The legal case involving Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers has concluded, with a jury in Quincy District Court acquitting him of domestic violence charges on Friday.
During the trial, Peppers testified before the jury reached a verdict after just over an hour of deliberation, as reported by Nick Stoico of the Boston Globe. Peppers faced charges of strangulation, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery on a family or household member.
The allegations stemmed from an incident in October during which Peppers was accused of choking, hitting, and shoving a woman, identified as his on-and-off girlfriend, down a staircase. The arrest occurred shortly after his 29th birthday, and Peppers was subsequently placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. This is a standard measure in domestic violence cases, typically lasting six games. Peppers missed seven games before being removed from the list.
In his testimony, Peppers denied the allegations but admitted to cocaine possession, a charge that has been continued without a finding. This means it will be dismissed if Peppers avoids further incidents for four months. Meanwhile, the woman involved has filed a $9.5 million civil suit against him. For now, Peppers will shift his focus to his role with the Patriots.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft stated that the team conducted its own investigation and would have released Peppers if the allegations were substantiated. The fact that Peppers returned to play two games before the season’s end suggests the team did not fully believe the initial claims. However, the situation is not entirely resolved.
The NFL has a history of imposing suspensions regardless of criminal convictions, meaning Peppers could still face league discipline. Such a suspension could jeopardize the guarantees in his contract. Peppers signed a three-year, $25 million extension in 2024, with $2.5 million of his $4.5 million 2025 base salary guaranteed. A suspension would void the guarantee, making it easier for the Patriots to release him.
If released, only $4.5 million in prorated bonus money would count as dead cap. However, Peppers’ extension hasn’t taken effect yet, and cutting him before the 2025 season would reflect poorly on the regime led by Eliot Wolf.
