Mark Ingram is thinking very very hard about football

Gotta get those "mental reps" in.

METAIRIE, La. – For parts of Mark Ingram’s past three years, injuries have played a significant role in his progress forward.

Entering his second season with the New Orleans Saints, he promises that he doesn’t feel behind despite being on a schedule where he practices one day and rests the next.

“Not at all,” Ingram said. “When I’m not practicing, I’m out there getting mental reps, in the film, studying the film. Just because I’m not physically taking the rep doesn’t mean I’m not benefiting from getting mental reps or benefiting from watching Pierre (Thomas) go through the play or (Chris) Ivory or (Travaris) Cadet or whoever.”

Actually this bears watching. If he mental reps too hard, Ingram could become the first player to sue the NFL for a non-contact brain injury.  Call it a sports hernia of the cerebrum, maybe.