Saints running back Alvin Kamara recently resolved his criminal and civil cases stemming from his involvement in the assault of a man in a Las Vegas nightclub in February 2022. As PFR’s Sam Robinson observed when the resolution was reported, it is now much likelier that the league will hit Kamara with a suspension before the 2023 campaign gets underway. Before that happens, however, Kamara plans to have an in-person meeting with league commissioner Roger Goodell to tell his side of the story, as Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com reports.
Per Duncan, the Saints encouraged Kamara to set up the meeting in an attempt to reduce the size of his suspension, which could be up to six games. It is unclear when the meeting will take place, but it seems that Kamara and Goodell will get together in the next couple of days. Kamara has told reporters that he plans to meet with the media on Wednesday, August 2, saying, “I’ll talk to you all on August 2 after I talk to [Goodell].”
The Las Vegas incident represents the first off-field transgression in Kamara’s seven-year career, as Duncan observes. Nonetheless, it is a serious one, and GM Mickey Loomis has said that the league has not provided any timeline for its decision.
Kamara’s legal matter encountered frequent delays, leaving him free to play throughout the 2022 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 former Packer and Lion Jamaal Williams — last season’s rushing touchdowns leader — and used a third-round pick on TCU back Kendre Miller.
Nonetheless, Kamara should remain the Saints’ top back whenever he is eligible to play, and he will continue to be a focal point of the club’s offense. He is coming off something of a down year, having scored just four total TDs in 2022, but he still posted nearly 1,400 all-purpose yards on 280 touches. While he is techincially under club control through 2025 on his $15MM/year contract, it seems unlikely he will make it to that season without being released or having his contract restructured (his base salary balloons to over $22MM in 2025). If Kamara should turn in a disappointing year in 2023, New Orleans could save some cap space by designating him a post-June 1 cut next year, though the team would also be saddled with a fair amount of dead money in that scenario.
The NFL has declined to comment on the Kamara-Goodell summit.
One thing about Goodell, is inconstancy when it comes to suspensions. Gambling can be anywhere from 4 to 17 games, but you and your homies beating someone up might be 6 games?
The NFL needs to be tough on gambling, since it’s in the purview of the sport, but I agree with you regarding Goodell’s inconsistency. I remember specifically after the Ray Rice incident when the league announced an “automatic” type suspension scale for domestic violence and/or other assault cases.
There was much consternation over what Rice, who was supposed to be disciplined under the prior rules, would get. There was a lot of talk about whether his suspension should match the new system. Josh Brown got busted shortly thereafter, and got a different suspension. Greg Hardy, I believe, was the next big case. The suspensions? Brown-one game (then six), Hardy-ten, and Rice-two (then indefinite). Zeke got six games and the NFL never even spoke to his accuser…and their own investigator recommended no suspension at all. Of course, there were appeals-Hardy ended up with four and Rice was reinstated-but the supposedly “automatic” policy never removed Goodell’s “what I feel like” powers. Of course, these examples are all assault/C.D.V. but the framework is the same.
If you and your homies beat up someone who is trying to bet on NFL games, Goodell probably offers a reward instead of a suspension…lol.
That could be an idea…
The battery would probably decrease the year long suspension to 10 or 11. appeal it and you might get it down to 7 or 8.
Kamara bout to smooch some for Goodell lol Obviously he deserves some suspension. 4 games than community service with The NFL Community
Kamara: “So what’s your decision?”
Goodell: “Sorry, but you’ve lost a step or two on the field, so your suspension will be more harsh.”
Love the wit. Too close to the truth.
A step or two lmfao more like 5 steps dude has dissapeared since Breese Left.. Hasnt been the same. But, as they say RBs are a dime a dozen dont believe me look up the top RBS 5 yrs ago compare to not. The average lifespan of a RB (not Named Frank Gore or AP) In the NFL is 6 Years.. They already workin on Henrys replacement in Tenn And Taylor Replacement in Indy pretty soon they will be irrelevent in the NFL thats the Truth..
“The Saints were less prepared for a Kamara ban last year, but the team has made preparations this offseason.”
That’s a very provocative statement in that it implies a leniency might exist in order to not devalue the ‘product’ provided as could impact ‘fans in the stands’.
Essentially- overlook criminal behavior for the sake of profit! Another negative by a league of ‘professional sports’ focused on dollars while ignoring morality!