carter23 Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Classy Brown gets a deserving sendoff Classy Brown gets a deserving sendoff By Adam Schefter Special to NFL.com (July 6, 2005) -- The final route of wide receiver Tim Brown's illustrious career has turned out to be an out pattern. After 17 decorated NFL seasons, Brown has decided to retire, those close to him have confirmed. The Raiders are expected to hold a press conference to honor one of the greatest players in franchise history on Monday, July 18, when Brown is scheduled to make it official. That's when owner Al Davis will give the wide receiver the sendoff he deserves. The press conference will come four days before Brown, the last Raider left to have played in Los Angeles, celebrates his 39th birthday. A part of Brown wanted to continue playing. Even last week he admitted the fire still burned in him. But as Brown surveyed the NFL landscape this offseason, he found that there was little interest in his services. As it turned out, there was more interest in him from the television side. FOX-TV would like Brown to join its team and become an analyst. NBC has mulled the idea of Brown joining its team to commentate on Notre Dame, where the wide receiver won the Heisman Trophy for the 1987 season. Other business ventures have also appealed to Brown, who always has been one of the classiest players representing the NFL. In the end, Brown decided it was time to take off his cleats and slip on his loafers. The numbers are now complete on one of the greatest careers any receiver ever has had: 1,094 catches -- third most in NFL history; 14,934 receiving yards -- second most in NFL history; 100 receiving touchdowns -- tied for third most in NFL history; nine Pro Bowl selections; nine straight seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards; a streak of 175 straight starts for the Raiders; most every significant Raiders receiving record. And now, Brown will be an almost-certain first-ballot Hall of Fame selection. Brown will first be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2010, a class that is expected to include running back Emmitt Smith, the leading rusher in NFL history. Away from the field, one of Brown's trademarks was his candor. It almost was as if he served as the Raiders spokesman. Yet at times, it left him at odds with team management. But even through some of those rough times, Brown always remained one of the most popular players in the locker room. Though Brown will be remembered as a Raider, he did finish his career in Tampa Bay, where he caught 15 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown in the first three games of the 2004 season before watching his playing time diminish. Brown might have made his greatest mark in Tampa with rookie wide receiver Michael Clayton, who consistently credited Brown for being a role model on and off the field. It is the way Brown always has handled himself. But Brown is not the only former Raider to call it quits this offseason. Former NFL MVP Rich Gannon will also be retiring, though the Raiders are not thought to have arranged a press conference for him yet. Adam Schefter's "Around the League" reports and commentaries can be seen regularly on NFL Total Access. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrangeSkin Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Thank God, he was almost unwatchable for the last few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MumboSauce Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 great guy, great career..but definitely time to move on. Thanks for being a classy, blue collar work ethic. guy and giving of yourself to the game/sport. (of course he wont see this but thanks anyway) You need to talk to Jerry, Tim! *laughs* j/k...hey if a man wants to play and someone will give him a shot, so be it. who am I to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceman Spiff Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Its always sad when an all time great retires without a ring. Class guy all the way. I feel like he would have retired a few years ago had he won a superbowl earlier in his career. That said, do you all buy the whole "signing a one day contract so they can finish their career with the team they're most associated with" deal? I never really understood it and it seems to happen all the time, especially in football. Yeah, Brown is technically retiring as a Raider but he played his last season with a different team.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scruffylookin Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 About 3 years too late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimFolk Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 To bad he couldn't get that ring. He's probaly the 3rd greatest receiver of all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Prime Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Originally posted by TimFolk To bad he couldn't get that ring. He's probaly the 3rd greatest receiver of all time. Behind Michael Westbrook and Albert Connell.. Those guys were gods among men.. Heroes.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Great guy, still troubling to me that when you are reaching 40 in sports that you are told its time for you to apply for AARP, wear multi colored plaid golfing pants and relocate to Florida or Arizona Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Also have to say he is one of the few on Da Raiduhs that played like a Joe Gibbus Maximus player from the 80's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhead36 Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 He was a great player for a long time. Good luck on any future ventures TB! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[[ghost]] Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 bout time, ya old geezer. now wheres jerry rice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Washington Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 i always liked tim brown. i don't think he ever got the respect he deserved. i hope they let him in the HOF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinshog Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 Too bad he couldn't get that 100th TD catch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidenreich Posted July 8, 2005 Share Posted July 8, 2005 Tim Brown ruled Tecmo Bowl...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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