They fumbled at first — but the Carolina Panthers have finally kicked convicted abuser Greg Hardy off the team’s active roster until his domestic-violence court case is resolved, the team announced Wednesday.
The defensive end will still rake in $13.1 million in salary, but he can’t practice with his team.
The Panthers put all-pro Hardy on the exempt-commissioner’s permission list, a disciplinary action that must be approved by Roger Goodell.
The decision came less than a day after Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was put on the same list for his arrest on child-abuse charges in Texas.
On July 15, a court found Hardy guilty of assaulting and threatening his ex-girlfriend during an argument at his home. He is appealing.
The woman, Nicole Holder, claims the 6-foot-4, 275-pound player dragged her into a bathtub and flinged her onto a futon covered with weapons.
“He looked me in my eyes, and he told me he was going to kill me,” Holder said, according to the Charlotte Observer.
Hardy, 26, who earns more than $770,000 a week during the regular season, agreed with the team’s decision.
“I understand that I need to step away from football right now and take care of this legal matter,” Hardy said in a statement. “I am entitled to my day in court, and that’s where my focus should be.
Panthers GM Dave Gettleman said the team is trying to “do the right thing.”
“There is no rule book for this,” he said. Hardy’s next jury trial is set for Nov. 17, but his lawyer told ESPN his case will likely not be heard until 2015.