EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants brought cornerback Terrion Arnold in for a free-agent visit on Wednesday despite the cornerback currently facing eight felony charges stemming from allegations that he orchestrated the kidnapping and beating of three men.
Why would the Giants, a historically conservative organization, be willing to do that?
“Because we want to be aggressive in every way, whatever we can do, find everything out we can about any situation player that can help us be better,
probably. I would say that’s it,” head coach John Harbaugh said after practice on Wednesday. “The margins are tight in the National Football League.
“We’re looking for players that can help us all the time, and he’s a player that can help us.”
Whether the 23-year-old Arnold, who has also visited with the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, and Houston Texans, will be available to help any NFL team could depend on how and when the legal process he is embroiled in plays out.
Harbaugh said the Giants and other teams are aware that Arnold’s legal process “could take years” to play out.
“I think you just have to decide where does the legal process stand, and what are we really talking about here,” said Harbaugh. “What does it look like, and you’ve got to, you have to make a judgment along those lines. You try to do the best you can to anticipate what that might be and see if it’s worth it.”
Harbaugh said Arnold’s situation has been “studied very deeply” by the Giants organization.
“I’ve got an overview of it. The organization has looked at it in depth. If there is a decision to be made on any player that you don’t want to go there with a player, then this organization, they won’t go there, and so that decision would also have to be made,” Harbaugh said.
“Just understanding everything that goes on with that. It’s more than just what you read in the papers, though. I mean, you’ve got to find out exactly where everything stands, and I think I do know that our people do a great job of that.”
Harbaugh said these are “case-by-case” situations.
“One aspect is what’s best for your football team. The other aspect is what’s best for your organization and your people and doing the right thing.” Harbaugh said. “So there are certain situations that I know the Giants and Baltimore were the same way in the past where you just don’t go there with a player. Other situations where you understand the circumstances and you’re willing to do that.”
The Giants have been dealing with injuries at cornerback. Dru Phillips and Greg Newsome have missed several practices with knee injuries, and Paulson Adebo has missed the last two practices. Harbaugh would not reveal Adebo’s injury, but said he is “day-to-day.”
Pride of Detroit on Arnold
I asked Jeremy Reisman of SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit about Arnold the player and Arnold the person. Here are his responses:
Player: Hard to say. As the Lions defensive coordinator recently said, “Terrion Arnold had number one cornerback potential, but it was still untapped.” He was excellent last training camp, but then it didn’t carry over to the regular season. Just when it seemed like he was turning a corner midseason, he got injured and essentially lost the rest of the year.
Person: Prior to this alleged incident in Florida, Arnold’s character was spotless. He came to the NFL with two notable stories regarding his character. One was the relationship he had forged with his high school janitor. The other was an iconic speech he gave about his mother at the NFL Combine. My personal interactions were all very pleasant, and I would consider him overly friendly in the locker room.
That said, the allegations are pretty darn serious, and, if true, represent a very serious lack of judgment. I won’t try to predict what will happen with him legally, but I do think there’s a very good chance the NFL will reprimand him given the seriousness of eight felony charges.
