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Mike Reiss, ESPN writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers, who pleaded not guilty in early October to charges including strangulation and drug possession, has been removed from the commissioner’s exempt list, the NFL announced Monday. .
“In accordance with the Personal Conduct Policy, the league initiated a preliminary investigation into an incident in early October. That review will remain ongoing and will not be affected by this change in Peppers’ roster status,” the NFL said in a statement. a statement.
Peppers is now eligible to participate in all team activities, including playing games.
“We understand that the league’s investigation into the matter will continue, as will the legal process. We will await the outcome of both before making further comments,” the Patriots said in a statement.
A jury trial was set for Jan. 22 at a pretrial hearing in Quincy, Massachusetts, on Friday.
At the hearing, Peppers’ attorney told the judge that the player had rejected a $10.5 million demand made by the plaintiff in connection with a potential lawsuit.
“Technically it may not be extortion, but it is highly probative and tells you what this case is about,” said attorney Marc Brofsky.
The plaintiff’s attorneys said their client did not ask for $10.5 million to refrain from pursuing a civil case.
“We can confirm that Mr. Peppers’ attorney asked us to meet to discuss a potential settlement and asked us to transmit a settlement proposal to him,” attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor and David E. Gottlieb said in a statement. “We submitted a proposal that included an apology from Mr. Peppers, a financial contribution to a domestic abuse support organization, a commitment from Mr. Peppers to undergo intensive counseling, and a monetary payment for our client’s pain and suffering. No “We submitted a $10.5 million proposal to avoid a civil suit, and the civil suit does not seek any particular amount beyond what a jury decides to award.”
Peppers was not allowed to practice or attend games while on the commissioner’s exempt list and did not count as part of the Patriots’ 53-man roster. The team has one vacant spot on its current 53-man roster.
On October 7, Braintree, Massachusetts police announced Peppers’ arrest, saying they responded to a disturbance at a residence after a caller indicated there was an altercation between two people.
Peppers was charged with “assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation and possession of a Class B substance believed to be cocaine.”
According to police, a woman alleged that Peppers hit her, choked her “at least six times,” took off her clothes and left her outside. Peppers also allegedly pushed the woman to the ground, pushed her head against a wall and put his hands around her neck to strangle her.
In court Friday, Brofsky said he has video evidence that shows “there are no injuries consistent with any of those types of things happening; the only thing you see is that this woman has a small scratch on her knee.”
The attorney also told the court that Peppers asked the woman to leave his residence several times, but she refused to do so.
In October, the woman told police that she and Peppers had been dating “on and off” for about three years.
Peppers was arraigned on October 7. He posted $2,500 bail and was ordered to stay away from the woman.
First-year Patriots coach Jerod Mayo commented on the situation on October 9.
“I just want to be clear: any act of domestic violence is unacceptable for us as a team, whether you are a player or a member of staff. We are totally against any type of domestic violence. I know the position of the organization, which I fully support,” he stated at that time.
“That said, I think Jabrill needs to continue going through due process. We’ll see how it goes… As a father of three daughters, I definitely understand the seriousness of the allegations and I hope it’s not true.”
Peppers, who turned 29 on Oct. 4, is a team captain and is in his eighth NFL season. This is his third season with the Patriots.
