It’s official: Defensive end Greg Hardy is a Dallas Cowboy. But, when will he actually see the field?

A former Carolina Panthers standout, Hardy was a free agent because of alleged domestic violence against his longtime girlfriend. He was found guilty of two misdemeanor charges in a bench trial last July before the verdict was set aside because of an appeal to a jury trial. Now, strictly legally speaking, Hardy is guilty of nothing after charges in the second trial were dismissed in February.

Note that these are not the same usages of “guilt” or “appeal” that one might typically see on Law and Order or other crime dramas. Hardy’s right to appeal was automatic according to North Carolina law and the wrinkle of the bench trial and type of appeal created not a normal appeal process, but a completely new trial (de novo in Latin, meaning new or fresh in English) which does not seek to overturn the earlier ruling, but begins an entirely new trial where one is then innocent until proven guilty.

So, Hardy was found guilty and sentenced, but that guilt and sentence was immediately dissolved in favor for a jury trial which never came to be. Thus, in the law’s eyes, he is not guilty any longer.

Still with me?

Let’s set aside (not forget, just set aside) the horrific nature of what Hardy was accused of doing—hitting a defenseless woman, threatening her life, tossing her body onto a pile of firearms, lying both in a 911 call and then to a judge. I’m not asking any of us to forgive or forget, but let’s just assume that as known fact for the time being.

The question is: What does the NFL do with those facts?

What is the standard of guilt by which the NFL must operate? There are moral, ethical and legal implications to how the NFL handles the Hardy situation just as there were with Ray Rice and Adrian Petersons. Let’s not forget, then, that the NFL botched those previous test cases and have had to mea culpa far more than Commissioner Roger Goodell often likes.

That standard by which the NFL must operate can’t have moving goal posts based on our outrage.

That doesn’t neuter our outrage or make it irrelevant. Nor, in any way, does it seek to excuse what Hardy allegedly did and a judge found him guilty of. We can’t forget the initial bench trial, but the NFL in many ways may have to as they seek to both walk a legal fine line and avoid setting precedents for themselves again in an offseason where that simply hasn’t worked out for them.

Whenever the NFL operates based on optics—even for the noblest of intentions—it messes up time and again.

A fuller and more appropriate conversation of all of these matters must also include all of the various issues victims of domestic violence face. When one takes a look at Hardy’s new-found riches, it’s easy to see why so few victims step forward. It also becomes more realistic as to why his alleged victim chose not to go forward with his trial. This adds an additional layer of impact for a league that is trying to start getting it right when it comes to domestic violence.

WBTV in Charlotte has reported that the NFL has filed suit against the North Carolina Attorney General and Mecklenburg County District Attorney seeking to know more about their case against Hardy. Though, the NFL doesn’t really need much of that, because the trial was covered by numerous reporters who may not have the official report, but certainly could provide clarity with little more than a look at their work.

The NFL needs to get this right—not for the Dallas Cowboys, nor for Greg Hardy, nor for some sort of obscure notion of NFL-brand justice which is a business they shouldn’t even be in. No, the NFL needs to get this right for victims of domestic violence everywhere. That doesn’t mean sending a message one way or another. It doesn’t mean taking the law into their own hands. No, it means worrying far more about reaching the right conclusion rather than simply finding something that looks right.

NFL Disavows Controversial Doctor’s Statements on Concussions

When Joseph Maroon (perfect name) was paraded in front of the American public on NFL Network and told that public that chronic traumatic encephalopathy is both over-exaggerated and rare, it made the NFL look both callous and terrible in response not only to Chris Borland’s retirement but also to just about every moment of the NFL’s recent and not-so-recent history with brain injuries.

Maroon is a consultant for the NFL and a neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent his time in front of a national audience pointing to the NFL’s own (faulty) concussion statistics and comparing the massive assault on the human brain that is football to riding a bike.

Because, apparently logic wasn’t taught at Dr. Maroon’s medical school.

That was Wednesday morning, and the league quickly took the opportunity Wednesday to point out that Maroon does not speak for the league. League V.P. Jeff Miller told Pro Football Talk that “Joe Maroon does not speak for the league,” and while he pointed out Maroon’s expertise on the subject, he also pointed out that his viewpoint is not the sole viewpoint the league has studied on the matter.

Vikings Will Not Release Adrian Peterson

Maybe it’s not a complete shocker, but USA Today’s Tom Pelissero has reported that the Minnesota Vikings informed running back Adrian Peterson’s agent Ben Dogra that the team will not be releasing their superstar rusher. This doesn’t necessarily mean the Vikings won’t continue to explore trades, but the Vikings have been doing their best to reconcile with their best player.

This all comes as a stark reminder of Peterson’s legal issues last season where the league botched his suspension following child abuse charges. Peterson feels that the team did not stand behind him like it should have, and the team just wants its best player back on the field like nothing happened.

This drama is sure to extend not only until a final decision between the Vikings and Peterson, but it will be a subplot of the 2015 season as well. The only question is whether Peterson will be running with that chip on his shoulder in a Vikings jersey or in some other colors.