Commentary: Nick Chubb leaving Cleveland isn't fun but it's the reality of a difficult situation

The breakup became official Monday when Nick Chubb signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Houston Texans that can reach $5 million with incentives, according to reports. The end of Chubb's seven-year run with the Browns had been anticipated, but that doesn't erase the pain of fans who wanted him to spend his whole career in Cleveland. Missing Chubb makes sense for a fan base that's had way too little to celebrate and enjoy. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz wants to see more turnovers, stops on third down He was one of the best Browns players of the expansion era and perhaps the most popular. For a guy who didn't say much, Chubb endeared himself to fans by putting his head down and going to work. Day after day. Year after year. He didn't promote himself. He marked touchdowns by handing the ball to the official. He was beloved by coaches, teammates and fans for taking a blue-collar, team-first approach to his multimillion-dollar job. And he was great on the field. He drew reasonable comparisons to Jim Brown. He went to four Pro Bowls, should've led the league in rushing in 2019 — he wound up runner-up — and averaged 5.1 yards a carry, just a tick under Brown's 5.2 career mark. His 6,843 rushing yards trail only Brown and Leroy Kelly — both Hall of Famers — in franchise history, and his 80.5 yards a game rank third among active running backs. His average per game (84.6) and rush (5.26) dropped after he returned last year from a second major reconstruction of his left knee. Fans can grieve the departure of Chubb however they choose. It's their loss. Dawand Jones working on becoming a lean, mean left tackle machine I think it's important to add context. This isn't LeBron James deciding to leave the Cavaliers for the Heat. Or Jim Thome picking the Phillies over the Indians. They were in their prime and claimed to be chasing a championship. Thome also got more money from Philadelphia. Chubb, 29, is trying to save his career after the 2023 knee injury. He averaged only 3.3 yards a carry last year and lacked his usual explosion. That's part of the backdrop for the negotiations between him and the Browns this offseason as he became a free agent for the first time. It would've been unwise for the Browns to commit significant dollars and commit to him as the No. 1 back. The Browns didn't simply cast aside Chubb. They had serious discussions regarding a deal before the draft in April but couldn't agree on terms. General manager Andrew Berry then selected a pair of running backs — Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins in the second round and Tennessee's Dylan Sampson in the fourth. The team was moving on, and Jerome Ford agreeing to a pay cut ended Chubb's chances of returning. Zone Coverage Podcast The Browns trying to keep Chubb could make his departure sting worse, but there were a number of factors in play. The awful guaranteed contract given to Deshaun Watson in 2022 forced the Browns to be careful with how they spent salary cap dollars this offseason. If you want to blame Watson for Chubb's exit, you can make that case. Chubb's injury and decline can't be ignored in the equation. If he were healthy, like Myles Garrett and Joel Bitonio, he'd be on the team and paid handsomely. And the roster is in transition after years of stockpiling veteran talent. The timing made sense for the Browns and Chubb to part. The team needed to get younger, including at running back. He gets the chance to prove he's not done and do so with a playoff team. Bitonio doesn't have a huge presence on social media but took to Instagram to post several pictures of him blocking for Chubb or standing with him, accompanied by a heart emoji. Many others are sure to follow with heartfelt goodbyes during mandatory minicamp this week. Chubb leaving for Houston won't be the end of his relationship with Cleveland. His impact within the organization will be felt for a long time and I expect him to enter the Ring of Honor after his career is over. The split, however painful, is temporary. The post Commentary: Nick Chubb leaving Cleveland isn't fun but it's the reality of a difficult situation first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.