There was a report going around the internet earlier this afternoon that Randy Gregory had filed for reinstatement with the league, although that isn’t entirely true. Gregory does want to return to the NFL this season but hasn’t officially filed the papers yet, he told Jane Slater of NFL Network (Twitter link).
“I’m hopeful of a return to football in 2020 but papers haven’t been filed yet,” Gregory said. This is the first we’ve heard from Gregory since August of last year, when we heard that he had been making progress but wasn’t quite ready to file for reinstatement. He was supposed to file last summer, but that ended up not materializing. Gregory was suspended indefinitely almost exactly a year ago for violating the league’s substance abuse policy and the terms of his previous reinstatement.
Despite the repeated suspensions the Cowboys announced shortly after that they weren’t giving up on him, and Jerry Jones even gave him a contract extension while under suspension to keep him under team control through the 2020 season. Defensive end Robert Quinn is entering unrestricted free agency, and if he doesn’t return then Dallas could really use Gregory to provide some additional pass-rush outside of DeMarcus Lawrence.
The Cowboys drafted Gregory in the 2nd round back in 2015, but he’s been in constant trouble with the league office. He appeared in only two games in 2016 and missed the entire 2017 season due to suspensions. He returned for 2018 and played well, racking up six sacks in 14 games, before getting hit with his latest indefinite ban after the season.
Still only 27, it would be a remarkable comeback story if he’s able to get reinstated and stay on the field. The last we heard Gregory was taking huge steps to ensure he stayed in recovery, and here’s to hoping he can get back to playing.
Good luck hope he makes it
“Additional pass-rush outside of DeMarcus Lawrence”????? The “War Daddy” has a whopping 5 sacks last year! Any pass rush would be welcome. Come on back Randy!
Don’t we all
He’s been taken extra shots to the head on purpose during his hiatus while doing mma. Probably a better idea to try n play football so he can at least have a helmet.
You have Gregory mixed up with Greg Hardy. I dont think Gregory did any MMA related stuff.
Hardy is actually turning into a solid heavyweight in MMA.
Bring in Josh Gordon, too. They can support each other.
Everyone deserves a 2nd… 3rd… 8th chance.
To return to work…yes.