FOXBORO, Mass. – Ty’s Law would read something like this: Take care of today – whatever that requires – and tomorrow will take care of itself.

That philosophy was tested this season. New England Patriots cornerback Ty Law watched his longtime teammate and close friend, safety Lawyer Milloy, be cut days before the start of the season.

That decision by team management angered the players about as much as any such decision could. More specifically, it served as a warning to Law that an older player with a big salary – regardless of his resume – is at risk of being a salary-cap casualty.

The Patriots started the season 1-1, and in their third game Law suffered a serious ankle sprain against the New York Jets. The obvious business decision for Law, 29, would have been to shut himself down for a couple of weeks – to heal the ankle and not embarrass himself trying to cover NFL wide receivers on one leg.

Here’s what he did, instead: Law held Pro Bowl selection Laveranues Coles to 62yards receiving in a loss against the Washington Redskins. A week later he picked off NFL co-Most Valuable Player Steve McNair for a touchdown in a victory against the Tennessee Titans. All the while he was limping on and off the field, so this was nothing easy to withstand.

Fearless and selfless, Law is living in the present. With a Super Bowl appearance Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, the present is a wondrous place to be.

The Super Bowl “is all that matters right now. What happens after the season, I can’t get caught up in that,” Law told reporters in the Patriots locker room Friday. Still, Law wasn’t reluctant to remind management that he’ll be a gainfully employed football player next season – here or someplace else.

“I’ve let it be known I want to stay a Patriot. This is the only team that I know,” he said. “But I also know I can play football regardless of what uniform I’m in. You can take Ty Law’s uniform but you can’t take me out of the game. I’m going to play well regardless of where I’m at.”

For those with a strikingly short memory, let’s review how good Law is: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning entered the AFC Championship Game playing like a Hall of Famer. So Law locked Manning in the hall closet, picking off the NFL co-MVP three times.

Boston Globe football columnist Ron Borges measured Law’s greatness in that game by noting that Law actually gained more yards off Manning’s passes (26, off three interception returns) than the Pro Bowl receiver Law covered, Marvin Harrison (19, off three receptions).

Law has all the speed and agility required of a cornerback, but he’s stockier than most, built more like a scaled-down linebacker than a lithe Deion Sanders.

That should make for an entertaining matchup against Panthers Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad.

, both of whom are more physical than their finesse position suggests.

Great as Law is, the questions he fielded Friday about his future weren’t unwarranted. His contract reportedly calls for him to make about $5.6million next season, plus a $1million reporting bonus.

The Patriots could give Law an ultimatum similar to the one they gave Milloy – take a pay cut or hit the road. So Law was asked if he made any sentimental gestures in the AFC Championship Game, the way pitcher Roger Clemens once scooped up a handful of Fenway Park dirt in Boston.

“For what? Put some dirt in my beautiful home?” Law replied. The ties “ain’t that deep, man. I’ve got dirt at home.”

The Panthers could sure use a cornerback of Law’s greatness to complement rookie Ricky Manning. Any interest?

“I’m not going there,” Law said.

He meant that subject. Not that team.

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AP-NY-01-27-04 0625EST