Kareem Hunt is ready to show the NFL he is back to being his old self.
Earlier this offseason, the Cleveland Browns tendered Hunt a one-year contract.
After serving an eight-game suspension due to an off the field incident in 2018, Hunt rushed for 179 yards on 43 carries to go with 285 receiving yards on 37 receptions.
The former 2017 NFL rushing leader has let the world know that the 2020 season will be a year he proves himself once again.
Hunt talked about how he feels overlooked sometimes in a recent appearance on Cleveland Browns Daily.
.@Kareemhunt7 on @Browns_Daily: I was born with a chip on my shoulder. I can’t wait to go out there and shine. I’m going to come out there and get mine.
— Browns_Daily (@Browns_Daily) June 10, 2020
“I was born with a chip on my shoulder. It’s definitely still here, more than ever,” Hunt told hosts Nathan Zegura and Beau Bishop. “I definitely can’t wait to go out there and shine. My name really don’t get brought up much at all. But it’s fine. I’m going to come out there and get mine. That’s all I can do — take it play by play and make the most of my opportunities. People I play against, they’ll realize again.”
Putting In The Work
According to Spotrac, Hunt will make $3.259 million this season.
If Hunt can produce like his days in 2017, this will be a steal of a contract.
In 2017, Hunt led the league in rushing with 1,327 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
According to Hunt, he has stayed in shape by doing workouts in his basement on his Peloton bike.
He also mentioned that it will be easy to tell who has not been putting in work during the quarantine.
.@Kareemhunt7 on @Browns_Daily: You’re going to be able to tell who’s been working out and who hasn’t when we all report.
— Browns_Daily (@Browns_Daily) June 10, 2020
Hunt went onto further talk about how his past experiences helped him understand how to treat his body in the offseason.
“It’s a crazy time right now. I never would have expected something like this — getting ready for the season and all the sports are shut down,” Hunt said. “I’m glad I had these last four years to really learn how to treat my body in the offseason. You are going to be able to tell who has been working and who hasn’t been working.”
The 1-2 Punch
The Browns are hoping that Hunt and Nick Chubb can be the modern-day 1-2 punch they have lacked over the years.
in 2017, the New Orleans Saints boasted one of the best pair of running backs in the league with (at the time a rookie) Alvin Kamara and veteran Mark Ingram.
Ingram led the franchise with a career-high 1,124 rushing yards and a career-high 416 receiving yards.
Kamara added 728 yards on the ground and 826 receiving yards to go with 13 combined touchdowns.
Chubb had 1,494 yards on the ground in 2019.
Through 14 weeks, Nick Chubb sits atop the rushing leaders 👑@surface pic.twitter.com/KNuzbT3mhV
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 11, 2019
Hunt is hopeful that the tandem can look like Sony Michel/James White or the trio used with the San Francisco 49ers.
“I see myself coming in and being a 1-2 — Nick and I just coming in and taking over the game every week,” Hunt said. “That’s what I envision.”
All in all, Hunt just wants to see the Browns win and make a push for the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
NEXT: Joe Woods Sees Quick Development In Browns' Linebackers“I’d rather not be talked about and come in each and every week and it’s like, ‘The Browns won again, the Browns won again.’ When they see we winning, then they’ll start talking,” Hunt said. “I feel like people are sleeping on our team, but I would too. We haven’t really done much lately.”
