Cardinals rookie receiver John Brown doing more than relying on physical talents in training camp

Have you ever been in a classroom or a meeting where there’s one person that seems to ask a question each step of the way?

Rookie wide receiver John Brown seems to be that guy for the Arizona Cardinals.

Although he brings many rare physical talents to the table, the Pittsburg State product has been trying to soak up all the advice he can from Cardinals coaches and colleagues, as he explained to Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s Bickley and Marotta on Friday.

“Things are going real good — just being around a bunch of players that are helpful and great and (have) been in the game for a long time,” Brown said. “So I just sit back and learn from those guys and I ask a lot of questions. So you know it kind of helps me out as a rookie coming in.”

Brown, the second pick of the third round in the 2014 draft, dished on which players he likes to pick the brains of the most: Fellow receivers Michael Floyd and Ted Ginn Jr. are among the go-to guys, but Brown said he’ll even go to defensive backs Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu to get some guidance.

The 5-foot-10 rookie also seems to have taken to heart what star receiver Larry Fitzgerald has said to him:

“He’s just like, ‘Oh, you have a great feel for the game. You just need to learn more, and it’ll be much easier,” Brown said.

The 24-year-old wideout also said he’s been working hard studying the team’s playbook, and he said he also benefits from learning everyone’s plays, not just his own.

Brown has been compared to a prominent wide receiver that used to play under current Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, and the rookie said he just so happens to be studying film of that exact player.

“Actually, for the last two months, I’ve been watching film on Marvin Harrison for a long time,” he said. “(I’m) trying to develop my game like his.”

Brown’s speed and elusiveness have been giving Cardinals defenders fits in training camp. He said he’s been clocked as fast as 4.27 seconds in the 40-yard dash, but he refused Friday to pronounce himself as the fastest player on the team. Instead, he simply had some positive words to say about his teammates and new home.

“When I first came in, it’s just you can feel the love around here,” he said. “It makes you want to be here.”

Brown may have been overlooked coming out of a Division II school, but he said he’s not surprised the start of his NFL career has been so well-received.

“I’ve always been the underdog. I’ve always had a point to prove,” he said. “Actually when I met Arizona at the (NFL Scouting) Combine, I told them, ‘I come from a small school, but I accept all challenges. I’m willing to compete, and I’m willing to help out the team.’ So I feel like I can be a big impact on this team.”

The wideout said he was going to be held out of practice Friday with a hamstring injury, but added that he’s OK and wouldn’t be sidelined long.

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