Post by TheShadow on Apr 10, 2009 8:45:28 GMT -5
blogs.pressdemocrat.com/
by Robert Rubino
When NFL teams swap quarterbacks, it's always intriguing, often controversial. This offseason it was the Broncos-Bears trade, Jay Cutler going to Chicago and Kyle Orton going to Denver. Some 42 years ago, the hot QB trade was Tom Flores for Daryle Lamonica.
Following the 1966 season, the Raiders and Buffalo Bills pulled the trigger and swapped quarterbacks.
In Flores, the Bills got an original AFL starting quarterback, someone who could compete for the starting job with Jack Kemp. In Lamonica, the Raiders were getting a five-year backup.
The Raiders took the Bills to the cleaners on that deal. Flores was largely ineffective during his spotty playing time in 1967 and '68. In 1969, he was third string QB for the Chiefs, but did get a Super Bowl ring.
Flores became a key assistant coach with the Raiders and then a head coach who won two Super Bowls for the Silver and Black.
Lamonica, of course, blossomed as a starter for the Raiders. Soon dubbed "The Mad Bomber," Lamonica led the Raiders to a 13-1 record and a Super Bowl berth, leading the league with 30 touchdown passes. In games he started during his first three seasons with Oakland, the Raiders were a combined record of 36-4-1. In 1969,
