Green Bay received cash for Ben Smith and Johnny Blood…
Green Bay received cash for Ben Smith and Johnny Blood McNally in August 1934. The payment is verified but not quantified in the surviving record, so no specific football return can be attached to it. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, got 10 starts from Smith and additional service from Blood, leaving the Packers with the less measurable side of the transaction in hindsight.
Green Bay Packers Received
- other cash
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Ben Smith
- player Johnny McNally / Johnny Blood
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Pittsburgh acquired Ben Smith and Johnny Blood McNally from Green Bay for cash in August 1934. The cash amount is not preserved well enough to assign a precise value, so the trade is best judged by the documented service Pittsburgh received and the limited information available about Green Bay's financial return.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return
Smith delivered the strongest outcome in the deal. He appeared in 11 games with 10 starts for Pittsburgh in 1934 and caught 14 passes for 218 yards, giving the club legitimate starting and receiving production. Blood's Pittsburgh stint was shorter, but he still appeared in five games with one start before returning to Green Bay the following year. Together, the two players gave Pittsburgh real immediate roster value rather than merely offseason depth.
Green Bay Packers Return
Green Bay received cash. The payment was a valid return, but the amount is not established in the surviving record and there is no downstream player or draft asset that can be traced from it. The Packers therefore deserve credit for monetizing two players, but not for any specific football result that cannot be documented.
Value in Hindsight
The realized value favors Pittsburgh. Smith supplied 10 starts and meaningful offensive production, while Blood added additional game appearances. Green Bay's cash may have had practical value in 1934, but because it cannot be quantified, it does not match the documented playing service on Pittsburgh's side.
Final Verdict
Pittsburgh Steelers Win. Pittsburgh earns a B+ for obtaining a near-full season of starting value from Smith plus supplementary service from Blood. Green Bay earns a C because the Packers received legitimate cash consideration, but its amount and downstream football impact remain unknown.