Saints running back Alvin Kamara performed one of his patented jukes on Saturday. But instead of it coming against an NFL defense, Kamara shook off an erroneous trade demand rumor.
With New Orleans (2-5) mired in a five-game losing streak and drifting toward irrelevancy, Kamara, who is on an expiring contract, would undoubtedly be valuable for a contending team.
However, the 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year shut down an early report on Saturday that he had requested a trade from the Saints, calling the rumor “incorrect” and alluding that his focus was on the massive Alabama-Tennessee SEC showdown on Saturday afternoon.
Kamara played at Tennessee from 2015-16.
New Orleans has been his only NFL home since being selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
He’s been one of the league’s best playmakers during his eight NFL seasons, even though his numbers have diminished in recent years due to injury, suspension and the Saints’ inept offensive line, among other reasons.
In Thursday’s 33-10 loss to the Broncos, Kamara gained a career-low 24 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches. However, from Weeks 1-4, Kamara scored six touchdowns and averaged 134 total yards per game.
During the offseason, Kamara expressed a desire to finish his career in New Orleans, and his loyalty to the organization hasn’t wavered despite the Saints fading from playoff contention.
It might make sense for New Orleans to begin a rebuild by trading its most valuable pieces, but Kamara clarified that if a trade involving him occurs, it won’t be his doing.