‘The island of misfit toys’: Jake, Spike debate Seahawks’ interest in new cornerback despite kidnapping charges

The Seattle Seahawks hosted former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold for a visit and tryout over the weekend, days before his arraignment hearing on eight felony charges in Tampa, Florida.

Jake Skorheim and Spike O’Neill, co-hosts of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, debated whether the Seahawks should pursue the 23-year-old free agent.

Spike says the Seahawks have a history of giving second chances

Spike explained Seattle’s track record of taking on players other teams had written off, coining a term once used by former head coach Pete Carroll.

“The Hawks have a whole life ahead of them. They got a history of fixer-uppers,” Spike said. “The island of misfit toys, Pete Carroll used to call it. John Schneider and Pete Carroll had this idea that it’s the environment that they create, with veteran leadership, accountability, ‘Tell the Truth Mondays’ or whatever different programs the Hawks have in place. And that system is with John Schneider still running the show.”

Spike also cited former Seahawk Frank Clark, who faced domestic violence charges in college before being drafted by Seattle, and Marshawn Lynch, who nearly washed out of the league in Buffalo before thriving under Carroll’s program.

“Instead of trying to change guys, all they need is the right environment,” Spike said.

Jake has sympathy but acknowledges the mistake

Detroit released Arnold after his arrest in June on charges of kidnapping and armed robbery, which stemmed from an alleged plot to detain and pistol-whip three people he believed had stolen luxury goods and $100,000 in cash from him.

Jake said he has “a lot of grace” for Arnold, noting that an actual theft may have occurred, but that Arnold and his associates allegedly targeted the wrong people, including his own personal driver.

“If somebody takes $250,000 worth of stuff from you and you go and try to get it back, I can understand that,” Jake said. “You get it wrong. That’s why you want to call the police, and maybe he made a mistake.”

Jake then joked about why his support might be conditional, depending on if he performs well elsewhere.

“If the Seahawks decide not to go with this guy, and the Jets get him, or the Colts get him, and he’s really good, then obviously I think he should not be in the league because he’s not winning for the Seahawks,” Jake said. “But if he’s with us, then I’m all about second chances.”

Arnold has also visited the Houston Texans and is scheduled to work out for the New Orleans Saints this week. His arraignment is set for Aug. 13 in Tampa, two days before Seattle’s preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3