SI snap judgments

• great reaction to this week's divisional games by SI's Don Banks.
• I was a bit hasty in evaluating free agent kickers and vinatieri's value on the market. You've got Joe Nedney, Mike Vanderjagt, Ryan Longwell, and Todd Peterson as some good to top-shelf NFL kickers unrestricted in 2006. Hopefully that drags down Vinny's value or at least gives the Pats an ok back up plan.
• 2006 secondary players who are unrestricted free agents or expected to be readily available: Ty Law (still signed but probably cut/traded), Adam Archuleta, Charles Woodson, DeShea Townsend, Sam Madison (still signed but rumored to be cut/traded), Nate Clements, Chris Hope, and Corey Chavous. Maybe one of these guys needs to be brought in to replace Harrison if he can't come back or to shore up the still questionable secondary.
  
• DEs/DTs to replace Seymour is a very tall order. Maybe Kimo von Oelhoffen, John Abraham, Raheem Brock, or Grady Jackson, but when you are selecting from those guys and Chris Hovan to replace elite talent like Seymour, you know you just have to try to re-up your own guy. Unfortunately, I'm guessing the Pats will want to take the Brady precedent and pay Sey as the 4th or 5th best D-lineman whereas Big Sey will be looking to be paid the most. I'm all for keeping him - maybe franchise him and/or dump vinatieri/Dillon in order to do so.
• Givens is probably gone. If David Patten can get a big time contract and a guaranteed starting spot (at least to start a season), then Givens will likely also get that opportunity as a quality possession 2nd wr. Pats just don't have the cap room at this point to sign David. The competition for Givens-type second or third wrs is a bit stiffer this year than last year for Patten. You've got unrestricted guys Corey Bradford, Az Hakim, Dez White, Ike Hilliard, Jabar Gaffney, Joe Jurevicious, Jerome Pathon, Keenan McCardell, Kevin Johnson, Koren Robinson, Peerless Price, Quincy Morgan, and Peter Warrick dragging down Givens' value. Even Troy Brown is a free agent. note: I'd try to resign Troy again to the veteran minimum, since he's still proved valuable this year.
• Dillon might be cutable. You can probably get some other guys cheaper who would be close enough to CD. Namely, unrestricted Ahman Green, Anthony Thomas, old friend Antowain Smith, DeShaun Foster, Edge James (not cheaper but he'll help the flooding of the market), Shaun Alexander (see Edge), Jamal Lewis, and maybe Michael "Let off some steam" Bennett, Shaun Bryson, etc. If you have to get cap room for Sey/Adam then this might be the place they get it. Your NE stay was short but thanks for the great 2004 Corey.
• Just for kicks, we know Flutie is retiring after this year and the Pats are committed to developing Matt Cassell. So what would be a fun veteran qb the Pats can bring in to push Cassell or provide depth? Chris Weinke? Old friend Damon Huard? Jeff Blake? Bachelor Jesse Palmer? Shane Matthews? Ty Detmer? Elisabeth....I mean Tim Hasselbeck? Maybe those guys are too expensive. Someone call up Michael Bishop and Rohan Davey.
  
  
  Elisabeth Hasselbeck