New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram got back to work with the team for the first time this spring after he sat out the voluntary portion of their offseason program. The assumption was that he was looking for an extension to his contract, which is set to run out after this season.
However, Ingram has pushed back against the “narrative” that his absence was in any way due to him holding out for a new deal.
“People make their own narrative, the media makes their own narrative,” Ingram said per Herbie Teope of NFL.com. “I'm not angry with my contact. I wasn't holding out. Yeah, I'm in the last year of my deal — of course, I'd like an extension — but that's not the reason I wasn't here. It is voluntary, you have the option to come, I had a workout bonus.”
Ingram, who will be suspended for the first four games of the season after testing positive for PEDs, is set to make $4 million in base salary this year before he hits free agency. The Saints seem unlikely to pay top dollar to retain him with the emergence of Alvin Kamara during his rookie season. That likely means Ingram will be auditioning for a new deal this year.
The 28-year-old is coming off his best ever season as he had 1,124 rushing yards with 12 touchdowns and added 58 catches for 416 receiving yards－all new career-highs. If he can come close to recreating that production this year, he could still land that big payday he’s looking for.
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