Duane Brown isn’t going again to Seattle with a chip on his shoulder.
He has sufficient ache from taking part in by a torn rotator cuff with out carrying any additional figurative weight.
Brown will begin at left sort out Sunday for the Jets in opposition to the Seahawks, who let him stroll in free company — even after he made the Professional Bowl final 12 months in his age-36 season, his fifth in Seattle — due to a plan to go along with rookies because the bookends to their offensive line.
“I by no means felt anyone owed me something on this league,” Brown advised The Publish. “Should you take a look at all strikes they made, there have been lots of veterans they moved on from. I don’t have any animosity towards them, however on the identical time I need to win.”
When the Jets introduced their annual staff awards Friday, Brown was the recipient of the newly created “Selfless Warrior” honor voted on by the coaches for “giving probably the most of himself to the staff.”
“It is vitally uncommon, very uncommon for somebody like Duane Brown to undergo a season like he has and to sacrifice what he has when he [doesn’t need] to sacrifice something,” head coach Robert Saleh mentioned. “There’s a motive why he’s had so a few years [15] within the league, there’s a motive why he’s acquired many extra years left within the league, and there’s a motive why he’s been a [five-time] Professional Bowler for therefore lengthy and he’s made a lot cash.”
Requested concerning the specifics of his sacrifice, Brown pointed to his shoulder.
“I’m grateful for the setting they’ve created right here,” Brown mentioned. “They admire that I’ll do no matter to be on the market each Sunday. If I’m on the market, I’m anticipated to play at a excessive stage.”
Brown joined the Jets late in coaching camp and shortly injured his shoulder. He missed the primary 4 video games, however opted in opposition to season-ending surgical procedure, which was essential then as a result of Mekhi Becton was out for the season and George Fant was banged up. His presence turned much more essential when the Jets misplaced Alijah Vera-Tucker and Max Mitchell for the 12 months.
“It’s not simple to play by,” Brown admitted. “I didn’t must play to make my [$10 million] this 12 months, however I’m right here to do my job. It was instilled in me by my mother and father to have a particularly arduous work ethic. On this league, in case you are a younger participant, you are attempting to show you belong. In your prime, making an attempt to show that you would be able to be elite. If you’re a brilliant vet, making an attempt to point out you’ll be able to nonetheless do it at a excessive stage and making an attempt to point out the younger guys the right way to be resilient.”
Defensive sort out Quinnen Williams, who was voted staff MVP, marveled at what Brown endures. Brown has allowed one sack on 409 pass-blocking snaps, per Professional Soccer Focus.
“Possibly the most important inspiration on this locker room simply to see the ache he goes by week-in and week-out on the age that he’s, with the cash he’s made and all of the accolades he has,” Williams mentioned. “He might’ve been egocentric and nervous about himself, however he laid it on the road for a gaggle of men he simply met this 12 months. I need to grow to be the kind of veteran and chief that he’s.”
The respect crosses the road of scrimmage in opposition to the Seahawks.
“I’ve lots of nice reminiscences and friendships there,” Brown mentioned. “It’s loud and the fan base creates a hostile setting for opposing groups. We’re each taking part in for lots, and I’m actually trying ahead to it.”