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Greg Hardy shunned by CFL, will Arena League be an option?

By Ted Fleming

Nov 15, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy (76) looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy (76) looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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If the former all-pro defensive end wants to play, his only option could be the Arena Football League.

Greg Hardy was hoping to get a birthday present when he turns 28 on Thursday by having a contract offer to play football. At this point, it does not look like he will be lighting any candles or be able to pull on the pads anytime soon.

The NFL has effectively blackballed the troubled former star and now it appears the league north of the border is about to do the same thing, according to a report at thebiglead.com. While it is said to be just a team decision, the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League have taken a pass on Hardy and the baggage he brings with him.

"“Greg Hardy inquired to us back during camp and it was about a six-hour discussion,” GM Chris Jones said, according to CBC.ca. “The league made their ruling on it and we moved on. He was interested in coming up. I inquired with the league. The league made their ruling, and you can talk to (CFL commissioner) Jeffrey Orridge and those guys if you need to have more info on it.”"

The ruling Jones was talking about was a report by SportsNet that the league blocked the Roughriders from signing Hardy. However, the CFL claims that isn’t true.  “The decision whether to pursue a player rests with the organization. And in this case, while the league did discuss the matter with the Riders, it was ultimately the organization’s decision to not place Hardy on the Riders’ negotiation list in May.”

Hardy’s past has pretty much caught up with him and it is not just his arrest for domestic violence. That case was ultimately dropped after originally being convicted because his then-girlfriend refused to cooperate with authorities in a retrial. His conduct with the Cowboys left a bad taste in their mouths and they declined to re-sign him.

There are few options left for the 6-foot-4, 279-pound end who once led the NFL in sacks making the Pro Bowl in 2013. The NFL has turned their back on Hardy and with the Saskatchewan issue just the latest rejection, it is hard to believe any other CFL team would be interested as well, even if the league says they are not involved in their decisions.

Hardy could try the Arena Football League just to stay in shape with the hope he can repair his fractured image although it is hard to believe it would play for league scale. And that guarantee is only week to week.

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