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.
