[3] Ninowski was selected as offensive captain of the North team for the Christmas Day North-South Shrine Game played in Miami's Orange Bowl.

Paul Brown chose Plum as the starter and Ninowski saw spot duty as the backup in the 1958 and 1959 seasons, starting just one game, a 1958 midseason loss to the Lions.

Long chose not to report to Cleveland and was subsequently sent to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for offensive end Leon Clarke.

The game, played for 10 seasons, pitted the second-place teams from the League's Eastern and Western Divisions for third place in the NFL.

[9] The Browns re-acquired Ninowski in a March 29, 1962, blockbuster six-player trade that sent Cleveland starting quarterback Milt Plum, offensive halfback Tom Watkins and linebacker/center Dave Lloyd to Detroit.

In addition to Ninowski, Cleveland received defensive end Bill Glass and former Ohio State star and 1955 Heisman Trophy winner Howard "Hopalong" Cassady.

[10] The trade was controversial in that Plum, a two-time Pro Bowler while leading the NFL in pass completion percentage in from 1959 through 1961, was publicly critical of Paul Brown's coaching style that was based upon calling offensive plays from the sidelines.

[11] Ninowski was quoted as saying he did not wish to return to the Browns, publicly citing business interests he had developed in Detroit and indicated that he was considering retirement from football and/or not reporting to Cleveland.

[11] But three months after the trade, Ninowski, citing the fact that he hadn't heard from Paul Brown since their meeting, said he was still undecided about playing in Cleveland.

Ninowski led the Browns to a 4–3 record in 1962 before his season ended when he suffered a dislocated shoulder and fractured clavicle while attempting to pass in an October 28 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[18] On June 20, 1969, Ninowski was traded to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for defensive end Dave Long and a fifth round 1970 draft choice.

He claimed that this was the result of a secret settlement after Ninowski threatened an antitrust suit in 1967 against the NFL and former American Football League (AFL).

The article reported that his attorney, Jerry E. Dempsey, claimed Ninowski had negotiated with the AFL's Oakland Raiders while still a member of the Cleveland Browns.