Lucrative Contract Does Little To Alter Parcells’ View Of Bledsoe

Bill Parcells says exhibition games are for testing the young players and getting the older ones in shape. So where does Drew Bledsoe, who recently signed a seven-year, $42-million contract. fit in?

“He is a young player,” the New England Patriots coach said without hesitation. “He is not anywhere near where we are just trying to polish him up and we are ready to go.”

The first test for New England’s most important up-and-comer comes tonight against the Detroit Lions.

Parcells said this week he doesn’t know how long he will leave in Bledsoe, but the third-year quarterback will get plenty of snaps.

“He needs to get back under fire,” he said. “He needs to be in game conditions, because I think it helps him get ready for the season.”

Lions quarterback Scott Mitchell, who has six years in the league, probably fits in the other category.

Coach Wayne Fontes said he wants to work on Mitchell’s play-action passing before giving the younger players a shot.

“The main thing we want is to come back from New England a better team than when we left,” Fontes said.

Mitchell almost missed the game because his wife, Kim, was two weeks overdue with their second child. He would have stayed with her had she not delivered before the game, but Haley Mitchell was born Wednesday night.

The No. 1 pick in the 1993 draft, Bledsoe has long been considered the Patriots’ savior. But after leading the team from 5-11 to 10-6 and the playoffs in just two seasons, the former Washington State University standout is facing a whole different set of expectations.

“Last year we hoped we could be competitive and win some games. This year we know for sure that we can,” Bledsoe said. “Now, we expect to.

“Last year we were still kind of guessing. We have proven to a degree that we are capable of winning. This year we expect to win.”

So do the fans, who have bought every ticket in Foxboro Stadium this season, guaranteeing that today’s game will be the largest for a Patriots exhibition game since the place opened in 1971.

Bledsoe led the league with 4,555 passing yards last year. But, thanks to Parcells’ constant reminders, he realizes there’s still work to do.

Mostly, Bledsoe would like to improve his decision-making: anticipating the defense, picking out the right receiver, knowing when to throw the ball out of bounds.

“I think I have been more consistently right with my decisions,” he said.

“I think I am throwing the ball more accurately… . What I have to do to become more efficient this year is realize when I can take an easier throw and a more wide-open throw and produce the same results.”

Bears sign Salaam

Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam and the Chicago Bears agreed to a four-year, $3.8 million contract.

MEMO: Cut in the Spokane edition.