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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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Danno

If this is true we may have our LT for the next decade. I thought it was his hammy problems that made him slip out of the 1st round.

dizzle88

I hope he gets healthy and challenges Bushrod for the starting LT spot, Bushrod is too inconsistent, he has great games here and there but then has terrible days and gets bullied which ends up with drew on the floor, we don't want that do we

the-commish

Brown was only available as late as he was because of the injury. Had it not been for that, he was a sure-fire mid to late first rounder.

If his back is fully healed, he could be the permanent LT for the Saints for years to come. That does not mean, however, that Bushrod has no place on the team. For the right $$$, Bushrod should be retained.

Crusader

Slide Bushrod to the RT spot when Brown is ready to man the left. i love Stinch and think he's a great player but he is getting older.

Rugby Saint II

True Dat!

QBREES9

RED FLAG

New Orleans Saints tackle Charles Brown underwent back surgery for a herniated disc,