Cowboys defensive lineman Greg Hardy has found himself in hot water this week, and NFL officials are the latest to voice their displeasure with his recent comments.
Hardy returned from a four game suspension this week stemming from his domestic violence case last year. He wasted no time sparking renewed controversy by making curious remarks about Tom Brady’s wife, and Jerry Jones was forced to defend him after he spoke about coming out “guns blazing.” On Saturday, a rap video Hardy made several months ago surfaced online, filled with guns and strippers.
NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport says that NFL officials are not pleased with Hardy’s comments, particularly given his history and his apparent lack of contrition.
“I couldn’t disagree more with Greg Hardy’s comments, and they do not reflect the values of the league,” said NFL vice president of social responsibility Anna Isaacson.
The NFLPA also released a statement regarding Hardy’s comments, stating a preference that the media focus on players who have been recognized for positive things.
That’s all well and good, but given the increased focus on the NFL’s recent domestic violence issues, that’s not going to happen, nor should it. The NFL has good reason to be upset with Hardy’s comments, as he has consistently been in the news for all the wrong reasons over the past year. Perhaps the continued, widespread repudiation of Hardy’s comments will serve as a wakeup call, but realistically, if he hasn’t figured it out by now, it’s hard to imagine this making much of a difference.
