Los Angeles Rams received Rich Buzin / Dick Buzin from New…
Los Angeles Rams received Rich Buzin / Dick Buzin from New York Giants in the 1971-08-12 trade. Los Angeles acquired Rich Buzin, who appeared in five games for the Rams in 1971 without a start. New York Giants's return was Joe Taffoni. New York acquired Joe Taffoni. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Rich Buzin / Dick Buzin
New York Giants Received
- player Joe Taffoni
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1971-08-12, Los Angeles Rams received Rich Buzin / Dick Buzin, while New York Giants received Joe Taffoni. Hindsight turns on what those assets actually produced for the acquiring clubs, not on the abstract value of a player name or draft slot.
Los Angeles Rams Return
Los Angeles acquired Rich Buzin, who appeared in five games for the Rams in 1971 without a start. That result is the basis for Los Angeles Rams's C+ grade. Production created for another franchise is not credited back to Los Angeles Rams, and a pick later moved again is valued through the transaction Los Angeles Rams actually made with it. The goal is to isolate the football value that stayed with the acquiring team.
New York Giants Return
New York acquired Joe Taffoni. After sitting out 1971, he played 14 games for the Giants in 1972 and nine more in 1973, providing the longer realized roster return. That supports New York Giants's C+ grade. A condition that never triggered, a player who never appeared, or a pick sent elsewhere is treated differently from a contributor who actually played for New York Giants. The grade follows the realized outcome rather than the nominal size of the asset.
Value in Hindsight
The comparison is therefore specific to this exchange. Los Angeles Rams's result came from Rich Buzin / Dick Buzin; New York Giants's came from Joe Taffoni. The chain stops when an asset leaves the club, unless the club received another identifiable asset in that downstream move. That prevents the evaluation from assigning a later player's career to the wrong franchise.
Final Verdict
The supported grades are Los Angeles Rams C+ and New York Giants C+, producing Even Trade. The key evidence is concrete: Los Angeles acquired Rich Buzin, who appeared in five games for the Rams in 1971 without a start. New York acquired Joe Taffoni. Those results explain the grades without relying on generic trade-value language.