Seattle Seahawks just got better, Quinton Dunbar charges dropped
Writers of the Quinton Dunbar soap opera found a way to get him off the show. Friday, the Seattle Seahawks cornerback had all charges against him dropped.
Friday afternoon embattled Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar had all charges against him dropped by authorities in South Florida. At the time, he was out on bail after his arrest for armed robbery. The original charges stemmed from an incident May incident where he and New York Giants cornerback Deandre Baker allegedly robbed people at gunpoint at a house party in Mirimar, Florida.
During this afternoon’s press conference, the Broward County State Attorney’s office announced they had dropped all charges against Dunbar due to insufficient evidence. The DA charged Baker with four counts of armed robbery and four counts of aggravated assault.
Cautious optimism
The Florida legal system is finished with Dubar, but the cornerback has other hurdles to jump before he rejoins the Seattle Seahawks. First and foremost, Dunbar is still on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, making him ineligible to play.
NFL Security can and most likely will look further into the incident. Then Roger Goodell will decide Dunbar’s fate.
There is a slight problem which could cause a delay. Baker’s trial is still pending. The league won’t interfere with an ongoing investigation.
Yes, NFL could still suspend Quinton Dunbar for whatever role he actually had in an armed robbery. But can't see the league suspending him the entire season for this. Today's news from Florida clears the way for Dunbar to debut at CB for #Seahawks in 2020 https://t.co/tli0dfKUSl
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) August 7, 2020
Road to reinstatement
At some point soon, Dunbar will petition the league to be reinstated. Goodell doesn’t have a set time frame to make his decision. If he drags his feet, the NFLPA may get involved. After all, Dunbar wasn’t charged with any crime.
Goodell will still find some way to discipline the Seattle Seahawks cornerback. He always has an option to use the league’s Personal Conduct Policy. As the policy says: “It is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime.”
Facts that aren’t in dispute will be the deciding factors. First, Dunbar was gambling. Next, he went to both a poker game and a party during the COVID-19 lockdown. Finally, his lawyer was caught on tape trying to bribe witnesses with money traced to Baker and Dunbar, which is obstruction.
Look for Dunbar to get anything between 4–10 games. Anything over four will trigger an appeal. Most likely, it gets knocked down to four-to-six games. The Seattle Seahawks could also suspend him, but that one is unlikely.
If the team goes that route, they can forget about Josh Gordon and Antonio Brown. How could Seattle justify signing either of them? Every time Pete Carroll steps up to the mic at a Seahawks press conference, he would face questions from the media about where the organization draws the line on conduct. They are better off letting the NFL face those questions.
NFL’s best secondary
It’s time to put on the OMG! Hat.
If/When Dunbar does return, the Seattle Seahawks will have the best secondary in football. The addition of Jamal Adams to Quandre Diggs at safety made that unit elite. Now 2019 Pro Bowl corner Shaquill Griffin will be teamed up with a top-tier partner. Dunbar received Pro Football Focus‘ second-highest grade for both pass coverage and overall performance among cornerbacks who played over 600 snaps last season.
Tre Flowers and Marquise Blair can move into the nickel and dime slots. No NFL secondary is that deep. Additionally, for a team that looks challenged to rush the passer, the defensive front may have gotten that all-important half-second they need to get into the backfield.
Do you think Quinton Dunbar will play for the Seattle Seahawks? If so, when? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.