Q+a: Tim Brown

SI: One of your postfootball goals is to become a NASCAR team owner, and you're hoping to have a Nextel Cup car and a Busch Series car on the track next year. Can we assume you'll have the number 81 car?

Brown: Dale Earnhardt Inc. is racing the 81 car on the Busch Series. If they won't let 81 go, we'll have a 181 car.

SI: Why get involved in NASCAR?

Brown: It's hard not to be a NASCAR fan when you look at what they are accomplishing. The only thing that I didn't like was that they didn't have a lot of minorities involved. I feel if I can get in and get help, it is the right thing to do.

SI: Now that you're no longer a Raider, how would you characterize your relationship with Al Davis?

Brown: I think I have a better relationship with him today than I did when I played for him because he seems to like retired players better than he likes active players.

SI: A number of Hall of Fame voters have said they're not sure you're a first-ballot Hall of Famer. What's your reaction?

Brown: All you can do is go out and play football, and whoever votes for you votes for you. I had 1,094 catches and almost 15,000 yards. If that's not good enough for the voters then, hey, man, so be it.

SI: If you were starting a franchise, which receiver would you build around?

Brown: Even with all the craziness going on with this guy, I don't think there is a better football player than Terrell Owens. I could handle that guy. If I was a G.M. or an owner, it would be cut and dry: This is what you are going to do, and we're not going to talk about it. And if you do this, then we'll talk about you getting a contract. I think he'll go down in history as the most physically dominant receiver to play the game. -- Richard Deitsch