New England Patriots: Rob Ninkovich the Unsung Defensive Hero

At 27 years old and in his seventh NFL season, New England Patriots' linebacker Rob Ninkovich is certainly no newcomer.

But it's now, in his third season with the New England Patriots, that the former fifth-round selection out of the 2005 NFL draft has turned himself into a stalwart among the team's starting defensive lineup. 

It's been a long, challenge-filled journey for Ninkovich to get to this point in his career. Multiple knee injuries suffered in New Orleans led to his release from the Saints in 2008.

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"I was the third d-end, behind Will Smith and Charles Grant. I was playing a lot, but unfortunately I had a knee injury where I tore my ACL and had to have that fixed. I came back the next year and tore the MCL in my same leg. It was a tough two years," explained Ninkovich.

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Picked up on waivers that same season, it was the Miami Dolphins that originally transitioned Ninkovich from defensive end to linebacker, where he played predominantly inside in the 3-4 alignment.

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"I was with them [for the 2008 season] on the practice squad, then New Orleans signed me to long snap for them. But it turned out to be a blessing that they released me, because I wanted to play defense."

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Enter New England.

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