Assuming that reports of Greg Hardy's postponed trial date are true, Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera believes the defensive end should be reinstated by the NFL and allowed to play out the remainder of the 2014 season.
Ron Rivera thinks Greg Hardy should be reinstated if trial postponed
Rivera doesn’t think a rumored postponement of Hardy’s domestic abuse trial should cost him more games, arguing that the star defender has already served his punishment.
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Hardy’s trial for domestic violence charges was originally scheduled for Nov. 17. Had he received a favorable outcome, he would have been eligible to immediately apply for reinstatement. But reports broke Thursday night that the trial date has been pushed back, effectively locking Hardy out of the 2014 season.
Rivera told ESPN that because Hardy has spent six games on the commissioner's exempt list -- the same number of games he would miss under the league's new domestic violence policy -- he has effectively served his punishment.
“In so many words, yes,” Rivera said. “If things had all transpired and gone a certain way, then his availability might be now.”
The problem with Rivera’s argument is that it ignores the fact that Hardy has been receiving weekly installments of his $13.1 million salary. A personal conduct suspension would be without pay, but Hardy has continued to receive checks while on the commissioner’s exempt list.
Hardy has previously been found guilty of assaulting ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder but is in the process of appealing the decision.
See More:
