Greg Hardy says he went into a ‘party phase’ after signing with Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys took a big chance by signing Greg Hardy in 2015, and it meant a lot to the former NFL star — perhaps too much, in fact.

Hardy opened up about the downfall of his NFL career in an interview with Robert Klemko of Sports Illustrated, and he was rather candid in admitting that he felt entitled after the Cowboys brought him in.

“Having the Dallas Cowboys was like having the biggest bully in the world have your back,” Hardy told Klemko. “It said, ‘Greg’s okay, give him a chance, he’s a Cowboy.’ That launched me into a party phase. I got away from reality.”

Hardy became nearly untouchable after disturbing details of his domestic violence case were released, and that’s why the Panthers decided not to re-sign him. After the Cowboys also chose not to bring him back following one fairly productive season, Hardy was arrested for possession of cocaine and had a lame excuse for police.

Given the circumstances under which he left Carolina, you would think Hardy’s “party phase” would have been put behind him. Now that he has gotten serious about his MMA career and has finally been given a shot with the UFC, perhaps he will finally straighten out.