'86 Chronology-Week #11 Preview

Event Date: May 1st, 1986

Event Description: Week #11 Preview

'86 Chronology-Disgruntled

Event Date: April 29th, 1986

Event Description: Vikings Pursue Zimmerman

Source: UPI

The New York Giants Tuesday traded the rights to disgruntled offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman to the Minnesota Vikings for two second-round draft choices.

Zimmerman, whose rights the Giants acquired in the U.S. Football League supplemental draft in 1984, played for the Los Angeles Express of the USFL in 1985. 

His USFL rights are now owned by Memphis, but he has yet to agree to a contract to play for them.

Zimmerman has refused to accept a Giants offer, reported to be $1.4 million over four years, because he did not want to play in New York.

The Giants, who now have four of the first 53 picks, gained picks Nos. 44 and 53 overall. The Giants had the 19th pick on the first round and the 19th on the second round -- 46th overall.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'86 Chronology-Week #10 Capsule

Event Date: April 29th, 1986

Event Description: Week #10 Capsule

'86 Chronology-Running of the Bulls!

 

'86 Chronology-Ten High!

Event Date: April 28th, 1986

Event Description: Sunday Round Up

Source: Football News

Walter Lewis fired a pair of second-half touchdown passes and scored two others via the run Saturday night to power the Memphis Showboats to a 31-14 triumph over the visiting Birmingham Stallions.

The victory raised the Showboats’ record to 7-3 and gave them a share of first place alongside Birmingham.

Lewis took advantage of the injury-riddled Birmingham defense to help the Showboats build a 21-14 lead after three quarters.

The Memphis defense, meanwhile, shut down star running back Bo Jackson limiting him to just 44 yards and exerting constant pressure on quarterback Cliff Stoudt, who was sacked twice and hurried throughout.

Lewis engineered a six-play, 87-yard drive early in the second quarter -- capped by a seven-yard touchdown run-- to supply the Boats with a 7-0 lead.

Birmingham tied the game at 7-7 late in the second quarter as Stoudt found running back Sam Platt on an eight-yard slant pattern.

In the third stanza, Lewis threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Ricky Porter and scored on a four-yard scamper with just under a minute remaining.

The Stallions replied with a 69-yard touchdown strike from Stoudt to Greg Anderson pulling the visitors to within seven at 21-14.

In the final frame, Roger Ruzek nailed a 48-yard field goal and Lewis found Greg Moser for a 38-yard touchdown to round out the scoring.

On Sunday, the Baltimore Stars crushed New Jersey by a score of 35-14 with Kelvin Bryant leading the way, meanwhile Jacksonville topped Orlando 26-21 and Houston downed hapless Oakland by a score of 24-10.

more to come......

'86 Chronology-Southern Showdown

 

'86 Chronology-Sumner & Spanos

Event Date: April 25th, 1986

Event Description: Chargers Seek Sumner

Source: Daily News

'86 Chronology-Week #10 Preview

Event Date: April 24th, 1986

Event Description: Week #10 Preview

'86 Chronology-Luxury Tax

Event Date: April 23rd, 1986

Event Description: Schlichter Released

Source: Football News

Quarterback Art Schlichter was unexpectedly released by the Tampa Bay Bandits whose head coach Steve Spurrier said the former NFLer was a luxury his team could no longer afford.

Spurrier said the decision was more to do with the recent promotion of former Duke pivot Ben Bennett, and less to do with Schlichters’ salary.

“Having Art and Fred Besana was a luxury,” Spurrier said at a news conference. “It's one of the decisions you have to make. If I could keep four quarterbacks I would.

The Bandits activated Bennett on April 15th and placed Schlichter on their Taxi squad.

 

Fourth-year veteran Jimmy Jordan is now the backup quarterback to Fred Besana.

more to come......

'86 Chronology-Proxy War

Event Date: April 23rd, 1986 

Event Description: Cribbs Fires Agent

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'86 Chronology-Week #9 Capsule

Event Date: April 22nd, 1986

Event Description: Week #9 Capsule

'86 Chronology-Sumner Ousted

Event Date: April 21st, 1986

Event Description: Sumner Fired

Source: Football News

The winless Oakland Invaders announced Sunday that assistant coach Fred Biletnikoff would take over the head coaching responsibilities for the remainder of the1986 season.

Biletnikoff, 46, will replace current head coach Charlie Sumner who was relieved of his duties after this weeks' loss to Denver. The change came as little surprise as the club has an 0-9 record. 

Team president Tad Taube said, the new Invaders mentor has had success with the Oakland Raiders as a player and has vast pro experience in both the NFL and CFL.

Taube said Biletnikoff will keep the majority of the coach staff intact with some minor changes. Those include MacArthur Lane taking over as offensive coordinator and Lary Kuharich taking on the receivers responsibilities.

Sumner's coaching career began in 1963 as an assistant with the Oakland Raiders. He stayed on the staff through the 1968 season and then moved on to Pittsburgh. He was with the Steelers from 1969 to 1972 and then moved on to be the New England Patriots linebacker coach from 1973-78.

He rejoined the Raiders in 1979 and was with the team until his signing by the Invaders.

more to come......

'86 Chronology-Lack of Interest

Event Date: April 21st, 1986

Event Description: Cribbs Seeks New Deal

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'86 Chronology-'Boats Bash 'Gades

 

'86 Chronology-Generals Battle Bandits

 

'86 Chronology-Break Down

Event Date: April 18th, 1986

Event Description: Breakers Rout Express

Source: Times-Picayune

Third-year running back Marcus Dupreee finished with a career-high 206 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns Thursday to boost the beleaguered New Orleans Breakers to a 36-17 road win over Los Angeles.

Quarterback Matt Robinson, who returned to the starting lineup after a three week hiatus, threw for 348 yards on 17-0f-34 efficiency with one touchdown and one pick.

The Breakers’ defense kept the L.A. offense at bay with two interceptions against quarterback Rick Neuheisel,  who finished with 346 passing yards with a pair of touchdowns.

The (3-6) Breakers also sacked Neuheisel seven times in the victory.

Game Notes: Breakers running back Buford Jordan left the game early in the first quarter with an undisclosed injury…Jerry Gordon finished with eight receptions for 176 yards and one score for New Orleans…Duane Gunn led all receivers with eight receptions for 185 yards and one score for (3-6) Los Angeles.

more to come......

'86 Chronology-Week #9 Preview

Event Date: April 17th, 1986

Event Description: Week #9 Preview

'86 Chronology-Fire Inside

Event Date: April 16th, 1986

Event Description: Chargers Sign Peace

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'86 Chronology-Week #8 Capsule

Event Date: April 15th, 1986

Event Description: Week #8 Capsule

Source: VPFW

'86 Chronology-Midway Point

Event Date: April 14th, 1986

Event Description: Gamblers Roll; Generals Fall

Source: Football News

Todd Dillon, again filling in for an injured Jim Kelly, accounted for two touchdowns Sunday to send the Houston Gamblers to a 23-21 victory over the New Orleans Breakers.

Dillon hit Clarence Verdin with a 19-yard scoring pass late in th final quarter and scored via an eight-yard run midway through the third.

The third-year pro out of Long Beach finished the day with 257 passing yards on 22-of-34 efficiency with two interceptions and just one sack.

In other Sunday action; the Jacksonville Bulls upset New Jersey by a score of 27-14 after intercepting Doug Flutie a record six times; 

Also Sunday, the Baltimore Stars shut out Los Angeles by a score of 27-0.

On Saturday, the Birmingham Stallions again rolled to victory on the legs of Bo Jackson who piled up 188 rushing yards in the Stallions’ 24-17 win versus Orlando;

On Thursday, the Tampa Bandits improved to (4-4) as Greg Boone and Joe Dudek led the way to a 31-24 win at home against rival (5-3) Memphis.

more to come......

'86 Chronology-Stoudt Scrambles

'86 Chronology-Week #8 Preview

Event Date: April 10th, 1986

Event Description: Week #8 Preview

'86 Chronology-R and R

Event Date: April 10th, 1986

Event Description: Hogeboom May Retire

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'86 Chronology-Week #7 Capsule

Event Date: April 9th, 1986

Event Description: Week #7 Capsule

Source: VPFW

'86 Chronology-Purchasing Power

Event Date: April 9th, 1986

Event Description: Shinn Buys Express

Source: Football News

Jay Roulier sold the Los Angeles Express of the U.S. Football League on Monday to Charlotte based businessman George Shinn for an estimated $6.1 million.

Shinn bought the team from Roulier and a group of minority owners including actor Lee Majors.

Roulier and the other owners were reportedly anxious to sell after losing at least $10.5 million on the team. The Express have struggled to build fan support since the teams’ inception in 1983.

Team officials said the idea of bringing in Shinn and his management team was to use their extensive marketing and financial resources to revive spectator interest in Los Angeles based club. 

more to come......

'86 Chronology-Inked

Event Date: April 9th, 1986

Event Description: Outlaws Ink Wideout

Source: Daily Times

'86 Chronology-Bo Knows Debuts

Event Date: April 8th, 1986

Event Description: Bo Makes Debut

Source: Football News

Bo Jackson made his entrance into pro football on Monday night leading the Birmingham Stallions' to a 31-21 victory over the division leading Memphis Showboats.

Before the largest crowd of the year at Legion Field, Jackson led his team with 181 rushing yards with one touchdown as the Stallions moved into a tie for first place in the Eastern conference.

Jackson collected his first pro touchdown right at the start of the contest after Memphis quarterback Walter Lewis was intercepted deep in their own territory. Jackson’s 12-yard run gave Birmingham an early 7-0 lead.

Later in the initial frame, Cliff Stoudt found Joey Jones for a 23-yard score and then midway throught the second quarter Earl Gant scored on a six-yard run as the Stallions led 21-0 at the intermission.

The second half saw Memphis put together three touchdown drives as Walter Lewis threw touchdown passes of one, 47 and 12-yards respectively.

But a Cliff Stoudt to Ken Toler 14-yard touchdown combined with a Danny Miller 22-yard field goal allowed the Stallions to secure the win.

“I like our whole football team,” Stallions head coach Rollie Dotsch said. “Everybody's doing what they have to do. It's a team thing. Of course the addition of Bo gives us the ability control the ball with the running game. I think he has a very bright future in pro football.”

Birmingham stands 5-2 overall and are now tied with Memphis and Orlando for the Eastern conference lead with each team sitting at (5-2).

“This is the type of team you have to beat to get ahead in this league,” Showboats coach Pepper Rodgers said afterward. “They're good, sound and solid. And their new running back ain’t chopped liver either.”

The other Monday night game of the week saw (3-4) Los Angeles down the hapless (0-7) Oakland Invaders by a score of 28-21 as Rick Neuheisel tossed three touchdown passes in the win.

In other Week #7 action; the (5-2) Orlando Renegades downed struggling Baltimore (2-5) by a score of 17-10;

On Saturday the Denver Gold improved to (3-4) after a 40-28 win at (2-5) New Orleans;

On Sunday, the (7-0) Houston Gamblers remained undefeated after edging (2-5) Arizona 34-31, and the suddenly surging (3-4) New Jersey Generals won at (5-2) Michigan 34-27.

more to come......

'86 Chronology-Week #7 Preview

Event Date: April 3rd, 1986

Event Description: Week #7 Preview

'86 Chronology-Bo-Dacious!

Event Date: April 2nd, 1986

Event Description: Stallions Sign Jackson

Source: Football News

Bo Jackson said it was the way he was treated instead of money that made him choose to sign with the USFL Birmingham Stallions.

Jackson said his treatment from Harold Ripps and Jerry Sklar owner of the Stallions, greatly exceeded his treatment by officials from NFL clubs.

Jackson signed a one-year contract for the remainder of the USFL season, with an option for 1987. The contract also paves the way for Jackson to potentially play baseball this summer with the Kansas City Royals.

“As far as the money was concerned, either way it wasn't going to turn out bad,” Jackson told a news conference.

“When I was meeting with the NFL, it was like they were doing me a favor,” Jackson said. 

Jackson and his agent said they had five or six meetings with Bucs officials, but it was apparent after their last meeting that Tampa Bay wasn't going to be able to match the Stallions’ offer. 

“It's a solid contract, no doubt about it,” Birmingham GM Jerry Sklar said. “One of the key aspects is the opportunity to play baseball after the end of our season.” 

The contract also contains attendance clauses, and allows Jackson to participate in local business deals and sponsorships.

Sklar said he hoped his investment in Jackson, and the league, would be repaid with greater franchise values in the future.

“Right now, the value of some of the franchises might not be that great,” Sklar said. “I think we can appreciate the value of the franchise by getting a little more attention.”

more to come......

'86 Chronology-Decision Time

Event Date: April 1st, 1986

Event Description: Jackson Mulls Offers

Source: Football News

Auburn running back Bo Jackson, who was the first player taken in this year's NFL draft, said he's considering a one-year contract worth a reported $2 million with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League.

Jackson has also been entertaining offers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Royals.

Jackson visited with the Stallions management over the weekend and insisted his trip to Birmingham was not a ploy to up his NFL market value.

“If it was a publicity stunt I wouldn't be here,” said Jackson, who arrived in Birmingham late Saturday afternoon, and took in the New Jersey Generals-Birmingham Stallions game at Legion Field over the weekend.

One of Jackson's lawyers said discussions are ongoing with the K.C. Royals and the NFL's Tampa Bay Bucs and a deal could be accepted shortly.

Jackson would only say, “What I look for is an opportunity to play the games that I love.”

more to come......

'86 Chronology-Unhappy Camper

Event Date: April 1st, 1986

Event Description: Cribbs Unhappy

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'86 Chronology-Week #6 Capsule

Event Date: April 1st, 1986

Event Description: Week #6 Capsule

Source: VPFW