National Football League

Eagles strike again, sign Ronnie Brown

Published Aug. 2, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Thought the Philadelphia Eagles were done signing everyone with a pulse during free agency? Think again.

The Eagles announced Tuesday that they filled yet another roster hole by agreeing to terms with free-agent running back Ronnie Brown.

The contract will be a one-year deal for the former No. 2 overall draft pick by the Miami Dolphins.

"Ronnie is an all-around running back with a versatile skill set," Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said on the team's website. "He can run the ball, catch it, and does very well in pass protection. He'll add some good size to our backfield and he's a good character guy."

Brown, who turns 30 in December, spent his first six seasons in Miami as the primary back early in his career before splitting carries with Ricky Williams the past few seasons.  Brown's lack of full-time carries has limited him to one 1,000-yard season as a rusher (1,008 yards in 2006), but his versatility as a receiver out of the backfield has made up for the lost rushing yardage. Brown has caught 30-plus passes in five of his six seasons.

However, his production dipped in 2010 as he averaged career-lows of 45.9 rushing yards per game and 3.7 per carry.

With the Eagles, he will likely serve as the team's No. 2 running back behind starter LeSean McCoy. Before adding Brown, the Eagles' only experienced running backs were starter LeSean McCoy, who ran for 1,080 yards and caught 70 passes last year, and Eldra Buckley, who has just 36 carries in two years with the Eagles.

The Eagles have been by far the flashiest team in free agency in this year's lockout-affected offseason, signing such big-name free agents as CB Nmandi Asomugha, DE Jason Babin, DT Cullen Jenkins, QB Vince Young (as a backup) while also trading QB Kevin Kolb in a deal that landed them former Pro Bowl CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Brown has rushed for 4,815 yards and 36 touchdowns, while catching 184 passes for 1,491 yards with Miami. He made his only Pro Bowl team in 2008.

Brown was the second overall pick in the 2005 draft, behind 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.

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