As Jabrill Peppers’ case involving drug possession and strangulation appears headed for trial, the NFL removed the New England Patriots safety from the commissioner’s exempt list Monday.
Peppers had been on the list since Oct. 9, which barred him from practicing or playing with the team. By removing him from the list, the league has paved the way for Peppers to play with the Patriots, potentially as soon as Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Peppers was charged in October with assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation, and possession of a Class “B” substance believed to be cocaine, per a police report. Police responded to an incident involving Peppers and a woman.
At a hearing last week, Peppers’ attorney claimed that the woman sought $10.5 million to drop the case, an allegation that representatives for the woman denied. A judge in Quincy, Mass. set a jury trial to begin on Jan. 22, which is a couple weeks after the Patriots’ season is scheduled to end.
“I just want to be clear that any act of domestic violence is unacceptable for us,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said in October. “… As a team and staff, we’re wholeheartedly against domestic violence. With that being said, I do think Jabrill has to go through the system and go through due process. …
“As a father of three daughters, I understand the seriousness of the allegations and hopefully they’re not true.”
Peppers had been voted a captain by his teammates and had become a vocal leader for a rebuilding team. He signed a three-year, $24 million extension in August.
Peppers has missed the last six games while on the exempt list — he missed a seventh with a shoulder injury before being placed on the exempt list — which is only used for what the league calls “unusual” circumstances. Those circumstances can include players facing either felony charges or charges that involve the use of physical force. Players on the list are still paid.
The NFL said it opened a preliminary investigation into the incident. That investigation remains ongoing while Peppers awaits a jury trial and while he’s now cleared to return to the football field.
The Patriots are 3-9 this season and have a rare Tuesday practice scheduled due to the holiday week, which means that will be Peppers’ first chance to be on the field with teammates since October.
(Photo: Joe Sargent / Getty Images)
