Cardinals hoping to bring Levi Brown back

Levi Brown has been a target of criticism from analysts
and fans alike since being selected with the fifth overall
pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

The Cardinals are certain to release Brown, unwilling to
pay the large amount of money that is due to him this
season, but are hoping to bring him back.

“I think Levi’s been in a tough position ever since he was
taken with the fifth pick of the draft,” Cardinals coach
Ken Whisenhunt said at the NFL Scouting Combine in
Indianapolis.

Whisenhunt talked about the fact that a lineman will have
some rough plays, but a team that throws the ball as often
as the Cardinals do will leave a tackle like Brown more
opportunities to slip up.

“With all that being said, I think over the last half of
our season this past year, when we needed it the most,
Levi played probably his best football,” Whisenhunt added.
“He was consistent, it was something that was important to
our team and hopefully that was a point where he’s
starting to get it from that standpoint.”

If Brown is starting to “get it,” now would be a bad time
for the Cardinals to let him go. Given the amount of money
they’ve paid him and time they’ve spent coaching him,
seeing him turn into the player they thought he’d be for
another team would be as unsightly as watching him try to
protect a QB earlier in the season.

Which is why the goal is to bring Brown back for next
season and beyond.

“We would love to have Levi back, and those discussions
with his agent are ongoing,” Cardinals GM Rod Graves said,
noting that the intensity of the discussions should pick
up over the next few days. “Obviously our objective is to
try to get a deal in place for him, to have him with us
for an extended period.”

And, though Graves said part of Brown’s strength is his
ability to play both right and left tackle, the plan is
for Levi to keep protecting the QB’s blind side.

“Right now he’s our left tackle, and until we get a better
one he’ll remain there,” he said.

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