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Never Too Big To Be Traded

Associated Press file photo

The squabble between Denver coach Josh McDaniels and Pro Bowler Jay Cutler proves nobody is above the trading block.

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 23, 2009

Professional football players have coined a phrase to describe their league:

NFL = Not For Long.

It's a phrase that Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler is ignoring.

Most players understand no matter how good or popular they are, nobody is above being traded. The same athletes also know it is only a matter of time before their NFL careers come to an abrupt end.

Cutler has whined about Denver's recent trade attempt that would have shipped him to Tampa Bay and made Matt Cassel the Broncos' starting quarterback. Cutler has pouted more noticeably than Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb, who despite leading his team to five NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl, seemingly is rumored to be traded or released every year.

Although Cutler remains offended, here are five other players who learned firsthand during their primes what the NFL really stands for:

Eric Dickerson

(traded from Rams to Colts, 1987)

Dickerson was one of the NFL's best running backs during his five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, rushing for 1,808 yards and 18 TDs as a rookie and gaining more than 1,000 yards during his first four years with the team. After playing three games in a strike-shortened season, Dickerson was traded to the Indianapolis Colts on Halloween. He had an outstanding career with Indianapolis and is in the Hall of Fame.

Herschel Walker

(Vikings to Cowboys, 1989)

Walker established himself as one of the USFL's best running backs before joining Dallas in 1986. After rushing for 1,514 yards and five TDs in 1988, Dallas pulled off the biggest trade in NFL history. Eighteen players and picks were involved in the transaction for Walker as Dallas reestablished its dynasty during the 1990s. Walker had three good seasons in Minnesota, rushed for over 1,000 yards for Philadelphia in 1992, and finished his career with Dallas in 1997.

Jeff George

(Colts to Falcons, 1994)

George was the first overall pick by Indianapolis in 1990 and rewarded with the richest contract in NFL history. The Colts shipped him to Atlanta for first- and third-round picks in the 1994 draft. George led Atlanta to a playoff appearance in 1995, its first since 1991, and guided Minnesota to the playoffs in 1999.

Warren Moon

(Oilers to Vikings, 1994)

Moon is one of the most prolific passers in NFL history, but that was not enough to prevent Houston from trading him to Minnesota. In his first season with the Vikings, he passed for 4,264 yards and led his team to the playoffs, and in Year 2, he passed for 4,228 yards. Moon racked up nearly 50,000 passing yards in 17 NFL seasons and is in the Hall of Fame.

Fran Tarkenton

(Vikings to Giants, 1967)

Tarkenton was Minnesota's starting quarterback from 1961 to 1966 before being traded to New York for two first-round picks and two second-round picks. After passing for more than 2,500 yards for five seasons with the Giants, Tarkenton was traded back to Minnesota in 1972. In Tarkenton's final seven years with the Vikings (1972-78), he led Minnesota to six NFC Central Division titles and three Super Bowl appearances.

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