 left in the half, Steve Smith scored from 10 yards out to bring the Stars within 4 at 21-17. That is how it would go into the half, with both teams already over 200 yards for the game. The second half would see Baltimore boost their league once again, only to have Philly come right back. The Blitz took the second half kickoff and marched 68 yards before Ron Dayne scored his 2nd of 3 touchdowns on the day. But, while the Stars’ defense was still trying to find ways to slow down the Blitz, the offense had figured some things out. Using Steve Slaton as the primary back in the 2nd half, the Stars relied on more outside runs and were able to open up the secondary for deeper passes, including a 42-yarder to Smith that put them in range for Michael Robinson to score on a goal line run. Robinson would get his 2nd TD of the day on the next Stars drive, but the problem that Philadelphia had was that after both TDs they tried 2-point conversions and in both cases failed. So, instead of going from 28-17 to 31-28, they were only up one, at 29-28. Baltimore got their first drive of the final period after the second Robinson TD and again found the formula to move the ball through the Stars’ defense, with Ron Dayne capping off his day with his 3rd TD. Now up 34-29, Baltimore also went for 2, and also failed in the attempt. Leaving them with only a 5 point advantage. They would add to that after Kurt Warner was the victim of a tipped ball, a ball that Blitz LB James Farrior scooped before it hit the ground, giving Baltimore the ball in Philly territory. The Stars’ D held them to 3, but the Grammatica field goal gave the Blitz an 8-point lead with only 1:30 left to play. Philadelphia would need a big play, and they would get it. After quickly moving the ball into Blitz territory, the Stars went for broke and sent Terrell Owens on a post-corner route. The route forced the safety inside, and when Owens turned to the corner, he gained a step on the corner. Warner placed the ball perfectly and Owens touched both feet down in the endzone before falling out of bounds with the ball. Philadlelphia, with 36 seconds left, was down by 2. They would try their third 2-point play of the half, and they would need it to tie the game and potentially go to overtime. The play called was intended to go to Owens once again, but with him blanketed by Blitz defenders, Warner had to turn to his second option, TE Dallas Clark. Clark was covered by NFL import Angelo Crowell, but the pass came just a second late, allowing Crowell time to recover from Clark’s sudden out cut and get a hand in to dislodge the ball from Clark. The Blitz held, and would end the game with a kneeldown. They now take over 1st in the NE at 3-0, tied with Washington, while Philadelphia, who came so close, drop a game back. PITTSBURGH 21 CHICAGO 9 Week three opened with Chicago favored by 6 over the Maulers, but the Friday Night NBC game did not go as planned for the Machine. Despite 101 yards from Michael Turner, the Machine struggled to put points on the board, while Cody Pickett looked like a different QB, throwing for 3 sores and deftly avoiding the Chicago pass rush. Vincent Jackson caught 7 balls, including 2 TDs as Pittsburgh moved to 2-1 with a big divisional road win. ORLANDO 41 ATLANTA 13 Another huge game for Calais Campbell, whose 4 sacks were part of a 9-sack game against shellshocked Fire QB Kyle Orton. Orton also threw 4 picks, including a whopping 3 returned for scores as Tyrone Carter, Lito Shepherd, and Will Overstreet all got to high step into the endzone at different points of the game. Just the defensive scores would have won the game for the Renegades, but Knowshon Moreno also put up 2 scores despite continuing to struggle for yards (2.1 yards per carry). JACKSONVILLE 17 OHIO 45 The Bulls proved no match for the Ohio offense as Kerry Collins threw for over 300 yards and 4 scores, connecting with Randy Moss twice for scores and finding Joey Galloway for a game best 123 yards. It got ugly early with Ohio scoring on 6 of 7 drives to open the game, forcing Jacksonville to abandon the run and putting a lot of pressure on Jake Delhomme to play a game he is not well suited for. Ohio cruised to 3-0 with the 28 point win, while the Bulls drop to a dismal 0-3 to start the year. TAMPA BAY 3 CHARLOTTE 30 As bad as the Bulls have looked, the Bandits have seemed even worse (despite being 1-2). Charlotte simply confused and capitalized against a Daunte Culpepper who just did not seem right. The Bandit QB threw 3 picks and was sacked 5 times as Tampa Bay looked nothing like last year’s 14-2 squad. The Charlotte defense held an opponent under 10 points for the 3rd time this year, with Julius Peppers landing 2 sacks and once again not allowing a TD in the game. ST. LOUIS 20 MICHIGAN 41 Jeff Blake went without a pick for the first time this season and the Knights looked better early on, but Michigan pulled away with 24 unanswered points in the 2nd half as Coach LeBeau’s halftime adjustments shut down the early success of the Skyhawks. Brian Griese finished the game with 3 TD passes and Hines Ward led all receivers with 136 yards, including a 47-yard score to open the 2nd half. The win helps Michigan keep pace with Ohio at 3-0 to start the year. PORTLAND 22 LAS VEGAS 0 The Thunder came out flat at home and then things just got worse as Portland shut them out in an embarrassing performance from a team many expected to be headed to the playoffs. The Thunder gained a total of 194 yards and Jake Plummer completed only 14 of 32 passes as Portland smothered the Thunder at every turn. On offense, Portland relied heavily on HB James Stewart, whose 120 yards included a 3-yard TD run that saw the line blow Las Vegas off the ball. A good game for A. J. Feeley as well, hitting 8 different receivers as he completed 22 of 33 passing. WASHINGTON 32 BOSTON 27 A really wild finish to this NE battle as the Feds scored 14 points within the 2-minute warning to turn a 27-19 Boston advantage into a 32-27 Feds win. It began with a 70 yard Stewart to Kellen Davis TD just at the 2-minute warning, followed almost immediately by a fumble from Boston’s Tony Hunt that gave the ball back to Washington. This time Stewart found Eddie Kennison for a 48-yard score that defied logic. For some reason Boston used man instead of a 3-deep zone with less than a minute to play and Stewart, escaping the pocket and buying time, exploited it to find his receiver and win the game. NASHVILLE 17 BIRMINGHAM 10 The Knights move to 3-0, but it was not easy. Birmingham came back from an early 17-0 hole, and nearly tied the game at the end of regulation. Kyle Boller had Joe Horn open for a game-tying score, but the ball sailed on him, and Horn could not bring it in. Nashville, who seemed very strong in the first half, lost their drive in the second half and produced almost no offense after the break, allowing Birmingham to make it a game until the final seconds. NEW ORLEANS 31 MEMPHIS 14 The Breakers sack an uncertain Mike McMahon 6 times and see both Matt Forte and Fred Jackson go over 100 yards rushing against a suspect Showboat defense. Forte had 105 yards on 16 carries while Jackson had an equal total on 15 carries and added 2 touchdowns as the Breakers take the divisional game and send Memphis to an unexpected 0-3 start. TEXAS 7 DENVER 27 The Gold use home field advantage and an outstanding run defense to blow past the Outlaws, sending Texas to an unwelcome 0-3 start. Denver held T. J. Duckett to only 31 yards on 17 carries (a paltry 1.8 YPC) and just slowly kept adding points to the scoreboard. With Matt Leinart sidelined by injury, Derrick Anderson played a conservative game, but it was all Denver needed as their defense did the rest. HOUSTON 16 ARIZONA 13 OVERTIME Houston found the Wranglers to be a tougher foe than anticipated as the Arizona D frustrated Matt Hasselbeck and the Gamblers. Shaun Alexander had one of his best games, rushing for 132 yards, but the Gamblers kept getting backed out of the red zone by sacks and penalties, leaving the game a much lower scoring affair than expected. Arizona got a workman-like game from David Carr and the run game showed some life with Sedrick Irvin gaining 80 yards, but in the end, they could not get the field goal they needed in overtime to match Houston’s kick, giving the Gamblers the hard-fought W. NEW JERSEY 5 OAKLAND 17 In a game that was surprisingly 0-0 after three quarters, the fourth quarter erupted with multiple scores as Jerious Norwood scored twice to outpace New Jersey. With Ricky Williams out, Norwood had taken on the mantle and struggled through 3 quarters, but in the 4th the Generals started to tire on defense and Norwood would gain 55 of his 98 yards in the final period, helping Oakland eke out a tough win. SEATTLE 20 LOS ANGELES 23 OVERTIME The Dragons and Express faced off in the Sunday Nighter and the Dragons clearly wanted to avoid an 0-3 start to the year, but this game was played in LA, and the Express got the final say as their overtime field goal held up as the game winner. Maurice Jones Drew was the hero for the Express, rushing for 117 and catching 2 passes as well. It was a Jones-Drew swing pass that got LA into field goal range in overtime and landed them the win. Seattle got 107 from Corey Dillon and foughtback froma 20-10 deficit in the 4th to send the game to extra time, but could not get the equalizer in overtime and fall to 0-3. Questions of Culpepper’s Health Persist What is wrong with Daunte Culpepper? That is the question being asked in Tampa Bay this season. It is being asked by the fans, it is being asked by the media, and we fully expect it is being asked within the leadership of the Bandits franchise. We are three weeks into the season and not only has Culpepper not thrown a single touchdown, he is currently the lowest ranked QB in the league’s QB rating (of those with enough attempts to qualify). His 42.6 rating is a reflection of having thrown 4 picks, no touchdowns, completing only 45% of his passes and averaging only 150 yards per game, all this despite essentially having the same roster of receivers as last year. Some are questioning his health, others wondering if, at 32, he is hitting “the cliff” that many quarterbacks hit a bit later in life. Mentions of “the yips” a psychological loss of confidence that we often hear about with golfers or kickers, are not uncommon. With no real changes to Culpepper’s O-line and with the same starters at receiver as last year, many are just baffled why things have gone so badly. Injury, an undisclosed injury, seems to be the common theory. Culpepper was knocked out of the season opener in St.Louis, but returned to play in losses to New Jersey and Charlotte. But in those games the Bandits have been held without a touchdown. The only touchdowns this year have been with Brad Gradkowski at the helm, and fans are wondering if there is something going on with Culpepepr, and openly asking if the team should not go to Gradkowski until an answer is found. As you might expect, Coach Spurrier is putting the onus of his team’s bad performance on himself and his staff, saying that they have not been calling a game that puts Daunte in position to win, but he is also keeping very quiet about any concerns he may have. With local sports radio lighting up with theories ranging from blurred vision to the far-fetched theory that Culpepper is shaving points due to mob influence on gambling, the overall message being received is that fans are losing trust in their QB, and just how long it takes for that loss of confidence to reach the coaches and Culpepper himself is the big question around the Bandits right now, a question they hope they can answer this week with their first road game, a trip to Orlando to face one of the league’s nastiest pass rushes. Calais Campbell Impresses Once Again Let’s talk about that Orlando pass rush for a moment. And by “Orlando pass rush” we mean Calais Campbell. The signing this offseason of DT Albert Haynesworth from the NFL Copperheads, was meant to free up Campbell from double team blocking, and that it has, but what we are seeing, with two straight weeks of 4 sacks, is a set of skills that we have not really witnessed since the days of Chris Doleman and Reggie White. Campbell is benefitting from a lot of single blocks, that is true, but we are witnessing him simply embarrassing left tackles as he overpowers, outmaneuvers, or just outhustles them on his way to the QB. Admitedly, the three first opponents for Orlando—Jacksonville, Boston, and Atlanta—have QBs not known as effective pass rush evaders. No one ever would say Delhomme, Bledsoe, or even Kyle Orton are fleet of foot. But this is not just about Orlando facing teams with pocket passers, this is about a young player who was very impressive until an injury shortened his rookie season, coming into his own and immediately developing a repuation as one of the best at what he does. And that, for all the rationalization we may have about how it is getting done, is getting done, which is what matters most for the Renegades and their fans. Pickett’s Improved Play Keeps Pat White on the Sideline. Another player with an impressive start to the season is a quarterback who was seen as potentially in a fight for his job after his club, the Maulers, drafted Pat White out of West Virginia. It was clear after a 2008 season that had plenty of ups and downs, that Cody Pickett was in a make-or-break situation, and that he would be pushed by the young, athletic Pat White. It appears, at least through 3 weeks, that the push was what Pickett needed to reach his potential. In his two prior seasons as the Mauler starting QB, Pickett has averaged a QB Rating of 80 points, with 27 TDs to 28 interceptions and roughly 185 yards per game. In the first three games of this year, including wins over Arizona and Chicago, Pickett is averaging 260 yards per game (a very steady 261 in weeks 1-2 and 260 this week), has produced 5 TDs to only 2 picks, and has a QB rating over 100. Coach Ron Rivera had nothing but positive things to say about Pickett after their victory in Chicago this week. “He is making good decisions, getting rid of the ball, and not forcing things. In other words, he is playing the way a QB should always want to play” stated the Mauler Coach in the post-game presser. For Mauler fans, who were hesitant at best when Pickett was named the starter prior to week one, the results are better than could have been anticipated based on past performance. With very winnable games at St. Louis and at Texas (both 0-3) the next two weeks, the Maulers could go into their big Week 6 match against Orlando with a very solid 4-1 record. Orlando will, of course be seen as the test for both Pickett and the Mauler front line, as we have already discussed the quality of their front line and their pass rushing abilities. Pickett’s early success have also highlighted some of the undervalued talent in the receiving corp. Vincent Jackson is having a great start to his year, with 278 yards in 3 games and 3 scores as well. Tight Ends Alge Crumpler and David Thomas combine for 21 catches and nearly 250 yards, and former NJ General Kevin Johnson is also on pace for a personal best this year. Can Pickett keep the momentum going? That is key. Will teams start playing the Maulers differently? Moving out of a run-first mentality and devoting more resources to impede the passing game. They should, as it seems what Pittsburgh’s first three opponents failed to do is take Pickett seriously. But the league is seeing his success, and that almost always leads to an adjustment. For now though, Mauler fans are breathing a sigh of relief and are happy to have their QB spoken about in a positive light. Chad Johnson’s Name May Change, But His Performance Doesn’t Whether it is Chad Johnson, Chad Ochocinco, Chad “85” Johnson, or just “The Receiver Formerly Known as Ochocinco”, Boston’s leading receiver is still doing what he always does, turning routine plays into big plays and making every catch count. It took him 3 weeks to get there, but Chad “85” Johnson, as he is currently listed in the official league files and in each week’s roster list, is once again atop the leader board for yards receiving, 9 yards ahead of Philadelphia’s Steve Smith. From past history we know that once 85 gets to the top of that list, he rarely dips back down. This is a receiver, after all, who has gained over 1,500 in a season not once, not twice, but 4 times since coming into the league in 2001. Last year was his best year yet, with over 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns, even with the late season injury to Drew Bledsoe. Will Chad NAME HERE be able to do it again? To finish as the league’s top receiving yardage leader again? To top the league in TD catches again? Every indication is that he is well on his way, so we and you had better figure out what to call him, because by every account we are going to have to talk about him a lot this year, and maybe in conversations about MVP or Offensive Player of the Year once again. Only three weeks in and we are starting to see teams with 2, 3, or 4 starters out. While most are out for only short periods, there are more than anyone would like to see who are going to miss multiple weeks, including a few who are already out for the year. As of this week there are 3 players on IR, all defenders, with Houston LB Keith Brooking (bicep tear), Atlanta DE Marcus Howard (Achilles) and Pittsburgh LB Buster Davis (skull fracture) all done for the year. Atlanta took another bad hit this week as their NFL import starting left tackle, Zach Strief, suffered a broken collarbone which could keep him out up to 8 weeks. That is not good news for Kyle Orton, who has yet to find his stride as the starter for the Fire. Arizona lost slot receiver Kassim Osgod for the same duration with a torn quad. Out a month if not longer is Tampa Bay DE Derrick Harvey (arm), Las Vegas tackle Kenyatta Walker (abdominal), and Oakland guard Logan Mankins. Only expected out 1-2 weeks we have Michigan LB DeMarcus Ware (foot), St. Louis DT Dre Moore (neck), and Atlanta TE Matt Schobelll (hamstring). Listed as doubtful this week are Baltimore WR Tory Holt, Portland guard Marcus McFadden, Arizona SS Clifton Black, and Houston DE Osi Umenyiura. Adam Archuleta (BAL) is questionable for this week’s game, as is Nashville LT Jon Stinchcomb, Portland CB DeAngelo Hall, Oakland WR DeSean Jackson, and Texas FS Clyde Adams. Stallion Sale Approved, Boston on Hold On a conference call this week, league owners approved the sale of the Birmingham Stallions’ controlling interest from troubled banker Marvin Warner Jr. to John Menard, CEO and President of the Menard’s chain of home improvement stores. Warner, who has been indicted on several charges as a result of his part in the real estate and banking crisis that snowballed into the current major recession, was forced to sell his interest in the club. Menard was approved to purchase the entirety of Warner’s share of the team, which his, of course, the dominant shareholder position for a club that has a unique private/public ownership model. Unlike the Green Bay Packers of the NFL, the controlling interest in the team remains in the hands of private ownership, while shares sold and owned by over 45,000 individuals, most of them within the state of Alabama create a unique “community partnership” model. In approving Menard for ownership, the league is granting the home improvement center CEO a controlling interest in the team. He will still need to garner a majority of votes from the current shareholder pool to be named President of the team, but this is expected to be a routine vote, as Menard is well-regarded in the region and seen as a stabilizing force for the Stallions. Hopes are, of course, that Menard will be able to do two things that Warner simply has not been able to accomplish over the past few years, work with the city and with the University of Alabama-Birmingham to move ahead with plans for a new stadium to replace the aging Legion Field, and, return the Stallions to a prominent place in the league after several seasons of struggles. Attention now turns to Boston, where current owner Jeremy Jacobs is hoping to sell off the Cannons. Unlike Warner, there are no legal entanglements for the Cannons’ owner, but the issue of financial viability is the biggest concern. Boston’s home at BC’s Alumni Stadium limits the financial capacity of the franchise, which, in turn, forces Boston to try to maximize profitability in the small stadium. The Cannons currently boast the highest prices for both individual game and season tickets, as well as parking, at the facility, all of which does not work well during an economic downturn when families are struggling to get by. Add to this the fact that they must provide a portion of both ticket and concessions revenue to Boston College and you have a recipe for a team that must practically sell out every game just to maintain itself. A new owner will need to contend with this reality, as the odds of Boston ever getting permission to utilize Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, are extremely slim as team owner Robert Kraft remains adamantly anti-cooperation when it comes to the new league. League owners this week have tabled the request to open the Cannon franchise to a nationwide search for partners. Jacobs is not in a rush, but certainly his interest in divesting himself of the team does pose a a challenge to the league, particularly at a time when the position of the commissioner is in question. Former USFL Stars join NFL Players in CTE Lawsuit The other big story this week came out of a District Court in Manhattan, where over 200 former USFL and NFL players have filed a lawsuit against both leagues, claiming that data on the long term impact of not only in-game concussions, but the care practices of both leagues, has led to life long impacts to player health. At the center of the claim is a condition now known as CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopothy). The claim is that inadequate care and insufficient measures to address player safety have produced an epidemic of lifelong issues with memory, headaches, personality disorders, and other mental and physiological concerns. Among those represented in the lawsuit are former USFL players Lamar Lathon, Charlie Garner, William Perry, Kyle Turley, Dorsey Levins, and Bernie Kosar. NFL stars Mark Duper, Warren Sapp, Jamal Lewis, Mark Gastineau, Lance Briggs, Jim McMahon and Boomer Esiason are also at the center of the lawsuit. Curiously, former Tampa Bay Bandits QB and current USFL analyst on ABC, Troy Aikman, is not listed among the claimants, despite the fact that issues with recurring concussions led to both his premature retirement from the game and to several changes in USFL protocols. The suit is expected to be heard by the district court over the next 3 months, and the results could range from significant fines to both leagues, required ongoing medical support for former players, or potential federally enforced changes to both league’s medical protocols. The case will center around the treatment of concussions in both leagues, but could also tap into issues of helmet design, league rules regarding roster composition, injury reserve, and the use of team physicians. Best of the USFL: Tight Ends We return to our look at the best of the best at each position with our first look at an offensive position, that of Tight End. Once thought of as a blocking position with occasional pass catching options, the Tight End has morphed into one of the primary offensive weapons on a pro football team. Seen as the safety blanket for QBs under pressure, or a way to utilize the middle of the field, the tight end, which had seen a decline in use in the 1990’s, due mostly to the rise of the Run & Shoot offense, has come back in a big way as teams want the option to have a player on the field who can both provide extra protection to their franchise QBs or become a primary weapon over the middle of the field. The five players our bullpen selected as the Best of the USFL can do both, but they are here because as receivers they are just so tough to defend. Too big to use a corner or even a safety on, and too fast to be trailed by a linebacker. All five make their impact as receivers, often primary receivers, for their teams. 1. Antonio Gates (BAL): With a basketball background, Gates is the master of the “Post Up” positioning, using his big frame to block out defenders and create a nice target for his QB, particularly in the red zone, where success is less about speed and more about positioning and ball placement. Gates has flourished with Ben Roethlisberger as his QB, averaging 60 catches and nearly 700 yards per season over the past few years. 2. Jeremy Shockey (TBY): Catching the public’s eye with a devastating after the catch run in a preseason game as a rookie, this Bandit has a bit of a cult following in Tampa Bay. Since joining the league in 2002, Shockey has also developed quite a rapport with Daunte Culpepper. His numbers are slightly lower than those of Gates, but his impact has been felt as Tampa Bay surged back up to the top of the Southeast Division. Averaging nearly 17 yards per catch, Shockey is known for his ability to shake tacklers and gain needed yards after the catch. 3. Dan Campbell (CHA): Underappreciated among the bigger name receivers at the position, Campbell is a true dual use Tight End and perhaps one of the best blockers among the elite TEs. Campbell, who spent the first 9 seasons of his career with Houston, was signed by Charlotte in the Expansion Draft, and won his first All-USFL accolades last year with the fledgling expansion club. His 63 receptions, 734 yards, and 6 TDs were all career bests, and they shone a light on a player who had been undervalued during his entire career. 4. Jason Whitten (JAX): After 4 largely anonymous years in Pittsburgh, Whitten became a free agent and signed with the Jacksonville Bulls. The impact was immediate. From an average of 18 receptions a year in Pittsburgh, Whitten exploded with 61 receptions for nearly 800 yards in his first season with the Bulls (2006). Since then he has become one of the most reliable red zone targets in the league. 5. L. J. Smith (LA): Another wily veteran, Smith is in his 7th season with the LA Express, and continues to be a reliable target as well as an effective run blocker for Coach Jackson. 2008 was his most productive year yet, with 665 yards on 54 catches. In an offense dependent on the deep ball, it is Smith who often bails out the Express QB, something rookie Mark Sanchez is quickly learning to appreciate. Smith already has 12 catches from the Express’s new starter. As we expect will be the case each week, there are several other names that are part of our conversation of the best in the league. At the tight end position we had a pretty lengthy discussion that included several other very noteworthy contributors. Several members of our team were all in for Michigan TE Bennie Joppru, while others looked at Mauler TE Alge Crumpler, veteran NJ General Anthony Becht, new Memphis Showboat Jim Kliensasser, and last year’s lone All-USFL player from the expansion Stags, Portland’s Bubba Franks. Week 4 sees another good slate of divisional matchups as we get the Stars in Washington, Orlando in Tampa Bay, Chicago vs. Ohio, Las Vegas in Oakland, the Knights facing the Breakers, and the Gamblers visiting Dallas for the first time to face the Outlaws. The best interdivisional game has got to be Michigan going to Boston to face the Cannons, though the LA-Charlotte game could also be a fascinating matchup. FRIDAY @ 8pm Chicago (1-2) @ Ohio (3-0) NBC SATURDAY @ 12pm Los Angeles (2-1) @ Charlotte (3-0) ABC SATURDAY @ 12pm Baltimore (3-0) @ New Jersey (1-2) FOX SATURDAY @ 12pm Atlanta (0-3) @ Jacksonville (0-3) FOX SATURDAY @ 4pm Las Vegas (1-2) @ Oakland (2-1) ABC SATURDAY @ 4pm Arizona (1-2) @ Denver (3-0) FOX SATURDAY @ 8pm Houston (2-1) @ Texas (0-3) ESPN SUNDAY @ 12pm Birmingham (0-3) @ Memphis (0-3) ABC SUNDAY @ 12pm Orlando (2-1) @ Tampa Bay (1-2) ABC SUNDAY @ 12pm Michigan (3-0) @ Boston (1-2) FOX SUNDAY @ 4pm Portland (1-2) @ Seattle (0-3) ABC SUNDAY @ 4pm Nashville (3-0) @ New Orleans (2-1) FOX SUNDAY @ 4pm Pittsburgh (2-1) @ St. Louis (0-3) FOX SUNDAY @ 8pm Philadelphia (2-1) @ Washington (3-0) ESPN

Player of the Week: For the second week in a row, Orlando DE Calais Campbell put up a 4-sack game, helping the Renegades garner the W. Campbell now leads the league by 4 sacks over the nearest challenger, an amazing gap after only 3 weeks, as he averages 3 sacks per week, a number that would put him at 42 sacks for the year, an absolutely astounding number. The league record sits at 29.

A huge upset in the Meadowlands, a nailbiter in Columbus, a defensive slugfest in Philly, and an absolute blowout in Detroit. All part of an action-packed Week 2 that saw all 28 USFL clubs playing inter-divisional games. We start in Columbus, where the Glory and Dragons fought tooth and nail for a win in Ohio Stadium. We will cover all 14 games and take a special look at the injury to Brett Favre that could keep him out of action well into midseason. All this and our look at the top five cornerbacks in the USFL right now, part of a new series on the Best of the USFL. SEATTLE DRAGONS 19 OHIO GLORY 20 If you want an example of how the league’s player lockout has led to the defenses being a bit more advanced than the offenses, this Friday’s game between the Dragons and the Glory may be as good an example as you will find. In Seattle and Ohio you have two of the most talented offensive rosters in the league, each with All-USFL quarterbacks and 1,000 yard rushing halfbacks, and yet this game could not reach the over-under of 40 points that Vegas had set. Now, that does not mean it was not a very entertaining game for the NBC viewers on Friday, but it was not the shootout that fans expected when they saw this matchup on the schedule. The game ended with no 300-yard passer no 100-yard receiver, and Corey Dillon was the only true standout statistically, barely cusping over 100 yards, with his 102 yard performance. Eddie George was held to only 41 yards on 19 carries, a 2.2 average, but would end the game as the player with the most important single play. While the game was not an offensive showcase, we did have scoring in each of the 4 quarters, with Seattle kicking off the game with an opening drive that produced 3 points. Ohio was slower to get started, unable to move the ball on their first possession, but scoring on their second. After a holding penalty pushed them into a 3rd and 17 on their first possession, the Glory got a break. Byron Leftwich had a ball tipped at the line and that provided a perfect tip drill for rookie LB James Laurinaitis, who made his first career pick and placed the Glory on the Seattle side of the field. Six plays later a quick slant form the 4 put the ball into free agent acquisition Javon Walker’s hands, and put 6 points on the board. But that short drive off a turnover was the only successful drive for Ohio in the first half. With Eddie George struggling to find room to run, and with Seattle’s defense pressuring Collins, Ohio was stymied for most of the half. Collins would be sacked 3 times in the 2nd quarter, producing one pick and 3 failed third down plays. Seattle would take advantage, addeing 10 points in the period, another Dave Rayner field goal and a short TD toss from Leftwich to Dwayne Jarrett as the visitors took a 13-7 lead into the half. Coach Luginbill made some changes in the second half, cutting back on the 3-receiver sets to provide a 2nd TE to help with pass protection, and that seemed to help, at least on the one drive that produced points in the 3rd, a solid 71-yard, 12-play march that finished with Collins finding TE Stephen Alexander for a go-ahead score. 14-13 after 45 minutes of play. In the 4th, Seattle would take that lead back as Nate Burleson, who appears to be developing into the clear #2 receiver that Seattle has long lacked, took a short hook pass from Leftwich, turned the corner, and sprinted to the endzone for a 28-yard touchdown. Seattle was back on top 19-14, and would go for two to make it a 7 point lead. They failed when TE Tyler Eckler dropped the quick out pass, meaning that they would try to hold to a tenous 5-point lead. Ohio got the ball at the 8-minute mark and started moving the ball methodically once again. Their strategy to leave a 2nd TE in as a blocker meant that we saw less of Javon Walker, and that either rookie Brandon Pettigrew or veteran Stephen Alexander would have to stay in on each play instead of making use of their receiving talent, but the strategy had offset a Seattle pass rush that had garnered 4 sacks in the opening 3 periods. It was a good plan, but not a flawless one. On a 2nd and 4, Seattle countered the plan with an all out blitz, and before he could find a receiver, Kerry Collins went down a fifth time, wrapped up by FS Paris Lenon. That produced a 3rd and 9, and with the Glory more or less in range for kicker Josh Brown, Ohio was not going to risk falling further back. They called a quick screen to Eddie George just to try to get a bit closer for their kicker, but got a lot more. Seattle blitzed again, and the screen caught them out of position. George caught the ball with two blockers out in front and only 2 defenders between himself and the endzone. His blockers took care of the corner, and a straightarm forced safety John Keith to the ground, allowing George to slide along the sideline and in for 6. Ohio also opted to go for 2, and also failed in the attempt, leaving them up 20-19 with 5 minutes left to play. Seattle would not be able to take advantage of those final 5 minutes, their final drive ending with a failed 4th and 8 pass and Ohio breathing a sigh of relief as they assumed the victory position. The battle of move and counter-move had gone their way as they made the right changes to offset Seattle’s defensive strategy and got one call perfectly right, leading to the winning score. Ohio moves to 2-0 with the win, and Seattle drops to 0-2 in a result that feels eerily similar to the kind of games that put them in an 0-4 hole last season. JACKSONVILLE 21 BALTIMORE 31 The Blitz continue to impress as Ben Roethlisberger throws for 3 scores, two to Tory Holt. Baltimore built up a 17-0 lead in the first half and then traded scores with the Bulls in the second half to take the game by 10 points. James Farrior led the D with 13 tackles and a sack as the Blitz remain unbeaten and the Bulls drop to 0-2. ORLANDO 13 BOSTON 20 The Cannons get into the win column as they take the home opener against the Renegades. Drew Bledsoe threw for 311 yards and Percy Harvin scored again as Boston got the only score of the final period to break a 13-13 tie. Bledsoe performed well despite suffering 8 sacks in the game, 4 from sophomore sensation Calais Campbell, who was all but unblockable in this game. TAMPA BAY 6 NEW JERSEY 26 Have we had the upset of the year already? New Jersey shut down the Tampa Bay offense, leading many to question if Daunte Culpepper should have gotten the start after injuring his throwing hand last week. Ryan Fitzpatrick went 17 of 23 and backup HB Kerry Joseph busted loose for 81 yards on only 8 carries as the Generals stun the Bandits. DENVER 27 ST. LOUIS 10 The Gold move to 2-0 with a dominant win over St. Louis, but Matt Leinart was unable to finish the game. In relief, Derrick Anderson threw 2 TD passes. Jeff Blake suffered another pick, this one a pick-six from Jamel Williams, as St. Louis struggled, and home fans called for Josh Freeman to get into the game. Denver dominated, posting 37:48 in time of possession and outgaining the Skyhawks 422-158 in a game not as close as the score would indicate. LOS ANGELES 24 TEXAS 14 Mark Sanchez gets his first pro win as the Express get 100 yards from Maurice Jones-Drew and 2 scores from his NFL import understudy, Maurice Morris, as the Maurices take care of business in Dallas. The game, played in front of nearly 50,000 in the Cotton Bowl, was only 7-6 LA through 3 quarters, but after falling behind 14-7, LA scored the final 17 points of the game to take the win. MEMPHIS 10 WASHINGTON 38 Brett Favre is knocked out of the game early with a potentially significant injury and Mike McMahon can do nothing against Washington’s defense as the Feds rack up 8 sacks on the day. Meanwhile, Deuce McCallister rushes for 96 yards and 2 scores and Kordell Stewart runs one in himself as Washington dominates a hobbled Memphis team. ATLANTA 7 NASHVILLE 21 Kyle Orton struggles against the Knights D as Terrell Suggs gets a sack, forced fumble, recovery, a pick, and 9 tackles in a master class of defensive aggression. Frank Gore contributed 126 yards on the ground and Jay Cutler completed 18 of 27 with two TDs as Nashville broke a 7-7 halftime score with the only points of the second half to pull away. CHARLOTTE 29 NEW ORLEANS 5 Is Charlotte for real? Their defense sure seemed to be as they picked off Eli Manning twice and limited Matt Forte to only 24 yards rushing. Chris Weinke threw for a score and Robert Edwards rushed for 107 and a TD as the Monarchs did not look like the 2-year-old franchise in this game, winning easily over a very flat Breakers squad. BIRMINGHAM 9 PHILADELPHIA 14 The Stallion defense played inspired ball, picking off Kurt Warner twice, but the offense could not complement their efforts, with no run game at all and Kyle Boller unable to rally the Stallions late. Steve Slaton and Michael Robinson combined for 122 yards, but Philly could not put this game away until the final seconds. OAKLAND 20 CHICAGO 31 A good one at Soldier Field, where the Machine built up a 14-point lead at the half and then kept pace with every Invader attempt to come back. Brady Quinn threw for 2 scores and Michael Turner had his first 100-yard game of the year, rushing for 106. Without Ricky Wiliams on the field, Joey Harrington threw for 322 yards, but could not turn those yards into enough points to take the game. PORTLAND 7 MICHIGAN 41 The defending champs were scary good in their home opener, destroying the Stags thanks to 471 yards of offense. Justin Fargas rushed for 133 and Brian Griese threw for 242 and 3 scores before the starters were removed from the game late. By the time Portland got on the board, they were down by 28, and it just never got better from there. ARIZONA 16 PITTSBURGH 34 The Maulers and QB Cody Pickett had a very strong outing in their 2nd home game to open the season. Pickett went 21 of 32 for 261 yards and a score, while backup HB Kenny Watson scored twice on only 3 carries, one of them a spectacular 18-yard run through and over defenders. David Carr was picked off twice by the Maulers and Pittsburgh DE Kyle Vanden Bosch got a rare TD on a fumble recovery to power the Maulers. LAS VEGAS 23 HOUSTON 30 Sunday’s nightcap saw Houston edge Las Vegas thanks to a 3-TD, 101-yard performance by Ike Hilliard. Shaun Alexander added 75 on the ground and Houston’s defense held Marshawn Lynch to only 53 yards on the day as the Gamblers even their record at 1-1. Updating the Brett Favre Injury Brett Favre, the league’s Iron Man at QB, lasted only 3 drives in the Showboats’ loss to Washington. Late in the first quarter a sack by Greg Spires, the third on Favre in less than a quarter, sent the veteran QB to the sideline holding his right hand. He would not return to the game, and on Monday we received the news that he would not return to start the next game. This marks the first time in nearly 15 years that Favre will miss a start. The diagnosis came back as a fracture in his wrist and forearm, a break that would require at least 2-3 weeks to heal, and possibly longer before Favre would be able to throw at 100%. It could be a month or longer before Favre is on the field again, a development which profoundly impacts the two-time defending Eastern Conference Champion. Mike McMahon subbed in for Favre in the Week 2 game and will likely be the starter for Week 3, when the Boats host the Breakers. With McMahon and rookie Keith Null as the only quarterbacks on the roster, expect Memphis to shop around for another viable option as they try to deal with a 4-6 week period without their All-USFL, MVP quarterback. Too Legit or Too Lucky? So what is the verdict on the surprising 2-0 starts for the Charlotte Monarchs and Nashville Knights? Are these two teams, both predicted to have losing records this year, legitimate contenders or is their quick start the result of luck. Charlotte has been impressive in its wins over Atlanta and New Orleans, particularly on defense, as the team currently ranks as the #1 scoring and yardage defense in the league. They have allowed only 12 total points in their first two games and are allowing under 30 yards per game rushing. Despite this, folks are not jumping on the bandwagon just yet. With teams underprepared for the season due to the shortened training camp and preseason, defenses have, in general, had an advantage, and there is a belief that as we hit weeks 3-5 teams will start to gel on offense. But when we look at Charlotte, we see a formula that can work. The Monarchs are 2nd in the league, averaging 131 yards rushing, so their defense is on the field less, which keeps them fresh and able to be aggressive for the full game. We also see that Julius Peppers has been able to get to the QB, making it tough for opposing teams on third down particularly, whilethe LB group led by Jerod Mayo, with rookie Rey Maualaga and Scott Fujita, has been very effective against the run. That is a pretty good formula. One likely to be tested by a frustrated Tampa Bay Bandits team in Week 3. As for Nashville, the addition of Terrell Suggs has also helped boost their defensive strength, though we should also highlight the outstandin play of CB Chidi Iwoma and SS LaRon Landry as the Knights have staked their claim as the 2nd best scoring defense In the league, allowing only 13 points in the season’s first two weeks. Suggs has 3 sacks on the season and is forcing teams to pull team blocks away from defensive ends Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Gary Stills. Hunter Hillenmeyer is focused on the run and leads the team with 13 tackles, but also has 2 sacks as the Knights are using more blitz packages. On offense, the Knights are also finding success on the ground, with Frank Gore averaging 100 yards per game over the first two weeks. That has made life easier for Jay Cutler, and the 4th year QB (playing in a contract year) is responding, with 436 yards, 4 TDs and no picks yet this season. It seems in both the case of the Knights and the Monarchs that a combination of a game-shortening offense based on the run and a pressure defense is succeeding in limiting opponent scoring opportunities. Whether or not these two clubs’ early successes are the result of a very sound plan of attack or benefit from a lack of cohesion on opposing offenses will be born out as we get deeper into the season, but with a struggling Bandits squad and a shaky Stallions team as the next opponents for these two clubs, we could see 3-0 for both, which would certainly help build some momentum for the rest of the season. How Long to Wait on Freeman? It did not take long for fans in St. Louis to start calling for rookie Josh Freeman to get into games. With an 0-2 start and the Skyhawks currently ranked dead last in passing yards, local sports radio has been nothing but a flood of calls for Coach Williams to put the K-State rookie into action. St. Louis is averaging only 165 yards per game through the air with Jeff Blake at the helm, and while Blake’s 2 picks so far are hardly out of the norm for many USFL QB’s, memories of last year’s 22-interception season have not filled fans with hope that better things are ahead for Blake. So far, Coach Williams has remained steadfast that Blake is the starter, but with a high value QB waiting in the wings, one the Skyhawks spent considerable resources to sign, the pressure may start to mount to make the switch. An 0-4 start, for example, could be all it takes, as St. Louis ownership is already concerned that the euphoria of the club’s 2006 inaugural season is fading, and ticket sales are down. A fourth straight 10-loss season, paired with the current economic crisis, will certainly make the Skyhawks a tougher ticket to sell, and that has ownership worried. So, Coach Williams has really two options at this point, find a way to generate more successful outcomes for Blake or make the switch and rely on Freeman’s natural talents to make up for his lack of experience and the club’s overall lack of offensive weapons. A rough week around the league, and not just in Memphis, where Brett Favre is out at least a month. In Atlanta a scary injury as DE Marcus Howard suffered a ruptured Achilles and will be out for the year. Pittsburgh LB Buster Davis was also placed on IR with a skull fracture, a rare but nasty injury. Michigan will be without LB DeMarcus Ware at least 2-4 weeks after a stress fracture in his foot. New Jersey lost two starters from their secondary in this week’s game, with both Mike Rumph and FS Tony Driver expected to miss at least 2 games. Denver has listed Matt Leinart as OUT for this week, but the hope is that his sprained knee will see considerable improvement and Leinart might be able to go in Week 4. Jacksonville WR Andre Caldwell could also be out this week with a hyper extended knee. HB Ricky Williams remains out, listed as Doubtful for a 2nd straight week. Denver DE Ryan Denney is also doubtful with a hip issue, while Tampa Bay WR Roscoe Parrish was upgraded to Probable after missing Week 2 with a fracture in his foot. Others who could return to action include Houston CB Justin Knox, Birmingham WR Dedrick Ward, and Boston QB Drew Bledsoe, who suffered an injury to his nose when his helmet was slammed back on his head in a violent hit. USFL Cuts Prices to Reach Attendance Goals Reporting in the Sporting News this week revealed that all is not going as planned in the USFL. The combination of resentment among fans for the league lockout and an economy that has produced 10% unemployment rates across the country is having an effect on the league. The league confirmed this week that with 1 month to go before the delayed opening kickoff, season ticket sales across the league were down nearly 12%, and single game sales were down nearly 10% from 2008. The response of most teams, hoping to bolster sales in the final weeks of the extended offseason, was to offer ticket deals, both on flex-packages (packages that provide fans with 3 or 4 games vs. the full season ticket of 7 games) and single game tickets to try to motivate sales. This, combined with the required reduction of season ticket prices since the season would provide only 7 and not 8 home games, meant that while the attendance numbers look like they will come in close to 2008 totals (varying by team), the revenue numbers from ticket sales could see a 10% dip from 2008 to 2009 on a per game basis. Combined with a 1/8th reduction in television revenue caused by the two weeks cut from the schedule, the dip in overall league revenue will be substantial. We are living through a recession the likes of which we have not seen since the 1930’s, so some decrease in profits is to be expected, but the poor timing of a labor dispute and a reduction in gameday revenue compounds the problems the league is facing both with its overall revenue stream and with several ownership groups, where the financial crisis within banking and real estate has produced real financial concern for the core ownership itself. The league has consistently stated that while the economic situation of the league is still very stable, there are signs that some franchises may need to restructure their financial model as well as their ownership group. In most cases this will be done internally, but we have already seen Birmingham seeking a new principal owner, and reports have both Boston and Las Vegas looking to bring in new owners to diversify their ownership groups. The financial stability of ownership, paired with the reduction of revenue in 2009, and its potential impact on the salary cap, will almost certainly be topics to be discussed when the owners gather this May. For now, it means that we should anticipate a potentially rough offseason as teams try to tighten their belts, meaning that we may not see some of the free agent signings we have seen in the past, and that the NFL, which seems to be weathering the recession a bit more solidly, may have an advantage as the newly negotiated transfer window system goes into effect this October. Best of the USFL: Cornerbacks This week we start a multiple week series looking at the best of the best in the USFL this season. Unlike last year’s Mt. Rushmore, we are now looking at current players only, not that this makes the debates any easier. We will cover a position each week for most of the season as we explore the elite players at each position. At the end we will tally up the best of the best and see which club has cornered the market on top talent. We start this week with Cornerback as our position of choice. An elite corner is a player who can shut down any team’s primary receiver, assist with outside run coverage, and shut down big plays, even when their assignment does not include the ballcarrier. The following five players represent the absolute best in the USFL in 2009 at doing all of these vital tasks and doing them extremely well. 1. Charles Woodson (ATL): A ten year veteran of the Washington Federals’ defense, Woodson made the move to Atlanta last year and provided the same dominant coverage for the Fire that had made him a regular All-USFL player as a Federal. His 36 career picks are impressive, especially when we consider that he is so rarely thrown at. Even more impressive, 14 of those 36 picks were returned for scores, an incredible 38%. 2. Will Allen (LV): In his 9th season as a member of the Thunder, Will Allen is both hard to throw against and a very hard hitter. Unafraid to take on big running backs in the flat or to chase down the league’s elite receivers, Allen has not only picked off 18 balls, but forced 19 fumbles as well, using a swung free arm to dislodge catches and turn them into takeaways. 3. Ronde Barber (HOU): Like his brother Tiki, this Barber twin came into the league in 1997 with the Atlanta Fire but left for Houston after 3 seasons. With the Gamblers he has become one of the most feared corners in the game and is always matched up against the opposition’s fastest receiver. Tiki may have retired, but after 12 seasons, Ronde seems ready for more this year. 4. Quentin Jammer (PHI): Another savvy veteran, Jammer, in his 8th year in the league, already has 16 picks and 17 forced fumbles. He is more of a zone specialist but can also excel in bump & run coverage. Last year for the stars he had 85 tackles as well, showing he is not afraid to mix it up. 5. Deltha O’Neal (MGN): No younglings in our list, O’Neal enters his 10th season with Michigan as the undisputed #1 corner for the Panthers. Injuries have forced him to miss 14 games over the past two years, but the Panthers are hoping he is able to give his all every week this year as their defensive plans often involve O’Neal being able to take away one of the competition’s best options. O’Neal does not have the interception skills of some of his peers but is one of the best “swatters” in the game, with 79 passes defended in his career. Not every quality corner could make our top 5, a problem we expect to see with pretty much every position we study. Several other names got votes, so we want to recognize these outstanding defenders as well. Among those very much in the discussion were Patrick Surtain (PIT), Antoine Winfield (LV), Shaun Springs (HOU), Marcus Truffant (SEA) and Nate Clements (NJ). All outstanding players, but not able to crack the Top 5. The 2009 schedule was designed to offer periodic weeks of nearly full divisional slates, interspersed with weeks with very few to no divisional games. Too early to tell if this is a good plan or not, but what we can say is that Week 3 will be another major clash of divisional rivals early in the season. We have a battle of unbeatens in Baltimore, when the Stars come to town. We have quite a few “desperation games” where 0-2 teams are facing off against 2-0 teams and trying anything to avoid an 0-3 start, including Seattle, who did this last year, starting 0-4 before rallying. We have Charlotte hoping to stay unbeaten as they face the Bandits in front of what is sure to be a huge crowd at home, and we have some nice 1-1 matchups with the Maulers traveling to Chicago, New Jersey, hot off their upset win this week, going out to Oakland, and Orlando traveling to Atlanta to take on the Fire. FRIDAY @ 8pm Pittsburgh (1-1) @ Chicago (1-1) NBC SATURDAY @ 12pm Orlando (1-1) @ Atlanta (0-2) ABC SATURDAY @ 12pm Jacksonville (0-2) @ Ohio (2-0) ABC SATURDAY @ 12pm Tampa Bay (1-1) @ Charlotte (2-0) FOX SATURDAY @ 4pm St. Louis (0-2) @ Michigan (2-0) ABC SATURDAY @ 4pm Portland (0-2) @ Las Vegas (1-1) FOX SATURDAY @ 8pm Philadelphia (2-0) @ Baltimore (2-0) ESPN SUNDAY @ 12pm Washington (2-0) @ Boston (1-1) ABC SUNDAY @ 12pm Nashville (2-0) @ Birmingham (0-2) FOX SUNDAY @ 12pm New Orleans (1-1) @ Memphis (0-2) FOX SUNDAY @ 4pm Texas (0-2) @ Denver (2-0) ABC SUNDAY @ 4pm Houston (1-1) @ Arizona (1-1) ABC SUNDAY @ 4pm New Jersey (1-1) @ Oakland (1-1) FOX SUNDAY @ 8pm Seattle (0-2) @ Los Angeles (1-1) ESPN

Player of the Week: NFL Import Terrell Suggs proved he could impact a game in a variety of ways this week, helping Nashville reach 2-0 by contributing 9 tackles, a sack, a pick, and a forced fumble which he himself recovered.

What was scheduled as a huge divisional battle for Week 3 is now a power packed opening week as 24 of 28 teams open league play with divisional games, including huge rivalries like Chicago vs. Michigan, Houston vs. Denver, Nashville vs. Memphis, Orlando vs. Jacksonville, and Philadelphia vs. New Jersey. No time to warm up. No space to get acclimated to a new season. Just throwing teams into the fire from the very first moments. And despite the lack of preparation (a shortened camp and preseason), some of the clubs came out of the gate looking like they were in midseason form already. A lot to talk about after Week 1, so let’s get right to it. CHICAGO 28 MICHIGAN 29 A wild game at Ford Field that felt more like a Week 14 clash than a season opener. The defending League Champions faced off against their defending Division Champs in a Week 1 clash to remember. Chicago would build up a 12-point lead only to watch it fizzle away in the final minutes of the game as Michigan roared back with 2 late TD’s from Brian Griese to edge the Machine by 1 point. Chicago’s offense was a bit shaky as the season opened, going 0 for 10 on third down, and accumulating only 202 total yards, despite Brady Quinn going 10 of 14 with 3 TDs. Michigan’s offense was significantly better, particularly in the second half, gaining a total of 457 yards, but struggling to put points on the board until the final minutes of the game. Brian Griese would also throw 3 touchdowns, but had 2 picks, including a pick six to Chicago’s Corey Hall. Fargas and Washington combined for 96 yards, while Chicago struggled to run the ball, with Michael Turner averaging only 2.5 yards per carry. And yet, despite the disparity in yards, the Machine defense made scoring tough for the Panthers and kept them in the game, even building a substantial lead. The game began slowly, with both teams punting after only 3 plays on their first drives. Chicago fared no better on their 2nd possession, another 3-and-out, but Michigan took a poor punt and used it to get into Chicago territory, ending their drive with a Matt Prater field goal to put the first points of the game up. That score seemed to awaken the Machine, who would score on their next two possessions. The first drive was a 66-yard slog down the field that ended with Arnold Brown catching a 3-yard TD toss from Brady Quinn. Three minutes later, after a Griese pick, Chicago was back in business, converting on the drive when Quinn hit TE Anthony Fasano for another 7. Chicago took a 14-3 lead as the 2nd quarter was just beginning. Michigan would spend most of the quarter fighting back, first with a nice corner route to Hines Ward that got the Panthers into the endzone for the first time, and then, as time ran out in the half, with another Prater kick, putting them at 14-13 as the teams headed to the locker rooms. Chicago got the ball first in the second half, and in just 7 plays they had it in the endzone, Quinn hitting Donald Driver with the score that put them up by 8. After another Michigan field goal, the third quarter ended with the Panthers trailing 28-16 despite outgaining Chicago by over 100 yards. As the 4th quarter opened, Brian Griese was picked for a second time as Corey Hall stepped in front of Laverneus Coles, snatched the ball and ran it back 53 yards for a score that put Chicago up by 12. Rather than sulk, Griese got back to business on the ensuing possession, throwing the ball on 6 of the drive’s 8 plays, concluding with a nice strike to Coles for a 17-yard score at 2:35 left to play. Michigan was down by 5 after the Prater kick and would go for the onside kick. The ploy worked, with the ball bouncing off the hands of WR James Hardy and into the awaiting arms of CB Chris Canty, giving Michigan the ball on their own 48 with 2 minutes to play. The Panthers did not rush the ball down the field, but focused on first downs, using their timeouts and the sideline to get the ball down to the Chicago 25 with 1:01 left to play. After a draw to Washington produced only 4 yards, the Panthers went no huddle, clustered 3 receivers to the left, and put Griese in the shotgun. The 3-man cluster worked to perfection. Both the safety and the corner for Chicago mistakenly took the quick inside route, leaving Hines Ward with a 2-3 yard lead on the trailing corner who got caught in the wash. That was all the space Griese needed. He lofted the ball to the endzone, catching Ward in stride for the game winner. Michigan took the game and the early advantage in the Central Division on a very memorable opening week in Detroit. HOUSTON 20 DENVER 23 OVERTIME An overtime thriller as the Gold hold off the Gamblers in what could be a very pivotal first week game. Denver got early TDs from Mewelde Moore, Peerless Price and a Jamar Fletcher pick six, but a missed PAT by new kicker Graham Gano meant that Houston could tie the game with a field goal at the end of regulation. They did just that after scoring 14 unanswered points in the 2nd half. The Gamblers got the game to overtime, but Gano made up for his earlier PAT miss by kicking home the game winner in overtime. WASHINGTON 38 SEATTLE 35 One of only two non-divisional games proved to be one of the week’s best as the Federals outlast the Dragons, thanks to a Mike Williams TD catch with just under 1 minute left to play. Both Byron Leftwich (4 TDs) and Kordell Stewart (321 yards and 3 TDs) looked to be fully ready for prime time action. Eddie Kennison also looked sharp, catching 6 balls for 107 yards and 2 scores as the Feds eke out a road win to open the 2009 campaign. LOS ANGELES 12 LAS VEGAS 20 The debut of Mark Sanchez was a busy one as Las Vegas totally shut down the run, forcing the USC rookie to put the ball up 41 times. Meanwhile, Jake Plummer, in his first game In a Thunder uniform, completed 23 of 38 and tossed his first Las Vegas TD to Matthew Hatchette as the Thunder come out on top in their home opener. BOSTON 20 BALTIMORE 27 The Blitz take their home opener as well, edging Boston despite a stellar debut by Cannons’ rookie wideout Percy Harvin. Harvin went for 140 yards on only 3 catches, including a 91-yard TD that lit up the stadium. IT was not enough though as Ron Dayne’s 2 TD runs and a Roethlisberger TD toss to FB Quinn Johnson gave the Blitz a 14 point lead that they would not relinquish. NASHVILLE 25 MEMPHIS 6 A stunner in Memphis as the newly retooled Knights’ defense completely stymied the Showboats, picking off Brett Favre twice and sacking him 6 times. Chidi Iwoma was the star for Nashville, picking off two Favre passes, while Jay Cutler connected with both Derrick Mason and Frank Gore on his way to an opening game win in rival territory. ORLANDO 24 JACKSONVILLE 17 The Bulls and Renegades played a tight one in Jacksonville, but 14 points in the final period helped Orlando get the road win. Two final period TDs from Drew Brees, one to Greg Olsen and the other to Justin McCaerins, helped lift Orlando to the W. Calais Campbell returned to action for the first time since midseason of 2008 and (what else?) recorded a sack. Rookie HB Knownshon Moreno struggled for Orlando, gaining only 15 yards on 11 carries, but the Renegades found a way to win in the end. PORTLAND 16 OAKLAND 24 The Stags gave Oakland a bit of a scare, but a late Greg Jennings TD catch helped seal the game for the Invaders. Portland’s pass rush was surprisingly effective, getting to Joey Harrington 5 times, including two sacks form blitzing safety Terreal Bierria as Portland threw the entire playbook at the Invaders. Harrington still managed to toss 3 touchdowns and throw for 326 yards to pace the Invaders. OHIO 34 PITTSBURGH 21 Ohio got 4 TDs from Kerry Collins and 95 yards on 18 carries from Eddie George as they take their opening game in Pittsburgh. Javon Walker, in his first game for the Glory, scored twice as Ohio put the final 24 points on the board after trailing 21-10 early in the third. Cody Pickett got the start for Pittsgurgh and looked solid, completing 22 of 31 despite being sacked 6 times by an aggressive Glory D. TAMPA BAY 23 ST. LOUIS 17 Jeff Blake threw for 194 yards and rushed for another 54 as he helped keep St. Louis in this game, but in the end it was too much Willis McGahee, as the Bandit back rushed for 126 yards, taking the lead after Daunte Culpepper was knocked out of the game and Brad Gradkowski came in. The backup would throw for 2 scores, but it was the Tampa Bay running game that won the day for the hobbled Bandits. NEW ORLEANS 37 BIRMINGHAM 14 Kyle Boller got his first USFL action, and, after 5 sacks, may be regretting his move to the Spring. Eli Manning fared much better, throwing for 222 yards and 2 scores as New Orleans pulled away from the homestanding Stallions. Manning found 8 different targets on the day and the Breaker defense added some points as Randall Gay returned a Boller pick for a score. PHILADELPHIA 33 NEW JERSEY 13 The Stars opened strong, with Kurt Warner throwing for 3 scores and the Star D holding New Jersey to only 6 points on offense (they did get a TD on a pick-six). Ryan Fitzpatrick got the start and would throw 41 passes, completing 27, but was unable to produce anything but 2 field goals against the Stars’ defense. Terrell Owens made his debut with 4 receptions for 38 yards but 2 scores as well. CHARLOTTE 12 ATLANTA 7 The Monarchs also open strong on the road, holding Atlanta to a lone score and coming back with a late Robert Edwards run (missed PAT), to take the lead and the win in Atlanta. Kyle Orton struggled and was replaced by David Garrard midway through the game after taking a blow to the head. Chris Weinke completed 23 of 32 passes for the Monarchs and Edwards rushed for 78 yards, though only a 2.9 YPC average. TEXAS 11 ARIZONA 17 The Jim Tomsula era in Arizona begins with a home win as the Wranglers edge the Texas Outlaws in Glendale. It was not pretty on offense, but NFL Import David Carr did connect with Santana Moss for two scores. The big surprise was the Arizona defense, which limited T. J. Duckett to only 56 yards rushing and neutralized the untested Texas receiving corp. New QB’s Get Mixed Opening A lot of new QB’s around the USFL. Some came away with a W, but most struggled to put together a strong game, which is, in part true of all the QB’s this week, entering a new season with a shortened preseason to hone their timing. As we look around the league this week, the new signal callers definitely were an area of focus, so how did they do. Jake Plummer (LV): 23 of 38 for 230 yards, 1 TD, 1 pick. Plummer did what was asked of him, navigating a new offense, connecting with Matthew Hatchette, and spreading the ball around to 8 different receivers. His best play of the game was a scramble that turned into a short flip to Marshawn Lynch for a 12 yard gain. He got the win and he seemed to enjoy himself doing it. An A- on his first game for the Thunder. Mark Sanchez (LA): 25 of 41 for 186 yards, 1TD, 1 pick. Sanchez was asked to throw more than Coach Jackson wanted due to the absolute lack of a running game. The game plan certainly did not call for 41 passes on the day. As you might guess from the yardage total, Sanchez spent most of his time either tossing short slants and hooks, or bailing on deep routes and dumping the ball off to a TE orhis back. L. J. Smith was the leading receiver, while Keyshawn had 5 receptions, but the longest for only 11 yards. We are going to give Sanchez a B for the day, though LA will need to balance that offense if he is going to avoid major issues down the road. David Carr (ARZ): 18 of 35 for 226 yards, 2 TDs, 2 Ints, but, most importantly, a win for the Wranglers as they held off the Texas Outlaws. Carr had a couple of nice connections with Larry Fitzgerald, and two TD tosses to Santana Moss. He avoided a couple of sacks with good pocket presence, but did throw the two picks, though one was more the fault of his receiver, who tipped a catchable ball into the air. We give him a solid B+ on the day. Kyle Boller (BIR): 24 of 51 for 198 yards, 2 TD, 1 Int, and sacked 5 times. Another case of a failed run game (Felix Jones led Birmingham with 11 carries for only 36 yards) forcing a QB in his first game with the team to throw the ball way too much. While Boller’s numbers were not bad, despite constant pressure from the Breakers, what the numbers don’t show is the yards to lead to points. Boller had one really nice pass to Joe Horn for an 18-yard TD, but, like Cassel, spent most of the game dumping the ball off short. We give him a C+ because the pressure did not lead to more mistakes and turnovers. Kyle Orton (ATL): 11 of 15 for 101 yards, no TDs or picks, but knocked out of the game with a hit to the head midway through the game. We only got to see Orton for just under a full half, and while his completion percentage was solid, he never threatened the Monarch defense with a deep ball. His longest toss was a 15-yarder to David Tyree. Mostly he stayed with quick passes. He did convert 2 of 4 third downs, which is far better than David Garrard’s 2 of 7 in the second half. We give him a C, because we just did not see enough to know if he is going to be able to generate more offense. Ryan Fitzpatrick (NJ): 27 of 41 for 217 yards, 0 Tds, 1 Int, 5 sacks. Of all the new starters, Fitzpatrick had the least to work with and Philadelphia’s D was not welcoming him with anything other than constant pressure. He scrambledquite a bit, running the ball 8 times in addition to taking 5 sacks. Considering that, he actually did very well to complete as many passes as he did. Hefound 8 different receivers, with Mark Clayton his favorite (7 catches on 9 targets). His best play was a 3rd down where he escaped the rush, found Santonio Holmes and made the first down. He will need to do more of that to help New Jersey get on the scoreboard more often. We will give him a C as well, simply because the points did not come against a very tough defense. We should note that neither Josh Freeman (St. Louis) nor Pat White (Pittsburgh) started this week, with both Pickett and Blake getting the starts. The only time either were on the field was as a holder for the kicking game. Rookies Make First Impression So we saw how Mark Sanchez started off, and the other rookie QBs did not see the field, so who did impress us in their first action as a rookie. Well, the obvious answer is WR Percy Harvin of the Cannons, who started his career with a 140 yard game in Baltimore. Harvin looked very dangerous, turning short routes into long runs after the catch. He also turned in the play of the week, a 91-yard touchdown that was more of a 17-yard pass with an impressive post-catch run. Harvin put the league on notice. Once the ball hits his hands, he is capable of taking it all the way. Boston fans may have a new favorite on the Cannons’ roster. The other big name receiver taken in the early rounds of the draft, Baltimore’s Darrius Heyward-Bey, did not have the huge numbers of Harvin, but put in a very respectable 4-catch, 54 yard effort in his first pro game. His best play of the day was a 16-yard reception that was firs tipped with one hand and then brought in. Brandon Pettigrew, the star TE signed by Ohio, had a quiet day, though he did get 20 snaps in his first game. He had one catch, but it was a nice one, going for 41 yards. It was his only target, but it was a big play for the Glory. Among running backs, it was a pretty disappointing first day. Knowshon Moreno was the only starter, and his 11-carry, 15-yard day was underwhelming to say the least. Moreno was the only rookie to get a snap, with Birmingham’s Andre Brown, Denver’s Javon Ringer, Las Vegas’s Rashad Jennings, and Memphis’s Shonn Greene all failing to get a single carry in Week 1 action. Defenders fared a bit better, with Charlotte’s Rey Maualaga leading the way. The USC product led Charlotte with 10 tackles, including 2 for a loss as the Monarchs limited Atlanta to 7 points. Another big opening day was had by Ohio State product James Laurinaitis, who suited up for the Glory and finished the game with an impressive 12 tackles. Arizona’s Larry English landed his first sack along with 2 tackles. Houston safety Patrick Chung also registered his first sack on a blitz of Matt Leinart while also recording 5 tackles and a forced fumble. New Orleans DT Ricky Jean-Francois had only 1 tackle, but it was a sack of Kyle Orton in their game against the Stallions. Clay Matthews got the start for LA and recorded 3 tackles against the Thunder, while the third of the USC linebackers who all signed with the USFL, Brian Cushing, recorded 4 tackles in the Mauler’s game with Ohio. Suggs & Haynesworth Impress in First Games You won’t spot it in the boxscore, but both Terrell Suggs (Nashville) and Albert Haynesworth (Orlando) made an impression this week. Suggs, arriving after 6 seasons in the NFL had 4 tackles on the day. Haynesworth had 3 in his first game in the USFL after 7 NFL seasons, but both players were far bigger than their stats, often drawing double, if not triple blocks, freeing up others to stuff the run or pressure the QB. It seemed clear in both games that the offensive coordinators of both Memphis and Jacksonville respectively went into the game with an intention to know where the two NFL imports were and to neutralize them. Of course, in their respect for these two players, they spread their defense thin elsewhere, as we saw with big games from Sean Rogers and Hunter Hillenmeyer for the Knights and Barrett Rudd, Calais Campbell, and Kenny Smith for Orlando. Both the Renegades and the Knights held their opponents well below their usual offensive totals, with Memphis only scoring a paltry 6 points and Brett Favre feeling the heat all game long. If defenses continue to focus on Suggs and Haynesworth, we could expect some big numbers from other Knight and Renegade defenders, and more strong performances overall from the defenses, good news for fans of both clubs. Culpepper, Fitzpatrick, and Cutler, Down but Not Out Three quarterbacks were knocked out of action at some point in this weekend’s games, but the good news is that all three are expected to be back in action next week. Of the trio of Cutler, Fitzpatrick, and Culpepper, only the Bandit QB appeared on the injury report, still dealing with the blow that dislocated his index finger, while Fitzpatrick (ankle) and Cutler (concussion) have both been cleared to play in Week 2. Scary for their teams at the moment, although two of three clubs still won their games, but always good when the players can bounce right back. A few players this week will not be bouncing immediately back from injuries suffered in Week One. While not the most severe injury, Ricky Williams’s hip issue, believed to be a pointer or nerve pinch, will cost him Week 2’s game, and possibly longer. The worst injury of the week is that of CB Willie Middlebrooks of Nashville, who is expected to be out at least 2 months, perhaps longer, with a partial ACL tear. Across the state, Memphis LB Patrick Willis had a scary moment with a blow to the back. No fractures in his vertebrae, but the swelling is a concern and Willis is expected to need to be in a modified form of traction at least one month to allow the back to heal without the strain of torque created by movement. That puts him on a minimum of 6 weeks before he could return to the field. Others expected to miss time include Atlanta TE Matt Schobel (2-4 weeks, hamstring), New Orleans LB Calvin Pace (1-2 weeks, elbow), Portland guard Marcus McFadden (1-2 weeks, hip), Bulls’ wideout Andre Caldwell (1-2 weeks, knee), and Bandits WR Roscoe Parrish (Doubtful with a foot injury). Dallas prepares for first USFL Game in Week Two As we gear up for Week 2 in the USFL, a delayed Week 2, the city of Dallas and the Cotton Bowl gears up for its first ever weekend of USFL action. The venerable Dallas stadium has not hosted a professional football stadium since Texas Stadium was completed in 1971. It has, of course, been host to the eponymous bowl game as well as playing host to the Southern Methodist Mustangs for many years, but next Saturday’s game between the LA Express and the Texas Outlaws will be the first in the stadium since the Cowboys left almost 40 years ago. The stadium and the city seem ready, with more than 48,000 tickets sold to this game. Fans who had bought tickets to the originally planned season opener, a Week 1 Saturday clash with Washington were given new tickets for this revised season opener, which, when combined with the 17,000 season tickets sold and those who had already bought tickets for their game with the Express creates a nice opening weekend crowd. Expect to see some celebrities on hand as well as the Outlaws are making a spectacle of their game in Dallas. In addition to the usual Outlaw faithful, you can expect to see recognizable faces such as those of singer Willie Nelson, actor Woody Harrelson, American Idol star Kelly Clarkson, Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban, and, of course, star of the show “Dallas”, J. R. Ewing himself, actor Larry Hagman. It should be quite an event. The Outlaws have even hired locally-based performing artists Addison Road to perform at halftime. Should be an event this Saturday, and the game will be one of the nationwide broadcasts this weekend, on Fox at 4pm Eastern. Fallout of Lockout Pointed Squarely at Commissioner Only 18 months into his tenure as the Commissioner of the USFL, Don Garber is coming under heat from several owners, unhappy with his handling of the CBA negotiations as well as the lockout which resulted from the delay in reaching an agreement. Not only has the new CBA been deemed a win for the union, but the lengthy process and the subsequent winter lockout forced the league to cancel 2 preseason games as well as two regular season matchups, cutting into league revenue and forcing renegotiation of the various TV and sponsorship contracts in place, and all during one of the worst recessions in U. S. history. A letter signed by 9 of the league’s owner, and spearheaded by Michigan owner A. Alfred Taubman, lays the responsibility for both the union-friendly contract and the lost revenue from the lockout squarely on Garber’s head. Taubman and his 8 associates call for Garber to resign, and while that is unlikely, there is very much a possibility that in the Summer league meetings, the group of disgruntled owners could force a vote of no confidence, which could relieve the embattled commissioner of his duties. Taubman will need to garner 16 votes of the 28 owners to meet the no confidence threshold, but with 9 owners already signing on to this initial salvo against Garber, it is very possible that he could find 7 more who, feeling the pinch of the recession, the anger of fans, and the very real possibility of significantly reduced revenue in the current season, might sign on for Taubman’s movement to oust Garber from the position. Week Two is the exact opposite of our opening week, with all 28 USFL clubs playing outside their division. That does not mean we won’t have any good matchups, as teams try to define their trajectories early. National broadcasts are in bold. If there were any divisional games, they would be in blue, but there are none on the schedule in Week 2. FRIDAY @ 8pm Seattle (0-1) @ Ohio (1-0) NBC SATURDAY @ 12pm Jacksonville (0-1) @ Baltimore (1-0) ABC SATURDAY @ 12pm Orlando (1-0) @ Boston (1-0) FOX SATURDAY @ 12pm Tampa Bay (1-0) @ New Jersey (0-1) FOX SATURDAY @ 4pm Denver (1-0) @ St. Louis (0-1) ABC SATURDAY @ 4pm Los Angeles (0-1) @ Texas (0-1) FOX SATURDAY @ 8pm Memphis (0-1) @ Washington (1-0) ESPN SUNDAY @ 12pm Atlanta (0-1) @ Nashville (1-0) ABC SUNDAY @ 12pm Charlotte (1-0) @ New Orleans (1-0) ABC SUNDAY @ 12pm Birmingham (0-1) @ Philadelphia (1-0) FOX SUNDAY @ 4pm Oakland (1-0) @ Chicago (0-1) ABC SUNDAY @ 4pm Portland (0-1) @ Michigan (1-0) FOX SUNDAY @ 4pm Arizona (1-0) @ Pittsburgh (0-1) FOX SUNDAY @ 8pm Las Vegas (1-0) @ Houston (0-1) ESPN

Player of the Week: Hines Ward, WR-MGN: Ward had 123 yards receiving and 2 TDs as the Panthers edged the Chicago Machine in a key Central Division matchup between the defending division champ and the defending league champion.

----February 2, 2009 We have explored some of the stories shaping the 2009 season, reviewed the impact of the recently concluded lockout, and presented the biggest Winter roster moves, signings, and NFL imports. Now it is time to look at how this will impact the 28 teams in the USFL as they head into camp and then on to the season. Will Memphis make a third straight appearance in the title game? Will Ohio and Boston rebound? Can Oakland, Baltimore, or Las Vegas get over the hump? There is a lot of optimism across the league, and a lot of hype, to be sure. We have a solid quarter of the league with new starters under center (if not Week 1, we expect by Week 7), some major NFL imports, and a rookie class with quite a reputation to live up to. How do we think it will shake out? And what could the year look like for your favorite club? We will break down each club, division by division, and make our picks for where they could end up, reviewing along the way all the player movement that is shaping their rosters and the expected strengths and weaknesses for each club. Last year the Pacific saw Oakland basically run in 1st place from the start to the finish. Las Vegas started strong but then faded, Seattle started horribly then got very hot down the stretch. Portland did better than expected in their first season, and Los Angeles just collapsed after a promising 2007. This year it still feels like a 3-team race, with Las Vegas and Seattle hoping they did enough to close the gap with the Invaders. OAKLAND INVADERS (2008: 13-3, 1st in Pacific) Head Coach: Dennis Green System: Power Run, Vertical Passing, 4-3 Defense Major Roster Changes: Oakland added two pieces that could be a boon to their offense, nabbing tackle Anthony Clement in free agency and WR Hank Basket as an NFL import. Their draft has yet to produce a starter, but guard Lance Louis and LB Kaluka Maiava should see some rotation. Story to follow: Oakland was a low drama team this offseason, which is what you want from a team that won 13 games last year and made it to the Conference Title Game. Little has changed, except that Joey Harrington should have better protection this year with Clement on the roster. Basket will likely play a swing role, subbing for Burress, Jennings, and DeSean Jackson as needed. The goal for this year is to keep the pressure on the rest of the division and to get just a step further in the playoffs. Outlook: The competition looks like it will be tougher this year, with both Las Vegas and Seattle likely to challenge the Invaders. We are not sure 13 wins is likely again, but 11 could be enough to win this division. Las Vegas Thunder (2008: 9-7, 3rd in Pacific) Head Coach: Jerry Glanville System: Smashmouth offense, 3-4 Defense Major Roster Changes: Steve McNair retired, but Las Vegas retained Tony Banks and then hit the jackpot by landing Jake Plummer to be their new offensive leader. They added depth at receiver by adding Sam Hurd from the Cowboys. The defense was also aided by the signing of former Cleveland Brown Santee Orr to the LB group. The draft was modest, with several picks lost to the Plummer trade, but HB Rashad Jennings from Liberty could prove to be a valuable addition as a 3rd down back. Las Vegas also was a major player in the trade market, not only sending Orlando Huff and 3 picks to Arizona in the Plummer deal, but also trading for G Chris Liwienksi and sending DE Antwan Odom to Birmingham for Center Roberto Garza. Both Liewinski and Garza are expected to start in Week 1. Story to follow: Las Vegas has improved each of the past 3 years, but largely due to the defense. Now, with Plummer at the center, the pressure will be on for the offense to follow suit. The division title and a trip to the playoffs for the first time since relocating from Portland is the goal. Outlook: Las Vegas is a bit of a media darling after the Plummer trade, and a hot pick to unseat Oakland and take command in the West. They are still a defensive-minded club that likes to run the ball, but with Plummer they have a capacity to mix things up that never really manifested with McNair at the helm. Seattle Dragons (2008: 10-6, 2nd in Pacific) Head Coach: Marvin Lewis System: One back with Vertical Passing, 3-4 Hybrid Defense Major Roster Changes: Seattle lost some contributors in WR Troy Walters (FA), G Paul McQuistan (FA), HB Kenny Watson (FA) though the bigger losses were in retirements from LB Godfrey Miles and OT Lomas Brown. They brought in Kenyatta Jones from LA to shore up the left side, signed Ladell Betts for some short yardage situations, and added NFL depth in the form of OT Jordan Gross and G Chris Kemoeatu. Their draft also helped the line depth with center A. Q. Shipley from Penn State. They also tried to address the hole at LB by signing Stanley Arnoux from Wake Forest and Maryland’s Moise Fokou. Neither will start to open the year, but provide depth to the group. Story to follow: We seem to spend a lot of time talking about the #2 receiver position for the Dragons, and this year should be no different, with both Nate Burleson and Darnerien McCants likely to see snaps on the field opposite David Boston. If one of them can step up this year, Seattle could be a serious contender. Outlook: With an improved offensive line, Seattle could be a factor on offense. The concern is the defense, which has not produced enough QB pressure or enough turnovers to make the Dragons an elite team. That will need to improve under Lewis’s tutelage or Seattle could be another early playoff victim once more. Portland Stags (2008: 7-9, 4th in Pacific) Head Coach: Rich Brooks System: Pro Style Offense, Zone 4-3 Defense Major Roster Changes: The Stags had signed some older vets in the expansion draft last year, so it is not a surprise that they saw a high number of retirements after year one. WR Amani Toomer, LB Barron Tanner, and especially LT Korey Stringer will be hard to replace. CB James Trapp headed to the NFL, and LB Ben Leber headed to Philadelphia in free agency. They did make some moves as well, bringing in 3 players from the NFL: CB DeAngelo Hall, C Geoff Hangartner, and DT Kedric Golston. Their draft saw their biggest coup, landing Ole Miss tackle Michael Oher, along with Nebraska LB Cody Glenn and Wisconsin LB Jonathan Casillas. Of the rookies, Oher will start at LT on day one, Golston is in the DT rotation in the 4-3, and Casillas is looking like a swing player at strong and weakside positions. Story to follow: How quickly Michael Oher can adapt to the pro game may tell the story of the season for the Stags. Another year of playing together should help this squad, but they did lose some pretty important pieces, so a potential step backwards before they improve further is very possible. Outlook: We see Portland as fitting somewhere in the 6–8-win range, which in a 14-week season now translates as 5-7 wins. That feels about right for this club. Los Angeles Express (2008: 6-10, 5th in Pacific) Head Coach: Hue Jackson System: West Coast Offense, 4-3/3-4 Hybrid Defense Major Roster Changes: A bad year led to a lot of departures last season. C Gene McGuire retired, DE Van Tuinei was lost to the NFL, and 4 significant contributors were either cut or left in free agency, including HB Ladell Betts, QB Jeff Lewis, DT Igor Olshansky, and RT Kenyatta Jones. The Express focused on the defense with their free agent signings, landing DT Brandon Whiting and DE Corey Sears from the Breakers, while boosting the offense with 3 NFL imports: OT Khalif Barnes, HB Maurice Morris, and kicker Connor Barth. The draft was the big story for the Express. LA used their territorial pick strength, and a lot of cash, to land two impressive Trojans, QB Mark Sanchez and LB Clay Matthews. They also snagged C Alex Mack from Cal, a draft that produced 3 potential starters, with Sanchez expected to be the Week 1 Starter at QB. Story to follow: It has to be the arrival and “coronation” of Mark Sanchez as the starter. LA had success in 2007 with Seneca Wallace, but injury cost him most of last season and now he faces benching for a rookie. That could be an issue, or Wallace could step back and see if Sanchez is ready, just as the Express fans are doing. Outlook: We are not sure if LA is ready to bounce back up. A rookie QB rarely leads to immediate success. However, with two outstanding rookies last year on defense, and the addition of Clay Matthews this year, Coach Jackson is building a defense that could be one of the league’s toughest. That often does lead to regular season success. If Sanchez can avoid some of the typical rookie QB pitfalls, this team could be a lot better than a basement dweller. Last season Houston and Denver represented the division in the playoffs, with a season-ending injury to Matt Leinart killing any postseason hopes for the Gold. Texas won their final 3 games of the year to give them hope for 2009, while Arizona was just not good at all. Houston Gamblers (2008: 11-5, 1st in Southwest) Head Coach: Wade Phillips System: West Coast Hybrid offense, Aggressive 4-3 Defense Major Roster Changes: It took time, but Houston was very successful in retaining most of its free agents. SS Chad Cota went to the NFL, but Kevin Faulk resigned with the team. Houston dealt with Cota’s departure by trading with Las Vegas to acquire Corey Gaines, and then adding the best safety in the draft, Patrick Chung to the room. They also added CB Tramon Williams and WR Matt Jones to their club via the NFL. Story to follow: Houston has made the playoffs five straight years under Wade Phillips, but they always seem to bow out almost right away. That has to change, but we are not seeing enough roster change to make that happen. They are still the favorite in one of the USFL’s weaker divisions, but the goal should be to surpass the stronger Pacific and Central Division teams, and we are not sure they have the tools to do that. Outlook: This feels like another 3rd seed, mid-range team for the Gamblers. We just don’t see how they closed the gaps with some of the other clubs in the conference, even if they are still the top choice for a division title in the Southwest. 9-11 wins, and a #3 seed just feel like what we are looking at here. Denver Gold (2008: 10-6, 2nd in Southwest) Head Coach: Dick Jauron System: Pro Style Offense, 4-3 Defense Major Roster Changes: It was almost as if everyone forgot the Gold existed this offseason. The Gold neither lost players nor added any in the marketplace. Their only significant veteran addition was former Bengal DT Shaun Cody. They were a bit more active on the trading block, sending Curtis Benson to Orlando for HB Marion Barber and TE Daniel Graham. In the draft, the biggest surprise was the signing of Michigan State HB Javon Ringer. They did well to snag Nebraska guard Matt Slauson, who will see plenty of snaps this year, as well as signing a new kicker in FSU’s Graham Gano. Story to follow: The question Gold fans are asking is if standing pat is good enough for this team. That is a very tough question to answer, and one that feels like the odds are against improvement. They, like Houston, are good enough to make the playoffs, but are they good enough to advance? Outlook: Denver returned to the playoffs after a 2-year hiatus, but the injury to Matt Leinart meant that they were a shadow of their earlier selves by the Wild Card round. This year, if they can stay healthy, they absolutely can compete with Houston for the division title. Our big question is what happens after that. Texas Outlaws (2008: 6-10, 3rd in Southwest) Head Coach: Norv Turner System: West Coast Hybrid Offense, 4-3 Defense Major Roster Changes: Texas was the exact opposite of the Gold, seeing a lot of turnover this offseason. Gone are WR Muhsin Muhammad (Retire), WR Tim Dwight (FA), SS Lawyer Milloy (Retire), LB Vernon Crawford (FA), QB Chris Simms (FA), WR Freddie Solomon (NFL), HB Troy Davis (NFL), and 4 more retirees. That is a lot of folks no longer in the locker room, including most of the receiving corp. Texas began rebuilding by trading for WR Brandon Marshall and SS Terrance Holt, then signing a league-high 8 free agents, including WRs Ben Obomanu and Craphonso Thorpe, LB Jeff Ulbrich, TE Matt Chushing, OT Mo Collins, G Tuten Reyes, and HB Leon Johnson. They also used their cap room to add Aveion Cason, Chris Canty, and punter Hunter Smith from the NFL. Finally, the rebuild accelerated even further with draft picks like Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree and Tennessee DE Robert Ayers. Story to follow: A lot of new faces as the team plays the season in Dallas. New city, new team, seems to be the motto this year. The big pieces are still there, HB T. J. Duckett, QB Joe Flacco, and a defense led by DTs Luis Castillo and Chris Hovan and LB’s Kailee Wong and Chad Greenway. Expect a lot of new starters this year, including DE Chris Canty and Rookie Robert Ayers, LB Jeff Ulbrich, and a WR group composed of rookie Michael Crabtree, last year’s top rookie, Danny Amendola, and former Monarch Brandon Marshall. Outlook: The Outlaws will be an interesting story, with so many new faces, and calling the Cotton Bowl their temporary home. Their hope, we think, is to replicate what New Orleans did in 2006, when they played most of their post-Katrina season in Portland. If they can make a home away from home, they then have to blend all these new parts into a coherent whole. That feels like a tough task, especially in a shortened season. Four to six wins would be a good finish for the displaced Outlaws. Arizona Wranglers (1-15, 5th in Pacific) Head Coach: Jim Tomsula (NEW) System: Pro Set Offense, 3-4 Hybrid defense Major Roster Changes: In addition to a new HC in Tomsula, and a new OC in Danny White, the Wranglers traded a disgruntled Jake Plummer, replacing him, they hope, with NFL castoff David Carr. They sent Antonio Pittman to Baltimore for draft picks, and brought in HB Fred McAfee and WR Kassim Osgood through free agency. With several picks from Las Vegas, as well as the #1 overall pick, Arizona ended up signing a league high of 8 rookies. Of those, DE Larry English (NIU) appears to be the only one to crack the starting 22, but the others will certainly be called on over the course of the season. Story to follow: It is a rebuild in the desert after winning only 3 games in the past 2 seasons. Coach Tomsula has to change the culture while he also rebuilds a roster that is low on consistency. He has talent at WR, but a lot will depend on the somewhat shaky O-line. David Carr started his career being sacked a lot in Houston, and now finds himself on another team with questionable protection. Outlook: Arizona needs at least one more good offseason to build this roster and create something that will produce wins. We expect Tomsula will start with the defense and let Danny White work with Carr to try to salvage an offense that needs to make better use of Fitzgerald and Moss. 3-4 wins would be a good first step for this club. Generally considered the strongest of the three Western Conference divisions, the Central is very much alive after Michigan won the league title last year as a Wild Card. Most pundits expect Ohio to rebound as they have added even more weapons for Kerry Collins, while both Chicago and Michigan have top flight defenses and enough offensive weapons to beat almost anyone head to head. Pittsburgh seems to be treading water, and is at risk of slipping to last if the St. Louis Skyhawks can finally develop some offensive consistency. Chicago Machine (2008: 13-3, 1st in Central) Head Coach: Marty Mornhinweg System: Power Run & Play Action Offense, 4-3/3-4 Hybrid Defense Major Roster Changes: Most of Chicago’s departures (HB Reno Mahe, WR Terrence Wilkens, FS Leomont Evans) were marginal contributors on the Machine roster. The loss of SS Eric Weddle is not in that category and is the hardest player to replace. Chicago is hoping that Oregon rookie Jairus Byrd can fill that spot. They also brought in Corey Gaines in Free Agency, but he is better slotted at free safety. Chicago’s draft also included a potential #2 receiver in Johnny Knox, who is raw, coming out of Abilene Christian, but has the one thing you cannot teach, speed. Story to follow: Kyle Orton is gone, traded to Atlanta, so CFL veteran Henry Burris now backs up Brady Quinn. Quinn’s health and ability to stay healthy will be a major factor in the Machine’s success this year, but when we look at Chicago overall, we all turn to the defense as the key. The addition of free agent Ellis Wyms marks a potential shift to greater use of 4-3 formations, where he would line up alongside Ted Washington to potentially free up Anthony Weaver even more. Chicago has 3 very solid LB’s, but Beau Bell at the #4 (MLB) spot is a question, so the Machine may well mix more 4-3 in with their 3-4. Outlook: The Machine were dominant last year, until they weren’t. They survived Brady Quinn’s injury during the regular season, but were taken advantage of in the playoffs, losing to division rival Michigan in their first game. They remain a highly motivated team, still seeking their first title, and that should help them in what could be a very tough division. Michigan Panthers (2008: 11-5, 2nd in Central) Head Coach: Dick LeBeau System: West Coast Offense, 3-4 or 3-3-5 Defense Major Roster Changes: Guard Chris Villarial (NFL), HB Musa Smith (FA), WR Danny Farmer (FA), OT Mo Collins (FA), and SS Mike Brown (FA) are gone. New to the squad are DT Igor Olshansky (FA) and rookies Andy Levitre (G), Asher Allen (CB), Demar Dotson (OT), and Nic Harris (S). Both Levitre and Harris are slotted to start for the 2008 Champions, as is Olshanksy at DT. Story to follow: Michigan was considered something of a surprise champion last year, and the Panthers are not feeling the love, or the respect, this year. That could well motivate them to prove they are not a fluke, a source of energy that could do them well to avoid the usual post-championship lull that many teams face. How they come out of the gate in the first few weeks should tell us a lot. Outlook: The Panthers on paper do not look like a team that should outpace Chicago and Ohio, but we thought that last year and they proved us wrong. If their run game remains strong, and if the defense can absorb the loss of Eric Weddle, they should do fine and once again compete for a playoff spot and a possible division title in the Central. Ohio Glory (2008: 7-9, 3rd in Central) Head Coach: Al Luginbill System: Vertical Passing Offense, 3-3-5 Defense Major Roster Changes: Ohio lost two important but undervalued pieces in guard Bill Ferrario and WR Santonio Holmes, both to free agency, but, as has been their style, they added more than they lost, especially when it comes to offensive weapons. Javon Walker, coming over from the Bulls, should slot right into Holmes’s role, while rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew is considered one of the most pro-ready prospects coming out this year. Adding LB James Laurinaitis in the T-Draft and signing NFL DT Tank Johnson are also potentially impactful moves, with both expected to start for the Glory. Story to follow: Last year we were all expecting an offensive explosion that just never came. Randy Moss and Joey Galloway were seen as indefensible and yet somehow the Glory struggled. The question is whether a 2nd year with this combo, even as Galloway loses a step, will prove more dynamic. The additions of Walker and Pettigrew should give Ohio even more weapons. But will the offense rise to what we all expected last year? Outlook: The other concern in Columbus is a defense that looks a bit shaky and a bit old. Adding James Laurinaitis is a good start for a youth movement, but Vonie Holliday, Carl Powell, Luther Ellis, Glenn Cadrez, and DeShea Townsend are all closing in on the ends of their careers and it showed last year. Ohio may need offensive explosiveness just to deal with some defensive gaps. We still think they have potential for 10+ wins, but they could well be just the 3rd best team in the division again. Pittsburgh Maulers (2008: 7-9, 4th in Central) Head Coach: Ron Rivera System: Power Run Offense, 3-3-5 Defense Major Roster Changes: The Maulers saw 5 players either retire or sign with the NFL, including kick returner Dante Hall, LB Dwayne Rudd, and two tackles (Anderson and McKenzie). They also lost QB Quincy Carter, HB Fred McAfee, and kicker Bill Grammatica to free agency. But, and this is big, they did what they absolutely had to do, resigning SS Sean Taylor to what is one of the best secondary groups in the league. They also may have upgraded in a couple of key offensive positions, adding OT Barrett Brooks, WR Jabar Gaffney and HB Kenny Watson in Free Agency. Their draft once gain was heavily on the defensive side, with LB Brian Cushing and DE Henry Melton among the signees, though the biggest name was the potential challenger to Cody Pickett at QB. Story to follow: The QB situation is the clear #1 story in Pittsburgh this year. Fans have been crying that Cody Pickett’s lack of consistency has been holding back the Maulers, and now he will be challenged by the dual threat option of Pat White. White, who came out of a Run-Pass Option structure at West Virginia, will challenge Pickett, and could see some very early action in some plays designed to maximize his talents. Can he be a consistent passer, and if not, can his running skills suit the Mauler’s more conservative offensive scheme? Outlook: The Maulers feel like a team that is stuck in neutral. The arrival of White is at least a sign that Coach Rivera is willing to try something new. How much he lets White be White, or whether White’s arrival will push Pickett to reach new heights will go a long way into determining if Pittsburgh can be competitive. St. Louis Skyhawks (2008: 4-12, 5th in Central) Head Coach: Doug Williams System: Vertical Hybrid Offense, 4-3 Hybrid Defense Major Roster Changes: Coach Williams had his first full offseason working with his GM to improve the Skyhawks, and overall added some important pieces, not the least of which is QB Josh Freeman out of K-State. The Draft also produced a potential Week 1 starter in CB Vontae Davis, a solid DT option in Mizzou’s Ziggy Wood, and depth across several other positions. In Free Agency St. Louis added Kenny Wright to the secondary and Jeb Terry on the O-line, but the most impactful addition may be the arrival of NFL DE Antonio Smith, expected to step in for Santana Dotson, who (unofficially) retired after 17 USFL seasons. Story to follow: Williams still has faith in Jeff Blake, despite his 23 picks last year, and expects to start him in Week 1, but if the veteran cannot cure his issues in the passing game, all the scrambles will not matter and we could see Freeman under center by the end of the year. Outlook: Williams improved St. Louis’s fortunes slightly last season, but a bigger gain is needed if they are going to close in on .500 this year. We are just not sure they have the horses to do it. Their run game is still a 3-headed mess, the defense feels like it is still talent-shy, and the receiving group needs to see improvement from Sinorice Moss and 2nd year wideout Jordy Nelson. Taylor Jacobs cannot be a 1-man show. We think St. Louis will continue to struggle in a very tough division, with 4-6 wins still a cap for them. Memphis has been the class of the division since Favre came to town, while Birmingham has been in the basement since he left for the NFL. Nashville and New Orleans look ready to challenge the Showboats, especially with improved defensive squads for both teams. This could be a very tight division, although the Stallions still look like the weak sister after struggling to resolve their QB issue all offseason. Memphis Showboats (2008: 10-6, 1st in South) Head Coach: Jim Haslett System: Power Run with Vertical Passing, 4-3/3-4 Hybrid defense Major Roster Changes: The Showboats lost depth with the departures of CB Wendell Davis, FB Theron Wilson, HB Lionel Gates, and WR Marquise Walker, but the loss of RT Anthony Clement is the change that Brett Favre needs to worry about. He tends to get sacked quite a bit even with a strong line, but without Clement, the Showboats could struggle with more aggressive defenses. They did add a safety valve for Favre in TE Jim Kliensasser, and the defense should improve with the additions of NFL veterans Keiwan Ratliff and Jarrad Page to the secondary. Story to follow: Memphis’s draft was largely unimpressive, but the arrival of HB Shonn Greene could give the showboats the ability to rotate Cadillac Williams, and a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield could really take the pressure off of Favre to be the engine of the offense. That RT position will be a question mark, with journeyman Clint Oldenberg stepping in for Clement. If he can hold his own, the Showboats could remain a powerful offense to deal with. Outlook: We like Memphis to hold on and win the division again, but it will be a tougher slog than in the past couple of years. It feels like both the Knights and Breakers have made gains. If Coach Haslett’s squad is not careful, they could take a tumble in what is a tougher division than in past years. New Orleans Breakers (2008: 9-7, 2nd in South) Head Coach: Mike Nolan System: West Coast offense, 3-4 Defense Major Roster Changes: The Breakers took a couple of significant hits in free agency, losing TE Matt Cushing to the Outlaws, and both DT Brandon Whiting and DE Corey Sears to the LA Express. The addition of Israel Ifeanyi from the Bulls certainly helps on the D-line, and the NFL signing of safety Corey Chavous is also a great addition. The Breakers also hope that rookie Ricky Jean-Francois from LSU will be an immediate plug and play option at DT. Story to follow: The key to the Breakers could well be the development of a very young WR group that started 2 rookies last year and 2nd year WR Dwayne Bowe. Can Bowe, Doucet, Avery and Pathon continue to grow into their roles and make life easier for Eli Manning? Can Matt Forte add even more of a receiving role into his HB slot? Outlook: The Breakers have some very intriguing weapons on offense, and Eli Manning seems finally ready to truly be a leader of that squad. The Defense is also looking better, with Ifeanyi, Jean-Francois, and Chavous all being good additions. We are still unsure about a pretty unheralded LB group, but New Orleans might be on the right path to challenge Memphis with their youth movement. Nashville Knights (2008: 6-10, 3rd in South) Head Coach: Jim Johnson System: Smash Mouth offense, 3-4 defense Major Roster Changes: The retirements of Terrell Buckley, Grady Jackson, and Michael Barrow are big blows to a defense the Knights have come to rely on. And yet the Knights did not really add any veterans to the mix on the defensive side, with their biggest free agent signings being WR Troy Walters, QB Quincy Carter, and NFL receiver Malcolm Floyd. They did go for a big DT in Peria Jerry of Ole Miss in the draft, but he does not feel like an immediate impact player. Story to follow: Attrition seems to be weakening Nashville’s defensive skill set, and the offense of Jay Cutler does not feel like the kind of squad that can sustain a playoff-bound team. Is last year’s 6-10 finish a sign of things to come for Coach Johnson’s squad? That is the concern in Music City as the Knights look like they might be losing a step. Outlook: We still think there are enough pieces in place for Nashville to hang around .500, and if Jay Cutler can develop further, they could challenge, but we also fear that their window may be closing and they may be headed in the wrong direction. Birmingham Stallions (2008: 2-14, 4th in South) Head Coach: Mike Shanahan (NEW) System: West Coast Hybrid, Zone Run Scheme, 3-4 defense Major Roster Changes: In addition to a new head coach and QB, there is a lot of change in Birmingham on the roster, starting with the departures of CBs Michael Booker and Ken Irvin, LB John Mobley (retire), QB Jason Campbell (NFL), and TE Itula Mili. Of course, when you are 2-14, it is the arrivals and not the departures that fans care about. New Stallions this year include TE Roland Williams, LBs DeWayne Dotson and Robb Morris, DT John McCargo, CB Adolph Petrie, and, most notably, QB Kyle Boller. The draft included an unexpected drop out of the 1st round (trade with Boston), but plenty of players, including NC State HB Andre Brown, Alabama S Rashad Johnson, DE Jarius Wynn from Georgia, and QB-turned-WR Julian Edelman of Kent State. Story to follow: The arrival of Mike Shanahan, a 2-time Super Bowl winner with the Denver Broncos has Stallion fans hoping a quick change of culture is on the way. Had they been able to land Jake Plummer, they might feel even better, but missing out on both Plummer and Orton means they had to do something, and Kyle Boller is that something. Is that enough? Outlook: The Stallions hit rock bottom in 2008. The road back will not be a quick one. Shanahan will build a culture in Birmingham, and will bring some new ideas to the club, but we are just not sure the roster is there yet to actually turn his vision into a winning team. Last season the Tampa Bay Bandits surprised everyone, demolishing the division on their way to a 14-2 record. Was that a fluke, or is Tampa Bay ready to dominate again? Their top competition will likely be either Orlando or Jacksonville, though there is a sense that the window may be closing on the Bulls. Charlotte and Atlanta are expected to bring up the rear, but just how close to going over .500 each is can be up for debate. The Monarchs went 7-9 in their first year, and could be even better. Atlanta may have solved their QB issue with Kyle Orton coming over from Chicago, and their defense is solid. This could be a very interesting division to monitor. Tampa Bay Bandits (2008: 14-2, 1st in Southeast) Head Coach: Steve Spurrier System: Vertical passing game, 4-3 zone defense Major Roster Changes: The biggest loss for the Bandits is likely DT Ellis Wyms, who is off to Chicago. They resigned Kevin Mitchell to a 1-year deal, and the other departures (Julius Jones, Brandon Merriweather) are not big impact losses. The only major free agent addition was All-USFL fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo, which should help out McGahee and company in the run game. The draft saw a rare off year for the Florida schools, with the best T-Draft option being TE Jared Cook of South Carolina. The Bandits did take a shot at Sam Houston St. QB Rhett Bomar, who almost certainly will be stashed away as the #3. Story to Follow: Not a lot of change from a 14-2 squad, so the question in Tampa Bay is whether or not the status quo will show that the Bandits truly are back or that their record last year was a bit of a fluke. Fourteen wins is not something any club should expect, but in what seems to be a slightly weak SE Division, 11-12 wins could very well be viable. Outlook: We like Tampa Bay to once again be a contender for that top seed in the conference. They have perhaps the easiest path of any playoff team from last year, and they have not had major losses in free agency other than Wyms. If the defense remains as aggressive as last year, and if the offense can keep pace, this will be a team to contend with all year. Orlando Renegades (2008: 6-10, 4th in Southeast) Head Coach: Emmitt Thomas System: Pro Style Offense, 4-3 Man Up defense Major Roster Changes: While we were all obsessed with the QB shuffle this offseason, Orlando went out and made one of the biggest NFL signings in years, landing All-Pro DT Albert Haynesworth. Putting him alongside Calais Campbell makes Orlando instantly a defense to fear in the league. They also added LB Barrett Rudd through a trade with Denver, HB Cedric Benson in another, added S Atari Bigby and CB Leigh Bodden in two more NFL moves and finished by securing the kicker position with Blitz veteran Bill Grammatica. Oh, and did we mention they landed HB Knowshon Moreno in the draft? Basically, this is a team that is just going for it. Story to Follow: The Renegades now have a defense that could be among the elite, and have overhauled their run game, with 4 backs on the roster (Moreno, Benson, Davenport, Hester). Expect a lot of power runs, play action, and controlling the tempo of the game. That appears to be the plan. With a somewhat dicey WR group (Michael Jenkins, Justin McCaerins, Donte Stallworth), this may be a plan of necessity, despite Drew Brees’s legendary accuracy. Outlook: Orlando feels more like a 10 win team than a 10 loss team. They really made some changes and if they can keep all those new players on the field and away from the IR, they could be a real factor in this division. Jacksonville Bulls (2008: 7-9, 2nd in Southeast) Head Coach: Brad Childress System: West Coast Offense, 3-3-5 Defense Major Roster Changes: The Bulls’ offseason started off poorly, with WR Donald Hayes jumping to the NFL. They then lost DE Israel Ifeanyi to the Breakers and WR Javon Walker to the Glory. It was not at all what they wanted. They regrouped, first by strengthening their secondary by signing two new potential starters at safety, Chicago’s Eric Weddle and Michigan’s Mike Brown. These two leap into the starting lineup as an immediate upgrade. For their receiving room they started with Pittsburgh Steeler Nate Washington, signed during the transfer window, where they also found LB Rashad Jeanty from the Bengals. They then added Jericho Cothery to be their slot receiver, sending Dominic Raiola to Boston to get him. Finally, in the draft, Jacksonville added 2 DE’s, including Chris Baker of Hampton, and a potential stud at tackle in Alabama’s Andre Smith. Story to Follow: The Bulls’ receiving group is going to be the key squad to focus on. Rashaun Woods is still there, but with two new players at the Flanker and Slot Receiver positions, there could be a steep learning curve in a shortened preseason. The man who could be the safety valve in this situation is TE Jason Whitten, who had a breakout year in 2007, when he came over from Pittsburgh and caught 61 passes. If the Bulls are going to put together a winning season, it may be Whitten who has to move from a solid option to the first option for this offense. Outlook: We are not sure exactly what to make of the Bulls. They could rise up as Tampa Bay did last year, or they could drop below both Charlotte and Atlanta in a largely balanced division. We think the reality is they are right in the middle, sitting near .500 once again. Charlotte Monarchs (2008: 7-9, 3rd in Southeast) Head Coach: Jim Mora Jr. System: Pro Style Offense, 4-3 Zone Defense Major Roster Changes: Just like Portland, Charlotte saw several of its expansion draft veterans opt out after one year. CB Tyrone Poole and DE Chance McCarty have retired, Henry Burris is now in Chicago ,Jeff Ulbrich and Aaron Graham in Texas. But, with a lot of cap space available, the Monarchs continue to build a roster to compete in the division. They added LB A. J. Nicholson and center Dereck Smith in free agency, signed CB Nnamdi Asomugha from the Raiders, and traded to get DT Corey Redding. They also drafted well, landing WR Hakeem Nicks and TE Anthony Hill in the territorial draft before inking USC linebacker Rey Maualuga and Georgia Tech DE Michael Johnson in the Open Draft. Story to Follow: We are watching the Monarch offense to see if it grows in its confidence in year two. QB Chris Weinke has some decent options in WRs D.J. Hackett, Stevie Johnson, and Az-Zahir Hakeem. He needs to find ways to get the ball to them, rather than dumping down to TE Dan Campbell as much as he did last year. He also needs to get help from Robert Edwards to force defenses to play the run. Weinke can be effective in play action, but is not as good when it the defense knows a pass is coming. Outlook: Charlotte started well with a 7-win season. They could easily get to 7-7 this year in the shortened 14-week season, but we have also seen this before, with Atlanta dropping from their initial season to a significantly worse 2nd year. The Monarchs need to prepare for a long and tough year, and not assume that improvement is inevitable. Atlanta Fire (2008: 5-11, 5th in Southeast) Head Coach: Tom Ramsey (NEW) System: Pro Style Offense, 3-3-5 Hybrid Defense Major Roster Changes: Coach Ramsey inherits a very different club from the one that Jay Gruden left behind. The Fire have a new QB in former Machine signal caller Kyle Orton, they have a new left tackle in former Saint Zach Strief, new weapons in the run game in J. J. Arrington and Julius Jones, and one of the most dynamic playmakers in the slot after signing Ted Ginn Jr. away from the Blitz. On Defense they added SS Brandon Merriweather and LB Bart Scott. Their draft does not appear to have added any immediate impact players, but two rookie LBs, Clint Sintim and Dannell Ellerbe, should see some action in rotation with the starters. Story to Follow: The task of building a competitive offense around Kyle Orton falls on first time head coach Tom Ramsey, himself a former USFL quarterback. Expect the Fire to rely heavily on Darren McFadden, but to also mix in Arrington and Jones as they build a run-first offense that keeps the pressure off Orton to carry the load. Outlook: Atlanta’s defense has been solid for most of their existence, and the addition of a seasoned pro like Bart Scott to the D will certainly help them keep focus and avoid some of the mental breakdowns they had a season ago. If their defense can be Top 10 and the offense is not pathetic, then this Atlanta squad could rise quite a bit in the Southeast. With the exception of the New Jersey Generals, this is a division where any team could leap up to #1 or drop to #4. Balance and a significant amount of talent across 4 teams means that this is likely to be the division with the most intense intra-divisional games, and one where the division winner is not known until the very final week of the year. Philadelphia won it by 2 games in 2008, but we think it will be even closer this season. Washington Federals (2008: 11-5, 2nd in Northeast) Head Coach: Sean Payton System: Pro Style Offense, 4-3 Defense Major Roster Changes: The Federals were lucky to have a very small free agent footprint this year, meaning that the team that got them back to the playoffs is largely intact, if not improved in this offseason. The two free agent losses of any note, safety Bob Sanders and LB Ike Reese, were both expected and accounted for. The additions were largely on offense, with HB Rod Smart and OT Vernon Carrey coming in free agency and QB Cleo Lemon the team’s lone NFL signing. In the draft Washington also added a QB in Michigan State’s Brian Hoyer, as well as some youth for the defense with Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry and safety Chip Vaughn both signing as T-Draft picks. TE Chase Coffman of Mizzou is the most notable Open Draft signee. Story to Follow: We are keeping our eyes on rookie LB Aaron Curry, who has looked very polished on film. There is a good chance he finds his way onto the field as the alternate whenever Mark Simoneau, Cameron Wake, or Antonio Pierce need a breather. Outlook: Washington was very solid on both sides of the ball last year, and they are hoping that small additions like Curry and HB Rod Smart make them just a bit more versatile. If they are, they could easily challenge for the division. Philadelphia Stars (2008: 13-3, 1st in Northeast) Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh System: Pro Style Offense, 4-3 Defense Major Roster Changes: Philadelphia lost some talent this offseason, with TE Roland Williams and FB Deon Dyer leaving in free agency, and the retirement onf bothReganUpshawandC Steve McKinney, but the Stars were also very active in the offseason, landing LB Ben Leber, HB Reno Mahe, and two of the bigger names in the NFL free agent pool in center Matt Birk and WR Terrell Owens. Owens returns to the USFL after 5 seasons in the NFL. In that time his personality and his reputation have grown quite a bit, so he could be a major factor in the Star offense, or a major distraction. In the draft, the Stars added some speed to their defense with LB Aaron Maybin of Penn State and some strength with DE Connor Barwin of Cincinnati. Story to Follow: We are going to follow the Terrell Owens saga, and we do expect it to be a saga. He will line up opposite Steve Smith, another pretty big personality among USFL receivers, so don’t be surprised if we don’t see some pretty wild stories out of Philly this year. Outlook: Despite the potential distraction Owens brings, the Stars look like a very solid team, and Coach Harbaugh has them poised to make another run at the division and the Eastern Conference title. Baltimore Blitz (2008: 10—6, 3rd in Northeast) Head Coach: Tom Coughlin System: Power Run/ Play Action Offense, 4-3 Defense Major Roster Changes: Losing Tedd Ginn Jr. and A. J. Nicholson in free agency will put a dent in Baltimore’s return to playoff form. Losing Obafemi Ayanbadejo may also prove to be a big issue for the Blitz, who rely so heavily on the run game. The Blitz did add some depth with QB Chris Simms set to back up Roethlisberger, and with LB Angelo Crowell coming over from the NFL Bills. The Blitz did not fare well in the draft, signing only 4 of their 10 draft picks and landing very little in immediate impact. Story to Follow: We want to see if WR Darrius Heyward-Bey lives up to the hype. He is expected to move into the #2 spot, with Marty Booker moving to the slot. With Tory Holt the clear #1, Heyward-Bey could see a lot of single coverage, and that could be a huge boon for the rookie. Outlook: The Blitz had their first 10-win season in this millennium in 2008 and are hoping to go even further this year. That could be tough as they don’t seem to have added as much as others in the offseason, but if the chips fall the right way, we could see the Blitz in the postseason again. Boston Cannons (2008: 7-9, 4th in Northeast) Head Coach: John Fox System: Vertical Hybrid Offense, 4-3 Zone Defense Major Roster Changes: While convincing Drew Bledsoe to give it one more year was clearly the biggest story for the Cannons this offseason, it was hardly the only one. Boston gave up a lot to trade into the Top 5 in the draft so they could nab speedster Percy Harvin, and they are hoping he can be a quick study and an immediate threat for their aerial attack. They sent Jerricho Cotchery to Jacksonville to land center Dominic Raiola, and then added 3 NFL starters during the transfer window. TE Robert Royal, DE C. J. Mosley, and kicker Steven Haushka all arrive in Boston expecting to be in the starting 22. Finally, Boston also added LB Ike Reese from the rival Federals, SS richCoady from St. Louis, and DT Henry Slay from the Stallions. Apparently the Cannons are hoping to add some backbone to their defense. Story to Follow: The QB situation in Boston is fascinating. Drew Bledsoe was the clear #1 until his injury last year, but Adrian McPherson clearly outplayed him down the stretch. Bledsoe is back, but will he hold onto the starting position if things start to get a bit dicey? Or will Coach Fox move on to the younger, more mobile McPherson? Outlook: Many want to imagine Boston bouncing back strong after a poor 2008 campaign, but we are not so sure that the Cannons are not on the precipice of a major renovation, with McPherson taking over for Bledsoe, and a lot of new faces taking on more important roles. New Jersey Generals (2008: 2-14, 5th in Northeast) Head Coach: Herm Edwards (NEW) System: 3-Wide Pro Offense, 3-4 Defense Major Roster Changes: The Generals wanted a facelift and they got one. The question is whether or not they got a botched one. New Jersey lost both starting guards in free agency, along with WR Kassim Osgood and DT Martin Chase. Center Jeremy Newberry is now in the NFL as well. And while New Jersey did not land Jake Plummer as we predicted, they did sign one of the more intriguing QB options available, former Bengal Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Harvard guy who busted the Wunderlich Test. They also brought in some speed in the form of WR Santonio Holmes, and may have locked down the middle of their D-line with the pick of B. J. Raji in the draft. Story to Follow: A new regime for an old coach as Herm Edwards returns to the sidelines in the Big Apple (or Big Apple adjascent). Will his “can do” attitude help New Jersey return to glory or is this team too far away from their glory days to bring them back? Edwards, a former DB, wants to win with defense, but he needs to deal with an offense that was the model of futility in 2008, getting shut out twice and held under 14 points too often to count. Outlook: We are skeptical that Ryan Fitzpatrick is the answer at QB. Yes, he had a good year in Cincinnati, but with little pressure on him. This will be very different. Coach Edwards also has to try to see if he can get more out of Rutgers product Ray Rice, whose rookie season was not exactly the stuff of legends. We think it will be a growing year, but a painful one, maybe 3-4 wins in 14 games. SI’s Own Peter King Team Picks the USFL Divisions We have looked at each team’s offseason and their biggest question, so now we call on Peter King, our resident football expert to tell us what he sees happening this spring and summer as the USFL plays a 14-game season, leading up to the playoffs and Summer Bowl 2009 in Baltimore. Hello everyone, and welcome to another USFL season. Last year we saw quite a few surprises as Tampa Bay exceeded expectations and both Ohio and Boston failed to reach the heights we expected of them. It’s the reason preseason punditry has such a bad reputation, and, as they say “why they play the games.” So, what do we think will happen this year? We did not see Michigan as a potential champion last year, so could we perhaps be a bit more prescient as we look ahead to this year? With many teams bringing new quarterbacks on board, and 4 new head coaches, there is plenty of room for surprises, and, just like last year, it is likely we will see some teams improve after a rough start, as Seattle did after their 0-4 kickoff to the 2008 season, and we will see teams fade down the stretch, as happened to Nashville last year. Before I give you my picks for the 6 USFL Divisions and the eventual champion, let’s start with some potential movers as I look over the league. Most Likely to Join the Playoff Crowd: Atlanta I like what the Fire have done this year, adding Kyle Orton at QB, bolstering their offensive flexibility by bringing in Ted Ginn Jr., J. J. Arrington, and Julius Jones, and providing a bit more defensive muscle with three new LBs in camp. Their defense has been solid ever since they came back to the league in 2006, but now they have some real weapons on offense and could rise in a relatively weak Southeast Division. Most Likely to Fall Below .500: Denver The Gold always seem like a team that on paper should be 6-10 and yet somehow Coach Jauron has them in the playoff hunt. That is just good coaching, but the talent level is just not that great compared to many of the other Western Conference teams. We are concerned that Matt Leinart may not be the answer, that Peerless Price and the other receivers cannot take the roof off the defense, and that a HB duo of Maurice Morris and Mewelde Moore is too one dimensional. I, for one, suspect that Denver may be in for a dip this year. Most Likely to Come On Late: Las Vegas As much as fans in Sin City want to imagine Jake Plummer walking into the stadium and notching a W without much trouble, the truth is that it is going to take time for Plummer to get up to speed, adapt to a new system, and connect with his teammates. It does not help that he has been unable to have minicamps and other preseason “get to know you’s” with the Thunder offense during the lockout. Now, with a short camp and only 1 preseason game, Plummer is expected to revive a pretty lifeless Thunder offense right off the bat. That seems unlikely, but what we could see is the D sustain the Thunder at first and then the offense picks up in the 2nd half of the year. Most Likely to Fade Out at Season’s End: Philadelphia I expect the Stars to come out of the gate strong, but just as we saw last year, they could fade down the stretch. I say this not just because their defense tends to spend too much time on the field, but also because I am having trouble picturing Terrell Owens and Steve Smith staying on the same page over 4 months. At some point one or the other is going to feel undervalued, undertargeted, and misused in the offense, and that will lead to resentment, friction, and, knowing these two, blow ups in front of the media. That is your sign that the Stars are about to struggle, and it feels more like a “when” than an “if”. So, who do I like? Well, let’s take a look at my predictions for the 6 divisions to find out. NORTHEAST BOSTON: 11-3* I think last year was a fluke and Bledsoe goes out on top with this team. WASHINGTON: 10-4* The Federals were a surprise last year, this year they won’t surprise anyone. BALTIMORE: 8-6 They are hoping to reach 10 wins again, but I suspect a step back this year. PHILADELPHIA 7-7 I see the Stars struggling a bit with the expectation that they are the team to pick. NEW JERSEY 4-10 Better than last year’s debacle, but still a long way off. SOUTHEAST TAMPA BAY 11-3* The Bandit defense is strong, the offense can be just as good. A nice pairing. ORLANDO 9-5* The Renegades will start the year better than in 2009, and could challenge Tampa. ATLANTA 9-5* I think the Fire are close to being very dangerous, but a lot depends on Orton. CHARLOTTE 7-7 Not bad for a 2nd year franchise, though their offense still feels underwhelming. JACKSONVILLE 5-9 I could be wrong here, but I see them as another team headed the wrong way. SOUTH NEW ORLEANS 10-4* Picking a bit of an upset at the top here, but choosing Memphis is too easy. MEMPHIS 10-4* Right there with the Breakers, and possibly a playoff run like last year. NASHVILLE 6-8 The Knights just don’t feel like they are all there yet, and I am unsure about Cutler. BIRMINGHAM 3-13 Another rough year in Alabama as Kyle Boller struggles to prove he is a starter. CENTRAL CHICAGO 12-2* I know Michigan won the title, but the Machine just look more complete. MICHIGAN 10-4* The Panthers will be there when it counts, especially if the D improves more. OHIO 7-7 I think the Old Gang is aging out of true competitiveness, even with the new faces. PITTSBURGH 6-8 I am not sure Ron Rivera can get more out of this roster, which bodes ill for him. ST. LOUIS 5-9 I like where they are headed, but Josh Freeman is not ready for prime time yet. SOUTHWEST HOUSTON 9-5* The Gamblers just don’t seem much better than a 3rd seed to me, once again. TEXAS 8-6* I could see Texas rising even further if Flacco’s new receivers can step up. DENVER 6-8 The Gold just feel like a team that has been overachieving and is on fumes now. ARIZONA 4-10 They are better than last year, but is David Carr really the answer for this club? PACIFIC OAKLAND 12-2* A real threat to win it all. A well-rounded team that can win in a variety of ways. LAS VEGAS 9-5* They may start a bit slow, but by season’s end they could be tough to beat. SEATTLE 8-6* The Dragons will be there all year, but Boston and Dillon are no spring chickens. LOS ANGELES 5-9 Matt Sanchez needs more than Keyshawn to be successful. The D could surprise. PORTLAND 5-9 I expect the 1st year euphoria to fade and the Stags to do so as well. My pick for Summer Bowl 2008 is Tampa Bay topping Chicago, once again shattering the hopes of the Machine faithful as Chicago comes close once again. My MVP will be Ricky Williams, a rare non-QB to win the title as he comes close to 1,800 yards in 14 games. My Offensive Player of the Year will be Favre again, with new NFL arrival Terrell Suggs just edging Brian Urlacher for defensive POTY. Rookie of the year is a tough one, with three potential starting QBs coming out of the draft, but I think it won’t be any of them, but will be Knowshon Moreno in Orlando. If my picks are right, then Coach of the Year would go to Atlanta’s Tom Ramsey, though Norv Turner could sneak in there if the Outlaws jump up in the Southwest. There you have it, now, let’s get these games kicked off to show everyone just how little I know.

--February 2, 2009 The USFL season will happen as a last-minute agreement between owners and the USFLPA players’ union has been reached. It will be a shortened season, but it will happen after all. Details below on the agreement and the impact on the season. We will also explore one of the most dynamic NFL-USFL transfer windows in recent memory, the latest free agency news and our top stories of the offseason. In the second half of our season preview we will look team by team at the biggest stories, most impactful departures, and most exciting new arrivals, followed by our best guess at what to expect from this most intriguing season of USFL football, a season we were not sure would happen at all. USFL Lockout Ends, But Too Late to Save Entire Season The USFL and USFLPA have settled on a CBA agreement and the lockout is now officially over, but the impact will be felt this season. The 11th hour agreement seems to be an instance where the owners have blinked, staring down a potential lost season of revenue during a very bad economy, one that could lead to several owners facing real financial woes. The Union will get the revenue share of 55% which has been their sticking point all year, the owners get some small concessions on rosters and practice squads, and an exemption for revenue directed towards stadium development funds, but overall this has to be considered a win for the USFLPA. What it is not is a win for the fans. The league announced this week that in order to allow teams to complete even an abbreviated training camp and preseason, the USFL will be cancelling weeks 1-2 of the published regular season schedule. Camps will open immediately and run through mid-March, with only 1 preseason game to be played by each team. The regular season will begin with the Week 3 schedule on the weekend of April 3-5, marking the first time a USFL season did not begin in March. The league will run a 14-week season, retaining the final 14 weeks of the published schedule and the Summer Bowl in Baltimore on August 1st. There has been no word on whether teams with home games scheduled for weeks 1 or 2 will refund season ticket holders, although they are obligated to refund any single game tickets sold for those games. Of course, as you might expect, the dropping of the first two weeks means different things to different teams. Some teams lose out on two home games, others two road games. Some will have an odd number of divisional games this year, while others will play a full slate of divisional matchups. In addition to the shortened season, the shift in calendar means that with a 3-week training camp and only 1 preseason game, teams that are installing new schemes, those with significant roster turnover, and those with new coaches in place, are at a disadvantage, and may suffer at least through the early weeks as their teams learn all that is required to develop as a unit. Just how this will play out once the games get started is anyone’s guess but expect some examples of sloppy play and disjointed offense in the opening games this April. The CBA is expected to be ratified later this week, and does not impact the cap or any current contracts for the 2009 season, but should lead to a significant bump in cap room for 2010. Those teams that structured their new contracts (free agents, rookies, NFL imports) to bubble payments into 2010 or 2011 should benefit from the added cap space as their new signees no longer occupy as significant a portion of their allotted funds. For those players with contracts expiring this year, the greater cap level is almost certainly going to prove advantageous as they try to negotiate extensions or new contracts. One final adjustment due to the new CBA as well as the delayed start to the season. The Owners have agreed to a 1-year trial period for a 14-team playoff, citing the shortened season and the likely chaos of the opening weeks, two additional playoff teams will be added for this season alone, with the option for the league to adopt a 14-team format moving forward in a league vote this September. The additional playoff teams now mean that only the #1 seed in each conference will receive a bye week, with the other two divisional champions and the 4 Wild Card teams in each conference playing their way into the Divisional round. So, more than ever, the #1 seed will be a coveted prize. Bledsoe Returns for an Encore It may have taken the better part of the offseason, but Cannon fans got what they were hoping for as Drew Bledsoe announced last week that he will return for the 2009 USFL season, his 8th in the league. Bledsoe was unable to make the announcement at Cannon facilities as the lockout was still in effect, but a short press conference at the Boston Athletic Assoc. headquarters he announced his plans to return, stating “I needed time to heal and to weigh the options before me, and I am now ready to return to the Cannons and the game.” The move ends speculation on the Boston QB situation but may just begin debate on whether or not Bledsoe or 4th year backup Adrian McPherson should be under center. It may seem bizarre to question Bledsoe’s role as the starting QB, but last season there was a definite improvement in play when the younger, more mobile McPherson finished the season for the injured veteran. Many had seen the end of last year as a passing of the torch, though a completely involuntary one, as McPherson took over for the injured Bledsoe. Now the question turns to one of immediacy vs. long term strategy. Clearly Bledsoe is a short term option, meaning the pressure is on Boston to try to win now, while going with McPherson could be seen as the start of a longer term goal for growth and continued competitiveness. USFL Raids NFL free agency heavily The 2009 NFL-USFL Transfer Window may not be the most star-studded, but in volume it is one of the most impactful of all time, with more NFL players jumping to the USFL than we have seen since the early “mad rush” of the 1980’s. More than 50 players came over from the Fall to the Spring with a major wave of signings across both leagues. Admitedly a lot of the signings came from NFL practice squads and deep bench players, but that too will have an impact on the fall league and USFL depth as a whole. However, while there were not any superstar QB’s jumping leagues, there were certainly some big name players whose impact will be felt. Here is our rundown of the 12 most impactful USFL signings. QB Kyle Boller (BIR): Boller was not Birmingham’s first choice. Not even their second choice, but he is the likely starter for the Stallions this year after a somewhat hasty exit from the NFL Ravens. The Cal product has some skills, but did not show great decision-making as a Raven. The Stallions have to hope that under the tutelage of Head Coach Mike Shanahan, he can develop into a solid option at the position. HB J.J. Arrington (ATL): The Fire needed to diversify their run game, and bringing in a quality third down back means that they can swap out Darren McFadden in passing downs. Arrington could be a leading receiver for the Fire, and a big help to their new QB. CB DeAngelo Hall (POR): The Stags get themselves a solid #2 corner and a potential special teams player in Hall. He won’t shut down a team’s #1, but he can be left on the #2 to allow safety coverage to shift to the other side of the field. WR Malcolm Floyd (NSH): The Knights needed depth at wideout, and Floyd provides them with good ball skills and solid underneath route running. Not a 100-reception guy, but someone who can get open for Jay Cutler when the protection starts to fade. WR Nate Washington (JAX): The former Steeler should fit in well alongside Rashaun Woods in Jacksonville. A straight line speed guy with solid skills and decent route running, Washington can help stretch the defense and provide Woods with his underneath gaps. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (NJ): A bit of an unknown, but one with a lot of potential. The master of the Wunderlick, Fitzpatrick may well be the smartest player in the league, but can he get more out of the New Jersey offense. We expect Kolb to start week 1, just to give Fitzgerald more time to learn the offense, but we see him as the eventual starter, coming over after an impressive 12-game run with the Bengals this past fall. WR Terrell Owens (PHI): The Stars bring in a Diva, who may be on the downward slope of his career, but who is still a top level wideout who can make a difference alongside Steve Smith. Can you just imagine the banter on the field with those two at wideout? As long as the locker room does not become utter chaos, this could be a great move for Philly. C Matt Birk (PHI): Another great find for the Stars, who needed a captain on that line to help coordinate both a revamped run game and protection for Kurt Warner. Birk is a leader and a solid lineman as well. He should help keep the front 5 for the Stars in line. CB Nnamdi Asomugha (CHA): A very solid zone coverage corner who can also hold his own in man coverage. Asomugha should be a week one starter for the Monarchs and could find himself in the #1 corner position by season’s end. QB David Carr (ARZ): We all knew Arizona had to do something after trading away Jake Plummer. They opt to sign Carr away from the NY Giants, where he lost his job midway through the 2008 season. Carr certainly has his detractors. He takes too many sacks and he has struggled with consistency, but of the free agent QBs available, he was clearly the one with the best pedigree and the best chance to step in on day one as a starter. DT Albert Haynesworth (ORL): He may be a handful to manage off the field, but the best DT to become a free agent in a long time is an absolute wrecking ball on the field. Haynesworth will now form part of a D-line with DE Calais Campbell, giving Orlando a very tough front to handle. Will Orlando ride their D-line to a Southeast Division title? OLB Terrell Suggs (NSH): The Nashville Knights land our #1 most impactful player, edge rusher and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens signs on with Nashville and instantly creates problems for opposing offensive coordinators. Nashville was hoping to improve their pass rush capacity this year, and they now stand as a defense to fear with Suggs coming off the edge. A huge signing for the Knights. Camps Open with Some Late Free Agents in Place With camps about to open, there will be even more new faces in new places as a flurry of January free agent signings followed the USFL draft and rookie signing period. Several teams, seeing drafted talent land in the NFL have tried to fill gaps with veterans, leading to a flurry of activity across the league. Some clubs were able to resign their own players, with examples ranging from QB Jeff Garcia in LA, halfback Kevin Faulk returning to Houston, DE Eddie Freeman in St. Louis, and C Ben Claxton to Arizona. Other clubs brought in new faces to build their rosters. Among those notable signings, on offense we saw QB Chris Simms land in Baltimore to back up Ben Roethlisberger, WR Kassim Osgood will get a shot at the slot position in Arizona after leaving the Generals, New Jerey recovered by signing Santonio Holmes away from Ohio. Center was a popular position to reinforce, with Aaron Graham moving from Charlotte to Texas and Dereck Smith then joining Charlotte from the Gold. Others signed include WR Danny Farmer (MGN), takle Doug Nienhuis (MEM), guard Tre Johnson (NSH), and tackle Tre Stallings (JAX). On defense, some of the bigger moves were LB A. J. Nicholson also joining the Monarchs. DeWayne Dotson leaves the Breaker LB group to join the Stallions in an intradivisional move. DT Igor Olshansky landed in Michigan, while Brandon Whiting moved from New Orleans to LA. Among others signed we have LB Shantee Orr (LV), LB Vernon Crawford (NOR), and CB Fabian Washngton (MGN). Does Orton Trade Solve Fire QB Crisis? The trade this week between Atlanta and Chicago was an absolute necessity for the Fire, and could be the key to their season, but will it be the last trade of the offseason? Chicago, who had been shopping QB Kyle Orton around for the better part of the past two months, kept coming up short of a deal, but only 4 days after Georgia QB Matt Stafford announced he would sign as the #1 overall pick to the NFL Detroit Lions, Atlanta jumped on the Orton offer and very quickly a deal was arranged. The former Purdue QB will join the Fire in camp this week, and in return, Chicago will receive two early round draft picks in the 2010 draft from the Fire, their 2nd and 3rd rounders to be exact. Orton, who came in for an injured Brady Quinn last year and guided Chicago into the playoffs, now takes over as the presumptive starter for the Fire, though David Garrard is likely to be given a shot in camp as well. Much like Chicago, the Fire are a run-oriented offense, based around last year’s rookie back, Darren McFadden, but with ineffective play from both Garrard and Tyler Thigpen, it was clear a new direction was needed. The obvious preference of the Fire was to draft Matt Stafford in the Territorial Draft, and sign the UGA quarterback to a long term deal. But, Stafford opted for the NFL and Atlanta had to scramble to a Plan B. With NFL options Ryan Fitzpatrick and David Carr already signed by New Jersey and Arizona respectively, and with the only remaining Free Agent option being career backup Ray Lucas, there just were not a lot of options for the Fire. They reached out to Chicago, which had already tried to make a deal with both New Jersey and Birmingham, but failed both times. When Atlanta came calling, their demand for a 1st round pick quickly softened to allow the Fire to retain their 1st rounder in exchange for their next two picks. And so the last of the QB dominoes has fallen, we think we now have a good sense of all 28 potential starters, or at least the 28 QB battles going into camp. Of the teams with new names on the depth chart, the question now becomes whether or not they chose wisely. Plummer ready to roll the dice in Vegas When the news of the USFL lockout coming to an end broke, one of the first to respond was new Las Vegas QB Jake Plummer. Speaking at a charity event in Flagstaff, Plummer was asked about the opening of camp and stated “I am stoked to get to camp. A new start, getting to know the guys and the system. I am ready to get back to football.” That sounds like an enthusiastic QB to us, something fans of the Thunder must be happy to hear. Plummer joins a Thunder squad that barely missed the playoffs last year as they dealt with health issues for starter Steve McNair and backup Tony Banks. Now, with McNair retired, and a lot of draft and personnel collateral headed to the Arizona Wranglers, Jake Plummer is their new starter and the hope of the Thunder making the postseason in Las Vegas (a first) is renewed. Plummer will have a pretty talented team around him, though there are a lot of new parts. HB Marshawn Lynch is clearly the main man in Sin City, but with Plummer and a refreshed receiving corps led by Matthew Hatchette and featuring NFL import Sam Hurd, slot man Troy Williamson, and speedster Kahlil Hill, Plummer hopes to elevate the Thunder to heights they have not seen since relocating from Portland. The fact that he seems eager to get started is a great sign for the Thunder that they have a QB in Plummer who is rejuvenated by the move and ready to roll the dice for his new team. Ranking the Best Rosters in the USFL As we prepare for the opening of camps and the delayed start to the USFL season, there is a lot of discussion of who got better this offseason and who may have gotten weaker. In our bullpen we often discussed this in terms of positional groups, and we thought we would share our assessment with you. So, here, for your consideration is our estimation of the three best and 2 worst teams in each position group. In each case we looked at overall quality (in some cases including backups) rather than 1 star player, so while we might say that Brett Favre gives Memphis a strong staring QB, for example, depth behind him may keep Memphis out of the Top 3 at the QB position. An imperfect metric, to be sure, but one that can reveal a lot about team preparedness for a long season ahead. We start with the Offenses and will finish with our three main defensive groupings (Line, Backers, and Secondary). QUARTERBACK: Here we look at the quality of the starter as well as the depth behind him. BOSTON: Bledsoe/McPherson/Martin With Bledsoe back, and McPherson doing as well as he did last year, along with a savvy veteran still on the bench in Jaime Martin, Boston’s depth at QB may be unparalleled. OHIO: Collins/Redman/Bollinger A multiple MVP winner with perhaps the best backup QB in the game behind him, and now a younger backup with NFL credentials at the #3 spot. It is hard to do better than that. TAMPA BAY: Culpepper/Gradkowski/Bomar The key to Tampa Bay gaining the 3rd spot was the performance of Brad Gradkowski last year in the games when Culpepper was out. Rookie Rhett Bomar is a developmental option in the #3 slot, but showed flashes of talent at Stephen F. Austin. but... PITTSBURGH: Pickett/White/Palko Maybe we are selling Pat White short here, but there are huge questions about whether or not his game translates to the pros, and we already know that Cody Pickett just has not developed into a consistent starter for the Maulers, so this group is not scaring anyone. BIRMINGHAM: Boller/Wright/Dickenson The Stallions missed out on Plummer, then could not find an option in the draft, and waited too long in the NFL transfer window, landing the clear 3rd option in Kyle Boller. Wright and Dickenson were not effective last year, so right now Stallion fans have to be scratching their heads. HALFBACK: Who has the best 1-2 punch in the backfield? OAKLAND: Williams & Norwood We saw this last year in full action, with both Ricky Williams and Jerious Norwood rushing for 10+ touchdowns. They just get the job done. Williams is the engine and very often Norwood acts as the change of pace or even the finisher down in the red zone. A great option for the Invaders. WASHINGTON: McCallister & Smart For several years, Deuce has been doing it all, but now, after acquiring Rod Smart in free agency, there is an option behind him, an option who can be dangerous in his own right. ORLANDO: Moreno & Benson (Davenport & Hester) Two offseason acquisitions, rookie Knowshon Moreno and former Gold “bust” Cedric Benson transfrorm Orlando from a question mark to an exclamation point. They have 4 legitimate backs, each with their own style and strengths. While we expect Moreno to be the lead back, having Benson available for short yardage, as well as pounders Hester and Davenport mean that Orlando can grind down defenses all day long. but... BIRMINGHAM: Jones & Woodhead Are we picking on the Stallions? Maybe, but there is just a lot of potential but no production so far from the combo of Felix Jones and Danny Woodhead. The two have some talent, but it has not manifested into production, and Birmingham did nothing to add another option this offseason. DENVER: Moore & Ringer The Gold traded off Cedric Benson, but in Ringer they brought in a back very similar to Mewelde Moore, a back with quickness and moves, but not someone who can get the team the 1-2 yards needed on a key goalline or short yardage situation. That feels like a downgrade to us. RECEIVERS: Whether it is 3-wide or two and a TE, the key to receiving groups is depth. OHIO: Moss, Galloway & Alexander (With Walker & Pettigrew Added) The Glory just keep investing in receivers, adding Javon Walker and Brandon Pettigrew to one of the best, if not the best triads in the league. Will the pieces click this year and produce a bounceback season for the Glory? MEMPHIS: Ferguson, Lee & Rice (With Kliensasser added on) We doubted Robert Ferguson as a true #1, but with Lee Evans opposite him, they form a deadly short & deep combo. Sidney Rice helps take advantage over the middle, and now, with Jim Kliensasser coming over in free agency, Brett Favre has 4 options on almost every play. BOSTON: Johnson, Jurevicius, and Harvin The bold move to jump up in the draft and sign Percy Harvin makes Boston’s wideout group one of the most dangerous in the league. We already know that Chad Johnson (formerly Ochocinco, and Johnson before that) is elite. Joe Jurevicius provides good balance opposite him, but Harvin brings the kind of quickness and big play ability that really puts Boston over the top. but... PITTSBURGH: Jackson, Jenkins, and Gaffney At one point it looked like Pittsburgh was putting together a good young receiver group, but defections and hasty replacements have been a downgrade. Jackson is solid, but not a true #1, and the depth behind him is looking very shaky. A lot of ifs and not a lot of surefire performers in this group. TEXAS: Colston, Marshall, & Crabtree It is not that this group is known to be bad, it is just that they are unknown. Texas brings in a free agent (Marshall) and a highly touted rookie (Crabtree) to basically reinvent their WR group. With Danny Amendola in the slot, we are just not sure how these pieces fit together. Could be good, could be a disaster. Offensive Lines: The big hog mollies. He who controls the line, controls the game. DENVER: Terry, Hamilton, Flanagan, Claridge, and Clady You may not recognize these names, but this is the only O-line in the league where every single member of the line is rated a B or higher by the USFL Scouting Combine. No superstars but a group that makes Denver efficient in the run and keeps Matt Leinart in the pocket. LOS ANGELES: Ogden, Faneca, Kalil, Saveea, Pears The left side of this line with Jonathan Ogden and Alan Faneca is just insane. The right side is solid, but they can just dominate half of the field with their LT and LG. That is a great thing to be able to say. NEW ORLEANS: Tauscher, Mathis, Spencer, Zakauskas, Dorsey Another underrated group, but one that can do it all, zone block, man up, pull, trap, you name it. It took a while for this group to gel, but last year they had it going on and we expect good things this year. but... NEW JERSEY: Brown, James, Wiegemann, Robinson, Jordan We want to blame the horrible offense last year on bad QB play or a lack of a run game, but that may all be tied to a line that simply is not doing its job. Orlando Brown needs some help if the Generals want to keep their QB upright or want Ray Rice to find holes to run through. ARIZONA: Kosier, Womack, Claxton, Holland, Ellis He would never say it, but we are pretty sure that one of the reasons Jake Plummer wanted out of Arizona was that he got tired of running for his life in every game. The Wranglers cannot run the ball and have trouble protecting the passer. No wonder they are not winning games. DEFENSIVE LINE: Stuff the run, rush the passer. Two key tasks a front 4 or front 3 have to be able to accomplish. HOUSTON: Pitmann, Umenyiura, and Seymour It has been a long time since Houston figured out that a 3-4 depended on 3 disruptive linemen, and they have had that for over a decade now, centered on Kavika Pitmann, but now with Umenyiura on the other side and the massive presence of Seymour in the middle, this is one nasty group. CHICAGO: Washington, Wyms, Weaver, and Abiami Anthony Weaver alone scares offensive coordinators. Add in the man-mountain that is Ted Washington, and now the Machine acquire Ellis Wyms as well? This seems almost unfair. Meanwhile Victor Abiami is developing into a very viable 2nd pass rusher. Chicago is stacked, with a Top 3 D-line and linebacker group. MICHIGAN: Renfro, Little, and Kearse This group has been totally rebuilt in only 2 seasons. They added Renfro and Jevon Kearse last year and got immediate results. This offseason they bring in Igor Olshansky to back up Renfro so they have the ability to rest the big guy and that will only make them better. but... OHIO: Ellis, Johnson, Powell and Holliday For all the money Ohio throws at the receiving corps, you would think they would invest a bit in the D-line. Vonnie Holliday is not the player he once was, and he is still the best of the group. The Glory signed NFL veteran Tank Johnson, but we are not entirely sure that is an upgrade. PORTLAND: Fisk, Gholston, Ekuban, and Dumervil The Stags rely on team defense, in part because they just don’t have a superstar on their D yet. Elvis Dumervil underperformed last year and Jason Fisk is solid but not a disruptor inside, so inside pressure is just not happening. The Stags need to hit on either a truly disruptive DT or an elite edge rusher in the near future. LINEBACKER: The ability to cover, blitz, and stuff the run all in one package. That is what teams want. CHICAGO: Urlacher, Polley, & Boiman There is no doubt that Brian Urlacher is one of the elite MLBs in the game, but what is often overlooked is how good Tommy Polley and Rocky Boiman are on the outside. Urlacher tends to rack up the tackles, but it is the combo that makes Chicago so rough to run against. MICHIGAN: Merriman, Katzenmoyer, Ware and Thurman The only 3-4 group in the Top 3, and a solid 4-man group to be sure. Merriman and Katzenmoyer fill gaps and stuff inside runs, while DeMarcus Ware and Odell Thurman pressure the QB and hold the edge. JACKSONVILLE: Vrabel, Arrington, and Green Mike Vrabel inside and J.J. Arrington outside are known commodities, while Barrett Green is an underappreciated clean up guy, who just always seems to be around the ball. but... BALTIMORE: Farrior, Crowell, and Gooden For a pretty solid defense, the Blitz are quite shaky at linebacker. Farrior is a solid performer, but the depth is not there. NFL import Angelo Crowell had flashes in Buffalo, but never developed into a 3-down guy, and Tavares Gooden, backed by Cato June, is just not intimidating opposing offenses. CHARLOTTE: Mayo, Maualaga, Fujita, and Davis This may be a question of “too soon to tell”. Jerod Mayo had a good rookie year and Maualaga could be a good addition from the draft, but this is a group that we just don’t know yet. Even veteran Scott Fujita remains a bit of a hit & miss kind of guy, while Andra Davis is clearly on the tale end of his career and may get benched for recent signee A. J. Nicholson. The Secondary: You want coverage, takeaways, and run support all from the same 4 guys. It’s a lot to ask. TAMPA BAY: Rolle, Buchanon, Basheer, and Scott The Bandits 14-2 record last year was largely on the defense, and it was the combination of ball hawking and big hits from this quartet in the secondary that got the job done. Samari Rolle is as tough to throw against as anyone, and the safety combo of Basheer and Bryan Scott is just murder on deep balls. Throw in Samari Rolles’ brother Antrel and you have a nasty nickel package. PITTSBURGH: Surtain, Bly, Taylor, and Shields The Maulers have one strength and it is this secondary grouping. Sean Taylor is just a beast in the middle of the field, and Patrick Surtain is a ballhawking corner who can shut down your best receiver. Dre Bly and Scott Shields are solid support as well, making this a strong 4-man group. LOS ANGELES: Rogers-Cromartie, Hill, Polamalu, and Bing DR-C had an outstanding rookie year, jumping up to the #1 corner position, which makes Renaldo Hill perhaps the best #2 corner in the league. Then you add the violent “in the box” presence of Troy Polamalu, and you have a lethal back 4. but... ST. LOUIS: McBride, Davis, Edwards, and Myers When your rookie cornerback prospect (Vontae Davis) is considered the best player in the entire group and he has not even stepped into camp or been sized for his pads yet, you know you have issues. PORTLAND: Manuel, Hall, Kiel, and Bierria Look, they are an expansion team, so they just don’t have all the pieces yet. Signing DeAngelo Hall is a good step, and Bierria can be effective, but this group is not yet ready for prime time. Next up, our team by team breakdowns and our always heartfelt, but so often way off base, predictions for the season.