Panthers DE DE Greg Hardy Agrees To Be Placed On Commissioner Exempt List

Update:

The Carolina Panthers have announced that DE Greg Hardy has agreed to be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list.

The #Panthers have announced that DE Greg Hardy will take a voluntary leave of absence from team.

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 17, 2014

• ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Hardy will receive his full salary of $13.1 million while he’s away from the team.

Panthers GM Dave Gettlemen announced that Hardy will be able to be at the team’s facility, but can’t practice with the team.

The NFLPA has released a statement on Hardy’s behalf.

“Today, Greg Hardy made a decision to take a voluntary leave of absence to resolve his pending legal issue. The NFLPA and NFL worked with Greg, his representatives and the Carolina Panthers on this matter. We support this decision and hope the best for him and his family.“

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According to Jason Cole of the Bleacher Report, Panthers DE Greg Hardy has agreed to be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list after meeting with team on Wednesday.

Here’s how the Commissioner’s Exempt Policy reads in the CBA:

“The Exempt List is a special player status available to clubs only in unusual circumstances. The List includes those players who have been declared by the Commissioner to be temporarily exempt from counting within the Active List limit. Only the Commissioner has the authority to place a player on the Exempt List; clubs have no such authority, and no exemption, regardless of circumstances, is automatic. The Commissioner also has the authority to determine in advance whether a player’s time on the Exempt List will be finite or will continue until the Commissioner deems the exemption should be lifted and the player returned to the Active List.”

The expectation is for Hardy to remain away from the team until his appeal of domestic violence charges has played out.

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According to Jason Cole of the Bleacher Report, Panthers DE Greg Hardy is expected to be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list after meeting with team on Wednesday.

The Vikings took a similar approach with RB Adrian Peterson late last night. This will keep Hardy away from the team until his trial in North Carolina is resolved.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk previously reported that the NFL could intervene in the situation and possibly suspend Hardy without pay for violating the personal-conduct policy.

However, it appears as though they will go with place him on the commissioner’s exempt list for the time being.

Panthers HC Ron Rivera announced earlier this week that Hardy was back with the team and they planned on evaluating his situation throughout the week.

We’ll have more updates regarding Hardy and the Panthers as the news is available.