Dwan Edwards on Panthers parting ways with Greg Hardy: 'It's bigger than football'

Dwan Edwards knows what Greg Hardy can bring to a team defensively, but he also agrees with the Carolina Panthers' decision not to bring back the embattled defensive end.

Edwards believes Panthers owner Jerry Richardson did the right thing by severing ties with Hardy in the wake of his domestic violence case, he said in an interview with Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.

"That's never a good topic to talk about when you talk about domestic violence and what happened. It's tough," Edwards said. "It seems like we as players and coaches and maybe even Carolina Panthers fans were the only ones that were punished.

"He obviously still got paid, and now they're still saying he hasn't been punished. It's a weird deal. But I understand Mr. Richardson and his feelings on that. I have a wife and two daughters as well, and you just can't have that associated with your brand."

Hardy earned $13.1 million last season for appearing in one game. He remains on the commissioner's exempt list while the NFL decides whether to suspend him for violating the league's personal conduct policy, but is reportedly attracting interest from several teams. 

The 26-year-old was convicted in July of charges of misdemeanor assault and communicating threats stemming from an altercation with his former girlfriend. He appealed the decision and had both charges dismissed Feb. 9 after prosecutors said they were unable to locate his accuser to testify.

"It's bigger than football sometimes, bigger than wins and losses. I get that," Edwards said. "I love Greg, and the time he was here, I think I helped Greg a lot. Just to see him improve was very (rewarding) to me and seeing him get paid. I'm very sorry the way stuff worked out."