FOXBORO — Tough to figure if Bill Belichick was trying to challenge Troy Brown or heap responsibility on him.

Either way, the coach helped Brown become one of the greatest players in franchise history.

His career officially came to an end when he announced his retirement yesterday.

It was the spring of 2001, and Brown, an eighth-round draft pick in 1993, had established himself as a dependable security blanket for Drew Bledsoe.

Belichick had brought in free agents David Patten, Torrance Small, Charles Johnson and Bert Emmanuel, all seemingly to fill the spot across from Terry Glenn ... Brown's spot.

Although just 5-10, 196 pounds with average speed, Brown fended off all challengers. His records stood until another former Marshall great, Randy Moss, broke them last year.

Brown blossomed in the Bledsoe-to-Tom Brady transition, catching 101 balls for 1,199 yards and scoring seven TDs.

Who could forget his playoff performance in the run to Super Bowl XXXVI?

Brown almost single-handedly did in the Steelers at Heinz Field. He had eight catches for 121 yards, a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown and one of the most pivotal plays in team history, the scoop and lateral of a blocked field goal, which Antwan Harris took to paydirt.

Brady took home the MVP trophy in that Super Bowl triumph over the Rams, but it was Brown who caught six balls for 89 yards, including a 23-yarder with 21 seconds left to put Adam Vinatieri in position to win it.

Through all the accolades, Brown never surrendered his most prized possession, the humility of an eighth-round pick, who was cut twice early in his career but persevered.

It was the beauty of Troy Brown, is, was and always will be.

"When I did get cut my second year, I think I was out about seven or eight weeks, I believe. There was a little bit of doubt that crept into my mind that I wouldn't get a chance to show that I could play in the league," said Brown at his retirement announcement yesterday.

"But I don't think I doubted that I could because I had been here and I saw what I was up against. I knew if I had the opportunities that some of those guys had to make the team; I knew that I could show them that I belonged in the NFL. I never doubted myself as far as my ability to play."

Brown's confidence didn't translate into end zone celebrations or boisterous exchanges with the media.

He simply went about his business. Offense, defense, special teams, he did it all.

It was only in 2001 that he earned his true recognition around the league.

Brown offered too much for this franchise, much more than anyone, even Bill Parcells who drafted him, could have ever expected to extract from his undersized frame.

"Troy (went) on to have a tremendous career here with most catches in franchise history and 120 catches in that '01 season, including the playoffs," said Belichick, clearly respectful on Brown's day. "I think back fondly of some of the great moments Troy had here, offensively. The pass from David Patten in the Indianapolis game was a huge play for us in a big game. The Super Bowl, the pass across the middle where he got out of bounds and we had no timeouts to stop the clock and set up the game-winning field goal."

Brown belongs right there, in the slot where he did so much damage, on the Patriots' all-time team. You can put Stanley Morgan at one outside receiver and Irving Fryar at the other. Nobody could handle Brown working the middle of the field.

Nobody.

Hector Longo is an Eagle-Tribune sportswriter. E-mail him at hlongo@eagletribunecom.