Early Thursday morning, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that the Cleveland Browns “reworked” Nick Chubb’s contract. Rapoport and the NFL Network provided some interesting commentary on why the Browns decided to reach a “fair” deal with Chubb.
The star running back is continuing his path back to the field after suffering a horrendous injury last season.
If he can reach incentives, Chubb will have the opportunity to earn back the $11.7 million in base pay he was scheduled to gain this season. It’s a crude and cruel contract for the best player on the Browns’ offense in the previous six seasons.
Chubb came into the 2023 campaign off a career-high 1,525 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns for the 2022 season. He had more than 6,000 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns in his first five seasons with Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns worried about a ‘bad investment’?
But Chubb suffered a gruesome injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2 last season. Not everyone is convinced Chubb will be the same player he was after last season’s injury. Per Nick Shook with the NFL‘s website, there were rumors the Browns were considering cutting Chubb after the injury to keep the team from keeping a “bad investment” on the books:
The Browns have offered limited, vague updates on Chubb’s progress as he attempts to return from the injury, which required two separate procedures to properly repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament. Some have wondered whether the injury and Chubb’s high cap number — $15.825 million in 2024 — might prompt Cleveland to release the local hero in order to save money on what could end up being a bad investment. Instead, the Browns are protecting themselves financially by offering Chubb the chance to earn some of his salary back with his performance.
The Browns have made a few bad investments on offense recently. They have to regret the trade deal with the Houston Texans and the money they’re paying to Deshaun Watson. While Watson was an overpay, at least the money is going to the league’s golden position, quarterback.
Not many in the NFL world are going to question the Browns for screwing over a player at a position the league doesn’t value.
NFL Network: The Browns gave Nick Chubb a “fair” deal
Rapoport called the new agreement between Chubb and the Browns a “fair” deal. He argues that Chubb gets the opportunity to stay “secure” with a playoff-caliber team while the Browns get to keep one of the team’s “most respected and best players” at a bargain cost.
The deal doesn’t seem fair to the injured running back
It doesn’t feel that way to me. It feels like the Browns are taking advantage of an injured athlete (who was injured while trying to score a touchdown against a divisional rival) to save a few bucks. With the way the league is structured currently when running backs do things the right way, they are punished. Will running backs fight back by creating their own bargaining agreement?
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