Stories of the '87 Off-Season 1: Creative Destruction, or, an Overview of Notable Transactions

 The Great Tuesday Terror led to great "creative destruction" a blizzard of trades and signings.

 Washington, Houston, and Atlanta sparred for Danny White; the Skins won out with more money, a short contract, and a legitimate chance at a ring. Gibbs didn't want to trade Doug Williams to the Raiders despite ownership's support of a deal, but White's signing made resistance impossible; Washington also got a 2nd round pick and declining, but still good, Matt Millen, justifying the "ruthless" release of Dave Butz.

 San Francisco grabbed DeBerg again. Walsh eyed Kramer and White but competing offers were too rich for his blood. Stevie wonder was a known commodity. They could just plug him in—the system hadn't really changed in his four years away.

 Jack Kemp's son landed in Seattle. Fellow Bircher Steve Largent welcomed his fellow sovereign citizen and Committed Soldier to the Cause. 

 The Patriots would bring back Doug Flutie via a shocking trade with Chicago. It was seen as a move by Billy and Pat Sullivan to curry favor after a disappointing 1986. Governor Dukakis welcomed the Mr. Hail Mary back, declaring May 1^st “Dougie Day,” drawing the ire of a small faction of Southies.

There was of course The Trade of Decade. Aside from that, the Colts would outbid for Buddy Curry and Tommy Kramer. They would also sign USFL star Jackie Flowers.

Despite a Super Bowl title, Art Modell was still a cheapskate: claiming he barely made nothing on the title run, Art refused negotiations with fan favorite Chip Banks and dealt him to San Diego for a pick swap that only moved both clubs ten spots. Keinath fumed.

Jimmie Giles was always thought of as a Buc—it was weird seeing him in a Lions uniform in ‘87. It was still weirder seeing him in an Eagles uniform, as he was dealt for a low pick (7th rounder).

The last trade ahead of ‘87 may prove to be the most significant, as Cleveland sent Frank Minnifield and off-season signing Marcus Marek to St. Louis for EJ Junior and a 2nd round pick. 

The deal came just two weeks before the start of the season, ahead of final cuts and as both clubs weathered a historic off-season that turned Big Red into a community-owned club. It was Harris who made the call straight to Keinath. It was clear to everyone who paid attention to the preseason games so far that Marek, while talented, didn't quite fit that Cleveland linebacker core. He was slow off the edge and while he hit hard, he just didn't have Banks' lateral movement; Keinath ground his teeth so bad he had to start chewing again to chill out. Also, Woodson was too good to let molder on the sideline.

And the Cards needed a corner. Cedric Mack's season—maybe career—ended on the mound. Mack popped out his hip trying to unstick his cleat from the turfed-over pitcher's mound. The intense late-summer heat melted his plastic Asics cleats, fusing with the dark green carpet (a different, cheaper material than the lighter green playing surface, Bidwell was cheap). And he knew it too, to never walk on that spot; he always watched his ass but not this time.

The two big questions heading into the season would be: is Marek a 2nd round talent and is Woodson the real deal? Much of the media looked at the deal suspiciously--just like the two inefficient, commie clubs to make a mutually beneficial deal. The Birchers drew parallels to Morenov's recent trip to Red China, likely reviving the Sino-Soviet pact. 

While there would always be player movement between the USFL and NFL, the ‘87 offseason would see a large, final influx of "first generation" talent due to an impending hard cap in the former and a "holiday" on posting and transfer fees until the end of ‘87. Along with the aforementioned Flowers, linebackers Putt Choate and Kiki DeAyala would sign with Buffalo and Seattle, and DB Chuck Clanton inked with Pittsburgh. All three were briefly on NFL rosters in ‘85. Miami took a chance on DE Bruce Thornton; Reggie White's old teammate and ‘86 league champ John Corker would take Curry's old position in Atlanta. The defending champion Browns added Cleveland native and Ohio State star Marcus Marek to their linebacking core in the off-season before dealing him to St. Louis. Ernest Anderson, after three solid years in Oklahoma, joined the running back-by-committee in Houston. Tampa would sign quarterback Alan Risher, wide receiver Derek Holloway, and nose tackle Greg Fields, who had been out of football since ‘85 (he purportedly made more as a bodyguard for Prince before Laffy opened the chekcbook--ed.). Looking toward the future, the Chargers would sign Rick Neuheisel to a 5-year deal just hours after he led Baltimore to the ’87 USFL title against his former club, the San Antonio Gunslingers; the former UCLA star faxed over the signed contract at 11:59 PM, saving the Chargers a possible transfer fee by two minutes.

The two highest profile USFL signings, however, were the returns of two great what-ifs: Joe Delaney in Kansas City and David Overstreet in Miami.