THIBODAUX, LA - Pete Jenkins has a storied coaching career that spans more than 50 years. From 1964 to 2017, Jenkins has coached at the high school, college, and professional level. Most recently Jenkins retired after returning to LSU for one final season as the defensive line coach. 

Fresh out of retirement, Jenkins hosted a three day offensive and defensive lineman camp for high school players at Nicholls State University. His staff included several assistants from NFL teams, including New Orleans Saints DL coach Ryan Nielsen and the mission was simple.

"It's all about helping them out with fundamentals," said Jenkins. "We don't do any scheme. It's all hands, footwork, explosion, I want them to leave here better tacklers." 

Of course it was only natural that Jenkins fielded questions about his former team the LSU Tigers. When asked by NFL analyst Mike Detellier about LSU's stud defensive end Rashard Lawrence, Jenkins reverted to his inner Ric Flair.

"Woo, woo," smiled Jenkins. "I've been coaching 52 years, he might be the toughest player I've ever coached. He is a tough hombre."

As for his buddy and head coach of the LSU Tigers Ed Orgeron, he said the relationship from their days together at USC made it poetic in coming back to Baton Rouge, so he could help Orgeron fulfill his dream of being head coach at LSU.

However, despite all the criticism that is currently hovering over the state of the LSU football program, Jenkins believes three events have played a major impact in peoples opinion of Orgeron and LSU. 

"Let me tell you, had we knocked down that hail marry pass by Notre Dame with 80 seconds left on the clock, had a couple of those recruits at the end of the year signed with LSU, had Canada and that problem not existed, Ed would have 10 wins," admitted Jenkins. "Everybody would be saying whoa! They're on their way, those three things have affected peoples image of what's going on at LSU."

NEW ORLEANS - With veteran running back Mark Ingram on the shelf the first four weeks of the season, there's not much NFL experience in the Saints' backfield, minus rookie of the year Alvin Kamara.

In an effort to fill the void, New Orleans is hosting former Saints back Tim Hightower for a three-day tryout.

"I hope he sticks around, because he's a veteran guy that I think is a tremendous influence on young guys. Just the way that he works and the way that he approaches his job and his profession," QB Drew Brees said. "The type of guy he is, what he's overcome... I think they're great lessons that a lot of the young guys can learn from."

Running back Jamal Charles is also reportedly working out for the team, even though Sean Payton said earlier this offseason they had no plans of signing a veteran back.

"We have five guys that are out here working out for three days, which is pretty common. He's just someone who we will take a look at," Saints Head Coach Sean Payton said. "If we work anyone out here in the next few days it would be just to see what kind of shape and see how they're doing. That doesn't preclude us from signing someone, but that's pretty normal."

As for the rest of the staff, running back Mark Ingram had a message for his teammates: his temporary absence is not the end of the world.

"I'll be back. I will be ready. And those guys need to step up. Alvin is going to do a good job. I'm sure of it," Ingram said. "And the rest of the guys, they are going to do a good job preparing, putting themselves in a position to have success. I'll be rooting on my teammates real hard, and hopefully we are 4-0 when I come back."

Although Ingram didn't go into specifics about his four-game suspension, he said he fought hard to overturn it. But now, with the decision final, he says all he can do is have himself ready to go for week 5 against the Washington Redskins.

METAIRIE, La. -- For the first time since being popped for PED's, veteran running back Mark Ingram addressed the media at mandatory mini camp on Tuesday afternoon. 

"I fought it hard," Ingram said. "I don't agree with it, I'm going to serve my suspension and I'll be back."

More than 25 reporters camped out at Ingram's locker awaiting questions about the suspension. However, Ingram declined to talk about any specifics regarding the four-game suspension to start the season.

After skipping voluntary off-season conditioning and OTA's, Ingram mentioned he had been training in Delray Beach, Florida working with a trainer he's used for the past seven years. He says skipping OTA's had nothing to do with wanting a new contract extension. 

"People make their own narrative, the media makes their own narrative," Ingram said. "I'm not angry with my contact. I wasn't holding out. Yeah, I'm in the last year of my deal -- of course, I'd like an extension --  but that's not the reason I wasn't here. It is voluntary, you have the option to come, I had a workout bonus."

Ingram said the off season training consisted of speed work, some route running and pass catching while also maintaining an effort to keep his weight down. He said he was around 226 pounds at this time last year. However, this season he's around 215 pounds.

Ingram, who totaled 1,540 yards (1,124 rushing) and 12 touchdowns in 2017 is also in the final year of his contract which pays a base salary of $4 million.

Earlier this off-season head coach Sean Payton said they didn't have any specific plans on going after a veteran running back to replace Ingram.  Despite those comments, On Tuesday Former Saints backup Tim Hightower was in attendance for a three-day tryout during this week's minicamp. Also ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that both veteran running backs Jamaal Charles and Terrance West will be in New Orleans on Wednesday for visits.