Raymond Ventrone

Infobox NFLactive


name=Raymond Ventrone
currentteam=New England Patriots
currentpositionplain=Wide Receiver
currentnumber=41
birthdate=birth date and age|1982|10|21
birthplace=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
heightft=5
heightin=10
weight=200
debutyear=2007
debutteam=New England Patriots
college=Villanova
undraftedyear=2005
pastteams=
* New England Patriots (2005-2006)
* New York Jets (2007)*
* New England Patriots (2007-present):*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
status=Active
highlights=
* 3x Academic All-American (2002-2004)
* First-team All-A-10 (2003)
nfl=VEN263361

Raymond "Bubba" Ventrone* [http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=15857&pcid=41 NFL Europe Diary Week 2 (Explanation of nickname "Bubba")] ] (pronEng|vɛn'troʊn; born October 21, 1982 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American football wide receiver and defensive back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Villanova.

Ventrone has also been a member of the New York Jets in his career.

College career

Ventrone began his college career at Villanova University in August 2001. He impressed college coaches early with his speed and strength. Ventrone had an illustrious career at Villanova until his senior year when he fractured his ankle in the season's fourth game against the University of New Hampshire.

Professional career

Although the Patriots considered picking Ventrone with the final pick of the 2005 NFL Draft, they signed tight end Andy Stokes as "Mr. Irrelevant"; Ventrone then signed as an undrafted free agent. Ventrone was released at the end of training camp and re-signed to the practice squad. After spending the rest of the 2005 season, he was allocated to NFL Europa in the spring of 2006. There, Ventrone suffered an injury and was placed on the team's injured reserve list, sidelining him for the 2006 season. After the Patriots released Ventrone on February 13, 2007, he signed with the New York Jets on February 21, 2007.

After the Jets released Ventrone in their final cutdown before the 2007 season, they signed him to their practice squad, but released him on September 12. The Patriots signed him to their practice squad on September 18, and then promoted to the team's 53-man roster on November 3. Upon the activation of Eddie Jackson and Chad Jackson from the PUP list, the Patriots released him on November 7, 2007, and re-signed him to their practice squad two days later. He was again promoted to the active roster for the Miami game, and remained on the active roster for the duration of the season, including Super Bowl XLII, in which he recorded his first NFL tackle.

During the 2008 offseason, Ventrone began practicing as a wide receiver, a position he hadn't played in games since he was a sophomore at Chartiers Valley High School; [ [http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x491728035/Patriots-Beat-Versatility-the-key-for-Ventrone Patriots beat: Versatility the key for Ventrone] ] he has, however, lined up at wide receiver on scout teams in Patriots practices. In the Patriots' third 2008 preseason game, Ventrone led all receivers with four receptions, while still playing on special teams and defense. [http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/08/after_further_r.html]

Off the field

Ray loves to spend his time off playing golf, going to the beach, traveling and being a member of the SHFFL football league

External links

* [http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=30957 New England Patriots bio]

References