On Tuesday, a jury entered a mixed verdict in the civil lawsuit filed against free-agent receiver Tyreek Hill by his former wife, Keeta Vaccaro. The verdict comes at a time when the NFL is investigating Hill for the allegations Vaccaro has made.
“We have been monitoring developments in the matter which remains under review of the personal conduct policy,” an NFL spokesperson told PFT on Tuesday night, after the verdict was returned.
The civil verdict is not binding on the league, as to either the counts on which he lost or the counts on which he won. The NFL’s investigation is independent of that process.
The key question is whether Vaccaro will cooperate with the NFL. It has no power to issue subpoenas; if, for example, the verdict leads to a prompt settlement, a confidentiality provision could prevent her from talking to NFL investigators.
Regardless, the verdict becomes evidence that the NFL could utilize, along with the transcript of Vaccaro’s sworn testimony. It’s unclear when the NFL’s investigation will conclude, or whether the civil verdict would prompt the league to place Hill on paid leave as the investigation proceeds.