New Orleans Saints Running Back Mark Ingram
Conference Call with New Orleans Media
Monday, December 26, 2016
What would 1,000 rushing yards mean to you personally?
"It would mean a lot. Every running back wants to rush for 1,000 yards. It's definitely something I'd be looking forward to and trying my best to accomplish while trying to get our final win of the season."
You are going to play in all 16 games for the second time in your career. Can you discuss that satisfaction?
Sixteen games is a feat that everybody tries to shoot for at the beginning of every year. it's not an easy task. This will be my second time. You need a lot of favor over your body and the ability to be able to pushing through some things. That's something that I'll be very proud of.
You are out of the playoff race, what did it mean to mostly spoil a division rivals chances to get into the playoffs?
"That would mean a lot to us. The main thing about it is that everyone in our team and organization, coaches and players, have a lot of pride in their careers. I think the main thing is for us to go out and play our best football, that's more important than spoiling (the standing) of a rival. Everybody is putting on their best performance for this last game of the year and putting together some momentum for the offseason. I'm sure all the guys are going to be ready coming off a good Christmas weekend and we will prepare our butts off for one last go-around at Atlanta and try to go in there and beat those guys up. That will be our focus going into this week."
When you look at your career in New Orleans, how surprised are you that it took so long to come close to cracking 1,000 rushing yards?
"A lot of different things have happened. My role, I wasn't always a feature guy my first couple of seasons here. A couple of times, I missed a couple games in a season. In '14, I missed three. Health, opportunities. Everyone hopes that when they come in as a rookie they can come and be a perennial 1,000 yard rusher. but that just hasn't been the case. There hasn't been a 1,000-yard rusher in New Orleans since 06'. The way we run our offense, the way we spread the ball around hasn't allowed a lot of backs to run for 1,000 (yards). It's just lots of different scenarios and lots of different things, health, lots of different things. I'm very (much) looking forward to rushing for 1,000 (yards) for the first time in my career."
What are you going to do if you crack that 1,000-yard mark?
"Just going to keep running. Going to keep running and try and get more yards man. It will be cool to break 1,000 (yards), but it's not going to be like anything crazy because for one our season will be over after that game, but to I believe I can rush for 1,000 (yards) all the time given health and opportunity. I just will be proud and thank the lord for giving me an opportunity to rush for 1,000 if I'm able to accomplish that and get ready to work for my second 1,000-yard year in a row. That will be my focus and I'm just grateful and thankful for the opportunity to play this game and be health and be with my teammates."
