FOXBORO -- Too bad the season doesn't start today.

Because the Patriots are ready, as they showed in a dominating performance last night against the obviously overmatched -- and arguably overpaid -- Redskins.

Daniel Snyder has made Congress seem frugal during his eight years as owner of the Washington franchise in the NFL, spending money as if his team were the gridiron equivalent of the Big Dig, with similar results.

Snyder has shelled out for an expensive array of free agents over the years, and has only two playoff wins to show for it.

The Patriots have gotten much more bang for their bucks, as the three Vince Lombardi trophies on display at Gillette Stadium attest.

Instead of throwing money around, the Pats throw the football.

Despite the ongoing absence of disgruntled wide receiver Deion Branch, the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX, Tom Brady, who was the MVP of Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII, completed 14 of 24 passes in the first 30 minutes.

Seven went to tight end Ben Watson, including one for a touchdown, and four to ancient (didn't he play alongside Gino Cappelletti?), but still capable, Troy Brown. Brady did not throw an interception in leading the smoothly efficient Pats to a 20-0 halftime lead.

Considering that the New England defense held the Skins to a mere 59 total yards and, not surprisingly, no points, when the first-teamers were on the field in the first half, it's not a stretch to say that the Patriots deserve to be favored to win a fourth straight AFC East title, and have a legitimate shot to get back to the Super Bowl, following a year's absence.

That task would be easier if Branch were in the fold. But it's his fault, not the team's, that he was not in uniform last night.

Is Branch underpaid? Absolutely.

But that shouldn't be a surprise, given that he's in the final season of the five-year deal he signed as a second-round draft pick out of Louisville in 2002.

Is Branch under contract? Most definitely.

And that means he should have been out there last night with his teammates, and not conferring with his agent about which teams might be willing to trade for him.

When it comes to contract negotiations, I never begrudge a player a single cent of whatever obscene amount of money he can wrangle from his club.

Is David Givens overpaid? Not in the minds of the Tennessee Titans, who lured him away from New England with a five-year deal worth $24 million, including an $8-million signing bonus. But the Patriots would have been out of their minds to give him the same money.

How about Reggie Wayne? The Colts, who gave him a $13.5-million signing bonus as part of a six-year, $40-million pact, must think he's worth it. But it's OK if you ask: What were they thinking?

Which brings us to Branch, who's slated to make a comparatively paltry $1.045 million this season.

He's convinced he's better than Givens (he's right) and Wayne (he's wrong) and so should be paid more than either of them.

It's conceivable he might be, when he becomes a free agent next year. In the meantime, the Patriots have given him permission to explore the market. It promises to be an eye-opening experience for Branch, since few clubs seem likely to open their wallets, including proferring a probable first-round draft choice to the Patriots in payment, to obtain his services.

High-priced wideouts haven't paid many dividends for the Skins, who in recent years have brought in the likes of Laveranues Coles (since returned to the Jets), Santana Moss, and Antwaan Randle El.

This is not say that the Patriots couldn't use -- and, in fact, probably need -- Branch, who led the team last season with 78 catches for 998 yards and 5 TDs.

The little guy (5-9, 193) has been at his best in the biggest games, tying a Super Bowl record with 11 receptions against the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, after having caught 10 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown against Carolina the previous year in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

It was hardly reassuring for New England fans to look at the depth chart last night and see the 35-year-old Brown starting alongside Reche Caldwell, whose 28 receptions last year in his fourth season with the Chargers were a career high. Backing up that hardly dynamic duo were Bam Childress, who spent last year on the practice squad, and Kelvin Kight, an undrafted free agent out of Florida.

The nagging hamstring injury that has sidelined second-round draft choice Chad Jackson almost all of this summer, only adds to the frustration and concern.

But the Patriots didn't miss a beat -- or, apparently, Branch -- in dismantling the Redskins last night.

He's the one who's missing the boat, however.

Because he's under contract, he should report to camp, work hard to have a banner season, and then, if he's bitter about the way the Pats have treated him, he can sign with some other club in 2007.

He doesn't have to worry about being designated a "franchise player." If the Patriots thought he was that good, they'd already have worked out a contract extension.

jdonalds@projo.com / (401) 277-7340