John Brown shines as Arizona Cardinals playmaker

John Brown, John Brown
Throw it to him and he’ll run you down

Sunday was special day for one Cardinals rookie.

John Brown made a spectacular “Willie Mays” 75-yard touchdown catch to push the Cardinals ahead of the Eagles on Sunday — it was his fourth NFL receiving touchdown and first huge play in the pros. He also had five receptions for 119 yards and was targeted as often as star receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Afterward, he couldn’t stop smiling. In fact, he sounded like he was on the verge of giggling after each posed question.

“I was kind of thinking that (Carson Palmer) overthrew me a bit,” he said. “But it ended up being a great pass. It was right over the head, right in the basket.”

The best part?

His mom was in the stands watching.

“I think it was his mom and all his family’s first time coming out and being able to watch him play, and to put a performance like that, it was remarkable,” said Fitzgerald. “We were all happy for him.”

Kind words from the veteran, but it got better.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised. If you get to know him, knowing what he’s been through, some of the tragedy he’s dealt with, he’s a really focused young man. He understands the magnitude of things, but it’s not too big for him,” Fitzgerald said.

“That’s just a testament to his upbringing, his hard work and dedication throughout the course of his life to put him in positions like this.”

One position Brown might want to be a little careful of, though, is when he’s behind the podium post game. He let slip that Palmer had a signal for him that told him he’d get the ball.

“Ah, the rookie,” said Palmer when he heard, shaking his head and chuckling at Brown’s inexperience with reporters.

He won’t be inexperienced for long.

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