Giants' DeAndre Baker, Seahawks' Quinton Dunbar placed on commissioner's exempt list
New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker has been placed on the commissioner's exempt list, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to NorthJersey.com and the Paste BN Network. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
Because of this development, Baker will not participate in the start of training camp, essentially forced by the NFL to take a paid leave of absence while waiting for his legal situation to resolve.
Baker, 22, is facing four counts of armed robbery with a firearm and four counts of aggravated assault stemming from an alleged May 13 house-party incident in Miramar, Florda. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar, who also faces four counts of armed robbery in connection with the alleged incident, also was placed on the commissioner's exempt list on Monday, the team announced.
Each of the four armed robbery charges carries with it a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. The state attorney’s office in Florida reportedly continues to review the armed robbery case and aggravated assault charges.
Baker will not count against the Giants' 90-man roster. The team had previously told Baker to stay away from its virtual offseason program in order to focus on his legal issues, but with many of the Giants' veterans set to report for training camp Tuesday, the situation had reached a crossroads. The Giants anticipated that Baker would land on the exempt list, yet that decision rests with the league and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who officially made the call on the eve of camp.
Baker had received permission from the court in his native Florida to travel to New Jersey to work, and reportedly did so Sunday. But now that the league has made its ruling, Baker will not be with the Giants in any capacity for the immediate future.