Trent Brown is the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL, and he's a Super Bowl Champion, but he's not satisfied.
A few years ago, Brown was made an afterthought in the minds of the San Francisco 49ers, after being traded to the New England Patriots — and, boy, did he prove them wrong. After ending the 2017 season prematurely due to injury, Brown rebounded with a dominant season in 2018, protecting Tom Brady's blindside on his way to the first Super Bowl win of his career.
In the past six months, Brown has earned all the reassurance he needs to remind him that he belongs in the NFL, but when you're the "Greatest Underdog" some things are never enough.
"I mean, I just, I want more," Brown told the media Sunday. "I feel like people think I'll get the money and then just become lazy but no, I want another huge contract. I want more rings. You know what I mean? I want more of everything. I'm thirsty for it."
Head Coach Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock were persistent in their pursuit of Brown for a couple reasons: the Raiders needed help and added depth along the offensive line after Derek Carr was sacked a career-high 51 times last year, and Brown's mentality is part of the new culture they want to establish going forward.
"If you look at our free agents that we signed, they're all going to be in major roles on both sides of the football," offensive coordinator Greg Olson shared. "We tried to bring in guys who have won in the National Football League and Trent Brown is one of them. We like the example that really all our free agents have set."
To Olson's point, each of the newest members of the Silver and Black lead in their own way, and Brown's strategy is to let his actions speak louder than his words. Talk is cheap and at a young age Brown's father helped him understand that more people are willing to listen and learn from someone who's about their business.
The Raiders hit the practice fields for their first practice of 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders safety Lamarcus Joyner (29) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders safety Curtis Riley (35) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders general manager Mike Mayock and owner Mark Davis on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders alumni Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders offensive line coach Tom Cable and the offensive line on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders safety Karl Joseph (42), defensive backs coach Jim O'Neil, and cornerback Keisean Nixon (38) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders linebacker/defensive end James Cowser (49) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Kyle Wilber (58) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Nevin Lawson (26) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders long snapper Andrew DePaola (48) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Nick Nelson (23) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Nathan Peterman (3) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley (21) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and running back Jalen Richard (30) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley (20) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Rico Gafford (10) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders safety Jordan Richards (39) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders tight end Paul Butler (81) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders safety Curtis Riley (35) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders tight ends coach Frank Smith and running back DeAndré Washington (33) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Brandon Marshall (54) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquel Lee (52) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders defensive end Benson Mayowa (91) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell (96) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Te'von Coney (56) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver/return specialist Dwayne Harris (17) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Brian Burt (12) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Mike Glennon (7) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders tight end Erik Swoope (86) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell (96) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver J.J. Nelson (15) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders defensive end Arden Key (99)on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders tackle Kolton Miller (74) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders running back Chris Warren III (34) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Ronald Ollie (63) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Marcell Ateman (88) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders guard Gabe Jackson (66) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders tackle Trent Brown (77) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders guard Richie Incognito (64) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders punter A.J. Cole (6) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Isaiah Langley (43) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Dylan Mabin (37) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders long snapper Trent Sieg (47) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Killings (40), fullback Alec Ingold (45), long snapper Trent Sieg (47), and assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) and linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon (38) and wide receiver Ryan Grant (19) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders running back DeAndrŽ Washington (33) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) and tight end Foster Moreau (87) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders tight end Derek Carrier (85) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) and head coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) and linebacker Marquel Lee (52) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders alumni Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes, and cornerback Isaiah Johnson (31), safety Curtis Riley (35), and cornerback Nevin Lawson (26) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley (20) on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders alumnus Mike Haynes speaks to the Oakland Raiders defense on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders alumnus Lester Hayes speaks to the Oakland Raiders defense on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
The Oakland Raiders huddle up on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders alumni George Atkinson, Mike Haynes, and Lester Hayes with owner Mark Davis on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden huddles up the team on the field for practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) signs autographs for fans after practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) signs autographs for fans after practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden signs autographs for fans after practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) signs autographs for fans after practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Jason Cabinda (53) signs autographs for fans after practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) takes a selfie with a fan after practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) signs autographs for fans after practice at 2019 Training Camp.
NFL analyst James Jones and Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) after practice at 2019 Training Camp.
Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, the Oakland Raiders defense, and alumni Mike Haynes, Bill Romanowski, George Atkinson, Phil Villapiano, and Lester Hayes after practice at 2019 Training Camp at the Oakland Raiders Napa Valley Training Complex, Saturday, July 27, 2019, in Napa, Calif.
"Really, I just grew up, my dad is not a man of many words, but his actions speak for him, and when he says something, everybody knows it's Bible and I just learn from him," he said. "A whole lot of talking isn't really intriguing to nobody. It shouldn't be anyway. If your actions are on point, that's all you should be looking at from anybody."
"He just comes in and works," Derek Carr said Saturday. "He's real quiet. Real quiet, but he's a great guy when you talk to him. Any of those young guys, those O-Line guys, you just watch that guy and you're like, 'Oh yeah, he works.' Everything social media nowadays, you watch the guy on Instagram, he's working, grinding every day. [Inaudible] does some stuff for O-Line only. I mean he was pushing thousands of pounds, a truck. This dude's a baller."
The pads haven't come on at practice yet, but the overall feel of training camp this year is different than a season ago, and it feels like the players have a renewed mindset. I think the additions of Trent Brown, Antonio Brown, Brandon Marshall, and Lamarcus Joyner are a big reason for that. The culture is changing for the Silver and Black, and Brown is among the many leading by example.
As one of the two towers along the offensive line, Brown is ready to lay the foundation for what's to come. He might be a proven player as he enters his fifth season in the league, but you'd be wrong to assume this is as far as his meter goes. Brown is trending upward and he's keeping the fact he was once a seventh-round pick in the back of his mind.
"I just feel like I've been put on the back burner my whole life," Brown explained. "Me, just from being a seventh-round draft pick to now. And even through the process, people try to dim my light."
Greatest Underdog might be his moniker, but I think 2019 is the year of the underdog for the Oakland Raiders as a whole.
