A few minutes with ...

FOXBOROUGH – Offensive lineman Oliver Ross talks about his background in football and his first year with the Patriots:

Where did you grow up?
“Los Angeles.”

How did you get involved with football?
“I really didn’t start playing until my freshman year of high school. With Pop Warner, there were weight requirements and as I was always younger but weighed more than the kids my age.”

So you never played Pop Warner?
“Never did.”

Was that tough for you? Did you feel you were being denied an opportunity?
“It was tough, but what are you going to do? You can’t go in there and change the rules.”

What position did you play in high school?
“Offensive and defensive line.”

So you had a pretty quick rise as a player, getting recruited to play big-time college ball?
“I went to a Junior College first, where I was a d-lineman for two years. That’s where I got recruited to play at Iowa State, defensive line. My junior year, they switched me over to offensive line. I was still learning. I red-shirted one year, and then played my last year, my senior year.”

What were the circumstances that led to you getting switched to the offensive line?
“I think we were just thin on the offensive line, and had too many defensive linemen. The defensive line coach asked if I could switch over.”

It obviously worked out well because you were a fifth-round draft choice of the Cowboys …
“I had a lot of Pro Bowl guys in front of me there. Great guys that I could learn from. Larry Allen. Nate Newton. Erik Williams. Mark Tunei. Everett McIver, Mark Stopnoski. I sat back and did extra stuff with the coach, and the strength coach. When I got to the pros, I was always lighter. Coming out of college I was maybe 280-285. I had to bulk up a bit.”

You’re now listed at 327. Is that right?
“Actually I’m closer to 306.”

How about your other NFL teams?
“After the year in Dallas, I went to Philly for one year, on their practice squad. The next season, I played in NFL Europe, and came back in training camp with Philadelphia, and got released. Then I signed with Pittsburgh and was there four years, and then Arizona for three.”

Some battles with the Patriots when you were in Pittsburgh, no?
“Tough games. They beat us twice in the AFC Championship. It was always a good game.”

Outside of football, what do you like to do?
“I’m more of an outdoor person. I like race cars, and spending time with the family. Just hanging out. I still like working out.”

Impressions of New England?
“Good fans. I can’t really say the cold, because I’ve been in the cold before. It seems the fans are behind their teams and expect a lot out of them.”