As Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy heads to 345 Park Avenue for a meeting with the powers-that-be less than a week before becoming a free agent for the first time in his career, the tea leaves are suggesting that the two sides will try to strike a deal.
For example, Hardy could receive a free and clear path to free agency, with the ability to hit the market the moment the new league year begins next Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET. In return, Hardy would agree to a suspension for the conduct that resulted in a judge finding him guilty last year of domestic violence.
It wouldn’t be the first time the NFL has resolved a player’s disciplinary proceedings by agreement. Last year, the Aldon Smith suspension arose not through hearings and appeals but a compromise struck before any of the various proceedings began.
There’s reason to believe the NFL and Hardy have something unconventional going on. For starters, Hardy’s camp has adopted a position of radio silence as the meeting at the league offices approaches. Likewise, the NFL has failed to respond to repeated requests from PFT for clarification regarding Hardy’s ability to hit the free-agent market while on the Commissioner-Exempt list. Which could mean the NFL wants his status to continue to be vague and unsettled in advance of their discussions with Hardy.
Taking Hardy off the Commissioner-Exempt list before the market opens and the biggest money flows becomes the league’s leverage to get Hardy to accept a suspension, which may or may not include the forfeiture of an extra game check or two, given that he was paid his full $13.1 million salary in 2014 despite playing in only one game. And while last week’s ruling in the Adrian Peterson case stands for the proposition that the new personal-conduct policy can’t be applied retroactively (which may limit Hardy to a two-game suspension under the old personal-conduct policy), Hardy can agree to any punishment he wants, if the agreement allows him to hit the market next month.
If Hardy doesn’t strike a deal, it’s quite possible that the NFL find a way to keep Hardy from being eligible for a new contract until after the big money has been spent.
