National Football League

What does Hardy's reduced suspension mean for Cowboys?

Updated Aug. 24, 2022 3:11 p.m. ET

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It's entirely possible that, even after having his suspension reduced, Greg Hardy's legal proceedings aren't done. It's a big victory for the Pro Bowl defensive end regardless, as he's now eligible to suit up as early as Oct. 11 -- rather than Thanksgiving.

If Hardy and his camp decide to take the ruling to court, however, he could wind up with even better news. Hardy's charges for allegedly assaulting and threatening his ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder happened in June of 2014, before the league amended its policy regarding domestic violence.

While the current policy calls for a six-game suspension for all domestic violence infractions, Hardy could conceivably argue that his offense falls under the old guideline --€" which could have called for as little as a two-game suspension.

Early indicators are that Hardy will consult with his agent and representatives before deciding to pursue that action. It makes sense if he does, though. He's got nothing to lose by furthering the appeal, as he's already secured a shorter suspension.

There's also the matter of his incentive-based contract, which is set to pay him about $578,000 per game this season. Under the original, 10-game suspension, his per-game pay out maxed out at about $3.4 million. With Hardy available for 12 games, his per-game payout stands at about $6.9 million.

His one-year deal also includes up to $1.8 million in sack incentives, which he seems far more likely to reach, having 12 games to work with instead of six. The Cowboys accounted for these things when they signed Hardy in March, but the team-friendly deal suddenly has much more potential to be player-friendly in light of the news.

In the meantime, the news gives the Cowboys a much more palatable start date for their prized free-agency acquisition -- and it's interesting to see what that will mean for training camp. 

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When the suspension was announced, the NFL said that Hardy would be eligible to participate in all training camp practices and preseason games. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said he intended to give Hardy as much work as possible, but it's undoubtedly better to give him first-team reps knowing he'll be back in four weeks, as opposed to three months.

It also means that instead of coping without Hardy for more than half the season, the Cowboys need only find a way to bridge the gap for the month that he's gone. Jeremy Mincey is a strong candidate to handle right defensive end duties in September, while second-round draft pick Randy Gregory is an intriguing rookie option.

The news should also have some interesting ramifications for the fringe players among the Dallas defensive linemen. When he serves his suspension -- however long it winds up lasting,€" Hardy won't count toward the active roster. That essentially leaves an open spot for a pass rusher who might not have made the team if Hardy were eligible.

Behind the established trio of Mincey, Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence, guys like Ken Boatright, Ben Gardner, Ryan Russell, Lavar Edwards and Jack Crawford will get a look at a roster spot. Without Hardy, the first weeks of the season could be used as an audition for whoever does wind up in the rotation.

With just a month -- or potentially less -- to wait before Hardy's return, it should give the Cowboys a much clearer idea for how to cope without one of their most dynamic defenders.

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