Saints new LB Ingram hopes to be ready for training camp

After signing a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints, former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Clint Ingram has been hopeful with his career future and promised that he would try his best to be ready for Saints training camp as soon as possible. Ingram is still recovering from a microfracture surgery he had last September to remove a cyst.

According to the linebacker himself, his rehabbing progress goes on well and he has been able to walk without help of crutches. He plans to watch his new teammates in Saints jerseys practicing from the sideline next week before he himself is healthy enough to go onto the field. Saying that he hoped to take part in full practice in early period of the Saints training camp, Ingram is confident that he will be available to play in all the 16 regular-season games.

Since the former starting linebacker Scott Fujita’s departure, the Saints had been in lack of a veteran replacing starter with excellent experience at this position. They already had young linebackers like Jonathan Casillas, Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Stanley Arnoux before Ingram’s arrival, but none of them seems competitive enough to contend for the starting job with Ingram once the veteran is fully recovered.

Dolphins LB Porter preferred to be released

Unwilling to stay with the Miami Dolphins anymore, linebacker Joey Porter could do anything to take off the Dolphins jersey before next season. And he would rather being released than being traded.

Porter’s unhappiness came from his reduced role in last season and his relationship with the Dolphins Coach Tony Sparano. What’s more, the Dolphins have not shown any intention to give Porter full playing time in 2010 season. All of these have caused the four-time Pro Bowl linebacker’s campaign to be released. He believes that he is an every-down linebacker and it’s unfair for the Dolphins to replace him with specialist Cameron Wake in some situation.

Porter led the AFC in 2008 with 17 1/2 sacks but had only 9 totally in the whole 2009 season, however, his sacks were still the most among the Dolphins linebackers. And Porter was frank while expressing his disappointment.

“Outside linebacker? I’m the best one we’ve got. Period. Why should I be switching with any of those guys?” Porter said. “Being 32, I don’t have time to be playing childish games. If you want to put Cameron Wake in the game, go ahead and good luck to you. Let me go find a job somewhere else.”

NFL suspended Rams LB Vobora for using enhancing substances

The NFL made an announcement on Tuesday and said that the St. Louis Rams linebacker David Vobora was to be suspended without pay for the next four games immediately after the announcement.

The reason is not surprisingly violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances. It was really a big regret for the last overall pick of last year’s draft, who just became a starter this year. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said the news is disappointing, but the club respects the league’s decision.

However, the four-game suspension can be also taken as a chance for Vobora to recover from a concussion, which was evaluated on Tuesday, but no outcome had been released by the team. So Vobora could make a good use of the suspension to rehabilitate and return to the team on Oct. 26 in perfect condition.