Over the last few seasons, Patriots fans have come to realize how good defensive end Rob Ninkovich has become. Now it's gotten to the point where national TV announcers note this multiple times in every Pats game. For a defense that has lacked playmakers for years, he always seems to be in the right place and most times, he makes the clutch plays that few others do.
Today, one of the leaders of New England's improving defense signed a three-year extension through 2016 that's worth $15 million ($8.5 million guaranteed). He had been playing in the final year of his contract so New England was smart to lock him up early rather than wait until the end of the season where he would surely be the subject of a bidding war between smart teams.
In the first two games this season, Ninkovich has recorded 14 tackles and forced a fumble but that doesn't even really tell you his true value. He's not particularly big or fast, there are no skills that jump off the screen at you but when you watch every Patriots game you quickly recognize that he's almost always in the correct spot which translates to making play after play. In the last two seasons, he started every game and put up a very respectable line of 14.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and 132 combined tackles.
As much as any player from the last few seasons, Ninkovich is proof that the Patriots can still find a diamond in the rough when it comes to free agency. Remember, this is a guy that was a fifth-round draft pick by the Saints in 2006 who was only playing long snapper before they cut him. With New England, he's moved his way up from backup and special teamer to one of the unquestioned leaders of the defense.
The Patriots would be a much better team if they had a team full of Ninkovichs: guys that are unselfish, reliable and always do their job.
Tweet
Follow @RichSlate
No comments:
Post a Comment