Dallas Cowboys

Greg Hardy would rather sign away his own $100 bill than autograph a Panthers helmet

Published Nov. 3, 2015 10:59 a.m. ET

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Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy made an appearance at The Owners Box sports bar inside downtown Dallas' Omni Hotel Monday night as part of a promotion for Gameday Sports Tours.

Naturally, many fans at the event rushed in Hardy's direction to get in line for an autograph. When Jeremy Smith, a 38-year-old Cowboys fan, approached Hardy with a mini helmet from the Carolina Panthers, his former team, to be signed, Hardy's reaction was priceless.

"No, I can't do it," Hardy told Smith, per Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News.

Hardy didn't want to let one of his fans down, so he quickly came up with something else that he could sign for Smith. Hardy reached into his pocket and pulled out a stack of cash. He took a $100 bill, signed it with his nickname "Kracken" and gave Smith the autograph he was looking for.

Greg Hardy at the Owner's Box in Dallas. Wouldn't sign fan's Panthers helmet. Pulled $100 outta pocket, signed that pic.twitter.com/IC6CwhQuIU
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 3, 2015

Smith said he was originally peeved by Hardy's refusal to sign the helmet he bought specifically for this moment. "I was a little irritated because I spent $37 on the mini helmet," Smith said.

But he quickly got over it after Hardy's generous gesture. And no, Smith does not plan to spend the $100 bill with "Kraken" spilled across the face of the bill anytime soon. He told Machota that he plans to have the bill professionally framed.

Hardy's off-the-field actions since returning from his domestic violence suspension have not exactly been ingratiating to some, but Monday's event proved that there are plenty of Cowboys fans willing to look past his troubled history.

"He's playing exceptional," Smith said. "He plays with heart. He says what's on his mind. I don't have a problem with that. It may be a distraction, but I don't care, he's on our team, so I could care less."

Smith is not incorrect — Hardy has already racked up three sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. Nothing like producing at a high level and staying out of trouble for fans to give him a second chance.

(h/t Dallas Morning News)