Aug. 7: It sounds as if Hunt has made a formal trade request, per Cabot. As expected, the Browns maintain that they have no intention of honoring that request. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports believes this situation could end with a pay increase for Hunt (Twitter link), and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com says Hunt would have trade value if Cleveland does choose to explore that option (Twitter link). Per Fowler, some evaluators consider Hunt a top-10 RB talent.
Aug. 6: There have been questions concerning running back Kareem Hunt‘s future with the Browns going into a contract year dating back to the early months of the offseason. It didn’t initially seem like there was any drama as both parties were taking a bit of a lackadaisical approach to negotiations that seemed inevitable, but now, with the regular season breathing down his neck, Hunt appears to be acting more boldly. Hunt sat out of team drills for the second consecutive practice today, according to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, telling the Browns he only plans on participating in individual drills. 
Reports in May described the contract situation as up in the air, positing that, if the two parties failed to deal with negotiations before camp, it would likely decrease the odds of Hunt staying in Cleveland past this year. Only a week later, further reports claimed that, despite the lack of certainty concerning his future, Hunt was “still very much in the Browns’ plans for this season,” saying that the team had no plans of dealing or releasing Hunt due to the lack of substantive extension negotiations.
It took a couple more weeks before Hunt finally voiced his opinion that he wanted to re-sign with the Browns, desiring an extension but choosing to take things “day by day” in mid-June. Upon reaching full health soon after, Hunt made further comments toward his contract situation.
“I hope I get paid,” Hunt said. “So you know, whatever they decide, they know I’m going to come out there and give it my all and I’ll do whatever I can to help the team win.”
That apparently only applies to the regular season, considering Hunt’s new preseason plans. The two recent “partial hold-ins” were “the first time since training camp that Hunt didn’t participate” in team drills. Cleveland is able to, and likely will, subject him to fines for his lack of participation.
Hunt’s agent was reportedly at the Browns’ facility earlier this week, presumably to work on a potential new deal for the 27-year-old. According to Anderson, members of the team have said that “he wants to get paid or traded.” The belief is that he would truly prefer to remain in Cleveland, he just wants to be paid what he’s worth.
The Browns were fine slow-playing a new deal for Hunt after he missed nine games last year between injuries and COVID-19. Because of the missed time and how the second year of his contract is set up, it made sense that Cleveland would be okay allowing Hunt to play out his contract year and revisit a new contract after the season. They seemed to be taking their lead from Hunt, but now, with Hunt’s new decision to be more vocal about his desires, they’re in the uncomfortable position of having to deal with negotiations in the weeks leading up to the regular season.
As a native of Willoughby, OH, Hunt made it known recently that he would like to eventually end his career in Cleveland, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Unfortunately for Hunt, he doesn’t hold much leverage. A plethora of running backs who can contribute and a contract that doesn’t much penalize the team for waiting stacks the deck against Hunt.
Hunt is expected to be the Browns’ No.2 running back behind star running back Nick Chubb. D’Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton both had opportunities to show their stuff in Hunt’s absence last year, and rookie fifth-round pick Jerome Ford has shown some serious potential coming into the league. The combination of contributing running backs has the potential to make Hunt redundant, especially if he decides to continue holding out.
Hunt certainly has the talent to be a starting running back in this league, as displayed during his rookie year in Kansas City, and he likely wants to get paid like it. Unfortunately, the situation is against him, so he’s taken to drastic measures in order to try to achieve his means. With the first preseason game for Cleveland six days away and the regular season starting in just over a month, time is running out for the two parties to come to terms.
Better give him what he wants or he’ll go kickin’ and screamin’…
Clown had all the money he would of ever needed in KC had he not acted a fool. Now he “ wants paid” sorry dude you’re a 2 now
Given the short term Johnson deal, I would expect that Hunt will see his final snaps in a Cleveland uniform this season. He was a great contributor on the field for the Browns, and in all likelihood is a better overall player than Johnson. But Johnson likely could have secured a similar or better level deal to what he is playing on on the open market-my opinion is that Cleveland is planning on extending him after this season. The massive Watson deal and Johnson’s younger age likely mean that Hunt won’t be offered the high level deal that he wants from Cleveland, though I do expect him to get a good offer elsewhere.
I agree on everything except the Johnson getting extended part. He’s a part timer and RBs don’t get paid that well nowadays cuz the money goes literally to every other position. Hunt is on the outs and has that baggage that was left out of the article and the reason he left KC in the 1st place. Johnson isn’t a stud by any means so why pay for him when, if you draft well, you can get an RB for cheap and run him into the ground instead? It saves dollars and makes sense…
I could agree, but I also think that if the Browns like what they see out of Johnson again this year, they’d rather just keep him around rather than use another pick on another runner to have to integrate into the system.
It would be nice if all Browns players who assaulted women did not play.
The press (and the NFL) covered up what was really going on in that hotel.
What was really going on?
A puppet show.
Which was….?
Why in the hell would this guy think he deserves a new contract? He’s under contract for this year. And he missed how many games last season….9 ?
And he’s the second back. Second string.
He wants a new contract now. He wants to get paid. He got paid his full contract last year even though he missed 9 games. Did he offer to give that back?
Such a joke
Unfortunately that’s what happens when they open up the vault for other scumbags, I mean teammates, they think they’ll cash in too. But RBs that beat up on women are a lot more expendable in todays game than sexual predators that can sling a football and try to get beat off by women.
Hes trying to get paid on his per game track record, more power to him. But he has that baggage and RBs are expendable now except for the elite of elite and he was hurt last year. He will get some money but from someone else. For what it’s worth, I’d offer him a one year deal that gives him the money he wants but only that. He can go kick rocks somewhere else while getting paid. Not a Dog pound fan at all, just calling it like I see it
The browns already shelled out massive money for one creep, might as well add to the set.
Yes, chalk it up to the Watson Effect on Browns players salaries from now on….they all wanna “get paid”…of course givin their all to help the team win…..LOL!
Isn’t that what got Watson in trouble?
No. Watson being a creepy man who will eventually be on a list due to his actions are what got him in trouble.
Obviously, nobody in their right mind would want to play for the Browns unless excessively compensated.
Browns should trade him and a 3rd round pick for Micheal Thomas.
Saints are going to need a RB with Kamara suspended and Ingram can’t do it all himself.
Micheal Thomas has been quiet recently but I bet he’s still looking for a way out.
Thomas and Cooper would be a lethal WR duo for the Browns. Hunt gets replaced by Johnson and Ford is also sitting and waiting.
Once again, lethal skilled players, albeit some head cases, but Jacoby Brissett to deliver? Trams put 8 in the box, shut down any semblance of a great run game, leaving Brissett to throw. That often ends up a pick or a sack/fumble or just another incompletion. W/O Watson, 4-13…w/Watson for 4 games, 5-12…w/Watson for 8 games…6-11…w/Watson for 11 games, 7-10. Lilkliest scenario, 6 games this year, then with the appeal of an indefinite suspension tied up in court; Watson then serves the balance of his suspension in 2023, probably 11 games. By that time 1/2 of the lethal skilled players are gone & Cleveland is again an embarrassment. It’s called Karma, & it always comes back to bite you.
Maybe Hunt is upset because he got an 8-game suspension and a prove it contract. Meanwhile the guy who will be handing him the rock got 6-games and $230mil guaranteed.
Bullseye
He’s nothing but a little Hunt!!
Trouble in tuggieLand very smart for his career to seek Premier back status. Platoons aren’t for stars.
He has all the chips. Lol amazing use of force. I find myself in the same situation.
He has zero chips. He’s under contract. Play and get paid or sit out and don’t get paid
Or maybe he could pull a Ben Simmons, sit out & get paid
Or even better, assault a few dozen women, then get a fat raise from your new team.
It looks like Hunt has one more year in front of him for $6 million. Definitely a situation where it benefits him to play out his contract and depart in free agency next year. Sitting out will stop his contract from tolling and leave Hunt in limbo, with Cleveland in a position to block any “undervalued” trade indefinitely.
Just one year to play to get to paydirt. Risk of career ending injury. Maybe the Browns could buy him a $20 million insurance contract for career ending or career compromising injury. It wouldn’t be cheap. Only the policy premium would be salary cap. A cheap way to everyone wins.
So much for him wanting to stay in Cleveland for the rest of his career like he stated earlier!?
No one actually wants to play in Cleveland. They just want to use their salary cap space to max out the money. They know they’ll never win in that city, with that ownership and that front office. They’ve been the laughing stock of the league since they bought their way back into the NFL.
But it’s his hometown, so his family can come see him, at least those that are able to while the rest will have to watch from tv in whatever facility they are locked up in.
link to usatoday.com
He’d be perfect for NE or Tampa
The Bucs had the lowest run percentage (33.8) of any team in the league…why would he want to go there?
Kareem Hunt excels in situations where the defense is spread out and it’s one on one, particularly with small defenders whom he just runs over. The Bucs would suit big play Hunt and big play Hunt would suit the Bucs.
John Lynch on line one…..Jimmy G for K. Hunt
Let him sit.