The courts ruled in favor of the National Football League Players Association and a new form of free agency was briefly instituted in 1975. After playing out his contract, he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams, but then commissioner Pete Rozelle mandated the team to send the Lions their number one draft choice (#8-Dennis Lick) along with Cullen Bryant as compensation. Bryant filed for a temporary restraining order from the courts and would never play for the Lions. The Lions eventually traded the Rams first round draft choice to the Chicago Bears, in exchange for their first (#10-James Hunter) and third round pick (#68-Russ Bolinger).