NFL Insider: Cowboys will not re-sign Greg Hardy

A NFL insider reports his sources believe the Dallas Cowboys do not intend on re-signing controversial defensive end Greg Hardy this offseason.

One of the biggest decisions the Dallas Cowboys will have to make this offseason is whether or not to re-sign controversial Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy. The troubled pass rusher was brought to Dallas last year to improve the team’s nearly non-existent pass rush.

After serving an initial four-game suspension due to his part in a domestic violence incident that took place the year before, Hardy exploded for 3.0 sacks in his first two games as a Cowboy. But in the following 10-games, the 27-year old struggled to rack up a total of only 35 tackles and 6.0 sacks by the end of a disappointing 4-12 season in Dallas.

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The Cowboys ended up shelling out nearly $9 million to obtain Hardy’s services in 2015. And that was considered a discount. With the Cowboys unable to place the franchise tag on the once-talented pass rusher, Dallas’ only option would be to negotiate a new deal with the now unrestricted free agent. But according to one source, they might not even want Hardy back.

Bleacher Report’s NFL Insider Jason Cole is reporting that sources close to Hardy do not expect the Cowboys to bring him back in 2016. And the young defensive end will need to find another team to play for when free agency begins in March. Cole goes on to say the pass rusher partied too much during the season, which contributed to his poor physical shape as the year progressed. That would certainly explain his poor numbers. The insider also claims that heavy partying was to blame for Hardy being late for several meetings throughout the season, which did little to build team chemistry.

Hardy is clearly a very talented player. Unfortunately, his ambivalent attitude and troubled past likely outweigh what he brought to the field last season. Still, one most consider the fact Hardy did spend nearly a year out of football, so a certain amount of rust was expected.

Many believe Hardy will shake off that rust this offseason and return to the dominant force he was in 2013 when he recorded 59 tackles and 15.0 sacks for the Carolina Panthers. If the Cowboys coaching staff believes that too, I’m not sure you can simply pass on him after all the Cowboys have already suffered through to obtain him.

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