NFL teams began the difficult process of paring their rosters down to the final 53 by the end of the week. Today they had to get down to 75 players. When you're a Super Bowl contender like the Patriots, you are going to have to let some pretty good players walk. Last year almost every guy the Pats cut quickly landed on another team. That will likely happen again this year.
Since I have Sundays and Mondays off (yes, perfect for football season), I like to spend some quality time with the NFL Network on Monday afternoons. The NFL Network (like the MLB Network, the NHL Network, the Golf Channel, and, to a lesser degree, the NBA Network) has greatly reduced the time I spend watching any of the ESPN channels. Why watch bits and pieces of NFL news and highlights on ESPN when I can get 24-hour in-depth coverage on the NFL Network? I can't think of an answer either. (I still turn to ESPNBoston.com however for most of my local sports news. That site gets better every week).
So news out of Pats camp via the NFL Network is that the Pats have started the trimming with Donte Stallworth, Gerard Warren, Ross Ventrone, Tim Bulman, Spencer Larsen, and Josh Barrett. Unless they are injured, Stallworth and Gerard will almost certainly end up on another team. The fact that the Pats are letting veteran players like them go says the team is feeling good about some of the young guys that they have to replace them. That's a good sign.
Stallworth's departure means veterans (and Brady favorites) Branch and Gaffney should stick with the team. (Update: Gaffney has also been released. The logjam at receiver has sure been fixed). It also means Olympic medalist Jeff Demps and his blinding speed will be around. Stallworth's game was speed but at his age he has lost a step or two. Better to go with the young track star.
Warren has been a solid citizen for the Pats the last few years. He was a good guy to have around for defensive line depth. His departure means the team thinks young guys like Myron Pryor, Ron Brace, and Brandon Deaderick are ready to play a bigger role. In Brace's case, it's about time. Of course he may be gone come Friday.
Ross Ventrone is one of my favorite role players on the team. A solid special teams guy. Good tackler. Great hair. Smart football player. He is living the quintessential life of an NFL role player. Here's the "biography" of him on the Pats website...
Ross Ventrone was originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent (4/29/10) ... Released by the Patriots (8/20/10) ... Re-signed by the Patriots (8/23/10) ... Released by the Patriots (9/4/10) ... Signed to the practice squad by the Patriots (10/19/10) ... Signed by the Patriots (1/18/11) ... Released by the Patriots(8/10/11) ... Signed by the Patriots (8/29/11) ... Released by the Patriots (9/3/11) ... Signed by the Patriots to the practice squad (9/5/11) ... Released by the Patriots (10/1/11) ... Signed to the practice squad by the Patriots (10/4/11) ... Signed to the 53-man roster by the Patriots (10/8/11) ... Released by the Patriots (10/17/11) ... Signed by the Patriots (10/19/11) ... Released by the Patriots (11/3/11) ... Signed to the Practice Squad by the Patriots (11/9/11) ... Signed to the 53-man roster by the Patriots (11/12/11) ... Released by the Patriots (11/15/11) ... Signed to the practice squad by the Patriots (11/17/11) ... Signed to the 53-man roster by the Patriots (11/12/11) ... Released by the Patriots(11/23/11) ... Signed to the practice squad (11/24/11) ... Signed to the active roster (12/17/11) ... Released by the Patriots (12/26/11)... Signed to the practice squad by the Patriots (12/28/11) ... Signed by the Patriots to a future contract (2/7/12).
I count 27 roster moves in just two seasons. 27!! It's now 28 with today's release. How can you not root for a guy like that? I like to imagine Ventrone -- after he hands in his playbook yet again -- walking across the parking lot to the movie theater at Patriot Place, grabbing some popcorn and watching a few matinees in the hope that Belichick will walk in during the middle of "Premium Rush" and sign him back to the practice squad.
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