Jan. 4, 2000 SportsLine wire reports

FOXBORO, Mass. -- The departure of coach Pete Carroll isn't going to be the only change for the New England Patriots this offseason. Several players could follow him out the door -- by their own choice.

	Related Links: Patriots fire Carroll after three seasons as coach Forum: Do the Pats have to keep Milloy?
	T O P   N E W S

Strong safety Lawyer Milloy, their only Pro Bowl player, is the most important. But four other regulars can become unrestricted free agents if they don't re-sign before March 1.

Cornerback Steve Israel, linebacker Tedy Bruschi and wide receivers Shawn Jefferson and Troy Brown have indicated they're comfortable here. Milloy is adamant that he won't accept a franchise player tag that would force him to stay with the Patriots.

"I'm going to do the best for Lawyer Milloy," he said. "It's all business from right now."

Carroll was fired Monday with two years left on a five-year contract he signed after Bill Parcells took the Patriots to the 1997 Super Bowl. Their record dropped from 10-6 to 9-7 to 8-8 in his three seasons.

The Patriots were 4-0 and 6-2 to start the season, heading for a third consecutive playoff berth. But after a bye, they lost three consecutive games against AFC East rivals.

"I don't know if we just lost our fire from the first half of the season," Brown said.

Not even another strong defensive performance in Sunday's 20-3 win over Baltimore could save Carroll's job. That's because the offense was unproductive in the last eight games.

"The one thing that I have to get corrected in order for us to win and win consistently is protect the ball," said quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who threw 21 interceptions, his most in five years.

And the Patriots must protect Bledsoe.

Behind a mediocre offensive line, Bledsoe was sacked 55 times, second most in Patriots history behind Tony Eason's 59 in 1984. Tight end Ben Coates, chosen for the last five Pro Bowls, had 32 catches, his fewest in seven seasons.

Terry Glenn, the Patriots best wide receiver, was suspended for the last game. Carroll cited Glenn's absence from medical checkups for a case of the flu for three days, but the seventh pick of the 1996 draft was described by some as a selfish player who didn't like to practice.

The Patriots' running game was inconsistent, but the defense was dependable even though middle linebacker Ted Johnson missed most of the season with a torn biceps tendon.

"What happened over the past three years is you've seen a defense that has really been the heart of the club," Carroll said on Sunday, a day before he was fired.

But that couldn't carry a team that managed 108 points in the last eight games after scoring 191 in the first eight.

"We're brought together to win championships," Carroll said. "I'm real disappointed and forever will be."

The Patriots would have gone to the playoffs if Adam Vinatieri's 32-yard field-goal attempt didn't hit the goalpost on the last play of a 16-14 loss to Kansas City or if his 33-yarder hadn't sailed right with two seconds left in regulation of a 13-10 overtime loss to Buffalo.

But they also won the first two games with late rallies that they couldn't muster the last two months.

Now they begin planning for next season. Although Bledsoe could rework his contract to allow more salary cap room, the potential free agents don't know if they'll be back.

Brown, an outstanding kick returner and clutch receiver wants "to be rewarded," he said. "I'd like it to be here."

But can the Patriots become a winning team next season?

"There are so many possible changes," Milloy said, "I can't answer that right now."