Kareem Hunt needs a job. The running back lost his last one Friday evening, cut by the Kansas City Chiefs following a video of his shoving and kicking a woman spread online.
It's unknown when that next job will come. It's extremely unlikely the Raiders will sign his paychecks, no matter when that day comes.
Owner Mark Davis has taken a hardline stance against signing players with domestic violence in their background.
"It's just something we can't tolerate," Davis told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2015. "I don't know how to fix it in society but I know we can't have it on our team."
Hunt will hit waivers after getting cut, and we'll know if a team claimed him by Monday afternoon. This immensely talent runner led the NFL in rushing last year as a rookie and was putting together another great season until a Feb. 10 incident in a Cleveland hotel caught up with him.
Hunt was contrite and apologetic in a live Sunday morning interview with ESPN, clearly set on trying to repair a sullied image.
It's possible, though seemingly unlikely, that a team claims Hunt on waivers despite him being ineligible to practice or play while still getting paid on the commissioner's exempt list. He'll stay there until the NFL completes an investigation into the incident that now includes a video the NFL was unable to attain in their original inquiry, despite TMZ succeeding in doing so.
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A six-game ban without pay is expected. That's the NFL standard punishment for perpetrators of domestic violence or assaults on women while playing in the league.
The Athletic reported Saturday night that the Chiefs would vouch for Hunt in his search for another job, hoping to help him avoid the exile Ray Rice received after he was caught on video punching his significant other.
The Raiders haven't signed a player with issue like that in his background.
The Silver and Black did meet with Bay Area native Joe Mixon before the 2017 NFL draft and came away impressed. The Oklahoma running back was caught on video hitting a woman in Norman, Okla. as a freshman. General manager Reggie McKenzie Raiders came away impressed and were interested in him, but didn't select him in 2017.
The Raiders have a long-term need at running back, with Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin headed for unrestricted free agency. Head coach Jon Gruden has intimated that he'd like Martin to return, and it's uncertain if Lynch wants to continue his career in Oakland or anywhere else. He is currently on injured reserve.
The Raiders have myriad options in the draft – young running backs have paid great dividends in recent seasons – and they could be cheaper especially if Hunt is able to repair his image and build a competitive market for his services.
There are plenty of running backs in the draft or free agency who don't have incidents involving violence against women in their past. There doesn't seem to be a strong to specifically add Hunt to the Raiders roster, though anything remains possible.
