Patriots Reportedly Extend Rob Ninkovich's Contract, Restructure Devin McCourty's Deal

The New England Patriots reportedly have locked up one veteran defender for another season and reworked the contract of another.

The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin reported Sunday, citing a source, the Patriots had signed defensive end Rob Ninkovich to a one-year contract extension through 2017 and restructured safety Devin McCourty’s deal, which runs through 2019.

The details of Ninkovich’s extension, which ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss also reported:

Source: #Patriots have signed DE Rob Ninkovich to a 1-year extension thru 2017. Now playing on a 2-yr, $4.27m deal

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 11, 2016

For 2017, Ninkovich has a $1m salary (gtd for injury only), $400k in per-game bonuses, $100k workout bonus, $500k incentives. Max value $2m

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 11, 2016

And McCourty’s restructuring:

Source: #Patriots restructured Devin McCourty’s deal on Fri. Converted $3.74m of base salary into signing bonus. Created $2.8m of cap space

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 11, 2016

The $3.74m signing bonus decreases McCourty’s 2016 cap number from $7.9m to $5.1m, and adds $935k to his cap numbers each year in 2017-19

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 11, 2016

Ninkovich was suspended for the first four games of this season after testing positive for a banned substance. He’ll serve the first game of that suspension Sunday night when the Patriots visit the Arizona Cardinals in their season opener.

Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images