No, Alvin Kamara hasn't asked for a trade from the Saints. Source: Alvin Kamara.
New Orleans' star RB took to social media on Saturday to clean up rumors that began swirling that he had requested a trade. He quote tweeted one such post reporting that he had with a simple note: "incorrect." The post has since been deleted by its original author.
"I ain (sic) request a trade... so that's a lie," Kamara posted, noting that he was on the way to watch his two college teams, Tennessee and Alabama, face off in Knoxville on Saturday (AK supports Tennessee).
Kamara then went on to affirm, via another quote tweet, that his desire is to retire with the Saints, where he has played all 8 of his NFL seasons since being drafted in the third round back in 2017.
The 29-year-old made headlines earlier this offseason when he left minicamp early as he sought a new contract, but that never developed. He's currently in Year 4 of a 5-year, $75 million deal struck prior to the 2020 season, but there is little guaranteed money beyond this season. Kamara didn't hold out and participated in the majority of camp, with a handful of practices missed due to injury. He's started all 7 games for the Saints so far with one of the heaviest workloads of his career. That campaign started off red hot, but with offensive line issues and injuries building up, that production has tailed off.
While the trade request might not be real, there's no questioning that frustration is very real with the Saints mired in a five-game losing streak after a 2-0 start.
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"Guys are tired of losing. Frustrated. I can’t speak for everybody and say concerned, but definitely frustrated. … You don’t want to lose," Kamara said after a loss to the Broncos and his former head coach Sean Payton on Thursday. "You’re in here to win. Everybody is in here to win. When you’re not doing that, it’s tough, but I think we’ve got some good leaders in here and the messaging is always going to be to keep your head up."
With 438 rushing yards and 252 receiving yards, Kamara is on pace for one of the best statistical seasons of his career, though over the last three games (double-digit losses to the Chiefs, Bucs and Broncos), AK has only accounted for 78 receiving yards and 76 rushing yards total.
Kamara moved into No. 2 on the franchise rushing list earlier this season, passing Saints legend and WWL color commentator Deuce McAllister, and needs just 233 more yards to pass Mark Ingram atop the list. It seems inevitable that happens this season as long as he continues to play, and we've got every indication that will be the case.
The Saints get a few extra days off this week before shipping out to L.A. to face the Chargers in Week 8.