Wonky Merger/Realignment stuff

[Bryan]

Inter-league/Inter-conference trading period - after the merger was agreed to in 1966, was there a specific time period where AFL and NFL teams could trade with each other? In a 1970 preview, it says "Inter conference trading initially took place last year from January 19 to March 2. Hereafter, the inter-conference trading period will run from the day after the final postseason game to April 15th." When did the NFL do away with limiting inter conference trades?

Inter-conference games - "Within a five team division, each team plays three interconference games. Denver, under the realignment agreement, gets to play four inter-conference games."
Why was Denver an exception? Also, has anyone seen the actual 'realignment agreement'?

Waiver rules - "When a team places a player on waivers, the twelve other teams in that conference have first priority toward claiming him."
When did the NFL get rid of 'conference priority' in dealing with waivers?

[65 toss power trap]

Not sure if this poses more questions than it answers. From the Bylaws:

"Commencing in 1970 a club in a four-team division in each conference shall play home and home with each club in its own division and five (5) games with clubs in the other divisions of its conference, and three (3) games each year with clubs of the other conference; despite the foregoing, the Denver club, for a period of five (5) years commencing in 1970, will play four (4) games with clubs in the other conference. If the Denver club should move from a four-team division to a five-team division within such five-year period, it shall thereafter play three (3) games with clubs of the other conference each year."

[65 toss power trap]

It appears that Denver negotiated that extra interconference game (because there were still uneven divisions) to default to them, and the NFC was determined by another method.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

Lombardi and Stram pulled off a trade in the early 1960s -- sort of. This is before the Dallas Texans moved to Kansas City.

Paul Hornung had just been called into military service and Lombardi needed a kicker. He and Stram worked out a deal for Ben Agajanian to go to Green Bay. In exchange, the Texans received a taxi-squad player named Val Keckin. I think it worked that both players were waived and the other team signed them. Although, if I remember right, I think it hit a snag and Kecklin didn't want to play in the AFL and wouldn't report. Obviously, none of this was reported to the league offices, although you have to wonder if Lamar Hunt must have known about it.

Here you'll note a season where Agajanian has stats for both the Packers and the Texans:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... ajBe20.htm

[ChrisBabcock]

I see that Agajanian played in both the AAFC and the AFL. Did any other player pull off this feat?

[RichardBak]

I see that Agajanian played in both the AAFC and the AFL. Did any other player pull off this feat?

Hardy Brown's the only other guy to play in AAFC, NFL, and AFL.

[conace21]

I see that Agajanian played in both the AAFC and the AFL. Did any other player pull off this feat?

Hardy Brown's the only other guy to play in AAFC, NFL, and AFL.

Hardy also played briefly in the CFL.

Chris- Agajanian played in Los Angeles in all three leagues. Pretty impressive considering the Chargers were only in LA for one season.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

That is pretty amazing to have played in all three leagues -- one must have had a long career to do that.

[single wing]

Might add Paul Brown to the mix as he is the only one to be a Head Coach in the AAFC, NFL, and AFL

[rhickok1109]

Might add Paul Brown to the mix as he is the only one to be a Head Coach in the AAFC, NFL, and AFL

And he was also a head coach on the high school and college levels.