Matt Cassel wants to return to the Patriots next season, but he isn't sure of how things will play out in New England. "Nobody knows the future," Cassel said Wednesday. "If anybody knew the future, I probably wouldn't be here right now because a lot of people predicted that I wouldn't be here after preseason. So the fact is nobody knows where I'm going to be next year. "I could definitely be back here. So it's something that we'll have to wait and see." The Patriots are more likely to keep Cassel if they're uncertain that Brady will be fully recovered from a season-ending knee injury in time for next season. New England could put the franchise tag on Cassel, assuring him of a huge pay raise. "Of course I would," Cassel said. "I love the Patriots. I love this organization. Like I said before, I love the people."