after the 1963 season, the team fell apart. partly due to trades but also due to poor drafting. sherman traded away key players on the team's defense — such as huff and defensive tackle dick modzelewski — which was their strongest unit, and wellington mara, who came in the 1960s with a reputation as a shrewd judge of talent, exited the decade carrying a sub-par one according to a writer for "new york" magazine. modzelewski went on to make the pro bowl in cleveland in 1964, while huff did the same in washington. first round draft choices such as running backs joe don looney, tucker frederickson, and rocky thompson were disappointments. frederickson was selected as the first overall draft choice in 1965 (over hall of famers dick butkus and gale sayers), but never rushed for more than 659 yards in a season during his injury-shortened career. this period in team history is often referred to as "the wilderness years".