7:07pm: Greene has also resolved his civil case against defensive back Chris Lammons, NewOrleans.football’s Mike Triplett notes (on Twitter). Lammons, who spent last season with the Chiefs and Bengals, was also indicted for his role in the Greene assault.
2:11pm: Greene’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, revealed his client and Kamara reached a private settlement regarding the civil matter, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com tweets. This also came with a public apology from the veteran running back.
“Please accept my sincere apologies for the events of February 5, 2022 in Las Vegas,” Kamara said (h/t Terrell). “I am happy that we were able to get on the other side of this unfortunate incident. I wish you the best for the future.”
The NFL has not rendered any discipline yet, but that should be expected in the coming weeks. The league said in a statement it is “closely monitoring all developments” pertaining to this case.
1:28pm: The NFL now has a clear path to levy discipline against Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who has loomed as a suspension candidate for nearly 18 months.
Kamara reached a plea agreement Tuesday, according to Kyle Paine and David Charms of 8 News Now, who report the perennial Pro Bowler will avoid a felony charge in connection with a February 2022 incident in Las Vegas (Twitter link). Indicted by a grand jury for his role in an assault on a man at a Las Vegas nightclub, Kamara pleaded no contest to a breach of peace charge.
This agreement will force the Saints running back to perform 30 hours of community service, pay a $500 fine and pay the victim $105K, which will go toward medical bills. Kamara, 27, has long expected to be suspended for the incident that led to Darnell Greene being hospitalized. Kamara, who was one of multiple men involved in the assault during the 2022 Pro Bowl weekend, was also hit with a civil suit last year.
The NFL does not need a conviction on a felony or misdemeanor charge to proceed with a ban under the personal conduct policy, as past developments have confirmed. With the league preferring to wait until cases are adjudicated before handing out punishment, Tuesday’s news sets up the likelihood of a Kamara ban — potentially a six-game penalty — occurring before the 2023 season.
Kamara’s case encountered frequent delays, leaving him free to play throughout last season. The Saints were less prepared for a Kamara ban last year, but the team has made preparations this offseason. New Orleans agreed to terms on a three-year, $12MM deal with Jamaal Williams — last season’s rushing touchdowns leader (16) while with the Lions — and used a third-round pick on TCU back Kendre Miller.
Kamara has been one of the best skill-position players in Saints history; he is tied to the league’s second-most lucrative running back extension ($15MM per year). The seventh-year veteran remains New Orleans’ top back, though he is coming off a bit of a down season — one in which he scored just four touchdowns. The team will undoubtedly make Kamara a key player in a now-Derek Carr-led offense, but the additions of Williams and Miller are certainly interesting. While a suspension will void remaining Kamara guarantees, only $1.1MM in guaranteed money remains on Kamara’s five-year, $75MM contract.
As expected…slap on the wrist.
What’s really crazy is Kamara would probably be looking at an indefinite ban from the league if it was discovered that he placed a sports bet with the victim before sending him to the hospital.
and if it were 2 years ago, if he had smoked a reefer marijuana cigarette that caused his temporary psychosis, he’d be forced into retirement and rehab
Only if that bet was at the team facility.
A sports bet made at the team facility threatens the “integrity of the game” but a sports bet made away from the facility doesn’t? I’m really having trouble getting my head around the logic behind that.
Never connect to public Wi-Fi!
“a breach of peace charge”
He assaulted a man and fractured the guy’s eye socket.
That’s a Breach of Peace? wow, if I ever do anything stupid and go to court I am going to definitely try to get my charged knocked down to a Breach of Peace. Smh
Here comes a 6 game suspension? No why bother, just suspend him for 4 games and lets pretend like it didn’t happen.
Too darn easy to get a plea deal nowadays.
You’d be amazed what you can get away with when your bank account has three commas
1,000,000,000
I totally agree and understand your point, but no active NFL player has ‘3 comma’ money. 2 commas is all that is needed to buy your way out of trouble.
I am dumb lol
Don’t need money to get a plea deal. Heck, it’s so darn easy, you might not even need a lawyer to get a deal.
Fair enough, I’m sure we’d all get that same deal if we pulverized a guy and stomped the lights out of him…hope the victim gets million$ in his civil action.
The multiple levels of ‘justice’ in this country is pathetic. Of all the ‘issues’ Congress and House of Representatives debate, like a high school class and without resolutions, the ‘in- justice’ system should be forefront.
Regardless of income the law should be applied equally!
We the people ‘protest’ petty bs and let valid manipulation of statutes slide because ‘that’s what we’ve come to accept and expect’!
A phrase used by a Roman writer to deplore the declining heroism of Romans after the Roman Republic ceased to exist and the Roman Empire began: “Two things only the people anxiously desire — bread and circuses.” The government kept the Roman populace happy by distributing free food and staging huge spectacles.
Good analogy – only those aware see it
Gambling? A full year. Assaulting a man? Meh slap on the wrist