NFL Notes: Greg Hardy, Aldon Smith, Colts, Steelers, & Titans

Greg Hardy

• Peter King guesses that Cowboys DE Greg Hardy will end up receiving a 6-8 game suspension once his appeal is ruled on by Harold Henderson.

Aldon Smith

• Field Yates points out that 49ers OLB Aldon Smith receives a $200,000 roster bonus today as part of his restructured contract from earlier this offseason.

Colts

Colts long-time OLB Robert Mathis reiterated that he plans to be back from his Achilles injury by the start of the regular season.

“I said it. I meant it. I’ll be back by September,” Mathis said, via George Bremer of the Anderson Herald Bulletin.

Steelers

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN offers three reasons why Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell could have his suspension reduced.

1. The first being that Bell has been contrite about the incident that led to the suspension in the first place.
2. According to Fowler, there’s a precedence for appeals being reduced.
3. The NFL could take into account Bell’s legal timing as a factor as he was admitted into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for first-time offenders.

Titans

Titans HC Ken Whisenhunt made it clear that WR Justin Hunter is entering a make-or-break season.

“At some point, you either get it or you won’t be in this league anymore,”  Whisenhunt said, via the Tennessean. “That’s the natural order of the NFL.”

Even Hunter himself mentioned that he’s really got to step things up in year three.

“I’ve got to get it going,” Hunter said. “Going into my third year, I’ve got to improve. I can’t falter in any part of my game.”