RENTON, Wash. -- Brandon Browner doesn't want to talk about his tenure with the New Orleans Saints. He's back in Seattle with the Seahawks and couldn't be happier.
"I'm happy to have a job, happy to be playing with my friends again," Browner said.
Advertisement |
RENTON, Wash. -- Brandon Browner doesn't want to talk about his tenure with the New Orleans Saints. He's back in Seattle with the Seahawks and couldn't be happier. "I'm happy to have a job, happy to be playing with my friends again," Browner said.
Browner's 2015 season was nothing short of disastrous. The Saints' defense was the worst in the league statistically last season. Browner led the league in penalties with 24 on the season. No other player in the league had more than 16. The Saints asked Browner frequently to play in off-coverage when he excels more as a press cornerback.
So why didn't it work in New Orleans?
"I don't know. I'm here in Seattle and I don't even want to talk about New Orleans," Browner said.
After two seasons away from Seattle with the Saints and New England Patriots, Browner is back with the team that gave him a second chance at the NFL in 2011. Browner signed with the Seahawks after spending several seasons playing for Calgary of the Canadian Football League. He earned a starting job at right cornerback in training camp and had six interceptions in his first season with the team.
When Richard Sherman took over in midseason at left cornerback, the Seahawks' "Legion of Boom" secondary had finally come together. Browner appeared in 36 games with Seattle over three seasons before a suspension for violating the league's drug policy sidelined him through Seattle's run to a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII.
However, his role with the Seahawks is different this time around.
The Seahawks are moving Browner to safety. During their OTA on Thursday, Browner was playing as a traditional safety and as a hybrid linebacker in sub-packages. Head coach Pete Carroll hopes to take advantage of Browner's size to help match up on bigger receivers and tight ends.
"We're moving him around, doing some different stuff," Carroll said. "Gives us a really special player with unique qualities and we always love that."
Browner believes the move best suits his abilities.
"I love it," Browner said. "It's kind of similar to some of the things I did in New England. I'll be matched up on guys that fit my size, play the run a little bit. It will show my skill-set a little bit, I guess."
--For the third time in as many seasons, the Seahawks are trying out Justin Britt at a different position on the offensive line.
A second-round pick in 2014, Britt started every game for Seattle at right tackle en route to Super Bowl XLIX against the New England Patriots. The Seahawks made the decision to move Britt to left guard in training camp last year when no one stepped up to replace James Carpenter.
Now Britt is getting a chance at center for Seattle.
"It's an opportunity for us to mix our guys and see how we can get the best guys on the field," Carroll said. "Justin is the guy that's been with us the most and can be in command of the most information and all that. We're going to take a good look at him at center and see how that works out."
Mark Glowinski, a fourth-round pick last year, and third-round pick Rees Odhiambo give Seattle options at left guard. Moving Britt to center provides competition for Patrick Lewis and would give Britt the flexibility to back up at center, guard and tackle positions.
"We know he can play guard and tackle. We have great flexibility here, so at this time of year we're trying to get more information," Carroll said.
"He's making a good statement that he understands how to play in that area. Communication is going to be really important and we're starting to learn how to talk, we're still a long ways away there."
--While not taking part in practice on Thursday, running back Thomas Rawls and tight end Jimmy Graham were both on hand to watch intently from the sidelines.
Rawls and Graham are both recovering from significant injuries that ended their seasons last year. Graham suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee in a November game against the Pittsburgh Steelers while Rawls suffered a broken ankle and ligament damage in December against the Baltimore Ravens.
Graham was actually able to jog around in early work on Thursday and catch a handful of passes from the quarterbacks.
"Those guys are both making really good progress." Carroll said. "Thomas is running and Jimmy is back to running on the field the last couple of days, which is great. He's made terrific progress. Both of their attitudes are really good. They are really positive about making it."
Head coach Pete Carroll said he was encouraged about the chances both Rawls and Graham have of being ready in time for the start of the season.
"We're thinking that that's a real possibility, yeah," Carroll said. "That's kind of what we are thinking. We have to avoid setbacks, obviously. But we are kind of counting on it."