Redskins linebacker Zach Brown is out on a revenge tour this season.
"I'll make other head coaches pay for not drafting me or picking me up," Brown, who signed a one-year deal worth up to $4.65 million back in April, told ESPN's John Keim. "I feel [people] still don't respect me, so for me I have to prove myself again. I always play with a chip on my shoulder. If you don't respect my game, I will make you respect my game."
The culmination of this plan?
"I want to win the defensive MVP," Brown said.
This quote will be passed around and likely mocked -- and not just because Luke Kuechly, Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis are the only true linebackers to win the award since 2000. But also, as ESPN notes, Brown is not currently running with the starters.
However, Brown made the Pro Bowl in 2016 after picking off a pass, breaking up four more, forcing two fumbles and logging four sacks alongside his team-high 97 solo tackles. It was a massively productive season in Rex Ryan's last year as a head coach and continued a nice trend for Brown, who has been toiling under the radar since his rookie year in 2012, when he picked off three passes, posted 5.5 sacks and scored a pair of touchdowns.
Will he win the defensive MVP award this season? Probably not. But there's nothing wrong with a player who deserves more attention clamoring for it -- or at least having the confidence to put himself on the radar.
Brown, No. 27 on Around The NFL's original Top 101 free agents list, will almost certainly be an opening day starter for the Redskins once the inside linebacker situation is filtered out in training camp. It wouldn't be wise to keep a motivated man on the bench.
