3 Dallas Cowboys who are missing from Hard Knocks

2. Randy Gregory, DE

Fourth-year defensive end Randy Gregory has been available almost every day this offseason for the first time since his rookie year. No. 94 has dealt with multiple suspensions and year-long absences since being drafted by the Cowboys in 2015.

Since the NFL changed its substance abuse policy with the new collective bargaining agreement in 2020, Gregory has not tested positive for illegal substances. That type of turnaround has caught his coaches’ eyes and is why he has a position on the team’s leadership council.

The writers of Hard Knocks tend to lean on stories like Gregory’s, one of tragedy and triumph. In episode two, pass rusher Demarcus Lawrence was highlighted, but there was nothing on the player opposite him on the defensive line.

That would have been the perfect time to sit Gregory and Lawrence down and have them both talk about their relationship with one another. Lawrence is one of the captains on the team, so seeing his reaction to Gregory’s life changes would be an interesting conversation.

If Gregory turns out to be one of the defensive stars this season, Hard Knocks will have wished they covered a story on him and be able to say, “We told you so.”