Belichick Insists There Are No Issues With Browner Learning Patriots' System
BOSTON (CBS) -- A report surfaced Thursday afternoon that cornerback Brandon Browner was struggling to grasp the Patriots' defensive system, which is why he did not play in the team's win over Cincinnati last Sunday night.
But on Friday, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick told reporters that claim is not true.
"I don't think the learning part of it is any issue at all," Belichick told reporters. "Hasn't been since he's been here."
Browner was suspended for the first four games of the season, and was eligible to return in Week 5. When asked about Browner's progress, Belichick simply said it was "good."
The NFL Network's Albert Breer was asked about the report on Browner, which was made by The Boston Herald's Jeff Howe citing anonymous sources, and said the expectations for Browner may be too high in New England.
"Everything I've heard about Browner, they're going to have to use him in a specialized role," Breer told 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich. He's someone who does a couple of things very, very well. It fit what Pete Carroll wanted to do in Seattle. He's long, he can get in guys faces at the line. He can set a physical tone with the receivers. But he was brought in here to be a specialist. I don't think he's a guy that's going to be playing 70 snaps a game opposite Darrelle Revis.
"He's going to be a matchup guy for the Patriots," said Breer. "You only want to ask him to do certain things, and I think that's what he was brought here to do. [Playing time] is gonna be a matter of what the matchups dictate."
Browner, who signed a three-year deal with the Patriots in the offseason, missed practice on Thursday with an ankle injury. It's unclear if he will play Sunday afternoon when the Patriots play the Bills in Buffalo.
Tune in to Patriots-Bills Sunday afternoon on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the New England Patriots. Pregame coverage begins on 98.5FM at 10am, with three hours of postgame coverage following the game. WBZ-TV kicks off their coverage at 11:30am with Patriots GameDay, and will bring you Bill Belichick and Tom Brady's postgame press conferences on Patriots 5th Quarter over on myTV38 following the game.
MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON
