Miami completed a long-running Bo Rather compensation chain…
Miami completed a long-running Bo Rather compensation chain on draft day in 1977, sending Chicago the fourth-round pick at No. 110 and returning the fifth-round pick at No. 126 for Chicago's third-rounder at No. 71. Miami used No. 71 on Mike Watson, who never appeared in an NFL regular-season game, while Chicago immediately used No. 110 in the Mike Phipps trade.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1977 fourth round pick (#110) [later traded with 1978 first round pick (#20-Elvis Peacock) to Cleveland Browns for Mike Phipps]
- pick 1977 fifth round pick (#126, later used by Oakland on Lester Hayes)
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 1977 third round pick (#71-Mike Watson)
Trade Analysis
Why the Records Looked Inconsistent
Miami's later media guides describe pick No. 71 as coming from Chicago for Bo Rather, while transaction records also show a May 2, 1977 Bears-Dolphins swap involving picks No. 71, No. 110 and No. 126. Those accounts describe different stages of the same compensation chain rather than two unrelated acquisitions of the same third-round pick.
The Bo Rather Chain
Miami traded receiver Bo Rather to Chicago in September 1974 for a 1976 fifth-round choice. By 1976, Chicago no longer controlled the needed fifth-rounder, so the clubs reworked the obligation. Miami accepted a 1977 fifth-round choice and a swap of 1976 fourth-round positions. Miami's 1979 media guide later summarized that process by saying the original fifth-round return was eventually upgraded to a 1977 third-round pick.
What Happened on Draft Day
On May 2, 1977, Chicago sent pick No. 71 to Miami and received pick No. 110 plus the return of pick No. 126. Miami used No. 71 on tackle Mike Watson, who did not appear in an NFL regular-season game. Chicago used No. 110 one day later, packaging it with a 1978 first-round pick to acquire quarterback Mike Phipps from Cleveland. Pick No. 126 ultimately belonged to Oakland, which selected Lester Hayes, because Chicago already owed that choice in the Nemiah Wilson transaction.
Final Verdict
Chicago gets the better grade. Miami finally converted the Rather obligation into a third-round selection, but Watson supplied no regular-season value. Chicago recovered useful capital and turned No. 110 into part of a quarterback acquisition; Phipps later started 20 games for the Bears and helped them reach the 1979 playoffs. The May 2 exchange is therefore a real draft-day transaction that completed the older Rather chain, not a duplicate entry.