If 2007 winds up being an uncapped year, it could be a godsend to a player like Richard Seymour, who is considered by many the best all-around defensive lineman in the game and would become a free agent in that uncapped offseason. ''He'd be the new Reggie White," one agent said. Agent Leigh Steinberg said, ''I think that there would be certain teams that would be free spenders if we get to an uncapped year. I think it would be a very exciting time." Steinberg believes the salary cap is actually hurting the game more than it helps. ''I don't like any aspect of the salary cap," he said. ''I think it harms football on the field. It destroys depth on a football team -- you can't have five All-Pro offensive linemen."

The decision by the New England Patriots not to use a franchise tag on kicker Adam Vinatieri has sparked speculation that the Cowboys will pursue the veteran when free agency begins Friday. The Cowboys hope to find a veteran to end their kicking woes. Vinatieri would be a great fit because he is the best kicker in the NFL and he was brought in as a rookie free agent by Cowboys coach Bill Parcells when Parcells was with the Patriots. Vinatieri is not the only veteran kicker in whom the Cowboys might be interested. Two other kickers set to become free agents to keep an eye on are Tampa Bay's Matt Bryant and Green Bay's Ryan Longwell.

Doug Flutie hasn?t had any dialogue with the Patriots yet regarding a return to the team, although one team official said he felt it was likely the 43-year-old quarterback will be asked back. Flutie backed up Tom Brady this season, with Matt Cassel the third quarterback. Flutie?s contract for $750,000 would count for $425,000 against the salary cap. ?If the opportunity is there, I think he?ll be back,? Flutie?s agent, Kristen Kuliga, said. If Flutie doesn?t re-sign with the Patriots, he will retire and prepare for a broadcasting career.

The New England Patriots have begun addressing a group of 17 veterans eligible for unrestricted free agency by signing versatile linebacker Don Davis to a one-year contract extension that will keep him off the open market and quell any thoughts of retirement. A 10-year veteran, Davis might not seem like a player who would be significant for the Patriots to retain. But his ability to play all three linebacker spots, to fill in at safety when necessary, and to remain a standout special teams performer made him a priority. Davis, 33, signed a one-year contract that included a signing bonus of $25,000 and a base salary of $770,000, the league minimum for a player of his seniority. He will count only $485,000 against New England's salary cap for 2006, because of the break teams get for signing veteran players to minimum-salary deals.

The Patriots are apparently interested in talking to Seahawks receiver Joe Jurevicius, who like NFL MVP Shaun Alexander and Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson, are now free agents. Jurevicius signed a one-year deal with Seattle before the season and became a critical cog after injuries to starting receivers Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram earlier this season. Jurevicius, who played in his third Super Bowl with three different teams [Giants, Bucs and Seahawks] in just his eighth year, had 10 touchdown catches this season.

Richard Seymour expressed optimism yesterday that he and the Patriots will come to terms on a new contract, avoiding the events of last year when the four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman sat out mandatory spring minicamp and then held out the first few days of full training camp in July. ?At this point I can?t say what I?m going to do, just see how it plays out,? said Seymour, in town for the Super Bowl. ?In a perfect world we?ll get it done. Period. In a perfect world, that?s what I want to have happen. And I?m pretty optimistic and hopeful that it will happen. Now, if (a new deal doesn?t get done), then we?ll cross that bridge when we get to it.? Seymour is entering the final year of his six-year, rookie contract. And even though he is scheduled to make around $5 million in base salary in 2006 (thanks to bonuses reached earlier in the deal), Seymour is looking for a new multi-year deal. Unlike last year, he?s hopeful he?ll get it. One of the problems currently holding up an accord is negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement between the players and owners. Until teams know what the salary cap numbers will be in 2007 and beyond, it?s hard to put a proper value on players. Also, as of now, signing bonuses can only be spread over four years, which makes it harder to give out big, up-front money.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady played half the season with a hernia and will have surgery to correct the problem, the Boston Herald reported Thursday. The surgery should occur within the next two weeks, the newspaper reported. The ailment did not keep Brady from practicing or force him to miss any time during the season, but the paper reported that he did throw some passes uncharacteristically high as the season went on, indicating the injury may have affected his release.