ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 14: Randy Gregory #94 of the Dallas Cowboys on the sidelines in the first half of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at AT&T Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Jaguars 40-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Randy Gregory is not happy with the NFL as he works toward being reinstated.
Randy Gregory has played in a total of 28 games for the Dallas Cowboys since being selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. The linebacker most recently missed the entire 2019 season due to an indefinite suspension after appearing to get his life and career on track in 2018.
His indefinite suspension carried over into this offseason and he applied for reinstatement back in March. Of course, that is when the COVID-19 pandemic began shutting down the country and the NFL has held Gregory in a state of limbo regarding his eligibility.
This has understandably left Gregory frustrated and he took to social media to express his frustration with the NFL.
Gregory says he’s in a great shape both physically, mentally and emotionally as he works back to the NFL, but delays with COVID testing has left him waiting longer than he’d like. With training camps drawing closer, the Cowboys and Gregory hope he’ll be with the rest of his teammates as they pursue a Super Bowl.
Randy Gregory is in a great spot but COVID testing has left him waiting
This also puts the Cowboys in a tough spot and Jerry Jones should be calling the league office every single day to get this issue resolved. Gregory shouldn’t have to do it on his own.
Gregory had six sacks during the 2018 season when he doubled his career total by playing in 14 games during the regular season. He also forced two fumbles and looked like a legitimate contributor on defense and worthy of his original draft slot. With Robert Quinn leaving as a free agent, the Cowboys will need Gregory to get to the quarterback to complement Demarcus Lawrence.
The Cowboys had another player facing a similar situation in Aldon Smith. The former No. 7 overall pick in 2011 by the San Francisco 49ers had not appeared in an NFL game since 2015 due to several suspensions. Even he got a conditional reinstatement back in May, so it makes no sense why Gregory has to wait so long.