NFL teams
David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Greg Hardy could be suspended

NFL, Carolina Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The NFL filed a motion on Friday seeking all evidence from Greg Hardy's first trial in which he was found guilty by a Mecklenburg County judge of assaulting and threatening to kill ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder.

That July 15 verdict was set aside when the Pro Bowl defensive end asked for an appeal in front of the jury, as is allowed under North Carolina law. The district attorney's office dropped all the charges on Monday, saying Holder would not cooperate and there was evidence she reached a financial settlement with Hardy.

The NFL then announced it would conduct its own investigation into whether Hardy violated the league's new personal conduct code. The league said Hardy would remain on the commissioner's exempt list until that investigation.

Hardy would be subject to a minimum six-game suspension if he is found to have violated the policy.

The league's investigation is being conducted by Lisa Friel, a New York City prosecutor who was hired by the NFL in September to help handle cases involving domestic violence and sexual assault.

To further that investigation, the league is seeking all the material filed in connection with the July 15 trial. The motion the NFL filed on Friday argued that since the case against Hardy is over, there is no reason not to make the evidence public. A league spokesman said there has not yet been a response to the motion. Hardy's attorney, Chris Fialko, did not immediately return messages. Fialko commissioned the only transcript of the first trial.

The NFL likely is interested in pictures of Holder from the night of Hardy's May 13 arrest, among other evidence. Those pictures were not made available to reporters during the first trial.

The Panthers are not expected to re-sign Hardy, who was paid $13.1 million by the team in 2014 despite playing in only one game. Hardy was placed on the inactive list before the second game and then on the commissioner's exempt list before the third.

Hardy is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 10.

Neither Hardy nor his attorney spoke to reporters after Monday's court appearance in which the charges were dropped.

^ Back to Top ^