Dallas Cowboys News

[I Bleed Green]

And here's an explanation about how the video has come about: http://national.suntimes.com/nfl/7/72/701603/dez-bryant-video-screenshots

 

[nick87]

Come on!

 

[DC_fan]

Horn: How the Dez Bryant story got started: Hearsay, innuendo and whispers

Sports DaySports Day Columnists Barry Horn
Barry Horn

Horn: How the Dez Bryant story got started: Hearsay, innuendo and whispers
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/Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant
Mere suggestion of a story is enough to open media spigots


Barry Horn Follow @bhorn55 BHorn@dallasnews.com
Published: 26 February 2015 11:25 PM
Updated: 27 February 2015 10:21 AM
Related
Cowlishaw: Rumors of damaging video tape cling to Cowboys' Dez Bryant
Incident at Wal-Mart in July 2011 involved Dez Bryant but no charges resulted from disturbance
Forget about gumshoe, facts-in-hand reporting. The world of hearsay, innuendo and insider whispers found its latest megaphone last week on sports talk radio. The volume was soon pumped up on the Internet. Now, a story on the evolution of the story makes the newspaper.

Sorry to report that’s how some information is disseminated these days. Accurate from the start or not. For too many consumers, it’s the new journalism.

And so a simple question posed last Friday morning by Shan Shariff on “The Fan” KRLD-FM (105.3) catapulted Dez Bryant smack into the middle of the daily 24-hour news cycle with no end in sight.

Shariff posed a question to weekly guest Mike Florio, an NBC Sports NFL insider. But even before Shariff could finish, Florio was off filibustering with a 500-word scene-setter in which he introduced the notion of the existence of a supposedly incriminating videotape. The video had the Cowboys fretting about signing Bryant, among their most dynamic players, to a long-term contract in the tony $100 million range.

Florio, a man with two college engineering degrees and a law school diploma, said he had been working on the story for months but had nothing journalistically worthy enough for his NBC employers to go with.

He had not seen the video and couldn’t even report that an actual incident occurred. He reiterated that point about a dozen times in five minutes as he was airing the dirty laundry on a radio station owned by NBC rival CBS.

In reporting that he was working the story, Florio gave it life. If Florio indeed had had any journalistically sound story, rest assured it would have made its way to the NBC Nightly News.

Not to be outdone, ESPN’s Adam Schefter came back Monday on Chicago sports talk radio and reported that he too had been working on the Bryant video story since September.

Schefter, ESPN’s ace NFL insider, was careful to say his story wasn’t ready, may never be ready and “it’s really not fair to [Bryant] to talk about it.”

Still, he talked on.

Note: ESPN steered clear of any Bryant news on its flagship SportsCenter throughout the week.

Tuesday morning, a sports gossip blog, Terezowens.com, which bills itself as the “world’s most popular sports gossip blog,” breathlessly led with an item that referred to a “Dez Bryant Scandalous Video.” It would be released later in the day or Wednesday at the latest, the website assured.

The world would see Bryant doing something “supposedly Ray Rice worthy.” That could only translate into beating a woman. Running back Rice was arrested last February for assaulting his fiancée, who is now his wife. TMZ, another gossip website, delivered two videos of the Rice incident. Rice was ultimately released by his team, the Baltimore Ravens, and remains a free agent.

On Thursday, a Lancaster police incident report supposedly linked to the Bryant video was released. It is dated July 11, 2011. No one interviewed claimed to have been assaulted.

With no video of that incident available as of late Thursday, TMZ released another video.

The video, which lasts almost 4 1/2 minutes, showed a DeSoto police interview with Bryant’s mother, Angela, after a July 14, 2012, call to 911 in which she said her son had assaulted her. The subsequent family assault charge was conditionally dismissed by the Dallas County district attorney’s office after Angela Bryant chose not to pursue charges. Her son agreed to attend a family violence treatment program.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/co...got-started-hearsay-innuendo-and-whispers.ece

 

[DC_fan]

Insider Buzz: NFL Has Begun Investigation into Dez Bryant Wal-Mart Incident

The NFL has started to investigate an incident that occurred at a Wal-Mart involving Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...um=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national

 

[DC_fan]

Their is a lot of Woodward and Bernsteins wannabes out there.

 

[DC_fan]

Dallas have come to an agreement with OT Doug Free. His signing will keep together one of, if not the best OL in the NFL.

Jermey Parnell the backup tackle who is also a free agent is most likely to leave.

 

[DC_fan]

Charlotte Jones Anderson on Cowboys’ signing of Greg Hardy: ‘I’m not afraid of this move’

Charlotte Jones Anderson* understands the public outrage over the signing of Greg Hardy. The Cowboys executive vice president knows the issues that come with adding a player who was convicted of domestic violence before the judge’s decision was vacated when the accuser failed to show for a jury trial.

But she also sees the opportunity to draw attention to an issue that goes beyond the initial condemnation many express. She talks about education, impact and change.

Anderson is more than just the chief brand officer for the Cowboys. She is a member of the NFL conduct committee. She sat down with the Dallas Morning News in her Valley Ranch office Saturday to discuss Hardy’s signing.

“A lot of people say this is awful, but they don’t know what to do,’’ Anderson said. “That’s why this is such an incredible opportunity. That’s why I’m not afraid of this move.

“I’m a mom. I’ve got a daughter, I’ve got two sons. This is a serious issue for me, personally. I want my kids to know that domestic violence is not acceptable. But I also want them to know that if they make a mistake, no matter what the issue is, I’m not just going to throw them out. I’ve got to help them come back and make a better choice.

“This is an opportunity to really make a significant impact. This is very powerful and it’s very important, and important for me personally.

“I think you will look back and you will say this is the right move for the Cowboys.’’

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2...-this-is-the-right-move-for-the-cowboys.html/

* daughter of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

 

[DC_fan]

McClain signs for another season

The Cowboys have come to an agreement with LB, Rolando McClain signing him for another season. The one year deal will pay him a base salary of $3m and he can pick up a further $1m through incentives.

 

[DC_fan]

Cowboys sign Efe Obada, defensive end from the London Warriors

The Cowboys went outside the country to find their newest defensive lineman.


The team announced it signed end Efe Obada on Wednesday. Obada played one season with the London Warriors of the British American Football Association National Leagues Premiership.

The Warriors’ defensive coordinator, Aden Durde, was an intern assistant with the Cowboys last summer, according to NFL.com. Obada is listed as 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds.

“This is a dream,” said Obada, who will be playing only his second season of football if he somehow makes the team.. “It’s amazing and life-changing. It’s a major turning point in my life and feels like a movie.”​

The Warriors went undefeated in 2014 and won the national championship, according to the team’s website.

Obada is currently a warehouse worker outside of London, according to the NFL.com report.


http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2015/04/cowboys-sign-defensive-end-who-played-in-london.html/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nf...-Cowboys-just-five-games-London-Warriors.html

 

[DC_fan]

Cowboys Restructure Romo’s Contract, Freeing Up Roughly $13 Million In Cap Space

IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys opted to restructure Tony Romo’s contract on Wednesday, freeing up several million dollars in salary cap space in the process.

The possibility of restructuring Romo’s deal – which, valued at $108 million overall, is easily the largest contract on the Cowboys’ books – has been tossed around throughout this offseason.

It’s a common decision for teams looking to free up some spending space, as the Cowboys restructured both Romo and Sean Lee in 2014.

Earlier this offseason, the Cowboys also restructured Tyron Smith’s deal, freeing up $10 million in space.

It’s worth pointing out that the move is simply a rearrangement of Romo’s existing deal, not a pay cut. That said, it effectively functions to lower the quarterback’s astronomical cap hit of $27 million and give the Cowboys extra money to work with.

Essentially, the restructure will convert all but $1 million of Romo’s $17 million salary for 2015 to a signing bonus and reduce his cap hit by about $12.8 million.

In exchange for the short-term relief, Romo’s cap hit will increase by about $3.2 million over the next four years. His 2016 cap hit was slated to be $17.6 million, but will now bump up to $20.8 million. He will count toward the cap for $24.7 million in 2017, $25.2 million in 2018 and $23.7 million in 2019.

The savings will give the team the necessary cap room for a variety of offseason activities – namely, re-signing Rolando McClain, signing their 2015 draft picks and accounting for the bonuses worked into various contracts, such as McClain’s and Greg Hardy’s.

It would also free up some additional space for the Cowboys to pursue further moves in free agency, should they decide to. That all depends on the expenditures involved, though.

Following the restructure, the Cowboys are sitting at about $12 million in cap space, factoring in the McClain contract. All of that is subject to change, depending on the cost of upcoming draft picks, Hardy’s pending discipline from the NFL – not to mention any potential contract negotiations with Brandon Carr.

But for the time being, it does create some breathing room for the Cowboys’ cap situation.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...contract-freeing-roughly-13-million-cap-space

 

[DC_fan]

The Cowboys first quarterback Eddie LeBaron has passed away at the age of 84.

 

[DC_fan]

T.J. Yeldon among runners visiting Cowboys

Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter

IRVING, Texas -- There is no secret that running back is among the Dallas Cowboys' most glaring needs in the upcoming NFL draft, which is why Jerry Jones said at the recent owners meetings the team would meet with the top runners available.

To that end, the Cowboys will visit with Georgia's Todd Gurley, Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon, Indiana's Tevin Coleman and Boise State's Jay Ajayi.


One name that has been linked to the Cowboys since the owners meetings is Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah, but he is not on the list of national visitors due at Valley Ranch this week. Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon, however, is making it to the team's facility.

After putting up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in his first two years at Alabama, Yeldon had just 979 in 2014 but he scored 37 touchdowns in his career. He is also solid as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.

With the visits, the Cowboys have covered themselves with runners expected to go in the top three rounds. Gurley and Gordon are viewed as the best backs available, while Coleman, Ajayi and Yeldon are considered second- and third-round possibilities.


Considering the strong nature of the running back class, the Cowboys can look at other positions in the first round and perhaps the second and still find a runner to come in to help in their committee plan to replace DeMarco Murray, who led the NFL with 1,845 yards in 2014.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4741615/t-j-yeldon-among-runners-visiting-cowboys

~

Yeldon goes 6-1 and 225 pound so he has size that RB's presently on the roster don't.

 

[DC_fan]

Amobi Okoye’s comeback bid from rare disease ends as Cowboys cut him

Amobi Okoye’s comeback attempt with the cowboys has come to an end.

the club released the defensive tackle wednesday. Okoye, who suffered from a rare disease that put him in a coma and left a 145-day gap in his memory, signed with the team last may but never played a game as he spent the season on the reserve non football injury list.

Okoye was a free agent in march of 2013 when he suffered a seizure after a workout. He lost his speech and was shuttled to three different hospitals over the next four days as doctors rushed to determine what was wrong.

It was soon determined that okoye had contracted anti-nmda receptor encephalitis, an autoimmune syndrome that was first identified in 2007 and is potentially fatal. Those stricken with the unusual disease experience brain inflammation brought on by antibodies interfering with cell communication and causing neuronal damage.

Doctors cleared okoye to begin working with the cowboys in august.
“it’s a blessing every day,” okoye said shortly after receiving clearance. “you count your blessings. Your faith gets tested. I am happy to be back doing what i love to do.”

he continued to work out for the cowboys during the season as he slowly began to regain his strength and stamina but was never activated.

Okoye played in the nfl for six seasons _ four with houston and two with chicago. His last game was in december of 2012.

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2015/04/cowboys-release-dt-amobi-okoye-in-his-bid-to-comeback-from-a-rare-disease.html/

I wish him the best for the future with his medical problem and he gets a shot at a roster spot else where.

 

[DC_fan]

World Trade Center observation deck lease to Jerry Jones being investigated

NEW YORK -- Prosecutors are investigating the procurement process behind a contract awarded to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' company to operate the World Trade Center's observation deck.

Prosecutors from the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. have subpoenaed records pertaining to "the procurement process for the award of the lease" for the three-floor deck at One World Trade Center, the nation's tallest building, according to a bond filing by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the site and operates the building.

The Port Authority is controlled by Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who's a Cowboys fan and a friend of Jones.

In March 2013, officials announced that Legends Hospitality LLC, co-owned by Jones, was selected from six proposals to operate the observation deck on floors 100, 101 and 102. The development includes a public space on the 100th floor, restaurants on the 101st floor and an event space on the 102nd floor of the 104-floor building.

Representatives from the Port Authority, which also operates area bridges, tunnels and transit hubs, didn't return a message seeking comment on Thursday. Manhattan prosecutors and Legends said they had no comment.
Christie, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, said in a January radio show he became friends with Jones in September 2013, six months after the observation deck contract was awarded. He called critics then "partisan hacks" and "aluminum-foil-on-their-head conspiracy theorists."

Representatives for Jones and Christie, who attended a playoff game against the Detroit Lions together and shared a victory hug, didn't immediately return messages seeking comment Thursday.

The Port Authority bond filing released Tuesday also details numerous other inquiries by various regulators and agencies, including from federal prosecutors in New Jersey, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a New Jersey legislative committee and the state's ethics commission.

The Port Authority and Christie have come under increased scrutiny since lane closures near the George Washington Bridge in September 2013 caused traffic backups that apparently were ordered by administration officials for political retribution against the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey, after he didn't endorse Christie for re-election. Christie has denied any prior knowledge of the traffic scheme and called it "inexplicably stupid."

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story/_/id/12657141/world-trade-center-observation-deck-lease-dallas-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-being-probed

 

[DC_fan]

2015 Dallas Cowboys preseason schedule

IRVING, Texas -- A preseason schedule normally does not draw much excitement, but that could change this summer if somehow Adrian Peterson ends up with the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys will host the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium in the third week of the preseason, which is generally the dress rehearsal game in which the starters play the most snaps of the exhibition season.

Even if Peterson remains with the Vikings, the storyline figures to be prominent that week.

The NFL released the preseason schedule Thursday afternoon but the exact times and dates will come out later. The Cowboys are looking at a late July or early August beginning to training camp in Oxnard, California. Teams can report to training camp 15 days before their first preseason game.

The Cowboys will open the preseason at the San Diego Chargers for the second straight year the week of Aug. 13-17. They will make their first trip to Levi’s Stadium on Aug. 20-24 to take on the San Francisco 49ers.

After playing the Vikings, the Cowboys will close the preseason with a meeting on Sept. 3 or 4 against the Houston Texans.

Last year the Cowboys had to adjust their normal training camp schedule because AT&T Stadium was booked the third week of August, so they could not play their first two preseason games away from home.

Cowboys preseason schedule

Game 1 at San Diego Week of Aug. 13-17

Game 2 at San Francisco Week of Aug. 20-24

Game 3 vs. MINNESOTA Week of Aug. 27-30

Game 4 vs. HOUSTON Week of Sept. 3-4

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4741696/2015-dallas-cowboys-preseason-schedule

 

[DC_fan]

Former Cowboys honored in Texas Sports Hall of Fame

Gil Brandt, Cliff Harris, and Everson Walls were inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame Thursday. The ex-Cowboys were among eight total inductees in the Hall of Fame's 2015 class.

"It's a great honor for me," Harris said. "You know, look at the list of the legends that are in there; just incredible. All these things have been happening really another lifetime ago. And this is a real topper for that little spurt that I had."

Harris played safety for Dallas from 1970-79, racking up six Pro Bowls and four All Pros. He is also one of 10 Cowboys to have been a part of both of the club's Super Bowl winners in 1971 and 1977.

"Cliff was a great player," former teammate Walt Garrison said. "I mean, a free agent from Arkadelphia, Arkansas, a county son-of-a-buck that come in and he would hit you. That was how he got the nickname 'Crash' because he would hit you and hurt you. And he was a great defensive back."

Named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, such a spectacular career may not have been possible without the scouting innovation of then-Cowboys VP of player personnel, Gil Brandt, who held that post from 1960-88.

"One of the coaches said, 'You got to look at this tape,'" Brandt recalls. "It's Cliff running and he returns two kicks for a touchdown."

"Gil had the know-how and understanding that there were great players not just in small colleges, but other sports," said Harris. "He built the foundation of the uniqueness of the Dallas Cowboys that during that era when we first started being known as America's Team."

Brandt remembers signing the 22-year-old Harris to a $500 contract.
"The most expensive thing wasn't the signing bonus, but getting tickets for his whole family. That cost more than the signing bonus."

Another undrafted product Brandt's scouting system culled was Walls.

"It shouldn't have taken a rocket scientist," Walls said. "I led the nation in interceptions! So, I was out there for anyone to see. My thing was, 'How in the hell did they not draft me?'"

Walls exploded onto the scene in Dallas, leading the league as an undrafted rookie with 11 interceptions. He followed up the performance with a seven-pick season in 1982, which also led the NFL.

As a native Texan who attended Dallas-area Richardson Lloyd V. Berkner High School and live two miles away from the Cowboys practice facilities, playing for the hometown team was beyond even a screenwriter's imagination.

"Some of the older players, when I was like 10 years old, some of them used to come down to my mom and dad's hamburger joints for lunch," said Walls. "It was almost like they were waiting on me to make my move. I don't know if that was the case."

Walls had the fortunate of playing under legendary head coaches in the NFL such as Tom Landry, Bill Parcells, and Bill Belichick. Even at Grambling, Walls played numerous positions under head coach Eddie Robinson.

"He wasn't just a good coach. He was articulate. He was funny, and he was a guy you could sit down and have a cup of coffee with. And he would tell you stories all day long you would never forget.

"He would be so proud. I think he made a quote. He said, 'Hell, Everson Walls had stars in his eyes when he came to Grambling.'"

http://www.foxsports.com/southwest/story/former-cowboys-honored-in-texas-sports-hall-of-fame-041015

 

[DC_fan]

Former Cowboys RB Garrison: Murray's production hard to replace

Former Cowboys running back Walt Garrison believes it will be hard for Dallas to replicate DeMarco Murray's production from a year ago, despite the club having three Pro Bowlers in tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick, and guard Zack Martin.

"They got a good offensive line," Garrison said Thursday at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame 2015 inductions. "And of course it'd be hard to find another Murray because he was unbelievable. Somebody paid him more than the Cowboys."

Although Murray had an All-Pro season and set the Cowboys franchise record for single-season rushing yards at 1,845, the club elected to let the four-year veteran test free agency. On March 12, Murray inked a five-year, $42-million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Even though the Cowboys' feature back will be playing for an NFC East rival in 2015, Garrison has some optimism for the running game.

"They got a great offensive line," said Garrison. "And nothing helps a running back more than an offensive line. So they got some runners still there. We'll have to wait and see."

Currently, the Cowboys have running backs Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar, Ryan Williams, and free agent Darren McFadden on the roster. Draft experts predict Dallas will use their first-round choice to select a running back, and then the speculation of Jerry Jones making a play for Vikings running back Adrian Peterson continue to build.

The former Super Bowl VI champion only goes to four games a season, but still supports the Cowboys.

"Somebody said, 'Why don't you go to more games.' I said, 'How many bricklayers do you know that go watch other people lay brick, especially on Sunday?' I pull for them. I'm a Cowboy fan.

"I was tickled to death that they were winning [in 2014]. I'm still pulling for them when they're having a bad year or a good year. But they did great."

http://www.foxsports.com/southwest/story/former-cowboys-rb-garrison-says-murray-s-production-hard-to-replace-041015

Garrison is supporting what most people are thinking.

 

[DC_fan]

National writers unanimously pick Cowboys as NFC East's best

From DeMarco Murray, to Rolando McClain and Greg Hardy, this offseason has seen its share of ups and downs for the Dallas Cowboys.

The good news is, after going 12-4 and winning the division in 2014, there are many out there that still feel that Dallas is the team to beat in the NFC East heading into next season.

Recently, ESPN's NFL Nation reporters Dan Graziano, John Keim, Phil Sheridan and Todd Archer have been breaking down every team's best, worst, and underrated offseason moves. To wrap up their coverage, they discussed which team they think is in the best position heading into next month's draft.

Here are their responses:
Dan Graziano: Dallas Cowboys. The Philadelphia Eagles made the most moves, but I don't think there's any way to know at this point whether the team is better or worse than it was two months ago. The Cowboys had the best top-to-bottom roster in the division last season, and in spite of losing DeMarco Murray to a division rival, I think that's still the case. Will they win it again? Tough to predict such a thing for a division that hasn't seen a repeat champ in over a decade. But with five months to go before the season starts, I think you still have to say Dallas has the NFC East's best roster.

Phil Sheridan: Cowboys. To me, it feels like the Eagles changed the most and the New York Giants changed the least. Dallas obviously lost the NFL's leading rusher in Murray, but should be able to run the ball behind that offensive line. The Washington Redskins rather quietly rebuilt its defense, but seems unsettled at quarterback. Until I see Sam Bradford run coach Chip Kelly's offense, I'd have to go with Dallas at the top of the list with the Giants potentially closing in.

John Keim: Still Dallas. The Eagles have so many question marks, such as how pieces will fit and whether certain players will even be healthy. They're a grand experiment and will be the most intriguing team. Washington has improved, but the Redskins had a long way to go. The Giants have been relatively quiet. The Cowboys re-signed key parts and added inside linebacker depth that they always seem to need. Of course, they made the most controversial move in signing end Greg Hardy. There's no doubt he'll provide pressure -- and the Cowboys have some underrated talent up front to help him. The on-field question is how much time he will miss because of a suspension. But when on the field, his talent will take over.

Todd Archer: Cowboys. I believe Murray will be a big loss for the Cowboys, but I don't think it will cripple their success. I don't know how many games Hardy will play. I don't know how many games Rolando McClain will play. I don't know how happy Dez Bryant will be with the franchise tag. The Eagles made a lot of moves, but I don't believe in their quarterback at all. The Giants could bounce back. I still think the Redskins are the fourth best team in the division. The Cowboys were able to cover their needs in free agency without spending much of any guaranteed money. They have the best quarterback, offensive line, wide receiver and tight end in the division. They have added a pass-rusher, kept a playmaker and will welcome back Sean Lee. Entering the draft, the Cowboys are still the team to beat.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20150410-national-writers-unanimously-pick-cowboys-as-nfc-east-s-best.ece

 

[DC_fan]

Cowboys' Greg Hardy suspended for first 10 games of 2015 season

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy has been suspended for the first 10 games of the season for conduct detrimental to the NFL in violation of the personal conduct policy.

Now, the Cowboys and the league await the impending appeal to determine if those 10 games stand or the penalty is reduced. A source told The Dallas Morning News that Hardy plans to appeal the suspension immediately.

Commissioner Roger Goodell informed Hardy of his ruling in a letter Wednesday morning. He told the Pro Bowl defensive end that the league’s extensive two-month investigation “determined that there was sufficient credible evidence that Hardy engaged in conduct that violated NFL policies in multiple respects and with aggravating circumstances.’’

The letter went on to inform Hardy that the investigation concluded that Hardy used physical force against his former girlfriend, Nicole Holder, in at least four instances that included placing his hands around her neck and applying enough pressure to leave visible marks, shoving her against a wall and throwing her on a futon covered with at least four semi-automatic rifles.

“The net effect of these acts was that Ms. Holder was severely traumatized and sustained a range of injuries, including bruises and scratches on her neck, shoulders, upper chest, back, arms and feet,” Commissioner Goodell wrote in the letter. “The use of physical force under the circumstances present here, against a woman substantially smaller than you and in the presence of powerful, military-style assault weapons, constitutes a significant act of violence in violation of the Personal Conduct Policy.”

Goodell stated in his view, the length of the suspension was appropriate under any version of the personal conduct policy or its predecessors.

The NFL was unable to interview Holder despite repeated attempts, but Goodell stated his findings are supported by corroborating evidence and the testimony of medical personnel, law enforcement and the photographs of the incident that the NFL viewed.

The investigation also concluded Hardy failed to provide complete and accurate information to NFL investigators and members of the NFL staff.

The Cowboys had no immediate comment.

The background to this ruling: eight months ago the NFL owners approved an alteration to the personal conduct policy that imposes a six-game suspension on a first offense for domestic violence and a lifetime ban for a second offense. The action was taken in the wake of the league’s bungling of the Ray Rice case.

The former Baltimore running back was handed a two-game suspension by Goodell in July — less than penalties the NFL levies for substance abuse and DUI — for assaulting his then-fiancee in an elevator.

“At times, however, and despite our best efforts, we fall short of our goals,” Goodell wrote in a letter to NFL personnel in August. “We clearly did so in response to a recent incident of domestic violence.

“My disciplinary decision led the public to question our sincerity, our commitment, and whether we understood the toll that domestic violence inflicts on so many families. I take responsibility both for the decision and for ensuring that our actions in the future properly reflect our values.

“I didn’t get it right.’’

This is Goodell’s first chance in a domestic abuse ruling to “get it right’’ since Rice.

Hardy was arrested on May 13, 2014 when an argument between him and his girlfriend at the time resulted in both parties placing calls to 911. That’s three months before the new standard went into effect.

The defensive end’s status is further complicated by how his case worked its way through the North Carolina legal system.

A judge found Hardy guilty in July and gave him 18 months probation after suspending a 60-day jail sentence. He was guilty when the new policy went into effect.

Hardy and his attorney appealed, asking for a jury trial in a superior court. Charges were dismissed earlier this year when prosecutors were unable to locate the accuser, Holder, who failed to appear in court. Now, he’s not guilty in the eyes of the law.

The district attorney for Mecklenburg County has stated that he has reliable information that Holder reached a civil settlement with Hardy and that it appears she has “intentionally made herself unavailable to the State.’’

Goodell writes that Hardy’s attorneys have repeatedly refused to provide the league office with a copy of the settlement or acknowledge it exists.

Goodell’s decision also directs Hardy to obtain a clinical evaluation from a qualified professional that he chooses. If counseling or treatment is recommended, he must comply with those recommendations and allow the NFL to monitor his compliance and follow-up care.

Hardy is clear to continue to take part in the Cowboys offseason program. He will practice with the team in training camp and be allowed to play in preseason games. The suspension begins on Sept. 5. Pending appeal, he will be eligible for reinstatement following the Cowboys' 10th game.

The irony: that comes against Hardy’s former team, the Carolina Panthers, on Thanksgiving.

If the suspension is not reduced and Hardy plays in only six games, the most he can make this season is slightly more than $5.03 million.

Goodell also let Hardy know what will happen if there are future incidents that involve law enforcement.

“You must have no further adverse involvement with law enforcement and must not commit any additional violations of league policies,” Goodell wrote. “In that respect, you should understand that another violation of this nature may result in your banishment from the NFL.”

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20150422-cowboys-greg-hardy-suspended-for-first-10-games-of-2015-season.ece

As the story says there is an appeal process to go through and a lot what the Cowboys do will depend on how that pans out.

My thought is that no matter what happens with the appeal Hardy is gone after this season. He was only ever a one year stopgap. The length of his suspension possibly changes the Cowboys draft rational. Recent draft chat had the Cowboys taking a CB in the first round. Maybe now they will be looking at a pass rushing DE.

 

[DC_fan]

Cowboys can only hope Greg Hardy suspension is reduced

IRVING, Texas -- Just because the NFL announced a 10-game suspension for Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy doesn’t mean the full suspension will stand up to the impending appeal or potential court ruling.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said in a statement that the team was anticipating a suspension and “we respect the commissioner’s ruling. Our organization understands the very serious nature of this matter. We will use our resources -- work closely with Greg and with the league -- to ensure a positive outcome.”

Despite Jones’ statement, there has to be some surprise at the length of the suspension. Under the new personal conduct policy, a player’s first offense is a six-game suspension. The old policy was a two-game suspension.

Even though Hardy has not been penalized legally for the domestic violence case from the past spring, the NFL made him an example of their new, "get tough" stance after the league badly handled the Ray Rice episode last year.

If the suspension sticks, Hardy will miss 25 games over two seasons. He played one game last year for the Carolina Panthers, was inactive for another and was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list for the final 14.

Had the Cowboys known Hardy would be available for just six games, would they still have entered into his one-year deal, even if the contract is mostly pay-as-you-go?

The Cowboys were more than willing to stick out their chests in the one-year deal they reached with Hardy. They gave him no guaranteed money. His base salary is just $750,000. He could earn $1.311 million through a workout bonus and another $1.8 million in incentives.

The real money comes in the per-game roster bonuses totaling $9.5 million.

If Hardy played, he would get paid.

Under the suspension, Hardy can now make $3.468 million in roster bonuses for the six games. His base salary would be roughly $264,700. He would have to be otherworldly to cash in on the incentives. The low benchmark is $500,000 for eight sacks. He can earn $1 million for 10 sacks, $1.4 million for 12 sacks and $1.8 million for 14 or more sacks.

If he could get eight sacks in six games, the Cowboys would be ecstatic to pay him an extra $500,000.

But again, the chance of the suspension's being upheld is slim. Even if the appeal is denied, Hardy could take the case to court. Adrian Peterson won a court case not too long ago over the NFL's penalizing him under a personal conduct policy that was not in place when the incidents involving his children occurred.

If Hardy played, he would get paid.

In his letter to Hardy, Goodell said the actions were so egregious that a 10-game suspension was allowable under the former or current policy. That will be handled in the appeal or by the courts.

The Cowboys have to be bystanders in this. They need to respect Goodell’s ruling while also trying to support their player.

In the end, they hope to get more than just six games from Hardy in 2015, even if they can’t openly root for that to happen.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4741921/cowboys-can-only-hope-greg-hardy-suspension-is-reduced

My thought is that if the Cowboys knew the possibility of a long suspension of 10 weeks was high then they would not have signed him.