Joe Flacco has looked like a new quarterback this preseason. He's healthy (coming off back surgery a year ago), and he's extra motivated (team selected quarterback Lamar Jackson in the first round). And he's got John Brown on his side.
Two years in a row, Brown disappointed with the Cardinals, with a sickle cell issue and a variety of soft-tissue injuries. The Cardinals couldn't count on him anymore, so they let him go in free agency. But Brown says doctors removed a cyst from his spine that was causing the problems, and he's healthy now.
He's been drawing praise since the start of camp, and it's carrying over in his brief preseason appearances. He caught a touchdown last night, and a 17-yard pass in his other exhibition game. With the Ravens, he'll be one of their top 2 wideouts along with Michael Crabtree. If Flacco's poised for a big year, a healthy Brown is going to be a big part of it.
Back in 2015, Brown went over 1,000 yards for the Cardinals, basically as their No. 3 receiver for much of the year. His season included 11 receptions of over 20 yards, and 6 of at least 40 yards. Last year, only three wide receivers had more 40-yard receptions.
| 40-YARD RECEPTIONS, 2017 (PLUS 2015 BROWN) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | 20+ | 40+ |
| Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 75 | 1183 | 7 | 15 | 9 |
| Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 101 | 1533 | 9 | 27 | 7 |
| Brandin Cooks, N.E. | 65 | 1082 | 7 | 18 | 7 |
| 2015 John Brown, Ariz. | 65 | 1003 | 7 | 11 | 6 |
| Marvin Jones, Det. | 61 | 1101 | 9 | 20 | 6 |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 57 | 966 | 4 | 14 | 6 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt. | 58 | 917 | 7 | 12 | 6 |
| Adam Thielen, Minn. | 91 | 1276 | 4 | 20 | 5 |
| Ted Ginn, N.O. | 53 | 787 | 4 | 15 | 5 |
| Marquise Goodwin, S.F. | 56 | 962 | 2 | 13 | 5 |
| Kenny Golladay, Det. | 28 | 477 | 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 88 | 1444 | 3 | 23 | 4 |
| Keenan Allen, LAC | 102 | 1393 | 6 | 18 | 4 |
| Keelan Cole, Jac. | 42 | 748 | 3 | 11 | 4 |
| Mike Wallace, Balt. | 52 | 748 | 4 | 11 | 4 |
| Travis Benjamin, LAC | 34 | 567 | 4 | 10 | 4 |
| Jermaine Kearse, NYJ | 65 | 810 | 5 | 9 | 4 |
| A.J. Green, Cin. | 75 | 1078 | 8 | 9 | 4 |
| Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 75 | 991 | 8 | 18 | 3 |
| Robby Anderson, NYJ | 63 | 941 | 7 | 17 | 3 |
| Stefon Diggs, Minn. | 64 | 849 | 8 | 14 | 3 |
| Paul Richardson, Sea. | 44 | 703 | 6 | 13 | 3 |
| Tyrell Williams, LAC | 43 | 728 | 4 | 12 | 3 |
| Golden Tate, Det. | 92 | 1003 | 5 | 10 | 3 |
| Amari Cooper, Oak. | 48 | 680 | 7 | 9 | 3 |
| Nelson Agholor, Phil. | 62 | 768 | 8 | 9 | 3 |
| Davante Adams, G.B. | 74 | 885 | 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Sterling Shepard, NYG | 59 | 731 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
| Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 45 | 555 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Johnny Holton, Oak. | 9 | 218 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 96 | 1378 | 13 | 24 | 2 |
| Kenny Stills, Mia. | 58 | 847 | 6 | 14 | 2 |
| Rishard Matthews, Tenn. | 53 | 795 | 4 | 13 | 2 |
| Robert Woods, LAR | 56 | 781 | 5 | 12 | 2 |
| Cooper Kupp, LAR | 62 | 869 | 5 | 12 | 2 |
| Sammy Watkins, LAR | 39 | 593 | 8 | 9 | 2 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 71 | 1001 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
| Deonte Thompson, Chi-Buf | 38 | 555 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| Michael Crabtree, Oak. | 58 | 618 | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| Dez Bryant, Dall. | 69 | 838 | 6 | 8 | 2 |
| Brandon Coleman, N.O. | 23 | 364 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
| Will Fuller, Hou. | 28 | 423 | 7 | 7 | 2 |
| Brice Butler, Dall. | 15 | 317 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Josh Doctson, Wash. | 35 | 502 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| Torrey Smith, Phil. | 36 | 430 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| J.J. Nelson, Ariz. | 29 | 508 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Donte Moncrief, Ind. | 26 | 391 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Taylor Gabriel, Atl. | 33 | 378 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Taywan Taylor, Tenn. | 16 | 231 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson, Oak. | 31 | 309 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Odell Beckham, NYG | 25 | 302 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
I've got a feeling I'm going to have Brown on a lot of teams this season. Including my dynasty team, where I've patiently held onto him for four years, waiting for him to recapture that 2015 magic. Maybe this is the year.
--Andy Richardson