NFL Rumors: Browns Playing Hard Ball With Kareem Hunt, No Trade Happening

Kareem Hunt is looking for a new contract but it appears he will have to wait until the next offseason to get his wish. Worse, he could be losing some of the money he is set to earn this season if he continues to hold out from the team drills of the Cleveland Browns.

The Pro Bowl running back is seeking a contract extension and is now reportedly limiting himself to individual training. He has not participated in team drills, a move that could lead to the Browns handing off fines.

Cleveland is aware of the wish of Hunt to be traded. But in direct conversations with the 27-year-old player, the Browns have made it clear that they have no immediate plans of trading him according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Hence, Hunt will have to settle for what is coming for the 2022-23 NFL season. He will earn a base salary of $1.35 million in 2022 with a $1.5 million roster bonus.

Aside from that, he is also eligible to get a per-game roster bonus of $200,000 each, which could bring him up to $3.4 million, Pro Football Talk reported.

With Hunt hardly having any leverage against the Browns, there is a chance that Cleveland could fine him if he continues to hold out in team drills.

He has already missed team drills in the past two practices and returned only on Sunday, Aug. 7.

When asked about the case of Hunt, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski opted not to comment on the matter, ESPN reported.

"I'm not going to get into really anything that has to do with our players and conversations," Stefanski said.

Hence, Hunt may be in a fix for now as he is forced to ride out the coming NFL season with the Browns. Hunt is set to become a free agent next NFL offseason.

Last season, the 27-year-old player recorded 560 yards from scrimmage—386 rushing, 174 receiving—and five total touchdowns in eight games.