Rob Ninkovich

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Miami Dolphins
currentnumber=93
currentposition=Linebacker
birthdate=birth date and age|1984|2|1
birthplace=Blue Island, Illinois
heightft=6
heightin=2
weight=255
debutyear=2006
debutteam=New Orleans Saints
college=Purdue
draftyear=2006
draftround=5
draftpick=135
pastteams=
* New Orleans Saints (2006)
* Miami Dolphins (2007-present)
status=Active
highlights=
* Third-team NJCAA All-American (2003)
* Second-team All-Big Ten (2005)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=6
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=0.0
statlabel3=INT
statvalue3=0
nfl=NIN311468

Robert Michael Ninkovich (born February 1, 1984 in city-state|Blue Island|Illinois) is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.

Early years

Ninkovich attended Lincoln-Way Central High School in city-state|New Lenox|Illinois where he played defensive end and tight end.cite web | title = TEAM: Roster Rob Ninkovich Profile | work = MiamiDolphins.com | url = http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/team/roster/playerBio.asp?docid=29046 | accessdate = 5 July | accessyear = 2008 ] He also lettered in baseball.

College career

Joliet Junior College

Following high school, Ninkovich spent two years at Joliet Junior College in city-state|Joliet|Illinois. As a freshman, he recorded 36 tackles and seven sacks as his team won the NJCAA national championship.cite web | title = Player Bio: Rob Ninkovich | work = PurdueSports.com | url = http://purduesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ninkovich_rob00.html | accessdate = 5 July | accessyear = 2008 ]

During the summer prior to his sophomore year, Ninkovich worked with his father, an ironworker, hanging beams on a Chicago construction site 19 stories high. According to his father, the purpose was to give Rob extra incentive to complete his college education.

As as sophomore at Joliet in 2003, Ninkovich earned third-team NJCAA All-American honors after recording 95 tackles (68 solo), five forced fumbles, four fumble recovering and a school-record 16 sacks.

Purdue

Ninkovich transferred to Purdue in 2004 and played in all 12 games that season. Despite being a reserve, Ninkovich was tied for the team lead and ranked second in the Big Ten with eight sacks. In an October 2 contest against Notre Dame, Ninkovich recorded two sacks on defense and also caught a goal-line touchdown pass from Kyle Orton. Against Indiana on November 20, he tied a school record with four sacks.

As as senior in 2005, Ninkovich earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after recording 48 tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He recorded four sacks against Indiana for the second straight season, giving him two of the three individual four-sack performances in school history. In a 37-3 victor over Illinois, he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Curtis Painter. Following the season, he was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game.cite web | title = KFFL - Rob Ninkovich, DL | work = KFFL.com | url = http://www.kffl.com/player/13413/nfl/news | accessdate = 5 July | accessyear = 2008 ]

Professional career

Pre-draft

At his Pro Day on March 10, 2006, Ninkovich posted 40-yard dash times of 4.79 and 4.81 seconds.

New Orleans Saints

Ninkovich was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round (135th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. He signed a three-year contract with the team on July 18.

In a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on August 21, Ninkovich recorded two sacks and two forced fumbles but was also flagged for a costly unnecessary roughness penalty which led to a Cowboys touchdown. He finished the preseason with three sacks.

During the regular season, Ninkovich appeared in three games for the Saints as a reserve before suffering a knee injury against the Atlanta Falcons on September 25. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on September 29, finishing the year with four tackles.

During an afternoon practice on July 30, 2007, Ninkovich was carted off the field with a knee injury that caused him to miss the preseason. He was waived by the team prior to the regular season opener.

Miami Dolphins

Ninkovich was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins on September 7, 2007. He appeared in four games for the team that season as a reserve while being inactive for the other 12 games. Ninkovich finished the season with two tackles, recording one each against the New York Jets (Sept. 23) and New York Giants (Oct. 28).cite web | title = Rob Ninkovich: Game Logs | work = NFL.com | url = http://www.nfl.com/players/robninkovich/gamelogs?id=NIN311468 | accessdate = 5 July | accessyear = 2008 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/team/roster/playerBio.asp?docid=29046 Miami Dolphins bio]
* [http://purduesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ninkovich_rob00.html Purdue Boilermakers bio]