St. Louis acquired Marlin Briscoe and Hubie Ginn from Miami,…
St. Louis acquired Marlin Briscoe and Hubie Ginn from Miami, while the Dolphins received Donny Anderson plus separate compensation tied to tight end Jim McFarland. The principal pieces produced little for their new clubs: Briscoe was moved again before the season, and Anderson retired in August without playing for Miami. The limited realized value makes this effectively even.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Marlin Briscoe
- player Hubert Ginn / Hubie Ginn
Miami Dolphins Received
- player Donny Anderson
- other compensation related to TE Jim McFarland
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Miami’s historical transaction records list a May 6, 1975 deal sending Marlin Briscoe and Hubie Ginn to St. Louis for Donny Anderson plus compensation connected to tight end Jim McFarland. That additional compensation is restored to the Dolphins’ side of the package because it appears in multiple Dolphins historical guides. The exact form of that compensation is left unspecified rather than guessed.
What St. Louis Received
Briscoe was a notable veteran receiver, but the Cardinals did not retain his value. Transaction history shows St. Louis moved him to San Diego in August, before he played a regular-season game for the Cardinals. Ginn’s 1975 regular-season statistics are recorded with Miami, indicating that he did not become a lasting St. Louis contributor from this exchange either. The headline return therefore failed to settle into the Cardinals’ lineup.
What Miami Received
Anderson had been a productive NFL back and punter, but his Dolphins tenure ended before it began. He announced his retirement in August 1975 and never played a regular-season game for Miami. The separate McFarland-related compensation gives the Dolphins an additional asset, but surviving team histories do not provide enough detail here to assign it a larger outcome without speculation.
Why the Trade Stayed Flat
Both clubs acquired recognizable names, yet the direct football value evaporated quickly. St. Louis moved Briscoe again and did not receive sustained Ginn production, while Anderson retired before taking a regular-season snap for Miami. The unspecified additional compensation prevents a harsher Miami grade but does not create a clear winner.
Final Verdict
Both teams receive C- grades. The package is historically notable, but the principal exchanged players produced little direct value for their new clubs. With no durable centerpiece on either side, the result is an even trade.