Troy Brown Quits the Patriots

Troy Brown's last route as a Patriot is taking him to retirement.

The popular wide receiver announced this morning that he's ending his playing career after 15 seasons with the New England Patriots during which he set a team record for receptions while building a reputation as one of the most dependable and versatile players in franchise history.

Brown, who played one game last season and remained unsigned this year, made the announcement at a news conference at Gillette Stadium attended by team owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick.

"It's hard to let go," Brown said. "But I know, at the end of the day, I played this game the way it supposed to be played."

Brown, 37, spent his entire career with the Patriots after he was drafted in the eighth round (198th overall) in 1993 out of Marshall. His 557 catches are first in team history and his 6,366 yards receiving are second to Stanley Morgan’s 10,352. Brown, who also filled in at defensive back late in his career and was an outstanding return man in his prime, played in one Pro Bowl, after the 2001 season.

"You can't outrun Father Time, as hard as you try to do it," Brown said. "There comes a time when you say 'I can't keep up the way I used to.' "

At the press conference, Belichick, whom players said spoke glowingly of Brown in a team meeting this morning, recalled some of Brown's greatest plays, among them:

# Super Bowl XXXVIII against Carolina, when he had a big catch on first-and-20 to set up Adam Vinatieri's winning kick.

# The legendary Snow Game against the Raiders, and how his punt return set up Vinatieri's big kick.

# His TD catch from David Patten against the Colts in '01.

# His 82-yard TD reception to beat Miami in overtime in '03.

# A 2006 game against the Packers in which Brown, playing defensive back, held Green Bay star receiver Donald Driver to one catch.

Belichick spoke in depth about Brown's performance against Driver, saying the team has a photo of that play hanging in the walls of Gillette Stadium. He believes the picture epitomizes what Brown was all about as a player.

Kraft, who introduced Brown at the press conference by saying, "I want to welcome Troy Brown back to his home," also noted that the receiver was always "the consummate professional."

Kraft then revealed that team's game Nov. 13, against the Jets before a nationally televised audience, will be Troy Brown Night. The owner unveiled a poster promoting the occasion.

Brown confirmed he had passed up chances to play for the rival Jets - "I had the opportunity to do it, but it didn't feel right," he said, joking he didn't look of green and white - and talked about how much it meant to him to be a lifetime Patriot.

"The only colors you'll ever see on my back are the red, white, and blue of the New England Patriots. I'm proud to say it," he said, his eyes moistening with a few tears.

"It's a wonderful ride. I can't think of anything better in life than enjoying a Sunday afternoon playing football. Now I enjoy Sunday afternoons watching football and saying in my head, 'I can make that play.' "

source: boston.com and Mike Reiss of the Globe staff contributed to this report from Foxborough. Material from the Associated Press was also used.