Drama Queens are Never Team Players
I don’t know what got Brown started down the narcissistic path of being a drama queen. Surely, part of that begins with his father and Brown Sr.’s view about the LOT role. Obviously, Brown thinks more highly of himself than do most fans. a person who often has exaggerated or overly emotional reactions to events or situations: Looking at the common nature of such people, you will see that the demand to be the center of attention and surrounding people must, by instruction, hold that person in the same esteem with which he views him/herself.
The term “drama queen” used in this case, is about Brown and his rollercoaster lifestyle. His self-esteem appears to now mean that he is holding a whole NFL Team hostage to his self-inflated view. That’s just what the Chiefs football team needs, Orlando, thank you very much!
For our purpose, Brown’s relationship with fans is superb and then alternates to a dreadful disaster. As for myself, I first viewed Brown this way, and then tempered my view over the past month feeling that he was worth some big money, but nothing like that paid to the top LOTs in the game. He did not play football at that level in 2021.
Here is what Brown did in 2021 with the Chiefs (PB Snaps 916):
o Brown allowed six sacks
o 13 quarterback hits
o 26 quarterback hurries
Those numbers aren’t bad, but they are not the numbers of a top 5 LOT in the NFL.
Unreasonable Demands
If Brown’s statistics do not align with Brown’s apparent self-image, what are the Chiefs going to do? There is a point where reason should come into the picture, and Brown (and/or his agent) appears to be defying that logic. I have already written that the Chiefs do not need a drama queen amid the players on the roster. As a result, if an agreement is not reached, adding Brown while overpaying him would be detrimental to the team while at the same time not aligning with the “Team Persona.” Not being “part of” doesn’t lead to unity and that is how things might end up — with a Brown hold-out. A hold-out in this case and in the face of the tough schedule coming up hurts the team. The Chiefs Team does not need such an event.
Jammal Brown, a mentor Orlando, made this observation: “…my understanding is the offer to Orlando Brown, who wants to be paid at the top of the left tackle market, which is $23 million per year, are more in line with the top of the right tackle market. Brown moved from the right side to the left side, he wanted to make that move, which is why he was traded from Baltimore to Kansas City. So, you could imagine how that is sitting with him.”
My take on this view is to refer to the above Brown Stats for 2021.
I know of no fans who do not expect players to be paid at an appropriate level for their services but in an off-season when the Chief’s decided not to overpay Tyreek Hill, how is it sensible to now over-pay Orlando Brown, Jr.? I want Brown to be paid to the level of his performance. In 2021, according to PFF, Brown was the #23 OT in the NFL. I do not mean Brown shouldn’t be paid well but not at the level of remuneration that Trent Williams or Ron Stanley are paid. If that is what Brown’s demand entails, then the Chiefs should pass and play him on the Franchise Tag ($16,662,000). Orlando is clearly not a top 5 LOT and as the PFF numbers show, he ranks considerably lower than other OTs including ROTs.
What I am stating here is that Brown’s demands are not in line with reality–how he views himself and what he is trying to get. Doug Farrar of TouchdownWire observes that Brown does not rank in the top 12 OTs (Right or Left). Farrar will publish an article on Friday which ranks all the OTs in the NFL.
What is the Proper Response?
Pete Sweeney laid out where things stand on Wednesday:
Orlando Brown’s valuation, if close to what Doug Farrar’s rating results in, makes Brown a good OT, but not a dominant player like Williams or Stanley as good examples. Again, I’d have to refer to the eee–y—eee–ball test from watching Brown during the 2021 season. He is good. He is not the player that he thinks he is. Charles Goldman’s article on the situation was illuminating and I wrote him a note regarding his piece:
“…I was all set to pay him something like the amount you highlight but not $25m per year. I am now quite irritated(again) at Brown. It turns out Brown is a prima donna, and we don’t need that on the Chiefs Roster. If we didn’t overpay Ty Hill, what sense does it make to turn around and overpay Brown? Geron Christian played LOT. Eric Fisher, if he can still play, would give us the basics and I would far prefer Fisher to Brown if Fish can still play. This is not earning Brown any favor of fans doing what he is doing. Write him out of the picture and go from there is my initial response to him. He wanted to be the LT. He got that. But he did not perform anywhere near what the top names in the Biz did and doesn’t deserve that type of contract. If he wants to sit out a year, so be it. The Chiefs should not allow him to hold out of training camp either. Brown has quickly become an albatross. Holding him hostage won’t work either.”
Review Goldman’s article at Chiefswire: https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/lists/kansas-city-chiefs-orlando-brown-jr-franchise-tag-reviewing-four-options/
Who are the Options, If Not Brown?
The obvious options on the roster include Geron Christian, Roderick Johnson, Darian Kinnard, Joe Thuney, and even Lucas Niang (when he gets back to playing condition). There is a free Agent mentioned by several authors: Eric Fisher. Whatever occurs, my point is that there are options and yielding to a “highwayman” doesn’t need to be one of them.
Veach should stick to his guns, force Brown to Play on the Franchise tag (noted above). Veach could trade Brown or just withdraw the tag and let Brown fly off into the sunset. It might be that in the 11th hour, the two sides come to an agreement. Assuredly, GM Brett Veach has stated that the Chiefs want Brown for the long-term role as the LOT. But not at $23-25M per year. A long-term contract is the right approach and Goldman’s suggestion fits Brown’s desire — to be one of the top OTs in the NFL in terms of remuneration. Personally, I think Brown is looking at what would happen contract-wise six years down the line. In his contract year, he would be thirty-one. That next contract would be tough to get top money at that age–unless he becomes a top performer among all LOTs.
As for me? I am not so sure he can be that kind of force on the offensive line. I am right back to the prima donna view of Mr. Brown and drama is his middle name.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne