FOXBORO –– It seems fairly fitting that Ty Warren was a member of USA Today’s All-Joe team last year. The newspaper annually selects players who are hard-working and often overlooked, but integral to their team’s success.

That, in a nutshell, is Warren.

A giant in person – he’s 6-foot-5, 300 pounds – and in heart, he has made it a tradition to host members of area Boys & Girls Clubs for a holiday shopping spree, provided they include proper winter outerwear among their choices, and was the Patriots’ Ron Burton Community Service Award winner in 2007.

That he didn’t make the Pro Bowl team in 2006, when he had 117 tackles and 7 ½ sacks, defies logic, but that’s also what makes him a prime candidate for All-Joe recognition.

Warren met wife Kesha at the Boys & Girls Club in their Texas hometown, and they are parents to three young girls.

Here’s this week’s Up Close:

Favorite TV show: I don’t watch a lot of TV. “Boondocks” is pretty funny; I got that on DVD. I watch a lot of movies really (favorites include): the “Godfather” trilogy, “Paid in Full,” “Silence of the Lambs” and “Hannibal,” “Scarface” and documentaries in general.

Favorite meal: Rice and beans. I can whip ‘em up myself.

Last concert I went to: Maxwell. Me and the wife went to Foxwoods. July 25, right before I had to come to (training) camp.

First job: My first official job was doing custodial work for JTPA, a program they started in Texas to allow teenagers to work at 13. I couldn’t have gotten the job without that program.

My hero: I’d say my high school coach, Sam Smith. He opened my eyes to a different way of life, things I wasn’t exposed to. He’s a big part of the reason why I’m here today.

Pregame ritual: When I’m home I like to have pasta with sauce and chicken breast. If there’s no chicken breast I’ll have egg whites, seven or eight. Then I’ll do the steam room, stretch, listen to music and I’m ready to go.

My prized possession: Material stuff just fills space. Just my family – my wife and kids. I can’t say they’re a “possession,” they’re borrowed from the Man Above.

Favorite athlete in another sport: I just want to see a good game, so not any one person. I like watching college sports (more than professional) because they’re hungry. They’re playing for the love of the game. It’s not so much business.

Place I’d like to visit but haven’t yet: I’ve never sat back and thought about it. I’m not big on other countries other than tropical places, but I wouldn’t mind going back to London and have that experience with the family, to explore it and the surrounding countries.

If they made a movie about my life… I don’t know who would play me, but it would be drama, comedy, suspense, action – a melting pot. It would be a family movie.

smanza@projo.com