The NFL on Friday announced that arbitrator Harold Henderson "has reduced" Cowboys DE Greg Hardy's suspension from 10 games to four, according to David Moore of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Hardy was handed a 10-game suspension in April, after he was initially arrested on domestic violence charges in May '14. It is "unclear if Hardy will fight the ruling for further reduction." Hardy and his reps previously have "indicated they will challenge any suspension beyond two games, the punishment outlined by the league at the time of the incident before it was amended." Hardy's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said that the plan is to "discuss the next move with Hardy, his lawyers and the NFLPA." They are "still considering further legal action." Moore noted Henderson is the "same person who upheld" NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's punishment of Vikings RB Adrian Peterson last season (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/11). In Dallas, Horn & Pineda reported the Cowboys, "based on precedent, initially believed that Hardy would miss six games." Then Goodell "announced the suspension would be for 10," but Henderson, a former NFL exec "appointed by Goodell, whittled the suspension to four games." The Cowboys issued a one-sentence statement in the name of Owner Jerry Jones: “We are looking forward to the start of the season and having Greg be a part of the team” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/12).
NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT GOODELL: In N.Y., Ken Belson noted Henderson’s decision "is sure to raise new questions about how Goodell enforces the league’s personal-conduct policy." Hardy’s suspension is "likely to be compared" to the four-game ban doled out to Patriots QB Tom Brady for his alleged involvement in the Deflategate scandal (N.Y. TIMES, 7/11). ESPN’s J.A. Adande said the reduction of Hardy’ suspension was a “reminder of how off-guard the NFL was when it came to domestic violence" and the fact the league "kind of vacillated between too light punishments and too heavy punishments.” The Washington Post's Kevin Blackistone said the NFL is “still trying to figure out what to do almost on the fly" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 7/10). ESPN’s Dan Le Batard: “Goodell’s suspensions get diluted again” (“PTI,” ESPN, 7/10).
THE BRADY HUNCH: In Boston, Shalise Manza Young noted even before the Hardy decision, there was "no question Brady’s suspension should be reduced, but keep in mind there’s an X factor: Goodell refused to recuse himself as arbitrator in Brady’s case, so he is deciding against" his and NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent’s decision (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/12). ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert wrote in any world that "makes sense, Hardy would receive harsher discipline than a player who is believed to be 'at least generally aware of overinflated footballs,'" which the league deduced about Brady. Seifert: "But with any luck, Friday will be the last day in NFL history when we're confused, distrustful or otherwise outraged by its discipline in such cases." The league can "now legally and appropriately apply the enhanced domestic violence policy it imposed in August 2014, one that calls for at least a six-game suspension for a first offense and a lifetime ban for repeat delinquency" (ESPN.com, 7/10). In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel wrote Friday's decision "was a coup for Hardy and the Cowboys, a huge win for double standards, and another defeat for everybody else." The NFL "continues to enable an often sickening double standard" (STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 7/10).
