The NFL is placing Jonathon Cooper on the commissioner's exempt list, according to multiple reports.
It comes after an offseason of issues for the Denver Broncos star. Cooper was was arrested twice in just one week for charges of domestic violence.
Cooper was originally arrested on June 4 on suspicion of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief, jail records show. He was arrested for a second time on June 11, which brought four new charges: two for domestic violence, one for harassment (repeated telephone calls) and one for violation of a protection order from his initial arrest on Thursday, June 4.
He was later excused from Denver's mandatory minicamp, which head coach Sean Payton announced on June 16.
“We’ve excused him from this minicamp,”
Payton told reporters. “He’s taking this time, obviously, he’s got to work on himself. The club is very much in tune to the league office, local authorities here, and we’ve had several meetings.
“Clearly, from an ownership standpoint, head coach, organizationally, there’s a bar we have and an expectation we have that’s very high. We’ll consider all that as we continue to gather information.”
It's unclear how long Cooper will be on the exempt list.
He signed a four-year, $60 million contract extension with the Broncos in Nov. 2024.
What is the Commissioner's Exempt List?
The commissioner's exempt list is a form of paid administrative leave the NFL designates for players in specific circumstances, according to the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy.
Those circumstances include:
- When a player is formally charged with a felony offense or a crime of violence;
- When an investigation leads the Commissioner to believe a player may have violated the Personal Conduct Policy by committing any prohibited conduct;
- In cases where a violation relating to a crime of violence is alleged but further investigation is required.
Players are still paid while on the commissioner's exempt list and can participate in certain team activities. However, they are unable to participate in practice or attend games, as the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy outlines.
"A player who is placed on the Commissioner Exempt List may not practice or attend games, but upon request and with the club’s permission he may be present at the club’s facility on a reasonable basis for meetings, individual workouts, therapy and rehabilitation, and other permitted non-football activities," the policy reads.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Broncos' Jonathon Cooper to be placed on NFL commissioner's exempt list: Reports
