Now we know why the Cowboys wouldn’t let the media talk to Greg Hardy all summer in training camp. ADVERTISING Now we know why the Cowboys wouldn’t let the media talk to Greg Hardy all summer in training camp. The
Now we know why the Cowboys wouldn’t let the media talk to Greg Hardy all summer in training camp.
The less he speaks, the better off he is.
Jerry Jones should adopt the same philosophy.
Hardy was given an incredible second chance by the Cowboys. He was convicted in a Carolina court of domestic violence in July 2014. His conviction was appealed and Hardy spent the bulk of the 2014 season on the NFL exempt list while his legal issues were being resolved. The charges were eventually dropped last February when the victim refused to cooperate with the district attorney’s office after receiving a financial settlement from Hardy.
The Carolina Panthers said good-bye to their Pro Bowl pass rusher at that point and even though he faced an NFL suspension, the Cowboys signed Hardy to a one-year contract. That suspension came down from the NFL office in April — 10 games — but it was appealed over the summer and reduced to four games.
Hardy returned to Valley Ranch this week and met with the press Tuesday for the first time as a Cowboy. There was no contrition, no remorse, no humility and no sensitivity to the actions that cost him a football season and potentially his career. He was flippant and made inappropriate comments about guns and Tom Brady’s wife.
This guy just doesn’t get it. Talk about anything you want — anything, that is, except women and guns, the two factors that got him into trouble in the first place. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett allegedly admonished Hardy for his comments — then Jones went on the radio Friday morning and defended Hardy and his words.
“Here’s the deal,” Jones said, “unless he looks like he’s contrite, unless he looks like he’s absolutely whipped, and really obviously sorry for the situation, he’s going to get criticized.”
Not only did Jones serve as an enabler for Hardy, he undercut the message of his head coach. Garrett calls the player out — then the team owner calls him back in.
“We want to define ourselves by what we do, not what we say,” Garrett said.
Unfortunately, the words of Hardy and Jones were spoken louder this week than any actions. The fewer words spoken by all parties going forward, the better.
