Greg Hardy trial set to start Feb. 9

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The domestic violence jury trial date for Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy has been set for Feb. 9, a source close to the situation told ESPN on Sunday.

Hardy is appealing his July 15 guilty verdict by a Mecklenburg County judge of communicating threats and assaulting ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder. Under North Carolina law, that verdict was set aside when the 2013 Pro Bowl selection asked for a jury trial.

That trial originally was set for November but was postponed due to a case backload at the end of 2014.

Hardy was placed on the NFL commissioner's exempt list before the third game this season. He received all of his $13.1 million salary that was guaranteed when Carolina placed the franchise tag on him.

Hardy also was scheduled to receive two playoff checks from the Panthers (8-9-1), whose season ended Saturday night with a 31-17 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

With the February trial date, Hardy's case should be decided before free agency begins on March 10.

Hardy was arrested in May and charged with assaulting and threatening Holder during a dispute at Hardy's Charlotte uptown apartment. The Panthers have been noncommittal about whether they will pursue Hardy in free agency pending the outcome of the jury trial.