August 12, 2025 • 8 mins
Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown joins the show to talk about his return to the field this year, what last year was like as he rehabbed his injury and what it's like being a father of four.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back, everybody. It is Mac and Bone Sports Radio
ninety two seven WFNZ live from Panther camp again and
now we get to talk to him man that we
are dying to see play in a game. I'm sure
he wants it more than we do. He is Panther
Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derek Brown dB. How you feeling, man,
what's going on?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm good. I appreciate you all having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
So how much?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Man, is it good to see you again?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Seriously, man, oh my god, we missed you and I
know you missed it. How much do you want to
hit someone in another uniform?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Really bad? Put it that way.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
I'm excited to be back our third team and you know,
being able to take this process one day at a time,
you know, following the procedures at the dog laid out
and the training staff and I mean, it's it's been
a whirlwind, that's for sure. Then't expected to be the
outcome last September when it happened, went and got an
MRI that morning and then came back that afternoon, and
you know, I was told as it for the year.
(00:55):
So definitely a shock for me, especially the first time
ever being hurt, and you know that was just it
was a new experience. Definitely had my you know, my
corner and my family, everybody hold me down. It was
you know, it was a time that you know, I
never saw coming, but it was one that was much needed.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Was one of the toughest things about that the fact
that it happened in Game one and you had to
sit for the entire year. Injuries are tough no matter what,
but it wasn't like October November. It was right off
the bat. That had to be the toughest thing to
have to watch the whole season like that.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
I remember coming back down and talking to Doc when
I got the MRI I had done, and he was like, yeah,
it'll probably six to eight and I was like, okay,
six to eight weeks, Like I'll be able to come
back and help the team.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
He was started laughing.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
He was like, you no, sixty eight months, bus, And
you know, that was one of those things where you know,
my heart kind of just sink. I remember going upstairs
and talking to Wash coach Wash and you know, going home,
telling my wife and I'm like, man, this is you know,
I was kind of sitting in shop for a few days,
hoping that another doctor.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Would be like, no, I don't worry about it. But
uh that wasn't the case.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
So does that mean what? So what was last year
like then? Was that more daddy time at the house?
Like did you still spend a lot of time here
at the stadium? Like what what was your schedule like
when you realize dang, I'm like, I can't play till
next season.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Oh man, it was Uh, it was hard to look forward,
you know, to look forward to this year, you know,
especially getting surgery and uh, you know, just being cut open.
I mean that was one of those things where you know,
I never thought what happened. So I spent a lot
of time at home.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
I was here with the team every single day except
for the weekends, and uh until I was able to walk,
and then I was able to get back on the game,
getting back to walking and being able to be back
on my team and you know, just being mobile again
and being able to help out and you know, say,
you know, just be able to be there for the
young guys. I mean that was a big part for
me coming here and being around my teammates every single day.
I was, you know, very excited about that you know them,
(02:42):
you know, still being the same with me. You know,
it was a great thing.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
How's the energy of camp ban on the defensive side,
especially new bodies next to you. We just talked to
Bobby Brown during the show, made a joke about you
and cheeseburgers, and I said, I wouldn't tell you about it.
Uh that edge rushers are new. We saw Scorings play
the other night where he went seventy four yards. What's
it like to play with these new bodies with.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
The on defense man, It's awesome, you know, as we
as you know, we bought in Bobby and I guess
he's got jokes. He's not the funniest run in the room,
so don't let him tell you that, you know, bought in,
bought in turk, you know, of course, ar Shy, Cam Jackson, Jared,
you know, we got some really good death right now
playing them d line and you know everybody's got their
own part, you know, you know, just learning one another.
(03:27):
Spent the spring, you know, of course, spent the spring
off to the side watching the guys. So just being
back in trying to learn how these guys work and
learn how they how they rush and how they play
the run and you know the shots that I can
take and can't take. You know, it's just it's all
getting familiar with one another. You know, just it's been
you know, so many pieces at it on defense, got
boom trade back at safety. You know, we got a
(03:49):
lot of moving pieces right now. So I'm excited for
us to you know, get through camp and get to
Jacksonville for sure.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
What do you obviously the personnel there you talked about
is different, right, Dan Morgan clearly made it a point
to invest on that side the ball, especially upfront with
you guys, what is what do you think is the
number one thing that when we watch y'all play this
year in the regular season, that is going to be different,
Like not just the obviously the talent level is increased,
but like in terms of play style, Like what do
(04:17):
you think we're gonna notice the most?
Speaker 4 (04:18):
I mean we should be the most the defensive line
that I'll offer you and be the most physical. I mean,
there's no doubt about it. We got the bodies for
it now, so we might as well just keep it rolling.
Do you want you always want to be able to
rotate and you know we finding in the position to
be able to do that. So you know, now you
got fresh body after fresh body, and you don't want
you to drop off from your ones a two to
three to drop off. You want to be able to
have guys that's continuous, and you know we have that
(04:39):
right now. So that's what we're excited about most going
to the fall.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Your guy j C. Horror got paid over over the
summer and another guy that's been through a lot with
his body, so he probably relates to you in terms
of missing time. What's your relationship like with him and
how's that grown over the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Close closer jac definitely got a lot of money in
this offseason. He got more than me.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
And he had a beautiful little girl this offseason as well,
So you know, just to be able to you know,
kind of be around him as he went through that.
You know, that was a little bit more fun. You know,
him talking about is my baby won't sleep, you know,
him kind of trying to learn that stuff. Man, you know,
especially being there around being done that a few times.
You know, that was a funny thing. So, I mean,
you know, just all continues to grow. Closer definitely a
(05:23):
leader on his team and you know, he talks a lot.
He talks a lot, so he uh, definitely is one
that will chirpret you all day out there.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
You all right, So you talked about him having a
little one, you can relate to that. Matter of fact. Congratulations,
you now have four. You have daughters, so three daughters
and a boy. You were talking about it when you
came over and said hello to us, like, it doesn't
matter if you're the baddest dude on the NFLD line.
When you're at home and the kids are going crazy,
(05:51):
man like, it's it's got it's tough, right, regardless of
who you are.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
What's that?
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Is that life chaotic right now?
Speaker 2 (05:58):
It is you know, big shot of my wife.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
You know, when I'm at home, I don't really know
how she does it, but kudos to her because you know,
I said, I got two under two, and I got
a six year old and a four year old is
about to be five.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
So I mean we are busy.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
We are football, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, dance, and somehow she
may just get it all done. So you know, it's
it's definitely pure chaos at home, but it's a exciting
chaos to watch them continue to grow and be involved
in these different things, and you know me show up
and no matter what I do in the field, just
be able to be daddy at the end.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Of the day.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
How you feel about War Eagle this year?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Feeling good? Man? You know, I'm always on those boy's
side down there.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
On the plane, so you know, I can't wait to
get I can't wait for them to kick off and
for us to sit around and watch. You know. That's
why I spend most of my saturdays yelling at the
TV or screaming in my house.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
So that's her.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Yeah, that's the way we do it too. So before
I let you go, I want to talk about your attitude.
Like you've done a couple of interviews where you have
made it a point to say, like, don't be sleeping
on us, or go or sleep on us if you
want to, but we're gonna prove you wrong. There seems
to be a confidence, like I don't know if you
kind of talk that kind of emphatically in the past
(07:12):
before seasons. Is this a level of confidence that you
have maybe not felt previously going into the season.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
No, I mean I'm telling like this, if you want
to sleep on us, do what you want.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
You know. I mean we took the attitude of the team.
Then you don't really care about what anybody else says
outside this building. You know, the the ninety men that
are here working right now, are working to earn that
forty those fifty three spots. I mean, that's all we
care about right now, the coach of staff and us.
I mean, we're gonna treat like we against the world
and we go out here and trying to put some
good football on tape and uh, you know, feel however
you want to about that, but that's what we're gonna do.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
We can't wait to watch it, man, We're looking forward
to it. We're so glad you're back. Are you good
to go? Like Saturday where you play? Are you all
good to go? With the knee and the O bleaque?
Is everything all right?
Speaker 2 (07:52):
I'm feeling good. That's all I can say right now.
I don't know what it's gonna happen.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
To tell us what's he savvy? Now? All right, Derek man,
best of luck, stay healthy and thanks.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
For coming on with us. I appreciate y'all.
Welcome back, everybody. It is Mac and Bone Sports Radio
ninety two seven WFNZ live from Panther camp again and
now we get to talk to him man that we
are dying to see play in a game. I'm sure
he wants it more than we do. He is Panther
Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derek Brown dB. How you feeling, man,
what's going on?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm good. I appreciate you all having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
So how much?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Man, is it good to see you again?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Seriously, man, oh my god, we missed you and I
know you missed it. How much do you want to
hit someone in another uniform?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Really bad? Put it that way.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
I'm excited to be back our third team and you know,
being able to take this process one day at a time,
you know, following the procedures at the dog laid out
and the training staff and I mean, it's it's been
a whirlwind, that's for sure. Then't expected to be the
outcome last September when it happened, went and got an
MRI that morning and then came back that afternoon, and
you know, I was told as it for the year.
(00:55):
So definitely a shock for me, especially the first time
ever being hurt, and you know that was just it
was a new experience. Definitely had my you know, my
corner and my family, everybody hold me down. It was
you know, it was a time that you know, I
never saw coming, but it was one that was much needed.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Was one of the toughest things about that the fact
that it happened in Game one and you had to
sit for the entire year. Injuries are tough no matter what,
but it wasn't like October November. It was right off
the bat. That had to be the toughest thing to
have to watch the whole season like that.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
I remember coming back down and talking to Doc when
I got the MRI I had done, and he was like, yeah,
it'll probably six to eight and I was like, okay,
six to eight weeks, Like I'll be able to come
back and help the team.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
He was started laughing.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
He was like, you no, sixty eight months, bus, And
you know, that was one of those things where you know,
my heart kind of just sink. I remember going upstairs
and talking to Wash coach Wash and you know, going home,
telling my wife and I'm like, man, this is you know,
I was kind of sitting in shop for a few days,
hoping that another doctor.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Would be like, no, I don't worry about it. But
uh that wasn't the case.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
So does that mean what? So what was last year
like then? Was that more daddy time at the house?
Like did you still spend a lot of time here
at the stadium? Like what what was your schedule like
when you realize dang, I'm like, I can't play till
next season.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Oh man, it was Uh, it was hard to look forward,
you know, to look forward to this year, you know,
especially getting surgery and uh, you know, just being cut open.
I mean that was one of those things where you know,
I never thought what happened. So I spent a lot
of time at home.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
I was here with the team every single day except
for the weekends, and uh until I was able to walk,
and then I was able to get back on the game,
getting back to walking and being able to be back
on my team and you know, just being mobile again
and being able to help out and you know, say,
you know, just be able to be there for the
young guys. I mean that was a big part for
me coming here and being around my teammates every single day.
I was, you know, very excited about that you know them,
(02:42):
you know, still being the same with me. You know,
it was a great thing.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
How's the energy of camp ban on the defensive side,
especially new bodies next to you. We just talked to
Bobby Brown during the show, made a joke about you
and cheeseburgers, and I said, I wouldn't tell you about it.
Uh that edge rushers are new. We saw Scorings play
the other night where he went seventy four yards. What's
it like to play with these new bodies with.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
The on defense man, It's awesome, you know, as we
as you know, we bought in Bobby and I guess
he's got jokes. He's not the funniest run in the room,
so don't let him tell you that, you know, bought in,
bought in turk, you know, of course, ar Shy, Cam Jackson, Jared,
you know, we got some really good death right now
playing them d line and you know everybody's got their
own part, you know, you know, just learning one another.
(03:27):
Spent the spring, you know, of course, spent the spring
off to the side watching the guys. So just being
back in trying to learn how these guys work and
learn how they how they rush and how they play
the run and you know the shots that I can
take and can't take. You know, it's just it's all
getting familiar with one another. You know, just it's been
you know, so many pieces at it on defense, got
boom trade back at safety. You know, we got a
(03:49):
lot of moving pieces right now. So I'm excited for
us to you know, get through camp and get to
Jacksonville for sure.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
What do you obviously the personnel there you talked about
is different, right, Dan Morgan clearly made it a point
to invest on that side the ball, especially upfront with
you guys, what is what do you think is the
number one thing that when we watch y'all play this
year in the regular season, that is going to be different,
Like not just the obviously the talent level is increased,
but like in terms of play style, Like what do
(04:17):
you think we're gonna notice the most?
Speaker 4 (04:18):
I mean we should be the most the defensive line
that I'll offer you and be the most physical. I mean,
there's no doubt about it. We got the bodies for
it now, so we might as well just keep it rolling.
Do you want you always want to be able to
rotate and you know we finding in the position to
be able to do that. So you know, now you
got fresh body after fresh body, and you don't want
you to drop off from your ones a two to
three to drop off. You want to be able to
have guys that's continuous, and you know we have that
(04:39):
right now. So that's what we're excited about most going
to the fall.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Your guy j C. Horror got paid over over the
summer and another guy that's been through a lot with
his body, so he probably relates to you in terms
of missing time. What's your relationship like with him and
how's that grown over the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Close closer jac definitely got a lot of money in
this offseason. He got more than me.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
And he had a beautiful little girl this offseason as well,
So you know, just to be able to you know,
kind of be around him as he went through that.
You know, that was a little bit more fun. You know,
him talking about is my baby won't sleep, you know,
him kind of trying to learn that stuff. Man, you know,
especially being there around being done that a few times.
You know, that was a funny thing. So, I mean,
you know, just all continues to grow. Closer definitely a
(05:23):
leader on his team and you know, he talks a lot.
He talks a lot, so he uh, definitely is one
that will chirpret you all day out there.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
You all right, So you talked about him having a
little one, you can relate to that. Matter of fact. Congratulations,
you now have four. You have daughters, so three daughters
and a boy. You were talking about it when you
came over and said hello to us, like, it doesn't
matter if you're the baddest dude on the NFLD line.
When you're at home and the kids are going crazy,
(05:51):
man like, it's it's got it's tough, right, regardless of
who you are.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
What's that?
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Is that life chaotic right now?
Speaker 2 (05:58):
It is you know, big shot of my wife.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
You know, when I'm at home, I don't really know
how she does it, but kudos to her because you know,
I said, I got two under two, and I got
a six year old and a four year old is
about to be five.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
So I mean we are busy.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
We are football, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, dance, and somehow she
may just get it all done. So you know, it's
it's definitely pure chaos at home, but it's a exciting
chaos to watch them continue to grow and be involved
in these different things, and you know me show up
and no matter what I do in the field, just
be able to be daddy at the end.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Of the day.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
How you feel about War Eagle this year?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Feeling good? Man? You know, I'm always on those boy's
side down there.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
On the plane, so you know, I can't wait to
get I can't wait for them to kick off and
for us to sit around and watch. You know. That's
why I spend most of my saturdays yelling at the
TV or screaming in my house.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
So that's her.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Yeah, that's the way we do it too. So before
I let you go, I want to talk about your attitude.
Like you've done a couple of interviews where you have
made it a point to say, like, don't be sleeping
on us, or go or sleep on us if you
want to, but we're gonna prove you wrong. There seems
to be a confidence, like I don't know if you
kind of talk that kind of emphatically in the past
(07:12):
before seasons. Is this a level of confidence that you
have maybe not felt previously going into the season.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
No, I mean I'm telling like this, if you want
to sleep on us, do what you want.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
You know. I mean we took the attitude of the team.
Then you don't really care about what anybody else says
outside this building. You know, the the ninety men that
are here working right now, are working to earn that
forty those fifty three spots. I mean, that's all we
care about right now, the coach of staff and us.
I mean, we're gonna treat like we against the world
and we go out here and trying to put some
good football on tape and uh, you know, feel however
you want to about that, but that's what we're gonna do.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
We can't wait to watch it, man, We're looking forward
to it. We're so glad you're back. Are you good
to go? Like Saturday where you play? Are you all
good to go? With the knee and the O bleaque?
Is everything all right?
Speaker 2 (07:52):
I'm feeling good. That's all I can say right now.
I don't know what it's gonna happen.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
To tell us what's he savvy? Now? All right, Derek man,
best of luck, stay healthy and thanks.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
For coming on with us. I appreciate y'all.
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