Troy Brown

Infobox NFLretired
name=Troy Brown
width=
caption=
position=Wide receiver
number=80
birthdate=birth date and age|1971|7|2
city-state|Barnwell|South Carolina
deathdate=
debutyear=1993
finalyear=2007
draftyear=1993
draftround=8
draftpick=198
college=Marshall
teams=
* New England Patriots (1993-2007)
stat1label=Receptions
stat1value=557
stat2label=Receiving yards
stat2value=6,366
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=31
nfl=BRO741336
highlights=
* Pro Bowl selection (2001)
* 3x Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX)
* All-Iron Award (2002)

Troy Fitzgerald Brown (born July 2, 1971 in city-state|Barnwell|South Carolina) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Marshall.

Brown played his entire 15-year career with the Patriots. He earned three Super Bowl rings with the team and retired as the franchise leader in career receptions.

College career

In college, Brown was a standout wide receiver, punt returner, and kickoff returner for Marshall University, leading the Division I-AA in both kickoff and punt return average in 1991, a year in which he and quarterback Todd Donnan tied a record by combining for a 99-yard pass play against Virginia Military Institute [ [http://www.nmnathletics.com/attachments1/1530.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=4000 2005 Southern Conference Media Guide] Marshall University Athletics. Accessed 10 July 2007.] . The following year, Marshall claimed its first national championship with Brown as its primary wide receiver and returner. In the championship game, Brown sealed the win by intercepting a Hail Mary Youngstown State pass in the final seconds of the game [ [http://media.www.marshallparthenon.com/media/storage/paper534/news/2002/03/08/Life/From-Herd.Hero.To.Super.Bowl.Champ-207167.shtml From Herd hero to Super Bowl champ] The Parthenon Online. Accessed 10 July 2007.] .

His career kickoff return average (29.69 yards per return) still stands as an NCAA record [ [http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=19859 Troy Brown player page] NFLPlayers.com. Accessed 10 July 2007.] , as do his four kickoff returns for touchdowns. He scored a touchdown every eight times he touched the football [ [http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/MUCRASH05/60705019/1102 Marshall football greats] Huntington Herald-Dispatch. Accessed 10 July 2007.] .

In 2006, Brown was given the Distinguished Alumni award by his alma mater [ [http://www.marshall.edu/alumni/pwdistalumni.asp Distinguished Alumni] Marshall University. Accessed 10 July 2007.] .

Professional career

Brown was drafted by the Patriots out of Marshall in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL Draft (198th overall). He was waived as a final cut in the 1994 preseason but was resigned on October 19. In 1997, he recorded 41 catches for 607 yards and 6 touchdowns despite being behind both Terry Glenn and Shawn Jefferson on the depth chart at receiver as well as competing with Ben Coates and Vincent Brisby for catches. In 1998, he resumed his duties as a punt returner.

His first year as a starter was 2000 with 83 catches for 944 yards and 4 touchdowns. In 2001 he, alongside Tom Brady, led the Patriots to their first ever Super Bowl championship, recording 101 catches during the season for 1199 yards and 5 touchdowns, setting the franchise record for receptions and earning his first trip to a Pro Bowl. He also returned 29 punts for 413 yards and 2 touchdowns, giving him a league leading 14.2 yards per return average. During the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs that season, Brown returned a crucial punt for a touchdown which provided the winning margin, adding to the two he returned for touchdowns during the regular season. In 2002, he recorded 97 receptions for 890 yards and 3 touchdowns. In 2003, he had 40 catches for 472 yards, helping his team back to Super Bowl XXXVIII.

In 2004, he had only 17 receptions, but contributed in what was originally an emergency role on defense, ranking second on the team in interceptions with three. He was topped in this category only by Eugene Wilson. Further demonstrating his versatility, during the 2006 preseason he lined up as an emergency quarterback; when questioned as to why Brown had appeared there, the head coach of the Patriots, Bill Belichick, joked that he had lined Brown up there "to develop his legend" [cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/09/01/brown_receives_chance_at_qb/|title=Brown receives chance at QB in Patriots' loss|last=Reiss|first=Mike|accessdate=2006-12-10|date=2006-09-01
publisher=The Boston Globe] .

Brown was released by the Patriots on March 1, 2005 for salary cap reasons, but he signed a new contract with them on May 23. He signed despite a better financial deal from the New Orleans Saints [http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/03/18/route_taken_by_receiver_interesting/?page=full] . In the 2005 season, he recorded 39 receptions for 466 yards.

On July 17, 2007, Brown reached an agreement with the New England Patriots for a 15th season, making him the second longest-playing Patriot behind Steve Grogan. [cite web| last = Tomase
first = John
title = Troy Will be Back for 15th Season
work =
publisher = The Boston Globe
date = 2007-07-11
url = http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1010633
accessdate = 2007-07-12 ] On July 28, he was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=2415 Troy Brown Stats, News, Photos] ] but was activated on November 27. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3130490 Pats activate WR Brown, LB Colvin placed on IR] ]

In addition to playing offense and defense with success, Brown is the Patriots' all-time leading punt returner with 252 returns for 2,625 yards and 3 touchdowns. He is first all-time in Patriots history in receptions (557) and second all-time in receiving yards (6,366). Troy Brown was also listed as the fourth string quarterback for the 2006 season, behind Brady, Matt Cassel, and Vinny Testaverde.

2006 AFC Divisional Playoffs

One of his greatest postseason games, while maybe not his flashiest, came in the AFC Divisional Playoff game, when the Patriots met the favored San Diego Chargers. [cite news|work=The Boston Globe|date=January 15, 2007|accessdate=2007-01-15|title=Brown adds to Patriots legend|author=Edes, Gordon|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/01/15/brown_adds_to_his_legend/] With 5 minutes left in the game, the Patriots were down 21-13 and facing 4th and 5. Tom Brady, known for his playoff poise, uncharacteristically threw his third interception to the Chargers' Marlon McCree. Troy Brown, making what teammate Tedy Bruschi described as a "quick mental switch" from offensive to defensive player, instinctively ripped the ball out of McCree's grasp. [cite news|work=The Boston Globe|date=January 15, 2007|accessdate=2007-01-15|title=Brown adds to Patriots legend|first=Edes|last=Gordon |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/01/15/brown_adds_to_his_legend] The fumble was subsequently recovered by the Patriots Reche Caldwell, giving them a fresh set of downs. New England went on to tie the score with a touchdown and a two point conversion, and then won the game on a 31-yard field goal. Brown also caught 5 passes for 39 yards in the game.

Retirement

On March 13, 2008 the Boston Globe reported that the Patriots would not offer him a contract for the 2008 season. On September 25, 2008, Brown made an official retirement announcement from professional football with Patriots owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick. He departed football as the all-time leader for the New England Patriots in receptions with 557. [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FBN_PATRIOTS_BROWN_RETIRES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT]

Personal

Brown currently resides in Huntington, West Virginia, [ [http://www.huntingtonquarterly.com/issue62/troy.html Citizen Troy] ] where a portion of West Virginia Route 10 was designated Troy Brown Way. [ [http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x655248222 Council enforcing fines for false alarms] Accessed 13 February 2008.]

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=142 New England Patriots bio]