Browns need to let Kareem Hunt go
It is time for the Clevleand Browns to move on from running back Kareem Hunt. Hunt was pulled over for speeding and marijuana was found in his car.
When is enough enough? Kareem Hunt has to be running out of chances by now. Kareem Hunt was pulled over for speeding on I-90 in Rocky River, Ohio. Police found small amounts of marijuana in multiple areas of his car.
Kareem Hunt has had a long list of off the field incidents. At some point the Browns will have to make a decision about whether or not they want him to be on their roster.
Hunt was not charged for the marijuana, but that does not matter in the eyes of the NFL. The NFL essentially does whatever it wants when it comes to punishing a player. Players have received lengthy suspensions even if they are not charged. Roger Goodell operates as in his own space and will apply whatever punishment he deems necessary. The consistency and severity of those punishments often vary and are subject to scrutiny.
Hunt is a restricted free agent. That means he can sign with a different team and the Browns have a chance to match the deal keeping him in Cleveland. The market for Hunt was limited to begin with. His past takes him out of the equation for certain teams. If Cleveland were to tender Hunt, what team would willingly give up a draft pick to sign someone who may receive another lengthy suspension?
John Dorsey and Paul DePodesta’s team building philosophy are completely different
If John Dorsey was still in Cleveland things might be different when it comes to Kareem Hunt. Dorsey was willing to take chances on players that have off the field issues. For this strategy to work, the risk has to outweigh the reward. It is safe to say that the players that Dorsey brought in who fit this description did not produce enough to justify the risk.
With Paul DePodesta having an influence on roster decisions, moving on from Hunt seems highly likely. Hunt’s future with the team seemed bleak to begin with. Now that he had another off the field incident it may make the decision a little bit easier to make. If DePodesta wants to make a move to signal the change in philosophy, letting Kareem Hunt go seems like a layup.
It is not about talent, Kareem Hunt is a very talented player. This is about a player who had a margin for error that was razor thin and making another mistake. When it comes to Kareem Hunt the risk and bad publicity does not outweigh the reward. Why should Cleveland allow this type of behavior to continue in their organization? If a player is not smart enough to stay out of trouble, it is best to cut ties and move on.
UPDATE – 1/27/2020
New information in regards to Kareem Hunt’s traffic stop has emerged. Not only was marijuana found in his backpack, an open container of vodka was also found. Hunt would later admit that he would fail a drug test if given one at the time.
Having marijuana is one thing. The perception and legal status of marijuana has been changing in recent years. It is no longer considered to be as big of an issue. The NFL still considers it to be an issue and takes it very seriously. Drug testing and suspensions could soon follow after this new information has surfaced.
The open bottle of vodka on the other hand is completely unacceptable. There is no reason to have an open container of alcohol in a moving vehicle at any point in time.
Newly hired Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry will have an early decision to make and it should be an easy one. Let Kareem Hunt go and move on.
