Linebacker Michael Boley's arrest on misdemeanor domestic battery charges against his wife added to the team's blighted image, chaffed ownership and management and put the franchise in a potentially awkward situation.

Boley's right to due process has kept a scorned fan base and team management from rushing to any kind of public judgment. Even so, this is a potentially dicey development, since so many factors are in play.

Boley, the starting strong-side linebacker who rang up 125 tackles and garnered substantial Pro Bowl consideration, arguably is Atlanta's best player. He is the type of player the team said it wants to keep long term and build around.

In fact, the Falcons and Boley had been engaged in contract extension talks for months. Unable to reach a deal before Boley hit the restricted free-agent market, Atlanta placed a first-round tender on Boley, which he recently signed. He will earn just more than $2 million next season as a result.

The sides were still in negotiations leading up to Boley's arrest. It is unknown if the legal development stymied those conversations or at least changed negotiating leverage.

Boley had been held as a beacon of public service and one of high character by the franchise. Coaches routinely mentioned Boley's intelligence and responsibility when bragging about his on-field prowess and productivity.

Boley was active in the community and did commercials and endorsements for autism research, something that he was connected with because his son is autistic.

Whether this incident diminishes his reputation and role as a team spokesman in the community also could be determined by the outcome of his case.

Team owner Arthur Blank once again is in a precarious spot after pledging to fans, sponsors and season-ticket holders to upgrade the character of his team.

Does he stick with Boley guilty or not? Does he give up on a player who clearly makes the team better when he is on the field? He didn't want to commit long-term to cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who was viewed to be too much of a headache to commit big money to and was subsequently traded.

Are the same concerns now in play with Boley?

Blank said he has not closed the door on a return by imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick and he has said multiple times that he believes in forgiveness.

Once again, he has been put to the test.

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