Brown makes strong push for starting job

Alex Brown started 64 straight games for the Bears at right defensive end from 2003-06 and then, just like that, lost his job last off-season.

Brown was coming off a 2006 season in which he led all the Bears' linemen -- by a wide margin -- with 71 tackles. He also forced 3 fumbles, recovered 2 fumbles, picked off 2 passes and was second on the team with a career-best 7 sacks.

But Brown's job was given to Mark Anderson after the rookie flashed elite pass-rush potential with 12 sacks as a backup in 2006 while playing in passing situations.

The veteran did not take his demotion well, even though coach Lovie Smith tried to put a positive spin on it by pointing out that, in the Bears' defensive line rotation, the top three ends all get significant playing time.

To Brown, it was still a demotion.

"I take a lot of pride in being out there when the game starts," he said at the beginning of last year's training camp. "I take a lot of pride in not being injured, not being hurt, and if I am, then suck it up and go. I want to be on the field as much as possible. I'm no different than everybody else. I feel like I'm a starter. I don't feel like I'm a third defensive end on any team. But I guess on this team I am. I don't know."

For most of the first half of last season, Brown didn't play like a starter and former Pro Bowl alternate. Very few of the Bears did during a 3-5 start. But Brown finished strong with 3 sacks in the final four games, including 1 in each of the last two, when he got back in the starting lineup after Anderson suffered a sprained knee.

Brown also had an interception, a forced fumble and batted down 4 passes in the last two games. He finished second in tackles among linemen to left end Adewale Ogunleye.

During last weekend's minicamp, Brown had the play of the day when he jumped up at the line of scrimmage and somehow plucked a Rex Grossman pass intended to go downfield, impressing everyone, including Smith.

"Alex Brown's play, you can just kind of ask Alex what kind of player he is and he'll let you know it," Smith said with a smile. "He finished the (2007) season making plays like that, so we're expecting a lot more."

Brown may have started last season in a funk, but ultimately he put it behind him and seems to have come back as good as ever.

"People handle it different ways, and I'm pretty sure I did my fair share of whining and complaining," Brown admitted. "But it boils down to you want to win. I just pushed all that stuff aside."

If 11-on-11 drills in minicamp and organized team activities are an indication -- and they almost always are -- Brown has regained the starting job, since he and Ogunleye are taking all the practice reps with the first team.

A better indication was Feb. 18, when the Bears gave him a two-year contract extension through the 2011 season worth $15.5 million in new money, including $5 million guaranteed up front.

"I still haven't found the words for that. It meant a lot to me," Brown said. "It showed that they really wanted me to be around, so I'm happy to be around. It gave me satisfaction to know that I've got a few more years here, and I can just come out and play and I don't have to worry about that side of the game. I want to be somewhere where I can play and where I'm wanted, and I believe that's here."

Although he finished 2007 with a rush and is taking all his off-season snaps with the first team, Brown isn't taking anything for granted.

"I don't believe that you earn something the year before," he said. "People change. You either get better or you get worse. After the OTAs, minicamp and training camp, we've got to decide who are the two starters."