Raise your hand if you remember this trade

[Hawkeye0202]

and some say we drafted Zeke too high........

 

[darthseinfeld]

and some say we drafted Zeke too high........

Even when elite HB's were coveted, this was excessive

 

[DogFace]

Mike Ditka was confident in general and in that trade. Or he was happy to get the rest of the day off.

 

[Motorola]

Even when elite HB's were coveted, this was excessive

So was that "wedding photo"

 

[John813]

I forgot the background on that trade. Were the Commodes wanting to draft Ricky unless the Saints overpaid?
Rams had Marshall Faulk at the time

 

[CWR]

and some say we drafted Zeke too high........

Yup and I remember Ditka dressing as the groom and Ricky the bride for SI. That whole situation was terrible for Williams and his social anxiety. Remember he rarely interviewed without a helmet on. Fortunately I thought he'd excell in Miami and snagged both him and Jamal Lewis on my fantasy squad.

 

[America's Cowboy]

and some say we drafted Zeke too high........

One of the greatest/worst draft trades ever, but not greater/worst than the trade between the Cowboys and Vikings back in Octer 12, 1989 labeled The Great Train Robbery. The Herschel Walker trade, also known as "The Great Train Robbery", was the largest player trade in the history of the National Football League.[1] It involved 18 players and draft picks.[2]

The trade
Minnesota Vikings received

• RB Herschel Walker
• Dallas's 3rd round pick - 1990 (54) (Mike Jones)
• San Diego's 5th round pick - 1990 (116) (Reggie Thornton)
• Dallas's 10th round pick - 1990 (249) (Pat Newman)
• Dallas's 3rd round pick - 1991 (68) (Jake Reed)

Dallas Cowboys received

• LB Jesse Solomon
• LB David Howard
• CB Issiac Holt
• RB Darrin Nelson (traded to San Diego after he refused to report to Dallas)
• DE Alex Stewart
• Minnesota's 1st round pick in 1990 (21) (traded this pick along with pick (81) for pick (17) from Pittsburgh to draft Emmitt Smith)
• Minnesota's 2nd round pick in 1990 (47) (Alexander Wright)
• Minnesota's 6th round pick in 1990 (158) (traded to New Orleans, who drafted James Williams)
• Minnesota's 1st round pick in 1991 (conditional) - (12) (Alvin Harper)
• Minnesota's 2nd round pick in 1991 (conditional) - (38) (Dixon Edwards)
• Minnesota's 2nd round pick in 1992 (conditional) - (37) (Darren Woodson)
• Minnesota's 3rd round pick in 1992 (conditional) - (71) (traded to New England, who drafted Kevin Turner)
• Minnesota's 1st round pick in 1993 (conditional) - (13) (traded to Philadelphia Eagles, and then to the Houston Oilers, who drafted Brad Hopkins)[1]

Aftermath and legacy
Dallas ended up with a total of six of Minnesota's picks over the succeeding years, two 1st round and one 2nd round picks were used to draft Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson, winning multiple Super Bowls and being voted on to go to the Pro Bowl numerous times also. Jimmy Johnson used the other draft picks to make trades with other teams around the NFL. One of the trades led to obtaining the first overall draft pick in 1991, which was used to draft Russell Maryland. In other words, the trade of Herschel Walker to the Vikings contributed largely to the Cowboys' success in the early 1990s.

https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Herschel_Walker_trade

 

[Flamma]

Even when elite HB's were coveted, this was excessive

Would it have been excessive for a Walter Peyton, Emmitt Smith type talent? I don't think so. But Ditka is obviously not the great negotiator. There was no reason to give away the entire draft. No one cares about your picks 4 and beyond. But if you're going to offer them, they'll take 'em. He's certainly no Jimmy Johnson.

 

[Motorola]

and some say we drafted Zeke too high........

The beginning of Ricky Williams' star-crossed NFL career.
First two years the RB underwhelmed due to injuries. He missed the last 6 games of the 2000 season, and the Saints' first ever playoff victory.
Ditka was fired at the end of Williams' rookie year.
Williams best season with Saints was his third -- and LAST - season in New Orleans.
After 2001, he was traded to the Dolphins for 4 draft picks - 2 of them 1st rounders.

 

[CWR]

Would it have been excessive for a Walter Peyton, Emmitt Smith type talent? I don't think so. But Ditka is obviously not the great negotiator. There was no reason to give away the entire draft. No one cares about your picks 4 and beyond. But if you're going to offer them, they'll take 'em. He's certainly no Jimmy Johnson.

Right, and you have to play the odds. There are only about half a dozen RBs in NFL history that merit consideration for that deal, AND that is saying you get them with enough tread left on the tires.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

and some say we drafted Zeke too high........

Luuuulz.

Yikes.

Mike Dikta.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Right, and you have to play the odds. There are only about half a dozen RBs in NFL history that merit consideration for that deal, AND that is saying you get them with enough tread left on the tires.

I'm going to name two and this is obviously based on what you saw from their college career...........Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker. Agree? or who are your two?

 

[Bigdog]

They wanted David Putmey just because they feel like it. They live in a different world then they did 30 seconds ago.

 

[Hardline]

I'm going to name two and this is obviously based on what you saw from their college career...........Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker. Agree? or who are your two?

Eric Dickerson
Adrian Peterson

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Eric Dickerson
Adrian Peterson

Thought about Dickerson but the fact he shared his backfield with Craig James, I'm not sure I saw enough to know he was going to as dominant as he was.
I simply forgot AP........

 

[MonsterD]

I remember the bar I was working at the time, I looked up at the TV and was so confused when I saw it happen.

 

[CWR]

I'm going to name two and this is obviously based on what you saw from their college career...........Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker. Agree? or who are your two?

Oh I meant established backs; Jim Brown, Walter, Emmitt, Barry are locks. Then I'd have to ponder

Dickerson
AP
Tomlinson
Faulk.....

Those are off the top of my head. I was thinking established because someone brought up the Walker trade.

 

[CWR]

Thought about Dickerson but the fact he shared his backfield with Craig James, I'm not sure I saw enough to know he was going to as dominant as he was.
I simply forgot AP........

I remember Reggie Bush had a ton of hype and I laughed at the Texans when they passed on him and Vince Young for Mario Williams. In hindsight I'm a moron, which is why I rarely laugh at anyone's picks. I also couldn't believe the Bengals took Chase when the franchise tackle was on the board. Once again, wrong.

 

[kskboys]

The beginning of Ricky Williams' star-crossed NFL career.
First two years the RB underwhelmed due to injuries. He missed the last 6 games of the 2000 season, and the Saints' first ever playoff victory.
Ditka was fired at the end of Williams' rookie year.
Williams best season with Saints was his third -- and LAST - season in New Orleans.
After 2001, he was traded to the Dolphins for 4 draft picks - 2 of them 1st rounders.

And ended up w/ over 10,000 yds rushing!!!!!!!!

 

[kskboys]

I remember Reggie Bush had a ton of hype and I laughed at the Texans when they passed on him and Vince Young for Mario Williams. In hindsight I'm a moron, which is why I rarely laugh at anyone's picks. I also couldn't believe the Bengals took Chase when the franchise tackle was on the board. Once again, wrong.

There are a few players that are good enough that you simply take in the draft no matter what. One of the very few times that actual BPA should be used. Parsons, for example.