Other Florida Teams
Tim Brown heading to Tampa
By The Source
Aug 10, 2004

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed wide receiver Tim Brown. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Brown was released by the Oakland Raiders late last week after the club wanted the 38-year-old veteran to take a reduced role in the offense. He believes he can still be a major contributor.

"I'm not coming here just to be a guy," Brown said Tuesday. "I'm coming here to be the Tim Brown I used to be. I think I have a lot left in the proverbial tank."

Brown spent the first 16 years of his NFL career with the Raiders after being selected in the first round of the 1988 draft. He was the club's second- leading receiver last year with 52 catches for 567 yards and two touchdowns, but faced a diminished role under new Oakland head coach Norv Turner.

Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden was Brown's coach in Oakland from 1998-2001.

"I'm really excited to be reunited with a class act like Tim Brown," said Gruden. "He's a great football player. His accomplishments are well-documented."

After winning the Heisman Trophy in 1987 at Notre Dame, Brown became a fixture in the Raider lineup. He is third in NFL history with 1,070 receptions and second in league annals with 14,734 receiving yards.

Brown holds virtually every Raider receiving record and is the franchise's all-time leader in games played with 240.

"I don't want to make any bold predictions, but Tim Brown brings a tremendous amount of class to our football team," added Gruden. "He gives us credibility, and I think this adds to a position that can be a real strength for our football team."