New Orleans Saints' Charles Brown seeks to solidify spot at tackle

SmashMouth · 06-15-2011, 06:27 AM

Not every New Orleans Saints player who has skipped the team's workouts that quarterback Drew Brees organized at Tulane has a valid excuse, but that cannot be said of offensive tackle Charles Brown.

New Orleans Saints tackle Charles Brown underwent back surgery for a herniated disc, which was pressing on a nerve, two weeks after the season ended in a wild-card playoff loss at Seattle.
Nor can it be said that Brown relished his absence.
Brown, New Orleans' second-round pick in the 2010 draft, underwent back surgery for a herniated disc -- which was pressing on a nerve -- two weeks after the season ended in a wild-card playoff loss at Seattle. Doctors didn't clear Brown to run until two weeks ago, and the labor lockout made it difficult for him to rehab in New Orleans. Brown said he spoke with Brees and explained the situation.
Cleared by the captain, so to speak, Brown said he buckled down in the weight room at his alma mater, Southern California. The results have been promising, and Brown said he's raring to get back on the field -- feeling, for almost the first time since he was drafted, like the sort of elite athlete that many scouts projected as a late first-round pick when he was a Trojan.
"I feel a lot stronger than I did before," Brown said Tuesday afternoon from Los Angeles, adding it was only in his painless postsurgery state that he realized how much his back had bothered him.
And that strength will likely translate into a shot at winning a starting job if the lockout lifts and training camp begins. Although Brown made no predictions about that, he made it clear that's the focus and the goal he plans to set for himself in 2011.
"At SC that was always our motto, and that's what is instilled in me: The guy who plays best will start," Brown said. "I love to compete, and I want to contribute a lot more than I did last year."
The Saints' roster seems unsettled at offensive tackle. Last season's starters were Jermon Bushrod, who will be a restricted or unrestricted free agent depending on the terms of the NFL's next collective bargaining agreement, and veteran Jon Stinchcomb.

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06-15-2011, 06:27 AM	#1
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,477 Blog Entries: 29	New Orleans Saints' Charles Brown seeks to solidify spot at tackle Not every New Orleans Saints player who has skipped the team's workouts that quarterback Drew Brees organized at Tulane has a valid excuse, but that cannot be said of offensive tackle Charles Brown. New Orleans Saints tackle Charles Brown underwent back surgery for a herniated disc, which was pressing on a nerve, two weeks after the season ended in a wild-card playoff loss at Seattle. Nor can it be said that Brown relished his absence. Brown, New Orleans' second-round pick in the 2010 draft, underwent back surgery for a herniated disc -- which was pressing on a nerve -- two weeks after the season ended in a wild-card playoff loss at Seattle. Doctors didn't clear Brown to run until two weeks ago, and the labor lockout made it difficult for him to rehab in New Orleans. Brown said he spoke with Brees and explained the situation. Cleared by the captain, so to speak, Brown said he buckled down in the weight room at his alma mater, Southern California. The results have been promising, and Brown said he's raring to get back on the field -- feeling, for almost the first time since he was drafted, like the sort of elite athlete that many scouts projected as a late first-round pick when he was a Trojan. "I feel a lot stronger than I did before," Brown said Tuesday afternoon from Los Angeles, adding it was only in his painless postsurgery state that he realized how much his back had bothered him. And that strength will likely translate into a shot at winning a starting job if the lockout lifts and training camp begins. Although Brown made no predictions about that, he made it clear that's the focus and the goal he plans to set for himself in 2011. "At SC that was always our motto, and that's what is instilled in me: The guy who plays best will start," Brown said. "I love to compete, and I want to contribute a lot more than I did last year." The Saints' roster seems unsettled at offensive tackle. Last season's starters were Jermon Bushrod, who will be a restricted or unrestricted free agent depending on the terms of the NFL's next collective bargaining agreement, and veteran Jon Stinchcomb. read more Attached Thumbnails