Greg Hardy’s Suspension: Does Dallas Regret Signing Troubled NFL Star Already?


The NFL announced it’s 2015 schedule on Tuesday night. The following day, Cowboys DE Greg Hardy learned he was about to miss over half those games.

The NFL announced, in a statement released earlier today, that it is suspending Hardy for 10 games without pay because of circumstances relating to domestic violence charges levied against the troubled Dallas Cowboy.

“Greg Hardy of the Dallas Cowboys was notified today that he is suspended without pay for the team’s first 10 games of the 2015 regular season for conduct detrimental to the league in violation of the NFL Constitution and By-Laws, the NFL Player Contract, and the NFL Personal Conduct Policy.

In a letter from Commissioner Roger Goodell, Hardy was informed that an extensive two-month NFL investigation following the dismissal of his case in North Carolina state court determined that there was sufficient credible evidence that Hardy engaged in conduct that violated NFL policies in multiple respects and with aggravating circumstances.”

Hardy and the Dallas Cowboys themselves knew suspension was a possibility thanks to a complete revamp of the NFL’s domestic abuse policy following the Ray Rice scandal last season. But as NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports, the length of Greg’s suspension has taken everyone by surprise.

He also mentions the major hit to the wallet Hardy is facing because of the 10-game suspension.

So does Dallas regret signing Greg, despite knowing that a suspension was looming? At this point, it’s too soon to tell. They’re success last year was based on a stellar offensive line and an improved defense. That defense however lacked a serious pass rusher of Hardy’s ilk anyway, so it’s unlikely there will be a huge drop-off until Hardy returns.

Ironically enough, Hardy will suit up for the Cowboys against his former team, the Carolina Panthers, when Dallas hosts them on Thanksgiving night — but not before missing two pivotal back-to-back division games early on in the season.

Division games can be a huge factor in determining whether the Cowboys make a playoff run or end up sitting on the couch watching others compete for a Super Bowl. And for the first ten games of the season, sitting around is all Greg Hardy will be able to do.

[Photo credit: Grant Halverson / Getty Images]

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