Davis, Oakland pass on having Brown return
Tim Brown wants fans and teammates to remember him as the best receiver in Raiders history – not as an over-the-hill veteran who overstayed his welcome.
Unwilling to accept a sharply reduced role in Oakland’s offense, Brown will be released by the Raiders Wednesday after 16 seasons. The 38-year-old receiver agreed with owner Al Davis’ decision to part ways with the last former member of the Los Angeles Raiders and the longest-tenured player in franchise history.
With Jerry Rice and Fred Biletnikoff looking on, Davis announced his intentions in a news conference at the Raiders’ training camp headquarters in Napa, Calif. Brown still hopes to play this season, but unless Oakland has a catastrophic series of injuries, it won’t be in front of the Raider Nation.
“I didn’t want to be a distraction,” Brown said. “I think those guys have great respect for me, and I think you lose some of that if you accept a role where you’re not playing. … When you’ve played at the level I’ve played at, it’s tough to be on the sidelines waving a towel.”
The self-proclaimed “Mr. Raider” holds most of the club’s receiving records, and his 240 games are the most in franchise history. He has caught at least one pass in 173 consecutive games – the second-longest streak in NFL history behind Rice’s 273.
Garcia makes his point
Jeff Garcia delivered his message to Kellen Winslow Jr. with the pinpoint accuracy of a tight spiral.
As the rookie tight end’s contract holdout with the Cleveland Browns approached one week, Garcia said it’s time Winslow Jr. reported for training camp at Berea, Ohio.
“It’s important to get him here,” the Browns’ new quarterback said. “It’s one of those things where you need to think about the team. You are going to get your riches no matter what, but you need to think about the team.
“This is a team game.”
Steelers rookie shakes off jitters
Ben Roethlisberger was just like any other player on his first official day in a new uniform: nervous.
“Without question,” the first-round draft pick said after his first training camp practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “It felt like the first day of minicamp all over again. Tommy (Maddox) and I were laughing about it. You need to get out there and get the first play out of the way.”
That first play was nothing remarkable for the most-watched Steelers rookie quarterback since Terry Bradshaw in 1970. Lining up under center from the 20-yard line in a 7-on-7 passing drill, Roethlisberger overthrew wide receiver Plaxico Burress near the goal line.
On the next play, Roethlisberger threaded a pass through heavy coverage to Burress at the 1.
Around the league
Buffalo Bills tackle Mike Williams, who was fined by the team this week for missing a training-camp session, returned to practice at Pittsford, N.Y. … Washington Redskins defensive tackle Brandon Noble was held out of practice at Ashburn, Va., one day after breaking his right hand in a workout. … Pro Bowl defensive end Simeon Rice rejoined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, practicing for the first time since an irregular heart beat caused him to miss four days of training camp at Lake Buena Vista, Fla. … San Francisco 49ers quarterback Tim Rattay will be held out of practice until next week because an inflamed right forearm. … Philadelphia free safety Brian Dawkins will miss the next week of training camp after injuring his knee, the Eagles announced from Bethlehem, Pa. … Cornerback Daylon McCutcheon signed a five-year contract extension with the Cleveland Browns. … Linebacker Karlos Dansby, the first player drafted in this year’s second round, agreed to a four-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.