NFL gets serious about domestic violence, gives star harsh punishment for beating woman
Greg Hardy, a big-time pass rusher who played for the Carolina Panthers and signed by the Dallas Cowboys in the offseason, was suspended for 10 games by the National Football League for allegedly beating up a woman.
He was actually convicted by a judge, but because of some unique North Carolina laws, he had a chance to go before a jury. Before that happened, though, he essentially paid the woman off, she stopped cooperating with prosecutors and disappeared, and the case was dropped. During that time, Hardy missed all but one game last season.
Given that sort of punishment last season, was a 10-game suspension, the harshest of its kind in the NFL, or pro sports period, warranted? (Full disclosure: I’m a life-long Dallas Cowboys fan.)
Yes, it was warranted. And necessary. The NFL was wise to take a strong stance, even if the punishment is downgraded or overturned on appeal by the players union.
I’m big on redemption and providing second chances. It’s just that in this case, it feels as though Hardy never really had to face real consequences for his actions. He missed 15 games last year but was paid for each one. He was found guilty by a judge but that essentially didn’t matter when the law allowed him to then go before a jury - which never heard the case because he paid the woman off.
The stereotype of the overly violent professional football player is just that, a stereotype. But it is exceedingly important for the NFL to take domestic violence seriously because it is no small matter, in the league or society at large.
This shows that the NFL may have finally come to its senses.
While Hardy’s absence on the field will make it harder for my team to get back to the Super Bowl, it feels good that the Cowboys, who made the controversial decision to give Hardy a big contract, did not challenge the league’s ruling. Redemption is good, but there can be no redemption without first facing up to the harm caused.
NFL should be lauded for handing 10-game suspension to Greg Hardy
From the piece:
Holder's testimony against Hardy in the trial last July is horrifying, detailed and worth repeating:
Holder said Hardy, who is 6-4 and 265 pounds, flung her from a bed, threw her into a bathtub and then tossed her onto a futon covered with rifles. Holder said Hardy ripped a necklace he had given her off her neck, threw it into a toilet and then slammed the lid on her arm when she tried to retrieve it.
Hardy dragged Holder by the hair room to room, she said, before putting his hands around her throat.
"He looked me in my eyes and he told me he was going to kill me," Holder said. "I was so scared I wanted to die. When he loosened his grip slightly, I said, 'Just do it. Kill me.' "
Later, as Holder said she was held by her former boyfriend's personal assistant, she said Hardy called 911, showed her the phone, and said, "Run, little girl. You're going to jail."
This story was originally published April 23, 2015 at 10:16 AM with the headline "NFL gets serious about domestic violence, gives star harsh punishment for beating woman."