Former Ravens running back Ray Rice has made significant efforts to raise awareness about domestic violence in the aftermath of his harrowing incident in which he punched his then-fiancee and knocked her unconscious. Even though he remains without an NFL job, Rice is paying attention, and had some words of advice for Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy.

“One thing I would encourage Greg (to do) is to take a deeper look into what the severity of domestic violence is,” Rice told WFAN’s Boomer and Carton. “It’s better late than never.”

Hardy's Talent Exempts Him From Remorse

Hardy is arguably the most controversial player in the NFL in 2015. He was signed by the Cowboys despite being convicted of domestic violence against his then-girlfriend Nicole Holder. The case was thrown out when Holder stopped cooperating during Hardy’s appeal; Hardy was given a 10-game suspension, which was eventually reduced to four.

The details of the incident, which include Hardy throwing her onto a futon covered in assault rifles, were recently publicized, leading to new furor over his continued presence on the football field. Rice, who has been unfailingly apologetic since his incident, hasn’t been as lucky as Hardy. Making matters worse, Hardy has shown little remorse since his return, and created multiple, smaller controversies this year.

Greg Hardy Still Says He's Innocent

“You have to be sincere in your actions,” Rice said. “Show it on and off the field. Take that uniform and use it for what it’s worth. You don’t have to win another football game, you don’t need another dollar to go out and make a difference in other peoples’ lives.”

Rice is the second athlete to chastise Hardy for his attitude. A few weeks ago Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall said Hardy doesn’t understand the seriousness of what he did. Dallas has not won a game since Hardy returned to the field, and there are rumors the Cowboys will part ways with him because of public pressure.

Dallas should consider cutting ties with Hardy now, and bringing Rice aboard for backfield depth. The notoriously brittle Darren McFadden is averaging 23 carries per game, and the Cowboys signed Robert Turbin this week to be his primary backup. Rice has a far better track record on the field than Turbin, and on-field ability clearly trumps character with this organization.
Hardy has been a headache, and has not helped them win. Rice could be a plus simply by keeping McFadden fresh.

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