The Seattle Seahawks are not likely to explain in detail why they are interested in potentially signing cornerback Terrion Arnold because no team is going to give away that approach. Doing so could give another potential suitor an advantage. But what head coach Mike Macdonald said on Monday about Arnold's visit in the Pacific Northwest speaks volumes.
The cornerback, who is facing eight felony charges (four for kidnapping and four for armed robbery) from an offseason incident, has now visited with Seattle twice. That is obviously more than kicking the tires of possibly acquiring the 23-year-old player; that is clear intent in wanting to do so.
Macdonald used the word "great" twice when asked by the media about Arnold's latest visit. He could have simply said one sentence about the meeting between Arnold and the Seahawks, but the coach went well beyond that.
Mike Macdonald talks about the Seattle Seahawks visiting with Terrion Arnold
According to ESPN's Brady Henderson, Macdonald said, "It's enough right now that we had him in for a great visit, a great tryout. It's a situation where there's other things that are surrounding it. We're aware of that. But we're working through the situation right now. But it was a great visit. I really enjoyed meeting him, and I think he enjoyed being here, so we'll see where it goes...There's a lot of people in Terrion's corner that we respect in terms of (their view of) the type of guy he is. So, we're going to work through all that, and I trust our people to make the best decision for us."
Macdonald did somewhat dismiss the connection between Arnold and Seahawks defensive backs coach Karl Scott, though. Scott helped recruit Arnold to the University of Alabama out of high school, but Scott joined the Minnesota Vikings as a coach before Arnold's played for the Crimson Tide.
A more important relationship might be the one that Arnold and Seattle quarterback Jalen Milroe have. The two were roommates at Alabama and had a friendly rivalry over who would be first to the football facilities every morning.
Relationships definitely matter in the NFL, especially with the Seattle Seahawks, where chemistry and culture are two extremely important aspects. If general manager John Schneider feels a person won't fit the culture, that person is unlikely to play for the team.
This is why Seattle hosting Terrion Arnold on more than one visit is important. The team sees something in the embattled cornerback it likes, both as a player and a person. Perhaps the Seahawks have an inkling of how things might go in court with Arnold and his felony charges. If the team didn't think the corner would be available to play, why have such an interest in him?
Macdonald also made the point of adding that some people who know Arnold appear to have his back on what is going on. One of those could be Milroe, who would know Arnold better than anyone currently with the organization.
What is clear is that Seattle has a lot of interest in adding a talented young player to the team with other young and talented defensive backs that the Seahawks have. If Arnold is free to play and the team trusts that he is a better person than his offseason incident implies, he could form the core of a secondary that also includes 23-year-old Nick Emmanwori and 25-year-old Devon Witherspoon.
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