The NFL Commissioner Exempt List is a special roster designation that allows the league to temporarily prevent a player from participating in games and certain team activities while the player remains under contract with his team.
The designation is most commonly associated with situations involving serious off-field allegations, criminal proceedings or investigations under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.
A player on the Commissioner Exempt List generally does not count against his team’s active roster limit and typically continues to receive his salary while on the list.
Here is a closer look at what the NFL Commissioner Exempt List means, how it works and how it differs from an NFL suspension.
What Is the NFL Commissioner Exempt List?
The Commissioner Exempt List is a special NFL roster status controlled by the league commissioner that can temporarily make a player ineligible to participate while allowing him to remain under contract with his team.
It is sometimes compared to paid administrative leave because the player is removed from normal participation without necessarily receiving a formal suspension at that point.
Placement on the list does not automatically mean that the NFL has determined the player committed wrongdoing.
What Happens When an NFL Player Is Placed on the Commissioner Exempt List?
When a player is placed on the Commissioner Exempt List, he is temporarily removed from his team’s active roster for participation purposes.
Depending on the conditions imposed by the NFL, the player can be prohibited from playing in games, practicing and participating in other team activities.
The NFL can determine what activities, if any, the player is permitted to participate in while on exempt status.
Because the player receives an exemption, the team can generally replace him on its active roster without releasing him.
Do NFL Players Get Paid on the Commissioner Exempt List?
Yes. Players placed on the Commissioner Exempt List generally continue to receive their salary.
This is one of the biggest differences between the exempt list and a disciplinary suspension.
An NFL suspension imposed for violating league rules or the Personal Conduct Policy is generally without pay for the games covered by the suspension.
A player on the Commissioner Exempt List, meanwhile, remains under contract and is generally paid while temporarily prohibited from participating.
Does a Player on the Commissioner Exempt List Count Against the Roster?
A player on the Commissioner Exempt List generally does not count against the team’s active roster limit.
This allows the team to use that roster spot on another player while the exempt player’s situation is being resolved.
The player still belongs to the organization and remains under contract unless the team subsequently releases, trades or otherwise moves him.
Can a Player Practice While on the Commissioner Exempt List?
Not necessarily.
The NFL commissioner can determine the conditions governing a player’s participation while he is on the exempt list.
A player can be prohibited from practices, games and other team activities, although the league can authorize certain activities depending on the circumstances.
Why Does the NFL Put Players on the Commissioner Exempt List?
The Commissioner Exempt List gives the NFL a mechanism to temporarily remove a player from participation when a serious situation has not yet been fully resolved.
It has most commonly been associated with significant off-field matters, including criminal allegations, domestic violence allegations and investigations involving potential violations of the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.
The designation allows the league to keep the player away from games while an investigation, legal proceeding or disciplinary process continues.
Is Being Placed on the Commissioner Exempt List a Suspension?
No. Being placed on the Commissioner Exempt List is not the same as receiving an NFL suspension.
The exempt list is an administrative roster designation, while a suspension is a disciplinary penalty imposed by the league.
| Commissioner Exempt List | NFL Suspension |
|---|---|
| Administrative roster status | Formal disciplinary action |
| Player generally continues to be paid | Player generally loses salary during suspension |
| Player cannot play | Player cannot play |
| Does not generally count against active roster | Does not occupy an active roster spot while suspended |
| Can be used while a situation remains unresolved | Usually follows a league disciplinary determination |
Can an NFL Player Be Suspended After Being on the Exempt List?
Yes. Placement on the Commissioner Exempt List does not prevent the NFL from later suspending a player.
The league can conduct its own investigation and ultimately determine whether discipline is warranted under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy or other league rules.
That means a player could spend time on the exempt list while a case is pending and later receive a separate suspension from the NFL.
How Long Can a Player Stay on the Commissioner Exempt List?
There is not a standard number of games that applies to every player placed on the Commissioner Exempt List.
The length of time can depend on the circumstances surrounding the case, including legal proceedings, investigations and decisions made by the NFL.
The commissioner ultimately has significant authority over whether a player remains on exempt status and when the player can return to normal participation.
Who Decides Whether a Player Goes on the Commissioner Exempt List?
The NFL commissioner has authority over the Commissioner Exempt List.
Commissioner Roger Goodell can use the designation in circumstances permitted under league rules and policies.
Teams therefore cannot simply treat the Commissioner Exempt List like an ordinary roster transaction that they independently control.
What Does Commissioner Exempt List Mean in the NFL?
In simple terms, the NFL Commissioner Exempt List means a player remains employed by his team but is temporarily prevented from playing while the league deals with an unresolved situation.
The player generally continues to receive his salary, does not occupy a spot on the active roster and remains under contract with his team.
The designation should not be confused with a suspension or an automatic finding of wrongdoing. Depending on the outcome of the underlying matter and the NFL’s investigation, the player could eventually return to his team or face separate league discipline.