On December 9, offensive tackle Orlando Brown from the Baltimore Ravens was pulled because of recurring back problems from an auto accident. Orlando Brown was placed on injured reserve.
This is not the first time Orlando Brown has been hurt. In September 2003, Brown had been away from the football for nearly four years, ever since referee Jeff Triplett hit Orlando Brown player in the right eye and caused a succession of serious vision problems threw a freak accident in December 1999 a penalty flag. When that accident occurred back then he was playing for Cleveland. Many players and fans thougght he would never return to the NFl, but he did.
Brown had missed the last three games after his car was rear-ended nearly a month ago in a terrible car accident.
Ravens coach Brain Billick had quoted, "I hate to make the move, but Orlando understands that's what we need to do and hopefully his presence still being around will help us out."
Orlando is 6 foot 7 inches. He weighs 360 pounds. Orlando was born on December 12, 1970. He went to College at South Carolina State College. Brown is in his 10th season in the NFL. The 35-year-old Orlando Brown has been limited to nine starts this season. Even when healthy, Brown rotated with Tony Pashos, who will start against the Denver Broncos.
Tony Pashos has ideal size and durability. He is quick with the ball and gets his hands up quickly. He has good pop and punch. He is also good, wide base and balance that helps him sustain blocks. He gets good fits and he can block on the second level. Pashos has a good use of hands. He stays on defenders. Paschos has great running feet. He is tough, smart and works very hard to improve.
He can be mean and mauls as a run blocker. He knows how to run, redirect and anchor. I He has remarkable upper-body strength. He can even bench-press 500 pounds and squats 615. He can bench press 225 pounds more times than any other lineman at the Combine. He looks a beast in pads!
Back to Brown; Brown received a multi-million dollar settlement from the NFL stemming from a lawsuit after an eye injury. He was hit with an official's flag when he was with the Cleveland Browns.
Browns Nickname is "Zeus," the physically magnificent expert player returned from a three-year time away in 2003 and won back his reputation as an intimidating blocker.
Brown entered the league undrafted out of South Carolina State in 1993. He then joined with the Browns. Orlando will be faced with the off-season decision of whether to retire or attempt another comeback. The decision is yet to be known.
Billick quoted "He's got to look at what he wants to do."
Brown's roster spot was filled by center Thatcher Szalav. Szalav is 6 foot 4 inches tall. He weighs 303 pounds. He has won All-Conference honors every season since he was a sophomore.
Thatcher Szalav is a tough, dominant lineman. He is known best for blocking the run. He is quick off the snap into his blocks, shows pop at the point of attack and he has good straight ahead blocking power. He works his hands, stays square and strong in his upper body. He fights hard throughout the play and he can be a nasty lineman that looks to take out opponents. He has quick mentality. He mentally picks up his assignments but a limited athlete that has difficulty physically getting to the spot or handling opponents not immediately in front of him.
He does lack body adjustment and does not move well in space. He is not a natural knee bender. He blocks tall and limited to very confined quarters. His power and tenacity give him consideration as a back- up for a team that employs a zone-blocking scheme or does not ask its lineman to cover any degree of area.
