Re: ESPN: Saints' Mark Ingram skipping OTAs until veteran minicamp, coach Sean Payton says
 

Re: ESPN: Saints' Mark Ingram skipping OTAs until veteran minicamp, coach Sean Payton says
 

You don't even know why he was "busted"? If it was out of his control there would have been nothing he could do.

And better timing for what? He isn't holding out if that's what you are talking about. There was speculation that he might hold out a couple of months ago when he fired his agent. That was LONG before the suspension was announce and even then was nothing but speculation as the reason for firing his agent.

Re: ESPN: Saints' Mark Ingram skipping OTAs until veteran minicamp, coach Sean Payton says
 

And even if Ingram does, indeed, continue to workout on his own until mandatory OTA's it isn't that egregious. With the hoopla surrounding this whole suspension ordeal it would probably be best for all concerned.

Once again, I say wait and see.

Re: ESPN: Saints' Mark Ingram skipping OTAs until veteran minicamp, coach Sean Payton says
 

Clearly, the NFLPA is no better at protecting the players from this PED injustice than it is negotiating their contracts and position identities.

Blow up the NFLPA. Down with Roger. Conspiracies abound. Revolution is the only way! Who's with me?

:banana:

Re: ESPN: Saints' Mark Ingram skipping OTAs until veteran minicamp, coach Sean Payton says
 

No they aren't and that was what Strief implied in his interview with James Lofton and Bruce Murray on NFL Radio. He said the system (for verifying which supplements are safe from banned substances) is broken and does not work. He said it is a real problem and said the only way to be somewhat safe from a violation is to never use any supplements at all. And that is not going to happen. He said the main problem is that the supplement industry is not regulated by the FDA. He said products listed as fine to take by the league can still end up with trace ingredients from the banned list and he felt bad for Ingram. To me that sounds like he knows something about the circumstances. If this is indeed what happened then how can anyone blame Ingram?

Re: ESPN: Saints' Mark Ingram skipping OTAs until veteran minicamp, coach Sean Payton says
 

Yes.... Yes.... Fire RG !

https://media1.tenor.com/images/da10...itemid=8074643

Re: ESPN: Saints' Mark Ingram skipping OTAs until veteran minicamp, coach Sean Payton says
 

I know they said this "was planned" but it seems to me he should do everything he can to redeem his name during his last year on contract. After all, when his contract is up he is going to be 29 yrs old. Not exactly the age anyone wants to sign a rb to a long term deal

Re: ESPN: Saints' Mark Ingram skipping OTAs until veteran minicamp, coach Sean Payton says
 

I would think it smart to attend if not only to stay out of Payton's dog house

Re: ESPN: Saints' Mark Ingram skipping OTAs until veteran minicamp, coach Sean Payton says
 

I have a theory on this. Currently Ingram is isolated at his home. There is no media and he can concentrate on his training during the voluntary period. Showing up at the early voluntary workouts at the team facilities would open him and the team up to much unwanted media exposure. They don't need a little circus going on while Ingram's new agents continue to fight this suspension. Payton said he and Ingram spoke and that Ingram said he wasn't going to be there and Payton said he didn't agree. Agree with what? That doesn't sound like it is contract related at all. If it was contract related why even call the coach at all?

No, this sounds like Ingram is trying to minimize distractions. It would make sense for Payton to be disagreeing that his presence would be a distraction. That is the most logical conclusion.

Believe me, if there was one person in the entire NFL that understood what it was like to be wrongly accused of something and forced to endure a suspension it is Sean Payton.

Re: ESPN: Saints' Mark Ingram skipping OTAs until veteran minicamp, coach Sean Payton says
 

Ingram's new agents are not continuing to fight the suspension. Hours after that statement was released the arbitrator rules the suspension was upheld. He is suspended the first four games.

I agree it's a BS suspension since it isn't even actual steroids or HGH or something like that and it could have been the fault of Ingram's doctors for not filing the necessary paperwork necessary for him to get the use exemption. That isn't something the player can file themselves. Someone dropped the ball and Ingram is paying a huge price for it. I just hope he comes back with an even bigger chip on his shoulder than usual and plays like his ass is on fire.

I really just wish he wasn't pushing for a new deal right now because that seems to be why hrs not reporting to workouts and is supposedly going to stay away from OTA's as well.

That's not the way the locker room leader and ultimate teammate that Ingram has been for a few years now acts when he is about to potentially become the Saints all time leading rusher and could work out a new deal after the season and then finish out his career as a Saint.

The whole situation just sucks.