Like a lot of us said while cringing in 1992, here comes trouble.
Then: The Cowboys traded for Charles Haley.
Now: They are hosting Greg Hardy at Valley Ranch with the intent on signing him.
Of course, three decades ago Haley behaved and performed well enough to help the Cowboys win three Super Bowls in four years. The Cowboys of 2015 obviously are desperate for defensive help, but is the free agent the missing link or just a big headache?
I’ll say it again. Hardy is a good fit, but a bad person.
Despite his elite pass-rushing, the Panthers flat-out released Hardy. No, not because he sleeps in his socks and apparently isn’t sure if Champagne is alcohol. More because in July he was convicted – not accused, convicted – of abusing and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend. Technically, a judge found him guilty of two counts of assault and communicating threats.
On appeal, the girlfriend – and her testimony – mysteriously disappeared and the charges were ultimately dropped. During his first trial, the woman accused him of dragging her by her hair, putting his hands around her throat, throwing her into a bathtub, tossing her on a futon covered with rifles, ripping a necklace off her neck and slamming a toilet lid on her arm when she tried to fish the jewelry out. Hardy then, according to prosecutors, attempted to cover up the incident with a fabricated 911 call.
Sports Connection
Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.
The Cowboys, like the legal system, are at least convinced that Hardy won’t be proven guilty. Even if he isn’t innocent.
We hear head coach Jason Garrett chirping all the time about collecting – and winning with – the “right kind of guys.”
Hardy is the right kind of player who will instantly improve Rod Marinelli’s defense with pressure off the edge. He has 26 sacks over his last two full seasons.
But is he the right kind of character?
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 currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
