It took a while for Trent Brown to earn the respect he deserves.
Originally drafted as a seventh-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, Brown played three seasons with the team before being traded to the New England Patriots where he became a Super Bowl champion.
Despite getting a ring and earning the biggest contract for a tackle this offseason, people continue to sleep on the 6-8, 380-pound behemoth, but one player who isn't sleeping on him might surprise you.
"He's one of the best tackles in the game," said All-Pro Von Miller with a conference call with the media Wednesday. "It doesn't matter if it's right or left. I've been a huge fan of Trent for a long time. I love the guy. He knows how much I love him. It's going to be a tough challenge. He's one of the best. He's tall, he's big, he's quick. They definitely got better in the offensive line room with Trent Brown over there."
That's some high praise from a division rival, and more importantly a future Hall of Famer.
The extent of Brown's relationship with Miller goes back quite a while, and No. 77 notes that Miller has been one of the first people to recognize his talent.
"He's started saying that about me a long time ago, since I was a rookie," Brown said. "Been a pretty cool journey along the way, nobody wanted to listen to him, just swept it under the rug. It is what it is, I'm here now, and it's going to be fun."
This will be the duo's first time facing off against one another, and you can expect them to face each other plenty as Trent lines up on the right side of the offensive line and Miller lines up on the left side of the defensive line. It's going to be a battle of the fittest, and I'm not sure one has the edge over the other.
Every year, Miller hosts a pass rush summit, and this past year Brown was invited to attend. Typically, Miller uses it as a teaching tool to help other players develop or add moves to their game, but he made sure not to share anything with Brown and vice versa.
"He's been to my pass rush summit," Miller said. "I wish it was a quarterback summit. (laughter) He's been my favorite tackle for the longest time. I just wanted his input on how he sees the game. We didn't really go over schemes and what moves, we didn't really go into that because we play each other two times a year. But he definitely gave helpful information on what to look for when it comes to facing other offensive tackles and I definitely gave him some helpful information, too, on what it's like facing good pass rushers. Individually, person to person, we didn't give a lot of secrets there. We're buddies and we're friends, but competitors at the end of the day."
Compete they will, and on the biggest regular season stage no less.
Monday Night Football is reserved for premiere matchups, and the Raiders' Week 1 matchup with the Broncos is going to be a good one. In 2018 the AFC West rivals split the season series, and I can't think of a better way to kick off the regular season than at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
Not only am I looking forward to it, but Trent Brown is ready to see Raider Nation in peak form.
"I'm thinking it's going to be loud as hell at the Coliseum on Monday," he said with a smile. "I've never played there, I was expecting that Rams preseason game to be a little [more live] than it was, but for a preseason it was pretty cool. The fans were in it the whole game."
Don't let him down, Raider Nation.
Bring the noise.
Go out to Raiders HQ for another day of practice in preparation for their home opener against the Broncos on ESPN's Monday Night Football.
Raiders defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (90) on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive end Benson Mayowa (91) on the field for practice.
Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley (20) on the field for practice.
Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock and alumnus George Atkinson on the field for practice.
Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden and tackle Trent Brown (77) on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive end Quinton Bell (95) on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) and assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia on the field for practice.
Raiders quarterback Mike Glennon (7) and offensive coordinator Greg Olson on the field for practice.
Raiders quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) on the field for practice.
Raiders strength and conditioning coach A.J. Neibel on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73) and assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia on the field for practice.
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for practice.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice.
Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for practice.
Raiders quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) on the field for practice.
Raiders wide receiver/return specialist Dwayne Harris (17) and cornerback Daryl Worley (20) on the field for practice.
Raiders safety Erik Harris (25) and wide receiver Marcell Ateman (88) on the field for practice.
Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice.
Raiders tight ends coach Frank Smith on the field for practice.
Raiders tight end Derek Carrier (85) on the field for practice.
Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) on the field for practice.
Raiders running backs coach Kirby Wilson and assistant equipment manager Adam Johnson on the field for practice.
Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for practice.
Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) on the field for practice.
Raiders wide receiver Rico Gafford (10) and offensive coordinator Greg Olson on the field for practice.
Raiders wide receiver Ryan Grant (19) on the field for practice.
Raiders running back DeAndré Washington (33) on the field for practice.
Raiders tackle Denzelle Good (71) on the field for practice.
Raiders tackle Brandon Parker (75), tackle Trent Brown (77) and guard Jonathan Cooper (70) on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive end Josh Mauro (97) on the field for practice.
Raiders guard Lester Cotton Sr. (67) and tackle Andre James (68) on the field for practice.
Raiders offensive lineman Jordan Devey (65) on the field for practice.
Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon (22) and running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for practice.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice.
Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) on the field for practice.
Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) on the field for practice.
Raiders linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) on the field for practice.
Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) and cornerback Gareon Conley (21) on the field for practice.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice.
Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) and Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice.
Raiders tackle David Sharpe (72) and tackle Trent Brown (77) on the field for practice.
Raiders linebacker Kyle Wilber (58) on the field for practice.
Raiders safety Curtis Riley (35) on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive end Quinton Bell (95) and tackle Kolton Miller (74) on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive end Josh Mauro (97) on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell (96) on the field for practice.
Raiders punter A.J. Cole (6) on the field for practice.
Raiders cornerback Dylan Mabin (37) on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive tackle Anthony Rush (60) on the field for practice.
Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen (27) on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive end Quinton Bell (95) on the field for practice.
Raiders safety Curtis Riley (35) on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field for practice.
Raiders linebacker Marquel Lee (52) on the field for practice.
Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) on the field for practice.
Raiders guard Jonathan Cooper (70) on the field for practice.
Raiders safety Karl Joseph (42) on the field for practice.
Raiders safety Erik Harris (25) on the field for practice.
Raiders safety Dallin Leavitt (32) on the field for practice.
Raiders safety Karl Joseph (42) on the field for practice.
Raiders linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) and center Rodney Hudson (61) on the field for practice.
Raiders defensive end Arden Key (99) on the field for practice.Thursday, September 5, 2019, in Alameda, Calif.
Raiders safety Lamarcus Joyner (29) on the field for practice.
Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley (20) on the field for practice.
Raiders safety Dallin Leavitt (32) on the field for practice.
Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for practice.
Raiders punter A.J. Cole (6) on the field for practice.Thursday, September 5, 2019, in Alameda, Calif.
Raiders defensive line coach Brentson Buckner on the field for practice.Thursday, September 5, 2019, in Alameda, Calif.
Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24), cornerback Keisean Nixon (22), defensive backs coach Jim O'Neil, cornerback Daryl Worley (20), cornerback Gareon Conley (21), safety Curtis Riley (35), and safety Karl Joseph (42) on the field for practice.
Oak Raiders huddle on the field during practice.
