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          NFL Nation

          Hardy's Kraken face paint a violation

          • David Newton, ESPN Staff WriterSep 4, 2014, 07:22 PM ET
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              David Newton is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Carolina Panthers. Newton began covering Carolina in 1995 and came to ESPN in 2006 as a NASCAR reporter before joining NFL Nation in 2013. You can follow Newton on Twitter at @DNewtonespn.
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          CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- "The Kraken" has been outlawed, at least in terms of face paint.

          According to a photograph on a bulletin board in the middle of the Carolina Panthers' locker room on Thursday, the black face paint that Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy uses on game day to transform into his on-field persona is a violation of the uniform code.

          Team officials confirmed the face paint used as Hardy does was included in other code violations sent in a memo by the league office. Team officials were unaware what the fine would be for such a violation. A spokesman from the league office said the rule is not new, but didn't say what fines would accompany it and could not say whether Hardy has been fined for the violation in the past.

          Last season, quarterback Cam Newton was fined $10,000 because the clips that affix the visor to his helmet had an Under Armour logo. Hardy was fined $5,000 for wearing gold cleats in a game. Detroit safety Louis Delmas was fined $5,250 for wearing the wrong colored socks.

          It's well documented that Hardy spends time before games painting his face and adding black contact lenses to create "The Kraken," a mythical sea monster.

          Before a Sunday night game at New Orleans he introduced himself as "The Kraken" from Hogwarts.

          Hardy led Carolina in sacks last season with 15. He was given the franchise tag, guaranteeing him $13.1 million this season, so if he wants to keep the face paint, he has the money to pay for it.