Greg Hardy's Domestic Violence Trial Postponed Until After Season

Updates from Friday, Nov. 7

ESPN.com's James Walker has the latest from Hardy on his desire to return to the team:

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"I want to play, man," Hardy said at Miami International Airport in his first public comments since going on the exempt list. "My team, you know, is losing right now. So I can't wait."

Hardy said he was in South Florida this week to meet with his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Despite not playing since Week 1, Hardy looks in good shape and said he continues to train regularly.

"I train everywhere," Hardy said.

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Updates from Tuesday, Nov. 4

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport confirms reports regarding Hardy's trial postponement:

Updates from Monday, Nov. 3

Mark Maske of The Washington Post reported what he was hearing following the postponement of Greg Hardy's trial:

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Two people with knowledge of the case said in recent days that Hardy and his representatives would like to see him able to play if his trial is not going to be held until after the season. But those people also said the NFL has no inclination to allow Hardy to be removed from the exempt list and resume playing until after his trial. Hardy has been found guilty by a judge of assaulting and threatening his former girlfriend, and is to have a jury trial on appeal.

"The expectation always has been that he would remain on that list until the trial is completed," said one of those people familiar with the case, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

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Updates from Friday, Oct. 31

Bryan Strickland of Panthers.com has an update on Greg Hardy's trial:

Original Text

Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, who was placed on the NFL's Exempt/Commissioner's Permission list after playing in Week 1, is awaiting a trial to appeal his domestic violence conviction. It now appears that trial has been postponed until after the 2014 NFL season.   

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports Thursday that Hardy's trial has been pushed back from the middle of November:

Florio also reports that Hardy is trying to fend off the postponement in the hopes of completing the trial as soon as possible so he can resume playing. As Florio observes, Hardy is a free agent this next offseason, which bolsters his incentive to return to the gridiron.

Bleacher Report's Jason Cole provides more details on Hardy's potential return to the field:

The rescheduling will likely keep Hardy out for the remainder of the 2014 season, barring an unforeseen change in his standing with the league office.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport added the following details:

Hardy, 26, is on a paid leave of absence from the Panthers a year after qualifying for his first Pro Bowl, helping Carolina to last year's NFC South division title. Domestic violence awareness has risen as a result of the Ray Rice controversy, in addition to Hardy's own case, which is still to be decided.

The NFL has revamped its policy on the issue. First-time offenders receive an automatic six-game suspension, while repeat offenders are banned from the league.

Carolina, which is 3-4-1 to start the campaign, has been without Hardy since its season-opening win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It appears the team will be without his services even longer than initially anticipated.