FOXBORO -- At times, it's clear to see that Ray Ventrone isn't all that far removed from his playing career. Though he retired at the end of last season after 10 years in the NFL, when he's on the practice field he still flashes the same energy that made him a special teams fixture in places like New England, Cleveland and San Francisco.
During Patriots training camp sessions this summer, he can often be found engrossed in kicking-game conversation, perhaps with a young player whose best shot at making the roster is by contributing to "teams." Last week, during a practice on the Gillette Stadium turf in front of more than 23,000 fans, Ventrone ran across the field to excitedly congratulate corner Robert McClain for downing a kick inside the 10-yard line.
It seems as though Ventrone, who took a job as Patriots assistant special teams coach earlier this year, has quickly taken to the new chapter in his football life.
"Ray has been great," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said on Monday. "He came here in the spring -- February, late February, March -- and he’s been with us all the way through. He obviously has an extensive paying background, and he’s transitioning to being a coach. He’s working really hard at it, got a long way to go, but he’s doing a good job. I know he’ll work really hard at it, and it’s important to him, and he’s got a lot of experience in that area. I’m sure it’ll all come together eventually."
Ventrone spent at least part of the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons with the Patriots in different capacities, contributing most consistently in 2008 when he played in 15 regular-season games as a special teamer. That happened to be the same season that the Patriots drafted their future special-teams ace Matthew Slater out of UCLA.
Now a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro, Slater credited Ventrone with helping him get his career off the ground.
"Ray gave me a lot of confidence early on in my career, telling me to keep working, telling me to keep believing in myself," Slater said. "Ray believed I was going to be a good player before I did. It's certainly nice to have him back around and have his ear from day to day."
New England Patriots
As a former player, one freshly removed from an NFL locker room, Ventrone's ability to relate to players and the modern game could help give special teams coach Joe Judge a hand as the entire unit gets accustomed to moving forward without Scott O'Brien, who retired at the end of last season.
"His perspective is a little bit diff obviously," Slater said of Ventrone. "You talk about game experiences and different situations -- I think he can teach us a lot because of those experiences. That's not to say a coach who hasn't done it can't teach it as well, but I think Ray is unique in that he's had those game experiences."