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4 Things Greg Hardy Must Do to Remain a Panther

Posted on Author Bill VothCategories Greg Hardy Trial, NewsTags , , ,

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1. He needs to be acquitted of all charges

After a North Carolina judge found Hardy guilty in July of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and communicating threats, he immediately appealed. His jury trial will finally begin next week. He has to be cleared of all charges for the Panthers to consider bringing him back. Hardy also has to control his emotions during the trial, and not make flippant comments like his back-and-forth with the prosecutor about whether champagne is alcohol. If Hardy wants to return to Carolina, he needs to win his trial while on his best behavior.

2. He needs to apologize to Jerry Richardson

Hardy believes he did nothing wrong the night he was arrested last May, and a jury may agree with him. But he did bring a negative spotlight to the Panthers organization. Owner Jerry Richardson has always vowed that his club would handle itself with class and it would not embarrass its fan base. Former receiver Rae Carruth put a permanent stain on that promise in 1999, something Richardson has never gotten over. If acquitted, Hardy needs to go hat-in-hand to Richardson with an apology. If Hardy wants to return to Carolina, he needs to show contrition, not as an admission of guilt, but as someone who finally realizes what harm his situation caused the organization.So far it seems doable, right? Here’s where it gets interesting.

3. He needs to give money back

When he went on the Commissioners’ Exempt List in September, Hardy signed an agreement that guaranteed his $13.1 million salary. He collected $12.3 million of that while not playing. If Hardy wants to return to Carolina, he needs to offer to return that money.

4. He needs to take a hometown discount

A day after the season ended in Seattle, cornerback Josh Norman said Hardy told him he so badly wants to stay with the Panthers, he’d be willing to pay for free. The NFL and NFLPA would never allow that, so let’s up it to the league minimum, which for a player with four to six years of service would be $745,000 next season. If Hardy wants to return to Carolina, he needs to put his money where his mouth is and take a huge hometown discount in 2015.So there you have it.Could Hardy check off all four things? Sure.Will he? That’s highly unlikely. But if he does, the Panthers could bring him back after one of the greatest character shifts in team history.

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114 thoughts on “4 Things Greg Hardy Must Do to Remain a Panther”

  1. Hope we can work it out. The Panthers took all the risks with his character issues and he needs to demonstrate loyalty. Having him back on the field would give the D a shot in the arm.

  2. Hope we can work it out. The Panthers took all the risks with his character issues and he needs to demonstrate loyalty. Having him back on the field would give the D a shot in the arm.

  3. I keep hearing several reporters saying there’s no way Hardy will be back according to “sources” with the organization.  I don’t believe the door is completely closed and hope he is back if cleared of the charges.  I don’t think he necessarily needs to give any money back as mentioned in #3, though, if cleared of the charges, especially if he agrees to a “hometown” discount in 2015.

  4. I keep hearing several reporters saying there’s no way Hardy will be back according to “sources” with the organization.  I don’t believe the door is completely closed and hope he is back if cleared of the charges.  I don’t think he necessarily needs to give any money back as mentioned in #3, though, if cleared of the charges, especially if he agrees to a “hometown” discount in 2015.

  19. “But that game was his final appearance in a Carolina Panthers uniform.” — This. We fans need to move on, because I can guarantee you the front office already has.

  20. “But that game was his final appearance in a Carolina Panthers uniform.” — This. We fans need to move on, because I can guarantee you the front office already has.

  31. I hope he is back, if he is found not guilty he deserves a second chance and I think he would take less money to prove himself and if he does so then give him a better contract based on performance and off the field behavior. CJ will need to take a cut or we may be looking for 2 ends.
    If we let him walk he will be in Atlanta or New Orleans the next day.

  32. I hope he is back, if he is found not guilty he deserves a second chance and I think he would take less money to prove himself and if he does so then give him a better contract based on performance and off the field behavior. CJ will need to take a cut or we may be looking for 2 ends.
    If we let him walk he will be in Atlanta or New Orleans the next day.

  37. If he is acquitted of all charges why would he have to give all of his earnings back? If found not guilty that means these charges brought against him were in a sense false. The league decided it was best for him to go on the exempt list (although he did have to agree), I’m sure if Hardy had his way he would have played the entire year and earned that money. 
    That is setting a very poor principle. If I want to get an NFL player in trouble I’ll just accuse them of something, it may be defeated in court but in the mean time that player is going on the exempt list (stopping him from doing what he loves). And the money that player earned on the exempt list will have to be given back if he wants to stay on his current team? If not the player will have to change his lifestyle by moving to another city just to stay employed by any NFL team?
     I can’t imagine being apart of the Patriots or Seahawks and getting accused of something I didn’t do, then get acquitted and told I would have to go play at Oakland or Jacksonville because I won’t give the money I earned in my short NFL career back. I can understand apologizing, I can understand not acting a fool in court, but giving back my money that I earned by being a great player because someone said I did something which is then deemed to be untrue – I don’t understand that part.

  38. If he is acquitted of all charges why would he have to give all of his earnings back? If found not guilty that means these charges brought against him were in a sense false. The league decided it was best for him to go on the exempt list (although he did have to agree), I’m sure if Hardy had his way he would have played the entire year and earned that money. 
    That is setting a very poor principle. If I want to get an NFL player in trouble I’ll just accuse them of something, it may be defeated in court but in the mean time that player is going on the exempt list (stopping him from doing what he loves). And the money that player earned on the exempt list will have to be given back if he wants to stay on his current team? If not the player will have to change his lifestyle by moving to another city just to stay employed by any NFL team?
     I can’t imagine being apart of the Patriots or Seahawks and getting accused of something I didn’t do, then get acquitted and told I would have to go play at Oakland or Jacksonville because I won’t give the money I earned in my short NFL career back. I can understand apologizing, I can understand not acting a fool in court, but giving back my money that I earned by being a great player because someone said I did something which is then deemed to be untrue – I don’t understand that part.

  73. Jerry Richardson needs to get a life! Quuestion….does he really want to win the Super Bowl..if innocent bring him back .,.no ifs ands or buts, period!

  74. Jerry Richardson needs to get a life! Quuestion….does he really want to win the Super Bowl..if innocent bring him back .,.no ifs ands or buts, period!

  77. I played high school football the first quarterback threw the ball with such precision and spin you could hear the ball hum as it approached as you ran routes. He got shot while robbing a liquor store. To be mediocre I would show up 2 hours before for extra practice!!!   God given talent is often wasted the ignorant.

  78. I played high school football the first quarterback threw the ball with such precision and spin you could hear the ball hum as it approached as you ran routes. He got shot while robbing a liquor store. To be mediocre I would show up 2 hours before for extra practice!!!   God given talent is often wasted the ignorant.

  79. Even if he is acquitted he still put himself and the team in a precarious situation. He was an embarrassment on the franchise. (I never want to hear my team’s name mentioned by those @$$hats on SNL ever again.) He definitely should apologize for that. He made over 12 mil last year for playing one game. If he wants to stay in carolina he definitely should play for cheap this year. Shouldn’t matter if he is acquitted; he should still be held accountable for his decisions leading up to this.

  80. Even if he is acquitted he still put himself and the team in a precarious situation. He was an embarrassment on the franchise. (I never want to hear my team’s name mentioned by those @$$hats on SNL ever again.) He definitely should apologize for that. He made over 12 mil last year for playing one game. If he wants to stay in carolina he definitely should play for cheap this year. Shouldn’t matter if he is acquitted; he should still be held accountable for his decisions leading up to this.

  83. Ok I agree with playing for less money and making the deal around performance on and off the field. Yes he made a mistake but that does not mean we should toss him in the trash, if God can forgive so can man and if he has asked forgiveness and has cleaned the slate with God, then we cannot judge him. When a friend or family member makes a mistake, we need to be there during the dark days just like we are there when everything is good. Give the guy another chance.

  84. Ok I agree with playing for less money and making the deal around performance on and off the field. Yes he made a mistake but that does not mean we should toss him in the trash, if God can forgive so can man and if he has asked forgiveness and has cleaned the slate with God, then we cannot judge him. When a friend or family member makes a mistake, we need to be there during the dark days just like we are there when everything is good. Give the guy another chance.

  85. No one has control over what a player may do. Why doesn’t Patriots have a stain due to their player on trial for murder. Rae Caruth is not a stain to anyone but himself. Why would he even be mentioned in this situation except maybe some want to put a stain  on another  player. You have Michael Vick who went to prison and came out and has been playing since.You have Ben Roethlisberger who never went to trial due to parents not wanting one and having their daughter tagged as “that girl” the rest of her life and being a victim of media frenzy which is a disturbing situation. 

    Now Carolina has a player who has a situation of some kind with his girlfriend and everyone is sitting in judgement without knowing at the facts. 

    Last but not least domestic violence is no joke and there are women finding their self in this situation but there are also women who commit domestic violence against a man.  Judge Judy who resided over 3o years with these cases and now famous with a tv show has to always weed out these cases of who did what. Her stance has always been if a women hits a man and he hits her back then she cannot cry abuse. She quickly weeds out the liars in these situations. This could be a situation of two people under the influence behaving badly. We do not know anything yet to be sitting in judgement.

  86. No one has control over what a player may do. Why doesn’t Patriots have a stain due to their player on trial for murder. Rae Caruth is not a stain to anyone but himself. Why would he even be mentioned in this situation except maybe some want to put a stain  on another  player. You have Michael Vick who went to prison and came out and has been playing since.You have Ben Roethlisberger who never went to trial due to parents not wanting one and having their daughter tagged as “that girl” the rest of her life and being a victim of media frenzy which is a disturbing situation. 

    Now Carolina has a player who has a situation of some kind with his girlfriend and everyone is sitting in judgement without knowing at the facts. 

    Last but not least domestic violence is no joke and there are women finding their self in this situation but there are also women who commit domestic violence against a man.  Judge Judy who resided over 3o years with these cases and now famous with a tv show has to always weed out these cases of who did what. Her stance has always been if a women hits a man and he hits her back then she cannot cry abuse. She quickly weeds out the liars in these situations. This could be a situation of two people under the influence behaving badly. We do not know anything yet to be sitting in judgement.

  87. Jonny5 Has nothing to do with his pay–he earned that salary and the team is not in a precarious situation.Hardy has already apologized publicly –what you want –to  heap on your abuse.

  88. Jonny5 Has nothing to do with his pay–he earned that salary and the team is not in a precarious situation.Hardy has already apologized publicly –what you want –to  heap on your abuse.

  89. Its not Mr.Richardson its these stupid fans who dont support the Panthers unless they are winning, I agree bring him back and screw the snobby judgemental fake fans.

  90. Its not Mr.Richardson its these stupid fans who dont support the Panthers unless they are winning, I agree bring him back and screw the snobby judgemental fake fans.

  91. The more I think about this the less I like it. I LOVE the Panthers but if they want to keep up this high class, high integrity image they need to cut the BS. Stop informing sources that he needs to pay guaranteed money back and apologize to this and that person even if found not guilty. If JR is just embarrassed about this and wants to move on then fine move on from Hardy, but don’t fake it to make it look like Hardy would actually stay if he did things the organizations way. This is what the Panthers really want to say: “Even if not guilty of domestic violence you embarrassed the organization and you (really the NFL) cost us $13 million that we could have used elsewhere so goodbye”.

  92. The more I think about this the less I like it. I LOVE the Panthers but if they want to keep up this high class, high integrity image they need to cut the BS. Stop informing sources that he needs to pay guaranteed money back and apologize to this and that person even if found not guilty. If JR is just embarrassed about this and wants to move on then fine move on from Hardy, but don’t fake it to make it look like Hardy would actually stay if he did things the organizations way. This is what the Panthers really want to say: “Even if not guilty of domestic violence you embarrassed the organization and you (really the NFL) cost us $13 million that we could have used elsewhere so goodbye”.

  93. If I made a mistake, went through the proper steps, and apologized to my boss… You’re telling me if I liked my job and wanted to stay, I’d need to pay back everything I made last year AND work for minimum wage? Boo, this article was as interesting as the weather forecast for San Diego.

  94. If I made a mistake, went through the proper steps, and apologized to my boss… You’re telling me if I liked my job and wanted to stay, I’d need to pay back everything I made last year AND work for minimum wage? Boo, this article was as interesting as the weather forecast for San Diego.

  95. Actually, he played one game last year. (776k worth of his contract) so no, he did not earn that salary but there is nothing to be done about that now. And yea, the team took a pr hit and will again if they sign him back. Every game, Hardy’s name was brought up along with domestic abuse charges. So that IS a precarious situation and a blemish on the franchise. And also, I don’t think this ” — ” is an acceptable form of punctuation in place of a question mark or period.

  96. Actually, he played one game last year. (776k worth of his contract) so no, he did not earn that salary but there is nothing to be done about that now. And yea, the team took a pr hit and will again if they sign him back. Every game, Hardy’s name was brought up along with domestic abuse charges. So that IS a precarious situation and a blemish on the franchise. And also, I don’t think this ” — ” is an acceptable form of punctuation in place of a question mark or period.

  99. Hogwash! Each of the 4 points gets more crazy. If Hardy were to do steps 3 and 4, then JR should refund all ticket sales from the 2010 season (Hardy only played 1 game in 2014, and so did the 2010 Panthers), and Commissioner GODell should refund all his salaries and bonuses from 2014.

  100. Hogwash! Each of the 4 points gets more crazy. If Hardy were to do steps 3 and 4, then JR should refund all ticket sales from the 2010 season (Hardy only played 1 game in 2014, and so did the 2010 Panthers), and Commissioner GODell should refund all his salaries and bonuses from 2014.

  101. This player definitely should return if found innocent and forget the nonsense of him paying his one year tender back. Just negotiate his contract based on where his value is due to his production and hold him accountable for the discount he claims he’ll honour. We need him and he needs our support not scrutizing.

  102. This player definitely should return if found innocent and forget the nonsense of him paying his one year tender back. Just negotiate his contract based on where his value is due to his production and hold him accountable for the discount he claims he’ll honour. We need him and he needs our support not scrutizing.

  105. If Greg Hardy is found innocent then Gettleman needs to work something out to bring him back.  Otherwise we’ll be watching Hardy get a Super Bowl ring with either the Seahawks or Patriots next season.

  106. If Greg Hardy is found innocent then Gettleman needs to work something out to bring him back.  Otherwise we’ll be watching Hardy get a Super Bowl ring with either the Seahawks or Patriots next season.

  107. chazatlas What team he should or should not go with or if they go to the SB is hardly the issue.  I am just somewhat confused on the NFL and their behavior on issues. IMO it seems that the NFL does not have any behavior code and it changes depending on which way the wind blows that day and Goodell and many of the owners do not care one way or the other what fans or media say or think. That has been proven.  Seems like there are 3 players being a scapegoat but for what. 

    Before the story broke on the player with the Dolphins making complaints against Incognito to the NFL which I may add its pretty bad a player has to get a lawyer to fight to play in the NFL. Incognito was also arrested over sexual assault to a female employee at the club where he was playing in a golf tournament. Nothing happened except maybe a fine but I believe the newspaper article stated that the coach said he was handling it.  Where was Goodell in all this that Incognito was still playing and no one seemed to give 2 cents that a female was sexually assaulted on her job. Incognito has a bad history going back to high school days. I think Tampa Bay took him cause the coach said that he does not believe in death sentences. Do I think Incognito should be playing–no simply because of his many infractions. We have 3 players with a one time infraction who are not able to play at all. Guilty or innocent is not the issue.  I do not know how the players get to play no matter what they do. Only Goodell and the owners know what goes on behind closed doors.

  108. chazatlas What team he should or should not go with or if they go to the SB is hardly the issue.  I am just somewhat confused on the NFL and their behavior on issues. IMO it seems that the NFL does not have any behavior code and it changes depending on which way the wind blows that day and Goodell and many of the owners do not care one way or the other what fans or media say or think. That has been proven.  Seems like there are 3 players being a scapegoat but for what. 

    Before the story broke on the player with the Dolphins making complaints against Incognito to the NFL which I may add its pretty bad a player has to get a lawyer to fight to play in the NFL. Incognito was also arrested over sexual assault to a female employee at the club where he was playing in a golf tournament. Nothing happened except maybe a fine but I believe the newspaper article stated that the coach said he was handling it.  Where was Goodell in all this that Incognito was still playing and no one seemed to give 2 cents that a female was sexually assaulted on her job. Incognito has a bad history going back to high school days. I think Tampa Bay took him cause the coach said that he does not believe in death sentences. Do I think Incognito should be playing–no simply because of his many infractions. We have 3 players with a one time infraction who are not able to play at all. Guilty or innocent is not the issue.  I do not know how the players get to play no matter what they do. Only Goodell and the owners know what goes on behind closed doors.

  109. Seattle has to take care of Russell Wilson and Lynch and New England has to worry about Reavis, Browner, Willfork and Mccorty so he want go to them but maybe the Raiders who are loaded or the Bills. I would not rule out Atlanta or the Saints since both need help on that side of the ball.

  110. Seattle has to take care of Russell Wilson and Lynch and New England has to worry about Reavis, Browner, Willfork and Mccorty so he want go to them but maybe the Raiders who are loaded or the Bills. I would not rule out Atlanta or the Saints since both need help on that side of the ball.

  111. I know both SEA & NE have other contracts to focus on but either team has a knack for getting stud players for cheap, especially those who are considered “damaged goods” to other GM’s and owners. Carroll & Belichick love to sign talented cast-offs from other teams. If Hardy’s innocent, we need to try to sign him for as cheap as we can. We will kick ourselves if he leaves.

  112. I know both SEA & NE have other contracts to focus on but either team has a knack for getting stud players for cheap, especially those who are considered “damaged goods” to other GM’s and owners. Carroll & Belichick love to sign talented cast-offs from other teams. If Hardy’s innocent, we need to try to sign him for as cheap as we can. We will kick ourselves if he leaves.

  113. I agree its the snobby stuck up fans who dont want him back, screw that we need that nasty style player like Seattle and New England has, you get Hardy, TD,Luke and Norman on that defense and its a wrap, thats nasty as hell.

  114. I agree its the snobby stuck up fans who dont want him back, screw that we need that nasty style player like Seattle and New England has, you get Hardy, TD,Luke and Norman on that defense and its a wrap, thats nasty as hell.

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