Greg Hardy Suspension Appeal: Latest Details, Reaction to Potential Lawsuit

The NFL Players Association is reportedly considering a court appeal concerning the four-game suspension handed to Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Greg Hardy, as Jim Trotter of ESPN noted July 29.

Trotter reports the NFLPA has 90 days to make a decision.

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Hardy in Discussions About Potential Challenge to Suspension

Monday, Aug. 10

"Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Hardy still hasn’t made a decision regarding a potential lawsuit," reported NBC Sports' Mike Florio on Aug. 10. He also noted Hardy has four options moving forward:

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He has four options: (1) do nothing; (2) sue and seek a preliminary injunction allowing him to play after serving a two-game suspension, until the case is resolved; (3) sue and don’t seek an injunction, serving the full suspension (if the case isn’t resolved by Week Three) and being compensated for his lost earnings if he prevails; or (4) sue, seek the preliminary injunction, and then try to settle the case. ...

The best interpretation (and as one source called it the correct one) comes from the reference to Hardy’s case in the contempt-of-court motion filed against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell due to claims that the league failed to take any action in response to the Adrian Peterson ruling. The NFLPA wants to see what happens at Thursday’s hearing on the issue, before taking any action on behalf of Hardy.

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Rand Getlin of NFL Network first reported on Aug. 3 that Hardy and the NFLPA were in talks "to determine whether they'll challenge his four-game suspension." Florio added:

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Hardy, per the source, has decided to follow the lead of the NFL Players Association. It’s possible that the NFLPA has opted simply to let this one slip away quietly, given the potential P.R. fallout from pushing for Hardy to receive only a two-game suspension for committing multiple alleged/actual acts of domestic violence.

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Dan Hanzus of NFL.com noted on July 10 that Hardy originally received a 10-game ban from the league for his alleged role in a domestic violence incident last year. Arbitrator Harold Henderson reduced the suspension to four games, but agent Drew Rosenhaus told the outlet's Ian Rapoport that other options remained on the table.

"I will confer with Greg, the NFLPA and his lawyers to discuss our next move," Rosenhaus said. "Still considering further legal action."

On July 10, Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported it was "unlikely" Hardy would sue the NFL:

An appeal on behalf of Hardy would mark the second such action filed against the NFL by the NFLPA in the past week. The union announced on July 28 that it would challenge the "outrageous decision" to uphold Tom Brady's four-game ban for the Deflategate controversy.

Hardy signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys back in March after spending the majority of 2014 on the commissioner's exempt list. He's expected to immediately assume a key role in the team's front seven once his punishment ends. He registered 27 sacks over his final 32 games with the Carolina Panthers.

Apparently, having his suspension reduced by more than half still isn't sitting well with Hardy and his representatives. Going to court is their last chance to see further concessions. Otherwise, he's slated to return Week 5 at home against the New England Patriots on October 11.