Charlotte Jones Anderson, the daughter of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the team’s Executive Vice President/Chief Brand Officer, is defending the signing of Greg Hardy, who missed all but one game of last season after a domestic violence accusation.
Anderson, who serves on the Conduct Committee that the NFL started in response to the domestic violence issues that plagued the league, told the Dallas Morning News that the Cowboys are doing the right thing by giving Hardy a second chance.
“A lot of people say this is awful, but they don’t know what to do,’’ Anderson said. “That’s why this is such an incredible opportunity. That’s why I’m not afraid of this move. I’m a mom. I’ve got a daughter, I’ve got two sons. This is a serious issue for me, personally. I want my kids to know that domestic violence is not acceptable. But I also want them to know that if they make a mistake, no matter what the issue is, I’m not just going to throw them out. I’ve got to help them come back and make a better choice. This is an opportunity to really make a significant impact. This is very powerful and it’s very important, and important for me personally. I think you will look back and you will say this is the right move for the Cowboys.’’
For the Cowboys on the field, there’s little doubt that adding a great pass rusher like Hardy will turn out to be a good move. For now, the Cowboys are insisting publicly that they’re doing the right thing off the field as well. But the Cowboys are taking a public relations hit that could turn into a disaster if Hardy finds himself on the wrong side of the law again.