Stabler wasn't placed on istrative leave he "put in his papers" according to Cragen. Meloni had quit the show according to sources because he wanted more money. Just saying...

I'm so disappointed with Season 5. There was such a build up of expectation. I have shades of deja Vu it's Umbrella Academy all over again. I didn't binge on the episodes like the previous ones. It was stop and go. They were slow and stagnant. I'll never get those hours back.