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Panthers’ Charles Johnson: Greg Hardy shouldn’t do interviews

Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson has some advice for his former teammate Greg Hardy. 
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Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson has some advice for his former teammate Greg Hardy: Don’t do interviews.

Hardy has been roundly criticized since an interview with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, during which Hardy denied past accusations of domestic violence. Hardy was convicted by a judge of assaulting a female and communicating threats in 2014, but the chargers were dropped during an appeal when Hardy’s accuser did not appear for the jury trial.

“He’s a good guy. He just makes bad decisions,” Johnson told ESPN’s David Newton. “I just hope he gets out there and finds a place so he can really prove his talent and show what he’s really all about instead of giving interviews to people about the situation.

“He should just move on and throw that all the way back, move forward and take it day by day. Don’t do interviews.”

• JACOBS: Hardy’s interview on ESPN does nothing to help his reputation

Speaking with Schefter, Hardy said he never put his hands on any woman in his life, despite police photos published by Deadspin showing Hardy’s ex-girlfriend bruised and injured. 

“That’s my friend. I ain’t got no other choice but to believe him,” Johnson told Newton. “Whatever he’s telling me, I’m going to believe that because I’ve got no other choice. But at the same time, you was involved in the incident. So you have to man up to all the situations that you was involved in.”

Hardy played in 12 games for the Cowboys last season. He is currently a free agent.

[ESPN]