FRISCO, Texas – The NFL has reinstated Cowboy’s defensive end Randy Gregory and he will be with his teammates for Training Camp in Oxnard next week, but he will not be able to practice fully. The NFL did reinstate Gregory but with conditions. Gregory will be able to be at the camp, participate in meetings, and conditioning drills but he has not been cleared to practice or play in games.
He will later be fully cleared if he conforms to the NFL’s policy on substance abuse. Gregory has spent the last year away from the Cowboys going through rehab and getting his life back on track. He met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last month in New York along with his legal team, as part of his reinstatement process.
Gregory has made 14 game starts for the Cowboys over two years in 2015 and 2016, accumulating 20 combined tackles, 15 total, 5 assists, and one sack. He had a career high performance in the week 17 game against the Eagles in 2016 totaling 7 combined tackles, 6 total, and one sack. When he is present on the field and can pass his drug tests, he makes an impact on the field with his skillset. He has the opportunity to take this defense to the next level by his ability to attack up field, and to create separation in order to reach the quarterback. He puts pressure on the quarterback in the pocket to release the ball, and with edge rusher, DeMarcus Lawrence on the other end of the defensive line, the Cowboys will have a dominant force for opposing offenses around the league.
The real question is can Gregory stay out of trouble and take advantage of the chance he has been given? The Cowboys have had to deal with this issue in defensive tackle, David Irving. Both players are immensely talented, but at some point if the drug abuse continues and the lack of maturity stays the same, there has to be a decision to part ways. Hopefully for the Cowboys benefit, Gregory can fully become the elite player he has the innate ability to be when applying effort, and unleash his power on the field.
