Greg Hardy seems to be struggling to find a next stop on his redemption tour, and he can apparently cross Canada off the list.
According to CBC News, Saskatchewan Roughriders General Manager/coach Chris Jones said there was some suggestion of bringing Hardy in during the spring, but the CFL ruled against it.
“Greg Hardy inquired to us back during camp and it was about a six-hour discussion,” Jones said. “The league made their ruling on it and we moved on. . . .
“He was interested in coming up. I inquired with the league. The league made their ruling, and you can talk to [CFL commissioner] Jeffrey Orridge and those guys if you need to have more info on it.”
A CFL spokesman said the league did have discussions with the Roughriders, but that the call was made by the team.
“The decision whether to pursue a player rests with the organization,” the league said. “And in this case, while the league did discuss the matter with the Riders, it was ultimately the organization’s decision to not place Hardy on the Riders’ negotiation list in May.”
While there have been some trial balloons floated in Washington and Jacksonville, there’s no indication anyone’s interested in signing the former Panthers and Cowboys defensive end based on his previous domestic violence charges (which were eventually thrown out following a reported settlement with his accuser).
Of course, the Roughriders can try to take the high ground on this issue too, but they have a player on their roster now with allegations of domestic violence in the past. But their coach was also honest about the league’s place in the talent-acquisition heirarchy.
“Quite honestly, you wouldn’t have a league if all the guys who had some type of past transgression in high school or junior college or college [weren’t allowed to play],” Jones said. “You wouldn’t have a CFL.”
Of course, the abilities to play football and simultaneously stay out of police cars are ones shared by many players on both sides of the border.
But the Roughriders and/or CFL backing away also shines some light on how damaged Hardy’s stock is. While his transgressions as a member of the Panthers were enough for some teams, it was creating a distraction and not offering enough bang for the buck in Dallas that has made him radioactive in NFL circles.
And now if the CFL won’t touch you, it’s reasonable to wonder who will.