IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones officially closed the door on the possible return of free-agent defensive end Greg Hardy on Friday.
Because the Cowboys did not address pass-rusher with one of their top three picks and did not make a big-time free-agent investment, Jones was asked if Hardy being a Cowboy in 2016 was off the table.
His answer was simple: "Yes."
It was the first time Jones has publicly put to rest the issue of Hardy coming back to the team. When asked about Hardy throughout the offseason, Jones kept the door open, even if just by a crack. However, the Cowboys did not have any talks about a possible return with Hardy's agent, Drew Rosenhaus.
The Cowboys signed Hardy to a one-year deal that could have paid him $13.1 million in 2015. However, the deal contained no guaranteed money after Hardy missed all but one game in 2014 with the Carolina Panthers because of a domestic violence incident.
Hardy spent 14 games on the commissioner's exempt list but was paid in full for the franchise tag in 2014. He missed the first four games of the season due to a suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. He initially was suspended 10 games but had that reduced on appeal.
The Cowboys were willing to give Hardy a chance but never received the type of production they expected.
He finished the year with six sacks, but he had a full sack in just one of his final eight games. He was late to meetings and practices, which drew the ire of coaches and teammates, but it never led to a lack of playing time.
He ended up earning roughly $8.8 million in 2015 but faces the possibility of not playing for any team in 2016.