Nick Chubb probably felt like slamming another guitar after hearing it.
Chubb became viral on social media this week while he continued his incredible recovery from a terrible knee injury that required two surgeries. At least three national sources, The Athletic, ESPN, and NFL.com, mentioned the running back as a possible Browns salary cap casualty.
This comes after General Manager Andrew Berry stated the Browns will find a way to retain their superhero on the team at his postseason press conference last month.
He’s currently only $4 million in dead cap and the Browns would save $11.825 million by cutting him, which is why he’s being considered a potential casualty.
But since Berry praised Chubb on January 22 and said that, on a scale of 1 to 10, his regard for him increased dramatically the previous season due to the manner he approached his rehabilitation and helped his team, nothing has changed.
In order to set the tone for the Browns’ playoff-clinching 37-20 victory over the Jets on Thursday Night Football, he mentioned Chubb volunteering to smash the Dawg Pound guitar while wearing his Batman mask. He also mentioned how, less than three weeks after his second knee surgery, Chubb gave up crutches to repair a torn ACL, proving once again how superhuman he is.
During the initial operation in September, Chubb had the torn medial capsule, meniscus, and MCL reconstructed.
Berry made it apparent that Chubb is unique in this position and should be given particular consideration—he had his left knee totally rebuilt twice after blowing it out at Georgia. Against all odds, he rebounded to become a star at Georgia and went on to become a four-time Pro Bowl player for the Browns.
Most believed that Chubb was done for good after his knee buckled so violently the wrong way on the legal but low hit by Minkah Fitzpatrick in Week 2 in Pittsburgh. However, after some time, common sense took over and everyone realised that Batman always wins.
Berry expressed his wish for the carry in Pittsburgh to be the final time he carries the ball for the Cleveland Browns. Of course, there are issues that we’ll need to resolve, but that is not our goal. Of course, we’ll try to keep him on the squad.
Here are some things to think about when the procedure is carried out
1. The contract
The Browns will meet with Chubb’s agents, possibly as soon as the NFL combine in Indianapolis next week, and discuss parameters for a restructuring — and possible extension — that will enable Chubb to make most or all of the money he’s due this season via incentives and bonuses.
If Chubb were fully healthy, the Browns — currently almost $20 million over the cap with the league year beginning March 13 — would’ve likely extended his contract and lowered his base salary for 2024 ($11.775 million).
But Chubb, still months away from being able to practice full-go, is in a position to negotiate with the Browns and probably accept an incentive-laden deal that both protects the club and rewards him for performance.
A principled man, Chubb stood up for his fellow running backs last offseason and called on the NFL to pay them. He won’t take a deal that’s less than what he’s worth, but he also knows he’s not bargaining from a position of strength. The Browns will come up with a creative offer that Chubb can feel good about, and they’ll go from there.
The good thing for Chubb and for the Browns is that time is on their side. They don’t have to re-do the deal by March 13, with plenty of other sources for cap space. The Browns can and likely will restructure the contracts of high-salaried players such as Deshaun Watson ($63.977 million cap charge), Amari Cooper ($23.776 million) and Denzel Ward ($23.462 million). The re-dos are win-wins, because the player gets an upfront bonus, and the Browns get relief.
Slow-playing the negotiations a bit will give Chubb a chance to get closer to the field and show the Browns he’ll contribute in a meaningful way this season. While the two sides will engage in preliminary discussions, there’s no sense of urgency to get it done.
2. The rehab
Chubb, who’s displayed superhuman strength by squatting 675 pounds in offseason workouts, attacked this rehab like he did the one at Georgia, astonishing medical personnel with his remarkable progress.
“You would’ve never guessed that Nick was out for the season with how he operated within the building,” Berry said last month. “It was like he was doing two-a-day practices for rehab … the tenacity at which he has attacked his rehab and he did everything in his power this year to heal himself but also make a positive impact with the team (was amazing).”
But the severity of the injury and the fact that this reconstruction was a revision of a previous one means that Chubb will likely have a longer recovery this time. Technology has advanced considerably since Chubb’s first go ‘round in 2015, but it’s still one of the most extensive knee injuries a player can suffer. The knee was so gruesomely bent at the wrong angle that ESPN graciously refused to show the replay.
While doctors project a return to the field for Chubb in 2024, he won’t be practicing in a meaningful way during the offseason program, which begins April 15. He’ll likely try ease his way back onto the field on a limited basis in training camp, and ramp up from there. It will be a process of trial and error, and seeing how he progresses.
In a perfect world, Chubb will start the Browns’ opener — possibly in Brazil against the Eagles — but he’ll have all the time he needs to recover.
3. The Browns running back room
Despite Chubb’s status, the Browns have no plans to rush out in free agency and sign a top-market running back such as Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs or Derrick Henry.
Things could always change depending on how the market falls — running backs can usually be found for a bargain — but the Browns are counting on Chubb being back and taking over again in 2024. Again, that could change depending on how he progresses in camp, but running back is one of the easiest positions to fill, especially behind a line like the Browns’.
The Browns were happy with Jerome Ford’s development last season (204 carries, 813 yards, 4.0 average, 4 TDs) and believe he’ll be even better next season with Duce Staley coaching him, and with the return of offensive tackles Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills Jr. and Dawand Jones from their knee injuries.
The Browns also have Pierre Strong Jr. (63, 291, 4.6 average, 1 TD) under contract for two more seasons, and also believe he’ll progress under Staley.
They have no plans to re-sign Kareem Hunt (135, 411 yards, 3.0 average, 9 TDs), who will become a free agent in March, but they said the same thing last year before Chubb went down. If they need another workhorse-type back during the season, they’ll find one. In the meantime, they’re not hard-pressed to add one.
4. The humanity side
The Browns treat their players with respect and dignity, and they’ll do the same with Chubb. Immediately after he went down, the Browns dedicated their season to him, and never forgot it.
He accompanied them on their road trip to Denver and Los Angeles, and served as an inspiration in the locker room and in meetings. Players such as Jones said Chubb’s injury helped inspire him to attack his own recovery from knee surgery with a vengeance.
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