CASSEL

FOXBORO — Inquiring minds want to know — will Matt Cassel be back as a Patriot next year?

“I don’t know,” Cassel said yesterday in an interview at his locker.

“It’s one day after the season. We’re going to move forward and we are going to see how it all comes about in the future.”

There are several possibilities that could take place.

The Patriots could put the franchise tag on him and play him. They could franchise him and trade him.

The Patriots and Cassel could work out a long-term deal before free agency begins.

Cassel’s future in New England may go hand in hand with how All-Pro quarterback Tom Brady is recovering from knee surgery.

One report, citing an unnamed source, has Brady’s rehab well behind schedule, while two others, both citing unnamed sources, say that Brady is ahead of schedule.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick is not worried about the conflicting reports. He knows the real story but he refuses to give the media updates on Brady.

“Tom’s here on a regular basis. I see him all the time,” Belichick said. “I see our doctors and trainers all the time. I don’t need to go read a report and see what somebody else has to say. Those people are all here. We do it on a regular basis.”

Cassel, meanwhile, has enjoyed a breakout season. After not starting a game since high school, Cassel went out and performed beyond expectations. He completed 63.4 percent of his passes and threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 interceptions for an 89.4 quarterback rating.

“There is no doubt that this has been a satisfying season for me,” Cassel said.

“I proved a lot to myself and a lot of others as well that I can do it still, and I can do it now. It was a fun season in that regard, to get out there and have an opportunity to play after sitting for quite a long time.”

Cassel said he is going to enjoy looking back to see how far he’s come since taking over for Brady in the first quarter of the first game of the season.

“Over the course of the next few weeks, I’m going to take a step back be able to take a deep breath and be able to reflect on the season and what has all occurred,” Cassel said.

He hasn’t had a chance to take it in yet.

“You get caught up in the moment. I really haven’t had a moments rest here since the beginning of the season, so now I’ll take some time to reflect,” Cassel said.

More time to prepare

Belichick said the Patriots want to play in the Super Bowl every year so they are disappointed with missing the playoffs, but it could be a blessing in disguise.

The last time the Patriots missed the playoffs (2002), they won back-to-back Super Bowls in 2003 and 2004.

Belichick said the team had a short off-season after last year, and this year, with a much longer offseason, New England’s coaching staff will be able to take more time to evaluate the season — as well as its players, free agents, and college players entering the draft.

He also said Patriot players will be able to take more time this offseason to rest, rehab, and train to become better athletes.

Thomas is on the mend

Linebacker Adalius Thomas, 31, said he will “definitely” be 100 percent healed from his broken forearm when the 2009 training camp starts, and that his rehab is going “good.”

The 6-foot-2, 270-pound linebacker had 38 tackles and five sacks before injuring his arm in Week 10, which ended his season.

Next on the board

The NFL released its draft order yesterday. The Patriots are slotted in the 24th spot of the first round.

The draft order is based on team records and that is why a team such as San Diego (8-8) that made the playoffs is in a better slot (16th) than New England (11-5).

roblee@projo.com