INDIANAPOLIS -- Miami Dolphins general manager Rick Spielman watched in dismay Saturday as 16 running backs lined up at the NFL's annual scouting combine, and only four ran the 40-yard dash.

"I think that's a total embarrassment for the players and their agents,'' Spielman said. "That is one of the most embarrassing things to see.''

It's common for players to show up for the combine and go through the medical checks. Some lift weights or throw, but few of the highly regarded prospects run, on the advice of their agents. Also, the RCA Dome turf has been deemed a "slow track.''

Spielman said that if the Dolphins had two players rated equally on their draft board, they would take a player who worked out at the combine over one who did not.

He also disputed the supposed slowness of the RCA Dome surface after Southern California running back Justin Fargas twice ran a 4.31 Friday -- a surprising time that probably will improve his draft status.

In Saturday morning's workout, Spielman said only two halfbacks ran -- Florida State's Nick Maddox and South Carolina State's Derek Watson. Two fullbacks, Western Kentucky's Jeremi Johnson and Stanford's Casey Moore, also ran.

Spielman was still upset late in the afternoon.

"A couple of other guys worked out, but those were the only four who had enough competitiveness to run,'' Spielman said.

Newsome likes Orlando Brown
Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome said Saturday that the Ravens would have interest in signing former Cleveland offensive tackle Orlando Brown.

Brown was hurt on Dec. 19, 1999 when referee Jeff Triplette threw his penalty flag and it hit Brown's right eye. Brown went to the sideline, then came back on the field and pushed Triplette to the ground. He was ejected from the game and suspended indefinitely by commissioner Paul Tagliabue, but it was lifted the following March. Cleveland cut Brown in September 2000.

Brown filed a $200 million lawsuit against the league in 2001, a claim that Newsome acknowledged has now been settled out of court. Brown was a starter for most of his seven-year career but has not played since the freak injury.

" 'Zeus' is a friend off mine,'' Newsome said, referring to Brown by his nickname. "I think Zeus has an interest in us, and we have an interest in him. No one knows Zeus like we do in Baltimore. At some point, we could bring him in.''

Dungy on Manning-Vanderjagt
The Indianapolis Colts and coach Tony Dungy haven't said much publicly about the Peyton Manning-Mike Vanderjagt feud, but Dungy gave a rare glimpse into his thoughts after Vanderjagt said publicly that Manning needed to show more emotion and Dungy was too nice to be effective.

"I didn't think it would fester, because we were weren't going to let it fester,'' Dungy said.

When asked whether he considered releasing Vanderjagt, the NFL's most accurate kicker, Dungy responded: "That thought did go through my mind. I wondered if we should dump this guy.''

Dungy also was watching the Pro Bowl when Manning responded in an ABC interview by calling Vanderjagt an "idiot kicker.''

Did Dungy also consider releasing Manning? "No,'' he said, drawing laughter from the media.

The dispute ended on Feb. 4 when the players apologized to each other during a series of phone conversations, and Dungy said the matter has been settled.

Buschbaum memorial
Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo joined about 40 others Friday for a memorial service for Joel Buschbaum, a contributing editor for Pro Football Weekly who died last month.

Buschbaum made the NFL draft his life's work and compiled preview guides that were highly regarded in football circles.

Belichick said that when he was coaching the Cleveland Browns, he offered Buschbaum a job several times.

Pro Football Weekly publisher Hub Arkush and John McClain, a writer for the Houston Chronicle, also spoke during the service.