As far as Brandon Browner’s NFL career goes, this week’s news that announced the end to his indefinite suspension was the difference between life and death.
The current and about-to-be-ex-Seattle Seahawks cornerback will be a free agent when the new league year begins on March 11 at 4 p.m. Eastern. Browner, the 6’ 4” 220-lb. oversized wide receiver intimidator out of Oregon State was essentially left for dead with the December 2013 ruling that announced his indefinite suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Whew!
As announced by Browner, the NFL and the NFL Players Association, Browner’s indefinite suspension is now over. If it weren’t over, Browner’s NFL career would be about to be taken off of life support. If the suspension stood, the then 30-year-old Browner would have little-to-no chance at landing on another NFL roster, with the earliest chance at overturning his suspension in mid-December, 2014. As a suspended policy violator on the wrong side of 30, the earliest possibly re-entry into the league Browner could hope to find would be at the end of the regular season — if then.
Teams unlikely to make the playoffs or out of the playoffs would have no reason to risk bringing in an aging policy risk. The remaining few teams still in the playoff contention that might have an interest in Browner’s case would have to suffer a sudden roster loss of defensive backs to warrant the risk/reward of integrating a new player into their defensive scheme. Playoff teams are usually stocked with good players playing well, so late-season newbies are rarities.
It was looking grim for Browner, indeed.
So you’re telling me there’s a chance …
Browner’s updated league status is not all flowers and chocolates, however. As announced, Browner will still have to endure a four-game suspension at the start of the league year. This, no doubt, will not be looked upon favorably by any team currently considering free agent veteran cornerbacks.
Beyond the league-imposed four-game suspension, Browner will also have to sacrifice eight game checks, as part of his deal negotiated with the league. While financially painful, at least this portion of the pain is born exclusively by Browner and not his next team, which will not further impede his ability to be employed as a player in the NFL. The way the fine breaks down, Browner’s next team will not pay him for the first four weeks of the season, but will pay him for the next four weeks. The money from these next four weeks will be remitted to the NFL.
On the plus side, Browner’s new suspension deal now means that he can participate in offseason and pre-season team activities; a privilege he would not have enjoyed had his indefinite league suspension remained in force.
Assuming Browner, who is now a much smaller chunk of kryptonite to a team’s roster, gets on an NFL roster this offseason, his contract will likely be short-term, minimum salary with a modest (if any) signing bonus. The carefully worded constraints of the additional four weeks’ worth of game checks apply to weekly game pay only and not to any bonuses he may be able to negotiate.
Of course, NFL teams are less likely to award a hefty signing / roster / workout / other bonus to an older player on a short-term contract that will play less than a full season, but that’s better than never playing another down of NFL football again, right, Brandon?
Whither Seattle?
As for the Seahawks, Browner’s departure next week is a given. However, a return to the Seahawks is not entirely out of the question. If you look at NFL teams that would be interested in an oversized intimidator at cornerback with Pro Bowl credentials, look no farther than the Seattle Seahawks, who have shown they are willing to deal with a few character risks. It’s also true that the Seahawks suddenly have a hole at their starting cornerback spot, plus Browner is a low-cost option. If the Seahawks believe Browner’s NFL policy issues are behind him — and they are the team that knows his situation the best — Browner could very well make it back to the Pacific Northwest.
Julian Rogers is a freelance writer, communications consultant and owner of Juju Eye Communications. Follow him on Twitter (@mrturophile), or connect with him on LinkedIn and Google+.
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