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Denver Broncos: Looking back at the deal that almost was with Tim Brown

By Travis Wakeman

9 JAN 1994: TIM BROWN OF THE LOS ANGELES RAIDERS WITH HELMET ALOFT LEAVES THE FIELD AFTER THE RAIDERS DEFEATED THE DENVER BRONCOS 42-24. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT
9 JAN 1994: TIM BROWN OF THE LOS ANGELES RAIDERS WITH HELMET ALOFT LEAVES THE FIELD AFTER THE RAIDERS DEFEATED THE DENVER BRONCOS 42-24. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT /
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OAKLAND, : Al Davis, the owner of the Oakland Raiders, smiles as he faces reporters and photographers after a press conference at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Arena 06 July. Davis has signed an agreement to move the Los Angeles Raiders back to Oakland, California, after leaving 14 years ago. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, : Al Davis, the owner of the Oakland Raiders, smiles as he faces reporters and photographers after a press conference at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Arena 06 July. Davis has signed an agreement to move the Los Angeles Raiders back to Oakland, California, after leaving 14 years ago. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP via Getty Images) /

Broncos sign Brown to offer sheet

Following the 1993 season, the Broncos decided to make an offer to Brown. The offer sheet was for a four-year, $11 million deal and the Raiders were given one week to match it.

For the next several days, the Broncos sat back waiting to see what the Raiders would do. If the Raiders failed to match, the Broncos would give John Elway an additional weapon for his receiving corps. In 1993, the team’s receivers were Arthur Marshall, Derek Russell and an aging  Vance Johnson. The team had Shannon Sharpe, but no superstar to pair him with.

Brown could have been that guy.

The worst-case scenario would see the Raiders have to fork over some extra money to keep one of their own guys, so the Broncos likely saw it as a win-win situation.

In 1993, the Broncos finished 9-7 and earned a Wild Card, coincidentally losing to the Raiders in the playoffs. Though the team had a mediocre season, it still finished fourth in the league in passing.

The Broncos were looking to make a splash move and this would have been it. Unfortunately, the Raiders, with only two days to spare, decided to match the offer to their star receiver, bringing him back into the fold.

Brown rewarded the Raiders with back-to-back 1,300-yard seasons in 1994 and 1995 and his career only went up from there. The Broncos had come close to putting him in orange and blue but would now have to go back to dealing with him in silver and black.

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