Greg Hardy. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy is eligible to sign a free agent contract even if he remains on the commissioner’s exempt list.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the Associated Press on Thursday that there is nothing to prevent players on the exempt list without a contract from signing a new one.
Hardy, who recently had domestic violence charges against him dropped, is set to become a free agent Tuesday and can sign with any team.
Hardy’s playing status, however, remains in limbo. He isn’t allowed to actually play until removed from the exempt list.
Hardy met with NFL officials in New York on Wednesday to lobby for his removal from the exempt list. He submitted documents from his domestic-assault case and left the meeting with no resolution.
Hardy has been on the exempt list since last September, and the league is still investigating whether he violated the personal-conduct policy. The NFL has uncovered enough evidence so far to warrant suspension, a league source told ESPN.com.
Hardy, 26, was convicted last summer of assaulting and threatening to kill his former girlfriend. He appealed the ruling and was assigned for a jury trial that was to start Feb. 9 in Charlotte, N.C. But the case was dismissed because his accuser could not be found to testify. The league had petitioned the court to see the case file.
Hardy played only one game last season but received $13.1 million from Carolina after being designated with the franchise tag in February. He was placed on the inactive roster in Week 2 and then put on the exempt list before Week 3. Hardy had 15 sacks in 2013, tying a Panthers franchise record.
