Cowboys’ Hardy gets suspension reduced from 10 games to 4

Hardy appealed the suspension and arbitrator Harold Henderson cut it down by more than half.

The Dallas Cowboys signed Hardy to a one-year deal this offseason, knowing a suspension was a possibility, if not likely. For what it’s worth, Kessler also represented Tom Brady in his recent Deflategate suspension appeal.

Greg Hardy’s suspension was reduced from 10 games to four. He was first convicted in a North Carolina bench trial of assaulting ex- girlfriend Nicole Holder, but the charges were later dropped when Holder failed to appear for a subsequent jury trial. However Hardy appealed the judge’s decision, Holder eventually refused to testify, and the case was dismissed in February. If he brings it to court, Hardy and the NFL Players Association could argue that Hardy’s case should fall under the league’s old rules on domestic violence – the ones that resulted in Ray Rice’s initial two-game suspension. There is a strong chance Bell’s suspension gets reduced to two games, but fans also shouldn’t hold their breath.

Hardy played just one game last season, but was paid his $13 million salary while on the commissioner’s exempt list.

If Pierre-Paul signs the contract before training camp and the Giants determine he can’t play, he could be placed on the non-football injury list and be forced to miss the first six games of the season without pay.

It’s possible Hardy could decide to continue to fight the sentence, taking the matter to court – but that has yet to be determined.

Hardy, formerly a member of the Carolina Panthers, was accused of violating the league’s personal conduct policy for his alleged role in an violent incident with a former girlfriend.