Cleveland.com posted today by way of The Baltimore Sun that former Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Orlando Brown has passed away. He was reportedly found unresponsive in his Baltimore apartment. Police don’t suspect foul play.
Brown probably wouldn’t have been a memorable Cleveland Browns player if not for an incident where he pushed Jeff Triplette after getting hit in the eye with a penalty marker that was weighted with some quantity of metal BBs. The story was interesting because Brown ended up being very injured by the penalty flag, but nobody knew it at the time.
The attack on the referee was first viewed far more scandalously than it ended up being viewed in hindsight after the extent of the injury was known. It was like a lesson in controversy and outrage as Brown found himself going from indescribable villain to a more sympathetic misunderstood guy who lost three seasons of his NFL career.
Brown eventually made it back to the field with the Baltimore Ravens after receiving a settlement with the NFL over his injury at the hands of Triplette’s penalty flag. Unfortunately, that’s where the story ends for 6’7″ giant Orlando Brown. At the young age of 40, he has passed away.
