Age: 26 (Dec.
17)
4th
season in pro football & with Bengals
College: Miami (FL)
Height: 6’0” Weight: 185
Prelude:
Following an
outstanding college career in which he was part of the 1983 National Championship
team and caught 59 passes for 1114 yards and 9 TDs in ‘84, Brown was chosen by
the Bengals in the first round of the 1985 NFL draft (13th overall).
The retirement of 12-year WR Isaac Curtis opened a starting spot across from fifth-year
veteran Cris Collinsworth, and Brown moved immediately into the lineup and
caught 53 passes for 942 yards (17.8 avg.) and eight touchdowns. He received
NFL Rookie of the Year honors from NEA and The Sporting News and Offensive
Rookie of the Year recognition from the Associated Press. Having added to
Cincinnati’s explosive passing offense in his first year, Brown accumulated 58
catches for 964 yards (16.6 avg.) and four TDs in 1986 and, in the
strike-interrupted ’87 season, had another 44 receptions for 608 yards (13.8 avg.)
and three scores.
1988 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 53
Most
receptions, game – 7 (for 216 yds.) vs. Pittsburgh 11/6
Yards – 1273
[3, 1st in AFC]
Most yards, game
– 216 (on 7 catches) vs. Pittsburgh 11/6
Average gain
– 24.0 [2]
TDs – 9 [5,
tied with Jerry Rice & Bruce Hill]
200-yard
receiving games – 1
100-yard
receiving games – 5
Rushing
Attempts – 1
Yards – -5
TDs – 0
Punt Returns
Returns – 10
Yards – 48
Most yards,
game – 14 (on 4 ret.) at New England 10/16
Average per
return – 4.8
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 13 yards
Scoring
TDs – 9 [18,
tied with four others]
Points – 54
Postseason: 3
G
Pass
receptions – 4
Most pass
receptions, game – 3 vs. San Francisco, Super Bowl
Pass
receiving yards – 55
Most pass
receiving yards, game – 32 vs. San Francisco, Super Bowl
Average yards
per reception – 13.8
Pass
receiving TDs – 0
Awards & Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: NEA
2nd
team All-NFL: AP
1st
team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Bengals went 12-4
to finish first in the AFC Central while leading the NFL in total yards (6057),
rushing yards (2710), touchdowns (59), and scoring (448 points). Won AFC
Divisional playoff over Seattle Seahawks (21-13) and AFC Championship over
Buffalo Bills (21-10). Lost Super Bowl to San Francisco 49ers (20-16).
Aftermath:
Brown played
another three years, following up with 52 catches for 814 yards (15.7 avg.) and
six touchdowns in 1989 and pulling in a career-high 59 receptions for 827 yards
(14.0 avg.) in 1991. A neck injury cost him the entire 1992 season and
effectively ended his career. While criticized for dropping passes on occasion,
his big-play ability was undeniable. Over the course of his seven seasons with
the Bengals, Brown caught 363 passes for 6134 yards (16.9 avg.) and 41
touchdowns.
--
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
