08:30 AM EDT on Friday, July 30, 2004

Journal photo / Bob Thayer Patriots rookie wide receiver P.K. Sam looks the ball into his hands during a passing drill yesterday at Gillette Stadium.

You want something to worry about.

You may say you don't, but you know, in your oft-broken, heart of hearts, that you really do.

Why?

Because you're a New England sports fan, that's why.

Worrying is what you do instead of reminiscing about World Series triumphs.

You love to worry so much that, back in February, you were overwrought over whether Nomar, Varitek and Lowe would be signed for 2005. As if you didn't have enough to worry about in the 2004 season.

But now you're tired of worrying about the Red

Sox, who, despite the addition of Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke, appear all but certain to finish second to the Yankees for the seventh straight time.

You're sick of worrying about whether the Yankees can swing a deal for Randy Johnson, and you don't care enough about the Celtics or Bruins to worry about them.

Which leaves the Patriots.

The Super Bowl champion Patriots. The twice-in-the-last-three-years, Super Bowl champion Patriots. The overwhelming favorite to at least win the AFC East again this year Patriots.

Obviously, there doesn't seem to be much to worry about in Foxboro, unless Tom Brady gets hurt by falling head-over-heels over Bridget Moynihan.

You could worry about whether, if Brady does get engaged, his game will start to slip, the way Tiger Woods has since he popped the question to the lovely Elin Nordegren and began to have to seriously consider such issues as in which room of the mansion the putting green should go.

But, if you want something more meaningful to fret about, you ought to consider the Patriots' offensive line. The one that's supposed to protect Brady. The one that, hopefully, is going to open holes for Corey Dillon.

Yes, the Pats put up enough points to beat Indianapolis in the AFC Championship game, and then Carolina in the Super Bowl, without Damian Woody, and with a rookie at center, a right tackle who had never started an NFL game until last September, and a left guard who was making just his second and third career starts against the Colts and Panthers.

Which could give you a feeling of confidence.

Unless you're a New England sports fan, predisposed to worry.

With Woody gone to Detroit, where he'll get less glory, but more money, the most experienced starter the Patriots have up front offensively is right guard Joe Andruzzi, a guy whose determination and intestinal fortitude exceed his athletic ability. This is Andruzzi's eighth season and he's taken a lot of punishment over the years. The wear-and-tear may start to show.

Dan Koppen was a fifth-round pick last year out of Boston College. When veteran guard Mike Compton was lost for the season in September, and Woody shifted from center to fill the void, Koppen stepped in and did a solid job. He won't be able to rely on Woody for advice, or help blocking defensive linemen, this year, however.

Left guard Russ Hochstein was promoted from the practice squad and didn't play regularly until the playoffs. Not exactly a John Hannah-like pedigree.

Tom Ashworth took over at right tackle after Adrian Klemm -- a disappointment since becoming Bill Belichick's first draft choice in 2000 -- went down three weeks into the season.

Matt Light mans the all-important left tackle position, but he underwent an appendectomy last month and currently is on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

Klemm is healthy again, if you find that reassuring, and, as insurance, the Pats just signed veteran tackle James "Big Cat" Williams, a mainstay for the Bears from 1994 through 2002, who sat out all of last season after being plagued by nagging injuries the year before.

As for the rest of the offensive linemen in the Patriots' training camp, if you've ever heard of any of them, you've spent entirely too much time studying the collected works of Mel Kiper.

Which truly would be a reason to worry.