Atlanta acquired Charley Scales from Cleveland for the 1967…

The Exchange

Atlanta acquired running back Charley Scales from Cleveland in August 1966, sending back a 1967 fourth-round pick that became Carl Ward at No. 83. The draft-pick ledger dates the transaction August 24, while a separate Browns chronology says August 23. The player and pick trail, however, point to the same exchange.

Atlanta Falcons Return

Atlanta acquired Charley Scales from Cleveland for the 1967 fourth-round pick that became Carl Ward. Scales gave the Falcons only a short-term backfield option, while Ward appeared in 28 games for Cleveland across 1967 and 1968. Neither side found a major starter, but the Browns extracted the longer and more durable return, giving Cleveland the slight hindsight edge.

Cleveland Browns Return

Cleveland sent Charley Scales to Atlanta and received the 1967 fourth-round choice later used on Carl Ward. Ward played 28 games over two Browns seasons, while Scales supplied only a brief Falcons stay. The difference is modest rather than dramatic, but Cleveland turned the trade into more sustained roster service and receives the higher grade.

Value in Hindsight

This is a useful example of why draft position alone should not determine a historical grade. Cleveland did not land a star with the fourth-rounder, and Ward's lack of starts limits the upside of the deal. Still, he stayed on the roster and contributed across two seasons, giving the Browns a longer runway of value than Atlanta received from Scales. The adjacent-day disagreement in historical accounts is too small to alter the substance of the exchange. Once the actual post-trade careers are compared, Cleveland owns a narrow but defensible advantage without turning a minor deal into something larger than it was.

Final Verdict

Cleveland earns the slight win. A C+ fits Ward's two seasons of useful depth, while Atlanta's C- reflects a short-lived return from Scales. The Browns did not hit big, but they extracted more total roster value from the exchange.