The NFL is one of the most valuable sports leagues in the world. It brings in millions of dollars in revenue for each team. The expansion of the sport never seems to stop; year on year growth for each team has led to the NFL franchise becoming one of the most recognisable in the world. Video games, jerseys, memorabilia, films, tv documentaries and even casino games. Sites such as Royal Vegas Casino have had huge success in taping into this fan base and developing casino games based around football.
The NFL brings huge crowds in to every game. Monday night football generates huge revenue and Sundays are now football days in the US. However, there are two big occasions of every season, the draft and the super bowl. The NFL draft has always been a hot point of the season. The dramatic event can often lead to the difference of success or failure of the season. General Managers have an extraordinary level of pressure placed on the shoulders to bring in the best of the best. We wanted to take a look at the trades that didn’t go to plan. Here are our worst trades of all time.
Steve Largent vs Houston Oilers
Steve Largent is enshrined in the Pro Hall of Fame for a reason; he held a number of all-time receiving records upon his retirement. Though for all his potential, the Houston Oilers selected Largent in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft before going onto trade him to the Seattle Seahawks. In return they received an eight-round draft pick thus the trade has been dubbed as one of the worst trades the NFL has ever seen.
Jerome Bettis vs Lawrence Phillips
Jerome Bettis’s arrival to the Pittsburgh Steelers following his departure from the St. Louis Rams may rival Largent’s trade. In return, the Rams welcomed Lawrence Phillips. Their decision to get rid of Bettis following two 1,000 + yard rushing seasons in his two debut years in the league was always seemingly bizarre. Phillips was condemned to a life of crime and was subsequently arrested multiple times. Isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing!
John Hadl
It’s never a wise decision to panic-trade, no matter how badly things are going, and now unfortunately, that is something the Green Bay Packers know all too week. It was 1974 when they failed to hit the ground running and struggled to a 3-3 record to start the season. Head coach Dan Devine felt he needed to act and decided a change at quarterback was his side’s only hope of competing for a Super Bowl title. Two first rounders, two second rounders and one third rounder were traded away as a result and in came 34-year- old Los Angeles Rams player John Hadl. It wasn’t much of a surprise when the trade failed to work out. In his short time at the Rams Hadl managed a 7-12 record, throwing just six touchdown passes, with a mere 21 interceptions. Maybe Devine should have persevered with the players at his disposal.
Herschel Walker vs Emmitt Smith
Much similar to the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota decided to give up five players and a further eight draft choices for Herschel Walker and picks to Dallas. The deal went swimmingly for Dallas as their biggest success story from the trade was that of Emmitt Smith. The Hall of Famer became the league’s all-time leading rusher during his fifteen seasons, meanwhile Minnesota were left with an expensive Walker who ultimately failed to do anything too much of note during his career. Not in comparison to Smith anyway.
Steve Young
Youth can often to prove to be frustrating in sport; their lack of experience but sheer potential is always a weighty dilemma. Though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now realzse that potential is worth the wait. In 1997 the Buccaneers decided they had no time to waste in waiting for Steve Young to flourish and sent him to San Francisco for second and fourth round draft picks. I doubt there’s a trade that the Buccaneers regret more as Young developed into one of the best talents the NFL will see. In time he went onto to replace the legendary Joe Montana under centre and led the Niners to the 1994 Super Bowl. Young now has his very own place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.