Tony Brown (defensive back, born 1995)

Tony M. Brown Jr. (born July 13, 1995) is an American professional football cornerback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018.

Tony Brown
refer to caption
Brown as a member of the Green Bay Packers in 2019
No. 38 – Cleveland Browns
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1995-07-13) July 13, 1995 (age 29)
Beaumont, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Ozen
(Beaumont, Texas)
College:Alabama (2014–2017)
Undrafted:2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:75
Forced fumbles:3
Pass deflections:7
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early years

edit

Brown attended Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas, where he played football and was a world-class athlete.[1] As a freshman in 2010, he made 95 tackles, had one interception and 15 passes broken up. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 96 stops and three interceptions, while adding a fumble recovery and 16 pass breakups.

Also an accomplished track athlete, Brown won a silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2013 Pan American Junior Championships in Medellin, Colombia.[2] He lost to Colombian Juan Carlos Moreno, who established a new South American Junior record at 13.42. Brown was named to the USA Today All-American Track and Field Team.[3] At the 2013 Texas Class 4A Meet, he won the state title in the 110-meter hurdles (13.63 s), and took third in the 100 meters (10.37 s).[4] He ran a personal-best of 7.76 seconds in the indoor 60m hurdles, the fastest time in the nation in 2013. He ran a PR of 13.38 seconds in the 110m hurdles at the 2013 Texas Relays, the top time in the U.S. in 2013. He won the 110m hurdles at the 2013 USATF National Junior Olympics (13.88 s) and the USATF Junior Nationals (13.69 s). He also recorded a personal-best time of 37.32 seconds in the 300m hurdles at the 2012 Texas Class 4A Meet, where he placed first.[5]

Considered a five-star football recruit by ESPN.com, Brown was listed as the No. 2 cornerback in the nation in 2014.[6] He committed to Alabama at the 2014 Under Armour All-America Game.[7]

College career

edit

Brown graduated early from high school and enrolled at the University of Alabama in January 2014, where he began participating in football and track and field. He improved his 100 meters time to 10.12 seconds in the NCAA semi-finals. On January 18, 2014, he was arrested in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.[8] On December 31, 2015, he was suspended and sent home for starting a fight while preparing for the 2015 Cotton Bowl.[9]

Professional career

edit
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11+78 in
(1.83 m)
199 lb
(90 kg)
31+12 in
(0.80 m)
9+14 in
(0.23 m)
4.35 s 1.47 s 2.56 s 4.11 s 6.78 s 31.5 in
(0.80 m)
10 ft 6 in
(3.20 m)
14 reps
Sources:[10][11]

Los Angeles Chargers

edit

Despite running a 4.35 second 40 yard dash,[12] the third fastest at the combine, Brown went undrafted in the 2018 NFL draft. He signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 NFL draft on April 28, 2018.[13] He was waived on September 1, 2018.[14]

Green Bay Packers

edit

On September 3, 2018, Brown was signed to the practice squad of the Green Bay Packers.[15] He was promoted to the active roster on September 29, 2018.[16] Brown was released on December 28, 2019.[17]

Cincinnati Bengals

edit

On December 30, 2019, Brown was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals, his rights will be awarded to the Bengals after Super Bowl LIV.[18] He signed a one-year contract extension with the team on March 12, 2020.[19] He was named a backup cornerback to start the 2020 season. He made his first career start in Week 10, recording six tackles, two for a loss, and a pass deflection. He was placed on injured reserve on December 5, 2020.[20] On December 26, 2020, Brown was activated off of injured reserve.[21]

Brown re-signed with the Bengals on another one-year contract on March 18, 2021.[22] He was waived on August 31, 2021, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[23][24] He was released on October 5.[25]

Las Vegas Raiders

edit

On October 13, 2021, Brown was signed to the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad. He was released on November 1, but later re-signed on December 23.

Indianapolis Colts

edit

On March 8, 2022, Brown signed with the Indianapolis Colts.[26] He was waived on August 31, 2022, and re-signed to the practice squad.[27] He was promoted to the active roster on September 13.[28]

Brown re-signed with the Colts on a one-year contract on March 16, 2023.[29] The Colts suspended him for three games for conduct detrimental to the team on December 19.[30] On January 8, 2024, the Colts waived him.[31]

Cleveland Browns

edit

On March 19, 2024, Brown signed with the Cleveland Browns.[32] He was released on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.[33][34] On October 10, 2024, Brown was signed to the active roster.[35]

NFL career statistics

edit
Regular season statistics
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR
2018 GB 11 3 34 30 4 0.0 5 0 0 0.0 0 0 2 0
2019 GB 9 0 11 7 4 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2020 CIN 13 1 13 7 6 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Career 33 4 58 44 14 0.0 6 0 0 0.0 0 0 2 0
Source: NFL.com

References

edit
  1. ^ Sherman, Mitch (December 31, 2013). "CB Brown thrives through adversity". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  2. ^ "USA Track & Field – Team USA Takes Seven Golds, 17 Medals on Final Day at Pan Am Juniors".
  3. ^ "ALL-USA".
  4. ^ "Region 3-4A Meet". Texas MileSplit.
  5. ^ "Region 3-4A Meet". Texas MileSplit.
  6. ^ "Tony Brown". ESPN.
  7. ^ "Ozen's Tony Brown commits to Alabama". Beaumont Enterprise. January 2, 2014.
  8. ^ Casagrande, Michael (January 20, 2014). "Alabama freshman cornerback Tony Brown arrested". AL.com. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "Alabama CB Tony Brown sent home day before Cotton Bowl". AL.com. December 30, 2015.Brown tackled Clemson slot receiver Hunter Renfrow in the end zone after Renfrow caught the NCAA title winning touchdown from Clemson QB DeShaun Watson sealing the NCAA Championship for Clemson University.
  10. ^ "Tony Brown Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  11. ^ "2018 NFL Draft Scout Tony Brown College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  12. ^ "Tide DB Brown impresses Deion Sanders at NFL combine". Montgomery Advertiser. March 5, 2018.
  13. ^ Henne, Ricky (April 28, 2018). "Chargers Agree to Terms with 21 Undrafted Free Agents". Chargers.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  14. ^ Henne, Ricky (September 1, 2018). "Chargers Cut Roster Down to 53". Chargers.com.
  15. ^ "Packers sign LB Toomer, place WR Kumerow on IR". Packers.com. September 3, 2018. Archived from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  16. ^ "Packers sign cornerback to active roster, place Wilkerson on IR". Packers.com. September 29, 2018.
  17. ^ "Packers release CB Tony Brown". Packers.com. December 28, 2019. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  18. ^ "Bengals Place Waiver Claim On Tony Brown". Bengals.com. December 30, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  19. ^ "Bengals Sign Tony Brown To Contract Extension". Bengals.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  20. ^ "Bengals Place Tony Brown On Reserve/Injured List; Elevated Stanley Morgan To Active Roster". Bengals.com. December 5, 2020.
  21. ^ "Bengals Make Roster Moves Ahead Of Week 16". Bengals.com. December 26, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  22. ^ "Bengals Sign Tony Brown". Bengals.com. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  23. ^ "Bengals Reduce 2021 Roster To 53 Players". Bengals.com. August 31, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  24. ^ "Bengals Make Player Moves, Sign 15 To The Practice Squad". Bengals.com. September 1, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  25. ^ "Bengals Make Practice Squad Moves Ahead Of Week 5". Bengals.com. October 5, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  26. ^ "Colts Sign CB Tony Brown". Colts.com. March 8, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  27. ^ Stankevitz, JJ (August 31, 2022). "Colts Claim T Luke Tenuta Off Waivers From Buffalo Bills, Release CB Tony Brown". Colts.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  28. ^ "Colts Sign CB Tony Brown To 53-Man Roster, Waive K Rodrigo Blankenship; Sign CB Darrell Baker Jr., S Henry Black, K Lucas Havrisik, K Chase McLaughlin To Practice Squad". Colts.com. September 13, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  29. ^ Stankevitz, JJ (March 16, 2023). "Colts re-sign CB Tony Brown". Colts.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  30. ^ Holder, Stephen (December 19, 2023). "Colts suspend WR Isaiah McKenzie, CB Tony Brown for 3 games". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  31. ^ Colts Communications (January 8, 2024). "Colts sign 9 to reserve/future contracts, 4 to one-year contract extensions, waive CB Tony Brown". Colts.com. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  32. ^ "Browns sign CB Tony Brown". ClevelandBrowns.com. March 19, 2024.
  33. ^ Russo, Kelsey (August 27, 2024). "Browns announce initial 53-man roster heading into 2024 season". ClevelandBrowns.com.
  34. ^ "Browns sign 13 players to the practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. August 28, 2024.
  35. ^ "Browns sign CB Tony Brown II". clevelandbrowns.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
edit