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Lions rookie sees NFL's fury up close, courtesy of veteran Sims

By Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press

Detroit Lions running back Aaron Brown got his welcome-to-the-NFL moment fast. Really fast, courtesy of linebacker Ernie Sims.

During an offseason practice, Brown, a speedster from Texas Christian, thought he had found a hole and was about to break off a nice run.

"I had broke to the right," said Brown, a sixth-round pick this year. "I promise you I saw broad daylight and my vision was running straight. As soon as I turned, Ernie ran right through me. He didn't tackle me, but he would have made a tackle and I didn't see it coming. And it probably would have hurt."

Full contact is not permitted during voluntary offseason practices.

Like a lot of rookies, Brown's eyes have been opened by the dramatic increase in game's speed and talent level in the NFL.

"They are so fast," he said of Lions defenders. "It's just they are smarter and they know the game. And they've seen players from every sort of kind of players. So they already expect what you think you can't get them with. You can't. So you have to up your game because their game is already elevated."

Lions linebackers like Sims, four-time Pro Bowler Julian Peterson and two-time Super Bowl champ Larry Foote have impressed Brown especially and forced him to up the ante.

"Just playing with Ernie and Foote and Peterson and even DeAndre (Levy), the rookie that came in with me, their game is that much better and I have to raise my game just as well," said Brown.

The Detroit Free Press is owned by Gannett, parent company of USA TODAY