July 19 Training Camp Notes: Potential Alvin Kamara suspension, possible un-retirement for Rob Gronkowski and more

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs the ball against Chicago Bears inside linebacker Danny Trevathan (59) during the second half in the NFC Wild Card game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Saints looking for RB help with potential Alvin Kamara suspension looming

  • The Saints plan on working out running back Darius Victor, who last played for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL and was named the league’s offensive player of the year.
  • Victor had 127 carries for 577 yards and a league-leading 10 total touchdowns during his time with the Generals.
  • New Orleans is bracing for a possible Alvin Kamara suspension under the personal conduct policy after Kamara was arrested on felony battery charges in Las Vegas in February. 
  • The Saints also worked out veteran running back David Johnson last month but couldn’t reach an agreement on a contract.

Atlanta Falcons DI Eddie Goldman retires

  • Goldman just signed a one-year deal with Atlanta on July 6, but he ultimately decided to retire before training camp opens.
  • A second-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2015, Goldman steps away after playing six years, all with Chicago.
  • He struggled in 2021 with a 39.8 overall defensive grade after opting out of the 2020 season.
  • He was productive in his first five years, recording PFF grades of 70.4, 75.9, 65.2, 87.3 and 70.7. 
  • The Bears rewarded him with a four-year, $42 million extension in 2018.

Rob Gronkowski’s girlfriend doesn’t think he'll stay retired

  • Gronkowski announced his retirement on June 21, but his agent almost immediately left the door open for a return — and now his girlfriend is doing the same.
  • “Honestly, I don’t feel like this one is the forever one,” Camille Kostek said in an interview with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. “So, I think maybe he’ll come back again. I feel like him and Tom [Brady] are just having fun, like, ‘retired, not retired, retired, not retired.'”
  • Meanwhile, Gronkowski said last week to ESPN that he’s staying retired even if Brady calls during the season.
  • Gronk still showed he has gas left in the tank last season, recording 55 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns. He earned a 79.5 PFF overall grade and an 86.7 receiving grade.
  • It’s safe to say that we haven’t heard the last of this saga.

New York Jets sign rookie RB Breece Hall, avoiding potential holdout

  • Jets rookies reported to training camp Tuesday, so there was some concern Hall might not show up.
  • It’s rare for rookies to miss time due to contract-related issues since the rookie wage scale is slotted, but there are some things that could be negotiated, including the guarantees. 
  • That’s exactly what happened here: Houston Texans rookie Jalen Pitre, who was taken immediately after Hall, got three years fully guaranteed years in his deal. So that held things up with Hall, who rightfully wanted the same thing and ultimately got it.
  • Now under contract, Hall will join Michael Carter, Tevin Coleman, Ty Johnson, and La'Mical Perine in the Jets running back room.
  • Meanwhile, the first three players taken in Round 2 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Logan Hall, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson and Tennessee Titans cornerback Roger McCreary — are also unsigned, likely because of the same problem.

Isaiah Simmons: Everything is “way more comfortable this year”

  • “Everything’s 100 percent slowed down a lot more,” Simmons told ESPN. “Way more comfortable this year, even than I was last year, and I just feel like the method that I’ve been going about has been beneficial to me mentally.”
  • Simmons has yet to live up to the expectations that come with being a top-10 pick. He showed some promise in coverage in a limited role as a rookie in 2020 but was ineffective against the run and saw his PFF coverage grade drop over 10 points in an every-down starting role last season.
  • Arizona needs both Simmons and 2021 first-round pick Zaven Collins to become the reliable players that they were drafted to be in Vance Joseph's defense.
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