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It’s a week that saw three teams reach a perfect 3-0, and two more stay unbeaten by settling for a tie in one of the weirder Texas Showdowns we have seen. We also watched as both Denver and Tampa Bay sank to 0-3 as their rough starts to the year continue. We will make some very early overreactions to where teams stand right now in just a bit, but let’s start with our slate of games, opening with a classic Stallion-Showboat slugfest in Memphis. We talk a lot about a college atmosphere as being the best thing a pro football game can achieve, but when it is Birmingham vs. Memphis it feels more like a college rivalry atmosphere, an SEC showdown between heavy hitters. That was definitely the scene in Memphis this week, where more than 55,000 were on hand to cheer their team on. There was a distinct Stallion rooting section but for the most part it was Memphis fans making noise. And what better to rile up both sets of fans than a game that got taken down to the final 2 minutes and then into overtime. Talk about a college atmosphere, this had it all. The game started off with both clubs testing each other out, probing to see where the weak spots would be. Memphis struck first when on their second drive a pass interference penalty against Birmingham gave the Showboats the ball on the 7 yard line. Heath Shuler connected with Joe Horn and it was a quick 7-0 lead for the home team. Birmingham is still testing out their new run game, and they kept feeding the ball to Shaun Alexander, who would finish the game with 67 yards on 17 carries. Using Alexander, Birmingham worked their way down the field before Brett Favre found Marcus Robinson in the endzone to even the score just as the 2nd quarter began. Memphis would retake the lead 6 minutes later with a Jeff Hall field goal, but Birmingham would jump back out on top just before the half with Favre hitting Tyree Davis for a go-ahead TD. But lest you think this was a pure offensive showcase, it was not. Both defenses had their moments, with Birmingham holding Memphis to only 89 yards rushing and sacking Shuler 5 times on the day , including twice by Renaldo Turnbull. Memphis for their part kept Brett Favre under 50% completions (15 of 34) and took him to the ground 6 times as the Stallion line struggled to deal with stunts and blitzes from the Jim Mora defense. Memphis received the 2nd half kick, and despite some solid defense along the way, the Stallions gave up points as Shuler found FB Larry Centers from 12 yards out to pull ahead 17-14. Birmingham would punt on their next possession, but following a Shuler pick they got close enough for Olindo Mare to even the score at 17. As we entered the 4th quarter Memphis again went ahead. Joe Horn, who finished the game with 9 receptions for 131 yards, snagged his second TD catch from Shuler, this time a quick bubble screen that went to the house with 6:55 left to play. Birmingham would get the ball back and mix the run and the pass to both even the score and leave too little time for Memphis to respond. They got their final score, another Tyree Davis TD catch, with only seconds left to play, forcing Memphis to play for overtime with the few plays left available to them. Despite the late score, it never felt like Birmingham had stolen the momentum from the Showboats. It was a see saw game all day, and when the Stallions were forced to punt on the first possession of overtime, Memphis had enough in the tank to get the ball lined up for Jeff Hall to try a 50-yard attempt. Hall hit his kick and the Memphis faithful went home happy. It was a good game played between two evenly matched teams, but the Showboats got the home field bump and the points in overtime to take the W and move to 3-0. Birmingham suffers their first loss and drops to 2-1, but with plenty to take away from this one. TEX 15 HOU 15 OVERTIME If Birmingham-Memphis was close, this one was razor sharp as both undefeated Texas squads fought to a tie, neither able to get the win in overtime. It was a game that saw both offenses struggle to get in the endzone, with Houston getting the lone touchdown on a Hasselbeck to Robinson toss in the first quarter. Texas’s only points would be 5 field goals from Rian Lindell, while Houston would add 2 field goals and a safety. Houston went up 15-12 with only 1:37 left to play, but Texas was able to get Lindell into range and he equalized at the whistle. Neither club could move the ball in overtime and the game ended with the always unsatisfying tie score, but at least both can still say they are undefeated. JAX 28 NJ 23 Another good tight match up in the Meadowlands, where Jacksonville seemed to be running away with the game, up 28-7 at one point, before New Jersey mounted a ferocious comeback attempt. In the end it was too little too late for New Jersey, but they made it interesting. Kenny Bynum was the hero for the Bulls, scoring twice and racking up 97 yards against a defense designed to stop him. PIT 17 WSH 13 The Maulers got a huge win on the road as they knocked off the Federals thanks in part to two Terrell Davis scoring runs. Davis struggled to reach 100 yards, ending at 99 on 25 carries, but that was a lot better than the Federal backs who combined for only 30 total rushing yards against Pittsburgh’s revamped D-line. Rookie Mauler LB Akin Ayodele and veteran Demetrius Dubose were on top of things, combining for 15 tackles, while Kyle Vanden Bosch added another sack to join the group trailing Kavika Pittman by only 1 (5 to 4). ARZ 24 DEN 20 The Wranglers dealt Denver another tough blow, knocking them to 0-3 with a road win at Mile High. They did it, as they so often seem to, without a workable run game, relying on Jake Plummer. Their QB responded with 3 TD passes and 297 yards, and the Wrangler defense contained Denver when it mattered most, shutting them out in the 4th quarter. SEA 22 POR 14 Seattle won the Cascade Clash in Portland by picking off Akili Smith twice and holding the Thunder to only 20 total rushing yards in a truly poor display by Buckhalter and Kaufmann (23 carries for a combined 14 yards. Corey Dillon and NFL import Brian Mitchell blew past that for a combined 145 yards and 2 scores as Seattle got the divisional road win. NOR 33 NSH 20 The Breakers figured out the weak spots in Nashville’s defense and exploited them, with Trent Dilfer throwing for 3 scores and the combo of Ricky Williams and Troy Davis gaining 108 yards. As the 4th quarter began it was 26-3 and despite some late let down by New Orleans’s defense, the game was never really in doubt. LA 41 OAK 13 It has been a while since Oakland has gotten the better of their downstate rivals, and it certainly did not happen on this day. LA scored the first 34 points of the game, aided by 2 Invader turnovers, and Cade McNown was done as the 4th quarter began. Antowain Smith had a solid day with 82 yards on 14 carries, but gave way in the second half as LA let DeShaun Foster get some work. The rookie responded with 22 carries for 110 yards and 2 scores as Oakland’s defense was simply manhandled up front all day. OHI 34 PHI 23 Ohio got 183 yards on the ground from Eddie George and that left Philly vulnerable to the play action pass as well, as pretty much every plan Ohio had seemed to work. Joey Galloway scored twice and the Ohio defense, looking more formidable than last year, limited the Stars to only 89 rushing yards on the day. No longer a divisional game, this one still has to feel good for the Glory, who move to 3-0 on the year. TBY 17 MGN 28 Real worries in Tampa Bay that the offense has just not found a rhythm this year. Trent Green threw three picks to the Panther secondary and Errict Rhett was limited to only 43 yards rushing as Michigan pulled away in this one thanks to 2 TD passes from Drew Brees and TD runs from both rookie T.J. Duckett and 3rd down back Winslow Oliver. ORL 13 CHI 23 The Machine got to rookie Joey Harrington often, with 5 sacks and numerous hits, and that led to several stalled drives for Orlando. Meanwhile Curtis Conway had a good game for the Machine, catching 6 for 110 and a score, one of two thrown by Jeff George on the day. Brian Urlacher had 10 tackles to lead all Machine players, as Orlando tried to play a short game and kept sending players into his zone. ATL 21 BAL 31 The battle of 0-2 teams had to produce a winner, and that winner was the home team, Baltimore. They got big days from two unexpected contributors as Billy Joe Tolliver was called on after a concussion was suffered by starter Jeff Garcia. He would throw for two TD passes, and little used scatback Travis Minor proved his worth, rushing 7 times for 117 yards, including a 56 yard TD run that left Atlanta players pointing fingers. OVERREACTIONS OR JUST OBSERVATIONS? We are starting our review of the stories of the week with a Week 3 Overreaction Session. We look at the 5 winless clubs and the 5 unbeatens and try to figure out if fans are overreacting to what they have seen so far. We start with a particularly panicked fanbase up in the Pacific Northwest. Portland needs to prioritize the HB position Fans in Portland are ecstatic that the club was sold to an ownership group that has designs on keeping the club in their city, especially after what happened in St. Louis and what appears to be happening in Atlanta. That said, they are not exactly feeling the Thunder when it comes to what they see on the field. This is a fanbase that got spoiled over several years when Robert Drummond was winning rushing titles and single handedly powering the Portland offense. The past few years the Thunder brought Napoleon Kaufmann over from the NFL and drafted Correll Buckhalter, and both have had moments, but the Thunder have been unable to consistently maintain a run game, so should Portland do something about this? Our bullpen is split on this. Some believe a trade for a top level HB may be enough to get Portland on track for major improvement, others think the roster as a whole needs improvement and that means keeping their draft picks. Our take: Panic over the run gam is overreaction right now. Trent Green needs better security Tampa Bay is a surprising 0-3, and Trent Green is being harassed, chased, and flustered on nearly every drop back. Is Tampa Bay in need of an O-line overhaul? Our crew was pretty unanimous on this one. Yes. They need to make moves and make them quick. This is a team that has talent outside, a solid HB, and Trent Green has proven he can win if they can protect him, but this O-line is doing him no favors. If they can make some moves to acquire better talent, especially on the outside at tackle, they have the talent to be much better than what we have seen so far. Denver does not have the answer at HB We all knew it would not be easy to replace Rashaan Salaam’s contributions to the team, but we are just not seeing the combo of Rod Smart and Robert Holcombe are just not providing the push needed to force teams to respect the run, which, of course means life is harder for Mark Brunell. Our take: Give it time. Smart and Holcombe are very different backs than Salaam. It will take time for the coaches to cater to their strengths in the run game, and time for both to feel like the run game is theirs. Honestly, we are more concerned about the defense and it’s issues giving up big plays than we are the offense. Oakland needs defensive playmakers If you see the same issue year after year, is it really overreaction to point it out? Oakland’s defense is one of the worst in the league. They are last in scoring defense and have given up 344 yards rushing in only 3 games. So when fans say they need to overhaul the defense, are they overreacting? Our take: No, of course not. This is a defense that simply cannot make the stop when it is needed. We feel for Chris Spielman and Kailee Wong, who are solid players, but what are they surrounded by? Eric Curry has only 2 sacks this year and has never lived up to his reputation. The secondary is simply not good enough. But what is Oakland to do? Trade away what little offensive talent they have to get defensive improvements or mortgage their future by trading draft picks? They are in a bad spot, and that does not bode well for their supposed defensive guru Dom Capers. Atlanta cannot focus right now & Bledsoe is not the answer. Fans in Atlanta are apoplectic right now. It appears that they are about to lose their team, and yet they seem to be equally frustrated by the team’s inability to put together a winning roster. That may be Boston’s issue next year, but it is still a problem this year. Atlanta has some offensive talent, particularly HB Tiki Barber, but even with Drew Bledsoe expected to start next week, there is not a lot of hope that he is the answer. We think fans are right to worry about this offense. Yes, Barber is a good back. He would be a better back if he could count on the passing game to take the pressure off, but even with Bledsoe, a receiving corps of Terrance Mathis, Wayne Chrebet, Chris Calloway and Joe Jurevicious is not exactly causing the Fire’s opponent to shake with fear. If Atlanta could trade for a true #1 wideout (a rare find, honestly) they could be more formidable, but that seems unlikely right now. OK, We have seen the panic in the eyes of the fans of the five winless teams, so what are the fans of the undefeated teams thinking? We scoured the sports radio dial and we heard what fans have to say. Are they overreacting? Houston Fans seem to think that the Gamblers have finally put enough talent around their killer DE combo of Sinclair and Pittman to truly shut the opposition down. We say: They are right. Houston has allowed only 31 points in 3 games (that is just about 10 per game for our math-impaired fans). The run defense has been stout, and that means teams have to pass, which leads them right into the trap of the Dynamic Duo. This is a defense that can win games, and if Matt Hasselbeck and the offense can average perhaps 20 points a game, they will win a lot of contests. Texas Fans say that the weekly QB rotation, based on who has the hot hand in practice and each game’s first couple of series can work for the year. We say: Have you met Ryan Leaf? What are the odds that if he keeps losing out to Jeff Lewis, as he did this week, that he will sit quietly and accept this. Rotating QB’s makes sense in preseason, and maybe for a week or two, but it also breeds resentment and animosity in the QB group, and that is not the path to sustainable success. Pick one and stick with him. Jacksonville fans are saying that the Bulls defense and Kenny Bynum can lead them to wins despite Jake Delhomme at QB. We say: Not so fast. First off, way to diss your starting QB. Give the guy a shot. Delhomme has not been a disaster, in fact, he has been pretty good, with 6 TDs to only 2 picks. That is decent quarterbacking even if he is not the most dynamic passer in the game. Secondly, no, we don’t think any team can win consistently unless they have a QB who can manage the game, and who responds when the team needs a spark. We don’t know if Delhomme can do this, but we at least want him to have a shot to try. Fans in Memphis are confident that their Showboats can win without a strong run game. We say: Traditional wisdom says no, but that wisdom is based on the NFL, where late season games are often held in rough weather and a run game is essential. This is the USFL, and as the season goes on the weather makes a passing game more and more viable as the entire focus of an offense. We have seen plenty of teams pass their way to the playoffs. Would it help if Garrison Hearst could return to his 2000 form, when he topped 1,000 yards. He has fewer than 200 in 3 games this year, so that seems unlikely, but even just an 800-yard rusher could be enough for Memphis to keep defenses honest. The craziest fans we heard were those in Columbus, who, we think, are too used to college football. The talk this week was about going undefeated, as if Ohio could count on upcoming games against Kent State or Indiana on the schedule. We say: This is pro football. Undefeated is a nearly impossible task. Yes, the Ohio defense seems to be much better than last year, and yes, the offense is a juggernaut that came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, but this is the USFL, not the Big 10. No one is going undefeated. All it takes is one game where the breaks go the other way and Ohio will learn this. We think the coaches and players understand this, but the fans in Columbus are being a bit delusional. The other big stories this week are both injury related, and since they are both pretty significant upheavals, we will cover them here and leave the Injury Report to fill in the rest of the injury news this week. Memphis loses potential ROTY candidate for the season Heartbreak in the Mid-South as Julius Peppers is lost for the year. Memphis, who traded away several picks to land the UNC edge rusher, got the news on Monday. The injury to Peppers’ left foot is in fact quite severe, with at least two significant fractures. He will be off the foot and using a scooter for his left leg for at least 6 weeks, this will be followed by a period in a soft boot, and finally some rehab to bring the foot back to standard flexibility. All told we are looking at 12 weeks at the minimum. Expect Memphis to put Peppers on IR, which means the pass rush now falls to Dameaion Jeffries and Sedrick Clark, a major downgrade. Expect to see Coach Mora forced to add blitzes to their repertoire to try to maintain pressure, and that means more receivers will be locked in single coverage. Michigan loses their best corner. Another big blow on the defensive side, this time in Michigan, where the Panthers’ #1 corner, Deltha O’Neal is out for the year after breaking his hip on a painful play in which he was pushed out of bounds, and clipped a team bench with his hip. The collision with the metal bench caused a dislocation, and x-rays on Monday showed that it also caused damage to the joint, with a fracture that will require that O’Neal be placed in traction for at least a month. Surgery is also not out of the question to stabilize the hip. The loss of O’Neal means that Chris Canty moves up to the #1 position, Donovan Greer moves to a starting position, while Dereck Combs now takes over in the slot. That s all the corners Michigan has on the roster, so they will certainly be on the market to find a 4th corner this week. In addition to the two big injuries cited above, there were plenty of knocks, bumps, and bruises to go around all over the league. LB Al Harris of Seattle could be out 8-12 weeks with a ruptured disk, a major blow for the Seattle defense. In LA it is DT Cletidus Hunt who could also be looking at 8 weeks with a torn biceps, testing the depth of the LA D-line. Tampa Bay’s defensive leader, LB Kevin Mitchell is expected to be out 4-6 weeks due to a knee injury, though fortunately the early fears of an ACL tear turned out to be avoided. Denver RT Chris Terry is likely out 2-4 weeks with a fracture in his arm, while Seattle is down on the offensive line, with swing guard Russ Hochstein expected to be out 1-3 weeks. Arizona CB Fred Smoot hurt his foot and could miss up to a month. Memphis TE Erron Kinney will be out that long as well, and Nashville backup tackle Joaquin Gonzalez is out at least 2 weeks due to broken ribs. Bobby Hoying did not see much action this week for New Orleans, but he saw enough to put him on the injured list, out 1-2 weeks with a sprained wrist. Texas LB Stephen Boyd could miss up to 2 weeks with turf toe, while LA CB Ray Crockett is out this week due to a pinched nerve. Baltimore may just sit Jeff Garcia this week after he has complained of blurred vision after a hit in this week’s game, and Pittsburgh’s Jay Riemersma is still recovering from a hernia, and will miss at least one more game. It’s football season, and the ability to deal with injuries is clearly a part of the game. HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2002 FINALISTS NAMED It is always an exciting time with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and USFL Nomination Committee release their list of the upcoming class of nominees for induction into the Hall. We start with 15 nominees for the Class of 2002, knowing that only 5 will have a shot at being inducted this October. This year could be one of the toughest classes yet. Last year we saw Kelvin Bryant lead a great group into the Hall and this year we have such a strong group of 1997 retirees that it could be a really tough year for anyone in their second or third year of eligibility to make the grade. And this year’s pool is not without controversy it appears the selection committee is hoping to rectify what many see as an injustice in the first 6 years of the USFL Hall of Legends inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The HOF has yet to induct a single USFL offensive lineman, and that seems a travesty. Well, this year the nominating committee seems to be jumping on that reality as it has proposed 5 linemen for the Hall. Perhaps this is the year that we see our first big slobberknocker get the honor of joining his teammates in the Hall. Here is our list of 12 nominees, beginning with the class of 2002, our 1997 retirees in their first year of eligibility. HB Mike Rozier: Pittsburgh Maulers (1984-1997) If there is a first ballot lock in this year’s class it has to be Rozier. The Nebraska product was among the elite halfbacks in all of football during his USFL career, rushing for a pro football record 19,088 yards in his career. He also holds the USFL record with 134 rushing touchdowns and 4,180 attempts. His 1986 total of 1,743 yards rushing is third all time (behind only Joe Cribb’s 1984 mark and Herschel Walker’s league record of 1,767 in 1983). Rozier was the 1984 USFL Rookie of the Year just months after winning the 1983 Heisman Trophy. He is a 10 time All-USFL player, the 1992 League MVP and 1995 Playoff MVP in the year he helped lead the Maulers to their lone league title to date. HB Thurman Thomas: Houston Gamblers (1988-1997). With a career four years shorter than that of Rozier, Thomas still accomplished amazing feats. He retired with 2,827 carries for 11,503 yards rushing, and 86 career rushing touchdowns. Thomas is also seen as the first in a series of halfbacks who became almost as prolific as pass catchers than as rushers. As a part of Houston’s Run & Shoot offense, led by Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, Thomas finished his career with 386 receptions for 5,653 yards and another 41 touchdowns. He too was a Rookie of the Year, in 1988, and a league MVP (1993). He was voted to 9 All-USFL teams and has three Championship rings with the Gamblers (88, 92, and 96). Can both dynamic halfbacks make it into the hall in their first year of eligibility? QB Chuck Long: Chicago Machine (1987-1992), Philadelphia Stars (1993-1997) A prolific QB with more than 37,000 yards passing and 207 touchdowns, Long was a 10-year starter with the Machine and Stars. He was voted to 4 All-USFL teams, twice with each club he led. He was named the 1994 Playoff MVP in the year he won his only title, leading the Stars to their third title as a franchise. The University of Iowa product was known as a smart player with a good arm, and limited mobility. He retired with a 67.4% career completion rate, which places him 8th all time. The one possible knock on Long is that his overall QB rating is not among the elite at 88.4. That could make him a tough sell for some voters. T Howard Ballard: Houston Gamblers (1987-1997) The “House” was a stalwart of the championship Houston Gamblers squads from 1988-1996, winning three titles as Jim Kelly’s premiere bodyguard. Ballard was one of the toughest left tackles to beat, protecting Kelly and helping make holes for Thurman Thomas to run through. He was nominated All-USSL 8 times, and seems this year’s best shot to become the first offensive lineman to make the Hall. T Bruce Armstrong: San Antonio Gunslingers (1987) Portland Thunder (1988-1997) It is never easy coming into the league with an expansion team, but that is what Bruce Armstrong did, starting his career with the short-lived San Antonio Gunslingers. When the league forced a merger with the Oklahoma Outlaws and the formation of the expansion Portland Thunder, Armstrong found himself in the Pacific Northwest. He would play the remaining 10 seasons with Portland. He was named All-USFL twice, despite the Thunder often having a sub-par record. He did make one Summer Bowl appearance, when Portland rode a hot streak all the way to the title game in his final season on the gridiron. Known as a physical presence who could get a little nasty, Armstrong started 162 career games and in that span is noted as having given up only 18 sacks, an incredible rate of success in protecting his QB. G Gary Zimmerman: Los Angeles Express/St. Louis Knights (1984-1997) Our third offensive lineman is generally considered the best guard of the league’s first decade. Big Zimm played 14 seasons, all of them with the LA Express (later St. Louis Knights) franchise. It was a long career that brought plenty of accolades (2 All-USFL nominations) but no titles as neither the Express nor the Knights would get a ring during his long career. DE Dexter Manley: Washington Federals (1986-1997) An absolute terror for opposing QB’s, Manley was one of the most feared defensive players during his 12 seasons in Washington. Manley retired with 164 QB Sacks, including 9 years in which he reached double digit sacks. When paired with Charles Haley, Washington’s defense was simply soulcrushing for opponents. Manley was one of the main players in both of Washington’s Championship seasons, 1990 and 1997, his final year in the league. He was named to 7 All-USFL teams and currently ranks behind only Reggie White, Phil Hansen, Chris Doleman, an Jerry Reese for career sacks. LB Brian Bosworth: Oklahoma Outlaws (1987), Texas Outlaws (1988-1997) Another expansion class of 1987 veteran, “The Boz” was the star signing of the then Oklahoma Outlaws. An in-state hero from OU, Bozworth was expected to be a top NFL draft pick, but signed with the USFL to play in Tulsa. The next year he was in San Antonio playing for the relocated and reimagined Outlaws. His career lived up to the hype he received out of college, leading the league in tackles three of his first four seasons before injuries (and better teammates, honestly) reduced his totals. He recorded over 100 tackles in 9 of his 11 seasons, and added 29 sacks and 11 picks as well. His 155-tackle season in 1990 remains the league record, and he also holds the 3rd place ranking with his 1987 rookie total of 147. Big, fast, and camera-ready, Boz was a star in Texas and helped bring the Outlaws a statewide following. He was voted All-USFL 7 times, was the 1990 Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year (Defense) in 1987. Honorable Mention, just missing the cut from the 1997 retirement cohort we find LB Eddie Simmons, DE Charles Haley, QB Cliff Stoudt, and WR Louis Lipps. In addition to the 8 first-year eligible players, 4 returning candidates were given semi-finalist status, though up against this first-year class is a tough place to find yourself, to be sure. QB Alan Risher: Arizona Wranglers (1983-1985), Pittsburgh Maulers (1986-1996). Risher began his career in Arizona, the 170th draft pick in the open pool. He had an on-again, off-again relationship with Coach Allen in Arizona before being traded to the Pittsburgh Maulers for the 1986 season. Risher would see action in 10 games in 1986 before becoming the full-time starter for the 1987 season. A year later he had his best season as a pro, throwing for 3,926 yards and 33 touchdowns. He would finish his career in Pittsburgh, with a total of 34,523 yards and 239 passing touchdowns. In 1995, his last full season as a starter in Pittsburgh, Risher would help Pittsburgh attain its only league title, a 44-37 shootout win over the heavily-favored Houston Gamblers and Jim Kelly. Only a 2 time All-USFL nominee, and having spent most of his career working with Mike Rozier, there may not be a lot of groundswell of support for Risher as a HOF finalist. HB Marcus Dupree: Memphis Showboats (1984-1985), New Orleans Breakers (1986-1994) Following a tumultuous singles season of college football at Oklahoma, special approval was given to the Showboats to bring DuPree to the USFL. He would have two injury-plagues seasons in Memphis, rushing for just under 1,400 yards combined in the two years. He would find his way to New Orleans in 1986, and that is where the magic returned. In his first year as a Breaker, DuPree would rush for 1,347yards and 10 touchdowns. Over the next 8 seasons he would hi the 1,200 yard mark another 4 times, retiring with over 10,000 yards rushing and 74 rushing touchdowns. He would be voted All-USFL twice in his career but would be denied a league championship ring (as so many in those years with the Breakers can say). SS Dave Dumars: Denver Gold (1983-1985), Baltimore Blitz (1987-1995) Something of a surprise selection of the committee, Dumars appears for the first time in 2 years on the nominee list. The hard-hitting safety played 9 years in the USFL, with one weird year when he departed for the NFL in 1986. In that time he amassed 750 tackles, 22 sacks and 19 picks, but was known primarily for his coverage skills and the force of his tackles against receivers. Dumars was named to 3 All-USFL Teams, all with Baltimore. HC Ted Marchibroda: Pittsburgh Maulers, (1988-1996) An offensive innovator both in the USFL and the NFL, Coach Marchibroda led Pittsburgh from obscurity into the limelight as a 7-time playoff club, 2 time title contender, and the victors in the 1995 Summer Bowl. Coach Marchibroda’s career may not be as lengthy as some other HOF coaches from the spring league, but his record of 83-61 (.576) is one of the league’s best and certainly the best in Mauler history. Week Four of the USFL’s new 14 game season is now officially past the ¼ mark, so it is time for teams to get their game fully humming. With several unbeaten teams already in midseason form, this fourth week provides us with some outstanding games among teams that look ready for prime time. Perhaps the best pits the 3-0 Ohio Glory against the stingy defense of the 2-1 Nashville Knights. Nashville was shocked by the Breakers in their home opener, so look for them to play angry in this one. Another great matchup sees the 3-0 Memphis Showboats hosting the 2-1 Michigan Panthers. Can Michigan keep pace with that high-flying Showboat passing game? In a battle of 2-1 teams, Chicago heads down to Legion Field to face the Stallions, while another battle of 2-1 clubs sees New Orleans, fresh off their upset win in Nashville, welcoming the Pittsburgh Maulers to the Super Dome. Both Texas clubs are unbeaten, having tied this week, and both are at home in Week 4. Houston hosts the 1-2 Philadelphia Stars, who are hoping this road game can get them to .500. The Outlaws see a very similar situation with 1-2 Washington in town. The league’s only other unbeaten team, the Jacksonville Bulls, are all the way out west, taking on the winless Oakland Invaders by the Bay. Speaking of winless teams, we still have a few, with 0-3 Tampa Bay headed to Seattle to slay the Dragons, 0-3 Atlanta is also on the left coast, facing the 2-1 LA Express in sunny California. Portland, still looking for their first win, get the defending champion Renegades, who have started at 1-2 with rookie Joey Harrington at the helm. The league’s other surprisingly winless club, the Denver Gold, are back in the friendly confines of Mile High (well, new Mile High) to face the 1-2 Generals, not an easy game for a first win. Other games this week. The final game on the slate is in Tempe, where the two teams who swapped entire franchises back in 1984, the Blitz and the Wranglers, will face off.

Only two weeks into the season and we already have some surprises. Jacksonville, Birmingham, Houston, and the Texas Outlaws are surprisingly 2-0 and looking like they have found midseason form. LA, Denver, and Tampa Bay are 0-2 and not at all happy about their start to the season. The Bulls in particular have to be overjoyed that their defense has allowed only 14 points combined in their first two games. The D was a big concern for them last year and they have started strong. On the other side of the spectrum, New Orleans is currently dead last in points allowed and 2nd to last in yards allowed, meaning their defense has a long way to go. Let’s turn to our Week 2 action and see how it panned out and then we can discuss Tuesday’s big press leak and its ramifications for the league. A wild finish in RFK as Tom Brady and Terry Glenn connect on a miracle play to upend the Federals and send the crowd home in utter disbelief. In what was a back and forth game all day, it was New Jersey that found the big play at the big moment to take the win on the road and even their record at 1-1. In a game that saw both teams try to use the run to control the clock, and one where the D-lines were a constant factor, in the end it was big stars acting like big stars that gave New Jersey the win. The game started out somewhat inauspiciously for the Feds. After both clubs had unproductive opening drives, Washington’s Yatil Green misread a punt and ended up falling on the ball on his own 2-yard line, putting the Federal offense in a dangerous position. When Reuben Droughns tried to make a backfield move on LB Kendrell Bell, he lost his footing and fell to the turf in the endzone. Bell got credit for the safety and New Jersey took a 2-0 lead into the 2nd quarter. Droughns redeemed himself with a 7-yard TD run to open the 2nd, and would finish the day as Washington’s lead rusher with 14 carries for 35 yards. Deuce McCallister, nursing a sprained ankle, would carry only 10 times for 30. New Jersey’s offense finally got on the board midway through the period, with Neil Rackers connecting from 46 yards out to pull within 7-5. When the Feds next drive ended with a Phil Hansen sack of Stewart on 3rd and 8, New Jersey got the ball back and hit on a big run play. Curtis Enis went off tackle, and when LB Michael Barrow glanced off Enis instead of getting a wrap up, it allowed the big back for the Generals to rumble 37 yards to paydirt. Both clubs would add field goals to end the half, and we went into the locker room with the Generals up 15-10. In the third quarter, Neil Rackers helped put New Jersey up 8 with another field goal, but Washington responded with a 12-play drive that ended with Kordell Stewart bootlegging to the left pylon and putting 6 on the board. He then found new TE Cam Cleeland for the 2-point conversion and we were tied at 18. In the fourth New Jersey again moved the ball well between the 20’s, with Enis adding to what would become a 98-yard day, and backup Olandis Gary also getting 11 carries as New Jersey kept pounding the ball into the Washington line. The drive stalled outside red zone but Rackers again gave New Jersey the lead, now up 21-18. Washington took over with 5:43 left to play, and Kordell Stewart led the Feds down the field for what appeared to be a game-winning drive. When he found Deuce McCallister on a swing pass for 12 yards and a score, only 1:16 remained on the board and the Feds were now up 4, 25-21, meaning New Jersey would need to go the length of the field with only 1 timeout left. The Generals did just that, but not in a conventional manner. On 1st and 10 from their own 25 after a touchback on the Washington kickoff, Brady was forced to scramble, not his forte to be sure, but he gained 3 yards before just barely getting out of bounds. On 2nd an 7, he connected with Anthony Becht for what looked like an 8-yard completion and a first down, but the refs marked the ball short of the 1st down. Coach Parcells opted to use his last remaining TO in an effort to give the replay booth time to review, but they opted not to. So, third and inches from the 29 ½ yard line. Parcells, knowing they would go for the QB sneak on 4th down, dialed up a play fake. Brady put the ball into the gut of Enis, and then pulled it out. Rolling to his right as he did. The fake worked and the entire Washington D crashed on the interior line to prevent Enis from gaining the 1 foot needed, but Enis did not have the ball. Brady, all alone by the numbers on the 25 had a wide open field and speedster Terry Glenn on a fly pattern. He lofted the ball for Glenn and his top receiver hauled it in without having to adjust his stride. The CB dove to try to snag Glenn’s ankle, but it was to no avail as the speedy wideout raced down the sideline and into the endzone to the full jaw-dropping shock of the Washington faithful in attendance. The Feds would get the ball back with 54 seconds left, now down 3, but the wind had been taken out of their sales, and when a Stewart pass towards rookie Deion Branch missed wide, the game was over. New Jersey had a hard-earned divisional win, Tom Brady a highlight reel game winner, and the Kelly green sea of Federal fans a day they would talk about for years to come. BAL 12 PHI 20 The other Northeast Clash was also a good game, locked at 10-9 at the half before Philly got 2 scores in the final period to pull away. Will Furrer improved over his Week 1 performance, throwing for 228 and a TD to Troy Brown and rookie Ladell Betts got his first USFL touchdown, a 1-yard plunge in the 4th to move Philadelphia up by 8. The Stars defense played well also, with Regan Upshaw nabbing 2 sacks while LB George Koonce forced a key fumble to preserve the Stars win on the game’s final drive. ATL 12 ORL 28 The 2nd home game for Orlando was just what rookie Joey Harrington needed for his first start in the pros, a friendly crowd and the underachieving Atlanta Fire in town. Harrington looked much more comfortable, with mostly short passes on the menu. He would complete 16 of 20 against the Fire defense, throwing a TD to TE John Henry Mills along the way. Sedrick Irvin, another offseason acquisition, also played a big role, rushing for 113 and a score for the Renegades. JAX 19 TBY 7 The year’s first Florida Derby went to the Jacksonville Bulls as their defense limited Tampa Bay to only 2 third down conversions all game. Jacksonville outgained Tampa Bay 404-251 as Kenny Bynum rushed for 137 and Jake Delhomme threw for 239, brushing off 3 picks that kept Tampa in this one for most of the game. Trent Green’s lack of mobility proved an issue as Jacksonville harassed him in the pocket all game, producing only a 13 of 32 passing day for the Bandits QB. The Bulls now sit at 2-0, atop the Southeastern Division. CHI 24 OHI 27 Billed as the game of the week, with two 2001 division winners now living in the same division, this one went to Ohio thanks to a late Don Silvestri field goal. Both QBs played well, with George throwing for 254 and Collins for 208, but the difference was Eddie George’s success on the ground. George would run for 95 yards on only 15 carries, scoring twice on the day. Chicago’s Duce Staley did not have the same success, though his 71 yards were hardly a bad day. A close game between two clubs expected to duke it out all season. MGN 13 PIT 26 The Maulers get their first win as they limit Michigan to only 146 total yards in the game. Kyle Vanden Bosch came up big for Pittsburgh with 9 tackles, 3 for a loss, and a sack. Add in two picks of Michigan’s Drew Brees and you have a comfortable 13-point win for Pittsburgh. A good day as well for rookie WR Antwaan Randle-El, who caught his first TD pass and found success returning both kicks and punts for Pittsburgh. ARZ 17 BIR 24 With the game tied at 17 midway through the 4th quarter, it was Shaun Alexander and not Brett Favre who gave Birmingham the push they needed to pull out a home win. Alexander carried the ball 5 times on the game-winning Stallion drive, including a 5-yard TD run in which he carried 2 Wrangler defenders into the endzone. Is this a sign that Birmingham may actually be serious about offensive balance after years of Favre, Favre and more Favre? DEN 27 MEM 30 OVERTIME A good matchup turned into a great game as Denver and Memphis went back and forth all game long. The game went into overtime thanks to a Joe Horn TD from Shuler with 1:28 left to play, and in the extra period the Showboats scored on the opening drive, forcing Denver to match it or go home. They could not connect on a desperation 61-yard field goal attempt and Memphis took the win. HOU 20 LA 13 Houston spoiled LA’s home opener in front of a solid 40,502 in Farmers Insurance Field. The Gamblers move to 2-0 thanks in large part to the outside runs of Kevin Faulk. Faulk carried the ball only 13 times, but they were big plays, leading to a 103-yard total on the day. The Houston D also got after Cade McNown, sacking the LA quarterback 5 times and forcing a costly late game pick. As usual it was Kavika Pittman and Michael Sinclair causing havok and combining for 3 sacks and 9 hurries. TEX 32 OAK 28 Texas kept pace with their in-state rivals, but it was not easy as Oakland got a very solid game from 2nd year QB Marques Tuiasosopo. Ryan Leaf got the start for Texas, and despite the success of Jeff Lewis last week, Coach Gailey opted to keep him in the whole game, not rotate him with Lewis as he had done in the first game. The gambit paid off as Leaf hit both Carl Pickens and Lake Dawson with 4th quarter scores to come back from a 28-18 deficit and take the win. POR 13 NSH 24 The Knights defense is still the Knights defense, regardless of what city they call home. Akili Smith was harassed all day and Correll Buckhalter was limited to only 2.4 yards per carry as Nashville limited the offensive potential of the Thunder the entire game. Ahman Green and George Layne combined for 136 yards and 3 scores to pace the Knights offense, keeping pressure away from Todd Collins, who had been roughed up the week before. SEA 30 NOR 34 The Breaker defense is a concern, having given up 30 points or more in both games this year, but this week their offense compensated against Seattle. Trent Dilfer had a career game with 4 TD passes, including 2 to TE Steve Johnson. Ricky Williams added 93 yards and a score as the Breakers just barely edged the visiting Dragons despite a strong 131 yards rushing from Corey Dillon. Harrington’s First Start a Lesson in Winning Football After unexpectedly coming in halfway through the team’s first game when starter Gus Frerotte went down to injury, Joey Harrington looked lost and overwhelmed last week, but with a week of practice and a pretty conservative run and play action gameplan he had much more success this week. Harrington went 16 of 20 against the (admittedly shaky) Fire defense, at one point completing 7 in a row. He threw to 6 different receivers, with his TE security blanket John Henry Mills being his primary target. But, he did hit a few bigger plays, including a 26-yard strike to Donald Driver. It is clear that Coach O’Leary does not want to throw too much at the rookie, and will likely lean more heavily on Sedrick Irvin after his solid 113-yard day against Atlanta, but for now Harrington has his first W and his confidence is building. Pickens finds new life in San Antonio Last year when the Arizona Wranglers traded Carl Pickens to Texas midseason it felt like a slap to the face, like they felt he was spent and they were putting him out to pasture. Pickens had moderate success at Texas in the second half of the 2001 season, but dedicated himself this offseason to proving the Wranglers wrong. If these first two games are any indication, Pickens is making his point. He leads the league after 2 weeks with 233 yards receiving and is 4th in the league with 14 receptions. He has become a top target for both Jeff Lewis (last week) and Ryan Leaf (this week) as he lines up opposite Lake Dawson in the Texas lineup. It is very early, but Pickens’s confidence in his own abilities and his willingness to put the work in over the offseason seem to be paying off for the 11 year vet. Rookie Receivers Seeing Plenty of Attention Carl Pickens is not the only receiver garnering attention across the league. Two rookie wideouts have impressed in the early weeks. While neither has yet to find the endzone, New Orleans’s Josh Reed (8 receptions for 113 yards) and Washington’s Deion Branch (10 receptions for 184 yards) are both quickly becoming reliable targets for their QBs. Washington needed that to be the case, having lost Herman Moore in free agency (Moore would then decide to retire during camp, much to the dismay of his new team, Memphis). In New Orleans, Reed is being taken under the tutelage of veteran Raynard Brown, and is now only 1 catch below Brown after 2 games. In both cases it seems like a case of the right player in the right fit for both to have success. We will continue to monitor their stories as we go through the season, checking in to see who scores first and who might have a shot at a ROTY award. Vrabel Leads Revived Bull Defense The bright spots across the league are not all redemption stories or rookie surprises. Mike Vrabel is playing the exact part that everyone has expected, a part he has grown into as a Jacksonville Bull. The MLB is leading his club with 17 tackles, has a sack, three forced fumbles and 2 tackles for loss in the young season. More importantly he has the Bulls LB corps playing together as a squad, and the Bulls defense playing their best football in several years. Vrabel leads a talented LB group that includes Jessie Armstead and Lavar Arrington in the Bulls’ 4-3 scheme. Known as a coverage backer (not prone to blitz), but also a smart player, Vrabel is calling the defensive plays and adjustments, aligning his fellow linebackers, and generally making life difficult in the middle of the field. Coach O’Leary has said of Vrabel that he is like having a coach on the field, but a coach who can take down a 220 pound halfback when the occasion arises. Another week, another set of injuries to report, the sad truth about the violent game of football. This week we got our first potential season-ender. LA has reported that DT Cletidus Hunt has torn his bicep on the right arm. They have not yet placed him on IR, as his recovery window is expected to be 8-12 weeks. They will continue to assess his rehab after the reattachment surgery planned for this week, and hope Hunt will be available for the final weeks of the year and any playoff run. Tampa Bay got bad news in the form of a torn ACL (partial tear) for LB Kevin Mitchell. The injury is expected to sideline the hard-hitting linebacker for 6-8 weeks. Other significant injuries this week include a fractured arm for Seattle guard Russ Hochstein (4-6 weeks), a torn bicep for Memphis TE Erron Kinney (4-6), a broken collarbone for Portland tackle Kenyatta Walker (2-4), and a case of appendicitis for new Michigan DE Leonard Little (1-2 weeks). Expected to miss only 1 week, perhaps two are Mauler TE Jay Riemersma, Memphis CB Terance Shaw, New Jersey DT Darwin Walker, Washington DE Bobby Hamilton, and Chicago DT George Little. Unofficial But Compelling News from Atlanta A story out of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution this week reports that the sale of the Atlanta Fire to the Boston Colonials Football Group is all but assured. The story, which quotes various unnamed sources within both the Fire organization and the league office, states that the sealed proposal received from the Fire was, in fact, from the Boston-based ownership group that had also been a serious contender to purchase the Portland Thunder. It asserts that the bid has cleared the financial and structural due diligence phases of the review and could be put to a league vote as early as the April owners meeting in New York. Citing sources within the league office, the proposal makes the case for Boston as a location of greater financial growth capacity than Atlanta (though this may be marginal as both cities are significant media markets) and has signed agreements with Boston College for use of Alumni Stadium, a 44,500 seast facility located in Chestnut Hill, MA, about 10 miles west of downtown Boston. The story reports that there are currently two obstacles being considered by league executives which are delaying the official announcement of the bid and the inclusion of an ownership vote on the agenda of April’s league meeting. The first is the question of Atlanta itself, a highly valued southern hub and media market. The loss of Atlanta as a league market is somewhat countered by the relatively low footprint the Fire have made in local media and sports culture in the city, due in large part to the failure of the current ownership to produce a winning franchise in 6 seasons of play. The relatively contiguous fanbases of more successful franchises such as Birmingham and Jacksonville seem to account for this issue as well, as both had already built significant regional fanbases before the arrival of the Fire franchise. The second concern within league offices is the potential for action from the NFL and particularly from New England Patriots ownership led by Robert Kraft. Kraft has been one of the more confrontational anti-USFL voices within the NFL, often standing as a minority vote against approval of joint USFL-NFL efforts such as the new stadia in Los Angeles, Houston, and Tampa Bay. His refusal to lease out first Foxboro Stadium and now potentially Gillette Stadium have been a significant hinderance to the city of Boston obtaining a USFL franchise. While there is no requirement that the NFL sign off on the placement of a USFL franchise within one of their markets, as was done with expansion to Atlanta, LA, and Seattle, there is a particular concern spurred by the Boston ownership bid’s designated name for the franchise, the Colonials, as a possible trademark infringement with the NFL Patriots. Fears that the NFL, and if not the NFL, the Kraft organization and Patriots as a business entity, might seek to block the franchise from using the moniker as it too closely resembles the theme and iconography of the current NFL Patriots franchise. Whether such a suit would have merit, the potential legal wrangling and the delays produced by protracted trademark lawsuits and cease and desist orders could produce significant delays in the ability of the franchise to begin play with that identity, something which the USFL simply sees as a potential obstacle to a smooth transition. While the article in the Journal-Constitution understandably focuses more attention on the confirmation that the sealed bid for sale does, in fact, represent a proposal to relocate the franchise, it also raises questions that fans of the USFL, and the Fire, as well as those in the New England region are hoping to see answered. Primary among them is the timeline for review and potential approval of the sale, the potential for a midseason announcement which could turn things ugly for the remaining Fire home schedule, and the potential for the league’s desire to see franchises in both Atlanta and St. Louis to push owners to reconsider their moratorium on league expansion from 24 franchises to 26 or 28. If the reporting of the Journal-Constitution is accurate, we may get answers on some of these questions within the month. If the sale is put to a vote, then the details must be made public at that time, allowing us to see what the details of the purchase are as well as a timeline for relocation. If concerns about trademark are significant, we could also see conditions placed upon the sale to address these concerns. And finally, there is the issue of alignment once again. As with the sale of the Knights and the Thunder, the creation of six smaller divisions makes a relocation more complex, unless the league is ready to accept that Boston would remain in the Southeastern Division despite its obvious geographical alignment with the Northeast. Adding a Boston franchise to the Northeast would almost certainly lead to either Washington or Baltimore being forced to shift to the Southeast Division, splitting up one of the league’s fiercest rivalries, a side effect of the sale that could actually pull some votes away from approval. So, a lot to digest, and a lot of pressure now on the league office to provide information on where the sealed proposal stands in the process of review. We expect news out of New York within weeks if not days, and if the Atlanta reporting is accurate, that news may well mean the end (at least for now) of USFL football in the Peach City. Week three flips the script from Week 2, with the Western Conference now engaged in divisional play while the Eastern Conference has its first inter-divisional games. In this West, we have some nice regional rivalry games to look forward to, including the California Derby as LA visits Oakland, the Cascade Clash between Seattle and Portland, and the Southwest Classic as Arizona heads to Denver. In Texas we have a clash of 2-0 squads as the Outlaws head to in-state rival Houston for the first of their 2 clashes this year. Finally, we have two southern showdowns as Birmingham is in Memphis for what is always a great battle of regional frenemies. New Orleans heads up to Nashville to face the Knights in what used to be a Central Division clash but now resides in the new Southern Division of the Western Conference. The inter-divisional games in the East also provide some intriguing matchups as Ohio heads to Philly for these two old Atlantic foes’ only game of the year. Pittsburgh is likewise returning to a familiar game as they head to RFK to take on the Federals. Jacksonville takes their 2-0 start up to New Jersey while the 0-2 Bandits hope they can steal a win in Michigan. Atlanta and Baltimore are both winless, with only one of the two able to get in the win column when they face off this week, and finally, we have Orlando at Chicago, a good matchup of 2001 playoff teams.

Just a quick update. I have added some info to the league history page and I have added a brand new page chronicling the members of the USFL's Hall of Legends within the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The USFL HOF opened in 1995, so six classes of players who played from 1983-1996 have already made their way to the hall. Hoping to update the History page further, but this was something I have wanted to add for a while. Hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to the 2002 USFL Season, the 20th season for this league that started out as a fool’s errand and has now turned into a billion-dollar enterprise that has turned football into a year round obsession. Before we get to the results and stories out of Week One, there was a great story in Sports illustrated this week that just merits a reprint. So, here, from this past week’s SI, an article by Paul Zimmerman that sums up just what the league has meant to football fans over its first two decades. Has the USFL Saved Football? By Paul Zimmerman What began in the darkness of the unknown now shines brightly. The USFL has survived 19 seasons of tests, trials, and tribulations and finds itself not only alive but living up to its full potential as a second major league of football, turning the fall pastime into a year-round endeavor, and quite possibly saving its predecessor, the NFL, in the process. What makes this Cinderella story so incredible is that it all could have fallen apart only 3 years into the league’s history. While there are many factors which have made the USFL the success story of modern sports, it was a decision in 1985 to stay in the spring and not to move to a fall schedule to compete head to head with the NFL which most within the league point to as the pivotal moment that gave the league the legs it needed to succeed. It began in 1984, just months after the first season of USFL play. The league had made a pretty sizable splash with its inaugural 12-team season, largely on the back of the signing of Heisman winning halfback Herschel Walker. Walker was far and away the biggest star in the league, but as the USFL prepared for a second season there was a sense that more was possible, but with some risk. With the success of their first year, one in which many teams averaged well above 20,000 fans per game and TV ratings proved that there was a hunger for spring football, there was change afoot. One of those changes was immediate expansion, with the league moving into Texas for the first time (Houston) as well as adding franchises in Florida (Jacksonville), Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh) and the Mid-South (Memphis). But perhaps more importantly, owners were basking in a successful first season, but also nervous about the continuing prospect of playing a spring schedule. The second season would open something of a bidding war with the NFL as the USFL scooped up top prospects like its 2nd straight Heisman winner, HB Mike Rozier, as well as top QB prospects Steve Young and Jim Kelly. Teams were beginning to loosen the pursestrings and compete for NFL veterans as well, with several, led by Kansas City safety Gary Barbaro and Cleveland Browns QB Brian Sipe coming to the league. It was at this point, where the financial models showed that competing for talent would quickly blow up the more conservative budget model the league had begun with, that the idea of moving to the fall, and possibly even pushing for a merger as a means of increasing revenue to match expenditure was pitched. At the forefront of that movement was a relative newcomer to the league, New York real estate developer Donald Trump, who had bought out the original ownership of the team’s flagship New Jersey Generals franchise, the team that would be home to Herschel Walker, Barbaro and Sipe in 1984. Trump pushed the idea that a spring league would have a natural revenue cap, competing with baseball as well as the NHL and NBA playoffs, March Madness, and simply football burnout after a full NFL season. He made the case that a league that stayed in the spring was doomed to be seen as small potatoes, and that the odd timing of the league would make player acquisition a constant issue, forcing the league to overspend for talent and cut into any profitability. Standing against the move to fall concept was one of the league’s founding owners, the charismatic John Bassett, Toronto-born owner of the Tampa Bay Bandits. Tampa Bay was the 1983 league champion and a club that helped set the tone of the league as more fun and more freewheeling than the “stodgy” NFL. It was a claim the AFL had found success with in the 1960’s and which seemed to have stuck once again after the AFL conformed to the NFL’s conservative ways once the two leagues merged. Bassett made the argument that the success of the USFL would be exactly because it was in the spring. He argued that while it was true that there were some markets, places like Birmingham or Memphis, that might benefit from a move to fall because they were under-served regions of the country by an NFL with only 28 franchises, that many others, including many USFL clubs in NFL cities, clubs like the Bandits, the Philadelphia Stars, LA Express, Chicago Blitz, and even Mr. Trump’s own New Jersey Generals, would struggle to survive in the Fall. He was highly critical of the idea that the NFL would welcome 12 or more franchises to a merger with open arms as it had reluctantly done with the earlier American Football League. Bassett saw the pressure Trump was putting on owners as a self-serving gesture, the New Yorker already having tried to find a path to NFL ownership only to be rebuffed. Sure, the NFL might allow the Generals, and perhaps 2-3 other franchises join, but they would never accept the league as a whole, and in so doing, they would kill the entire concept of both expansion to underserved locations and of year round football. Bassett argued vehemently against the move, producing models that showed a USFL capable of growth in the Spring, data that showed that a huge percentage of NFL and College Football fans did not have a deep connection with spring sports like basketball, hockey, or even baseball. He highlighted the availability of stadia in the spring, including many large university stadiums that may not be willing to share facilities in the Fall. He asked the league’s 16 owners (4 new and 12 returning for a 2nd season) to trust in the plan and the models. It was tense, with everything on the line. A lawsuit was also filed against the NFL by the league at the same time, claiming that the fall league was actively trying to sink the USFL by limiting opportunities for television coverage, particularly if the league moved to fall. Bassett would win the debate in a momentous vote taken by league owners in early 1995 as they prepared for a third season, assisted greatly by very strong numbers around the league, especially in the new markets of Jacksonville, Memphis, and Houston, showing that spring football did have the capacity to bring in big crowds, big sponsorships, and big TV numbers. The case for the fall was sunk, and only months later the faith Bassett had shown in the spring would get a second boost as the lawsuit againtst the NFL would be won by the upstart league, bringing the USFL a windfall judgement and pouring NFL money into the coffers of their new rival, helping to buoy the league during some difficult growing pains in the 1980’s. Spring football would remain, and the NFL would have to face a new world order, one in which cooperation or collaboration with the USFL would be the path of least resistance. Within a few years the two leagues would agree on a player transfer system that reduced poaching of players from one league to another, but it would also greatly enhance the concept of free agency within pro football, something players had been fighting for over decades. It was a win for the athlete, and a tolerable burden for both leagues to manage. The NFL started to note the success of the USFL’s more emotional, flamboyant, and gunslinging mentality, and soon the NFL started to openly borrow ideas, both on field strategies (like a more diverse passing game), game innovations (like instant replay and the two-point conversion), and off-field opportunities, such as joint-use stadium construction, allowing more teams to get modernized facilities than either league could ever obtain alone. Quickly larger cities started to get used to having year round football, and were willing to spend during both seasons. It paralleled growth seen in many industries, where having two competitors close together (like a Walgreen’s and a CVS on opposing corners) helped both expand their profits. The NFL was saved from an overly conservative, overly dry and lifeless version of itself. The USFL was saved from its own early extravagance and overspending. Soon both leagues were flourishing and football moved from a seasonal competitor with other sports to a year round dominant force in American culture. The USFL created stars of players who may never have gotten a chance to play in the older, smaller NFL. Players like Bobby Hebert, Sam Mills, Marcus DuPree, and Chuck Long became stars in the spring. Many would go on to play in the NFL, and some even flipped back and forth at different times in their careers. NFL veterans, looking for one more shot at glory would come to the USFL to reinvent themselves. Players like Joe Montana or Marcus Allen helped boost USFL numbers, while top USFL stars like Steve Young, could negotiate with their clubs, and if unsatisfied, could jump ship for the fall. Some, like Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas of the dominant Houston clubs of the early 90’s, became icons of the USFL. Kelvin Bryant never played for anyone other than the Philadelphia Stars, but was as big a star as Barry Sanders in the NFL by his retirement. And what of the fans? Well, there was no shame in being a fan of both home town teams. When the Eagles were horrible, you always had the Stars. Cannot watch the Jets blow another lead? Just wait until spring and root for Herschel and 1984 Heisman winner Doug Flutie. No city was horrible in both leagues for long. As a fan a bad season in one league could be forgiven if there was hope for a good season in the other. And for cities across the country, cities which seemed unlikely NFL sites, football became a reality. Whether you were a Crimson Tide fan in Alabama, or an Oregon Duck, you now had a pro team to call your own. Cities like Birmingham, Memphis, San Antonio, Orlando and Portland had their own teams and their own claim to be football towns. Cities that saw their NFL teams move away, as was the case with a heartbroken Baltimore when the Colts left, now had a team in the spring. Baltimore with the Blitz, St. Louis with the Knights (until recently), or Oakland with the Invaders, could now still enjoy football despite losing their NFL teams. And in some cases (Baltimore, St. Louis, Jacksonville, Houston, etc.) the presence of the USFL either prevented a team from leaving, providing what was needed to get that new stadium built, or helped bring back a new NFL club (the Ravens and Jaguars simply would not exist without the USFL paving the way.) So, did the USFL save football? Maybe. Did it expand and improve the reach of pro football? Undoubtedly. It made football something fans across the country could talk about year round, dream about year round, and get excited about year round. It made pro football the first truly 12-month sport, and it did so with style and flair. The league is not perfect, to be sure, and it still has issues, something obvious when we see what happened in St. Louis and what may now be happening in Atlanta, but we should be grateful for the USFL as they celebrate their 20th season. Without question we are in a better place, and football is a better game because of the USFL. So hats off to Mr. Bassett, and to all the intrepid dreamers who have brought us this league and the cascade of football frenzy that followed. Nicely done, and may it only get bigger and better over the next 20 years. Week One Action is the focus of our first weekly column on U.com, the official website of the USFL. It was a rainy, windy, cold weekend in most USFL cities, despite the league's shortened season (14 weeks) starting action later in March. But, March is a tough month to prognosticate from a weather standpoint, and football is an all-weather sport, so the games go on and we are there to cover it for you. It was not seen as a marquee first week matchup, the Maulers and the Dragons in Seattle, but it turned into a quality game that had an outstanding finish, and that is what Games of the Week often are. What perhaps gave the game just a little tinge of extra mustard was the fact that the hero of the game had suited up for the Dragons for the first time after several years in Orlando and a ring waiting for him from last year’s title game. As we saw with so many of the opening week’s games, the 1 week later start to the season did not guarantee great weather. At Husky Stadium, 41,011 braved the on-again, off-again showers, the northerly wind, and the 52 degree temperature at kickoff (a bit lower than average for the Emerald City) to welcome the Dragons back to play. After a slow start, falling behind 6-0 on two Bill Grammatica field goals, the Dragons got a score to close out the first half and claim a 1-point lead in the game. Brian Griese found one of his new rookie weapons, TE Jeramy Stevens, from 7 yards out to put Seattle up at the half. Griese would turn to an old faithful friend to open the 3rd as they used the “double dip” of a first half final drive and a 2nd half first possession to swing to a 14-6 lead. Griese, using the threat of Corey Dillon, found David Boston in one-on-one coverage, and hit the speedy receiver in stride on a 40-yard strike to expand their lead. But, Pittsburgh had their own weapons, and, as usual, Terrell Davis was at the heart of their attack. Davis would finish with only 55 yards on 23 carries (a soggy 2.4 yards per carry), but he plunged in to end a Mauler drive with a score, and when Charlie Batch found TE Alge Crumpler on the 2-point play, the game was knotted up. Davis would score again on the subsequent drive, plunging into the endzone only 1:17 into the final quarter. What happened on the Seattle drive between the two scores seemed a likely ominous sign for the Dragons. Brian Griese had taken a hard hit on a throw to O.J. McDuffie, and had gone to the sideline in obvious pain. Newly acquired backup Craig Erickson, the longtime relief pitcher in Orlando, warmed up on the sideline. Now, down 7, it would be up to Erickson to find a way to brave the elements and the Mauler defense, and pull out a win. On his first drive as the team’s signal caller, Erickson faired pretty well, completing 4 of 7 passes and making good use of Corey Dillon to balance the offense. The drive stalled just outside the 30 yard line, but that put kicker Jay Feeley in range and he connected on a 52-yarder with the wind to his back. It was now up to the Seattle D, with only 3:27 left to play, to get the ball back for the Dragons. Pittsburgh, trying to milk the clock and force Seattle to use their remaining timeouts, ran the ball on all 3 downs, but when Davis slipped on 3rd and 3, it allowed Seattle linebacker, and former Mauler, Godfrey Miles, the time he needed to get in the backfield and take out his former teammate. Miles’s tackle meant Pittsburgh had to punt, and they did, right into the wind. A 36-yard punt gave Seattle a short field, starting the drive on their own 38. Erickson would again prove effective in relief of Griese. He connected on passes to Ken Dilger, Jeramy Stevens, a screen to Dillon, and a quick out to McDuffie to stop the clock with 52 seconds left and the ball on the Pittsburgh 12 yard line. Erickson then missed Stevens on a quick rollout pass, but on 2nd down, he found David Boston in the back of the endzone, sending the ball high (just under the crossbar) and allowing his tall receiver to bring it down. Seattle took a 24-21 lead and simply did not leave Pittsburgh time to recover. A home win to open the season for the Dragons, a good first outing for Erickson, and, fortunately, a diagnosis for Griese that should see him play in Week 3 if not next week. BIR 20 BAL 17 Brett Favre connected with HB Shaun Alexander (34 yards) and WR Marcus Robinson (17 yards) to pace Birmingham to a slim 20-17 win on a cold and blustery day in Baltimore. The wind kept Favre from his usual gunslinging ways, throwing for only 257, but the two scores, along with two Olindo Mare kicks, proved adequate to ruin the home opener for the Blitz. MEM 19 NJ 17 Another home opener spoiled as the visiting Showboats got the best of the homestanding Generals on Sunday night, again in pretty poor conditions. Jeff Hall kicked the winning field goal, his 4th of the night, and the only score in a rainy 4th quarter to help Memphis score the W despite 5 sacks of Heath Shuler. NSH 30 PHI 14 The road wins continue, this time with the newly relocated Nashville Knights outpacing the Philly Stars, thanks to big days from Bert Emmanuel (127 yards) and newly knighted Dereck Mason (102 yards). Philly QB Will Furrer struggled in his first game as the starter, completing only 13 of 27 tosses in pretty windy conditions. He was also sacked 4 times by the Showboats, and got little help from the run game which produced only 44 total rushing yards. NOR 10 WSH 36 One home team that did not fall victim to a slow start was Washington. The Federals dominated the Breakers at RFK, scoring the game’s first 26 points. TE Cam Cleeland, a new arrival in DC, came down with 2 touchdowns from Kordell Stewart and the defense sacked Trent Dilfer 5 times on the day to give Washington a big home opening win to start the season. ATL 14 ARZ 21 Atlanta rushed out to a 14-0 lead in the 2nd quarter, both scores coming from Tiki Barber, but the defense started to tire, worn out by a 72-yard TD run from Jake Plummer in the 3rd quarter, and faded down the stretch as Plummer hit Cliff Russell and Tim Dwight for scores to give the home team a 7-point win. DEN 7 JAX 12 A nasty defensive game in nasty conditions in north Florida. High winds made passing difficult, with Jake Delhomme only completing 11 of 24 passes for 140 yards. The game was 7-6 Denver until the 3rd quarter, when the wind misdirected a Brunell pass right to Jacksonville’s Terrell Buckley, who raced for a defensive TD and gave the Bulls the W. It was one of 3 picks on the day for Brunell, who also struggled against the gale force winds. With Rod Smart and Robert Holcombe struggling to get a ground game going, Denver had little option, but it was not the day to depend on the pass to win a game. HOU 31 ORL 3 While wind was certainly a factor in Orlando as well, the bigger issue was the injury to starter Gus Frerotte. That forced rookie Joey Harrington into action, and it was clear the pace of the pro game would take some time for him to figure out. Meanwhile Matt Hasselbeck seemed to have ways to deal with the wind, completing 3 touchdown passes and avoiding picks all game. Orlando would muster only 245 total yards on a day that did not provide much confidence among Renegade fans that this team could repeat despite its offseason losses. TEX 19 TBY 13 In our third Florida game, also another wind-impacted game, it ended up being a battle of kickers, with both Mike Vanderjagt and Rian Lindell doing better than could be expected in the conditions. Jeff Lewis and Ryan Leaf traded series, with Lewis getting slightly better results (220 yards and 1 TD vs. 83 yards and 1 pick for Leaf). Rookie Brian Westbrook got most of the load at HB, but it was wideout Carl Pickens in his second year with the Outlaws who shone brightest, coming down with 9 receptions for 141 yards and the Outlaws’ lone TD. LA 10 CHI 15 No wind in Chicago, which seems ironic, but chilly 27 degree temperatures on Saturday night as the Express came to town to face the Machine. Again it was a night for the kickers, predominantly new Machine kicker Tim Seder (traded from Texas in the offseason) who connected on all 5 field goal attempts to give Chicago just enough to fend off the Express. OAK 3 MGN 13 Weather was not an issue inside the Silverdome, but offense still was for both clubs. Michigan gained only 207 the entire game, but the game’s lone TD, a first quarter shot from Drew Brees to new acquisition Hines Ward, proved to be enough for the Panthers against Marques Tuiasosopo and the Invaders. Rookie T.J. Duckett was the game’s lead rusher with 35 yards but it was the defense for Michigan that stole the show. POR 14 OHI 34 The Glory offense started up right where they left off last season, with Kerry Collins racking up 312 yards and Eddie George rushing for two scores against the Thnder. Joey Galloway again went over 100 yards, and the newest Glory defender proved his worth as NFL import Glenn Cadrez made 7 tackles, and got the trifecta, the QB strip sack, fumble and recovery as Ohio rolled. Into the Fire This was not the plan for Joey Harrington, not at all. Coach O’Leary had made it clear that Gus Frerotte would start the season at QB, and the hope was that Harrington would have time to get adjusted to the speed of the pro game, and to rest after a long NCAA season. That all came crashing down when Frerotte suffered a painful sack in the 2nd quarter of the season opener, forcing O’Leary to call on his rookie far sooner than anticipated. On Monday, when Frerotte was officially diagnosed with an abdominal tear, an injury that likely would cost him 6-8 weeks before he could return, well, the die was cast. It would be Harrington from this point out. Mike Pawlowski would back him up until Frerotte returned, but with 6-8 games under his belt, the odds of O’Leary going back to Frerotte this year seem slim. So, for fans of Harrington the time is now. For the Renegades’ sake, their fans are certainly hoping that the game starts to slow down for the rookie, because throwing him in the fire now was not what anyone wanted for him. Bledsoe Sidelined for Now Sticking to QB News, we got our first sight of Drew Bledsoe as a USFL QB, but it was the sight of a player with a clipboard and a baseball cap on. The familiar #11 jersey, now in orange and navy, spent most of the game shadowing Coach Fox up and down the field, listening to the offensive calls and checking them against the playsheet. Mark Bulger, as expected, got the start, and Bledsoe was designated the emergency 3rd QB behind Aaron Brooks. While he is cleared to practice, physicians have warned against him having game action for at least another 2 weeks as he heals from an internal injury he aggravated during a playoff appearance with the NFL Patriots just 6 weeks ago. Bulger had a midling game and Atlanta lost again, but fans did not seem to mind. Their minds are on the bigger picture. Does Bledsoe’s signing mean more than just a football move? Is he on board to help welcome the franchise to Boston? No news this week from the USFL about the closed sale proposal being considered, and the longer the question is in the air, the more those around Atlanta fear it means bigger league-wide issues are tied to moving the franchise. But, for now, Bledsoe sits and waits, as do the Fire fanbase. Mo Lewis Makes an Impression A former Fire player who made an immediate impression with his new club is LB Mo Lewis. Traded in the offseason to help bulk up Atlanta’s draft options, the All-USFL linebacker impressed LA fans with an opening week game of 13 tackles in Chicago. Lewis has always been a tackling machine, and that seems to be his role for the Express as well. It was not enough to get the Express the W, but it certainly made a good first impression on Express fans, who are already buying into the move, with the club selling Lewis’s #57 jerseys at a good clip even before his first game at Farmers Insurance Field. While the Frerotte injury certainly gained the week’s big headlines, there were several others that made week one painful for several clubs. While we thankfully do not have any season-ending injuries, joining Frerotte in the 1-month-or-longer group we find Tampa LB Kevin Mitchell (ACL), Portland tackle Kenyatta Walker (collarbone), and Jacksonville free safety Paris Lenon (foot). Perhaps slightly better off, with 2-3 week diagnoses, we have another Thunder offensive lineman, center Robert Garza (foot), Memphis CB Terrance Shaw (ribs) and Tampa Bay free safety Jerome Woods (elbow). \ Nashville QB Todd Collins is listed as Doubtful for week 2 thanks to a dislocated finger on his throwing hand. Pittsburgh could miss CB Bobby Taylor this week, and Ohio tackle Jerry Wunsch could also miss 1 week. Others who left their Week 1 games are now listed as probable or better, including Houston wideout Antonio Freeman, Portland QB Akili Smith, Seattle DT Shane Burton and Philly LB Sam Rogers. LEAGUE COMMEMORATES 9/11 AS WELL AS ITS 20TH SEASON The first week of the season was more than just another start to another season. 2002 marks the league’s 20th season as well as the first USFL season after the attacks on 9/11. Both are being remembered on patches worn on this season’s jerseys. This week we got our first look at the new patches as game action began. Each team will wear the commemorative 9/11 patch on their left chest, symbolizing the place in each American’s heart where we remember the heroes and those tragically lost. In addition to this, the 9/11 commemorative designs will also be seen as stickers on the back of each helmet, combined with the U.S. Flag. Furthermore, as a part of the league’s support for 9/11 survivors, 25% of all merchandise sales bearing the logo (which includes all replica jerseys, minihelmets, and most T-shirt and sweatshirt designs) is earmarked for 9/11 survivor support charities in NYC, DC, and PA. On the right chest, opposite the 9/11 commemorative patch will be the 20th Season patch originally designed for the left chest. There are two different designs. All teams that were created after the 1983 inaugural season will wear the league design featuring two “X’s” flanking the league’s “U” logo, marking the 20 years of USFL football (XX being the Roman numeral for 20 of course). The logo has a banner in red across the center that reads “Twenty Seasons” as well. Teams who were part of the original 1983 origins, including those that have relocated (Breakers in New Orleans, Blitz in Chicago) will also have their team’s original helmet above the league logo, with a team color banner across the full width of the logo and the numbers 1983 and 2002, one on each side of the helmet. The only original franchise not to wear this patch will be the 1983 LA Express, who relinquished their early team history when the Express were returned to LA in 1995. Neither the current Express, nor the relocated (twice) Knights will wear the team-specific patch, making it 11 of 12 clubs who will wear this specific patch. You can see both patches below as they appear on the current road white Washington Federals jersey. UNIFORM UPDATE Speaking of uniforms, a quick note that Reebok and the USFL have announced which clubs will receive updated looks for the 2003 season, and it is more than anticipated. We know that this season we have not only the generic Nashville Knights look (due to relocation) but also new uniforms for Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, with all three getting updated logos as well as redesigned uniforms, all of which were on display this past weekend. For 2003 the word is that we will not only get a new look for the Nashville Knights, but that the LA Express have requested a shift back to an LA monogram on their helmets (likely the only change to the uniforms) and three clubs will be getting the full Reebok reimagining. All three of the participating clubs have signed on for not only a uniform revision but a logo update as well. The first of the three is perhaps the most surprising. The Baltimore Blitz, despite relocating from Chicago in the late 80’s have never had any logo other than the text “blitz” logo with its familiar lightning bolt. Yes, they added a secondary, the somewhat infamous “Billy Blitz” figure, but that was never intended as a primary or helmet logo. Blitz officials are saying that they have asked Reebok to create a stand alone logo that can also serve as their new helmet logo, but that they will retain the Blitz wordmark for wide use. The second club is another that has never updated their logo despite past uniform updates, the Jacksonville Bulls. The Bulls have had the same charging bull logo since their inception in 1984. While some criticize the logo as being dated, the wraparound helmet is often considered an iconic look by sports branding enthusiasts. One can only hope that whatever the new logo brings, it still retains a wraparound element. Finally, the Seattle Dragons, a 1995 expansion team, become the last of the 4 expansion clubs of that year to update their look. Atlanta, Ohio, and the LA Express have all made changes since their inaugural season, and now it appears Seattle will do the same. Do not expect a radical overhaul as Dragon gear remains one of the best selling, but a new version of the dragon on the now-familiar forest green helmet is certainly a possibility, along with perhaps a more “modern” jersey look, as the new cuts of USFL jerseys from Reebok make traditional sleeve stripes somewhat more problematic. So, possibly 5 new looks on hand for 2004, and that does not even count any change that could occur should rumor’s of an Atlanta relocation for next year come to fruition. We expect Reebok is aware of the potential for a new look, possibly a new name, and is in partnership with the USFL to pull that off in the event news of relocation were to develop over the next few months. Week two gives us our first divisional action in the new six-division format. The Eastern Conference has six divisional games, while the West has its first inter-divisional games, including some new teams in new places. Looking at the three primetime games, on Friday we have a Florida derby with Jacksonville visiting Tampa Bay. Saturday Night it is a Western clash as Arizona heads to Birmingham (remember, the South is now in the Western Conference while the Midwest is in the Eastern. Don’t ask me to explain that.) Finally, on Sunday it is Denver at Memphis in what should be an exciting clash of styles. Among the divisional games, a few good ones to watch include New Jersey at Washington, Baltimore @ Philadelphia, and a new potential rivalry as Chicago visits newly re-allocated Ohio in Columbus. Michigan will be in Pittsburgh and Orlando hosts Atlanta to wrap up the divisional matchups. The remaining games include Houston at LA, Texas visiting Oakland, Portland helping Nashville christen their new home, and Seattle heading to New Orleans.

ATLANTA RAISES QUESTIONS WITH BIG NFL SIGNING At the end of January each year, as the NFL-USFL Transfer Window opens we expect a few big-name signings to shake things up just as USFL camps open up. We tend to get at least a handful of meaningful upgrades, but every once in a while, there is a signing which sends ripples through the league. That is certainly the case this year, but perhaps for a unique reason. Just 3 days into the transfer window the Atlanta Fire made a very unexpected signing, one that has raised more questions than it answered. The Fire signed the biggest QB on the market this offseason, nabbing former Super Bowl QB Drew Bledsoe away from the New England Patriots. Bledsoe, who suffered an injury early in the 2001 NFL season, lost his starting job due to the emergence of his backup Duante Culpepper, who would lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance. Despite having 2 more years on his contract, and despite helping New England reach the Super Bowl when he came on in relief of Culpepper in a playoff matchup against Pittsburgh, Bledsoe was let go. Atlanta jumped at the chance to sign the multiple year All-Pro quarterback. And here is where the real mystery begins. Yes, there is the on-field question of why Atlanta made such a big move, particularly when they had spent most of the offseason talking up starter Mark Bulger. And there is the question of Bledsoe’s health, as he aggravated the injury which had knocked him out early in the season. Not a simple joint injury, Bledsoe’s issue was heart related, a hemothorax issue that caused internal bleeding. It is expected that Bledsoe will not be able to suit up again for at least 2 months, meaning a week 4 or 5 option at the earliest for the Fire. Those are both big issues, issues new head coach John Fox is going to have to answer over the next weeks, and yet there is more. The fact that Bledsoe comes to the Fire from New England, where he has a pretty enthusiastic following, has not gone unnoticed by many in team circles, and with the identity of the proposed new owners for the Fire still unknown, there is significant concern that this signing was more than a small indication that the franchise may well be headed to Boston for 2003. It makes sense, at least to those who are looking for clues. You bring in the big hero of the Patriots just as the team is about to announce a relocation to his core fan base. Other than signing BC legend Doug Flutie, there is not another player who would immediately bring Boston fans on board than Bledsoe. So, is this a sign of something to come, or was it just too good an option to pass up, an elite QB in the prime of his career, yes, a bit dinged up and with some long term concerns for health, but a player who could excite a largely moribund fanbase. It could just be shrewd football or it could be much more. While we won’t see Bledsoe on the field for at least a month of the season, the real question is when we will get answers about the Fire as a franchise. The Boston Colonials Football Group made a serious pitch for the Portland Thunder and failed. It would surprise no one if they then staked out the Atlanta Fire with a bid to bring them to Boston. They have a deal in place with Boston College for use of Alumni Stadium, solid financial backing, and represent a major market that the USFL would love to reach. All this plus the secrecy of the sealed proposal sent to league offices, and now the Bledsoe signing, and even those skeptical of early speculation have to wonder if the Atlanta Fire are gearing up for a potential 2003 relocation. Bledsoe, while certainly the biggest story of the late free agency period, was certainly not alone. Several NFL players made the leap to the spring league, though none with quite the star power of the 6’5” QB. Among those joining the spring league perhaps the most potentially impactful is former Steeler LB James Farrior. A ranging linebacker known for athletic plays and big hits, Farrior is almost certain to be a week 1 starter and a big impact performer for the Blitz. Denver, still trying to figure out their running back room after the suspension of Rashaan Salaam, added another piece in bruising back Robert Holcombe, signed away from the Tennessee Copperheads. We still expect Rod Smart to be the primary back, but with Holcombe, the Gold now have that big pounder they like for short yardage and goal line plays. Other than backup TE Tyrone Davis, signed by Orlando from Green Bay, that is it for the “skill” positions, but several teams tried to add some beef in the NFL window. New additions across the league include DT Travis Kirschke (Lions) joining the Federals, LB Eddie Mason (Redskins) coming to Pittsburgh, DT John Parrella leaving the LA Raiders to join the New Jersey Generals, DE Leonard Little moving from the Rams to the Panthers, and CB Deshea Townsend inking with the Nashville Knights. Michigan was the most active of all USFL clubs, signing a total of 4 NFL players during the two windows. Along with Little, and earlier signings Cory Raymer and T Matt Willig, they added a 3rd lineman in guard Tre Johnson, signed away from the Cleveland Browns. We also saw a few USFL players headed over to the NFL in this period, some potentially damaging for their USFL clubs. Chicago did not have to deal with a three-way kicker battle as unsigned John Carney departed for the San Diego Chargers, leaving Texas transfer Tim Seder and rookie Billy Cundiff as potential options. Michigan, for all their gains, lost a good one as strong safety Brock Marion just could not come to terms with the Panthers, eventually signing with the NFL Dolphins. New Orleans lost a good linebacker in Trev Alberts. Alberts had his issues with Head Coach Mike Nolan and used his free agent status to find a new home in Indianapolis. One of the toughest losses was probably that of Luther Ellis leaving the Portland Thunder for the Denver Broncos. Ellis was a mainstay of the Thunder’s D-line and will be hard to replace, though Portland’s Head Coach Ray Rhodes had nothing but praise for Kelvin Pritchett, the heir apparent for Ellis’s position. The Knights will enter their first season in Nashville without one of their best defenders as CB Troy Vincent opted to join the Philadelphia Eagles, and, finally, Tampa Bay will be happy they drafted Andra Davis and brought in Monty Beisel after losing thumper Winston Moss to the NFL Seahawks. And, as always, there was also a lot of action within the USFL as the last of the free agents were signed and at least one post-draft trade made headlines. With both the starting QB and HB positions in doubt in Orlando, we expected that the Renegades might not be able to fill both spots with their limited draft capital. They took a shot and landed top prospect Joey Harrington by trading for Portland’s top T-Draft slot, but that still left HB as a very high need area. The Renegades did not draft a running back with any of their top picks, meaning they would need to do something in the few remaining weeks of camp. They did just that, making a deal with a division rival to surprise even the most engaged USFL fans. Jacksonville, having moved on from Sedrick Irvin, and having bolstered their own running attack by adding Leeland McElroy through free agency, were happy to get value for the former Michigan State Spartan, trading him to the Renegades for guard Mike Verstegen and a 5th round pick in 2003. The move helps Orlando, who were looking at Amos Zeroe and Shyron Stith as the only backs available for them. Irvin, while in the doghouse with Coach Cunningham in Jacksonville, is likely to be a week 1 starter in Orlando. Meanwhile Jacksonville snags a quality guard to help make room for new starter Kenny Bynum. Orlando would go on to add a 4th halfback to their camp roster, signing free agent R.J. Redmond as well. All of the other trades were about draft position, both in the Open Draft and the league’s first Territorial Draft in a decade. The first move, one we have already mentioned, was about that T-Draft, as Orlando gave up two first round picks, their open draft first rounder this year and in 2003, in order to get the top T-Draft pick from the Portland Thunder. We all knew what that meant, and it was no surprise when Orlando Head Coach announced that the pick would be Heisman finalist Joey Harrington of Oregon. Harrington immediately becomes the future of the Renegades, following the sudden retirement of Scott Mitchell. Coming off a senior season in which he threw for 27 touchdowns and led the Ducks to a Fiesta Bowl victory, Harrington will almost certainly be starting for the Renegades at some point this season, though we expect the club to try to prepare him with several games behind veteran Gus Frerotte, if only to allow his body some rest after a full college season. The second big trade of the week also involved a T-Draft first rounder, as Washington sent Tampa Bay their top pick in the open round along with a 4th rounder so that they could make U. of Miami safety Ed Reed their first official selection. Reed jumped at the chance to play for the Federals, signing a 4-year deal within 24 hours of the pick. Tampa would use the two picks gained from Washington to enhance their roster as well, adding LB Andra Davis and DT Dorsett Davis to their roster, while still signing two quality U. of Miami players of their own (CB Phillip Buchanon and TE Jeremy Shockey). The final big trade came the morning of the open draft, when it was announced that Memphis had arranged to trade for the overall #1 pick in the draft. Memphis had their eyes on the player they hope will be the next Reggie White, UNC DE Julius Peppers. To get him they sent their #19 pick in the round along with both 2002 and 2003 second round picks to the Fire. Atlanta needed players, but with Bruce Smith coming back for another year and Greg Ellis being groomed behind him, DE was not a core concern. So the Fire pick up 3 picks and Memphis gets the prestige edge rusher that they can build a new legacy behind. With the trades out of the way, and the draft completed (more on the draft to come), the last option for clubs was the USFL free agent pool. Not a lot of huge names left by January, but a few who could make an impact this year. Here is our pick for the top signings of the late free agent period: OFFENSE QB Chuck Hartlieb: Houston to Philadelphia HB Charlie Rogers: Birmingham to Chicago HB Pat Chaffey: Philadelphia to Birmingham HB J.R. Redmond: Atlanta to Orlando WR Charles Tillman: Jacksonville to Houston WR Andre Coleman: New Orleans to Ohio WR Mike Bellamy: Ohio to Chicago WR Curtis Mayfield: LA to Portland WR Ahmad Merritt: New Jersey to Nashville TE Cam Cleeland: Baltimore to Washington TE Troy Drayton: LA to Tampa Bay G Scott Conover: Washington to Portland G Lester Holmes: Ohio to Philadelphia C Steve McKinney: Tampa Bay to Philadelphia K Owen Pochman: Oakland to Orlando DEFENSE DE Tony Hill: Memphis to Ohio DE Roosevelt Nicks: Birmingham to New Jersey LB John Holocek: Portland to LA LB Tarek Salah: Baltimore to Texas FS Eddie Brown: Michigan to Jacksonville FS Curtis Love: Washington to Orlando SS Jack Pratt: Jacksonville to Tampa Bay CB Deon Figures: Orlando to Philadelphia Another really interesting draft weekend with intriguing stories from across the league. While we will discuss new additions to each team’s roster as we preview all 24 clubs, we thought it would be worth highlighting the interesting stories that came out of USFL Draft Week and the subsequent signings. So, without any ado whatsoever, here are the top 6 stories we saw come out of this year’s Territorial and Open Collegiate Drafts. Big Moves to Get Big Stars: You have already heard about the trades, but the second piece of the puzzle is the signing of top talent, and in all three cases where USFL teams made moves to draft top draft grade talent those moves paid off. Joey Harrington is in camp with Orlando after signing a rookie deal. Julius Peppers is making life tough for Memphis tackles in practice, and we can only imagine what he will do when the games go live, and Ed Reed is impressing the coaches in Washington. Three top tier talents headed to the Spring and the USFL. Few But Mighty: Texas through trades over the past two years had only 7 total picks between the Open and T-Draft, but they made the most of them, signing 5 of 7 players to deals, including three talented players who may see quite a bit of action as rookies. First they landed one of the best UT Longhorn prospects in several years in the T-Draft, signing CB Quentin Jammer, who may move all the way up to the #1 slot by the end of camp. Then they added TCU tight end Matt Schobel, who likely will not start right away but has been looking good in camp. Finally, in the Open Draft they landed a shifty scatback who likely will be a big part of their kick return teams in Brian Westbrook from Villanova. Not bad for having only 7 total picks. PAPER LIONS: The Stars are the consensus winners of draft day, not only acquiring a boatload of picks thanks to various trades, but having solid success in signing their selected players as well. Philadelphia brings no fewer than 7 rookie signees to camp, including some who we expect a lot out of in their first few years. Perhaps the most impressive so far in camp has been SS Tank Williams from Stanford, though we have also liked the look of LB Ryan Nece from UCLA as well. They got a bruising back in Iowa’s Ladell Betts with their first T-Draft pick. Betts will be a good relief for Stephen Alexander in what is sure to be a power run game for the Stars. While not expected to play this season, the Stars took a shot at a mid-level QB, but one who is showing a lot of upside. David Garrard of ECU will likely be the 3rd QB for the Stars this year, but has caught some eyes in his tape and in his first practices with the squad. Add to this a new potential kicker in Jeff Reed (UNC) and a Penn State TE, John Gilmore (a blocking TE with some ball skills too) and the Stars look like they have some kudos to give to their scouts. CONVERTED QBS: While there is always a QB or two who gets drafted with the idea of converting them to another position, this year we have 2 who not only are headed in that direction, but come not from Division 2 or smaller schools, but from big programs. Nebraska’s Eric Crouch is a Heisman Winner, but as an option QB, does not look to take the standard path in the USFL. Picked by New Jersey, Coach Parcells has the Heisman Winner practicing at both WR and TE, hoping to turn his athleticism into usable skills as a receiver. The other big time QB to receiver shift is from former Indiana QB Antwan Randle-El, signed by the Pittsburgh Maulers. Randle-El trained as a WR in preparation for the draft and is already showing that his elusivity and ball skills are in demand. Expect the rookie to play a role in the kick return game, but also to make some appearances at wideout, particularly in the slot or as an H-back in jet sweep plays. BIG MISSES: Every year we gush about the players coming to USFL rosters, but we also have to remember that nearly 50% of all drafted players end up signing with the NFL, and this year is no different. For all the exciting new faces in the USFL, there were a few whiffs as well. When the Oakland Invaders did not use one of their territorial picks on Fresno State’s David Carr, it was expected that they had inside info on Carr’s interest in the NFL, where he is a likely #1 overall pick to the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars. Chicago used a 3rd round pick in the open draft, hoping to get a young player to groom under Jeff George, but Carr did as many suspected and signed with the NFL and his top pick pedigree. He was not the only top draft talent to sign with the fall league, as other top picks headed there include Texas SS Roy Williams, Syracuse DE Dwight Freeney, and UT DE Albert Haynesworth. All three were T-Draft selections (Texas, New Jersey, and Memphis) and all three opted for the NFL. While not quite as high on the draft boards, Tulane’s Patrick Ramsey was considered a potential USFL signing, but opted to bypass the Breakers for a chance to play in Washington with the NFL Redskins. BRING IN THE BIG BACK: Michigan stayed at home and brought in a player they hope will serve as a bell cow back, signing Michigan State Spartan T. J. Duckett. Duckett is a big man who hits like a freight train, but can also catch the ball out of the backfied, just the kind of player that fits well into Coach Holtz’s offense. Expect Duckett to have the starting job from Day 1, especially with Siran Stacy gone in free agency. Michigan will likely remain a pass-first team, with Drew Brees in his second year, and the Panthers added talent to the receiving corps in the form of Hines Ward (ARZ), but they also added three former NFL offensive linement, so expect Duckett to get his carries in an attempt to build a balanced air and ground game for Brees. BULLS HOPE THEY HAVE A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH: The Jacksonville Bulls did not make the move most expected, refusing to pay the ransom for a shot at Joey Harrington as Orlando did. They felt confident that they could go into this year with Jake Delhomme as their QB and groom a young talent who needed a bit more time. They hope they found that talent in the form of Sam Houston State QB Josh McCown. The Division I-AA player with a shotgun arm is a bit raw, but will be coached up by Rick Neuheisel, brought in after being let go in Atlanta, where he had served as Assistant Head Coach during the short interim period last year. Neuheisel begins his career with Jacksonville as Assistant Head Coach and QB Coach as well, with Gunther Cunningham focused on the defense and OC Mike Shula calling the plays. It will be Neuheisel’s job to help Delhomme make the most of his shot, but also to groom McCown into a potential franchise QB in 2-3 years. TIGHT END IS THE HOT POSITION: Seems odd to say this, but the clear winner in the trendy position in the draft this year was the TE position. Twelve hybrid H-Back/TE players were selected between the 5-round T-Draft and the 7-round Open Draft. Among the top picks in the position were Miami’s Jeremy Shockey (Tampa), TCU’s Matt Schobel (Texas), Colorado’s Daniel Graham (Baltimore), Boise State’s Jeb Putzier (Jacksonville), Penn State’s John Gilmore (Philly), and Washington’s Jerammy Stevens (Seattle). KICKERS ARE PEOPLE TOO: A late run in the final round shows that some kickers are even worth a draft pick. Four were taken during the final round of the Open Draft, including two who are very likely to get the gig with their new teams. Jeff Reed of UNC is in a tough competition with Jeff Jaeger, so we expect him to end up on the practice squad, but Billy Cundiff is the favorite in Chicago’s kicker competition now that John Carney has headed to the NFL, and Baylor’s Matt Bryant has a legitimate shot of taking the position away from Jeff Hall in Memphis. The fourth kicker taken, Hayden Epstein by New Jersey is unlikely to unseat veteran Neil Rackers, but a good showing in camp could get him a shot with another club. PREVIEW EASTERN CONFERENCE It’s a new world as the USFL enters its 20th season. The league is restructured into six divisions of 4 teams each, new divisional alignments mean new rivalries ready to blossom. Some teams will see dramatically different schedules, others will retain a lot of their traditional foes. As we explore the new format, we will hightlight what each team brings into the new season and what it might mean for their fortunes in 2002. NORTHEAST BALTIMORE BLITZ Last Year: 9-7, 5TH in Atlantic Coach: Lindy Infante (11th Season) Departures: QB Jim Miller (FA), WR Malcolm Floyd (FA), LB Tarek Salah (FA), HB Mike Cloud (FA), TE Cam Cleeland (FA), SS Lawyer Milloy (FA) Veteran Arrivals: LB James Farrior (NFL) Rookie Class: TE Daniel Graham, DT Alan Harper, WR Marquise Walker, LB James Allen, QB Shaun Hill, HB Luke Staley, C Tyson Walter Outlook: It is hard to look at all the departures from the Charm City and not think that the Blitz have slipped a little. Losing Lawyer Milloy and Tarek Salah is tough, and while James Farrior is absolutely a strong addition, it may not be enough to put Baltimore over the top, something that may need to happen if Lindy Infante wants a contract renewal this year. We like rookies Daniel Graham and Alan Harper, but again, is it enough? NEW JERSEY GENERALS Last Year: 10-6, 3rd in Atlantic Coach: Bill Parcells (2nd Year) Departures: CB Gene Atkins (Retire), DE Albert Fontenot (Retire), DT Renaldo Wynn (FA), LB Dwayne Rudd (FA), WR Ahmad Merritt (FA0, LB Ty Hallock (FA), WR Wayne Chrebet (FA), CB Darien Gordon (FA) Veteran Arrivals: DE Roosevelt Nicks (FA), DT John Parrella (NFL) Rookie Class: CB Mike Rumph, LB Rocky Calmus, WR Eric Crouch, LB James Harrison, K Hayden Epstein, DT Ma’ake Kemoueatu Outlook: New Jersey did not get the season they expected, due largely to the injury and retirement of Troy Aikman, but what they got was better than they could have anticipated, finding a new young QB in Michigan’s Tom Brady, and a team that played well together. Can they take the next step and win the division? That will depend heavily on how Brady progresses in year two, but the defense again looks solid, with some good offseason additions, including two promising linebackers in this year’s draft in Rocky Calmus and James Harrison. New Jersey has their eyes set on the division crown, and they have to be considered a serious contender. PHILADELPHIA STARS Last Year: 9-7, 4th in the Atlantic Coach: Jim Mora Jr (2nd Year) Departures: C John Flannery (FA), HB Pat Chaffey (FA), WR Reggie Barlow (FA), QB Stoney Case (FA), Veteran Arrivals: QB Chuck Hartlieb (FA), G Lester Holmes (FA), CB Deon Figures (FA), OT Paul Gruber (FA), QB Shaun King (FA), C Scott McKinney (FA) Rookie Class: TE John Gilmore, SS Tank Williams, HB Ladell Betts, QB David Garrard, LB Courtland Bullard, K Jeff Reed, LB Ryan Nece Outlook: Few teams were as active in free agency as the Stars. They lost a lot of players but added a ton as well. This all seems to be going according to Coach Mora’s plan, as the Stars are being molded in his image. Expect a power run game to help protect their somewhat shaky QB situation, with Will Furrer getting a shot to start. Getting more consistency from the defense will be a huge part of any success the Stars have this year. If that unit gels, the Stars could compete again for a playoff spot. WASHINGTON FEDERALS Last Year: 10-6, 2nd in Atlantic Coach: Paul Hackett (5th Year) Departures: HB Tim Lester (NFL), TE Travis McNeal (NFL), WR Herman Moore (FA), G Scott Conover (FA), DT Michael Thompson (FA) Veteran Arrivals: LB Dwayne Rudd (FA), TE Cam Cleeland (FA), DT Travis Kirschke (NFL) Rookie Class: FS Ed Reed, WR Deion Branch, G Ed Ta’amu, CB Kevin Thomas, HB Antwoine Womack Outlook: The Federals thought the division was theirs but were surprised by an insurgent Ohio squad. With Ohio now in another division the Federals are hoping this is their year to take the title in the new Northeast Division. The late camp retirement of former Breaker Troy Auzene was a step back from that goal, and there are some real questions about an untested and perhaps underwhelming offensive line. Will that hurt the Federals, or will their usual defensive power be enough to keep them atop the division? Adding the best safety in the draft may still be enough to put them over the top as Ed Reed has wowed everyone in camp with his energy, drive, and work ethic. SOUTHEAST ATLANTA FIRE Last Year: 1-15, 6th in South Coach: John Fox (1st Year) Departures: QB Spence Fisher (Trade), DT Mike Ruth (Retire), LB Johnny Holland (Retire), WR Lake Dawson (FA), FB Zack Crocket (FA), HB R.J. Redmond (FA), Veteran Arrivals: WR Wayne Chrebet (FA), WR Joe Jurevicious (NFL), QB Drew Bledsoe (NFL) Rookie Class: DT Wendell Bryant, LB Will Witherspoon, HB Verron Hayes, LB Raonall Smith, DT Justin Bannan, SS Terreal Bierria, CB Brian Williams, G Pete Campion Outlook: John Fox inherits a 1-15 club, and one with a lot of uncertainty about its future. Is this club even going to be the Atlanta Fire by next year? But Fox went to work early, cleaning house, building up draft capital and focusing on the defense, with 5 of the top 6 draft picks going to that side of the ball. Atlanta then shocked the league by signing NFL QB Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe will be the starter, likely by week 4 or 5, after he heals from an injury suffered in the NFL playoffs. Any improvement will be welcome for the Fire, but if the rumors are true and the team is a lame duck in Atlanta, expect both small and hostile crowds for home games. JACKSONVILLE BULLS Last Year: 7-9, 5th in Southern Coach: Gunther Cunningham (4th Year) Departures: QB Chris Chandler (Retire), CB Sammy Gordon (Retire), DE Aaron Wallace (NFL), WR Cedric Tillman (FA), SS Jack Pratt (FA), HB Sedrick Irvin (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: HB Leeland McElroy (FA), FS Eddie Brown (FA), DT Renaldo Wynn (FA), CB Eric Warfield (NFL), G Mike Verstegen (Trade) Rookie Class: QB Josh McCown, WR Javon Walker, DE Dennis Johnson, TE Jeb Putzier, WR Jason McAddley, CB Mick Echols, G Artis Hicks Outlook: After a disastrous 2-8 start, most though the Bulls were done, as was Coach Cunningham, but Jacksonville came on late, winning 5 of their last 6 games and saving their coach’s job, at least for one more year. But, with Chris Chandler’s retirement a new era is beginning in Jacksonville. The Bulls hope they found their QB of the future in Josh McCown, but for 2002 the starter is likely to be former Star Jake Delhomme. They will also rely on Kenny Bynum as their full time HB, having traded Sedrick Irvin just before camp. The defense has some talent but underperformed last year. They hope adding Wynn, Brown, Warfield helps rectify that and add some speed to the D. We still see them as a playoff longshot in a tough division that includes the defending champion. ORLANDO RENEGADES Last Year: 12-4, League & Division Champion Coach: George O’Leary (9th Season) Departures: QB Scott Mitchell (Retire), K Charlie Baumann (NFL), FS Myron Guyton (NFL), CB Deon Figures (FA), OT Paul Gruber (FA), DT Brentson Buckner (FA), QB Craig Erickson (FA), G Mike Verstegen (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: HB Sedrick Irvin (Trade), TE Tyrone Davis (NFL), HB R.J. Redmond (FA), QB Gus Frerotte (FA), K Owen Pochman (FA), FS Curtis Love (FA) Rookie Class: QB Joey Harrington, CB Lito Sheppard, T kevin Shaffer, WR Jabar Gaffney, G Tony Wragge Outlook: The defending champion Renegades got hit hard in free agency, as often happens to the champs, but the blow that really hurt was the late offseason announcement from QB Scott Mitchell that he was retiring from the game. Injuries and health concerns forced his hand and forced the Renegades to pivot quickly and start thinking about a position they thought to be secure. They signed free agent Gus Frerotte, who will likely start the season opener, but they also moved quickly, trading several picks to Portland to get the territorial rights to Joey Harrington, one of two top prospects at the position in the draft. Orlando still has a lot of talent, especially on defense, so they are unlikely to be rebuilding, but the QB position will be under a microscope all season. TAMPA BAY BANDITS Last Year: 9-7, 3rd in the South Coach: George Seifert (5th Season) Departures: DT Roland Putzier (Retire), LB Winston Moss (NFL), C Steve McKinney (FA), WR Lonzell Hill (FA), TE Troy Drayton (FA) Veteran Arrivals: SS Jack Pratt (FA), DE John Copeland (FA), WR Karl Williams (NFL) Rookie Class: CB Phillip Buchanon, DT Dorsett Davis, LB Andra Davis, TE Jeremy Shockey, C Melvin Fowler Outlook: Tampa barely missed the playoffs last year despite a late season rally that got them over .500. The hope this year is that Trent Green’s success in his first year in Tampa will blossom in his second year. The team still has one of the league’s best receivers in Randy Moss and fans in the Gulf Coast are also very excited about former Miami Hurricane TE Jeremy Shockey, an enthusiasm that grew exponentially after a brilliant catch, stiff arm, and run in their preseason game. Is it enough? It may well be, especially if Orlando suffers a post-title hangover. With Atlanta and Jacksonville very much in flux, a slip by Orlando and Tampa could be the big beneficiary. MIDWEST CHICAGO MACHINE Last Year: 12-4, 1st in the Central Coach: Marty Mornhinweg (4th Year) Departures: CB Eric Allen (Retire), DE Ray Agnew (Retire), K John Carney (NFL), WR Kirby Dar Dar (FA0, G Jorge Diaz (FA), LB Jamie Winborn (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: HB Charlie Rogers (FA), WR Mike Bellamy (FA), CB James Trapp (NFL), G Mike Wahle (NFL) Rookie Class: DT John Henderson, C Andre Gurode, SS Coy Wire, K Billy Cundiff, WR Ron Johnson, DE Anthony Weaver Outlook: Folks thought the Mornhinweg-led Machine was on a steady climb up the standings, but no one expected it all to gel last year, producing a 12-win season. The major pieces of the puzzle are still all in place and Chicago did a good job quietly adding talent in free agency, from the NFL, and in the draft. We like DT John Henderson quite a bit, and the addition of guard Mike Wahle can only help the Machine run game. If Jeff George can keep his boneheaded mistakes to a minimum, this Chicago club can again be a major contender, now in the Eastern Conference after the realignment. MICHIGAN PANTHERS Last Year: 3-13, 6th in Central Coach: Mike Martz (2nd) Departures: WR Jeff Campbell (NFL), FB Lorenzo Neal (NFL), G Charles Johnson (FA), HB Siran Stacy (FA), HB Brock Olivo (FA), FS Eddie Brown (FA) Veteran Arrivals: WR Hines Ward (FA), FB Zach Crockett (FA), SS Lawyer Milloy (FA), C Cory Raymer (NFL), G Tre Johnson (NFL), T Matt Willig (NFL), DE Leonard Little (FA), QB Spence Fisher (Trade), WR Oronde Gadsden (Trade) Rookie Class: HB T.J. Duckett, DT Nate Dwyer, TE Chris Baker, HB Jonathan Wells, S Marquand Manuel Outlook: It was a long first year for Coach Martz in Michigan as he and rookie QB Drew Brees suffered the bumps and bruises of rebuilding. That project continues this year as they add more talent to the roster on both sides of the ball. Bringing in Hines Ward and rookie HB T.J. Duckett will absolutely improve the offense, but not as much as signing three quality NFL linemen. That alone could make a huge difference in the lives of both Brees and Martz. Now, did the defense also improve or is that going to be a concern for this year? OHIO GLORY Last Year: 11-5, 1st in Atlantic Coach: Al Luginbill (4th Season) Departures: FS Josh Booty (Retire), LB Jeff Herrod (Retire), WR Qadry Ismail (Retire), G Lester Holmes (FA), DE John Copeland (FA), WR Mike Bellamy (FA), SS Lloyd Lee (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: WR Robert Ferguson (Trade), T Robert Hicks (FA), WR Malcolm Floyd (FA), DE Tony Hill (FA), G Charles Johnson (FA), WR Andre Coleman (FA), DE Vonnie Holiday (FA), LB Glenn Cadrez (NFL) Rookie Class: G Kendall Simmons, WR Reche Caldwell, S Jermaine Phillips, DT David Pugh, LB Nick Greisen Outlook: The Glory liked the feeling of being a 1st place team last year, and they want to go further. They spent the offseason largely adding depth at WR behind the killer 1-2 punch of Galloway and Chad Johnson. Rookie Reche Caldwell and veterans Malcolm Floyd and Robert Ferguson give them a truly dangerous WR room. Adding LB Glenn Cadrez from the NFL was their biggest move on defense, but we all expect that the Glory will once again rely on outscoring opponents to make a playoff run to the 2002 Summer Bowl. PITTSBURGH MAULERS Last Year: 5-11, 6th in Atlantic Coach: Jack Bicknell (1st Year) Departures: LB Eric Kumerow (Retire), LB Godfrey Miles (FA), WR Freddie Solomon (FA), LB Steve Tovar (FA), QB Shaun King (FA), DT Shane Burton (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: CB Dre Bly (Trade), QB Jim Miller (FA), LB Eddie Mason (NFL) Rookie Class: T Mike Williams, LB Akin Ayodele, DT Josh Shaw, WR Antwaan Randle-El, C Mike Pucillo, LB Bryan Knight Outlook: Coach Bicknell comes to Pittsburgh in the middle of a generational shift. Gone is veteran leadership from players like Godfrey Miles and Eric Kumerow, and Bicknell is clearly trying to build back through the draft, upsetting fans by simply not putting much emphasis on the free agent market. Eddie Mason was a good get from the NFL, and Dre Bly will help the secondary, but Pittsburgh still has a question at QB, where Charlie Batch is not exactly a fan favorite. Can Bicknell coach up the embattled Mauler QB and get more out of an offense that is far too dependent on Terrell Davis? PREVIEW WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTH BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS Last Year: 8-8, 4th in South Coach: Kevin Gilbride (2nd Year) Departures: LB Joe Mott (NFL), LB Tommy Thigpen (Retire), T Todd Steussie (FA), DE Roosevelt Nicks (FA), SS Darrell Williams (SS) Veteran Arrivals: LB Donte Jones (FA), HB Pat Chaffey (FA) Rookie Class: DT Ryan Sims, G Martin Bibla, T Chad Beasley, WR Freddie Milons, WR Rashied Davis Outlook: Coach Gilbride’s first season taking over for Ron Erhardt was not as smooth a transition as he would have wanted. People are beginning to worry that the window for a second Brett Favre title is quickly closing, and the Stallions don’t seem to be reacting with urgency. Coach Gilbride wants to run the ball more with HB Shaun Alexander, but do they have the defense to win close games? We don’t see big improvement in the roster, so it all may come down to Gilbride’s gameplan and Favre’s arm again. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS Last Year: 10-6, 2nd in South Coach: Jim Mora Sr (5th Year) Departures: CB James Fuller (Retire), G John Gesek (Retire), C Kevin Mawae (FA), DE Tony Hill (FA), WR Bobby Olive (FA) Veteran Arrivals: CB Darien Gordon (FA), TE Johnny Mitchell (NFL) Rookie Class: DE Julius Peppers, G Fred Weary, DT Howard Green, LB Will Overstreet, K Matt Bryant Outlook: While the camp retirement of free agent acquisition Herman Moore means the potent Memphis passing game does not gain another weapon, the dramatic move to snag Atlanta’s top overall draft pick and sign DE Julius Peppers has folks excited in the Mid South. Now they have a defensive star they hope is in the mold of former Showboat great Reggie White. That’s a lot of pressure for a rookie, but the good news is that the Memphis offense should allow the D to play with a lead and let Peppers free to rush the passer. Memphis could be very dangerous if that is how games play out. NASHVILLE KNIGHTS Last Year: 9-7, 2nd in Central (As St. Louis) Coach: Jim Johnson (8th Season) Departures: DT John Jurkovic (Retire), TE Keith McKeller (Retire), CB Troy Vincent (NFL), DE Vonnie Holiday (FA), T Greg Bishop (FA), DT Montae Raeger (FA), WR Amani Toomer (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: DE Antonio Edwards (Trade), QB Craig Whelihan (FA), WR Derrick Mason (FA), WR Ahmad Merritt (FA), CB Deshea Townsend (NFL) Rookie Class: CB Sheldon Brown, T Mike Houghton, TE Justin Peelle, C Justin Hartwig, CB DeMarcus Faggins Outlook: Coach Johnson landed his 5th winning record in 6 seasons with the Knights 9-7 performance last year. But a lot has changed since then. Yes, the move to Nashville is a huge distraction, but the loss of DE Vonnie Holliday and CB Troy Vincent may actually be bigger issues for a club that lives and dies by its shutdown defense. Trading for DE Antonio Edwards helps, but the Knights may need more out of the offense, so adding Derrick Mason and Ahmad Merrit may actually be bigger moves. The Knights are in a new city, in a new division, and with a new rival in Memphis and we expect this Tennessee Twosome to battle it out all year in the new Southern Division. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS Last Year: 7-9, 3rd in Central Coach: Mike Nolan (3rd Year) Departures: LB Trev Alberts (NFL), SS Sammy Knight (NFL), T Troy Auzene (FA-Retire), WR Andre Coleman (FA), HB James Bostic (FA), QB Gus Frerotte (FA), WR Horace Copeland (FA), LB Monty Beisel (Trade), TE David LaFleur (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: CB Allen Rossum (Trade), HB Troy Davis (FA), DE Steve Bates (FA), T Greg Bishop (FA), Rookie Class: G Terrance Metcalf, T Jeff Hatch, LB Ben Leber, WR Josh Reed, G Steve Edwards, SS Sam Brandon Outlook: The Breakers took a big step back, dropping from 12-4 in 2000 to 7-9 last season. They are hoping 2002 does not continue that trend. Coach Nolan looks to be trying to shore up an O-line that was an issue last year, but the loss of Troy Auzene (signed away in free agency but then retired) leaves a major hole to fill. The defense also had issues, and we are not seeing a lot of help, though adding Allen Rossum to the secondary will be an upgrade. This division could be a real problem for New Orleans as Memphis, Nashville, and Birmingham can all be better this year. SOUTHWEST ARIZONA WRANGLERS Last Year: 8-8, 3rd in Pacific Coach: Art Shell (6th Season) Departures: WR Curtis Duncan (Retire), WR Hines Ward (FA0, T Rick Hicks (FA), QB Craig Whelihan (FA) Veteran Arrivals: FS Tyrone Drakeford (FA), DT Kenard Lang Rookie Class: T Kyle Kosier, DE Eddie Freeman, T Matt Anderle, HB Chester Taylor, G Andy King Outlook: Another mediocre regular season and another surprising playoff run for Coach Shell and the Wranglers. Arizona is a perennial mystery, talented but so very inconsistent. This offseason they took a big hit with the loss of Hines Ward, and they had major cap issues which did not let them do much in free agency. We like the addition of Drakeford and Lang for the defense, but we are scratching our heads at a draft that did not produce many players who will have an immediate impact. Is 8-8 going to be good enough in a newly restructured Western Conference? DENVER GOLD Last Year: 11-5, 2nd in Pacific and Conference Champions Coach: Dick Jauron (5th Season) Departures: CB Darryl Boykin (NFL), LB Kurt Gouveia (Retire), HB Rashaan Salaam (Suspension/FA), LB Tracy Rogers (FA), WR Germaine Crowell (FA) Veteran Arrivals: HB Robert Holcombe (NFL), CB Clayton Holmes (Trade) Rookie Class: DT Charles Hill, G Toniu Fonoti, CB Rashad Bauman, G Jonathan Goodwin, DE Ryan Denney, TE Matt Murphy, LB Nick Rogers Outlook: Denver returned to the Summer Bowl a year after their first title, but the distraction of the Rashaan Salaam situation clearly kept them from playing their best game. Salaam is now gone, cut after his 1 year suspension, and Denver has to regroup. While Salaam’s departure left a huge hole on offense, the retirement of Kurt Gouveia from the D may actually be a bigger issue. How do you replace the heart of your team when you don’t have cap room to go after free agents? That is the big question as Denver hopes they can get leadership from Leslie O’Neill and new defensive captain Marvcus Patton. The club is still deep, and if the combo of Rod Smart and NFL signee Robert Holcombe can keep the ground game in play, they could still be a major factor this year. HOUSTON GAMBLERS Last Year: 6-10, 5th in Central Coach: Wade Phillips (2nd Year) Departures: DT Esera Tuaolo (NFL), HB Kantroy Barber (Retire), WR Derick Mason (FA), FS Troy Drakeford (FA), LB Barry Wortham (FA), QB Chuck Hartlieb (FA), CB Allen Rossum (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: TE David LaFleur (Trade), WR Cedric Tillman (FA), CB Willie Williams (FA), QB Kris Kershaw (FA), G Chris Naole (NFL) Rookie Class: FS Lamont Thompson, T Mike Pearson, DT Rocky Bernard, HB Josh Scobey, T Kevin Barry Outlook: Coach Phillips got some flashes of potential out of the Gamblers last year, but the club faded down the stretch. Hard up against the salary cap, the Gamblers could not be big players, but allowing Dereck Mason to find greener pastures freed up enough cash to sign a quality NFL player in guard Chris Naole. Improving the interior line should help QB Matt Hasselbeck, who showed considerable improvement last season. If Houston can get a bit stingier on defense, an offense led by Hasselbeck, Antonio Freeman, and the running duo of Mike Anderson and Kevin Faulk can leadto more wins. TEXAS OUTLAWS Last Year: 6-10, 4th in Central Coach: Chan Gailey (2nd Year) Departures: CB James Henderson (FA), WR Brian Alford (FA), LB Garth Jax (Retire), HB Reggie Cobb (Retire), DE Mark Mraz (Retire), WR Shawn Collins (NFL), K Tim Seder (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: LB Jamie Winborn (Trade), WR Lake Dawson (FA), LB Tarek Salah (FA), WR Kirby Dar Dar (FA) Rookie Class: CB Quentin Jammer, HB Brian Westbrook, TE Matt Schobel, DE Greg Scott, QB Ryan Leaf (Trade) Outlook: Texas is taking a shot on a player seen as damaged goods, trading for Ryan Leaf from Oakland. Leaf will compete with Jeff Lewis for the starting gig, and the Outlaws are hoping that Leaf, and new receivers Kirby Dar Dar and Lake Dawson, can help make up for the loss of HB Reggie Cobb. That is a big swing if it happens. We like the Outlaws’ draft, especially CB Quentin Jammer, but we are still worried that this club does not have enough playmakers on offense, and now has a QB who has not exactly been a model of maturity to deal with. PACIFIC LOS ANGELES EXPRESS Last Year: 13-3, 1st in Pacific Coach: Galen Hall (4th Season) Departures: LB Donte Jones (FA0, CB Wendell Davis (FA), WR Curtis Mayfield (FA), HB Michael Pittman (NFL), LB Cornelius Bennett (NFL), LB Ron Sancho (Retire), DE Antonio Edwards (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: WR Amani Toomer (Trade), LB John Holocek (FA), TE Troy Drayton (FA), K Steve Christie (NFL) Rookie Class: DT Larry Triplett, HB DeShaun Foster, WR Kahlil Hill, DE John Stamper, LB Robert Thomas Outlook: Coach Hall has the LA Express consistently competing for a division title, and their 13-3 record last year was the league’s best, but the goal has to be higher. It is Summer Bowl or Bust for the Express this year. The big offseason addition was wideout Amani Toomer, who will help relieve coverage on Tory Holt. Rookie HB DeShaun Foster has looked good in camp, but it is still Antowain Smith who will command the Express ground game. Losing the veteran LB leadership of Ron Sancho and Cornelius Bennett won’t help the D, but adding talent on the line in rookie Larry Triplett and a veteran backer in John Holoceck may help even out the Express defense. This is a very good team hoping to finally make good once the playoffs arrive. OAKLAND INVADERS Last Year: 4-12, 6th in Pacific Coach: Dom Capers (3rd Year) Departures: QB Ryan Leaf (Trade), CB Clayton Holmes (Trade), HB Troy Davis (FA), SS Mike Hawthorne (FA), K Owen Pochman (FA), G Lester Holmes (FA), DE J.J. Wierenga (Retire), WR Ed McCaffrey (NFL) Veteran Arrivals: G Tony Semple (Trade), T Ed Dotson (FA), WR Freddie Solomon (FA), TE Byron Chamberlain (NFL), HB Mack Strong (NFL) Rookie Class: WR Donte Stallworth, DE Kalimba Edwards, CB Travis Fisher, G Travis Scott, LB Scott Fujita, T Langston Walker, QB Randy Fasani Outlook: Calli it addition by subtraction. The departure of Ryan Leaf makes life a lot quieter, if not easier for Coach Capers. He will go into the season with a QB battle between veteran Jon Kitna and 2nd year QB Marques Tuiasosopo, having passed on David Carr in the draft. What the Invaders did do this offseason is improve the O-line with several draft picks plus the addition of Tony Semple in free agency. They resigned Marty Booker and added free agent Freddie Solomon and rookie Donte Stallworth, hoping to replace Ed McCaffrey, which may be a tall order. Is this tredding water for a team that needs to improve across the board? If it is, then year 3 for Coach Capers may be his last. They need to reach 8-8 to show that Capers has them heading in the right direction. PORTLAND THUNDER Last Year: 7-9, 4th in Pacific Coach: Ray Rhodes (3rd Year) Departures: QB A.J. Feely (Trade), TE Siupele Malamala (FA), LB John Holocek (FA), WR Floyd Turner (FA), FS Greg Jones (Retire), FS Vencie Glenn (Retire), T Michael Elowonibi (Retire), G Stan Parker (Retire), TE Carlester Crumpler (NFL), T Larry Cheek (NFL), K John Kasay (NFL), G Eric Still (NFL) Veteran Arrivals: T Todd Steussie (FA), WR Curtis Mayfield (FA), G Scott Conover (FA) Rookie Class: G Chester Pitts, T Matt Hill, DT Clenton Ballard, S Kevin Curtis, S Kevin McCadam, TE Dwight Blakley Outlook: Portland needed major additions after a series of retirements and NFL signings cut deep into their roster. They made two very solid additions for the O-line in Todd Steussie and Scott Conover in free agency, then, confident in their QB room, traded the rights to pick Joey Harrington to add more draft picks, picks used to add more linemen and to try to find young talent at safety. But young talent takes time. Concerns about the Portland secondary are legitimate, and while the 7-9 season for the Thunder was a good improvement over past years, they don’t seem to have done enough to get over the hump and become a legitimate contender in the division. SEATTLE DRAGONS Last Year: 5-11, 5th in Pacific Coach: Joe Tiller (5th Year) Departures: CB Dre Bly (Trade), CB Willie Williams (FA), DE Steve Bates (FA), HB Derrick Loville (FA), LB J.D. Fuller (Retire), WR Eric Metcalf (Retire), DT Mike Lodish (Retire), K Mike Hollis (NFL), LB Adalius Thomas (NFL) Veteran Arrivals: DT Shane Burton (Trade), QB Craig Erickson (FA), LB Godfrey Miles (FA), HB Brian Mitchell (NFL) Rookie Class: WR Ashley Lelie, TE Jeramy Stevens, CB Derek Ross, DE Alex Brown, DE Kenyon Coleman, G Brandon Moore Outlook: The drop from 12-4 to 5-11 was a shocker for a preseason trendy Summer Bowl pick. Coach Tiller has to find a way to right the ship, and do so despite a spate of retirements and NFL signings. The draft looks promising, with young talent at WR and TE to help the offense. The Dragons also landed one of the biggest fish in free agency in impact linebaker Godfrey Miles. Expect Miles to infuse the defense with a killer instinct that it was sorely lacking last year. We expect a bounceback year for Seattle. They have talent across the roster, and they have added some good pieces to the mix. If they don’t bounce back, Coach Tiller may pay the price. PREDICTIONS So, we have looked at the comings and goings this offseason for each club. Looked at the key needs for improvement and which teams are on the edge of either a precipice or a rise to the top. Time to put our necks on the line and make some predictions. It’s a shorter 14-game season, so no time for mistakes for any team, and with 6 division winners and only 6 Wild Card teams the battles for each division will be pivotal. Here is what we are picking for 2002, but, as you know, don’t hold us to it. NORTHEAST: 1-NJ, 2-Washington, 3-Philadelphia, 4-Baltimore We think the Generals are poised to overtake Washington and win the division. The Federals and Stars will battle for a Wild Card, and Baltimore will be decent, but decent won’t get them a playoff spot. SOUTHEAST: 1-Tampa Bay, 2-Orlando, 3-Jacksonville, 4-Atlanta The Renegades are going to need time to figure out the QB spot, and in a short season we think that gives Tampa Bay the advantage. Jacksonville will be much improved, and we are all keeping our eyes on Atlanta to see how Drew Bledsoe changes things, but also to see if this is truly a lame duck season for the perennial cellar dwellars. MIDWEST: 1-Ohio, 2-Chicago, 3-Michigan, 4-Pittsburgh This feels like a 2-horse race, with two 2001 division winners now placed in the same division, and seemingly well ahead of the bottom two teams. Ohio does it with offensive firepower, Chicago with balance and game-shortening drives. We like Ohio as a simply more dynamic squad to take the new Midwest division, but Chicago will be right there for a playoff spot. SOUTH: 1-Memphis, 2-Nashville, 3-Birmingham, 4-New Orleans Perhaps the most balanced division top to bottom. We like the addition of Julius Peppers to the Memphis defense, but Nashville will still be right there and we are not ready to count out Brett Favre and the Stallions even after some lean years. This division could see 2 Wild Card teams if they don’t knock each other off each week. SOUTHWEST: 1-Denver, 2-Arizona, 3-Houston, 4 Texas Both Denver and Arizona were playoff teams last year, with Denver making back to back Summer Bowl appearances. Houston and Texas are improved, but we don’t think they are quite there yet. The big mystery is Arizona, who play up and down all year and then tend to get hot if they squeak into the playoffs. Can they afford that path this year? Probably not. PACIFIC: 1-LA, 2-Seattle, 3-Portland, 4-Oakland While we like LA to take the division, the interesting battle will be Seattle and Portland, either of whom could rise up this year and claim the title or fall down and finish last. Oakland is not looking like a very talented team, but they do have a few pieces that could help them improve on last year, just not enough to escape the basement. SUMMER BOWL PICK: The new league structure makes this a tough one to pick. We think LA has perhaps the clearest path to a #1 seed out west, with the Southern and Southwestern divisions likely to cannibalize their top teams. But, a #1 seed does not guarantee a Summer Bowl appearance. We are going to say that it will be Memphis against Denver for the title, and once again we see Denver, the more stable team, finding a way to get back to a Summer Bowl for the 3rd straight year. In the East, the big question is who will win the Midwest Division. Ohio needs to only improve their defense a tad to truly be a power. Orlando will slip, which opens the door to several teams. We are going to go out on a limb here and say that it is New Jersey that makes the biggest leap upwards, so we pick New Jersey and Ohio in the conference finals, and we are going to go with the Glory in a shootout. So, Denver vs. Ohio in the Summer Bowl. As tempting as it is to pick Denver’s consistency in this one, we are going to go with the more explosive team and pick Ohio as the 2002 champion. AWARDS: MVP is almost always a QB, and this year we think that QB battle comes down to two past MVPs, Ohio’s Kerry Collins and LA’s Cade McCown. The only non-QB who we see as a potential here is HB Ahman Green, if he can bring a division title to Nashville. We will go with Collins since we are picking the Glory to win it all. As for Rookie of the Year, the money in Vegas is going to Julius Peppers. We agree. He is an immediate impact player, on a team that is a serious playoff contender. Many of the other high impact rookies are on much weaker clubs. And for Coach of the Year, we see a big improvement on the way for the Bandits, so we are going to pick George Seifert to get the nod for his rebuild of a team he took to the Summer Bowl in his first year.

January 4, 2002 Two weeks away from the USFL Territorial and Collegiate Drafts, three weeks from the NFL-USFL Transfer Window for Spring opening, and there is a lot happening in the spring league. A sudden retirement announcement throws the defending champions into a panic. A potential franchise sale has many suspecting that another USFL city is about to lose their team. We have a league schedule, and we have a pretty significant free agency recap to cover. All this plus our preview of the league’s first territorial draft in a decade. It’s all right here in our USFL Offseason Report for January. Mitchell Surprises Everyone with Retirement Announcement In a stunning announcement just before the holidays, Scott Mitchell, veteran quarterback of the league champion Orlando Renegades, informed the world that he was stepping away from professional football. His retirement was unexpected, particularly so late in the offseason, and certainly leaves Orlando with a difficult situation as they approach the draft and the final weeks of free agency. While Mitchell did not specify what the primary reasons for his late announcement of retirement were, it is well known that Mitchell has been seen in both Orlando and Miami for concerns about his hip. There are rumors around the league that Mitchell, who played all 16 regular season games as well as the playoffs, was playing through injury. This is unsubstantiated, but there are many saying that Mitchell likely has a degenerative hip condition, much like the one that ended Bo Jackson’s career a decade ago. The 11-season veteran has been visibly less mobile since an injury cost him half of the 1998 season, and there is speculation that he, like Jackson, may be dealing with Chondrolysis (loss of cartilage in the hip joint) as well as some avascular necrosis on the femoral head. While that information is certainly protected by privacy laws, a medical concern would be the most logical reason for Mitchell to step away at this time and with a chance to seek a second title in front of him. If that is the case we certainly wish Scott well as he manages any future therapies or treatments. As for Orlando, this leaves them in a bit of a pickle. Longstanding backup Craig Erickson was a free agent and is now with the Seattle Dragons. Orlando had only Mike Pawlowski on the roster at Christmas. They have since signed former Breakers backup Gus Frerotte to the roster, but Frerotte hardly seems a likely candidate to be the day one starter in Orlando. He could perhaps serve as a short term option were Orlando to make a move in the draft to sign a rookie prospect such as Fresno State’s David Carr or Oregon’s Joey Harrington, but to do so they would need to give up significant draft or player capital, most likely in trade with the Thunder (who could draft Harrington in the T-Draft) or Oakland (who have Fresno State as a protected school). Among unprotected schools, the top QB prospects are Josh McNown of Sam Houston State and J.T. O’Sullivan of UC Davis, but neither of those two are grading out as season 1 starters. The next option is to look once more in the current USFL free agent pool, where the top remaining QB prospects is former Houston starter Chuck Hartlieb. They could seek a trade, perhaps with a club like Texas, where Jeff Lewis and Ryan Leaf are expected to compete for the starting job, or they could look at the NFL Free Agent Pool, which appears to include New England Patriot QB Drew Bledsoe, former LA Express QB Rodney Peete, and Green Bay backup Doug Pederson. All in all, not a very promising set of options. With Terry Kirby having retired earlier this year, the Orlando offense now looks to be in serious trouble. They go into the last month before camps open with no clear QB option and with a running back room of only Amos Zeroue and Shyron Stith. We often see league champions picked apart by free agency in the offseason, but this year it seems retirement is the bigger obstacle for an Orlando repeat attempt. We focus now on the activity in the offseason hot stove, with several more trades having occurred since our October report, as well as a significant number of free agent signings. We begin with the trades across the league. Perhaps the biggest trade of the past 2 months was between the Express and the new Nashville Knights. Nashville, eager to maintain its strong defensive line play, despite the loss of John Jurkovic and Montae Reagor to free agency, made a deal to bring a top flight DE to the Music City. LA, seeking more explosiveness on offense, sent Antonio Edwards to Nashville in return for young wideout Amani Toomer. Toomer is expected to start opposite Tory Holt, forcing defenses to single cover one of the two potential deep threats, and allowing veteran Mike Pritchard to serve as the 3rd receiver. Edwards will start in Nashville opposite Chad Bradtske, with James Manley in the middle, potentially rotating with Ernest Grant. Ohio continues to rebuild their WR corps after the departures of Mike Bellamy (FA) and Qadry Ismail (Retired), trading with Denver for Gold wideout Robert Ferguson. In return Denver receives some secondary help in SS Lloyd Lee, as well as a 4th round draft pick from the Glory. Expect Ferguson to be the #3 receiver in Ohio. With Joey Galloway and Chad Johnson the clear 1-2 combination. Tampa Bay brought in some veteran savvy to their linebacker group, trading a 5th round pick to New Orleans for veteran Monty Beisel. Beisel is likely to serve as the 2nd MLB in Tampa’s 4-3, subbing for Kevin Mitchell and providing depth behind starters Keith McCants and Zeke Moreno as well. Chicago solved their kicker vacancy through trade, following the move of John Carney back to the NFL. The Machine paid a price to bring Tim Seder over from Texas, sending LB Jamie Winborn over to the Outlaws. Texas needed more out of their LB corps, and Winborn can be an impact player. Seems a lot to give up for a kicker, but Chicago felt that bringing in a veteran with a proven record of accuracy was essential in the swirling winds of Soldier Field. Denver and Oakland also completed a player for player trade, with guard Tony Semple headed from Mile High to the Bay, while CB Clayton Holmes will be another addition to the Gold’s secondary. We expect to see some more wheeling and dealing over the next few weeks, particularly pre-draft and on draft day. With Orlando’s need for a QB, don’t be surprised if we see action either for a veteran backup or to snag one of those key T-Draft slots for either Carr or Harrington. While we saw a few interesting trades these past couple of months, the larger action has been on the free agency front. Across the league there will be veterans joining new clubs, some already at the top of their games, others seeking a new start. Here are the major signings from October, November, and December. We all expected the Nashville Knights to take a swing at former Tennessee Vol and longtime Washington Federal wideout Herman Moore, but their in-state rival beat them to the punch. Memphis has signed Herman Moore to a 3-year deal, perhaps as an attempt to retain potential fans who could switch over to the Knights. Moore will now be catching passes from another Volunteer, All-USFL QB Heath Shuler. The top-rated tackle in the free agent pool, former Breaker Troy Auzene, has found a new home in Washington. Auzene signed with the Federals just before Thanksgiving, making it a happy holiday for Federals QB Kordell Stewart. So the Feds lose their top receiver, but gain a bookend tackle. Tampa Bay continues to try to build a top flight defense, adding former Glory DE John Copeland to their roster. Copeland will likely take over the RE position, freeing up the speedy Santana Dotson on the left side. That could be a very dynamic combo with power on one side and speed on the other. Two linebackers are in new homes, with Express MLB Danta Jones now headed to Birmingham and former General Dwayne Rudd moving on to the Federals (who seem to be staying busy this offseason). Nashville missed out on Herman Moore, but by Christmas they had added a receiver to line up opposite Bert Emmanuel, signing Derick Mason away from the Houston Gamblers. Mason has shown flashes in Houston but was often overshadowed by Antonio Freeman and Koren Robinson. He gets a chance to share the spotlight in Nashville. Perhaps the best safety in the free agent pool, Blitz veteran Lawyer Milloy, has also found a new home, as he becomes yet another new member of the rebuilding Michigan Panther squad. Expect Milloy to quickly become a team leader for the Panthers. Another safety changing teams is Free Safety Tyrone Drakeford, who leaves Houston to take his talents to Arizona, a new division rival. Jacksonville and New Jersey both added D-line help, with the Bulls signing DT Renaldo Wynn away from the Generals, while New Jersey added another DE in Steve Bates, formerly of Seattle. We are always interested in QB movement, and we have had 3 sign with new teams since our last report. The best of the three, Wrangler backup Craig Whelihan, is headed to Nashville, where he will back up Todd Collins. Young athletic QB Sean King was stuck at 3rd on the depth chart in Pittsburgh, but now may get a chance to vie for a starting job in Philadelphia, where only Will Furrer is currently on the roster. Finally, Jim Miller will join his 4th USFL team, having played for St. Louis, Houston, and Baltimore. Miller’s 4th team in 4 years will be the Maulers, where he will likely sit behind Charlie Batch, but possibly unseat Alex Van Pelt as the #2. And, finally, three more moves to report, all wide receivers on the go, as Freddie Solomon moves from Pittsburgh to Oakland, Kirby Dar-Dar takes his kick return prowess from Chicago to Texas, and Malcom Floyd becomes yet another Ohio Glory wideout acquisition. Before we get to our draft preview, a quick look at a few of the non-player stories from across the league these past three months, beginning with a proposed team sale that has many wondering if Atlanta is about to lose their USFL franchise. ATLANTA SALE PENDING The Atlanta Fire on December 17th submitted a sealed proposal to the USFL Ownership Committee for review. Sealed proposals generally mean that there is concern that should the information be leaked prior to approval, there could be potential backlash, and that has everyone thinking that the ownership group being proposed is one that would move the Fire franchise out of Atlanta. This is likely not a shock to most observant followers of USFL politics, as we know that with the sales of the Knights and Thunder, we still have pretty impressive groups in both Dallas and Boston who are still on the hunt for a potential franchise to purchase. And while there were some potential bids from within the Atlanta community, there has been widespread expectation that these bidding groups may not be able to outbid the two well-organized relocation bids. The problem, of course, is that a sale approved during the next few months almost certainly means that Atlanta would be playing out the 2002 seaosn as a lame duck franchise. It is certainly too late to relocate a franchise for 2002, so it is very possible that the Fire could be essentially performing a farewell tour in Atlanta this year before departing for a new destination. That is unlikely to go over well in the Peach City, and we might expect some truly bad crowds, angry fans, and general discontent in Atlanta if this comes to pass. While the USFL is certainly interested in large markets like either Dallas or Boston, Atlanta is also a valued market. The Fire have failed to live up to potential in Atlanta, largely due to poor personell and coaching decisions which have kept the Fire from improving much since their expansion season in 1995. This, in turn, has made the Fire something of a non-entity in the Atlanta sports scene, and kept ticket sales well below league expectations for the market. So, what is the USFL and Atlanta to do? Our premise is this. If the bid that is under review is for relocation, the league may slow-play it well into the season so as to not provide an excuse for fans to stay away from Fire games, and then quickly try to set up camp in the new location. The next step is to work with the local Atlanta groups to develop a stronger ownership profile so that if an opportunity arises, potentially through expansion, Atlanta might be a top contender to regain a USFL franchise. We already know that there is significant interest in finding a way to return a team to St. Louis, and we expect demand for an Atlanta franchise might be even more significant. Look to the USFL owners, who are not particularly fond of franchise relocations, seriously considering an expansion round, to 26 or even 28 franchises, as a way to recover franchises in St. Louis, potentially in Atlanta, as well as to make room for cities like Dallas, Boston, Miami, Minneaopolis, or San Diego to obtain teams. This is all speculation at this point, but the news that Atlanta has an ownership proposal in front of the league committee, and that it is a sealed proposal, all but assures that we may be seeing yet another relocation within the next year. 2002 SCHEDULE RELEASED This week, after significant revision due to the St. Louis relocation to Nashville, the USFL released the 2002 schedule, the first to use a 14 week formula and a six division format. The schedule kicks off a week later, beginning with a Friday matchup on March 20th, with two of the West’s best teams now sitting in opposite conferences. Los Angeles will kick the season off at Chicago, who now find themselves in the Eastern Conference as part of a new Midwest Division with Ohio, Pittsburgh, and archrival Michigan. The entire first week highlights interconference play as the new division alignment comes into play. The six divisions are the Northeast (BAL, NJ, PHI, WSH), Southeast (ATL, JAX, ORL, TBY), and Midwest (CHI, MGN, OHI, PIT) in the East and the Southern (BIR, MEM, NSH, NOR), Southwest (ARZ, DEN, HOU, TEX), and Pacific (LA, OAK, POR, SEA) in the West. The season’s first week is one of four weeks in which all 24 teams are playing in interconference games. In all other weeks at least half of the league is playing in division while the other half plays interdivisional games within their conference, creating 6 divisional games, 4 conference games and 4 interconference games. The playoff push should be even more dramatic as all 24 teams face their division rivals in Weeks 12 and 14, with a third divisional game either in Week 11 or 13. That will certainly create some drama down the stretch. In most weeks what we see is one conference playing their divisional games while the other plays interdivisional matchups. What should we expect from this schedule? New rivalries to be sure as Nashville now replaces St. Louis and will play in-state Memphis twice. Michigan now plays Ohio twice in what should become a quick replica of one of college football’s best rivalries. Arizona and Denver will now have 4 games a year against the league’s two Texas clubs, while some traditional foes, such as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia or Houston and New Orleans, now find themselves only playing each other every other year or even every 4 years rather than twice a year. Another expectation is that the new emphasis on divisional games towards the end of the season will mean more teams will be alive in the playoff hunt until the final week of the season. Finally, the other obvious reality of the league moving to a 14-week schedule is that very few season records will be broken with the new format. We may have to recalibrate or imagine new records as the high marks set over 16 weeks will likely be unattainable with two fewer games. The league has committed to this schedule for at least the next 3 seasons, and only time will tell if their gambit of cutting games in order to expand the transfer capacity between the NFL and USFL will pay off. It seems counterintuitive to think the USFL will benefit from 24 fewer regular season games of revenue, but they seem to feel that the shorter season will help them in the long run. Time will tell. NASHVILLE TO GO GENERIC Uniform news out of Nashville as the newly relocated Knights revealed their branding plan for the 2002 season. The Knights, not wanting to retain the Gateway Arch as a primary component of their logo, will essentially go without a logo for the 2002 season. The team will use only a wordmark on all print material, while the uniforms will remove the St. Louis logo from the sleeves and helmets. Nashville will wear plain purple helmets and will add player numbers to each side, much like a traditional college team. The jerseys and pants will remain the same, but with no logos on the jersey sleeves. The team announced in November that they are on track with Reebok to reveal a new logo and uniform before the end of the season. Their goal, as stated in a local press conference is to reveal the logo around midseason, and to potentially wear new uniforms either at the final home game of the year, a tradition borrowed from soccer leagues where it is common that teams reveal the kits for the next season at their final home game, or, should they qualify, that the Knights would wear the new uniforms only during their playoff run. So, fans of the Knights are being asked to be patient, perhaps purchase some team name sweatshirts and generic jerseys, but expect a big midsummer reveal to spark a new wave of enthusiasm and merchandise. Two weeks away from the combined Territorial and Open Collegiate Draft, the first time we will see a territorial draft in over a decade, so a lot of focus of just how that will go. It is all about aligning team needs with players available, and making the pitch to sign the players before the NFL Draft in February. The Territorial Draft will provide each team with unfettered access to players from 3 schools each, but only 5 picks, so they have to make them wisely, and not necessarily go for the 5 highest rated players on the board. You want to go for guys who will have a spot on your roster as well as guys who are ready to commit to the USFL. Then, 2 days later we have the Open Draft, when we expect more top prospects to have their names called. The big question this year is whether or not some of the teams looking for a young QB, teams like Orlando, Jacksonville, Philadelphia, and maybe Oakland and New Orleans, will make a deal to get one of the top prospects protected by the T-Draft. We are going to focus on the T-Draft in our Draft Preview, just because it is something we have not seen in a while, but we will try to address where the needs are for each team as we do. We begin with the Eastern Conference. NORTHEAST DIVISION BALTIMORE BLITZ Need Areas: LB, TE, DT, WR Protected Schools: BC, Va Tech, Maryland Top Prospects: HB William Green (BC), OT Marc Colombo (BC), WR Andre Davis (Va Tech) Our Best Guess: Of the top flight players, only Davis fits with team needs, but you can never have enough good tackles, so expect the Blitz to include Colombo on their draft board. Potential midrange talent includes NT Charles Hill (MD) and TE Bob Slowikowski (Va Tech). NEW JERSEY GENERALS Need Areas: CB, LB, WR, FS Protected Schools: Oklahoma, Syracuse, Rutgers Top Prospects: SS Roy Williams (OU), DE Dwight Freeney (SYR), LB Rocky Calmus (OU) Our Best Guess: We see NJ going for all three of the players we named, and then possibly takng a shot on HB James Mungro of Syracuse. It is not a deep pool with these three schools, but the three we named are good players if NJ can sign them. PHILADELPHIA STARS Need Areas: HB, TE, QB, SS, CB Protected Schools: Iowa, Penn State, Temple Top Prospects: HB Ladell Betts (Iowa), FB Omar Easy (PSU), DE Aaron Kampman (Iowa) Our Best Guess: Betts is a great fit for the Stars, able to spell Stephen Davis for them. Kampman would certainly be a welcome addition as well. No QB help in this group, so they will need to wait for the open draft. WASHINGTON FEDERALS Need Areas: WR, G, FS, CB Protected Schools: Virginia, Marshall, Louisville Top Prospects: WR Deion Branch (LOU), TE Chris Luzar (UVa), DT Monsanto Pope (UVa) Our Best Guess: Branch is a no-brainer as the Feds try to fill in the gap left by Herman Moore’s departure. Other than that, it is a pretty week group, though the Feds could add some depth at DT with Pope or at HB with Virginia’s Antwoine Womack. SOUTHEAST DIVISION ATLANTA FIRE Need Areas: QB, LB, DT, WR Protected Schools: Georgia, Ga Tech, East Carolina Top Prospects: DE Charles Grant (UGA), QB David Garrard (ECU), LB Will Witherspoon (UGA) Our Best Guess: Atlanta may take a look at Garrard, but he is not an immediate improvement over Brooks and Bulger. More likely they go for DT with Grant, LB with Witherspoon, and then maybe take a shot at one or both of the graduating Georgia safeties, Terreal Bierria and Jermaine Phillips. JACKSONVILLE BULLS Need Areas: QB, WR, DE, HB Protected Schools: FSU, Clemson, Georgia Southern Top Prospects: WR Javon Walker (FSU), FS Chris Hope (FSU), HB Adrian Peterson (Ga So) Our Best Guess: Normally FSU would be producing more talent for this pool, and Clemson’s only real prospect is HB Woodrow Dantzler, so this is a tough year for Jacksonville. Walker would fit a need, as would Dantzler, so expect those two to be selected. A possible darkhorse is Peterson, a shifty back out of Division I-AA Georgia Southern. ORLANDO RENEGADES Need Areas: QB, HB, FS, CB, T Protected Schools: Florida, South Carolina, UCF Top Prospects: WR Jabar Gaffney (Fla), DE Kalimba Edwards (USC), OT Mike Pearson (Fla) Our Best Guess: Mitchel’s retirement completely changes the calculus for Orlando. There are no top tier QB’s in this protected group, so the Renegades may have to make trades to get in on that action. There is talent here at a lot of key positions, including Gafney, Edwards, Pearson, as well as WR Reche Caldwell and LB Andra Davis, if that is what Orlando goes for. TAMPA BAY BANDITS Need Areas: CB, C, TE, LB Protected Schools: Miami, Mississippi State, USF Top Prospects: OT Bryant McKinnie (Miami), TE Jeremy Shockey (Miami), CB Phillip Buchanon (Miami) Our Best Guess: It is a pool dominated by “The U”. In addition to the three listed above you also have FS Ed Reed, CB Mike Rumph, and HB Clinton Portis. Looking at Tampa’s needs, the best options here are to go for Rumph or Buchanon (or both). Rumors also have several teams hoping to trade with Tampa to try to get Ed Reed because Free Safety is a tough position to find top level talent and Reed definitely has it. MIDWEST DIVISION CHICAGO MACHINE Need Areas: WR, C, LB, DT, DE Protected Schools: Notre Dame, Illinois, Northern Illinois Top Prospects: DE Anthony Weaver (ND), LB Rocky Boiman (ND), TE John Owens (ND) Our Best Guess: Chicago is not going to find a starting wideout from these three schools, though they could take a shot at a raw talent like NIU’s Darrell Hill. Expect Weaver to be a priority, and maybe Notre Dame’s other DE prospect, Grant Irons as well. MICHIGAN PANTHERS Need Areas: DT, HB, TE, C, T Protected Schools: Michigan, Michigan State, Central Michigan Top Prospects: HB T.J. Duckett (MSU), WR Marquise Walker (UM), TE Chris Baker (UM) Our Best Guess: Duckett and Baker are absolutely going to be targeted by the Panthers. Others who could also get a look, based on need, include MSU DT Josh Shaw, and Michigan guard (who could play center) Jonathan Goodwin. OHIO GLORY Need Areas: G, DE, LB, FS Protected Schools: Ohio State, Wisconsin, Cincinnati Top Prospects: DT Wendell Bryant (Wisc), C LeCharles Bentley (OSU), CB Derek Ross (OSU) Our Best Guess: The top talent in this pool does not really align with Ohio’s team needs, but you don’t pass up on talent, right? So, expect Bentley to be drafted, and after that, who knows. There are two decent prospects at LB in Wisconsin’s Nick Greison and OSU’s Courtland Bullard, both of whom the Glory could take a shot at. PITTSBURGH MAULERS Need Areas: WR, T, DT, LB Protected Schools: Pitt, Purdue, West Virginia Top Prospects: WR Antonio Bryant (PIT), LB Akin Ayodele (Purdue), K Travis Dorsch (Purdue) Our Best Guess: We think Ayodele is a good target for the Maulers, as is Pitt LB Bryan Knight. Antonio Bryant has to be chosen as well. Beyond that, they could look at someone like FB Corey McIntyre as a developmental prospect. SOUTHERN DIVISION BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS Need Areas: DT, WR, G, T Protected Schools: Alabama, Auburn, Southern Miss Top Prospects: G Kendall Simmons (AUB), WR Tim Carter (AUB), LB Saleem Rasheed (Bama) Our Best Guess: When you have Auburn and Alabama in your pool, you will always have talent to choose from. In addition to the three we named above, there is also wideouts Jason McAddley and Freddie Milons of Bama and safety Chad Williams of Southern Miss. Birmingham could also take a flier on Southern Miss QB Jeff Kelly, if only to give Brett Favre a fellow Golden Eagle to pal around with. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS Need Areas: DE, CB, WR, G, LB Protected Schools: Tennessee, Arkansas, Vanderbilt Top Prospects: DT John Henderson (Tenn), WR Donte Stallworth (Tenn), DT Albert Haynesworth (Tenn) Our Best Guess: The pools for each team were set before Nashville got the Knights, so the Showboats have control of the two biggest in-state schools (at least for now, they may have to repick next year). From those three, the draft is expected to be dominated by the Vols, who have the three players named above, but also guard Fred Weary, LB Will Overstreet, and HB Travis Stephens available. NASHVILLE KNIGHTS Need Areas: TE, CB, T, QB, DE Protected Schools: Kansas State, Missouri, Louisiana Tech Top Prospects: S Bobby Gray (LA Tech), TE Dwayne Blakely (Mizzou), HB John Simon (La Tech) Our Best Guess: The Knights have just abysmal options from three schools that simply don’t measure up. Expect Nashville to push hard for a recalibration so they can get in on some SEC action in next year’s draft. For this year, the three players listed above are truly the only ones worth picking, so don’t expect Nashville to invest much time in their T-Draft this season. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS Need Areas: T, LB, G, TE Protected Schools: LSU, Ole Miss, Tulane Top Prospects: QB Patrick Ramsey (Tulane), WR Josh Reed (LSU), G Terrance Metcalf (Ole Miss) Our Best Guess: Ramsey is an interesting prospect. The Breakers may take a shot at him despite the good play of Trent Dilfer this year, or they could take offers from a QB-desperate team to get that pick and then use a later pick on a flier like LSU QB Rohan Davey. The best fits for the Breakers’ needs are Metcalf at guard and LSU TE Robert Royal. SOUTHWEST DIVISION ARIZONA WRANGLERS Need Areas: FS, DT, T, HB, DE Protected Schools: Arizona, ASU, Utah Top Prospects: T Levi Jones (ASU), WR Cliff Russell (Utah), C Scott Peters (ASU) Our Best Guess: Jones is a sure pick, and likely ASU’s RT as well, Kyle Kosier. Utah DT Ma’ake Kemoeatu could also be intriguing. DENVER GOLD Need Areas: DT, LB, G, CB, HB Protected Schools: Nebraska, Colorado, BYU Top Prospects: TE Daniel Graham (Colo), C Andre Gurode (Colo), G Toniu Fonoti (Neb) Our Best Guess: The Gold are not going to find a back to replace Salaam in this pool of schools, but they could find some useful talent like Fonoti at guard, BYU’s Doug Jolley at TE, or DE Ryan Denney of BYU. Not a lot in key need areas, but good potential depth-building. HOUSTON GAMBLERS Need Areas: FS, CB, LB, G, DT Protected Schools: Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Houston Top Prospects: C Seth McKinney (TAMU), S Kevin Curtis (TTU), DT Rocky Bernard (TAMU) Our Best Guess: Bernard is a need pick. Beyond that there is no clear path for the Gamblers in this 3-school pairing. None of the remaining talent is expected to be more than late round fodder. Not a great year for A&M or Tech in the Houston roster of schools. TEXAS OUTLAWS Need Areas: HB, TE, WR, DE, C Protected Schools: Texas, TCU, SMU Top Prospects: T Mike Williams (UT), CB Quentin Jammer (UT), TE Matt Schobel (TCU) Our Best Guess: Schobel fills a need for sure, and the Outlaws cannot pass up on Jammer even if CB is not a high need area. They may take offers on their first pick if someone is seeking to land Williams, a top 5 prospect. PACIFIC DIVISION LOS ANGELES EXPRESS Need Areas: LB, WR, K, DT Protected Schools: USC, UCLA, San Diego State Top Prospects: LB Robert Thomas (UCLA), HB DeShaun Foster (UCLA), G Chester Pitts (SDSU) Our Best Guess: Both Thomas and Foster would be solid additions for the Express, who are losing Michael Pittman in their backfield. A darkhorse at LB is UCLA’s Ryan Nece, who has had a strong senior year. OAKLAND INVADERS Need Areas: WR, T, HB, G, QB Protected Schools: Cal, Stanford, Fresno State Top Prospects: QB David Carr (Fresno), T Langston Walker (Cal), SS Coy Wire (Stanford) Our Best Guess: Does Oakland feel secure enough at QB to pass up on David Carr? Or will they get a good trade offer so that someone else can nab him before the open draft? We expect the latter to be what happens because Oakland seems OK with Jon Kitna and Marques Tuiasosopo going into camp. They likely will try to beef up the line, and could not do better than Langston Walker to help that process. Brian Allen is a decent tailback out of Stanford, but not quite what the Invaders need. PORTLAND THUNDER Need Areas: G, FS, DT, T Protected Schools: Oregon, Oregon State, Boise St. Top Prospects: QB Joey Harrington (Ore), HB Maurice Morris (Ore), CB Rashad Bauman (Ore) Our Best Guess: Expect a full court press from several teams to get the top pick here. Joey Harrington is an intriguing QB prospect and with the success Akili Smith found last season, Portland is open to trade the pick to allow someone else to nab him. Unfortunately for Portland, the best players in this grouping simply don’t align with top needs, so a trade, to get more picks in the Open Draft, may be the best strategy for the Thunder. SEATTLE DRAGONS Need Areas: DE, CB, WR, TE, T Protected Schools: Washington, Wash State, Hawaii Top Prospects: WR Ashley Lelie (Haw), TE Jerramy Stevens (UW), LB Raonall Smith (WSU) Our Best Guess: Seattle is fortunate in that the two top prospects in their pool actually align well with team needs. If they can sign Lelie and Stevens, they will help their offense out quite a bit even before the Open Draft. Others they should look at include DT Larry Triplett from the Huskies and LB Smith. You can never have enough hard hitting LBs. So, as we wrap up, let’s just take a look at the Top 10 players who are not potential T-Draft picks because they play for unclaimed schools. These are players who could see their value skyrocket for the Open Draft as other, perhaps higher graded players, are scooped up in the T-Draft. DE Julius Peppers (UNC): Absolutely the top pick in the Open Draft. But will Atlanta field trade offers to get that pick? They have solid talent at DE, so they could field an offer, for the right price. DT Ryan Simms (UNC): Another Tarheel on the D-Line who should see his draft status soar. Lots of teams looking for DT help, so expect him to also be a top choice. DE Bryan Thomas (UAB): Another D-lineman who could clean up in the Open Draft. Funny that Birmingham passed up a chance at him by choosing Southern Miss instead of UAB as their third protected school. LB Napoleon Harris (Northwestern): Are we seeing a pattern? This is a deep draft on defense. Harris is a potential 1st round pick if a team is still feeling unsettled at LB. DE Eddie Freeman (UAB): That makes 5 defenders, with 4 from the D-Line among the Top 10 unprotected players. LB Levar Fisher (NC State): Graded just below Harris, Fisher is still a very solid prospect. DE Anton Palepoi (UNLV): OK, This is getting ridiculous. We are going to have to save the last 3 spots for offensive players just to get a few on the list. Yes, a deep defensive draft to be sure. WR Anwaan Randle-El (Indiana): The IU quarterback is already resigned to being drafted at the wideout position. He could be a great multi-use player, as a runner, receiver, and kick returner. T Jeff Hatch (Penn): That is Penn, as in Ivy League, not Penn State. QB Josh McCown (Sam Houston State): The only QB to crack our list, and a rare Division 1-AA prospect at that. McCown has a gun for an arm, but is a bit raw, so expect him to perhaps move up to the 2nd round but no higher. Next Up: Our Post-Draft, Preseason recap in February. All the draft day trades, rookie signings, NFL transfer window deals, and late free agent pickups as teams lock in their rosters before the March kickoff. You won’t want to miss that.

Tragedy of September 11th Impacts USFL Family There are no words to describe the events of September 11th. The tragedy, the anger, the confusion, and the deep grief are ongoing for our entire nation. It almost seems too trivial to point to one organization and look at the impact of the horrors of that day, and yet, with the USFL moving towards a new season, one that was meant to celebrate 20 years of spring football, we have to understand that the events of that horrible day deeply impact this league and the family of employees and staffers that help to make it run. Unlike the NFL, which was in the throes of their season when tragedy struck, the USFL was in its offseason, which meant that no games were impacted, but the lives of hundreds of USFL employees, both in New York and D.C. as well as across the country were impacted. While the New York headquarters of the USFL, located in midtown, was not directly affected by the tragedy of September 11th, the staff that help run the league were all deeply impacted. We know of no fewer than 27 family members of USFL NY staff that lost their lives a month ago. Add to this the countless others who lost friends, colleagues, and who simply remain shattered by the events of that day. We also know that for many within the New Jersey Generals organization, the loss of life on September 11th was equally devastating, as was the sense of violation, of impotence, and of emotional upheaval. Our hearts, of course, go out to all who are affected by this horrible day and the cowardly act of those who perpetrated the acts of terror in New York, Washington, and United flight 93 in Pennsylvania. We think about the brave police, firefighters, and other first responders who rushed to aid at all three sites. And we wonder if life will ever fully return to normal even as our government leaders promise that justice will be served and the tragic loss of life will not be forgotten. The league has already announced that it will start a special fund, with revenue from all 24 clubs, to support the families of those killed on September 11th. We can certainly expect tributes in many stadiums, with particular attention paid by the Maulers, Federals, and Generals. Celebration of the league’s 20th anniversary will also certainly be more muted than had been planned and we should expect that commemorative patches may well be replaced with 9/11 remembrances. The league may not kick off again until March, but certainly the events of this horrible day will very much be a part of the 2002 season, just as it is very much a part of all of our lives moving forward. While it seems somewhat trite or banal to talk football at a time like this, the league does go on, and there was quite a bit of news to report from the weeks preceding the events of 9/11, as well as a few recent stories as well. As we are a news source dedicated to professional sports, it feels that it is our duty to try to return to some form of normalcy, and that includes reporting on the news that will impact the league as it prepares for what will certainly be a very different 2002 season. KNIGHTS ON THEIR WAY TO NASHVILLE While there was certainly plenty of standard offseason news this past month, the biggest news was certainly the sale of the St. Louis Knights to an ownership group based out of Nashville and planning to bring a team to the Tennessee capital and their new stadium. Many expected the Knights to be a prime target for the Dallas-based DFW Football Group or possibly to the Boston Colonials Football Group after they failed to get the nod to purchase the Portland Thunder. Nashville was thought of as something of a dark horse as there was well-established opposition from the ownership in Memphis, Birmingham, and Atlanta, but when the proposal was complete, the financial review came in very positive, and with Atlanta’s ownership in flux, there were truly only 2 votes against the move. League owners, in the same meeting, approved the Portland Thunder sale and stadium plan by a unanimous 21-0 vote (none of the transitional ownership groups could vote, so 3 votes abstained), and then turned to Nashville. With recognition that the sale would leave a gap in the Midwest, the owners still approved the sale by a 19-2 vote. League representatives expressed regret that a St. Louis option simply did not materialize in time for consideration, and unequivocally declared that they remain interested in bringing football back to St. Louis in a timely manner, though no mechanism currently exists to do so. With the sale, the new ownership group is headed by Cal Turner Jr., a Vanderbilt alum who went on to lead the Dollar General chain of discount stores. The group includes several other local and regional investors, and, as with so many other USFL squads, there is a famous Nashville native in the mix to add a bit of flash. Just as Tampa Bay has Burt Reynolds on board, Houston has Kenny Rogers, and New Jersey recently added singer John Bon Jovi as a minority owner, the relocated club will be able to put one of Nashville’s favorite sons, singer Tim McGraw out front and center, though really they could double dip as both Tim and his father, famous MLB pitcher Tug McGraw are both listed as minority owners. The new ownership has stated that they will retain the Knights moniker, making the club the Nashville Knights, and that there will be a process to create a logo that suits the club and the market. At present, the Knights logo heavily features the St. Louis arch as a core component, so that logo will not be in use. A simple wordmark was used at the reveal announcement. It is not certain how quickly a new identity can be produced and approved by the league, but we expect that all efforts will be made to have the new look of the club in place before the season kickoff in March. With their Knights headed to Nashville, what does this mean for St. Louis? Well, just as when the Cardinals left back in 1987, this will be a blow to the city. Of course, they do have the NFL Rams in town, so that certainly will help soften the impact of the USFL’s departure. But, at least if city officials can be taken at their word, their is interest in trying to bring the USFL back to town in one form or another. If that happens, either through purchase and relocation of another franchise or through possible expansion (no sooner than 2005 if the league holds to its current moratorium) there are two pieces that will need to be in place first. One of these is to develop an ownership group that can compete with some of the already existing bidding groups in the market. Without that, it seems unlikely that St. Louis would be able to attract a team. Secondly they will need to work with the Trans World Dome to ensure a better, more lucrative contract for a USFL club. When the NFL Rams came to town, the dome all but rolled out the red carpet, right on top of the Knights, to prioritize the Rams. Even without the financial scandal that eventually sunk Knights owner James Orthwein, the Knights were already threatening to review alternatives to the Dome as they were deeply frustrated with the lack of support and revenue provided by the past two contracts with the facility. So for now the USFL leaves behind the Gateway City and the Knights will play the 2002 season in Nashville the first franchise relocation since 1988 when the merger of the San Antonio Gunslingers and Oklahoma Outlaws produced the Texas Outlaws, while also spawning the Portland Thunder almost as a byproduct. Nashville will play at the newly-completed Adelphia Stadium, which has been home to the NFL Tennessee Copperheads since 1999. Mr. Turner and his Nashville Group are said to be on good terms with the owners of the Copperheads, and the lease in Nashville is one which provides more bang for their buck than Orthwein and the St. Louis ownership ever saw at Trans World Dome. When asked about first moves for the club, Mr. Turner mentioned the logo design, cited the need to get a ticket sales and marketing team up and running quickly, and then jokingly asked reporters how expensive it might be to steal Heath Shuler and Herman Moore (both Tennessee Volunteer alums) away from their current teams. Don’t expect any help from Memphis on snagging Shuler, a recent league MVP, as the Showboats are already bitter about the in-state competition and will likely build an immediate and intense rivalry with the Knights. SALAAM RECEIVES 1 YEAR SUSPENSION The league has made official what the Denver Gold initiated in the week prior to the Summer Bowl. Following his arrest in Denver after the Gold’s Western Conference Title Game victory, Salaam was suspended from the team. This week, the league made it official that the suspension would be leaguewide and no less than one year. Of course, Salaam faces other issues as the charges from his arrest could include jail time as well as significant fines, but the league clearly stated that they viewed the issues as a clear 2nd violation of the league’s drug policy, as well as a violation of its personal conduct policy, essentially acting as 2nd and 3rd strikes all at once. The league decision allows Denver to void Salaam’s contract with no salary cap impact, which, of course, also means that all income anticipated by Salaam beyond his paychecks for the final weeks of play (the WIld Card and Divisional games) will not be forthcoming. Expect Salaam’s agent and legal team to be challenging that aspect of the ruling even if they do not muster a defense on the suspension itself. For Salaam, the news is certainly not welcome, and does not help him necessarily deal with either his legal issues or the obviously concerning drug issue that underlies both the suspension and the prior disciplinary action by the league earlier this past season. For Denver, it means that they go into the offseason with Rod Smart and Ricky Whittle as their running backs. We certainly expect the Gold to seek alternatives at the position, either through the draft or in free agency, but as of this date no top tier backs have visited the Gold in search of a position. While the league saw several key retirements as the regular season came to an end, it is always the weeks immediately following the Summer Bowl when we see the floodgates open, and that has certainly been the case this season. The league, and. of course each player’s specific team, will be without players who have helped to define the last decade or longer, and how teams opt to fill the gaps can often be the difference between rebuilding and reloading. Let’s take a look at the biggest names to announce this month that they have played their last game of USFL football. Bobby Hebert-QB-PHI: One of the first big stars created by the USFL in its early years, Hebert led the Michigan Panthers to two titles in the 80’s before a brief dalliance with the NFL (following Coach Jim Mora to New Orleans). Hebert returned to the USFL with Oakland in 1993. He has been with Philadelphia since 1998. In grand total, he has started 199 games over 13 USFL seasons. In that time, he threw over 5,500 passes for over 54,000 yards, 389 touchdowns and 157 picks. Many believe that despite not finding the same success with the Invaders and Stars as he had in his initial USFL run with Michigan he is still a solid USFL Hall of Fame candidate. Hebert will reportedly sign a one-day contract to retire as a Michigan Panther, which is a bit odd considering that Doug Flutie will also be leaving the game after several years in Pontiac. As for the Stars, the question for the club is whether or not they feel comfortable with Will Fuller as the heir apparent. The Stars traded away Jake Delhomme during the season and Stoney Case is a free agent, so if Fuller is not the answer, Philadelphia will need to make some moves to find an option for a club that is good enough to complete for a playoff spot, as they did this year, making it all the way to the Conference Title Game. We mentioned it already, but the 1994 Heisman Winner and one of the early stars of the New Jersey Generals, Doug Flutie, has also announced his retirement from the game, at the end of a 17-year career. Flutie spent the first 11 seasons of his USFL career in New Jersey, leading his club to the title in 1989. With a coaching change in New Jersey, Flutie fell out of favor and was traded to the Panthers ahead of the 1996 season. He had some good seasons in Michigan but was unable to move the Panthers deep into the playoffs. Along the way he continued to wow fans with his scrambling and those late game heroics that just got dubbed “Flutie Magic”. He retires with 226 starts, 8,146 passes for 54,369 yards, 357 TDs and 253 interceptions. We should also recognize Flutie for his legs as he finishes his career with 880 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. Flutie is also expected to make an appearance at his former club, signing the 1-day contract to salute the fans in the Meadowlands. A true defensive legend in the USFL, LB Kurt Gouveia, has played his last game in Denver’s black and gold. Gouveia locked down that Denver home field as one of the league’s great defensive playmakers for 16 seasons. He retires with a 2000 championship ring, multiple Summer Bowl appearances, 1,330 tackles including 174 for a loss, 42 sacks and 13 picks in a career that also saw Gouveia win Defensive Player of the Year in 1988. For the Gold, Marvcus Patton will take over as the defensive play caller, and they still have talent in the LB corps with Patton, Sam Cowart, Deshone Myles, and Tracy Rogers. Chris Chandler became the third starting QB to hang up the cleats this offseason with his announcement this week that he would step away from the game. Chandler was a huge signing for the Jacksonville Bulls back in 1995, coming over from the NFL. He had an up and down career with the Bulls, just as they have had an up and down decade. He started 110 games, threw for 30,421 yards, 202 TDs and 105 picks. Chandler has had injury issues, including a few concussions, and that very likely led to his decision to leave now, though certainly a floundering Bulls franchise may have also contributed to the retirement decision. So what do the Bulls do now? They traded for Jake Delhomme during the year, and that seems somewhat prescient at this point. Expect Jacksonville to give Delhomme a shot to start, with Danny Wuerffel (a hometown favorite) to be in the mix as well. In addition to the earlier announcements from DE J.J. Wierenga , HB Reggie Cobb, DB Vencie Glenn, Lb Jeff Herrod, and WR Eric Metcalf, the other big announcement this week was from linebacker Garth Jax, a longtime Texas Outlaw who has spent a career mixing inside run coverage with outside pass support. Jax played alongside Brian Bosworth, but also spelled the big backer in the middle when called upon. He retires after 16 seasons with 862 tackles, and 43 sacks. Other retirements of note: Tampa Bay DE Roland Putzier, Journeyman TE Keith McKeller, Ohio wideout Qadry Ismail, LA Linebacker Ron Sancho, Chicago CB Eric Allen, Birmingham LB Tommy Thigpen, and Atlanta linebacker Johnny Holland. Late August and early September saw a few major trades across the USFL before the tragedy of 9/11 all but put a halt to offseason business for 3 weeks. We have seen a slow startup again to the free agent period, now with the transfer window with the NFL closed, but we should highlight the moves made prior to the league’s period of respectful pause. Ryan Leaf now an Outlaw. Despite a modestly successful tenure in Texas, it appears that Jeff Lewis will be challenged this year. The Outlaws send a 2nd round pick in this year’s draft and a 5th rounder in 2003 to Oakland for the disgruntled and self-destructing Leaf. Oakland, which had opted to move on from Leaf midseason, tired of his postgame rants and calling out of the coaches, was happy to see the former 1st round pick out the door. Texas, for their part, gets a very talented arm, and perhaps a player who will be happy to start anew in a new setting. Lewis welcomed the challenge of a QB competition, saying all the right things to the press when the trade was announced. Expect Leaf to get a chance to see significant preseason action and quite possibly to supplant Lewis, if, and this is an if, he can rediscover the form that led him to one of the best rookie seasons in league history. As for Oakland, they seem content to move forward with a competition between veteran Jon Kitna and 2001 rookie slinger Marques Tuiasosopo. Atlanta trades a team captain for draft capital The Atlanta Fire are in need of a talent infusion, and if that means losing one of their best players to add 3 draft picks, that seems OK with the club and their new coach John Fox. The Fire sent defensive captain and MLB Mo Lewis to Los Angeles for the Express’s 2nd and 4th rounder this year and a 4th rounder in 2003. The Express, who have lost veteran leadership when Cornelius Bennett resigned with the Buffalo Bills for what is likely a farewell tour, as well as Danta Jones to free agency, pick up a team leader and one of the best run stuffing middle linebackers in the league. The Fire get a chance to add talent to a roster that simply needed to improve across several positions. Other Trades Other swaps in the first month of the offseason include Michigan bringing in a veteran backup for Drew Brees by trading a 5th round pick in the 2003 draft (not this year’s) to Atlanta for disgruntled former Generals starter Spence Fisher. Fisher was stuck behind both Marc Bulger and Aaron Brooks for the Fire but now will be the clear #2 in Michigan. Michigan also added some depth at WR, trading their 5th rounder this year to Baltimore to get slot receiver and return man Oronde Gadsden. New Orleans needs help in the secondary and they got some, trading TE David LaFleur to Houston for CB Allen Rossum. Seattle did likewise, acquiring a quality corner in Dre Bly of Pittsburgh, while helping the Maulers rebuild their D-line, sending DT Shane Burton to the Steel City. And in a very rare QB-for-Kicker swap, Portland, having 4 QBs on the roster, got themselves a new kicker by sending QB A.J. Feely to Arizona for veteran Carlos Huerta and a 6th round pick. USFL TO NFL MOVES While it was a quieter than usual NFL-USFL window in August, closing on Labor Day, less than 1 week before the NFL season, we still saw several players of note jump from the USFL directly into an NFL season. Among those whose departure will have the greatest impact on the league we see: Wideout Ed McCaffrey will leave the Oakland Invaders after 11 seasons to join the NFL Denver Broncos. McCaffrey, who has had four 1,000 year seasons in his USFL career, is looking to take on a bigger role, having been supplanted as the top guy in Oakland by youngster Plaxico Burress, and even seeing Marty Booker cut into his snaps. Bruising halfback Tim Lester also seems to have been unhappy after being traded to Washington, where he was used mostly as a short yardage option while Deuce McCallister and Rueben Droughns were the primary one-two punch of the Federal offense. Lester took his 1-year deal with Washington and moved on, signing with the Dallas Cowboys on another 1-year deal. Wideout Shawn Collins, a former league leader in receptions, is yet another player who saw his role diminish. Texas had brought in Carl Pickens from Arizona and while Pickens had a 100-reception, 1,400 yard season, Collins’s numbers dropped to only 51 receptions and 597 yards in 2001, just two years after toying with the league record by catching 140 balls in 1999. Collins leaves Texas and joins the Green Bay Packers. Linebacker Adalius Thomas will leave the Seattle Dragons, where he racked up 72 tackles in his first year as a starter. He had signed a somewhat unusual rookie contract, only 2 years in length, and apparently saw this as his chance to cash in on a larger free agent contract by signing with the Baltimore Ravens. Portland lost 2 starters to the fall league this month, as both Tight End Carlester Crumpler (Vikings) and kicker John Kasay (Carolina) are opting to join the NFL this month. Michigan, particularly HB Duce Staley, will miss the blocking of FB Lorenzo Neal, who leaves the Panthers to join the NFL Bengals in Cincinnati. Cornelius Bennett, as noted earlier, has opted to return to his glory days with the Buffalo Bills, signing a 1-year contract to finish his career where it began. He leaves the LA Express after only 1 season, coming over after 5 years in Birmingham. Others jumping to the NFL include Houston DT Esera Tuaolo and Birmingham linebacker Joe Mott. NFL TO USFL MOVES So, we know who has headed to the fall league during the first transfer window. Who has come the other direction? As we have seen developing as a trend the past few years, mostly linemen, backups, and players hoping to turn potential into playing time in the USFL. No big name QB’s, runners or receivers this time around, but some talent that certainly will help clubs plug some holes. As we have seen, the bigger name players tend to jump ship from the NFL to the USFL in the 2nd transfer window, just as the NFL season ends and they first become free agents. It is rare for a high talent player to stay a free agent long enough to enter this Fall window, as it risks too much the chance of not signing with either league. So, who did opt to join the USFL just as the NFL season was set to start? Here is the list: Arizona signed DT Kenard Lang from the Cleveland Browns. Atlanta landed possession receiver Joe Jurevicius, formerly of the Buccaneers. Chicago added 2 NFL players in Ravens’ CB James Trapp and Green Bay guard Mike Wahle LA dealt with their kicker position, bringing in former Bills kicker Steve Christie. Memphis added depth behind Adrian Cooper at TE, singing Saint TE Johnny Mitchell Michigan, very active this offseason, added RT Matt Willig from the 49ers as well as center Corey Raymer from the Chargers. Both moves that should make Drew Brees a bit more comfortable behind the line. New Jersey brought in former Raider DT John Parrella. Oakland landed two offensive “hands” players in TE Byron Chamberlain (Vikings) and HB Mack Strong (Seahawks) Ohio is trying to improve their defense, an dadding former Chief LB Glenn Cadrez is a good start. Pittsburgh also added a LB in former Redskin Eddie Mason. Seattle wants to jumpstart their special teams, and the signing of former Eagle returner and HB Brian Mitchell is a great way to do it. Tampa Bay did not go far to do the same, adding return specialist and lanky wideout Karl Williams, formerly of the Buccaneers. FREE AGENCY WITHIN THE USFL And, of course, the first month of the offseason also saw quite a few USFL free agents stay in the league, shifting from team to team. With the average club having 10-12 players eligible for free agency, there is always a flurry of action in the first few weeks of the free agency period, and this year we saw a shortened, but productive “frenzy” to sign top players. Here are some of the more notable signings. SEATTLE: We knew the Maulers could not resign both of their high impact linebackers, so when they spent big to resign Demetrius DuBose, that meant that Godfrey Miles was on the market. He did not last long, signing with the Seattle Dragons on the 2nd day of Free agency. MEMPHIS: The Showboats, now facing the challenge of an in state rival with Nashville coming to the league, are not resting on their laurels. They made a quick move to shore up their secondary, signing the best corner on the market, former General Darien Gordon. OHIO: The Glory’s defense was simply not very good this year, with the team finding success through offensive explosiveness, but it appears they are going to be looking to upgrade on defense, with their first big defensive signing being along the D-line. The Glory pull DE Vonnie Holliday away from the Knights. MICHIGAN: With a significant number of retirements and free agents, is expected to make a lot of moves this year as they build around Drew Brees. O-line is a priority (as we saw in the NFL signings) and wideout was also a major concern. The Panthers addressed that concern in a big way one week into free agency with the signing perhaps the best receiver on the market in several years, former Wrangler Hines Ward. Ward will immediately become a top target for Brees and the Panther offense. TEXAS and ATLANTA also snagged receivers early, with the Outlaws adding Lake Dawson from the Fire, while Atlanta went a different direction, looking for a pure slot receiver and finding one in New Jersey’s Wayne Chrebet. PORTLAND looked to enhance their O-line and found just what they were looking for in athletic tackle Todd Steussie, who will leave the heat of Birmingham for the cool summers of Portland. PHILADELPHIA: Another tackle on the move is Orlando’s Paul Gruber, who takes his newly minted league title and heads to Philadelphia, where he will protect whoever the Stars decide will follow Bobby Hebert as the new starter at QB. NEW ORLEANS: With Ricky Williams enshrined as the clear bell cow back in New Orleans, the Breakers add a change of pace back, a quality 3rd down receiver, in former Oakland Invader Troy Davis. The diminutive Davis will largely play a spot role on passing downs while Williams remains the main 1st and 2nd down back. Finally, two back up QB moves as both HOUSTON and SEATTLE add depth in the QB Room. Houston went with a somewhat untested option, signing Kris Kershaw away from the Knights, while Seattle went for proven experience, nabbing Orlando backup Craig Erickson. In our next edition: Draft Previews, more USFL Free Agency, big news out of Atlanta, and a late offseason retirement that will create panic for one club.

Hello all. I am back home, a bit under the weather after 2 weeks of travel, but raring to get back into the USFL. My goal is to have my next article ready by the weekend. A lot to deal with, all the usual offseason roster shifting and tracking of info, 2002 USFL Draft, and, lest we forget, September 11, 2001 will certainly have an impact. And, just in case that were not big enough, 2002 is the 20th season of the USFL so you know there has to be something there as well. So, hold on tight, there is more USFL coming, I just need a few days to do the "backstage" stuff before I can publish again.

GOLD GIFTWRAP CHAMPIONSHIP WITH FINAL SECOND GAFF OF EPIC SCALE They call it a game of inches, but football can also be a game of seconds, and all it takes is one bad split second decision to change victory into defeat. The Denver Gold learned that lesson the hard way when an attempt to surprise Orlando with a late game pass when overtime was assured turned into an epic disaster and a last-second touchdown that won the game for the Orlando Renegades. Orlando had tied the game only seconds earlier, and it seemed a certainty that the game was headed for overtime, tied up at 27. But Coach Jauron felt that if his Gold squad could fake a fullback dive on what seemed a routine end-of-game clock killer, he could perhaps catch Orlando napping and make a big play and possibly put his club in place for a final second field goal. So, with 16 seconds on the clock, he instructed Mark Brunell to pull the ball out of the gut of Heath Sherman and instead try to hit Dedric Smith on a fly route that he hoped would be uncovered. It was not, and instead of a big gain, Brunell threw into coverage, Orlando strong safety Tyrone Carter read the play all the way, stepped in front of Smith, and the Gold players, coaches and fans watched in horror as their chance to become the first USFL club to ever repeat as champions blew up with each stride Carter took along the sideline on his sprint to the endzone and a 34-27 Orlando win. Orlando players on the sideline were equally stunned. QB Scott Mitchell, anticipating overtime, was sitting on the sideline with a towel over his head, preparing himself for extra time when he heard the crowd gasp and then erupt as the play developed. “I didn’t see it. I got up and saw my teammates screaming, jumping up and down, and I had to look at the jumbotron to figure out what happened.” said the stunned QB, “It was surreal. I mean that just does not happen.” On the other sideline the shock quickly turned to tears and even a couple of frustrated slams of helmets onto turf. The Gold had come so close. They had had a lead at 27-24 only seconds before, but Orlando had successfully completed a 2-minute drill to tie the game up. Overtime was certainly ahead. When Peerless Price took the fair catch on the ensuing kickoff, it was assumed Brunell would take a knee, Orlando would not use its last time out, and both teams would prepare for a coin toss. But Jauron had other ideas. “I believed we had time to get a field goal if we could get one big play, and I thought the call was a good one. Clearly it did not turn out our way at all, and that is on me.” said a despondent Coach Jauron in the post-game interview. It is a decision the coach may have to live with the rest of his career, as it produced one of them ost memorable moments in league history. Coach O’Leary, who benefitted from the big play, was magnanimous in victory.“I feel for Dick. You never call a play imagining that the worst possible outcome is the result. But I am also proud of our guys for playing until the final whistle.” The coach added “We did not assume it was over, we prepared for anything, and when the moment arrived, our guys were ready for it. I am proud of their effort, their football IQ, and their spirit.” Orlando had not had an easy time with Denver all day, despite the early suspension of star HB Rashan Salaam. Denver had proven resilient, leaning on their defense and the arm of Brunell to build an early 10-0 lead, and then to flip leads with Orlando twice in the final period. Denver had taken what they believed to be the game winning lead (27-24) with 1:33 left to play when Brunell faked out the Orlando D and hit little used TE Jason Gavadzah with a 12-yard TD toss. He had led an earlier drive in the quarter to push Denver to a 20-17 lead with a TD toss to HB Ricky Whittle, only to watch Orlando come right back to regain the advantage at 24-20 when Scott Mitchell found Reidel Anthony for a score, but that was at the 5-minute mark. Surely with only 1:33 the Gold defense, which had sacked Mitchell 5 times on the day and limited the Orlando offense throughout the game, could get the win. When Denver stopped the Renegades on third down from the 1 yard line, forcing Orlando to go for the tie rather than try to get the win with a 4th and goal play, they resolved themselves to overtime. Coach Jauron, either sensing that his defense was spent and could be vulnerable in overtime, or simply feeling that Orlando had regained momentum, opted not to trust in overtime, but to try to sneak in a big play in the final seconds. We will never know if the Gold could have pulled the game out in extra time, or if Orlando truly had exhausted Denver’s will. As long as we talk about football we can debate that, but we will also remember what we saw this week in Chicago, one of the wildest finishes in pro football history. The official story will be that Terry Kirby won the Offensive POTG for his 2 TD performance and that Chris Doleman was dominant on the line, earning Defensive POTG for his day harassing Brunell, but for many the true MVP may just be divine intervention, or dumb luck, or the effort of the Renegade defense on a play few in the stadium though would be anything more than a staple kneel down. Whatever we view as the true cause of this game’s incredible ending, Orlando raised up the John Bassett Trophy, their first as a franchise, and after 20 seasons we can still say that no team has ever won back to back titles, though Denver’s performance is certainly the closest we have ever seen. Close, but so painfully far for the Gold.