Tim Brown is certain his days as an Oakland Raider are over.

The 38-year-old receiver told several teammates on Tuesday that his 17-year stay with the Raiders will end soon. He is the longest-tenured member of the team.

"What he said to the guys is that he's not going to be around anymore," Jerry Rice said after practice. "I don't know what was said, but he's not going to be here anymore. This basically is going to wake everybody up that this is a business. You can't come in and feel like you've got it made."

Brown wasn't a major factor last season as the Raiders slipped from AFC champions to 4-12, the worst dropoff by a Super Bowl team. He had 52 catches for 567 yards and two touchdowns last year, and most of his playing time was headed for fifth-year receiver Jerry Porter.

Brown has caught 1,070 passes for 14,734 yards and 99 touchdowns. He's averaged 13.8 yards per catch and started 198 of his 240 games.

"You know, if you asked me that a week ago, I would have said no," Brown said of ending his Raiders career and joining a new team. "But certainly, even standing out here, that's not something I want to think about. I don't know what could happen to change what is going on, and certainly you don't want to see anybody get injured or anything of that nature to change your situation.

"I mean, there are going to be things I'm going to have to think about hard in the future, and we'll make those decisions."

Very soon.

Another player who could wind up elsewhere is Buffalo tackle Mike Williams. He didn't show for practice Tuesday and will be fined by the Bills.

Williams was excused Monday for personal reasons, but was expected back on Tuesday. Team president Tom Donahoe said Williams will be fined again if he fails to attend either of Wednesday's practices.