Gunzlingr
06-09-2003, 07:18 AM
When full-squad minicamp opens for the Browns tomorrow, many eyes will focus on quarterback Tim Couch and his fight to keep his starting job.
But off to the side, there's another former No. 1 overall pick fighting just as big a battle.
It's defensive end Courtney Brown, and he's fighting to get back on the playing field after under going an inno vative proce dure in Dec- ember on his left knee called microfracture surgery.
For Brown, it's not just a mission to get back on the field, but to stay on it: He's missed 16 games over the past two seasons with injuries to both knees, his left ankle and his neck.
The good news for Brown is that about 70 percent of NFL players return to action after microfracture surgery - a procedure aimed at cartilage regeneration - and play for an average of about five more seasons.
Will he be one of the lucky ones?
MORE (http://www.cleveland.com/browns/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/105515481671432.xml)
But off to the side, there's another former No. 1 overall pick fighting just as big a battle.
It's defensive end Courtney Brown, and he's fighting to get back on the playing field after under going an inno vative proce dure in Dec- ember on his left knee called microfracture surgery.
For Brown, it's not just a mission to get back on the field, but to stay on it: He's missed 16 games over the past two seasons with injuries to both knees, his left ankle and his neck.
The good news for Brown is that about 70 percent of NFL players return to action after microfracture surgery - a procedure aimed at cartilage regeneration - and play for an average of about five more seasons.
Will he be one of the lucky ones?
MORE (http://www.cleveland.com/browns/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/105515481671432.xml)