Brown not likely to receive offer to return for 16th year

The Patriots are prepared to part ways with wide receiver Troy Brown, as the team is not planning to offer its all-time leader in receptions a contract for the 2008 season.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, out of courtesy to Brown, the Patriots recently informed the 15-year veteran, who is a free agent, that he was not in their immediate plans and that if he was interested in returning for a 16th NFL season he was free to field offers from other teams.

Patriots spokesman Stacey James declined to confirm the report, citing team policy. Calls to Brown's agent, Gary Uberstine, were not returned.

Brown played last year under a one-year deal for the veteran minimum base salary of $820,000, $435,000 of which was guaranteed. He also had a $40,000 signing bonus. The veteran minimum deal this year is $830,000.

It's unclear if the 36-year-old Brown, who has played his entire career with the Patriots, is planning to play another season. A source close to Brown told the Globe March 5 that Brown feels he can still play. The same source said yesterday that other teams have expressed interest in Brown, who played in just one game last season.

Only quarterback Steve Grogan (16 seasons) has had a longer Patriots career than Brown, who tied defensive lineman Julius Adams for the second-longest tenure with the franchise last season.

If 2007 was Brown's last season in a Patriots uniform, it didn't do his distinguished career justice. The team's leader in receptions with 557, Brown didn't catch a pass.

He missed all of training camp following offseason knee surgery and was on the reserve/physically unable to perform list for the first 11 games of the season. Brown was activated Nov. 27, but his only action came as a punt returner in a 28-7 victory over the Dolphins Dec. 23. He returned six punts for 55 yards.

The team's all-time leader in punt returns (252) and punt return yardage (2,625), Brown uncharacteristically had a punt carom off his facemask for a fumble against Miami.

He dressed but did not play in the Patriots' 31-20 playoff win over the Jaguars Jan. 12. Injured cornerback Ellis Hobbs revealed after the Jacksonville game that Brown, who was pressed into action as a cornerback in 2004, intercepting three passes that year, and played defensive snaps in 2005 and 2006, was ready to reprise his role as a defensive back.

But Brown was inactive for both the AFC Championship game and Super Bowl XLII.

While it seems as if Brown's days in Foxborough, which began in 1993 when the team drafted him in the eighth round out of Marshall, may be coming to an end, things can change fast in the NFL.

If the Patriots were in need of an experienced receiver and Brown was in shape and available, that could pave the way for a return.

"When you look up the New England Patriots in the dictionary, there's a big picture of Troy Brown's face," said Tom Brady in January 2007. "He's everything that we stand for. I think when guys come in here and they're trying to figure out what it means to fit in, all you have to do is look at Troy and the preparation that he puts in each week and the way he lays it on the line."

Law, Belichick talk

Free agent cornerback Ty Law said yesterday he had a "good conversation" with Patriots coach Bill Belichick, but the Jets have been more aggressive in pursuing him.

"I'd say we're definitely on good terms," Law said of Belichick. "He did express his interest in me coming there and I expressed mine, but I don't know if it's something that can get handled soon enough."

Law, who was released by the Chiefs March 3, seems eager to strike a deal in the coming days. He visited the Jets yesterday and took a physical. Although he left without signing a contract, he indicated talks were continuing.

"I'm familiar up here with New York and [coach] Eric [ Mangini] and this system," Law said. "They've been aggressive and enthusiastic about getting something done."

Law left the door open for more talks with the Patriots.

Mike Reiss of the Globe staff contributed to this report.