To win in this league you normally need two things: a good quarterback, and an explosive pass rusher.
Games are won at the line of scrimmage, and if you can beat the other team’s left tackle with an explosive speed rush and get to their quarterback, you will always have a chance.
This is precisely why the Dallas Cowboys took a chance in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. As defensive end Randy Gregory slid to them, they simply could not pass up on his elite natural abilities, despite the drug issues he so clearly had.
The idea was simple. Draft Gregory, get him into a healthy and structured locker room, and see if you can’t help change his behavior. But, here we are two years later, and nothing has changed.
In fact, things seem to have gotten worse.
Last week, TMZ reported that Gregory failed yet another NFL-sanctioned drug test, making it at least his seventh failed test of his young career. Gregory was already suspended for all of 2017, due to previous failed drug tests.
Now, the Cowboys are left with what seems to be an easy question to answer.
Is it time to simply give up on Randy Gregory?
I want to say no so badly.
As a player, Randy Gregory has proven he can be special. When he was available the last few weeks of 2016, Gregory showed flashes of how good he can be, beating Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jason Peters around the edge with his speed multiple times.
But, the flashes have been so few and far between, mostly because of his suspensions.
Going into the offseason, I was totally on board the “why not just wait it out with Gregory” train of thought, but yet another failed drug test has made me re-evaluate my stance.
It is getting clearer and clearer that Gregory is probably not going to play for the Cowboys, let alone in the NFL at all, again. His career seems to be over, backed up so far with suspensions that he may not even be available for 2018.
It might be time for the Cowboys to handle Randy Gregory like they did Rolando McClain, and simply cut ties.
To be honest, the fate of Gregory may depend on if commissioner Roger Goodell decides to re-work the league’s policy on marijuana. But Goodell doesn’t seem to want to bring about change any time soon.
Bye Randy!
Technically he isn’t costing us a roster spot and Jerry says he isn’t giving up on him. That being said, sometimes you have to protect your team integrity and wipe the egg off your face. At this point Gregory is a messy omelette! Wipe it off!
This is the problem with these NFL players We give them long leashes because of their talent This guy has done NOTHING in Dallas to gain the fans respect or interest. Why is this guy still on the roster??? At least with Martavis Bryant we’ve seen his possibility but What have we seen outta Randy to make us believe otherwise. Get rid of this guy already This shouldn’t even be a question Doesn’t a certain amount of dirty urines get you banned for life anyway ???
4 Strikes and you’re still on the Cowboys if you have speed to the QB… ;^)
Some of the question revolves around cap hit if at all. Is he getting paid? Because I want such a deal…
If Gregory was on his last strike with Jones, I don’t know why the release would not have been immediate after this last test.
If he were to actually rehab as an addict and a player – meaning production in 2018 or something – it would be the most improbable one I’ve ever seen in sports.
I will say it was flat unfair IMO of the NFL to let Gregory resume for that last 2 weeks of 2016 regular season, and then cancel his playoffs on penalties not yet served.
When Tom Brady lost his appeal for cheating in the 2014/15 AFC Title Game, his playoffs for 2015/16 were not cancelled. He was allowed to serve it at the start of the 2016 season.
Now look at the play Aaron Rodgers made scrambling left and hitting an impossible throw to set up the Packers winning FG against Dallas in the playoffs last year. If Gregory is suited up, he’s
likely in the game at RDE on that down, and the one player with the speed to run Rodgers down before he could unload that ball.
The next week at home against Atlanta would have been a toss up, and then look how poorly the Patriots played in the Super Bowl before Atlanta imploded down the stretch. Sacking Rodgers on that throw or forcing a bad throw, might have been the difference for the Cowboys winning their 6th Lombardi.
And then the Gregory adventure would have had a payoff to it… ;^)
Kevin, I heard Stephen Jones, speak on this topic on pro football talk, this am.
Stephen is in step with his Dad, by saying the decade old Marijuana policy need to be re-evaluated. My opinion is that it’s the 21st century, and public perception of Marijuana has changed, to were several states, including, the district of columbia, has legalize Marijuana.
Since the NFL sponsors saturated the games by bombarding it’s customers, with ads on pharmaceuticals and alcohol ads, both can be abused and can be addictive, yet the NFL, turns a blind eye, but yet wants to be the morality police.
I’m agreeing with Jerry and Stephen on this one. If Gregory, is smoking for theropudic reeasos, to assisting him with his bipolar, the I say , Gregory needs to be on the football field. Enough said
Gregory would rather be stoned than play football. Cut him now and he can smoke as much weed as he can afford.