NFL
Alvin Kamara Just Made Saints Fans and Fantasy Owners Breathe a Huge Sigh of Relief
Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sports7 in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies. When Jack isn't writing about sports, he's watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He's also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sports7 with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.
All posts by Jack DoughertyUpdated02 Sep 2020
When reports surfaced of Alvin Kamara skipping practice due to a contract dispute, Saints fans and Kamara fantasy owners started shaking in their boots.
We've seen this happen before. Le'Veon Bell sat out the entire 2018 season after going No. 1 overall is many fantasy football leagues. Melvin Gordon missed four games last year fighting for a new contract — one he never got from the Chargers.
Kamara looked to be on the same path early in the week, but he recently returned to the practice field and made his fans and owners breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Alvin Kamara was absent from Saints practice for three days
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Kamara is arguably the most important offensive weapon on the Saints today, and he wants to be paid like it. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Monday Kamara missed three days of practice over the weekend for contract-related reasons.
The timing of Kamara's mini holdout was puzzling considering his recent comments about his contract. In early August, Kamara seemed uninterested in talking about a contract extension.
“It'll happen when it happens,” Kamara said. “It's never been something ... like I didn't come in [to the NFL] thinking about like, ‘Ooh, I can't wait 'til I get a contract.' It's like, ‘I'm playing, and when that comes, it's gonna be well deserved and it's gonna be perfect timing for it.' It's just not something that's at the forefront of my day. It's not something I wake up thinking about.”
Apparently, Kamara had a last-minute change of heart and wants to get paid.
Trade rumors involving Kamara started to surface
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A day after his unexcused absences from training camp came to light, Josina Anderson of ESPN reported the Saints were open to trading Kamara instead of giving him a new contract.
Considering Kamara has been one of the best running backs in the league since his debut in 2017, the news didn't make much sense for New Orleans. Was it a bluff to bring Kamara back to the practice field? Were the Saints actually considering trading one of the best young weapons in the NFL?
Either way, trade rumors have since subsided, and Kamara is back with the Saints.
Kamara has returned to the practice field, making Saints fans and fantasy owners breathe a sigh of relief
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If you're a diehard Saints fan or a fantasy owner who drafted Kamara with an early pick this year, the last few days have been a whirlwind. Would Kamara holdout to start the season? Will he be traded before week 1? What do I do if I have a fantasy draft tonight?
Well, all those questions seemed to have been answered, and the last few days might've just been smoke in mirrors. Kamara will return to the practice field Wednesday as he gears up to start the 2020-21 season on time.
Kamara and the Saints will continue to negotiate a contract extension, but there will be no holdout to start the year. Take a deep breath, Kamara fans and owners. The stud RB should be in the Saints lineup next Sunday healthy and ready to go.
