Ex-Longhorns cornerback Tarell Brown earns fresh start with 49ers

Posted Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009 Comments   (0) Print Share Share Reprints
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By CHAREAN WILLIAMS

cjwilliams@star-telegram.com

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown always knew he could do what he did last week. All he needed was a chance.

Brown made his second career start, taking over at left cornerback in place of Nate Clements. In 76 plays against the Indianapolis Colts, the ex-Texas Longhorns standout had only five minus plays. He gave up no big plays and no touchdowns. Pierre Garcon, whom Brown shadowed, had only four catches for 53 yards.

Not a bad start.

"Getting the opportunity was a blessing," Brown said in a telephone interview. "The coaches had faith in me to go out there and felt like I could be an every-down corner. I think I proved that last week."

After Clements fractured his right shoulder blade, Brown has the job for the foreseeable future. But the 49ers had faith in Brown even before they saw him stare down Peyton Manning.

They signed Brown to a three-year, $7.1 million contract extension, with a $2.5 million signing bonus, four days before their loss to the Colts.

"It’s a positive that they really like me," Brown said. "When I first got here, I had a lot of red flags and a lot of people didn’t expect me to do the things that I did. I think I overcame a lot of that and just kept working. At the end of the day, it’s not how you start; it’s how you finish. I just want to keep working and keep getting better. I want to be one of the top corners in the league, and I believe that if I keep working hard every day that I can do that."

Brown, 24, has overcome long odds to make it as a starter in the NFL. In 2007, character questions dropped him to the fifth round, where the 49ers figured they had nothing to lose.

He ended up winning the Thomas Herrion Award, named for the Fort Worth native who died in 2005 after a 49ers exhibition game, and a spot on the roster. The award is given annually to the rookie or first-year player who best exemplifies Herrion’s spirit. Now, two years later, the North Mesquite product has a bright NFL future.

Moats stars

Texans running back Ryan Moats wanted to be clear: This isn’t his first 100-yard game. How soon we forget ...

He did have one, with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005. He rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries against the New York Giants. He had only 333 yards and two touchdowns on 91 carries in the 27 games he appeared in after that.

This season, in the only previous game he carried the ball, Moats gained 56 yards on 15 carries against the Oakland Raiders in Week 4.

That’s why last Sunday’s performance against the Buffalo Bills was such a surprise, at least to everyone but Moats. Moats came off the bench to rush for 126 yards and a team-record three touchdowns on 23 carries in a 31-10 victory over Buffalo.

"I knew what I could do," Moats said in a telephone interview. "... Of course, it is a great feeling, and of course, it does build some sort of confidence. But you know, in order to do well out there, you have to have confidence in the beginning. I believe in what I can do. So when I go out there I give it my all. As long as you do that, you should get the result."

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