Headhunter Alex Brown Brings Attitude to New Orleans Saints Defense

The first thing you notice about the New Orleans Saints' new addition is his winning personality and infectious spirit. 

Alex Brown, formerly of the Chicago Bears, says he made a snap decision to join the Saints and challenge fellow Florida Gator Bobby Mc Cray to replace the departed Charles Grant at defensive end. 

Those pop psychologists like Malcolm Gladwell say on the really big decisions in life you should go with your gut.  

Go with that initial feeling  and impression you have in the first two seconds.Go with love at first sight. 

It's what Brown has always done and why he is a Saint today. 

Brown tells the story of home shopping with his wife when they first arrived in Chicago and how he told her that's the one—that's the house I want—we can look at others but that's the one for me.   

He says that is the same decision-making process he used after meeting with the Saints. 

This is my new team. This is where I belong. Cancel the other trips. 

It's easy to see why defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was drawn to Brown. After all, he likes opportunistic headhunters who know how to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Brown credits Lovie Smith with teaching him well the benefits of a little theft here and there. 

Brown says the Bears practiced takeaways so much in practice under Lovie that it became second nature. You didn't have to think about it in games. It became a way of life for Alex Brown.   

Interceptions, sacks, forcing fumbles, stuffing the run—the kind of resume Gregg Williams was looking  to add to his strip club defense. As Brown says Lovie taught him, those turnovers don't just happen. You have to make them happen. You get out of it what you put into it as they say. 

According to Bears blogger Jake Perper, he will be missed in the Windy City.  

"Alex Brown was a fan favorite, a highly talented player and a very underrated player who will be missed in Chicago. He played defense like any of the “Monsters of the Midway” would play." 

"The Bears would have been wise to keep Brown because of his experience and consistency on defense. Imagine a line with Peppers, Harrison, Harris, and Brown, with all the depth on the bench. This could have been a vicious defense, a kind that led them to Super Bowl XLI. Pass rush has been a problem for the Bears ever since that season ended." 

"Brown was a big part of the defense that season. In his career he constantly ran around the field and when he sacked the QB or made a big tackle in the backfield he would do his gator chomp celebration. He showed his enthusiasm for the game by constantly smiling when he made those game changing plays." 

Brown warns Saints and LSU fans to brace themselves for the despised "Florida Gator Chomp" in the Superdome next season. 

He laughs easily, is a very bright guy and has personality in spades. He is confident without being cocky and he says any team making the mistake of running to his side should expect to find little Southern hospitality. 

In 96 NFL games Brown has 31.5 career sacks to go along with five career interceptions and deflected 33 passes, an unusually high number for a defensive end.

Brown's final career totals Chicago: 43 1/2 sacks, 375 tackles (55 for a loss), five interceptions and 15 forced fumbles. Brown was one of the most underrated ends in the game during his time there. He appeared in 127 consecutive games, missing one game in his eight years here in the windy city.

He attributes his durabilty has been part conditioning and part good fortune and part sheer and unadultered love of the game. He loves every single second out there.

NFL scout and Fox analyst Chris Landry likes what he sees in Alex Brown: 

"This is a really good player that's got good edge-rush speed. He's got some pursuit ability. He is a different type player than Charles Grant. A much better pass rusher. Charles (Grant) is a little heavier, a little thicker.

"I think he (Brown) represents really good value because of his versatility and the ability to get good pass rush off the edge. He represents a real good pickup for a need spot and I think improving their pass rush is something they definitely want to do and I think his versatilty under Gregg Williams' scheme will be very useful." 

Start practicing your "gator chomp" Saints and Tiger fans.