With no word from the NFL regarding the plethora of high-profile cases of misconduct by various persons in the league, the public can only speculate what might happen to Ravens running back Ray Rice and Colts owner Jim Irsay. But suspension seems imminent and clear-cut in the case of the vicious crime committed by Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy. While there is wiggle room in the case of non-criminal conduct, there are specific guidelines for dealing with players (and owners, theoretically, but...) who have clearly broken the law. Greg Hardy has been found guilty of domestic assault.
Commissioner Roger Goodell is notoriously heavy-handed when doling out suspensions and fines. The list for violators of the NFL Drug Policy for this year alone is staggering. But he has yet to determine the fate of Ray Rice, who received pre-trial intervention counseling and avoided sentencing.
Hardy, however, was convicted and therefore is expected to miss at least four games, according to the NFL's personal conduct policy (via ESPN):
"'Persons who fail to live up to (the NFL's) standard of conduct are guilty of conduct detrimental and subject to discipline, even where the conduct itself does not result in conviction of a crime.' Among the listed 'circumstances' in which Goodell can impose discipline is 'domestic violence and other forms of partner abuse.'"
According to Hardy's alleged victim, he beat her, strangled her and threatened her life (via ESPN):
"'He looked me in my eyes and he told me he was going to kill me,' said the accuser, a 24-year-old cocktail waitress in downtown Charlotte. 'I was so scared I wanted to die. When he loosened his grip slightly, I said just, "Do it. Kill me."
"'He had told me in past if I took food out of his family's mouth he was going to kill me.'"
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