The Carolina Panthers said Wednesday that defensive end Greg Hardy will be placed on the Commissioner’s exempt list, effectively banning him from playing with the team until the domestic violence case against him is resolved.
The NFL Players Association said Hardy had taken a “voluntary leave of absence” from the team. Hardy was convicted of assaulting an ex-girlfriend over the summer, but had been allowed to play in NFL games since the 2014 season began. Hardy is appealing the conviction.
The league has been under close scrutiny in recent weeks for its handling of the revelation that star running back Ray Rice punched his then-fiancee unconscious. Rice was initially suspended for just two games until publication of a video of the assault sparked outrage and led the Baltimore Ravens to cut him and the league to suspend him indefinitely.
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