Panthers defensive end and soon-to-be free agent Greg Hardy will be allowed to sign a new contract even if he remains on the commissioner's exempt list. League spokesman Greg Aiello said Thursday in an email to The Associated Press, ''There's nothing to prevent a player on the Exempt list without a contract from signing a new one.'' NFL free agency begins Tuesday. Hardy was scheduled to meet with NFL officials Wednesday in New York to discuss his domestic violence case, but no resolution has been announced. The NFL has said it is investigating Hardy's case. More...