Marquise Brown Ready to Prove Himself in Pivotal Year

Arizona Cardinals WR Marquise Brown knows what's at stake in 2023.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise Brown goes by a few nicknames. 

Hollywood is the most notable, though a new nickname can appropriately be crowned in the desert: WR1.

It's a title he previously held when first entering the league with the Baltimore Ravens, though he didn't have the opportunity to put up gaudy numbers in an offense that ran the ball more than anybody in the league. 

Never forget the infamous "what's the point of having souljas when you never use them" tweet after a loss:

"What's the point of having souljas when you never use them (Never!!)"

Ravens WR Marquise Brown posted then deleted this apparent jab at QB Lamar Jackson after Baltimore's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers 👀 pic.twitter.com/Xq3nxADveD

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 1, 2020

Brown quietly demanded a trade from Baltimore and now finds himself gearing up for a second season here in the desert, but will endure his first campaign as Arizona's No. 1 receiver after the team recently released DeAndre Hopkins. 

"I'm always working to be the best on the field no matter what. So for me, I was just working. I wanted him to be here, but he's not. I know he's gonna do great things for wherever he go. But for me, my thinking process and my role, how I see myself, hasn't changed," Brown told reporters when asked how Hopkins' absence changes things. 

"Just being that leader in the room. I gotta lead by example, something I take pride in, something I'm looking forward to doing."

Brown filled that role briefly in 2022, putting up lofty numbers while Hopkins served a six-game suspension for violating the league's PED policy. 

In a total of eight games without Hopkins, Brown secured 50 catches for 553 yards and three touchdowns according to StatMuse.

Now, Brown will be tasked with leading the charge on a team many are doubting - and Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon knows he can take that next step.

"He gets open and catches the ball. He - just as a defender coaching that, that's kind of my baby that position [defensive backs] - the speed that he can put on you horizontally and vertically makes him a tough cover," Gannon told reporters. 

"He's got instincts at the top of the route. He has different release patterns. What we saw when we had to play him a couple times … I remember the corners saying, 'man, typically receivers have one or two releases that they use. He has about three or four that he can go to and win early in the down.' 

"Just from the aspect of we know the game's about taking the ball away and explosive plays, he's a threat. When he is out there on the field, you got to be alert for the ball going over your head. So it's obviously a great asset for us to have."

Brown has only topped 1,000 yards once in his career, something that's on the table with a new opportunity as the top receiver but also with new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing at the helm.

"I'm loving it," said Brown. "It's a lot different. A lot different. Big keys to attention to detail. Big keys on doing your job, being one of 11 to execute your job, and I feel like that's gonna put us in the right direction."

It's a big year for Brown not only on the field, but also off of it as well. He's entering the final year of his rookie contract, and a productive year could pay dividends in negotiations heading into 2024.

"I want to prove I could be the guy. I want to prove that as an offense, as a team, that we can be that team that we know we can be," said Brown. "I feel like everybody feels that way - from coaches to the players.

"I feel like I haven't played my best football yet. I've been working this whole offseason just to make sure I can sustain a healthy season and showcase my ability for a full season."

Brown wanted opportunities like the one that currently sits in front of him - we'll see if Hollywood can shine when the lights are brightest.

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