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Ninkovich Happy To Be Back in Black and Gold
by Doug Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com
Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 3:39 PM
It’s funny how life works sometimes.
Few players probably understand that time-honored cliché these days as well as newly signed Saints defensive end Rob Ninkovich does. On Tuesday night the 6-2, 255 pound product of Purdue was aboard a commercial flight from South Florida to New Orleans, returning to a city and a team for which he is already quite familiar. “I was decorating a Christmas tree when I got the call yesterday,” said Ninkovich. “I stopped doing that, obviously, and quickly packed my bags and headed to the airport.” Ninkovich, the Saints’ fifth-round draft choice in 2006, played for the Saints as a rookie, where he appeared in three games as a reserve and registered two tackles and a pass defensed and also chipped in on special teams with two stops. His inaugural season, though, came to an abrupt halt on a night that will not soon be forgotten anywhere in New Orleans, September 25, 2006 against the Falcons during the Saints’ return to the Superdome, when he suffered a knee injury early in the contest. Collectively the Saints’ coaching staff was disappointed to lose the services of Ninkovich, as he had led the team in sacks during the preseason with three. His highly energetic style of play and versatility had given the staff hope that he could be a regular contributor at either defensive end or defensive tackle and be groomed for an increased role in the defensive and special teams plans. But those plans quickly crashed after the injury that required surgery and the Saints turned elsewhere to find depth on the defensive line.
The New Lenox, Illinois native followed an arduous rehabilitation process that lasted throughout the remainder of the 2006 season and into the spring. Ninkovich went to training camp with the Saints in 2007 and was on the team’s roster until the day the Saints traveled to Indianapolis for the opening game of the season. Ninkovich, who had battled for playing time throughout training camp and worked hard to return to form, fell victim to the dreaded “numbers game” and was certainly eyeing the option of being signed to the Saints’ practice squad. The Miami Dolphins, however, had different plans and swooped in to claim Ninkovich off of the NFL’s waiver wire. He went on to play in four games in a reserve role with the ‘Fins and was also inactive for 12 games. The Dolphins, too, appreciated the athleticism and flexibility that Ninkovich provided and moved him to an outside linebacker spot in their 3-4 defense this season. Ninkovich played in one game and also most recently spent time on Miami’s practice squad before the Saints beckoned. “I have been talking to my agent throughout the season and asking him if he heard anything from the Saints, because I really like it here,” Ninkovich said. “I know the defensive system and most of the guys in the locker room and deep down was hoping to one day be able to come back here and play.” The fact that Ninkovich arrives back in New Orleans on the heels of the NFL’s four-game suspension for DE Will Smith would seemingly place added pressure on the former Boilermaker, but he said that he doesn’t necessarily view it in those terms. “As a football player all you really want is an opportunity to play,” he said. “I know the situation and why I am here, but it’s up to me to go out and play and show them what I can do. I can’t control how I got here, I just can control what I do with the opportunity.” As collegian at Purdue he was a two-year letterman for the Boilermakers after transferring from Joliet (Ill.) Junior College. While playing for Head Coach Joe Tiller’s squad he played in 23 games and amassed 71 tackles, 16 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery and earned second-team All-Big Ten horrors following his senior campaign. Saints Head Coach Sean Payton said the team’s familiarity with Ninkovich helped in the decision making process. “He’s a guy that we have a background with and we felt like as we started grading out the practice squad players from other teams’ rosters, he was a guy that we had kept an eye on and have had a chance to see play in the preseason. Certainly having a background with him helps.” Defensive line coach Ed Orgeron said he liked what he saw from Ninkovich today in the team’s first practice as they prepare for the Atlanta Falcons. “He’s quick, tenacious and a hustler,” the coach said. “It looks to me like he has some savvy to him and I know that he’s happy to be here and get started.” “He is part of a group of guys like Jeff Charleston and Jeff Savage that are young and eager and have a lot of energy,” Orgeron said. “We need them to step up. This is a big game, against a division rival and we need to get them ready to go.”
Notes: The Saints also announced the signing of S Terrence Holt, a six-year veteran who has been a three-year starter in the NFL.
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