New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

One of the most underrated players heading into 2013 free agency, New Orleans Saints running back Chris Ivory will be looking to land a gig as someone’s No. 1 runner when March 12 rolls around. If the Saints know what’s best for them, though, he shouldn’t get the opportunity.

While Ivory hasn’t had too many opportunities to showcase his talents, the former undrafted back has plenty to offer an NFL offense. With an explosive running style and the ability to hit a home run at any given moment, Ivory is a star waiting to shine. Unfortunately, for the past three seasons, he’s been stuck in the logjam that is the Saints’ running back depth chart.

What the Saints need to do is re-sign Ivory and make him a priority in their offense. Since entering the league in 2010, the 24-year old out of Tiffin University has received only 288 offensive touches (256 carries, 32 catches). Not only did he show that he can make the most of his limited attempts (career 5.1 yards per carry average), but Ivory also has fresh legs and could easily shoulder a full-time load for the next three or four seasons assuming he doesn’t fall to injury.

Ivory has the potential to be better than Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles if given the opportunity. The only question at this point is whether or not the Saints find the courage to clear up the clutter, re-sign Ivory and let the youngster do what he does best. In my opinion, that would be the best case scenario moving forward for New Orleans.

If the Saints don’t re-sign Ivory, it’s likely that a runner-needy team like the Green Bay Packers will throw a significant amount of money at him and make him their feature back. If that does happen, the Saints will be forced to field a patchwork ground game, which obviously isn’t working for them.

The decision is theirs to make; whether or not they make the right choice is still to be seen.

Read more at NFL Free Agency: New Orleans Saints need to re-sign Chris Ivory

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

As much as I bag on Ivory (rightfully so) I am behind this 100%.

Until he fumbles or gets injured.

So, I'm 100% behind this for a few weeks.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

I expect we will resign him. He's a RFA right?

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Ivorys is def. MY favorite runner on this team ! The guy explodes when He gets the ball is sn't afraid of a hit ! I would hate to see him with any other team !

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

yep RFA. I was thinking same thing. Not sure we can afford him, but would suck if the failcons picked him up.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

I love Chris Ivory like everybody else... But seeing as how he's a restricted free-agent, if another team were to offer him a decent contract and give us a fourth or fifth round draft pick for him then of course we should let him go. That is, to the right team... Not the Failclons as Pherein said!

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

A team like the Ravens or 49'ers or Cincy will jump on him. Gore and Ivory could make for a long day. I hope we resign him and run a power game.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Falcons have expressed a lot of interest in Stephen Jackson.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

I've heard of nothing but the Packers being interested in Steven Jackson... That's interesting to think of Atlanta being interested in him. I just don't see them getting rid of one washed up RB for one that's just about on his last legs.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

No offense and I certainly love to see him put the hammer down on the field, but how much "bounty" did he collect on his own cart offs? He runs too damn crazy to stay healthy. Let's get some draft picks for him from a team we're playing in the second half of the season.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

I guess it all depends on what kind of magic Loomis can do with our cap.

Being that we're 20 mill over and still have to re-sign or replace Bushrod and DLP (there's about 8 mill), adding another 2 million for our 4th string RB who's injured more than he's healthy is a pretty tough sell.

I'd be tempted to throw that 2 million toward some front 7 3-4 players.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Danno, are you somehow related to, or working for Loomis?

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Not yet.:p

Why do you ask?

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

You have your finger on the numbers like none other here. Damned impressive I must say.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Fin is probably more up on it than I am, but we both apparently read a lot of articles about our cap situation.

Triplett had a pretty good article on our cap that showed simple contract restructures by Brees, Grubbs, Evans, combined with the release of Vilma and Smith saved about 28 million all by itself.

If just those 5 moves can free up 28 million, imagine what an entire roster overview by one of the best contract GM's in the league could do.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

I know he's talking numbers, but all I hear is blah, blah, blah. You say it so I can hear it.

Plus throw in a few more guys hitting the streets and we could have some real money to throw around for FA's.

Now if we can just get our first rounder this year to really pan out...

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

:stupid:

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Think it will depend on Payton's gameplan. If he believes they should have run the ball more and can do that, he might just want a full stable again.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

I agree with you I'm going to extreme dispointed is we let Ivory go. Imgram came along late last year but I still think he's our best runner.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Sign him

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

He wasn't injured that first seven games that he SAT, was the spark once he played and I'm still waiting for that fumbling problem to materialize from the vapors of last years training camp.

If not Ivory... WHO will be running the ball? Ingram? Please.

Ivory is like a thoroughbred, he needs to be run week-after-week. Lapses contribute to injury.

Payton loved him, and got to sit and watch him frustrate opponents. My bet is that he won't be going anywhere.

He may not be the "future of the Saints", but he sure makes opponents prepare for the worst.

Alaska

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Its hard to figure out C Ivory something tells me theres just more frustration ahead for this dude. Yep he just breaks down more than a gold rush dozer. But i love the mans agressiveness.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

When the game is on the line and we need 2-3 yards to keep a drive alive he is clutch. Ivory runs so hard the earths rotation either slows or speeds up depending on his direction.


Is he a 16 game a season 20 carry per game back? No
Would you want to face him on another team? No

If you had to put the ball in any of our RBs hands in a time of need would he be the guy? Yes he pulls yards out of somewhere and makes it happen.

He was 4th in the NFL in YPC with backs that have 40+ carrys

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

PAY THE MAN!!!

We don't need no stinking LB's

We don't need no stinking DT's or DE's

We don't need no CB's or Safeties

We don't need no Left Tackle

We don't need no Center

But we absolutely MUST sign a 4th string RB who sucks in pass protection, is fumble prone, and stays hurt more than he stays healthy.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

While I agree w/ just about everything you are saying Danno, from what I gather from everyones post, either most want him, or it shows the lack of confidence in the other RB's (to justify 4 RB's). I agree, our needs elsewhere far exceed another RB. If everyone is so gung ho on Ivory, then maybe we need to move another back? I dont think so, we just have more pressing needs.

I think we'll probably tender Ivory at the lowest level (no compensation), and if someone signs him to an offer sheet, he's gone. We just can't afford to pay a 4th RB any more than what we currently pay Ivory... It is what it is.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Come on Danno, Ivory missed 4 games last year due to injury... 3 regular season and 1 play off.

He missed the first half of the year because a 3rd string coach didnt care to gain yards on the ground and kept slamming Ingram into every game at an average of 2.2 YPC.

Ivory has not fumbled in a game since 2012, and only lost 2 fumbles in his career with the Saints.


That being said
"
The Cincinnati Enquirer suggests Chris Ivory and Reggie Bush as two "possible fits" for the Bengals in free agency.
Bush will be connected to lots of places between now and March 12, making Ivory the more interesting suggestion. Ivory has been buried on the Saints' depth chart for the better part of three years, but is still just a restricted free agent. Considering Ivory's injury history and likely price tag ($2 million or more), it's possible he'll be allowed to move on. However, he's only 25 (in March) and has averaged 5.1 yards on 256 career carries. It's why the Saints might at least explore a trade, and why the Enquirer considers Ivory an intriguing potential change-of-pace to BenJarvus Green-Ellis."

Chris Ivory - New Orleans Saints - 2013 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

On the coaches show as well as camp reports from WWL, it was stated numerous times that Ivory constantly fumbled in practice and struggled in pass protection.

And I doubt anyone would deny the guy has been injury prone his entire career, including High School, College and the Pros.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

I tend to look at how he's performed in live games as opposed to the coaches show from pre-season.

Your fumbling issue still holds no water. Maybe this year you can exclaim, "SEE, HE FUMBLED!"

Alaska

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Its not my claim chief, its the coaches and the reporters that were in attendance. Huge difference.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

It is hard to teach "attitude" like Ivory has. Ingram didn't start running until it looked like he was going to loose his job.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Or maybe it was because the team got their O-line coach back, which also coincided with PT and Sproles running better too.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Ingrams already had turf toe and surgery on his knee is he injury prone? and where is this he sucks in pass protection come from and when is the last time he fumbled?

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Trade Ingram keep Ivory - simple!

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

See post 30.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

RB Spencer Ware, LSU 7th round can replace ivory and might stay of the IR

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

I have very mixed emotions about Ivory. I love watching him run, but you don't pay two million dollars to a man who can't see the field on a regular basis. Whether that's because of injury or a lack of faith in him from the coaching staff I'm not sure. We are not privy to what goes on in the coaches meeting rooms and practices.
I personally believe that Ivory did light a fire under Ingram which leaves me with concerns about Ingrams motivation.
I have softened on Ingram since he arrived in NO. I watched him at Bama and was excited about the pick, which turned out to be an emotional pick by Payton because of pressure from his son. Payton said so in his book.
Like i said I have mixed emotions. One thing is true.......someone needs to take over the bulk of the carries and get into a rhythm.jmho

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

I approve this message....errr thread. It would be a MAJOR mistake not to re-sign Ivory and make him our lead back. I think we will be very happy if we do.

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

For the first third of the season....

Re: New Orleans Saints should re-sign RB Chris Ivory
 

Which would you rather do...

Spend 2 million on Ivory

OR

Use that 2 million to help re-sign our LT and OC, and acguire a free agent or two at DT, DE, OLB, CB or S.

At 15 million OVER the cap, re-signing a 4th string RB with a reputation for injury, fumbles and poor pass protection, it just doesn't make sense.

Ivory is a luxury we cannot afford right now.