Denver received Art Hauser and Bill Striegal in the…
Denver received Art Hauser and Bill Striegal in the four-player 1961 exchange. Hauser gave the Broncos one season of substantial playing time, while Striegal's broader impact was limited. The package produced some usable service but no long-term franchise-changing value, leaving Denver close to neutral when compared with what Boston received.
Denver Broncos Received
- player Art Hauser
- player Bill Striegal
New England Patriots Received
- player Alton Romine / Al Romine
- player Don King (a)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1961-04-15, Denver Broncos received Art Hauser; Bill Striegal, while New England Patriots received Alton Romine / Al Romine; Don King (a). This hindsight grade considers only the consideration each club controlled directly after the transaction. When an acquired selection or player later moved again, that later move is treated as provenance rather than as extra compensation. The central question is what practical football value each side ultimately created from the assets in this exchange.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver received Art Hauser and Bill Striegal in the four-player 1961 exchange. Hauser gave the Broncos one season of substantial playing time, while Striegal's broader impact was limited. The package produced some usable service but no long-term franchise-changing value, leaving Denver close to neutral when compared with what Boston received. The return is judged by usable games, starts, role value, or retained draft value that came directly from this exchange.
New England Patriots Return
Boston received Al Romine and Don King. Romine had prior professional experience, while King had just completed a full 1960 season for Denver, but neither became a durable Patriots contributor after the trade. With Denver also receiving only short-lived value, Boston's side settles near neutral and supports an even overall verdict. The same standard applies here, keeping later unrelated transactions separate from the original bargain.
Value in Hindsight
Hauser supplied Denver one season of meaningful playing time, but neither side turned the four-player swap into sustained long-term advantage. Romine and King did not become durable Patriots pieces, and Striegal did not create a large Denver payoff. The evidence supports balance rather than forced separation. Taken together, those outcomes support Even Trade and the stated grade separation. The scale remains proportional to the size of the deal and the certainty of the evidence rather than overstating a minor transaction.
Final Verdict
Denver Broncos receives a C and New England Patriots receives a C. The verdict is Even Trade. This conclusion reflects the direct assets, the football value each club actually realized, and the duration of that value. It does not award extra credit for later unrelated transactions involving an acquired pick or player.