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Alvin Kamara dismisses the notion that his approach to his second NFL camp should change because of the four-game suspension looming over fellow Saints Pro Bowl running back Mark Ingram.

Whether Kamara and the running game are as effective without Ingram when the regular season opens remains to be seen. But Kamara expresses confidence in New Orleans’ plan to deal with it.

”We work hard regardless. If Mark was in the first four weeks [url=http://www.cincinnatibengalsteamonline.com/andy-dalton-jersey]Andy Dalton Bengals Jersey[/url] , I’d still be working the same,” Kamara asserted after the Saints’ second practice of training camp Friday. ”Of course, (Ingram) wants to be playing, but he’s got to take his four weeks – and we’ve got playmakers.”

Those playmakers include two new veteran running backs acquired in free agency to ensure depth at the position.

In the weeks leading up to training camp, the Saints signed 29-year-old Shane Vereen and 27-year-old Terrence West.

”We feel like those are two young candidates, two backs that, be it they’re a little different in what they do, but we felt that they could help us and then with regards to Mark’s snaps,” Saints coach Sean Payton, who missed Friday’s practice to attend former colleague Tony Sparano’s funeral, said this week. ”Shane’s got a lot of versatility, is someone that we feel like is very good in protection. Also, he’s a very good receiver. With Terrance, you see a physical runner. So, both of those players we felt like would help us.”

The Saints ranked fifth in rushing last season, but that ranking alone doesn’t do justice to the contributions Ingram and Kamara made to the offense overall.

Ingram had arguably his finest season yet with 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing to go with 416 yards receiving. Kamara [url=http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/michael-gallup-jersey]Michael Gallup Jersey Elite[/url] , the 2017 NFL offensive rookie of the year , had 728 yards and eight TDs rushing to go with 826 yards and five TDs receiving.

Yet, while Ingram’s absence would appear to be a tough blow, the era of Payton and quarterback Drew Brees has produced highly effective offense with a wide range of personnel getting the ball.

Brees also uses high-percentage short passes to augment the running game. That made New Orleans an attractive destination for Vereen, who has a history of helping offenses as a receiver out of the backfield more than as a rusher.

”It’s a great opportunity for me,” Vereen said. ”What really brought me here was the culture that they built around here. Definitely this is an offense that a lot of guys want to play in.

”The way they use their backs is pretty similar to what I’m used to and it’s the type of system that I feel like I can fit into,” Vereen continued. ”Just the way they spread the ball around and the points that they put up, it seems like a good place to play.”

As a member of New England’s 2014 championship squad, Vereen had 391 yards and two TDs rushing to go with 447 yards and three TDs receiving during the regular season. He also had 64 yards receiving in a Super Bowl victory over Seattle.

”I’ve admired him from afar – really respected what he was able to do in New England and then obviously in New York” with the Giants, Brees said. ”He’s got a great skill set, so I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Terrence West comes to the Saints after an injury plagued 2017 with Baltimore. But two seasons ago, he had 774 yards and five TDs with the Ravens.

Meanwhile, Ingram, who can participate in camp and preseason games, said he is committed to striving for his best season yet over the 12 games for which he will be eligible.

”I’m here every day busting my butt, preparing myself to have another great season, to have my best season of my career. That’s how I approach it [url=http://www.newyorkjetsteamonline.com/jamal-adams-jersey]Cheap Jamal Adams Jersey[/url] ,” Ingram said. ”Of course, you want to rush for 1,000 yards. It’ll be more of a challenge in 12 games, but it’s attainable.

”I’m going to do everything I can to be in the best shape, the best condition – the best me – so I can help this team.”

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Matt Dumba and the Minnesota Wild started a defining two-game stretch against the Dallas Stars with a determined performance.

They’re one step closer to a spot in the playoffs.

”That was what fueled the fire, just wanting to bury these guys,” Dumba said. ”Not let them think that they could potentially get back into this thing by getting a couple victories against us.”

Dumba scored on a power play and finished with three assists for a career-high four points, leading the Wild past the fading Stars 5-2 on Thursday night.

”It’s something we talked about, making that gap even bigger and pushing more teams down,” said Zach Parise, who scored 59 seconds after Dumba in the second period and tacked on an empty-netter in the waning seconds.

Mikael Granlund sparked the Wild with a short-handed goal in the first period , set up by the first of two assists by Ryan Suter, and Jason Zucker scored on a power play with 11 seconds left before the second intermission.

Even more important than Granlund’s goal was the effort by the Wild that immediately followed it.

Tyler Seguin had set up Benn in the slot for the lead for the Stars less than three minutes into the game, and a high-stick double-minor penalty on Wild defenseman Ryan Murphy produced a four-minute power play. Granlund scored just 12 seconds in, and the Wild penalty killers took over from there.

”It was a big turning point, and it gave us a lot of life,” coach Bruce Boudreau said.

Jamie Benn and Devin Shore scored for the Stars [url=www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/walter-payton-jersey]Authentic Walter Payton Jersey[/url] , who have lost eight straight road games, including six in regulation. They’re just 1-7-2 in their past 10 games overall, staggering into position for the knockout punch to their postseason hope. They host a rematch with the Wild on Saturday night.

With only four games remaining, the Stars are five points behind current wild-card spot holders St. Louis and Anaheim in the Western Conference standings. The Blues have six games left, and the Ducks play five more times. The Stars also trail ninth-place Colorado by four points, with five games to go for the Avalanche.

”Every mistake we made ended up in our net, and the chances we had we didn’t finish on,” Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said, adding: ”We’re going to compete at a very high level, and then the autopsy for us can take place.”

Devan Dubnyk stopped 29 shots for the Wild, who improved to 26-6-8 at home for the second-most points in the NHL. With five games to go, they’re up six points on the Avalanche in the race to clinch an appearance in the playoffs for the sixth straight year.

Dumba, who set a career high with his 12th goal on a blistering one-timer , and Zucker gave the Wild’s power play a badly needed boost. They had only one goal in their previous 26 opportunities until the sizzling second period. The Stars, meanwhile, were left shaking their heads about the opportunities they handed the Wild.

”I had a bonehead shot there on the penalty kill,” Seguin said [url=http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/odell-beckham-jr-jersey]Odell Beckham Jr Giants Jersey[/url] , referring to the sequence before Zucker scored. ”I can’t shoot far-side short-handed, and they go down and score. That’s a tough play.”

NOTES

Dumba became the first Wild defenseman with four points in a game in franchise history. … Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon, who has missed the past seven games with a torn right hamstring, could start skating next week, Boudreau said before the game. Wild defenseman Gustav Olofsson left with an upper-body injury and was declared questionable to travel to Dallas. … The Stars fell to 2-23-2 when trailing after two periods. … Suter stretched his career high and franchise record to 45 assists. … Stars defenseman Stephen Johns was being evaluated for a concussion after leaving in the first period with the injury. … Zucker has three goals and two assists in three games against the Stars this season. … Granlund’s was the 10th short-handed goal allowed by the Stars to match the second-most in the league this season. … Granlund scored for the first time in 15 games since Feb. 27. … Seguin has 27 points in 23 games against the Wild. … Announced attendance was 19,350, the largest of the season for the Wild.

UP NEXT

Stars: After the rematch with Minnesota, Dallas must wrap up the schedule on the West Coast with games at San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles.

Wild: Following the quick trip to Dallas, Minnesota plays its final regular-season home game on Monday against Edmonton. Then the Wild finish the schedule with the same three California road games the Stars have, against the Ducks, Kings and Sharks.

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