As first reported by 8 News Las Vegas’ David Charns and confirmed by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, New Orleans Saints running back Kamara agreed to plea no contest on a misdemeanor charge stemming from his alleged involvement in a Feb. 2022 beating in Las Vegas. This means Kamara is no longer facing felony charges in Nevada, nor will he be required to miss time in training camp to attend his previously-scheduled court date.
Instead, Kamara will pay a $500 fine and foot the bill for more than $100,000 in medical bills to the victim, as well as fulfilling 30 hours of community service.
But this isn’t necessarily over. There is still a civil suit against Kamara filed in Louisiana, and now the NFL is likely to take action with affairs in criminal court concluded. The league has suspended players before despite a lack of convictions or charges being dropped and that precedent is still in play for Kamara.
So how much time could he miss during the season? That’s unclear. The NFL’s personal conduct policy says that violations involving “criminal assault or battery” with a felony charge would qualify for a six-game suspension, so that’s likely the higher end of any expected suspension. Three or four games feels more likely, and Kamara can appeal the decision to try and reduce it further, but we’ll have to wait and see how this plays out. At least this is one less distraction for the team to deal with during the offseason.
Update: Kamara agreed to an undisclosed settlement with the victim, Darnell Greene, per Greene’s attorney Tony Buzbee.
