Peterson to play sunday...maybe Hardy next

[Mojo]

We're a better defense with Hardy in there. Teams have to focus on (double team) him and that only helps the rest of the dline. I don't see how this is even within a shadow of a doubt. Yes the defense had a great game and Addison did a good job but let's keep it 100. With Hardy in there the opposing oline has a lot more to gameplan for, which ultimately is a plus for us.

[NJPanthers12]

Well considering I think what Peterson did is a million times worse than what Hardy and rice did, and I think hitting a women is reprehensible, there should be absolutely no reason Hardy doesn't play.

[MadHatter]

If the Panthers make the decision to continue to sit him before the legal process is over, then they just need to release him.

Sitting him does no good for either party, and if he is found innocent that's only more problems for our FO with the NFLPA.

Keeps him from signing with the Falcons or Saints....which he could very well do if we cut him.

No reason to cut him and pay him...over sit him and pay him.

[teeray]

It will be really interesting to see media coverage if he is acquitted. I for one will troll every member of the media forever.

And I think it is a big loss to the football team when he doesn't play, but yesterday showed it isn't catastrophic. But for me it isn't about that, it is about doing right by the accused.

[davos]

If the Panthers make the decision to continue to sit him before the legal process is over, then they just need to release him.

 

Sitting him does no good for either party, and if he is found innocent that's only more problems for our FO with the NFLPA.

 

To break it down quite simply we're looking at 4 big scenarios:

 

 

We release him and he's found innocent (looks bad but not detrimental. We would be overly reactive but he has no contract after this season)

 

v. 

 

We release him and he's found guilty (He would likely get a season ban and a UFA 2015/16, adios)

 

v.

 

We play him and he's found innocent (What many here suspect will be the outcome already because everyone Panther related looks good in this scenario)

 

v.

 

We play him and he's found guilty (sh*t)

 

--

 

I think playing him and keeping him on the team is the greater risk but a greater reward if it works out.  However the downsides of releasing him on his tag-contract are far less and if he's not convicted I don't see it being that bad for us.  

[CPF4LIFE]

If Hardy disappears i want to know what DE in the league absolutely whoops ass every single play

[TheRed]

Keeps him from signing with the Falcons or Saints....which he could very well do if we cut him.

No reason to cut him and pay him...over sit him and pay him.

 

We don't have to do either of those. Play him.

[ZeroZeroSeven]

The Panthers just put up one of the best defensive performances they have had in several years without Hardy.

I don't care if he plays or not.

I'm firmly aboard the A-Train... addison that is.

Would it be possible for you to fling a flaming bag of poo at Bob Costas next Sunday night?

[Mojo]

This is Hardy's last year as a Panther.

I am not opposed to letting him sit the rest of the year if the Panthers can play the same level of Defense as yesterday. Give the young guys the reps, build on it for the playoffs and next season.

That would be ridiculous to sit him the entire year before letting the legal process play out, which is what they initially said they would do. Play your best guys period. Young guys can still get reps in the rotation.

[Jmac]

Hardy is gone in a few months no matter what happens.You better know who can do the job when it comes open.DG and RR built this D and they won't let it go south because of one guy.They will be grooming someone for next season...count on that.

[TheRed]

To break it down quite simply we're looking at 4 big scenarios:

 

 

We release him and he's found innocent (looks bad but not detrimental. We would be overly reactive but he has no contract after this season)

 

v. 

 

We release him and he's found guilty (He would likely get a season ban and a UFA 2015/16, adios)

 

v.

 

We play him and he's found innocent (What many here suspect will be the outcome already because everyone Panther related looks good in this scenario)

 

v.

 

We play him and he's found guilty (sh*t)

 

--

 

I think playing him and keeping him on the team is the greater risk but a greater reward if it works out.  However the downsides of releasing him on his tag-contract are far less and if he's not convicted I don't see it being that bad for us.  

 

I would have to agree with you.

 

Regardless of what the outcome of the trial will be in November, punishing him before the legal process is completed if he is ultimately found innocent really won't look any better than playing him if he were to be later found guilty. It's not an ideal situation either way.

 

But we've got $13 million tied up in him that could have went elsewhere. My stance is that he hasn't had his jury trial yet, let him play.

[CarolinaNut]

I believe Hardy will play again this season.  

 

I don't know when but it makes no sense at all to deactivate him for the rest of the season.  He is technically still innocent until he's convicted by a jury according to my knowledge of the NC judicial system.  I think the team deactivates him for 2-4 games just to appease the media outcry.

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

Keep in mind Hardy is great against the run while Addison struggles playing the run. The Lions passed the ball many times playing to Addison's strength yesterday. That may not be the case in the future.

[AceBoogie]

The mistake was already made by deactivating him, up until yesterday the Panthers were doing the right thing standing by their guy until he got his jury trial. Regardless of what the judge felt, that sentence doesn't mean poo now or if jurors find him innocent. Which means what? He should be allowed to play until his case his heard. My god, Kobe played through a rape trial in LA!!

Now that you deactivated him, I don't see how you play him again this season. Release him because you believe he's guilty no matter what the court says if that's how you feel. Because if you're going to play him this week then he should have played last week. Wasn't Josh Gordon and Wes Welker allowed to play while their appeals were heard. So what's the difference? What new news has the Panthers received other than a damn Ray Rice video?

The espn is the biggest hypocrite in all of this. How do you pile on to these NFL players while continuing to cover Floyd Mayweather, who actually served TIME in jail for domestic violence. It's ridiculous and the Panthers made the wrong call yesterday. Sometimes the best decision isn't always the popular one, you can't allow media pressure to strip these Americans of their constitutional rights.

And as bad as the Ray Rice video looked, he should be allowed to play this weekend. He served his two game suspension. If you sentence a murderer to 10 years, you can't go back and give him life just because a video comes out. That's just bullshit.