Tim Brown was reunited with Jon Gruden on Tuesday when he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, joining the man who coached him in Oakland for four seasons.
The 38-year-old, nine-time Pro Bowl receiver 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.
Meanwhile, running back Chris Perry ended an 11-day holdout by signing with Cincinnati. Perry was the 26th overall pick in the draft.
His signing leaves four first-rounders unsigned, most notably quarterback Philip Rivers with San Diego and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. with Cleveland. Winslow was reportedly close to a deal Tuesday.
"We're just excited to have him here," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said of Perry. "It's a process that's taken a little time, but that's part of it."
Brown became a Buc after being released last week after 16 seasons with the Raiders after he fell to fourth or fifth in a receiving group that includes 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 earlier this month.
The Bucs also think rookie receiver Michael Clayton, the team's first-round draft pick, can benefit from being around and learning from 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.
The 1987 Heisman Trophy winner played for Gruden from 1998-2001, the last four years in a stretch of nine consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving.
Two years ago, he helped lead the Raiders to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Gruden-led Bucs. Last season, Brown had 52 catches for 567 yards and two TDs.
Cardinals
Arizona is waiting anxiously for test results on the right knee of Anquan Boldin, the NFL's offensive rookie of the year last season.
The Cardinals' only Pro Bowl player injured his right knee Tuesday morning while loosening up for practice and was carted from the field.
Eagles
Jevon Kearse returned to practice Tuesday after leaving the field on Monday with a sprained left ankle. Kearse plans to play in the preseason opener on Friday night against New England.
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