On June 8, 1966, while the main focus of pro football followers was on the announcement of the AFL-NFL merger, the Philadelphia Eagles parted ways with Pro Bowl CB Irv Cross, who was sent to the Los Angeles Rams for DB Aaron Martin and HB/flanker Willie Brown.
It was the second trade by the Eagles to the Rams of a disgruntled
defensive Pro Bowler during the turbulent offseason as discontent rose against
Head Coach/GM Joe Kuharich. LB Maxie Baughan’s demand to be sent elsewhere was
accommodated several weeks earlier. The 26-year-old Cross had been with the
Eagles for five seasons, but threatened to quit unless traded.
Drafted by the Eagles in the seventh round out of
Northwestern in 1961, Cross was thrust into the starting lineup when star CB
Tom Brookshier suffered a broken leg in the eighth game. He intercepted two
passes, recovered two fumbles, and suffered three concussions during the
season. Cross remained in the starting
lineup in 1962 and showed improvement as he intercepted five passes. By 1964,
he was chosen to the Pro Bowl for the first of two consecutive seasons and was
noted for his tackling ability as well as coverage skills. Thus far with the
Eagles, he had intercepted 15 passes, one of which he returned for a 94-yard
touchdown. He also was Philadelphia’s primary kick returner in ’65, running
back 25 kickoffs for a 26.5-yard average and 14 punts at a 5.6-yard rate.
As for the players the Eagles received for Cross, Willie
Brown was 24 and a third-year player who was drafted by the Rams in the third
round in 1964 out of USC. He had primarily been used to return kicks and, as a
halfback, rushed for 133 yards on 44 carries in ‘65. The Eagles had hopes of
using him as a flanker. Aaron Martin, also 24, went undrafted out of North
Carolina College and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 1964, who tried him on
offense, but was released during the preseason after which the Rams picked him
up. He started the ’65 season at cornerback and intercepted two passes before
suffering a broken left arm in the fourth game that sidelined him for the
remainder of the year.
The Rams, coming off of a 4-10 record (their seventh
straight losing season) had a new head coach in the defense-minded George
Allen, formerly an assistant under George Halas with the Bears (who did not let
him go without a court battle). Allen inherited an excellent defensive line but
the remainder of the unit needed bolstering. The addition of Baughan at outside
linebacker was a plus and it was hoped that Cross could help in a defensive
backfield that had one star in FS Ed Meador and inexperienced players at the
other positions.
Cross proved to be a good fit at right cornerback for the
Rams, who improved to 8-6 in their first year under Coach Allen. He paired up
well with young CB Clancy Williams on the other side and, while he intercepted
only one pass, he returned it 60 yards for a touchdown, and continued to
impress with his tackling.
Cross was with Los Angeles for three seasons, and with
the outstanding defense leading the way, the Rams went 11-1-2 in 1967, reaching
the postseason for the first time since 1955, and 10-3-1 in ’68. He intercepted
a total of six passes and was also used to return kicks, averaging 7.5 yards
running back 29 punts and 30.1 yards on 16 kickoff returns.
Cross was traded back to the Eagles in 1969 in the deal
that brought All-Pro OT Bob Brown to LA. He was a player/coach in his final
season, and after retiring as a player was an assistant coach in 1970 before
moving to the broadcast booth. He became a fixture on "The NFL Today" on
CBS from 1975 to ’89.
As for the Eagles, the result of the transaction was
disappointing. Willie Brown lasted one year with the club, catching no passes
and returning a handful of kicks with mediocre results. Aaron Martin spent two seasons
with Philadelphia, intercepted two passes and returned a punt for a touchdown, but
was nothing special in the defensive backfield.
