Will the Dallas Cowboys regret waiving Rico Gathers?
The Dallas Cowboys have now waived fourth-year tight end and former basketball star Rico Gathers after years of development and hype.
Three years ago, the Dallas Cowboys intrigued their fanbase when they used their last of four sixth-round selections (217th overall) on Baylor Basketball star Rico Gathers. Despite not having played organized football since middle school, the 6-foot-6, 280-pound Gathers was attempting to make the difficult transition to NFL tight end.
Even since the Cowboys have poured years into the development of Gathers. And the 25-year-old flashed potential in 2017, scoring two touchdowns in this first two preseason games. In those two contests, Gathers posted an impressive stat line of seven receptions for 106 yards and those two scores.
Unfortunately, a concussion cost Gathers the entire regular season later that year and he seemingly has been unable to bounce back to that same level ever since. This offseason,
Rico has levied with a one-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. The ban stemmed from an arrest that took place last September on a misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Seemingly buried on the depth chart behind Jason Witten, Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz; many speculated that Gathers was on the roster bubble once again this year. And now, the Cowboys have more than confirmed that. On Monday, the team announced they have waived Gathers. ending his three-plus-year tenure in Dallas.
Despite the years of investment spent in developing Gathers in an attempt to transition him from basketball player to NFL tight end, the end result in the regular season will be 15 games played with four starts and three receptions for 45 yards.
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For years, fans have been begging the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff to use Rico Gathers as a pure-red zone threat only. But the coaches continued to try and develop Gathers as a blocker and never seemed to trust Rico enough playing him in less than 14 percent (146) of the offensive snaps in 2018. Perhaps Gathers will find a new home in the coming days. If so, and Rico’s used as a pure-receiver elsewhere, Cowboy fans will grimace every time he brings in a touchdown catch.