Patrick Peterson on Buffalo Bills WR: ‘There isn’t anybody on the field that can run with Smokey’

Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown brings some serious speed to the table, so much so that star cornerback Patrick Peterson doesn’t think anyone can run with him.

Although Carson Palmer — a three-time Pro Bowler and former No. 1 pick — never played quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, he joined One Bills Live to talk about the team. On the show, aired on WGR 550, Palmer gave told the crew about his time playing with wide receiver John “Smokey” Brown.

Palmer — a former teammate of John Brown with Arizona Cardinals — mentioned his experience playing with the receiver during practice. When the two connected on a deep-ball, perennial Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson walked up to Palmer and said, via One Bills Live Twitter:

"Man, there isn’t anybody on the field that can run with Smokey."

Praise from Peterson doesn’t come easy. He’s seen it all through his eight-season career, often tasked with shadowing teams best receivers — he’s defended Julio Jones, Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, and Davante Adams at a high-level. So when Peterson says there isn’t anybody that can defend a receiver — albeit, at practice, years ago — everyone should listen.

Peterson’s cause for praise Brown’s way is wholly just. The two were starting teammates for four years and got used to each other’s speed. But Brown may be just a bit faster than the Peterson, even though they ran the same 40-time (4.34)  — it’s his most appealing aspect. In his two seasons playing with the strong-armed Palmer, he stretched the field by racking up 103 passes for 1,699 yards and 12 touchdowns — an average of 16.5 yards per catch.

Entering his third season, Brown was perceived as a speed demon and a top-shelf field stretcher. Many thought he was the heir apparent to Larry Fitzgerald in the desert. However, a hamstring injury and Sickle Cell Trait diagnosis — easily treatable and hasn’t played much of an effect on Brown — derailed his track to stardom. The year after, he continued to pile up injuries.

After a four-season stint in Arizona, Brown moved onto to the Ravens. He bounced back with the big-armed Joe Flacco tossing him passes, as he caught 34 balls for 601 yards on an average of 17.7 yards per catch in nine games. When the mobile Lamar Jackson stepped in, Brown acted as more of a decoy to pull defenses out.

Now with the Bills — signing a three year, $27 million deal in free agency –, many expect Brown to flourish. With Josh Allen throwing to him in Buffalo, he’s in a favorable situation, as he does his best work alongside quarterbacks with strong arms. The Bills’ wide receiver corps is all but figured out, meaning, by seasons end, he may very well be their No. 1 receiver. Luckily for Peterson, the two aren’t facing each other next year.