David Newton a little more serious about Hardy's situation.

[top dawg]

Well, while some of us are cracking jokes and delving into sexism and being somewhat crass, David Newton is treating Greg Hardy's situation a little more seriously.

 

Unless he's cleared legally, the charges of "assault on a female" -- according to the police report, a woman Hardy has been in an active relationship with since September 2013 -- will be mentioned in almost every story written about Hardy. 

That's not the type of connection team owner Jerry Richardson typically tolerates. The Panthers released Chris Terry during the 2002 season, only a few months after the offensive tackle was charged with assaulting his wife. 

In 2008, with no charges involved, the team suspended Steve Smith for two games after the wide receiver got into a fight with one of his teammates in training camp. 

Hardy should be nervous as he spends the night in the Mecklenburg County Police Department jail. 

He spent four years working his tail off trying to prove he deserved the big contract that he has always wanted. He was willing to work his tail off for another year, while under the franchise tag, to get a long-term deal with the Panthers, a team he had come to love. 

Now his long-term future, at least with the Panthers, could be in jeopardy. 

 

 

Like all of us, I don't necessarily know if Hardy's troubles warrant a release, but we all know that the Big Cat takes these sorts of things very seriously, and Hardy may not have built up enough equity in the FO's mind to get a pass depending on the details.  As Newton points out, it's not like Hardy has been the model citizen (like some of us may have forgotten).

 

His driving record is spotted with speeding charges. His college record is filled with reports of behavioral and maturity issues that played a role in him being a sixth-round pick instead of a first- or second-rounder when the Panthers selected him in 2010. 

"You just wish that light bulb would go on, and stay lit for a long time," Matt Saunders, a close friend and former Ole Miss graduate assistant, told The Commercial Appeal in Memphis in 2008. 

Perhaps the charges Hardy faces now will light that bulb. Perhaps he will become a model citizen the rest of the year and earn that long-term deal he spoke of so often. 

Perhaps the damage already has been done. 

"Release the Kraken" has taken on a new meaning these days. 

And it's nothing to laugh at.

 

 

Now, I did make a light joke about G-man using this to release Hardy, but the charges, at least, are nothing to joke about.

[top dawg]

That beautiful edit button is back.

[Paa Langfart]

Does anyone know if his franchise contract is  negatable if he goes to jail?

[Paa Langfart]

Yeah, we're boned.

 

 

Youre saying we have to pay this woman beating fool $ 14 million  regardless?

[beastson]

Doubt Hardy cares. If he do what he's supposed to do he'll get paid by someone else

 

Some organizations leave personal and business separate as it should be as long as it doesn't affect business

[ed bell]

My inner GM is saying trade, trade, trade, trade, trade, trade.....

[bleys]

no one here has said they believe in beating women so I fail to see the need to shine that armor..  let's not try so hard to paint people in corners on every single fuging issue..

 

just sayin..

[top dawg]

Doubt Hardy cares. If he do what he's supposed to do he'll get paid by someone else

 

Some organizations leave personal and business separate as it should be as long as it doesn't affect business

 

Dude, you can't be that naive.  All of the teams are under the umbrella of the NFL, and the NFL has a history of taking "personal" matters to heart.  Conduct detrimental to the league is real, and it will affect his money if that's all he is concerned about (which I doubt, by the way).

[ed bell]

Doubt Hardy cares. If he do what he's supposed to do he'll get paid by someone else

Some organizations leave personal and business separate as it should be as long as it doesn't affect business

Legal problems do affect the team.

[SCP]

Doubt Hardy cares. If he do what he's supposed to do he'll get paid by someone else

Some organizations leave personal and business separate as it should be as long as it doesn't affect business

This kind of thing could have a short term impact on business but as soon as games begin it will be forgotten like we have seen time and again in pro sports and politics. Right or wrong, athletes, businessmen, and politicians that get poo done tend to get a pass.

That being said we should probably wait for the whole story before passing judgement.

[beastson]

People in the NFL get arrested all the time. Even Jon Beason was arrested. There's guys with lengthy run-ins with the law that's still playing today AND making millions. Hardy won't do any time and eventually this will be the past

[Mr. Scot]

This kind of thing could have a short term impact on business but as soon as games begin it will be forgotten like we have seen time and again in pro sports and politics. Right or wrong, athletes, businessmen, and politicians that get poo done tend to get a pass.

That being said we should probably wait for the whole story before passing judgement.

Some things might, but domestic abuse doesn't get swept under the rug so easily.

The league and the Panthers consider any possibility of violence against women dead serious.

[top dawg]

Tom Sorensen's take

[shelbypanther]

The most news he has made in 2014 so far, since he vanished in the SF game.