Rams Swing Deal with Packers

June 2, 1965 - The pro football team doing the most trading this year has been the Los Angeles Rams. They have acquired Jack Snow, the all-America rookie end from Notre Dame; Dan Currie, a former all-pro linebacker; Tommy McDonald, a former all-pro flanker; Ed Holler, a linebacker who also can punt; and Joe Krupa, a long-time regular defensive tackle.

For Snow, the Rams gave Red Phillips, an end who had lost his status as a regular, and Gar Larsen, a reserve lineman, to the Minnesota Vikings. For Currie, the Green Bay Packers got Carroll Dale (pictured), a flanker.

For McDonald, the Dallas Cowboys obtained the Rams’ excess kicker, Danny Villanueva. For Krupa, the Pittsburgh Steelers received an 18th draft choice from Villanova, Tom Smith, and for Holler, also of Pittsburgh, the Rams sent a seasoned excess center, Art Hunter.

Daniel Reeves, the Rams’ president who had much to do with the trades, is turning back praise for the moves.

“I hate to trade for principals,” he said today at the Hotel Plaza where the NFL owners are holding a business meeting.

Why?“It’s a question of values,” said Reeves. “You know exactly what you’re giving away, but you don’t know what you’re getting in return. For example, Vince Lombardi knows a great deal more about Dan Currie than we do.

“Every trade is a gamble. Sometimes a trade may open a new horizon for a player. He wants to show up his old team or a former coach who was down on him. So, he does better. But you can never count on this happening.”McDonald, the little guy who does not take so well to coaching, might be an example. If he finds a new horizon and begins to run the pass patterns the way the coaches designed them, the Rams would be way ahead.

The Rams, in 1961, made a famous trade that sent Del Shofner to the Giants for a first round draft choice. “We got burned on that one,” said Reeves. “But no one remembers the first draft pick became our quarterback, Roman Gabriel.”

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