Greg Hardy had a free agent visit with the Dallas Cowboys this week and reports say the former Panthers defensive end will make his selection on Wednesday between the Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and this comes after the Seattle Seahawks showed some interest in signing Hardy.
Hardy is the top defensive end on the market and while he comes with some baggage, the Cowboys and the Buccaneers do not appear to be concerned. According to Pro Football Talk, Hardy's agent Drew Rosenhaus says that Hardy will make his decision between the Buccaneers and Cowboys on Wednesday after meeting in Dallas with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys brass. The Cowboys appear to be the favorites for Hardy, but the Buccaneers are considered "in it", according to Adam Schefter on Twitter.
Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Hardy is undergoing a physical for the Cowboys and that likely means they will be the team signing him. Hill writes that the deal likely would be for one year if he signs with the Cowboys. Defensive end has been a major need for the Cowboys over the past two years and while Hardy has issues off the field after his assault case last year, those charges were dismissed.
The Dallas Cowboys had just 28 sacks last season and that is why they have looked at Hardy as an option to sign, as he is an All-Pro talent and could come cheaper than expected. Hardy had 15 sacks in 2013 and 11 in 2012 and after having a year off he should be refreshed and ready to come back. The NFL may suspend Hardy after what happened last year, but right now that is not official and the Cowboys are not worried about the punishment. The Seahawks were mentioned as an option for Hardy, but the team reportedly was just "doing its homework" and is not interested in signing the DE. The Panthers did not want to re-sign Hardy after his sexual assault case last year, which landed him on the exempt list after playing in just one game.
The 15 sacks are huge for the Cowboys and they hope if he comes in he can put up numbers like that again. The suspension that is likely coming could hurt his value to the team, but they likely will get him at a cheaper rate than what he would have gotten on the open market had he not had this baggage with him. Last season Hardy had one sack and four tackles in one game and over the previous three seasons he had 30 sacks while missing just one game.
Last season the Panthers paid Hardy $13 million and he only appeared in one game and according to ESPN.com, at least six teams inquired about Hardy this offseason. The league may impose some punishment on Hardy, as the details of his alleged crime are pretty scary, although the charges were later dismissed. According to Pro Football Talk, a deal between Hardy and the victim was likely struck, which is why she did not cooperate with the case. The Cowboys desperately need a pass rush and now could get it from Hardy.
