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The Worst Trade For Every NFL Team In History

By Erik Lambert

31 Dec 1995: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers avoid pressure during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won the game 37-20. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
31 Dec 1995: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers avoid pressure during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won the game 37-20. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport /
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Cleveland Browns

player. 53. . WR. Cleveland Browns. Paul Warfield . 8

When you give out a star player for a high draft pick, everybody knows the situation. You better get that draft pick right or you’ll be hounded about it forever more. The Cleveland Browns learned this the hard way in 1970. The previous two years, wide receiver Paul Warfield had been one of their best players, going to two Pro Bowls and scoring 22 touchdowns.

There was a problem though. The team desperately needed a quarterback. Bill Nelsen had been solid the previous two years but a lot of that was thanks to Warfield. They felt they could do better. Unfortunately, they might have to sacrifice Warfield to get it. That’s what happened when they sent the 28-year old to Miami in exchange for #3 overall pick Mike Phipps.

Phipps had been a star in college at Purdue. As a senior, he scored 31 touchdowns in 10 games. There was just one tiny issue. He was a bad passer. He threw 37 TDs to 34 interceptions in college. Cleveland clearly hadn’t done their homework on that when they gave up Warfield for him. The receiver joined the Dolphins, reached five more Pro Bowls, won two Super Bowls and ended up in the Hall of Fame.

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