Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Mark Ingram doesn’t just want to be a good running back. He doesn’t just want to be a great running back. He doesn’t just want to be the best running back in the NFL.

He wants to be greater than any running back who has ever played the game of football.

“The sky’s the limit, man. I want to be the best back to ever play the freakin’ game of football,” Ingram said, via ESPN.

Through three NFL seasons since the Saints took him in the first round of the 2011 draft, Ingram has fallen slightly short of being the best ever. He has 356 carries for 1,462 yards and 11 touchdowns so far in his career. Those numbers wouldn’t even make him the best running back in the NFL if he had compiled them in one year, let alone three.

The Saints declined to pick up the fifth-year option on Ingram’s rookie deal, meaning he’s heading into a contract year. There’s a good chance that the Saints will move on from Ingram in 2015, with Pierre Thomas still in place as the starter and second-year running back Khiry Robinson showing promise as a backup to Thomas. Ingram, however, says he isn’t worrying about the future.

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Comments are crazy funny ... LOL

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

He needs to work on becoming the best back on the team.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

"I want to be Aquaman."

That cracked me up.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

One yard at a time... especially with the game on the line. Let's concentrate on that first.

You just pick up what WE NEED, then you can strap yourself into freakin' Mercury Morris' helmet if you want to!

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Undrafted players have easily out performed him. I hope we never use a pick on a RB ever again.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Of course you want to be the best back in the league. Just step into line right here behind Khiry Robinson. :wink:

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

He can have a productive NFL career. It's just not going to happen in a Saints uniform or Payton's offense. Everybody except Brees is just a role player in the current scheme.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

I'll settle for a decent entire season

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

HAHAHhahahahahahHahahahHahHaaaa!!!

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Haters, we got a bunch

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

I would just love for him to have a good season where he's consistent from start to finish and helps the team win some games.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

You gotta love his bravado.... Remember when Reggie Bush said in game 5 of the 2009 season that the Saints could go undefeated and win the Super Bowl and Saints fans at the time thought he one was nuts, and two was bad lucking what at the was a good start to the season..... You gotta have some hutpsa to say something like that.... Id love to see him back it up by earning his extention.....!!!!!

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

He didn't say he was gonna be the greatest, he said he wants to be. Only a dolt could find fault with a player wanting to be the best ever.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Its not just Payton offense. The time of the star running back is over. The job can be done easier, and cheaper by committee. Teams are building their running game around several backs now.The days where one back has 1200 plus yards in a season is coming to an end. So are the big contracts and high draft picks for running backs.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Teams with a RBBC better have an elite offense or defense or it won't mean squat.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Tbh, I may no longer be a NFL fan when Brees retires simply because I don't like the direction the sport is going and the players that are emerging such as CK.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

There is some truth to what you're saying. If he had said I hope to be the 100th best back people would complain he had no heart, but I think when athletes who haven't performed to that level start talking about that it sounds somewhat disingenuous. I am just looking for a really good season from him- I'll take that

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

That train left the station a loooong time ago!

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

he needs to take a page out of the Sweetness or Berry Sanders handbook. let your playing do the talking. There the role models he needs to emulate.

so shut up and put up already

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Good grief thats ridiculous.

I guess you have the same problem with Galette, Cam Jordan, Jimmy Graham, and numerous other Saints througout history that express how they strive to be the best.

Absolutely ridiculous. :rolleyes:

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

“The sky’s the limit, man. I want to be the best back to ever play the freakin’ game of football,” Ingram said.

Ingram said it doesn’t bother him that there now seems to be more buzz around second-year running back Khiry Robinson.

“I don’t mind at all. I mean, I like flying under the radar,” Ingram said. “And Khi’s a good player, a special, young player. He has a lot of talent, a lot of ability, so he deserves the buzz he’s getting. ...

“I don’t get too anxious or get anxiety about the future. I just try to handle it one day at a time. You know, whatever my role may be to help us win the game, that’s what I’m gonna do to the best of my ability. If you take it one day at a time, eventually your major goals will fall into place.”


“I was versatile in college and just want to transfer that to the NFL,” Ingram said. “I want to be an every-down back, not just to be a short-yardage or base back. I want to be able to run out of the gun, run in nickel, catch screen passes, pick up pass protection. I just want to do everything I can to contribute from a football player -- not just a running back.

“I just want to do everything I can to be the best player I can be to help us win games and win a championship. That’s my No. 1 goal.”


One thing about Ingram that should never be questioned is his attitude and his work ethic.

If anything, Ingram admits that his biggest problem might have been trying to do too much when he got opportunities to succeed.

“I think sometimes I press, because sometimes I don’t have as many opportunities,” Ingram said. “So sometimes I get in and I press and try to make a big play, when I should just go with the flow of the game and just make my read and take 3 yards or take 2 yards.

“So just being patient and being confident and just going through my reads and just sticking to 'em. ... The big plays will come. You’ve got to be patient.”

" Us three jelling together, I don't think many teams have as a deep a running back corps as we do and as good as a running corps as we do," Ingram said. "I'd put our running corps up with anyone in the league. So I think just the fact that we're all working hard and we push each other to be better, that's what's going to help us have a lot of success this season."

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Well we're waiting.

Mark Ingram doesn’t just want to be a good running back. He doesn’t just want to be a great running back. He doesn’t just want to be the best running back in the NFL.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

LOL!!! Exactly right.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

I heard Mark Ingram has bad table manners! Come at me bro

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Well that would be a more valid reason to hate on him than anything he said in that article.;)

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

What is he supposed to say?

That he wants to be an avg RB at best and to never rush for more than 1000 yds in a season... come'on man.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

I don't personally have a problem, per se, with what Ingram said. It does sound silly coming from someone who hasn't done much. It seems like he's always got something to say about having something to prove, and has yet to back it up. It's fine to speak with confidence and have goals, but when you're always talking and rarely showing out on the field, people will get tired of hearing it from you.

Where I completely disagree with you is your comparisons given to other players... Those guys have all done something. I can't think of anything that needs to be added to that.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Maybe Mark Ingram should be tested twice for marijuana.

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

In otherwords he wants to be Pierre Thomas without the candor

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

I do not hate the kid at all. i just get tired of the lip service and all the dancing around. Show me you have the skill set to be the best first then start yapping about it.

he carries a ton baggage that he needs to prove he is worth what we payed for him. that aint easy. but we are far enough down the line now were that should no longer be an issue for him.

I have always said he is not in the best system for his skill set. the saints may just get this zone blocking thing down this year and he just might shine.

If he does then talk the trash

Re: Mark Ingram: I want to be the best back in the history of football
 

Saying you want to be the best isn't talking trash.