Panthers coach Ron Rivera wants defensive end Greg Hardy back.
Hardy, who is awaiting a jury trial on a domestic violence charge, has been on the commissioner’s exempt list (essentially the NFL’s version of paid leave) since Week Three. Now that Hardy’s trial has been postponed until after the season, Rivera believes it’s only fair that Hardy be allowed to play, rather than to have to wait indefinitely for due process.
“In so many words, yes,’’ Rivera said when asked by reporters if Hardy should be allowed to return, via ESPN. “If things had all transpired and gone a certain way, then his availability might be now.’’
Hardy, who was initially allowed to play in Week One before being deactivated for Week Two, has already missed eight games. The NFL’s proposal to toughen the rules against players who commit domestic violence included a suspension of six games for a domestic violence conviction, so you could make the argument that Hardy should already be finished with his league-imposed discipline.
Of course, you could also argue that Hardy has been lucky to be placed on paid leave, rather than a suspension without pay. And you could argue that it’s simply untenable in the NFL right now to allow Hardy to play until and unless he’s been cleared of the domestic violence charge. Now it appears that Hardy will neither be convicted nor cleared until after this season is over, which means that he may remain in the limbo that is the commissioner’s exempt list for the rest of the season. Even if Rivera thinks that’s unfair.