Jason Witten knows firsthand the ramifications of domestic violence. The Dallas Cowboys tight end has dedicated himself to helping families affected by domestic violence and counseling against it with his SCORE Foundation.
Witten's personal experience and campaign against domestic violence make his voice an authority on the Cowboys' signing of free-agent Greg Hardy, who missed 15 games last season due to a domestic violence issue and is currently appealing a 10-game suspension.
"I think more than anything I think everybody knows (I'm against) domestic violence," Witten said Sunday at his football camp at Liberty Christian, via ESPN.com.
"That's unwavering. That's something that I lived, my family lived. But that guy is a teammate of mine, so I think you have to look at it from that standpoint. As coach (Jason) Garrett says, it's our job to invite those guys in and create a standard of how we do things. I think he's done a great job since he's been here. It's not my job to decide who comes in. I'm a tight end. But I've been really pleased how he's approached it and how he goes to work and what kind of teammate he's been. The day he got suspended, the next day he's in there working out, so I think that's kind of the mentality he has, what kind of work ethic (he has) and what he's trying to prove in Dallas."
Witten joined the chorus of Cowboys coaches, front office and fellow players who have commended Hardy's work ethic since joining the team.
"I think when you add the guy like that and then he gets suspended and you never know how it's going to come out," Witten said. "The guy works his tail off. Our job is to welcome him and show him the way we do things and embrace him as a teammate, and he's done everything that you want. He's a hard worker. Obviously he's a talented player. I think he's learned a lot from what he's gone through in the last year. He's had a good offseason."
