Ralph Brown (cornerback)

Ralph Davis Brown II(born September 16, 1978) is an American former professionalfootballplayer who was acornerbackfor 10 seasons in theNational Football League(NFL). He playedcollege footballfor theNebraska Cornhuskers,earning consensusAll-Americanhonors in 1999. He played professionally for theNew York Giants,Minnesota Vikings,Cleveland BrownsandArizona Cardinalsof the NFL. He has biological children, but has given up his parental rights to them.

Ralph Brown

No. 22, 33, 20
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1978-09-16)September 16, 1978 Los Angeles, California,U.S.
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:	Bishop Amat Memorial (La Puente, California)
College:	Nebraska
NFL draft:	2000/ round: 5 / pick: 140
Career history
New York Giants(2000–2003) Washington Redskins(2004)* Minnesota Vikings(2004–2005) Cleveland Browns(2006) Arizona Cardinals(2007–2009)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
National champion(1997) ConsensusAll-American(1999) 3× First-team All-Big 12(1997–1999)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 245 Forced fumbles: 4 Fumble recoveries: 3 Pass deflections: 34 Interceptions: 6 Defensive touchdowns: 1 StatsatPro Football Reference

Early life

Brown was born inLos Angeles, California.He attended Charles Bursch Elementary School inBaldwin Park, Californiaas a child where he grew up. He also attendedBishop Amat Memorial High SchoolinLa Puente, California,where he was listed as the second-best defensive back in the country by Blue Chip and named to the Dream Team in 1995. He was named toUSA Today's second-team All-America squad in the same year. During Ralph's senior season, he was seventh in the state in rushing with 2,246 yards on 311 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown in the Lancers' Division I championship win over Los Angeles'Loyola Highin 1995. He earnedCIF Southern SectionPlayer of the Year and MVP, and theLos Angeles TimesBack-of-the-Year honors, scoring 29 times, including a school-record 6 in one game. Defensively, he had 57 tackles and six interceptions. He alsoletteredthree times intrack.As a sophomore and junior Brown notched all-state honors as a cornerback.

College career

Brown attended the University of Nebraska, where he played for theNebraska Cornhuskers footballteam from 1996 to 1999. He finished career with 143tackles,including 88 solo and is third on the Cornhuskers career list with 11interceptionsand first with 253 interception return yards. Brown also set a school record with 50pass deflections.He was recognized as a consensus first-teamAll-American,having been named to the first teams ofWalter Camp,College Football Newsand theSporting Newsas a senior in 1999. He was also a semifinalist for theJim Thorpe Award,given to the topdefensive backin the country. In 1997 and 1998, he was an All-Big Twelve Conferencefirst team selection. Brown was then an All-American third-team pick by theAssociated PressandCollege Football Newsin 1998. He became a member of the Big Twelve Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in 1997. One of sixtrue freshmenwho saw action for theHuskersin 1996, but the only one who earned astartingrole. Brown became the first position player at Nebraska to start his first game as a true freshman sinceWorld War II.

College statistics

Ralph Brown					Tackles					Interceptions
Year	School	Conf	G	GS	Solo	Ast	Tot	Sacks	Sacks-Yards	Int	PD	FF	FR
1996	Nebraska	B12	13	13	16	13	29	1	1-1	4	12	0	1
1997	Nebraska	B12	13	13	19	11	30	2	2–5	2	9	1	1
1998	Nebraska	B12	13	13	28	22	50	2	2–3	2	17	0	1
1999	Nebraska	B12	13	13	35	13	48	2	2–9	3	16	1	1

Notes - Statistics include bowl game performances.

Professional career

He was selected in the fifth round (140th overall) of the2000 NFL draftby theNew York Giants.He played four seasons with the Giants from 2000 to 2003. In his first year Brown played in two games. He was inactive for the season opener vs.Arizonaand saw his 1st NFL action atPhiladelphia,playing only onspecial teams.His only action was on special teams atChicago.He was forced to leave game in the 3rd quarter after taking a knee to the abdomen. Brown's injury was diagnosed as a laceration to the kidney. He was placed on season-endinginjured reserveon October 2.

Next year played in eight games, with no starts and finished season with two assisted tackles on defense and five special teams tackles (4 solo). 2002 was his best year so far, he played in all 16 games, including his first two NFL starts, atSt. Louisand atWashington.He was a reserve inNFC Wild Card gameatSan Francisco.He began the season as the dime (sixth) cornerback, but also played nickel corner. He finished with 25 tackles (19 solo), one interception, onefumblerecovery, three passes defensed and eight special teams tackles (six solo).

In his last season with the Giants, Brown contributed in the secondary as a reserve and spot starter and on special teams, providing depth to the defensive backfield. He demonstrated nose for the ball on several key plays last season. Brown played in 11 games, starting seven. He missed three games with a shoulder injury and was assigned to injured reserve prior to Week 16 atDallas.He finished the season with 41 tackles (28 solo), one sack, one forced fumble, two interceptions and one touchdown.

Brown also played for theMinnesota Vikingsfrom 2004 to 2005, theCleveland Brownsin 2006, and theArizona Cardinalsfrom 2007 through 2009.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2000	NYG	2	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2001	NYG	8	0	7	4	3	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2002	NYG	16	2	43	30	13	0.0	0	1	19	0	19	3	0	1	31	0
2003	NYG	11	7	37	32	5	1.0	2	2	51	1	29	8	1	0	0	0
2004	MIN	12	0	14	10	4	0.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2005	MIN	16	0	37	34	3	0.0	1	0	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	0
2006	CLE	16	4	36	33	3	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0	0	0	0
2007	ARI	16	0	31	28	3	0.0	0	1	5	0	5	1	3	1	0	0
2008	ARI	16	3	23	19	4	0.0	1	1	0	0	0	6	0	1	11	0
2009	ARI	16	1	17	16	1	0.0	0	1	85	0	80	3	0	0	0	0
		129	17	245	206	39	1.0	5	6	160	1	80	34	4	3	42	0

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2002	NYG	1	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2004	MIN	2	0	1	1	0	0.0	0	1	27	0	27	1	0	0	0	0
2008	ARI	4	0	4	4	0	0.0	0	2	3	0	3	2	0	0	0	0
2009	ARI	2	0	4	3	1	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
		9	0	9	8	1	0.0	0	3	30	0	27	4	0	0	0	0

See also

• History of the New York Giants (1994–present)