CLEVELAND — Throughout the offseason program and training camp, the Cleveland Browns were hopeful that running back Kareem Hunt would be able to come to the team’s training facility during his eight-game suspension to start the 2019 season, but that hope went for naught.
According to a report from the Associated Press, the NFL informed the Browns on the eve of the preseason finale that Hunt will not be able to come to the team facility during his suspension. Hunt will be eligible to return to team activities and facilities after the Browns’ game at the Denver Broncos on Sunday, November 3.
Hunt’s suspension begins on Sunday, September 1, and although he will not be around the team during the duration of his ban, the 2017 Pro Bowler has a contingency.
“I definitely have a good plan in place,” Hunt said early in training camp. “I got a plan. You know, chill out, get good workouts and lay low.”
A standout player for South High School in the Cleveland suburb of Willoughby, and later, the University of Toledo, Hunt was released from his rookie contract on November 30, 2018 when video showed him pushing and kicking a woman at The 9 Hotel in Downtown Cleveland. Since that video became public, reports of other incidents involving Hunt have surfaced.
During the video, the 23-year old Hunt was seen having to be physically restrained by another member of a group that had gathered in a hallway.
“I’m just gonna lay low and continue working at being a better person and get ready for this season,” Hunt said.
Although Hunt has been working with a counselor on personal matters and speaking to high-school students about avoiding similar situations, he found himself involved in an incident outside of a Downtown Cleveland establishment that led to a discussion with police officers earlier this summer.
“It was a misunderstanding and I appreciate that the Browns still had my back and it was just something that was a misunderstanding, and I know I can’t have those, so I look to move forward and continue bettering myself and working and getting ready for the season,” Hunt said during training camp.
While Hunt not allowed to be around the team during his suspension, the Browns have plenty of expectations for him if he wants to return to the organization for the second half of the 2019 season.
“You have to take the situation very, very, very seriously,” Dee Haslam said during ownership’s annual training camp press conference. “We spent a lot of time and John (Dorsey) spent a lot of time with Kareem and felt like he has potential as a person, which is obviously as important as a player. He needs to continue to work really hard to be part of our organization.”
In two years with the Kansas City Chiefs, Hunt rushed for 2,151 yards and 15 touchdowns with 106 first downs, 19 plays going for at least 20 yards and four 40-yard gains. Additionally, Hunt caught 79 passes out of the backfield for 833 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a single-season career high of seven in 2018.
As a rookie in 2017, Hunt went from not expected to have a large role in the offense to rushing for an NFL-best 1,327 yards on 272 carries, an average of 4.9 yards per attempt, which earned him a spot on the AFC Pro Bowl team.