Alvin Kamara Skips Saints' Mandatory Minicamp, Seeking New Contract Amidst Ongoing Negotiations

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA United States of America
Kamara is entering the fourth year of a five-year, $77 million deal signed in September 2020 and wants a new contract before taking the field again.
Kamara's absence from mandatory minicamp could result in a fine, as NFL rules state that players are required to attend all practices unless they have an excused absence.
Kamara's absence was due to ongoing contract negotiations with the team.
New Orleans Saints' star running back Alvin Kamara skipped the final day of mandatory minicamp practice on Thursday.
The Saints and Kamara have been discussing a new deal for months, but progress has not been made.
Alvin Kamara Skips Saints' Mandatory Minicamp, Seeking New Contract Amidst Ongoing Negotiations

Alvin Kamara, the New Orleans Saints' star running back, skipped the final day of mandatory minicamp practice on Thursday due to ongoing contract negotiations with the team. According to multiple reports, Kamara's agent confirmed that his absence was related to his contract situation.

Kamara is entering the fourth year of a five-year, $77 million deal signed in September 2020. He has two years left on the contract but reportedly wants a new one before taking the field again. The Saints and Kamara have been discussing a new deal for 'months,' but progress has not been made.

The running back's absence from mandatory minicamp could result in a fine, as NFL rules state that players are required to attend all practices unless they have an excused absence. However, Kamara did participate in the team's walk-through on Thursday before leaving early.

Kamara has been an integral part of the Saints' offense since being drafted in 2017. He has averaged 1,032 rushing yards and another 578 receiving yards per season over the past three years. However, his production dipped last season, as he rushed for a career-low 694 yards and had a career-low average of 4.5 yards per touch.

The Saints' offense has struggled to score points in recent seasons, making Kamara's contributions even more valuable. The team finished the 2023 season with the second-fewest points scored in the league, behind only the Houston Texans.

Despite his production and importance to the team, Kamara is seeking a new contract due to concerns about his future earnings. According to Spotrac, he is set to earn $11.8 million this season and has $36.8 million remaining on his deal after this year.

The Saints could choose to release Kamara after the 2024 season, when the final year of his contract pays him $25 million in base salary. However, given his production and importance to the team, it is unlikely that they would let him go without trying to extend his deal first.

The Saints' negotiations with Kamara are ongoing, but it remains unclear what terms the two sides are discussing. The running back has reportedly been seeking a new contract for some time, and his absence from mandatory minicamp is the latest indication that he is growing frustrated with the lack of progress.



Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Are there any non-peer reviewed studies or unpublished data that could affect the accuracy of this article?

Sources

82%

  • Unique Points
    • Alvin Kamara's contract includes a phony final year of $25 million.
    • Negotiations have gone nowhere, leading Kamara to leave mandatory minicamp.
    • Kamara and McCaffrey were drafted in 2017 and had similar per-touch impact early in their careers.
    • McCaffrey has continued to produce at a high level, while Kamara’s rushing average has slipped under four yards over the past three years combined, and he had a career-low 6.2 yards per reception last season.
  • Accuracy
    • Kamara has two years left on his five-year, $77 million deal signed in September 2020.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains editorializing and pontification by the author when he states 'Phony contract years are more trouble than they're worth.' and 'That's what's happening with the Saints and running back Alvin Kamara.' These statements are not facts but rather the author's opinion. The article also contains selective reporting as the author only mentions Kamara's declining statistics without mentioning his contributions in other areas or his overall body of work.
    • That's what's happening with the Saints and running back Alvin Kamara.
    • Phony contract years are more trouble than they're worth.
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The author uses an informal fallacy of appeal to emotion when stating 'Phony contract years are more trouble than they’re worth. They create the false impression that the player is making more than he is.' This statement does not provide any logical reasoning or evidence for why phony contract years are a problem, but rather relies on an emotional response from readers. Additionally, there is an example of inflammatory rhetoric when the author states 'That’s what’s happening with the Saints and running back Alvin Kamara.' This statement is not providing any new information or evidence about the situation between Kamara and the Saints, but rather trying to elicit a negative emotional response from readers. The author also makes several comparisons between Kamara and Christian McCaffrey, which could be considered an appeal to authority if the author is implying that McCaffrey's contract is a fair comparison for Kamara's situation.
    • ]Phony contract years are more trouble than they’re worth. [
    • That’s what’s happening with the Saints and running back Alvin Kamara.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

93%

  • Unique Points
    • Alvin Kamara is hoping for a new contract with the New Orleans Saints.
    • Kamara missed the final minicamp practice due to contract discussions with the Saints.
    • His agent confirmed that Kamara's absence was related to his contract situation.
  • Accuracy
    • Alvin Kamara has produced an average of 1,610 all-purpose yards per season since the start of his contract.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The author makes several statements that are factual and do not contain any fallacies. However, there is an instance of an appeal to authority when the author mentions 'Spotrac' as a source for Kamara's contract details. This does not significantly impact the overall score as it is a minor infraction.
    • According to Spotrac, Kamara is set to earn $11.8M this season; there is $36.8 million remaining on the deal.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

94%

  • Unique Points
    • Alvin Kamara's agent stated that Kamara's absence was contract-related.
    • Kamara has two years left on his five-year, $77 million deal signed in September 2020.
    • Kamara did not attend OTAs this year, but returned for the first two practices of mandatory minicamp.
  • Accuracy
    • Alvin Kamara's absence from the final minicamp practice was contract-related.
    • Alvin Kamara has two years left on his five-year, $77 million deal signed in September 2020.
    • Negotiations have gone nowhere, leading Kamara to leave mandatory minicamp.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority and a potential dichotomous depiction. The author states that Kamara's agent, Brad Cicala, told NFL Network that his absence was contract-related without providing any counterargument or alternative viewpoint. This constitutes an appeal to authority fallacy. Additionally, the article seems to present only two options for Kamara's absence: either it is contract-related or he is holding out for a new deal, creating a potential dichotomous depiction fallacy.
    • Kamara's agent, Brad Cicala, told NFL Network that Kamara's absence was contract-related.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

  • Unique Points
    • Alvin Kamara skipped the New Orleans Saints’ final practice of mandatory minicamp on Thursday due to contract-related reasons.
    • Alvin Kamara is seeking a contract restructure as he is the No. 2-paid RB and wants to keep pace with Christian McCaffrey.
    • It’s unclear what would satisfy Kamara in his contract negotiations: an extension, moving money up from 2025 to this year, or more guarantees.
    • Kamara was suspended for the first three games of the 2023 season for an off-field incident in Las Vegas during the Pro Bowl in February 2022.
    • He generated a career-low 5.4 yards per target as a checkdown option for Derek Carr and had 3.9 yards per carry, which is his third straight year at or below 4.0 YPC.
    • Kamara profiles as an excellent fit in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme but wants to work on his contract before taking a real snap in that offense.
  • Accuracy
    • Alvin Kamara skipped the New Orleans Saints' final practice of mandatory minicamp on Thursday due to contract-related reasons.
    • Alvin Kamara has two years remaining on his contract, but it's effectively a one-year deal at this stage with $10.2 million in base salary and just $1 million guaranteed.
    • Alvin Kamara profiles as an excellent fit in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme but wants to work on his contract before taking a real snap in that offense.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

  • Unique Points
    • Alvin Kamara skipped the final day of Saints minicamp practice on Thursday due to contract-related reasons.
    • Discussions over a contract restructuring have been ongoing for several months between Kamara and the Saints. Progress has not been made on contract negotiations according to NFL Network.
    • None of the $22.4 million base is guaranteed in 2025.
  • Accuracy
    • Alvin Kamara has two years left on his deal, with $10.2 million in base salary and only $1 million guaranteed.
    • Discussions over a contract restructuring have been ongoing for several months between Kamara and the Saints.
    • Progress has not been made on contract negotiations according to NFL Network.
    • Alvin Kamara is hoping for a new contract with the New Orleans Saints.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication