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Saints' Mark Ingram reflects on overcoming slow start to NFL career

Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram completed the best campaign of his career last season, running for 964 yards and nine touchdowns en route to his first Pro Bowl selection. 

Ingram's road to stardom wasn't always apparent. The former Heisman Trophy winner struggled miserably in his first two seasons, rushing for 3.9 yards per carry both seasons. 

The 25-year-old reached a breakthrough two seasons ago, running for 4.9 yards per carry in 2013, and followed up with the best statistical output of his four-year career in 2014. 

Ingram spoke Friday about overcoming his early failures at the professional level.

"I always knew what I was capable of doing. I was confident in my ability. I was just waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. And when it did, I wanted to be able to seize it," Ingram said to ESPN's Mike Triplett. "I really just stayed humble, stayed focused and tried to not let any outside opinions of media or fans or anything other than the people I have in my circle, my family, my good friends, really bother me."

The former Alabama star is part of a platoon-style running game with the Saints, with New Orleans using multiple backs as a staple of their offense during the Sean Payton era. 

Now that he's tasted a healthy modicum of success in the NFL, Ingram's lofty goal of being the best running back ever remains intact. 

"I have dreams of being the best to ever touch the football. That's what I strive for when I go train and I work and I go to practice every single day. I want to be the best football player ever to play the game. That's a high statement, but that's what you shoot for. If you're playing football and you're not playing to be the best - no matter what you do, if you don't want to be the best at what you do, then there's an issue there."

New Orleans was a trendy Super Bowl pick prior to last season, but the team sputtered out of the gate and missed the playoffs after posting a disappointing 7-9 record. 

Ingram views it as his responsibility to help lead the Saints to a deep playoff run.

"I just have to do what I do, just go out there and lead by example, be a hard worker, be there for anybody on my team if they need me, if they need to talk to somebody. But I don't feel like anything has changed on my part," Ingram said. 

"I just feel that I just have to go out there and work my butt off and do the best I can to put us in a position to have success and win a championship."

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