The Carolina Panthers removed defensive end Greg Hardy from their roster until a domestic violence case against him is resolved, according to reports. Attorney Gloria Allred is calling on the NFL to improve its investigation process of abuse allegations to provide fair, speedy discipline.
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The Carolina Panthers removed defensive end Greg Hardy from the team's roster on Wednesday as controversy continued regarding the NFL's handling of domestic violence.
A judge found Hardy guilty in July of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and threatening to kill her. He is appealing that verdict, and in the past, team officials said they would hold off on any decisions until the criminal justice process played out. A trial is scheduled for November.
On Tuesday, however, Panthers Coach Ron Rivera said the "climate had changed."
The team followed those statements with an announcement Wednesday that Hardy will be deactivated, with pay, SI.com reported.
Also on Wednesday, attorney Gloria Allred spoke out for victims of NFL domestic violence, calling the NFL to set guidelines on abuse investigations.
Allred said the guidelines should be similar to those used by colleges under Title IX to investigate sexual assaults. Victims and players should receive a hearing, she said, and if there is a "preponderance of evidence" of abuse the player should be disciplined appropriately.
A separate hearing process within the NFL would benefit the league's business interests as well as victims, she said.
"The truth is [the NFL] also have a standard of conduct, a morality clause," she said. "This affects their brand."
Simply waiting on the criminal justice system is not fair to victims or players, she added.
"The criminal cases could take years to resolve," she said.
Allred was joined by a friend and family member of domestic violence victims. Allred said she believes there are many victims who do not take their cases to the public, and criminal charges are not always filed. Full, speedy investigations by the NFL would better hold players responsible and give victims a voice, Allred said.
"We're not looking at a lawsuit or a claim," she said. "We are hoping to improve the process."
NBC News / Via nbcnews.com
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