2014 will be defining season of Mark Ingram's New Orleans Saints career
 

One of Sean Payton's core beliefs is that a player's draft status, contract or pedigree should never factor into the New Orleans Saints' evaluation process of him.

He famously tells his team each spring, "It doesn't matter how you got here. Once you're here, you're going to be evaluated fairly regardless of your background."

NFL coaches have to think that way. But fans certainly don't. Nor does the media.

The reality is some players arrive in the NFL with vastly different expectations.

The Saints backfield is a prime example. Of the six running backs on the roster, only Mark Ingram was drafted. The other five runners all arrived as college free agents.


2014 will be defining season of Mark Ingram's New Orleans Saints career | Jeff Duncan | NOLA.com

Re: 2014 will be defining season of Mark Ingram's New Orleans Saints career
 

I still think he is just a late bloomer waiting to explode!! With Robinson and Ingram we have a good pair.

Re: 2014 will be defining season of Mark Ingram's New Orleans Saints career
 

I thought next year was going to be his defining season...:-o

Re: 2014 will be defining season of Mark Ingram's New Orleans Saints career
 

I disagree

they held Ingram and let Chris Ivory, who was clearly the better back go, because they couldn't be seen shopping their "we traded up" high draft pick guy


Ingram is a tip off to the other team that we are running the ball on that down. Look how many close games we lost last year when we couldn't get a first down because Shawn was running out the clock with Mark

he has to add the screen game to his skill set

Re: 2014 will be defining season of Mark Ingram's New Orleans Saints career
 

I knock Mark but i also knock the saints system. so far not a match made in heaven. i am pulling for the marriage to work but IMO it is a long shot at the money he is getting. But if it gels that is great

Re: 2014 will be defining season of Mark Ingram's New Orleans Saints career
 

Agreed on the system mis-match so far, but he's not making that much money. He's not even in the top 20 for RB's.

Re: 2014 will be defining season of Mark Ingram's New Orleans Saints career
 

Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to catch well out of the back field and Payton has given him ample opportunities to show he can be multi faceted. Ingram needs to go to a team that has a head coach who is run oriented and will feed him the rock. That won't happen here.

Re: 2014 will be defining season of Mark Ingram's New Orleans Saints career
 

contract 2,359,875

still to much based on injury history and production. but that is all the part of the gamble. saints ignore the injury when they drafted him. still rates as a desperation pick in my book. but oh well

dead 973,500

makes him cap causality bait if a few more bucks are needed. though i really do not think this will happen

the ghost that haunts them

trading their second-round selection (#56 overall) and their first-round selection in 2012 (#27).

which turned out even bigger in 2012 with the bounty scandal.

he does have a lot of crap heaped on him thats for sure.

here is to an all pro break out season for Mark.