INDIANAPOLIS -- Rob Ninkovich's NFL rags-to-riches story is a classic.
Drafted by the Saints in 2006, he saw action in three games as a defensive end before injuring his knee against the Falcons. From there he bounced to the Miami practice squad. In 2008, Ninkovich went back to New Orleans for about the length of a sneeze.
Now that he's a starter, and an important one, in New England, it's easier for him to look back on the career detours without frustration. Ninkovich tells the story of his introduction to the Patriots with a light heart and sense of humor.
"Coming in, I knew I had to make an impression," he said on Super Bowl media day. "I knew that special teams was probably my path to being on the 53-man roster. When I first got in here, I got here at 3 in the morning. I had a physical at 5. Ran a conditioning test at 6 and had my first practice at 8.
"It was a long first day but I was really excited to be with the Patriots. When I was drafted to New Orleansm I was pick 135. Pick 136 was New England. I thought I was going to New England when I got the call. I always wanted to be here as an outside linebacker coming out of school."
Ninkovich played college football at Purdue. Know who else was a Boilermaker? Patriots tackle Matt Light. They didn't play together at the university since Light is a decade older, but Ninkovich knew they needed to meet -- across the line.
"When I first got to New England I didn't want to pass rush against just anybody, I wanted to try to go against the guy that was starting, the best tackle that they had," he said. "If you can go against the best, beat the best, people are going to notice you unlike if you're going against a third-string guy or fourth-string guy. I had to make the team.
"The first time we had pass rush one-on-ones, I went up against Light. I wanted to go against him to show I'm a pretty good pass rusher. "
And who ended up frustrating offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia during the drills? The old vet, Matt Light.
"First rep: Did pretty good," said Ninkovich. "Scar was a little upset, said, 'Let's do that again.' Second rep was pretty good, Scar said, 'Let's do it again.' Third rep was pretty good . . . "
Ninkovich laughed. "I had three in a row, so it was a good first day for me."
The good days have kept coming.
Ninkovich started all 16 of New England's games this season. He finished with 74 combined tackles, 6.5 sacks, 4 passes defensed, two interceptions and a touchdown.
This week he is blissful.
"After we beat the Ravens . . . it was kind of a surreal feeling after the game. Six years ago I was sitting in my living room with my knee in a machine trying to get it loose, to get it to work again for me. Now I'm starting in the Super Bowl. It's a big circle I've come around on."