Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who met with Brown on Thursday, hinted that he'd like to find a role for Brown in the organization.

"Troy Brown is the prototype of what I'd like every Patriot to be," said Kraft. "...Just the kind of person he is. I hope the fans agree that when he is eligible he'll have one of these red jackets. We'll see what happens. Our people have to chat with him. You look at all the great players even [Joe] Montana, [Brett] Favre, a year or two they go somewhere and they finish. You don't remember that. You don't think of Joe Montana as a Chief."