Cleveland acquired Leon Clarke from Los Angeles on August 17,…
Cleveland acquired Leon Clarke from Los Angeles on August 17, 1960. Clarke gave the Browns 33 games over three seasons, catching 32 passes for 501 yards and six touchdowns. The Rams received Bob Long, who played 22 games across 1960 and 1961 and intercepted two passes. Both sides received usable veterans, but Clarke supplied the stronger sustained return.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player Leon Clarke
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Bob Long (Wendell)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Contemporary reporting and Bob Long's transaction ledger place this player-for-player trade on August 17, 1960. Cleveland sent Long to Los Angeles for end Leon Clarke. That date aligns the transaction with both the newspaper account and Long's career chronology.
Cleveland Browns Return
Cleveland received three seasons of useful offensive production from Clarke. NFL records show nine games, 11 catches, 184 yards and four touchdowns in 1960; 13 games, 11 catches, 211 yards and two touchdowns in 1961; and 11 games with 10 catches for 106 yards in 1962. In total, that is 33 Browns games, 32 receptions, 501 yards and six touchdowns. The volume was modest, but six scores and three seasons of service support a B-.
Los Angeles Rams Return
The Rams received Long, a veteran defender who played nine games in 1960 and 13 in 1961. Pro Football Archives records an interception in each of those seasons, while other historical stat lines show him serving in a part-time starting role. He did not remain beyond 1961. That is real two-season value, but less sustained impact than Clarke provided Cleveland, fitting a C+.
Value in Hindsight
This was not a lopsided exchange. Both clubs received players who contributed immediately, and neither return became a long-term cornerstone. Clarke's extra season, six touchdowns and 501 receiving yards create a measurable advantage, while Long's two years of defensive work keep the Rams from grading poorly.
Final Verdict
Cleveland Browns Win, narrowly. Cleveland earns B- for three seasons and six touchdowns from Clarke; Los Angeles earns C+ for two seasons from Long. The supported transaction date is August 17, 1960, consistent with the contemporary reporting and Long's transaction ledger.