The Facts: Brown added 10 pounds of muscle, mostly to his upper body this, this offseason HC Arians said. Brown is still listed as the same size as last year: 5-11 and 179 pounds, but if the added strength "helps me with press coverage and things like that, I'll give a lot of people trouble in this league," Brown said.
Diehards Line:
A third-round pick, Brown was productive as a rookie, with 48 receptions for 696 yards and five touchdowns. But he didn't score in the final seven games and caught just nine passes for 127 yards in the last four. Vowing not to let that happen again, Brown changed his lifestyle this offseason. According to Republic staffer Kent Somers, he's no longer a foreigner to massages or the team's athletic training facility. Brown also eliminated fast food from his diet. Today, he feels stronger and faster. The heartburn that often bothered Brown in practices is gone, too. "Once I went to practice without fast food (in my stomach), I felt so much better," Brown said. "I've put on a lot of muscle, and I'm feeling stronger and better." Coaches have noticed that Brown isn't getting knocked around like last year, but the real test will come when contact begins in training camp in late July. And it's worth watching.