The Cowboys defense has out-performed expectations heading into this season, along with of course the rest of the team, with Dallas sitting at 7-1. This comes all while one of their most talented players has been out due to substance abuse suspensions, and it appears now as if he won’t be seeing the field anytime soon.
Via Pro Football Talk –
The Dallas Cowboys invested heavily in pass-rushers two years ago, signing Greg Hardy in free agency and stopping Randy Gregory’s draft free-fall in the second round.
They’ve gotten similar returns from them.
According to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Gregory has failed another drug test while on suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, and his next suspension would be a year-long one.
Ignoring for the moment the lack of confidentiality of the league’s own policy when reported on by the league’s own network, it’s hard to say it’s that difficult a blow for the team. He’s only played in 12 games and hasn’t recorded a sack, and their defense has actually exceeded expectations.
At a human level, the news is more difficult, since he was a month away from a possible reinstatement, and doesn’t appear to have kicked the problem that landed him in the program.