Alvin Kamara expressed his remorse and desire to improve on Friday as the Saints star spoke publicly for the first time about the Feb. 2022 incident that resulted in him receiving discipline from the NFL.
Kamara, 28, and Colts cornerback Chris Lammons were each handed three-game suspensions on Friday for their roles in a Las Vegas altercation the night before the 2022 Pro Bowl that left one man, Darnell Greene, seriously injured. The case has since been settled.
Prior to the news of his suspension, Kamara, who plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge on July 11, opened up about taking responsibility for the brawl, and the effect the situation has had on his life and those around him following the Saints’ practice.
“It’s been 18, 19 months that I’ve been dealing with this ordeal, it’s a tough ordeal to be in,” Kamara told reporters, per Jeff Nowak of Audacy Sports. “Obviously, I never want to 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.”
The sixth-year pro also admitted he felt he “embarrassed” those who believed in him with his actions before saying he plans to use the ordeal as a learning moment.
Kamara continued, “[I] embarrassed the Saints, embarrassed my family, my mother, embarrassed myself, embarrassed the city and the ‘shield,’ obviously, embarrassed the NFL. So, I just try to do my best to try to keep it as much away from the media and as much away from the team as I could. Obviously, it’s hard to do that when you’ve got such an incident like this. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tough.
“I’ve lost a lot throughout this ordeal. Definitely not looking for any pity, not looking for somebody to pat me on the back and say ‘It’s O.K.’ I know what I did, I know what I was involved in, and I definitely take responsibility and that’s part of being a man and growing.”
Alvin Kamara says it all right here. The meeting with Roger Goodell “went well.” He knows he was in the wrong, and he’s happy to move forward with the #Saints. pic.twitter.com/nrBXNSAEs9
— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) August 4, 2023
Kamara’s candid comments came at the end of a week where the five-time Pro Bowler flew to New York to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell. Kamara told reporters Friday the meeting “went well” but declined to add more details.
In addition to serving out his suspension, Kamara will also have to complete community service hours and pay $105,000 in medical bills to Greene as part of the plea agreement that reduced his charge to misdemeanor breach of peace. Prior to the plea, Kamara initially faced felony charges of battery with substantial bodily harm and misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to commit battery.
