Kareem Hunt cut by Chiefs after video of him hitting woman is released

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The Kansas City Chiefs are set to play the Raiders on Sunday without star running back Kareem Hunt. In fact, he won't represent them again.

The Chiefs released Hunt on Friday night after a video posted by TMZ went viral earlier that day. It shows the star running back shoving and then kicking a woman during a Feb. 10 incident at a Cleveland apartment hotel.

The Chiefs were aware of the altercation, which was reported by several media outlets, and team CEO Clark Hunt said this summer that he did not expect NFL discipline for Hunt.

That was before the video surfaced. The Chiefs reviewed it, and then took swift action.

“Earlier this year, we were made aware of an incident involving running back Kareem Hunt," the team said in a statement. "At that time, the National Football League and law enforcement initiated investigations into the issue. As part of our internal discussions with Kareem, several members of our management team spoke directly to him. Kareem was not truthful in those discussions. The video released today confirms that fact. We are releasing Kareem immediately.”

[RATTO: Kareem Hunt story is just the latest in continuing series]

Hunt later released a statement, after the Chiefs cut him.

The NFL placed Hunt on the Commissioner's Exempt list just before he was cut, meaning he can't practice or play until an investigation into the matter is concluded. His placement on the Commissioner's Exempt list will remain if he is picked up on waivers or ever signed by another NFL team, but a suspension seems imminent. The league standard for domestic violence incidents, even without charges or convictions, is six games without pay.

"The NFL's investigation, which began immediately following the incident in February, will include a review of the new information that was made public today," the league said in a statement.

Multiple reports state that, despite attempts to do so, neither the Chiefs nor the NFL, prior to Friday, had seen a video that shows Hunt, a female victim and several others in an argument that spilled into a hallway. Things got physical at that point, after which Hunt shoved the woman, pushed another man into her and eventually kicked her while she was on the ground.

No charges were filed, and Hunt was not arrested after the incident, but two police reports were filed. TMZ also posted bodycam videos of the woman and Hunt offering different versions of what happened that night.

Hunt initially was at practice Friday, but ESPN reported the Chiefs sent the star running back home from the team facility shortly after the video appeared online.

The Raiders were on the practice field when the video spread, but they became aware of it once they reached the locker room.

Coach Jon Gruden didn’t want to speak about Hunt during his Friday media session.

“I don’t really have a comment. I haven’t seen anything,” Gruden said Friday around noon. “This is the first time I’ve really thought about it. I don’t want to say anything other than that.”

Spencer Ware will serve as Kansas City’s primary rusher in Hunt's absence.

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