It seems we'll be finding out fairly soon if Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy really is "losing his will" to fight the NFL over his suspension.
While Hardy was, no doubt, extremely relieved - Cowboys fans were probably just as, if not more, relieved - when his suspension was commuted from its original 10-game total to just four, it remains a question as to whether or not he'll take the league to federal court in an effort to get the ban reduced even further.
A recent report, from Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, suggests that we should finally have an answer fairly soon.
"It's no longer early this week, and there's been no decision. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the decision is coming 'any time now,'" writes Florio.
"The source says the goal is to get the decision made by the end of the week, because time is an issue, if litigation will be pursued. With Hardy apparently willing to accept a two-game suspension, which is what his penalty would have been under the pre-Ray Rice Personal Conduct Policy, a ruling from a court would be needed before the Monday after Week Two of the regular season."
Considering it took more than a year for the entire legal and appeals process to be sorted out, it wouldn't be surprising if Hardy were feeling less and less excitement over the prospect of taking the NFL to federal court and dragging the issue further than it needs to go.
Of course, another report from Florio published in the wake of talk that Hardy's will may be flagging indicated that the opposite was actually true.
"A source close to Hardy tells PFT that Hardy will challenge in court an arbitration ruling that imposes anything more than a two-game suspension against Hardy for violation the Personal Conduct Policy."
Hardy, of course, is now facing a suspension of four games. While it's not the two he was reportedly hoping for, it's certainly better than the 10 he was originally hit with.
It is now up to him and his representatives to decide if it's worth it to fight the league further or to simply take his reduced punishment and return to the field with a vengeance in Week 5 of the 2015 NFL season.
