Dallas Cowboys fans need realistic expectations for Randy Gregory

With the new Collective Bargaining Agreement making it quite possible for a Randy Gregory return in 2020, Dallas Cowboys fans need realistic expectations.

Hope is a double-edged sword. It is something we all need and yet it is something that can crush us. For Dallas Cowboys fans, hope springs eternal, even though it has not paid off in nearly three decades.

Maybe that plays a part in a recent phenomenon taking the social media platforms by storm this past week. It could also be that Dallas Cowboys fans are unusually impractical when it comes to how things will turn out for this team. Either way, it would be wise for hope to give way to cautious realism.

The dictionary definition of hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. As it pertains to defensive end Randy Gregory, the “desire” aspect of hope makes sense. It is the “expectation” part that fans should be realistic about, however.

The new Collective Bargaining Agreement recently signed off on by the NFLPA has removed punitive suspensions for players that use marijuana. Not only does the new CBA eliminate suspensions for players who test positive for the drug, but it also limits testing and raises the threshold for a positive result.

Testing is now limited to the first two weeks of training camp and raises the threshold for a positive test from 35 to 150 nanograms of THC. Of course, this is wonderful news as it pertains to Gregory.

Gregory has been suspended four times during his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys. He is currently on an indefinite suspension for his reliance upon marijuana and has missed more games (30) due to suspension than he is played in (28) since he was drafted in 2015.

Alas, Cowboys fans on Twitter have sat back and watched the first week of free agency with little concern for the lack of addressing the pass rush. Former Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Robert Quinn left Dallas for Chicago, signing a five-year, $70 million deal. Poof, 11.5 sacks gone from last season. No worries, though, Randy’s returning!

Dallas seemingly has shown absolutely zero interest in any bidding wars for the services of free agent and former first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney. While he remains unsigned, it also seems unlikely he will be in Dallas in 2020. Who cares, Randy’s back, baby!

How about Everson Griffen, Derek Wolfe or Jabaal Sheard? Those three combined for 19.5 sacks last season. Nope. Nay. Nah. It’s all about Randy!

This is where expectations are beyond insane. Gregory has not played a game of football in 435 days and counting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, who knows when players will be allowed to report to their teams and resume football activities? Do we even know what kind of shape Gregory is currently in? How long will it take him to get into true “football shape?”

This leads to the next issue. Production. Gregory has seven sacks in his entire career. Why is the assumption that he’ll just waltz right onto the field and become a double-digit sack master? In his entire career, Gregory has played more than 45 snaps in a game just twice.

Lastly, there is the concern of why we are even here in the first place. Gregory’s dependence on marijuana is largely due to mental health issues, namely anxiety. While it is unlikely he’s sitting on Twitter, reading everyone’s expectations, it is very likely once football resumes, that noise will get loud enough for him to notice. It is not out of the realm of possibility that initial “failures” to meet these hopes could push him to a dark place once more.

By all accounts, Randy Gregory is someone who is easy to root for his success. It is nice to see the draconian NFL finally relax its harshness towards marijuana. Still, we should all exercise cautious optimism when it comes to Gregory’s future. The Dallas Cowboys would be wise to continue to look for help along the defensive line, especially for edge rushers. Ultimately, Gregory should not be looked at as a savior but as a nice addition.