Mincey: Tension grew in Cowboys locker room with Greg Hardy
Jeffrey Kahn - 24 hours ago 7
The Dallas Cowboys knew exactly what they were getting themselves into when they signed Greg Hardy last March.
The former Carolina Panthers defensive end carried plenty of baggage after sitting out for nearly a full season in 2014. Yet, Hardy was viewed as a leader almost the second he signed the dotted line at Valley Ranch and became a Cowboy last offseason. The Cowboys did their best to welcome him and at least make him feel at home given his recent history in the NFL.
Cowboys defensive end Jeremy Mincey had a great view of Hardy all year as he sat right next to him in the locker room. Mincey went on "Open Mike" with Fox 4's Mike Doocy Sunday night and discussed his pass-rushing teammate.
Did Hardy wear out his welcome in the locker room this year?
"Well, I wouldn't say. I didn't look at him like that. He sits right beside me so he's welcomed everyday, you know what I mean? I have to deal with him," Mincey said. "Being that you have to deal with him, I grew accustomed to a misunderstood person, and I got to know him a little better than a lot of people did.
"It was tough. You had this guy who you want to be a leader and then you had that guy. It was just too much."
Part of the difficulty to Hardy's stay in Dallas was his inability to become that leader he was originally viewed as. Hardy was reportedly late to team meetings and his teammates "began to sour on him late in the season.”
Did Mincey see that tension growing in the locker room all season?
"Yeah, it definitely grew," Mincey said. "I hate it happening. You're talking about a team that was so close knit and tight and then all of the sudden, it's just different. I wouldn't say he's the reason for that happening. But sometimes if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And sometimes with change, the team is different regardless of how great this athlete is, regardless of this and that. If they're not mentally on the same page, you're not going to get the same result."
Mincey and Hardy are both free agents this offseason and both players have enjoyed their stays in Dallas. Mincey has openly stated his willingness to come back and Hardy has somewhat done the same.
Mincey believes only one of them will get to return to the Cowboys in 2016.
"It will be me or him," Mincey said. "You'll have either or. It's hard to have two type of line mentality guys in one room, so it's tough to figure out who the younger guys are going to follow. Of course they're going to look up to a guy who is a prolific player, but I just understand the game and I know what it takes to win it."
The Cowboys will have a decision to make with free agency set to begin on March 15.
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I would not bring him back uless it was below market value and even then I would have pause.
There are to many young guys on this defense to have that type of guy influencing the lockeroom, it's kind of a Deon situation all over again and he is not that level of player and this team is not mentally strong enough to handle it.
Also this shows that there is still not the level of leadership on this team that is needed, I am for bringing in a couple of veterans who can play that could help the culture.
I know a lot of this had to do with the losing but it's still not something you like hearing.