New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are reportedly nearing a contract extension with Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the two sides are "extremely close to a lucrative new extension that the two sides are hoping to finalize in the next few days."

Schefter added the Saints and Kamara have a window to get the deal done with players having an off day Tuesday.

Last week, there were conflicting reports about Kamara's absence from Saints practice.

Schefter reported Kamara had three unexcused absences from practice that were believed to be related to his contract. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero noted the 25-year-old received an epidural shot in his back.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Kamara denied that he was away from the team because of a contract holdout: "Not really, I ain't ever held out in my life. That's about it."

Amid the ongoing debate about running back value in the NFL, teams have shown a willingness to invest in star players at the position this offseason. Christian McCaffrey signed a four-year extension with the Carolina Panthers worth up to $64 million. 

The Cincinnati Bengals gave Joe Mixon a four-year, $48 million extension last week. 

Kamara is entering the final year of his rookie contract. His $2.13 million base salary is tied for 18th among all running backs in 2020, per Spotrac.

A third-round draft pick out of Tennessee in 2017, Kamara has averaged 1,492 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns in three seasons with the Saints. He's led the team in rushing yards the past two seasons.

The New Orleans Saints signed Jameis Winston to a one-year contract this offseason, but it appears that one year will likely be spent on the sidelines.   

The Saints released their depth chart for Sunday's season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Taysom Hill is listed as the No. 2 quarterback behind Drew Brees. That leaves Winston, who led the league with 5,109 passing yards for Tampa Bay last year, as the third-stringer.

It should be noted that Hill impacts the game in a number of ways outside of backing up Brees.

He occasionally returns kicks, works as a wide receiver and takes end-arounds as a rushing threat. While he has a mere 13 passing attempts in his entire career, the BYU product caught six touchdowns and ran for another last year as a versatile weapon who gives the Saints more options on the offensive end.

That means he likely wouldn't just shift to full-time quarterback in the event of a Brees injury, regardless of what the depth chart says before the season.

Putting Hill under center on every snap limits the number of ways he can hurt the defense, and the 13 career passes would be a concern at that point.

Winston, for all his inconsistency, brings far more experience as a pure quarterback who can drop back in the pocket and get the ball in the hands of playmakers such as Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara and Emmanuel Sanders.

While Winston impressed with his yardage and 33 touchdown throws, he also led the league with a stunning 30 interceptions. Those turnovers prevented a team with plenty of offensive talent from truly threatening in the NFC South.

If everything goes according to plan for the Saints, Brees will remain healthy and start 16 games during the 2020 campaign. If that's not the case, New Orleans may have to worry about Winston's turnover tendencies unless the team wants to remove Hill from his role as a versatile weapon who lines up all over the field.

Alvin Kamara told reporters Monday that he wasn't holding out when he missed a number of practices last week amid reports that his absences were not excused and were the result of Kamara's displeasure with not being signed to a long-term extension.

"I ain't never held out in my life," he said, per Mike Triplett of ESPN. "I came to the building every day. That's all I've got to say."

Triplett and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Kamara had been receiving treatment for his back during those absences. 

"It's something light," Kamara said of his back. "I kind of dealt with it a little bit last camp too. Just a little flare-up, just a little [sacroiliac] joint flare-up. It just needed some rest, a little injection, but nothing serious."

Whether Kamara held out or not, it seems the gulf between he and the Saints regarding a long-term contract extension became pretty intense, with Triplett reporting the team was "even open to the idea of trading Kamara for a first-round pick in light of his absence from practice."

Kamara, 25, is in the final year of his rookie contract and has been one of the best values in football over the past three years, rushing for 2,408 yards and 27 touchdowns in his short career while adding 243 receptions for 2,068 yards and another 10 scores. 

He's emerged as one of the NFL's best multipurpose weapons and is likely seeking something in the ballpark of Christian McCaffrey's four-year, $64 million contract extension. That made McCaffrey the highest-paid running back in football and was big money at a position the league has devalued in the past decade. 

Kamara will point out that he's one of the few running backs in the NFL who can make a major impact in both the run and pass game. The Saints will likely counter that he's never put up the full videogame stats that McCaffrey compiled in 2019 (1,387 rushing yards, 116 receptions for 1,005 yards, 19 total touchdowns). 

The Saints would probably prefer to settle closer to the $12 million average annual value of Joe Mixon's recent contract extension. Regardless, Kamara will head into the 2020 season ready to go.

"No. 1, we would never discuss any type of contract progress with the media," head coach Sean Payton said when asked if the contract dispute could affect Kamara's play. "I'm confident that at some point we'll get this done, and we'll let you know when that happens."

The New Orleans Saints reportedly tried to orchestrate a sign-and-trade deal with another team—believed to be the Cleveland Browns—in an effort to sign defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, according to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

Per that report, the Saints didn't believe they could match the deal Clowney eventually signed with the Tennessee Titans (one year, $12 million with $3 million in incentives) so they attempted to get creative:

"The sides discussed parameters of a deal in which Team X would've signed Clowney to a one-year, $15 million contract and paid him a $5 million signing bonus. Then, Team X would've immediately traded Clowney to the Saints, who would've sent Team X a second-round draft pick, as well as a player to take additional salary off New Orleans' books. The Saints would've paid Clowney's remaining $10 million salary."

The report raised a few eyebrows on social media:

The Saints really tried to pawn a draft pick to sign Clowney. They're currently operating with "Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems" levels of desperation, and personally, I support it. https://t.co/aW97pmDWSS

— Robert Mays (@robertmays) September 6, 2020

More conventional way for Saints to get Jadeveon Clowney: Don’t give Taysom Hill $21M?

— Dan Hanzus (@DanHanzus) September 6, 2020

Pelissero and Rapoport pegged the Browns as the mystery team because they "have ample cap space and a front office known for having a propensity for creativity, most memorably on display in their 2016 trade for quarterback Brock Osweiler."

Per that report, however, the NFL likely would not have approved the deal, putting the kibosh on it. It would have been unprecedented for an NFL team to have signed a free agent solely with the purpose of trading him. 

"Fundamentally, you can't trade cash," one executive told Pelissero and Rapoport while talking about the league's likely rejection of the deal.  

So the Saints couldn't match Tennessee's offer and Clowney ended up on the Titans, bolstering a defense that lost Jurrell Casey this offseason after he was traded to the Denver Broncos. The Titans were a game away from the Super Bowl last year after upsetting the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens and look like a real threat to make another run in the 2020 season. 

The Jadeveon Clowney rundown:

1st overall pick in 2014 NFL Draft

5.8% run stuff rate since 2016 (1st in NFL)

26.5% pass rush win rate since 2018 (2nd in NFL)

32.0 career sacks

Clowney has signed a 1-year deal with the Titans worth up to $15M according to ESPN's @AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/zyD4lgHeFj

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 6, 2020

Watched him from sideline terrorize San Fran last year on #MondayNightFootball week 10. #Titans need that Clowney to show up. If he does, their defense is significantly better up front. https://t.co/fyZyAm0iWA

— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) September 6, 2020

It's pretty shocking that a talent of Clowney's caliber is just being signed with a week to go before the season begins. But Tennessee got its man despite a truly unique effort by the Saints. 

At this point, it looks as though the New Orleans Saints are going to pay up to extend running back Alvin Kamara's contract. But while Kamara is one of the sport's top offensive weapons, doing so would be an error. 

The Pro Bowl running back recently stayed away from training camp for several days on an unexcused absence that ESPN's Adam Schefter reported was believed to be contract-related. But now he's back on the practice field, and recent reports from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler suggest a deal could be close. 

The good news for Saints fans is Fowler's report states Kamara isn't seeking a deal in the same range as the one signed earlier this offseason by Carolina Panthers back Christian McCaffrey, who reset the running back market with a four-year pact worth just over $16 million per season. 

Saints and Alvin Kamara are not far apart in negotiations, per source, as Kamara has not asked for Christian McCaffrey money. Saints were open to trading Kamara for a 1 in light of absence but things calmed down, sides continue talking.

Four teams inquired about Kamara today.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 2, 2020

The bad news is Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reports that the team is "comfortable" making the 25-year-old one of the five highest-paid running backs in the league. 

That would mean an average annual salary of at least $12 million per season, which would be unbelievably prohibitive for the Saints beyond the 2020 season. 

Spotrac projects the Saints to enter the 2021 offseason nearly $78 million over a salary cap that might not increase and could actually decrease as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. That number would surely shoot up more with Kamara inked to a new long-term deal, which would make it incredibly difficult if not impossible to keep the team together with quarterback Drew Brees, left tackle Terron Armstead, right tackle Ryan Ramczyk and cornerback Marshon Lattimore all entering contract years in 2021. 

Yes, Brees could retire, but that would only increase the chances that Kamara would be making primo dollars on a rebuilding roster beyond 2020. And even when Brees does step aside, he won't simply come off the books. If he were to retire next spring, he'd still count $22.7 million against the salary cap in 2021. 

The Saints should be putting all of their eggs in this year's basket. Beyond that, it'll be very tough to compete even if Brees sticks around. He'll be 42 in 2021, and precedents indicate there's a good chance he'll decline rapidly before then. By then, Armstead will be on the wrong side of 30, Demario Davis will be 32 and Jared Cook and Emmanuel Sanders will be 34, and the Saints will likely have to cut a significant amount of fat. 

Kamara might not be a luxury they can afford at that point. Instead, they can pay him $2.4 million for the final year of his rookie contract, see if he holds up in his fourth pro season and then decide whether it's worth it to hit him with a long-term deal or the franchise tag. 

And yes, Kamara is a luxury but not necessarily essential. Few running backs are in this comically pass-heavy era, even when they catch passes as effectively as Kamara. 

The Tennessee product has compiled exactly 81 receptions in each of his first three NFL campaigns, but his yards-per-target rate has plummeted from 8.3 in 2017 to 6.8 in 2018 to 5.5 in 2019. He also saw his touchdown total decline substantially (he scored just six times after finding the end zone on 31 occasions in his first two seasons combined) while his rushing yardage total sunk as well. 

He says he played through a knee injury last year, which is a perfectly reasonable explanation for a decline in production across the board, but durability will likely only become more of a factor for a speed-dependent back who also dealt with knee issues in college. 

And even when Kamara is healthy, he simply isn't involved enough to justify a heavy expense at that position. 

McCaffrey averaged 25.2 touches per game last season. Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys averaged 22.2. Derrick Henry's average was 21.4, Le'Veon Bell's was 20.7 and Joe Mixon's was 19.6. But Kamara averaged just 18.0 touches per outing in 2019 and 18.3 per game in 2018. His 2019 workload was tantamount to that of Todd Gurley, who was the poster child for reduced reps with the Los Angeles Rams. 

There's only so much you can do without the ball in your hands, and Kamara has never been the centerpiece. Not in New Orleans (Michael Thomas is Brees' top weapon) and not at Tennessee (Jalen Hurd was the top option in 2015, and quarterback Joshua Dobbs was his own pet weapon in 2016). 

That's why paying him centerpiece-level money is an indulgence, especially when you consider that the New Orleans offense hardly missed a beat when he was injured in 2019. 

Kamara says he hurt his knee Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He missed the next two games and returned after the Week 9 bye, but New Orleans scored 67 total points in two victories by double-digit margins without him.

And in Week 14, Kamara put together arguably the worst performance of his career when he averaged a career-low 1.9 yards per attempt on 13 carries and picked up only 18 yards through the air. Yet the New Orleans offense scored 46 points anyway against the vaunted San Francisco 49ers defense. 

That's not to say Kamara doesn't matter. Those samples are small, and over the course of a full season, there's little doubt he adds tremendous value. But that value disappears if his salary skyrockets and causes the Saints to bleed elsewhere. 

Long-term holdouts are practically impossible under the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, so Kamara isn't going anywhere in 2020. Unless they get a massive discount from him on a long-term deal, the Saints should pass and focus on the short term at that devalued, unpredictable, short-shelf-life position. 

     

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012. Follow him on Twitter: @Brad_Gagnon.

The NFL season is set to begin in seven days, but three-time Pro Bowl defensive end and free agent Jadeveon Clowney is still without a team.

That may not be the case for long, though, with rumors flying from numerous reporters Thursday.

Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the New Orleans Saints are sending "an all-out blitz" to land Clowney:

The #Saints are sending an all-out blitz to try to sign Jadeveon Clowney, who has spoken multiple times to coach Sean Payton, sources tell me and @RapSheet. At least two other teams still involved as Clowney's extended free-agent saga nears a close.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 3, 2020

Rapoport followed that with some news on a few other teams looking into the defensive end:

The #Titans have also maintained interest in Jadeveon Clowney, with the #Seahawks monitoring. But the #Saints are pushing hard. Clowney would play right DE in an even front, on national TV more than he ever has been, with a chance to cash in for 2021 after a 1-year deal. https://t.co/RUbsdBKyey

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 3, 2020

ESPN's Dianna Russini also gave an update, putting the Tennessee Titans and Saints in the lead:

Jadeveon Clowney could be with a team a very soon. I’m told the Tennessee Titans and the New Orleans Saints are both making strong pushes to sign the free agent. Both teams want him on the field by Monday and are making their pitches.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) September 3, 2020

And KOA NewsRadio reporter Benjamin Allbright followed that note by saying a third team was involved in the race for Clowney. 

That third team might be the Jacksonville Jaguars, as Russini later reported they are "monitoring the situation."

The Saints appear to be the most aggressive club vying for Clowney, however, as Mike Garafolo of NFL Network's tweeted Thursday: "The Saints have been talking to agents for players currently on the roster to see if they can restructure some deals in the coming days, sources say. The NFLPA currently has them at under $7 million in cap space. So they're working to create room in case they sign Jadeveon Clowney."

Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football confirmed the Saints' interest.

Clowney's free agency has been interesting. At points, news came in bunches, but there were also stretches of silence.

All the while, training camps occurred leaguewide, and it got to the point where it seemed as though Clowney may not find a home before the season started.

However, Rapoport revealed Clowney's intention to sign before Week 1 all along: "For free-agent pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney, he's been planning to sign before Week 1 for months. Based on having to clear COVID-19 protocols, it has to be by the weekend. Decision time is coming, and the Saints hope to make it a no-brainer. Of course, so do the Titans."

The 27-year-old had 31 tackles, three sacks and 13 quarterback hits for the Seahawks last season. He also scored two touchdowns—one off an interception against the Arizona Cardinals and another off a recovered fumble versus the San Francisco 49ers.

Despite trade and contract holdout rumors, the New Orleans Saints are planning on running back Alvin Kamara taking the field for Week 1—along with many weeks to come.

Saints coach Sean Payton addressed Kamara's status Wednesday, telling reporters the franchise is in negotiations with the tailback. 

"We're actively negotiating a contract with he and his agent," Payton said. "We'll keep you posted if there's any progress."

Payton confirmed Kamara is part of the Week 1 game plan against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

It's been a chaotic few days for Kamara. The 25-year-old reportedly had missed multiple practices for unexcused reasons originally reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter as contract related. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network later noted the absence was due to an epidural Kamara received in his back. 

In between, rumors began swirling that the Saints were listening to offers for the Pro Bowl running back. NFL insider Josina Anderson reports a trade could still be an option if the team is offered "top-round draft compensation." 

The team has also fined Kamara $200,000 for missing "team obligations" over the last four days, according to Anderson.

New Orleans and Kamara have been locked in a contract negotiation throughout the process.  

Kamara is one of the most productive pieces in the Saints offense and a major reason the club has made three straight trips to the playoffs. The NFC South becoming one of the toughest divisions in the NFL should make his place in New Orleans more valuable this season, but Kamara hasn't received the type of financial commitment some of the running backs in his 2017 draft class have already been given.

Carolina Panthers tailback Christian McCaffrey signed a four-year, $64 million deal in April while Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Mixon inked a four-year, $48 million contract on Tuesday. 

Kamara should find himself with a salary in between his peers.

Payton seems to believe that will happen soon enough.  

 

The New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans and the NFL Foundation combined to donate $500,000 to relief efforts as a result of Hurricane Laura:

Pelicans and Saints (and the NFL Foundation) donating $500,000 to #HurricaneLaura relief efforts. pic.twitter.com/w2Eug2gMzu

— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) September 2, 2020

Both the Saints and Pelicans are owned by Gayle Benson.

The teams will work with Feeding Louisiana, Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana and the American Red Cross of Louisiana to help those in need.

Hurricane Laura hit Louisiana last week as one of the most powerful storms in United States history, leading to six deaths and significant damage throughout the state. More than 800,000 people lost power, including over 600,000 in Louisiana.

The New Orleans Saints and running back Alvin Kamara are reportedly making progress on a long-term contract extension. 

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the sides are "not far apart," and Kamara isn't asking for the deal Christian McCaffrey received from the Carolina Panthers (four years, $64 million).

While he did not reveal how close the two sides may be to an agreement, Saints coach Sean Payton acknowledged on Wednesday that negotiations were ongoing.

"We're actively negotiating a contract with he and his agent. We'll keep you posted if there's any progress." Payton said, per ESPN's Field Yates. "... We're focused on him being a part of our plan for Week 1." 

Fowler noted the Saints "were open" to moving Kamara for a first-round draft pick after he missed practice, and four teams showed interest in acquiring the three-time Pro Bowler. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that Kamara had three unexcused training camp absences believed to be related to his contract situation. 

Kamara is entering the final season of his rookie deal. His $2.13 million salary in 2020 is tied for 30th among all running backs, per Over the Cap.

The Saints seem to be limited in what they can pay Kamara, as Over the Cap estimates they will be $39.2 million over the 2021 cap. 

If New Orleans can make the money work, Kamara is worth investing in. The 25-year-old has had at least 1,300 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns in each of his first three seasons. He's one of the NFL's most productive receiving running backs, having posted 81 receptions every year since 2017. 

New Orleans tailback Alvin Kamara is expected to take part in practice Wednesday.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Kamara had been away from the team for the past few days after receiving an epidural and needed to clear COVID-19 protocols before he could rejoin the New Orleans Saints.

Just said on @NFLTotalAccess: #Saints RB Alvin Kamara intends to show up tomorrow and practice after missing several days following an epidural shot in his back last Thursday. The sides weren't that far apart on an extension before things went sideways. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/mdBqpoNGXG

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 1, 2020

Josina Anderson reported Wednesday that Kamara was "in the building."

#Saints RB Alvin Kamara and coach Sean Payton had a nice talk this morning, clearing the air. Kamara is expected back at practice today and the two sides will keep working at making sure he’s there long-term.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 2, 2020

Kamara's return came as the two sides continued discussing a new contract for the three-time Pro Bowler. Those talks took another turn Tuesday when trade rumors began swirling after it was reported the Saints were open to moving Kamara.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that Kamara had three unexcused absences over the past three days and it was believed to have been related to his contract situation. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network spoke to Kamara on Tuesday, and the back said he did not ask for a trade and was not holding out.

Pelissero's report seemingly buttressed that narrative, but it didn't explain why the three absences weren't excused.

Kamara is in the final year of his rookie deal, so it makes sense he would be adamant about a new contract.

He's consistently been among the top running backs in the NFL since his Offensive Rookie of the Year season in 2017 and has helped the Saints reach the playoffs in each of the last three years. In the process, he's become an elite runner and pass-catcher.

Kamara has tallied 2,408 career rushing yards and 27 touchdowns while adding 2,068 receiving yards with another 10 scores.

As he prepares for his fourth season, he's due for a payday similar to what Christian McCaffrey earned (four years, $64 million).