A different take on the Lomas Brown story

Brown likes what he sees in top pick Cherilus
Veteran, who will pass along tricks of the trade about playing tackle, enjoys rookie's attitude.
Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News
ALLEN PARK -- Lomas Brown will use all the tricks and techniques he acquired from playing offensive tackle for 18 NFL seasons to help tutor Lions rookie Gosder Cherilus.

Brown already has seen one quality he likes in Cherilus, the Lions' first-round pick from Boston College.

"I like the attitude," Brown said Monday. "That's what you need. You've got to start off with the attitude. I heard he's a dirty guy, and he likes to get into it. That's good. I want that."

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Brown was the Lions' first-round draft pick in 1985 and played 11 seasons in Detroit. He had other stops with Arizona, Cleveland, the Giants and Tampa Bay before retiring after the 2002 season.

Brown, who also has been used by the Jets to help D'Brickashaw Ferguson, was one of the most respected linemen of his era. His experience is invaluable.

Brown made the NFC Pro Bowl team seven times and played in 263 regular-season games. He started for the 2000 Giants, who lost to Baltimore in the Super Bowl, and was a valuable backup on the 2002 Tampa Bay team that won the Super Bowl.

Coach Rod Marinelli was an assistant at Tampa Bay for his one season with the Buccaneers. It turned out to be Brown's last year in the NFL.

Marinelli admired Brown's work ethic in practice, even when he knew he wouldn't start, and said it rubbed off on the rest of the players.

"He was the best scout-team player I've ever seen -- ever in my career," Marinelli said.

"I've never seen a guy run a scout team like that in my life. He worked. He was upbeat. He helped us win a championship. He brought something special."

Brown left the Lions after the 1995 season and signed with Arizona as a free agent. He has continued to make his home in Metro Detroit and remained close to the Lions.

Marinelli wants him to work with Cherilus in training camp. Brown has watched film of the big rookie and was at Monday's offseason practice.

Brown expects Cherilus to face the same problem as most rookies -- learning footwork to play tackle. Cherilus has been playing behind George Foster in the offseason workouts.

"It's just a matter of timing," Brown said. "That's going to come. He's a big guy (6-foot-7, 319 pounds), so he gets out a little slower. He's not going to see a lot of speed rushers on the right side. That's not going to hurt him as much.

"You've got to be disciplined. Your set has to be the same. It's got to be repetitious. You've got to be able to do it in your sleep. You can't think about your set. You've got so many other things to do.

"If I started with him, the first thing we would do is set. We'd graduate to hand placement and some other things."