NFL suspends Alvin Kamara for 3 games. What did he do?

Though he’s clearly demonstrated his remorse over his involvement in an altercation that occurred in Las Vegas in 2022, the Saints running back will still have to face a league-mandated suspension.

Alvin Kamara suspended for 3 games by the NFL for 2022 incident

According to reports, New Orleans Saints star running back, Alvin Kamara has been suspended for the first three games of the coming 2023-24 NFL season. His punishment comes just short of a month after he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge relating to a fight that occurred in a nightclub in 2022. Incidentally, it also comes just hours after Kamara publicly spoke about his actions admitting that he was “was completely wrong” and used “poor judgment” in a situation that ended with his arrest.

“It’s a tough ordeal to be in,” Kamara told the media. “I never wanna be involved in something where someone gets hurt or severely injured or anything. Poor judgment on my end. Definitely a bad decision. But I’m a man. Everything I’ve ever done in my life, I’ve stood on and I can take accountability for and I can say when I’m wrong. And I was completely wrong. I embarrassed the Saints, embarrassed my family, my mother, embarrassed myself, embarrassed the city and...obviously embarrassed the NFL.” Incidentally, the Indianapolis Colts defensive back, Chris Lammons, was also involved in the incident and subsequently received the same three-game suspension

What exactly did Alvin Kamara do?

It is understood that the incident in question occurred on the eve of the 2022 Pro Bowl in Las Vegas. Kamara, along with Lammons and two other defendants, were accused of beating Darnell Greene Jr, of Houston, unconscious following an altercation that began in an elevator before spilling into a hallway. Both Kamara and Lammons pleaded no contest on July 11th to misdemeanors and agreed to each pay more than $100,000 toward Greene’s medical costs. The plea agreements came in conjunction with a settlement of a civil case that Greene filed against them. Interestingly, court dates related to the incident were delayed on a number of occasions which resulted in Kamara being able to play the entire 2022 season. It’s also worth noting that a felony charge of battery against Kamara was dismissed following his plea of no contest.

Alvin Kamara by the numbers

In 15 games last season, Kamara registered 1,387 yards from scrimmage - 897 rushing and 490 receiving - to go with two touchdowns on the ground and two through the air. In his career so far, he’s rushed for 8,888 yards (5,135 rushing, 3,753 receiving) and has scored 71 TDs (49 rushing, 22 receiving). This is all to say that he has been one of the Saints’ most productive players over the last few seasons and as such will be missed. In his absence, the Saints will likely turn to former Packers and Lions reserve, Jamaal Williams who arrived this offseason fresh from a career-high 1,006-yard season in Detroit.

Alvin Kamara has learned a lesson

To his credit, the Saints star appears to have learned important lessons. Indeed, of his meeting with NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, he said “We had a good meeting. It went well,” before explaining how his actions and resulting consequences affected him. “I know what I did, I know what I was involved in,” he said. “From here, I just gotta make the right decisions and make the right. ...I’d be lying if (I said) it hasn’t affected me. It affected me every day. I lost monetary (value), I lost some friends, I lost some support from some people. ...It’s hanging over you,” he continued. “Obviously, it’s self-inflicted. But nonetheless, it’s still something that’s, you know, it’s like a dark cloud. ...It’s hard to kind of enjoy some of the smaller things.”

“But I’ve had a ton of support from this organization, and the people that know me and know what I’m about. I’m not glossing over the situation and downplaying it in any way. I gotta take ownership of it. ...It (was) self-inflicted, but it’s still a dark cloud. I felt better (returning to work now), like a weight (is) off me.” As for truly moving out from under that ‘dark cloud’, Kamara will get his first chance to do so in Week 4 when the Saints take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.