Los Angeles/Cleveland/St. Louis Rams received Bob Brown and…
Los Angeles/Cleveland/St. Louis Rams received Bob Brown and Jim Nettles; Brown was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in both 1969 and 1970 for Los Angeles, while Nettles supplied 55 games, 35 starts and 16 interceptions from 1969-72. The team earns a A-, compared with C+ for Philadelphia Eagles, and the hindsight verdict is Los Angeles/Cleveland/St. Louis Rams Win. That judgment reflects the concrete team-specific production, role and tenure created by the assets in this deal.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Bob Brown
- player Jim Nettles
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Joe Carollo
- player Don Chuy
- player Irv Cross
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Los Angeles sent Joe Carollo, Don Chuy and Irv Cross to Philadelphia in 1969 and received tackle Bob Brown and defensive back Jim Nettles. Unlike a trade that turns on an unresolved pick, every major asset here has a traceable NFL outcome. Philadelphia acquired three players who immediately entered its lineup; the Rams acquired an elite tackle at his peak and a defensive back who became a multi-year starter and ball producer.
Los Angeles Rams Return
Brown was the centerpiece and justified the Rams' side almost by himself. He started all 14 games in both 1969 and 1970, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors in each season. The Pro Football Hall of Fame credits him with two All-Pro/Pro Bowl seasons in Los Angeles. Nettles added longevity: from 1969 through 1972 he played 55 games, started 35 and intercepted 16 passes, including five in 1971 and six in 1972.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Philadelphia did not receive empty names. Carollo started all 14 games in 1969 and all 14 again in 1970 at tackle. Chuy played eight games with seven starts at guard in 1969 before his career ended. Cross returned to Philadelphia for one final season and started all 14 games in 1969, intercepting one pass and recovering a fumble. That is substantial immediate lineup value from all three acquired players, which supports the C+ rather than a failing grade.
Value in Hindsight
The difference is quality plus duration. Philadelphia accumulated 49 starts from the three incoming veterans, but two of the three were gone after 1969 and Carollo after 1970. Los Angeles got two first-team All-Pro seasons from Brown and four years of Nettles, with Nettles becoming a 14-game starter in both 1971 and 1972. The Rams' return combined elite peak value with a longer secondary payoff; Philadelphia's was useful but shorter-lived.
Final Verdict
The A- for the Rams, C+ for Philadelphia and Rams-win verdict remain appropriate. Brown's back-to-back first-team All-Pro/Pro Bowl seasons are the highest-value outcome in the deal, and Nettles' 55 games, 35 starts and 16 interceptions make the return deeper than a one-player win. Philadelphia received real starters, but not a comparable peak or sustained payoff.