Alvin Kamara’s reward for one of the most exhilarating individual performances in NFL history? A hefty penance for flouting the league’s uniform rules.
Is it any wonder they call it the “No Fun League”? Kamara, who erupted for an NFL-record SIX touchdowns in last week’s rout of Minnesota (a team that has had the Saints’ number in recent years), woke up to a much lighter wallet on New Year’s Day. The sticklers at NFL headquarters in Manhattan announced Friday the four-time Pro Bowler will be fined $5,000—the minimum for a first-time offender—for having the gall to wear unauthorized red and green cleats on Christmas Day.
In a season muddled by a global pandemic (that the league hasn’t handled especially well), unprecedented revenue losses, a PR disaster in Washington and arguably the sport’s most decorated franchise, the New England Patriots, essentially being irrelevant, this is what the NFL felt needed fixing? And on CHRISTMAS of all days? That’s a piping-hot plate of buzzkill if you ask me.
When asked about his choice in footwear, Kamara didn’t seem all that concerned about footing the bill for a uniform violation, acknowledging the possibility in his post-game remarks. “They’re probably going to fine me,” the 25-year-old told reporters in the aftermath of New Orleans’ 52-33 victory (Scorigami!). “If they fine me, whatever it is, I’ll just match it and donate it to charity. You know that the Grinch always tries to steal Christmas.”
Often when a player breaks a record or accomplishes a historic feat, their uniform or cleats from the game are sent to Canton for display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That irony isn’t lost on Kamara’s teammate, Cameron Jordan. “When the Hall of Fame calls to come get the cleats, now he’s just got to charge them,” said Jordan via John Sigler of Saints Wire/USA Today. “So he can break even.”
Ebenezer Goodell and the NFL making an example out of Kamara is a weird flex, though luckily the former Rookie of the Year has plenty left in his bank account after inking a $75-million extension in September. The NFL’s touchdown leader with 21 end-zone trips, Kamara can notch his first 1,000-yard rushing season with 68 yards in Sunday’s regular-season finale at Carolina.
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