Wile E Was Right Again (Don't Hate Him for it): Browns Extend Kareem Hunt.

To my own amazement, the Browns did what I said they should do, and extended Kareem Hunt.  (Don't hate me because I'm right blush-blush).

It was only for 2 years (not ideal), but WAYEE cheaper than I was projecting!

...anyway Redundancy Alert (starting with my last post): Kareem Hunt can (and will) line up at every WR position, and run most WR routes, so top 5 RB money is cheap for him.

This deal was a Cleveland home-boy accepting a massive home-town discount.

Believe it or not, you people, you have just met a professional athlete who cares about things other than money (no I'm serious)!  I LOVE this guy!

I guarantee you that Kareem Hunt "overrode" his agent here.  

Somehow, Kareem Hunt figures he can manage to subsist on a paltry 6.75 mil/year if it means he gets to play in Cleveland and for the team he grew up rooting for.

The reason why everybody except me colored Hunt a GMF after 2020 was because everybody expected him to let his agent extort his Team out of as much money as possible...

I remember Jim Thome tearfully saying "It's not about the money", Albert Bell leaving over 0.5%, and Tom Brady taking less money so that the Pats could afford better players (oops!  Why did I just blurt that out?)

Well, homie Hunt just did the Browns a massive favor.  I believe he took a lot less money than he could have gouged for to help his team win.

And this really was an extention! He's here through 2022; his extant contract remains in force.  (I don't know how he does it.  Clipping coupons?  Dumpster-diving?)

I believe that Kareem Hunt wants to win a Superbowl first, play for his Cleveland Browns second, and make rediculous money third.

Hunt is definitely taking a lot of flak over this contract from his "union brothers", who think it was his duty to gouge for every last penny to keep the "market" up...

Kareem I LOVE you man! (but I regress):

In my wildest dreams, other NFL stud players will start thinking about their teams, and championships, more than their personal fortunes: Following Kareem Hunt's example (as unthinkable as that seems).

What this means: Comrade Stefanski has a Franchise "Running Back" locked up for 3 years.  (I bet there's a "no trade" clause here, since Hunt is a huge bargain, even right now).

What will Nick Chubb, (after he presumably kicks ass), do in 2021, as the Browns try to extend his contract?

My hypercynical bro would say that the Browns will let Chubb walk, since Hunt is so cheap, and then Hunt will hold out for astronomical money the instant he has the leverage.

I know the difference between cynicism and pragamatism, and objectivity vs negativity.

I think that (ok well we're assuming a Wild Card berth and playoff win here), Nick Chubb (and Mayfield, Ward, et al) might concievably accept slightly less money to stick around than they could have extorted from somebody else (stay with me here):

...So the Browns (at least) get to the AFC Championship in 2021 and the Superbowl in 2022.

...even as the Browns' "regime" is bashed as "stingy",  and pundits whine about how "underpaid" their players are.

A Lombardi Trophy or 2 (and a slew of promotional deals and golden parachutes later) it begins to start to dawn on the superstars that accepting less money lets your T E A M accrue and retain more veteran talent and W I N more games.

I know I'm "spinning off" this Hunt extention too much, but all my theories are valid:

If the top dogs settle for less, the players surrounding them get better.  They win more, and the top dogs get to do commercials and stuff...

Long story short: God bless Kareem Hunt okbye