It sounds like defensive end Greg Hardy won't be back with the Dallas Cowboys next season, though it's not because Hardy played poorly. In just 12 games Hardy racked up 35 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble and even added an interception. On the field, he proved worthy of every penny of that incentive-laden one-year deal he signed after being reinstated by the league last offseason following the allegations of domestic violence levied against him. But Hardy will again be looking for work once the new league year begins. Why? Not because he supposedly beat up his girlfriend, leaving her bruised and bloodied.
But because he partied too much.
The Cowboys don't want Hardy back because his 2015 season was "tumultuous" and marked by tardiness and general discontent the team apparently traces back to Hardy's focus on partying and not on football, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.
Dallas decision makers apparently also believe that Hardy wasn't in top physical shape during the year, which means that his good production could potentially have been great had he kept himself locked in away from the facility.
There were reports during the season that Hardy was late to team meetings and that it had upset coaches and players. While some of Hardy's teammates defended him, Cole makes it sound as though there were more Hardy detractors than there were supporters by the time the 2015 season came to a merciful close in Dallas.
It really is unfortunate for Hardy and Dallas that they couldn't find a way to coexist happily because he's a talented pass-rusher and the Cowboys lack any immediate replacement. Sure, last year's second-round pick Randy Gregory showed flashes before suffering an injury, but there's no guarantee he'll be able to slot in and play a starter's share of reps next year.
Despite the reported issues, it sure sounds like league sources expect Hardy to sign on somewhere. Some team desperate to upgrade their pass-rush will hand the enigmatic defender a deal, the question is whether he'll be able to reign in his off-the-field issues to an extent that the next team doesn't want to dump him after a year too.
