"He's a complete football player," Cappelletti said. "He has great instincts on the field, the kind that coaches can't really teach you. Either you have it or you don't."

As the Patriots go for their third Super Bowl title in four years, plenty of players — Tom Brady, Corey Dillon, Teddy Bruschi — have gotten more attention than Brown. But his teammates consider him one of their most valuable players.

"As a team player, Troy is right at the top of the list," Brady said. "There is no other guy who has the respect of his teammates like Troy."

In Cappelletti's day, it wasn't unusual for a player to fill many different roles. There were only 30-something players on the roster, so versatility was a key in picking those who made it.

Cappelletti showed up for his first Patriots camp in 1960 touting himself as a defensive back, running back, quarterback, kicker and punter. He started out in the secondary, then shifted to receiver midway through the season. He also handled most of the kicking duties.

"We couldn't afford specialization like they do today," Cappelletti said. "They have a guy just to snap the ball. That was unheard of when I played."

Unlike most of today's players, Brown is familiar with names like Bednarik and Cappelletti.

"When I hear those names, it's kind of refreshing," Brown said. "It reminds some of the younger generation what it used to be about in this game."

At age 33, he knows his career is winding down. He hasn't decided whether to return next season, saying he'll take some time after Sunday to wind down and weigh his options.

If this is Brown's final game, what a way to go out.

"If I had to do it all over again, I would do it," he said. "Anything to help the team win."