Saints’ Alvin Kamara Declares He’s ‘Here to Play’ Even Without Deal

NEW ORLEANS — Alvin Kamara, the talented running back for the New Orleans Saints, did not receive the contract extension he had hoped for; however, he has decided to table any discussions regarding his contract until the next offseason.

During the Saints’ decisive 47-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers at the Caesars Superdome, Kamara appeared unfazed by the lack of a new deal. He rushed for 83 yards on 15 carries, marking his best rushing performance since accumulating 107 yards in the last match against the Panthers during the previous season. In addition to his rushing stats, he caught all five passes thrown at him for another 27 yards.

At one point in the game, when Kamara briefly exited, he received a warm ovation from the fans in recognition of achieving his 50th game with at least 100 yards from scrimmage.

“I’m not worried about it. I’m here to play,” Kamara stated confidently. “I’m going to perform. I don’t have any mystery injuries or anything like that. I’m here with my team, coaches, and I love this city. I love the fans. They’ve supported me for years.”

Kamara emphasized that it would feel selfish not to contribute to the team, especially considering the strong connections he has formed with the community. “I interact with so many people every day. It would be a disservice to not come out here and put on a show for those who have continually supported me,” he expressed.

His current contract, a five-year extension worth $75 million signed in 2020, runs through the end of the 2025 season. Nevertheless, Kamara’s salary cap hit of $29 million and base salary of $22.4 million for 2025 are likely to necessitate discussion from the team before next season begins.

Interestingly, Kamara’s contract was the only significant deal the Saints opted not to restructure this season to relieve salary cap pressures for 2024. While contract restructures grant immediate financial flexibility, they increase the overall cost of parting ways with a player if the team decides to release them before the contract ends.

“It didn’t get done. It is what it is,” Kamara reflected after the game. “I’m focused solely on football at this point, and I don’t want to discuss contracts. I’ve never wanted to be the center of attention for anything. We are trying to win games and reach the Super Bowl. We’ll revisit this conversation after the season.”

At 29 years old, Kamara has been committed to playing out the current season, regardless of whether an extension materializes. This ongoing speculation around his contract intensified when he missed the final practice of mandatory minicamp, which surprised Saints head coach Dennis Allen at the time.

“People always say I’m a mystery. They never know what I’m doing or thinking. But I made my plans clear… I was present for minicamp, but decided to leave before that last day. Everyone was just waiting to see if I would show up for training camp,” Kamara explained.

Despite the uncertainty, Kamara was always certain he would report to camp and prepare as he normally would. “In my mind, I was going to show up and work, just like always,” he said. “The younger guys were happy to see me. They were surprised I showed up, but I told them I was always planning to be there for them.”

Coach Allen praised Kamara’s performance against the Panthers, calling it “awesome” and expressing his belief in the dynamic role he can play in the Saints’ offense. “There are many different things we can do with him,” Allen noted.

The Saints had a formidable outing, scoring on their first nine possessions, a testament to the effectiveness of the first-team offense, led by quarterback Derek Carr. They didn’t record a punt until the last five minutes of the game, after backup quarterback Jake Haener took over.

When asked about his role in the team’s success, Kamara humbly responded, “I’m just Employee No. 41. I’m just showing up to work.” His focus remains on performing for his team and community above all else.