Brown mulls bids from Redskins, Broncos

Defensive end Courtney Brown departed Washington and returned to the Cleveland area as scheduled yesterday to mull his options in free agency. He appeared likely to take his decision at least into next week.

The Redskins received a visit from Brown on Thursday, four days after he was cut by the Browns and was visited in Cleveland by Redskins coach Joe Gibbs and defensive line coach Greg Blache.

The Redskins remained interested in the 2000 draft’s No. 1 overall pick following his physical examination Thursday, indicating that nothing unexpected or too ominous surfaced. However, in discussing Brown, Gibbs has shown Washington isn’t being cavalier about his lengthy history of injuries.

Brown’s other top option is the Denver Broncos, who likely would offer a starting position. In Washington, Brown would be expected to rotate at defensive end with veterans Phillip Daniels and Renaldo Wynn.

Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, a Redskin from 1999 to 2003, apparently made a sales pitch over the phone for Brown to sign with Denver. Bailey wasn’t pleased with Washington when he departed and likely didn’t have good things to say about the Redskins’ operations.

At Redskin Park on Thursday, Brown received counterpitches from defensive tackle Brandon Noble, Brown’s teammate at Penn State in 1997, and Daniels. Noble tried to sell Brown on the quality of the Redskins’ coaching staff and how a rotation with Daniels and Wynn wouldn’t tax Brown too severely as he returns from a torn ligament in his foot.

Brown still could visit other teams, but nothing seemed imminent. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks both would like to take a closer look at him.