I’m not sure if Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus sang that Janis Joplin song to his General Manager Ryan Poles about wanting a Mercedes Benz. The GM of the Bears delivered a Marcedes Lewis to the Bears’ offensive garage. The Bears’ new Marcedes is not new right out of the German factory, instead Eberflus is getting a classic 39 year old model. Does it make a difference if it’s a Lewis and not a Benz? For the Bears offense, a Lewis may be able to create bigger holes than a Benz. The biggest question is: Why do the Bears need a Mercedes when they already have a Cole Kmet and Robert Tonyan in the garage?
Marcedes Lewis is 39 years old and will be playing his 18th season in the NFL which would break a tie with some of the greatest tight ends that ever played the game. Lewis this season will set a record for the most years playing the tight end position which was 17 as he was tied with Jason Witten and Tony Gonzalez. Lewis had played in 251 games in the NFL which ranks 5th with active players in the league right now. Those 251 games he suited up is good for right now at 52nd all-time. The first thought that comes to mind is that is lot of mileage playing 251 games. The second question is that Lewis is no spring chicken. Does he have enough in the tank to get him through another grind of an NFL season? Last season. Lewis caught 6 balls for only 66 yards but had two touchdowns. Lewis is not being signed for his pass catching abilities but makes a nice red zone option. Lewis is different from Cole Kmet and Robert Tonyan because he is one of the best blocking tight ends in the game and is used to help the team’s running game. At 39 years old he can still do his job better than most spring chickens or jive turkeys that take on those responsibilities in the game.
Marcedes Lewis was drafted 28th overall back in 2006 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lewis has only suited up for two teams his entire career so that tells you how important he can be for your team. Lewis played 12 seasons in Jacksonville and 5 years in Green Bay. Lewis has 432 catches during his 17 year career so far with 5,084 receiving yards while catching 39 touchdown passes. Aaron Rogers, Lewis’ quarterback for the 5 seasons in Green Bay, even said he would love to retire with Lewis. He’s that important as he tried to have the Jets pick him up. Lewis chose the Bears instead as Chicago seems like Green Bay 2.0 with all the cheeseheads relocating. Lewis is familiar with the Bears offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy, who was the quarterbacks coach in Green Bay. Lewis has several teammates he has played with that are currently on the Bears roster such as tight end Robert Tonyan, guard Lucas Patrick, and wide receiver Equanimeous Brown.
This is a great move by the Bears and GM Ryan Poles. The Bears have a young team and they added multiple players this off-season to both sides of the ball. Poles and the coaching staff are still asking those important questions regarding what does this team still need. What are the weaknesses? The Bears recently added defensive end Yannick Ngakoue because they did not have a guy that can sack the quarterback on regular basis. Ngakoue was the best available and could be a sleeper type of signing as this recent move with Marcedes Lewis. On offense, the Bears want to have a well balanced attack with their running and passing game. Lewis will be an important cog in the running game. Lewis could be a nice target in the red zone for quarterback Justin Fields because he’s a big target. Then a guy who’s 39 years old and a 17 year veteran on young team can show these guys in the locker room how he prepares himself for the grind which is a season in the NFL. How he keeps his body intact & in shape to stand the wear and tear of an 18 game season and hopefully playoffs. This move is a gift that keeps on giving for the Bears. Let’s also not forget Lewis has been a team captain for many years with both the Jaguars and Packers which is a guy that will get the respect from all his teammates even coaching staff. Sometimes bringing in your former enemies, your rival guys, is a nice tactic to turn around your franchise and get back at a team that has owned you for decades.
In the movie The Program, the coach asks his line backer what his assignment is on the next play as the team is studying game film. Alvin Mack, the line backer, regarding the first play response is, “Kill the Quarterback.” Then the next play response is, “Hit the tight end so hard his girl friend dies.” The final play response is, “KILL EVERYONE.”
The Chicago Bears last season let the quarterback live as they torched their defensive unit with an insane amount of points per game. The Bears as a group only had 20 sacks which is the lower levels in the deep waters of the NFL. The Bears had done a nice job improving their defense over the course of the season, adding big names to improve that terrible defense of 2022. Overall, the team has improved on both sides of the ball through free agency and the NFL draft. The defense was still missing one ingredient – a guy that actually can kill the quarterback on any given Sunday. The Bears finally addressed that missing ingredient by signing the best still available in defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.
Yannick Ngakoue last season played for the Indianapolis Colts and had a pretty good year wearing the blue horse shoe on his helmet. Ngakoue played in 15 games and tallied up 9.5 sacks with 16 hits on the quarterback and forced one fumble. Ngakoue is 28 years old and has played in the NFL for seven seasons as he started his career in Jacksonville. The Jaguars drafted Ngakoue in the 3rd round in the 2016 draft. In 2017, Ngakoue was part of that 2017 Jaguars defense that took that team all the way to the AFC Championship game. Ngakoue was all-pro that year as he led the league in forced fumbles with 6 and racked up 12 sacks. The Bears will be Ngakoue’s 6th team as he also suited up for the Vikings, Raiders, and Ravens. In 110 games, of which 102 of them have been starts, Ngakoue has 65 career sacks and 21 forced fumbles.
Last season, Jaquan Brisker led the Bears with 4 sacks as Matt Eberflus’ defense had to go through turnover as the GM Ryan Poles traded away many of the veterans he inherited from the last regime. The Bears added some talented line backers to the defense in free agency, as they gave former Bills defensive leader, Tremaine Edmunds, a big deal to come play in Chicago. The Bears did address their defensive line adding DeMarcus Walker, who had a career year playing his only season with the Titans. Walker had 7 sacks – by far his most ever he had in one season. You have to go back to 2020 when Walker wore a Bronco uniform & he tallied 4.5 sacks his last season he played in Denver. The Bears have been hoping Trevis Gipson has a rebound year. Then the Bears have a few other guys like Dominique Robinson and Rasheem Green in their rotation that are not guys known to get to the quarterback. Obviously, the Bears defense improved, but they still had kinks in the armor and bringing in Yannick Ngakoue gives this unit a threat that opposing offenses have to watch out for.
Why is Yannick Ngakoue still available when training camps are already in session? The first thought that comes to mind is that Ngakoue can be a cancer in the locker room. Maybe he wants way too much money? The Bears signed Ngakoue to one year deal for only 10.5 million which 10 was guaranteed. Ngakore has left money on the table in the past with the Jaguars. Everyone wanted to leave Jacksonville back then because the team quickly regressed the year after making it to the AFC championship and the team did not have a quarterback. Ngakoue tried the Ravens, Vikings, and the Raiders thinking they had a chance to win. Ngakoue waited for the team that he thought has a chance to win and could utilize his talents and that is the Bears, which might be the perfect marriage. This is a one year deal and an easy risk with high ceiling if it works out. I like the fact that Ngakoue has never missed more than two games in a season since he started in 2016 with the Jaguars. I think Ngakoue will work well with Matt Eberflus’ defense. The Bears have a wrecking crew at their linebacker positions. They have some nice things in their secondary. Ngakoue can do his thing and will not feel like he has to take the entire team on his back like Khalil Mack did a few seasons ago. Most importantly, Ngakoue has a track record in his career. You know this guy will get close to ten sacks and has the knack for forcing fumbles which my memory serves me well on. The Peanut Punch by Charles Tillman had some epic turnovers with those teams from the early 2000’s. Ngakoue’s presence will get the respect by opposing teams. If he does not actually get the sack, he can cause havoc with his pressure to force the opposing quarterbacks into mistakes. I can see a hit early in the game can cause the quarterback to think in his head, where is the guy. Ngakoue’s pressure can make others better like DeMarcus Walker on the other side of the line. The Bears have not used all their money for their salary cap as they are not looking to spend it like a drunken sailor, as in past years paying for stupid players you don’t need. A one year deal for Ngakoue’s talents is bravo and finally I’m glad the new regime realizes you need guys that can kill the other team’s quarterback.
Everyone in life would love to have that get out of jail free card. if only the game of Monopoly applied to events in your own life, especially when dealing with the law. Sometimes the lucky people have that name of that Police officer who they can mention their name to the officers on the scene, and suddenly your wish is granted like from a genie and you get away with breaking the law. These names, the people you know kind of give you that ego as if you might be a big deal. Most of this name dropping might get you out of minor infractions like speeding or rolling through the stop sign. When I tried to give a name to a Police officer once, the guy told me a lie and said that guy was fired. What if the guy you know does not get along with the Police officer who pulled you over? Then when it comes to any kind of celebrity, most of them will use their status to try to wiggle out of the jam they got themselves in. Alex Galchenyuk may have used the old celebrity trick on July 9th, when he was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona. Who is Alex Galchenyuk? I’ve never heard of him either. Galchenyuk is an 11 year hockey veteran of the NHL and signed with the local team, the Arizona Coyotes. It would have been Galchenyuk’s third stint with the Coyotes. The 29 year old left winger was taken away in handcuffs for driving drunk and left the scene of a hit and run. This did not go well as he was threatening the Police officers that he was going to bring Red Dawn on their lives with his Soviet Russian friends back in Moscow.
Alex Galchenyuk signed a one year deal with the Coyotes to return to the team he played for in the 2021-22 season, on July 1st. Galchenyuk also played for the Coyotes in the 2018-19 season as well. Galchenyuk was out celebrating his return to the Coyotes with family. Then he drove his BMW after the festivities with family where he ran over a curb in a parking lot while knocking over a sign. He also did damage to someone’s parked automobile. Thank God no one was hurt. Galchenyuk fled the scene as witnesses said two males were in the BMW. The Police caught up to the out-of-control hockey player where his father, who probably took over behind the wheel, tried to take the blame. The witnesses tell a different story as they saw Alex behind the wheel. Galechenyuk was obviously drunk’ slurring his words & using racial slurs as he verbally assaulted the Scottsdale Police Officers who were trying to get this menace off the streets. Galchenyuk then was aggressive to the officers, even threatening their lives and families. Then it was like in the movie Red Dawn, in the beginning the invasion by the Russians where the skies are full with Soviet parachuters coming down like it was raining cats and dogs.
That was when Galchenyuk rained down the threats saying, “One phone call & you’re all dead, your family and your blood line is dead”.
The people that apparently were going to invade the Scottsdale police station, like in the the movie Terminator, were his Russian friends. Galchenyuk played youth hockey for several years growing up. These Russian friends would cut out one of the officers’ wives or daughter’s kidney. Then imagine Galchenyuk in back of the squad car cuffed in a real life penalty box saying, “I’m gunna chop you and your daughter up,” doing his great Mike Tyson impression as Iron Mike wanted to eat his opponent’s children one time.
We all have had drunken stupid nights, although maybe not to this length. Last year Alex Galchenyuk played most of the year in the AHL American Hockey league. Galchenyuk only played in 11 games for the Colorado Avalanche and did not have any points. Galchenyuk was drafted by the Montreal Canadians in 2012 and stayed up North for 6 seasons. After leaving Montreal, Galchenyuk has suited up for six other teams which includes the Coyotes, Wild, Penguins, Senators, Maple Leafs, and last season, the Avalanche. Galchenyuk has 146 career goals while dishing out 208 assists for 354 points for his entire NHL career. Galchenyuk returning to Arizona may have been like coming home as he had two stints and no other team he played more than one year for except the Montreal and the Coyotes.
The Arizona Coyotes have enough problems already as they may be headed out of town to relocate in another city. The Coyotes as an organization have had a hard time finding a home arena to play their games at in the state of Arizona. The Coyotes quickly terminated the services of Alex Galchenyuk, will move on, and can easily pick up another veteran of his playing level on the open market. Galchenyuk found out how much of an ASS he was, apologized, and will seek help so he does not follow that yellow brick road again or drive on the side walk. Galchenyuk was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Using the Russian operatives or hit men to do your dirty work as a hockey player makes you kind of a wienie. Plus, Russia has their own problems dealing with Ukraine. I’m sure Vladimir Putin has used up all of Galchenyuk’s men – throwing them out in the battle field to get slaughtered. Now if he said he had Ukrainians on speed dial, then perhaps he has some quality contacts. Let’s get back to reality and rethink this. Who would risk their lives or do a life sentence in prison to help a hockey player no one has ever heard of? We all wish we could snap the fingers and have some protectors come out of the woodwork to finish the fight off. This is the real world. I wish Galchenyuk played during the days of Stu Grimson and Bobby Probert so someone could punch this guy’s lights out on the ice. Perhaps he could not be such a dumb ass the next go around and tell us about these Finish mountain people that snack on hearts.
One of the best hockey movies of all-time is Slap Shot. It may be the best hockey movie all-time and one of the best sports movies of all-time. The Charlestown Chiefs with the Hanson Brothers’ old-time hockey or goon it up style from the movie was based on a hockey league from the 1970’s even though it is not mentioned in the credits. The NAHL (North American Hockey League) only lasted 4 seasons in the 1970’s an it was the Federal Hockey League in the movie Slap Shot. The NAHL was a developmental league for another league that is not around any longer, the WHA (World Hockey Association). When the Eastern Hockey League went under in 1973, the Southern Hockey League formed with the NAHL to play 4 more seasons from 1973-1977. The connections the NAHL has to the movie Slap shot are right in front of your eyes. So are you ready to put the foil on coach?
The film’s screenwriter, Nancy Dowd, has a brother who is Ned Dowd, who played for the Johnstown Jets. Charlestown Chiefs and Johnstown Jets…
Most of the teams in the NAHL were from the state of New York. The Johnstown Jets came from the state of Pennsylvania. Nancy’s brother, Ned, suited up for the Jets as the movie Slap Shot had one of their own Neds. Ned Dowd played a part in Slap Shot, as the famous goon Ogie Oglethorpe who played on the Syracuse team.
In the movie Slap Shot, the Chiefs’ Ned was Ned Braden. A pure goal scorer with a college degree who would not goon it up.
In the movie Slap Shot, the Chiefs were up for sale.
The Johnstown Jets were also on the block.
The NAHL lasted 4 seasons and had 4 champions with two going to the Syracuse team, the Blazers.
The Slap Shot movie had their own version of the Syracuse team, who they called the Bulldogs as they were one of the top dogs in the league. Just like the Blazers who won two Lockhart Cups in the NAHL.
The Bulldogs in Slap Shot had Dr. Hook, Tim McCracken, as their captain and best player on the ice. The Blazers had Ray Adduomo as the team’s top scorerer who tallied over 50 goals in one of those years Syracuse took the Lockhart cup.
The other champion in the NAHL was the Philadelphia Firebirds who won a Lockhart Cup. The Johnstown Jets would add a title of their own in the 1974-75 season.
Spoiler alert!!! In the movie Slap Shot, the Charlestown Chiefs would win the championship.
The Jets would beat the Broome County Dusters and references of Broome county were mentioned in the movie Slap Shot. The NAHL had about dozen teams in its 4 year history. Other teams not mentioned so far were the Beauce Jaros from St. Georges, Quebec. The Erie Blades, another team from Pennsylvania. Cape Cod had two names, the Cubs and Codders, and they were out of South Yarmouth, Massachuettes.
Other teams were the Maine Nordiques, Long Island Cougars and the Mohawk Valley Comets, who were from Utica, New York.
The only team I left out of the 4 year NAHL, was the Buffalo Norsemen series with the Johnstown Jets. It links to the movie Slap Shot.
The Norsemen have the same colors as that team the Charlestown Chiefs rumbled with before the game with the team called the Hynannisport Presidents, in the movie. The Jets were up 3 games to 2 in a playoff series with the Norsemen and the three characters based on the Hanson brothers started a fight in the pre-skate. Steve, Jeff, and Jack Carlson who were three brothers for the Jets, were not afraid to drop the gloves.
If I’m talking about the movie Slap Shot, how can you forget about the Hanson Brothers? In the movie Slap Shot they have a character on the Charlestown Chiefs, Dave “the Killer” Carlson.
The Carlson brothers were retaliating against the Norsemen when the Buffalo fans made racist remarks to a black player on the Jets during the first few games of the playoff series. The Norsemen had signs saying the black hockey player should be playing basketball instead of hockey and all kinds of negative stuff was yelled out in that series. Which is just a shame. After the pre-skate brawl was broken up by the officials, both teams headed to their respective locker rooms. The Buffalo Norsemen would never come back out on the ice resulting in a forfeit to give the Jets the playoff series. Same kind of thing as the Chiefs won the championship in Slap Shot because the Bulldogs of Syracuse protested Ned Braden taking it all off as both teams were in middle of rumble on the ice. The officials made the call, the Bulldogs forfeited and Chiefs win the the cup.
Tommy Lockhart was the founder of the Eastern Hockey League that went under as the NAHL named the cup after him. The last season of the NAHL, the champion Syracuse Blazers won the Lockhart cup on April 10, 1977. Since that night, the cup has gone MIA. Only three historical cups according to the Hockey Hall of Fame have vanished without a trace. The Lockhart trophy, through the grape vine, was last seen in the basement of the Blazers’ coach, Danny Belisle.
Only two of the original NAHL teams would move on after the league folded up shop for good. The Philadelphia Firebirds and the Broome Dusters would still have life in the AHL American Hockey League. The best thing that came away from the NAHL would be by far the movie Slap shot that was well done. It showed some of these hockey league were like beer leagues and guys giving it all for the love of the game on the ice either by dropping the gloves or putting the puck into the net.
The USFL has concluded season two as the Birmingham Stallions repeated as champions. The league has already decided they will return for their third season. The USFL was the first Spring football league since the original 1980’s USFL to play more than one season in a row and declare a champion. Last year, the USFL had 4 hub cities instead of just the one they used in season 1 in 2022. The USFL used Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio as their site for the playoffs and championship in year one. This year they expanded their use of Canton making it a hub city for two teams and more playoff action. Before you expand the league into more teams, you have to get these teams home to their actual city and state, not their adopted city and state.
The USFL has done well with building a fan base for the Birmingham Stallions, Michigan Panthers, and Memphis Showboats because these teams play their home games in their respective cities. Teams like New Orleans, Houston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and New Jersey need to go home. Let’s say the league accommodates that for those teams on a permanent road trip. Then let’s say the team would want to expand to ten teams by adding two teams from the past to the mix. Which two teams would fans like to see resurrected?
The USFL has 11 options they could used from the past 1980’s league. Times have changed since the 1980’s as some of these cities have other teams playing there from other leagues. In those situations, the USFL may not be a good fit. I will go from the worst idea to the best idea with all 11 options.
#11. LA Express
The present USFL has not made their way out West yet. The LA Express would be a bad idea, as the city already has two NFL teams: the Rams and Chargers. The Chargers fan base may be smaller than what they had in San Diego. The Express on their first go around they had the stud quarterback in Steve Young. When the Express played at the LA Coliseum, nobody showed. The greatest game nobody saw was quoted by the press when Jim Kelley and his Houston Gamblers played Young’s Express in LA. The pro: LA is a big market. The Cons: LA has two baseball teams in the same market.
#10. San Antonio Gunslingers
Some would say the old San Antonio Gunslinger logo is cartoon like. I like it. In the first go around in the USFL, the Gunslingers team on payday would all race in their cars to the local bank to cash their checks. The players knew if they got there before their own teammates, they might get paid that week. Some checks bounced. Great place to play in the Alamo Dome in San Antonio. The USFL would be invading XFL territory as they already have a team in San Antonio called the Brahmas. The XFL seems to have a team in almost all the big cities in Texas. The USFL and XFL share one city already for the Gamblers and Roughnecks.
Is the Gunslinger name tainted in the city as San Antonio arena team uses the same nickname? The pro: San Antonio would be a nice addition to the South division with teams already in place like New Orleans, Houston, Memphis and Birmingham.
#9.ORLANDO RENEGADES
The Orlando Renegades only played in one season in the USFL. The Renegades originally were the Washington Federals and the team left DC for Florida. The Renegades did outdraw the Federals in attendance. Both the Renegades and Federals were bad teams. I love the Renegades logo with the feathers and the hatchet. These days anything to do with Indians and Native Americans in your team logo is not a good thing. Ask the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Redskins organizations. The Atlanta Braves, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Kansas City Chiefs are still hanging around. Then you have to deal with the XFL team in Orlando, the Guardians, who are a bad team. Do you think Orlando fans would like to watch two bad Spring football teams? Plus, Orlando has a very successful Arena league team in the Predators. To be outdrawn by that league in attendance would be embarrassing.
#8.JACKSONVILLE BULLS
The Bulls did very well in the first go around of the USFL in the 1980’s. The Bulls led the USFL in fans attending their home games. The Bulls offense used Lindy Infante’s high electric offense that featured running back Mike Rozier and quarterback Brian Sipe to create a must watch team. Another very cool logo and team you could easily add to the South division. My only problem with the Bulls is the city already has the Jaguars of the NFL. Last year the Jaguars fans returned out of the wood work as the team finally made it to the playoffs. How many times did you hear the Jaguars were a team that was going to move to another city? Some thought they’d take up a home base in London, England. The Jaguars were horrible for most of their existence. I think the Bulls would be bad timing at this time since the city agreed to renovate the home stadium the Jaguars play home games in.
#7. OAKLAND INVADERS
The Invaders is a great nickname. If the Invaders resurrected, they could move right back in the Oakland Coliseum and pretend like they never left. Bringing back football on the infield of the baseball diamond. The Invaders made it all the way to the championship game in 1985 led by former Michigan Panther and New Orleans Saints Quarterback Bobby Hebert, but they ended up losing to the Philadelphia Stars. I like the idea of the Invaders back in the league, but teams are leaving Oakland rather than wanting to play there. Raiders to Vegas. Now the Athletics want to head to Vegas. Could the USFL follow the conga line and have the Invaders become the Vegas Invaders? I think the west coast would be a better idea if the league is thriving and in a permanent state of mind that this Spring league would not fold up shop. Too many teams water down the product on the field. I think the league would have to move slowly toward the West.
#6. ARIZONA WRANGLERS
Arizona is not far off from adding the Wranglers in the South Division. When the Cardinals moved to Arizona it took that team many years to build up a fan base there. Playing outside would probably be a bad idea as the Cardinals played for years in the hot sun of Arizona State Sun Devil stadium. The Wranglers did play their home game in Sun Devil stadium. Arizona does have an all-purpose dome State Farm stadium and I think the Wranglers could play there the second go around to build up a fan base. The Wranglers were able to merge with the Chicago Blitz when they folded and Arizona made it to the championship game in 1984 only to fall victim to the Philadelphia Stars. My one problem with Arizona is that the Coyotes want to move out of town and skate somewhere else. Baseball, basketball, and now the Cardinals have done well. Arizona is a roll of the dice if the USFL want to return to the cactus state.
#5. DENVER GOLD
The Denver Gold were not very golden in the first go around of the league. Bad ownership. The stories of bare to the bones came into play when you talked about the Gold ownership. The meals supplied by the team… you could probably be fed better in prison. The rent-a-wreck was the words used to describe the car situation for the Gold players when they needed a car. Is Denver a one horse type of town with the Broncos in the NFL? Setting up shop in Colorado is technically west coast. Denver could be a team temporarily in the North Division or even in the South but still kind of in no-man’s land. Something about having games with the mountains in the back ground is cool. Could you build up a following in the second go around or is this idea a pipe dream breathing in the Rocky mountain high?
#4.OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS
The Outlaws may be the coolest logo ever in the USFL. The original Outlaws only existed one year in Oklahoma. The Outlaws would become the Wranglers. The Outlaws had a owner who would treat his team like cattle. They had Doug Williams at quarterback in that year as he emerged later on in the NFL with the Redskins. Williams became the first black quarterback to win a Superbowl title. Oklahoma has a professional basketball in the Thunder who have done well since vacating Seattle. It sucks that the Supersonics are not still around in the NBA. Oklahoma is all about Sooners football as they love the college game. If you can get the interest from the fans wanting a team in the Spring and bring back the Outlaws, you would be the only game in town when you play football. The second go around teams don’t have these problems with cheap and bad ownerships because the league is owned by Fox network. Would Oklahoma be too far west? Like the Denver idea, they could be in either division temporarily until you establish teams on the West coast.
#3.WASHINGTON FEDERALS
The first go around for the Washington Federals was horrible because they played bad football. You could compare them to the Washington Generals that played the Harlem Globetrotters on the Simpsons. Krusty the Clown bet on them because he thought they were due. The name & the color scheme I like for the Federals. Baseball came back to the nation’s capital as the Expos turn into the Nationals and they did well. DC has the Commanders and they have the Defenders in the XFL which would be hard. Could the beer snake extend to back to back spring fling football teams as DC fans have been one of the exciting fan bases in football after the NFL. The Federals would fit in with the North Division with Michigan, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New Jersey. Watching bad Redskin football all these years means maybe the younger generation will gravitate to the Defenders and Federals.
#2.CHICAGO BLITZ
I like the idea of having a team in my own home city. The Blitz had Bills legendary coach Marv Leavy coaching them at one point. The Blitz’s first season the team did well as they made the playoffs and lost to the Stars in overtime in Philadelphia. The Blitz played their home games at Soldier Field but only averaged 18,000 fans per game. The Chicago Bears are planning to move to the burbs as the Blitz can retake their former home turf in Soldier Field. Downtown Chicago these days is not the safest place to be. The Blitz could use another stadium vacated by the Chicago Fire, the soccer team, on the south side of town. Bringing back the Blitz, you can fit them right in the North division with Michigan, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Pittsburgh. The Blitz ended up folding and most of the team became a part of the Wranglers in Arizona. The biggest question is whether a big city like Chicago can gravitate to a small Spring football league.
#1.TAMPA BAY BANDITS
The Tampa Bay Bandits will ride again in the USFL. The Bandits were back in 2022 in the reboot of the USFL. The league wanted to open up the Memphis hub city and resurrected the Showboats, saying the Bandits will be back in the future. The Bandits did well in the 1980’s when actor Burt Reynolds had some stake in the team as he was a co-owner. The Tampa Bay market does have the Buccaneers in the NFL. No XFL team to deal with. Every league wants a Florida franchise. The USFL best option is Tampa Bay over the other two choices they have had in the past with Orlando and Jacksonville. Tampa Bay would be a perfect team to add to the South Division. The Tampa Bay fan base has improved with the Buccaneers over the years and the Lightning in the NHL. In baseball, I’m not sure why the Rays gets a raw deal when they’ve been a top team for the last ten seasons in the MLB.
The USFL should not rush expansion as all their teams they have now still have to establish their own fan base in their own cities. In year two, the entire USFL was a well-balanced league as every team was competitive. As a fan, we want to see some of these old helmets back in the league in the future. It may be the same helmet, just in a different city as well. Perhaps the USFL and the XFL will emerge. Some of these old helmets may never resurface in the future.
#1. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (9-2) VS #1. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (5-6)
The 2023 championship features both teams that came in as division champions and now will meet in Canton Ohio for the final game of the year. The Stallions are trying to repeat as champions, as they took down the Philadelphia Stars last year in the inaugural year of the USFL reboot. The Maulers won their first post-season game ever in their first appearance last week, and this goes back to the 1980’s history when Pittsburgh never came close to the post-season. It took overtime last week, but Maulers got it done versus the Panthers. In the South, the Stallions broke the Breakers in a blow out win to advance to the championship game. Maulers have won three straight while the Stallions have won five straight.
HEAD TO HEAD THIS SEASON: Stallions won 24-20 against Maulers this season in their only meeting.
It was Deon Cain’s 91 yard touchdown return that would be the game winner over the Maulers in week 4 action.
ALL-TIME HEAD TO HEAD RECORDS BETWEEN STALLIONS/MAULERS INCLUDING 1980’S
Stallions 3-0 Maulers
THE QUARTERBACKS THAT WERE NOT QB 1 TO START THE SEASON
Both quarterbacks starting this championship game were not even the opening day starters for their perspective team. For the Stallions it was J’Mar Smith who started the season as QB1, a guy who led Birmingham all the way to the championship last year. Smith out-played Alex McGough who was QB1 to start the 2022 season. Smith got the job and ran with it. However, Smith would suffer a season-ending injury in week 1 which unleashed Super McGough as he has the Stallions back in the same position as last year. The Maulers, are the Chicago Bears when it comes to quarterbacks. Bad quarterbacks with a great defense is the Mauler way of life. James Morgan started the season for the Maulers, and it did not take much for Troy Williams to show he much better than that guy.
LAST WEEK QB STATS
Alex McGough versus the Breakers: 310 passing yards, 84 rushing yards and total 5 touchdowns. Stallions destroyed Breakers 47-22
Troy Williams versus the Panthers: 23-40, 203 yards, 1 touchdown pass, 36 rushing yards. Maulers beat Panthers in OT 31-27.
Both Williams and McGough are duel threat quarterbacks. Alex McGough is the best quarterback in the USFL. Williams is a solid option as he takes what defenses are giving him and does not make mistakes with the football. Williams needs a running game and relies on the short passing game in hopes his receivers can break tackles. McGough is a master at improv. McGough can make things happen with his feet or his arm. Broken plays are when McGough thrives and turns into Patrick Mahomes.
QUARTERBACK EDGE: Stallions
The Stallions have the better offense while the Maulers have the better defense. Stallions can put up the most points in the league while the Maulers give up the least amount of points in the USFL. This game comes down to the Stallions defense versus the Maulers offense that will decide the outcome. The Stallions did get one of their main staples back last week in linebacker Scooby Wright.
Scooby is not only a fan favorite in Birmingham, but he is the heart and soul of this Stallions defense. Last week, Scooby made his presence felt in the win over the Breakers. Wright had three solo tackles of which four of those was for a loss of yards. Wright also had one pass defended.
The Maulers weapon to win the match up between their own offense versus the Stallions defense comes down to wide receiver Isiah Hennie. Last weekend, Hennie led all Maulers receivers with 6 catches for 83 yards. Hennie was targeted 10 times as he is Troy Williams’ guy. Hennie had one of those catches for 41 yards as he is the playmaker for the Maulers. If the Maulers want to win this match up and the game, Hennie needs to have a big night at the office.
MAULERS OFFENSE VERSUS STALLIONS DEFENSE: EDGE BIRMINGHAM
DEFENSE WINS GAMES
Defense can always prevail over great offenses. The Maulers would need their defense to play lights out versus the Stallions, and it starts with the Boogie Man, Boogie Roberts, on that Pittsburgh defensive line. The Maulers defense in the first meeting versus the Stallions kept them in the game as they had the lead and lost that game on a kick off return. The Maulers gave up 27 points to a Panther quarterback making his second start in the USFL last week. It worries me with Super Alex McGough and that Birmingham loaded offense that can pass and has running attack with some nice options in the back field and a quarterback that can take off. The Maulers defense will have to have their best game of the season to steal this game away from heavy favorite Stallions team.
I like both coaches for the Maulers and Stallions. I think both coaches are players’ coaches. Skip Holtz, despite injuries his team has had this season, has done a marvelous job putting the right pieces in place to keep this Stallion machine running on all cylinders. Ray Horton is a god compared to last year’s Maulers coach, Kirby Jackson, who should have never been hired in the first place. The players for both teams would run through a brick wall for their coaches. Experience-wise you have to give Skippy the edge from doing this last year with the Stallions. Skip Holtz’s experience from college as head coach and having coaching in his blood line gives the Stallions the upper hand in this big game.
EDGE: Stallions
FINAL THOUGHTS
As a fan, I want the Maulers to be like Sledge Hammer blowing up the Stallions. In this championship it would be the David beating Goliath story. I don’t think this game will be a blow out. I think this game will be close through three quarters. The Stallions prevail in the 4th quarter. The Stallions have too many wild horses on their roster for this Mauler team to handle going full throttle for 4 straight quarters.
I never thought Patrick Kane would waive his no-trade clause last year and let the Blackhawks trade him. The writing was all over the walls that Kane’s days in Chicago would be over sooner rather than later as his contract was expiring at the end of the 2022-23 season. Kane deserved the no-trade clause and the big contract that he did get from the team that drafted him. Kane had a say on where he wanted to go and that was the Big Apple with the Rangers. The Blackhawks could have gotten more, but in the entire hockey world there are only a few teams Kane would play for. The Blackhawks ended up getting something for one of the main cogs of the dynasty that helped the Indian sweater win three Stanley cups. Meanwhile the Rangers wanted a cup of their own and Kane would gladly return to his home state and give them a hand. Both parties were not happy with the results, as the Rangers and Kane were dispatched from the playoffs in the very first round. Kane is now available as a free agent to sign anywhere he wants. The Rangers have mixed feelings about a reunion with the former Blackhawks great, and the price tag may be too steep. What if Kane had a homecoming, stayed in the state of New York, and played for his home team, the Buffalo Sabres?
Last season, the Buffalo Sabres missed the post-season by one point in the standings. The Sabres have not been relevant in 16 seasons which is the last time they won a playoff series if you count this season as a success. The Sabres have the longest playoff drought in the NHL as it is now tallied up to 12 seasons. The number keeps going up as any business would like an increased number like this in days without injuries. The Sabres, and only the Vancouver Canucks. are the longest active teams in the NHL without winning a Stanley cup which now stands at 52 years. The Sabres fans witnessed one of their own guys, Jack Eichel, win his first cup with the Las Vegas Golden Knights. Eichel seems ecstatic to get out of the frozen waste land of NHL hockey in Buffalo, New York as he made his feelings known about his days playing for the Sabres organization and fans. Could a 34-year old right winger who is a 16 year veteran with three Stanley Cups under his belt be the answer to help Buffalo break their playoff drought?
Last year, Patrick Kane played in 73 regular season games scoring 21 goals while dishing out 36 assists for a grand total of 57 points. Kane played in 19 regular season games for the Rangers and scored 5 goals with 7 assists for 12 points. The playoffs is what the Rangers wanted Kane for ,as they had to work out multiple deals just to get the Blackhawks superstar on their roster. Kane played all 7 games of the series versus the New Jersey Devils who knocked out the Rangers in that first round of the playoffs. Kane would score one goal in seven games but did dish out 5 assists in that playoff series versus the Devils. Only team Kane knew, was the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that drafted him. Some experts will say it takes a player being on the team at the start of a season to get affiliated with their teammates and surroundings. That they’ll do that better than arriving in mid-season. Some players could play that rental player well while others do not do well in the quick change of uniform. Then they’re expected to lead the team to the promised land to a bunch of guys you may not know. Kane did have hip surgery when his season ended and is expected back by the time teams start to gear it up for the next season.
The Buffalo Sabres last year got by with a veteran goalie on his last legs, in Craig Anderson. Anderson did pretty good for a 42 year old in net for the Sabres. Last season, Eric Comrie only played in 19 games as he suffered an injury but will return next season. He went 9-9 as a starter for the Sabres in front of the net. The Sabres need to definitely improve their goalie situation. The Sabres have a nice core assembled with some talented 1& 2 skating lines. The Sabres top line features Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson, and Alex Tuch. The Second Line can do some damage as well with Jack Quinn, Dylan Cozens, and JJ Peterka. Adding Patrick Kane gives this team a veteran presence like when the Blackhawks added Marion Hossa to the team with an abundance of younger talent that helped Chicago get over the hump and win three cups. Kane, a sure thing first ballot Hall of Famer, could spice up his late chapters of his hockey career. Patrick Kane still has a shot to score the most goals in the NHL by any American-born player. I imagine going back home to help his hometown team break a playoff drought would be something special for him and the city of Buffalo, his old stomping grounds. The 62 year old cab driver he helped his brother beat up over 20 cents, might not like the deal when Patrick was visiting Buffalo in the off-season. The rest of Buffalo should be reminded they do have a hockey team and could use a guy they know as they watched him play in their town for years. Kane could easily score his 500th goals in a Sabres uniform if he decides he needs and wants to suit up for the his home town team. Some players do not like playing in front of their home town team because of the pressure. Kane is able.
The USFL will be the first Spring football league to complete its second season in a row since the original USFL did that/done that in the 1980’s. It looked like the USFL was going to have two rematches in the post-season from last year. The North division has two new representatives as the Stars and Generals fizzled in crunch time. The Breakers and Stallions will be the rematch in the South division. Can the Stallions repeat as champions? I kicked around both match-ups and came up with a prediction for each championship. Not sure I’ll be right as anything could happen. If I’m right or wrong, I will also have a prediction next week when two teams will be alive in the USFL Spring fling.
PLAYOFFS
NORTH DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
#2. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (4-6) VS #1.PITTSBURGH MAULERS (4-6)
Head to head record in 2023: Maulers 2-0 Panthers
All-time head to head including 1980’s Panthers 3-2 Maulers
Record since the USFL reboot: Panthers 2-2 Maulers
Playoff history: Never faced each other
Panthers all-time playoff record including 1980’s: (2-1) Won 1983 Championship
Maulers all-time playoff record including 1980’s: (0-0) First ever playoff appearance
Both the Panthers and Maulers are in the post-season despite winning records as the entire division finished under 500. The Maulers won two in a row to win the South division title. Maulers took down the Generals last weekend to officially punch their card in the post-season. Meanwhile the Panthers made a change at quarterback and the move worked as EJ Perry made his first start ever in the USFL, and led his team from behind to get a comeback win over the Stars. Both teams are known for their defenses this season over unpredictable offenses that are more cold than hot. The hottest is lukewarm.
QUARTERBACK MATCH UP
Maulers Troy Williams vs Panthers EJ Perry
Both quarterbacks can move in the pocket and make plays with their legs. Troy Williams was not the day one starter in Pittsburgh when the season started, but has given his team new life. Williams takes care of the football most importantly for this Mauler team. Williams made 8 starts going 4-4. Williams has thrown 6 touchdown passes compared to only 3 interceptions. EJ Perry, with only one start under his belt, has a lot rested on his shoulders. Perry did find the end zone with his legs in the win over the Stars. Perry’s combination through the air and ground had 169 yards total offense for the Panthers.
EDGE: Maulers experience
GROUND ASSAULT
The Panthers have one of the best running backs in the league in the this department. Reggie Corbin had 437 yards on the ground with two touchdowns, a back that can also catch the ball out of the back field. The Panthers also use Stevie Scott III who can come in and get big gainers.
The Maulers quarterback, Troy Williams, is the guy who will get the most yards with his legs. The Maulers then split the load with Madre London and Garrett Groshek, two power backs that can get short yardage gains.
Edge: Panthers
THROUGH THE AIR
The Panthers and Maulers play makers through the air, could be even Steven. Both teams have the security blankets as Panthers uses Trey Quinn for those must-need yards while the Maulers use Bailey Gaither. Then both teams have the home run guy. Panthers have Joe Walker who has three touchdown receptions over 300 yards receiving. The Maulers have Isiah Hennie who also has three touchdown receptions and over 300 yards receiving.
EDGE: EVEN
THE DEFENSE
When it comes to defense, both teams are solid. The Panthers have the sack king of the USFL in Breeland Speaks.
Speaks had 9 sacks in ten games. The Panthers also have Levi Bell on the other side of the field with 4 sacks. Then the tackling machine of Frank Ginda at the linebacker position. Ginda also led the Panthers in interceptions.
The Maulers are like the ’85 Chicago Bears as they are loaded with a ton of defensive talent. The Maulers have 4 guys with at least 3 sacks. Nasir Player at 3.5 sacks, Boogie Roberts at 3.0, Olive Sagapolu at 3.0 and Terry Miles with 3. Then Chris Okoye has two. On the back end are two tackling machines of Reuben Foster and Kyahva Tezino, who may be the defensive player of the year. Arnold Tarpley and Mark Gilbert have 7 interceptions combined. Boogie Roberts is the maestro of this unit.
EDGE: Maulers
I know it’s hard to beat a team three times in one season as the Maulers have swept the Panthers season series. The Panthers came through the crawl space to get in the playoffs and have not won more than one game since opening up the season at 2-0. The Maulers are playing their best football now and have won two straight. I like both coaches of each team, Ray Horton of the Maulers and Mike Nolan of the Panthers. I think the Maulers respond better with Horton as a team better than Nolan and his Panthers. I like the Maulers’ special teams over the Panthers. Troy Williams has more experience than EJ Perry at the quarterback position. Plus, Perry did well versus a bad Stars defense and that being said, the Maulers defense is different animal.
PREDICTION: Maulers win!!!!
SOUTH DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
#2.NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (7-3) VS #1.BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (8-2)
Head to head record in 2023: Breakers 1-1 Stallions
All-time head to head record including 1980’s + playoffs: Stallions 8-2 Breakers
Note: Breakers played in 3 cities in the 1980’s: Boston, New Orleans, & Portland
Record head to head since the reboot: Stallions 4-1 Breakers including playoffs
Playoff history: Last season Stallions beat Breakers 31-17 in the South Division Championship game
Breakers all-time playoff record including 1980’s: (0-1)
Stallions all-time playoff record including 1980’s: (4-2) Won 2022 USFL Championship
The Breakers and Stallions will have a rematch from last year’s South Championship which the Stallions won. The Breakers gave the Stallions their first loss of the season by putting 45 points in the first meeting of the year. Then in week 7, Stallions got their revenge winning a close one over the Breakers. The Stallions have won 5 straight and clinched their second South division title. The Breakers were the last unbeaten team in the USFL this season, but they lost in week 5 after starting 4-0 which included the win over the Stallions. The Breakers went through some hard times losing three in a row. Since their last loss to the Stallions, the Breakers have won three straight to take the second seed in the South division. The South division, by far the toughest in the USFL as every team was 500 or had a win unlike the North in which every team had a losing record.
QUARTERBACK MATCH UP
This match-up between the Breakers and the Stallions features the two best quarterbacks in the USFL. McLeod Bethel-Thompson’s stats: 220-336 for 2,433 passing yards, 65.5 % completion percentage with 14 touchdown passes and 8 interceptions.
Alex McGough’s stats: 180-267 for 2,105 passing yards, 67.4 % completion percentage with 20 touchdown passes and only 5 interceptions. McGough on the ground stats: 70 rushes, 403 yards and 5 touchdowns.
EDGE: Stallions stats do not lie.
GROUND ASSAULT
At one point, Will Hills looked like the best running back in the league for the Breakers. Hills had the most rushing yards in the entire USFL, only 25 yards more than Gamblers Mark Thompson who played two games less. Hills had 680 yards on the ground and ten touchdowns as he averaged 3.8 a carry. The Stallions’ lead rusher was CJ Marable who gained 524 yards on the ground and averaged 4.4 yards a carry. Marable can catch the ball out of the back field. The Stallions also use the legs of McGough in the running game. Hills has fumble isssues.
EDGE: Stallions
THROUGH THE AIR
Both the Breakers and the Stallions have a slew of play makers that can catch the ball. The Breakers and Stallions each have two guys that went over 500 yards receiving. The Breakers’ security blanket is Sage Surratt who had 50 grabs for 552 yards with one touchdown. Then not talked about a lot, is Jonathan Adams for the Breakers. He’s a big target in the passing game, a guy that can jump in the air and bring in those overthrown passes. Adams had 41 grabs for 511 yards with two touchdown passes.
Let’s not forget about Johnnie. Johnnie Dixon had 33 grabs for the Breakers for 463 yards with 5 touchdown catches. The Stallions’ Davion Davis led the team with receptions and receiving yards with 39 grabs for 575 yards.
The Stallions also have the best tight end in the league with Jace Sternberger who had 33 grabs for 533 yards with 7 touchdown catches.
EDGE: Breakers
THE DEFENSE
Both the Breakers and Stallions can do some good things on the defensive side of the ball. The Breakers have two guys that can kill the opposing team’s quarterback. Keonte Schad had 7.5 sacks this season for the Breakers and his partner in crime, Anree Saint-Armour, had six sacks.
The Stallions have two guys with 4 sacks each, in Dondrea Tillman and Willie Henry, that lead their team killing the quarterback.
The Breakers as a team have recorded 28 sacks and can force turnovers as they have 12 interceptions as a group. The Stallions defense have recorded only 19 sacks and tallied up six interceptions. Last year, the Stallions had Scooby Wright who was the anchor of that defense. The Breakers have their Scooby in Vontae Diggs, a linebacker that can do it all.
EDGE: Breakers
When it comes to the Breakers, Head Coach John DeFilippo has done a very nice job in year one as the man. The Stallions guy, Skip Holtz, has won coach of the year this season and has a championship under his belt. The Stallions get the edge in special teams, as Deon Cain is one of best returners in the USFL. This game should be close no matter what. It will be either a defensive struggle or an offensive shoot out. The way Alex McGough is playing the game right now and the entire season, you have to go Stallions on this one. McGough can come back if the team is down. McGough rebounds quickly from any mistakes he makes. The Breakers can score with the best of them in this league, as their offense is deadly. The Breakers are prone to make too many mistakes that will cost them the game and their chance to advance to the championship.
The final week of regular season in the USFL and only one team has clinched a playoff spot. The team that is in so-far, well your lucky guess is the Birmingham Stallions, last year’s champions. Final week of the season has 7 teams battling it out for 3 playoff spots. Plus, the Stallions are looking to clinch the number one spot in the South. Could the North division end up with two teams under 500 making the playoffs? We will try to sort it out in our Week Ten USFL Power Rankings. Who do you think will be alive after week ten? Your guess is probably as good as mine.
WEEK TEN POWER RANKINGS
#1. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (7-2) SAME SPOT FROM LAST WEEK
What can you say? The USFL has the Stallions, then the rest of the league is tier two and further beyond. The Stallions are the first team to clinch a playoff spot as they stepped on the throats of the Gamblers in the 4th quarter to put them away. The Stallions get revenge on the Gamblers for tagging them with one of their two losses earlier in the season. The Stallions are not out of the woodshed yet, as they face the Showboats who they murdered in the first game. Stallions want the number one seed in the South as the Breakers are one game behind them. Plus, the Showboats’ Todd Haley had words with Skip Holtz after the authorities put the chalk lines on the Memphis players sprawled all over the field in the first meeting of the year (a 42-2 slaughtering.)
The Stallions, despite key injuries, are playing very well and could repeat as champions. You can make an argument that the Stallions quarterback, Alex McGough, could be the best QB in the USFL. We know the Stallions have the best tight end in the league with Jace Sternberger. He leads the USFL in touchdown catches with six as McGough hooked up with him last weekend versus Houston.
This season, Sternberger has 29 catches for 433 yards and those six touchdown passes.
#2. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (6-3) MOVED UP 2 SPOTS FROM LAST WEEK
The Breakers are picking the right time to get hot as they won two in a row. The Breakers and the weather were the two storm-fronts that Memphis had to deal with as they blew out the Showboats 31-3 last week. This game was pretty much over by the end of the first quarter. The Breakers defense put on a clinic. Breakers defensive lineman, Keonte Schad, had two sacks.
The Breakers had 3 interceptions off Cole Kelly as Vontae Diggs ran one back. Jerod Fernandez had a monster day with ten tackles.
Can the Breakers beat the Gamblers in the final game of the season? The Breakers control their own destiny to make the playoffs for the second year in a row with a win. Breakers started the season red hot and hit a speed bump in the middle of the campaign. They could head to post-season on fire with a win over the Gamblers.
#3. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (5-4) DROPPED ONE SPOT FROM LAST WEEK
Looks like good trumps over evil as Todd Haley’s deal with the devil comes to an end. Memphis and Haley go up in flames on a stormy day as the Breakers were the storm blitzkrieging the Showboats, 31-3. It ends the Showboats’ 5 game winning streak. Cole Kelly had his worst day behind center for the Showboats with 3 interceptions as the Breakers defense was all over him the entire game and inside the rookie’s head.
One of Kelly’s interceptions was a pick six. In the final regular season game. it does not get easier for the Showboats as they have a rematch versus the Stallions and we remember what happened last time. The Showboats scored two points, the Stallions had over 40 points, and Todd Haley was making threats after the game to Birmingham’s head coach, Skip Holtz.
#4. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (5-4) DROPPED ONE SPOT FROM LAST WEEK
The Gamblers knew they would have to play their best game of the year last week with a rematch versus the Stallions. Gamblers did beat the Stallions in the first game of the season. The wild horses put a beat-down on this Houston team that has struggled lately, 38-15. The score is misleading as the Gamblers were battling the Stallions and at one point it was 17-15 Birmingham in the 4th quarter. Then the wheels fell off the Gambler offensive machine.
The Gamblers were beaten by the Stallions like a red-headed step child. The Gamblers offensive machine was not operating on all cylinders as they relied on 5 field goals for the 15 points they produced on the score board.
Nick Vogel had a perfect day at the office, making all 5 field goals and producing all of the Gamblers’ points. The Gamblers need to beat the Breakers this weekend and need the Stallions to sink the Showboats to get the number two spot in the south division.
#5. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (3-6) MOVED UP THREE SPOTS FROM LAST WEEK
You can never count out a Mike Riley coached team, especially when it comes to Spring football leagues. The Generals won the North last year and made it to post-season only to get knocked out by the Stars. The Stars had a chance to terminate the Generals last week and kill their playoff hopes. The Generals are alive and well and have a chance to get back to post-season. They scored the most points of the season and get a desperate win they needed. De’Andre Johnson returned from his injury behind center as he completed 75% of his passes going 15-20 for 213 yards. It was the bowling ball at running back that carried the load for the Generals, as Darius Victor had two rushing touchdowns with 51 yards on the ground.
Victor also had a touchdown pass and caught a ball for 12 yards. The Generals defense scooped up three fumbles. The Stars made a comeback, but the Generals would escape with a victory to keep them alive as they play the Maulers this weekend, and with a win they are in.
#6. PHILADELPHIA STARS (4-5) DROPPED ONE SPOT FROM LAST WEEK
Suddenly the Stars are falling from the skies once again this season as they dropped two in a row. The Stars could have locked down a playoff spot last week facing a Generals team that were a DOA on arrival.
FUMBLE, FUMBLA, FUMBLINA!
The Stars could not hold on to the rock as they coughed up the ball three times and dug themselves a gigantic hole, down 37-16 at one point. The Stars defense relys on turnovers, and if they don’t get them, they are the worst unit in the USFL. Case Cookus of the Stars, besides the one fumble, had a great game with three touchdown passes.
The Stars got one of the dangerous return men in the league, Terry Wright, involved in the offense. He had a 26 yard touchdown reception as the Stars came back and made it a game but fell short. The Stars face the Panthers in the final week of regular season. A win gets them in the playoffs and they may be the only team with a 500 record in the division if they beat Michigan. If Stars lose two teams from the North division, they will make the playoffs with losing records.
#7. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (3-6) SAME SPOT FROM LAST WEEK
I have the Maulers in the same spot because they only beat the kittens from Michigan for the second time of the year, and that’s who two of their victories have come from. The win gives the Maulers a chance still to make post-season as they have a big game versus the Generals in week ten. A win should catapult this team into post-season.
The Maulers defense plays like the old 1980’s game of Crossbones and Catapults where they blow up the opposing team’s offensive line, viking-style. The Maulers picked off Josh Love 4 times last week.
Kyahva Tezino gets defensive player of the week for his performance versus the Panthers. Tezino had two of the 4 team interceptions with 7 tackles and 3 passes defended. The Mauler defense is filled with these types of guys that scrap, and play Chicago Bears 1985 style defense getting it done. The Mauler defense in the playoffs would be awesome and I know they would be getting there under a 500 record, but they are fun to watch.
#8. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (3-6) DROPPED TWO SPOTS FROM LAST WEEK
The Panthers, since starting 2-0 out of the gates, have lost 6 out their last seven games and they still have a chance to sneak into the playoffs in the final week of regular season. The Panthers would have to actually win a home game in front of their own fans, which they have not done all season. Last week, the Maulers completed a two game sweep over the Panthers. Another bad performance by Josh Love in which tipped passes became interceptions for the Maulers defense. Love had 4 interceptions and you would think the Panthers would have been blown out only losing 19-7. Panthers defense always keeps Michigan in these games.
Levi Bell had 9 tackles for the Panthers in the loss with 1.5 sacks. If the Panthers want to get into the post-season, the defense needs to make it happen and hope the offense can generate more than they’ve been giving. Especially versus a Stars team that can score points.
After walking off the field calling it a day in the middle of a football game in 2022, Antonio Brown has never resurfaced back into the NFL. Brown, we all know, is not playing with a full deck inside his brain as he left the Buccaneers sideline & had a hissy fit taking his shirt off . Then he proceeded to do jumping jacks as he gave his farewell to the crowd and his football career. Brown has gotten back into the game this time as owner of the Albany Empire, who play in the NAL (National Arena Football league.) It did not take long actually, only 3 months ’til the entire league kicked Brown out for not paying his team’s fees. Another stunning chapter in Antonio’s book of life, where he will blame everyone else but himself. This as he’s going around with more than one loose screw bouncing off the cranium inside his head when he tries to view reality.
Antonio Brown made 80.4 million dollars in his 12 year NFL career. He had to use some of that to buy the Albany Empire in the first place. Brown did pay the NAL league fees in April. His own players and staff did not get their pay checks. The Empire’s coach, Damon Ware, left the team quitting because he was not getting paid. The NAL has 7 teams in the league of which each team has to annuity up 1/7 of the leagues operating fees. Did Brown not read the league rules? Brown has an accountant, but did he even look at the league rules. Brown refused to pay the next two months of fees. Brown even was his total asshole self making comments about the league and how it was run. The league fined Brown a thousand dollars. The league then set a deadline to collect the league dues, but Brown’s accountant said the team will not pay anything by the time that date arrived. Brown and the Empire played a game of chicken with the rest of the league. When a zombie bites you in the arm, cut it off so the virus the does not spread to the rest of your body. The entire NAL did that by cutting the virus Brown from their league, and now can move on without dealing with a crazy.
Let’s look at Antonio’s track record when it comes to owing money to others. Brown is being sued by a jeweler for not paying money for the merchandise he agreed to purchase. In 2021, Brown had to deal with a marketing company who is suing him for 2.4 million dollars for whatever efforts they put in for the former Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver. Then Brown was accused of trying to rip off a music promoter for 500,000. Let’s not forget about Brittany Taylor who filed three cases of sexual harassment against Brown who was playing with the Patriots at the time. Taylor, who coached Brown, said she was raped by this goon gone crazy.
Antonio Brown makes Tom Brady look like a boy scout when he continued to blame the quarterback for his exit out of Tampa Bay. Now that the Albany Empire will not be playing any more games this season, what about the stadium employees trying to make ends meet? The Brown virus will effect all the businesses around the stadium who probably rely on those arena games for extra profits or even paying the rent for their stores. The stadium owner had a block party on the docket coming up with all the businesses, so that will be cancelled. The fans will get their money back from Ticketmaster. The fans will have to go to the stadium to get their refund like people need another thing on the to-do list. Rumors had Brown was going to actually play a game on the field with his team, the Empire. I’m sure the players from Albany are not very happy looking for a job if they can’t latch on to one of the other teams in the league. I’m surprised the league let the sale of the Empire happen knowing Brown was the buyer. The league may have thought the publicity would have been great having a talented player from the NFL having a team. This is why places do background checks. The Evil Empire is a great name for a Brown team. I could see Brown as one of those crazies in the Mad Max movies in the Thunderdome. I could see him being one of those crazies suited up for the Empire in an arena football game, and turning it into the Thunderdome like them old gladiator fights in Rome. I just can’t wait to see what unfolds in Brown’s next chapter in life because you can’t make this stuff up.
The Wild shamrock 