Cowboys Nation came into training camp beaming with excitement over their newest defensive end. Former Pro Bowl and All Pro pass rusher Robert Quinn joined the Cowboys via trade this offseason, and was anxiously awaiting the opportunity to line up on the same defensive line as DeMarcus Lawrence and get after quarterbacks around the league.
The two were expected to form a dynamic pass rushing duo from day one, but now it appears we will have to wait to see what they can do together. Not only did Quinn undergo surgery on his broken hand last week, he also learned that he would be suspended the first two games of the 2019 season.
Robert Quinn spoke to the media after Tuesday's practice, giving not only a stern statement about his suspension but also speaking towards how he keeps things in perspective at a time like this.
“This is just life. This is nothing…I've been through a lot worse than a messed-up hand and a couple of games. It's just life. You deal with adversity. It makes you weaker or stronger. Its just on the person as to how he deals with it” – Robert Quinn.
Quinn's suspension is for violating the NFL's substance policy, though his agent released a statement in conjunction with the league's announcement last week which spoke to their reasoning behind the failed test.
His agent, Sean Kiernan, criticized the league for not evaluating Quinn's history of seizures and reasoning behind his medication. Regardless, Quinn will face the two-game suspension this season.
“As my agent said, it should've recorded as a false-positive. I'll just leave it at that.”
Before these troubles surfaced, Robert Quinn was having a relatively slow start to training camp according to most of the onlookers. Still, this had more to do with having to go against Tyron Smith everyday than anything else.
In the end, that competition with Smith will only make Quinn a better rusher, especially considering it will be rare to face a pass blocker who is as talented as the Cowboys starting left tackle most Sundays.
Though the Cowboys will have to wait for him to return to game action, Robert Quinn is out to prove that he will be well worth that two game wait.
