A Dallas Grand Jury indicted free agent defensive end Greg Hardy on a felony count of cocaine possession Monday, A.J. Perez of USA Today was among those to report. Hardy could now face jail time or a fine.
Hardy’s indictment stems from a Sept. 25 arrest in Richardson, Texas, where police pulled over the 28-year-old on a traffic violation and, after he allowed them to search his car, found cocaine (0.7 grams) and marijuana remnants. Hardy told police at the time that he didn’t know what was in the bag, claiming that someone gave it to him at a party the previous night.
The immensely talented Hardy was unable to find work between the end of last season, which he spent with the Cowboys, and his arrest thanks to an alarming history of off-field problems. The NFL suspended Hardy for nearly all of the 2014 season and part of the 2015 campaign for a domestic violence incident. The Cowboys then gave the controversial pass rusher a second chance, and he performed well with six sacks in 12 games, but Hardy was a headache for the club’s coaching staff and his presence on the roster was a public relations nightmare. As a result, the Cowboys decided not to re-sign him.
Months after his stint with the Cowboys ended, Hardy drew offseason interest from the Jaguars, Redskins and a mystery team, but each opted against adding him. If Hardy’s career in the league wasn’t over when those organizations passed on him, it likely is now. In a combined 75 games with the Panthers and Cowboys, Hardy amassed 40 sacks – including a personal-high 15 in 2013, the year of his only Pro Bowl appearance. He’s now attempting to become a mixed martial artist.
No way. I’m shocked. He said he wouldn’t do that anymore. What a bonehead!