A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press the Pittsburgh Steelers have acquired tackle Levi Brown from the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional draft pick.
The deal is pending Brown passing a physical, said the person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the trade is not yet completed.
The 29-year-old Brown failed to live up to expectations in Arizona after the Cardinals selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2007 draft, two spots ahead of Adrian Peterson.
As a rookie, he started at right tackle for Arizona's 2008 Super Bowl team, then was moved to left tackle. But he never became the dominant blocker the Cardinals envisioned.
After missing all of 2012 with a torn triceps, Brown was labeled an ''elite'' tackle by new coach Bruce Arians in the offseason. But Arians quickly lost faith in Brown as the big lineman struggled against the pass rush off the edge. He gave up three sacks to Robert Quinn in Arizona's season opener at St. Louis.
Presumably, he will be replaced by Bradley Sowell, claimed off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 1. Sowell played in 10 games for Indianapolis as an undrafted rookie last season, when Arians was offensive coordinator, then interim head coach.
Regardless of Brown's spotty record, the winless Steelers (0-4) desperately need help along the offensive line.
Center Maurkice Pouncey is out for the year with a right knee injury and second-year left tackle Mike Adams has failed to adapt to the left side. Adams played well in spots at right tackle as a rookie before being moved to left tackle in the spring. The adjustment has been rocky at best. Adams surrendered 2 1-2 sacks to Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen in a 34-27 loss to the Vikings in London last weekend and was briefly replaced by Kelvin Beachum.
The Steelers, off to their worst start in 45 years, are off this week before traveling to New York to face the Jets on Oct. 13.
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