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It's still very early in the 2013 offseason. But so far, all signs are pointing toward a big year for New Orleans Saints tailback Mark Ingram.

Not a "breakout" year, per se, since Ingram will still have to share the workload with standout tailbacks Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas. But Ingram certainly should have his most productive year to date in his third NFL season.

For one thing, the Saints traded away Chris Ivory, turning a four-way tailback logjam into a three-man rotation. For another thing, Saints coach Sean Payton has made it clear that he intends to make an improved run game one of his top priorities this season.

And perhaps most noteworthy, Ingram is fully healthy this offseason for the first time since he left Alabama for the NFL in 2011.

"I've just been working hard this offseason, trying to get in the best shape of my life," said the 5-foot-9, 215-pounder, who spent last summer recovering from toe surgery and a minor knee surgery.

Although Ingram has yet to deliver on his Heisman trophy-winning potential in the NFL, his attitude about sharing the load in New Orleans has always been outstanding. And that remained the case when I caught up with him on Wednesday night, where he was cheering on teammates at the Black and Gold Hoops challenge.

Ingram acknowledged that he had hoped to make a bigger impact in the NFL by this point. But he insisted that he won't put his own goals ahead of the team goals.

"I just want to go out there and do what I can to help the team win a championship," Ingram said. "Of course I want to have a big year individually. But, you know, the main goal is to win games and stay healthy and be out there on the field on Sundays."

Read more: Healthy Mark Ingram is poised to have best season yet with New Orleans Saints | NOLA.com

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