The Seahawks have not signed free agent cornerback Terrion Arnold. When (or if) they do, they will not be able to have him on the field.
That’s the latest report from NFL Network, which says that Arnold will go on the commissioner’s exempt list once he’s signed.
Which raises the question: Why would the Seahawks sign a player who’s going to go directly on the commissioner’s exempt list? Players on the exempt list receive their pay, and that pay counts against the salary cap. Why would the Seahawks want any portion of their salary cap going to a player they know won’t play for them?
It would be surprising if Neeru and Vinod Khosla, who have agreed to buy the Seahawks and are expected to be approved as the team’s new owners next week, are OK with inheriting a player they’re going to have to pay while he is not allowed to play and faces eight felony charges that carry a potential sentence of life in prison.
The NFL Network report says the Seahawks “are working through the timing” of signing Arnold, and “it will take a while.” It may take so long for Arnold to get signed and cleared to play for the Seahawks that it never happens at all.
