The National Football League is a business and two former San Diego State Aztecs were victims of cut day.
Wide Receiver Vincent Brown was cut by the Colts after seeing action in three preseason games. With the Aztecs Brown was a first-team all-Mountain West Conference performer and lead the MWC in receiving yards and receptions in 2010.
The San Diego Chargers drafted Brown in the third round of the 2011 draft. Brown had a good rookie year including a pair of touchdowns but missed the following year after breaking his ankle during the preseason. He couldn’t recapture success in ’13 and was waived by the Chargers. Brown spent last year with the Oakland Raiders.
Also on the outside looking in is former Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley. Lindley was cut by the New England Patriots who don’t need him now that Tom Brady’s suspension has been overturned for Deflategate. As an Aztec, Lindley was named to the All-Mountain West second team in 2010 after leading SDSU to a Poinsettia Bowl win. It was their first bowl game since the Las Vegas Bowl in 1998.
In 2012 the Arizona Cardinals drafted Lindley in the 6th round. After struggling for two seasons the Cardinals released him and six days later the Chargers signed him to their practice squad. Lindley went back to Arizona in November after the Cardinals lost starting QB Carson Palmer to a season-ending injury. Lindley got the start in the Cardinals’ first-round playoff game against the Carolina Panthers. The Cardinals lost 27-16.