Minnesota acquired veteran nose tackle Jerry Ball from…
Minnesota acquired veteran nose tackle Jerry Ball from Cleveland on September 29, 1999, sending defensive lineman Stalin Colinet and a 2000 seventh-round pick. Ball started 10 of 13 games for the Vikings and helped a playoff team before retiring after the season. Cleveland received the younger Colinet, who started nine games immediately and 16 more in 2000, giving the expansion Browns useful multi-season value as well.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player Stalin Colinet
- pick 2000 7th round pick (232nd overall; subsequently traded, Jeff Harris selected after the trade)
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Jerry Ball
Trade Analysis
Why Minnesota Wanted Jerry Ball
The Vikings were a contender and needed veteran interior help after the 1999 season began. Jerry Ball brought extensive starting experience and had already spent the previous two years in Minnesota. The trade returned him to a familiar defense at the cost of younger lineman Stalin Colinet and a 2000 seventh-round choice. For Minnesota, the goal was immediate reliability rather than long-range roster development.
What Ball Gave the Vikings
Ball appeared in 13 games after the trade and started 10, recording two sacks in his final NFL season. Minnesota finished 10-6, won a wild-card game and advanced to the divisional round. Ball’s contribution was therefore concentrated exactly where the Vikings wanted it: a veteran starter during a playoff push. He retired after 1999, so the club received no future seasons from the acquisition.
How Cleveland Built Longer-Term Value
Cleveland was an expansion team with a different timeline. Colinet was 10 years younger than Ball and immediately became a starter, opening nine games for the Browns in 1999 and all 16 in 2000. He remained with Cleveland into 2001 and later returned to Minnesota. The Browns also received a seventh-round choice that was subsequently traded. That combination gave Cleveland more runway than keeping an aging Ball.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Minnesota earns a B- because Ball delivered the short-term starting value a playoff team needed. Cleveland also receives a B- because Colinet gave the Browns multiple seasons of useful defensive-line snaps plus additional draft capital. The clubs were solving different problems, and both obtained a return that fit their competitive timeline.