BY JASON PRACH
The NFL are investigating an incident from earlier this year in February of 2018 involving former Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt. On Friday November 30, 2018, TMZ released a video that shows the ex Chiefs tailback trading words with a woman in a Cleveland hotel hallway. According to the video with no audio, it seems as if the woman is having words with Hunt. Although we don’t know what was said, Hunt pushes the woman, and she retaliated by hitting him in the face. Two men attempt to escort him down a hallway. Hunt then charges out again and pushes one of the men into the alleged woman. Hunt is also seen kicking the woman on the ground. As a result of Hunts’ actions, he was released by the team on Friday.
In February, the Chiefs had questioned what had happened. Hunt at the time downplayed the incident and did not tell the organization or the NFL of this video evidence. He came out in an interview with ESPN stating his apology for his actions.. Hunt has been placed on the commissioners exempt list by the NFL. Meaning the running back cannot play, practice or attend NFL games. The NFL nor the Chiefs organization saw the video before it was released.
Hunt will face a 6 game baseline suspension so far. However, Hunt who could face more disciplinary action. In a separate incident in June, Hunt is seen punching a man in an Ohio resort parking lot. It could be a while before he sees an NFL game or may never hit the field again. So now we know these facts, what about the NFL?
Hunt explained to ESPN that the NFL never contacted him on the incidents or asked to talk to him about it. In 2014, former NFL running back Ray Rice was seen in a video captured by TMZ assaulting his fiancee in an elevator. Rice was never signed by a team and was out of the NFL in no time. A source also close to the story noted there are a number of NFL owners “irate” that the league and its investigation department did not interview Hunt regarding the assault nor did they reach out to the woman who was assaulted.
He will know his fate on Monday at 4 p.m. ET of what team can sign him off the waiver wire. This is another black eye on the NFL no matter how you look at this situation. There has been too many cases over the last 10 years between domestic violence and off the field issues.
Kareem Hunt was a 3rd round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He led the NFL with 1,327 yards as a rookie for the Chiefs in 2017. He had 824 yards and 7 touchdowns before he was released on Friday. I believe in second chances, but will he get a 2nd chance by the NFL and others in his life? We shall see in the upcoming weeks.
