Greg Hardy Talks “Dream” McCoy Pairing
February 10th, 2015
The NFL’s hottest and most controversial free agent, defensive end Greg Hardy, is a guy with pretty strong opinions.
One of them he shared with Joe last year.
Regular readers know Joe’s Bucs coverage goes in several different directions, including talking to NFL greats, popular media types and opposing players about the team. And Joe’s A-team of Hawaiian video reporters was able to corner Hardy at the 2014 Pro Bowl.
Bucs fans yearning for Hardy can pick up the video below at the :40 second mark.
Hardy, in addition to talking about playing alongside Gerald McCoy, proved to be a true prophet about a former Buccaneer.
JoeBucsFan.com at the Pro Bowl from Video 21 Productions on Vimeo.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:01 am
Sign him ,no guarantee $$
ASAP !!
February 10th, 2015 at 9:07 am
If the NFL clears him to play – then bring Hardy in for an interview. If Lovie is willing to have him – then by all means sign him.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:09 am
Finally some good news
February 10th, 2015 at 9:13 am
Offering guys no guaranteed money is exactly how you don’t sign them. Guys chase the guarantees, as they should. This is what makes FA a risk, you’re signing guys you’ve never actually been around consistently. This is why it will always be better to draft and develop because you know these guys.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:16 am
Hardy is behind the 8 ball….NO guarantee for off field character issues
February 10th, 2015 at 9:17 am
You Winston supporters can’t reasonably want Hardy to be signed……that will attract considerable attention to the very issue that Winston has been accused of. Sure, he is likely innocient….but still, public opinion remains. Just not a good move at all.
Now….unless the Bucs do a complete turnaround with the type of players they want….I just can’t see them signing Hardy.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:25 am
One NFL team is going to sign him. It will cause some controversy and a potential media circus. But his pressence will boost any NFL defense. Why not the Bucs? What Greg Hardy does off the field is between him and the lord. The chance to get a player of Hardy’s caliber at a position we NEED very rarely comes around. We need to get him because if we dont some other team will and we’ll be left without a pass rush off the edge…again. Get it done Bucs.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:31 am
He is going to be suspended most likely, but it is still a good idea to sign him, because when he come back he will have a chip on his shoulder.
So far as his off-field issues, it was domestic abuse (nothing like rape) and it is simple enough to put a clause in his contract regarding behavior.
He’ll be only 27 when the season starts. This guy is a dominant 4-3 defensive end. THIS is the Simeon Rice we need.
As to the domestic abuse, we’ve had our share of guys guilty of that and they were straightened out (Michael Pittman for example).
The Bucs need to clear up more cap room. Cut Goldson, EDS and Keonen and it will free up something like 12m more.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:32 am
Looks like a few Mariota supporters want him too…hypocrites
Draft Winston and enjoy the ride
February 10th, 2015 at 9:37 am
@Bonzai
McCown & Collins….another $8.5 in cap……
February 10th, 2015 at 9:38 am
You can offer him no guarantees, and when he signs elsewhere for someone who gives him guarantees, that will be that. It’s the NFL, he’s not in jail and he can play. He’ll absolutely be getting guarantees from teams.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:39 am
@ Luther
I think there is a huge difference between spending a #1 pick on a QB with questionable character issues…and bringing in a FA with perhaps no guaranteed money or a behavior clause…..
I am not one that supports Mariota and wants Hardy….but there is a differnce…its not just about the character…its the use of the #1 pick….
February 10th, 2015 at 9:40 am
bucrightoff Says
“Offering guys no guaranteed money is exactly how you don’t sign them.”
I agree, to a point. Certainly, the more talented players must get them and he falls into that category.
I think the best rout is guaranteed money, with the possibility of off field issues negating it. That way, nothing football related will prevent him from making the money, but if he has more trouble, the Bucs will have an out.
That would be more than fair, since all he has to do is behave to get the money.
The other option is to structure it like the Revis contract. Give a certain date each year for the team to decide to cut him or not, and after that the year is guaranteed.
Of course, NOTHING Licht has done has shown he can work a deal like that. The man, thus far, has been incapable of performing his duties in any effective way.
The way I understand it, a GM has to:
Negotiate Trades
Negotiate Contracts
Evaluate Players
Manage the Cap
Manage the structure of new contracts so that they do not hamper the team in the future
Satisfy the vision of the head coach
Evaluate coaches
I would say that, given his performance thus far in all of those areas, he gets a “D” grade.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:41 am
@Tampabaybucfan
Good point.
That would put the Bucs in a great place money-wise.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:41 am
I’d say sign him if Koetter wants him with a clause that eliminates guaranteed money for any transgression.
It would be interesting to see him next to GMC with McDonald and the found DE plus LVD.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:46 am
Luther Says
“Looks like a few Mariota supporters want him too…hypocrites
Draft Winston and enjoy the ride”
Last I checked, a domestic abuse charge is an easy charge to be filed and is nowhere close to being as bad as RAPE.
No hypocrisy here at all.
Did you know, for example, how many false accusations of domestic abuse are filed each year? Especially where drinking is involved?
Even if they are true (which the girlfriend is not even bothering to show up for court), domestic abuse charges are nowhere close to rape charges.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:47 am
OB Says
“I’d say sign him if Koetter wants him…”
You mean if Frasier wants him.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:51 am
Man it would be nice to have him at RDE, McDonald, GMC, and Leonard Williams at LDE. Holy sh!t that would be a dominant defensive front!!!
Keep Smith, and since it looks like we’re stuck with the ghost (use him as backup). Cut Clayborn and maybe Bowers….keep Gholston!
February 10th, 2015 at 9:52 am
Winning cures everything!
February 10th, 2015 at 9:53 am
Absolute height of hypocrisy to support signing Hardy but not Winston. Suddenly you moralists are talking about lesser risks, and not about the abuse of women and protests, etc.
“Wellllllll, he’s just a free agent, we won’t guarantee money”
What a joke.
Just shows how empty some peoples previous words were.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:58 am
“domestic abuse charges are nowhere close to rape charges.”
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.’ ”
You guys are straight up hypocrites. Especially considering all the evidence completely against the Winston accuser.
February 10th, 2015 at 10:02 am
$15.7 mil for the Panthers to place the franchise tag on him…..and I just dont see that happening.
February 10th, 2015 at 10:03 am
Doesn’t matter what your opinion is of the difference between rape and domestic abuse. The NFL’s new policy is what matters. 1st offense is six game ban. Second offense is LIFETIME ban. Is that something we want to throw guaranteed money at?
February 10th, 2015 at 10:04 am
btw, the whole Winston off field stuff doesnt concern me….find a post of mine saying I dont want him because of that. Ive actually said Im ok if we do draft him, and Id rather it be him than Mariota. Its other things that concern me, and we have too many holes in the trenches…defensive and offensive.
February 10th, 2015 at 10:05 am
3:36 seconds, the Bucs got a new GM? Jason Licht was fired? When did this happen?
Joe made it clear that the video is from the 2014 Pro Bowl, 13 months ago.–Joe
February 10th, 2015 at 10:05 am
Isn’t there a decent FA DE out there that doesn’t beat women?……don’t we have a choice?…..or, is it because we could get Hardy for a bargain?
If we sign Hardy…..the protests will start and you can probably kiss any chance of Winston being drafted.
Panthers don’t want him back for good reason…..someone will sign him….sure…but probably not the Bucs.
February 10th, 2015 at 10:10 am
Wow. Lots of Mariota supporters wanting Hardy. Further proof that the hate for Winston is just that. BLIND HATE. Winston was “accused” of rape. Hardy meanwhile settles as to keep it out of court, essentially burying it.
This is another case for the NFL execs to decide. If they say he can play, I say sign him and turn him loose.
February 10th, 2015 at 10:14 am
Crackem!!!!!
February 10th, 2015 at 10:21 am
Bonzi,,
dude you are total hypocrite pig…. It’s ok to whack your girl around just don’t rape… what a hypocrite. Winston NEVER raped anyone and it’s very obvious Hardy did WHACK his girl around like a pin ball. But it’s cool because it fits your agenda. You are complete and utter hypocrite period. I hope you don’t have a daughter or niece that ever get’s beat up and you rationalize it by saying at least you were not raped. Dude you are absolutely pathetic.
February 10th, 2015 at 10:22 am
@Sick of this $hit
Where are the Mariota supporters wanting Hardy?…..I’m not seeing them here…
Call them out by name please……
February 10th, 2015 at 10:26 am
Tampabaybucfan
Just read up and a few and check out Bonzi who clearly is cool with beating woman and paying them off but is not cool with players who get accused by self proclaimed cleat chasers. The hypocrisy of the Winston haters and the posts over the last 2 days about Hardy are about the pure definition of hypocrisy.
I am a winston supporter and would be cool with hardy too just so I am clear. People deserve second chances and Winston deserves to be the bucs first pick. Lovie needs Jameis a hell of of a lot more than Jameis needs the bucs and this dysfunctional ownership,
February 10th, 2015 at 10:27 am
BY ALL MEANS PLEASE SIGN HARDY…Then go draft No-Shamemesis Winston, then bring back Talib and Winslow so we can officially forget the “Dunkaneers” and become the “Thuganeers.”…This is pathetic.
February 10th, 2015 at 10:33 am
There is NO camparison of the risk of using a FIRST overall pick on Jameis
and signing a FA,Hardy, with behavior clause
My objection to drafting Jameis is not soley based on his behavior…he has many other on field concerns …long wind up….3/4 side arm release.
If Jameis was a 3 or 4th round pick with on and off field concerns…NO problem draft him
risk vs reward
Mariota>Winston
February 10th, 2015 at 10:35 am
Anybody that has ever been wrongly accused and/or sued before knows that just because a case is settled out of court implies absolutely no guilt. Don’t be ignorant and assume guilt. Any business professional is at risk for being sued because such and such client is upset at their outcome. As an accountant I see this every single year. Some dipstick client is mad that he has to pay considerable taxes and of course it is my fault. The sad reality is the only people that prosper from a lawsuit or accusation is the attorneys and it is in the defendant’s best interest to settle and not incur huge legal fees. Welcome to the “Democratic” Judicial system.
With all that said, we are trying to win football games and make this team relevant. While none of us want scumbags on the team, we aren’t competing for political office. Sign this man.
February 10th, 2015 at 10:35 am
^^Hypocrite
February 10th, 2015 at 10:46 am
@Tampabaybucfan
There will be no protesters. Did you go to a game last year? There is only about 20,000 people interested in the what the Bucs are doing. There is so much apathy I really do not see anyone protesting anything the Bucs are going to do. Until they start winning, and people hop on the bandwagon, like we know they will do, the Bucs are way down on the list of things people are gonna protest. So sign Hardy, draft Jamesis and let’s get this thing back on track.
February 10th, 2015 at 10:50 am
@tmaxcon
Thought Bonzai was a “trade down” guy….could be wrong…..
@cmurda
A NC Judge found Hardy guilty…but in NC he has the right to then take it to a jury trial….it was then that the accuser “didn’t show”….I don’t know if there was a payoff or not….but there is probably ample evidence that Hardy is guilty of DA.
February 10th, 2015 at 10:51 am
Unbelievable…you mean to tell me that a guy who was never charged or convicted is “more” risky that a guy who was actually covicted? What kind of logic is that? I don’t care about whether he is a 1st round draft pick. Hardy is a known quantity that is probably worth more than most number 1 draft pick.
Winston haters are hypocrites.
Draft Winston and enjoy the ride.
February 10th, 2015 at 10:52 am
“Of course, NOTHING Licht has done has shown he can work a deal like that. The man, thus far, has been incapable of performing his duties in any effective way.”
You’ve got to be kidding me –
So if Licht gets a D what does Lovie get?
February 10th, 2015 at 10:59 am
I do think it is hypocritical to oppose Winston (only accused) and support Hardy (likely guilty)…..unless there are other reasons….like #1 pick vs FA or if you are concerned about performance.
To me….Winston is innocent until proven & he wasn’t even charged…..it is the totality of his behavior that concerns me.
As for the crimes of DV & Rape……it’s like assault vs murder…..both are bad, one is far worse.
i am not opposed to second chances….but I think they need to be earned….Michael Vick is a good example….
February 10th, 2015 at 11:03 am
Lovie isn’t going to sign Greg hardy just like he’s not going to draft Winston. Lol you guys crack me up character means something to lovie idk why u people don’t get it. The only person lovie has taken a risk on is who Brandon Marshall? And I’m not sure he wanted to even trade for him. Before that he had tank Johnson for what a year? No way.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:04 am
I’m a Mariota guy.
Trade down only if we are offered a mega, MEGA deal.
tmaxcon Says
“Bonzi, dude you are total hypocrite pig…. It’s ok to whack your girl around just don’t rape…”
Nothing is proven. It never even came to judge review because the girl skipped town. Rumor say they reached a financial settlement, but even so, we don’t know how much of her claim was true.
IT WAS NEVER REVIEWED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THE VICTIM LEFT.
So don’t go making unproven accusations. This is much different. With Winston, the girl actually tried to back up her statement, showed up for court and the judge actually reviewed things.
With Hardy, it never got in front of a judge, the girl has been posting on facebook about enjoying life and vacationing all over the place.
Nothing in the statement quoted above has been proven, OR even backed up by the victim.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:08 am
AND, to make things clear…I only mentioned the rape because I believe you are all hypocrites for wanting Winston, and NOT wanting Hardy.
See what I did there? I turned your accusation right back on you. Because it works both ways.
As to Winston, check my evaluations of him. I have consistently kept the off field issues out of it. I simply believe he is going to be a bad NFL Quarterback.
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=129642&cpage=2#comment-3494371
There is your proof. Idiot.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:10 am
It is HYPOCRISY to want Winston and NOT WANT HARDY for behavior issues.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:13 am
@Luther
Ignorance is bliss. Hardy was never convicted. In fact, it never even went to court. Charges dismissed after the girl refused to back up her accusations.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:16 am
Architek Says
“Of course, NOTHING Licht has done has shown he can work a deal like that. The man, thus far, has been incapable of performing his duties in any effective way.”
You’ve got to be kidding me –
So if Licht gets a D what does Lovie get?”
Lovie gets a “D” as well…maybe a “D+” for keeping the team from quitting.
Tell me…after you consider the things Licht has done since getting hired, what grade would you give him and why?
February 10th, 2015 at 11:19 am
@ Bonzai & tmaxcon
Hardy was found guilty and appealed asking for a jury trial..
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11220817/greg-hardy-carolina-panthers-guilty-2-counts-domestic-violence
February 10th, 2015 at 11:31 am
@TBBF
“Sure, he is likely innocient”
Why do we believe this? He paid her off. Still I’m OK with bringing him in IF this is his ONLY event. Again it’s the PATTERN. I do not believe AP will ever touch one of his kids again. He’s learned the cost. Same for Ray Rice. If Hardy is not a serial efup like Fameis then I think he too has learned the price.
This is why I would NEVER want Incognito. He is a THUG and a bully and he has a long resume of the same kind of behavior.
What frightens me most about Jameis is not only the pattern but the fact that he seems to be either a cement head or such a conceited, arrogant, self entitled jerk that he hasn’t learned yet. But perhaps I’m wrong. Perhaps Jameis has screwed up so many times that he’s beginning to figure it out.
Let’s hope!
February 10th, 2015 at 11:35 am
Hardy was already convicted. If it were any other state than N.C., the second trial would not exist.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:36 am
“BuccaneerBonzai Says:
February 10th, 2015 at 11:13 am
Ignorance is bliss. ”
I agree, but, not the way you think.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:36 am
“As to the domestic abuse, we’ve had our share of guys guilty of that and they were straightened out (Michael Pittman for example).”
I seem to recall Pittman getting in trouble later on as a Buccaneer. I also seem to recall him not being worth the headache or the money, despite having one really solid game when it counted in San Diego – he was pretty bad almost all of the rest of the time.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:37 am
I don’t think mariota or Winston are worth the number #1 pick when is the last time a heisman trophy winner won a super bowl they win the heisman then don’t do shit in the NFL trade back get Brett hundley
February 10th, 2015 at 11:43 am
Hardy should be in jail.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:51 am
@ St. Pete
My likely innocent comment applied to Winston….Hardy is as guilty as he can be…..
I also agree that Winston may be able to straighten up between now & the draft….but, his true character will eventually show.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:53 am
bonzi,
you did not address the real problem which is you moronic statement comparing rape and domestic violence. you make no sense. i learned a long time ago you can’t win arguments with stupid people and your statement that domestic violence is not as bad as rape is about as stupid as it gets. the statistics bare that out. think before you type brilliant one….
yes hardy was proven guilty he bought his way out of the appeal process. no one anyone is disputing that.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:55 am
bonzi, the bottom line is a crime is a crime and you are not the authority to say this crime is ok but that one is not… especially when you are trying to compare two violent crimes which are far more common than they should be. be consistent with your agenda.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:56 am
@BucBonzai
Tell me…after you consider the things Licht has done since getting hired, what grade would you give him and why?
I know that question was addressed at Architek but I’d like to take a stab.
I give him an Incomplete. We have no way of knowing how much behind he had to kiss to get his position. Until we know who truly has the FINAL say on these decisions it’s impossible to grade.
Some of them may have been genuinely done by consensus. Licht may have held sway in some selections and Lovie in others. We simply do not truly know.
But I believe GW Bush when he said he was the “decider”. Or Harry Truman who said “The Buck stops here”. Ultimately somebody…a single person..has to have that power.
February 10th, 2015 at 12:12 pm
But can you imagine the D line with Hardy and Williams?
“What A RUSH!!!” (Legion Of Doom) …Road Warriors!
Think we found their new nickname if we go that route!
February 10th, 2015 at 12:46 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai you are correct on the Frazier name.
Also I want Mariota for his ability under fire that I saw that I did not see from Winston.
Having had a starter wife, I know how pissed off they can make you, still no excuse to harm them but sometimes it is in self defense.
Giving Winston the benefit of the doubt in the sexual assault, what he yelled out in crowd and stealing from a store knowing full well this is his draft year is indicative of an out of control person who only cares about himself.
February 10th, 2015 at 12:50 pm
So you give him the benefit of the doubt then take a story about yelling and turn it into him being a out of control person who cares about only himself…. ok then. This is what I am talking about. Some of you dont seem to know what giving someone the benefit of the doubt really means.
February 10th, 2015 at 1:07 pm
The ROOF the ROOF the roof is on fire….
February 10th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Didn’t realize my post from yesterday would light such a fire. Power of the keypad.
February 10th, 2015 at 1:19 pm
Tampa bay bucs fan
Joejoesfunginails
Bonzai
Barry
Connor
OB
Sorry it took so long to reply, bro. I had other things to do besides check the stats of hypocrites. Like I said. Just blind hate for Winston. Lol. Some of those guys especially want Hardy because we can get a better deal on him because of his situation. Gimme a break.
February 10th, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Its amazing how some of aholes try to justify domestic abuse for a DE but wont justify Jameis Winston not being found guilty. It goes to show what the rest of the NFL fans have known for decades that the Bucs have some of the stupid ass fans in the NFL.
February 10th, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Dream pairing if you condone people who assault women, and threaten to kill them.
http://www.bucsnation.com/2015/2/9/8006299/will-the-buccaneers-go-after-greg-hardy-after-his-case-was-dismissed
The case was dismissed because the victim disappeared after a bench trial found him GUILTY. He did it, yet there are people who want to bring him to the Bucs. No thank you.
February 10th, 2015 at 3:10 pm
” then take a story about yelling and turn it into him being a out of control person”
You people are getting pathetic with your lack of HONESTY!!!
Is that ALL he did. What was the context.
We know he had sex with a woman while buds were taping. They admitted that.
We know the BB gun story.
We know the crab legs story.
The yelling of the horrid obscenity considering what he had been alleged to have done is simply bone headed.
There’s four not ONE incidents that we KNOW happened. Stop being apologists it makes you all look damn dumb. Now if you wish to say that this PATTERN of behavior was due to immaturity and he’s grown up now…fine.
But please stop being co-dependent with this crappy behavior.
Some of you truly don’t care what he’s done as long as he’s eligible to play whether it was in college or soon the NFL. OK that is at least an honest point of view. But all this stupid apologizing and rationalizing horrible conduct is truly wearisome.
February 10th, 2015 at 5:13 pm
The Winston/Hardy hypocrisy argument does not hold water. 1) We wouldn’t have to spend a supremely valuable #1 draft pick on Hardy and 2) Hardy is a proven commodity based on his tape. Winston is questionable related to both character and performance while Hardy is just character concern and some of that can be negated through contract structure. I am not saying that we shouldn’t pick up either or both, just saying the argument is not apples to apples.
February 10th, 2015 at 6:39 pm
tmaxcon Says
“bonzi, the bottom line is a crime is a crime and you are not the authority to say this crime is ok but that one is not…”
Wow. Isn’t that what YOU are doing too? Aren’t you claiming Winston’s crime is not as bad as Hardy’s crime?
You really are a hypocrite.
February 10th, 2015 at 6:44 pm
I notice how the real hypocrites are making accusations, yet they are judging Hardy and saying its okay for Winston to do the things he’s done.
Talk about a double standard.
February 10th, 2015 at 7:06 pm
Buctebow
Good point. I guess in the grand scheme of things its not as huge a financial risk to sign Hardy compared to Winston.
But, at that point, everyone who is anti-Winston, yet agreeing we should sign Hardy is just splitting hairs. Especially when they take such a moral high ground when opposing Winston. Where does it stop? I guess if there were a hypothetical free agent accused of murder out there that could really help this team and he was ready to sign with us then we could say….
No, sign Winston instead, hes only accused of rape.
No sir. It shouldnt work like that. I say if you are going to judge players on their personal life then you have to be fair handed, if he smoked some weed, if he got too many traffic tickets, if he was accused of anything, than you should be against him. You cant start rating and categorizing a players sins. So, I dont even get involved in the moral debate. Thats not my job. I judge players on how they can help us. And I have NEVER heard that Winston was a bad team mate or a player with a poor work ethic. There isnt anybody credible out there that has said so either. I choose Winston because hes a better fit, and choose not to degrade Mariota to prove my point wither. In fact, if Winston were not coming out, Id be all up on the Mariota band wagon.
So, besides the ints and losing a whopping one game in college, tell me what is is about Winston that brings out the fangs with all the Mariota supporters?
Please answer that.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:00 pm
Blah blah blah. Sign em both. About time we had some bad ass’s here.