NFL Files Lawsuit to Gain Access to Evidence in Greg Hardy's 1st Trial

Greg Hardy agreed to terms with the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, per David Helman of the team's official website. However, the NFL is still trying to get to the bottom of the domestic violence case that kept Hardy out for all but one game in 2014.

Steve Reed of The Associated Press reports Wednesday that the league is filing a lawsuit in an attempt to delve into Hardy's initial domestic violence trial:

Hardy was found guilty of assault and communicating threats to his ex-girlfriend in July 2014 during his first bench trial, which was without a jury. When the jury trial came around, the charges were dismissed against Hardy this February after his accuser declined to make herself available to aid prosecutors.

While the NFL carries out its own investigation into the Hardy case, the 26-year-old Pro Bowl pass-rusher will remain on the commissioner's exempt list. The provision is what prevented Hardy from taking the field for much of last season.

Although he hasn't faced league discipline in the form of a suspension yet, Hardy may be in for a six-game ban to start 2015.

The NFL's revamped personal-conduct policy states that first-time domestic violence offenders get an automatic six-game suspension, and a second offense results in a lifetime ban.

What makes Hardy's case tougher to judge is that he wasn't officially convicted due to the second trial's outcome. It's therefore up to the league to determine the proper course of action, which may still feature a suspension but perhaps not as long as six games.