Ventrone cut; Bussey to IR
The Patriots have informed receiver/safety Ray Ventrone that he has been released, according to a league source. Also, the team plans to place rookie offensive lineman George Bussey (knee) on season-ending injured reserve, according to his agent.
Ventrone, a fourth-year player, has made various contributions to the team since 2005 -- some coming behind the scenes in practice, others on game day as a strong special teams player. He appeared in 17 regular-season games with the Patriots, 15 of which came last year.
Bussey, the team's fifth-round draft choice out of Louisville, played in the team's final preseason game against the Giants on Thursday. It was his lone action of the preseason and he lined up at right guard and right tackle. Bussey has had swelling in his knee, according to his agent Cary Fabrikant, and will now undergo surgery. Bussey remains under contract with the Patriots and compete for a roster spot in 2010.
Teams don't have to make their moves official until 6 p.m. There are a lot of moving parts at this time, and it's always possible that the team could reverse field on a decision if things change before the deadline.
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Ventrone you will be missed........Competition this year was too much.....Good Luck with the Broncos
Hi Mike,
Looks like your earlier comment about Ninkovich (originally from MarkJ) could prove to be true.
On a side note, thank you for your great work whilst working for the Globe, you will most certainly be missed. Before you go say Hi to Stacey James from me (he knows me) ;)
I wish you all the best in the future.
Mike, I think you meant "reverse field," not "reserve field"!
It looks like you were right, Mike, although I sincerely wish you weren't.
For his sake, I hope Ventrone latches onto a team that can make use of him, and I really wouldn't mind if that team turned out to be New England a few weeks down the road. . . .
Damn! I know a lot of us (including Bill B) were pulling for Ray. His contributions and his attitude will definitely be missed. Hope someone else picks him up, or he winds up back with us down the road.
Remaining cuts:
RB - Taylor
OL - Connolly
OL - Britt
DL - Adams
DL - Richard
DB - Love
DB - Daze Jones
WR - Galloway (I think Nunn makes over JG)
Trades:
TE - Smith (Eagles, Bengals, ??)
Makes the team:
LB - Ninkovich
Yeah Mike...best of luck to you. The Patriot beat won't be the same without you.
@4: operative phrase being "weeks down the road" because that concussion he sustained at the end of the last game. Ventrone will be back, but it's best for everyone if he takes some time off.
*RB - Chris Taylor
@8: I thought it was a poke in the eye (literally) for Ventrone.
Booo...hate to see a scrapper like Ventrone cut. I'm sure he'll love Cleveland or Kansas City though..
I like the fact that Belichick is now playing "va bank" with the Pat's roster. "Va bank" is a German phrase. Having only two QB's on the roster is playing "va bank". I hope the Pat's have only seven OL's on every regular season game day roster. That's another example of playing "va bank". So is a quarterback sneak on fourth down. And going for the two points after every touchdown. And punting on third down to have the football within the opponents five yardline.
Good, stop wasting roster spots on guys like ventrone and slater
Watch all the cut players from the Patriots goto either K.C., Denver, or Cleveland.
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