What Alvin Kamara’s lessened charges could mean for star running back, Saints

Alvin Kamara will no longer be facing felony charges for his alleged part in a Las Vegas fight during Pro Bowl weekend in 2022.

The Saints star running back was previously scheduled to go to trial in July to face felony battery charges. He pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge. The lawyer of the man who was injured in the fight, Darnell Greene, also confirmed that the civil suit against Kamara has been settled.

Attorney Tony Buzbee shared an apology written by Kamara on Instagram and said the parties agreed to a settlement with confidential terms.

"Please accept my sincere apologies for the events of February 5, 2022 in Las Vegas," Kamara wrote to Greene in the letter shared by Buzbee. "I am happy that we were able to get on the other side of this unfortunate incident, and I wish you the best for the future."

Kamara is still subject to a possible suspension by the NFL, which has punished several players in the past even when they weren’t convicted or charges were dropped. In a statement sent by a league spokesman, the league said it has "been closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review."

According to the league’s personal conduct policy, “In cases in which a player is not charged with a crime, or is charged but not convicted, he may still be found to have violated the Policy if the credible evidence establishes that he engaged in prohibited conduct.”

The NFL typically waits for criminal cases to be resolved before handing out discipline. So this presumably clears the way for the league to make a ruling before the 2023 season begins, with Kamara having a chance to appeal.

This also means Kamara won’t be facing a trial on July 31 as previously scheduled, which would have taken place during training camp.

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Though it is not clear how the NFL will decide to punish Kamara, it may be to his benefit that he is no longer facing felony allegations. According to the league’s policy, violations that involve “criminal assault or battery (felony)” would have subjected Kamara to a baseline suspension of six games without pay as a first-time offender.

The New Orleans backfield will benefit tremendously if that number is smaller. The Saints prepared for the worst outcome by signing last year’s touchdown leader, Jamaal Williams, and by drafting Kendre Miller in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. But Kamara remains the star of the group and should be a focal point of the offense.

The presence of the other two backs should allow New Orleans to get more creative with how Kamara is used, and he could fall into a role more similar to how he was used earlier in his career when he was deployed all over the field. New quarterback Derek Carr has praised Kamara’s ability to run routes and has repeatedly said he’s looking forward to utilizing Kamara in the passing game.

Last season, Kamara finished with 1,387 yards from scrimmage, including 490 receiving yards, the second-lowest mark of his career after logging 439 receiving yards in 2021.

Seeing how the Saints split up the carries and touches this season will be one of the more fascinating subplots. Miller wasn’t drafted to watch everyone else play, and Williams, who scored 17 touchdowns last year, will likely serve as a battering ram in the red zone. New Orleans must also find a way to involve Taysom Hill, who averaged 6 yards per carry last season, in the running game.

Kamara pleaded not guilty in March 2023 to felony charges of battery causing substantial bodily harm and conspiracy to commit battery. Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chris Lammons and co-defendants Darrin Young and Percy Harvin were also facing the same charges.

The incident began when both parties were waiting for an elevator to exit the nightclub and a confrontation ensued when the man tried to enter the elevator along with Kamara and other men and women in his group. Video shows Kamara pushing the man back away from the elevator before Lammons punches the man while words were being exchanged. Kamara followed with multiple punches.

Kamara told police after the Pro Bowl that he was with his girlfriend, his assistant and a couple of friends. He said the man called one of his friends ugly while they were waiting for the elevator and then later said, "I'll whup your ass too." Kamara said he saw a fight break out next to him and saw the man get punched. When asked why he punched the man, Kamara indicated that he thought the man was running away and had done something to his group -- so he chased him and punched him several times.