The Kansas City Chiefs have released running back Kareem Hunt after a video emerged showing Hunt shoving and kicking a woman during an off-season hotel disturbance in Cleveland.
Police and prosecutors reviewed footage from the incident in February and decided not to file charges but the team have cut last year's leading rusher after it emerged he lied to them about the incident.
"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."
VIDEO: Kansas City Chiefs star running back Kareem Hunt shoving, bull-rushing and kicking a woman in a hotel https://t.co/lWwbWUkh7v pic.twitter.com/TssRcZpzMO
— TMZ (@TMZ) November 30, 2018
The team's statement came less than an hour after the NFL announced in a statement that the league had placed Hunt (23) on the commissioner's exempt list, which is essentially an indefinite suspension, as he is not allowed to practice or play for any team until further notice.
If he is claimed on waivers, he would be allowed to attend meetings at his new team's facility.
Hunt released his own statement shortly after the team announced his release, reading in full: "I want to apologize for my actions. I deeply regret what I did. I hope to move on from this."
The NFL policy on domestic violence requires a minimum six-game suspension as the baseline in cases of obvious misconduct.
The rule was changed in 2014 after three high-profile players were placed on the exempt list that season: Ray Rice and Greg Hardy amid accusations of domestic violence, and running back Adrian Peterson amid accusations of child abuse. Rice was released by his team, the Baltimore Ravens, while Hardy and Peterson sat out the remainder of the season.
