Alvin Kamara's speech was for Saints to 'get their swag back'

The New Orleans Saints running back felt like he needed to say something to his teammates after their loss on Sunday.

He told them to get their swagger back and regain their pride after a rough start to the season.

During his six seasons in New Orleans, there have been some of the best offenses in the league, and one common thread was the attitude and confidence of the players. This team has given the ball away more than any other team in the league and is one of the most penalized.

In the past, the Saints did not look at the score when they were down. "Well, all right, let's go play football." We've not been playing that way. A little bit of a panic, a little bit of a, 'Oh s---, we're down.' We don't play that way. I don't have that type of mindset.

The timing of his speech felt right after he lost.

"You come out of a game, you feel like you should have won, you have some mistakes that cost us the game, and you don't feel good," he said. It's easy to go in there. There is no one in the locker room. I felt compelled to say something, so I left it at that, even though I felt like you have a lot of those moments.

When asked why he wanted to speak to the team, he replied quickly.

That's right! It wasn't nice. I don't like that. "I am not used to losing." Nothing in life says "loser" to me. I'm saying something. We've had injuries, but I still think we can overcome them. I get frustrated when I think we might not be putting our best foot forward. I'm like, "Alright, shoot."

Sometimes people have to say s---. I felt like I had to make a statement. It wasn't me speaking at people. It felt like I should be held accountable as well. Let me know if you don't see me with that energy and pride. The same thing will be done to everyone on the field. I know what it takes to be our best self.

We've been good. We have been a top offense in the league in the past couple of years. That is what I want to return to. It kind of opened some eyes when I said that. They are aware. People are aware of what's happening. Sometimes you have to wake up.

Penalties are an example. If nobody corrects a penalty in practice, it can get out of hand. He told his team that they should hold each other accountable, and he thinks his message has stuck since.

What's good, what's bad, what's right, and what's not is what we know in the profession. It is noticed sometimes. Even if it is small, it gets swept under the rug when nobody speaks on it.

They have the pieces in the locker room to get things done, and they might have some stability with the permanent switch to quarterback Andy Dalton.

The Saints are in the middle of the pack in the South.

Everyone knew what Drew was to this team. He's gone. At some point, I'm going to leave. At some point, the district attorney is going to leave. Demario Davis is going to be gone at some point. Football continues for the New Orleans Saints. It is going to continue. It's going to change every year.

Is that correct? The fact that 9 isn't here doesn't mean anything. He is no longer in that place. It's not the same. The people in the locker room need to step up and lead the team in the right direction.