Running back Kareem Hunt ended his two-day hold-in and did participate in team drills after issuing a pay me-or-trade me message to the Browns through his agent. (TheLandOnDemand)
Kareem Hunt returns to team drills after a two-day ‘hold-in’
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Day 10 of Browns training camp …
The Kareem Hunt “pay me-or-trade me" headache apparently has been quelled – for now.
For two days, the running back staged a hold-in – withholding his participation in team drills – to protest his lame-duck status in the final year of his contract. Hunt communicated to the Browns through his agent that he wanted a new contract or a trade.
But on Sunday, during a practice in shells under a heat index of 98, Hunt apparently ended his hold-in.
He took a couple snaps in the first 11-on-11 team period and also took the first three snaps in a two-minute drill period. After practice, Hunt ran a few wind sprints with quarterbacks Josh Dobbs and Josh Rosen.
Before practice, coach Kevin Stefanski dodged six questions about Hunt, declining to comment or vent his frustration. He did answer one question that shed some light on Hunt’s decision to end his hold-in.
Asked if he allows players to stay out of team drills on their own if healthy, he replied, “No. I understand what you are asking, but if our players are healthy, they practice.”
Either Hunt was fined for his two-day hold-in, or the Browns indicated they would be open to sweetening or adjusting his deal this year.
Hunt earned a $1.5 million roster bonus in April. He is due a base salary of $1.35 million. The rest of his 2022 income comes in the form of a $200,000 bonus for each game he is active, which could reach $3.4 million over 17 games.
Bell’s up for the challenge
Rookie receiver David Bell doesn’t know how or when he suffered a minor stress fracture in a foot that kept him out of the first eight days of training camp.
He said the foot felt sore when he woke up one morning a few weeks before the team broke for summer recess. X-rays showed a “small little crack in a bone.”
“Being out was tough,” Bell said. “Coming in as a rookie, that’s something you definitely don’t want to happen is an injury right off the bat.”
Complicating Bell’s challenge now is his ongoing transition to slot receiver. He played mostly on the outside at Purdue, outvoting OSU’s Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave as B1G Ten’s receiver of the year in 2021.
“It’s been a challenge coming to a new offense, but I’ve been trying to learn everything so they can move me around,” Bell said.
He said Dobbs has taken him under his wing and quizzes him on the playbook to help him along. Bell said “most definitely” he can make up enough ground to be ready for the slot role for Game 1.
“There’s going to be a few mistakes, but I don’t plan on having many," Bell said.
Two-minute foibles
Stefanski’s two-minute offense was not great last year. On Sunday, the 2022 edition had its first opportunities of training camp. Early review: As Stefanski always says in general, they have a lot of work to do.
It’s never a good sign when the third-team offense is the only one to find the end zone in the two-minute period. Dobbs did that when tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden turned a short pass at the right sideline into a 38-yard gain to the end zone. Dobbs then beat safety D’Anthony Bell on a two-point conversion pass to receiver Mike Harley in the deep right corner of the end zone.
Brissett led the No. 2 offense to a field goal against the No. 1 defense, making up a lot of ground on a completion to tight end Miller Forristall.
Deshaun Watson had to settle for a field goal, too, against the No. 2 defense. A promising throw in the end zone was broken up after it hit the hands of Anthony Schwartz.
Overall, the Browns’ defensive backs continue to get their hands on a lot of balls in 1-on-1s, 7-on-7s, and team drills.
Brownie bits
After Cade York made 5 of 6 field goals, running his training camp total to 22 of 24, Stefanski put the pressure on him at the end of practice. If York converted a field goal from 45 yards, players would get the night off prior to Monday’s scheduled off day. If he missed, players had to attend meetings Sunday night. York squeezed the rocket shot inside the left upright and the players celebrated. Guard Wyatt Teller lifted up York on his shoulders. One thing about York: He doesn’t live for the attention. Prior to practice, he was asked about the fan support he’s received at camp. “It’s pretty cool to see that. But also I can’t really get my motivation from that. Even though it’s awesome ... I love the fans … but that can be gone just as quick if I have a bad day,” he said ...
Stefanski did not deny the Browns intend to groom rookie Jerome Ford as a third-down back, which is the primary role Hunt has filled when healthy. “I think all of our guys have to earn a role and have to carve it out,” Stefanski said. “I would tell you with young players, when it comes to third down, you have to be ready to protect and not just the physical aspect of protecting but knowing what to do, who to block and all of those type of things. I have been around some young running backs who have been able to do that, and we will see if Jerome has that capability and if he earns that role, but it is difficult for young players to do that.” ...
Players from John Hay and Glenville high schools formed the gauntlet lines as the Browns entered the field for practice. Afterwards, they were surprised by the Browns with new NIKE uniforms for the 2022 season, fulfilling a commitment made by the Browns in December.
