Category: Alvin Kamara

Las Vegas grand jury indicts Alvin Kamara, 3 others in alleged beating

Las Vegas grand jury indicts Alvin Kamara, 3 others in alleged beating; next court date set for March 2

A Las Vegas grand jury indicted New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara and three others in an alleged beating at a nightclub in February 2022. They face charges of conspiracy to commit battery as well as battery resulting in substantial bodily harm. Kamara’s next court date has been set for March 2 in Nevada district court, per Fox 8 News’ David Charns.

The NFL has not commented on this incident while following its standard procedure in letting the legal process play out before handing down any discipline. Kamara is likely to face a six-game suspension once it has concluded for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. He remained with the Saints throughout the 2022 season and is expected to return for 2023.

But it has taken months for this process to unfold through the court system, so we’ll have to wait and see whether a resolution is reached this offseason, which could lead to an absence for Kamara in the fall. The victim, Darnell Greene, has filed a civil suit against Kamara in Louisiana.

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Alvin Kamara misses Wednesday practice session, still expected to play vs. Eagles

Alvin Kamara missed Wednesday’s Saints practice session due to a personal issue, but he is still expected to play against the Eagles on Sunday:

This might be worth watching. The New Orleans Saints hit the practice field on Wednesday without top running back Alvin Kamara, who head coach Dennis Allen said was excused due to a personal issue. However, NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that Kamara is still expected to be available for Sunday’s game with the Philadelphia Eagles. So this absence shouldn’t be a lasting problem, though the Saints did list him on their Wednesday injury report with a quadriceps ailment.

New Orleans’ running backs rotation hasn’t exactly inspired much confidence lately. Veteran back David Johnson (12 carries for 24 yards) has gotten the nod over recent waiver wire pickup Eno Benjamin as the No. 2 runner behind Kamara, with special teams ace Dwayne Washington out of action for several weeks with recurring cluster migraines. Mark Ingram II is on injured reserve for the rest of the regular season due to a knee injury, leaving Derrick Gore as their only remaining option on the practice squad.

This absence probably wasn’t related to Kamara’s Las Vegas assault case. His attorneys are scheduled to meet in court for a hearing on Jan. 23, 2023, but Kamara himself isn’t required to attend until at least the trial date on March 1, 2023.

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WATCH: Alvin Kamara takes the lead vs. Browns, ties Marques Colston’s Saints TD record

WATCH: Alvin Kamara takes the lead vs. Browns, ties Marques Colston’s Saints TD record

Finally: it took so much longer than anyone expected, but Alvin Kamara has tied Marques Colston for the New Orleans Saints touchdowns record. His 4-yard scoring run on the Cleveland Browns not only gave New Orleans the team lead, it was his 72nd career touchdown scored in a Saints uniform.

Kamara needs one more touchdown as a runner, receiver, or returner to claim sole possession of the record, but for now he’s tied with the most underrated player in Saints history. What’s frustrating is that Kamara entered the 2022 season trailing Colston by just four touchdowns. He didn’t tie the record until Week 16, largely because offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. has done a poor job of weaponizing him. Too many of his runs have flowed between the tackles, not out on the edge, and there’s been a startling lack of targets on designed screens or creative alignments from the slot.

Hopefully that’s a thing of the past. Kamara is too dynamic a player to waste away like that, and his lack of success has been a large part of their issues this season. Getting Kamara up to speed in these final weeks would do a lot to build momentum moving forward.

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Saints report card: How we graded New Orleans in their Week 15 win vs. the Falcons

You’d certainly like it to have been put away more cleanly, but a win is a win. Here’s how we graded the #Saints win against the Falcons, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

Well you certainly wish the wins would come easier, but such is life. The New Orleans Saints get a must needed win and sweep their bitter divisional rival the Atlanta Falcons along the way. But even with the positive steps forward, there were some concerning trends that prevailed. Penalties, (though the officiating was more than questionable) coaching decisions and some play calling still raised eyebrows at moments.

So while the result was a win, the Saints still have some important elements to figure out in the closing weeks of the season. Here is how we graded their performance in a much-needed victory over the Falcons:

Alvin Kamara jokes ‘I’ll ask Pete’ about running more screen plays, talks Saints offensive issues

Alvin Kamara says ‘I’ll ask Pete’ about running more screen plays, breaks down Saints’ offensive issues:

One persistent complaint surrounding New Orleans Saints play-caller Pete Carmichael Jr. has been the lack of screen plays this season. Those signature plays for Alvin Kamara have felt like a thing of the past, appearing few and far between; and when Kamara has been targeted, he’s had a disheartening drop or two, as was the case on on early third down in Oct. 16’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Still, a negative play here or there shouldn’t result in that whole part of the playbook being scratched out. Kamara was asked about the scarcity of screen plays after practice on Thursday, and he offered a thoughtful response.

“I’ll ask Pete after this, I’m gonna go ask Pete,” Kamara laughed. “It’s hard to get those looks. Some of it is defense, some of it is scheme. It’s hard to cross some of those when we might be behind the plays, we might have some plays not going our away. The timing just isn’t right for some of these screens.”

That timing has been an issue dating back to the Saints preseason games; remember when right guard Cesar Ruiz collided with running back Tony Jones Jr. while trying to set up a screen against the Green Bay Packers? Whether they didn’t put in the work over the summer to prepare those plays or have wound up in too many negative-script situations to lean on them during the fall, the screen game just hasn’t been a factor for the Saints this year. So why not simply throw the ball to Kamara when he’s out in space?

“It’s not that easy. I think me, Andy (Dalton), and Jarvis (Landry) were just talking about that on the sideline. The passing game complements the run game, you get the run game going and it’s easier to get the pass game going, obviously,” Kamara grinned, taking a shot at “Twitter coaches and Twitter analysts who don’t really know the game,” and just want everyone fired and traded away when facing adversity.

He expounded on that, saying that it’s easy to just throw the ball over and over, but that there needs to be some element on the ground to balance things out and keep defenses honest. Just what that balance looks like is the subject of rampant debate within and outside of NFL circles. At the end of the day, Kamara mused, the Saints need to get out of their own way so they can play games on their own terms.

He added, “But when you’ve got a good flow going on, running the ball and getting consistent yardage and staying ahead of the chains, it’s easier for Pete to get some optimal pass looks going and get Andy in rhythm. Spreading the ball out, you talk about me getting the ball in space.”

And there’s the problem: the Saints haven’t run well, gaining 100-plus yards on the ground in just one game out of their last seven matchups. They’ve had injuries along the offensive line and a lackluster passing game to lighten the defensive box, but they’ve still got to execute. Until things clean up there, don’t expect them to smooth out elsewhere. Nobody knows that better than Kamara and his teammates.

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Alvin Kamara has more fumbles than touchdowns scored in 2022

Alvin Kamara has more fumbles than touchdowns in 2022, but it says more about the Saints offense than his issues with ball security:

It’s been a rough year for Alvin Kamara. The New Orleans Saints running back was sidelined by a rib injury early in the 2022 season, and he just tied his career-high with 4 fumbles in a single season after turning the ball over twice against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. And he’s only scored 3 touchdowns all season, which is almost baffling.

Especially when you consider that Kamara entered the season needing 5 scores to claim Marquese Colston’s record for the most touchdowns scored in franchise history. It’s unlike him. Kamara only has one other season with multiple fumbles, and he’s averaged 13.6 touchdowns per year as a runner, receiver, and kick returner going into the 2022 campaign.

So while it’s easy to focus on the turnovers, the larger issue here is the Saints not getting more out of Kamara, specifically in the red zone. This season he’s totaled 13 carries and 8 targets inside the opponent’s 20-yard line — an average of 2.1 scoring opportunities per game. Going into this season, Kamara had 180 carries and 75 targets in the red zone for an average of 3.5 tries per game. That’s a small difference, but it adds up.

What gives? Part of the problem lies at quarterback. Both Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston have had trouble finding Kamara in the flats at times, though Kamara is averaging more targets per game with Dalton (6.8) than Winston (3.4, including their games together in 2021). Dalton also just missed a walk-in touchdown to Kamara against the 49ers. The point is that both passers haven’t gotten the most out of one of the NFL’s proven playmakers.

But it also comes down to playcalling. Pete Carmichael Jr. has been on the headset all season and he hasn’t done a good enough job getting Kamara involved — specifically in the red zone. And the plays Kamara is getting show a worrying lack of creativity. Just 25.9% of his carries are going outside the tackles, compared to 31.1% of his rushing attempts from 2019 to 2021. Carmichael is asking him to run between the tackles and into the teeth of the defense over and over again, and it isn’t working.

Hopefully things turn around over these final five games. If this is all the production the Saints are going to get out of Kamara, it doesn’t justify his contract value. They owe it to themselves to get the most out of that investment, and the best path forward is to go back and key in on what Kamara has done well throughout his career. He may not be as effective without Drew Brees, but he’s made enough plays with enough different quarterbacks over the years to where this scoring drought is inexcusable.

As for the fumbles: again, this is uncharacteristic for Kamara. It should stabilize over time. It’s not like he’s gotten lazy with his ball security or is mishandling his opportunities. These things happen, and taking the ball out of his hands isn’t the answer. No one knows how important protecting the football is better than Kamara, and he’s shown before that he’ll get it cleaned up. He and the Saints can’t afford not to.

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Alvin Kamara Las Vegas court date delayed again, trial date set for 2023

Alvin Kamara Las Vegas court date delayed again, trial date set for 2023; what it means for any potential suspension

We aren’t any closer to reaching a conclusion on Alvin Kamara’s Las Vegas battery case than where we started, but there has been some movement. Kamara’s latest court date on Nov. 9 didn’t require he or any of the other defendants be present, and the judge presiding over the case agreed to continue the next negotiations hearing a full 60 days — the latest delay in a case that has been pushed back multiple times since the incident allegedly involving Kamara occurred in February of this year.

Attorneys will meet again in court on Jan. 23, 2023, but that’s just another step in proceedings. What’s more pressing is that the judge also set a trial date for March 1, 2023, which will likely require Kamara’s presence. So far he’s been able to remain with the team both in New Orleans and as the Saints travel around the country (and abroad for a game in London earlier this season). That March trial date will fit squarely in the offseason, taking place about two weeks before the NFL opens free agency, so it shouldn’t disrupt any of Kamara’s commitments to the team.

This also means that Kamara should play out the season without missing time due to a suspension from the league office in New York. The NFL’s well-established precedent is for suspensions, fines, and other league discipline to be administered after the legal process plays out. And since this case won’t move one way or another until after the 2022 season has wrapped up, any potential suspension for Kamara won’t come into effect until 2023.

Now, whether that’s a good thing or not in the middle of what’s looking like a lost year for the Saints is up for debate. There’s an argument to be made that Kamara should go ahead and take the suspension now so that the Saints can retool and reload in hopes of being more competitive in 2023. But that isn’t an option, so we’re not going to dwell on it any further.

As for what started this whole mess: Kamara is accused of having assaulted a man outside a Las Vegas nightclub just before the Pro Bowl back in February, resulting in a criminal case in Nevada court and a civil case in New Orleans seeking $10 million in damages. TMZ Sports recently published video of the altercation and Kamara’s alleged involvement, but that hasn’t prompted the NFL to reverse course and discipline him. We’ll keep an eye out for developments, but don’t expect anything noteworthy until the spring.

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TMZ releases video of alleged Las Vegas altercation involving Alvin Kamara

TMZ releases video of alleged Las Vegas altercation involving Alvin Kamara, but it’s unlikely to lead to a suspension in 2022:

TMZ Sports shared video of an altercation allegedly involving New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara in Las Vegas back in February, in which a group including Kamara is accused of assaulting a man at a hotel. Kamara was infamously arrested by Las Vegas police after the Pro Bowl at Allegiant Stadium the next day, and he’s currently facing criminal charges in Las Vegas as well as a civil suit in New Orleans seeking $10 million in damages.

The alleged victim, Darnell Green Jr. of Houston, has retained Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee as his representation in the civil suit. Buzbee has risen to prominence by representing dozens of women accusing former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (now with the Cleveland Browns, and who the Saints doggedly pursued this offseason) of sexual misconduct as well as former San Antonio Spurs team psychologist Dr. Hillary Cauthen, who has accused the Spurs of failing to take action after their former 2021 draft pick Josh Primo allegedly exposed himself to her in multiple sessions.

Buzbee unsuccessfully lobbied for the NFL to “take immediate action” in punishing Kamara back in August. While this video is disturbing, it’s unlikely to prompt the NFL to reverse course and issue a suspension at this time. The league office has established a precedent of waiting to hand down discipline until after the legal process has resolved itself, and that should remain the case here. Watson was suspended 11 games for violations of the league personal conduct policy, but that league discipline wasn’t handed down until after he settled the civil lawsuits against him.

Kamara’s case in criminal court has been delayed frequently given the number of defendants (four) and array of attorneys involved, and it’s unlikely to be wrapped up before the 2022 regular season draws to a close. If Kamara does receive a suspension from the NFL, it most likely won’t come into effect until 2023. Still, the league office has made unprecedented moves before, so we’ll keep an eye out.

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Alvin Kamara fires back at Michael Thomas critics after latest injury update

Saints captain Alvin Kamara fired back at Michael Thomas critics after his latest injury update, saying “it hurts my soul to see that”

Alvin Kamara has really come into his own this season as one of the leaders on the New Orleans Saints’ roster. Sure, he’s a five-time Pro Bowler and the face of their franchise, but 2022 was the first year in which he earned a captain’s patch on his uniform. And he’s shouldered that new responsibility well in demanding greater accountability in the locker room and defending his teammates from unfair criticism in speaking with the media.

The Saints sent wide receiver Michael Thomas to injured reserve this week after resting him for five games, teeing him up for surgery on a dislocated toe that’s likely going to end his season. It’s led to troubling comments online  questioning his commitment to the team and suggesting he’s tapped out after having signed a contract extension. Kamara acknowledged the frustration — this is the third year in a row Thomas has missed significant time with injury — but pushed back against the critics doubting his teammate’s motivation.

“It’s a lot of shit we’ve got to go through,” Kamara told ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, pointing out that fans don’t see the long, painful hours in the trainer’s room working on injury rehab. He added, “A player like that, that’s fighting to get back, not only for his team, but for the fans and for this city … For people to be talking shit, it’s like, ah, it hurts my soul to see that.”

Kamara said that Thomas was optimistic he’d be active for the Raiders game, having taken the team doctors’ advice to rest his injured toe and receive treatment. But the dislocated digit didn’t heal as everyone involved hoped that it would after a recent MRI scan, prompting a change of plans. Thomas is still following doctor’s orders. It’s not like he’s gone rogue again and stopped talking to the team for months.

He’s as frustrated as anyone, which Kamara has seen firsthand. More from his conversation with Terrell: “Nobody’s in here like ‘Let me get injured and not play and just get paid.’ We get paid to play obviously and we want to be available but when you can’t do it, there’s certain things you’ve got to be smart about.”

What’s next for Thomas is anyone’s guess. Things can’t continue as they have considering his contract status. There’s a very real and unfortunate possibility that he’s already caught his last pass in a Saints uniform. But if things work out to where he continues to wear black and gold, Kamara has made it clear he’ll be one of the first teammates to welcome Thomas to their locker room.

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Alvin Kamara isn’t interested in playing anywhere but New Orleans

While trade rumors fly, #Saints RB Alvin Kamara says he isn’t interested in playing anywhere but New Orleans, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

After a week of trade rumors circulating around New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, he made it clear of his desire to stay put in New Orleans. Following the Saints’ 24-0 win against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Kamara was asked by NOLA.com columnist Rod Walker if he has been paying attention to the rumors.

Before disputing any knowledge of the rumors or a potential trade itself, the five-time Pro Bowler had a specific message to deliver. “I don’t really plan on playing anywhere else,” Kamara said. Ultimately, Kamara does not have a say in whether or not the organization makes the choice to trade him. But his desire to stay in New Orleans is notable. Especially at a time when fans have expressed concern  that the team is divided or that the locker room has been lost in their 2-5 start. Now, as a 3-5 team, the Saints have life in their division and have a clear idea of what their potential is after their Week 8 victory.

For those reasons it is not surprising that, per FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, the Saints “rebuffed” a trade request for Kamara made by the Buffalo Bills ahead of the Nov. 1 trade deadline. New Orleans still has life only eight weeks into the season. Fire-selling top talent would be ill-advised at this juncture while sitting just one game out of first place in the NFC South.

Kamara is not only a huge part of the Saints’ offense, one of the NFL’s best rushing and receiving threats, but he is a leader off the field as well. “I think that leadership has grown this season,” head coach Dennis Allen said. “And I think he understands that when you really look offensively at some of the younger skills guys we have. I just think that veteran leadership presence is important. And it’s important to have that in your best players.”

Kamara challenged the locker room after their Thursday Night Football loss to the Arizona Cardinal last week in a passionate speech. A player that has no interest being where he is does not go to those lengths. But the Saints playmaker making apparent his disinterest in going elsewhere is notable. Especially fresh off the field after scoring 3 total touchdowns. Kamara and his coach don’t sound like a pair awaiting a possible blockbuster trade involving the superstar. “He didn’t just step up in his words, he stepped up in his actions,” Allen said. “And I think that’s what a real leader does.”

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