The New USFL... Not your Father's B League!

Scholes · 12-08-2003, 10:58 AM

--Minneapolis Awarded USFL Franchise--

The USFL is coming to Minneapolis. The renegade football league backed by some of the world's wealthiest people has awarded the city of Minneapolis a franchise to begin play at the start of the inaugural season, slated to begin in February.

USFL Commisioner Bill Walsh announced the league and division structure, as well as the 32 franchises the league will begin with, at a press conference in Los Angeles yesterday. The press conference generated quite a buzz and many insiders are thinking that after many failed attempts, the new USFL maybe be able to challenge the NFL for popularity.

Minneapolis submitted a bid that included a brand new stadium, to be shared with the Vikings and Gopher football team, as well as their franchise fee, believed to be in the region of an initial 75 million dollars.

Although they were awarded a franchise, not much else is in place for Minneapolis. All they posess at the moment is the stadium and a front office, led by owner Glen Taylor, who is also the owner of the Timberwolves basketball team.

The league will run from February to June, culminating in Los Angeles with the American Bowl. It mirrors the current NFL format of 32 teams in two leagues, each with four divisions. The four division winners along with two wildcard teams will advance to the playoffs.

USFL Divisions and Franchises

Code:

CONTINENTAL LEAGUE              

NORTHEAST                                          
Baltimore
Boston
New York
Philadelphia

SOUTH
Houston
Kansas City
Little Rock
St. Louis

NORTH
Chicago
Detroit  
Madison
Minneapolis  

WEST
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Francisco   

FEDERAL LEAGUE

SOUTHEAST
Atlanta
Charlotte
Columbia
Miami

SOUTH
Birmingham
Memphis
Oklahoma City
San Antonio

NORTH
Columbus
Des Moines
Indianapolis
Lincoln

WEST
Denver
Portland
Sacramento
Seattle

Scholes · 12-08-2003, 11:35 AM

----Minneapolis Announces Nickname, Head Coach----

The Minneapolis Monarchs are almost ready to play football in February. Now all they need are some players.

Owner Glen Taylor presented Minneapolis with its newest sports franchise, the Minneapolis Monarchs yesterday at a press conference at brand new Bud Grant Field. The logo features a ferocious looking lion head sporting a crown and "Monarchs" running underneath it. The team's primary colors are navy and columbia blue.

Another major unveiling occured at the conference right after the nickname and logo were displayed, the head coach. Former University of Georgia Head Coach Mark Richt is the first coach of the Monarchs. The Monarchs signed Richt to a four year, 11.5 million dollar contract yesterday, and he is already in Minneapolis beginning to assemble his staff.

A brief question and answer session was held with the media whereupon Richt was forthright and honest about his position with the team in the new league.

"To tell you the truth, I have no idea what to expect. I believe that the right people are in charge of this league, and the right people are in charge of the teams. That being said, you never know what the American people are going to react to. Look at reality TV, or music, or sports for that matter. It's very hard to predict and I can only hope that we can provide a viable product for them to enjoy when the NFL's not going." When asked about the type of players he expected to be coaching, he was optimistic. "There are some extremely talented players putting their names in the hat and I'm anxious to beging scouting them and working them out as soon as possible. A lot of these guys just need a shot to prove they have what it takes, and that's what we're giving them. It should be very exciting."

The USFL Inaugural Draft will take place August 15th, 2003.

USFL Franchise Nicknames

Code:

CONTINENTAL LEAGUE              

NORTHEAST                                          
Baltimore Blaze
Boston Terriers
New York Knights
Philadelphia Liberty

SOUTH
Houston Hornets
Kansas City Gladiators
Little Rock Thunder
St. Louis Silverhawks

NORTH
Chicago Citadelles
Detroit Excelsiors
Madison Huskies
Minneapolis Monarchs

WEST
Las Vegas Gamblers
Los Angeles Griffins
San Diego Skyfires
San Francisco Quakes

FEDERAL LEAGUE

SOUTHEAST
Atlanta Vipers
Charlotte Rebels
Columbia Tigers
Miami SeaWolves

SOUTH
Birmingham Bandits
Memphis Marauders
Oklahoma City Wranglers
San Antonio Liberators

NORTH
Columbus Mavericks
Des Moines Mustangs
Indianapolis Thunderbirds
Lincoln Silverbacks

WEST
Denver Generals
Portland Pioneers
Sacramento Miners
Seattle Admirals

Scholes · 12-08-2003, 01:31 PM

---Monarchs Complete Inaugural USFL Draft---

Minneapolis Monarchs head coach Mark Richt watched as the defensive ends went one by one in the first round of the USFL Inaugural Draft, then got in on the action himself. With his first selection, the 31st overall, the Monarchs selected 28 year old Donald Holmes, a 6'5" 280 lb. defensive end hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. Due to the serpentine nature of the draft, the Monarchs were on the clock again after two quick picks from the Miami SeaWolves. With their next selection, the Monarchs selected LT Charles Hampton. Hampton is 26 years old, and at 6'5" 309 lbs, he's not the biggest tackle around, but Richt says he more than makes up for that with his strength. "He's one of the strongest guys I've ever seen. They should put his workouts on ESPN or something. A physical specimen."

It took a while before the Monarchs were on the board again, but when it was their turn they selected their first backfield player, RB Hank Givens. Givens was rated as one of the best running backs in the draft, but at 33 years old, many teams shied away from him. He's thankful for the opportunity. "I really appreciate the Monarchs looking past my age and recognizing my talent", said Givens. "I can do some great things for this team right now, not three years down the road like some of the other guys chosen before me. They won't regret their choice."

25 year old MLB Reuben Fitzgerald and soon to be fan-favorite WR Tyrone "Sleepy" Devine rounded out the top five picks for the Monarchs, who seemed to favor speed and defense early in the draft.

The only player the Monarchs drafted with previous NFL experience was former Saints DE Vaughn Booker, whom they chose in the 39th round.

Training Camp begins December 19th for all USFL teams.

Minneapolis Monarchs 2003 Inaugural Draft

Code:


1. Donald Holmes, DE
2. Charles Hampton, LT
3. Hank Givens, RB
4. Reuben Fitzgerald, MLB
5. Sleepy Devine, WR
6. Toby Lewis, CB
7. Howard Stafford, RT
8. Robert Robinson, LOLB
9. Todd Turley, DT
10. Kenny Andrews, LG
11. Rod Johnson, WR
12. Cory Watters, QB
13. Corwin Jacobs, CB
14. Juan Williams, FS
15. Montae Mathews, DE
16. Jeremy Carpenter, TE
17. Stacy Burnett, C
18. Maurice Mack, RG
19. Levon Payne, FB
20. Jason Blount, SS
21. James Evans, ROLB
22. Gabe Tucker, DT
23. Avery Fisk, WR
24. Tracy Dockett, K
25. R.J. Green, RB
26. LaMont Gibson, TE
27. Ian Ambrose, LG
28. Antonio Hudson, P
29. Sedrick Mason, MLB
30. Donny Gregg, CB
31. Merton Cleveland, QB
32. Germaine Brady, LT
33. Oliver Williams, RG
34. A.C. Hejl, DE
35. Chad Burns, CB
36. Darren Johnson, FS
37. Renaldo Stiles, DT
38. Anthony McComas, WR
39. Vaughn Booker, DE
40. Floyd Tucker, ROLB
41. Kevin Wright, RT
42. Charles Dickey, C
43. O.J. Carter, SS
44. Jared Abdullah, RB
45. Stanley Odom, LOLB
46. Greg Lucas, QB
47. Levon London, WR
48. John Mansfield, TE
49. Ty Lawrence, CB

Scholes · 12-09-2003, 11:21 AM

---Preseason Wrap-Up---

Code:

WEEK  DATE     OPPONENT            TIME/RESULT    
1     Jan 9    Wranglers           Won  33-32     
2     Jan 16   at Pioneers         Won  40-28     
3     Jan 22   at Miners           Lost 10-41     
4     Jan 28   Skyfires            Won  19-7

The Monarchs looked awfully impressive at sometimes, just awful at others. The offense moved the ball well, finishing with the 3rd highest points per game average in the USFL at 25.5 a game. The bad news is that they also finished third from last in the league in points allowed, at 108.

The defense needs to improve dramatically if the Monarchs want a shot at the American bowl, they looked mediocre at their best moments. The week 4 game against the San Diego Skyfires was a sloppy game in which San Diego's first two QB's were out with injuries.

---Preseason Team Statistics---

Code:

First Downs                            70
Third Down Conversions                 34
Third Downs                            60
Third Down Percentage               56.7%
Forth Down Conversions                  1
Fourth Downs                            2
Fourth Down Percentage              50.0%
Two Pt Conversions Made                 0
Two Pt Conversions Attempted            3
Two Pt Conversion Percentage         0.0%
Offense Redzone Num                    16
Offense Redzone TDs                     8
Offense Redzone FGs                     4
Offense Redzone Percentage          75.0%
Rushing Yards                         440
Rushing TDs                             5
Passing Yards                         926
Passing TDs                             6
Offensive Pass Interceptions            5
TOTAL OFFENSE                        1366
Defensive Pass Interceptions            4
Fumbles Lost                            5
Penalties                              16
Penalty Yds                           140
Turnovers                              10

The Monarchs converted 56.7% of their third downs, which is a good sign. The red zone percentage is a little low, only 75% scoring and a 50% touchdown rate. Coach Richt mentioned that he'd like to see that number closer to 80-85% for the season. 10 turnovers in 4 games is unacceptable, and something that needs to be remedied immediately.

---Preseason Individual Statistics---

Code:

 
PASSING                        CMP  ATT  YDS  PCT   YPA SACK   TD  INT LONG RATING
Merton Cleveland                50   88  643   56   7.3    6    6    2   69   93.1
Cory Watters                    25   43  347   58   8.0    6    0    3   36   55.1

RUSHING                        ATT  YDS   AVG LONG   TD  FUM
R. J. Green                     49  265   5.4   71    3    1
Hank Givens                     43  159   3.6   15    2    1
Levon Payne                      6   17   2.8   10    0    0
John Mansfield                   1    2   2.0    2    0    0
Merton Cleveland                 1   -3  -3.0    0    0    1

RECEIVING                      REC  YDS   AVG LONG   TD DROP  YAC
Anthony McComas                 13  235  18.0   69    0    2   38
Rod Johnson                     15  231  15.3   36    1    0   36
Jeremy Carpenter                 8  106  13.2   32    1    0   35
Lamont Gibson                    9   88   9.7   16    0    2   28
Levon London                     5   83  16.5   31    2    3   11
R. J. Green                      4   71  17.7   59    1    1   78
Sleepy Devine                    5   61  12.1   27    0    3   25
Avery Fisk                       6   61  10.1   20    1    0   25
Hank Givens                      4   32   8.0   10    0    1   27
Levon Payne                      5   17   3.3    7    0    0   18
John Mansfield                   1    5   5.0    5    0    0    2

KICKING                        FGM  FGA  PCT FGSBLOCKED  XPA  XPM  PCT XPSBLOCKED KICKOFFS TOUCHBACKS
Tracy Dockett                    7    9   77          0    9    9  100          0        7          0
Antonio Hudson                   0    0    0          0    0    0    0          0       16          3

PUNTING                        ATT  YDS   AVG LONG BLOCKS IN20 TOUCHBACKS
Antonio Hudson                  11  448  40.7   66      0    1          3

KICK RETURNS                   ATT  YDS   AVG   TD LONG
Levon London                    11  232  21.0    0   40
Sleepy Devine                   10  182  18.1    0   37

PUNT RETURNS                   ATT  YDS   AVG LONG   TD
Sleepy Devine                    4  144  36.0   63    1
Levon London                     2    6   3.0    6    0

DEFENSE                        TOT LOSS SACK   FF FREC  YDS   TD  INT  RET   AVG DEFLECTIONS SAFETIES
Sedrick Mason                   17    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
O.J. Carter                     15    0    0    0    1   12    0    0    0   0.0           1        0
Stanley Odom                    15    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           3        0
Todd Turley                     13    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Gabe Tucker                     12    1    1    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           1        0
Chad Burns                      12    2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           4        0
Floyd Tucker                    11    2    2    0    1   28    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Darren Johnson                  11    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Donny Gregg                     11    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           1        0
Robert Robinson                 10    1    1    0    1    0    0    1   24  24.0           3        0
Vaughn Booker                    9    1    2    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Reuben Fitzgerald                9    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Toby Lewis                       9    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           2        0
Jason Blount                     9    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Donald Holmes                    7    1    1    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Juan Williams                    6    0    0    1    0    0    0    2   12   6.0           1        0
A.C. Hejl                        6    1    1    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Montae Matthews                  5    1    1    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
James Evans                      4    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           1        0
Corwin Jacobs                    4    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    0   0.0           0        0
Renaldo Stills                   2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Rod Johnson                      2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Kenny Andrews                    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Anthony McComas                  1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Avery Fisk                       1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Maurice Mack                     1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Lamont Gibson                    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Howard Stafford                  0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0
Kevin Wright                     0    0    0    0    1    0    0    0    0   0.0           0        0

BLOCKING                      PANCAKES SACKS ALLOWED
Stacey Burnett                       9             2
Kevin Wright                         8             1
Charles Dickey                       7             0
Kenny Andrews                        4             0
Germane Brady                        4             1
Oliver Williams                      4             1
Ian Ambrose                          4             2
Howard Stafford                      3             2
Maurice Mack                         2             3
Levon Payne                          2             0
Jeremy Carpenter                     1             0
Charles Hampton                      1             0

Both quarterbacks performed well, Cleveland surprisingly so, and while some fans may like to see him start in week 1, it is Watters' job. R.J. Green was a punishing runner, breaking a lot of tackles and getting the 2 or 3 extra yards per carry that Givens wasn't. They might split a little more time than was previously expected. The receiving core is deep and talented. TE Jeremy Carpenter really impressed in the preseason with his blocking and catching.
Sleepy Devine is electrifying, as evidenced by his 36.6 yard punt return average.

Nobody really stood out on defense, a pick here, a sack there. It's a shame that missed tackles isn't a stat because a few of these guys might lead the league in that stat.

Scholes · 12-09-2003, 11:34 PM

Excerpt from ESPN.com

---Minneapolis Monarchs Team Breakdown---

Week 1 is fast approaching and if it's anything like the preseason, Monarch fans should be in for a wild ride. Possessing one of the USFL's most potent offenses along with a boom or bust defense, Minneapolis has landed all over the map as far as predictions go. We'll break down the roster and tell you where we think the Monarchs fit in in the USFL's inaugural season.

Code:

Quarterbacks                      
 NO   PLAYER            POS   OVR  SAL     YRL  AGE  HT     WT  
 3    C.Watters         QB    86   $1.47M  1    26   6'1"   219 
 1    M.Cleveland       QB    75   $1.36M  2    28   6'2"   239 
 13   G.Lyons           QB    62   $780K   1    26   6'3"   224

Cory Watters is the #1, and had flashes of brilliance in the preseason, but was also picked 3 times without throwing a TD. Granted, he didn't see a ton of playing time, but he also didn't inspire a ton of confidence from the Monarch supporters. By the 4th game, Merton Cleveland was the proof that the most popular player on every football team is the backup quarterback. 6 TD's 2 INT's and a 93 passer rating with the second string offense was impressive, but keep in mind he did that against the opposition's second string D. Coach Richt has said all along that Watters is his guy, we'll see how long he'll keep that up if the Monarchs and Watters struggle early.
Grade: B

Code:

Runningbacks
 NO   PLAYER            POS   OVR  SAL     YRL  AGE  HT     WT  
 32   H.Givens          HB    90   $880K   1    33   5'8"   224
 27   R.Green           HB    79   $2.00M  2    26   5'9"   257 
 49   J.Abdullah        HB    69   $1.75M  5    29   5'9"   214 
 20   L.Payne           FB    92   $550K   1    27   6'4"   245

Hank Givens didn't look like the game-breaking running back we saw in NFL Europe last season, and he'll be the first one to tell you that. When asked about his subpar preseason performance, Givens was straightforward. "I'm not gonna lie to you, Givens replied, I've stunk so far. It's only preseason though, I'll get it together." He'd better get it together in a hurry, because a younger, stronger backup is lurking in the form of R.J. Green, the bulldozer from Central Florida who punished opposing tacklers to the tune of 5.4 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns on the ground, and 1 through the air. If used correctly they could be a devastating one-two punch, with Givens using his speed to the outside and Green plowing for the tough yards. Fullback Levon Payne won't get many carries, but is a devastating lead blocker and will catch a few passes as well.
Grade: A

Code:

Receivers
 NO   PLAYER            POS   OVR  SAL     YRL  AGE  HT     WT  
 80   R.Johnson         WR    90   $1.41M  1    31   5'11"  219 
 83   S.Devine          WR    90   $10.59M  3    22   5'5"   171
 89   A.Fisk            WR    78   $1.17M  1    26   6'1"   171 
 81   A.McComas         WR    74   $1.17M  1    26   5'11"  166 
 87   L.London          WR    72   $810K   1    28   5'9"   214

What the Monarch receiving core lacks in size it more than makes up for in skill, determination and heart. A perfect example of this is 22 year old rookie Tyrone "Sleepy" Devine. Arguably the fastest man in the USFL (4.2 40 time), he stands at an impish 5'5". When he's on the field however, he plays like he's 6'4". Game smarts, elusiveness and fundamentals define his game, and he's proving alreday that he's worth the big bucks the Monarchs spent on him. The rest of the receivers are all under one year contracts, and there may not be enough money to go around at the end of the year, so the competiton and desire to produce will be fierce. The winner in the deal will be the Monarchs and QB Cory Watters, who will have a fun time throwing to this talented group.
Grade: A-

Code:

Tight Ends
 NO   PLAYER            POS   OVR  SAL     YRL  AGE  HT     WT  
 86   J.Carpenter       TE    99   $1.41M  1    27   6'5"   252 
 85   L.Gibson          TE    80   $3.39M  3    26   6'3"   259 
 82   J.Mansfield       TE    68   $3.00M  3    26   6'2"   248

Jeremy Carpenter thought his football days were over when he went to defend his country in the Middle East after college. After all, he would be 27 and have lost quite a bit of his skill when he got back. Turns out, they played quite a bit of football in their down time overseas, and he came back twice the athlete he was. The Monarchs were delighted when he was still available in the 16th round (Many other teams hadn't even invited him for a workout) and snapped him up. They could only sign him to a one year contract because he still dreams of playing in the NFL, and wants a chance to prove himself this season. On the other side of the big set is LaMont Gibson, a surprisingly nimble big man who displayed great hands in both practice and game situations. If he works on his blocking a bit, he will rival Carpenter in terms of all-around talent.
Grade: A

12-08-2003, 11:35 AM	#2
Scholes High School Varsity Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: St. Paul, MN	----Minneapolis Announces Nickname, Head Coach---- The Minneapolis Monarchs are almost ready to play football in February. Now all they need are some players. Owner Glen Taylor presented Minneapolis with its newest sports franchise, the Minneapolis Monarchs yesterday at a press conference at brand new Bud Grant Field. The logo features a ferocious looking lion head sporting a crown and "Monarchs" running underneath it. The team's primary colors are navy and columbia blue. Another major unveiling occured at the conference right after the nickname and logo were displayed, the head coach. Former University of Georgia Head Coach Mark Richt is the first coach of the Monarchs. The Monarchs signed Richt to a four year, 11.5 million dollar contract yesterday, and he is already in Minneapolis beginning to assemble his staff. A brief question and answer session was held with the media whereupon Richt was forthright and honest about his position with the team in the new league. "To tell you the truth, I have no idea what to expect. I believe that the right people are in charge of this league, and the right people are in charge of the teams. That being said, you never know what the American people are going to react to. Look at reality TV, or music, or sports for that matter. It's very hard to predict and I can only hope that we can provide a viable product for them to enjoy when the NFL's not going." When asked about the type of players he expected to be coaching, he was optimistic. "There are some extremely talented players putting their names in the hat and I'm anxious to beging scouting them and working them out as soon as possible. A lot of these guys just need a shot to prove they have what it takes, and that's what we're giving them. It should be very exciting." The USFL Inaugural Draft will take place August 15th, 2003. USFL Franchise Nicknames Code: CONTINENTAL LEAGUE NORTHEAST Baltimore Blaze Boston Terriers New York Knights Philadelphia Liberty SOUTH Houston Hornets Kansas City Gladiators Little Rock Thunder St. Louis Silverhawks NORTH Chicago Citadelles Detroit Excelsiors Madison Huskies Minneapolis Monarchs WEST Las Vegas Gamblers Los Angeles Griffins San Diego Skyfires San Francisco Quakes FEDERAL LEAGUE SOUTHEAST Atlanta Vipers Charlotte Rebels Columbia Tigers Miami SeaWolves SOUTH Birmingham Bandits Memphis Marauders Oklahoma City Wranglers San Antonio Liberators NORTH Columbus Mavericks Des Moines Mustangs Indianapolis Thunderbirds Lincoln Silverbacks WEST Denver Generals Portland Pioneers Sacramento Miners Seattle Admirals

12-08-2003, 01:31 PM	#3
Scholes High School Varsity Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: St. Paul, MN	---Monarchs Complete Inaugural USFL Draft--- Minneapolis Monarchs head coach Mark Richt watched as the defensive ends went one by one in the first round of the USFL Inaugural Draft, then got in on the action himself. With his first selection, the 31st overall, the Monarchs selected 28 year old Donald Holmes, a 6'5" 280 lb. defensive end hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. Due to the serpentine nature of the draft, the Monarchs were on the clock again after two quick picks from the Miami SeaWolves. With their next selection, the Monarchs selected LT Charles Hampton. Hampton is 26 years old, and at 6'5" 309 lbs, he's not the biggest tackle around, but Richt says he more than makes up for that with his strength. "He's one of the strongest guys I've ever seen. They should put his workouts on ESPN or something. A physical specimen." It took a while before the Monarchs were on the board again, but when it was their turn they selected their first backfield player, RB Hank Givens. Givens was rated as one of the best running backs in the draft, but at 33 years old, many teams shied away from him. He's thankful for the opportunity. "I really appreciate the Monarchs looking past my age and recognizing my talent", said Givens. "I can do some great things for this team right now, not three years down the road like some of the other guys chosen before me. They won't regret their choice." 25 year old MLB Reuben Fitzgerald and soon to be fan-favorite WR Tyrone "Sleepy" Devine rounded out the top five picks for the Monarchs, who seemed to favor speed and defense early in the draft. The only player the Monarchs drafted with previous NFL experience was former Saints DE Vaughn Booker, whom they chose in the 39th round. Training Camp begins December 19th for all USFL teams. Minneapolis Monarchs 2003 Inaugural Draft Code: 1. Donald Holmes, DE 2. Charles Hampton, LT 3. Hank Givens, RB 4. Reuben Fitzgerald, MLB 5. Sleepy Devine, WR 6. Toby Lewis, CB 7. Howard Stafford, RT 8. Robert Robinson, LOLB 9. Todd Turley, DT 10. Kenny Andrews, LG 11. Rod Johnson, WR 12. Cory Watters, QB 13. Corwin Jacobs, CB 14. Juan Williams, FS 15. Montae Mathews, DE 16. Jeremy Carpenter, TE 17. Stacy Burnett, C 18. Maurice Mack, RG 19. Levon Payne, FB 20. Jason Blount, SS 21. James Evans, ROLB 22. Gabe Tucker, DT 23. Avery Fisk, WR 24. Tracy Dockett, K 25. R.J. Green, RB 26. LaMont Gibson, TE 27. Ian Ambrose, LG 28. Antonio Hudson, P 29. Sedrick Mason, MLB 30. Donny Gregg, CB 31. Merton Cleveland, QB 32. Germaine Brady, LT 33. Oliver Williams, RG 34. A.C. Hejl, DE 35. Chad Burns, CB 36. Darren Johnson, FS 37. Renaldo Stiles, DT 38. Anthony McComas, WR 39. Vaughn Booker, DE 40. Floyd Tucker, ROLB 41. Kevin Wright, RT 42. Charles Dickey, C 43. O.J. Carter, SS 44. Jared Abdullah, RB 45. Stanley Odom, LOLB 46. Greg Lucas, QB 47. Levon London, WR 48. John Mansfield, TE 49. Ty Lawrence, CB Last edited by Scholes : 12-08-2003 at 01:32 PM.

12-09-2003, 11:34 PM	#5
Scholes High School Varsity Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: St. Paul, MN	Excerpt from ESPN.com ---Minneapolis Monarchs Team Breakdown--- Week 1 is fast approaching and if it's anything like the preseason, Monarch fans should be in for a wild ride. Possessing one of the USFL's most potent offenses along with a boom or bust defense, Minneapolis has landed all over the map as far as predictions go. We'll break down the roster and tell you where we think the Monarchs fit in in the USFL's inaugural season. Code: Quarterbacks NO PLAYER POS OVR SAL YRL AGE HT WT 3 C.Watters QB 86 $1.47M 1 26 6'1" 219 1 M.Cleveland QB 75 $1.36M 2 28 6'2" 239 13 G.Lyons QB 62 $780K 1 26 6'3" 224 Cory Watters is the #1, and had flashes of brilliance in the preseason, but was also picked 3 times without throwing a TD. Granted, he didn't see a ton of playing time, but he also didn't inspire a ton of confidence from the Monarch supporters. By the 4th game, Merton Cleveland was the proof that the most popular player on every football team is the backup quarterback. 6 TD's 2 INT's and a 93 passer rating with the second string offense was impressive, but keep in mind he did that against the opposition's second string D. Coach Richt has said all along that Watters is his guy, we'll see how long he'll keep that up if the Monarchs and Watters struggle early. Grade: B Code: Runningbacks NO PLAYER POS OVR SAL YRL AGE HT WT 32 H.Givens HB 90 $880K 1 33 5'8" 224 27 R.Green HB 79 $2.00M 2 26 5'9" 257 49 J.Abdullah HB 69 $1.75M 5 29 5'9" 214 20 L.Payne FB 92 $550K 1 27 6'4" 245 Hank Givens didn't look like the game-breaking running back we saw in NFL Europe last season, and he'll be the first one to tell you that. When asked about his subpar preseason performance, Givens was straightforward. "I'm not gonna lie to you, Givens replied, I've stunk so far. It's only preseason though, I'll get it together." He'd better get it together in a hurry, because a younger, stronger backup is lurking in the form of R.J. Green, the bulldozer from Central Florida who punished opposing tacklers to the tune of 5.4 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns on the ground, and 1 through the air. If used correctly they could be a devastating one-two punch, with Givens using his speed to the outside and Green plowing for the tough yards. Fullback Levon Payne won't get many carries, but is a devastating lead blocker and will catch a few passes as well. Grade: A Code: Receivers NO PLAYER POS OVR SAL YRL AGE HT WT 80 R.Johnson WR 90 $1.41M 1 31 5'11" 219 83 S.Devine WR 90 $10.59M 3 22 5'5" 171 89 A.Fisk WR 78 $1.17M 1 26 6'1" 171 81 A.McComas WR 74 $1.17M 1 26 5'11" 166 87 L.London WR 72 $810K 1 28 5'9" 214 What the Monarch receiving core lacks in size it more than makes up for in skill, determination and heart. A perfect example of this is 22 year old rookie Tyrone "Sleepy" Devine. Arguably the fastest man in the USFL (4.2 40 time), he stands at an impish 5'5". When he's on the field however, he plays like he's 6'4". Game smarts, elusiveness and fundamentals define his game, and he's proving alreday that he's worth the big bucks the Monarchs spent on him. The rest of the receivers are all under one year contracts, and there may not be enough money to go around at the end of the year, so the competiton and desire to produce will be fierce. The winner in the deal will be the Monarchs and QB Cory Watters, who will have a fun time throwing to this talented group. Grade: A- Code: Tight Ends NO PLAYER POS OVR SAL YRL AGE HT WT 86 J.Carpenter TE 99 $1.41M 1 27 6'5" 252 85 L.Gibson TE 80 $3.39M 3 26 6'3" 259 82 J.Mansfield TE 68 $3.00M 3 26 6'2" 248 Jeremy Carpenter thought his football days were over when he went to defend his country in the Middle East after college. After all, he would be 27 and have lost quite a bit of his skill when he got back. Turns out, they played quite a bit of football in their down time overseas, and he came back twice the athlete he was. The Monarchs were delighted when he was still available in the 16th round (Many other teams hadn't even invited him for a workout) and snapped him up. They could only sign him to a one year contract because he still dreams of playing in the NFL, and wants a chance to prove himself this season. On the other side of the big set is LaMont Gibson, a surprisingly nimble big man who displayed great hands in both practice and game situations. If he works on his blocking a bit, he will rival Carpenter in terms of all-around talent. Grade: A

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