Former NFL Star Orlando Brown Found Dead at 40

Former Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Orlando Brown was found dead in his Maryland home Friday at the age of 40.

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Baltimore authorities do not believe foul play was involved, nor were they able to find anything that indicated how Brown died, according to the Baltimore Sun. An autopsy will be performed.

Brown's family called police Friday after they were unable to reach him for days, the Carroll County Times reported. Fire spokesman Battalion Chief Kevin Cartwright said firefighters were called about 11 a.m. Friday because Brown was unresponsive at his home near the Inner Harbor. Cartwright said Brown was dead when firefighters arrived.

"He was a beast on the field and a great friend off it. It's a shame he had to leave us so young," Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said in a comment posted on Twitter by the Ravens.

Head coach John Harbaugh announced Brown's death in his briefing with reporters Friday morning, as the team gets set to travel to St. Louis to play the Rams Sunday.

"We just found out before the end of practice," said Harry Swayne, Brown's former teammate and fellow tackle. "We were close friends. It's tough, it's tough. I talked to him a month ago and told him, 'Zeus, you didn't have to block half the people you played against because they were scared of you.' "He was a puppy dog, a big old puppy dog with a little bit of a bark. He had a lot of friends around the league. He was one of the best guys. It's a tough loss."

Brown started his career with the Cleveland Browns in 1993 and remained with the organization through its move to Baltimore in 1996.

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