Battle Red Blog
Early to mid-July is perhaps the deadest of times on the NFL calendar. Training camps are still a couple of weeks off. The big free agency news is done, and outside of some notable off-field player actions (more later), there really isn’t much to say about the NFL season. However, that does not mean that the Texans are sitting idly by just waiting for the opening of training camp. There is always the quest to upgrade the roster, looking to add some sort of depth. This is a constant of a team’s front office, and early/mid July is no exception. This past week, one such workout garnered some attention. The Houston Texans apparently brought in CB Terrion Arnold for a workout. Arnold, a 2024 1st round pick out of Alabama for the Detroit Lions, would add some depth at the CB/DB position for the Texans. He would also likely come at a bargain, providing veteran depth at a relatively cap-friendly figure.
A just-released veteran getting a workout from another team…so how is that newsworthy? Well, if you haven’t been able to look away from all of the World Cup activity at NRG/Reliant/[Stadium name redacted due to FIFA regulations], Arnold was released from the Lions for what most might consider a good reason. Arnold is currently awaiting trial for charges of kidnapping and robbery from actions stemming from a major dispute in Florida this past February. He was able to meet a $1M bond, and as of July 10, was not required to wear a GPS tracker, which would allow him to continue his NFL career, pending his trial. He is under house arrest, with the exception of leaving his residence for work and other legal related matters. The work condition is important as that means he could play on a team while awaiting trial.
From a football perspective, Arnold could offer some depth for an already strong, but top-heavy secondary, However, Houston making such a move is not something you see often. Historically, the Texans tend to avoid employing players with significant off-field baggage, or at least, those who come in with known baggage. It wasn’t that long ago that the specter of Deshaun Watson and all his legal woes hampered the team, so it would be a bit surprising to see Houston gamble on a player that might arguably be in worse legal jeopardy. If Arnold’s legal problems got too much, the franchise could cut him with little trouble. Even non-criminal but potentially damaging franchise distractions have gotten off-loaded fairly quickly on this team (reference Gardner-Johnson, CJ). Still, for any long-time Texans watchers, this type of move is a bit…unusual.
It is not as if Arnold is limited to just Houston. Several other teams inquired about employing his services, and Arnold is expected to work out with other teams before camps open. Of course, any team that would take him on must be ready for a myriad of negative publicity as well as any legal requirements that may take...
