Search this site

Los Angeles and St. Louis play an epic battle in the dome, Houston explodes on offense, Portland gets their 2nd W in a row, and Denver finds a way as Week 5 proved hard to predict. Add to this a defensive slugfest between Baltimore and Washington, a really entertaining Keystone Clash between the Stars and Maulers, and a surprise hero helps New Jersey reach 4-1. It’s USFL football, which means you always need to hold on to your hat, you never know what is coming. Nothing quite like a good game between two teams playing well to get your football juices flowing. That is exactly what we got inside the Trans World Dome in St. Louis this week when the 4-0 LA Express came calling on the 3-1 Knights. The Knights had a rowdy 41,200 in the dome, and they would use that boisterous support to their advantage, jumping out to an early lead, but while they would never trail in the game, they also would never pull far enough out of range for the Express as to feel comfortable in the win. In fact, until the final whistle was blown this game could have gone either way. The star of the game was undoubtedly Knights wideout Bert Emmanuel, and he did not waste any time making a statement. At the 14:53 mark of the first quarter, the first play from scrimmage, he faked out CB Ray Crockett of LA with a double move, getting behind the coverage, where Todd Collins found him for what would be a 65-yard touchdown that electrified the already loud St. Louis crowd. On their next drive, St. Louis would add a fieldgoal, and then on their third drive, Emmanuel did it again, this time from much closer, nabbing a quick slant for a 2nd TD from the 2 yard line. 3 Drives, 17 points, and after 1 quarter it looked like the Knights were rolling, but Head Coach Jim Johnson knew it would not be that easy. LA would put up the next 12 points, adjusting to St. Louis on defense and building offense slowly through a solid mix of run and pass. Cade McNown would struggle with the Knights pass rush, going down to a sack 6 times, but he would persevere and lead the Express to two field goal drives to end the first back in range. The Express would then open the 3rd quarter with the ball and they took advantage of the half to put in some plays that proved quite effective. It was a drive that ended with a swing pass to Michael Pittman out of the backfield, a 28-yard play that had Pittman drag a safety over the end line for 6. St. Louis proved stout on the 2-point PAT, but at 17-12, the Express were back within 1 score of victory. Most of the 2nd half was a war of attrition as both clubs fought to get the upper hand. Ryan Longwell helped extend the Knights’ lead with a 48-yarder to close out the third, but the Express were still within 8 points. After a couple of failed drives, LA would put the scare into St. Louis, responding to a late Todd Collins pick that was actually more the fault of his receiver, who bobbled the ball, got hit and had it pop into the air for safety Tavares Tillman to snag. McNown led the Express down the field, hitting rookie TE Brandon Manumaleuna with a beautifully-designed seam route to pull within 2. Again the Express would go for 2, needing the 2-point conversion to tie the score at 20. McNown would look for Manumaleuna again, but this time the Knights were ready and safety Rodney Harrison stepped in front of the big Samoan TE to swat the ball down to the turf. Down 2 with 3:20 to go, LA opted to kick the ball deep. They would need a stop and a quick drive to get into fieldgoal range. They had opted for 2 points twice after scores, and would now be tied had they trusted Doug Brien to build them back, but now they would have to call on the veteran. LA got the stop they needed, but it did cost them 2 of their 3 time outs. St. Louis punted and downed the ball on the LA 17 yard line. McNown would get to work quickly, finding Tory Holt twice, Mike Pritchard once, and HB Micheal Pittman once on a drive that got the ball to the St. Louis 31 with the clock ticking down. The Express used their last time out and trotted out Brien for a 48-yard attempt. Fans in St. Louis were on the edges of their seats, some arms raised in petition to a higher power, others hands to mouth or covering their eyes as the kick went up. Well, some prayers were answered for the St. Louis faithful as the ball, which looked true at first, started to hook left, and just grazed the outside of the upright, no good. St. Louis would take the win, LA would fall from the ranks of the unbeaten, and USFL fans in St. Louis and watching the national broadcast, would get a game worthy of their time. BAL 13 WSH 17 In RFK Stadium Federals fans also had to hang on all day to get the W they sought. Trailing 13-10 until the final minutes, Washington pulled out the win in the tough defensive battle thanks to a Stewart to TE Travis McNeal TD pass with only 1:09 left on the clock. In a game that saw 10 total sacks between the two top defenses, and both clubs top 100 yards rushing (with Ron Dayne leading all rushers with 129 whiel Droughns and McCallister split carries for 102), it would be Stewart who would provide the big play on the final drive. PHI 34 PIT 28 Another really good rivalry game in the Atlantic as Philly jumped all over Pittsburgh to the tune of a 31-7 lead at the half only to watch momentum totally swing in the 2nd half. Call it a letdown, or an overabundance of swagger, but the Maulers put a true scare into their rivals from the eastern part of the state. Holding Stephen Davis to only 10 yards rushing (thanks in part to a gimpy ankle), Pittsburgh got a huge game from Andre Rison (139 yards and 2 scores) but also never gave up on the run as Terrell Davis rushed for 111 on 23 carries, adding 2 scores of his own. But, in the end, catching Philly was just too much to ask as the Stars held on for the win, but one that will give Coach Mora plenty to criticize in Tuesday’s team meetings. NJ 28 OHI 13 Tom Brady took his lumps in this one, but got a huge assist from an unexpected source as backup HB Olandis Gary rushed for 149 on only 14 carries (Enis had 19), rushing for 142, including a monster 44-yard romp that set the tone for the Generals’ win. Terry Glenn also came up big, catching 5 for 123 and 2 scores for New Jersey as the undermanned Glory struggled to move the ball without Galloway or George on the field. Lamont Warren ended up as both the leading rusher (19 for 52) and receiver (4 for 101) for Ohio. JAX 0 ORL 34 While LA fell from the unbeatens, Orlando moved to 5-0 with an exclamation point, blanking their in-state rivals in a totally dominant performance. Orlando’s D-line manhandled the Bulls offense all game, limiting Sedrick Irvin to only 30 yards rushing and terrorizing the less-than-nimble Chris Chandler every time he dropped back to pass. With the game in hand, Orlando turned to Terry Kirby to kill the clock and the veteran back would oblige, rushing for 110, 87 of it in the 2nd half as Orlando salted away an impressive win. ATL 7 MEM 40 It was a week of statement games in the Southern Division as Memphis too stomped the life out of their opponent. The Showboats would score the first 40 points in the game, with WR Justin McCaerins getting his first major action and ending the game with 4 catches for 132 yards and 2 scores, a great haul for the rookie. IT was a game that immediately put the security of Atlanta Head Coach Bobby Petrino in danger, as we will outline later, an ultimatum has been laid before Petrino, one that may be hard for him to meet. BIR 45 TBY 14 Birmingham made it 3-for-3 on the blowout front, utterly dismantling the defensive plans of the Bandits on their way to a huge road victory. Brett Favre would throw for 385 and connect on 5 TD passes in the game, with both Lawrence Dawsey and NFL import James Thrash catching 2 each. Add in 98 yards from criminally underused HB Stephen Alexander and you have a devastating victory over a Bandits team that has certainly fallen far from their 1999 title run. DEN 27 NOR 14 In a matchups of teams missing key offensive weapons, Denver put together the formula to beat the Breakers inside the Super Dome. The Denver pass rush harassed backup QB Bobby Hoying, leading to 3 picks and 3 sacks, while the Denver offense kept running the ball with Rod Smart (27 carries) even though he would average only 2.8 yards per carry. This emphasis on the run gave Mark Brunell the option to use the play action pass, and that worked out for Denver, with Peerless Price catching 6 for101 and backup receiver Danny Farmer (in for the injured Dedric Smith) catching 7 for 88 as the Gold rolled to a win. ARZ 49 MGN 11 Any thoughts of Drew Brees being a silver bullet that would cure the Michigan Panthers of all their woes were quickly erased as Arizona quickly dismantled the Panthers. Michigan could only muster 25 total yards rushing and Brees simply could not find open receivers. Meanwhile Jake Plummer would connect on 12 of 17 passes and toss 2 TDs, while the run game, split between Plummer, rookie Dominic Rhodes and fullback Richie Anderson would accumulate 103 yards rushing as the Wranglers took the road win easily. OAK 19 TEX 29 Oakland would start out well, but fall completely apart by the game’s end in Texas. Ryan Leaf was already over 300 yards passing when a missed block led to a rough hit. He would spend the next few minutes berating not only his own O-line, but his OC as well. His hysteria would not sit well with Head Coach Dom Capers, who got in Leaf’s face and sat him down on the bench, putting in Jon Kitna to finish the game. This too sat badly with Leaf and he let the reporters know it after the game. That tantrum would lead to action on Monday, with the Invaders voluntarily suspending Leaf for the next game. In the meantime, Texas mounted a comeback thanks to TDs from Frank Wainright and Shawn Collins and would take the W. POR 20 CHI 17 The Thunder have strung together back to back wins, and this time they got what looked like a more than competent game from Akili Smith, who went 28 of 34 for 329 against a pretty solid Chicago defense. Add in 93 combined yards from Correll Buckhalter and Napoleon McCallum and you have the makings of a win for the Thunder. Chicago struggled all day with the Thunder defense, usually known for its difficulty stopping the run. Deuce Staley would average only 2.7 yards per carry and finish with only 48 yards as Portland came out looking solid on the road. SEA 6 HOU 33 A complete shocker in Houston as both the Gambler offense and defense outperformed expectations. The Gamblers got 3 picks of Brian Griese and limited Corey Dillon to only 49 yards, but it was the offense that truly stunned. Matt Hasselbeck tossed 4 TD passes, including 3 in the 1st quarter to force Seattle out of their usual slow-paced shell. Antonio Freeman would catch 2 of the 4, while rookie Koren Robinson also looked good, catching 5 balls for 80 yards and a score as Houston got a huge home win to move within 1 game of .500. SURPRISE SUCCESSES Every season we see it, players for whom the game begins to slow down, who put the pieces together and make a huge leap in their play. Sometimes it is about finding the right team with the right coach and the right schemes. Other times it is simply about maturation and growth as a player. This season may only be 5 weeks old, but we are seeing some signs that certain clubs, and particularly certain players are taking a big step up. Let’s start in Houston, where the Gamblers may have just found their QB-WR connection for the future. Fans were concerned that the Gamblers did not sign a top flight QB in the offseason, as if they grow on trees, but Coach Philips saw something in Matt Hasselbeck, and his faith in the young QB seems to be paying off. Just compare the numbers from 2000 to 2001 and you will see what Coach Philips is seeing: 2000 Hasselbeck: 50.5% Completions 180 YPG 1.7 TD per Int 71.1 QBR 2001 Hasselbeck 62.5% Competions 243 YPG 6 TD per Int 100.9 QBR Hasselbeck, admittedly with some new talent around him, namely rookie WR Koren Robinson and free agents David Patten and Tamarick Vanover, is more accurate, throwing deeper balls, completing more, and avoiding picks. All of those are great signs for the Gamblers, and also a great opportunity for wideout Antonio Freeman. Freeman too is seeing a big leap in his numbers. After 5 games he ranks 11th in the league with 29 receptions, but 1st in yardage with 552, a solid 19 yards per catch. Add in 4 TDs and he is on pace for a career year in nearly every category. Compare his numbers with 2000 and we see the growth here as well. In 2001 his yards per catch has risen from 12.5 to 19.0. He is on pace for 110-130 catches, well over the 75 from last season, and his 4 TD receptions in on pace to eclipse 12-13 for the year, almost twice as many as in 2000. Houston has found something in the Hasselbeck-Freeman combo, something the whole fanbase can be excited about. The Gamblers are not the only team that has seen their QB play improve this year. Portland, having won 2 in a row, may finally be seeing payoff for their investment of a 1999 first round pick in Akili Smith. Again, it is early, but again, the numbers show a QB who may finally be putting it all together. Smith too is seeing a rise in completion percentage from 2000 (58.5 up to 63.4), in yards per game (171 to 264) and in rating (70.7 up to 81.4). He still has an issue with forcing the ball, throwing 8 picks already, but he is challenging teams downfield with more regularity, and using his legs to extend plays. We are not ready to announce Portland as a playoff contender just yet, nor anoint Smith as an All-USFL QB, but at least Portland can have some hope that their young QB is finally making strides after 2 tough seasons. One final player who is growing into his role resides in Chicago. Curtis Conway, the one-time Chicago Bear, who traded teams, traded leagues, but stayed put in the Windy City, is making the adjustment to the Spring after a rough first season. This is not new. We often see former NFL players struggle in their first season in the Spring, and most attribute this to the physical and mental wear and tear of playing an entire NFL season and then maybe getting 4-6 weeks off before doing it all again in the USFL. We often see dramatic improvement after these players have taken an entire fall and winter off to recover, and that is what we see with Conway with the Machine. Last season the former Bear had 58 receptions for 863 yards and 2 TDs in the entire season. We are only 5 games into this season and Conway already has 33 receptions, 483 yards and 2 scores. His catches per game are up from 4.8 to 6.6 and his yards per game are nipping 100 at 96.6 after averaging 71.9 in 2000. He is on pace for over 100 receptions and over 1,200 yards, both numbers that would make the often jaded and dismissive Chicago fanbase begin to believe in him. A lot will depend on QB Jeff George and his growth with the Machine offense, but the signing of Conway looks more and more like a shrewd move. LEAF GETS A TIME OUT While we are seeing growth among several QBs across the league, including Hasselbeck and Smith, we continue to see what appears to be a downward spiral for the “Golden Boy” of the 1998 draft, Ryan Leaf. This week’s sideline tantrum, which led to a benching by Coach Dom Capers, and his post-game rants to the press, which extended the benching into a 1-game suspension, I guess we have to say that the QB has been put in a time out. Oakland will go with veteran Jon Kitna next week, and potentially we could see rookie Marques Tuiasosopo if Leaf’s attitude and demeaner do not show dramatic improvement. It is not like Leaf has been playing All-league ball the past couple of years and can afford to be a diva. After a rookie season which saw him throw for over 5,000 yards and toss 42 touchdowns, his numbers have gotten progressively worse. An injury-plagued 1999 mean he threw only 11 touchdowns (with 11 picks) and his completion percentage went from 55.6% down to only 47.9%. He got in a full season in 2000, but his numbers were nowhere close to 1998, throwing for only 3,220 yards and a paltry 16 touchdowns in 16 games. These are not the numbers of a high-cost #1 draft pick, much less the numbers of someone who can afford to spout off at coaches on the sideline or to the press in the locker room. Leaf seems to be headed the wrong way in his career, and If he continues, it would be easy to see the Invaders opt out of his contract even before his 4th year is complete (2002). The question is whether Leaf understands the stakes or if he is simply being petulant because he cannot help himself. ATLANTA ULTIMATUM Leaf is not the only one under pressure to shape up or ship out. In a rare move, William Shivers Morris, lead owner and CEO of the Fire has made a very public ultimatum. The Fire face the 2-3 Glory and the 1-4 Bulls in their next two games and Shivers Morris has all but guaranteed that unless the Fire win one of those two games, Coach Petrino will be out by the midseason break. It is rare to hear an owner call out a head coach in any pro league, much less to set a win requirement. It is often implied, but we so often hear owners give a dreaded “vote of confidence” in a losing coach rather than call them out. We knew Petrino would need to show improvement by season’s end, and that a 3-4 win season would not be tolerated, but with the club losing their first 5 games, and failing to score more than 14 points in 4 of those games, it seems the deadline is even sooner and the stakes even higher for Coach Petrino as he prepares for the Fire to face fellow 1995 expansion club Ohio this week. DREW BREES INTO THE FIRE The Michigan Panthers are not a very good team, and while Coach Martz may be hoping a change of QB is enough to change the club’s fortunes, it seems clear that Drew Brees will not be able to do it all on his own. Brees struggled this week, going 28 of 50 and throwing 2 picks, but it is not all on him. The rookie QB, who is not known as a dual threat QB, actually led the Panthers in rushing with a measley 10 yards. TEN YARDS!!! Siran Stacy managed only 9 yards against the Wranglers and he is the starting halfback. The leading receiver for Brees was TE Butch Rolle, who more often than not was making 5-yard grabs when the club needed 10. Brees did connect with Muhsin Muhammad a couple of times, including a nice 40-yarder on play action, but there just was not working right all day for the Panther offense. Unfortunately Brees got to know Arizona LB Winfred Tubbs, DE Chiki Okeafor, and DT Jason Peters quite well this week with each frequenting the Michigan backfield. The defense also did Brees no favors, giving up 407 yards of offense, and largely on quick drives, meaning that Michigan lost badly while still winning the time of possession battle, an oddity in most games. It will be a long season in Pontiac, and it may be one that is really a trial by fire for the Purdue grad who has been asked to step into the QB role. We can only hope that Michigan will surround Brees with talent, will build that O-line, and will find a way to maximize his talents. He is a good QB, but he is not in a good situation. A bad week for tight ends this week as three are likely moving to the IR. Houston’s Terry Hardy is certainly headed that way after tearing his hamstring. Oakland’s Christian Fauria could find himself there with a hyper-extended knee, though there is still hope that he could be back in a few weeks if all works out and additional imaging does not reveal a tear. New Jersey’s Anthony Becht has been on and off the injury list all season, and now, with a spinal cord contusion, it is a question of how things develop over the next couple of weeks. He could be back in just 3-4 weeks, or he could need a lengthy recovery period. Outside of the TE position, the biggest injury list questions are among two starting halfbacks. Dorsey Levins (Arizona), Deuce McCallister (Washington), and Ricky Williams (New Orleans) were all listed as questionable for this week’s games. Questionable can mean a lot of things, and unfortunately it is nearly impossible to get a gauge on whether or not any of these three will be playing when the games kickoff. Week to week and day to day seems to be all the update we can get from team officials with all three franchises. Finally, with Williams potentially out, we look at New Orleans on offense and wonder if Trent Dilfer can return. He remains listed as doubtful on the injury report, but did engage in some practices this week. With Williams potentially out, the return of Dilfer could give the Breakers a much better chance against the Chicago Machine this week. With the announcement last week of Portland’s impending sale as well as the potential for James Orthwein to be forced to sell off the St. Louis Knights either by the courts or the league, the question of league ownership has been on a lot of people’s minds the past month. The USFL had quite a bit of turmoil with owners during its first 4-5 years, but we have a seen a steady stabilization as the league has matured. Gone are the auto-dealership owners who had to fudge their finances (though the Orthwein trial seems to point that there is fraud even among billiionaires), and in its place are, in many cases, shared ownership, corporate presence, or potential partial public ownership through IPO and trading of shares. We thought it would make sense at this pivotal point in discussions about USFL ownership to take a look at where things stand, so, here we are. SINGLE PRIVATE OWNERSHIP This is the format seen in most franchises, where a single wealthy owner or family controls 60+ % of a franchise and acts as a private company with little power split with minority owners. This is the model that has always been most common in professional sports, though the last 20 years have seen more examples of ownership groups where power is shared, this old-school model remains very prevalent. Among teams we would classify as this format we have: ATLANTA: William Shivers Morris has a small group of owners, but his share of both the team an the power within it is solidly in the 70-75% range. CHICAGO: Bill Wirtz, owner of both the Machine and the Chicago Blackhawks, is known as a hockey guy, but invested in bringing the Machine to Chicago after the Blitz left for Baltimore. He remains the majority owner, but delegates most authority to his team’s CEO and President. DENVER: After team founder Ron Blanding sold the team to the brother team of Charles and Richard Monfort in the mid-80’s the team has stayed under the steady control of the two, with Richard serving as the primary figure in the Gold. When the two applied and received approval to also bring Major League Baseball to Denver, an agreement with the USFL was made which allowed the brothers to retain ownership so long as neither brother would serve as CEO/President of both clubs. Richard has remained with the Gold while Charles has been the lead owner for the Colorado Rockies. JACKSONVILLE: Fred “Bubba” Bullard, the man who put Jacksonville on the sports map, retains full control of the Bulls. Bullard, a land developer in the Sunshine State, has been slow to add secondary investors, and has been grooming his son Fred Jr. in various club leadership positions. MEMPHIS: Cotton & Investing maven William Dunavant, a native Memphian brought the Showboats to his city in 1984 and has pretty much had sole ownership ever since, buying out his co-investors within 5 years of the franchise’s birth. With Birmingham pushing for the option to lead an IPO and build community ownership, many in Memphis are pushing for the same, but so far Dunavant does not seem interested. MICHIGAN: Real estate investor Al Taubman helped bring the USFL to Michigan and while there have been some minority investors who came in after the league won its suit with the NFL in 1985, he has remained the primary investor. His son, Robert, has served as President of the club since 1998. NEW ORLEANS: Co-owned by league founder David Dixon and real estate developer Joe Canizaro, the Breakers have been very stable since being sold and relocated from Boston. Dixon handles most of the football organization while Canizaro works primarily on the business side of the Breakers. OAKLAND: Ted Taube, the original owner of the Invaders, sold off a minority share to William Millard, co-founder of Computerland, after only 3 seasons. Millard has continued to acquire greater shares of the company, but has never had a major role in running the club. Millard, who lives in semi-seclusion overseas, has relied on a leadership board to manage the club. While there have been occasional rumors that the club could come up for sale, that has not yet come to any serious movement. OHIO: Ohio real estate magnate Daniel Galbreath and, surprisingly enough, Ann Arbor based Domino's Pizza President Thomas Monaghan, bought into the USFL with the Columbus-based Ohio Glory in 1995. While Galbreath leads the club as CEO, it is rumored that Monaghan actually has a larger share in the franchise. PHILADELPHIA: Tax attorney and shopping mall developer Myles Tanenbaum has certainly done well with his 1983 investment. The Stars are now estimated to be worth anywhere between 30-35 times more than Tanenbaum invested to bring the team to Philly. He has been somewhat resistant to adding other owners to the private management company in charge of the stars, but rumors that rocker John Bon Jovi is interested may be too tempting to pass up. PITTSBURGH: Ed DeBartolo Jr. was a bit of a controversial choice for an expansion club back in 1984, since his connections to the NFL were so obvious. It created friction from the start, and while it was largely worked out when ownership officially shifted to Pittsburgh Associates in 1991. The private/public consortium was meant to be a temporary hold, just as the same group had been with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but it was only in 1998 that the Maulers were again sold, this time to local ownership headed by Ronald Wayne Burkle, who is also an investor in the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey club. TEXAS: When William Tatham proposed to sell off the Outlaws in order to be eligible to bid on a 1995 expansion franchise for his native California (the eventual LA Express rebirth), it did not take him long to find a willing buyer. Former San Antonio Spurs owner Red McCombs was an obvious choice and McCombs was immediately interested in the growing USFL and the very profitable San Antonio-based Texas Outlaws. JOINT OWNERSHIP Ownership groups, LLC's, or management companies really became the trend in the mid-1990's, so while many founding owners remain heavily involved in their clubs, many are also turning to the joint ownership model to reduce their personal investment, expand financial flexibility, bring in additional resources, and share the burden of club management. ARIZONA: It is unusual to have an owner in professional sports who is trying to also maintain a full-time career outside of the law or finance, but that was the case for Dr. Ted Dietrich, a world-famous cardiovascular surgeon. Dietrich began his interest in the USFL with the Chicago Blitz, but wanting a club closer to his Phoenix home, he orchestrated the full "franchise swap" in 1984, becoming the owner of the "New" Arizona Wranglers. Since 1985, with the league and the franchise established and better-funded, Dietrich has continued to find investors and build his club managagement group, Wrangler Properties. Dietrich moved to a secondary "silent partner" position within the organization in 1998, and the new lead investor is Stewart Horejsi of Berkshire Hathoway fame. HOUSTON: Founding owner Jerry Argovitz has always relied on an ownership group to manage the team. His original ownership group even featured singer Kenny Rogers, who helped inspire the team name. The group has expanded and gone “corporate”, now known as Gamblers Football Corporation. While Argovitz retains majority control, other owners have played a part in the franchise. The club even sold a 10% share to former team captain and All-USFL quarterback Jim Kelly in 1999. LOS ANGELES: A bit unstable from the beginning, the second version of the LA Express arrived in 1995 and since then has had something of a rotating ownership and leadership team. William Tatham, who began with the USFL as the owner of the failed San Diego franchise that played one season in Tulsa, got special permission to essentially sell of his club, the Outlaws (relocated to San Antonio) when the 1995 expansion was finalized. Since then he has brought in several additional owners, including adverting executive Arte (Arturo) Moreno, billionaire Ed Roski (who is also an investor in both the LA Lakers and LA Kings), and actor James Caan, who not only played Brian Piccolo in the famous “Brian’s Song” film, but also played college ball at Michigan State. NEW JERSEY: Owned first by J. Walter Duncan, the Generals saw their ownership upheaval early on, with Duncan selling the franchise to real estate developer Donald Trump. Trump spearheaded the efforts to move the league to the Fall. When those efforts failed, he would then sell the club to Malcom Borg, a media mogul from northern New Jersey. Borg remained the primary owner for 4 years before forming the New Jersey Generals Investment Group, which has grown to include 11 principal owners. The ownership elects a CEO for a 5-year term, currently held by Sanjay Kumar, the first Indian-American to lead a U.S. pro sports franchise. Kumar has 2 years left on his term as CEO. ORLANDO: Hospital magnate Donald Dizney was never intended to be the primary owner of a USFL franchise, but when the Miami expansion club had immediate issues in 1987, Dizney stepped up. Since then he has slowly spread ownership to a group of 6-7 investors. At one point the group included NY Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, but after proving to be a disruptive force, Steinbrenner was bought out. The most recent addition to the Renegades ownership group is musician and producer Emilio Estefan (Yes, Gloria’s husband). The club is currently managed by a President chosen by the ownership group. Former U. of Miami Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger currently serves in that position, a rare “football guy” at the head of an entire franchise. SEATTLE: The LLC, Seattle Football Group, headed by Microsoft executive Paul Allen and local real estate investor Barry Ackerly, has been remarkably stable over the first five years of the team’s existence. The team recently concluded talks which would allow the Dragons to share the downtown stadium currently under construction with the NFL Seahawks. This deal almost guarantees expanded revenue for the club and return on investment for the LLC. TAMPA BAY: When John Bassett was diagnosed with cancer, he created a complex business organization to protect both his family’s role in the Bandits as well as its local support. The Bandit Football LLC has been a steady ownership group, at times led by members of the Bassett family, and at times by minority investors appointed in a form of “guardianship” of the franchise. Currently, Mr. Bassett’s daughter, former professional tennis player Carling Bassett serves as the league’s only female CEO. And yes, since you asked, Burt Reynolds does still own a minority share of the team and can often be seen at games. POTENTIAL PUBLIC OPTIONS This is a relatively new idea, but also one as old as the stock market. Go public. Sell off shares in the team to create a form of private/public partnership in which community members are offered a chance to be part owners in the franchise. At the top little changes, but with public ownership there is a greater chance of getting support for state or city funding when it comes time to build a new stadium. Birmingham has been approved for this, and now it appears the ownership in Baltimore is seriously looking at it as well. BALTIMORE: Investment Brokerage Group CEO Louis Thalmeier remains the dominant force behind the Blitz, though some minority owners were brought in during the mid-90’s. The Blitz have recently approached the league with an interest in performing a partial IPO and taking the company public, but this has neither been approved by the league as of yet, and with the NFL Ravens and the Blitz sharing the cost of a new stadium, the types of needs which made USFL owners more open to the concerns raised by Birmingham ownership are simply not present in Baltimore. BIRMINGHAM: Marvin Warner founded the Stallions in 1983, and for more than 15 years remaine the sole owner. Just last year he received permission to sell of a minority share as an IPO. A managed public sale, one which provides distinct advantage to investors within Jefferson County (Birmingham) and the state of Alabama, is expected to open in October. The stated goal is to both raise upwards of $100M in funds through the ownership shares, but also to build a local ownership base which will ensure the franchise remains in the market and potentially has some local clout to push for a new stadium. OWNERSHIP IN TRANSITION We started the article talking about Portland's announcement and St. Louis's concerns, and that is where we end it, with the three clubs that are either on the market or expected to go through a major shift in ownership in the next year. PORTLAND: An investment group from the start, the Thunder came to Portland in 1988 when a group headed by NIKE Athletic founder Phil Knight bought the remnants of the Oklahoma Outlaws, along with elements of the San Antonio Gunslingers franchise after a tumultuous 1987 season that saw a complex ownership and location swap between the two franchises. Knight and his group brought the club to Portland, but over time Knight slowly sold off elements of his franchise, until his participation became purely symbolic. Thunder Management LLC is now the official owner, but they have announced that the franchise is for sale, throwing the future of the Thunder in Portland into question. ST. LOUIS: James Oltwhein was the driving force in bringing the LA Express to St. Louis in 1992. Since that time he has retained the overwhelming majority interest in the club, but issues of potential tax and insurance fraud now cloud that picture, with many anticipating that if the courts do not require that Mr. Orthwein divest his interest in the Knights, that the league may just do so. WASHINGTON: We place the Federals here because there is an ongoing transition in majority ownership for the Federals, but unlike the situations in both Portland and St. Louis, the Federals are not likely at all to be placed on the open market for sale. What is transpiring is that the founding owner, Berl Bernhard has been slowly selling off pieces of the ownership pie to other ownership investors. What is anticipated is that the majority share will soon officially transfer from Bernhard to Daniel D’Aniello, co-founder of the Carlyle Group investment brokerage. We could be wrong, but this seems to be an amiable transfer, with Bernhard looking to divest his duties and retire on the significant value of the sale. The season is cruising right along, and as we enter Week 6 we are down to only 1 undefeated team and 2 winless clubs. Will those streaks continue this week? Well, Orlando has a tough game ahead, up the coast in Baltimore against a Blitz team that needs a win to keep pace in the Atlantic. Atlanta, at 0-5, is also on the road, against an Ohio Glory club that should be getting HB Eddie George back from the injury list, while Michigan is in divisional play, hosting the St. Louis Knights. The other Central intra-divisional battles include Texas at Houston, with the winner moving to a respectable 3-3 for the year. New Orleans and Chicago, both a game behind the Knights at 3-2, clash in Soldier Field, the loser dropping to .500 and the winner hoping St. Louis stumbles in Pontiac. The Pacific is also in divisional clashes this week, with a really intriguing game in Tempe as the 3-2 Wranglers host the 4-1 Express a week after their first loss of the year. In Denver both the Gold and, surprisingly, the Portland Thunder, are 1 game under .500, so a win by either brings them back up to even for the year. Seattle, another 2-3 team, is in Oakland, where the Invaders will start Jon Kitna over Ryan Leaf to try to shake things up. Among the other non-division games, the best matchup has to be the battle of 4-1 clubs when Memphis heads up to DC to face the Washington Federals. Another good game will be had in Philly, where the homestanding Stars (4-1 as well) host the Birmingham Stallions (3-2). New Jersey is the final 4-1 club in the Atlantic and they are at home against a Tampa Bay Bandits team still trying to find its way at 1-4. Finally, Jacksonville and Pittsburgh, both very disappointed to be sitting at 1-4, face off in Three Rivers, both hoping that they can quickly turn things around.

Divisional action across the league led to a lot of chippy, tension-filled games, and a few results that could impact things down the road. It also produced some memorable performances, including a 106-yard kickoff return that sparked a win for the Breakers and a breakout performance by two backup backs, Travis Prentice in Tampa Bay and rookie Dominic Rhodes in Arizona. Perhaps not the highest profile game of the week, but the matchup of Central Division foes in San Antonio was a fun one. Texas did their best to upend the visiting Breakers, but in the end New Orleans did just enough to eke out a win on the road against a desperate Outlaws squad. The Breakers played sloppily, committing 13 penalties, but also played aggressively, forcing 4 Texas turnovers. Without those, they likely would not have pulled this one out. Texas started off strong, scoring the game’s first 10 points. The opening drive for Texas was a good one, a 9-play 77-yard drive that concluded with Jeff Lewis hitting Eugene Baker for 6. They would hold that lead into the 2nd quarter and then expand it when kicker Tim Seder connected from 28 yards out. New Orleans struggled without Trent Dilfer at the helm. Bobby Hoying would only complete 44% of his throws, but he got the Breakers on the board late in the half, positioning the team for a 39 yard Lin Elliott field goal. On the opening drive of the second half, Elliott would get a second chance and would again connect, pulling the Breakers to within 4 at 10-6. Texas would score on their first drive of the half, a slow, methodical campaign that ended with a Reggie Cobb 2-yard plunge to expand the lead to 17-6, but then the wheels started falling of the Outlaw bus. They Outlaws kicked the ball deep into the endzone, but New Orleans’s Walt Harris saw something in the Outlaw kick coverage. He took the ball out from deep in the endzone, found a seam, and was off to the races. One hundred and 6 yards later he hit paydirt and the Breakers were right back in the game, down 17-14 after a successful 2-point play. Texas would get the ball back and almost immediately cough it up. Jeff Lewis was hit as he attempted to throw to TE Frank Wainright and the ball would be snapped out of the air by Breaker CB Ahmad Plummer. That pick led to almost immediate points for New Orleans as Hoying found TE Steve Johnson on a scoring strike 2 plays later. Texas was now down 21-17. The Outlaws again coughed it up on the next drive when HB Autrey Denson got the ball punched out of his hand, giving New Orleans the ball in Texas territory. The Breaker drive stalled, but it still allowed Lin Elliott to expand the lead with a 45-yard field goal. Down 24-17, Texas needed a drive, and they got one as the 4th quarter began. Jeff Lewis connected on 4 consecutive pass plays against a soft Breaker zone, andon 1st and 10 from the 6 he then found WR Brian Alford for the score. Texas had evened up the score. And they would hold New Orleans on the next drive, stifling a 3rd and 3 run by Ricky Williams for a loss of 1 on the play. The Breakers would punt, but again, all did not go Texas’s way. Following 2 short runs from Reggie Cobb, who would end the day limited to only 48 yards rushing, Jeff Lewis tried to fit a ball into the arms of Shawn Collins, but the Breakers had tight coverage and CB Latin Berry snatched the ball away before Collins could make the catch. Another turnover and another short field for the Breakers. To their credit, the Outlaw defense held, but again Lin Elliott was in range and his 44-yard attempt sailed true, giving the Breakers the 3-point lead. There was time left for Texas to get into field goal range, if not to score 6 for the win. They moved the ball into Breaker territory, but on 3rd and 11 from the Breaker 40, they were still too far for Tim Seder, so they tried to gain the first down with a deeper throw. Once again, Lewis took a risk on double coverage and this time it was Ahmad Plummer for his second pick of the day. New Orleans would not relinquish the ball this time, milking the clock until it read double-zeroes. HOU 17 STL 23 Houston came into St. Louis and put a bit of a scare into the Knights thanks to a rare 100-yard day for HB Kevin Faulk. The Knights’ defense has been gashed a few times this season, a concern for Coach Johnson, but in the end the steady offense of Ahman Green (140 yards rushing) and Todd Collins (22 of 33 passing) helped St. Louis pull this one out with three 4th quarter field goals from Ryan Longwell. CHI 33 MGN 6 In a game that cost Doug Flutie his starting job, Michigan got thoroughly trounced by the Chicago Machine. Flutie was simply unable to find open receivers, and the Panthers struggled to put any kind of consistent offense on the field. With Chicago’s Deuce Staley outgaining the entire Michigan run game 138-75, the game quickly fell into Chicago’s hands. By Monday the die was cast and Coach Martz announced that Drew Brees, the Purdue rookie, would start in Week 5. ARZ 28 SEA 21 A good matchup in the Pacific as Jake Plummer used his arm rather than his legs to upend the homestanding Dragons. Plummer went 20 of 25 for 298 yards, though he did run in a score on a short 2-yard TD. He got an assist from rookie Dominic Rhodes, filling in after Dorsey Levins had to be helped to the sidelines as the unheralded rookie rushed for 54 yards but also also caught 3 passes for 87 yards and a second TD on a nice debut for the rookie out of tiny Midwestern State University. DEN 17 LA 45 The Gold looked absolutely flummoxed by the idea of running an offense without Rashaan Salaam as they were limited to only 68 yards rushing. LA dominated as the Gold simply could not flip the field or hold the ball. It was actually 17-17 at the half, but LA exploded in the second half with 4 straight TD drives, including 2 Antowain Smith scores and a 40-yard pick six from Ray Crockett. OAK 15 POR 5 On a sloppy field in Portland two sloppy teams played an utterly sloppy game of football. Neither team could pass the ball effectively in the rain, and while a fluke play to Plaxico Burress provided the only offensive TD on the day, helping Oakland score their first win of the year, neither team can be very happy with the way the game played out. ORL 26 ATL 13 Atlanta cannot seem to pick a QB. Going back to Mark Bulger after starting Aaron Brooks last week, the Fire offense continued to struggle, gaining only 234 total yards. Orlando pressured Bulger all game and used run blitzes to limit Tiki Barber as well. Meanwhile, Scott Mitchell went 26 of 32 for 306 yardsand 3 TDs as the Renegades won their fourth in a row. MEM 38 BIR 24 Lawrence Dawsey had 2 scores and 105 yards, but it was not enough as Memphis outpaced the Stallions and took home the win in the South’s biggest pro football rivalry. Heath Shuler outshone Brett Favre with 5 TD passes and 303 yards through the air. Joe Horn was his big target, snagging 7 balls for 125 and a score. TBY 45 JAX 20 Unheralded backup HB Travis Prentice had a monster game as the Bandits surprised the Bulls with a run-first attack. Prentice would have only 9 carries but averaged 13.1 yards per carry on his way to a 118-yard performance. Errict Rhett added 52 more yards as Tampa Bay tried to keep the pressure off Trent Green. The strategy worked and, with help from a Kevin Mitchell pick-six, the Bandits pulled away late in this Florida Derby. PIT 17 BAL 28 The Blitz struggled to find a rhythm early, but once found was able to pull away from the Maulers to the delight of a big crowd in Baltimore. Jeff Garcia would throw for 242 and 4 scores on the day as the Maulers focused on limiting Ron Dayne’s effectiveness on the ground. Baltimore had more success locking up Pittsburgh’s Terrell Davis, limiting the big back to only 34 yards on 15 carries. PHI 20 NJ 7 Well, you knew the party for Tom Brady would have to end sometime, and it is no surprise that it was arch rival Philadelphia who would squelch the enthusiasm of a big Meadowlands crowd. Brady was picked off twice, and Curtis Enis was limited to only 45 yards on the ground as the no-name Philly defense came up big. The Stars also kept pressure off of Bobby Hebert by effectively utilizing both Stephen Davis and Pat Chaffey in the run game, to the tune of 125 yards rushing. Rookie receiver Steve Smith also came up big, with the play of the game, a 72 yard TD in the 3rd that made any chance of a General comeback a lot harder. WSH 31 OHI 14 Ohio limped into this game without Eddie George or Joey Galloway, and while rookie phenom Chad Johnson had his third consecutive 100-yard game, it was not enough as HB Lamont Warren could only muster 37 yards rushing and Kerry Collins was sacked a painful 9 times by a nasty Feds pass rush. DT Jerome Brown had a field day, scoring his first ever 3-sack performance as Washington rolled in this one. LA BACK IN FORM So, it appears to be safe to say after 4 weeks that the LA Express are back in form after a rough 2000 campaign. The 4-0 Express are currently ranked in the Top 5 in both scoring offense and scoring defense. Their run game is #1 in the league with Antowain Smith and Michael Pittman combining for 573 yards, nearly 200 yards more than even the league leader Ahman Green. Coach Hall has the defense flying high as well, with LB’s Barry Minter and Donta Jones looking 5 years younger as they go sideline to sideline. Rookie DE Justin Smith has also started the year off well, with 4 sacks in his first 4 games. Add to this a total of 7 picks already from the ballhawking secondary of Ray Crockett, Aeneas Williams, Wendell Davis and free safety Tavares Tillman and the LA defense is getting the job done, to the tune of only 14.2 points a game allowed. That will take you far, especially when the offense is averaging 31.5 ppg. DENVER DESPERATE Things are not looking so good in Denver, where the defending champs seem to be suffering from a post-title hangover. The offense, even in the games before the Salaam suspension, was not exactly humming. The Gold are currently 20th in the league in scoring despite doing much better in yards per game (6th with 366.8 per game). Even worse, the defense, often the centerpiece of Denver’s success, is ranked 23rd in points allowed and in passing yards allowed. That combo is not the best path to a title defense. So who is to blame? Hard to say. Denver did not have a huge roster turnover as many title teams do. Leslie O’Neill is his usual scary self on the D-line, but the defense simply is not getting the stops it so often relies on. While losing Salaam has made things worse, it all cannot be his fault. True, Denver was able to better manipulate the clock with him in full form, giving up only 26 points to Birmingham in Week 1 and 21 to Houston in Week 2, while the past two weeks they gave up 49 and 45 to Arizona and LA respectively. Needless to say, Coach Jauron had better figure out a plan B, and quickly, as Denver is already 3 games out of first place and sitting in the basement of the division. JEROME BROWN STILL DOMINANT Can we just pause for a moment and admire the amazing career of Jerome Brown. The man is in his 15th season at one of the toughest, most body-destroying positions in football, and he just put together a 3-sack game against a division rival. He has not missed a start since 1995 and only 1 game since 1990. That is simply incredible for a DT. He is currently 1 sack short of 99 in his career, again, as a DEFENSIVE TACKLE, not an edge rusher. Only John Randle, with 83 sacks, is even close to that number. In what can be a thankless position, Brown has found a way to turn his blood & guts play into a marquee position. He is revered in DC, and for good reason. He has been and continues to be the best at his position in either pro league. And he seems to only be getting better, which is mind-blowing. So, congratulations to Jerome Brown for showing us what excellence in this game looks like. QB CHANGE IN MICHIGAN Excellence is not the word being thrown around in Michigan these days. An 0-4 start has fans openly booing the Panthers. We even saw a few paper bags on heads this week. Doug Flutie, once the most celebrated signing of the USFL, and a bit of a folk hero for anyone under 6’ tall, has not been playing well at all, and actually ranks as the 2nd worst starter in the league. His 66.9 QB Rating would be the worst if not for Ryan Leaf and his 7 picks sitting at 50.4. So, it is no surprise that this week first-year head coach Mike Martz felt he had to make a change. Flutie will sit and first round rookie pick Drew Brees will get the start. But is QB really the issue? Sure, Flutie has not looked good this year, and he has been forced to try to make a lot of plays with his legs, which are not as nimble as they once were. But part of the reason for that is the play of a pretty average (or sub-average) Panther offensive line. This is a line that did not do Tyrone Wheatley any favors last year, perhaps the reason he opted to take the contract option, hit the free market, and eventually sign in the NFL. Siran Stacy has not had much better luck with the Panther line either, rushing for only 124 yards in 4 games. Flutie is actually the leading rusher for Michigan with 185 yards, and most of that is him running for his life. Will Drew Brees find much better success? Hard to picture. The Panthers line is a problem, and, other than Muhsin Muhammad, there is not a lot of talent in the receiving pool. Panther fans love to point to Jeff Campbell’s reception totals, but he is not a deep threat at all, and not particularly hard to limit to short completions with little YAC impact. Laverneus Coles currently leads Michigan with 20 receptions, but he too is not finding ways to turn short receptions into big chunks of yardage. We know that Martz wants to run a wide open, three or four receiver formation, offense, but does he have the dogs he needs to pull that sled? No run game to speak of, a porous line, and receivers who cannot turn short range passes into long range plays. Sounds like a tall order, so best of luck to Mr. Brees. The downside to being a very early round draft pick is that you often end up on a pretty bad team, and that certainly seems to be the case for the most highly touted QB from this year’s USFL draft. A relatively clean week for the USFL, not without a few bumps & bruises, but without major crises or season-ending injuries. Perhaps the most significant injury of the week was Tampa guard Craig Novitsky, who could miss up to 2 months with a hip injury. Ohio also got a hit as DT La’Roi Glover could miss 2-4 weeks with a broken wrist. In Oakland, TE Christian Fauria is expected to be out 2-4 weeks with a torn MCL, while in Memphis DT Barron Tanner could need 2-4 weeks as well to deal with a ruptured disc. Memphis will also be without their All-USFL tight end, Adrian Cooper, who suffered a hairline fracture in his right arm. LA will be without Aeneas Williams due to back issues, and Arizona is likely to miss HB Dorsey Levins thanks to a case of turf toe. Dedric Smith could miss a game or two for Denver, another offensive weapon gone, while in Washington, DE Bobby Hamilton could be out this week (questionable) with a sprained ankle suffered in practice. THUNDERSTRUCK Funny how big stories can kind of sneak up on you. We have been paying so much attention to the ownership issues in St. Louis, that we all but overlooked the fact that the Portland Thunder were having their own internal issues. With NIKE CEO Phil Knight stepping away from the lead ownership position several years ago, Portland has been going through regular squabbles within its ownership group about leadership. Well, several bad seasons and a bad start to this one seem to have come to a head within the owners’ box, where the cabal of team investors simply has been unable to agree on anything, from stadium renovation to player acquisition. Having gone through 4 Presidents of Football Operation in 3 years, the club was known to be in some degree of disarray, but we did not expect what was announced this week. Portland’s lead ownership group, which controls 64% of the club, is looking to sell to a single owner. We have seen our share of franchise ownership shifts over the past 19 seasons, but unlike most, which involve one owner stepping up from the group to buy out others, there seem to be enough issues and enough animosity that none of the current ownership leaders are likely to make this kind of play. This leaves Portland ripe for a potentially deep-pocketed outside group or individual to swoop in and buy up the Thunder lock, stock and barrel. And while there are certainly enough deep-pocketed mulitimillionaires in the Pacific Northwest who could make it happen, one of the biggest issues for Portland has always been the stadium itself, the smallest in the league, and one not likely to be replaced any time soon by a city that simply is not prioritizing big league sports. That means Portland could be the first city on the target list of out-of-town interests. We have all been concerned about St. Louis as a prime target for investors from Boston, Miami, Dallas, or Nashville, but perhaps Portland is the domino that kicks off a battle of cities, each trying to either obtain or retain a USFL franchise. The league, looking at a realignment next year that would put Portland in a purely coastal division with rival Seattle and the two California clubs (Oakland and LA), would be in no mood to have to scuttle everything and deal with a potential cross-country relocation to the East or Gulf Coast. The approval of a sale of Portland to any investor who would take the team out of the Pacific Northwest would have to find a way to smooth over those concerns. That means having a lock-solid stadium deal in hand, a hefty relocation fee ready to be paid, and a plan to provide the league with a geographically sound 6-division format. The easiest option would be the Dallas group, since the Thunder could join Houston and Texas with Denver in the Southwestern Division, while Arizona would get bumped to the Pacific. A move to Boston, Nashville, or Miami would be a lot harder for the league to deal with, at least if their plan for geographically aligned divisions is a high priority. More to come for sure, but the announcement that the franchise is up for sale, and that this is a sale on an accelerated timeframe, is one that is sending immediate ripples through the league. SHOWBOATS: SHOWPLACE OR NO PLACE? Once again the Showboats have worked with city leaders to place a stadium initiative on the ballots this fall. The Showboats have a very loyal and quite large fanbase, but the Liberty Bowl Stadium is not in great shape, offers few modern amenities, and could certainly use a facelift. The problem is that the region served by the stadium and the fanbase of the Showboats is among the lowest income regions in the nation, comprised of western Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and eastern Arkansas. Yes, there is corporate money in Memphis, mainly through Fed Ex’s presence in the city, but is there popular will for a tax hike, bond issuance, or other publicly funded scheme to raise the capital needed to bring the Liberty Bowl into the 21st Century? This could be a hard sell for the community, and if they vote this down (a 3rd major defeat for the Showboats at the ballot box), then ownership may be forced to look at alternatives. Yet another domino perhaps poised to fall. SNUBBED STALLION Don’t ask Bob Barber about the Hall of Fame. It will just make him angry, and you don’t want to get a former DE known for his power moves and the occasional cheap shot angry. Barber has once again failed to make the list of USFL Hall of Fame semi-finalists, and he is not shy about telling you it is a farce. The 10-year vet, who retired from the Stallions after the 1992 season feels he is being overshadowed as more and more players from more recent seasons are passing him by. Barber retired with 104 career sacks, which, at the time, had him in the Top 4 in the league, but since then several players have leapt over that number, dropping Barber from the Top 10 and decreasing each year his odds of being nominated. Whatever you do, don’t bring up the fact that he recorded only 336 tackles in 10 years, a number far below most other 10-year vets who are even close to consideration for Hall of Fame nomination. And certainly don’t point out that his highest single season total, 15, while certainly a strong year, is nowhere near the regular 20-sack seasons we see from players like Chris Doleman, Phil Hansen, Michael Sinclair, Dexter Manley, or even 1985’s Junior Ah You, who set the bar at 22. Nope, for Barber the snub is personal and there is no convincing him otherwise. The “pencil-necked cowards” he cites in USFL media simply don’t understand his impact on the game. Never mind that nearly 40% of HOF voters for the USFL are former players. And, of course, with each public protestation of his status, more and more voters and more of the populace grow tired of Barber and his griping. One reporter, a national broadcaster who wished to remain nameless, noted that “If the USFL formed a Hall of Pretty Darn Good” he would vote for Barber in a heartbeat, but the Hall of Fame seems an unlikely spot for the former Stallion DE. A bit harsh, but not entirely off the mark if you ask this pencil-necked coward. USFL, Riddell, & BU to Study Brain Injuries While the league may say that the planning to engage with academic partners to study brain injuries and concussions began long before the Troy Aikman situation this Spring, the timing could not be more poignant. New Jersey placed Aikman on IR this week, ending all possibility of a return to action this year, and potentially triggering a decision for retirement from the long-time Tampa Bay Bandit. The same week this happened, the USFL announced that it would be co-sponsoring a 3-year investigation into football-related brain injuries. The league along with helmet developer Riddell will fund the grant to the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (BU ADRC) to investigate the impact of concussions on players as well as methods to mitigate head injuries in the sport. The BU ADRC, while primarily focused on Alzheimer’s, has become over the past 5 years one of the premier concussion and brain trauma research centers in the USA. That both the league and their primary helmet developer are investing in this study shows just how much both are worried about issues surrounding recurrent head impacts and post-retirement issues found in both NFL and USFL players. Short term what we may see from this is a move towards efforts to decrease head-to-head contact in the sport, while the longer term effect may be both innovations in football helmet design, which have remained almost stagnant since the late 1970’s, and the pro football rulebook, which, while reducing more violent actions, has still allowed significant head-to-head contact initiated by both ballcarriers and defenders. A huge week in the Eastern Conference, where rivalry games are also key matchups atop the divisions. In the Atlantic we have a battle of 3-1 clubs as Baltimore heads just an hour down the road to Washington to face the Feds. Philly stays in state as they travel to Pittsburgh for a keystone clash with the Maulers, and the New Jersey Generals take their 3-1 start to Ohio, losers of 2 straight as injuries have been a tough mountain to climb in Columbus. In the South the matchups are a bit more uneven, with 4-0 Orlando headed upstate to face 1-3 Jacksonville. Can the Bulls pull off the upset here and get back in the hunt in the division? Meanwhile, Memphis, sitting at 3-1, plays host to a pretty lackluster 0-4 Atlanta Fire club. Birmingham cannot afford to fall further behind. Sitting at 2-2 they are in Tampa Bay and hoping the Bandits have not found their rhythm after a solid Week 4 performance. Out West we have the Pacific Clubs headed to the heartland as they face off against Central Division squads. The biggest game here, and it is big, has LA at 4-0 flying into St. Louis to take on the 3-1 Knights. Denver, a surprising 1-3 and still without suspended HB Rashaan Salaam, limps into New Orleans to face the 3-1 Breakers. Michigan is at home and hoping they can get their first win, and a career-starting win for QB Drew Brees, as they host the 2-2 Arizona Wranglers. Seattle has dropped to 2-2 and now hit the road with a big game in Houston. Chicago hopes to move to 4-1 if they can hold their home field advantage against the Portland Thunder. And, finally, a battle of clubs at 1-3 as the Oakland Invaders head to San Antonio to take on the Texas Outlaws.

A major upset and a few close calls highlight just how much parity exists in the USFL. It was a rough week for Las Vegas bookmakers, with Portland pulling off an upset as a 12-point underdog and teams like Oakland, Chicago, Arizona, Michigan, Texas and New Jersey either defying the odds to win unexpectedly, or coming close enough to defy the point spreads that were predicted. What is a bad week for Vegas is often a very good week for football fans, and this week proved to be a very entertaining one. “This is why they play the games” goes the old saying. As much as we think we know how games look on paper, there is nothing like the ebb and flow of action on the field to overturn our preconceived notions. By every metric in the books Seattle should have won this game, at home, against a Portland squad that has been moribund for nearly 2 years, and yet, on that field this Saturday the Thunder proved that they too are professional football players and that on any given Sunday any team can put it all together and win against any opponent. The fact that it was their rivals from up the I-5 just put icing on the cake. So, how did the Thunder do it? Particularly when they lost the turnover battle 0-2? The basic answer is that it took all three phases of the game. The run game was varied, with Napoleon Kaufmann sharing carries with rookie Correll Buckhalter. The line protected QB Akili Smith, and he, in turn, had one of his best games of his spotty 3-year career, throwing for 313 yards and 4 scores. The defense held Corey Dillon to only 2.6 yards per carry, leading to a season low of 44 yards on the ground, and the special teams contributed with 5 solid returns from Troy Walters and a 50+ yard field goal from John Kasay. Even with all this it took a ferocious 4th quarter for the Thunder to pull off the upset. Down, 27-16 after three quarters, the Thunder came alive in the 4th. The defense shut down Seattle in the quarter, with Brian Griese only completing 2 of 5 pass attempts, while the Dragons suffered two three-and-outs, and a drive cut short by a sack from Portland’s best defender, DE Hugh Douglas. The offense did what it needed to do to mount the comeback. Only 2 minutes into the quarter, a well-played misdirection had Smith hold onto the ball while the entire Dragon defense followed Napoleon Kaufmann. The bootlegging Smith found Matthew Hatchette behind the D and 56 yards later Hatchette was in the endzone. The 2-point play failed, but the score cut the difference to only 5 points. Portland would get the ball back 10 minutes later (after a series of punts from both teams) and with time winding down, would mount a desperation drive. Smith used screens to Kaufmann, short tosses to TE Lonnie Johnson and WR Patrick Rowe, and finally a sprint right shovel toss to FB Arnulfo Cowley to get in the endzone. Cowley, an unlikely receiving hero had only 5 receptions to date in the season, and in 4 years had only accumulated 30 total. But, with defenders keying in on Akili Smith as a potential runner, Cowley was left open and the unexpected toss from Smith caught the Dragon defenders flat-footed. With only 21 seconds left, Portland went up by one. Again they tried the 2-point conversion, and again it failed, but with a 1-point lead and only seconds left on the clock the win was theirs. Seattle’s Brian Griese does not have a cannon, so his desperation Hail Mary fell well short of the endzone and landed harmlessly at the 10. A huge win for the Thunder over a rival and a sign that this club may not be the same as the 1-15 debacle from last season. For Seattle, a tough loss at home to a division opponent, and one that proves the point that no game is won before the field is taken. LA 16 OAK 14 In another game that proved how close the difference is between victory and defeat in the USFL, the LA Express needed a late Doug Brien field goal to nip the Oakland Invaders, despite an abysmal 5-interception game from Ryan Leaf. It was Oakland’s defense that proved their worth, limiting LA to only 10 points off those turnovers, and yet, they could not hold forever. With Oakland’s offense struggling to complete drives, the Express eventually got the points they needed to upend the plucky Invader squad. ARZ 49 DEN 20 The Wranglers finally committed to the run, and not from Jake Plummer, and it paid immediate dividends. Dorsey Levins rushed for 127 yards, including an epic 42-yard scoring play, and that balance allowed Jake Plummer to play pocket passer, which resulted in a 15/20, 215 yard, 4-TD day. Even during a spell in the 3rd when Plummer was temporarily out of the game, backup Craig Whelihan benefited from the balanced attack, going 6 of 9 for 123 and 2 scores in two drives that helped put the game out of reach for a lackluster Denver offense. Denver would at one point trail 49-6 before garbage time brought them to a respectable 20 points. A bad loss for sure for the Gold, but a much-needed statement game from Arizona. CHI 23 HOU 20 This battle between two clubs hoping to gain some respect went all the way to overtime as the Machine got a late John Carney field goal to tie the game in regulation and then turned to the veteran kicker again in OT to seal the win. In a game where both offenses struggled at times, it was TE Jim Kleinsasser and backup HB Adrian Murrell who helped but Chicago over the top thanks to their late game and overtime performances. Houston got 101 yards on 6 catches from Antonio Freeman but QB Matt Hasselbeck missed on a potential TD toss to him in overtime that would have won the game for the home team. MGN 21 NOR 24 Michigan finally showed signs of life on offense, but it was not enough as New Orleans built up a 24-13 lead and did not leave the Panthers enough time for the comeback. Doug Flutie threw the ball53 times, completing 34, while also scrambling for 82 to become the club’s leading rusher for the game, but the Panthers simply ran out of time. Breakers’ QB Trent Dilfer was injured in the game, forcing Bobby Hoying into action, but the backup went 13 of 18 and threw a decisive 3rd quarter TD to TE Steve Johnson to help the Breakers get the W. STL 19 TEX 37 Another shocker, this time in the AlamoDome, where the Knights offense, playing without dinged up Todd Collins, simply looked unprepared for an aggressive Texas D. Backup Rob Johnson completed only 17 of 31 tosses and threw two picks in the game, while Texas got back to their roots, rushing the ball 23 times with Reggie Cobb for 113 yards and 2 scores. The issues around St. Louis’s defense came to the fore as Texas exploited holes in the front 7 and mismatches in the passing game to rack up 37 points. PHI 10 MEM 7 A slug fest in the slop as a rain-soaked field made this game at the Liberty Bowl tough to watch. Memphis scored on an Adrian Cooper TD in the first quarter, and then it was nothing but football follies on the hydroplane ready turf in Memphis. The Stars mounted their comeback in the 4th, first with a 40-yarder from Jeff Jaeger and then a short drive (following a rare Heath Shuler interception), that gave the Stars the win on an Hebert to Mondriel Fulcher TD pass. PIT 19 ORL 31 Pittsburgh hung tough for 3 quarters before Orlando pulled away to win their 3rd in a row. Terrell Davis was a menace to the Renegades all game, rushing 22 times for 178 yards and a score, while the Renegades got a good game from wideout Keenan McCardell, who caught 5 balls for 101 yards and a score. The Memphis D got to Charlie Batch 7 times, with 3 coming in the final 8 minutes of the game, as the home team stayed unbeaten. WSH 31 TBY 17 Washington compounded the concerns about the Tampa Bay Bandits, exploiting the defense for 160 yards rushing, including the first 100-yard game for rookie Deuce McCallister. Tampa also ran the ball well, with Errict Rhett adding 111 yards, but two key turnovers, both fumbles by receivers, doomed the Bandits to their third loss of the season. OHI 47 JAX 21 The Glory never trailed in this one as rookie wideout Chad Johnson made Kerry Collins look like an MVP. Johnson caught 7 balls for 177 and 3 scores, with Mike Bellamy catching another 6 for 110 and 2 scores as Kerry Collins had a field day against the Jacksonville secondary. Never sacked in the game, Collins had all the time he needed to throw deep balls to his receivers. Meanwhile, Chris Chandler tossed 3 picks as he struggled with the Ohio zones. NJ 31 BIR 14 Don’t tell Bill Parcells he has a QB crisis. He is as happy as a clam after Tom Brady went 15 of 22 for 232 and 2 scores on Sunday. The Generals got help from a solid run game that added 132 yards, and a defensive gem from Phil Hansen, who found Brett Favre 3 times on the day, 3 of 5 sacks accumulated by the Generals. Favre would complete only 13 of 30 passes on a day that saw him constantly harassed by a much improved General defense. BAL 24 ATL 14 Baltimore opened up a 10-point lead in the 1st quarter and never looked back as they took the W from Atlanta in Bobby Dowd Stadium. Jeff Garcia would complete 28 of 34 pass attempts and Ron Dayne would carry the ball 27 times as the Blitz played keepaway for most of the game. NEW JERSEY STANDS PAT It seems that at least for the time being New Jersey is opting to stand pat on their QB situation. They did sign John Walsh, the 5 year veteran backup, to fill the emergency QB role, but with 2nd year QB Tom Brady having won his first two appearances, it appears that Bill Parcells is in no hurry to rush out and replace him. Should the Generals continue to find success with Brady, the pressure likely will be reduced to bring in a big name QB, though some fans in the Tri-State area have started a petition to bring back Spence Fisher, the one time Generals’ starter who has been languishing as a backup in Atlanta for the past year. Fisher was a popular underdog story, but we just don’t see New Jersey making a major move to bring him back to the Meadowlands. SALAAM SUSPENDED Well, we saw this one coming. The USFL, after a brief investigation and an interview by league officials with the Denver Gold HB, have suspended Salaam for the next 4 games. It appears that there is enough concern around allegations of drug use, and paired with his recent drug test failure, it was enough for the league to act. Salaam’s absence will put pressure on Denver backups Rickey Whittle and Rod Smart. Denver also moved backup FB Robert Flanigan up to the active roster to fill Salaam’s spot, meaning that we may see some of starter Heath Evans also playing a HB role in a new look Denver run game. Had the suspension been longer we might have seen Denver try to sign a veteran free agent HB, but with only 4 weeks, the path forward seems to be to fill in by committee. ROOKIE STANDOUTS Three weeks into the season and the rookies are certainly making a name for themselves. With Joey Galloway out, Ohio’s Chad Johnson has exploded onto the scene. He currently leads the league with 363 yards receiving and a whopping 7 TDs in only 3 games of action. That is simply astounding. In Arizona, Santana Moss is also turning heads, with 258 yards on 12 catches and 3 TDs so far this season, while Philadelphia’s Steve Smith has also worked his way into the starting lineup and has accounted for 12 catches and 226 in his first three games. On defense, the standout so far has been New Orleans free safety Idris Basheer who has 2 picks already this year, tied for the league lead. Michigan’s rookie DE Aaron Schobel has also started off fast with 3 sacks in his first 3 games, while Pittsburgh’s Kyle Vanden Bosch has racked up 2 QB sacks in the same timeframe. Not as exciting on the halfback front, with only Washington’s Deuce McCallister getting regular action. The former Ole Miss star has accounted for 197 yards and 3 TDs in his first three weeks as a member of the Federals, with 107 of that total coming this week in his first career 100 yard game. The next highest rookie on the list is Correll Buckhalter in Portland with 88 yards, though Buckhalter has clearly become the goal line favorite for the Thunder, rushing for 3 TDs already this year. And while fans may be clamoring for Drew Brees in Michigan, the former Purdue star has yet to take a snap, although he is not alone in this. No rookie QB’s have yet to see any regular season playing time. I guess this is not a surprise for developmental projects like A. J. Feely in Portland, Jesse Palmer in New Orleans, or Quincy Carter in LA, but three weeks into the year and no sign of either Drew Brees (MGN) or Marques Tuiasosopo (OAK). Which will see action first? Well, both clubs are 0-3, and both current starters, Doug Flutie for the Panthers and Ryan Leaf in Oakland, are feeling the heat to be sure. COACHES FEELING THE PRESSURE Yes, we are only 3 weeks in but we are already talking about coaches feeling pressure. While several of the clubs at the bottom of the standings have new coaches who are just starting to try to turn things around, there are a few teams that have come out of the gate slowly despite having a veteran coach and a familiar roster. Tampa Bay cannot be happy about starting out 0-3, but what do you do about what appears to be a precipitous decline when your head coach is responsible for winning you a league title only 2 years ago? Could George Seifert actually be in trouble in Tampa? It seems that a lot of people are crediting his predecessor, Jerry Glanville, with putting together the team that won the title in 1999. Meanwhile, in Oakland, Dom Capers needs to show that his plan for the club is moving them in the right direction. An 0-3 start in his second season is not helping him make that case. The same could be said in Atlanta, where Bobby Petrino’s list of moral victories needs to turn into a list of actual victories pretty quickly for the 0-3 Fire. Finally, the ice seems to be getting mighty thin under the feet of Mauler head coach Emmitt Thomas. Since taking over the Maulers in 1997, Thomas’s teams have had one solid season, a 10-6 Wild Card campaign in 1999 that seemed to have them on the pinnacle of a solid run, but they dropped to 3-13 last year, and now sit at 1-2, in a very tough division. Another losing season could be real trouble for Thomas in Pittsburgh. Another week tarnished by some pretty significant injuries as several key players are likely gone for the season. A week after Michael Sinclair went down, in Memphis another, perhaps less well-known edge rusher, Dameaion Jeffries, suffered a full tear of his hamstring, an injury that is both painful and lengthy in its recovery. Expect him to be out for the year and placed on IR. Oakland placed CB Clayton Holmes on IR this week after a torn PCL ligament ended his season. Texas FB Robert Booker could miss up to 8 weeks after suffering a hip injury, and both Baltimore and Jacksonville are likely without a starting guard apiece for the next 2 months as both Joe Cocozzo (Bulls) and Hayward Haynes (Blitz) suffered injuries to their knees. Other multiple week concerns include FS Marcus Wimberly for Birmingham (ACL), Denver WR Dedric Smith (stress fracture), Ohio free safety Pat Terrell (ankle), and New Orleans QB Trent Dilfer, who left this week’s game with a stress fracture in his foot. He was initially listed as Doubtful, but now has been shifted to “Out” for Week 4. Ohio could be without HB Eddie George, who is listed as Questionable with a stiff neck, while Chicago’s dynamic kick returner Dante Hall is also questionable with a sprained knee. Atlanta may be without Terrance Mathis (shoulder) and Pittsburgh’s veteran DE Bob Kuberski could miss this week as well with swelling on his knee. While New Orleans tries to figure out how to substitute for Dilfer, it is good news in St. Louis, where Todd Collins is expected to return to action after missing this past week. The Knights looked completely hapless with Rob Johnson at the helm, so the return of their starter is certainly welcome news for Knights’ fans. No huge breaking news on the league level this week, but a few stories to keep track of. ORTHWEIN TRIAL BEGINS The saga of the St. Louis Knights’ owner starts a new period today as the fraud trial commences in federal court. There is a growing expectation that either through court order or league action the embattled member of the Anheiser Busch family will be forced to sell off his majority share in the league. We have already seen engagement from at least 2 ownership groups representing other cities (Boston and Nashville) make gestures towards the league about the potential sale, and we expect others will also line up. Meanwhile, in St. Louis there are few potential bidders, but one potential ownership group is being headed by Scottrade CEO Rodger Riney. The online financial & investiment firm founder has begun to put together a potential ownership group with some potential, but is still seeking investors. STADIUM UPDATES While progress continues on the construction of new stadia in several USFL cities, with Houston and Detroit slated to get new venues in 2002 (shared with NFL franchises in both cases), the Seattle Dragons continue to negotiate to possibly relocate from Husky Stadium to the new downtown stadium primarily financed by the NFL Seattle Seahawks. The presence of Husky Stadium as a venue has reduced the urgency of the efforts and the Dragons are unlikely to move if the stadium revenue options are not amenable. Meanwhile the city of Chicago has approved significant renovations to Soldier Field, in part thanks to the shared contribution of the USFL Machine and NFL Bears ownership. The newest agreement for stadium construction is in Arizona, where the NFL Cardinals, USFL Wranglers, the state, and the city of Glendale have come to an agreement for funding of what could be the league’s most expensive stadium, a retractable roof facility to be located in the Phoenix suburb. Meanwhile, discussions continue in New Jersey as the Jets, Giants and Generals all seem prepared to assist the state of New Jersey with plans to build a new stadium in the same general vicinity as the current Giants Stadium, converting parking spaces to a new open air stadium, which would then lead to the demolition of the current stadium. Finally, rumors of the Atlanta Fire finally reaching a deal to play in the air conditioned Georgia Dome seem to have fallen through. The Fire appear to be out of favor in Atlanta, a bad sign overall, and now must try to see what kind of deal they can develop with the Georgia Institute of Technology (Ga Tech) to continue to use Bobby Dowd Stadium, so Fire fans (the few that will call themselves that) will continue to endure midsummer heat and humidity at the outdoor facility. REEBOK ANNOUNCES 2002 UPDATES It is that time of year again when Reebok and the USFL announce which teams have requested to have branding, logo, and uniform revisions for the following season, and once again 3 clubs have signed on for a refreshed look. Baltimore, the last of the original 12 franchises to retain their original logo and colors, has indicated that a new logo may be on the way. Though the club is expected to maintain their royal, red, and silver color scheme, the wordmark “Blitz” logo has started to age and the club may be looking for a new, more iconic and easily marketable logo. Jacksonville is the second franchise to request an update, but it is not certain whether the full-helmet wraparound charging bull logo will be modified or not. It too seems somewhat dated in its design, but it is wildly popular among Bulls fans. More likely is a new stand alone logo and new uniform designs. Finally, the Seattle Dragons are looking to revamp their look as part of a new outlook. The club, which made its first appearance in the postseason last year, is expected to go for a modernized uniform, and many expect that the Dragon’s head logo will also undergo a transformation as the Dragons seek a more “Xtreme” or modern style. Week 4 is a full-on divisional rivalry week across the entire league. It starts on Saturday with a very intriguing Turnpike Tussle between Philadelphia and New Jersey. The two face off in the Meadowlands with first place very much up for grabs. Pittsburgh will try to even its record as they head to Baltimore to face the Blitz, while Washington may have an easier task than originally expected when they travel to Columbus to face a Glory squad likely to be without both Eddie George and Joey Galloway. The big game in the South is a battle of 2-1 clubs and bitter rivals as Birmingham faces the Memphis Showboats in Legion Field. Expect well over 50,000 on hand for this classic grudge match. In Florida the Renegades will travel to Jacksonville to face their in-state rivals, while the 3-0 Orlando Renegades hope to avoid a trap game in Atlanta against the winless Fire. In the Central Division we have no unbeaten teams, but what we have is desperation in Michigan, where the 0-3 Panthers need a win, and they face their rivals from Chicago to try to get it. The Machine are looking solid this year, off to a 2-1 start, but Michigan is a cornered animal, and that makes them dangerous. The 3-time division winning Knights are at home, facing off against a Houston club that is hard to pin down, though with Michael Sinclair injured, the Knight offensive line has one less nightmare to worry about. Finally New Orleans travels to Texas, where the Outlaws hope that their Week 3 success against a backup QB can be duplicated as the Breakers will likely start Brian Hoying in place of the injured Trent Dilfer. Denver, the defending league champions, is surprisingly at 1-2, and now without the suspended Rashaan Salaam, they will have a tough assignment facing the 3-0 LA Express, who seem to have found some of their 1999 magic. Arizona, fresh off their big win in Denver, travel again, facing the 2-1 Dragons in Seattle. Seattle likely will come into this game angry after an embarrassing loss to Portland at Husky Stadium this past week. And our final game to highlight has Oakland at 0-3 hoping the Thunder got winning out of their system this week and won’t block the Invaders from getting their first win of the season.

While there were 12 games played this week in the USFL, the Monday morning water cooler talk was only about one, the New Jersey-Baltimore game, and all about the situation surrounding Troy Aikman. It was a disturbing scene to watch, and news since Sunday has not looked good either. We will break it down, what we know about Aikman’s prognosis, and what it means for the Generals, and perhaps the league, but first we have games to report on, with the Generals’ defeat of the Blitz clearly this week’s game of the week, even beyond the injury report. It is the game everyone is talking about. Only 3 plays into the game, linebacker Tracy Scroggins of Baltimore came in on a blitz, blew past the block of HB Olandis Gary and caught Troy Aikman just as he was winding back to throw. The linebacker drove Aikman to the ground, and then immediately began calling for the trainers. Aikman would lay on the turf unconscious for a solid 5 minutes before the cart was brought out. Surrounded by team doctors and training staff, they placed Aikman on a back board and carted him directly to the locker room and then a local hospital. Fans, both in the stadium and watching on TV feared the worst, a neck injury. And while that, fortunately was not the situation, the eventual diagnosis of a severe concussion could be equally as devastating. Loss of consciousness with a concussion is never good, and for Aikman it was the 2nd significant concussion in 2 weeks, the QB having been cleared to play this week after suffering a milder head injury in last week’s game. This week’s significant injury marks the 7th concussion for Aikman in the past 3 years. That is truly problematic, as many doctors in the field of neuroscience believe that brain trauma has a cumulative effect. While team officials have not made any definitive statement about Aikman’s future as the QB of the Generals, a lot of talk this week around the league, and among the USFL weekly shows on ESPN and FOX has been about the potential for this latest injury to force Aikman into retirement, a blow not only for him, of course, but for the Generals, a club being rebuilt around Aikman as the face of the franchise. With Aikman taken to the sideline, the game paused for over 15 minutes before the two teams took the field again. Young and untested former Michigan Wolverine QB Tom Brady took the helm for the Generals, and availed himself quite well, completing 21 of 30 passes for 288 yards and a TD toss to Terry Glenn. The Generals’ D also came up big, limiting Jeff Garcia to only 196 in the air and holding the entire Blitz ground game to only 57 yards on the day. Ron Dayne averaged only 2 yards per carry as New Jersey’s rebuilt linebacker corps of Gene Atkins, Bobby Howard, Dwayne Rudd, and Bobby Houston used well-designed run blitzes to limit his ability to make a first cut and often got a hit in behind the line of scrimmage. Baltimore came in an 8-point favorite, but the shock of the Aikman injury, and the rallying effect it clearly had on the Generals, meant it would be a tough day for the Blitz. Coach Parcells, speaking to reporters after the game, applauded his team for rallying around Brady and around their fallen comrade to get the win on the road. The Generals are now 2-0 and stand alone atop the Atlantic Division, but they are now also at the center of a major question about the safety of the game, the impact of brain injuries on pro football, and a very real potential career-ending scenario for their star QB. We will have more on the QB situation for New Jersey later, but for now we just want to take a moment to acknowledge just how dangerous this game is, and to wish the best to Troy and his family as there will certainly be difficult days and tough decisions ahead. WSH 20 PIT 30 A bit of a shocker as the Maulers solve the puzzle of Washington’s defense and put up 30 to get the home win. Terrell Davis started hot, scoring 2 TDs in the 1st quarter to set the tone. He would finish with 109 on the day, and the Maulers would get 101 through the air from Andre Rison to mix things up. The Mauler D also stepped up, limiting the Fed’s run game to 101 total yards on 33 carries (Split between Droughns and McCallister) in a game that was not really as close as the final score. OHI 42 PHI 32 A huge road divisional win for the Glory, who were without star wideout Joey Galloway (expected to miss up to a month). Rookie Chad Johnson came up huge, catching 5 balls for 123 and 2 touchdowns, but it was Philly’s inability to slow down Eddie George that really doomed them. George rushe for 190 yards and put up 2 scores of his own as the Glory were simply unstoppable on offense, racking up 580 total yards and keeping the Stars at arm’s length all game long. ATL 21 BIR 35 Birmingham started the day with a pick-6 and never looked back, though Atlanta did at least see some production on offense as QB Mark Bulger rebounded from the early error to throw for 251 and Tiki Barber was able to rush for 149 and a score. The surprise star for Birmingham was HB Charlie Rogers who rushed for 163 on only 14 carries. Lawrence Dawsey added 97 and 2 scores for the Stallions as they win by 14. JAX 10 MEM 38 The Bulls looked out of synch all day, thanks largely to Memphis’s blitz schemes, as Chris Chandler threw for only 187. Heath Shuler had a much better day, completing 19 of 24 for 323 and 4 scores as the Showboats rolled at home. Joe Horn caught 6 for 97 and 2 scores and Garrison Hearst added 90 yards on 16 carries for the Showboats. ORL 23 TBY 16 Despite giving up 103 yards and a score to league leader Randy Moss, the Renegades managed to contain the Bandits, limiting them to only the 1 TD. Orlando’s offense struggled throughout the game, with Mitchell throwing for only 198 and dealing with 6 sacks from an aggressive Tampa pass rush, but a late TD on a screen from Mitchell to Zeroue was enough to hold off the Bandits and take the road win. CHI 23 ARZ 21 Arizona once again failed to mount any sort of coordinated rushing attack aside from one long Jake Plummer bootleg, and Chicago did a good job of containing the 2000 MVP on their way to a road win in Tempe. Jeff George had one of his best games in the league, completing 29 of 38 for 342 and a key TD to Michael Ricks to help the Machine get the W. HOU 21 DEN 24 Houston put a scare into Denver, with Matt Hasselbeck throwing 3 TDs on the day, but 171 yards and 2 scores from Denver’s big back, Rashaan Salaam, was enough to secure the win for the defending league champions. Denver held the ball for nearly 35 minutes thanks to the ground game, but Houston found ways to keep it close thanks to good games from Antonio Freeman and TE Terry Hardy. MGN 5 LA 41 Things are looking bad for the Panthers, who have scored a combined 11 points in their first 2 games. This one got ugly quickly as a 7-5 deficit ballooned with LA scoring 21 in the 2nd quarter and going on to score the final 34 points of the game. Fans in Michigan are very likely to be calling for rookie Drew Brees after Doug Flutie threw for only 85 yards in this debacle. LA got 122 on the ground from Michael Pittman and wideout Tory Holt again led all receives with 97 yards and 2 TDs for the Express. NOR 24 OAK 22 The Invaders came to play at home and New Orleans seems to have serious issues with their run defense as Rodney Thomas rushed for 185 in the game. The Breakers answered with 159 from Ricky Williams, but it took a late Lin Elliott field goal to secure the win as New Orleans struggled all day to maintain drives. STL 41 POR 38 Something is wrong with St. Louis’s highly-regarded defense. For the second week in a row the Knights ended up in a shootout with a club that is not known for offensive fireworks. Portland put up 419 yards of offense against the St. Louis D, including 102 yards rushing for Napoleon Kaufmann and big games from both Matthew Hatchette and TE Lonnie Johnson. But, in the end, St. Louis found a way to pull the game out, thanks in part to a late TD from Darnay Scott and 2 TDs from backup HB George Layne. TEX 20 SEA 27 Seattle moves to 2-0 thanks to Corey Dillon’s 179 yard day as the revival of the run game in the USFL continues. Brian Griese threw for only 142 in the victory, though he did connect with big TE Ken Dilger twice for scores. Texas actually held a 20-10 lad at the half, but was unable to make good adjustments at the half and Seattle would score the game’s final 17 points. We are not going to rehash all the potential impacts of the Aikman injury, though it should be stated that the team initially listed Aikman as out for Week 3, with the expectation that a longer absence from the roster, including a potential retirement, are very much on the table. And while Aikman is not the first player to deal with significant concussion-related concerns, his injury, and the unsettling visual images it produced, are likely to have widesweeping impacts across the league. And yet, Troy was not the only player to suffer a significant injury in this most violent of team sports. We saw several players with season-impacting injuries again this week. Houston and Pittsburgh both saw big blows to their defenses this week, as DE Michael Sinclair and LB Godfrey Miles are both likely out for the rest of the year with significant injuries. For Sinclair it is an ankle injury, an ugly one for those who saw the play happen (fortunately the network was quick to halt any replays). Sinclair will need surgery on the ankle and while there is an outside chance he could return in as little as 10 weeks, the more likely scenario is that Houston will place him on the IR. For Miles in Pittsburgh, the IR seems inevitable as he suffered a hip injury that in all likelihood will require lengthy time away from any significant movement, followed by a lengthy recovery time with physical therapy. The injury did not look like much on the field, but Miles was unable to get up after the play and had to be carted off. X-rays showed a compound fracture, which in a hip is a tough injury to isolate. Others who may miss several weeks include Denver guard Evan Pilgrim (back), Texas FB Robert Booker (hip), Birmingham FS Marcus Wimberly (ACL), Houston TE Dan Campbell (MCL), St. Louis DE Vonnie Holiday (Wrist) and Pittsburgh DE Bob Kuberski (knee). Doubtful for this week but expected back within 2 weeks are Portland LB Mark Simoneau (knee), Atlanta wideout Terrance Mathis (pinched nerve), Atlanta LB Mo Lewis (hamstring), Oakland kicker Joe Nedney (toe), New Orleans LB Trev Alberts, and St. Louis QB Todd Collins (finger). The Aftermath As much as the focus this week has been on Troy Aikman’s well being, and quite possibly on the decision he will have to make about his future in the game of football, the reality is that Coach Parcells and the Generals have to move forward. We know that it will likely be several weeks before Aikman would be cleared to play. The team, the league, and his own personal physicians are going to want to verify just what the impact of the back-to-back concussions, paired with prior brain injuries, could mean for Troy’s future. In the meantime, New Jersey has to have a solution at QB. They did not go into the season with a deep QB room, having traded both starter Jeff Lewis and veteran backup Eric Zeier away in the preseason. They had 2nd year player Tom Brady, the late round pick from Michigan, set up as the 2nd QB behind Aikman, perhaps anticipating that the former Bandit would have a lot of wisdom to pass on to the young QB. Behind Brady they have only Todd Boumann, another late round pick from the 1997 draft from the football powerhouse that is St. Cloud State. So what should the Generals do? What options are really out there for them, for this year, but also potentially for the future should Aikman step away from the game. We looked at all the available free agents, potential signings, and trade options, and we came up with our 5 best case scenarios should Aikman be out for several more weeks and/or should he be lost for good. Short Term Stasis: Stick it out with Brady & Boumann. Financially this is the easiest path. The Generals will, of course, need to sign an emergency 3rd QB, a John Walsh or Dave Brown, just to hold a clipboard. This plan makes sense only if Aikman’s people and the physicians lean into the idea of a 3-5 week absence and a return to the Generals ready to go. Brady played well in relief this week, getting the road win at Baltimore, but he is hardly a known quantity or a highly-regarded arm talent. Anything beyond a few weeks and the Generals ought to consider another option. The Veteran Free Agent: This may be the next best option, spend a bit more and bring in a veteran from a very limited free agent pool. There are three names that come to mind and when we consider the kind of players Coach Parcells likes, it may really only be one. Currently unsigned by both USFL and NFL clubs (including the mandatory 6-month free agency span for an NFL player to be free to sign outside of the Transfer Window) we have former Bandit and Thunder starter Kerwin Bell, perennial “bridge” QB Timm Rosenbach, and former New Orleans starter and NFL cap victim Jamie Martin. Of the three, Martin seems the QB most likely to fit the mold of a Parcells offense, but having been released by his NFL club back in September of last year, and unsigned even as a midseason replacement by any NFL teams, we have to wonder if Martin’s head is in the game. Rosenbach last played in Portland as an emergency backup in Portland, but his last significant action was way back in 1998, when he started 3 games for the Atlanta Fire. Kerwin Bell last saw game action in 1998, as a backup to Aikman. If Martin is in the right head space, he seems the best option here, but none of these players seems ready to come in and lead New Jersey where they hope to go this season. Look to the North: It is not possible for the Generals to sign any current NFL free agents since the transfer window is shut, but they could reach into the CFL to find a QB on short notice. The cash-strapped CFL could provide not only a free agent option, but we could see a club willing to part with a top tier CFL starter if the price from the Generals were sufficient. Looking at the CFL rosters, the best option for the Generals might be to take a shot at snatching Henry Burris, the athletic starter from the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Burris is in his 3rd year in Canada, is healthy, and has a lot of talent, but does he really fit the mold of a Parcells offense? Not really, he is in many ways like Jeff Lewis, the player Parcells shipped to Texas in favor of a true pocket passer. Among pocket passers in the CFL the top candidate would be Danny McManus, a 10-year veteran currently with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The jump from the CFL to the USFL is a big one, and we have not seen many make the transition successfully, but these may be desperate times in East Rutherford and in a CFL signal caller they would get a player fit and ready to play. Trade for a Potential Long Term Solution: If there is a sense that Aikman may step away, which is very plausible, the Generals may look to make a deal to bring in a young QB with potential. There are not a lot of teams willing to part ways with a high-ceiling young QB, but there are always a couple who could be persuaded. Among those with potential, the Generals could reach out to Memphis, to inquire about former Gold QB Bill Musgrave. Memphis is solidly with Heath Shuler, so the right price could pry Musgrave away. A similar situation exists with St. Louis, where former General Rob Johnson could be obtained perhaps without a huge ransom. But if New Jersey is seriously seeking a long-term solution, there is one situation that might be tailor made for them. Ryan Leaf is a wild card. He is very talented, has the capacity to be a franchise QB, but has made a lot of enemies in Oakland. His play has slipped since a stellar 1st year with the Invaders, and along the decline he has been outspoken in his critiques of teammates, the coaches, and even the front office. Would Oakland be willing to part with the hotheaded 1st round pick? If the Generals were serious to offer some quality draft capital, including but not limited to a 1st rounder next year, that might help Oakland divest themselves of a talented, but controversial player, and would bring New Jersey a talented new QB. Bill Parcells is the type of coach who could be effective in managing Leaf’s outspoken nature, and his more controlled offense could be just what Leaf needs to rebound from a rough season in 2000. Trade for a Bridge QB and Draft for the Future: We actually see this as the most likely path. New Jersey could trade for an older veteran and then look at the 2002 draft for a long-term solution at the position. The 2002 Draft has several strong candidates, including Fresno State’s David Carr, Oregon’s Joey Harrington, and Tulane’s Patrick Ramsey. Of the three, Carr seems the best-suited to run a Parcells offense. But who do you sing in the interim? We have one clear frontrunner, a New Jersey fan favorite who has fallen out of favor with his current team. You know him, you love him, the diminutive dynamite…Doug Flutie. Flutie is currently starting for the Michigan Panthers, but their future is clearly in the hands of rookie QB Drew Brees. If New Jersey could make a deal for Flutie, it would give Michigan the perfect reason to promote Brees over the legendary QB, and give New Jersey instant credibility with their fans, who never stopped loving Flutie even after he was let go. Sure, Flutie’s style is not exactly what Parcells prefers, and he is clearly a step or two slower than he was the last time he slipped on the red Generals jersey, but he is a proven commodity, and a perfect bridge as the Generals try to cope with the potential loss of Aikman for this season if not permanently. Now, we need to say that all of these ideas are pure conjecture, and that a lot will depend on just what the doctors and Troy Aikman himself decides, but if the Generals do need a long-term solution we are sold on the potential for a Flutie return and a 2002 rookie who may get a year or two with Flutie as a mentor. Make it happen, Generals. Trouble a Mile Up? Another story which has not been touched on much this week due to all the attention paid to New Jersey, but there is potential concerns that Denver Gold HB Rashaan Salaam may find himself suspended by the league. Salaam failed a random drug test this week, and this is not the first time. Pair this with stories coming out of the Denver Post about late night escapades and, possibly, some legal entanglements emerging from his post-championship celebrations, and Salaam could be a concern for the Gold. Salaam has been the unquestioned centerpieces of the Gold’s offense these past 5 years, averaging nearly 1,200 yards per season since his sophomore season. Were he to run afowl of the USFL’s somewhat lenient drug policies (certainly more lenient than the NFL’s), it could mean a substantial penalty. If there are legal issues as well, that would only make things worse. We expect news on the failed drug test within the week, and if an appeal attempt fails, Salaam could see sanctions imposed as soon as Week 4. If that happens, and if suspension is a possibility, Denver will have to develop a 2-back system, something they have not typically preferred. Their two other active backs, Ricky Whittle and Rod Smart, are near polar opposites of each other, with Whittle being the between-the-tackles grinder, while Smart is more of a jitterbug, good outside, good in the passing game, but not exactly a pounder up the middle. We will continue to monitor this situation and will certainly report should the league or the team come down on Salaam in the next few days. Another Rookie Wideout To Watch Last week it was Santana Moss taking the league by storm in his first game. This week that mantle was picked up by Ohio wideout Chad Johnson. With Joey Galloway expected to miss a month or more due to injury, the expectation was that Ohio would lean heavily on the run game with Eddie George, and they certainly got a great game from George this week (190 yards and 2 scores on the ground), but they also asked the rookie wideout from Oregon State to step into the starting lineup, and Johnson did more than that, he stepped into the spotlight. Johnson caught 5 balls for 123 yards and 2 scores in Sunday’s huge road win at Philadelphia. It was a performance that won him the Rookie Performer of the Week, but he may have done even more with his personality than with his performance. While the celebration after his first career TD was pretty stoic, basic high-fives and hugs with teammates, his second TD celebration was the kind of show that makes the highlight reels, a spontaneous (we think) dance routine that got everyone’s attention, including a Stars defender who tried to break it up only to get embarrassed in the effort. Johnson’s exhuberance rallied the Glory bench and his play on the field backed it up. Look out Columbus, it looks like you might have found a good one, and a player not afraid of the limelight either. Week three flips the script from Week 2, with the Western Conference now jumping into divisional play while the 12 Eastern clubs play interdivisional games (Atlantic visiting the Southern clubs). Looking at the key divisional battles, the one we don’t want to miss is Chicago at Houston. Both clubs, big disappointments in 2000, are trying to prove to themselves and to their fans that they are on the right track. Both come into the game at 1-1, but only 1 can leave with a winning record. In the Pacific, it may be desperation time already for the Arizona Wranglers, losers of their first two games, both at home. They now head to Denver to face the Gold, who rebounded from a Week 1 loss with a good home win this week. We have the California Derby with LA traveling to Oakland and hoping to reach 3-0, and we have the Cascade Clash once again, with Seattle hosting the Portland Thunder. The other games in the Central feature 2-0 St. Louis traveling to winless Texas and the Michigan Panthers, still waiting to score their first TD of the season, facing off against a New Orleans defense that has been a shadow of their 2000 form. In the Eastern Conference, we are intrigued by the game between New Jersey and Birmingham. Both clubs are 2-0, but the story will be how Tom Brady, in his first pro start, and the entire Generals team will perform after a very tough, very unsettling week. Memphis also has a good matchup as they host the Philadelphia Stars in what should be a very engaging game. Other games on the docket include Jacksonville hosting Ohio, Washington traveling to Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, fresh off their big win against Washington, headed to Orlando to face the 2-0 Renegades, and Baltimore facing the Fire in Atlanta.

The first week of the 2001 USFL season is in the books and overall it was a very good week for the road teams. 8 of 12 games saw the road clubs win, including big wins for Jacksonville @ Arizona and Baltimore @ Michigan, and Washington against a tough New Orleans squad. It was not all road warriors this week as LA got a huge come from behind win in the final minute to win their home opener and St. Louis also held court at home, but overall a good opening week for the teams playing in hostile environments. Welcome back to football everyone. Several good games this week, a bit sloppy perhaps, but exciting to watch, but none had the last minute drama of the Bandits visiting the Express at Farmers Insurance Field. For Bandit fans it was a day for discovery. After losing Troy Aikman so unexpectedly in free agency, the Bandit faithful were hoping that Trent Green could provide a spark and help them see positives in an offseason that has been largely negative in Tampa. For the Express faithful, the question is whether their club will rebound back to the lofty heights of the 1999 season or if they were doomed to another year of uneven play. The answer may be a bit of both as LA struggled at times but then found a way to pull the game out in the final minute. As for Tampa Bay, the first game seemed to prove that they chose wisely in trading to acquire Trent Green from the Baltimore Blitz. Green had a very solid game, throwing for 284 yards and 3 scores, including a strong connection built with superstar receiver Randy Moss, who caught 6 balls for 159 yards and hauled in 2 of Green’s 3 TD passes. The Bandits looked very much like a club that was seeking offensive balance, handing the ball to Errict Rhett 15 times for 72 yards. But perhaps the best news for the Bandits is that their defense looked quite a bit better than what we saw last year. New arrivals played a big part in that. Former Bull and Renegade strong safety LeRoy Butler made the Florida Trifecta official with his first start for the Bandits and had a POTG performance, making 10 tackles, nabbing a sack on Cade McNown, forcing a fumble and recovering the ball for the Express. Rookie LB Zeke Moreno also looked good, with 8 tackles on the day, and yet, we have to say that at the end of the game, the defense failed the Express. After battling to a 14-14 tie after 3 quarters, the game was anyone’s to win. LA had relied heavily on their run game, an attack that would earn 191 yards on the ground (Antowain smith with 118 and Michael Pittman with 71), while Cade McNown would only complete 9 of 24 passes against a stingy pass defense for the Bandits. Midway through the quarter the Express would take the lead on a Doug Brien Field Goal, but Tampa would get the ball and would go in for what looked like a potential game winning touchdown with 3:11 left to play. Green hit WR Bobby Shaw with a 26-yard TD toss on a corner route and the Bandits looked to be in good shape. The Express had time left, but they had not proven to be a quick strike offense, needing either good field position or a long 12 play drive in the past to score. So, with 3:11 on the clock, the defense settled in to play the field position game. The only problem was that they proved too soft on defense to stop the Express. Yes, it took 9 plays for LA to score, but nearly every play gained yards. The drive started with a 21-yard completion from McNown to Tory Holt, his favorite target. This was followed by completions to TE Brandon Manumalena and Curtis Mayfield, and LA was in Tampa Territory. Down 4, they would need a TD to win, so field goal position was not a concern. Two more passes (mixed with a couple of incompletions) gave LA the ball on the three yard line. An offsides penalty moved it to the two, and while there were only 22 seconds left to play, LA had preserved a timeout, so they had time to run multiple plays. They would not need to. On 1st and goal from the 2, Cade McNown rolled right and found his TE again, this time for the game winner. The rookie TE, who had only 3 receptions on the day, all in this final drive, went from non-factor to hero of the game. Manumaleuna tightly gripped the ball, his first pro touchdown, as the Express celebrated the win with the diehard LA fans in the South endzone. For Tampa Bay it was shades of last seasons, where no lead seemed safe and the defense failed when most needed. While Trent Green’s successful debut will help Tampa fans see some positives in the game, the defense remains a concern. OHI 38 STL 45 Defense may also be a concern in St. Louis, where the Ohio Glory racked up 38 points and 418 yards against a Knights’ D that was expected to carry the team. The good news is that St. Louis outpaced the Glory on both counts, scoring 45 and totaling 439 yards of offense. Todd Collins, in an unusual burst of scoring, threw 5 TD passes, completing 27 of 38 passes for 312 yards. Ahman Green added another 119 yards on the ground as the Knights built up a 45-31 lead and avoided a late Glory rally to take the W. JAX 21 ARZ 16 Defense was more on display, along with far too many penalties (14 in the game) as the Bulls stole a win in Arizona. The homestanding Wranglers had a slim 16-15 lead until the final minutes of the game, thanks to a huge game from rookie wideout Santana Moss (6 receptions for 133 yards and a score), but Jacksonville got a late score on a Chandler to Terrell Owens TD toss with 1:21 left to play to earn the road win. BAL 12 MGN 6 As much as we want to say that defense was the key to the Blitz win, the reality was that this was a pretty sloppy game all around, and it seemed that self-inflicted wounds were the issue for both clubs. Ron Dayne rushed for 102 yards, while Michigan’s Siran Stacy had no luck at all, gaining only 5 yards on 5 carries before a hamstring concern pulled him from the game. Doug Flutie actually finished the game as the Panther’s top rusher with 53 yards, most of it on a single scramble for 37 that produced the game’s only TD. WSH 31 NOR 28 The Federals built up a 31-7 lead in the 3rd before New Orleans finally woke up and made it a game. Kordell Stewart had one of his best days as a pro against a Breaker defense that did not look ready for the regular season. Stewart completed 22 of 26 passes for 355 yards and 4 scores, with both J.J. Stokes and Herman Moore going over 100 yards receiving. New Orleans pulled within 3 with 3:32 left to play, but never saw the ball again as the combo of Rueben Droughns and rookie Deuce McCallister ground out the win for the Feds. NJ 21 TEX 9 The new look Generals got a big win, but concern for QB Troy Aikman as a hit late in the game led him to be examined for a potential concussion. Aikman would finish the game with 189 yards passing and 2 scores, while Curtis Enis added 61 yards on the ground, but the big story for the Generals was the defense. Former General QB Jeff Lewis, now the starter in Texas, was sacked 5 times and completed only 24 of 46 attempts, while Reggie Cobb was held to only 38 yards rushing for the Outlaws. Phil Hanson and 2nd year lineman Shaun Ellis both finished the game with 2 sacks apiece. PIT 23 HOU 35 The battle of two teams desperate for signs of improvement gave a lot of hope to Houston fans. The moribund Gambler offense from 2000 looks very different, putting up 35 and scoring on 7 drives. Matt Hasselbeck won the QB duel in the preseason and looked good for Houston, completing 23 of 37 for 244 and 3 scores. Rookie Koren Robinson also got off to a great start, catching 7 balls for 79 yards and 2 scores, while Antonio Freeman had 5 for 98 and a score. PHI 27 CHI 10 With the run game not working for either club on a wet field in Chicago, it was up to the QB’s to win this one and Bobby Hebert got the better of Jeff George, though his 2 picks helped Chicago stay close for most of the game. The decisive play for Philly was a pick-six of a bad George throw by CB Reggie Givens. Philly also got pressure on George with 4 sacks of the Chicago QB. BIR 26 DEN 16 In the season’s first game, the new NBC Friday Night showcase, Birmingham found enough holes in the Denver defense to knock off the defending league champions. Despite getting sacked 4 times, including a safety on the 2nd play of the game, Brett Favre would throw 2 TD passes and connect with Marcus Robinson for 120 yards on the way to victory. ORL 41 OAK 7 A true blowout as the Invaders looked utterly inept against the Renegades in every phase of the game. Ryan Leaf spent most of the game running for his life as his line could not handle Chris Doleman and the Oakland defense gave up a 23 of 26 day with 3 TD passes to Scott Mitchell before a late hit on an ill-advised scramble led to Craig Erickson taking over. Erickson would throw only 1 pass but it too was a TD as the Renegades romped over a very shaky Invader squad. MEM 42 POR 17 Another blowout as the Showboats and Thunder appear to have picked up where they left off last year, good for Memphis, bad for Portland. Akili Smith was named the starter for Portland only 2 days before the game and he did not look ready, completing only 23 of 43 passes, whereas Heath Shuler looked like he was in midseason form, completing 14 of 18 for 276 yards and 3 scores as the Showboats rolled in this one. ATL 3 SEA 26 And, finishing the week, it seems that Atlanta still has not found an answer on offense. They were outgained by Seattle 426 to 136 as they amassed only 31 yards rushing and starter Mark Bulger completed only 13 of 32 passes for a paltry 105 yards. For Seattle’s part, Brian Griese threw for 347 yards, with both Eric Metcalf and TE Ken Dilger each going over 100 for the day. We hate to start the year with major injuries, but that is football. Three players, all offensive linemen. are now looking at between 8-12 weeks out of the lineup. New Jersey’s rookie tackle Matt Light injured his back in his first pro game. Jacksonville guard Joe Cocozzo and Baltimore guard Hayward Haynes are also likely out for at least 3 months with a ruptured disc and a torn hamstring respectively. Things are not much better for Houston TE Dan Campbell who could miss 2 months with a shoulder injury. In Ohio the concern is for star wideout Joey Galloway, who could be out a month or longer with a hip injury. The Glory also lost LB Brendon Ayanbedejo, though likely only for 2 weeks due to a meniscus injury in his right knee. Seattle could be without SS John Lynch for 1-2 weeks and Tampa DT Roland Putzier is also expected to miss a week or more with a fracture in his forearm. Others listed as doubtful or questionable this week include Bulls’ CB Terrell Buckley, Texas TE Frank Wainright, Birmingham SS Darryl Williams, Philly LB Sam Rogers, and Houston LB Gerald Dixon. Troy Aikman is listed as probable, but the concussion he suffered is his 4th in the past 18 months, which is a serious concern for New Jersey. ROSTER MOVES You expect that once the season starts the rosters are largely set, but there is always a bit of shuffling at the beginning of the season. What has been surprising this year is the number of pretty solid players who have stuck through camp only to retire either right before the season began or even after a week of play. The most surprising of the sudden announcements was that of former Houston Gambler LB Quentin Coryatt, who was expected to be a rotational player for the Washington Federals, but who saw no action this week, and announced his retirement a day later. Speculation that there is a lingering injury at the heart of the announcement could not be verified. Just before the season’s first week we got other retirement announcements as former Philly TE Eric Green decided that a new season with a new club (Jacksonville) was not what he needed. Jacksonville scrambled to sign TE Lovell Pinkney to fill in, but that is clearly a downgrade from a talent level. Similarly, Texas had to sign James Dexter from the free agent pool when former Machine tackle Jeff Wright announced his retirement, stating that his body was simply telling him the time was right. In Portland, it feels like the club helped HB Darrell Thompson make the decision, placing him 3rd on the HB depth chart behind starter Napoleon McCallum, but also behind rookie Correll Buckhalter. That appears to have been a step too far from seeing the field for the veteran back, who announced his departure on Thursday. Portland signed former Atlanta back Blair Thomas, who saw no action last year, to fill the roster spot, but we expect them to seek another option as well. Thompson retires with 8,282 yards and 61 career touchdowns. He had his best season as a member of the 1997 St. Louis Knights, before spending one season in Philly and another in Ohio as a backup. One final roster move, again produced by depth chart decisions. Fourteen-year veteran safety Bennie Blades demanded a trade after he was demoted behind both and rookie Adam Archuleta on the Blitz depth chart. Blades began his career with 7 years in Memphis and played the past 7 years with Baltimore, where he was a popular figure in the community. Baltimore, seeing value in trading the 8-time All-USFL safety got on the phones and by Wednesday of this week Blades had a new home as an Arizona Wrangler. Arizona sent a 3rd round pick in next year’s draft to Baltimore, and immediately started talking about Blades competing for the starting safety position. With only 3rd year player Anthony Poindexter and 2nd year “starter” Clifton Black to compete with, there is a good chance Blades moves into a starting roll quite soon. ROOKIES IMPRESS It was a very strong week for rookies across the USFL, particularly among rookie recievers. We have already mentioned the 4th quarter surge that LA rookie tight end Brandon Manumaleuna had, making a great impression on his new LA fanbase. It was even a better first week for Arizona rookie receiver Santana Moss, with 133 yards receiving in his first pro game. That is an easy way to make the Wrangler faithful stop lamenting the loss of Rocket Ismail. Another rookie wideout having a good day was Houston’s Korell Robinson, whose 7 receptions and 2 TDs helped spark the Gamblers to an opening day win. Less to report from the rookie rushers, as only Deuce McCallister saw significant carries, toting the rock 12 times, but for only 29 yards. Neither James Jackson (NJ) or Kevin Barlow (TEX) saw the field on offense in the clash of these clubs. Travis Minor got 5 touches for the Blitz, and Correll Buckhalter only 3 touches for 2 yards for the Thunder. On defense, we saw Justin Smith (LA), Kyle Vanden Bosch (PIT), and Aaron Schobel (MGN) all get the start at DE and all record a sack in their first pro action. Kendrell Bell (NJ), Zeke Moreno (TBY), Dan Morgan (OAK), and Tommy Polley (CHI) all started for their respective clubs at LB, with Moreno having the biggest impact thanks to a 10-tackle day. Adam Archuleta for Baltimore recorded his first sack from the safety position as he shared time with Lawyer Milloy at the position, while Tampa Bay rooke CB Jeremy Lincoln recorded the first rookie interception on the year. QB ROUNDUP Let’s finish our Week 1 roundup by looking at the new QB’s starting around the league. Troy Aikman brought his new club, New Jersey, a solid win in his first start wearing the red helmet, while last year’s NJ quarterback, Jeff Lewis, struggled with a Texas offense that simply does not have a lot of playmakers. In Tampa Bay, newly acquired QB Trent Green looked solid, throwing 3 touchdowns, but, of course, the question with Green is always his ability to stay healthy. Despite calls from fans as their offense struggled, Michigan coach Mike Martz did not pull Flutie for rookie Drew Brees, letting the veteran go the entire game. And while there was really no expectation that either rookie Marques Tuiasosopo or veteran Jon Kitna would get into the game for Oakland, the pressure has to be on Coach Capers to consider a plan B as Ryan Leaf continues to struggle and continues to be vocal in the lockerroom. While the nation has turned to the field as the USFL kicks off its 19th season, the realities of daily life continue, and that includes legal proceedings, which brings us to the off-field story that is likely to have a huge ripple effect on the entire league, the James Orthwein fraud cases. Following the Grand Jury findings, the case is proceeding to a full trial, a trial which very likely could lead to significant legal concerns for Mr. Orthwein, owner of the St. Louis Knights. With the case very much tied into his valuation of the Knights franchise a spotlight has been pointed squarely at the league and its reporting of attendance, sales, and club value. While the particulars of the case have been laser focused on Mr. Orthwein and the Knights, there is concern that a broader investigation could identify irregularities across the league. Even if it does not, the negative impact of the case is already being felt and many within the league have spoken out about the path the league should take. Led by Arizona principal owner Dr. Ted Deitrich and Michigan owner Abe Taubman, there has begun to be a call for full divestment of the club by Mr. Orthwein, a call that the league office cannot ignore. While a guilty verdict would almost certainly lead to a sell-off of the Knights, the calls from owners and a possible mandate from the league’s main office, could force the sale even if a definitive result in the court case does not materialize. The problem faced by the Knights in this is that the minority owners of the club are truly minority owners, holding less than 28% of all shares, and none seem to have the financial support to be able to purchase the club should Orthwein wish to sell within the current ownership group. And while a new ownership group from within St. Louis could eventually develop, there is no such group currently prepared to step up. Meanwhile we know of at least 4 different groups from 4 different non-USFL markets that are well-financed, well-organized and ready to step in. What this means is that if the USFL pushes for sale of the club, or if the court case forces a sale, there is a very good chance that for the second time in recent memory the city of St. Louis could be without a football club. Ownership groups from Boston, Dallas, Miami, and Nashville have been actively seeking potential USFL ownership opportunities, with little success to date. Yes, there have been rumors of the Boston group, known as the Boston Colonials Football Group, meeting with Portland Thunder ownership, and the Nashville group has been working very hard to make the case to relocated the Showboats from Memphis, but ownership in both cities has been very hesitant to give up on the USFL as it continues a pretty steady value growth phase. Even in cities with smaller or more problematic stadium agreements, the value added over the past 19 years as the USFL has grown has made the endeavor quite profitable, but the Orthwein situation could prove the perfect avenue for one ownership group to scoop up a USFL franchise and quickly relocate it to a new market. There are certainly positives to such a move, particularly should the alternative be a franchise with a disenfranchised ownership unable to effectively negoatiate contracts with St. Louis’s stadium authority or even with local market sponsors. But, particularly on the cusp of what we expect to be a 20th Season celebration next year, a relocation would be a major negative. St. Louis has been supporting the Knights over the past decade, and even with the relocated NFL Rams cutting into the market and the fanbase, the Knights’ recent success has helped them maintain steady attendance and financial health. While there would certainly be a boost to both in a new market, particularly an enthusiastic market such as Boston, the impact on St. Louis, and the bad press that emerges from a wronged fanbase losing a club that has been supported well, is not what the USFL needs. Add to this the potential disruption to the newly-announced 6-division format should the Knights relocate to either Boston or Miami, would be another significant negative. In the new structure for the league to begin in 2002, the Knights would be in a Southern Division with New Orleans, Memphis and Birmingham, all good regional rivals for the club, within a confined travel area. Were the club to relocate to either Dallas or Nashville, this would not be too significant an impact, though having Dallas in a different division than Houston and Texas (San Antonio) would be a bit of a missed opportunity. But, should the Knights find themselves in either Miami or Boston, the structure of the division would be disrupted and quick adjustments might need to be made. Would Atlanta leave their tight division with the 3 existing Florida teams to make room for a Miami franchise? And which Atlantic Club (New Jersey, Philly, Baltimore or Washington) would make way so that Boston could be added? The Atlantic is a particulary well-defined and rivalry-driven division, so the loss of any of those 4 clubs would be seen as a major negative. We expect the league to address the issue of Mr. Orthwein’s continued ownership of the Knights in the next few weeks, and if the decision involves any form of sanctions or mandates that would require him to divest his holdings in the Knights, then the feeding frenzy will begin. The losers in all of this? The Knights fans in St. Louis who have done nothing wrong and who could very well lose their USFL club due to a combination of greed from its ownership and self-preservation and “saving face” from other league owners. That hardly seems like the way this should work out, but it seems a very likely scenario right now. Week 2 is right around the corner, and with it we get some divisional games to whet our appetite. New Jersey will have a tough test as they head to Baltimore to face the Blitz. Washington is in Pittsburgh, and we have a meaty Saturday Night clash as the Ohio Glory head to Philadelphia for a clash of two division title favorites. In the South, it’s an early Florida Darby as Orlando heads to Tampa Bay, hoping they can put their stamp on a season with a lot of high expectations for the ‘Gades. Memphis hosts Jacksonville in a key clash of 1-0 clubs, while Atlanta will try to get their offense to actually score a TD as they face Birmingham in Legion Field. The Central Division is visiting the Pacific Division in the other half of the league matchups. While none of the top teams in either division face their opposites from the other division, we see some potential for good games across the board. LA hosting Michigan should tell us a lot about both clubs. Houston hopes their newfound offense can help them as they travel to Denver, while the Chicago Machine and Arizona Wranglers are both hoping they can avoid an 0-2 start as they battle in Tempe. New Orleans is in Oakland for what looks like a lopsided game, much like what we see when St. Louis heads to Portland. Finally, Texas is on the road and facing a tough foe as they visit the Seattle Dragons for a Sunday afternoon clash at Husky Stadium.

PART TWO Time to look into the crystal ball and try to make sense out of all the offseason moves, the coaching changes, draft pick signings, and player acquisitions, and see what we see as the future of the USFL in 2001. You cannot just go by last year, that has been proven out almost every season. In 1999 the LA Express came out of nowhere to win the Pacific, last year Ohio, Seattle, and Philadelphia made huge leaps and became serious playoff contenders. The USFL is a fickle league, with success very fleeting and sudden changes of fortune very common. So, we will do our best to read the tea leaves and see what we see, but, as always, don’t hold us to it. ATLANTIC DIVISION Perhaps the most balanced division from top to bottom. Last year it was the Stars jumping from 6th to 1st place, but we could see any of maybe 5 teams having a possible claim. Pittsburgh seems a bit lost, New Jersey is intriguing but will need time to gel, Washington may be on a downward trend, and Ohio seems poised to make a run this year. We are going to shake it up just a bit, but don’t be surprised if Philly repats or Baltimore ascends to the top. PREDICTED FINISH: 1-OHIO 2-PHILADELPHIA 3-BALTIMORE 4-NEW JERSEY 5-WASHINGTON 6-PITTSBURGH Three Year Trend: From 7-9 to 8-8 to 10-6 last season, a clear pattern of improvement. Head Coach: Al Luginbill Returning Stars: QB Kerry Collins, HB Eddie George, WR Joey Galloway, DT LaRoi Glover, LB Jeff Herod Departures: HB Darrell Thompson (FA), SS Kyle Kramer (FA), DT Tony Stevens (FA), WR Cedric Tillman (FA), WR Rob Thomas (FA), LB Aubrey Beavers (NFL), C Bob Kronenberg (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: HB Lamont Warren (FA), T Pete Kendall (FA), G Cooper Carlisle (Trade) Rookies to Watch: The Glory added two potential immediate starters in DT Marcus Stroud (Georgia) and wideout Chad Johnson (Oregon State). Could Johnson be the player that finally draws some coverage away from Galloway? Other signings of note include guard Marques McFadden (Arizona), OLB DeLawrence Grant (Oregon St), and TE Shawn Draper (Bama) Outlook: Ohio is a team on the rise, and their offense only got better with the addition of rookie Chad Johnson and added depth on the O-line. Losing Bob Kronenberg is tough, but the Glory have a solid line. The big question is whether or not they can take the next step, particularly on defense. Predicted Finish: 11-5, Division Champion Three Year Trend: Ten wins in ’98, a collapse to 5 in 99, and then a rebirth to a division title and 13 wins last year. Was 99 a blip or was 2000 a fluke? We tend to go with the former as the more likely scenario. Head Coach: Jim Mora Jr. Returning Stars: QB Bobby Hebert, HB Stephen Davis, WR Bobby Engram, DE Regan Upshaw, DT Seth Payne Departures: TE Eric Green (FA), DT Leon Lett (NFL), SS Corey Chavous (NFL), WR Kevin Dyson (NFL), CB Deltha O’Neill (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: DT Brandon Whitting (FA), G Joe Patton (FA), DE Bronzell Miller (Trade) Rookies to Watch: WR Steve Smith (Utah) has impressed in camp. LB Quinton Caver (Arkansas) has struggled a bit and likely will not get immediate starts. TE Tony Stewart (Penn State) has huge shoes to fill for the departed Eric Green. Other potential rostered rookies include OT Mathias Nkwenti (Temple) and SS Marlon McCree (Kentucky). Comments: Philadelphia was a surprise for many last year, but they have a lot of quality veterans on this team. 2001 could be the last hurrah for Bobby Hebert, and the departure of Eric Green and Kevin Dyson will not help, but rookie Steve Smith looks like a quality addition. Predicted Finish: 10-6, Wild Card Three Year Trend: Consistent winning (10 wins, then 12, then 10 in 2000), so we expect much the same this year as the roster seems even a bit deeper. Head Coach: Lindy Infante Returning Stars: QB Jeff Garcia, HB Ron Dayne, DT John Randall, SS Bennie Blades, LB Duane Bickett Departures: TE Keith McKeller (FA), DE Mike Piel (NFL), QB Trent Green (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: C Curtis Wilson (FA), DE Kabir Gabaja-Biamila (Trade) Rookies to Watch: S Adam Archuleta (ASU) looks like an immediate plug-n-play guy, possibly starting at FS or alternating with Blades at SS. He could line up alongside another good-looking rookie, CB Ken Lucas (Ole Miss). HBs Travis Minor (FSU) and Marcel Shipp (UMass) should both make the squad but may not get many touches until they pick up pass protection. Comments: Baltimore made the switch to Jeff Garcia at QB, and he did quite well for them. They were largely non-participants in Fre Agency, but got a potential star in DE KGB in trade for Trent Green. Add in a very good looking rookie in safety Adam Archuleta and the Blitz look ready to challenge again. Predicted Finish: 10-6, Wild Card Three Year Trend: From 7 wins in ’98 to 6 in ’99 and only 3 last year. That trend cost Marty Schottenheimer his job. Bill Parcells comes in and hopes his major shakeup produces a quick turnaround. Head Coach: Bill Parcells Returning Stars: HB Curtis Enis, WR Terry Glenn, WR Wayne Chrebet, DE Phil Hansen, LB Bobby Houston Departures: HB Lamont Warren (FA), SS Eric McMillan (NFL), G Corbin Lacina (NFL), LB Lorenzo Styles (NFL), LB Kevin Greene (RET), QB Jeff Lewis (Trade), QB Eric Zeier (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: QB Troy Aikman (FA), CB Darrien Gordon (FA), CB Kenny Gales (Trade) Rookies to Watch: LB Kendrell Bell (Georgia) is likely the only immediate starter from the 2000 rookie class, though we expect to see tackle Matt Light (Purdue) and guard Chad Ward (Washington) rotate into the lineup for some snaps. Another who could make the 53-man roster is CB Tay Cody (FSU) who seems to have beaten out Carey Scott (KY State) for a spot in the secondary. HB James Jackson will likely start the year on the practice squad. Comments: No team made a bigger splash this offseason. Bill Parcells was a huge addition, and he will have this team playing mentally tough football. Aikman has had some issues with concussions, so the Generals will need to watch out, but he has some serious weapons around him in Curtis Enis, Terry Glenn, and emerging 2000 rookie Anthony Becht. The defense will also look very new with two free agent corners along with rookie LB Kendrell Bell. Predicted Finish: 8-8, a big step up from 2000. Three Year Trend: Solid but not spectacular over 3 years (10 wins, then 8, then 11) seems about right for the Federals, who are in something of a rebuilding phase and have some players who are clearly on the back end of their careers. Head Coach: Paul Hackett Returning Stars: QB Kordell Stewart, HB Rueben Droughns, WR Herman Moore, DT Jerome Brown, CB Charles Woodson Departures: LB Winston Moss (FA), T Pete Kendall (FA), WR Andre Coleman (FA), HB Lamar Smith (FA0, WR Mike Williams (FA), LB Corey Miller (Trade), QB Brock Huard (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: LB Quentin Coryatt (FA), WR Lawyer Tillman (WSH), HB Tim Lester (Trade) Rookies to Watch: With the emergence of Rueben Droughns last year, it was a bit of a surprise to see Washington invest in a back like Ole Miss’s Deuce McCallister, but they always have loved the 2-back system, so expect Deuce to get a chance to shine. DT Kris Jenkins (Maryland) will rotate in for Jerome Brown as the big man needs more occasional breathers at this point in his career. Expect to see guard Damion Cook (Bethune Cookman) get some snaps, and LB Torrance Marshall (OU) should see action on special teams. We don’t see John Markum (Vandy) beating out Doug Pelfry for the kicking duties. Comments: The Federals again lost some good defensive talent in Winston Moss and Corey Miller, but the addition of veteran Quentin Coryatt should help. We are not sure who will end up getting carries as Washington added former Arizona thumper Tim Lester as well as rookie Deuce McCallister to a RB group that was expected to be handed over to Rueben Drouhns. There are a lot of questions, and that has us nervous about a team that is usually pretty easy to like. Predicted Finish: 7-9, needs time to fill in some gaps. Three Year Trend: From mediocre (8-8 in 1998), to slightly better (10-6 in 1999) to a complete collapse in 2000 (3-13). Pittsburgh is clearly in a rebuilding mode. Is that good enough for Emmitt Thomas to keep his job? Head Coach: Emmitt Thomas Returning Stars: QB Charlie Batch, HB Terrell Davis, WR Andre Rison, LB DeMetrius DuBose, LB Godfrey Miles Departures: FS Jerome Woods (FA), DT Moe Gardner (FA), WR Lonzell Hill (FA), HB Tavian Banks (FA), CB Quintin Jones (RET), T Bernard Williams (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: HB Lamar Smith (FA), DE Mike Mamula (FA), DT Russell Maryland (FA), QB Alex Van Pelt (Trade) Rookies to Watch: We love the motor on DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska) and we think TE Alge Crumpler (UNC) could get the starting gig within the season’s first month, but the biggest surprise in camp has been FS Corey Hall (App State), who could break into the lineup for a Mauler D that needs his energy. Kicker Bill Grammatica (USF) could unseat Ryan Lindell. Comments: The Maulers had a major collapse in 2000, despite decent play from QB Charlie Batch and the usual greatness from HB Terrell Davis. The defense was the big issue, and we are not sure that the addition of Russell Maryland and Mike Mamula is enough. We do like rookie DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, but the LB corps and the secondary still make us wonder about the Mauler D this year. Predicted Finish: 5-11, with room for growth. SOUTHERN DIVISION Is this finally Orlando’s year to shine? They seemed poised to make a deep playoff run, and they did win the division, but losing Scott Mitchell late in the season doomed them to a quick playoff departure. The Renegades are not a given as Birmingham is always a threat and Memphis is in no way out of the picture. We are still not sure what to say about Jacksonville, who started 2000 very strongly but then wilted in the summer heat. Tampa Bay has a lot of issues to overcome and we are just not ready to say that Atlanta is ready to turn the corner and join their fellow 1995 expansion clubs in the postseason. PREDICTED FINISH: 1-ORLANDO 2-MEMPHIS 3-BIRMINGHAM 4-JACKSONVILLE 5-TAMPA BAY 6-ATLANTA Three Year Trend: 2000 felt like a step up, from 2 consecutive 9-win seasons to 11-5 and a division title. Can they take another step this year? Head Coach: George O’Leary Returning Stars: QB Scott Mitchell, HB Terry Kirby, WR Keenan McCardell, WR Donald Driver, DE Chris Doleman, CB Deon Figures Departures: TE Dante Whittaker (CFL), LB Dante Jones (NFL), DT Joel Steed (NFL), HB Moe Williams (NFL) Veteran Arrivals: TE Ricky Dudley (FA), DT Brandon Whiting (FA) Rookies to Watch: The Renegades focused on low-sizzle, high-impact positions. Mike Gandy (NDame) should be the week 1 right tackle. Kenny Smith (Bama) will be in the DT mix, and OLB Patrick Chukwarah (Wyoming) could see some action early as well. Others on the 53-man roster include guard Stephen Neal (CSU Bakersfield) and LB Hakim Akbar (Wash) Comments: We are saying this is Orlando’s chance to step up. Yes, they lost some solid players, but adding Ricky Dudley is an upgrade at TE, and their draft was solid. We see Orlando going as far as QB Scott Mitchell and their defense can take them. Predicted Finish: 11-5, Top seed in the conference. Three Year Trend: Two consecutive 12-win seasons after an 8-8 start for coach Jim Mora Sr. We don’t see a big dropoff this year. Head Coach: Jim Mora Sr. Returning Stars: QB Heather Shuler, HB Garrison Hearst, WR Joe Horn, TE Adrian Cooper, LB Jim Schwantz Departures: LB Joe Mott (FA), WR Lawyer Tillman (FA), C Curtis Wilson (FA), DE Mike Mamula (FA), G Cooper Carlisle (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: T Brian Williams (FA), QB Bill Musgrave (FA), FS Joe King (FA), C Bob Kronenburg (Trade) Rookies to Watch: Center Casey Rabach (Wisc) was a clear need pick, while the two wideouts signed, Justin McCareins (NIU) and Cedric Wilson (Tenn) will add depth. In camp, unheralded UNC LB Brandon Spoon has looked like a contributor, while DE Paul Toviessi (Marshall) has done enough to make the roster. Comments: Despite losses on both sides of the ball, Memphis’s season still looks like it will be dictated by the play of QB Heath Shuler and the O-line’s ability to block for him. Adding C Bob Kronenburg should help there, and adding two rookie wideouts should provide some options beyond Joe Horn for the Showboats. Predicted Finish: 10-6 and a Wild Card. Three Year Trend: Two 8-8 seasons with an 11-5 bump in the middle. We all keep saying that the Stallions are too talented to win 8 games, but they still win 8 games. Head Coach: Kevin Gilbride steps up to fill the slot that Ron Erhardt’s new GM position opened. Returning Stars: QB Brett Favre, FB Mike Alstott, WR Lawrence Dawsey, CB Deion Sanders, DE Mike Rucker Departures: HB Rodney Thomas (OAK) LB Cornelius Bennett (FA), DT Brandon Whiting (FA), G Ed King (FA), WR Ernest Givens (RET) Veteran Arrivals: LB Joe Mott (FA), DE Renaldo Turnbull (FA), QB Eric Zeier (Trade) Rookies to Watch: We are not sure Ron Erhardt’s first draft as GM was a strong one. SS Harold Blackmon (NWern) and DT Damione Lewis (Miami) will certainly make the roster, but we don’t see a starter in this draft. Others who could stick are FB Nick Goings (Pitt) if the Stallions keep 5 backs, or DE Cedrick Scott (So Miss). Early pick Bill Ferrario (Wisc) has been something of a disappointment in camp at the guard position and may be relegated to the practice squad. Comments: We like the signings of Turnbull and Mott to help the defense, but they also lost Cornelius Bennett, the outspoken leader of the defense, so there will be a need for new leaders to step up. The offense will still run through Brett Favre and Lawrence Dawsey, but without Ernest Givens on the squad, who will step up at that split end position? Predicted Finish: 9-7, Just missing the postseason. Three Year Trend: Steady improvement from 3 wins to 6, and 8-8 last year. Is this another step along the way to a playoff contender? Head Coach: Gunther Cunningham Returning Stars: QB Chris Chandler, HB Sedrick Irvin, WR Terrell Owens, LB Lavar Arrington, DT Sam Adams Departures: C Bubba Miller (FA), TE Steve Johnson (FA), FS Mark Carrier (FA), WR Patrick Rowe (FA), CB R.W. McQuarters (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: WR Cedric Tillman (FA), TE Eric Green (FA) Rookies to Watch: The Bulls have three solid players at the top of their draft and a possible darkhorse in what has to be considered another good draft. Expect to see quite a bit of DE Derrick Burgess (Ole Miss) on the field. Center Dominic Raiola (Nebraska) may get the start this week, and OLB Brian Allen (FSU) has looked like a fast learner. The surprise has been the play of 6th round pick, safety Ifeany Ohalete (USC). Finally, we expect UCLA wideout Drew Bennett to make the squad as well as he could be part of the kick return and coverage teams. Comments: The Bulls looked dynamite for about 1/3 of the season last year and then the wheels sort of fell off, and the worst thing is that there was not a clear reason why. The run game needs to be better, but we don’t see much beyond the addition of an athletic rookie center to address that. Chris Chandler is getting older, less mobile, and more prone to sacks each year, so a run game will be needed to keep him upright. Predicted Finish: 7-9, but just not quite a playoff team. Three Year Trend: Trending the wrong way for Coach Seifert. 13 wins and a league title, down to 7-9 in 1999 and only 6-10 last year. Now losing Aikman, things seem headed south. Head Coach: George Seifert Returning Stars: HB Errict Rhett, WR Randy Moss, DE Santana Dotson, LB Kevin Mitchell, CB Samari Rolle Departures: CB Darrien Gordon (FA), QB Troy Aikman (FA), G Chris Thatcher (FA), WR Robert Brooks (NFL), DE Kabir Gabaja-Biamila (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: LB Winston Moss (FA), FS Jerome Woods (FA), SS LeRoy Butler (FA), QB Trent Green (Trade) Rookies to Watch: Former Wolverine Steve Hutchinson is a no brainer to start for the Bandits. We are not sure what to make of the rest of their rookie class. CB Brock Williams (NDame), ILB Zeke Moreno (USC) and CB Chidi Iwouma (Cal) all should make the roster, but beyond that, we just don’t know if we will see much of them this year. Comments: It is a rebuilding year, one of several we expect. Trent Green has issues staying healthy and is a placeholder at best at this point. There are still a lot of weapons, including Randy Moss and Errict Rhett on this team, but losing Aikman and then Robert Brooks is not a good thing for Coach Seifert. Predicted Finish: 5-11 and the search for a franchise QB commences. Three Year Trend: Six, two, and 4 wins, paired with last place finishes in the division do not seem a trend one wants to continue. Can Coach Petrino get more from them in year 2? Head Coach: Bobby Petrino Returning Stars: QB Aaron Brooks, HB Tiki Barber, DT Anthony McFarland, LB Mo Lewis, DE Bruce Smith Departures: SS Robert Blackmon (FA), WR Hart Lee Dykes (NFL), G Chris Dalman (NFL), HB Glyn Milburn (NFL), P Brian Moorman (NFL), HB Mike Anderson (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: P Chris Hanson (FA), HB Mario Greer (FA), C Bubba Miller (FA) Rookies to Watch: Signing big DT Casey Hampton (TEX) was a good start, though all fans could talk about was the failure to land Michael Vick. SS Adrian Wilson (NC State) and guard Paul Zukauskas (BC) should also make the 53, while tackle Maurice Williams (Michigan) and CB Jeramatrius Butler (K State) are on the bubble and could start the year on the practice squad. Comments: The Fire played hard last year for Coach Petrino, and the defense got better, but they still have to decide if either Aaron Brooks or Mark Bulger is really a starting QB in this league. They took their shot at Vick and failed, so now one of those two has to make it happen. We only wish they had been able to add more weapons for either of them. The Fire receiving corps remains seriously underwhelming. Predicted Finish: 3-13 unless Petrino can light a fire under one of his QBs. CENTRAL DIVISION In some ways very unpredictable, as we saw with New Orleans’s rise last year, and yet the St. Louis Knights have been something of a constant at the top of the division. We think this year they will be challenged by New Orleans, but we see Michigan, Chicago, Texas and Houston quite a bit further down the power rankings and we think this could be a 2-horse race. PREDICTED FINISH: 1-ST. LOUIS 2-NEW ORLEANS 3-CHICAGO 4-MICHIGAN 5-HOUSTON 6-TEXAS Three Year Trend: Three straight division titles is pretty consistent even if the record has fluctuated (14-2, 10-6, 12-4). Head Coach: Jim Johnson Returning Stars: QB Todd Collins, HB Ahman Green, WR Bert Emmanuel, DE Vonnie Holiday, SS Rodney Harrison Departures: FS Jerome Watkins (FS), HB Karim Abdul-Jabbar (NFL), G Chris Villareal (NFL), DT Jerry Ball (RET) Veteran Arrivals: TE Keith McKeller (FA), DT James Manley (FA) Rookies to Watch: DT Shaun Rogers (Texas) is the one sure thing from the draft. We are still scratching over the pick of FS Bhawoh Jue (Penn State) as early as they picked him. TE Jabari Holloway (NDame) is not the big play TE the Knights hoped to find. HB George Layne (TCU) is likely a practice squad player, and kicker Jay Feeley seems destined to be seeking work elsewhere. He is solid, but not going to unseat Longwell. Comments: The Knights just keep winning the Central Division, but is that enough? Losing DT Jerry Ball to retirement will not help the D, though James Manley is certainly serviceable. The Knights did not draft or sign well, at least not that we can see. Is a step down coming? Possibly, but we are still picking them to win a pretty weak Central Division. Predicted Finish: 10-6 and just enough to win the division again. Three Year Trend: From back to back losing seasons (6-10, 7-9) to a legitimate title contender in one year. No wonder Mike Nolan was a serious candidate for Coach of the Year. Can he keep it up? Head Coach: Mike Nolan Returning Stars: QB Trent Dilfer, HB Ricky Williams, LB Lamar Lathon, DE Chidi Ahanotu, SS Devin Bush Departures: LB Robert Hinkley (FA), HB Erric Pegram (FA), LB Gerald Dixon (FA), C Brian Brauninger (FA), FS Darren Woodson (NFL), DE Jerry Reese (RET), CB Thomas Randolph (Trade), T Oliver Ross (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: DT Moe Gardner (FA), TE Steve Johnson (FA), WR Roell Preston (Trade), G Bob Sapp (Trade) Rookies to Watch: For a team with a solid D, the Breakers sure drafted like they needed help. FS Idrees Bashir (Memphis), ILB Monty Beisel (K State) and OLB Jason Glenn (TAMU) will all make the squad, but will they see the field? A late pick in QB Jesse Palmer (Florida) is a bit of a developmental project. Comments: The Breakers had one of the most surprising seasons we can remember last year and it was all lead by a true shut down defense. So, of course, they lose some key players this offseason, including DE Jerry Reese, CB Thomas Randolph, and two linebackers. Adding Moe Gardner helps their interior line, but a lot could be asked of some rookies, including two rookie linebackers, and that could mean a step back as they adjust to the pro game. Predicted Finish: 9-7 and a Wild Card. Three Year Trend: The Machine are headed the right way, improving from 3 wins in ’98 to 6 and then to 7 last season. It is slow, but they are getting better. Head Coach: Marty Mornhinweg Returning Stars: QB Jeff George, HB Duce Staley, DT Sean Gilbert, DE Simeon Rice, LB Brian Urlacher Departures: CB Alan Grant (FA), T Jeff Wright (FA), HB Mario Bates (FA), CB Clifton Abraham (FA), HB Ricky Watters (NFL), WR Floyd Turner (Trade), QB Alex Van Pelt (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: QB Browning Nagle (FA), CB Jimmy Hitchcock (FA), SS Je’Rod Cherry (FA), DT George Tuttle (Trade), CB R.W. McQuarters (Trade), T Bernard Williams (Trade) Rookies to Watch: We love the signing of disruptive LB Tommy Polley (FSU), and adding another athletic LB later in the draft with Vandy’s Jamie Winborn is another good signing. In camp, fomer Badger Jamar Fletcher (CB) has turned heads too. But, where is the offensive help? Comments: Coach Mornhinweg has the club moving in the right direction, but we just are not sure they have enough offense to truly be dangerous. Jeff George has been underwhelming since coming over from Atlanta, and the loss of Ricky Watters to the NFL will be felt. We like the addition of R.W. McQuarters through trade, safety Je’Rod Cherry, and DT George Tuttle, basically helping to provide some defensive depth to the squad. And while LB Tommy Polley is a great addition from the draft, we wonder where the offensive help is coming from. Predicted Finish: 7-9, and struggling to score points. Three Year Trend: The Panthers have been hovering around .500 for years (7, 9, 7 wins) and that led to Skip Holtz being let go. Can Mike Martz do better? And will it be Flutie or Brees that gets him there? Head Coach: Mike Martz Returning Stars: QB Doug Flutie, WR Muhsin Muhammad, LB Ted Johnson, FS Mike Prior, LB Sam Cowart Departures: DE Renaldo Turnbull (FA), LB Frank Stams (FA), K Brett Conway (FA), QB Elvis Grbac (FA), G Bob Sapp (Trade), HB Natrone Means (Released) Veteran Arrivals: CB Alan Grant (FA), HB Siran Stacy (FA), CB Deltha O’Neill (CB), T Oliver Ross (Trade) Rookies to Watch: The state of Michigan is all abuzz about Drew Brees (Purdue). They like Flutie fine, but it is always exciting to see a top tier QB drafted. Flying a bit under the radar is DE Aaron Schobell (TCU), another good pick. DE Reggie Hayward and LB Jeremiah Pharms will likely be practice squad or deep bench players in what was really a very shallow draft for the Panthers. Comments: Expect this year to be all about the QB position. While he certainly has his fans, many in Detroit have soured on Doug Flutie and are excited to see Drew Brees on the field. But, here is the thing, the rest of the team has issues too. Siran Stacy has to step into a nasty situation surrounding Natrone Means, the receiving corps did not get any faster, and the team is still trying to audition a kicker. We see trouble ahead. Predicted Finish: 6-10 and moving on to Brees. Three Year Trend: After 2 years of mediocrity (7 and 8 wins) the bottom fell out for the Gamblers (4-12) leading to Coach Willsey’s resignation and a clear rebuilding phase for Houston favorite Wade Phillips. Head Coach: Wade Phillips Returning Stars: QB Matt Hasselbeck, HB Kevin Faulk, WR Antonio Freeman, DE Kavika Pittman, DE Michael Sinclair Departures: HB Mario Greer (FA), LB Quentin Coryatt (FA), WR Brett Perriman (NFL), CB Ashley Ambrose (NFL), Veteran Arrivals: WR Tamarick Vanover (FA), LB Gerald Dixon (FA), CB Vince Buck (FA), QB Brock Huard (Trade), HB Mike Anderson (Trade) Rookies to Watch: Houston doubled down on their one strength, the D-line, by signing top pick DT Richard Seymour (Georgia). That line will be tough, but what other help was obtained? WR Koren Robinson (NC State) will likely replace Brett Perriman, another good pick. We are not sure if guard Matt Lehr (Va Tech) will make the 53 or not, and CB Jason bell (UCLA) is likely a practice squader. Comments: Houston was bad last year, like epically bad, particularly on offense, where they simply could not score points. So what did they do to remedy that? They brought in a slot receiver, a backup QB and a halfback who barely saw the field for the Atlanta Fire. Hardly seems enough. We do love their draft, particularly those top two signees, Richard Seymour for the D, and Koren Robinson for the offense, but that does not feel like enough. We still see little hope of a strong run game and we are not sold that Matt Hasselbeck is truly a quality starter. Predicted Finish: 5-11 and trying to rebuild over time for their new coach. Three Year Trend: A slow ascension (8 wins to 10) turned into a 5-11 debacle last year. Out goes Jack Pardee, in comes Chan Gailey, but the Outlaws are clearly rebuilding. Head Coach: Chan Gailey Returning Stars: HB Reggie Cobb, WR Shawn Collins, DE John Bosa, SS Mike Minter, LB Tedi Bruschi Departures: WR Darnay Scott (FA), QB Kelly Stouffer (RET), C Mike Arthur (Trade), CB Kenny Gales (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: T Jeff Wright (FA), HB Erric Pegram (FA), LB Stephen Boyd (Trade), QB Jeff Lewis (Trade) Rookies to Watch: Guard Leonard Davis (Texas) will help protect new QB Jeff Lewis, but he needs more weapons and we don’t think mid-round WR Scotty Anderson (Grambling) is what Lewis was hoping for. HB Kevin Barlow is not exactly LaDainian Tomlinson, but at least he signed. Those three may be the only signees who make the squad in a pretty iffy draft. Comments: Both Texas clubs are going through major upheavals. The Outlaws will be starting a new QB for the first time in a decade, and they have to feel lucky that Coach Parcells simply did not want to work with Jeff Lewis. Lewis played well for a bad Generals team last year, and now he finds himself on a squad with just as many issues as his former club. Reggie Cobb is not getting any younger, so getting Pegram to spell him periodically is a good idea. We think Texas will try to keep scores low and win ugly, but what we predict is mostly just the ugly part. Predicted Finish: 4-12 and needing a youth movement. PACIFIC DIVISION Denver finally nabbed their first title, but the division will be a tough slog. Both Seattle and LA have improved in some key areas, Arizona also looks like a potential threat in the division. Oakland and Portland will almost certainly bring up the rear. We are going to go with Seattle as the ascendant team, just because the post-title hangover is a very real threat for the Gold. PREDICTED FINISH: 1-SEATTLE 2-DENVER 3-ARIZONA 4-LOS ANGELES 5-OAKLAND 6-PORTLAND Three Year Trend: The Dragons took the step, up from 7-9 and 8-8 to 12-4, Seattle seems to have found its way under Coach Tiller. Head Coach: Joe Tiller. Returning Stars: QB Brian Griese, HB Corey Dillon, WR David Boston, LB Levon Kirkland, LB Takeo Spikes Departures: CB Paul Jetton (FA), WR Donald Hayes (FA), G Jesse Sapolo (NFL), LB Stephen Boyd (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: HB Tavian Banks (FA), T Mike Arthur (Trade) Rookies to Watch: A tough draft to celebrate as none of their early rounders signed on. CB Willie Middlebrooks (Minn) should move into the nickel, and we think guard Russ Hochstein (Nebraska) will be part of the rotation, but when your only sure starter is the new punter, Nick Harris (Cal), maybe you did not get what you wanted from the draft. Comments: Seattle is another trendy pick to move up a notch, get a division title and possibly a championship. Many are still not sold on Brian Griese as a championship QB, but there are a lot of good pieces in place in the Pacific Northwest. Corey Dillon has become a true All-USFL back, and the receivers are dynamic. Not a lot of changes due to free agency, though the trade of Stephen Boyd left a hole in the LB corps that Seattle has not truly addressed. We like the overall picture and could imagine this team going far. Predicted Finish: 12-4 and top seed in the West. Three Year Trend: Denver is the league champion, and with 3 straight 10+ win seasons, they are a model of consistency under coach Jauron. Head Coach: Dick Jauron Returning Stars: QB Mark Brunell, HB Rashaan Salaam, WR Dedrick Smith, DE Leslie O'Neill, CB Bruce Pickens, LB Kurt Gouveia Departures: FS Joe King (FA), DT James Manley (FA), WR Tamarick Vanover (FA), QB Bill Musgrave (FA), T Adam Meadows (NFL), SS Corey Gaines (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: QB Elvis Grbac (FA), FS Mark Carrier (FA), DT Paul Grasmanis (Trade) Rookies to Watch: When you pick last each round you are not expected to get a lot of solid talent, but we think Denver did pretty well. CB Jamar Fletcher (Wisc) should be a solid option at the nickel, FS Tony Driver (NDame) adds good depth) and WR Robert Ferguson (TAMU) is rangy with good hands. FB Heath Evans (Auburn) was a good late round pick who could help Salaam snag that rushing title he so wants. Comments: Denver finally got over the hump and won their first title, but with that comes the feeding frenzy in free agency. Losing Joe King, James Mandley and Adam Meadows is not a good thing for the Gold. We like adding Paul Grasmanis in trade, but he is not an answer all by himself. Their draft was solid and we should see several rookies get some playing time, though likely not as starters just yet. Predicted Finish: 10-6 and still in the mix. Three Year Trend: We are done calling each year the year Arizona gets over the hump. Jake Plummer had a monster season last year and they still only got 9 wins, after 7 in ’99 and 8 in ’98. We think they will likely get somewhere between 7-9 wins this year as well. Head Coach: Art Shell Returning Stars: QB Jake Plummer, HB Dorsey Levins, WR Carl Pickens, LB Broderick Thomas, CB Philippi Sparks Departures: CB Aeneas Williams (FA), DT Russell Maryland (FA), QB Browning Nagle (FA), LB Barney Bussey (NFL), WR Rocket Ismail (NFL), CB Kevin Minnifield (NFL), HB Tim Lester (Trade), DE Bronzell Miller (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: CB Clifton Abraham (FA), LB Corey Miller (Trade), Rookies to Watch: We love the signing of Miami’s Santana Moss to this offense, and CB Fred Smoot (Miss State) also looks like a good early pick, but the steal of the draft may well be final round “afterthought” pick Dominic Rhodes from tiny Midwestern State. Rhodes has been impressive in camp, winning himself a spot in the 3-man HB group. Comments: Arizona has to get worse, right? They lost a few very good pieces to their defense and while they added a couple of decent players, it does not seem a positive in the overall picture. Losing Rocket Ismail will be tough for Plummer, who loves the deep ball, but maybe rookie Santana Moss can help with that. Now, if they could just block better for Dorsey Levins, they might just get a run game beyond Plummer’s crazy scrambles and bootlegs. Predicted Finish: 8-8 and once again stuck in the middle. Three Year Trend: After an explosive rise from 2-16 in 1998 to 11-5 in 1999, the Express had a bit of a letdown last year, finishing at 8-8 and just barely making the postseason. Head Coach: Galen Hall Returning Stars: QB Cade McNown, HB Antowain Smith, WR Mike Pritchard, DT David Rocker, LB Danta Jones Departures: CB Vince Buck (FA), TE Rickey Dudley (FA0, T Brian Williams (FA), P Chris Hanson (FA), QB Brent Pease (NFL), WR Bobby Shaw (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: CB Aeneas Williams (FA), LB Cornelius Bennett (FA), P Micah Knorr (Trade) Rookies to Watch: The Express Draft was deep and talented. They added a dynamic edge rusher in Mizzou’s Justin Smith, a roadgrating tackle in USF’s Kenyatta Jones, and a dual use TE in Arizona’s Brandon Manumaleuma. The choice to draft and sign Georgia’s Quincy Carter at QB seems an odd one, but with Brent Pease departing an athletic backup QB behind McNown may be a good move in the long run. Others likely to make the squad are CB Renaldo Hill (MSU), and punter Steve Cheek (Humboldt State). Comments: We think LA was better than last season’s record indicated. For this year they bolstered their defense with two very charismatic veterans in Aeneas Williams and Corenelius Bennett. Their draft was considered one of the league’s best, so why do we have them 4th in the division? Well, I think it comes down to not trusting that the offense has enough explosiveness. Their 2 backs are more plodders than explosive big play guys, and their receiving corps needs more options for QB Cade McNown. Losing Ricky Dudley means he now has no security blanket on those tough 3rd down calls. Predicted Finish: 8-8 but possibly could do much better if the new pieces blend quickly. Three Year Trend: From 9 wins in 1998 to back-to-back 4-12 seasons. Things have to improve by the bay or it will not be long for Coach Capers, in his 2nd year with a team that has issues. Head Coach: Dom Capers Returning Stars: QB Ryan Leaf, HB Troy Davis, WR Plaxico Burress, LB Chris Spielman, DE Eric Currry Departures: HB Siran Stacy (FA), G Joe Patton (FA), QB Cary Conklin (NFL), DT Tracy Rocker (NFL), WR Roell Preston (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: HB Rodney Thomas (FA), CB Thomas Randolph (Trade) Rookies to Watch: LB Dan Morgan (Miami) will be a week 1 starter on a defense that needs more aggressiveness. DE Karon Riley (Minn) and WR Alex Bannister (EKU) should make the squad, while QB Marques Tuiasosopo (Wash) will likely end up in the 3rd QB slot behind Leaf and Kitna, giving him time to adjust in case Leaf continues to struggle and ends up walking after his contract ends. Comments: For a team that seemed to need major infusions of talent this offseason the Invaders played it pretty low key. They lose Stacy but add Rodney Thomas, about a wash if you ask us. They don’t add much more for Ryan Leaf to work with and their line may have actually taken a step back with the loss of guard Joe Patton. Hard to be optimistic about this group, particularly with their QB situation now muddled, with both veteran Jon Kitna and rookie Marques Tuiasosopo breathing down Ryan Leaf’s neck. Predicted Finish: 4-12 and a desperate need to build an identity. Three Year Trend: “Oof” is the word you are looking for. From 10 wins to 6 to a miserable 1-15 season. Ray Rhodes got a pass last year, against the wishes of many fans, but he had better figure things out quickly. Head Coach: Ray Rhodes Returning Stars: QB Rick Mirer, HB Napoleon Kaufmann, WR Matthew Hatchette, DE Clyde Simmons, LB Mark Simoneau Departures: SS Je’Rod Cherry (FA), CB Jimmy Hitchcock (FA), HB June Henley (FA), T Herb Webster (NFL), C Jeff Uhlenake (NFL), WR Webster Slaughter (RET), DT George Tuttle (Trade), DT Paul Grasmanis (Trade) Veteran Arrivals: HB Darrell Thompson (FA), LB Greg Biekert (FA), WR Patrick Rowe (FA), WR Floyd Turner (Trade), SS Corey Gaines (Trade) Rookies to Watch: Portland did well In signing their picks, and with the issues they had, several rookies could see considerable action this year. CB Will Allen (Syracuse) will start right away as should center Roberto Garza (TAMU-Kingsville) and tackle Kenyatta Walker (Florida) on a revamped O-line. We also like Nebraska HB Correll Buckhalter as a contributor this year. Portland also filled their 3rd QB slot behind Mirer and Akili Smith, with a smart, often underestimated QB in Oregon’s A.J. Feeley. Comments: The Thunder were bad last year, really really bad. We are not sure that either Akili Smith or Rick Mirer is the answer at QB. And while we like both Greg Biekert and Corey Gaines as defensive additions, the club also lost 2 defensive tackles through trade and we don’t see how they replaced them with players of the same, much less higher, caliber. Coach Ray Rhodes got a 2nd year despite a 1-win season, but he had better do a lot more than we saw last year if he wants a 3rd season. Predicted Finish: 3-13 and we say goodbye to the coach. We just don’t see more talent than last year. We have looked at the season as a whole, but we have a slate of games coming up and should take a hard look at the matchups to decide who comes out in Week 1. Here are the 12 opening matchups with the Las Vegas line and our picks. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (NBC) 8pm ET Birmingham @ Denver (-3): A great opening matchup between the defending league champions and one of the league’s most explosive teams. Will the Gold have a title hangover or will they come out rolling? SATURDAY AFTERNOON (ABC/FOX) 12 pm ET Baltimore (-2) @ Michigan: A good early test for the Panthers, who are actually home underdogs against the Blitz. Flutie v. Garcia should be a fun showdown of two scrambling QBs. New Jersey @ Texas (-2): The new-look Generals are still a road underdog, perhaps in part due to the supposed revenge factor of new Texas QB Jeff Lewis going against his former club, who unceremoniously traded him off to go for a big name signing in Troy Aikman. 4pm ET Jacksonville @ Arizona (-3): We like the Wranglers in this one. Starting the season not knowing what Coach Shell has in store with Jake Plummer is not a comfortable feeling for the Bulls. Memphis (-9) @ Portland: The biggest spread of the week is not really surprising. Memphis was one game away from the Summer Bowl last year while Portland was 1 game away from a winless season. SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (ESPN) 8pm ET Ohio @ St. Louis (-4): The Knights defense will be a huge opening week test for Kerry Collins, Eddie George, and Joey Galloway, but we can also say that Galloway, George and Collins are also a pretty tough test for the Knights’ D, so this one is tough to pick. SUNDAY AFTERNOON (ABC/FOX) 12pm ET Philadelphia (-3) @ Chicago: The casinos like Philly’s chances to win on the road, but Chicago in March can be a tough call. If it is a blustery and cold day that could play in favor of the Machine. Pittsburgh @ Houston (-1): A practical “toss up” game between two teams who certainly disappointed last year. Does Houston really feel comfortable with Hasselbeck at QB? Is Pittsburgh ready to rebound from a disappointing 2000 season? 4pm ET Tampa Bay @ Los Angeles (-5): The loss of Aikman has the books leary of the Bandits, but LA was a pretty middle-of-the-road last year after shooting to the top of the standings in 1999. Is Cade Mcnown ready for a rebound year or is Trent Green going to find success in Tampa? Orlando (-4) @ Oakland: Scott Mitchell is back and the Renegades focused almost exclusively on strengthening the middle of their defense in the offseason so we see this as a tough matchup for the Invaders to open the year with. Atlanta @ Seattle (-7): A touchdown favorites, we think Seattle wins this one, but we also think Atlanta will play them tough and cover the spread. SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (ESPN) 8pm ET New Orleans @ Washington (-2): The Feds get the home field nudge on the line, but this one could be a game without a touchdown as both clubs live and die by defense and we expect some pretty harsh weather in the DC area on Sunday.

PART ONE Three weeks from kickoff of the USFL’s 19th season and the excitement is palpable. Rosters have to be trimmed to 53 by this Friday, and the NFL-USFL tranfer window has again closed for the season. There remain some free agents still looking for clubs, but for the most part teams have their rosters in place and may only tweak on the edges. Game plans for week 1 are already being developed, and fans across the country are eager to see if their club has made the changes needed to garner a title this year. We start our preview of the upcoming season with the big story, the 2001 USFL Draft and the signings the league has been able to ink since the selections were made. We have come to learn over the past 18 years that the USFL Draft is only half the story. With the spring league always competing with the senior NFL for talent, every pick is a weighing of probabilities. Who seems open to signing with one club over another? And while the risk of joining the USFL instead of the NFL is far less daunting than it used to appear in the early years of the league, there is still always a give and take as players and their agents play the two leagues off each other to get the best deal possible. Sometimes it is a matter of funds, or of the perceived fit or quality of the NFL and USFL squad that has drafted a player. Location can be the difference, or even something as minimal as which pick was used in each league to select the player. As we have seen each year since the NFL and USFL moved their drafts within 3 weeks of each other, the negotiations are tricky, and the smallest factor can make a club a winner or a loser in the draft. And, as usual, both leagues end up with somewhere around 50% of their selections signing with the rival league. So, as we examine the biggest hits and biggest misses of the draft, we recognize the really tough work put in by the scouts, general managers, player personnel staff, and contract negotiation teams to bring talented players to USFL rosters. Here are our biggest hits and misses of the 2001 Draft. HIT: DT Richard Seymour (Georgia) signed by the Houston Gamblers. A lot of folks thought Houston would go for Vick with their first pick, but they zigged when we thought they would zag, and the payoff may be the most dominant D-lineman in the draft. Put Seymour between Sinclair and Pittman and Houston has a D-line that will strike fear into offensive coordinators. The Gamblers may never need to blitz again with this 3-man line in place. Bring just one LB into the pass rush and the pocket is almost sure to crumble. MISS: QB Michael Vick (Va Tech) chooses between two clubs in the same city. We always knew that with the Atlanta Falcons having the first pick in the NFL draft that Vick would be enticed to play in the fall league with a club about as close to his alma mater as could be. Perhaps that is why the Fire felt that they would have a shot at the elusive dual threat QB where other USFL teams would not. They gambled with their first round pick (6th overall), but Vick took the deal with the Falcons instead. A calculated risk, but one that cannot make Aaron Brooks or Marc Bulger feel comfortable. HIT: WR Santana Moss (Miami) an immediate starter With Rocket Ismail off to the NFL, the Wranglers desperately needed to add a speedster to their WR corps, and the signing of Moss has definitely fit the bill. In training camp, the former Hurricane’s speed has been on display, and his hands have been pretty darn good too. Expect Moss to be a Day 1 starter and a key target for Jake Plummer this year. MISS: LaDainian Tomlinson (TCU) leaves Texas for the SoCal Coast. The idea of TCU’s dynamic HB staying in Texas with the Outlaws seemed a natural fit, and the Outlaws certainly hoped Tomlinson would see it that way as well when they took him with their 1st pick, but Tomlinson got a really good offer from the Chargers and the coast came calling. It is a clear missed opportunity for the Outlaws, who did add Reggie Barlow, their 4th round pick from NC State, and improved the line by signing one of the top guards in the draft, Leonard Davis of Texas, but Reggie Cobb has a lot of miles on those legs. HIT: Drew Brees the Newest Panther Let’s be honest, it is amazing Doug Flutie has lasted this long. He came into the league in 1985, and he has had a very solid career, but the Panthers need to plan for the future. Don’t expect Brees to start on Week 1, but don’t be surprised if the former Purdue QB is finishing the year as the starter. He shares a lot of traits with Flutie, including great vision and a somewhat diminutive size. A good transition for the Panthers as their Flutie-based offense should work well with Brees under center as well. MISS: Strike 1 and 2 for the Thunder It is a common strategy in the USFL draft to double up on the same position, knowing that you have about a 50/50 shot of signing your top choice. Well, Portland went 0-for-2 on their attempts to get a top flight defensive end. They did land their top pick, CB Will Allen of Syracuse, but lost out to the NFL on both Stanford’s Willie Howard and, more importantly, on Cal’s Andre Carter. It is not easy to get a California player to leave the state, so when the 49ers also drafted Carter the 1-15 Thunder knew it would be a tough sell. That Howard preferred the offer from the Minnesota Vikings over that of Portland just goes to show how hard it is to land players when your team is viewed as something of a front office trainwreck. HIT: LA and Baltimore Get Their Men When asking GMs who had the strongest draft (and signing record) we are hearing LA and Baltimore mentioned a lot. LA hit on 4 of their top 5 picks, signing Mizzou DE Justin Smith, USF tackle Kenyatta Jones, TE Brandon Manumaleuna and also getting a good developmental QB in Georgia’s Quincy Carter. Baltimore also landed 4 top choices (4 of their top 6), including 1st round pick SS Adam Archuleta, 2nd rounder CB Ken Lucas of Ole Miss, and then adding two solid HBs in later rounds in speedy receiving back Travis Minor of FSU and a top Div 1-AA producer in UMass’s Marcel Shipp. MISS: Atlanta and Philadelphia Struggle to Sign Top Picks While not surprised that Atlanta missed out on several of their top picks (including Vick), it is a bit of a surprise that Philly struggled to sign players. The Stars did get a solid talent in Utah wideout Steve Smith, but no one else in their draft really stands out. Missing out on TE Todd Heap (who signed with the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL) means that the loss of Eric Green is even tougher for the Stars. Atlanta did sign DT Casey Hampton and SS Adrian Wilson of NC State, but again, not much value added to the team beyond those two picks. In addition to missing on Vick, they also lost the bidding war for CB Eric Kelly of Kentucky and OLB Orlando Huff of Fresno State. Other Notable USFL Signings include: WR Koren Robinson of NC State (HOU), LB Dan Morgan of Miami (OAK), DT Marcus Stroud of Georgia (OHIO), G Steve Hutchinson of Michigan (TBY), HB Deuce McCallister of Ole Miss (WSH), DE Kyle Vanden Bosch of Nebraska (PIT), TE Alge Crumpler of UNC (PIT), and WR Chad Johnson of Oregon State (OHIO). Lower Round rookies who have impressed in camp include WR Drew Bennett of UCLA (JAX), guard Stephen Neal of Cal State Bakersfield (ORL), Midwestern State HB Dominic Rhodes (ARZ), Georgia Southern Kicker Rob Bironas (ARZ), and Guard/Center Josh Warner from tiny Brockport (SEA). Michigan Parts Ways With Troubled Back Following his arrest for DUI after a late December automobile accident, Natrone Means now finds himself out of work. The Michigan Panthers have opted to release the veteran halfback rather than have him occupy either a roster slot or practice squad position. The move costs Michigan $450,000 in salary cap hit, and means that the Panthers will move ahead with a committee at HB headed by former Oakland Invader Siran Stacy, and including backups Brock Olivo and Winslow Oliver. Rumors have the Panthers interested in current free agent Mario Bates as another potential signing. As for Means, he was released on bond but faces a potential hearing in the next 3 weeks, and potential suspension by the league for violation of the league’s drug policies. Even cleared of charges, which seems unlikely, Means may not find many suitors within the USFL as the issue of drug use and driving under the influence have become major PR concerns for both the NFL and USFL. Troubles Could Cost St. Louis's Orthwein His Club Legal trouble of a different kind as the charges against James Olthwein of financial malfeasance and insurance fraud are likely to have him in court most of the spring and summer. The investigation into the Busch family member’s finances began with reporting out of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch almost 2 years ago. The financial irregularities tie directly to Olthwein’s ownership of the St. Louis Knights, and in part revolve around the inflation of attendance and ticket sale numbers as part of a wider issue related to property and revenue appraisals as part of both insurance and credit assessments. Should Orthwein’s finances be found to contain significant irregularities it could easily lead to either legal requirements to sell of his majority stake in the Knights or potentially league injunctions on his ownerships. In either case the question of Knights ownership could come up as soon as next Fall. With much to be determined by the courts this summer, we would not want to speculate on what could happen next, except to say that while Mr. Orthwein continues to proclaim his innocence of any malfeasance, there is a well-known lineup of potential USFL ownership groups very much interested in the possibility of a franchise, particularly such a successful franchise, coming on the market. Our final story around the league is a recap of the past month’s free agent signings. After an initial flurry of NFL-USFL transfers back in August and September, the comparable quiet of the January-February window came as a bit of a surprise. There were, however, a handful of noteworthy signings to report. Former Dragons guard Jesse Sapolo has signed a 1-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. Former Generals safety Eric McMillan is now a member of the Denver Broncos LB Dante Jones, who played with both Washington and Orlando, has signed on with the Chicago Bears. Portland tackle Herb Webster signed a 2-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals TE Danta Whitaker has opted to join the CFL’s BC Lions on a one-year deal. LB Barney Bussey has opted to return to his former NFL club in Detroit to finish his career. WR Hart Lee Dykes, after playing for 3 USFL clubs has signed on with the NFL’s New England Patriots. Moving from the NFL to the USFL we have… LB Billy Granville, a former Cincinnati Bengal, signed a 2-year deal with Baltimore. Birmingham has inked former Seahawk TE Itula Mili. Guard Jorge Diaz of the Buccaneers has signed on with the Chicago Machine. Former Giants and Falcons TE Brian Kozlowski has come to terms with the Denver Gold. Brian is not related to former Gold wideout Glen Kozlowski. Tampa Bay also added a TE in the form of former Colt Bradford Banta. Jaguars DE Joel Smeenge has signed on with Houston where he will provide depth behind Michael Sinclair and Kavika Pittman. Michigan added perhaps the biggest of the late NFL free agents, signing LB Eric Hill away from the San Diego Chargers. Hill started 151 NFL games before coming over to the Panthers. Within USFL ranks, the following late signings have added to club rosters: New Jersey made another bold move, signing former Tampa Bay corner Darrien Gordon to a 3-year deal. The highest rated CB in this year’s free agent pool will join Gene Atkins, Otis Smith and Kenny Gales to form a crowded but deep pool of cornerbacks for the Generals. Houston resigned LB Pat Swilling for a 1-year deal after Swilling seemed headed to New Orleans. Tampa Bay also added a veteran LB in Winston Moss, formerly of Washington. Pittsburgh signed former Federals HB Lamar Smith and added a solid DE to their roster in the form of former Showboat and Machine edge rusher Mike Mamula Portland added a savvy receiver in former Blitz, Express, Knight, and Bulls receiver Patrick Rowe. Seattle also added a halfback to the mix, signing former Mauler Tavian Banks. 33-year-old veteran of 5 different USFL clubs, Keith McKeller, adds a 6th club, signed to a 1-year deal by St. Louis. Former Machine RT Jeff Wright is a newly-inked member of the Texas Outlaws. Denver boosted its secondary with the signing of veteran FS Mark Carrier from the Bulls. Washington signed former Memphis wideout Lawyer Tillman to a 1-year deal and also bolstered their depleted LB corps by signing Houston's Quentin Coryatt to a 2-year deal, enticing the 32-year old to postpone retirement. Another Showboat finds a new home as center Curtis Wilson makes his way to Baltimore. Arizona added another CB to their secondary by signing Clifton Abraham, last of Chicago. NFL STARS TELL US THEIR USFL PICKS We all know that there is always a lot of interest in the NFL in each USFL season, just as USFL players follow the NFL season each fall. Players pal around with each other, including old college buddies and roommates who now find themselves not just on different teams, but in different leagues. So we decided who better to evaluate the USFL ahead of the 2001 season than some of the biggest stars of the NFL. We picked 5 of the biggest names in the NFL right now and asked them who they expected to see in the Summer Bowl in Chicago this August. What we found is a lot of homerism, and a lot of disagreement, a sign that this colud be a wide open season with a lot of contenders this year. Peyton Manning, QB of the Indianapolis Colts Manning was quick to turn to the QB position as the key to determining success in the USFL. While he sees great statistical success for Brett Favre, he points to Jake Plummer as a player who he feels can will his club to victory. He has Arizona defeating Heath Shuler and the Showboats as his pick for the 2001 Summer Bowl. Manning refused to pick a winner in the game, but joked that it could be the first Summer Bowl to hit 1,000 yards of combined offense. Kurt Warner, QB of the St. Louis Rams Warner, whose Rams have been the offensive showcase to balance with the Knights’ defensive power in St. Louis, seems to respect solid defense, picking 2 defensive clubs as the potential Summer Bowl matchup, though, to be fair, if he did not pick St. Louis to represent the West he might catch some flack. He has the Knights facing off against Washington in his picks. He cites Jerome Brown of the Federals as the one player he is glad to see in another league and not chasing after him. Jerome Bettis, HB for the Pittsburgh Steelers With the Maulers clearly in a rebuilding phase, Bettis did not feel pressure to stick with the home-town pick. The former Golden Domer names a former teammate, Rick Mirer of the Portland Thunder, as his favorite USFL player but even he cannot pick the 1-15 Thunder as a Summer Bowl favorite. He opts instead for the club just up the road, the Seattle Dragons. Bettis believes Seattle will outlast the Baltimore Blitz for the title. He says he is a huge Corey Dillon fan. The two rarely get to hang out since their two seasons occupy the full year, but Bettis says that he stays in touch with the Seattle back throughout the year. Marvin Harrison, WR in Indianapolis One of the NFL’s top receivers shows some love to another star receiver, picking the wide open passing game of the Ohio Glory and their stellar wideout Joey Galloway to take home a title. He has Ohio beating Denver in his title game clash. Harrison, who has led the NFL in receptions the past 2 seasons, loves Galloway's break away speed, and also cites Kerry Collins as an underrated passer with a good head for the game. Ray Lewis, LB for the Baltimore Ravens The Raven’s All-Pro middle linebacker refuses to play by the rules, rejecting the home team Blitz as his Summer Bowl pick. Instead he opts to go with the Birmingham Stallions, led by Brett Favre to win a shootout against the Seattle Dragons in this year’s title game. When asked about defensive players, Lewis mentioned former Philadelphia Star as his all time favorite USFL linebacker, but gave kudos to former Outlaw Brian Bosworth, and current USFL backers DeMetrius DuBose (PIT), Broderick Thomas (ARZ), and and Mike Vrabel (JAX), sayng the league should also keep an eye on 2000 rookie Brian Urlacher in Chicago as a big impact player. So, no consensus among the NFL pros. I guess it comes down to us. We are notoriously bad at this, but we still have to give it our best shot. Denver has a good shot to repeat, having appeared in the past 2 Summer Bowls and finally getting over the hump this past August. We like Denver’s roster a lot, but they did not make a lot of changes this offseason, whereas Los Angeles has added talent through both the draft and free agency, so we are going to pick the Express out of the west to rebound, reclaim the division and represent the conference in Summer Bowl 2001. From the East we are going to go with a club that came close to putting it all together last year, but could not make a playoff run without their starting QB in the lineup. Give Orlando a healthy Scott Mitchell for the full season and this squad has the talent to take it to the Championship. So, we are going with Cade McNown and the Express vs. Mitchell and the Renegades in the title game. Our pick to win it all? Well, maybe we should hold off on that one. We’ll get back to you when the season hits the midway point. Join us for Part 2 of our 2001 USFL Season Preview, when we break down all 24 teams and explain the picks we just made.

January 10, 2001 The four-day meeting of the league’s 24 ownership groups, along with the leaguewide office holders from NYC met, concluded this past Friday and while some of the announcements made over the course of the gathering were largely expected and pro forma, there was some excitement and surprise as well. We begin with the expected and then move on to two significant changes on the horizon for the league. Twenty Seasons The league announced on the first day of the meetings that there would be considerable pomp and hoopla to be had during the 2002 season to mark the 20th season of the once upstart spring football league. This will include the usual fanfare, with items such as commemorative patches to be worn on uniforms, special fan-centered celebrations during the season’s first week, an expanded festivities both at Hall of Fame Weekend in October of 2001 and at the 2002 Summer Bowl in Pittsburgh, and a series of tour events around the league during the season, highlighting great teams and players of the past 20 years. The league has even contracted with ABC to put together a large format film on the history of the league to air at IMAX studios around the country leading up to the kickoff of the league’s 20th season. Changes in Franchise Ownership By Tuesday the meetings had turned to more weighty matters, with several ownership groups seeking to either sell their franchises or expand ownership with additional investors. Most proposals were uncontentious and largely rubber stamped, with Philadelphia, Houston, Denver, and LA adding minority owners to their ownership groups without controversy. Washington posed a challenge to the owners as the Federals’ principal owner, Berl Bernard (a prominent DC attorney), leader of the limited partnership Washington Football Partners LLC was seeking to sell his holdings to a minority owner, Ted Lerner, a Maryland real estate developer. Lerner, who has been involved in early discussions to bring major league baseball back to the capital, is seen as a major force in the negotiations to renovate or replace RFK stadium. This is seen as a positive for the Federals as the state of their stadium has become something of a concern. Of course, the controversy lies in whether or not Lerner will prioritize the campaign for DC baseball at the expense of the operation of the Federals franchise, though, should the former movement gain steam, a baseball/football joint use stadium might just be the solution to Washington’s stadium issues. While multipurpose stadia have been waning in popularity since the 1990’s, and with the Redskins firmly ensconced in their own Landover (MD) facility, the expectation that the DC metro area could add both baseball and a new football stadium at once does seem dubious. This is where the appeal of a multi-use facility could tip the scales. The second major ownership debate surrounded the Birmingham Stallions. In an effort to expand their revenue base, as well as the potential value of the franchise, also in hopes of cajoling a new stadium out of the state of Alabama and the city of Birmingham, the ownership of the Stallions, primarily in the figure of Marvin Warner, proposed the creation of a public company, Stallions Football LLC, to take the place of the private ownership group, at least in part. The proposal would allow for the sale of shares in the Stallions, with the current ownership retaining a 61% stake in the company and allowing 39% to be sold on the market (likely the Nasdaq) to expand ownership to the community. This move would both expand the coffers of the Warner-led group, but also provide community buy-in which could sway later explorations of stadium development by the city or state. Of course, there were detractors to this model, after all the private ownership of sports franchises is by far the norm across the country, with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL being the only true example of a publicly traded or community-owned sports franchise. However, with the unique situation of Birmingham as a smaller market, in a football-crazed part of the nation, and in a city without other likely tenants for a new arena, save perhaps the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the deal did have an appeal to it. The reassurance that a 61-39 split between private and community ownership assures that the leadership of the Stallions would remain intact, and that helped create a sense of continuity for those owners who fear pushes to move towards community ownership as a larger trend. The proposal went through several votes but finally achieved the needed 2/3 supermajority of representative votes to be approved. Expect details on the IPO to come out in the summer of 2001, with the likely opening bell sometime in September of this year. USFL RETURNS TO A 2-STAGE ROOKIE DRAFT Having dealt with the internal financial decisions, the owners next responded to a proposal from the league’s competition committee. In most years the committee focuses on minor rule changes and penalty adjustments, and there were a couple of these this year, mostly dealing with dual engagement blocks (cut blocks and the like) and limitations on formations during kickoffs to minimize injuries, but the biggest news was that surrounding the USFL Draft. After nearly 2 years of research and discussion the league has voted to re-adopt the Territorial Draft as a part of the Collegiate Draft format. First used in the early years of the spring league, the T-Draft, as it is commonly known, provides each club with a set number of protected or designated territorial schools. Each club has set number of picks which are reserved for players from these schools, with all other eligible players who go unselected then available for the open draft. The T-Draft was designed to allow for local college talent to bring their regional fame and fan interest along to their USFL team. The T-Draft was abandoned in favor of the current salary cap discount each franchise holds for players from designated schools, but the competition committee recommended a return to a protected draft, and despite some concerns from teams, particularly those in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest, the proposal was adopted, to go into effect for the 2002 draft. The T-Draft will look a little different in 2002 than it did in the 1980’s. Each franchise will select 3 schools as their designated protected schools, however only 1 is required to have a geographical tie to the franchise. This will allow a club like the Generals or Stars to select Oklahoma, Auburn, or the University of Miami as one of their protected schools if not chosen already by another club. The designation of each school will be locked in for a 5-year period, so as to not allow clubs to designate a particular school just to have the exclusive rights to a rising senior in that year’s draft. Every 5 years a franchise may opt to change 2 of their 3 designated schools, creating a more consistent alignment between universities and franchises in the league. Finally, the draft will be limited to 5 players per year, meaning that a good number of top level players will remain available for the open draft even from schools in the protected list. The salary cap discount will be adjusted from a 50% reduction to 75%, so the incentive to sign players at certain high cost positions like quarterback or defensive end may not be quite as preeminent. So, what can we expect? When the allocation of franchises is completed next September, I think it is safe to say that Birmingham will lock up Alabama right away, as will LA with USC, the Glory with Ohio State, and Chicago with Notre Dame. Expect clubs like New Jersey or Arizona to shoot for their non-regional schools first, trying to snag a pro-player factory like an LSU or Michigan, before later signing on with a less “in demand” regional school like Rutgers, Syracuse or Arizona State. Expect very few non-power conference schools to be selected, though with 24 clubs each selecting 3 schools, 72 schools will be named in total. Also expect that clubs will do as they did during the first iteration of the T-Draft, which is to trade the rights to these picks just as they trade open draft selections. For example, a club that has a solid starter at QB may trade away a pick to another so that the top prospect QB from the protected school could be signed by a franchise other than the one that owns that school’s rights. This is how LA acquired Steve Young from Denver, who had the rights to BYU players in the original T-Draft. Will this dramatically change the way the USFL acquires players? Unlikely, though adding more local talent, at least in some areas, always seems to benefit a club. New Alignment & Schedule Approved for 2002 Friday, upon the conclusion of the league meetings, we got our biggest announcement, one that has been in the works for nearly 6 years. The league once again reviewed proposals for a shift from 4 to 6 divisions and from 16 to 14 weeks of regular season play. This time, unlike the debacle several years ago that led to a major conflict with the union and a pre-season strike, both the USFLPA and the USFL leadership worked on the proposal together. What came out of this joint effort is an agreement that adds 1 preseason game (at full pay) to the schedule, shifts the season to 14 weeks, but grandfathers in all current contracts so that there is no reduction of pay or prorated adjustments. New contracts will reflect the 16, rather than 17 game schedule, but with the salary cap rising as it has over the past decade, this is expected to be barely noticeable, particularly among high draft picks and NFL/USFL free agent signings. The approved modification means that the 2002 USFL season will begin a week later and end a week earlier, with an extra preseason game added in March and the Summer Bowl now likely to alternate between the last week in July and the first week in August, depending on the calendar. The move also means a realignment of divisions, with both the Western and Eastern Conferences moving from 2 divisions each with 6 clubs to three divisions, each with 4 clubs. If the league sticks to the realignment proposed back in the late 1990’s, which we anticipate, the new alignment would look like as shown below. The new alignment would mean a conference shift for several clubs, including Memphis and Birmingham moving to a new Southern division in the Western Conference (along with St. Louis and New Orleans) while Chicago and Michigan would join with Pittsburgh and Ohio to form a new Central division in the Eastern Conference. The league would retain its 14 club playoff format with 7 playoff teams per conference. We would see a total of 6 division winners and 8 Wild Card clubs, up from only 4 division winners. We would still have only 1 bye per conference as the league currently offers to the best record in each conference. That the league continues to push this shift and “downsize” of the regular season is a clear sign that ownership is exploring the relationship with the NFL, one strained already this offseason with the Keyshawn Johnson signing, and is hoping to make significant adjustments to the NFL-USFL transfer system. That the union signed on to this new version of the schedule adjustment goes a long way to avoiding any of the messiness we saw in the past. TV contracts, thanks to the expansion with both Fox and NBC, will largely remain unchanged, though there will be a marginal reduction in broadcasting fees as each network will see a reduction in games to produce. But, for fans, do not expect to see season ticket prices reduced even with what amounts to one less home game per season pass. That is very unlikely to occur, particularly as most franchises in the league (with some noteworthy exceptions) are already at their season ticket targets each year with many well exceeding the target goals. As if the news out of the league office was not enough this year, we got a huge story out of Michigan, where the Panthers’ star halfback Natrone Means was involved in a car accident that could cost him more than just higher insurance rates. The crash took place two weeks ago in the early hours of the morning in the somewhat upscale suburban enclave of Grosse Pointe. Based on police reports it was estimated that Means’s vehicle was racing at a speed between 85 and 100 when it lost control, first hitting a light pole before spinning into another vehicle. Means was injured, with reports of both knee and hip injuries in addition to an array of cuts and bruises. Fortunately the driver of the second car suffered only minor injuries. To make matters worse, Means reportedly tested positive for drugs in his system after being taken to a local hospital. So, in addition to the medical fallout from this incident, there are potential legal concerns as well. While the Panthers have made the usual statements to the media about respecting the legal process, it is expected that should charges be brought against Means, the league would require that the Michigan back serve a suspension above and beyond any recovery time needed for his injuries. While full details on the extent of his injuries is unknown, speculation places it at midseason at best, and if a suspension is added to the lost time due to injury, we could easily see the Panther lead back out for the full season. If his legal woes are fully realized, the results could be even worse for the Panthers as the accident could lead to significant jail time. Tampa Bay dealt with the elephant in the room, the departure of QB Troy Aikman as best they could. They brought in another seasoned veteran, though one who has had difficulty finishing a season. Tampa paid a hefty price but they got a QB that Coach Seifert can use in his complex offense. The Bandits send DE Kabeer Gabaja-Bialmila and a 2nd round pick in this year’s draft to Baltimore for former Blitz starter Trent Green. Green, very much a stand tall in the pocket style player similar to Aikman, has had issues with injuries in recent seasons but brings a good football mind and a decent arm to Tampa Bay, allowing Seifert to pursue the same style of play that he had developed with Aikman at the helm. Beyond the league meetings and the chaos of the Natrone Means story this past week, the primary story of the offseason, as it often is, comes down to the free agent market. We saw a lot of talent sign quickly back in September, followed by the usual late fall lull, but in recent weeks we have seen more signings. As the NFL-USFL transfer window has not yet reopened, these have all been USFL signings. Looking over the moves made in the past few weeks, we would rate these as the moves most likely to impact the 2001 season: Michigan is in the news quite a bit, as they now find themselves having to spend to acquire a fallback plan at halfback, limiting their funds for other positions. The Panthers get their backup plan in the backfield, signing former Oakland Invader Siran Stacy, but this means they cannot spend top dollar to retain another player from their 2000 roster. Michigan’s top pass rusher, Renaldo Turnbull, departs for a 3-year deal in Birmingham. Turbull will be paired with Mike Rucker in Birmingham’s version of Houston’s infamous 1-2 punch at DE. Birmingham continues to shuffle the defense, losing a key player and adding new blood in the LB corps. Popular former Crimson Tide LB Cornelius Bennett signed with the LA Express in November, and just this past week Birmingham snagged LB Joe Mott from division rival Memphis. The two are very different players, but both are fierce competitors and natural leaders on the defense. Orlando also added some linebacker help, snagging Robert Hinckley away from New Orleans. Memphis built on its secondary by signing former Denver free safety Joe King. Los Angeles, in addition to signing LB Cornelius Bennett, added a playmaker at the corner position, snagging Aeneas Williams away from division rival Arizona. On the offensive side of the ball we saw some movement as well, with former LA and Ohio halfback Darrell Thompson signing on in Portland, while Jacksonville tried to add more weapons for Chris Chandler by signing former Philadelphia Star TE Eric Green. New Orleans also added a Tight End with good ball skills, signing Steve Johnson away from the Bulls. Texas added depth at the HB position, inking Erric Pegram on a 3 year deal while also resigning young breakout back Autrey Detson to a 2-year extension. Atlanta also signed a back to sit behind Tiki Barber, signing Houston’s former scat-back Mario Greer. Atlanta also takes care of a position of obvious need, center, by signing the best available USFL free agent at the position, former Jacksonville Bull Bubba Miller. Miller will come into Atlanta as the default starter at the position. Houston, a club which had looked to revamp their entire offense, added a wideout after losing Brett Perriman, signing Tamarick Vanover away from Denver. They also got some defensive help in the form of New Orleans LB Gerald Dixon Chicago signed Browning Nagle to back up Jeff George at QB. Still unsigned we have some very solid talent, with Tampa’s Darrien Gordon still the top name on the market. Others who could be late signees include many players at or over 33 years of age. Among those still on the market we find former Breaker DE Jerry Reese, St. Louis DT Jerry Ball, Seattle guard Jesse Sapolo, Houston LB Pat Swilling, Pittsburgh CB Quintin Jones, and Washington LB Winston Moss. There is also some young talent left unsigned, headed by 24-year old FS Jerome Woods, 25-year old DT James Manley (Denver), tackle Jermaine Mayberry of Texas, and 28-year old SS Je’Rod Cherry from the Machine. While there are still some talented players available in the Free Agent Pool, and likely some talent will migrate between the NFL and USFL over the next month, all eyes are now on the USFL Draft. It is a draft headlined by Virginia Tech QB Michael Vick, but with several other high ceiling players potentially available to USFL clubs, assuming they can outbid or outwoo the NFL to get them. As we look at the draft ahead, we will take a look at each USFL club, their biggest needs, and the player we think would be the best fit for them, assuming they can sign them. We will follow the order of the first round in our review of all 24 clubs. 1. PORTLAND THUNDER The Thunder have needs across the roster, but while many would love for them to take a shot at Vick we simply do not see that being a priority for a club that has a young, athletic QB in Akili Smith. Defense is always an issue for Portland, so our pick for them will be an impact defender. OUR PICK: Defensive End Andre Carter from Cal would be a solid building block for a defense that needs more speed and ferocity. 2. PITTSBURGH MAULERS The Maulers could take a shot at Vick, but they got some decent games from Charlie Batch so we are also going to say that they too pass on the high risk/high reward option here. The Maulers could also go defense, or they could try to find a weapon opposite Andre Rison for Batch to throw to. OUR PICK: WR David Terrell from Michigan would be a welcome contrast to Rison and a good option for the Maulers. 3. NEW JERSEY GENERALS The signing of Troy Aikman clearly takes the Generals out of the Vick market, or does it? We could see Coach Parcells try to make a splash with Vick, but have him sit behind Aikman for a year or two. But, does New Jersey brass really want to pay those two big salaries and have only one of them on the field? We don’t think so. We think Parcells goes for a big defensive playmaker. OUR PICK: Georgia LB Kendrell Bell is a perfect fit for a Parcells defense, fast, aggressive, fearless. He could be a key piece in a more dynamic General LB corps. 4. HOUSTON GAMBLERS Houston is the first truly legitimate landing spot for Vick. Matt Hasselbeck got a contract extension, but neither his contract nor his performance last year scream “Franchise Guy”. He very well could find himself starting the season only to give way to a rookie QB. OUR PICK: Michael Vick, QB, Va Tech. Now, try to sign him if the Falcons take him #1 in the NFL Draft. No easy task. 5. OAKLAND INVADERS Oakland has not been happy with Ryan Leaf’s lack of development but they certainly are not going to give up on him yet. He needs protection, so we see Oakland going O-line here. The best option in the first round is our pick. OUR PICK: Guard Leonard Davis of Texas could help defend Leaf while also opening holes for their somewhat lackluster run game. 6. ATLANTA FIRE If Houston passes on Vick, then Atlanta will almost certainly take a shot at him. But let’s assume he is off the board with the Gamblers. What is plan B for the Fire? Last season the defense made some great strides, but they can do even more if they can shore up the middle of the line and prevent the opposition from using the ground game to keep the pass rush honest. OUR PICK: DT Gerald Warren of Florida is the kind of run stuffing DT the Fire have always needed. 7. TEXAS OUTLAWS The Outlaws could go quite a few ways. The O-line needs more muscle, but the defense also needs more speed. We like the Outlaws to go D first. OUR PICK: LB Dan Morgan from Miami (FL) would be a great building block in a somewhat depleted Outlaw linebacking corps. 8. TAMPA BAY BANDITS Losing Aikman was huge for Tampa Bay, but the acquisition of Trent Green means they do not have to reach to try to find a QB in this year’s draft. They may go for one mid-draft, but are not likely to seek the other highly regarded QB, Purdue’s Drew Brees. Their bigger needs are now on defense as they not only have to replace Gabaja-Bialmila, but also have holes across all levels of the D. OUR PICK: Start with the essential DE position by drafting Justin Smith out of Mizzou. 9. CHICAGO MACHINE The Machine would love nothing more than to add a speedy LB on the outside of last year’s #1 pick, Brian Urlacher. There are several potential candidates but we have heard rumors that one in particular has caught the eyes of the front office. OUR PICK: OLB Tommy Polley of Florida State would be a deadly team-up with Urlacher. 10. MICHIGAN PANTHERS While most would likely say that QB is not the top priority for a Michigan club that had major defensive issues last year, little deep ball ability in the passing game, and at least 1-2 more years from Flutie in front of them, the rumors that the Panthers are going hard after Drew Brees cannot be ignored. OUR PICK: As much as we think Michigan should pick either WR Koren Robinson (NC State) or HB LaDainian Tomlinson (TCU), we all know they are looking at Brees as their top target. 11. JACKSONVILLE BULLS The Bulls are another team that needs to start thinking about the QB position. Chris Chandler is no spring chicken, but we see them as looking for a potential project QB in the mid-rounds, a Sage Rosenfels or Chris Weinke type of player. In the first round, they could go O-line or they could go for defense. OUR PICK: Going with the best player on the board in one of their key areas of need, we pick DT Richard Seymour of the Georgia Bulldogs as a great match of talent, home region appeal, and need in North Florida. 12. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS The Stallions have got to do a better job of protecting Brett Favre. It is not good that almost every week we see him sacked 5, 6, or 9 times. That is too much by far. So, tackle or guard is the obvious pick here. OUR PICK: Florida LT Kenyatta Walker makes a lot of sense for the Stallions. 13. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS After a Cinderella run to the top of the Western Conference in 1999, the Express crashed back to reality, barely making the playoffs this past season. They need more pressure on defense, and that starts with a better DE lineup. OUR PICK: FSU edge rusher Jamal Reynolds seems the best option for LA. 14. WASHINGTON FEDERALS We have entered the realm of the fringe playoff teams, so the needs are not quite as obvious anymore. They added Tim Lester from Arizona to pair with Rueben Droughns in the backfield, so while a young back may be tempting, we don’t think it is a 1st round need. Better to look at the defense or perhaps to add a solid TE. OUR PICK: There are two clear 1st round talents at tight end in this year’s draft, so it is between Todd Heap of ASU and Alge Crumpler of UNC. We think Heap makes sense in DC. 15. ORLANDO RENEGADES Another interesting position here. With Moe Williams gone and Terry Kirby not getting any younger, this is a spot were we could see Coach O’Leary take a home run swing and go for SDSU halfback Ladainian Tomlinson. Or he could go for the bunt and get a solid defender who is more likely to sign. OUR PICK: Let’s go big, Tomlinson. 16. SEATTLE DRAGONS Seattle had a very good season on both sides of the ball, but they still need some intimidation factor on defense. We think the secondary is still the weak link. The best player available is SS Adam Archuleta of ASU, but they could also go corner. OUR PICK: We like the option of Archuleta here, even if SS is not the most immediate need area for Seattle. 17. ARIZONA WRANGLERS The Wranglers lost Rocket Ismail to the NFL, so they need a breakneck speed receiver to complement their otherwise solid, but not explosive group. OUR PICK: Miami’s Santana Moss is perhaps the best pure speed guy in the draft. 18. OHIO GLORY The offense looks solid for the Glory, especially if they can keep feeding the ball to Eddie George. The defense needs to make sure the opposition cannot match the ground game that Ohio has. That means defensive tackle. OUR PICK: Not the top DT in the draft, but Georgia’s Marcus Stroud is a space-filler, which may be the top quality the Glory need. 19. BALTIMORE BLITZ The Blitz have moved from Green to Garcia, but we are not sure that they feel confident long term that he is their guy. OUR PICK: 1st round may be a bit early, but we like Georgia QB Quincy Carter as a younger, faster version of Garcia. 20. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS The Breakers lost a few key pieces from their top-rated defense this offseason. They will likely emphasize the defense early in the draft, which could mean secondary or LB. OUR PICK: We think they go for a run-stuffing LB, and the best option at this point in the draft is Arkansas’ Quinton Caver. 21. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS Memphis has a lot of talent across the roster, and as a division winner there are not too many holes, so they could go Best Player Available. If they do that, it comes down to who they rate as the best guy left on the board. OUR PICK: Looking at our board the best player may just be WR Koren Robinson of NC State. 22. ST. LOUIS KNIGHTS The defense in St. Louis is still one of the league’s best, and the run game with Ahman Green is strong, so we look to the passing game. If Robinson is here, he could go to the Knights, but we had him going to Memphis, so the next best option is our pick. OUR PICK: Clemson wideout Rod Gardner. 23. PHILADELPHIA STARS Another club that has to be worried about the longevity of their starting QB. Bobby Hebert is one of the oldest players in the league, so QB should be a priority, but choosing 23rd does not leave them with a true franchise option, so we think they wait. OUR PICK: Guard Steve Hutchinson from Michigan could help keep Hebert upright for another year. 24. DENVER GOLD Denver won its first title, but as is typical, that meant the piranhas came to pick at their roster during free agency. Lots of pieces to replace or upgrade, so lots of options here. We think the Gold stick to improving the defense that is key to their success. OUR PICK: CB Nate Clements of Ohio State is strong in zone coverage, which is Denver’s preference, so a good match here.