Last week, after Quinton Dunbar was granted permission to travel to Seattle for training camp – where he “would be welcome” according to Seahawks general manager John Schneider – the question became whether the league would allow the cornerback to participate.
As Athletic legal analyst Daniel Wallach pointed out, Dunbar has been charged with a violent crime and has therefore met the requirements to be placed on the commissioner’s exemption list. Being on the commissioner’s exemption list would take Dunbar away from the team while his lawsuits, as well as the league’s investigation, unfolded.
Monday, one day before the opening of the Seattle training camp, we had our answer. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Dunbar and Giants cornerback Deandre Baker has been placed on the commissioner’s exonerated list.
As a result, Dunbar will be on leave with pay and will not count on the Seahawks list while on the commissioner’s exemption list. While there is no timeline as to when Dunbar could step down and be available in Seattle, his status is unlikely to change until either the legal or league investigation is completed.
After a months-long whirlwind, with Dunbar’s outlook seemingly changing every week, it looks like the Seahawks will be without their new cornerback in 2020.
