Brandon Browner is a New England Patriot

lambeau

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Browner started and made Pro Bowl in the best and deepest secondary of the last 40 years. I'd say he was let go due to the cap, the suspension, and the younger, cheaper replacement.
But did his performance no longer cut it in the most elite secondary? While it's true Byron Maxwell came on strong after Browner pulled his groin, surprising everybody, he didn't outdo him:
Browner: 20/38 Rec % 52.6% ave 12.0 Yds   Maxwell 23/45 Rec % 51.1% ave 11.9 yds   Browner YAC 23 yards total ave 1.15 yds Maxwell 40 yds total ave 1.75 yds
So I don't consider Browner an aging castoff--Maxwell is just 5 years younger, and a lot cheaper.
 

wibi

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southshoresoxfan said:
The seadderalls. Sherman got off on a braun like technicality...browner...i mean jesus just look at that team. Felt like there was 13 guys on the field at all times. I want that here. Adderall for all
 
The New Adderal Patriots?
 

DJnVa

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I love the play in that highlight video against the Panthers (about 3:25 in) where they're running the option and he's on Newton, reads the pitch and basically gets to the running back just after the ball does, and strips the ball from his hands.
 
Wow, 5:15 in, the WR screen against the Rams. Damn.
 
Good lord this team should be fun to watch on both sides of the ball.
 
 

PaulinMyrBch

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He's going to be fun to watch, mainly because they won't be throwing to Revis. He's going to have a ton of chances to make plays.
 

DJnVa

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ragnarok725 said:
 
. He's the perfect compliment to Revis, same way he was a great compliment to Sherman in Seattle.
 

It's even better than that. In Seattle, Sherman played a side and didn't chase the #1 guy around. Revis will take the #1 guy and Browner pretty much won't ever have to worry about him, whereas in Seattle teams may go away from Sherman and he'd see top guys. He won't get that much now.
 

Super Nomario

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lambeau said:
Browner started and made Pro Bowl in the best and deepest secondary of the last 40 years. I'd say he was let go due to the cap, the suspension, and the younger, cheaper replacement.
But did his performance no longer cut it in the most elite secondary? While it's true Byron Maxwell came on strong after Browner pulled his groin, surprising everybody, he didn't outdo him:
Browner: 20/38 Rec % 52.6% ave 12.0 Yds   Maxwell 23/45 Rec % 51.1% ave 11.9 yds   Browner YAC 23 yards total ave 1.15 yds Maxwell 40 yds total ave 1.75 yds
So I don't consider Browner an aging castoff--Maxwell is just 5 years younger, and a lot cheaper.
I think the question is: are these guys really that good, or is the combination of scheme, a great pass rush, and the best safety tandem in the league making them look that good? The Seahawks didn't play a CB last year who was drafted higher than the fourth round and had far-and-away the best pass D in the league. Are Carroll and Schneider just so much better at identifying DB talent than anyone else, or is the surrounding talent and scheme making these guys look better than they are? Obviously it's some combination, but it's hard to know how much. Browner is sort of like the DB version of Edelman - sure, Edelman put up huge numbers, but he had Brady throwing to him in a friendly scheme. How good is he really?
 

CoffeeNerdness

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From Reiss regarding the safety question:
 
 
 
Answering the safety question. Some have asked if Browner might be a candidate to play safety, where the Patriots might be looking for reinforcements. The thought from here is that would eliminate one of his best assets -- the ability to get his hands on receivers at the line of scrimmage and disrupt the rhythm of the passing game with physical play. 
 
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4760245/rapid-reaction-on-browner-signing
 
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Things I noticed in that video:

Benefited a LOT from tremendous push up front. Several gift-wrapped INTs.

That aside, creates his own plays with what looks to be a tremendously instinctive quality.

Obviously a big, legitimately violent player.

Nose for the ball, hungers for it.

Just looks massive in the secondary.

Laid out Welker so badly that I don't doubt a small -- tiny -- part of Belichick got an extra kick out of signing him. There's no way the coach version of BB -- we have to specify now -- doesn't remember that play. (And relish it a bit.)

Swagger and "attitude" tend to be a bit fan-boy overrated by dorks like me on a message board, but it has to have some effect on his teammates. Cox-ish but a DB.

Where's the South Park splooge-fest pic with Rodney's face photo-shopped in? Anyone follow #37 on twitter or hear his reaction to the signing?
 

Cabin Mirror

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Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt said:
Things I noticed in that video:

Benefited a LOT from tremendous push up front. Several gift-wrapped INTs.

That aside, creates his own plays with what looks to be a tremendously instinctive quality.

Obviously a big, legitimately violent player.

Nose for the ball, hungers for it.

Just looks massive in the secondary.

Laid out Welker so badly that I don't doubt a small -- tiny -- part of Belichick got an extra kick out of signing him. There's no way the coach version of BB -- we have to specify now -- doesn't remember that play. (And relish it a bit.)

Swagger and "attitude" tend to be a bit fan-boy overrated by dorks like me on a message board, but it has to have some effect on his teammates. Cox-ish but a DB.

Where's the South Park splooge-fest pic with Rodney's face photo-shopped in? Anyone follow #37 on twitter or hear his reaction to the signing?
Definitely benefitted a lot from pressure. Some of those throws he picks are just horrible decisions, better to take a sack kind of plays.


That said, I like his chances better than smaller dbs like Dennard and Ryan making those plays because of his length.


I think it demonstrates the need for more pass rush. Do they have enough for some impact edge or interior help? I think they will be good with what they have, but man, if they can add pressure, they could be lights out.
 

rodderick

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Cabin Mirror said:
Definitely benefitted a lot from pressure. Some of those throws he picks are just horrible decisions, better to take a sack kind of plays.


That said, I like his chances better than smaller dbs like Dennard and Ryan making those plays because of his length.


I think it demonstrates the need for more pass rush. Do they have enough for some impact edge or interior help? I think they will be good with what they have, but man, if they can add pressure, they could be lights out.
 
Something to keep in mind: it's quite possible he had a number of better plays than those gift interceptions, but putting an incompletion that was forced by good coverage in a highligh reel doesn't have the same impact as a pick does. 
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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CoffeeNerdness said:
 
If he doesn't think the Patriots will move him around the field, he's fucking high.
 
Obviously he has great strength and ability to beat up on receivers, but the Patriots are extremely thin at SS right now, but have fantastic depth with Ryan/Dennard behind Browner. BB will use these pieces in the best scheme for a game, and that will mean Browner on a TE and playing SS on occasion.
 

MainerInExile

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Kenny F'ing Powers said:
 
If he doesn't think the Patriots will move him around the field, he's fucking high.
 
Obviously he has great strength and ability to beat up on receivers, but the Patriots are extremely thin at SS right now, but have fantastic depth with Ryan/Dennard behind Browner. BB will use these pieces in the best scheme for a game, and that will mean Browner on a TE and playing SS on occasion.
Yeah.  I can see him lined up over a TE a lot.  I can see him close to the line "spying" a pass-catching RB.  And I can see him lined up against a #2 receiver if he's big.  Dennard can play a good man against shrimpy #2s.  This is really going to be a secondary built to play man across the board.
 

mascho

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And if you are built to play man, you are built to blitz.

So there is your Plan B if they can't/don't focus on the pass rush during the rest of free agency and/or in the draft.
 

The_Powa_of_Seiji_Ozawa

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MyDaughterLovesTomGordon said:
I'm sure every NFLer looks awesome in their highlight reel, but Browner looks pretty damn good in his. 
 
That hit on Welker is devastating. 
 
Watching Welker get crushed by Browner is much more satisfying now than when it happened.
 

MainerInExile

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Another thing to keep in mind is that occasionally the Pats played a base defense with 3 cb and 1 safety last year. We could see a lot more of that.
 

mascho

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MainerInExile said:
Another thing to keep in mind is that occasionally the Pats played a base defense with 3 cb and 1 safety last year. We could see a lot more of that.
That is why Browner is a great signing. You can rotate from 3 CB/1 S to 2 CB/2 S on the fly, without substituting. So if you run into a no-huddle team (say, Denver) you have on-the-field flexibility.
 

veritas

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mascho said:
That is why Browner is a great signing. You can rotate from 3 CB/1 S to 2 CB/2 S on the fly, without substituting. So if you run into a no-huddle team (say, Denver) you have on-the-field flexibility.
 
If Browner is playing safety, the Patriots would have Revis and Denard/Ryan at CB, and two Pro-Bowl CBs at safety. There could be a few interesting coverages they could run out of that personnel package...  :fap:
 

Super Nomario

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Kyed doing some scouting of Browner on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/DougKyedNESN
 
Doug Kyed ‏@DougKyedNESN  6h
I'm impressed how Browner keeps with WRs down the sideline. Keeps a hand on them to slow them down. Struggles a bit changing direction.
 
Doug Kyed ‏@DougKyedNESN  6h
I think Browner will be just fine with McCourty over the top/middle. And DMC will be able to help because of Revis.
 
Doug Kyed ‏@DougKyedNESN  5h
I think there's a reason Browner is 6-foot-4, 221 pounds and not playing safety.
 
Doug Kyed ‏@DougKyedNESN  5h
When he does cover the middle, sometimes he'll mask deficiencies with holding and mauling dudes. But he doesn't get called, so who cares?
 
Doug Kyed ‏@DougKyedNESN  5h
I think he's at his best when he's tracking down the sidelines. Slows down WRs with his hands. Worst when asked to play zone. Gets lost.
 
Kyed is bearish on Browner as a safety conversion - he didn't really do it in Seattle, and he is better in man coverage than in zone. Based on what he's seen, he think he's better used as a press-man corner, with the understanding he's going to struggle with some of the change-of-direction types and might need safety help deep.
 

H78

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RoyHobbs said:
 
Awesome to see him...but that video is as content-free as a rice cake.
Yeah I'll summarize:

-He's happy to be here.
-He's excited to play for Coach Belichick
-He's excited to be part of a winning organization.
 

axx

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Ed Hillel said:
 
I'm going to choose to believe there is no Revis announcement yet because both sides are trying to work it into a longer deal. Ok?
 
My thought was that the League is holding it up because they don't like the contract language. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Now if Monday passes with no announcement...
 

Ed Hillel

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Oh, I'm not concerned that the deal isn't going to happen. I'm just choosing to think awesome things.
 

DaughtersofDougMirabelli

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A few reasons this signing excites me.
 
1. They're not a Revis/Dennard injury from Arrington playing significant outside snaps.
2. They have the ability to try a base package of possibly the best pass defense in the league (4 CBs/former CBs on the field at once).
3. Our secondary has lacked toughness the past few years. I think Browner brings a mental toughness that may match his on field toughness. If this unit needs to make a stop I think they (or more importantly we) will be confident they can make a stop. 
4. As most people in the thread have mentioned, with Talib gone we needed a big CB. Great matchup against big WRs and TEs. 
 

soxhop411

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Ed Hillel said:
 
I'm going to choose to believe there is no Revis announcement yet because both sides are trying to work it into a longer deal. Ok?
wonder if holding off on the announcement  is cap related...
 

MyDaughterLovesTomGordon

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Is it right that none of Browner's money is guaranteed?
 
That's what they've got here
 
Also, do people have a good salary cap tracker site? This Sportrac isn't bad with the UI, but I don't know if I can trust it. 
 
If it's right, then the Pats had $11m this year, before Edelman and Browner were figured in. Wilfork's 11.6 just can't happen. 
 

Cellar-Door

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MyDaughterLovesTomGordon said:
Is it right that none of Browner's money is guaranteed?
 
That's what they've got here
 
Also, do people have a good salary cap tracker site? This Sportrac isn't bad with the UI, but I don't know if I can trust it. 
 
If it's right, then the Pats had $11m this year, before Edelman and Browner were figured in. Wilfork's 11.6 just can't happen. 
This guy has long been the best place for Patriots cap stuff"
http://patscap.com/
He has them at 11M free space with Revis but without Edelman and Browner
NFL PA has the official numbers at just under 17M
https://nflplayers.com/reports/public-salary-cap.htm
The official number doesn't include Revis, Edelman or Browner which likely accounts for the difference.
They need to re-structure or cut Wilfork. However my guess is he caves and restructures down to a 5M or so cap hit in exchange for another year, can't imagine he'd get better if a FA, with his age and injury.
 

Super Nomario

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Cellar-Door said:
They need to re-structure or cut Wilfork. However my guess is he caves and restructures down to a 5M or so cap hit in exchange for another year, can't imagine he'd get better if a FA, with his age and injury.
I'll be shocked if it goes that low. His cap number is $3.5 MM if he does nothing,
 

dcmissle

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Chad Finn --

You are right to be excited about this guy, and correct to assert that Chung and Meriweather do not count as "heavy hitters". Undisciplined and sloppy, yes. Formidable forces in the secondary. No.
 

MyDaughterLovesTomGordon

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Browner is twice the player either of those clowns were/are. What's clear is that he's got a head on his shoulders and takes chances for a reason. 
 
Meriweather just didn't give a shit. Chung tried to make "big-hitter" part of his resumé and never quite got the hang of it. 
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Per PatsPropaganda, a much better in-depth interview with Browner from May last year:
 
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybD6s-XYV34[/youtube]
 

Otis Foster

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BB was very emotional over his signing. Interesting dude: His friend quotes Frederick Douglass.
 
Edit: Tried to clean up messy Twitter/tweets.
 
https://twitter.com/bbrowner27
 



  1. Michael Robinson ‏@RealMikeRob  Mar 14
    Literally in tears over the homie @bbrowner27 getting signed! There can be no progress w/o struggle. -F. Douglass. #Baller #respe

     

     





  2. Brandon Browner ‏@bbrowner27  Mar 14
    @RealMikeRob I told u I cried like a big ol baby. Still doesn't feel real to me
     
     




  3.  Retweeted by Brandon Browner


    Michael Bennett @mosesbread72  Mar 14
    @bbrowner27 @RealMikeRob man god is good bro

     Hide conversation
     
      


 

Ed Hillel

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One thing to keep in mind that, depending on guarantees, this is the first big money contract he'll have ever signed. With the path he's taken, I'm sure he rightly feels quite a sense of accomplishment.
 
Just saw two posts up.
 
Very interesting deal.
 

Stitch01

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What does that leave as his cap number for the year?
 
I have it at just under $3MM, but Im making assumptions about LTBE incentives and suspension rebates that Im not sure are accurate
 

Ed Hillel

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Stitch01 said:
What does that leave as his cap number for the year?
 
By my math, the max money he can make this season is 4.8 million or so, but I guess only 4.2 of that can go in his pocket, because of his suspension details. I'm guessing his cap hit would depend on how much of the incentives he hits, and would think Bill is assuming he's a 4.8 million dollar cap hit for Free Agency sake. The next two years he can hit up to 6 million each.
 
Either way, it is a very team-friendly contract.
 

Stitch01

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Ed Hillel said:
 
By my math, the max money he can make this season is 4.8 million or so, but I guess only 4.2 of that can go in his pocket, because of his suspension details. I'm guessing his cap hit would depend on how much of the incentives he hits, and would think Bill is assuming he's a 4.8 million dollar cap hit for Free Agency sake. The next two years he can hit up to 6 million each.
 
Either way, it is a very team-friendly contract.
 
Id assume at least $250K of the salary comes off the cap, not sure about the part where he isnt suspended but misses game checks. I think at least some of the bonuses are NLTBE incentives since Browner played 8 games last year.  I missed the second batch of incentives on my first cut, I think its probably +/- $3MM cap charge for this year.  Not bad.
 

Reverend

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Otis Foster said:
 
BB was very emotional over his signing. Interesting dude: His friend quotes Frederick Douglass.
 
Edit: Tried to clean up messy Twitter/tweets.
 
https://twitter.com/bbrowner27
 



  1. Michael Robinson ‏@RealMikeRob  Mar 14
    Literally in tears over the homie @bbrowner27 getting signed! There can be no progress w/o struggle. -F. Douglass. #Baller #respe

     

     





  2. Brandon Browner ‏@bbrowner27  Mar 14
    @RealMikeRob I told u I cried like a big ol baby. Still doesn't feel real to me
     
     




  3.  Retweeted by Brandon Browner


    Michael Bennett @mosesbread72  Mar 14
    @bbrowner27 @RealMikeRob man god is good bro

     Hide conversation
     
      


 
 
 
He just won the Super Bowl. Now he's so emotional about the Patriots that after a meeting with them he basically agrees to sign without telling his agent, cancels all his other meetings and destroys all leverage for more money and then takes to twitter to tell the world what a blessing this is?
 
What the hell went on at that meeting??
 
M

MentalDisabldLst

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What the hell went on at that meeting??
 
Bill Belichick is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.
 

dcmissle

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Reverend said:
 
 
He just won the Super Bowl. Now he's so emotional about the Patriots that after a meeting with them he basically agrees to sign without telling his agent, cancels all his other meetings and destroys all leverage for more money and then takes to twitter to tell the world what a blessing this is?
 
What the hell went on at that meeting??
Probably similar to Oz/ Steve Smith meeting. Wounded souls need save football havens. When they find one, they are exhilarated. Example -- Randy Moss 07