Hochstein gets three-year deal

We still don't know how Russ Hochstein would fare against Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, but the Patriots' guard blocked well enough during the team's playoff run to earn something not even nemesis Warren Sapp has: job security.

ESPN.com reported yesterday that the Patriots and Hochstein, who was set to become a restricted free agent Wednesday, have agreed to a three-year contract extension that will pay him about $2 million, $200,000 of it a signing bonus. According to the website, the contract could be worth almost $3 million if Hochstein is a starter.

The Patriots would not confirm the report, but a team source, while unable to confirm the terms of the deal, said a new contract for Hochstein was in the works last week. Attempts last night to contact Hochstein's agent, Joseph Linta, were unsuccessful. It's safe to assume, though, that Hochstein would accept any long-term proposal; his alternative, as a restricted free agent, is to play next season for the one-year, $628,000 tender. Had another team signed him to an offer sheet during free agency, the Patriots would have had a week to match or receive a fifth-round pick as compensation.

Hochstein finished last season as New England's starting left guard. With one previous NFL start to his credit, he stepped in for Damien Woody early in the Divisional playoff game against Tennessee after Woody suffered a season-ending medial collateral ligament tear. Even with Hochstein in the lineup, the Patriots did not allow a sack of Tom Brady in the postseason.

Sapp, Tampa Bay's loquacious defensive lineman who is coming up on unrestricted free agency, ripped Hochstein on national television before the Super Bowl against Carolina, saying his former Buccaneers teammate could not block either Kornheiser or Wilbon, co-hosts of ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption." Hochstein did not respond to Sapp publicly and ignored him at Super Bowl Media Day, then helped New England's line dominate the vaunted Panthers line.

A fifth-round pick of the Bucs out of Nebraska in 2001, Hochstein was inactive for every game of his rookie season. He played in one game for the Bucs the following year before being waived. New England signed him to its practice squad Oct. 21, 2002, then to the active roster Nov. 17, 2002. He appeared in one game with the Patriots that season.

Signed from the practice squad in Week 2 of last season, Hochstein made the first start of his career, in place of Woody, two weeks later at Washington -- one of 14 regular-season games in which he played.

New England will allow Woody, an unrestricted free agent with whom they have been unable to reach an agreement, to test the market.