In the SBNation article about the Kareem Hunt signing, there is a section within the article called “Why did the Browns sign Hunt?” The focus was one how Cleveland Browns General Manager John Dorsey knew Kareem Hunt before these incidents occurred and how – when John Dorsey was the General Manager of the Chiefs – he was the person who drafted Kareem Hunt initially. Charles McDonald, the author of the SBNation article, also talked about how John Dorsey as helped players like Tyreek Hill and Antonio Callaway with their character issues and how this could potentially help Kareem Hunt. After signing Kareem Hunt, John Dorsey made a statement about the signing:
“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.”
The opening paragraph stood out the most to me; the opening paragraph shows exactly why a lot of football fans know John Dorsey as the guy who can help troubled players. One specific moment is when he talks about the Browns due diligence. By having clinical professionals check on Kareem Hunt, it shows that John Dorsey understands that there could be something mentally or emotionally affecting Kareem Hunt’s off the field decisions. It also shows how much the player’s health matters to John Dorsey. The last part of the opening paragraph also shows that John Dorsey and the Browns are prepared to help Kareem Hunt deal with his emotional struggles and also that Kareem Hunt himself is ready to begin turning over a new leaf.
The second paragraph shows, in my opinion, how 2nd chances should be handled in the world of sports. The beginning part of the second paragraph acknowledges the controversy that comes from signing a player like Kareem Hunt. The last sentence, though, is the most powerful statement in the second paragraph. In this sentence John Dorsey shows that the Browns are full committed to helping Kareem Hunt as long as Kareem Hunt continues to show that he deserves the 2nd chance he is getting. In the end of the day, we never know what a person could be struggling through, but we cannot just hand over 2nd chance opportunities on a silver platter. What John Dorsey is showing us is that we can provide opportunities to people like Kareem Hunt that allow them to take control of their life again.
The Academic Journey 