Patriots' Troy Brown Wants to Play Forever

For all the talk about players leaving New England in droves, the over-30 set not only apparently love playing for Bill Belichick, but they refuse to retire. Ever. Linebacker Tedy Bruschi is coming back for at least one more season, and Junior Seau might do the same.

And Troy Brown, originally taken in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL draft -- 197 picks after Drew Bledsoe -- wants to return in 2008 too.

Troy Brown's playing days may not be over just yet. A source close to the veteran wide receiver said Brown hasn't made a decision about whether he'll try to return for a 16th season, and that an announcement is not expected soon.

"He feels great. He feels he can still play and still contribute," said the source. "Obviously, he would have liked to have played more than that one game he played. I don't think he's decided whether he's playing or not playing. A lot depends on what the Patriots do."

I suppose that's one way to prolong your career: play in one game a season. Brown was coming off knee surgery last off-season, missed all of training and was on the PUP list through Week 12. He saw action in the Dec. 23 win over the Dolphins where he returned six punts for 55 yards. The highlight (according to the Boston Globe's Chris Gasper, anyway): Brown, who turns 37 in July, misjudged a punt in that game and it hit off his facemask for a turnover.

It's not exactly Brett Favre throwing an interception on his last NFL pass, but maybe it's reason enough for Brown to want to comeback for one more go of it. Or maybe the guy just loves playing football.

Given New England's glut at wideout, I can't imagine there will be much need for Brown, but you could've made that argument last year too. Plus, if anybody can get the most out of players everybody else thought was finished, it's Belichick. In a perfect world, though, Belichick could get the most out of a player everybody had really high hopes: Chad Jackson. I won't hold my breath on either player doing something special next season.