At least two teams don't have Ingram on their board

[tuckeverlasting]

BJGE
Woodhead
Faulk
Delone Carter....mark my words here
Seasoned Vet....preferably injury prone with a high salary

i could see that. that kid's nasty.

 

[furley]

I think you can make a case to keep Faulk one way or another.

Woodhead seems like a capable replacement to Faulk. If there's indeed a lockout, I think Faulk might decide to retire.

Jacquizz Rogers is a hot name out there now. Perhaps, he could replace Faulk in time if New England sees Woodland in a bigger role than a third down specialist next season.

King said the Patriots also should focus on running backs this week. Said King: "I think the other guy, if you're talking about a guy who they look at with some longing, would be [Alabama's] Mark Ingram. … The Patriots are going to have to make a decision. They're going to have to come out of this draft with one or two running backs. I bet it will be two. And they'll come out of here with a couple of running backs, both of whom are going to play in their regular offense next year, and obviously in their nickel offense. [Oregon State's] Jacquizz Rogers would be so tempting because he might be the best receiver — even though he's 5-7 1/2, whatever he is — of all the backs in this draft. He was a huge part of the Oregon State passing offense. But I think Mark Ingram would be a guy down at 28 who would really interest the Patriots. I know he interests the Patriots."

The last time the Patriots drafted a running back in the first round, it was Laurence Maroney. His disappointing tenure with the Patriots ended in 2010 with a trade to the Broncos. "My feeling is, I think they got bad advice on Laurence Maroney," King said. "Guys on the coaching staff at Minnesota overinflated Maroney, and the Patriots blew that pick. He's not a blood-and-guts football player. He never was. And the Patriots made a mistake.

"I think they're going to be a little cautious about backs. That's one of the reasons why a Nick Saban back, and Nick Saban giving him the Nick Saban stamp of approval — which I'm positive he's done about Ingram, because he loves Ingram — will carry a lot of weight with Belichick."

It Is What It Is » Peter King on M&M: Bill Belichick ‘charmed’ by Chad Ochocinco

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

For those concerned about Ingram's knee...

There seemed to be a very similar situation in 1995 with a RB from Pittsburgh named Curtis Martin who dropped on boards because it was told his knees may not hold out in the pros.

We all know how he turned out.

Ingram may never be Martin in terms of career but it shows you a serious knee injury in college may not indicate a failure at the upper level.

 

[supafly]

Woodhead seems like a capable replacement to Faulk. If there's indeed a lockout, I think Faulk might decide to retire.

Jacquizz Rogers is a hot name out there now. Perhaps, he could replace Faulk in time if New England sees Woodland in a bigger role than a third down specialist next season.





It Is What It Is » Peter King on M&M: Bill Belichick ‘charmed’ by Chad Ochocinco

I realize that is the likely thinking by most Furley, but I don't know if we should be ready to get rid of Faulk just yet.

Sure, Woodhead looked great in his role last year, and I believe is a great 3rd down back so far. BJGE is a very reliable brusier. I still believe that we need a high pick change of pace RB--one that may even end up being a HR threat, and help mask the obvious 'tell' that many feel BJGE lets on with our blocking schemes.

I would still make a strong case for keeping Faulk around--now whether or not he ends up seeing the field all that often will remain to be seen, but should there be the normal wear/tear 3-4 week injury at the position, he could still step in.

He could also step in on key plays throughout the game, and provide some important veteran/lockerroom needed presence.

I see no reason why he couldn't remain one of the 4-5 RB's.

You make a case, and I do realize it'll be one of the 'hot' topics going into training camp--but I am just giving my reasons why I wouldn't quite yet throw him away. I don't think there's a 'right' or a 'wrong' here. As far as him retiring goes : that is just speculation really, as the lockout should probably not have much effect unless it means missing games--and even then they have a contingency plan through the first few weeks. If we go into October/mid-October and still have lockout issues, we'll have a lot more important issues than whether or not Kevin Faulk is one of our 4 or 5 RB's.

 

[furley]

I'm not adverse to re-signing Faulk. But the impending lockout might dictate his future for both he and New England. Besides, they really need to retool at running back and at the same time get younger.

The theme in New England is becoming youth and speed. Although this applies more to the defense, I believe it can apply to running back as well.

 

[furley]

I wonder will Miami select him in the first round now. I wonder which teams are changing their minds on him.

The thing is he never really lost his standing as the draft's top running back. Those in the media continued to regard him as the "consensus number one running back." Conversely, it was his draft status in the first round that was drawn into question.

Alabama running back Mark Ingram, soon to be a first-round pick in Thursday's NFL draft, does not have any significant knee issues teams should worry about and to prove it, he's offering them a letter from noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews saying as much, according to a source familiar with the letter.

So much for that pre-draft rumor.

Further disproving the talk that the former Heisman Trophy winner should slide -- perhaps all the way out of the first round -- is the fact he was not asked to return to Indianapolis for a medical recheck for any reason, a source said. Potential draftees with medical red flags are often asked to return to the site of the Indianapolis Combine for rechecks so doctors can report the findings to interested teams.

Assuming Ingram does indeed hold a letter from Andrews vouching for his knee, that is a valuable piece of paper because teams general regard him as a credible and highly regarded source for medical information.

Miami Dolphins In Depth