Talent continues to consistently trump gross malfeasance in the NFL. The Cleveland Browns announced on Monday that they have signed running back Kareem Hunt, who was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs in November after surveillance video surfaced of him shoving and kicking a woman at a hotel in February 2018.
Browns general manager John Dorsey released a statement addressing concerns about the signing, insisting Cleveland would hold Hunt to certain special standards while affording him the second chance he deserves.
“We fully understand that Kareem is subject to discipline by the NFL,” Dorsey said. “Here at the Browns, there is a detailed plan with expectations laid out that he understands and must follow, because any similar incident will not be tolerated. We will support Kareem through this process and utilize our resources, however permitted, to help him become successful on and off the field as long as he continues to show the commitment necessary to represent this organization.”
Dorsey also alluded to his prior relationship with Hunt as partial justification for making this controversial decision. In 2017, he drafted the 23 year old as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Hunt, meanwhile, thanked the Browns for believing in him, apologized again for his actions, and stressed that he's taking the proper steps toward ensuring he'll never again find himself in a similar situation.
“I am committed to following the necessary steps to learn and to be a better and healthier person from this situation,” Hunt said. “I also understand the expectations that the Browns have clearly laid out and that I have to earn my way back to the NFL. I’m a work in progress as a person, but I’m committed to taking advantage of the support systems that I have in place to become the best and healthier version of myself.”
The NFL's leading rusher and a Pro Bowler as a rookie, Hunt was in the midst of another stellar campaign when the video of his assault was released in late November, rushing for 824 yards and scoring 14 total touchdowns through 11 games played. Kansas City released him the same day TMZ published the recording.
Hunt grew up in northeast Ohio, played collegiately at Toledo, and the incident in question took place at a Cleveland hotel.
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