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FOXBOROUGH, Mass -- Defensive end Rob Ninkovich has started every game for the New England Patriots over the last five seasons. He's been as solid and consistent a force as New England has had from his left defensive end spot. Ninkovich notched at least 6.5 sacks each year dating to 2011, tallying 37 total over those five years.
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But this spring, most noticeably in this week's mandatory mini-camp at Gillette Stadium, Ninkovich has practiced primarily as an off-the-line linebacker.
The bulk of his reps have come at inside linebacker lined up next to Jamie Collins.
"For me, being an overall football player in every aspect of the game, whatever is helping the team," Ninkovich explained after the second day of mini-camp practice. "Trying to learn different positions and trying to master being inside, outside, end of the line ... whatever I need to do."
Seeing Ninkovich on the inside is new for New England since his time has been spent as an outside linebacker/defensive end as a Patriot. But he indicated that he worked at inside linebacker early in his career -- in 2007-08 -- while in Miami with the Dolphins.
Entering his seventh season with the Patriots and 11th overall, Ninkovich says he welcomes the challenges of switching spots.
"In this game, there are many things that are hard to master so trying to learn a different position is a challenge and I embrace that," Ninkovich said. "I've played multiple positions many times in my life.
"Whatever I'm at, really it's just to help the team and do whatever I can and be multiple. That's one of the strengths of my game is being able to play multiple positions."
--G Jonathan Cooper never settled into life with the Arizona Cardinals.
The former No. 7 overall pick in the 2013 draft missed his rookie season to injury and then started only 11 of 24 games played over the last two years.
Cooper arrived in New England as part of the trade that sent Chandler Jones to Arizona and has been taking starting reps at right guard this spring, although key returning guards Josh Kline, Tre' Jackson and Shaq Mason have been absent from the practice field.
"Any rep I get, I'm going to make the most of it and do what I can," Cooper told reporters. "I am appreciative for those reps and just continue to work. With the reps we're getting and the great group of guys we have in the room, it hasn't been too hard to gel and get that continuity."
Seen as a can't-miss, generational guard talent coming out of North Carolina, Cooper has been a clear disappointment as a professional. But he's not worrying about that, now, preferring to focus on the opportunity at hand with the Patriots.
"I'm trying to be in the present, not look back," Cooper said. "It's a daily grind. That's one of the major focuses every day: do what's necessary, do your job. And you can't look too far ahead. Each day, make sure you improve from the day before."
--C Bryan Stork showed plenty of fight on the second day of mini-camp practice when he and defensive lineman Woodrow Hamilton went to the ground together and the third-year offensive lineman proceed to throw a flurry of punches to head of the undrafted rookie.
Both players were immediately sent off the practice field to the locker room after the fight was broken up by teammates.
Coach Bill Belichick didn't have much to say of the fight after practice, telling the media to ask the players, who weren't actually made available to the media.
Veteran Pro Bowl special teamer and Patriots captain Matthew Slater did find a way to address the issue that his coach sidestepped.
"Football's an emotional game and your emotions are going to get the best of you at times, especially when we're out here competing," Slater said. "Everyone's competing for a job. We like to see the competitiveness of practices, but we have to be smart.
"We all know that (roster) numbers are limited at this level and we have to take care of one another as we practice. So, we have to be smart about that, but at the same time, you like the competitive nature of practice. It's a double-edged sword."
NOTES: TE Rob Gronkowski was not on the field for New England's three-day mini-camp, although he was reportedly at the facility each day. ESPNBoston.com reported that the team is "taking a cautious approach with an undisclosed physical ailment that isn't considered a long-range concern" for the All-Pro. ... WR Julian Edelman (knee) was among the 13 players not on the field for the first day of the Patriots mini-camp. The group included Logan Ryan, LeGarrette Blount, Duron Harmon, Dion Lewis (knee), Nate Ebner (trying to make the U.S. Olympic rugby team), Tre' Jackson (knee), Josh Kline, Shaq Mason, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder (bicep), Danny Amendola (knee) and Gronkowski. ... RB Brandon Bolden was among four players added to the absentee list for the second day of mini-camp, a group that also included rookie WR Malcolm Mitchell, TE Clay Harbor and LB C.J. Johnson. ... TE Michael Williams left practice early June 8 because of an apparently serious left knee injury. The veteran had been having a solid spring before going down because of the non-contact injury. He was attended to by the medical staff and checked on by a number of teammates, including Tom Brady, before walking off under his own power and heading to the locker room. ... LS Joe Cardona was given leave by the U.S. Navy from his duties aboard a ship in Bath, Maine, in order to attend the Patriots three-day mini-camp. Cardona's status to play football has been up in the air this spring, and he will return to his Naval duties after the mini-camp, but reports have indicated that the second-year player will be available to play football in New England in 2016. Bill Belichick said he did not know Cardona's exact status moving forward, though.
