The Super Bowl-capable New Orleans Saints may have an Alvin Kamara problem

ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted out something very interesting on Monday: That New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara has had an unexcused absence from training camp for three straight days and that said absence is contract-related. Needless to say, if Kamara's "holdout" were to last into the regular season that could have major ramifications.

It's more important than ever this season to earn the top seed in a conference because only the top seed earns a first-round bye. The No. 2 now will have to play the additional Wild-Card team that first week. The Saints are certainly capable of earning that first-round bye, but it would be much, much more difficult if Kamara were to miss any games. He had reported for the start of training camp and was participating.

New Orleans is a +600 second-favorite on the William Hill moneyline odds behind San Francisco (+400) to win the NFC title. The Saints are +900 to finish with the NFL's best record.

When asked after practice Monday if Kamara's absence was injury related, Saints coach Sean Payton said, "I don't really want to get into that at this time."

The 2017 third-round pick out of the University of Tennessee has emerged into one of the NFL's top all-around backs – maybe second-best behind Carolina's Christian McCaffrey. Kamara is no doubt well aware that McCaffrey got a four-year, $64 million extension back in April to make him the highest-paid running back in the NFL on a per-year basis.

Kamara, not McCaffrey, was the 2017 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and has been a Pro Bowler each of his three seasons. He's the only Saints running back to be named to the Pro Bowl three times. Last season, the 25-year-old battled through knee and ankle injuries and wasn't quite as spectacular in 14 games, rushing for 797 yards and five scores and catching 81 passes for 533 yards and a TD.

He is set to make only $2.1 in the final year of his rookie contract and says he is 100 percent healthy now after playing at around 75 percent for much of 2019. Kamara is +3300 at William Hill to lead the NFL in rushing. He'll probably not do that simply as he's used so much in the passing game.

New Orleans has a solid No. 2 running back in Latavius Murray and also added Ty Montgomery, who was signed in May. Could the team have any interest in former New Orleans prep football legend and ex-LSU star running back Leonard Fournette as Kamara insurance? Fournette, the No. 4 overall pick in that 2017 draft, was released by the Jaguars on Monday. 

The Saints open at home on Sept. 13 as 3.5-point favorites over Tampa Bay in Tom Brady's Bucs debut. 

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