How Acquired: First round, 2000 draft (1st overall)

Pro Experience
Cleveland Browns (2001 - present)
Top pick in the 2000 NFL draft, generally thought not to have lived up to that billing due to injuries... Has shown flashes of tremendous ability... Was having best season of career in 2003 until injured against the Rams... Placed on IR 12/9/03... Plagued by injuries in 2002... Started 11 games, registering 41 tackles and 2 sacks, missed other five due to injury... Required microfracture surgery on his knee and lengthy rehab after 2002 season... Started five games in 2001, missing other eleven games due to knee and ankle injuries... Had an incredible game against Chicago in 2001 with seven tackles, three sacks, and a fumble return for a TD... Started all sixteen games his rookie year, registering 85 tackles and 4.5 sacks... Three sacks and nine tackles against Pittsburgh on 9/17/00...  Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after that effort... Eleven tackles against Tennessee final game of his rookie season.

College Experience
Penn State University
Brown was an All-America defensive end at Penn State, where he holds school records with 33 career quarterback sacks and 70 tackles for a loss. He was a finalist for the Lombardi Award, Chuck Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 1999. The Browns opted for Courtney over heralded and mouthy linebacker Lavar Arrington (a fellow Penn State alum), in part because of character issues. Brown is a quiet and studious player who works hard and displays rare maturity. He had a 4.0 grade point average in high school and was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, with a major in engineering.

Contract Status: Restructured his contract in July, 2003. His previous deal ran though 2006.