OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- New Baltimore Ravens wide receiver John Brown gave a surprising answer when asked how he's managing the issue of carrying a sickle-cell trait at this stage of his career.
"I'm healthy. I'm feeling good," Brown said at his introductory press conference after signing a one-year, $5 million deal. "Sickle-cell was never part of the problem."
Brown, 28, was diagnosed with the sickle-cell trait as a member of the Arizona Cardinals in October 2016, when MRIs revealed no issues with his sore hamstrings. Carriers of this trait are more likely to experience muscle breakdown when doing intense exercise than those who don't have it.