Ricky Brown

Richard Gerald Brown (born December 27, 1983) is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was signed by the Ravens as an free agent in 2012. He played college football at Boston College.

He has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots.

Early years
Brown played football for Cincinnati Elder High School, where he played safety. Brown also ran track. Brown went on to win the 100m, 200m and 400m Greater Catholic League track titles in 2002.

College career
Brown played college football at Boston College, where he played Linebacker. During his freshman year, 2002, Brown was a member of The Sporting News Big East All-Rookie Team. In 2005, Brown was a member of the ACC All-Academic Team. He was the winner of the 2005 Scanlan Award, an award given by the Boston College Varsity Club Award to the senior football player outstanding in scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability.

Oakland Raiders
An undrafted free agent in 2006, Brown made a good impression with the Oakland Raiders during training camp and made it to the Raiders' practice squad. He was put on the active roster for the Week 5 game against the San Francisco 49ers when the Oakland Raiders waived J. P. Foschi to make room for Brown. Brown went on to play in the remaining 13 games of the 2006 season.

In 2007, Brown appeared in all 16 games, making his first career start against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16.

Brown was a restricted exclusive rights free agent in 2008, re-signing with the Raiders in March. Brown won the starting SAM linebacker position in training camp and played in 7 games before a groin injury sidelined him before the week 9 match-up against the Atlanta Falcons. The groin injury ended up being a misdiagnosed sports hernia, or athletic pubalgia that eventually was surgically repaired after Brown was placed on Injured Reserve before the week 17 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In 2009, Brown was a restricted free agent, and received a 2nd Round Tender from Oakland in March. Brown signed the 1-year deal, and went into training camp playing both the SAM and MIKE linbacker positions. Brown and Kirk Morrison were in competition for the MIKE linebacker position, eventually with Morrison playing MIKE and Brown playing SAM on 1st and 2nd downs, and Brown moving to MIKE on 3rd down, nickel situations. During the Raiders' week 5 match-up versus the New York Giants, Brown suffered an ankle injury that would eventually end his season. Brown attempted to rehab the injury, but was placed on Injured Reserve during week 11. Brown had surgery 2 weeks later on the ankle.

In 2010, Brown was a restricted free agent again, and received a 2nd Round Tender from Oakland in March. Brown signed the 1-year deal, and went into training camp as a back-up at MIKE linebacker behind 1st-round pick Rolando McClain. Brown went on to play in 14 games, including 1 start.

In 2011, Brown received a 2nd Round Tender from Oakland in March, but the tender rendered invalid when a new collective bargaining agreement was reached on July 25, 2011, bringing unrestricted free agency back to 4 accrued seasons.

New England Patriots
On August 20, 2011 signed a contract with the New England Patriots. The terms of the contract were not disclosed. He was released on September 2.

Second stint with Raiders
Brown re-signed with the Oakland Raiders on September 4. He was cut on November 29, 2011.

Baltimore Ravens
On July 25, 2012 Brown signed with the Baltimore Ravens. He won his first championship title after the Baltimore Ravens won against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.