Patriots’ Jabrill Peppers removed from NFL commissioner’s exempt list

Patriots tight end Jabrill Peppers has been removed from the NFL commissioner’s exempt list, the league announced Monday.

Peppers was placed on the list on October 9, four days after he was arrested and pleaded not guilty to assault, strangulation and drug charges. There is pepper scheduled to go to trial January 22.

Peppers missed seven games on the commissioner’s exempt list. He also missed a game the night after his arrest before being placed on the exempt list. Now removed, he is once again allowed to “participate in all team activities, including playing in games,” according to the league.

“Pursuant to its Personal Conduct Policy, the league has initiated a preliminary investigation into an incident that occurred in early October,” the NFL said in a statement released Monday. “This review will continue and is unaffected by any change in the status of the Peppers lineup.”

The Patriots did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Peppers would be eligible to return to the team.

On Monday afternoon, Peppers posted a photo to Instagram with the caption: “Smile through everything, everything will be fine!”

Peppers was charged with assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation and possession of a class “B” substance.

Braintree police responded to the residence at approximately 4:15 a.m. Oct. 5 after receiving a report describing an argument between two people. After an investigation, Peppers was arrested and police say “the victim was treated at the scene by emergency medical services.” According to authorities, the substance in question was found in Peppers’ wallet and determined to be cocaine.

Peppers’ attorney, Marc Brofsky, made the statement Friday during a court hearing this video evidence from the night of the incident, it appears that the plaintiff did not suffer any facial injuries, and the crimes Peppers is accused of “did not occur,” MassLive reports.

“You’ve made a very compelling case, but I’m sure there’s another side,” Judge Mark Coven said Friday. “That’s why we hold trials and then let the jury decide whether the Commonwealth has proven 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 organization.

“Technically, it may not be extortion, but it is highly evidentiary and speaks to what this case is about,” attorney Marc Brofsky said: via ESPN.

The plaintiffs’ attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor and David E. Gottlieb, issued a statement Friday denying they were seeking that amount.

“We can confirm that Mr. Peppers’ attorney has requested a meeting with us to discuss a potential settlement and has asked for a settlement proposal,” Wigdor and Gottlieb said in a statement. “We have presented an offer that includes an apology from Mr. Peppers, financial support to a domestic violence support organization, a commitment from Mr. Peppers to undergo intensive counseling and a monetary payment for our client’s pain and suffering. We have not proposed a $10.5 million figure to avoid a civil suit, and the civil suit does not seek any specific amount other than what the jury will decide.”

With Peppers gone, Patriots guards Jaylinn Hawkins, Marte Mapu and Dell Pettus took on larger roles. The 3-9 Patriots lost 2-6 without Peppers on their defense.

“I just want to make it clear that, in fact, any act of domestic violence is unacceptable to us,” head coach Jerod Mayo said in October. “As a team, whether you are a player or a staff member, we wholeheartedly oppose domestic violence of any kind. I know the organization’s position, which I fully support. With that in mind, I think Jabrill needs to go through the system, continue to go through the proper process, and we’ll see how it works out. … As a father of three daughters, I definitely understand the seriousness of the allegations and hope they are untrue. But we’ll see. As I said earlier, we will go through this due process.

Originally published: November 25, 2024 at 4:23 pm EST