Alvin Kamara is a NASCAR fan, and he pulled on his driving vocabulary to explain his mindset when it comes to watching the NFL's other star running backs.
Asked whether he watches other great backs around the league to set his competitive edge, the New Orleans Saints star name-dropped a few players "as a fan," but otherwise plans to "stay in his lane."
"You know, I just focus on me," Kamara said this week. "If I'm watching another back, I think it's not really to stack up, it's more like 'dang, Christian [McCaffrey], shoot, I love the way he do that.' Or 'Dalvin [Cook], I love the way he do this.' Or Derrick [Henry] and Saquon [Barkley]. All these guys, Zeke [Elliott] and Nick [Chubb]. All them dudes I'm just watching as a fan."
"I'm not watching like 'oh, I need to do this better than this guy, or that guy.' If I'm watching, it's genuinely just because -- obviously we all know each other -- I'm just watching as a fan and, like, admiring the game," Kamara said. "I'm not comparing myself to nobody. I've got my thing. I've got my lane. I stay in my lane. I do what I got to do. ... so that's all I'm focused on. I'm focused on me."
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But whether he's interested in comparisons or not, the facts are clear: Kamara has been as statistically dominant as any NFL back over his first four seasons, both as a pass-catcher and a runner. The 25-year-old was on pace to break multiple NFL records in the 2020 season before an injury to quarterback Drew Brees threw the Saints offense off track. Despite missing Week 17 due to COVID, he finished with 932 rushing yards on 187 carries and caught 83 passes for another 756 yards.
His 1,688 yards from scrimmage was good for No. 3 in the NFL behind Henry and Cook, and his 21 total touchdowns (16 rushing) was No. 1 in the NFL while setting multiple Saints records. Kamara also logged 6 rushing touchdowns on Christmas Day against the Minnesota Vikings, tying an NFL record that's stood since 1929.