Atlanta acquired veteran halfback Charley Scales from…
Atlanta acquired veteran halfback Charley Scales from Cleveland on August 24, 1966 for its 1967 fourth-round pick. Scales appeared in five games for the expansion Falcons, rushing 10 times for 38 yards, catching three passes for 16 yards and returning five kickoffs for 101 yards.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- player Charley Scales
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1967 fourth-round pick (No. 83; Carl Ward)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Cleveland's official draft history and the 1967 draft-transaction ledger resolve the legacy placeholder cleanly. On August 24, 1966, the Browns sent running back Charley Scales to Atlanta for the Falcons' 1967 fourth-round choice. That pick became No. 83, and Cleveland selected Michigan defensive back Carl Ward. The old row's duplicate “undisclosed consideration” assets are unsupported and are removed.
Atlanta's Return
Scales gave the first-year Falcons some veteran depth but only a short stay. Pro Football Reference credits him with five games in Atlanta in 1966, 10 carries for 38 yards, three receptions for 16 yards and five kickoff returns for 101 yards. He did not play another NFL season after 1966. Atlanta therefore received measurable but limited one-season value.
Cleveland's Return
Ward became a useful two-year Browns contributor. He played all 14 games in both 1967 and 1968, intercepted one pass as a rookie, returned 35 kickoffs for 782 yards across the two seasons and scored on a 104-yard kickoff return in 1967. He later finished his NFL career with New Orleans in 1969. For a fourth-round selection, Cleveland received substantially more sustained roster and special-teams value than Atlanta received from Scales.
Final Verdict
Cleveland Browns Win. Cleveland earns a B because the acquired fourth-round pick became a two-season contributor with defensive and return value, including a kickoff-return touchdown. Atlanta earns a C because Scales did contribute during the expansion season but appeared in only five games and produced modest offensive volume before his NFL career ended.