KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 11: Kareem Hunt #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs makes a jump cut over Bene' Benwikere #23 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of the game at Arrowhead Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)The Cleveland Browns signed Kareem Hunt yesterday, locking up the former Kansas City Chiefs star for one year. Hunt was out of football after being released by Kansas City in November after video surfaced of an altercation he had with a woman in February 2018.
In the video, Hunt can be seen attacking and kicking the woman. His transgressions made many think he’d be a football pariah for at least a year, but Cleveland is taking a chance on him.
Hunt is still on the commissioner’s exempt list and is likely to be suspended. Perhaps that’s why the Browns’ reported contract offer did not include any guaranteed money.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Hunt signed for the league minimum with none of it guaranteed. He could see over $1 million with a variety of bonuses.
More on the 1-year contract for new #Browns RB Kareem Hunt: The base salary is for the minimum with $0 guaranteed, source said. He can get to just over $1M with workout bonuses and per-game roster bonuses. When GM John Dorsey said “no guarantees,” the contract agrees.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 12, 2019
After his one-year deal with Cleveland expires, Hunt will become a restricted free agent. In the long run, this might wind up benefiting him financially.
There is zero doubt about Hunt’s talent, as he proved himself to be one of the top running backs in the league in his first one-plus seasons.
However, due to his past, the Browns might be assuming some risk (or at least courting unfavorable PR) by bringing him in the fold.
