Brownout in Store for Raiders? : Pro football: Wide receiver says he wants to sign with Broncos. Horton signs with Redskins.

In Denver, Tim Brown says he wants to be a Bronco.

And in Washington, Ethan Horton becomes a Redskin.

It wasn’t the brightest day in Raider history. Brown and Horton were the club’s leading receivers last season.

Brown, a restricted free agent, visited with Bronco officials Wednesday and then announced that he hoped the Raiders would not exercise their right to match an anticipated offer sheet from Denver, one that is expected to be worth $11 million over four years.

“As far as I’m concerned,” Brown said in Denver, “this is the place I want to be. I don’t think there’s a better situation for me as a wide receiver. That’s the most important thing to me. This team is where I want to be and they have an offense that I would like to play in and they have a quarterback (John Elway) that I definitely wouldn’t mind playing with.”

Brown left today for a six-day trip to Hawaii and is not expected to sign until his return.

But Bronco officials stressed their determination to get the wide receiver out of silver and black.

“We wouldn’t do it if we thought they were going to match it,” Denver Coach Wade Phillips said. “The reason we’d be after a Tim Brown is because we can’t cover him. If you can’t cover him, sign him. That’s our theory.”

In three games against the Broncos last season, Brown caught 20 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns.

The offer sheet reportedly includes a no-trade clause.

Does Brown want to see an offer that will discourage the Raiders from matching?

“Oh yeah,” he said, “most definitely. That’s what we’re looking to do, to head in that manner. I’ve dealt with Mr. Davis (Raider owner Al Davis) for six years, but I’m sure Mr. Bowlen (Bronco President Pat Bowlen) knows him a lot better than I do. He thinks he knows the secret (to free Brown).”

Horton, an unrestricted free agent, signed a two-year, $2.5-million contract with the Redskins on Wednesday. Horton, who spent six years with the Raiders, had 43 catches last season for 467 yards and a touchdown.

In Washington, he is reunited with Terry Robiskie, who was his position coach with the Raiders until leaving to join the staff of new Redskin Coach Norv Turner.