Greg Hardy - Pro Football Rumors

FA Rumors: RGIII, Browns, Rams, Falcons

March 23rd, 2016 at 10:08am CST by Luke Adams

Will Robert Griffin III ultimately sign with the Browns after visiting Cleveland last week? According to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (via Twitter), the prevailing feeling at the owners’ meetings in Boca Raton is that the Browns will indeed be able to get something done with RGIII. There’s no agreement in place yet, but Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com tweets that there’s a possibility of a deal by the end of the week.

As we wait to see if the two sides can strike a deal, let’s round up a few other items related to free agency, including another one on Griffin…

Asked about the possibility of pursuing RGIII, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher acknowledged that it’s something his team may have to consider (video link via TheRams.com). However, it didn’t sound like there was much urgency on that front for Fisher and the Rams, who have plenty of confidence in Case Keenum as their starter.
Falcons head coach Dan Quinn confirmed this morning that his club remains in negotiations with free agent linebacker Philip Wheeler, who may end up returning, tweets D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Asked today about the possibility of bringing back defensive end Greg Hardy, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said that Dallas is “focused on some other guys right now,” per Todd Archer of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Although there hasn’t been much movement on the Chad Greenway front so far, the veteran linebacker remains confident that he’ll be able to work out a new deal with the Vikings, as Ben Goessling of ESPN.com writes. While Greenway’s first choice is to remain in Minnesota, he did acknowledge that he has received some inquiries from other teams, but he’s not in a rush to make a decision.
Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said he was “shocked” that both Chris Johnson and Jermaine Gresham accepted less money to re-sign in Arizona, adding that there was no special sales pitch for either player (Twitter links via Peter Schrager of FOX Sports).

FA Rumors: Ravens, V. Davis, Fitzpatrick, Jets

March 22nd, 2016 at 1:19pm CST by Luke Adams

The Ravens remain in the market for pass rushing help, but when asked today about Greg Hardy, head coach John Harbaugh replied, “Greg Hardy? He won’t be a Raven, I can tell you that” (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPN.com). Harbaugh also said that free agent linebacker Courtney Upshaw is still on the team’s radar, but Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun tweets that Upshaw’s return sounds unlikely.

Here are a few more updates related to free agency:

GM Scot McCloughan confirmed today that Washington still has interest in free agent tight end Vernon Davis, who paid a visit to D.C. earlier in March (Twitter link via Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com). In fact, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) suggests that Washington has made Davis a contract offer, in the hopes of pairing him with Jordan Reed and giving Kirk Cousins an additional weapon in the passing game.
Although there’s still a significant gap between the Jets‘ offer and Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s asking price, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News writes that the “Wild Wild West stare-down narrative has been exaggerated.” A source tells Mehta that the two sides have had an open line of communication in recent weeks.
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that Green Bay is moving on from free agent wideout James Jones, says Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Jones’ agent said as much on Monday.
Before he re-signed with the Cardinals, running back Chris Johnson was believed to be deciding between Arizona and Miami. However, Johnson tells Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that the Patriots also had interest in him.
Colts owner Jim Irsay said today that the team will continue to meet with free agents this week, but Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star cautions (via Twitter) that the team won’t be making any major moves.

South Rumors: Glennon, Bucs, Hardy, Panthers

March 21st, 2016 at 3:15pm CST by Luke Adams

With the Broncos, Jets, and Browns among the teams still in the market for a possible starting quarterback for the 2016 season, Buccaneers GM Jason Licht was once again asked today about the likelihood of a Mike Glennon trade, as Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times details.

Licht confirmed that teams have expressed interest in Glennon, and didn’t oppose the idea of a deal as strongly he has in some past instances. However, it still sounds like he and the Buccaneers prefer to keep the backup signal-caller, with Licht suggesting he feels “very good about the fact we have two good young quarterbacks.”

The Bucs GM also dismissed the idea that he has been demanding a first-round pick from any team interested in Glennon: “It’s false that I’ve been calling every team saying I need a first (round pick). I haven’t been calling every team. Even with those that have inquired, it’s been ‘Let’s keep talking.’ It hasn’t been, ‘we need this.'”

As we wait to see if Glennon remains in Tampa, let’s check in some other items from out of the NFL’s South divisions…

Licht also said today that the Buccaneers have not discussed the possibility of signing free agent defensive end Greg Hardy, per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). The Buccaneers reportedly considered Hardy a year ago, but passed on him then and appear likely to pass again this time around.
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera likes his current group of edge defenders, but wouldn’t mind adding another pass rusher “for the future,” tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
Saints cornerback Damian Swann was arrested early last Friday morning on charges of reckless driving and speeding, according to Jason Butt of the Macon Telegraph.
Texans head coach Bill O’Brien spoke to NFL Network’s Steve Wyche about the team’s decision to sign Brock Osweiler, suggesting that he and the Texans’ front office did plenty of homework on the ex-Broncos QB beyond the seven games he played in 2015. Marc Sessler of NFL.com has the details and the quotes from O’Brien.

Cowboys Backing Away From Greg Hardy?

March 20th, 2016 at 6:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys haven’t spoken with Greg Hardy during free agency, executive VP Stephen Jones told media, including David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.

Arguably the best player still on the market, the mercurial defensive end represents a PR risk for any team that begins negotiations with him. Entering his age-28 season, Hardy finished two seasons with over 10 sacks — including a career-high 15 in 2013 — but has missed 19 games in connection with a domestic violence incident and wasn’t exactly a model citizen in Dallas last season.

“[He’s] a free agent we haven’t had discussions with, if you want to say that,” Jones told media.

Earlier this week, we heard two teams were interested in Hardy but were trying to keep their interest under the radar in fear of attracting bad publicity.

Even amid Hardy’s struggles to acclimate in Dallas, the Cowboys said at multiple junctures they’d like to keep Hardy long-term. But the team steadily backed off that stance as the season went along. Hardy finished last season with six sacks after missing the first four games of the season due to a suspension.

Hardy ranked 21st on PFR’s Top 50 Free Agents list, behind only Ryan Fitzpatrick (No. 19) among still-available UFAs.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Latest On Greg Hardy

March 16th, 2016 at 2:44pm CST by Zachary Links

Several teams are currently interested in signing Greg Hardy, according to two sources who spoke with Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). However, those teams are hoping to stay “under the radar” with their interest for fear of attracting negative PR. Cole adds that interested clubs are hoping to sign Hardy to a two-year deal filled with incentives in an effort to keep his work ethic high.

Hardy, who racked up 35 tackles and 6.0 sacks in 2015, could bring some negative attention to clubs because of his domestic violence incident in 2014. Still, his talent has multiple teams intrigued and Cole hears that his market could start to open up now that fellow free agent defensive end Chris Long is off the board. There aren’t many talented edge rushers left on the board, so teams are starting to warm up to Hardy, despite his faults.

Hardy wasn’t quite as dominant as he was during his best years in Carolina, but he did rank as the league’s 28th-best edge defender, out of 110 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The Cowboys are reportedly unlikely to bring him back for 2016.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Stephen Jones Talks Gregory, Hardy, FAs

February 23rd, 2016 at 2:20pm CST by Luke Adams

Having initially expressed disappointment in Randy Gregory over his four-game suspension, Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said today that the team wants to avoid the risk that “four becomes more” for the defensive end. In other words, the Cowboys want to ensure that there are no more failed tests for their 2015 second-round pick, since that would result in an even longer suspension.

With Gregory out for the first four games of the season, targeting pass rushers in free agency and/or the draft will become an even greater priority in Dallas. Jones spoke to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News about that topic, Gregory’s ban, and more. Here are the highlights from the Cowboys’ executive:

On Gregory’s four-game suspension:

“It’s disappointing, but at the same time, sometimes these things don’t get fixed overnight. Anybody who has ever been involved in this type of situation knows that sometimes it takes time. We’re there, but he’s going to have to buckle down, which he is. He’s working hard at it, but he’s got to get over the hump here.

“You have to be concerned. That’s the risk you get when you go there. It’s all about that risk-reward deal, but at the end of the day, we got the infrastructure in place to continue to help him. We think he’s utilizing it, but at the same time, it’s disappointing that we had this go far enough that it resulted in a suspension.”

On the possibility of re-signing Greg Hardy:

“[We are] still not finalized with where we’re going to come down on that.”

On upgrading the pass rush:

“We’ve just got to do everything we can. Obviously we tried hard last year. That will continue to be a focus. At the end of the day, that’s a big part of a successful football team, getting pressure on the passer. We’ve got some good players that can do it. We just need a couple more to go with [Demarcus] Lawrence and [Tyrone] Crawford and those guys.”

On the possibility of the Cowboys pursuing their first real big-money free agent since Brandon Carr:

“You never say never. You never know what player is going to be out there and how we feel about them. Obviously we’ve slowed down our spending in free agency. I think Brandon’s been a solid player, but at the end of the day, I’ve always thought that that’s what you end up doing in free agency, paying solid players like they’re All-Pro players. That’s the negative about the good ones in free agency, you tend to overpay because you’re competing. It’s a tough deal.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC Notes: Cowboys, Boone, Okung, Vikes

February 20th, 2016 at 10:50am CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Cowboys were in need of pass-rushing help even before the NFL handed a four-game suspension to edge rusher Randy Gregory on Friday. Now, with Gregory out for the first quarter of next season and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence having undergone back surgery earlier this year, the Cowboys might be more inclined to re-sign Greg Hardy, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Hardy had a respectable six sacks in 12 games last season, but he was a headache off the field, and sources close to the 27-year-old told Jason Cole of Bleacher Report in January that Dallas was unlikely to bring him back. The Cowboys’ present circumstances could change that, however.

Here’s more from the NFC:

The 49ers will discuss a new contract with Alex Boone‘s agents at next week’s scouting combine in Indianapolis, but chances are they won’t get a deal done before free agency opens March 9, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Boone has played his entire career with the 49ers since they signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2009, netting 59 starts – all of which came during the previous four years.
There was a late-January report stating Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung, a pending free agent, would undergo surgery on his dislocated left shoulder. Okung confirmed to 710 ESPN Seattle on Thursday that the surgery is complete and he’ll face a four-month recovery period, according to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. “It was something that I didn’t have to do, but decided to do just to mitigate any risks going forward,” the 28-year-old said.
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said earlier this week that next season would be pivotal in showing whether Cordarrelle Patterson is capable of being a viable NFL receiver going forward. Patterson agrees, telling Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, “If it don’t show this year it ain’t going to show at all. That’s all I can say about that.” The 2013 first-round pick pulled in a combined 78 receptions in his first two years, but he was barely involved in the Vikings’ offense last season and added just two catches.

East Notes: J. Reed, Hardy, Dolphins, Bromley

February 1st, 2016 at 9:00am CST by Luke Adams

Two tight ends from the 2013 draft class, Zach Ertz of the Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Chiefs, signed lucrative new contract extensions last week, potentially setting the market for another tight end who was drafted that year. As Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post writes, it could be time for Washington to explore a new deal for Jordan Reed, whom GM Scot McCloughan wants to keep around.

However, it’s not as simple as immediately offering Reed an extension similar to the ones signed by Ertz and Kelce. As Tesfatsion details, 2015 was the first time that the Washington tight end exhibited an ability to stay healthy for a full season, so the team may be wary about jumping right into a long-term commitment. The Kirk Cousins situation also looms large over Washington’s offseason, and it could make sense for the club to get a sense of what it will be paying Cousins in 2016 and beyond before finalizing anything with Reed.

As we wait to see how McCloughan and co. handle the Reed situation, let’s round up a few more items from out of the NFL’s East divisions….

Although the Cowboys may be unlikely to re-sign Greg Hardy, at least one of the defensive end’s teammates would like to see him back in Dallas in 2016. Dez Bryant recently told Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News that he hopes the Cowboys can re-sign Hardy, adding that he’d “love” to continue playing with him.
Teams rarely let 26-year-old pass rushers get away unless the cost is astronomical, which is why Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap thinks it would make sense for the Dolphins to retain Olivier Vernon this winter. Fitzgerald explores that topic and many others in his preview of Miami’s offseason.
With a police investigation ongoing, Giants defensive tackle Jay Bromley is steadfastly denying that he attempted to rape and assaulted a woman in a New York hotel, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Bromley’s manager has said the allegations are “absolutely not” true, while the lineman’s attorney said he doesn’t expect his client to be charged.

Cowboys Unlikely To Re-Sign Greg Hardy

January 28th, 2016 at 12:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Shortly after Greg Hardy made his debut for the Cowboys this past season, the team’s decision-makers expressed enthusiasm about locking him up to an extension, ensuring that he remained in Dallas beyond 2015. However, neither Jerry Jones nor Stephen Jones has reiterated those sentiments recently, and sources close to Hardy tell Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) that the defensive end is unlikely to be back with the Cowboys.

According to Cole, Hardy partied frequently during the 2015 season, which contributed to his tardiness for the occasional team meeting and didn’t particularly endear him to the Cowboys as the season wore on. When taking into account his questionable in-season decisions, both on and off the field, as well as his alleged domestic violence history, it makes sense that the Cowboys would consider Hardy to be too much of a liability – or at least a distraction – to invest in going forward.

Still, Hardy had another solid season as a pass rusher in 2015, recording six sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception in 12 games for the Cowboys. He wasn’t quite as dominant as he was during his best years in Carolina, but Hardy ranked as the league’s 28th-best edge defender, out of 110 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus.

Based on his on-field production, Hardy’s camp expects him to land with some NFL team, though it remains to be seen which clubs will be willing to take a shot on the 27-year-old. As was the case last offseason, it’s hard to imagine any team locking him up to a multiyear contract that features a big chunk of guaranteed money, so Hardy could be in line for another short-term, incentive-laden deal.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Panthers GM Talks Strategy, Offseason, Hardy

January 21st, 2016 at 4:33pm CST by Ben Levine

The Panthers are one victory away from their first Super Bowl appearance since 2003. A lot of this season’s success can be attributed to general manager Dave Gettleman. The team has made the playoffs in each of his first three seasons with the organization, and the executive’s shrewd offseason moves (including cutting bait with embattled star Greg Hardy) helped the team to a 15-1 regular season record.

Gettleman recently sat down with Alex Marvez of Fox Sports to discuss his team-building strategy, the logic behind his offseason moves, and the team’s reaction to the Hardy fiasco. The whole interview is worth reading, but we’ve pulled out some of the notable quotes below…

On what the front office looks for in draftees/potential free agent targets:

“I’ve never been on a team that’s had bad chemistry and gone to a Super Bowl.

“So we really look hard at character. We really do. It’s a big part of our draft, a big part of bringing in free agents. The other thing we do is tell them, “This is who we are. If you don’t want to be a part of this, it’s OK. It doesn’t make you a bad guy. It makes you a bad fit.” The cards are on the table, and everybody knows what’s expected. Everyone is held responsible.”

On the team’s main priorities last offseason:

“One of the things was more speed on special teams. Our cover units hurt us last year. There were a whole bunch of things going on. We had a ton of injuries so Colin Jones, who’s our ace on special teams, becomes our nickel (cornerback). Now he’s playing 40 snaps a game, so you’ve got to pull him off a couple of teams (units). We lost (fullback) Mike Tolbert, who’s a solid special teams guy, for eight games. There was a domino effect. So we went out and got (cornerback) Teddy Williams, who’s a really core teams guy, we drafted (linebacker) David Mayo and incorporated Joe Webb more. That’s one of the checked boxes.

“Another thing was the left tackle spot. It was an issue. Anybody who watched film could see that. We really investigated Michael (Oher). Believe me – he has not disappointed. That was big.

“I also wanted to get a young developmental tackle. We got him in Daryl (Williams). We wanted to get a young running back in here, and we got Cameron Artis-Payne. And on (special) teams, we got David Mayo and he’s done a great job for us. We didn’t reach for any of those guys.

I felt like we answered a lot of the questions we had. I answered the question before the season began that I thought this was the best roster we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

On how the front office and team dealt with last season’s Greg Hardy situation:

“It was an incredibly difficult time. We had reporters saying we didn’t handle it well and we should have to go to (domestic violence) training and whatever. I made the statement (to the media) after the season was over that there is no one in this room who is qualified to deal with that issue.

“It was tough on us; it was tough on the players. They didn’t understand what was going on. It wasn’t until his court case got pushed back from November to after the year that everybody said, “OK, he’s not coming back (from the commissioner exempt list).” Guys started to say, ‘If everybody does their job, we’ll be OK.”