Slater: Ventrone bringing passion to offseason meetings

New England Patriots special teams captain Matthew Slater has been voted into the Pro Bowl four years running, a product of the hard work and dedication he's committed to the role. It's a mantra he adopted from his time playing alongside former Patriot Ray Ventrone, who just so happens to now be Slater's new coach.

"He had a better understanding of the game than most guys I’ve ever played with," Slater said of the 32-year-old Ventrone, who will work as an assistant to Special Teams Coach Joe Judge. "The way he competed ... I just have so much respect for him as a competitor and the passion that he played with.

"He’s already bringing that to the meeting rooms. We’re excited about it. I’m not surprised that he’s doing what he’s doing now."

Ventrone, a career special teamer for three different clubs, lined up next to Slater during the 2008 season, Slater's rookie year. 

For more from Slater, including his thoughts on the Aaron Hernandez verdict, click here.

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Slater ready to work against 'one of best' in practice

BY SCOTT BAINES

Matthew Slater has seen a lot of changes since being drafted by the New England Patriots in 2008. This year is no exception.

"We haven’t even had one practice together, so we have a long way to go," Slater told the media Tuesday after the second day of the Patriots' voluntary workouts, via ESPN Boston.

Unsurprisingly, it didn't take long for the conversation to steer to the topic of newly acquired cornerback Darrelle Revis, whom Slater spent some time with in Hawaii at the Pro Bowl a couple months ago.

Brady again bails on Pro Bowl, plus other changes

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Voting for Tom Brady for the Pro Bowl is starting to seem like a moot point.

The New England Patriots quarterback declined his invitation to Honolulu once again this season, making it a decade since he's actually appeared in the game.

The 36-year-old has participated in the event only twice in his 14-year career despite being awarded the honor nine times, pulling out the majority of the years for injury reasons or if the team was in the Super Bowl.

Pats' special teams unit wants no repeat of last year

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Coming off a first-round bye in the playoffs last season, the New England Patriots pulled the Houston Texans in the divisional round and pulled out a 41-28 win despite giving up nearly 250 yards on special teams.

New England's obviously looking for the same end-game result this year, but its special teams captain is hoping to avoid some of the theatrics along the way.

"I think we have to be able to up our focus and our sense of urgency knowing that if we make a positive play it can really help our team," wide receiver and captain Matthew Slater told reporters Thursday, via patriots.com, "and if we have a situation where we're giving up plays that can hurt our team."

Pats' special teams ace Slater latest to go down

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The New England Patriots' offense has been depleted with injuries through the first part of the season, but the defense has held up OK.

The special teams unit was doing all right, too, until now.

Karen Guregian of The Boston Herald reported Monday the Patriots will be without special teams ace and captain Matthew Slater four to six weeks thanks to a broken wrist. Slater is a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the best kick and punt coverage players in the NFL.

Pats' special teams has tough task ahead in Ravens

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Some criticism has come down on the New England Patriots’ special teams squad over the past week, and for good reason.

After a season’s worth of solid kick coverage, the group laid an egg against the Houston Texans last week, allowing returner Danieal Manning to gain more than 200 yards on just three returns, nearly notching the first return touchdown against the team all season. (photo: BaltimoreRavens.com)

Now, the crew gets a shot at Baltimore’s Jacoby Jones, who lead the league in kick return yards and has three special teams touchdowns to his name this season. New England special teams captain Matthew Slater said earlier this week that his group is well aware of Jones’s ability, and they know they can’t be as sloppy as they were a week ago.

Final drive a common decider of Patriots vs. Ravens

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High tension and short fingernails are prevalent in the fourth quarter when it's the New England Patriots vs. the Baltimore Ravens. Just ask Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich.

Since his arrival to the team in 2009, Ninkovich has faced the Ravens on five separate occasions, with an overwhelming majority of those matchups ending in dramatic fashion. (photo: Jeffrey Beall, Flickr)

Four of those contests were decided by less than a touchdown, which is what Ninkovich believes to be the fuel behind the teams’ rivaled history.

Patriots tie for league's most 2012 Pro Bowl nods

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The Patriots tied the 49ers for number of 2012 Pro Bowl players with eight.

Quarterback Tom Brady, receiver Wes Welker, tight end Rob Gronkowski, defensive end Andre Carter, guard Logan Mankins, guard Brian Waters, defensive lineman Vince Wilfork and special teamer Matthew Slater made the bill, as was announced by the NFL Tuesday.