1983 Week 6 Roundup: Are the Bandits Back?

At least for a day, the Bandits were back.

Edward Conner WR, Tampa Bay (82)

Tampa Bay QB William Watts threw for 326 yards and three TDs and WR Edward Conner caught four passes for 139 yards and TDs of 20, 19, and 87 yards as Tampa Bay knocked off previously unbeaten Jacksonville, 24-17.

The Bulls' loss left the Denver Gold (6-0) and New Jersey Generals (6-0) as the only remaining unbeaten teams in the USFL/WFL.

Tampa Bay was one of the league's perennial powers for half of its 10-season existence, making the postseason for five consecutive seasons and playing in World Bowls IV and V. Jacksonville, seeking its third consecutive Southeast Division championship, had beaten the Bandits, 36-13, at home two weeks earlier.

In other Week 6 games:

• San Antonio Gunslingers CB Jim Morrison made 11 tackles and intercepted two passes during a 23-16 win over the New York Stars.
• Hawaiians CB Eugene Holland and MLB Douglas Oneal combined for three interceptions during Honolulu's 14-13 win over the New Orleans VooDoo. New Orleans kicker Brian Johnson missed on a 50-yard field goal attempt with 3:40 to play.
• Undefeated Denver trailed the Arizona Wranglers, 20-17, in the third quarter before rallying for a 38-23 victory. Gold QB Dustin Nichols threw four TD passes and has 15 TDs vs. 4 INT this season.
• The Southern California Sun have put together the first three-game win streak in franchise history after stopping the Los Angeles Express, 16-6. SoCal was 1-17 all-time against their neighborhood rivals entering the 1983 season. MLB Edward Standley had 7 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery for the Sun.

Week 7 Preview

New Orleans VooDoo (4-2) at Jacksonville Bulls (5-1) could be a playoff preview. So could Birmingham Stallions (5-1) at Florida Blazers (4-2) and Michigan Panthers (4-2) at Houston Gamblers (5-1). The Charlotte Hornets (3-3) take their Atlantic Division-leading club to Washington to face the Federals (2-4).

1983 Week 5 Roundup: Rise Up

Jerry Montalvo, QB, Arizona Wranglers

Week 5 in the 1983 USFL/WFL season proved to be the Week of the Cellar Dwellers.

• The Michigan Panthers, who had been tied for last place (actually a three-way tie for last place) (and a three-way tie for second place) in the Midwest Division, knocked off the previously undefeated Detroit Wheels, 22-13.
• The Pittsburgh Maulers, mired in last place in the Atlantic Division, outscored the division-leading Baltimore Stars, 8-7.
• The Arizona Wranglers, who had been tied for last place in the West Division, rose up to stun the defending division champion Portland Storm, 30-21.
• The Southern California Sun, tied for last in the Pacific Division, surprised the previously unbeaten San Jose SaberCats, 17-0.

Detroit's loss leaves the Denver Gold, Jacksonville Bulls, and New Jersey Generals as the only remaining undefeated teams in the USFL/WFL.Conversely, only two of the league's 32 teams sit at 0-5.

The Michigan-Detroit battle featured a wild fourth quarter that included a 29-yard interception return for a TD by Michigan MLB Mark Owens. That pass was thrown by Detroit backup QB Steve Voll, whose 2-for-10 performance served as further proof of the 0.4.5 version's curse on backup QBs entering the game "cold." The Wheels pulled within 15-13, but missed on a 2-point conversion pass with 1:58 to play. Panthers WLB Paul Declue then returned a Detroit fumble 28 yards for the TD that put the game out of reach.

Pittsburgh scored on a second-quarter safety and fourth-quarter TD pass to take its 8-7 lead over Baltimore. An interception gave the ball to the Stars at the Pittsburgh 23. Four plays later, from the 19, Stars fans gasped and covered their eyes as their team passed up the potential game-winning field goal to "go for it" on fourth-and-5 and were stopped inches short of the first down. The Maulers got the ball back with 1:52 remaining and ran out the clock.

The Wranglers actually led Portland, 30-7, early in the fourth quarter as the Storm punted on 10 of its first 11 drives. Wranglers QB Jerry Montalvo fired three TD passes in the second quarter.

The only TD for SoCal vs. San Jose came on WLB Roderick VanBrunt's 35-yard interception return for a TD with 98 seconds to play. The SaberCats had drives of 80 and 72 yards during this game that netted them zero points.

In other Week 5 games:

• The Jacksonville Bulls won the battle of Southeast Division unbeaten teams, topping the Florida Blazers, 16-10. MLB Phillip Williamson's pickoff late in the third quarter set up the game-winning TD and Florida never moved beyond its 46 in the fourth quarter.
• The Philadelphia Bell led, 16-2, with 5:27 to play, but Oklahoma scored twice late in the game to force a 16-16 tie. Shane Falco, the only QB on the Outlaws' roster, completed 50 of 75 passes for 498 yards and two TDs. Philadelphia was only yards away from the potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation time, but QB Roy Rhyne's pass was picked off by Outlaws CB Basil Sholes. Philadelphia FS Joseph Natoli was credited with 13 tackles, recovered a fumble, and intercepted a pass.
• LAX MLB Troy Erwin intercepted four passes during his team's 37-3 demolition of the Honolulu Hawaiians.

Week 6 Preview

The Chicago Blitz (3-2) can force a tie atop the Midwest Division with a win at Detroit (4-1). The Houston Gamblers (4-1) will try to maintain their Southwest Division lead against the Memphis Showboats (3-2).  The Portland Storm (3-2) at Baltimore Stars (2-3) looks like an interesting matchup, as does the Birmingham Stallions (4-1) at the San Jose SaberCats (4-1).

Record Book

USFL/WFL quarterbacks have thrown 220 interceptions in 90 games, or 2.44 per game. NFL teams combined for an average of 1.64 interceptions per game (420/256) in 2018. Pittsburgh QB Ryan Tate tied a league record by being picked off eight times in a game against LAX last season.

1983 Week 4 Roundup: To Bust or Not To Bust

Kelly Acosta, CB, Birmingham Stallions

Not all busts are created equal.

Birmingham CB Kelly Acosta intercepted three passes as the Stallions romped past the Georgia Force, 26-3. Birmingham pulled into a first-place tie with the New Orleans VooDoo atop the South Division after New Orleans fell to the Florida Blazers, 13-7.

Acosta is an interesting character. He was a draft-day bust for the Houston Gamblers, his potential dropping from 92.68 to 85.56 (my weights) during training camp. Acosta was the fifth overall pick (78 vol) in the 1980 draft. His potential has continued to fall (80.11), yet Acosta intercepted 10 passes last season and has four pickoffs already in 1983.

Gene Nowlin, Birmingham's 15th-year QB, was 35-for-42 passing against Georgia and RB Mark Peterson caught 11 passes for 69 yards and rushed for 71 yards.

In other Week 3 games:

• Jacksonville QB Charles Evans threw for 429 yards and three TDs as the Bulls romped past the Tampa Bay Bandits, 36-13, to remain undefeated and tied with the Florida Blazers atop the Southeast Division.
• Florida WLB Thomas Esparza has a 41 overall rating (54 by my weights), but it was Esparza whose interception with 1:15 to go set up the clinching field goal during the Blazers' 13-7 win over New Orleans. Florida is off to a 4-0 start after finishing 2-14 in 1982.
• The Portland Storm recovered from a 16-3 fourth-quarter deficit to edge the Michigan Panthers, 19-16, in OT. Michigan TE James Harris fumbled in OT and Portland MLB Matthew Snow recovered, setting up Donald Dosch's 42-yard game-ending field goal.
• Baltimore CB Whiskey Water's interception in OT set up Ronald Hensley's game-ending field goal as the Stars outscored the Washington Federals, 6-3, to take over first place in the Atlantic Division (2-2).
• In a potential American Conference playoff preview, the Detroit Wheels topped the Memphis Showboats, 22-14, behind Enrique Pacheco's two TD receptions.
• The San Jose SaberCats (4-0) continue to play like their hair is on fire, torching the Honolulu Hawaiians, 37-14. The SaberCats picked off three passes, one of which was returned 27 yards for a TD by WLB William McMartin.
• Southern California FS Norman Brown made seven tackles, forced a fumble, intercepted one pass and knocked down three others as the Sun earned their first win by topping the Oakland Invaders, 21-16.
• New Jersey's Lucio Grant kicked six field goals during a 25-0 shutout of the Boston Breakers. Boston CB Charles Bowles was credited with 15 tackles and intercepted a pass. The USFL/WFL record for field goals in a game is eight, set by New Jersey's Dustin Henry and Shreveport's James Hooper, both in 1980.

Week 4 Preview

The Florida Citrus Bowl is expected to be packed with fans when the Jacksonville Bulls (4-0) and Florida Blazers (4-0) attempt to break their first-place tie in the Southeast Division. The Detroit Wheels (4-0) and Michigan Panthers (2-2) renew their backyard rivalry at Ypsilanti while the Chicago Blitz (2-2) and Cleveland Thunderbolts (2-2) battle for second place in the Midwest Division behind Detroit.

Coach Profile

vcr5150, Arizona Wranglers

Playing MFN Since: 2017
Hometown (town, state): Central Nebraska

vcr5150, Arizona Wranglers (right)

Current residence (town, state): Omaha, NE
Day job: Travel agent
Favorite teams (all sports): Huskers & K.C. Chiefs
A real-life sports experience: Played high school sports
A fantasy sports experience: Longtime fantasy FB from the mid-1980s until about 2004
Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Jump in, the best way to learn is to do — take a couple or three teams and experiment. After a couple seasons worth, you will start to develop your own strategies and philosophies. Don't trade for players who are old and have a retirement percentage listed.

1983 Week 2 Roundup

Yes, you should have gone to Las Vegas and put down a bunch of money on the San Jose SaberCats and Florida Blazers leading their divisions after two weeks.

Gregory Skidmore, QB, San Jose

The SaberCats, who have not made the playoffs since the league's first season (1974) and were 3-13 last season, edged the Cleveland Thunderbolts, 14-6. Second-year QB Gregory Skidmore was 33-for-36 passing for 262 yards and TD passes of 34 and 10 yards.

Skidmore is a fourth-round pick with 100 vol who boomed. He has gained 17 points since being drafted and now has 80 potential (my weights). RDE Nickolas Taylor recorded 10 tackles.

The Blazers, after outscoring the Georgia Force, 34-21, have won as many games (2-0) as they did all last season (2-14). Florida also has not made the playoffs since 1974.

WR Arthur Strickland rushed for 138 yards and two TDs and DT John Biggs had three sacks. SLB Luther Shoemake returned an interception 28 yards for a Florida TD.

In other Week 2 games:

• New Jersey QB Stephan Labelle threw for 419 yards and four TDs and the New Jersey defense intercepted five passes as the Generals outscored the Charlotte Hornets, 47-26. Generals WR Aaron Paul returned the opening kickoff 109 yards for a TD.
• Jose Fouche's 24-yard field goal as time expired gave the San Antonio Gunslingers a 6-3 win over the Boston Breakers. Boston K Willie Putnam missed a 53-yard attempt with 1:54 to play and San Antonio QB Tony Smith completed 5 of 6 passes to set up Fouche's game-winning kick.
• Dustin McKeown's 7-yard TD run with 35 seconds to go lifted the Portland Storm to a 26-22 win over the Washington Federals. Portland QB Oscar Willis completed a 28-yard pass on fourth-and-10, a play on which Washington was penalized for defensive overuse, to keep the Storm's final drive alive.

Week 3 Preview

This week features a huge game in the South Division when the New Orleans VooDoo (2-0) host the Birmingham Stallions (2-0).  A pair of defending division champions meet when the Washington Federals (1-1) travel to meet the Jacksonville Bulls (2-0). Last year's division champs meet in Honolulu when the Hawaiians (0-2) host the Houston Gamblers (2-0).

Record Book

• San Antonio QB Tony Smith is going to set some sort of record if he isn't more careful. Smith has thrown zero TDs and seven interceptions during the Gunslingers' first two games.
• Charlotte FB Rickey Jackson had 15 receptions during his team's Week 1 loss to Washington, which ranks No. 7 all-time for a single game. Hawaiians RB Ronald Boatman caught 21 passes during a 1981 game against the Southern California Sun.

1983 Season Preview

Cory Robinzine, WR, Arizona

It appeared the Houston Gamblers would be the easy choice to defend their World Bowl title during the USFL/WFL's 10th season. Then the league was turned upside down when setherick asked to be replaced as coach after having built a championship team that would be strengthened even further with 17 draft picks.

Now, suddenly, the search for a new Gamblers coach is on the trophy is back up for grabs. And, there is no shortage of potential grabbers.

• There are the New Jersey Generals, league champs two seasons ago, who fell to the Gamblers in World Bowl IX.
• There are the Michigan Panthers, who were one ill-advised pass away from knocking off Houston in the American Conference championship game.
• There are the Honolulu Hawaiians and New Orleans VooDoo, who both finished 13-3 during the 1982 regular season. There is the Portland Storm, who claimed their third West Division crown in four seasons.
• There are the Memphis Showboats, who won World Bowls VI and VII and have made the playoffs four times in the last five seasons.
• There is the Denver Gold, who will be seeking a third consecutive trips to the postseason. There is the Los Angeles Express, who finished 9-7 but signed last year's league offensive MVP, quarterback Mario Valencia, after Houston let him walk via free agency. There are the Cleveland Thunderbolts and Chicago Blitz, who both finished 9-7 and, like Los Angeles, missed the playoffs only because Denver won the tie-breaker.
• There are the Jacksonville Bulls, who will be seeking a third consecutive Southeast Division title. There are the Birmingham Stallions, who made the playoffs after four seasons of rebuilding by coach Wolveraider.
• There are the Washington Federals, coming off their second Atlantic Division championship in three seasons. There is the Philadelphia Bell, seeking to make the playoffs for the third year in a row.
• There are the San Antonio Gunslingers, Oklahoma Outlaws, Detroit Wheels, Tampa Bay Bandits, Shreveport Steamer, Pittsburgh Maulers, Baltimore Stars, and New York Stars ... all teams who have been championship contenders in recent memory and are trying to get back there.
• There are the San Jose SaberCats, Southern California Sun, Arizona Wranglers, Oakland Invaders, Orlando Renegades, Florida Blazers, Georgia Force, Charlotte Hornets, and Boston Breakers ... all in various stages of rebuilding. But, someone from this group always pulls an upset or two every season.

We love competitive balance, and there is plenty of that.

Individually, there will be some interesting things to watch.

• Can Valencia become the first QB to lead three different teams to World Bowl victories?
• Can former Oklahoma Outlaws WR Dusty Heckman, now with Portland, become the first receiver to reach 100 TDs? He has 96. Or, will Heckman be passed by Arizona's Cory Robinzine, who has 95? Both are likely to retire after this season.
• Can Pittsburgh RB John Murray have an impressive final season and join backfield mate Cliff Thomas in the USFL/WFL Hall of Fame?
• Can former Portland star QB William Hill, now with Shreveport, pass for 8 more yards and reach the 50,000-yard mark for his career? He threw for 1,331 last season as the backup to Edgar Jones in Shreveport.
• If Valencia and Hill both retire, who goes into the Hall of Fame first?
• Can Washington MLB Travis Curcio become the first player to reach 1,000 career tackles? He has 883.
• Can Portland LDE Norman Paulk and Washington RDE John Broussard become the first players to be voted All-Pro four times?
• Can Charlotte FB/OG Jorge Knox allow 33 more sacks and become the all-time leader in sacks allowed? Former Hornets OT Harold White allowed an incredible 165 sacks from 1974-1980.

The preseason wraps up Monday with the regular season beginning Wednesday.

Class of 1983: Thomas Joins Hall of Fame

Pittsburgh Maulers RB Cliff Thomas, the league's all-time rushing leader, has been elected to the USFL/WFL Hall of Fame by a vote of the league's coaches.

Cliff Thomas, RB, Pittsburgh Maulers

Thomas was the only player to receive the necessary 75 percent of the votes cast. Three others players received 67 percent—Oakland Invaders RB Jason Brooks (the No. 2 rusher), San Antonio Gunslingers WR Marshall Gibson (the No. 2 receiver) and Southern California Sun MLB James Kelley. They will be among 20 players who will reappear on the 1984 ballot.

Eight players received less than 25 percent of the vote and will not be retained for the 1984 ballot.

The election of Thomas brings to five the number of players inducted. You can see the Hall of Fame page here.

Thomas was the USFL/WFL's all-time rushing leader when he retired prior to the 1983 season. Even while sharing the ball-carrying duties with fellow star RB John Murray for all nine of his pro seasons, Thomas still managed to run for nearly 10,000 yards. He also scored 67 rushing TDs in that span, second all-time, and was voted All-Pro three times.

Thomas and Murray both rushed for more than 1,000 yards during their first two USFL/WFL seasons as the Maulers began a string of six consecutive Atlantic Division titles and one World Bowl appearance.

Thomas was also willing to play hurt, powering his way through 24 injuries and one serious injury.

• Nine seasons (1974-82)
• 1,837 rushes, 9,889 yards (5.4 per carry), 67 TDs
• 274 receptions, 2,666 yards (9.7 average), 17 TDs
• No. 1 USFL all-time in rushing yardage
• No. 2 USFL all-time in rushing TDs
• All-Pro 1974, 75, 76

Vote totals (click to enlarge):

1983 Training Camp Roundup

Mondays, along with rainy days, tend to get people down. This is often true of the USFL/WFL training camp, which usually demonstrate teams having wasted a high draft pick when it is revealed that pick has "busted."

This was no ordinary Monday, however. Thirteen players over the first two rounds "boomed" when the 1983 camp results were released—exactly the same number as those who "busted."

Oliver Thomas, Oakland

For the purpose of this blog, "busts" and "booms" are defined as losses or gains in potential of three points or greater. The player weights involved are mine.

Oklahoma Outlaws coach RoyceR came up big with his two first-round picks. SS Prince Stone (+7) had the highest gain of any player in the first two rounds and LG Roger Norwood (+5) also boomed. Also smiling was Oakland Invaders coach Cdog13157. The Invaders had picks 6 and 8 in the second round, and both boomed. RB Oliver Thomas (+5) will thus do a nice job taking over for retired superstar Jason Brooks.

The Denver Gold saw two first-round picks, CB Chad Kroeger and TE Tim Horton, both bust. The biggest bust of the draft was Orlando Renegades DT Ralph England, the No. 5 overall pick, who dropped a whopping 15 points, from 88 to 73. The Cleveland Thunderbolts' second-round selection, LDE Jerry Starkey, dropped 11 points to 66.

The commissioner was not immune from busts either. The Southern California Sun's top pick in the second round, LDE Scott Garnett, dropped 2 points to a 68 max.

Preseason games get underway Wednesday and the regular season opener is a week from Wednesday.

First Round Busts

1-5, Ralph England, DT, Orlando Renegades (-15, 86 vol)
1-14, Armando Wells, RDE, Detroit Wheels (-6, 54 vol)
1-19, Andrew Manning, RG, Chicago Blitz (-5, 64 vol)
1-20, Charlie Spencer, MLB, LA Express (-7, 66 vol)
1-21, Chad Kroeger, CB, Denver Gold (-4, 56 vol)
1-23, Tim Horton, TE, Denver Gold (-6, 80 vol)

First Round Booms

1-15, Prince Stone, SS, Oklahoma Outlaws (+7, 94 vol)
1-27, Donald Babb, DT, Jacksonville Bulls (+5, 78 vol)
1-29, Edward Mayberry, WLB, Houston Gamblers (+3, 52 vol)
1-30. Roger Norwood, LG, Oklahoma Outlaws (+5, 64 vol)
1-31, Jeff Hanneman, MLB, New Jersey Generals (+4, 66 vol)
1-32, Tony Dean, QB, Houston Gamblers (+5, 58 vol)

Second Round Busts

2-2, Jeffrey Garrett, RT, Florida Blazers (-7, 58 vol)
2-7, Rudy Herrmann, WLB, Charlotte Hornets (-5, 62 vol)
2-14, Matthew Sermons, RG, Oklahoma Outlaws (-8, 90 vol)
2-20, Jerry Starkey, LDE, Cleveland Thunderbolts (-11, 98 vol)
2-25, Jeff Hinojos, CB, Birmingham Stallions (-6, 56 vol)
2-28, Walter Sterling, DT, Memphis Showboats (-5, 66 vol)
2-29, Donnie Alvarez, DT, Houston Gamblers (-4, 52 vol)

Second Round Booms

2-6, Oliver Thomas, RB, Oakland Invaders (+5, 98 vol)
2-8, Lyle Chaffin, MLB, Oakland Invaders (+5, 88 vol)
2-11, Gary Cottle, MLB, Arizona Wranglers (+3, 48 vol)
2-15, William Milligan, LDE, Pittsburgh Maulers (+4, 90 vol)
2-17, William Sims, SS, Detroit Wheels (+6, 86 vol)
2-18, Curtis Axelson, RDE, Chicago Blitz (+6, 76 vol)
2-27, Thomas Moreau, LG, Jacksonville Bulls (+3, 56 vol)

1983 Offseason Roundup

Mark Lambert, RB, Houston Gamblers

The rich in the USFL/WFL have gotten richer. Way richer.

The defending league champion Houston Gamblers took Pitt RB Mark Lambert with the first overall pick in the 1983 draft.

Lambert has 90 speed, 90 acceleration, and 100s in almost every other non-blocking category. In other words, with good health and a capable offensive line, he could potentially become the greatest RB in league history.

The Gamblers had traded their first-round pick for the Southern California Sun's top pick two seasons ago. SoCal did get a nice RT with the No. 14 overall pick that season, Dennis Lee. He allowed only one sack in 1,055 snaps last season. But the Sun's new management would not have minded having Lambert instead.

Houston had three first-round picks and two in the second round among its 17 picks in this draft.

The San Jose SaberCats also took a RB with the No. 2 pick, West Virginia's Desmond Kirkland, as did the Georgia Force at No. 4 (Clemson's Richard Brown) and San Antonio Gunslingers at No. 7 (Thomas Earl Petty, Florida). Sandwiched in-between all those RBs was Florida Blazers RDE Ramon Carter at No. 3 overall.

The Baltimore Stars had two first-round picks, as did the Denver Gold and Oklahoma Outlaws.

The draft continues through Wednesday, followed by late free agency, training camp, and the preseason.

Retirements

Some of the league's all-time greatest players hung up their spikes after the 1982 season, including the league's top two rushers and No. 2 all-time receiver.

RB Cliff Thomas and RB Jason Brooks went directly from the Pittsburgh Maulers and Oakland Invaders, respectively, to the Hall of Fame ballot. San Antonio Gunslingers WR Marshall Gibson ranks No. 2 all-time in receiving yardage.

Orlando Renegades WR Robert Zapata ranks No. 5 in receiving yardage. Boston Breakers LB Roy Edelman ranks No. 3 among all USFL/WFL linebackers in tackles (the two players ahead of him are still active). Georgia Force CB Richard Glasgow intercepted 43 passes, No. 1 among all retired players and No. 8 overall.

Free Agency

The last two league offensive MVPs changed teams during the offseason.

QB Mario Valencia, last season's USFL/WFL offensive MVP with the Houston Gamblers, fielded only two free agent offers and signed a two-year, $7.05-million pact with the Los Angeles Express. Valencia is in his 13th season and has a 30 percent chance of retiring after this season.

WR/RB Quincy White, the 1981 MVP, moved from the Arizona Wranglers to Los Angeles and joined the Express for $52.7 million over four years. White has a 10 percent chance of retiring after this season.

Dusty Heckman's quest for his 100th career TD pass has shifted to the Portland Storm. The sure-fire Hall of Fame WR had three more TD grabs with the San Jose SaberCats last season to go with the 93 he had for the Oklahoma Outlaws from 1974 to 1981. Heckman has a 40-percent chance of retiring after this season.

LDE Oscar Rodriguez, the 1975 league defensive MVP, signed a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Bulls. Rodriguez recorded 53 sacks during his first three seasons with the Shreveport Steamer, but only nine over the last six seasons.

The most expensive free agent was former Detroit Wheels and Houston Gamblers WR John Risinger, who signed with the Portland Storm for six years, $125.5 million. Portland is on the hook for less than $112,000 in bonus money if Risinger retires, which he has a 30 percent chance of doing. Risinger has 80 TD catches in his career and an average 16.2 yards per catch.

Three-time All-Pro OL Adam Bolding signed a one-year contract with Memphis for his 14th pro season. The Showboats also signed former All-Pro WR Thomas Canale to a one-year deal.

Oklahoma invited disaster upon itself by signing two of the league's most cursed players—DB Juan Bonnett and OL Dave Lapham.

Bonnett has long defined "Draft Day Bust" in the USFL/WFL The ceiling on the fifth overall pick in the 1975 draft, has fallen from 86 to 64—yet, this will be his ninth season on an active roster. Lapham gave up 52 sacks during his first four pro seasons with the New Jersey Generals and New York Stars and 77 in his career—yet, this will be his 10th season on someone's roster. His current rating (my weights) is 49.23.

Free agent deals with total money exceeding $35 million:

• WR John Risinger, Portland (6 years, $125.5 million)
• QB Michael Temples, Detroit (4 years, $56.4 million)
• WR/RB Quincy White, Los Angeles (4 years, $52.7 million)
• MLB Michael McIntire, Michigan (6 years, $45.7 million)
• WR Dusty Heckman, Portland (6 years, $39.2 million)
• QB Chester Dougherty, Chicago (2 years, $35.3 million)
• CB Carlos Turner, Birmingham (4 years, $35.3 million)