New Orleans Saints star running back Alvin Kamara was arrested Sunday at the Pro Bowl in Las Vegas on a charge of battery, according to Las Vegas law enforcement officials.
Alvin Kamara arrested on battery charge
Kamara is accused of battery “resulting in substantial bodily harm.”
According to Las Vegas police, an alleged victim at a local hospital reported being beaten up at a nightclub at the 3500 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard. Police said that Las Vegas Metropolitan Police detectives determined that the suspect was Kamara.
Kamara, who was at the Pro Bowl, was arrested without incident, per police. Kamara is being held at the Clark County Detention Center. The investigation is still ongoing, and police are seeking information at 702-828-3204, 702-385-5555, or at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
Kamara is being held on $5,000 bail and his initial court appearance is scheduled for Monday at 1:30 PM local time.
How the NFL could proceed
The NFL will wait until more details of Kamara’s arrest are revealed before making any decision on possible disciplinary action. The league will also likely conduct its own investigation into the incident.
Depending on how the criminal investigation into Kamara unfolds, the NFL could suspend the Saints running back under the league’s conduct policy. Additionally, the league may have the option of placing Kamara on the commissioner’s exempt list.
“Obviously, it’s a serious allegation, but it’s important for everyone not to rush to judgment and let the legal process play out ,one step at a time,” said sports attorney and litigator Daniel Moskowitz, an experienced lawyer in NFL disciplinary matters whose clients have included Randy Gregory, Darryl Washington and David Irving and doesn’t represent Kamara. “There’s a tendency for NFL fans to forget that he’s innocent until proven guilty and he has the right to a vigorous defense. The NFL will wait for the criminal matter to be adjudicated before it would take any formal action.
“Nonetheless, during the pending matter, the NFL can gather evidence and request documents from the player concerning the matter. The player has to cooperate, or face discipline. This is a process and the process must be followed under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. This is the first quarter of this legal matter for Mr. Kamara and there are two sides to every story.”
Kamara’s contract info
Kamara, 27, signed a five-year, $75 million extension with the Saints in 2020. In 2022, he’s scheduled to count for $14.5 million on New Orleans’ salary cap. That total includes his $5.5 million base salary, $3 million in prorated signing bonus money, and a $6 million roster bonus. Kamara’s base salary and roster bonus both became fully guaranteed last March. The bonus is due in March 2022.
The Saints would immediately incur $20.5 million in dead money if they released Kamara. That’s $6 million more than he’ll account for if he’s on the roster. New Orleans could also designate Kamara as a post-June 1 release. That would result in $14.5 million in dead cap in 2022 and $6 million in 2023. However, this arrest could also see the Saints able to void the guarantees in Kamara’s contract, reducing the dead cap impact if they were to move on from him.