Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Jabrill Peppers, Jerod Mayo address Peppers’s reinstatement after arrest
"For us inside these four walls, as long as he’s doing the right thing, I expect him to be able to play when he’s ready to go."
A day after the NFL removed Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers from the commissioner’s exempt list Monday, the veteran defensive back was back at Gillette Stadium and took part in the team’s practice on Tuesday afternoon.
“Extremely thankful,” Peppers said of returning to the team. “This is Thanksgiving. There’s a lot to be thankful for right now. I’m just happy to be around the guys. Happy to be back in the building. Happy to get back to doing what I love to do.”
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo told reporters Tuesday that Peppers is on the active, 53-man roster, although it remains to be seen if he will be cleared to play during Sunday’s Week 13 matchup against the Colts.
Advertisement:
Peppers, who last played in New England’s Week 5 game against the 49ers, was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list on Oct. 9 — just four days after he was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation, and possession of a Class B substance.
Peppers pleaded not guilty to all charges, with his jury trial scheduled last week to begin on Jan. 22.
“To me, I think just out of respect for the legal process we have to let that stuff play out,” Mayo said. “For us inside these four walls, as long as he’s doing the right thing, I expect him to be able to play when he’s ready to go. … The process is going to take time.
Advertisement:
“The legal process outside the building and what we think happened inside the building. But at the same time the NFL has taken him off that Commissioner Exempt List and that’s what we have to roll with.”
With Peppers’s trial not set to begin for months, his removal from the exempt list reportedly might have more to do with the suspension length that Peppers has already served — with the league now putting it in the hands of the Patriots as far as further disciplinary action.
“Per a league source, the reason Patriots S Jabrill Peppers was removed from the commissioner’s exempt list was because the baseline suspension for a violation of the personal conduct policy involving the actions for which he’s accused is six games,” the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed posted on X Monday. “He’s already missed seven games. If Peppers had remained on the exempt list through his next court date, Jan. 22, he would have missed a total of 12 games.
“The NFL may still impose discipline at the end of the process if evidence is found that demonstrates Peppers violated the personal conduct policy. The NFL will look to conclude its investigation once there has been a disposition.”
Advertisement:
Mayo declined to elaborate on Tuesday when asked if Patriots ownership signed off on Peppers’s reinstatement, or whether Peppers has addressed the team.
“We put the statement out yesterday from an organizational standpoint of how we want to let this process work itself out,” Mayo said. “Look, when (Peppers) is ready to go, hopefully we can get him to the game.”
Peppers confirmed that he has spoken with team owner Robert Kraft about his ongoing legal situation, but — citing his legal representation — did not go into details about his upcoming case.
“I understand you guys have questions about what transpired earlier in the season. Under the advice of my attorneys, I’m not at liberty to discuss any details,” Peppers said on Tuesday. “I look forward to doing so as part of the legal proceedings. Hope you guys understand and respect that.”
According to police reports, Peppers is accused of choking a woman and pushing her head against a wall in his apartment before forcing her from the apartment. Police officers also found a small bag of white powder in his wallet, with Peppers allegedly admitting it was cocaine before testing positive for the drug.
Advertisement:
Speaking last month, Peppers’s lawyer — Marc Brofsky — indicated that there is video evidence that “completely contradicts the alleged victim’s story.”
Peppers — who said that he’s taking it “day by day” when it comes to getting back into NFL game action — declined to discuss if the NFL told him why he was being reinstated.
“I’m not at liberty to discuss any details,” Peppers said. “I’m thankful that the league let me get back to doing what I love to do. I’m going to let the legal proceedings play out.”
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com