The NFL reduced the suspension of Dallas Cowboys' Greg Hardy into four, as reported by ESPN. The league originally suspended the 26-year-old defensive end in April for ten games as punishment for "multiple violations" of its personal conduct policy.

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The root of the charges was Hardy's former girlfriend, Nicole Holder, whom he allegedly assaulted and death threatened in this same month of last year.

Hardy was still with the Carolina Panthers at the time he was found guilty by a judge. But the case was soon dismissed as Holder refused to accommodate authorities working on it following an alleged settlement from the former Mississippi standout.

The NFL Players Association and Hardy filed an appeal to lessen the penalty as the one employed by league commissioner Roger Goodell did not exist yet during the time the Millington native committed his offense.

Arbitrator Harold Henderson decided on the reduced sanction, saying in an official statement that "the Commissioner acted within his authority and properly exercised his discretion" but "ten 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."

The Dallas Morning News said that Hardy's agents previously announced that they will fight any ruling that would suspend their client for more than two games. As of the moment, there are no indications whether the defensive lineman or his team would again appeal the reduced suspension.

Two games was the standard suspension applied to NFL players breaking the league's personal conduct policy when Hardy did his misdemeanor, which is why his camp was fighting for the ruling to be decreased.

It was now down to four and Hardy is reportedly undecided to continue with a re-appeal or just accept the verdict.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post indicated that the NFL is simply "toughening its penalties" for players implicated in domestic violence indictments. Hardy was fortunate that his case happened before the amended rules were formalized, which possesses penalties that are evidently harsher than before.

The NFLPA had always opposed the revised policy as the organization deemed it too severe and all-encompassing. The union wanted an independent arbitration for each legal action filed.

TagsNFL, NFL 2015, NFL news, NFL News 2015, NFL rumors, NFL Rumors 2015, Greg Hardy, Dallas Cowboys