"He's a freak of nature," said end Kenard Lang, who has served as Brown's unofficial spokesman the past two years. "I've played with some great defensive ends, like Bruce Smith. Courtney can do a lot of stuff Bruce Smith could not do."
Like what?
"He's got a stiff arm that can drive (Ryan) Tucker back," Lang said. "He does it so easy."
The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Tucker faces Brown everyday in practice, and says when healthy, the former Penn State All-American is as good as any lineman in the league.
"He's a beast," Tucker said. "I know that I'm getting a lot better playing against that guy."
Brown's injury problems have led many to wonder if his chiseled body may also be uncommonly brittle. The Browns, too, were concerned enough about his apparent fragility that they signed free agent Ebenezer Ekuban this offseason as insurance in case Brown gets hurt again.
A rash of injuries like Brown has sustained would be enough to make any player ponder his future. But in Lang's mind, that's what makes Brown so special.
"He's a strong man, physically and spiritually," Lang said. "I've never heard Courtney complain, cry or whine. You respect a man like that. He works hard and does what it takes."
To his credit, Brown is determined to overcome all the adversity. He refuses to give up on his goals and wants to be known for his performance and not his promise.
"I have to put everything behind me," he said. "This time I think I can do it."
It's that drive that has Brown's teammates rooting for him.
"I'd rather see him do well than myself," Lang said. "I'd rather see him taste success than salt every year."
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