Pats waive Ventrone and Zuriel Smith

[pats1]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

February 13, 2007
Minor moves

The Patriots waived safety Raymond Ventrone and receiver Zuriel Smith on Monday. Neither player appeared in a game for the Patriots in 2006, as both were injured while playing in NFL Europe (now called NFL Europa).

Ventrone was initially signed as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2005 after a fine college career at Villanova. He spent most of the 2005 season on the Patriots' practice squad and was lauded by Bill Belichick late that season as a fun player to coach. The 5-11, 200-pound Ventrone started 10 games for the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe in the spring of 2006 but required shoulder surgery upon his return, thus costing him a chance to make the Patriots' roster.

The 5-11, 174-pound Smith was signed as a free agent on Feb. 10, 2006 and appeared in four games for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe in the spring of 2006. Like Ventrone, Smith sustained an injury that cost him the chance of competing for a roster spot with the Patriots.

Posted By: mreiss | Time: 02:02:29 PM

The third and final Reserve/NFL Europe Injuree, RB Earl Charles, is apparently sticking around for the time being. He is a ERFA. Smith was also.

 

[Keegs]

Dammnit!!!!!!

 

[cstjohn17]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/



The third and final Reserve/NFL Europe Injuree, RB Earl Charles, is apparently sticking around for the time being. He is a ERFA. Smith was also.

Ventrone and Zuriel Smith! This really pisses me off, those cheap bastards in Foxboro have some serious explaining to do. You cannot tell me this move was not motivated by Robert Kraft trying to save a buck.

 

[Koettbulle]

We're doomed!!

 

[chowder]

what next? Tom Brady??? hahaha. but seriously, that's too bad since i thought that ventrone looked pretty good last preseason.

 

[Keegs]

what next? Tom Brady??? hahaha. but seriously, that's too bad since i thought that ventrone looked pretty good last preseason.

If by "pretty good" you mean "worthless in every way", then yes, i'd say he was pretty good:singing:

 

[tatepatsfan]

I liked Ventrone, thought he might someday have a chance to stick at the end of the roster. In Belichick I trust.

 

[pats1]

what next? Tom Brady??? hahaha. but seriously, that's too bad since i thought that ventrone looked pretty good last preseason.

Ventrone didn't play a down last preseason.

 

[Jimke]

A lot of players look good against the opposing teams scrubs.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Mrs B will be seriously pissed. She has a case of the hotties for Ventrone, whom I'd always considered a total stump.

 

[zippo59]

Our wonderful injury big even spreads its way over to our players in NFL Europe, er, Europa.

 

[unoriginal]

Didn't Ventrone win practice player of the week twice last year?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Poor Bubba, I enjoyed the energy he brought to the game and hoped he'd get another chance to come to camp. Now I'm wondering if they expect more from Jones and Mitchell, or if they are eyeing someone in the draft...

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Didn't Ventrone win practice player of the week twice last year?

In 2005 yes, I think he did get it twice.

 

[Seymour93]

Didn't Ventrone win practice player of the week twice last year?

The same award Kyle Eckel won a few times? Sometimes you can practice as hard as you can but that doesn't always translate to Sundays.

 

[unoriginal]

The same award Kyle Eckel won a few times? Sometimes you can practice as hard as you can but that doesn't always translate to Sundays.

When did he win it? He was never on the roster during the season.

When last we heard of Ventrone...

 

[Seymour93]

When did he win it? He was never on the roster during the season.

A year or two ago whenever he was here. Eckel was the talk of this forum. Everybody loved his work ethic and liked what they saw in preseason. Apparently he could only do so much in practice because he was never going to beat out even Pass for the last RB/FB spot. Same can be said of Ventrone and the safeties.

 

[primetime]

What's with the change in names to Europa? Why not NFL Germany, since that's what it is (oh, and Amsterdam, excuse me).

 

[captain stone]

Poor Bubba, I enjoyed the energy he brought to the game and hoped he'd get another chance to come to camp. Now I'm wondering if they expect more from Jones and Mitchell, or if they are eyeing someone in the draft...

They better be eyeing someone in the draft.
And perhaps a UFA like Terrence Holt, or Michael Lewis.

 

[ATippett56]

Dammnit!!!!!!

Stop with the theatrics!