Much has been made about the difference in the responses between Greg Hardy and Ray Rice over their domestic violence cases. Yet it's the man that shows virtually no remorse that has a job in the NFL.
Hardy, the Cowboys defensive end, is not sorry for his actions on May 12, 2014, which resulted in a domestic abuse charge -- a crime for which he was found guilty -- according to ESPNW.
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And for purposes strictly relating to playing in the NFL, Hardy doesn't have to be sorry.
He has a job because of his unique skill of being able to rush the passer. He missed just one paycheck from his $13 million salary in 2014 with the Panthers. He has a chance to make up to $11.3 million in 2015 in salary and per-game bonuses, according to Sportrac.com.
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So why should Hardy be expected to feel any remorse?
The NFLPA has accused the league's owners of conspiring to keep Rice out of the league after his 2014 video showing him punch his then-fiancée in the face and knocking her out. But apparently, the league's owners have done no such thing with Hardy. When photos of the victim in Hardy's case became public, the discord against Hardy turned into outrage, just like it did in Rice's case. But all that means is no one of significance in the NFL learned a thing from the Rice case.
Eagles players said they were fired up to play against Hardy, but that happened only after the photos of his alleged victim became public. And what would've happened if it had been the Eagles that had signed Hardy? Would those same players have protested? Refused to play?
The NFLPA itself defended its actions in standing up for Hardy when commissioner Roger Goodell imposed a 10-game suspension and got the suspension reduced to four games. The NFLPA said it was obligated to help its players. That obligation should've ended when Hardy was found guilty of "assaulting a female and communicating threats."
The Cowboys are not backing off from their support of Hardy, and no one in the NFL is questioning them.
ESPNW wrote that Hardy's status at season's end is in doubt because teams may not want to deal with the baggage that comes with him. But that's exactly what the Cowboys are doing right now. Does anyone believe that the outrage over Hardy being in the NFL will be worse in the offseason than it is right now?
The Cowboys seem intent on weathering the current storm and seemingly have no reason not to sign him to a multiyear contract -- unless Hardy is that arrogant to refuse whatever offer the team makes.
Hardy has not proven he deserves a second chance but still got one. If the argument is that Rice is just "acting" to care about domestic violence and shouldn't be in the league, there's merit in that. But then Hardy should be ejected immediately as well, and that's not happening. The NFL community is doing nothing to drive him out of the league.
So even if Hardy doesn't play after this year, he'll just have to take his $20-plus million he "earned" since the night he assaulted his girlfriend and go away.
Think Greg Hardy will learn any lesson from that?
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