Mike Brown (American football player)
From Sports Library
| Mike Brown | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | February 13 1978 (age 30) |
| Place of birth | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Position(s) | Strong safety |
| College | Nebraska |
| NFL Draft | 2000 / Round 2 / Pick 40 |
| Pro Bowls | 2006 |
| Stats | |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 2000-present | Chicago Bears |
Mike Brown (born February 13, 1978 in Scottsdale, Arizona) is an American football safety for the Chicago Bears of the NFL. He was originally selected with the eighth pick of the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft out of the University of Nebraska. Mike is known for his aggressiveness on the field of play, and emotional approach to the game of football. Recently Brown has established himself as a definitive leader for the Bears, both on and off the football field.
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High school career
Mike Brown graduated from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1996, where he starred in both football and baseball.
In football he was an All-State choice and ranked the top defensive back prospect in the country by SuperPrep, and named Arizona Player-of-the-Year by every major publication. Mike Brown was named the state's top RB (running back) and DB (defensive back) by The Arizona Republic , which was the first time in 10 years a player received both awards. Mike rushed for 2,036 yards (9.6 avg.) and 31 touchdowns as a senior.
In baseball he played center field and was an All-State choice as a senior, after batting .426, and posting 27 stolen bases.[1]
College career
Brown enjoyed a stellar college career and is still considered by many fans and experts of Nebraska football to be the greatest strong safety in the modern history of the school. Brown played cornerback as a freshman before playing both safety positions in final three seasons. As a junior, he set Nebraska single-season record for tackles by a defensive back with a career-high 102 and was named to all-Big Twelve first-team. Brown enjoyed his greatest season as senior in which he was first-team all-America selection by Associated Press and Football Writers Association and a unanimous all-Big Twelve first-team pick and academic all-American. He started ever game and finished the year leading the Huskers with 96 tackles while adding two sacks, one fumble recovery, six forced fumbles and five interceptions, five passes defended.
Professional career
The Chicago Bears drafted Brown as 39th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. Brown was the only rookie to play in the 2000 season’s opener, eventually becoming the team’s starting free safety for all sixteen games of the season.[1] He recorded the second most tackles on the team that year and one interception that was returned for a touchdown.[2] He received accolades from Pro Football Weekly, Football News and Football Digest , but lost the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award to teammate Brian Urlacher.[1] The following year, he had two memorable performances, during which he returned two interceptions for two consecutive overtime wins.[3]The 2001 Bears finished the season with a 13-3 record and one of the league’s most prominent defenses. Brown recorded a team leading five interceptions that year. However, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the team in the postseason’s second round.
Brown recorded three interceptions and 111 tackles in 2002, despite sustaining a hand injury during the off season. One of his most notable performances came when he returned a fumble for a 68-yard touchdown, following a fumble and lateral pass from Rosevelt Colvin.[1] In addition to the return he had forced three fumbles that season.[2] However, Brown only intercepted two passes during the 2003 season, and tied for third among tackles on the team.[1]
After sustaining an Achilles injury after 12 games in 2005, the Bears defense was noticeably less effective. Brown tried to play in a January 2006 Divisional Playoff game for the Bears against the Carolina Panthers, but had to leave the game in the first quarter. The Panthers would go on to win the game, 29-21. During week six of the 2006 Chicago Bears season, Brown was suffered a Lisfranc fracture. The ailment forced him to undergo surgery, and sent him to Bears' injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
Mike Brown is also noted by teammates and coaches for his on-field coaching ability. He made the NFL transitions much easier for his fellow safeties Chris Harris and Danieal Manning by making sure they were in the correct positions. Brian Urlacher often referred to him as the actual leader of the defense.[4] Brown returned to the field during the 2007 season's mini-camp, making a recovery much earlier than expected.[5] Brown started the Bears 2007 season at San Diego playing well with an interception and a fumble recovery. Brown left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury, believed to be career threatening.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Chicagobears.com, Roster – 30 – Mike Brown Retrieved on April 12, 2007.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 NFL.com, Mike Brown – Defensive Stats Retrieved on April 12, 2007.
- ↑ Bearshistory.com, 2001 Chicago Bears Retrieved on April 12, 2007
- ↑ "Without Brown, foes find the holes", Chicago Tribune, November 17, 2006
- ↑ Yahoo! Sports, NFC team reports: Camp work intensifies, Retrieved on May 29, 2007
