CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: Running back Kareem Hunt #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in the fourth quarter at StubHub Center on September 24, 2017 in Carson, California. The Chiefs defeated the Chargers 24-10. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

It’s been a banner week for the NFL remaining everyone that when it comes to their players and personnel putting their hands on women, the league really doesn’t care. At least not until it becomes a PR concern.

Update: The Chiefs have now released the player in question, RB Kareem Hunt. Here’s their statement:

Our original post follows:

This is not a hot take. This is not a new or unique thing to say. But it should be said, again and again until something actually changes.

Tuesday, the Washington Redskins claimed Reuben Foster off waivers after the 49ers had released him on the heels of a domestic violence arrest (his second in a year). Redskins executive Doug Williams told reporters afterward that the team’s decision-makers were “unified” in their choice to claim Foster and he also went on to say that what Foster is accused of is “small potatoes” when compared to what other people have done. He has since apologized, but it’s fair to say that the way Williams couched Foster’s domestic violence charge is the way a lot of “football people” see assault against women.

Then on Friday, TMZ released a video from February that showed Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt brutally attacking a woman in a hotel. The incident was known and had been reported on, but seeing the video it’s hard to understand exactly how Hunt escaped any kind of charges as well as any kind of punishment from the team or the league. At the time, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt addressed the incident as a learning experience for a young player, saying “I’m sure he learned some lessons this offseason and hopefully won’t be in those kind of situations in the future.”

Per ESPN, Hunt was at practice on Friday but was then sent home and excused from team activities after the release of the video. It’s unclear whether or not he’ll play this weekend, though it now seems unlikely. It’s also unclear what Roger Goodell and the NFL will do now. They are expected to place him on the exempt list until they’re able to decide his fate (UPDATE: They did). But given how wishy-washy Goodell and the NFL have been on assaults and violence against women by NFL players, it’s hard to know what will come of this. Presumably, he’ll lay down a two-to-three game suspension and hope that appeases enough people.

On the NFL will move, happy to discuss ratings and brand awareness and corporate sponsorships. Until the next time that an NFL player lays their hands on a woman half their size.

The latest incident is a stark reminder of the Ray Rice incident, which both the Ravens and the NFL were happy to sweep under the rug until video evidence showed the RB assaulting his wife in an elevator. While a lot of people have noted that it often takes video for people to take domestic violence seriously, it’s also worth noting that, in both instances, the team and league were almost certainly aware of the video footage long before it ever became public.

They weren’t waiting for more proof, they were just hoping the proof never came to light.

Especially given the climate we live in right now, it’s inconceivable for any business or entity to continue treating violence against women as “small potatoes” and something that can be glossed over. That the NFL continues to make the same mistakes (or doesn’t care in the first place) drives home just how behind the curve they are.

Again, it’s not like we didn’t know that before this week. But weeks like this remind us that, when push comes to shove, literally, the NFL does not care.

[TMZ]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.

4 thoughts on “Brutal Kareem Hunt video reminds you NFL simply doesn’t care about assaults against women (updated)

    1. You dense idiot that’s not the point. Any league and team with actual principles would have released him immediately after seeing the video – which we all knew they saw last winter.

    2. “you sjw?”

      Sad when Americans start thinking that seeking *justice* is something to attack people over. I seem to remember the Pledge of Allegiance says something about justice being an American ideal.

      Stay classy.

  1. It wasnt even that bad some drunk chick was going after him and his chick cause he kick her out of the room cause she was underage he didnt punch her he push a guy that ran into her and barely kicked her on the leg she wants to go after a guy like shes a guy than that’s her problem never lay your hands on another person unless your ready to get hit back

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