NFL: Greg Hardy comments 'do not reflect values of the league'

Shalise Manza Young
·Columnist

In the days before his first NFL game in over a year, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy was immediately back in headlines for his tone-deaf comments to reporters.

Hardy was on the commissioner's exempt list for 15 games last year and suspended for the first four games of this season for a domestic violence incident that included him dragging his then-girlfriend through his apartment by her hair, threatening to kill her and throwing her on a futon covered in weapons. This past week, he said he hoped to come out "guns blazing" against the New England Patriots on Sunday, and then made comments about Tom Brady's wife.

Then on Saturday, TMZ Sports posted a rap video Hardy made in late 2014, during his paid exile, which was replete with gun shot sound effects and strippers.

Not surprisingly, the NFL is not happy with Hardy's choice of words.

Anna Issacson, the NFL's vice president of social responsibility, told NFL.com: "I couldn't disagree more with Greg Hardy's comments, and they do not reflect the values of the league. We are working hard to bring attention to the positive role models many other players represent and also to continue our education with all members of the NFL family."

In true Brady fashion, the quarterback said, "I don't really care about his personal feelings" at his weekly press conference, but he did cut the session short, saying he had work to do.

Since the league mishandled the Ray Rice situation last year, there has been heightened sensitivity to domestic violence and increased education for players.

"I am disappointed with them," Isaacson said of Hardy's comments. "We spend a lot of time at the NFL educating our players on domestic violence and sexual assault. That's what we control here, we control education. We control training, we control all the league does from a public perspective and public service, working with non-profit organizations. We can control that. So that everyone in the NFL family has the services and resources that they need if they need help."

The NFL Players' Association told NFL.com it preferred that media focus on players who are doing positive things and have been recognized for their good deeds.