John Smallwood: Brown might have trouble catching on with Eagles' receiving corps
NOBODY ANTICIPATED this, certainly not Reggie Brown, not 4 years into his NFL career.
The Eagles wide receiver had such a great start. As a rookie in 2005, he had 43 catches for 571 yards with four touchdowns. His 12 catches for 20 or more yards made it look as if the Birds had stolen a big-play receiver in the second round of the draft.
AP
Washington Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot (27) and safety LaRon Landry (30) stop Philadelphia Eagles wide receive Reggie Brown, top, short of the goal line during the closing seconds of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008, in Landover, Md. The Redskins won 10-3. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
After his second season, when he had 46 catches for 816 yards with eight touchdowns, management was confident that the 6-1 receiver out of the University of Georgia was just scratching the surface of his potential. He was signed to a long-term deal.
But things began to change in 2007.
Brown had a career-high 61 catches, but his total yards dropped 780 and his yards-
per-catch went from 17.7 to 12.8. He only had four touchdowns.
And just like that, questions started to be asked and doubts surfaced.
At this time a year ago, Brown was being asked about the pressure to rebound during the 2008 season and make the statement that he could be a No. 1 receiver.
"Not really," Brown said at the conclusion of the Eagles' organized team activities last year. "I don't come into this season with any pressure, no chip on my shoulder. I'm totally relaxed and ready to have fun with the game."
How quickly things have changed.
Today, as the Eagles conclude their 2009 OTA in preparation for training camp, Brown is not relaxed.
There is a career's worth of pressure on him. It's unlikely that he's having much fun.
A disastrous 2008 season has left Brown in limbo as the Eagles prepare for '09.
"Well, I'm not starting this year, so that's something that's different," Brown said. "But I feel good. I feel healthy. I feel sharp right now.
"I'm just going to continue to keep working on things I need to and come into training camp even better."
This is not how it was supposed to be.
Brown's Eagle career was supposed to be ascending, not potentially flaming his way out of Philadelphia.
There will be no job security for Brown when the Eagles open training camp in August.
If he is still an Eagle then, he'll report to Lehigh University uncertain of where he stands, not sure if he'll even have a legitimate shot to make the roster.
"I really can't say for sure right now," Brown said. "It's minicamp, and how things were last year are pretty much how they are going to be in minicamps.
