Someone please just humor me and answer this...

[SnarkAttack]

I'm sure this has been addressed before so forgive me. But if releasing Hardy is imminent and a foregone conclusion (as ALL local/nat'l pundits have communicated) I don't understand  why they've kept him around until now. If they wanted to make a statement about the organization's stance on DV, why not release him (and continue to pay him his guaranteed $) after week 3?

 

If the concern was the player's union's potential reaction to releasing him while he's on the commish's list, well, the season's over.That doesn't apply anymore.

 

I guess I see a pretty glaring disconnect between the local media's take on the situation and the team's apparent stance on Hardy. Am I missing something?

[teeray]

He is an URFA I believe so technically he isn't around anymore and he doesn't need to be released

[Captain Morgan]

there's not a lot of models for us to follow in this situation.

 

Pretty sure Big Cat doesn't want him on the team.  But let's consider this...we were paying him

regardless, so what happens if he is found innocent on appeal?

 

Now we have a chance to resign him IF we want.  But if we cut him and severed ties, he'd probably

be pissed and go elsewhere.  

 

Just a thought

[SnarkAttack]

He is an URFA I believe so technically he isn't around anymore and he doesn't need to be released

 

Might be right - although everything I've read recently from Person/Voth/Jones says something to the extent of "Once the organization parts ways with Hardy" or "Once Hardy is granted his release," etc, etc. 

[Jangler]

by the time he is found not guilty he won't be on the team anymore. And then the Panthers will look kinda of stupid for not standing beside a player and believing in him. 

 

This is why the Panther Org want high character players so they never have to deal with the realities of life, that some time bad sh!t happens to good people and it's time for the Panthers to get over the Rae Carruth BS and take chances from time to time and I think Greg Hardy is the perfect player to take that chance on.

[SnarkAttack]

there's not a lot of models for us to follow in this situation.

 

Pretty sure Big Cat doesn't want him on the team.  But let's consider this...we were paying him

regardless, so what happens if he is found innocent on appeal?

 

Now we have a chance to resign him IF we want.  But if we cut him and severed ties, he'd probably

be pissed and go elsewhere.  

 

Just a thought

Yeah, if I had to guess I'd say Gettlemen would LIKE to have him back back due to his obvious penchant for keeping a dominant D line. You're kind of going in reverse if you release your best d-lineman. I'd bet Jerry wants him back as well but is worried about the PR mess it would create. 

 

My guess is if he's found not guilty, they'll try to sign him to a one-year, ultra team-friendly deal to see if he gets his act together. That, of course, would be awesome.

[teeray]

Might be right - although everything I've read recently from Person/Voth/Jones says something to the extent of "Once the organization parts ways with Hardy" or "Once Hardy is granted his release," etc, etc.

He doesn't need to be granted a release. I don't believe and maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong. But i guess nothing will be 100% until he signs a contract somewhere.

It does seem to me that we are keeping the door slightly cracked for him to come back but local media and Jeremy all say it is not happening.

So I don't know what to think. But it does seem we are keeping that door open even if it just a crack.

It is also apparent that Rivera wants him back if he is found not guilty but ultimately it isn't up to him, and it may not even be up to Gettleman. Richardson might make this call.

[SnarkAttack]

by the time he is found not guilty he won't be on the team anymore. And then the Panthers will look kinda of stupid for not standing beside a player and believing in him. 

 

This is why the Panther Org want high character players so they never have to deal with the realities of life, that some time bad sh!t happens to good people and it's time for the Panthers to get over the Rae Carruth BS and take chances from time to time and I think Greg Hardy is the perfect player to take that chance on.

The "high-character" thing is such a farce. It's the NFL. If you fielded a team full of guys with no records, you'd have the worst team in the history of the league. I also don't think Jerry really cares about that - I think it's something the media has propagated. Hell, the starting quarterback was sanctioned for theft in college. 

[cgarsmoker]

I'm sure this has been addressed before so forgive me. But if releasing Hardy is imminent and a foregone conclusion (as ALL local/nat'l pundits have communicated) I don't understand why they've kept him around until now. If they wanted to make a statement about the organization's stance on DV, why not release him (and continue to pay him his guaranteed $) after week 3?

If the concern was the player's union's potential reaction to releasing him while he's on the commish's list, well, the season's over.That doesn't apply anymore.

I guess I see a pretty glaring disconnect between the local media's take on the situation and the team's apparent stance on Hardy. Am I missing something?

As much as people want to act like they know what's going to happen, they are all speculating. Rivera and Gettleman have decided to let things play out before any decisions are finalized. Rivera was supportive in bringing Hardy back at the latest press conference but Gettleman's always been noncommittal. Nobody knows for sure what will happen until Gettleman reveals his plans but he isn't talking right now.

[Jangler]

and "get over the Rae Carruth BS" is probabaly the wrong words. Get beyond the Rae Carruth BS would be a better choice of words.

[2jakefansinva]

Actually I think it has some vodoo thing to do with the name Rae or Ray.

 

Death and bad sh*t just seem to follow them around.

[Squirrel]

Technically Hardy isn't a FA until March 10th.  It serves no purpose to release him now if he is found not guilty there might be a small chance the Panthers will bring him back either with a new contract or franchise tag. 

 

 

As far as releasing him during the season that is the deal the NFL and the union made after the Ray Rice situation.  Couldn't release a player until the court process had taken its course.

[csx]

He is an URFA I believe so technically he isn't around anymore and he doesn't need to be released

Effectively but not technically until whatever the date is in March. He is still under contract and cannot talk to other teams now.

[teeray]

Effectively but not technically until whatever the date is in March. He is still under contract and cannot talk to other teams now.

Right, but we don't need to release him right? He is gone whenever FA hits. So we won't release him and the fact that we haven't doesn't mean much in the sense of whether we want to keep him or not.

I do agree with OP that Rivera and Gettleman seem to be sending mixed messages that seem to conflict with local media narrative that the door on Hardy has been fully closed.

But usually media isn't so adamant about something unless they have info "off the record" or something. So I don't know what to think.

I do think Rivera wants Hardy back, but it isn't up to him. And I have a gut feel that it isn't up to Gettleman either