Brandon Browner may not play the role you expect him to


The NFL's new emphasis on illegal contact between a cornerback and receiver has been pretty well documented.

It's also been made pretty clear how this could effect new Patriots corner Brandon Browner. The former "Legion of Boom" member over in Seattle had made a name for himself with his physical play.

He's also made quite a name for himself for that in camp.




So, that's the good. But, there's some bad too.

Namely, in the preseason game against the Washington Redskins a sign of what we feared with Browner showed up. The one time he was targeted in the passing game, he gave up a play on a 3rd and 12 due to illegal contact.

Via Boston Herald:
“I grabbed him a little bit. But I also felt (Robinson) was going to push me by,” Browner said when asked about the play after the game. “So instead of getting pushed by, I grabbed a little bit. It’s something I got to work on. They’ll be calling it tighter. They got an emphasis on it. It’s something I got to work on getting better at.”

This is just one example, but it is a very real fear. Browner has very much gotten his contract with the team based upon the very thing that the league is now emphasizing abolishing this year. So much of the talk around this Patriots team during the offseason has been, the Browner/Revis duo.

However, that may be getting ahead of things a bit. Brandon Browner will be suspended for the first four games of the season, and he is no lock to find a permanent role alongside Revis when he comes back.

Greg Bedard, MMQB:
Even after his four-game suspension is up, Brandon Browner is no sure thing at cornerback opposite Revis. Alfonzo Dennard has proven capable in the past, and undrafted rookie Malcolm Butler has opened eyes. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Patriots match up their cornerbacks depending on the opponent, with Browner sitting against teams with a smaller receiving corp but matching up with big vertical receivers. Unlike Revis, Browner is the type of cornerback who will be adversely affected by the renewed emphasis on downfield contact; that’s how he plays defense. And he’s a 30-year-old big corner. Those types of players start their downward slides at this stage of their careers. The Seahawks thought it started last season with leg injuries and didn’t want him back. The Patriots are betting otherwise.

With the NFL, and especially the Patriots, nothing ever goes the way you think it will in August. In the case of Browner, we should probably ease up on our expectations.


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