During training camp, it was uncertain whether running back Andre Brown and safety Stevie Brown would even make the New York Giants’ roster. Eight games into the season, however, these two players have been key components to a 6-2 start for the defending Super Bowl champions.
Andre, who had never been more than a special teams contributor in his four-year NFL career, leads the Giants in rushing touchdowns with six. Meanwhile Stevie — acquired by the Giants in free agency this past summer — leads the NFL with seven takeaways, including three in Big Blue’s 29-24 come-from-behind victory over the Dallas Cowboys this past Sunday.
These two players’ collective success is a testament to general manager Jerry Reese and the outstanding work he does each season piecing together a competitive football team.
At the same time, their success is an indication of what one can earn from dedication and determination. Andre and Stevie were journeymen prior to this season with the Giants, but their performance through eight games thus far could provide them with real homes for the first time in their NFL careers.
Their presence is a blessing for a Giants team hoping to return to the Super Bowl this February in New Orleans. If they can pull it off, they would be the first team to repeat as champions since the New England Patriots did it in 2004. It’s key players like Andre and Stevie that have allowed New York to be so successful in recent years — New York won the Super Bowl in two of the last five seasons — and are further evidence that it is one of the league’s best-run franchises.
With starting running back Ahmad Bradshaw playing well this season and previously injured starting safety Kenny Phillips returning, both Browns could see their playing time diminish. Despite this, Andre and Stevie could be vital pieces in a playoff run starting with a Week 9 battle Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers — another fantastically run organization that has appeared in three of the last seven Super Bowls.
What can Brown do for Blue? Perhaps you should ask Giants’ receivers Victor Cruz and David Tyree; or linebacker Kawika Mitchell what no-name-nobodies can do for a team that already appears fierce on paper.
Often times, Super Bowl titles are won by the team with the most depth featuring a cast of unsung heroes, always ready to step up when called upon. Right now there are no greater unsung heroes in the NFL than the Giants’ Browns, Andre and Stevie.
Louis Musto is a contributor for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network covering the NFL and NBA. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.