01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, May 25, 2005

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO -- Gillette Stadium isn't usually sentimentality central. Yesterday was an exception.

Troy Brown, who's been a symbol of selflessness, perseverance, toughness and leadership during his 12 seasons in the NFL, was back in the Patriots' fold.

Wearing his white No. 80 practice jersey, a Patriots hat and a broad smile, Brown emerged from a side door in the media room, shook a few hands and spoke for nearly 20 minutes about his return. He and the team had seemingly parted ways in early March.

"I think (Bill Belichick) is one of the greatest coaches to ever coach this game, if not the greatest," said Brown. "People may say he's not attached to players, but I think, somewhere deep down inside him, he is. He just doesn't know how to show it. That has been the biggest problem with people over the years. He's just not a very emotional person and doesn't show it. Everybody has feelings, and I'm sure he does, too. He just expressed them last week about me."

Brown, who re-signed with the team on Monday, was referring to Belichick's comments last week when he said that Brown was as good a leader as any player he'd coached in 30 years.

There was another offer out there, Brown confirmed. The Saints reportedly were offering the 33-year-old wide receiver more money than the $800,000 the Patriots will pay him and a virtual guarantee of being their third wide receiver. But, in the end, his ties to New England and the success of the franchise here were more important than the extra dough.

Calls from Tom Brady and Deion Branch and a consistent dialogue with Belichick over the last two months kept his attention with the Patriots.

But when Brown's six-year-old son Sir'mon caught wind of Brown going elsewhere, he cast a decisive vote for re-signing with the Patriots.

"He heard me talking to my wife about it and he said, 'No, daddy, I want you to play for the Patriots.' It's touching. I'm an emotional guy and that kind of stuff gets to me. Just hearing him say that, how genuine he was. He has no concept of dollar amounts. I know that he will be happy here coming to see games this year. Those were things that helped me decide and made things easier for me."

Brown reworked his contract prior to the 2004 season and, in doing so, his 2005 numbers jumped to $2.5 million in salary and a $2.5-million signing bonus. The Pats had an option on picking up that deal -- something both sides knew New England wouldn't do. But neither were the sides able to hammer out a deal before Brown hit free agency as Brown was resistant to the Patriots' initial offer.

"My goal was to get something worked out," he said. "It didn't happen and free agency started.

"Like I said, I'm here now. Everything that happened in between there . . . I didn't want to come in here holding any grudges. I wanted to come in here and be happy and be the player I always have been and be the guy I've always been in the locker room and not bring any extra baggage with me. That is all cleaned up and things are fine."

It will be interesting to see how Brown's role shakes out. Deion Branch and David Givens are the two lead receivers. After that, one would have to expect the team will give newly acquired David Terrell a long look as the third wide receiver.

Bethel Johnson (whose foot reportedly is in a medical boot at the moment), Tim Dwight and P.K. Sam all are in the mix after those three, along with Brown.

Of that group, Brown is clearly the most experienced and savvy player. His punt-return skills (recall the 42-yarder he had in the Super Bowl that was wiped out by a penalty) appear intact, as well.

Meanwhile, his days on the defensive side of the ball should be over. The Pats have made several aggressive moves to get secondary depth during this offseason.