The Kansas City Chiefs decided to release running back Kareem Hunt hours after TMZ Sports released a video of an offseason altercation.
During the offseason, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt was involved in a physical altercation with a woman in Cleveland, Ohio. Despite cross complaints being filed, no charges were filed at the time and the incident seemed to come and go without further repercussions. On Friday, everything changed for Hunt.
TMZ Sports released a video showing security camera footage on Friday which showed Hunt’s side of the story differed from what actually happened. In response to the video’s viral release, the Chiefs decided to release the star running back.
Hours after the video had been released by TMZ Sports, it appears Hunt was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt list, according to a statement released by the NFL. The Commissioner’s Exempt list is a status available to clubs which includes players declared temporarily exempt from the active roster. The Commissioner, Roger Goodell, is the only one who can either place or remove a player on/off of the Exempt list.
Almost an hour after the NFL had released the statement on Hunt being placed on the Exempt list, the Chiefs released a statement announcing that they had released Hunt. Here’s the team’s statement in full:
"“Earlier this year, we were made aware of an incident involving running back Kareem Hunt. At that time, the National Football League and law enforcement initiated investigations into the issue. As part of our internal discussions with Kareem, several members of our management team spoke directly to him. Kareem was not truthful in those discussions. The video released today confirms that fact. We are releasing Kareem immediately.”"
With Hunt released, the Chiefs will have to turn to its three other running backs on the active roster in Spencer Ware, Damien Williams, and Darrel Williams. Ware will get an increased role against the Raiders, with the Chiefs as a former centerpiece of the Chiefs’ offense just last year. The former undrafted free agent had a combined 1,202 total yards in the air and on the ground along with 14 total touchdowns during the 2016 season.
Darrel Williams may likely be listed as active for Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders in the Chiefs’ Week 13 matchup, but going forward, it looks like the Chiefs will have to gameplan without Hunt.