National Football League

Report: NFL might step in and suspend Panthers DE Hardy

Published Sep. 16, 2014 10:03 a.m. ET

foxsports

The NFL could soon weigh in on the predicament the Carolina Panthers find themselves in regarding defensive end Greg Hardy.

The league is weighing whether it should suspend Hardy, who is appealing a July 15 conviction of assault on a female and communicating threats, for violating the personal-conduct policy, Pro Football Talk reports.

The Panthers played Hardy in Week 1 but opted to deactivate him for last Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. Head coach Ron Rivera said Hardy would practice and attend team meetings this week, but added it was "a very fluid situation." Rivera was noncommittal when asked if Hardy would play Week 3.

"That is why we have to sit down and talk about these things," Rivera said. "And we did the same thing (on Sunday). We talked about a lot of things and at the end of the day I had to make a decision that I believe was in the best interest of our football team and for Greg."

Hardy, who tied a franchise record last season with 15 sacks, had four tackles and a sack in Week 1. He is scheduled to make $13.1 million this season.