Redskins 01.28.71—The Over the Hill Gang is born

George Allen came in saying that the Future is Now and within a few weeks the Washington Redskins found out that it wasn’t just a slogan. He pulled off what still is one of the biggest trades in NFL history with a lot of draft picks going to the Rams and a lot of older players coming to the Redskins.

Here is the account from the pages of The Redskins Chronicle.

Big Deal: Redskins, Rams Swap Players, Picks

Jan 28—George Allen dialed up his old team, the Los Angeles Rams, and negotiated the biggest trade in NFL history.

In all, 15 players and draft picks changed hands between the Rams and the Redskins. In the history of the NFL, there has never been a bigger trade involving two teams.

To the Rams went linebacker Marlin McKeever, first and third round picks in 1971 and third-, fourth-, fifth-, sixth- and, seventh-rounders in 1972. In exchange, the Redskins got linebackers Maxie Baughn, Jack Pardee and Myron Pottios, running back and special teams ace Jeff Jordan, guard John Wilbur, defensive tackle Diron Talbert and a fifth-round pick in 1971.

The fifth-round choice that came to the Redskins didn’t stay in Washington for long. Allen immediately dispatched it to Green Bay for the rights to tight end Boyd Dowler. The former Packer tight end had already come to the Redskins as an assistant coach, but Allen wanted to be able to activate Dowler should the Skins need him.

“This is great, terrific for the Redskins,” Allen said. “We’ve upgraded our defense at least twenty-five percent. It’s worth at least two victories. Our goal is now nine or ten wins.”

Some agreed with Allen, while others were skeptical. Talbert, Allen maintained, was his number one pick, but at age 27 with four years and 44 NFL games on his body, he was hardly the spry youngster that one might get with the tenth overall selection. Linebackers Baughn, Pottios and Pardee were all looking at age 30 in the rear view mirror.

You can find out more about Allen’s tenure with the Redskins in my book The Redskins Chronicle: A Journey Through the History of the Washington Redskins 1937-2008. Get the story of every game and other nuggets of Redskins history by checking it out at www.RedskinsChronicle.com.