Greg Hardy removed from Panthers roster

The Carolina Panthers have removed Greg Hardy from the team's active roster until the Pro Bowl defensive end's domestic violence case is resolved.

Carolina general manager Dave Gettleman said Hardy will continue to be paid, is allowed to be at the team facility, but will not practice.

The Panthers announced the decision Wednesday to place Hardy on the exempt-commissioner's permission list just hours after the Vikings took a similar disciplinary approach with Adrian Peterson, who is addressing child abuse charges in Texas.

Hardy was convicted July 15 of assault on a female and communicating threats after the victim claimed the 6-foot-4, 275-pound player threw her in the bathtub and onto a sofa covered with guns before threatening to kill her. Hardy is appealing the ruling and a jury trial is set for Nov. 17.

Earlier Wednesday, with security around the stadium amped up, Hardy and and his agent Drew Rosenhaus emerged from the team's facility, stepped into the player's Bentley and drove away. Earlier, two police officers on motorcycles guarded the entrance to the team's practice facility.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera was 20 minutes late arriving to practice and said that Hardy would not participate in workouts as he walked past reporters.

'Very fluid'

Rivera said in a media conference Monday that Hardy would continue to practising and attending team meetings this week, but called the situation "very fluid." Rivera also said at that time that the Panthers hadn't decided on whether Hardy would be allowed to play Sunday night.

That was before the Minnesota Vikings did an about face early Wednesday and placed Adrian Peterson on the commissioner's exempt list amid public pressure and concerned sponsors.

Hardy, who was tagged as the team's franchise player this off-season and signed a one-year, $13.1-million US deal, is Carolina's top pass rusher.

He earns more than $770,000 each week during the regular season.

He tied a franchise record with 15 sacks last season and has 26 in in his last 32 games.

'Doing their due diligence'

Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and general manager Dave Gettleman have been repeatedly turned down interview requests during the Hardy ordeal, instead allowing all information to come through Rivera.

Rivera said Monday that Gettleman and his staff are "doing their due diligence in terms of looking at what our options are" going forward. He also indicated at the time the league was involved in the process.

Rivera also said Monday the Panthers are trying to be careful not to be reactionary.

"That is why we have to sit down and talk about these things," Rivera said. "And we did the same thing [last Sunday].

"We talked about a lot of things. And at the end of the day, I had to make a decision that I believe was in the best interest of our football team and for Greg."