10:08 AM EST on Thursday, January 27, 2005

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

From a distance, arguably the greatest player in NFL history watches the New England Patriots with a mixture of awe, pride and surprise.

AP file photo

Jim Brown

Hall of Famer Jim Brown, the former Cleveland Browns running back and longtime friend of head coach Bill Belichick was asked yesterday where the Patriots fit in the conversation of the greatest teams ever.

"Here we are, on the eve of the Super Bowl and this team will have won three out of four if they win," Brown said from his Los Angeles office yesterday. "That really speaks for itself. And even if they don't win, the statement has been made.

"Without avoiding the question, this is a great team, a great organization in modern times with free agency and salary caps and different types of coaches that has been able to dominate the league and done it using intelligence, discipline, teamwork, the team concept. All these things allowed other teams to be great in history. All those teams had the same things in common and the litany of individuals who played roles. This team is a marvel, even a greater example because of the time at which the feat is being accomplished. Experts said dynasties were done. Nobody could do it again. The great thing is the way this team applies people and utilizes people and puts pieces together."

Belichick and Brown first struck a friendship when Belichick took over the Cleveland Browns in 1991 and Brown was still very involved with his former team. Their chemistry, Brown said, was rare. "I have friends I speak to for 20 years who don't understand me. Bill understood in five minutes."

Brown was troubled by the way things spun out of control on Belichick in Cleveland.

"I remember the things he had to endure when the team left (for Baltimore) so to see him rebound and maintain his dignity and character and beliefs makes me so proud. I'm also very proud of (Patriots owner) Robert Kraft. He went through similar things (after Bill Parcells left and the Patriots went into mild decline) and he has really given me great respect and helped my organization (Amer-I-Can). He was the one owner that went when President Clinton had an open forum on diversity in the NFL. They are both Cinderella stories to me, both men of character and vision."

Brown concedes that Belichick's on-field vision is so great, the Patriots have accomplished things even he didn't see coming.

"These last two wins have been unbelievable," said Brown. "I don't understand how they could shut down Peyton Manning one week with one defense then come back and beat Pittsburgh, passing and running on offense and swarming the Bus (Jerome Bettis). You'd think Pittsburgh would be able to throw all over the field with four or five players on the Bus."

Brown has such great appreciation for the team concept the Patriots espouse, it was interesting to hear his take on Terrell Owens. The Eagles wide receiver hasn't played in either of Philadelphia's playoff wins and is very iffy for the Super Bowl, yet he will gladly dominate the pregame coverage of the Eagles. Isn't that a little out of whack, Brown was asked.

"We're in an era of great technology, great journalism and great reporting at a time when the country is at the height of football mania," said Brown. "Come on. (The media) is competing in its profession. (The speculation) is part of what the fans enjoy also. We can't look at the hype and dispose of it because it is entertainment at its highest level. And sometimes at its lowest. Terrell is a talent. Yes, he hasn't participated and stories have been written but it would seem strange if they weren't, wouldn't it?

"I don't like a lot of things the modern player does," Brown added. "But 1-on-1, I love the modern player. I've never met a player in person I disliked. Never met a young man in football today that's not respectful of me. They sound different. Take Corey Dillon, a great talent. If you listen to his comments, they are very beautiful comments. In Cincinnati he was a non-conformist. Knowing Bill, he found the way to bring him out. Bill calls it like it is. He pretty much tells you what he has to do, then does it. He's not hyping. He talks about things very simply. And it makes makes me proud as a friend and as a former player."