Greg Hardy was suspended for 10 games by the NFL due to a domestic violence issue that he had last year. He missed a good chunk of games last year due to the incident, and was more than deserving of the full suspension this year. Unfortunately, Harold Henderson decided to uphold the suspension by the NFL but lessen the discipline to just four regular season games.
The Dallas Cowboys were the team that decided to take the chance and sign Hardy despite knowing that the NFL was likely to suspend him. Jerry Jones knew that his defense needed a big boost, and that is exactly what Hardy will bring to their defense.
CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 12: Greg Hardy #76 of the Carolina Panthers runs onto the field during player introductions against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Bank of America Stadium on January 12, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
During the 2013 season with the Carolina Panthers, Hardy ended up recording 59 tackles, 15.0 sacks and a forced fumble. Those numbers would be exactly what the doctor ordered to help turn the Cowboys’ defense around, and they are getting very lucky with this type of a decrease in his suspension. It is yet another disappointing piece of news surrounding the NFL, and it never should have been lessened.
Hardy was originally suspended after news came out that he had beaten his girlfriend and proceeded to throw her on a bed that was holding multiple firearms.
Simply hearing that story should force the NFL to consider banning Hardy for a longer period of time. They took fairly harsh discipline out on Ray Rice, and suspended him indefinitely and he still hasn’t found a new job since being reinstated earlier this year. Hardy is simply getting a smack on the wrist, which proves once again that the punishment does not fit the crime.
Missing a chance to take a hard stance on the growing domestic violence is a big mistake for the NFL. Roger Goodell was not given the power to make the decision on his own, but it is still a shame that Henderson made the decision that he did.
Looking at the situation that Hardy put himself in, he is lucky to not be facing substantial jail time. Any normal person that did what he did would have been charged and facing time in prison at this point in time. Instead, Hardy is getting a pass because he has money and is looked at as a celebrity.
At 26 years old, Hardy is in the prime of his career and will become a star with the Cowboys. He is moving forward past this entire situation without much of anything being done about it. It once again shows that when this type of a situation shows up in professional sports, the athlete is viewed as being more important than the women that is being abused.
All of that being said, it will be interesting to see what the NFL does about these situations moving forward. They have to figure out a better way to get things taken care of, and that became even more obvious with this ruling. Hardy should not be playing after Week 4 this year, but the system failed and he will be allowed to continue his career with the Cowboys as a star.
