Former NFL LB Manti Te'o sends strong message to New Orleans Saints about RB Alvin Kamara

Former NFL linebacker Manti Te'o had a message for the New Oleans Saints on Friday regarding running back Alvin Kamara.

Te'o, who was teammates with Kamara in New Orleans for three seasons, wants to see the former Tennessee Vols standout used differently by the Saints in 2024.

"Before there was ever all of those AK highlights his rookie year and throughout his career, I knew this kid was going to be somebody special," said Te'o during an appearance on NFL Network's Good Morning Football on Friday. "He's somebody that I hope -- I hope that the New Orleans Saints don't use him to block like how they were using him last year. That's the worst thing you can do with him. That's not what he's going to make the Hall of Fame for."

Te'o also added a funny quip about Kamara's version of trash talking.

"AK's way of trash talking is when he has that grill in his mouth and he just smiles at you while he's scoring a touchdown," said Te'o. "That's AK. One of the most prolific, one of the most dynamic running backs in the NFL. I compare him and Christian McCaffrey. I've played against both of them. In the backfield, it's impossible to guard them."

Kamara, who has reached five Pro Bowls, had a career low 694 rushing yards last season for the Saints. He also had a career low 1,160 total yards from scrimmage.

The Saints hired Klint Kubiak, the son of former NFL head coach Gary Kubiak, earlier this offseason to serve as the franchise's offensive coordinator in 2024. Kubiak spent last season as the San Francisco 49ers' passing game coordinator, where he worked under Kyle Shanahan.

Shanahan is known as a run-game savant (the same goes for Kubiak's father, who worked under Shanahan's father, Mike, at multiple stops).

If anyone can design an offense that gets the most out of Kamara's elite abilities in the run game and the pass game, it's a coach from the Shanahan/Kubiak tree.

And that should make Manti Te'o happy.

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