The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Former Longhorns performing well in NFL Europe
05.03.2003 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas -- With the Super Bowl a distant memory and the NFL Draft completed a week ago, we cast our attention overseas where they are one month into the 2003 NFL Europe season. Early in the campaign, a pair of former Longhorns are performing well for their respective teams. Greg Brown is a starting safety for the Rhein Fire (2-1), while James Brown is the starting quarterback for the Frankfurt Galaxy (3-1).
Greg Brown is in his second year in the league after being protected by the Fire this past offseason. In three games this season, he has posted 18 tackles and three pass breakups. Last year, Brown started all 11 games, including World Bowl X, and registered 43 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups. Originally allocated to NFL Europe by the Denver Broncos in 2002, he has spent parts of the past two seasons on the Broncos practice squad.
The Baton Rouge, La., native was a two-year starter and three-year letterwinner for the Longhorns from 1997-2000. Brown, who started the final 25 games of his UT career, registered 168 tackles, eight TFLs and six interceptions and 10 pass breakups during his time at Texas. He led the team with four picks as a senior. He signed a free agent contract with Denver following the 2001 NFL Draft.
James Brown also is in his second year in the league after playing for Scottish Claymores in 2002. In four games this season, Brown has completed 42-of-75 passes (56.0%) for 642 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. He also has rushed 18 times for 34 yards and a score. Last season, Brown connected on 29-of-53 passes for 364 yards, one TD and two interceptions. In last year's season finale, Brown was named the starter and led the Claymores to their first victory at FC Barcelona in franchise history, passing for 274 yards and a score. Signed as a NFL Europe free agent during 2002 training camp, he also has spent three years in the Arena League playing for the Nashville Kats (2000-01) and Georgia Force (2003).
The Beaumont native was the Longhorns' starting quarterback for the better part of four seasons (1994-97) and went on to turn in a record-setting career. He finished his career with 30 UT records, including career passing yards (7,638), total offense (8,049) and TD passes (53). Brown became the first Longhorns QB to earn first-team All-Southwest Conference honors in 20 years after leading Texas to the final conference title, a 10-2-1 record and a berth in the Sugar Bowl in 1995. He also was tabbed the SWC Offensive Player of the Year that season. In 1996, Brown guided UT through a late-season surge that was capped off by a stunning upset of defending National Champion and third-ranked Nebraska in the inaugural Big 12 Championship game.
You can follow the former Longhorns throughout the rest of the 2003 season on FOX and FOX Sports Net.
