Cowboys Exec VP & Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones Anderson "understands the public outrage" over the signing of DE Greg Hardy, but yesterday she "pointed to commitments that were in place to help victims of domestic violence long before Hardy arrived," according to David Moore of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Anderson "didn't meet with Hardy" when he visited the Cowboys, but she said that the decision to sign him "was fully vetted." Moore notes Anderson "was named to the NFL's conduct committee in December," but she "stressed her role on the committee is not a conflict of interest when it comes to the length of Hardy's impending suspension." Anderson said of domestic violence, "A lot of people say this is awful, but they don’t know what to do. That’s why this is such an incredible opportunity. That’s why I’m not afraid of this move. I’m a mom. I’ve got a daughter, I’ve got two sons. This is a serious issue for me, personally. I want my kids to know that domestic violence is not acceptable. But I also want them to know that if they make a mistake, no matter what the issue is, I’m not just going to throw them out. I’ve got to help them come back and make a better choice" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/23). In Dallas, Tim Cowlishaw wrote the Cowboys' "lack of a moral compass is not a product" of the generation of Owner Jerry Jones. He did "not initiate the practice of bringing criminals to town to put stars on their helmets." That "dates almost to the roots of the franchise." But Jones has "brought in a number of players with arrests and violent backgrounds." Cowlishaw: "Was there reason to think the Cowboys’ attitude might change in the post-Ray Rice video era? Enlightenment travels slowly for some, and you can always expect the Cowboys to be behind the curve" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/21).
JUST WIN, BABY? In Dallas, Rick Gosselin writes, "Desperate teams sink to desperate measures." After a "brief spell of trying to win the right way with high-character players," including LB Sean Lee, CB Brandon Carr and C Travis Frederick, the Cowboys are "now just trying to win" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/23). In Austin, Kirk Bohls notes the Cowboys were selling Hardy's jersey "minutes after the announcement" last week. Bohls: "But those NFL spots about concern over domestic abuse, uh, sure were moving, weren't they?" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 3/23).
BALTIMORE CHOP: THE MMQB's Greg Bedard noted RB Bernard Pierce last week "became the third Ravens player arrested" in '15 when he was booked on suspicion of DUI. The Ravens’ eight arrests in the past 13 months "are far and away the most in the NFL," which is "more than that of 15 teams combined." But "give the Ravens some credit for their quick reactions to the arrests." DT Terrence Cody, CB Victor Hampton and Pierce "were all released by the club shortly after" their incidents, and the team "didn’t wait for the court to decide the players’ fates, which many teams would have done." Ravens players "have been served noticed: There will be immediate consequences if they screw up." But while the Ravens have "reacted swiftly and changed the tone inside the building ... they should still be criticized for putting themselves in this position." Bedard: "Nobody expects the Ravens to sign choir boys, but something needs to change" (MMQB.SI.com, 3/20).
