New Orleans acquired veteran safety Joe Scarpati and the 1971…
New Orleans acquired veteran safety Joe Scarpati and the 1971 tenth-round selection used on Rocky Pamplin for Norman Davis and Bo Burris. Scarpati immediately started 11 games for the Saints in 1970 and intercepted a pass, giving New Orleans useful short-term value from the veteran. Pamplin did not add meaningful NFL production, but Scarpati’s starting role gives the Saints the better realized return.
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Joe Scarpati
- pick 1971 tenth round pick (#239-Rocky Pamplin)
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Norman Davis
- player James “Bo” Burris
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On May 4, 1970, Philadelphia sent veteran defensive back Joe Scarpati and a 1971 tenth-round draft choice to New Orleans. The Saints used that selection, No. 239 overall, on Rocky Pamplin. The Eagles received Norman Davis and Bo Burris. Historical draft records identify the pick and both veteran players, allowing the exchange to be judged on what each club actually obtained after the deal.
What New Orleans Got
Scarpati supplied the clearest immediate value. He had been a regular starter in Philadelphia and stepped into New Orleans' secondary for the 1970 season. NFL records show him appearing in all 14 games, starting 11, and recording an interception. That is meaningful production from a veteran acquired in a low-cost exchange. Pamplin did not become an NFL contributor, so the Saints' advantage rests mainly on Scarpati rather than on the late draft choice.
What Philadelphia Got
Davis and Burris did not create the same level of return for the Eagles. Davis appeared during the era but did not become a comparable Philadelphia starter, while Burris did not establish a significant regular-season role with the club. Philadelphia therefore exchanged a veteran who still had starting utility, plus a late selection, for a package that produced little durable value. The move was not disastrous because the draft capital was modest, but the results were limited.
Final Verdict
New Orleans wins this trade because Scarpati delivered a full season of useful starting work immediately after the transaction. The tenth-round pick added little, yet the veteran contribution alone exceeds what Philadelphia received from Davis and Burris. A B for the Saints reflects a solid practical gain without overstating a one-season payoff. Philadelphia receives a C: the cost was manageable, but the incoming return never matched Scarpati's 1970 contribution.