Cowboys’ Greg Hardy gets suspension reduced from 10 games to four

Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson successfully challenged Henderson, a ex- National Football League executive, in federal court over his suspension related to a child abuse case in Texas.

Hardy was originally suspended for 10 games because of “conduct detrimental to the league” stemming from a domestic violence case that was eventually dropped.

Greg Hardy was ultimately cleared of the charges against him after his accuser could not be located for his appeal trial.

In March, Greg Hardy signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys that could be worth over $13 million.

What’s heartening, however, is the message Henderson sent in upholding Hardy’s suspension: Behavior like Hardy’s violates the NFL’s personal conduct policy, and Goodell has every right to impose punishment for it.

He will eligible to make his return on October 11 against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

Should Hardy’s suspension stand, the Cowboys will be without both he and linebacker Rolando McClain for the first four weeks of the season.

Jason Pierre-Paul’s future with the Giants remains uncertain after a fireworks accident, even though a person with knowledge of the contract said the team has not rescinded its $14.8 million franchise tag offer. He will be allowed to participate in all preseason activities and offseason programs. If Goodell opts not to reduce Brady’s suspension, the result of Hardy’s appeal, and the fact that the two players are scheduled to serve equal suspensions will surely be brought up as the latest example of the league’s recurring tone-deafness. The egregious conduct exhibited here is indefensible in the NFL.

Drew Rosenhaus, Hardy’s agent, said he will confer with Hardy, the NFLPA and his lawyers to discuss their next move.

Hardy, who had been placed on commissioner Roger Goodell’s exempt list after only one game last season after a domestic violence incident, was initially given a 10-game suspension after his legal case was resolved, with the league citing “sufficient credible evidence that Hardy engaged in conduct that violated NFL policies in multiple respects and with aggravating circumstances”. Henderson then went on to say he believed ten games was “simply too much” in his view and modified the suspension to four games, adding that all other terms were to remain in place.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy (76) takes off his helmet… The game will be played in Dallas. And yet, those details weren’t so damaging that Henderson couldn’t weight them against 10 games and feel some sense of injustice – for Hardy, not his alleged victim.

The 26-year-old Pierre-Paul has 42 career sacks, including 12 1/2 last season. Hardy reportedly did not testify in his appeal of the suspension and according to PFT, Jerry Jones said in a statement that the team is “looking forward” to “having Greg be a part of the team”.