Alvin Kamara reported to the start of training camp with the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday, but it appears he may have done so reluctantly.
Kamara has been seeking a new contract this offseason and attended the first portion of minicamp last month before abruptly departing.
His agent confirmed that the decision was contract-related, sparking speculation that Kamara might hold out from training camp.
To add fuel to the fire, Kamara shared a photo on his Instagram story that might explain his presence at training camp.
The photo featured Kamara alongside former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. At Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, Lynch famously refused to cooperate with the media, repeatedly stating, “I’m just here so I don’t get fined.” This has led to the interpretation that Kamara only showed up to training camp to avoid the hefty fine, which could be as much as $50,000 per day.
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Kamara’s current contract situation is a major point of contention. He is set to earn just under $12 million this season between his base salary and bonuses. However, he has no guaranteed money on his deal for 2025 and faces a cap hit of $29 million.
This means Kamara lacks real long-term security with his current contract.
Despite remaining productive last season, racking up 1,160 yards from scrimmage and scoring six total touchdowns in 13 games, Kamara will turn 29 on Thursday. This adds to his urgency to secure another long-term extension.
The clock is ticking, and Kamara likely feels that his window of opportunity to solidify his financial future in the NFL is narrowing.
