Patriots veteran Troy Brown, warming up prior to the first-round playoff game against Jacksonville, may not be on the field Sunday when New England takes on the the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

The Providence Journal / Gretchen Ertl

GLENDALE, Ariz. — When it comes to Super Bowl experience, the New England Patriots aren’t exactly green. Twenty-three of them have at least one championship ring from the team’s recent run and Adalius Thomas earned one with Baltimore.

But for two players, Troy Brown and Tedy Bruschi, Super Bowl XLII is their fifth title game, and they have been a part of New England’s transformation from punch line to model franchise every step of the way.

Unfortunately, one may not be on the field on Sunday when New England faces the New York Giants.

Troy Brown has done everything that’s been asked of him in his 15 years with the Patriots, and his contribution for the Super Bowl may be to watch from the sideline and root his teammates on as an inactive player.

“We all fade. It happens with time — we all fade to the back,” Brown said yesterday. “But the best way to do it is to do it gracefully.”

Not surprisingly, Brown has done just that this season. He began the year on the physically unable to perform list after suffering a knee injury in last January’s AFC title game and then undergoing surgery. He was taken off the PUP list in late November but wasn’t activated for the next three games.

He was on the 45-man game-day roster on Dec. 23, New England’s home finale against Miami, returning punts and getting a fantastic ovation from the crowd whenever his name was announced. After the game, he admitted to an extreme case of nerves and was happy that his teammates were so excited to have him on the field with them.

But it likely was his swan song in front of the home fans.

Brown was in uniform for the Pats’ opening-round playoff game against Jacksonville. Ellis Hobbs let it slip that the do-it-all veteran was ready to play cornerback, if needed, because Hobbs had tweaked his groin. Brown didn’t get in the game and was inactive the next week against San Diego.

New England’s franchise leader in receptions (557) and punt returns (270), Brown said he has enjoyed this season despite his lack of playing time.

“As a competitor it’s tough, but as long as the team’s been doing well, the guys are staying healthy, it’s fun to watch,” he said.

Brown has seen the other side of things with New England. The year before he was drafted in the eighth round out of Marshall, the Patriots won two games. His rookie year, they won five.

There was the Super Bowl appearance in 1996 and a divisional-round loss to Pittsburgh in ’97 before the Pats swooned again. Then came Bill Belichick, Mo Lewis, Tom Brady and three NFL championships.

“It’s been an incredible run for me to be a part of, for ‘Bru’ (Bruschi) to be part of,” Brown said. “I can say I’ve been through it all.”

But he may not be part of this big game, and the beloved receiver may call it a career once this week is over.

“It comes down to numbers,” he said when asked if he’ll get a chance to play against the Giants. “That’s cool. I have no problem with that.”

Brown said he’ll see what happens after the season and make a decision on whether or not he’d like to come back for a 16th season, and he noted that it’s up to the team, as well, as to whether it wants him back.

He did say, however, that he’s “always open to new ideas.”

smanza@projo.com