FOR USE AS DESIRED

            NFL-64             10/19/01

 

FAVRE: ONE OF THE BEST TRADES EVER,

HAVING ONE OF HIS BEST SEASONS EVER

 

Ron Wolf Rates Top Five NFL Trades; NFL Trading Deadline Next Tuesday, Oct. 23

 

It’s one of the best trades in NFL history – the third-best, says the man who made it -- and it’s still paying big-time dividends.

 

Nine years ago, the Green Bay Packers traded a first-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for a country-boy quarterback named BRETT FAVRE, who proceeded to take the Packers to two Super Bowls (winning one), can this year set an NFL record with his 10th 3,000 passing-yard season in a row, has moved into seventh place all-time in touchdown passes (267)…and has the Packers in first place in the NFC Central with a 4-1 record. 

 

Some people think Favre might be having his best season ever.

 

“He’s his old self but even smarter,” says Packers defensive tackle SANTANA DOTSON.  “He may not be the old Brett Favre, but he knows how to scramble, he knows when to run.  A lot of those things take time to learn.  It takes game-time experience.  Brett is battle-tested. 

 

“I’d take this Brett Favre over the one six or seven years ago.”

 

Green Bay general manager RON WOLF, now retired, took in a trade an unknown 22-year-old Favre on February 10, 1992.  At the time, Favre had appeared in two games for the Falcons and thrown five passes – two of which were intercepted.   

 

The trade made no national headlines, simply a line in the daily “transactions” column.  But Favre was the guy Wolf, in his first full year with the Packers, wanted.

 

“We believed all along that he was the best player in the ’91 draft,” says Wolf, now living in Annapolis, Maryland and doing analysis on Navy football games.  “Our belief was borne out.  He won three MVP awards, which was never done.”

 

Ask Wolf, as the NFL trading deadline approaches next Tuesday, October 23 at 4:00 PM ET, to rate the top five trades in NFL history, and his Favre masterpiece ranks third.

 

Ron (“Every Trade Is A Gamble”) Wolf’s all-time best:

 

RON WOLF’S TOP FIVE TRADES IN NFL HISTORY

 

1.  BOBBY LAYNE TRADE	1950 – Lions trade for QB Bobby Layne from New York Bulldogs for E Bob Mann.  Layne goes on to throw for 26,000 yards, and help Detroit to three NFL titles.  Wolf:  “He was a Hall of Fame player who turned the Lions’ franchise around.”
2.  BROWNS-COLTS’      15-PLAYER TRADE	1953 – Tied for second-largest trade in NFL history – 15 players.  Colts trade T Mike McCormack, DT Don Colo, LB Tom Catlin, DB John Petitbon and G Herschell Forester to Browns for DBs Don Shula, Bert Rechichar and Carl Taseff, LB Ed Sharkey, E Gern Nagler, QB Harry Agganis, Ts Dick Batten and Shu Sheets, and Gs Art Spinney and Elmer Willhoite.  Browns acquisitions help them to four title-game appearances in next five years and two championships.  Wolf:  ”It gave the Browns a Hall of Famer (McCormack) and kept their dynasty intact.”
3.  BRETT FAVRE TRADE	1992 – Packers trade for QB Brett Favre from Atlanta for first-round draft choice.  See above for results.  Wolf:  “When we made the deal, we knew we were going to sink or swim with him.”
4.  HENRY JORDAN TRADE	1959 – Packers trade for T Henry Jordan from Cleveland for a fourth-round choice.  Jordan becomes a fixture in Packers dynasty.  Plays in four Pro Bowls, seven NFL title games and Super Bowls I and II.  Wolf:  “A Hall of Famer.”
5.  STEVE YOUNG TRADE	1987 – 49ers trade for QB Steve Young from Tampa Bay for second- and fourth-round choices.  Young proceeds to lead San Francisco to four NFC Championship Game appearances and capture Super Bowl XXIX title as MVP.  Wolf: “He kept the legacy going.”