Chargers agree with Brown

The Chargers continued to solidify their offensive backfield by agreeing with running back Ronnie Brown today on a new one-year contract. It comes on the heels of this morning’s two-year contract agreement with former New England Patriots running back Danny Woodhead.

Brown returns to the Chargers after spending the 2012 season in San Diego. The ninth-year pro from Cartersville, Georgia via Auburn University played in 14 games for the Bolts last season, starting one. Though he rushed for 220 yards on 46 carries, Brown was utilized primarily for his strength as a third-down back and he tied for second on the team with 49 receptions, good for 371 yards.

Brown was the second overall pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. In six seasons for the Dolphins, he rushed for 4,815 yards and 36 touchdowns, while catching 184 passes for 1,491 yards and a pair of scores. He ranks third on the Dolphins’ all-time list for rushing yards and touchdowns, and is tied with Hall of Fame running back Larry Csonka for the second-most 100-yard rushing games in team history. From 2005-07, Brown averaged better than 4.0 yards per carry for the Dolphins, becoming the team’s first back to do so for three-straight seasons since Tony Nathan from 1983-85.

Brown posted his only 1,000-yard season in 2006, rushing for 1,008 yards for the Dolphins. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2008 after scoring a career-high 10 touchdowns, while rushing for 916 yards. A versatile threat, Brown also threw two touchdown passes for the Dolphins out of the Wildcat formation, one each during the 2008 and ’09 seasons against New England.

Brown is the fourth returning player to sign or agree to a contract with the Chargers. Kicker Nick Novak and long snapper Mike Windt both recently signed four-year contracts, while exclusive rights free agent wide receiver and kick return specialist Richard Goodman re-signed for one year. The Chargers have also added five unrestricted free agents from other teams: running back Danny Woodhead, tackle King Dunlap (Philadelphia), guard Chad Rinehart (Buffalo), tight end John Phillips (Dallas) and cornerback Derek Cox (Jacksonville).