Larry Brown (cornerback)

Brown was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 12th round (320th overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft. Although there weren't many expectations for him at the start of preseason, he surprised the coaches with his play, even though he quit training camp for a few days because of personal reasons and also had a brief hospitalization that was thought to be appendicitis. In the fourth game, he passed Manny Hendrix on the depth chart at right cornerback, becoming the first Cowboys rookie to start at cornerback since Ron Francis in 1987. He posted 68 tackles (eighth on the team), 2 interceptions, 18 passes defensed (second on the team), one forced fumble and was named to the NFL All-rookie team. In the Cowboys 52-17 win over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII, he recorded an interception in the second quarter.

In 1992, he played opposite to Kevin Smith, making them the youngest starting cornerback duo in the league. He had 61 tackles (sixth on the team), one interception, 11 passes defensed (led the league), 5 special teams tackles and one fumble recovery.

In 1993, he recorded 63 tackles and 11 passes defensed (tied for second on the team). In 1994, he tallied 57 tackles, 4 interceptions (third on the team) and 12 passes defensed (tied for third on the team).

In 1995, with the Cowboys having discussions to sign All-Pro free agent cornerback Deion Sanders, Brown was on his way to becoming a nickelback until Kevin Smith tore his achilles tendon in the first game of the 1995 season against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.[2] The move went from a luxury to a need and Sanders was signed the following week, while Brown remained in the starting lineup and responded with the best season of his career, recording 6 interceptions (tied for the team lead), 124 return yards, and two touchdowns. He added another interception in the NFC Championship game, picking off a pass from Green Bay Packers future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre.

That year the Cowboys reached Super Bowl XXX, where Brown became the first cornerback to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award and the first defensive back since 1972 to do it. In that game, Brown's two interceptions of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell helped lift the Cowboys to their third championship in four seasons. The award and acclaim he received was especially poignant considering the death of his young son earlier in the season. Brown also had a key 28-yard interception return against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game prior to the Super Bowl.[3]

Brown was a pivotal member of 3 Super Bowl championship teams and although he was considered the weak link of the defense, he more than held his own against some of the best wide receivers in NFL history, like Jerry Rice, Art Monk, Cris Carter and Sterling Sharpe. Rice had some terrible games playing against him, which led Brown to claim that he owned Rice, a statement that came back to haunt him after the 1994 NFC Championship Game, during which, Rice caught a 28-yard touchdown reception against Brown. The score came just before halftime, and put the 49ers up by three scores.

Brown became a free agent immediately after his Super Bowl MVP performance and used his award as leverage to sign a lucrative contract (five years, $12.5 million with $3.5 million guaranteed) with the Oakland Raiders on February 20, 1996.[4] In 1997, he was demoted to a backup role and suspended four weeks by the team for "conduct detrimental to the team".[5] On June 3, 1998, he was waived after being a disappointment and playing only 12 games (one start) in two years for the Raiders.

On June 16, 1998, he was signed as a free agent by the Minnesota Vikings, to help improve one of the worst secondaries in the league. He was limited with a hamstring injury and was released with an injury settlement on August 30.[6]

On December 2, 1998, he returned to the Cowboys to provide depth at cornerback.[7] He retired with 14 career interceptions, which he returned for a total of 210 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two fumble recoveries.