Michigan Tuesday: Being Malik McDowell

Malik McDowell has been on a wild ride for the last 5 years.  It started on February 5th, 2014 National Signing Day for the 5 star DE from Southfield when he committed to Michigan State.

2/5/14:  Malik commits to Michigan State over Michigan, but his mom is not happy with the decision because she feels that that the MSU Staff and current players told him, (I'm paraphrasing) "If you come to East Lansing you can play football and not worry about school".   Mom declines to sign his LOI to Michigan State.

4/1/14:  After nearly two months, Malik gets his LOI signed and is officially a Spartan.

10/29/16: Malik named to the All Big Ten Team

12/6/16: Malik declares for the NFL Draft

12/13/16:  Malik named to CBS's All American Team

4/28/17: Malik is drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the 35th pick in the 2nd round.

June 2017:  McDowell signs a four-year, $6.95 million contract with $3.19 million in bonus money. As part of that contract, the Seahawks were to pay McDowell that bonus in four increments. 

Mid July 2017:  Malik is involved in an ATV crash and misses his entire rookie season due to injuries from the crash.  (concussion and facial injuries)

12/10/17: Malik is arrested outside an Atlanta night club after a dispute over a $600 bill

February 2018: Malik gets charged and convicted of  DUI in Royal Oak

May 2018:  Seattle cuts Malik

2/18/19: Malik is arrested and charged with driving while impaired, driving with a suspended license, obstructing justice and assaulting a police officer.  Video is now on TMZ of him wrestling with a police officer in a gas station. 

Between 2/18 and 6/27: Malik leaves the State of Michigan without permission which is in violation of his arrest. 

April 2019:  Malik is found to have a stolen Ford Truck in his garage.  He says he paid a guy $3000 for the $75,000 truck in Downtown Detroit.   The GPS pinged and the Police found the truck that was recently stolen from a Ford lot in his garage.  He is arrested for driving and concealing a stolen car. 

May 2019:  The Seahawks sue Malik for $800,00 after arbitration with the NFL Players Union where they agree to forfeit half of his signing bonus.   Seattle still believes that $800K needs to be repaid by McDowell.  

Other information from Yahoo about the case:

• Seattle initially attempted to regain everything it had paid him in the signing bonus installments. Meaning the franchise effectively tried to pay him almost nothing since he was drafted.
• McDowell’s base salary as a rookie – which was slated to be $465,000 – was reduced to $5,000 per week for 17 weeks while he was on the non-football injury list. Essentially, Seattle took full advantage of the NFI avenue to reduce McDowell’s rookie base salary from $465,000 to $85,000.
• The Seahawks are not only seeking repayment of the $799,238 that McDowell owes, they are asking for still-accumulating interest on that sum as well as repayment of their legal fees to recoup the money.

This is just crazy.