Pats haven't talked to Browner about playing safety
BY DAVID HEIM
The New England Patriots followed up the Darrelle Revis signing last week by bringing in another physical cornerback in Brandon Browner.
And despite early speculation -- given the release of Steve Gregory, the instabilities of Adrian Wilson, the inexperience of Duron Harmon and the fact that the team has two rising cornerbacks in Alfonzo Dennard and Logan Ryan -- the team has no intentions of moving the 6-4 defensive back to safety.
"They haven't talked to me about playing safety. I'm here to play corner," Browner said rather bluntly in a recent interview with Paul Perillo of Patriots Football Weekly.
With his height, Browner is one of the biggest corners in all of football; however, he lacks straight line speed which is crucial for roaming the top of the 4-3 defense New England likes to run.
So as of now, the plan appears to keep Browner at cornerback. It will be interesting to see what the team does with its second outside cornerback position as the season progresses.
Browner will serve a four-game suspension to start the season in result of his violation of league substance abuse last year.
In all likelihood, Alfonzo Dennard will line up as the Pats' starting corner on the right side with Logan Ryan continuing to see action. But when Browner returns in Week 5, his physical, smash-mouth play might be too appealing for Bill Belichick to keep off the field.
Nonetheless, the secondary position has seen a major overhaul this season, and the team has to feel it is in a better position in such an area of need in previous years.
"It's going to be a lot of fun playing with [Darrelle Revis] and with all of the other defensive backs they have," Browner said. "They have some good football players there, [Devin] McCourty is a good football player. Revis is a really good technician with his low base. It's fun to play with someone like that, kind of like in Seattle playing with Richard Sherman. I'm looking forward to it."
Browner did not wish to elaborate on his upcoming suspension except that he wants to put everything in the past.
"I've made a few mistakes," he added. "But I look forward to righting the wrongs."
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Tags: Brandon Browner, New England Patriots