Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy's suspension was officially reduced from 10 games to four, Brian McCarthy of NFL public relations tweeted on Friday.
Hardy, who had been placed on commissioner Roger Goodell's exempt list after only one game last season after a domestic violence incident, was initially given a 10-game suspension after his legal case was resolved, with the league citing "sufficient credible evidence that Hardy engaged in conduct that violated NFL policies in multiple respects and with aggravating circumstances."
It was reported in recent days that Hardy, one of the best pass rushing defensive ends in the NFL, was both "losing his will" to fight the NFL over his suspension and then that not only was Hardy willing to fight, but that the lengthy deliberation process in regards to his appeal had only served to strengthen his resolve, with the report suggesting that Hardy was planning legal action against the NFL if the league reduced his suspension to anything more than two-games.
It remains to be seen where the truth lies.
Hardy and agent Drew Rosenhaus are considering their options in the wake of the league reducing his suspension to four games, per Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.
Hardy, 26, signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys in March that carries a salary of just $750,000 but is worth up to $13.1 million in incentives, many of which - $9.25 million worth, to be exact - are tied to per-game roster bonuses, meaning that for every game that Hardy is suspended, his earning power is greatly decreased.
And considering that even with his suspension being reduced to four games, combined with the 15 regular season games and two playoff games he missed as an inactive member of the Carolina Panthers last season, Hardy may be in a mood to take this legal battle even further.
Even if Hardy takes no further action, this is huge news for the Cowboys and their anemic pass rush - they finished 2014 with just 28.0 sacks as a team, ironically, good enough for 28th in the league.
UPDATE, 3:40 PM: Here is arbitrator Harold Henderson's statement on the ruling, via Albert Breer of NFL.com...
"After consideration of all the record evidence and arguments, I conclude that the Commissioner acted within his authority and properly exercised his discretion in finding that Hardy violated the NFL Personal Conduct Policy...I find that the conduct of Hardy clearly violates the letter and spirit of any version of the PCP since its inception, and of the NFL Constitution and Bylaws long before then. The egregious conduct exhibited here is indefensible in the NFL. However, ten games is simply too much, in my view, of an increase over prior cases without notice such as was done last year, when the 'baseline' for discipline in domestic violence or sexual assault cases was announced as a six-game suspension. Therefore, the discipline of Mr. Hardy hereby is modified to a suspension of four games; all other terms of the discipline letter remain in place."
