No Surprises: Rams and Cowboys Finalize Carpenter-Barron Trade

As expected, the st. Louis Rams and Dallas Cowboys finalized their Carpenter-Barron Trade this morning.  There were no surprises.  The trade is a straight-up one-for-one deal with no exchange of draft picks involved.

The trade has been characterized as an exchange of two disappointing 1st round draft picks by both sides.  In this deal, the Cowboys will acquire a reserve swing-tackle and potential starter.  The Rams will acquire a good pass-coverage linebacker who may help them with their poor numbers versus Tight-ends.

The trade has been welcomed by both sets of fans.  Nevertheless, trades always beg the question: Who got the better half of the deal? 

According to Gil LeBreton on the Dallas Star-Telegram, it just might be the Rams.  LeBreton sites the fact that not all first-round busts are created equal.  He is sympathetic to the notion that Carpenter is simply the wrong WLB candidate for a 3-4 defense.  LeBreton is also quite concerned about Barron's 43 false-starts and 13 holding calls in 74 starts.  There is also the question of the 15 sacks he has allowed in the past 32 games.

The Blogging Boys threw up a Sunday Night Poll asking the same question of Dallas Cowboy fans.  With 2,492 votes counted so far a 65% majority claim victory for the Cowoys.  

Only time will tell whether either of these two players contribute to their new teams.