Cleveland and Indianapolis pulled off of one the most surprising trades in NFL history when the Browns shipped Trent Richardson -- the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft -- to the Colts for a 2014 first-rounder last month.
Trust played a large role in the negotiations, according to Silver, as this was a targeted strike by a Colts team in need of a running back. Banner and Grigson felt very comfortable working with each other, however, having worked together in Philadelphia.
The two executives exchanged long emails back and forth, but Banner went to sleep the night before the trade thinking nothing was going to happen, per Silver.
"The next day, Grigson said, 'I'll give you the (first-rounder) and nothing more,' " Silver said on NFL Network. "(Grigson) got out of the facility, drove to the parking lot of his favorite restaurant near his house, finished the deal, walked inside to the bar area, had a celebratory meal, and heard fans yelling, 'Roll tide!' "
