Just when the Cowboys need nothing but good, healthy morsels, how about a serving of Greg Tardy?
Seemingly continuing a weekly – almost daily – trend of negative news, Hardy reportedly was late for a team meeting last Thursday. Not good for a highly-touted defensive end who has yet to win a game in a Cowboys’ uniform.
Hardy, who last week also had to be reprimanded by head coach Jason Garrett for insensitive Tweets in the wake of his domestic violence case, played 60 of Dallas’ 70 defensive snaps in the 10-6 loss to Tampa.
Oh, and by the way, he also had to be separated by teammates during a heated exchange with teammate DeMarcus Lawrence.
“I don't want to get into any specifics about a player and him being late or missing things,” Garrett said in his Monday press conference. “Suffice it to say that we have standards here with the Cowboys that if a player were to miss something or be late for something we address it in house and we address it the right way.”
From lecturing Hardy to baby-sitting Dez Bryant’s immature outburst, Garrett has his hands full in the Cowboys’ locker room. Tony Romo’s return Sunday in Miami should cure a lot of ills, but since 1978 no NFL team that has started 2-7 has finished with a winning record.
What would most help the Cowboys? Romo’s return, accessorized by Bryant catching passes and Hardy recording quarterback sacks.
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Hardy, who had no comment and hasn’t talked to the media since Nov. 1, is one of the most scrutinized players in the NFL. But, with his initial guilty verdict of his domestic abuse case and the irrationally emotional rants and on the field, he’s earned every arched eyebrow.
The Cowboys may not yet be at the “he’s not worth all this” point, but they’ve got to be getting close.
“We believe he can help our team,” Garrett said. “We’re trying to provide the right opportunity for him, the right structure for him, the right environment for him to play his best and be his best. We’ll continue to do that.”
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
