Cowboys face firestorm for Greg Hardy signing
The Dallas Cowboys are under fire for signing Greg Hardy to a contract. The all-pro lineman was put on trial last year on domestic assault-related charges. Now, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has enlisted a powerful voice in the organization to push back against critics -- his own daughter, reports CBS News correspondent Jan Crawford.
Hardy's case, and others, forced the league to focus on the domestic violence issue. The backlash to the Cowboys signing Hardy was quick. Critics in Dallas say the team is sending the wrong message. So far, the team hasn't shown any regret for the decision.
As a Carolina Panther, Hardy was a Pro Bowl defensive end. In 2013, he tied a franchise record with 15 sacks.
Last season, Hardy played just one game. In May, he was arrested for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. A judge later found him guilty of assaulting and threatening to kill her.
The Panthers didn't re-sign him, but last week, the Cowboys announced he'd inked a one year deal to come to Dallas.
Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said. "If we didn't believe that Hardy could become the right kinda guy, we would not have signed him."
Many in Dallas were quick to condemn the move, like local sportscaster Dale Hansen.
"You can rob a department store and play, and now you can beat a woman and play with a star on your helmet," Hansen said.
Mayor Mike Rawlings, a diehard fan, spoke to the Dallas Morning News.
"It's unacceptable; and as a Cowboys fan, this is a shot in the gut," Rawlings said.
On Saturday, to counter all the criticism, Cowboys executive Charlotte Jones Anderson, Jerry Jones' daughter, also sat down with the newspaper.
"We certainly understand the seriousness of the issues that surround Greg. We do not support domestic violence," she said.
But, she said, they are ready for him to come to the Cowboys.
"We are prepared for the resources and support for him to make that transition," Anderson said.
In a statement, Jones said, "Obviously, a great deal of our study was dedicated to the issue of domestic violence, and the recent events that associated Greg with that issue. ... We know that Greg has a firm understanding of those issues as well."
"They are not on the hook for anything unless Greg Hardy plays for the team and that's after he serves his suspension," CBS Dallas station KTVT's Bill Jones said.
He has covered the Cowboys for 25 years.
"From a football standpoint. they like the idea of him coming in here even though they knew they were going to get so much criticism," Jones said.
The NFL is conducting its own investigation into whether Hardy violated their personal conduct code.
Hardy's case was dropped when his ex-girlfriend failed to show up to court, likely due to a settlement. The NFL could still suspend hardy for six or more games this season before he ever takes the field for the Cowboys.