Ninkovich extended through 2016

[Huckleberry1]

There are a number of very good inside linebackers entering free agency after this season, so Spikes is not going to be highly sought after in my opinion.

In no particular order:

London Fletcher

It is so good that Flecher's grandkids get to see him play.

 

[Fencer]

Very nice.

Next up: Devin McCourty, because Talib/his agent will probably want to wait until the end of the season to maximize the $$$ he can get.

Sounds about right.

As for Ninkovich, he's Vrabel without the charisma or the offensive ability.

 

[Fencer]

And Wendell, especially considering that Connolly is a very enticing cut this coming offseason (saves $3M against the cap, already have a guy pushing him for his job in Cannon).

I think paying 6 starting-quality OL players is about right. How many games are there really when all 5 OL starters are healthy?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Sounds about right.

As for Ninkovich, he's Vrabel without the charisma or the offensive ability.

As was written in 2007:

Vrabel was there, alright. Feet up on the desk. Hands clasped behind his head. Smile on his face.
"He'd already taken over," recounts Rardin, "the same way he did at our high school."
Here was this 18-year-old recruit, mere weeks beyond his high school graduation, without having even donned a Buckeye uniform, in the office of the leader of one of the most powerful and decorated college football programs in the country. With his feet up on the desk.
And the best part is this: There was nothing to anyone who knows Vrabel even remotely odd about it.
Sure, next to no one could skate with that kind of bravado, much less the new kid at a tough-guy football factory. But Vrabel could. No matter where he was, no matter who was involved, he always could.

Read more: Patriots Beat: A mind for the game - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News

 

[DarrylS]

Ninkovich.... extended 3 yrs 15 million, 8.5 guaranteed

Nice move, did not see this posted elsewhere, if it was please merge...

Good move for a steady player on the defense...

Rob Ninkovich earns 3-year, $15M deal | Boston Herald

Ninkovich signed a three-year extension through 2016, and the deal is worth more than $15 million, including nearly $8.5 million in guaranteed money, according to his agent, Craig Domann. His current contract, which was for two years and worth roughly $4 million, was set to expire after this season.
Years ago, the chance to cash in like this would have only been a dream. He was released four times by the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints early in his career. And at one point, the Saints told him his only future in the NFL would be at long snapper.

 

[Jackson 2]

Re: Ninkovich.... extended 3 yrs 15 million, 8.5 guaranteed

Nice move, did not see this posted elsewhere, if it was please merge...

Good move for a steady player on the defense...

Rob Ninkovich earns 3-year, $15M deal | Boston Herald

Think any of the media yahoos screaming about NE being under the cap will note this and the causal connection?

 

[Gumby]

Re: Ninkovich.... extended 3 yrs 15 million, 8.5 guaranteed

the fox commentators yesterday (god help us they were awful - lynch couldnt even get the team names straight even though he played for one of the two teams) made specific mention that if NE was smart they would extend him.

I guess that was fore-shadowing.

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

Re: Ninkovich.... extended 3 yrs 15 million, 8.5 guaranteed

Love this move, the guy is a stud and one of the most, if not THE most, underrated guy on this entire team.

Big fan of how he plays and conducts himself in interviews and off the field.

Great news....

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Re: Ninkovich.... extended 3 yrs 15 million, 8.5 guaranteed

great move. Someone would over pay him come off season. If I were them I would work on talib now before he gets better

 

[vyrago]

Re: Ninkovich.... extended 3 yrs 15 million, 8.5 guaranteed

the fox commentators yesterday (god help us they were awful - lynch couldnt even get the team names straight even though he played for one of the two teams) made specific mention that if NE was smart they would extend him.

I guess that was fore-shadowing.

or inside knowledge that he repeated to make himself sound smart.

 

[bigballas]

Ninkovich.... extended 3 yrs 15 million, 8.5 guaranteed

Great move! Love ninko

This was actually announced before the game yesterday

 

[MassPats38]

Re: Ninkovich.... extended 3 yrs 15 million, 8.5 guaranteed

I always love the castoff to stalwart stories the Pats seem to have. Ninko has earned his money, and it's good to see that he will be here for a while.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Re: Ninkovich.... extended 3 yrs 15 million, 8.5 guaranteed

Considering Peppers, Wlliams, Ware, and Allen all make 11-14 million a year, getting a 2nd tier guy for less than half the price sounds good to me.

 

[ThatllMoveTheChains!!!]

Great signing and a huge relief for me. Ninko is hugely important to this defense and he's been getting noticed more and more over the last year. I'm glad that the Pats got a fair deal done before he hit the open market.

 

[shmessy]

Amazing coincidence
Uncanny in fact
As if he can see inside Bob Kraft's head
Reminds me of a WW story Mike wrote two weeks before Bob Kraft went public regarding the WW negotiations.
Plugged in telepathically no doubt

Great signing....who's next?

Looks like YOUR day was ruined!

 

[Miguel]

The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald

Breaking down the 2013 cap hit of 3,622,443

1,400,000 salary
666,668 proration of 2011 signing bonus
1,250,000 proration of 2013 signing bonus
105,575 offseason workout bonus money
200,000 Pro Bowl LTBE. LTBE because the contract was signed during the regular season

From the CBA:
Any renegotiated contract will be revalued at the time of the renegotiation.
Thus, if at the time of the renegotiation, the conditions for an incentive bonus have already been satisfied, that bonus will be deemed "likely to be earned." Any new or altered incentive bonuses renegotiated in a preexisting contract after the start of the regular season in which they may be earned automatically will be deemed "likely to be earned" during that season.

This deal increases his 2013 cap number by $550,000 leaving the Pats under the cap by 6,868,281

 

[manxman2601]

People were calling him a JAG this offseason.

I consider Ninkovich a good litmus test of someone's ability to rate a good football player - the type of player the 2001-2004 team had in spades. People who call him JAG are the sorts who use spreadsheets to evaluate a player like it's ******* baseball.

Little Britain - Computer Says No - Clip 2 - YouTube

 

[JoeSixPat]

The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald

Breaking down the 2013 cap hit of 3,622,443

1,400,000 salary
666,668 proration of 2011 signing bonus
1,250,000 proration of 2013 signing bonus
105,575 offseason workout bonus money
200,000 Pro Bowl LTBE. LTBE because the contract was signed during the regular season

From the CBA:
Any renegotiated contract will be revalued at the time of the renegotiation.
Thus, if at the time of the renegotiation, the conditions for an incentive bonus have already been satisfied, that bonus will be deemed "likely to be earned." Any new or altered incentive bonuses renegotiated in a preexisting contract after the start of the regular season in which they may be earned automatically will be deemed "likely to be earned" during that season.

This deal increases his 2013 cap number by $550,000 leaving the Pats under the cap by 6,868,281

So they really didn't front load it cap wise all that much and eat up space in their $7 plus million cap space.

Have to wonder if there might be a few more extensions in the works. They certainly have the space still.