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Jerry Jones: Time off hurt Greg Hardy's production
6:02 PM ET
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Dallas Cowboys say they want to keep free-agent linebacker Rolando McClain. They say want to keep free-agent cornerback Morris Claiborne and free-agent tight end James Hanna. Why can't they say they want -- or don't want -- to keep free-agent defensive end Greg Hardy?
There is only a sliver of a possibility Hardy returns in 2016 but owner and general manager Jerry Jones will not close the door all the way, at least publicly.
Jones would not discuss the team's plan. Earlier in the week executive vice president Stephen Jones said a decision has not been reached by the team on Hardy's future. On Friday, the Cowboys had a face-to-face meeting with agent Drew Rosenhaus.
"We all agreed that we would have loved to see him have 17 sacks," Jones said. "We all agree with that. But we didn't say he wasn't a meaningful part of the defense. He was. He was impactful on our defense in his own way. Was he impactful to the level that we hoped he might be? I'm going to say it one more time: we underestimated his comeback time after being laid off during that time. We all know this elephant in the room. We understand it. That's as far as I'm going to go with it."
It's actually multiple elephants. Hardy's four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy because of a domestic violence incident in 2014 in Charlotte was a constant shadow over the Cowboys in 2015. He was also late for or missed meetings as well as other transgressions that caused drama in certain parts of the locker room.
Hardy played in 12 games and finished with six sacks. When he put four sacks up in the first four games he played, Jones spoke of wanting to keep Hardy on a long-term deal. Hardy had just one full sack in a game in the final eight games.
He was reprimanded at least three times by coach Jason Garrett and had a stern meeting in November with Jones.
Hardy missed the final 15 games of the 2014 season after he was placed on the commissioner's exempt list for the incident with a former girlfriend. He was initially suspended 10 games but had it reduced on appeal to four games.
When asked why it didn't work out for Hardy in 2015, Jones expanded on the 19-game absence over the previous two seasons.
"First of all we had such a high bar for his expectations," Jones said. "I'm reminded time and time again no matter how great the player if they haven't played for a season and half or two seasons, it's impossible for them to come back and play at the level that they may have played prior to that. That alone is dreaming. You don't lay off for year or a year and half. Even though you are a great player, you just lose something in getting back when you are laid off. We all underestimated the effect of his layoff.
"Obviously off the field issues would have impacted anything. I think that was impactful and the fact that we weren't winning. Now one was a cause and effect. Had he had a better season at that time that would have helped you win. You seem to have better seasons out of players when you are on a winning streak then when you are having trouble winning and losing. I think that had an impact. If we had been sitting there when 10 or 11 wins, then Hardy or others could have had a better year."
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Probably the smartest commentary I have heard from him in a while.
Now, do the smart thing. Now go sign the guy back to another team friendly deal and minimize the loss of Gregory and the need to reach for a pass rusher with the fourth pick.
6:02 PM ET
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Dallas Cowboys say they want to keep free-agent linebacker Rolando McClain. They say want to keep free-agent cornerback Morris Claiborne and free-agent tight end James Hanna. Why can't they say they want -- or don't want -- to keep free-agent defensive end Greg Hardy?
There is only a sliver of a possibility Hardy returns in 2016 but owner and general manager Jerry Jones will not close the door all the way, at least publicly.
Jones would not discuss the team's plan. Earlier in the week executive vice president Stephen Jones said a decision has not been reached by the team on Hardy's future. On Friday, the Cowboys had a face-to-face meeting with agent Drew Rosenhaus.
"We all agreed that we would have loved to see him have 17 sacks," Jones said. "We all agree with that. But we didn't say he wasn't a meaningful part of the defense. He was. He was impactful on our defense in his own way. Was he impactful to the level that we hoped he might be? I'm going to say it one more time: we underestimated his comeback time after being laid off during that time. We all know this elephant in the room. We understand it. That's as far as I'm going to go with it."
It's actually multiple elephants. Hardy's four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy because of a domestic violence incident in 2014 in Charlotte was a constant shadow over the Cowboys in 2015. He was also late for or missed meetings as well as other transgressions that caused drama in certain parts of the locker room.
Hardy played in 12 games and finished with six sacks. When he put four sacks up in the first four games he played, Jones spoke of wanting to keep Hardy on a long-term deal. Hardy had just one full sack in a game in the final eight games.
He was reprimanded at least three times by coach Jason Garrett and had a stern meeting in November with Jones.
Hardy missed the final 15 games of the 2014 season after he was placed on the commissioner's exempt list for the incident with a former girlfriend. He was initially suspended 10 games but had it reduced on appeal to four games.
When asked why it didn't work out for Hardy in 2015, Jones expanded on the 19-game absence over the previous two seasons.
"First of all we had such a high bar for his expectations," Jones said. "I'm reminded time and time again no matter how great the player if they haven't played for a season and half or two seasons, it's impossible for them to come back and play at the level that they may have played prior to that. That alone is dreaming. You don't lay off for year or a year and half. Even though you are a great player, you just lose something in getting back when you are laid off. We all underestimated the effect of his layoff.
"Obviously off the field issues would have impacted anything. I think that was impactful and the fact that we weren't winning. Now one was a cause and effect. Had he had a better season at that time that would have helped you win. You seem to have better seasons out of players when you are on a winning streak then when you are having trouble winning and losing. I think that had an impact. If we had been sitting there when 10 or 11 wins, then Hardy or others could have had a better year."
------------------
Probably the smartest commentary I have heard from him in a while.
Now, do the smart thing. Now go sign the guy back to another team friendly deal and minimize the loss of Gregory and the need to reach for a pass rusher with the fourth pick.