This story originally ran in The Standard-Times on Feb. 2, 2008.

By Nick Tavares
Standard-Times correspondent

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — If nothing else, Troy Brown is a survivor.

He survived New England's near-move in 1993, and the subsequent sale to Robert Kraft. He survived being cut at the end of the 1994 training camp, only to re-sign about six weeks later. He survived the reign of Bill Parcells in the mid-1990s. He survived the Pete Carroll era, the Brady-Bledsoe scramble, injuries, position switches and the rigors of life in professional football.

He's been through 15 tours of duty in New England, tying him for the second-longest current tenure with a team behind Brett Favre's 16, and is ready to take part in his fifth Super Bowl. And, in what's probably the worst kept secret in the Patriots' camp, he's probably not going to play.

But you won't hear him complaining about that.

"I'm just excited about what we can accomplish," Brown said. "You know, one of my personal goals is to be able to win four rings. Just having that opportunity is exciting. Even though I haven't participated that much in the games this year, it's still exciting and it still feels good to be here."

In his time in New England, Troy Brown has been the consummate team player. There's no duty he hasn't filled at some point in his career. He's been the team's fifth receiver, and he's been the first receiver, holding the franchise's all-time reception record with 557. (Wes Welker's 112-catch season broke Brown's single-season mark of 101 from 2001.)

He's been a return specialist, leading the Patriots all-time with 2,625 punt-return yards, which doesn't include his returned punt for a touchdown in the 2001 AFC Championship game that helped sink the Steelers.

He's been a defensive back, filling in at corner and safety in a pinch and coming away with three interceptions, second on the team in 2004. Brown entered the 2006 season as the team's third quarterback, even getting a few snaps in the preseason.

And this year, he's been mentor extraordinaire, working with the team's receiving corps and lending a hand wherever possible.

"He is a great leader," Pats head coach Bill Belichick said. "Nobody works harder and is more unselfish than Troy Brown since I have been with the Patriots, going all the way back to '96."

Brown has also been there to lend a hand to his teammates, even if this year's squad is devoid of many young players.

"We don't have any young guys, right?" Brown said with a laugh. "Most of these guys, the questions (for me) were like, 'What's it going to be like?' or 'What kind of questions should I expect?' A lot of the guys are just extremely excited to be here, but most of the focus is still on what we need to do in the game."

In Week 16, Troy Brown lined up at the Patriots' 20-yard line and received a punt from Miami's Brandon Fields and returned it 10 yards to the Pats' 30. It marked his 192nd game, good for fourth-most in franchise history, and stands as his only on-field appearance of the season.

"At times it has been frustrating," Brown said, "but as a competitor you want to be out on the field — but the team is doing very well. I am getting a chance to be a part of this at some kind of capacity and contribute in the ways that you guys don't get to see with practice and all of that stuff.

"I have missed the contact on the field and being able to get there and make some plays for the team. (But) I still have a great feeling about being here."

That Miami game — where another punt unceremoniously clanged off his face mask for a turnover — may mark his last on-field appearance for the Pats or anyone. Brown's been mum on the issue, simply soaking up the good vibes from this latest Super Bowl stop.

"To be able to make it to this point five times in my career is something that I never even dreamed of," he said. "Just getting in to win a Super Bowl the first time was enough, but to be able to get here five times is something else."

If this is his last time donning a blue No. 80 jersey, no one will be able to accuse Brown of doing it without class. And, if the Patriots pull off the record-breaking win, don't think Brown didn't have a hand in making history.

Contact Nick Tavares at nick@staticandfeedback.com