It’s official: Greg Hardy’s domestic violence court case has been pushed back. And not just later in the month; it’s been put off until after the season is over. Which puts the Panthers in a difficult situation. Either he could keep sitting it out, collecting on that $13.1 million salary without doing a thing. Or, they could try to get him back on the field.
It took a change in the rules for the league to let him sit out so much time with pay. And that was when everybody thought he’d be in court later this month. But now it’s not going to happen until sometime next year because of case loads.
That’s a long time to cough up $770,000 a week without getting any work out of him. Especially somebody as good as Hardy. It makes Coach Ron Rivera want him back on the field, since he’s already sat out for six games, the punishment he would get if he were convicted.
In an interview with ESPN, talking about bringing him back, Coach said, “In so many words, ‘yes’. If things had all transpired and gone a certain way, then his availability might be now.”
But the NFL as an organization still has a little image problem that it’s trying to deal with. The “No More” domestic violence campaign has been running for about a week now. Which could present a serious conflicting message, if Hardy comes back.
But some argue, Hardy’s bench trial verdict doesn’t or shouldn’t count, since he’s appealed. Which some might say means he’s being punished without just cause.
So what do you say? Our Man on the Edge, Robert Wilder, hit the streets to ask if you think Greg Hardy should be playing again.
