For Brown, it's two to go

MINNEAPOLIS -- When Troy Brown first entered the NFL in 1993 as an eighth-round draft choice he had a greater likelihood of working for Morgan Stanley than catching Stanley Morgan for the Patriots career record for receptions.

"I caught two balls my rookie year, none my second year, and I don't know, 10 my third year," recalled Brown, who shortchanged his third-year total by four catches.

That's exactly the number of grabs the 35-year-old veteran wide receiver needed entering last night's game against the Vikings to surpass Morgan's franchise reception record (534). He finished with only two, for 12 yards, but one covered 7 yards and gave the Patriots a 24-7 lead in what turned out to be a 31-7 romp.

Brown's 533 career catches -- and the record, when he gets it -- are as much a testament to his longevity as his ability. He is in his 14th NFL season, all with the Patriots, tying Steve Nelson and Bruce Armstrong for the second-longest tenure with the team. Only Steve Grogan, who toiled in Foxborough for 16 years, has worn the uniform longer.

"We are not big on a lot of individual records and recognition around here," said Patriots coach Bill Belichick, "but that being said, it's still pretty impressive the number of passes that he's caught and the career that he's had and the production that he's had."

The record isn't something Brown went after.

The catches just started to add up as he metamorphosed from bit player to backup to starter to go-to guy to part-timer to reliable role player.

"No, I just kept working at it and didn't quit and kept plugging away at it and just got a chance to get in there and make some plays," said Brown, who has 19 catches this season. "I never really thought about closing in on the record until last year, when people started bringing it up."

Brown's pursuit of the record was almost over before it began. An indispensable part of the Patriots dynasty, Brown was once deemed a spare part by former New England coach Bill Parcells. The Tuna released Brown during the preseason in 1994, his second year in the league, before bringing him back as a punt returner for the final nine games that year.

"Somewhat deserving," Brown said of his release, which was the result of a fumbled punt in the preseason. "I wasn't playing well, so he had to do something with me. That was pretty much how he was. He knew how to get the best out of me by cutting me."

Undersized and overachieving, the 5-foot-10-inch, 196-pounder (wink, wink) always has gotten the most out of his ability. In recent years, he has had as much value covering receivers as being one.

With the emergence of since-departed receivers Deion Branch and David Givens, Brown, who set the Patriots season record for receptions in 2001 with 101, became less of a factor in the passing game, so he made an impact on defense, aiding an injury-riddled secondary during the 2004 season.

Brown ended up with as many tackles as catches that season (17) -- not counting the three balls he hauled in for interceptions -- and a third Super Bowl ring. He reprised the role last season and again this year in a 38-13 win over the Bengals.

Running back Kevin Faulk said Brown and his selflessness represent what the Patriots are all about.

"I don't see anyone else," said Faulk. "He's the perfect guy in my eyes. He does what he has to do in order to make the team win -- on the football field and off the field."

Brown is back in familiar territory this year. His three starts at receiver equal his total from the 2004 and 2005 seasons combined. The dean of the overhauled wide receiving corps, Brown once again is being relied upon by quarterback Tom Brady to come up with key catches and get open when no one else can.

In a 20-10 win over the Dolphins Oct. 8, Brown had five catches for 58 yards -- four catches went for first downs, including three third-down conversions, two of which sustained scoring drives.

The other grab was a 10-yard touchdown. Last week against Buffalo, he only had two catches, but both resulted in first downs that prolonged scoring drives.

Brown ranks third among Patriots wide receivers in catches, trailing Reche Caldwell (22) and Doug Gabriel (20), both of whom had five last night, and has surpassed his touchdown reception total from 2005 with three.

Brown said he's seen improvement from the retooled receiving corps, which has been slowed by injuries. "We still got a lot of work to do, but we've come a long way from the beginning of the season to where we are now," said Brown. "It was a lot of hard work trying to get back to the point that we were."

If the group takes the same approach as its leader, then Patriots fans shouldn't have much to worry about.