Bringing Back A Hometown Hero

ESPNBoston.com - 

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Ricky Brown played linebacker at Boston College from 2002-2005, and when he looks back at that part of his football life, a victory at Notre Dame stands out. Brown took a brief trip down Memory Lane on Saturday, reflecting on that 2004 game with Paul Peterson at quarterback, as well as his new beginning with the Patriots.

“It’s good to be back on the East Coast,” he said.

Brown signed with the Patriots on Saturday, adding depth to a linebacking corps that has been thinned by injuries. He first started playing the position at BC, making the transition from defensive back. Brown opened his BC career playing behind Brian Flores, who is currently a Patriots assistant coach, and got his first start in the 2003 Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl when Flores was injured. Now the two are reunited.

After going undrafted in 2006, Brown hooked on with the Raiders as a free agent.

“Oakland will always have a special place in my heart. It’s where I started my career,” he said. “I made some really good friends there. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Davis and the organization he has set up, but here’s a new chapter in my life and I’m ready to attack it.”

If Brown is to stick, he knows special teams will be crucial. He’s been down this road before.

“Coming in as an undrafted free agent in ’06 with Oakland, you basically have to make your name playing on special teams,” he said. “The first two years, besides playing in goal-line packages and one start here, one start there, it was basically special teams.”

As for his first day with the Patriots, Brown said, “This is a first-class organization through and through. I’m honored just to be on the team and I’m ready to go to work.”

You gotta love seeing a hometown hero coming back to play in New England.  Brown had his fun messing around over in California for a few years but now he's back on the East Coast and ready to actually make a name for himself in the NFL on a respectable team.  It just feels right when college players return home when they reach the next level.  Unfortunately, it doesn't happen as often as we'd like.  I still wish Matty Ryan was Brady's backup and Mark Herzlich was lining up besides Jerod Mayo ....we'd be set for the next decade.  But that just isn't realistic.  I wish Brown the best of luck this year on the Patriots and hope he learns how a real organization is run under Mr. Kraft.