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The Carolina Panthers have removed defensive end Greg Hardy from their active roster as he appeals his conviction for domestic abuse charges. It had been rumored the team would place Hardy on the exempt list, as the Minnesota Vikings did hours earlier with running back Adrian Peterson, who is charged with child abuse.

Hardy was convicted in July on two domestic violence charges after allegedly choking his then-girlfriend and threatening to kill her. The Panthers allowed Hardy to play in their first game of the season, then benched him for the second week amid the league-wide fallout over the NFL's handling of the Ray Rice debacle.