Cleveland Browns Should re-sign Kareem Hunt, and KEEP Freddie Kitchens (who knows how to USE Kareem Hunt)

It's not too soon for John Dorsey to consider which current Browns short-timers he needs to prioritize, and Justice Sunderland (who might well read this Blog) wonders, as I have been wondering in this space, what about Kareem (Hunt)?

It looks like Justice is one of many who read this blog and regurgitate it sans attribution, but I can't assume that yet.  He might actually be a genius in his own right.

Anyway, everything he says is smart and insightful:

Justice thinks that the bidding war for Kareem Hunt might make him just too expensive to keep, but his off the field issues, his injury, and the position he plays (running back, ok?) will mitigate against this.

Hunt also grew up here, has bonded with Nick Chubb and accepted his diminished role, and might accept less money to stay in Cleveland:

1: As a "bellcow" guy, Hunt knows his carreer will be shorter (and more painful).

2: He's Chubb's default backup, and is likely to get more chances, because (see "1").

3: Freddie Kitchens (not Todd Monken) has a unique (starting) role for him in a unique NFL offense which isn't far behind the Ravens conceptually.

4: The Browns are young, and one of the most talented teams in the NFL.  Kareem Hunt seems to want to win slightly more than he wants to squeeze crap out of the last Buffalo nickel.

5: (see posts from shortly after Hunt's signing): Nick Chubb has 2 years remaining on his rookie contract.  Overpaying Kareem Hunt in 2020 makes him instantly extremely tradeable.

Keeping up with me here?   

For at least 2020, paying Kareem Hunt would preserve a souped-up Mack/Byner offense, retain one of the best running/receiving (not to mention blocking) big-play weapons in the NFL.

Ah yeah it gets deep here (sorry).  OBJ might turn into GMF in 2020.  That trade would free up significant cap space, and re-signing Hunt (as a running back) would be comparatively cheap in the real world.

Obviously, 2019 probably isn't a Superbowl year for the Browns, but 2020 could be.

Retaining Kitchens, Hunt, Schobert, (maybe) Robinson etc could make that difference.

Yeah Kitchens!  Freddie knows how to exploit a Chubb/Hunt 2-back offense.  I haven't seen that anywhere else in the modern NFL.

John Dorsey needs to pay Kareem Hunt and keep Freddie Kitchens.  If he fires Freddie, odds are he has to let Hunt go, because in 2020, Freddie Kitchens might just be THE ONLY NFL Coach who is "dumb" enough to run a 2-back offense...

It amazes me that using 2 running backs (not a scatback and converted linebacker blocking fullback ie a REAL 2-back) is so "unthinkable" in 2019, but do you get this?

If Dorsey fires Freddie, Kareem Hunt is almost certainly a GMF too...unless the new genius converts him to a wide receiver or something (gimme a break).

Freddie Kitchens might not be an offensive genius, but he has common sense, and makes the most of what he has.

That's what Bill Belichick did and does...

IS ANY OF THIS SINKING IN YET?

WTF why do I bother?

This just in:  I respect Geoff Schwartze as a tier 2 X's and O's guy and a borderline tier 1 locker room guy, but his blabberage about Freddie's "Pittsburgh Started It" T-shirt (T-Shirtgate) is just plain stupid.

Freddie needs to "grow up", per Schwartze.

No, Mitchell Geoff---it was pretty cool since it was the truth, and the NFL can't fine Freddie for it.

And all the players on the team LOVE Kitchens for it.  Schwartze is below average on any subject other than offensive lines and applicable schemes.

Freddie Kitchens needs to get better in some ways, but his choice of T-shirts isn't one of them.

Geoff?  This is why you're not a Coach.