Bills "mortified"

[Billadelphia]

Please. His son was inadvertently hit, and barely touched at that. And his father didn't have any signs of injury, which is why the police dropped the case (not to mention the unreliability of the "witness" and no one else willing to give testimony). I guess some would call brandishing a weapon "violent," but I certainly wouldn't, and given dad's history, he probably wouldn't either.

 

And as for the incident with the girlfriend, she was described as having red marks on the side and back of her neck. That sounds like he grabbed her. While that's violent in nature, it's not exactly hauling-off an punching her. And it happened 2 years ago. You'd figure that if he couldn't help himself, he'd have "hit" her again sometime within the past 2 years.

 

True Hardy has some issues to work out. But to start a "countdown to arrest" is premature.

 

Exactly. Everyone needs to give the guy some time and a chance to prove himself in the NFL before we run him out of town.

 

Using a story that happened 2 years ago with another one where no charges were even pressed is a little premature. Granted, if he did do what both reports say he did, then he has to work some stuff out in his life, but I don't think that anyone here can honestly say that they came from a situation like his. He has some growing to do in the next couple years, and that will include leaving what happened in the past, in the past. I think that the first few years in the NFL will be crucial to his development as a person and I think that being in Buffalo is a very good thing for him if he makes the most of it. He's got a team around him with alot of young players who can help him with this and start a new, brighter chapter in his life. He just needs to leave the crap behind him.

[obie_wan]

Exactly. Everyone needs to give the guy some time and a chance to prove himself in the NFL before we run him out of town.

 

Using a story that happened 2 years ago with another one where no charges were even pressed is a little premature. Granted, if he did do what both reports say he did, then he has to work some stuff out in his life, but I don't think that anyone here can honestly say that they came from a situation like his. He has some growing to do in the next couple years, and that will include leaving what happened in the past, in the past. I think that the first few years in the NFL will be crucial to his development as a person and I think that being in Buffalo is a very good thing for him if he makes the most of it. He's got a team around him with alot of young players who can help him with this and start a new, brighter chapter in his life. He just needs to leave the crap behind him.

 

 

absolutely

 

he needs to leave a trail of dead and injured before he can be run out of town.

 

Anything less than that is simply a "misunderstanding"

 

--(just pray that those you aren't related to the dead or injured or your opinion might change)

[Sketch Soland]

absolutely

 

he needs to leave a trail of dead and injured before he can be run out of town.

 

Anything less than that is simply a "misunderstanding"

 

--(just pray that those you aren't related to the dead or injured or your opinion might change)

 

you are braindead i think

[Steely Dan]

Here are some quotes from an article written on 8/2/07 in the HeraldTimesOnline. I would post a link but you need to register. The title of the article is "Fatherly Advice Helped Hardy".

 

 

Here is a blurb of Hardy describing his childhood:

 

Two choices

 

James Hardy Jr. was smart.

“He was always on the honor roll,” says James Hardy III, the 6-foot-7, 220-pound receiver for Indiana. “I still call him just to ask him questions about anything. He’s a smart man.”

But when Hardy Jr. sought a way to support his young family in Fort Wayne, he saw one way that could work quickly. He sold drugs.

And of course you’ve heard this story too many times, the one about the inner city and the poverty and the decrepit commercialism of survival that rules there. You’re numb to it by now. Hardy is, too. In a different way. He shrugs his broad shoulders.

“It’s everything,” he says. “It’s the only thing.”

Then: “It’s almost like you do or don’t. You go to this side or that.”

Finally, wearily: “All of my friends are either dead or in jail.”

 

Hardy moved out of his mother’s home when he was 13 years old. By then his father had been in jail for eight years.

He stayed with relatives — a grandparent for a month, an uncle who had just been released from jail for a while — but otherwise provided for himself.

“I’d ride my bike through the snow to the grocery store and then go home and cook,” he says. “And then it was just me in the living room with my air mattress and my little TV.”

That’s why Hardy never wanted to go home and why he rarely did. He stayed out on the basketball court as long as he could.

James Hardy III becoming a Division I athlete is not the American Dream fulfilled; it is what happens when this country loses another young man and he finds, almost entirely on his own, the right side.

“I was almost there,” Hardy says. “The streets, that life, it was all I knew. What else was I supposed to look at?”

 

 

 

 

Then this is what Hardy says about the father/son relationship last summer:

 

“I wish I could see my son more,” Hardy says. “But I know that I’m doing something to make it better later. Daddy’s busy.”

Hardy’s own father never misses a chance to be with his son and grandson. Most of the angst that James Hardy III felt is gone.

“I blamed him for a long time,” he says. “But he tried to make it work for his family and he took the wrong route. He should have gone another way.

“But we use each other, now. He gives me wisdom. He had 10 years to think about everything. And I show him what I’ve learned about life and the way I’m trying to make it work."

 

 

 

I know intelligent, hard working, God fearing, good intented, talented people that can't turn around their lives with a story like Hardy's. I am far from convinced Hardy has any of those traits. It's easy for someone on an internet board to dismiss another and pass judgement, but if I looked at Hardy's credentials for him to fill any job, I would say PASS. I'll leave it at that.

 

That sounds good and does seem to be better than I thought but he still pulled a gun on his father. I can't think of any reason to do that other than irrational anger at him.

 

 

When I say talented, I don't mean "6 foot 7 inches" talented. I mean a guy who can compose a full orchestral suite in 3 hours, yet dies of a drug overdose at 35. A guy who can write a top selling novel, yet has determined since the last 2 generations of men before him killed themselves, he would kill himself. Stuff like that.

 

Deep down, when you read Hardy's quotes and look at his actions, he looks to be saddled with some combo of stupidity and/or mental illness that is writing the script for him. Thug life is the only thing he knows, and in a sad sort of way is a comfort and a fallback it looks like. Usually when a person has to keep talking about how their life is turned around, they really have doubts and are just trying to self-enforce the idea so they can believe it.

 

Maybe the guy has a successful life and a successful career. I wouldn't bet my Preakness dollars on it.

 

I'm willing to wait it out. He may not have any problems but I still think there will be some kind of incident this year. Not a killing but possibly a bar altercation. I hope I'm wrong and have egg on my face for this.

[VOR]

That sounds good and does seem to be better than I thought but he still pulled a gun on his father. I can't think of any reason to do that other than irrational anger at him.

"Irrational anger?" I think his anger is very rational, being the product of an embarrassment of a father who was never there because he was locked-up and/or high and/or on the lam. If he were "irrational," he would have bust a cap in dad's behind, or at the least hit him. But no matter which way you look at it, it's sad.

[Steely Dan]

"Irrational anger?" I think his anger is very rational, being the product of an embarrassment of a father who was never there because he was locked-up and/or high and/or on the lam. If he were "irrational," he would have bust a cap in dad's behind, or at the least hit him. But no matter which way you look at it, it's sad.

 

IMO, nobody who's rational pulls a gun on their father without good reason, like he's trying to kill you. We don't know what really happened but from the outside it looks irrational due to the fact there are so few reason's it could be considered rational.

[VOR]

IMO, nobody who's rational pulls a gun on their father without good reason, like he's trying to kill you. We don't know what really happened but from the outside it looks irrational due to the fact there are so few reason's it could be considered rational.

I'd say that as a deterrent to further escalation, pulling out your weapon is a very rational response. I highly doubt that dad said "Hi son!" and junior whipped out his piece.

[Steely Dan]

Umm, Dan, where in this "blog" article does it say James Hardy (the football player) was spoken to by the police?

 

That probably wasn't the best passage to cite but I believe it mentions in the story that charges were dropped by both parties. If that's true then they would have had to talk to him.

 

DwightDrane, look at this; Linkage

 

The police report said Hardy's father acknowledged that he and his son did have an argument and that his son is frequently angry with him for not being around when he was a boy. The elder Hardy was in prison when his son was a boy.

[Lori]

You pulled the most misleading sentence out of that article and made it the topic of your thread...

 

The full sentence reads: "But that’s not to say the Bills aren’t “mortified” about the allegation"

 

It does not say anyone within the Bills said they were mortified by the allegation, the *author* of the story is saying the Bills are mortified. He just puts misleading quotes around the word "mortified".

 

Embarrassed? Yes. Mortified? I doubt it.

 

Interesting too that the "insider" said "THEY sure have buyers remorse" rather than "WE sure have buyers remorse". Heck, I'm not even a team insider and I would say we...

Sorry, Heitz, but for that word to be printed in quotes, it's because someone is being quoted. In this case, it's the supposed team insider, not the author. As for "they" instead of "we," it's a safe bet the insider is a member of the local media. Whether or not that fits your definition of what an insider SHOULD be, you'll have to decide.

[Lurker]

it's a safe bet the insider is a member of the local media.

Agreed.

[ax4782]

absolutely

 

he needs to leave a trail of dead and injured before he can be run out of town.

 

Anything less than that is simply a "misunderstanding"

 

--(just pray that those you aren't related to the dead or injured or your opinion might change)

 

You are clearly unacquainted with the criminal justice system and the individuals who move through it every day to suggest that an incident, on which we have no understanding of the true factual basis, such as this means a person is going to leave "a trail of dead and injured." You clearly have never met a person who has killed someone. Brandishing a firearm, if it actually happened is a 93 day maximum misdemeanor. It's a long way from a misdemeanor to a person being shot or killed. I may work have worked in a prosecutor's office, but I'm willing to say that if the cops weren't even interested in writing up a report, the incident is of little consequence. I think before you start defaming someone's character and start suggesting that they are a murdering thug, you should consider the statements you are making, and try and substantiate them with some facts. If the police and prosecutor in the county where Hardy lives don't think there is enough of a case to move forward, odds are, there wasn't much of a problem. Hardy was dealing with a guy who had basically abandoned him for his whole life who has now shown up and now wants to collect on the money that his son is about to make. I can't say that I blame Hardy for being upset with his father.

 

If Hardy pulled out a firearm, it was wrong, but at the same time, he is a far cry from Pacman Jones and trying to shoot people dead in the street in front of night club, or throwing 8,000 dollars on the stage and blowing his fortune on useless vices. Let's give the kid a chance before we start pre-judging people. That is particularly true when you and everyone else are completely in the dark about what actually happened. The only people who were there and making the reports have a darker and shadier past than Hardy. Take what they are saying with a grain of salt.

[Dwight Drane]

That probably wasn't the best passage to cite but I believe it mentions in the story that charges were dropped by both parties. If that's true then they would have had to talk to him.

 

DwightDrane, look at this; Linkage

 

The police report said Hardy's father acknowledged that he and his son did have an argument and that his son is frequently angry with him for not being around when he was a boy. The elder Hardy was in prison when his son was a boy.

 

 

I know that was what his dad said, that's why I pulled up the article from a year ago when James III said it was pretty much in the past and he asks him for advice now and tries to show how good he can be. The kid might have a right to get angry, but the gun is BS. This type of behavior that is being sold to the public as a "misunderstanding", is the type of stuff alcoholics and people with mental illness not under control pull.

 

Now how fast is the Hardy lovefest going to turn on him when the Bills lowball him on his contract and the guy holds out? If it was me, I'd be on the phone trying to get a 3rd next year for the guy and then wait for training camp cuts to pick up a red zone receiver. That would be admitting a mistake, but I liken it to buying a $10 stock that could go to $40, but 3 weeks later it is at $5 and there are rumors about shady accounting. If I don't have 95% faith in that company....I'm selling.

[Dwight Drane]

You're a betting guy. Wanna bet $1000.00 on that? I say no shooting before January.

 

I am willing to bet that the guy cracks under pressure by January...probably by August. I do not know if it will manifest itself in a shooting, but I wouldn't rule out things like a Mike Williams training camp AWOL, a suspension, a suicide, jail, customs problems, etc. I want a little more subjectivity, although that is what we are really talking about right now.

 

On the other end of things...maybe sprinkle in a few missed practices because "his alarm didn't go off", maybe a missed team flight....heck, maybe Donte Whitner will pull a Troy Vincent and welcome this guy to Buffalo with an IR stint.

 

If this guy goes on to be a productive NFL wide receiver, I'll choke. I once made a bet like this with a Dolphins fan about TE Johnnie Mitchell. He was excited when the Fins signed him and I said he wouldn't even make the opening day roster. We bet, and he didn't make it to training camp before wigging out. This is what this reminds me of, but even more sinister. Like I said, Hardy might not be a true bad guy, but the car is out of allignment, and I don't want to ride in it.

 

I won't bet straight on the gun, but if we pool all the other goodies together I am willing to bet we get multiple instances. I wish the guy well...I want the team to do well...but this guy is going to be in the local press as often as OJ is for stupid stuff.

[Ramius]

I am willing to bet that the guy cracks under pressure by January...probably by August. I do not know if it will manifest itself in a shooting, but I wouldn't rule out things like a Mike Williams training camp AWOL, a suspension, a suicide, jail, customs problems, etc. I want a little more subjectivity, although that is what we are really talking about right now.

 

On the other end of things...maybe sprinkle in a few missed practices because "his alarm didn't go off", maybe a missed team flight....heck, maybe Donte Whitner will pull a Troy Vincent and welcome this guy to Buffalo with an IR stint.

 

If this guy goes on to be a productive NFL wide receiver, I'll choke. I once made a bet like this with a Dolphins fan about TE Johnnie Mitchell. He was excited when the Fins signed him and I said he wouldn't even make the opening day roster. We bet, and he didn't make it to training camp before wigging out. This is what this reminds me of, but even more sinister. Like I said, Hardy might not be a true bad guy, but the car is out of allignment, and I don't want to ride in it.

 

I won't bet straight on the gun, but if we pool all the other goodies together I am willing to bet we get multiple instances. I wish the guy well...I want the team to do well...but this guy is going to be in the local press as often as OJ is for stupid stuff.

 

Based off of your condescending, arrogant, and self-righteous posts, I'd wager that you are going to crack and end up behind bars long before Hardy does.

[obie_wan]

You are clearly unacquainted with the criminal justice system and the individuals who move through it every day to suggest that an incident, on which we have no understanding of the true factual basis, such as this means a person is going to leave "a trail of dead and injured." You clearly have never met a person who has killed someone. Brandishing a firearm, if it actually happened is a 93 day maximum misdemeanor. It's a long way from a misdemeanor to a person being shot or killed. I may work have worked in a prosecutor's office, but I'm willing to say that if the cops weren't even interested in writing up a report, the incident is of little consequence. I think before you start defaming someone's character and start suggesting that they are a murdering thug, you should consider the statements you are making, and try and substantiate them with some facts. If the police and prosecutor in the county where Hardy lives don't think there is enough of a case to move forward, odds are, there wasn't much of a problem. Hardy was dealing with a guy who had basically abandoned him for his whole life who has now shown up and now wants to collect on the money that his son is about to make. I can't say that I blame Hardy for being upset with his father.

 

If Hardy pulled out a firearm, it was wrong, but at the same time, he is a far cry from Pacman Jones and trying to shoot people dead in the street in front of night club, or throwing 8,000 dollars on the stage and blowing his fortune on useless vices. Let's give the kid a chance before we start pre-judging people. That is particularly true when you and everyone else are completely in the dark about what actually happened. The only people who were there and making the reports have a darker and shadier past than Hardy. Take what they are saying with a grain of salt.

 

 

You guys take homerism to a new level.

 

With his history of unstable, if not violent reactions to stressful situations, it is only a matter of time before that gun he is waving around, goes off and wounds or kills innocent bystanders.

 

But as long as he is a Bill, we should turn a blind eye to this behavior and create endless excuses.

[VOR]

You guys take homerism to a new level.

 

With his history of unstable, if not violent reactions to stressful situations, it is only a matter of time before that gun he is waving around, goes off and wounds or kills innocent bystanders.

 

But as long as he is a Bill, we should turn a blind eye to this behavior and create endless excuses.

You're right. Let's execute him now.

[Dwight Drane]

Based off of your condescending, arrogant, and self-righteous posts, I'd wager that you are going to crack and end up behind bars long before Hardy does.

 

At least I go out on a limb and open myself up to get shredded if I am wrong. "Oh Boo Hoo....Poor James didn't get daddy love!"

 

We might as well be the Toronto Bills, because the liberal excuse making fanbase sure as hell acts like they're from Toronto as it is.

 

3 Weeks. This guy is on pace for 160 "situational misunderstandings" in his NFL career. As a fan my Spidey Senses weren't confortable with drafting him in the first place, and now I have to look the other way already. Pro sports as a whole has gone done the crapper as it is the last decade, and I would like to hang on to the last little thread of distraction and excitement that the NFL brings me. If we are going to sell our souls for production, then I am going to lose interest in a hurry.

 

I'm throwing the Hammer down on this one because you have a guy assaulting 3 generations of his family. Hargrove got into a fight at a bar. Roscoe had an OE and took a spin. Hardy attacked his common-law wife as she was holding his baby son, then 18 months later pulls a gun on his father. Not to mention the 2 games he was suspended for "unkown reasons" at Indiana. At this time last year, we heard how much Lynch loved his mother and was scouting out bingo halls for her in Buffalo to go along with a house. That's a positive first step.

 

By the way...how's Joe Dorenbos doing these days? If we had the patience with him that we seem to have with Hardy, Joe has a right to set off a suitcase nuke in the middle of Ralph Wilson Stadium.....and we would all deserve it.

[Dwight Drane]

Based off of your condescending, arrogant, and self-righteous posts, I'd wager that you are going to crack and end up behind bars long before Hardy does.

 

I just noticed you're from Tallahassee. No wonder you expect the cops to look away for football players.

[obie_wan]

I just noticed you're from Tallahassee. No wonder you expect the cops to look away for football players.

 

you can't be insinuating that Bobby Bowden let the criminals run wild.?

[Dwight Drane]

you can't be insinuating that Bobby Bowden let the criminals run wild.?

 

Living in Miami I would get all kinds of grief on how FSU ran the show, and on top of that how the police are along for the ride.

 

In all honesty, there is a bunch of stuff these guys do that never makes it to the public because the cops in every city give them a break. In Buffalo alone, there were tons of stories. The best one that I told before was a former Bill in the 80's was brought down to headquarters for being drunk and disorderly and resisting arrest. The guy was yelling at the cops and being a real grouch. Well, the right guy was called in to uncuff the player and he ended up walking out with no mark. As he was going outside, he told the person that showed up to wait a minute, and right in front of 4 other cops, proceeded to urinate all over the hood of a squad car.

 

The gentleman was escorted back into headquarters for a few more hours.