One of the most star-crossed careers in recent NFL history likely ended Monday, when the Denver Broncos released defensive end Courtney Brown after the oft-injured seven-year veteran could not pass a physical examination.
Brown
The first player selected in the 2000 draft, Brown missed the entire 2006 season because of surgery on his left knee. In fact, over the past six seasons, the number of games Brown missed because of injury (51) outnumbered those in which he played (45).
It is unlikely that Brown, although only 29, will ever play in the NFL again.
The former Penn State star, chosen by the Cleveland Browns to start the 2000 draft, was often compared by scouts to future Hall of Fame member Bruce Smith when he was in college. Instead, he turned out to be overrated, overpaid and underproductive, largely because of a series of injuries.
Only once, in his rookie season, did Brown participate in all 16 games. He rang up a career-high 70 tackles that season, then never recorded more than 41 in a campaign. After notching nine sacks in his first two seasons, 4½ each year, he averaged only two sacks over the ensuing five seasons.
Brown was beset by ankle and knee injuries in 2001, a knee injury in 2002, a torn biceps in 2003, a left foot injury in 2004, a left elbow injury in 2005 and a knee injury in 2006. He underwent major surgeries on his right knee in 2001, his left knee in 2002, 2004 and 2006 and his left elbow in 2005.
There was some initial optimism he could return from knee surgery last August, but in October, the Broncos placed Brown on injured reserve.
If his career is over, Brown will be recalled as one of the biggest first-round failures in the game's recent history. Beyond the injuries, he was never the pass-rusher that league scouts projected he would be, and never a dominant defender, even when healthy.
In his five seasons in Cleveland, which released him after the 2004 campaign, it is believed he earned more than $25 million. For his career, Brown has appeared in 61 games and has 156 tackles, 19 sacks, seven forced fumbles and eight passes defensed.
In an unrelated matter, Denver on Monday officially signed unrestricted free agent quarterback Patrick Ramsey to the two-year, $4.5 million contract to which he agreed on March 7.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com