The Cleveland Browns announced the signing of running back Kareem Hunt Monday afternoon. The running back had been drafted by now Browns General Manager John Dorsey while he was with the Kansas City Chiefs. Dorsey had done a lot of research into Hunt before he was drafted and has done additional research since he was released by Kansas City for an incident that occurred in Cleveland during February of 2018.

Dorsey released a statement to discuss the team's decision to sign the controversial player:

“My relationship and interaction with Kareem since 2016 in college was an important part of this decision making process but we then did extensive due diligence with many individuals, including clinical professionals, to have a better understanding of the person he is today and whether it was prudent to sign him. There were two important factors: one is that Kareem took full responsibility for his egregious actions and showed true remorse and secondly, just as importantly, he is undergoing and is committed to necessary professional treatment and a plan that has been clearly laid out.”

“We fully understand and respect the complexity of questions and issues in signing a player with Kareem’s history and do not condone his actions. Given what we know about Kareem through our extensive research, we believe he deserves a second chance but certainly with the understanding that he has to go through critical and essential steps to become a performing member of this organization, aside from what the NFL determines from their ongoing investigation. We fully understand that Kareem is subject to discipline by the NFL. Here at the Browns, there is a detailed plan with expectations laid out that he understands and must follow, because any similar incident will not be tolerated. We will support Kareem through this process and utilize our resources, however permitted, to help him become successful on and off the field as long as he continues to show the commitment necessary to represent this organization.”

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The decision to sign Hunt was complicated by the fact that the incident occurred in Cleveland. He is still subject to action from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Hunt, who was selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, has 826 rushing yards on the season along with 14 total touchdowns (seven rushing, seven receiving). Hunt was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2017 after leading the NFL in rushing with 1,327 yards along with eight touchdowns.

Stay tuned to Cleveland Browns on 247Sports for more on this development.