Brown being purged by Raiders?

by Barry WILNER<br>AP Football Writer
| August 4, 2004 9:00 PM

Tim Brown is certain his days as an Oakland Raider are over.

The 38-year-old receiver told several teammates on Tuesday that his 17-year stay with the Raiders will end soon. He is the longest-tenured member of the team.

”What he said to the guys is that he's not going to be around anymore,” Jerry Rice said after practice. ”I don't know what was said, but he's not going to be here anymore. This basically is going to wake everybody up that this is a business. You can't come in and feel like you've got it made.”

Brown wasn't a major factor last season as the Raiders slipped from AFC champions to 4-12, the worst dropoff by a Super Bowl team. He had 52 catches for 567 yards and two touchdowns last year, and most of his playing time was headed for fifth-year receiver Jerry Porter.

Brown has caught 1,070 passes for 14,734 yards and 99 touchdowns. He's averaged 13.8 yards per catch and started 198 of his 240 games.

”You know, if you asked me that a week ago, I would have said no,” Brown said of ending his Raiders career and joining a new team. ”But certainly, even standing out here, that's not something I want to think about. I don't know what could happen to change what is going on, and certainly you don't want to see anybody get injured or anything of that nature to change your situation.

”I mean, there are going to be things I'm going to have to think about hard in the future, and we'll make those decisions.”

Very soon.

Another player who could wind up elsewhere is Buffalo tackle Mike Williams. He didn't show for practice Tuesday and will be fined by the Bills.

Williams was excused Monday for personal reasons, but was expected back on Tuesday. Team president Tom Donahoe said Williams will be fined again if he fails to attend either of Wednesday's practices.

Titans

Starting linebacker Peter Sirmon tore ligaments in his left knee and probably will miss the season. The team believes he will need reconstructive surgery, and Sirmon will seek a second opinion.

”It felt like something was definitely wrong,” he said. ”It felt like my knee kind of came apart.”

Chargers

An MRI exam showed Doug Flutie's left knee has no structural damage, and the 41-year-old quarterback expected to practice Wednesday. Flutie sat out five practices.

”It's fine,” he said. ”They're treating me like I'm old.”

Vikings

Pro Bowl center Matt Birk left Minnesota's camp for a follow-up examination on a pelvic injury that has sidelined him for practice the last two days. Coach Mike Tice said the worst-case scenario is Birk would miss two or three weeks, and that he's been guaranteed Birk will be ready for the opener Sept. 12 against Dallas.

Steelers

Not even being sacked by one of his players could dampen coach Bill Cowher's enthusiasm after the Steelers signed top draft choice Ben Roethlisberger.

The 11th overall pick and third quarterback taken, Roethlisberger signed a six-year contract including a signing bonus of $9,009,000, about $1 million more than cornerback Dunta Robinson, the 10th pick, got from Houston.

Later Tuesday, Steelers linebacker Joey Porter got his first sack of training camp, leveling Cowher. Porter beat Duce Staley during a blocking drill, with Cowher standing in as the quarterback. As Porter approached Cowher from behind he gave him a shove that accidentally knocked the coach to the ground.

Asked if it was his first sack, Cowher said, ”It will be my last one, too. I should have saw who I had rushing. I definitely let my guard down.”

Cowboys

Like Cowher, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells took a spill during practice. Tight end Jason Witten ran into him during a passing drill.

Parcells got up smiling and didn't appear to be hurt. The coach doesn't talk to reporters following afternoon workouts.

”I tried to help him up and he said, 'I'm all right.' So I left it at that,” Witten said. ”I was scared to death. I'm sorry, Coach, I'm sorry, let me help you up. That's the first thing out of my mouth.”

Colts

Tarik Glenn, Indianapolis' starter at left tackle the past six seasons, has a weight problem. He was kept out of practice Tuesday.

Coach Tony Dungy declined to say what Glenn weighed.

”We've had a range for him since I've been here and it's been ratcheting up every year,” Dungy said. ”He was close, close and now he's over.”

Dungy said when Glenn, listed at 6-foot-5, 332 pounds, loses some weight, he would be allowed to practice.

Jets

The Jets are getting an early taste of injuries. First-round pick Jonathan Vilma injured his left calf during the morning practice and the linebacker sat out the afternoon session.

Defensive tackle Josh Evans sprained his left knee and missed the afternoon session. Free agent acquisitions Eric Barton and Reggie Tongue also missed practice with leg injuries. All three are day to day.

Bears

More injury woes.

It started when Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher, who's never missed a game in his four seasons, strained his right hamstring on the opening day of camp. He will be out four to six weeks.

Bothered by sore hamstrings are receiver Marty Booker, also hurt in the first practice, tight ends Desmond Clark and John Gilmore and wideouts Justin Gage and Jamin Elliott.

Running back Anthony Thomas has a sore side. Defensive end Alex Brown's calf muscle has kept him out of drills. Offensive lineman Mike Gandy has a tender groin, while Pro Bowl kick returner Jerry Azumah rejoined the team after going to Pittsburgh for a second opinion on shoulder and neck injuries.

Azumah said a specialist will review his MRI and other tests before he resumes full contract drills.

Falcons

Atlanta's top pick, cornerback DeAngelo Hall, reported and attended meetings for most of the day. He missed a morning workout, but got on the field in a night session, still a starting cornerback despite a six-day holdout.

”I'm glad all that is taken care of so I can focus on football,” Hall said. ”It was something we all were prepared for. I met with the coaches before camp, getting ready to go.

”Now, I'm ready.”