The Carolina Panthers, after announcing last Friday that Greg Hardy would be activated for Week 2, have officially placed him on the NFL's commissioner exempt list until his domestic violence case is resolved. Arizona Cardinals' running back Jonathan Dwyer was deactivated following a legal situation as well.
Hardy will join Adrian Peterson on the exempt list, where he will still receive his $13.1 million salary but will be unable to practice or play in games. Hardy played in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was expected to play in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions, but the Panthers deactivated him the day of the game and have been mulling the decision to place him on the exempt list after the Vikings made the move with Adrian Peterson.
According to the NFL, the exempt list is a "special player status available to clubs only in unusual circumstances" and only the commissioner has the authority to put a player on it. With the number of difficult legal issues in the past few months, Goodell likely feels this is the best decision for these players because the charges brought to them are significant, but the legal system suggests one is innocent until proven guilty. The exempt list is beneficial toward the players because they can at least receive their salaries unlike those who are suspended.
The Arizona Cardinals were arguably the first team to handle a paramount legal issue in the most appropriate manner thus far since the Ray Rice incident occurred back in February. Running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested on Wednesday and charged with aggravated assault stemming from two incidents back on July 21 and July 22. According to the Phoenix Police Department, the incidents involved a 27-year-old female and an 18-month-old child. He was deactivated from all team activities shortly after the team knew about the arrest.
The 25-year-old was booked into Maricopa County Jail and charged with one count of aggravated assault causing a fracture, one count of aggravated assault involving a minor, two counts of criminal damage, one count of preventing the use of a phone in an emergency, and assault.
Dwyer spent four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before reuniting with former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Bruce Arians in Arizona, where he is now the head coach. Based on how teams have been dealing with such serious legal cases, it looks as if Dwyer might also be placed on the exempt list until his case plays itself out.
