Arizona Cardinals received Rick DiBernardo from Tampa Bay…
Arizona Cardinals received Rick DiBernardo from Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sending 1987 twelfth round pick (#313-Mike Shula) the other way. Louis with a full 1986 season, while Shula did not produce NFL playing value, making the Cardinals' side modestly better in hindsight. That outcome supports a B- grade for Arizona Cardinals, and the overall verdict is Arizona Cardinals Win.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Rick DiBernardo
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- pick 1987 twelfth round pick (#313-Mike Shula)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1986-08-18, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers completed a deal in which Arizona Cardinals received Rick DiBernardo, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers received 1987 twelfth round pick (#313-Mike Shula). The comparison centers on what each original club actually obtained from the exchange. Later moves matter only when they identify the value attached to an asset that changed hands.
Arizona Cardinals Return
Arizona Cardinals received Rick DiBernardo from Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sending 1987 twelfth round pick (#313-Mike Shula) the other way. Louis with a full 1986 season, while Shula did not produce NFL playing value, making the Cardinals' side modestly better in hindsight. That outcome supports a B- grade for Arizona Cardinals, and the overall verdict is Arizona Cardinals Win.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Return
Tampa Bay Buccaneers received 1987 twelfth round pick (#313-Mike Shula) from Arizona Cardinals, sending Rick DiBernardo the other way. Louis with a full 1986 season, while Shula did not produce NFL playing value, making the Cardinals' side modestly better in hindsight. That outcome supports a C grade for Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the overall verdict is Arizona Cardinals Win.
Value in Hindsight
NFL transaction records and Tampa Bay's historical media guide agree that Rick DiBernardo was sent to the Cardinals on August 18, 1986 for Tampa Bay's 1987 twelfth-round choice, which became No. 313 Mike Shula. DiBernardo supplied Arizona/St. Louis with a full 1986 season, while Shula did not produce NFL playing value, making the Cardinals' side modestly better in hindsight. If a draft choice was moved again, the later trail can explain what the original consideration became, but unrelated success after another transaction is not credited twice. Where one historical detail remains uncertain, the evaluation uses the strongest supported description instead of filling the gap with speculation.
Final Verdict
The final call is Arizona Cardinals Win. Arizona Cardinals receives B-, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers receives C. Arizona Cardinals gets the edge because its direct return produced the stronger supported value for the original club. The grades remain proportional to the size and certainty of the exchange, rewarding real value while keeping a measured distinction between a clear edge and an overwhelming win.