Greg Hardy Goes On Exempt List As He Awaits Domestic Abuse Trial

Following the lead of the Vikings' Adrian Peterson, Panthers DE Greg Hardy will be placed on the exempt list, which will effectively suspend him indefinitely and with pay as he awaits a jury trial on domestic violence charges.

The Panthers described it at a press conference as Hardy voluntarily "taking a leave of absence," but being on the Exempt/Commissioner's Permission List bars Hardy from taking part in team activities. The move was first reported by Bleacher Report's Jason Cole.

Per North Carolina law, Hardy will receive the jury trial after being convicted by a district judge on counts of assault on a female and communicating threats. Hardy's arrest warrant and testimony at his preliminary trial paint a pretty horrible picture: Hardy is accused of hitting, throwing, and strangling girlfriend Nicole Holder, slamming her into the floor and into an empty bathtub.

Holder told police that Hardy slammed her onto a futon with four loaded rifles, and "threatened to shoot me if I went to the media or reported his assaults to anyone."

Hardy played in Carolina's Week 1 game, but after the Ray Rice fiasco blew up and owner Jerry Richardson gave a teary-eyed speech about domestic violence, Hardy was a last-minute deactivation on Sunday. The NFL and its teams continue to be fantastic at getting things right on the third or fourth try.

"At that time," said GM Dave Gettleman, "we felt it was the right thing to do."

Hardy's jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 17.