Former Louisiana Tech punter Ryan Allen, the Ray Guy Award winner in 2011 and 2012, is “a big part” of the “field position battle” in his fifth season with the New England Patriots, according to special teams captain Matthew Slater.

And Patriots’ Head Coach Bill Belichick says “Allen knows his role” when it comes to positioning his punt. Allen placed five of his eight punts in the Patriots’ 26-6 regular season-ending win over the New York Jets inside their 20-yard line.

Read Glen Farley’s Patriot Ledger story, “No cold feet with Patriots’ Allen” at http://www.patriotledger.com/sports/...patriots-allen