The NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals may have rejected a chance to acquire running back Jim Brown.
On Feb. 4, 1961, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported the Cleveland Browns twice offered to trade Brown to the Cardinals for running back John David Crow, but were turned down.
The Cardinals confirmed the story and the Browns denied it.
In retrospect, the Cardinals should have done the deal if given the chance, but at the time the decision wasn’t so obvious.
First-round picks
The potential blockbuster featured two of pro football’s premier players.
Brown, who played college football at Syracuse, was selected by the Browns in the first round of the 1957 draft and went on to lead the NFL in rushing in eight of his nine seasons.
Crow, the 1957 Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M, was selected by the Chicago Cardinals in the first round of the 1958 draft. He was the first Heisman Trophy winner to play for the Cardinals, who moved to St. Louis after the 1959 season.
Crow had a permanent scowl he “received upon birth when a midwife struggled to remove the 18-inch umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, resulting in nerve damage that prevented him from closing his left eye, even when sleeping,” the Houston Chronicle reported.
Laughing matter
In 1960, Brown, 24, led the NFL in rushing for the fourth consecutive season, gaining 1,257 yards on the ground in 12 games. Crow, 25, had a breakout season for the 1960 Cardinals, with 1,071 yards rushing in 12 games. He also made 25 catches for 464 yards and completed nine of 18 passes for two touchdowns.
Crow led the NFL in yards per carry (5.9) in 1960, edging Brown (5.8).
Two months after Crow completed the 1960 season by rushing for 203 yards on 24 carries against the Steelers, the Globe-Democrat broke the story of the proposed offer for Brown.
According to the Globe-Democrat, the Cardinals “refused” to trade Crow. Paul Brown, head coach and general manager of the Browns, proposed a Crow-for-Brown swap twice in 10 days, the Globe-Democrat reported. The first time was in person to Cardinals managing director Walter Wolfner at the NFL meetings and the second time was by telephone.
When contacted by the Associated Press about the report, Paul Brown replied, “Pardon me while I laugh.”
Paul Brown suggested the Globe-Democrat story was based on “jesting conversations” he had with Wolfner at the NFL meetings.
“We were talking about Crow not starting in the Pro Bowl game,” Paul Brown said. “Walter seemed put out about it and I asked him if he wanted to trade Crow. So he kept the kidding going by bringing up the name of Jim Brown.”
Paul Brown added, “Jim is not up for trade.”
Do or don’t
Walter Wolfner and his wife, Violet, the Cardinals’ majority owner, “still insist Paul Brown offered his great fullback, Jimmy Brown, for Crow, even up,” Bob Broeg reported in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
According to published reports, the Browns could have been shopping Jim Brown because he was unhappy in Cleveland.
Syndicated columnist Murray Olderman of the Newspaper Enterprise Association noted Jim Brown was discouraged by Paul Brown’s “robot system” of offense and was threatening to play out his option after the 1961 season. Jim Brown also failed to show at some public team functions and was challenging authority.
According to Philadelphia Daily News columnist Larry Merchant, Jim Brown “has warned the Browns he intends to play out his option” and “realizes his worth on the open market.”
(Years later, in the 1979 book “PB: The Paul Brown Story,” Paul Brown said, “Before the 1962 season, we were considering trading Jim, but all of us agreed we could never get comparable value for him.”)
Asked his opinion of the Cardinals’ rejection of a proposed deal, Chicago Bears quarterback Bill Wade told the Hagerstown (Md.) Daily Mail, “The Cardinals did the right thing. Brown is a great runner, but Crow is the better all-around player. I would say Crow is the complete football player who does everything well.”
At a sports banquet in Wilmington, Del., several NFL players were asked their reactions to the proposed trade. According to the Wilmington News Journal, the responses included:
_ Chuck Bednarik, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker: “They’re almost equally hard to tackle. Crow can run almost _ and I say almost _ as hard as Brown. He’s a terrific passer and a better blocker. I like Crow more because of his versatility.”
_ Ben Scotti, Washington Redskins defensive back: “Brown undoubtedly is the best ball carrier in the league, but Crow could do more things well. Crow is an excellent runner, better blocker and better pass receiver, and he can pass as well.”
_ Paul Hornung, Green Bay Packers running back: “I don’t believe they’d make such a trade. I think each team is satisfied with what it has.”
_ Nick Pietrosante, Detroit Lions running back: “I wouldn’t trade either. They’re too valuable in their particular type of offenses. Brown is the best runner. Crow is a great all-around player.”
Bad breaks
Crow told the Post-Dispatch he “was flattered” the Cardinals turned down an offer for Brown.
Crow was close to Houston Oilers owner Bud Adams, fueling speculation he might consider playing out his option and joining them, but he told the Post-Dispatch he didn’t want to leave the Cardinals.
“The Wolfners not only have treated me well, but the Cardinals are a great gang and I like St. Louis,” Crow said.
Crow broke his left leg in 1961 and was limited to eight games. He came back strong in 1962, scoring 17 touchdowns for the Cardinals, but underwent right knee surgery in 1963.
In January 1965, Crow, dissatisfied with the amount of playing time he got, asked to be traded, the Post-Dispatch reported. A month later, the Cardinals dealt him to the San Francisco 49ers for defensive back Abe Woodson. Crow played four years with the 49ers. Video highlights of Crow with Cardinals
Jim Brown remained with the Browns and went on to earn induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
RetroSimba 
Reblogged this on THE BIG RED ZONE and commented:
Excellent recount of how the Big Red reportedly turned down an offer of Jim Brown for John David Crow. In hindsight, the Cards should have made this trade, but Crow would have been a Hall of Famer himself if not for injuries in 1961 and 1963.
Thank you very much, Bob. The video clip you posted on Twitter recently was my inspiration for researching and doing this post. The narrator of the clip referenced the Brown-for-Crow offer and I decided to dig around to see whether I could find evidence of it. It was fun to do.
You did a great job. Can’t believe all the quotes you found!
Thank you for showing this. I had always known about Joe Namath choosing the Jets over us, but nothing about the possible trade with Jim Brown. A real shame that Crow’s stint with the Big Red was cut short by injuries. If you do an all time rushing leaders list of Big Red RB’S and keep it to 69 games which is the number of games Crow played with us, only O.J. Anderson has more rushing and all purpose yards. Of course lets keep in mind that when O.J. came on the scene the offences really began to open up. John David Crow also put up some good numbers with the 49’ers. One last thing. As a little kid, my first exposure to the Big Red was an NFL Films clip of John David Crow highlights.
Thanks for doing the homework on the rushing stats based on 69 games played with Cardinals, Phillip. It sure reinforces how effective John David Crow was as a running back.
Great article. Crow was my favorite player from 1965 until he retired with the 49ers. I had no idea he and Jim Brown were almost traded for each other. As flattering as it is to Crow, there is no way he or anyone else of any generation can be compared as a running back to Jim Brown. However, as the other comments note, Crow had all round abilities and power that made him a terrific player in his own right, until he injured his leg, and never was the same runner after. He was, as well, a terrific tight end for the 49ers his last years as I recall.
He was one tough player who played with grit and determination surpassed by few if any.
Thanks for taking the time to make your thoughtful comments.
[…] Crow had become the top all-purpose back in the league and was feared by opponents. Two months after Crow completed the 1960 season, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat broke the story of a proposed trade of Crow to Cleveland for All-Pro running back Jim Brown. However, the Cardinals reportedly rejected the deal. Learn more about the trade proposal here. […]