The Sports Xchange

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy had his NFL suspension reduced from 10 games to four by an arbitrator.

The NFL announced Friday that arbitrator Harold Henderson upheld Hardy’s suspension for conduct detrimental to the league but reduced the number of games on appeal.

Hardy will be permitted to take part in training camp and preseason games. The suspension will begin Sept. 5.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Hardy in April following a two-month investigation by the league into Hardy’s domestic violence incident last year involving ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder. The charges against Hardy were eventually dismissed after Holder refused to cooperate with the Mecklenburg (North Carolina) County district attorney’s office.

—The NFL Players Association reportedly is investigating what it considers possible collusion by the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos regarding their franchise wide receivers.

Earlier this offseason, the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Dez Bryant and the Broncos tagged Demaryius Thomas. Both teams have been negotiating long-term contracts with their No. 1 receivers and have until Wednesday to strike deals or Bryant and Thomas will have to play the 2015 season under the $12.8 million franchise tenders.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFLPA thinks the Cowboys and Broncos have discussed the contract negotiations, in violation of the collective-bargaining agreement.

—New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who had his right index finger amputated as a result of a Fourth of July fireworks accident, might not sign his tender contract until he recovers.

League sources told ESPN on Friday that Pierre-Paul is unlikely to sign his $14.81 million franchise tender until he is confident he can pass the team’s physical.

If Pierre-Paul signs the tender, the Giants could put him on the non-football injury list at the start of camp. If he is on that list at the start of the season, he has to miss at least the first six games and the Giants could elect not to pay him for those games, according to ESPN. If Pierre-Paul doesn’t sign the tender before camp, he could prevent the team from starting him on the non-football injury list to begin the season.

Pierre-Paul has undergone multiple surgeries, including amputation of his right index finger on Wednesday and having pins inserted into his thumb to stabilize fractures, according to ESPN. A source said doctors have told Pierre-Paul the fractures will require about six weeks of healing. That timetable would not have Pierre-Paul physically capable of returning until the Giants’ second preseason game at the earliest, according to the report.

—Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez, expected to be a backup behind Sam Bradford this season, has invited some members of the team’s offense to San Diego for workouts.

When Sanchez was the starting quarterback for the New York Jets, he would host “Jet West” workouts in California with receivers and running backs before the start of training camp. The Eagles’ training camp begins Aug. 1.

Expected to be in attendance, according to NJ.com, are quarterback Matt Barkley; quarterback/receiver G.J. Kinne; running backs Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles; receivers Jordan Matthews, Quron Pratt, Rasheed Bailey and Seyi Ajirotutu; and tight end Andrew Gleichert.