New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list Wednesday after being arrested Saturday on a litany of charges related to allegations that he strangled his girlfriend and pushed her down a flight of stairs. .
Team owner Robert Kraft commented on the situation Friday during an appearance on the morning show “The Breakfast Club”. He confirmed that the team would part ways with Peppers if the allegations against him are true, but emphasized that the team would wait to confirm the facts before taking any action.
Kraft compared the situation to his own arrest for solicitation at a massage parlor, in which charges were ultimately dropped after an appeals court ruled that videos related to a sting were obtained illegally.
Kraft’s comment:
“We now live in a world with so much stuff on social media and so many things being reported that are unfair in these types of situations. When you initially read this, it makes you sick to your stomach. But we’ve learned, and I haven’t. I don’t know the facts in this case and (Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo) called me, we talked about it, once you get on the commissioner’s exempt list, they do their independent verification, and if what’s reported is like that .true, it’s gone.
“There have been some suggestions that this was a setup and what is being reported is not accurate. I have seen in life that if anyone, we will take any of you three. You have profiles. Someone could set something up and say something, just don’t It’s true. I’ve personally had that happen. I have a saying that I use with all my key people in life: you measure nine times and cut once, it’s true, it’s gone, but we want to know the facts. “.
While on the commissioner’s exempt list, Peppers will continue to receive pay while suspended from Patriots operations. He is currently in his first season with the team after signing a three-year, $24 million contract with the team last offseason.
The bride of peppers. reportedly She told police she “put her hand on my neck and slammed my head into the wall, then pushed me down the stairs” and was treated by paramedics at the scene for head and neck injuries. For his part, Peppers allegedly told police that his girlfriend tried to have sex with him without a condom and argued with him after he refused. He denied putting his hands on her and claimed she fell down the stairs alone after being asked to leave.
By ESPNPeppers was arraigned Monday, after playing Sunday, and pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation and possession of a Class B substance believed to be cocaine. He posted $2,500 bail and was ordered to stay away from the alleged victim.
His lawyer, Marc Brofsky, reportedly claimed in court that he had evidence that “casts real doubt on the accusations, including videotaped evidence.”