Photo Credit: Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports
One of the worst sports stories this year has to be Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy’s very public domestic violence case. Hardy was initially placed on the league’s exempt list and was later released by the Carolina Panthers after he was convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend. Initially, the league suspended him for ten games because the NFL loves to give players who hit their partners second chances. However, after appealing the decision the league reduced the suspension to just four games.
Being one to cause controversy, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones decided it was a good idea to give Hardy a second chance in Dallas. He signed a one-year deal with the team. It went about as smoothly as we all imagined it would. During a game against the New York Giants, Hardy was seen screaming at players, including Dez Bryant, as well as slapping a clipboard out of a coach’s hands. Jones still stuck by his player calling him “passionate” and a “true leader” in the locker room. Popular website Deadspin released the police photos showing the bruises left by Hardy on his ex-girlfriend. Still, the team stuck by him and he faced no disciplinary action.
The charges have since been expunged after Hardy appealed the case. His victim chose not to show up in court and the case was dismissed. Jones has talked about signing Hardy to a long term deal just further proving that nothing bad will happen to you as long as you can rush the quarterback.
