other trade offers for Elway - 1983

[ChrisBabcock]

I'm currently reading The Pro Football Chronicle by Dan Daly & Bob O"Donnell. Its an older book. (1990) There's a bit in it about all the drama surrounding John Elway up to, during and after the 1983 draft. Some rumored trade offers were mentioned that may or may not be common knowledge that I thought were interesting...

Lions offered Billy Sims plus picks.
Seahawks offered Jim Zorn, any RB on their roster, plus picks.
Chiefs offered Steve Fuller or Bill Kenney (Colts choice) plus picks.
Cowboys offered Danny White, Randy White and their first round pick.
Oilers offered Earl Campbell, another player and picks.
Falcons offered Steve Bartkowski plus picks.

"Minutes before the draft started, Irsay was mulling over an offer from the Patriots of John Hannah and their number one pick. He was talked out of it."

[JohnTurney]

had it gone through Dan Hampton and Howie Long would have been on that same line. And all else if it occured---Dent etc...

[Reaser]

The Pro Football Chronicle by Dan Daly & Bob O"Donnell.

Great book, fun to flip through.

Elway to Marino by ESPN/NFL Films talks about some of the possibly trades for Elway, including the Howie Long one mentioned above. Plus the Chargers pretending to be interested to get Fouts to sign his contract and other stuff.

[BD Sullivan]

The Pro Football Chronicle by Dan Daly & Bob O"Donnell.

Great book, fun to flip through.

Elway to Marino by ESPN/NFL Films talks about some of the possibly trades for Elway, including the Howie Long one mentioned above. Plus the Chargers pretending to be interested to get Fouts to sign his contract and other stuff.

They ended up amassing three first rounders--yet ended up losing (at least temporarily) Gary Anderson to the USFL with one of those selections.

[Evan]

Also intriguing was the near-trade for Elway by the Redskins before the 1991 season. The Broncos wanted Jim Lachey, and the Redskins said no. Things turned out pretty well for Washington in 1991 anyway. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc- ... 8de424c2db


If you'd like to expand the topic to other trades or signings for HOF QBs, there were a bunch for Steve Young at the beginning of his career, and Joe Montana at the end of his.

I can offer these nuggets from Vikings lore:

• Winter 1960-61 (exact date uncertain) – The 49ers offer Y.A. Tittle to expansion Vikings in exchange for Minnesota’s first-ever first round draft choice. The Vikings turn down the deal.
  
  April 1964 – The Eagles offer Sonny Jurgensen to the Vikings in exchange for Fran Tarkenton. Norm Van Brocklin turns down the deal, so the Eagles trade Jurgensen to the Redskins for Norm Snead.
  
  July 1979 – The Vikings inquire to the Raiders about Ken Stabler, reportedly offering Bob Lee. Mike Lynn says Al Davis laughed at him.
  
  March 2000 – The Vikings offer 39-year-old Dan Marino a contract. Marino retires instead.

[7DnBrnc53]

Also intriguing was the near-trade for Elway by the Redskins before the 1991 season. The Broncos wanted Jim Lachey, and the Redskins said no. Things turned out pretty well for Washington in 1991 anyway. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc- ... 8de424c2db


If you'd like to expand the topic to other trades or signings for HOF QBs, there were a bunch for Steve Young at the beginning of his career, and Joe Montana at the end of his.

I can offer these nuggets from Vikings lore:

• Winter 1960-61 (exact date uncertain) – The 49ers offer Y.A. Tittle to expansion Vikings in exchange for Minnesota’s first-ever first round draft choice. The Vikings turn down the deal.
  
  April 1964 – The Eagles offer Sonny Jurgensen to the Vikings in exchange for Fran Tarkenton. Norm Van Brocklin turns down the deal, so the Eagles trade Jurgensen to the Redskins for Norm Snead.
  
  July 1979 – The Vikings inquire to the Raiders about Ken Stabler, reportedly offering Bob Lee. Mike Lynn says Al Davis laughed at him.
  
  March 2000 – The Vikings offer 39-year-old Dan Marino a contract. Marino retires instead.

It's not totally surprising that Elway may have been trade bait at that time because that's when him and Reeves were having problems. However, that would have been the biggest mistake in Denver Broncos history.

As for the 1979 Stabler to Vikings potential deal, I never heard of that one. I wonder why the Vikes wanted a declining Stabler when they had a young Tommy Kramer.

Also, speaking of Eagle QB trades, there were two that they tried to make in the mid-90's:

1. In 1994 (according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel), they wanted to move up in the top-5 of the draft to take Dilfer. If that would have happened (the Colts should have traded down with them. They needed a LT, and there were guys like Steussie and Wayne Gandy on the board at 14 where Philly picked), I could see Randall Cunningham being traded the next year.

2. In 1995, they tried to work out a trade with GB to acquire Mark Brunell. However, there was a contract problem. Brunell wanted a shorter deal than Philly offered him. In the midst of negotiations, Jacksonville swooped in and took Brunell from the Eagles, and the rest was history. And just think, not only could the Eagles have had Brunell, but they had WR Jimmy Smith on their roster the year before before letting him go. Those guys could have blossomed with them.

[JuggernautJ]

It's not totally surprising that Elway may have been trade bait at that time because that's when him and Reeves were having problems. However, that would have been the biggest mistake in Denver Broncos history....

You've seen the vertically striped socks, right?

[BD Sullivan]

It's not totally surprising that Elway may have been trade bait at that time because that's when him and Reeves were having problems. However, that would have been the biggest mistake in Denver Broncos history....

You've seen the vertically striped socks, right?

There's also first rounder Tim Tebow.