EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the concluding part of a nine-part series previewing the 73rd annual National Football League draft of college players. Today, the linebackers are previewed.

FOXBORO - "Linebacker" may as well be a four-letter word to the New England Patriots.

Bill Belichick, as defensive-minded a coach as there is in the pro game, rarely picks them in the NFL Draft, and when he does, it's so far down in the rounds that it's not considered a black mark upon his drafting record when they fail.

More likely, when the Patriots' coach and his trusted personnel lieutenant sense a shortcoming in the linebacking corps, they address the need through free agency, or select a collegiate defensive end and convert him into a pass-rushing outside linebacker.

That could very well be the case when the 73rd annual NFL Draft convenes today at Radio City Music Hall in New York. If the Patriots get the chance to select Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston with the No. 7 overall pick, they will immediately set into motion his conversion into an outside linebacker. But does that really address the Patriots' greatest need?

Their "signature" inside linebacker, Tedy Bruschi, will be entering his 13th season in the NFL this fall. Junior Seau, who has yet to sign on for a 19th season (but probably will), is nearing the 100,000-mile mark on his personal odometer, too. Gholston might be an upgrade on the outside with the departure of Rosevelt Colvin, but it might force the Patriots to move Mike Vrabel back inside, where he is less effective, or to continue playing Adalius Thomas inside and thus deny his obvious pass-rushing ability from the edge.

The wiser course might be to look for a true inside linebacker in the draft, to provide a high-level of depth for the aging starters with an eye upon eventual replacement of one - and without having to re-invent the wheel each time a move needs to be made.

Problem is, there isn't an inside linebacker upon which it's worth spending the No. 7 pick. If Gholston or one of the top two cornerbacks isn't there at the seventh pick, the Patriots may be tempted to trade down and address other needs with a lower pick in the first round and a higher one in the second.

That scenario would seem to result in more interest in a player like Penn State's Dan Connor (6-21/4, 231; 4.69 seconds in the 40-yard dash), another "Linebacker U." product who was very productive in two starting seasons with the Nittany Lions and appears perfectly suited for a pro inside position in a 3-4 alignment. He may not be the strongest or swiftest player in the draft, but he has the intangibles to get the job done.

Tennessee's Jerod Mayo (6-1, 242; 4.57) has sideline-to-sideline speed and is an explosive hitter, and Miami's Tavares Gooden (6-1, 234; 4.67) is skilled enough and versatile enough to switch between inside and outside coverage in any scheme. Both are second-round selections.

Oklahoma's Curtis Lofton (6-0, 246; 4.84), Vanderbilt's Jonathan Goff (6-2, 245; 4.72), UNLV's Beau Bell (6-1, 244; 4.7), Georgia Tech's Philip Wheeler (6-11/2, 236; 4.51) amd Virginia Tech's Vince Hall (5-11, 232; 4.95) all have redeeming values that might make them worthy of selection through the fifth round, and could help immediately on special teams.

Other inside linebackers worthy of consideration before the end of the draft are Purdue's Stanford Keglar, Arizona's Spencer Larsen, Colorado's Jordan Dizon and Syracuse's Jameel McClain.

Belichick is not a fan of the collegiate outside linebacker, preferring the larger, meaner and swifter converted defensive ends to take on today's huge offensive tackles. But there are a few prospects who might just change his mind.

Southern Cal's Keith Rivers (6-2, 241; 4.65) has the speed to cover from sideline to sideline and the physical strength to take on opponents head-on. The scouts believe he has the skills to be a three-down linebacker. Auburn's Quentin Groves (6-3, 249; 4.43) is swift and explosive off the first step. Having shown steadily improving moves and tackle numbers and adding more bulk without losing his speed, Groves could break the mold that targets only conversion prospects in New England.

Virginia Tech's Xavier Adibi (6-11/2, 232; 4.69) has good coverage skills and great instincts, but he might be a little too small to fit the pro mold of an outside pass-rusher. Maryland's Erin Henderson (6-21/2, 244; 4.78) was called, "not an elite athlete, but a productive player" who has experience in both a 4-3 and a 3-4 alignment. Purdue's Cliff Avril (6-23/4, 253; 4.61) and Michigan's Shawn Crable (6-43/4, 245; 4.63) also offer enough to warrant consideration in the second or third rounds.

Also intriguing through the fifth round for the tools they bring, either as reserves or special-teamers working their way up, are UCLA's Bruce Davis (6-21/2, 252; 4.82), Virginia Tech's Chris Ellis (6-4, 267; 4.75), Florida State's Geno Hayes (6-03/4, 226; 4.67), Georgia Tech's Darrell Robertson (6-33/4, 255; 4.8) BYU's Bryan Kehl (6-2, 242; 4.68) and Ohio State's Larry Grant (6-1, 235; 4.8), with the hard-charging Ellis the likely sleeper in their midst.

Kentucky's Wes Woodyard, Liberty's Vince Redd and Iowa State's Alvin Bowen have done enough to raise their level of consideration above the teeming masses.

From New England colleges, Boston College's Jolonn Dunbar may earn himself a seventh-round selection as an inside 'backer. Connecticut's Danny Lansanah and New Hampshire's Husain Karim may find their way into pro training camps as priority free agents.

MARK FARINELLA may be reached at 508-236-0315 or via e-mail at mfarinel@thesunchronicle.com. Information compiled by the Ourlads Scouting Service and by Pro Football Weekly was used in the compilation of these previews.