JACKSONVILLE – Embattled Pete Carroll said yesterday he expects to return as coach of Bob Kraft’s Patriots.

“I plan on being a part of it next season,” Carroll said after the Jaguars eliminated the Pats 25-10 in an AFC wild-card game. “I’ve been meeting with Robert the past few days; the meetings have been very amicable.”

Of course, Carroll was certain he would get more than one season (1994) under Leon Hess with the Jets.

Carroll’s job has been the subject of rampant speculation in New England, and from inside the Kraft camp the name of Bill Belichick was freely leaked this past week as a possible successor – just in case the prized Jet defensive coordinator does not relish the prospect of following the giant shadow of Bill Parcells. You can ask Ray Handley about that. Or Carroll himself.

One source familiar with the workings of the Parcells camp said yesterday that the chance is slim of Belichick leaving Parcells and the eventual top Jet job to join forces with Kraft.

Belichick, remember, has been with Parcells for 13 seasons. Another source, however, citing Parcells’ uncertain future, said of Belichick: “He’d have to listen.”

Many observers believe that Parcells is likely to retire after this season should the Jets win the Super Bowl.

More of an unknown is what Parcells would do if the Jets got to Super Bowl XXXIII and lost. Belichick had a good relationship with Kraft when he worked under Parcells in New England. Kraft wanted to retain Belichick after the Tuna hit the fan after Super Bowl XXXI.

Jaguar offensive coordinator Chris Palmer also has been mentioned as a candidate to replace Carroll.

Carroll’s fate very well may have hinged on yesterday’s game.

The Patriots, down 12-0 at the half, may have shown enough fight during a third-quarter rally to save his job. Carroll has three years left on a five-year contract.

Kraft yesterday said that player-personnel director Bob Grier would give him an evaluation of the entire organization, including the head coach.

The Patriots had 12 men on the field in the first half, and their clock management was terrible – calling two timeouts in three plays in the third quarter, when they made their run at the Jags with backup quarterback Scott Zolak.

“We made so many things difficult for ourselves, for one reason or another,” Carroll said. “What happened in the second half of this game was an explosion on the sidelines and in the locker room, of will and heart and guys coming through. It’s so clear to me what this club is all about, the personality and character of this group in here. They just would not accept it.”

Carroll doesn’t have universal respect inside the Patriot locker room, but in fairness, his team was ravaged by a series of critical injuries toward the end of the season – most prominently to starting QB Drew Bledsoe.

“We’re coming back to put together a football team that can win championships,” Carroll said. “We know we have the ingredients to do that if we keep everybody together.”

Maybe everybody. Maybe not.