LAKE BUENA VISTA - Tim Brown's quest for a Super Bowl ring will resume with the team that denied him two years ago.
According to several media reports in California, the former Raiders receiver has agreed to terms to play for the Bucs and be reunited with coach Jon Gruden.
It was Gruden's Bucs who defeated Brown's Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Brown has told the Bucs he will decide by Wednesday where he will resume his NFL career.
General manager Bruce Allen, who spoke with Brown over the weekend and planned to contact him Monday, said the free agent released last week by the Raiders was intrigued with the possibility of reuniting with Gruden.
"I think the marriage of Tim and Jon is attractive to him," said Allen, who was the Raiders' senior assistant before becoming Tampa Bay's general manager in January. "But the rest, you'd have to ask him. I'm not going to go into my conversation with him.
"I think everything is moving forward in (Brown's) time frame. I'm sure he has other opportunities that are also looking for a decision this week. I would imagine sometime this week."
The San Francisco Chronicle reported today that Brown had agreed to sign with the Bucs.
Brown, 38, is four years older than holdout receiver Keenan McCardell. But Allen said McCardell's future with the Bucs would not be affected by Brown's signing.
"It has no relationship at all," Allen said. "Keenan is not here. What we're trying to do is focus on the players who are here and the ones who can help us win."
Brown, who ranks second in NFL career receiving yards, spent the weekend at his home in Dallas. He was believed to be deciding among the Bucs, Broncos and Cowboys.
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen all but conceded on Sunday that Brown was leaning toward the Bucs because the receiver would be fourth on Denver's depth chart behind Rod Smith, Ashley Lelie and Darius Watts.
"Tim played for Jon Gruden before and Jon probably is looking at his wide receivers and saying, "I could really use Tim Brown,"' Bowlen told the Denver Post.
Gruden defended his team's receiving corps while still expressing interest in Brown.
"What's wrong with it? People have more familiarity with ( Joe) Jurevicius and McCardell, but these guys have earned the right to play," said Gruden, who coached Brown and the Raiders from 1998 through 2001. "We're going to play the best men we have and live in our hopes and not in our fears. So absolutely, we're excited."
McCardell is on the did-not-report list, meaning his $2.5-million salary currently does not count against the salary cap. McCardell has asked for his release. Allen said he has no plans to waive or trade the veteran, but he would not rule it out.
"I hate absolutes, you know that, but I wouldn't say one way or another," Allen said.
"We're not making the choice of Keenan sitting out. That's Keenan's decision. As far as we're concerned, we care about the guys who are here and working."
The Dolphins, who lost receiver David Boston to a season-ending knee injury, would seem to be a likely suitor for McCardell.
Allen was asked if he were worried that Brown's skills are on the decline.
"No. I remember when we signed a guy named Jerry Rice, they said he was done, too," Allen said. "Each player is different. You've got to look at them and what they bring to the table."
TWO WAY BUCS: Who can forget Warren Sapp dancing in the end zone at the Georgia Dome last season after catching a TD pass?
Well, Gruden can't. Defensive players such as Anthony McFarland already are used on short-yardage situations as a blocking tight end and defensive end Corey Smith worked out there last week. Tackle Derrick Deese, nose tackle Chuck Darby and defensive tackle Ellis Wyms have taken reps at tight end. On Thursday, Gruden said he will install a package for cornerback Ronde Barber.
"Unfortunately, with the injuries that we had last year in the secondary," Gruden said, "we were unable to launch some of these ideas, so they stayed in the lab and hopefully, we can get them ready to go again."
It doesn't stop there. Safety Dwight Smith, who played all five positions in the secondary last season, is practicing returning kicks. Smith returned 16 as a rookie. "Did I tell you I played 1,200 snaps last year?" he said. "So, I mean, one thing you'll learn about Dwight Smith, he rarely gets tired. He loves to run all day."
INJURY UPDATE: Deese, the starting left tackle, will be examined in Miami today for an ankle injury he aggravated in practice. The 13-year veteran had arthroscopic surgery on the same left ankle in the offseason after signing with the Bucs from the 49ers. Several other players returned, including tackles Todd Steussie (knee swelling) and Kenyatta Walker (knee). Guard Todd Stinchcomb (calf strain) is day to day and questionable for Saturday's preseason opener against the Bengals. Receiver Joey Galloway (groin/knee) also returned.
