Minor surgery for Green

Defensive end Jarvis Green, coming off one of the best seasons in his six-year career, had minor offseason shoulder surgery that has limited his participation in on-field workouts this spring, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The arthroscopic surgery is not expected to hinder Green but likely explains why he was at Gillette Stadium, yet not on the field during an organized team activity (OTA) May 20.

Although Green is not touted as one of the Patriots' mainstays on the defensive line with Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, and Vince Wilfork, perhaps he should be. In 2007, he played in all 16 games and set a career high with 10 starts, and tied his career high with 57 tackles. His 6 1/2 sacks tied for second on the team.

Since the Patriots tabbed Green in the fourth round of the 2002 draft out of Louisiana State, the 6-foot-3-inch, 285-pounder has been a top backup behind Seymour at right defensive end in the 3-4 alignment, while often remaining on the field in rush packages. When the Patriots employ a 4-3 scheme, Green has remained at end, showing the necessary speed to make plays to the sideline in an edge-setting role.

During his career, Green has been an ironman, missing only two games - the second of his rookie year, and the 2005 finale when some key players were rested for the playoffs.

He's appeared in 94 career regular-season games (31 starts), in addition to 14 playoff contests (three starts).

Think tank

The Patriots begin their lone mandatory minicamp of the offseason today at Gillette. The camp is scheduled to conclude Sunday.

"It lets you know that the season is right around the corner," said back-of-all-trades Heath Evans, who has carved out a niche with his mix of running, blocking, pass-catching, and special teams work.

"Individually, this is a time to kind of get your mind refocused and get back into the football groove. It's not just about working out and running, but thinking about X's and O's, and how your individual role will make the team better."

Evans, who enters his eighth NFL season and fourth with the Patriots, has spent the majority of the offseason at his Florida home.

But like other players who have not been full participants in the team's offseason program, he's returned to town for passing camp and OTAs, essentially an extension of minicamp.

If things go according to plan, Evans and his teammates will put together a solid three days of work, generating momentum heading into training camp in late July (the official opening has not been announced).

"For me, a minicamp is a self-evaluation to see if I've stayed mentally sharp on the playbook, and to look at the new adjustments and new details and see if I understand them," Evans said.

"You also test your physical conditioning and gauge if you need to do more, or back off, before training camp. At the same time, you want to know what your individual task is going into training camp."

As a specific example of how his time in OTAs has helped, Evans cited the approximate eight seconds that running backs have to survey a defense from the time they break the huddle to when the ball is snapped.

"You have to know what to do on a hot route, or a blitz pickup, and there have been small coaching points that have simplified it in my mind," he said.

Kicked out

The Patriots released rookie free agent punter Mike Dragosavich yesterday, leaving veterans Chris Hanson and Scott Player to compete for the job . . . Veteran offensive lineman Oliver Ross, who signed with the Patriots Monday, got a one-year deal with a $730,000 base salary. He received a $20,000 signing bonus, and his salary cap charge will be $471,000 . . . Evans has been pleased to see fellow running back Sammy Morris getting back up to speed as he looks to return from a sternum clavicle separation that limited him to six games last season: "We have a tightknit group of backs, and whenever you lose a buddy, it's always good to get him back. He's a competitor." . . . Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter entered into the Congressional Record his call for the NFL to launch an independent investigation of the Patriots' illegal videotaping.

Christopher L. Gasper of the Globe staff contributed to this report, and material from the Associated Press was used.