Cowboys DE Randy Gregory reportedly on track for an attempted reinstatement

Cowboysrock55

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Well, great if he can contribute to the D but isn't this a contract year for him now?
My understanding is no. His contract didn't toll the last 2 years was my understanding. So technically we'd have him at least two if not 3 years before he'd be an unrestricted free agent.
 

lostxn

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Exclusive: Cowboys DE Randy Gregory to apply for NFL re-entry
Sources tell Mike Fisher of the Cowboys on 247Sports that Gregory is mere days away.

For what seems like a football eternity, I have answered questions from Dallas Cowboys fans regarding the reinstatement status of defensive end Randy Gregory by saying his No. 1 concern has been to become not just a "better football player'' but rather, a better-functioning human being.

We are, multiple sources tell me, days away from both concepts dovetailing into Gregory's application to the NFL for reinstatement.

"It's not how you start, it's how you finish,'' Gregory recently commented on social media. "Patience is key.''

Gregory, the gifted Nebraska defensive end selected by Dallas in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft despite its knowledge of his substance-use issue, has been banned from the league for repeated violations of the league's substance-abuse policy. He hasn't played since the Cowboys' final game of the 2016 season. ... and yet the Cowboys hang on, in part because of the potential of the 6-5, 255-pound edge rusher, in part because of the position demonstrated by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who believes in both second chances and in Gregory's intelligence and qualities as a person.

Those qualities will be at the fore of Gregory's upcoming presentation to the office of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, I'm told -- a petition for his reinstatement that could come as early as May 1, as also noted by my colleague Bobby Belt. A case will be built that Gregory, still just 25 and loaded with potential at football's second-most important position, has spent a great deal of time adhering to a rehab program in California, working at a "civilian'' job in Dallas, relying on his background as a product of a loving home, and demonstrating his character as a devoted father to his young child.

It is the on-the-record position of Cowboys COO Stephen Jones that the team operates under a "worst-case scenario'' mindset in regard to Gregory, but that position should not be misconstrued; it's not that the Cowboys lack faith in him -- it's that by NFL rule the club can have very limited contact with him and therefore isn't supposed to be privy to his status.

And, of course, the employer can wish for Gregory to get his life in order but cannot operate its business under the assumption that he will.

So the Cowboys plow away with their pursuit of defensive linemen, giving DeMarcus Lawrence the franchise tag, giving David Irving a second-round tender, giving recent first-round pick Taco Charlton snaps, and giving thought to selecting yet another pass-rusher like Harold Landry in a premium round in next week's NFL Draft.

Meanwhile, in the days immediately following the NFL Draft, Randy Gregory -- with a series of failed marijuana tests dotting his record and limiting him to two games played in the last two seasons -- will ask to be given something, too.

Another chance.

Mike Fisher @fishsports
 

DLK150

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My understanding is no. His contract didn't toll the last 2 years was my understanding. So technically we'd have him at least two if not 3 years before he'd be an unrestricted free agent.
Yeah, I wasn't sure how all the suspensions would affect that. If he can still play, he'd be a relative bargain then.
 

Cotton

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Cotton

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Cowboysrock55

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If he plays, what should be the expectations? Pass rush specialist with 5 sacks?
 

Rev

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They should watch him closely today.
 

Cotton

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Expect nothing. Let him come to camp and see how he does.
This is where I am with him right now. Anything he gives me at this point is gravy.
 

Cowboysrock55

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This is where I am with him right now. Anything he gives me at this point is gravy.
It's where I have been. But it's hard not to wonder a little now that it actually is a real possibility.
 

p1_

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Wouldn't that make a nice comeback story?
 

Cowboysrock55

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Every time I see a new post in this thread I expect to read he tested positive again and is shut down another year.
 

P_T

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I'd give him 5-10 snaps per game early (should he return), and then use him more down the stretch if he shows improvement (or if injuries make it necessary). He should have to EARN playing time.
 

ravidubey

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I'd give him 5-10 snaps per game early (should he return), and then use him more down the stretch if he shows improvement (or if injuries make it necessary). He should have to EARN playing time.
They needed to have done that when he first started for reasons of mental, technical, and physical maturity. Of course they rushed him in and his knee buckles game 1 bull-rushing a guy.

Football’s a game full of pain, and it’s hard to see this guy not wanting to medicate.
 

lostxn

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Source: Randy Gregory targets May 1 on NFL reinstatement request
The troubled Cowboys defensive end could soon re-join his teammates in Dallas.
Mike Fisher - 7 hours ago 3

Randy Gregory, the gifted Nebraska defensive end selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, has spent the last two years trying to do the "right thing'' -- the right thing for himself and for his employer.

That could all come to fruition as early as Tuesday, May 1, with a source close to the situation telling me that represents his goal to hand over to the league his official request for reinstatement.

I'm also told the only thing likely to back that process up is the volume of paperwork Gregory and his representatives are prepared to handover the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, paperwork that includes an impressive array of testimonials from high-profile people who support Gregory's bid, and paperwork that includes evidence that his last failed drug test came almost two years ago -- and that he's passed "dozens'' of drug tests since.

Dallas drafted Gregory despite its knowledge of his substance-use issue, and he has been banned from the league for repeated violations of the league's substance-abuse policy. He hasn't played since the Cowboys' final game of the 2016 season. ... and yet the Cowboys hang on, in part because of the potential of the 6-5, 255-pound edge rusher, in part because of the position demonstrated by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who believes in both second chances and in Gregory's intelligence and qualities as a person.

Those qualities will be at the fore of Gregory's upcoming presentation to the office of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, I and my colleague Bobby Belt are being told. A case will be built that Gregory, still just 25 and loaded with potential at football's second-most important position, has spent a great deal of time adhering to a rehab program in California, working at a "civilian'' job in Dallas, relying on his background as a product of a loving home, and demonstrating his character as a devoted father to his young child.

It is the on-the-record position of Cowboys COO Stephen Jones that the team operates under a "worst-case scenario'' mindset in regard to Gregory, but that position should not be misconstrued; it's not that the Cowboys lack faith in him -- it's that by NFL rule the club can have very limited contact with him and therefore isn't supposed to be privy to his status.

Nevertheless, Jones was recently on 105.3 The Fan and when asked about our story that indicated the positive possibilities for Gregory, answered, "As you well know, we're just hoping and wishing Randy the best as he's making his journey to try and get back in the NFL. That would just be amazing if he were able to get this done. Certainly, he's still got work to do. ... He has done really well as of late or they wouldn't be going for reinstatement. ... Boy, what a wonderful situation that would be to get him back in a good place.''

________________________________________

That's tomorrow.
 

Cotton

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Quick refresher on Randy Gregory's contract status with Cowboys
By: K.D. Drummond | 3 hours ago

Randy Gregory is reportedly in a good place and reportedly stands a chance to be reinstated this season and rejoin the Cowboys’ efforts to return to the playoffs. How good he will be out of the gate is up for debate. No one will be able to determine that until he hits the field. As is the case with anything involving Roger Goodell and punishment involving the Cowboys, his reinstatement happening isn’t a sure thing either.

If it does turn out for the best, one item that seems to be continually up for debate is how his contract holds up after being effectively out of football for the last two seasons.

Here’s the skinny.

In 2016, Gregory was suspended three different times. First, for the initial four games of the season. He was then suspended a second time for another 10 games, making him miss the first 14 games of the season in total.

Gregory failed or missed yet another drug test during that time, leading to a year-long ban. However, the NFL delayed the appeal hearing until after the regular season, allowing the defensive end to appear in the last two games of the regular season and to collect two game checks as well.

The year-long ban went into effect before Dallas’ playoff game against Green Bay, and did not expire until this offseason began.

So for contract purposes, here’s how that plays out. One important thing to remember is that NFL teams will always get four years out of a drafted player if they want it.

Gregory was paid during 2016, so that year of his contract technically played out. However, the NFL-NFLPA CBA has an established rule that a player has to have been paid for a full six regular season weeks in order to accrue a season towards free agency. The season didn’t count towards him being an unrestricted free agent.

If nothing else had happened, Gregory would have been a restricted free agent at the end of his four-year rookie deal, in 2018.

However, something else did happen; the year-long ban.

Because there was zero activity for Gregory in 2017 (no play, no pay) his contract tolled. That means that it basically never happened. What takes place next is that season is magically lifted up and dropped to the following year. If reinstated, Gregory will make in 2018 what he was supposed to make in 2017.

That trickles down. What Gregory was supposed to make in 2018 will now be moved to the 2019 season. Then, you guessed it, that RFA designation discussed earlier comes into play.

Since 2016 wasn’t an accrued season, 2015, 2018 and 2019 would mean the Cowboys only got three years out of Gregory’s four-year rookie deal. Any player out of contract with just two accrued seasons in the league is an exclusive-rights free agent. Any player out of contract with just three accrued seasons is a restricted free agent.

That’s the category Gregory will fall into if he is reinstated and on the roster for the rest of the contract.

He is under contract for 2018 and 2019 and the team will be able to offer him an RFA tender heading into 2020.

Since he was a second-round pick, the club will then have the option of placing an original round tender on him. That’s the cheapest option available. A team that wanted to sign him to an offer sheet at that point would have to give up his “original round” draft pick as compensation.

That would be the equivalent of Dallas slapping the second-round tender tag on him, but getting the much reduced rate for the year.

In 2018, the second-year tender was $2.91 million. The original round was only $1.8 million.

If Gregory has his act together, he could be a big boost for the Cowboys pass rush, on low salary, for the next three years.

Only thing needed now is for him to apply for reinstatement, and Goodell to conduct himself accordingly and then for the player to not fail any tests that would lead to a lifetime ban.

Welp, it sounded good before I typed it.
 
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