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Former Cleveland Browns Lineman Orlando Brown Dead At 40

Sad news to report today from the NFL with word coming down that former Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens lineman Orlando Brown has died. He was 40. Nicknamed 'Zeus', Brown was a mountain of a man at 6-7, 360 pounds. Brown played with the Browns from 1993 until the team moved to Baltimore in 1995. He returned in 1999 as a member of the expansion Browns.

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Fans will remember Brown being hit in the eye with a penalty flag thrown by referee Jeff Triplette. Brown shoved Triplette to the ground and required numerous surgeries to stabilize the injury and save Brown's eyesight. Incredibly, Browns returned to professional football in 2003 with the Ravens, starting 34 games over three seasons before retiring after the 2005 season.

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Brown had sued the NFL for $200 million after the injury claiming it ended his career.

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"He was a beast on the field and a great friend off it," Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "It’s a shame he had to leave us so young."

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We send our thoughts and prayers to the family of Orlando Brown.

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Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.