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Brandon Browner’s long history in the NFL drug program is well-documented, from his early days as an undrafted free agent rookie with the Denver Broncos, to a series of missed NFL tests when he was playing in the CFL, to facing a year-long suspension in 2013 while he was with the Seattle Seahawks because of said missed tests. But as a member of the league who probably wanted to stay as quiet as possible so that he could continue to have employment, Browner held a lot of his opinions in.
He’s not a member of the NFL anymore.
On early Saturday morning, Browner made an Instagram post containing a screenshot of a DM from New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton asking him to call him, presumably about a return. Browner played for the Seahawks from 2011-2013, then the New England Patriots for one year, and then finally finishing his career with one season for the Saints. He returned to Seattle in 2016, only to be cut during the preseason. Why didn’t Browner return Payton’s DM with a humble request for another opportunity? He detailed that in a long message coupled with the screenshot.
“My point is I didn’t call him back,” says Browner. “I hit him back with my number. And it’s nothing against Payton or the Saints I swear I’m forever grateful for them. I was just so done with dealing with the NFL inside shit. I was drug tested my whole freaking career, I wont two appeals that no one knew about. Another reason I’m so thankful for the saints. I was prescribed pain meds for a injury, league tried to fine me and kick me out for it. This happen my last year. I took all my punishment and it played out how it was supposed to be. But man it’s some cold cases cats dodge. And I was hit with this tag and I had our NFLPA Heather Mcafee lawyer tell me to accept these last two fines and we beat both. So when I tell u I got tired of being subject to a drug test 2x a week. With no treatment that shit made me angry. Felt like a prisoner like I was on parole or probation. I was 20 fucking yrs old when I failed my first test. And went to Canada and was thrown in the program because some made up rule. Because of the rule was the rule I should have never been back in the league. A missed test is considered a failed test. Well I was out the league 5 yrs and in Canada. It only takes a handful of missed test to be forever out the league. That takes a month I was freaking gone 5 yrs. I should have been done. But the make up punishment and fine money. It’s not a coincidence when they let me back in they fined me the exact amount of my Super Bowl check. I’m forever thankful for my agent. Am thankful I was able to accomplish what I did in that little time. Big number of players smoke weed and I’m not advocating kids to do it. Because there brain isn’t fully developed. When I tell you it was hard as fuxk when everyone around is getting down. So when I was able to ease mind now I do.”
He followed that up with a video post going in further detail.
Browner also opened up about how the Seahawks cut him in 2016 and kept Kelcie McCray, later brought back Jeron Johnson, but didn’t play them enough or pay them after the season, saying he could have easily been the 53rd man on Seattle’s roster.
Browner went to the Pro Bowl during his rookie season in 2011, when he was 27, following his five-year absence from the league. He won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2013, and with the Patriots in 2014 against his former team. In total, he played five NFL seasons and recorded 12 interceptions, but was also one of the most heavily-penalized players in the league, if not the most penalized. He was suspended for four games at the end of 2012, indefinitely in 2013 (missing the playoffs and Super Bowl win), and for the first four games in 2014. He appears to be an advocate for marijuana usage by adults.