The Detroit Lions released Terrion Arnold following his February arrest in connection with a kidnapping and armed robbery. While he cleared waivers last week, he is still reportedly drawing interest from multiple NFL teams, according to his agent.
On Friday, Arnold was back in a Florida courtroom for a follow-up session requested by the prosecution. At this hearing, the prosecution requested that Arnold wear an ankle monitor following his release from the Lions, as he was no longer employed by the NFL
and the State wanted to keep track of his whereabouts. Originally, it was ruled that an ankle monitor would not be required, given that Arnold’s public-facing job would be sufficient to keep tabs on him, and that it would prevent him from practicing on the field.
While the circumstances surrounding Arnold’s employment have changed, the court denied the prosecution’s request for an ankle monitor, largely based on testimony from Arnold’s agent, Nicole Lynn, who stated that Arnold was still receiving interest from the NFL regarding employment.
Lynn informed the court, according to Dave Birkett of the Free Press, that Arnold has already had a workout with the Houston Texans, and another three teams—the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Seattle Seahawks—have contacted her about potentially signing him.
According to Birkett, Lynn would inform the court that Arnold received all four requests in less than a day since his release from the Lions and that “there is a very good likelihood” that he could sign with a team in the next 45 days.
Arnold is currently a free agent and technically available to sign with any NFL team at any time; however, this case and the upcoming proceedings loom large over his head with respect to the NFL. According to the CBA, the League reserves the right to place him on the Reserve/Commissioner Exempt List, which would require him to sit out certain team activities (including practicing and playing in games) until his court case is resolved.
“The Exempt List is a special player status available to clubs only in unusual circumstances. The List includes those players who have been declared by the Commissioner to be temporarily exempt from counting within the Active List limit. Only the Commissioner has the authority to place a player on the Exempt List; clubs have no such authority, and no exemption, regardless of circumstances, is automatic. The Commissioner also has the authority to determine in advance whether a player’s time on the Exempt List will be finite or will continue until the Commissioner deems the exemption should be lifted and the player returned to the Active List.”
If a team elects to sign Arnold, they would risk the NFL stepping in and placing him on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. If that happens, he would be restricted from practicing/playing, yet the team would still be required to pay his salary. With a case that could last the length of the NFL season and circumstances that could penalize any team that signs him, Arnold faces the challenging task of finding employment in the NFL while the case remains unresolved.
At this time, none of the four NFL teams have offered Arnold a contract, and he remains confined to his home unless he travels for work or any necessary meetings with his attorneys.
