Back

Best Players On Roster

Andrew: The longer you are in the USAFL, the higher the chance that you will have some truly great players on your roster. They are extremely hard to come by, but when they do, you will do everything in your power to keep them on your roster. Well, until they start aging and you are lucky enough to find a needy GM who is willing to unload a boatload of picks.

I have had some tremendous players on my roster, including several Hall of Fame players:

Offense:
QB Miles Pollara - perhaps the best active QB in the league
HB Norris Turk - performed wonderfully right out of the draft, traded to Miami, then went to Oakland via free agency.
HB Rory Rencher - diamond found in the second round. Currently a Franchise Player in Tampa Bay.
WR Todd Ratzlaff - career stats leader in early version of USAFL.

Defense:
DL Bing Bennett - the legend
LB Merril Reilly - drafted 2nd overall (I got the selection in a trade with Atlanta - Tim Arkwright's trade he wish he never pulled)
DL Roman Smith - my current Franchise Player

Fifty three players on a roster, eighteen teams in the league. That's 954 opportunities to have some great players in the league. Some GMs seem to have all the luck in the draft and regularly reload their rosters with studs. Lets see what kind of talent these guys have been fortunate to have on their roster.

Bill: 
Defensively, I'd definitely say Sergio Harmony, even though his stats weren't too impressive. (120 career sacks, 418 career tackles). 
Offensively... I'd say my current halfback, Birch Fraser, is going to be the best player whose ever played for me. We'll see, though.

Todd: 
Offense: RB Jon Winters (3,370 attempts, 12,068 rushing yards, 84 TDs; 259 receptions, 2,118 yards, 11 TDs)
Defense: DL Kelvin Ceciliani (214 sacks, 542 tackles, 9 fumble recoveries, 3 safeties)

Fred: 
Offensive: RB Giles Siragusa. 2 MVP in a row. I got the guy for a cheap LB.
Defensive: DL Odie Sandstrom. I don't think I've ever had a beat like that on my line, and I've had great lines.

Ben:
Offensive: I've never really had any offensive studs, but if I had to pick  one or two, it'd be my OL back in the day like John Thomas, Chip Hickman, and Eddie Richards
Defensive: Michael May didn't have the most beastly ratings you've ever seen, but man, the guy could produce. He was the first person to reach 100 sacks in this version of the USAFL.

Tom: Even though it wasn't for his entire career, Neil Matthews was probably the best offensive player who played for me. I got him in his 11th season and he played for me for three years, but here's a guy who averaged 3.6 yards a carry, scored more touchdowns than anyone, and still was a top performer 5 years after most good running backs have already been replaced.

As for defense, I'll probably say Mike Thomas in a few seasons, especially after the past couple he's had for me, but I'll stick by Pat Lenny, even after all the great defensive linemen and linebackers and defensive backs who've ever played for me. Pat started every season for the Dolphins he was active, and that was 13 seasons. For a player to start every game for 13 straight seasons is unreal. Players don't do that anymore. Either you're not ready as a starter or you lose your effectiveness once you get older. Pat played for 13 full seasons, and would have played more if he weren't as old as he was...defensive backs can't play any longer than that. 25 career interceptions, which is 3rd all time, and 916 tackles, which is top 10 all time.

Joe: Offensive - Alonzo Johnson. He should've won MVP that one season, I tell you.. Defensive - Sammy Stacy of the Cowboys in the old USAFL. I really think I'd need a player like him in the new USAFL, especially since I've noticed that I've had problems getting to the QB and sacking him. He was just so explosive, plowing through offensive lines. Probably the best defensive player I've ever had.

Garritt: 
QB Tory Kay - always there in a pinch and played exquisitely throughout his career
DL Eric Oden - simply a monster. a one man defense.

Jean: 
RB Myron Hazelton = after the 2018 season, Hazelton will be the league career leader for TDs rushing / total rushing yards
DL Finn Zilkoski = he already have some great numbers .. he only have 7 yr experience

Flip: Well Lee Tardits has to me the best offensive player to date but I thin Rolfe will be even more productive. On the defensive side I would have to say Mo Barnett as he has the team record of 130 (156 career) sacks as well as 323 (400 career) tackles, seven fumble recoveries (10 career) and 9 player of the game awards in only 7 seasons in Dallas.

Mike: Best defensive player would go to DB Gene Musgrave Career Leader in, Interceptions and Yards gained.

For even more historical data, visit the USAFL History Page to view tons of stats from earlier versions of the USAFL. This page can always be accessed through the USAFL FAQ.