The Cowboys already have shown an inconsistency in how they viewed Greg Hardy compared to Ray Rice.

Now it appears the rest of the league will get a similar opportunity to show how consistent they are in their opinions of the two.

Patriots Should've Listened To Deion Sanders And Signed Ray Rice

Hardy's tenure with the Cowboys appears to be over, according to Bleacher Report's Jason Cole.

"The expectation from their side is that the Cowboys are not going to bring (Greg) Hardy back," Cole reported.

Not Signing Ray Rice May Have Cost Steelers Chance At AFC Title Game

"The problem for the Cowboys is that Hardy partied a lot during the season, and simply was not in great physical shape as the season wore on and on and on.

"That was part of the reason he was tardy to several meetings during the season, and part of the reason why the team felt so distracted by his presence.

"All of that said, Hardy played extremely well, and ... everyone will say he was a force on the field. And that's one of the reasons why sources close to Hardy say that he's going to sign with somebody during free agency. It will not, however, be the Cowboys."

Dallas was just one of a number of teams that lost their primary running back to injury in 2015 and yet refused to look at Rice, a three-time Pro Bowler and four-time 1,000-yard rusher who, like Hardy, had his career marred by a domestic violence situation.

Rice's situation drew universal attention, however, because of the videos of the incident, which took place in an elevator, becoming available publicly."

Since then, only the Jets admitted even considering Rice.

Both the Steelers and Patriots, who were using third-string running backs during the playoffs, passed on Rice. The knock on Rice -- besides the glaring off-the-field incident -- is his 610-yard season in 2013, his last before his banishment.

But the Steelers' DeAngelo Williams had a rebirth after his production tailed off in Carolina. Rice is three years younger than Williams, having just turned 29.

If Hardy signs with a team in the offseason, Rice should be afforded the same consideration.

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