Alvin Kamara comments on running backs’ value amid contract dispute with Saints

The New Orleans Saints are currently on break until the start of training camp in late July, but the team still has a ton of business to take care of. Atop that list of business is Alvin Kamara’s contract. The star running back has two years remaining on his deal, but since he’s due north of $25 million next season, 2024 is essentially the final year of the contract.

That's why Kamara is seeking a new deal. He made that clear on the final day of mandatory minicamp, departing before the start of practice. Kamara and the Saints have plenty of time to get on the same page before training camp, but if they can’t, it’ll be interesting to see if the veteran running back holds out.

In the meantime, the NFL world is in the latest chapter of the ongoing saga about running backs’ value in the NFL. This conversation has started up again, this time, due to discussions about Saquon Barkley on “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants.” New York had the NFL Films crew documenting its offseason, and that includes losing star running back Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles.

During the show, New York’s front office was shown having a conversation about Barkley’s future with the team. The Giants were arguing they didn’t think they could franchise tag him for $12 million and then trade him to another team. The team also knew it didn’t want to pay him that much, emphasizing that he’s 27 years old. That’s why New York ultimately let Barkley walk in free agency.

However, the clip made its rounds on social media, with everyone making note of how dismissive the franchise was of their best player. Alvin Kamara even chimed in with a few words, responding to the video by saying, “What [Marshawn Lynch] said…..”

Marshawn Lynch has a lot of quotable moments, but Kamara is likely referring to Lynch’s famous speech after the final game of his career, when he advised his fellow NFL players to “take care of y’all’s bodies, take care of y’all’s chicken, take care of y’all’s mental.” Chicken, of course, meaning money. Lynch was driving home the point that players must be take care of business so they can walk away from the game when they want to, and continue to take care of their self in every way.

Kamara is likely calling back to this moment to emphasize players have to look out for themselves. Teams will use players for everything they have, then when the franchise sees fit, they’ll dispose of those players. That’s why it’s on the players to secure their chicken, and that’s what Alvin Kamara is trying to do now.

READ MORE