One of the big questions coming into the beginning of free agency was answered Monday morning when domestic charges were dismissed against Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy.
Hardy was found guilty of assaulting a female, his girlfriend at the time Nicole Holder, and communicating threats last July and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation, but immediately appealed the decision. After that, Hardy played one game with the Panthers before the whole Ray Rice thing blew up and was forced to sit out the rest of the year on the commissioner’s exempt list.
Monday, Holder was a no-show at court and has not made her self available to the Meckleburg County prosecution after reportedly reaching a “civil settlement” with Hardy. So, yes, he paid her off. The DA office stated officially that Holder has “intentionally made herself unavailable to the State.”
Holder has apparently been dodging a subpoena as the trail has approached and her own attorney refused to help the prosecution locate her.
Standing on the steps of the courthouse, Charlotte DA Andrew Murray said, “To prosecute domestic violence cases, we encourage domestic violence victims to not only report domestic violence but to participate in every level of the prosecution. We need that participation in order to gain justice for not only victims of domestic violence, but for this community.”
The NFL said that Hardy’s potential playing status remains “under review,” but considering that Rice basically got “time-served” after his year-long punishment, Hardy, a free man as far as the law is concerned, should have no trouble resuming his NFL career after a six-week suspension if he finds a taker in free agency. The Panthers have made it clear they will make no attempt to re-sign Hardy.
In 2013, Hardy made the Pro Bowl after a 59-tackle, 15-sack season.
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McCarthy could give up play-calling duties with Packers
In a move that could legitimately create shockwaves in the NFC and result in another Super Bowl ring on quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ finger, Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is reportedly considering letting someone else call offensive plays for his team.
The first guess on who would take over is offensive coordinator Tom Clements or possibly wide receiver coach Edgar Bennett, who would take over as offensive coordinator with Clements moving to associate head coach.
McCarthy’s pitiful play-calling in the NFC Championship game likely cost the Packers a chance at a second ring this year as the team lost 28-22 to the Seattle Seahawks in overtime after leading 19-7 with less than four minutes to go in the game. McCarthy’s conservative and sometimes downright silly playcalls kept the score close, allowing the Seahawks to come back in the final minutes and force the game into overtime where they won on a 35-yard pass from Russell Wilson to Jermaine Kearse. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense never got a chance with the ball.
Green Bay finished last season as the No. 8 passing offense in the NFL and the No. 11 rushing offense, so the scheme and players aren’t the issue. McCarthy has been, both in this last NFC Championship and the previous two Packers’ playoff losses. A move like this could change the NFC for the rest of Rodgers’ career.
Solari leaves 49ers for Packers
The coaching exodus in San Francisco continues as veteran offensibve line coach Mike Solari has decided to leave the 49ers and join the Green Bay Packers staff. Solari helped build one of the best offensive lines in football over the last few seasons under Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco, and one of the league’s best rushing attacks.
Solari has coached in the NFL since 1987, beginning his career as an assistant offensive line coach with the Dallas Cowboys. Solari served as the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2006-07.
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Richardson wearing out welcome with Colts
The 2015 NFL free agent market may get one running back richer as the Indianapolis Colts are reportedly preparing to cut ties with running back Trent Richardson.
Richardson cost the Colts a first-round draft pick in 2014 in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. The former University of Alabama star running back, picked No. 3 in 2012, had a decent rookie season with the Browns, rushing for 960 yards and 11 touchdowns. Since then he’s not come close to those numbers again and has never averaged more than 3.6 yards per carry.
The Colts’ issues with Richardson begin with his weight. The 5-foot-9 running back ballooned up to 240 pounds during the 2014 season. As Richardson moved down the depth chart, he became difficult for the team to contact and missed a walk-through before the AFC Championship game.
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NFL tabs Elizabeth Nabel as first chief health and medical advisor
With the long-term effects of concussions and the violent NFL game becoming a continuing focus, the NFL created a new position, Chief Health and Medical Advisor, in an effort to make football safer. Elizabeth Nabel, president of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, was named to the post Monday.
“We are excited to have Dr. Nabel’s insight as we continually seek ways to make our game better and safer,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. “The game is safer than it has ever been, but not as safe as it will be with advisors like Dr. Nabel providing expertise.”
Nabel’s hiring will likely serve as cover, at least to the media and the public, as over 1,000 former players continue their suit against the NFL claiming they hid football’s dangers and made not attempt to assist players with head injuries while they were active.
The announcement comes almost three months after the Food and Drug Administration launched a surprise raid of the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers over accusations the teams illegally mishandled prescription painkillers.
