Sources: Hunt, woman not interviewed by NFL

5:02 am | December 2, 2018 | Go to Source | Author:

9:55 AM ET

In its investigation into the February incident that cost Kareem Hunt his job, the NFL did not interview the running back or the woman he shoved and kicked, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen.

The NFL never requested an interview with Hunt after the incident that occurred outside his Cleveland residence, sources said. The NFL did reach out to the woman and her friend on multiple occasions, but they did not respond, officials said.

The league said it spoke to as many witnesses who were there as possible and that they said Hunt was not involved in the incident, which the video that TMZ released Friday clearly contradicts.

The NFL believes it did everything possible from a legal standpoint. The league could not subpoena the hotel or police for the video of the incident.

The league, however, did have the police report. And Hunt spoke to the Chiefs about the incident. Yet after reviewing the police report and speaking to the Chiefs following their discussions with Hunt, no action was taken, leading up to the video that was released Friday.

And so the NFL’s investigation of Hunt did not include any interviews with the perpetrator himself or the woman who was pushed, shoved and kicked.

The Chiefs announced they were cutting ties with Hunt on Friday, after the video published by TMZ showed the February incident. In the video, Hunt and the woman trade words in a hallway and are separated by several people on multiple occasions, the video shows. Hunt pushes the woman, who responds by hitting him in the face. Two men escort Hunt down a hallway before he charges out, colliding with a man who then knocks the woman over. Hunt also kicks the woman in the leg.

The Chiefs said Hunt was not truthful in his discussions with the team about what happened, leading to the decision to cut him.

The NFL’s inability to acquire the video brings back memories of former FBI director Robert Mueller’s independent report about the league’s investigation of Ray Rice punching of his then-fiancée after TMZ released video of that assault.

While Mueller exonerated the NFL at some levels, he wrote in his report that the league should have done more.

“We concluded there was substantial information about the incident — even without the in-elevator video — indicating the need for a more thorough investigation,” Mueller wrote. “The NFL should have done more with the information it had, and should have taken additional steps to obtain all available information about the February 15 incident.”

Four years later, other than add additional personnel to oversee such assaults, it does not appear the NFL has made many changes to address Mueller’s findings.