Kicker Josh Brown going to St. Louis

The Seahawks grew accustomed to turning to Josh Brown in moments of suspense the past five years.

Well, this week, they got turned down by Brown, an unrestricted free agent, who instead will sign with division rival St. Louis.

Friday evening Brown's agent confirmed his client signed with the Rams, the team Seattle beat twice in 2006 on last-minute field goals by Brown.

According to league sources, the contract is a five-year agreement worth $14.2 million, including a $4 million signing bonus. It is the largest ever for an NFL kicker.

That ends what was by all indications a negotiation with the Seahawks that lasted more than a year, concluding with the team apparently willing to offer Brown the largest contract for a kicker — thought to be $14 million for five years — but still unable to make a deal.

The Chiefs were interested in Brown, according to The Kansas City Star, and the Falcons previously requested information about Brown from Seattle.

The Rams' Jeff Wilkins, the team's career leading scorer and the best active long-range kicker in the NFL, announced his retirement Friday after 14 seasons. Wilkins, 35, had 1,223 points and 265 field goals with the Rams.

Seattle's plans at kicker will likely be two-pronged, bringing in a veteran or two to compete with a rookie for the spot. Jason Elam is considered the top remaining unrestricted free-agent kicker on the market.

Brown was an unrestricted free agent last year. The two sides didn't reach an agreement on a long-term contract, but the Seahawks kept him by designating him their franchise player and paying him a salary of $2.1 million.

Brown was the third of Seattle's players it wanted to re-sign this offseason. Cornerback Marcus Trufant and tackle Sean Locklear were the first two. The Seahawks signed Locklear and are still hoping to sign Trufant after affixing the franchise tag to him, and they made a push to keep Brown in the days before free agency began.

That culminated in an offer indicated to be $14 million over five years, which would have surpassed the five-year, $12 million contract Adam Vinatieri received from the Indianapolis Colts in 2006.

Brown's departure ends the Seattle tenure of a popular and pivotal player. Brown made 28 of 34 field-goal attempts last season, a year in which the Seahawks went through three long-snappers.

Crumpler departs Seattle

Tight end Alge Crumpler, 30, concluded his visit with the Seahawks on Friday. His agent said the visit was good and Crumpler was comfortable, but no deal with the Seahawks is imminent.

Free-agent itineraries

• LB Niko Koutouvides visited Tampa Bay on Friday, his agent said, and The Denver Post reported the Broncos expressed interested in Koutouvides.

• LB Kevin Bentley is scheduled to visit the Houston Texans beginning Sunday, his agent said.

• The Seahawks talked to representatives for New England defensive backs Eugene Wilson and Randall Gay — both free agents — but none of that progressed to arranging visits.

Note

• The Seahawks released tackle Tom Ashworth on Friday. Ashworth played two seasons with the Seahawks after signing a five-year deal with the team in 2006.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com