April 28, 2008

McNeese State's Brown brothers - Darrick and Marcus - have signed free agent football contracts with the NFL.

Darrick signed with the Oakland Raiders and Marcus with the Arizona Cardinals. Both are defensive backs.

Both were deluged with phone calls following Sunday's draft by teams wishing to pick them up as free agents.

"We went were we felt we would have the best chance of making the team," Marcus said. "For me it was Arizona and for Darrick it was Oakland."

The two, who have also been track and field standouts at McNeese, are both four year lettermen and Darrick also played wide receiver during his career.

This past season Marcus led the Cowboys in pass interceptions with four which he returned for 52 yards. He was also credited with a team high nine passes broken up and 52 tackles and earned an honorable mention on the all-Southland Conference team with his top tackle games being eight in victory over Stephen F. Austin and seven against Portland State.

Darrick Brown had five tackles against Southeastern Louisiana and four each against Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana-Lafayette and South Dakota and he finished the year with 34 total tackles along with a fumble recovery.

He also spent two seasons as a wide receiver for the Cowboys, catching 16 passes for 317 yards and three tds, his longest 51 yards.

Both had an edge with the pro scouts with their size, speed and jumping ability. Darrick is 6-4 and 200 pounds and Marcus is 6-3 and 200 pounds. Both have speed in the 4.3s in the 40 yard dash.

As track and field participants for the Cowboys, the Browns have won conference medals and this season they rank one-two in the SLC in the long jump, Darrick having gone 25-0 3/4 and Marcus 24-5.

Marcus will report on Friday to Arizona for a mini-camp while Darrick will leave next week for one in Oakland where he will join up with former McNeese assistant coach Adam Henry who is now a Raider assistant coach.

They are two of three Cowboys off the undefeated 2007 team that will be getting a shot at a professional career. Defensive end Bryan Smith was drafted in the third round by Philadelphia on the second day of the NFL draft.

The Brown brothers (Darrick on left and Marcus on right) flank Bryan Smith. Darrick and Marcus both signed NFL free agent contracts on Monday. Smith was a third round pick in the NFL draft on Sunday. (photo by Louis Bonnette)