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CHARLOTTE, NC — The pressure on the Panthers is growing. Defensive End Greg Hardy, found guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend in July, is still playing, still getting paid by his owner and team. And that’s not sitting well with many football fans.
“To those who would suggest that we’ve been too slow to act, I ask that you consider not to be too quick to judge,” those were the words from Panthers’ owner Jerry Richardson last night.
Richardson was talking about what critics are calling a soft stance when it comes to Hardy, a man convicted by a judge of domestic violence in July.
“Front page Yahoo.com, not the sports page, front page–Greg Hardy picture, in his face paint–and the title was the NFL has its next issue,” ESPN Charlotte’s Chris Allison was calling out the situation on his afternoon radio show.
Neither the League nor the Panthers have disciplined Hardy. The NFL says Hardy’s case remains under review. He is scheduled for a jury trial in November.
“Anybody that’s charged with a domestic violence offense, much less an NFL player, this isn’t some time that you’re going to want to go in front of a jury right now,” says Charlotte defense attorney Brad Smith.
Not after the world saw the video of Baltimore Raven Ray Rice punching his then-fiance in the face, knocking her out in a casino elevator.
But Hardy’s trial could be delayed. Smith says since Hardy is not in jail, and North Carolina’s court system is backed up, it could be well into next year before he goes to trial.
“It’s slow, underfunded, not a lot of court space, not a lot of court dates,” says Smith. “And so, probably, Mr. Hardy’s case is likely behind cases that are far older than his.”
The public outcry for Hardy to be punished in some way is getting louder.
“If you ask the NFL, ‘Do you really care about women?’ It’s shown by its actions that it doesn’t,” says former Vikings’ punter Chris Kluwe. “It’s shown that it doesn’t punish players for domestic violence.”
The outspoken NFL veteran says if Jerry Richardson and the team take action it will…
“Really send a message by saying, ‘You know what, Greg Hardy is a really a very good defensive lineman for us, but we care more about how we’re perceived with domestic violence than about how Greg Hardy can contribute to this team’,” says Kluwe.
ESPN Charlotte Radio’s Bobby Rosinski says fan reaction to Greg Hardy is divided today, but that may not be the case come Sunday when the Panthers host the Lions.
“If he goes out there Sunday, sacks Matthew Stafford, you telling me there’s going to be boos in Bank of America stadium?” says Rosinski. “I say no.”
The Panthers are in a position where they might never have to discipline Hardy if he is found guilty again.
“My feeling is, at the end of this season you won’t see Greg Hardy in a Panther uniform again anyway,” says Rosinski.
Hardy is on a one-year, franchise tag contract. The team could simply choose not to re-sign him.
