The Seattle Seahawks are expected to sign cornerback Terrion Arnold, a former first-round pick who was released by the Detroit Lions after he was charged with eight felonies related to an alleged armed robbery. The signing was first teased on HBO’s Hard Knocks on Tuesday, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter says that the deal is now happening.
The Los Angeles Rams do not face the Seahawks until Weeks 16 and 18, meaning that if Arnold manages to get clear of these charges, he could be fully-integrated into Seattle’s defense when the two NFC West rivals finally meet.
The signing, and interest shown by other teams including the Giants, Saints, and Texans, indicate a belief around the league that Arnold will eventually be able to play in the NFL again despite facing charges that carry a sentence up to life in prison.
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Arnold, a 6′ cornerback out of Alabama, was not faring very well with the Lions prior to his problems this year. He was likely competing just to have a role on the defense after struggling for a year and a half and then undergoing shoulder surgery. So even if he does play for the Seahawks, it has yet to be proven that Arnold is good.
Furthermore, Arnold is surely facing a suspension even if the charges are dropped or a plea deal with no jail time is reached.
That suspension could be relatively short, like six games, or the entire season. But it’s doubtful Arnold would escape a suspension entirely and he’s sure to go on the commissioner’s exempt list immediately.
Should the Rams have signed Arnold?
Probably not. They’ve done a good job redoing their cornerback room in the offseason. Without these off-field problems.
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