BYRON MAXWELL MAKES MOST OF SUPER BOWL OPPORTUNITY: BECOMES NEWEST BOOM BROTHER
So, Brandon Browner has been reinstated by the NFL
after the league levied a one-year suspension on him after testing positive for
marijuana. Browner was already in the
NFL's "drug program" after testing positive for marijuana, and at
least two other failed drug tests, and also for performance enhancing drugs on
at least "one other occasion".
There are technicalities that have allowed Browner to beat the NFL's
ruling of an indefinite suspension (no less than one year). Though, this is not
to suggest that he is (in any way) innocent of the infractions that he was
found to be guilty of by league officials.
He's a good player, not a great player, and not the kind of player that
the Seattle Seahawks need on the roster, let alone, to be worthy of an LOB
member. He was a decent game-day
contributor, but now, it is obvious that his needs outweigh those of his
teammates and that doesn't fly on a Pete Carroll coached football team. Seattle
has (at least) four other, corners on the roster who are better than him
(Maxwell, Thurmond, Lane, Shead) and the Seahawks just don't need him
anymore. Browner skill set is specific
to the Seahawks secondary style of play and he was protected by Thomas,
Chancellor and Sherman. That surrounding
support allowed him to play the physical press coverage that he specializes in,
despite his transgressions as a cover corner.
I believe Browner would have a difficult time fitting in to any of the
other 31 franchises in the league that primarily play coverage defense and zone
sets. Nevertheless, Browner chose to continue smoking pot after he was already
part of the NFL's "drug program" and therefore chose to damage his
teammates and coaching staff with his selfishness and lack of appreciation for
the golden opportunity to play America's favorite sport and be paid handsomely
for doing it. He's embarrassed himself, his team and I would imagine his
family. I would not consider bringing Browner back to the Seahawks circle of
trust. He's already made his decision to
think of his personal desires before that of his team, and the once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to be great at football's highest level. Move on Seattle and win another Super Bowl
without Browner. Because of Browner's and Thurmond's shortsightedness and
selfishness, a new superstar is quickly becoming worthy to be called one of the
legendary "Legion of Boom.” Byron
Maxwell has taken hold of his opportunity with both hands and has made the best
of another chance afforded him by a player who forgot Pete Carroll's most
important moniker for players inside the program. "Protect the Team" is a saying that
Coach Carroll has used with the players in all of his programs; college and
professional. Walter Thurmond benefited
from Brandon Browner's costly mistakes- and he made the most of his precious
opportunity…at least for a while.
Thurmond played superbly from the moment he stepped on the field as the
Seahawks new starter. Unfortunately, it
wasn't long before he would open the door for Byron Maxwell, the way that Browner
opened the door for him... with a pricey
lapse of judgment. Thurmond tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and
received a four-game suspension. He
missed four games down the stretch of what would become the Seahawks Super Bowl
run. Instead of playing in some of the
most important games the Seahawks would play, he sat at home in his living room
watching Byron Maxwell become the newest member of the vaunted "Legion of
Boom" and a new brotherhood was formed.
Now, Browner is a free agent and given another chance to play in the NFL
again; though with a lot of baggage, likely including a two to four-game
suspension for any team that decides to take a chance on him-- if any. Thurmond is a free agent and might be looking
at a new team this off-season, instead of playing another season for the
Seattle Seahawks who look just as dominant, if not more, than the team who
brought the Pacific Northwest its first Lombardi trophy. Seattle may choose to pass on a player who
decided that what he wanted temporarily was more important than the long-term
plans for the Seattle Seahawks to win a championship for the first time in
franchise history. Thurmond and Browner will both receive playoff and Super
Bowl paychecks as well as, almost "honorary" Super Bowl rings. One thing is for sure; Byron Maxwell will be
a Seahawk in 2014 and he will wear his Super Bowl ring with the rest of his
compatriots with pride and honor.
This is really a dichotomy of players going in
separate directions… It's easy to see where each player is going… Congratulations
to Byron Maxwell, the Seattle Seahawks new starting right corner, “Legion of
Boom” member and Super Bowl Champion!
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