Hunt will be forced to learn the hard way and rightly so
● Chiefs running back’s actions put another black mark on NFL’S disciplinary record
Aweek ago Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt was a crucial part of one of the most potent offences in the NFL. On Friday TMZ released a video of an altercation between Hunt and a woman. Within hours Hunt was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list – effectively suspended with pay – and an hour after that he was unemployed as the Kansas City Chiefs released him.
These events are all too often a by-line in the career of NFL players, and the Chiefs were right to let Hunt go, after all, there is no place in society let alone sport for people who use violence against others no matter their gender.
As the details emerged, the matter became more evident than ever the former University of Toledo product was on his way to a disciplinary hearing and unemployment.
My real problem with this is the NFL’S failure to deal with this when it happened, once again being consistently inconsistent in the way they handled a disciplinary matter. The incident took place in February, and at the time the NFL asked the police for the footage. The request was denied and the incident apparently forgotten.
According to Hunt in an ESPN interview given on Sunday, the league office never spoke to him about the incident although the Chiefs did, and at that time Hunt lied – something he also admitted in the interview.
The NFL’S record on punishing physical abuse is atrocious.
As you read this, we are ten days on from Reuben Foster’s second arrest in a year, and yet the Washington Redskins signed him earlier this week, exemplifying the lack of real concern.
A transgression involving assault and the NFL feels an obligatory phone call to the local police department was more than enough?
Yet for deflategate in 2015, when Tom Brady and the Patriots were accused of deflating balls to allow a better grip, the investigation involved hundreds of bill- able hours to lawyers, subpoenas for phones and the court of appeal.
The league needs to stick to their rules. In their own guidance it says “Whenever the league office becomes aware of a possible violation, it will an investigation, the timing and scope of which will be based upon the particular circumstances.”
They clearly deemed these “circumstances” as only needing an exploratory email. How can the league, in good faith, expect players to follow these rules if they choose to apply them when they feel like or when the media lets the cat out of the bag?
Week 13 started with Dallas Cowboys putting in a strong defensive performance to overcome the previously high flying New Orleans Saints 13-10. The Cowboys managed to hold Drew Brees to his worst passing game in two years, only gaining 127 yards.
Thirteen is lucky for some but certainly not for former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Mccarthy after a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. In week 13 of his 13th season, Mccarthy was removed from his position at the Packers.
The New York Giants managed an overtime win over Chicago in a game where receiver Odell Beckham Jr completed a pass for 49 yards– his second touchdown pass of the year. The Jets had a less successful night, giving up 13 points in the fourth quarter to lose 26-22 to Tennessee Titans.
The New England Patriots all but booked their playoff berth with their ninth win of the season, while the Chiefs overcame the off-field distractions to win their 15 straight game over AFC West teams.
Jacksonville’s reliance on defence reached new levels as they accomplished a 6-0 win over Indianapolis Colts in a game with 476 yards of offence. To put that in perspective that is seven yards more than the Chiefs alone managed in their win. The Los Angeles Rams became the first team to cement their place in the play-offs taking on the Lions in Detroit. After a hard-fought battle the Rams eventually pulled away for a 30-16 win. Despite not being able to win the division Seattle kept their play-off hopes alive with a 43-16 demolition of the San Francisco 49ers.
“The Kareem Hunt incident took place in February and at the time the NFL asked the police for the footage. The request was denied”