Brown fine after turning-point injury

SANTA CLARA -- In a game that featured many possible turning points, the 49ers on Sunday saw what could've been an interception turn into a play in which one of their starting cornerbacks was sidelined.Cornerback Tarell Brown, in coverage against New York Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks, had his sights set on an interception near midfield with one minute remaining in the third quarter.Safety Dashon Goldson also had his eyes on the ball. But Neither Brown nor Goldson saw each other. Their upper-bodies collided, with the force bending Brown backward.Instead of an interception, the pass fell incomplete. Brown was down on the turf for nearly five minutes before requiring assistance off the field.The 49ers announced at the time that Brown's return was questionable with head and thigh injuries. Brown said he felt tingling in his feet. He did not return to the game."I wasn't diagnosed with a concussion," Brown said. "The trainers just felt it was in my best interest to stay out. That's their job."I didn't feel like I was knocked out. It shocked me. It definitely shocked me for a second, just because I didn't see Dashon coming down. I didn't get an opportunity to brace myself. Once I got the feeling back in my feet, I was cool."On Monday, Brown said his body was sore but he was experiencing no headache.With Brown out of the lineup, third cornerback Chris Culliver took over duties at right cornerback. The trickle down was that Tramaine Brock played in the 49ers' nickel package. Brock was in coverage on Manning's 17-yard touchdown to Mario Manningham, a fourth-quarter play that came on a third-and-15 situation.Either Brown or Goldson could've easily recorded the interception. Instead, it was another opportunity that got away in the team's 20-17 overtime loss in the NFC Championship Game.
"As a defense, we thrive on turnovers, and we definitely needed that," Brown said. "I think that could've been a turning point in the game."Brown said he tried to convince the 49ers' medical staff on the sideline that he was all right to return to action."The toughest thing is I feel I couldn't be there for my teammates," Brown said. "As much work as we put in, this whole team, I just feel like I could've been there to fight with my teammates. So I feel I let the team down a little bit on that end."