The view from the New England Patriot...

The view from the New England Patriot locker room:

FROM COACH BILL PARCELLS

Q: Are you leaving the Patriots?

A: “I’m not answering your question.”

FROM QUARTERBACK DREW BLEDSOE

Q: Did you and your head coach talk at all about the possibility he’s leaving?

A: “I told Bill before the game, ‘Hey, it’s been a great experience playing for you. I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity’ . . . We believe if Bill comes back, he gives us a great opportunity to be back here next year.”

FROM RECEIVER TERRY GLENN

Q: What was your reaction when Desmond Howard returned that kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown?

A: “I usually try not to watch when I’m sitting down, but I was looking up at the screen and I saw him running free and my heart just dropped.”

FROM TACKLE BRUCE ARMSTRONG

Q: Can you console yourself by saying that at least you got to the biggest game of the year?

A: “It’s the biggest loss of the year and hurts more than any other loss I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a lot of those.”

FROM FULLBACK KEITH BYARS

Q: Despite the loss, were you able to enjoy finally making it to this game after 11 years in the league?

A: “To lose was disappointing, but it would be more disappointing if I never got a chance to play in this game. It was disappointing, all the years I sat on my couch, wishing I was in this game. The loss is a tough pill to swallow, and I have to swallow it, but it’s not nearly as bad as never getting here.”

FROM DEFENSIVE END WILLIE MCGINEST

Q: How critical was Howard’s kickoff return?

A: “We had them on their heels at that point. It was 27-21, and we had momentum and he came out and ran the ball back and it just stuck a knife in the middle of our whole team.”

FROM DEFENSIVE BACK LARRY WHIGHAM

Q: Do you feel good about the future of this team?

A: “The worst thing I ever heard was that [Miami quarterback] Dan Marino went to the Super Bowl in [one of] his first years and hasn’t been back since. We just hope it’s not going to happen to us.”

FROM SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER CORWIN BROWN

Q: Do you feel New England’s special teams are to blame for this loss?

A: “Our special teams didn’t show up today. . . . You have to be terribly disappointed to play an important role all year, and then get to the Super Bowl and stink up the joint.”