Most of our starters will lead us off Friday in Jacksonville
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 10, 2022
When I think about the back-and-forth between Kareem Hunt and the Browns, I can’t help but think back to another similar situation 34 years ago that turned into a disaster for the team.
It was 1988 and there was a lot of frustration at running back between the Browns and Earnest Byner. A year removed from his costly fumble at the end of the 1987 AFC Championship Game that sealed the Browns’ fate in a second straight excruciating loss to the Denver Broncos on the doorstep of a trip the Super Bowl, this one by 38-33 score, Byner lost his cool in the final moments of a 24-23 loss to the Houston Oilers in the wild-card playoff round. It symbolized the frustration the Browns were feeling overall in an injury-filled season that fell well short of expectations.
Instead of waiting until cooler heads prevailed, Browns General Manager Ernie Accorsi, in one of his few bad moves during his time in Cleveland, traded Byner to the Washington Football Team for Mike Oliphant. Oliphant was nowhere near the runner and pass receiver that Byner was and played poorly in 1989 when the Browns were counting on him after the loss of Kevin Mack due to drug issues. Meanwhile, Byner flourished even more in Washington
Byner and Mack were a great combination. They were a big part of the offense as the Browns enjoyed the luxury of having two great backs who could play together on the field at the same time. The Browns have that now with Nick Chubb and Hunt, but it appears the team and Hunt are at odds over his contract situation, and it could result in him eventually getting traded.
Just as it was with the Byner deal, that would be a huge mistake. The Browns have other runners, but none are anywhere close to Hunt in ability. I hope history doesn’t repeat itself.
Steve King
READ NEXT: Keep Kareem Hunt
August 10, 2022
Browns place WR Jakeem Grant on injured reserve
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have placed WR Jakeem Grant Sr. (Achilles) on injured reserve.
Grant, who earned All-Pro honors in 2020 and 2021 and was selected to the Pro Bowl last season as a returner, was signed by the Browns this offseason as an unrestricted free agent. He suffered an Achilles injury at practice yesterday.
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