NFL will view evidence from first Greg Hardy trial

The NFL will be allowed to view photos from Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy’s domestic violence case from last summer.

More from Dallas Cowboys

A judge in North Carolina made the ruling on Wednesday that will allow the league to view seven photos that were admitted as evidence in Greg Hardy’s trial last summer, according to a story by Sports Illustrated. The trial was Hardy’s first domestic violence trial and the NFL now wants to view evidence to possibly decide on any course of internal discipline.

The photos in question depict the injuries of Hardy’s ex-girlfriend, Nichole Holder, who was the alleged victim in the case. The league filed a lawsuit last month to gain access to the photos. A source apparently told ESPN that the NFL should be deciding on a course of action sooner rather than later.

Previously the league had gotten hold of other photos of the victim in the case through the Charlotte police department. The photos were possibly taken by someone at the hospital with Holder. Hardy was accused of assaulting Holder by throwing her down on a futon covered with firearms, then choking her and threatening to kill her.

Hardy appealed the charges and they were eventually dropped when Holder did not show in court. According to the North Carolina and District Attorney Andrew Murray, Holder stopped cooperating with the investigation once she received a financial settlement from Hardy outside of court.

This case is an interesting juxtaposition to the Ray Rice case where both parties declared their culpability in the event due to what was essentially drunkenness, the two are married and there was never any court situation. It’s interesting because Ray Rice can’t find another job in the league, while Greg Hardy recently signed a good deal with the Cowboys after allegedly being courted by the Seahawks as well.

You can easily smell a bigger rat in the Hardy case, but without publicly released video or photographic evidence, there isn’t enough of a media and public witch hunt to cause much of a problem for him or the league. It’s an interesting double-standard that many were accusing the NFL of during the Ray Rice situation. Namely that they weren’t willing to take action until the public reacted to released visual evidence.

If the NFL decides to punish Hardy, it could be for up to six games and the Cowboys allowed for that by structuring his deal in a way that means he won’t get paid for games missed in 2015.

More from FanSided

Home/Dallas Cowboys