Greg Hardy abuse charges dismissed in court

By Cory Buck | Feb 9, 2015

Sep 7, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy (76) during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy’s accuser of abuse and death threats was absent from court on Monday, leading to the case’s dismissal.

Carolina Panthers sack machine Greg Hardy will likely return to the NFL sooner than expected after his abuse charges were dismissed on Monday in lieu of his accuser, Nicole Holder, never showing up in court. Gaston County Superior Court Judge Robert Sumner quickly threw out the case as it seems that Holder and Hardy already had a settlement in place, which led to Holder’s absence.

Case dismissed against Greg Hardy
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) February 9, 2015

While this may seem like surprising news given the status of Hardy throughout the NFL season — largely one of exile — it really goes along with everything we’ve heard of the case as far back as November, per Joe Person at the Charlotte Observer.

Holder told prosecutors in October that she did not want to be part of another trial. Last time they talked to her was November.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) February 9, 2015

Prosecutors believe they did not have enough evidence to go forward with the case without Holder.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) February 9, 2015

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Just because Hardy has been exonerated though, doesn’t mean he’s free and clear in the eyes of the NFL, where he is scheduled to become a free agent this offseason. It was widely expected that the Carolina Panthers would not opt to re-sign Hardy, but with no legal mess looming over his head, the team could decide to wait and see how the league handles any further discipline of Hardy.

Anything the league does must come with them being mindful of the fact that Hardy missed all but one game in the 2014 season. He was paid for that time though, so it’s fair to expect Hardy to still miss some time, which is hardly a deterrent for plenty of teams in the league.

Greg Hardy is a 26-year-old with 27 sacks in his last 29 games. With a clean record, would command an ENORMOUS payday. Record's not clean.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 9, 2015

His record may not be clean, but it’s also not nearly as dirty as it could have been. Hardy was arrested last May for domestic violence after Nicole Holder alleged that Hardy pinned her down and threatened her life. His roundup of quotes was among the most insane we’ve compiled in some time.

Despite all that, Hardy and Holder have an agreement in place that keeps Hardy out of the courts and likely back on an NFL field sooner than anyone expected.

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