Crook Hangs Up Cleats

Agustin Crook

Talk about going out on top.

Birmingham Stallions quarterback Agustin Crook, the league's offensive MVP last season, announced his retirement Friday. Crook passed for a league-record 6,548 yards in 1977 while leading the Stallions into the playoffs. In one year with Denver and three with Birmingham, Crook averaged 5,405 passing yards, 40 TDs, and 102.59 QBR. He was also sacked 187 times in four years, which probably didn't contribute to his longevity. Crook, who turned 35 during the offseason, was the league's offensive co-MVP while with the Gold in 1974.

Crook's retirement was not the only blow suffered Friday by the Stallions.

Ben Arnold

Three-time All-Pro offensive lineman Ben Arnold also retired. Arnold allowed eight sacks in 5,808 career snaps. In his three All-Pro seasons ('74, '75, '77), he allowed four sacks in 4,388 snaps. The Stallions chose Arnold with the 19th overall pick in the 1974 allocation draft.

Another retiring Stallion was WR Bruno Fredericks, the only player in USFL/WFL history to have returned a punt for a touchdown (for the New York Stars vs. Baltimore in 1974). In four seasons, Frederick caught 59.1 percent of passes thrown his way and averaged 68 receptions, 933 yards, and 5 TDs per season. Fredericks was the 10th player taken in the allocation draft.

MLB Carlos Johnson, a part-time starter with Tampa Bay and Birmingham during his career, also hung it up. He was taken by the Bandits with the last pick of the second round in the allocation draft, then traded to Birmingham in 1975.

The retirements left Birmingham with $36.8 million in dead cap this season and $32.5 million next season. Arnold had signed a six-year, $45.5-million contract extension, Crook for five years, $62.8 million, Frederick for five years, $31.1 million, and Johnson for five years, $34.5 million, all at the end of the 1976 season. So, together, they will be getting 13 seasons of salary to NOT play for the Stallions.

Other notable offseason moves:

• Seven Boston Breakers retired, including 1974 All-Pro kicker Timothy Riley. In his career, Riley made good on 67 percent of his attempts from 50 yards and beyond. Boston enters the season with only 26 players under contract.
• Former Breakers center Wendell Borges is testing the free agent waters for his 18th and final season.
• Michigan Panthers WR Nathan Farmer retired. In two seasons with the Panthers, he caught 144 passes for 2,232 yards and 12 TDs.
• Cleveland Thunderbolts QB Brandon Robertson retired. In four seasons with Michigan and Cleveland, he threw 91 TDs and 42 INTs.
• Georgia Force MLB Jesse Amos retired. He was an All-Pro pick in 1974 when he had 118 tackles and 16 sacks, but never approached those numbers during his final three seasons.
• The Oakland Invaders have parted ways with CB Edward Alston, an All-Pro in 1974 and '75. Alston, who is likely to retire after this season, allowed 38.2 and 33.5 of catches thrown his way to be caught during his two All-Pro seasons.
• The Southern California Sun decided to let RB Leonard Arredondo walk via free agency. He had 895 yards rushing and 332 yards receiving last season.
• The New Orleans VooDoo waved goodbye to WR Jimmy Rupe, who had a memorable 1976 season for them (69 catches, 1,085 yards, 63.3 percent caught).
• Also among the free agents is former New Jersey Generals punter Donald Trump.