Bruce Allen will talk with Tim Brown, among the all-time greats and whom the Raiders will let go.
By RICK STROUD
Published August 5, 2004
Brown
TAMPA - Tim Brown will be released today by the Raiders, and at least one former boss plans to call him.
Bucs general manager Bruce Allen said during a radio interview Wednesday he will contact Brown within the next few days just to "see how he's doing." But Allen, the former Raiders senior assistant, would not comment on speculation the receiver might be reunited with Jon Gruden. Brown, 38, ended his 16-year association with the Raiders rather than accept reduced playing time.
"This won't be the end of Tim Brown. I'll surface somewhere else, probably," Brown said during a news conference.
"Coming into training camp, you always think you have a little bit left in the tank," said Brown, who is second all-time with 14,734 receiving yards, third with 1,070 catches tied for fourth with 99 touchdown catches. Brown was among the most vocal Raiders critical of how Gruden left the Raiders without contacting his players or staff.
"It's emotionally difficult. It's a part of your life," Raiders owner Al Davis said. "Other than your family, this is your family. We've had many great players, but there are certain players you fall for. It's tough to lose him." Gruden said he was surprised by Brown's impending release.
"I can't imagine that," Gruden said. "I certainly wish him well. I don't want to speculate.
"I'm really excited about the players we have, and anybody who's available is always on the radar screen. We'll be honest about that. But to speculate about a player or anyone right now is just speculation." Brown's release couldn't come at a more opportune time for the Bucs, who are at a contract impasse with Keenan McCardell (and without the injured Joe Jurevicius. McCardell's agents asked for his immediate release in a statement sent to reporters Tuesday.
"Interestingly, he submitted it to (reporters). He didn't submit it to us," Allen said. "I did get a copy of it. And the suggestion that Keenan's not going to have any value, we disagree. We think he has plenty of value to this team. We want him to come here and play.
"I'm not interested in a quadruple raise or a triple raise. The system obviously works for 87 of our 88 players right now. I think it would be unfair to the other players if I addressed one player's issues and whether it's fair or not."
Allen said the Bucs had no intention of trading or releasing McCardell this year.
"I'm not big on absolutes. But no, he's a Buc," Allen said.
The Bucs had not talked with McCardell or his agents since June, when Allen said he called Gary Uberstine on Monday. But according to McCardell's agents, Allen's call was only to update them on the status of injured offensive tackle Derrick Deese.
However, Allen remained confident McCardell could play for the Bucs this season.
"Really, it's only been four days that he's missed of camp," Allen said.
"We've have some players here who've missed three days. Simeon came in, and he's picked up the speed. He looked very good at pass rush (Wednesday). He really hasn't missed that much yet."
