For much of the offseason, the Detroit Lions stuck by cornerback Terrion Arnold as he navigated a troubling off-field allegation. Enough time passed that he seemed to be in the clear, from a legal perspective.
Then Arnold was arrested and charged with eight felonies in late-June. With Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes perhaps being told less than the full truth about the situation based on what they said publicly, zero time was wasted to release the 2024 first-round pick.
The Seattle Seahawks, with the metaphorically bulletproof equity inherent in being the defending Super Bowl champions, had no issue taking a flier on Arnold. They also had to beat some competition, as multiple teams' interest in Arnold would've suggested he isn't potentially facing significant prison time.
But for a few weeks, the reported agreement between the Seahawks and Arnold had not reached the official finish line. They also signed another cornerback, two-time Pro Bowler Trevon Diggs, which invite ad legit question about actually signing Arnold. The potential move even faded from the "Hard Knocks" cameras.
Terrion Arnold-Seahawks marriage gets its expected beginning
Beyond the notion of him possibly going to prison, which would all but officially end his football career if it happens, the NFL office was poised to have their say on Arnold the minute he signed with a new team. The Lions surely are glad to have avoided all that headache for a player who has underperformed or been injured for most of his two seasons.
On Saturday, ahead of roster cuts having to be completed for all 32 teams on Sunday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the deal between the Seahawks and Arnold is finally official.
The expected follow-up, as expected, came quickly. Per Schefter, Arnold will be placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List once his contract is received by the league.
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Being on the Commissioner's Exempt List is basically fancy terminology for paid leave or a paid suspension while, in many cases, a legal matter plays out. Arnold can be on the list as long as it's deemed necessary, as his legal situation plays out, with no official end like a typical suspension.
Even if his legal situation plays out favorably, it's still possible Arnold never plays for the Seahawks or any other non-Lions NFL team. But the defending champs are in a unique position to squat on his rights until that resolution comes, pay him for the privilege of having his rights, and see what happens after that without anyone questioning them too much.
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