FOXBORO, Mass. – Troy Brown looked over his shoulder at the large canvas banners of Patriots greats that adorn the outside walls of Gillette Stadium and contemplated his image joining them one day.

“That’s a special place to be,” Brown said. “There’s a lot of great football players up there.”

Pictures of stars such as Andre Tippett, John Hannah and Steve Nelson overlook the Patriots’ outdoor practice facility. Brown may very well join them one day after his playing career ends.

Some expected that career to end a long time ago, if it ever began at all. An eighth round pick of the Patriots in the 1993 draft (198th overall) out of Marshall University, Brown was actually waived by then coach Bill Parcells before the 1994 season. Fortunately for New England, no other team picked him up and he re-signed with the Pats two months later.

Over the next five years, he evolved from a special teams dynamo to a slot receiver to a starter and one of the most underappreciated players in the league. In 2000, he began a string of three straight 80-plus catch seasons, a franchise record, and became the only Patriot ever to catch 100 or more passes with his 101-catch, 1,199-yard season in 2001.

During that time, many considered Brown an overachiever, someone without exceptional size and speed who made himself into a Pro Bowl caliber player. But others who look beyond height charts and 40 times aren’t surprised by his success.

“He’s probably … pound for pound, one of the strongest players on our team, and probably one of the strongest in the league for what his size is,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “For a guy that has that kind of strength and that kind of quickness, and his hands are exceptional, plus he’s a smart route runner and he knows how to set people up and knows how to get open, you have a lot to work with there.”

The 33-year-old receiver’s numbers have steadily declined since the Patriots first Super Bowl season in 2001, and younger receivers such as Deion Branch and David Givens have taken a more prominent role in New England’s offense.

One might conclude that with the addition of Bethel Johnson and P.K. Sam through the draft the last two years, Brown has to ward off the younger competition to keep his playing time or even stay on the roster.

“I don’t think he should look at it that way,” Belichick said. “Troy has been a productive player in this league for a long time. I don’t think he really cares who else is out there.”

He doesn’t seem to care where he is out there, either. In a move that his coach hopes will bring more depth and diversity to the roster, Brown has seen some playing time at defensive back this preseason.

It’s not the first time Brown has been asked to be a two-way player. In fact, he knows exactly the last time.

“Dec. 19, 1992, Marshall vs. Youngstown St., I-AA national championship,” he said. “I played nickel back and receiver.”

Asked how he thought the experiment was going, Brown replied, “It’s not an experiment to me. I want to go out there and I want to do well.”

Belichick says he has been pleased with how he’s adapted to the position.

“I think he is having a little fun with it and I think it helps us in terms of our overall depth,” Belichick said.

Ten years ago, Brown probably would have begged for a chance to try a new position if it meant a spot on an NFL roster.

Now, as a catalyst for two Super Bowl champions, he could have begged off adding yet another task to his diverse portfolio.

Others have cited Brown’s age and and the risk of injury as reasons not to play him at defensive back, even in an emergency. But Brown, who is listed as questionable for Thursday night’s opener against Indianapolis with a knee injury he suffered playing on offense, won’t make that argument.

“I’m just glad I’m still playing, no matter where it is,” Brown said. “I like what I do for a living and all three aspects are a part of football. I do what I’m asked to do and I enjoy playing wherever they ask me to play.”

Despite his unselfish attitude, his ranking at or near the top all-time among New England’s receiving and punt return categories, and his two Super Bowl rings, Brown said he doesn’t see his own picture hanging from the Gillette Stadium facade one day.

To hear him talk about it, though, one would have to think his place is virtually assured.

“A lot of those guys are blue-collar workers,” he said. “You know, a lot of them probably never got the respect that they deserved around the league, but they’re up there because they played Patriots type football.”