Looking forward to 2019, Browns Free Agency/Trades

WOAH WOAH WOAH

WHAT THE FUCK LYMAN, i thought we were cool

KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF

2k

 

Interesting - I didn't really consider team chemistry to be a directing philosophy, in my evaluation of the team going forward, but I definitely hear what you're saying. Very valid. I think how they handle the staff will be very important - that may dictate team culture / chemistry before FA's even get signed.

 

Could be that the existing team culture / chemistry will dictate how the future staff is handled.

 

I'm not sure any of us are in disagreement...except that last line.

Crazy would imply recklessness. That is exactly what I was saying I don't think they will do in the second post of this thread.

Now, if you can get a Dee Ford to walk away from Kansas City on a 4/5/6 year contract at an average of $16.5M AND/OR CJ Mosley signed away from the Ravens at $11M per year, then I would be all about it.

Crazy spending would imply a bidding war where Ford gets $20M a year..and I can see it happening. I don't want to spend that kind of money on him, just because we have money to spend...That would be considered a splash move, not a smart one.

 

The former Dorsey pick that nobody wants to talk about...(but it could happen)

Though I do believe that you can never have enough talented running backs, I wanna be clear that I'm not advocating for this, so please keep that in mind. The fact is John Dorsey does have a history of taking chances on guys that have made big mistakes off the field. Given that he was just drafted by Dorsey just 2 years ago, if he can prove true contrition to his former GM, it wouldn't completely shock me if Kareem Hunt wound up on Cleveland's radar at some point in the future....No doubt it'll be a long road back for him, and he'll have plenty of hurdles to jump. His action were inexcusable. My guess is he'll be suspended for at least the first half of 2019 season, if not all...A well deserved punishment. Without question, Kareem has issues that must be addressed....Beyond that however, he's clearly a talented football player that's in his prime. He is an Ohio guy. He won't be overly expensive. He has direct ties and relationship with our GM. And he is a free agent that is going to get a second chance somewhere...just pointing out some facts.

Don't kill me for bringing it up. I know many of you would hate it.... Like it or not, our GM rolls the dice occassionally on players with considerable red flags....Hunt is just a name to remember. He is out there.

There's a chance that Nick Chubb played well enough that Kareem isn't even considered, but personally, I wouldn't be surprised if Dorsey is already sniffing around on this one...

 

From Arrowhead Addict - Chiefs beat writer

Looking at potential destinations for Kareem Hunt in 2019

CLEVELAND BROWNS
The Cleveland Browns are an exciting young team on the rise with dynamic young playmakers already in place at many positions. Kareem could come home to Ohio, play for the local team, and earn back the fans he might have lost with his offseason troubles. However, if Hunt only gets in trouble when he’s back in Ohio (which seems to be the case), then this could make things really complicated without serious accountability.

Why Kareem is a fit
The fit begins with familiarity here in Cleveland, because general manager John Dorsey was the very man who took him in the first place. Dorsey traded up in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft to take Hunt, who played nearby at the University of Toledo. Dorsey knows as well as anyone what Hunt can do, and what team would be opposed to bringing in the NFL’s rushing leader from 2017 using a coupon code.

Being at home could be a minus or plus, and the same could be said of a new coach. It’s unknown at this point who will be leading this team next season and adding a wild card like Hunt’s ongoing legal situation and drama could be a bit much for a new coach trying to learn the ropes and establish his way. Then again, a new coach could provide another storyline for local media to follow—another discussion point that keeps the spotlight away from Hunt’s past.

The biggest problem here, however, is the presence of Duke Johnson and Nick Chubb already on the roster. Chubb needs the ball as often as possible and Johnson has already been signed to a long-term deal through 2021. Dontrell Hilliard is also in place as a young special teams player through 2019.

Odds: Low to Medium

EDIT: FWIW the writer liked Hunt's odds of winding up in Oakland, Philly and New England better than Cleveland....But naturally, we were on the list.

 

I already know what most of the regulars are going to say about the notion of the Browns being a part of Kareem Hunt's story, just based off many conversations in the past about players that had similar issues, including the recent case of Joe Mixon. And I respect that...I am curious as to the thoughts of @SAS on this particular case.. I know you were a big advocate for us going after Kareem in the draft when he came out. Obviously a lot has transpired since. He WILL get a shot somewhere, assuming he doesn't re-offend. If KH was truly contrite and able to convince Dorsey to take the chance on him and give him another shot in this league, only this time with the Browns. How would you feel about that?

 

I am 100% against this. The man I saw on the video attacking a woman is not someone I want to be affiliated with in any way.

 

I know... You'll no doubt get a lot of likes for that comment.

Trying to tread carefully here, but I suppose it's only a matter of time before this turns completely sideways on me. lol!

Oh well...I'll be the bad guy for mentioning him.

 

It's a fair question to put out there, TD. And Irish's response was a fair response.

 

For the record, SAS was standing firmly on the Mixon hill, pre-draft. Just if that gives you any indication of a likely response.

 

Fair and quite predictable. Nobody condones what they saw on the tape Lyman. I knew what Irish was gonna say before I even posted, and that was pretty obvious.... The real question is, not unlike in the Joe Mixon debates, do you believe that a young man deserves a second chance? Or a shot at redemption if you will?...Kareem, just like Mixon, is tagged to an ugly video forever. That's never going away...

I do believe in second chances. Every case is different. I have a good friend who knows Kareem Hunt very well. He was his LT his entire time at Toledo and is there as a coach now, and he told me that this was a shock to everyone at that program. Just completely out of character. He swears up and down that Kareem Hunt is not that kind of guy. I don't know how much merit to put in that, but I have no doubt that alcohol played a big part. Nothing justifies what he did, but she did crack him first in the video. And we have no idea what words were flying....Ugly as it was, assuming he straightens up his act, I'm not holding that video against him for the rest of his life. And I'm not saying the Browns should go after him. I'm simply laying it out there, what many people believe. That John Dorsey will still have interest..

Anyway, that is why I stated twice that I already know how most regulars here feel about guys in these situations, and specified my question to SAS....We could seriously just re-read all the Mixon chatter, and get everyone's viewpoint as to whether they would consider him for Cleveland. Just wanted to get Sam's take, because I know he loved him some Kareem Hunt before the video....

 

You are spot on when you said every case is different. Put the Hunt video next to the Ray Rice video. In neither case do we know what transpired immediately prior to the video sequence (including what words were spoken). In the Hunt video, it APPEARS as if the woman did hit him first whereas in the Rice video, it APPEARS that it came out of nowhere. And in BOTH cases, former team mates stated that those actions were out of character for these guys. (For the record, I wouldn't expect a former team mate to say anything else.)

Due the differences in these two videos, I fully suspect that some team will give Hunt a second chance as their perception may very well be that he only responded in like fashion to what he received. That doesn't get Hunt off the hook for kicking the woman after he knocked her to the ground.

Given our current running back situation, I personally don't see the benefit of adding handling of the impending PR circus to the to-do list in Cleveland.

 

This is why, more than any other reason, I'm not sure we should even bother...I just have a feeling Dorsey IS going to bother. If he thinks he can get a great young player in his prime at a bargain price. A player that we already know he likes very much. And he truly believes that KH won't mess up again...I don't think he'll hesitate.

 

One thing I know we can all agree on...Going after talented but troubled players, and rolling the dice, is something John Dorsey is unafraid of....

 

Former teammate or not, I wouldn't go to bat for a guy if I thought he was of questionable character....

 

I do understand this sentiment but i dont really intend on taking a position of playing devil's advocate ...however, i do not look to my football team or players for any moral guidance. That goes for sport or artists. I want my team to win, and i hold no such illusions that any of these owners, players etc are in anyway good moral compasses.

Which is why i get what he did is heinous and he should be in a jail cell but with the object being to win and the league or the state in question not enforcing sufficient punishment ( which so that we are clear, i am in favour of) i feel like someone Will take a shot which we all agree on but if that is the case, why not the browns? or the ravens? ultimately i do not think it is an indictment of a teams values to have such people on their roster simply because i think those people already exist on every roster.

2k

 

I couldn't agree more. This is pro sports...

At the same time, I believe what I've heard from those that know him quite well, and I fully expect a complete redemption story for Kareem Hunt. I don't think what we saw in the video was the norm for Hunt. Young men make stupid decisions all the time, especially when fueled with alcohol and emotion. Kareem has paid, and is still paying dearly for his actions. Punishment that he has accepted. He know's there's nobody to blame but himself, and that road back isn't gonna be a cakewalk. The ice on which he stands is very thin, and he has much to prove, to many people.... From a professional standpoint, who lost more than Kareem did this year? He understands how many people he let down....Kareem has youth and talent on his side right now, and not much else.

 

I agree someone will pick him up.

Why not the Browns?

1. Social or moral implications aside, I simply feel that, given the current state of the entire organization, the Browns shouldn't take on the added work of handling the media circus that is sure to follow this guy wherever he ends up.
2. Wherever he ends up better be a veteran laden team to help HIM get through this. You can say a lot about the current Browns . . . Veteran laden isn't one of them.

 

LeVeon Bell ???