Dallas and New England initially announced a larger 1971 deal…
Dallas and New England initially announced a larger 1971 deal involving Duane Thomas, Carl Garrett and a Patriots first-round pick, but that structure did not stand. The final transaction left Thomas in Dallas and Garrett in New England. The Patriots kept Halvor Hagen and Honor Jackson, while Dallas received New England's 1972 second- and third-round choices, used on Robert Newhouse and Mike Keller.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- pick 1972 second round pick (#35-Robert Newhouse)
- pick 1972 third round pick (#64-Mike Keller)
New England Patriots Received
- player Halvor Hagen
- player Honor Jackson
Trade Analysis
The Original Deal Changed
Dallas initially agreed to send Duane Thomas, Halvor Hagen and Honor Jackson to New England for Carl Garrett and a Patriots first-round pick. The arrangement quickly unraveled. NFL accounts of Thomas' career note that the commissioner voided the Thomas portion of the move, and New England's own media guide records the completed transaction differently from the original announcement.
The Final Exchange
The Patriots' historical transaction list says New England acquired Halvor Hagen and Honor Jackson from Dallas for its second- and third-round choices in the 1972 draft, explicitly noting that the deal originally included Duane Thomas and Carl Garrett. That is the cleanest description of what survived. Thomas remained with Dallas for the 1971 season, while Garrett stayed with New England.
What Dallas Did With the Picks
The two New England selections became No. 35 Robert Newhouse and No. 64 Mike Keller. Newhouse developed into a long-term contributor for the Cowboys and spent his entire NFL career in Dallas, including years on the club's 1970s championship contenders. Keller had a shorter playing career, but the lasting value of Newhouse alone gave Dallas meaningful return for two players who were not central pieces of its next championship run.
Final Verdict
Dallas earns the win on the completed transaction, not on the larger package that was partially voided. The Cowboys received two useful draft choices and turned the higher one into a durable contributor, while New England received Hagen and Jackson. An A- for Dallas and a C for New England reflects the realized outcome while keeping Thomas, Garrett and the Patriots' first-round pick out of a transaction they did not ultimately complete.