Report: DE Greg Hardy will not return to Panthers - Charges Dismissed 02/09/15

[Idgit]

I don't see it as murky. He came to a settlement with the alleged victim who in turn, pretty much disappeared, leading to the dismissal.

That wasn't the part that was particularly murky, but even the DA did not comment on whether or not a settlement had been reached in the case. Did she settle? Did she not want to bring the charges in a criminal court for some other reason? Was it a combination of the two things? It's really hard to say, and if we're going on the information that's being related to us by the press right now, keep in mind that this morning was the first anybody even had a whiff that the key witness in the state's case hadn't been cooperative or even heard from since Nov of last year. We're getting information that's incomplete and/or pretty heavily filtered at this point.

I was referring to the 911 tapes in this case and to what little is publicly available about the altercation as being 'murky.' There were allegations of guns, and of her attacking him with her shoe, there was him on the phone with 911 while directing his agent (?) to keep her from getting to him. There were comments from his neighbor who was obviously very much afraid of Greg Hardy. I don't know what you thought/think when hearing them, but, like most of these cases, it wasn't very cut-and-dry.

 

[Plumfool]

DV are always so complicated and fluid. But the thing that indicates to me that he may be innocent of the charges are: 1. He called police himself. 2. He said he had video. (Which could mean it was staged or she in, came acting up threatening his livelihood if he didn't play ball, and thought he needed to protect himself) 3. She's a no show. In my experience when someone disappears it's not because they're paid off. They're running from something.

 

[Idgit]

Same for me.

One thing that occurs to me - and this is just my opinion - but if Hardy wanted to hurt her like she describes in her original testimony, she wouldn't be alive today.

And someone who has done something some grievously wrong isn't the person who calls 911.

You get a couple fairly-dysfunctional people together, add some drugs and some emotions, maybe some guns and a whole lot of money, you normally get a mess. I've got no respect for men who hit women, but I also have a hard time getting a clear picture of what went down that night. Especially when you read the 911 transcripts where it sounds like the football player is trying to protect himself from a situation that escalated.

That said, the fact that the Panthers are willing to walk away from a very talented young edge rusher over this says something, too. That's not normal behavior for an NFL franchise. It might not reflect directly on this situation, but I don't doubt that Hardy is a grade-A headache. He's a heck of a football player, though, and by most accounts is also a good worker and a good teammate.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Again, I can see your point and I honestly don't know a ton about her, her backstory, or how long they were together.

When I was a younger man, I actually dated a girl that ended up being pretty bad into cocaine. I didn't know it when we first got together and I confronted her about it after a friend told me. She was pretty adamant that she wasn't going to quit even though I was dead-set against being with someone with that kind of habit. Well, even after that proclamation, I continued dating her for another four months because she was really, really, REALLY hot.

In other words, I can't judge Hardy.

 

[endersdragon]

I would much rather have Hughes or JPP. Maybe not quite the same caliber of player, but I trust them a lot more, and Hughes especially would be a lot cheaper for maybe 1 or two fewer sacks.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I doubt the jury trial will be any different in its verdict, which im sure will have women in the jury. Not only that the NFL will make an example out of this guy with their new DM campaigne, after trying to make an example out of ray rice but failed because of stupidity within the league office lol.

 

[Stash]

You get a couple fairly-dysfunctional people together, add some drugs and some emotions, maybe some guns and a whole lot of money, you normally get a mess. I've got no respect for men who hit women, but I also have a hard time getting a clear picture of what went down that night. Especially when you read the 911 transcripts where it sounds like the football player is trying to protect himself from a situation that escalated.

I also have no respect for men who hit women. I also don't respect women who hit men. Sometimes women think they can get away with swinging at a man because they're a woman. They're wrong.

That said, the fact that the Panthers are willing to walk away from a very talented young edge rusher over this says something, too. That's not normal behavior for an NFL franchise. It might not reflect directly on this situation, but I don't doubt that Hardy is a grade-A headache. He's a heck of a football player, though, and by most accounts is also a good worker and a good teammate.

It also could be related to the fact that they need the cap space and they have a TON of money tied up in Charles Johnson, the other DE and can no longer justify paying two so much money.

Not saying this past season isn't a factor as well.

 

[Stash]

When I was a younger man, I actually dated a girl that ended up being pretty bad into cocaine. I didn't know it when we first got together and I confronted her about it after a friend told me. She was pretty adamant that she wasn't going to quit even though I was dead-set against being with someone with that kind of habit. Well, even after that proclamation, I continued dating her for another four months because she was really, really, REALLY hot.

In other words, I can't judge Hardy.

Did you use the "Hot" vs "Crazy" chart as a reference tool?

It is available on the internet you know and could have saved you a lot of unnecessary thinking.

 

[Stash]

I would much rather have Hughes or JPP. Maybe not quite the same caliber of player, but I trust them a lot more, and Hughes especially would be a lot cheaper for maybe 1 or two fewer sacks.

I don't trust JPP as far as I can throw him (not far). He played mediocre enough the past few seasons and I have little faith he'll work harder after he gets paid.

 

[Idgit]

I also have no respect for men who hit women. I also don't respect women who hit men. Sometimes women think they can get away with swinging at a man because they're a woman. They're wrong.

It also could be related to the fact that they need the cap space and they have a TON of money tied up in Charles Johnson, the other DE and can no longer justify paying two so much money.

Not saying this past season isn't a factor as well.

It could well be that. They distanced themselves from him pretty quick, either way. Did you read the article about him leaving the note on the whiteboard for his teammates? I'm not sure what to expect from an NFL team in this situation. Normally, if you are going to let a talented young player walk, you make a lot of lip service about how you hope things work out in negotiations, and then you just low ball him enough and later express how sad you ware that it didn't work. In this case, though, with the bad PR and the current NFL environment, maybe you just cut ties. Not sure, honestly. I just know I"d be sick if we were losing a 26 year old guy with 15+ sack potential who just had the charges against him dismissed.

 

[Stash]

It could well be that. They distanced themselves from him pretty quick, either way. Did you read the article about him leaving the note on the whiteboard for his teammates?

No. Have a link to that one?

I'm not sure what to expect from an NFL team in this situation. Normally, if you are going to let a talented young player walk, you make a lot of lip service about how you hope things work out in negotiations, and then you just low ball him enough and later express how sad you ware that it didn't work. In this case, though, with the bad PR and the current NFL environment, maybe you just cut ties. Not sure, honestly. I just know I"d be sick if we were losing a 26 year old guy with 15+ sack potential who just had the charges against him dismissed.

Biggest outside need this team has, bar none.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Did you use the "Hot" vs "Crazy" chart as a reference tool?

It is available on the internet you know and could have saved you a lot of unnecessary thinking.

I wish. This was in 1992 and Al Gore had not rolled out the internet to the common man just yet. I was really pulling for hot to triumph over crazy, but she stole my friends wallet so she had to go!

 

[Idgit]

No. Have a link to that one?.

You bet. Here it is:

“I LOVE YOU GUYS ALL J.P. [just playing] GET KRAKEN,” Hardy apparently wrote on the white board. “(but mostly [illegible] the Run N Backs & Monster Inc. & the Big Mexicano).”

.....Rivera has said Hardy had been training in his time off, and Hardy’s activity on social media indicates he has spent significant time in South Florida as well as making music.

Panthers cornerback Josh Norman said he hoped Sunday was not goodbye.

“A guy of that caliber, man, we need that,” Norman said. “Hands down, I would welcome that and relish the chance to play with that guy again.”

Norman said he prayed it was realistic that Hardy would be back, but multiple team sources have indicated to the Observer that Hardy is not in the Panthers’ plans....

Norman made clear his feelings on Hardy, who had 15 sacks in 2013 and went to the Pro Bowl, whichever way the jury decides.

“Either way, I want the man back,” Norman said. “I want G. Hardy, the Kraken, back in this locker room.

“I definitely do understand the ramifications of what’s being brought up against him, what’s going on. But I also do know Greg is a gentle giant outside of football. Most people, they see all the extra stuff that Greg (does) on the field. But I know the guy personally … and he’s one of the few good men I can honestly say I’m proud to be a teammate of his.”


Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/20...dy-cleans-out.html#.VNkJNFtZv7U#storylink=cpy

Not that big a deal, but it shows some insight into him as a locker room guy. And a little bit of what his teammates might think of him. Sounds like 'the Big Mexicano' is probably Rivera, right? In which case he seems like he was on good terms with the staff, too, perhaps. Which means the decision to let him walk might have been coming down from higher up yet. Tough to say what's going on, there.

 

[Alexander]

Rivera has already chimed in that he wants him back. Now, Jerry Richardson might have a different opinion of course.

 

[Stash]

I wish. This was in 1992 and Al Gore had not rolled out the internet to the common man just yet. I was really pulling for hot to triumph over crazy, but she stole my friends wallet so she had to go!

She sounds delightful.

What's she up to now? 5 to 10 in the county pen?

 

[Wolf2k5]

So is he a FA on March 10 or was he released and able to sign somewhere?

 

[Stash]

You bet. Here it is:



Not that big a deal, but it shows some insight into him as a locker room guy. And a little bit of what his teammates might think of him. Sounds like 'the Big Mexicano' is probably Rivera, right? In which case he seems like he was on good terms with the staff, too, perhaps. Which means the decision to let him walk might have been coming down from higher up yet. Tough to say what's going on, there.

I agree with you on all of that. Thanks for sharing the info.

Josh Norman's comments - if nothing else - clearly show Hardy as being a quality, well-respected player and teammate.

 

[Stash]

So is he a FA on March 10 or was he released and able to sign somewhere?

Now it's all about the NFL removing any suspension.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Now it's all about the NFL removing any suspension.

Is there a time frame for this?

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

She sounds delightful.

What's she up to now? 5 to 10 in the county pen?

To my knowledge she spent the rest of the 90s and early 2000s living out her dream as a dancer, but probably not the venue she was thinking of if you catch my drift. Haven't heard about her in years though.