- Orlando Brown (American football)
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Orlando Brown No. 77, 78 Tackle Personal information Date of birth: December 12, 1970 Place of birth: Washington, D.C. Date of death: September 23, 2011 (aged 40) Place of death: Baltimore, Maryland Height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Weight: 360 lb (163 kg) Career information College: South Carolina State & Central State Debuted in 1993 for the Cleveland Browns Last played in 2005 for the Baltimore Ravens Career history - Cleveland Browns (1993-1995)
- Baltimore Ravens (1996-1998)
- Cleveland Browns (1999-2000)
- Baltimore Ravens (2003-2005)
Career highlights and awards - N/A
Stats at NFL.com Orlando Claude Brown (December 12, 1970 – September 23, 2011) was an American football player who played offensive tackle in the NFL. He attended H.D. Woodson Senior High School. He was released by the Baltimore Ravens in March, 2006, and previously played for the Cleveland Browns. He played college football for Willie Jeffries at South Carolina State University.[1]
Contents
Early Years
Orlando Brown was born in 1970 in Washington DC. Brown attended H.D. Woodson Senior High School. He went to South Carolina State University and played offensive tackle.
NFL Career
First stint with Browns
Orlando Brown signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 1993. Brown spent three seasons in Cleveland.
First stint with Ravens
In 1996, the Browns moved to Baltimore to become the Baltimore Ravens. Orlando Brown, unlike some of the team, made the move. In his first stint with the team, Brown who, at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds, was known as an energetic and intimidating player, earned the nickname "Zeus."[2] In his prime he was one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the NFL.[2]
Second stint with Browns
Orlando Brown was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the "reactivated" Cleveland Browns. He was later infamous for an incident during a pro football game at home in Cleveland on December 19, 1999 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he was accidentally hit in the eye by a penalty marker weighted with ball bearings thrown by referee Jeff Triplette. Triplette immediately apologized to Brown, who was then tended to by the medical staff. A few minutes later, when play was about to resume, Brown was being taken to the locker room when he pushed passed the trainers, ran out on the field and shoved Triplette, knocking him to the ground. Brown was ejected from the game and subsequently suspended by the NFL, although the suspension was lifted when his injury did not heal. Brown was one of only two players to have played for the Cleveland Browns before they became the Baltimore Ravens and return to the Browns after the expansion team formed in 1999; the other player is Antonio Langham.
Out of football, injuries, and lawsuits
Orlando Brown was cut from the Browns after the 2000 NFL season. Brown was forced to sit out three seasons because of the eye injury. The next year he sued the NFL for the damages. The two parties settled for a reported amount of $25 million.[3][4]
Second stint with Ravens
After Brown was healthy enough to play again, he was picked back up by the Baltimore Ravens.
During the 2003 season while playing for the Ravens, Brown started at both offensive and defensive tackle in a game against the Oakland Raiders. He remained with the team until shortly before the 2006 NFL season, when he was released.
After Football
After retiring from football, Brown went into the restaurant business, and became the owner of the first Fatburger franchise in Maryland.[5]
In September, 2009, Brown was arrested and charged with third-degree burglary and destruction of property.[6] The charges were later dropped.[7]
Death
Brown was found dead on September 23, 2011 in his Baltimore condominium. [8] [9] The state medical examiner ruled that Brown died of diabetic ketoacidosis, an ailment common among diabetics and caused by high blood sugar and lack of insulin.[10] He is survived by three sons: Orlando, Jr., Justin and Braxton.[2]
References
- ^ "Orlando Brown Stats, News, Photos". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/content?playerId=715. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c Slotnik, Daniel E. (23 September 2011). "Orlando Brown, Who Sued N.F.L. Over Errant Flag, Dies at 40". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/24/sports/football/orlando-brown-who-sued-nfl-over-errant-flag-dies-at-40.html?scp=1&sq=orlando%20brown,%2040,%20who%20sued%20NFL&st=cse. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "Orlando Brown Files $200 Million Lawsuit Against NFL Over Career-Ending Eye Injury". Jet. April 16, 2001. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_18_99/ai_73661575/. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ Worgo, Tom (Summer 2004). "A sight to behold: Orlando Brown—who battled for nearly four years to get back onto the field after suffering a major eye injury in 1999—exemplifies the power of perseverance". Football Digest. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCL/is_8_33/ai_115226191/. Retrieved May 1, 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Fog Cutter Capital Group, Inc.’s Fatburger Unit Opens First Maryland Restaurant with Former NFL Player Orlando Brown" (Press release). Fatburger. January 12, 2009. http://www.fatburger.com/WhatsNew/Article.aspx?81. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ "Orlando Brown arrested, charged twice". ESPN. September 4, 2009. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4447659. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
- ^ Scout.com. January 9, 2010. http://bal.scout.com/a.z?s=118&p=2&c=936465&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http://bal.scout.com/2/936465.html. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ^ WBALTV.com. September 23, 2011. http://www.wbaltv.com/sports/29280280/detail.html. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ^ ESPN.com. September 23, 2011. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7009067/former-baltimore-ravens-tackle-orlando-brown-dead-40. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ^ . October 3, 2011. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-10-03/sports/bal-medical-examiner-orlando-brown-died-of-diabetes-complications-20111003_1_medical-examiner-diabetic-ketoacidosis-high-blood-sugar. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
Categories:- 1970 births
- 2011 deaths
- American football offensive tackles
- Baltimore Ravens players
- Central State Marauders football players
- Cleveland Browns players
- Players of American football from Washington, D.C.
- South Carolina State Bulldogs football players
- Undrafted National Football League players
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