The Carolina Panthers are still weighing their options when it comes to defensive end Greg Hardy. Hardy was found guilty of domestic abuse in July after assaulting and threatening ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder. He has yet to be disciplined by the NFL as league officials wait for the legal process to run its course, according to Yahoo! Sports. After playing in the Panthers season opener, Carolina deactivated Hardy against the Detroit Lions on Sunday due to mounting scrutiny facing the team.
Now, the team must decide whether to play Hardy against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 3.
Coach Ron Rivera told the media that general manager Dave Gettleman and others in the organization are doing their "due diligence" while deciding what to do about Hardy's status, ESPN reported. Although Rivera said there are no plans to release Hardy, he acknowledged the lingering situation could become a distraction.
"I am concerned about it because it becomes a distraction," Rivera told reporters. "That's part of why I made the decision. If you play him and you win, then you don't have a conscience. If you play him and you lose, then he's a distraction."
As is the case with Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson, the situation is made even more challenging due to Hardy's status as an elite player. Hardy recorded 15 sacks last season and was named to the Pro Bowl. The Minnesota Vikings have come under fire for activating Peterson for their upcoming game against the New Orleans Saints, while the Baltimore Ravens have faced criticism for their handling of the Rice situation. Fans and media have argued that lesser players would not be given the same opportunities in similar situations.
For now, the Panthers plan to let Hardy remain with the team and practice during the week.
"Greg's with the team. We're in a situation where we're going to go through this week and evaluate the circumstances and situation," Rivera said. "In light of a lot of things that have happened, we're going to continue to gather information. This is a fluid situation, and we'll see what happens.''
