Free-agent defensive end Greg Hardy is taking his share of criticism for refusing to elaborate about his domestic violence accusation involving an ex-girlfriend.
And rightfully so. Hardy recently sat down with ESPN's Adam Schefter in an attempt to portray himself as an innocent man in a 2014 incident with Nicole Holder, in which a North Carolina judge found him guilty of assault and communicating threats.
The Cowboys released the embattled defensive end last month, and he has not yet been able to sign with another team. After serving a four-game suspension for a violation of the NFL's conduct policy to start 2015, Hardy played in 12 games in Dallas, collecting 35 tackles with six sacks and interception.
Hardy refused to go into detail with Schefter what happened with Holder that led to his domestic violence conviction.
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"I don't think I want to get into a situation like that," Hardy told Schefter. "It's in the past. I want to say that I'm an innocent man, I've been proven not guilty, and it's a situation that's in my past. And I feel like, as a grown man, as a football player of my caliber there are situations, inside that situation, where it has nothing to do with the situation, but I could have done better. I should have done better."
Pro Football Talk added that Hardy's answer isn't going to do much to sway NFL teams to show an interest in him.
"Hardy's goal in granting Schefter the exclusive interview was obviously to present himself as a person an NFL team could proudly add to its roster, but that answer isn't gong to do Hardy any favors. If he's an innocent man, why won't he answer the simple question, What happened?"
Ray Rice is what happened.
Granted, it's a little more difficult for the banned former Baltimore Ravens star to remain tight-lipped about his domestic violence incident, when TMZ sports obtained and presented video of Rice punching future wife Janay Palmer in an Atlantic City casino.
But Rice has been forthcoming and willing to talk about his incident, so much so that he has become and advocate for domestic violence victims.
And look where it's gotten him: nowhere.
If Hardy wants back in the league, why would he incriminate himself? His response gives any NFL team desperate enough to consider adding him an excuse if it does sign him by saying he has denied what was reported, and wanting to give him the benefit of the doubt, as the Cowboys did.
After being a disruption in Dallas --- fighting with coaches and players on the sidelines, showing up late for team meetings --- Hardy can't tack on an admission of guilt and ever hope to get back in the league.
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