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The Baltimore Ravens signed rookie safety Omar Brown as an undrafted free agent. At Marshall University, he was a first-team All-Conference USA selection, led his team in tackles, adding four interceptions and four forced fumbles. So then how does a guy like this get skipped in all seven rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft?
It's beginning to look like 31 other tem around the league made a huge mistake, as Brown has done nothing but impress his coaches and teammates with his play in the Ravens first two preseason games. While Omar is not going to crack the team's starting lineup or unseat either Ed Reed or Bernard Pollard, he offers an intriguing option at safety.
(Read more about Ravens safety Omar Brown's performance so far after the 'Jump')
On their roster listed at safety, the Ravens also have rookie Christian Thompson, who was drafted by the team in the 4th round, veteran free agent Sean Considine, who was signed for his Special Teams skills, veteran Emanuel Cook and rookie Cyhl Quarles.
In the two games so far, all Brown has done is have an interception, three fumble recoveries and one recovered onsides kick. He had the pick and two fumble recoveries against the Atlanta Falcons last week and added another fumble recovery and that recovered onsides kick last night.
Originally a relative no-name on the roster, he is now going to make it real hard for the team to overlook his obvious nose for the ball. Most late-round or undrafted rookies know the odds of making the team purely at their main position is usually not an option, and their success on Special Teams will be the deciding factor.
Brown has proved his Special Teams skills with the textbook recovery on the onsides kick, and always seeming to be around the ball is a skill that just cannot be taught. Ed Reed might be the game's best defensive playmaker, as he is always around the ball, especially if it is either hanging up in the air or bouncing around on the ground.
No one is comparing Brown to Reed just yet, but his first two games in a Ravens uniform certainly have gone a long way to earning a roster spot on what is undoubtedly one of the most veteran-laden teams in the NFL.