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Greg Hardy seeking immediate reinstatement by NFL

By Dylan Hughes

Aug 8, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy (76) sits on the sidelines during the first half of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy (76) sits on the sidelines during the first half of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Adrian Peterson recently being reinstated by the NFL, Greg Hardy is now seeking immediate reinstatement himself.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge David Doty overturned NFL arbitrator Harold Henderson’s denial of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson’s appeal, allowing him to return to the team and league.

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Peterson was in that situation after his child abuse scandal last season.

Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy hasn’t been on his best behavior either. In September, Hardy was placed on the NFL’s exempt list with charges of assault and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder. The chargers were dropped on Feb. 9 as Holder failed to cooperate with the court after being paid off by Hardy.

Hardy may not need to show up in court anymore, but the NFL is still not done with him.

The league still has an investigation to do after Hardy violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy, and he will not be reinstated until that is over and done with.

After Peterson’s reinstatement by the league, Hardy felt he deserved the same treatment after his chargers were dropped.

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy didn’t feel a Hardy return made much sense at all and was not deserved.

"“He [Hardy] hasn’t been disciplined,” McCarthy said. “There is nothing for him to … seek reinstatement from at this point.”"

Hardy may have put his legal problems behind him, but the NFL isn’t going to let him just slide by. After all of the criticism they had gotten for how they handled the Ray Rice situation, they can’t afford to let anyone get away with anything anymore.

This from ESPN’s David Newton raises a fair point that would be in favor of Hardy’s case.

"U.S. District Judge David Doty supported the argument of the NFL Players Association in its suit against the NFL that Peterson should not be subject to the league’s new personal conduct policy because that policy was not instituted until late August."

Hardy was arrested on May 13.

To get back to McCarthy’s comments, Hardy was suspended 15 of 16 games last season, but received all of his $13.1 million in salary. Was he really punished? Sure, these guys do love to play football, but he got paid to sit around and do nothing. Is that punishment?

Hardy doesn’t deserve to be reinstated…yet. If anything Newton said is used against the NFL, or his investigation is finished, he will return to the league. But, right now is not that time.

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