AP

Maybe this is the mystery team.

While most of the NFL is backing slowly away from free agent defensive end Greg Hardy, there seems to be someone speeding up.

According to Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, the Cowboys are negotiating with Hardy’s agent.

Now, that’s a long way from “deal is close” or any such, but it is interesting that they’re the first ones to give any indication they’d welcome the former Panther, who missed most of last year on the commissioner’s exempt list because of domestic violence charges which were eventually thrown out.

He fits an obvious on-field need for the Cowboys, as he had 15.0 sacks the last time he played a full season.

But the specter of league punishment and his track record has given many teams pause, which is the only reason he’s still on the free agent market.