PATRIOTS BEAT: Mike Lowe

A winner no matter his role

Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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SUNDAY'S GAME WHO: Buffalo Bills (3-4) at New England Patriots (3-3) WHEN: 8:30 p.m. TELEVISION: ESPN To top of story

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Chad Brown knew what he was getting into when he signed a two-year contract with the New England Patriots last spring. A three-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the game's top pass-rushing linebackers over the previous 12 seasons, Brown knew his impressive resume wasn't going to guarantee him anything with the Patriots.

But he didn't care. Individual statistics and glory were not the driving factors in his career.

He had other goals.

"I'm not going to say I'm going to the Hall of Fame," said the 35-year-old Brown, "but I have achieved some personal success. I came here to be part of the team and to fill whatever role it is they needed me to fill and to win games.

"I play special teams and I haven't done that in a long time. So there is no ego involved."

Good thing because Brown's ego certainly would have taken a beating so far.

An outside linebacker, or edge rusher, his entire career, Brown moved to the inside after Tedy Bruschi announced he would sit out the year after suffering a mild stroke in February and Ted Johnson retired just before training camp.

He didn't complain then, even though the positions and responsibilities are dramatically different (he has yet to record a sack this year), and he didn't complain when his playing time decreased during the first three games.

Others wanted him to complain.

"It's been a lot easier for me than it has been for my family and friends," said Brown. " 'Why don't you tell them where you need to play?' It's not my job. My job is to play where they ask me to play and do my job. I knew my ego shouldn't play a part in this whole thing.

"These guys have had success because they are a team. Would Troy Brown rather catch touchdowns or would he rather break up out routes? This is a team, successful because they are a team. I knew that when I came here.

"Personal glory and ego don't play a factor in what I'm being asked to do here and what I want to do."

Brown is now being asked to bury his ego once more. He leads the team in tackles with 39. Yet when Bruschi returns, whether Sunday night at home against Buffalo or the following Monday night at home against Indianapolis, Brown will become a reserve.

He knows this. In fact, he said as much Wednesday.

"Whatever the future holds, I'll do my best to prepare for it," Brown said. "My job is to back up Tedy Bruschi and help out any way I can and learn as much as I can from him."

Brown knew from the day he signed his two-year, $1.5 million contract that his role could change from time to time.

"I didn't come here as a $50 million prize free agent who was told he was going to play one spot," he said. "I came here as a role player to fill whatever role they ask me to fill.

"Just because (the season) hasn't been my idea of success or some of the coaches' idea of success, and the fact that we lost some games . . . that doesn't lessen the experience or the opportunity we have in front of us."

At 3-3, the Patriots are still the team to beat in the AFC East. They open their division play Sunday night against Buffalo. And they know they have to dramatically improve their defense.

The bye week helped, Brown said, by giving the Patriots time to examine how teams have gone after them so far - big plays have hurt the Patriots, who have given up nine plays of 30 yards or more this year - and how to counter.

Brown is confident the Patriots will regroup.

"You cannot play in the NFL without confidence," said Brown. "Just because you've faced some adversity, is your confidence shaken? No. Can you get better? Is there a lot of football left? Heck, yeah.

"Did the coaches get the opportunity to see something that they didn't see before? Did we see (something) we didn't see and how to play those plays that have hurt us? Yeah. I expect us to play better."

And Brown expects to be part of that defense, in whatever role.

"I came here to win games and help this team win games," he said. "What's changed? We've had a couple of bumps in the road, a little adversity. Do you stop trying, give up? Do you change your goals or your focus? No."

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at: