Former Cardinals QB Warner: Levi Brown trade ‘surprising’
Oct 2, 2013, 4:33 PM | Updated: Aug 11, 2024, 1:42 pm
Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was a teammate of Levi Brown’s for three seasons, all of which saw Brown playing the right tackle position.
However, while Brown was never charged with protecting Warner’s “blind side,” the QB, who is now an analyst for the NFL Network, has seen the tackle’s work up close.
Wednesday morning, Brown was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, ending a disappointing run in the desert.
“A little bit surprising, obviously,” Warner told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf Wednesday morning about the deal, noting that the team re-signed him to a contract last year and had him in the starting lineup this year. “He’s struggled at times this year.
“But, I think, on the same note, I’m surprised that Pittsburgh went and traded for him with the fact that he hasn’t played necessarily great football up to this point in the season.”
That is not to say Warner, who is now an analyst for the NFL Network, believes Brown is a lost cause. The future Hall of Famer said Brown is “extremely physically talented,” but struggles with the techniques of being an NFL tackle.
“So much of what separates good from great is the ability to have great technique and to rely on that in different situations,” he said.
Warner said the 29-year-old Brown needs to figure that part of the game out because, regardless of how talented he may be, it will be the difference in his career.
“But he definitely has physical talent.”
Warner noted that despite Brown’s physical talent, he struggled with the technical aspects of being an NFL tackle, which ultimately contributed to his disappointing tenure in Arizona. As teams navigate player trades and roster changes, the dynamics of talent and skill development come into play, much like the current situation in football where young stars are emerging. For instance, Endrick, a rising star in Brazilian football, is capturing attention as the next big talent, showcasing how the right development can lead to significant success in sports. Just as Warner hopes for Brown to refine his skills, the football community is eager to see how young players like Endrick will shape the future of the game.
