Cowboys Insider: “I expect nothing out of Randy Gregory”
After a disappointing rookie campaign, and a looming four-game suspension, should the Dallas Cowboys expect to get anything out of defensive end Randy Gregory?
When the Dallas Cowboys selected Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory with the 60th overall pick in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, they knew it was a boom or bust selection.
Touted as a top-five level talent, and the best pass rusher in his draft class, Gregory’s stock dropped dramatically after it was revealed he failed a drug test during the NFL’s Scouting Combine.
Despite promises to stay clean, the 23-year old has failed his fourth drug test in less than a year as a professional resulting in a four-game suspension that will rob him of the first month of the regular season.
Now, one Cowboys insider believes the team and it’s fans should expect zero contribution out of the troubled young man even when he returns to the field in October.
"“To me, if I’m the Cowboys…I expect nothing out of Randy Gregory and anything I get is a bonus,” Cowboys NFL Nation reporter Todd Archer told the ESPN Football Today podcast. “You give him practice time and you realize he’s going to be back after the four-game suspension is up. But anything you get of that is gravy. You have to prepare as almost he won’t be there because there are issues that don’t go away for a lot of players.”"
Archer went on to advise the Cowboys to go out and sign veteran free agent pass rusher Dwight Freeney immediately.
Until Gregory decides that football is more important than drugs, he’ll never live up to his potential in Dallas…or with any other team, for that matter. And for those that think maybe his failed tests were due to ignorance on the young man’s part, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones made the point clear that Gregory knows exactly what he is doing.
"“[Gregory’s] got great human skills and personality – he’s nothing short of brilliant. And certainly he’s got his demons,” Jones told the team’s official website. “To that end, I know that lack of understanding where he is, is not one of them.”"
Jones also said Gregory knows what the Cowboys expectations are and that the franchise will continue to support him. But how long will that support last if the young man refuses to help himself?
At this point in the narrative, Gregory’s story could be one of redemption…or tragedy. The path he chooses next will likely determine that outcome.
As for Cowboys fans, Archer’s advice might be worth considering. Some believe Gregory will return after his four game suspension and provide the pass rush this team has desperately needed for several years. Unfortunately, nothing the young man has done in Dallas so far, outside of a handful of preseason performances, indicates he’ll be able to do so.
Last season, Gregory suffered a high ankle sprain in his Week One debut against the New York Giants. That lingering injury disrupted his entire rookie season. Gregory ended up recording a measly 11 total tackles in 12 games. He also registered zero sacks.
And despite how talented a player may be, he must at least be available to be great. With much larger and career-threatening suspensions on the horizon for Gregory, the 23-year old has a very limited window to straighten out his life. If he doesn’t, then I’m afraid Randy is destined to join a long list of players who’s life stories are now told as cautionary tales.
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