MINNEAPOLIS -- Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, who has been on the commissioner’s exempt list since mid-September, has returned to Twitter as @OverlordKraken.

Hardy’s previous Twitter account, @ItsGHardy, was deleted shortly after the 2013 Pro Bowl selection was arrested in May for assaulting and threatening ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder.

A close associate of Hardy’s verified on Saturday that @OverlordKraken is indeed Hardy. No specific reason was given for the return.

Hardy was found guilty of domestic violence by a Mecklenburg County judge on July 15. He appealed and requested a jury trial, which recently was postponed until sometime early in 2015.

When placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List prior to the third game, the league said Hardy would remain sidelined with pay until his case was resolved.

Hardy began referring to himself as the mythical sea creature "The Kraken" several years ago. During a Sunday night telecast last season he introduced himself as "The Kraken" from "Hogwarts."

This was Hardy’s first tweet under his new name:

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