Re-sign Greg Hardy: Because Beggars can’t be Choosers
By Reid Hanson
If the Cowboys wish to compete in 2016 they very likely need to re-sign free agent defensive end, Greg Hardy.
In what seemed unthinkable only weeks ago, Greg Hardy may be returning to the city of Dallas. There’s no question Jason Garrett and the Dallas Cowboys wanted to move on from Hardy this offseason. Signed to a 1-year, incentive-laden deal that essentially employed him on week-by-week basis, Greg Hardy did little to endear himself to the team, the fanbase, and the media.
As the Dallas Morning News reported early in January, Hardy was “a constant headache” for Jason Garrett and supportive teammates “began to sour on him”. In what was supposed to be Greg Hardy’s redemption year, Hardy did little to endear himself to anyone around him.
Alas, beggars can’t be choosers and that’s exactly why the Greg Hardy option is in play for the Dallas Cowboys.
Tony Romo’s age and injury history suggests his days are numbered in the NFL. Whether you think he has one year or three years left in him, you cannot deny the window will close on this Cowboys team the day he retires.
This win-now mentality should have driven the Cowboys to upgrade the pass-rush this offseason. But with nearly all high-end pass-rushing free agents off the market (to record amounts in record time), the Cowboys are left with very few options.
The NFL Draft remains the best option at upgrading the pass-rush but that is more of a long-term answer rather than short term. As Jean-Jacques Taylor explained in his article…
"“In the past 10 years, there have been six defensive ends selected with a top-five draft choice. Only Detroit’s Ziggy Ansah had at least eight sacks as a rookie. Four of those players had fewer than five sacks. In 2012, seven defensive ends went in the first round. Seattle’s Bruce Irvin had eight sacks, which remains his career high. No one else had more than six.”"
Those facts shouldn’t deter the Cowboys from drafting multiple defensive linemen this April but it should be a factor in their pursuit of immediate-impact free agents.
More from Dallas Cowboys
- West coast, Texas coast, burnt toast: Cowboys don’t need more runs
- Brandin Cooks will change the way defenses play the Dallas Cowboys
- Why the Dallas Cowboys defensive X-Factor is EDGE Sam Williams
- Dallas Cowboys: 3 head coach options if McCarthy fails in 2023
- Dallas Cowboys: Is CB Jourdan Lewis a tradeable asset?
DeMarcus Lawrence is coming off a somewhat mysterious back injury that required offseason surgery. Randy Gregory begins the season suspended and very likely will miss the entire season considering he’s only one failed test from that penalty. Keep in mind, he’s never once been able to abstain, failing multiple tests in college, at the combine, and during his rookie season.
The Dallas Cowboys are desperate. There are no “ifs” “ands” or “buts” about it. That’s why the prospect of bringing back a guy like Hardy who was rude to the media, pompous with his teammates, and chronically tardy to his commitments still remains a possibility.
Forget for a moment Greg Hardy’s sorted past. The Cowboys clearly came to terms with that and suffered in the PR department as a result. The biggest obstacle is how he acts with his teammates and coaches. That’s just reality.
Taylor mentioned a 1yr/$3M contract to come back to the Cowboys in 2016. I think a pay-cut that significant invites discontent and an adverse relationship between player and team. Another incentive-laden deal with little guaranteed money and tardiness penalties may be the best option for both parties involved ($4-$8 range). The better he does on and off the field, the better he’s compensated. Everyone wins.
Next: Early Criticisms of Joey Bosa Look Familiar...
Locker room cancers are rarely a survivable affliction for NFL teams but the Dallas Cowboys inaction this offseason leaves them very little choice if they want to compete in 2016.