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Moore: Cowboys won't say it publicly, but here's why Greg Hardy is still a free-agent outcast
By David Moore , Staff Writer Contact David Moore on Twitter: @DavidMooreDMN
Now that everyone has had a few days to digest Greg Hardy's comments, express their incredulity and wonder what team will take him now, let's take a closer look at the reasons behind the Cowboys' lack of interest.
Why is Hardy persona non grata at Valley Ranch? Why has the club determined it makes more sense to retain Jack Crawford and add Benson Mayowa than keep a former Pro Bowl defensive end?
Here's some background that no one in the Cowboys' organization is willing to discuss publicly.
Nov. 6 was a turning point. That's the day Deadspin released photos of a battered Nicole Holder.
Law enforcement officials, prosecutors, Hardy's defense team and NFL and Players Association officials had obviously seen the photos. But this was the first time the public had a glimpse into what took place the night of May 13, 2014 in Charlotte.
Hardy was a different player from that point forward. The defensive end who collected three sacks, forced a fumble and grabbed an interception in his first three games had just three sacks and no turnovers in his final nine games with the Cowboys. A player credited with five quarterback hurries twice in his first three games failed to reach that number again in any game for the remainder of the season.
The invincible façade that Hardy and his alter ego, the Kraken, worked so hard to project began to crack under the weight of those photos. He wasn't the first professional athlete to watch his professional dominance fade after revelations in his personal life.
Tiger Woods has never been the same since he drove his Escalade into a fire hydrant after his former wife confronted him about his infidelities.
Is there more to the decline of Hardy, Woods and other athletes who have suffered this sort of high-profile shame? Of course. It would be ridiculous to suggest one event was the downfall for a defensive end or the world's No. 1 golfer.
But Cowboys officials acknowledge the behavioral issues that existed with Hardy before Nov. 6 were more pronounced once those photos became public. The number of times he was late to meetings increased. So did reports of him being spotted at bars in downtown Dallas late into the evening in the days leading up to games.
The release of those photos clearly impacted Hardy's behavior and began to alter his relationship with the club.
Let's make this clear: Randy Gregory is culpable for his actions. The defensive end has failed four drug tests in the past year and will miss the first four games of this season as he serves a suspension.
Gregory has a problem with addiction. That's not Hardy's fault.
But there was a growing concern at Valley Ranch that Hardy had become a negative influence on Gregory during the player's rookie season. It's a stretch to say that Hardy took Gregory under his wing, but he certainly didn't provide a positive example of what it takes to be a professional in the league.
The Cowboys have more faith in Gregory's future than Hardy's present. That's another reason the veteran defensive end isn't back.
The one-year arrangement Hardy entered into with the Cowboys afforded the club plenty of protection based on the number of games he played, which was unknown at the time Hardy signed due to his impending suspension.
But it did more. It gave Hardy the chance to reclaim his career and play his way into the long-term contract he craved. The deal was structured to bring out his best and encourage his best behavior.
And how did he respond? If Hardy conducted himself that way with so much on the line, does any team believe his behavior would improve with long-term security?
Hardy didn't help himself with his recent ESPN interview. But his actions in his final two months with the Cowboys have more to do with his limbo than his words in recent days.
Head coach Jason Garrett likes to say he wants the right kind of guy to play for the Cowboys. He amended his statement after Hardy signed to say, "If we didn't believe he could become the right kind of guy, we wouldn't have signed him.''
Hardy never became the right kind of guy. That's why the Cowboys moved on and Hardy's free agent options are limited.
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Pretty clear that Hardy went off the deep end after the TMZ stuff came out. Before that he was kicking ass and taking names, Jerry was talking extension.
I just think they are not even bothering to figure that part out. They just saw that he was being difficult after that point.
Remember, this is the team and head coach who cut players for not wearing fucking suits during travel for a road game.
Coach is a robot, wants similar automatons. He is just not equipped to deal with personalities. That's why he will never be a successful NFL head coach.
The best managers know how to look at people as individuals and react with specifics in mind.
By David Moore , Staff Writer Contact David Moore on Twitter: @DavidMooreDMN
Now that everyone has had a few days to digest Greg Hardy's comments, express their incredulity and wonder what team will take him now, let's take a closer look at the reasons behind the Cowboys' lack of interest.
Why is Hardy persona non grata at Valley Ranch? Why has the club determined it makes more sense to retain Jack Crawford and add Benson Mayowa than keep a former Pro Bowl defensive end?
Here's some background that no one in the Cowboys' organization is willing to discuss publicly.
Nov. 6 was a turning point. That's the day Deadspin released photos of a battered Nicole Holder.
Law enforcement officials, prosecutors, Hardy's defense team and NFL and Players Association officials had obviously seen the photos. But this was the first time the public had a glimpse into what took place the night of May 13, 2014 in Charlotte.
Hardy was a different player from that point forward. The defensive end who collected three sacks, forced a fumble and grabbed an interception in his first three games had just three sacks and no turnovers in his final nine games with the Cowboys. A player credited with five quarterback hurries twice in his first three games failed to reach that number again in any game for the remainder of the season.
The invincible façade that Hardy and his alter ego, the Kraken, worked so hard to project began to crack under the weight of those photos. He wasn't the first professional athlete to watch his professional dominance fade after revelations in his personal life.
Tiger Woods has never been the same since he drove his Escalade into a fire hydrant after his former wife confronted him about his infidelities.
Is there more to the decline of Hardy, Woods and other athletes who have suffered this sort of high-profile shame? Of course. It would be ridiculous to suggest one event was the downfall for a defensive end or the world's No. 1 golfer.
But Cowboys officials acknowledge the behavioral issues that existed with Hardy before Nov. 6 were more pronounced once those photos became public. The number of times he was late to meetings increased. So did reports of him being spotted at bars in downtown Dallas late into the evening in the days leading up to games.
The release of those photos clearly impacted Hardy's behavior and began to alter his relationship with the club.
Let's make this clear: Randy Gregory is culpable for his actions. The defensive end has failed four drug tests in the past year and will miss the first four games of this season as he serves a suspension.
Gregory has a problem with addiction. That's not Hardy's fault.
But there was a growing concern at Valley Ranch that Hardy had become a negative influence on Gregory during the player's rookie season. It's a stretch to say that Hardy took Gregory under his wing, but he certainly didn't provide a positive example of what it takes to be a professional in the league.
The Cowboys have more faith in Gregory's future than Hardy's present. That's another reason the veteran defensive end isn't back.
The one-year arrangement Hardy entered into with the Cowboys afforded the club plenty of protection based on the number of games he played, which was unknown at the time Hardy signed due to his impending suspension.
But it did more. It gave Hardy the chance to reclaim his career and play his way into the long-term contract he craved. The deal was structured to bring out his best and encourage his best behavior.
And how did he respond? If Hardy conducted himself that way with so much on the line, does any team believe his behavior would improve with long-term security?
Hardy didn't help himself with his recent ESPN interview. But his actions in his final two months with the Cowboys have more to do with his limbo than his words in recent days.
Head coach Jason Garrett likes to say he wants the right kind of guy to play for the Cowboys. He amended his statement after Hardy signed to say, "If we didn't believe he could become the right kind of guy, we wouldn't have signed him.''
Hardy never became the right kind of guy. That's why the Cowboys moved on and Hardy's free agent options are limited.
-----------------
Pretty clear that Hardy went off the deep end after the TMZ stuff came out. Before that he was kicking ass and taking names, Jerry was talking extension.
I just think they are not even bothering to figure that part out. They just saw that he was being difficult after that point.
Remember, this is the team and head coach who cut players for not wearing fucking suits during travel for a road game.
Coach is a robot, wants similar automatons. He is just not equipped to deal with personalities. That's why he will never be a successful NFL head coach.
The best managers know how to look at people as individuals and react with specifics in mind.
