Troy Aikman told a Dallas radio station that Jerry Jones just wants production on the field, even if it comes with controversy off of it
The NFL has come under intense scrutiny in recent seasons for its mishandling of high-profile incidents involving its players. From Ray Rice’s domestic assault inside an elevator to Adrian Peterson’s child abuse incident, calls have mounted from around the country for a reformed system of organizational discipline, particularly since the league has repeatedly been perceived as too lenient in many of these cases.
The latest controversy surrounds Greg Hardy, the former Carolina Panther who was signed by the Dallas Cowboys despite an ongoing investigation involving severe domestic violence charges. On May 13, Hardy was arrested and charged with assaulting and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, Nicole Holder. Though the charges were eventually dropped, Hardy still served a four-game suspension – another punishment many critics found to be insubstantial, especially considering Tom Brady was given the same suspension for his alleged role in Deflategate.
Only a week ago, photos of Holder’s injuries were made public, refueling the fire of public outrage over why this man is still playing professional football. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones denies that anyone in the organization had access to these photos before making their decision to sign Hardy, and has repeatedly reaffirmed his stance to support the embattled player and give him a “second chance.”
At least one former Dallas Cowboy legend seems to have decided enough is enough, and has taken to the airwaves to express his opinion on the situation. Hall of Famer Troy Aikman told KTCK-AM 1310 The Ticket in Dallas on Thursday that as long as Greg Hardy remains an effective pass-rusher and competent football player, Jerry Jones and the rest of the Cowboys organization will weather the storm of criticism that surrounds him.
“I guess the line is when he’s no longer productive, you know? I think that’s always been the line for Jerry Jones, is he’s one to pretty much accept everything as long as a guy’s productive. There’s not many owners in this league like that.”
Aikman then goes on to compare Jones to Jerry Richardson, the owner of the Carolina Panthers, opining that despite Hardy’s obvious talent and ability, Richardson “wasn’t going to keep him” because he just “isn’t like that.” The implication being, of course, that it’s not just about football and performance on Sundays with Richardson and the Panthers – it’s also about integrity and character as a public figure and representative of the organization.
For all that Hardy has brought to the Dallas locker room, the one thing he and the rest of his teammates have failed to deliver is wins, as the Cowboys currently sit dead-last in the NFC East with a 2-6 record. If the ‘Boys fail to make the playoffs, maybe even Jerry Jones will realize it’s just not worth it to keep such a volatile and polarizing figure on his roster.