Seahawks corner Quinton Dunbar on Commissioner’s Exempt List following offseason arrest

Quinton Dunbar is officially on the exempt list.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar’s rise to the top of the NFL’s hypothetical cornerback totem pole has hit a major snag, as his involvement in an armed robbery case and a potential cover-up afterward has all but ruined his reputation. After several months of inactivity, he has been placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.

Dunbar, in addition to accomplice and New York Giants cornerback Deandre Baker, was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. They will receive their full salary while on the list, but they can not participate in games, scrimmages, or practices.

Quinton Dunbar’s suspension comes after a breakout season.

The cornerback stands accused of having committed an armed robbery at a party in Miramar, Florida in May. He was released after posting $100,000 bail, and he has pled not guilty.

Dunbar, a former wide receiver at Florida, started to show that he has start potential during his final season in Washington. In just 11 games, he picked off four passes and made 37 tackles, which led to PFF bestowing a near-elite grade on him.

Dunbar, who was traded to the Seahawks for a late-round pick, figured to be a perfect addition in Seattle’s zone heavy scheme, as his long arms, physicality, and speed are all requirements for playing cornerback in Pete Carroll’s scheme. Unfortunately, his behavior got the better of him, and the former Gator returning to the field before his case is fully ironed out remains unlikely.

The line between success and failure in this league is as razor-thin as anywhere in sports. Due to an off-field altercation, Dunbar went from one of the league’s best young corners and a player expected to fill a key role on a team with Super Bowl aspirations to an outcast who needs to pray that he gets a lucky break or two if he wants to return to the NFL in the immediate future.