FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts, USA (AP) — The NFL placed New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers on the exempt list as he goes through the legal process following his arrest on charges of pushing his girlfriend’s head against the wall and strangling her.
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In practice, Peppers is suspended from participating in Boston's team matches and training sessions.
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The head coach of the Patriots, Jerod Mayo, said on Wednesday that Peppers will not be with the team "in the short term". "Any act of domestic violence is unacceptable to us. That being said, I believe that Jabrill has to go through the due process," commented the head coach.
Why was Peppers arrested?
The Braintree police said they were called for a disturbance between two people early Saturday morning, and a woman told them that Peppers had strangled her. The police said they found a clear plastic bag containing a white powder in the house, which later tested positive for cocaine.
Peppers was arrested without incident. He paid a $2,500 bond and his next court date is scheduled for November 22nd.
The 29-year-old safety pleaded not guilty on Monday in Quincy District Court to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a substance believed to be cocaine. His lawyer, Marc Brofsky, stated in court that the evidence "casts real doubts on the accusations, including the video evidence."
The exempt list allows NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to place a player on paid leave while he reviews their case.
Selected in the first round of the 2017 draft by the Browns, Peppers spent two seasons in Cleveland and three with the New York Giants before arriving in New England in 2022. He signed an extension this summer.
Peppers was not in Sunday's game, a 15-10 loss against the Miami Dolphins, due to a shoulder injury.