vox888 Alvin Kamara reported to New Orleans Saints training camp as normal because he didn’t want to pay a fine amid an unresolved contract situation. vox888

Alvin Kamara, 29, said he has no hesitation in joining the New Orleans Saints’ training camp despite ongoing contract talks, NFL Network reported. ( vox888 )

Kamara reported to Saints training camp this week amid a contract dispute that has yet to be resolved, but the 29-year-old running back is likely to emulate former star running back Marshawn Lynch, who reported to training camp but trained separately to avoid being fined $50,000 per day.

“I’m not stupid. I’m not going to lose money,” Kamara said. “Am I trying to make money? I’m going to be here. Nobody’s wearing the jersey. I’m not even going to blame the coaches for what’s happening with the contract issues right now. It’s happening all over the league. It’s happening here. It’s happening everywhere.”

‘People are trying to sign contracts, trying to get paid. I would be a fool to put my teammates in trouble because of a fight with someone up there. I wouldn’t even call it an argument. We were just talking about compensation. I’m not that kind of guy. I’m on the team side, so I’m here. I’m doing what I have to do. I’m working.’

Kamara also admitted his early exit from the minicamp last month came after he was denied clarity on his contract.

“Tried to get a deal done, but nothing happened,” the 29-year-old running back said. “There were no real conversations or meaningful conversations about a contract. So at the end of the day, I just said, ‘I think there was a misunderstanding about that. ‘Well, Alvin didn’t say anything about a contract. ‘

‘I never really did, it was just, you know, it was time. We had a little chat, it wasn’t really important, it was just the side they were on, and I was like, ‘Okay, no. ‘ So I went back to the crib. ‘

Kamara is set to make $10.2 million in base salary in the 2024 season, with just $1 million guaranteed, and a $22.4 million base salary in 2025, with none guaranteed, and the 29-year-old running back has insisted he wants to play for the rest of his career with the Saints.

‘I’ve said before, I want to be a Saint,’ Kamara added. ‘You know what I’m saying? I want to retire here. If I want to play football somewhere else, I’ll probably go somewhere with my feet kicked up in Africa or something.’