Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints

https://image.nola.com/home/nola-med...47476a65f8.jpg

By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com
The Times-Picayune

That Mark Ingram was there to meet his New Orleans Saints teammates when they arrived at the airport after a 33-18 win in New York was not a surprise to teammate Demario Davis.

"He's a guy who is ready to get back to work," Davis said.

Ingram is officially back in the fold after serving his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing drugs (a charge Ingram unsuccessfully challenged on the basis that the substance was permissible).

He brought his trademark energy when he greeted the team at the airport after they arrived late Sunday (Sept. 30).

"It was just joy and excitement," said left tackle Terron Armstead. "Mark is a guy that is loved by the entire locker room and the entire organization. It's just the energy he brings, the positivity he brings to the team. His energy is contagious."

In a conference call Tuesday (Oct. 2), Saints coach Sean Payton said Ingram looked to be in fine shape physically, noting that it was just four weeks away from the team. Ingram also competed in Saints' training camp and preseason games.

"He wasn't gone for a year and a half or been a castaway on an island," Payton said. "It was four weeks. He's in good shape."

Last season, he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also set a career high in receptions (58) and receiving yards (416).

By combining Ingram with Alvin Kamara, the Saints finished No. 5 in the NFL in rushing and led the league with 23 rushing touchdowns and a 4.7 yards per carry average.

Read the rest here ...

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Good sound byte & analysis from Chris Carter on the return of MI aka Angrum.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

This is the first time that the definitive reason for Ingram's suspension was stated, as far as I am aware. It had been alluded to that it was not any sort of "performance enhancing substance," yet never clearly stated. Cold medicine is allowed with the proper authorization. Ingram fired his agent before this became public. How much you want to bet his agent failed to get the official "OK" as was his responsibility?

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

735 yards in 12 games... Think he can do it and become #1 in Saints history?

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Easily. He'll also break Deuce's all-time rushing TD record of 49 with six more TD's.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

The fact that we are 3-1 on his return is great! I'm excited!

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Not to mention the points we have been putting up without him.
He’s gonna bring a lot to that locker room.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Contract year. Kamara playing lights out. Ingram will truly run with passion. Expecting great things.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Also, don't forget that he worked all this off-season with a speed coach to get faster and a route running coach! Add to that the way he got screwed over by the league on this whole suspension deal and he'll be running with an extra passion.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

We are about to find out how much Ingram means to the team.

Especially the "trade Ingram" crowd.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

I'm not in the trade Ingram crowd. However, I can see the point from a reality standpoint. Ingram deserves to get paid. I don't think the Saints can afford him. Letting him go as free agent gets back minimal compensation. A trade could get more. All makes sense to me.

SFIAH

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

SFIAH - my post wasn't directed at you but more so at some of the posters wanting him gone this season (due to suspension).

I'm speaking specifically of MI this season. Based on the handful of games thus far, some of our woes on D is due to the lack of ball control (i.e. Ingram). He brings balance & the ability to control the ball & clock we have been lacking the last 4 weeks.

We are in win now mode. Mark helps us big time in 2018. This team will be stronger starting on Monday night now that he's back.

However next year's debate with Mark returning in Black and Gold ... totally different conversation.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Could be the difference maker this week.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

I can't wait to see Mark Ingram pacing up and down the sideline lookin all fired up and resembling the Incredible Hulk after breakin three tackles on the way to a 20yd run up the middle. Hes the Draymond Green of the Saints. Not our best player but our emotional leader, our dirty work guy. I of course believe Ingram is the last piece of the puzzle for a championship team. Don't all real Who Dats agree?

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

It had nothing to do with wanting him gone. He will be gone next year. It was about getting max value if someone else emerged. If Boston Scott was blowing up the building then what? That did not happen.



Why do people get so emotional about players I do not know. Where have we made the most money recently? THE DRAFT! That is our strength. Go with that and get the picks that we gave up.

And I KNOW we will not get a 1st. What it would give us is something to bundle to get back into the 1st RND.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Exactly!

Does Ingram contributing to our offense and locker room give the Saints a better shot at winning our second Lombardi THIS YEAR? If the answer is yes (and it absolutely is!) then trading him prior to that Super Bowl would be downright stupid. Right now, this year is our best chance to win another championship. We may be devastated by injuries or retiring players next year or the following year.

Making the team weaker this season for some hope and dream next season is foolish, at the best, idiotic at the worst. Totally illogical.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

The failure rate of draft picks is way too high to risk trading a star player for a "high draft pick".

Why is this so hard to understand?

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Especially a star player (perhaps our most versatile player) that can help us win a championship THIS year.

It's the old "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" logic. It shouldn't be hard to understand.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Last year, if AP would have been suspended for 4 games and Kamara blows, up, would you even consider trading AP if someone offered something stupid because they are desperate?


The draft is a crap shoot but it has not been for us the last two years. We have done quite well. It's not a crap shoot if you have good staff who can evaluate talent and needs. It is why we are in the position we are in right now. This is not the Jets, Browns staff here.

I said this before the season even started. It's silly to bash people over current state. Nobody knew all our RB's outside of Kamara were not going to show up. What did happen, there is a shortage of RB's right now. On that front I was correct. We don't even know if other teams made any offers either which I am sure they did.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

That's apples and oranges. Peterson wasn't an established leader, nor has the ability to execute Payton's entire offense as does Ingram. Ingram has become an integral part of our offense. I'm sure everyone here recognizes what has been missing these first four weeks.

No way in Hell if it could compromise winning the Lombardi again this year.

Win Now!

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

We are winning now. Without MI.



I am however glad he is here. I would have preferred Boston to have blown up but that did not materialize. Teams are so desperate right now. We could have got a 2nd for him easy.


I do know this though, the same people enjoying bashing me before the season even started of considering trading MI will be the same people complaining and crying when our draft sucks next year and the intoxication of this season is long gone.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

I seriously doubt that. We're going to be celebrating the Super Bowl win that Ingram helped us get.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

With this defense? Unless they clean it up, one and done hangover. But you are free to comeback here and complain about draft picks next year and I know you will. Cry like a baby on our meager picks and blame our season on a weak draft class and still claiming Meredith is GONNA be an awesome slot WR after gaining 140 yds when he was suppose to be the WR2.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Is he playing Monday night.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

I am probably in the camp by myself, when I say after reviewing all last years games, I believe Ingram was taking steroids. He was puffy and the rage looked obvious to me. I've see players who dope and I firmly believe that Ingram was taking a banned supplement. If he comes back strong, still angry and hasn't lost a lot of mass then I'll eat my crow.
I love Ingram. Don't get me wrong. Roll Tide! And don't get dinged up!

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

He was tested during the season and never tested positive for anything. It wasn't until after the final playoff game that he had a failed test. Cris Carter, a very close friend of the family, confirmed that it was a banned cold medicine that triggered the test. It absolutely was not steroids.

I get regular steroid injections for some cervical issues and they stay in your system for quite some time. To have any real "positive" physical impact from steroids you would have to really load up on them.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

Me cry about our draft picks? Boy, have you got the wrong person. I NEVER cry about draft picks. I celebrate each and every one whether we have two or twelve. You clearly don't know me.

:D

Besides, we're going 19-0 next year. ;)

As for Meredith ... all I ever said was he wasn't a wasted signing and would be our slot receiver for at least eight games. Barring injury, I don't see a problem with that. Hopefully he'll have positive impact the remainder of the Super Bowl run.

:bng:

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

The jury is still out on Merideth too. He is not 100 percent yet so he very well could be our number 2 when all is said and done.

Re: Mark Ingram is back and 'ready to work' with the Saints
 

This is true.