Greg Hardy to Dallas ?

[Bmurph]

ON THE HARDY CONTRACT

The contract includes a stipulation that Dallas cannot put the franchise tag on Hardy in 2016, per ESPN.com.

 

[Greg]

Bump

What are you like 12 years old? Come on dude, you tried to run with an ESPN report here yesterday that their negotiations with Hardy was virtually a "done deal". I reputed that then and posted here then (at that time accurate and current reports) that this team was only the favorites to sign him yesterday. Now a day later Hardy signs with them and you was right about something yesterday, completely disregarding his negotiations with the Bucs and no deal actually being accepted from the Cowboys until today??


The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had been pursuing Hardy as well, but they pulled out of the running Wednesday.

"At the end of the day, we didn't feel good about it," general manager Jason Licht told the Tampa Bay Times.


Dallas Cowboys, Greg Hardy agree to one-year deal - ESPN Dallas


Posting that Hardy left Valley Ranch immediately after it happened, doesn't mean that a deal wasn't gong to get done anytime soon with them lol?? He actually did leave with no deal getting done yesterday, didn't say that he was leaving the entire Dallas Metro area now did I?

Keep reaching here though young man, maybe one day you'll actually have something intelligent to post here instead of jut posting little post-spin giggles with your board-cronies here for self-affirmations.

 

[cowboycolors]

time to get Dez and Rolando Mcclain signed

 

[cowboycolors]

"Good signing IMO.

The contract is as follows:

$0.00 guaranteed/signing bonus: Cowboys can cut him whenever they want with zero issue.

$745,000 base salary (earns if with the team).
$578,437 per game played (so if he plays 10 games he gets $5.8M). This is important in wake of his possible suspension for 6 games + any other issues he has.
$1.3M workout bonus (gets this if he participates April-May)
$1.1M roster bonus (no idea when this will take effect but prob. April 2016 or something)

$11.3M if he plays ALL 16 games and works out with additional bonuses if he generates 8 sacks+.

So what to take away from this... the per game played is split between LBTE (likely to be earned) and NLTBE (not likely to be earned). For Hardy this year, only 2 LBTEs of the 16 possible were counted in the contract. So if he plays all 16 games, the 14 NLBTEs (not likely...) will count against the 2016 salary cap and Dallas will receive less money to spend.

All said, the $1.3M might as well be guaranteed since it's in Hardy's interest to DEFINITELY not miss the workouts this year and get some cash in his pocket.

If Hardy is suspended 6 games and plays the other 10 we're likely looking at the following (excluding the sack bonus):

Let's say Hardy DOESN'T re-sign with Dallas in 2016:

2015: $745,000 + $1.3M + $1.15M(LBTE) = $3.2M cap hit.
2016 (if they don't resign) and roster is forfeit = $4.6M hit to cap (8 * $578K NLBTE)

Ultimately it's a pretty good deal since if the Cowboys just stick with him for 10 games they're getting just a $7.8M cap hit (spread over 2 years) for a VERY good pass rusher who would attend workouts (important since he's been out a year) and would have him for playoffs which Hardy is.

Hardy is one of the better pass rushers in the league so getting him for 1 year @ $7.8M total hit against cap is a sweet deal (barring any incentives, he needs 8 sacks to get $500K which is monstrous for 10 games). If he sucks or starts to throw a tantrum the Cowboys can just cut him mid season and basically incur nothing against their cap for 2016.

A grade signing."


From Shark on A bicycle on the general page

Pretty good breakdown

 

[Greg]

"Good signing IMO.

The contract is as follows:

$0.00 guaranteed/signing bonus: Cowboys can cut him whenever they want with zero issue.

$745,000 base salary (earns if with the team).
$578,437 per game played (so if he plays 10 games he gets $5.8M). This is important in wake of his possible suspension for 6 games + any other issues he has.
$1.3M workout bonus (gets this if he participates April-May)
$1.1M roster bonus (no idea when this will take effect but prob. April 2016 or something)

$11.3M if he plays ALL 16 games and works out with additional bonuses if he generates 8 sacks+.

So what to take away from this... the per game played is split between LBTE (likely to be earned) and NLTBE (not likely to be earned). For Hardy this year, only 2 LBTEs of the 16 possible were counted in the contract. So if he plays all 16 games, the 14 NLBTEs (not likely...) will count against the 2016 salary cap and Dallas will receive less money to spend.

All said, the $1.3M might as well be guaranteed since it's in Hardy's interest to DEFINITELY not miss the workouts this year and get some cash in his pocket.

If Hardy is suspended 6 games and plays the other 10 we're likely looking at the following (excluding the sack bonus):

Let's say Hardy DOESN'T re-sign with Dallas in 2016:

2015: $745,000 + $1.3M + $1.15M(LBTE) = $3.2M cap hit.
2016 (if they don't resign) and roster is forfeit = $4.6M hit to cap (8 * $578K NLBTE)

Ultimately it's a pretty good deal since if the Cowboys just stick with him for 10 games they're getting just a $7.8M cap hit (spread over 2 years) for a VERY good pass rusher who would attend workouts (important since he's been out a year) and would have him for playoffs which Hardy is.

Hardy is one of the better pass rushers in the league so getting him for 1 year @ $7.8M total hit against cap is a sweet deal (barring any incentives, he needs 8 sacks to get $500K which is monstrous for 10 games). If he sucks or starts to throw a tantrum the Cowboys can just cut him mid season and basically incur nothing against their cap for 2016.

A grade signing."


From Shark on A bicycle on the general page

Pretty good breakdown

Great "cover-your-ass" signing for our team at a must need position. This signing changes how we approach the draft considerably. When you consider that this guy was tagged last year, great work Stephen in getting this 1 year "prove-it-to-me" deal worked out. No long term damage to team if he things don't work with him, and they get a top vet pass rusher I'm pretty sure would not have been secured otherwise by this team if not for his baggage.

 

[Bmurph]

Great "cover-your-ass" signing for our team at a must need position. This changing how we approach the draft considerably. When you consider that this guy was tagged last year, great work Stephen in getting this 1 year "prove-it-to-me" deal worked out. No long term damage to team if he things don't work with him, and they get a top vet pass rusher I'm pretty sure would not have been secure otherwise if not for his baggage.

No chance they get him on this deal, if not for him missing last year and all that suspension/domestic stuff

 

[Greg]

No chance they get him on this deal, if not for him missing last year and all that suspension/domestic stuff

Lol.....yup.

His cap hit is only $3.2Mil so far without reaching per-game roster checks and sack incentives. Stephen is really getting it done now. I only hope the league's management council approves contract without any issues.This is still a gray area now with league in regards to paying players base salaries while on suspension, and if that should include any other bonuses promised. Enough time to either restructure or cut Carr's cap number as well.

 

[Bmurph]

Lol.....yup.

His cap hit is only $3.2Mil so far without reaching per-game roster checks and sack incentives. Stephen is really getting it done now. I only hope the league's management council approves contract without any issues.This is still a gray area now with league in regards to paying players base salaries while on suspension, and if that should include any other bonuses promised.

You think they get AP on this deal next?

 

[Greg]

You think they get AP on this deal next?

Who really knows?

I don't think anything will be done before April 15th when AP's status with league will be a little clearer, and Vikes' management will need to have made a decision about what they can get for him by then (before or during the draft). AP obviously is not going to change his mind now out of the blue and want to play for them again (imo), from some of the recent comments made by Larry Fitzgerald Sr. (who has talked with AP recently).

I do know this, getting AP after shoring up the defense with Hardy today (not only the D-Line, but the back of the defense with a better pass rush), and with Sean Lee coming back, this team would be favorites to not only make the SB, but to win it this upcoming season. Not willing to say that with a rookie RB from the draft as their tone-setter...just too many uncertainties.

 

[Greg]

You think they get AP on this deal next?

My gut tells me that AP will be reinstated by then as the league's appeal will take longer and go past that date, and AP could potentially sue the league for a considerable sum for damages and lost wages if the league extends his commissioner's list ban/status for much further (and in defiance of the court's latest decision of reversing it). I see a compromise possibly being worked out by the two by then.

 

[UK Cowboy]

"Good signing IMO.

The contract is as follows:

$0.00 guaranteed/signing bonus: Cowboys can cut him whenever they want with zero issue.

$745,000 base salary (earns if with the team).
$578,437 per game played (so if he plays 10 games he gets $5.8M). This is important in wake of his possible suspension for 6 games + any other issues he has.
$1.3M workout bonus (gets this if he participates April-May)
$1.1M roster bonus (no idea when this will take effect but prob. April 2016 or something)

$11.3M if he plays ALL 16 games and works out with additional bonuses if he generates 8 sacks+.

So what to take away from this... the per game played is split between LBTE (likely to be earned) and NLTBE (not likely to be earned). For Hardy this year, only 2 LBTEs of the 16 possible were counted in the contract. So if he plays all 16 games, the 14 NLBTEs (not likely...) will count against the 2016 salary cap and Dallas will receive less money to spend.

All said, the $1.3M might as well be guaranteed since it's in Hardy's interest to DEFINITELY not miss the workouts this year and get some cash in his pocket.

If Hardy is suspended 6 games and plays the other 10 we're likely looking at the following (excluding the sack bonus):

Let's say Hardy DOESN'T re-sign with Dallas in 2016:

2015: $745,000 + $1.3M + $1.15M(LBTE) = $3.2M cap hit.
2016 (if they don't resign) and roster is forfeit = $4.6M hit to cap (8 * $578K NLBTE)

Ultimately it's a pretty good deal since if the Cowboys just stick with him for 10 games they're getting just a $7.8M cap hit (spread over 2 years) for a VERY good pass rusher who would attend workouts (important since he's been out a year) and would have him for playoffs which Hardy is.

Hardy is one of the better pass rushers in the league so getting him for 1 year @ $7.8M total hit against cap is a sweet deal (barring any incentives, he needs 8 sacks to get $500K which is monstrous for 10 games). If he sucks or starts to throw a tantrum the Cowboys can just cut him mid season and basically incur nothing against their cap for 2016.

A grade signing."


From Shark on A bicycle on the general page

Pretty good breakdown

Great breakdown, excellent job by the Cowboys on the way this is structured. It's pretty obvious the had an eye on Hardy during the Murray negotiations

 

[Greg]

Did I mention great job by Stephen?

 

[NetsGotBanned21]

Great contract, I won't speak on the signing as far as the person goes; because that is not my place. What I do see is Dallas signed a guy that currently cost 785k non guaranteed, and has to make it through the entire preason and workout in order to get full workout bonus. Then has to play every game and be productive to be paid like he should. If it doesn't workout we cut him with no dead money. Any negative money can be paid with remaining cap this year or the cap next year either way the max cap hit for 15' is at 3.5M which leaves is about 5M in space last time I checked. We still have Dez deal to do, Carr to deal with, and always the Romo restructure in our back pocket (which you don't have to do a full restructure on Romo to sign anyone you want).

We need McClain back or LB will be our number one need going into draft. I know some want AP, to me doesn't matter either way, although I am an AP guy and won't hide that. I will say that I'd give up a 2nd at this point for him.

Honestly a dream for me would be to resign McClain and trade for AP or draft Gurley/Gordon. This offseason could turn into a dream without us even having to restructure Romo.

Cap wise Resign Dez creates at least 5M in space even at 7yr 100M deal...Can get Carr to take pay cut create about 4M or cut him and create 8M (I'd advise against this would be better to keep him at current cap hit, don't want 8M in dead money next season). So at least at 9M created with paycut theory, now you add that to the 5M in space we have and you have 14M in space, add McClain at 4-5M per low cap hit 2M first year deal gives 12M left in space, let's say you get a trade for AP and sign him to a 5yr 60M deal (hypothetically don't kill me please) you can have a cap hit of about 6M this year so 6M left in space, enough to sign all rookies and have extra space left over even without touching Romo's deal. Just saying a lot of time left before the draft could get interesting and I think it starts with McClain getting resigned.

 

[Greg]

Great contract, I won't speak on the signing as far as the person goes; because that is not my place. What I do see is Dallas signed a guy that currently cost 785k non guaranteed, and has to make it through the entire preason and workout in order to get full workout bonus. Then has to play every game and be productive to be paid like he should. If it doesn't workout we cut him with no dead money. Any negative money can be paid with remaining cap this year or the cap next year either way the max cap hit for 15' is at 3.5M which leaves is about 5M in space last time I checked. We still have Dez deal to do, Carr to deal with, and always the Romo restructure in our back pocket (which you don't have to do a full restructure on Romo to sign anyone you want).

We need McClain back or LB will be our number one need going into draft. I know some want AP, to me doesn't matter either way, although I am an AP guy and won't hide that. I will say that I'd give up a 2nd at this point for him.

Honestly a dream for me would be to resign McClain and trade for AP or draft Gurley/Gordon. This offseason could turn into a dream without us even having to restructure Romo.

Cap wise Resign Dez creates at least 5M in space even at 7yr 100M deal...Can get Carr to take pay cut create about 4M or cut him and create 8M (I'd advise against this would be better to keep him at current cap hit, don't want 8M in dead money next season). So at least at 9M created with paycut theory, now you add that to the 5M in space we have and you have 14M in space, add McClain at 4-5M per low cap hit 2M first year deal gives 12M left in space, let's say you get a trade for AP and sign him to a 5yr 60M deal (hypothetically don't kill me please) you can have a cap hit of about 6M this year so 6M left in space, enough to sign all rookies and have extra space left over even without touching Romo's deal. Just saying a lot of time left before the draft could get interesting and I think it starts with McClain getting resigned.

Kinda agree with a lot here. Good thoughts, however, I don't see McClain as a "must sign". He is simply too unreliable. I still wonder how much he loves the game, and with Hitchens and Lee coming back and their recent FA signings, I'm not sold on him as a team necessity. Durability and desire to play, are two still relevant questions concerning McClain. If they can retain him on a cap friendly incentive/roster laden deal, then fine, if not, see ya. I really don't think the cap is a main concern for them going forward. They can simply restructure Romo's enormous cap hit at any time.

I see CB as our number one priority now with the Hardy signing today. Moore and Claiborne's current situations, not to mention Carr could still be a post June 1st cut?? RB in this draft is also a question mark before LB imo.

 

[R.J. MacReady]

You really have to ask yourself, what is really going on.

It's one thing to stay committed and let Murray walk but than comes the Hardy deal. A perfect opportunity to let his raw talent get the better of you and sign a risky multi year contract. But they instead sign this very sharp 1 year contract.

I have no doubt that Jerry passed away and Stephen is not telling anyone.

 

[Manster7588]

You really have to ask yourself, what is really going on.

It's one thing to stay committed and let Murray walk but than comes the Hardy deal. A perfect opportunity to let his raw talent get the better of you and sign a risky multi year contract. But they instead sign this very sharp 1 year contract.

I have no doubt that Jerry passed away and Stephen is not telling anyone.

I think letting Murray walk is all about remaining young at the RB spot.

 

[handicappers]

There is a reason that Jerry got Executive of the Year last season. The man knows football and Greg Hardy is a good pickup.

 

[nutz6977]

I'm not sold on him as a team necessity. Durability and desire to play, are two still relevant questions concerning McClain. If they can retain him on a cap friendly incentive/roster laden deal, then fine, if not, see ya. I really don't think the cap is a main concern for them going forward.


I am not sure it's as easy as see ya. I would make signing him a little higher priority than that. It sure seemed even though he missed some big tackles that the defense played more inspired football when he was on the field. And I know they hit harder when he was in there. He was a big reason the defense played as well as they did. Hard to replace the kind of player that sets the tone for the defense. Imo.

 

[Bmurph]

1. The money: Hardy's contract is one year in length and can be worth up to $13.1 million. Reports indicate that he has a minimum base salary with various incentives baked in based on playing time and sacks that could raise the value of the deal. It also contains a no-franchise/transition tag clause, which means Hardy will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason unless he receives an in-season extension from the Cowboys.

The sack-based incentives can be worth up to approximately $1.8 million, while games played roster bonuses could add up to as much as $9.25 million and there is also a roster bonus of about $1.3 million. Add to that a $750,000 base salary and you come to a $13.1 million ceiling. Here are a couple visual breakdowns that might clear that up:

The base salary of $750,000 is low for a player of Hardy's caliber, while the games played bonuses are obviously there to protect the Cowboys in case Hardy is suspended under the personal conduct policy. If Hardy receives the six-game suspension that has been rumored and he's active for the remaining 10 games, he'd earn $5,781,250 in incentives. Added to the $750,000 base and $1.3 million roster bonus, his salary would reach $7,842,580, which would place him somewhere between 12th and 14th among defensive ends in terms of 2015 cap hits.

Based on all those numbers, Spotrac has Hardy counting for approximately $2.635 million against Dallas' cap in 2015 at this moment, leaving the Cowboys with $2.435 million remaining in cap space. That's the second-lowest number in the league behind only the Saints. They can create more by restructuring Tony Romo's contract that currently sports a league-high $27.773 million cap hit, or mandating that Brandon Carr take a pay cut and designating him a post-June 1 cut if he refuses.

2. Hardy's production: When last seen on an NFL field, Hardy was one of the best defensive players in the league, routinely and indiscriminately overpowering tackles, quarterbacks and running backs alike. In his most recent 32 games (15 in 2012, 16 in 2013, one in 2014), Hardy recorded 121 tackles, 27 sacks and four forced fumbles. On the field, he is a true force, a disruptor in every facet of the game.

Hardy was Pro Football Focus' sixth-ranked 4-3 defensive end in 2012 and he ranked second in 2013. In those two seasons, he totaled 141 quarterback pressures and hit the quarterback 36 times. And he was more than just a pass-rush specialist, recording a "run stop" on 8.7 percent of snaps against opposing runs, per PFF's data. That's good enough to place within the top-five run-defending 4-3 ends in most seasons. His only on-field weakness was a penchant for penalties; he was called for 14 in those two seasons.

3. How he fits in Dallas: Hardy is immediately the best defensive lineman on the Cowboys, as he'd be on most teams. Above all else, he should help their lacking pass rush.

The Cowboys had only 28 sacks last season, fifth-fewest in the league. Their Adjusted Sack Rate, per Football Outsiders, was just 4.7 percent, far below the league average of 6.6 percent and the fourth-worst mark in the NFL.

While Hardy played mostly on the right side of the line with Carolina, he seems likely to slot in at the left defensive end spot in Dallas, where he'll play across from Demarcus Lawrence, with Jeremy Mincey spelling both players. Lawrence didn't play much last season -- he missed the first eight games after a foot injury suffered in camp -- and wasn't hugely impressive while on the field until the playoffs, when he flashed the quarterback-chasing ability that led Dallas to sacrifice a third-round pick to trade up for the former Boise State product. Mincey was probably Dallas' best defensive end last season, playing all 16 games and sacking the quarterback six times.

If Anthony Spencer returns to Dallas, he'll probably get snaps on the left side along with Hardy, and Dallas is also expected to take a long look at the defensive end spot in this year's draft. Rob Rang, Dane Brugler and Pete Prisco all have the Cowboys taking a defensive end in the first round in their most recent mock drafts, though that could change with the Hardy signing.

Hardy also brings an element of versatility, able to line up inside at tackle on some plays. He shares this trait with Tyrone Crawford, who started last season as an end before bumping inside to tackle and becoming arguably Dallas' most impactful defensive player. The ability to mix and match players along the line is one that appeals to defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, who values being able to bring pass-rushers in waves. Hardy fits right in.

 

[Bmurph]

4. Off the field issues: Of course, this is the reason Hardy's contract is structured the way it is, and why he's in Dallas rather than still with the Panthers on a long-term deal. Hardy became embroiled in a nasty domestic violence case last offseason, where he was accused of assaulting and threatening to kill former girlfriend Nicole Holder. The details of the allegations are disturbing. Per the Charlotte Observer:

Hardy, Holder said, flung her from the bed, threw her into a bathtub, then tossed her on a futon covered with rifles. Holder said Hardy ripped a necklace he had given her off her neck, threw it into a toilet and slammed the lid on her arm when she tried to fish it out.

The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Hardy dragged her by the hair room to room, she said, before putting his hands around her throat.

“He looked me in my eyes and he told me he was going to kill me,” said Holder, 24, who said she used to live with Hardy.

“I was so scared I wanted to die. When he loosened his grip slightly, I said, ‘Just do it. Kill me.' ”

Later, as Holder said she was held by her former boyfriend's personal assistant, she said Hardy made the 911 call, showed her the phone, and said, “Run, little girl. You're going to jail.”

Hardy was found guilty in a bench trial conducted in July 2014, which, under North Carolina law, automatically triggered his right to a jury trial in Superior Court. (For more about this process, see here.) That second trial was scheduled to take place in early February of this year, but after Hardy and Holder reportedly reached an out-of-court settlement, she informed prosecutors that she no longer wanted to cooperate and refused to testify against him. Prosecutors were unable to locate her even after "extraordinary efforts," and as a result, the case against Hardy was dismissed.

As his case was technically still pending when last season started, Hardy played in Carolina's season opener. After that, the Panthers placed him on the Commissioner's Exempt List for the remainder of the season. Hardy was on a one-year deal with Carolina due to being franchise tagged in 2014, so he became a free agent at season's end.

It is also still possible that Hardy is served with a six-game suspension under the league's new personal conduct policy as a result of his alleged transgressions, another factor that likely shrunk the already small market for a player with such well-known off-field issues.

5. What's left of the market: Hardy was the 14th-ranked player and fourth-ranked edge rusher -- behind Justin Houston, Jason Pierre-Paul and Pernell McPhee -- on our free agent big board. Houston and Pierre-Paul were franchise tagged by the Chiefs and Giants, respectively, while McPhee signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Bears. The only outside pass-rusher left on our board is former Lions end George Johnson (50), while B.J. Raji (51), C.J. Mosley (58), Tommy Kelly (78) and Pat Sims (80) are the other remaining defensive linemen.

Greg Hardy has found a new home. (Getty Images)