NFL NOTES : Bledsoe Scores Big in New Contract

New England Patriot quarterback Drew Bledsoe couldn’t grasp the numbers on the contract that made him, according to the man paying his salary, the highest-paid player in the NFL.

“What do I think?” Bledsoe said about the $42-million, seven-year deal he signed Thursday at Smithfield, R.I. “I don’t know. I can’t even do the math.”

Bledsoe, 23, who has been out of college only two years, earned the big numbers by putting up unprecedented statistics last season as the quarterback and cornerstone of the Patriots. He set NFL records with 691 passes in a season and 45 completions and 70 passes in a game.

Bledsoe’s contract runs through 2001 and rivals that of Troy Aikman’s deal with Dallas.

Aikman’s eight-year contract averages $6.25 million per year, but some of that money won’t be paid until after the eight years. Bledsoe’s $6 million per year will be paid during the seven years. The deal includes an $11.5-million signing bonus and a $1.7-million salary this year.

Patriot owner Bob Kraft called Bledsoe’s deal “the highest average salary and the highest signing bonus” in NFL history.

The new contract begins this season. voiding Bledsoe’s original six-year, $14.4-million deal that would have let him become a restricted free agent after this season.

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Tony Boselli, the standout USC offensive lineman selected No. 2 in the draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, has a more serious knee injury than originally thought and will have surgery today.

Boselli, a 6-foot-7, 323-pounder expected to start at left tackle for the expansion team, was flown back to Jacksonville from Steven’s Point, Wis., aboard owner Wayne Weaver’s private jet for a follow-up examination.

Stephen Lucie, the team’s physician, found a small floating cartilage chip and scheduled arthroscopic surgery. Boselli had been expected to be out between 10 days and two weeks but it will now be longer.

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Six-time Pro Bowl kicker Morten Andersen, cut by the New Orleans Saints a day earlier, agreed to contract terms with the Atlanta Falcons.

Andersen is expected to sign a three-year, $2.4-million deal today that includes a $750,000 signing bonus. The Falcons will waive kicker Norm Johnson.

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Natrone Means won’t report to training camp on Sunday and is willing to miss the exhibition season if he doesn’t get the deal he wants from the San Diego Chargers, the star running back’s agent said. . . . The Houston Oilers have waived veteran wide receiver Webster Slaughter. . . . The Arizona Cardinals won’t be picking up frequently injured defensive tackle Steve Emtman after he called off a visit and workout to team headquarters. Emtman, released by the Indianapolis Colts after refusing to take a pay cut, had no comment. . . . The Cincinnati Bengals are assuming that offensive lineman Dave Cadigan, 30, has retired, Coach Dave Shula said.