Ventrone has been able to maintain his perspective.
“At least I’m leading the league in something,’’ Ventrone said before practice yesterday. “I don’t get discouraged. I just keep working hard and everything.
“I know things work out the way they do sometimes - the numbers system, different positions, and all that - and I just hope they do bring me back. They have so far.’’
Ventrone was a walk-on at the University of Pittsburgh - his hometown school - before transferring to Villanova, where he was a three-year starter. Last year, he signed with the Patriots after going undrafted, but was waived twice in the preseason, a preview of his future.
This season, Ventrone has been involved in 15 transactions, some as innocuous as being activated from the practice squad, some as traumatic as being cut.
“It is pretty unique,’’ Ventrone said. “Week to week, I just look at it at, hopefully, I’m going to play. I don’t look at it any differently as if I would be here the whole time.
“It’s unbelievable, just being on a team with these guys, coached by these coaches and stuff. Being part of an organization like this, that they want me around enough to keep bringing me back is a great honor.
“Every week, I have to get ready to play, whether I’m on the practice squad, whatever ups and downs there are, whatever my role is that week. I have to plan like I’m playing. One injury, and I’m out there. You never know what’s going to happen.’’
There are role players and specialists on every team, but not many have been as flexible as Ventrone.
“We have a good line of communication and understanding, myself and Nick [Caserio] and Ross,’’ Belichick said. “We’ve talked about the various situations that he has been a part of and involved in. I think he’s handled it great.
“You get prepared to play every week and if the coaches give you the opportunity to play, you play. If the coaches don’t, then as a player you take what you learned that week and get ready for next week. He’s done a great job with that, outstanding. He’s been ready.’’
