It is the off season for professional football, but the American Conference East, the division that sent four teams to the playoffs last season, continues to make news.

The latest development comes out of New England, where the Patriots seem doomed to continue to feel the aftereffects of Bill Parcells's defection to the Jets two years ago. But in this instance, Parcells did not even do anything.

But he did a year ago, when Parcells lured away Curtis Martin, the Patriots' outstanding running back, with a big free-agent offer. The Patriots responded by drafting Robert Edwards as their No. 1 pick in the 1998 draft, hoping the rookie out of Georgia could replace Martin.

And to a considerable extent, he did, gaining 1,115 yards on 291 carries and scoring 9 touchdowns. But now he is lost for 1999, and perhaps for good because of a freakish knee injury incurred during a rookie flag-football game on the beach at Waikiki during Pro Bowl week.