Using Micah Parsons far more as an edge player than linebacker thus far this year, the Cowboys have formed a quality pass rush after the Randy Gregory negotiations broke down. Gregory is now a Broncos starter, teaming with Bradley Chubb as part of another team’s quality edge-rushing situation.
The Cowboys were prepared to keep Gregory on a five-year, $70MM deal — the exact terms he signed for in Denver — but an 11th-hour snafu related to guarantee forfeiture scuttled the agreement. This produced tension from both sides in the wake of Gregory going with the Broncos, but Jerry Jones said Friday the team’s depth benefited from the talks not producing a deal.
“I decided we were going too much on that guy; we could have three other guys better,” Jones said, when asked if he approached Dan Quinn about the state of the team’s pass rush amid the Gregory talks, during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan (audio link). “I didn’t have to go to anybody on that.”
A Cowboy from 2015-21 (amid a historically suspension-marred tenure), Gregory had agreed to stay but reversed course after he felt the Cowboys inserted language late in the process that could have voided his $28MM in guarantees even if he incurred a fine. The Cowboys have this provision included in most of their contracts. Jones now indicating he viewed the team’s offer as too high certainly proves interesting, given where Gregory’s deal ranks among edge defenders and how the Cowboys proceeded after losing him.
After Gregory committed to the Broncos during the legal tampering period, the Cowboys re-signed Dorance Armstrong on a two-year deal worth $12MM, took a flier on Dante Fowler (one year, $3MM) and drafted Sam Williams in the second round. This came after DeMarcus Lawrence, who refused to take a pay cut earlier in March, redid his deal. Lawrence, 30, is now tied to a three-year, $40MM pact ($30MM fully guaranteed).
The Broncos are now taking on the Gregory suspension risk, though the former second-round pick’s most recent ban came in 2019, and have him tied to an average salary ranking 22nd among edge rushers. The Cowboys have just one contract averaging north of $6MM across their defense — Lawrence’s — but the team stood down on adding another. Despite Von Miller offering to take a hometown discount, the Cowboys offered the Dallas-area native Gregory’s terms. That ended up placing third in the Miller sweepstakes, and the future Hall of Famer opted for a Bills proposal that included guarantees into Year 3.
Armstrong, who totaled just 2.5 career sacks from 2019-21, tallied five last season and already has three in three 2022 games. Torching Giants right tackle Evan Neal on Monday, Lawrence ripped off his first three-sack game since 2018. Fowler, who disappointed with the Falcons, has notched a sack and one quarterback hit thus far. Williams (34 defensive snaps) is playing behind this trio and Parsons. Gregory has sacks in back-to-back games and has forced two fumbles in three Broncos tilts.
It is too early to grade the Cowboys’ decision, but the team’s choice to pass on a Parsons-Lawrence-Gregory (or Parsons-Lawrence-Miller) pass rush is working out so far. But it will be interesting to see how Armstrong, Fowler and Williams fare over the course of Miller’s Buffalo career and Gregory’s Denver stay.
So Jerry’s BSing. I’m SHOCKED.
Wait! What? The man who refuses to acknowledge his illegitimate kids is scum? What a shocker.
Wow Oooof. I’m used to better postings from you.
The truth is that Jones stood by Gregory time and time again when Gregory incurred suspension after suspension. He wouldn’t be my favorite uncle but Jerry Jones did right by Gregory, and Gregory showed no loyalty in return.
In the end, Gregory is not missed. He has a problem staying on the field while guys like Armstrong bring it each and every day.
Gregory’s salary is indeed better spend elsewhere.
That last part may well be true, but Jones is still rewriting what happened. As for Gregory’s suspensions, weren’t all of them for something that’s not even banned anymore?
How is Jones rewriting what happened?
Yes, the suspensions were ridiculous for something that is legal In dozens of states.
However that’s not the entire issue. He needs to show that he can stay on the field, and he started this year being less than 100%. Small sample size warnings for both pro and con, but he has never proven he can get it done over an entire season. His high water mark for sacks in a season is SIX. A decent number but hardly worth $14 million a year.
I’d consider that contract … a bullet dodged.
“I decided we were going too much on that guy; we could have three other guys better,” Jones said, when it was Gregory who scuttled the deal.
Fair enough. I take anything JJ says with a box of salt, so much so that I didn’t even read his comment.
My apologies.
Hey, I can’t blame you there.
This is a well timed addressing of a situation. Randy Gregory did the Cowboys wrong, they gave him a chance when no one else would. If not for the Cowboys, Randy Gregory would have been out of the NFL and would not have even been a thought for Buffalo.
The timing of the statement is due to the Commanders coming to town. Dorance Armstrong is having a career year so far with 3 sacks, 5 tackles, and three of those for a loss. The Commanders have given up 15 sacks in 3 games so far. The Cowboys staff and PR department have to be looking at this rivalry game as a way to show Super Bowl contention with a backup QB.
The Commanders this week are hyping the next phase of organizational transition with the new never before worn all black uniforms.
If beating the Commanders constitutes being a super bowl contender, there are going to be a lot of contenders.
Oooof you are off your game, I hope everything is ok.
So Gregory screwed over Dallas even though they kept then in the league. Armstrong is his cheap replacement who is having a career year. The Division rival Commanders are in town and they appear so far to have a lack of ability to protect the QB. Dallas is talking about how they didn’t need Gregory and his cheaper replacement Armstrong is better. The Commanders are touting their new uniforms.
I was responding to a sentence you wrote.
If I was the marketing department and handled PR for an NFL team the went 3-0 with a backup QB earning $1.3 Million at the helm…. I would go full tilt on the sales prep.
I would run a TV spot showing Emmit Smith running through the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX (Arizona) with an intermix showing Zeke Elliot running the same gap. Same for Micheal Irvin / CeeDee Lamb and Charles Hayley / Micah Parsons.
What does buffalo have to do with this?
The Cowboys need to be looking beyond the Commanders, as Washington would have trouble beating a high school team at the moment.
I guess that Jones hate overshadows reality at times. A potential Gregory suspension would be a long variety due to his previous suspensions. I see it as a pattern of behavior with Gregory and was a unreasonable risk by a team looking for financial assurances. In reality cutting to its most basic is Gregory was upset over the language in the contract and his understanding of the risk. He didn’t have faith in himself and opted to go to another team who hadn’t experienced his weakness for addiction. In today’s society when a chronic drug addict is offended by rules and repercussions and people support him?
Legalizing marajuana in the league doesn’t alter its effect either? Not to get too far off point: IF a driver under the influence of marijuana operates a vehicle and kills a loved one that “marijuana supporter” will be devastated and pissed sueing anyone and everyone you can! Wrong is wrong no matter how many people fall in behind him.
My understanding is that the contested contractual language was about a fine, not a suspension. As in, if Gregory received a fine of any sort, then the Cowboys could have voided the guarantees in the deal. Seems like a big distinction.