Tim Brown Still a Raider : Pro football: After shopping around, team decides to match offer from Denver.

The Raiders ensured that they will keep Tim Brown by matching the four-year, $11 million the Pro Bowl wide receiver received from the Denver Broncos.

The Raiders announced their decision Wednesday, two days before their deadline to match the offer or lose Brown, who won the 1987 Heisman Trophy as college football’s top player after his senior year at Notre Dame.

“This was not a tough decision,� said Steve Ortmayer, the Raiders’ director of football operations. “The problem for a club is when you have a decision like this, and you have outstanding young players at the same position on your team. You have to look to see who else is out there that can make a difference.

“While there’s some outstanding value out there in the unrestricted free-agent market, there was no one we felt who had the value of a Tim Brown for this team.�

Upon hearing the Raiders’ decision, Brown didn’t sound upset at all.

“It’s hard not to be happy, let’s be honest here,� he said. “I was trying to get the best deal I could get for myself. The bottom line is this is the business part of football. Now, it’s time to go play football.

“I believe that this team, with me, of course, will be challenging for the Super Bowl next season. It’s a good situation. I’m a little stunned that it happened so quickly, I wasn’t expecting to hear until Friday.

“This has been home for me for six years, that’s not going to be anything different now. It’s a matter of going out and playing football.�

Denver Coach Wade Phillips seemed unperturbed by the Raiders’ action.

“It’s not a loss. It was kind of a hopeful thing on our part. We extended ourselves as much as we could, and they (the Raiders) extended themselves and signed him,� Phillips said.

“I’m happy for Tim Brown that he basically gets his money. I’m not happy for the Raiders that they got him,� he said.

Brown caught 80 passes, a franchise record for the wide receiver, gained an AFC-leading 1,180 yards receiving and scored seven touchdowns in 1993. He also averaged 11.6 yards in punt returns, including one return for a touchdown.

Brown said when he signed the Broncos’ offer sheet that he wanted to play there. As part of the contract, there is a no-trade clause that Brown and the Broncos both believed would make it more difficult for the Raiders to match.

“We have a hard salary cap system in this age,� Ortmayer said. “Whether we signed Tim Brown or not, there are certain players on our team who will have to take drastic salary cuts or be released.�

Ortmayer would not say who those players might be.

“The Raiders, more than anyone, believe strongly in continuity, history and tradition,� Ortmayer said.

Brown, a first-round draft choice, sixth overall in 1988, was an immediate star with the Raiders as a rookie, leading the team with 43 receptions although he was not a starter--and making the Pro Bowl as a kick returner.

Brown missed all but the first game of the 1989 season due to a knee injury. His yardage in pass receptions and punt returns increased each year since then.