“I think the reason I’ve made it the last four Pro Bowls is because my peers understand my talented player type,” Brown said, “I think it was a lot harder being in Kansas City and a much more difficult because of the one-on-one. That’s what makes people respect me. That’s what gets coaches, front offices, players to say, ‘If you play Orlando Brown, you’re going to see him 45 times. ‘”
The Chiefs used the franchise tag for Brown after failing to agree on a long-term deal, and they refrained from using it again in that free agency.
Whitworth has heard the alleged NFL CW that Brown is a better right tackle than left tackle, but he’s not so sure. “He was productive in both places,” says Whitworth. He also thinks Brown’s strength and size are a great match for Burrow.
“Orlando will not be repulsed. There is nothing to worry about,” said Whitworth. “Joe just wants to know if you’re going to miss where you’re going to miss. If Orlando is beaten, it will likely be an outside speed frenzy. So Joe just has to get in the bag.”
Before Orlando “Zeus” Brown died at the age of 40 when his son was 15 in 2011, he was a well-respected figure in Cincinnati. He began his collegiate career at Central State in Wilberforce, Ohio and finished at South Carolina State before embarking on a 129-game undrafted free agent career with Bengals AFC Central rivals Browns and Ravens in the ’90s and they then met again with the Ravens in the latter-day AFC North.
When the Browns got the right tackle in 1995, Brown started the final game at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium, a Browns win over the Bengals. In 1999, he started as the right tackle for the new Cleveland Browns in the final game at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium, a Bengals win over the Browns.
Willie Anderson also recalls a Bengals-Ravens prelude in Baltimore when Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson fumbled during a warm-up and jumped on the back of the 6-7, 360-pound Brown. Brown took offense and chased Johnson across the field until Johnson, huffing and puffing, showed up in the Bengals locker room and asked Anderson what he should do.
“Stay here until the game starts,” Anderson told him.