The Saints Have a Crowded Backfield, Who Stays and Who Goes?

Saturday, June 25, 2011

AP Photo

By Bob Evans
Senior Writer

If you look at the New Orleans Saints running back depth chart, you would think that Head Coach Sean Payton is trying to channel his inner Mike Shanahan with a running back by committee approach.

The Saints have Reggie Bush, Chris Ivory, Pierre Thomas and 2011 first round draft pick Mark Ingram all slated to be sharing carries if and when the 2011 season begins.

If you honestly think all four of these players will be wearing a Saints uniform come the first week of the season, you might want to think again.

Bush is scheduled to make $11.8 million in 2011, Thomas was just signed to a new four-year deal, Ivory is coming off a breakout 2010 season in which he rushed for 716 yards on just 137 carries and Ingram is a former Heisman Trophy winner. That is just too much talent for the Saints to keep bottled up in one backfield, while keeping all four players happy.

So when it comes time to make a decision, which player will be on the outside of this crowded running back situation? The answer may surprise you.

Reggie Bush

Many people think that Bush is automatically the odd man out in New Orleans, but I am going to have to disagree. Not only have the Saints stated they want him back, Bush has said he would be willing to restructure his contract in order to remain a Saint.

Forget about his knee-jerk reaction on twitter after Ingram was drafted, Bush has come a long way since those comments were made. His teammates want him there, the organization wants him there and he wants to be there—that means Bush is likely to stay.

You cannot forget about what Bush has done for the team when healthy. He does not fill the normal “running back” role as he is often moved to the slot and plays a big part in the passing attack of Drew Brees.

So sorry to burst your bubble, but Reggie Bush stays.

Mark Ingram

This one is pretty simple, Ingram isn’t going anywhere. The Saints spent a first round selection on Ingram because they see him as the future at the position. He obviously isn't going anywhere.

Chris Ivory

Ivory was probably the best running back in the NFL you had never heard of last season. His college career saw him spend three years at Washington State before transferring to Division II Tiffin College in Ohio for his final year. Last season for the Saints, Ivory averaged 5.2 yards per rush while filling in for Bush and Thomas who where both injured.

Ivory is a young, tough runner that the team needs to hang onto. Not to mention he is still under his first contract, which makes him a relatively cheap option to keep on the team while carrying the large contract of Bush, and the soon to be large contract of Ingram.


Pierre Thomas

It is not very often that a player who just signed a brand new four-year contract finds himself as the odd man out in this situation, but that is where Thomas will find himself when this is all said and done.

He is 26-years-old, coming off an injury and is due a $2.7 million roster bonus once the lockout ends. While his contract averages only $2.8 million a year, the team would be able to save money by dealing him while they can still get something in return.

He has spent his entire career with New Orleans, and has essentially been the insurance policy for Bush and the other running backs since 2007. But at the end of the day, an NFL contract is not guaranteed so the fact that he signed a four-year extension really means nothing.

While it would be nice for the team to keep all four running backs on the roster to have plenty of depth, there is no possible way the team will be able to keep all four backs happy splitting the carries four ways. So look for Thomas to be traded to a team in need of a secondary running back option come training camp or preseason time.

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