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Andre Brown getting his chance with Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - New York Giants running back Andre Brown just wouldn't take no for an answer even though he heard it repeatedly while trying to get his NFL career started.

Giants running back Andre Brown runs the ball game against the Carolina Panthers. (Mike McCarn/AP)
Giants running back Andre Brown runs the ball game against the Carolina Panthers. (Mike McCarn/AP)Read more

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - New York Giants running back Andre Brown just wouldn't take no for an answer even though he heard it repeatedly while trying to get his NFL career started.

Brown has been waived by five NFL teams, including the Giants since they made him a fourth-round draft choice in 2009.

But when the Giants visit the Eagles in Sunday night's NFC East matchup, Brown could play a prominent role after enjoying a career game with 113 yards rushing and two touchdowns in last week's 36-7 win at Carolina.

Though Ahmad Bradshaw is expected to return as the starter after missing the Carolina game because of a neck injury, Giants coach Tom Coughlin said that Brown has earned more playing time.

Before this season, Brown had appeared in four NFL games, three with Denver and one with Indianapolis, both in 2010. And since he was drafted by the Giants, the 6-foot, 227-pound running back from North Carolina State has been a fixture on the NFL transactions wire.

He was waived by the Giants (twice), the Broncos (twice), the Colts (twice), the Carolina Panthers, and the Washington Redskins.

That tested Brown's will, and he conceded that he considered packing it in at times. He credits his family for his perseverance.

"My parents were there and continued to tell me to fight, and that is what I did," Brown said.

Finally, last week, he was rewarded by having a big game in his home state.

"It felt excellent to go there to my hometown and be productive, and it was great especially to do it in front of my mom and family," Brown said. "It was an awesome experience."

The previous week, Brown had 71 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in a 41-34 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brown could be forgiven if his hat size has gotten bigger with this newfound attention, but he has remained humble.

"I know how quickly people can be building me up, and I can also get knocked down," Brown said. "It is humbling for me, and I will go out and continue to work hard."

The Giants (2-1) have had success in the past with multiple backs sharing the load. In addition to Bradshaw, the Giants have first-round pick David Wilson of Virginia Tech, who made a critical fumble in the opening loss to Dallas and has carried the ball just six times. Former Plymouth Whitemarsh standout Da'Rel Scott was inactive the first two games but had six carries for 9 yards against Carolina.

Coughlin said that when it comes to running backs, he likes to go with the hot hand. He also said that a team can't have enough quality backs.

"We're just happy to have the opportunity to develop players," the coach said. "They will all have a chance to contribute."