NFL Conference Championship Games : Former USFL Players Will Likely Play Key Roles Sunday

Players from the United States Football League, which was regarded as inferior by many National Football League executives, will play major roles in determining the National Conference champion Sunday at Washington.

Six players from the Washington Redskins and four from the Minnesota Vikings played in the USFL, which folded in 1986. Key members of both teams’ passing games are former USFL players.

Meanwhile, an important member of Denver’s passing attack, wide receiver Vance Johnson, was hospitalized Friday with internal bleeding in his groin and is expected to miss Sunday’s American Conference championship game against Cleveland at Denver.

Johnson suffered the injury during last Sunday’s playoff victory over the Houston Oilers when linebacker John Grimsley drove his helmet into the fallen receiver after a play.

Johnson practiced Wednesday but not Thursday, and, when the bleeding continued, was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital. Coach Dan Reeves says he has a “very, very slim chance” of playing.

Johnson caught 43 passes, averaging 16.3 yards a catch, and scored 7 touchdowns during the regular season. If he can’t play, rookie Ricky Nattiel is expected to start.

Among the Redskins who played in the USFL are quarterback Doug Williams and wide receivers Gary Clark, Ricky Sanders, Clarence Verdin and Anthony Allen. Running back Kelvin Bryant, Washington’s leading receiver out of the backfield, was another USFL star.

Minnesota wide receiver Anthony Carter came from the USFL. So did offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman, defensive tackle Keith Millard and backup center Chris Foote.

Eleven former USFL players were voted to the Pro Bowl this season, including Clark, Carter and Zimmerman.

Carter’s 227 receiving yards on 10 catches against San Francisco last week is a playoff record. His 84-yard punt return against New Orleans in the wild-card game is another playoff record.

Darrell Green, being counted on to defend against Carter, practiced with the Redskins Friday, and defensive backfield coach Richie Petitbon expressed confidence that the injured cornerback would start Sunday.

Green pulled cartilage in his ribs in Washington’s 21-17 victory over Chicago last Sunday. He had been working out on his own until Friday, when he ran at full speed for much of the session as part of the first-team defense.