FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Troy Brown has retired after 15 seasons with the New England Patriots in which he set a team record for most receptions.

When you're living in the middle of the Golden Age of Boston Sports, it's a target-rich environment of good athletes, great ones, all time greats, and the Truly Special. There aren't enough hours in the day to write glowing tributes to all of them, but when one of the Truly Specials announces their retirement, you make the time. And without question, Troy Brown is one of the Truly Special athletes to ever play in Boston. Brown was the classic over achiever. Taken in the no-longer-existent 8th round of the 1993 draft (the same draft that had a No. 1 pick named Drew Bledsoe), the 198th pick overall. There were 22 WR's drafted ahead of him, including first rounders Curtis Conway and OJ McDuffie and other immortals like Horace Copeland, Sean LaChapelle and Walter Dunson. At the beginning of his career he was cut several times by Bill Parcells. But he survived to at one point or another hold the Patriots records for receptions in a game, a season and a career as well as punt return yardage. But what he'll always be remembered for are the clutch plays. He made a career out of picking up one more yard than the Pats needed on crucial 3rd down plays. It was like a superpower; like he had some sort of Superimposed Yellow First Down Line Vision. And throughout his whole career he was a class act, a pretty rare breed among guys who play WR in the NFL.

By way of tribute to Brown, click here for a list of his Top Ten Greatest Moments...