Cowboys Players Were Shocked by Length of Hardy Suspension

Both Jerry and Stephen Jones have come out in the wake of the announcement of Greg Hardy’s 10-game suspension and said, basically, that the team expected this--that the front office knew such a suspension was a very real possibility when they signed him. Hardy’s new Cowboys teammates, on the other hand, were clearly less prepared for the severity of the punishment.

“It’s crazy,” safety J.J. Wilcox said this week, per Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News. “I’ve seen how hard he works and how much he loves the game, so that being said, it’s tough to see him suspended off the field. But he’s a great player. He works hard every day and he’s amazing man. I love him.”

The NFL Players Association filed their appeal of the suspension a week ago, and many believe Hardy’s suspension will ultimately be reduced somewhat. This group includes fellow Cowboys defensive end, Jeremy Mincey.

“I think he’ll get six [games],” Mincey said. “There’s been guys do way worse things than he’s done. Nobody knows the situation or circumstance. Nobody knows what’s going on behind close doors. Things like that happen all the time. He sits right beside me in the locker room so me and him talk about life every day. He’s a respectable dude. He listens and I’m sure he’s taking heed of what I’m telling him every day.”