NFL star Greg Hardy tells ESPN he is innocent of domestic abuse because he was raised in the Bible Belt, and domestic abuse is “nonexistent in most southern homes.”

Former Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy sat down with Adam Schefter for an interview that aired Monday and Tuesday on ESPN during which Hardy repeatedly told Schefter he is an “innocent man.”

In the interview Hardy denied assaulting his former girlfriend Nicole Holder in 2014. Last November, Deadspin.com released photo evidence of Holder that were taken within a day of when she said Hardy attacked her in 2014. The photos were reviewed by the NFL during its investigation of the incident, and contributed to the 10-game suspension the league levied against Hardy in April 2015.

Despite Hardy’s claims of being innocent, the evidence indicates Hardy threw Holder against a bathroom wall, threw her on a bed covered with assault rifles, choked her and threatened her life during an altercation at his apartment.

Hardy was convicted on charges of domestic violence in 2014 in a bench trial by judge. He appealed, seeking a jury trial, but the case was thrown out in February 2015 when Holder stopped cooperating with authorities.

During the recent ESPN interview, Schefter pointed out to Hardy that pictures of Holder following the incident showed her with multiple bruises all over her body. Hardy denied he put his hands on Holder.

Here’s an excerpt from the ESPN interview:

Hardy: “I’ve never put my hand on ANY women … In my whole entire life, No Sir. That’s just not how we’re raised. As you can tell, like I said again, it’s the Bible belt. It’s just something that’s, I wouldn’t even say frowned upon, just something that’s nonexistent in most southern homes.” Schefter: “You say you did nothing wrong, you’re innocent and yet the pictures of her that surfaced would seem to suggest a woman who had some type of physical contact. How do you explain that?” Hardy: “I will stop you there and say that I didn’t say that I didn’t do anything wrong. That situation occurred and that situation was handled but … saying that I did nothing wrong is a stretch but saying I am innocent is correct. Yes sir.” Schefter: “Did you ever put your hands on her?” Hardy: “No Sir … No Sir.”

To be blunt: Hardy is not convincing. His self-serving and unbelievable remarks do little to help his case, and only confirm the fact that he is a guilty man in denial.

ESPN reporter and host Michelle Beadle questioned her employer for giving Hardy a platform to proclaim his innocence. Appearing on her show, SportsNation, Beadle said:

I feel dirty in that this guy has no job right now, and for some reason we’ve decided as a network that we’re going to give him the stage for his redemption tour as he basically goes out and tries to find some employment. I don’t understand why we’re doing that.

Beadle continued:

If he wants to figure out a way to get his message out there — which, by the way, he hasn’t said he did anything wrong, so how is a man supposed to convince anybody he’s changed and yet not admit to actually doing anything? I have no idea. But why we’re giving him the forum to go out there and tell anybody that is where I’m a little bit confused.

Beadle also tweeted the following about the interview:

For the love of f&$@. Dude doesn’t admit to wrongdoing. Dude has changed? I give the hell up. — Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) April 5, 2016

For the love of f&$@. Dude doesn’t admit to wrongdoing. Dude has changed? I give the hell up.

Greg Hardy is currently a free agent, and looking for a job in the NFL. His recent interview with ESPN is a transparent attempt to clean up his image, and make him more palatable to NFL teams looking for talent.

Bottom line: Hardy is not only a domestic abuser, he is also an idiot. To claim he is incapable of domestic abuse because he was raised in the Bible Belt is an insult to the intelligence, and is indicative of a profound moral and intellectual deficit.