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FOXBORO - One of Troy Brown's post-football ventures is to serve as an "expert" analyst on Comcast Sportsnet's local programming. It's a different role for him to be criticizing his former teammates as opposed to playing along side them, and it's something that other ex-Patriots have struggled at.

Brown admitted that it's not the easiest transition in the world, but truth is serving him well.

"Honestly, it's difficult because I know a lot of the guys on the team," the former wide receiver said prior to the halftime ceremony celebrating his 15-year career with the Patriots. "If you criticize a guy, you criticize him the right way. You just don't sit there and blast him, talk about his momma and his kids, and all that stuff.

"They can accept that better than just somebody going off on them and bashing them," he said. "That's what we hear in the meetings every day. When we do great, we get somewhat of a pat on the back and when we do bad, we get really kicked and stomped on by Bill (Belichick). It's just the truth, and that's the way we go about doing that. It's a little tough sometimes to do that, but it's going pretty well for me."

Brown returned to Gillette Stadium Thursday night, prior to the NFL Network-televised game between the Jets and Patriots, to accept the accolades of the fans who supported him so well since he was an eight-round draft pick out of Marshall in 1993. "I just want to go out and hopefully I can relate to the fans how much they meant to me over the years, through the bad times, the good times and the great times," Brown said in his earlier meeting with the media in the Gillette Stadium press box.

The Patriots' all-time leaders in receptions (557) admitted that it's been tough to accept retirement.

"I miss the guys," he said. "I miss the locker room. I sit down and watch games, and obviously your mind always tells you you can go out there and make more plays, and I probably could, but I don't know how many."

But he said he also feels fully healthy, and the extra time spent with his sons Sir'mon and SannJay has been a blessing - although sometimes, it just doesn't feel right to him that he's not aching all over at this time of the year.

"It's extremely weird at this time of year, especially when it's getting colder outside," he said. "You seem to feel those bumps and bruises a little more. But I feel great right now it's a great feeling. I can squat down and give my boys a hug."

Brown said he will always remember the festivities after the Patriots defeated the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI as the time when he realized how important football ways to New Englanders.

"Winning that first Super Bowl, and seeing those people come out in the freezing cold to that first parade, it was just amazing," he said. "It was just a fantastic sight to see, the streets of Boston packed with happy and overexcited fans finally having a football championship in this city. I really realized then how important my job was to this community."

He said he's been impressed by the 2008 Patriots' ability to fill the gaps created by injuries to key players and keep winning - but not surprised.

"It's typical Patriot football to me," he said. "I'm used to being one of those guys who'd fill in and plug in. There's a lot that goes into being a champion, and we've got a lot of guys on that football team that know how to do it."

And, he said, he's honored to know that Belichick has left the doors of the locker room and the practice field open to him at all times, even though he's no longer on the 53-man roster. "I'm around, but I try to stay away a little bit so I won't get that itch to get back out there," Brown said. "But I've been welcomed back here, any time I want. I can come out, watch practice with my boys, and that's a great feeling even though I'm doing a little bit of media these days, he's still opening the door to me."

Quick kicks

The Patriots' inactives were DE Ty Warren, LB Eric Alexander, OL Wesley Britt, RB LaMont Jordan, CB Lewis Sanders, OLB Adalius Thomas, CB Terrence Wheatley and QB Matt Gutierrez (third quarterback). The Jets' inactives were K Mike Nugent, WR David Clowney, RB Marcus Mason, CB Drew Coleman, S Eric Smith, LB David Harris

TE Bubba Franks and QB Brett Ratliff (third quarterback) Jabar Gaffney's touchdown catch in the first half was the 15th of his career Stephen Gostkowski had 23 successful field goals this year at the conclusion of the first half, giving him two more than he had all last season Sam Aiken's 43-yard reception was the second longest of his career

Randy Moss' catch near the end of the third quarter brought him to 12,792 career yards, passing former Patriot Irving Fryar for 11th place on the all-time NFL list. His catch was the 819th of his career, tying him with Seattle's Steve Largent for 16th place on the league's list.