Football
Associated Press 19y

Kicker always knew a strong leg was his ticket to NFL

CHENEY, Wash. -- Josh Brown grew up on a cattle farm and
played eight-man high school football in tiny Foyil, Okla. Even
then, Brown knew his powerful right leg could take him places.

"I knew it was my way out," Brown said Sunday between workouts
at Seahawks training camp. "No one had even been to college in my
family.

"I thought, 'This is a good chance to get out and see the
world, experience different things that no one in my family had
ever done."

Brown starred at Nebraska, then took over the kicking duties in
Seattle after being selected in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL
draft.

He converted 22 of 30 field goals and all 48 of his extra-point
tries as a rookie, then set a team record last season by hitting 92
percent of his field goals.

So is Brown surprised at his success so far? "Without sounding
arrogant -- no," he says with a smile.

Kickers are known for their quirky personalities, and coach Mike
Holmgren said Brown is no exception.

"He's right in there with the great quirks I've ever seen,"
Holmgren joked. "But he's a very talented young guy, and he really
has developed into a fine kicker."

Brown was an outstanding running back, free safety, kick
returner and punt returner in high school -- not to mention a solid
basketball player and 6-foot-8 high jumper. But he knew his future
was as a kicker.

"I wasn't a fool," he said. "I'm realistic. I knew where my
meal ticket was."

He's also more than willing to verbally spar with teammates who
joke about the merits of being "only" a kicker.

"I'm not worried about them doing it, but there's a lot of
people on this team who are good men who understand the game. As
much as they want to tease me, they understand my role," he said.

The Seahawks make their preseason debut Friday at New Orleans.
Holmgren said Sunday that starting running back Shaun Alexander and
backup Maurice Morris, who are nursing hamstring injuries, may not
play.

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