Philadelphia acquired linebacker Dick Absher from New Orleans…
Philadelphia acquired linebacker Dick Absher from New Orleans on September 15, 1972 for the 1975 fourth-round choice later used on John Starkebaum at No. 92. Absher played eight games for the Eagles and recorded an interception. Starkebaum suffered a major knee injury in his first Saints training camp and never played an NFL regular-season game, giving Philadelphia the slight hindsight advantage.
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1975 fourth round pick (#92-John Starkebaum)
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Dick Absher
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
New Orleans sent linebacker Dick Absher to Philadelphia on September 15, 1972 and received a future fourth-round draft choice. Saints draft history identifies that selection as No. 92 in 1975, John Starkebaum. The older row listed Absher twice under different versions of his name; those entries describe one player and should be consolidated.
What Philadelphia Received
Absher gave the Eagles immediate, if limited, value. NFL records show him appearing in eight games for Philadelphia during the 1972 season and recording one interception. He was not a long-term building block, but the Eagles did receive regular-season snaps and defensive production from the veteran they acquired.
What New Orleans Received
The Saints secured a future fourth-round choice, which was a reasonable return for a veteran they were prepared to move. Unfortunately, the eventual pick did not produce regular-season value. Starkebaum suffered torn knee ligaments only days into his first Saints training camp in 1975. Team history notes that the injury required surgery and ended his season, and his professional record shows no NFL regular-season appearances before his release.
Final Verdict
Philadelphia gets the narrow edge because its acquired player actually contributed in regular-season games, while New Orleans’ draft conversion never reached the field. The Saints still deserve credit for obtaining a fourth-round asset, so this is not a harsh loss. C+ for Philadelphia and C for New Orleans reflect a modest Eagles win driven by realized value rather than the theoretical value of the pick at the time of the trade.