Hardy Calls Practice Battles with Tyron Smith Best, Worst Part of His Day

Before coming to the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year deal this offeason, defensive end Greg Hardy had played against Cowboys All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith twice--once in a Cowboys-Panthers regular season game in 2012 and once in the Pro Bowl in 2014.

Now, Hardy has gone against Smith in practice probably more times than he can count--not in the last four weeks, granted, when Hardy was suspended and not allowed to participate in practice--but the familiarity hasn’t made the practice battles any less intense.

“Awesome,” Hardy said of practicing against Smith, per ESPN Dallas. “Favorite part of my day. Favorite and worst part of my day. Flashback to that Pro Bowl every single day, getting jacked in the face 24 plays in a row.”

Smith, meanwhile, believes Hardy can help the Cowboys “a lot,” beginning when he makes his debut against the Patriots on Sunday afternoon.

“He brings that energy to our team that nobody else can,” Smith said. “And he’s the type of player that shows it by example.”