Titans' Brown wants out
Tennessee Titans running back Chris Brown, who is entering the last year of his rookie contract, officially has requested the right to seek a trade, according to Brown's representatives from Morgan Advisory Group.
The Titans received official notification of the request in a letter written by agents Ryan Morgan and Wynn Silberman and delivered to the team on Monday. Brown decided his long-term future in Tennessee was in doubt after his agents met with general manager Floyd Reese.
In early June, Brown became a bit anxious over the fact that he still had not received a contract extension. The Titans' drafting of USC's LenDale White and the re-signing of veteran Travis Henry further added to Brown's uneasiness.
League sources said that Brown's name was mentioned in a variety of possible trades, but Reese had yet to provide Brown or his new representation permission to seek a trade. Reese, who has been on vacation in recent weeks, also had not given them any indication that the team felt obligated to negotiate a new contract.
Brown entered Tennessee's most recent minicamp as the only healthy running back among the team's top three. He was prepared to have his best season, though his numbers dropped off from career bests of 1,067 rushing yards and a 4.9-yard carry average in 2004 to 851 yards and a 3.8 mark last season.
At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Brown – who led the Big 12 Conference in rushing during his senior year at Colorado – has ideal size. His attributes would be best served in a run-oriented scheme that favors backs who like to make one cut, move and go, as he has shown an extra burst in the open field. Brown also has better hands than advertised (53 career receptions in 37 games).
Teams that could potentially show interest in obtaining the rights to Brown include the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans. The dark horse team would be the Minnesota Vikings; Brown's former position coach in college, Eric Bieniemy, is now part of the Vikings' coaching staff.
