“I’ve got to do better,” he said.

Scared he jeopardized his NFL career when police found a small amount of marijuana in the Browns running back’s car during a traffic stop, Hunt, who served an eight-game league suspension last season for two physical altercations while with Kansas City, said Monday that he’s grateful the Browns have stood by him.

“I’m blessed that the Browns gave me another opportunity,” Hunt said on a Zoom conference call. “So, yes, I’m lucky to have another opportunity to play football. You never know. Honestly, I’m just blessed to play the game, so I’ll always feel lucky to play football.

“I know any second it can be gone.”

When he was pulled over in January, Hunt told a Rocky River Police officer that the incident could ruin him if it became public. During a search, police also found an open container of vodka in a backpack on the back seat.

Hunt was only cited for speeding, but he admitted to the officer he would have failed a league drug test at the time.

Days later, Hunt received a strong reprimand from Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who said the actions “were not acceptable.” The team also pledged to keep working with the 24-year-old, who had been disciplined by Commissioner Roger Goodell for shoving and kicking a woman during an argument in a hotel hallway while he played for the Chiefs.

The Browns signed the Cleveland-area native before last season and Hunt stayed clear of trouble while also undergoing counseling.

He said the misstep this off-season was inexcusable.

“I would say that was out of character,” he said. “I learned from it, I’ve been working to become a better person each and every day. Definitely not looking for anything like that to happen again. I’ve been working. Now I’m just focused on football, working out and getting ready for this season.

“I’ve got to do better. Shouldn’t have done it. Ready to move on from that and focus on football.”

The Browns are counting on it.

They see Hunt as a valuable and versatile piece to their offense. Hunt has been “cross-training” during the club’s virtual off-season program, attending meetings with both the running backs and wide receivers as he learns new coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense.

But his top priority is acting more professionally off the field, and Hunt said Stefanski and Andrew Berry, the club’s executive vice president of football operations, have made it clear to him that they won’t tolerate bad behavior.

“I’ve got to be smarter and cannot be doing stuff like that,” Hunt said. “We had a good talk. They see me on the field as a guy who is going to make some plays this year and help the team win. That is what I have been looking forward to. We have been talking. I keep in touch with coach all the time about what he wants to see.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hunt said he’s been working out and “staying low key.”

“I have been pretty much hanging with the family,” he said. “Talking to my close people, going out there working, doing stuff in the community, helping people out. It has been a crazy time in the world. Everybody has to try to be the best person they can be right now.”

The Browns, who are looking to bounce back after falling far short of expectations in 2019, signed Hunt to a one-year tender in March. They see him as a perfect complement to star running back Nick Chubb, and Hunt would like nothing more than to earn a long-term contract with Cleveland.

“I think we can do something special here,” he said. “I want to get that Super Bowl feeling and I believe we can do it here in my hometown. That would be bigger than anything, for me. I would definitely like to be a part of something like this. Everybody is here I care about. I know everybody in the whole town. I would not mind playing for the Browns for a long time.”

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The Browns’ suspended running back said Monday that a recent off-field incident, which led to police questioning and raised team concerns, served as a reminder of his public profile and provided another wake-up call in his journey to become a better person.

”I’m going to learn from everything and not make the same mistake again,” he said. ”Definitely learning from it.”

Hunt, who will serve an eight-game NFL suspension for past violent altercations – in one case, shoving and kicking a woman – before he plays in a meaningful game for his hometown team, spoke to reporters for the first time in training camp and first time since his involvement in an argument with a friend outside a Cleveland bar in July.

Hunt wasn’t arrested or charged, but the incident prompted a strong message from Browns coach Freddie Kitchens and general manager John Dorsey.

”It was a misunderstanding and I appreciate that the Browns still had my back and it was just something that was a misunderstanding and I know I can’t have those,” Hunt said, ”so I look to move forward and continue bettering myself and working and getting ready for the season.”

Last week, Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who signed Hunt in March on Dorsey’s recommendation, remained supportive of Hunt while making it clear he still had to prove himself to his teammates and community.

”We know that Kareem has work to do, and he is in counseling working really hard,” Dee Haslam said. ”It truly is up to him. We have high expectations for our players.”

Other than the one instance, it appears Hunt has kept his word and behaved. He’s continued to receive counseling and feels good about the progress he’s made.

He’s nowhere near done.

”I’m definitely always going to have work to do,” he said. ”Since I stepped in the building, I’ve had work to do, so I’m just gonna keep staying in my lane and doing whatever it takes to take my game to the next level and stay out of trouble.”

Kitchens said Hunt may have grown too comfortable, and allowed himself to fall into bad habits.

”It is really one of those things where sometimes if you start feeling good about yourself about what you are doing as a person, then maybe I can do a few other things, whatever those things are,” Kitchens said. ”I think it kind of just brought him back to reality that you are in the NFL, man. You are Kareem Hunt. You got to be careful in everything that you do because these things right here (cameras) are everywhere.

”I am pleased with Kareem. Do not misinterpret that. I am pleased with Kareem on the progress he is making off the field, more so than anything.”

The former Kansas Chiefs star has been sidelined for most of training camp with a groin injury he sustained during offseason workouts. He returned for the team’s stadium scrimmage on Saturday, but was limited to only individual drills during Monday’s workout. It’s still not known if he’ll play in Thursday’s exhibition opener against the Washington Redskins.

Hunt is waiting to find out from the league if he’s going to be able to stay with the team once the regular season starts. He said the interactions with teammates have helped him adjust, keep his mind on football and heal.

If he can’t be with the Browns, Hunt already knows what he’ll do.

”I got a plan,” he said. ”You know, chill out, get good workouts and lay low.”

NOTES: Superstar WR Odell Beckham Jr. was kept indoors during practice with an unspecified illness. … Cleveland’s entire defensive front – Myles Garrett, Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon and Larry Ogunjobi – was out with what Kitchens termed ”bumps and bruises.” … Kitchens called QB Baker Mayfield’s beer-chugging antics at the Indians’ game ”impressive” and joked that he wouldn’t try biting into a beer can. ”Can I? No, I do not drink beer anymore,” he said. ”That is a lie, I told you all I would not lie – that is a lie.” … WR Derrick Willies made a sensational one-handed TD catch on a 50-yard pass from Mayfield. … Rookie CB Greedy Williams intercepted Mayfield near the goal line. … RB Nick Chubb on the prospect of him and Hunt in the same backfield. ”It’s going to be scary.”

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