This move has everyone scratching their heads for very obvious reasons.
Now that the 2018 – 2019 NFL season has ended, most fans turned their attention to the upcoming NFL Combine and the NFL Draft in April. What they didn’t expect was the noise that the Cleveland Browns just made with their tweet regarding Kareem Hunt.
Statement from RB Kareem Hunt: pic.twitter.com/JPRFnkRdCy
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) February 11, 2019
Yes, you read that correctly. The Browns announced that they had signed former Kansas City running back, Kareem Hunt, who had been cut by the Chiefs after a domestic violence incident was caught on film.
“My relationship and interaction with Kareem since 2016 in college was an important part of this decision making process but we then did extensive due diligence with many individuals, including clinical professionals, to have a better understanding of the person he is today and whether it was prudent to sign him.” said Browns GM John Dorsey in his statement. “There were two important factors: one is that Kareem took full responsibility for his egregious actions and showed true remorse and secondly, just as importantly, he is undergoing and is committed to necessary professional treatment and a plan that has been clearly laid out.”
Dorsey went on to acknowledge the situation Hunt is in, that they don’t condone his actions and that they’re giving him a shot based upon him taking responsibility for what he did.
Hunt issued his own statement, taking responsibility for the situation and recognizing the position he’s in.
“First off, I would like to once again apologize for my actions last year. What I did was wrong and inexcusable. That is not the man I was raised to be, and I’ve learned a great deal from that experience and certainly should have been more truthful about it after the fact. I’m extremely grateful that John Dorsey, Dee and Jimmy Haslam and the Cleveland Browns organization are granting me the opportunity to earn their trust and represent their organization in the best way possible on and off the field. I am committed to following the necessary steps to learn and to be a better and healthier person from this situation. 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.”
Ian Rapport shined some light on the situation with a few tweets, but it’s still a huge surprise. Obviously because of what happened in the video that was released by TMZ. But also because the Browns have a rising star in Nick Chubb.
Since he was released by the #Chiefs, RB Kareem Hunt has done alcohol and anger management counseling. He’ll continue to do so. Hunt has had his meeting with NFL investigators regarding 3 incidents, and a suspension is coming. At the end of all that, he’ll play for the #Browns.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 11, 2019
Can Hunt stay out of trouble, make amends and work to earn back the trust of fans? No one knows for sure but the Browns are willing to give him a chance to do so.
