enlarge The Associated Press

It wasn't supposed to end like this, with a bench full of dejection. But that's what happened Sunday, and now the Pats must learn as they look to the future.

enlarge The Associated Press

Tom Brady will have to look for another go-to receiver next season if Randy Moss, a free agent, decides to find another team.

PATRIOTS' FREE AGENTS
UNRESTRICTED

Randall Gay, defensive back

Asante Samuel, defensive back

Rashad Moore, defensive tackle

Tedy Bruschi, linebacker

Larry Izzo, special teams

Junior Seau, linebacker

Lonie Paxton, long snapper

Eugene Wilson, defensive back

Mel Mitchell. defensive back

Jabar Gaffney, wide receiver

Randy Moss, wide receiver

Troy Brown, wide receiver

RESTRICTED

Dan Connolly, offensive line

Mike Wright, defensive tackle
NOTE: A restricted free agent requires compensation from the team signing him

PHOENIX — So what's next for the New England Patriots?

Who stays? Who goes? What will they be looking for in the draft or free agency?

Every off-season has its share of questions. But after losing 17-14 to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl on Sunday - ending the team's quest for the perfect 19-0 record - it seems the Patriots may have more questions than answers.

This loss will gnaw at them for a while, especially since they had victory - and history - in their grasp after Tom Brady threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss with 2:42 remaining for a 14-10 lead.

But for the second straight year, the New England defense couldn't hold a late lead. Eli Manning threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left.

"We can look back on this year with a positive attitude and some of the things we accomplished," said linebacker Tedy Bruschi, one of the 12 unrestricted free agents on the team (according to the NFL Players Association). "But when you don't finish ... I mean, that's what we're all about."

Tops on the Patriots' to-do list is to figure out what to do with Moss and cornerback Asante Samuel.

Moss, of course, is the difference maker on this offense. He caught an NFL-record 23 touchdowns in the regular season, then pulled in the pass that looked like it would give New England another title. Moss said all week he would like to remain in New England but is a free agent.

Scott Pioli, the vice president of player personnel, said days before the game, "We'll deal with that first thing next week. We'll be dealing with his situation and others first thing next week."

Samuel is the other big one. He held out of training camp, seeking more of a commitment from the Patriots. He eventually signed for what was originally offered - the franchise player tender for cornerbacks, or $7,790,000 -but got a clause in the contract that said the team could not slap the franchise tag on him again if it won 12 games. Then Samuel came back with another strong season, leading the team in interceptions.

He is New England's top cover corner, one of the best in the league. The question remains whether the Patriots will pay him as one.

Nate Clements of San Francisco is the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, with a salary of $12,266,666, and his numbers haven't been close to Samuel's the last two seasons.

Can the Patriots re-sign both Moss and Samuel?

Pioli is smart enough not to conduct negotiations in the press. But he did provide some insight into how this organization works when he said he's not simply looking at the 2008 season already, but several years beyond.

"The contracts you do for (the 2008 season) are also coming to impact (2009 and 2010)," he said. "So as you're doing the contracts, even now, you're thinking about (2008, 2009 and 2010). You have to.

"There are certain parts of the organization that are one day at a time and there are other parts where if you're not planning, if you're not preparing, you're doomed."

The planning for the 2008 season - which began in earnest Monday -actually started as soon as last April's draft ended. That's when the Patriots' college staff starting putting together reports on the 2008 class, which they completed by June.

The Patriots, by virtue of a trade, have the seventh pick of the draft. If they stay true to their philosophy, they'll try to turn it into a couple of high picks, giving them more young talent.

And they need it, especially at linebacker where Bruschi is coming off his 12th season and Rosevelt Colvin, who has one more year on his contract, is coming off another season-ending injury.

Then there's Junior Seau, who just finished his 18th season. The big question is whether he'll return or retire, something he wouldn't discuss Sunday night.

"I haven't thought about the future," he said....