Green coping, caring

Defensive lineman Jarvis Green said he hasn't been sleeping well because his thoughts are with his extended family in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He has about 60 relatives who lived in New Orleans.

''We're always watching TV, or waiting for that phone call that someone is OK," said the 26-year-old Green, who grew up in nearby Donaldsonville, La.

Green said his family is still looking for one of his uncles, who didn't leave New Orleans before the hurricane.

Donaldsonville, about 60 miles west of New Orleans, wasn't affected directly by Katrina, according to Green. A shelter has been set up in Donaldsonville and many of his relatives are there.

''The good thing is they can come take a hot shower, but their houses are all lost," he said.

Green said Patriots teammates have offered to help in various ways. Perhaps the most generous offer was from punter Josh Miller, who owns an unoccupied house in the Boston area. Green said Miller told him that any family needing a place to stay could live in that house.

''Everyone here has been supportive," Green said.

With the victims of Hurricane Katrina in mind, Oakland quarterback Kerry Collins, who was with New Orleans for a portion of the 1998 season, plans to donate $1,000 for every touchdown pass he throws and for each Raiders victory this season to the American Red Cross.

No Warren report

As a questioner approached Russ Hochstein in the locker room, the Patriots' reserve offensive lineman could sense what was coming: a question about Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp. ''I'll avoid the subject altogether," said Hochstein, when asked if he harbors any ill will toward Sapp, who publicly criticized him before Super Bowl XXXVIII. ''It doesn't matter. That was two years ago. I'm worried about what's at hand." Hochstein and Sapp were both with the Buccaneers in 2001-02, with Hochstein being inactive the entire '01 season, and then getting cut from the practice squad during the '02 campaign. In the week of hype before the Patriots-Panthers matchup in Houston, Sapp sneered at Hochstein during an interview on ESPN's ''Pardon the Interruption." Sapp claimed Carolina's defensive line would dominate the game and joked that Hochstein couldn't block either of the television personalities conducting the interview. Asked if he had a response yesterday, Hochstein said, ''We won the game, and that was two years ago. We'll leave it at that."

San Francisco treat

Tom Brady, who grew up in San Mateo, Calif., about 20 miles south of San Francisco, idolized receiver Jerry Rice as a youngster. Rice, who retired yesterday, spent 16 of his 20 seasons with the 49ers and leaves the game as the NFL's all-time leading receiver. ''I had pictures all over my wall of Jerry Rice," Brady said. ''Those times in the Bay Area were great, growing up when the 49ers were as successful as they were. I had my Jerry Rice jersey like probably every other kid growing up in that area. He'll be missed. He was a great example of what it means to be a professional athlete, and he set a great example and is a great role model for children. He really used the popularity that he had for a lot of great things." . . . The Patriots added rookie offensive tackle Wesley Britt to the practice squad, bringing it to its limit of eight players. Britt (6 feet 8 inches, 314 pounds) was drafted by San Diego in the fifth round (164th overall) this year, six spots before the Patriots took linebacker Ryan Claridge, who is on injured reserve. Britt, a third team All-American with Alabama last season, was released by the Chargers Saturday.

Doctor's notes

None of the players injured against the Giants in the final exhibition game -- linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, receiver Andre Davis, and safety James Sanders -- participated in the opening part of practice yesterday. Linebacker Mike Vrabel, who sat out the last three exhibition games after being hurt on a kickoff return at Cincinnati, said he feels ''good and ready to go." Cornerback Duane Starks, sidelined with an undisclosed injury for the better part of a month, was in the locker room but not on the field for the early stages of the workout. The official NFL injury report is to be released today.