Greg Hardy Signs with Dallas Cowboys

Defensive end Greg Hardy's 2014 season was essentially a lost cause. He is facing a one- to two-game suspension, but the former Panther has agreed to terms on a deal with the Dallas Cowboys.

Continue for updates.

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Cowboys Agree to Terms with Hardy After Bucs Lose Interest

Wednesday, March 18

The Dallas Cowboys confirmed they have signed Hardy: 

ESPN's Adam Schefter added the financial details of the contract, stating the deal is for one year and $11.3M, which can get up to $13.1M with incentives. 

Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the defensive end met with defensive coaches on Tuesday and was scheduled to undergo a physical on Wednesday.

Pro Football Talk reported Hardy was likely to make his decision between the Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. However, PFT later reported the Bucs reportedly had "lost interest" in Hardy and that he was expected to be a Cowboy barring any new suitors joining the process.

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times confirmed that report, adding that the Buccaneers' decision "was not contract related." General manager Jason Licht stated, "At the end of the day, we didn't feel good about it," according to Joe Trahan of WFAA.com.

ESPN's Adam Schefter said signing Hardy would restrict the potential for any deal with Adrian Peterson.

On March 16, Dianna Marie Russini reported Cowboys staff members had talked to Hardy's former coaches in an effort to learn more about his character. Russini also noted the team has liked what it has heard so far.

Drew Davison of the Star-Telegram reported it was still "early in the process" and the Cowboys were doing "their homework" to see if Hardy would be a fit. He added:  

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Because of that domestic violence incident, there is a chance the NFL could slap Hardy with a six-game suspension going into this season.

That’s why the Cowboys are taking their time in pursuing Hardy. They are only interested in him coming in on a team-friendly deal, similar to what they had with linebacker Rolando McClain last season.

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Cole Weighs In on Hardy's Potential Contract, Suspension

Wednesday, March 18

Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported on Hardy's potential contract and discussed his possible suspension from the NFL:

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports also commented on Hardy's potential asking price: "Greg Hardy contract will certainly be interesting in terms of length, guarantee and total money. Heard he's seeking north of $6M for '15."

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Hardy Plans to Visit Seahawks, Buccaneers

Tuesday, March 17

Pro Football Talk reported that Hardy plans to visit the Seattle Seahawks. Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports reported that the Buccaneers were also among the interested teams.

ESPN's Adam Schefter also chimed in on the Bucs' interest: "While Cowboys are favorite to land Greg Hardy with him in Dallas, it's worth noting: Tampa Bay will not go away quietly. Bucs still in this."

Hill reported to watch for Seattle's interest in Hardy, as it might need to replace Michael Bennett, who, he reported, is looking for a trade to Atlanta.

However, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times, "the Seahawks, through a spokesman, said this morning there are no set plans for a visit by free agent defensive end Greg Hardy, despite several reports stating that the former Carolina Panther would be visiting soon." Condotta added that they "are just doing their 'due diligence' in exploring options with Hardy."

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported that the Buccaneers' interest in Hardy is "exploratory in nature" and that no visit is scheduled at this time.

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Potential Suspension, Public Perception Reportedly Hurting Hardy in Free Agency

Monday, March 16

Peter King of The MMQB reported the following:

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Greg Hardy certainly is repelling his share of suitors. As the GM of one team who told me Hardy "is on our list, but pretty far down," there are two distinct problems with taking him on: a) Teams believe there’s a good chance Hardy will be suspended for the first six games of the season because of the domestic-violence incident that caused him to be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list last year; b) the public battering the team would take would potentially be intense and distracting.

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King weighed in further: "I think he'd fit best—without regard to off-field stuff—in Dallas or pass-rush-desperate Atlanta, Tampa Bay, San Diego or Jacksonville. Which team can best take the heat?"

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Raiders Deny Interest in Hardy

Saturday, March 14

“At this point we don’t have any intentions of doing anything with him,” [Raiders general manager Reggie] McKenzie said on Saturday, per Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. “His situation is a delicate one. He has something ongoing with the league also. Anything we do (regarding Hardy) is about information gathering, like we do with all the players.” 

Bill Williamson of ESPN reported on Friday that the Raiders haven't had talks with Hardy. Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle confirmed that report. "Things can always change, but right now source says #Raiders not working on deal with Hardy," Williamson reported.

"On Hardy front, IF his agent called and Raiders didn’t hang up I guess that could be reported as “interest.” But he is not in plans TODAY," Tafur reported.

On March 12, Jordan Schultz of The Huffington Post reported that the Raiders were interested in Hardy, and that it was 60-40 that the team would ink the defensive end. 

Previously, Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk reported that the market for Hardy is "drying up", noting that team's are obviously scared of what's coming down from the NFL office.

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Agent Rosenhaus Says Hardy in Talks With Unnamed Team

Friday, March 13

Schefter reported comments from Hardy's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who said that the defensive end was in talks with an unnamed team: 

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"It's a very positive situation," Rosenhaus said Friday morning. "While we're waiting to hear from the league, we're working through it, and it has been very encouraging."

Rosenhaus is uncertain when a deal will get done, but by now, he firmly believes it will happen. Rosenhaus made it sound as if it will be a longer and richer deal than some predicted.

"

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49ers Not Interested in Hardy

Wednesday, March 11

You can cross the San Francisco 49ers off the list of teams that could potentially sign Hardy. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com relayed comments from GM Trent Baalke that the team does not have interest in signing the free agent. 

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Cole: Hardy to Be Suspended 1-2 Games

Wednesday, March 11

Jason Cole of Bleacher Report reported that Hardy is likely to be suspended one to two games by the NFL and that it makes it unlikely he'll get a long-term contract from any prospective team:

On March 5, Steve Reed of the Associated Press confirmed with Greg Aiello of the NFL that Hardy can sign a free-agent contract despite being on the commissioner's exempt list.

On March 4, Hardy left a meeting with the NFL without a resolution to his situation, per David Newton of ESPN.com, who cited an NFL.com report. Newton added, "The league opened its own investigation after the charges were dropped. It has uncovered enough evidence so far to warrant suspension, a league source told ESPN.com."

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Titans Reportedly Planning Push for Hardy

Friday, March 6

Cole reported that the Titans are eyeing Hardy as part of a big free-agent push:

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Bengals Reportedly Interested in Hardy

Wednesday, March 4

ESPN's Bengals Insider Cole Harvey believes the team will make a run for Hardy once free agency begins: 

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While it's still not likely the Bengals will be among the most active Day 1 spenders, don't be surprised if they make a run at Hardy, the Panthers free agent defensive end cleared of domestic violence charges in February. The team has had conversations about Hardy, and with about $40 million in cap space entering free agency, the Bengals have room to sign him.

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Simms: Colts, Eagles Among Best Destinations for Hardy

Tuesday, March 3

Bleacher Report's Chris Simms discussed some of the best potential landing spots for Hardy:

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Panthers Reportedly Out on Hardy

Saturday, Feb. 28

Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review reported that "according to multiple league sources, some momentum did build for a Hardy return in the days after his legal situation was cleared up. But sources say that slim possibility quickly cooled and eventually ended last week."

On Feb. 19, general manager Dave Gettleman didn't have much to say when asked about Hardy, per Jim Corbett of USA Today:

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NFL to Review Hardy's Court Record

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Joseph Person of The Charlotte Observer reported on the NFL's examination of Hardy following the dismissal of his domestic violence case:

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Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy might be cleared from a legal standpoint after his domestic violence charges were dismissed this week, but Hardy is now under investigation by the NFL.

Outside advisor Lisa Friel, a former sex crimes prosecutor in New York, and league officials will review Hardy's court record as part of their probe to determine whether he violated the NFL's new personal conduct policy, league spokesman Brian McCarthy told the Observer on Wednesday.

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