Brown Signs With Raiders for One Year

OXNARD — Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown, who lasted until the sixth pick of the National Football League draft, signed a one-year contract with the Raiders Thursday so he could report to training camp on time.

Brown signed with the idea that a long-term contract will be worked out shortly, thus nullifying the one-year deal.

“The most important thing was for me to be in camp,” the Notre Dame graduate said. “We knew with the relationship of my agent (Marvin Demoff) and (Raiders’ owner) Al Davis, we would get things done.

“Hopefully by late next week before the big guys come in, we’ll have something we’re all comfortable with.”

It was reported earlier that Brown had agreed to a terms of a four-year contract worth about $2.8 million, but a Raiders’ source said that wasn’t quite accurate, and Brown agreed.

“I don’t know where they got those figures,” Brown said. “What we still need to work on (with the long-term contract) are little things.”

Meanwhile, cornerback Terry McDaniel of Tennessee and defensive end Scott Davis of Illinois, the Raiders’ other first-round draft choices, also signed as the club opened drills. McDaniel was the ninth overall pick in the draft and Davis the 25th.

By signing their three No. 1 picks, the Raiders have only two draft choices unsigned--Nebraska defensive tackle Tim Rother (fourth round) and Penn State wide receiver Mike Alexander (eighth round).

“He’s a very gifted athlete who has already proven he can win in high-pressure situations,” a Raiders official said of Brown. “He proved his versatility by playing at wide receiver, in the backfield and returning punts and kickoffs.

“We look forward to him learning the system and being able to contribute in the future to the greatness of the Raiders.”

Many were surprised when Brown, a wide receiver-kick returner at Notre Dame, was still available when the Raiders’ turn to draft came. The Raiders selected him despite the fact that wide receiver didn’t appear to be a primary need.

Brown wouldn’t disclose an asking price after the draft.

When he was drafted last April, however, Brown said that Demoff anticipated reaching agreement with Davis.

“Demoff told Al we had given other teams a really high figure and Al said ‘Maybe I can’t sign him either,’ ” Brown said. “He just told Al, ‘You’ll have no problems.’ It won’t be peanuts but it’ll be all right.”

Brown, a 6-foot, 191-pounder, had 39 receptions for 846 yards at Notre Dame last season despite the fact that the Fighting Irish were without a standout passer.

He averaged 167.9 all-purpose yards per game and set a school record with 1,937 all-purpose yards last season.

In his college career, Brown had 2,493 reception yards and 1,613 yards returning kicks. He was also used occasionally at running back, gaining 442 yards on 98 carries.

He virtually clinched the Heisman Trophy early last season by returning punts 71 and 66 yards for touchdowns against Big Ten champion Michigan State in a nationally televised game.

Even so, he was still around when it was the Raiders turn to pick in the first round of the draft.

Afterwards, however, Brown didn’t express any regrets.

“I’m number one on everybody’s list,” he said at the time of the draft. “We’ve checked with all the teams and they rate me number one on their lists, so we’re going to approach it from that point of view, where it doesn’t matter what pick I go.

“I think things couldn’t have turned out any better for me. I felt L.A. was a place I could play a long time and have a good career.”

If Brown wins a starting job with the Raiders, it would go against a policy that has seen the team seldom use rookies on a regular basis, especially at skill positions.