"As they prepared to start their first position meeting of the week on Monday, Dolphins running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams appeared to be joking with each other. But they weren't really joking, Brown said.

The laughter was used to disguise their real emotions. As the Dolphins prepared for their season finale Sunday at Foxborough, Brown and Williams realized their game against the Patriots could be their last together.

``There was some seriousness to it,'' Brown said. ``Man, this could be our last time playing together. That's kind of weird. This could be our last time getting to suit up together.''

Both free agents after this season, and both facing the possibility that neither might be back in March, these inseparable friends could be heading in separate directions.

``We've accepted it,'' Brown said. ``We know it's a possibility. I don't know the odds of it, but that's the weirdest part: Not knowing what's going to happen. Having no clue.''

Even if only one of them doesn't return next season, the Dolphins still would be saying goodbye to one of the greatest backs in team history.

Consider where both stand to date:

With four carries Sunday, Williams will have rushed for more attempts than any other player in team history. His 1,503 carries are currently three behind Larry Csonka. Williams is also second behind Csonka in all-time yards -- but needing 306 yards to surpass Csonka's franchise-leading 6,737 total.

Brown stands behind Csonka and Williams as No. 3 on the team's all-time rushing list, albeit a distant third. He has 1,122 attempts for 4,801 yards, which put him ahead of other great names such as Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris."