FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- When safety Ross Ventrone was with the New England Patriots in 2011, he was part of 21 different roster transactions as he was shuffled between the practice squad and roster. He played in eight games that season, and the frequency of his moves on and off the roster became a lighthearted topic for some around the team.
With that background as a springboard, another transaction now can be added to the ledger.
Ventrone agreed to a contract to join the Patriots' practice squad on Wednesday, where he'll be joined by his brother Ray, who is the team's assistant special teams coach. This is the 30th overall transaction for him with the team.
Ross Ventrone, 29, had appeared in five games this season for the Steelers, and his primary niche is special teams. He played in nine games for the Steelers last season.
The Patriots are always looking to build depth in all areas of the roster, and perhaps with injuries in mind (core special teamer Brandon Bolden is sidelined with a hamstring injury), that led them back to Ventrone, who was waived earlier in October when the Steelers activated receiver Martavis Bryant to the 53-man roster.
