Alvin Kamara spent 20 minutes talking to the media on Friday, talking about a little bit of everything.
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00:00 So we knock out all the questions.
00:03 I'm gonna just knock them out cuz I know what y'all gonna ask.
00:05 >> [LAUGH] >> So yesterday when I met with Roger,
00:10 it went well.
00:11 I'm not gonna get into the details of what we discussed in the meeting, but
00:14 it went well.
00:15 I think we got accomplished what we need to get accomplished.
00:17 So obviously, happy I got a chance to do that.
00:20 Happy he gave me the opportunity to come up there because obviously,
00:25 I know that's not really protocol.
00:27 But I mean, he gave me the opportunity and I took it and went up there and
00:30 met with him and it went well.
00:31 Onto the Las Vegas incident, obviously, I haven't talked in a while.
00:35 It's been a couple months, 18,
00:37 19 months that I've been dealing with this ordeal, obviously.
00:39 It's a tough ordeal to be in.
00:42 I never wanna be involved in something where someone gets hurt or
00:48 severely injured or anything.
00:50 Poor judgment on my end.
00:52 Definitely a bad decision, but I'm a man.
00:55 Everything I've ever done in my life, I stood on and
00:58 I could take accountability for and I can say when I'm wrong.
01:00 I was completely wrong, embarrassed the Saints, embarrassed my family,
01:04 my mother, embarrassed myself, embarrassed the city.
01:08 And the Shield, obviously, embarrassed the NFL.
01:09 So I just tried to do my best to kinda keep it as much away from the media and
01:15 as much away from the team as I could.
01:18 Obviously, it's hard to do that when you got such an incident like that.
01:24 So I'll be lying if I said it wasn't tough.
01:28 I've lost a lot throughout this ordeal.
01:31 Definitely not looking for any pity,
01:32 not looking for somebody to give me a pat on the back and say it's okay.
01:35 I know what I did, I know what I was involved in, and
01:38 I definitely take responsibility.
01:40 That's part of being a man and growing.
01:42 From here, I just gotta make the right decisions and make the right choices.
01:45 So that's kinda what I got to say about that.
01:48 So now, let's talk about football.
01:51 >> Before we do that, did Roger give you an idea of the timeline of
01:54 the incident?
01:55 >> I already hit on that.
01:56 We had a good meeting, it went well.
01:57 That's all I gotta say about that.
01:59 >> Is there anything you've learned from this, though?
02:02 >> Yeah, I definitely have.
02:05 Obviously, we know what the incident was.
02:10 Just judging that situation better.
02:13 You never wanna be in a situation where, especially in the position I'm in,
02:18 being a leader and being just kinda like a role model for a team.
02:21 I don't wanna be in a position where I put my hands on somebody.
02:24 Obviously, that's the last thing you wanna do, because one,
02:26 it comes with trouble and it could have been worse.
02:29 So I'm blessed that it wasn't worse.
02:32 Obviously, still hate that it happened.
02:35 Hate the whole situation.
02:37 Like I told Mickey, I told DA, I mean, everybody knows.
02:43 They know me around here.
02:44 So just talking to them throughout this whole ordeal, and luckily,
02:47 they've been supportive.
02:48 Miss Benson's been supportive.
02:49 Mickey's been supportive.
02:50 The whole team has been supportive, really.
02:52 And it's unfortunate when you make a decision like that, but I know my character.
02:58 I know who I am, and luckily, I'm somewhere where these people know who I am.
03:01 The city knows who I am, so that's kinda kept me going.
03:04 But I've definitely learned that, and the blig of a lot, and I, a lot contained.
03:09 So definitely just gotta make the right decisions.
03:12 >> And now and in the future, just a matter of just walking away,
03:14 cuz you never know what could be in that situation.
03:18 >> Yeah, yeah, yeah.
03:19 It's more than just walking away.
03:20 It's some of those situations, I mean, I was out at five in the morning.
03:24 So you know what I'm saying?
03:25 It's like, what Tony Dungy used to say.
03:28 >> Yeah. >> No good happens after 12,
03:30 after midnight.
03:31 So it's kinda just gazing those situations and being able to make the right decision
03:36 and being where you're supposed to be, and sometimes take yourself out of position and
03:40 not being in those places.
03:42 >> Has that incident affected your preparation for this season,
03:45 just in terms of football?
03:46 >> No, not at all.
03:48 It was a situation, obviously, and I had to deal with it.
03:53 It's, like I said earlier, I'll be lying if I said it hasn't affected me.
03:56 It's affected me, I mean, last season, it's affected me every day.
03:59 Like I said, I lost a lot.
04:03 I've lost monetary, I've lost some friends, I've lost some support from some people.
04:08 But I mean, like I said, I've had a ton of support from this organization.
04:12 I've had family and friends, and the people that know me,
04:16 and they know what I stand for, and they know what I'm about.
04:19 That's kinda like what's pretty much kept me going, and my faith.
04:23 And like I said, I'm not glossing over the situation and downplaying it in any way.
04:29 It was poor judgment on my end, and it was obviously unfortunate.
04:33 And it just gotta be a thing where I'm mature, take ownership of it, and
04:37 make better decisions going forward.
04:39 >> Does it feel freeing to put it in the past, though?
04:40 >> Yes, it does, it does.
04:42 I miss talking me up.
04:42 >> [LAUGH] >> But no, it does, man.
04:45 Cuz like I said, it's hanging over you, it's hanging over you.
04:48 And I mean, obviously, it's self-inflicted, but nonetheless,
04:51 it's still something that's, it's like a dark cloud.
04:53 It's hard to kinda enjoy some of the smaller things.
04:57 I don't know, today I just had a little boost in practice.
04:59 I just felt better, like a weight was off me.
05:01 So I'm just looking forward to just focusing on football.
05:06 >> When did you make the decision to come talk to us right now?
05:08 Was this just now you made that decision?
05:09 >> No, no, no, I knew I was gonna talk.
05:12 I mean, like I said, I met with Roger yesterday, and I knew after I met with
05:15 Roger, I was probably gonna just kinda put this chapter behind me,
05:20 just kinda close it off, and kinda give the spiel.
05:23 >> How is it exciting to you that they've kinda made an emphasis on getting you
05:27 more involved in the passing game this camp?
05:29 >> Yeah, man, me and Pete, we had a long talk.
05:34 It was heated, it was an argument.
05:35 No, I'm just playing.
05:36 >> [LAUGH] >> No, I think DC and even Davis,
05:40 I think some of the opportunities last year just weren't there like we've seen
05:43 in the past.
05:45 And we've talked about it as an offense, just without the coaches.
05:49 And I'm sure DC, Jamis, and Pete, and all those guys, RC,
05:53 all of them are out there talking about it.
05:55 And I think I'm one of the most effective backs in the league when I get the ball in
06:00 my hands, out of the backfield, just running routes, catching the ball,
06:04 splitting out the receiver, doing those things that you guys have known me to do.
06:09 So the emphasis this year, obviously going through camp and
06:13 being able to kinda get back in that groove of splitting out and
06:16 getting some more balls out of the backfield and just getting creative with
06:19 my pass catching side has been exciting, definitely exciting.
06:23 >> I know you're- >> What's it say about the offense and
06:25 the team that you guys were able to meet as a team without the coaches and
06:28 talk about those things?
06:29 >> It wasn't a formal- >> It's okay, yeah.
06:31 >> Yeah, but it was just individual player to player, stuff like that.
06:33 So I mean, when you have a team with talent and good players,
06:38 good personalities, being able to communicate is one of those things
06:44 that I think a lot of people take for granted, but this team communicates.
06:48 This offense communicates, I think pretty well,
06:53 like up there with some of the better teams I've been on.
06:56 So I'm excited for that because sometimes, like I said, you take that for
07:00 granted, being able to communicate with your quarterback at full bank and
07:03 line in, receivers, just about little things, little intricacies in plays.
07:07 >> Is this offense kinda at its best in general, though,
07:09 like when the playmakers are getting the ball in space, not just you, but
07:12 like the receivers and everybody catching runs, stuff like that?
07:14 >> Yeah, yeah, I mean, I think everybody's seen it.
07:16 Mike T's back rolling.
07:18 I think he's looking good.
07:19 He's coming back in the form.
07:20 He's one of those dudes that takes so much pride in what he does.
07:23 I tried to remind him the other day, I'm like, bro, you ain't played in a minute,
07:26 dog, like he played at the beginning of last year.
07:28 But consistently just being on the field and getting this field back after
07:33 the injury he dealt with, I'm like, man, look, take it slow.
07:36 But I know you want the ball right now, but we know, so.
07:40 I mean, he's getting back in the form.
07:42 Olave coming into another year and understanding the offense more,
07:46 understanding the defenses more,
07:47 understanding what it takes to be elite in this league.
07:52 All down the line, Trevor Penning getting in there, Cesar, Hurst, and
07:57 Eric, and Ram, those guys, when they're going in there healthy and
08:00 Pete, obviously, but when they're healthy, I mean, it's scary.
08:03 You know what I'm saying?
08:04 And in the past years, that's kind of a problem we had, staying healthy up front.
08:07 And it's hurt us, obviously, I mean, all around.
08:10 I've been hurt, Mike's been hurt a couple times.
08:12 So I mean, it's just this whole offense,
08:16 I'm just excited when everybody is going and getting in there.
08:21 Shaheed, he's one of those guys, I was just talking to Brewton, I was like, man,
08:24 that's one of those dudes, you don't see those type of dudes a lot.
08:28 He's a burner, got good hands and make plays.
08:30 So with him, you just give him as much as he can handle.
08:33 Every day, just give him more and more.
08:35 And then, I mean, some of the young guys, we got AT, and then obviously, Jimmy's back.
08:39 Shoot, me and Jimmy, I've been knowing Jimmy for a while.
08:42 I've been training with Jimmy since I came into the training down in Miami.
08:46 I'm excited that he's back and he's feeling good and he's going.
08:50 Juwan, I can keep going, but all these guys,
08:53 I'm excited to see these guys go out and compete and just work together and
08:58 try to make this offense the best in the league.
09:01 >> What about the depth of the running back room?
09:03 Does that help you at all?
09:04 >> Yeah, and I always skip over that cuz that's the group I'm in.
09:08 But we got Eno, we got Kendrick coming in.
09:12 He's learning, young dude, but is hungry and wants to learn and wants to listen and
09:16 wants to be great.
09:18 Me and Jamal came out same class, dude, crazy.
09:21 But I mean, his mentality and his approach to the game, to every, I mean,
09:25 even outside of football, just his approach in life and just coming in and
09:29 just being that smile that comes around the corner,
09:32 like greeting everybody, saying what's up.
09:34 Those are some of the things that are infectious and that gels a team together.
09:37 But even his on the field play, I mean, the dude is passionate.
09:41 The passion that he plays with, it's not,
09:43 I haven't seen a lot of guys with that same drive and that same passion.
09:47 He just takes so much pride in what he does and he wants to be great.
09:50 Adam, he's coming into his own.
09:53 I love Adam, what he does and what he brings that pull back.
09:57 Jake is doing well.
09:57 Everybody's doing well, man.
10:01 The running back room, I'm excited because these guys, I mean, Ellis and
10:05 these guys are wanting to work.
10:07 They're hungry and they're willing to do what it takes.
10:10 I kinda tell them at the end of practices, I'm like, man, look,
10:13 our goal is for JT not to say anything to us.
10:16 You know what I'm saying?
10:17 We gotta be that on point and just that driven and focused and
10:20 determined as a group, without a coach saying anything,
10:23 to be able to be what we know we can be.
10:26 So all I want from JT is a high five and a good job.
10:28 That's it, I don't wanna hear nothing.
10:29 I don't wanna see a surface or anything unless we do something absolutely wrong.
10:35 >> Speaking of running backs, what are your thoughts on what's going on in
10:39 the squad getting paid?
10:40 >> Yeah, I mean, New Orleans is a great place.
10:44 I feel great that I've been able to be taken care of and valued where I'm at.
10:50 I can't speak for everybody's situation.
10:52 It's tough, circumstances are different across the league.
10:55 Everybody's circumstances are different.
10:57 So I'm not gonna go into detail about this player not getting this or
11:02 this player getting this versus this player.
11:05 I think it's something that is, I think everybody's aware of it.
11:10 Everybody's aware of what's going on.
11:12 But I can only speak for my situation.
11:14 I'm in a blessed spot.
11:17 >> Do you have a relationship with Derrick Henry?
11:20 Obviously, it'll be a first game.
11:22 And then, yeah, we got a battle, right?
11:24 So that'll be a game, obviously, to kick off the season and
11:27 fans will be focused between you and him.
11:30 >> Yeah, I mean, he plays offense, I play offense.
11:32 Maybe between me and him, but not really.
11:34 But yeah, Derrick, that's my boy, man.
11:35 We came into Bama together.
11:37 Obviously, I was there for a short little stint.
11:39 But I mean, it's amazing from seeing a guy.
11:43 We got recruited together, high schooled and go to college together.
11:45 And seeing the work he put in, when I got to Bama, he was an early enrollee.
11:50 So when I got there, I think he had just broke his foot.
11:52 So he was rehabbing.
11:53 But I mean, the work he put in throughout that and then obviously his career there.
11:57 And then coming into the league and still being that prolific runner and
12:00 just doing all the things right.
12:02 It's cool to see when you know guys personally.
12:05 We all play in the same league.
12:07 Everybody kind of shows love to each other and respects each other.
12:10 But when it's somebody that I've sweat and bled with and
12:14 kind of really had a personal relationship, it's even that much sweeter.
12:17 So excited, I'm always excited to see what he does.
12:20 I just hope he don't do too good again.
12:22 >> How has the addition of Derrick Carr impacted the offense in your game so far?
12:25 >> Man, DC, I think, it's amazing to have DC.
12:29 I think he's a thinker, he loves the game.
12:33 His communication is, like I said earlier, I mean, we all communicate.
12:36 From Jameis to DC to the receivers and everything.
12:40 DC's just itching for, it seems like he's like a rookie almost in his
12:46 attack on trying to get as much information and get as much,
12:50 I guess, collect as much data from each player.
12:54 Like from me to Mike to AT to Jimmy.
12:58 It's like he's in a rush to collect data and
13:00 just collect information on what makes everybody tick as far as routes.
13:05 And what they like, what they don't like, what they see, how they see the game,
13:08 how they react to certain things.
13:11 And I mean, he's just a great dude all around.
13:13 I think he has a winning spirit.
13:15 I think he wants to be great.
13:16 And I think he got a little chip on his shoulder.
13:18 For as much as he's done in the league, he's still got that chip and
13:21 he's still kind of got that, I'm gonna show y'all.
13:23 So I mean, that's what I love.
13:24 I mean, anybody that's still got that competitive edge and that drive,
13:28 man, it's amazing to have, especially a quarterback.
13:31 You got a guy that's leading troops.
13:33 I mean, he's gonna lead the troops.
13:34 So I mean, me and him, obviously I didn't come to OTAs, but me and
13:37 him were talking, communicating the whole time.
13:39 I mean, shoot, I text him, I might be up at midnight, 1 AM, and
13:44 I might see something, like a play or something or a concept, text him,
13:46 he text me right back.
13:47 You know what I'm saying? We're just bouncing ideas off each other's head,
13:49 even out here on the field.
13:52 Just getting some stuff going on offense that we haven't done in
13:57 the past year, year and a half maybe, just kind of being creative on offense,
14:02 with some shifts and emotions and different alignments and things like that.
14:06 And he's ready, he's like, man, whatever you wanna do, let's go.
14:08 Shit, I'm with you.
14:09 So it's good to have DC out there.
14:12 I'm definitely excited.
14:13 >> What's the approach and relationship like with Kendrick Miller?
14:17 Obviously, he can share it running back, but you don't wanna share it.
14:19 I mean, it's also a young guy with some bravado coming in.
14:22 >> Yeah, yeah, it's funny cuz he gets drafted and
14:27 everybody's sending me his poster.
14:30 I can do everything I would compare him to do and I watch all this filming.
14:33 I mean, I think everybody's like, man, what are you talking about?
14:36 What you see?
14:37 I'm like, yeah, I see it.
14:38 He's supposed to feel like that.
14:40 You know what I'm saying?
14:41 That's what a competitor does.
14:42 When I get out there, I gotta spank him a little bit or so.
14:44 I'm like, man, it's different.
14:45 >> [LAUGH]
14:47 >> Like, this shit is different, but
14:48 I mean, he catching on, though.
14:49 He's really catching on and he wants to be good.
14:53 I think it starts with the will to be good and the will to understand and
14:59 learn and just kind of be as fun.
15:00 So that's what he's doing.
15:02 He's trying to beat the heat.
15:03 He's trying to beat the tempo of practice, the style of play that we have.
15:07 And he's coming along.
15:10 So I mean, he's just a young guy.
15:11 We're gonna see what he can do.
15:13 I'm excited to see him preseason.
15:15 >> How about you learning to be a mentor?
15:16 I know you've had younger teammates before, but not high draft picks.
15:19 Does it make you feel like, I'm a veteran?
15:21 >> No, I don't know.
15:24 I've been feeling old, man.
15:25 I'm old, but I've been feeling old.
15:27 But I, and this just comes from me coming in.
15:31 When I came in, I had Laurence Cadet, I had Mark Ingram,
15:35 I had Adrian Peterson, I had John Coon.
15:39 So I was the baby.
15:41 I was like the, I don't know.
15:44 When it was reps that people didn't wanna take, I was the, I was the goat.
15:47 You know what I'm saying?
15:47 So from then, from really, probably the third game of our rookie season,
15:53 it just happened so fast.
15:55 And it feels like I've been kinda absorbing so much information and
15:59 trying to spit it back out.
16:00 Because that's all I know.
16:01 That's what Mark and those guys did to me.
16:03 And then outside of my group, I mean, I had, say again, I had B Cole.
16:07 I had a lot of other guys, Toronto Armstead, even though he's a lineman.
16:11 These guys that just gave me so much game and wisdom and knowledge.
16:13 So it just comes second nature in this realm as far as football.
16:19 But I mean, that's how I was raised.
16:20 I mean, I don't lose nothing, I don't lose nothing.
16:23 But a candle doesn't lose any flame, but light another candle.
16:27 So I don't mind.
16:28 Whatever he got, I'll give it to him.
16:29 Whatever he need, I'll give it to him.
16:30 >> Alvin, I saw you connect with Jarrett on the deep wheel route today.
16:33 I think we've seen that at least a few times this offseason.
16:35 That downfield passing game with you,
16:37 seems like it might have been deemphasized a little bit last season.
16:40 Is that something you expect to get back to?
16:41 >> Yeah, that's what I think Derek wants to more than anything.
16:44 I mean, obviously, I know what can happen when we got that going.
16:48 So I mean, I'm just happy, happy, happy, jumping for joy.
16:55 When I see those play calls in or when we get things like that going,
17:00 and Derek's excited also.
17:01 I think the offense is excited from JT to RC to Pete, all these guys.
17:07 And then DA said back there, he just gave his little nod of approval.
17:10 We keep it moving.
17:11 >> Alvin, when you talk about the creativity that Derek wants to bring and
17:14 all these other things you're doing, and
17:16 you're meshing it up with some of the athletes and the speed and explosion.
17:20 >> It's scary.
17:20 >> You excited about it?
17:21 >> Yeah, it's scary.
17:21 It's exciting.
17:22 Just like I talked about earlier, I mean, you got guys on the outside.
17:24 You got Mike, you got Alava, you got Shaheed.
17:28 And then, I mean, you got other weapons.
17:30 You got a tight end room with Foster, and you got Jimmy, and you got Jason still.
17:34 You got Jawan, and then you got running backs that can do different things.
17:38 You got me, you got Kendra, you got Jamal, Adam.
17:42 I'm trying to stand on the table to get Adam some balls thrown his way.
17:45 He could catch two, but we just got so many weapons.
17:48 And it's exciting to just kind of sit in a room and be like, all right,
17:52 well, this ball went to Shaheed, this ball went to Alava, this ball went to Mike.
17:54 And then we still have more playmakers to get the ball to.
17:56 So the possibilities is endless.
17:58 I know Doug got the shirt you all love, but-
17:59 >> [LAUGH]
18:00 >> How many more questions?
18:01 >> I'm cool, I'm in my groove, Doug, we good.
18:03 >> Yeah.
18:04 >> How specific is the team to handle?
18:06 >> Let me put it another way.
18:06 You might remember, I think, the year before you turned pro,
18:09 Tom Brady won the Super Bowl after he was suspended four games.
18:12 And so how do you hope the team will handle, if you have to miss games,
18:16 the prospect of that happening, and how would you expect it?
18:19 >> Man, I mean, shoot, I have no clue about what a suspension,
18:24 like you said, the question earlier, has it changed my preparation?
18:28 No, so I'm preparing the same way as if I'm not gonna get suspended.
18:32 I mean, if, when, if I do get suspended, if I don't get suspended,
18:37 if I do, hypothetically, in this situation, obviously, I mean,
18:40 I don't expect the team to miss a beat.
18:42 You gotta keep going if I'm here or not, right?
18:45 So I know these guys, everybody's kinda, that's kinda been the question mark.
18:50 Like, okay, well, is he gonna get suspended?
18:51 Is he not gonna get suspended?
18:52 And I don't think Pete or Derek or DA or anyone is sitting here like, well,
18:57 if I don't get suspended, then we can't do this or we can't do that.
19:00 They're gonna keep moving, they're gonna find a way to figure out how to recruit.
19:04 I mean, I don't know, it's gonna keep moving.
19:06 Like, nothing is gonna stop.
19:08 I expect, if I do, I expect them to go and win for however long that I'm suspended.
19:14 It's just, I mean, it sucks to say, like, I could possibly be getting suspended.
19:18 Do I wanna be out there?
19:19 Yeah, but I expect them, I don't expect any drop off.
19:23 I don't expect any drop off in our room, specifically.
19:25 I mean, Jamal's here, Kendrick is coming on.
19:27 He's gonna have to, I mean, if I do get suspended,
19:28 he's gonna have to get in there and give him the fire and learn and play well.
19:33 Adam and those guys are gonna hold it down.
19:35 I mean, it can't stop, it don't stop.
19:39 One person don't stop the show.
19:40 >> Hey, Alvin, real quick, with Cam Jordan getting his extension this morning,
19:44 feel like he's, you know, he's kinda talking about finishing his career.
19:46 >> I ain't gonna talk about Cam, I'm gonna talk about me.
19:48 I want a lifetime, I wanna be here forever, you know what I'm saying?
19:52 So I think y'all need to put some pressure on Mickey,
19:54 how y'all deal with Cam when he said that.
19:56 I mean, obviously- >> You kinda co-signed him on social media.
19:58 >> Yeah, yeah.
19:59 >> Are you interested in that idea too?
20:01 >> Of course I am, man.
20:02 Like I said, I love it here, man.
20:03 It's a lot of support here, but I'm gonna get off me, I'm gonna go to Cam.
20:06 Me and Cam was talking about it.
20:07 I mean, we've been talking about that for a long time.
20:10 I mean, years, we've been like, man, I'm staying here, I'm staying here.
20:12 So he was talking to me through this current negotiation,
20:19 obviously he signed today.
20:19 Man, it's amazing that he's been able to put together the career that he's been
20:25 able to put together and then all in one spot.
20:27 I'm definitely happy for him.
20:29 Got a little bit more money.
20:30 I don't know if he need it.
20:31 I told him I just need lunch.
20:33 That's all I need.
20:34 But I'm excited for him, happy for him.
20:36 I know Cam always got that energy and that pimp in his step, but
20:39 I think he got a little more bounce to him today cuz he got that extension.
20:44 So definitely congrats to him and then great on New Orleans,
20:48 Mickey and those guys getting it done and keeping him here.
20:51 Cuz I think he's one of the heartbeats of this team, of this city.
20:54 Thank you.