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New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara is set to miss the first three games of the NFL season following his involvement in a fight outside a club in Las Vegas last year. The running back reached a plea deal last month and is no longer facing a felony charge, which will be a huge relief for the player who would otherwise be facing serious jail time and the certain end of his career as a professional athlete. His punishment, at least in terms of the NFL, is rather light, which has led to some uproar among pundits and fans.
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It is a huge boon to the team and to the player that he will only miss three games in the NFL season rather than a few months or more. Commissioner Roger Goodell is known for being harsh when it comes to handing out punishments to players, but it seems like in this case a three-game suspension was deemed sufficient. According to the lawsuit filed against Kamara, him, Indianapolis Colts cornerback Chris Lammons, and other friends severely assaulted a man named Darnell Greene Jr. Greene was beaten until he wasn’t able to resist and lay on the ground, at which time Kamara and his friends stomped and punched the man.
The victim sought $10 million in compensation because of the severity and brutality of the attack, which resulted in an axial fracture, head trauma, disc protrusions, and shoulder tear. Notably, these injuries needed multiple surgeries. Kamara and Lammons first pleaded not guilty, but later settled for a plea deal where they were ordered to pay the victim $105,000 and complete 30 hours of community service. Kamara has expressed regret for his actions and has also settled a civil lawsuit with Greene out of court.
Critics claim Kamara’s punishment too light
Given the severity of the assault, some have been scratching their heads trying to figure out how it warranted only a three-game suspension. While some point to the fact that the plea deal was also rather lenient towards the NFL players, a factor which might have played into the league’s decision, others pointed out that the light punishment was not in line with set NFL standards and claimed that harsher punishments had been handed out before for lesser misdeeds.
NFL reporter David Hookstead said, “Tom Brady was suspended more games for taking air out of a ball than Alvin Kamara was for brutally beating a man to the point he could have killed him. Keep it classy, @NFL.”
With Kamara missing the opening three games, Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller will have to fill the void as the Saints take on the Titans, Panthers and Packers in the opening three weeks.
