Lindon Crow, Rams SS 1961-1964
By Joe Torosian
On this day in Rams history Lindon Crow was born in 1933. Crow, a cornerback, was taken in the second round (#14 overall) by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1955 draft of USC.
He spent three years with the Cardinals, and three with the New York Giants. Made three Pro Bowls and played in two NFL title games for the Giants. Including the 1958 “Greatest Game Ever” against the Colts.
Traded to the Rams in 1961 as part of a three team deal with the Giants and Bears. The Bears received quarterback Billy Wade from the Rams.
The Rams got Crow, a player to be named later (QB Zeke Bratkowski)…and the Giants first round pick in 1962.
In the pre-Super Bowl/Common Draft era draft information can be less than perfect. The Rams did receive a number one pick but there’s no clarity if it was #2 overall or #3 overall.
Either way the Rams had both the second and third picks of the 1962 NFL Draft.
Who did they take?
#2 Roman Gabriel
#3 Merlin Olsen
(Thank you, Linden Crow!)
Crow played four solid years as a strong safety with the Rams and retired after the 1964 season with 38 career interceptions (12 with the Rams & Td) and two pick-sixes..
Crow, later became a high school coach, passed away in 2018 at the age of 85.
***
Tom Dempsey
On this date in 2020, former Rams kicker Tom Dempsey died at the age of 73.
On April 22, 1975 the Rams sent a fourth round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Dempsey. He kicked two seasons with the Rams.
But that fourth round pick was traded by the Eagles to the Green Bay Packers. The Packers then traded that fourth round pick to the Houston Oilers along with John Hadl, Ken Ellis, and a third round pick that turned into fullback Tim Wilson for quarterback Lynn Dickey in April of 1976.
The Oilers took a wide receiver with that fourth round pick (#117 overall), but he flamed out in camp and they waived him before eventually traded him to Seattle for an 8th round pick.
The receiver?
Hall of Famer, Steve Largent.
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