Offensive MVP
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| Agustin Crook, Denver Gold |
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| Daniel McKee, Chicago Blitz |
Defensive MVP
Shreveport Steamer MLB John Cintron was the runaway winner, receiving seven votes to two for New Orleans VooDoo DT John Lawrence. Others receiving votes: Ryan Moore, DT, Georgia Force; Jesse Amos, MLB, Georgia Force; Ryan Willey, LDE, Denver Gold; Bernard Washington, WLB, Florida Blazers; Josh Daugherty, LDE, Detroit Wheels.
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| John Cintron, Shreveport Steamer (35) |
All-Pro, Position by Position
Punter/Kicker
Because SurveyMonkey only allowed 10 questions, I am forced to name a punter and kicker. They are punter Dean Long of the Oklahoma Outlaws and kicker Timothy Riley of the Boston Breakers. Long led the league with a 48.1 average and a 45.5 net. Riley kicked 15 field goals from more than 50 yards, and made 87 percent of his FG attempts inside 50 yards. He also ranked third in the league in kickoff distance (73) and converted 47 of 50 extra points (94 percent).
Kick Returner
Thomas Dayton of the Southern California Sun was the runaway winner (no pun intended). Dayton returned four kickoffs for TDs, one from 106 yards, and averaged 35 yards per return. As a receiver, Dayton caught 76 passes for 1,151 yards and seven TDs.
Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Bruno Fredericks, New York Stars; John Andrade, Houston Gamblers.
Quarterback
As noted above, an odd result as Daniel McKee of the Chicago Blitz received twice as many voes as Agustin Crook of the Denver Gold. Crook led the league with 5,910 passing yards and was second with 44 TDs. McKee had by far the highest QB rating (137.6), led the league in completion percentage (67.9) and had 41 TDs and 6 INTs vs. Crook's 44 and 20.
Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Tony Smith, San Antonio Gunslingers; Michael White, Pittsburgh Maulers; William Hill, Portland Storm.
Running Back
Bruce Fine of the Chicago Blitz and Cliff Thomas of the Pittsburgh Maulers were well ahead of the field. Fine led the USFL/WFL with 2,056 yards rushing and tied Pittsburgh's John Murray for the lead in touchdowns (15). Thomas ran for 1,822 yards and 11 TDs and his 6.5 yards per carry were tied for second among backs with 160 or more carries.
Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Robert Costello, Detroit Wheels; John Murray, Pittsburgh Maulers; Curtis Scott, Arizona Wranglers; Christopher Gray, San Jose SaberCats; Jose Medina, Philadelphia Bell; Jason Brooks, Oakland Invaders.
Wide Receiver
Thomas Canale of the New Orleans VooDoo received more than twice as many votes as runner-up Donnie Baker of the San Antonio Gunslingers. Canale won the receiving Triple Crown, leading the league in receptions (120), yards (2,113) and TDs (23). Baker was second in yards (1,970) and third in receptions (105) and TDs (15).
Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: William Delatorre, Denver Gold; Santiago Smith, Los Angeles Express; John Sanders, Michigan Panthers; Randy Christmas, Baltimore Stars.
Tight End
Kenneth Boyd of the New Orleans VooDoo was the clear winner. He caught 85 passes for 1,422 yards (leading all TEs) and six TDs, averaging 16.7 yards per catch. Boyd has ratings of 94 strength and 72 run blocking.
Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Scott Maddux, Shreveport Steamer; Larry Perez, Houston Gamblers.
Offensive Line
Ben Arnold of the Birmingham Stallions received votes from 18 of the 19 voters. Arnold was joined on the first team by Birmingham teammate Earl Murtagh, Boston Breakers center Donald Lopez, Pittsburgh's Sidney Woosley, and Boston's Charles Bukowski. There were 16 linemen receiving votes. The five first-teamers allowed a combined four sacks between them all season. Woosley was penalized eight times during the season, but none of the others more than three times.
Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Adam Bolding, Portland Storm; Jason Westbrooks, Los Angeles Express; Jimmy Rice, Georgia Force; Richard Robinson, Michigan Panthers; Larry Fazio, Pittsburgh Maulers; Chad Mannings, Washington Federals; Raymond Andres, San Antonio Gunslingers; Kennth Addison, Portland Storm; Samuel Hines, Orlando Renegades; Larry Bucker, Florida Blazers; Thomas Watson, Michigan Panthers.
Defensive Line
The top four were far ahead of the rest of the field, headlined by John Lawrence of the New Orleans VooDoo. Lawrence was joined on the first team by Ryan Moore of the Georgia Force, Chris McDuffie of the Orlando Renegades and Kenneth Back of the Portland Storm. Moore led the league with 31 sacks, followed by Lawrence (24), McDuffie (23) and Back (22). Lawrence was second in the USFL/WFL with 75 hurries.
Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Robert Babineau, Houston Gamblers (led the league with 76 hurries); Ryan Willey, Denver Gold; Derek Mattison, Charlotte Hornets (led all DL with 76 tackles); Freddie Gilbert, New Jersey Generals; Mark Williams, Arizona Wranglers.
Linebackers
League defensive MVP John Cintron of the Shreveport Steamer highlights the linebacker corps. Also on the first team were Jesse Amos of the Georgia Force, Jim LeClair of the New Jersey Generals and Travis Curcio of the Washington Federals. Cintron led all USFL/WFL LBs with 121 tackles and intercepted three passes. If you look at Cintron's ratings, he is at or near 100 in every category ... the Shawn Arzola of linebackers. Amos led all LBs in sacks (16) and hurries (53) while making 118 tackles. LeClair was only one tackle and one hurry behind Cintron. Curcio made 110 tackles and allowed only 31 percent of the 39 passes thrown against him to be completed.
Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Bernard Washington, Florida Blazers; Mike Harmon, Arizona Wranglers; Anthony Smith, San Jose SaberCats; Guillermo Cooper, Portland Storm; James Kelley, Southern California Sun; Bruce Schumann, Georgia Force; Roy Edelman, Tampa Bay Bandits; William Coffey, Washington Federals.
Defensive Backs
The voters cast ballots for 13 different DBs. The foursome with the most votes was Allen Herrera of the Oklahoma Outlaws, Leon Crisman of the San Antonio Gunslingers, Edward Alston of the Oakland Invaders and Donald Lopez of the Denver Gold. Herrera led the entire league with 138 tackles and allowed only 35.6 percent of 90 passes thrown his way to be completed. Crisman tied for the league lead with 10 interceptions and made 94 tackles. Alston also intercepted 10 passes and knocked down 23. Lopez intercepted six passes and allowed 34 percent completions of 176 attempts. Only two others DBs (Crisman and Portland's Ray Ruiz) were thrown at more times.
Others receiving votes, in order of number of votes received: Juan Bellino, Charlotte Hornets; Wayne Mashburn, Houston Gamblers; Shawn Arzola, Tampa Bay Bandits; Ronald Williams, Chicago Blitz; Chuck Johnson, Detroit Wheels; Jeffrey Bonner, Houston Gamblers; Robert Newton, New Orleans VooDoo; Mike Williams, New Jersey Generals; Bradley Martinez, Pittsburgh Maulers.
Summary Listing
1974 USFL/WFL All-Pro Team
Offense: Daniel McKee, QB, Chicago; Bruce Fine, RB, Chicago; Cliff Thomas, RB, Pittsburgh; Thomas Canale, WR, New Orleans; Donnie Baker, WR, San Antonio; Kenneth Boyd, TE, New Orleans; Ben Arnold, OL, Birmingham; Earl Murtagh, OL, Birmingham; Donald Lopez, OL, Boston; Sidney Woosley, OL, Pittsburgh; Charles Bukowski, OL, Boston.Special Teams: Dean Long, P, Oklahoma; Timothy Riley, K, Boston; Thomas Dayton, KR, Southern California.
Defense: John Lawrence, DL, New Orleans; Ryan Moore, DL, Georgia; Chris McDuffie, DL, Orlando; Kenneth Back, DL, Portland; John Cintron, LB, Shreveport; Jesse Amos, LB, Georgia; Jim LeClair, LB, New Jersey; Travis Curcio, LB, Washington; Allen Herrera, DB, Oklahoma; Leon Crisman, DB, San Antonio; Edward Alston, DB, Oakland; Donald Lopez, DB, Denver.
Offensive MVP: Agustin Cook, QB, Denver, and Daniel McKee, QB, Chicago
Defensive MVP: John Cintron, MLB, Shreveport
