MIKE BROWN -- BEARS’ STARTING STRONG SAFETY

Friday, December 21, 2007

MIKE BROWN -- BEARS’ STARTING STRONG SAFETY

I like Bob Sanders OK, I guess. But I actually liked him better the first time around when he was known as Mike Brown.

It's starting to seem like people don't realize that Mike Brown was Bob Sanders before Demond Sanders was Bob Sanders. Needless to say--living and working in the Indy market, I have just about ODed on one Sanders talk this Fall. On the show I produce, they often do a bit called "Sanders' Snaps," where the hosts speak in hyperbole about Demond Sanders as if he were freaking Bill Brasky (of SNL fame). Trust me, it's absolutely hilarious.

One of them is "Seventy-one percent of the Earth is covered by water...the rest is covered by Bob Sanders." See I told you. They're really terrific. Just fantastic stuff.

But it got me thinking about how different the Colts' defense looked toward the end of the regular season last year. They were the worst. Then Demond Sanders comes back and they win the Super Bowl.

Then it got me thinking about what a difference Mike Brown makes in the Bears' defense. And how no one talks about it. The Bears' defense was flat out dominant in the season opener at San Diego. They absolutely shut down LaDanian Tomlinson, and overcame a pathetic offensive performance to even keep it close. But Mike Brown got hurt in that game.

The next day I was listening to Colin Cowherd before the news came down that Brown was out for the season. Despite the Bear loss, Cowherd was going on and on about how awestruck he was by the Bears' defense. "If the Bears' defense stays healthy," he crowed, "you can pen them in the NFC championship game. Write it down."

Then Brown was out for the year. Then the Bears lost 34-10 to the Cowboys (their only blowout of the year, by the way). All of a sudden, "Man, the Bears' defense sucks!!!"

I asked Brian Peterson right around that time, "How come it is when Demond Sanders is hurt and the Colts' defense sucks it's 'because Bob Sanders is hurt,' but when Mike Brown is hurt and the Bear defense struggles it's simply 'the Bears' defense sucks'?"

He had no answer, but the fact of the matter is...Brian Urlacher is the superstar of the Bear defense. Mike Brown is the leader, best player, catalyst, and biggest run stopper. Sound like someone else you know?

When Mike Brown is out, the Bear defense becomes normal. (As an aside, when you also take Nathan Vasher, Lance Briggs, Dusty Dvoracek, Charles Tillman, Adam Archuleta and Tommie Harris away from the Bears' defense and they become downright pathetic).

But no one ever mentions it. Nor do many experts remember that Brown didn't play in the Super Bowl last year. However, I have had had more than one level-headed Colts' homer tell me that "the Super Bowl would have been a completely different story if 'you guys' [sic] had Tommie Harris and Mike Brown healthy."

For some inexplicable reason, people think that Demond Sanders ushered the era of the little hard-hitting strong safety into the NFL. "He changed the way the position is played." That's not true. I don't know who did, but Mike Brown was doing what Demond Sanders does as far back as 2000. Demond came into the league in 2004.

The only real difference between Mike and Demond is that Brown has big play capability. He absolutely made a name for himself with a lot of late-game exploits in 2001. Other than that, they're both run-stopping, hard-hitting, undersized, oft-injured strong safeties. Let me show you what I mean from the pro-football reference site.

Mike Brown is a 1-time Pro Bowler & 2-time All-Pro.

Demond Sanders is a 1-time Pro Bowler & 1-time All-Pro
(forgive me, I wrote this a few weeks ago before the 2007 announcements came down...)


Mike Brown was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 2nd round of the 2000 draft.

Demond Sanders was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2nd round of the 2004 draft.


Mike Brown is 5'10, 212

Demond Sanders is 5'8, 200.


Mike Brown has missed major portions of three of the past four seasons.

Demond Sanders has missed major portions of two of the past three seasons.


They're both energetic, over-achieving players with good speed and good field awareness. Both have variations of braided hair, and are both good for an interesting quote or three in the postgame.


Now the differences...

Mike Brown has 14 career interceptions. Demond has 4. Brown has 4 sacks. Demond has none. Brown has 7 TDs. Demond has 1. And Brown single-handedly won multiple games with clutch play in 2001.

I'm not saying that Mike Brown is as good of an NFL football player as Bob. I'm saying that he's no less important to his team. And that Sanders did not re-invent the safety position.

Does Mike Brown hit as hard as Demond Sanders? Hey maybe not. But the point is, they both transform the run defense for their teams. And neither of them can come close to staying healthy, so maybe it's actually a moot point.

There has been talk that the Colts do not wish to re-sign Sanders when his contract is up, and that the Bears plan on pursuing him. My thought? Maybe...but I'd rather see what you can do with your own healthy "Bob Sanders" before pursuing a duplicate. Especially one who is only three years younger.