Ralph Brown (American football)

Infobox NFLactive


name=Ralph Brown
currentteam=Arizona Cardinals
currentnumber=20
currentposition=Cornerback
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|9|16
birthplace=Hacienda Heights, California
heightft=5
heightin=10
weight=185
debutyear=2000
debutteam=New York Giants
college=Nebraska
draftyear=2000
draftround=5
draftpick=140
pastteams=
* New York Giants (2000-2003)
* Minnesota Vikings (2004-2005)
* Cleveland Browns (2006)
* Arizona Cardinals (2007-present)
nfl=BRO588846

Ralph Brown (born September 16, 1978 in Hacienda Heights, California) is an American football cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League.

College career

Brown played college football at the University of Nebraska. He finished career with 143 tackles, including 88 solo and is third on the Cornhuskers career list with 11 interceptions and first with 253 interception return yards. Brown also set a school record with 50 pass deflections. He was an All-America first-team choice by Walter Camp, "College Football News" and the "Sporting News" as a senior in 1999. He was also a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in the country. From 1997-1998, he was an All-Big Twelve Conference first team selection. Brown was then an All-American third-team pick by the Associated Press and "College Football News" in 1998. He became a member of the Big Twelve Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in 1997. One of six true freshmen who saw action for the Huskers in 1996, but the only one who earned a starting role. Brown became the first position player at Nebraska to start his first game as a true freshman since World War II.

NFL career

He was drafted in the fifth round (140th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He played four seasons with the Giants from 2000-2003. In his first year Brown played in two games. He was inactive for season opener vs. Arizona and saw his 1st NFL action at Philadelphia, playing only on special teams. Only action was on special teams at Chicago. He was forced to leave game in the 3rd quarter after taking a knee to the abdomen. Injury was diagnosed as a laceration to the kidney. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on October 2.

Next year played in eight games, with no starts and finished season with 2 assisted tackles on defense and 5 special teams tackles (4 solo).

2002 was is best year so far, he played in all 16 games, including his first two NFL starts, at St. Louis and at Washington. He was a reserve in at San Francisco. He began the season as the dime (6th) cornerback, but also played nickel corner. He finished with 25 tackles (19 solo), 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, 3 passes defensed and 8 special teams tackles (6 solo).

In his last season with the Giants, Brown contributed in the secondary as a reserve and spot starter and on special teams, providing depth to the defensive backfield. He demonstrated nose for the ball on several key plays last season. Brown played in 11 games, starting seven. He missed three games with a shoulder injury and was assigned to injured reserve prior to Week 16 at Dallas. He finished the season with 41 tackles (28 solo), one sack, one forced fumble, two interceptions and one touchdown.

He also played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2004-2005 and Cleveland Browns in 2006.

Personal

Brown attended Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, California, where he was listed as the 2nd-best defensive back in the country by Blue Chip and named to the Dream Team. He was also named to "USA Today" 's 2nd-team All-America squad. He was seventh in the state in rushing with 2,246 yards on 311 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown in the Lancers' Division I championship win over Los Angeles' Loyola High in 1995. He earned CIF Southern Section Player of the Year and MVP, and the "Los Angeles Times" Back-of-the-Year honors, scoring 29 times, including a school-record 6 in one game. Defensively, he had 57 tackles and six interceptions. He also lettered three times in track.

ee also

*History of the New York Giants (1994-present)