Indianapolis acquired linebacker Tim Golden from New England…
Indianapolis acquired linebacker Tim Golden from New England on August 2, 1985 for a conditional 1986 tenth-round pick. Golden did not appear in a Colts regular-season game and was waived before the season, after which Philadelphia claimed him. The conditional pick was not exercised, leaving both franchises with no realized regular-season or draft value from the exchange.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Tim Golden
New England Patriots Received
- pick 1986 conditional tenth-round pick (not exercised)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
New England traded linebacker Tim Golden to Indianapolis on August 2, 1985. ProSportsTransactions records the compensation as a conditional 1986 tenth-round pick and specifically notes that the selection was not exercised. Contemporary transaction reporting described the return more generally as future considerations, while Patriots historical material confirms New England expected a 1986 draft asset.
Indianapolis Return
Golden had spent three seasons as a Patriots reserve and special-teams contributor, appearing in 40 regular-season games from 1982 through 1984. The Colts did not receive comparable value. By August 22, Philadelphia had claimed Golden off waivers from Indianapolis, and NFL career records contain no Colts regular-season appearance. His only 1985 regular-season action came later with the Eagles, where he played two games.
New England Return
The Patriots side is unusually clear for a conditional-pick deal. The transaction ledger identifies a conditional 1986 tenth-round choice and marks it not exercised. That means New England did not receive a usable draft selection from the transaction. Patriots historical material lists an undisclosed 1986 pick as the intended compensation, which is consistent with a condition that ultimately failed to vest.
Why the Old Colts Win Is Wrong
The legacy B/C+ Indianapolis-win grade credits the Colts merely for acquiring Golden, even though he never played a regular-season game for them. New England likewise received no exercised pick. Hindsight grading should evaluate realized franchise value, and the realized value is zero on both sides.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Both teams receive C- grades because the exchange produced no regular-season value for Indianapolis and no exercised draft asset for New England. The deal is well documented enough for high confidence, but there is no basis for declaring either side the winner.