We aren’t any closer to reaching a conclusion on Alvin Kamara’s Las Vegas battery case than where we started, but there has been some movement. Kamara’s latest court date on Nov. 9 didn’t require he or any of the other defendants be present, and the judge presiding over the case agreed to continue the next negotiations hearing a full 60 days — the latest delay in a case that has been pushed back multiple times since the incident allegedly involving Kamara occurred in February of this year.
Attorneys will meet again in court on Jan. 23, 2023, but that’s just another step in proceedings. What’s more pressing is that the judge also set a trial date for March 1, 2023, which will likely require Kamara’s presence. So far he’s been able to remain with the team both in New Orleans and as the Saints travel around the country (and abroad for a game in London earlier this season). That March trial date will fit squarely in the offseason, taking place about two weeks before the NFL opens free agency, so it shouldn’t disrupt any of Kamara’s commitments to the team.
This also means that Kamara should play out the season without missing time due to a suspension from the league office in New York. The NFL’s well-established precedent is for suspensions, fines, and other league discipline to be administered after the legal process plays out. And since this case won’t move one way or another until after the 2022 season has wrapped up, any potential suspension for Kamara won’t come into effect until 2023.
Now, whether that’s a good thing or not in the middle of what’s looking like a lost year for the Saints is up for debate. There’s an argument to be made that Kamara should go ahead and take the suspension now so that the Saints can retool and reload in hopes of being more competitive in 2023. But that isn’t an option, so we’re not going to dwell on it any further.
As for what started this whole mess: Kamara is accused of having assaulted a man outside a Las Vegas nightclub just before the Pro Bowl back in February, resulting in a criminal case in Nevada court and a civil case in New Orleans seeking $10 million in damages. TMZ Sports recently published video of the altercation and Kamara’s alleged involvement, but that hasn’t prompted the NFL to reverse course and discipline him. We’ll keep an eye out for developments, but don’t expect anything noteworthy until the spring.