A number of years in the past, then-Cleveland Browns working again Nick Chubb delivered a sobering actuality of how enjoying working again within the NFL works.
Groups will journey a high-producing working like a thoroughbred within the Kentucky Derby. However in some unspecified time in the future, a heavy value will probably be paid when accidents make it the place it’s not good enterprise to supply the workhorse again a contract extension. Little did Chubb know that will be his actuality. As a wise man, nonetheless, he needed to perceive the possibilities.
A bit of over per week in the past, Chubb landed in Houston and inked a kick-the-tires $2.5 million deal to affix the Texans in time for obligatory minicamp. The lifeline Chubb’s profession obtained was due to the tough actuality of being a working again within the NFL.
There is no such thing as a loyalty on this sport.
To say Chubb starred within the Browns’ backfield is a big understatement. For seven seasons, he was the heartbeat of the Cleveland Browns. As a local of Cleveland and a lifelong Browns member of the family, I knew what he meant to the Browns. I knew what he meant to Cleveland.
Nevertheless, a horrific knee harm early within the 2023 season modified how the Browns checked out Chubb. The kind of knee harm and surgical process made it virtually sure that the four-time Professional Bowler wouldn’t return to the elite standing he had loved. Making issues worse was that his high-end working again contract was expiring the next season, when he would nonetheless be feeling the results of his knee harm. Chubb’s trigger was additional broken when he suffered one other season-ending harm – this time a damaged foot – in Week 15 of final season.
There have been every kind of questions in Cleveland about whether or not the Browns would hold him round at the same time as they added two working backs through the 2025 NFL Draft.
There was hope, and there was additionally actuality. Lastly, the Band-Support was pulled final week when Chubb and the Texans reached an settlement.
Clearly, the choice was powerful for Chubb after spending seven superb seasons in Cleveland.
“Cleveland, you didn’t simply embrace me; you grew to become household,” Chubb wrote in a letter to Cleveland. “I got here right here to play soccer, however I’m leaving with a lot more- recollections that’ll final a lifetime, friendships that modified me, and delight in calling this place dwelling.”
Now, Chubb is happy to name Houston dwelling.
He maybe nonetheless faces an uphill battle as a result of it’s uncommon {that a} participant is ever the identical after struggling the kind of knee harm he suffered. A group just like the Texans, nonetheless, provides him an opportunity with out all the strain. He will probably be enjoying with among the finest younger quarterbacks within the league in C.J. Stroud, an enhancing offensive line and his position will probably be extra of taking a number of the burden off beginning working again Joe Mixon.
Chubb can also be now enjoying for a head coach in DeMeco Ryans, who understands easy methods to use veteran gamers whereas prolonging their careers.
“I’ve at all times been a fan of Coach DeMeco, and I do know some guys on the group,” stated Chubb, who confronted off towards Mixon aplenty when the 2 have been AFC North rivals with the Browns and Bengals. “I do know Joe Mixon. I do know what he’s about. And I watched him from afar on the sideline for a few years. I understand how he runs the ball. And I do know the chance I had right here with this group, being an up-and-coming group.”
It was fascinating final week listening to the Texans’ gamers describe Chubb’s character. He’s undoubtedly constructed a status as extra of a quiet sort.
“I truly didn’t acknowledge him after I walked in,” Stroud stated of the primary time he encountered Chubb on the Texans’ facility. “He’s very quiet, so I used to be like, ‘Dang, what’s up, Nick?’ I form of received nervous as a result of he’s been a baller since I’ve been a child. So, I’m very excited to have him.”
Ryans actually appears excited to have Chubb on the group, though he made positive to credit score common supervisor Nick Caserio, who can also be a Cleveland native, with working the deal that introduced Chubb to Houston.
“Everyone knows the caliber of participant that Nick will be when he’s wholesome and when he’s on the prime of his sport. He’s a dynamic participant. He’s a sport changer,” Ryans stated. “So, we’re simply easing him in. We’ll see how far he will get. We’ll come again for coaching camp able to go.”
Within the meantime, even along with his first minicamp with the Texans within the books, Chubb remains to be making an attempt to soak up all of it and get enthusiastic about enjoying for an additional group that isn’t the Cleveland Browns.
“It occurred actually quick. You recognize, I used to be at dwelling. I received the decision, and I used to be on a flight the subsequent day,” Chubb stated. “So, I haven’t been in a position to course of every part. I’ve talked to some guys, former teammates, however I haven’t actually had time to essentially sit down and digest every part. However, , I’m completely satisfied to be right here.”
