'We Believe He Deserves A Second Chance': Cleveland Browns Sign Running Back Kareem Hunt
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CLEVELAND (KDKA) -- The Cleveland Browns have signed free agent running back Kareem Hunt.
Hunt, who was most recently with the Kansas City Chiefs, was released from the team in late November after a video surfaced of the star kicking a woman in a hotel hallway.
"We've signed RB Kareem Hunt," the Browns said on Twitter.
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," Browns General Manager John Dorsey said in a 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."
"We fully understand and respect the complexity of questions and issues in signing a player with Kareem's history and do not condone his actions," Dorsey said. "Given what we know about Kareem through our extensive research, we believe he deserves a second chance but certainly with the understanding that he has to go through critical and essential steps to become a performing member of this organization, aside from what the NFL determines from their ongoing investigation."
"Statement from RB Kareem Hunt:"
"First off, I would like to once again apologize for my actions last February," Hunt said. "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 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."
According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, Hunt has been through treatment classes since the incident surfaced.
"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."
According to sources, Hunt has signed a one-year deal with the Browns. The NFL has not finished its ongoing investigation regarding the assault from February of last year.
