Greg Hardy Suspension Reduced To 4 Games Because The NFL Doesn't Value Common Sense

#NFL reduces Greg Hardy's suspension from 10 games to four in domestic violence case: http://t.co/Qlammde6pR pic.twitter.com/QMqTRTP21d

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 10, 2015

I think we have answered the age old question, "who the hell does Jerry Jones have to sexually assault to get a suspension reduced around here?". It turns out the answer is Roger Goodell. So, I'm going to need an explanation on this, even though I hardly expect one. If I am to believe what I have been watching for the last year, I am supposed to care a lot more about domestic abuse than I used to. I always kind of knew it was an issue, but in case I forgot, the NFL has done everything possible to educate me on the negative aspects of placing your hands on a female over the last 12 months. That's why this decision is mind boggling. What has Greg Hardy done since receiving a 10 game suspension to justify reducing his suspension by damn near half a season? Did he un-beat his wife? Can you do that? Maybe he did like a super awesome job of putting makeup on her after he gave her a black eye? Maybe he massaged out of the kinks that he caused by dragging her down a flight of stairs? I don't know, I'm just spitballing here.

Now granted I wasn't in the Hardy household when all of this went down, but the NFL only needs circumstantial evidence (as proven by BountyGate and DeflateGate) so why deicide to change your mind now? Hell, even if after careful review you decided that the 10 game suspension was too much, it's probably not a smart idea to turn around and trivialize domestic abuse. I mean, you did just spend A FUCKING YEAR producing dumb ass commercials saying "no more" and then you turned around and made the punishment less? It's all about perception. I know Hardy served 15 games last year. I know a 10 game suspension this year was probably too much if we are going by the precedent set by Ray Rice. However, once you decide 10 games you can't take it back, at least not without a MASSIVE amount of scrutiny. 

I'm starting to wonder if Roger Goodell is just a self deprecating asshole. Is it possible that he just loves to do damage control? This decision opens up pandora's box of stupidity. If you can reduce a suspension of a wife beater by 6 games, then the NFL might end up owing Tom Brady money for catching him two ounces of air pressure short of a regulation football. Now, I like to think of myself as logical, and I am aware that those two situations aren't even mildly related, but I'd love to be a fly on the wall when you tell Patriots fans that. Why don't you try explaining to all the teams that lost irreplaceable players to 4 game suspensions for substance abuse that placing your hands on a female is equally as detrimental to the league? I understand that Greg Hardy, with the reduction, will have served his time. After all, a 19 game suspension is pretty historical in length. However, that's not going to soften the blow from fans and media outlets alike. I would imagine reviving one man's career, after such a despicable crime, would be secondary to upholding your stance on the safety of women. Especially when the beneficiary is one of the most influential owners in all of sports. I'm sure that doesn't give off the illusion of any foul play or anything...

P.S. He still misses the Saints game. Enjoy the beating from the sidelines Greg.