Greg Hardy To Be Put On Exempt List

While the Ray Rice saga garnered most of the headlines last week, the NFL's other significant domestic abuse case had all but gone unnoticed.

Not until Rice made headlines and the NFL botched there handling of it, did many people take notice of Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy's conviction back in July.

Hardy played in the 1st game of the season for the Panthers, but after the events of last week, the Panthers pulled him from the lineup at the last minute on Sunday.

With his status in limbo, the team announced Wednesday afternoon they would place Hardy on the Exempt list. Which in essence puts him on paid leave until his issues are resolved (much like Adrian Peterson).

Hardy, while pleading guilty to the July charges, decided to appeal that decision and take the case to trial. That trial has not been scheduled yet. According to North Carolina law, since the original case was heard only by a judge, he can appeal and the trial must be heard by a jury.

In the meantime, he is not allowed to play or practice with his team, though he is allowed to be at the teams facilities in Charlotte.

No timetable has been given for his return, though team G.M Dave Gettleman did say that it won't be until the legal process is finished.

In case you haven't seen it, here's the saga of Mr. Hardy:

NFL's Worst Week Ever: Finally The Panthers Deactivate Greg Hardy

In midst of perhaps the worst PR week in NFL history, one more event transpired on Sunday.

After catching flak from all sides, the Carolina Panthers deactivated star Defensive End Greg Hardy for their game against the Detroit Lions.

We and multiple other blogs and outlets have questioned why Hardy was still playing despite his conviction for domestic violence against his then girlfriend. Particularly in light of this past weeks situation with former Baltimore Raven Ray Rice.

Yet the Panthers took the spin "Let the legal system run its course".

Huh?

Yes, Hardy is appealing his conviction, but that never changed the fact HE WAS CONVICTED. And yes, his appeal will be heard by a jury instead of him pleading out to a judge.

But it changes nothing.

It's been a horrible week for the league between Rice, the Adrian Peterson situation and now this. Yet the Panthers never saw anything wrong with their decision.

To their credit, the Vikings upon receiving word of Peterson's indictment, deactivated him. Which was the proper response. That should have been a hint to the Panthers.

If Hardy wins his appeal, then yeah, sure, let him play. But until then, in light of unfolding events, how can you keep someone convicted of domestic violence on your roster.

That last sentence alone explains why the NFL is in the predicament it currently is.

NFL and Domestic Violence: Greg Hardy is Still Playing--Why?

With all the hubbub this week having to do with the almost buffonish handling of the Ray Rice case by the NFL, another player with domestic violence issues seems to be skating by unnoticed.

Greg Hardy, star defensive end for the Carolina Panthers is slated to be in the starting lineup yet again this week vs. San Francisco.

That wouldn't be a big deal except Hardy was CONVICTED this summer for assaulting his girlfriend. The story was reported by us and many other outlets back in July, but since then no discernible disciplinary action has ever been taken by the Panthers....or the NFL.

Yes, Panther fans, we know Hardy is "appealing" the ruling, but that is not likely to work. And there is NO reason Hardy should not have been disciplined.

Hardy's issues began when he beat up his girlfriend back in May. Reports at the time (and later confirmed) say he hit the woman and threw her into a bathtub. He then continued assaulting her, eventually throwing her on a couch covered in assault rifles. She at that time began begging for her life before police arrived.

Read an early description of the event RIGHT HERE 

Yet in spite of all this, the Panthers haven't done anything to Hardy. He played in the season opener and was featured because he painted his face before running out on the field. He is preparing to play in game 2 and in light of the events this week, all the Panthers can say is they are waiting for the legal process to play out.

What? He's already been convicted.

Here is the spin from Carolina, where more has been made of owner Jerry Richardson's tearful statement that he's built an "Organization of Integrity". Yet it doesn't answer any of the questions.

Here is the spin in Charlotte on this issue from WSOC-TV:



Sorry guys, this doesn't justify anything--

How Hardy plays in light of what happened with Rice is mystifying. And yet nobody is paying any attention to it. Rice grabs the headlines because of the video and yet this case is equally messed up. If the NFL wants to be taken seriously (which we wonder about), Hardy needs to be sat down.

ESPN's Steve Delsohn takes a much deeper and more even look at what actually happened. Watch it and then you'll understand why the message here is so mixed:

Arrest Details On Greg Hardy Emerge (UPDATE: 911 Calls Released)

((HT: WBTV))

The court documents in the arrest of Carolina Panthers DE Greg Hardy have come forward and it doesn't paint a pretty picture.

A woman at Hardy's apartment told officers she had been physically assaulted and threatened by Hardy. She told officers she was thrown to the floor and into a bathtub and that Hardy threatened to kill her while she was being assaulted.

Hardy turned himself in and was being held in the Mecklenburg County (NC) Jail overnight. He made a first appearance before a judge Wednesday morning and the lawyers involved in the case have differing opinions of what went down in Hardy's apartment.

Hardy's lawyer, Chris Fialko, says Hardy called 911 to have the accuser/girlfriend removed.
The victim's lawyer, Stephen Goodwin, said the woman was being held down by another man (identified as Hardy's administrative assistant, Sammy Curtis) and wasn't allowed to call 911.

Fialko then said the victim tried to call Hardy at least a dozen times since the incident.
Goodwin responded by saying the accuser/girlfriend is scared.

The judge assigned to the case ruled that Hardy would have to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings three times a week as a part of his release, ordered Hardy not to have any contact with the victim, and had bond set at $17,000.

The accuser filed a domestic protection order as well and it says that Hardy threw the woman onto a couch covered in assault rifles. Hardy bragged that all the guns were loaded.

Here's the report from last night on the arrest...
WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC

The Carolina Panthers released a statement saying:

"We are very disappointed to learn of the allegations involving Greg and are concerned for all parties as we continue to investigate."

PM UPDATE: Jason LaCanfora over at CBS Sports has the 9-1-1 calls and they seem to give conflicting information

9-1-1 Call Number One:

"I’m running around the table right now. She’s trying to hit me with her shoe," Hardy says on the call. "Ah s—t. She broke some glass. F—. F—! She’s trying to hit me with another shoe. I’m behind the bar. I’m not touching her. My manager’s retaining her. She’s still trying to get me."

Hardy then states that his girlfriend "won't let" him close the door to his apartment and she "hit me in the face twice."

"She won’t let me close the door. I can’t touch her to get her out. She’s literally kicking and scratching. My manager’s retaining her," Hardy says. "She tried to hit me once, she hit me in the face twice. I’m trying to stay away from her. Can you please send somebody to help me?"

It can be heard hyah...

9-1-1 Call Number Two describes the opposite

"Domestic violence. Some girl’s getting her ass beat upstairs. And I heard it. And I seen it," a female voice is heard saying. "He is beating her ass right the f— now. So get here now. I was in the apartment. He’s beating her ass."

That call can be heard hyah

Greg Hardy Quotes Matt Ryan

((HT:WSB-TV))

FOSG Zach Klein gets full credit for this one...

Remember what Falcons QB Matt Ryan said after the Birds beat Carolina a few weeks ago at the Georgia Dome...???

Well, the Carolina Panthers Greg Hardy returned the words in full...

HOWYOULIKEMENOW...???

Or something to that effect...

Ah, rivalry...