Phantoms Add More Depth to Defensive Backfield
Jim Parcels
Wednesday February 20, 2002
Brown, 27, is a two-year veteran of NFL Europe with the Barcelona Dragons. He led the first-place club in 2001 with 42 tackles from his starting corner position. He also recorded a club-high 10 defended passes and one interception.
It is expected Brown will compete for the #3 Defensive Specialist spot against incumbent Delphine Lee. If he is not successful in cracking the DS role, he will have a tough time cracking the Phantoms’ WR/DB corps with little previous offensive experience.
Brown is a native of Detroit, Michigan and was originally drafted in the 7th round in 1997 by the Eagles after a career at Central State (OH). He was allocated to the Dragons by the Denver Broncos in the spring of 2000. During his rookie NFL Europe campaign in Barcelona he recorded 16 total tackles and broke up 3 passes in a reserve role.
The 5-10, 195 lbs natural cornerback saw action in the 1997 NFL season between Philly’s active roster and practice squad, mostly in special teams.
Brown also had workouts and practice roster experience with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1997-98) and the Seattle Seahawks (1999). Brown spent time in CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos Camp in 1999.
Earlier this month veteran defensive specialists Michael Hicks and Mario Smith were waived by Stoute making the Phantoms defensive backfield situation a little clearer going into camp. Hicks saw action in six games while Smith suited up for only two contests in 2001 as the third DS.
Expect to see Anthony Derricks and newly acquired Tommy Henry start in the defensive backfield with Lee and Brown competing for the #3 slot.
Tales from the Crypt:
Stoute has three free agents still yet to sign from last year’s club. Captain OL/DL Connell Spain, WR/LB Ty Law and FB/LB Daren Wiliams, all AFL veterans, are still out on the open market… Earlier this month the club waived TE/DE Jerness Gethers and WR/DB Deumaine Reeder along with Hicks and Smith. All four had experience last year with the club in limited roles. The only real surprise was Gethers being handed his walking papers… Stoute currently has a coaching staff comprised of former Milwaukee Mustang field boss Rick Frazier (Asst. Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator), Michael Custer (Special Teams and FB/LB Coach) and Mark Lazaruk (Quality Control). Expect the addition of a Line Coach in the coming weeks… OK folks, time for a little trivia – in July of 1996 the AFL’s Albany Firebirds signed a WR/DB who was working in a coffee distribution warehouse in South Carolina. That new player supplanted current Phantoms star Charlie Davidson from a roster spot. The name of the player? None other than SuperBowl star David Patten of the New England Patriots… The Phantoms are holding an open free agent workout on Friday, March 8th at their Training Facility at the Coffee Time Soccer Centre in Woodbridge… The regulars will be in town beginning March 23rd for entry physicals with camp starting on the 25th… Look for an interesting battle in camp at the backup WR/LB position between veteran Nakia Jenkins and AF2 signee James Dickerson – especially if Ty Law isn’t resigned… So far Matt George looks to be entering camp as the only kicker on the Phantoms roster. “K-12” had a solid season last year placing 7th in the league in kicking efficiency.
Jim Parcels was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2002 season.
