1982 Offseason Roundup

William Hill, QB, Portland/Shreveport

The USFL/WFL all-time passing leader and all-time receiving leader were among the big names who changed teams during 1982 free agency.

QB William Hill turned his back on Portland's 6-year, $14.45-million offer to sign for two years, $3.9 million with the Shreveport Steamer. Hill was apparently upset at not being re-signed after eight seasons with the Storm during which he passed for 5,918 yards and 326 TDs. He has a 20-percent chance of retiring, so the Steamer may give him two more seasons with which to increase those totals. Portland replaced Hill by trading for Southern California Sun QB Oscar Willis.

Dusty Heckman, OKL/SJS

WR Dusty Heckman will spend (probably) his last season with San Jose after spurning Oklahoma's one-year offer. Heckman's career 12,721 receiving yards and 93 TDs lead all USFL/WFL players in both categories.

The most expensive acquisition turned out to be former Arizona CB Albert Welsh and former Orlando CB John Borkowski. Portland gave both six years and $102.8 million, Both are in their 12th year and have a 40-percent chance of retiring.

LG Kenneth Kurtz fielded offers from 15 teams before leaving Orlando to sign with the Arizona Wranglers for six years, $78.4 million. Last year's All-Pro QB, Jerry Montalvo, re-signed with the Wranglers for 4 years, $72.3 million.

CB David Peralta looked at 15 offers before leaving Detroit to join the Houston Gamblers. The Gamblers also signed former Wheels QB Mario Valencia and former Wheels WR John Risinger to 1-year pacts for $17.7 million each.

The Outlaws gave 14th-year former LAX signal caller Gene Nowlin a five-year contract to replace the retired Dale Brown under center. Former league defensive MVP Oscar Rodriguez signed a one-year deal with Jacksonville.

Here are the 10 signings in which the total amount exceeded $30 million:

• CB Albert Welsh, ARZ/POR: 6 years, $102.8 million
• CB John Borkowski, ORL.POR: 6 years, $102.8 million
• LG Kenneth Kurtz, ORL/ARZ: 6 years, $78.4 million
• FS Jeff Melton, CHI/POR: 6 years, $72.9 million
• QB Jerry Montalvo, ARZ/ARZ: 4 years, $72.3 million
• LDE Darryl Barney, JAX/LAX: 6 years, $68.6 million
• QB Robert Burns, HOU/LAX: 6 years, $62.1 million
• CB David Peralta, DET/HOU: 3 years, $45.9 million
• WR Samuel Rutherford, SJS/CHI: 6 years, $41.9 million
• WLB Roy Edelman, BOS/POR: 6 years, $34.4 million

Retirements

The offseason decisions to hang up the spikes by some of the league's brightest stars certainly will promise a more robust Hall of Fame ballot in 1982.

Gregory Shea, Memphis

Gregory Shea of the Memphis Showboats was All-Pro twice, as a kick returner (1977) and running back (1978). Shea is the league's all-time leader in kickoff return TDs (17), including a record three in one game vs. the Detroit Wheels in 1977. Shea averaged 48 yards on his 25 kickoff returns that season. He averaged 36 yards per kickoff return and 6.7 yards per punt return for his eight-year career and also rushed for 8.674 yards and 34 TDs and caught 316 passes for 3,249 yards and 24 more TDs.

MLB John Cintron was the league's defensive MVP with Shreveport in 1974 (121 tackles, 7 sacks, 18 hurries, 3 INT). He averaged 84 tackles and 1,174 plays from scrimmage during his seven seasons with the Steamer.

Other former All-Pro selections who waved goodbye included DT Frank Wakefield (San Jose, 1975), DB Allen Herrera (Oklahoma, 1974), WLB Ramon Boldt (New Orleans,1980) and RG Sidney Woosley (Pittsburgh, 1974).

A list of notable retirees between 1981 and 1982:

• SS Joseph Daughtry, HON
• DT Frank Wakefield, SJS
• RB Seth Wynn FLA/LAX/SJS (1 season)
• MLB John Cintron, SHR/POR (1 season)
• RB Gregory Shea, MEM
• WR Gerard Hall, MEM
• QB Dale Brown, OKL
• CB Allen Herrera, OKL
• MLB Victor Lincoln, OKL
• RDE Cesar Collins, CHI
• CB Monte Cherry, CLE
• RB Robert Costello, DET
• WR Rigoberto Gonzales, DET
• WLB Ramon Boldt, NOV
• WR Matt Ellis, WAS
• RG Sidney Woosley, PIT