Cleveland Browns sign abusive RB Kareem Hunt

[True Dough]

The Cleveland Browns signed troubled running back Kareem Hunt on Monday.

A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Hunt signed a one-year contract. He will be a restricted free agent after the contract expires, meaning the Browns will control his rights after next season.

The Kansas City Chiefs released Hunt in December after a video surfaced that showed him shoving and kicking a woman last February at his residence in Cleveland.

He neither was arrested nor faced charges for the February incident. He also was accused of punching a man in June.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25973726/kareem-hunt-signs-browns

[PeeJ52]

1. They figured they did such a good job with Josh Gordon why not give him a try...

Don't understand really... their rookie, Chubb, looked really good...

[Raven123]

2. Makes no sense

The team showed promise this year. Introducing an off-the-field distraction is Not in the rebuilding playbook. Don't care what Dorsey thought of Hunt in KC. Cleveland is trying to build a team. Insulting the guys who played well and behaved maturely (usually) by signing Hunt is likely to haunt them

[True Dough]

3. Some team was bound to snatch him up

I agree with the posters above. Cleveland doesn't seem like the best fit with the emergence of Chubb. I wondered if the Jags would grab him because they're so disgruntled with Fournette and couldn't make their ground game work despite also having TJ Yeldon and trading for Carlos Hyde. Three capable backs unable to be effective in their system. Pretty sad.

As for Hunt, I wouldn't begrudge him a second chance. Hopefully he makes the most of it.

[Auggie]

4. Why? Why, why, why ...?

Team has salary cap room to sign many other FAs. A promising QB. And more momentum -- and fan interest -- going into the next year than they've had in years. Why welcome this disturbance?

Same old Browns?

[getting old in mke]

5. My guess

Is the Browns, like most folks, expect him to be suspended for all or the great majority of next year. He was back on the commissioner's exempt list the moment he signed and can't take part in any team activities until he's off that.

If he doesn't have enough weeks on the 53 man roster (10, I think) to accrue a years service, then they have exclusive rights to him in 2020, too.

So, if Chubb continues as he's started, they can use Hunt as trade bait before 2020. If Chubb regresses or is injured long term, then they can try to work Hunt in in 2020 and hope the year's delay will have made most people forget or lose focus on his off-the-field violence.

Cynical, but it makes sense, I guess.

[True Dough]

6. Makes perfect sense

I just want you to select the wrong guy in fantasy football next sesaon, that's all!

[getting old in mke]

7. HA

[ProfessorGAC]

8. The NFL Rule Is 4 Games For First Offense

But, as questioned by Sarah Spain, this is not domestic violence, as defined in the rule, because he and the victim were barely acquainted.
Sarah seemed to think he would get less than 4, unless the league decided to punish him for his original lack of transparency.

[many a good man]

9. GM Dorsey believes in second chances

I think he truly believes in giving young men from troubled backgrounds another chance to overcome the disadvantages they grew up with. He got to know Hunt before he drafted him in KC and knows well the circumstances. This column by MKC gives some background to Dorsey's motivations and includes a link to an old article providing details on the family life he was burdened with.

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/02/if-kareem-hunt-helps-instead-of-hurts-people-the-browns-signing-is-a-victory-mary-kay-cabot.html

[True Dough]

10. Although the Browns are quickly becoming "stacked"

they will do without the services of Kareem Hunt for the first eight games of the upcoming season.

Link to tweet

[True Dough]

11. And a statement from Hunt's reps

Link to tweet