Report: Greg Hardy's tardiness means waning support in Dallas

So apparently there is something the Dallas Cowboys' Greg Hardy can do that will affect his support in the organization: show up late. Repeatedly.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, support for Hardy is "waning" after arriving late a few times in recent weeks. Citing three team sources, Rapoport reports Hardy missed several team meetings two weeks ago and was almost late to practice the same day; Hardy also was late to a pregame meeting in Tampa last week, the night before the Cowboys' loss to the Buccaneers.

Hardy has consistently received support from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones this season, first when Dallas was one of three teams who showed interest in signing him after his 2014 domestic violence incident, then backing him after Hardy's tone-deaf news conference when he was reinstated from suspension ("I hope his guns are ablazin'," Jones said in his defense), his sideline tantrum and confrontation with special teams coach Rich Bisaccia in the waning moments of last month's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles (Jones called him "one of the real leaders of this team" after that), to Hardy briefly changing his Twitter bio earlier this month to paint himself as a victim.

It shouldn't be surprising that repeated tardiness might get Hardy in hot water – NFL teams have a long history of overlooking off-field problems as long as a player is performing. Being late shows that Hardy isn't dedicated to the team, a slap in the face for an organization that has stood by him throughout his many self-made storms in recent months.

Rapoport indicated that Dallas, which heads into Sunday's game with a seven-game losing streak, released running back Christine Michael and defensive back Corey White this past week after they were not in dress code for the trip to Tampa; they were the only players who did not wear suits.

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