FOXBORO, Mass. — Donald Brown knows the pressures of protecting a franchise quarterback well.
Brown, who signed with the New England Patriots last month, has, save for his season with the Indianapolis Colts when Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky were under center, only played with elite quarterbacks.
“I’ve had the good fortune of playing with phenomenal quarterbacks: Peyton (Manning), Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers, now Tom Brady,” Brown said Thursday. “I’m playing with the best of the best, so they all demand a lot, and that’s what I’m all about. I’m here to help any way that I can, and I love to play at a high level, and that’s what we’re all here for, to play at a high level, compete at a high level and win a lot of games.”
As a sub back, Brown’s role has been to catch passes from and block for those QBs. He has 120 career receptions for 1,066 yards with two touchdowns and likely will compete with James White to back up Dion Lewis in 2016.
“When you work with elite level quarterbacks, you’re going to throw the ball, so you need to protect them,” Brown said. “In college, it’s a lot different, they hand you the ball every time you’re on the field. Having that past experience, and the importance of pass protection. It’s important. That’s my No. 1Â job is to keep the quarterback on his feet and to keep him clean.”
Brown, in his short time getting to know Brady during the offseason workout program, can already see similarities between the Patriots quarterback, Manning, Luck and Rivers.
“Just attention to detail, their work ethic, their football I.Q., the passion, the love they have for the game,” Brown said. “Just in my brief meeting with Tom, it’s the same. Just loves the game, hard worker, diligent, and that’s what makes him great.”
Thumbnail photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
