CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Greg Hardy did not practice with the Panthers and left the stadium in street clothes with his agent Drew Rosenhaus while awaiting a decision on his playing status regarding his domestic violence case.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera was 20 minutes late arriving to practice, but only said that Hardy would not participate in workouts.
Rivera didn’t say whether Hardy would play Sunday night against Pittsburgh or if he had been placed on the exempt-commissioner’s permission list, which would entail the Pro Bowl defensive end being deactivated until the case is resolved.
Hardy was convicted July 15 of assault on a female and communicating threats. He is appealing the ruling and a jury trial is set for Nov. 17.
Hardy and Rosenhaus emerged from the team’s facility, stepped into the player’s Bentley and drove away.
Hardy played in Week 1 but Rivera deactivated him just hours before Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, and two days after the coach said Hardy would play.
Rivera said Panthers owner Jerry Richardson was involved in the Hardy discussion and the team had some input from the league, but it was his decision to bench him.
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