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PHOENIX — Part of Rob Ninkovich is thankful for the time he spent in New Orleans.

If he ever falters as a defensive end, he now knows he has a skill he can fall back on as a long snapper. So he never has to worry about finding a job in another field. It’s like Patriots coach Bill Belichick often tells his players: “The more you can do, the better.”

“I just did it the other day,” Ninkovich said of deep-snapping. “I’m pretty good at it. But I can do more than that.”

Unfortunately, the Saints were unable to spot those other things.

Twice they had Ninkovich on their roster, and twice they let him go. During his first stint in New Orleans in 2006, Ninkovich played defensive end and received some snaps on defense, but he was released in 2007 after suffering a pair of knee injuries.

But the Saints weren’t the only team that couldn’t see it. After leaving the Saints, Ninkovich hooked on with the Miami Dolphins, serving as a reserve defensive end and outside linebacker, before returning to New Orleans after the 2008 season.

During organized team activities, Saints coach Sean Payton told him that if he wanted to make the team, he needed to learn how to long snap. Ninkovich put everything he had into learning the position, but was released on July 30 when New Orleans signed Jason Kyle to take his place.

“I got a taste of being able to play. I knew I could play,” Ninkovich said. “I was there and then I had a couple injuries and it took me away from what I wanted. It just kept happening to me. I just had to stay focused to get to where I want to be.”

The fact they missed on Ninkovich is something that still haunts Payton.


Read more: After failed stints with Saints, Rob Ninkovich has emerged on Patriots defense | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Saint_LB

I always wondered why he didn't stick in NO.

QBREES9

Another swing and a miss. But, two knee injuries. Ya can't blame them for letting him go.

lumm0x

Every team has 2 or 3 of these guys that slipped between the cracks into someone else's hands. Good for him he's made a great career out of adversity.

hagan714

early injury history killed his time here.

Danno

We didn't swing and miss. His injuries are the reason he didn't make it here, or in Miami.

st thomas

can't blame no one in his case, but glad for him, somebody saw something before all the injuries. and got him at the right time.

saintsfan1976

And if he wasn't in the Superbowl, this story wouldn't be written

Ya know I heard one of Patriot Men tried out to be our mascot Gumbo.

Boy, did we ever whiff on that one....

WhoDat!656

And yet he doesn't have a Super Bowl ring!

Rugby Saint II

Good for him.