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Mark Ingram says he’s been talking to Saints about new deal

Mark Ingram played the final year on his most recent contract with the New Orleans Saints, and if the team does not sign him by March 13, the running back will become a free agent.

The 29 year old has consistently maintained that he would prefer to stay with the team that drafted him, and for their part, the Saints have said they want to bring Ingram back.

To that end, both sides have met about a new agreement this offseason.

“I’ve been talking to the Saints,” Ingram told The Rich Eisen Show recently.

“It’s kind of like a thing where they say they want me back, I say, ‘I want to be back,’ [and] it’s just can we compromise on the value? Like I said, I’ve been there my entire career. It’s very rare that someone gets to spend their career in one place, and that would be something that would be significant. But at the same time, I’m not afraid to bet on myself. I believe in my opportunity.”

But while Ingram wants to remain with the Saints, he is not against looking at any opportunity that may come his way that would help him reach his stated career goals.

“Of course, I’d love to be in New Orleans for my career, my teammates, my family. I met my wife, my children there,” Ingram said of his attachment to the team and the city.

“Like I said, I love the organization, and I hope it all gets worked out. But at the same time, I have all confidence in my abilities and all confidence in what I can do given the opportunity to be a feature guy. So I’m not scared to bet on myself. At the same time, I’d love to be in New Orleans.”

For what it’s worth, Ingram says he feels as healthy as ever.

“I’m going into my ninth year, I feel like I’m better than ever,” Ingram said. “I feel like my career’s still going up. I want to rush for 10,000 yards. Clearly, I want to win the Super Bowl. I just want to keep pressing forward, keep doing the best I can do and just control what I can control.”

Since coming to the Saints from Alabama in 2011, Ingram has usually shared carries with one back or another, most recently with Alvin Kamara. Not having to bear the entire load has kept him from wearing down as much as other running backs his age, and has arguably prolonged his career.

“[Todd] Gurley’s played four years, and I think I only have 200 more carries than him. Le’Veon Bell’s played six years, I only have 90 more carries than him, and he missed this whole year. So he’d probably have more than me. I am 29, but at the same time I feel like the wear and tear I’ve had on my body is minimal,” Ingram said.

“I’ve still got four more years, at least, of playing elite football for somebody.”

Both he and the Saints hope it will be for New Orleans.

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill