The Sports Xchange

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy will be out the first four games of the regular season serving a suspension for a violation of the NFL’s personal-conduct policy and the team said there were never plans to lodge a new appeal of the discipline.

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones told 105.3 FM The Fan in Dallas on Tuesday there was never a plan to appeal the suspension, which was already reduced from the original 10-game ban handed down by commissioner Roger Goodell.

The “victory” by the NFLPA in U.S. District Court over the NFL to overturn Tom Brady’s suspension sparked speculation Hardy would head to court.

Arbitrator Harold Henderson upheld Hardy’s suspension for conduct detrimental to the league, but reduced the number of games on appeal.

“After consideration of all the record evidence and arguments, I conclude that the Commissioner acted within his authority and properly exercised his discretion in finding that Hardy violated the NFL Personal Conduct Policy,” Henderson said in a statement.

“I find that the conduct of Hardy clearly violated the letter and spirit of any version of the PCP since its inception, and of the NFL Constitution and Bylaws long before then. The egregious conduct exhibited here is indefensible in the NFL. However, 10 games is simply too much, in my view, of an increase over prior cases without notice such as was done last year, when the ‘baseline’ for discipline in domestic violence or sexual assault cases was announced as a six-game suspension.”

Hardy participated in training camp and preseason games before his suspension started Sept. 5.

Hardy and the NFL Players Association appealed the suspension under the basis that he was punished under the new personal conduct policy rather than the old one which was in place when the alleged violation occurred.