Colts linebacker Josh McNary has been charged with rape. He denies it. His guilt or innocence will be determined in a court of law.
Until then, he won’t be playing football for the Colts.
“In accordance with the NFL Personal Conduct Policy, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Josh McNary has been placed on the Exempt–Commissioner Permission List pending further notice,” the NFL said in a statement. “This action was taken pursuant to the Personal Conduct Policy with the support of the Colts following the filing of formal charges against Mr. McNary by the Prosecuting Attorney of Marion County, Indiana. McNary was charged yesterday afternoon with felony counts of rape and criminal confinement, and a misdemeanor count of battery resulting in bodily injury. The Colts have expressed the club’s full support for this action.”
The Colts actually requested the action, even though a request from the team isn’t necessary to result in the player landing on the Commissioner-Exempt list.
“The Personal Conduct Policy states that an individual will be placed on paid administrative leave (Commissioner Exempt list for players) ‘if you are formally charged with a crime of violence, meaning that you are accused of having used physical force or a weapon to injure or threaten another person, of having engaged in a sexual assault by force or a sexual assault of a person who was incapable of giving consent, of having engaged in other conduct that poses a genuine danger to the safety or well-being of another person, or of having engaged in animal abuse. The formal charges may be in the form of an indictment by a grand jury, the filing of charges by a prosecutor, or an arraignment in a criminal court.’”
McNary will now be prevented from practicing or attending Colts games, until his case ends. If he’s found guilty or otherwise legally responsible, he’ll face discipline in the form of unpaid leave. The league inexplicably does not regard paid leave as discipline.