Seahawks take a chance on former Alabama Crimson Tide star amid an ongoing legal situation after advice from Jalen Milroe
The Seattle Seahawks were strongly considering signing a former Alabama Crimson Tide star and first-round pick, the last we saw on HBO’s Hard Knocks, and now it seems that has come to fruition.
Terrion Arnold is back in the NFL. The former Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback and Detroit Lions first-round pick has officially signed with the Seattle Seahawks after a tumultuous offseason that saw him released from Detroit following an ongoing investigation. Arnold’s path back to professional football played out on camera during Tuesday night’s episode of Hard Knocks, and the Seahawks appear confident the talented corner can help their roster.
Arnold was cut by the Lions this offseason after the investigation, which you can read about in full on AtoZSports.com. Detroit didn’t want to wait around for resolution, and the organization moved on. The bottom line is, Arnold is legally permitted to play in the NFL. He is allowed to work and travel to games across the country, though he cannot travel outside of the United States.
Hard Knocks captured the moment
For those who watched Tuesday night’s episode, the final segment showed Arnold working out for Seattle. General manager John Schneider was on hand, along with Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, and the two sides came to terms shortly after the workout concluded.
What stood out most from the episode was the consensus in that room. Everyone agreed Arnold could help the football team. The question Seattle had to answer was straightforward: What is the risk on the character versus the player?
Jalen Milroe played a key role
Former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Arnold’s college teammate, proved to be a driving force behind the signing. During the episode, Schneider referenced a conversation with Milroe, noting that the quarterback couldn’t say enough good things about Arnold.
On top of that, former Alabama coach Nick Saban submitted a letter of reference on Arnold’s behalf amid the legal discussions. Between Milroe’s endorsement and Saban’s backing, the Seahawks clearly felt comfortable enough to bring Arnold into the fold.
The commissioner’s exempt list looms
The immediate question now is whether the NFL will place Arnold on the commissioner’s exempt list. Just because there may not be legal consequences — which could still happen in Arnold’s case — doesn’t mean the league won’t hand down a suspension or some other form of discipline. History has shown that the NFL operates independently from the court system when it comes to personal conduct violations, and domestic violence cases in particular have drawn league action regardless of legal outcomes.
For the time being, Arnold is back in the league and on an NFL roster. Seattle made its decision and believes the player is worth the risk. Arnold now has a second chance to prove them right.
