Age: 24
2nd
season in pro football & with Rams
College: Arizona
State
Height: 5’11” Weight: 181
Prelude:
Brown was a
track star who set an Arizona State record in the 100-meter dash while also
playing football, where he was a defensive back for three seasons prior to
switching to wide receiver in 1982. He caught 19 passes that year, but five of
them were for touchdowns as he averaged 20.8 yards-per-catch. Chosen by the
Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 1983 NFL draft, Brown delayed his
pro football career in order to participate in the 1984 Olympics where he won a
gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay event. He joined the Rams, who acquired his
rights, for the ’84 season and caught 23 passes for 478 yards (20.8 avg.) and
four TDs.
1985 Season Summary
Appeared in 13
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 14
Most
receptions, game – 5 (for 87 yds.) vs. Green Bay 11/24
Yards – 215
Most yards,
game – 87 (on 5 catches) vs. Green Bay 11/24
Average gain
– 15.4
TDs – 3
Rushing
Attempts – 2
Yards – 13
Average gain
– 6.5
TDs – 0
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 28
[19, tied with Clyde Duncan & Carl Monroe]
Yards – 918 [8]
Most yards,
game – 184 (on 2 ret.) vs. Green Bay 11/24 (2 TD)
Average per
return – 32.8 [1]
TDs – 3 [1]
Longest
return – 98 yards
Scoring
TDs – 6
Points – 36
Postseason: 2 G
Kickoff
returns – 3
Kickoff
return yds. – 63
Kickoff
return avg. – 21.0
Kickoff
return TDs – 0
Pass receptions
– 2
Pass
receiving yards – 14
Average gain
– 7.0
Pass
receiving TDs – 0
(Statistics
all accumulated in NFC Championship at Chicago)
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News
Pro Bowl
Rams went 11-5
to finish first in the NFC West. Won NFC Divisional playoff over Dallas Cowboys
(20-0). Lost NFC Championship to Chicago Bears (21-0).
Aftermath:
Brown spent
the next four seasons on-and-off with the Rams, although he never again
approached his 1985 kickoff return average. While having tremendous speed,
Brown lacked reliability as a pass receiver and had problems with nagging
injuries. He caught 25 passes for 396 yards (15.8 avg.) in 1986 and 26 for 521
yards (20.0 avg.) in ’87, totaling five TDs in what were his most productive
pass receiving seasons. Facing protracted problems with negotiating a new
contract with the Rams, Brown briefly retired in 1988 but, failing in an Olympic
comeback, returned to the club during the season. He played for the Raiders in
1990, where he was shifted to cornerback, before returning to the Rams in ’91,
his last year. Overall, as a kickoff returner he averaged 22.6 yards on 199
returns with four touchdowns. His pass receiving totals, all with the Rams,
were 98 catches for 1791 yards (18.3 avg.) and 13 TDs. The 1985 season remained
the only one in which he received All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
