FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) – The New England Patriots sent Terry Glenn packing and they kept on winning. Lawyer Milloy left and they barely missed a beat. The loss of Ted Washington and Damien Woody didn’t keep them from a third Super Bowl title.

Oh, and they’ve done pretty well without Drew Bledsoe, too.

Winners of three Super Bowls in the past four years, the Patriots have managed to construct a dynasty despite some high-profile departures during their reign. But it could be different this year, when the most important defectors wear street clothes.

“It’s a good and a bad situation,” Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch said of losing offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.

“It’s a good thing for them to leave and to move on with their life. But it’s going to be hard to see them leave us. As professionals we have to adjust to stuff like this and you’re going to have those type of business transactions coming along.”

Weis and Crennel have taken head coaching jobs at Notre Dame and the Cleveland Browns, respectively, leaving Patriots coach Bill Belichick with two big openings on his staff. Other coaches could need replacing if they decide to cash in on their success for a promotion elsewhere.

The bad news for teams hoping to end New England’s reign is that most of the key players will be back.

The biggest-name free agent is kicker Adam Vinatieri, who delivered two titles with last-second field goals and also had one this year that turned out to be the difference in the 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The last time Vinatieri’s deal was negotiated, the team labeled him its franchise player before signing him for three years at $5.6 million.

If they can’t reach an agreement this time, Vinatieri is destined to become their franchise player again; that would guarantee him a minimum of $1.7 million per year.

Offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi and receiver David Patten are also unrestricted free agents, as are fullback Patrick Pass and backup quarterback Jim Miller.

But the most intense negotiation is likely to be with cornerback Ty Law.

Law is under contract for next year, but at $12.5 million – a sum the salary cap-conscious Patriots have never paid. The four-time Pro Bowl selection has said he won’t renegotiate, but after watching from the sideline with a broken foot as the Patriots won it all, he might be more inclined to compromise.

The secondary was a problem all year for New England. Tyrone Poole, Law’s cornerback mate, was hurt in Week 3 and spent the playoffs on injured reserve; he is 33 and a free agent.

Undrafted rookie Randall Gay and second-year player Asante Samuel filled in for Law and Poole and could do it again next year if need be. Regardless of what happens with the two players who started the year at corner, the Patriots are certain to seek depth after being hit by injuries there for the second consecutive year.

Elsewhere on the roster are a number of players who are under contract at numbers New England could handle but would like to reduce if possible. Among them is Corey Dillon, who ran for a franchise record 1,635 yards and is slated to make $6.8 million next year.

Troy Brown, the 33-year-old wide receiver who filled in on defense as an extra cornerback, is scheduled to cost $5.7 million. He won’t stick around at that salary, but there is enough mutual affection to make something work for less.

Hours after beating Philadelphia for his fifth ring – three with the Patriots, two as a Giants assistant – Belichick downplayed the dilemma facing him this offseason.

“There are changes every year on every team; there’s no team that stays the same from one year to the next in the National Football League,” he said. “Romeo and Charlie have done a great job. Their record speaks for itself, and a lot of the success that we’ve had – a large share of the credit should go to them.

“We wish them well and we’ll have to make some changes on our end. But that’s the way it is every year.”

And he’s already had the chance to say goodbye – one of the best goodbyes imaginable.

With the clock ticking down on their third Super Bowl title together, Belichick and his coordinators put their heads together on the Alltel Stadium sidelines.

“The three of us kind of looked at each other and knew that that’s the last time we’d be together. (We) kind of thanked each other for what we’d done,” Belichick said. “It was just a wonderful moment to be able to share, sort of a perfect ending.

“It was great to be able to share that moment spontaneously on the field, (after) the biggest win of the year.”