Why Indianapolis Colts RB Donald Brown Has Earned a Long-Term Deal

Indianapolis Colts running back Donald Brown entered into the 2011 season saddled with serious doubts about his effectiveness.

Coming out of training camp, some naysayers even suggested that Brown may be cut and not even make the team. When the Colts drafted Brown in 2009, they hoped that he would be the heir apparent to Joseph Addai and would enable them to let Addai go when he became a free agent after the 2010 season.

Brown's first two years in the NFL were hugely disappointing, however. He never seemed to be able to stay on the field long enough to show what he could do. His pass protection skills were always suspect and he was rarely able to hit holes very well.  

In his third year in the league, however, Brown has finally started to justify his first-round draft status. He has good acceleration and has improved well enough in pass protection to be useful in a variety of situations. 

Brown has good hands and has never been a liability as a pass-catcher. In addition, he has shown that he has excellent big-play ability.

His statistics this year tell the tale. With a 4.9 yards per carry average and five touchdowns (including a beastly 80-yard scamper in the Colts victory against the Tennessee Titans two weeks ago), Brown has come alive as the Colts' best option at running back.

Brown has shown that he deserves a long-term deal. His huge potential has finally started to show some fruit. 

The Colts should pony up to keep Brown around as they start to rebuild their roster after a mostly deplorable season.