“Of course I want to come back. I would love to play with the Patriots again,” Carter told the Herald last week. “I was very blessed to work with Mr. (Robert) Kraft and his family, and Coach (Bill) Belichick and the rest of the coaching staff. The players, my teammates, they’re like a second family to me and my wife. “Of course, without a doubt, if the opportunity presents itself to finish my career as a Patriot . . .

I’d love to. The experience was indescribable.” Some teams might be willing to pay Carter more than the Pats. But that might not be the determining factor with the veteran, who is still chasing the elusive ring. There’s no question he was reborn in Foxboro under Belichick, who switched to a 4-3 defense that was more suited to Carter.

The question is, would Carter still want in, if the Pats flipped back to a 3-4?

“I never really thought that way. Where I’m at in my career, understanding Coach Belichick’s philosophy, he’s the type of guy, you just have to know your role, and know what you’ve got to do,” Carter said. “If he feels I have the potential to be a playmaker, in a 4-3 or 3-4, than so be it. That decision I’m sure will be determined in the next few weeks through free agency or after. Regardless, I love playing for the Patriots. It’s been a blast.”