For crying out loud, the Pats are less than three years removed from a 2-14 disaster, and all anyone in New England can think about is going to play the National Football Conference champion in January at Phoenix.

Everywhere you go, you hear, ‘You guys are going to the Super Bowl. You guys are doing this or whatever,’ says quarterback Drew Bledsoe, whose new seven-year, $42 million contract has done little to rein in the excitement.

But even with Coach Bill Parcells in the third year of his impressive rebuilding plan, the Patriots still aren’t ready to make those Super Bowl reservations just yet.

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Not with a suspect running game. Not with a defense that’s not as dominant as it needs to be. Not with a group of obscure wide receivers. And not with the Miami Dolphins standing in their way.

Now for the good news:The Patriots are going to be one hell of a team this season. Even with that monster schedule at the beginning of the season, when they open against the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers, the Patriots are going to be a major factor.

But ease up on the euphoria, Pats

see PATRIOTS, page 11