Josh Brown (American football)

Infobox NFLactive


name=Josh Brown
currentteam=St. Louis Rams
currentnumber=3
currentpositionplain=Placekicker
birthdate=birth date and age|1979|4|29
birthplace=Foyil, Oklahoma
heightft=6
heightin=0
weight=200
debutyear=2003
debutteam=Seattle Seahawks
college=Nebraska
draftyear=2003
draftround=7
draftpick=222
pastteams=
* Seattle Seahawks (2003-2007)
* St. Louis Rams (2008-present)
status=Active
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Field Goals Made
statvalue1=116
statlabel2=Field Goals Attempted
statvalue2=145
statlabel3=Field Goals %
statvalue3=80.0
nfl=BRO502703

Joshua Brown (born April 29, 1979 in Foyil, Oklahoma) is an American football placekicker for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska.

Personal

During his time with the Seahawks, Brown hosted his own TV show on Fox Sports Net. A running segment on the show was called "Can you kick it?" where fans attempted to kick a variety of odd items and then Josh reviews their efforts.

During his time with the Seahawks, Brown had a relationship with Seattle radio station KMPS, particularly the morning show "Ichabod Caine and the Waking Crew". He would often guest host along with KMPS radio presonality Randy Scott in Ichabod Caine's absence.

Early years

Brown began his football career after his family moved from dn|Adams County when he was an eighth-grade soccer player. Brown then became a running back, safety, punter, placekicker, kickoff returner, and punt returner. He made a 61-yard field goal in the state playoffs in 1996. He also ran for 1,891 yards and scored 51 touchdowns that season and finished his Foyil High School career with 9,136 all-purpose yards and 122 scores.

He was a four-year letterman in both football and track and earned three basketball letters. A two-time Class A state champion in the high jump, he jumped 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) to win the Ohio state title in the high jump in 1997 and 1998. He qualified for the state finals in the 100 meter and 200 meter dashes.

College career

He was the kicker for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He finished third on Nebraska’s all-time scoring list with 315 points, topped only by Kris Brown (388, 1995-98) and Eric Crouch (368 points, 1998–2001). As a senior, All-Big 12 Conference first-team selection by the league’s coaches and "The Kansas City Star", adding second-team honors from the Associated Press after leading the team in scoring with 88 points, connecting on 14 of 18 field goals (77.8%) and all 46 extra-point attempts. Named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week versus Arizona State. Appeared in 10 games as a junior scoring 64 points (third on the team), making 10 of 14 field goals and 34 of 37 extra-point attempts. Had a pair of conversions versus Miami in the Rose Bowl. Scored 75 points during sophomore season and was successful on five of 10 field goals and set a school record with 60 consecutive extra points. Booted a 51-yarder and set an NCAA bowl record as he connected on all nine extra-point attempts versus Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. Took over placekicking chores freshman year, connecting on 14 of 20 field goals and 46 of 47 extra points as he scored 88 points. Redshirted as a freshman.

Brown became embroiled in controversy after his disappointing sophomore season at Nebraska when he was arrested for assault following an altercation with an ex-girlfriend. After a long night of drinking, Brown followed the woman and her date to her house, where a fight ensued between the two men. During the course of the brawl, Brown knocked his ex-girlfriend to the ground. [ [http://media.www.dailynebraskan.com/media/storage/paper857/news/2001/09/06/Sports/PlaceKicker.Emerges.Stronger.After.Nightmare.Summer-1728875.shtml] ] He was convicted of misdemeanor assault as a result of the incident. During his senior season, Brown was again arrested, this time on suspicion of drunken driving. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/news/2002/11/25/roundup_ap/] ]

He majored in communications.

Professional career

eattle Seahawks

Josh Brown was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the 222nd overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft.

On October 23, 2005 while playing against the Dallas Cowboys he made two field goals over 50 yards: a 55 yarder and a 50 yarder as time expired to win the game.

On October 15, 2006, he kicked a 54-yard walk-off field goal while time ran out against the St. Louis Rams to win the game 30-28. Although it would have been a 49 yard kick, Seattle was called for an illegal formation penalty. Unlike a false start penalty there was no 10-second run-off so Brown still had a chance to work his magic, albeit from 54 yards out. On November 27, 2006, he tied his career best by kicking four field goals in a snowy "Monday Night Football" game against the Green Bay Packers, and amazingly, all four field goals were made in the first half. On December 3, 2006, Brown kicked a 51 yard field goal to win the game against the Denver Broncos, making it his fourth game winning kick in the last minute in the 2006 season.

His NFL career long is a 58-yard field goal against the Green Bay Packers during his rookie season.

On February 22, 2007, the Seattle Seahawks used their franchise tag on Josh Brown.

On November 18, 2007, Josh Brown made highlights by tackling and nearly stripping the ball from Pro Bowl kick returner Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears during a third-quarter kickoff.

t. Louis Rams

On February 29, Brown signed with the St. Louis Rams who made him the NFL's highest paid kicker at the time. The Seahawks had offered comparable money, which also would have made Brown the highest paid kicker, but he took offense to the fact that the Seahawks' contract spread his signing bonus over time, whereas that offered by the Rams paid him up front. In an interview on Seattle sports radio station KJR 950 Brown stated that he had not wanted to be a "slave to the businessman," a statement that was ridiculed by Seattle media and fans. [ [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/379579_hawkbar18.html] ]

tatistics

As of December 1, 2007, he attempted 137 field goals, 6 were blocked, 22 missed, and 109 were made, which is roughly 80% of his field goals completed. He's only missed 1 extra point out of 207, which was blocked, which brings his career rate to 99.5%. His kickoff length average is 62.8 yards, and the average return is 22.4 yards with 36 career touchbacks. His career long field goal is 58 yards, 5 yards behind the NFL record.

The Josh Brown Giving Project

[http://www.joshbrownproject.com The Josh Brown Giving Project] mission: "Our mission is the help improve the quality of life for our youth, increase physical activity and to assure the development for the means to find a cure and control cystic fibrosis."

For Josh, the decision was clear as he lost a friend to cystic fibrosis and has been touched by the children who are currently battling this genetic disease, which affects approximately 30,000 children and young adults in the United States alone.

References

External links

* [http://www.joshbrownproject.com The Josh Brown Giving Project]
* [http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/players/67112 St. Louis Rams bio]