Orlando Brown (American football)

Orlando Claude Brown (December 12, 1970 – September 23, 2011) was an American football player who played offensive tackle in the NFL. He attended H.D. Woodson Senior High School. He was released by the Baltimore Ravens in March, 2006, and previously played for the Cleveland Browns. He played college football for Willie Jeffries at South Carolina State University.

Early Years
Orlando Brown was born in 1970 in Washington DC. Brown attended H.D. Woodson Senior High School. He went to South Carolina State University and played offensive tackle.

First stint with Browns
Orlando Brown signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 1993. Brown spent three seasons in Cleveland.

First stint with Ravens
In 1996, the Browns moved to Baltimore to become the Baltimore Ravens. Orlando Brown, unlike some of the team, made the move. In his first stint with the team, Brown who, at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds, was known as an energetic and intimidating player, earned the nickname "Zeus." In his prime he was one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the NFL.

Second stint with Browns
Orlando Brown was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the "reactivated" Cleveland Browns. He was later infamous for an incident during a pro football game at home in Cleveland on December 19, 1999 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he was accidentally hit in the eye by a penalty marker weighted with ball bearings thrown by referee Jeff Triplette. Triplette immediately apologized to Brown, who was then tended to by the medical staff. A few minutes later, when play was about to resume, Brown was being taken to the locker room when he pushed passed the trainers, ran out on the field and shoved Triplette, knocking him to the ground. Brown was ejected from the game and subsequently suspended by the NFL, although the suspension was lifted when his injury did not heal. Brown was one of only two players to have played for the Cleveland Browns before they became the Baltimore Ravens and return to the Browns after the expansion team formed in 1999; the other player is Antonio Langham.

Out of football, injuries, and lawsuits
Orlando Brown was cut from the Browns after the 2000 NFL season, and Brown was forced to sit out three seasons because of the eye injury. In 2001, he sued the NFL for $200 million in damages. According to reports, he settled for a sum between $15 million and $25 million in 2002.

Second stint with Ravens
After Brown was healthy enough to play again, he was picked back up by the Baltimore Ravens.

During the 2003 season while playing for the Ravens, Brown started at both offensive and defensive tackle in a game against the Oakland Raiders. He remained with the team until shortly before the 2006 NFL season, when he was released. Following his retirement, Brown retained ties with the Ravens and mentored players.

After Football
After retiring from football, Brown went into the restaurant business, and became the owner of the first Fatburger franchise in Maryland.

In September, 2009, Brown was arrested and charged with third-degree burglary and destruction of property. The charges were later dropped.

Death
Brown was found dead on September 23, 2011 in his Baltimore townhouse. The state medical examiner ruled that Brown died of diabetic ketoacidosis, an ailment common among diabetics and caused by high blood sugar and lack of insulin. He is survived by three sons: Orlando, Jr., Justin and Braxton.