Former Kansas City Chiefs star running back Kareem Hunt is signing with the Cleveland Browns.
Hunt, a crucial part of the Chiefs success in 2018, was released in late November when a video surfaced of him striking a woman. The league is still investigating the incident, with NFL Media's Ian Rapoport suggesting a six-week suspension is likely.
Hunt will be unable to participate in practices, play in or attend games with his new team until he is reinstated from the Commisioner's exempt list.
In a statement, Browns General Manager John Dorsey - who was in Kansas City when the Chiefs drafted Hunt in the third round - said:
"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. 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.
Understanding fans' complex feelings on the signing, Dorsey continued:
“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. 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."
Hunt also released a statement, via the Browns:
"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."
Despite an already talented backfield headlined by the explosive Nick Chubb, the Browns are taking a shot on Hunt in a deal that could be worth up to $1 million in 2019.
Hunt quickly ascended to the top echelon of NFL running backs since entering the league in 2017, gaining 2,984 yardsand 25 touchdowns in 27 games.
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