Panthers' Ron Rivera doesn't hide in explaining his decision to sit Greg Hardy amid public pressure

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It was uncomfortable. It was raw. It was emotional.

Most of all, it was necessary.

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera came to the lectern after his team's 24-7 victory on Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Lions, and he immediately got a question about a player who has become far more discussed and scrutinized than any other athlete in this state. Greg Hardy, found guilty of domestic violence by a judge this summer, was deactivated after an onslaught of public fury, and the coach knew that's what media wanted him to discuss.

He knew he could no longer throw out empty words about the legal process, about waiting and seeing. He had said as late as Friday that Hardy would play, and then suddenly on Sunday, Hardy wasn't playing.

Rivera held up an index finger in admonishment.

"We played a great football game," he said sternly. "Make sure you understand, we played a football game today."

Then, finally, he placed his hands on the lectern, looked down, took a breath, and spoke about Hardy.

"I made the decision," Rivera said. "It was my decision. I did it because it was in the best interests of the Carolina Panthers."

It was indeed in the best interests of the Panthers. Hardy's situation had become bigger than the game, the team, the franchise, and even the sport. That's a good outcome because domestic violence is bigger than all those other things. Rivera made an emphatic point to discuss football before off-field issues on Sunday, but this entire week in the NFL was welcome proof that football should not come before a societal crisis.

Yes, the public pressure made this happen. That's also a good thing. The stadium Rivera coaches in was paid for in part by the public, and the NFL prides itself on being a beacon for young and old people, men and women, all over the world. That's not a sometimes deal. Being active in the community goes way beyond Play60 commercials. It was irresponsible for well-paid public figures to look the other way.

"They made the right decision," said Joe Marinello, a longtime fan of the Panthers and the founder of Men Stopping Violence here in town. Marinello's daughter was a victim of domestic assault, and the ex-cop has worked for years on trying to raise awareness about the issue. He has worked in prisons and community centers with violent offenders. The Panthers were always his reward at the end of the workweek. Then his two passions came together in conflict. Marinello hoped his team would sit Hardy, and it did.

"This has been an issue that men have been hiding in the shadows," Marinello said. "It's never going to be resolved until men step up and take responsibility for their behavior."

Rivera told his team Sunday morning that Hardy wouldn't be playing, saying he made the decision that morning.

"Everyone was a little thrown off," Panthers defensive end Wes Horton said.

Rivera also told reporters that Hardy would play again this season, and so a reporter asked defensive end Charles Johnson if he was in favor of that.

"Of course," Johnson said. "Why would you ask that question? He's a teammate."

These kinds of questions have to be asked, and they would have been asked continually if the Panthers didn't make this call. Now that Hardy has sat out for one game, he should be able to return to play without the amount of venom the franchise has faced. Some want Hardy banned from the team, but the more reasonable choice was always a punishment that indicates awareness and respect for victims who don't get protected by powerful people.

"I get it," Rivera said. "Our football players get it."

Now perhaps Hardy can get the support he needs without remaining a national cause. That's another potentially positive outcome from a tense week.

"It's a very difficult time for a young man," Rivera said. "We're not infallible. We make mistakes. This is a young man going through difficult times. Don't forget that."

It would have been nice if Rivera mentioned the young woman who is going through difficult times, but his point stands. The coach's decision helps Hardy's difficult times become easier. If Hardy was deactivated sooner, like Adrian Peterson was by the Minnesota Vikings, the public pressure would have been far less.

But this is certainly better for everyone involved than another week of criticism.

There isn't anyone in the Panthers locker room who understands this kind of situation better than Jason Avant. The wide receiver had the locker next to Michael Vick when the former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback returned from prison after being convicted of participating in a dog-fighting ring. Avant was hugely supportive of Vick, and he is prepared to support Hardy.

"I've seen it with Mike Vick, I've seen it all the time," Avant said. "We want to put it all on one person. We do it because it makes us feel better."

That kind of demonizing is unfortunate, but in this case it was assisted by a league's willful ignorance. Now the ignorance has been lessened. And the legal process that was once used as a shield from accountability becomes a valid reason again.

"You definitely understand the outcry," Avant said. "You do understand it. But the only way to get past that is to forgive that person. To release, you have to go ahead and forgive."

In Rivera's defiant voice, as well as in owner Jerry Richardson's quivering voice when he shed tears over this issue last week, there is now clarity about one crucial thing: this is not about winning football games.

"This is a very serious situation," Rivera said. "Hopefully we get it right. We really have to get this right."

Sunday brought a first step toward that.