NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 18, 2007) -- Chris Brown, the running back who lost his starting job to Travis Henry last season, has agreed to a one-year deal bringing him back to the Tennessee Titans.
Brown, who found himself on the bench watching Henry rush for 1,211 yards in 2006, spent the offseason visiting with other teams and had narrowed his choices down to his hometown Chicago Bears and Tennessee. Agent Ryan Morgan said the Titans offer an opportunity.
"I wouldn't have necessarily predicted this when the free-agency period started," Morgan said. "But we're constantly evaluating things. It really comes down to opportunity, and we're hoping Chris can go in there and compete and contribute."
The deal includes performance incentives for the four-year veteran who has 2,295 yards rushing in his career, 10th all-time in team history. He was a third-round draft pick out of Colorado in 2003.
Brown, who was in Nashville helping hand out free shoes at a homeless shelter, could be signed and take part in the Titans' final minicamp starting June 19.
The Titans found themselves needing an experienced running back when LenDale White, the 45th pick overall in 2005, came into the offseason program overweight. The former Southern California running back has struggled with a hamstring problem and spent several days in minicamps working on rehab on the sidelines.
Tennessee also used another second-round draft pick on the position in April, selecting Chris Henry of Arizona at No. 50 overall.
Brown started three of the first four games in 2006 and wound up playing only in five. He rushed 41 times for 156 yards with his best game coming at Houston on Dec. 10 when he averaged 11 yards on four carries.
The Titans finished 8-8 with the NFL's fifth-best rushing offense in 2006, and Morgan said they believe Henry took advantage of some of the success the offense started having once Vince Young, who was the NFL's 2006 Offensive Rookie of the Year, took over as quarterback.
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