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SPORTS
Troy Brown still undecided on future
Former Herd receiver Troy Brown celebrates a second-half interception by a member of the green team Saturday during the Troy Brown Fantasy Football Camp at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- It merely required more than a decade of professional football excellence, but Troy Brown no longer is considered the undersized, pedestrian player who could.
Now when the New England Patriots' dynasty is discussed, Brown immediately is mentioned along with fellow stalwarts Tom Brady and Teddy Bruschi. Brown's versatility and talent, along with understated leadership, are fully appreciated.
Whether that legacy continues into a 16th National Football League season is uncertain. New England recently announced it would not re-sign Brown, the franchise's all-time receptions and punt return leader.
Now a free agent, Brown is weighing options, including retirement.
"I haven't come to an answer to that question yet," Brown said. "I'm not in a hurry to make any decisions. We'll just see what happens in the next few weeks, months, whatever it takes to make up my mind."
Brown hosted a Fantasy Football Camp last weekend at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, the same field where he led Marshall University to the 1992 Division I-AA national championship. He's since parlayed an eighth-round draft selection into an NFL career featuring 557 receptions for 6,366 yards. He's won three Super Bowls and was on the roster of two additional Super Bowl squads.
Brown admittedly maintains a competitive edge while acknowledging the reality of the inevitable.
"I think the fire is never out," Brown said. "You always want to be a part of that championship team. For a lot of us guys, when we start playing that fire burns and I've had the opportunity to be a professional football player for 15 years.
"And there's nothing that can completely put that flame out, even when I'm 70, 80 years old, hopefully. That fire will still be burning inside me. Even though you know you can't do it, you still want to be out there and play.
"Missing it? Yeah, I would miss it if I had to give it up. It's one of those things you can't avoid. You can't outrun Father Time.
"You enjoy the time that you have -- that I've had -- and if that was to be the case this year, if it was all over I can say I had one heck of a career."
Should that career continue, Brown might work in tandem with a familiar face. He's reportedly talked with officials from the New York Jets, quarterbacked by fellow Marshall great Chad Pennington.
The veteran quarterback -- to absolutely no surprise -- would welcome Brown's signing.
"Anytime you can bring in a player like Troy Brown, you bring in an unbelievable professional, a consummate professional who can help the young guys, give them a lot of teaching just based upon his experience," Pennington said. "He's a professional in every sense of the word and anytime you have a veteran of his caliber it always makes your team better.
"These veterans, 12, 13 years in the league, they're unbelievable because they're so smart. They know how to take care of their bodies and they know how to perform on Sunday.
"It's pretty amazing to watch them work."
Brown's work has been unique in its versatility. In addition to serving as wideout and punt and kickoff returner, Brown added defensive back to his resume when injuries depleted New England's secondary. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound veteran recently was listed at No. 5 on an NFL.com rating of the league's all-time multi-purpose players.
Until Saturday, Brown was unaware of the high compliment.
"There have been a lot of players who have come and gone in the history of the league and to be rated that high on that list -- I never thought of it that way," Brown said. "I just went out and did my job.
"I guess they thought a lot of it. I appreciate them ranking me that high."
It'll likely be later than sooner concerning a decision on Brown's playing future. Should he retire, he'll take at least a full year from the game -- no coaching or other such hands-on duties. Regardless, the ever laid-back Brown appears content.
"We'll see what happens and whatever I do I'm going to have fun doing it," he said.
