Is anyone really surprised at this point? The fact that Greg Hardy doesn’t have a team now in mid-May shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Not you. Not me. Not his agent. I would have to say that the only individual on the face of the earth that is stunned by what has transpired so far is Hardy himself.
Simply amazing how hard of a fall Hardy has endured at this point and how it can be the beginning of the end for the 6’4 280 pound pass rusher out of the University of Mississippi. For Hardy, this is the longest chapter of his life and in reality, no ending seems to be in sight.
His 2015 season was only 12 games long and produced a stat line of 23 tackles, six sacks, one forced fumble and one interception. Yet, his one year deal worth $11.3 million dollars did not mirror the type of production that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones envisioned upon signing him.
The average stat line honestly played second-fiddle to the on-field, off-field turmoil that hung over Hardy like a storm cloud in April. Who can really blame Jones for waving goodbye to Greg Hardy after having the pass rusher for 12 games worth of public relation embarrassment, sideline bullying, and the cherry on top, a lack of great production that equaled his payroll?
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The most interesting thing about Hardy is that his current unemployment status may be more due to his rebellious personality than it does to his domestic violence accusation dating back to July 2014. The accusation ultimately resulted in the charges being dropped and his initial 10-game suspension being shrunken to four games in 2015, however, many are still hanging on to the notion that Hardy was not as squeaky clean as it may have seemed to be.
Whether he is truly innocent or not, I’d rather not dabble in as only a select few in this world truly know what occurred at that time. Despite that, Hardy is unwanted by the front offices of the NFL.
Solicited #NFL GMs on Greg Hardy. Most praised @RosenhausSports for his efforts. But prevailing opinion: "Greg Hardy? Nobody wants him.''
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) May 13, 2016
As you can tell, the counseling that is now underway is a pat on the back for Hardy. That pat on the back is exactly where it ends. Let’s be honest, it’s almost two years too late. The counseling efforts would have looked better during the summer of 2014 when his legal matters began to unfold.
The attempts would have been a little more believed while he had time on his hands during his suspension at the beginning of the 2015 season. Kudos to putting this plan together to seek guidance but at this juncture, it’s hard to debunk his counseling as a ploy to convince teams that he’s “changed” or “matured”. As is the counseling he’s providing to fifth grade elementary kids.
Greg Hardy talking to a bunch of fifth-grade students... What could possibly go wrong? https://t.co/iWOIUrMpb5 pic.twitter.com/ESpZ1PpPfF
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) May 13, 2016
Again, more of a strategic move by Hardy and his agent Drew Rosenhaus instead of a player giving back to a younger generation. The broad outlook for Hardy’s career looks like a narrow path on a dirt road with no street lights. A dark view in sight. The fact that Jerry Jones gives up on you as a player and a person says a lot. The only person Hardy can blame is himself. Not the female accuser, not his agent, not the Dallas fans who ridiculed Jones and the team for bringing on a headache in 2015. Hardy should blame himself.
So as I swing things back to the opening title of this column, Hardy is another example. Along with former players such as Aaron Hernandez, Joseph Randle, Josh Gordon, and others. Another prime example of that throughout all of the cameras, the money, the fame, the popularity, the talent, these same football players who run fast, catch everything in sight, throw the ball far, or hit other players with no regard for human life, athletes are humans.
The money and the limelight doesn’t hide the woes that exist believe it or not. In Hardy’s case, an opportunity was wasted. Another example of why athletes must develop a balancing act when it comes to playing sports. A balancing act that includes playing the game fully and maneuvering safely over the pot holes that are scattered throughout their path off-the-field.