After Mark Ingram’s suspension, the New Orleans Saints need a new power-back for a few games – and possibly an old acquaintance will return: the Saints are not averse to reunification with Adrian Peterson.
Ingram was banned from the first four matches of the upcoming Regular Season due to banned substances and the Saints are currently looking for a temporary solution.
When asked if Adrian Peterson’s return was an issue, Head Coach Sean Payton made it clear that he was “definitely absolutely open” to reunification with Peterson. Besides Peterson, DeMarco Murray, Alfred Morris and Eddie Lacy would still be on the market for a comparable role.
Peterson signed before last season in New Orleans, a few days later the Saints Alvin Kamara. Already in the Training Camp it became clear that Kamara and Ingram are the more productive duo and Peterson’s limitations in passing do not fit into the Saints-Offense. After four games, the 33-year-old was handed over to the Arizona Cardinals.
His season ended prematurely due to a neck injury in the desert, where he represented the injured David Johnson. Arizona finally fired Peterson on March 13, and he’s been on the market ever since.
One thing is clear for Payton: Alvin Kamara, who has a much greater significance for the Saints-Offense in the passing game, should not simply take over Ingrams Runs: “It would be a mistake to give Alvin 15 more Carries per game. That’s not the direction we want to go.”
Running Backs coach Joel Thomas added: “That wouldn’t be good for him. Let’s be honest: he was outstanding with the relationship he had last year. We don’t want him firing his powder at the start of the season, because the season is a marathon.”