Dallas Cowboys free-agent focus: Greg Hardy

Dallas Cowboys free-agent focus: Greg Hardy
Jeffrey Kahn - 24 hours ago

The Dallas Cowboys head into free agency with a pass-rushing need and their focus could shift to defensive end Greg Hardy.

Former pass-rushing great Jason Taylor believes the Cowboys would be a good landing spot for Hardy, via Twitter:

Hardy, 26, missed nearly the entirety of the 2014 season due to a domestic violence incident. The former Carolina Panther is currently seeking reinstatement into the league, and there's a high probability that he'll accomplish that.

Is Hardy a player the Cowboys would really want to pursue this offseason?

Dallas Morning News staff writer covering the Cowboys John Machota believes owner/GM Jerry Jones would be open to signing Hardy:

"There are some serious red flags there. But if he's willing to give the Cowboys a team-friendly deal, I wouldn't be surprised if Jerry Jones gave him a shot. Not sure there's anyone in the NFL more sympathetic than Jerry Jones when it comes to giving guys second chances."

The keyword: "team-friendly deal." The Cowboys are wanting to spend the appropriate amount of money on free agents this summer and signing bargain pass rushers will most likely be part of the plan.

As for why Hardy would be a nice fit? Before his incident, Hardy collected 15 sacks in 2013 and 11 in 2012. He was sent to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl in 2013 and made second team All-Pro that year.


Hardy's a serious workhorse and goes hard for all three downs, four if necessary. Watch his highlights in the video embedded above. At 6-4, 275 lbs., Hardy gives tackles difficulty with his impressive footwork and imposing strength. And, he's still on the rise as a 26-year old in the NFL.

The numbers don't lie for Hardy, but the price may be the boiling point. Hardy's a monster and a risk the Cowboys should take, even if the team has to spend a little more based on the defensive end market in free agency.

p1_ said:

Cowboys a team-friendly deal,

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I can already see this as the Cowboys mantra this off season.

I'm not looking to sign a bunch of guys but we need to do something in free agency. This team is actually close. The problem is you aren't going to be able to rebuild the entire defense in the draft. If you wait a year or two for the D-lineman we draft to develop, the window with Romo may have closed.

If we could land Hardy I'd homer out like crazy. A guy like that was exactly what we needed to make a play against Rodgers in the playoffs.

The NFL did rule yesterday he can sign a contract while on the Goodell shit list. Even if he gets popped with a 2-4 game suspension, he's good enough to be worth it. He also might be a little cheaper.

boozeman said:

The NFL did rule yesterday he can sign a contract while on the Goodell shit list. Even if he gets popped with a 2-4 game suspension, he's good enough to be worth it. He also might be a little cheaper.

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I don't know how they even make a 2-4 game suspension stick after Rice and Peterson got overturned. I think he pleads to the NFL equivalent of time served.

I wouldbe all in for Hardy and Suh. Two players entering their primes that would together transform this defense and make the team among the favorites. And it would allow them to BPA the draft.

Won't happen, but I'd like to see it.

boozeman said:

The NFL did rule yesterday he can sign a contract while on the Goodell shit list. Even if he gets popped with a 2-4 game suspension, he's good enough to be worth it. He also might be a little cheaper.

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The NFL is fucking him over big time...yeah he can sign, but teams can definitely lose this as leverage to get him for cheaper. Teams should know from the get go how many games he will miss.

I'm 100% sure Suh isn't in the equation, but Hardy would have me homering out all by himself

Suh wants paid more than JJ Watt. Fuck that.

BipolarFan said:

Suh wants paid more than JJ Watt. Fuck that.

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Watt actually signed a pretty reasonable contract for the caliber of player that he is. Plus the nature of contracts is that they continually get bigger every year. So eventually a lesser player then Watt is going to sign a bigger contract then Watt. Just the nature of the business.

I agree though. I love Suh, but I don't really want to plug a 100+ mil dollar deal into a 28 year old crazy person.

BipolarFan said:

Suh wants paid more than JJ Watt. Fuck that.

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Then he can go fuck himself in the ass. Seriously. Suh is a deluded fool if he thinks he's anywhere near Watt's league.

ravidubey said:

Then he can go fuck himself in the ass. Seriously. Suh is a deluded fool if he thinks he's anywhere near Watt's league.

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no real surprise there.