James Hardy III was tragically found dead on Tuesday near Fort Wayne, Indiana and the NFL world continues to grieve its loss. Now, however, additional details have surfaced that are even more troubling with regard to his unfortunate passing.
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Kayla Crandall of Fort Wayne's NBC affiliate brings word that Hardy's body was "trapped" in a dam near a water plant and, as a result, police believe that his body had "been in the water for seven to 10 days" before being discovered. That is a graphic and brutal picture. Hardy, who last played in the NFL in 2011, was just 31 years old.
The Buffalo Bills, who drafted the former Indiana Hoosiers standout with a second round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, issued an official statement after hearing of the passing of their former player.
"We are saddened to learn of the passing of James Hardy today. We send our condolences to the Hardy family as they deal with this tragic loss."
It remains to be seen as to what the official cause of death will be, as it is unknown and unannounced at this time. While Hardy was not a household name for most casual NFL fans, he was a tremendous player while at Indiana and he spent time with both the Bills and Baltimore Ravens during the course of his professional career.
Our prayers and thoughts continue to be with his family and loved ones in what has to be a very difficult time.
