Orlando Brown: Sports World Reacts to Passing of NFL Great

The wide world of sports lost a giant, both in size and in spirit, with the passing of Orlando Brown on Friday. The man known as "Zeus" played offensive tackle in the NFL for 11 seasons over the course of 13 years, starting 119 games for the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns, both old and new.

Brown was only 40 years old at the time of his death.

Aside from being a mammoth of a human being and a terrific offensive lineman at 6'7" and 365 pounds, Brown will be best remembered on the field for an encounter with referee Jeff Triplette.

During a game between the Browns and the Jaguars in December of 1999, Triplette hit Brown in the eye with an errant penalty marker. An angered Brown retaliated by shoving Triplette to the ground, earning him an immediate ejection and a suspension, which was lifted after Brown's eye injury failed to heal.

Brown eventually sued the NFL for damages when the injury forced him to sit out for parts of three seasons to recover.

Brown was also one of two players, along with Antonio Langham, who was with the Browns when they moved to Baltimore as the Ravens. He eventually made his way back to Cleveland after the team resurfaced in 1999.

Off the field, Brown is known for one of the more remarkable stories of survival to come out of the tragedies of 9/11. He was on the 50th floor of the Millenium Hilton, across the street from the World Trade Center towers, when the airplanes hit on that Tuesday morning.

Brown's former Ravens teammates offered their thoughts on his passing. Said linebacker Ray Lewis of Brown: 

"

He’s one of the greatest men I know—really a gentle giant away from the game. He was the original Raven. He set the tone for how we were going to play tough and physical, backing down from no opponent. When you heard his voice on the field, you knew things were going to be all right. He would say: "Keep playing. Keep fighting. Do it for us. Do it for your teammates. Lew, Lew, keep it up!" I can almost hear that voice right now. And, oh, how he loved his sons. They lost a great father. So sad, just so sad.

"

Added safety Ed Reed:

“Sadness, this is a sad day. Zeus was a fire-starter. His energy—he would get us going at practices, in training camp and games. How he loved to play football.”

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who was the head coach in Cleveland that originally signed Brown as an undrafted rookie in 1993, offered his thoughts as well:

“Orlando improved as a player as much as anyone I have ever seen, as he went from being a defensive lineman at South Carolina State to becoming one of the game’s top offensive tackles.”

A host of NFL players and sports luminaries alike expressed their condolences over Twitter.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Orlando Brown's family. A big man, with the heart and the personality to match, he will be missed.

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