 Ninkovich is among the NFL's leaders in consecutive games played. (USA TODAY Images) |
Outside of New England, very few people have any idea who Rob Ninkovich is.
For the Patriots, they know just how valuable he is, having been one of their most consistent players on the defensive side of the football over the last six seasons. He's missed just one game over that span, and you have to go all the way back to Week 11 of his first season in 2009 as the last time he wasn't out there after sitting out the team's 31-14 home win over the Jets.
Since then he hasn't missed a game and currently holds one of the longest active streaks, leading all NFL defensive ends in consecutive games played with 86. He also leads all players at his position for consecutive starts with 65.
Here's an overall look at who joins him in that category:
CONSECUTIVE REGULAR SEASON GAMES PLAYED AMONG NFL DE'S:
Rob Ninkovich - NE - 86
Everson Griffen - MIN - 75
J.J. Watt - HST - 64
Cameron Jordan - NO - 64
Cameron Heyward - PIT - 64
Karl Klug - TEN - 64
Robert Quinn - SL - 63
CONSECUTIVE REGULAR SEASON GAMES STARTED AMONG NFL DE'S:
Rob Ninkovich - NE - 65
J.J. Watt - HST - 64
Cameron Jordan - NO - 49
Mario Williams - BUF - 48
Robert Quinn - SL - 34
He's been a terrific addition since joining the team and has finished the past three regular seasons with a career-high 8 sacks. His consistent presence has also been important over that span, especially considering all the injuries they've dealt with over the last few years having seen players like Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork go down with injuries.
Ninkovich was asked recently about a funny memory involving head coach Bill Belichick, and he told the Providence Journal's Mark Daniels, "Well, he told me good job once. I was like, hey, it's only been seven years."
And fortunately for the Patriots, it's been a pretty good run for the veteran linebacker so far.
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