Cowboys Coach scolds player after this comment

It’s been a tough two weeks for the Dallas Cowboys after a couple gut wrenching defeats amidst stockpiling injuries. It won’t get any easier when they welcome the blazing hot New England Patriots to town, but at least America’s Team will welcome reinforcements on defense.

After sitting out the first four games while serving suspensions, linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive end Greg Hardy will make their 2015 debuts against Tom Brady and company on Sunday. McClain, who’s suspension came as a result of a failed drug test, was a huge part of last year’s surprising defense. In 13 games during the 2014 season, the former first-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders tallied 81 tackles and 2 interceptions for the Cowboys, helping the team compensate for a season-ending injury to Sean Lee.

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For Greg Hardy, this will be his first start since a Week 1 start in 2014 for the Carolina Panthers. Hardy sat out all but one game last season following a domestic violence incident where he allegedly battered and threatened a former girlfriend with firearms. It was part of a nightmare summer for the National Football League, where multiple high profile legal cases involving superstar players and family violence found their way to front pages all across America. Legal charges against Hardy were dropped in February after a financial settlement, but he was given an 10-game suspension by the NFL that was eventually reduced to 4 after the appeals process.

Many felt like Hardy got off unapologetically with little more than a slap on the wrist. If reputation carries value, I think it’s safe to say Hardy lost a lot as a result of his poor decisions in July 2014. But after comments made this week, the unapologetic part might not be far from reality.

Meeting on Tuesday with the media for the first time since the preseason ended, Hardy made headlines around the sports world for all the wrong reasons:

"“I hope I come out guns blazing,” said Hardy, making a curiously insensitive remark to firearms. “I love seeing Tom Brady,” he continued. “You seen his wife? I hope she comes to the game. I hope her sister comes to the game.”"

Ouch.

Obviously, head coach Jason Garrett was less than pleased:

"“We just addressed it immediately. That’s not how we want to operate as an organization,” Garrett said. “Players and coaches in our organization understand that. We want to distinguish ourselves with our play, not with what we say. We want to define ourselves with what we do not by what we say. I think Greg understands that now and that’s how we want to proceed going forward.”"

The backlash from Hardy’s comments was swift and expected. For a man who already has a mountain to climb in order to restore his respect as a human being to the masses he plays football in front of, his comments were both irresponsible and disrespectful. Many fan bases might enjoy painting Tom Brady as a villain after the deflategate saga of this past off-season, but it would hard to not see Brady as the good guy in his match-up with Hardy.

Cowboys fans don’t want to be cheering for the bad guy. The Patriots should be that – the big bad favorite trying to stomp out a courageous upset attempt by a shorthanded team from Texas. In movies, the Cowboys win this game.

Well, at least they do before Hardy opens his mouth.

Now, after that self-centered move by Hardy, the media isn’t talking about how the Cowboys defense might find a way to overcome the early MVP favorite. Instead we’re talking about…well, Greg Hardy.

Greg, go make headlines for something good. Sack Brady five times and donate your game check to an anti-domestic violence charity. But don’t force Cowboys fans to root for the bad guy. Seriously.

Let’s hope Jason Garrett has put a stop to this type of comment for good.

Next: Scott Linehan: Here's what the Cowboys are missing

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