Despite domestic abuse allegations, the Dallas Cowboys defend their deal with defensive lineman Greg Hardy.

After the outrage that resulted from signing Hardy, the Cowboys stand their ground and defend their decision despite his league suspension over domestic-violence allegations.

Like Us on Facebook

Hardy was convicted on domestic violence charges on July 2014. The charge came when he threw his past girlfriend Nicole Holder into a bathroom, onto a table filled with semiautomatic weapons, and then threatened to kill her.

September of the same year saw Hardy placed on the commissioner's exemption list, suspending him from play. His lawyers appealed the decision.

On February, the charges against Hardy were dropped when Holder failed to show up for the hearing. ESPN reported that the two parties were able to reach a civil settlement.

The following month, Hardy entered free agency but no team immediately jumped at getting him.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers expressed interest in signing Hardy early this year. However, even with the support of defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, the Buccaneers turned him down saying he was not worth the trouble.

Enter the Cowboys, who swooped in to sign Hardy to a one-year deal worth more than $13 million after he was thoroughly investigated.

"Our organization understands the very serious nature of domestic violence in our society and in our league," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "We know that Greg has a firm understanding of those issues as well."

The decision to sign Hardy did not sit well with critics.

Dale Hansen, a sports anchor at ABC News affiliate WFAA-TV, questioned the Cowboys' decision.

Hansen asked whether there is any line that the Cowboys would not cross, or any crime that they wouldn't accept?

"Now you can beat a woman and play with a star on your helmet."

When the Cowboys announced the deal, people gathered in Dallas for a Crimes Against Women conference.

For Jan Langbein of the Genesis Women's Shelter, she fears the Hardy joining the Cowboys is a step backwards.

TagsDallas Cowboys, Greg Hardy, Defend