Brown reunited with Gruden in Tampa Bay

Tim Brown calls his reunion with Jon Gruden a no-brainer.

The former Oakland star joined forces with the ex-Raiders coach on Tuesday, signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a move the 38-year-old receiver thinks will rekindle a Hall of Fame career.

“There was really only one place for me to play, and that was here,” Brown said.

“After so many years at one place, certainly you want to be comfortable with how you go about your business. Being around Jon, he knows me, he knows what I’m capable of doing and he knows how to use me on the football field.”

Brown was released last week after 16 seasons with the Raiders, who told one of the most popular players in team history that he was no better than the fourth or fifth best receiver in a group that included starters Jerry Rice and Jerry Porter.

The 1987 Heisman Trophy winner played for Gruden from 1998-2001.

Cardinals’ Boldin injures knee

Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin, the 2003 NFL offensive rookie of the year and the Cardinals only Pro Bowl player, injured his right knee, while loosening up for practice and was carted from the field.

Boldin experienced soreness in the same knee Monday and sat out a morning practice but participated in an afternoon walkthrough.

“His knee locked up on him, and so we’re running some extensive tests,” coach Dennis Green said after the first practice. “It’s not locked up now.”

Winslow ends holdout, signs

First-round draft choice Kellen Winslow Jr. agreed to terms on a six-year contract with the Cleveland Browns, ending his 12-day holdout, a team source told The AP.

The deal has a base salary of $29 million and could be worth up to $40 million if Winslow reaches all his incentives. It also includes a $16.5 million signing bonus, said the source, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Bengals sign first-round pick

Running back Chris Perry, the Cincinnati Bengals’ first-round draft pick, signed with the team to end an 11-day holdout.

Perry, the 26th overall selection out of Michigan in April’s draft, said he hoped to play Saturday night in the team’s preseason opener at Tampa Bay. His signing leaves four first-rounders unsigned, including quarterback Philip Rivers of San Diego and tight end Kellen Winslow of Cleveland, the fourth and sixth picks overall.

Ex-Viking sues hospital

Former Minnesota Vikings lineman Lewis Kelly claims a Twin Cities hospital and clinic were negligent in the death of his pregnant wife two years ago, according to a lawsuit.

Kelly served Methodist Hospital and its affiliate, Park Nicollet Clinic, with the wrongful death lawsuit, his attorney, Don Migliori, said. It will be filed formally in Hennepin County District Court in a week or so, he said.

Rakiva Kelly was pregnant when she died in the hospital’s emergency room on Aug. 25, 2002. She died from a blood disorder known as thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura, which can lead to abnormalities in kidney and neurological functions. She was 22 years old and about 10 weeks pregnant.

Kelly claims the hospital and clinic were negligent in diagnosing Rakiva’s illness during previous visits.

Kelly was cut Thursday by the Vikings after four seasons with the team.

Around the league

The Jacksonville Jaguars waived place-kicker Seth Marler after he strained his quadriceps muscle several times during the first week of training camp. … New York Giants co-owner Robert Tisch was diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment. No other details were released. … Receiver Antonio Freeman worked out for the Miami Dolphins, a day after David Boston had season-ending knee surgery. A former Pro Bowler, Freeman caught just 14 passes for 141 yards in 15 games with the Packers last season. … The Dallas Cowboys have notified Quincy Carter’s agent and the NFL that they want to recoup a portion of the $1.6 million signing bonus he received as a rookie, several sources said. Prior to waiving Carter, the Cowboys informed the quarterback and the league that they would seek about $600,000 — about two-fifths of Carter’s bonus — because he recently violated the league’s substance-abuse policy. The NFL Players Association is preparing to file a grievance for wrongful termination.