Oakland Raiders Tarell Brown Looks to Face Former Team
By Chase Ruttig
November 9, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback Tarell Brown (23) tackles Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) during the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 41-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Tarell Brown came across the Bay Area to switch jerseys from the San Francisco 49ers to the Oakland Raiders during 2014 Free Agency and although the veteran corner hasn’t enjoyed the same level of winning, he has been able to take an increased role as a veteran leader in the Oakland secondary where he has played far more snaps than he would have received with the Niners. That opportunity was why Brown came in the first place and although there have been struggles, Brown has been relatively healthy and has filled his role as an experienced “stopgap” player in the Raiders rebuilding process.
The move has came at the expense of going from one of the NFC’s best teams during Brown’s tenure in San Francisco to a team likely to finish last in the NFL this season. Despite all of that, Brown mentioned this week that he has zero regrets surrounding the move to come to Oakland for a chance at more playing time and to be a leader on a rebuilding roster.
“I wouldn’t change it,” Brown said this week in the lead up to the Bay Area rivalry game. “Once you sign up for something, you have to finish it. I’m that type of guy where when I sign up for something, I’m going to give you everything I have until the end.
“I’m still jacked up about signing here. I love the guys. I love the locker room. I love the organization. We just don’t have the wins we feel like we should have. We let a couple slip through our hands, and it’s a learning experience. When you have a younger team, you have those ups and downs and things of that sort, but I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.”
It is unknown if Brown will be back next season in Oakland, but if he does return the Raiders will have a veteran presence who knows what it takes to win helping as a cornerback leader. While his production may not be at a high level, there may be a place for Brown here in 2015. If he does return, the move will be more than worth it for the veteran corner who has came to Oakland for a chance to extend his career a bit further than if he had stayed in San Francisco.