WhoDat!656

Jimmy Graham isn’t the only one who’s shocked by the Saints’ offseason moves.

Saints running back Mark Ingram told Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune that he was stunned to learn that fellow running back Darren Sproles was among the players the Saints released, and that another running back, Pierre Thomas, might follow Sproles out the door.

“Everything has been shocking,” Ingram said. “If something did happen to Pierre, it would be a shocker, too. It would be completely different. I would be the oldest guy in the [running backs meeting] room. It’s crazy to think about, and it’s shocking with everything going on. But it’s just the business side of everything. Those guys in the front office are doing what they think is best to have success this year.”

Ingram also realizes, however, that he’s likely to play a bigger role in the offense with Sproles gone and Thomas possibly following him.

“It’s an exciting time in my career,” Ingram said. “I just want to take advantage of my situation and the opportunity that’s presenting itself. Just want to prove to the organization that I can be the back they wanted, an every-down back, type of playmaker that they need. I’m excited about my situation. It’s unfortunate to see a lot of guys go, but I’m excited about my opportunity that I have coming up.”

It’s an opportunity for Ingram to be something he’s never been in New Orleans: The Saints’ primary running back.

Mark Ingram finds Saints’ moves “shocking” | ProFootballTalk

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

Saintaintso

Leggitit

papz

Their jobs are to strap on the helmet and play football. The politics are usually left to the agents... that's what they get paid for. So it's hardly surprising to see players voiced how shocked they are with these moves. Not only are they losing teammates, they losing good friends they've fought with on the field for years. It's totally understandable these players are feeling the way they are.

WhoDat!656

I wonder what Ingram's reaction would be if he knew how many fans wanted HIM traded!?

Beastmode

Older players getting cut and traded is anything but shocking. It's quite normal in fact, even if they are still playing at a decent level. That's the best time.

hagan714

lmao i guess this stuff was not told to them when they signed the collective bargaining agreement. cap 101. i am really getting worried about the common sense of some players on this team. this is the same ol same ol for any team that has 4 opps now 5 players salaries taking up what some 40% of the cap. key mid level players will be cut

Cruize

If someone would offer the Saints a 4th for him, and I were Loomis, he would be REALLY shocked.

TheOak

Graham has seen the Saints cut Shockey, Kasay, and a multitude of other players. Ingram has also seen cuts since he has been a Saint. Neither of them had peep to say when Vilma, Smith, Greer were cut.. There wasn't shock until cuts went to their side of the ball.

I don't buy any shock either. They are ALL football fans and watched plenty of NFL through out their college and High School careers and know about cuts.

What is being learned by some Saints players and Saints fans this off season is the hard lesson in expectations. When you have never been to a Super Bowl an owners expectations for his Billion dollar investment are some what lower than after one has been won. We won a Super bowl in 2009 and haven't been to a NFC Championship game since. Since 2009 we have lost a WC, 2 Divs and not gone one year, Ownership has a taste for a championship and changes are due because of the last 4 years. This is the business side, when your sales team dominates a market for a year then comes back and doesn't for a few years.. its time to change things and let those that escape the cuts know that expectations are high and so will be turn over if they do not get the job done.

arsaint

We are operating the Patriot way.

There's only so far loyalty can take a team - unfortunately fan favorites end up leaving at some point.

New blood coming in - probably at a cheaper price and with younger legs...

papz

Good comparison. The Patriots have been "renovating"(I really like that term Duncan used in his article) for years. It's a cut throat business and teams need to be ahead of the curve if they want to sustain long term success. You've always got to look at the bigger picture.