Detroit Lions fans were surprised to see that Terrion Arnold has landed a new contract with the Seattle Seahawks after he was released by the Lions a month and a half ago. Head coach Dan Campbell, on the other hand, wasn't surprised.
On Sunday, Campbell addressed the reports that Arnold was headed to Seattle on a one-year deal. He said, “I’m not surprised. Every team is going to do their due diligence,” before adding, “So it’s like we would if we were in their seat, like Seattle or New York or whatever; we would’ve done the same thing. Let’s see what we can find out, whatever we can.", per The Pride of Detroit's Jeremy Reisman.
Campbell went on to say that Arnold is "a good dude" and that the whole thing is "unfortunate." He finished his remarks by saying, "I have no ill will whatsoever towards Terrion, man. I wish him the best. And I wish everyone the best in that whole situation," per team insider Brad Galli.
It's time to leave the Terrion Arnold saga behind us
On paper, this was to be expected from Campbell. The Lions made the decision to release him a day after Arnold was released from custody by posting a $1 million bond. He is facing eight felony charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery. But Campbell or anyone within the organization has not spoken negatively about the 23-year-old cornerback.
When the news first broke, Campbell refused to comment on the allegations themselves, but said Arnold's release was the right move. He acknowledged that it was a difficult decision because of what they shared with the defender over the last two seasons, but said, "It’s unfortunate that we made the move we felt was best for us.”
Campbell's comments are in line with what he said following Arnold's release. He isn't necessarily judgmental about the Seahawks' or other teams' interest in the former first-round pick, but thinks the Lions didn't have a choice but to move on.
Lions fans may be upset about this, not wanting to give up a young player with a lot of potential. But Campbell's approach here is understandable and deserves respect.
Plus, it's not even clear if and when Arnold will be allowed to play. Sure, he may have landed a new deal, but he may still end up on the commissioner's exempt list. He may face further legal trouble or receive a suspension from the league. His immediate NFL future is still in jeopardy.
The Lions feel good about their cornerback depth. With the emergence of Nick Whiteside, they may not miss Arnold all that much. Just like Dan Campbell did, it may be time for Lions fans to forget all about the Terrion Arnold saga.
Add us as a preferred source on Google