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As we meander our way through players who could be free-agent targets for the New York Giants when 2015 NFL free agency opens on March 10 we will keep coming back to the safety position. If you are a Giants fan, you know why.
Antrel Rolle, Stevie Brown and Quintin Demps are free agents. Nat Berhe and Cooper Taylor are unknowns. The first safety we discussed was Da'Norris Searcy of the Buffalo Bills. Today, let's add Indianapolis Colts safety Sergio Brown to our list.
Brown, 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, is a five-year veteran who broke into the league with the New England Patriots in 2010. The 26-year-old spent two years in New England and the last three with Indianapolis. Eight of Brown's 11 career starts came in 2014. In 539 snaps, Brown earned a +5.3 Pro Football Focus grade (+3.9 in pass coverage) and had six passes defensed. Brown had a 64.9 passer rating against, and the longest completion he allowed when targeted was 16 yards.
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So, what is Brown? Is he an emerging player finally ready for a full-time role? Is he really a special teams guy who did well in a limited opportunity, but isn't a full-time starter?
Here is Josh Wilson of SB Nation's Colts web site, Stampede Blue, on Brown:
"Sergio Brown is a good player to have around for any team, as he provides a number of roles. Firstly, he can be a terrific special teams player. The Colts really didn't use him as much on special teams this year because he was playing with the defense more, but he's been as good of a special teams guy as you could want. This year, he also saw some playing time at safety, starting eight games. He first got the starting spot when LaRon Landry was suspended, but then he kept the job for several games upon Landry's return," Wilson said. "Brown is a very solid safety who did outplay Landry this season for the Colts, and his strength comes in coverage. He isn't a great safety but he's definitely a guy who can start some games with success. The Colts players and coaches praised him for bringing an added level of energy and passion to the secondary, and that's really who he is. He's a hard worker who is a great special teams player and a solid safety."
Wilson believes the Colts would like to have Brown back, but as a depth player and not a full-time starter.
"If he gets an offer from a team as a starter then he might very well take it," Wilson said. "Otherwise, I think the Colts would take him back as a spot starter, depth safety, and special teams player."
You might remember Brown from when Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots did this to him:
Would you be interested in Brown as a replacement for Demps or Brown with the Giants?