Silver and Black Report

Former Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown was not elected into the 2010 Hall of Fame class.

The former 6^th overall choice in the 1988 draft played 16-campaigns for the Silver & Black and during that illustrious career, he tallied 1,094 receptions (4^th in league history), 14,934 receiving yards (4^th all-time) and 100 touchdown grabs (6^th).

Brown’s former coach, Jon Gruden, campaigned on his behalf during the week stating, “He dominated the game. He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer, without a doubt.

“What Tim Brown did with the quarterback position the way it was is quite amazing. The number of quarterbacks who threw him touchdown passes…

“He did not have a Joe Montana for eight years, a Peyton Manning, a Brett Favre. Not to be discriminatory against the quarterbacks he did have, but he played in different offenses and was great in any system.”

During his time as a Raider, his teams compiled a 134-122 record with 6 playoff appearances.

What probably hurt Brown was that the greatest receiver in league history was eligible as well. Jerry Rice was a lock to be inducted with running back Emmitt Smith, and that tilt may have cut-down any opportunity for Brown to get his bust in Canton in his first year of eligibility.

Brown did not reach the games grandest stage until 2002, when the Tampa Buccaneers defeated Oakland 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Earlier in his career, Brown was as dominant as any receiver in the league, compiling 80 or more catches in 9 out 10-years from 1993 to 2002.

His prowess as a return man also made him a threat to hit paydirt upon entering the NFL, but in 2001, Brown made history by returning a punt 88-yards for a score making him the oldest player in league history to achieve that feat.

Brown was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, was on the NFLs all decade team of the 1990s and holds nearly all the receiving marks for the Silver & Black.

He ended his career as a member of the Buccaneers after Oakland released him before the 2004 season.

At Notre Dame, Brown won the 1987 Heisman Trophy.

Earlier in the week, he acknowledged that his induction may not happen, “It wouldn’t be the worst thing,” he said, “to happen in Dallas next year.”

“You understand it’s a vote,” stated Brown. “I’m pretty certain one day it will happen.”

It should have been today.

NOTES

• First WR to win the Heisman Trophy
• Rookie-season record for most combined yards gained, with 2,317 yards (1988).
• NFL record for 10 consecutive seasons with at least 75 receptions.
• Raider Records: games played, touchdowns, receiving yards, catches and touchdowns, punt return yards, returns and touchdowns, all-purpose yards and yards from scrimmage.
• Brown caught his 100^th career TD versus the Raiders.

Insidebayarea.com posted a report that former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter had $312,000 worth of jewelry stolen.

Porter told officials that someone took his jewelry from his vehicle while he went for a facial at a Bay Area salon.

According to staff writer Peter Hegarty, Porter was going to speak to the Alameda police about the happening this afternoon. Porter did not show up for the meeting and officials are still sorting out the details of the robbery.

The 31-year old still resides in Oakland.

He was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars at the start of the 2009 campaign after signing a six-year, $30 million contract with them in 2008.

Porter’s best season came in 2003 when he tallied 688-yards and 9 touchdowns, being a key cog in Rich Gannon’s league MVP campaign. He teamed up with hall of fame bound targets Jerry Rice and Tim Brown to form the most prolific offense of that season in reaching Super Bowl XXVII.

In 2004 an 2005, Porter compiled 140 catches for 1,940 yards and 14 touchdowns. But in 2006, he publicly feuded with Art Shell and demanded to be traded. He was deactivated and inactive for most of the season even suspended without pay for conduct detrimental to the club for four games.

“There’s guys every year that might not want to be on a team, but, hey, part of this business is you play with who you’ve got,” Shell stated that season. “If we have somebody on this team that’s here, whether he said he wants to be here or not, if he’s doing what he’s supposed to do, then we’ll go to work.”

The NFLPA intervened and the suspension was dropped to two games.

Porter was drafted in the second round of the 2000 NFL draft.

OTHER NEWS

• Steve Corkran confirmed a story that had the Raiders interested in rehiring defensive line coach Mike Waufle.
• Earlier in the day, Jon Condo was added to the Pro Bowl roster.

Three former Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders are among the 15 modern-era finalist that will be considered for election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Tim Brown, the Silver & Black’s 6^th overall pick in the 1988 draft, played 16-years for the Raiders. He was a prolific wide receiver and a threat on special teams as a returner early in his career coming out of Notre Dame where he won the 1987 Heisman Trophy.

He currently holds the team record for games played (240), season’s active (16), touchdowns (104), many other receiving marks along with marks for all purpose yards (19,431) and yards from scrimmage (14,924). Brown also has the NFL record with 10-consecutive seasons with at least 75-catches and the mark for being the oldest player (35) to return a punt for a touchdown.

Among other accolades, he was a 9-time pro bowl selection, a second team all-pro in 1997 and was on the NFL’s all decade team for the ‘90s.

Jerry Rice, who is arguably the games greatest player and the wide receiver that is known as the greatest of all-time will also be up for consideration on February 6, the day before the Super Bowl, when the next class of inductees are traditionally announced.

In three seasons with the Silver & Black, Rice tallied 238 receptions, 3,219 yards and 18 touchdowns before being traded to Seattle six games into the 2004 campaign. At that point, Rice only had five receptions, had his streak of 274 games with a catch halted with a diminished role in the twilight of his career. His arrival in Oakland boosted the Raiders offense and helped them to Super Bowl XXXVII.

Like Rice, Roger Craig gained prominence with the San Francisco 49ers, but the versatile rusher did play for the Silver & Black one season compiling 590-yards rushing and 136-receiving in 1991.

He was the first running back in the history of the NFL to run for over 1,000 yards in a season and tally 1,000 yards receiving during the same campaign.

Ray Guy and Lester Hayes were two players that did not make the final cut.

For a look at the other candidates, here is a link to the story at the official Hall of Fame web site: http://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/2010/1/8/one-step-closer/