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With the NFL trade deadline getting closer every day, all eyes are on teams like the New Orleans Saints to see if they are willing to sell their stars to acquire draft picks for a possible rebuild.
One of those stars is running back Alvin Kamara, but he made it clear what he would do if general manager Mickey Loomis traded him. Kamara said he and Loomis are on the same page, but in the unlikely event that that happens, he threatened to retire.
“If I were a GM, I guess I’d go to the player and say, ‘Hey, we’re trading you. Just to let you know.’ If Mickey comes up and says that, I’ll go have a piña colada somewhere,” Kamara told reporters recently.
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Alvin Kamara and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints react during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 10, 2021, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
As someone who knows Kamara quite well, Saints legend Drew Brees loved hearing that response from his former running back.
“Look, this whole thing is unfortunate and it wouldn’t even be a topic if the Saints weren’t 1-6,” Brees told Pak Gazette Digital, while talking about his flag football organization, Football ‘N’ America, in association with Unrivaled Sports. “Immediately, when people think the season is ‘lost’ or very unlikely, all of a sudden you start trading these pieces to get draft picks to build for the future. That term is rebuilding, right?”
ALVIN KAMARA THREATS TO RETIRE IF THE SAINTS TRY TO TRADE HIM: ‘I’LL DRINK A PIÑA COLADA SOMEWHERE’
“I know Alvin, obviously, but for those who don’t know Alvin, I think you should read his comments, because he loves being a part of the New Orleans Saints, and he loves the city of New Orleans and he loves the people. He doesn’t want to go anywhere. So when he’s approached about it, ‘Hey, what would you think about…? He doesn’t want to go anywhere else. This is my team, I want to play here in front of these fans.’ I just think it’s a testament to their loyalty and that’s a rare thing nowadays, to be honest with you. “That should be celebrated more than anything.”
Kamara isn’t the only attractive Saints star in the building. Wide receiver Chris Olave is another name swirling around trade speculation, while players like defensive end Cam Jordan and linebacker Demario Davis could also be viewed as trade candidates.
Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints hands the ball to Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 4, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Rey Del Río/Getty Images)
But Brees doesn’t like the idea of selling just on what the record says. Having leaders like that in the locker room helps a lot.
“I think everyone’s reaction, especially when you’re not winning, is that something must be really wrong and who do we blame?” Brees explained. “Everyone seems to want dysfunction, which makes for a better story. I would almost say there is a lot more dysfunction that I know of on some winning teams right now than on teams like the Saints, who are 1-6.
“I think everyone loves the coach. I think the coach has really endeared himself to a lot of the team. They love playing for him despite the record, and I think we have guys that care about the organization, the city, the community. They love being a part of the team, they love being leaders on the team. They’re really proud of it.”
Alvin Kamara and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints look on against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Brees feels his former team is “close,” but they may still need to find their identity. The coach he mentions is new head coach Kellen Moore, who is a first-year head coach that New Orleans really likes.
No one expected the Saints to turn around quickly this season, but Brees and others feel the pieces are in place, especially those like Kamara who want to stay in place to get the Saints back to their playoff ways.
