Will Alvin Kamara report for training camp when the New Orleans Saints gather at UC Irvine later this week? The expectation is that he’ll be there with all his teammates, but his situation is different from most.
Kamara checked out of mandatory minicamp practices early this spring while embroiled in a contract dispute. He’s shared regular updates on social media from his usual offseason training program, and he clearly intends to work this fall. But does he plan on joining the team for camp in Southern California? Or will he hold out and try to pressure the front office into agreeing to terms on a new deal?
That would be expensive — prohibitively so for most players. According to Article 42, Section 1(b)(vi) of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, veteran players like Kamara are subject to $50,000 in fines for each training camp practice they miss during a holdout. And teams are not allowed to waive those fees as was the case under the last CBA. Last year he earned about $63,000 in weekly game checks.
It’s still worth it for some players. Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones paid nearly $2 million in fines last summer before he and the team shook hands on a new deal. But for the vast majority of pros they’re better served by showing up to work and only participating in limited drills, or spectating from the sidelines, until their demands are met.
Kamara isn’t asking the world of the Saints. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has reported that Kamara wants more guarantees in 2025 to gain some long-term security for himself. While he’s due $25 million next season none of it is guaranteed, which makes him a possible salary cap casualty. There’s a middle ground between what he’s seeking and what the team is willing to pay, but so far the two sides haven’t been able to find it.
So will he report for the start of camp — the conditioning test on July 23? That’s what we’re waiting to see. Whether Kamara is around, active, and participating is going to be a major storyline for at least the next few days. Hopefully both sides can reach a compromise so one of the best players in Saints history can finish his career where it started.
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