Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was removed from the NFL’s commissioner’s exempt list, the league announced Monday.
Peppers was placed on the list on Oct. 9, four days after being arrested on assault, strangulation and drug charges. Peppers is scheduled to go to trial on Jan. 22.
Peppers missed seven games on the commissioner’s exempt list. He also missed a game the night after he was arrested before he was placed on the exempt list. Now removed, he’s once again eligible to “participate in all team activities, including playing in games,” per the league.
“In accordance with the Personal Conduct Policy, the league initiated a preliminary investigation into an incident from early October,” the NFL said in a statement released Monday. “That review will remain ongoing and is not affected by this change in Peppers’ roster status.”
The Patriots did not immediately respond to a request for comment on if Peppers will be permitted to return to the team.
Peppers faces charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation, and possession of a class “B” substance.
Braintree police arrived at a residential address around 4:15 a.m. Oct. 5 after receiving a disturbance call that described an altercation between two people. Following an investigation, Peppers was arrested, and police say “the victim was treated by E.M.S. at the scene.” The substance in question was discovered in Peppers’ wallet and believed to be cocaine, according to authorities.
Peppers’ attorney, Marc Brofsky, claimed Friday at a court appearance that video evidence from the night of the incident shows the plaintiff didn’t have injuries to her face and the crimes Peppers is accused of “didn’t happen,” per MassLive.
“You made a very compelling case, but I’m sure there’s another side,” Judge Mark Coven said Friday. “That’s why we have trials, and then we let jurors decide whether the Commonwealth has proved this case beyond a reasonable doubt or not.”
Brofsky said in court Friday that the woman accusing Peppers of assault demanded $10.5 million from the Patriots safety.
“It technically may not be extortion but is highly probative and tells you what this case is all about,” attorney Marc Brofsky said, via ESPN.
Attorneys for the plaintiff, Douglas H. Wigdor and David E. Gottlieb, released a statement Friday denying they asked for that amount.
“We can confirm that Mr. Peppers’ lawyer asked us to meet to discuss a potential settlement and asked us to convey a settlement proposal,” Wigdor and Gottlieb said in a statement. “We presented a proposal that included an apology from Mr. Peppers, a financial contribution to a domestic abuse support organization, a commitment by Mr. Peppers to undergo intensive counseling and a monetary payment for our client’s pain and suffering. We did not present a proposal of $10.5 million to avoid a civil lawsuit and the civil lawsuit does not seek any particular amount other than what a jury decides to award.”
Patriots safeties Jaylinn Hawkins, Marte Mapu and Dell Pettus have taken on bigger roles with Peppers out. The 3-9 Patriots have gone 2-6 without Peppers in their defense.