FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Troy Brown signed with the New England Patriots for a 15th season Tuesday, giving the wide receiver a chance to increase his team record of 557 catches.
Brown, 36, has spent his entire career with the Patriots since being drafted in the eighth round out of Marshall University in 1993. He did not attend last month's minicamp where another former Marshall receiver, Randy Moss, worked out with his new team after he was acquired from Oakland in a draft day trade in April.
The Patriots have stocked up on wide receivers, adding Moss, Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker and Kelley Washington in the offseason and Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney last season. But New England still can use Brown, who had 43 receptions last year and started nine of the 16 regular season games in which he played.
Brown, an offensive captain the past five seasons, holds team records for punt returns and punt return yardage and has filled in at defensive back. His three interceptions in 2004 ranked second on the club.
Last season, he passed Stanley Morgan's club record of 534 catches and moved into second place in total receiving yards with 6,366. Morgan is first with 10,352. With 191 games, Brown is tied for fourth with cornerback Raymond Clayborn. The team record of 212 is held by offensive tackle Bruce Armstrong.
New England also announced the signings of two sixth-round draft choices, linebacker Justin Rogers of Southern Methodist and running back Justise Hairston of Central Connecticut.
