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Week two and now the questioning starts. Is my 0-2 team really in trouble? Is that 2-0 team as good as they seem? We had some blowouts this week, a couple of interesting upsets, and a big win for a couple of new starting QB’s to hang their hats on. It’s early, way too early to make judgements about the year, but that has never stopped us before. We look at all the Week 2 action and see if we can make sense of the early portion of the season so far. And we start it all off with the Game of the Week between the Bandits and the Knights. TAMPA BAY 19 NASHVILLE 23 A good one in the Music City as Nashville combines some defensive clout with timely offense to upend the Bandits in front of 45,303 happy purple-clad fans. It’s only week two, but at 2-0 the Knights are doing better than expected and their new offensive starters are looking good in doing so. For Tampa Bay, a frustrating day as they get big yardage from Randy Moss but cannot find the end zone against the Knights. Moss would catch 5 balls for 145, but never reach pay dirt as time and again the Bandits have to settle for field goals. Tampa Bay would score the first TD of the day, but little did they know it would be their last. On their 2nd drive, after an initial 3-and-out, the Bandits put together a solid drive, aided by a defensive PI call that put the ball on the 1. From there Willis McGahee would dive over the top for the score and Tampa Bay was feeling good. Nashville countered with a short drive leading to a Matt Stover field goal, but the first quarter ended with the Bandits up. Culpepper would make a bad read on the next drive, trying to hit McGahee over the middle but failing to account for MLB Hunter Hillenmeyer. The big backer stepped in front of the pass and gave Nashville great field position. They needed only 4 plays to cash in, QB Jay Cutler riling up a Nashville crowd that has known him since his days at Vandy by connecting with veteran Derrick Mason on an over-the-shoulder pass for six points. Stover doinked the PAT, which meant it was only a 2-point lead at 9-7. By the end of the first half, Tampa Bay had wiped out the lead, scoring on 3 straight short drives, but all of them Nate Kaeding kicks as Culpepper simply could not find the connection with a receiver downfield to get six. At the half the Bandits enjoyed a 7 point lead at 16-9. In the third quarter, the combo of Frank Gore and Leon Johnson helped Nashville produce a grinding 13-play drive to open the half. Gore would do most of the heavy lifting, rushing for 39 of his 90 yards on the day in this one drive, but, from the 5 it would be Johnson on a pitch who would score the equalizer. Stover did not miss on this one and it was 16-16. That score would hold until the 4th. In the final period, Nashville, who had stifled Tampa Bay’s offense throughout the third quarter, would do so again, stuffing LaBrandon Toefield on a 4th and 1 play to end a promising early drive. That stop got the crowd and the team motivated, and on the ensuing possession Nashville would take the lead. Jay Cutler connected with TE Justin Peele and a screen to Gore to get the Knights in scoring range before hooking up with rookie wideout Robert Meachem on an in-breaking route in the red zone. Meachem made the catch over the middle, and ducked under the safety blow, diving for the endzone. It would take an official review, but the ref’s hands would eventually go up, signalling a touchdown for the Knights. Up 23-16, it would be up to the defense to hold off the Bandits. On Tampa’s next drive, a long completion to Moss put the score at risk. But, from the 17 yard line, two straight endzone shots were foiled and the Bandits opted to go for 3 yet again, seeing that there were nearly 4 minutes left to get the needed TD and the win. They would rely on their defense to get the ball back. Needing to kill the clock, Nashville trotted out the goal line package on both first and 2nd down. The strategy worked well, getting them eight of the needed 10 yards to earn a first down. On 3rd and 2 they came out in a pistol formation with 3 wideouts, and that decision helped spread the D just enough for the draw to Gore to work. Four yards and another set of downs gained. Nashville would suffer a holding call that made another first down challenging, so they simply ran the ball 3 more times, taking the clock as low as they could before punting. They would again rely on the defense. Coach Johnson is always one to trust his D to put a game away, and on this day he was certainly right to do so. Yes, the Knights had allowed some big plays to Moss earlier in the game, but he was now blanketed, and the Bandits were forced to try to get the ball to someone else. On first down it was Jeremy Shockey, who gained only 2 on a TE screen. On second down Culpepper could not connect with Kevin Johnson, and on third Karl Williams could not bring the ball in. Fourth and 8 and Tampa Bay needed a big play. They would not get it. With Moss covered, Culpepper turned again to Shockey, but he had rookie safety LaRon Landry on him like glue. The ball may have hit Shockey’s hands, but Landry was right there to disrupt the catch, and the ball dribbled away, ending Tampa Bay’s hopes. Nashville moved to 2-0 and fans who had gone into the season concerned about the change of leadership were given hope that Jay Cutler could lead the team, that Meachem and Landry were all that were promised, and that the Knights could be in the running for the Southern Division yet again. OAKLAND 10 LOS ANGELES 20 The weekend opened with Friday Night’s Cali Derby, and for the second week in a row new LA quarterback Seneca Wallace got the W. it was a tough win for the Express as Wallace threw 2 picks and only completed 8 of 16 passes, but they were bailed out by the combo of Jones-Drew and Foster, who combined for 120 yards rushing. Oakland also had the run game going with 33 carries between Williams and Norwood leading to 177 yards, but they could not punch the ball in, and 3 Harrington picks were devastating to their cause. Oakland falls to 0-2, the only team in the Pacific not to be a perfect 2-0. MICHIGAN 44 OHIO 21 One of two big surprises to come out of the Central Division this week as Ohio’s defense was simply unprepared for the Panthers. Four different backs shared carries for the Panthers, accounting for a whopping 214 yards rushing. The fact that Eddie George put up 210 on his own did not diminish the impact of Michigan’s success on the ground. Justin Fargas rushed for 2 scores, while Fred Jackson added a score to his 96 yards on the day. The Panthers stun the Glory in Columbus with 44 points on the board. PITTSBURGH 23 BIRMINGHAM 12 The other shocker was the Maulers going into Birmingham and wresting the Steel City title from the Stallions. Cody Pickett threw 2 more picks, but also added 249 yards and TD, while the combo of Betts and Brandon Jacobs was far more successful this week, combining for 123 yards. Birmingham did not have their run game going, with Shaun Alexander limited to 31 yards on the day. Add in 6 sacks of Jason Campbell by the Mauler D (another 2-sack day from Vanden Bosch) and you have an upset road win for a Mauler team hoping that this is a sign of things to come. JACKSONVILLE 42 ORLANDO 13 A blow out in the Citrus Bowl as the Bulls ran roughshod over a hopeful, but overmatched Renegade squad. Both Antonwain Smith and Travis Minor scored twice apiece as the Renegades put up little defensive resistance all game. Jake Delhomme went 17 of 22 for 266 and J’ville was cruising. Orlando’s best option was Sedrick Irvin, who rushed for a strong 140, but by the 3rd quarter the ‘Gades were too far back to rely on the run, and too far back to come back too. CHICAGO 13 MEMPHIS 17 The Showboats get a home W as their defense keeps Chicago in check all game. Brett Favre found a connection with Robert Ferguson, throwing for 282 and 2 scores, while Ferguson caught 11 passes for 127 and a TD. Brady Quinn completed 14 of 23, but could not get Chicago into scoring position late as the Showboats held off the Machine in the final minutes to preserve the win. BALTIMORE 27 ARIZONA 10 The Blitz get their first win of the season as they limit Arizona to only 37 yards rushing on the day. Ben Roethlisberger had himself a day, throwing for 265 and scores on a 22 of 26 performance. With Moss and Fitzgerald combining for only 4 catches and 33 yards Arizona was simply unable to keep drives moving against Baltimore’s coverage schemes. ATLANTA 9 LAS VEGAS 20 That Thunder defense continues to impress, holding Atlanta to only 157 yards passing and only 280 total yards. The Las Vegas offense was not exactly dynamic, but it did enough to win the game by 11 as a 4th quarter TD from Kahlil Hill gave the Thunder a 13-9 lead, and then the D locked it up when Will Allen returned a bad Garrard throw for 26 yards and a score. Vegas moves to 2-0 and Atlanta drops to 1-1. WASHINGTON 12 PHILADELPHIA 20 A good battle in the Northeast opened the Sunday slate, with the Stars holding off the Feds to move to 2-0. Ahman Green and Michael Robinson combined for 110 yards and Kurt Warner Amani Toomer for the game winner as Philadelphia knocked Kordell Stewart out of the game and befuddled former Thunder QB Henry Burris. HOUSTON 9 DENVER 15 Another defensive slugfest for the Gold, but this week they prevailed in their home opener. Denver held Houston to only 3 field goals, limiting Hasselbeck to 188 yards and containing Ike Hilliard. While Denver’s offense had its issues (Leinart’s protection was not great), they got 85 yards from Cedric Benson and the only TD of the game, a Peerless Price 42-yard strike from Leinart in the 4th to break open the 9-9 tie. NEW JERSEY 10 BOSTON 37 Kelly Holcombe was picked off twice, while Drew Bledsoe threw for 4 scores as Boston avenged their three defeats to New Jersey last season. Add in 123 on the ground from Tiki Barber and you have a convincing win by the Cannons. TE James Whalen was game MVP with three TD receptions in 4 catches. ST. LOUIS 13 TEXAS 29 T. J. Duckett just went off against the Skyhawk D. We already saw Eddie George rush for 210 against Michigan, but T.J. topped, it, averaging 7.5 yards per carry on his way to 217 yards on 29 carries. He also added 2 rushing TD’s both less than 3 yards long, for a good home win in San Antonio. Duckett was dominant and the Texas defense kept St. Louis from mounting a comeback as Texas gets their first W of the year. NEW ORLEANS 14 SEATTLE 24 The Breakers drop to 0-2 after a tough matchup in the Pacific Northwest. David Boston had a monster day, catching a 69-yard bomb from Leftwich on his way to 163 yards for the day. New Orleans’s offense struggled despite 72 yards from rookie HB Kenny Irons. They actually only scored 1 TD, but got 2 safeties (the last one intentional) to get to 14. Seattle joins LA and Vegas at 2-0 in the Pacific, while the Breakers sit at 0-2. Duckett and George Run Wild A good weekend for fans of the run game as T.J. Duckett and Eddie George both top 200 yards in Week 2. While Duckett’s big day helped wrap up a win for the Outlaws, Eddie George’s monster production could not do the same as Michigan’s 4-back rotation actually kept pace with 214 yards combined, along with 3 touchdowns in the Panther win. It is odd to see this kind of production early in a season, as it is usually the D that is ahead of the O in early games, and particularly the run defense, which is more fundamental than the more complex pass coverages seen in the league. The big games pushed both backs to the top of the league leader table, with Duckett sitting atop the rankings for rushers with 285 yards in 2 weeks and George behind him at 244. Only Frank Gore stands with them as players with 200+ yards in the first two weeks of action. Griese Making His Case With rookie Drew Stanton in the wings and viewed by many as the future for the Michigan Panthers, veteran Brian Griese is making his case to hold off on the rook. Griese tops the QB Ratings after 2 weeks with a score of 140.5. He also stands 5th in the league with 462 yards in 2 games and 4th in scoring with 4 TD tosses. The thing is, these numbers should not surprise us. Griese was a very solid starter in Seattle before being traded to the Philadelphia Stars in 2003. He regularly had a QBR over 90, and in 2001 threw for over 4,000 yards and 30 TDs for the Dragons. He lasted only 2 years in Philadelphia, while playing for some troubled teams, and then spent 2 years in Michigan as Drew Brees’s backup, throwing only 1 pass between 2005 and 2006. So, he is savvy, and clearly rested, as he prepares to be the QB in 2007 for the Panthers. The question now is whether or not he plays well enough to remain the QB beyond this year. Stanton is there, and did not come cheap, but for the time being, this is Brian Griese’s job to lose and he seems intent on holding on to it. Mauling the QB Key to Pittsburgh Season If you want to know how the Maulers won this week, and how they plan to win moving forward, just look at the pass rush. That is the key. After two weeks Coach Ron Rivera’s D is leading the league with 11 sacks, 4 of them from rising star Kyle Vanden Bosch, but the other 7 coming from a combination of linemen, backers, and even corners. Blitzes, including zone blitzes last seen in this town with the Steelers of the 90’s are the strategy of the day. It is a strategy that has Pittsburgh 3rd in the league in yards allowed, and has opposing QB’s worried. The Maulers may have Vanden Bosch as the face of their “New Blitzburgh” attitude, but it is the rotation of defenders that is proving effective. Whether it is rookie Amobi Okoye and NFL transfer Dan Klecko switching for each other inside, or former Showboat Dameaion Jeffries sharing time with Cedric Harden, the fresh bodies in the trenches are forcing offenses to deal with faster and stronger rushers all game long. Add in blitzes from LB’s Nate Webster, Dwayne Rudd and Joe Odom, and even the occasional CB blitz coming from Patrick Surtain, and you have a tough package to protect, just ask Jason Campbell, who was sacked 6 times but hit hard many more times this week in Pittsburgh’s big win. The offense may not be there yet for the Maulers, and they may not win a lot of games that way, but it seems clear that teams will feel it when they play these Maulers, and quarterbacks will not be happy to visit Heinz Field. Two big injuries mar Week 2’s results. In Washington the news was not good for Kordell Stewart, who left the game with a knee injury and who learned on Monday that it was the feared ACL tear. That is his season, with surgery scheduled for next week and a long recovery time expected after that. Washington will go with Henry Burris at QB with Jared Lorenzen backing him up. Expect them to also look to free agency to sign a 3rd option. In Baltimore it was LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson who went down, and he too is out for the year after breaking his tibia. That is bad news for Big Ben, who relies on “the Brick” to protect his blind side. Expect Matt Hill to slide over to the left side, and either James Lloyd or Jimmy Martin to take over on the right. Baltimore also signed veteran Ephraim Salaam, who was released by St. Louis in the preseason. Once again, beyond the IR placements, we have only a mix of 1-week departures and doubtful or questionable categorizations. Among those expected to miss this week, we have CB Jimmy Hitchcock of Texas, CB Duane Starks in Arizona, WR Joe Jurevicious from Boston, tackle Kurt Vollers (CHI), WR Muhsin Muhammad (TEX), LB Lavar Arrington (JAX), DT Larry Triplett (STL), and HB Ron Dayne (BAL). All are expected to return for Week 4. Season Ticket Sales a Mixed Bag The 2007 season is here and all 26 teams have reported their season ticket numbers to the league. The good news, the leaguewide target of 30,000 season tickets has been met, with the average a solid 32,320 across all 26 teams. The bad news, quite a bit of disparity across the league. As expected, clubs that have struggled in recent years are also struggling with season ticket sales, while those who have seen success continue to see strong numbers. Leading the way, as usual, are several southern teams. Jacksonville, Nashville, New Orleans, Bimingham, Tampa Bay, and Orlando all made the Top 10, joined by Denver, Seattle, Michigan, and St. Louis. New Jersey and Philadelphia both missed the top 10, but still have strong numbers, well over 30,000. On the other side of the spectrum, there are concerns in Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington. The Feds saw their season tickets drop more than 17% after a truly horrible 2006 campaign and a sense that the team is heading into a rebuilding phase. LA and Chicago have always been tough markets, and Oakland, after a brief glimmer of success with Dennis Green, continues to struggle both with on-field performance and a widely disliked stadium. St. Louis and Atlanta both did well in their inaugural season, with St. Louis landing at #7 with over 36,000 season tickets sold, while Atlanta hit their projection of 25,000, with just under 27,000 as of opening week. While that does not make Atlanta a league leader, it is significantly better than any season for the 1995 expansion club which played outdoors at Bobby Dowd Stadium. It would appear that moving this new version of the Fire to the Georgia Dome has helped to boost numbers, though we expect the early success last year and the trade for Terrell Davis were also significant factors. One last note, both Boston and Las Vegas came in well below the league average, but, as most are aware, this has more to do with stadium capacity than with interest level. Both clubs sold out their season tickets (25,200 in Las Vegas, 27,344 in Boston) but with stadiums that have a maximum capacity right around 40,000 it will be difficult for either to move out of the bottom of the league averages. Former USFL Players In the Coaching Ranks While the USFL has certainly proven itself over the past 25 years, doubling the football options for fans, producing household names in its rosters, setting up a second national football holiday each July, and developing fanbases in many cities that had not been considered pro-ready in the past. One of the areas where we have seen a great deal of influence is in the coaching ranks, where many USFL players have moved to the sideline after their playing days and now find themselves rising in the coaching world. Looking at former USFL players who have gone on to have coaching success, we start with one of the league’s first player-to-coach shifts, former Outlaw and Wrangler QB Rick Neuheisel. Neuheisel played his first 4 seasons in the USFL, 3 with Arizona and one in San Antonio, with the then-Gunslingers. He would jump to the NFL in 1988, but that jump was quickly spoiled by a series of injuries which led him to retire in 1989. He would return to UCLA, his alma mater, as a grad assistant, but rose quickly within the school’s coaching ranks. He returned to the USFL not as an assistant, but as one of the league’s youngest head coaches in 1995 with the expansion LA Express. He coached LA for its first three years in the league, but a combined record of 13-35 in that period led to his departure from the Express. He would go on to serve as an Offensive Coordinator and then head coach at the University of Washington before returning to the pro game. He currently serves as the OC for the Seattle Dragons, and is considered a potential Head Coach candidate once again. Another former USFL player who has made his way back to the league as a coach is former NJ General fullback Maurice Carthon. After his years with New Jersey and a stint in the NFL, Carthon returned to the Generals as a strength and conditioning coach. He quickly became the Generals’ running backs coach, a position he held for 7 years before being promoted to Offensive coordinator. He has since taken a position in that capacity with the Arizona Wranglers, where it is hoped he can revive a moribund run game for the Wranglers. Other USFL stars who now work as coaches include former Knights (and Bills) QB Frank Reich, who now serves as an offensive staff assistant with the NFL Colts, and another Bill QB with USFL ties, Joe Ferguson, who was brought in by the Breakers as a veteran backup for Tony Eason. Ferguson would go on to coach quarterbacks at his alma mater, Arkansas, a position he now holds for the Detroit Lions. John Jefferson is working with wide receivers in Orlando, LB Sam Norris is coaching up linebackers with the Blitz, where another former Blitz player, safety Leslie Frazier, also works with DBs. Former QB Doug Pederson is working with special teams with the new Skyhawks franchise, and another former DB, Todd Bowles, is now on the coaching staff in Houston. Bandit Ball Wins Inaugural USFL Title There is a reason that John Bassett’s name is on the USFL trophy. Not only did he form a ragtag team with a former failed NFL quarterback (the QB of the 0-14 Buccaneers) as his head coach, but he also helped the USFL gain its sea legs and avoid the temptation to take on the NFL in the Fall. John Bassett is a legend in the history of the USFL, but we should also acknowledge that his 1983 Bandits made history as the league’s first champion, despite being a team that did not sign huge college contracts or bring in NFL “ringers” as early season favorite Chicago had done. It was a team built around an idea of what football could be: wide open offense, vertical passing, exciting play calls, and dynamic playbooks. In Steve Spurrier he found a coach who knew what it was like to deal with new teammates and a developing roster, but also a coach who was tuned into the type of exciting, air-it-out football that would help put the USFL on the map. To say the 1983 Bandits were a ragtag team is not exaggeration. Their QB, John Reaves, had been a fan favorite with the Gators in Gainesville, but his pro career had mostly been as a benchwarmer with 4 different NFL teams. No spring chicken, Reaves had been in pro ball since 1972, but it was as a Bandit that he would gain fame and find himself a Hall of Famer. The leading rusher for the Bandits in 1983 only played about half a season. Gary Anderson, a rookie out of Arkansas, was embroiled in a legal battle over a contract with the NFL Chargers and needed arbitration to be cleared to play. The lead receiver, legendary Eric Truvillion, was a practice squad player for the NY Jets in 1982 before joining the Bandits out of Florida A&M. It was a team cobbled together from NFL rejects, fringe players, CFL veterans and local college standouts who simply had not made good at the pro level. That band of oddities would go 14-2 as the Bandits. They went 9-2 in the Eastern Conference, then proceeded to knock off Philadelphia in the Eastern Finals before defeating Denver in that 37-33 classic. Along the way they helped define USFL football through Bandit Ball. With movie star Burt Reynolds (himself a football player from Florida State back in the day) in the stands, John Bassett running the big picture and Steve Spurrier leading the men on the field, the Bandits helped put the USFL on the map as more fun than the “No Fun League” and as an incredibly enjoyable and exciting brand of professional football. Twenty Five years later Bandit Ball is still alive and well and Coach Spurrier is back for his second stint as the “Ole Ball Coach” for the Bandits. And while the names on the back of the now globally recognized red jerseys may have changed, the spirit of that 1983 Bandit team still lives on in Tampa Bay and in the USFL as a whole. Tampa’s Favorite Foot He may not be the most famous member of the 1983 Bandits, that title likely goes to John Reaves. And his bust is not found in Canton along with Reaves, Spurrier, Truvillion and owner John Bassett, but it is safe to say that when we talk about the early years of Bandit Ball there is no bigger name in Tampa lore than Zenon Andrusyshyn. The German-Ukranian kicker, born in Germany, raised in Canada, and drafted in 1970 by the Dallas Cowboys was a huge figure in Tampa Bay’s early years. He came to the Bandits after several years moving around the Canadian Football league, kicking for Toronto, Hamilton, and Edmonton from 1971-1982. He had a brief stint in the NFL with the Chiefs in 1978, but was seen as a CFL player for the most part until John Bassett came calling, signing the “Big Zee” for his fledgling USFL Club. Andrusyshyn (pronounced Andrew-zih-shin for those new to him) would go on to score 96 points for the Bandits in their first season, a championship season, including going 54 of 54 on extra points and kicking 3 field goals in the Bandits’ 37-33 victory over Denver in the 1983 USFL Championship. It would actually be his lowest scoring total in his 4-year Bandit career, due mostly to the prolific offense Steve Spurrier put together needing far more PAT’s than field goals. His high water mark for scoring would be in 1985 when his 140 total points was best among league kickers, and second only to the ridiculous 150 points put up by teammate Eric Truvlillion in a league-record scoring season for a receiver that still stands today. In that 1985 season, Andrusyshyn kicked 28 field goals, and 56 PATs, including 4 field goals in the Quarterfinal Playoffs, helping Tampa Bay upend Jacksonville in Jacksonville 19-13. The Bandits would fall to eventual champion Philadelphia in the next round, but Andrusyshyn’s big day helped build the rivalry with the in-state Bulls. Since retiring from the game in 1987, Andrusyshyn has been active in Christian athlete ministries both in the Tampa Bay area and in Nashville, where he serves as an ordained minister, having graduated from the Dallas Theological Seminary in 1995. He still makes frequent trips to Bandit games, and was in Canton when all 4 Bandit players from his time in Tampa were enshrined. Like we said, he may not be the most famous, or the most honored Bandit player, but Zenon Andrusyshyn remains a big name in Bandit history. (IRL: Pretty much what I wrote above, according to Wikipedia, except that instead of 4 years with Tampa, he played 3, then the league shut down, he shortly returned to Canada to play with the Alouettes, but pretty much as described above. Still one of my favorite names in USFL history.) Here is your TV lineup for Week 3, with a good battle of 2-0 clubs on tap on Saturday Night and a Florida title fight on Sunday Night. Nationwide Broadcasts are in bold. FRI Night: Memphis (1-1) @ Nashville (2-0) NBC SAT 12pm: Baltimore (1-1) @ New Jersey (0-2) FOX SAT 12pm: Orlando (0-2) @ St. Louis (0-2) ABC SAT 12pm: Chicago (0-2) @ Washington (1-1) ABC SAT 4pm: Las Vegas (2-0) @ Oakland (0-2) FOX SAT 8pm: Los Angeles (2-0) @ Seattle (2-0) ESPN SUN 12pm: New Orleans (0-2) @ Birmingham (1-1) ABC SUN 12pm: Texas (1-1) @ Ohio (1-1) FOX SUN 12pm: Atlanta (1-1) @ Boston (1-1) ABC SUN 4pm: Arizona (0-2) @ Houston (1-1) FOX SUN 4pm: Philadelphia (2-0) @ Denver (1-1) ABC SUN 8pm: Tampa Bay (1-1) @ Jacksonville (2-0) ESPN Looks like I have my weekend planned out. Battle of Tennessee on Friday, not missing LA v. Seattle on Saturday Night, and the Florida Derby on Sunday Night, oh, and in between I will see if I can catch some other action. Philly at Denver should be fun, plus I am hoping to see Drew Brees in St. Louis, but I am not sure I get that game here.

Another spring, another season of USFL football begins, the 25th to be exact. Few believed the rival league could make it 5 years, much less 25. And maybe had things been different it would not have, but here we are, kicking off season 25 with franchises in 26 cities from New England to southern California. It will certainly be an intriguing season, especially after the NFL all but declared war (again!) on the spring league, signing away major superstars like Deion Sanders, Antonio Freeman, Cade McNown and Tom Brady. The USFL made a move of its own, getting former MVP Brett Favre to return to the fold, but what will make or break this season is not the war of words and war of free agents with the NFL. It will be the play on the field, and so it is very good to see the league back in action and all 26 teams taking to the field to get back to what the league does best, put on a show each spring. ARIZONA 27 ATLANTA 33 OVERTIME An unexpected thriller between two teams meeting for the first time as the Wranglers and Fire head into overtime to settle this one. Arizona came in as a 5-point road favorite over the 2nd year Fire, who continue to be underestimated despite an outstanding 7-7 season in their inaugural year. Atlanta came in with unknown commodity David Garrard at QB, while Arizona brought in the 2006 League MVP, Jake Plummer. And while the Fire won a lot of games last year thanks to a league best scoring defense, in this one it came down to offensive production when it counted. It looked like a major upset early, with the Fire racing out to a 17-0 lead before Arizona seemed to realize the game had started, not an uncommon tendency when West Coast teams head to the Eastern Time Zone. Atlanta got a 19-yard TD scamper from Rod Smart to open things up on their first drive, a 13-yard TD reception from new WR Marcus Robinson on the second, and a Scobee field goal early in the 2nd period to take the commanding lead. But, Arizona is a veteran club, with a veteran leader at QB, and they would rebound. They got their first points in the 2nd quarter, a kick from rookie Nick Folk to get on the board. Arizona would add another 3, and go into the half with a 20-3 lead, but the halftime adjustments would produce a very different third quarter. Arizona would explode for 24 points in the quarter, taking advantage of 2 Fire turnovers to score quickly and take the lead 27-20. It began with Plummer hitting Larry Fitzgerald for 6, then, following a fumble by TE Jim Kliensasser, Plummer would hit Santana Moss from 44-yards out. Moss would end the day as the game’s leading receiver with 115 yards on 5 carries. Atlanta tried to slow down the game, using newly acquired HB Terrell Davis as a battering ram. The former Mauler would carry the ball 29 times but would be held under 100 yards by Arizona’s run defense. When David Garrard went to the air on a 3rd and 7, his pass found a defender instead, as Wrangler Ray Crockett picked off the errant pass and returned it for Arzona’s 3rd TD of the quarter. The Wranglers would get the ball back one more time and add a 50-yard Nick Folk field goal to take a 27-20 lead into the final period. Atlanta was on the ropes, but their defense came up big in the quarter, holding Arizona to only 38 total yards, while the Atlanta offense did what it needed to do, an 81-yard drive that ended with a Garrard to David Tyree touchdown just outside of the two minute warning. Arizona and rookie Nick Folk had a chance to avoid overtime and steal a win, but when Folk’s 48-yarder doinked off the right goalpoast, the game headed to overtime. Arizona won the toss, but a sack (the 5th of the day by Atlanta) ended their opening drive. Atlanta took over on their own 33, and methodically chewed up yards on their way to scoring territory. The Fire eventually found themselves on the 15 yard line and Coach Gruden considered sending in Josh Scobee, but wanted to place the ball in the center of the field, so he called an inside run by Davis. The former MVP apparently did not get the message that his job was to center the ball and go down at the line of scrimmage. He headed behind the center and guard, but then juked right, bounced the play outside, and cruised for 15 yards into the endzone for a walk off TD. Welcome back to Georgia Mr. Davis, and a rowdy thank you from over 42,000 in the Georgia Dome who were very happy with his first game as a member of the reborn Fire. JACKSONVILLE 20 NEW JERSEY 6 While the Wrangler-Fire game was the week’s best, the first of the season was the rematch of the Eastern Title Game, but without Bill Parcells, Tom Brady or Deion Sanders with the Generals. The result was an emphatic win by the Bulls, led by 105 yards form Antowain Smith. New General QB Kelly Holcombe had a fair outing, 14 of 28 for 138 with no picks and no TD’s, but the General offense simply was not a danger to the Bulls’ defense on this day. MICHIGAN 13 PHILADELPHIA 23 The season opened on Saturday just a bit further down I-95, where the Stars had a strong outing in their season opener against Michigan. Despite a solid day from new Panther QB Brian Griese (12 of 19 fo r247 and 2 scores), the Stars outlasted the Panthers thanks to a solid defensive performance. Rookie Paul Posluszny led all Stars with 7 tackles and recorded his first USFL sack. On offense, Ahman Green had a dominant day, carrying the ball 30 times for 120 yards while Kurt Warner connected with TE Dallas Clark for the winning touchdown. ORLANDO 3 WASHINGTON 19 Heading a bit further south, the Federals, under new Head Coach Sean Payton, gave Drew Brees a rude welcome to his new role as Orlando’s QB. Orlando would muster only 239 total yards against a very solid-looking Federal defense. Washington would have to settle for 4 field goals, but was able to add a Mike Williams TD catch to pull out and put away this low-scoring game. SEATTLE 34 ST. LOUIS 7 Scoring was not an issue for the Dragons, as they visited St. Louis and put on a clinic. David Boston had 113 yards and 2 scores, while new Dragon receiver Darnerion McCants scored his first points for Byron Leftwich as well. St. Louis struggled, with only 272 total yards of offense as young Luke McNown was harassed constantly by Dragon defenders. LOS ANGELES 21 TEXAS 17 A good game in the Alamo Dome, but the home fans went home unhappy as LA, led by Seneca Wallace in his first game as the Express’s starter, went 9 of 20 for 181, modest numbers, but also connected on 3 touchdown tosses. The game winner was a short 7-yard red zone toss to TE L. J. Smith, but Wallace also connected with Tory Holt twice on the day. Texas, itself with a new QB under center, saw Jeff George go 20 of 31 for 212, and scoring tosses to another new Outlaw, Muhsin Muhammad. DENVER 7 LAS VEGAS 9 The Saturday Night Game was a mess for both teams. Fifteen combined penalties, 3 turnovers, and just a lot of bad play all around marred this one. Marshawn Lynch rushed for only 53 yards on 20 carries (2.6 YPC) in his debut, while Denver’s Cedric Benson did even worse (2.3 YPC on a 16 for 37 day). An ugly game all around, which may mean both teams might have some defensive capacity, or that both might need some more coaching to get ready for Week 2. TAMPA BAY 23 MEMPHIS 17 Sunday’s early window saw the return to spring for QB Brett Favre, as he debuted in Memphis red for the first time. The former Stallion went 26 of 40 for 236 yards, but fell to Daunte Culpepper’s 360 yard, 3 TD day as Tampa Bay scored twice in the 4th to overcome a 17-10 deficit, both Culpepper tosses, a 16-yarder to Moss and a stunning 75-yarder to Karl Williams for the game winner. BOSTON 20 BALTIMORE 17 The Blitz were game in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, but a late Jason Elam field goal gave the win to the favored Cannons. Drew Bledsoe threw for 377 yards and 2scores, but the Cannons could not put Baltimore away. Baltimore was led by their D, which limited Tiki Barber to only 25 yards on 16 carries, but in the end, Boston had just enough to walk out with a 3-point win. CHICAGO 17 HOUSTON 27 Ike Hilliard made the most of his debut with his new team. After coming over from the rival Texas Outlaws, Hilliard had 114 yards and 2 scores to lead the Houston Gamblers to a win in the home opener. For Chicago the good news was that Brady Quinn looked poised in his first pro grame, going 22 of 33 for 238 and throwing for 2 scores. PITTSBURGH 3 OHIO 17 The Maulers did a great job of disrupting Ohio’s offense, but could not mount an attack of their own in this one. Eddie George managed only 34 yards rushing and Kerry Collins was sacked 5 times (twice by Kyle Vanden Bosch), but Cody Pickett struggled to get Pittsburgh into scoring position as the Maulers reached the Ohio 30 yard line only twice all day. BIRMINGHAM 30 OAKLAND 17 One of the more surprising scores of the day saw Birmingham cruise past the homestanding Invaders in Oakland. Jason Campbell looked very solid, going 19 of 25 and throwing 2 scoring tosses. Joey Harrington struggled, sacked 6 times by the aggressive Stallion defense, and despite 108 yards from Ricky Williams, the Invaders just could not keep pace with the surprising Birmingham offense. NASHVILLE 16 NEW ORLEANS 3 A huge crowd in the Super Dome saw the Breakers return to New Orleans for the first time since Katrina devastated the city. Unfortunately, their home town team did not fare well at all against the visiting Knights. New Orleans mounted almost no run game at all, a total of only 29 yards, well below the 113 that Frank Gore alone was able to earn against the Breaker D. Gore also scored the game’s only TD, a 5-yard pass from new Knight QB Jay Cutler. Quarterbacks Debut Across the USFL If there was one theme to the past offseason it was at the quarterback position. From the NFL raids that sent Brady, McCown, Green and several other starters to the fall, the return of Brett Favre to the league, or the arrival of rookie Brady Quinn, the talk all over the league was of new starters at the QB position. Some teams brought in a new starter, others promoted their backup, others seemed to have no answer at all. Or did they? Let’s take a look at each of the new starters across the league in our QB Roundup. STRONG FIRST IMPRESSIONS Brian Griese (MGN) it is not much of a surprise that a QB who had always produced decent stats and decent results as a starter would do the same in his first game as Michigan’s new starting QB. Brian Griese has been sitting behind Drew Brees for several seasons after coming over from a short stint in Philly and before that Seattle. This year he is expected to carry the water for the Panthers as they try to bring rookie Drew Stanton up to speed. This opening week, he pretty much did that, throwing for 247 yards and 2 scores. He sits as the 2nd rated QB in the entire league thanks to his 12 of 19 day, though the Panthers did fall short in Philly. Seneca Wallace (LA) Wallace impressed in his first start for the Express. Yes, Coach Jackson kept thing simple, but Wallace proved to be elusive, decisive, and to show some moxie as well as LA came back to win in Texas. His numbers are not huge, 9 of 20 for 181 yards, but his three TD passes were certainly key to the Express win. After the departure of Cade McCown, it was thought that LA would go for a big signing or a rookie phenom, but the Express felt that their 3-headed QB room of Wallace, Brodie Croyle, and veteran journeyman Jeff Lewis, could get the job done. It was imagined that Lewis would share time with Wallace this week, but the younger, more athletic QB was given his shot, and he got LA a win. Not too shabby. David Garrard (ATL) Garrard started a couple of games last year, but was something of a surprise to be the main man on the Fire roster when 2007 began. His opening weekend win over the Wranglers showed that Atlanta may have been right in trusting him to lead their club. Garrard was by far the busiest of the new starters, throwing the ball 41 times, completing 30, and racking up 298 yards and 2 scoring throws, including the game winner in overtime. A few more games like this and they may start selling #9 jerseys at the Georgia Dome. Brady Quinn (CHI) No, the Machine did not get the win vs. Houston, but we really didn’t expect them to. Quinn’s numbers were solid (22 of 33 for 238, 2 Tds and 1 pick, but what caught our eye was his poise. Houston is a team that absolutely can rattle opposing QBs. Between Pittman and Umenyiura coming off the edge and the constant threat of the blitz, they can make even seasoned vets look bad. Quinn was not able to rally the Machine, but he also did no look overwhelmed, which is better than most first-game rookies can say. ABOUT WHAT WE ANTICIPATED Jeff George (TEX) A veteran QB moving to his 3rd USFL club, George pretty much has the hang of this by now. It is a new system, as Coach Norv Turner tries to create a more balanced, more “multiple” offense than George saw in Chicago, but the veteran’s 212 yard, 2TD-1 Int day is a pretty normal day for George. He missed on some key deep balls to Muhammad, but otherwise seems to have a rapport with his #1 receiver. It will take time, but Texas at least knows what it has in George. Brett Favre (MEM) Look, if you are a diehard Favre fan, or Showboat fan for that matter, you might have come into this game expecting 400 yards and 5 TDs, but that is just not realistic. Brett Favre went 26 of 40 for 236, connected with Robert Ferguson for a score, and threw one bad pass that got picked. Not a bad first day, not setting the world on fire, but we really should not expect that from the former MVP, not at first. Most importantly, the Showboats went toe to toe with a very good Tampa Bay team and nearly got the W. Jay Cutler (NSH) After a year training under Todd Collins, the Knights are now Jay Cutler's team, and the Vandy product started pretty strong, leading Nashville to an opening day road win in New Orleans, raining on the parade for the full house of Breaker fans. While the numbers were not great (15 of 34 for only 131 yards, 1 TD and 2 picks), Cutler got the W, and showed his arm strength on a few deep balls. It will take time for the speed of the pro game to slow down around the young QB, but a win on opening day is a good start. ROOM TO GROW Joey Harrington (OAK) We probably should not put Harrington on the list, as he clearly took over in Oakland last June, but he is the clear #1 now, not understudy to Trent Green, so it is something of a new beginning. It could have gone better. Harrington looked a bit flustered at times, which Birmingham’s pass rush can do to a QB. He completed 18 o f33 throws, and did throw for a score, but he was too quick to give up on routes, too prone to see more pressure than there was. That is something Dennis Green is going to have to work on with him. He has been in the league long enough to have a better sense of pressure and a better plan to deal with it. Drew Brees (ORL) Similar to Favre in Memphis, expectations may have been set a bit too high for the new Renegade QB. Thatsaid, 190 yards, no TDs and a pick is really not what Orlando fans were hoping for. We have no doubt that Brees will have better days in Orlando. The Washington D came to play, and his WR corps is not exactly the Stallions of 1993, so there is room to grow all over this team. We are not too worried about Brees. Kelly Holcombe (NJ) We were not sure what we would get from Holcombe in his first USFL start. He played a few good games in the NFL with Cleveland, but the USFL is a bit of a different game, and it has been a couple of years. New Jersey’s starter went 14 of 28 for 138 yards, no scores or picks, so he protected the ball, but, while that is good, it may not be enough for a club that often depended on their former QB, Tom Brady, pulling games out late. Kevin Kolb is in the wings, but the Generals would really like to see Holcombe make it through the season as a viable “transitional” starter rather than jump to Kolb right away. Cody Pickett (PIT) Pickett made a name for himself subbing for Byron Leftwich in Seattle, and by not throwing any picks in his 7 appearances. That ended this week, with Pickett going 18 of 33 and throwing his first INT. There were hopes that Ohio’s defense would be one that could be a bit of a smooth start for the new Mauler QB, but Pickett struggled against the 2-deep zones of the Glory, and against a pass rush that may have only landed 3 sacks, but which put pressure on constantly, particularly up the middle with newly-arrived DT Sean Gilbert, proving he still is as dangerous as always. Week two will provide each of these QB’s with a chance to build on what Week 1 started. A lot left to learn about each of these players, their supporting casts, and the schemes they hope to master. Rookie Standouts The other big debuts this week were, of course, the rookies. Every year one of the most exciting aspects of Opening Weekend is seeing if that highly touted rookie bursts out of the gate with a big day. It is rare that we see something stunning, but very often we can get a good sense of who is on the right track from just this first game. So, who impressed us this week? We have already discussed Brady Quinn, the season’s only Week 1 starting QB, so let’s take a look at the HB position. We had two starters and several platoon players on the field this week. Marshawn Lynch in Las Vegas was clearly the biggest name on the HB list to debut this week. His 20 carry, 53 yard day was not the kind of dynamic start he, and Vegas fans, may have hoped for, but it was a solid start, and the Thunder did nab the win. Other backs were not as noteworthy this week. In Arizona, Antonio Pittman got the start, but the Ohio State product finished the game with only 7 carries for 8 yards. Veteran backup Ahmaad Galloway ended up with more touches and yards (though 10 for 14 is also hardly impressive.) in Boston, Tony Hunt did what was expected, filling in for Tiki Barber, and gaining 20 yards on 7 carries. In New Orleans, the Breakers are struggling to figure out a HB rotation, but Auburn’s Kenny Irons was able to get in for 9 carries (but only 17 yards). Finally, St. Louis gave Michael Bush a lot of opportunities (16 carries), but he seemed to have trouble finding the appropriate path through the line, leading to only 14 rushing yards on the day. What about receivers? Any standouts there? Well, Robert Meachem with the Knights had a pretty solid day, catching 6 of 9 targets for 49 yards. Orlando’s big TE, Greg Olsen, connected with Drew Brees 4 times for 29 yards. Oakland’s Jacoby Jones caught 3 of 5 for 69 yards in a good effort, and St. Louis TE Matt Spaeth saw a lot of action on the field, finishing with 3 catches on the day and spending a lot of time run blocking. On defense, Paul Posluszny had a strong first outing with 7 tackles and his first pro sack. Chicago DE Victor Abiami also landed his first sack as a pro, along with 5 tackles in their game at Houston. Amobi Okoye for the Maulers was solid, landing 5 tackles in his debut, while LaRon Landry helped Nashville get a big divisional road win in New Orleans, contributing two tackles and 2 pass deflections. And we should not forget our three drafted rookie kickers. Justin Medlock kicked 2 field goals and 2 PAT’s for the Bulls. Arizona’s Nick Folk hit on a 50 yarder, one of 2 on the day, but missed on a late 48-yard kick that would have given the win to Arizona. Finally, Mason Crosby got only 1 attempt, a PAT, in Denver’s 7-9 loss to Las Vegas. Finally, we cannot talk special teams without mentioning the strong game put in by Houston’s Mike Sims-Walker, who returned 4 punts for 111 yards (an impressive 27.8 average) including a 76-yarder that nearly went the distance. Not a bad start for the UCF product. We always hate to report injuries just as the season starts. It is just heartbreaking to have players who have worked so hard all offseason go out in the very first action of the new year. But, football is a violent game and injuries are a part of the reality for players and teams alike. Sad to say we already had our first player put onto IR for the year. Washington TE Heath Miller is out with a ruptured Achilles. 6-12 months is the verdict on recovery and PT. Truly sad for this young man. Others who will be out are all of the 1-2 week variety, which we celebrate as good news. They include Seattle WR Ashlie Lelie (elbow), Atlanta FB Ian Webster (finger), Jacksonville LB Mike Vrabel (neck), Oakland guard Logan Mankins (abdomen), and New Orleans center J.R. Conrad (shoulder). Listed as doubtful or questionable we see Baltimore HB Ron Dayne, who is dealing with a dislocated thumb, Pittsburgh T Zach Weigert (nerve), St. Louis DT Larry Triplett (ankle), New Jersey guard Tuten Reyes (wrist), Nashville DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (hand), and Skyhawks LB T. J. Slaughter (ankle) Homecoming for the Breakers While the result of the game was certainly not what Mike Nolan and the Breakers hoped for, the reception in New Orleans was more than they could have hoped to see. Despite the fact that the NFL Saints returned to the city months ago, the season opener for the Breakers was enormous. A sell-out crowd of 64,200 greeted their team (The Dome can hold over 72,000 but the Breakers have always cordoned off certain areas, and the USFL considered 64,000 a sell out based upon the seats available for sale). The crowd was rowdy, happy, and grateful to see the Breakers return. Dixieland Jazz was everywhere, as were the familiar colors of teal, deep navy, and silver. The Breakers may not have returned to the Crescent City as league champions, but they were back as a New Orleans institution, back for a 20th season in the city (their first 4 seasons were in Boston, and their 5th season away was last year’s road show.). Fans may soon start expecting wins and playoffs once again, but for now, it is a feeling of gratitude and joy just to see the Breakers on the field in the Big Easy. Ticket Issues a Concern for two USFL Clubs When the USFL started 25 years ago, the ticket issue on everyone’s mind was whether the league could sell enough of them to avoid bankruptcy. This year, it is quite a different story. With Boston projected to be one of the league’s best teams, and with excitement in Las Vegas at an all-time high with the arrival of Marshawn Lynch, both clubs are dealing with what could be called a good problem to have, too few tickets to meet demand. Both Boston and Las Vegas play in stadia that barely reach 40,000 total seats, and in the case of Las Vegas that includes some temporary bleachers installed each year after the UNLV season ends in Sam Boyd Stadium. That is clearly not enough seats in either city as both clubs are reporting issues with the secondary ticket market, in other words, scalping. Tickets are regularly being sold at double or triple the face value in both cities. We saw this already in Las Vegas, who opened the 2007 season at home against Denver. Counterfeit tickets were presented at the stadium and clashes with security ensued when many fans, who legitimately thought they had a seat were turned away. It is estimated that no fewer than 2,000 patrons had to be turned away due to falsified tickets. Boston is concerned about exactly the same issue as they plan to open their home season this week against New Jersey. With the added security issues that always seem to be a concern when NY an Boston teams meet in any sport, the issue of counterfeit tickets and on-site scalping are a major concern for Cannon and league officials. The answer seems obvious for both clubs, the only clubs with fields well below 50,000 seats, and, seemingly, well below demand. The answer is to find a better venue. The problem, of course, is that the ideal venue does not exist for either club. Las Vegas does not have a larger venue to offer, and while Boston, or the Boston vicinity has an obvious choice in Gillette Stadium, home to the NFL Patriots, the Patriots and the stadium are owned by Robert Kraft, one of the handful of NFL owners who maintain a very confrontational relationship with the USFL. There is little hope for Boston to relocate to Gillette Stadium, which means that their best option is where they already are. Could both teams propose expansion to their current home fields? Yes, of course, but that means dealing with the universities that call them home, and for whom the stadiums are certainly large enough. It also means raising funding, as no USFL owner wants to fully foot the bill for a major stadium renovation without city or state funds included in the deal. So, what are the Cannons and Thunder to do? Both are spending money on local ads to help educate fans on the dangers of scalping and the telltale signs of counterfeit tickets, but that can only go so far. Both will need to dedicate resources to stadium security and both will need to work with local authorities to try to stamp out the counterfeit ticket market and producers of the fake tickets. No short term, easy answers here, and while many might say that these are good problems for these two teams to have, they are still problems. Letting them fester is not an option for either club. As part of the 2007 celebration of the USFL’s 25th season, we are going to take time each week to look back at the events and people who helped build the USFL into what it is today. We will spend time each week looking at one pivotal moment, decision, game, or legacy from the past 25 years, as well as player, one from the hundreds who started out with this league in its first 3 seasons. We have chosen to look not at the Hall of Famers, but at players whose careers, while not among the legendary stars of the league, still had a role to play in the foundation of what the USFL is today, a major player in American sports culture. This week, to kick things off, we will look back to the opening week of USFL action, how it all began with the 12 teams that started a revolution in the world of Pro Football in 1983. We will then focus in on a 1983 rookie, a player who stayed in the league for 13 seasons, one of the earliest college signees of the league, and a symbol of the opportunities the league provided for many in the early years, quarterback Mike Hohensee. (A note before we continue. These reports will focus on the reality of the USFL as it exists in this alternative reality. Only in the case of the player retrospectives will I make any reference to real life events. Otherwise the story will be told only from the perspective of the USFL as it occurred in this alternate universe.) Genesis: Week One, Year One It is hard to imagine that there was a time when an idea, a dream, a crazy plan was all the USFL was. While the league was announced in 1982, it was not until Sunday, March 6 when the USFL became a reality, with 12 teams taking the field in 6 games from coast to coast. The league had gained national attention with the signing of Herschel Walker, the underclassman who had won the Heisman as a freshman and was itching to turn pro. But it would not be until the games were played that the league would be seen as a real entity, not a circus sideshow. The first game to kick off saw the Birmingham Stallions face off against the Washington Federals in RFK Stadium. The first score of the USFL’s existence was a Cornelius Quarles TD run in the first quarter of that game. Tampa Bay kicked off just 2 minutes later, hosting the Oakland Invaders. Later that afternoon, Chicago would host Denver, Boston would kick off at home against Michigan, and Arizona would face Philadelphia in Tempe, but the game everyone wanted to see was the clash of the two biggest market franchises, and the game where Herschel Walker would debut, New Jersey at Los Angeles. For all the hype the game received nationally, only 14,400 Los Angelinos showed up to watch in the cavernous LA Coliseum. New Jersey would win 22-12, and Herschel Walker would just miss 100 yards, gaining 94 yards on 26 carries, but the game was well-played, as were all the games that day, and the USFL had created a market for itself. Over 44,000 had shown up in Tampa Bay to watch the Bandits beat the Invaders. They would, of course, go on to win the title that year, led by Coach Steve Spurrier and QB John Reaves. Birmingham would trounce the Federals, who would struggle through a rough first year before eventually becoming a 2-time league champion. Boston, playing in tiny Nickerson Field, would move to Harvard Stadium the next year, but on this day they lost a heartbreaker as Anthony Carter scored in the final seconds. Chicago would fall to Denver 20-9, a surprise in that Denver, a low budget team, was not expected to do much. They would make it all the way to the first USFL Championship Game, despite their tight budget, and would be the only team to turn a profit in their first year. Several players who would go on to become stars and Hall of Famers, began their USFL careers on this date, among them Chuck Fusina and Kelvin Bryant of Philadelphia. Others would rise out of obscurity to gain the national consciousness, like Michigan QB Bobby Hebert, a little-known prospect out of Northwestern State in Louisiana. Still others would begin a journey that would take them to various stops along the way, like LB Putt Choate, who was playing for Denver on this day, and would also suit up for the Texas Outlaws and Portland Thunder. For the league as a whole, it was a brilliant day, filled with good football, and a better vibe than they could have expected. Yes, the attendance was up and down, the talent level uneven, and the comparisons to the NFL not particularly flattering, but the league was now real. Keith Jackson and Lynn Swan were calling games, fans were tuning in on TV, and butts were in seats. The league had arrived. Where it would go from here was anyone’s guess, but for the first time in a decade there was a new pro football league, and for the first time ever, pro football was being played in the Spring. The First Federal: Mike Hohensee As we look back at players who helped shape the USFL, looking beyond the superstars the league has produced, to those whose contributions may not have led to a gold jacket in Canton, but who nonetheless are a big part of the rich history of the league, we need to remember that for many the USFL was their pro football life. Many were either rejected by the NFL, or never even stepped foot onto the field in an NFL uniform. That was the case for quarterback Mike Hohensee. A product of the University of Minnesota, Hohensee would have likely been a mid- to later-round selection by the NFL, but as a talented young quarterback, he was wooed by the USFL, which from the beginning placed great emphasis on signing talent out of college. Hohensee was one of the first draft picks to sign with the USFL, becoming the first official Washington Federal, and one of its early “stars”. We use quotes there because Hohensee, as a record-setting Big 10 QB was viewed as a big commodity for the Federals. Other than HB Craig James, one of SMU’s Pony Express, he might have been the best college prospect on the club. But he was not the clearcut starter that year for the Federals. Washington trotted out three different starters in their inaugural season, with Hohensee sharing time with NFL veteran Kim McQuilken and former WFL QB Joe Gilliam. Hohensee would start only 3 games in 1983, and would have no starts again until 1989, and yet he would play 13 seasons for the Federals, spending most of his time with a clipboard in his hand. It was not until 1994, when injury forced Hohensee into the lineup, when he started more than 3 games in any season. In that 1994 season he would replace an injured Don Majkowski and play in 10 games, with 7 starts. He threw for 2,020 yards and 12 touchdowns that year. Hohensee, who now serves as a QB coach with the Baltimore Blitz, after spending time in the CFL and with Jacksonville in the USFL, is still a Federal at heart, something his players often tease him about when the Blitz face the Feds. He still proudly wears his 1990 USFL Championship ring, a season in which he threw only 62 passes, though one of them was in the Summer Bowl (the first to carry that name) while subbing for a temporarily sidelined Majkowski. Hohensee may not be the first name that rolls off the tongue when fans get nostalgic about those early years at RFK, but when you mention the former Golden Gopher, he is remembered fondly. He retired after the 1994 season, went on to coach quarterbacks, a career he is still pursuing today in Baltimore. The first Federal continues to be a USFL figure 25 seasons later. (IRL: Hohensee played only 2 seasons with Washington. He would go on to play in the CFL and as a replacement player with the Chicago Bears in 1987. He also played Arena Football for 2 seasons before turning to coaching. He has been a coach since 1990, but exclusively for indoor or Arena Football teams, winning the Arena Bowl in 2006 with the Chicago Rush. His last coaching job was in 2015. All info on Mike Hohensee is from the Wikipedia article about him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Hohensee ) Week 2 and we are ready for more. How about some divisional rivalries to get the blood flowing? We highlight those big divisional matchups for you below. FRIDAY Oakland (0-1) @ Los Angeles (1-0): The California Derby kicks us off. SATURDAY Jacksonville (1-0) @ Orlando (01): A chance for the Renegades to make a statement Chicago (0-1) @ Memphis Baltimore (0-1) @ Arizona (0-1) Atlanta (1-0 @ Las Vegas (1-0) Michigan (0-1) @ Ohio (1-0): An early season bout between Central Contenders. SUNDAY Washington (1-0) @ Philadelphia (1-0): One of these two is headed to 2-0. Houston (1-0) @ Denver (0-1): A Southwest duel a mile up. Pittsburgh (0-1) @ Birmingham (1-0) Tampa Bay (1-0) at Nashville (1-0) St. Louis (0-1) @ Texas (0-1) New Orleans (0-1) @ Seattle (1-0) New Jersey (0-1) @ Boston (1-0): Can New Jersey show they still have it over Boston?

March 17, 2007 The Season Ahead We have looked back at a truly eventful, some would say chaotic, offseason, and now it is time to look ahead to the 2007 season before us. Fourteen weeks of USFL action is on tap. What should we expect from the 2007 season? Who will step up and impress us in the new season? Which rookies will have an instant impact? And we probably should also pay some attention to the preparations for the arrival of Charlotte and Portland in 2008, as another wave of expansion means more difficult personnel decisions are on the way to the USFL. But, first things first, as we gear up for next week’s action, let’s take a look at the 2007 rookie class, the stories to follow, and the outlook for all 26 clubs. We start with the Class of ’07, an interesting mix of prospects and blue chippers trying to make the transition to pro ball with a splash. 10 Rookies To Watch Every season brings a new class of first year pros, and every class brings some names into the national identity. Whether a dynamic defensive star like Phil Hansen’s incredible rookie campaign, or unanticipated offensive production like that we saw from Frank Gore only 2 seasons ago, the potential is always there for a USFL newbie to become an instant star. Here, for you to consider, is our pick of the 10 rookies who could make waves this season. 10—Greg Olsen, TE, Orlando We expect Olsen to quickly become a favorite target of Drew Brees. That combo could help keep drives alive, and help free up Michael Jenkins and Brandon Marshall outside. Orlando is a hot pick to upend the status quo in the Southeast, and Olsen is expected to be a big piece of that plan. 9— Robert Meachem, WR, Nashville Nashville is retooling with Jay Cutler now at the helm. Cutler has a huge arm, and while Derrick Mason is a great route runner, speed is not his top skill, so a speedster like Meachem is essential to take the top off of the defense. We expect Mason to have more targets, but Meachem has to show that he can bring in the deep ball for the Knights to have a successful campaign. 8— Victor Abiamiri, DE, Chicago We debated between Abiamiri and Pittsburgh’s Amobi Okoye, both of whom were named to start in week 1. While we think both are very talented, the DE position allows for more individual skill to come to the fore, so Abiamir has a shot to make an impact, especially with Anthony Weaver sure to garner double teams on the other side of the line. 7— Sidney Rice, WR, Memphis Rice is penciled in as the 3rd receiver for the Showboats, but with Brett Favre at the helm, hopes are sky high that the Showboats will put on an offensive show this year. Rice could line up inside or outside for Memphis, and his speed is something that complements the skills of Robert Ferguson and Justin McCareirins well, so we expect him to get a good number of targets. 6—Ted Ginn Jr, WR, Baltimore Ginn was a big play waiting to happen on every snap at Ohio State, and Ben Roethlisberger is hoping that carries over to the USFL. Expect a lot of crossing routes, slants, and quick outs for Ginn, who will occupy the slot. The hope is that he can turn 5 yards into 50 as he did in college. Ginn could also make an impact on special teams, where he has been set up as the primary punt returner. 5—Paul Posluszny, LB, Philadelphia “The Pos” is hoping to replicate the type of rookie season that “the Boz” had for the Oklahoma Outlaws 20 years ago. he will be the MLB in Philly’s 4-3, with Zach Thomas and Quintin Caver on either side of him. His main job will be to root out the inside run and stuff it, though he also could find himself in coverage on a lot of tight ends, something he did not see as much of at Penn State. 4— LaRon Landry, SS, Nashville Our second Knight rookie on the list, but the one who has the most riding on him. Nashville has carved out an identity as a hard-hitting, no-nonsense defensive club, and Landry is expected to be the kind of player that Tory Polamalu (LA) and Adam Archuleta (BAL) have been for their clubs, an intimidator in the middle of the field. 3—Antonio Pittman, HB, Arizona A rare non-1st rounder makes our list for one reason, Coach Fassel has named the Ohio State product as the starter for the Wranglers. We know Arizona tends to use a HB by Committee structure, but if Pittman can make an impact early, he could earn more and more carries over Ahmaad Galloway and fellow rookie Chris Perry. 2—Brady Quinn, QB, Chicago Trading away Jeff George was a bold move by Chicago, and that move means Brady Quinn will begin his pro career with the weight of the franchise on him. Chicago has a solid receiving corps, and Michael Turner will help relieve some pressure, but the future of Chicago is in Brady Quinn’s hands, and that can be a lot for a rookie. 1—Marshawn Lynch, HB, Las Vegas No player has brought more hype, more energy, or more swagger to his new team than Las Vegas HB Marshawn Lynch. Calling himself “Beast Mode”, Lynch is promising to take it to defenses, to run with authority and purpose, and to help Thunder fans remember the days of Robert Drummond. Sounds like he has his sights set high, and that is the kind of energy the Thunder need to help them develop their Las Vegas fanbase. 5 Storylines to Follow Rookies will be a big part of the 2007 season, but there are so many stories to follow, we thought you might want a bit of a primer on what we are anticipating this year. Here are the five storylines we think will dominate the newswire this season. 5—Put Up or Shut Up As we start the new season, we already know that there are several coaches around the league who need to prove they have their clubs on the right path or risk getting the dreaded Black Monday call into the team headquarters. With huge moves this offseason both Ron Rivera in Pittsburgh and Jerry Glanville in Las Vegas have to show that their risks are going to pay dividends. Las Vegas started strong last year but faded badly. Pittsburgh was a disaster all year long and now faces a major rebuild, but one that included trading away the fans’ favorite player, Terrell Davis. If the Maulers don’t show improvement this year, Rivera’s grand plan could get curtailed quickly. Glanville has been making big moves to transform Las Vegas from an also-ran to a contender, but also to give the club some flash and star appeal, adding Steve McNair last year and signing Marshawn Lynch this year. If it produces wins along with media presence, then it is a win-win for the “man in black”, but if not, it could force the Thunder to look another direction. 4—Can LA and NJ Silence the Naysayers There is a lot of blame being thrown around the Express and Generals after their scintillating Summer Bowl was followed by huge departures. For LA, it was Cade McNown headed to the New England Patriots, while New Jersey lost their head coach, starting QB, and All-USFL shutdown corner all in the span of about a month. These are two teams that competed for a title last year, but many are expecting a huge crash to earth this season. Can either club avoid a collapse and find a way back to Summer Bowl competitiveness despite the changes. For LA the gamble is that one of their “not ready for the lead role” QB’s can step up and surprise us. Seneca Wallace is slated to start week 1, but he is part of a 3-headed monster with former Outlaw and Fire QB Jeff Lewis (signed only 2 weeks ago), and former Alabama QB Brody Croyle. Can one of these three do enough to keep LA afloat or will the Express struggle in a very dynamic Pacific Division? In New Jersey, the key word is “continuity”, as in how well Romeo Crennel can maintain the winning culture that Bill Parcells created for the Generals. Can either NFL vet Kelly Holcomb or rookie Kevin Kolb manage the offense to even a reasonable degree of what Tom Brady, himself a largely dismissed late round draft pick, was able to do? And can NFL import Nate Clements, signed away from Buffalo, hope to fill the shoes of Deion Sanders? Three tough sets of shoes to fit, and a lot of eyes in the tri-state area fixed on the Generals, with a sense of dread in the air. 3—Can Favre Flip the Script in Memphis? It was not that long ago that the Memphis Showboats were perennial playoff contenders, but things have gone sour the past few years, first with mounting losses, then the Heath Shuler career-ending car crash, and finally the departure of Jim Mora Sr after last season’s debacle. His role is being filled by former DC Jim Haslett, but hopes were not high until the Jets let Brett Favre walk, and Memphis went all in to sign the former rival. Favre has now stoked new hopes for the Showboats, and new fire in the Birmingham-Memphis rivalry. Can he live up to the hype? He came to the NY Jets with a lot of hype and it just did not pan out (injuries and a bad supporting cast played a part). Will things be different in Memphis? Can Favre get Memphis back on top before Old Man Time starts to take his gunslinging game away from him? 2—Is Orlando Ready to Win the “Florida Smackdown”? The Southeast Division, made up of the three Florida-based teams and the Atlanta Fire has been one of the more exciting divisions for years, but a lot of that excitement has been the rivalry between the Bulls and Bandits. Orlando has largely stood to the side, suffering through several seasons of bad QB play since Scott Mitchell retired. Once a very competitive team, Orlando became something of an afterthought, but the ‘Gades were solid last year, despite their 5-8-1 record, and the arrival of Drew Brees has Orlando thinking about reasserting themselves in the three-way battle of Florida clubs. The Renegades made other additions, including rookie Greg Olsen at TE, NFL import Najeh Davenport, and a new offensive coordinator in former General FB Maurice Carthon. Carthon is promising a more dynamic, more unpredictable offense, and with Brees at the helm, he may have the ideal field marshal to lead a more freewheeling attack. 1—Can one of the Original 12 Win Their First Title in this 25th Season The USFL began with 12 franchises in 1983, and so far, through 24 seasons, only 8 of those 12 teams have ever won the league title. The Wranglers, Express, Breakers and Blitz have all played 24 seasons without a title (with the Breakers and Blitz also having changed cities). Are any in a position to win it all in their 25th season? Arizona seems the most likely. They finished 10-4 last year, winning the Southwest Division, and they have a dynamic leader in Jake Plummer. The defense regained its form after a rough 2005, and they have added youth with a strong draft crop this year. But we have been hear before only to be disappointed by the Wrangler’s ability to play consistent ball. Los Angeles came so close last year, a 2-point conversion away from sending the Summer Bowl to overtime, but this LA team seems like they have taken a step back. The loss of Cade McNown to the NFL is huge, but this is still a team with weapons at every level, from Holt and Keyshawn out wide, to the duo of Foster and Jones-Drew in the backfield. The defense has stars at DE (Udeze and Kearse), at LB (Tatupu), and in the secondary (Polamalu). Is that enough to challenge for a title? New Orleans is an up and coming team, winning the Southern Division last year, a year in which they played all 7 home games and their playoff game on the road. They return home this year with a lot of optimism, but also with a lot of questions. In a stacked Eastern Conference, can New Orleans put the pieces together to get past the more established clubs like Boston, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville? Baltimore finished 3rd in the Northeast last year, sitting at 6-8, and with New Jersey predicted to implode, they could be the team to challenge Boston, but do they have the weapons to do it? Ron Dayne is consistent but not a gamebreaker. They brought in Ted Ginn Jr to add big plays to the gameplan, but can the rookie really make that big of an impact? A bigger question is the defense, which was not great last year, and needs to be a Top 10, maybe Top 5 squad for the Blitz to truly compete. The oddsmakers have Arizona as the third most likely club to take the title in their preseason odds book, with LA in 8th, New Orleans in 11th, and Baltimore in 17th, so having a new champion come out of one of the four founding teams never to win it is a dream that will have to be fought for. There are 22 other teams in the way of that dream, so it will be a dogfight. Our Team By Team Preview You have the stories to follow, the rookies to watch, and, we expect, the big question on your mind is just how your favorite USFL club will fare this year. Will there be a big surprise, a team rising from obscurity to take the title as Seattle did 2 years ago, or will one of the favorites get the W? We will take a look at each of the 26 USFL teams, starting at the favorite of the Las Vegas oddsmakers, the Boston Cannons, all the way down to the team with the longest odds, the Pittsburgh Maulers. Along the way we will give reasons for optimism, potential concerns, and our best guess of where they will finish. Here is our look at the 26 teams competing for USFL supremacy. #1 BOSTON CANNONS HEAD COACH: John Fox (6th Year) 2006 RECORD: 11-3 (2nd in NE Division) DEPARTURES: DT W. Bryant (FA), C A. King (FA), DE G. Ellis (FA), FS T. Parrish (FA) ARRIVALS: C A. Graham (FA), FS J. Woods (FA), DE H. Douglas (FA), OT M. Colombo (NFL), P K. Walter (NFL) ROOKIES: DT Demarcus Tyler (NC State), HB Tony Hunt (Penn St)OT Jermon Bushrod (Towson) OUTLOOK: Boston escaped a lot of big hits in free agency and with retirements, and may have actually come out on top. Replacing Greg Ellis with Hugh Douglas may be a step up, and adding FS Jerome Woods is clearly an improvement. The Cannons’ D in particular looks more formidable, and with one of the league’s best offenses already in place, it seems pretty clear why the Cannons start the year atop our power rankings. They are the odds-on favorite to take the title, especially when their toughest competitor in the division, New Jersey, clearly lost a lot this offseason. OUR PICK: We are going to second the opinion of the Las Vegas oddsmakers. Boston is primed for a Summer Bowl run. We see 12-2 and the top seed as a distinct possibility. #2 OHIO GLORY HEAD COACH: Al Luginbill (9th Year) 2006 RECORD: 10-4 (1st in CEN Division) DEPARTURES: HB M. Smith (FA), DT L. Glover (FA), G. C. Carlisle (FA), G J. Nesbit (FA), K J. Carney (RET), ARRIVALS: DT L. Ellis (FA), G B. Ferrario (FA), DT S. Gilbert (FA), K M. Hollis (FA), DT . Allen (NFL), HB K. Watson (NFL) ROOKIES: WR Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio St), DE Jay Richardson (Ohio State) OUTLOOK: Ohio seemed to be following the same script as Boston, building up some defensive strength to go with their already-potent offense. The Glory added 3 defensive tackles, including All-USFL regulars Sean Gilbert and Luther Ellis. Their draft was a bit lackluster, signing only 3 picks, but their roster remains stacked and their offense is still killer. If Santonio Holmes can progress in his 2nd year, the Glory will be right there to challenge the Cannons. What a Summer Bowl that would be! OUR PICK: We see Ohio as the frontrunner for the #1 seed in the West. If their defense has even moderate success, this could be another run to the Summer Bowl for the Glory. We are picking them to go 12-2, but don’t ask us who the two losses would be against. #3 ARIZONA WRANGLERS HEAD COACH: Jim Fassel (4th Year) 2006 RECORD: 10-4 (1st in SW Division) DEPARTURES: HB J. Wells (FA), G C. Johnson (FA), C G. McGuire (FA), K O. Pochman (NFL), HB S. Pritchett (NFL), HB D. Staley (NFL), WR N. Jacquet (NFL), CB P. Sparks (RET) ARRIVALS: QB J. Sorgi (FA), CB R. Crockett (FA), HB A. Galloway (FA), G B. Olsen (FA), CB D. Starks (NFL), DE J. Tafoya (NFL), LB N. Harris (NFL) ROOKIES: DE Adam Carriker (Neb), HB Chris Henry (Ariz), HB Antonio Pittman (Ohio St), FB Le’Ron McClain (Bama), K Nick Folk (Ariz) OUTLOOK: A lot of movement on the Wrangler roster, but overall it looks like a younger, hungrier, and more athletic squad. Losing both Staley and Pritchett from the run game seems huge, but their production was always dubious. Rookies Chris Henry and Antonio Pittman have a chance to inject some energy into the Wrangler rushing scheme. The Defense is also quicker, with Ray Crockett and Duane Starks now at CB and Napoleon Harris and Joe Tafoya also adding some aggression to a pretty solid D. OUR PICK: Arizona could challenge Ohio for that top seed out West. They still have the ultimate Wild Card in Jake Plummer, and their roster is still young and getting better. Nothing less than a Conference Title Game appearance should satisfy the Wranglers. An 11-win season is not out of the question for this Wrangler squad. #4 JACKSONVILLE BULLS HEAD COACH: Brad Childress (3rd Year) 2006 RECORD: 10-4 (1st in SE Division) DEPARTURES: WR A. Boldin (FA), C A. Graham (FA), T A. Davis (FA), K K. Brown (FA), WR R. J. Soward (FA), QB J. Palmer (RET), CB F. Thomas (NFL), G J. Berger (Trade) ARRIVALS: TE J. Whitten (FA), DE D. Bowens (NFL), T B. Brooks (NFL), DT M. Stroud (Trade) ROOKIES: DT Alan Branch (Mich), HB Lorenzo Booker (FSU), LB Anthony Waters (Clems), K. Justin Medlock (ULA) OUTLOOK: No team lost more players to free agency than the Bulls, and yet, with a strong draft and some shrewd free agent picks, they feel pretty good about the squad they brought to camp. TE Jason Whitten has been outstanding in camp, earning the starting nod, and DT Marcus Stroud is looking fitter than ever after losing 20 lbs from last year. Jacksonville does not have the sex appeal of the Boston Cannons, but they are solid on both sides of the ball. If they catch a few breaks and make a few of their own, they could challenge in the East. They made it to the Conference Championship last year, and we could see them do it again. OUR PICK: Jacksonville will be challenged in a much tighter Southeast Division that now has a retooled Orlando squad, a rising Atlanta team, and the always tough Bandits down the road in Tampa Bay, but we still think the Bulls can walk away with the division if they play to their strengths. We see 10-4 and the SE Division. #5 HOUSTON GAMBLERS HEAD COACH: Wade Philips (7th Season) 2006 RECORD: 9-5 (2nd in SW Division) DEPARTURES: FS L. Evans (FA), P M. Whitaker (FA), HB M. Anderson (NFL), WR A. Freeman (NFL), G R. Hadnot (Trade), WR D. Bennett (Trade) ARRIVALS: C N. Hardwick (FA), LB M. Crawford (FA), HB K. Faulk (Trade) ROOKIES: T Joe Staley (CMU), WR Mike Sims-Walker (UCF), P Daniel Sepulveda (Baylor), LB Zak DeOssie (Brown) OUTLOOK: We think Houston gained more than they lost in the offseason, which is not bad for a pretty good team to say. Yes, losing Antonio Freeman to the NFL stung a little, but wideout was a deep position for Houston, so Roy Williams, Koren Robinson, and David Patten will step up. The Gamblers also brought in Ike Hilliard from their cross-state rivals and drafted a good-looking speed guy in Mike Sims-Walker, so we think the Gamblers are looking very solid on offense. We love the draft pick of Brown’s Zak DeOssie at LB, along with free agent Mike Crawford. Once again, Houston will be a top defensive squad. OUR PICK: If the offense can average over 20 points per game, then the Gamblers should find themselves on the winning side of a lot of games. We put Houston a step behind Arizona, but that could easily flip if the Gamblers can get just a bit more production out of Matt Hasselbeck and a run game that welcomes back Kevin Faulk after a 1-year jaunt to Atlanta. We say 10-4 and in the hunt. #6 TAMPA BAY BANDITS HEAD COACH: Steve Spurrier (4th Season) 2006 RECORD: 9-5 (2nd in SE Division) DEPARTURES: SS J. Pratt (FA), QB T. Banks (FA), HB T. Prentice (FA), DE J. Copeland (FA), DT S. Gilbert (FA), WR T. Streets (Trade) ARRIVALS: T J. ST. Clair (FA), G V. Allotey (FA), WR D. Farmer (FA), DT L. Glover (FA), HB L. Toefield (NFL), P M. Turk (NFL), QB K. Detmer (Trade) ROOKIES: T Levi Brown (Penn St), S Brandon Meriweather (Miami) OUTLOOK: Another club with a lot of roster churn this offseason, but mostly among older players and marginal role players. The addition of LeRoy Glover pretty much compensates for Sean Gilbert’s departure and the addition of Koy Detmer is a wash with Tony Banks leaving. So, the question is, can Tampa Bay tread water and at the same time improve upon a 2nd place finish in the Southeast Division? OUR PICK: We still think Tampa is a very good team, but that does not make them a favorite to win the division, much less the Conference Title. Good, not great, and that may not be enough this year. We see 9-5 and 2nd place in the Bandits’ future. #7 SEATTLE DRAGONS HEAD COACH: Marvin Lewis (5th Year) 2006 RECORD: 8-5-1 (2nd in PAC Division) DEPARTURES: WR C. Bradford (FA), FBC. Massey (FA), CB A. Harris (FA), TE B. Banta (NFL), QB C. Pickett (Trade), LB B. Jones (Trade) ARRIVALS: DT W. Bryant (FA), WR D. McCants (FA), LB D. D. Lewis (NFL), QB J. Blake (Trade), OT C. Clifton (Trade), LB E. Mason (Trade) ROOKIES: WR Dwayne Jarrett (USC), TE Tyler Ecker (Mich), DE Mkristo Bruce (WSU) OUTLOOK: Seattle remains an intriguing team. Their biggest coup this offseason was simply retaining Corey Dillon when so many other big name free agents bolted to the NFL. They made three trades, sending QB Cody Pickett to Pittsburgh, but then trading with Orlando for Jeff Blake. They have two new offensive weapons thanks to the draft and also added a potential #2 receivier in McCants during Free Agency. The defense lost a key player in CB Al Harris, but adding DT Wendell Bryant is a net positive. OUR PICK: We think Seattle is a better than average team, and that could be an understatement if the defense can come together. The Pacific is a very volatile division, and Seattle could benefit from LA losing Cade McNown, but the division will not be an easy one, so racking up 10+ wins will be a tough task. We say 9-5, possibly first place, but a #3 seed. #8 LOS ANGELES EXPRESS HEAD COACH: Hue Jackson (2nd Season) 2006 RECORD: 9-5 (1st in PAC Division) DEPARTURES: LB S. Foley (FA), P T. Gowin (FA), C Z. Austin (FA), CB W. Poole (FA), QB C. McNown (NFL), TE A. Shea (Trade) ARRIVALS: QB J. Lewis (FA), C G. McGuire (FA), LB G. Irons (NFL), FS T. Kiel (Trade), ROOKIES: C Ryan Kalil (USC), CB Dante Hughes (Cal), OT Mike Otto (Purdue), WR Syndric Steptoe (Ariz) OUTLOOK: It’s all about the QB for the Express. The rest of their roster largely remained unchanged, so the defense should still be more than adequate, the run game is there, the receivers are top flight, so all they need is for one of their QBs to step up. Seneca Wallace earned the Week 1 start in camp, but former Fire and Outlaw QB Jeff Lewis should also see some action. Expect a bit of a 2-headed monster (with Brodie Croyle in 3rd) through the first month, unless one of the two just dominates. OUR PICK: The Express remain a very talented team at every position except the one that can define a season. We think they take a step or two back until they can solve their QB problem. That could be a month, could be a year, could be a decade. We think 7-7 would be a very solid season when we look at the big picture. #9 DENVER GOLD HEAD COACH: Dick Jauron (10th Season) 2006 RECORD: 7-7 (3rd in SW Division) DEPARTURES: DT C. Hill (FA), CB R. Crockett (FA), HB A. Galloway (FA), QB E. Wilhelm (RET), WR J. J. Stokes (RET), G Chris Dishman (RET), K J. Wilkens (RET), P T. Sauerbrun (RET) ARRIVALS: P P. O’Neill (FA), CB D. Terrell (FA), WR A. Boldin (FA), CB T. James (NFL), G F. Womack (NFL) ROOKIES: DT Brandon Moses (Cal), K Mason Crosby (Colo), LB Stewart Bradley (Neb), QB Jordan Palmer (UTEP) OUTLOOK: Denver did what Denver usually does, play tight with the pursestrings, but make 1-2 meaningful moves. After losing more than any other team to retirements, the Gold signed two truly impactful free agents; WR Anquan Boldin from the Bulls and CB Tory James from the NFL Bemgals. They landed their new kicker from the draft, and not much else. It was boring around Denver, as it often is. OUR PICK: The key for the Gold is whether or not Matt Leinart, the 2006 Offensive Rookie of the Year, makes the next step, progressing to be a true danger as a signal caller. Leinart played it pretty close to the vest last year, and Coach Jauron did not ask a lot of him, but this year, he will need to open up the playbook a bit more to have success with this offense. Having Boldin across from Peerless Price should help him do that. We think another 7-7 year is very possible here. # 10 NEW JERSEY GENERALS HEAD COACH: Romeo Crennell (1st Season) 2006 RECORD: 11-3 (1st in NE Division) DEPARTURES: DT L. Legree (FA), LB B. Simmons (FA), QB T. Brady (NFL), CB D. Sanders (NFL) ARRIVALS: QB D. Huard (FA), DT B. Tanner (FA), CB N. Clements (NFL) ROOKIES: QB Kevin Kolb (Houston), OT Marshal Yanda (Iowa), WR Steve Breaston (Mich), DE C. J. Ah You (OU) OUTLOOK: Will the Generals fall from Champ to Chump? That is what many are predicting as New Jersey loses their legendary coach, their starting QB, and their best defensive player, all within the span of a month. But, a title team is not just a few players. If Coach Romeo Crennell can get the rest of the squad to pick up some slack for the departed Brady, helping out Kelly Holcombe at QB, the Generals could still be a tough out. Nate Clements is not Deion, but he is a solid corner, so don’t expect the General defense to just crumble without Prime Time. OUR PICK: This is not the same club as we saw in the Summer Bowl. You don’t lose Parcells, Sanders, and Brady and expect to just shake it off. The Generals are in the unenviable position of trying to retool on the fly. We think that is a tough call, but with the talent they have, .500 is doable. We say 7-7, and hoping to return to form in 2008. #11 NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS HEAD COACH: Mike Nolan (8th Season) 2006 RECORD: 8-6 (1st in SOU Division) DEPARTURES: WR A. King (FA), LB D. Edwards (FA), G T. Metcalf (FA), DT B. Cofield (Trade), HB C. Perry (Trade) ARRIVALS: LB D. Smith (FA), LB C. Powell (FA), G E. Mathis (FA), QB T. Rattay (NFL), HB J. Jones (Trade), HB D. Ward (Trade) ROOKIES: WR Dwayne Bowe (LSU), DE Chase Pittman (LSU), HB Kenny Irons (Auburn) OUTLOOK: This may be low for the Breakers. They won the South at 8-6 last year while playing every single game away from the Super Dome. This year they return to their bayou home, likely in front of huge crowds, and their team appears to have added more than they lost. We could see New Orleans as a 10+ win team. There is still a bit of mistrust of Eli Manning, and the run game will be brand new, with Julius Jones, Derrick Ward, and rookie Kenny Irons now seen as the key players. We love the signing of Dwayne Bowe out of LSU. He should make an impact right away, allowing Hakeem to stay in the slot, where he is at his best. OUR PICK: We are going to defy the oddsmakers and pick New Orleans to go 10-4 and win the South, despite all the excitement about Memphis. #12 MICHIGAN PANTHERS HEAD COACH: Dick LeBeau (4th Season) 2006 RECORD: 8-6 (2nd in CEN Division) DEPARTURES: T J. St Clair (FA), WR B. Shaw (FA), QB D. Brees (FA), SS S. Knight (FA), G B. Olson (FA), DT J. Manley (RET), DE A. Schobel (Trade), TE L. Pinkney (Trade), HB L. Betts (Trade) ARRIVALS: WR N. Burleson (FA), SS J. Pratt (FA), DE G. Ellis (FA), G C. Liweienski (NFL), WR A. Randle-El (Trade), HB J. Fargas (Trade) ROOKIES: CB Leon Hall (Mich), QB Drew Stanton (MSU), WR Laurent Robinson (Ill ST) OUTLOOK: Losing Drew Brees is a big blow to the Panthers. They had a solid backup option in Brian Griese, and the former Wolverine will likely start the year under center, a solid transition player. Michigan signed Drew Stanton out of Michigan State, with hopes that he will be able to learn under Griese and perhaps take over next season. We shall see if that plan provides success for Michigan, or if they take a step back this year. We like the additions of Burleson and Randle-El to an already solid WR group, and Justin Fargas could be the steal of the offseason if he can take be more consistent. The defense is largely unchanged, though adding Jorge Pratt is a nice upgrade. Greg Ellis has at least 1 more good year left in him as well. OUR PICK: Michigan got little press this winter, but they put together a pretty solid, strategic offseason. If Griese can be solid, and if the run game can come along, the Panthers could be in the running. But those are solid “ifs”, not guarantees. We see 7-7 as very realistic here. #13 LAS VEGAS THUNDER HEAD COACH: Jerry Glanville (3rd Season) 2006 RECORD: 6-7-1 (3rd in Pacific) DEPARTURES: G V. Allotay (FA), P C. Jarrett (FA), FB C. Kramer (FA), WR M. Muhammad (FA), DE H. Douglas (FA), HB D. Smith (RET), TE C. Fauria (RET), T T. Steussie (NFL), QB Henry Burris (Trade), DT Marcus Stroud (Trade), LB Mark Simoneau (Trade), HB J. Jones (Trade), HB D. Rhodes (Trade) ARRIVALS: TE B. Hartsook (FA), DE T. Rodgers (FA), FB Ovie Mughelli (NFL), LB O. Huff (NFL), HB C. Perry (Trade), DE E. James (Trade), CB M. Booker (Trade), G J. Berger (Trade), HB E. Graham (Trade) ROSTERS: HB Marshawn Lynch (Cal), CB Eric Wright (UNLV), TE Dante Rosario (Oregon), WR John Broussard (SJSU) OUTLOOK: The spirit of Las Vegas got into the Thunder this year, as no team did more wheeling, dealing, and gambling in the offseason than Jerry Glanville’s bunch. Losing LT Todd Steussie was a blow, as was Muhsin Muhammad’s move to Texas. Trading away their top 2 running backs is daring, but when you draft Marshawn Lynch, you are counting on a very different run game the next year. Las Vegas had a draft high in quality but short in quantity, but they made up for it with some good trades. OUR PICK: If the aggressive moves pay off, the Thunder could surprise many, if they don’t then Coach Glanville will be on the hook for them. That is the risk you take when you go all in. With a short window for QB Steve McNair, it makes sense for the Thunder to go big right now, hoping to catch some lightning. #14 ORLANDO RENEGADES HEAD COACH: Emmitt Thomas (2nd Season) 2006 RECORD: 5-8-1 (4th in SE Division) DEPARTURES: LB P. Chukwarah (FA), LB D. Coakley (RET), WR J. Gaffney (NFL), T K. Turley (NFL), QB K. Detmer (Trade), QB J. Blake (Trade) ARRIVALS: QB D. Brees (FA), HB N. Davenport (NFL), WR T. Streets (Trade), LB B. Jones (Trade) ROOKIES: TE Greg Olsen (Miami), DT Marcus Thomas (Florida), C Dustin Fry (Clemson), FS John Wendling (Wyo), QB Matt Moore (Ore St) OUTLOOK: A lot of folks are high on Orlando this year. Bringing in Drew Brees as your QB can have that effect. But outside of Brees, there have also been some good additions to be excited about, including rookie Greg Olsen, HB Najeh Davenport, and LB Bryan Jones. Orlando could be a very interesting team. We are just not sure if that puts them in the hunt with Tampa Bay and Jacksonville, or if they are more likely to battle Atlanta to avoid the basement. OUR PICK: Our guess is that Orlando struggles at first, and then finds themselves around midseason, so if they can be at least 3-4 at the 7-week mark, we could see them finishing the year strong. Our pick is 8-6 but still 3rd in the division. #15 MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS HEAD COACH: Jim Haslett (1st Season) 2006 RECORD: 3-11 (4th in SOU Division) DEPARTURES: CB J. Greer (FA), DE L. Bromell (FA), LB M. Pope (FA), TE B. Hartsook (FA), WR M. Jenkins (FA), QB H. Shuler (RET), QB J. Kitna (NFL) ARRIVALS: CB K. Carpenter (FA), QB B. Favre (NFL), TE D. Martin (NFL) ROOKIES: DE Jamaal Anderson (Ark), LB Patrick Willis (Ole Miss), WR Sidney Rice (So Car), DE Quentin Moss (UGA) OUTLOOK: Another team that is getting a lot of hype due to their new QB, but when that QB is Brett Favre, you have to expect that you have new higher aspirations. Favre is a godsend to a team that suffered a really rough 2006. But what may be more impactful is one of the best draft classes the Showboats have ever put together. Willis, Rice, Moss, and Anderson could all be starting by midseason. A lot of new talent, and a lot of potential on this team. OUR PICK: We don’t expect Brett Favre to be 1993 Favre, but even average early 2000’s Favre is a huge plus for the Showboats. They could still improve at wideout, though we do like Sidney Rice, but more importantly, Coach Haslett has got to get their run game to be productive each and every week. Cadillac Williams can do more than we have seen to date. We see Memphis as a potential 9-5 squad, but we are going to be more cautious and say 7-7. #16 ATLANTA FIRE HEAD COACH: Jay Gruden (2nd Season) 2006 RECORD: 7-7 (3rd in SE Division) DEPARTURES: G E. Mathis (FA), CB K. Carpenter (FA), FS J. Woods (FA), QB J. Lewis (FA), DE T. Rodgers (FA), FB C. Fuamatu-Ma’afalu (RET), HB K. Faulk (Trade), FS S. Shields (Trade) ARRIVALS: WR M. Robinson (FA), S L. Schulters (NFL), TE W. Heller (NFL), WR S. Morey (NFL), FS M. Washington (Trade), G R. Hadnot (Trade), HB T. Davis (Trade) ROOKIES: G Justin Blalock (Texas), G Mansfield Wrotto (Ga Tech), QB Tyler Thigpen (Coastal), S Tra Battle (UGA) OUTLOOK: Atlanta shocked everyone in their first season by going 7-7 and making the USFL playoffs as an expansion team. That will be a hard act to follow for the Fire, though they certainly made some news this offseason as well, trading with the Maulers to bring Terrell Davis back to Georgia. Davis is the key to Atlanta’s continued success. With Jeff Lewis gone, and Kevin Faulk traded to Houston, Davis will be at the center of every offensive game plan for the Fire. The thing is, Davis is no spring chicken. Many are worried that he has hit the Wall of 30, meaning his best days are behind him, and that Atlanta went for the marketing move instead of the good football move. We will see pretty soon if that is the case. OUR PICK: We think Atlanta is due for a step back, not necessarily one forward. We are not sold on David Garrard as a starter, and while Davis certainly brings plenty of bona fides to the party, it is no guarantee that he will be able to lead the Fire beyond where they were last year. Our pick is a slight slip back, 6-8. #17 BALTIMORE BLITZ HEAD COACH: Tom Coughlin (4th Season) 2006 RECORD: 6-8 (3rd in NE Division) DEPARTURES: DE D. Howard (FA), LB D. Smith (FA), WR D. McCants (FA), FS M. Pope (FA), P P. O’Neill (FA), T A. Meadows (NFL), WR D. Bates (RET) ARRIVALS: P T. Gowin (FA), C Z. Austin (FA), C R. Tobeck (NFL), DE J. Johnson (NFL), LB C. June (NFL), WR M. Booker (Trade) ROOKIES: WR Ted Ginn Jr (Ohio St), G Andy Alleman (Akron), S Aaron Rouse (Va Tech), FB Deon Anderson (UConn) OUTLOOK: Is adding Ted Ginn Jr. and Marty Booker to the WR corps enough to turn Baltimore from a mid-range .500 team into a potential competitor with Boston for the NE Division? That seems like a hard sell, and yet, they have a solid roster in most other areas. We worry a little about a lack of pass rush, and some issues still in the secondary, but if Ben Roethlisberger can expand the passing game a bit with these new options, it could be a difference maker. OUR PICK: We think Baltimore still needs more to truly compete with the likes of the Cannons, but they could find themselves in 2nd place and maybe even a playoff spot if New Jersey’s fate is as bad as many predict. We think 7-7 is about right here. #18 NASHVILLE KNIGHTS HEAD COACH: Jim Johnson (13th Season) 2006 RECORD: 6-8 (3rd in SOU Division) DEPARTURES: CB S. Brown (FA), SS I. Ohalete (FA), WR B. Emmanuel (RET), QB T. Collins (NFL) ARRIVALS: HB M. Smith (FA), LB S. Foley (FA), G S. Scifres (FA), WR B. Shaw (FA), QB R. Mirer (FA), CB L. Walls (NFL) ROOKIES: S LaRon Landry (LSU), WR Robert Meachem (Tenn), DE Turk McBride (Tenn), G Manuel Rodriguez (Texas Tech) OUTLOOK: It is the end of an era. Not only does Bert Emmanuel retire after being the Knights’ go to guy for over a decade, but Todd Collins accepts an offer to join the NFL Bills, recognizing that Jay Cutler may well be the future for Nashville. Cutler begins with a team that missed the playoffs for the first time in a long time last year. But he also starts with a team that brought in a really good haul of talent this offseason, including WR Bobby Shaw, HB Musa Smith, rookie Robert Meachem, and a defense that still has quite a bit of swagger left, bolstered by rookie safety LaRon Landry. OUR PICK: We think it will take Cutler a year or two to really hit his stride, so in the meantime, Nashville may just be building a roster. Playoffs would be a huge win for them this year, but give them another season (and hope the expansion draft does not derail them) and the Knights could be back sooner rather than later. 6-8 and building. #19 OAKLAND INVADERS HEAD COACH: Dennis Green (5th Season) 2006 RECORD: 6-8 (4th in PAC Division) DEPARTURES: CB D. Terrell (FA), G C. Spikes (FA), FB A. Ricard (FA), G B. Stai (FA), QB T. Green (NFL), LB H. Crockett (NFL), HB J. Fargas (Trade), WR M. Booker (Trade) ARRIVALS: QB R. Lucas (FA), LB P. Chukwarah (FA), G R. Brown (FA), CB D. Grant (NFL), DT J. Fisk (NFL), DE A. Schobel (Trade), TE L. Pinkney (Trade) ROOKIES: WR Jacoby Jones (Lane), LB Michael Okwo (Stanford), WR David Clowney (Va Tech), LB Desmond Bishop (Cal) OUTLOOK: At first the loss of Brendan Stai, the rock of the Oakland O-line might have seemed an insurmountable obstacle for Dennis Green’s club, but the Invaders went right out and may have even upgraded the position by signing former Star Ruben Brown. The bigger loss may be Justin Fargas. While he never fully grasped the brass ring and became the #1 back, Fargas always seemed to have his best days when Ricky Williams was struggling. Without him in the backfield, it will put more pressure on Williams to not have bad days. OUR PICK: An argument could be made that Oakland would win the Pacific. An equal argument could be made that they come in last. That is the issue (with the Invaders and the whole division). Hard to see anyone in the Pacific winning or losing 10 games. So, we go with 5-9 if we are pessimistic, 9-5 if we are optimistic, and 7-7 if we are undecided. #20 BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS HEAD COACH: Dennis Franchione (5th Season) 2006 RECORD: 6-8 (2nd in SOU Division) DEPARTURES: DT B. Tanner (FA), WR A. Van Dyke (FA), WR M. Robinson (FA), G B. Ferrario (FA), K. M. Hollis (FA), LB T. Johnson (NFL), SS K. Lassiter (NFL), QB E. Zeier (RET), C T. Nalen (RET), FS M. Washington (Trade) ARRIVALS: K K. Brown (FA), SS I. Ohalete (FA), QB A. Wright (NFL) ROOKIES: G Ben Grubbs (Auburn), LB Johnny Baldwin (Alab A&M), WR Courtney Taylor (Auburn) OUTLOOK: Birmingham looks like a team that is just not trying hard enough. They had significant losses this offseason and did not do enough to restock their roster, failing to land any big name free agents and signing only 5 rookies. We are not seeing the urgency that Coach Franchione probably needs if he wants to retain his position with the club. The Stallions look to us like a team that could bottom out this year and have to do a major overhaul. OUR PICK: The Vegas books may not agree, but we think Birmingham has a legit shot at “earning” the #1 pick in next year’s draft. We just don’t see much here to be enthusiastic about. #21 CHICAGO MACHINE HEAD COACH: Marty Mornhinweg (9th Season) 2006 RECORD: 6-8 (3rd in CEN Division) DEPARTURES: QB R. Lucas (FA), LB D. Smith (FA), SS B. Meyers (FA), DE S. Rice (NFL), FS O. Stoutmire (NFL), FB J. Linton (RET), QB J. George (Trade), FS T. Kiel (Trade) ARRIVALS: QB T. Banks (FA), SS S. Knight (FA), FB A. Ricard (FA), FS L. Evans (FA), CB A. Harris (FA), LB R. Boiman (NFL), TE A. Shea (Trade) ROOKIES: QB Brady Quinn (N Dame), S Eric Weddle (Utah), DE Victor Abiamiri (N Dame), WR D’Juan Woods (OK State) OUTLOOK: Chicago opted to move on from Jeff George, the QB who took them to the Summer Bowl in 2005. The Machine will now firmly base their future on Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn. No pressure there. Quinn inherits a team with a lot of talent, and Chicago added some good pieces on defense as well. We think Eric Weddle could be the find of the draft for Chicago, and we also love the upgrade from bringing in Al Harris at corner. The decline of Chicago’s secondary was a big reason for their fall last year, so a new corner and a rookie safety might just help them turn it around. OUR PICK: Las Vegas seems very skeptical of the Machine, but we think Chicago made the right call in going after Quinn. They may not bounce back into playoff contention this year, but their long term future seems like the better focus anyway. We see Chicago at 6-8 this year, but perhaps 9-10 wins in 2008. #22 PHILADELPHIA STARS HEAD COACH: Jim Harbaugh (3rd Season) 2006 RECORD: 4-9-1 (4th in NE Division) DEPARTURES: QB J. Sorgi (FA), TE J. Gilmore (FA), LB M. Crawford (FA), G R. Brown (FA) ARRIVALS: CB B. Kelly (CB), G C. Carlisle (FA), G S. Edwards (NFL) ROOKIES: LB Paul Posluszny (Penn St), LB Tim Shaw (Penn St), TE Brent Celek (Cinci), QB Matt Gutierrez (Idaho St) OUTLOOK: The loss of guard Ruben Brown is a big one, one Phillly hopes they have remedied through both NFL signee Steve Edwards and USFL free agent Cooper Carlisle. They also are hoping that rookie Paul Posluszny can fill in for Mike Crawford, who left in free agency. The Stars won only 4 games last season, and we are not seeing where the big improvement on either side of the ball will be. OUR PICK: We think the Stars are looking another 4-5 win season in the face, which is not what Coach Jim Harbaugh needs if he is going to extend his contract. They need to find a way to turn the talents of Kurt Warner and Ahman Green into wins, or this could be a very long season. #23 TEXAS OUTLAWS HEAD COACH: Norv Turner (1st Season) 2006 RECORD: 5-9 (4th in SW Division) DEPARTURES: CB M. Kerner (FA), C N. Hardwick (FA), WR I. Hilliard (FA), QB T. Dilfer (NFL), HB M. Shipp (NFL) ARRIVALS: WR A. Van Dyke (FA), HB T. Prentice (FA), HB R. J. Redmond (FA), WR M. Muhammad (FA), C S. O’Hara (NFL), QB J. George (Trade) ROOKIES: CB Aaron Ross (Texas), DE Tim Crowder (Texas), DT Antonio Johnson (Miss St), OT Jacob Bender (Nicholls) OUTLOOK: We are expecting a radically different Texas offense this year. Jeff George at QB, Muhsin Muhammad as the main target, more of a rotation at HB with T. J. Duckett sharing more carries with R. J. Redmond and Travis Prentice, but most importantly, the signing of center Sean O’Hara from the NFL gives Texas a team captain on the line. OUR PICK: We think it will take a while for Coach Turner to develop this offense. He has to hope his defense can keep Texas in games early in the season. Expect a lot of new formations, new calls, and new roles for Texan players as Turner experiments, trying to find a winning formula. We think it will be a tough go this year, and we predict a 5-9 record again. #24 WASHINGTON FEDERALS HEAD COACH: Sean Payton (1st Season) 2006 RECORD: 4-10 (5th in NE Division) DEPARTURES: HB W. Parker (FA), TE A. Mayes (FA), WR D. Farmer (FA), G S. Scifres (FA), WR B. Engram (NFL), FB R. Booker (NFL), HB E. Graham (Trade), CB Michael Booker (Trade), DE Erasmus James (Trade) ARRIVALS: HB J. Wells (FA), WR R. J. Soward (FA), C A. King (FA), FB C. Massey (FA), WR A. Davis (NFL), LB M. Simoneau (Trade), QB H. Burris (Trade) ROOKIES: G Arron Sears (Tenn), DE Charles Johnson (UGA), G Uche Nwaneri (Purdue), TE Derek Schouman (Boise) OUTLOOK: Everything about Washington this year makes us think that their window has closed. They still have a decent trio in Kordell-Deuce-and Deion Branch, but the supporting cast seems weaker. The defense is not the force it once was. New Head Coach Sean Payton will need time to build a team to his specifications, and we are not sure the current core of players is the right one for what he is going to want to do. OUR PICK: We see Washington just starting to reinvent themselves this year. But we think more personnel changes will be needed before they start to ascend. 4-10 this year seems very possible. #25 ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS HEAD COACH: Art Shell (2nd Season) 2006 RECORD: 4-10 (4th in CEN Division) DEPARTURES: HB V. Hayes (FA), QB R. Mirer (FA), LB C. Powell (FA), HB R. J. Redmond (FA), SS J. Cherry (NFL) ARRIVALS: CB M. Kerner (FA), SS B. Meyers (FA), HB J. Scobey (NFL), WR W. Ponder (NFL), WR D. Bennett (Trade) ROOKIES: TE Mark Spaeth (Minn), HB Michael Bush (Louis), CB William Gay (Louis), QB Troy Smith (Ohio St), OT Corey Hilliard (OK State) OUTLOOK: Compared to Atlanta, the other expansion team seems to be spinning their wheels a bit. We are just not seeing a lot of impact players being brought in. Yes, depth is improved, but the starting 22 is still pretty weak compared to most other clubs, and in the Central Division, that is not what you want to hear. OUR PICK: We don’t see St. Louis making a big leap after a 4-win inaugural season. Coach Shell needs to be more aggressive and more ambitious in seeking out talent. We see 4-10 again. #26 PITTSBURGH MAULERS HEAD COACH: Ron Rivera (2nd Season) 2006 RECORD: 2-12 (5th in CEN Division DEPARTURES: QB Charlie Batch (FA-CFL), TE J. Whitten (FA), WR N. Burleson (FA), DT L. Ellis (FA), QB E. Grbac (NFL), HB T. Davis (Trade), LB E. Mason (Trade), WR A. Randle-El (Trade) ARRIVALS: WR A. King (FA), WR M. Jenkins (FA), G C. Johnson (FA), DT D. Klecko (NFL), TE M. Bruener (NFL). HB L. Betts (Trade), QB C. Pickett (Trade), FS S. Shields (Trade) ROOKIES: DT Amobi Okoye (Louis), LB Anthony Spencer (Purdue), LB Buster Davis (FSU), OT Mario Henderson (FSU), QB Tyler Palko (Pitt) OUTLOOK: Ron Rivera’s rebuild begins in earnest. Gone are both Charlie Batch and Terrell Davis, along with a host of others, and in their place we have largely untested Cody Pickett and a run game to be led by Ladell Betts. We are not sure if this is the offense to make any waves. The defense will be younger and faster, which is good, but will it come together in time to help the Maulers win more games? OUR PICK: Our guess is that this will be another year of learning the hard way, but that perhaps there will be some signs of progress. A lot is riding on Cody Pickett. Part of us wishes the Maulers had signed either Adrian Peterson or Marshawn Lynch to help Pickett out, but for now it is Ladell Betts and Brandon Jacobs trying to keep pressure off of the young QB. This is going to take time ,if it works at all. 4-10 would at least be a step up. We have looked at all 26 clubs, now let’s make our picks. We brought together our USFL experts, former players, announcers, coaches, and pundits, and this is what we came away with. Take it with the usual grain of salt. We see Boston walking away with this one in a much-weakened division. BOSTON* 12-2 BALTIMORE 7-7 NEW JERSEY 7-7 PHILADELPHIA 6-8 WASHINGTON 4-10 A much more competitive division. So much so that they knock each other out of contention for a top seed or a bye in the playoffs. JACKSONVILLE* 9-5 TAMPA BAY* 9-5 ORLANDO* 8-6 ATLANTA 6-8 A tough division to call because we could see huge leaps from Memphis or we could see them stagnate. We think they make a leap, but New Orleans holds them off. NEW ORLEANS * 10-4 MEMPHIS* 9-5 NASHVILLE 6-8 BIRMINGHAM 4-10 Ohio has to be the favorite here, because we are just not sure Michigan can compete and Chicago is just not ready yet with a rookie QB. OHIO* 11-3 MICHIGAN 8-6 CHICAGO 6-8 ST. LOUIS 4-10 PITTSBURGH 4-10 Arizona, Houston, and Denver make for a very tight trio, and Texas may also be improved. HOUSTON* 10-4 ARIZONA* 10-4 DENVER* 9-5 TEXAS 7-7 Another tight division out west, with another trio of teams we could imagine all making the postseason. SEATTLE* 10-4 LAS VEGAS* 9-5 LOS ANGELES 7-7 OAKLAND 5-8 This just feels like a year where the top seeds cruise through the playoffs against teams that just are not as dangerous. That means we are picking Ohio vs. Boston, and that would be a lot of fun. The two would be a great matchup, and we think the winner is the one whose defense progresses the most this year, just enough to slow down the other. As much as we want to see Drew Bledsoe and Tiki Barber get a title, we still find ourselves leaning towards the Glory. Ohio 35 Boston 28 is our predicted Summer Bowl result. AWARD DARKHORSES Rather than a straight up prediction of the award winners for 2007, we thought we would challenges ourselves to come up with someone unexpected in each category, a darkhorse who we think has the potential to leap into the public's consciousness with a strong 2007 season. We'll identify the frontrunner, but make our pick for the darkhorse we see coming up on the outside. MVP: We all expect this to be a race between the league's best QB's, as it almost always is. But, we eliminate the obvious choices, Kerry Collins, Drew Bledsoe, and 2006 winner Jake Plummer. Who do we see as another potential MVP candidate? How about NFL import Steve McNair. With teams now likely to focus on rookie HB Marshawn Lynch as a key player in the Thunder attack, and with Las Vegas expected to compete for the Division Title, McNair is in perfect position to make a run at a surprise MVP nod. Offensive POTY: Usually the best back or receiver each year (when not the 2nd best QB), that means Chad Ochocinco and Tiki Barber of Ohio are usually competing against Ohio's Eddie George and Joey Galloway. So, we look beyond those four and who do we see? We like the potential for one of Oakland's stars to make a run here. If Joey Harrington can show some of his rookie year style, then either Plaxico Burress or Ricky Williams could have a huge year, and that could translate into a lot of national attention and even a POTY award. Defensive POTY: It is rare for the POTY to come from a team with a losing record, but it has happened, especially if that defender clearly dominates and wins one of the Big 3 defensive stats (tackles, sacks, interceptions), with sack masters often favored. We almost had that last year, and we think that in his second year with Ron Rivera, Pittsburgh's Kyle Vanden Bosch has a shot at the league sack title, and that puts him in the running here as well. Rookie of the Year: The two frontrunners here are HB Marshawn Lynch and LB Paul Posluszny, both getting a lot of press and a Week 1 starting position, but there are some lesser-known candidates who are also being in a position to make an immediate impact. There is Antonio Pittman in Arizona, Robert Meachem in Nashville, LaRon Landry also in Nashville, but we are going to go with wideout Dwayne Bowe, who starts the season as the #2 receiver in New Orleans, but could quickly develop into the Breakers's deep ball threat. Coach of the Year: This one is all about coaches who do more with less, reaching heights with their team that the preseason pundits did not see coming, so it is really hard to pick before the season even starts. But, if we look at teams with 10+ losses last year, and try to guess which one could make a leap up to .500 or better, we put our money on the Washington Federals, and that means 1st year coach Sean Payton. Payton is considered an offensive whiz kid, so if the Feds can have a top 10 offense with Kordell Stewart, Deion Branch and Deuce McCallister, and if they can rebound from a truly bad 4-win season, Payton is likely to be in the running. What’s Coming Up on The USFL This Week this season To celebrate the 25th season of the USFL, each week of our coverage we will have a special report where we revisit one key event and one key player in the history of the league. From the crazy first season of spring football to the amazing undefeated season of the 2002 Ohio Glory, we will relive some of the highlights of the league’s first 25 years. The on-field heroics and the off-field drama that helped make the league what it is today. We will start in Week 1 with our look at the Founding of the USFL and its first big star, New Jersey General HB Herschel Walker. Previewing Week 1 A lot to talk about this season, but it all comes down to what happens on the field. Here is our lineup of games for the 25th Season’s Kickoff Weekend: Friday, March 23 Jacksonville @ New Jersey: The opening Friday Night Lights Game is a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals from last year, but what a difference a year makes. It will be our first look at Coach Crennell, at Kelly Holcombe, and at a very different Generals squad from the one that hoisted the Bassett Trophy last July. Saturday, March 24 Michigan @ Philadelphia: New Panther QB Brian Griese tries to start off with a win as Michigan heads to the City of Brotherly Love, but Kurt Warner and the Stars are hoping to exceed expectations and start the season with a home win. Orlando @ Washington: The new look Renegades and QB Drew Brees visit Washington and Kordell Stewart. Can the Feds get a Week 1 win or will Drew Brees continue to create believers in central Florida? Seattle @ St. Louis: The Skyhawks host Byron Leftwich and the Dragons. St. Louis will start Luke McNown against a tough Dragon defense. Los Angeles @ Texas: Seneca Wallace gets the start for the Western Conference Champions as they visit a very different looking Texas Squad in Jeff George’s first start as an Outlaw. Denver @ Las Vegas: The Saturday Night Special features two teams with a lot of hopes for 2007 as Matt Leinart and the Denver Gold visit the Thunder and their rookie sensation, HB Marshawn Lynch. Sunday, March 25 Tampa Bay @ Memphis: Brett Favre returns to the USFL with a huge home opener for the Showboats. They host a very talented Tampa Bay squad in a game that could give us a good sense of what is ahead for both teams. Boston @ Baltimore: The dreaded divisional game as a Week 1 tilt. Both teams will be cautious at first, not knowing what to expect from the other, but don’t expect these two QB’s to dink and dunk all day, both Bledsoe and Roethlisberger want to test the defenses deep. Arizona @ Atlanta: A tough first game for the Wranglers as they head to Atlanta for the opener. Jake Plummer and the new run game for the Wranglers will face off against a Fire squad hoping that QB David Garrard is ready for prime time. Chicago @ Houston: A fun one in the Southwest as the Gamblers face Brady Quinn and the Machine. Expect Matt Hasselbeck to test that new Chicago secondary, while the Machine will try to get Michael Turner and the run game going to keep things simple for their rookie QB. Pittsburgh @ Ohio: A rivalry game, a division game, and a border war between PA and OH. That is what is in store in Columbus as the Maulers, and Cody Pickett head to Ohio to face one of the favorites to win it all this year. Birmingham @ Oakland: A West Coast trip for Jason Campbell and the Stallions as they visit the Bay and QB Joey Harrington in his new role as the clear cut starter for the Invaders. Nashville @ New Orleans: They are expecting a sell out crowd in the Super Dome for the return of the Breakers to New Orleans. They get a division rival in Nashville as Jay Cutler tries to tamp down the enthusiasm of over 65,000 expected Breaker faithful in the Dome on this exciting Sunday Night showdown.

March 17, 2007 Part One: The Changing Landscape of the USFL The 2007 season has not even begun yet and it already feels like the USFL is in transition. After expansion in 2006 and a 2nd wave coming in 2008, the USFL looked at the 2007 year as one which would build a bridge between the 24-team league of 2005 and the 28-team league that 2008 will bring. But, what could not be anticipated is that the offseason between 2006 and 2007 would prove to be one of the most disruptive in the league’s history. Sparked by the NFL’s new emphasis on regaining its position as the preeminent destination for top player talent, the USFL found itself with challenges on several fronts, from veteran quarterbacks being wooed to return to fall football to draft selections using the two leagues against each other. The end result of this tumultuous offseason is a league that may look very different from the 2006 season. Both starting quarterbacks from last year’s Summer Bowl are now NFL players, and several big moves reshaped the balance of power within the league. Not every team was directly impacted, but all 26 clubs in 2007 will be dealing with a very different USFL. We begin our two-part preview of the 2007 USFL season, with a look at an offseason unlike any other. We will explore the moves that defined the past 6 months, recap a complex draft and signing period, rank the biggest USFL signings during January’s NFL-USFL Transfer window, and take one last look at the latest player moves across the league. In our second half, we will look forward, identifying the stories, players, and teams to keep an eye on in 2007, and, of course, we will make our picks for who will hold high the John Bassett Trophy come Summer Bowl 2007 in Arizona. But let’s get started with this offseason’s top stories, the 10 boldest moves that defined this offseason and could define the year to come. Ten Bold Moves That Could Shape the 2007 USFL Season 1) Memphis Signs Brett Favre Fans in Birmingham are understandably furious. Not only did their Hall of Fame quarterback use the USFL’s retirement structure to get out of his contract with the Stallions, but after barely 18 months in the NFL, he returns to the USFL with the Stallion’s arch rival. It did not take long after the NY Jets cut Favre loose (after a threat of yet another retirement announcement) for the Memphis Showboats to start planning his signing. There were, of course, several teams considering a Favre signing, and certainly the USFL leadership wanted to see the All-USFL and All-NFL QB back in the fold, especially after losing several big name quarterbacks earlier in the offseason. But when the draft came along, and Memphis did not select JaMarcus Russell with the 2nd overall pick, as most predicted, it quickly became apparent that Memphis would push all their chips into the middle to acquire the quarterback who so often had crushed their hopes in past Showboat-Stallion battles. Memphis began wooing Favre unofficially long before the NFL-USFL transfer window opened, and once it did, team representatives were on the case 24/7. It would take only 1 week of the 4-week period before Favre agreed to a 3-year deal which makes him the richest player in USFL history. Brett Favre would be returning to the USFL in 2007, and would be trading in his former life as a Stallion to now play for their arch rivals in Memphis. After little more than one season in New York, Favre returns to the south, and he returns to a team that has pieces in place that the former Stallion can work with. From a strong offensive line anchored by LT Mike Gandy and center Casey Rabach to a receiving corps that has been rebuilt over the past 2 seasons. This offseason, Memphis added two more targets in NFL veteran TE David Martin and rookie speedster Sidney Rice. Paired with Cadillac Williams in the run game, Memphis could be a team that jumps from basement to penthouse with Favre in place. Yes, fans in Birmingham are not happy, and we suspect that very soon those in New Orleans and Nashville will join them. 2) Chicago Hands the Keys to Brady Quinn In an offseason where veteran quarterback moves were the headline stories, Chicago made a bold move to go in a new direction. With Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn within their protected draft pool, Chicago chose to move away from their 8-year starter, Jeff George, a starter who had taken them to a Summer Bowl only 1 year earlier. The Machine traded George to the Texas Outlaws, signaling that the 2007 Machine would be a very different team. With George gone, the starting job was open, and offered on a silver platter to the rookie out of South Bend. Chicago began negotiations with Quinn and his agent only 2 days after Notre Dame’s crushing loss to LSU in the Sugar Bowl. By the date in which teams reported their protected Territorial Draft picks to the league, a contract was all but signed and ready to go. Brady Quinn will step with a team that saw its defense drop from elite to barely functional in 2006. He inherits an offense that has some talent in HB Michael Turner and receivers Donald Driver, Curtis Conway, Brandon Lloyd and Anthony Fasano. He will have to learn quickly if Chicago hopes to rebound after a 6-8 season, in a division that has strong contenders in both Michigan and Ohio. But the choice to “reload not rebuild” in Chicago opens the door for Quinn and the Machine. 3) Blow It All Up in the Steel City Staying in the Central Division, one of the most drastic makeovers we have seen this offseason took place in Pittsburgh, where the Maulers gave Coach Ron Rivera carte blanche to reimagine the roster and the team philosophy, and he proved nothing was sacred. His first move occurred before the 2006 season had even ended, benching veteran QB Charlie Batch. By season’s end, Batch was released, and after a frustrating NFL-USFL portal that saw no team from either league sign him, he found himself a new member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. Pittsburgh then made a deal with the Seattle Dragons, bringing Cody Pickett, a raw talent who has been very successful with the Dragons in limited play, to come in and assume the role of starting QB. Were that the only change, then we would likely not be talking about the Maulers, but they then made another move that surprised many and clearly indicated a new direction. Rather than retain their top player, HB Terrell Davis, they used him as collateral, sending the 5-time All-USFL back to Atlanta for a player and two draft picks. A daring move, but one many figured meant that Pittsburgh was a serious player for either Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson or Cal’s Marshawn Lynch with that #1 pick. But only 2 days before the open draft, the Maulers traded again, this time landing former Panther Ladell Betts. While not a break away threat like the two rookies, Betts is also not a bench player who you put behind a rookie. Pittsburgh was not going to try to outbid the NFL for either rookie. They would zig when we all thought they would zag. Pittsburgh would use that pick to select, and then sign, DT Amobi Okoye from Louisville. In doing so, they turned away several bids for the pick, stuck to their choice and got a player who will start on Day 1 for Ron Rivera’s defense. The Maulers then doubled down on the position, signing NFL DT Dan Klecko. The combined moves, along with the signings of former Steeler TE Mark Bruener and the drafting of three linebackers (Purdue’s Anthony Spencer, FSU’s Buster Davis, and Portland State’s Adam Hayward) clearly indicates that Rivera is hoping to build a team from the ground up, and from the defense first. Will they succeed? It is a gamble, with Pickett at QB and Betts at HB, what is certain is that this is no longer the 2006 club that finished 2-12. 4) Las Vegas Trades Up to Land a Superstar When the Thunder signed Steve “Air” McNair last season, we had a feeling that Coach Jerry Glanville had not finished putting a stamp on this team. This year’s biggest draft-day move proved us right. Glanville and the Thunder, seeing that Pittsburgh had moved out of the HB derby, and confident that neither #2 Memphis nor #3 Washington were in the halfback market, swapped out their #13 pick for St. Louis’s #4 to get in the mix. This meant sending St. Louis the #13 pick, a 2nd rounder, and their lead back from 2006, Dominic Rhodes, but to get the man Glanville coveted, it seemed a very good deal. Las Vegas was on the clock at #4 and they sent the card up with Marshawn Lynch’s name on it. Several teams were visibly frustrated by Las Vegas’s move, as most around the USFL felt that Lynch was both an elite talent and a player who would more likely sign with the USFL than Adrian Peterson, who had already expressed a preference for the NFL. Las Vegas got their man, gave up little that they valued to do so, and now enters 2007 as one of the teams people are watching for. The rest of their draft, though limited due to several trades, was still highly regarded, signing CB Eric Wright from nearby UNLV, TE Dante Rosario from Oregon, and an interesting WR prospect in John Broussard from San Jose State. The Thunder had also signed TE Ben Hartsook from the Showboats, and would go on to add NFL linebacker Orlando Huff and FB Ovie Mughelli later in the month, but it would be this move, the one that shook up the 1st round of the draft, that would get the Thunder on the lips of every draft analyst in the league. 5) Orlando Outmaneuvers Two Leagues for Brees Before the Brett Favre news, the biggest QB success for the USFL was clearly the court case that essentially demonstrated that the NFL, and the New Orleans Saints, had jumped the gun on the August transfer window by communicating with QB Drew Brees before the start date of permissible transfers. The beneficiary, rather than being Brees’s original team, the Michigan Panthers, was Orlando. The Renegades, who many had not even considered a QB-strapped team, with Jeff Blake in place, made the decision to woo Brees heavily, and outpaced the rest of the league to get Brees in Orlando as soon as the court decision came down. They would go on to trade Blake to Seattle, acquiring a defensive player and a draft pick in the deal. Orlando went from an afterthought to a hot pick as a darkhorse this year thanks to the move. They would later add HB Najeh Davenport from the NFL Steelers, and land the best TE prospect in the draft, Miami’s Greg Olsen. And while both moves are solid upgrades for the Renegades, the signing of Brees is the story of the year in Orlando and could be a story to follow in the USFL Southern Division all season long. 6) Washington Goes on Offense With the retirement of Bill Parcells in New Jersey, and the decision by the Generals to promote defensive coordinator Romeo Crennell to the head spot, young offensive coordinator Sean Payton suddenly became a hot prospect, and Washington, shifting gears after years of being seen as a defensive-minded team, jumped at the chance to sign the young play caller. Payton signed a deal to become the Federals’ next head coach, replacing Kurt Schottenheimer, who was let go after only 1 season in the big chair. Payton, known for his innovative schemes, and for the development of QB Tom Brady, immediately started focusing on the pathetic 2006 Washington offense, an offense that scored only 11 touchdowns in 14 games last year. He drafted three offensive guards in 7 rounds, signing all three. He also drafted two players at Tight End. He then went out and snagged a 2nd wide receiver to put opposite Deion Branch, picking up Buffalo’s Andre Davis in the NFL transfer window. He finished his signing spree by adding center Austin King (formerly of Boston), and signing the best lead blocker in the free agent pool, former Dragon Chris Massey. The Federals will still rely heavily on Kordell Stewart and Deuce McCallister on offense, but it seems clear that Payton is not going to be content with a defensive squad that grinds out wins by staying close in games. He wants to start showing some fireworks to Federal fans. 6) Draft Day Deals Bring Big Names to the USFL While the Las Vegas Thunder got the most bang for their draft day buck, making the big move up to #4, theirs was hardly the only move of note. Chicago, having received Texas’s #1 pick in the Jeff George deal, went defense-defense with the #5 and #8 picks. They were unable to sign #6 pick Gaines Adams from Clemson (now an NFL Jaguar) but landing safety Eric Weddle with #8. The other big 1st round move was made by the Nashville Knights, who moved back up for a 2nd pick after choosing safety LaRon Landry at #12. They traded away their 2nd and 4th round picks this year, and a 4th next year to get back into the 1st round at #25, getting Los Angeles’s penultimate pick in the round, and selecting WR Steve Smith from USC. Sadly, while this was a big news story on draft day, it may not have worked out just as Nashville had hoped. Smith would sign with the NY Giants, meaning that Nashville had sent two picks to the Express for naught. LA would benefit, signing CB Dante Hughes with that 2nd round pick, and still have a pick next year. Finally, in the crapshoot that is the USFL Draft, when players can upset the apple cart by signing with the NFL, sometimes a longshot pays off. That certainly was the case for Baltimore, which ignored the rumors that Ted Ginn Jr, the firecracker of a wideout from Ohio State, was not looking to sign with the USFL, but had his eyes set on the NFL. It was that rumor which led Ohio to bypass Ginn in the T-Draft and sign Anthony Gonzalez instead. Well, the Blitz must have had different insight into Ginn’s thinking, because they drafted Ginn 9th overall, to quite a few gasps in the room, but 8 days later, Ginn was signed and on his way to Baltimore for training camp. Goes to show that sometimes you just need to trust in your scouting and pick the player, not the potential for signing. 7) Oakland Invests in Joey’s Success When the Invaders gave Joey Harrington the last few starts in 2006, most suspected that Trent Green, who was due to become a free agent, had played his last games in sky and gold. When Green signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, it was official. Coach Dennis Green would trust in Joey Harrington, the QB who came to Oakland as a backup after an up-and-down saga in Orlando. So what do you do to help the new starter succeed? You put good players around him. Oakland did just that this offseason, drafting 2 receivers in Virginia Tech’s David Clowney and tiny Lane College’s standout receiver Jacoby Jones. You also provide him with some protection, so how about adding the best pass-blocking guard available, regular All-USFL talent Ruben Brown of the Stars. With Ricky Williams, Plaxico Burress, and Greg Jennings already in the fold, it looks like Oakland is doing all it can to provide Harrington with a strong second act. 8) Arizona Not Sitting Pat There was no one move that made heads turn towards Phoenix this offseason, but what we did see was a constant stream of news out of Glendale. The Arizona Wranglers, not content with a rebound season in 2006 that saw them jump back up to 10 wins, made more moves than any other team to rework their roster. First, they added depth in the free agent pool, signing players like QB Jim Sorgi, HB Ahmaad Galloway, corner Ray Crockett, and guard Benji Olsen, but they also signed more draft picks than any other USFL Club, landing 5 of 7 Open Draft selections as well as 2 of 3 T-Draft picks. Among the rookie haul we have top tier talent like Nebraska DE Adam Carriker, HBs Chris Henry (Arizona) and Antonio Pittman (Ohio State) and Alabama fullback Le’Ron McClain, but they also solved their kicker dilemma with another T-Draft selection, Arizona’s Nick Folk. Then, as if that were not enough, they remained active in the NFL-USFL Transfer Window, picking up three NFL vets: Corner Duane Starks from the Raiders, DE Joe Tafoya from Seattle, and LB Napoleon Harris from the Vikings. All in all a total of 11 new faces coming to camp (actually more like 20, but some are viewed as camp fodder or practice squad candidates only), and faces that are expected to be seen on the field in 2007 at that. 9) New Jersey Goes Back to Square One We cannot talk about the 2006 offseason without discussing what happened to the 2006 league champion. New Jersey, perhaps more than any other team this year, suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune these past few months. It began with the announcement that Bill Parcells would retire from his role as the Head Coach in East Rutherford. The Big Tuna departed having brought two titles to the Generals in the past 3 years. There was heated debate as to which of his coordinators would step into the Head Coach role, and while many applauded the decision to promote Romeo Crennell into the position, there were many who felt New Jersey dropped the ball by letting Sean Payton leave, not only to another USFL team, but to a division rival in Washington. Then came the second shoe dropping, Tom Brady was wooed, and paid handsomely by USFL-antagonist Jerry Jones, to leave the defending champions and sign on with the NFL. This was the first of the major QB departure shockwaves that would rattle the league this year, but in New Jersey it was not just a shock, it was a disaster. Brady had been the lynchpin of the Generals offense, a calm presence at the QB position that on too many occasions to count had led New Jersey back at the end of games to help them win not one, but two titles. Brady was now gone and the Generals would have to focus on QB in the offseason, a position they rarely considered in recent years. Can a third shoe drop? If so, it did when Deion Sanders, the All-USFL corner who locked down Tory Holt in the league title game, also signed with the NFL, this time the 49ers. Sanders, widely considered the best corner in the game, was also gone from the title team. It would take New Jersey the full offseason to find solutions for both departures, and many are not sure that the solutions they developed are going to succeed. The Generals signed CB Nate Clements away from the Buffalo Bills in the NFL transfer window, but while Clements is a very solid corner, he is not Deion Sanders, and the General defense will not be able to pretend he is. The situation at QB is even murkier for New Jersey. The expectation is that former NFL vet Kelly Holcombe will start the season under center, but New Jersey muddied the waters a bit with their drafting and signing of University of Houston QB Kevin Kolb. There is a lot to like in Kolb, but as we have seen with past Houston QB’s (Andre Ware and David Klingler come to mind), success in the spread offense of Houston against Sun Belt and Conference USA foes does not always translate into a successful pro career. Fans in New Jersey are shell-shocked. They went from celebrating a title and talking dynasty to wondering if they could find themselves in the basement of a very balanced and very tough Northeast Division. There is anger, frustration, and desperation in a fanbase that had become somewhat accustomed to a status quo of success and a clear plan moving forward. If any team is looking at this offseason with great negativity, it is New Jersey. 10—A Changing Wind? If there is one thing that we did not expect to change this offseason it is the fact that both Boston and Ohio would dedicate themselves to adding yet more offensive firepower in an attempt to simply overwhelm their opponents. However, it seems that playoff losses this past July may have sent a different message to coaches John Fox and Al Luginbill. While there were some offensive pieces added to both clubs (Penn State HB Tony Hunt to Boston and Buckey WR Anthony Gonzalez to Ohio), the clear emphasis this offseason was on trying to get some gamebreakers on defense. Two of the biggest defensive free agent signings of the offseason went to the two offensive-minded clubs. Hugh Douglas, considered perhaps the best speed rusher in the league, signed with the Boston Cannons, where he will join Jason Babin and Casey Hampton on the Cannon D-Line. Ohio wanted to improve against the run, and they went two players deep to do so. Ohio added both former Mauler Luther Ellis and former Bandit Sean Gilbert to their defensive interior. That combo may well now be the best in the league against the inside run, forcing teams to try to run outside and deal with Ohio’s linebackers. Yes, Gilbert is likely a 1-2 year solution at best, but if Boston, as many suspect, is looking to go all in this year, he is certainly a big part of any defensive plan. If either Ohio or Boston can maintain their offensive explosiveness and also bulk up on defense, these two powers of the league could become the instant favorites to meet in Arizona for Summer Bowl 2007. Yes, we know that having a team on paper does not always mean winning on the field, but these moves seem to indicate that both clubs are looking at 2007 as a now-or-never proposition. College Draft & Signings Recap We highlighted the draft with some of our Top 10 Blockbuster Offseason Moves, but with the player signing period coming to a close and all teams in camp ahead of the season start in 2 weeks, it seems appropriate to look back at the Territorial and Open Drafts and see just how well each team fared. As always, the NFL factor was huge, as we saw 14 of the 26 first round USFL picks sign with the fall league. And yet, there are some teams that did very well, and some players who could be immediate impact performers on USFL squads. So, as we look at each team (in the order of their 1st round picks before any trading), we will look at how they fared in the 1st round, then overall, and name one player we think could make a name for themselves this season. PITTSBURGH 1st Round Story: The Maulers passed on a high risk HB pick and went with a defensive need and a player they knew would sign in Louisville DT Amobi Okoye. Expect him to start Week 1 for the Thunder. Rookies Reporting: Six of ten draftees signed with the Maulers, including 3 LBs and longshot Pitt QB Tyler Palko. Impact Rookie: Okoye is the obvious choice, but we also like LB Buster Davis of FSU to find some time on the field for Coach Rivera’s defense. MEMPHIS 1st Round Story: Memphis passing on JaMarcus Russell was a clear sign that they had an inside track on Brett Favre. The player they did land is an immediate impact performer and a local star, Ole Miss LB Patrick Willis. Rookies Reporting: Memphis signed 7 of 10 draftees, including Willis, DE Jamaal Anderson of Arkansas, DE Quentin Moses of Georgia, and WR Sidney Rice of So. Carolina, for a very SEC feel to this year’s draft. Impact Rookie: Both Willis and Rice are immediate starters, and we think both DE’s also have a shot to get into the defensive gameplan for new head coach Jim Haslett. WASHINGTON 1st Round Story: The first NFL signing of the draft as Washington’s top pick, Wisconsin LT Joe Thomas goes #1 overall to the Cleveland Browns and heads off to Ohio. Thomas was always a risk, and yet Kordell Stewart needs protection to be effective, so we understand the pick. Rookies Reporting: Other than Thomas, the Feds did pretty well, landing 6 of 11 picks. Included in that 7 are three guards, including Tennessee’s Arron Sears and Purdue’s Uche Nwaneri. Impact Rookie: Despite the number of picks the Feds had, we predict no Week 1 starters in their rookie crop. DE Charles Johnson (UGA) should see some action in rotation. ST. LOUIS 1st Round Story: The Skyhawks were looking at Marshawn Lynch for themselves, but were not sold, so when Las Vegas offered 2 picks and a player to move up, the Skyhawks went for quantity, dropping from #4 to #13, where they took a flyer on LSU QB JaMarcus Russell, who fell quite far but opted to sign with the LA Raiders of the NFL. Rookies Reporting: The Skyhawks did not fare well in the Open Draft, landing only 3 of 8 picks. They did much better in the T-Draft where both Louisville products, HB Michael Bush and CB William Gay signed on for St. Louis. Impact Rookie: We see a lot of potential for Bush, who will begin the year splitting carries with former Thunder HB Dominic Rhodes. PHILADELPHIA 1st Round Story: Philadelphia could not land FSU LB Lawrence Timmons, who would go on to sign with the cross-state and cross-league Steelers. Rookies Reporting: The stars struggled with signing most of their Open Draft picks. They did land TE Brent Celek from Cincinnati, OT Ken Shackleford of Georgia, and QB Matt Gutierrez of Idaho State, but their biggest success was signing both Penn State LB’s, Paul Posluszny and Tim Shaw. Impact Rookie: Pencil in “Poz”, Paul Posluszny to start the season as the MLB in the Stars’ 4-3 scheme. He could be a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate for Coach Harbaugh. TEXAS 1st Round Story: Texas traded away their #1 pick (#6 overall) in the deal that brought Jeff George to San Antonio. While we understand the motivation to bring in a known winner at QB, it feels like a steep price to pay. Rookies Reporting: After not having a 1st round pick, Texas also failed to sign their 2nd or 3rd round selections, leaving them a bit bare. CB David Irons in the 6th could be a good value, and they did pick up two other decent prospects in the T-Draft with UT’s Aaron Ross (CB) and Tim Crowder (DE). Impact Rookie: No starters, at least not right away. Expect Ross to see some time at nickel, that is if David Irons does not beat him out in the final week of camp. ORLANDO 1st Round Story: Orlando selected and signed a new safety valve for their new QB. We think Drew Brees and Greg Olsen are going to become quite a combo for the Renegades. Olsen can stretch the field against linebackers and can post out safeties, making him a matchup problem. Rookies Reporting: Orlando signed 6 of 12 picks over the 10 rounds of T-Draft and Open Draft, but other than Olsen, we don’t see much immediate impact here. Impact Rookie: We are still a bit confused about why Orlando went with Oregon State QB Matt Moore in the 7th and final round. I guess it helps to have a young QB on the practice squad to simulate the opposition’s starter. CHICAGO 1st Round Story: Chicago got 2 picks in the first 8 thanks to the Jeff George trade. Pick #6 was DE Gaines Adams of Clemson. Pick #8 was safety Eric Weddle of Utah. Gaines jumped to the NFL but Weddle is signed, and could split time with Leomont Evans from the start of the year. Rookies Reporting: Chicago had 12 picks in 10 rounds, thanks to the Texas deal, but only 5 signed, including Weddle. Of course, when two of them are Golden Domers Brady Quinn and DE Victor Abiamiri, it is still a pretty good draft. Impact Rookie: Quinn seems the obvious choice, but keep an eye on OK State WR D’Juan Woods, who could be named the 3rd or slot receiver for the Machine, despite being only a 7th round pick. BALTIMORE 1st Round Story: Baltimore took a shot at a player many had shied away from, thinking he was NFL bound, but the right combo of incentives, and a QB that can fire lasers helped bring Ted Ginn Jr to the Blitz. A bit of a coup with the 9th pick. Rookies Reporting: In addition to Ginn, we like the signings of safety Aaren Rouse (Va Tech) and OG Andy Alleman (Akron),. The rest of the pool is depth more than impact. Impact Rookie: Expect Baltimore to have Ginn start at the slot and to handle a lot of punt and kick returns. The more ways they can get the ball in his hands, the better for a club that has lacked explosiveness. OAKLAND 1st Round Story: The Invaders hoped they could land the best corner in the draft, and they negotiated for a good 2 weeks with his agent, but in the end Darrelle Revis opted to stay on the East Coast, moving from Pittsburgh to the Big Apple to play for the NY Jets. Rookies Reporting: Oakland was a bit more conservative with their remaining picks, and was able to sign 6 players from their draft, including a good looking WR in Lane College’s Jacoby Jones. Cal LB Desmond Bishop and Stanford LB Michael Okwo should see some action this year. Impact Rookie: No immediate starters, but we like Jacoby Jones’s versatility and work ethic. He could see the field in some multiple receiver sets. BIRMINGHAM 1st Round Story: If Oakland going for Revis was a risk, Birmingham picking Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson was a shot in the dark. Small market, poor QB play, and a coach on the hot seat are not the types of enticements that would bring Johnson to Birmingham, even if his NFL option was the Detroit Lions. Rookies Reporting: The Stallions had significant difficulties signing their picks. In the end, they got 3 players from the state of Alabama, the best of which was Auburn guard Ben Grubbs, but missed on most others. Impact Rookie: Grubbs will start on the right side for the Stallions, but we see him projecting to LG within 1-2 years. NASHVILLE 1st Round Story: Nashville had an up-and-down first round, picking LSU safety LaRon Landry with the #12 pick and then trading up with LA to select USC wideout Steve Smith at #25. Landry would sign with the Knights, but Smith was a failed effort, landing in the NFL. Rookies Reporting: The move up to #25 cost Nashville several picks in the draft, and they ended up signing only 1 additional Open Draft pick, 3rd rounder, guard Manuel Ramirez. Their best pick might have been in the T-Draft where they landed Vols WR Robert Meachem. Impact Rookie: Nashville needed quality at WR and they think they have it with Meachem, who is already slated to start opposite Derrick Mason. With Emmanuel gone, Meachem has big shoes to fill. LAS VEGAS 1st Round Story: Las Vegas was the story of the first round, making the big move up from 13 to 4 to select Marshawn Lynch, the multifaceted Cal HB. Lynch would sign with Coach Glanville’s Thunder and bring a lot of excitement with him to Sin City. Rookies Reporting: Other than Lynch, things did not go so well. Las Vegas had reduced picks in the Open Draft, signing only WR John Broussard of San Jose State. They did land two solid prospects in the T-Draft with TE Dante Rosario (Oregon) and CB Eric Wright from UNLV. Impact Rookie: Lynch is the key to the entire draft for the Thunder. If he pans out, then the Thunder will look like geniuses. If he flames out, then heads will roll. DENVER 1st Round Story: A very quiet draft for the Gold. No trades, no big shocks, and no first round signing, as their pick, Texas safety Michael Griffin opted to sign on with the Tennessee Copperheads in the NFL. Rookies Reporting: Denver was another team that only landed 2 of 7 Open Draft picks. DT Brandon Mebane of Cal could be a solid contributor. QB Jordan Palmer of UTEP in the 5th round felt like a stretch. They did land their kicker in the T-Draft, Colorado’s Mason Crosby. Impact Rookie: Crosby is the only obvious pick here. He will be the kicker when the season starts, and we know he knows how to kick in altitude after a stellar career in Boulder. ATLANTA 1st Round Story: The third of 5 straight failed 1st round picks (#13-17) as Florida DE Jarvis Moss opted to sign with the Broncos when he was their 1st rounder. Rookies Reporting: Again only 2 of 7 Open Draft picks signed with Atlanta. We like guard Justin Blalock of Texas. But he may be the only player to see the field this year from a pretty weak draft. Impact Rookie: We just don’t see any. QB Tyler Thigpen form Coastal Carolina is an interesting prospect, as is Georgia safety Tra Battle, but we expect both to spend more time with the practice squad than the starters. MICHIGAN 1st Round Story: Michigan also went D-Line and also failed to land their first pick, Tennessee DT Justin Harrell. Harrell chose the frozen tundra of Green Bay over the climate control of Ford Field. Not a move I generally would recommend. Rookies Reporting: Michigan, still reeling from the Drew Brees fiasco, did land a potential starter in Michigan State QB Drew Stanton. Expect him to spend most of the year behind Wolverine QB Brian Griese, but by next March, he could well be the starter for the Panthers. WR Laurent Robinson and CB Leon Hall (Michigan) could contribute this year. Impact Rookie: The WR Room is a crowded one for the Panthers, so Robinson could get stuck in the wash behind Hines Ward, Laverneus Coles, Antwan Randle-El, and Charles Rogers, but he might still find a way into the mix if he can keep up his effort level from camp. SEATTLE 1st Round Story: The fifth of five straight NFL signings as 1st round pick, OT Tony Ugoh from Arkansas opted to join the Indianapolis Colts. Rookies Reporting: While we like the skills of WR Dwayne Jarrett (USC) and TE Tyler Ecker (Michigan), signing only 4 rookies is not what you want out of a draft. Impact Rookie: Jarrett should see the field early on, at least in 3-4 receiver sets. Ecker will learn under Jeramy Stevens, which is not a bad way to come into the league. TAMPA BAY 1st Round Story: The Bandits break the bad streak by coming to a 4-year deal with their pick, Penn State tackle Levi Brown. Brown will step into the starting lineup right away, lining up on the right side. Rookies Reporting: The only other potential impact pick by the Bandits was safety Brandon Merriweather, who likely waits behind Idrees Basheer, but can contribute on special teams. Impact Rookie: Brown is a road grater of a tackle, so expect a lot of McGahee runs to his side of the line. NEW ORLEANS 1st Round Story: Eventually someone had to try, and it took 19 picks, but New Orleans decided to be the team to try their luck with OU halfback Adrian Peterson. It was a no-go, as Peterson kept to his word, signing with the Minnesota Vikings. He would have been a day 1 starter for the Breakers, who now look to split carries between Troy Davis, Julius Jones and another rookie, Auburn’s Kenny Irons. Rookies Reporting: After taking a shot on Peterson, it was smart for New Orleans to pick Irons in the 2nd round. They also did well to sign their top T-Draft pick, WR Dwayne Bowe of LSU. Impact Rookie: Expect both Irons and Bowe to see action early, with the big LSU receiver impressing many at Breaker camp, and possibly starting the year 2nd on the depth chart, lining up opposite Keenan McCardell, with Hakeem in the slot. OHIO 1st Round Story: Another NFL signing as Ohio’s obsession with rookie wide receivers does not pan out. LSU wideout Craig Davis opts for the NFL, meaning no new face for Drew Bledsoe to throw to. Rookies Reporting: Ohio was the clear loser in this year’s draft, landing only 1 Open Draft pick, a 6th rounder in Rutgers guard Darnell Stephenson. They did sign Ohio State receiver Anthony Gonzalez, but with Baltimore landing Ted Ginn Jr, who Ohio had written off, this year’s draft looks like a bust for the Glory. Impact Rookie: Gonzalez has not been able to unseat Sinorice Moss (last year’s Buckeye wideout signing) in camp, just as he could not beat him out when the two were both at OSU. ARIZONA 1st Round Story: A good pick, and a need position as Arizona signs Nebraska DE Adam Carriker. The Husker should see a lot of action on run downs at first, but could become a 3-down player within a year or two. Rookies Reporting: Arizona did quite well, signing 7 of 10 picks, including Carriker, HB Antonio Pittman of Ohio State, FB Le’Ron McClain of Alabama (generally viewed as the best FB prospect in the draft) and also landing their new kicker, Nick Folk, in the T-Draft. Impact Rookie: We did not mention HB Chris Henry of Arizona, but both Henry and Pittman will see carries. Of the two, we think Pittman will have the more immediate impact and could become the lead back in what is a bit of a murky HB group right now. BOSTON 1st Round Story: Boston really emphasized defense this year, and the draft was no difference. Problem is their #1 pick, LB Jon Beason of Miami, opted to stay a bit closer to home and sign with the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. Rookies Reporting: Other than missing on Beason, Boston did quite well with 6 signings, including Penn State HB Tony Hunt, NC State DT DeMarcus Tyler, and three O-linemen. Impact Rookie: Hunt will likely spell Tiki Barber, who finally won the rushing title last year, but who may be looking to not lead the league in attempts as he enters his mid-30’s. HOUSTON 1st Round Story: The Gamblers want to help Matt Hasselbeck out with more O-line help, and they got their man, Central Michigan OT Joe Staley. Staley will likely act as a swing tackle, subbing on either side of the line this year as needed. Rookies Reporting: In addition to Staley, Houston signed UCF wideout Mike Sims-Walker, who is already slated to serve as the slot receiver and could also return kicks. LB Zak DeOssie could be a steal in the 4th round. The Brown standout is a solid player out of a smaller school. Finally, HB Jackie Battle may not see the ball much, but expect him to be a gunner on kick coverage. Impact Rookie: Houston is very high on Sims-Walker, putting him in the slot despite the presence of Koren Robinson and Bethel Johnson as options. JACKSONVILLE 1st Round Story: No go for Jacksonville and their pick, DE LaMarr Woodley, would opts to join the Steelers next fall. The good news for the bulls isthat they were able to sign 4 of their next 5 picks. Rookies Reporting: Second rounder, DT Alan Branch, is a solid signing, as are FSU HB Lorenzo Booker and LB Anthony Waters. Impact Rookie: The Bulls also snagged themselves a kicker in UCLA’s Justin Medlock. Along with Arizona and Denver, that makes 3 rookies who will be their team’s opening day kickers. LOS ANGELES 1st Round Story: A bad year for the Express, losing Cade McNown to the NFL, got worse as they thought they had a sure thing in BYU's John Beck, the 3rd QB taken. They did not. They also wiffed on San Jose State WR James Jones in the 3rd, two picks they wish they could have back. Rookies Reporting: LA did sign some talent, particularly T-Draft pick center Ryan Kalil of USC, and 2nd round pick Dante Hughes of Cal. Impact Rookie: Kalil should get plenty of reps this year, but Center was not the position of greatest need. NEW JERSEY 1st Round Story: Like LA, the Generals’ greatest need was a QB to replace the one they lost to the NFL. Signing first round pick Kevin Kolb puts New Jersey in a better position than LA, but the Generals are still planning on starting former NFL QB Kelly Holcombe this year. Rookies Reporting: Beyond Kolb, the best signing for the Generals was Iowa OT Marshal Yanda. He won’t start this year, but depth at tackle is vital when the QB’s you have are not known for their scrambling or dual threat capacity. We also love the T-Draft nod to USFL history, taking the nephew of USFL HOF DE Junior Ah You, C.J. Ah You. Impact Rookie: Yanda is the most likely to see a lot of reps, but a player who could slip under the radar and see some field time is 4th rounder Steve Breaston. The wideout form Michigan is not a speed burner, but he runs good routes and finds ways to get open. NFL-USFL Transfer Window After the USFL Draft, with all its hits and near misses, the 26 USFL club had two options to address roster gaps, they could pick from the remaining free agents within the shrinking pool, or they could explore options when the NFL-USFL Transfer window opened. For many clubs, this was their best shot to acquire a key player in a needed position as there were only a few top level free agents left in the USFL pool. And while the pool of NFL players was nowhere near as robust as the USFL pool had been back in August, there was quality to be found. Here is our list of the Top 10 players picked up by USFL squads, players likely to be seeing the field in a week, when regular season action begins. 10—Arizona signed two NFL defenders who could play key roles in their attempt to capture the Pacific division. Former Raider CB Duane Starks is very likely to join Asante Samuel and Jimmy Williams in nickel or dime packages while DE Joe Tafoya adds depth behind Gary Walker and Chike Okeafor, though rookie Adam Carriker Is also in the mix there. 9—Birmingham brought in another young, athletic QB to compete with Jason Campbell. Anthony Wright, the former backup in Cincinnati, is something of a Campbell duplicate, which makes sense if Coach Franchione wants to motivate Campbell, or if Campbell goes down, the Stallions can run the same offense. 8—Boston added a pro-bowl quality tackle in Marco Colombo from the Cowboys. Expect Colombo to start at RT in Week 1 and to rotate over to LT if anything were to happen to Stockar McDougle. 7—Washington thinks they may have found a #2 receiver in former Bill Andre Davis. Davis comes over to the Federals and will rotate with Mike Williams, who Washington received in trade from Pittsburgh last year. 6—Pittsburgh got a possible impact player on both sides of the ball with DT Dan Klecko immediately working his way into the defensive plans and TE Mark Bruener expected to challenge Alge Crumpler for playing time. 5—Orlando added another big back to pair with Sedrick Irvin, landing former Steeler Najeh Davenport. Very much in the same mold as Irvin, Davenport will be used often in short yardage situations. 4—Oakland focused on defense, signing Rams’ DT Jason Fisk and Jaguars’ CB Deon Grant. Fisk will pair with Joe Salave’a in the 4-3, while Grant could move into the #2 or perhaps even the #1 slot in a secondary that still lacks both experience and pedigree. 3—New Orleans backs up Eli Manning with former Buccaneer QB Tim Rattay. Rattay, a product of Louisiana Tech is both a local boy and a player who showed some sparks in the NFL, particularly in his time with the 49ers. 2—Memphis obviously hit the motherload with Brett Favre, but they also brought in a solid target for Favre, signing Packer TE David Martin. Martin will rotate with veteran Walter Rasby in the TE slot. 1—Las Vegas probably landed the best 1-2 punch in the NFL pool, landing a bonafide starter on both sides of the ball. They found a perfect lead man for rookie Marshawn Lynch, landing former Baltimore Raven FB Ovie Mughelli, a bulldozer of a fullback. On defense they brought in former Cardinal LB Orlando Huff, who is projected to take line up with A.J. Hawk and Joey Porter to form a dangerous LB group. Other signings of note include center Shaun O’Hara (Giants to Outlaws), HB Kenny Watson (Bengals to Glory), CB Nate Clements (Bills to Generals), DE David Bowens (Dolphins to Bulls), and LB Rocky Boiman (Colts to Machine), Late Free Agent News With camps open and several quality free agents still available, late adds were inevitable, and there were some that can certainly impact the 2007 season as some of the older veterans found that they were not drawing the market they expected and would have to lower their asking price. The biggest name in the bunch had to be DT Sean Gilbert, who, at 34 is a short term answer, but he found a home with the Ohio Glory, a team that has a definite “win now” attitude. Another veteran who found a new home just as camps opened was LB Craig Powell, who will move form the Skyhawks to the Breakers. Wide receiver was a popular late signing as we saw several find new homes. These include R.J. Soward (Bulls to Feds), Alex Van Dyke (Stallions to Outlaws), Danny Farmer (Feds to Bandits), and Bobby Shaw (Panthers to Knights). The only QB still on anyone’s board, former Chicago backup Ray Lucas, joins the Invaders, who were looking for a veteran presence behind Joey Harrington. Among running backs, only 2 more found homes, with Jonathan Wells headed to the Feds and R. J. Redmond joining another initial-heavy back (T.J. Duckett) in San Antonio with the Outlaws. It was not a good free agency for players over 33 as several remain unsigned. That includes names like tackle Antoine Davis (36), Safety Marquez Pope (36), DE John Copeland (34), and LB Derek Smith (33). Some will likely file for retirement if a signing is not eminent, others will likely hold out to see if injuries push teams to add a mid-season replacement. And, there is always the CFL, which could snatch up a few players in the interim. That is the offseason that was. A lot of movement, a lot of stress for USFL clubs, and a lot of uncertainty as teams try to move their way upward, but often find themselves falling behind. Who will take a step forward in 2007, getting closer to their hopes for a title? Who will fall from their 2006 position? Just how impactful will the NFL surge in signings be? Who recovered and found ways to reconfigure their squads for success, and who is struggling? Our second article of this 25th USFL Season Preview will look ahead, assess the rosters of each team, their prospects, and the stories to follow as we prepare to kick off spring football for the 25th time.

January 16, 2007 January is a busy month for the USFL. Camps open in just 2 weeks, we are currently between the league’s annual Territorial Draft and the Open Draft of college players, free agency is winding down, with most of the bigger name players already with new teams, and in just 8 days the NFL-USFL Transfer Window reopens, with a late NFL move throwing some chaos into the mix. We start however, with the story of December as the NFL got coal in its stocking while the Orlando Renegades got a visit from Santa Claus. Brees Blocked from NFL Move, Signs with Renegades It took far longer than most expected, with both the USFL and the New Orleans Saints of the NFL eagerly hoping for a decision in their favor from the district court in New York to reach a decision, but that decision came on December 1st, just in time for the Christmas shopping season. The court ruled that the Saints had made contact with Drew Brees’s agent prior to the initiation of the NFL-USFL Transfer Window in August, and that these contacts directly led to the early signing of Brees once the window was open. A series of emails and voicemails were the principle evidence indicating that VP of player personnel Rick Mueller, along with Executive VP Mickey Loomis had violated the agreement between the two leagues by communicating with Brees’s agent Tom Condon well ahead of the dates outlined by the transfer agreement. The immediate result of the decision was that the agreement for Brees to sign with the Saints was immediately nullified, placing Brees back in the USFL free agent pool. With the next NFL-USFL Transfer Window not until late January, the USFL would have exclusive rights to negotiate with Brees for nearly 2 months. It would not take that long for Brees to sign a new contract. While his original team, the Michigan Panthers, were in the early running to resign the Purdue product, the price tag for Brees’s services quickly led to Michigan bowing out, settling on backup Brian Griese to be their new starter. Within 2 weeks of the decision the competition for Brees came down to two teams, the Memphis Showboats and the Orlando Renegades. Orlando was considered something of a surprise, as it had been believed that they were comfortable standing pat with former NFL QB Jeff Blake under center, but, apparently GM Phil Emery and Head Coach Emmitt Thomas were in agreement that signing Brees was a priority. Both the Showboats and Renegades made their pitches, and on December 21st, just a few days before Christmas, a deal was struck with the Renegades. Brees would sign a 4-year deal that would have him in Central Florida and fans in Michigan, Memphis, and New Orleans, would be let down. By New Year’s Jeff Blake was in Seattle, traded for a 5th round pick and linebacker Bryan Jones. The Saints finished the 2006 season with J.P. Losman still as their quarterback, and while they were able to return to the Super Dome mid-season, their 6-10 season was hardly what fans were hoping for when Brees initially signed in August. But, while there is disappointment in the Crescent City, fans in Orlando have been ecstatic about their club’s aggressive move and their new QB. Expect to see a lot of Orlando Blue #9 jerseys on shelves all over Florida this spring. Player Movement Continues Across USFL While the Drew Brees saga was certainly the front page story throughout the league this fall, it was hardly the only major movement of personnel across the league. Since our last report in October the USFL has continued to see action on the trade wire as well as within the free agent pool. As we enter the later stages of the offseason, with the draft and second transfer window upon us, let’s first recap some of the bigger trades and signings since October. We already mentioned this deal, but just to put the pieces in place, Orlando sent their 2006 starting QB to Seattle, where he will serve as the backup to Byron Leftwich. Jeff Blake heads to the Dragons in exchange for LB Bryan Jones and Seattle’s 5th rounder in this year’s open draft. A HB swap occurred between two teams not happy with their production in the run game as New Orleans sent Chris Perry to the Las Vegas Thunder, receiving Julius Jones and a 5th round pick that the Thunder had from Jacksonville in return. Will the third time be the charm for Perry, who lost his starting job in Michigan before heading to New Orleans, only to be sat behind Troy Davis. Now with Las Vegas he will compete for carries with Dominic Rhodes. Meanwhile Julius Jones is the kind of bigger back the Breakers have lacked since cutting Ricky Williams after his drug suspension. Another HB on the move is Ron Dayne’s backup, Derrick Ward, who also heads to New Orleans, a team clearly trying to reinvent their ground game. Ward came relatively cheaply as the Breakers send DT Barry Cofield to Baltimore in the deal. Wideout was another volatile position as teams tried to add depth, speed, or both. Baltimore remained active on the trading block, sending a 3rd round pick (one acquired from Ohio) to the Oakland Invaders in trade for wideout Marty Booker. Houston sent WR Drew Bennett off to St. Louis in exchange for only a 4th round pick, a potential steal for the speed-needy Skyhawks. Atlanta made a deal to help deal with some free agent defections, sending a 5th round pick to Birmingham in exchange for free safety Marcus Washington, who may well start for the Fire in their surprisingly good defense. Among free agents, the biggest signings occurred early, as we often see, but there were some noteworthy late additions that could help their new clubs this season. Boston nabbed the biggest prize outside of Drew Brees when they landed DE Hugh Douglas. The former Thunder edge rusher should immediately improve Boston’s front four and provide options for the Cannons to reduce their need to blitz. Oakland also landed the player they were coveting, former Stars guard Ruben Brown, who will certainly anchor down the right side of the line and help establish the run game for Ricky Williams. Chicago got a defender they desperately needed as they try to rebuild their secondary. Al Harris, the outstanding corner for the Dragons will now call the Windy City home. The Maulers’ run game certainly takes a hit with the departure of Terrell Davis, but Coach Rivera is hoping that improvements on the O-line will help them maintain a strong run option. He added guard Chris Johnson, formerly of the Wranglers. Washington found themselves a fullback, landing Seattle’s Chris Massey, a dynamic blocker who excels at clearing the path for the halfback. So, expect Deuce McCallister to see his yards per carry pop up a notch or two. The Feds also landed one of the better O-linemen available in center Austin King, part of Boston’s success on offense in recent years. Texas got a backup for T. J. Duckett, snagging Travis Prentice away from the Bandits. Las Vegas won the scramble to sign TE Ben Hartsook away from the Showboats. No fewer than 5 teams met with Hartsook before he signed with Jerry Glanville and the Thunder. Boston replaced their lost center (King) by signing a pretty good option in Antonio Graham, formerly with the Bulls. Houston also nabbed a center, signing Nick Hardwick from in-state rival Texas. Nashville are going into 2007 with Jay Cutler prepared to take on the starting role after spending 2006 learning from Todd Collins, but they still wanted a veteran presence, so in steps Rick Mirer. Mirer spent most of last year more as a coach than a player with St. Louis, where Art Shell started the year with Quincy Carter and finished with Luke McCown under center. One more backup QB situation is solved as Chicago signs former Bandit Tony Banks. Banks could even start the year as the starter, depending on how quickly Chicago’s newest signing, Notre Dame rookie Brady Quinn, develops. Territorial Draft provides Instant Result for Chicago It did not take long for the Chicago Machine to cash in on this past week’s Territorial Draft. It had long been known that Chicago was wooing Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn, and so it is no surprise that no only did they select Quinn with their first T-Draft pick, but that they announced that same day that he was signed, sealed, and delivered to a 4-year rookie deal. Quinn was considered one of the top QB prospects in the draft, along with LSU’s JaMarcus Russell and Houston’s Kevin Kolb. Quinn is expected to be a first year starter, though the signing of Tony Banks does give Chicago a bit of breathing room if a Week 1 start seems imprudent. The young QB will likely operate a pretty slimmed down offense, one reliant on the run, but it is not as if there is not talent at the receiver position. The combination of Donald Driver, Curtis Conway, and the up and coming Brandon Lloyd certainly gives the young QB plenty of targets. Quinn was not the only “Big Name” player selected on Monday, but he was the only one to sign on the first day, clearly the product of ongoing negotiations well before the draft began. We have seen only a handful of players sign with the USFL in the last few days, but we expect to see a good number of the picks agree to the Spring league, in part due to the regional nature of the T-Draft, allowing players to connect with fans who already know them, increasing their Q-factor, but also because the T-Draft tends to focus on players eager to sign, and not those considered longshots. Breaking down the T-Draft, here is our look at each team’s draftee with the highest chance of both signing and having an impact in 2007. ARIZONA: The Wranglers went for need, picking kicker Nick Folk, HB Chris Henry, and S Michael Johnson, all Arizona Wildcats. Henry could the toughest to sign as a potential 1st-2nd round NFL pick. ATLANTA: We think the odds that they can sign Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson are slim. He is clearly a top 5 selection in the NFL Draft. The other two picks, OG Mansfield Wrotto (Ga Tech) and S Tra Battle (UGA) could be good depth additions for the Fire. BALTIMORE: Safety Aaron Rouse (Va Tech) has already signed and is a great pickup. We are not as sure about DT Conrad Bolston (Maryland) or OT Brandon Frye. BIRMINGHAM: Auburn players were popular with the Stallions this year, as they selected 3, guard Ben Grubbs, LB Will Herring, and WR Courtney Taylor. BOSTON: The Cannons were able to add NC State as a school this year, and that brought them 2 of their 3 picks, DT DeMarcus Taylor and C Leroy Harris. The final pick was BC guard Josh Beekman. CHICAGO: We all know about Quinn. The Machine are also working hard to sign another Golden Domer, DE Victor Abiamiri. DENVER: We are a bit surprised Denver did not pick Nebraska HB Brandon Jackon or DE Adam Carriker, but the notoriously frugal Gold focused on signable players like kicker Mason Crosby from CU and LB Stewart Bradley of the Huskers. HOUSTON: The Gamblers passed on QB Kevin Kolb, sending him to the open draft. They solved their punter problem by signing Baylor’s Daniel Sepulveda, and they also took a flier on a good looking HB from the Houston Cougars, Jackie Battle. JACKSONVILLE: They went bold in selecting FSU’s Lawerence Timmons. The Seminole LB is unlikely to sign before he sees his NFL draft position. Another LB, Anthony Waters of Clemson could be in camp sooner, along with HB Lorenzo Booker. LAS VEGAS: We love the midround prospect Dante Rosario at tight end. Las Vegas would also love to sign UNLV corner Eric Wright. LOS ANGELES: Always so much talent out of USC and UCLA. Hard to go wrong here. Center Ryan Kalil was an early target and one the Express hope to have in the fold soon. MEMPHIS: Can the Showboats get Arkansas de Jamaal Anderson to sign on the dotted line? That is the big question. Their other home run shot is wideout Sidney Rice out of South Carolina, a prospect who could hold out until after the NFL Draft to see where he goes. MICHIGAN: The Panthers have high hopes that they can sign QB Drew Stanton from MSU. Stanton seems open to joining the club, and, with Brees gone, the potential for him to work his way to a starting position is there. NASHVILLE: Last year it was QB Jay Cutler in the T-Draft. This year did they land him a receiver? They drafted Tennessee speedster Robert Meachem, who would be a nice addition for Cutler to work with. NEW JERSEY: We don’t know what the Generals would do without Oklahoma being one of their schools. It is not like the Rutgers guys stand much of a chance. New Jersey passed on Adrian Peterson as expected (too costly in a position they do not have issues with) but picked 3 other Sooners. Our favorite pick, C. J. Ah You, nephew of early USFL legend Junior Ah You. NEW ORLEANS: The Breakers are letting JaMarcus Russell head to the open draft, along with safety LaRon Landry, two of LSU’s best. They did go after the LSU receiver however, selecting Dwayne Bowe with their first pick. Now, will he sign for a chance to stay local? OAKLAND: Not the greatest haul from Stanford and Cal this year, but we like the prospects that the Invaders can land two of their picks, LB Michael Okwo of Stanford and Cal LB Desmond Bishop. QB Trent Edwards of Stanford was allowed to join the Open Draft, unpicked by the Invaders. OHIO: With the Buckeyes in their protected list, it is always just a question of who the Glory want and who they can sign. They had two top receivers in this year’s crop, and opted for the taller of the two, Anthony Gonzalez, over Ted Ginn Jr. ORLANDO: After the signing of Brees, Orlando is a little tight on cash, so we are not surprised they used all 3 picks on players considered mid-round prospects. Florida DT Marcus Thomas is the most promising of the three. PHILADELPHIA: The Stars stick with their Penn State pipeline. Talks are already under way with LB Paul Posluszny, and fellow LB Tim Shaw was also selected. Add to these two DT Jay Alford and you have 3 big defenders the Stars hope to add this year. PITTSBURGH: The Maulers take a flyer on a late round prospect in QB Tyler Palko from Pitt. They have had luck with Pitt players in the past, and with Cody Pickett clearly brought in to start, Palko could sign on just to get some reps and find a spot on the roster. SEATTLE: No 1st or 2nd round prospects in the pool for the Dragons, but we think they may have found a low cost, high ceiling player in guard Stanley Daniels of UW. ST. LOUIS: Louisville HB Michael bush is an interesting prospect for the Skyhawks, who struggled to run the ball last season. The Hawks also went for another Cardinal, picking CB William Gay from Louisville with their 2nd pick. TAMPA BAY: Safety Brandon Meriweather would be a great signing if the Bandits can pull it off. They have the cap room, but will they spend it on the former Hurricane? TEXAS: The Outlaws went defense with all 3 picks, which is surprising when they brought in Norv Turner to coach the team. Of the 3, CB Aaron Ross of the Longhorns is the clear top target. WASHINGTON: No big names here either, as Wake Forest and Virginia just did not provide much. Though we will say that 3rd pick, TE Fontel Mines, has one of the best names in the T-Draft. NY Jets Give the NFL Transfer Window a Surprise Shot in the Arm We were all ready to write a column about how the USFL simply see not have much talent available through the NFL free agent pool to even try to “balance the ledger” after the raiding the NFL performed, signing away huge stars like Tom Brady, Cade McNown, Deion Sanders, Antonio Freeman, and about 10 other top line starters. But, the New York Jets came to the rescue. After only 1 full season in New York, Brett Favre wanted out, and threatened to retire again (after having done so briefly when leaving the USFL Stallions). The Jets obliged him by cutting the 2x USFL MVP, which puts him in line to be a part of what would otherwise be a pretty hum drum transfer pool. Could Favre be headed back to the USFL? The prospect seems strong that he will. We won’t speculate on who we think should try to sign Favre (cough—Memphis—cough), but we do think that there will be more than one team in the mix, including, possibly the Stallions once again. What we do know is that the league as a whole will see a Favre signing as the best case scenario for making the argument that the talent level of the spring league remains as high as it ever has been after this fall’s departures started to raise questions. So, before we move on to our preview of the open draft, we thought we should at least take a peek at the pool of players who could be available to the USFL in just over a week. Who do we think the league should be targeting?: CORNERBACK: This may be one of the better positions for options. Not going to make the splash of a Deion Sanders headed back to the NFL but there are good options here: Duane Starks (Raiders), Tory James (Bengals), Nate Clements (Bills), Torrie Cox (Bucs) and Michael Lewis (Eagles) would all be good signings. LINEBACKER: Another interesting position with no big household names but some very solid players, including Cato June and Rocky Boiman, both from the Colts. There is also Al Singleton (Cowboys), Orlando Huff (Cardinals), and Jay Foreman (Niners) in this group. TIGHT END: Another low-profile but good depth position. Scouts have trouble deciding between the Steelers’ Mark Bruener and the Packers’ David Martin, but we also like Seahawk Will Heller as a prospect HALFBACK: Stephen Davis is the biggest name in this group, but we are not sure anyone will take a shot on a 33-year old, well-worn HB. Others who may get more attention include Najeh Davenport of the Steelers, Kenny Watson from Cincinnati, B. J. Askew from the Jets, and Reno Mahe of the Eagles. QUARTERBACK: Here is where the USFL would see some big names, but outside of Favre, who is about as big as they get, we have some younger prospects like Anthony Wright (Bengals) or Tim Rattay (Niners). Not exactly the options that USFL leadership was hoping to see. DEFENSIVE LINE: Some good options here, like DT Jason Fisk (Rams) or DE Pat Kerney (Falcons) WIDE RECEIVER: It was hoped that either Andre Johnson or Marvin Harrison would be in the pool, but both signed with their NFL clubs before their contracts expired, so now we are looking at former USFL star Terrell Owens as the biggest potential get. Following him are players like Andre Davis of Buffalo, Quincy Morgan of Denver, or Cortez Hankton of the Jags. Open Draft Preview We have reviewed the past few months of free agency, trades, and the initial picks from the college ranks made through this past week’s Territorial Draft. Now, only hours from the Open Draft, the pressure is on for teams to find those perfect matches, positions of need, but also players who will sign on with the USFL. As we have seen so many times, just because a USFL club offers a big contract to a blue chip college star does not guarantee that they will sign on. We continue to see only about a 50% signing rate, and that rate drops quite a bit when talking about players who are selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. So, with that said, we will take a look once again at all 26 clubs, identify their position(s) of need, and a couple of options they may consider. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (2-12) Needs: HB, DT, LB Ideal 1st Round: After trading away an unhappy Terrell Davis, halfback is the obvious choice here. The debate comes down to Adrian Peterson of OU or Marshawn Lynch of Cal. If Pittsburgh gets a better sense from one of them that they are open to joining the Maulers, they should jump on them, because being picked #1 is a good motivator. Backup Option: If a 1st round back is not viable, then perhaps wait until the 2nd or 3rd and take a shot on a player like Antonio Pittman from Ohio State, a big back not protected by the Glory. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (3-11) Needs: QB, LB, DE, WR Ideal 1st Pick: Memphis has two options here, go with JaMarcus Russell and forget trying to sign Favre, or try to sign Favre and give up on JaMarcus Russell. The problem is timing. They cannot come out of January with both playing elsewhere. The signals they get back from Favre’s people will likely decide this pick. Backup Option: Let’s assume they do pick Russell, but they want a backup plan, the best mid-round option may be another mid-round Buckeye, QB Troy Smith. ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS (4-10) Needs: HB, CB, TE, LB Ideal 1st Pick: The Skyhawks like what they saw out of Luke McCown at QB, so we think they are going to work on the run game here. IF that is the case, then they too should consider either Peterson or Lynch. Backup Option: The Skyhawks already have a backup HB picked in Louisville’s Michael Bush, so they could opt not to go HB at all if not in the 1st round, so, go for a solid corner like Tennesee’s Jonathan Wade, or Kent State’s Usama Young in the mid-rounds. WASHINGTON FEDERALS (4-10) Needs: DE, G, LB, QB Ideal 1st Pick: We fully expect Sean Payton to focus on the offense, but DE is such a glaring need, and at #4 there is a really good chance that either Gaines Adams (Clemson) or Adam Carriker (Nebraska) will be an option. We would be shocked if they don’t go DE here. Backup Option: Let’s assume they double down and pick another DE just in case later on, we really like Georgia’s combo of Quentin Moses and Charles Johnson. But which one? PHILADELPHIA STARS (4-9-1) Needs: LB, TE, QB, G Ideal 1st Pick: The Stars have a need for 2, maybe 3 linebackers to rebuild that core, so we expect them to jump at Patrick Willis of Ole Miss. They had also liked Timmons from FSU, but Jacksonville protected him. Backup Option: Even if the stars nab Willis in the first round, they should still be looking for more, so perhaps in round 2-4 they can snag either New Mexico’s Quincy Black, FSU’s Buster Davis, or Brown’s Zak DeOssie. TEXAS OUTLAWS (5-9) Needs: DE, CB, DT, WR Ideal 1st Pick: The Outlaws gave up their 1st rounder in the Jeff George trade, so they are already looking for options with 2 second rounders. At DE, how about either Moses or Hawaii’s Ikaika Alama-Francis. Backup Option: The other big need is at corner, so what about someone like Chris Houston from Arkansas, or Dante Hughes from Cal? ORLANDO RENEGADES (5-8-1) Needs: LB, TE, DT, WR Ideal 1st Pick: Having surprised us all with the Brees deal, we now wonder if they will add a WR in the first round to make Brees happy. If they do, how about Ted Ginn Jr from Ohio State? A quick-as-lightning, shifty receiver who could really do well with Brees’s accurate mid-range game. Backup Option: Let’s assume Orlando hits on one of their other major needs in the early round, is there a mid-range receiver similar to Ginn? Yes, we think so, and that player is Mike Sims-Walker from right next door at UCF. We still don’t know why they didn’t lock him in during the T-Draft. CHICAGO MACHINE (6-8) Needs: SS, TE, DE, FB, CB Ideal 1st Pick: They already got their superstar QB by signing Brady Quinn right on T-Draft day. So, now back to that problematic secondary. Strong Safety is a definite need, and in the first round, with 2 picks, they can go after LaRon Landry and still have a pick for another position. Backup Option: If Landry won’t sign, Chicago better have a backup plan. How about a 3rd or 4th rounder like Tanard Jackson of Syracuse or Marvin White of TCU? BALTIMORE BLITZ (6-8) Needs: WR, G, DT, FS Ideal 1st Pick: Could Ted Ginn drop this far? Unlikely, so the next best option if WR is the pick would be one of the two USC products, Steve Smith or Dwayne Jarrett. Backup Option: Baltimore could go guard with the first pick, a sensible position as that is an easier (and cheaper) position to sign, so what about another option for a wideout later on? How about Laurent Robinson, a bigger target for Roethlisberger. OAKLAND INVADERS (6-8) Needs: LB, TE, WR, DE, G Ideal 1st Pick: If Oakland feels good about signing Michael Okwo from Stanford (T-Draft), then they may not go LB here. But if not, they could do a lot worse than Miami’s Jon Beason. Backup Option: We already listed a few really decent mid-round LBs’, but how about a bit of a longshot? We have two: Alabama A&M’s Johnny Baldwin and Elon’s Chad Nkang. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (6-8) Needs: G, LB, WR, T, C Ideal 1st Pick: We really haven’t tapped a lot of linemen yet, so we are going to pick one here for the Stallions. If Ben Grubbs is not signed by draft day, the next best option is Tennessee’s Aaron Sears. Birmingham is hoping Grubbs is already a Stallion by then, which means maybe a tackle like Joe Thomas or Levi Brown would be a solid pick. Backup Option: If the tackles are not their in the 1st round, then our pick later on would be Marshal Yanda from Iowa. He could be there in round 2, maybe even 3. NASHVILLE KNIGHTS (6-8) Needs: SS, WR, DE, CB, HB Ideal 1st Pick: If we assume Landry is not here as the #1 safety, the Knights could go one of two ways. They could go for Michael Griffin from Texas, or they could hold off on the safety and look at a DE like Carriker or Florida’s Jarvis Moss. Backup Option: Let’s say they do go DE in the first round, is there a good strong safety later on? We like Josh Gattis of Wake Forest or Kevin Payne of Louisiana-Monroe as mid-round options. LAS VEGAS THUNDER (6-7-1) Needs: HB, WR, G, T, CB Ideal 1st Pick: We see the Thunder going halfback, even after the trade that brought Chris Perry to the team. If we assume that both Lynch and Peterson are gone by this pick, then it gets a bit risky. They could look at Kenny Irons from Auburn or Brian Leonard from Rutgers, but neither are slam dunks. Backup Option: So maybe Las Vegas should look for a tackle or guard in the first, and then add a halfback later. If they do that, the ideal candidate for them might just be Dwayne Wright from Fresno State. DENVER GOLD (7-7) Needs: DT, HB, LB, QB Ideal 1st Pick: Let’s look at the big men inside. Who do we like for the Gold and their 4-3 system? How about Amobi Okoye from Louisville, a big earthmover of a DT who could help make Denver a true threat against the run. Backup Option: The mid-round version of Okoye may just be Clifton Ryan from Michigan State. Another big man who just eats up space. ATLANTA FIRE (7-7) Needs: G, QB, LB, FB, DE Ideal 1st Pick: With Jeff Lewis still out there, Atlanta could bring him back, or they could feel better about David Garrard than we do. Let’s assume neither is true. Who do they take if Russell is not there? The next best options are Kevin Kolb of the U. of Houston or John Beck from BYU. Backup Option: We see Jay Gruden opting for a classic drop back passer, so if the two options above look dicey to sign, how about someone later on Trent Edwards of Stanford or Jordan Palmer of UTEP? MICHIGAN PANTHERS (8-6) Needs: DT, QB, CB, WR, HB Ideal 1st Pick: Michigan may have made their QB pick with Stanton, and if that is the case, then DT is the next big need. Okoye could be there, but if he is not, then perhaps a local in Alan Branch from Ann Arbor. Another player who could have been protected, but was not. Backup Option: Defensive Tackle talent is deep in this draft, so the Panthers could look at some mid-round guys like Quin Pitcock (Ohio State), Paul Saliai (Utah) or Kareem Brown (Miami). SEATTLE DRAGONS (8-5-1) Needs: OT, WR, DE, TE, G Ideal 1st Pick: The Dragons still trying to find a WR opposite David Boston. They added Darnerian McCants in free agency, but we still think they might take a shot at another receiver if either Ginn, Craig Davis (LSU), or either of the USC players are still on the board. Backup Option: Our thought is that if Seattle gets out of Round 2 without a receiver, it means they are not going for one, in which case a TE in rounds 2-4 makes sense. The best on the board is Greg Olsen of Miami, followed by Zach Miller from Arizona State. TAMPA BAY BANDITS (9-5) Needs: DE, T, SS, G, LB Ideal 1st Pick: Another team hoping to find that edge rusher who just makes life difficult for a QB. We know who the top 3-5 are: Gaines, Carriker, Moss, and then Lamar Woodley (Michigan) and Alama-Francis from Hawaii. Backup Option: How about another Hawaii product, perhaps as late as the 6th or 7th round? We like Melila Purcell, even though his play time with the Rainbow Warriors was limited. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (8-6) Needs: HB, WR, T, P Ideal 1st Pick: Yes, the Breakers swapped Perry for Julius Jones, but we still think they might take a long look at someone like Auburn’s Kenny Lyons, or Brandon Jackson from the Cornhuskers. Backup Option: If they want a 2nd generation Troy Davis, there is one in this draft, Louisville’s Kolby Smith is not big, but he has moves that will produce yards after contact. OHIO GLORY (10-4) Needs: WR, DE, G, TE, K Ideal 1st Pick: The Glory are hoping Sinorice Moss can become their #2, and they already drafted Ohio State’s Anthony Gonzalez in the T-Draft, so do they pick another receiver? We think they do, and we think they have their eyes on Jacoby Jones from tiny Lane College. Backup Option: Ok, let’s assume our instinct is wrong, they don’t go receiver at all, then DE is the pick, and picking this late that means almost no chance at Gaines or Carriker, so how about Woodley from the Wolverines? ARIZONA WRANGLERS (10-4) Needs: HB, DE, K, G, LB Ideal 1st Pick: Losing both Staley and Pritchett allows Coach Fassel to reimagine the halfback position. But, unless they make a big move, neither Peterson nor Lynch will be here. So, how about a bruiser like Penn State’s Tony Hunt? Backup Option: A good handcuff to Hunt later on would be someone like Florida’s DeShawn Wynn or Kansas State’s Thomas Clayton. BOSTON CANNONS (11-3) Needs: HB, DT, DE, FS Ideal 1st Pick: The Cannons need a backup and maybe a protégé behind Tiki Barber. The closest Barber clone in the draft is probably Brian Leonard of Rutgers. Or they could go a totally different direction with someone like Hunt. Backup Option: Here is a player that Boston may know better than anyone, Central Connecticut HB Justise Hairston. Is he worth a late pick? What little film we have seen of him seems to show some talent. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (9-5) Needs: T, WR, P, HB Ideal 1st Pick: Let’s work with the idea that Houston is happy to put Faulk back as the starter, so that makes RT the top position to fill. If Levi Brown is here, that is a slam dunk. If not, either Joe Staley from Central Michigan or Tony Ugoh from Arkansas are fine options. Backup Option: A mid-round option to consider is Clint Oldenburg from Colorado State. He is solid in the run game but would need to be coached up for better pass protection. JACKSONVILLE BULLS (10-4) Needs: DT, K, HB, LB Ideal 1st Pick: We are back at Defensive Tackle again, and we don’t want to keep saying the same names, so we are going to put a plug in for a player who has been rising up the charts, Cal’s Brandon Mebane. He may be a little rough around the edges, but there is a big upside. Backup Option: The Bulls also need a kicker, and since we haven’t really talked about the position at all, we thought now is the time. With Nick Folk (ARZ) and Mason Crosby (DEN) accounted for in the Territorial Draft, that leaves Justin Medlock of UCLA as the best option. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (9-5) Needs: QB, FS, P, C, LB Ideal 1st Pick: It’s got to be a QB right? For as much as LA has been saying that they are comfortable with Seneca Wallace and Brody Croyle fighting it out, the Express have to do better, right? We don’t hear about them pursuing Favre, so that means a rookie. Russell will not make it to pick 25, so perhaps Kolb, Beck, or maybe even Trent Edwards from Stanford, since Oakland did not protect him. Backup Option: We’ve been through the QB list a few times, but we could also see LA taking a late round flyer on an athletic QB like Matt Moore from Oregon State. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (11-3) Needs: QB, DT, LB, DE Ideal 1st Pick: We are more willing to believe New jersey when they hype up Kelly Holcomb than when LA talks about Seneca Wallace, so let’s assume the Generals go for defense in the first round. They could go DE or DT, but we like LB here. And the backer we like for the Generals and Coach Crennell is Jon Beason from Miami. We could see him slotting inside or on the weak side right away. Backup Option: If Beason is gone by pick 26, then New Jersey could go DE or DT here and go for their linebacker later. If they do that, the choice we like is Zak DeOssie from the Ivy League Brown Bears. He may not have played against the toughest competition, but we know he will be a smart player.

October 17, 2006 “Devastating”. That is the word which newly appointed USFL Commissioner Don Garber had to say about the NFL’s very successful transfer window, one that saw the signing of three of the USFL’s top quarterbacks as well as a collection of big name players. Garber, the former NFL executive who came to the USFL after a 6-year stint leading Major League Soccer, was well-positioned to recognize the impact of the NFL’s all out assault on USFL free agents, as well as the clear tendency for players and agents to use the two leagues against each other to demand more from each league. Garber, who took office only 1 month ago, could do nothing to impact the results of the NFL-USFL transfer window, but now must deal with the repercussions. Just how bad was the transfer window for the USFL this year? Well, when both starting quarterbacks from the USFL’s Summer Bowl jump ship within a month of their title game, that is bad. Add in additional departures of top flight talent such as QB Drew Brees, WR Antonio Freeman, CB Deion Sanders, and a range of starters from across the league, it is a hemorrhaging that is certain to impact the USFL profoundly. Let’s start by surveying the damage, then perhaps we can look at how the USFL might react. The NFL owners had made it clear that their priority was the QB position, and that was certainly the biggest area of damage for the USFL. NFL owners, concerned that big name players like Daunte Culpepper, Drew Bledsoe, and Steve McNair, as well as top-ranked rookies like Matt Leinart, Eli Manning, and Jason Campbell had chosen the spring league over their own, put into place rule changes and initiatives to try to reverse the trend. We will see if the college draft sees a shift towards the fall league, but certainly the wave of signings by the NFL during this fall’s transfer window, shows that the NFL is seriously targeting quarterback as the key to their player acquisition strategy, and that player agents are more than happy to use that emphasis to get the most for their players. So, who has taken the NFL bait and signed on? We have to start with the two Summer Bowl starters. Tom Brady, leader of the league champion Generals since 2001, was wooed, and signed, by one of the staunchest anti-USFL owners within the NFL, Dallas’s Jerry Jones. Another notoriously anti-USFL owner, Bob Kraft of New England signed away a top USFL QB of his own in the Western Conference Champion LA Express’s Cade McNown. Both players, only weeks after playing in the league title game are now gone, headed to the NFL and already on the field for their teams. A third big name QB, Drew Brees, was signed by the New Orleans Saints, but has been blocked from joining the team by legal maneuvering by the Michigan Panthers, who are claiming tampering. Michigan and the USFL legal team are claiming that contact was made by the NFL, namely the Saints organization, prior to the start of the transfer window period, an action clearly prohibited by the agreement in place between the two leagues. Until his case can be judicated, Brees remains in limbo, expected to join the Saints, but potentially returned to the USFL free agency pool if strong evidence can be found that the Saints tampered by speaking with Brees’s agent prior to the September start date for league transfers. In addition to these three big name quarterbacks, NFL teams also signed several veteran starters from the USFL who are perhaps on the downside of their careers. These include Jon Kitna by the Lions, Todd Collins by the Bills, Trent Green by the Chiefs, and Trent Dilfer by the 49ers. In each case, these quarterbacks were free agents within the USFL, and many expected that they would not return to their 2006 teams, but to have so many starters depart all at once to the NFL is a shock to the system, and a potential drain of talent that could impact the league’s perception of parity with NFL play. In particular, the loss of both Summer Bowl quarterbacks is clearly a black eye for the league. And if it were only quarterbacks, that would be bad enough, but the bleeding did not stop there. Among other signings that are sure to damage their USFL clubs, we have Arizona losing three offensive contributors, including their top 2 halfbacks. Stanley Pritchett (Seahawks) and Duce Staley (49ers) accounted for nearly 95% of all rushing yards for the Southwest Division Champions, who also lost WR Nate Jacquet to the Vikings. Birmingham saw team captain, linebacker Ted Johnson, leave for the Bengals, and strong safety Kwammie Lassiter head to the Saints. For Chicago it was veteran DE Simeon Rice (Bucs) and free safety Omar Stoutmire (Oilers). Houston lost both their leading rusher, Mike Anderson, and their top receiver, Antonio Freeman. Anderson will now be a Denver Bronco, while Freeman signed with the Green Bay Packers. Those are both big blows for the Gambler squad. As we already noted, New Jersey, the league champion, lost leaders on both sides of the ball as Brady was signed by Jerry Jones’s Cowboys and Deion Sanders returned to the NFL with the 49ers. Oakland saw one-time starter Trent Green leave for Kansas City, but also lost LB Henri Crockett to the Oilers. Orlando also saw two players leave, both starters, as LT Kyle Turley (Jags) and WR Jabar Gaffney (Redskins) both leap to the NFL. For Texas, QB Trent Dilfer and HB Marcel Shipp are now both NFL bound. And for Washington, it is veteran WR Bobby Engram as well as fullback Robert Booker who leave for the fall league. We should also mention the signings of LT Adam Meadows (Blitz to Giants), CB Fred Thomas (Bulls to Cardinals), LT Todd Steussie (Thunder to Vikings), and SS Je’Rod Cherry (Skyhawks to Raiders). All in all, a much more impactful and damaging haul from the NFL than in past seasons. Whereas in past years there was a tendency to see more NFL signings in September, with the USFL rebounding in the 2nd Transfer Window in January, this year’s haul was far more detrimental and far greater in scope than we have seen in the past. And while some teams were already bracing for certain players to leave (Dilfer from Texas was already replaced by Jeff George in a trade this July), many were simply not ready. As teams scramble to fill gaps in free agency and through the draft, the league as a whole will need to develop a strategy to deal with the aggressiveness of the NFL over the next few seasons before the transfer-window agreement is due to expire in 2010. Until then the rules are pretty much set, so the league may have to either find funding to support retention of their own players or develop a better strategy to avoid the delay tactics we saw from several agents and players, delays that made it possible for those players to wait until the transfer window opened and the NFL could begin to bid on players. One final note on this story as we mentioned that Drew Brees’s signing by the New Orleans Saints is currently being disputed. The Saints and the USFL are both expected to make their case before a district court judge in New York next Tuesday, with the hope being that a clear ruling will determine whether or not Brees is able to join the Saints organization or remain a free agent within the USFL. USFL spokesmen seem to be confident that they have uncovered sufficient evidence to back up their claim that the Saints jumped the gun with Brees, who announced his signing with New Orleans only 36 hours after the transfer window had opened. If that is the case, and they can prove that New Orleans violated the terms of the transfer window arrangement between the two leagues, it would not return Brees to the Panthers, but to the free agent pool within the USFL. If that happens, Brees could again sign with the Saints in January, when the window reopens, but USFL clubs would have a chance to match or better the offer from New Orleans in hopes of signing Brees between now and January’s reopened transfer window. With the league already deeply concerned by the NFL signings, we would not be surprised if a league-wide effort to resign Brees in the USFL were not engaged should the court rule in favor of the spring league. A Look at the QB Situation Following the “Great Exodus”. Before we move on to other USFL news from the past 10 weeks, we should check in on each club that lost a starting QB and where they stand with a strategy to put a qualified leader on the field next march. We will begin with the teams that seem to be in the best situation and move towards those that might have major concerns. TEXAS: Losing Trent Dilfer is not a huge shock for the Outlaws. They fully anticipated that Dilfer would move on after the dual indignity of being benched in Week 14 and having Texas trade to bring in Jeff George. The Outlaws were clearly moving on from Dilfer, so this is not so much a crisis as an anticipated reinvention of the Outlaw offensive plans. That the trade for George was made before Texas had replaced John Mackovic with Norv Turner was a bit unusual, but it seems obvious that the hiring of Turner, an offensive specialist, is meant to align with the arrival of George in San Antonio. OAKLAND: Another case where it seems the team was already in the process of moving on from their 2006 season starter. Despite the fact that Trent Green had taken the Invaders to their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade in 2005, the poor performance of the Invader offense in 2006 led Coach Dennis Green to bench Green in favor of Joey Harrington in Week 11 of the past season. With Green a free agent, the message seemed clear, this would be Harrington’s team in 2007, which is now more obvious with Green’s departure to the NFL. The Invaders will now likely be in the market for a backup, though we expect former NFL QB Jamie Martin to step in at #2. Sounds like a mid-round draft pick at QB is what we should expect. NASHVILLE: Were the Knights planning on an open competition between veteran Todd Collins and 2006 rookie Jay Cutler? The point is moot now. Collins was signed by the Buffalo Bills and now it seems Cutler is the de facto starter in Nashville. The Knights have Craig Whelihan in place as a backup, and they may go after a veteran backup in free agency (believe it or not there are a few QB’s left available), but it seems clear that the Knights will move on from Collins and start former Vandy star Cutler in 2007. NEW JERSEY: What options do the Generals have? They just lost the 2-time Summer Bowl MVP and the undisputed leader of their offense in Tom Brady. While the Generals knew Brady was holding out on signing a new deal until the NFL-USFL window, it seems that they fully believed they would be able to resign their QB. Little did they anticipate that Jerry Jones would throw out numbers that more than double the offer that was on the table from New Jersey. It was a no-win situation. The Generals simply could not meet the offer from Dallas, so Brady is headed to the NFL. So, what does New Jersey do now? They had signed former NFL backup Kelly Holcombe prior to the 2006 season to back up Brady. Could he now be the starter for the Generals? Will New Jersey seek a trade to find another option? And who would trade a starting QB at this point? They could look to the draft, but this is not a particularly strong year for the position, and one of the best options, Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn, is almost certainly a pick for the Chicago Machine in the T-Draft after they traded away Jeff George. LOS ANGELES: Things may even be worse for the Express than the Generals. After losing Quincy Carter to the Skyhawks in the 2006 expansion draft, LA has only untested backup Seneca Wallace and 2006 rookie Brodie Croyle on the roster. What is more, their salary cap situation is not great, so the odds of them being able to acquire a sure-fire starter seem less than favorable. There are a few free agents out there, players like Tony Banks, Eric Wilhelm, and Jeff Lewis, but that is not a group that inspires confidence that LA can find a replacement for McNown who can lead them back into the playoff hunt. MEMPHIS: The retirement of Heath Shuler was always going to be a difficult adjustment for the Showboats. But after a midseason deal brought Jon Kitna to Memphis, he is now a free agent, again leaving the cupboard pretty bare in Memphis. Neither Mike McMahon nor Ken Dorsey seem like viable options if the Showboats want to rebuild their offense. Looking at the draft, they could try to make a play to sign LSU QB Jamarcus Russell, but only if New Orleans does not opt to select him in the T-Draft. They could look at the free agent pool, like LA, but again, there is not much there. And when we look at the NFL, there are almost no QB prospects whose contracts are expiring this year and who might be available in the January transfer window. A deal with another USFL team may be the best option, but Memphis may be holding out hope that New Orleans, with Eli Manning in hand, will pass on Russell. With the 2nd pick in the draft, that would give Memphis a very good chance at the LSU product. Free Agency Roundup While the NFL engorged on top flight USFL talent during the transfer window, they did not fully empty the cupboard. USFL teams had a week to sign some free agents before the NFL-USFL window opened, and even after it did, there were still many quality signings within the USFL, including a few key re-signings of players who looked at other offers and then decided to stay put. Here is our look at the Top 15 signings to date in the USFL, and then our list of the 10 best free agents still on the market. 12) WR Demarien McCants (Baltimore to Seattle) Seattle has been looking for a quality receiver to take some pressure off David Boston, and they may have found one in McCants, who had 64 receptions for 716 yards and 4 TDs with the Blitz, goes from being a #1 target in Baltimore to a second option for a much better offense with the Dragons. 11) LB Mike Crawford (Philadelphia to Houston) Philadelphia’s top tackler (98 in 2006) heads to Houston, where he joins a stacked defense that also includes Sam Cowart and Nick Barnett at LB. 10) DT Luther Ellis (Pittsburgh to Ohio) A big need for Ohio, Ellis provides both penetration and space occupation at the nose. His presence should help free up DE Jason Babin, who already had 12 sacks in 2006, for even more in 2007. 9) DE Greg Ellis (Boston to Michigan) Boston gains a top notch DT but loses their 2nd leading sack specialist in Ellis. Ellis had 9 sacks opposite Jason Babin in Boston and will now line up alongside DT James Manley and likely will rotate with both Ebenezer Ekuban and Leonard Little. We expect Ellis to be the 3rd down and pass play specialist with Little in most early downs. 8) FS Jerome Woods (Atlanta to Boston) Atlanta’s surprisingly good defense did not go unnoticed, with teams looking to nab some of the talent that had been taken by the Fire in the expansion draft. The first to go is free safety Jerome Woods, who heads to the Cannons, who seem to have learned that defense is an actual thing your team can try to have. 7) WR Anquan Boldin (Jacksonville to Denver) The first of several big wide receiver moves this season. This one just makes sense. Peerless Price had 121 targets in 2006, and is one of the best possession receivers in the game, but with J. J. Stokes retiring, Denver needed a player who would threaten the defense deep, and Boldin can certainly do that. 6) WR Ike Hilliard (Texas to Jacksonville) Boldin’s signing by Denver led to a domino effect, with Jacksonville now looking for someone to line up opposite Rashaun Woods. They go for Outlaw receiver Ike Hilliard, who had his first 1,000 yard season this year, with career highs in receptions (74), yards (1,109) and TDs (9). A good pick up for a team that is on the cusp of Summer Bowl contention. 5) C Gene McGuire (Arizona to Los Angeles) We are not sure who is going to be under center in LA, but at least we now know who that center will be. McGuire is a smart player, and a solid blocker in both passing and run plays. Alongside Jonathan Ogden at LT, McGuire will go a long way to protect whoever LA’s quarterback turns out to be. 4) CB Samari Rolle (Tampa Bay Re-Signs) The leading tackler for the Bandits ,Rolle did it all for Tampa Bay, and the Bandits could not afford to lose him. It took essentially a 40% increase in his annual salary, but Tampa Bay was able to lure the prolific corner back to the squad. 3) WR Muhsin Muhammad (Las Vegas to Texas) Boldin to Denver led to Hilliard to Jacksonville, and that meant that Texas needed to find a receiver. Muhammad is getting a little long in the tooth after 11 seasons, but if you want a savvy route runner who still has significant speed, you can do a lot worse than the former Panther and Thunder wideout. 2) G Brendan Stai (Oakland to Jacksonville) Without a doubt the best offensive lineman in the free agency pool, and Jacksonville continues to spend money to build a team that can get over the hump. Both Jake Delhomme and Antowain Smith will be happy with Stai’s skillset and experience, slotting in at Left Guard from day one in Jacksonville. 1) WR Terry Glenn (New Jersey Re-Signs) With Tom Brady and Deion Sanders both headed to the NFL, the Generals could not risk losing their other big name star. Glenn was rumored to be talking with both the New England Patriots of the NFL and the Las Vegas Thunder in the USFL, but the Generals opened up their checkbook and made the All-USFL superstar an offer he could not refuse. Now, big question, who is going to get him the ball? With these 15 players signed to new USFL contracts, just who is left in the pool of free agents? Quite a few names worth following, actually. There are over 50 players still unsigned afte the opening flurry of free agent signings. Here is our pick for the Top 10 remaining free agents 10) DE John Copeland (TBY) Copeland led the Bandits with only 6 sacks in 2006, and while the 34-year old is unlikely to grab 10+ sacks in the twilight of his career, he is still a very solid end, one who plays the run well and can, if lined up opposite a true speed rusher, create some mismatches. 9) HB R. J. Redmond (STL) Redmond split carries with both Larry Johnson and Verron Hayes in St. Louis’s backfield this year. That did not go well, limiting the 7th year back to only 305 yards. Put in the right situation, we could see Redmond being a quality backup, looking for somewhere around 10-12 touches per game. 8) FS Marquez Pope (BAL) Pope played for Baltimore for 7 seasons, averaging around 30-35 tackles per year, along with a mix of sacks and picks. He is not a gamechanger at free safety, but he is a solid player who could help others shine in the defensive backfield. 7) DT Sean Gilbert (TBY) Going into what would be his 15th season in the league, age and endurance are the concerns we see about Gilbert. The big man did start 40 of 42 games the past 3 years with Tampa Bay, but at 34 the question is whether there is much gas left in the very large tank. 6) CB Al Harris (SEA) Harris trailed only Godfrey Miles and Brandon Noble in tackles with 69 last year with Seattle. He also had 3 picks in a very solid campaign. We expect someone to lock up the 29-year old corner to at least a 3-year deal. He may not be destined to be a lockdown corner, but he is a very solid zone defender who can also get his fair share of picks. 5) QB Jeff Lewis (ATL) The NFL did a good job of emptying the QB cupboard in this year’s transfer window. We put Lewis, the former starter in both Texas and Atlanta, as the only QB in our top 10 because he is the only consistent starter. We fully expect Memphis, LA, and maybe even New Jersey to take a shot on Lewis. Wherever he goes, he may well have to battle for the starting job, but at least among the admittedly limited pool of quarterbacks remaining available, Lewis is clearly a step ahead of the others. 4) TE Ben Hartsook (MEM) After a very promising rookie year in Chicago, Hartsook was sent to Memphis in trade, and has only seen his plays and targets increase. He had career highs in 2006 with 51 targets, which turned into 35 receptions for 322 yards. You won’t get blazing speed with Hartsook, but the team that signs him gets a reliable blocker who can catch the short to intermediate routes for his QB. 3) WR Marcus Robinson (BIR) The best receiver left on the board, and a pretty darned good one at that. Robinson has been a steady performer for the Stallions since coming into the league 10 years ago. A bit older now, perhaps a step slower, but still a solid threat either at Slot or Flanker. He may not be repeating his 1,000 yard seasons from 2000-2001, but he is certainly worth a flyer if he will sign for a fair price. 2) DE Hugh Douglas (LV) By everyone’s estimation, one of the most explosive and dangerous edge rushers in the league, and yet he never seems to get the results we expect of him. This is in part due to his languishing on some pretty bad Las Vegas defenses, but even so, Douglas typically averages between 11-14 sacks per season, which a lot of teams could use. He did suffer an injury this year which cost him 5 games and could be making potential suitors nervous. 1) G Ruben Brown (PHI) We said that Brendan Stai was the highest rated offensive lineman in free agency. We put Ruben Brown there as option 1A. Brown has been an absolute rock of a player since starting 15 of 16 games for Philadelphia as a rookie back in 1995. Age and wear and tear on his big frame is a concern, but if it is a road grater that you are looking for, just ask Ahman Green how much he liked running behind Brown. It does not get much better than Brown at either guard position. Parcells Steps Down, Romeo Crennell Named Head Coach of Generals Before the NFL “snatch and grab” in September, the biggest story of the offseason was without a doubt the resignation of New Jersey General Head Coach Bill Parcells. It only took a week after the Summer Bowl victory by the team for their leader and guru Parcells to announce that he had done all he felt he needed to do as a head coach, and that he would step away from the game after finding incredible success in both the NFL and the USFL. Parcells, the only coach to have multiple Lombardi and Bassett trophies in his curio, will retire from football, consider doing some TV work, and likely remain a man who never needs to buy himself his own drinks anywhere in the New York tri-state area. Parcells’s departure was not unanticipated by the Generals, and they quickly determined that of their two top coordinators, they felt most comfortable turning over the reins to their defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Romeo Crennell. Crennell, who has been with Parcells since the beginning in New Jersey, will step up and take over the position as Head Coach. This means that the younger, more innovative but less experienced offensive coordinator, Sean Payton, would have a choice to make, to stay and finish out his contract with New Jersey, or to field offers from those teams looking for a keen offensive mind to lead their team. He would choose the latter. Sean Payton hired by Washington No sooner had New Jersey made the announcement that Romeo Crennell would step into Bill Parcells’s position than the Washington Federals were on the phone with Generals’ OC Sean Payton. By the end of the week, Payton was standing at a press conference at RFK Stadium, announced as the new head coach of the Federals, a division rival to Crennell and the Generals. Payton now becomes the youngest head coach in the league, and one of the more intriguing. His task, to not only help reinvigorate a Federals defense that plunged from elite to mediocre in 2006, but to try to revive an offense that was one of the worst in the league, scoring only 11 offensive touchdowns in the 14-game USFL 2006 season. Payton’s first big decision will be whether or not to hitch his wagon to veteran QB Kordell Stewart, or to look for a change. The build up to the draft may well be the time when Payton has to make this call, because the Federals could be in a position to leapfrog over QB-hungry Memphis and snag the top pick if they wish to do so. #1 Pittsburgh is a former Federal coach, and could be amenable to a swap from #1 to #4 for the right price. If Payton is not enamored with Kordell Stewart, he could certainly make a deal with Pittsburgh to move up and take a shot at LSU signal caller JaMarcus Russell. Memphis Goes with Internal Hire Jim Haslett. Just about 3 weeks after both New Jersey and Washington locked in their new head coaches, the Memphis Showboats finished off the coaching carousel by staying in house. The Showboats selected defensive coordinator Jim Haslett to move up and take on the head coaching role. Haslett, who helped build the Memphis defense along with former Head Coach Jim Mora, will take over as the main man for the Boats. His opposite, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, is expected to stay on with Memphis, serving as the OC and lead play caller for the Showboats, while Haslett works on the defense as well as the big picture for the team. Maulers send Davis to Atlanta The rumors were true, and the trade that we all saw coming a mile away was announced just 2 weeks ago. Pittsburgh, in full rebuild mode, had sent their biggest star and future Hall of Fame running back to the Atlanta Fire. Returning to his home state of Georgia, the former UGA halfback seemed energized by the chance to play for fans in Atlanta, stating “I have always considered Georgia my home, and I am here in Atlanta to help this team catch fire.”. Davis, who has a career rushing total of 13,476 yards (4th all time in the USFL), is entering his 12th season in the league. The 31-year-old rebounded from an injury-riddled 2005 with 1,232 yards and 305 carries in 2006 with a truly bad Mauler squad. He now joins an Atlanta team that surprised everyone by going 7-7 and making the playoffs as an expansion team. Expect the big back to be the focal point of the Atlanta offense in 2007, especially as the QB position for the team remains something of a mystery. In exchange for the future HOF rusher, the Maulers get both a player they coveted, free safety Sam Shields and two high draft picks, Atlanta’s 2nd rounder this year (#39 overall) and a 3rd rounder in 2008. They also free up nearly $3M in cap space with Atlanta taking on Davis’s lucrative salary. Davis seems happy with the move. Atlanta certainly is. And Ron Rivera adds even more draft capital after the move. After losing their 3rd rounder in the Cody Pickett trade with Seattle, they end up with a second pick in the 2nd round in this deal. Trades Spice Up Early Offseason The Davis trade was not the only one to spice up the early part of the USFL offseason. We already saw Jeff George traded to Texas and Cody Pickett sent from Seattle to Pittsburgh. Since those two we have also seen two backup QB’s change hands as Las Vegas sent former CFL QB Henry Burris to the Washington Federals in exchange for a 4th round pick and backup HB Ernest Graham. Orlando also got into the QB swapmeet, sending backup Koy Detmer within the division, heading to Tampa Bay, in exchange for slot receiver and return specialist Tai Streets and a Bandits’ 7th rounder. In a fall highlighted by QB movement, these two moves, both designed to create depth at the position, could have easily fallen between the cracks, but they are still significant moves. Among non-QB trades, the Davis to Atlanta move is clearly a big one, but it is hardly the only one worth noting. Here are othe trades which could have a significant impact on the 2007 season In perhaps the biggest trade not yet outlined Las Vegas and Washington agreed on a 2-for-1 trade that sends LB Mark Simoneau (along with 4th round picks in this and next year’s draft) to the Feds in return for CB Michael Booker and DE Erasmus James. Seems like both Ron Rivera and Jerry Glanville are trying to mold their defensive squads to match their preferred systems. The Maulers continue to be involved in deals, this time trying to find a solution for the departure of Terrell Davis. The Maulers acquire HB Ladell Betts from the Panthers in return for slot receiver Antwan Randle-El. Betts could well be the starter come opening day for the Maulers, while Randle-El certainly fills that much-needed slot receiver spot for the Panthers. But why, you ask, would the Panthers trade away their leading rusher from 2006? Well, because earlier that same day they acquired HB Justin Fargas from the Oakland Invaders. Fargas, who averaged 4.6 yards per carry subbing for Ricky Williams last season, will likely share carries with Fred Jackson, providing Michigan with a faster combo with more big play capability. In return for Fargas the Invaders get two backups from the Panthers, TE Lovell Pinkney and DE Aaron Schobel. Las Vegas has been very active on the trade wire, not only did they get two defenders from their deal with Washington, but they added some O-line help in the form of guard Joe Berger in a deal that sent DT Marcus Stroud to the Bulls. Jacksonville had to sweeten the pot a bit, so they will also throw in a 5th round pick this year to the Thunder. Trapped behind both L. J. Smith and Brandon Manumaleuna on the depth chart in LA, tight end Aaron Shea felt like he was not getting a fair shake. He will have his chance now, with the starting TE position up for grabs in Chicago. Shea was sent to Chicago in trade for free safety Terrence Kiel. A straight up one-for-one deal between the Express and Machine. The Gamblers bring back a fan favorite in a deal with Atlanta. Last winter Atlanta chose HB Kevin Faulk in the expansion draft, a player Houston had hoped would go untouched despite not protecting the pass-catching halfback for the draft. With Terrell Davis now with the Fire, Atlanta was open to sending Faulk back to the Gamblers, for the right price. Houston wanted Faulk back, and were willing to pay that price, namely sending guard Rex Hadnot and a 7th round pick to the Fire. So, Faulk is back in black and red, and Atlanta gets some help in their interior line. Finally, Seattle made a deal with Arizona, hoping to lock up the Right Tackle position before the draft. The Wranglers part with tackle Chad Clifton, who had shared time at RT with Ed Ellis, and in return they get a 3rd round pick from the Dragons. Not a flashy move, but a move that could help both teams. Remaining Needs for all 26 teams And so, a lot has happened this offseason, and we are only really 2 months into the 6-month hiatus between the Summer Bowl and the opening week of the 2007 season. A lot has happened, and a lot remains to be done as teams prepare for the USFL Draft, continue to make deals, sign free agents, and look into the crystal ball to see what options might exist when the NFL-USFL transfer window opens back up in January. As we look ahead to the next 4 months of deals, drafts, and camps, we still see a lot of questions for a lot of teams. So, here is our look at the next phase of the offseason. We aimed to determine the biggest need for each club, and then provide some ideas on how each club might address those needs. Here is our look at what we see as each team’s most pressing roster position, and some thoughts on how they might find a solution. ARIZONA: An easy one to spot. Halfback. The Wranglers lost both Stanley Pritchett and Duce Staley to the NFL, so they need both a starter and a change of pace back. Certainly one of the two will come in the draft, but then what about the other? ATLANTA: It all depends on if they feel comfortable with David Garrard or Sage Rosenfels as their potential starter at QB. If they do, then they could look to add a linebacker, or perhaps a corner. If not, then it has to be a priority to replace Jeff Lewis. BALTIMORE: So far not a big player in free agency, but Baltimore has clear needs, the most pressing being a top end receiver to replace McCants. There are several options in the draft, and if Baltimore is trying to be frugal, that should be the way to go. BIRMINGHAM: Safety, linebacker and guard are all positions of need, but again, only if Coach Franchione liked what he saw from Jason Campbell last year. Otherwise, we are right back to QB again, with not a lot of options out there. BOSTON: The Cannons have already been making deals to improve that defense. Defensive Tackle is the obvious need area right now, so expect a lot of movement to try to lock down that position with some combination of vets and rookies. CHICAGO: We don’t even need to tell you, right? It is all about Brady Quinn right now. The Machine have not hidden at all their intentions, and are in full wooing mode with the Notre Dame QB. They just added a TE through trade, but the key will likely be how they sweeten the compensation deal for a sure fire first round pick in the NFL draft. DENVER: The Gold lost both their kicker and their punter to retirement, so special teams will need a little love. Fortunately there is a top quality college kicker in their protected pool, Colorado’s Mason Crosby is right up the road in Boulder, and should be an automatic T-Draft choice. HOUSTON: With Kevin Faulk back, paired with Tatum Bell, the immediate need for a halfback seems less urgent, so we look at positions on the O-line, particularly right tackle and center, as must have acquisitions. JACKSONVILLE: A very active team so far. The Bulls have already upgraded at guard with Brendan Stai, at CB with Sheldon Brown, and have done their best to deal with Anquan Boldin’s departure by adding Ike Hiliard to their receiving corps. They also brought in Marcus Stroud at DT through a trade, so what is the priority now? Well, they still don’t have a kicker, and a QB3 could be a good thing to add as well. LAS VEGAS: Another very active team. They have added picks, traded picks away, added players and traded players away. Their roster is in flux, to be sure, but the one thing they still need to add is a dominant halfback. We just don’t see Rhodes or Julius Jones fitting the bill, so expect some action in the draft to try to find a true lead back. LOS ANGELES: The Express were not prepared for Cade McNown to sign with the NFL. They are pretty solid across most of their roster, and Coach Jackson is saying all the right things about both Seneca Wallace and Brodie Croyle, but the Express faithful are not feeling good about either as their new starter. MEMPHIS: Another team desperately trying to figure out the QB position. But, we already knew this, so what else is on their plate. How about adding some linebacker depth. The Showboat defense needs some swagger and some brute force. A good outside LB can help provide both. MICHIGAN: While the Panthers are certainly hoping that the hearing on the Drew Brees signing will return Brees to the free agency pool, but they should not expect that this would be an automatic return to the Panther fold. There are too many teams desperate for a QB to assume he would return to Michigan. If he does not, then the team could well be handed over to Brian Griese, a better backup plan than many other teams have at the position. NASHVILLE: With Jay Cutler ready to take over, we don’t see QB as an area of need. Nashville has two big needs that stand out far more, cornerback and wideout. The Knights need to see if they can land a quality player at both positions, but the WR pool is growing thin, so we might have to wait until the draft to see if the Knights can find themselves a bona fide pass catcher. NEW JERSEY: Here we are again talking about the QB position. Kelly Holcombe could be the answer, and if he is, then New Jersey has a pretty solid roster. They might take a shot at a top DT if one is available, but let’s not assume that new coach Romeo Crennell is ready to give up on finding a true leader at quarterback. The loss of Brady is huge and New Jersey is not the kind of market that will tolerate a vacuum at such a vital position. NEW ORLEANS: The Breakers are gearing up for a big Welcome Home party in March, after a year that was both incredibly difficult and incredibly satisfying for the Breaker organization. We still think the run game of Troy Davis and Chris Perry is not up to par with what a winning team needs, so we expect to see New Orleans go for a back. Their other move may be to cut a deal with another USFL club to draft JaMarcus Russell from LSU, sign him, and then trade him. That is allowed even after the league made it impossible to simply trade away T-draft picks. OAKLAND: Linebacker is a key need, in fact, two linebackers would be better than one in the case of the Invaders. They need more range in their starters, but could use greater depth as well. This could be a draft priority, or they could look in the free agent pool, where there remain several potential fits for them. OHIO: First they lost Chad Ochocinco to Boston, then Santionio Holmes to injury. Holmes could be back by the season opener, but Ohio is still a team in need of a clear #2 behind Joey Galloway. Could another Buckeye be taken in the T-Draft? And if so, would it be Ted Ginn Jr or Anthony Gonzalez? Sometimes having Ohio State as your feeder school seems just a bit unfair for the opposition. ORLANDO: The Renegades seem set at QB with Jeff Blake, which is a rare thing to say this year. So, where do they look for an upgrade? How about at Tight End, where starter Rickey Dudley has been too erratic to be considered a true #1 at the position. PHILADELPHIA: Another team hoping to pick up multiple linebackers in the offseason. Philadelphia has not yet made a move on any, but we think it is just a matter of time. Of course, they also could take advantage of having Linebacker U. as a protected school, with two Nittany Lion linebackers looking like good targets this year, ILB Paul Posluszny and OLB Tim Shaw. PITTSBURGH: The Maulers think they have solved their QB problem by bringing in Cody Pickett from the Dragons. They also traded for Ladell Betts in hopes of replacing some of Terrell Davis’s production. Now the Maulers have to look at DT and see if they can get some run stuffers on the inside, something Coach Rivera’s defensive scheme relies on. SEATTLE: The Dragons should have one goal, and one goal only, resign Corey Dillon. Dillon turned down an offer from the New England Patriots of the NFL to stay in the spring, and has been in negotiations with Seattle ever since the season ended, so the Dragons just need to get this done and bring Dillon back. ST. LOUIS: From all accounts, the Skyhawks are satisfied having Luke McCown at QB, with Quincy Carter also in the room. So now they look at halfback as a position of need. Neither Larry Johnson nor R. J. Redmond impressed much last season. Redmond remains a free agent, but we think St. Louis can do better in the draft. HB has been an undervalued position in recent years, so it is possible that a top quality back is available when the Skyhawks pick at #3, maybe even in the 2nd round. TAMPA BAY: The Bandits have a lot of talent on that team, but they still are not producing enough QB pressure, so we think DE is the key position for them. Rather than go for an aging vet like Hugh Douglas, we think the Bandits need to focus on the draft, where there are several really intriguing prospects. TEXAS: Coach Turner has his QB in Jeff George, his HB in T. J. Duckett, and his #1 receiver in Muhsin Muhammad, so what is Texas’s big need now? Defensive line seems the obvious choice. The Outlaws could really use replacements at both NT and LE, two tough positions to fill. Our advice, if Sean Gilbert is still looking fit, sign him. If not, then take a look at a rookie pool that includes Amobi Okoye of Louisville and Justin Harrell of Tennessee. WASHINGTON: Sean Payton comes to a pretty talented team that just did not put it together last year. They have needs on both sides of the ball, but they also have some quality across the roster. The most pressing needs are at DE and on the O-line, but it also would not hurt if Washington could finally settle on a receiver to put opposite Deion Branch. In our next issue, due out in January, we will review the full free agent period, assess the best talent in the draft, and take a look at the NFL players who are as-of-yet unsigned and available in the USFL-NFL Transfer Window. For now, we focus on the ongoing free agency period and the trades that will help shape the rest of this offseason. See you again in January.

Failed 2 Pointer Gives New Jersey USFL Title New Jersey Wins 2nd Title in Three Years with 31-29 Victory over LA The New Jersey Generals won their third USFL title and the second in the past three years, but did so by the slimmest of margins, avoiding overtime thanks to a well-defended 2-point play. Bill Parcells wins his second title with the Generals, to go with 2 more as head coach of the NFL Giants, thanks in large part to his defense. New Jersey allowed only 54 yards rushing to Los Angeles, and, while they gave up 3 TDs to the Express, when LA got within 2 points of a tie in the final minute of the game, the New Jersey defense came up with the stop on the PAT attempt to retain the lead and end the game as victors. It was a great scene in Philadelphia, where the USFL sold out Lincoln Financial Field, with over 67,000 fans, many adorned in Generals’ red, on hand to witness the 24th USFL league championship. The Generals, representing the Eastern Conference for the 2nd time in the past 3 seasons, wore the home red, while the LA Express, something of a surprise representative of the Western Conference, despite winning their division, wore their white jerseys and silver pants for the big game. Both teams came into the championship with a lot of enthusiasm, and a lot of pressure. For LA this was the first appearance for the franchise, and the city, in the 24 year history of the USFL, while for New Jersey, the pressure came from expectation, expectation that as the top seed in the East, and the team with the best record in the league at 11-3 (shared with Boston), the Generals were expected to win. The game began with the usual fanfare, the singing of God Bless America (sung by the inimitable Patti LaBelle, a Philadelphia native), the honor guard, the flyover from nearby McGuire Air Force Base, and the National Anthem, performed by the U.S. Marine Corps Band. New Jersey would win the coin toss, and, as has become customary in pro football, they opted to defer until the 2nd half, giving LA the ball to open the game. The Express took the opening kickoff and earned a first down on their very first play, a play action pass to L. J. Smith over the middle. It would be Smith’s only catch of the game, something of a surprise for one of Cade McNown’s favorite targets. LA would earn a second first down, taking them to the New Jersey 48, as a 3rd and 3 was picked up with a short pass to slot receiver Dez White. But the next three plays did not go as well for the Express, as a holding call put them at 1st and 20. They were unable to gain much traction on their next 3 plays and would punt the ball to the Generals. New Jersey came out much as everyone anticipated, 2 tight ends, one back, and intent on establishing the run. Curtis Enis would gain only 1 yard on his first carry, but on 2nd and 9, he hit the left side for 7, making for a very obtainable 3rd and 1. With their first down, Tom Brady attempted his first pass, a short slant to T.J. Houshmandzadeh. “Housh” would have a better than average day against the LA defense, catching 5 balls for 83 yards on the day, but the big plays would be made by the usual suspects, Terry Glenn and TE Anthony Becht. It would be Becht who would make the big play on the opening General drive, a 10-yard completion on a 3rd and 7 produced by a false start. That conversion would put New Jersey inside the 15-yard line, and 3 plays later, Curtis Enis would bull his way into the endzone for the first score of the game. Enis would finish the day with a workmanlike 56 yards on 20 carries, only 2.8 per carry, but enough, when combined with James Jackson’s 39 yards on 8 carries, to keep the run game going for the Generals. LA is not known as a grind it down the field kind of team. Their forte is the big play, and they would have their first, and longest of the day, on their next drive. After moving the ball back into New Jersey territory on a series of plays that included passes to Manumaleuna, Keyshawn Johnson, and Arnaz Battle, as well as a nice 11-yard run by Maurice Jones-Drew, QB Cade McNown would connect with slot receiver Dez White on a 41-yard catch and run that would even the score. McNown used a pump fake as White made a double move on nickel back Tay Cody and White would see open field ahead of him. A kick from Steve Christie and the Express were all even. New Jersey would get one more drive in the opening period, and again it would produce points as Brady connected early with Terry Glenn for a 23-yard toss, that put New Jersey into scoring position at the 7. Glenn would be the top receiver on the day, catching 7 balls for 88 yards and 2 scores. Unlike New Jersey, who used Deion Sanders to all but eliminate Tory Holt (1 catch) from the game, LA did not have a true shutdown corner and alternated coverage of Glenn between Renaldo Hill and Carlos Rogers. Glenn’s toss got the Generals in range, and when a 3rd and goal toss was dropped by Patrick Hape, the Generals settled for a Ryan Longwell field goal from PAT range. LA had avoided going down by 7, but ended the first quarter down 10-7. The Express offense would find some success in the second quarter, despite not hitting on several long throws. In a game that saw both McNown and New Jersey’s Tom Brady both throw over 30 times, it would be LA’s inability to connect on deep throws that would lead them to struggle to put the ball in the endzone for the first 3 quarters of the game. The Express had two solid drives in the 2nd, both ending short of the goalline, and both finishing with Christie field goals, the first from 45 yards out, and the second from the 9 yard line. With these two drives, LA moved from a 10-7 deficit to a brief 13-10 lead. The LA kick was at just before the 3-minute mark of the first half, and, as we so often see, leaving New Jersey QB Tom Brady that much time often leads to a late score. That is exactly what happened as Brady, who would finish the game 26 of 31 for 268 with 3 TDs, completed 5 of 7 passes on the hurry up drill. Brady had clearly put behind him the tipped ball that had become a pick when scooped out of the air by Troy Polamalu earlier in the quarter. He marched the Generals down the field, and found his favorite target, Glenn, for a 7-yard score with only seconds remaining in the half. New Jersey would go into halftime with a 17-13 lead and would get the ball first in the second half, a chance to double down on scoring and take control of the game. It was a rowdy halftime show, as two local favorites were on hand. Jon Bon Jovi and his band started things off, and were later joined on stage by “West Philadelphia Born and Raised” rapper and actor Will Smith. It was an odd combo, but the trade off went over well with the fans, many of whom, like the USFL itself, grew up with the two icons of the region on their playlists. The second half began with a kick that probably should not have been taken out of the end zone, but New Jersey returner Tay Cody opted to try his luck, and got stuffed at the 11. Tom Brady and the Generals offense would go to work from there. It would take 12 plays but the Generals would take command of the game at the end of this drive, with Brady hitting Anthony Becht on a seam route from the 8-yard line. Up 24-13, the 11-point lead put pressure on the Express and gave New Jersey exactly the scenario they wanted, a lead that would require two LA scores, and the ability for the Generals to slow down the game and eat the clock. For the Express, the opposite feeling took hold, that this game could get away from them. They needed to bring it back to a 1-score game. The obvious preference would be for an Express touchdown, but a field goal would do, and that is what they would get out of their next drive. They did the unfamiliar, taking what New Jersey gave them and staying patient. The eventual result, with just 41 seconds left in the quarter, was Steve Christie’s 3rd field goal of the game. It was not ideal, but being down by 8 was much better than being down by 11. But now they would have to hold New Jersey and get the ball back. LA tried changing up their coverages, playing more zone to try to force New Jersey to stay underneath, but in doing that they also forced their linebackers to focus on coverage, meaning that their reaction to the run would be just a step slower. Parcells figured this and started having his OC, Sean Payton, call more plays that looked like passes but turned into draws or screens. The strategy worked and New Jersey again patiently and methodically moved the ball into LA territory. By the time Hue Jackson’s squad readjusted to the General strategy it was too late. They sent a blitz on a 2nd and 5, and in the process gave up a 17 yard reception to T. J. Houshmandzadeh, placing the ball on the LA 12-yard line. From there Brady quickly found Terry Glenn in single coverage on the edge and floated a perfect fade pass to his top receiver. New Jersey was now up 15 with just over 10 minutes to go. The Express had to have urgency and Coach Jackson had the squad move to a no huddle, 2-minute drill at the 10-minute mark. That too proved to be a solid move as LA was able to score on their next possession. They did not get in the end zone quite as quickly as they would have liked, but they did get the touchdown that was essential to their survival, Maurice Jones-Drew catching a swing pass from the 6-yard line to bring LA back into a one-score game, an 8 point deficit at 31-23. The Express would opt to kick the ball deep. New Jersey was ready, having placed Deion Sanders back to receive the kick. The All-USFL corner did not disappoint, taking the ball from the endline back to the 31 yard line before being forced out of bounds. New Jersey could end the game with another score, even a field goal would do. But LA was much more aggressive on this drive, blitzing on first down to stuff Curtis Enis, then sending Troy Polamalu after Brady on 2nd down. Brady got the ball away, but it missed its target and left New Jersey with an uncomfortable 3rd and 10. Brady connected on his 3rd down pass to Anthony Becht, but the route took Becht only 8 of the 10 yards and he was quickly brought down, leaving New Jersey with a 3rd and 2 from their own 39. They would punt. With 3:44 left to play, Tory Holt took the punt, but had to call a fair catch when the ball hung in the air and the coverage reached him. LA would have to go 75 yards, score a touchdown, and then convert a 2-point PAT just to tie the game and send it to overtime. The drive would not start well for the Express. On 1st and 10 from the 25, Tory Holt got called for a false start, shifting himself just before the snap. It would get worse on 1st and 15 as the LA play, a 9-yard pass to Holt, was nullified by a holding call. LA now faced a 1st and 25 from their own 15. McNown tried to get a chunk of it back on one play, but could not connect with Keyshawn Johnson down the right side. 2nd and 25. McNown would be forced to dump down to Maurice Jones-Drew on 2nd down. The play would gain only 5 yards, making it 3rd and 20 from the 20. Again McNown looked downfield and again he had to drop the ball short, this time to J. T. Smith, a gain of only 3. It would be 4th and 17 from the 23. The strongly partisan New Jersey crowd in Philly was getting loud. This play could all but end the game. The call came in, McNown in the shotgun, Foster, not Jones-Drew in at halfback, which usually meant he was there to protect McNown, who would for either Holt, Johnson, or Dez White on a deep route. But that was not the plan. Hue Jackson took a chance and called up a screen. As the New Jersey defenders, including LB James Harrison rushed past the linemen, DeShaun Foster bled out to the right side, and when the short pass from McNown reached him, he had both guards and the right tackle out in front of him. It was the perfect call against New Jersey’s defense. The linebackers were out of position, the corners and safeties had dropped deep to deal with LA’s speedy receivers, and by the time Foster was first touched by a General defender, he had made up 14 of the needed 17 yards. Foster would muscle his way for the rest, and by the time the play was over it was 1st and 10 at the 37. That play seemed to dishearten the New Jersey faithful in the stands, and it did no good for the players on the field either. LA was pumped, they had converted an unlikely 4th and 17 and their hopes were still alive. With Deion Sanders blanketing Tory Holt, McNown would find Keyshawn Johnson in single coverage. 1st and 10 was a 28 yard gain on a deep out. Now at the New Jersey 34, McNown took a shot on Holt, but the ball sailed out of bounds. On 2nd and 10 he would connect with an unlikely target, 4th receiver Arnaz Battle. The little-used Battle would turn a 9-yard slant into another big gain, finally going down at the New Jersey 8-yard line. 1st and goal with 31 seconds left on the clock. McCown spiked the ball on 1st down to stop the clock. They would have 3 downs to get the score and then try to tie the game on the PAT. It would not take 3 plays. On the very next play McCown again turned to the screen, rolling slightly to the right before tossing the ball back to DeShaun Foster. The bigger of LA’s two backs used his power to muscle past the initial tackle and into the endzone. New Jersey led 31-29, but their grip on the game seemed to be slipping away. All the Express would need to do to send the game to overtime, with momentum fully on their side, would be to connect on a 2-point PAT. Coach Jackson used his last timeout to provide more time for a decision to be made. The Express came out in a 3-wide receiver set, Johnson and White on the left, Holt on the right, along with TE T.J. Smith, and Foster again in the backfield. From the shotgun McNown would take the snap. He briefly looked left towards Dez White, but then sent a laser towards T. J. Smith. But in doing so, he missed the movement of LB James Harrison, who had initially feigned a blitz, but now was backing out of it. Harrison stood between Smith and the ball, and while the ball came at him too fast for him to make the catch, the ball did not get past him, kareeming off of his hands, then his facemask, before falling to the ground. Los Angeles’s last minute drive had all been for naught. They still trailed by 2 points with only 12seconds left on the clock. Of course the Express would try the onside kick, but the ball bounded past both hands teams and out of bounds. New Jersey would take over on the 40, and Tom Brady would take a knee to win the game. The Generals had won their 3rd league title, a second for Parcells and Brady, and once again the East was back on top in the USFL pecking order. Brady would be named the MVP, as we so often see with winning QBs in championships. Coach Parcells would receive the John Bassett trophy and pass it along to the players. A phone call from President Gore would come to the New Jersey locker room, and a parade would be scheduled for Tuesday, not through Manhattan, as Governor Pataki would like, but through Newark, New Jersey, a coup for mayor Corey Booker, but appropriate for a team that has always called itself New Jersey’s team. For Los Angeles, it was a bitter defeat, but this was still the furthest any Express team (original or the 1995 expansion club) had ever reached in the USFL playoffs. They put on a heck of a game, and came up just short against a team many had picked to win going away. For the USFL, they got a game that came down to the wire, a fantastic finish, two worthy competitors, and, once the numbers came in, the highest rated Summer Bowl since the 2002 undefeated season of the Ohio Glory. Not a bad way to transition into the celebration of the league’s 25th season in 2007, and not a bad way to end a very competitive, very engaging 2006 campaign. (Yes, I realize that I did not update the LA helmet within the simulator. It should be the one seen in the images at the top of the screen.)

It’s gonna be a Coast-to-Coast Showdown between two of the league’s Original 12, when the Generals take on the Express in a Summer Bowl that few saw coming. New Jersey was the #1 seed in the East, so it should be no surprise that they took care of business and rolled at home to take the Eastern Title and return to the Summer Bowl for a possible 2nd title in 3 years. For LA, the expectations were a little lower, but after knocking off Ohio, and with Houston’s road upset of Arizona, it meant that the title game for the West would be played in front of a friendly Express crowd. Cade McNown and the Express did what they needed to do to make hay against the Houston defense, and the LA defense did its part as well as the Express make their first appearance in a Summer Bowl in 24 USFL seasons. We will preview an intriguing Summer Bowl, but first let’s look at how these two clubs got there, review the latest news from around the league, and then dive into the matchup of the Generals and Express for Summer Bowl 2006. JACKSONVILLE BULLS 14 NEW JERSEY GENERALS 27 The New Jersey Generals, the #1 seed in the East, saw the chance to return to a 2nd Summer Bowl in 3 years and grabbed for the brass ring. New Jersey scored 14 in the first quarter to take an early lead and never trailed as they kept Jacksonville at arm’s length on their way to the conference title. New Jersey would milk the early lead, control the ball for nearly 36 minutes and never let Jacksonville get fully back into contention. It began on the first New Jersey drive, after a conservative first possession by the Bulls led to an early punt. New Jersey responded aggressively, throwing the ball on 5 of 6 plays, and finishing the drive with Tom Brady hitting #1 receiver Terry Glenn from 33 yards out to put the first points on the board. On Jacksonville’s next possession, it was New Jersey’s defense that stepped up, with CB Mike Rumph picking off Jake Delhomme and returning the ball into Bulls territory. Only 6 plays later Curtis Enis would burrow his way into the line to score from 1 yard out. New Jersey had a 14-0 lead and the Bulls would never recover. Jacksonville would get on the board in the first half, thanks to a Delhomme to Woods 62-yard bomb, but that play felt more like an anomaly than a change of momentum. When New Jersey got a Ryan Longwell kick at the end of the first half, they went into the locker room confident in their ability to protect their 10-point lead. The third quarter belonged to the Generals, scoring 10 unanswered to swell the lead to 20 points. Curtis Enis got his second score of the game, and the Generals used both Enis and James Jackson to grind out long, time consuming possessions, only occasionally looking to connect with Glenn or T. J. Houshmandzadeh. The Bulls would score in the 4th period, a garbage time TD from Javon Walker, but the die was cast. Deion Sanders had already picked off Delhomme for a second turnover, and New Jersey had milked the clock throughout the half. Now the Generals were headed back to the Summer Bowl in nearby Philadelphia. They would likely be significant favorites against either Western club, and with plenty of experience from the 2004 squad still on hand, the position of favorite seems very much appropriate. HOUSTON GAMBLERS 17 LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 20 A much tighter game in LA as the Gamblers and Express battled in a close game throughout. It was a game that saw Cade McNown have to leave after striking his thumb on Kavika Pittman’s helmet early in the 2nd quarter. Backup Seneca Wallace would have to go the rest of the way, after barely taking a snap all season. The former Iowa State Cyclone, struggled, but did enough in the end to get LA the win. Houston got 375 yards from Matt Hasselbeck, with Antonio Freeman going over 100 yards, while both Dan Campbell and Roy Williams went over 85, but none of these three receivers were able to find the endzone, and with their leading rusher, Tatum Bell, totaling only 36 yards on the ground, Houston struggled to put points on the scoreboard. Add to this 4 Houston turnovers and even with some shaky QB play, LA was able to pull this one out. The Gamblers did score first in this game, a short 2nd quarter drive after a shanked LA punt, and Hasselbeck found Drew Bennett for the first points of this contest. LA responded only 1:30 later, with Cade McNown hitting Tory Holt from 26 yards out to even the score. After a Houston 3-and-out, McCown struck again, connecting with FB Manuel White from the 4 yard line to go up 14-7. After Houston’s next drive was cut short by a Bell fumble, LA moved the ball into the red zone, when on a 3rd and 5 throw, McNown was hit by Pittman just as he released the ball, his hand awkwardly striking off of Pittmann’s helmet. He would go immediately to the bench and kicker Steve Christie would come out to kick LA into a 10-point lead at 17-7. McNown would not return, heading into the locker room. Houston finished out the half with the ball, but a missed 48-yard field goal as time ran out meant that LA maintained their 17-7 lead into the half. The third quarter was a slow one, with Houston struggling to complete drives (one more fumble, a missed field goal, and then finally a connected kick), and by the start of the 4th it was LA up by 7 at 17-10. The Express had shown nothing in the third, with Seneca Wallace only asked to throw the ball 5 times, completing none of them, and the run game moderately more successful, but unable to get LA back in scoring position. Houston was hanging around, and with LA’s offense handcuffed, they felt that the game could be theirs. This feeling certainly was present in the stadium after Houston’s best drive of the day, an 11-play, penalty assisted 73-yard drive, finished with Tatum Bell scoring the equalizer with just over 7 minutes left to play. LA would need to do something, because they could not win this game on defense alone. On the next possession, the Express did what had to be done. Runs by Foster and Jones-Drew helped set up Seneca Wallace for his first completed pass, a 26-yard play action shot to Tory Holt that put LA into scoring range. A couple more runs, and a scramble by Wallace and LA was well within range for Steve Christie. On 4th and 4, Christie put LA back on top 20-17, but with nearly 5 minutes left in the game, the Gamblers were far from out of it. Houston would get the ball on their own 17, and with 4:47 on the clock, they felt no need to run a no huddle, high speed offense. Hasselbeck connected with Freeman, then Williams, on back to back plays. A short 3-yard run by Mike Anderson, and it was 2nd and 7 on their own 44. Hasselbeck would again connect, this time with TE Vernon Davis. The rookie turned a 5-yard reception into an 11-yard play and Houston was in LA territory with 2:21 left to play. Hasselbeck would look for his rookie TE again on 1st and 10 from the Houston 45. Davis caught the ball over the middle, but as he turned to head up field, Troy Polamalu and CB Reynaldo Hill converged on the big TE. Hill’s arm caught the tip of the ball just as Davis was trying to reposition it, and the ball flew out of his hands. The ball rolled backwards, jumped on by Tatum Bell, but squirted out. A pile up ensued, and when it was all sorted, LA DT Van Tuinei was credited with the recovery. Wade Phillips would throw the red flag, trying to make the case that Davis never had possession, so it was an incomplete pass and not a fumble. The review was pretty conclusive, Davis had cleanly caught the ball, taken two steps, turned, and redirected his momentum when he was hit by Polamalu and Hill. It was a fumble, and LA would have the ball, first and 10 with 2:11 left on the clock. The clock stopped after the LA first down play, a 2-yard Foster run, and again after 2nd down, when Foster again gained 2 yards. But Houston was now out of timeouts. LA had a third and 6 with 1:50 on the clock. The Express lined up in the shotgun, hoping to trick Houston into thinking pass, but it was a draw from the start. Maurice Jones-Drew would gain only 3 yards, leaving LA with a 4th and 3. But with no time outs Houston could not do anything but watch as LA let the clock drain down, calling a timeout with 1 second on the play clock. They would punt the ball away, and Houston simply would not have time to get into field goal range. Hasselbeck would try to connect deep with Williams, but would not connect, and on a 3rd and 10, the clock ran out on Houston’s hopes. The LA Express, in their 24th season in the league, would make their first appearance in a Summer Bowl. They got even more good news when it was announced that there was no fracture in Cade McNown’s thumb, and that the QB should be ready to go as the starter in one week’s time. So we have a cross-country matchup, a game that repeats one of the first USFL games ever, with the Generals taking on the Express, though this game would be played in Philly, not LA, and it would be for a league title. The Generals would open up as a 6.5 point favorite, but the line has steadily crept downwards and now sits somewhere between 4 and 4.5 points. Expect a heavily red-clad crowd in Philadelphia, as New Jersey and New York fans are buying up any seats they can get on the secondary market. LA will have to generate their own energy in a stadium that will lean heavily towards the Generals. All-USFL & Award Winners As has become tradition in the USFL, the week leading into the Summer Bowl is a busy time, and one of the most anticipated stories is the release of that season’s All-USFL team and the annual Award Banquet. We will start with the men who make up this year’s All League team, and then talk about the major awards handed out last night in Philadelphia. 2006 ALL-USFL TEAM QB: Jake Plummer (ARZ), Kerry Collins (OHI), Drew Bledsoe (BOS) No surprises here as these three all battled for the MVP award this season. HB: Tiki Barber (BOS), Eddie George (OHI), Frank Gore (NSH) Gore is perhaps the biggest surprise here despite finishing 2nd in yards. Many thought T.J. Duckett would get the nod after his best season yet. FB: Justin Green (BOS) As if leading the way for Tiki Barber’s league rushing title was not enough, Green also led all fullbacks with 336 all-purpose yards and 4 touchdowns. TE: Jeramy Stevens (SEA), Jeremy Shockey (TBY) Apparently it is all in the name, as two Jeremy/Jeramy winners this year. WR: Chad Ochocinco (BOS), Joey Galloway (OHI), Randy Moss (TBY), Hines Ward (MGN), Taylor Jacobs (STL) Always a tough category, with lots of potential snubs, like receptions leader Robert Ferguson (MEM), or New Orleans’s main man, Cedric Tillman. G: Vince Manuwai (SEA), Jaime Nails (BOS), Tuten Reyes (NJ) Three true road-graters for Corey Dillon, Tiki Barber, and Curtis Enis to follow. T: Wayne Gandy (NSH), Jonathan Ogden (LA), Kyle Kosier (ARZ) Kosier is the newby along with two of the most-respected LT’s in the league. C: Jeff Saturday (OAK), Jim Newberry (NJ) Oakland may have struggled this year, but Saturday was a rock in the middle. DE: Kavika Pittmann (HOU), Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (NSH), Kyle Vanden Bosch (PIT) Pittmann and KGB are no brainers. Kyle Vanden Bosch earned it on a bad team, beating out several other high-sack guys. DT: Joe Salave’a (OAK), Pat Williams (ORL), Norman Hand (LV) Rare to see three non-playoff teams represented, but there is no denying the talent of these three in the pivot position. LB: Antonio Pierce (WSH), Brian Urlacher (CHI), Lofa Tatupu (LA), Al Wilson (ORL), Joey Porter (LV), Karlos Dansby (ARZ) Nice to see Joey Porter finally get the recognition he deserves. Pierce proves to be one of the best immediate impact NFL transfers in recent years. CB: Jimmy Williams (ARZ), James Trapp (BIR), Sheldon Brown (NSH), Terrell Buckley (JAX) Odd to see so many Knights on the All-USFL defense when their D as a whole did not live up to expectations. SS: Troy Polamalu (LA), Sheldon Williams (Houston) A big hitter and a ball hawk, two very different Strong Safeties. FS: Ernie Brown (JAX), Mike Doss (OHI) An undervalued position, but these two made their presence felt each week. K: Ryan Longwell (NJ) You lead the league in scoring, you should get this award. P: Craig Jarrett (LV) It is not a good thing that Las Vegas punted about 27% more than any other team in the league, but I guess that helped Jarrett get so good at it. A solid team, with, as usual, a lot of players who thought they might make it finding themselves just outside the list. We generally agree with the roster, but wish there was room for Na’il Diggs in Atlanta, Antonio Freeman from Houston, or Jake Delhomme (JAX), who had his best year ever, finishing 4th in QB Rating and first in Completion Percentage. But, there are only so many spots to go around. Now, how about those league-wide awards. Never any controversy there, right? Most Valuable Player: Jake Plummer, QB, Arizona We always knew it would come down to the top 3 performers at QB this year. You had Collins, the top-rated QB once again, Bledsoe, who finished 2nd in yards and QB Rating, and Plummer, who led the league in both yards and touchdowns, but finished 3rd in QBR. In the end, it may have been the Week 14 victory by Arizona over Ohio that settled it. Jake Plummer was victorious in that game, and in a close vote for the MVP. Collins finished a close second, and Bledsoe somewhat further back in 3rd. The MVP award will be Plummer’s second, having won the title in 2000 back when he often gained as much running as passing. That is no longer his style of play, but the effectiveness is still there, as is the gunslinging mentality. Offensive Player of the Year: Tiki Barber, HB-Boston With the QB’s fighting it out for MVP, the Offensive Player of the Year award became a bit of a landslide. Tiki Barber not only won his first league rushing title, but became the first player in recent memory to lead the league in all four major rushing stats: Carries, Yards, TDs and Yards Per Carry. The sweep is a rare feat, and one that all but assured the 10-year vet of his first major award since earning Rookie of the Year in 1997. Defensive Player of the Year: Kavika Pittman, DE-Houston Another tight race, with votes split in several different directions, but again a strong final week produced a winner. Kavika Pittman put up 3 sacks in the season finale, a feat which not only won him the league sack title, but also the Defensive POTY award. The last time Pittmann won the sack title he was beaten out for DPOTY by LB Mike Vrabel. This time around the title went to the dynamic edge rusher for the Gamblers. Rookie of the Year: SPLIT: Matt Leinart, QB-Denver and A.J. Hawk, LB-Las Vegas For the first time in the award’s history, the voting was unresolved, After 3 ballots, the top two candidates had tied three times, and the league decided that it made more sense for the two to share the award than to force a fourth vote and hope that one of the entrenched voters would flip. And so, this year’s ROTY will be split between Offensive ROTY Matt Leinart of Denver and Defensive ROTY, Las Vegas LB A. J. Hawk. Both had outstanding years, so it seems fitting for both to earn the award. Leinart finished the year with 3,414 yards passing and a 19-7 TD-INT ratio. Hawk’s season ended with 96 tackles, 4 sacks, a safety and a forced fumble. Both accomplishments worthy of recognition. Coach of the Year: Mike Nolan, New Orleans There were several really strong candidates this year, but when several teams faded down the stretch, and one continued to defy the odds, the vote became clearer. New Orleans HC Mike Nolan not only guided the Breakers through one of the most turbulent and heartbreaking offseasons in football history, but one of the most unusual and challenging seasons as well. That the Breakers not only survived the year, but thrived, winning the Southern Division while playing their home games at 4 different sites, is a testament to the culture Nolan has built within this team. They may still be searching for the first title in the team’s 24-year history, but this year’s Breakers team will always have a special place in league history, and hopefully a bright future when they return to the Big Easy next March for what is sure to be a celebration like few others. Maulers Acquire a QB It began last week with the big trade between Chicago and Texas, and now we have our second QB trade of the very early offseason. Seattle has agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Maulers to send backup QB Cody Pickett to the Maulers, presumably to be the new starter in the Steel City. Pickett, who had developed something of a cult following after successfully subbing for Byron Leftwich both last year and this, has a total of 5 USFL starts, but in those 5 starts had thrown 9 TDs and no picks, giving him a very early QB Rating of 120.2. In return for sending Pittsburgh the young QB, Seattle receives some LB help in veteran Eddie Mason, and a 3rd round pick in this year’s draft. Pickett receives a chance to make a name for himself as a starter for Coach Ron Rivera. This almost certainly means that Pittsburgh will not work to resign Charlie Batch, which is not exactly unexpected after the QB was benched by Rivera in favor of rookie Brad Gradkowski. The Maulers appear to be in the midst of a major overhaul, as this move, and a possible move being rumored (see below) seem to indicate. For Seattle, Byron Leftwich is the clearcut starter for the Dragons, but does this mean that Tee Martin, who has languished at the QB3 spot for several years now, will move up to #2, or will the Dragons make a move to bring in another option at the position. We know they will carry 3 QB’s, USFL practice squad policy all but ensures that each team will have 3 on the roster, but who that QB is remains a wide open question. Atlanta Expresses Interest in Davis We mentioned that Pittsburgh is in overhaul mode, and, as we reported last week, that may well include one of their most iconic players, HB Terrell Davis. Davis has asked to be traded, and if the rumors are true, that may be only days away. There has been a lot of hubbub among USFL circles that Atlanta is gearing up to make a very lucrative deal with Pittsburgh to bring Davis back home to Georgia. Atlanta has both picks and cap room, so a big deal could easily be within their capacity. Just what Pittsburgh would want for the 31-year-old Davis, a 5-time All-USFL honoree, and one of the most recognizable members of the squad, is very much unknown. There are a lot of needs in Pittsburgh, but Coach Rivera seems predominantly interested in building up a top flight defense as the ticket to Mauler success. Atlanta had the #1 ranked defense in the league in their inaugural campaign (that still boggles the mind), and they have depth at several positions, so they could offer a pick/player mix to sign Davis away from the Maulers. We suspect Pittsburgh might prefer picks to players, but with the right name in the mix, we could see a player being a piece of the puzzle for both teams. We will report if and when anything official comes to fruition, but for now it appears that it comes down to the Fire and the Maulers and simply settling on a price that suits both clubs. As we look ahead at the Summer Bowl, we see that this week’s championship games did produce some potentially impactful injuries. New Jersey has downgraded DT John Thornton from questionable to out, a move that leaves them somewhat thin at the key run-stuffing position. They also will have to go in this game without center Jeff Newberry, who rolled an ankle against Jacksonville. That means that either backup Chris Lueneberg will be stepping in or that New Jersey will move guard Chad Ward into the position and then start Jesse James, the 11-year vet, into the right guard position. For LA, the biggest impact from this past week is the loss of corner Terrence McGee. McGee is listed as questionable for the game, but all sources we have spoken to say the odds are not good that he will play. That leaves the nickel slot in the hands of 2nd year player Derrick Johnson. DE Keneche Udeze also went out late in the Houston game, but he is expected back and is listed as probable after suffering a knee strain in the game this past weekend. And, just as a reminder, others who are out this week are New Jersey WR Brandon Stokely and LT Orlando Brown, as well as LA guard Alan Faneca. Parcells Coy About Future It seems NY sports radio has heard rumors about Bill Parcells hanging up his play sheet after this season and they are not letting it go with the Big Tuna. In the post-championship presser, Parcells was asked about his plans beyond the Summer Bowl by three different local reporters, and each time he seemed both annoyed and flabbergasted as he repeated the same line about football being a one week at a time sport, and that he had no time to look past next week’s title game. Going out on top may well be attractive to Parcells, who already coached the Giants and the Jets, and has one title on his mantle with the Generals. Adding a second may just be the perfect cherry on the sundae for Parcells, or it may inspire him to keep going. Only he knows for sure what he sees as his future with the team. What we do know is that were Parcells to step down, the ownership of the Generals would not have to look far to find a replacement. Both of Parcells’s coordinators are considered top candidates for a head coaching position, both Defensive Coordinator Romeo Crennell and his young, inventive OC, Sean Payton, have had their names come up often when discussing coaching vacancies in the league. We know already that both Memphis and Washington are interested in speaking with one or both of the coordinators, but now must wait at least another week. Were Parcells to name one as his heir apparent, even if he were not to step away after this season, that would almost assure the Generals of retaining that coach for the next year. As for the other, we don’t think remaining a coordinator in New Jersey will be a long-term plan for either Crennell or Payton. We should remember as well that with both QB Tom Brady and WR Terry Glenn currently unsigned for next year, the last thing the Generals need is a coaching change as they try to get both to sign and potentially give up a major payday from either another USFL team, or, more likely, from the circling sharks of the NFL. Details of 2008 Season Include Possible Monday Night Game With the 2007 USFL season schedule all but set, the league is now taking a look at 2008, with the expansion to 28 clubs and a 14th game each week, and openly wondering if it is not time for a Monday Night game. With both NBC and ESPN pushing hard to add an extra game to the evening schedule instead of another Saturday or Sunday afternoon game, it seems the time may be right for the USFL to add a 4th night of football to the spring and summer schedule. Currently NBC has only 1 game per week, the Friday Night Lights game each week, while ESPN holds the rights to their Saturday Night Special and Sunday Night Football broadcasts. ABC and FOX seem content with the remaining 10 games over both weekend afternoons, so it comes down to which network will provide the incentive to push for a Monday Night game. The league seems open to the idea, though it also produces some scheduling issues, just as the Friday Night game does. The league would like to avoid a Monday to Saturday turnaround, which means that they would likely place any MNF participants in Sunday games the week after, similar, though almost reversed from the current policy to place all Friday night participants in the Saturday game the week prior, again to try to avoid short weeks. If we had to bet on the results of this, we would 100% say that MNF is coming to the USFL in 2008, and we would place the odds on NBC acquiring a 2nd game rather than holding with one per week while ESPN added a 4th. However, that does not mean necessarily that NBC would capture both Monday and Friday. We could easily see ESPN and NBC agreeing to a swap to allow for back to back nights, Friday and Saturday for NBC and Sunday/Monday for ESPN for example. Too early to tell, but at the very least it seems we can all potentially anticipate not only a 14th game each week, and not only a return to a 16-game season, but the addition of a 4th day of football each week. No one is going to complain about that. League Debuts 25th Season Patch The 2007 season will mark the USFL’s 25th since arriving on the sports scene with a bang in 1983. To commemorate the occasion all 26 teams will wear a 25th Season patch on their jerseys. As with the 2002 season, when the league marked their 20th anniversary, the patches will again come in two varieties, a leaguewide USFL patch and a team-specific version for those clubs which were among the original 12 to start play in 1983. The leaguewide patch features the league’s “U” logo in the center, set above the number 25, with the years 1983 and 2007 on either side in a banner, and a red rondel with “United States Football League” enclosed within it, all done in the league’s classic red, white and blue. For the team-specific design, the “U” is raised to the top of the logo and the team’s original 1983 logo is placed at the center of the rondel. Both league and team apparel with the logo will also be available at the USFL online store and at stadiums across the league next March. SUMMER BOWL PREVIEW Summer Bowl 2006, with the Los Angeles Express and the New Jersey Generals facing off for the season title. Will this be the first title in 24 seasons for the Express, or will the Generals win their third, and the second in the past three years? Who are the players to watch? What are the storylines to follow? We have it all here, and we start with the players who may not be the most recognizable names, but who could come up big in this one, our... Top 5 Under The Radar Players 5) New Jersey LB Bobby Howard: With a linebacking corps that includes playmakers like Donterrius Thomas and James Harrison, it is easy to overlook the third member of the squad, but Bobby Howard can be a factor in any defensive scheme. Howard finished the season with 60 tackles, ony 23 behind team leader Thomas, and the 8-year veteran is always around the ball. He may not have the speed of Thomas or the ferocity of Harrison, but the Express should not overlook the impact he can have both in pass coverage and as a runstopper. 4) Los Angeles TE L. J. Smith: Admitedly, Smith is not exactly an unknown quantity for LA’s offense. He did finish third on the team in receptions behind Keyshawn Johnson and Tory Holt, but when you have those two on the outside, it can be easy to forget the middle. Smith and Brandon Manumaleauna are often lined up in a 2-receiver-2 TE-1 back formation for LA, and Smith is clearly a danger in the red zone. What folks tend not to notice is that he is also a solid runblocker, and often acts more as a fullback than a pure tight end. That flexibility could allow LA mix things up against New Jersey’s linebackers, forcing them to commit in one direction and then hitting them with a surprise or misdirection. 3) New Jersey TE Patrick Hape: If I asked you who was New Jersey’s third leading receiver, you might guess T.J. Houshmanzadeh, which would make sense, he is on the field almost every play, and after Terry Glenn and Anthony Becht, you would expect Tom Brady to throw to T.J., but the actual answer is Hape. New Jersey is another team that likes to use a flexible 1 back formation, often with dual tight ends. It allows them to use the power run game with Enis, or to catch a team overcommitted and go for play action. Hape did not score a TD all season, but his 32 receptions were still important for the Generals, and he could be a significant factor against an LA defense that often overreacts to ball fakes. 2) Los Angeles FS Darrel Bing: With all eyes on Troy Polamalu, it is easy to forget that the rookie free safety for the Express has had a heck of a season. Bing is used in a multitude of ways, though most often he is playing center field so that Polamalu can creep up to the line. And yet, Bing has 2 sacks as well as 57 tackles on the year. His choices, particularly if he is being asked to assist Carlos Rogers with coverage on Terry Glenn, could be the difference between Glenn having a modest day or a field day. 1) New Jersey HB James Jackson: While not exactly a “thunder and lightning” duo, the combo of Enis and Jackson is effective because when Enis needs a breather, New Jersey can bring in a player who is only slightly less effective inside, and yet provides a bit more speed on the outside. It is that subtle difference in pace that can fool defenders, providing some big plays for the backup rusher. Jackson had 114 fewer carries than Enis this year, just about a 40% share of all carries, but he proved to be as effective as the Penn State product when called on. We fully expect LA to focus a lot of attention on Enis, but if they do not adjust their expectations when Jackson is in the game, they could get burnt. So, we have looked at some potential sleepers who could impact this game quite a bit, but what do we see as the keys to this game, a game between two teams with a lot of similarities? KEYS TO VICTORY 3) Whose Ground Game Can Grind Out First Downs? We know to expect that the ground game will be essential for New Jersey’s success. Only Boston, with Tiki Barber, ran for more yards this season than the Generals. But the truth is that LA alo relies on their run game, but in a very different way. The express rushed, as a team, for about 700 yards less than New Jersey, but their goal is not to pound the ball down your throat like the Generals, it is to force you into 6 or 7 man fronts, to limit double coverage on their receivers, so that they can spring Holt or Johnson deep, maybe catch Smith over the middle for a quick chunk on an early down. Foster and Jones-Drew may have combined for fewer yards than Curtis Enis on his own, but what they both did was set up the defense so that Cade McNown could find receivers in single coverage. If LA can establish that strategy early on, it could produce a good game for McNown and the LA offense. On the flip side, if LA cannot find a way to derail New Jersey’s run game, they will not spend much time with their offense on the field. Give New Jersey a strong time of possession advantage and you are unlikely to come out on top. 2) Who Can Stay Clean? When you have a relatively evenly matched game, and we would call this one despite the initial Las Vegas line favoring New Jersey, the key is often which team can avoid two game killers, penalties and turnovers. Both the Generals and Express have been pretty good at avoiding unforced errors. New Jersey is 3rd in the league with only 10 turnovers all year, and LA is not far behind at 12. Penalties is the other factor that can kill drives or provide a spark to the opponent’s offense. LA has a distinct advantage here. With only 63 penalties called against the Express all year, they are among the league’s cleanest teams, while New Jersey ranked considerably worse, with a particular penchant for holding calls on both sides of the ball. That could be something that impedes their success, especially if the officials are feeling like they want to call a tight game. 1) Who Can Win on Third Down? This is the one area where we think New Jersey could have a distinct advantage. LA is a big play team, looking for the 50-yard TD strike more than the 80-yard drive. While New Jersey had a very respectable 36% conversion rate on 3rd down (nearly 65% when it was third and less than 3), the LA Express converted only 45 of 170 attempts, only 26%, and their 3rd and moderate (4 yards or less) rate was only slightly better at 33.3% (20 of 60). Add to this the fact that of their 170 third downs, only 60 were shorter distances and you can see that LA depends heavily on avoiding third down, getting big chunks of yards, and making big plays. If New Jersey can limit those big plays and force LA to actually extend drives 3-4 yards at a time, the game could easily swing in the Generals’ favor. THE PROS PICK SUMMER BOWL 2006 OK, We know who to watch, and what to watch for, time for some picks. But, since we have proven over the years to be all but useless as prognosticators for both seasons and playoff results altogether, we thought we would turn the job over to some folks who know these two teams well. So we selected 4 players from across the league to get their impressions, beginning with this year’s Rushing Champ, Tiki Barber. Tiki Barber, HB-Boston: Look, we played New Jersey three times this year, and they swept us, so you know there is no love here, but there is a lot of respect. They play hard every down and you have to earn what you get against them (Barber did run for 100 yards in all three losses). They are not flashy on offense, but they are very effective at grinding you down over time and then surprising you with a quick shot to Terry Glenn. On defense the thing is that they just hit hard, on every play. They have Deion out there on corner, so you can kiss your #1 receiver goodbye for the day, but when Thomas and Harrison hit you, you know you have been hit. I have watched a lot of LA games on tape, just because I like to keep up on Keyshawn, a good friend, but I think I have to go with the Generals here. David Boston, WR-Seattle: We did not play New Jersey this year, but LA edged us twice, and I honestly still cannot tell you how we lost those games (24-19 in Week 3 and 20-18 in Week 12). Yes, they have a great receiver combo with Tory and Keyshawn, and their defense can be tough as well, especially with Troy (Polamalu) hunting after anyone who comes across the middle, but I am still a bit surprised that they made it past Ohio. That was a real shock to me. I have to say that my head sides with the Generals here, just because Tom Brady is so calm in the pocket, but my heart says that LA will find a way, just like they found a way against us this year. Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE-PIT: Weird you are asking me. We didn’t play either team this year, so maybe I am supposed to be neutral on this? Well, I can tell you that I would not look forward to playing either of these quarterbacks. Neither one is really elusive, they both tend to sit in the pocket, but they are still tough to deal with. Brady is just cool as a cucumber. You can get to him, but the ball is likely not going to be in his hands when you do. Cade is a bit more of a gunslinger. He will hold onto that ball and hope something opens up late, and he is certainly going to take more deep shots on you if you cannot pressure him. But, when I look at the two defenses, I think Keneche (Udeze) and Jevon (Kearse) have a bit more explosiveness and could give Brady some trouble. So, sticking with my edge guys, I am going to pick the Express. Matt Hasselbeck, QB-HOU: There are such good players, real pros on both sides of this game. So for me it is about the coaches. It is amazing what Hue Jackson has been able to do in his first year in LA. I am a bit surprised he did not win Coach of the Year, though I understand why they gave it to Nolan down in New Orleans. But, how can I go against Bill Parcells? The man has done it with 3 different teams. He knows how to get the best out of his players, and you are not going to throw anything at him that he does not know how to handle. I like the Generals because I think that Parcells will have them in the right mindset, and will have a gameplan that minimizes some of LA’s strengths. So, there you have it, by a 3-1 margin the vote goes to New Jersey. Will these players prove to be proficient prognosticators, or will they struggle like we so often do to make the right call? We shall see soon enough as Summer Bowl 2006 is only 2 days away. We will see you on Monday for the recap of the big game, and our play by play breakdown of how the game was won.

The top four seeds in this year’s playoffs began their postseason run with home games this week, and while home field and solid rosters proved enough in the East for both the #1 and #2 seeds to advance, the same was not the case in the West, where both #1 seed Arizona and #2 seed Ohio both saw their playoff runs end at one game as Houston and LA both pulled off upset wins on the road. As we look back at the Divisional Round, we start in the East, where both the Bulls and Generals prevailed, setting up a matchup of the Northeast and Southeast Champions next week in Giants Stadium. We will then take a look at how LA and Houston pulled off the upsets on their way to an unexpected Western Conference Finale in LA next weekend. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 23 JACKSONVILLE BULLS 31 A hard-fought game that saw both teams have their moments as the Breakers came back east to face the Bulls in front of nearly 57,000 fans at Alltel Stadium. In the end, the difference was seen in the run game, where Jacksonville was able to use the talents of Antowain Smith and Travis Minor to drain time and opportunity away from the Breakers. Smith and Minor would combine for 163 yards, with Smith scoring twice. For New Orleans the run game just was not there, with Troy Davis gaining only 24 yards on the day, and Chris Perry carrying the ball only 4 times for 2 yards. In a game that saw a lot of balance, that difference was the key to Jacksonville’s success. The first half saw a give and take battle, with New Orleans scoring on three field goals, while Jacksonville had the only TD of the half, an 11-yard toss from Delhomme to Rashaun Woods early in the 2nd. The Bulls would take a 10-9 lead into the half, but it was clear this game was nowhere near done. It would be the third quarter that would be the deciding minutes of the game as Jacksonville had the only score of the period, a 1-yard run by FB Madison Hedgecock, but it was the end of the half that won the game for the Bulls. With New Orleans driving into Bulls territory, CB Terrell Buckley made the play of the game, stripping Cedric Tillman of the ball after what appeared to be a first down catch inside the red zone. Buckley got his arm between the ball and Tillman’s arm, and the ball popped out, recovered, and returned 33 yards by Buckley before he was forced out of bounds. That takeaway led to an Antowain Smith TD that made the score 24-9. While New Orleans would score twice in the final period to make the score closer, it would prove not to be enough, as Jacksonville kept the Breakers at arm’s length, adding another Smith run with just over 2 minutes to go to win by 8 in front of a very happy Bulls’ crowd. Next up for the Bulls, a tough assignment, knock off the #1 seed Generals in their own house. BOSTON CANNONS 28 NEW JERSEY GENERALS 31 New Jersey punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Championship by facing off and defeating a new division rival, the Boston Cannons, for the third time this season. After knocking off the Cannons in the final week of the regular season to claim the top seed, New Jersey and Boston would face off once again, and once again, the Generals would do just enough to edge their rivals from New England. And while we could say that Brady, Enis, and Glenn all had very strong games, this was not a game won by one player, but by team effort on both sides of the ball. Brady would throw for 283 yards and 3 scores, Enis would rush 19 times for 99 yards, and Glenn would catch a game high 5 balls for 197 yards, but it was a game won by the defense, the special teams, and the offense of the Generals all doing their part. New Jersey took an early lead on a Brady to Glenn TD toss on their first drive, only two and a half minutes into the game, but after Boston replied with a Tiki Barber TD run, New Jersey started to pull away. A touchdown from little used Deon Dyer, followed by a Longwell field goal, and it was 17-7 New Jersey at the half. The only score of the 3rd quarter was a Bledsoe to Bob Slowikowski TD toss, 17-14 after three, but this would not remain a low-scoring game. The two teams would combine for 27 points in a wild final period that saw the two clubs combine to score on 5 straight possession (FG Generals, Mike Cloud TD for Boston, Becht TD catch for NJ, Tiki Barber TD catch for Boston, and finally a Longwell field goal for the Generals). It was 28-28 after the Barber TD catch, just as the 2-minute warning was sounded. That score would give Tom Brady and the Generals the time they needed to set up Longwell, which is exactly what they did, marching into Boston territory and calling their last time out to set up their league-leading kicker. Longwell drove the ball home, and New Jersey survived a tough test against Boston to advance, one game away from Summer Bowl 2006. HOUSTON GAMBLERS 21 ARIZONA WRANGLERS 10 Things did not go as smoothly out West, where both top seeds struggled coming out of the bye, with both losing to their Wild Card opponent. For the Wranglers, that opponent was a familiar one, division rival Houston. The Gamblers had defeated the Wranglers both times they faced off in the regular season, including a Week 13 game that would end Arizona’s 8-game win streak. Both games had been close affairs, with Houston winning by only 4 two weeks ago. this game would not have that drama. Arizona would start strong, picking up the only points of the first quarter on a Plummer to Moss scoring toss, but that would be the last time they reached paydirt in the game. Houston would find their way to the end zone three times over the next 3 quarters. The offense would contribute two of those scores, a Vernon Davis TD catch and a Tatum Bell run. The defense would provide the final score as a desperate Jake Plummer threw one right into the gut of Houston CB Ronde Barber, who ran it back 66 yards to turn a modest 14-10 lead into a decisive 21-10 difference. The MVP of the game was Houston WR Roy Williams, who finished the day with 6 catches for 112 yards, while on defense, Houston’s Mr. Everything, Kavika Pittmann, would have himself a day as well, grabbing 2 sacks and several disruptive plays for the Gambler D. The Wranglers would try to keep Pittmann off of Jake Plummer by using the run game more than they normally do, and that worked to a degree. Pritchett and Staley did combine for 171 yards on the ground, keeping Arizona relevant through the game, but it did not slow down the Houston pass rush, with Pittmann and company getting to Plummer 6 times on the day. The win propels the Wild Card Gamblers into the Conference Championship, and while at game time Houston might have expected to be heading off to face the Ohio Glory, that would prove not to be the case. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 35 OHIO GLORY 13 After a very strong showing against Michigan, the LA Express came into this game flush with confidence. Ohio, having spent the off week preparing and expecting a win, came out somewhat flat, and somewhat shocked by the success the Express were having on defense. The most shocking aspect of this game was the play of the LA defense, and in particular the secondary. LA would get three picks of Collins, his first 3-interception game in nearly 2 years. Led by rookie FS Darnell Bing, the Express simply kept finding the ball in their hands. LA did not record a lot of sacks, but it was clear that the Express were pressuring Collins, forcing some unwise throws, and then capitalizing on the short fields. Cade McNown would outshine Collins, throwing for 3 scores, though he was certainly aided by a strong rushing duo of Foster and Jones-Drew, whose combined 138 yards outpaced that of Eddie George. Add in 2 Tory Holt TDs’ and a 139 yard, 1 TD day for Keyshawn Johnson, and you can understand how silent the Ohio crowd became in the second half, when LA pulled out to a 28-10 lead. The game never swung back in Ohio’s favor. Collins simply could not make enough plays to overcome the deficit, and when the final whistle sounded, the Express had not only pulled off the upset, but had done it in an impressive manner. The Express beat the odds as the #3 seed and now get the reward, a home game for the Western Conference Championship as the Express will host the Gamblers next weekend. Bledsoe Vows a Return for 2007 Following the loss to New Jersey, the third this season, Boston QB Drew Bledsoe quickly squelched any talk about him seeking to retire this offseason, stating that he fully plans to be back under center for the Cannons in 2007. “We have unfinished business and I want to be there when we finish it” said the veteran QB when asked about his plans for next year. This has to come as a huge relief to Cannon fans, who were concerned about comments made by Bledsoe earlier in the season that clearly seemed to indicate that retirement was on the table. It would appear that the exit from the playoffs at the hand of the Generals was motivational for Bledsoe, as we expect it is for many Cannon players. After leading the Northeast Division for the better part of the season, a loss to New Jersey in the final week of the regular season dropped Boston to 4th seed, and now, another close loss to the same team knocks them out of the playoffs. We could see how that would galvanize the team. That said, Boston would be wise to start looking for a future replacement for Bledsoe. In a few brief appearances, Syracuse alum Adrian McPherson has looked good, so perhaps he is the plan, but we would not be shocked if Boston went after a mid-round QB project in hopes of having 1-2 years with Bledsoe at the helm before making a switch. This is all speculation, of course, but as we have seen in many cases throughout league history, failure to plan for a QB’s eventual departure can quickly lead a team to a very rough few years. Heath Shuler Announces Retirement It is the announcement that fans in Memphis and around the league have been dreading, as former MVP and Tennessee sports icon Heath Shuler has announced that he is retiring from the game. Shuler who was severely injured in a car accident only 1 game into the 2006 season, has been speculation all season long. His injuries were significant, and there was no guarantee that he would ever be able to play again. And while he has made few public appearances, reports out of Memphis have been positive, but there is a difference between positive results after surgery and recovery and a return to football. It seems clear now that Shuler, while healing well, simply does not believe that a return to the Showboats is in his best interest. The resignation of head coach Jim Mora Sr. may have played a part in the decision, beyond any physical limitations he may be feeling. The fact of the matter is that Shuler, after 13 seasons, all with the Showboats, had little left to prove in the game, and a lot of life after football to focus on. The former Tennessee Volunteer made the announcement through team channels, stating great respect for the organization that signed him out of college and which he helped to guide to 7 playoff appearances, two Summer Bowls, and the 1999 league title, as well as for Coach Mora, who was his coach for the final 9 of his 13 seasons with the Showboats. Shuler will retire as the all-time leader for Memphis in Pass Attempts, Completions, QB Rating, Yards, and Touchdowns, nearly every QB record worth measuring. A six-time All-USFL selection, the 1999 MVP and Playoff MVP, and almost certainly a top Hall of Fame Candidate, Shuler will always be known for his leadership on the field and in the community. Born and raised in North Carolina, Shuler first came to the state of Tennessee as a highly recruited QB at the University of Tennessee. He was selected by Memphis in the 1994 Territorial Draft, and would play his entire career with the Showboats. So now Memphis has to strategize a path forward, always a tough moment for a franchise, but after a year in which the team tried out 3 different quarterbacks, finished with only 3 wins, and now lost the legendary coach who took them to their only league title, the challenge is substantial. Fans, of course, want to see a big name come to Memphis, and we all know that that name is Peyton Manning, but with Manning well-compensated and under long-term contract with the NFL Colts, with whom he has won two titles, it seems unlikely that this particular Vol QB will make his way back to the Volunteer State. Others are hoping that the Showboats get the chance to sign LSU quarterback Jamarcus Russell. Russell’s rights could be protected by the Breakers, but with Eli Manning already in New Orleans, it seems very possible that Russell could be available in the open draft, where the Showboats currently hold the 2nd pick, sitting just behind another QB-needy team, the Pittsburgh Maulers. Will Memphis have a shot at Russel? Or will they look elsewhere for a quarterback to return them to greatness? It is a big question following a big retirement. Early Retirement Announcements While Heath Shuler’s retirement rightfully drew a lot of attention across USFL and Sports media, he was certainly not alone in declaring his intention to file the league’s official retirement declaration. As we see each year, a good number of players, ranging from All-USFL stars to journeymen and role players on each team’s roster, make the same decision, to step back from the game and begin a new phase in their lives. This year’s list of early offseason retirees certainly does not lack for star power, as several of the league’s best are saying the time is right to step away. Among those who will be hardest for their teams to replace we have wideouts Bert Emmanuel of Nashville and Cedric Tillman of New Orleans, both leading their team in receptions this year. J.J. Stokes also announced he would seek retirement after 12 seasons played with 6 different USFL franchises. Stokes is not the lone Denver Gold member to call it a career. In addition to the wideout, Denver will need to find itself a new kicker and punter as both Jeff Wilkens and Todd Sauerbrun announced they would retire after long careers kicking at altitude. Finally, Denver guard Chris Dishman is also hanging up his helmet for the last time. Other names that fans will recognize include Orlando LB Dexter Coakley, Ohio kicker John Carney, Birmingham QB Erik Zeier and center Tom Nalen, Baltimore center Tom Devlin, and Atlanta fullback Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala. We wish these players, and many others who will not receive headline attention a smooth transition to life after the game and a rewarding life filled with memories of their time in the USFL. Outlaws Go for O With Norv Turner Hiring Changing gears, we have our first of the three Head Coach positions filled, as the Texas Outlaws once again stay within the state to fill a vacancy. This time, instead of going after someone with UT connections, the Outlaws have reached across the state and across leagues to sign a member of the Dallas Cowboy staff. Norv Turner, offensive coordinator for the ‘Boys, will be the newest head man in San Antonio. Turner comes to San Antonio with a strong résumé of success in both offensive playcalling and quarterback development. Development is not likely the priority for Texas, who recently traded with Chicago to acquire veteran signal caller Jeff George, but developing a consistent offense around HB T.J. Duckett and George seems like a good priority for a club that has regularly found itself near the bottom of offensive rankings. Latest Free Agent Releases And, of course, it would not be another week of the USFL post-season without more teams dropping from the contenders, and with that, more free agents joining the pool that will be available in just 18 days. Among those players released from their contracts with their team’s defeat this week are Arizona center Gene McGuire and halfback Jonathan Wells; Boston DT Wendall Bryant, center Austin King, and DE Greg Ellis. New Orleans sees guard Terrance Metcalf, WR Andre King, and LB Donnie Edwards all joining the free agent pool. For Ohio, the list of new free agents includes DT LaRoi Glover, guard Cooper Carlisle, Halfbck Musa Smith, and guard John Nesbit. Free Agency will officially open on the Wednesday following the Summer Bowl, with the NFL-USFL window opening only 9 days later. Looking at the two conference games, we have some pretty healthy teams out there competing. Jacksonville has only one player who is listed as Questionable or worse, while New Jersey has two players out (Stokely and Brown), but these are not new injuries. Tamba Hali is listed as probable, and we expect him to play, so a pretty clean bill of health for both squads. In the Western final, the biggest question is Express DE Keneche Udeze, a big part of their 1-2 punch at the edge with Jevon Kearse. He is listed as Doubtful, but could still see the field. Jonathan Ogden, who missed the divisional game is a game time decision. For Houston, the lineup looks pretty clean, so again, not an injury-riddled game. Looks like both championships will be about lining up each team and having them play their best, all with a trip to Summer Bowl 2006 in Philly on the line. TV Ratings & Attendance Numbers for 2006 Regular Season The numbers are out, and it was a good year for the USFL in basically every measurement the league values. The addition of two teams in Atlanta and St. Louis was sure to increase total attendance, but what was more impressive was that league attendance averages were also up by nearly 4,500 attendees per game across the board. Yes, having large stadia in St. Louis and Atlanta certainly helped, but we also saw significant attendance boosts in places like Houston, Los Angeles, Michigan, and Seattle. The boosts in several cities were enough to offset the displacement of the New Orleans Breakers, and the natural decline in attendance of some clubs who had sub-par years. The league leaders were not surprising, though normally we would see New Orleans among them, and they were not able to do so with their traveling road show. The Top 5 in 2006 were Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Denver, New Jersey, and Ohio, with Birmingham, Seattle, and St. Louis not far behind. Bringing up the rear, largely due to poor performance on the field, were Pittsburgh, Washington, Las Vegas, Boston, and Texas. The Thunder and Cannons did well as a percentage of seats sold, but their smaller stadia are an issue, while Texas, Washington, and Pittsburgh all saw significant dips from last year, due largely to poor late-season crowds once their records dipped well below .500. The second major metric used by the league is, of course, TV ratings, and again, adding two more markets and one more game per week seemed to be a boon there as well. There were small but significant increases in viewership across all four networks (ABC, FOX, NBC and ESPN), with the largest gain coming from ESPN, which saw its Saturday and Sunday Night showcase games dominate viewership in the evening timeslot. The highest rated game of the season, to no one’s surprise, was the Ohio-Arizona showdown in Week 14, followed closely by the Boston-New Jersey game the same week. Week 12’s game between Atlanta and Jacksonville, a bit of a surprise in that neither team are considered big market or high value teams for TV purposes. This news, on both fronts, demonstrates the ongoing upward trajectory in USFL marketability, market saturation, and fan enthusiasm. A recent Gallup poll had the USFL rated third in the nation behind only the NFL and NBA in popularity, ahead of MLB and college football among self-identifying sports fans. What was even more impressive is that the same poll seemed to indicate a greater level of satisfaction with the USFL product than with any other league, including the NFL, which still suffers from a bit of fan frustration with their slowness to modify rules, a sense that they overprotect their players (producing too many penalty calls) and a belief that USFL games tend to be more competitive. This has certainly been the case with Summer Bowl results vs. Super Bowl results. In the past dozen years, we have had 4 championships decided by more than a touchdown, and one of those was Ohio’s 2002 perfect season, which produced the highest TV rating ever for a USFL broadcast, Summer Bowl 2002. It is all good news for a league that once had to sue the NFL just to remain afloat. While the financial strength of the USFL is still lagging behind that of the older, larger NFL, the league is doing very well in the metrics that matter, and owners who stuck through the rough early years are seeing major return on investment with their franchises and as leaders in their communities. Eight playoff games down, only 3 left to play. This week we have the Conference Title Games to decide which two clubs will represent their conferences in Summer Bowl 2006. While we don’t have the drama of a Cinderella #6 seed in the mix as we did last year, we do have two very intriguing games. #2 Jacksonville Bulls (10-4) @ #1 New Jersey Generals (11-3) Sunday, July 9 @ 1pm ET Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ It comes full circle as the Bulls and Generals meet for the second time this season. The two squared of fin the same stadium to open the season way back in March. New Jersey won that game 17-10 thanks to a Brady to Becht touchdown that started New Jersey’s run to the top seed in the conference. A lot has happened since then, yet these two teams have been very consistent all season long. We know what to expect from this game. Both Jacksonville and New Jersey will look to establish the run with their bell cow backs, Curtis Enis and Antowain Smith. They will look to break big plays through play action, New Jersey hoping to hit Terry Glenn in single coverage, while Jacksonville will split throws between Anquan Boldin and Rashaun Woods, whichever is found to be in single coverage as well. Both defenses will try to pressure the QB while also using timely blitzes to throw off the run game of their opponent. We see the edge in that fight with Jacksonville, thanks to the outstanding run coverage provided by Lavar Arrington and Mike Vrabel. New Jersey’s LB corps, led by Donterrious Thomas and James Harrison is more inclined to go for the big hit and the takeaway than the wrap up tackle, so they will occasionally miss the mark and give up a big play. Where New Jersey excels is in the ability to finish games strong. Tom Brady has proven to be one of the best 4th quarter, if not the best 2-minute quarterbacks in the game. It has become almost cliché to expect Brady to find a way down the field in the final minutes of a game, particularly when the Generals are trailing. If the game is close, we think we have to favor New Jersey to pull it out. But, if Jacksonville can build up a lead, the Generals have not shown the explosiveness to overcome deficits of more than 7 in the past. OUR PICK: We like the Generals here for two reasons, the first is the home crowd and the energy they will bring to the game, the second is Brady and his ability to stay calm under pressure and rise to the occasion when New Jersey needs something special. It also helps that this is very much the same General squad that won it all back in 2004, so the experience is there, the confidence is there as well. Generals 24-21 is our pick. #4 Houston Gamblers (9-5) @ #3 Los Angeles Express (9-5) Sunday, July 9 @ 5pm ET Farmers Insurance Field, Carson, CA Most pundits had either Ohio or Arizona in this game, many had both, so to have the three and four seeds is a bit of a surprise, but both have been impressive in knocking off the two top-rated teams in the Conference. We all know how Houston does it, defensive fortitude, and offensive tenacity. They will rarely outscore an opponent outright, often wearing them down over the course of the game. For LA the winning formula has been tougher to figure out. They seem somewhat middle-of-the-pack in many ways, and yet one aspect of the team or another seems to rise up as needed to help provide the win. Their demolition of Ohio was one of the most unexpected results of the year, far more so than Houston’s smothering of the Wranglers. So what do we see as the keys to the game? For Houston it is the ability to score early. That defense is at its best when it does not feel the pressure to do it all. If Houston can get an early lead, it relaxes the defense and that is when they are at their best, when they can play full speed, attack without worry about letting up a score that the offense cannot overcome. For LA the issue is one of maximizing opportunities. Houston will certainly stuff some drives, and Kavika Pittmann has to be licking his chops at the prospect of facing a somewhat stationary Cade McNown, so if LA wants to impress the home crowd and punch their ticket to the franchise’s first ever Summer Bowl, they need to weather the defensive setbacks, prioritize keeping in makable third downs, and, when in scoring range, come up with 7 instead of 3, or 3 instead of 0. OUR PICK: As impressed as we were with LA against the Glory, we think that Houston poses a very different problem, a problem for LA’s offensive line, with or without dinged up Jonathan Ogden, and a problem for Coach Jackson, to keep LA focused and on track when the bad plays happen. We think the calculus is just a bit simpler for the Gamblers, and we like their chances. Houston 20-16.