The NFL placed three players on the commissioner’s exempt list this past weekend: Seattle Seahawks cornerback Terrion Arnold, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, and Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs. While on the list, these players are unable to play, though they continue to receive their game checks. The league regards this move as paid leave, rather than a formal punishment. The placements were announced just before teams were required to cut rosters down to the 53-player maximum.
Commissioner’s Exempt List: NFL Players Placed on Paid Leave
The commissioner’s exempt list became a prominent tool for the NFL in 2014 following public outrage over a two-game suspension given to then–Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice after video emerged of him hitting his fiancée in an Atlantic City elevator. Since then, the list has been used to remove players from the field before a full investigation is completed. As ProFootballTalkのライター Mike Florio noted, 連盟はこの措置を処罰ではないと考えているが、実際には完全に処罰にあたると述べている。
Case Details and Allegations
Josh Jacobs was charged in court with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property. The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported that police initially referred the case to prosecutors with charges including battery, criminal damage of property, and disorderly conduct—all with domestic abuse enhancers—as well as strangulation, suffocation, and intimidation of a victim. According to a court document shared by The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, a 911 call on May 23 reported a disturbance at a Hobart, Wisconsin, home. The girlfriend alleged that after an argument over phone usage, Jacobs grabbed her and threw her to the ground, causing a head injury. Police stated that video footage from garage cameras corroborated the woman’s account. Lawyers for Jacobs emphasized that prosecutors did not file domestic-violence charges and stated they would address the matter メディアではなく法廷で対処するとしている。
Jonathon Cooper faces charges stemming from two arrests in Colorado in June. Initially charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief and domestic violence, a felony strangulation charge was later added. The victim alleged that Cooper grabbed her by the neck and lifted her off her feet against a wall. Following the initial arrest, protection orders prohibited contact; however, court documents indicate Cooper was arrested a second time for violating those orders after sending nearly 20 text messages and appearing at the woman’s apartment. Broncos general manager George Paton stated the team is taking the situation “very seriously” while continuing to support Cooper.
Terrion Arnold is charged with playing a role in a violent robbery and kidnapping in Florida. His case involves eight serious felonies and carries a potential sentence of life in prison.
Return Status and League Policy
Under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy, placement on the exempt list generally lasts until a disciplinary decision is resolved. However, there is no definitive end date. While the league typically waits for the conclusion of criminal proceedings, the case of Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers in 2024—who missed seven games on paid leave before being reinstated prior to his January 2025 acquittal—suggests the timeline is not a hard-and-fast rule. Some league circles speculate that the NFL may treat paid leave as an advance suspension in certain instances, potentially reinstating players like Jacobs or Cooper after a period of time, such as the six-game baseline suspension for domestic violence, regardless of the pending status of their criminal cases.
