Appeal Denied For Saints RB Mark Ingram
On Wednesday morning, Mark Ingram‘s representatives issued a statement to dispute the league’s claim that he violated the policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Apparently, the case has already been open and shut. Ingram’s appeal has already been heard and denied, Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune tweets. At this point, Ingram’s reps are just waiting for the full written decision from the arbitrator. 
[RELATED: Did Saints Consider Trading Ingram This Offseason?]
Ingram’s camp argued that the test results were somehow illegitimate while also noting that the substance in question “permissible with the proper use exemption with the NFL.” Of course, without the exemption, Ingram would still be in violation of league rules for having that substance in his system. Ingram’s fight may not be over, however, as the statement from his agents indicated that he would “explore what further options are needed” after reviewing the ruling.
Ingram is slated to miss the first four games of the season, but luckily for the Saints, it’s a relatively soft portion of the schedule with the Buccaneers, Browns, Falcons, and Giants on deck. They will lean a bit more heavily on Alvin Kamara to carry the ball, though they may take a closer look at veteran options to hold them over for the first month of the season.
Saints’ Mark Ingram To Fight Suspension
Saints running back Mark Ingram will fight his four-game suspension, according to a press release from his agents. Ingram, it seems, will argue against the validity of the test results. 
“At the end of the 2017 season, as a result of a NFL mandated random drug test, Mark Ingram tested positive for a substance that was not a performance enhancing substance, nor an illegal substance, but a substance in fact permissible with the proper use exemption with the NFL,” the statement reads. “He has vigorously challenged the test results through the arbitration process. The arbitrator’s opinion is due on or before Wednesday, May 16. Upon having the opportunity to review the arbitrator’s opinion, we will explore what further options are needed.”
Ingram’s reps also note that the substance in question is permitted to be used by players with a thereputic use exemption, but it doesn’t seem that Ingram had a TUE for whatever it was. The real crux of their case will come down to their challenge of the test results. In the past, players have questioned the handling of samples as well as the methods for testing.
For now, Ingram is scheduled to miss games against the Buccaneers and Browns and road contests against the Falcons and Giants. If the ruling stands, he will not play until Week 5 against the Redskins.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/8/18
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed: RB Elijah Hood (from Raiders)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed: WR Ka’Raun White (from Seahawks)
Detroit Lions
- Waived: LB Brandon Chubb
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Taylor Stallworth
- Waived: LB Sae Tautu
Saints Open To Trading Mark Ingram?
The Saints “may” have been shopping running back Mark Ingram this offseason, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. The Saints may have to wait a bit to trade Ingram following his four-game suspension for PEDs, but it sounds like they could explore a deal once he is cleared to play. 
Rapoport hears that Ingram has been staying away from team in order to push for new deal. He is still after a new contract as he heads into his walk year, despite the ban, which he and his new representatives have been aware of for weeks.
Ingram was largely overshadowed by rising star Alvin Kamara last year, but he still turned in a solid season with new career highs in all major categories. Ingram also ranked seventh in Football Outsiders‘ DVOA, meaning he was effective on a per-play basis, and also finished as a top-15 pass-blocker among running backs, per Pro Football Focus.
Considering that Ingram is a 29-year-old running back who is entering a contract year and won’t be available to play for the first month of the season, there probably won’t be much of a market for his services. However, their reluctance to give him a new deal and willingness to trade him probably means that there won’t be a long-term future for him in New Orleans.
NFL Suspends Saints RB Mark Ingram
The NFL has suspended Saints running back Mark Ingram four games. Ingram, per a league announcement, has violated the league’s PED policy. 
Per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Ingram will be permitted to take part in all of the Saints’ offseason work, training camp, and the preseason, but he will not be able to practice or play in the first four weeks of the season. Ingram did not show up for the Saints’ voluntary offseason workouts to this point, so he could be rather rusty by the time the fifth game of the season rolls around.
Ingram posted arguably the best campaign of his seven-year career in 2017. Pairing with dynamic rookie Alvin Kamara, Ingram managed career-highs in carries (230), yards (1,124), rushing touchdowns (12), and receptions (58). Ingram ranked seventh in Football Outsiders‘ DVOA, meaning he was effective on a per-play basis, and also finished as a top-15 pass-blocker among running backs, per Pro Football Focus.
Fortunately for the Saints, they have Kamara to pick up the slack in Ingram’s absence, though they may want to take a closer look at other running backs to help bridge the gap in reserve. Trey Edmunds, Daniel Lasco, Jonathan Williams, and sixth-round pick Boston Scott are also under contract.
For Ingram, it’s a bad look as he heads into his contract year. He was already looking at an uphill battle given that he is entering his age-29 season and the free agent market for running backs is weaker than most other position groups.
Ingram will miss games home games against the Buccaneers and Browns and road contests against the Falcons and Giants. He’s now slated to make his season debut in a Week 5 contest in New Orleans against the Redskins.
Details On Coby Fleener's Release
- The Saints released tight end Coby Fleener earlier today, and ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that the team designated the transaction as a post-June 1st release. That means New Orleans will clear $3MM in cap space on June 2nd. The veteran’s $3.4MM base salary became guaranteed in February, and the team could have saved $3.2MM against the cap by releasing him prior to that date.
[SOURCE LINK]
Saints Waive Four Players
The Saints cut bait with four players today, according to The Advocate’s Nick Underhill (on Twitter). New Orleans waived tight end Alex Ellis, linebacker Shayne Skov, offensive 
guard Nate Theaker and offensive tackle John Theus. The move was made to open roster spots for undrafted free agents, which the team has yet to announce.
Theus, who was waived with an undisclosed injury, is the most notable name in the group. The 2016 fifth-round pick was claimed off waivers from the Panthers back in February. The 24-year-old, who also had a stint with the 49ers, has appeared in four career games (one start). His 2017 campaign ended on the injured reserve.
Ellis, Skov, and Theaker all spent the 2016 season on the Saints’ practice squad. Ellis, a former undrafted free agent out of Tennessee, has three career receptions for 11 yards. Besides New Orleans, he’s also spent time with the Titans and Jaguars organizations. Skov, a Stanford product, has 12 career tackles, and he’s had stops with the 49ers, Buccaneers, and 49ers. Theaker, a former undrafted free agent out of Michigan, has yet to appear in an NFL game.
Saints Release TE Coby Fleener
The Saints have released tight end Coby Fleener, a league source tells Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (on Twitter). The timing of the move is curious since $3.4MM of his base salary became guaranteed in February. The Saints, in theory, could have saved $3.2MM against the cap by releasing him months earlier. 
Fleener finished the 2017 on injured reserve due to a concussion and his 2018 salary was guaranteed for injury. It’s possible that Fleener was not medically cleared by his guarantee date in February, which would have prevented New Orleans from shedding his salary. Fleener signed a five-year, $36MM free agent deal with New Orleans in 2016 that was supposed to keep him under control through the 2020 campaign.
Before last year’s concussion, Fleener had not missed a game since his rookie season, suiting up for all 16 of the Colts’ contests from 2013-15 and each of the Saints’ games last season. Last year, he was on the field for eleven games before a big hit from Rams defensive back Blake Countess put him on the sidelines.
Fleener wasn’t a primary target of Drew Brees in 2017, but he was the Saints’ leading receiver at tight end at the time of his injury. From 2013-2016, Fleener averaged a healthy 52 catches and four touchdowns per season.
The Saints signed Benjamin Watson in March and he now projects as the team’s leading TE. Behind him, the Saints have a group of tight ends including Josh Hill, Michael Hoomanawanui, Garrett Griffin, and Alex Ellis that will jockey for playing time and roster spots.
Saints Considering Taysom Hill As QB2?
- Brandon Coleman‘s Saints contract is worth a maximum of $1MM, Larry Holder of NOLA.com reports. Coleman re-signed with New Orleans after not being tendered as a restricted free agent. Had the Saints applied the low-end tender to Coleman, he would have made $1.9MM this season. After the Saints selected Tre’Quan Smith in the third round, Coleman and return specialist Tommylee Lewis could be battling for a roster spot, Nick Underhill of The Advocate writes.
- On the subject of Saints position battles, Underhill notes the Saints are high enough on Taysom Hill that they might be ready to cut Tom Savage and carry just two quarterbacks if Hill beats him out for the backup job. They also brought in J.T. Barrett this month. Hill served as the Saints’ third-string quarterback last season behind Drew Brees and Chase Daniel. It would cost the Saints just $100K if they released Savage.
Saints Receive Roster Exemption
- Part of an NFL initiative for overseas players being placed on NFC South practice squads, defensive end Alex Jenkins remains with the Saints going into what could be his second year after signing a reserve/futures contract. And the team will again receive a roster exemption, Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com reports (on Twitter). The England native won’t count against the Saints’ 90-man offseason roster and would be an 11th man on the practice squad if he can’t make the team’s 53-man roster out of camp.