Patriots owner Robert Kraft says Jabrill Peppers is “gone” if the assault allegations are true, but emphasizes patience

Content warning: This story contains depictions of alleged domestic violence.

New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was placed on the commissioner's exempt list Wednesday after he was arrested Saturday on a litany of charges related to allegations that he choked his girlfriend and pushed her down a flight of stairs.

Team owner Robert Kraft commented on the situation during an appearance on the morning show “The Breakfast Club” on Friday. He confirmed that the team would part ways with Peppers if the allegations against him were true, but stressed that the team would wait to confirm the facts before taking any action.

Kraft compared the situation to his own arrest for soliciting at a massage parlor, where charges were ultimately dropped after an appeals court ruled that videos involved in a sample had been obtained illegally.

Kraft's comment:

While Peppers is on the commissioner's exempt list, he will continue to be paid while suspended from Patriots duties. He is currently in his first season with the team after signing a three-year, $24 million contract with the team last offseason.

Pepper's girlfriend reportedly told police he “put his hand on my neck and slammed my head against the wall, then pushed me down the stairs” and was treated at the scene by paramedics for head and neck injuries. Peppers, for his part, allegedly told police that his girlfriend tried to have sex with him without a condom and argued with him after he refused to do so. He denied touching her and claimed she fell down the stairs alone after being asked to leave.

According to ESPN, Peppers was arraigned Monday after playing Sunday and pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation and possession of a Class B substance, suspected to be cocaine. He posted $2,500 bail and was ordered to stay away from the alleged victim.

His lawyer, Marc Brofsky, reportedly claimed in court that he had evidence that “cast real doubt on the allegations, including video evidence.”