'85 Chronology-Secret Meetings

Event Date: September 7th, 1985

Event Description: USFL Brass Meets

Source: UPI

U.S. Football League owners secretly gathered in Florida  on Wednesday for another discussion of league problems, including the plight of the San Antonio Gunslingers and the Los Angeles Express.

Commissioner Harry Usher led the march of league brass into an airport hotel and the USFL contingent checked out Wednesday evening without alerting local media of their presence.

Word leaked, however, and Usher made brief comments following the session.

“We're discussing the Los Angeles situation with a potential new group,” said Usher, referring to an interest headed by an unamed Los Angeles consortium. “There is no commitment but we're very excited about the possibility the Express will continue in Los Angeles.”

Usher said the club's options are to land new ownership and remain in southern California, merge with an existing USFL team or fold.

As for San Antonio, Usher refused formal comment saying “Whatever avenue we end up traveling, whether we suspend operations for them or we have new owners, the current entity has bills to pay,” Usher said.

New Jersey owner Donald Trump did not attend the meeting, nor did San Antonio owner Clinton Manges.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'85 Chronology-Class Action

Event Date: September 4th, 1985

Event Description: Ford Sues USFL

Source: Beaver County Times

'85 Chronology-Star Search

Event Date: September 4th, 1985

Event Description: The New Stars

Source: Ledger Wire Services

'85 Chronology-Mergers & Moves

Event Date: September 4th, 1985

Event Description: Stars Moving

Source: Ledger Wire

'85 Chronology-Stars File Suit

Event Date: September 3rd, 1985

Event Description: Stars File Suit

Source: Beaver County Times

'85 Chronology-State of the League (Part 3)

Event Date: September 1st, 1985

Event Description: State of the League Report

Source: League Office

State of the League Report

Presented by Peter Hadhazy and Jim Byrne to Commissioner Harry Usher on the eve of the September league meetings.

Unstable Franchises

Chicago Blitz 

New owner Eddie Einhorn did not field a team last season and is a staunch advocate of moving the league to the fall.

I think it would be in the league’s best interest to purchase the franchise back from him at his investment cost and sell it to someone else down the road. 

This team will not be ready to resume play anytime soon.

Los Angeles Express

Los Angeles is an over-priced, underachieving team with a ton of talent. They are currently a ward of the league and have had trouble finding a new owner. 

The team has begun to shed some its high-priced players under the leadership of GM Don Klosterman. Steve Young is most likely headed to the NFL due to his salary.

The majority of owners would like to fold the team as they are tired of subsidizing them, the problem however is that they are a key city in terms of the current television contracts. 

I firmly believe the league should reduce the teams’ payroll in half to make the team sellable and bringing the talent base in line with other teams.

SALARY CAP #-$5.125 (excluding Young’s personal services contract and bonus money). 

San Antonio Gunslingers

San Antonio is a train wreck. The McKinsey Group thinks this franchise is ready to fail.  

Owner Clinton Magnes’ finances were crushed by the recent drop in oil prices. 

Manges is not popular with the media and local government leaders detest him.

The team released all of its players which triggered a lawsuit by the USFLPA.

Alamo Stadium is in need of a complete overhaul.

San Antonio should not field a team next season.

SALARY CAP #-$1.990*

'85 Chronology-State of the League (Part 2)

Event Date: September 1st, 1985

Event Description: State of the League Report

Source: League Office

State of the League Report

Presented by Peter Hadhazy and Jim Byrne to Commissioner Harry Usher on the eve of the September league meetings.

Transition Franchises

Birmingham Stallions

Marvin Warner is out as owner and Harold Ripps is in as majority owner. The city of Birmingham owns a portion of the team after their infusion of cash into the team during the season.

Ripps should be a solid owner and the team will also be shedding the contracts of Joe Cribbs and Jim Smith who will moving on to the National Football League.

Fan support really rallied as the teams’ future appeared in doubt until the city offered much needed loans. A poor showing on the field did not help matters at the gate.

Former owner Marvin Warner was a supporter of Donald Trump’s plan to move to the fall as well as pursuing litigation against both ABC and the NFL. 

A franchise in transition. They need to get back to their winning ways, but that may come with an increased cost in player salaries.

BASE SALARY CAP # ’85-$3.040 (excluding bonus money).

Houston Gamblers

Houston’s trio of owners has been replaced by Trump ally Stephen Ross. 

Ross will bring a badly needed infusion of cash and is committed to the league at least for the foreseeable future. He is friend of Trump and could also be in favor of pursuing litigation againt the NFL.

On the field, the Gamblers are a championship calibur team with great star power. 

BASE SALARY CAP #-$3.185 (excluding Kelly’s personal services contract and bonus money).

*Oakland Invaders

Tad Taube is growing increasingly frustrated with his team both on and off the field. Taube is convinced that the city council and the NFL are working together to try and put the team out of business.

Fan support is solid despite the teams’ 3-13 record last season.

The team needs to overhaul their roster as they have already lost RB Albert Bentley to the NFL and QB Fred Besana is a free-agent.

BASE SALARY CAP #-$2.040

Orlando Renegades

Fan support is solid and Donald Dizney is committed to building a successful franchise in Orlando.

The Renegades are a small market team with an enrgetic head coach and some decent talent.

The addition of John Reaves at quarterback could make Reggie Collier expendable. 

BASE SALARY CAP #-$2.115

*Philadelphia Stars

One of the best teams in the league through the first few seasons. 

Solid franchise with a great owner, however they are also open to changes including a merger or move.

The Stars have had disagreements with the Philadelphia city council and Veterans Stadium and have been hurt by lackluster attendance at times. 

Owner Myles Tanenbaum is one of the best and has had overtures from the city of Baltimore regarding the relocation of the franchise. Those talks continue and could gain momentum.

If the team were to move to Baltimore they could then be a potential merger/expansiion target for the NFL.

BASE SALARY CAP # ’85-$2.615 (excluding player bonuses).

Pittsburgh Maulers

Eddie DeBartalo Sr. is growing increasingly frustrated with regard to his franchise. The team has struggled both on and off the field. 

The Mike Rozier debacle, bad spring weather and a lack of support from the fans have hurt the team at the box office.

The team has some talent, but is overall lacking in depth and the coaching staff has been below average. 

DeBartolo and Myles Tanenbaum were said to have had conversations regarding a possible merger.

DeBartolo has also been contacted by city officials from Baltimore regarding the re-location of the franchise. 

Stable financially, but this team is also at a cross roads and their direction is best described as to be determined.

SALARY CAP # ’85-$2.675 (excluding player bonuses).

Tampa Bay Bandits

The Bandits under John Bassett have been the gold standard of teams in the USFL in terms of both on the field competitiveness and strong fan support. 

Bassett’s health obviously puts a major cloud over this franchise however it seems like minority owner Lee Scarfone is readying to assume a majority ownership role and has the means to do it. 

Stable franchise as long as the ownership groups remain strong. 

Bassett has clashed with New Jersey owner Donald Trump with regard to moving to a fall season. Bassett won the power struggle last year, but Trump has not completely abandoned the idea. 

The status of John Bassett is yet to be determined at this time.

SALARY CAP # ’85-$2.698 (excluding player bonuses and futures contract bonuses)

'85 Chronology-State of the League (Part 1)

Event Date: September 1st, 1985

Event Description: State of the League Report

Source: League Office

The following was partly derived, borrowed and inspired from the Alternate History of the United States Football League which can be found here.

State of the League Report

Presented by Peter Hadhazy and Jim Byrne to Commissioner Harry Usher on the eve of the September league meetings.

Strong Franchises

*Arizona Outlaws

The Tathams are determined to build a winning team in Arizona and are not opposed to spending large amounts of money to achieve that goal.

The Tathams consider themselves to be a prime target if the league were to ever merge with the National Football League.

The team has some star players, but head coach Frank Kush can be controversial and problematic.

George Allen has resigned his position as GM, but remains part of the ownership group.

Attendance has been inconsistent, but would certainly rebound if the team were to perform beter on the field.

BASE SALARY CAP # ’85-$2.995 (excluding bonuses and Doug Williams’ personal services contract) 

Denver Gold

Doug Spedding has done a decent job as far as running the team and managing its finances, but he can be problematic with regard to his interactions with coaches and players.

Spedding is a proponent of the original David Dixon plan.

The team has an innovative head coach in Mouse Davis and were by far the best team in the Pacific.

Attendance has been amongst the best in the league and the team has built a loyal following in Denver. 

Stable franchise with great fan support as long as the league remains a spring entity.

BASE SALARY CAP # ’85-$2.260 (excluding bonuses)

*Jacksonville Bulls

The Bulls’ have a solid stadium situation, a fervent fan base and an improving roster.

The team brought in Mike Rozier, Keith Millard, Brian Sipe and Ed Luther and have one of the leagues higher payrolls, however Rozier and Millard have since departed to the National Football League.

Fred Bullard’s Bulls seem like they’re likely to be around for the long haul. 

Stable franchise with a good owner and excellent fan support. City officials have also embraced the team.

BASE SALARY CAP # ’85-$4.610 (excluding player bonuses and personal services contracts).

*Memphis Showboats

Ownership is not a problem in Memphis. The team spends money at adequate levels and looks stable. 

Fan support is solid and the team would support an NFL franchise, something the owners would not be opposed to.

On the field Pepper Rodgers’ teams are competitive and exciting to watch. Reggie White is sure to receive overtures from the National Football League at some point and the team may be willing to let him go to clear salary space. 

A very strong franchise overall.

BASE SALARY CAP # ’85-$3.485 (excluding bonuses)

Michigan Panthers

The losses of Bobby Hebert and Anthony Carter to the National Football League was inevitable, the team will be hard pressed to repeat past success unless they find adequate replacements.

Fan support was again solid this season and A. Alfred Taubman is one of the league’s richest owners and has proven he will take annual losses to bring Michigan a winner. 

Strong franchise with a rich and influential owner.

BASE SALARY CAP # ’85-$2.86 (excluding player bonuses and the re-structuring of Bobby Hebert’s contract).

New Jersey Generals

Walt Michaels is an NFL quality coach and the Generals have the best team money can buy.

Attendance has been solid and the team has built an effective public relations campaign to promote its star players, their owner, and the team.

The biggest question in New Jersey is how Donald Trump is going to deal with the fact that the league has decided not to move to a fall schedule. 

Trump has been more than happy to challenge league orthdoxy, and will consider all options including continuing to call for a fall schedule, pursuing litigation and even selling the team.

Trump has repeatedly clashed with Tampa Bay owner John Bassett and has no ally in Philadelphia owner Myles Tanenbaum.

Trump most respects the other owners who have a larger financial empire than his own, namely A. Alfred Taubman and Edward DeBartolo Sr.

Trump does seemingly have influence and has built “soft” alliances with the Tathams in Arizona, Joseph Canizaro in New Orleans, and Jerry Argovitz in Houston.

Trump helped secure a new ownership group led by Stephen Ross which took over majority ownership in Houston. 

Stable franchise financially, however many questions remain with regard to ownership.

BASE SALARY CAP # ’85-$6.590 (excluding personal services contract and bonuses)

New Orleans Breakers

Joe Carnizario has been a motivated owner willing to spend money but the team was hurt by the loss of Marcus Dupree to injury in addition to inconsistent play at the quarterback position.

The fan base is rabid enough to really take off if a local hero quarterback such as Alan Risher, John Fourcade or even Robbie Mahfouz were to be brought to challenge incumbent Matt Robinson 

Stable franchise.

BASE SALARY CAP # ’85-$3.490 (exclusing a personal service contract with Dupree and bonus money.)

*Denotes potential merger candidate.

'85 Chronology-Star Power

Event Date: August 30th, 1985

Event Description: Giants Sign Oates

Source: UPI

The New York Giants announced the long-awaited signing of former all-USFL center Bart Oates.

Oates, who played three seasons with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL, agreed to a four-year $1.1 million contract with the Giants near the beginning of training camp.

The Stars had a right to match the offer, however, and claimed they would do so until they placed Oates on waivers Tuesday.

Oates, a 6-foot-3, 267-pounder from Brigham Young University, is expected to become the Giants' starting center soon. Conrad Goode, a converted tackle, has been the center throughout the exhibition season because an offseason car injury sidelined 1984 starter Kevin Belcher.

To make room for Oates, the Giants waived four-year veteran center Rich Umphrey. Umphrey, a fifth-round draft choice out of Colorado in 1982, started the final seven games of his rookie season and the first 10 of 1983. Last year he was used primarily as a long snapper and was never really in the running for the starting job this season. 

Story-(UPI Modified)

'85 Chronology-Buccaneer Bounty

Event Date: August 30th, 1985

Event Description: Greenwood Jumps Ship

Source: UPI

Safety David Greenwood, an all-USFL performer with the Michigan Panthers, signed with Tampa Bay of the NFL Friday after the Buccaneers acquired his rights from the New Orleans Saints.

The Buccaneers obtained the rights to Greenwood for a conditional draft pick and the club has received a two-week roster exemption for the 25-year-old former Wisconsin star, meaning Greenwood does not count on Tampa Bay's active roster.

The contract Greenwood signed with Michigan in 1983 was one of the largest for a defensive back in pro football at the time.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'85 Chronology-Greener Pastures

Event Date: August 30th, 1985

Event Description: Greenwood Joins Bucs

Source: Beaver County Times

'85 Chronology-Waiver Wire

Event Date: August 27th, 1985

Event Description: Carter to Vikings

Source: UPI

The U.S. Football League let a valuable commodity go, but Commissioner Harry Usher promised a return to business next spring.

Wide receiver Anthony Carter was granted his freedom by the league yesterday in a meeting of representatives of all 16 teams.

All teams agreed to waive their rights to Carter, who starred for the Michigan Panthers last season. Carter had entered into agreement with Minnesota of the NFL last week.

“The circumstances were such that it really was the best decision from a league point of view,” Usher said. “I reviewed the facts and note that 73 former USFL players are in NFL camps now and many of those are home-grown USFL players who developed over the one or two or three years of our league.”

“We're flattered that the NFL, who keeps describing us as minor league, sees fit to take these players that are available.”

Meanwhile, Usher reiterated his desire to begin the USFL's fourth season next year with a 12 or 14-team circuit.

The meeting of team representatives lasted seven hours and was the second in a series of summer gatherings to restructure the struggling league. Afterward, a feeling of accomplishment and optimism prevailed.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'85 Chronology-Pardon Me?

Event Date: August 26th, 1985

Event Description: Maulers Merger?

Source: Associated Press

'85 Chronology-Martha Talks Mergers

Event Date: August 25th, 1985

Event Description: Maulers May Move

Source: Beaver County Times

'85 Chronology-Business Like

Event Date: August 24th, 1985

Event Description: Outlaws Extend Williams

Source: UPI

The Arizona Outlaws announced the signing of wide receiver Al Williams to a 3-year contract reportedly worth more than $500,000.

Williams, who caught 55 passes for 1,020 yards and eight touchdowns for Arizona last year, became a free agent after the season.

He had been talking to the NFL's Detroit Lions.

Arizona president Bill Tatham Jr. said the signing may be the first since the end ofthe 1985 USFL season.

“We've committed substantial sums of money in the last few weeks,” said Tatham, “and everybody knows we run our franchise like a business. It is evidence we feel pretty secure about the future of the USFL.”

At a time when the league has been selling top players to the NFL, the Outlaws have obtained some top talent. In addition to Williams, they have claimed wide receiver Eric Truvillion who was recently waived by the Tampa Bay Bandits.

Story-(UPI Modified)