New "Legion of Boom" rule could affect Brandon Browner

Brandon Browner must avoid confrontations like this in 2014 (TNT)

Just when you thought the Seahawks could impose their will on anyone and everyone, the NFL decided to let Peyton Manning get his way one more time. Due to concerns about the physical style that the Seattle Seahawks employed last year to impressively shut down opposing receivers, and embarrass the Broncos in the Super Bowl, the NFL has told officials to crack down on defensive holding, illegal contact, and defensive pass interference this year. Former Vice President of Officiating, Mike Pereira seems to mock this notion.



In an article by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, he highlights just why this is being done, along with his criticisms. While most fans will be happy that this rule will be in effect, or at least those who aren't Seahawks fans, this will ultimately have an effect on every corner, safety, and linebacker in the NFL. For the Patriots, it will most likely be Brandon Browner.

That being said, Mike Pereira does not believe that the Seahawks were directly the cause of this. Or at least not due to the NFL showing them specific plays with the Seahawks as instructional videos.



As a former member of the Legion of Boom, Browner's bread and butter is his ability to press receivers at the line of scrimmage and ride their hips downfield. With this rule, it may make it a bit more risky. Now at 6'4", 221 lbs, Browner very well could just be big and strong enough to not hold a receiver whilst pressing them, but unfortunately I doubt the referees will see it the same way. According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, Browner has been penalized 20 times in his three year career for either defensive pass interference, defensive holding, illegal use of the hands, or illegal contact. That's a lot of penalties.

Hopefully, the Patriots utilize Browner to jam and play underneath receivers as a safety plays over the top, giving him the comfortability to not need to hold in order to play good defense. This would likely be the best way to quell the need for Browner to hold receivers, but it may be more of a habit by now after playing with that style his entire NFL career in Seattle. I'm sure Belichick saw this coming though, especially after the first time this happened.

The year was 2004, and the Patriots secondary just manhandled the Colts' receiving corps which left Peyton and Colts President Bill Polian in tears after their playoff defeat. As a member of the NFL's Competition Committee, Polian was able to complain night and day about how that shouldn't be allowed. What happened? The following year the referees were given a new rule to enforce against that type of play: illegal contact.



Guess who had a pretty good year in 2004? Peyton Manning. So it may just be coincidence that a decade after Peyton Manning couldn't beat tough man coverage, it happens to him again, and again the NFL helps him out by telling the refs to crack down. Not to sound like a bitter fan, but it's just funny how history can repeat itself.

All jokes and accusations aside, for the Patriots to have a successful defense they will need to avoid penalties in the passing game and Browner will be the likeliest to be impacted by these new developments. Hopefully in the four weeks Browner has off, he can try to work on his speed in order to not need to hold receivers to stay with them.

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