Troy Brown was too short and too slow. He couldn't make the big play. His NFL career was bound to be brief.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

In 15 NFL seasons, all with the New England Patriots, the eighth-round draft choice kept disproving those assumptions. Brown holds the team record for career catches - and also returned punts and kickoffs, made interceptions and helped win three championships.

Finally, the 5-foot-10 wide receiver decided he can't keep up with younger players.

"I can't think of anything better in life to do than to enjoy a Sunday afternoon playing football," Brown said yesterday, "and now I enjoy those Sunday afternoons watching football and still saying in my head, 'I can make that play.' "

But at 37, the soft-spoken Brown, who hasn't played this season, conceded, "You can't outrun Father Time," and so he announced his retirement while fighting back tears.

New England drafted Brown out of Marshall in 1993 and he holds the club record with 557 catches. He's second with 6,366 yards receiving to Stanley Morgan's 10,352. Brown played in one Pro Bowl after the 2001 season.

When the Patriots needed help in their injured secondary, Brown filled in there in 2004 and intercepted three passes.

LAW AND ORDER

EX-BEAR RB BENSON WON'T FACE CHARGES

Former Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson won't face charges for two alcohol-related arrests earlier this year, officials said yesterday.

Two Travis County (Dallas) grand juries declined to indict Benson on charges of boating while intoxicated, resisting arrest and driving while intoxicated.

The former University of Texas player is "elated" over the decision, said Sam Bassett, his attorney.

"Since my initial review of the evidence in both cases, I have said that Cedric was not guilty," Bassett said in a statement. "I hope that this situation reminds us all that not every person who is arrested for a crime is guilty."

Benson was stopped May 3 while on Lake Travis and charged with boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest. He was then pulled over in downtown Austin on June 7 and arrested on a drunken driving charge.

The Bears cut Benson after the second arrest in Austin. He is a free agent.

49ERS

YOUNG WILL HAVE NO. 8 JERSEY RETIRED OCT. 5

San Francisco will retire Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young's No. 8 jersey in a halftime ceremony during its game against New England on Oct. 5.

Young is a two-time league MVP who led San Francisco to its fifth NFL title in the 1995 Super Bowl, winning the game's MVP award. He spent parts of 13 seasons with the 49ers, finishing his NFL career with 33,124 yards passing and 232 TD passes.

"It's a tremendous honor, there's no question about it," Young said in a phone interview. "For all the things we've enjoyed, and all the accolades, this might be the best thing of all."

After claiming the 49ers' starting job from Joe Montana in 1991, Young was selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls while compiling a 96.8 career passer rating, the highest in NFL history. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Young will be the 11th player to have his number retired by the 49ers, joining fellow quarterbacks Montana and John Brodie. Safety Ronnie Lott was the most recent player added to the list in 2003.

ELSEWHERE

Bengals: A Fresno County judge has issued a warrant for an NFL player facing trial on suspicion of drunken driving. Superior Court Judge Brant K. Bramer said yesterday that Cincinnati defensive lineman Jason Shirley has until Tuesday morning to appear in court or the warrant will go into effect. Fresno police arrested Shirley after he allegedly crashed into an apartment building and fled the scene Oct. 8. Police say his blood-alcohol level was 0.12, above the legal limit of 0.08.

Browns: The NFL found no evidence that Cleveland Browns defensive players intentionally gouged the eyes of Baltimore running back Willis McGahee during the Ravens' win last Sunday. Ravens coach John Harbaugh sent tapes to the league's office in New York earlier this week asking for a review of two separate incidents. McGahee was cut on his right eyelid and was poked in the left eye.

Chargers: Six San Diego players returned to practice yesterday as the Chargers continue preparations for Sunday's game at Oakland. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson (toe), center Nick Hardwick (foot), tight end Antonio Gates (hip), defensive tackle Jamal Williams (knees), left guard Kris Dielman (thigh) and center Jeremy Newberry (knee) went through the whole practice.

Cardinals: Arizona defensive end Bertrand Berry will miss Sunday's game at the New York Jets with a groin tear. Berry was injured last week against Washington.