Steelers Bring Back Linebacker Brown

Chad Brown, a Pro Bowl linebacker for Pittsburgh 10 years ago, was signed Thursday by the Steelers to add depth and experience at what has become a depleted position.

Pro Bowl linebacker Joey Porter is out for Sunday’s game against Kansas City, and Coach Bill Cowher said Brown would play, though mostly in pass-rush situations.

“It’s kind of a crash course in everything,” Cowher said. “I know he was here before, but that was 10 years ago -- there are a few cobwebs we have to unleash up there to bring him back to where we are.”

Brown, 36, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with Pittsburgh and played with Seattle and New England. He was cut by the Patriots at the end of training camp last month.

Cowher said Porter’s hamstring injury could have been worse, but the Steelers aren’t certain when he will return.

“I guess it could have been better, but it wasn’t a significant injury,” he said.

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This might be the final season for Kurt Warner in the NFL.

The 35-year-old Arizona Cardinals quarterback, who lost his starting job to rookie Matt Leinart last week, said he is considering retirement after this season.

“Definitely I’m thinking about my next step and what’s best for me and all those things,” he said.

He is in the first year of a three-year contract he signed with the Cardinals in February, but he realizes his future in Arizona would be as a backup. “We’ll sit down at the end of the year and see the way things are going,” Warner said.

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Tennessee running back LenDale White sat out a second consecutive practice because of a virus, and Coach Jeff Fisher said the rookie needs to return quickly to have a chance to play against Washington.

Fisher said White, the second-round pick out of USC, did not feel well enough to practice Wednesday or Thursday. Team doctors were observing him at the team’s headquarters.

“Without practice tomorrow, it’s going to be tough to have him available for the game,” Fisher said.

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Troy Vincent is a free agent after the Buffalo Bills granted the veteran defensive back’s wish to be released.

The 15-year veteran said he’s open to offers to play for another team now that he’s fully recovered from a left hamstring injury that led Buffalo to put him on injured reserve four weeks ago.

“I’m ready to go,” said Vincent, 35. “To be fair, it was the right time for me.... Now’s the time for me to look at where I’m at. And I still want to play some football.”

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Seattle Seahawks receiver Bobby Engram missed practice again, making it unlikely he will play Sunday at St. Louis. Coach Mike Holmgren said doctors suspect a thyroid problem.... The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority approved the Arizona Cardinals’ $154.5-million naming-rights deal with the University of Phoenix. Under terms of the 20-year deal, the $455-million stadium west of Phoenix will be called University of Phoenix Stadium.