Keith Browner

The Chargers have signed free-agent linebacker Keith Browner, a former second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Browner, who played at USC, is a 6-foot 6-inch, 260-pound linebacker whom the Chargers say they also will use as a defensive lineman. Three of Browner's brothers, Ross (Bengals), Joey (Vikings) and Jim (Bengals), have played in the NFL. Keith Browner also has played for the 49ers and Raiders.

Their last names can compel a sports fan or college scout to take immediate notice. Keith Browner Jr., Marc Tyler and Virgil Hill Jr. are their father's sons, expected to run faster, jump higher and compete harder because of the genes they inherited. Each is a promising high school football player with no option for anonymity. Every achievement or failure they experience will be compared to and measured against their fathers' sports successes.

Hours after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected USC linebacker Keith Browner with the 30th pick of the 1984 draft, Chicago Bear scout Jim Parmer called it the worst choice of the day. Publicly. That was just the start of Browner's NFL troubles. According to Browner, the Buccaneers would have needed a bathysphere to sink any lower. They were at the bottom of the NFL's measurable depths. And they needed excuses. "Baaadddd teams there," Browner says now. "Losing attitude.

Keith Browner, the suspended Charger linebacker, met with Coach Dan Henning briefly Thursday. Henning later characterized the session as an "amiable conversation." Less than two hours later, the Chargers publicly announced their intention to waive Browner today. The moral of the story: Don't test positive for drugs. That's what prompted the NFL to suspend Browner for 30 days last Friday.

The NFL cleared up the Keith Browner mystery, sort of, Friday morning when it announced it had placed the Charger linebacker on the non-football illness list for 30 days. In effect, Browner is suspended. "The action was taken," said the league in a prepared release, "after Browner violated provisions of the NFL's substance abuse policy. He has been instructed to remain out of the Chargers' training facility during his period on the non-football illness list.

Keith Browner, the suspended Charger linebacker, met with Coach Dan Henning briefly Thursday. Henning later characterized the session as an "amiable conversation." Less than two hours later, the Chargers publicly announced their intention to waive Browner today. The moral of the story: Don't test positive for drugs. That's what prompted the NFL to suspend Browner for 30 days last Friday.

Their last names can compel a sports fan or college scout to take immediate notice. Keith Browner Jr., Marc Tyler and Virgil Hill Jr. are their father's sons, expected to run faster, jump higher and compete harder because of the genes they inherited. Each is a promising high school football player with no option for anonymity. Every achievement or failure they experience will be compared to and measured against their fathers' sports successes.

Charger owner Alex Spanos said he is going to "make an effort to hire" Bobby Beathard, who has resigned as general manager of the Washington Redskins. Spanos said he discussed his desire to obtain Beathard with Steve Ortmayer, his director of football operations, on Friday. "They (Ortmayer and Beathard) are close friends," Spanos said. Asked what position Beathard might fill for the Chargers, Spanos said, "We have no idea. We have not discussed that. We agree he can help the Chargers."

When Keith Browner looked downfield and saw nothing but daylight, he could scarcely believe his eyes. Browner had just made an interception, courtesy of Tyrone Keys, who had batted Dave Krieg's pass in his direction, and all he had to do was cover 55 yards without dropping the ball or falling down. When he completed his lonesome dash to the end zone Sunday, the Chargers were on their way to a stunning 17-6 victory over the previously unbeaten Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

The NFL cleared up the Keith Browner mystery, sort of, Friday morning when it announced it had placed the Charger linebacker on the non-football illness list for 30 days. In effect, Browner is suspended. "The action was taken," said the league in a prepared release, "after Browner violated provisions of the NFL's substance abuse policy. He has been instructed to remain out of the Chargers' training facility during his period on the non-football illness list.

Charger owner Alex Spanos said he is going to "make an effort to hire" Bobby Beathard, who has resigned as general manager of the Washington Redskins. Spanos said he discussed his desire to obtain Beathard with Steve Ortmayer, his director of football operations, on Friday. "They (Ortmayer and Beathard) are close friends," Spanos said. Asked what position Beathard might fill for the Chargers, Spanos said, "We have no idea. We have not discussed that. We agree he can help the Chargers."

When Keith Browner looked downfield and saw nothing but daylight, he could scarcely believe his eyes. Browner had just made an interception, courtesy of Tyrone Keys, who had batted Dave Krieg's pass in his direction, and all he had to do was cover 55 yards without dropping the ball or falling down. When he completed his lonesome dash to the end zone Sunday, the Chargers were on their way to a stunning 17-6 victory over the previously unbeaten Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Hours after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected USC linebacker Keith Browner with the 30th pick of the 1984 draft, Chicago Bear scout Jim Parmer called it the worst choice of the day. Publicly. That was just the start of Browner's NFL troubles. According to Browner, the Buccaneers would have needed a bathysphere to sink any lower. They were at the bottom of the NFL's measurable depths. And they needed excuses. "Baaadddd teams there," Browner says now. "Losing attitude.

The Chargers have signed free-agent linebacker Keith Browner, a former second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Browner, who played at USC, is a 6-foot 6-inch, 260-pound linebacker whom the Chargers say they also will use as a defensive lineman. Three of Browner's brothers, Ross (Bengals), Joey (Vikings) and Jim (Bengals), have played in the NFL. Keith Browner also has played for the 49ers and Raiders.

The San Francisco 49ers acquired former USC linebacker Keith Browner from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a sixth-round 1988 draft choice. Browner, a second-round draft choice in 1984, started 13 games for Tampa Bay in 1986.

Keith Browner of the Chargers has been suspended by the NFL for substance abuse, the league announced today. Browner, 27, was given a 30-day suspension and will not be allowed to play before Sept. 29. A 30-day suspension is usually given to a second-time offender in drug or alcohol abuse cases. Browner is the 17th player to be suspended this week by the league for violating the substance abuse policy; 13 of the others were specifically cited for testing positive for steroids.