04 August 2023 , 21:58
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New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has been suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy.
Kamara was arrested in February 2022 following an alleged incident in Las Vegas. The 28-year-old pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of breach of peace in July this year.
The running back was ordered to pay $105,196.17 (£82,519.75) in restitution to the victim for past medical expenses, as well as complete 30 hours of community service. Kamara was also handed an additional fine of $500 (£392) and has issued a public written apology.
It was confirmed on Friday by the NFL that Kamara has been suspended for the first three games of the Saints’ 2023 regular season. That means he will miss the games against the Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, and the Green Bay Packers.
Kamara, the No.67 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, will be eligible to return in Week Four against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He will also be able to take part in pre-season games for the Saints over the next month, but will not be eligible for the start of the NFL season.
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Prior to the news of Kamara’s suspension by the NFL, he spoke for the first time about the incident in February last year. Kamara took responsibility for his actions and apologised to his family, the NFL and the Saints.
"It's a tough ordeal to be in," Kamara told . "You know, 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 it and I can say when I'm wrong and I was completely wrong."
"You never want to be in a situation where, especially the position I'm in, being a leader, being just kind of like a role model, I don't want to be in a position where I put my hands on somebody. That's the last thing you want to do," Kamara added.
"The whole team has been supportive really. You know, it's just unfortunate when you make a decision like that, but I know my character, I know who I am, luckily I'm somewhere where these people know who I am. So, that's kind of kept me going."
The Saints will now have to prepare knowing that they will not have Kamara available for the first three games of the season. That means someone else will have to step in and play at running back.
That job is likely to fall on Jamaal Williams, who is entering his first season with the franchise. The Saints signed Williams as a free agent on a three-year contract worth $12 million (£9.4 million) after the player left the Detroit Lions at the end of last season.