14 February 2022
Sports
The Collegian: 3
Saints’ Alvin Kamara charged with felony battery Sports writer Ben Bowdon discusses the recent criminal charge against running back Alvin Kamara. Pro Bowl, Alvin Kamara allegedly punched a man eight times at The Cromwell Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Darnell Greene, the alleged victim, attempted to step into an elevator with Kamara and then the scuffle ensued. Greene sustained an orbital bone fracture to his right eye which may require surgery. The police talked to him while he was in the hospital being treated for injuries
matter how the criminal case goes, Greene will probably seek recourse in civil court as well. In a private attempt to serve justice, the NFL will most likely suspend Kamara for at least six games. This news does not bode well for the New Orleans Saints, who had its worst offense when Kamara was on injured reserve last year.
“... the NFL will most likely suspend Kamara for at least six games.”
courtesy @Saints on Twitter
Yet again, another star NFL Player is in the news for problems off the field. On Sunday evening, the day of the Pro Bowl, New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara was arrested and charged with battery resulting in substantial bodily harm. Alvin Kamara was picked in the third round of the 2017 draft by the New Orleans Saints from the University of Tennessee. Since his matriculation into the league, Kamara has averaged a massive 1500 yards per
season on the ground and in the air with 67 touchdowns total. He has been elected to the Pro Bowl each season and was awarded Offensive Rookie of the Year. Along with Drew Brees and Michael Thomas, he has led the Saints to a record of 58-23 during his time in the NFL. He is, with no doubt, an amazing athlete and star player. Unfortunately, this time he is not on the headlines for an incredible athletic performance. At 6:30 a.m. the Saturday prior to the
and he directed them towards Alvin Kamara. After a surveillance video corroborated the victim’s statement and a credit card purchase pinned Kamara at the scene, an arrest report was created against him. He was arrested after the Pro Bowl and posted $5,000 bail. The hearing is scheduled for March 8. Alvin Kamara’s attorney released a statement on Thursday, Feb. 10, stating, “Alvin Kamara has gained a well-deserved reputation for being a hard-working and a community-minded individual. The recent Las Vegas allegations are not consistent with who Mr. Kamara has shown himself to be in both his public and private life. Therefore, we are conducting our own investigation into all of the circumstances and individuals associated with the matter to determine both the facts and motivations of all involved.” This seems like a feeble rebuttal by Alvin’s legal defense. There is clear video evidence of Kamara punching the man repeatedly. No
Some people have criticized the NFL’s response to situations like these. There seems to have been so many large profile criminal cases in the NFL – Aaron Hernandez, Ray Lewis, Ray Rice, Michael Vick, Kareem Hunt and now Alvin Kamara. Why does it seem to happen every year? Do NFL players commit more violent crimes than average or is it simply the availability heuristic — that because it’s in the news we think it’s more common than it is? In 2014, USA Today ran an analytical study to determine the relative rates of crime for NFL players versus U.S. men aged 21-34. They found that NFL players are disproportionately arrested and charged with domestic violence but have a lower arrest rate overall. The NFL will continue to try to dissuade this behavior, but petty fines and small suspensions do not seem to be a deterrent.
Pro Bowl tackling rules cause upset among fans Sports writer Ben Bowdon talks about the lack of competition in the 2022 Pro Bowl.
The annual NFL Pro Bowl has existed since the early 1950s. Players are elected by a combination of coaches, players and fans. The all-stars from either conference compete in an National Football Conference (NFC) versus American Football Conference (AFC) exhibition game. In the end, the true honor is the Pro Bowl selection rather than the quality of the game. Additionally, since 2016, the NFL has included a skills showdown in the Pro Bowl festivities. There are a variety of unique competitions where players from each conference team compete against one another. The 2022 Pro Bowl featured five self-explanatory competitions: Precision Passing, Thread the Needle, Best Catch, Fastest Man and Epic Pro Bowl Dodgeball. The skills showdown on Thursday before the Pro Bowl really exemplified the laid-back mood for the Pro Bowl. It was filled with laughter from the athletes, crowd and commentators alike. Many of the competitions are not taken seriously with smiles all around. The Best Catch competition,
new this year, featured top wide receivers Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill and Justin Jefferson as well as Trevon Diggs, the cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys. Some of the highlights included a casual falling catch onto a folding table and a recreation of the famous “helmet catch” alongside a more technically challenging one-handed, under-the-leg grab by Trevon Diggs.
for a touchdown in Kyler Murray’s opening drive. After six more interceptions, an amazing performance by Justin Herbert led the AFC to victory. Every year, fans, the media and players complain about the state of the Pro Bowl. NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders took to Twitter this year, exclaiming, “Lord help me. I’m watching the @nfl Pro Bowl and I
“Many of the competitions are not taken seriously with smiles all around.” In the Pro Bowl game on Feb. 6, the AFC beat the NFC 41-35 at Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium, extending a five game win streak for the American conference. The game was full of defensive highlights, which is unsurprising due to the offenses lacking the requisite long hours of practice. The tone was set when Darius Leonard, the Indianapolis Colts linebacker, returned an interception
remember when we were so proud and appreciative of that accolade. We went to Hawaii to prove we were more than worthy so we competed at practice and in the game. I wanted u to know that PRIME was PRIME ! What Happened & When ?” The lack of tackling bothers fans who tune in expecting to watch competitive professional football similar to the regular season.
Those are legitimate complaints, but they are difficult to fix. Many of the objections to the Pro Bowl stem from the increased safety. There are strict tackling rules to limit hard hits and injuries. American football has one of the highest rates of injuries in organized sports worldwide. The NFL, and elite players themselves, do not want to risk a season-ending injury in one isolated game that has no bearing on the real season. The lower pay players receive for the game is not enough of an incentive. Moreover, even if every player performed with 100% effort, the lack of cohesiveness and practice severely limits the capabilities of the team. The Pro Bowl will not change significantly as long as it gets the same viewership numbers. If you want to watch “good” intense and competitive football, wait for the Super Bowl the following week.
courtesy @Chiefs on Twitter
courtesy @NFL on Twitter courtesy @Buccaneers on Twitter
