Rob Ninkovich was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on August 2, 2009...Originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round (135th overall) of the 2006 draft...Waived by New Orleans on Sept. 6, 2007...Claimed off waivers by Miami on Spet. 7, 2007...Waived by Miami on August 31, 2008...Signed to the Miami practice squad on Sept. 3, 2008...signed by Miami to the 53-man roster from the practice squad on Nov. 15, 2008...Waived by Miami on Nov. 21, 2008...Signed to the Miami practice squad on Nov. 22, 2008...Signed by New Orleans from the Miami practice squad on Dec. 3, 2008...Waived by New Orleans on July 30, 2009.
 

GP/GS: 16/0

• A veteran of four NFL seasons with New Orleans (2006, 2008), Miami (2007-2008) and New England.
• Converted from defensive line to linebacker when he entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick of the Saints in 2006.

2009 (8/0/0/0): Tied for the team lead in special teams tackles once (vs. TEN) ... Appeared in his first game with the Patriots versus Buffalo (9/14) ... Registered his first career sack at the Denver Broncos (10/11).

Buffalo (9/14): Made his Patriots debut, playing in a reserve role at outside linebacker and on kickoff coverage units in the Patriots' 25-24 win over the Bills ... Tallied one tackle. at N.Y. Jets (9/20): Played in reserve at outside linebacker and on special teams coverage and return units against the Jets. Atlanta (9/27): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 26-10 victory over the Falcons ... Tallied one special teams tackle. Baltimore (10/4): Saw action in reserve on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 27-21 victory over the Ravens ... Made one solo special teams tackle. at Denver (10/11): Saw significant action playing at outside linebacker and on special teams coverage and return units at the Broncos ... Registered his first career sack hauling down former Purdue teammate Kyle Orton for a 3-yard loss in the second quarter ... Recorded his first career pass defensed later on the same second-quarter drive, batting down an Orton pass at the line of scrimmage. Tennessee (10/18): Played in reserve at outside linebacker and on special teams coverage and return units as the Patriots tied the largest margin of victory by any team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger in a 59-0 shutout over the Titans ... Tallied a single-game career high four tackles (2 solo), while also tying for the team lead in special teams tackles with two ... Teamed with Myron Pryor to drop Javon Ringer for a 1-yard loss in the fourth quarter. at Tampa Bay (10/25): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 35-7 victory over the Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium. Miami (11/8): Saw action in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 27-17 win over the Dolphins.

2008 (1/0 - Miami/New Orleans): Began the season on the Miami practice squad...Was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on November 15 and saw action in a reserve role vs. Oakland (11/16)...Was waived by Miami on Nov. 20 and re-signed to the Miami practice squad...Signed by New Orleans off the Miami practice squad on Dec. 3 and was inactive for the final four games of the season.
 

2007 (4/0 - Miami): Played in four games for Miami in a reserve role...Was inactive for 12 contests...Finished the year with two special teams tackles.
 

2006 (3/0 - New Orleans): As a rookie with the Saints, played in three games as a reserve and posted two tackles and a pass defensed on defense and two special teams tackles...Sustained a knee injury in a week three game vs. Atlanta (9/25) and was placed on injured reserve.
 

Was a two-year letterman at Purdue (204-05) during which time he played in 23 games with five starts...Amassed 71 tackles, 16 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery during that time...As a senior, was a second-team All-Big Ten selection when he registered 48 tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery...Also caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Curtis Painter in a 37-3 win over Illinois...Matched his single-game career high total for sacks with four against Indiana for the second year in a row...Tallied eight sacks as a junior, including two in a 41-16 victory over Notre Dame when he hauled in a two-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Orton...Transferred to Purdue following a two-year stint at Joliet (Ill.) Junior College (2002-03)...While there, set the school single-season record for sacks with 16 in 2003...Helped school to the NJCAA National Championship as a freshman in 2002...Majored in organizational leadership and supervision.
 

Attended Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, Ill., where he played defensive end and tight end...Also lettered in baseball...Full name is Robert Michael Ninkovich...Born February 1, 1984 in Blue Island, Ill.