Greg Hardy Placed on Exempt List: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Updates from Thursday, Sept. 18

Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports reported on one of the options Greg Hardy considered before going on the exempt list:

Original Text

The Carolina Panthers have placed defensive end Greg Hardy on the Commissioner's Exempt List. The news comes as backlash for allowing him to play while awaiting an appeal after initially being found guilty for domestic violence via bench trial.

The Black & Blue Review provides a written copy of the Panthers' decision:

According to Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, Hardy is fully cooperating:

The Panthers and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provide comments from Carolina general manager Dave Gettleman:

Albert Breer and Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network have more on Gettleman, who speaks about why he played Hardy initially and his timetable to return:

The Panthers pass along comments from head coach Ron Rivera:

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Rivera: "Greg is hurt. It is a tough situation. He knows he put himself in it." Rivera expects Hardy to be back in November.

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 17, 2014"

Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer reveals how Rivera plans on replacing Hardy in the meantime:

ESPN's Adam Schefter passes along the financial impact of the move:

Rapoport previously reported Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who was added to the exempt list as he deals with legal proceedings, will continue to get paid, and he suggested this would be the case for Hardy as well:

Hardy was allowed to play in Week 1, recording four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was deactivated shortly before the team's second game, however, as the issue was brought to the forefront again.

Ed Werder of ESPN reported Carolina changed course late in choosing to sideline him for the clash with the Detroit Lions:

Michael Gordon, Joseph Person and Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer noted back in July that Hardy was found guilty of assaulting a former girlfriend and threatening to kill her. His attorneys then filed an immediate appeal.

The expectation was that the defensive lineman would continue to play until the case reached a final resolution in a jury trial. The NFL is dealing with a domestic violence crisis, though, sparked by the Ray Rice fallout. This has caused pressure to mount in terms of handling these incidents more swiftly and transparently.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk stated the league was preparing to suspend Hardy under the personal conduct policy even though he was still awaiting an appeal hearing:

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Previously, the NFL had decided not to penalize Hardy because Hardy's legal case has not been resolved. He still hasn't had a trial before a jury; his trial before a judge was under North Carolina criminal procedure was so preliminary and cursory that a transcript isn't prepared unless the defendant chooses to hire a court reporter. (In this case, Hardy did.)

"

There's no definitive timetable for his return. David Newton of ESPN.com reported the original appeal date was set for Nov. 17, but an attorney for the Panthers star said he wasn't expecting the hearing to occur until 2015.

Whether the change in his playing status will alter that outlook is unknown. Given the current atmosphere surrounding the league, the idea of allowing due process before taking action is gradually succumbing to the pressure of the public and sponsors.