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Cowboys' Jerry Jones Reiterates Support For Greg Hardy Following Release Of Photos

Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones following last night's loss to the Eagles "spoke publicly about the franchise's continued ... support" for DE Greg Hardy after photos were released on Deadspin.com from his domestic violence case, according to Jon Machota of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Jones said, "Greg has a commitment to us. He has a commitment to do the right thing. We expect him to do the right thing. He has a commitment to his teammates and our team. The way it's set up in the NFL relative to behavior if in fact we wanted to give Greg the second chance and you lose that in the NFL if you don't do the right things, so if he'll do the right things." Asked if the photos give him a new perspective on Hardy, Jones said, "We want to give him a second chance, and we certainly know that in many areas he's taking advantage of those assets that we have and to the end that he does the right thing for himself and others as well as the right thing by the NFL, then we're giving him a second chance" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/9). Cowboys coach Jason Garrett during his postgame press conference said, "We as an organization, we don’t condone domestic violence. We take the issue very, very seriously. We knew when we signed Greg Hardy there would be some criticism that came with that. ... We decided to give him a second chance. He’s worked hard for our football team up to this point. He knows what the expectations and standards are, and we’re going to hold him accountable to those" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 11/9). In Dallas, Julie Fancher noted the NFL reportedly "had access to these and other photos before issuing its suspension of Hardy in April." Sources said that Cowboys officials were "not allowed to view the photos, several of which were under a protective order, before Hardy signed with the club on March 18." While the club was "not granted access to visual evidence, sources stressed the Cowboys were aware of the photos and had an understanding of what was depicted." Jones, Garrett and Cowboys COO & Exec VP Stephen Jones have repeatedly said that the organization "did its due diligence before signing Hardy" (DALLASNEWS.com, 11/8). 

COULD SPONSORS FORCE CHANGE? In Dallas, Tim Cowlishaw wrote there will "come a time that the backlash from fans, from season-ticket holders and from sponsors will catch Jones' attention." Cowlishaw: "That time isn't here. But I think it's closer than Jones recognizes" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/8). ESPN's Wendi Nix said there is "one effective solution, and that is to let the dollars vote." Nix: "That means you have American Airlines, that means you have AT&T and Miller Brewing Company, and it means us, as consumers. ... If this is unacceptable to you, spare me the theatrics, do something. Jerry Jones has made his choice, now let's make ours. If the bottom line is the language Jerry Jones speaks, let that dollar vote and let that message be loud and clear" ("Sunday NFL Countdown," ESPN, 11/8). ESPN N.Y.'s Ian O'Connor wrote fans and sponsors such as AT&T and American Airlines "have to let Jones know he has gone too far this time and needs to release Hardy immediately." They "need to apply the only type of pressure Jones respects -- financial pressure" (ESPNNY.com, 11/7). In N.Y., Mark Cannizzaro wrote, "When is enough enough in Dallas with this Greg Hardy mess? Only when the lucrative, high-profile sponsors start taking money out of the green-lined pockets of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Only then might Jones come to whatever senses he has left and rid his team (and hopefully the league) of Hardy" (N.Y. POST, 11/8).

ACTION PLAN: In N.Y., Gary Myers wrote Jones "needs to cut" Hardy now that the "painful pictures of the damage Hardy inflicted last year beating up Nicole Holder were made public" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/7). Myers wrote at the "very least, Jones should have suspended him for six games Friday, to make up the difference" between the 10 games NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "initially suspended Hardy and the four games arbitrator Harold Henderson knocked it down to." Instead, Jones "once again offered misguided support for Hardy." Myers: "If you need to be enabled, Jones is your guy -- as long as you are a talented football player" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/8). FORBES' Patrick Rishe wrote the signing of Hardy has "tainted the legitimacy" of Jones' "own brand and personal reputation as an NFL owner." Jones "must cut Hardy immediately to save any face" (FORBES.com, 11/7). In DC, Thom Loverro writes this "isn't about a 'second chance'" for Hardy. This is "about Jones' warped view of what's right and wrong." Loverro: "What’s right for Jerry is to pay whoever he needs to for the greater good of the Cowboys’ pornographic glory" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 11/9). USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell wrote the Hardy case "illustrates a key fact of life with the Cowboys: Talent trumps whatever moral compass exists at Valley Ranch" (USATODAY.com, 11/8). But in Dallas, Rick Gosselin wrote, "Don't expect the Cowboys to take any further action against Hardy. ... In the Cowboys' eyes justice has been served." They see Hardy having "served his time, sitting out the first four games of this season" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/7). 

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