Of the many superlatives are attributable to Alvin Kamara , honesty ranks high on the list, if not highest.
So it wasn't much of a surprise that Tuesday, the best running back in New Orleans Saints history, signed a two-year contract extension that should assure that the eight-year veteran finishes his NFL career where it began, as a Saint.
Because time and again, Kamara has stated that very intention.
"I think I've said it so many times: I want to be here, wouldn't want to be anywhere else – these fans, this organization," Kamara said Wednesday. "My career here, it's the icing on the cake to be able to say that I won't really have to go anywhere else to play football, just leave it all here."
What Kamara already has banked as a Saint is impressive: He's the franchise all-time leader in touchdowns (85), rushing touchdowns (60), all-purpose yards (11,396) and yards from scrimmage (10,738), and is second all-time in rushing yards (6,267, trailing Mark Ingram II's 6,500).
"I've been here my whole career. I don't feel like there's another place like New Orleans, quite honestly," he said. "Me leaving here and trying to find somewhere else – because I could have waited until the end of the season and just said, 'I'm going to visit here' – but I don't think it does me any justice.
"It doesn't serve me any, I think, to go somewhere and chase – you can say you're chasing Super Bowls, you're chasing a better organization, better coaches – I don't think that's the answer. This city has been loyal to me, this organization has been loyal to me. I don't feel like I would get this same feeling that I get putting on a Fleur di Lis anywhere else.
"It was just important for me and I keep saying it – and you say it and then people are like, 'He's lying, he's lying' – and I'm like, I'm for real. I wouldn't lie about that. If it was the other way around, nobody would hear anything and it would just happen.
"It was really important for me to just stay buckled down here and figure it out whenever it got figured out. Yesterday was the day. It's just special here. I think I would lose my flame if I went somewhere else, honestly."
Kamara's desire for an extension became public during the offseason, when he skipped the final day of minicamp.
But he didn't sit out training camp and vowed he wouldn't be a distraction. He missed several training camp practices with back tightness, but has started every game for the Saints, who are 2-5 entering Sunday's game against the Chargers (3-3) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
This season, Kamara leads the team in rushing yards (438), yards from scrimmage (690), touchdowns (seven), rushing touchdowns (six) and receptions (34).
"Alvin has been a great player for us. He's been very productive for us," Coach Dennis Allen said. "I think this year he has been outstanding; he has come in every day and gone to work and done the things that we've asked him to do. I think when you do those things, you get rewarded.
"I think he handled it the right way. I don't think there was ever a question of whether we wanted Alvin to be here or not, I don't think there was ever a question of whether Alvin wanted to be here or not. There's a business side of it and a business aspect to it, so I think he handled it the right way.
"He came in, did his job, did the things he was supposed to do and finally the business side made sense on both sides, and we were able to get something done."
PRACTICE REPORT: Several injured players returned to practice, including Cesar Ruiz (knee), Lucas Patrick (chest), Pete Werner (hamstring), Chris Olave (concussion), Khalen Saunders (back) and Taysom Hill (rib). All practiced on a limited basis. Other limited participants were Connor McGovern (back), Kamara (hand/rib), Cedric Wilson Jr. (hip) and Juwan Johnson (shoulder).
Quarterback Derek Carr is continuing the process of throwing but won't be ready to play Sunday. Spencer Rattler will start his third straight game.
Receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling participated in his first practice.
"I thought he did some nice things," Allen said. "Bigger receiver, he runs really well. I think we'll evaluate the practice and how well he's picking things up and see how quickly he can learn."
