Browns running back Kareem Hunt is heading into a contract year for the 2022 NFL season, after only appearing in eight games last year. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com spoke on the contract situation, reporting that it seems very up in the air for now.
Hunt entered the 2021 season as the back up to Nick Chubb, racking up 361 rushing yards, along with five touchdowns before suffering a calf injury that would land him on injured reserve. He appeared in two more games after returning from injured reserve, but sat for the last four games of the season.
Cabot posits that if negotiations can be dealt with before camp is underway, it would bode well for Cleveland’s chances to keep the Hunt-Chubb tandem together. If no deal is reached by the time the season starts, though, it would be much less likely that Hunt stays in the orange and brown.
Hunt showed in Kansas City that he can be a lead back, and, with Nick Chubb firmly planted above him on the depth chart, Hunt may be willing to let this year be an audition to other teams to show that he is healthy and ready to take over lead-back responsibilities once again.
Here are a few more rumors from Cleveland, these concerning newly acquired quarterback Deshaun Watson:
- Cleveland turned a lot of heads when they gave up a package that included three first-round draft picks to acquire Watson and then gave him a fully-guaranteed contract for $230MM, despite the 22 civil lawsuits he faces for alleged sexual misconduct and sexual assault. Mike Sando of The Athletic heard from several executives from around the NFL who thought the moved reeked of desperation. Many thought the deal showed team owner Jimmy Haslam putting head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry in a bind, forcing a move the two likely wouldn’t otherwise have made. They claim the move gives Watson undue power to force decisions and do whatever he wants, saying he “doesn’t need to listen to anybody.” One executive said that rewarding Watson with the fully-guaranteed contract basically was a statement that all of his publicized issues don’t matter.
- Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic enlisted the help of Jason Fitzgerald, operator of OverTheCap.com, to talk about some of the deals made around the NFL this offseason. Fitzgerald addressed the opinion that Watson’s legal situation being ignored in the awarding of his fully-guaranteed contract will set a new precedent for guaranteed contacts around the league. “I don’t think it will,” Fitzgerald said. He continued, “I know I’m in the minority on that…He was basically a free agent. The Texans said, ‘Go out and sell yourself to these teams.’ And that was what he did…Deshaun Watson was essentially a free agent. I don’t think there’s any other quarterbacks that ever make it to free agency to where they’re even gonna have that opportunity.” He compared the situation to Kirk Cousins, when he signed his first fully-guaranteed deal, ignoring the obvious publicity issues that come with Watson’s situation. He even mentioned earlier in the article that he saw Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson pursuing a situation that will play out similar to Cousins’. So it’s strange that a couple teams later in the article, he would claim that the precedent doesn’t matter because he thinks it likely won’t happen again. Regardless, Fitzgerald seemed to acknowledge that a precedent may have been set, but minimized the importance of that precedent on the assumption that similar situations would be few and far between.
God I hope the browns get burned for signing that pervert literally nothing would be better than the worst franchise in pro sports besides the Sacramento kings and the Baltimore orioles getting their just desserts. An absolute bunch of indefensible scumbags
RoastGobot- Are you an AFC North team fan?
I think you might be showing some jealousy that the Browns finally are going to be a team to be reckoned with and according to Sports Illustrated are the favorites to win the AFC North! There will be lots of barking in the Dawg Pound this season!
No I’m a niners fan. Sorry Charlie
I have to thank you for not naming the Mariners in your group.
“Finally” Just like all the years previously, right? Favorites to win the AFCN? Again, just like last year and all the other years where the Browns are crowned in the offseason and then do nothing come the regular season? Pretty sure I’ve seen this story before, yawn.
Watson still has to make it to the regular season without being suspended and even then, he doesn’t have a soft AFCS to contend with anymore where he had 2 easy wins from the Jags every year (only team he had a winning record against in the AFCS). He’s going against the AFCN where, he has a losing record against (1-4, excluding browns). Just think about it, he’s going to be on the team that is the Jags equivalent, but much worse in comparison. Jags have at least won the division and made it to the AFCCG in recent memory. Browns?
He’s going from a undoubtedly weaker division to a much stronger division that has 3 HC’s that have 5 SB and 7 or 8 AFCCG appearances between them. Stefanski has 1 playoff win…
Lots of Dawg Pound this season? Ha, we’ll see. Lots of people on the Browns own fan base (New or Loyal/Old) are disgusted by them bringing Watson in and what they gave up to get him.
Nothing like picking and choosing your facts. As far as record goes, Watson has a better record than Burrow. As far as head coaching goes, Stefanski has a better record than Taylor. He doesn’t have the playoff record but he’s only coached 2 years compared to the close to 30 years from Tomlin and Harbaugh. Here’s a stat…..Watson has a career 104 QBR. No quarterback in that division comes close to that. Plus the Browns probably have the most team talent of any in the division
Talk about picking and choosing your facts at an attempt to make yourself sound better.
“Watson has a better record than Burrow”
Watson has played 54 games to Burrows 24, so weird flex and it’s not even by that much. Watson’s 28-26 over 4 years isn’t anything to brag about over Burrow’s 12-13-1 which is only 1 1/2 years. Watson’s 7-19 for record against .500 teams isn’t either. Watson doesn’t have a better playoff record (1-2) while Burrow is 3-1. Elite quarterbacks, as everyone refers to Watson, don’t have a 24-7 lead only to blow it and not score till end of the 3Q. Talking about the Chiefs playoff game.
“Stefanski has a better record than Taylor.”
Another dumb flex considering Taylor has been HC for 3 years and Stefanski has only been for 2.
Stefanski went from having a playoff win and a 11-5 record, to finishing with a 8-9 record and 3rd in the division. Taylor coached his team to the SB. This alone makes whatever argument your trying to make sound silly.
Regardless of Tomlin, Harbaugh, and Taylor’s record or coaching history, Watson is going from a division that has way less success to a division that is much more successful in the coaching department. That was the point.
Cool stat by the way. Another cool stat is Watson being the most sacked QB (174) with only 54 games being played since 2017. Dude is a ball holding machine.
As for the Browns having the most talent of any in the division? Sure, maybe, on paper and in offseason… like always. Let’s see if they are come regular season
Burrow was sacked 70 times in 20 games played. Is he a ball holding dude too? Browns have a top 5 offensive line so I expect that to go down. Running quarterbacks usually get sacked more. Russell Wilson did. Lamar Jackson did too. Watson is a stud
You mean 83 sacks out of 26 games? If you’re going to cite stats, at least be accurate. It’s well known Burrow is/was behind a atrocious line which is why they spent money on it in the offseason. Despite being sacked so much, he got his team to the SB. Can’t say the same about Watson.
Top 5 offensive line that let up 49 sacks in 2021? Lol we’ll see about that.
Lamar has played in more games and his way less sacks than Watson.
Russell Has played more games than Watson and on average takes less than Watson.
Mahomes, Allen and Lamar all on average take less sacks than Watson and are all mobile.
Watson hasn’t even played a down yet with his new team. Hasn’t played a game in almost 2 years (could potentially be more). Let’s hold off on the stud title.
Burrow was sacked 70 times last year in the 20 games he played in. Upgraded offensive line? Time will tell. They have no pro bowlers on their line. Zero. They go 5 wide and empty backfield more than any team but 2. Burrow will still get sacked
Ok, good job clarifying. Still with a bad O-line, he helped his team to the SB.
I also never said upgraded, I said they spent money with the obvious intent on upgrading. Not sure what Pro-Bowls have to do with anything. Certainly doesn’t mean Burrow will get less protection. Adding 3 Veteran quality players, 2 of whom are Super Bowl Champions. can’t hurt.
Super Bowl champions? You say an individual award like being named to the pro bowl by guys that play against you means nothing but being on a team that has Tom Brady means something. I can’t believe you just said that. Wow
Reading must be hard for you, huh?
The last comment you somehow read that I said “Upgraded offensive Line” and now you somehow read that I said the Pro bowl means nothing. Never said that. I said, “Not sure what Pro-Bowls have to do with anything.”. Not being voted to the pro bowl doesn’t mean the player is bad at protection or lacks skill. Only so many players are picked to the pro bowl and what I also said it certainly doesn’t mean burrow will get less protection. Wow
Also, not that it means everything or even something but playing with & learning from one the greatest to play the game and protecting for him in the most important game, can’t hurt to have on your resume. Literally said that having those players “Can’t hurt” but you missed that too.
Have fun cheering for an alleged scumbag.
Can we have fun cheering for alleged good guys like Nick Chubb and Joel Bitonio?
I know you may not consider the NHL a pro sport but it I’d and as a fan of all 4 professional sports and a close follower for over 40 years I can assure you that the Arizona Coyotes are outdone for ineptitude by only the Washington Football Mess. So no, the Browns are not even close to the worst. But by God ya gotta given credit for trying to be.
Hunt isn’t going to be able to display anything this year – as the Browns didn’t spend $230 million on Watson just to let him hand the ball off.
When will Goodell and the NFL announce Watson suspension and will the NFLPA have the stomach to appeal if Watson requests one. The word on the street is an 8 game season. Thankfully the Browns held onto Mayfield and didn’t give up draft capital to trade his contract. Mayfield playing at beginning of season will set Browns up to trade him during season. Desperate teams will take on his salary and give up picks at the trade deadline to have shot at playoffs.. that is far better than giving up picks to have a team take Mayfield contract…Stefansky is the guy that has the tough job. A locker room under Baker pseudo control for a few games and then the Watson era…
Who can blame the Browns….desperate? Of course they are desperate, never in a Super Bowl, they can’t draft, so why not trade the draft picks for an established star. Can’t blame the Browns for this one.
Can’t draft? Chubb, Garrett and Ward were all drafted in the last 5 years and have each been to multiple pro Bowls. Draft is overrated. Last 2 teams that won the Super Bowl did it by going all in with getting guys through trades and free agency. Rams haven’t had a 1st round pick since 2018 and don’t have one until 2024
Pretty sure he was talking about the QB position. Naming 3 players, not at the QB position, doesn’t negate what he said because also, just 3 players still doesn’t mean their great at drafting either. Browns have a long history of not being able to draft at the QB position so hence why they traded for one.