Brown, Gruden Together Again

Tim Brown signed Tuesday with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a move that reunites the receiver with Coach Jon Gruden and General Manager Bruce Allen, both formerly with the Oakland Raiders.

Brown, 38, will be counted on to bolster a receiving corps that is in desperate need of experienced help because of injuries and Keenan McCardell’s holdout.

Brown was released last week after 16 seasons with the Raiders, who told one of the most popular players in team history that he was no better than the fourth- or fifth-best receiver in a group that included starters Jerry Rice and Jerry Porter.

With Tampa Bay, Brown could wind up being a starter with McCardell demanding a raise after a Pro Bowl season and Joe Jurevicius out indefinitely after undergoing back surgery.

The Buccaneers believe rookie receiver Michael Clayton, the team’s first-round draft pick, could benefit from being around the 17th-year pro.

Brown played a franchise-record 240 games for Oakland, and his streak of 173 consecutive games with at least one reception is the second-longest in NFL history behind Rice’s 273.

Tampa Bay plays at Oakland on Sept. 26.

In other Buccaneer news, linebacker Derrick Brooks sprained a knee in practice, but the injury was not considered serious.

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Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin, the 2003 NFL offensive rookie of the year and the Cardinals’ only Pro Bowl player, injured his right knee while loosening up for practice and was carted from the field.

“He wasn’t running or anything,” Coach Dennis Green said. “He was just actually not even hardly jogging, so I’m sure that something’s going on inside, but we won’t know until all the tests are done. They’re running a different type of tests, since it is unusual.”

Last weekend, the Cardinals lost running back Marcel Shipp because of a dislocated ankle and broken leg, injuries that could sideline him for the season.

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First-round draft choice Kellen Winslow Jr. agreed to terms on a six-year contract with the Cleveland Browns, ending his 12-day holdout, according to Associated Press.

The contract is worth $29 million in guaranteed money and could bring Winslow up to $40 million if he reaches all his incentives. The deal also includes a $16.5-million signing bonus, said an Associated Press source.

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Philadelphia Eagle defensive end Jevon Kearse returned to practice after leaving the field on Monday because of a sprained left ankle. He plans to play in the Eagles’ exhibition opener on Friday night against the New England Patriots.

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Former Michigan running back Chris Perry, the Cincinnati Bengals’ first-round draft pick, signed with the team.