R.I.P. Mike Fanning

Mike Fanning was a great Ram…. anchored a great defense.

Thank you John Hadl.

URL = The Worst Draft Trades in NFL History – The Grueling Truth

4) Packers trade two first-rounders, two second-rounders and a third-rounder to Los Angeles for John Hadl:

This trade was probably the biggest panic trade in NFL history. For the first six games of the 1974 season, Jerry Tagge was, without question, the worst starting quarterback in professional football. Green Bay’s 24-year-old passer — the 11th pick of the 1972 draft — had a 36.0 passer rating and had thrown one touchdown and 10 interceptions. Somehow the Packers were 3-3, leading some — including head coach and general manager Dan Devine — to believe that the only thing standing between the Pack and a playoff berth was an upgrade under center.

Five picks for one tired passer.

In 1973, Hadl had been a hero for Los Angeles. Chuck Knox’s club finished with an NFC-best 12-2 record that season and Hadl posted the best touchdown-to-interception ratio of his career (22-11). The Rams were knocked off by Dallas in the playoffs (Hadl completed 7-of-23 passes in a 27-16 loss) and early into the next season, Hadl fell out of favor in Los Angeles.

Still, to team owner Carroll Rosenbloom, trading his popular passer was a risk, regardless of what the other side had offered. “I’ve been heartsick about the Hadl thing all week,” Rosenbloom said after the trade. “It’s a gamble for us. I guess the fans will fire me if I’m wrong.”

Rumors swirled that the Packers had dealt for damaged goods. Some suggested the reason for Hadl’s woes was a bum throwing arm. “Chuck Knox knows my arm’s OK,” Hadl told reporters. “Ask him and he’ll tell you.” Packers fans had already seen the arm up close; Hadl completed just 6-of-16 passes and was benched in a Week Five loss to Green Bay in 1974. The idea the team would trade for him just 10 days later was puzzling.

Rams general manager Don Klosterman used Green Bay’s first-round pick of 1975 (No. 9 overall) to select defensive lineman Mike Fanning, who gave the team eight solid seasons. Klosterman used the remaining picks from the trade to assemble the core of Los Angeles’ secondary for the next few seasons: Monte Jackson, Pat Thomas and Nolan Cromwell (via a trade using another of Green Bay’s picks). With the rest of its picks in those two drafts, Los Angeles shored up its offensive line by drafting OG Dennis Harrah and OTs Doug France and Jackie Slater. These players would be instrumental in the Rams continued playoff success and an eventual appearance in Super Bowl XIV.

The Packers headed in the opposite direction. Hadl guided Green Bay to victory in three of his first four appearances, but the team lost its final three games in 1974 to finish 6-8. Hadl threw two interceptions in each of the final two losses — games decided by seven points or less. The next season, Hadl threw six touchdown passes and 21 interceptions. By 1976, he was no longer welcome in Green Bay. He finished his 16-year pro career as a backup with the Houston Oilers in ’76 and ’77 before retiring.

A day after the Packers wrapped up their 1974 season, Devine announced to reporters he was going to replace Ara Parseghian as the next coach at Notre Dame. He got off easy. His replacement, Bart Starr, was not so fortunate. In nine seasons, he led Green Bay to just one winning record (8-7-1 in 1978) — this from the former field general who had lost only one playoff game in 10 starts.

The deal not only handicapped Starr’s coaching career — it injured Hadl’s legacy. The six-time Pro Bowler is often remembered more for the trade that brought him to Green Bay than for helping Sid Gillman to revolutionize the passing game during their nine seasons together in San Diego

Also makes me wish the NFL had stayed with 14 game seasons. Far better for player health, and I think it makes the individual games matter more. Best way for the NFL to protect the players, if they really cared about that . . . along with mandating grass fields, and no more Thursday games.

And while I’m still in that Old Guy “get off my lawn!” mode, hate to see the  Rams on the other side of those kinds of trades, all too often, especially for the one season rentals. It’s time for the Rams to get a slew of picks for someone nearing the end of their careers instead. Can’t remember the last time they did that, but I’m betting it’s been decades.

That’s how you sustain a competitive team, IMO. You find that sweet spot in time when you can get a high return for your older stars nearing their sunset years, and you draft well to keep reloading. Recent example: It looks like Seattle chose the perfect time to trade Russell Wilson. In other sports? The Lakers should have already (at least) tried to trade Lebron.

Know when to hold ’em. No when to fold ’em, etc.