BALTIMORE (AP) Offensive tackle Orlando Brown rejoined the Baltimore
Ravens on Tuesday after sitting out for three years after a freak eye injury
caused by a referee's flag.
Brown has not played since he was struck in the right eye Dec. 19, 1999
while playing for Cleveland. Browns. He signed a $1 million, one-year deal with
the Ravens.
He later sued the NFL, was cut by the Browns in September 2000. At the time,
he had a six-year $27 million contract, that included a $7.5 million signing
bonus.
Brown, who is 6-foot-7, 360 pounds, said he turned down a four-year offer
from the Minnesota Vikings to return to Baltimore, where he played before
joining Cleveland. He originally was drafted by the old Cleveland Browns, who
moved to Baltimore after the 1995 season and became the Ravens.
"I know I turned down a lot of money like $15 mil to sign a $1 million
contract with the Ravens, but I like the city here and my kids are here, too,"
Brown said in a statement released by the team.
The Ravens also said they had agreed to a four-year deal with linebacker
Cornell Brown.
Cornell Brown missed the 2001 season due to a drug charge that was later
dropped. Last season, he earned a spot in the starting lineup, and finished
ninth on the team with 67 tackles.
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