Brown Just Takes It All in Stride

In a year of question marks for the new-look Raiders, he figured to be an exclamation point.

In a year when the Raiders, one game into the season, are still not sure who will be throwing the ball for them, they have no question who they want receiving it-whether on kickoffs, punts, or from the line of scrimmage.

Tim Brown, Heisman Trophy-winning first-round draft choice of the Raiders, quickly showed Sunday that such optimism is justified, that he can make the jump to the pros without missing a step.

His big moment came late in the first half. The Raider offense, behind first-time starter Steve Beuerlein, looked as lethargic as the crowd on this 108-degree day at the Coliseum.

The Chargers had just scored on a 23-yard Vince Abbott field goal to move within four points of the Raiders at 7-3.

Enter Brown.

He took the ensuing kickoff at his own 3-yard line and, following the game plan and his blockers, cut left.

Four big blocks (by Linden King, Zeph Lee, Steve Strachan and Steve Smith) and 97 yards later, Brown was standing in the Charger end zone, his hands raised. “It was a great job of blocking,” Brown said. “I had the easy job. All I had to do was run with the ball. I saw a hole and it was off to the races.”

This was the fourth longest kickoff return by a Raider and the first for a touchdown since Derrick Jensen in 1980.

“I saw Tim go by out of the corner of my eye,” Lee said. “So I figured I’d take off and maybe shade someone off further down the field. But I didn’t have too. He (Brown) was gone.”

After Brown broke free in his own territory, the only man he had to worry about was San Diego kicker Ralf Mojsiejenko.

“If I can’t beat him, I shouldn’t be there,” Brown said with a smile.

His only other problem was what to do once he got to the end zone.

“I didn’t know if I should spike the ball, or dance, or what,” he said. “So I just raised my hands.”

It was a rare bit of flamboyance from a man who has gone through his induction to the Raider ranks in a manner about as low-key as one can get for a Heisman Trophy winner.

Heck, this guy refused to even argue about his contract. When it appeared he wasn’t going to be able to come to an agreement by the opening of training camp, Brown agreed to a highly unusual one-year, $500,000 deal while negotiations continued on a long-term contract.

Eventually, Brown got something more along the lines he was looking for--$2.7 million spread over 4 years.

Brown can do more for his money than return kickoffs as he showed Sunday. He returned 4 punts for 44 yards and caught 2 passes for 42 yards, including a 30 yarder late in the game when the Raiders, leading 17-13, needed to maintain possession.

“There was some question as to whether I was going to be able to do the same things that I was able to do in college,” Brown said. “I hope now that people see I can handle the ball.”

The first rule of pass-catching is to maintain one’s concentration, and Brown has been able to do that through a distraction-ridden preseason, during which the Raiders:

--installed a new offense.

--cut long-time veteran Jim Plunkett, and installed Beuerlein as the starter.

--suffered through some dismal outings with Beuerlein while going back and forth with the Redskins in negotiations to consummate a deal for quarterback Jay Schroeder.

--went out and traded for receiver Willie Gault, relegating Brown to a backup role behind him.

New team. New quarterback. New backup role.

Brown has handled it all with a shrug of the shoulders.

“When we got Willie Gault it was just another good receiver I can learn from,” Brown said. “I eventually will be a starter on this team.

“The only one that matters is Al Davis (the team’s managing general partner). I only care what he thinks about because he signs the paychecks. He doesn’t say much, but I know when he doesn’t like what he sees, he says something.”

Davis may not have liked everything he saw Sunday, but if he had anything to say about Brown, you can be sure it was good, and worthy of an exclamation point.