As Alvin Kamara aims for a contract extension with the New Orleans Saints and certainties regarding the situation seem arduous to come by, the running back and his agent refuted any claims of trade requests or holdout threats, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
Kamara and his agent told Rapoport on Tuesday that neither had asked nor demanded a trade from New Orleans. Furthermore, they were under the belief that they were actively negotiating and making progress on an extension. In addition, Kamara has never threatened a holdout.
It's a development that comes of the heels of reports that the Saints were open to trading the dynamic dual-threat back.
Later in the day, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on NFL Total Access that Kamara intends to return to practice on Wednesday after missing several days after he had an epidural shot in his back on Thursday. In addition, Pelissero reported Kamara and the Saints were making progress in contract talks, but at some point things went "sideways." However, while Kamara said he has not extended a trade request, Pelissero reported the Saints have not ruled it out and there would be suitors aplenty. It is the running back's wish to remain with the squad long-term and that's what the Saints have been aiming for to this point, Pelissero added.
As the evening progressed, Rapoport reported "cooler heads" prevailed and both parties were still working on the deal and the plan of Kamara returning to practice Wednesday was still in place.
This is the latest on a newsy week for Kamara, who's entering the final season of his rookie contract.
Monday night, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that Kamara denied the idea that his absence from Saints camp had been unexcused and that it was due to an injury.
A contract dispute is at hand, though. Kamara is due to make only $2.1 million this season, which is far below the top-10 highest-paid running backs. Kamara was slowed by injury last season, but still had 1,330 scrimmage yards in the third season of a thus-far terrific NFL tenure.
As the Saints are focused on a Super Bowl run, clearing up any confusion, getting a new deal ironed out and Kamara back in the backfield would seem to be as transparent as this situation can get.
