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Brown driven to be No. 1 WR
Go ahead and say it: Reggie Brown isn't a No. 1 wide receiver.
Fret over his inexperience. Whine about the Philadelphia Eagles' paucity of go-to receivers. Protest their failure — or reluctance — to pursue a marquee receiver.
Make the obvious comparison. Brown couldn't come close to matching the ability of his predecessor, Terrell Owens.
Fill up the internet chat rooms. Air your gripes on sports talk radio. Blog until your fingers turn blue.
You're helping Brown, fueling the fire that already burns within.
"Every time I get criticized," the second-year wideout deadpanned, "it just makes me motivated. I just want to prove everybody wrong."
He feeds off skeptics and doubters like sharks do wayward surfers, allowing hype and conjecture to boil beneath the surface before he releases a maelstrom of pent-up vitriol on the most vulnerable target: himself.
When Brown feels slighted, like when draft pundits last April said Brown lacked the physical tools and consistency to make an impact in the NFL, he ratchets up an already-grueling workout regimen to a level that seems more absurd than productive.
In high school, Brown enhanced his agility by sprinting full speed through the backwoods of Carrollton, Ga., shucking and diving through its vast patches of peach trees.
At the University of Georgia, Brown carved a reputation for mastering the infamous mat drills, a series of punishing exercises designed to test the human body's limit. A Florida State player once died during a mat drill. Brown often wore a weight vest while he did them.
"He's one of the strongest, fastest, most athletic guys we've had come through Georgia," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said. "Reggie's built better than mostly any receiver I've ever coached."
Richt, a former Florida State assistant, could recall only one other athlete with Brown's affinity for the workout room: Deion Sanders.
Brown likes to invent unique ways to put his body through the grinder. He has biked more than 50 miles in an afternoon, jump-roped from one neighborhood to another (with ankle weights on), practiced route-running for hours in 100-plus-degree temperatures.
"I just try unorthodox ways to train myself," he said. "I just think of stuff on the go. I just try to think of something that would be hard, to make me that much better."
Try this for difficult: Tossed into the fire known as Andy Reid's intricate West Coast offense last season after the team had exiled Owens, Brown ended his rookie campaign with 43 catches for 571 yards and four touchdowns.
The 43 catches were an Eagles rookie record. The 571 yards were most among all rookies in 2005-06. The quarterback he was most often forced to connect with was Mike McMahon.
"For me to have even tried to learn it (the West Coast offense) in that one year, last year, would be ridiculous," Brown said. "It just wasn't possible for me to do that. I think this year I'll have a much better grasp on the offense and be able to play in a lot more positions and have that many more opportunities to get a football thrown to me."
Mike Mayock, a former New York Giants defensive back and draft guru for the NFL Network, said receivers rarely make an impact on offense until their third NFL season.
"For the most part, it takes a good two years to get comfortable in an NFL offense," Mayock said.
Under most circumstances, someone with Brown's potential would be applauded and anticipated. In the Philadelphia region, where impatience grows with each season added to the Super Bowl title drought, Brown is viewed as unseasoned, unpolished and unfit to inherit the torch from that guy who goes by two initials.
The front office, apparently, has sided with Brown. The Eagles passed on Eric Moulds, watched Antwaan Randle El sign with division-rival Washington and showed faint interest in Keyshawn Johnson, Joe Jurevicius and David Givens.
"It doesn't surprise me. The guy's got all the tools you could ever hope for," Richt said. "He's very serious about becoming a great player."
But fans' cries grow louder for disgruntled Green Bay Packers receiver Javon Walker while intrigue in next weekend's NFL Draft intensifies. By hook or crook, they crave someone capable of refueling an offense that went from explosive to implosive in one injury-riddled, Owens-ravaged season. Someone with more name value than Brown.
Brown hears the echoes of the fickle fan. His response? Bring on the competition.
"Whoever they bring, I feel like I can still play. I really don't care," he said. "It's just a challenge. The better the person is, it's just going to make me work harder and perform better."
Or at very least hit the workout room again.
Brown driven to be No. 1 WR
Brown driven to be No. 1 WR
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