Newly signed Dallas Cowboys Defensive End Greg Hardy has been handed a 10 game suspension by NFL?League Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Hardy, who signed a one year deal with Dallas in March, will look to appeal his suspension. If Hardy loses the appeal his first appearance in Dallas?could be against his former team the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 26th.
Goodell’s decision comes after what the league called an “extensive two-month investigation.”
Last July, Hardy was found guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend Nicole Holder. Hardy was originally handed a 60 day suspended sentence and 18 months probation. After appealing the ruling, the case was dismissed, and for many it may have ended there, but not for Hardy.
The case was taken on by the NFL and NFLPA with Lisa Friel, senior vice president at T&M Protection Resources. Friel,?along with the league, were allowed to look at court documents,?the only source of information after Holder failed to cooperate after agreeing to an apparent but unknown settlement.
According to the league’s investigation Hardy used physical force against Holder in “at least four instances.” Hardy had apparently used physical force which landed Holder in the bathtub and on a futon at a separate time. Hardy also put his hands on Holder’s neck and pushed her against a wall.
Hardy signed?one year Dallas this past March, but it did not include any guaranteed money. The deal could have been worth up to 13.2 million.?Most of that comes from a per game roster bonus that is worth around 9.5 million. Hardy’s maximum payout for roster bonuses now will become 3.5 million, with a base salary of $750,000.
What started as a rocky road for Greg Hardy last year in Carolina?ultimately led to his suspension, having only appeared in one game last year. We all thought that Greg Hardy’s suspension was coming and that he was a risky pick-up?and now?those feelings have been validated.
