NFL Yes, Orlando Brown is back

After suffering an eye injury in 1999, he is with the Ravens.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- As the sweat poured from his body, Orlando Brown would grit his teeth in anger.
Brown was used to spending autumn Sunday afternoons banging helmets with burly defensive linemen. Yet here he was, riding a stationary bicycle watching people he knew playing the game that he loved.
All the while, Brown never doubted for a moment that he would one day return to the NFL.
"All the time," he said, "I kept telling myself, 'I'll be back."'
The man known as "Zeus" is finally playing again, eager to make up for three years worth of lost time. Working with the Baltimore Ravens this weekend at mini-camp, Brown has taken the first step in his return from an eye injury that occurred when he was struck in the eye by an errantly-tossed penalty flag in December 1999.
"Man, it's great to be back. I feel good," said Brown, 32, who has not played in an NFL game since the injury, when he was a starting offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns.
An abrupt end
Brown's career came to an abrupt end after he was hit with weighted flag thrown by referee Jeff Triplette. After being temporarily blinded by the flag, an enraged Brown shoved the official and was subsequently suspended by commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
Brown reached an injury settlement with Cleveland in 2000, when he was released after being unable to rehabilitate the injury. He then sued the league in March 2001, charging the NFL failed "to properly supervise and enforce rules that flags be properly weighted and thrown in a proper fashion."
He reached a settlement in the case last fall, but spurned potential contract offers until he was sure he was ready to play.
"I just couldn't come back until I saw a few more doctors to make sure my eye was all right," Brown said. "Just to make sure there was nothing loose in the back of the eyeball."
Signed with Ravens
Brown signed a one-year contract with the Ravens in March, spurning more lucrative offers to be closer to his family and with an organization that makes him feel right at home.
"Everybody wanted me, but I came here because my kids are here, my mother is here," he said. "I know the Ravens, they know me. When I was in Cleveland, they called me crazy because of the way I practiced. I was taught to practice hard, play hard."
Brown broke into the NFL with the Browns, who moved to Baltimore in 1996. He eventually left the Ravens and joined the expansion Browns, where he played well until the freak eye injury short-circuited his career.
Glad he's back
He's back now, and the Ravens are glad he's on their side.
"He's one of the strongest guys you'll ever play against," Baltimore linebacker Peter Boulware said. "His technique is straight intimidation. He's going to block you to the ground every time and try to punish you. That's just the way it is. There's no mercy, no grace with him."
That's how it's always been for Brown, who will compete with Ethan Brooks for the starting right tackle job.
Brown wouldn't want it any other way, which is exactly what he told Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome upon signing the contract.
"I told Ozzie, 'I've been out for three years, I want to compete for a job because that will make me work harder,' " Brown said. "Hopefully, I'll get a starting role. I want to show them, and show me, too."
Experienced rookie
He's starting over, but he's no rookie.
"I'm 32. Some of these guys were in high school or the first year of college when I was playing the first time," Brown said. "I feel young, though, like I've got a whole bunch of energy to let loose. But I can't let it all out here this weekend, or they might say I'm crazy."
It's the kind of crazy that coach Brian Billick can't wait to see.
"He's got some rust to shake off, so it's going to be a process," Billick said, "but we know what Zeus' potential is."